Scientific Olympus Pen?

<p>Hi,<br>

I've found some partial answers to this question, but nothing definitive - what is the "scientific" version of the Olympus Pen Half-Frame Camera? I know there are a number of cameras that were developed for use with a microscope, and they are largely useless as normal cameras due to the lack of a viewfinder. Is the scientific Pen one of these, or is it largely usable as a normal camera (and what <em>are</em> its limitations)? Prices tend to be about 1/2 that of normal Pens, and there's always a reason for that... <br>

Thanks for any info.</p>

<p>See <a href="http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/half/halformat4s.html">this page</a>. Scroll to the bottom.</p>

<p>Donnie, thanks for the page, some of these are so beautiful.</p>

<p>Olympus Pen F and Pen FT both had endoscope/microscope versions.</p>

<p>According to the guy who gave a talk at the PCCGB Midland Region a bit back the viewfinder image in one of these is circular not rectangular, so presumably it only covers the centre part of the frame, but I cannot speak from my own experience.</p>

<p>The circular part of the viewing area is part of the prism, it is not a screen that can be taken out. From my experience, a medical Pen cannot be converted to a regular screen type. John</p>

<p>That's a nice link, Donnie, here's the mothership, so to speak http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/</p>

<p>I was also under the impression that the viewfinder just has cross hairs and no microprism, which may make focusing harder, although in bright daylight with small apertures it shouldn't matter too much.</p>