This list of five film cameras I can't live without spans 35 years of photographic history—from the height of half-frame popularity in 1966 to the dawn of digital in 2001. I summarize what makes each camera special, why I love it, and I'll show you one of my favorite photos taken with it. Make sure you check out the video, where I show my five favorite photos from each camera.
The Olympus Pen FT is a half-frame 35mm SLR launched at the height of half-frame popularity in the mid-1960s. The ability to shoot twice as many photos on each roll of film made this format appealing and much more affordable for many photographers. Sound familiar? In the 2020s, we've circled back to shooting half-frame cameras such as the Kodak Ektar and Pentax 17 in the face of rising film costs.
The FT was the middle child in this lineup; its older sibling was the F, and its younger sibling was the FV. All were designed by legendary Olympus designer Yoshihisa Maitani, who also designed other film camera classics, including the OM-1 and the XA. One of the selling points of this camera was its compact size, which made it a super popular choice for travel in the 1960s.
Another interesting fact is that the Pen FT features a unique rotary shutter, which was quieter than focal-plane shutters. The thing I like best, though, is its vertical viewfinder, which forces me to think about my compositions in a different way. As you can see below, you also have the ability to create diptychs with your photos, which.