Olympus Pen EES-EL - Tested and Working (Stock #O15)

This camera is a half-frame camera released by Olympus in 1966.

The difference from the EES, which was released in 1962, is that it is equipped with an EL (Easy Loading) mechanism that makes it easier to load film. This added a film-holding claw inside the slit to prevent the sprocket from easily detaching, which was a problem with the previous design where you simply inserted the film into the slit. The number of slits was also changed from two to six.

There is no explanation of the EES-EL on the Olympus official website, and the body is only marked with a sticker on the front shoulder. If the sticker comes off, you won't be able to tell it apart from the original EES without opening the back cover and checking the sprocket.

By the way, the difference between the EES and the EE is that the fixed-focus lens of the EE was improved to allow focusing in three zones: close (1.2m), group (3m), and scene (distant).

The camera functions well, but the exterior is not in good condition. There are noticeable scratches, dirt, and rust. In particular, there was a lot of rust on the top of the back cover, so there are noticeable touch-up marks after removing the rust.

The exposure meter, including the red flag, is generally working correctly.

The manual aperture used for flash photography is also working correctly, as indicated by the orange lettering.

The body's light-sealing foam has been replaced, but it's a DIY job.

There is some dust visible in the viewfinder. The lens is generally clear.

The strap is a genuine product. The case is a general-purpose synthetic leather case. There is no lens cap.

*Specifications*
Olympus Pen EES-EL
Shutter: 1/30, 1/250 (fixed at 1/30 for flash sync)
Aperture: AUTO, F2.8-22 stepless for flash
Lens: Olympus D. Zuiko 1:2.8 (min. 22) f=3cm

*Accessories*
Soft case, mini strap