Olympus Pen FV1967

History

Released 1967 as the simplified companion to the metered Pen FT (1966). The original Pen F (1963) also had no meter; when Olympus added TTL metering in the FT, they retained a meterless option for photographers who objected to the finder dimming. The three Pen F-series bodies overlap in production:

• Pen F (1963-1966) - original, no meter
• Pen FT (1966-1970) - TTL CdS meter
• Pen FV (1967-1970) - no meter, FT-generation chassis

All three share the same Pen F interchangeable lens mount and rotary shutter mechanism. Total Pen F-series production across all three bodies was approximately 250,000 units.

Why It Matters

The FV is the least common of the three Pen F-series bodies, which makes it slightly harder to find on the used market. Its main practical advantage over the FT is battery independence: with no CdS cell, it needs no power at all. The mercury PX625 voltage workaround that Pen FT owners must navigate simply does not apply.

For photographers pairing a Pen F-mount body with external metering (a separate meter app or handheld), the FV offers the full Pen F optical system without the maintenance liability of a 60s CdS circuit. The porro-prism finder remains the same 1.0x magnification as the FT.

Lenses & Accessories

The Pen F mount is shared across all three Pen SLR bodies. Key lenses:

• F. Zuiko 38mm f/1.8 - standard kit lens; six elements, fast for a 38mm normal
• E. Zuiko 25mm f/4 - wide-angle; compact
• G. Zuiko 60mm f/1.5 - fast portrait; notable optical quality
• E. Zuiko 40mm f/1.4 - fast normal alternative
• Zuiko 70-150mm f/4 zoom - telephoto zoom, rare
• E. Zuiko 100mm f/3.5 - short telephoto
• Zuiko 38mm f/3.5 macro - close-focus

Accessories: auto bellows for the mount exist. Standard cold/hot-shoe flash via leaf-shutter-equivalent sync at all speeds from the rotary shutter design.

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• The Pen FV occupies a niche among Pen F collectors who prefer battery-free bodies.
• Less documented in photography literature than the Pen F or FT; often mentioned in passing in Pen F retrospectives.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Olympus Pen FV
• Wikipedia: Olympus Pen F

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