Olympus F.Zuiko Auto-S 38mm f/1.8

Olympus F.Zuiko Auto-S 38mm f/1.8 | S/N: 425889

Olympus F.Zuiko Auto-S 38mm f/1.8 Standard Prime Lens - Good Condition | Rare Manual Focus Pen F Half-Frame System Optic Featuring 6-Element Architecture, Razor Sharpness, and Built-In Aperture Preview

Introductory Paragraph The Olympus F.Zuiko Auto-S 38mm f/1.8 is an exceptionally rare and highly coveted manual focus standard prime lens masterfully designed by Yoshihisa Maitani for the revolutionary Olympus Pen F half-frame 35mm SLR camera system in Japan. Packing a high-performance 6-element optical configuration (indicated by the "F" in F.Zuiko) into an incredibly miniature, jewelry-like housing, this lens acts as a standard focal length with a perspective field roughly equivalent to a 55mm lens on full-frame format. Engineered with the proprietary, ultra-slim Olympus Pen F bayonet mount, this highly scannable Olympus lens yields spectacular micro-contrast and biting edge-to-edge sharpness. It stands out as an exceptionally satisfying, premium choice for analog half-frame purists and digital mirrorless street cinematographers seeking a low-profile powerhouse.

Key Features

• Premium F.Zuiko 6-element in 5-groups optical layout, delivering exceptional resolving power, high color fidelity, and beautiful micro-contrast.

• Ultra-compact miniature lens barrel chassis architecture, custom-tailored to maintain a flush, lightweight profile on small camera bodies.

• Fast f/1.8 maximum aperture configuration, supplying great low-light light-gathering capabilities and a beautifully thin depth-of-field field.

• Native Olympus Pen F half-frame bayonet mount system, seating with absolute mechanical precision onto vintage Pen F, FT, or FV SLR chassis.

• Dual-scale aperture ring with integrated exposure numbers, accommodating traditional f/stops alongside the unique TTL index values used by Pen FT bodies.

• Tactile dampened manual focus helicoid mechanics, offering a silky, highly precise rotational throw for quick and fluid focus tracking.

• Dedicated integrated mechanical depth-of-field preview button, letting creators check true background isolation settings instantly inside the viewfinder.

Condition Report Good condition. Body: Standard light use, showing typical minor cosmetic surface scuffs on the black anodized barrel finish and faint bright wear lines along the silver mounting ring. The knurled grip ridges are clean and unmarred. Sensor/Optics: Lens elements are remarkably bright and clear. The internal optical path is completely free from internal fungus, heavy haze, optical separation, or deep structural glass scratches. Mechanics/Electronics: Fully operational. The manual focus ring turns uniformly with a smooth mechanical feel, the aperture selector snaps cleanly into every detent, the preview button depresses responsively, and the internal aperture blades are dry and entirely oil-free.

Specialist Note "The Pen F 38mm f/1.8 is a masterclass in how to build a high-performance standard lens without making it a heavy brick. Yoshihisa Maitani wanted the half-frame system to be pocketable, and this lens is the perfect realization of that vision. It is tiny, but because it only has to illuminate a half-frame image circle, the optical formulas are incredibly sharp right from f/1.8 with virtually zero distortion. On modern crop-sensor or full-frame mirrorless digital bodies, it adapts beautifully to make a hyper-compact street or documentary lens with a classic, organic vintage character that digital glass cannot match. It is a completely transparent, satisfyingly tactile piece of history."

What's Included

• Olympus F.Zuiko Auto-S 38mm f/1.8 Standard Prime Lens (S/N: 425889)

• Front Protective Lens Cap

• Rear Olympus Pen F Mount Protective Cap
  

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Olympus

• Model: F.Zuiko Auto-S 38mm f/1.8

• Lens Type: Prime Lens

• Lens Mount: Olympus Pen F Bayonet Mount (Half-Frame)

• Focal Length: 38mm (Equivalent to ~55mm on Full-Frame)

• Maximum Aperture: f/1.8

• Minimum Aperture: f/16

• Optical Construction: 6 Elements in 5 Groups

• Focus Type: Manual Focus Only

• Category: 2. Lenses ▸ Prime Lens

• Battery Type: None Required (Fully Mechanical)