must have - self portraits
Written: Jul 10 '00 (Updated Jul 11 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: ability to do close focus (without special macro button) and large focus range, excellent quality and reliability, best price, not even a question....
Cons: it's manufactured at low cost so you may be unlucky and get a reject - the manufacturer will swap it for another
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| alanlevin's Full Review: Olympus Stylus Epic 115 QD 35mm Film Camera |
I was a pro photographer and after converting to Nikon SLR's I hoped that a Nikon point and shoot would be good. Through my experience I learned that fixed lenses give a clear differentiation in quality so I went for the Nikon lite touch. This allowed me the opportunity to realize what is important to me in a point and shoot (size, weight, quality of result). The thing about size and weight is that when you look at the range of products available there is not that much differentiation in size and weight.
I found the differences were quite staggering regarding the quality of results. Fixed lens is even more important for quality results from a point and shoot. My first advice is don't go for a zoom. If you really need to zoom, get closer to the subject.
Although the lens of the lite touch is fixed, that's certainly not all that impacts on quality. I found that the number of auto-focus positions determines the ratio of good pictures to not so good pictures. I also learned that there are a number of places (and situations) that one can use a point and shoot that you would not have used an SLR. The ability to take hand held photographs with yourself in the picture was new to me. I really like it because the idea of a point and shoot is to capture your experience, and it is nice to be in the picture (for me this was a change).
At the time the Olympus Stylus (all their fixed lens models over the past 12 years) was the only choice. As it turns out I still think the most superior choice. Some say that the Yashica T4 (and one or two others) has more elements in the lens than the Olympus, and this should mean slightly better quality. Maybe, but the Yashica and others do not have the same number of auto-focus stops and they don't have the ability for a really close focus - I mean less than 10 inches. The Olympus also has a smaller aperture, which means one gets a better depth of field (great when including oneself in a scenic picture).
This is what I really love about the stylus. The ability to take a self-portrait anywhere with anyone and anything. Although its important to understand how the auto-focus sets and allows for recomposition - I have found that after sending thousands of exposures through mine, it still consistently gives me good results.
In fact, I do enjoy gadgets but this camera has seriously slowed me from getting into digital or aps camera... why reduce my quality of results for more money?
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
alanlevin
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Member: Alan Levin
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Internet person, involved in community development and use of technology in Africa.
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