My preferred camera!
Written: Jul 16 '01
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Pros: Compact. Sharp lens. Spot metering. Close-focusing. Unintimidating.
Cons: Autofocus can be fooled.
The Bottom Line: A sharp wide-angle lens would be a good addition to any photographer's arsenal and this camera very nicely fills those requirements at an excellent price-point.
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| GypsyPilot's Full Review: Olympus Stylus Epic DLX 35mm Film Camera |
It's been said that a serious photographer must never be without a camera; just in case that once-in-a-lifetime shot should come along. For those moments, and all the moments of your life, the Olympus Stylus Epic will probably become your little saviour.
I've very much taken to this little camera and I prefer it over my Olympus OM-2N SLR, my Pentax IQZoom90WR, and my Canon Elph 370z (APS). It's so easy to slip into your pocket or carry in a petite case on your belt. You don't feel weighted down by it. It's about the same size or smaller than some APS cameras but your images are captured on the larger 35mm format. It ability to close-focus lets you fill the frame for dramatic close-ups.
My biggest reservations when I was considering this camera was the wide range of internet opinions (mostly on Photo.Net) regarding the sharpness of its lens and blurring on some test rolls. I found the former to be untrue. The lens is quite sharp and (when using ASA 400 film) the aperture stops down to create excellent depth-of-field. I've experience about 8-9 blurred photos (out of 30+ rolls of film that I've shot with this camera to date) and these were mostly caused by the subject being a bit far off-center.
The camera is water-resistant (not water-proof) so a light splash or rain should not affect it. I haven't had an opportunity to test this feature.
Spot-metering and night-flash mode (which keeps the shutter open a tad longer) are available for greater creative freedom.
Do I miss having a zoom? Hardly. I mostly photograph people and scenics. For those subjects, a wide-angle lens is best and the fast f2.8 38mm lens on the Epic works just fine. You may not want this camera if you take lots of wildlife photos or shots of athletic events. But for those, you would be best off with a 200mm zoom (I think Pentax currently makes the only 200mm point-and-shoot).
For best results (and I'm talking to the average photographer out there), pair it with ASA 400 film (the grain is pretty much indistinguishable versus ASA 200) using Kodak as your mainstay (warm colors) and Fuji Superia for scenics (better color fidelity). Get yourself a durable belt case (you can use the APS cases - it'll fit nicely). Read your manual so you understand how to use spot-metering for unusual light situations. Make use of fill flash in situations that create harsh shadows.
I hope you enjoy this product! Cheers!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 79
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Epinions.com ID:
GypsyPilot
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Location: Northern California
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
Ping me if you like hiking, camping, photography, and good cooking.
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