Inexpensive little camera
Written: Jul 29 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, good basic features, dependable, compact
Cons: Lacks features of better cameras, not professional quality
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| estoke61's Full Review: Olympus Stylus Epic DLX 35mm Film Camera |
Stylin' with the Stylus...
I was first introduced to Olympus as a camera company a bunch of years ago. My sister's venerable Kodak DISC camera had had it, and she was looking for something compact, automatic, and trouble free. A friend of mine suggested the Olympus Stylus, and I agreed, having borrowed his camera a couple times. She went out and purchased that model, and she still takes good looking picture with it after many years of use and no problems. It was a very good buy.
Now, Olympus isn't well known for its upscale cameras. Olympus is best known as a relatively cheap, compact automatic 35mm camera supplier, at least for now. Based on that fact, plus my sister's experience, and the fact that my LeClic 110 Pocket Camera has been dead for years, I decided to take a chance on the Olympic Stylus "Epic".
The Epic looks a lot like its older original cousin, the basic stylus. And after mild use, it seems to be exactly alike in many ways. But Olympus has made improvements over the years to the basic design, that do not add very much to the camera's already useful status, but more or less refines the design while keeping the cost down. My tests:
Picture quality: It's a camera, right? You want good images that are clear and crisp enough to keep your memories safe. And I am pleased to report that the Epic delivers, albeit not at professional quality. Pictures taken from the Epic are clear, and fairly crisp in quality; certainly good enough for you to be satisfied unless you are a professional photographer, in which case you will most likely use a full featured pro style camera.
Operation: One of the great things about the Stylus that my sister has is its simple and compact design. The Epic keeps that tradition going to give you easy to learn features that won't have you going back to the owner's manual often to remember how to set the self-timer, or to shut off the flash, etc. The compact design is excellent; this camera packs a lot of punch in a small package.
Features: Today's camera's at this price range must have good, friendly features to compete. The Epic features auto loading, auto focus, light-gathering power for outdoor exposures, self-timer, and variable powered flash for compensation purposes. All in all, the features are easy to use and setup, and they work, but overall, the Epic isn't a huge improvement over the original Stylus. Which I guess is good, since my sister is VERY satisfied with her Stylus. Time will tell if the Epic will hold up as I further use it, but the outer shell of the camera does seem sturdy, so that inspires confidence.
What should you do?: If you are on the lookout for a compact 35mm automatic camera that is basic and reliable, go for the Epic. I have seen enough in the past and from this model that I trust its ability to continue giving me clear pictures that I can save. However, if you are semi professional or professional in the photography art, then I suggest you go with a full size camera with more features. But all in all, this camera will be a great "memories" saver.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
estoke61
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Member: Eric Stokes
Location: Gorham, ME
Reviews written: 54
Trusted by: 42 members
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