Customer Reviews

Olympus Stylus Epic Camera, Black (USA)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Olympus Stylus Epic is nearly a perfect point and shoot camera. It has a very sharp, wide-aperture (f2.8) lens, it has a spot meter, it is tiny, it is quiet. With fast film, a handheld light meter (more on this below) and that great lens (which is quite sharp wide open), the camera can be used indoors without a flash with great results.

Here are the two key drawbacks.

1. The camera needs a warning light to let the user know when the shutter speed goes below 1/30. The camera's shutter can open for as long as 4 seconds, which is great -- but the user needs to know if he or she can get away with available light handheld. Without a camera shake warning, you really need a handheld light meter to make sure you're OK before you turn off that flash indoors.

2. The camera's minimum aperture is only f/11. Given the camera's fastest shutter speed of 1/1000, this means that ISO 800 film cannot be used in full sun. You would need one more stop (f/16). Why is this a problem? This creates a dilemma: for indoors you want to use ISO 800 film to take maximum advantage of the fast lens, but if you do that, you now can't take the camera outside on a sunny day. If you put ISO 400 in the camera, you give up a precious stop indoors.

In sum, if the lens aperture went to f/16, and if the camera had a blinking light to warn you when the shutter speed was longer than 1/30, it would be a perfect, go-anywhere camera. You could put ISO 800 film in it and take it with you everywhere you went.

This is an excellent camera and you can't beat the price.Item arrived on time and I have used it numerous time.Would purchase from this buyer again.

This is a great camera. I have had one for years (well, HAD one). I dropped it, banged it, rolled it. It still works. It is small and fits easily in a pocket. Mine was silver/gold colored, however.

But best of all, the lens is great. It takes wonderful, clear pictures.

However, it really is too good of a camera. After having it for about ten years, I sat it on a table in a restaurant, walked away for a minute, and came back only to find someone stole it. So I guess thieves like the camera also.

But really, I have never had a better "pocket" camera. This particular camera with this lens is the best compact camera I have ever owned.