The fast aperture lens. Long exposure ability (to 30secs) with flash off if you have tripod. Spot metering useful sometimes, although likely given point and shoot use not often used (I use my SLR).

th sexy compat shape

It won't focus thru glass shopwindows etc. The autofocus with flash sometimes "misses". If you need zom range you will have to buy something else...

This is an excellent notebook camera - I have it in a pouch on my belt when travelling so I don't have to take my SLR out of my backpack unless I need the more versatile focal lengths. This is particularly useful in situations where you don't want to be too obvious with an expensive big camera (I've just been in Southern Africa for 5 weeks). You would have to blow up the shots a reasonable way to tell them apart from my T90 shots. This is one very sophisticated camera for someone who knows how to use it and can get the best out of it. If you don't, just point and shoot and I'm sure you'll be impressed. A very worthy successor to the XA series.

Customer Service

Fixed under warranty after lens jammed in "out" position

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my earlier XA-2 is still doing good service for my sister; Canon T90 SLR as my "main" camera

compact, clearity of photos,design,all-weather,spot mode and ease of use.

None observed

Thanks to the other reviewers and this site, I purchased the Epic QD. It takes excellent shots. Very clear, good color balance and reproduction. Very surprising results from such a small gem. Features are easy to use and they work.I shot two frames in a dark room and results were very impressive. I am very pleased with the prints. Two rolls so far and some outstanding results. I will carry it with me regularly. It will serve me well on the trout stream to capture those memorable fish and prove I caught them! Also, based on my experience with it, I now plan to purchase one for my son for Christmas. I am inpressed with the Epic. Thanks to all for your help in the selection

Customer Service

No need

Similar Products Used:

Ricoh zoom, Nikon N90,
Minolta X700, SRT 101

Tiny, yet fills the hand nicely. Shutter release is quickly and easily located.

Excellent lens with decent speed. Load it with Tri-X, disable the flash, and pretend you're HCB.

Spot mode.

Surprisingly good flash. The night flash mode does a very good job at combining ambient with flash.

Rugged - mine has been drop-tested on concrete once (not a recommended procedure) and it just keeps working.

I must make a comment about the silver ("champagne") color, because I was amazed at how the color improved handling. It is MUCH easier to find a dim little viewfinder on a light-colored back, than a dim little viewfinder on a dark-colored back.You can bring this camera to your eye in one fluid motion, without having to hunt for the viewfinder. The only down side is that the silver color seems to be laid on over black, so heavy wear and deep scratches (such as those made by drop-testing onto concrete) will show.

Uses a long-lasting CR-123 battery instead of the just-as-pricey, short-lived CR2.

Quick, accurate focusing.

The wide-area AF sensor is easily confused, or at minimum does not always agree with the user in choice of subject. I use the spot mode, and always pre-focus.

I sometimes wish it had an infinity lock.

I frequently wish I could set "flash-off" as a permanent default.

I have the QD model. It weighs less than most Nikon lenses, but includes a camera and flash. It's hard to believe it's so tiny. The flash is powerful, and the stroboscopic red-eye reduction works. (Some people complain that it doesn't work, but they're usually trying to shoot from too far away. The closer you are, the better it'll work. That's true of any p&s red-eye reduction mode.) The 35/2.8 lens is tack sharp, but requires careful pre-focusing because the dof is thin and the camera's program seems to favor wide apertures.

Customer Service

Not needed, although a question emailed to their customer service dept. was answered quickly and thoroughly.

Similar Products Used:

Original Olympus Stylus. Also, some non-similar zooms p&s cameras including the superb Fuji DL Mini Super, the indestructible Pentax 90WR, and the adequate Pentax IQZoom 115M.

sharp fast 35mm/2.8 lens. accurate meter. small size.a collectabel camera in the future. I wish Olympus make a titanium or metal case version of this camera. Many camera makers spend too much money and time to make those APS metal camera which I will not spend a cent on those.

for the money you spent and picture you get, you will be too picky to find out this little cuty's weakness.

Good camera for point and shoot. I like the Fuji super mini zoom DL too. I will give this camera 6 star if I have the choice.

Customer Service

n/a

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Can you find one?

Compact, Sharp/Fast lens
Cheap!

Flashes when not needed
especially in daylight, a possible defect.No infinity mode- trouble shooting through glass windows.
Wish for a wider lens.
Camera shell slippery at times, prefer a matte body surface. Miss a manual ISO override.

For the price, I really have no complaints except
the always-flash defect(I like avaliable light work) and the lack of infinity mode. Not as sharp as the Leica Mini's but does not have their even-coverage problems.For a pocketable camera for that quality quick shot, it's hard to beat. I do miss my old Olympus XA-4's 28mm lens but it too had coverage problems especially with flash. Now how about a Olympus Epic 28mm with a 2.8 lens...with even coverage.
Olympus, are you listening?

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Rollei 35S, Olympus XA4
Leica Mini, Leica Mini 3
Nikon equivalent.

I take climbing pictures with it, it hangs round my neck and can be used with one hand. More generally the different flash modes are good, as are the other features. I've taken photos at night that have come out great and lots of others.

The case can be slippery if you're trying to open it one handed with gloves on. A little rough bit on the front would fix that. The flash does sometimes fire when it's not needed in daylight but you can switch it off.

It fits in your pocket and doesn't make a hole in it when you buy it. Also it has a great lense and lots of good features as well as being very easy to use.

Customer Service

Fairly good, I got one very wet and it was seen to fairly quickly.

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None that made as good an impression as this one.
I also have a Nikon FE2

Small size, excellent optics, different flash modes, spot metering and autofocusing

I learned that I must lock the focus on what I wanted in focus. What I thought was a weakness actually turnedc out to be a strength.

Great little camera. I keep it in my car at all times, and carry it around in my pocket for those spontaneous shots. I purchased one for my daughter last Christmas, and on a trip to Hawaii, she took some of the best shots on the trip. I highly recommend it, but do learn to spot meter, spot autofocus, and the different flash modes. Using these features can help you have much greater control over it and get the shot you want.

Customer Service

Not necessary

Similar Products Used:

Canon a1

Best possible buy for a compact P&S.
Small size make easy carrying for all situations to capture shots that I would have missed.
Sophisticated for the price. Flash improvements are very welcome. Spot and average metering is an excellent refinement over the Stylus.
Very Good optical quality and resolution.

Hard to find any.
OK, small size makes change over of flash and settings a little difficult.

I have purchased four Stylus for gifts and have now gone to the Stylus Epic. I carry it with me on business or pleasure. For a P&S, I couldn't be more pleased.

Customer Service

Never used.

Similar Products Used:

Stylus
Olympus XA
Pentax ZX5N
Pentax Super Program and K2

Size, sharpness, Good range of shutter speeds

No exposure comp. infinity focus

This little camera is great. i have nationally published photo's (SHHHHHH) taken with this little jewel. It seems as sharp as the Gr1, if not sometimes better. I wish it would come with a 28 f2.8.

Similar Products Used:

Ricoh Gr1

Excellent sharpness
Perfect exposures with or without flash

so small it is hard to get used to holding for picture taking

I bought this for my wife for a five month around the world trip. I "lost" my SLR eqipment on teh first day of the trip.

I was expecting fairly lousy point and shoot but at least you'll remember shots. When we got home and processed the film I was amazed. THis is a great camera for anyone to use.

It allows you to disable the flash and to focus on infinity, which are nice little control featues on a point and shoot.

It is a great camera for any point-and-shooter, as well as a carry-along camera when you don't want to drage around the SLR.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

Usually use SLR's