Small, weatherproof, SHARP LENS FOR ONLY 90 DOLLARS!, spot meter which many slr's don't have.

Flash can really wash out faces but that's the problem with many p&s. settings always default when closed.

I've "moved" up from my aps to 35mm. after getting fed up with expensive aps film and processing as well as lack of sharpness, the epic was the camera for me. i decided on the epic b/c it's affordable and has a fast lens like my elph jr does. (the elph jr is still a great aps camera).

i am honestly not b.s'ing but this lens is honestly really sharp. i heard the yashica t4 is also great but it's also more expensive, bigger and has a slower lens (f3.5). honestly you cannot really tell the difference. i've used kodak royal gold 400 and i was not satisfied with the results from nightime shooting, but that was only 1 roll of experimenting. however, i used a few rolls of the more affordable fuju superia 200 and WOW! pictures were beautiful but the photofinisher also did a good job.

i recommend the camera b/c it's affordable and you will be honestly amazed at how sharp you pictures come out!!

remember this is a point and shoot, you cannot expect too much from a $90 camera.

it's simple to use and i'm still getting used to using it and understanding its strengths and weaknesses.

Similar Products Used:

canon elph jr.

Tiny, excellent lens, excellent exposure, spot meter, it's 35mm and not APS (so I don't have to carry odd film around for it), weatherproof.

Lack of user control

I always carry this camera if I haven't got an SLR with me. Image quality is great - can't tell it apart from results from my EOS system. Focus lock works well, and all in all this is a surprisingly good deputy for my SLR. Don't like the lack of information or control, but I trust this camera now. The exposure is good enough for slide film, and above all, this really is a remarkably cheap camera. And as it's 35mm, I can use my normal film.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Many SLRs, Pentax Espio

Small. Light. Sharp and fast lens. Weather resistant. Inexpensive.

Occasionally unreliable autofocus. Sensitive focus lock. Harsh flash. Red eye.

Excellent value and sharp lens, but reviewers giving this camera five stars have either not used many other compact 35mm cameras or are not bothered by unreliable autofocus, harsh flash, and difficulty in maintaining focus lock. By comparison, my Canon Classic 120 has a clearly superior autofocus, flash, and exposure system, and the lens, though slower, produces images which are, to my eye, better than those produced by the Olympus -- but, the Canon costs twice as much. Overall, I recommend the Olympus as an inexpensive P&S with a fine lens, but five stars? No way.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Agfa, Canon, and Leica compacts; Contax SLR.

Size, sharp lens, f/2.8 aperture, spotmeter, decent flash, accurate metering.

The very smooth case is slippy. Some minor lens distortions. Difficult to press buttons. AF gets it wrong sometimes; spotmeter better.

This is one excellent value camera which gives fantastic results - when you know how to use it. Tried Fuji Superia 400 and Kodak Gold 200 and got excellent quality shots which show very good sharpness, colour and a nice blur.

Buy it, you'll question the need for your SLR system...

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Fuji MX1500 digicam. Also use EOS system with a variety of lenses.

Incredibly compact and versatile. Spot focus for control. Great lens and variable flash modes. Sexy Black color and shape and weatherpoof. Sharp pictures with and without flash- the perfect travel camera. Shot 10 rolls and have not been disappointed yet - the Miata of cameras.Consistently got better results than my SLR!!
A must buy.

Lack of zoom - use your feet a lot. No night flash off mode. A panorama mode would have been nice.

Great camera for a great price - forget about the eurochic Leicas. People relax in front og this camera. Should be a design classic.

Customer Service

None required yet.

Similar Products Used:

Leica
Minolta
Canon

f2.8 lens.
f2.8 lens.
Small size, extreme portability.
Did I mention f2.8 lens?
Tack sharp focus
Spot metering! On an $80 camera!

Sounds like a lear jet crashing into a scrap iron yard.
Hot flash on closeups.

I bought The Stylus Epic as a back-up to my Pentax ME Super based on recommendations from this site, and for the most part, they were right on. I just got back my first test rolls (Kodak Gold 200) yesterday, and I was blown away at the results. I cannot distinguish pics from this camera and ones taken with my SLR with 28-80mm f3.5 lens.
Landscapes and portraits with adequate natural lighting were sharp, with the color and exposure perfect. I used this same film to get some pics of my band in a bar (bars have notoriously bad lighting) and got similar results with an almost cinematic effect on the color.
In low incandescent lighting, reds and yellow take on this funky 1970's Martin Scorsese ultra vivid contrast, at least with this film. It's a cool effect, and I intend to exploit it.
Close up, (closer than about seven feet or so) the flash heated up flesh tones (but only in low light. In natural full lighting there was no discernible flash problems) and a little reflection was noticeable, but for the most part, color balance and exposure was mostly perfect. I'm now testing it with Royal Gold 1000, and I expect similar results for low light.

Minor annoyances:
--This is not the camera to be used in intimate moments such as weddings (or funerals). The camera itself is unobtrusive, but the film advance sounds like a 1978 Gremlin stuck in second gear.
--No infinity lock. Not a big deal, but it would have been nice. However, given the overall quality of this camera, I'd say it was something I can live without. How often does one shoot through glass, anyway?
--Focus lock button is a bit sensitive, and takes some getting used to (out of 72 pics, two were 'accidentals' due to my slightly premature firing of the shutter release).

This camera is all about the lens. Some people complain about the little buttons and the fact that the flash settings revert back to default when the cover is closed. I say, unless you are shooting magazine covers with this camera, (and if you are, you are probably working for the lowest-budgeted magazine in the world), the Olympus Stylus Epic should be praised for what it is: a perfect marriage of an incredible lens and a nice compact case. It looks neat too. When I walk around with this and my Nuvis S, I feel like an extra from Star Trek. For $80-$100 you cannot go wrong in buying this camera. In fact, at that price, buy two (one for B&W and one for color). Heck, if J&R wants to send me one for free for publicly extolling its prices and service, then I recommend going to J&R and buying three.

Tips for purchasers:
--Iif you have trouble finding gloves to fit your hands, then this may not be the camera for you. The camera is about the size of a pack of cigarettes, and people with big hands might have a problem feeling comfortable with its small size.
--I got mine in Champagne Gold with data back (not that 90% of the people who have this option ever use it) for $79.00 at www.jandr.com. They shipped it in two days. I highly recommend picking one up from them. Do not buy the kit or the deluxe model: Paying $40 more for a battery or the Panorama option is a waste; instead, invest in ten or so rolls of Kodak Gold 200 and experiment with different lighting.

Why are you still reading? I said, go buy one...

Customer Service

Don't know yet. A friend of mine had a lens mount fixed on a 20 year old OM by them for free, though...

Similar Products Used:

Canon Classic 120 (almost broke off the pop-up flash on the first shot), Canon Z135 Zoom (ditto), a good number of older Ricohs, Fujis, Samsungs, et al. I wish I could say I've owned a Contax and a Leica, but casual photographers who spend $1000 on a point and shoot should probably have their head examined.

Small size, Quiet (no zoom),sharp lens, user friendly, view finder is one of the best compared to other point and shoots.

Flash has tendency to overexpose

Since my manual SLR's ceased functioning, I needed a camera quick that didn't put me in debt.This camera is good for any level as long as you know and use its' features. It serves its' purpose for speed or back-up in less desirable weather. You can move in real close which is a plus on a 35mm lens. I would have preferred a wrist strap.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Minolta XG-M, Minolta X9

Small, very small.
Truely sharp.
f2.8 it's a big plus.
Very Quiet.
35mm.
Weather Proof.
Multiple flash configuration.
Spot metering.

Spot metering doesn't work (very well) on backlit subjects.
The red eyes reduction multiple flashes makes the subject nervous!
The metering is always asking for flash.

Great camera. It gives great shots, as long as you turn off the flash, when you don't need it.
Recently, I tried Kodak T400+ and it got excelent shots! Lots of detail in close (and far) subjects.
Besides this it fits on the pocket of your coat nicely.

Customer Service

Never, I hope.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing this small and accurate.

Small size.
Fast, crisp 35mm f/2.8 lens.
Multiple flash modes.
Spot or area focus modes.
Powerfull flash.
DLX model has panoramic mode and date stamp.
Battery life seems good.

Red-eye reduction flash mode (strobe) takes too long to use. Subjects move before completion.
Spot mode focus cumbersome to engage.
The regular flash mode usually causes over-exposure when used to close to people.

I read the available info on the internet, some bad but mostly good ratings. I initally had some blurred and over-exposed (flash) pictures, but after reading the advice of other users, I determined that I was not using the camera correctly. I now depress the shutter half way with the crosshairs on the subjects face, reframe and shoot. It works every time even without entering the spot mode.
Use the spot mode when there is a strong ambient backlight especially when not using the flash.
When using the flash, I have found that the "flash on" mode works best. The camera will expose the picture as if the flash were off and will only deliver enough flash to light the subject. You can still get some of the avalable ambient light to show on the print. This works very well when the ambient light is indoor tungsten lighting. Most of the yellowish cast is gone with just a little showing. This creates a much "richer" picture. Flash on mode also works well with flourescent lights. You usually do not need to use "spot" mode when using "flash on" mode. You may need to use a tripod for best results.
The "night scene" mode also works well with tungsten lighting but usually produces a more "yellowish cast". The "night scene" mode seems to work best with halogen ambient indoor lights. Use a tripod for best results.
Use the "regular flash mode" when the subject(s) are more than about 12 feet away, otherwise, they will probably be overexposed. You can illuminate an entire room using this flash mode.
If there is some available "daylight" in a room, turn the flash off and use 400 ISO film to get good results.
Some people seem to have variable results using this camera. So did I before I took the time to check out the various modes. Now, I consider this camera to be one of the best, easily competing with my Nikon for snapshot quality.
I also like the DLX model's panoramic and date stamp features. Some people don't care for these features, but some outdoor landscape shots (including people) are just great in panoramic mode. The date stamp feature is also a plus.

Customer Service

Two year warranty from London Drugs. Immediate exchange. No hassel. I have not had any problems with the camera.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon EM SLR

Fixed f2.8, 35mm lens
5 flash modes
small enough to fit in a pocket
weatherproof
Excellent optics
14" Minimum focus range
EXTREMELY sharp pictures
Readies quickly after turn on
Speedy flash cycle
Self timer
A sleek, classy design
A disturbing yet very cool red eye reduction flash that my border collie despises. :^)

Ummm... Uhhh.. The lanyard was a pain in the @$$ to install? Does that count?
No filters

Let me start by saying that I have always shot with 35mm SLRs, and have always turned my nose up at the point and shoot line. Lately however, I have discovered that these cameras fill an important role. They are much easier to handle than 50 lbs of equipment and I must admit, I'm not "afraid" to carry this little fella anywhere.

I'm actually reviewing the Stylus Epic DLX which is a classy champagne color and has a QD (date) back and a panorama feature as well. Unfortunately, I've not yet used the panorama feature so I'll be unable to comment on it. If you'd like to view a selection of the first roll of film I ran through the Epic, go to:

http://community.webshots.com/album/12277043qDhBMhnLMy

All photos on that page were shot with the OSE. I'm very happy with the way they turned out. I'll eventually add a few panoramas to the album so if you'd like to see 'em check back at a later date.

This is a compact camera with a "bright" (f2.8), fairly wide angle (35mm) lens and for $80 this baby is a steal!

Customer Service

Hopefully I'll never need it.

Similar Products Used:

Been an AVID SLR user since I was a pup. Other p/s cameras I've used have basically sucked.Been an AVID SLR user since I was a pup. Other p/s cameras I've used (Ricoh LX-33W, A couple Fujis) have basically sucked.