The grip is perfect.
Zoom lens.
Versatility.
Ease of use.

A bit slow turning on and off, but in all fairness, I'm not an "Action" photographer.

I saw this camera at a garage sale for $20.00 and couldn't pass it up ( it was "like new", still in the box). I was amazed at the features this camera has. Like other reviews I've read, this is a great camera compared to your basic "point & shoot" cameras, with many of the features you get from an SLR camera. One thing mentioned in other reviews was the dis-like for the lens cap... I personnaly like the design, although it wouldnt close completely, until I realized it had a lens filter on it (bonus for me), and when I removed the filter, all was well! On a recent trip to Wrigley field, I used the panoramic feature, and the pictures were amazing. The clarity of all my photo's were just stunning.

Similar Products Used:

None... this is my first quality camera.

Superb lens, worth the price of the camera. Aperture priority mode is just what a serious photographer wants (but can't get) in a point-and-shoot. The flash synchs to 1/2000th in portrait mode, and it is a monster flash with a guide number of 73! Winston Link would have loved it. Spotmetering is a real blessing. This is a travel camera for a serious photographer.

Exposure counter LCD goes off when the lens is retracted. The remote control does not control zooming, only triggers the shutter. No information on zoom focal length -- it would be nice to know when, say, the focal length is 50mm, 85mm, etc.

The sharpness of the lens is the big draw. My negatives compare favorable to what I get with my Leica, Pentax, and Nikon lenses. There is a little pincushion distortion at 28mm. The 1.9x tele-extender works well, to convert the camera to a 210mm telephoto. The 52mm filter threads are a blessing, allowing me to attach my Nikon 4T close-up lens, a highly-corrected 2-element achromat. This gives me 1:2 macro capability with the IS-30.

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Pentax IQZ 928, Canon Z90W

Strength: 1.PRO lens. My friends ask me whether I took the 4x6 photos using pro equipment (C or N). They love look at themselves in the sharp pictures. Picture still sharp at 8x12inch. People are very impressed about my photo at 8x12. 2.IVP flash. All flash photo are correctly exposed even though the background is totally dark. This would fool the TTL system of other flash system. Why don't they put the same function the “mu” system ? 3.Lens cap : Very very convenient. I love it. I am the kind of person who often forget things. I lost many caps in the past. Why do they delete it in IS-5 ? 4.Look : It is pretty. 5.Convenient. Teleconverter is available. The whole set is much lighter than SLR. 6.It is SLR. What U see is what u get. I can tell where does it focus on. 7.Easy to hold. And easy to hang on my neck. The long lens "falls" comfortably downward. 8.FP flash available. 9.Flash is powerful. 10. Big aperture for a P+S 4x zoom.

1. Can't use FL-40 flash. 1.AF : 1 point slow hunting AF. Why don't they use something like Minolta Dynax 5 ? 2.Battery house : Too easy to open accidently. Yesterday I hang the camera on my shoulder and this housing opens and the battery drops out several times. 3.Aperture is not circle. 4.Little viewfinder information. 5.Slow start/shutdown time. Improvement expected : 1. They should build a longer arm for the flash so that to maximize the distance from flash to lens. This can reduce red-eye and reflect from eye-glass (50% HK people wear glasss ! ). Why do they still use the short arm in IS 5000 ? Olympus disappoints me! Such function is a unique feature IS serious can put on..... why don't they do it ? 2. Diffuser for the flash should be provided as alternative device for diffusing the flash. 3. FL-40 should be able to attach ! 4. Why don't they put pro features there ? DOF, multi-explosure..... Minolta is doing this on Dynax 5 already. 5. This camera eats too much battery. They should allow us to use AAA NiMH battery alternatively. I like AAA because it is lighter than AA. Users of this camera buy it because is it lighter for travel than SLR. 6

I like this camera. It is a good P+S. If they put more improvement, it can be a professional camera. The lens alone worth the price - Sharp, Large enough aperture.

Customer Service

Just sent for repair the gear box which weared out due to unreasonable use. Don't know the result yet.

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OM Mu II, Minolta Freedom zoom, Minolta Dynax 5. Pentax AF SLR.

Sharp contrasty lens, noisy to zoom, but so? Can be used with diopter lenses, and at 7+ is about 1:1; can be used as TTL point and shoot or as an SLR with a good zoom; solid construction; try shooting slides, Provia 100 or Kodak VS 100, also does well with print film ISO 400.

Lens a bit slow, so use a travel tripod or a fast film!

Fine travel/hiking camera, excellent lens with good zoom range at 28-110mm, can be fitted with filters, and telextenders; excellent feel in the hand, well placed controls; exposure compensation and good spot meter that locks with one touch; have used mine in desert and near rain forest conditions with no ill effects; the lens cap IS goofy, but to solve simply fold open, and leave the lens extended while using, and buy a cheap lens cap, 52mm, to keep the lens covered during use, consider the built-in lens cap a storage cap, and the camera turns itself off after about 10 seconds if not used with lens extended: try it. While not weather proof, this camera has fewer seams so a bit less worry than with a standard SLR.

Customer Service

zip

Similar Products Used:

Zenit SLR, Nikon EM, Sigma SA-7, an odd assortment but good slides!

Good points : 1.Good lens. My friends ask me whether I took the 4x6 photos using pro equipment (C or N). They love look at themselves in the sharp pictures. Picture still sharp at 8x12inch. People are very surprised about my photo at 8x12. 2.IVP flash. All flash photo are correctly explosed even though the background is totally dark. This would fool the TTL system of other flash system. Why don't they put the same function the mu system ? 3.Lens cap : Very very convenient. I love it. I am the kind of person who often forget things. I lost many caps in the past.Why do they delete it in IS5000 ? 4.Look : It is pretty. 5.Convenient. Teleconverter is available. The whole set is much lighter than SLR. 6.It is SLR. What U see is what u get. 7.Easy to hold. And easy to hang on my neck. The long lens "falls" comfortably downward. 8.FP flash available.

1.AF : 1 point slow hunting AF. Why don't they use something like Minolta Dynax 5 ? 2.Battery house : Too easy to open accidently. Yesterday I hang the camera on my shoulder and this housing opens and the battery drops out several times. 3.Aperture is not circle. 4.Little viewfinder information. 5.Slow start/shutdown time. Improvement expected : 1. They should build a longer arm for the flash so that to maximize the distance from flash to lens. This can reduce red-eye and reflect from eye-glass (50% HK people wear glasss ! ). Why do they still use the short arm in IS 5000 ? Olympus disappoints me! Such function is a unique feature IS serious can put on..... why don't they do it ? 2. Diffuser for the flash should be provided as alternative device for diffusing the flash. 3. The flash should be able to move 0-90degree upbound; bounce the light from the ceiling. 4. Why don't they put pro features there ? DOF, multi-explosure..... Minolta is doing this on Dynax 5 already. 5. This camera eats too much battery. They should allow us to use AAA NiMH battery alternatively. I like AAA because it is lighter than AA. Users of this camera buy it because is it ligh

Short image. Good flash. Convenient. If you don't have any camera at home, this one is good choice.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

Mju II. Minolta Riva 140. Minolta Dynax 5. And many SLRs.....

easy to operate, with auto focus and auto zoom.

lens cap, and flash takes to long to re-generate

great camera for people who like the luxury of automatic features, quick and easy to use. a well engineered camera.

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none

fast AF, sharp lens,creative control, feels great in hands

slow to turn on & off, don't like the lens cap set-up

As a Mamiya med format & Nikon 35mm user, the IS30 fills the need for an everyday, go everywhere camera - a step above a p&s.

Customer Service

haven't needed but request for brochure came immediately

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None

Ease of use
Lens 28-110mm
High quality optics
Fast reponse AF
Aperture and exposition control
Spot metering
Good flash with red aye reduction and fill capabilities.
Remote Control option
Viewfinder with diopter control -2 +1
Body design

No flash socket.
Not so fast AF on low light conditions.
At the moment I find no other problems.

A great camera that works as good as it looks... Well I have had a Canon Rebel X, yes the normal SLR cameras offer more flexibility, but I do not want to spend my whole life learning how to make great shoots. Then I found the Olympus IS-30DLX which is a beauty hybrid camera, something between SLR and a true point and shoot. In this camera I can control aperture and exposition, I have spot reading, remote control capability and virtually all best features of SLR's, well I can not interchange lenses and I do not have a flash socket, I miss these two features, BUT IN EXCHANGE I HAVE A VERY GOOD FLASH AND A 28-110MM WIDE-ZOOM LENS. THE OPTICS ARE GREAT, CRYSTAL CLEAR WITH GOOD TONAL BALANCE AND SHARP COLORFUL IMAGES. Also, altough it was not my intention, this camera makes people turn their heads and say "it looks great" or "great design". I know this camera maybe is not o.k for the most demanding situations but I think it sets a new category that I could call "the entry-mid level SLR killer", or "the non professional SLR killer". Sorry about my English and remember, these are my personal opinions only...
Happy shootings whatever you use...

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Canon Rebel X's
Miranda Sensomat

Great Camera for the person who wants quality, sharpness and ease built into one camera. I previously owned cannon ae-1 which I sold to buy this camera....I do not regret it...I love the style and ease of this camera.

Lens cap design

GREAT for the person who wants a great camera that does it all for you. But with the versility to change settings.

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Cannon Elph , cannon ae-1

The camera is a good compromise between the compacts and the SLRs with a sharp lens and some cool features to try for creativity.

Great photos so far.

Good lens and features.
Looks are great too!

Loud zoom.
Motor eats battery.

Flash looks very delicate.

Good camera for the price.

Similar Products Used:

None