Sharp lens. Relatively fast (f4.0 to 8.4) for a point and shoot. Feels very solid for a plastic camera. Splash proof.

None, except that I wish the flash was stronger.

I recently bought the Stylus 80 Wide DLX as a small and convenient camer for travel. I also wanted the 28mm wide capability. I tested this camera against my Olympus IS3 DLX and my Olympus 2S with various prime lens. I shoy various photographs with each camera using Fuji HD 200. I had the photographs developed at my local pro shop. Throughout the entire zoom range, 28mm to 80mm, the Stylus is remarkable. Using a 10x magifying glass, the resolution (center to edge) of the pictures taken with the Stylus equaled that of the OM 2S. And, the Stylus was equal to, and in some aspects, sharper than the IS3. The exposure was identical for all three cameras. The color rendition and contrast was identical for a three cameras. I did not expect the Stylus to perform this well. I am considering selling the other two cameras and using the Stylus as my primary camera--it''s that good!

Customer Service

Not needed yet, too early to tell.

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Tried a Pentax IQzoom 120 SW. Pictures loked good (I didn''t do a comparision shoot as desribed above). Brought it back because it did not feel very substantial.

wideangle lens

too high contrast prints withloss fo detail

I previously owneda cheaper Olympus P&S which I loved. When I lost it I upgraded to this one. I love the 28mm capacity but have been disappointed with the contrast of the prints. The dark areas are blacker with much more loss of contrast than with my previous camera.

Customer Service

not tried

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My friend''s Pentax P&S is better

Good red-eye reduction inddor and night shots 28mm zoom easy to use controls clamshell design fits in pocket fairly well

would like screen to light up at night sometimes gets falloff on 28mm setting

I bought this camera to take to Paris, as I didn’t want to lug 35mm SLR equipment around. I researched it quite a bit and since I wanted a 28mm lens, decided this was the best all around choice. The only real negatives I saw was people complained about red eye, but the red eye reduction worked great for me, I took a lot of shots of people at night, with the Eiffel tower and other buildings in the background as well as many shots indoors and the results were superb. I used the night setting with red-eye reduction and the lit up Eiffel tower looked great as well as the fireworks in the background on Bastille day, and the people in the foreground were all well exposed and looked good. I also took some shots inside restaurants, and it captured the people and ambiance very well. Of all the indoor and night shots I took from group shots to close-ups, I was pleasantly surprised that there was virtually no red-eye. The only thing that bothered me was the screen had no light to help me see what flash setting I was using. Also the edges were a little dark on some shots at the 28mm setting, but when I zoomed it out a little to about 35mm focal length, it seemed to get rid of it. Seems to show up more on darker shots, only bothered me on a couple shots though. I’ve since taken a bunch of party shots in LA, and the results were similarly good. I just used the red-eye reduction without the night setting since it was mostly smaller spaces indoors, and all the shots have been sharp and well exposed. The outdoors shots I’ve taken have been very good, the 28mm setting is great for travel, I would have liked an even wider lens several times. I found the lens to be reasonably sharp, not as good as a 35mm reflex, but good for this type of camera, the pictures looked pretty sharp overall. I used Fuji 400 and 800 film and both looked good, but I was really surprised at how good the 800 looked. Faster films definitely work better with these point and shoots. I always use this camera for party shots now, and take it with me when I travel and I don’t want to take a 35mm reflex with me, it does a good all around job, it fits in my pocket fairly easily which is important too.

Customer Service

Haven''t used

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Almost all Nikon slr''s, various point and shoots.

Verstile zoom range. Compact. Olympus quality.

Lousy date imprint feature. Just turn it off!

I bought my wife this camera so that she wouldn't have to share mine on trips. After dozens of rolls, I can say that this camera lives up to the Olympus name for quality. Loaded with ASA 200 or 400 film, the camera delivered great color and sharpness in both landscape shots and portraits. You might do slightly better, and I DO mean only slightly with a Minilux 35-70; but when your back is to the wall, most of us would rather GET that great shot that needed a 28 mm lens. When a better 28 - 80 point and shoot is built, I'll buy one. Right now the Olympus is the one!

Customer Service

Dropped my IS-10 4 feet to the pavement, breaking the lens. Olympus replaced the entire lens assembly and the camera works like new. I was not too happy with the intermediary (Wolf Camera), as they took their time getting the camera into the Olympus shop, and getting it back.

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Stylus, IS-10, Elph Jr. N-90s

28mm wide angle
contrasty lens
very sharp
cute olympus clamshell design

some what bulky
not totally 'water resistant'

This is a great compact camera with much better than average lens-especially at 28mm. The lens is very sharp and contrasty- with images looking like they came from a decent SLR zoom rather than a compact zoom camera. It is more contrasty than sharp, but has high sharpness. Like most Olympus compacts, the color balance is very pleasing, but this one has a bit higher saturation. I had to check my prints to see what kind of film I was using- it is that good- looks snappy in prints. I developed similar film with another 28mm zoom (Minolta Freedom Explorer) and the color saturation is much, much richer. Less distortion than other 28s. Size is somewhat on the big side, but not a problem when the images are so good. Rare as more people want the 140zoomers... Beware:Water resistant is not WaterTIght by any means, unless they say waterproof- I have 3 less camera as proof.

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None

Weatherproof
Wider angle lense
Compact
View finder large enough
Wireless remote control available

Panoramic pictures turned out grainy (used 400 film)
Was a bit more pricey than similar cameras

After several years of taking pictures of nothing but kids and dogs with crappy point and shoot cameras, I had pretty much given up on ever taking a decent picture again. But last summer I decided to toss my latest piece of crap (Kodak Advantix) and purchase a new camera to take on a trip to Mexico. The deciding factors (besides favorable reviews for Olympus P&S cameras) were the weatherproofing and the wide angle zoom. This camera was compact, light weight, easy to use and has plenty of features that allow the photographer to have some control. The camera did not fail us - every one of our pictures turned out great and the wider angle came in very handy. We used Kodak 400 film the entire trip - bright daylight as well as dusk and jungle shots.

If you purchase this camera, be sure to turn the date feature off immediately because it prints the date in red in the lower right hand corner.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 35 mm zoom point & shoot
Kodak Advantix
Canon Sure Shot

Size, Weight, Zoom Range, Spot Metering, Fill Flash.

Teeny little buttons. Doesn't stay in selected mode after taking exposure. Redeye reduction doesn't, although this is typical of Phd. cameras. Use the flash for fill, not as primary light.

The 28-80 zoom range is just about ideal. I find the usual 35 or 38 short end of a typical P&S is too close to a normal lens to be effective as a wide angle. The 28mm is about the longest focal length which really fits the "wide angle" moniker.
The lens, like all Phd. zoom lenses, is on the slow side. It is sharp and the exposure system works well with color negs. I haven't tried slide film with it so I can't comment on the absolute accuracy of it.

The fill flash is very natural looking and well balanced with the background exposure. I wish I could post some examples along with this review, but I can't, so I won't.

Most controls are easy to get at, but putting it in the spot metering mode requires "chording" two small buttons on the top of the camera -- not too bad, but clumsier than I would like since I use it all the time. As someone else mentioned, the buttons for the date imprint are hard to deal with, but who wants to ruin a perfectly good picture with an imprinted date?

Finally, the panorama mode is fun to play with, but mostly useless, just ask for a crop from the lab if you want a panorama mode print.

Overall this is a great little point + shoot for a photographer who has a bent toward using wide angle lenses for more serious work. Although it does not have the mondo long end that seems so popular with consumers today, the difference between 80 and 140 really isn't that much. Face it, you aren't going to be getting great tele shots of birds or animals with that 140 long end and 80 is a really nice length for portraits, although in most Phd. cameras the lens is really too slow for good portrait photography. Overall, I would recommend this camera to anyone who understands that the value of a real wide angle is greater than the value of a longer mild tele and wants a camera with a certain degree of weatherproofness. The durable clamshell construction is a good selling point also.

Customer Service

N/A

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Canon SureShot Z-105

size, weatherproofing, zoom range, spot metering

slower lens, red-eye

This camera is my first choice for outdoor jaunts with family, rather than haul my F-100 gear. Slips easily into pocket, very useful zoom range, spotmetering is godsend. Always suprised at crisp results. Not very good for indoor shot where red-eye is a possibility, though, as might be expected.

Customer Service

never had to use

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Stylus 35-70(died after hard use)

compact, light weight, 3x28mm zoom, weatherproof, belt mounted carrying case

flash seems a little weak, but I hope to get used to this limitation

very satisfied with purchase of this camera after running 10 rolls of 400asa film through it.

Customer Service

havn't needed

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Pentax Espo 928. ( I gave up on it after 2 failures...couldn't trust it anymore )

Great wide lens, very portable, classic Stylus design.

None yet.

I've always been partial to the Olympus line, and this is another wonderful addition. The 28-80 lens is a gem, and so far - after 3 rolls - I'm a believer. Pictures are crisp, contrasty, consistently satisfying. Weatherproofing is a terrific plus, too. (Though, thankfully, it hasn't been tested yet!)
Feed it fast film - 400 is about perfect - and I think you'll be happy with the results. I know I am. Can't wait to take it on vacation and really put this through its paces.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

Olympus LT Zoom 105, Fuji Endeavor 300, Olympus Stylus Epic