Rating: 
Summary: Buy it for the lens
Review: The Olympus Stylus Epic is ideal for lightweight travel photography, having numerous features serious photographers will appreciate: spot metering, shutter speeds to 1/1000, f/2.8 lens that focuses to 12 inches, and weather-resistant seals. The lens is amazing, better in fact than some SLR optics I have used. A few suggestions for getting the most out of your Stylus:
1) This little camera weighs only about 5 ounces, so it is very important to hold it as steady as possible. I like to use a monopod when shooting scenics for maximum sharpness.
2) Use the spot meter. I have noticed a tendency toward over-exposure in some situations, and with some very slow-speed (ASA 50) print films.
3) The film advance is fairly noisy, so it is not recommended for candid photography.
While the Stylus, like many compact cameras, does not offer manual focusing or exposure control, within its limitations it is a superb picture-taker. I carry mine with me all the time.
Rating:
Summary: A very nice little camera
Review: The Olympus Stylus Epic QD 35mm camera is very, very small. It takes up less space than some APS cameras. I purchased my Stylus through Amazon because local photo stores did not keep the basic model on their shelves. This model does not have a zoom, panorama or other gadgets. It's a solid, easy to use and takes very sharp pictures. The only thing I recommend is purchasing the remote control/tripod/battery/pouch package through Amazon because I ended up paying about $40 for just the remote from a local store. (purchased one day before our vacation). The remote control is very easy to use and has a battery inside from the factory. Be carefull of focus if you compose your subject to the side. There is a way to capture focus on a subject then compose to the side to get a good shot. It takes a bit of practice. Landscape to buildings to close up photographs are very sharp. I have been using Kokak 100 and 200 ASA film. I've experienced a few red-eyes when I didn't use the red-eye reduction thingy. The most impressive thing about this camera is the viewfinder. It really is accurate. The crosshair is great for setting focus and centering a subject. I tested the viewfinder accuracy at about 10 feet from a chart. The camera captures just a little more than you see, evenly on all four sides. In effect, you can compose a shot just as you like it, without worry. There are viewfinder guides for close up photos also. I wanted a standard lens camera for better sharpness. But one of my relatives purchased the next model up that uses a zoom lens, it seems to produce very sharp pictures. (That model also is a little larger.) Overall, I like the camera and with a little more practice I will not make focus errors in the future. This Olympus did a good job on our two week vacation in Europe. We have some fantastic pictures and the camera was no problem to carry around.
Rating: 
Summary: perfect for snapshots of the little ones
Review: I own a nice camera with zoom and auto focus. With a granchild on the way last year, I bought my wife this fixed focus Olympus point and shoot camera. She just has to click. Her pictures are so much better than mine because my camera has auto focus. Babies and small chilren change expressions far to quickly for auto focus to focus. Fixed focus with a really good lens, which this camera has, is this reviewers choice for family pictures. I am ordering another one for me today.
Rating:
Summary: Almost the perfect point and shoot
Review: I've been shooting pictures since I was about 8, almost 30 years. I've owned several cameras, my first real one being a Canon AE-1 that I bought in high school. I upgraded to the EOS line in the early '90s and still shoot that line in film, but added medium format (Hasselblad) for portrait and wedding work (part time). Earlier this year, I got a digital and decided that I would invest a lot of time into that medium. But I wanted a film camera that, like my digital, had a good lens, was small and lightweight, and shot quality prints.I researched for several weeks all potential reviews on P&S cameras. My wife has an older Pentax that was alright, but I had decided that the zoom lenses are often slow and not sharp enough. I debated between getting a Yashica P&S off ebay, getting the newer zoom camera by the same maker, or getting this Olympus. I decided on the Olympus and am glad I did, though I'm sure the Yashicas are fine cameras. Working the camera is a snap. Open the lens cover, and shoot. I think the default setting is for fill flash, but the settings button cycles around -- so just use it for several rolls of film and get used to it. It does, however, reset to the default setting after you turn it off by closing the door on the lens, which is a minor problem. There's no need to wait for the lens to pop back in, since it is fixed focal length (though auto-focus -- keep in mind the difference). You may not believe me when I say this, but this camera will take better pictures in low light situations than all cameras except SLRs with the most expensive lenses. Having to use the rest of a roll of film and not particularly caring about picture quality, I took this camera to a recent night-time high school football game. Now football in Texas is big, and stadium lighting is pretty good, but it is never good for anything other than expensive, fast lenses, and fast film, right? Wrong. Well, partially wrong. This camera, armed with 200 (yes, that's 200 -- something I almost never shoot) film shot nighttime moderately lighted pictures that came out GREAT! The angle is wide, so the content leaves something to be desired, but this wide open apeture lens will definitely do the job when you need a fast, quality lens. There is a red eye reduction feature in the flash cycle, but I haven't tried it. My applications for this have been mainly outdoor, and the pics I've gotten are very sharp and as good as my SLR's. The guy I sold my AE-1 to won a national award with a pic he made with that camera. I recently asked him if he could do the same with this Olympus. He simply asked me when I wanted to bring it over!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent fixed focal length point and shoot camera
Review: This camera is one which has consistently received lavish praise from photo magazines such as Popular Photography for its ease of use and its superb Zuiko lens, which is comparable in quality to 35mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR) fixed focal length wide angle lenses. I've borrowed one belonging to relatives and am quite impressed with how it easy it is to use, as well as the fine pictures that it produces. Admittedly, it is a bit small, so those who are comfortable using larger point and shoot cameras or SLRs will have to try to hold it steady. Otherwise, you'll get blurry pictures. My favorite point and shoot camera is the Yashica T4 Super with its 35mm Carl Zeiss Tessar f3.5 T* lens, but the 38mm Zuiko lens on the Stylus Epic is just as contrasty and sharp. Furthermore, the Stylus Epic is at least $50 cheaper than the Yashica T4 Super. Those who want high quality pictures from an inexpensive point and shoot camera should strongly consider buying this petite gem.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Pictures - Fantastic Size - FANTASTIC Camera
Review: I purchased an original Olympus Stylus when it was first released in 1990. Enamored with it's small size, and rave reviews I plunked down my [money] and was off. Fast forward to 1999 - Averaging 2 rolls of film a month for 9 years, my Stylus began to sound a bit tired and was going through batteries at a quick pace. I began to look for a different camera and was certain I would just replace it in kind. However, with more rave reviews, the new Olympus Stylus Epic was released and I made the decision to replace my trusty little camera with the new version. The size of this camera is absolutely wonderful. In the point-and-shoot 35mm category it has been the smallest affordable camera to come down the pike in a long time. It is easy to take with you anywhere, and if having a small, easily tote-able camera will get ANYONE to take pictures, it is well worth it. You don't take the pictures if you don't have your camera with you - with this camera, there are no excuses for not having it with you. The pictures I've taken have been nothing short of fantastic. Always a clear image, colors are rendered appropriately, even spectacularly. The lack of a zoom has never been an issue, here In fact, I purchased a Stylus Zoom thinking it would enable me to take better close-ups, but quickly found out the closer I get to the action myself, without relying on a zoom lens, the better my pictures are. I returned the zoom camera without a regret. (If you REALLY need to zoom in, odds are you would be better off with an SLR and a real zoom lens, or a telephoto lens - we have those too - the size of this camera is much more practical!) We've given two or three of these as gifts to family members and have a number of extended family members who have purchased this camera based on it's size, and the fantastic pictures we've happily passed around. Everyone is thrilled! I don't think you will be disappointed should you decide to chose this camera!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent small Camera
Review: This is the perfect point-and-shoot camera. Very easy to use, small enought to fit anywhere, and weatherproof for those rainy days. A single focal length lens (i.e. no zoom) is the only way to go in a point&shoot. This makes it a much more durable camera than those with a zoom and it has a much faster lens. Meaning you will get a good exposure more often and have less dark & grainy pictures. Easier to operate, faster, and higher quality pictures than most digital cameras out there, and under $100! This camera is a steal!
Rating:
Summary: Always ready & easy to use
Review: Happy with this unit, supplements my 35mm SLR. Mini size is best of many features. Only annoyance is that lens autofocus travel occurs when shutter button is fully pressed to finally shoot, not at half way. This makes for a slightly shaky shot from the Camera's internal movements an instant before the shutter operation.
Rating: 
Summary: confusing
Review: I bought this camera after reading lots praising reviews. I was expecting to get excellent pictures from it. However, it did not work as I expected. Let me explain. I don't know really much about photography and my primary use for this camera is to take pictures of my children. First of all, almost all pictures I took were not sharp. Outdoors pictures, especially close-ups, turned out to be very good, but there are problems with most of the pictures I take indoors. Many of them have washed-out faces and a very dark background. Red-eye mode is practically useless when you take pictures of children: the camera sends a series of flashes before taking the picture. It scares children and make them close their eyes when the camera actually takes the picture. Also, on some outdoor pictures the camera selected very strange spots to focus on, making the main subject out of focus. This camera has no zoom, so one has to move a lot in order to compose a picture. Again, I find it very inconvenient when I take pictures of kids. Sometimes I just don't have time for this and I miss moments that I could capture with zoom. This camera is very small which has one serious drawback: it's very hard to hold steady, so many pictures are blury.
As simple as this camera seems, it requires some skills and learning in order to get great pictures from it. I've noticed that people that like this camera are usually advanced photographers and use it in addition to their SLR cameras. After reading materials ..., I found out that you have to learn how to use autofocus and spot mode correctly, you have to be very careful and precise with focusing and learn some other tricks in order to get good pictures. Yes, this camera has great lens, but you have to be sure that it suits your needs before you buy it. You may be better of with a different camera. Finally, if you are looking for a new camera you should seriously consider switching to digital. I recently bought Canon G2 and what a difference! I really enjoy taking pictures now. Buy a nice midsize digital camera like Canon G3, for example. You will be suprised how much better your pictures turn out. Yes, it's expensive, but it's worth it.
Rating:
Summary: simple, fast and perfect
Review: This is a camera I have used and abused for over 2 years and it keeps serving me flawlessly. Here's why I give it 4 stars:
- It does what it should: takes photos.
- Operation is idiot proof: (slide cover open to start shooting), aim, look, press button, repeat (slide cover close when done).
- Very robust. Its sliding cover protects the lens. I have carried the camera in my pockets along with keys and change; it has spent years in my car's glove compartment...
- The lens is very sharp and bright (f2.8)
- It is ready to shoot...now! I have taken many "stolen moment" photos with this one.
- Loading a new roll of film is very simple... Why I gave it 4 and not 5 stars:
- As the lens is very bright I tend to take photos with no flash. So I have to turn the flash off every time I turn the camera on -- it does not remember the last setting (and I wish it would).
- The battery indicator did not diminish gradually. One day the battery died unexpectedly (after at least 50 rolls of film in my case, mostly shot without flash). I still have the camera and take it on trips.
I have a Sony F717 which I use for digital but the Olympus is the one which gets to come with me everywhere. If a friend asked me what to buy, I would recommend this camera as the best choice...
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