Olympus stylus epic - is this really a great point and shoot canera?

I read numerous positive reviews on this tiny, versatile camera and

bought one in ebay. I took it to a church retreat and took a roll of

Kodak MAX film. Well, results are aweful! Firstly, every shot I took

indoors, there was huge chromatic abberation, especially around

windows where strong sun light coming through. It is so visible with

4x6 prints. Secondly, huge barrel distortion even though I just

tilted 10 degree down or so. Is it really 35mm angle or less than

that? I am wondering if there is anybod who has same experience.

The barrel distortion is a common complaint with this camera. You have to try and avoid shooting up/down at an angle. Squat down or try to get on the same level. You won't always be able to do this and so it is a limiting problem with this type of lens. The chromatic aberation is news to me. Oh, I hate Kmax film. Worst film I ever tried.

I haven't noticed any significant chromatic abberation or barrel distortion. Since you say you see the latter when pointing down I wonder if you're just seeing converging vertical lines, which is simply a perspective effect.

Are you talking about the non-zoom fixed focal length 35mm f2.8

Olympus Infinity Stylus Epic?

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The viewfinder has noticable barrel distortion, but there's

none on film or in the final prints that I can see. Just to be clear,

barrel distortion is where lines that were straight on the

subject appear curved on the film, specifically bowed outward.

Since people are talking

about point the camera up or down, or getting at the same level

as the subject, I fear some people are thinking of perspective

issues, where parallel lines appear to converge and don't look

parallel anymore.

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I've also not noticed chromatic aberrations, certainly not on

4x6 prints.

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I <em>have</em> noticed focus errors and exposure errors occasionally,

but these can be minimized by using spot metering combined with

the partial press of the shutter release to lock meter and focus

before recomposing.

I went back and looked at some of my stylus epic shots, and could see a little bit of distortion in some of them, but I had to look for it.

 

What were the prints made on? I have seen Frontier prints with some pretty garish chromatic abberration, but never seen it on a piece of film, at least with this camera.

Yes, it's a great camera. I've never seen any chromatic or barrel distortion. My wife and I have been using two of them for 6 years. The only problems are the occasional bad exposures or focussings associated with any fully auto camera.

 

If you point it up at something like a building you will get perspective distortion. This is a natural effect of optical physics and happens with any wide angle lens on any camera.

It's always the hammer and never the carpenter isn't it?

 

This maybe a case of product variability, but I've had amazing success with my stylus epic. Try buying decent print film or even some slide and shoot a roll.<div></div>

with tcn 400

I have a question on the Mju/Stylus Epic. I just bought one (without a manual) and am trying to figure it out. Is it normal that the lens first extends when you press the shutter all the way? I mean, shouldn't it start to focus as soon as you press the shutter gently? Thanks,

That's normal.

 

The only thing you won't be able to figure out without a manual is how to engage the spot meter--which you do by pressing both buttons on the back simultaneously until you see the spot icon.

Okay - my guess was a soft push on the shutter release would activate the lens to start focusing when the green light goes on - but obviously the software 'thinks' about the point of focus and steers the lens?