Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80 QD CG Date 35mm Camera

Maybe this camera is too dated. It's quite large, it can barely be called a compact camera. Also, the maximum aperture is a mere F4.5, so it's a good idea to use high-speed film.

On the other hand, the picture quality is excellent, with SLR-type quality. Genuinely much better than the results I can get from a similarly-sized digital camera, especially at the shorter end of the zoom. And the flash does a pretty good job. There's some red-eye, but in general it doesn't over-light scenes, the way most flashes do on small cameras.

I had this camera for a number of years, and my friend still uses it. Over the years it's developed a few problems: it makes a grinding sound as the zoom extends (it hasn't broken yet, but I expect it will someday), and it can be a little tricky to open the door enough to activate the camera.

Maybe the still-in-production Stylus Epic 2.8 lens is a better choice - there's no zoom but it has a faster lens, a smaller body, and slightly better picture quality.

This is a very cool overall camera! The zoom is average, but the picture quality is AMAZING!!! I use the cheapest film around and my brother is a camera freak and my camera still takes better pictures than his! I have had it for 5 years and I LOVE IT!!!

If you want a nice camera with great quality

GET IT :>)

I really loved this camera, but the sliding "door" broke and wouldn't close after only a few months of minimal usage. I don't know if I got a lemon, or what. The camera was never dropped or otherwise abused. I had had another Olympus for years with the same design, that worked great--it's really easy to get quick shots when you can slide off the lens cover and turn on the camera all in one quick motion ; I will most likely try another one even after my bad experience with this one. I hope that they have solved this issue, if it was widespread--at least one other reviewer mentioned the same problem...

The size and design of this camera make it ideal for what it is designed for. It takes great pictures in light and dark (though it's better at outdoor pictures) and it fits easily into your pocket. It opens quickly with one hand; no fumbling around with a lens cap. It focuses quickly so you can take a shot from a closed position very quickly.

The only thing worth noting is that this is a point and click camera. If you want to control exposure, shutter speed, etc. or play with macro, this is not your camera.

We purchased this camera to take on a European vacation. It is very easy to use and the pictures, for the most part, turned out well. I only wish I had taken along an old 35mm SLR I've had for 20 years so I could have used a wider variety of lenses. This camera, for all of its capabilities, did a very good job.