Olympus IS-30 DLX

Review Date
March 15, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
jqwatson , Casual

Price Paid
$20.00 at Garage Sale

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
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.

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

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

Similar Products Used
None... this is my first quality camera.

Review Date
January 26, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
wollensack , Expert , from Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Price Paid
$180.00 at eBay

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
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.

Strengths
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.

Weaknesses
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.

Similar Products Used
Pentax IQZ 928, Canon Z90W

Review Date
September 18, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
, Intermediate , from Hong Kong

Price Paid
$300.00 at Wing Shing camera

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
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.

Strengths
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.

Weaknesses
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

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

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

Review Date
August 28, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
wren , Intermediate , from Portland, OR

Price Paid
$350.00 at shutterbug

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
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.

Strengths
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.

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

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

Customer Service
zip

Review Date
August 5, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Chat Ming Woo , Intermediate , from Hong Kong

Price Paid
$295.00 at Wing Shing

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

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

Strengths
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.

Weaknesses
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

Similar Products Used
Mju II.
Minolta Riva 140.
Minolta Dynax 5. And many SLRs.....

Customer Service
Not used.