Is the DLX Olympus Stylus the exact same as the regular?

[ozreth]

Hello,

I'm debating between buying a Stylus Epic and a Stylus Epic DLX. I'm under the impression that they are the exact same camera other than the two extra options that come on the DLX. Is this the case? They DLX is about $10 more but comes with a really nice case, and looks to be in slightly better condition although they are both basically like new. I just want to make sure that the DLX is not somehow an inferior camera. Thanks!

 

[btgc]

Deluxe version comes with date imprinting and panorama switch which moves curtains in film chamber to mask good portion of frame. Not something I'd pay premium nor try to avoid by any means. Take em both as these tiny cams break when used a lot and you will have spare.

 

[ozreth]

Deluxe version comes with date imprinting and panorama switch which moves curtains in film chamber to mask good portion of frame. Not something I'd pay premium nor try to avoid by any means. Take em both as these tiny cams break when used a lot and you will have spare.

Gotcha, but otherwise the same camera? I just know that there is the zoom 80 which is inferior due to the lense. Just wanted to make sure that the DLX doesn't have any shortcomings (compared to the regular stylus epic) despite having the deluxe title.

Thanks!

 

[btgc]

Stylus Epic is 35/2.8 version, all other versions - 80, 115 and such, show up in model name. So I assumed it's one model, only different by DLX package. If you mean different models, then it depends what you want more - fast lens or zoom range.

If they are priced reasonably (for you, I mean) get both, if both varieties are what you would use. Generally, compacts with zoom lenses aren't someones dream but if one realizes what it can and what not, zoom versions can be very useful. Mostly wide to normal or mild tele zooms are best in compacts, bet generic 38-80 also can be interesting. It really depends on price, if it's high then get one you wish most.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

All the Olympu DLX variations I have seen have been with zoom lenses and the date and panorama cropping. To add to the confusion the panorama masking was added to the µ - I and (perhaps) µ - II. The first being called the µ[mju:] - Panorama; it had a small switch on the back which shut or opened the mask magnetically. Easily remembered because they were proud of it and mentioned it in their PR. And I've had date versions with QD tagged on to the model name.

Then I remembered this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UDa3ADe6pI

and this:-

http://filmadvance.com/2012/07/favourite-cameras-olympus-stylus-epic/

that shows the DLX has the panorama and date facilities added to the plain (!) Stylus Epic - that I call the µ[mju:]-II... So I guess that's done for the USA buyers.

BTW, talking of zooms, my main problem with all makes of compacts with zooms is that they have very slow lenses at the tele end. And are not so fast at the wide end. Looking at the first three or four in my camera list we get f/10 point something at the 80mm end and f/4 and f/5.6 at the 28mm and the 38mm end. The worst was f/11.9 at 150mm and f/5.4 at 38mm. Only one of those was on an Olympus camera.

The other problem is that a lot of them have made cameras with 3 or 4 different names and so you can never be sure which one we are talking about. And some of the names are really silly.

Regards, David

 

[btgc]

David, I had Stylus Epic DLX with 35mm lens so they certainly aren't too rare. Just spiced up Mju-II for US market.

 

[David Hughes]

David, I had Stylus Epic DLX with 35mm lens so they certainly aren't too rare. Just spiced up Mju-II for US market.

Hi,

I sometimes see the USA named versions and usually buy them if they're the plain/prime lens ones. I guess people were in the USA on holiday and had forgotten their camera and so bought one there. Most I've seen looked as though they'd only had a single roll of film in them and were in the box with all the other bits and pieces. Even so they are still rare in the UK.

I guess there's a small number of UK or European named ones in the USA for the same reason.

And I think/guess at some point Olympus got fed up of all the different names and started using just one name for the lot; trouble was they then decided infinity, stylus, mju and DLX could all be included in the name and perhaps QD and panorama. I can remember cursing them as I typed the full names into my catalogue/database.

FWIW, I never use the date or panorama, after the first test roll; although I often mean to date the first picture on the roll for reference but forget.

Regards, David

 

[ozreth]

Hm, I've never seen a DLX for sale online that was zoom. I went ahead and bought the DLX that I was considering and it is 35/2.8.

 

[David Hughes]

Hm, I've never seen a DLX for sale online that was zoom. I went ahead and bought the DLX that I was considering and it is 35/2.8.

Hi,

Here we go, anything to oblige:-

Regards, David

PS That µ[mju:]-II QD on its way to you is a nice, neat and very usable camera; I hope you will be pleased with it but there's no reason why you shouldn't be, imo.

 

[lawnpotter]

I agree with previous posting. Buy them both if they are cheap. One for colour and one for black and White. I love tri X with the epic