Olympus Mju II eBay bargain still going strong

[Ronald_H]

Besides The Mju-II I bought in 2001 and still use (there is actually a roll of FP4+ from it waiting to be developed) I recently bought one for 2Euros at a flea market. Almost like new, with original box and warranty card.

And as to what a Mju-II can do, and what no other camera I have ever owned can:


Lowlands 2011 - roll 6 by Ronald_H, on Flickr

 

[farlymac]

In reply to hLing, I'ved got a 170 that I just abhor, while the 140 I found after it is not that bad of a camera. It could just be my 170 was quite misused by it's previous owners (I seem to recall cleaning some crud out of certain places), but it took forever to focus. And I shot it with 200 speed film, which I have learned is not fast enough for a p&s camera.

I've gone through quite a few two dollar cameras, looking for good combinations of lens and functions, and find that the Oly Stylus Infinity has the nicest 35mm lens of the bunch, and is quiet in operation. But I like a zoom, for all those times you just can't get closer, and currently have my Samsung Maxima Zoom 145 loaded with Kodak Ultramax 400. It's got a nice S-K Varioplan Super Macro, but I haven't gotton the hang of setting it up for macro yet. My latest single focal length aquisition is an Olympus AF Trip 50, with a 28mm lens. I'll carry that along with the Samsung when I need to get wider.

PF

 

[Peter_wrote:]

after looking for a small and lightweight camera for the summer i finally found an olympus mju II for 1€ on a flea market today.

first impressions: i was surprised how small it really is. even hard to believe, that a film and a battery fits into this...
and i like the viewfinder.

 

[btgc]

The Stylus may be the smallest auto-focus camera with an integrated flash, though.

It depends on definition of "smallest"...as Epic has curved shape. Rollei Prego 30 is very good contender for this nomination - small wide angle AF compact with 30/3.5 HFT coated lens.

 

[Norkusa]

I go to thrift stores almost every day. Since I started collecting point & shoots 4 months ago, I haven't found a single Stylus Epic. Just tons of Epic Zooms and a few non-Epic Stylus'. I'm sure I'll find one eventually but this is starting to drive me crazy. :bang:

 

[John Bragg]

Hi Norkusa
Perhaps it would be wise to buy the next decent Stylus Infinity you find and use it until you are lucky enough to find a Stylus Epic? The results can be very good and you may learn to love it for its own sake.

 

[btgc]

Just tons of Epic Zooms and a few non-Epic Stylus'.

I were suspicious about Epic zooms when I used exclusively Mju II aka Stylus Epic. After years I tried simplest Zoom 80 II and know what? It's worse than Epic at f/2.8 - because it doesn't have such aperture, but otherwise it's very good. Later I added Mju V Metal (aka Stylus Select 105) and that's even sweeter thing with aspherical and ED elements and spot metering, accessible by pressing single well defined button instead of mugging two seated buttons on Stylus Epic.

 

[wblynch]

I ruined my first Stylus Epic when I had the bright idea to open the film door while it was unwinding the film. I caused something to short out or grind up somewhere inside and now it can't set the exposure. It's all messed up. It still focuses perfectly however.

I got a replacement from eBay not long after and that eBay replacement is still going strong.

I treat it very gently because I don't want to murder another MJU.

 

[Corto]

I now have a gold QD model that I will not part with. I recently sold my Yashica T4 because the Stylus Epic is more consistently sharp...the AF just seems to be more consistent overall, and the Stylus Epic feels more sturdy. I find it impossible not to love!

Andy

I'm 100% with you on this Andy!

Tho mine is not an Epic, just the plain old Infinity Stylus 🙂

 

[heartattackandvine]

My £6 ebay camera is still going strong. Has anyone else had any good successes recently in garage sales and fleabay etc? just curious.

OMG, I feel real stupid now. I had no idea such bargains even existed, so I forked out around 80 bucks for my "new" mju II ...darn you eBay! :bang: On the positive side, it's MINT and I even got 2 films "free" with it. My old one got stolen (along with the wife's purse in which it resided).

Love my mju II, though I hardly get to shoot it, as the wife loves it too. Perhaps I can get another one, to be my own, if I can find it for 3 bucks. 😀

 

[filmfan]

It's my favorite pocket p+s cam-- I sold my Yashica T4 as well because the Stylus Epic gave me better results.

 

[John Bragg]

I think I am getting addicted to trawling ebay for bargains. I won a Mju-V metal yesterday for 99p. Just another Maitani mini masterpiece to add to my small collection. I know the prime lens Mju-I and Mju-II are much more in demand but I just couldn't resist.

 

[ronnies]

I've spent a total of £6 on Mju cameras recently.


Olympus Mju-I by F4ronnie, on Flickr


Olympus Mju-II by F4ronnie, on Flickr

Ronnie

 

[bjornkeizers]

I'm having a not-so-fun time finding a bargain Mju I/II. I've been following Ebay auctions for a few weeks, and most of the Mju II's end up selling for about 40-50 euros including shipping. And it seems bidding is quite feverish, some with up to 19 bids before closing.

As much as I like to jump in, there's just no point in even trying to snipe one with 19 bidders out there. I'd love to find a 6 GBP Mju, but I just don't see them.

 

[Corto]

Maybe worth getting a Mju 1/Infinity Stylus from the USA?

 

[Ronald_H]

The ultimate snapshot camera.


Lowlands 2011 - roll 6 by Ronald_H, on Flickr


Appelpop fun by Ronald_H, on Flickr

 

[btgc]

I'd love to find a 6 GBP Mju, but I just don't see them.

Get Ricoh FF-70 or 700 instead (90 or 90 Super in USA). It will not disappoint you in IQ department. Yes, larger, yes, not so smart fill-flash. But lens is every bit as good or even better <ducking to hide>
Or Pentax PC35AF, also same old school of quality lenses. This two just belong to older generation, not so small and sleek body (Mju in this regard were way ahead other makers) but that's it.

I have them all so I'm not bashing little Mju - after repairing mine, I do not stress it as daily shooter anymore and have had too many of compacts to compare with.

 

[hamradio]

I noticed one of these things (mju) at the local goodwill for $6 earlier today. Passed it off as nothing, came home, read this thread, and ran back and nabbed it.

😎

 

[malthusiantrap]

I have three Mju-IIs already, from various thrift stores, along with two Espio minis, a Yashica T4 and a carl zeiss T4 zoom. All dirt cheap prices.
For portability and automation, you can't beat these little point and shoots.

 

[bjornkeizers]

Get Ricoh FF-70 or 700 instead (90 or 90 Super in USA). It will not disappoint you in IQ department. Yes, larger, yes, not so smart fill-flash. But lens is every bit as good or even better <ducking to hide>
Or Pentax PC35AF, also same old school of quality lenses. This two just belong to older generation, not so small and sleek body (Mju in this regard were way ahead other makers) but that's it.

I have them all so I'm not bashing little Mju - after repairing mine, I do not stress it as daily shooter anymore and have had too many of compacts to compare with.

Thanks for the suggestions, but no bargains found so far. Only found a single FF70 on Ebay - but yeah, it's cheap - and just a single FF700 selling for 79 euros. Did find some PC35AF's, but none of them bargains - unless I want to take a gamble on a broken one.

I actually did buy a Ricoh FF9 last week, supposedly also a great little compact. But the seller had some issues with PayPal so he had to refund me instead of selling the camera 😡

I guess I'm just having a bit of a bad luck streak.