Jamie123
Veteran
After my recent idea of getting myself a fixed FL Point&Shoots (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84756) I asked my aunt if she had any such thing stored in the closet from her late husband (my unlce was a huge camera buff).
Today she brought me an Olympus O-product which she once got as a present from him. (She lent it to me to use but obviously not to keep as it was a gift.)
Has anyone of you ever used this camera? It quite a funny looking little brick of metal. Aparently only 20000 of them were made.
It has a 35mm f3.5 olympus lens which I imagine is quite good and the shutter/autofocus is rather noisy. I say shutter/autofocus because there doesn't seem to be a way to focus without tripping the shutter.
Anyways, I'd love to see some samples if anyone has used this camera?
Oh, and when you open the film door it says on the camera: "A new concept in product design. Olympus O-Product. Functional imperatives molded to artistic form. A camera shaped with simple lines, elegant contours."
Today she brought me an Olympus O-product which she once got as a present from him. (She lent it to me to use but obviously not to keep as it was a gift.)
Has anyone of you ever used this camera? It quite a funny looking little brick of metal. Aparently only 20000 of them were made.
It has a 35mm f3.5 olympus lens which I imagine is quite good and the shutter/autofocus is rather noisy. I say shutter/autofocus because there doesn't seem to be a way to focus without tripping the shutter.
Anyways, I'd love to see some samples if anyone has used this camera?
Oh, and when you open the film door it says on the camera: "A new concept in product design. Olympus O-Product. Functional imperatives molded to artistic form. A camera shaped with simple lines, elegant contours."
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kully
Happy Snapper
I saw one of these in a shop in Belgium in 2007, new and never used. It must of been cheap because I considered buying it.
I'd completely forgotten until you posted this.
I just checked www.ffordes.co.uk, they have five of them in stock - £199.99 each!
I'd completely forgotten until you posted this.
I just checked www.ffordes.co.uk, they have five of them in stock - £199.99 each!
btgc
Veteran
In my understanding it is Mju I (aka Stylus) in fancy body.
LT-1, too.
LT-1, too.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Its an Infinity Stylus in a fancy box. I mean the original stylus not the later stylus epic. Anyway, like the stylus that its based on it has a very good lens. They were limited production and expensive new.
Jamie123
Veteran
Yeah, I think it was quite expensive at the time. I probably won't really use it as it's too bulky and heavy for what I'd need it and I'd also be too afraid to lose it as it's of sentimental value to the owner.
I do like the bit in the text about "functional imperatives", though, as the shutter at the front of the camera doesn't seem to be very practical.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
I had an Infinity (though it didn't have the Stylus branding, so perhaps not the same ...) and it was quite good. Had an f2.8 lens and backlight compensation, and was splash-proof. Darn good camera, I sold a ton of them, too.
cassel
Well-known
Digging up this old thread--- just bought one of these. It hasn't arrived yet but when it does, I will post a review and try it out (not necessarily in that order)
I was attracted by the uncompromising design emphasis. The "boutique concept" values form OVER function -
not for everyone, but kind of fun. As a graphic designer and artist- I appreciate these limited design exercises.
The "guts" are not Infinity Stylus but rather the lowly, but capable Infinity Jr aka AF-10. There is more information on these on the internet in 2017 than there was several years ago...
Should be fun--- stayed tuned
I was attracted by the uncompromising design emphasis. The "boutique concept" values form OVER function -
not for everyone, but kind of fun. As a graphic designer and artist- I appreciate these limited design exercises.The "guts" are not Infinity Stylus but rather the lowly, but capable Infinity Jr aka AF-10. There is more information on these on the internet in 2017 than there was several years ago...
Should be fun--- stayed tuned
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Hipsters in Park Slope Brooklyn are lining up to buy them right now!
Another oddball repackaging of probably the same camera is the Olympus Ecru.
These cost a fortune now. A few years ago you couldn't give them away.
There's also the Olympus LT-1, which doesn't cost too much more than the mju/Stylus.
Chris
cassel
Well-known
Got mine very cheap Well under $100
We shall see if it was a good deal when it arrives.... fingers crossed.
If it is broken I have a project in mind.
Well under $100We shall see if it was a good deal when it arrives.... fingers crossed.
If it is broken I have a project in mind.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
I see them from time to time and the other "arty" ones (LT-1 and LT Zoom 105) with the prime and the one with the zoom. Mine was a dressed up mju 105 zoom, imo. I can't see the point but I guess people buy them...
Regards, David
I see them from time to time and the other "arty" ones (LT-1 and LT Zoom 105) with the prime and the one with the zoom. Mine was a dressed up mju 105 zoom, imo. I can't see the point but I guess people buy them...
Regards, David
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Fancy looks, but feature-wise it was easily the lowest tech boutique point-and-shoot ever, way below the mju series - a triplet lens with three position AF and 100/400 DX place it firmly in the range of cameras a mere stage upward of disposables.
Archlich
Well-known
Lens aside, the camera is lower-speced than the Stylus (shutter, AF system, flash power, etc. ). The actual "Stylus in a fancy box" should be the the Olympus Ecru, another model released in limited quantity.
cassel
Well-known
Low-specs for sure, but I'm thinking it may be better than the Minolta Prod 20s that I tried several years ago.... it had the glass/plastic f4.5 lens.
My O-Product should arrive today...I'll keep you posted. The various reviews online are somewhat mixed but some claim the 35mm f3.5 is acceptably sharp (near the center) but the auto-everything can be limiting.
I do like that the flash is remove-able-not like the AF-10- as I am a available/daylight shooter by and large. I am curious about the DX code Reader--- One source says it reads- 50, 100, 400, and 800 film. No DX code default is 50. Shutter speeds are 1/15 to 1/400.
I got a "user" - the body has scratches- wear and tear.
My O-Product should arrive today...I'll keep you posted. The various reviews online are somewhat mixed but some claim the 35mm f3.5 is acceptably sharp (near the center) but the auto-everything can be limiting.
I do like that the flash is remove-able-not like the AF-10- as I am a available/daylight shooter by and large. I am curious about the DX code Reader--- One source says it reads- 50, 100, 400, and 800 film. No DX code default is 50. Shutter speeds are 1/15 to 1/400.
I got a "user" - the body has scratches- wear and tear.
cassel
Well-known
Half-way through shooting a test roll in the O-Product
Here's some beauty shots followed by some initial impressions-
Here's a size comparison with the Petri Color35 and a Pentax Spotmatic SP:
It is an odd little camera-- I appreciate the design aesthetics and the heft of the aluminum construction. Front shutter release is weird - not a good idea in use, it makes me worry about blocking a rangefinder window if not the taking lens.....but it looks cool?
The 1988 era wind and focus noise is funny and nostalgic in a way. The Mamiya Size B strap lugs are also more weirdness but "look Cool". I went with 400 speed film (24exp) for testing... not gonna use or review the flash (for now?).
Size-wise, well - have a look: Same length as the fairly small Petri and the same height as an old SLR like my Pentax. More of a blocky square than a traditional brick.
Opinion: I think it looks fantastic- even my beater example has a heft and a cool-to-the-touch solid feel. Others criticize the viewfinder--- I think it's great! Brightlines and focus lock light AND bad exposure light (the AF-10 doesn't have that) But then, I've been using an old Canon Rangefinder lately and a Leica copy- Leotax Elite to name a couple.
More after I get film developed...
Here's some beauty shots followed by some initial impressions-
Here's a size comparison with the Petri Color35 and a Pentax Spotmatic SP:
It is an odd little camera-- I appreciate the design aesthetics and the heft of the aluminum construction. Front shutter release is weird - not a good idea in use, it makes me worry about blocking a rangefinder window if not the taking lens.....but it looks cool?
The 1988 era wind and focus noise is funny and nostalgic in a way. The Mamiya Size B strap lugs are also more weirdness but "look Cool". I went with 400 speed film (24exp) for testing... not gonna use or review the flash (for now?).
Size-wise, well - have a look: Same length as the fairly small Petri and the same height as an old SLR like my Pentax. More of a blocky square than a traditional brick.
Opinion: I think it looks fantastic- even my beater example has a heft and a cool-to-the-touch solid feel. Others criticize the viewfinder--- I think it's great! Brightlines and focus lock light AND bad exposure light (the AF-10 doesn't have that) But then, I've been using an old Canon Rangefinder lately and a Leica copy- Leotax Elite to name a couple.
More after I get film developed...
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
16241 / 20000
16241 / 20000
A limited edition, too!
Chris
16241 / 20000
A limited edition, too!
Chris
cassel
Well-known
Funny rightA limited edition, too!
Chris
I read somewhere that 10,000 were for Japan, 10,000 for export (4,000 for USA) --- apparently they sold out quick/pre-order. I was in high school at the time and don't remember them from the time--- but I was pretty dumb about cameras back then.
Sort of like the "last" Cadillac Convertible and other made-to-be collectibles, they don't seem particularly rare-- seems like many were save - shelf-queen display pieces and many (considering production numbers) seem to be for sale at any given time....
This was the only cheap "user" I could find.... no box, no case, no paperwork, no strap, etc. I would not pay the collector price for these.
Huss
Veteran
It looks cool, I dig it!
skucera
Well-known
The only time I ever saw one of these was when I handled a new one at a local camera store when they were new. Having studied industrial design in college I was fascinated by the quirky design work coming out of Japan in the Eighties and Nineties, but the O-Product seemed to be designed with quirkiness as its main objective. I liked the cool feel on the metal skin, and the retro round flash with a cable, even if it had an ordinary strobe tube in it. The price was out of my range, so I handed it back.
I learned in this thread that it is based on the Stylus Epic, which I have. I should pop a battery and a roll of film in that and go shoot some pics.
Scott
I learned in this thread that it is based on the Stylus Epic, which I have. I should pop a battery and a roll of film in that and go shoot some pics.
Scott
cassel
Well-known
Got a test roll developed.
Don't read too much into the quality of these examples
These are I-Phone photos of lousy Walgreen's processing and prints BUT they show enough to indicate the O-Product works! The CD scans they gave me are corrupted/unreadable... negs look good.
This last one has shake from the I-Phone re-shoot -- the original is sharp down to the blades of grass.
Popped a roll of Tri-X in and shot more today - - fun to use and lots of confused looks from passers-by for what it's worth.
I'm reasonably sure the B&W examples with pro development will look good.
Don't read too much into the quality of these examples
These are I-Phone photos of lousy Walgreen's processing and prints BUT they show enough to indicate the O-Product works! The CD scans they gave me are corrupted/unreadable... negs look good.
This last one has shake from the I-Phone re-shoot -- the original is sharp down to the blades of grass.
Popped a roll of Tri-X in and shot more today - - fun to use and lots of confused looks from passers-by for what it's worth.
I'm reasonably sure the B&W examples with pro development will look good.
cassel
Well-known
Ok- I took the CD and negs back to the Walgreens Lab and they burned another CD for me. It worked this time Here are a few more shots from the first roll--- just a bit of Photoshop editing, mainly for color correction:
That's me and Herbie the Bulldog.
Here's a repeat of the earlier shot--- better detail and exposure:
Here's how I am wearing the camera:
Cheap women's black leather belt and a swivel hook and anchor from BlackRapid. Picture to follow...
Here are a few more shots from the first roll--- just a bit of Photoshop editing, mainly for color correction:
That's me and Herbie the Bulldog.
Here's a repeat of the earlier shot--- better detail and exposure:
Here's how I am wearing the camera:
Cheap women's black leather belt and a swivel hook and anchor from BlackRapid. Picture to follow...