Should I buy an UZI???

[Brian51832]

When I come to the Olympus forum there are many, many UZI posts and this seems odd for such an old camera. What is it about this camera that everybody falls in love with? Is it just plain fun to use or what?

(Yes, I know that this is kind of a loaded question here, but with so many fans I'm just trying to figure out what everybody here loves so much about their 2100's)

And, finally, should I run and pick one up before they disappear?

 

[Gary Hebert]

Do your research and decide. Short answer 'YES'

When I come to the Olympus forum there are many, many UZI posts and
this seems odd for such an old camera. What is it about this
camera that everybody falls in love with? Is it just plain fun to
use or what?

(Yes, I know that this is kind of a loaded question here, but with
so many fans I'm just trying to figure out what everybody here
loves so much about their 2100's)

And, finally, should I run and pick one up before they disappear?

--
Gary W. Hebert

'Hope and imagination are the only consolations for the disappointments and sorrows of experience.' -Italo

 

[David Marasco]

When I come to the Olympus forum there are many, many UZI posts and
this seems odd for such an old camera. What is it about this
camera that everybody falls in love with? Is it just plain fun to
use or what?

(Yes, I know that this is kind of a loaded question here, but with
so many fans I'm just trying to figure out what everybody here
loves so much about their 2100's)

And, finally, should I run and pick one up before they disappear?

In the end, it really depends on what you use your camera for.

The UZI is one heck of a camera, very very fun.

The big plus - a 10X stabilized zoom. I don't think you'll see this on a cheap camera any time in the near future.

The big drawback - "Only" two megapixels.

So you have to balance your needs and desires with its plusses and minuses. Mainly shoot portraits? Then 10X IS isn't going to do much for you. Like to shoot birds and sporting events? Then go for the zoom. Like to print 11X17's? Then the 2MP is really going to hurt. Only shoot for the web? Then the UZI is fine (and the EZI is another great option).

On the other hand, just go out and buy one of these, you may find that all of a sudden you shoot in a lot of situations that you didn't before ("Hey, there's a cool barn half-a-mile away...")

David
--
Baseball Photos:
http://www.thediamondangle.com/archive/photo.html

 

[coppertop]

When I come to the Olympus forum there are many, many UZI posts and
this seems odd for such an old camera. What is it about this
camera that everybody falls in love with? Is it just plain fun to
use or what?

The prominant benefits that make the UZI so popular are the 10x zoom, remote control and Image Stabilization. I like it for the picture quality, construction quality design and overall feel.

The most obvious criticism is the 2mp. However, as megapixels are somewhat over-rated in that it depends on what your going to do with them. If your only shooting to email pictures to family a 1.3 would be enough. If your shooting professional, "hang in a gallery" photographs then a higher megapixel camera would be better.

The C2100 is a great camera for photo-quality pictures up to 8x10. I've heard of larger prints of excellent quality but for me, 5x7 is probably going to be the norm and 2.1 mp is enough. The focus is sharp and the color is nice (some argue it's weak).

And, finally, should I run and pick one up before they disappear?

YES. I have yet to find another 10x zoom camera with image stabilization for the price range you can get a C2100 for. Not only do you get the camera but you get the remote control and rechargeable batteries. The only thing that sucks about "what's in the box" is the 8mb Memory Card (it should have been at least a 16mb card).

The closest thing I have tried is the Fuji s602. Its a 3.3mp, 8x zoom camera. Nice camera but it didn't take as good a picture as the Olympus. I had to buy an attachement to use filters with this camera (Olympus lens is threaded for filters) and had to buy batteries. The fuji did have neat sound effects to make it sound like a 35mm when you took pictures but, the C2100 is the better camera.

If I have read correctly on this forum, the Image Stabilization is Canon Technology and isn't available anymore. I would hope that Olympus would produce another C2100 but with the IS technology unavailable, that may be difficult.

Don't be leary of refurbished (factory). If anything these units have been thoroughly tested and may actually be better than a new unit.

Good luck.

 

[Juli Valley]

Yes, in 50 years of photography, this is the most versatile, fun camera I have ever owned. The problem is they are getting diffifult to find. Sometimes you can find one stuck away in a stockroom or cabinet at a CompUSA or Wal-Mart. I am able to make very nice 8 x 10 prints with my Epson photo printer. If you need more than 8 x 10 (letter size), you need more megapixels. If not, you will love this camera. http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=19579
C-2100UZ, C-3040Z, A-28, B-3oo
3o4o
Juli

 

[Jim K53618]

The C-2100UZ is a cult classic for many reasons.
It's a very solid built camera.
Has an excellent lens, LCD monitor, and EVF!
10x zoom with Image Stabolization!
Excellent image quality up to 8x10 prints!
All this for only $399 refirbished.

The cons,
it is discontinued, and hard to find.
No histogram,
auto WB is not the best,
no custom WB only presets.

Despite this it has out lasted and performed the Canon Pro90 IS! Interesting to note that the pro90 had similuar cons, yet Phil gave the 90 a highly recomended and the 2100 a lower recomended rating. Funny because nobody is interested in finding a Pro90IS. Yet the 2100 is just as popular today as it was 2 years ago : ))

If you can also find the popular and discontinued B300 (1.7x) tele adapter, you have a killer combo! I would suggest getting a reburshed unit as it will no doubt be better then new. With new it could have dead pixels and may not have the latest firmware.

There have been newer 10x zoom by Oly, but none have attracted as many people, probably because no IS. If only Oly came out with a C-3100, same as the 2100 plus histogram, custom WB, and 5MP!

Best Regards!
Jim K

When I come to the Olympus forum there are many, many UZI posts and
this seems odd for such an old camera. What is it about this
camera that everybody falls in love with? Is it just plain fun to
use or what?

(Yes, I know that this is kind of a loaded question here, but with
so many fans I'm just trying to figure out what everybody here
loves so much about their 2100's)

And, finally, should I run and pick one up before they disappear?

--
Every Camera Has Short Comings,
some camera's fall short of coming!

 

[David Marasco]

There have been newer 10x zoom by Oly, but none have attracted as
many people, probably because no IS. If only Oly came out with a
C-3100, same as the 2100 plus histogram, custom WB, and 5MP!

Wouldn't they call that the C-5100?

And if we are going to dream, how about an E500RS? It would already have the better WB.

I guess 15 fps at 5MP isn't something that is going to happen any time soon...

David
--
750+ Baseball Photos:
http://www.thediamondangle.com/archive/photo.html

 

[Adam-T]

For someone who makes a living out of this game, the UZI or E100RS bring back real fun into Photography, a tiny plastic camera with a 10X image stabilized Zoom lens brings a whole new world to me which would only be available with either TWO of Canons IS lenses (or one if you use converters on the end) and obviously more bulk..

I've not had so much fun with a camera in ages - Then there is the E100RS which is EVEN MORE fun with it's 15FPS paparazzi speed and pre-capture, there is a loss though, the RS is only 1.5Mp and the images are more "Digital" looking but it sure does suck in more information than you'd expect from 1.5 measly MP - and BOTH prove that there is more to life than resolution..

Then there is the B300 - a quality 1.7X Teleconverter which turns either camera in to a 17X compact Zoom which can be handheld at the equivalent of 646mm at a measly 125th of a second with ease!.

Believe me, these cameras are fun, cheap (forget the more expensive turgid slow Canon Pro-90 purrrlease) and best of all, a great addition to WHATEVER you have from a Webcam to a D60 - there's always place for an UZI

So now you've convinced yourself you want a 10X IS Olympus - which do you go for? - for a good alround walkabout which is near the pinnacle of 2Mp quality and even beating some 3.3s, the UZI is the answer - if you're doing mainly sports, the extra resolution is best forgone for the speed of the E100RS,....... the UZI is no slouch for occasional sports and the EZI isn't half bad as a walkabout either so if you can't get one, the other should do nicely )))

Hows that ?

--
Olympus E10 +WCON, UZI +B300 , D60, Nikon E950

My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=27855

 

[Brian51832]

Hey, thanks everyone for your great input!

I don't make really big prints and would use it quite a bit for the for web.

The big zoom + IS looks like it would really open up new possilibities.

It sounds like fun, too!

Must...find...money... ;-)

For someone who makes a living out of this game, the UZI or E100RS
bring back real fun into Photography, a tiny plastic camera with a
10X image stabilized Zoom lens brings a whole new world to me which
would only be available with either TWO of Canons IS lenses (or one
if you use converters on the end) and obviously more bulk..

I've not had so much fun with a camera in ages - Then there is the
E100RS which is EVEN MORE fun with it's 15FPS paparazzi speed and
pre-capture, there is a loss though, the RS is only 1.5Mp and the
images are more "Digital" looking but it sure does suck in more
information than you'd expect from 1.5 measly MP - and BOTH prove
that there is more to life than resolution..

Then there is the B300 - a quality 1.7X Teleconverter which turns
either camera in to a 17X compact Zoom which can be handheld at the
equivalent of 646mm at a measly 125th of a second with ease!.

Believe me, these cameras are fun, cheap (forget the more expensive
turgid slow Canon Pro-90 purrrlease) and best of all, a great
addition to WHATEVER you have from a Webcam to a D60 - there's
always place for an UZI

So now you've convinced yourself you want a 10X IS Olympus - which
do you go for? - for a good alround walkabout which is near the
pinnacle of 2Mp quality and even beating some 3.3s, the UZI is the
answer - if you're doing mainly sports, the extra resolution is
best forgone for the speed of the E100RS,....... the UZI is no
slouch for occasional sports and the EZI isn't half bad as a
walkabout either so if you can't get one, the other should do
nicely )))

Hows that ?

--
Olympus E10 +WCON, UZI +B300 , D60, Nikon E950

My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=27855

 

[Terry Thorn]

When I come to the Olympus forum there are many, many UZI posts and
this seems odd for such an old camera. What is it about this
camera that everybody falls in love with? Is it just plain fun to
use or what?

This is THE most "fun" and versatile camera I've owned. I take this camera with me nearly everywhere I go because I feel that it can handle most any situation I may encounter. The quality is surprising given that it's a 2 MP camera. I had a 3 MP camera at the time I bought the 2100 as my "outdoor" camera but it quickly showed me that it was well equipped to handle most ANY photo op indoors OR outdoors. What's more, it instilled an interest in photography for my wife and she's having a grand time with it. She took this shot with the camera in it's fully auto Program mode...



She even took one of me...



I think the lighting could've been better though.

Now she's even trying to stretch herself a little more by using my E-10. Get one IF you can!

(Yes, I know that this is kind of a loaded question here, but with
so many fans I'm just trying to figure out what everybody here
loves so much about their 2100's)

I love the 10x Image Stabilized zoom lens. The reach will spoil you and that IS does help as I've just seen with my trial run of a Nikon 5700. I think an often overlooked asset of the 2100 is the electronic viewfinder. It shows you EXACTLY what you're getting so framing's a breeze. If you change the exposure point, you'll see the results immediately. After you take the shot, you'll see the image briefly frozen so that you can quickly peruse it for "defects" such as closed eyes, movement, something in the background, etc. without moving the camera from your eye. So if you need to reshoot the picture, you can do so before anyone has a chance to move or the scene changes. Unlike the other cameras, the 2100's lens doesn't extend and retract so you can leave filters and/or lens hoods mounted if you wish and you don't have to buy an adapter to use them. The 2100 also uses AA batteries which is a plus because you can find them anywhere... cheap.

And, finally, should I run and pick one up before they disappear?

YEP!!!

 

[Debbie L]

should I run and pick one up before they disappear?

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck! I hope you find one!
--



Debbie
2 UZI's/2020

 

[Shrinking Violet]

I agree totally. Having a big zoom not only means you can draw far away objects in, but the images themselves have a completely different perspective than if you shot the same thing up close. They tend to look very flat with little perspective, much like a painting. Used correctly, you can capture images that no other digital camera can. It is an amazingly artistic tool, the UZI.

On the other hand, just go out and buy one of these, you may find
that all of a sudden you shoot in a lot of situations that you
didn't before ("Hey, there's a cool barn half-a-mile away...")

 

[Juli Valley]

A guy named Tomm has posted a thread about selling his 2100. I have no idea how dependable he is or anything, but you might check him out. http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=19579
C-2100UZ, C-3040Z, A-28, B-3oo
3o4o
Juli

 

[Bill Mitchell]

Brian,

While the case to buy an UZI has already been stated eloquently, let me add my opinion in saying, "Yes! Buy one ASAP!" I've had my UZI for two months and wouldn't part with it.

Bill

When I come to the Olympus forum there are many, many UZI posts and
this seems odd for such an old camera. What is it about this
camera that everybody falls in love with? Is it just plain fun to
use or what?

(Yes, I know that this is kind of a loaded question here, but with
so many fans I'm just trying to figure out what everybody here
loves so much about their 2100's)

And, finally, should I run and pick one up before they disappear?

 

[Ian Yates]

Yes you should because it is a well built camera going now for a great price.

Fantastic 10X ZOOM threaded lens barrel to which you can attach filters teleconverters and wide angle lenses. And it works with AA batteries.
There's been nothing like it since.
I did a poll and most people prefer and want as much zoom as they can get.

I paid $599 when I bought mine 18 months ago, it's been well worth it!

--
C2100UZ, D600L and that 1.45x teleconverter lens(fits both cameras) Kenko 3X
http://www.pbase.com/ihor/fotographia

 

[David Marasco]

Hey, thanks everyone for your great input!

I don't make really big prints and would use it quite a bit for the
for web.

The big zoom + IS looks like it would really open up new
possilibities.

It sounds like fun, too!

Well, if low MP doesn't phase you, you might look into buying an E100RS. Same lens as the UZI, but only a 1.4MP sensor. On the other hand, pre-capture and 15FPS make this even more fun than the UZI (awaiting the crowd to come to my house to stone me to death).

Must...find...money... ;-)

The EZI will set you back more than the UZI....

David
--
750+ Baseball Photos:
http://www.thediamondangle.com/archive/photo.html

 

[Brian51832]

I'm looking at reviews of the 100RS right now and it looks pretty darned cool. Now this is a fun camera!

Hey, thanks everyone for your great input!

I don't make really big prints and would use it quite a bit for the
for web.

The big zoom + IS looks like it would really open up new
possilibities.

It sounds like fun, too!

Well, if low MP doesn't phase you, you might look into buying an
E100RS. Same lens as the UZI, but only a 1.4MP sensor. On the
other hand, pre-capture and 15FPS make this even more fun than the
UZI (awaiting the crowd to come to my house to stone me to death).

Must...find...money... ;-)

The EZI will set you back more than the UZI....

David
--
750+ Baseball Photos:
http://www.thediamondangle.com/archive/photo.html

 

[Juli Valley]

If you intend to take a lot of action shots, sports, etc., the RS is a good choice.

 

[David Marasco]

I'm looking at reviews of the 100RS right now and it looks pretty
darned cool. Now this is a fun camera!

The 15FPS lets you take photos like these:





Granted you can do this with almost any good camera with very good timing and a lot of luck, but with the E100RS, you just set to the fastest capture and let things rip.

Turns out that if you buy a refurb it isn't that much more expensive than an UZI:
https://emporium.olympus.com/innards/empProdDetails.asp?sku=225240

Sadly, right now Oly is out of refurbs. If you hang out here you'll know when they come back in stock, the locals keep an eye out for this kind of thing.

David
--
750+ Baseball Photos:
http://www.thediamondangle.com/archive/photo.html

 

[Debbie L]

Olympus Emporium sells refurb EZI's. Here's the link......

https://emporium.olympus.com/innards/emp.asp?category=7&sub_category=22

They are out of stock at the present time but keep checking the site or give them a call and see if they plan on selling them any time soon.
--



Debbie
2 UZI's/2020