DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.

Started Sep 13, 2021 | Discussions
Bob A L Veteran Member • Posts: 7,071
Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
10

Anybody else here think that the Oly stylus 1 and 1s were better than they ever got credit for.  I always thought that back when and today I just happened to have drug my Stylus out of the archives when a photo op appeared out in the yard.  Grabbed the Oly and was perfectly happy with what I got out of it even though the use was out of it's league and I had what should be better tools available.  But for its size and features along with the image quality it produces I think it still shines today.  If mine ever quits I'm gonna wish I had a backup one.

Michael Meissner
Michael Meissner Forum Pro • Posts: 27,998
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
3

Bob A L wrote:

Anybody else here think that the Oly stylus 1 and 1s were better than they ever got credit for. I always thought that back when and today I just happened to have drug my Stylus out of the archives when a photo op appeared out in the yard.

While agree with you on the camera's many pluses, I think it was just more that the market had shifted and Olympus couldn't sell it.

I was one of the people who bought it full price ($800 or $900 USA) in 2014. By then the market had shifted so that most of the sales were entry level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Several months after I bought it, Olympus removed most of the fixed lens cameras they were selling (or at least attempting to sell). This included the SH, SP, SZ, and XZ lines.

FWIW, I bought the Stylus-1 and just after I got it, Olympus had one of their 20% off refurbished sales, and there was an E-m5 mark I with 12-50mm lens that I had been wanting since it was announced in 2012 in my price range.

I spent some amount of time debatting whether to return the Stylus-1 or just accept the longer amount of time to pay off both cameras (which I did). While I've shot more photos (3,628 vs. 3,048) with the E-m5 mark I than the Stylus-1, each camera had a unique niche. And I still pull out the Stylus-1 when i don't want to carry the big stuff.

 Michael Meissner's gear list:Michael Meissner's gear list
Olympus Stylus 1 Olympus TG-5 Olympus E-M5 III OM-1 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 +13 more
UrbanHobbit
UrbanHobbit Contributing Member • Posts: 994
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
1

I had the same experience this week when I stepped out to walk the dog and didn't feel like taking a full rig. The Stylus fit into my pants pocket and I was able to experience the simple joy of shooting, but of course with the complex wonder of the incredible zoom range on this lens, all at f/2.8. Beyond being a capable go-anywhere pocket rocket for quick shots, this thing also doubles as a terrific monocular in a pinch. I suppose one could fantasize of an updated Stylus 2 with a higher-resolution sensor to keep up with today's displays, but all the same I am glad to have learned of this high mark in compact camera engineering, in time to own one.

 UrbanHobbit's gear list:UrbanHobbit's gear list
Olympus Stylus 1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 OM-1 Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F1.7 ASPH +15 more
Supisiche Senior Member • Posts: 2,026
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
1

I got my eyes on a SP-310. It's a small sensor camera that shoots raw. Is it good? Idk. I saw some sample pictures and they look nice to me.

InkedMarie
InkedMarie Senior Member • Posts: 2,403
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
3

I read about the two Stylus 1’s for a few years but couldn’t find one. Last Friday, KEH had one in excellent plus. It should arrive today. I’m very excited!

Marie

 InkedMarie's gear list:InkedMarie's gear list
Olympus Stylus 1s Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 R Olympus 12-100mm F4.0 7artisans 7.5mm F2.8 Fisheye
Neoredpill Regular Member • Posts: 121
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
2

InkedMarie wrote:

I read about the two Stylus 1’s for a few years but couldn’t find one. Last Friday, KEH had one in excellent plus. It should arrive today. I’m very excited!

Marie

I just got mine two days ago in mint condition with 600 shutter counts, and only for 150€.

This was hard to find but this is a very nice little camera with great controls. I hope some day Olympus will deliver a Stylus 2 with same form factor and better sensor.

Anyway, I think if you find one in good condition for a good price, it's a little gem.

Neoredpill Regular Member • Posts: 121
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
4

Neoredpill wrote:

InkedMarie wrote:

I read about the two Stylus 1’s for a few years but couldn’t find one. Last Friday, KEH had one in excellent plus. It should arrive today. I’m very excited!

Marie

I just got mine two days ago in mint condition with 600 shutter counts, and only for 150€.

This was hard to find but this is a very nice little camera with great controls. I hope some day Olympus will deliver a Stylus 2 with same form factor and better sensor.

Anyway, I think if you find one in good condition for a good price, it's a little gem.

Just came back from my photowalk with the Stylus 1s and I must say that I already had a very good time using this camera.

Here are some of the shots, processed in Dxo, noise up to 800 ISO is fine and give a vintage vibe that I find quite pleasing.

I'm also editing them with a vintage/film style.

Neoredpill Regular Member • Posts: 121
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
4

Below some jpeg straight out of camera, without any editing.

InkedMarie
InkedMarie Senior Member • Posts: 2,403
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
1

Very nice! The bird almost looks upset!

Marie

 InkedMarie's gear list:InkedMarie's gear list
Olympus Stylus 1s Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 R Olympus 12-100mm F4.0 7artisans 7.5mm F2.8 Fisheye
Neoredpill Regular Member • Posts: 121
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
3

InkedMarie wrote:

Very nice! The bird almost looks upset!

Marie

Thank you, I think it was upset at first then was happy

Below a shot taken with iso 800 and you see that the noise is pleasing. I Have applied some noise reduction in Topaz Denoise and I don't see a drastic difference.

However when it gets darker, the noise is more visible at Iso 800 and denoising is a must in that case.

A last tip, I found that .orf raw file looks slighty better and sharper when I export them from Olympus Workspace.

In my case I prefer to convert .orf to .tiff file in Olympus Workspace and then work on them with Dxo.

Out of camera, no processing exported from Olympus Workspace

Denoise in Topaz AI

tomhongkong Veteran Member • Posts: 4,699
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
4

The Stylus I doesn't get a lot of coverage these days.  It should, as it is a very viable alternative to using an M4/3 model.

I have done a lot of testing of IQ of the S1 against various body/ lens combinations.  What I can say is that the S1 can produce a better image than my EM1ii with 14-150, at 150mm, with significantly sharper corners.  However the focusing is nowhere near as good as EM1

The S1 images are a bit lacking in contrast sooc.  I process just with DXO PL5 with deep prime for higher iso s and find that some added micro contrast, and a bit of DXO haze filter (can't remember what its called) make the shot much better, and that iso 800 is very usable with deep prime.      and this is after allowing for the higher resolution of the m4/3 sensor.  Of course if you want to print very big, the higher resolution wins.

Incidentally I typically crop down to 2500 pixels on the long side and get really good 8x 10 prints on my Epson ink tank printer...at a very low print cost but that's another story.

If I am really going for a photo shoot I will take the EM1ii and a good lens, (I am trying out 12-200 this week for sailing shots, not that I would say that is overall a good lens but it has the range I need which my 12-100 or similar doesn't)

If I am going for a walk I just stick the S1 in my pocket.  I can usually get very acceptable images of birds or butterflies.

I like it so much that I have a spare in case it fails...I guess it will be almost impossible to get it repaired.

Good luck with it

tom

Miss tilly
Miss tilly Senior Member • Posts: 2,164
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
1

These are very nice, thanks for posting.

-- hide signature --

Regards,
Gary

 Miss tilly's gear list:Miss tilly's gear list
Fujifilm X10 Nikon 1 V1 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 II R Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 +3 more
Neoredpill Regular Member • Posts: 121
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.

tomhongkong wrote:

The Stylus I doesn't get a lot of coverage these days. It should, as it is a very viable alternative to using an M4/3 model.

I have done a lot of testing of IQ of the S1 against various body/ lens combinations. What I can say is that the S1 can produce a better image than my EM1ii with 14-150, at 150mm, with significantly sharper corners. However the focusing is nowhere near as good as EM1

The S1 images are a bit lacking in contrast sooc. I process just with DXO PL5 with deep prime for higher iso s and find that some added micro contrast, and a bit of DXO haze filter (can't remember what its called) make the shot much better, and that iso 800 is very usable with deep prime. and this is after allowing for the higher resolution of the m4/3 sensor. Of course if you want to print very big, the higher resolution wins.

Incidentally I typically crop down to 2500 pixels on the long side and get really good 8x 10 prints on my Epson ink tank printer...at a very low print cost but that's another story.

If I am really going for a photo shoot I will take the EM1ii and a good lens, (I am trying out 12-200 this week for sailing shots, not that I would say that is overall a good lens but it has the range I need which my 12-100 or similar doesn't)

If I am going for a walk I just stick the S1 in my pocket. I can usually get very acceptable images of birds or butterflies.

I like it so much that I have a spare in case it fails...I guess it will be almost impossible to get it repaired.

Good luck with it

tom

Yes, I'm totally with you on this one.

And if by any chance OM system will give us a Stylus 2 with improved technology I will be the first to by one.

This form factor and handling is perfect for me, I've used a Sony RX100 MIV and despite having a better sensor, I didn't like the handling and the zoom range was from 24-105 I think which is too short in my opinion.

Nowdays imagine the same sensor size but with improved technology and processing power.

If you can get the same computional capabilities with an Olympus quality zoom lens it could be tremendous.

UrbanHobbit
UrbanHobbit Contributing Member • Posts: 994
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
1

Haha, I am in a similar boat as you, so to speak – I just took delivery of a 12-200 and will be testing it this week before I make the call as to whether to take this lens and an E-M1 II on an upcoming  ski trip, or chance it with the non-weather-sealed Stylus 1.

I too found the Stylus 1’s output to be washed out, and couldn’t quite square that with what I was seeing in reviews such as the one by Mattias Burling that inspired me to pick up this camera in the first place. Then recently I found that if I slightly underexposed compared to my normal shooting style, the results came out much better, with that richer look I was expecting. The Stylus 1 has since become my out-for-a-walk camera!

 UrbanHobbit's gear list:UrbanHobbit's gear list
Olympus Stylus 1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 OM-1 Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F1.7 ASPH +15 more
tomhongkong Veteran Member • Posts: 4,699
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
2

Yes, keeping the exposure at the low end helps, but you can make that adjustment in DXO as well.

I agree with the poster who said that he thought that the better handling outweighs the better sensor in the RX100.  I have never used an RX100 of any model, but they just don't have the control points, as well as having a very small viewfinder and being fiddly.

What's the point in having a camera if you don't like using it?

I would go for an updated model in a flash, so long as they kept the size, aperture and zoom range the same. Increasing to 1 inch sensor would destroy the perfectly balance compromise of size/pocketabiity and performance.

But, a newer generation of 1/1.7 sensor and AF engine (PFAF?) would make it a magic camera. The lens is a bit iffy at 2.8 except in am emergency, but by 3.2 it is much better.  Could that be fixed without making it bigger...don't know.  What about a refinement of the already super effective lens cap so that the petals made a decent lens hood?

Actually, given sufficiently good performance there would be no problem (for me) in a much higher price.  I would dump a lot of bigger gear!

Seems like a very promising development allowed to rust!

tom

Loraine Arnold Senior Member • Posts: 1,383
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
6

I totally agree. The Stylus 1 is a nice camera. I got great pictures with mine.

-- hide signature --

Loraine

 Loraine Arnold's gear list:Loraine Arnold's gear list
Olympus TG-6 Nikon Coolpix P950 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
wolfbane Senior Member • Posts: 1,723
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
1

good!

OP Bob A L Veteran Member • Posts: 7,071
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.
5

One of the things I have always thought the Stylus 1 shines at is for indoor theater performances especially where they won't let you bring in a full size camera with interchangeable lenses. Having f2.8 all the way to 300mm equivalent gains you several stops over many other choices. And in a small belt  pouch it doesn't alarm the authorities. Here's some photos I posted some time ago in the open forum on a thread about "real" (ILC) cameras not being allowed in show that even some big sensor folks didn't run down too bad.

JeanPierre Ancona Regular Member • Posts: 121
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.

I guess the Stylus 1 doesn't have silent shutter, is it correct ?

-- hide signature --

Jean-Pierre

 JeanPierre Ancona's gear list:JeanPierre Ancona's gear list
Olympus TG-6 Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Olympus OM-D E-M10 II +15 more
OP Bob A L Veteran Member • Posts: 7,071
Re: Good cameras that slipped through the cracks.

No, not correct -- you can turn off the shutter sound, it's only a sound effect. Or you can adjust is low enough that unlikely anyone other than you can hear it - adjustable volume

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads