Any opinions on the Olympus IS-3 DLX?

I think the current model designation in the USA is the IS-30.

...

Don't be surprised. I have posted similar, positive comments about the
IS-3000 to this newsgroup three or four times in the last year.

In February 2000 I visited the USA on vacation with my family and our
trip included a few unscheduled days in San Francisco. We had intended
to stay in Truckee so my wife and son could ski at the Tahoe resorts,
but the weather was bad and the slopes were all closed. So after a
night in Truckee we chose to spend the time in San Francisco instead.

We were blessed with unusually good weather including bright, clear
sunshine and I had about one and a half days shooting slide film with
the IS-3000 including half a day shooting the Golden Gate Bridge from
many different viewpoints. On my return to the UK I had the slides
developed and was astonished at the quality; I'd purchased a monopod
from Wolf Camera and the slides were just as sharp as could be.

I sent a selection to a magazine and to my surprise they bought the lot
at full commercial rate, and they were published a few weeks later. The
magazine's picture editor has since offered me commissioned work but I
have had to refuse (reluctantly) on health grounds; I find travelling
difficult and need to have my wife with, or at least near me at all
times in case I get into difficulties, so working near home is best.

But I was very flattered. I needed no more encouragement to invest in
more gear; unfortunately the IS-3000 was the first to go, because of the
85% viewfinder coverage, and I have replaced my Nikon FA bodies (93%)
with a Nikon F3, and later an F4, for precisely the same reason.

I doubt I will ever replace the IS-3000 with another, but am seriously
considering the Olympus E10 for studio work - mainly portrait and
product photography. Like the IS-3000 it has its limitations, but it is
blessed with a magnificent built-in zoom lens and a 4 megapixel CCD that
produces excellent results, all for much less than half the price of a
2.7 megapixel Nikon D1 - body only.

Of course the IS-3000 lacks the image of a Nikon F100 and consumer-grade
kit zoom lens, which is what so many people seem either to aspire to, or
buy. But what it lacks in image, it more than makes up in image
quality; that Zuiko ED lens gives away nothing in terms of optical
quality to any mid-price Nikkor zoom.

When I compare the mind-numbing mediocrity of some photographers'
efforts using far more expensive and sophisticated cameras with the
superb results routinely obtained with the IS-3000, I wonder where
amateur photography is going. I tend to think we've lost the plot.

--
Tony Polson

...

...

Mine is the international iS-3000 version as well, bought in Dubai in 1994. The only
difference from the US iS-3 version is that iS-3000 supports super FP full synchro
flash at up to 1/2000 sec in portrait and manual modes. Although being a non-pro I've
taken the liberty to leave a few comments to your [surprisingly positive] review of
this camera.

But that's the whole point with all ZLR models, not having to carry a load of extra
lenses, flashes and accessories.

According to the iS/L page at the Unofficial OM Sales Information File the viewfield
of the finder is 85 % for all Oly ZLR cameras (except the Centurion APS ZLR which has
a 93 % viewfield). This has not been a big problem for me (presuming you're aware of
it).

Agree, but better to have some kind of manual focus than none at all.

In comparison with most other cameras with a built-in zoom lens the 35-180/4.5~5.6 ED
zoom lens of the iS-3 / -3000 is not especially slow, and with the improved fast
films of today this is even less of a problem now than when the camera was introduced
back in 1992.

Not as sturdy as the old metal body manual focus SLR cameras perhaps, but certainly
better than the later all-plastic japanese wonderbricks.

Maybe the single point AF should be mentioned among the bad points as well, but this
is really only a drawback when you're shooting small fast moving objects like jet
aircraft at air shows. When you get used to it it's not a big problem.

Agree. The ED zooms of Oly's advanced iS series are probably among the three-four
best zooms ever made by Oly (the others of course being the 35-105/3.5~4.5 and
35-80/2.8 Zuiko zooms for the OM system).

Indeed. Handheld shooting at 180 mm is no problem. Even with the iS-3000/B-300 combo
you can still shoot handheld. I've done this many times, and one of the reasons why
this is possible (i.e. besides the handling of the camera) is that frontmounted
converters only have a marginal affect on the speed of the lens. Contrary to ordinary
converters they mainly only affect close focus (i.e. the Galileo telescope principle)

Agree.

Actually Oly's iS series does not use TTL OTF flash metering. This is one of the more
common misunderstandings about these cameras. Quoting from the iS/L page:

--
"The flash system that is used is called IVP - Intelligent Variable Power. This is a
modern, enhanced variant of the good old flashmatic system that can be found in
rangefinder cameras from the seventies, where you have to set the Guide Number (GN)
of the flash on the camera, and the camera determines the aperture dependent on
shooting distance (automatic GN calculations). The old flashmatic system has the
disadvantage that the flash always fires at full power and there is only one aperture
available once the shooting distance is determined. The built-in flash of the iS
cameras obviously is an electronic flash that can be quenched, meaning the GN can be
varied, allowing multiple apertures to be selected for each distance. This makes IVP
a strong alternative for TTL flash exposure: the shooting distance is much more
reliable than the subjects reflectance. Very dark or very bright backgrounds or
subjects can't fool this system. Because both the flash duration (GN) and aperture
can be changed, the brightness of the subject can be taken into account. This greatly
facilitates Fill-in Flash, a special flash mode that's available on all models in the
Full Program Mode (the flash always fires and the shutter speed is fixed at 1/100
sec). In other modes only Auto Flash (the flash only fires when a shutter speed of
1/100 sec. or slower can be achieved using available light) and Auto-S Flash (same as
Auto Flash but with red eye reducing pre-flashes) are available."
--

The built-in GN 28 flash is probably one of the most powerful built-in SLR flashes
there is, and with the optional G40 flash you have all the flash power you could
possibly want.

You can say that again!

The simple line iS models have sold pretty well though, especially in the US I think.
As often it's not the top models that make the profit.

Do you have a reference for this? AFAIK both the international and the US versions
are still sold.

You should have told them! If nothing else just for the fun of seeing their
reactions... ;-)
I'm sure you're not alone among iS-3(000) users in having done something similar.

Thanks for interesting and surprisingly positive comments on a camera that probably
is one of the most underestimated there is. I've stopped believing in an iS-4000 now
so I guess I'll still be using my iS-3000 ten years from now. The only possible
replacement as I see it would be a digital version...

Best regards,

Per Nordenberg
Kolm??rden, Sweden

P.S. The URL to the iS/L page that I've been quoting is
#
This is a wealth of info on all the different iS models, and it's well worth a visit.
Also the small Centurion APS ZLR is featured due to it's close relation with the iS
series. D.S.

I learned alot about my IS-3 from Tony's post. From a non-pro perspective,
I enjoyed my use of the IS-3 for 5+ years. I was always pleased with the
optics and resulting picture quality ... even if I was the novice
photographer ;-) . The camera is bulky to carry around but the camera is
quite versatile with the 35-180mm lens. I would recommend the camera to
anyone looking for quality shots but who didn't want to invest in or carry
around several different lenses. -- Steve

I used one for several years as back-up to my Leica CL outfit - the CL
spent more time in the repair shop than available for use. Mine was the
European version, the IS-3000, but it is probably identical in most
respects to the IS-3 DLX.

The IS-3 is a 'bridge' camera, as it bridges the gap between an
autofocus zoom compact and a 35mm SLR camera. It is very different from
either of these.

BAD POINTS:

No interchangeable lenses, although the wide angle and tele lens
converters are surprisingly good.

Limited view of the frame in the viewfinder; it's a lot less than 90% of
what you will see on the film.

Poor manual focusing; you cannot zoom and focus manually at the same
time, and the 'power focus' is very slow.

Slow lens, with small maximum apertures meaning that slower films need a
tripod or monopod. I used a monopod.

All-plastic body and build that is only just sturdy enough for a camera
that will always be used and carried without a case.

GOOD POINTS:

A stupendous 35-180mm lens which gives incredible sharpness and contrast
and pleasing out-of-focus effects (bokeh). This is a very fine lens,
alas it has never been tested against comparable removable lenses
because the fact it is fixed to the camera means it won't fit test bench
equipment. My own less scientific tests showed it to be a great
performer.

Excellent handling, with balance and comfort that is better than any
comparable 35mm SLR/35-200mm lens combination.

Excellent choice of exposure modes, with manual over-ride, exposure
compensation, spot metering and dual zone "matrix" metering, accurate
enough for slide film.

Excellent, powerful and sophisticated built in flash using TTL
off-the-film flash metering.

OVERALL:

A much maligned and misunderstood camera, which was not a commercial
success. However this should not blind you to its many virtues,
especially the top quality lens. There are some good deals on new
examples because the manufacture of this camera was stopped a couple of
years ago.

Pictures I took with this camera helped me win several competitions and
I had several pictures published for which I got paid commercial rates.
Twice, after winning competitions, other camera club members made the
comment that pictures taken with a Leica stood a higher chance of
winning. They knew I owned a Leica, but they didn't know I took the
winning shots with the IS-3000. Go figure.

--
Tony Polson