Olympus Infinity Stylus Epic Zoom 80 Deluxe
And the 1999 award for he longest name on a small camera goes to…the Olympus Infinity Stylus Epic Zoom 80 Deluxe. Now with a 30 to 80mm zoom, VF Technology, Multi AF, All Weather, Quartz Date Mode, Panorama and much more!
The Stylus line was introduced in 1991 by Olympus. In the US market it was the Stylus, then Stylus Epic line but in other markets it was the Mju (I,II and III) line. I guess Olympus figured (correctly) that Americans did not know their Greek symbols. During the very successful run of the Mju/Stylus line there were several variations all based on the small pocket size form. The last of the run was introduced in 2004.
The Stylus line sold enough and were built well enough, that there are lots of survivors. I keep finding them and have a few waiting to be shot.
My Take:
All the Stylus/Mju scream consumer camera. This particular one with the gold accents and surviving marketing stickers, does even more so. Supposedly there were version of this model that came packaged with a Swatch watch. Sadly, mine was just the camera. But for $5 at a charity shop you can’t get everything.
For what it is, a consumer pocket size point and shoot, that Zoom 80 Deluxe does what is expected and does a great job. Images are nice and the camera is a great size. If you are looking for control, not much there. you can turn the flash off but it resets to default on every time you close the lens. I don’t use the zoom feature much. It is great for the quick from the hip shot and a size that makes it easy to bring along.
Lens: Olympus 38-80mm zoom f4.5
Film: FujiColor 100
