Olympus µ[mju:]-III Wide 100 Review

The Olympus µ[mju:]-III Wide 100 is an advanced compact camera with a wide 28mm-100mm zoom lens, autofocus system with 11 autofocus-points, 3-way Auto Exposure (AE) system for accurate exposure of images and six different flash modes. With a retail price of £169.99, the Olympus µ[mju:]-III Wide 100 is positioned at the more expensive end of the compact camera market. Do all those features justify that cost? Read my review to find out.

Website: Olympus µ[mju:]-III Wide 100 Review

Published: Monday, October 20, 2003

Reader Comments

1. Anybody actually find this review? The photo-i website doesn't seem to have it. I'm thinking the link was wrong.

   Chris at 08:07pm on Tuesday, October 21, 2003

2. A gold star for you Chris! You're the first person to spot this, ahem, small mistake on my part (blush).
   
   The link should be working OK now - enjoy my review!
   
   BTW, if I'm ever this stupid again, there are direct links to every product review in the Reviews section.

   Mark Goldstein at 08:14pm on Tuesday, October 21, 2003

3. Whoot! Gold star! Gold star!
   
   Thanks for the pointer & the review.

   Chris at 02:34am on Wednesday, October 22, 2003

4. What did you think of the review? Was it helpful? Are you looking to buy this kind of camera at the moment?

   Mark Goldstein at 11:43am on Wednesday, October 22, 2003

5. 
   As it happens, I *am* looking to buy a pocket-sized 35mm camera. Honestly, I'll probably end up with an old Rollei off eBay--scale-focusing and fixed 35mm focal length. Your review helped confirm that inclination. I'm probably most appalled at the speed of the lens.
   
   Funny thing is that my local camera shops--even the small, pro-oriented ones, don't carry small film cameras any more. They're all digital.
   
   Anyway, thanks for the review. I love your site--it's among the first ones I visit every morning. Keep up the great work!

   Chris at 08:20pm on Wednesday, October 22, 2003

6. I bought an Olympus Mju II fulm compact with a fixed 35mm lens a couple of years ago, but I haven't used it as much as I thought I would, although I do carry it round all the time. The Olympus Mju 400 Digital that I recently reviewed would make a great pocket camera, but it's a bit on the expensive side.
   
   Glad you like the site - positive feedback like yours encourages to keep things going. I've got some big plans in the pipeline as well, so keep visiting!

   Mark Goldstein at 11:50pm on Wednesday, October 22, 2003

7. This review makes a fundamental error of assessing the camera's image quality through using print film. The reviewer then draws the conclusion that the camera has exposure error problems. Print film has a latitude of 2-3 stops either way. The camera is probably excellent in its exposure, most P&S;cameras are. The problem is with the decision at the mini-lab, not to mention the chemicals, paper, calibration etc. You can only assess a film camera properly with good slide film such as Provia 100f then view the trannie with a lupe. All P&S;cameras will exhibit some difficulty with hi contrast situations, but so do many SLRs. Please test the camera with transparency film next time, otherwise all you are doing is testing the mini-lab.

   Michael at 08:36am on Monday, April 05, 2004

8. Fair point Michael, except for one small point - the test film from this camera was developed at the same time and lab as another Olympus film camera that I reviewed - see http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_olympus_is500.php - which had no exposure problems. I guess the lab could have processed them differently anyway?

   Mark Goldstein at 11:01am on Monday, April 05, 2004

9. Hi Mark,
   
   with this camera, what is the max aperture by 50mm? Is it already f11.9 or is it progressive like maybe f5.8 or f8?
   
   thanks for the review
   
   Emmanuel

   Emmanuel Belo at 07:05am on Monday, May 03, 2004

10. If I recall correctly is was a progressive aperture as you suggest. The slowest aperture was reached at full tele-photo.

    Mark Goldstein at 01:39pm on Monday, May 03, 2004

11. very useful - many thanks

    philip sugden at 09:38am on Friday, July 09, 2004

12. I agree with the comment about photo labs, especially Jessops. They're the worst I've ever used which was very disappointing considering they are supposed to be the pro's! I would agree they can seriously affect the review. I have a Mju II and love it. It's the best camera I have ever used! I wanted something a little more powerful and bought an EOS300, but on full auto mode it couldn't compare to the little Mju in a variety of siutations. So now I'm considering the Mju III. It's got the features I love about the Mju II with a handy zoom. I've seen it on the net for just £110 from Camera Depot so I'll give it a go!

    Asim Z at 04:43pm on Thursday, January 06, 2005

13. Great job! Thanks a lot for the review!

    Dmitry at 04:53pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2005

14. You really can't get much impression of a camera at all by flat-bed scanning high-street, bulk-processed film / prints. Anyone used to producing high quality prints themselves will explain umpteen reasons why. The fact that one st of prints seems OK and another doesn't is most likely due to any of a dozen factors to do with the automatic processing. Even if everything about the processing equipment (e.g. freshness of chemicals, temperature, frequent calibration of several key components) were perfect (far from teh case in my experience) you then get into the average-the-image-to-mid-grey assessment of the processing equipment, working ranges of sensors, chemicals, paper, etc. - the vast majority of high-street prints do much less than justice to a negative.
    
    At the very least, you need to start with a well-developed film and a high quality scan - not a print, which is then scanned again.

    A Zey at 10:22am on Wednesday, August 27, 2008