Customer Rating:  
Summary: Good camera for the price
Comment: I had an Olympus Accura for seven years and loved it so when it crashed I wanted another Olympus. I've only had this one for a few weeks, am still getting used to it. It's different than the other Olympus in that it doesn't take AA batteries and you have to hold it differently because of the flash and because it slides open whereas the other one opened when you pushed the button on top. That's the only problem I've had so far -- a couple of times I inadvertently shut it off by holding it wrong. I was pleased with the first roll of film I took with this camera -- only one blurred shot, and a nice close-up of a rose. Sometimes to get a close photo you need to use the zoom instead of just getting close. It always takes me awhile to get used to new stuff, but I think once I learn to use this camera I'll like it as much as the other. The zoom is cool and easy to use. Everyone says go digital, but with digital you lose the element of surprise and imperfection and that's what makes photography interesting. Plus all the girls see their picture and say, Ooh, I don't look good in that one, delete it! With this camera you can't delete so you don't end up tossing pictures that someone will like when they're old and gray and didn't recognize how good they looked at 23. I give this four stars -- I can't give it five stars because I haven't mastered it yet.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Super
Comment: This little beauty is bringing back my love of photos. I still enjoy film cameras as much as digital. This one has a great zoom and autofocus; so getting just the right shot is easy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I have mixed feelings on this one.
Comment: Really, I wish I could give this 3.75 stars. At three stars, I feel like I'm low-balling it.
I didn't pay full price for this camera. If I had, I may not have been as happy with it. It has its flaws, that's true. When the zoom lens is extended out all the way, I have never been able to capture a non-blurry photo. I kind of expected that might be the case when I bought it and other reviewers have cautioned on this issue, so I don't really feel particularly let down by it. I always take hyper-zoomed pictures with the understanding that it might just not work out. Unfortunately, I've yet to be proven wrong.
The thing that actually bothers me is the flash. It has several flash settings for different times of day. There's even an option for no flash. Sometimes though, when that option is clearly not going to be useful, it would be nice if the flash wasn't so spot-like. It doesn't diffuse over the entire frame very well, I guess you could say. I have several pictures where I can clearly tell where the flash went off as it's brighter in that part of the picture; sometimes just a tad, sometimes considerably so. Its biggest downfall is at mid-dusk when the light is too dim for no flash but is just dark enough to expose its spot-like flash problem.
I offer all of that with the caveat that when it's not mid-dusk and not at the absolute end of the zoom length, it takes great pictures. Really, it does. It works peachy all day and nearly all night, save for mid-dusk. When you don't use the flash- perhaps for ambient, moody pictures- it gathers light very well and you'll get what you want.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 170 QD film camera
Comment: I own and use this camera. I have shot about two dozen rolls of Kodak 400 ASA colour film with it, and the pictures I got were simply excellent every time. Not a single shot was sub par!
This camera is good value for the money.
I believe the gripes that some users have about this camera may be due to any or any combination of the following reasons:-
Not having bothered to
1. lock the focus by pressing the shutter half-way down momentarily, and then pressing it fully down to take the picture;
2. ensure the camera is held very firmly/steadily or placed securely on a tripod to eliminate CAMERA SHAKE (or hand(s) shake);
3. ensure the film used was fresh and/or have not been subjected to X'ray scanning at airports;
4. read the manual carefully.
What I don't like about this camera is the noticeable shutter lag which occurs occasionally when it is used indoors and also its rather fragile build. Ah, but then I did not pay megabucks for this camera.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Camera with excellent zoom
Comment: This is simply a great camera. I have used it for over 2 years. I bought it at buy.com when it was newly released. We bought it primarily for the zoom. The zoom is simply excellent. This is one of the best point and shoot i have used. I have used Canon and Minolta before. The controls are all conveniontly placed and the zoom works great. I have never missed a picture.
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