arhphotographic

I’m not a great fan of Bridge Cameras. There I’ve said it. When I have used them, one of my first digitals was a Fujifilm something, I’ve found them a little frustrating. There always seems to be compromises either in functionality or image quality.

So my expectations were, shall we say not high, when I went out with the Olympus IS 300.

However, I had the Frontera Special Edition! Perhaps things would be different. Indeed they were. First to note was the inclusion of a very helpful diopter adjustment dial making the viewfinder much easier to look through with spectacles. As can be seen from the photo below there is a seperate button on the left for using the self timer or optional remote which I don’t have. On the right of the camera is a very well placed zoom button for the 28-110mm lens, operated by the thumb.

Looking at the image below of the top plate we have on the left the On/Off switch which also activates and pops up the flash. The flash has a GN of 25 and includes auto, red eye reduction (which is where I left it) and fill-in options. Above the flash button is the very welcome spot metering button which I tend to use a lot for the type of photos I take.

To the right and slightly below the flash button is one of the features that lifts this camera,in my opinion, from the run-of-the-mill point and shoots. This button allows you to use the camera in Aperture Priority. By pressing the button repeatedly you cycle through the available apertures 4.5; 5.6; 8; 11; 16; 22 when at 28mm focal length. At 110mm you start at 5.6. Nice touch.

Looking at the dial. This is where the five program modes can be selected. Starting at the top and going clockwise we have Landscape, Portrait, Stop Action, Night scene and finally the big green Auto button that turns the camera into a point and shoot with the added benefits of a zoom.

But it doesn’t end there. The dial around these program modes allows for +2 to -2 exposure compensation. Very Nice!

So (me thinks) I have an Aperture Priority camera with exposure compensation a very useful flash and equally good choice of focal length ‘lenses’. What’s not to like about this? But what about the quality? Ahhh yes, the compromises, I’d almost got carried away there.

What about the noise from the camera? Well have a listen by clicking on the image below.

So what about the quality then?

There is a definite purple tinge to the images which when scanned come out a little soft than I’m accustomed to. However these days you are only a click or three away from correcting both of these issues in post processing, so are they really a problem????

The photo above is almost exactly as I had envisioned it when I chose the f8 aperture.

Messing about on the river(canal actually), what a nice way to while away some ‘down time’.

The photos above and below were taken with the flash. I didn’t actually pay much attention to what setting I had, Auto S, which includes a pre flash to remove red eye. I have to say that on better cameras than the Olympus IS 300, the white of the Hollyhock would have been blown away with flash but there is still detail in the petals with the IS 300.

The photo below shows all the signs of having been taken with the flash but again is well managed in my opinion.

The camera has done a great job of exposure for the photo below which was dark and dappled light.

One of the really nice features I haven’t mentioned is the ability to screw in filters, 52mm, to the front of the camera. Not only that but the camera will make the correct exposure with it in place. So as I am accustomed to placing a close up filter to get that little bit closer, how does it perform?

I have to answer, very well, very well indeed. 🙂 Both of these photos were taken at 110mm at f5.6 less than 1ft away.

I should have used the spot metering function for the photo above, which would have rendered the fly in a better light. I didn’t because I had forgotten it was there.

For someone who doesn’t naturally reach out for a bridge camera I have to say that the Olympus IS 300 exceeded all my low expectations.

While made of plastic, it sat comfortably in the hand and about the right weight and size. As seen in the video the lens pops out and I found I naturally held onto the lens cap as part of the support for the camera. I was looking to use, review and move this camera on. Not now! I will definitely be using this again. Yes there are compromises but the benefits of having it outweigh these. Knowing the camera is capable of producing great images and with the right conditions and careful handling this is a definite winner. 😮