Olympus iS-3 DLX / iS-3000 / L-3000
The iS-3 (also known as the iS-3000 in Europe and the L-3000 in Japan) was manufactured by Olympus and introduced in 1992 as the third model in the iS line of cameras, succeeding the iS-1000 (1990) and the iS-2000 (1991). The iS-3000 is a Swiss army knife of cameras, meant to pack a lot of functionality into a relatively compact camera body. It really is a "do everything" kind of camera, beginning with the integrated 35-180mm zoom lens, built into the body of the camera and featuring full through-the-lens viewing. Designs like this one have been referred to as "ZLR," zoom lens reflex, due to its similarity to SLR cameras but sporting a zoom lens instead of a prime focal length lens.
The iS-3 is packed with professional-level features. Once again, starting with the lens, Olympus used ED (extra low dispersion) glass in this lens, creating a zoom lens that produces very high quality images. Additionally, the iS-3 has several exposure modes including full program AE, aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual. It also has several metering modes including fuzzy-logic ESP (Electro-Sensitive Pattern), which looks at light levels across the scene and balances exposure accordingly. It also has center weighted metering, which biases the meter for centrally composed subjects, and spot metering, which allows 100% of the meter's calculations to be pinned to a very specific area in the frame. The iS-3 also has an advanced built-in flash with a possible range extending out to 200ft and variable power to match the changes in the zoom lens's focal length. In addition, it has a second hotshoe for using multiple flash attachments.
The iS-3 often gets overlooked for its unique design by photographers who tend more towards SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses. However, those who have experience on the iS-3 will tell you it is hard to find a better value in the used film market, especially for a camera that is capable of doing such high level work. Even today, the iS-3 is a gem to find! This is very much a sleeper camera.
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