The Pentax PC35AF‘s strong, metal body is world’s sturdier than the Mju, and its fast lens and capable flash match the Olympus’ spec sheet (at a quarter the cost).Īnd there are countless other better-than-Mju point-and-shoots that nobody ever seems to talk or care about. Nikon’s 元5AF, though about as well known as the Mju, has a better performing lens than its Olympus competition and costs about half the price. The Mju and Mju II are honestly and truly nothing special (if we ignore the fact that some famous photo nerds used or use one).Ĭhinon’s Auto 3001 has the same spec lens as a Mju II, focuses more accurately in any light, is easier to use (its flash controls are better), and costs $30. The first thing to realize, specifically when discussing the Mju series, is that during the 1980s and 1990s, every Japanese camera company was making an absurd number of virtually identical cameras. Here are some cameras that cost much less and are as good (and in some cases much, much better) than those trendier point-and-shoots. And though the lazy brains of The Internet will tell you there are no better cameras, people in-the-know know otherwise. We’re here today to name some alternatives to these rather outrageously over-priced compact cameras. Yet ask any twenty-year-old film fan to name their dream camera and you’ll often hear the word Mju (usually sounded out with unsure hesitance – it’s “myoo” everyone).įor those of us who have been neck-deep in camera culture for longer than just the last few years, the sudden popularity of these cameras is a bit baffling.īut this is all beside the point. Speaking of the Mju series, the original is slow and unreliable and the Mju II is just a point-and-shoot originally designed for soccer-parents and people who didn’t want to think about photography. And the T3 costs more on average than a brand new Fuji X100f. But here’s a silly fact it sells for a third the price of the T2 and T3. It’s a true rangefinder, the smallest of the bunch, faster to focus, and is the most reliable.

The original Contax T is the best of the Contax minis.

These are good cameras, yes, but they’re not that good.īut before we get to that and before you say I’m just a grumpy, old man, let’s take a quick and critical look at the strange market surrounding the two cameras I mentioned the T series and the Olympus Mju compacts. Contax T series prices have risen to more than $1,500 per, and the comparatively cheap Mju series cameras are hovering around $300. On the strength of unexpected celebrity endorsements and the more predictable overzealous hype created by bloggers and YouTubers, the compact point-and-shoot bubble has now reached full bloat.

Olympus mju 2 manual