Olympus IS-3000 Review

Good Points
Excellent lens, great build quality, accurate metering system. Capable of first class results. Powerful flash + can also use the G40 flashgun too. Accurate and reasonably fast auto focus. Accepts 55mm filters (handy if you are also an OM user!)

Bad Points
Wide end of zoom range only 35mm, viewfinder only shows 85% of field of view, ESP metering only works in program mode, no exposure lock facility. No real "manual" focus - only pretty useless "power focus". No fast method of exposure compensation.

General Comments
Make no mistake about it, this is a camera that can turn in some fine results. Ideal for travel or a day out when you don't want to be burdened with a full SLR system, but still want something that can give you real quality. The lens' definition is outstanding, as I suppose you might expect from the incorporation of ED elements. The great pity in my opinion is that the zoom range isn't something like 24-105mm or 28-135mm instead of 35-180. The wide end is never wide enough for me, although there is an add-on 28mm lens available. This however makes an already quite bulky camera even bulkier! Also I feel the 180mm "long" end of the range encourages handholding (especially in program mode) at speeds that are ill advised, bearing in mind a max aperture of F5.6 at this focal length.
The ESP metering (a simplified "matrix" type) is accurate enough for reversal film under most situations, but why wasn't this more sophisticated system available in shutter and aperture priority modes too, instead of just centre weighted and spot?
Another annoying peculiarity is that although the flash is capable of full focal plane operation at all speeds(ideal for daylight fill-in etc)you can only use this function in "Portrait " mode.
Maybe of course I expect too much from what after all was designed to bridge the gap between compact P&S type cameras and a fully specked SLR.
If you bear this in mind this camera will not disappoint - it does take some time to initially find your way around all its capabilities though!
Bottom line?? Get one while they are still available!!
PS. If you always keep a filter on the lens, then find a lens hood for the 35-70/f4.0 Zuiko which will fit straight on this and is ideal.