Olympus Camedia C-2100 Ultra Zoom Digital Camera

With this cameras ability to zoom up to 10x and it`s ability to rarely take a "bad" picture + gyroscopic optical image stabilization + low light photos. I would rate this camera 9/10 on all scores. It is also affectionately known as the "UZI"

P.S. Megapixels, Schmixels. Who really gives a fig? If someone sees a great shot, they don`t worry about how many pixels are there, they just see a picture. And you can certainly rely on the UZI to take great ones!!

I've owned an Olympus 2100UZ since June 2001. It's very unlikely that my one will get listed on eBay. I've own a series of digital cameras since then...these have all come and gone. Why? Its all down to image quality and that is function of the lens and the recording media. More megapixels does not = better image quality. The sensors in most digital cameras are a fraction of the size of the frame of a 35mm film negative. More pixels in such a confined space can mean poorer image quality.
Take a look at

http://www.6mpixel.org/en/

I don't think even 6MP is needed to get a good shot and the UZI proves this. Sadly Olympus didn't really take this design on further, perhaps it simply wasn't profitable.

If you get a chance to purchase one of these remarkable cameras here do give it some consideration...they can be snapped up at a fraction of their 2001 prices (which was in excess of £500).

The downside is that the 2100UZ uses Smartmedia cards which have not been produced for some time, are not that robust and can be tricky to get hold of and often are quite expensive relative to similar sized cards in other formats.

they are great cameras,and for my purposes ideal.Ive taken reference for my landscape paintings,toured around France in the Summer,photographed butterflies,and plants etc.An excellent lens,10x optical zoom +image stabiliser.Limitations are smart media card; now obsolete and expensive,also limited memory for touring.I bought it because I damaged my original camera,and although I have updated to a Canon S2 si [bought on eBay]its a great back up,so when one appears on eBay for £50 in excellent condition with no other interest from potential buyers,bingo.For its price now its a best kept secret in the UK,they are on to it in the states though.