Olympus's late 35mm film bridge ZLR — a 28-110mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom, the amateur iS line's final refinement.
The Olympus iS-300 is a 35mm film bridge camera (ZLR) from 1999 and one of the last models in Olympus's iS series. It was the seventh-generation, penultimate model of the range that began with the iS-1000 in 1990, and was sold as the iS-30 in the US. It uses a fixed power zoom in an SLR-style body.
It is a fully automatic 35mm film SLR with a built-in Olympus 28-110mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom of 11 elements in 9 groups. It offers program autoexposure, autofocus, a built-in flash and motorised film transport. The zoom is fixed, so there is no interchangeable mount.
As a near-final iS model, the iS-300 is the most refined version of the amateur line's 28-110mm formula and has drawn renewed interest among current film shooters for its retro handling. It suits casual documentary and travel photography with SLR-style ergonomics.
It is a widely available, affordable late-1990s bridge camera used. Condition checks: power-zoom travel, autofocus, flash, the LCD, film transport and light seals. Alternatives: the earlier iS-100 and iS-200, or the advanced iS-1000 for exposure control.