Olympus's wide-range 35mm AF zoom compact — the Superzoom 300, program AE, motorised zoom, 1993.
The Olympus Superzoom 300 was a 35mm autofocus zoom compact camera by Olympus, introduced in 1993 in the Superzoom line of point-and-shoot cameras. It offered a wide-ranging zoom in a single automatic 35mm body, aimed at photographers who wanted broad framing flexibility without changing lenses.
It is a full-frame 35mm autofocus camera exposing standard 24x36mm images, not half-frame. It has a built-in motorised zoom lens spanning a wide-to-telephoto range, with active autofocus and programmed automatic exposure reading DX-coded film speed. A built-in flash with several modes is fitted, film loading and advance are motorised, and the camera is battery-dependent with no manual exposure control. The optical finder zooms with the lens.
The broad zoom range suits travel, general and casual portrait photography, allowing wide scenes or tighter framing from one position. Automatic focus, exposure and motorised film handling keep operation simple, and the built-in flash covers indoor and fill situations. It prioritises convenience and framing range over manual settings.
When buying, check the battery compartment and contacts for corrosion, a common problem in motorised AF zoom compacts, and confirm the zoom extends and retracts smoothly through its full range. Test the autofocus, flash firing and film transport, inspect the zoom lens for haze and fungus at both ends, and verify the film-door light seals and LCD frame counter still operate.