Name: Olympus µ[mju:]-II 35mm f/2.8 fixed-lens Film Camera - Silver
Brand: Olympus
Price: 279.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Question 1

Why Is the Olympus µ[mju:]-II Considered One of the Best Compact Film Cameras?

Accepted Answer

The Olympus Mju-II is often considered one of the best 35mm point-and-shoot cameras of its type because it combines several desirable qualities in an unusually small body.

Fast 35mm f/2.8 Prime Lens

The biggest attraction is its 35mm f/2.8 fixed lens.

Unlike many compact zoom cameras with relatively slow lenses, the Mju-II's f/2.8 maximum aperture allows more light to reach the film.

This makes it particularly useful for:

Indoor available-light photography

Evening street photography

Cloudy conditions

Fast candid photographs

ISO 100–400 film

Situations where you want to avoid flash

The fixed-lens design also avoids the optical compromises associated with very long compact-camera zooms.

Compact Size

At approximately 108 × 59 × 37mm and only around 140g without battery, the Mju-II is genuinely pocket-sized.

This makes it the type of camera that can easily be carried every day rather than being left at home because it is too large.

Question 2

Why Choose the Olympus µ[mju:]-II?

Accepted Answer

Choose the Olympus Mju-II if you want a genuinely compact film camera with a fast prime lens rather than a large zoom.

The 35mm focal length is one of the most versatile choices for everyday photography. It is wide enough for travel, groups and street scenes while still producing natural-looking photographs of people.

The f/2.8 maximum aperture gives it an important advantage over many Mju zoom models, whose lenses become considerably slower at longer focal lengths.

The Mju-II is also extremely straightforward to operate. Loading, film advance, film rewind, exposure and focusing are all automated.

For more challenging situations, Spot Metering, focus lock and several flash modes provide additional control.

Its combination of small size and capable optics makes it particularly well suited to photographers who want to carry a film camera everywhere.

Question 3

Special Features

Accepted Answer

35mm f/2.8 Prime Lens:
A fast, versatile fixed lens that is one of the Mju-II's biggest advantages.

Aspherical Lens Element:
Helps maintain optical quality while allowing an exceptionally compact lens design.

Three-Point Multi-Autofocus:
Evaluates multiple areas of the frame rather than relying solely on one central focusing point.

Close Focus to Approximately 0.35m:
Useful for details, food, objects and close informal portraits.

Spot Metering:
Allows more precise exposure when the subject differs greatly in brightness from its surroundings.

Fast 1/1000-Second Shutter:
Useful in bright light and for reducing movement blur.

Intelligent Flash System:
Uses multiple sensor inputs to decide when flash should be used.

Auto Colour Balance Flash:
Can detect certain artificial lighting conditions and use flash to help produce more natural colour on colour negative film.

Soft Flash Control:
Adjusts flash output to help reduce harsh overexposure on nearby subjects.

Automatic Backlight Detection:
Can automatically provide flash when strong backlighting is detected.

Red-Eye Reduction:
Helps reduce red-eye during flash portraits.

Fill-In Flash:
Useful when faces are shadowed by strong sunlight.

Flash-Off Mode:
Allows photography using only available light.

Night Scene Mode:
Allows exposures of up to approximately four seconds to retain more ambient background illumination.

Red-Eye Reduction Night Scene:
Combines slower night-scene exposure with red-eye reduction.

Panorama Mode:
Allows panorama-format framing to be selected.

Remote-Control Compatibility:
Supports compatible Olympus infrared remote shutter release.

Automatic Film Loading:
Automatically prepares the film after loading.

Automatic Film Advance:
Moves to the next frame after every photograph.

Automatic Film Rewind:
Automatically rewinds the film when the roll is finished.

Mid-Roll Rewind:
Allows a partly exposed roll to be rewound when required.

Splash-Resistant Body:
JIS Protection Grade 4 constru

Question 4

Performance

Accepted Answer

The 35mm f/2.8 Olympus lens is the main reason for the Mju-II's strong reputation.

Its 4-element, 4-group optical construction incorporates an aspherical element, helping provide good image quality while allowing Olympus to keep the camera exceptionally small.

The 35mm focal length provides a natural moderately wide perspective. It captures enough of the surrounding environment for travel and street photography without producing the exaggerated perspective of an ultra-wide lens.

The f/2.8 aperture allows considerably more light into the camera than many compact zoom lenses.

The autofocus system uses three focusing points and up to approximately 414 distance steps, providing accurate focusing from around 0.35 metres to infinity.

The programmed exposure system covers approximately f/2.8 at 4 seconds through to f/11 at 1/1000 second, giving the camera considerable flexibility across low-light and bright conditions.

Question 5

Different Olympus Mju Series and Models

Accepted Answer

The Olympus Mju family includes numerous fixed-lens and zoom cameras. Although they share similar names and styling, their lenses and features can be quite different.

Olympus µ[mju:] / Mju I
The original Mju compact introduced in 1991, featuring a fixed 35mm f/3.5 lens. It is smaller and simpler than the later zoom models.

Olympus µ[mju:] Zoom / Zoom 70
An early Mju zoom camera with a 35–70mm f/4.5–6.9 lens, providing a short general-purpose zoom range.

Olympus µ[mju:] Zoom 105
The model described here, featuring a 38–105mm f/4.5–8.9 lens and introduced in 1995. It provides considerably more telephoto reach than the original Zoom.

Olympus µ[mju:] Zoom 115
A later model extending the telephoto range to 115mm, aimed at photographers wanting additional reach.

Olympus µ[mju:] Zoom 130
Offers a longer 38–130mm zoom, making it useful for portraits and more distant subjects.

Olympus µ[mju:] Zoom 140
Extends the telephoto range further to 140mm, making it one of the more versatile early Mju zoom cameras.

Olympus µ[mju:] Zoom Wide 80
Designed around a wider 28mm starting focal length, making it particularly useful for travel, architecture and group photography.

Olympus µ[mju:]-II
A different and especially well-known model featuring a fixed 35mm f/2.8 prime lens rather than a zoom. It should not be confused with the Mju Zoom 105.

Olympus µ[mju:]-II Zoom Models
Later cameras included versions such as the Mju-II Zoom 80, Zoom 115, Zoom 140 and Zoom 170, providing different zoom ranges in increasingly compact bodies.

Olympus µ[mju:]-III Series
Later-generation models included cameras such as the Mju-III Wide 100, Mju-III 120 and Mju-III 150, offering updated styling and broader zoom choices.

The Mju Zoom 105 therefore sits in an attractive middle position within the family: compact enough for everyday use while providing significantly more zoom flexibility than the original fixed-lens Mju cameras.

Question 6

Why the Fixed-Lens Mju-II Is Different from the Zoom Models

Accepted Answer

Although the zoom models provide greater framing flexibility, the fixed-lens Olympus Mju-II 35mm f/2.8 has several important advantages.

The f/2.8 prime lens is considerably brighter than most Mju zoom lenses.

There are fewer optical compromises because the lens does not need to cover multiple focal lengths.

The camera is also exceptionally compact and light.

The 35mm focal length is highly versatile and encourages photographers to move physically closer or further away rather than relying on zoom.

For street, documentary and everyday film photography, these characteristics help explain why the fixed-lens Mju-II has become the most sought-after model within the range.

Question 7

Which Film Does the Olympus Mju Take?

Accepted Answer

The Olympus µ[mju:] takes standard 35mm / 135 film.

It automatically reads DX-coded film at:

ISO 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200.

For most users, ISO 400 film is an excellent all-round choice, especially for changing UK weather, cloudy conditions and general travel photography.

For bright outdoor photography, ISO 100 or ISO 200 film can provide finer grain.

Suitable colour films include:

Kodak Gold 200 – excellent for holidays, daylight and warm colours.

Kodak ColorPlus 200 – a practical everyday colour film.

Kodak UltraMax 400 – versatile for changing lighting conditions.

Kodak Portra 400 – particularly good for portraits and natural skin tones.

For black & white photography:

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 – excellent for street and documentary photography.

Kentmere Pan 400 – affordable and versatile.

Ilford FP4 Plus 125 – useful for bright conditions and finer grain.

Using DX-coded film is recommended because the camera automatically sets the appropriate film speed.

Olympus µ[mju:]-II 35mm f/2.8 fixed-lens Film Camera - Silver

Olympus µ[mju:]-II 35mm f/2.8 Fixed-Lens Film Camera – Silver

Released Date

Key Features & Specifications

Key features

Watch this camera

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer reviews

More 35mm point & shoot cameras

Olympus µ[mju:]-II 35mm f/2.8 fixed-lens Film Camera - Silver

Olympus µ[mju:]-II 35mm f/2.8 Fixed-Lens Film Camera – Silver

Released Date

Key Features & Specifications

Key features

Watch this camera

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is the Olympus µ[mju:]-II Considered One of the Best Compact Film Cameras?+

Why Choose the Olympus µ[mju:]-II?+

Special Features+

Performance+

Different Olympus Mju Series and Models+

Why the Fixed-Lens Mju-II Is Different from the Zoom Models+

Which Film Does the Olympus Mju Take?+

Customer reviews

More 35mm point & shoot cameras