Another family camera: my sister’s Olympus μ[mju:]-1. It was lying around for a while at home, and when I first tested it, the film advance did not work properly. I took the battery out and put it in a box where I totally forgot about it for some years. After I played around with two newer point & shoot cameras (and while looking for a lost lens cap), I rediscovered the Olympus in the said box. I also had a fresh battery and some film lying around, so I gave it a try. And somehow, maybe caused by some rest and darkness (and maybe a fresh battery for a change), the winding problem disappeared. Hurray, another camera for the collection and this blog!
About the Olympus [mju:]-1
The Olympus mju or μ[mju:]-1, also sold as the Olympus Stylus, is a small autofocus point-and-shoot camera from the 90ies. I would call it the younger sister of the Olympus XA-2 (and its sibling, the more sought-after mju-2, the younger sister of the Olympus XA). Introduced in 1991, the camera has, like the XA-2, a Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 lens in a clamshell design, which makes a case obsolete. But unlike the XA-2, it is packed with more electronics, a built-in flash, and a winder, which makes it slightly more convenient but also noisier. And of course, the biggest change: autofocus.
Production ran from 1991 to 2004; later model variants offered zoom lenses up to 150mm, with over 5 million cameras sold. Although that’s a lot of cameras, prices remain comparatively high. Due to the high demand, later models like mine where produced in China with Japanese parts, which is printed on the bottom of the camera.
Taking pictures with the Olympus [mju:]-1
If you want to “get back to film” but do not want to invest too much time “into the art of photography,” the mju is perfect. Get a camera, a fresh (!) CR123A battery, and some DX-coded film (so more or less anything available now), and you’re good to go.
First, open the battery compartment and insert the battery. Then open the back of the camera, insert the film, and close the back. Now the camera “scans” the code, sets the ISO, and advances to the first frame. You can take pictures now :). Open the front slider, half-press to set focus, full-press, and that’s it. The camera can close focus to 35 cm; if you are too close, a green light in the viewfinder warns you, and the shutter should be locked as well. The camera automatically advances the film. The only settings you can adjust are for the flash: It can be set to “auto,” “red-eye” reduction (which creates a series of pre-flashes that should close the subject’s pupils and so reduce the reflection from the retina), “off” (my favorite setting), and “fill-in” or always on, for backlit photography or if you just want that ’80s/’90s flash aesthetic in your photos. The other button activates the self-timer, which warns with a beep and a light before the shutter releases.
After the last frame, the camera automatically rewinds the film for you and asks for a new one with an “E” in the display.
Aperture ranges from ƒ/3.5 to f/15, shutter speed from 1/15 to 1/500, focus from 0.35 m to infinity. Flash range is limited to approximately 7 meters with ISO 400; with ISO 200, I would not get further than 3 meters away from the subject.
There are many reasons the Olympus mju is one of the most produced cameras of the ’90s: the design, the great lens, its compact size, autofocus, and the flash. Personally, I prefer the Olympus XA-2, as it is faster (the autofocus takes a moment) and quieter. But: if you can get an mju or even a mju-2 for a good price, grab it. It’s a great camera.
| Brand | Olympus |
| Model | μ[mju:]-1 |
| Year built | Unknown, production was from 1991 – 1996. As earlier Cameras were only called μ[mju:] without the “1” I assume a later model |
| Serial number | 9281514 |
| Lenses | Olympus Lems 35mm f/3.5 |
| Shutter | Electronc Leaf shutter 1/15 – 1/500 |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Special features | Autofocus |
| Accessories | – |
| Manufactured by | Olympus |
| Date of purchase | In the 90ies by my sister |
| Price | Gift from the family |
| Place of purchase | – |
Tips & Tricks shooting with the Olympus [mju:]-1
To avoid accidental flash, set it “off” before shooting. You have to do it after each time you close it.
Film purchase & processing
The camera can use any type of 35mm film, ISO 50 to 3200, but only DX coded film works properly. If no DX code is detedted, the camera sets ISO 100.
Useful Links
https://blog.jimgrey.net/2026/03/30/olympus-stylus-review/ Jim Grey has one (and two of the Zoom versions as well)
https://casualphotophile.com/2017/01/22/olympus-infinity-stylus-mju-point-and-shoot-camera-review/ Review
https://www.manualslib.com/products/Olympus-Stylus-4254119.html The manual.
Pictures
All my cameras 