Amazon.com Product Description

The 3-megapixel Olympus C-720 Ultra Zoom digital camera boasts an outstanding 8x optical zoom lens (plus 3.0x digital zoom--equivalent to 40-320mm in 35mm camera) and an ultracompact size (4.2 by 3 by 3 inches). The impressive aspherical glass lens gives you excellent detail and sharp, clear pictures, plus the size of the camera makes it easy to bring along wherever you go.

The C-720 offers rapid-succession firing--just over half a second per shot--and QuickTime movie mode for short video clips. Additional features include multipattern TTL autofocus, built-in flash, diopter adjustment, 1.5-inch color LCD monitor, self-timer with 12-second delay, autoexposure bracketing (three or five images), auto white balance, and special image effects such as sepia mode and black and white.

The C-720 stores images on removable SmartMedia cards. The camera can be operated in several modes: in programmed auto mode the camera does everything for you. In aperture- and shutter-priority modes, you get to set the aperture or priority, and the camera does the rest. In manual mode, you have control over all camera functions, with shutter speeds as long as 16 seconds.

Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software. The C-720 also ships with two CR-3V long-life disposable lithium batteries (four AA batteries can also be used), a 16 MB SmartMedia card, lens cap, strap, retainer cord, USB and A/V cables, and software. ... Read more

Features

• 3-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create prints up to 11 x 14
• Autofocus lens with 8x optical zoom and 3x digital zoom (for 24x total zoom)
• Included 16 MB SmartMedia card holds 21 images at high quality setting
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses 2 CR-V3 lithium batteries (included) or 4 AA batteries

Reviews (40)

Excellent camera... wonderful zoom and great battery life
This is my 4th digital camera and they have certainly improved. I chose the 720 because of it's 8X zoom lens and small size, plus the use of standard sized batteries. I took it on a two week canoe trip in Ontario and it performed great. The photos are crisp and sharp. Even with the maximum zoom, the focus was sharp, although I did use a mono-pod for stability. I was particularly impressed with the battery life. Based on my older cameras, I took 6 sets of batteries for the two week trip.... but I ended up only using two sets: one set of NiMH rechargables and one set of lithium batteries was all it took for two weeks and over 600 photos, including lots of previewing with the LCD display.
I also found the LCD viewfinder more acceptable than I had first expected. It is a bit grainy and takes some getting used to, but it was brighter than most reviews have implied and it was great to be able to see 'exactly' what was going to be in the picture since it is 'through the lens'.

Overall, I am very pleased with the camera. Very impressive.

Grrreat Camera!
This camera is so cool. It is lightweight and just so great. It has a wonderful optical lens that gets far away objects in fine focus. It's digital zoom comes out surprisingly crystal clear. Plus, the multi adjustable exposure is a pleasure to use. You can set the camera to take manual shutter speed or manual exposure or both. You can set the overall lighting for the scene from dark to light. You can also take movies for 16 seconds! You can take self photos-timed, snaps shot on its own. There are several sizes of photos you can take. There are screw threads on the lens so you can also purchase a separate adapter and use filters such as polarization and UV or wide angle lenses (check out Ebay and search "Olympus 720 filter"). You can take time exposures for blurred water flowing or car lights streaming past. You can check out the back of the camera on the sharp active matrix LCD screen and look at the photo you just took and delete ones you don't like. You can watch the movies on the LCD screen. You can use smartmedia cards (check out "Viking" at Amazon) to save photos/movies ...for the maximum size 128 meg card which saves about 50 photos at the largest size or about 650 at 640x480. I think the greatest thing about this camera is the lens. You can zoom in to objects that are VERY far away and have them in sharp focus. I took photos of deer recently this way. It's simple to download the photos with the USB cable. The software that comes with the camera is really cool. You can upgrade ... by purchasing a number online that links right from the software that comes with the camera. The upgrade software is absolutely outstanding. The free stitch mode in the upgrade software is especially cool since it really does an outstanding job of stitching photos-this upgrade software is NOT A BURN..-it's really worth it-compare to other software like this online. Plus, the camera comes with a 16meg card to save photos right away. It comes with a CD of the software. It comes with a lens cap and strap to connect to the lens cap and another strap to connect to the camera. It comes with lithium duracell batteries. It comes with a USB connector cord. It comes with a cord to connect to your TV (stereo cable port) to watch your photos on your TV! You can even set the camera to do a slide show of your photos on the TV. You can watch the movies from your camera on the TV. May I recommend purchasing a 12' extension stereo cord for the TV cable from Radio Shack so you can sit at the sofa and watch your piks on the TV. I really, can honestly say.. that this is an outstanding product. I read the whole manual and tried all the different examples to get all out of this camera possible. It's really fun! Give it a try-you can't go wrong. It's a wonderful family camera or even great for a profesional. It's a blast-I love that I got it.

A great camera at a great price, but not for action shots
I own this camera and am very pleased with it. I have some photography experience but this is my first digital camera, so in choosing a camera my goals were to find one that is as close to a traditional 35 mm film camera, but digital. This camera acheives that goal. The main drawback to this camera is that it is difficult to take action photos. I'll get to that, but first a few pros:

- Of course, the powerful optical zoom and optical lens, (combined with digital zoom gives you almost 30x zoom).
- For having an optical lens, this camera is really compact! It is easily held in one hand.
- Full automatic controls of shutter speed and aperture, but also the option of full manual (as well as shutter speed priority or aperture priority) should you want to do something creative. Though it does not have unlimited exposure time; you can't go past about one minute.

And a few cons:

- The necessary accessories will drive the price up. It only comes with a 4 MB memory card, and much more is needed (I recommend at least 64 MB, probably 128 MB). Also, rechargeable batteries are recommended, as well as a carrying case.
- Though it uses double-A's, most rechargeable double-A's don't last long. I often end up buying regular double-A's in the end anyway.
- Like other digital cameras, the camera must be powered up before taking photos but you don't want to leave it on at all times in order to save batteries. However, if you have a sudden photo opportunity it does take a minute for the camera to power up. The camera will go into sleep mode to save batteries and it "wakes up" a little faster, but still somewhat slowly. This is a minor drawback.
- And the biggest drawback, for me, is the difficulty in taking action shots. It is difficult for two reasons:

1) The auto-focus is slow. By the time the camera focuses and shoots, your photo opportunity easily may have passed. It does have manual focus but it is much slower! You have to use the up/down and left/right arrows on the back of the camera to focus. First, this is an inconvenient location especially if you are using the viewfinder instead of the viewscreen. And, the buttons are digitally controlled; each press of the button requires a short processing time. If you think you can manually focus on the fly with this camera while shooting sports photography, forget it! So, unless you are in a situation where you can focus manually once and take all of your photos at that focal length, you will have to rely on the moderately slow auto-focus.

2) After each photo, the image freezes to show you the picture you just took. This is a nice feature on most any digital camera nowadays, but since you can't turn it off it can really interfere if you are trying to take several photos back-to-back. The viewscreen does this, but so does the viewfinder, so there is no avoiding it. The only option, if you want to take quick back to back photos, is to turn on the "rapid-shooting" which will take 2 or more photos every time you press the button. Fortunately it's digital so you aren't wasting film!

All of that said, I will mention that I have managed to take some decent sports photographs. The drawbacks are a nuisance but can be worked around in ways like those that I have mentioned.

I recommend this camera to anyone that is looking for a digital camera at a very affordable price that will provide many of the benefits of a traditional 35 mm film-based camera. It is good for beginners as well as amateur photographers, but if you're planning to do action photography I recommend sticking to the 35 mm, or finding a different (though surely more expensive) digital camera.

Bottom line: it is hard, if not impossible, to beat this camera for this price.

I noticed someone reviewed it as not for beginners.....
And they are SO Right, it has so many whistles and horns, I cant figure out how to use it. The instruction book is as long as a novel. I have never used a digital camera, so I can guarantee that this one is HARD to understand.
Once you figure out the important needs of the camera, the one part that is easy is getting the pictures on the computer. That is camera/computer friendly, and easy to understand.
I noticed that all pictures have red eyes, and what I don't like the most, is I love taking pictures spontaneously, you can not take moving pictures at all, and that is a big downfall when you have kids and cats or dogs. Anything moving comes out blurry every-time. It is not the camera for those that like to be on the go, or like to take pictures as they happen. Its more for the mountain and tree type families, that take pictures of still objects.

This is not a camera for beginners
This is my first digital camera and I did a lot of research before buying it. I bought it mainly for the 8x optical zoom and because of a retailer who recommended Olympus' lenses. The flaws of this camera were said by other reviewers - things like slow focus and blurry pictures. You CAN take good pictures with this camera, but it just takes a LONG time to learn for beginners (and after a lot of mistakes). And if you need somebody else to take pictures for you, it will be plenty of headaches. The paper manual that comes with the camera is the most user-UNfriendly manual I've ever seen - it assumes the user knows a lot about cameras. In conclusion, this camera is NOT for anyone who wants ease of use. ... Read more

Features

• One dedicated slot each for xD-Picture cards and SmartMedia
• USB interface
• Reads and writes to and from cards

Reviews (5)

Some problems with Windows XP
I own many Olympus digital cameras and accessories, and have been quite brand-loyal.

But I've been disappointed by several flaws in the recent xD product line.

This MAUSB-10 device appears to have some problems with Windows XP. The driver on the CD is not certified for XP, nor is the latest online driver. The latest online driver is dated 2002, and it's currently summer 2004, so Olympus has had plenty of time to create a certified XP driver.

The MAUSB-10 appeared to work at first, but caused blue screen Windows crashes when running Windows backup, when it was searching for backup devices. I also experienced crashes on card insertion.

I have had other USB card readers working well in the past, and I reverted back to them, now the problems are gone.

I think this driver just isn't 100% polished. It probably handles the most generic case, but hasn't been well tested or implemented for the various system configurations.

I might recommend you try the MACF-10 xD to Compact Flash adapter. That allows you to access your xD cards from Compact Flash readers. It seems to work for me, but I'm not sure if there are cases when the compatibility doesn't work.

Makes downloading a snap
I installed this reader on a Windows XP home system. I found that it was necessary to install the software from the provided CD and then reboot before the system would properly recognize the device. After that, it worked flawlessly. The quality of the reader looks very good.

The only negative I see is that the device is somewhat larger than other USB card readers.

Easy to use -- Makes for FAST downloads
I bought this reader/write mostly because I was frustrated at the very long time it took to download pictures from my (Olympus 340) digital camera. This device really makes it a snap, cutting what took five to ten minutes to download 100 pictures to something well under a minute. You simply remove your memory card from your camera and put it into this cigarette-box sized reader that attaches to your USB port.

I had no trouble loading the necessary software onto my laptop (XP operating system) and the reader/writer attached easily to my laptop. The instructions are clear and it is really quite easy to get your pictures downloaded in a very fast time. The reader/writer comes with a CD-disk with software needed to edit pictures.

I recommend this product highly.

Easy To Install & Use
Loaded the driver from the enclosed CD and plugged the card reader into my USB hub and Windows 98 had no problem recognizing the new hardware and finding the new driver.

The card reader works fine and each slot, one for an xD card and the other for a SmartMedia card, is assigned a different drive letter by Windows 98.

The procedure for removing the card is described in the Quick Start Guide. It involves right-clicking the card reader icon to extinguish the status light on the unit. The use of the word "eject" is misleading because like other card readers removal of the card from the slot is done manually by grasping the edge of the card. Easy to insert and remove a card.

I bought the Olympus MAUSB-10 to use with my new Olympus C50 camera. I'm pleased with both products. Olympus responds promptly to email inquiries and has a toll-free number for technical support.

Combo XD and Smart Media Reader
This reader works great..after getting the driver to load on my XP Pro system. Initially, the reader was on a Windows 98 machine and was the perfect solution to read both medias. Each slot appears as its own drive on windows explorer.
The reader is simple to use and has a light letting you know if the drive is working. The information is moved quickly to the computer. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The new Olympus Stylus 100 offers a 3.6x wide-angle zoom lens that lets you zoom in for amazing detail, or zoom out for incredible range. Automatic flash, focus, exposure, and more give you clear and beautifully lit pictures at the touch of a button. And a stylish, compact design means it's small enough to fit in a pocket to accompany you anywhere you go.

The camera includes an LCD for time stamps and exposure counting to keep track of those special dates. A pop-up six-mode variable flash and autofocus are standard as well. Automatic film winding, loading, and rewind continue the long list of features to help reduce or eliminate unnecessary motion. A 12-second delay timer allows the photographer to be a part of the shot. The kit comes with a battery, case, strap, extended warranty, and a remote control. The Stylus comes complete with a sliding lens cover and an all-weather design. ... Read more

Features

• Multi-autofocus system
• Wide-angle 28-100mm, 3.6x zoom
• Quartz date/time imprint
• 6 mode variable power flash with red-eye reduction
• All-weather design

Features

• Ultra-compact and super-sharp 37.5-150mm, 4x Zoom
• Quartz Date/Time Imprint
• Innovative Camera Shake Indicator warns of camera shake and reduces the risk of image blur
• Multi-wide 11 point AF System for highly accurate autofocusing
• Amazing high quality lens system featuring an ED glass lens and two double-sided aspherical lenses

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus C-3030 zoom digital camera is an ultrahigh-resolution digital camera providing a 3.34-megapixel CCD for true-to-life colors and 2,048 x 1,536 pixel resolution. Its all-glass f/2.8 3x zoom with continuous 2.5x digital zoom brings you up to 7.5 times closer to the action.You have the choice of using either the traditionally styled real-image viewfinder or a 1.8-inch color TFT LCD monitor to frame your shots.The LCD is also handy for playback.Other technical features include a built-in 6-mode intelligent flash, a self-timer with remote, and a time/date imprinting function.

Using removable SmartMedia cards for its storage system, this camera offers 15 different image-resolution capture modes--including five uncompressed TIFF modes and up to 191 seconds of QuickTime movie capture with sound. Built-in USB connection and serial connection allow users downloading flexibility.The Olympus C-3030 is compatible with both Macintosh and PC platforms. It is the only camera in its class with a 32MB SDRAM buffer for rapid shooting at 3.3 frame-per-second burst mode up to 5 photos, and real-time shooting at 1 photo every second.

Even though the Olympus C-3030 is user friendly and can perform all camera functions automatically, you have a wide variety of user-selected and manual features to make your pictures as artistic as you'd like.The Olympus C-3030 offers special-effects modes including B&W, sepia, blackboard, and whiteboard.It also provides user-selectable ISO settings (100, 200, and 400), slow shutter speeds of up to 16 seconds in manual and 1/800 second to 1/2 second in auto, aperture settings of f/2.8 to f/11 through the entire zoom range in 1/3 step increments, and autoexposure bracketing for an array of exposures (plus or minus two stops in 1/3-step increments with three- or five-step bracketing.)

In response to one of digital camera users' chief complaints about previous models' power consumption, Olympus has designed the C-3030 zoom with improved battery life.While it will operate on 4 AA alkaline batteries for convenience, it lasts longer with the use of the CR-3V (LB-01) lithium batteries.It can also operate on an optional AC adapter.

In the box, you receive the C-3030 zoom digital camera, a 16 MB SmartMedia card, an RM-1 remote control, a software CD-ROM (including Adobe PhotoShop LE), a PC/Mac USB cable, an NTSC audio-video cable, two AA lithium CR-3V batteries, a user guide, a registration card, and a strap.Olympus backs the C-3030 with a one-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 3.3 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo quality prints at 8 x 10 inches and beyond
• 3x optical plus 2.5 digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB SmartMedia card holds 24 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses 2 proprietary lithium or 4 AA batteries (2 lithium batteries included)

Features

• Matte paper - ribbon for the OLYMPUS P-400 dye sublimation photo printer
• Good for up to 50 prints

Amazon.com Product Description

With its compact, lightweight, and sleek design, you can take the Olympus Tracker binocular anywhere and still enjoy the great view. With a 12x magnification and an objective lens diameter of 25mm, faraway images will be in sharp detail with brilliant clarity. The lens itself is made from special optical material to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, while the full multicoating keeps maintains brightness and contrast.

The BaK-4 prisms have a high refractive index for complete edge-to-edge clarity. The center knob is in perfect placement for your fingers to comfortably adjust the focus. The built-in dioptric correction adjusts for individual eyesight so everyone can use the binocular to its full potential. The Tracker also has eyecups that twist up and down, allowing each user to personalize the binocular to their comfort, while the long eye relief is a necessary feature for eyeglass wearers. ... Read more

Features

• 12x magnification and 25mm objective lens
• Field of view: 79 meters (at 1,000 yards)
• High-index prisms for a bright, crisp image
• Compact and lightweight for portability
• Twisting eyecups for personal comfort; central focus knob and dioptric correction

Amazon.com Product Description

The new Stylus 105 is Olympus's most compact and stylish 35mm yet. With a new 11-point autofocus system, your pictures will look just as sharp as the camera itself. This system ensures your subject will be in focus at all zoom ranges, as well as in dark or low-contrast situations. For the harsh conditions of everyday life, the Stylus comes complete with a sliding lens cover, an all-metal body, and an all-weather design.

The camera includes an LCD for time stamps and exposure counting to keep track of those special dates. A six-mode variable-power flash and autofocus are standard as well. Automatic film winding, loading, and rewind continue the long list of convenience features. The kit comes with a battery, case, strap, extended warranty, and a remote control. ... Read more

Features

• 38-105mm, 2.8x zoom lens
• 11 point multi-wide advanced autofocus system
• 6 mode variable power flash with red-eye reduction
• Extra-low dispersion glass lens
• Electric self-timer with remote control; all-weather design

Features

• Automatic features: auto film load, advance, and rewind
• 38 - 105mm zoom lens with aspherical and ED glass elements for sharp results
• All-weather reliability protects camera from a variety of conditions including rain, snow, sea spray, and blowing sand
• Quartz date imprinting
• Pop-up flash features red-eye reduction and auto color balancing

Amazon.com Product Description

The rugged all-weather Olympus 7x50 waterproof binoculars were built to stay in your hands in even the roughest waters and weather. Suitable for boating, camping, hiking, and fishing, they feature an illuminated compass, internal range finder, and individual eyepiece focus settings. Hermetically sealed and nitrogen purged for true waterproof and fogproof performance, the Olympus 7x50 waterproof binoculars can enhance any outdoor adventure--day or night, sun or rain, land or sea.

Smartly constructed with a durable green rubber coating for a nonslip grip and increased shock resistance, they also come with a bright yellow floatable neck strap for quick retrieval if submerged.A high-index BaK4 prism and big 50mm objective lenses produce clear, sharp images, even in low-light and night conditions.These binoculars also feature long eye relief for comfortable extended viewing. ... Read more

Features

• Rugged, waterproof, shock-resistant construction
• 7x magnification
• Large 50mm objective lenses offer exceptional brightness
• Individual focus system for each eyepiece
• Includes floatable bright yellow strap for easy retrieval if submerged

Reviews (1)

Almost perfect
I have owned and used the 108-768 (aka. Magellan) binocular for about 1 year. They never leave my boat. I like the grippy-light weight body and the focus and forget individual eyepiece's. The internal compass is as stable as most any brand and can be quite handy when taking bearings. The prisms are BaK4 optical glass and help to keep false color to a very low level. They have taken more than a few bumps, both from handling and rough water, but have always came through and asked for more. I am happy with theses binoculars and they are several hundred dollars less than top notch Fuji's or Steiners.
On the critical side, it would not have killed Olympus to multi-coat the optics. Full coatings are good, but multi-coatings make great optics, with all other optical quality being the same. The reflections off water(theses are geared toward marine use) can be a pain and contrast suffers. The flotation strap is a good idea, but you will get tired of the rough nylon covering rubbing on your neck in short order. ... Read more

Features

• Record up to 90 minutes of digital sound
• Download lectures, notes, etc. to your computer with the high-speed USB interface
• Listen to your files from your computer with Olympus's "Digital Wave Player" software
• LCD display panel helps you keep track of important recording information
• Voice activation function allows for hands-free recording

Reviews (21)

Excellent!
I purchased the Olympus DW-90 Voice Recorder to record ambient sounds for some web work I'm doing. I found the DW-90 easy to operate after browsing the manual. Loading the included software was a non-item. Once you record a sound you just plug the unit into a USB port and the software automatically pops up on the computer screen. You then push one button and it uploads the file or files to the computer. Fast, simple. You select the file (it records in .wav file format) with your mouse and hit the play button and there you are. I'm into recording sounds of doors creaking, birds chirping, water dripping, etc. I record outdoors and in, on the hiking trail, voices in the park, the crackle of a fire in a fireplace, children's voices. In short, I record anything that might make a digital scene come to life. I also use the sounds for link buttons: the ping of a pencil on a drinking glass or china, the crumpling of an aluminum can, fist on a tabletop. Once I've uploaded the sound, I open it in my sound editing software (Sound Forge) and go to work on it. The sound that comes from the DW-90 in HQ mode is crystal clear. Since it's designed to record voices, I was worried that it might muffle background noise, but found this to not be true. Everything the ear hears, the DW-90 records (not the same frequency response, of course), which can at times be a problem for me. Human hearing is selective, so we don't ordinarily hear the refrigerator running or whir of our computer's fan. But they will all be there when you replay a DW-90 sound file. The DW-90 is smaller than it looks in the pictures, ~3.5 inches in length, and extremely light weight, so you can take it anywhere. But it definitely has its limitations. File storage volume is one. Just make sure that prior to purchasing the unit you evaluate its specifications against your requirements. I'm immensely pleased with it, but then I'm not trying to record a one-hour lecture in HQ mode (limit 22 min) or LP mode (limit 90 min) where so many of the reviewers here on Amazon have complained about sound quality.

Very Small Capacity
I purchased this thinking that I was getting a recorder that would actually hold 90 minutes of audio. Unfortunately that capacity is only available for "LP" mode which is highly distorted. HQ and SP modes record very well, but only plan on getting 20-30 minutes of use out of it before the memory is full.

The PC connection was not automatic, despite the instruction manual comments that no additional software was required. On the whole, I found no little to no support material available on the Olympus website.

I returned the recorder and am still looking for something <$100 that provides 2-3 hours of high quality recording with a PC connection.

Proved with time
I've been using this recorder for about 5 months now, and I love it now just as much as I did when I first purchased it. One thing that I like very much about the design is that the Erase button is extremely hard to accidentally push (and that, twice) - which shows someone was thinking when they designed it. The software installed perfectly, and works perfectly. I am very satisfied with this little recorder; it does not weigh much, but it gets the job done - and very well at that.

Compact yet full of features
I just got this little guy (so small it fits in the palm of my hand), and I am thoroughly satisfied with it. It is small, yet it has a lot of features, and it seems to be well manufactured - doesn't seem like it will break real soon or anything. I have recorded four files so far, and have even transfered them to my laptop (running Win 98 SE). The installation of the software was seamless, and all works great. I have not had a chance to try out some features of the recorder (lecture mode for instance), but I am very satisfied with what I got so far.

limited functionality, short duration very good LP mode poor
Bought this model to record science lecture notes, but the advertized 90 minute recording capability is only in LP mode. In LP mode, the playback is completely illegible. In HQ mode, the sound is superb, but you only get 22 minutes of recording. I will return this and continue looking.

Should have read the reviews here first, it would have saved me time but I was out on errands and stopped in at a local superstore to buy one. ... Read more

Features

• Carry and protect your valuable xD-Picture Cards
• Black
• Leather construction
• Velcro closure
• Holds up to 6 cards in its plastic pockets

Amazon.com Product Description

With true 4x zoom and date printing, the fully automatic Olympus IS-20QD SLR camera offers versatility and professional quality. It combines theadvanced functionality of an SLR camera system with a compact, lightweightpackage. The 28-110mm aspherical glass lens provides a high degree of opticalresolution with reduced distortion. A full-auto mode automatically sets shutterspeed and aperture, while audible beeps confirm focus.

A set of direct modeselect buttons make creative photography easy. A landscape mode capturesforeground and background with equal clarity. You can also create dramaticportraits with a sharply defined subject and shallow depth of field. A night- scene mode keeps the shutter open for up to two-second exposures. An intelligentflash automatically fires in low-light situations and includes fill-in flash,red-eye reduction, and soft illumination settings. ... Read more

Features

• 35mm SLR autofocus camera
• 28-110mm, 4x zoom lens
• Full-auto mode automatically sets shutter speed and aperture
• Quartz date and time recording
• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction

Reviews (23)

Olympus iS-20 QD Camera
Very versatile, stylish, easy-to-use camera! I used several rolls of my 2-month daughter basically in the portrait mode and I found them very good (w/flash or without it). But more impressive pictures have been done outdoors with 28mm focus. They a really great! The images are sharp, clear, a full of depth. Before I used 35mm fixed Olympus Stylus and my manual Minolta XG-7. This IS-20 QD camera has a lot more to offer for for the beginner and experienced photographer!

Easy to use, powerful flash, great ergonomics
I purchased the IS20 in July 2001. My first interest in it was its design. Not only does it look good, but its shape and ergonomics makes it really easy to hold, handle and operate. We often forget to admit that looks are one of the major purchase motivations.

The second thing i liked about it was ease of use. if you have minimal camera operation experience you might never read the manual at all!

It also integrates a powerful flash. My boss told me once that he thought it was on fire when it blinked to reduce red eye effect.

The 28-110 mm zoom is also nice, quick. Battery life seems above average (I still have not changet it).

Negative aspects?

Probably its weight and size, its definately not a camera you would stick in your pocket.
You will notice that when the camera is on the lens sticks all the way out wich makes it look more like an Olympus IS3000.

Wow!
I purchased this camera for my 11-yr old daughter to use in a summer photography gifted & talented art class that required the kids to bring an SLR camera (I got a reconditioned model really cheap). What a find!! I bought it because it seemed much easier to use than a standard SLR (which befuddle me), but I didn't expect that the pictures or adjustability would be that great - I was terribly wrong. There was no discernable difference between my daughter's photos and the photos from the kids (most older & more seasoned in photography) who used a standard SLR - except she said that she got to take more pictures because she wasn't always messing with her camera. Her photos included color, black & white, landscapes, close-ups, and many "trick" shots with long exposures and light effects - everything the other kids did with their cameras. He teacher even recommended that she enter a couple of her photos in a local contest!

The "one step" buttons for landscapes, close-ups, long exposure, and short exposure produce excellent results, and the automatic speed setting with the manual f-step option is very nice as well - no charts or graphs needed to figure it all out.

My husband and I have always been interested in photography, but we never wanted to deal with the complicated SLR lenses, F-stop/speed settings, etc., but we were so impressed with the IS20 that we just purchased another one for our own use, and intend on doing a little hobby SLR photography ourselves! The IS20 actually makes photography fun! I've taken the best photos of my life in the past few days, and I'm excited to continue.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND for the beginning or even intermediate SLR user.

Golden!
I was looking for an entry level SLR and decided to try the Olympus IS 20 at the advice of a friend who works as a semi-professional photographer. After shopping around and comparing the Olympus to other brands such as Nikon and Cannon, I found that Olympus does not necessarily enjoy the reputation found in other brands. Still, I decided to get the IS 20 based on the functions it offered and the great price on Amazon. Since I have owned the IS 20 I have shot over 20 rolls of film including 200, 400 and 800 speeds. The camera is very user friendly and my photos are excellent. The last roll of film that I shot with 800 contained photos of Seattle taken from the incoming Bainbridge ferry at sunset. When I picked up the photos from processing, several members of the staff were waiting for me to compliment me on the outstanding colors and detail in my photos. They were convinced that I am a seasoned photographer with a superior understanding of manual cameras and photography in general; even though I only have a basic understanding! This camera is everything that I hoped it would be and I would highly recommend it for beginners. Also, if you buy this camera, there is a teleconverter lens available at the Oympus Emporium website (but in limited quanties.)

Great Pictures!
Easy to use camera that takes great pictures! I replaced my old Nikon 35mm with this Olympus and have been nothing but pleased. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Olympus Camedia P-400 uses advanced dye-sublimation technology toprint an extremely sharp image on high-quality photo paper. The result looks andfeels like a traditional photograph. The P-400 also accepts a digital camera'sSmartMedia or PC Card directly, and it has USB and parallel interfaces for easyPC connectivity.

Weighing over 30 pounds, constructed of heavy plastic, and accented with metalcontrols, the Camedia P-400 impressed us with its sturdy design right out of thebox. To test the printer, we captured photos on a 16 MB CompactFlash card,placed the card in a CompactFlash-to-PCMCIA adapter (not included), and insertedthe adapter in the printer. (Our evaluation model came with the P-RBN photo inkcartridge already installed, but it is easily replaced through the front accesspanel. Also, our unit did not include driver software, so we were unable to testPC functionality.) Using the menu-driven LCD, jog dial, and arrow keys, wespecified our paper type (A4), input source (PC Card), and output photo size (8by 10 inches). We pressed the Print button, and after 2 minutes and 58 secondsthe P-400 rewarded us with a beautiful 8-by-10-inch photograph.

The Camedia P-400's color was very natural, not neon bright or oversaturated,and its tinting was slightly cool (more blue than red). Resolution was only 314dpi, but the dye-sublimation technology showed no visible grain. The resultswere better than many we've seen from 1,200 dpi ink-jet printers. We alsoprinted a slightly soft photograph and then used the printer's sharpeningfunction in an attempt to improve it. Unfortunately, unwanted pixelationincreased along with any positive sharpening affects. Printing speed was slowbut steady at 2:58 for each 8-by-10 print. Several minutes were required toprint one index/proof sheet of 20 photos, with nearly all of that time spentprocessing the CompactFlash card's data, not actually printing.

With only a casual glance, we could have easily mistaken the P-400's output ascoming from a photo lab. Only close scrutiny revealed minor pixelation, whichreflected the limit of our digital photo more than that of the printer. Theinitial cost is high, and the dye-sublimation ink cartridges and photo paper areexpensive; but if you can afford it, the P-400 Camedia makes a fine companionfor your digital camera. --Mike Brown

Pros:

• Easy walk-up printing of digital photos
• Prints have the look and feel of traditional photos

Cons:

• Substantial cost for consumables
• Not for general-purpose printing

Features

• Professional-looking, continuous-tone, dye-sublimation prints, up to 8 by 10 inches
• Prints directly from SmartMedia and PC cards
• LCD preview and information screen
• USB and parallel interfaces
• Prints up to 50 copies at a time

Reviews (29)

Olympus P400
The technical detail:

a. The printer may be operated as a standalone product independant of a computer. It contains slots for both SmartMedia cards and compact flash PC card adaptors so you don't have to have a computer connected to the printer to use it. The printer has its own small LCD display which can be used in lieu of a computer interface to help you select pictures off your cards for printing and the printer also has a rather sophisticated built in capability to format the final product.

b. The printer has both a parallel port and a USB port for computer connection and is compatible with both PCs and MACs. Configuration software is included on CD for both types of machines. No computer cables are included and will cost you about $20 at your local computer store.

c. If connected to a computer, the printer is used to provide printed output for whatever photo editing software you already own. No computer photo editing software is included with the package.

d. Documentation is complete and voluminous. However, the technical document giving all the nitty gritty is provided as a computer PDF file readable by Adobe Acrobat software (supplied in multiple languages) and is not provided hardcopy. If you are buying this printer to use as a standalone device without a computer, this puts you at somewhat of a disadvantage.

e. The starter kit of paper and printer ribbon is adequate to print only five (5) 8x10" prints so you will want to purchase paper and ribbon with the printer.

f. Printing supplies (paper and ribbon) are expensive, costing almost $2 per 8x10" print.

The Subjective data:

The final print produced is 314x314 dots per inch and looks incredible. I have standard 8x10" Kodak prints produced from my digital photos that do not look nearly as good. Unless you are going to take your digital data to a custom printing specialist and stand over his shoulder, you will not be able to obtain a print better than this printer will give you. Recently, I was trying to restore an old 8x10" photo and scanned it into my computer at the highest resolution possible, edited it in Adobe Photoshop, and wound up with a wonderful restoration. By that time the digital image was up to 58MB size. I asked Kodak to print it, and they did. However, their system couldn't handle the large file size and compressed it to slightly over 2MB. Their final print was acceptable but a lot of the detail and my work was lost because of the compression. My computer fed the entire 58MB file to this printer and it produced a superb picture that made the Kodak image look like a childs effort in comparison. I don't know of any printer today that has comperable capability to the Olympus P400.

Best Affordable Photo Printer on the Market!
This is the best photo printer I have ever used. I bought the Epson 2000 and returned it because the color and quality wasn't good enough. There is not an ink jet printer on the market that can even come close to matching the quality of prints produced by this printer. I am using the Canon D30 and can produce incredible action shots instantly on this printer without even manipulating the picture. I use Adobe Photoshop 6.0 when I manipulate my pictures. Most of the time I copy the pictures back to a SmartMedia or Compact Flash card and print them from the card. This way I'm not tying up most of the computer's memory and can work on another photo project at the same time. The one thing that I have found is when I copy the picture to a card, the printer only recognizes jpeg files from the PC not the Mac.

The search is over
From digital camera to print choose Olympus P-400. For the best print quality choose Olympus P-400. To save on the costs of having any developer make 8x10's choose Olympus P-400. For prints of exceptional quality direct from your digital camera Compact Flash or Smart media --- well you know.

Two minutes after I unpacked everything and assembled this printer I was watching the P-400 create the first print. The menu system and selections on the printer were simple to understand.

The quality was exceptional. Using a Compact Flash required a PCMCIA adapter but that didn't slow this printer down.

... And in about 90 seconds! Unless your Uncle works at Kodak or you do, you can't beat the price and speed of getting a truly remarkable print.

Go ahead and enhance your photos with your PC first. Whatever you do will show up in amazing color on the Olympus Camedia P-400.

My last printer for true photo quality prints!

Only the best will do.
Nestled upon my desk between a new Brother HP-1440 laser and a recently purchased Epson 960 CD printer, is a three year old Olympus P-400. Fast high quality text print-outs are routed to the laser printer, and the Epson is used for the specialty printing of card stock, CDs, and DVDs, but all photographs are created from the P-400, whether in color or black and white.

I originally purchased the P-400 for one simple reason; I wanted the highest quality prints possible of family members and for my wedding video service. The Olympus P-400 has never disappointed my highest expectations.

Most of us are familiar with how bubble-jet printers create dotted print-outs, which from a distance may look OK, but when viewed up-close the actual quality is not as good as hoped for. I have used a magnifying glass on print-outs from the P-400, and not only are there no dots, I actually do believe I prefer the P-400 print-outs over normal photographs. The P-400 print quality *is* that good. In my region of the world, film developing businesses on occasion ruin whole rolls of film, and so rather than my investing time and money into developing equipment to ensure quality photos, I can now get the prints I want, the size I want, and the quantity I want at any time I want.

The paper used in the P-400 is thick, very similar to normal photographs, and instead of the photographs having a brand name on the back side such as "Kodak", it reads "Olympus". The finished photograph also automatically receives a clear protective high gloss coating that does make the print feel and appear to be a developed photo. Unless a person has considerable experience with photography, they will not be able to tell the difference between a regular photo and one printed from the P-400. The actual cost per print-out is around $2.00 (paper and ribbon costs combined), which is not bad at all for an 8x10 or four 4x5 photographs. Advertised life of prints is about the same as regular photographs, around 50 years or more, which is far better than just a year or two with bubble-jet printers.

Changing the ribbon and paper is fast, clean, and very easy. Software installation is also quick and uncomplicated. The user friendly printer actually is a 'plug and play'.

Though the P-400 has a normal printer parallel port, I highly recommend only using the USB port. The time required to transfer data from the computer to the printer usually only takes several seconds per photograph while using the USB, but it may take minutes through the LPT1 cable. With about two minutes from clicking "print" to receiving a finished 8x10 photograph, the speed is more than pleasing. The printer is fast enough and simple enough that I have not yet found a need to use the Smart Card slot nor even any of the other console controls. Through use of most any photo or graphics program, print-outs are as easy as 'view and print'.

The only problem I have encountered was when the printer was new and the plastic ribbon roll rod would occasionally bind in the ribbon holder slot (caused by too tight of tolerances). I was able to trim off the holder's excess plastic to allow the ribbon to turn more freely, and after speaking to the Olympus technical support describing the problem and remedy (of which they were appreciative for the information), surely the new models will no longer have similar minor problems.

Three years ago I paid over one thousand dollars for the P-400 on sale, and I have never regretted the cost. Recently I was able to print-out numerous specially-formatted 8x10 copies of my daughter's college graduation, which if done through a photographer would have cost me more than the price of the printer. Today's prices are very reasonable, enough that my wife has begun saying she wants one for herself. In our high-tech low-cost society, not many items produce true quality results, but the Olympus P-400 is one product that actually does live up to our best expectations. Highly recommended, I know of no better desk-top photo printer than the Olympus P series.

Great photo printer for the commited digital photographer
I've been printing 3.2 megapixel images on this and they're virtually indistinguishable from a "real" photo, even at the 7.64x10" full size (7.7 megapixel as advertised in the printer information) resolution. Don't believe the inkjet monkeys who tell you that an inkjet can produce comparable prints - they can't.

I chose this printer over the others available because of the size it is capable of printing, the better color-handling (for instance, the sony dye-subs tend to skew towards overly bright and red tones), and the recommendations of hard-core photo people.

Things you should know about this printer: when all is said and done, you can find this printer for under three hundred, and 100 prints are going to run you about a buck sixty five each (for a single 8x10) if you shop around. If you want smaller, cheaper photos, just print two or four up on a sheet, get 4 prints out of it on a sheet for about 40 cents each. Get out the scissors, and enjoy. Horray.

The printer has been having EXTREME difficulty printing directly from a smart media card - I don't like printing two-dollar blank pages - I've only had consistent success printing via USB connection to my 'puter, but it's a lot faster than printing from the smart media card anyway, so no real loss there - just something to keep in mind.

Reviewers have noted that the ink ribbon can be difficult to install. I don't really agree - olumpus' packaging makes this a straight forward procedure - it's just a little more work than the plug-in-the-inkjet-cartridge laziness we've all become accustomed to.

The printer is rather large and heavy, but you have to understand this was really initially intended as a professional's printer. It is solidly built, has a real feeling of quality construction. Just make sure if your living space is small that you've hollowed out a suitably sized location - think of it like a 16" monitor and you're working along the right lines size and space-wise.

For those with a mac (like me - running OS X 10.3), Olympus is seriously lagging on making a compatible driver. I wrote them and got a swift but lackluster response (no deadline for producing a driver). After printing several blank pages directly from my memory card and freaking out, I found the solution: do a google search for "Gimp-print," an open source & free driver bundle for the mac that runs under 10.3, and powers this printer just fine (so far - haven't tested with photoshop yet - only iPhoto, but I suspect it'll do just fine). It's free. Yay. Problem solved, no thanks to Olympus.

For those of you looking at this printer vs the P-440, the newer version of this printer, the differences are relatively minor (though the 440 does do TRUE 8x10 prints). They use the same paper and ink ribbons, so presumably olympus has a vested interest in continuing to make consumeables for this hardware.

Driver bitterness aside, the quality coming out of this printer had me jumping up & down once the photos started coming out. I'm really pleased, and the overall quality of the prints is enough to let me overlook the negatives, which have all been temporary. ... Read more

Features

• Wide-angle field of view
• Anti-reflective lens coating for better image brightness
• Large center focus knob for fast, easy focusing
• New rugged, high-quality finish with sure-grip rubber coating
• UV Protection for worry-free viewing

Features

• Fully automatic 35mm camera
• 38mm - 105mm zoom lens for close-ups
• Red-eye reduction flash, self-timer, date/time stamp
• Fully automatic focus adjustment with film auto-load, advance, rewind

Amazon.com Product Description

Record your memos and meetings with the Olympus L400 Ultra-Compact Microcassette Recorder. It fits easily in a shirt pocket and weighs only 3.2 ounces, so you can travel with it anywhere. The easy-to-read LCD displays tape direction, operation mode, and a tape counter. Voice activation enables hands-free recording with adjustable sensitivity. With dual tape speeds, you can record up to three hours on a 90-minute tape. An auto-reverse function provides uninterrupted recording or playback from one side of the tape to the other. ... Read more

Features

• Compact design, weighs only 3.2 ounces
• Voice activation for hands-free operation
• Dual tape speeds for longer recordings
• Auto reverse for uninterrupted operation
• Fits easily in a shirt pocket

Reviews (3)

Disapointing sound quality
I bought the L400 and 500 recorders, and am disapointed in the sound quality with both. The 500 had a real "tinny" sound, and unsuitable for dictation. The 400 has a loud motor whine on playback (which doesn't happen if I play the same tape back on a Sony recorder), and a similar tinny sound. Olympus recorders seem to be well constructed, compact, and great gadgets. But, the sound quality is inferior, and causes me not to recommend them until Olympus makes this better. My various Sony recorders are so far superior in sound quality that Olympus should be ashamed. Is my experience unique?

Tiny yet loud
I bought this as a replacement for a previous Olympus pearlcorder for my father-in-law and he loves it. The Olympus microcassette recorders blow all those cheap recorders in the retail stores. Olympus can pick up your voice easily and play back loudly. The bonus is that the L400 is so small, it's cool. If my father-in-law can use it easily, then anyone can!

Actually needs to be a little bigger
I ordered this from Amazon, who had the best price on the internet or otherwise. When I received it, I spent several days thinking I might send it back. It has its problems and is a little "too" small for me. However, I've worked through the problems and gotten used to the device and it is pretty good.

First, the problems. Someone with real small hands will appreciate it. Others with bigger hands might find it too small. Those used to holding a microcassette recorder a certain way (using the thumb to work the controls for example) will have to get used to the small size. The controls on this device are electronic buttons instead of manual push buttons. But I have to shift the device up in my hands to access all the buttons with my thumb. In addition, only the rewind function works while the tape is playing. That is, you can't fast forward without stopping the tape first. Further, they didn't add a separate fast forward button, but you hit the rewind button twice to go forward. I don't really like this feature. Finally, the voice activation doesn't work too well. At least not for me.

Now, the good news. You can turn the access to the buttons off, so if it is in your pocket, it won't go off prematurely, and it won't accidentally pop the tape open since the eject slide is on the bottom of the unit. The speaker sounds pretty good and recording quality is about the best I've seen from the total of 4 recorders I've had. All in all, I have started to like it, but I would have made it a little bigger and gone for controls more like traditional recorders.

Update: I have used this recorder almost every day (at least 3-4 days a week) for about a year and a half. Everything above still stands, but there are other things, some good some bad. First, the bad (or, perhaps, not so good): you MUST use good quality tapes in the machine. I used whatever tapes my firm had, some cheap tapes that probably are good for 2 or 3 erases even in a cheap machine. This caused the unit to act up -- and you would hear 6 beeps when trying to play, record, or even rewind. I thought the unit was defective and called customer service, who told me to send it in. Finally, I realized that the problem didn't happen when I use Maxell, Sony, or TDK (high quality tapes). Second issue, you can't start talking immediately after hitting record. I didn't realize this unitl recently when my secretary was always missing the first words of sentences. I wondered why until I was rewinding one day and found out that there is a quick delay before recording. It is constant, but lasts for less than or about a second.

Now, the good news: this thing still produces the best sounding stuff. Olympus clearly makes the best analog recorders. Although I think the unit could be a little better, you do end up getting used to the small size (if that was ever a problem) and the controls. I haven't gone back to the voice activation feature to see if I was the problem, but one day I will. Good luck, and after 1.5 years, I would buy this again. ... Read more

Features

• Automatic features: auto film load, advance, and rewind
• 38-105mm zoom lens with aspherical and ED glass elements for sharp results
• All-weather reliability protects camera from a variety of conditions including rain, snow, sea spray, and blowing sand
• Quartz date imprinting
• Pop-up flash features red-eye reduction and auto color balancing