Amazon.com Product Description

Sporting a similar design to previous Olympus D-series digicams, the D-550 Zoom features a 3-megapixel CCD, 2.8x optical zoom, and a 3.6x digital zoom. With its familiar film-camera style and high-resolution imagery, the D-550 is a great choice for vacation photos as well as family snapshots.

Optics and Resolution
The DS-550's 3-megapixel sensor captures ample detail for sharp prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches. For a serious amateur photographer, 3 megapixels is a great resolution, providing enough detail to perform some cropping and still have crisp prints.

The all-glass autofocus Olympus lens has a 2.8x zoom range that's equivalent to a 36-100mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera. For technophiles, its aperture ranges from f2.9 to f4.4 depending on the zoom setting, with a normal focal range from 2.6 feet to infinity. There's also a 3.6x digital zoom, but remember that digital zoom tends to reduce the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's best used sparingly.

To compose your images, either use the traditional camera viewfinder or the 1.8-inch LCD display (also used to review the shots you've taken). Having both types of viewfinders offers the best of both worlds: if you're used to a film camera or want to conserve battery life, use the viewfinder. If you want to see exactly the picture you'll be capturing, use the LCD display.

More Features
A sliding clamshell lens cover simultaneously protects the D-550's lens and provides a simple way to turn the camera on and off, and the all-plastic body feels both lightweight and durable. While the D-550 offers automatic settings for point-and-shooters and beginning photographers, there are several manual features for more adventurous photographers, including macro mode, adjustable white-balance settings, exposure compensation, and the ability to shoot black-and-white and sepia images.

Power
Power is provided by four AA batteries (alkalines are included). We recommend getting a set or two of rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and a charger. A digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display, so they aren't recommended except in a pinch. To ensure you'll always be ready for action, we recommend having two sets of rechargeables so you can always have one set in the camera and the other set in the charger.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the camera captures silent video clips at resolutions of either 320 x 240 pixels (up to 33 seconds per movie) or 160 x 120 pixels (up to 148 seconds per movie). The limited duration and resolution of your movies guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on SmartMedia memory cards. The included 16 MB card holds approximately 21 images at the camera's default settings. SmartMedia cards are reusable, but if you tend to take more than 21 images per outing (or plan to use the video feature much), then you'll want a bigger card. A 64 MB card will store well over 100 pictures. With most cameras, the brand of memory card you use is irrelevant, but genuine Olympus cards have a panorama feature not found on cards from other manufacturers. This feature makes it easier to stitch together a series of pictures you've taken into a single panoramic photo, and may justify the slightly higher price of the card if it's a feature you plan to use frequently.

To transfer images to your computer, simply attach the included USB cable between your PC and your camera. Your computer should automatically recognize your camera and let you move the pictures to your hard drive.

Size
At 4.6 by 2.6 by 2 inches and 8.5 ounces, the D-550 is fairly thin and small, making it easy to bring along on outings--but it won't easily fit in your shirt pocket.

Contents and Recommended Accessories
The package includes the camera, 16 MB SmartMedia card, four AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, video cable, carrying strap, and software on CD.

Everything you need to get started is included in the box, but we recommend these accessories to make the most of your camera: a carrying case, a set of NiMH rechargeable size AA batteries, and a higher-capacity SmartMedia memory card. Compatible accessories for this camera are listed near the top of this page. ... Read more

Features

• 3-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create prints up to 11 x 14
• 2.8x optical plus 3.6x digital (10x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB Smartmedia card stores 21 images at default settings
• Movie mode captures up to 33 seconds of video with no audio
• Uses 2 CR-V3 lithium batteries or 4 AA batteries (rechargeables recommended); connects with Macs and PCs via USB port

Reviews (57)

Wished I had this when I was in Europe!!!
Olympus has a great reputation with their 35mm and now that reputation is passed on to their digital cameras.
The camera feels very sturdy except for the shutter door which I do agree needs a new design.
However after the initial akwardness of the shutter door, it doesn't become much of a big deal. You just get used to it.

What's great is that the pictures turn out ABSOLUTELY WONDERFULL if you choose
the HQ (high quality) or SQ function which takes up a bit of memory. Therefore I highly recommend getting
a 128MB smart media card which lets you take 173 photos and short 30 seconds movie clips (no sound)!
Also I do recommend getting the rechargeable battery and adaptor because the LCD eats up all your battery juice.

I do recommend this camera if you are thinking of getting a digital camera that is reliable and affordable.
It has a lot of potential and features that you can explore but I'm a point-and-shoot type of person.

For me, the perfect digital camera
I've tried out many different digital cameras over the last three or four years, from Kodak to Olympus to Canon to odd ones like HP. I've tried cameras that cost anything from $150 to $1000. So, when it came time for me to give up my never-used 35mm Canon SLR, I knew exactly which digital camera I wanted to replace it with.

A few years back, I tried out a friend's Olympus Camedia camera with the same body as this one. It was only in the 2-megapixel range, as opposed to the 3 megapixels of this model, but I was always really impressed with the quality of picture it took. For a point and shoot digital camera, the shots were just amazing.

So I didn't have to look very far before I found this camera, the Camedia D-550. And it's certainly lived up to the expectations I'd developed from using the friend's camera.

In my opinion, this is what really makes this camera stand out from its competition:

' It looks and feels like a camera. Some digital cameras go out of their way to be all futuristic and oddly shaped, which I find annoying. I want to be able to hold a camera with my hands, not my fingertips.

' The design of the navigation software is excellent. I've used cameras that go to the extremes of interface design, and I've hated it. I used a Kodak camera once that used menus and control panels that were so big and colorful, it was like it was designed by Fisher-Price. Sure, it looked friendlier to use at first, but when I actually tried to find anything, like how to change the size of my pictures, it was too big and clunky. On the other extreme, some companies make cameras that use a completely bare and technical interface that's impossible to understand. With the Camedia D-550, all of your important tools are no more than two button presses away, thanks to the intuitive design of the interface. If you want to switch to Macro mode, you just turn the camera on and press "Up" twice. If you want to change the size of the pictures you're taking, you just hit the menu button and press left on the wheel that pops up, and you'll see a nice list. Not too invasive, not too technical.

' Streamlined features. A few years ago, it became popular to pack as many different things into a camera as you possibly could. Sound recorders! Movie cameras! PDAs! Cell phones! Put everything you'd ever want in one device! I thought this was a terrible idea. If you want a video camera, get a video camera. A still camera can't possibly hold more than a tiny clip, so why even bother? While this Camedia D-550 does come with the ability to take video clips, it doesn't assume that video will be your primary use of the camera like other models sometimes do. The feature is there, but you can easily ignore it.

' Rugged body design. Olympus sells a similar Camedia to this in features and price, but a different body. I borrowed one for a weekend, and was constantly having trouble with the lens that stuck out of the camera body. The lens cap would fall off all the time, and I just wasn't careful enough with it. When I had my 35mm SLR, I just put a UV filter over the glass of the real lens, and didn't worry about scratching it, but you couldn't do that with the other Camedia lens. With the D-550, you avoid the problem entirely. When you turn the camera off, the lens retracts into the body of the camera, and is covered by the sliding panel that's part of the camera body. It's a brilliant design that keeps the lens safe, and the speed of the lens movement is quick enough that it's not annoying. I love that my camera is so tough. Though I haven't dropped it yet, I have the feeling it would survive a drop just fine.

' And, of course, the image quality. Even with plain old point-and-shoot simplicity, the colors are vivid and sharp, the exposure is just right, and the low-light pictures are just incredible, which is important to me as a hater of flashbulbs. The other day, a bird fell down our chimney and got trapped in the upper grill of our fireplace, beyond where we could see. So I stuck the camera up into the fireplace and had someone point a dim flashlight where we thought the bird was, and I got a pretty decent picture of it! The bird ended up getting out of the fireplace and flying out the window just fine, by the way. :-) The macro feature is pretty cool, too. My desktop picture on my computer is a photo of an ant I took with my D-550. People are really impressed that the ant takes up 3 inches on my screen.

When you consider all the excellent features this camera has, then realize that it's much less expensive than similar cameras, it seems like a no-brainer. I would have easily paid twice what I did for the D-550, and still felt like I was getting a great deal. This camera is going to last me a long, long time, and I'm loving every minute of it.

Save your $$$$$
Photo's are good, but software ain't.

I've owned the Camedia 550 for a little over a year. I am very disapointed in the software that you HAVE to use with this camera. I upgraded to the "professional" edition, but it's still bad. It does not alow you to back up your photo's onto CD. (Floppy Disk Only, which is worthless). Also I have pixels dying on my viewing screen.
It is difficult to manuver through the options on the camera. Also uses a Smart Media Card, which the new ones do not use, and very few new camera do use, so I'll be stuck with $200 bucks worth of Smart Media Cards when I decide to chuck this thing.

Money Well Spent
I bought this camera a year ago; it has served me well in many different environments and in both nighttime and blazing sun conditions. Downloads are swift with either the 3.5 inch flash path floppy or USB. Picture quality is great at low compression settings, higher settings are even better. I use a 64 MB memory card and that is more than adequate for my needs. Battery life is impressive: one charge was good for a 2 week vacation, and that included at least one hour of time viewing pictures with relatives on the built-in screen. Easy to use. Documentation is a bit on the slim side, but sufficient, with the exception of instructions on taking a panoramic picture. Apparently, that info is on the CD. We've taken 1,200 pics or so, no problems.

great camera
I bought this camera 18 months ago, and it takes GREAT pictures. I have taken thousands of pictures with this camera with no problem. The two only drwabacks to this camera is its size and it takes a second or two to save the picture to the card, but that's the way it is.
On the other hand, the reason why it is so big is because it uses regular batteries=cheap! However, battery life is great.
Would recommend this camera to anyone who needs a digital camera. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Olympus Camedia C-5050 is a monster in terms of performance, compatibility, and unfortunately, price. This 5.0 megapixel camera captures images at some of the highest detail possible in a digital device. It also supports a variety of storage media including CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Microdrive, and XD (it ships with a 32 MB XD card).

The 3x optical zoom lens slides into the black body of the camera when it's turned off. Although this doesn't cut down much on the heft of the 13-ounce Magnesium device, its design still allows it to be easily held in one hand while shooting. Since its powered by four AA batteries, you'll want to pick up some rechargeable ones to save on battery swapping.

Its bright, large 1.8-inch LCD can be viewed easily even in high light environments. It also conveniently detaches from the camera body and swivels out into multiple positions to aid in atypically angled shots (although not through as wide a range as other cameras offering this feature).

All of the controls within this camera are adjustable, including aperture and shutter priority, Panorama, special effects, etc., as well as programmable into a My Mode, letting you customize your most oft-used settings. Captured images were incredibly detailed at the highest resolution of 2560 by 1960 (large enough for printing out at 13 by 17 inches). You can also capture video clips complete with sound with lengths limited only by your storage capacity.

The myriad buttons and dials on the top and back of the camera might prove a bit daunting to the novice digital photographer, although the power and price of this camera will most likely be attracting intermediate or advanced users.

This isn't a camera to get for your kid's sweet sixteen present, but if you're looking for a digital cam with the performance and range of features to compete with a high-end film camera, the C-5050 holds its own. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Lots of features
• High resolution captures
• Video with audio

Cons:

• Pricey and hefty
• Menus have a learning curve

Features

• 5.0 megapixel sensor creates 2500 x 2000 images for high-resolution prints up to poster size
• 3x optical plus 3.3x digital (10x total) autofocus zoom lens
• Includes 32 MB XD Picture card--also compatible with SmartMedia, CompactFlash, and Microdrive cards
• Movie mode captures up to 148 seconds of video with audio
• Powered by 4 AA NiMH rechargeable batteries (charger included); connects with PCs and Macs via USB port

Reviews (51)

From 640 to 2560 px!
My interest in digital photography began with my mother's Sony Mavica FD-75. I began taking photos of flowers in our backyard, but hated lugging around floppy disks wherever I went, and found the bulky body too cumbersome for my delicate subjects.

Following my love of Sony products, I went for the Cyber-Shot P-30, a much more compact version of the previous camera. The MemoryStick media was much more convenient. But after less than a year, my photos were becoming more detailed and 1-2 megapixels just wasn't enough. I was also sick of tossing 9 out of 10 photos because they were out of focus.

I needed something better, something that could focus within an inch and had all the bells and whistles so I could fine-tune before I even shot.

Enter Olympus Camedia C-5050 Zoom. This camera is totally custimizable, with buttons for most everything and menu functions for the rest. It can focus on a subject while the lens rubs against it, with SuperMacro. And it can handle most of the standard memory media, including the new xD format. It can capture and associate sounds with your images, apply special effects to them, and then save them DPOF format directly to your digital printer. Even more exciting, this one doesn't use interpolation like almost every other digital, so you don't end up with grainy images. When they say 5 megapiexls, they mean it.

My new best friend.

Best Non-SLR digital available on the market!
Typically, digitals have suffered from two major problems. Shutter lag and poor performance in low light situations. The Olympus cameras (particularly this one) suffer none of that. The shutter opens when you push the button which is crucial when your subject is a two year with the attention span of a gnat. Additionally, the f1.8 aperture lens is as good as it gets for a non-slr and consequently this camera does a great job in low light situations. Combine this with the incredible # of features (umpteen shooting modes, you can shoot the shot in Sepia, save to SmartMedia, CompactFlash, & XD picture cards), this is one great camera. I simply could not be more pleased. Finally, if you learn to master a decent photo editor (e.g., photoshop, paint shop pro), you can produce near works of art with this camera that people are willing to part money for. I have.

Digital Reincarnation of the OM-1
For more than ten years of mountaineering, running rivers and exploring remote corners of the world, my OM-1 was my constant companion. Although not a professional, I was passionate about photography. In 1990 I was experimenting with low-light color photography. In a cement health clinic in a roadless corner of Nicaragua, my OM-1 suffered a fall and a fatal head injury.
I had bought and experimented with half a dozen cameras since, but none could begin to replace my photographic partner. After only a week with my C5050, I am still learning just how to get the precise image I envision - but already I am capturing wonderful light effects, the color is true, the display almost as good as the SLR. The brilliant optics, the feel of the shutter, the sophisticated but not unfriendly programs and manual override, and the ease of in-camera composition echo this camera's great film predecessors. My beloved OM-1 is reincarnated for the 21st century. I can hardly wait to get back into the wilds.

shoots in very low light
I have this camera and the quality of the pictures it takes are astounding.I live in Nashville Tennessee and take alot of pictures of aspiring songwriters when they play in clubs this camera takes great professional photos under stage lighting without a flash.you can hand hold it and still get sharp professional images;even when the lighting is low it still performs well.I have had mine a year and had no trouble with it.I also use it to take astounding outdoor pictures of nature;this camera will make you look like a professional photographer.It takes xd,compactflash,and smartmedia cards and can write images between the xd and smart media slot and the compactflashcard slot.It can shoot from the program mode(good for beginers)and can be used fully manual so you can tweak every setting.I am not a techno geek but I found the menues easy to follow.You can start as a beginner and develope your skill as you learn to use it.you can also shoot two different pictures on one frame which comes in handy when taking pictures for inventory. I have no regrets about buying this camera.

Comparibly Better & Cheaper than the E-Series
The C-5050 is one of the best digital cameras out there. The multi-function settings allow for extreme versatility, and the mini-videos are neat when there is no camcorder available (although it would be great if a light was pre-installed for low lighting videos). It's shape & weight makes it look & feel like a regular 35 mm film camera. For those who are looking for a digital camera with manual functions; this is the camera for you. I originally wanted one of the Olympus digital cameras in the E-Series, but after some comparison, I found that the C-5050 has more capability at a much cheaper price. ... Read more

Features

• 4.0-megapixel resolution for photo-quality enlargements up to 11 x 14
• Olympus 3x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom combine for 12x total zoom
• Auto-Connect USB for hassle-free downloading of files from camera to computer
• Store images on xD-Picture Card (16 MB xD included)
• Powered 2 AA batteries (alkaline included, rechargeable recommended)

Reviews (14)

Great little camera for price
Bought the olympus d565 camera with an epson 5400 all in one printer from office max for $299.99 . So in reality this camera cost me $150 or so. Thats a great price for a 4 megapixel camera and its an olympus camera too!
There weren't too many reviews on this camera, but I'm very impressed with the results so far. I've taken very nice pictures in alot of different settings and the camera produced real nice images. Take the previous reviewers advice and turn off the flash if you want a better white background in your picture.
This camera is small enough to fit in your pocket, it uses 2 batteries (aa) - buy rechargeable batteries, they last so much longer. I got rayovac( radio shack brand ) ic3-15 minute rechargeables with a charger and I took about 60 high quality pictures with them and the batteries still have juice in them. The aa's included with the camera were used up after 9 shots .

The only problem ( solved) with this camera is opening the front cover to turn the camera on. If you gently slide the slide over, sometimes the camera won't start up. After practice I learned that you have to slide it over while gently pushing down on it. Pushing down gently on the cover will sliding it over starts the camera.

The D-565 is simple to use & doesn't eat batteries!
As a hardcore 35mm user, this was my first experience owning a digital camera. I have to say, I'm impressed with this little number! It's a no-brainer to learn how it works and, compared to other makes and models, its AA battery useage ranks as "better than most!" Pictures download quickly and easily, too. I am so pleased!

Great Pictures; So-So Manual
I've been a professional photographer for more than 30 years (4x5, 220, 35mm, etc.) and a maxim is: NEVER use an unknown piece of equipment for an unrepeatable event! My old 35mm died on the day I had to fly out for a funeral. I bought the D-565 and 128Mb card at a supermarket on my way to the airport. READ THE MANUAL, loaded fresh batteries, shot test pix at airport - SMILED!! Bottom line: Great focus, color saturation, flash/fill, ease of use, subject satisfaction! 6 to 8 shots on alkaline batteries - ordered AC Adapter from Amazon.com - carry pocket full of AA's when prowling for shots. Love it! Pix are incredible on my Big-Screen TV!!
Gripes: Sucks AA's dry far too quickly. REALLY needs NiMH's or recommended AC adapter for downloads, etc.
Get a D-565 while you can and get out there!

Good picture quality, but poor user interfaces
This is our first family digital camera. We bought it mainly because it was on sale, and it came with the highest mega pixel in the market at the time of purchase. It produces good quality pictures I must say. However, the design of user-interface for the camera need more improvement. I agree with one the reviewer who mentioned that the cover slides open easily, and even a slight push on the cover while taking pictures would turn the camera off, which was annoying as one has to push the cover open again and wait for the lense to extent, an anti-climax for people wanting a quick shot! another weakpoint about its-user interface, is that, one can't view the pictures with the cover 'open'. One has to turn off the camera (closing the cover), and only then the viewfinder menu would work. pretty annoying when one wishes to view the picture immediately after the shot, needing to shut down the camera, view and turn it on again for the next shot! I think the viewfinder uses up too much battery, and we had to reserve energy by switching off the viewfinder while taking pictures! what do you think? having a viewfinder is one of the main feature of a digital camera!!!! I think the camera should be designed to recharge the batteries without having to remove them, and this camera uses AA batteries, which dries out very quickly when we use the viewfinder. Another bummer today.. I was transfering the photos from the camera to my PC and and the camera has to be turned on all the while (meaning the cover has to be opened with the lenses extended). without realising it, the battery ran out, now I can't retract the lenses and it is still sticking out till I get home to change the batteries! How high tech! Guess I have more dissapointment to discover! This is an expensive lesson to learn on digital cameras. For first timers, I would suggest to invest some money on digital cameras magazines and check out reviews on the Net, learn more about them, go to shops, toy with them before buying them impulsively!!! Am looking for a new camera now!

Simple to use, great pictures
I recently bought this for some travels and have found it to be a superb camera. It's simple to use, nice small size, takes great pictures, download is easy... what else can I say!

If you're looking for a great quality digital camera (4mp for this price is worth it) that's easy to use, this is the one. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With exposure options ranging from automatic to manual control, as well as six innovative scene program modes, it's easy to customize the Olympus C-4000 digital camera for any shot you line up. The C-4000 features a 4-megapixel CCD sensor, a 3x optical zoom lens, and expandability via SmartMedia cards.

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a CCD sensor with 4 million effective pixels, the C-4000 can capture digital images up to 2,288 x 1,712 pixels for 11-by-14-inch prints and beyond. The C-4000 features an Olympus aspherical glass lens (6.5-19.5mm, or 32-96mm equivalent in 35mm photography) that's designed exclusively for digital photography and provides vibrant color and sharp detail. It features an aperture range of f2.8 to f11.

Shoot both wide-angle and close-up shots easily with the 10x total zoom lens (3x optical and 3.3x digital). Use the macro mode to shoot a flower from a distance of 8 inches, or use supermacro mode to shoot a dewdrop on a petal from just 1 inch away.

Storage and Transfer
The 16 MB SmartMedia memory card supplied with the C-4000 can store 16 images at the default high-quality setting (2,288 x 1,712 pixels). You can save images as either a TIFF or a JPEG. We recommend purchasing an additional high-capacity memory card.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the C-4000 produces digital videos in two formats--320 x 240 and 160 x 120 pixels--for QuickTime movies at 15 frames per second. You can shoot movies up to 2 minutes in length.

The limited resolution of your movies guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative.

More Features
The advanced manual controls let you take the picture you envision. Or choose full-auto mode for point-and-shoot simplicity. The C-4000 also includes six scene modes, including portrait, self-portrait, sport, landscape, landscape-portrait, and night scene. There are even four customizable "my modes" for instant access to your favorite combinations of camera settings. The new virtual-dial interface provides quick, easy, and intuitive access to all shooting modes, including the six scene modes.

For extra-large prints, choose the optimum image enlargement mode to increase image size to the equivalent of 7.6 million pixels (3,200 x 2,400). And with 3:2 aspect modes, you can print photos in traditional 35mm format. Olympus's noise-reduction technology helps prevent the image noise that could otherwise appear in longer exposures taken in low light. The C-4000's USB autoconnect enables you to connect to your PC automatically--no driver software is required to transfer photos to most computers

Power
The camera is powered by two CR-V3 lithium-ion battery packs (included). We recommend getting a set or two of rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries (you'll need a total of four AA NiMH batteries to power the camera) and a charger. A digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display, so they aren't recommended except in a pinch.

Size
The C-4000 measures 4.3 by 3.0 by 2.8 inches and 10.5 ounces (without battery).

Contents
This package includes the Olympus C-4000 digital camera, a 16 MB SmartMedia card, AV and USB cables, two CR-V3 lithium-ion battery packs (model LB-01), carrying strap, lens cap and retainer cord, Camedia Master software CD-ROM, drivers for Mac and Windows, and a printed instruction manual. ... Read more

Features

• 4.0 megapixel sensor captures 2,288 x 1,712 images for prints at 11 x 14 inches and beyond
• 3x optical plus 3.3xdigital zoom lens (for 10x total) with autofocus
• Stores photos on 16 MB SmartMedia card--16 images at high-quality setting
• Movie mode captures up to 2 minutes of video with no audio; connects to Macs and PCs via USB port
• Includes 2 CR-V3 lithium-ion batteries (model LB-01); also accepts NiMH rechargeable batteries

Reviews (67)

Olympus C4000: The Best Four Megapixel Digital Camera Deal!!
Pros: Lots of manual options, incredible feature set, superb four megapixel digital images, Fantastic optics for color and clarity, Manual and automatic controls for pros and debutants, Very little lag, Excellent image quality and easy to use buttons, Fast, Many settings and options, great zoom ratio, nice control layout, nice size LCD

Cons: Slightly Heavy, Not as cool looking as other cameras, 8 MB Storage card supplied with camera is woefully inadequate, User manual, software kind of plain, battery life, Size of pictures and erase features are not what I would like.

Summary: The C-4000z is a very impressive digital camera and for the price it can't be beat. This camera packs a serious punch with features only found on higher end digital cameras. I have been using digital cameras for the past four years from Kodak to Sony but this one out beats them all. Now I won't beat around the bush and say there are no flaws with the cam, the first being the batteries shipped with the cam (they are one time use only)! So right off the bat you have to spend a couple more dollars for rechargeable batteries. The batteries I got I'm able to take about 200 hundred high res. (TIFF) pictures before being replaced. The second problem is the small memory card shipped with the cam (at the time of my buy Olympus was giving free 64 mb cards with mail in rebate). The camera does come with a owners manual but has very limited information in it, for a extensive manual you have to read it off the installation disk in PDF form which isn't bad for me because it makes it a little easier to look something up using the word find feature. Now for the good things about the camera. This camera is packed with features and this should be taken into account if your new to digital cameras there is a lot to take in. Everything is arranged on the camera that makes it easy to navigate and set up. Olympus even went and put a user choice setting button which is nice if you use certain setting such as focal length, shutter speed etc. which enables you to set your preferences and return to them without having to set the whole camera up again. The pictures that result from this camera are amazing! I was at Yosemite a couple of weeks ago and shot some impressive pictures which I framed and had hanging on my wall a service tech who was doing some work in my house actually wanted to know where I had bought the pictures. Several other features that Olympus thought of were the ability to attach an external flash (optional). The camera also gives you the ability to crop pictures right on the camera. The panoramic feature takes a little to get used to but works really well. I don't want to bore you with the fine details (exposure settings, shutter speeds etc) but just wanted to let you know if your looking for a decent digital camera at a fair price the C-4000z is for you. Oh just one more thing a little tip I use all the time, If you happen to have a smart media card take it along with you to your local camera shop or electronic store and ask the sales person if you can insert your card and try the camera. You can then take the card home and if you have a media reader or printer that has a reader built in you can see the results of the camera prior to buying it (just a suggestion). It also gives you the opportunity to see how your digital dark room will do when it come to printing from this camera.

Best Value for a 4MP Camera
WHO IT'S FOR: With its complete set of manual controls, the Olympus C-4000 is for the serious amateur photographer or a novice wanting to learn a lot more about photography. If you're one who would rather just point-and-shoot, this camera or its rivals (like the Canon S45) is NOT for you, better just save your $200 and go for the cute compact types.

Granted that YOU ARE serious about your photography BUT you are on a tight budget, then this camera is perfect for you. The 4MP is just right for the occasional 8x10 prints and more than enough quality for 5x7 prints. Among the competition (Canon S45/G2, Nikon Coolpix 4300, Sony S85), its price and features stand out.

I bought this camera here at Amazon 5 months ago for 2 main reasons:
- given the features and full manual controls, it had the most competitive price among the competition.
- although not included in the package, the camera uses standard 4 AA-sized NiMH rechargeable batteries.

I brought the camera to Europe for my honeymoon and have taken 300+ pictures with it. I am extremely pleased with it. Prints on 4x6 came out as crisp as my 20-year-old SLR (the excellent Nikon F3), and sometimes better (mainly because you can preview a shot and tweak exposure and composition without worrying about the cost of film: an obvious advantage for all digicams).

PROS:
- excellent daylight exposures on full auto or manual modes.
- a fully-charged set of AA NiMH batteries lasts me two days of shooting 60+ pictures and previewing the LCD, something the proprietary batteries of other digicams would be hard-pressed to match.

CONS:
- You have to remember to remove the cap before turning the camera on -- an annoyance for all C-class Olympus cameras. Forgetting that doesn't damage the camera, but it's an annoyance still.
- No remote control. You have to turn on the timer every time if you want to be in the picture or you want to take long exposures.
- The lens cap more often than not gets removed inadvertently when removing or replacing the camera in its case. Be sure to always bring lens tissues or whatever you use to clean lenses.
- The paltry 16MB card that comes with it. Although all camera brands have this fault of not including enough memory, I hoped Olympus would just do the right thing and pack it with a 128MB card.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Always have two sets of 4 AA NiMH batteries. Buy the Olympus B-50SU Quick Charger or the Kodak Max K2000 Battery Charger. They both come with 4 NiMH AA batteries and works whatever a country's voltage is. Then buy an additional set of 4 Kodak Max 1850mAh NiMH batteries.
- Buy at least 2 128MB SmartMedia cards. Each 128MB card stores about 60-70 pictures at full 4MP SHQ resolution. Better still, bring your laptop along when going on extended vacations to backup your pics. I made the mistake of not bringing mine and had to look for shops to transfer my pics to CDs whenever space on my cards were running out.

Finally, just go ahead and buy it (with the charger, extra batteries and extra memory cards). It's an excellent camera given its features and price.

Red Eye
This camera generally takes very good pictures but I do have one complaint that has not been resolved. Even with red eye reduction feature on, it still takes bad redeye, especially with babies. The software does not eliminate it either. I have been through their customer service several times for this and one other problem and they were not helpful. I felt I was being talked down to and I finally gave up. I like the camera except for that, but I probably would not buy another Olympus unless customer service is more helpful.

Very good for the money
I've had this camera for over a year now and I'm very pleased with it. I've purchased nothing but Olympus products since I started photography as a hobby about 10 years ago. This is my second Olympus digital camera and it gives great pictures time and again. I've made prints up to 20"x30" that look like they were perfessionaly taken. I do recommend having an extra set of rechargable batteries on hand and extra memory cards. Very nice camera that isn't very bulky yet not too small that it will slip from your hands. You will be very happy with this camera.

I love this camera!!!
The camera is just outstanding! I love it! I had it for about a year and the pictures are just great. It has ton of options and even after a year, I haven't used them all.

There are several reasons, hovever, why I gave it only 4 stars. 1. The cap on the lense got to go. I forgot to take it off once just when I bought the camera, and the camera died on me. I had to send it back for a replacement.
2. It's pretty bulky and you have to carry it around in it's own case, which could be problematic when you go to other countries and don't want to attract attention.
3. The flash makes everybody blink and it's hard sometimes to get a good picture.
Other than that, I would highly recommend the camera and I would buy it again in a second!
Buy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Stylish and compact, the Olympus D-395 is an affordable and fun way to enter the world of digital photography. Designed for ease of use without sacrificing photographic quality, the D-395 integrates a bright f2.8 lens and smart picture taking functions for incredible shots with point-and-shoot ease. It also offers a 3.2-megapixel resolution, built-in flash, and automatic exposure, focusing and ISO systems.

Optics and Resolution
The D-395 has a maximum resolution of 3.2 megapixels, good enough for print enlargements up to 11 x 14 inches. It also offers 1024 x 768 (SVGA) and 640 x 480 (VGA) low-resolution modes. The Olympus 2 aspherical glass fixed focus lens has a 33mm equivalent in 35mm photography), and it's constructed of 5 lenses in 4 groups. Get closer to your subject with the 2.5x digital zoom.

Movie Mode
In addition to still images, the C-60 can record video with sound at two resolution modes--320 x 240 (15-second movies) and 160 x 120 (60-second movies)--both at 15 frames per second. Movie length is only limited by the size of your memory card.

More Features
The D-395 boasts four scene programs enabling you to get to grips with any photographic situation. These include Landscape to capture sweeping mountain ranges and Night Scene to shoot after sundown.

• 1.5-inch 120,000-pixel LCD display with multi-language menu
• Built-in multi-mode flash (auto for low and backlight, red-eye reduction, fill-in, off)
• Self-timer with approximate 12-second delay
• Image effects: black and white, sepia, resize

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on tiny XD memory cards, and a 16 MB card is included with the D-395. You'll be able to store 6 shots of SHQ (or 20 HQ) 2048 x 1536 pixel images on the included card. The D-395 transfers images to Macs and Windows-based PCs via a USB 1.1 connection. The Auto-Connect USB function is designed to connect to almost any computer with a USB port and transfer images quickly, with no additional software to install.

Direct Printing
The D-395 is PictBridge compatible, which enables you to transfer pictures from your digital camera to a compatible printer (such as the Olympus P-10), without a PC or image-editing software. All PictBridge devices share three basic features: camera-to-printer connecting, single-image printing, and uniform error messages (in case something goes wrong).

Power and Size
The camera is powered by 2 AA batteries (alkaline included; NiMH rechargeables recommended). The D-395 measures 4.3 x 2.4 x 1.5 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 5.4 ounces without batteries or recording media.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Olympus D-395 digital camera, 16 MB XD memory card, 2 AA alkaline batteries, wrist strap, USB cable, and CD-ROM with Camedia Master software and Windows drivers. ... Read more

Features

• Factory reconditioned to like-new condition; includes 90-day warranty
• 3-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 10-by-13-inch enlargements
• 2.5x digital zoom; Optical viewfinder; PictBridge enabled; 1.5-inch LCD display
• Store images on xD memory cards
• Powered by 2 AA-size batteries (alkaline included, rechargeable NiMH recommended)

Amazon.com Product Description

The basics of the Olympus Camedia D-510 break down pretty easily: 2-megapixel resolution; 3x optical zoom lens with autofocus, built-in flash with red-eye reduction, fill, and slow-syncro modes; and a 1.8-inch LCD screen. There are also some more advanced features to go along with this baseline functionality. Particularly useful is the burst mode, which allows shooting of up to two frames per second. Also, a QuickTime movie mode lets you capture up to 66 seconds of footage. There are a number of special effects, including monochrome, sepia, and re-size. Images are generally captured as JPEGs, but you can also choose to use the uncompressed TIFF mode.

Most digital cameras ship with a USB or serial port, and with a set of software drivers that allow you to download your pictures to your computer via an image-editing program. Olympus has gone one step farther, and essentially built the functionality of a USB card-reader into their digital cameras. What this means is that for the newer versions of Windows and the Mac OS, you don't need to install extra software. Simply plug the camera into your computer, which recognizes the camera as a removable drive. You are then free to drag-and-drop your pictures wherever you like.

Power requirements are standard at four AA, or two CR-V3 lithium batteries. The D-510 uses SmartMedia cards, and ships with an 8 MB card. ... Read more

Features

• 2-megapixel sensor creates 1,600 x 1,200 images for sharp prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• 3x optical plus 3x digital (9x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 8 MB SmartMedia card holds 16 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses 2 CR-V3 lithium batteries (included) or 4 AA batteries

Reviews (115)

BIG bang for your buck!
After considerable research, I decided on the Olympus Camedia D-510Zoom for my first "real" digital camera. I couldn't be more pleased with the ease of use (considering the deep menu which is somewhat intuitive for a technophile), long list of cool features/controls, and excellent image quality. Although you can start taking pics immediately with the quick-start guide, TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE FULL MANUAL ON THE CD and practice!

The video clip and panoramic features are very fun toys/tools and proved to be much better quality than I expected. The Camedia software effortlessly stitches up to ten pics together for interesting panoramic shots and the video feature saves short silent clips in Quicktime MOV format. I would recommend spending the extra ten bucks or so on an Olympus-brand SmartMedia card with the panoramic code for your first or second large-capacity card (since the card that comes with the camera is only 8MB and other brand cards don't have the proprietary panorama code that works with the software.)

My camera says it will shoot about 22 pictures in the highest TIF resolution (1600x1200) and 1300 pictures in the lowest JPG resolution (640x480) on a 128MB card. The highest JPG resolution (SHQ at 1600x1200 w/minimal compression) is where I keep mine set most of the time and I get about 90 shots per 128MB card. The default JPG setting (HQ at 1600x1200 w/medium compression) gets about 230 shots per 128MB.

As with any zoom camera I've ever used, you need to keep the camera still or your image will blur. Use a tripod as often as you can, particularly for zooming, night shots and definitely for panoramic shots. The 3x optical zoom is nice but it will not make my SLR (35mm film camera w/zoom and macro lenses) obsolete by a long shot-perhaps if I dropped a grand or two on a high-end Nikon or Minolta digital...

The camera does eat batteries, but not as bad as I expected, considering all the moaning and groaning in these reviews. Just buy an inexpensive NiMH charger and eight rechargeable batteries. I find my Energizer ACCUrechargeables last much longer than the batteries the camera came with and I'm very happy with them. I also keep a set of Duracells in the camera bag just in case.

The housing has been described as cheap (among other things) but I think it has a good solid feel to it and if you treat it like the somewhat delicate piece of electronic equipment it is, instead of like a football, it will probably last a long time.

I don't have a card-reader or AC adapter yet since I don't see an urgent need for them. The camera works well by itself as a card reader and the transfers are quick (about 4 minutes to transfer a full 128MB card) so I don't think I'll shell out the fifty bucks for the adapter (ouch!).

A good camera for those who want more than 1.3 MP
I've used several Olympus cameras at work and they were more expensive than this. I finally decided to buy one for my own personal use and, after reading LOTS of reviews, the D-510 seemed ideal for me. I'm familiar with the Camedia software package and the controls on the camera are similar to the cameras I've been using at work. I have been very pleased with the camera. The photo images are sharp, and some of the menu items have been simplified. My only complaint is that the camera defaults to HQ (high quality, but not super high quality) resolution each time you turn it off. I prefer to shoot in lower resolution SQ, so I get more pictures on the 32 MB SmartMedia card that I bought to go with the camera. (It comes with an 8 MB card, but it's worth the money to upgrade to at least 32 MB. I wish I'd gone ahead and forked over the money and gone up to 64 MB or even the new 128 MB...) Because of that, each time I use the camera I have to fiddle around and re-set the camera for standard quality. On the up side, there are two levels of SQ, two levels of HQ, and two levels of SHQ, for a total of six choices. In the lowest level of SQ mode, the camera can shoot several minutes of decent quality movie footage, which is fun -- but a REAL drain on the batteries. The camera comes with the Camedia software, which is adequate but not great, but it only works on Windows 98 and newer. I tried playing with it at work, where we have Windows 95/97, and it wouldn't work. That's OK, because my home computer has XP, and it does fine. Downloading with the Camedia 2.5 isn't as easy as Olympus says, but fortunately once you find your file, you can create shortcuts to get to your photos. The main thing about this, despite the small but pesky shortcomings, is that the quality of photos is good for such a low-priced camera. If I'd had a couple hundred more to spend I might have bought a better Olympus product, but for those on a smaller budget who want photos of the kids, vacations and other non-professional type photography, this small, solid camera can't be beat. It's as good, if not better, than the Olympus I use at work, which cost twice as much...

Versatile Camera
I've used mine for two years so far and gotten alot of mileage out of it. What I really love is that it doesn't require special software to download pictures. When we go to visit, we can just plug in the camera with the USB cable, treat it as a removable disc, and transfer our pictures to our hosts computer before we leave. One downside is that the viewfinder doesn't quite frame the picture accurately. For close-ups, I have to turn on the LED screen or I cut off half of the face...

A Real Battery Hog
This camera has served me well and takes beautiful pictures. However I spend so much on batteries. Have tried regular, heavy duty, and alkaline and none last. If I don't take batteries out after each use, they won't last overnight. If one buys this superb camera he might want to use an adapter rather than rely on batteries (unless he has won the lottery).

The green of nature is missing from the pictures.
This camera is good overall except 2 major issues I discovered. First, the colors of outdoor shots were not accurate most of the time, specially the trees and grasses never looked as green in the pictures as in real world. I believe this is a major defect. (Another reviewer also mentioned the same problem.) Second problem is the long shutter delay. You will not be able to catch the best moments in life.

I will not buy another Olympus digital camera unless I am convinced they fixed such defects. ... Read more

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

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)

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus Brio D-100 digital camera weighs less than 6 ounces (without batteries) and sports a clean, ultracompact black-and-gold body reminiscent of the popular Stylus line of film cameras. This 1.3-megapixel camera has a 4.5mm (35mm equivalent) precision autofocus lens with a 2x digital zoom, a fast shutter release (less than half a second), the ability to shoot two frames per second, and a 1.5-inch color LCD monitor that functions as both the viewfinder and as the camera's menu control panel. It can capture images at a maximum resolution of 1,280 x 960 pixels, good enough for quality prints up to 5 by 7 inches.

The Brio D-100 has a USB connection for easy image transfer to a PC, plus you can hook the camera up directly to your computer and download images without the need for additional software. It stores images on removable SmartMedia cards, and comes with an 8 MB card. Other features include auto white balance, fully automatic ISO settings, a macro mode for close-up shots, built-in self-timer, and four flash modes (auto, red-eye reduction, off, fill in, and slow synchronization). For its power source, the Brio D-100 uses either two AA alkaline batteries or one long-lasting CR-V3 battery (included). ... Read more

Features

• 1.3 megapixel sensor creates 1280 x 960 images for prints at sizes up to 5 x 7
• High-quality autofocus Olympus lens with 2x digital zoom
• Included 8 MB SmartMedia memory card holds 10 images at default resolution
• Easy USB connectivity with Macs and PCs
• Also features 1.5-inch color LCD monitor, built-in flash, and self-timer with 12-second delay

Reviews (49)

Cute little camera, not so cute battery usage!
I got this camera for my birthday last week, it is very easy to use, put battery and mem card, and off you go.
At first I couldn't stop taking pictures, and the battery lasted about 3 days of almost non-stop usage. Although by the 4th day the battery had died and I put 2 alkaline batteries, and after maybe 5 pictures, it would just turn itself off. I think it just drained the alkaline batteries extremely fast, so I don't like that one bit, maybe the rechargable batteries won't be so bad.
The camera itself is very fun, although it doesn't have the same features as the D-370, but it comes darn close!
If you want to use this camera for basicly just emailing pictures, this camera will be definitely a must have for the quiality (quality is pretty descent) and price ...!
I just don't like the battery drainage at all, and that's one thing that really worries me, because I've read reviews on this camera on here, and people are saying the same thing about it!
Just one thing, rechargable batteries/AC Adaptor are a must!!

Great little camera!
I must say that for my needs this camera was perfect. I've got one of the larger "uber-pixel" cameras already, and wanted something smaller, lighter and less expensive that I didn't have to worry about losing when I went to parties, camping and other misc. activities... This one's perfect! The 1.3 megapixel is perfect for simply saving to my laptop on the road, desktop at home or simply printing out 4X6 or 5X7 prints, the 640X480 mode is perfect for posting to the web... The included SmartMedia card stores 8 in SHQ mode, 24 in HQ and 82 in 640X480... The other two modes provide and ample 1280X960 resolution. I also purchased a 32meg SM card for 35/99/331 photo storage respectively.

Image sizes are roughly 800k in SHQ (1280X960), 300k in HQ (1280X960, more compressed) and 80k in SQ (640X480).

Image quality is better than I expected. As I said, it fits my needs perfectly. And about complaints about battery life? I can't say that I agree, I bought the camera (As well as four NIMH rechargables) two days ago, and it's still using the provided Olympus battery after several hours of tinkering, downloading (downloading is very fast, BTW)... etc.

All in all I'll say this is a wonderful camera for this pricepoint... Check it out!

Hard to beat for the price.
My wife bought this camera 3 years ago after reading a positive review. She likes the camera because it is small, simple to use, and has been dependable. She isn't a computer whiz but she has no problem using the program that comes with the camera. Her only complaint was battery life. She recently bought a Digital Concepts battery charger at walmart that comes with 4 - 2000mah Nimh AA batteries for $17.00. Now she can get over 70 pictures with no battery complaints. With good batteries and a good charger this camera is an amazing value at the price.

Terrible, extremely shoddy product
I bought the Olympus Camedia Brio D-100 in Oct 2002. Got it for about a hundred greens. Thought I had a landed an awesome deal, until the camera proved you get what you pay for.

CONS:
1. Battery eater: No rechargeable battery is good enough for it to last through 20pics. I couldn't leave batteries in it for a week - they would be run down in that time.
2. Major issues with focus: The whole user interface with communicating when its ready to shoot is incredibly unreliable. I would switch it on, and wait for the green and amber lights to stabilize. They would sometimes, and not others. Even worse, they would and wouldn't on the same shot, with the same composition. Very frustrating.
3. Unreliable save: I was never sure if it saved a pic. Sometimes I would press the button - but nothing. No indication on the camera what's wrong. Then I would have to close the cover, reopen it to switch it back on, and pray it will shoot this time - 50% chance. No indication of what's wrong. Using the LCD at the back is a pain too. Often it wouldn't have enough power left to let you browse through to see if it took pics alright.

I could go on and on, but the sum total: very frustrating, unreliable camera, best take your money elsewhere. I don't care about bells and whistles, but one expects if its called a camera, it will take pictures. If its called a camera 100% of the time, it will take pics a 100% of the time!!

As for mine,after missing some critical pics on a very important family occasion, and some more of household items while documenting before a relocation, I finally hit it against my tiled floor, broke it in a hundred pieces, drilled through it in various places, and am sending it to Olympus's HQ with a letter explaining what they should have done themselves that I had to PAY them to do!

Great Camera, very durable
I bought this camera on clearance and couldn't be happier! It works every time, takes great photos at a nice quality and is auto recognized by iphoto. Also, this camera is tough. My 4 year old takes hundreds of photos with it on our 256MB smart media card. In all a very good buy. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Until now, choosing a digital camera has meant a tradeoff between size and functionality. The feature-packed, high-resolution SLR replacements were too big to tuck in a pocket or purse, and the ultracompact models lacked the extensive manual controls many advanced photographers desire. With the D-40, Olympus has bridged the gap between portability and power--it's one of the smallest digital cameras on the market, yet it includes virtually all of the advanced features found on full-size models.

Compared to an ultracompact like the Canon Elph, the D-40 is the same width, about half an inch taller, and three-fourths of an inch thicker--still small enough to easily slip into a jacket pocket, and less than half the size of most compact models. Despite the tiny dimensions, Olympus packs a 4-megapixel sensor, 2.8x optical zoom lens, full manual controls, and a movie mode with audio into the camera's small plastic body. The trademark Olympus sliding clamshell cover turns the camera on and off, and also protects the lens, viewfinder, and flash when closed.

Images are stored on SmartMedia cards. A 16 MB card is included, which holds 16 images at default settings. If you want to take advantage of uncompressed mode and movie mode, or plan to take more than a handful of photos at a time, you'll want to get a 64 MB or 128 MB card. Like virtually all Olympus cameras, the D-40 has a flexible battery arrangement, accepting either a disposable lithium battery (one is included), or a pair of AA batteries (rechargeables strongly recommended).

This is a camera you won't quickly outgrow. If you're just getting started in photography, leave the camera in Auto. In this mode, taking pictures is as easy as sliding the lens cover open and pressing the button. As your photo skills progress, you can start taking advantage of the camera's advanced modes, including shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual modes, plus manual focus, slow-sync flash, spot metering, manually adjustable white balance, exposure compensation, and more. The D-40 also comes with a remote control, making it easy to include yourself in group shots and it allows you to keep the camera steady in low-light situations.

For a break from taking pictures, spin the control knob to movie mode and you're ready to shoot mini-videos with sound. Though they don't have the resolution of camcorder movies, these clips of up to 30 seconds are perfect as e-mail attachments.

When it's time to transfer the images to your computer, the D-40 is a breeze to use. Connect the included USB cable between the camera and your computer, and the operating system (Windows 98 or newer for PCs, OS 8.6 or newer for Macs) will automatically detect your camera as an external drive, making picture transfers drag-and-drop easy.

If you can't decide whether to grab a full-sized digital camera for its advanced features or a tiny point-and-shoot for its portability, consider the D-40--it offers the best of both worlds. ... Read more

Features

• 4 megapixel sensor captures 2,288 x 1,712 images for prints at 11 x 14 inches and beyond
• 2.8x optical zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB SmartMedia card holds 16 pictures at default resolution
• Automatically connects to Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses LB-01 disposable lithium battery (included) or 2 AA batteries

Reviews (51)

Finally.. a high resolution pocket size digital camera!
I've used Olympus point-and-shoot cameras for years, starting with the XA. Though my 'main' camera is a Nikon F3, over the years I've opted to carry the small Olympuses for travel. If it can't fit in my pocket or purse, it doesn't go!

Finally... there is a pocket-sized digital camera that rivals the resolution of a film: the Olympus D40Z. It has more bells and whistles than the average photographer will ever need, but it also runs just fine in the 'PHD' AUTO mode. And the quality is fantastic! Another feature I really liked was the drag-and-drop feature that allows you to offload pics direct to a PC hard drive through the USB port makes download a snap. On a short boat ferry, I powered up my laptop and had the pics downloaded in less than 30 seconds. (One friend uses his Olympus to transfer files from one PC to another at home!)

Battery life has not been a problem - I've run several hundred photos through the camera and am still on the original battery. I don't however use the viewer much - I save battery life by downloading photos to the PC rather than viewing and editing them in the camera. Nevertheless, purchasing the rechargeable batteries is recommended in the long run.

I was looking at the Nikon CoolPix 990 and 995 before this camera was released. Though the quality and durability is very good, I was put off by the larger body size and weight of the Nikon (if it's not small, it will probably be left in the drawer more often than not). So if you're in the market for a digital camera and need small size, high picture quality with enough features 'headroom' to allow a high degree of control over the image, you should definitely consider the Olympus D40Z.

Good performance and generally usable
I concur with the first two reviewer's comments, generally. The camera takes excellent, clear, vivid pictures and is very small (not as tiny as the Canon digital Elph line, but the small Canons are currently only at 2.1 MP).

Although you don't have to be a genius to figure the camera out, ease of use is not the camera's strong point. Icons and menu labels don't make immediate sense; you must read the manual (PDF format on the CD -- no print version!) to understand what the menus and dial-mode positions do.

Though the controls are complex, they're also deep and feature-rich. The camera gives an Auto mode, a Program mode, Shutter priority, Aperature priority, and full Manual modes, and automatic scenery, portrait, and people-in-front-of-scenery modes. Macro mode and night-time mode are also on the dial for quick access.

Olympus includes an infrared remote control in the package (nice not to have to go buy one separately).

The 30-second movie mode works fine, but don't think of it as a substitute for a camcorder--the microphone doesn't work that well.

It is a mystery to me why Olympus chose to use a proprietary battery size. The included NON-rechargeable lithium battery is about the same size as two AA batteries, and you can use two AA batteries in place of Olympus-brand lithium batteries (which, yes, do cost $10 each). Ni-MH rechargeable AA batteries are the cheapest solution in the long-run; the camera chews up Alkaline batteries like crazy, and lithium AA batteries are about as expensive as the Olympus-brand battery, per picture. Note: you can't recharge your Ni-MH AA batteries inside the camera; you must have a separate charger. Silliness. But not so silly that I wouldn't recommend the camera. I'm happy I bought it.

Last item: I use Windows XP Home, and I tried hooking up the camera to my computer via the included USB cable. It worked the first time, but it crashed my system the second and subsequent times. This might just be my fault, but I can't be sure yet.

The best you can have for the price.....
I have used about 5 digital cameras so far (pentax, sony, olympus) for more than 2 years. The D-40 is my last upgrade from the Olympus 2040. My remarks:

1: Olympus gives the best results when you print your fhotos(in an average quality... printer like HP-920). Simply you cannot tell the difference from a hi-quality film camera.
2: If you like the quick "point and shoot" photography without tripods and professional settings, the camera is amazing and the zoom is just what you need. It takes clear and sharp pictures. The camera of course has noumerous settings and capabillities but it works fine in auto mode. Just turn it on and shoot.
3: The camera is the smallest by far in 4 megapixels. You can have it always with you, everywhere, even in your shirt pocket.
4: Real plug and play. Just plug it into a USB port and that's it. No drivers no CDs...Just drag and drop like a hard drive. With the 128 MB SM card you can cary more files than a 100 MB zip drive. Yes I use it to copy and transfer files.
5:It gives you for an extra the pixel-maching technology. You never know when you could need this, but other brands, more expensive cameras, still haven't it.
6:Yes, it drains batteries fast but not faster than the other models by Olympus, if you take into consideration that it takes only 2 AAs. So you have 2 more for spare.
5 stars with no doubt. And remember : SIZE ALWAYS COUNTS.

Terrific, easy to use camera.
This was my first digital camera, which I used constantly for the three years I owned it. I loved it and I shouldn't have been so eager to "upgrade" (I recently, and foolishly, switched to the Sony T1).

This is a fantastically easy to use point-and-shoot camera that takes fabulous photos, up to and probably even beyond 8x10. It's friendly in low light conditions, at the beach, in the bright white snow, and just about anywhere a person would want to take their camera. Action pictures turn out great. The flash is strong. It is light, compact, and very sturdy. The picture taker's hands don't have to be deathly still to take a killer shot. The lense stays closed. The batteries are AAs--YAY! (I'm amazed at these features I took for granted because my T1 lacks in ALL these areas, much to my chagrin.)

For the price this camera is being offered at on Amazon, you can't go wrong, even if they are used. You won't be disappointed with the D40.

It's very frustrating
The camera is small and compact. The resolution is great and if you buy extra memory it can hold tons of pictures. But...sometimes i want to just use a disposable camera because this one is soooo frustrating. The auto-focus takes forever, so many times, you miss "kodak moments" because the camera isn't ready to shoot. When you have the display screen on, it sucks up the batteries. You can't view pictures right away unless you close the lens...which takes forever. Little things like this are very frustrating. And the dial for photo settings is so convenient that it often moves without you knowing so your settings will be off and you get a messed up picture. I'm no camera genius, i know how to use all the functions but this camera really tests my patience and i've missed alot of good shots. It's not just point and click like many other cameras i've used. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus C2100 UZ's most impressive feature is also its most obvious one: the massive 10x optical zoom lens that protrudes from the camera. Normally, it would be difficult to take advantage of a lens this powerful without using a tripod. Why? At full zoom, the camera focuses on such a small area that even the most minute movements result in a blurry image. Fortunately, Olympus equips the camera with optical image stabilization, a complex system that senses shakes and wobbles and continuously adjusts the lenses to compensate.

Olympus adds yet another high-tech feature on this camera by replacing the traditional optical viewfinder with a camcorder-style electronic viewfinder (EVF)--a tiny LCD screen inside the eyepiece. The benefits of this arrangement are obvious: the EVF provides a traditional SLR-style through-the-lens viewing experience, works well even in bright sunlight, lets you hold the camera in the more stable, traditional position, and helps to extend battery life. The 2100 UZ does have a standard 1.8-inch LCD on the back to compose, review, and share images as you would on most digital cameras.

With the exception of the lens and the electronic viewfinder, the 2100 UZ is essentially a 2-megapixel version of the popular C-3000Z. If you like tinkering with your camera's settings, you'll love this camera--it features shutter-priority and aperture-priority modes, manually adjustable focus, adjustable ISO, manual exposure, exposure compensation, and even a multimode flash with slow-sync abilities.

Olympus has been criticized for "only" having a 2.1-megapixel sensor in this camera, when many new cameras (including several Olympus models) are now shipping with 3- and even 4-megapixel sensors. Though we certainly wouldn't mind if Olympus released a 3-megapixel version of this camera, we found that the sharp optics and minimal compression used by Olympus resulted in crisp, sharp prints even at 8 by 10 inches.

If you're currently using an SLR and are considering a digital camera, the 2100 UZ is a great choice. Its lens isn't removable or interchangeable, but is flexible enough to capture virtually any photo, and the full range of manual controls will help an experienced photographer to get the exact shot he or she wants.

Pros:

• 10x optical, 2.7x digital zoom
• Optical image stabilization
• Full manual controls

Cons:

• 2.1-megapixel sensor is adequate, but 3.3 megapixels would shine

Features

• 2-megapixel sensor captures 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Optically stabilized autofocus lens with 10x optical/2.7x digital (27x total) zoom
• Included 8 MB SmartMedia card holds 16 images at default resolution
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses 4 AA batteries; rechargeable batteries and charger included

Reviews (76)

Olympus C-2100UZ: 35mm SLR user's "switch" digital camera
If you own fine 35mm and/or large-format cameras, and have toyed with the idea of trying digital, read on at your own risk. You may -- like me -- never pick up your Leica M4P or Canon F1 or Mamiya 645 systems again.

Let me tell you the only negative about this camera first: The color correction of the CCD under low tungsten illumination and fluorescent lighting resembles Ektachrome 400, circa 1970.

That's it. That's the only defect.

You're going to love this camera. Many reviewers wish for a 3.3 megapixel chip, vs. the 2.1 mp chip in this 2100. The recent introduction of cameras with the same image stabilized 10x lens/2.1 mp CCD system from Canon and Sony suggests some rethinking among the manufacturers of these cameras. Simply put, the ability to fill frames with image trumps the cameras with 3.3mp CCDs and smaller zoom ranges. To accommodate those 3.3 mp CCDs, one needs a larger buffer memory...which means a longer write-time...which means either a slower-shooting camera or a greater battery drain, or both, to match the frame-to-frame shooting capability of this lens/CCD/buffer combination. It also means your storage media demands will escalate dramaticaly, as will your needs for imaging media. Add the image stabilization feature, which has some kind of gyro motor running all the time, and you'd end up with unacceptable battery drain, if your had a 3.3 mp CCD.

This camera offers two displays -- one the traditional 1.8 inch "TV" display, and the other, an SLR-like eye-level display. At first, you'll be disappointed in the graininess of the eye-level display. And yet, you will be surprised at the speed with which you'll accommodate that.

The camera offers a 35mm lover's range of creative control, plus features you'd never dream of finding in an SLR or rangefinder. You can select the ASA of the CCD's sensitivity -- 100 to 400 ASA. You can select white balance, although it's not great under low-light-level tungsten or fluorescent, as noted. You can -- now get this -- choose black-and-white or...SEPIA toned imaging. The latter is a magnificent trip back to the 1950s and 60s.

But nothing matches this lens. It's the equivalent of a 38-380mm zoom lens. The image stabilization means that, if you carefully brace yourself, you will easily -- and I mean EASILY -- shoot 380mm hand-held shots at under 1/20th of a second. It's a razor-sharp lens.

The image compression algorithm in this camera works extremely well. The standard "HQ" mode generates images of around 400k size, which means you get a whopping 128 images on a 64mb Smartmedia card. You can switch to the SHQ mode and get 45 images on a 64mb card, but for most images, you can't see the difference in an 8x10 print. The write-to-buffer/write-to-Smartmedia time increases, limiting your frame-to-frame shooting speed.

If you half-depress the shutter release, locking the focus and exposure, you can capture great sports action shots. If you put the camera in a manual mode, you can shoot almost one shot a second in the HQ mode.

Flash reach is astounding. I have easily shot perfectly exposed images in dark rooms at 30+ feet. Recycle time can be iffy -- I minimize it with a Digipower external battery pack that plugs into the AC adapter jack -- but the flash mode seems to generate more data, which takes more time to write to the buffer and then to the Smartmedia, which slows the shot-to-shot time.

You can get through about 150 frames with a single charged set of 4 NiMH 1600ma batteries -- I can't imagine going anywhere with fewer than a single well-charged extra set. The camera will kill a fresh set of alkaline AAs in about 10-12 shots -- the deep drain of a digital camera is totally incompatible with this kind of service.

The camera is light, well-balanced. Its controls fall under the fingers neatly. Viewfinder controls work well, but I could argue that controls for the manual focusing could be better placed under the left fingers, rather than under the right eye, forcing you to focus with the right thumb.

I purchased a C-2040 for my 14-year-old daughter's middle school graduation, and with those two cameras, our family is now fully digital.

Stop looking for a new digital camera -- you've found it.

You will be tempted to use the different controls and shooting modes. The iESP ("P") setting works so well, for most shooting, you'll leave it there.

The only kind of shooting you might wish for a 3.3 mp CCD is for scenics -- digital cameras don't handle fine detail as well as 35mm film. I'd prefer a metal camera to a plastic one, like the the $2000 Olympus E-10. But I tried that camera, and it's S-L-O-W by comparison to the C-2100, and lacks both the zoom range and the imaging stabilizing features of the C-2100.

For frame-filling portraits, there simply isn't a better camera.

Outstanding Value & Quality
The Olympus C-2100 digital camera has the power and features that are hard to find in most other digital cameras. Its ability to zoom from 35mm to over 1000mm (35mm film equivalent) makes this camera worth the price alone! The image stabilization that is also a part of this camera is an added bonus. Most other digital cameras in this price range zoom up to only about 200mm (35mm equivalent) and do not allow for multiple shots.

For those of you who are considering a digital camera that goes beyond "point-and-shoot" and has the ability to go in aperture-priority or shutter-priority mode, the C-2100 fills the bill. I do a lot of sports photography and am finding that the C-2100 does a good job. My only additional advice is to buy a 64mb SmartMedia card (the 8mb card that comes with it is insufficient) and a reader for your SmartMedia card that you can connect via USB to your PC. While you can download directly from the camera to your computer, it does add stress onto the camera.

You can spend a lot more on a digital camera, but this one will not disappoint.

Best Digital Camera of All Time
Simply the best and most fun camera to use....from Pro to amature....you won't be disappointed. I have owned mine for over 3 years now without any problems and paid over $900.00 for it new then. It is worth every dollar!

Great electronic LCD viewfinder!

Acts and feels like a true SLR 35mm, but takes GREAT...GREAT...Digital pictures.

Fast and easy adjustments from f-stop to speed, lighting, everything!

The best lens I have ever seen on a Digital Camera....has Sony beat hands down! The 10x is remarkable....I will never own another camera without 10x optical....ever!

I will use this camera till it dies, and I have owned Nikon SLR (FE, FE2, etc.) in the past....the ease of operation and output blows them away! Even at 2.1 Mp, the images are sharp and color is right-on!

If you can find one of these....buy it....you won't be sorry! It's worth 10 stars!!! I hope Olympus makes another just like it (same shape and not that square-instamatic-look)with higher MP in the future!

Great camera
Excellent picture quality and level of control over the pictures you can take. 10X Optical Zoom is incredible for its time and is still hard to beat. The optics are remarkably distortion free at all focal lengths. 2MP CCD makes this a very fast camera, as a lot of time is not waste writing to the card while the photo opprtunities slip away. Great low light capabilities with slow shutter speed. This is a bargain to be had in the used camera market. There are other cameras that sound better on paper, but when it comes to putting pixels on a memory card, there is none that surpasses the versatility and fun of this camera.

Best times 3
I am about to replace my stolen C2100. It will be my third one that I have owned. This camera is a workhorse. Don't let the 2 megapixel rating scare you. Most of my highly acclaimed photos I have taken with this camera and my other Olympus cameras are down the list in ease, quality and zoom length. Buy this camera if you can. It will not disappoint. It is especially good for "personal" and candids which require stealth. The zoom will get you incredibly close and remains the best cropping tool for reaching the latent image from a distance. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

For a compact, affordable digital camera that takes sharp pictures with enough detail for prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches, look no further than the Olympus D-370.

Optics and Resolution
This higher-resolution successor to the popular D-370 comes with a 2-megapixel sensor that captures enough detail for crisp 8-by-10-inch prints. For the typical family photographer, 2 megapixels is a great balance between price and performance. If you want a camera with even more resolution, you'll probably also want more manual controls than the D-380 offers--consider the Olympus C-3020 instead.

The glass Olympus focus-free 4.5mm lens (equivalent to 35mm in film cameras) has an aperture range of f4 to f8. The camera features a 5x digital telephoto zoom, but remember that digital zoom tends to reduce the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's best used sparingly.

To compose your images, either use the traditional camera viewfinder or the 1.6-inch LCD display (which is also used to review the shots you've taken). Having both types of viewfinders offers the best of both worlds: if you're used to using a film camera or want to conserve battery life, use the viewfinder. If you want to see exactly the picture you'll be capturing, use the LCD display.

More Features
A sliding clamshell lens cover simultaneously protects the lens and provides a simple way to turn the camera on and off. While the D-370 is clearly designed for point-and-shooters and beginning photographers, there are several manual features for more adventurous photographers, including macro mode, adjustable white-balance settings, exposure compensation, and the ability to shoot black-and-white and sepia images.

Power
Power is provided by four AA batteries or two LB-01 disposable lithium batteries--a set of LB-01 batteries is included. These lithium packs are the size of two side-by-side AA batteries, and they have a surprisingly long lifespan. However, they aren't rechargeable, so when they finally die, they go into the trash. If you use the camera once a month or less, the lithium batteries are a logical idea, since they'll hold their charge for years when sitting in an unused camera. If you use the camera more often, then the lithium packs don't make economic or environmental sense--we recommend getting a set or two of rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and a charger. A digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display, so they aren't recommended except in a pinch. To ensure you'll always be ready for action, we recommend having two sets of rechargeables so you can always have one set in the camera and the other set in the charger.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the camera captures silent video clips up to 60 seconds in length. The limited duration and resolution of your movies guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on SmartMedia memory cards. The included 8 MB card holds approximately 16 images at the camera's default settings. SmartMedia cards are reusable, but if you tend to take more than 16 images per outing (or plan to use the video feature frequently), then you'll want a bigger card. A 64 MB card will store well over 100 pictures. To transfer images to your computer, simply attach the included USB cable between your PC and your camera. Your computer should automatically recognize your camera and let you move the pictures to your hard drive.

Size
At 4.8 by 2.6 by 1.8 inches and 6.7 ounces, the D-370 is slim and compact enough to bring along in a purse or pocket

Contents and Recommended Accessories
The package includes the camera, 8 MB SmartMedia card, two long-life LB-01 lithium batteries, USB cable, carrying strap, and software on CD.

Everything you need to get started is included in the box, but we recommend these accessories to make the most of your camera: a carrying case, a set of NiMH rechargeable size AA batteries, and a higher-capacity SmartMedia memory card. Compatible accessories for this camera are listed near the top of this page. --Shane Burnett

Pros:

• Compact, lightweight, and easy to use
• Focus-free lens means fast startups and quick operation between shots

Cons:

• Movie mode lacks sound
• 8 MB card and disposable batteries are fine for occasional users, but more frequent use will require upgrades to these accessories

Features

• 2-megapixel sensor captures 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Fixed-focus lens with 5x digital zoom (no optical zoom)
• Included 8 MB Smartmedia card stores approximately 16 images at default resolution
• Automatically connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses 2 CR-V3 lithium batteries or 4 AA batteries (one set of disposable AA batteries included)

Reviews (74)

Great Quality...
I'll admit I'm no expert when it comes to photographic equipment but I CAN recognise a bargain when I see it. Olympus are a manufacturer who have always had my utmost respect and when it came to upgrading my 1.3 megapixel digi-cam to something with a little more juice they were once again my first choice. The D-380 was released around Feb 2002 (I believe) and is one of the few 2.0 Megapixel cameras... at a price you simply can not argue with for this kind of quality.

What you get for your money is a camera which is aestetically pleasing as well as functionaly impressive as well. It's not too bulky, around 5" wide and sub 7 ounces in weight, with a sliding lens protector to make transportation a breeze, a wrist strap, 8MB Smart Media memory card (although it takes upto 128MB) as well as 1MB onboard memory, USB connector, built in flash and a 1.5" digital viewfinder at the back for live preview or viewing of your snapped images...a good size for a small camera.

The camera requires 4AA batteries to operate and unlike the previous model I owned uses some kind of battery saving technology to give you more operational time before run down. It still gobbles the things like nobody's business though if you use the viewfinder at the back too often so you are best advised to buy a set or two of rechargable batteries for this camera...but it is MUCH better than the previous models.

When it comes to using the camera you'll find it a doddle. I'm not going to run through each and every thing it does or I'll bore the pants off you, ...[but] if you want a list of specs, then visit the Olympus website. What I will say is that it is dead easy to use. The menu system is accessed through 4 buttons on the back, and is very intuitive - you'll have no problem with using this unlike with some others. If you've ever used an Olympus camera around this price range before in the last couple of years then you'll be more than familiar with the set up because it doesn't seem to have changed much in this respect.

The most important thing of all though is the quality of the pictures and I have to say that once again Olympus has come up trumps with this camera. Colour saturation is generally excellent and whilst bright sunlight and very murky conditions give you somewhat under/over-exposed results at times, it is otherwise faultless for a 2.0 megapixel camera. There are various image manipulation options such as switching to black and whire/sepia tones built into the camera as well and an option to record video footage as Quicktime images which is great as well.

The only thing which is missing for the average user (no, it's not a pro choice obviously) is a zoom lens. You can digitally zoom if you so wish, but I find a slight jagged edge appearing on the images if you do, so it's not optimal.

Overall, for the price you can't fault it and I'd be happy to recommend it to anybody in the market for a 2.0 Megapixel digital camera without any qualms that they would be disappointed in their purchase. If you want professional quality images then look elsewhere, but for the general user this is a great purchase.

Great intro to the world of digital photography!
The Olympus D-380 is my first digital camera. I did my research, using online reviews and consumer publications. I wanted something high quality, user-friendly, and well built, at a reasonable price. I concluded that Olympus makes products that fit my criteria. This camera is everything I hoped it would be and more!

Upon opening the box, I was pleased to find an attractive, sturdily constructed camera. Though there's nothing cheap-looking about it (it's all classy looking metallic surfaces), it is very lightweight and comfortable in my hand. The lens cover slides with precision and covers the lens securely (many of the cameras in this price range don't have an integrated lens cover). The wrist strap attaches easily. The covers for the battery compartment, memory card, and USB and AC adapters are well designed and look as if they will last a long time. This camera is manufactured in Japan.

It took only about a minute, after scanning the "Quick Start" guide, to insert the included batteries and SmartMedia memory card and start taking pictures. The very first picture I took was a keeper; I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality. I handed the camera to my 6-year-old son, who snapped off a shot of my daughter and me, which I then printed on glossy photo paper. It looks so nice that I'm actually going to frame it and hang it on the wall. I have since taken pictures at all the different resolutions, and all look great when viewed on the computer. I have settled on the 1024 x 768 setting as my "standard", since it matches the resolution of my monitor, and makes for reasonable file sizes (around 180 KB per photo). 640 x 480 works great for e-mail, and 1600 x 1200 turns out beautiful results for printing, or those special occasion "keepsakes". Even the QuickTime movie mode does a decent job, certainly much better than those grainy webcam captures.

There is a 5X digital zoom (no optical). I detect a little graininess when using it, but for the money, it's fine and it's simple to use.

I am running Windows 2000 Pro, and setup for transferring files to the computer couldn't have been easier. Simply plug the USB cable into the camera, then into the computer. That's it! Open My Computer and you'll find a new removable storage drive. From there it's a simple matter of dragging and dropping files to wherever you want to store them. You can delete the files from the SmartMedia card from your computer, which is easier than doing it with the camera. The included Camedia software looked fun, but I haven't had a need to use it yet, so I can't comment on its functionality.

I received a free 32 MB Viking SmartMedia card from Amazon with this camera. Together with the 8 MB card in the box with the camera, this is enough storage for roughly 200 photos at 1024 x 768. The only thing I needed to buy to complete my setup was a carrying case.

I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking to enter the world of digital photography. It is stylish, extremely easy to use, very well constructed, takes excellent pictures, and is an unbeatable value!

Awesome low end camera.
I've used this camera for over 2 years now, and I've never had a problem with it. The battery life is excellent and the pictures are really sharp and good looking for 2MP. The camera has taken a lot of beating, but its really durable and still in excellent shape.

Great camera for the price!
I have had this camera for about two years now, and I have to say that I have been extremely pleased with it during that time. It is very easy to use and takes great pictures for a 2.0 MP camera. Downloading pictures to my computer is a snap. The software is easy to use, and allows for editing of the images. I have printed out and framed many pictures that I have taken with my camera, and you can hardly tell a difference in quality when compared to pictures taken with my old APS camera.

The few drawbacks that I have encountered are that the picture quality does get fuzzy when using the zoom feature and alkaline batteries do tend to die fairly quickly. However, I came back a week ago from a trip to Cancun and easily took 75+ pictures and have since downloaded the pictures onto my computer and the batteries are still at full power. I do use alkaline batteries, and if you don't want to invest in lithium batteries, I suggest keeping an extra set of batteries in your camera case.

I would recommend this camera to any first-time digital users, who would like a great digital camera for a very reasonable price.

Olympus d #80
This is my second d-380. The first one I purchased was returned for spots in the image. The second one has the same defect. I sent the product to Olympus for repair which wasnt done nor will they replace the camera so I'm stuck with it. It's a defect Olympus will not admit to. Their customer service is no service. STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAMERA!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description

Image resolution up to 2288 x 1712 11x digital zoomNew docking station charges battery and connects to optional 4x6 dye-sublimation printer and/or 40GB hard drive Album and Calendar functions easily manage and display images as digital photo albumEasy-to-use scene mode dial19 selectable shooting modes for maximum versatilityVGA QuickTime Movie Mode with sound TruePic TURBO Image Processor allows quick and repeated shots while reducing noise Auto-Connect USB requires no software installation PictBridge compatible3 3/4 W x 2 4/5 H x 1 DUses rechargeable Li-Ion batteryUses xD-Picture Card up to 512MBIncludes16MB xD-Picture Card Li-12B rechargeable Li-Ion battery dockingstation USB and AV cables wrist strap and Olympus Master software ... Read more

Features

• xD-Picture Card compatible (16MB card included); uses Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
• 4.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 11 x 15-inch prints
• Extra-large 2.5-inch semi-transmissive LCD flips 360 degrees on hinge for easy viewing when open and protection of display when closed
• New docking station (included) allows you to charge the battery and connect to the optional 4 x 6-inch dye-sublimation printer and/or 40 GB hard drive (printer and hard drive not included)
• TV-quality VGA QuickTime Movie mode with audio

Amazon.com Product Description

Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the almost identical D-450 model, the Olympus D-460L is a user-friendly and budget-friendly digital zoom camera. It offers a maximum resolution of 1,280 x 960 pixels and picks up images with a 0.37-inch, 1.31-megapixel CCD. You can bring objects up to six times closer with the combined 3x optical and 2x digital zoom lens. With programmed exposure control, white balance control, and an automatic through-the-lens contrast-detection system, the Olympus D-460L does all the thinking for just the right exposure and focus. It also features a built-in six-mode flash with red-eye reduction to illuminate a variety of low-light situations.

The Olympus D-460L includes special features such as a 12-second self-timer, date imprinting, and a continuous-shooting mode. While the Olympus D-460L's automatic functions make it easy to take digital images, it also has an assortment of manual options to expand your creative potential. You can manually tweak the white balance, select a film-speed equivalent, or use special settings, such as macro, to achieve precisely the shot you want.

Using SmartMedia memory, the Olympus D-460L comes with an 8 MB card, which is enough memory for 122 normal-quality, 36 high-quality, or 18 superhigh-quality shots. This camera also comes with a software package for photo filing and editing as well as the necessary connectors to hook the camera up to your PC or Macintosh for uploading.

Olympus backs the D-460L with a one-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 1.2 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 5 x 7 prints
• 3x optical plus 2x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 8 MB SmartMedia memory holds 36 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via serial port
• Uses 4 AA or 2 proprietary lithium batteries (2 lithium batteries included)

Reviews (148)

It's great! I love it! But keep the SLR...
I have had more photo fun and taken more pictures since buying this camera than during the rest of my life put together. With no film to lose I can really make sure I like a picture by doing what the pro's do: take a lot of pictures and select the best ones. I generally run the 460 at maximum resolution since it isn't particularly endowed in the pixel area. The color rendition is excellent as well as the autoexposures. Basically, if you can see it, it can photograph it. Some of the night shots are quite impressive.

The 3X optical zoom is good. I wouldn't have a digital camera without it. The lens is prone to "barrel distortion" where straight line things like poles and trees at the edges of the frame appear to bend toward the center. A little strategic framing can make that less of a problem. The camera is rather slow when trying to do live action shots. It takes about a second between button press and shutter release. This is an eternity when trying to photograph my son doing a bike trick or catching a hawk on the wing.

Being an old SLR hobbyist, I miss my telephoto and my filters. I miss an instant shutter release and other areas of total control. In fact, we're shopping for a replacement for our old Canon AT-1. An SLR digital camera with the capabilities of a film SLR is just way too expensive for me right now. So I will continue to have two cameras: my super fun and somewhat amazing D-460Z and my SLR. Each with its own strengths, each with its own creativity.

Pleasing Prints!
Consideration #1 - Why did I choose the Olympus over other "computer" brands?

Because the Olympus line of digital cameras in general beats out any other line of cameras out there as far as picture quality, and the D460 is no exception. It is always a rule of thumb to buy cameras from a real camera company, if only because the optics will always be top notch. Once you have taken pictures with a computer brand camera, and seen the prints, then switched to an Olympus or Nikon etc... you will definitely see the difference in quality.

Consideration #2 - Why did I choose the D460 over a Nikon?

The main factors were price and battery life. The Nikon cameras take to sucking your batteries dry given even moderate use of the LCD, whereas the 400 series of Olympus cameras are quite the road warriors when it comes to batteries. Now remember that this camera does not come with rechargeable batteries (it includes high-powered NiMH one time use batts) you should plan on spending the extra $30-50 on a set of rechargeable and a charger.

Other Points of Consideration -

Also plan on getting another smart media card if you are going to take more than a few pictures in one use, because the included card (8mb SmartMedia) only holds 16 SHQ quality pictures, (the format with the best compromise between space and quality) SHQ mode uses a JPEG compression to make file size smaller. Adding a 16MB smartmedia card will get you 32 pictures at that compression, and a 32mb card will get you 64 pictures, and so on... Also remember that you can readily exchange between cards when one gets full, so you don't loose the functionality of that original 8mb card that comes with the camera if you get another one. You can just take it out when it's full and stick in your new one. (just keep them in their case, and don't loose the little things, because boy are they expensive!)

Verdict -

Overall, this a really a great buy and will serve you well while on vacation, or at your kid's soccer game. If you want to make your pictures bigger than 8x10, however, you might want to upgrade to the D490. If not, have fun with this great camera!

Good
Had mine for 3 years now and still works excellent.I ve used it in the woods a lot,broke the front sliding cover off,but still works good without it.Takes excellent photos .A lot of fine tuners on this puppy.

Technology gone far beyond
I bought this camera back in 2000 off the internet from www.buy.com. I've since then taken thousands and thousands of pictures with it. Its a wonderful camera but as of times today it is becoming extremely dated. Some of its features have been improved upon in recent years. I have a friend that has an Olympus C-5050 and viewed some of his photos that were taken. The rich color and detail compared to my old camera can be easily seen. The time when digital pictures will meet or exceed the detail on 35mm is almost here! I bought this old camera for 2.5X the price it is today so that goes to show what 3 years can do to prices. But the picture you want to take probably won't wait that long. I would recommend the Olympus line of cameras to anyone! They are a strong performer and reliable too! Take a look at www.consumerreports.com (requires subscription) and see for yourself! My old camera had beer spilled on it and it still takes the best of photos today. For those that want it all check out the new "E-1" model that will soon hit the market. Its bound to set the standard in digital cameras.

Customer Service for this camera is lees than desirable
While the camera is performing great! There were some accessories that did not work with the camera. I tried repeatedly to contact Olympus and received the runaround on numerous occasions. I will not buy an Olympus product again. Customer service and support is the focal point of any good business. The marketers at Olympus obviously missed that day of instruction when they were going through customer support training. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Olympus D-360L digital camera offers truly outstanding performance for its price range. It's very similar to its bestselling predecessor, the Olympus D-340R, and, like all the Olympus cameras in this line, the D-360L produces high-quality photos with amazingly accurate color. This camera also works well in low-light situations and offers a wide array of compression, display, and printing options, making it a good choice for both beginners and advanced users.

With an interface much like a standard point-and-shoot camera, the Olympus D-360L combines ease of use with digital technology, 2x digital zoom, and TTL autofocus with macro mode; these elements give you the flexibility to shoot a wide variety of subjects. The 1.3-megapixel CCD sensor ensures accurate color, while features such as automatic exposure, white balance, and four-mode flash enable you to capture shots in a range of lighting situations.

The Olympus D-360L includes a 1.8-inch color TFT LCD monitor for picture composition and playback, onscreen menus, and on-the-spot lock/erase buttons so you don't lose pictures you want or waste memory. It also includes a 12-second self-timer, video-out capability, and optional direct printing straight from the camera. The camera automatically shuts off when not in use to preserve battery life.

The Olympus D-360L is easy to set up; all you have to do is put in the batteries and memory card. The included 8 MB memory card holds up to 60 pictures in the lowest resolution mode (640 x 480), and memory is expandable up to 16 MB. Taking pictures is a snap; you can easily adjust the exposure, change the flash mode, change the picture compression mode, and use the self-timer. We ended up referring to the manual to display and erase pictures, but once we learned the process, it was simple to display images in either thumbnail or single-picture mode. The LCD screen is clear and bright, and we preferred using it instead of the optical viewfinder. The D-360L does well in low light, focusing in dark situations and then providing well-lighted images via the flash (which has a red-eye reduction option). As long as you have something stable to set the camera on, the D-360L takes great night cityscapes or indoor nonflash photos.

The Olympus D-360L's strength lies partly in its high resolution--at 1,280 x 960, it's one of the highest-resolution digital cameras available for under $400. If you want the very highest picture quality, the D-360L can even record images as uncompressed TIFF files, eliminating any loss in quality suffered during compression. You can fit only two uncompressed images on an 8 MB memory card, but for certain high-end or professional applications, the uncompressed TIFF capability is a strong advantage.

The only drawback to the D-360L is its relatively short battery life. Four AAs have enough power for only about 60 low-resolution pictures--not nearly enough for a day on the town or a friend's birthday party. It doesn't come with rechargeable batteries, but you should consider buying a few sets and a charger.

Along with the Olympus D-360L, you receive a removable 8 MB SmartMedia card, capable of holding 122 standard quality shots, a Windows connectivity kit, a video output cable, four AA alkaline batteries, a user's guide, and a strap. You also get a CD-ROM with Camedia utility software for editing, manipulation, and panorama stitching. This camera is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh platforms and comes with a limited one-year warranty. --Cintra Pollack and Holly Blumenthal

Pros:

• Bright, clear LCD viewfinder
• High resolution
• Provides uncompressed TIFF recording capabilities
• Compact size
• Does well in low light

Cons:

• Limited battery life

Features

• 1.2 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 5 x 7 prints
• 2x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 8 MB SmartMedia card holds 13 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via serial port
• Uses 4 AA batteries (included)

Reviews (140)

This camera rocks!
The D360L camera is very easy to use and takes awesome pictures under almost any conditions. The resolution and features are truly incredible for a camera in this price range. The software installs easily and has good help information to guide you through the image editing process.

The camera comes loaded with many nice features. About the only thing lacking is an optical zoom. I'm a frugal consumer and decided that the added cost of an optical zoom wasn't justified for my intended use of the camera. Most features have been covered in other reviews but one nice feature that I haven't seen mentioned much is the video out jack and cable (included) that allows you to view your photos on a television. My parents are in their 80's and don't have excellent vision, so the television connector lets me share photos with them without them having to peer at the tiny LCD screen.

Accessories add a substantial amount to the cost of your camera outfit. Expect to pay an extra $100 to $250 above and beyond the camera price for them. I bought a SanDisk SmartMedia 32MB memory card, a DigiPower Solutions 12X rechargeable power pack, and a SanDisk SmartMedia USB external drive for downloading onto my PC. The only problem I encountered was with the Sandisk SmartMedia USB external drive. The install software had trouble locating a device driver, but I was able to locate the correct driver at the Sandisk web site and get things working properly. I have not had any experience with Olympus support, since everything works great.

The bottom line is that this camera offers fantastic value for the money you spend on it. You really can't go wrong buying this camera. It rocks!

Affordable and reliable plus quality and features.
EXCELLENT! I bought this camera largely based on the reviews that i saw here in Amazon.com. I have to say that the 5-star reviews this camera has been receiving are right on the money. This camera has everything the normal every day user would need as well as features that the advanced user would appreciate. Picture quality is generally very good. The 5 different picture quality settings give you the ability to use this camera for a variety of uses (home, office, web etc). There are so many options such as panoramic pictures, zoom/macro, ISO settings, slow shutter speeds for night/low light conditions etc.. And the 1.3 Megapixel resolution is excellent for this range of 'entry level' digital cameras. This camera is also very good for night use as it seems to be able to handle a variety of lighting levels quite well. When you consider the price it really is a VERY good buy. Once again i say EXCELLENT!

GREAT CAMERA
i thought it was a great camera it works great easy 2 use batteries last for a whole day unless using lcd screen. takes bout 5 sec. to write a pic. w/ 16mb card can take about 230 normal quality pics / 75 high quality / 30 super high quality.

Tens of thousands of pictures and still going strong!
We are an EBAY Powerseller bookstore and I have run our auctions for two years. I have taken thousands of pictures EACH WEEK with this camera and it is a true workhorse. It is my personal camera as well. So I tend to hook-up and unhook-up this camera daily - and I've experienced zero problems.

I download pictures at a high speed using a ZIO card reader and it's always flawless. I use an iMac at home and a normal PC at work - and it works great with both. I use a 64mb Viking Components SmartMedia card and it can hold 292 high quality, under 350k pictures. We actually have a different company's 5.0 mp camera at work - and it is imposible to learn and use. We gave up. But you can learn this camera in under a minute and you'll be taking great pictures instantly. We're on eBay under the seller name bookman21century - see for yourself.

This camera has been dropped numerous times, kicked around, loaded and unloaded daily - it has literally gone through the fires of Mt. Doom - and yet is still performs brilliantly. Sure the battery life is poor, but we use a power cord at work at that works great. And sure these newer cameras have many more mega-pixels - but this camera at 1.3 has worked so fine that it's all we need, or will need, for our home and business. So, I'd recommend this for any high-volume auction user. You open the shutter, aim, and press the button. I will always, always, always stick to Olympus for its ease of use, its durable quality, its toughness, and its adaptability. If you are taking 10,000 or 100,000 pictures - this workhorse is more than up to the task!

OVER 35,000 PHOTOS
I'VE USED THIS CAMERA FOR EXTENSIVE ONLINE AUCTIONS, WITH OVER 65,000 PHOTOS TAKEN IN NEARLY 3 YEARS...LET'S SEE YOU GET THAT MANY PHOTOS OUT OF AN EXPENSIVE 35MM NIKON FILM CAMERA BEFORE IT CRAPS THE BED..IF THIS THING EVER BREAKS DOWN, THEY SHOULD CARVE AN IMAGE OF IT ON MT.RUSHMORE, AND PUT THE THING IN THE SMITHSONIAN.... ... Read more

Features

• 2.1 megapixel sensor creates 1600 x 1200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10
• All-glass autofocus Olympus lens with 5x digital zoom
• Included 16 MB Smartmedia card holds 32 images at default setting
• Automatically connects with Macs and PCs via included USB cable
• Uses 2 AA batteries (included) or 1 CR-V3 lithium battery pack

Reviews (38)

Terrific camera, but beware of battery life
This is an amazing camera (save for the battery life) for an amazing price. While it does not have optical zoom, the digital zoom is better than most digicams I have used -- including my own Canon S100 "digital elph." The picture quality is simply superb and seals Olympus's reputation for producing some of the finest-quality digital cameras in the world. The operations are all easy to learn, esp. if you have used an Olympus analog before.

The only gripe is battery life, which is ridiculously short on regular alkalines. (On the other hand, it's nice to have a digicam that takes AAs.) Be sure to get lithium rechargeable batteries for this camera. They are more expensive, but they provide much longer battery life (so you can take the camera out on a day trip without hauling 10 pairs of alkalines) and can be recharged.

Once you get the batteries straightened out, this is simply the best-value digital camera on the market. I bought one for my wife and one for her uncle. Both love the camera. Highly recommended.

one of the easiest to use
Olympus d series digital cameras are very easy to use.
The one i have takes pics reasonably quickly for a digital.
It stops the action of a moving seen quite well, even
driving along in the car!

Hint: Only use the lithium batteries, alkalines will not
be suitable for this camera even though it might be
packaged with them. With lithium i did just fine.
The auto downloading usb works great. The camera is
small and light.

It shows the pic you just took immediately on the lcd screen, a
big plus for my peace of mind. I print up to 5x7 or 8x10
on photo paper, looks very nice for a 2.1 pixel camera.

You do not need to use the program or any program for that matter to download from this camera. All you need is the driver on the cd disk the first time and then its automatic from there.

Nice camera, good price, excellent for beginners
I chose the D230 for ease of use and low price and Olympus quality. This camera has met my expectations.

There are only a couple of improvements I would like to see. The LCD monitor is about useless in the bright sun (most are) but the view finder works well in this situation. There is also no battery meter other than a low battery indicator.

It's a sturdy camera with a nice feel. Small, lightweight, and compact. For 2MP it takes great quality pictures with little or no effort. If your looking for a great camera for point and shoot ease of operation you may want to look into this one.

I purchased mine on eBay from Olympus America for $81.00.

Whats not to like about this camera ?
To anyone who say this is a piece of junk, obviously they haven't taken the short amount of time it takes to learn about it and its features. The 230 takes great pictures and with the addition of a couple of 1800 mah powerex batteries you can take pictures all day long. In the past several months I have had this camera, my experiences have been nothing but great. Buy one - slip it into your shirt pocket and enjoy !

Great little digital camera
This is a nice small camera, not the smallest but a nice size. It only needs two batteries. What you need to do is get a battery charger and some NiMN batteries, and you won't need to buy batteries all the time. ... Read more

Features

• 4 megapixel CCD
• 3x optical
• 1.8in color LCD display
• 16MB xD-Picture Card
• 2-in-1 picture mode

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus D-370 boasts a host of excellent features and a compact, clamshell design. Two features that make it stand out are a superbright viewfinder and a newly developed long-life battery circuit. The battery circuit greatly extends battery life, allowing you to capture hundreds of images during normal operation. This 1.3-megapixel camera produces photo-quality 5-by-7-inch prints at 1,280 x 960 pixel resolution. In addition, the D-370 features a movie mode that lets you capture movie clips in QuickTime.

The Olympus focus-free 4.5 mm lens (equivalent to 35mm in film cameras) has an all-glass element and aperture range of f4 to f8. The camera is capable of a 4x digital telephoto zoom, but like all digital zooms, this increase in magnification comes at the expense of image quality. The Auto Connect USB port allows for easy connectivity to any PC running Windows Me or newer, or any Mac running OS 8.6 or newer, without the need to install drivers. Since the camera is recognized as a storage drive, transferring images is as easy as copying files to a floppy disk. The 1.5-inch color LCD displays your pictures for easy viewing and reviewing in-camera. In addition to accepting SmartMedia removable memory, the camera contains 2 MB of internal memory for capturing pictures.

The built-in flash features six modes: auto, red-eye reduction, off, fill-in, slow synchronization, and synchronization effect with red-eye reduction. With the optional Olympus LB01 (CR3V) batteries, the camera can last even longer than with the standard four AA alkaline batteries. There are several shooting modes including sequence (1.3 shots per second), macro, sepia, and black-and-white. Other features offered are: auto light metering, self-timer, date-data imprinting, and automatic or manual white balance. ... Read more

Features

• 1.3 megapixel sensor creates 1280 x 960 images for prints at sizes up to 5 x 7
• All-glass autofocus Olympus lens with 4x digital zoom
• Included 2 MB internal memory holds 4 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via included USB cable
• Accepts SmartMedia removable memory for added storage

Reviews (58)

Great first digital camera
I originally had an Olympus D-360, the previous model in this line, but it was stolen out of my car (if I ever find the person who did that... grrrr). This camera is quite an improvement over it's predecessor. Smaller, easier to operate, the menu system is 100% improved, and the batteries last A LOT longer. My only gripe is the removal of the small status screen on the top of the camera, it's handy when you don't want to use the LCD screen to save the batteries. Oh well, not a big deal. I do hope to move up to a 2 or 3 mp camera before too long, but this camera takes excellent pictures for it's price/mp range. A good first (or second, grrr) digital camera.

And just a note to the reviewer who had "Mixed Feelings About This One": If the store you bought this from advertised it incorrectly, you can hardly blame Olympus, while it would be nice if a memory card came with the camera, it says nothing about that on the box. And, as for the 2x or 4x digital zoom, if you set the picture quality to the lowest setting, it will digitally zoom up to 4x. As it says in the manual (though not very clearly, took me a while to figure it out too). Of course, digital zooms are junk, they degrade picture quality, but it is there.

Olympus D-370 - A Great Buy
I recently purchased this camera and with the savings from Amazon.com it is a great buy!! The cameras menu is easy to navigate through and with an added 32MB Smart Media card from Viking (just insert it on the side of the camera) the storage capacity even in the HQ picture setting is over 100 images!
With good light indoors it takes great pictures. I haven't used it outside yet, but I'm sure it will be just fine. The software that comes with it is easy to download, and with Windows 98, the drivers are very easy to install too. Just plug in to the USB Port on your PC and the software walks you right through the process of downloading the images.
Again, a great buy on a nice digital camera for the money!!

It Was A Love Hate Relationship
I purchased the camera last year and for a number of months it worked great. Now it only takes pictures inside. Anything outside is so over exposed it looks monochrome. Half the time the shutter doesn't click so I have to press it two or three times more until it finally works. When I first purchased the camera I would have given it 4 or 5 stars but now I'm in the market for something more reliable. After reading a number of other reviews where people had the same type of problems I'm convinced this camera is quickly self distructing.

I Didn't Know I Was Buying a $150 Disposable Camera
Would be a great little camera if it would last more than 15 months. It took great pictures and was very easy to use. I purchased a 64mb memory card (internal memory was useless) and rechargeable batteries (after going thru MANY sets of 4). Right around 9-12 months the camera starting having problems with the LCD not focusing and the camera wouldn't always take the picture while depressing the shutter button. I had purchased the rechargeable batteries thinking that could be the problem. Didn't use it often enough to notice there was a major problem about to happen. NOW AT JUST 15 MONTHS OLD, THE CAMERA DIED COMPLETELY. Just out of the one-year warranty (plus one month grace period) time frame.

I contacted Olympus Tech Support (be prepared to stay on hold a long time on long distance) and was encouraged to send the camera in. I was told they would check it over and let me know what was wrong all for only the charge of insured postage. Then if it needed repairs, it would be a flat $80. I said it wasn't worth the postage sending it in because I wouldn't pay $80 to fix a camera that can be replaced with a newer model for that money. They talked me into sending it when they said it could be defective and the repair would be covered. Another person there said to right a letter and they would possibly do a one time courtesy repair. My letter came yesterday asking for the $80 fee for repair. I called Olympus to ask them what was wrong with it. They said they needed payment first and then they'd hook it to their computers to find out. Big line of BS just to get me to send it in. I should have followed my first instinct and applied my shipping towards a new NON-OLYMPUS brand digital camera.

After investigating further, this appears to be a very common problem with their cameras. Either the LCD or the shutter is giving out on these.

I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING WITH THE OLYMPUS NAME ON IT AGAIN!!! PERIOD!!

short-lived
I just threw away a D-370 that I purchased 18 months ago. It worked great until two months ago, then simply died. This is the second Olympus digital camera that I've purchased that has lasted only a little over one year, then inexplicably stopped working. The camera repair shop says it's less expensive to buy a new digital camera than to repair the old one. Think of this as a pricey disposable. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The D-490 Zoom is the latest model in the venerable D-400 series, starting with the D-400Z and continuing with the D-450Z and D-460Z. All of these cameras have been extremely popular, and we expect the D-490 Zoom to be as big a hit. In its latest incarnation, the camera boasts a 2.1-megapixel sensor, an uncompressed TIFF storage option, plus a QuickTime movie mode.

Turning the camera on is a snap--literally. Just slide the protective lens cover until it clicks to a stop, and the 3x zoom lens pops out, letting you start shooting. The controls are so intuitive and similar to those of a film camera that most users won't even need to look at the owner's manual.

Olympus cameras consistently produce some of the highest-quality images when compared to other cameras with the same resolution. This is partially the result of high-quality optics, but also because Olympus cameras use less JPEG compression than most cameras. These less-compressed images result in larger file sizes, but Olympus feels that the higher quality results justify the reduced number of images that will fit on a memory card.

The camera includes numerous, nice little touches, including viewfinder diopter adjustment (for eyeglass wearers), a continuous shooting rate of 1.3 frames per second, exposure compensation, a self-timer, and more.

Of course, no camera is perfect. The 490Z's biggest shortcoming is its lack of USB connectivity, a nearly unforgivable omission these days. Though its serial port is compatible with virtually every PC and beige Mac ever made, it's painfully slow and incompatible with the iMac and newer Macintosh systems. Even if your computer has a serial port, we strongly recommend purchasing a separate memory-card reader, an inexpensive accessory that will transform your image transfers from a slow and painful experience to a quick and simple one. In addition, the camera is designed to operate on either 4 AA batteries or a pair of Olympus long-life disposable lithium batteries. It ships with the lithium batteries, which do have an impressive lifespan but can't be recharged and are more expensive than alkalines to replace. For long-term use, we recommend investing in a set of rechargeable batteries.

Other minor gripes: though the camera can record QuickTime movies, it has no microphone, so your film clips will be silent. Finally, the flash can be a bit frustrating. It needs to be popped up by hand before it's activated. This is probably something that becomes intuitive after you've owned the camera for a while, but we were repeatedly frustrated by having to retake low-light shots after forgetting to pop up the "automatic" flash.

Overall, the Olympus is a great camera if you're switching over from a point-and-shoot. It produces great-looking prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches and features an easy-to-use, compact design. The lack of a USB connection is the biggest shortcoming in this otherwise excellent camera.

Pros:

• Easy transition from a point-and-shoot film camera
• Great optics for clear prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches
• Excellent all-around performer

Cons:

• No USB image transfer
• No sound in movie mode
• Flash needs to be popped up manually to be activated
• Plastic case feels less durable than some cameras'

Features

• 2.1-megapixel CCD for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Uses standard SmartMedia cards; 8 MB card included
• 3x optical zoom
• QuickTime movie mode
• Continuous shooting rate of 1.3 frames per second

Reviews (98)

Unbelievable Clarity and ease of use!
I received the Olympus D-490 Zoom camera three days ago. Out of the box I was taking still and movie pictures within about ten minutes. Not only is the camera extremely easy to use, but the manual does a great job of explaining the features and functions with minimal confusion. The only exception here is that I didn't find information in the manual on how to switch to the SQ-HIGH and SHQ-TIFF modes. I later found out that to switch to the latter, the user must hold the "up" arrow for two seconds. I still haven't figured out how to access the SQ-HIGH.

Quality wise, the D-490 Zoom takes crystal clear and colorful images, capturing details that my Olympus film camera couldn't possibly match. The zoom features allow the user to take close-up shots of subjects quite a distance away, while the macro feature allows true close-ups from as little as four or five inches away.

My comments about specific features are:

1. The built-in multi-mode flash does an excellent job of balancing degrees of light on and around the photo subject. 2. The red-eye and slow-synch features, combined with the 12-second timer resulted in a warm close-up self-portrait that makes it hard to believe no one was holding the camera! 3. The LCD screen is clear and true to actual color, giving the viewer a good idea of what the actual image will look like. 4. The clarity of the images that I downloaded were extremely clean, even at the mid-setting (HQ and SHQ).

The only real downside I found to the Olympus D-490 Zoom is that downloading images to the computer using the serial cable is VERY slow. I had read and heard this, but until I downloaded the images myself, I hadn't realized just how slow. Still, once the download was complete, the resulting images made up for the wait.

The Olympus D-490 Zoom is overall a wonderful camera, far exceeding my expectations, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality digital camera. I would suggest, however, purchasing at least a 32MB memory card, as well as the USB card reader. With the 32MB card, you shouldn't have to worry about running out of image space, and the USB card reader will allow you transfer/download images at about 1MB per second.

Great camera
I am having a lot of fun with this camera. Takes great pictures, and I actually think the software supplied is pretty good for sorting and downloading the photos onto the computer--for actually tinkering with the photos, I use both Adope Photo Deluxe and Corel Photo-Paint. Couple of bugs with my unit explain the four stars:1) I cannot select all five resolutions--two intermediate settings are displayed, but the camera won't select them. 2) The battery life indicator doesn't seem to work--it's displayed, but the Lithium batteries died without warning (after lots of use). The Movie feature is a fun gimmick. So is the ability to plug directly into a T.V. to view the photos as a slide show. The camera is small, which makes it easy to take along. Fits in a jacket pocket. I like the lens cover, and the unit seems sturdy. I am looking forward to getting the USB reader in the mail. Downloads with the serial port take too long. I bought this as my first digital camera. I wanted the zoom, and I wanted a convenient size and 2 megapixels. There were a few models that met these criteria, and the zoom on this Olympus (as well as the video feature) sold me on this one. I am hoping that the two minor bugs described above are easily resolved.

great camera
I purchased this camera almost 4 years ago and love it. It sold me on the olympus name. My next camera, if i have to get one, will be another olympus.

Like the fact that it uses aa batteries b/c if i get in a predicament where i need batteries, i know i can go to the neighborhood store to get them instead of being limited to propriatary (sp?) battery units like the sony. I have 2 sets of rechargeable batteries that i use and also have the separate card reader to download at faster speeds.

This camera has taken thousands of excellent pictures for me. I'll probably buy a newer model in the next couple of years but, for now, this 2 megapixel beauty is everything i need.

Good luck.

Don't buy it!
I have owned my camera for 2 years and had nothing but trouble with it. Once the warranty expired (of course), I had strange problems with the batteries! They would only operate if they were warm! Very odd. And, just as others have posted, the camera suddenly "died" on me about a month ago. Not worth the money to fix it, I just purchased a new camera. NOT an Olympus!

Olympus D-490
The Olympus D490 is an awesome camera. I've used it for year, but someone recently dropped and broke it.
The Olympus takes great pictures. They have good color, except in flourescent lighting, which showed up as yellow. For fast moving objects, the flash is required to avoid blurring. For objects with bright light in the background and the foreground in shadow, the flash needs to be forced. In the dark, pictures will turn out with good color as long as nothing is moving while taking the picture. The camera takes longer to take the picture in poor lighting. Scenery pictures come out wonderful. I've even caught the glistening ice, mist rising from streams, and sunlight filtering through the forest.
The Olympus is easy to use with point and click, and autofocus. It also has panoramic and other options. ... Read more

Features

• 2-megapixel sensor creates 1,600 x 1,200 images for sharp prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• 10x optical plus 2.7x digital (27x total) autofocus zoom lens
• Included 8 MB SmartMedia card holds 24 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses 2 CR-V3 lithium batteries (included) or 4 AA batteries

Reviews (104)

Excellent unit--especially if you need to use a lot of zoom.
I'm the unofficial photographer for my kid's high school tennis team. I go to all the matches I can and take a zillion photos that I then upload to the net for use by the school and the kids on the team and their parents. I need a versatile unit that works well in all lighting conditions, which is good for action photography and has very good dtorage capacity.

This camera more than fits the bill.

Picture resolution is exceptional even on zoom action shots on the court. It works well with a variety of lighting conditions, a feature I especially like as a lot of my work is in the very late afternoon/early evening time when the court lights come on but some sunlight is still available but changing minute by minute. Changing settings is quick and easy. The only major flaw I can detect for the whole unit is the fluorescent lighting setting is lousy-stay with the standard incandescent setting for better results.

The camera has good storage capacity. It quickly shifts between photos in "view" mode, a feature I like as it allows me to ditch less desirable shots on the fly so as to maximize card storage capacity.

The unit also does excellent close up work. On a recent vacation to Nova Scotia I took a lot of wildflower pictures and they turned out fantastic.

The USB connection is easy to set up and use. There is a Camedia CD for working with your pictures on a pc but it is very basic and offers somewhat limited utility-I use a different photo-shop type program.

A lot of people gripe about the lens cap on the Olympus products. While it's true they were a disaster in previous times, it has improved greatly. Just weave the strap onto one of the side strap bars and all will be well.

I personally find the viewfinder a bit awkward to use and usually just use the LCD on the back to view and set up the pics. On the other hand, my wife loves the viewfinder and that's all she ever uses. I think this is a matter of taste rather than any particular engineering issue.

On the whole, an excellent value for the price on a slew of fronts. I don't see how you could be disappointed with this camera.

Amazing Indoors and in Low Light!
The Olympus C-700 is an absolutely amazing camera. First off, it has a 10x zoom lens that's equal to 38-380 mm (in 35mm) -- or an even more phenomenal 38-1,026 mm(!) if one counts the 2.7x digital zoom. So if you're looking for "telephoto," this camera has it in spades!

The camera is even fantastic indoors and in low light (inside or at night). The camera adjusts the exposure to the equivalent of 800-speed film, but I'd swear the sensitivity is even higher. I've gone to indoor theatrical events and shot - with no flash, hand-held and with telephoto -- and the photos have come out great!

Nighttime images are also a piece-of-cake. Long exposures are rendered perfectly (and not washed out)! And even when the scene is too dark to see on the display before the shot is taken, the actual photo is viewable immediately afterwards in all of its splendor. The camera's "exposure lock" is also handy for locking-in the proper exposure indoors (which is useful when the lighting changes dramatically during a stage show, or when the performers are only in the spotlights). Simply press the exposure lock, verify the exposure in the viewfinder's LCD display -- and repeat the procedure until you achieve the level of brightness desired. (Using the exposure lock -- and adjusting the brightness using the digital viewfinder -- takes the guesswork out of overcoming previously difficult indoor lighting situations).

My favorite use for the C-700, though, is taking photos of my kids playing basketball indoors. The camera's dimunitive size (being much smaller than a normal SLR) makes the unit easy to hand-hold and maneuver under all photographic situations. And although the camera's normal focus is slow (like most digital cameras), the shutter will fire almost instantaneously -- if you pre-focus ahead of time (so catching the action is not a problem). (The C-700 will also take a few seconds, in addition, to recover for the next shot; so its important to plan accordingly.) Digital photos of my kids playing basketball are now scattered liberally throughout their rooms. My kids love 'em!

The camera has two LCD displays; one on the camera's back -- and one in the viewfinder; the latter providing an SLR-like view of the actual photo -- both before and after its taken. The LCD viewfinder is ideal for accurate composition, especially when the zoom range is so broad. But both displays will tend to wash-out when shooting in bright sun; so I'll normally end up cupping my hand over the eyepiece when I shoot outdoors. (If most of your photography will be outside -- and if you don't need the ultra long zoom lens offered by the C-700 -- then I would urge you to consider purchasing, as an alternative, a digital camera with a traditional glass viewfinder. Viewing the image in the see-through viewfinder will be much easier -- and much more satisfying.)

Even though printing photos from my PC isn't a problem, my favorite way of outputting shots from my Olympus C-700 is actually -- to bypass the computer entirely -- and use HP's new PhotoSmart PS 100 printer, which reads from the camera's Smart Media card directly. Since both the Olympus and HP save and read, respectively, in what's called DPOF (digital print order format) -- I can crop (and select) the photos I want to print on the camera's rear LCD screen -- pop the Smart Media card into the printer -- and then print borderless 4" x 6" photos by hitting just the "Print" button (since the PS 100 will always call-up the DPOF pictures first). What could be easier?

With its 2.1 megapixel capability, the camera also makes great 8 x 10's, which I output in the more traditional manner from my computer to my HP Photosmart 1315 or HP 990 Cse printers.

All in all, the Olympus C-700 is a great digital camera -- which I use to supplment (but not replace) my 35 mm Nikon SLR, Canon underwater, and Olympus point-and-shoot cameras.

If you're looking for a telephoto digital camera, you won't find a longer, more usable range -- in such a small size -- anywhere else! And if you want to shoot indoors or in low light -- you'll be truly amazed by the (previously unobtainable) shots you'll now be able to take. This digital camera has easily expanded my photographic horizons -- in ways I never anticipated. For the above situations (and a whole bunch more) -- the Olympus C-700 is now my camera of choice!

Still enjoy it!
I've owned this camera for several years now and although the resolution is starting to get low by todays standards, I still greatly enjoy this camera. I absolutely love the 10x zoom, and the pictures taken are much better than if you would have a cheapy low-end 3-4 megapixel camera. For anyone on a budget, this camera now offers alot of quality for an affordable price.

review for Dennis Curtin's book for c700 Olympus camera
This is the book that should have come with the camera. Text is written in plain language. I learned more in one weekend about my camera than I learned in two years. You may miss some of the wonderful features this camera has to offer. A must have how to book for the Olympus c 700 zoom.
FCR

10x great for viewing or calendar size prints
I have used the C-700 for a wide variety of shots. From taking pictures from high-altitude. It shows the glaciers, dams and bridges on highways, even buildings and individual trees changing color in the Rockies. I took a picture at maximum 10x x 2.7x (27x) zoom from a cruise ship in Alaska of Orcas on the beach rubbing barnacles off. I couldn't see the result in the view finder or see the orcas with binoculars, but got good quality full screen images cropping out half of the picture where the orcas were. I've taken close-ups of orchids in Singapore, Bald Eagles, in Arkansas, Geysers at Yellowstone and am very happy most of the time. I carry 5 sets of spare rechargeable batteries and use a recharger that hooks up to the car. With the recharger, I never really have to use more that 2 sets when I have the car. It recharges at home in less than 1 hour, and I seldom need more than 3 sets in a full day of photo taking. I keep about 1100MB of memory cards for a full two-week vacation and read them in with a USB reader. I organize and edit using PhotoParade and save my best ones into Webshots. These work very well for my purposes (viewing on my computer). Shutterfly prints calendars for me and the pictures are amazing.

I haven't had any trouble with the lens cap. Maybe that was an earlier model. The cord attaching it must be facing the side it attaches, but it will open with it on in this position.

I have had a problem early on with purple halo's on zoomed pictures around bright portions of the picture. This turned out to be me moving the camera. I found you can brace your hand against a tree, rock, or anything and get sharp pictures. Also, I don't hesitate to take dozens of pictures of something I really want. Animals and birds aren't very cooperative, but by taking many pictures, I've gotten some great shots. With film, I never would have tried. It is also easy to delete unwanted pictures. For landscape, I normally shot in HQ mode which is still better quality than my 1.3 MP camera gave. The main difference there is it still has the 10x zoom which if nothing else can crop a picture like you want. The 2.7x digital is mostly only good for focusing on something tiny like a small bird.

The only negative I've had is trying to take pictures with sharp contrast - real bright light and real dark shade. I've had this with my other digital as well, as well as with film. ... Read more