Features

• TruePic TURBO Image Processor for increased speed and smoother image results

Amazon.com Product Description

An upgrade to Olympus' respected (and discontinued) C-2020, the C-2040 incorporates all of its predecessor's features plus a faster lens, easier connection to your computer, and improved image processing. The fast f1.8-2.6 lens is clearly the central feature of the new model. According to Olympus, the lens lets the C-2040 shoot in lower light conditions, which allows you to shoot flash-free in more situations and increases the effective range of the flash. The 2.11 megapixel CCD in the C-2040 captures images at a resolution of 1600 x 1200, in both the JPEG and uncompressed TIFF formats, and an 8 MB internal buffer allows you to shoot at 1.4 frames per second at high resolution and low compression levels. Additionally, the camera can record short QuickTime movies with sound.

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 full manual mode, you have control over all camera functions. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via the included USB cable, or viewed on your television using the included video cable. The camera includes USB storage class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000 and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software. The C-2040 also ships with two CR-3V long-life disposable lithium batteries (four AA batteries can also be used), an 8 MB SmartMedia card, strap, and software. ... Read more

Features

• 2.11 megapixel sensor creates 1600 x 1200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10
• 3x optical plus 2.5x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 8 MB SmartMedia memory card holds 16 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses 2 CR-3V lithium batteries, included, or 4 AA batteries, not included

Reviews (49)

Fabulous camera (once you get it working).
I would have given this camera five stars if I hadn't had so much trouble getting started. The reviews point out the problem with the driver if you have Windows 98. My computer is only 3 months old and has Windows Me. When I tried to download pictures, Windows couldn't find the driver. After trying the CD rom provided by Olympus and the system disk that came with the computer, I went to the Olympus website and downloaded the driver for Windows 98. It still didn't work. Frustrated, I called Olympus the next morning. I was told that the first time it had tried to install the driver, it had done so improperly, so I had to delete that before it would run with the downloaded driver. It took a half hour on the phone with an Olympus technician telling me step-by-step what to do before it would work. The software that comes with the camera stinks. I use another photo editing program.
That said, once it was up and running it's an amazing camera. Even on full auto it takes amazing pictures under all kinds of conditions. I took it to Florida and took pictures out a car window, in low light, on the beach and through glass in an aquarium -- all of the pictures are beautiful. I'm just starting to learn how to use the more advanced functions. It's a great camera to "grow into." It takes great pictures on the default settings while you learn how to adjust it yourself to get a desired effect. I don't find the menus to be confusing once you've used the camera a few times.
The 8 MB card is a joke, I don't understand why they bother making and selling them.
I highly recommend this camera because of the lens and the quality of the pictures. However, there's no excuse for the problems with the drivers and the awful software. That said, I did a lot of research and this is, overall, an amazing camera.

Great features at a great price!
I spent weeks researching digital cameras and the more reviews I read, the more undecided I became. But, in the end I bought an Olympus C-2040 digital camera. The main reason why I decided on the C-2040 is the fact that it has the new super bright f1.8 lens. Digital cameras in general have had a history of taking poor quality pictures in low-light situations. The C-2040 and its bigger brothers the C-3040 and C-4040 have same super bright lens, which in my book is the best lens on the market for the price. The only disappointment that I have with the C-2040 is the fact that I have to use the SHQ mode to get anywhere near the quality of pictures that I desire. I am a graphic/web designer and I am by far so much pickier than what the average photo enthusiast would be. So, I have decided to return the C-2040 and I have ordered the 3.34 mega-pixel C-3040. The average user will be more than satisfied with the C-2040 and its list of features. However, if anyone is as picky as I am, I demand only the best in my images. In another year or two I hope to upgrade to a 4+ mega-pixel SLR digital camera and when I do, Olympus will be the first manufacturer that I will look to.

I love this camera!
I own this camera and have used it for almost 3 years now. It has been through Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, Anniversaries, trips to Yellowstone and Disney World. I always get the best pictures. The pictures my husband and I took at Yellowstone were phenomenal. They rivaled many of the post cards we saw for sale, especially of the Lower falls. This is a very easy point and shoot type camera. I only wish the optical zoom was greater than 3X.

great camera
I have had this camera for around two years now. I am in the military and travel alot. I have used the heck out of this thing. It has never failed me. It provides wonderful pictures. I just bought the remote and am looking forward to trying it out. The one down side is: nothing. I did buy a usb smartmedia reader for PC. It sped up the download from the camera like crazy. That is a must. The supplied software is not the best though. It does often lock up my system. And I have a very up to date system.
This camera is a very very good one. It is very durable as well. I have flown all over the place toting this thing along my side and have bumped it here and there and never had even a little problem with it.

It can be as simple or complicated as you want
The Olympus C-2040 has been nothing short of perfect for my first digital camera. It can be wonderfully simple for the point and shoot photographers, and it can also be set up for more complicated shots (adjusting shutter speeds, ISO, and many other things that can go over a tourist photographer's head)

If you want to jump into the digital camera market, and don't want to feel the need to replace a "beginner's digital camera" in a year or so this is absolutely the one.

Just make sure you buy a larger memory card to go with the camera. You'll soon find that since you don't have to worry about running out of film you can take several shots of the same scene to hopefully get that perfect memory. ... Read more

Features

• True through-the-lens (TTL) single-lens reflex (SLR) camera kit with extensive manual controls for advanced users
• 2.5 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• 3x optical plus 2.5x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Uses SmartMedia or CompactFlash cards; included 32 MB SmartMedia card holds 38 images at default resolution
• Connects to pre-iMac Macintosh computers and PCs via serial port; uses 4 AA batteries; rechargeables included

Reviews (11)

A real viewfinder is a good thing!
I hesitated about buying this camera because many people expressed disappointment about not having an LCD viewfinder (it is an SLR, so you look through a normal optical viewfinder - but you are also seeing directly through the lens). Now that I have had it for almost a year, I would say not having the LCD viewfinder is a great advantage! There are two reasons for this: 1-battery life. The backlighting for those LCD screens really suck out the batteries quickly. When you have the camera on and waiting for just the right moment, that battery is continually draining. I've never counted, but I think I average over 100 daylight pictures between battery recharges (the flash reduces that). 2-you can't see the LCD screens in most lighting conditions anyway. The C2500 gives you an immediate 1 or 2 second preview of the picture after you take it. If I am shooting outside in daylight that LCD preview image is very hard to see. I would hate to actually try to compose a photo in that mode. I've briefly used a couple of other digi-cams, and there is no way I'd go back now. The LCD screens (even when you can see them) have poor resolution, so it is really hard to tell things like how good the focus is - with the viewfinder I can easily tell how well the autofocus did, and whether I should try again.

THE Digital Camera...
Before buying this little gem, I looked at almost every digital on the market. This was the only one that accepts both types of flash memory (CompactFlash and SmartMedia), it's also one of the very few digital SLRs that don't cost a fortune. Camera is a cinch to operate, whether you're a pro or an amateur. Only real quibble I have is the oddball size of the lens (43mm) - try finding a 43mm step-up ring in your corner camera store! Autofocus is supurb, the resolution is incomparable, and coupled with a good photo-printer, this cannot be beat.

Wow What a Camera
If you can get past the price for this baby online, than I would recommend you buy. This is a real nice 35mm type digital camera.

Plenty of settings from f-stop to zoom to format to size. Remote is real handy if you feel like being in the picture for a change, instead of someone saying where are you in this photo.

Zoom lens, Macro lens and plenty of filters. Shop around though you can get it cheaper.

Impress yourself with your photo talent
I bought mine almost two years ago, so I paid more for it, but it was still a deal. It takes great photos, as you might expect, but is actually easy to use, if left in the "P" or programmed mode. Those with SLR film cameras may be confused by the M A and P designators for modes, because the A does not mean auto. The other shortcoming is the Manual, which I hope has been updated by now. Mine came with an errata sheet of a dozen pages and would have been more manageable in just one language. The camera accepts a 1.45x lens and I was able to find (at Amazon) an external power pack that I recommend highly.

Easy and flexible! Good camera!
I am new to the world of digital cameras. After spending a month of reading online reviews, and review sites, I decided on the C2500L. It was very easy to start using right away. The defaults for point and click use produced very nice images. I've been playing with the customizable settings (manual white balance, aperature, and shutter speed) for the last few weeks. The pictures I'm taking now are even better. I'm still learning, but am quite satisfied.

I tend to take a lot of pictures under flourecent type lighting, as I take pictures of my reptiles. The camera has the ability to adjust the auto-white balance, by calibrating it on a white surface under the light you will be taking the picture. That does a great job. And if it isn't precise enough, I can manually select the color temperature.

It does a great job at focusing. I still need to work on having a steadier hand, especially for those close-up shots. Now, speaking of close-ups. This camera does a GREAT job at macro shots. To test it out, I put the lens cap on the table. I was about an inch away from it, and it came out crystal clear... lettering and all.

The camera also does a good job at adjusting brightness levels, without messing up the color. It gets a little grainy under the lower light conditions, but it hasn't been too much of a problem for me. I am impressed with its ability to get a solid focus in very low light conditions.

Some of the drawbacks are: You can't use the LCD as a view finder. It will display the image on the LCD right after you snap it, but you must use the optical view finder for aiming. I don't mind this too much, as I like to look through the lens! Yes, through the lens. This being an SLR gives me a comfortable feeling that what I see it what the camera sees. Actually, that's really my main gripe. I'm pretty much satisfied with everything else, so far.

In summary, if you are willing to spend the money, it's a great camera. I've been reading up on photography now, and believe that this camera should be good enough for my abilities for a good long time.

-Alex ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Olympus D-860 digital camera offers truly outstanding performance for its price range. It's basically the same camera as the Olympus D-360L with some extras included, and, like all the Olympus cameras in this line, the D-860 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-860 combines ease of use with digital technology, 2x digital zoom, and through-the-lens 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-860 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. A PCMCIA adapter and a USB reader/writer, valued at $180, are included with this model as well. It also features 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-860 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-860 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). Also, as long as you have something stable to set the camera on, the D-860 takes great night cityscapes or indoor nonflash photos.The Olympus D-860'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-860 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-860 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-860, you receive a removable 8 MB SmartMedia card, capable of holding 122 standard-quality shots, a Windows connectivity kit, a video output cable, a PCMCIA adapter, a USB reader/writer, 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, as well as Adobe Photo Deluxe and Trelix Web Creation software.

This camera is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh platforms and comes with a limited one-year warranty.

Pros:

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

• Limited battery life

Features

• Comes with PCMCIA adapter and a USB reader/writer, a $180 value
• 1.3 megapixel CCD sensor
• Adobe Photo Deluxe and Trelix Creation software included
• Compact, stylish construction
• Bright, clear 1.8-inch color LCD monitor

Reviews (4)

Batteries & Panorama pictures
I bought this camera few months ago and I think its amazing product for beginners! Images are very precise and nice. I suggest to use Energizer alkaline batteries, these allows to take the highest amount of pictures, around 50-90 high quality with moderate/smaller use of flash and display. In case of heavy usage I strongly recommend rechargable batteries. Camera itself is very comopact, easy to use and full of features. The best feature is PANORAMA, you can take up to 10 images and put them together by enclosed CAMEDIA software.

Excellent price/quality relation
I've owned a lot of digital camera's before, and they always disappointed me when it came to the quality of the lens. Non-flash pictures with non-natural light always turned out yellow or had ugly spots in them, or were way too dark, which enhanced light parts in the picture too much when I enhanced it with a graphics program. But this one certainly didn't!

The camera behaves like a 800$ camera, it seems to be designed and developed with that price in mind, and I bet that 800 bucks was what it costed when it came out. But since 1,3 megapixel camera's are "passé" these days, even a camera like this has to lower in price, and that's where it gets interesting for all of us.

Imagine having a former top-of-the-range camera, with an excellent quality lens, a lot of changeable settings, a design that resembles a normal camera, and that also behaves like a normal camera, well, it's there, the Camedia C-860L, and it's amazingly cheap.

I bought mine in a shop in the Netherlands, and paid only 250 USD!! All right, I confess, that's without the usb reader and the pcmcia adapter, but it's still very cheap. Later on I bought this package (reader and pcmcia adapter, from a company called PixoMedia) for the price of 61 USD (I use www.currencycalculator.com to calculate this). So all together the price was 311 USD.

The editorial reviewer says it has high battery-use, but that's because Mr. the reviewer doesn't read manuals. The manual clearly states that they STRONGLY advise NOT to use Alkaline batteries, but to use NiMh or other rechargeable batteries instead, because they last much longer. That I did, and I bought 4 rechargeable NiMh 1600mA batteries with charger, for 38 USD. But actually, the battery-use isn't that bad with alkalines. It's definitely not 60 low-res pics, but more like 50/60 high-res (HQ) pics, with the use of flash regularly and the use of the LCD-display to look at pictures afterwards (not during taking of pics, ofcourse that drains!).

All and all I can now use the camera for a very very long time without ever having to worry about the battery-level, using the display to look a pictures, and even to zoom in, although this only can be done by choosing out of 9 different parts of the picture, but it's still very nice.

If you want proof on the quality of the pictures, visit my website on www.gekkevogel.com/midzomer.html and click on any of the pictures to see the full-size version, and you'll be convinced, just like me, that this is a kick-ass camera!

Vey Happy Owner Bronx, New York
I didn't know which Camera to buy D360-L or this one C860-L after reading the customer rating I chose the C860-L and to let everyone know I am very very please this is the best one for the money. The pictures are great and it is very easy to use. The reader-writer that it comes with is great it saves alot of use on your batterys. I don't know if I will ever use film camera again. I printed the pictures and they look better than any film camera. BUY THIS CAMERA IT IS GREAT. Good luck with it

The best digital camera for a new enthusiast!
I had hope to get the Olympus D360 and was a little disappointed to find they were sold out everywhere. The disappoint didn't last long. I found a better deal. I found this Olympus 860! It is the identical camera to the top rated, critically acclaimed and highly sought Olympus 360. The only thing that is different is the label and the extra accessories.

The camera works beautifully right out of the box. The pictures are absolutely fabulous in the detail. Everything you have heard about these Olympus cameras is true. The ease of use and the numerous features make this the camera that everyone who is new to digital photography should buy.

What makes the 860 better than the 360? The other accessories you get! After you take a few pictures, you'll want to transfer them to your computer. The 860 gives you three ways to do this as opposed to the one slow option that 360 users have. The first way is that slow, battery-draining option of connecting the camera to a serial port. This option works but it eats up your battery and takes forever (at least it seems that way when you are excited about finally owning a digital camera). The second option is an USB reader/writer. This one is made by Olympus specifically for their Camedia cameras. It is harder to find than the 360 and usually costs anywhere for $ to $. It makes transferring your images fast, very fast. What a convenience! You can even edit your images and put the improved picture back on the smart media card in milliseconds. The third option that comes with the 860 is the pcmcia card. It plugs into the pcmcia slot on a notebook computer and all you have to do is slide the smart media card into a slot on this reader. The notebook computer handles it like another hard drive and can access your images as quickly as any other data you might have on your computer. It ,too, costs anywhere from $ to $. It makes travelling with this wonderful camera and a notebook computer great, because there isn't a need to make room for additional cables and cords. Best of all, you still can transfer images back and forth in a matter of milliseconds. The other nice addition is the inclusion of Adobe PhotoDeluxe. The software that comes with these Olympus cameras is decent, but soon enough you'll want a better image editor and the ability to really "jazz up" your pictures. The PhotoDeluxe is one of the most widely used and most highly rated software packages.

So if you are looking for the best digital camera for a new enthusiast, this is the one. It gives you everything the Olympus 360 offers and then goes the next step of giving you all the extras that you'd buy in the first 3-6 months of owning a digital camera. Save the time and the money and get this Olympus 860 and be a step ahead of all of those who thought the 360 was the best deal out there. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Olympus D-620L gives you high 1,280 x 1,024 resolution, a range of flash and exposure options, and a 3x zoom lens--plus professional-level, single-lens-reflex construction. Just as traditional 35mm SLRs are significantly larger than point-and-shoots, the Olympus D-620L is much bulkier than other non-SLR digital cameras, including Olympus's own point-and-shoot digitals. However, the added bulk is the price paid for improved optics, picture quality, and the advantage of being able to frame your image with precision before you snap the picture.

The through-the-lens viewfinder design means you can't use the LCD screen as a viewfinder--you can only use it for image playback. This is a fairly significant drawback if you like to see your picture on the LCD screen before you take it; otherwise it's not an issue.

The Olympus D-620L uses removable SmartMedia cards for memory; it comes with an 8 MB card, which holds about 100 images in the lowest resolution. It also includes a battery charger for the four AA Ni-MH batteries--a nice touch, especially since it drains batteries quickly (like all digital cameras).

The included pop-up flash has a good range of options, including red-eye reduction, fill-flash, and off. The Olympus D-620L also lets you use an optional extension flash--a great feature if you want more professional-looking photos. The Olympus D-620L lets you adjust exposure manually by three stops in either direction; in addition, it has spot metering and macro functions. The digital camera's three preset focus settings (1.3 feet, 8 feet, and infinity) can be useful in situations where the autofocus has trouble. Unfortunately, the autofocus's contrast detection system has difficulty in dim conditions, and the camera won't let you take a picture if the autofocus isn't set. We found this to be major inconvenience indoors, where even standard indoor lighting was often too dark to take a picture. The Olympus D-620L doesn't let you manually adjust focus either (other than providing focus-lock capability).

Pros:

• Through-the-lens viewfinder
• Superior optics
• Preset focus settings

Cons:

• Somewhat bulky
• Has trouble focusing in dim light

Features

• 1,280 x 1,024 maximum resolution
• 3x optical zoom with a 7-element all-glass lens
• 1,410,000-pixel CCD
• 1.8-inch color LCD display
• SmartMedia memory storage with an 8-MB card included

Reviews (13)

Professional Camera
This camera is one of the best digital cameras for Magazine quality work. It is an SLR camera (you look through the lens). It has aperature and shutter-speed settings and USB and Serial attachments. You have three different quality (Standard, High, Super High) settings as well as date stamp possiblities. Great to focus and zoom! Looks professional too.

High quality pictures with a few glitches
PROS:

Overall, I love my 620L. The images it generates are excellent and you have the choice of three different quality settings. Spare NiMH batteries are a must, but that is true with any digital camera, especially one with a flash. We have had prints made from pictures taken with this camera and they were great.

CONS:

Difficult to take night shots or low light shots. The camera is equivalent to a 100 ASA film so if you are planning on taking low light shots, this isn't the camera for you.

Entry-level digital camera, but great photos!
I bought my Olympus D-620L four years ago, in November of 1999, just about the time that digital cameras were beginning to attract the interest of novice camera users. My camera has been a workhorse since then, helping me capture excellent photos for use on Ebay as well as in some brochures I've produced for small businesses. My friends have newer and fancier models, but my photos turn out as well as theirs do, and seem far easier to shoot. Unfortunately, last week my beloved old D-620L developed a problem when using the built-in flash. The flash doesn't flash until a second or so after the photo has been taken, so unless I use the camera outdoors or with good indoor lighting, the photos are too dark to use. I returned the camera to Olympus for repair, knowing that an out-of-warranty fix was probably going to be pricey. Well, I just got the estimate to fix it: $262.00. I'm guessing that's a standard fee that Olympus charges for any repair because before I mailed in the camera, someone I spoke to in the Olympus customer service department said that I'd probably be looking at "$262.00 to fix any problem." Still, I sent the camera to Olympus, hoping that the repair would be less than the estimate. It wasn't, so I'm having the camera returned without having the repair done. It doesn't make sense to put that kind of money into a camera that's 4 years old, even though I don't want to buy a new camera at this point. So, my old D-620L will be used for outdoor shots only until I make the move to buy another digital camera. I don't need a 3, 4, or 5 megapixel camera, movie capabilities, or many of the other bells and whistles that are standard on most digital cameras today. But I do want a camera that looks and feels like a camera, not a toy, and one that has a decent viewfinder and zoom. Until that perfect camera jumps up and grabs me, I'll be making do with my Olympus D-620L. By the way, the only reason I rated this camera with 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the steep cost of repairs after the camera is out of warranty. To be fair, however, the sky-high repairs on an out-of-warranty camera are probably a universal problem. Canon has a similar policy; my fairly new, barely out-of-date Canon Z155 died on me not long ago, and the repair estimate on that thing was MORE than the cost of the camera when purchased new. I ditched the camera.

What a price!?
This was a nice camera when it was first released, but what's with the PRICE?!?! Tell me it's a typo!

For that price I'd rather pick up a Minolta Dimage 7i!!

JMHO,
StMute

Not the best choice.
Pick this camera up and you'll be reminded of the heft of older, metal-bodied 35mm film cameras. It seems that the SLR setup has added a significant weight burden, while supposedly lending better optics to the camera. In this price range, most digital cameras now offer potent optical zoom lenses (7-10x not uncommon), while the 620 makes do with a marginal 3:1 setup. In addition, while most offer resolutions in the 3+ megapixel range, the 620 is a 2.1 megapixel camera. While there are some user-controlled features that make it fun to use, it is still pretty much a computer chip controlled digicam with a particularly slow autofocus system. In this price range, I'll take the Olympus 700 anyday! ... Read more