Olympus Reviews

I recently purchased the Olympus 2100 camera after considering many alternatives. Here is what I like: Image stabilization and an all-glass 10X optical zoom means that the 2.1 meg pictures usually look better than any 3 meg camera. Great vide clip ability with sound that remains sychronized with the action. [A] Rebate if you buy Olympus accessories. Menu and controls are very easy to use - spend 1/2 hour with the manual and you'll be ready to go. Great battery life - I've shot about 100 pictures and a dozen video clips using the LCD display and I'm still on my original charge. This camera has the option of continuous focus - I usually lock the focus (1/2 press of shutter) at athletic events and then take the picture when the action happens. I had been concerned about slow response times of digital cameras (vs. traditional), but this camera works great in capturing the action when I want. Overall, I'm very happy with this camera. My only complaint is that the camera body is silver (instead of black). Other than that, it has completely exceeded my expectations. Buy a card, a reader, and another set of batteries and you're all set!

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.

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!

I have a C-2020, which is a slightly older version of this camera model. This has been a fantastic camera both in terms of quality, reliability and battery life. Between some friends and myself we have just about every model in this family (C-2000 through C-3040) and we all love our cameras.

Quality: I have taken hundreds of shots, mostly outdoor. I tend to shoot at the high-quality jpeg level so I bought a 64MB smart media card. Paired with my HP DeskJet 952 I regularly printout 4x6 prints on photo paper that are absolutely perfect. I have printed a few 8x10 pictures and they are fantastic. No one can believe they were taken with a digital camera. I have to zoom in quite a ways with my photo editing software before I can see any pixels. The only negative thing I can say is that I wish it had a better macro mode.

Reliability: It has been rained on, splashed by a wave, and dropped a short distance onto a rock. Despite all this it is still going strong a year and several hundred pictures later with no negative affects.

Batteries: I use the rechargeable batteries and during heavy use they last 2-3 weeks. During light use they last 3-6 months. Compare this to most Kodak or Nikon cameras that last a few days of heavy use.

A few comments on my accessories:

Forget the 16MB card that comes with it. I keep only mine as a back up. You will want a 64 MB smart media card.

I bought the Olympus T-CON14 tele-converter lens 1.45x (152mm equivalent) and I am very happy with it. It can retail up to $200 but I shopped around on-line (I went to cnet.com and looked under "Latest Prices - Camera Accessories - Lens") and found it for around $79. My next purchase is the wide-angle lens.

I bought the Olympus Accessory Kit (which is the same for C-2000 through C-3040 models), mostly for the UV filter, adapter tube and 43mm-55mm step-up ring, and AC adapter. I bought it for about $95, which is close to what all those things cost separate. The mini-tripod, software, and case that come in that kit are not overly impressive but I considered those 'free'. The lens cleaning kit is handy.

I just found and bought my Olympus c-2040 zoom after much research and deliberation. I needed a digital camera first for my business and secondly for pleasure. I will probably never print any pictures over 8 X 10 and need concise, clear pictures for my website so this is I feel the perfect choice. I had a lot of trouble locating this camera - finally bought it ...from a reputable camera shop. I paid [money] after s/h, insurance, and was very happy. I researched Consumer's Report and every review in Amazon, etc. that I could find for 3 weeks before trying to find this camera. It was difficult, but successful... I'm told it has been discontinued - probably because of it's success. Olympus can put this f1.8-2.6 lens in more expensive cameras, charge more, and GET IT! The lens was what I was after. I could have bought the c-3040 (same lens) for [money] more but it is actually more power than what I need. The pictures taken from my 2040 are so crisp and clear. The manual is actually more confusing than just picking up the camera and figuring it out. I have Windows Me and all it took was a simple plug into the computer and it was there! So simple! I was actually fearful after reading the nightmarish reviews about uploading the pics to the computer and let me tell you, I'm NO computer wizard! It's easy, takes great pics in all light, feels good in my hands, and has most of the bells and whistles if you want them. My previous hp-215 digital camera was a nightmare. The batteries were dead after 12 shots. This camera is still on the original set of batteries and I've used it constantly since I got it! This c2040 puts the hp215 to shame. Do buy a smartmedia card though with more memory. The one it comes with is just a freebie to practice with.

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.

I've been reading up on digital camera reviews for the past couple of years. This camera is the only one that has all of the features that I wanted: zoom lens, high enough resolution for 8x10" photo printing, ease of use, small size, comfortable grip, and the ability to attach external lenses and filters.

I was able to purchase this camera in time for a vacation to San Francisco and I have no regrets. It worked perfectly and captured an amazing variety of photos in very challenging situations. Each 8Mb flash card holds 122 'internet quality' jpeg pictures that look decent printed on as a 4x6" picture. They look great on the computer screen. The really high quality 2Mpixel shots that look fantastic printed as an 8x10" print take a lot more space. You can store 7 of them compressed (jpeg) or just 1 not compressed (tiff) on one 8Mb flash card.

What I liked: Powers on fast so that I can take quick action shots, light weight and balanced feel, 3x zoom lens, external lens and filter adapter available, LCD display refreshes fast and is accurate, all adjustments can be controlled manually, takes great pictures automatically, video cable is included and makes great slide shows on the go, takes wonderful pictures in very low light conditions, and it includes software to stitch together panoramic picture sequences.

What I didn't like: It takes about 10 minutes to download a full flash card on the serial computer cable and the power button is too close to the shutter button (oops, I hit the wrong one again). You can purchase a high speed flash card reader to attach to your computer to speed up the download process. Can't do anything about that power button except train your fingers.

Accessories I purchased and recommend you get: Extra flash cards, NIMH high capacity batteries with a slow charger, the optional external lens adapter, and a circular polarizing filter. The extra flash cards give you the option of taking more pictures in one outing. The high capacity batteries will make your life easier with less battery changes. I recommend that you avoid buying a fast 1 hour charger for your batteries. They apply too much current, make the batteries hot during charging, and don't deliver a full charge. Try an 8 or 16 hour charger instead. They aren't as rough on your expensive batteries and usually do a better job of charging to full capacity. You don't really need the external lens adapter and polarizing filter, but they do help reduce outdoor glare for any camera.

I've used this camera for 8 months now. The only two problems I've had is having to tie the lens cap to the camera with fishing line to prevent loss and mistaking the power button for the 'shutter' (they are close together).

Other than that, it is excellent. Good quality construction and switch feel, solid feeling (no flex in the body), battery life is good (with the free NiMH batteries), the floppy adaptor works well (but low batteries on the adaptor can confuse by manifesting themselves as a malfunction), the 32 MB card is plenty even for auto-show type massive picture-taking. Saved me a bunch in film and developing costs (I work on my car and take lots of pictures all the time).

In short, at this price, I would buy it at once if I did not have access to it at work.

I must confess that I did not spend a lot of time shopping for a digital camera before I purchased the C2000. Further, I'm somewhat in awe of this technology -- I still cannot believe that I can take a picture and print it out (on photo-quality paper) in ten minutes.

The quality of the photos is excellent, and the camera includes tons o' features that ease the transition into the world of digital imaging. I've also found that my batteries tend to last 10-15 minutes longer than friends who own different digital cameras (even when I use the LCD display constantly).

The included software is helpful, but I find that I am using Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 in tandem with my camera rather than the included Adobe and Camedia applications.

The only real beef that I have with the C2000 is the location of the power button. The power button is located in the position where you would expect to find the shutter button, which leads to some comedic moments when you line your family up for a picture, tell 'em to smile, and then mistakenly turn off the camera.

It's a small price to pay for a truly amazing piece of technology. I'm almost afraid to ask what will come next...

This is a good recharging AA battery unit. I own both this one and the Kodak K2000 unit. ( AA battery usage in my household/business is rather common). This unit works just as fast as the Kodak unit, if not faster, and has most of the same features. But I like the Kodak unit better.

The storage space of the device is very important to me. I don't like carrying around dead weight that could be eliminated. The Olympus unit is compact, EXCEPT for the extension cord, it takes up more room than the unit itself. The Kodak K2000 is a wall mounted unit, that does not require a cord. It fits perfectly into my camera bag, without any hassle. I've never had a "loose" wall outlet attachment with the Kodak, if I did, I would tighen it by pinching the plug slightly together.

This Olympus system and the Kodak system both work very well. Both are compact, both recharge quickly. My preference is the Olympus at home, and the Kodak on the road.

I'm glad I bought the batteries and charger for two major reasons

* The batteries are 1600mAh and therefore last longer than cheaper (but lower capacity) cells

* The charger runs on any voltage from 100-240V, so I can take it on overseas trips

I use these batteries in an Olympus E-10 camera, and they last all day -- over 100 pictures in one case. The recharger works just fine in Europe and the US, and there is no difference in recharging time.

Recharging takes a little over 3 hours from completely flat, and you can re-charge NiMH batteries from any state and not worry about memory effect (i.e. no need to completely discharge before recharging)

All in all, a great package of charger + batteries with the flexibility to take off to anywhere and not worry about voltage converters etc. Highly recommended.

I bought an Olympus camera and got this charger and battery set to go along with it. The batteries are the 1600 type. So far, I've used and charged them several times and it seems to work flawlessly. I'm lazy and use my digital camera with the monitor on all the time, so this was a must for me. What else can I say? Much better than spending a fortune on AA batteries.