Olympus puts a professional-quality digital camera in a small, beautiful package with the C-2000 Zoom. With amazing 1600 x 1200 uncompressed image capability, a 3x zoom, and a wide variety of manual settings, this tiny wonder is a great choice for everyone from travelers and families to graphics professionals.
The first thing that impressed us was the Olympus C-2000 Zoom's compactness; it's one of the smallest digital cameras we've seen. Its unique styling makes it look like a miniature SLR. Its 1.8-inch LCD, while smaller than those of most digital cameras by necessity, was very bright and sharp and was fine for all our picture-taking needs. The Olympus C-2000 Zoom takes four AA batteries; we recommend investing in rechargeable NiMH AAs, since you'll probably go through them rather quickly. (The LCD screen, in particular, takes a lot of power.)
The Olympus C-2000 Zoom has one of the highest resolutions on the consumer market, at 1600 x 1200 dpi. It also lets you take images at 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480. In addition, you can take 1600 x 1200 uncompressed TIFF images--you can only fit one or two on a memory card, but when you need the absolutely best-quality image, you'll want this feature.
The Olympus C-2000 Zoom has a great selection of manual options--it lets you adjust exposure, focus, and even the ISO film-speed equivalent. In addition to manual and auto exposure, it gives you shutter- and aperture-priority options. The C-2000 Zoom provides multiple flash modes (auto, off, fill-flash, slow-shutter synch, and red-eye reduction) and even lets you attach a separate flash unit.
The Olympus C-2000 Zoom comes with an 8 MB removable SmartMedia memory card; you can buy separate memory cards in 16 and 32 MB configurations for plenty of picture storage. The Olympus C-2000 Zoom came with everything we needed to connect to our PC; downloading and manipulating our images was easy. Overall, it was a great-looking little camera with all the features we needed and more.
Pros:
- High resolution and uncompressed image options
- Very compact for a digital camera
- Wide range of manual settings
- 3x zoom
Cons:
- Battery case is hard to close
The filmless digital C-2000 ZOOM gives you everything you'd ever want in a camera. As a high-end 3x optical zoom camera, it gives you all the picture you'd ever want with its 1600 x 1200, 2.1 Megapixel resolution. Along with all the controls you'd ever need, including aperture-preferred and shutter-preferred auto exposure and spot metering - plus manual exposure overrides you can use to capture all the subtle nuances of light. But that's not all. Housed in a convenient, compact, aluminum chassis, the C-2000 ZOOM is also the perfect point-and-shoot camera, offering all-automatic focus, exposure and white balance, as well as auto flash in low and back-lit conditions.
1 Solid, Reliable, Compact, Hi-Res.
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.
2 Amazing...
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...
3 Get the 2020 Zoom!
I decided to get the (newer) 2020 Zoom and I am also very satisfied with it. The 2020 Z can be had for about the same $$$ as the 2000. The lack of sound when recording quicktime movies isn't really a concern. I think I'll wind up buying a Sony digital 8mm camcorder soon anyways...
I also bought a microtek CameraMate smartmedia card reader (USB) to hook up to my PC. Had to upgrade the PC from win95 to 98 though, in order to activate the usb ports.
I bought an additional 32MB smartmedia card and a Flashpath floppy adapter, as well. The flashpath works just fine, but it's slow. Also, you have to install the special flashpath software before using it, which Olympus does not tell you in advance. So you need to keep the software with you if you want to be ready to move files to "any" pc. Other than that, it's OK. I mostly got it for ease of connectivity between my home and work pc's, laptop, etc.
For the price of the C2020Z, the flashpath adapter should be included, as well as the case. expect to shell out another c-note if these are important to you. It would also be nice if Olympus had designed a special one-piece battery for the 2020Z, as many manufacturers do. Transferring the four AA-size batteries in and out each time for recharge is a pain in the neck.
Overall, these are minor gripes. The camera is outstanding in every other way, and I highly recommend it.
4 Battery Life
I am somewhat perplexed by the comments about battery life on the C-2000/C-2020 series. I am using the recommended NiMH batteries in my C-2020. Just today I shot 79 1600 x 1200 images including about 20 using flash. I used the color LCD display for all composition. No only did I never get a low battery indication but this shooting session used so little power that the batteries recharged in only 20 minutes.
I have a friend with a C-2000Z and he can EASILY fill his 32MB and his 8MB SmartCards with images without getting a low battery indication.
I think the secret has to be the NiMH batteries. My friend with the C-2000 has tried both rechargables (NiCAD) and conventional alkalines and confirms that his camera does indeed "eat" these battery types.
5 Near Pro Quality
I retired from photography in 1988 and it took the Oly2000 to bring me back to photography! I've tinkered with Mavicas, Kodaks and Nikons, but this little camera is good. Offers the power to be creative with all its optional settings, or the ease of point and shoot. Image quality on 8x10 (on HP glossy paper) is amazing. High res images rival my old Rollei or RB.
6 C-2020 has all the fixes
The newer model c-2020 has all the fixes except the lens cap tether. It comes with charger and NiMH batteries. They even moved the power on switch and changed the menu controls. I thought the software to be very good for most peoples use. A USB memory card reader is still a must have.
7 C-2020 Z
I won this camera through ClubPhoto and though I have limited experience with digital cameras, this was a breeze to use. I found the resulting pictures to be of excellent quality. So far I have not experienced any nagging problems. I do find that uploading images is slow and I am uploading to a Pentium III 450. Great fun with the software that came with this camera! So far those I have taken pictures of and printed out using the accompanying software were very impressed.
8 Great Value, Great Features = "Great Camera"
I just purchased the C2000 and can't believe some of the negative comments I have read. The positives far outweigh the negatives, and would recommend this device to anyone. I too have some complaints with respect to what Olympus could have done, but once again the quality of the pic's and ease of use speak for themselves. Anyone considering a Nikon 950 should compare picture quality, and I'm 100% convinced you too will opt out for the C2000
9 Use the remote
For quality pictures photographers prefer to use a tripod and cable release. The C2000 does not include a socket for the cable release; the answer is to use the remote to avoid camera shake when activating the shutter. It seems strange to put a ten-ounce camera on a ten-pound tripod, but it works great. (Incidentally, only use the LCD for composing in close-up mode, the batteries last forever.)
10 Lovin' it!
The camera is postively amazing. The quality of the pictures are great, the controls are easy to pick-up (even for someone who is new to photography), and if you bring it to a party---the "oohs" and "ahhs" will still be echoing throughout the room hours after you leave. Two friends, after borrowing and playing with the camera, have since went out a bought their own (I wanted mine back!). The only grudge I have is not really against the camera itself, but the company. When you buy the camera...make sure you also buy a 32mb Smartmedia card (the 8mb card that comes with it is nothing), make sure it also *comes with* 4 NiMH rechargable batteries (the camera is supposed to come with these!), and buy a Floppy Path Adapter (though optional...makes downloading the images *a lot* quicker).
11 Beware Outdated Model!
The 2000 is an outdated model. Current Model is the 2020 and it is better than the 2000.
12 Great Camera--Learn to use it.
1. Use the magnesium batteries. 2. Use the USB attachment. 3. Learn to use the shutter button instead of the power switch. 4. Learn to adjust the aim for close work. 5. Get a lenscap keeper. 6. Realize the limitations of the "manual" mode--a misnomer.. 7. Use Photoshop, sharpen, adjust contrast. 8. Enjoy, enjoy.
13 Great photos, Batteries are MAJOR issue
This camera takes great pictures and is easy to understand and use. It has a MAJOR drawback though, and I may be returning this camera and buying a different one. The drawback.... It EATS batteries ! A set of Heavy Duty Alkalines will barely last 20 minutes (even with the LCD display turned off.)! I bought two sets of 1200 MA rechargeable batteries from Radio Shack plus a quick charger ($60 worth), and can barely get one set recharged before the other runs down. Don't count on being able to fill up your 8Meg flashcard AND download pictures on the same set of batteries!
A second NECESSITY is the AC Adapter. Without this accessory, battery life becomes even more of a problem. This should be a standard feature with this camera.
We own a Toshiba and a Sony, and neither one of them consumes power like the Olympus.
14 Excellent photos; some design oddness
I bought the C2000 over the summer, and Olympus enclosed a mail-in certificate for free NiMH batteries and charger. The NiMH batteries largely fixed the battery problem (before, I had to carry a pile of spare alkakines). I'm not sure how Olympus's folks signed off on some strangeness in the mechanical design (wayward lens cap, oddly-placed strap attachment things, power switch / shutter button placement). Also, the Flashpath (floppy) adapter is a major pain to use. The PCMCIA adapter is simpler and works better. A PCMCIA reader for a desktop PC/MAC is cheap. An included case would have been nice. Olympus sells one for this camera, but no one ever has it in stock. I don't even know what it looks like.
Having said that, I'm very pleased with picture quality and ease of use. Resolution and color are excellent. The automatic mode tends to overexpose flash pictures taken in some situations (like across a dark room), but the overrides for shutter and aperature priority work well. You can also fine-tune the exposure, among other things, and still use the fully-auto mode.
Bottom line: an amazing piece of technology; takes excellent photos (for a digital camera); very good value for its capabilities.
15 Weak battery. Runs down too fast
Overall, the camera fits snuggly in the hand. Good ergonomics. The major problems are poor battery performance and the lens cap has no means of being secured to the camera. Consequently, you are always looking for it. Both these problems are easily fixed and should be if Olympus wants to have a top-selling product
16 Good Camera.. for $800 bucks you should get more extras...
Got my camera and it worked well, with impressive results. I was amazed at the detail in the 1600x1200 medimum compression mode. Pictures can be enlarged about 400% without noticing grain.
However; then I had to purchase a camera case to keep it in. (This was very hard to find because of the odd shape of the camera. None of the "off the shelf" ones fit well. I had to settle for one much larger than the camera because of the odd shape.)
Then after the first 20 pictures I had to replace the disposable batteries that came with the camera with rechargable batteries and a battery charger. (It eats batteries - BIG TIME.)
Then I had to get a lens cap keeper. (The camera "spits" the lens cap on the floor if it is left on the camera, when the camera is turned on.)
Then I had to get an additional 32 meg smart media card. (Since I wanted to take more than 8 quality pictures without downloading.)
Then I had to get a USB smart card reader to download the pictures in an acceptable amount of time without running down the rechargable camera batteries.
Now, all I need to get is a photo quality printer to print some of the pictures that I've taken......
Bottom line, it took me $1,300+ to get the camera set up the way I wanted.
I feel the camera case, rechargable batteries, bettery recharger, lens cap keeper, 32meg smartcard and USB reader should have been included with the camera... (I would have gladly given up the stink'n "remote" for any two or three of these things I had to purchase afterward.)
17 This camera makes picture-taking a joy!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this camera. It makes sharing pictures with friends as you take them so much fun, and if the picture is poor, you can erase it and make another. I have experience with cameras for 50 years, and I know the technical stuff pretty well. This camera has the flexibility of a good SLR with a 35-105 zoom. I bought a cheaper Olympus without an optical zoom first. That camera was fun for a beginner, but a true optical zoom makes this a dream of a machine. Put a lens cap saver on, tuck the camera into a small waistpouch, and enjoy a quality camera with great portability. I take it everywhere. Also, get an AC adaptor and battery charger. The 32mg card holds over 60 photos in the compressed HQ. I love it! PCMagazine (Nov. 16, 1999) rates it higher than the Nikon Coolpix 950 for the serious photographer. Of course, the big plus is being able to manipulate the photo in an editing program like the included PhotoDeluxe or even better in Photoshop. I enjoy importing the pictures into a program like Printmaster and making montages of picture shoots. Just combine photos and text the same way you would in making a poster.
18 A compact feature filled camera,but I wish...
I really enjoy the C-2000! Used with 1500mah Ni-MH batteries it does almost as well as my 35mm camera and fits into my pocket! It took some practice to hit the shutter button (instead of the power down button). The lens cap presents a challenge. Easy to lose. I attached a small elastic cord from the cap to the shoulder strap to solve the problem. Another problem.. where to keep the remote control? I found a fabric pocket knife case with a velcro closure flap wide enough to fit the remote. It was too long so I cut off the bottom and closed the seam. Now it's on the carrying strap ready for action.
19 Good camera, a few design issues
This is the second digital camera that I have used in the last 30 days -- I started off with the Kodak DC280. I like the Kodak controls better, but the Olympus fits my hand well.
The power switch on the Olympus is where the shutter should be, and, the menu commands (such as delete last picture) are not terribly intuitive. Also, the flash is closer to the lens than the Kodak, so red-eye is more of a problem. But, the 3x zoom makes the difference for me, we'll learn how to use the controls.
Definitely get a USB PC Card reader to move the pictures to your PC, the serial connection is VERY slow. Finally, Olympus makes the mistake of giving you regular alkaline batteries in the box. Throw them out, get some NiMH batteries and avoid the frustration of having your batteries fail after 5 pictures and thinking that something is wrong with the camera.
20 Eats Batteries, Floppy Disk Adapter is Impossible
Boy, was I disappointed in this one. Relatively easy to set up, but then found that the click action of the picture set up had me fooled, I thought I was taking pictures and I wasn't. When I did, I found out that 15 were all I could get on the card before I had to upload. Figuring out how to upload with the floppy disk adapter proved too much. I am packing it up and sending it back.
21 well worth the price
i've been playing with my c-2000 zoom for about 3 weeks and have been happy with the results. i had previously been using a toshiba pdr-m1 and the olympus just blows it away. the only gripe i have is that the lens cap falls off if you forget to remove it before powering on. the last time this happened the cap fell into a ditch. trying to find a replacement is like trying to find the holy grail as the size of the cap is unique to this model (41 mm i believe). invest in a 'cap keeper' for about 2 bucks. battery life is fine as long as you minimize use of the lcd. radio shack sells a small NiMH/NiCad recharger with 4 AA nickel MH batteries for $20...another worthwhile accessory.
22 a great product, but what to do about a carrying case?
I love this camera. A few things that are annoying. When I turn on the camera the lens part telescopes out and I usually forget about the lens cap and it winds up popping off. I've done that a bunch of times... One other thing, I wish I could find a carrying case that fits well. The lens that sticks out makes it difficult to find one that fits well...
23 Great quality pics and easy to use!
The C-2000 has definitely exceeded my expectations. This camera rules!! The quality of the pictures is amazing-my prints look fabulous. One complaint-this camera eats batteries for a living! Make sure you buy the rechargeable batteries (I think the camera should have shipped with rechargeables). Also you may want to invest in larger smartmedia cards as the C-2000 ships with an 8mg which only holds 8 pics at max resolution.
24 Outstanding camera!
Very good build quality, excellent pictures, and lots of options. Downsides: eats batteries - get the NiMH ones.
25 This camera is the best because of its lens
Most people don't realize that the best thing about the Olympus C-2000 is that its zoom lens goes from an aperature of f2.0 to an aperature of f2.8.
Most people don't even know what an aperature is or why a 2.0-2.8 range is good. So if you're like most people then let me explain.
A lens that has a 2.0 rating lets in more than twice as much light as a lens with a 3.5 rating, like the Nikon CoolPix 950. Therefore, if you are indoors, and you want to take a picture without a flash (which is highly recommended to preserve natural-looking colors instead of washed out pictures of people with red eyes), then the Olympus C-2000 is definitely the best camera.
Also, the C-2000's form factor is better than Nikon or anybody else. The camera is small and light, and feels well-made as you hold it. The Nikon however feels flimsy and the zoom responds slower. The Nikon is in two pieces as well, connected by a swivel joint. That seems more likely to break, and I don't see why having a swivel joint is important or useful.
Overall, in my two years of working at a camera store, the C-2000 is the first digital camera to deserve true merit. It's well priced and has image quality comparable to models costing ten times as much. Also the lens is a high quality aspherical Olympus element. I wouldn't recommend anything else.
jonathan s gilbert
26 Great pictures and function with poor design layout
The pictures are very good. The camera handles white balance and exposure extremely well. Printed 8x10's show no noticable "grain." The memory cards slip in and out easily. Purchasing a seperate card reader for my PC has been very handy for unloading the photos to my PC.
The power on/off switch is located on top where one would expect the shutter button to take the picture. A common occurance when people try the camera is to turn it off accidently when trying to take the picture.
27 I love this camera!!
I just purchased the Olympus C2000 Zoom Digital Camera on a trip to Japan.
It is a fabulous camera. It came with Ni-MH batteries and charger, as well as some Alkaline batteries to get me through the first day. I purchased a 32MB SmartMedia card (in addition to the 8MB card that comes with the camera), and a PC-Card adapter to read the card on my laptop.
I really like this camera. It takes great photos. I was sending photos back to New Zealand via email and getting great comments on the photos that I had taken.
The pros ; the small size of the camera, the picture quality, the capacity (especially with 32MB card), and ease of transfer to laptop with PC-CARD adapter - this is the only way to go! It is very fast.
The cons ; confusing the power and take picture buttons, and the 4-way menu button on the back is difficult to move in only one direction - often you go sideways as well as up/down. Can make setup/configuration difficult.
If you are considering this camera, and can afford it. I say get it. And if your computer is PC-Card capable then definitely go for a PC-Card SmartMedia adapter, it makes transferring the pictures to your computer so much easier, especially with the added capacity a 32MB gives.
28 Lens cap suggestion.
Took only one day to part company with the lens cap of the C2000Z. Found that the plastic top from a quart milk bottle works just fine as a replacement. After two weeks of traveling I still have it. And yes you still have to remove it before turning on the camera.
29 Excellent. A High Quality Product at a Decent Price.
I have been using this camera for 2 months now and I have to say that I will never use a regular camera again. The amount of features are excellent. I like that you can get up to 32MB SmartMedia cards. That's good for a long trip. Be prepared to spend a few hours learning how to use the camera. But it's well worth it. Most of the time, you'll have the camera on a certain setting that you won't change. Downloading is extremely simple. I like organizing pictures into different folders on my computer. The quality of the photos are excellent. I recommend the Sierra/MicroGraphx SnapShot for making really nice photo albums & interactive slideshows, which the Camedia software does not do.
30 No more film for me!
I've been waiting a long time for a digital camera costing less than a grand with this range of features and quality output. Of course, once you add NiMH batteries and a charger, additional storage, a lens cap strap (a must), a film reader to attach to your PC, a photo quality printer, photo paper....well, OK, maybe it'll take a year or two to pay back :) As pointed out in the other reviews, it takes some practice not to press the power instead of the shutter button - an embarrasing faux pas at this morning's T-Ball game, as a matter of fact *smile...woops!*. It also takes practice to quickly move through the on-screen menu options. It is way too easy to inadvertently choose an option you don't want, pressing this little frisbee thingy on the back of the camera the wrong direction. Plan for 5-6 hours of ramp-up time with this camera, even if you know photography and computing well.
31 what an amazing camera
I am still getting used to it, but every feature of the camera is exellent (including computer down-load, doing a "slide show" on the TV, and even its little REMOTE). When my wife and I were researching this buy we decided against disk storage camera's (our friends have them) because the disk drive is just something else to eat the batteries. Also the C-2000 can take a 32MB smart media card which greatly increases picture capacity at higher resolutions - about 489 standard, 64 high, and 32 TIFF...it will take about 120 standard with its included 8MB card. I already upgraded the card and bought an AC adaptor (not included)...and the charger for the batteries is on the way. I will not use alkaline batteries again. Right now I am using lithiums and I am seeing about a 4-5X greater life over alkaline. My friends who had digital said that it is better to not take pictures using the LCD screen...I agree, we use the view-finder, then check the pictures with the LCD (eats the batteries). I am sure I will be happy with this camera for years. Good advice is to read the whole instruction book right away, the camera does a lot more than I thought it would. By the way, we bought the camera in a retail store (going on vacation, wanted it NOW) and even with comparision shopping we now wish we got it on-line. My wife told me to add that it is really easy to use once you know which buttons to push...the instruction book is thorough.
32 Truly Something!
I've had this camera for about 1 month and I must say it's a great purchase! I've had 2 other digital cameras prior to this one (SONY and KODAK) and they were fine cameras as well, but no comparison to this camera if what you want is quality pictures and, if you desire, a challenge if you use the manual mode. The optional floppy disk reader makes it a snap to download the pictures to a computer. I've actually taken pictures that look better than my other regular 35 mm camera, after printing them in photo glossy paper. Excellent buy!
33 More extras than a 35mm and comes closest in quality
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.
34 Tried the camera but still looking
I am a more experienced photographer and needed to find a good a megapixel camera for Internet work. This model Olympus gave sharp pictures with good print (8x10) quality on my Epsom 740 printer. Alkaline batteries do not last every long especially if you use the LCD often. The software worked well to transfer the images into my PC. The only reason I am still looking is that I needed a camera that had manual settings like the Nikon Cool Pix, so I could set the focus rather than being restricted to auto focus. Olympus is known for their better quality lenses, a good reason to consider this camera.
35 Excellent closeup quality and easy to use.
Comes with an easy to understand written manual. Camera is light and small, could actually be a little larger to make it easier to handle. One should invest in a couple of 32mb Smart Media Cards - I highly recommend Alix Memory Cards (800 580-6940) - they are competitively priced and offer top notch service. Also I recommend their Universal Photo Reader, it's alot faster than using the cable that comes with the camera. Your computer treats it as another hard drive and transferring photos could not be easier.
I didn't really like the photoediting software that came with the camera, I went right back to using Ulead PhotoImpact. You'll need to get a good battery charger and a couple sets of recharable batteries - this is a must. Photo quality is outstanding for shorter range shots. I found that when shooting landscapes, the images were not as sharp as I would have liked. An advantage of the camera is that you have the option to manually set alot of the settings, just like a regular 35mm camera, all the other digital cameras in this price range that I researched did not as many manual setting options.
Cons: When one is using the viewfinder to take a photo it is easy to press the power button instead of the shutter button. You'll need a strap to secure the lens cover to the camera strap, otherwise it'll be lost in no time. The camera comes with only an 8mb Smart Media Card, I think the standard should have been 16mb.
36 Good color, high resolution, small, good lens, fast.
C-2000 is my second Olympus digital camera, the first one being a D-600L. I was was very happy with it, got many high resolution pictures with an excellent color reproduction. I got my C-2000 because I wanted the next generation features in a smaller package. C-2000 preserves the high quality of the optical 3X zoom subsystem, while making it smaller. I like the new 1600 by 1200 pixel resolution, since I print a lot of 5x7 and 8x10 pictures. The color reproduction is excellent, as good as a 35mm film. The new electronics in the camera is impressive: much more memory, faster processor, more sensitive CCD. Now, I am able to take multiple pictures in a burst mode, a useful feature when there is a lot of action. I delete the frames I don't need at the later time. Also, the time between taking single pictures is much shorter, especially if flash is not used. The new CCD makes it much easier to take pictures in the low light conditions. A lot of digital cameras have difficulties auto-focussing in these situations. I also like the new feature of being able to play the slide show directly to the TV through a video output on the camera. It is great for parties, especially with kids. They like to see themselves on the TV, only minutes after the picture is taken. I got the 32MB SmartMedia memory card. The included 8MB card is OK, but the capacity is insufficient for high-res pictures. (Make sure you get SmartMedia, not the incompatible Compact Flash. Some Web sites don't know the difference!). This memory stores 64 pictures in the 1600x1200 high quality mode, or 32 pictures in the 1600x1200 super high quality mode (JPEG compression of higher quality, but requires more storage). I find both to be excellent, but prefer SHQ mode for 8x10 printing. I got the USB Smart Media reader. It transfers the content from the memory card to the PC much faster than the serial port or a floppy adapter. You notice the difference when you transfer 32MB worth of pictures! An improvement needed: the C-2000 needs separate buttons for some commonly used controls, such as flash, focussing style, macro mode etc. It is much harder to go through a menu to get to change some of these settings. D-600L used to have this feature. Overall, I am very pleased with the C-2000. I recommend it highly.
37 Excellent images, very flexible, some user problems
I've found the C-2000 to be an very good camera, taking excellent photographs. The clarity is very high, no major distortion of images, some lens flare, very responsive. No one at work was able to tell that I had used a digital camera instead of 32mm. Very good in low-light with or without flash.
You can definately see that Olympus has been in the photographic business for a long time and has brought its high standards to the digital camera world.
It has a couple of drawbacks though: 1) The lens-cap must be removed before turning the camera on because the lens is going to extend itself about two inches while taking pictures. That makes it too easy to lose. Spend $1.00 and buy a lens-cap-keeper. 2) Not quite as close-focus as the Nikon CoolPix 950.
Definately spend the money on NiMH batteries! As with all digital cameras you'll go through a set of alkalines every 16 frames while NiMH will last through hundreds.
38 Great product but has some quirks
The Olympus takes excellent pictures and quickly can transfer pictures to your PC.
It does go through batteries extremely quickly.
