The D-630 Zoom ultra-slim 5.0-megapixel digital camera, features an elegant new design for compact portability. The minimalist beauty of this thin, brushed metal camera is much more than skin deep, with loads of features specifically designed for simplicity.Every action is accessed directly from the camera's menu, which is easy to view in the large 2.0-inch LCD. A built-in help guide provides new users with all the information they need. And automatic scene modesensure fabulous results in even the most difficult-to-capture lighting situations.The metal body has clean, sharp lines that will appeal to the discerning eye and hand of the purist. Small er than a deck of cards, at a mere one-inch thick (3.1" W x 2.4" H x 1.0" D) & weighing just 4.4 oz., the D-630 Zoom slips discreetly in a shirt or jacket pocket without so much as a bulge.The D-630 Zoom is designed to enable users of all skill levels to enjoy the fun and convenience of digital photography from shooting pictures to sharing them with friends without the learning curve. The large 2.0-inch LCD makes it easy to review images and make menu selections.A built-in help guide can be accessedfrom the menu with images and brief descriptions of each function and shooting mode to help users determine the settings that best suit their shooting situation and purpose. The inclusion of 10 automatic scene modes makes it easy to capture great images in a variety of lighting situations, such as portrait,
1 Do not buy this camera!
I waited to buy this camera for 1 month- even resisted buying other cameras when I really needed it for a trip. The camera itself looks great- but the photos it takes are REALLY bad. My 5 yr old 3 megapixel camera took much better and much sharper pictures. It makes my old camera look like a 7 megapixel camera in comparison. The indoor pics are so grainy I'd be embarrassed to show them to anyone. The flash is not very good. The LCD screen is pretty bad too. I gave it a chance after taking a few pics in the store- that maybe it would look better on the computer screen. I was wrong and I'm taking the camera back. What I really wanted was to throw it out the window- but I will take it back and get a different camera. It's pretty, but a waste of time and money. Olympus should be ashamed of putting out such a poor quality camera. Do not buy!
2 Disappointing pictures
I saw this model in person and fell instantly in love with the design. It was very compact, had a good sized LCD, and seemed to be a reasonable price for an ultra-compact with 5 MP. I ended it up ordering it from Amazon and upon receiving it and testing it out, I must say I was pretty disappointed in it.
General build/condition: I still love the design and feel of the camera. However, the one that I got was noticeably dirty. There were black smudges around the top panel, and there were little pieces of reside all over that just kept the camera from feeling "brand new." Nothing else in the box looked like it had been touched so I don't imagine that it was a return. It wasn't a big deal, I cleaned it up but it was just a bad way to greet my new camera.
LCD: At the same time I purchased this, I also purchased a Canon A510 for my mother. I tested them out side-by-side. I noticed that while the LCD on the Olympus was bigger - which was nice - it looked very grainy. Not sharp at all. And this was while the Canon still had its protective covering on the LCD. The Olympus did not come with a protective covering on its LCD. Protective covering meaning that little clear plastic square that they always put over sensitive things on electronics.
Picture quality: I must say I am a complete novice when it comes to photography. I hardly ever veer from the default settings. I took a series of comparison pictures with my current camera (an Olympus D-40), my mom's new camera, and my new camera. The Canon was the obvious winner. The pictures from the Olympus D-630 were very washed out from the flash and was oversaturated with redness. I noticed that my older Olympus also was very red-toned, but it was not nearly as bad as the D-630. I'm sure if you know how to manipulate the different settings and fix photos in Photoshop, it wouldn't be a problem. But that's not how I would use my camera in an everyday setting, so it was the dealbreaker.
I wanted to share my experience with this camera because since it is such a new model, there aren't any real reviews out there for it. I hope this will help someone in my position make a more informed decision.
3 Super Sleek
Very light.... takes great pictures.
Supersexy...
I just upgraded from a Olympus C-2100 and while i miss the 10X Optical zoom, the 3X works well and the 5MP allows for clear picrtures that can be cropped.
There are three buttons under the screen that make picture management easy. One button puts you in picture taking mode, another puts you in picture viewing mode, and the third button deletes the picture from memory.
The rest of the menu options are organized very well. Using the buttons it is very easy to select what type of picture mode you want (Portrait, Night-time, Landscape, etc.) and it provides a very easy way to switch between picture quallity (2560 x 1920, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480). The camera has other features too but these are the ones I use the most.
I also recommend purchasing a xD Memory card. For the Avg user I would say either the 256MB or 512MB (I use the 256MB). Just some numbers for the 512...
2560 x 1920 SHQ - 128 Shots
2560 x 1920 HQ - 416 Shots
1600 x 1200 SQ1 - 1024 Shots
640 x 480 SQ2 - 2896 Shots
Using the 265MB card and the 2560 x 1920 HQ gives me 208 shots. As I travel with my laptop, that is more than enough space for me.
If you want a top of the line ultra portable and don't want to pay a Sony price... this is for you.
