Image resolution up to 2048 x 15363.3x digital zoomPictBridge compatibleEquipped with QuickTime Movie Mode along with PictBridge technology4 W x 2 1/5 H x 1 1/2 DUses xD-Picture Card up to 512MB Includes 16MB xD-Picture Card two AA batteries USB cable wrist strap and CD softwareShipping package dimensions: 7.91x14.76x8.94 (len x wid x dep)
If you're new to the world of digital photography, the Olympus D-540 offers just the right blend of easy-to-use features and high-quality optics that delivers vivid pictures. The D-540 has a durable silver-toned polycarbonate body with a shutter style lens barrier. It also features a 3.2-megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom, movie mode, a bright LCD monitor to review images, and Olympus's new TruePic Turbo image processor, which speeds up the camera's start-up, shutter lag, recording and playback time.
Optics and Resolution
The 3-megapixel D-540 captures 2048 x 1536 pixel images for prints up to 11 x 14 inches. It also has 1600 x 1200 (2MP) and 640 x 480 (VGA) resolution modes. It features a 3x optical zoom that, when combined with a 3.3x digital zoom, delivers a total seamless 10x zoom. The aspherical all-glass zoom lens is constructed of 7 lenses in 6 groups and has a focal length of 5.8-17.4mm (38-114mm equivalent in 35mm photography) and an aperture range of f2.9-f5.0.
Movie Mode
In addition to capturing still images, you can also shoot short videos (without audio) at 15 frames per second (fps). The D-540 has two resolution modes: 320 x 240 and 160 x 120. (Its companion D-580, with a 4-megapixel still image resolution, offers a movie mode with sound.)
More Features
The D-540 is one of the first Olympus models to feature TruePic Turbo, a new image processor that sharpens image clarity, contrast, and color for life-like results. This feature also makes the camera 30% faster in processing images and is combined with a super-fast shutter release time.
The D-540 offers a menu architecture that's easy to navigate for fast access to the right settings with just the press of arrow buttons. Seven preset shooting modes can be accessed through the "Virtual Dial" (viewable through the LCD menu) to provide fully automatic exposure adjustments; these include Program Auto, Portrait, Portrait-Landscape, Landscape, Night Scene, Self Portrait, and Movie.
Other features include:
- 1.8-inch TFT color LCD monitor (approximately 85,000 pixels)
- Optical real-image viewfinder
- 1.5 frames per second burst up to 12 frames
- Built-in flash with auto, red-eye reduction, fill-in, and off modes
- ISO sensitivity 50 to 320
Direct Printing
The D-540 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).
Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on XD Picture Card memory cards. The card's small size, about the same as a postage stamp, helps to keep the camera size down. The included 16 MB card will store approximately 20 images at 2048 x 1536 pixels (at HQ, JPEG setting). Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1 connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98 Rev2Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Power and Size
The camera is powered by 2 AA batteries (alkalines included, NiMH rechargeable recommended) or 1 CR-V3 battery. It measures 4 x 2.2 x 1.5 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 5.3 ounces (excluding batteries and storage media).
What's in the Box
This package contains the Olympus D-540 digital camera, 16 MB XD Picture Card, USB cable, 2 AA alkaline batteries, wrist strap, quick-start guide, and instruction manual. The CD-ROM features Camedia Master software, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Camera Reference Manual.
1 why pay 300? get it for FREE
nice camera that you can get here http://www.cameras4free.com/default.aspx?r=345693 thanks for read
2 Broken LCD, Easy Fix - Five Star Experience
I base my 5 stars on how this camera has fit my needs and exceded my expectations. It's my first digital camera and I have read a lot of reviews about it. Everyone has their own list of pros and cons. I guess that they are all "true" for the person who has experienced them. I got into digtital photography after throwing out thousands of 35mm slides and photographs and swearing off of collecting phots any more. My 30 year old Asahi Spotmatic sits on the shelve. Then, I started to think about the digital concept. Why it's just a lot of electrons arranged in a lot of 1111111111s and 0000000000s. And so easy to "develope" and "throw out". Easy to carry in the forest and so convenient for taking pictures that I really have no intention to save or develope. Well, I do save a few...but just electrons, remember. I love it!
I cracked the LCD screen after a few months. Oh, fiddl-faddle! Well, what to do?
I decided to order an LCD replacement from Olympus and fix it myself. I thought..."what the heck, it's that or throw it out. So, I'll gamble the $70 for the LCD and try to repair it myself."
It was a little scary at first. But I did not care if I fatally messed up the camera. I took out all of the little screws I could find and pried the back off of the camera. There I found more small screws holding the LCD in place. There is a tiny two conductor cable with a tinsy two prong connector on it. Also, the LCD is attached to the camera electronics with a tiny ribbon cable. I took out more screws and used tweezers to disconnect the cables. The two conductor red and white cable has to be de-soldered and re-soldered to the new LCD. The LCD bracket has to literally be pealed off of the old LCD and reused on the replacement LCD. Will it work? It put everything back with no parts left over! And it worked!!!! Let me confess that I have worked in the electronics industry, so I am not too intimidated by the computer "guts" of this camera. However, I think it really was my "I don't give a hoot" attitude that got me through this repair.
Olympus Parts Department is not very easy to deal with. Some rude people and some helpful people. After gettting 3 different prices, each higher that the last, I ordered the part. I did not receive a new screen. It had a date tag on it from the previous year. No one said it was a used part on the phone ! It was back ordered and took two months to come in. I was so tired of dealing with Olympus that I used it and all has turned out well in the end.
I can shoot all of pictures that I desire and a movie or two on just the 16 meg card. I never print photos, so the 16 meg card will hold about 135 email quality pictures that I can send to friends and they can easily throw out. Who needs the clutter! I got a deal on a 64 meg card so I got that as a backup.
I love this camera. It does all of the good stuff that other reviewers say and more. I think that most negative comments are from people who are very particular about some feature or expect this camera to perform outside of its price range. It does a great job, is easy to use and repair, easy to carry (don't bump any concrete walls with the LCD) and has lots of features to explore.
Prices are going up with the pixel count. I don't want more pixels. Probably 1 would do for most internet photos. 2 would give good 4x6 prints. Where are these simple, cheap cameras ?
I guess they are where the simple, cheap cars are ??????????
3 One of the BEST digital cameras out there-regardless of $$$
1st, BELIEVE THE HYPE ! The image quality is TRULY AMAZING! GORGEOUS, TRUE to LIFE COLORS! They are about as close to a 35 mm photo as I have seen (including those from cameras costing 3-4x the price!). The salesman at my local WOLF camera store (who is very knowledgeable) was surprised that the pictures I developed were from a (3 MP) digital camera. YES-THEY ARE that GOOD. And I am not easily impressed (anymore).
2nd, I am by no means a "novice" when it comes to digital cameras. I have lost count as to how many cameras I have bought and sold over the years in my futile attempt at finding "the perfect camera". It is my belief now that there is no "perfect" digital camera that will fulfill ALL of your digital needs. You need to prioritize what's important. For example, if video with sound is very important to you, you can rule this camera out. However, if image quality ranks HIGH on your list, please keep on reading my review. I have tried all of the really tiny, expensive cameras and have ultimately, always ended up disappointed by its picture quality. My "BIG" camera (which I highly recommend) is the Panasonic Lumix FZ20. This has become the perfect "take anywhere" camera for me. I like it better than the Sony P200 that I paid over 3x for.
3rd, a term I just coined for this review is "megapixel smegapixel". Four years ago, I paid a thousand dollars for a top-of-the line 3 MP camera (Nikon Coolpix 990). To this day, that camera has taken some of the best pictures including those from 5 MP cameras like the Nikon 5200 or even 7 MP camera like the SONY P200. The thing is that the higher the megapixel, the higher the incidence of NOISE. 99% of us do not need a 7 MP camera. It's simply overkill and the pictures, ironically, often end up looking more GRAINY than a picture from a great 3 or 4 MP camera! Even though this is "only" a 3 MP camera, that is enough resolution to print up to 11"x14". So, don't get too caught up in the "megapixel race". You just end up paying a lot more for something that you don't even need! This camera proves that you don't need to spend $500 to get a great digital picture.
Finally, like all cameras, there are the "cons" which other people have alluded to - namely, the short battery life and relatively long shutter speed. If you are trying to capture a toddler on the loose, this is NOT the camera for you! But I find it more than acceptable.
IMPORTANT: NOW, FOR THE MAJOR ISSUE OF BATTERY DRAINAGE - I read ALL of the reviews on Amazon IN FULL and no one has yet mentioned that it can also use CRV3 battery which lasts longer than rechargeable "AA" batteries. Or even better, that for $30, you can now purchase rechargeable CRV3 batteries !!!!! My favorite is the one by MobyPower, sold here -
http://www.thomas-distributing.com/mpc-c301.htm
Also, I always use use a Card Reader to download photos from my cameras instead of draining battery power. I'd recommend you buy a separate card reader - they are very inexpensive and will save you lots of money on batteries!
Fianlly, I paid less a tad over $100 for mine. In my humble opinion, dollar for dollar, this is simply ONE of the BEST DIGITAL Cameras out there. Whether you are entering the exciting (but often intimidating) world of digital photo,or you need a great Second Camera, this camera should more than satisfy you, without leaving a dent in your pocketbook!
IMPORTANT UPDATE : As of April 2005, If you want video with sound, you can buy their NEW 5 MPG D-595 camera for only $50 more !
4 Great camera for the money - vibrant photographs
I was looking for a 3 megapixel camera in the price range of $150. This camera definitely fits the bill and is totally worth it. You'll just need to invest in a good set of rechargeable batteries because standard AA's won't last long. Other than that, this little camera is impressive.
The D-540 is not the most stylish-looking camera, the body is plastic, but the pictures it captures are remarkable.
I recently went to Aruba and took this camera. The pictures turned out sharp and vibrant.
I've had experience with Olympus and Nikon digital cameras before the D-540. I think this is one of the most encomical 3+ megapixel point-and-shoot cameras out there. I highly recommend it.
5 Great Pics, Terrible Battery Life
1. Pictures come out VERY crisp and clear. Love them!!!
2. Size is fantastic. Can put in a small purse and carry around.
3. Batteries get used up at a ridiculous rate. Even after I bought rechargeable batteries with 2300 MAH, they still get used up too fast!
4. Price is great.
5. Very easy to transfer pictures to computer.
6. Sleek look.
Overall: Although I really love the output quality of my pictures, I would not buy this camera again. It is just too much worrying about when the batteries are going to die so I always have to cary 8-10 batteries JUST IN CASE!!!
6 nice little camera
I was looking to spend a couple hundred dollars on a camera but not expecting to get much for the money I had. This little camera far exceeded my expectations. Get great buy, especially for the price. Easy to use. Very nice quality of pictures.
7 A great camera
I have taken more than 1000 pictures with this great camera. Here are my opinions on it..
Positive Stuff:
1. Excellent picture quality. No doubt, I liked the picture quality more than a Sony Cybershot 3.2 MP camera.
2. The most powerful flash I've ever seen. The camera can take a good picture in complete darkness.
3. Decent battery life. Even though the camera might indicate a Low battery indicator soon, it actually lasts for a long time. I used Panasonic 2100 mah rechargeable Ni-MH battery. I got about 32-34 pictures (all with flash). If you actually turn off the LCD display while not using it, it saves a lot more battery power.
4. Transferring images to a PC is pretty straight forward.
5. The camera is compact and light as well. It was able to fit in to my jean pocket!
6. The camera makes good judgement when to use flash and when not to use. At the end of the day, we are totally satisfied with the image quality.
Negative stuff:
1. The camera is just too slow to respond, particularly, if the battery is low.
2. There were occasions where I had to take some moving objects, but just couldnt time my camera to take it. The response time between pressing the trigger and the camera firing is about 1.5 to 2 seconds (which might be too late sometimes).
Conclusion:
1. If you use a rechargeable battery with a good MAH, the camera is pretty neat.
2. What matters at the end of the day, is people should get good remarks about the photos they take and I get that all the time when I use this camera.
8 Great camera but some problem with the battery ilfe
I have always love Olympus image quality, the colors are great and the lcd discplay shows exactly how the picture will look like when you get it into the computer, the pictures look alive, i compared to other digital cameras such as HP, Kodak, and there is no point of comparison, Olympus Rocks!!, the only problem with this model is the battery life, i recommend that yo turn of the display, disable the flash when you dont need it and get rechargable batteries, and carry them with you every time.
9 nice.
The camera takes great pictures. The only things you should know is that the flash is a bit slow, and the slider to change modes sticks and is hard to put into the picture-taking mode. Other than that it's a good deal for your money.
10 D-540 zoom
A x-mas present that blew me away. The camera is small and very portable. The battery problem is a concern. The low battery light came on within the first hour of using the supplied batteries. I put in new 2300mah batteries and had the same problem ,although they never actually went dead. The power-saver feature does work, despite another review I read. The xd-memory is a draw back, being new and $10-20 more than Sd media; xd is half the size of sd however.
Overall, while I am pleased with the camera; a little upgrading would be worth it. The 540 takes short movie clips, but has no sound. The 560, for I believe $10.00 more, has audio.
11 GREAT LITTLE CAMERA-BUT BATTERY PROBLEM CAN BE OVERCOME
This ia great little camera with so many extra's jammed in it its hard to belive how easy it is to use with them all inside! but it is SO easy, with amazing picture quality, which is so much better than other digital camera's which claim to have the same quality images (kodak for one) i really recomend this camera. i did have some problems with battery life but you can avoid this. first by linthuim batteries they last heaps longer. also, turn your flash off when you don't need it, and don't use your zoom when you don't need it because these whaste battery! turn your camera off once you've finished taking photos, in till the next opputinty, don't leave it on waiting for another photo opputinty to come alomng-this whaste power. also, i have found that if it runs pretty fast from usung it over and over again, leave it for a while, then turn it on, you might be able to get a couple more pitures out of it. and last but not least, carry battries with you everywhere! but paying for battaries is a small price to pay for the picture perfect, professnal look this camera gives your pictures
two words
BUY IT!
12 I'm lovin' it
The camera has exactly what I was looking for. The image quality is very good, its easy and simple to use and a great value for the price. The night mode is excellent, but be careful not to shake when shutter is open. Tripod recommended when using in night mode. Don't worry too much about the battery life, you will be ok if you have a two pairs of rechargeable ones.
13 A great little Camera
There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe this device. Suffice to say, it is a fantastic little camera. I'm a digital photographer who decided that his 4 year old (that's right, FOUR) was going to get a digital camera from Santa this year. Well, she and I couldn't be more pleased. As a point and shoot, it doesn't get much easier than this. She's taken over 200 shots since Christmas day and they are near flawless even if her choice of subject matter does lead to some amusement (I think we have over 50 "My Little Pony" shots on the computer now).
Previous reviews indicated the need for a couple of sets of rechargeable batteries (this camera only requires 2 AAs instead of the typical 4) and a larger memory card (get at least a 128mb XD, though it wouldn't hurt to spring for the 256mb). They are correct. Add a small camera bag and you're set. My little one is. Though arguably brilliant, if she can do it with this camera, so can you.
14 Great Gift, Big Smile
I would not be writing this except for the fact that I found these reviews so Helpful at Christmas when I was looking for a camera and other items. I brought this as a gift for my son, who had no idea he was getting it. He has never been into electonics or computers so the ease of use that other people stated was a big fact in my buying. My son was surprized with the Gift and taking pictures in minutes of opening it. He told me the camera was Great and easy to use, when connected to the USB port it pops up on the screen asking if you want to send pictures to the printer or computer. He said it was Very easy to use and figure out. The batteries are the negitive thing just as everyone else had said. It uses them Toooooo Fast! But from all the reviews I read on the other cameras it sounded as they all do. We have some Rechargeable on the way, I hope they help.
15 Awesome camera except for 1 thing
THE BATTERY LIFE SUCKS! I recently went on a trip to Europe for 2 weeks, took 2 12-packs of energizer e2 titanium batteries and I wasted them all in the first week, I had to be buying batteries at every stop. So I've decided to buy the Olympus B80SU NiMH Overnight Battery & Charger Set now.
Other than the battery life problem, this is such a great camera.
Its really easy to use, the lcd screen is big, which is great for previewing pictures, and the menu is clear. The camera itself is a great size, not too small and not too big, it fits in your pocket. The picture quality is really good, theres also 4 options of picture quality;SHQ-2048x1536,HQ-2048x1536, SQ-1600x1200, SQ2-640x480(HQ is the default).
16 WOW! what a great camera
After much deliberation I purchaced this camera to take pictures of my new son; knowing Olympus's great quality and userfriendly apperatus I did not think I would be dissapointed, I was not.<br />
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The photos from this camera, particularily in superfine mode are outstandingly crisp and clear, after ordering prints online (including 8x10s) I realized what a signifigant purchase this was there was virtually no difference between the prints and photographic prints.<br />
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Two hints for anyone wanting to buy this camera however<br />
a) buy the 256mb card it is worth it for the 115 SHQ shots you'll get<br />
<br />
b) it is absolutely nessessary to buy a battery charger with four Ni-MH batteries. These will last you one whole day. about 70-80 shots.
17 Battery limitations outweigh benefits
My title says it all - the ease of use is nullified by the fact that there is not a valid batter option. This camera operates on either two AA batteries, or one lithium battery. Here is the problem - it burns through them at an umbelievable rate!! If you are planning on taking lots of pictures at once (on vacation, or taking the kids to the zoo, etc), one set of AA batteries will not even get you through the day. You will easily need two or three sets of AA batteries to get through a day of heavy picture taking. That really starts to add up! I tried buying two sets of rechargables with a charger, but the first set of batteries will run out before the second set has enough time to charge. You would need two or three sets that could be charging simultaneously to keep up. I then went to the litium option. While these do last longer, they still only last about 10 days with limited picture taking. Again, if you were in a situation where you were taking lots of photos, you would probably need one lithium battery for each week. At about $10 each, that's gonna add up quickly as well.
To make matters worse, you burn the batteries when you are downloading your photos to your computer, and there is no "safety" that turns it off after a minute of two of not being used. So it is easy to hook it up, download your pictures, get busy managing your photos and forget that the camera is still on. An hour later - dead battery!
For the record, my mother has a different model of Olympus camedia that comes with its own rechargable battery, and it is much, much more practical. I would definitely recommend paying more to aviod going broke buying batteries!
18 Great picture quality!!!... Low price!!!
This is my third mid-level digital camera. 1st was an older Fuji 2400 2mp. Pics were good. Contrast often needed to be increased before printing.
2nd was a Fuji A310 3mp. Pics required no adjustment before printing, but indoor (+ some outdoor) pics were underexposed and horribly noisy with poor color. Which is why I bought the D-540
Am VERY happy with the Olympus D-540 so far. Pics look GREAT in just about any lighting situation. I would say that the picture quality is exceptional for this price-range.
There is a little more lag time between pushing the shutter button and taking the picture than with some other cameras. If you set the focus and lighting by holding the button half-way down, the shutter snaps instantly after pushing the button all the way down. I'm willing to wait for the camera to do it's metering, since it does a much better job of it than the Fuji did. (It wasn't much faster)
LOVE the big LCD screen. Menus were easy to learn. Button layout is nice. (hard to hit a wrong button while shooting) Does seem a little harder on batteries than most other digital cameras, so get some good quality NIMH + a charger. All of the special picture modes work really well. Like the self-portrait feature. Camera is very small and lightweight. A dream to carry around.
This model is getting old and selling really cheap right now. (Around $150.00) I would absolutely recommend grabbing one while you can. Only thing it's missing compared to some models in the price-range is a video-out jack which isn't really important to me. (Can put the pics on a cd or dvd for slide shows) The big LCD makes it less likely that you would feel the need to plug it into a TV while on a trip anyway.
The software installed easily on Windows XP Pro. Seems easy enough to use, though it doesn't seem to allow printing borderless 4" X 6" pictures on my Canon i960. Have to use the old Fuji software or the software that came with the printer for my borderless 4" X 6" pics. Both work well and are easy to use. Did try the panorama feature and it really works!!!
19 daughters smile
I bought this for my daughter...she is very happy with it...it is easy to use and takes a very clear picture...
20 good camera for small price
this camera provides clean solid basic pictures also allow you to be able to have good images for moving pictures.I would suggest this camera to all people interested in a good digital camera.
Rakesh
21 Good camera, a little slow on the shoot
The Olympus D-540 is a good camera for the money. I hear that the digital zoom causes grainy photos, but have found this to not be so. It is a little slow to shoot, but this allows for some last minute aiming. The self timer is a little extraneous, as is the micro zoom function. The video is nice, but if you want a longer video, you'll have to purchase a larger memory card, which I have yet to do. You can save your settings which is nice, especially if you want a smaller size picture which takes up less memory, or if you use the digital zoom frequently.
22 Lot's of pluses but some minuses
This is my 3rd midrange digital camera in as many years. I picked this one for my latest based on it's features (macro, self portrait, etc) and the awesome huge LCD screen. The screen is much bigger than it's competitors. The self portrait mode worth noting... some one was finally genius enough to note that many a snapshot is taken where two subjects squeeze together and hold the camera at arms length and snap the pic. This setting adjusts the flash and lense to accomodate that! Genius!
The downsides... even with rechargable batteries this sucker goes "battery low" way before other digi's I've had. It's worth noting. I think it runs out about 30% to 50% quicker than other camera's I've had. That's pretty notable.
Also... the bootup time is Loooonnng. When turning on the camera, the time between turning it on and actually taking a pic is way too long. Also the lag between shutter press and actuall photo/flash is incredibly long. MUCH longer than other cams I've had.
You sacrifice a few things here and gain a few there with digi's but, the lag time and battery life are deal breakers for me and the type of pix I take so this puppy is going back. :(
23 A nifty little camera
I bought one of these cameras for my 16-year old daughter. Within minutes she was able to take photos with it and enjoy the world of digital photography, including shooting a short movie. The camera has a 3x optical zoom which allows for better close-ups. It has a few drawbacks, but as a beginner's camera, it can't be beat, especially for the price. Best to buy the rechargeable batteries, as these cameras eat up electricity, and also a bigger picture card so that you can load up on the photos and enjoy a little home movie making.
24 An Outstanding Camera
I love this little camera. I had a chance to try out this camera and compare it to three other digital cameras. The Olympus 540 won hands down. This is the camera I take with me every day. I own a better camera, but like the size and ease of use of this camera.
I took identical photos with this camera and a 4 mg pixal camera and you couldn't tell the difference in a 8x10 print done on a color laser printer. I also enlarged and printed a 48"x36" image on a large format printer and was extremely please by the results.
The camera is easy to use. In seconds you can choose anyone of the eight shooting modes. Also, adjusting the flash to be auto, always on, off or a fill flash is a quick click on the back control button. By pushing the shutter button half way down you can set your exposure. This is very helpful in some lighting situations.
If you purchase the camera, I would recommend buying re- chargeable batteries and a larger storage card.
25 Excellent Little Camera!!!
I must say, this is my very first Digital Camera and it's great!
First of all, the flash is powerful! I took a picture of my roommate in his room with the lights off....so I just changed the mode in my camera to "Night Mode"...the picture came out bright! Great for bars, clubs, etc (small enough too)!
The Menu is extremely easy to use. It took me about 5-10 minutes and I got used to the options.
The pics come out very clear.
26 A really great compact camera...
I received this camera as a gift and subsequently took it on a long trip to Russia (instead of my bulky SLR film camera). This camera was outstanding: easy to use, produces good quality pictures, lightweight. It makes toting "regular" camera gear around too cumbersome to contemplate: this camera slips into a pants pocket easily enough. As my first digital camera, it's everything I had hoped it would be and more.
The software (Olympus's Camedia) is pretty good and relatively easy to use, although managing your pictures can be more work than it needs to be. Maybe I'll upgrade that to the Pro version. Nonetheless, I was downloading pictures quickly and everything worked cleanly. The main reason to use the software (rotating pictures) is convenient.
The camera itself is lightweight and pretty durable (my son dropped it a few times and it survived just fine). The 16 MB card that comes with it is too small for realistic use, but a 128 MB card is easy to purchase: budget for it, as you'll want the storage. There are only a few minor annoyances that you'll want to compare to other cameras before choosing this one (I don't think anyone else does it any better).
First, this camera (like many digital cameras) devours batteries. The "low battery" warning comes on very quickly--way too quickly, since battery life far exceeds the warning. However: as the battery runs down, the camera itself processes more and more slowly. So I've found that you'll often miss shots because you need to know about a second in advance to push the button. The lag between "go" and the camera firing is annoying.
Second, the zoom control is a bit difficult to use. It's located on top of the camera and twists, an action that I find difficult to perform while aiming the camera. I've taken to holding the camera at about chest level to shoot pictures so that I have better control.
Overall, the picture quality settings are easy to manage and the pictures themselves are bright, clear, and sharp. The autofocus is almost always perfect and you'll rarely dig into the menus to adjust the camera performance. The panorama capability doesn't seem to work, but it's an extraneous feature.
In any case, this is a great little camera. It does everything a digital camera should, is well made, and makes me a happy camper.
27 Great Pics, A lot of Functions and affordable
This tiny, light and easy to use camera is a perfect choice for those who aren't professionals, but in some cases even for those... the Super macro mode, which lets it take pictures from 2 cm away, is awsome, and you can't find this on no other camera inn it's price category...It takes great crispy pictures and it has a super-powered flash light.. Except it doesn't record sounds...it's the perfect camera.
28 Awesome little camera
I searched high and low for a new digital camera, buying and returning 4 different cameras in a week before finding this awesome little Olympus. I tried cameras from Kodak, Fuji, and Canon and none of them compared to this camera. It is small, simple to use, and affordable. First off the LCD display is extremely crisp and clear and the menus are very user-friendly. The camera starts up fasts and takes pictures relatively quickly also. I will say, it is not the best with batteries.(a common problem in digital cameras though) Just invest in some good rechargables, it's worth it. Anyway, my pictures, snapshots and closeups, come out very sharp and look comparable to those taken with a 5mp camera I have. I think if you are looking for an affordable, portable, great new digital camera invest in the Camedia-540.
29 Colorful, Razor-sharp Pictures - Highly Recommended!
I have the Canon A80 (4.0 Megapixels) and also bought this new camera (known over here as Olympus C-310) recently. While the Canon may have a 1.5 inch swivel LCD screen, this camera has a larger & more pleasant 1.8 inch LCD screen, definitely takes SHARPER pictures, and has less chromatic aberration (purple fringing). It does have slightly more picture noise (i.e. digital 'film grain') compared to the Canon, but you will notice this only if you have a keen eye for it. (the extra picture noise probably arose from the more aggresive sharpening algorithm employed by Olympus as compared to Canon)
The heavier & more solid Canon uses 4 AA batteries and last for hours upon hours even on alkaline batteries, but you can only take a few more shots once its low-battery warning flashes. In contrast, the Olympus uses 2 AA batteries only and is therefore much lighter, but one caveat - on both new & newly charged rechargeable 2100mAH NiMH batteries (2100 mAH and above are strongly recommended), the low-battery warning indicator does start flashing too soon, when the camera gets warm.
However, I have found to my surprise that with the low-battery indicator persistently flashing, this camera still allowed me to take approx. another 120 continuous shots, around 80 of which had used flash. This means that while rechargeable battery life is actually ok for the camera, the low-battery warning is way too premature to be relied upon.
While this camera also lacks other features found on the more expensive Canon and requires the newer, smaller (and more expensive) xD memory card, it is very much more pocketable, and has a new hidden Ace - the 'Super Macro Mode' hidden in the Menu option, which allows fantastic close-up photos from under 1 inch (2 cm) away, compared to the Canons and Nikons which can only go as close as 2 inches (4-5 cm) max only.
Overall, this camera takes very colorful, contrasty, razor-sharp pictures, and pictures taken with the flash were also well exposed. I have noticed that the latter are definitely brighter than those taken with competing Nikons, such as the Coolpix 2100/3100 & newer 2200/3200 range, which seem to suffer from slightly underpowered flash and remain unrectified by the manufacturer until this very day.
VERDICT: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - despite the premature low-battery indicator, the camera delivers one of the very best picture quality in its price category, with a new hidden bonus (Super Macro Mode!). This is my very first review ever at Amazon.com, and I hope this short review has helped.
30 Excellent Value
Compact, simple to use camera. For the price it comes packed with features - easy transfer of pics to PC using USB cable. Excellent picture quality when used at best Pixel setting - 20 pics with original 16MB XD memory card. Not used the movie mode - own a camcorder. I invested in a rechargeable Li-Ion CR-V3 battery pack (yes! now available as rechargeables), much better life/performance than even the higest rated rechargeable NiMH - not very expensive given its performance, available on Amazon for $31 (I bought my Li-Ion battery pack from Buy.com at $29.50).
31 Olympus D-540 ( aka C-310) - SUPER MACRO !
Although I've access to assorted digital cameras,a need for super close up work in electronics had left me frustrated, since most modern units max out at a handspan (~200mm. Grr !! BUT - this new Olympus C-310 (as it's sold here in NZ) fits the budget bill well, since it goes to just 20mm (~1 inch). Yah - see sample pix (itself resized to ~100k from original 600k)=> www.picaxe.orcon.net.nz/picnksm.jpg.
* Top features - supermacro, 2 AA NiMH, large LCD
* Downsides - rather chunky styling, no sound with movies
Of course all the "normal" Olympus features & user friendly software is included. But could be worth it for budget super macro alone I'd say, espec. in electronics, micro engineering, flowers, insects, medical, jewellery etc
