Carrying on the heritage of its film predecessor, the Olympus Stylus 400 is an ultracompact, all weather, and easy-to-use camera designed for the digital photography enthusiast looking for high performance in a stylish and portable body. It features a 4.0-megapixel resolution, 12x total zoom, and a movie mode for short video clips.
Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 4.0-megapixel CCD sensor, the Stylus 400 delivers images up to 2,272 x 1,704 pixels and prints up to 11 by 14 inches. A high-quality Olympus 3x optical zoom (and 4x digital zoom for a seamless 12x total) gives you the ability to fill your pictures with sharp detail and vibrant color. It features an Olympus aspherical glass lens with a focal range of 5.8-17.4mm (35-105mm equivalent in 35mm photography).
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 16 images at 2,272 x 1,704 pixels (at HQ, JPEG setting). Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class 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.
Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the Stylus 400 can also record movie clips of up to 40 seconds without audio. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.
More Features
The Stylus 400 offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking. For photographers who want optimum results in a wide variety of settings, the easy-to-use scene modes provide fully automatic exposure adjustments for portrait, self-portrait, and landscape portrait.
Other controls include digital ESP multipattern and spot metering, auto white balance, multiple flash settings, and exposure compensation. The camera comes with a built-in flash that offers four settings to provide the widest range of options.
The lightweight and ergonomic metal body of the Stylus 400 provides all-weather protection from the elements and can even endure a downpour.
Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It measures 3.8 by 2.2 by 1.3 inches and weighs 5.8 ounces. This package includes the Stylus 400 digital camera, 16 MB xD Picture Card, rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charger (LI-10B), self-timer remote control (RM-2), USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with Camedia Master software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
1 Only one problem
I love this camera and have had it for a little over a year. My only complaint is that pictures taken by looking through the view finder come out slightly off center (while the monitor is accurate). I encountered this problem immediately after receiving the camera as a gift. After returning it, I encountered the same problem with the new camera. I wrote to Olympus and received no reply, which made the situation twice as aggravating. I love my camera and consider this problem a minor flaw, however I have likely made my last Olympus purchase.
2 BEWARE _ flimsy media door easily broken
the small peg on the media door
can't handle the "press to open"
action & (on my camera) broke after
maybe a dozen presses.
3 Disappointing image quality from Olympus
In our quest for the perfect digicam, we bought the Stylus 400 in February of 2004. The camera had a lot going for it: small, lightweight, quick start up time, short shot-to-shot lag time. The "weatherproof" feature was also big for us, we're tough on our stuff. We liked the all-metal body for durability, too.
After 10 months of using the camera, these features all lived up as advertised. It survived being dropped and wet or sandy conditions very well.
We purchased a spare battery and charger, and swapped them out every day so we always had a full charge on the camera. We NEVER ran out of charge on a battery.
The driverless USB connection allowed us to unload pictures FAST and very very easily.
Having a camera that could survive the abuse we heaped on it was important, but when it comes right down to it, if the pictures are NO GOOD, then what's the point? And on this the Stylus 400 REALLY disappointed us. Pictures taken without the flash were blurry, (unless under bright bright outdoor light). Pictures taken with the flash were blown out and the colors completely unnatural. And the flash is no good at all beyond about 6 feet.
Olympus is on the right track. Maybe someday they'll combine their quality optics with this sexy, sturdy camera body and they will have the PERFECT camera. But for what we paid (nearly $400 for camera, extra battery, charger, and 64M xD memory chip) it would have been nice to actually get decent pictures.
I don't buy the "if you want good pictures, spend more." I've had cheaper digital cameras that took MUCH better pictures. But they would break the first time I dropped them, then I'd have to duct tape the battery compartment closed or whatever. Or the shot lag was intolerable. Or they'd burn through AA batteries like candy. Good image quality does NOT have to be expensive. It is a darn shame that we can't get it all in one package.
4 flimsy media door
I am seriously disappointed with the durability of this product. For a product whose primary feature is it's water resistance, you'd expect more outdoor ruggedness. The clasp failed after a couple months light use and now water can freely enter the media ports.
Also dissapointed with the .mov video format. Would have preferred the choice to record .mpg or .avi. (anything that doesnt use a proprietary codec)
5 Decent camera; don't believe the 1-year warranty
This camera takes good pictues in well-lit, close-up situations--a good point & shoot camera.
I have a major complaint with Olympus' failure to honor the 1-year warranty on this product. A plastic component of the USB port broke, rendering the USB port useless. Olympus refused to honor the warranty for this repair, despite repeated requests from both me and the camera shop where I purchased the camera.
Also, the "metal body" description of this camera does not apply to the media door--it is plastic, and prone to breakage.
I own about 15 cameras. This was my first Olympus, and based on their failure to honor the warranty, it will be my last.
6 Weak Flash ruins an otherwise great camera
Have used it for 1 1/2 years. Bought it here on Amazon. Have used it at parties, kid events, etc. It's been banged around and used for thousands of shots.
One thing really ruins it...The flash on this unit is abysmal. The slow lens prevents available light photography. Don't expect to light up a family group shot with it.
Otherwise, the camera has it all... The other reviews pretty much cover it.
7 Good but some design flaws and bad flash
I got this camera a couple of weeks ago and I have to say that it is a very good quality product. I had other digital cameras before and the main reasons I selected this one was to reuse my existing xD-Picture cards from my Fujifilm camera and the great form factor and overall style of this one.
One thing got in my way from the get-go: the battery compartment cover is positioned exactly where most people place their right thumbs when using the camera. This causes it to slide open way too frequently for my taste, sometimes causing the camera to shut down. Another problem I see is the tiny buttons that are intended to be pressed using your right thumb but prove to be too small for the thicker thumbs I have.
The flash also seems to be a little too weak for outdoor night shots and to focus on not-so-close objects indoors.
8 If you want convenience-
Look, I understand that the pictures won't bring you to tears of joy with their intense colors and riveting detail. If you want that, spend more on a camera that will be much larger and feature laden.
However, if you want to throw your camera in your pocket and run out to a bar, the beach, or wherever (knowing full well that you might not even use it on said trip) it doesn't get a lot better than this. It's stupid easy to use, it's light, to this point it's been indestructible, and about 95% of my pictures, even from dimly lit places have been high quality. For some reason the quality suffers when you DON'T use the flash, but it really doesn't make much difference.
So it's really all about what you're looking for. If you're in college or are a young person looking to document adventures, get this camera. If you're taking family vacations, probably you could do better. Either way, I love the thing.
9 A true pHD (press Here Dummy) digital camera
I bought this camera to repalce a film camera. I am trying to wean my wife from film and on to digital and
I needed a camera that was as easy as the film cameras to operate. Basically just point and click. This is
what this was designed to do and it does it well. No complicated controls and no messy confusing
menus. I have been taking photographs for over 25 years, I have had one other digital camera in the past.
It was also a pHD. I did not need to go thru the manual to get this Olympus working. I have nothing to compare it
with but the start up from the off status is decent. Focusing and shutter lag is about what one would
expect. Like most things out there it is rather slow compared to a film SLR that I am used to. It gets worse underlow light since there is no focus assist. Prefocus helps reduce the lag
enormously. Photographs are excellent in terms of color. Tend to have a little barrel distortion in the
wide angle. Use in telephoto for head shots to correct the distortion. Flash is adequate. Size is perfect
since it is easy to carry around. Battery life is decent. I can take about 250+ high quality shots with
mixed use of the flash before I need to recharge. One warning, take care when closing the clamshell
since being abrupt with it can disrupt the lens mechanism. DO NOT MAKE THE CLAMSHELL HIT THE LENS WHEN CLOSING/SHUTTING OFF THE CAMERA. This is the best way to damage this camera. I did it once and knew right away that this was an achilles heel. When closing, there is a click that is encountered, hold the clamshell in that first click and allow the lens to retract before fully closing the clamshell. Otherwise, it works like a charm. I own a Macintosh and it synchs flawlessly with iphoto. All metal case seems indestructable and is very attractive. Haven't really dropped it in water yet but the weather seals are reassuring. Wish it had picture bridge so that it could work with the new p-10 dye-sub printer also from olympus or some other printer with this technology. Best of all, my wife is starting to use it a lot more. She just wants to have hard copies of certain photographs and I insist on a decent small dyesub printer to go with it. A real smart pHD digital camera.
10 I Hear you Knocking, And You Definitely Can't Come In!!!
Being a fan of Olympus I had high expectations for this camera. So I was just astounded by how horrible this camera was. I owned a 3.2 megapixel Olympus C-3020, which broke, and I decided to replace it with this sleeker, smaller, and sportier model with a slightly higher megapixel count. Big mistake.
The pictures out of this camera were blurred, colors were completely washed out, and the flash didn't reach that far indoors. Outdoor pictures were slightly better, but colors still appeared dulled and had no vibrancy. This was especially shocking, since I have taken extraordinary photos with my C-3020, which has a lower megapixel count than the Stylus. My father has the SRL Olympus E-20 N which is also an remarkable camera. I assumed that all Olympus products were created equal. Alas, they are not.
Because of its compact size, I kept opening the camera's battery compartment door while handling it, and the camera actually felt too small and cramped in my hands.
After less than a week, I packed it up and returned it, deciding I'd rather spend the money to have my beloved C-3020 repaired.
Since then, I've had the opportunity to try out the C-5000, which is an updated, sleeker version of my C-3020. It's as good as the C-3020 and boasts 5 megapixels. If you're looking to buy a good Olympus camera, stick with the C-series and stay away from the Stylus!
11 Simply Awesome
Looking for a great, compact, high quality digital camera? Look no further, the Olympus 400 is tough to beat.
I'm no photography pro but if you are looking for a great camera to take pictures for the web or to use while on vacation, this is a great selection. It's been to the slopes in Colorado, Utah & South America in (kept in a jacket pocket) snow, sleet & rain. It's taken phenomenal pictures and produced beautiful printouts.
The 16 meg memory card it comes with is a joke; it just doesn't hold anything. If you plan to buy this camera, plan on an extra $150.00 or so for a larger membery card or two. I got a 512 mb card which holds nearly 600 photos that print at high quality as 8x10's. It holds more than enough pictures for an extended vaction but with the 512 mb card it takes a while for the camera to ready itself to take a picture. A 256 mb card is probably the ideal balance of storage space and speed.
The camera is easy to use, looks nice and is comparable to the 35mm stylus series from Olympus that was fantastic as far as 35mm cameras go for the casual photographer.
Bottm line, give this camera serious consideration when shoping for a digital camera and plan on picking up at least 1 256 or 512 meg memory chip if you buy it.
12 Downloading is a snap!
Just got mine last week. Took it to work and took some great shots of people in my work group. Used the florescent mode flash and the photos turned out very true to color and printed out beautifully. The download with the usb connection was a snap to use (a no brainer) and was so FAST! The camera is very simple to understand and use - had it all figured out in one evening. Very easy instructions and the icons are user friendly.
Nice compact and rich looking body. Perfect for travel and the new and casual digital camera user. Looking forward to playing with it more.
13 Improving Olympus
A word of caution to those considering a digital camera. Pay close attention to the size of the monitor. When it's really small, as in this Olympus camera, framing the shot is more difficult so you have to pay very close attention to what's in the shot.
The user's manual is the worst I've ever seen for ANY product. It leaves the user guessing how to utilize the camera's many features. Example: The page on downloading pictures to a computer was of absolutely no help. I spent an hour of trial and error to figure it out!
14 it's a great camera even in indoor shot.
I don't know why people complain about this. It really works great for us. I was a little bit worried about indoor shot after read all the reviews because i mostly use this one in indoor for my baby(our house is not that bright with the natural light). However after I got this one, my all worry is gone. The picture quality is great and this carmera is really easy to use. (even the software..)I'm not really good at the all those function expecially in the electric gadgets. but this is really make me relieve.
also it's small enough to carry everywhere and very steady with metal body.
There is only two things I'm a little concern about this.
one is i wish it has a sound in the movie mode..
well.. anyhow we are going to have a camcorder, so.. it's not going to be big deal.
sencond one is i hope I can charge the battery without discard from the camera. however fortunately once you charge the battery it stays really really long.. which make me hesitate to buy extra battery..
Anyhow so far so good. I highy recommend this one to anybody.
15 Good camera
The Olympus Stylus 400 is a very good camera. It is one of the tiniest I have seen, and the body design feels sturdy. It is the ONLY camera that is all weather, and the menu system is fairly easy. The picture quality is just OK, and I would not recommend this camera for anyone who is a serious photographer. It is a very good point-and-shoot camera for a novice to intermediate photographer.
16 What no super bright lense ?
The Olympus Stylus 400 is a nice camera for outside, well lit shots. What is missing is the Olympus milestone 1.8 Super Bright lense. That lense is on the Olympus C-5050 that they are discontinuing, and replacing it with the C-5060. Unlike the 5050, the 5060 has a darker lense. The Stylus 400 has one of the darkest, with a 3.1 to 5 aperture range. That is why their is so many complaints about the inside shots.
What the 1.8 super bright lense means is that it lets in more light, with a larger opening. More light means faster shutter speeds, which means non blurry shots. It is even more important for indoor shots with low light.
I have an Olympus C-2040 which has the super bright 1.8 lense, and was Consumer Reports number one rated camera a couple of years back. It actually outperformed even the 5 megapixel cameras in printed picture results, and in the follow up review, it rivaled the 5's.
When I am indoors, I purposely turn off the flash, and take pictures with just the normal existing light in the room. That way you get warm natural skin tones. With a darker lense, you are totally dependent on a flash, which eats up your battery life, and gives you washed out bright area shots.
Right now with the C-5050 going for less money as a clearance to make way for the 5060, which is also 5 megapixels, but with the darker lense, makes me want to suggest the 5050 is the one to have.
Myself personally, I am keeping my 2040 because of the great results I am getting. I can print out an 8 1/2" x 11" on photo glossy paper, and you can't tell it from a 35mm photograph.
I like the entire Olympus line, but their caveat is that super bright lense. Normally you have to sacrifice some of that to get an increased zoom beyond the normal 3x. In the Stylus 400 you don't even get the additional zoom, while sporting the darkest lense. If you are outside, in sunlit conditions, that is fine. I don't know about you, but I take most of my pictures indoors. That is where the super bright lense shines.
I'm sure the 400 is a great little camera, but I thought the aperture range should be brought to the forefront. A lot of years ago, I bought a 35mm Nikon with a 1.4 50mm lense. It was more money than the smaller ones, and they also had a 1.2 that was all glass in the front, and very expensive. The same rule applies here. Get the 1.8 instead of a 3 plus if you are doing some indoor shots. Nobody knows what is best for everybody, but I hope this helps.
17 great camera!
This little camera has everything you need. I've been dealing with digital cameras since they started comming out with them for my work.For most of us, we only need a camera with a very simple operation and that it not so hard to navigate.This little camera does everything you need it to, unless you plan on producing profesional pictures.I have learned with these cameras over the years the simpler the better.This camera is very small and great for traveling.Takes a matter of a couple of hours to work this camera RIGHT.READ THE MANUAL and this camera will take good quality pics anywhere inside or out with a little adjusting.
18 Would not recommend this to anyone...
After purchasing this camera I found out how poorly it shoots indoors or close-ups. When not using the flash, all images are blurry, even when mounted on a stable surface. For those photographers that do rely on manual controls this camera is not right for you. I'm still upset that I spent this much money on a camera that can't take decent pictures.
19 GREAT POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA
I PURCHASED THE 400 JUST PRIOR TO A CRUISE TO ALASKA, I TOOK ABOUT 80 PICTURES AND HAD THEM PRINTED ABOARD SHIP.AFTER LOOKING AT HALF I WANTED TO THROW THE CAMERA IN THE OCEAN.[THEY WERE THAT BAD] I THOUGHT I HAD MADE A REAL BAD PURCHASE. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I SENT MEMORY CARD TO PHOTO-WORKS WHO I HAVE USED FOR YEARS.THE DIFFERENCE WAS NITE AND DAY,6 OF WHICH I HAVE BLOWN UP TO 8X10 AND THEY ARE JUST GREAT.IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A POINT AND SHOOT DIGITAL AND TIRED OF CARRYING THAT LARGE 35MM YOU WILL LOVE THIS CAMERA
20 good size ok pics
I bought this camera based on the quality of Olympus. I really love the size. I usually don't us the 4meg setting since it uses alot of the memory, but it is good for snapshots. I personally think that a 35mm point and shoot gives better pics, but if the person blinks you don't know until 2wks later. The Digital Camera give you an instant view. The computer jpegs look better than my prints off the printer, but it maybe my printer. The focus on the stylus is alittle slow, but good camera.
21 Very Pleased with the Stylus 400
I purchased this camera new from Ebay for $350 with a 64MB card. I have been very pleased with the camera. It is exceptionally compact and takes very good pictures. The camera is easy to operate for someone who isn't big on reading manuals. If you have Windows XP, the camera requires no software to transfer pictures to your PC. In fact, I have used the camera to act as a removable drive and used it to transport MS Word files between computers (I copied the files to the camera using Windows Explorer). So far I have printed out photo quality pictures up to 8.5 x 11 inches using the second highest 4megapixel setting (about 1 mb per pic). One criticism I have is regarding the included memory card. 16MB is really too small to do much with. The highest resolution consumes about 2 megabytes per shot and the second highest takes 1 mb per shot. You really need at least a 64MB card and preferably a 128 or 256MB card or you will be forced to use the lower resolution. Overall, I have been very happy with the camera and it is small enough that we have it with us most the time. And when our new 256MB Card arrives, I can take 250 pictures between downloads!
22 poor quality pictures
The design of the camera, the metal case, size, weather-proofing are excellent. It's still my favorite. However the quality of pictures both indoors and outside are horrible. The camera over compensates for dark or light situations. A beautiful day with a nice blue sky is captured by either making the sky very white, or the subject (trees, house, etc) very dark. The camera is being returned because of the poor quality. It's a real bummer because I like everything else about the camera.
Updated 10/21/03 -- Purchased the Canon Powershot S400 to replace. What a great camera!!!! The Canon takes excellent pictures right out of the box. About the same size, but no weatherproofing. Much better camera for the money!!
23 Poor indoor shots
I recently bought one of these- It was to be my third digital camera from Olympus.
it seemed a perfect fit for me, since my last camera died from me getting it wet.
To start with the positive:
The form factor is great, and it really feels solid.
But the negative list is a bit longer:
The controls are VERY basic, with only some static modes-- moreover it doesn't have a hardware switch for modes like the d-40 or 740uz. You have to use the LCD interface to do it.
But the real problem with this camera was the indoor photo quality.I actually returned this camera, as I was VERY disappointed with the quality of the indoor pictures.
Even self timer shots from a tripod were blurry!
I got the 740UZ instead. it is WAY bigger, but at least it takes decent pictures.
If you are going to buy this camera, make sure you buy it from amazon or another place with a good returns policy!
24 Primary virtue is it's weather resistance
Good Point's:
1.)Weather resistance (note- it is not waterproof, but does have a nice rubber seal under the access port for it's I/O and card slot).
2.)Small Size - easily fits in front pants pocket
3.)Metal,relatively tough outer body - also more scratch "resistant" owing to anodized or matt texture to the metal surface making scratches less apparrent.
4.)integral, tough lens cap - you'll never loose it.
5.)XD memory cards - expensive but very fast, hence compensating somewhat for the minimal integral frame buffer to improve shooting speed.
6.)Rechargable Lithium battery - bucks up front (get a spare), saves big in the long term.
Bad Point's:
1.)Cost - cheaper cameras for the price - though none that are weather resistant.
2.)XD memory cards - Costly and "yet another USB dongle" to buy for your PC if you transfer your px by removing the card and plugging it into a card reader. At least Windows XP will recognize the camera (when connected by USB cable to PC) as a simple card reader without the installation of any additional drivers on WinXP
3.)Images - 4 megapixels are nice, but the lens is clearly a little "soft" compared to more serious cameras like the Olympus E20, Nikon 7000 etc. Abberation less apparent beyond short focus distance to my eye, consistant with others reports of better outdoor pictures. The Camera appears to try to add contrast and unsharp mask internally before saving the images.
4.)Lack of manual controls, plus the fact that everytime you turn it on it defaults to a relatively lower quality JPEG save mode, which wastes a few seconds while you change it to save in Best quality (Which I would recomend- get the 256MB XD card if you can)
Summary: If you like the outdoors (camping, boating, other water sports), then this really is the camera to buy while waiting for the Digital Nikonos (which will likely cost big bucks). Otherwise, look seriously at the new Cannon Elph for a small form factor.
25 Some good features, but
The Stylus 400 is attractive because of it's 4 megapixel resolution, the weather resistant case, and it's small size. All very attractive if you enjoy the outdoors and want your camera with you.
However, be aware that the low light sensitivity means that you will often be using slow shutter speeds and will need a tripod or other support. You also might expect that a camera with this price and pixel resolution would have some more advanced features. However, this is a point and shoot camera only.
Compare to the Canon S50 at a similar price.
26 What about being weatherproof?
I have not bought yet, but this is my primary consideration for this little beauty!
27 great little camera
I love that it's so compact and takes great pictures. I haven't run into any problems yet, but have had it only for a short time.
28 Pricey & not the best camera!
Nice design and good looking. (Although not yet stylish as Canon Elph's.) Good battery life but the extra battery costs a lot. You can't put in AA batteries in this one.
Average image quality indoors. Good outdoors. Slow to focus and has annoying shutter lag. No manual features and many photos need to be tweaked in photoshop. Video mode is junk.
Uses propreitary xD cards...Back to the camera, its a good attempt by Olympus but still way behind Canon, Sony, Pentax, Nikon and Minolta...
