Olympus C-2040 2.11MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
- 2.11 megapixel sensor creates 1600 x 1200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10
- 3x optical plus 2.5x digital zoom lens with autofocus
- Included 8 MB SmartMedia memory card holds 16 images at default resolution
- Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
- Uses 2 CR-3V lithium batteries, included, or 4 AA batteries, not included
The CAMEDIA C-2040 Zoom is a perfect example of how some things get better with age. Offering all the functions of its elder C-2020 Zoom digital camera, the Olympus C-2040 additionally provides the world’s first Super Bright 1.8-2.6 3x Optical zoom lens which extends the flash working range for shooting at greater distances and in lower-light conditions. For greater flexibility, the CAMEDIA C-2040 Zoom features up to a 2.5x digital zoom and up to a 5x digital zoom in VGA mode.Helping to capture these images at a high-quality image resolution is the camera’s 2.11 megapixel 1/2-inch RGB CCD. These images can then be transferred more quickly than in previous models due to the “Storage Class” USB design to instantly mount the camera to your USB Mac or Windows computer. As for power, the C-2040 Zoom can be used with CR-3V (LB-01) batteries as well as AA Ni-MH, alkaline, lithium or NiCd to provide a longer life battery capability.An upgrade to Olympus’ respected (and discontinued) C-2020, the C-2040 incorporates all of its predecessor’s features plus a faster lens, easier connection to your computer, and improved image processing. The fast f1.8-2.6 lens is clearly the central feature of the new model. According to Olympus, the lens lets the C-2040 shoot in lower light conditions, which allows you to shoot flash-free in more situations and increases the effective range of the flash. The 2.11 megapixel CCD in the C-2040 captures images at a resolution of 1600 x 1200, in both the JPEG and uncompressed TIFF formats, and an 8 MB internal buffer allows you to shoot at 1.4 frames per second at high resolution and low compression levels. Additionally, the camera can record short QuickTime movies with sound.
The camera can be operated in several modes: in programmed-auto mode, the camera does everything for you; in aperture- and shutter-priority modes, you get to set the aperture or priority, and the camera does the rest; in full manual mode, you have control over all camera functions. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via the included USB cable, or viewed on your television using the included video cable. The camera includes USB storage class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000 and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software. The C-2040 also ships with two CR-3V long-life disposable lithium batteries (four AA batteries can also be used), an 8 MB SmartMedia card, strap, and software.
List Price: $ 599.99
Price: $ 599.99
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This is the only show in town !,
I just bought one of these. Finding one was a challenge in itself. When I told Amazon to email when the item was in stock, I received an email from Amazon that I never received before. I was told it would be a long time before they would be available. Why, because nobody beats this camera.
This camera sports the Super Bright 1.8 lense. This Olympus and the top of the line Olympus are the only two in the industry that have it. What it means is a larger opening, which lets in more light. Consequently, the auto shutter speed is faster, less chance to get a blurry shot. Also the background of the shot is brighter and more defined. I was in a camera store, the manager’s personal camera was the C-2020, the predecessor to this one. He had shot a picture of a metal guitar, one with the 2040, and the other with the Nikon 950 (which is twice the money) He printed out a large 8″x11″ glossy. Seeing them side by side, the definition in the shot was the same, I couldn’t tell the difference, but the ivy leaves in the background surrounding the shot, were a lot brighter, instead of being dark and ill defined in the Nikon shot.
Consumer Reports rated the predecessor C-2020 Olympus as being the number one camera in printed picture results, knocking out even the 3 and 4 megapixel cameras quality. Imagine that, 2 megapixels, half the money, yet the best results. Sounds like an avalanche trying to get in the door on that one. Well CR just came out with the November 2001 issue, and guess what, the C-2040 did it again. Making the number one spot, and this time they gave it special mention, because the quality rivaled that of the 3′s and 4′s. Usually a print out at 5×7″ size is what the 2 megapixel cameras are good for. Not this one, the crystal clear shot I saw was an 8 1/2 by 11.
Ok, on to the camera. Some reviews, including CR, state that the menu was a little confusing. I did not find that to be the case. Shooting, zooming, previewing, deleting, downloading, etc is a breeze. When I tackle some of the more challenging tasks of manual settings, instead of the complete autofocus etc., maybe then I will learn what they are talking about.
The picture clarity is unbelievable. I took a few shots of some metal objects, and thought something was strange, their was little dots on the metal. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was the little flecks of dust. They were so clear blown up on a 19″ screen, something you would not see, little individual flecks of dust, bright and clear. The detail was phenomenal. The zoomed in upclose shot, looked like it was taken one inch away, and was larger than life. Like a real life microscope.
The panorama feature, which was previously a Canon exclusive is nice. You can take up to 10 pictures, across a landscape, or a room for example, and then the Camedia software which is included pastes them together, which creates a single panorama. If you sent this shot to a friend, they would receive one pic, that they could navigate around, to see the entire room.
One thing that really matters to me, is that this is also the best looking camera. It looks smart. Chrome body, with the larger black hub at one end was the style I was looking for before I learned of the C-2040. Many digital cameras have this metal early 50s look that I do not like. This camera is beautiful in its design.
When I first picked it up with its .6 of a pound weight, and relatively small size, I thought it was a toy camera. Then when I took the lense cap off, and turned the camera on, the zoom lense gently whirred when it came out, and it was an immediate feeling of, this is high tech. Oh by the way, having had a Nikon FE with 80-120 zoom, (I still do) I wanted a zoom that was more than 2x optical. That feature was available once again, on more expensive cameras. The C-2040 has a 3X optical. Zooming in, and filling the frame with your subject, makes for a interesting shot, and the 3x is very nice for that. The Olympus model that is directly above this one, has a 10x zoom, but it doesn’t have the 1.8 lense. For those of us who were into the 35MM SLRs, know all to well that the cameras with the 1.5s were more expensive lenses, and the 1.2s made the lense look like it was all glass.
Also the 1.8″ LCD on the back is large, and crystal clear. Easy to read menu functions, and nice picture views.
A few final notes, be careful buying one of these for a cheaper price, make sure the camera you buy has the US guarantee. Gray market cameras come without the guarantee. Digital camera repairs are running a couple of hundred dollars these days, so the warranty is nice.
This camera also takes short movies, but they never replace a digital camcorder in that regard.
The optional remote control is way better than a timer, which this also has, if you want to get into the shot. That way, your not stumbing over things to get into the shot, and you can wait until the…
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|Lovely piece of work,
This camera was a birthday gift. I had asked for a digital point-and-shoot but my husband, a photography instructor, thought better and bought a camera with manual modes. The camera is a joy to use and takes beautiful photos outdoors and in, with the default JPG format of 1200×1600 pixels. This is fine if the biggest you want to go is 5 x 7 (8 x 10 if you’re not picky). If you’re an amateur, like me, turn the blasted flash off and go with natural light, but remember to adjust the ISO “film” speed up accordingly (the default is 100). All compact flash units are a pain, though this does have an option for a separate flash. Yes, rechargable batteries and an AC adapter are must-haves. Leave the camera plugged into AC while the batteries recharge so you don’t lose the date/time settings you’ve entered.
The parallax distortion in the viewfinder is different from what is described in the instructions — if doing closeups, use the monitor to center the composition.
The nested menus to control the various functions are confusing, my only real complaint about this camera (other than the “lens cap of doom” that you MUST not leave on). You will live with the manual for a while. Laminate the flimsy paper covers, it gets dogeared fast.
The Camedia Master software is confusing — you click on the “download pictures” menu and get a message that there’s no communications with the camera! Obvious this feature must work with some other Olympus camera. Same message if you click on the little “my camera” icon. The software sees the camera up as a removable drive, and you have to drill down two levels to get to the pictures. Once there, you can just drag and drop the pix like any other file in Windows. For that matter, you can just drag and drop in Explorer, if you don’t want to look at the thumbnails. A serious amateur will need to get better editing software, like Photoshop, to manipulate the captured images. Make sure you program the camera with date and time, otherwise all images are given a date of 01/01/00, very confusing, and the default names will overlap (default names include the date it was taken).
All in all, a very nice camera.
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