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Olympus Stylus 400 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Olympus Stylus 400 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

List Price: $499.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Improving Olympus
Review: 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!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Would not recommend this to anyone...
Review: 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.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I Hear you Knocking, And You Definitely Can't Come In!!!
Review: 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!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Primary virtue is it's weather resistance
Review: 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.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: flimsy media door
Review: 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)



Rating: 3 stars
Summary: good size ok pics
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A true pHD (press Here Dummy) digital camera
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: it's a great camera even in indoor shot.
Review: 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.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good but some design flaws and bad flash
Review: 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.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: What about being weatherproof?
Review: I have not bought yet, but this is my primary consideration for this little beauty!


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