Rating: 
Summary: Everything I wanted
Review: I've had my C3030 for months, now. It's so small I can take it everywhere--and I do. With it, I've taken great shots of daily scenes in and around Miami, FL. Having it makes street photography fun and easy.As for the C3030's image quality, no other digital camera, in its price range, outdoes it. I went from a One Megapixel camera straight to the C3030. Needless to say, the difference was astounding. The large number of resolutions from which to choose really allow the photographer to shoot for any purpose--from email attachments, to Web pages, to professionally output hi-res images. Usually, simply using the default resolution with the built in picture taking modes is right for any situation not requiring super hi-res output. And it's easy. I coupled my Olympus with an HP DeskJet 1220C. Using the camera's default resolution, the printed output is guite good. I can tell I haven't used the higher resolutions. But my friends, who see the framed photos, usually think they came from a lab. Of course I use Photoshop to help tweak the images until they look just as I want them to look. But I really don't need to. All in all, the C3030 is an excellent Camera. The number of settings and menus is, at first, a bit daunting. But spending some time to get to know the camera really unlocks its full potential. If you want an excellent digital camera, with excellent image quality, easy to use default settings, and advanced features for even more flexibility, the C3030 is the one to get.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Camera!
Review: I have a C-2020, which is a slightly older version of this camera model. This has been a fantastic camera both in terms of quality, reliability and battery life. Between some friends and myself we have just about every model in this family (C-2000 through C-3040) and we all love our cameras. Quality: I have taken hundreds of shots, mostly outdoor. I tend to shoot at the high-quality jpeg level so I bought a 64MB smart media card. Paired with my HP DeskJet 952 I regularly printout 4x6 prints on photo paper that are absolutely perfect. I have printed a few 8x10 pictures and they are fantastic. No one can believe they were taken with a digital camera. I have to zoom in quite a ways with my photo editing software before I can see any pixels. The only negative thing I can say is that I wish it had a better macro mode. Reliability: It has been rained on, splashed by a wave, and dropped a short distance onto a rock. Despite all this it is still going strong a year and several hundred pictures later with no negative affects. Batteries: I use the rechargeable batteries and during heavy use they last 2-3 weeks. During light use they last 3-6 months. Compare this to most Kodak or Nikon cameras that last a few days of heavy use. A few comments on my accessories: Forget the 16MB card that comes with it. I keep only mine as a back up. You will want a 64 MB smart media card. I bought the Olympus T-CON14 tele-converter lens 1.45x (152mm equivalent) and I am very happy with it. ... My next purchase is the wide-angle lens. I bought the Olympus Accessory Kit (which is the same for C-2000 through C-3040 models), mostly for the UV filter, adapter tube and 43mm-55mm step-up ring, and AC adapter. ... The mini-tripod, software, and case that come in that kit are not overly impressive but I considered those ‘free’. The lens cleaning kit is handy.
Rating: 
Summary: Great camera...but
Review: I love everything about this camera except I must say to use a tripod. This camera is just awful if you have a shaky hand. You can't take any "real time" shots.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Camera...Great Price
Review: After using an older "first generation" digital camera for quite a while, a upcoming overseas trip prompted me to look for a newer one. After looking at all the reviews I bought the Olympus 3030 Zoom. Since the new 3040 had just come out (F 1.8 lens compared to the F 2.8 lens on the 3030) the price had dropped dramatically. I'm amazed by the quality of the pictures that this camera takes. Even in extremely low light circumstances, I can turn of the flash and get beautiful natural light pictures. I can only imagine what the F 1.8 lens on the new 3040 model would do! The menu is easy to use and the camera is delighlfully small. Manual settings are easy to adjust, but the auto setting mode is dead-on except for difficult shots like those with backlighting. The video mode also works great and captures both video and sound for short periods (200 seconds on a 64 mb card at HQ resolution). This is a great camera and the price is also great. The only downside is a lens cap that is not engineered to stay on the lens....buy a tether unless you want to keep replacing it!
Rating:
Summary: Great second camera
Review: I have just gotten this camera, and already I love it. It works well with the Viking 128MB chip (other than inability to do panorama, not much of a drawback for me) and right out of the box I was able to quickly be pointing and shooting. This is my second digital camera, and I am very impressed with it. The LCD menus are a little tricky to navigate at first, but I am quickly learning where things are. I have experimented with taking pictures at different resolutions and qualities, and also shot some movie clips. I downloaded the results to my computer with little trouble, although I think I would recommend buying either a reader or a PCMCIA adapter for the memory chip, downloading from the camera over it's USB port to the hard drive is a little cumbersome. It takes very nice photos in average lighting without the need for the flash, and I find it very easy to quickly snap a picture, especially of quickly moving subjects like children. It took me a little reading of the manual to discover that the remote only works when the timer is enabled, however once I mastered it I like the 3 second delay so you can hide the remote. I like the ergonomic placement of the controls, I can both hold the camera and work its major functions with a single hand. I didn't see any mention in the manual of the fact that the lens cap has to be removed prior to turning it since the first thing it tries to do is extend the lens barrel. Perhaps the lens cap should snap onto the extensible barrel and not the external housing? These are not major drawbacks but things to bear in mind while learning to use this camera. As a prior user of a digital camera, I think Olympus has done a good job addressing some of the shortcomings of early digital cameras, plus creating a digital camera that looks and feels like the film cameras I have used for years. The touch of the shutter button, picture resolution and recording speed are vastly superior to what I am used to in a digital camera, and compare with a good SLR. All the additional features are there if I want them, but the solid performance of the basic function is a key ingredient. I like to tinker, and having numerous overrides is great, but sometimes I am glad to not to bother with them and just click away, knowing the automatic program is making the right choices for me.
Rating:
Summary: Review of Olympus C-3030 Digital Camera
Review: I had a Sony Mavaca FD-91 before I bought the Olympus. The FD-91 is good but the C-3030 is the best by far when it comes to photo print quality. You can hardly tell the difference between a print from this camera or a good 35mm slr camera. Although the camera is complicated to operate, once you read the very large operating manual it gets easier to operate. Be aware that this camera is only USB compatable when you have Windows98 and not the upgrade. If you have Windows95 you will have to buy the floppy disc adapter for the smart media card in order to download pictures to your PC. A serial port cable also works with Windows95. An optional 32MB media card is also a plus. If you have a good ink jet printer and want some excellent photos, then the Olympus C-3030 is worth the premium price you will pay for this feature loaded camera.
Rating:
Summary: What gives it a star less?
Review: First, the bad things. Too much noise shooting under low light conditions. Also in low light conditions you'll find some green and white little points of light on the image.
The camera has an almost useless flash.
The good things: Video option is very useful. Output to see pictures and clips in TV's. Also you can use it if you want a larger view than the LCD display, just plug it to your TV, VCR etc. Great resolution for high quality printing.
If you have some experience in photography you'll find great all the manual options.
Rating:
Summary: easy to use, good quality
Review: I spent a lot of time researching digital cameras on the internet and found this one to be a good value. It's fairly compact, and it's lived up to its reputation. The Camedia software makes downloading the photos pretty easy. I just leave the cable hooked up to my computer and attach the camera when I need to download. No need for docking stations. As a digital camera neophite, I'm pleased with my purchase. I leave the 35mm camera at home now.
Rating:
Summary: Who knew photography could be so fun?
Review: I purchased this camera because I needed to be able to send Photos by E-Mail. I have been a 35mm photgrapher for 20 years, so I needed a camera that would allow me to be in control of my creations if I wanted to be. This camera suprised me with its excellence.
When all is said and done, all that you have is a lens and a subject, and, of course, the film plane. I was not disappointed by the range and versatility of the Olympus design. It even feels good in my hands!
I am very happy with this camera and hope to use it for many years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Great features
Review: I have had this camera for over a year and although it has a somewhat complex menu, the control it gives you over your pictures is wonderful. I now really appreciate all the thought that went into the design of the menus. Mechanically it is great after a year with no problems. I use it with rechargable batteries and keep it set for 2 megapixel pictures and great great battery life and it allows me to take 80 pictures on a memory card. I often use this with external lights and after a day of messing around with settings (the manual doesn't help much) found I needed to buy a special flash cabel to connect to my studio lights. The cable allows me to override the internal flash and take very good pictures of kids. I had to go to a professional photo store in Palo Alto to get the cable (could not find it on the Web) for about $30. I rarely use my 35 mm cameras anymore and use this one almost exclusively. I would certainly buy this camera again.
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