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Olympus Camedia D-510 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Olympus Camedia D-510 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

List Price: $399.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BIG bang for your buck!
Review: After considerable research, I decided on the Olympus Camedia D-510Zoom for my first "real" digital camera. I couldn't be more pleased with the ease of use (considering the deep menu which is somewhat intuitive for a technophile), long list of cool features/controls, and excellent image quality. Although you can start taking pics immediately with the quick-start guide, TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE FULL MANUAL ON THE CD and practice!

The video clip and panoramic features are very fun toys/tools and proved to be much better quality than I expected. The Camedia software effortlessly stitches up to ten pics together for interesting panoramic shots and the video feature saves short silent clips in Quicktime MOV format. I would recommend spending the extra ten bucks or so on an Olympus-brand SmartMedia card with the panoramic code for your first or second large-capacity card (since the card that comes with the camera is only 8MB and other brand cards don't have the proprietary panorama code that works with the software.)

My camera says it will shoot about 22 pictures in the highest TIF resolution (1600x1200) and 1300 pictures in the lowest JPG resolution (640x480) on a 128MB card. The highest JPG resolution (SHQ at 1600x1200 w/minimal compression) is where I keep mine set most of the time and I get about 90 shots per 128MB card. The default JPG setting (HQ at 1600x1200 w/medium compression) gets about 230 shots per 128MB.

As with any zoom camera I've ever used, you need to keep the camera still or your image will blur. Use a tripod as often as you can, particularly for zooming, night shots and definitely for panoramic shots. The 3x optical zoom is nice but it will not make my SLR (35mm film camera w/zoom and macro lenses) obsolete by a long shot-perhaps if I dropped a grand or two on a high-end Nikon or Minolta digital...

The camera does eat batteries, but not as bad as I expected, considering all the moaning and groaning in these reviews. Just buy an inexpensive NiMH charger and eight rechargeable batteries. I find my Energizer ACCUrechargeables last much longer than the batteries the camera came with and I'm very happy with them. I also keep a set of Duracells in the camera bag just in case.

The housing has been described as cheap (among other things) but I think it has a good solid feel to it and if you treat it like the somewhat delicate piece of electronic equipment it is, instead of like a football, it will probably last a long time.

I don't have a card-reader or AC adapter yet since I don't see an urgent need for them. The camera works well by itself as a card reader and the transfers are quick (about 4 minutes to transfer a full 128MB card) so I don't think I'll shell out the fifty bucks for the adapter (ouch!).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good camera for those who want more than 1.3 MP
Review: I've used several Olympus cameras at work and they were more expensive than this. I finally decided to buy one for my own personal use and, after reading LOTS of reviews, the D-510 seemed ideal for me. I'm familiar with the Camedia software package and the controls on the camera are similar to the cameras I've been using at work. I have been very pleased with the camera. The photo images are sharp, and some of the menu items have been simplified. My only complaint is that the camera defaults to HQ (high quality, but not super high quality) resolution each time you turn it off. I prefer to shoot in lower resolution SQ, so I get more pictures on the 32 MB SmartMedia card that I bought to go with the camera. (It comes with an 8 MB card, but it's worth the money to upgrade to at least 32 MB. I wish I'd gone ahead and forked over the money and gone up to 64 MB or even the new 128 MB...) Because of that, each time I use the camera I have to fiddle around and re-set the camera for standard quality. On the up side, there are two levels of SQ, two levels of HQ, and two levels of SHQ, for a total of six choices. In the lowest level of SQ mode, the camera can shoot several minutes of decent quality movie footage, which is fun -- but a REAL drain on the batteries. The camera comes with the Camedia software, which is adequate but not great, but it only works on Windows 98 and newer. I tried playing with it at work, where we have Windows 95/97, and it wouldn't work. That's OK, because my home computer has XP, and it does fine. Downloading with the Camedia 2.5 isn't as easy as Olympus says, but fortunately once you find your file, you can create shortcuts to get to your photos. The main thing about this, despite the small but pesky shortcomings, is that the quality of photos is good for such a low-priced camera. If I'd had a couple hundred more to spend I might have bought a better Olympus product, but for those on a smaller budget who want photos of the kids, vacations and other non-professional type photography, this small, solid camera can't be beat. It's as good, if not better, than the Olympus I use at work, which cost twice as much...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Versatile Camera
Review: I've used mine for two years so far and gotten alot of mileage out of it. What I really love is that it doesn't require special software to download pictures. When we go to visit, we can just plug in the camera with the USB cable, treat it as a removable disc, and transfer our pictures to our hosts computer before we leave. One downside is that the viewfinder doesn't quite frame the picture accurately. For close-ups, I have to turn on the LED screen or I cut off half of the face...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Real Battery Hog
Review: This camera has served me well and takes beautiful pictures. However I spend so much on batteries. Have tried regular, heavy duty, and alkaline and none last. If I don't take batteries out after each use, they won't last overnight. If one buys this superb camera he might want to use an adapter rather than rely on batteries (unless he has won the lottery).

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The green of nature is missing from the pictures.
Review: This camera is good overall except 2 major issues I discovered. First, the colors of outdoor shots were not accurate most of the time, specially the trees and grasses never looked as green in the pictures as in real world. I believe this is a major defect. (Another reviewer also mentioned the same problem.) Second problem is the long shutter delay. You will not be able to catch the best moments in life.

I will not buy another Olympus digital camera unless I am convinced they fixed such defects.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: excellent camera
Review: i really like my d-510, close-ups are beautiful, it performs extremely well - although the 'panorama' feature simply does not work anymore on my relatively new camera

i do not like the sliding lens cover or the wait between shots or only being able to view pics when camera is shut

i wish it recorded sound with the quicktime movie feature

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: first time camera buyers look
Review: I purchased this camera from [another retailer] on close out for... less than advertised on amazon. It works great. the only minor flaws are the small memory card I would recomend upgrading to a 128mb. and the camera don't take pic's if it's not snapped open but after you get used to it you'll have hours of fun toooo...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent Buy
Review: I bought this camera at a local store for a close out price and this camera has given great pic's ever since.They give you a 8mb card which is a start but you'll soon want to up grade to a 128mb.If your thinking of a starter camera at a great price .Check out this one I know you'll enjoy it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great camera with only one flaw
Review: This is a great all around camera for the average person to use. I bought one for my father and he has no problem using it as his first digital camera. It is simply and easy to use, with a basic manual that answers your questions as need be. I have borrowed this camera for myself and found the picture to be quite clear. It was easy to use on pick up, I only went to the manual occasionally. It is very easy to transfer you pictures to the PC. The wizard is useful for transferring to the PC, but you can also just treat this as a removable drive. The LCD window is great for taking up close shots and the zoom is enough for most people. This is a point and shoot camera and is one of the best at 2.1 MP.

The only problem is the camera lens door! You have to open it of course to shoot, but if you do not open it all the way the camera will not take pictures and this can be confusing for some. You must make sure to click it all the way. That would be okay and you will adjust, but when taking shots it is easy to shift the door slightly back in and cause the camera to not take pictures. This is the only flaw, it will frustrate you greatly when it happens, but I have adapted to taking pictures in a way to avoid this.

I still recommend this camera for 2.1 MP, but I also recommend buying the new 3.0 MP version (D550). It is very similiar and you get a lot better resolution. Search pricegrabber.com for competitive prices.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Decent First Digital Camera
Review: I am not a pro photographer but my family and I enjoy taking photos of our adventures and gatherings. Late last year, I decided to take the plunge. After reading reviews online and visiting Best Buy to actually feel the camera in my hands, I opted for the Olympus Camedia 510. After using it a year, I would say it is a decent, but not great camera and that for basic pictures in good lighting, it works well. It fits well in the hand, is very light and portable, and if you have never taken digital photos before, it is a real kick to see your work on your PC right after you shoot the photos.

The rub is that digital cameras, and this one is no exception, do not work at all well in lower lighting with the flash. You tend to get too bright and harsh images in the foreground and blackness in the background. You have to go up in price to get some correction for this. And, as other reviewers have noted, the time lag between depressing the button and waiting for the picture to be copied to the card is longish. Forget snapping a quick sequence of photos. And forget the manual. It was written by some tech geeks at Olympia who do not have a clue how to write clear, simple, direct instructions, or how to design a clear, simple menuing system for the camera. It took me a half hour to figure out how to delete a photo using the LED menu.

This is just a personal note: You have to slide the lens cover over to use the camera and then the lens extends itself. You snap the cover back to the edge of the lens and it retracts and you can close the lens cover. While this is nice to protect the lens, it got really annoying to me over time and I longed for a simple camera with a simple lens cover.

The pictures can be very vivid, even spectacular in their resolution, but sometimes the colors can be a little harsh.

I suggest that if you want to take basic pics in day light or well lit rooms, this is a decent little camera and the price will only keep getting lower. Plan on getting a higher memory card, a battery recharger kit and rechargeable batteries, the card reader to hook up to your PC (works like a charm) and download your own photo editing software.If you want more advanced features, better imaging, and better performance in dim light, you will have to go up in price.


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