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| Date Reviewed: Dec 26, 2005 |
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Strengths: 10 Optical Zoom
Weaknesses: Slow flash
Summary: The camera takes great, sharp pictures. The 10 optical zoom is fantastic. Flash pictures are not as good as hoped.
I probably need to try more settings and experiment more with flash situations. It does not do well in low light situations such as Christmas pictures with Christmas tree lights.
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| Date Reviewed: Nov 21, 2005 |
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Strengths: the icons on the mode dial are easy to read and understand. I had never used a digital camera before, so I started by reading the manual, again well-written and understandable.
Weaknesses: It's a bit heavy.
Summary: This is my first digital camera, and I find it easy to use. The icons on the camera are almost self-explanatory, and the automatic focusing is perfect. The detail in the macro mode is astonishing, even when blown up to 8 X 10. I have not hooked up to my computer yet....I have to get more memory....but took it to school and used it there. Everything is good!
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| Date Reviewed: Oct 5, 2003 |
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Strengths: Great Quality, Name Brand, Cool Look, Powerful Zoom, Easy to use after after you get the hang of it, Fit for the novice and the experts, doesn't eat batteries like a monster
Weaknesses: Non-Automatic covering lens cover, Big, Comes with only 16mb XD flash card, no audio movie recording, Has to focus before taking a picture, average manual
Summary: The C-740 is a great camera. At 3.2 Megapixels, you can get big prints. The battery life of this camera is great and lasts for a very long time. It will fit everyone's needs. The price is worth its features. Get it! You will not regret it!
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| Date Reviewed: Jun 2, 2004 |
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Strengths: 10 Optical zoom, uses AA batteries, decent quality photos, many "preset" options yet also many customizable features, can use either Smart Media or XD cards
Weaknesses: Bulky, definitely not pocket-sized, difficult to make settings "stick," no image-stabilization thus you can't use the full 10x zoom without a tripod,software has some great features but a few bad ones
Summary: On the whole, this is a great camera with a few drawbacks.
It takes good pictures and does not require a PhD to use the basic features, yet many of them are user customizable.
It uses standard AA batteries and if you use rechareable batteries you can get several hundred shots before they run out.
The camera can use either Smart Media cards (cheap but not available in sizes over 128 mb), or the faster, smaller and more expensive XD cards (available in sizes up to at least 512 mb).
The zoom is by far the best feature of this camera,it allows you to get real close, but unless you have really steady arms, a tripod, or rest it on a steady surface you can't use it above about 6x without getting blurred photos. The zoom is also what makes the camera bulky. It will not fit in your pocket.
Newer models of this camera have a 10x zoom that does not stick out as far (and thus might allow it to fit in your pocket although it would still be large). Newer models also offer 4mb or 5mb, but I'm perfectly happy with 3mb which allows excellent quality reprints to at least 8 x 10. The only reason to go for more megapixels is either to print above 11 x 14 or to effectively use some of the digital zoom.
The camera boots-up acceptably but won't win any speed prizes. The lag between shots is large unless you select the setting that automatically takes several shots in a row (which won't really work if you need to use the flash). There is also a lag between the time you press the shutter and the time the photo is actually taken, especially if you haven't pre-focused the camera by pressing the shutter down half-way (which I highly recommend doing). Thus while you can take "action" shots (it has the ability) it takes a lot of practice to do so and get the shutter to snap at the precise moment you want it to.
For some reason I do not understand, my camera resets itself to take pictures a 2 mp (instead of 3 mp) every time I turn it off, and I can't find a way to change this default. While 2 mp is usually fine, this should be easier to adjust and to make "stick" at 3 mp.
The software that comes with the camera is generally great and easy to use. It is very easy, for example, to print out an 8.5 x 11 page with a combination of different photos, and with different sized photos (like one 5 x 7 and several wallet sized pictures). Selecting the pictures is "drag and drop" and the software will also print special projects (greeting cards, postcards etc.) and will run a slide show of your photos.
The major drawback of the software is that it doesn't allow you to decide where on your computer the images will reside and the location the software selects is nested very deep in an obscure location. Also, when you rotate the pictures in the Olmpus software, it does not rotate the original image on your hard drive so if you use another viewer (like the file explorer) to look at the photos you will have to rotate them again. You also can't rotate a bunch of photos at once.
On the whole, I'm happy with my camera, although I wish I had the newer models where the lens does not stick out as much. If you think of it like a standard camera that hangs around your neck you will enjoy it. If you want a camera that you can take with you everywhere you go and store in your pocket or purse, then you need to look elsewhere.
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| Date Reviewed: May 2, 2003 |
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 If I could rate the camera separate from the inclu ... Strengths: Very nice camera and takes wonderful pictures. They are very clear, zoom is great
Weaknesses: Printing out photos using Camedia software (included photo editor software from Olympus) , and e-mail tech support.
Summary: If I could rate the camera separate from the included software I would give the camera a 5 and the software a -1, hence the 3 rating. The Camedia software that comes with the camera does not do borderless printing. If you wish to print out a 4x6 that fully uses the paper you will need to purchase someone else's photo editor. The Camedia software will print a 4 x 6 piece of photo paper at 4 x 5.33 max. The 5.33 can only be made smaller not larger. It is a shame when spending the kind of money you do for this camera that you still need to purchase different photo editors to get it to deliver what you need. If you never print or like white borders on the sides of your photos it is wonderful. If you do have a technical question do not try using the e-mail support. I have sent 3 e-mails and not received a response to a single one yet. Phone support at least answers the phone.
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| Date Reviewed: Aug 11, 2003 |
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Strengths: Fantasic optical zoom capability, lots of features like manual focus, aperature and shutter priority modes, excellent battery life.
Weaknesses: Menu system takes a bit of getting used to.
Summary: My wife and I were looking for an affordable digital camera that had the ease of a point and shoot, but provided the additional flexibility of 35mm SLR. We have been using a medium level Fuji 35mm SLR for years and wanted features like aperture priority, macro, and manual focus. This camera has it all plus! We could not find another digital camera that had all of the features that the Olympus C-740 does under $800. The optical zoom is especially a bonus. Most digital cameras provide at most a 3x optical zoom, but the Olympus is 10X! We have tried the camera in a variety of settings, indoors (both with and without the built-in flash), low light level, high speed, outdoors, and panoramic. This camera performs beautifully in all settings. I highly recommend it.
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| Date Reviewed: Aug 26, 2003 |
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Strengths: What a wonderful, magical, machine the C-740 is. It is simplistic; but with the capability of manually overriding the automatic controls and getting very special effects.
Weaknesses: Only 1/4 of the 170 page manual that accompanies the camera is in English; the bulk of the instructions are on the CD. What a Shame.
Summary: The vast majority of photos I plan to take will be in one of seven auto modes; much like a very exotic 'Point & Shoot'. The other options, such as 'Movies' do not interest me now. Being able to shoot many exposures in a second or two will come in handy; knowing that I will delete all but the best ones. I knew that I would have to buy more memory, backup batteries and a case.But sorry I had to print out the instructions from the CD, all 200+ pages.Now with camera in one hand and manual in the other, I can work the controls and master this fine machine.
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| Date Reviewed: Dec 30, 2003 |
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Strengths: Ultra Zoom, Very good picture quality, compact design, rich of usefull mode, good for normal as well as advance user. Good price tag. Using AA battery, and last longer than other digital camera.
Weaknesses: Lag Time - to long. Improve the lag time can make this camera more fun.
Summary: This camera is actually the best camera for the price tag. Buy this camera for value of your money, you will never disappointed with the picture quality, functionality and manual setting. I pay RM 1550, = USD 408.
thank and happy taking picture...
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| Date Reviewed: Nov 8, 2003 |
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Strengths: Easy to use. Lightweight. Takes great pictures. .
Weaknesses: Menu a little confusing. Always have trouble deleting pictures Taking closeups sometimes creates blurry pictures
Summary: I bought mine on ebay for $285.00. It is a reconditioned camera with which I have had no problems. It takes great pictures and I would recommend it to others.
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| Date Reviewed: Apr 16, 2004 |
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This is a very good camera that I think most begin ...
Strengths: Great 10x zoom, good pictures, AA batteries, lots of manual controls, lots of resolution settings.
Weaknesses: Colors are slightly warm for my taste (but has good WB & saturation adjusting capabilities), trouble focusing in low lighting
Summary: 2004-04-30 08:39:20 This is a very good camera that I think most beginners & many amateurs will be pleased with. I noticed some pictures seemed to have a lot of noise when viewed in actual size (at default resolution & ISO!).
The colors in the pictures are not as vibrant as with the Canons.
It's also too bad that there is no AF illuminator.
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| Date Reviewed: Jun 16, 2003 |
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Strengths: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, manual modes (including manual focus)
Weaknesses: no external flash, complex menus
Summary: I bought this camera because of the 10x optical zoom and the sub-$500 price tag. I have not been disappointed. I own a Canon EOS 630 and the C-740 has many of the same control capabilities. The ability to manually focus was important because there are times that AF doesn't cut it. This is the only camera in this class that allowed for manual focus ... it's a bit hard to find, but it's there if you need it. The picture quality has been great and as long as there is decent lighting of the subject, if you have focus lock, the shutter lag is very small. This is a great camera ... if you really need external flash, 4MP, or audio recording, try it's big brother the c-750 that should be shelves soon.
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| Date Reviewed: Jul 23, 2003 |
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Strengths: The zoom is awesome, easy to get started, excellent instructions.
Weaknesses: Battery polarity markings are confusing and appear backwards, but the actual batteries only fit one way.
Summary: Nice compact camera that performed great on my first test pictures. I am not a trained photographer so it is good to have the camera handle all of the details so I can just get great shots. I tried the zoom at full and th clarity and detail it captured was excellent! I look forward to taking lots of excellent pictures! The 16Mb card that is included is really too small and I recommend buying a larger one immediately. The menu structure is detailed and cryptic, but once I caught on to the abbreviations, I thought it was well organized and easy to use. I recommend this camera to anyone who wants an easy to use unit that has great flexability.
73% of People (8/11) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: Jul 19, 2003 |
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Strengths: Shop no more! Compact for a full featured camera, excellent buy for the $$$... 10x zoom... get this one.
Weaknesses: Lens extends when powering up even to download photos, No case, but which ones do? 16mb card is a joke, nice marketing scheme to buy more cards I guess.
Summary: The only camera I found this full-featured was a Sony for $800.00 or so and it was huge compared to this. I had 3 camera experts tell me this is the best camera for the money and now I would have to agree. I went down to Best Buy first to try it out, but they had it for $499. I got it here for $389.00 delivered.
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| Date Reviewed: Jun 26, 2003 |
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Strengths: Good price, very easy to use, size and weight is easy to carry all day, the battries it comes with lasted much longer then expected, many features to use for different pictures.
Weaknesses: Software it comes with is not good. LCD does not give a good look at a picture when doing a quickview.
Summary: We rate this camera an overall 4.25 for it's easy to use, great price, execllent picture quality when down loaded and printed, many feaatures to use, the 10 opt. zoom is great for detail shoots, (you need to have a steady hand, or tripod when using the full 10 opt. zoom). We took the camera on our trip to Yellow Stone National Park and took over 300 picture, and we are very happy with the camera and the quailty of the pictures. Some of it's weakness is common to most ditgal cameras. It come with a small memory card, LCD does not give a very good view of the picture when doing a quick view, software is not very good. If you need a camera with high opt. zoom easy to use and a good price ithis is the one.
71% of People (5/7) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: Jun 2, 2003 |
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Strengths: TERIFFIC ZOOM WITH WONDERFUL QUALITY. COMPACT SIZE FOR SUCH A LONG ZOOM.
Weaknesses: MENUS DIFFICULT TO LEARN
Summary: TYPICAL OLYMPUS QUALITY. 3.2 MEGAPIXEL PROVIDES SURPRISINGLY GOOD IMAGES AT ALL ZOOM RANGES. COLORS ARE VIVID AND ACCURATE. ALL IN ALL I'M VERY PLEASED. THE PICTURES PRINT OUT 8 X 10, WITH 35 MM QUALITY.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CAMERA.
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