Olympus D-490 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
Olympus D-490 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
Manufacturer: Olympus
Product Type: Photography
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com Review
The D-490 Zoom is the latest model in the venerable D-400 series, starting with the D-400Z and continuing with the D-450Z and D-460Z. All of these cameras have been extremely popular, and we expect the D-490 Zoom to be as big a hit. In its latest incarnation, the camera boasts a 2.1-megapixel sensor, an uncompressed TIFF storage option, plus a QuickTime movie mode.
Turning the camera on is a snap--literally. Just slide the protective lens cover until it clicks to a stop, and the 3x zoom lens pops out, letting you start shooting. The controls are so intuitive and similar to those of a film camera that most users won't even need to look at the owner's manual.
Olympus cameras consistently produce some of the highest-quality images when compared to other cameras with the same resolution. This is partially the result of high-quality optics, but also because Olympus cameras use less JPEG compression than most cameras. These less-compressed images result in larger file sizes, but Olympus feels that the higher quality results justify the reduced number of images that will fit on a memory card.
The camera includes numerous, nice little touches, including viewfinder diopter adjustment (for eyeglass wearers), a continuous shooting rate of 1.3 frames per second, exposure compensation, a self-timer, and more.
Of course, no camera is perfect. The 490Z's biggest shortcoming is its lack of USB connectivity, a nearly unforgivable omission these days. Though its serial port is compatible with virtually every PC and beige Mac ever made, it's painfully slow and incompatible with the iMac and newer Macintosh systems. Even if your computer has a serial port, we strongly recommend purchasing a separate memory-card reader, an inexpensive accessory that will transform your image transfers from a slow and painful experience to a quick and simple one. In addition, the camera is designed to operate on either 4 AA batteries or a pair of Olympus long-life disposable lithium batteries. It ships with the lithium batteries, which do have an impressive lifespan but can't be recharged and are more expensive than alkalines to replace. For long-term use, we recommend investing in a set of rechargeable batteries.
Other minor gripes: though the camera can record QuickTime movies, it has no microphone, so your film clips will be silent. Finally, the flash can be a bit frustrating. It needs to be popped up by hand before it's activated. This is probably something that becomes intuitive after you've owned the camera for a while, but we were repeatedly frustrated by having to retake low-light shots after forgetting to pop up the "automatic" flash.
Overall, the Olympus is a great camera if you're switching over from a point-and-shoot. It produces great-looking prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches and features an easy-to-use, compact design. The lack of a USB connection is the biggest shortcoming in this otherwise excellent camera.
Pros:
Cons:
Average customer rating: 
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Olympus D-490 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
Manufacturer: Olympus ProductGroup: Photography Binding: Electronics  All Camera & Photo
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ASIN: B00004WHE5 |
Amazon.com Review
The D-490 Zoom is the latest model in the venerable D-400 series, starting with the D-400Z and continuing with the D-450Z and D-460Z. All of these cameras have been extremely popular, and we expect the D-490 Zoom to be as big a hit. In its latest incarnation, the camera boasts a 2.1-megapixel sensor, an uncompressed TIFF storage option, plus a QuickTime movie mode.Turning the camera on is a snap--literally. Just slide the protective lens cover until it clicks to a stop, and the 3x zoom lens pops out, letting you start shooting. The controls are so intuitive and similar to those of a film camera that most users won't even need to look at the owner's manual.
Olympus cameras consistently produce some of the highest-quality images when compared to other cameras with the same resolution. This is partially the result of high-quality optics, but also because Olympus cameras use less JPEG compression than most cameras. These less-compressed images result in larger file sizes, but Olympus feels that the higher quality results justify the reduced number of images that will fit on a memory card.
The camera includes numerous, nice little touches, including viewfinder diopter adjustment (for eyeglass wearers), a continuous shooting rate of 1.3 frames per second, exposure compensation, a self-timer, and more.
Of course, no camera is perfect. The 490Z's biggest shortcoming is its lack of USB connectivity, a nearly unforgivable omission these days. Though its serial port is compatible with virtually every PC and beige Mac ever made, it's painfully slow and incompatible with the iMac and newer Macintosh systems. Even if your computer has a serial port, we strongly recommend purchasing a separate memory-card reader, an inexpensive accessory that will transform your image transfers from a slow and painful experience to a quick and simple one. In addition, the camera is designed to operate on either 4 AA batteries or a pair of Olympus long-life disposable lithium batteries. It ships with the lithium batteries, which do have an impressive lifespan but can't be recharged and are more expensive than alkalines to replace. For long-term use, we recommend investing in a set of rechargeable batteries.
Other minor gripes: though the camera can record QuickTime movies, it has no microphone, so your film clips will be silent. Finally, the flash can be a bit frustrating. It needs to be popped up by hand before it's activated. This is probably something that becomes intuitive after you've owned the camera for a while, but we were repeatedly frustrated by having to retake low-light shots after forgetting to pop up the "automatic" flash.
Overall, the Olympus is a great camera if you're switching over from a point-and-shoot. It produces great-looking prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches and features an easy-to-use, compact design. The lack of a USB connection is the biggest shortcoming in this otherwise excellent camera.
Pros:
Cons:
Amazon.com Product Description
With its 2.1-megapixel CCD, the Olympus D-490 zoom produces 1,600 x 1,200 resolution images, enabling sharp prints at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches. Like its physically identical predecessors (The D-460 and D-450), the camera has a 3x optical zoom lens, SmartMedia storage, and the familiar look and feel of Olympus's traditional film cameras. Unlike its predecessors, the D-490 has an uncompressed TIFF mode for ultimate image clarity, as well as a QuickTime movie mode so you can take short silent film clips. The flip-up flash includes forced- flash, red-eye reduction, and slow synchronization modes. For flexibility in image composition, the camera has both an optical viewfinder and a 1.8-inch LCD display. The camera uses four AA batteries or a pair of Olympus long-life CR-V3 lithium batteries. Though the lithium batteries have an impressive life span, they're nonrechargeable, so we still recommend getting a set of rechargeable batteries and a charger.Customer Reviews:
great camera.......2004-02-16
Like the fact that it uses aa batteries b/c if i get in a predicament where i need batteries, i know i can go to the neighborhood store to get them instead of being limited to propriatary (sp?) battery units like the sony. I have 2 sets of rechargeable batteries that i use and also have the separate card reader to download at faster speeds.
This camera has taken thousands of excellent pictures for me. I'll probably buy a newer model in the next couple of years but, for now, this 2 megapixel beauty is everything i need.
Good luck.
Don't buy it!.......2004-01-13
Olympus D-490.......2004-01-11
Great starting digital camera.......2004-01-03
Don't Get Too Attached to This Camera..It's gonna DIE!!!!!!!.......2003-12-16
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