Olympus C2500 2.5MP Digital SLR Camera

Olympus C2500 2.5MP Digital SLR Camera
Manufacturer: Olympus
Product Type: Photography

Average customer rating:

Good for beginners but very limited nonetheless
Super Cool Beans
This camera is simply amazing
Seeing Is Believing
My SLR feels lonely

Olympus C2500 2.5MP Digital SLR Camera

Manufacturer: Olympus
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Accessories:

Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO DG SLD Telephoto Zoom Lens for Olympus and Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC SLD ELD Aspherical Macro Lens for Olympus and Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras
Joby GP2-00EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras
Olympus 300mm f/2.8 Super Telephoto ED Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras
Kata E-690 Medium Digital SLR Camera Raincover

Product Features:

1,280 x 1,024 resolution
3x optical zoom
2.5-million-pixel CCD
Single-lens reflex design
Takes both CompactFlash and SmartMedia removable memory cards, 32 MB included

ASIN: B000035YC2

Customer Reviews:

Good for beginners but very limited nonetheless.......2005-04-05

The C2500 is good if you plan to move from the snap-and-shot world towards some SLR features, the very basic ones. The camera as tradition from Olympus, produces outstanding pictures bearing in mind its sensor has got only 2.5 Megapixels. Do not expect miracles from that point of view, your prints will be of reasonable quality up to 6x4 inches, which might be fine for the average customer.
However, the main flaws become more evident when taking pictures in dim light conditions: Certainly you'll need the help of a tripod and it is a good point that the camera comes with a IR shutter releaser. But the autofocus in these conditions behaves very erratically and 9 out of 10 shots will end up in the bin anyway.
Also, do not expect a great speed response either: The camera is VERY slow for shooting and writing, although it has a decent buffer which works better with jpeg format since the files are smaller than in tiff (the only uncompressed file option this camera has). In fact, the speed can be even slower than nowadays snap and shot cameras available.
The good points are that the camera has a good white balance, which it is recommended to get used to because in some conditions you'll need to change the default settings to get better results. The fact that the camera operates with 4 AA size batteries is something to be considered as an advantage as well, since these batteries are relatively cheap and you'll need no more than 2 sets of 4 batteries to be covered in most conditions for a 2-day continuous use.
The viewfinder is optical, Through the lenses. It gives you more "sense of control" of the composition and focus, the camera hasn't got an electronic viewfinder (which it is not a good habit nonetheless). It has, rather, an electronic monitor where you can see your results but you can get fooled most of the times because you might think you've taken a good shot whereas the shot might be completely out of focus.
The above limitations leave you with a good camera for landscape, architecture and portrait photography in good light conditions. If you are an enthusiast of photography and you get a good deal, though, it is better if you consider all the possible options in the market for the same price, offering a more complete range of features.

Super Cool Beans.......2000-05-21

I just opened the camera package last night, and within acouple of hours I was experimenting with most of the features of thecamera. When people talk of digital cameras they love to talk numbers, but who cares? It's what you can do with it that matters. I took a picture of a dark hallway with the flourecent bathroom lights on, and it looked like something out of The Shining. It was dark and foggy outside, but with the aperture full open, ISO 400, and the shutter open for 8 seconds I was able to take pictures of the buildings and night lights. The camera is so light I didn't have to use a stand (at 8 seconds you have to be as steady as a sharpshooter, though... be sure to hold our breath). Using the flash, with the spot metering and the aperture closed I was able to take a crisp, detailed picture of our dog in the midst of the night, doing dog things. With the multiple picture thing I took 5 pictures of my friend in a row waving his arms, and the sequence of where his arm is going is clear when viewing the 9 pictures at one time from the LCD. I'm also going to throw out my slow ... scanner, which I was using for sending faxes. I took a picture of a page from Webster's collegiate dictionary, and it was readable from the LCD!

Make no mistake, this is not a replacement for an analog camera. The casing and the interface feel like a cheap digital camera. I think, however, that in many ways this is better than an analog camera. You can do the things that are possible with an analog camera (except maybe for star trails), but with greater simplicity. And you get instant feedback.

If you are a journalist, claims investigator, or web publisher, and you have some basic knowledge of analog photography (...), this is definitely the camera for you. I recommend you get the ATA adapter so you won't have to mess with stupid cables or limited software.

Gotta go take some more pictures....

This camera is simply amazing.......2000-03-20

I love this this camera. The pictures quality is excellent. The ease of use is 5 star. It comes with 32Meg flash, it's good for 50 pictures. Has easy dial for auto, semi-auto and manual modes. I took 50 pictures first day I got it. All 50 were excellent quality, compare to my "old" sony PC1 digital video recorder. Down load to my portable is easy with compact flash, if you don't forget to put 2 batteries included with compact flash. Camera also comes with batteries, and recharger.

Overall excellent, 5Star I am very happy with it.

Seeing Is Believing.......2000-01-31

If your into computers and you'd like to integrate your photography into your computer world this is definitely the camera for you. If you already know how to use a 35mm SLR you'll find learning how to use most of this camera fairly easy. It has an auto mode that makes it possible for anybody to use and it has some manual modes that I've not yet totally conquered. It has enough pixels to blow your mind most of the time. You can't buy a monitor big enough to view the shots in SHQ mode all at one time with your browser.

You can change pixel density on the fly. You change the effective film speed in steps of 100, 200 and 400 ASA. You can vary your exposure plus or minus 2 fstops in 1/3 fstop increments. You can focus down to 0.8 inches and set it at infinity. You can get 150 or 200 shots out of a set of batteries. You can put on a slide show into a standard TV set right from your camera. You can take great remote control shots without even touching the camera or a cable. You can view your pictures on sight and zoom in to see quite good detail right on the camera. The controls are easy to use and and very ergonomically designed. You can delete pictures. You can transfer pictures from a smart media card to a compact flash card for extra storage. You can run off of AC power (I never do). The built flash works okay but the red eye feature sucks. You can use averaging or spot meter mode for exposure calculation.

It's really nice to have a laptop computer with a PCMCIA card in it. When you fill up a smart media card you can stick it into the PCMCIA card and the computer see's it as an extra drive on your machine with all of your JPEG files readily accessible. I normally put my laptop on my network and drag and drop all of the files on to a CD Burner in Adaptec mode. I've used the serial port adaptor but it's very slow and anybody who spent this much money for the camera probably wont tolerate such bad performance for long.

Don't spend all of your money buying this camera. Buy 3 sets of batteries. (3 hour charge time) and the PCMCIA card adapter (much faster and hot plugable). Get a CD Burner for your computer. I have a friend that has an HP for his laptop...He doesn't like. I have an HP and a Sony for two of my desktops and I like them both. I've had the camera for about 3 months now and I've taken about 2000 shots with it. I'm on my second CD. One day at work I spent the whole day taking pictures of old photographs on the wall to send to a guy at a trade show.

The CAMEDIA software is simple but very useful. It's good at renaming your shots in batch mode and it has a good browser mode for previewing new shots. The Adobe Photo deluxe is tolerable but slow. I've purchased Print Shot Pro and I like it a lot more. It's also good to have Image Robot and Smart Media Center as well (all from Jasc software). Smart Media Center has a feature that creates a HTML environment that allows you to create photo albums viewable totally by your browser. It's great for sending photo CD's to your friends and family. If you want to see some photos I've made go to http://www.studioavenue.com and search on for the album named "Singing Youth of Denver at Dahlia Street".

A lot of people have asked me the price of the camera and I've told them. However, the real price involves a lot more. You need to have some computer power available to you. You need to not be afraid of the technology. Installing a PCMCIA card is easy for me but my father would not have done it. This camera will force most people who purchase it to learn some new things and if they do so willingly then they will enjoy the experience. If you must see your pictures on paper (I don't) then be prepared for some additional cost. Your average printer will not do that great of a job.

I've been waiting for a digital camera of this performance for a couple of years and it's been worth the wait. I suspect that in five years everyone will have a camera like this. This is the perfect camera for a CEO. You can take useable pictures of anything and view them anyware with your laptop.

My SLR feels lonely.......2000-01-24

I purchased my C-2500 before Christmas and haven't any regrets . Using it is much more of a breeze then I have read in the reviews. Now I send family or customers photos that are so nicely done that they always think they are 35mm. I print them out on my HP-1100 printer. What a great pair. I purchased readers, But really never use or hassle with them . I think both the camera & printer, together are what really increases the enjoyment. I also have both lenses and the flash attachment. Lenses are worth it, but haven't mastered the flash settings yet.The investment was hard but has paid me back already.

Olympus C2500 2.5MP Digital SLR Camera Kit

Average customer rating:

Still a great camera
Wow What a Camera
Impress yourself with your photo talent
A real viewfinder is a good thing!
Easy and flexible! Good camera!

Olympus C2500 2.5MP Digital SLR Camera Kit

Manufacturer: Olympus
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

All Camera & Photo | Olympus | Camera & Photo Brands | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics

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Accessories:

Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO DG SLD Telephoto Zoom Lens for Olympus and Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC SLD ELD Aspherical Macro Lens for Olympus and Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras
Joby GP2-00EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras
Targus Digital DSLR Starter Kit
Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO HSM Lens for Olympus and Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras

Product Features:

True through-the-lens (TTL) single-lens reflex (SLR) camera kit with extensive manual controls for advanced users
2.5 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
3x optical plus 2.5x digital zoom lens with autofocus
Uses SmartMedia or CompactFlash cards; included 32 MB SmartMedia card holds 38 images at default resolution
Connects to pre-iMac Macintosh computers and PCs via serial port; uses 4 AA batteries; rechargeables included

ASIN: B00004SPXJ

Product Description

A great filmless digital camera is made up of a lot more than "just pixels." The quality of the pixels themselves counts as much as the quantity - and that's what makes Olympus C-2500L the ultimate in filmless digital photography. It doesn't take good-looking digital images, it takes great photos. Designed with the professional and advanced amateur in mind, the fully-featured and versatile C-2500L uses an exclusive CCD and new TruePic Technology process to capture pixel information with improved accuracy. With an impressive 2.5 million pixel CCD (1712 x 1368 resolution), C-2500L produces perhaps the sharpest digital images ever-delivering the more accurate color, gradation and contrast of a true photograph. The advanced C-2500L also packs a number of impressive features, like a choice of fully automatic or fully manual exposure, white balance and focus, a versatile pop-up 5-mode flash, a powerful 3x Olympus optical zoom (the equivalent of a 36-110mm zoom on a 35mm film camera), and an SLR viewfinder that offers a 95%-centered view. Built for speed, the C-2500L can also shoot as fast as composition and focusing are done; there are no waiting in-between shots. After shooting, the C-2500L's high-resolution 122,000 pixel TFT LCD displays a clear, detailed image with a 2x or 4x magnification in inspection mode.This C-2500L outfit ships with a 1.45x telephoto lens adapter, a 32 MB Olympus SmartMedia memory card, 4 Olympus NiMH batteries and charger, Camedia Master image editing and download software, Enroute QuickStitch panorama software, lens cap, strap and user manual.

Customer Reviews:

Still a great camera.......2006-05-11

Oh yes, a review even as late as 2006 for a 2.5mp camera that first came out in 1999, and why not, just got one used on ebay that was basically barely used, had remote control, and strangely had some camedia software dated 2004(must have been a software update maybe)and I am a long time Olympus D 500L user even after I bought modern point and shoot digital cameras, I find the 2500L is still valid today for taking pictures for presentation on the web especially, my main use for digital cameras, and one of my favorite cameras I still use is my old trusty Olympus D 500L that still takes great pics for internet presentation, so I am a Olympus fan going back 7 years.
The camera takes two types of memory cards, old style smartmedia to 128 mb only(showing 65 shq shots on a 128 mb sm card), and still very relevant compact flash 1 cards(not compact flash 2 cards), and most compact flash cards are compact flash 1 thinner cards as I found out, bought a 256mb card(showing 128 pics available) brand new the other day to install in the camera and unsure if it would take a higher mb card like a 512 mb cf card(not worth trying), but don't care due to the lower resolution it don't matter, if I use it for taking pics for development, I wouldn't want too many pics all on one card anyway for this lower 2.5 mp. I guess it really don't matter much when one has to reduce the size of the pic in order to display on some web sites.
My favorite feature that I bought the camera for was the super macro feature for extreme close up shots, I thread on three macro lenses together(+1, +2, +4) for extra magnification, of which I used to use these on my D 500L, a 43mm-52mm step up ring to use 52 mm filters, etc, mainly cause I still used sometimes a old pentax k1000 35mm film camera that uses 52mm threaded filters.
Hopefully this helps someone else out considering purchasing one of these fine cameras used, cause I had to do alot of research on what compact flash types 1 and 2 cards were noting that the camera only takes type 1, reading somewhere that the camera is capable to take up to only 256mb compact flash and only up to 128mb smartmedia cards(nothing higher than 128 mb sm anyway)and one interesting thing I would note is that I found out on a website that one should not attempt to use an old style film camera flash on a digital camera "hot shoe" external flash connection point, it could damage the camera and the flash unit due to older flash units for film cameras have high voltages, best supposedly to use an fl-40 external flash made for the camera or better/newer olympus digitial rated, or just use the onboard flash, but personally, I have barely used a flash on olympus products, this 2500l olympus camera seems to do really well under weaker flourescent bulbs. One day I may purchase a used fl-40 dedicated 2500l flash unit for taking pictures requiring further than 12 feet flash range, but I probably don't need it, like most people don't.

Wow What a Camera.......2002-01-29

If you can get past the price for this baby online, than I would recommend you buy. This is a real nice 35mm type digital camera.

Plenty of settings from f-stop to zoom to format to size. Remote is real handy if you feel like being in the picture for a change, instead of someone saying where are you in this photo.

Zoom lens, Macro lens and plenty of filters. Shop around though you can get it cheaper.

Impress yourself with your photo talent.......2001-12-12

I bought mine almost two years ago, so I paid more for it, but it was still a deal. It takes great photos, as you might expect, but is actually easy to use, if left in the "P" or programmed mode. Those with SLR film cameras may be confused by the M A and P designators for modes, because the A does not mean auto. The other shortcoming is the Manual, which I hope has been updated by now. Mine came with an errata sheet of a dozen pages and would have been more manageable in just one language. The camera accepts a 1.45x lens and I was able to find (at Amazon) an external power pack that I recommend highly.

A real viewfinder is a good thing!.......2001-07-29

I hesitated about buying this camera because many people expressed disappointment about not having an LCD viewfinder (it is an SLR, so you look through a normal optical viewfinder - but you are also seeing directly through the lens). Now that I have had it for almost a year, I would say not having the LCD viewfinder is a great advantage! There are two reasons for this: 1-battery life. The backlighting for those LCD screens really suck out the batteries quickly. When you have the camera on and waiting for just the right moment, that battery is continually draining. I've never counted, but I think I average over 100 daylight pictures between battery recharges (the flash reduces that). 2-you can't see the LCD screens in most lighting conditions anyway. The C2500 gives you an immediate 1 or 2 second preview of the picture after you take it. If I am shooting outside in daylight that LCD preview image is very hard to see. I would hate to actually try to compose a photo in that mode. I've briefly used a couple of other digi-cams, and there is no way I'd go back now. The LCD screens (even when you can see them) have poor resolution, so it is really hard to tell things like how good the focus is - with the viewfinder I can easily tell how well the autofocus did, and whether I should try again.

Easy and flexible! Good camera!.......2001-01-21

I am new to the world of digital cameras. After spending a month of reading online reviews, and review sites, I decided on the C2500L. It was very easy to start using right away. The defaults for point and click use produced very nice images. I've been playing with the customizable settings (manual white balance, aperature, and shutter speed) for the last few weeks. The pictures I'm taking now are even better. I'm still learning, but am quite satisfied.

I tend to take a lot of pictures under flourecent type lighting, as I take pictures of my reptiles. The camera has the ability to adjust the auto-white balance, by calibrating it on a white surface under the light you will be taking the picture. That does a great job. And if it isn't precise enough, I can manually select the color temperature.

It does a great job at focusing. I still need to work on having a steadier hand, especially for those close-up shots. Now, speaking of close-ups. This camera does a GREAT job at macro shots. To test it out, I put the lens cap on the table. I was about an inch away from it, and it came out crystal clear... lettering and all.

The camera also does a good job at adjusting brightness levels, without messing up the color. It gets a little grainy under the lower light conditions, but it hasn't been too much of a problem for me. I am impressed with its ability to get a solid focus in very low light conditions.

Some of the drawbacks are: You can't use the LCD as a view finder. It will display the image on the LCD right after you snap it, but you must use the optical view finder for aiming. I don't mind this too much, as I like to look through the lens! Yes, through the lens. This being an SLR gives me a comfortable feeling that what I see it what the camera sees. Actually, that's really my main gripe. I'm pretty much satisfied with everything else, so far.

In summary, if you are willing to spend the money, it's a great camera. I've been reading up on photography now, and believe that this camera should be good enough for my abilities for a good long time.

-Alex

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