Excellent digital camera (Olympus Camedia C-3030 Zoom)

Member Name: erobinson

Product:	Olympus Camedia C-3030 Zoom
Date:	26/11/00 (370 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Size, quality of images, ease of use

Disadvantages: Only minor niggles

I bought an Olympus 3030 after reading the usenet group rec.photo.digital for some time, to replace an SLR that was getting quite old. I've found the smaller size excellent, but the 3030 is not as compact as some other digital cameras. Any camera is a compromise; at this price you should expect very good quality and I have been very happy with computer images and prints.

It takes a while to learn, and the shutter seemed to have a delayed action until I got used to it. I find the screen at the back not as good for taking pictures as the viewfinder, and noses rub against the screen leaving a smear which makes the screen even less useful.

The detail captured is incredible; even a small part of a picture can be used (on a monitor at least) to give a useful image.

The Camedia software is easy to use, and reasonably straightforward to install; there was only a little 'Japanese English' to get past on the way.

You do need a case to put the camera in - I didn't have one for a while and the screen got a bit scratched. I bought the Olympus case that is made for the camera (may be fairly new out) and am fairly happy with it - it has room for spare batteries and memory card.

The lens cap falls off fairly easily but there are solutions tpo that (the easiest is to fix a short cord to the cap and camera with removeable glue).

I bought the camera from digitalfirst (www.digitalfirst.co.uk) and have bought from them since (for batteries and the camera case). They had the lowest prices (and when another site lowered price just as I was making enquiries they matched the price).

All that sounds like I've had a lot of problems - I haven't really, and I'd recommend the camera to others.

Summary: