EXCLUSIVES

By Bill Troop

With hundred of digital cameras flooding today's market, it's hard for a manufacturer to make its products stand out. This duo from Olympus attacks the four-megapixel market from two fronts: the smallest and the most affordable.

The Olympus C-4000 is the first four-megapixel camera with a retail tag under $500 (a buck under). The Olympus D-40, initially more expensive at $599 (but expected to be reduced to $499 by the time you read this), is the smallest real four-megapixel camera on the market. One qualification: the Pentax 430 may be smaller, but its poor sharpness and limited low light capability keep it out of the competition.

The four-megapixel range is a sweet spot in today's digital camera market because it's the minimum resolution you need for high quality 11x14 exhibition or reproduction prints. At that resolution level, you can even-depending on the image - print to sizes larger than that. At lower resolutions such as 4x5 or an 8x10 the four-megapixel level still makes sense because, as in all photography-whether digital or silver-the more resolution you have, the better off you are, no matter how small you ultimately print.

More resolution means you get better gradation of small details-called micro-contrast - which is always more pleasing, less abrupt. In addition, putting more pixels in the image means more freedom in cropping the image or blowing it up while still making an acceptable 4x5 or 8x10 print. Of course, even moderate cropping often drastically improves the impact of your image.

Over the years, Olympus has excelled in making its cameras easy to use, and both of these models continue that tradition. Either one can be used in point-and shoot mode with absolutely reliable autofocus and autoexposure, using the same multiple-spot methodology Olympus pioneered in film cameras in the 1970s. Either can also take Quick Time movies at the press of a button.

Serious photographers will be delighted to discover this simplicity is only skin deep. Dig a little deeper and you find that a huge range of manual control and customization is available to you. Just a few of the things you can select are six different white balance modes (including manual); fully adjustable shutter speeds and f/stops; aperture or shutter priority auto-exposure, or full manual exposure control; full manual focus capabilities; extensive macro options; three metering modes; wide range of output formats; half a dozen flash modes; rapid sequence shooting; a self-timer, and of course the panorama capability that has always been an Olympus specialty. The only feature we don't like is the three-second delay when using the remote control to trigger the picture. We'd prefer a solution where Olympus added a menu setting to disable this delay for the many professional photographers who use these cameras and prefer no delay.

Both cameras use SmartMedia cards for image storage. Currently, the maximum capacity of this medium is 128MB. You can directly download images to your computer directly from the cameras using the USB auto-connect feature, which is available on both cameras. It works like a charm with Windows ME, 2000 and XP, and Mac OS 9.0 and higher (Win 98 requires free drivers from Olympus's website; earlier versions of Mac OS and Windows work with Olympus's Camedia software). The camera simply appears on your desktop as a new hard drive, making it a cinch to download pictures. Irritatingly, however, each camera has a slightly different USB connector. We wish Olympus would standardize on a single USB connector throughout its range. You also download pictures to your computer using an optional SmartMedia reader.

Cheapest Pixels Around

Considered on its own, the C-4000 is remarkable as the first camera to offer professional quality four-megapixel images in its price range - it's a real price breakthrough that places professional quality digital images within everyone's grasp, especially when you consider that prices will be discounted even further.

I've never made it a secret that I consider the Olympus C-series digital cameras to be the Leicas of digital photography. Olympus struck gold with the very first - the C-2000, and has continued refining the series since then, as other manufacturers have ruthlessly tried to duplicate its ergonomic and optical hallmarks. The C-4000 is the follow-on to its predecessor, the three-megapixel C-3020, with many more features and higher resolution.

Another notable feature of the C-4000 is its an external flash connector, so the Olympus accessory FL-40 flash can be added as well as other brands of lighting equipment (though this is only necessary for unusual subjects when the built-in flash doesn't provide enough power to cover them). The C-4000 also hosts an array of added menu options for more sophisticated users or those interested in learning more about photography. Some of these include: Histogram Display, to illustrate the contrast range and highlights and shadows in a scene; Selective AF, which allows the camera to reposition the autofocus reference point to the right/left/above/below the center of the viewing area to assure that your subject, which may not be located in the center of the frame, stays in focus; Multi-Spot Metering, which allows the photographer to record 8 different exposure readings and then let the camera average the exposure between them; four user-customizable "My" camera modes, and a clever Virtual Dial that gives you presets for six typical scene modes, such as Portrait, Action, Landscape, Night Scene, Self Portrait, and Landscape Portrait.

Olympus C-4000

While the majority of people using the C-4000 may never delve into the more technical settings, they're great features for the photo enthusiast or student enrolled in a photo course to aid in the understanding of photographic principles.

Like all members of the family, the C-4000 has the classic real camera styling, based on the Olympus Pen F and the venerable Leica M-series, that gives this camera its stylish appearance and makes it feel like a familiar tool. Each C-series camera is a little different: the front of the C-4000 is in two attractive shades of brushed aluminum. Every control is placed where you would intuitively expect it; framing and taking the picture is a completely natural experience.

The camera features both a bright optical viewfinder and a very bright 1.8" TFT screen which I find I use for virtually all shooting now. Once you get into the habit, it's more comfortable to use the screen for viewing, and of course it's much more accurate.

The C-4000 features a 3x zoom 6.5mm to 19.5 mm f/2.8-f/11 lens (equivalent to 32-96 in 35 mm), plus an additional 2.5x digital zoom capability. Focusing is from 31 inches to infinity in normal mode; 8 to 31 inches in macro mode; and down to a remarkable 0.8 inches in super macro mode. It takes 4 AA batteries, or two long-life Lithium cells. Although the Lithium cells do last a long time, I recommend rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries for this camera.

Big Shots, Tiny Package

The D-40 is marvel in miniaturization, truly pocketable. Measuring a mere 3.4 x 2.7 x 1.6 inches, it weighs nine ounces with the battery installed. Although it comes standard with a long-life non-rechargeable Lithium cell, it will also take a pair of alkaline AAs in an emergency; again, I prefer rechargeables.

Olympus D-40

A beautifully designed sliding clamshell protects the front of the camera, eliminating the need for a lens cap. It also functions as the camera's on/off switch. The Olympus f7.25 - 20.3 mm f/2.8-f/8 lens (equivalent to 35-98 in 35 mm) focuses from 31 inches to infinity, plus 3.9 to 31 inches in macro mode at the wide angle setting, or 9.8 to 31 inches at the telephoto setting. The optical zoom range, 2.8X, can be extended to 4X electronically.

As with the C-4000, this little gem can be used as a simple point and shoot, but also offers complete manual control for those shooters who like to get in and tweak the exposure a bit. But unlike its big brother, the D-40 accepts no accessory lenses or flash equipment. It is truly designed for the photographer who wants a compact camera loaded with features and of course a resolution that will allow for cropping or large print sizes.

Which to pick? Image quality is equally high with each. I find the C-4000 easier to handle, and the larger screen more pleasant to work with. But the pocketability of the D-40 makes me reach for it more often than any other digital camera I have ever worked with.

Coming Attractions

By press time, Olympus will have announced two five-megapixel cameras related to those reviewed here. The $899 C-5050 is to be the all-magnesium sibling of the C-4000 and C-4040. The $599 C-50 is promised to be an even smaller, all-metal subcompact along the lines of the D-40.

Consistent quality, and the marriage of advanced digital technology and fine optics make Olympus our choice for compact digital cameras. www.olympus.com