The Bottom Line
Here's a great, pocketable camera for the traveler. It's got more resolution than most compact digicams and can connect to most recent computers without drivers. Battery life isn't great, though.
Pros
- 4.0-megapixel CCD for 2,288 x 1,712 images
- Pocketable - 3.4 x 2.7 x 1.6 inches
- No USB driver needed on recent computers
Cons
- Relatively short battery life
- You'll have to buy rechargables and charger
Description
- Maximum resolution 2272 x 1704 (3.8 megapixels) Enough for great 11x14 prints.
- 2.8x zoom lens - 35-98 mm (equivalent 35mm camera specs).
- Storage: SmartMedia card. Comes with 16 mb card. Can use up to 128 mb card.
- Size: 87 x 69 x 44 mm (3.4 x 2.7 x 1.7 in) Weight: 250 g (8.8 oz).
- Macro focusing down to 3.9 inches.
- Voice annotation of photographs
Guide Review - Olympus D40 Compact Digital Camera
For the traveler who desires a compact camera that stores images large enough to print at sizes bigger than the standard 8x10, this might be the one you'll want in the palm of your hand. You can even take short movie clips and night scenes with this baby. The noise reduction is excellent for low-light shooting. There's even a mode that adjusts the focus for one of those arm-length self portraits you see single travelers taking in front of tourist traps. The only thing that mars the package is the inclusion of a Lithium CR-V3 battery that's evidently not rechargable. You'll have to buy a charger and set of AA batteries, Ni-MH recommended, to round out your system.
