Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

The Olympus Camedia D-540 Zoom has seven shooting modes, 3x optical zoom, the capacity for direct printing, and a nicely sized 1/3.7-inch, 3.2 effective MP CCD. The D-540 records still images at three different resolution settings and videos in two formats at a rate of 15 frames per second. It’s neither overly large nor bulky, and if the real-image viewfinder is too small, the compensation is the ample 1.8-inch LCD. This camera retails online for around $154.95 (USD).
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Auto Mode (7.0)
Only automatic or preset modes are available on the Olympus Camedia D-540 Zoom. Within Auto mode, the user can control the exposure, flash, or white balance of the shot. All settings are automatically metered and set by the camera itself, creating a snapshot-conducive interface and simplifying controls.

 

Drive / Burst Mode (7.0)
There is a continuous shooting mode available, accessible through the OK menu. Once selected, the user may shoot at a rate of about 1.5 fps, in 640 x 480 resolution, for up to 12 shots. However, during testing the camera reacted at a much slower rate, and the slightest movement of the shutter finger disengaged the feature.

 

Playback Mode (6.0)
The user of the Olympus Camedia D-540 Zoom can choose whether to simply activate the Quick View button or set the whole camera into playback mode by moving the power switch to Playback mode. When the camera is in Quick View, the last shot recorded will appear on the screen. In Playback, images are displayed one-up or in a nine-image thumbnail format. To scan between single images onscreen, the user must press the right or left arrows; to scan between sets of nine, the user must press the up and down arrows. The user can enter multi-up mode by engaging the wide angle aspect on the zoom toggle, or engage playback zoom using the telephoto zoom controls.

 

Movie Mode (4.5)
When using the D-540's Movie mode, the camera is capable of recording video in two settings - 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 - with the user retaining the ability to control White Balance and Exposure at a rate of 15 fps. Unfortunately, audio cannot be recorded with the D-540, making the camera ideal for the silent film enthusiast. The 15 fps recording rate will also significantly limit the ability to record rapid motion, relegating the included "movie mode" to more of an advanced slide show feature.

 

Custom Image Presets (4.5)
When the left arrow on the virtual dial menu is accessed, the following custom image presets become available: Self Portrait, Landscape, Landscape with Portrait, Portrait, and Night Scene modes. With only five preset selections to choose from, the automatic configuration seems pretty restrictive.

 

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