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Olympus C-4040 Zoom Review

By Movable Type Admin


Steve's Digicams


Olympus C-4040 Zoom


Pre-prodution First Look posted 7/2/01
Full review posted 7/20/01



Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Olympus C-4040 Zoom
Click to take a QTVR tour of the C-4040


The C-4040 Zoom is Olympus' first consumer-priced four megapixel digital camera. It features still image capture in eight different image sizes (3200 x 2400 [interpolated], 2816 x 2112 [interpolated], 2274 x 1704, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480) in JPEG or six sizes (2274 x 1704, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480) in uncompressed TIFF format.  It also offers 320 x 240 (QVGA) QuickTime Movie capture at 12.5fps with sound. Sound can be recorded during video filming or a 4 second sound byte can be recorded and attached to a still image. The C-4040 is built around the popular C-3040 Zoom and retains all of its features including the new Super Bright F1.8 3x optical zoom lens.

A large SDRAM buffer allows for rapid shooting at 2 frames per second. The builtin 6-mode flash has a two slow syncro modes plus red-eye reduction as well as a connector that provides true TTL control of the Olympus FL-40 external speedlight. Shutter speeds from 4 to 1/800 seconds plus longer shutter speeds of up to 16 seconds in Manual mode. The Manual exposure mode allows both the shutter speed and apertures to be selected independently.


Olympus C-4040 Zoom



Major C-4040 Zoom features:

  • Super Bright F1.8 3x optical zoom lens boosts low light capability and extends the range of the flash coverage.
  • Still image capture modes from 3200 x 2400 to 640 x 480.
  • SQ, HQ and SHQ JPEG modes as well as uncompressed TIFF format.
  • Optimum Image Enlargement Mode (resolution enhancement) allows you to enlarge HQ/SHQ JPEG images up to 3200 x 2400 pixels
  • 320x240 QuickTime motion video at 12.5fps with sound up to 30 secs.
  • 2 frames/second HQ burst, up to 8 frames (excluding TIFF)
  • Autoexposure Bracketing, 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV and 1 EV, 3 or 5 images
  • Spot AF, iESP AF and manual focus modes.
  • Multi-Spot metering, precise readings of up to eight areas.
  • Digital iESP multi-pattern and spot metering modes.
  • Program AE, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority or full Manual exposure control.
  • Shuter speeds from 16 secs to 1/800 sec in Manual mode.
  • New Noise Reduction System helps minimize background noise so you get high-quality images even in low-light situations
  • Sharpness (Hard, Normal, Soft) and Contrast (High, Normal, Low) settings
  • Sepia mode, black & white mode, blackboard mode or whiteboard mode
  • ISO sensitivity can be fixed at 100, 200, 400 or automatic.
  • White balance options now include a custom one-touch function.
  • Storage Class USB connectivity insures quick and simple image downloads to Windows 2000 or Me or Mac OS 8.6+ computers. You just plug it in, no drivers required. Drivers are included for Windows 98 SE users.


Olympus C-4040 Zoom

On the back is a 1.8-inch WideView TFT color LCD. It can serve as the viewfinder, picture review, menu and data display.  The backlight is adjustable via the setup menu. The control layout is identical to the C-3040Z.


Olympus C-4040 Zoom

Olympus C-4040 Zoom

Olympus C-4040 Zoom Olympus C-4040 Zoom



Olympus C-4040 Zoom

If the C-4040 Zoom is not fast enough for your requirements then be sure to check out the E-100 RS with its 15 frames per second high speed capture rate and the awesome 10x (38-380mm) stabilized zoom lens.







Continue on to
Page Two

Olympus C-4040 Zoom Specifications

Type: Digital camera with 4.5-cm/1.8 inch color TFT LCD monitor
Storage Media: Removable 3 V (3.3 V) SmartMedia (SSFDC) card (4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128MB)
One 16MB card with panorama function is supplied with camera
Number of storable frames with 16MB SmartMedia card:
w/o voice		 1: TIFF 2,272 x 1,704
1: TIFF 2,048 x 1,536
2: TIFF 1,600 x 1,200
4: TIFF 1,280 x 960
6: TIFF 1,024 x 768
16: TIFF 640 x 480
5 or more:SHQ 2,272 x 1,704
16 or more: HQ 2,272 x 1,704 (NORMAL)
20 or more: SQ1 2,048 x 1,536 (NORMAL)
32 or more: SQ1 1,600 x 1,200(NORMAL)
49 or more: SQ1 1,280 x 960(NORMAL)
76 or more: SQ2 1,024 x 768(NORMAL)
165 or more: SQ2 640 x 480 (NORMAL)
7 or more: SQ1 2,048 x 1,536 (HIGH)
11 or more: SQ1 1,600 x 1,200 (HIGH)
18 or more: SQ1 1,280 x 960 (HIGH)
27 or more: SQ2 1,024 x 768(HIGH)
66 or more: SQ2 640 x 480(HIGH)

Optimum Image Enlargement Mode
3 or more: SHQ 2,816 x 2,112
10 or more: HQ 2,816 x 2,112

Compression ratio: 1, 2.8, 8
Recording system: Still image: JPEG (DCF: "Design rule for Camera File system"), TIFF (non-compress), DPOF support.
Motion picture: QuickTimeTM Motion JPEG®.
Sound: Wave format support
Imager: 1/1.8 inch CCD solid-state image pickup 4.13 million pixels (effective 3.98 million pixels)
White Balance: Full-auto TTL(iESP), Pre-set (daylight, overcast, tungsten light, fluorescent light), One touch.
White balance compensation possible
Lens: Olympus 3x multivariator zoom lens 7.1 - 21.3mm, F1.8 - F2.6, 10 lenses in 7 groups
(Equivalent to 35 - 105mm lens in 35mm format)
Digital Zoom: Smooth 1x ~ approx. 2.5x
Light Metering: Digital ESP metering system with imager. Spot metering. Multi-spot metering.
AE lock possible
Exposure control: Programmed auto exposure, Aperture priority auto, and Shutter priority auto.
Exposure compensation in ±2 EV in ±1/3 EV steps
Programmed auto: F1.8(W)/2.6(T) - F10, 1 - 1/800 sec.
Manual exposure: shutter speed up to 16 sec.
Aperture priority: Wide; F1.8 - F10, Tele; F2.6 - F10, 1/3 EV steps.
Shutter priority: still image: 4 - 1/800 sec. (with mechanical shutter), 1/3 EV steps.
AE lock possible.
QuickTime Motion JPEG image mode: 1/30 - 1/10,000 sec.
Auto bracketing: selectable from 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV and 1 EV, 3 or 5 images
Focusing: TTL system iESP auto focus (contrast detection system) with focusing range: 0.2 m - (infinity).
Manual focus with gauge with focusing range 0.2 m - (infinity)
Working range: Standard mode: 0.8m - (infinity)
Macro mode: 0.2 - 0.8 m
Sensitivity: Auto or manual adjustment, selectable from approx. equivalent to ISO 100, 200 and 400
Viewfinder: Optical real-image, LCD monitor
LCD monitor: 1.8-inch color TFT LCD monitor with 114,000 pixels made of Low-temperature poly-silicon.
Brightness adjustment is possible.
Flash: Built-in flash
Flash modes: Auto (automatic activation in low and backlight), Red-eye reduction, Off (no flash), Fill-in (forced activation).
Slow synchronisation (first-curtain synchronisation effect, second-curtain synchronisation effect), External terminal: Off, Auto, Forced activation
Flash working range: Wide: approx. 0.8 - 5.6 m, Tele: approx. 0.2 - 3.8m (ISO 100)
Flash recycle time: Less than 6 sec. (at normal temperature with new batteries)
Sequence mode: Up to 2 shots per sec. up to 8 frames in HQ mode (Excluding TIFF mode)
Motion picture mode:
with 16MB SmartMedia card		 Format: QuickTime Motion JPEG.
HQ: Up to approx. 32 sec. w/voice, 33 sec. w/o voice, 320 x 240 pixels, 15 frames/sec.
SQ: Up to approx. 130 sec. w/ voice, 148 sec. w/o voice, 160 x 120 pixels, 15 frames/sec.
(With EXO model: 12.5 fps recording with video-out)
Image effect: Sepia mode, black & white mode, blackboard mode, whiteboard mode
Still image edit: Rotation (using video/sound output terminal)
Motion picture edit: Cut, index
DPOF setting: Print reservation, all print reservation, date/time, trimming
Self-timer: Approx. 12-sec. Delay
Setting memorisation: ON/OFF/CUSTOM
Outer connector: DC input terminal, USB interface (storage class), video/sound output terminal (UO: NTSC, EXO: PAL), and External flash terminal for FL-40 (5pin type)
Operating environment: Temperature: 0 ~ 40°C (operation); -20 - 60°C (storage).
Humidity: 30 - 90% (operation); 10 - 90% (storage)
Power supply: Main power source: 2 x lithium batteries LB-01 (CR-V3), 4 x AA Ni-MH batteries/4 x AA lithium batteries/4 x AA alkaline batteries/4 x AA Ni-Cd batteries/(Zinc carbon (manganese) batteries cannot be used.)
Optional AC adapter (C7-AU-6V)
Date/time/calendar: Simultaneous recording onto image data
Automatic calendar system: Up to year 2031
Dimensions: 4.33(W) x 2.99(H) x 2.75(D) in./110 (W) x 76 (H) x 70 (D) mm (excluding protrusions)
Accessories: Strap, 16MB SmartMedia, USB cable, two CR-V3
Weight: 11.28oz./320g (without batteries and SmartMedia card)






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