Olympus D-540 Zoom Review

Click to take a 360-degree QTVR tour of the D-540

Olympus developed the D-540 for first-time digital camera buyers looking for a point-and-shoot camera with user-friendly features, high-quality optics and megapixel power at the affordable street price of just $199. The D-540 Zoom has a new contoured design that contains everything beginning digital photography enthusiasts need to take and print superior images with ease, including a powerful, world-class Olympus 3x Optical Zoom lens and 3.3x Digital Zoom matched to a 3.2-megapixel sensor, and a large, bright LCD for framing and reviewing shots.

The camera's 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor is combined with an enhanced image processor called TruePic TURBO™ that significantly improves image quality and delivers faster overall processing speeds for rapid startup, shutter release and playback. TruePic TURBO allows the D-540 Zoom to capture information from all 3.2 million pixels with pixel "micro-smoothing" that delivers clearer and more color-accurate photos, even at lower resolutions. Prints are big enough to crop and print up to 8" x 10" and larger.

The D-540 Zoom features a 3x Optical Zoom (38-114mm, f2.9/5.0 - f7.0 equivalent in 35mm photography), that when combined with a 3.3x digital zoom, delivers a total seamless 10x zoom. The Macro Mode allows users to take close up photographs to capture details like dewdrops on a flower petal. Other controls include Digital ESP multi-pattern and spot metering; auto white balance; multiple flash settings and exposure compensation.

The D-540 Zoom has a bright optical viewfinder and auto-focus capability to enable photographers to accurately frame and focus their shots. Composing and reviewing images with an LCD is an asset when taking digital pictures because it allows users to accurately frame their photographs and make decisions about saving or deleting them. To ensure that their shots can be easily viewed, the D-540 Zoom features a large 1.8-inch LCD screen.

The D-540 Zoom offers a menu architecture that's easy to navigate for fast access to the right settings with just the press of arrow buttons. Seven preset shooting modes are conveniently accessed through the camera's "Virtual Dial" (viewable through the LCD menu) to provide fully automatic exposure adjustments for the photographer who wants optimum results in a wide variety of settings: Program Auto, Portrait, Portrait-Landscape, Landscape, Night Scene, Self Portrait, and Movie. In Movie mode, the D-540 Zoom can record QuickTimeTM video and create short movies that can be sent over the Internet to friends, family and coworkers.

The D-540 Zoom has a durable silver-toned polycarbonate body with a shutter style lens barrier. This pocket-friendly camera's small size (4.0" W x 2.2" H x 1.5" D) and light weight (5.3 ounces) is due in part to its exclusive use of the miniature xD-Picture Card, and it comes with a 16MB card for straight out-of-the-box use.

While past D-Series models featured a pop-up flash that would be released upon sliding open the cameras' lens barrier, the new D-Series cameras have built-in flashes that do not pop up and offer 6 settings to provide the widest range of options. Keeping the flash in the camera body further compliments the camera's compact design.

Thanks to the power of PictBridge technology, it is now possible to connect the D-540 Zoom directly via USB cable to any PictBridge-enabled printer. Or, if users want to connect the D-540 Zoom to a PC or Mac, transferring images to the computer has never been easier with Auto-Connect USB for hassle-free image downloads. No extra software is required with most operating systems.

Camedia D-540 Zoom Features:

• 3.2 megapixel CCD (effective) allows for photo prints of 8" x 10"
• Compact design makes the D-540 Zoom easy to handle and carry.
• A 3x optical zoom with 38-114mm coverage (35mm photography equivalent)
• Auto-Connect USB for hassle-free downloads
• Automatic exposure with five Scene modes (Portrait, Self Portrait, Landscape-Portrait, Landscape and Night Scene)
• Olympus TruePic Turbo technology reduces startup and shutter lag time, and optimizes the image quality for picture sharpness, contrast, true colors and gradation in all picture resolutions.
• Automatic Pixel Mapping checks the CCD and re-maps it for maximum performance.
• 1.8" color LCD with 85,000 pixels
• Removeable xD-Picture Card storage, 16MB included
• QuickTime® movie mode
• Built-in multimode flash
• Powered by two-AA or one CR-3V type battery

The D-540 Zoom is available now for an estimated street price of $199.00. It includes a16MB xD-Picture Card™, (2) AA alkaline batteries, an Auto-Connect USB cable, wrist strap, Olympus CAMEDIA Master Software, user manual and Quick Start guide.

D-540 Zoom Specifications