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Olympus C-3040 Zoom Olympus updates its top-of-the-line 3-megapixel model with a "faster" lens and increased movie capabilities. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet C-3040 Zoom Test Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on C-3040 Zoom Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 4/14/2001

Image Storage and Interface
The C-3040 Zoom uses 3V (3.3V) SmartMedia memory cards and comes equipped with a 16MB card. Currently, you can upgrade to card sizes as large as 128MB.

The C-3040 Zoom can store images in both uncompressed TIFF and compressed JPEG file formats. The TIFF setting can be assigned to any one of five resolutions through the camera's Mode Setup menu. JPEG compression levels include Super High Quality (SHQ), High Quality (HQ), and Standard Quality (SQ). Both SHQ and HQ settings record files at the 2,048 x 1,536 pixel size, while the SQ compression level has a few options. SQ1 records files at either 1,600 x 1,200 or 1,280 x 960 pixel sizes, and SQ2 records files at either 1,024 x 768 or 640 x 480 pixel sizes. Both SQ1 and SQ2 feature High and Normal quality options as well, and size and quality are both adjustable through the Mode Setup menu.

We appreciated the C-3040 Zoom's file naming protocol, which includes the month and day at the beginning of the file name, and provides the option of numbering images progressively from one card to the next, or of resetting the naming sequence for each card. The Camedia allows you to write-protect individual images from accidental erasure through the Playback menu. Entire SmartMedia cards can be write-protected by placing a write-protection sticker over a specified spot on the card. While individually protected images can still be erased by a card format operation, cards that are write-protected with a sticker are also protected against card formatting. Write-protect stickers can only be used once and must be clean to be effective.

The table below summarizes the compression ratios and number of images which can be stored on the included 16MB memory card with each size/quality combination.

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality		TIFF	Fine	Normal
Super High Resolution	Images	1	6	20
	Approx. Compression	1:1	2.7:1	8:1
High Resolution	Images	2	11	31
	Approx. Compression	1:1	2.7:1	8:1
Standard Resolution	Images	4	17	49
	Approx. Compression	1:1	2.7:1	8:1
Low Resolution	Images	6	26	76
	Approx. Compression	1:1	2.7:1	8:1
Very Low Resolution	Images	16	66	165
	Approx. Compression	1:1	2.7:1	8:1

The following table shows the maximum seconds of movie recording time (with sound) for various sized memory cards. These measurements represent the amount of time that can be recorded by depressing the shutter button one time and shooting continuously. The remaining available shooting time on the card will be displayed on the LCD monitor or LED control panel following the recording:

Recording Mode	Resolution	Memory Card Capacity in Seconds
		2MB	4MB	8MB	16MB	Over 32MB
HQ	320x240 (15 frames/sec)	5	11	23	46	75
SQ	160x120 (15 frames/sec)	22	46	93	186	300

The C-3040 Zoom comes with interface software and cables for both Macintosh and Windows computers. It employs a USB interface for high-speed computer connection. Like all of Olympus' most recent digicams, the C-3040 is a USB "storage class" device. This means it can connect directly to Mac OS Version 9.1 or later, or Windows Me or 2000 computers, without separate driver software. Storage-class connections are also generally faster than device-class ones. We clocked the C-3040 at a transfer rate of 523.9 KBytes/second on our G4 Mac. This is quite a bit faster than the average USB-connected camera and comfortably at the top of the field for transfer speed. (We loved not having to load special driver software!)

One of the first things any new digicam owner will need is a larger memory card for their camera: The cards shipped with the units by the manufacturers should really be considered only "starter" cards, you'll definitely want a higher capacity card immediately. - Probably at least a 32 megabyte card for a 1.3 or 2 megapixel camera, 64 megabytes or more for a 3, 4, or 5 megapixel one. (The nice thing about memory cards is you'll be able to use whatever you buy now with your next camera too, whenever you upgrade.) To help you shop for a good deal on memory cards that fit the C-3040, we've put together a little memory locater, with links to our price-comparison engine: Just click on the "Memory Wizard" button above to go to the Olympus memory finder, select your camera model , and click the shopping cart icon next to the card size you're interested in. You'll see a list of matching entries from the price-comparison database. Pick a vendor & order away! (Pretty cool, huh?)