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Editor: Ernest Lilley
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Title: Olympus Stylus 300
Reviewer: Ernest Lilley
Date: 03/24/03 Rating:
MSRP $399.99 / Amazon Price: $399.99
Product Website / Manufacturer Website  / Specs

Summary: The all-metal Stylus 300 Digital's claim to fame isn't its small size, metal body, 4x zoom or 80-320 equiv. ISO sensitivity...it's the "weatherproof" body. Though it takes perfectly good pictures, I found it the ridged cover/on-off switch a bit clunky, but others found it reassuringly easy to grasp. If I was wearing gloves or my hands were wet, I might feel the same way, and since this camera is designed to go where the weather is foul, that may be a feature. I don't love the "xD Picture" Card memory format and the 16 MB card shipped with the camera only holds 20 shots at high res. If you're already a fan of the Stylus format, or need moderate weather protection, you'll probably like the Stylus 300. Though I personally like a sleeker camera, this is what I'd want to take along if my adventure could get wet and wild.

• CCD Imager 3.24 megapixel effective 3.34 megapixel gross 1/2.5" (.40") CCD
• Lens Olympus aspherical glass 3x zoom lens 5.8 – 17.4mm (35 – 105mm equivalent in 35mm photography), 5 lenses in 3 groups
• Seamless Digital Zoom 12x (3x optical and 4x digital combined [5x at VGA])
• Aperture Range F3.1W/F5.2 T
• Shutter Speeds 1/1000 sec. – 1/2 sec.
• ISO Auto, 80 – 320 (equivalent)
• Recording Mode(s) Still Image: EXIF 2.2 JPEG, DCF (Design rule for Camera File system), PRINT Image Matching II
• Adjustable Resolutions 2048 x 1536 SHQ, JPEG
  2048 x 1536 HQ, JPEG
  1600 x 1200 SQ1, JPEG
  1280 x 960 SQ2, JPEG
  1024 x 768 SQ2, JPEG
  640 x 480 SQ2, JPEG
  320 x 240 @ 15fps QuickTime Motion JPEG
  160 x 120 @ 15fps QuickTime Motion JPEG
• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Print Reserve, All print reservation, Display Date information
• Optical Image Enlargement n/a
• Image Adjustment Modes n/a
• Image Effects Black and white, Sepia, Resize
• Panorama Up to 10 frames stitchable with CAMEDIA Master software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture CardTM
• Sequence 1 frames per second, more than 4 frames in HQ mode.
• Viewfinder Optical real-image viewfinder with autofocus/backlight mark
• LCD 1.5" (3.8cm) color TFT LCD (134,000 pixels) used for viewing, reviewing or editing images
• Focusing System TTL system (contrast detection)
  Focusing Ranges Standard AF 20" – Infinity (0.5m – Infinity)
  Macro Mode 8" – 20" (0.2m-0.5m)
• Exposure Control Program Auto F3.1-5.2
• Metering System Digital ESP Multi-Pattern Meter
• White Balance System iESP Multi-pattern Auto TTL
• Pre-set manual settings: Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten & Fluorescent
• Flash
  Built-in Flash
  Flash Modes Auto Flash for low and backlight
  "Red-eye" Reduction Flash
  Fill-in Flash
  Flash Off (built-in or external flash)
  Flash Working Range Wide: 8" – 8.5' (.2 m – 2.5 m), Tele: 8" – 6.0' (.2 m – 1.8 m)
  Flash Charging Time Less than 6 seconds (at normal temperature with new batteries)
  Removable Media Card xD-Picture Card(16, 32, 64, 128 & 256 MB) 16MB included
• Selftimer/Remote 12-sec. delay with built in self-timer
• Setting Memorization Reset or Hold certain camera settings after power on/power off
• Outer Connectors USB Connector (Auto-Connect), Video Out, DC input
• Auto-connect USB Compatible with Windows 98 rev2/ME/2000 Pro/XP
• MacOS 8.6-9.22/OSX
• Image Playback Index display, up to 4x enlargement, Slide show, Scene rotation
• Operating Environment Operation:
  32°F - 104°F (0°C- 40°C) 30-90% Humidity
  Storage: -4°F - 104°F (-20°C - 60°C) 10-90% Humidity
• Power Supply Main Power Source
  (1) LI-10B Lithium Battery (included with charger)
  AC Power Source
  D-7AU 4.8 Volt AC adapter (optional)
• Date/Time Calendar Simultaneous recording into image data
  Calendar Automatic up to the year 2099
• Size Size 3.8" W x 2.2" H x 1.3" D (99 x 56 x 33.5 mm) excluding protrusions
• Weight 5.8 oz. (165 g) without battery and media card
• Number of Storable Photos With 16MB xD-Picture Card:
  SHQ, HQ: 2048 x 1536: 6, 20 shots
  SQ1: 1600 x 1200: 24 shots
  SQ2: 1280 x 960: 38 shots
  SQ2: 1024 x 768: 58 shots
  SQ2: 640 x 480: 99 shots
  HQ Movie: 320 x 240 15 fps: 16 sec. max per movie
  SQ Movie: 160 x 120 15 fps: 40 sec. max per movie