Since I am new to the digitial camera market I thought I would ask the ones that might know. I am planning on buying a new digitial camera and have narrowed it down to two. Kodack DC 265 or the Olympus C-2000z. I will be posting to the web and also will be using it for prints. Any input would be helpful Tks Andy

-- ANDY TEMPLES (andyt@net66.com), June 16, 1999

Answers

I would suggest dropping the Kodak 265 from you list and replacing it with the Epson 750Z. The user reviews of the 265 say it is "just OK". I have the Epson 750Z and have been keeping an eye on the reviews. I think you would be happier with the 750Z. As far as the Olympus 2000 goes, it has a lot of good features but there seems to be some with production. I have read a lot of comments that people have had to return their C-2000 for repair or replacement. If you really want the C-2000 I would wait a few months and give Olympus a chance to get the bugs worked out.

-- Bob G. (rgreg88721@hotmail.com), June 16, 1999.

I read huge amounts of digicam gunk and never heard about buggy C2000. One nice advantage of the C2000 is the small size/weight. Does that appeal to you? 2000 also comes with a remote. Can you tell which one I'm biased in favor of? :)

-- benoit (foo@bar.com), June 16, 1999.

I have an Oly 2000z and am tickled to death with it.. It is teaching me how to take pictures.. I am new to digitals and a novice at photography and I find the OLy easy to use and a lot smarter than I am.

-- Chip (buflerchip@sisna.com), June 16, 1999.

Well this is interesting email address andyt@net66.com was undeliverable and foo@bar.com doesn't esist. Yah I want to believe what foo@bar.com has to say.

Here is my source of info on the C-2000:

http://www.greenspun.com/com/imaging/PRODS/C2K/C2KA.HTM

there is some "dead" pixels on the LCD screen

My first impressions of the C-2000 have been generally negative. No one has mentioned that the lens cap is pushed off the camera lens when you turn the camera on. Some else did mention that the stud mount for the camera strap is in the way of and prevents easy use of the focus lever. My 620-L has a much nicer 'feel' to it.

I received the C-2000 yesterday and I'm very disappointed with the workmanship. They must have rushed these cameras through QA just to meet their shipping deadline. I found the diopter focus had to be maxed out to bring the reticle in focus for my eyes. I am slightly far sighted. There was also what looked like a piece of lint trapped between the protective glass and the LCD or a defect in the LCD itself. The LCD had small horizontal scratches in it for the entire vertical span of the display. I found scratches and dust in the viewfinder. It looked like the glass wasn't polished enough. (I inspected optics for awhile at a job) The dust was trapped inside. I owned an Olympus D-320L and did not find one thing wrong with it. It took great pictures. I have yet to take a picture with the camera but am thinking about getting a different model. The lens cap does fall off when the camera is switched on. Very annoying!

The digital zoom is too hard to use. Having to look thru the digital display to focus the digtal zoom is rediculous. The diopter focus is has to be turned all the way to even come close to a good focus. I'm very happy with everything about the camera, except I'm very concerned about quality and reliability, I've returned the camera to CompUSA twice now, and I am considering returning this one. The display screen on the first one went screwy the first day, I returned that one, and the second one had a stuck red pixel in the middle of the display. CompUSA has been very nice about returning the cameras. The camera I have now also has a stuck pixel, but it's at the bottom of the screen and is white, also this one does some screwey things with the menu options. I don't know how Olympus will be able to keep up with all the returned merchandise.

The digital zoom is too hard to use, and having to look through the digital display to focus the digital zoom is difficult under bright light conditions.

Also, close ups are way off from the viewfinder. Its necessary to use the LCD panel, difficult under bright light conditions

The diopter focus is very difficult to adjust (small and unaccessible), and has to be turned nearly all the way to come close to a good focus. I'm slightly disappointed with the quality control. I found scratches and dust in the viewfinder. The dust was trapped inside. There is also a continuous worrying noise and 'clunking' as the lens extends every time the power is turned on.

I am just wondering what settings people are using out there for your photos? For some reason my shots are very dotty now at 1600x1200 and they weren't in the begining. Did I change some setting or is there a setting I can change to help the photo regain a sharpness?

-- Bob G. (rgreg88721@hotmail.com), June 17, 1999.