I need to get a digital camera ASAP and so far after reading *everything* I could find I still can take a decision (The fact that I can't find any review of the Olympus 450Z doesn't help). I like the design and features of the Canon A50 but I read the LCD is really bad under daylight, also I don't like the zoom controls in the rear panel. The Kodak has a nice menu system and controls but I read that sometimes the image quality is kind of cheap, also it doesn't store uncompressed pictures. I went to a dealer and looked at the Olympus. The box, buttons and menus doesn't look as good as the Canon or Kodak but what about its features. I heard the flash is much better the Canon A50. PLEASE HELP ME!

Also, Is anybody using the diskette adapter for the Smart Media memory card? Should I consider buying this if I get the Olympus?

Thanks in advance for any help. Marc

-- Marc Heurtaut (march@e-BIZweb.net), October 05, 1999

Answers

I would stay away from the Kodak DC-240. Why? Well, my camera has been with Kodak for three out of the six weeks that I've owned it.

- After I had it for three weeks, I sent it in to get a problem with overexposed pictures taken during bright sunlight resolved. Also, there were some particles on the inside of the LCD panel. My camera was re-calibrated to resolve the overexposure issue and *dust* was removed from the inside of the LCD which eliminated the particles that I was seeing. Kodak promises a 5 business day turn-around on repairs. However, after hearing nothing for 9 business days, I called them up. The repair had not taken place, but after my call, they started the repairs. Then, I requested that they ship the camera back to me via overnight shipping - Kodak was going to send it via UPS Ground.

- Finally, my camera arrived. Damn. Kodak packed it so poorly that the silver paint wore off the selector knob on the back of the camera. I called them up and they provided me with a shipping number so I could use Airborne Express at their expense. The camera had been at their site for two days before the finally started to work on it today. They had the camera for over 48 hours at this time though - according to the package tracking information.

- I called them up this evening. I was very irritated. If I buy a car in the state where I live and it is in the shop for more than 30 days out of (either one year or two), then my car would qualify as a lemon. Well, my camera has been in Kodak's hands nearly this long. Kodak has never offered to cross-ship me a new camera. They keep on insisting on fixing all the issues that I bring up. Meanwhile, my camera in their hands. I have now demanded that Kodak buy this camera back. I've only taken 130 pictures out of the three weeks that I've had it and the additional three weeks that they've had it.

- I would look at another brand. Have you considered the Epson 750Z, or even the Canon S10 when it gets released? Learn from my mistakes.

-- Wayne Ernst (wjernst@pressroom.com), October 07, 1999.

I bought a Sony Mavica FD-71. I haven't had any problems with it yet. It uses a floppy disk to store the pictures. I have had it since Sept. of this year. I really enjoy using it. I paid $500 for it. Well worth the price by far.

-- Raisa Fritz (raisa@mail.ff.cc.mn.us), October 28, 1999.