Reviewed by
Lakeverna , Casual

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
I have the same camera with the same problem but I have gone a step further. I took the slide off and checked to see what activated the lens to extend and withdraw. What I found was a small slide switch which was recessed in a channel that is in the slide.

As the camera got a few years use behind it the plastic slide wore and stretched. This took the small switch out of the groove that is part of the slide cover. The grove is mostly a straight path but towards the end it make a 45 degree turn. It is this change in the path that pushes the switch up and activates the lens to open and close.

The quick fix is to place your index finger on top of the slide and slight push down on the slide as you move it back (all done with the same hand). The tip of the index finger needs to be placed after the word camera on the slide because it is in the last 1/2 inch of the end of the slide that the channel makes it s 45 degree change.

Using this technique the lens opens every time I want to take a picture.

Strengths
I like the pictures it takes and it is very easy to use.

Weaknesses
Age and use are even hard on cameras.

Reviewed by
Wade , Expert

Price Paid
$450.00 at Internet Sales

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
Camera takes excellent pictures, BUT . . . shutter door has developed a problem that prevents camera lenses from extending and operating. The shutter door works on a track system that is made from low grade plastic. Over time, the plastic track has deteriorated and the shutter door no longer is able to make a solid connection with the contact points that signal when the lenses should open or close.

I would have considered this a function of normal wear and tear, BUT, I purchased this same camera for 2 of my family members and ALL OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. This camera is far too expensive to have an unremedied design defect which prevent use within 36 months of purchase. Needless to say, repairing the problem is cost prohibitive.

Based upon this problem, I cannot recommend this product if you intend to use the camera for 3 years or more.

Strengths
See Review

Weaknesses
See Review

Reviewed by
sandyza , Casual

Price Paid
$399.00 at CompUSA

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
This was a nice upgrade from my previous digital camera. Takes great outdoor shots (we use it primarily for vacations, but also family gatherings), and wonderful panoramas! Has a LOT of settings, and I have tried almost all of them which are easy to do if you read the manual. I usually take the couple of page sthat shows all the settings with us on vacation, since I don't use the different ones that often and do tend to forget them all. Works nicely on a tripod.

Strengths
Good picture quality and panoramas.

Weaknesses
The lense cover is extremely sensitive! If you touch it at ALL while trying to take a picture it will close. This has happened not only on my camera but a friend's as well. Lense cover is very slow to open as well. Hate having to reset the date every time I recharge the battery, but am pretty much used to it by now.

Reviewed by
lalotafoya , Intermediate

Price Paid
$799.00 at comp usa

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
This cammera is a light wieght and compact camera, easy to use and i have enjoyed using it verry much, i bought it about 4 years ago when it first came out, the first time that i used it was in Disnyland, the pictures came out colorful and share,

Strengths
Verry compact and easy to use.

Weaknesses
No options on fine ajustments for low light. you have to use a tripod to take a good picture in low light.

Similar Products Used
Minolta Freedom zoom 65, Fuji A360.

Reviewed by
Jeth , Casual

Price Paid
$498.00 at ABT Electronics

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
Overall this is a nice little camera. I bought it as an upgrade. I previously used the Olympus D-460 and D-560. I have had it for about 2 years now. I bought this one in anticipation of my 2 week trip to Europe. As I suspected, I took a ton of pictures! I loved that this camera is so small it could go everywhere with me, yet it has the higher resolution and options to deliver really nice photos. I mostly use the camera on the Program AE mode. I often use the night mode and landscape mode, as appropriate. Many of my pictures turned out great. Particularly indoors and in low-light (with a tripod), I got many wonderful shots. But I did have some problems with overexposure (I think that was the problem) outdoors. I was actually very dissapointed because I didn't really notice how bad they were till I got home and saw them on my computer. It was mainly in bright light with overcast skies. Most of my pictures of the Acropolis in Athens are totally washed out. The sky looks white, and there is little contrast with the rocks and monuments. Also, when the pictures involve people, they are very washed out, too. Same problem with pictures in Santorini. There were white houses with white clouds above, and everything got totally washed out. Even though there was some blue sky, the camera didn't capture it right. I am wondering if I had turned down the exposure value, if they would've come out better. I wish I had noticed and tried that.
I had one other problem with it. In the middle of my trip, the flash died. It just stopped working. The settings still worked, but it just never fired. This was a major bummer since that meant no more indoor or night shots for the rest of the trip. On a positive note, as soon as I got home I sent it into Olympus and they fixed it quickly at no charge.
I have not read any other reports of bad exposure from this camera, so it could be something I was doing wrong. I really should've taken a closer look and then I probably could've made an adjustment to fix the problem. I was taking so many pictures, I was basically in point-n-shoot mode (although not using auto mode on camera) so I didn't stop to examine every photo. And as I mentioned, many of them did come out fine when it wasn't as bright outside or if there was a lot of contrast, or if I was indoors.
I still really like this camera. The controls are easy to use, once you figure them out. Read the manual!! Many people complain about things that are incorrect because they don't know. Like the auto-reset, you can turn that off. And the quick view button. I think in general it does take very nice pictures, and the higher resolution gives you a lot of freedom to tweak and crop them later. The macro mode seems to work very well, I have gotten great up-close shots indoors and outside. The battery seems to last quite long, I think I only used my spare once or twice. My only complaint with the handling is the lens cover. It is extremely sensitive. I find it annoying when I am composing a shot, if I just barely brush against the cover with my finger, it triggers the camera to shut off. Even if the cover didn't actually move. And then you have to actually close and re-open the cover to get the camera to come back on. Very annoying when you're in the middle of taking a shot.
Some great things are the shortcut menu to change the resolution, having the tripod mount for night shots, the quick view button, and the small size.

Strengths
Size, modes & options, 5 MP, night shots, macro shots.

Weaknesses
Very sensitive lens cover, over-exposure on some outdoor shots.

Customer Service
I called about my dead flash. They were knowledgable and helpful on the phone. When I sent it in, I got it back promptly. In addition to fixing the problem, they also did a tune-up. Great customer service.