I got a look at these in person yesterday, and have to say they're very appealing. Small, very sleek and smooth case design, fit the hand and pocket well. Their user interface and feature set seem pretty much Olympus-standard, with good ease of use and plenty of features. Olympus made what proved to be an abortive attempt to enter the subcompact digicam market a while back with their "Brio" models, but they never gained much mass-market acceptance. These new "Digital Stylus" models really look like winners to me though. Here's the details:

The Olympus Camedia Stylus 300 and 400 Digital are near-identical, the only visible differences in the specifications being resolution and flash range. The Stylus 300 has a 3.34 megapixel imager and a maximum image size of 2048 x 1536 pixels, whilst the Stylus 400 is a 4.23 megapixel camera that gives 2272 x 1704 pixel images. Both cameras share the same all-metal body (which Olympus says has "all-weather durability", although they don't clarify exactly what they mean by this), along with identical 35 – 105mm equivalent zoom lenses.

Other features include USB Mass Storage Class-compliance for driverless connectivity with recent operating systems (Olympus calls this "Auto-Connect USB"), a 1.1 frames per second burst mode up to 5 frames, and xD-Picture Card storage (16MB bundled). Pricing and availability information are not available at the time of this writing. Specifications and product photos for both cameras follow:

Olympus Camedia Stylus 300 Digital
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
Digital Zoom	Seamless to 12x (3x optical and 4x digital combined [5x at VGA])
Aperture Range	f3.1 – f5.2
Shutter Speeds	Auto/Manual: 1/1000 sec. – 1/2 sec. Night Scene: 1/1000 sec. – 4 sec.
ISO	Auto, 80 – 320 (equivalent)
Recording Modes	Still image: EXIF 2.2 JPEG, DCF (Design rule for Camera File system), PRINT Image Matching II Movie mode: QuickTime motion JPEG
Adjustable Resolutions	2048 x 1536 JPEG SHQ, HQ 1600 x 1200 JPEG SQ1 1280 x 960 JPEG SQ2 1024 x 768 JPEG SQ2 640 x 480 JPEG SQ2
QuickTime Movie	16 sec. at 15 fps in 320 x 240 HQ mode 40 sec. at 15 fps in 160 x 120 SQ mode
TruePic™	Uses all pixels at all resolutions, Pixel micro-smoothing
Pixel Mapping	Automatic Pixel Mapping (APM) available via menu setting
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)	Print reserve (single, all, number of copies), Date/time
Image Shooting Effects	2-in-1 shooting mode
Image Edit Effects	Black and white, Sepia, Resize
Panorama	Up to 10 frames automatically stitchable with CAMEDIA Master software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture Card
Sequence	1.1 frames per second burst up to 5 frames in HQ mode
Viewfinder	Optical real-image viewfinder
LCD	1.5" (3.8 cm) low-temperature poly-silicon LCD (approx. 134,000 pixels)
Focusing System	TTL autofocus system
Focusing Ranges	Normal mode: 20" (0.5 m) – infinity Macro mode: 8" – 20" (0.2 m – 0.5m)
Exposure Control	Auto/Program modes: f3.1 – f5.2, 1/1000 sec. – 1/2 sec. (Night scene: 1/1000 sec. – 4 sec.)
Exposure Compensation	± 2 steps EV in 1/3 EV steps
Scene Programs	Portrait, Self-portrait, Landscape, Landscape plus portrait, Night scene
Metering System	Digital ESP multi-pattern, Spot Metering
White Balance System	iESP multi-pattern auto TTL, Pre-set manual (Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten and Fluorescent)
Flash	Built-in flash
Flash Modes	Auto for low and backlight Red-Eye Reduction Fill-In Slow Shutter Synchronized (1st curtain and 1st curtain with Red Eye Reduction) Off
Flash Working Range	Wide: 8" – 8.5' (.2 m – 2.5 m), Tele: 8" – 6.0' (.2 m – 1.8 m)
Flash Charging Time	Approx. 5 seconds at normal temperature with fully charged battery
Removable Media Card	3V (3.3V) xD-Picture Card, 16MB card included
Selftimer / Remote	Selftimer: 12-second delay, Remote: 4-second delay
Settings Memorization	On/Off (Hold changes/Reset to default settings)
Outer Connectors	USB connector (Auto-Connect), Video out, DC input
Auto-Connect USB	Compatible with Windows 98 rev2 / ME / 2000 Pro / XP and Mac OS 8.6 – OS X Windows 98 rev2 driver provided on CD Mac OS 8.6 requires USB mass storage driver 1.3.5 available at apple.com Downloading to laptop computer without USB port possible with optional PCMCIA xD-Picture Card™ reader
Image Playback	Still image: Index display, up to 4x enlargement, Slide show, Scene rotation Movie: Normal, Reverse, Frame-by-frame
Operating Environment	Operation: 32° –104°F (0° – 40°C) 30 – 90% humidity Storage: -4° – 140°F (-20° – 60°C) 10 – 90% humidity
Power Supply	LI-10B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger included AC Power: D-7AU 4.8V AC adapter (optional)
Date/Time Calendar	Simultaneous recording into image data, Automatic up to year 2099
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
Package Contents	Stylus 300 Digital Camera 16MB xD-Picture Card LI-10B Li-Ion Battery and Charger RM-2 Selftimer Remote Control Digital Camera Win/Mac USB Cable Video Cable Wrist Strap Quick Start Guide Printed Instruction Manual Warranty Card CD-ROM: CAMEDIA Master Software, Adobe Acrobat® Reader and Camera Reference Manual
.

�

Olympus Camedia Stylus 400 Digital
CCD Imager	4.07 megapixel effective 4.23 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
Digital Zoom	Seamless to 12x (3x optical and 4x digital combined [5x at VGA])
Aperture Range	f3.1 – f5.2
Shutter Speeds	Auto/Manual: 1/1000 sec. – 1/2 sec. Night Scene: 1/1000 sec. – 4 sec.
ISO	Auto, 80 – 320 (equivalent)
Recording Modes	Still image: EXIF 2.2 JPEG, DCF (Design rule for Camera File system), PRINT Image Matching II Movie mode: QuickTime motion JPEG
Adjustable Resolutions	2272 x 1704 JPEG SHQ, HQ 2048 x 1536 JPEG SQ1 1600 x 1200 JPEG SQ2 1280 x 960 JPEG SQ2 1024 x 768 JPEG SQ2 640 x 480 JPEG SQ2
QuickTime Movie	16 sec. at 15 fps in 320 x 240 HQ mode 40 sec. at 15 fps in 160 x 120 SQ mode
TruePic™	Uses all pixels at all resolutions, Pixel micro-smoothing
Pixel Mapping	Automatic Pixel Mapping (APM) available via menu setting
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)	Print reserve (single, all, number of copies), Date/time
Image Shooting Effects	2-in-1 shooting mode
Image Edit Effects	Black and white, Sepia, Resize
Panorama	Up to 10 frames automatically stitchable with CAMEDIA Master software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture Card
Sequence	1.1 frames per second burst up to 5 frames in HQ mode
Viewfinder	Optical real-image viewfinder
LCD	1.5" (3.8 cm) low-temperature poly-silicon LCD (approx. 134,000 pixels)
Focusing System	TTL autofocus system
Focusing Ranges	Normal mode: 20" (0.5 m) – infinity Macro mode: 8" – 20" (0.2 m – 0.5m)
Exposure Control	Auto/Program modes: f3.1 – f5.2, 1/1000 sec. – 1/2 sec. (Night scene: 1/1000 sec. – 4 sec.)
Exposure Compensation	± 2 steps EV in 1/3 EV steps
Scene Programs	Portrait, Self-portrait, Landscape, Landscape plus portrait, Night scene
Metering System	Digital ESP multi-pattern, Spot Metering
White Balance System	iESP multi-pattern auto TTL, Pre-set manual (Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten and Fluorescent)
Flash	Built-in flash
Flash Modes	Auto for low and backlight Red-Eye Reduction Fill-In Slow Shutter Synchronized (1st curtain and 1st curtain with Red Eye Reduction) Off
Flash Working Range	Wide: 8" – 7' (.2 m – 2.1 m), Tele: 8" – 6.7' (.2 m – 2.0 m)
Flash Charging Time	Approx. 5 seconds at normal temperature with fully charged battery
Removable Media Card	3V (3.3V) xD-Picture Card, 16MB card included
Selftimer / Remote	Selftimer: 12-second delay, Remote: 4-second delay
Settings Memorization	On/Off (Hold changes/Reset to default settings)
Outer Connectors	USB connector (Auto-Connect), Video out, DC input
Auto-Connect USB	Compatible with Windows 98 rev2 / ME / 2000 Pro / XP and Mac OS 8.6 – OS X Windows 98 rev2 driver provided on CD Mac OS 8.6 requires USB mass storage driver 1.3.5 available at apple.com Downloading to laptop computer without USB port possible with optional PCMCIA xD-Picture Card™ reader
Image Playback	Still image: Index display, up to 4x enlargement, Slide show, Scene rotation Movie: Normal, Reverse, Frame-by-frame
Operating Environment	Operation: 32° –104°F (0° – 40°C) 30 – 90% humidity Storage: -4° – 140°F (-20° – 60°C) 10 – 90% humidity
Power Supply	LI-10B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger included AC Power: D-7AU 4.8V AC adapter (optional)
Date/Time Calendar	Simultaneous recording into image data, Automatic up to year 2099
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
Package Contents	Stylus 400 Digital Camera 16MB xD-Picture Card LI-10B Li-Ion Battery and Charger RM-2 Selftimer Remote Control Digital Camera Win/Mac USB Cable Video Cable Wrist Strap Quick Start Guide Printed Instruction Manual Warranty Card CD-ROM: CAMEDIA Master Software, Adobe Acrobat® Reader and Camera Reference Manual
.