Olympus announces Camedia D-370! (UPDATED)
By
Mike Tomkins
(Tuesday, June 5, 2001 - 09:00 EDT)
Replacement for the Olympus D-360L promises greatly enhanced battery life...
Olympus America Inc. has today announced a replacement for its existing D-360L digital camera, in the form of the Olympus Camedia D-370. Already in our database, the D-370 features greatly improved battery life - and perhaps that should be greatly with a capital 'G' if the company's claims prove accurate. Olympus' press release promises a battery life of 'hundreds' of images with 50% LCD and flash usage on 4 AA batteries, or 'thousands' of images without flash or LCD use. If the company's own LB-01 batteries are used, battery life is claimed to be tripled... By our math, 'thousands' means at least two thousand images - triple this and we're talking 6000 images or more without flash or LCD usage. The enhanced battery life, says Olympus, comes from "a newly developed long-life battery circuit".
The D-370 also features USB Mass Storage Class compliance for driverless connectivity with Windows ME and 2000, or MacOS 8.6+. Storage is on SmartMedia up to 128MB (note that in one place Olympus' specs say 4MB cards work, but in another the minimum is listed as 8MB; it is unlikely that users will want to use 4MB SmartMedia when much larger cards can be bought cheaply, however we are awaiting confirmation as to which figure is correct). Other features include a fixed focus, fixed focal-length lens equivalent to 35mm on a 35mm camera, new wide-view LCD that Olympus says is viewable even in bright light, a built-in 6 mode flash, 2MB of built-in memory on top of the SmartMedia storage capability, and a QuickTime movie mode.
Specifications highlights for the Olympus Camedia D-370 follow:
| Specification Highlights - full specifications here | | Olympus Camedia D-370 |  | | General | | Model Number: | D-370 | | Camera Format: | Compact | | Price: | US$199 (street) | | Date Available: | August 2001 | | Image Capture | | Image Sensor: | 0.313" 1.31 megapixel CCD | | Image Resolution: | 1280x960, 1024x768, 640x480, 320x240 | | Lens | | Focal Length (effective): | 35mm (fixed focal length) | | Digital Zoom: | 1.6, 2.0, 3.4, 4.0x | | Auto Focus: | No (fixed focus) | | Manual Focus: | N/A | | Normal Focus Range: | 60 cm to Infinity; 24.5 in to Infinity | | Macro Focus Range: | 25 - 60 cm; 10.2 - 24.5 in | | Aperture Range: | f/4.0, f/8.0 | | Display | | Optical Viewfinder: | Yes (Real image type) | | LCD Viewfinder: | Yes (1.5 inch, 114,000 pixel) | | Exposure | | ISO Settings: | Auto (100 - 400) | | White Balance Settings: | Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten, Fluorescent | | Manual White Balance: | No | | Shutter Speeds: | 1 - 1/1000 second | | Exp Adj Range: | +/- 2.0EV in 1/2EV steps | | Metering Modes: | Digital ESP metering system with imager. Spot metering. | | Exposure Modes: | Auto | | Self Timer (seconds): | 12 | | Flash | | Internal Flash: | Yes | | Flash Modes: | Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Off, Fill-in, 1st curtain Slow-Synchro, Slow-Synchro w/ red-eye reduction | | Flash Range Description: | To 8.2 ft/2.5 m (ISO 100) | | Ext Flash: | No | | Image Storage | | Flash Memory: | Built-in, SmartMedia | | Memory Included (MB): | 2MB (built-in) | | File Formats: | JPEG, QuickTime (MotionJPEG) | | More Information | | Weight: | 190 g; 6.6 oz | | Weight With Batteries? | No | | Size: | 123 x 65 x 45mm; 4.8 x 2.6 x 1.8in | | Notes & Features: | Successor to the Olympus D-360L. Claimed battery life is 'hundreds' of images with 4 AA alkaline batteries, 50% LCD display and flash usage, or 'thousands' of images without LCD and flash. Battery life with Olympus' LB-01 batteries are claimed to be triple these figures. Digital zoom levels of 3.4x and 4.0x are only available at resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. Shutter speeds 1/2 to 1 second only available in Night mode. Camera complies with USB Mass Storage Class (called AutoConnect USB by Olympus) for driverless connectivity with Windows ME and 2000, or MacOS 8.6+. Compatible with SmartMedia from 8MB to 128MB. Body includes built-in sliding lens cover which also doubles as power switch. Flash recharges in 6 seconds. Burst mode of 1.3 frames per second is up to 5 frames in HQ (second lowest compression) mode. Has ability to rotate and resize images in-camera. Setting memory can be turned on, off, or set to custom. Built-in clock calendar works up to the year 2031. Bundled with 4 AA batteries, hand strap, USB cable, manual and software CD. Optional accessories include C7AU-AC AC adapter. | | More Photos |  |  | | |
UPDATED 2001-06-05 14:53ET:Olympus confirms that the D-370 can indeed accept 4MB SmartMedia cards. We've updated our specs to reflect this...
Source:
Olympus America Inc.
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Original Source Press Release:
| OLYMPUS ANNOUNCES ECONOMICAL D-370 DIGITAL CAMERA WITH EXTENDED BATTERY-LIFE TECHNOLOGY June 5, 2001, Melville, NY -- Olympus America Inc., Consumer Products Group, the world leader in film and filmless photography, today announced the D-370 consumer digital camera. Olympus has taken the award-winning, highly successful D-360L digital camera and made it better. The D-370 comes with a newly developed long-life battery circuit allowing hundreds of shots in normal operation with 4 AA alkaline batteries (while using the LCD display and flash 50% of the time). With the LCD and flash turned off the camera can capture thousands of images on the same AA alkaline batteries. When the Olympus long-life LB01 (CR3V) batteries are used, battery-life is extended by about 3 times for even more of your favorite photos.
The Olympus D-370 is designed to meet the needs of consumers wishing for a high-quality, easy-to-use digital camera at an affordable price. The D-370 can produce photo-quality 4" x 6" prints using the 1.3 megapixel CCD (1280 x 960 pixel resolution) in a compact, lightweight clam-shell design, and adds new features for this class of digital camera, such as: - AutoConnect USB (no driver software needed) for fast and easy connectivity to USB equipped computers.
- Super bright viewfinder for easy viewing even in low light.
- Wide-view LCD for easier viewing and reviewing of the images, even in bright light.
- Sharp Olympus focus free 4.5mm – f4-f8 all-glass lens.
- 2MB internal memory for taking photos without the need of an additional SmartMedia card.
- Uses SmartMedia removable media from 8MB to 128MB capacities.
- Built-in 6 mode flash with red eye reduction.
- QuickTime movie mode.
Built-in Image Storage
2MB of internal memory is built in the camera for processing and saving images without the need of any additional SmartMedia cards. For more photo storage, SmartMedia cards from 8MB to 128MB can also be used. Optional Olympus SmartMedia cards can be reused thousands of times, as images can be erased and cards reused.
USB AutoConnect
The Olympus USB AutoConnect feature allows users to plug the camera directly into a USB-equipped computer running the latest operating systems, including Windows 2000, Windows Me and Mac OS 8.6 and higher. No additional drivers or software are needed to download the images.
Olympus Focus-Free Lens
The D-370 is equipped with an all glass 4.5mm lens, (equivalent to 35mm in 35mm film cameras). The lens is designed to produce sharp clear pictures from 2 feet to infinity, and close-up photos to 9.8 inches. For easy email and web use, the camera is also capable of capturing images in standard quality (SQ) at 640 x 480 pixels -- perfect for sending pictures to friends and family.
User Friendly Design
Olympus is a camera company that understands and excels in camera design. Designed for ease of use with the consumer in mind, the D-370 is lightweight at 6.7 ounces and compact with dimensions of 4.84 W" x 2.56 H" x 1.75 D". The protective lens barrier slides open with one hand for ease of use, and simultaneously turns on the camera. The camera's comfortable and clever lens barrier makes it easy to carry and blocks and protects the lens and viewfinder when closed. The D-370 also uses a new Wide-View 1.5" LCD display for easy viewing.
"The D-370 addresses the number one consumer need with digital cameras - more battery power," said Michele Derenches, Associate Product Manager, Olympus America, Consumer Products Group. "Geared at the consumer market, the D-370 is easy and fun to use at a price that is very affordable."
The D-370 will be available August 2001. It includes 4 AA Alkaline batteries, a strap, USB cable, manual, and Olympus Camedia Master 2.5 software.
D-370 Street Price: $199
D-370 Suggested Retail Price: $249
For more information, contact Olympus America, Consumer Products Group, Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747-3157, ph: (631) 844-5000 (800) 622-6372, Fax: (631) 844-5262 or the Olympus Web Site: http://www.olympus.com.
About Olympus America, Inc.
Olympus America distributes a wide range of products to the consumer, scientific, healthcare, commercial and industrial markets. These include film and filmless cameras, Microcassette and digital voice recorders, binoculars, film scanners, personal photo printers, medical and industrial endoscopes, biological and metallurgical microscopes and measuring instruments, clinical analyzers, and other high technology products. Olympus America is responsible for sales in United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Olympus is a registered trademark, and Camedia is a trademark of Olympus Optical Co. Ltd. Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. SmartMedia is a trademark of Toshiba America, Inc.
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