Amazingly
small, and three-toned, the Olympus D-40 (C-40Z in Europe) is a
4-megapixel camera with a 2.8X zoom. The front cover is metallic while
the rest of the body is composed of a high quality plastic that keeps
the camera's weight down.
The
design uses a lens barrier that also serves to turn on the D-40 when opened.
Once opened, the raised edge of the barrier acts as a small grip, while
the other edge
has an irridescent 4.0 megapixel.
When
closed, the D-40 is easily slipped into a pocket, it measures a mere 87mm
x 68.5mm and has a thickness of 43.5mm (3.4" x 2.6" x 1.7").
The optical
viewfinder is intelligently designed: it is surrounded by a semi-hard
rubber eyecup and has a wide exit pupil. In addition, the design prevents
its use without sliding the cover back and turning on the camera, a good
thing for those of us that are a touch absent-minded.
Two small coloured
LEDs are placed inside the eyecup area, leaving them visible when the
camera is at eye-level. Orange/red indicates camera activity, green is
for focus.
Nearby are two buttons.
The upper one cycles trough the flash modes, which are clearly
marked on the status display on top of the camera, and on the back LCD
screen. The lower button cycles through spot metering, macro
mode, and the combination of spot metering and macro mode.
Again, the modes are indicated on the status display next to the shutter
release.
The
D-40's Mode Dial is fitted nearly flush to the back's surface,
close to its upper edge. Going clockwise, its 10 positions are for: P
(Program Mode), A/S/M (Aperture, Shutter priority, or Manual Mode);
My Mode (allows saving customized camera and menu settings); Movie
Mode, Self-Portrait; Night Scene; Landscape;
Landscape-Portrait; Portrait; and Full Auto. (See
the Characteristics section for a description of each function.)
The
only other controls on the back of the D-40 are placed a bit to the right
of the 1.5" LCD screen. Closest to the screen is the power button
for the monitor ,
which also serves to Playback images, or movies, when the lens
barrier is closed.
The remaining controls are the arrow pad, to navigate the menus,
or select some camera settings such as aperture, shutter speeds or exposure
compensation; and the OK button, at the centre of the arrow pad.
Although
the D-40 is small, the way the controls have been arranged, and the logic
behind their operation makes this a camera that is quite user-friendly.
Small, but yet able to provide a large number of features, the D-40 is
quite easy to use.
,
which also serves to Playback images, or movies, when the lens
barrier is closed.
