Minolta Dimage S404 vs Olympus C2040

[fcpga]

I can't decide between the 2 camera,

Olympus is $750
Minolta is about $915

Minolta is 4Megapixel whereas Olympus is only 2Megapixel.
Which will take better pictures? In night shoot, in general shooting?

Thanks

http://www.dimage.minolta.com./s404/index.html

http://cf.olympus-europa.com/consumer/digimg/intro.cfm?id=C-2040ZOOM

need some experts to help me look at the spec

 

[fcpga]

Minolta Spec


No. of effective pixels 3.95 million
CCD 1/1.8-type interline primary-color CCD with a total of 4.13 million pixels
Lens f/ 3.0 - f/ 3.6, 11 elements in 9 groups
(includes 1 AD glass element and 2 double-sided aspheric elements)
Focal length 7.15 - 28.6 mm (35 mm equivalent: 35 - 140 mm)
Recording media Type I CompactFlash card
File format Exif2.1 (JPEG, TIFF), Motion JPEG (AVI): with audio, DCF, DPOF
No. of recorded pixels 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480, Movie clips: 320 x 240 per frame
Storage capacity Approximate storage capacity of a 16 MB CompactFlash card
2272 x 1704 1600 x 1200 1280 x 960 640 x 480
ECO. 20 36 46 79
STD. 12 23 33 65
FINE 7 14 21 48
SUPER FINE 1 2 4 15
Movie 52 seconds

The actual number of images may vary depending upon the subject.
Autofocus system Video AF
AF areas Wide focus area / Focus Area Selection
Focus mode Autofocus (Full-time AF available in the autofocus mode) / Manual focus
Focusing range W: 0.5 m (1.6 feet) to infinity (from the CCD)
T: 0.9 m (3.0 feet) to infinity (from the CCD)
Macro: 16 cm (6.3 inches) to 60 cm (23.6 inches) (from the CCD)
Exposure modes Programmed AE, Aperture priority, Manual. Digital Subject Program
Selection: (Macro, Portrait, Landscape, Night portrait, Text, Macro & Text)
Digital Effects Control Exposure, Color saturation, Contrast
Exposure compensation ± 2 Ev in 1/3 increments
Metering Multi-segment (270 segments), Spot
Camera sensitivity Auto, ISO 64 / 100 / 200 / 400 (ISO equivalent)
Shutter speeds 1/1000 - 4 seconds, Bulb (max. 15 seconds)
Continuous advance Approx. 1.3 frames per second
Self-timer Approx. 10 seconds delay
Movie recording Max. 60 seconds, with audio (monaural)
Digital zoom 2.2x
White-balance control Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Cloudy), Custom
Flash mode Autoflash, Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Fill-flash with red-eye reduction, Flash cancel
A/D conversion 12 bits
LCD monitor 1.8-type / 4.6cm TFT color, with total 122.000 pixels equivalent
Remote control IR Remote Control RC-3 (optional)
Printing output control Print Image Matching
PC interface USB ver. 1.1, Video output NTSC / PAL (selectable)
Batteries* 4x AA (NiMH or Alkaline)
* Use of NiMH recommended.
Battery performance* Continuous playback time: approx. 110 min. (NiMH)
* Minolta measurement
Number of recording: approx. 150 frames (NiMH, LCD monitor on)
External power source AC adapter (6V DC, option): AC-1L (100 - 120V AC), AC-2L (100- 240V AC)
Dimensions (WxHxD) 113.5 x 64.5 x 58.5 (56.5 in grip area) mm / 4.5 x 2.5 x 2.3 (2.2 in grip area) inches
Weight Approx. 335 g / 11.8 ounces (without batteries or recording media)
Standard accessories AA Alkaline Batteries, Neck Strap (NS-DG304), Lens Cap (LF-236),
AV Cable (AVC-100), CF Card (16MB), USB Cable (USB-600),
DiMAGE software CD-ROM for DiMAGE S404,
Bundle software: ArcSoft PhotoImpression
*Availablity of accessories depends on areas.

 

[fcpga]

Olympus spec

Model: CAMEDIA C-2040ZOOM
Type: Digital camera with 4.5 cm/1.8 inch colour TFT LCD monitor.
Storage media: Removable 3 V (3.3 V) SmartMedia (SSFDC) cards (4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 MB)
One 8 MB card including panorama function is supplied with camera.
Number of storable frames with 8 MB SmartMedia card: 1 TIFF 1,600 x 1,200
3 TIFF 1,024 x 768
8 TIFF 640 x 480
7 or more: SHQ 1,600 x 1,200
16 or more: HQ 1,600 x 1,200
13 or more: SQ1 high 1,024 x 768
38 or more: SQ1 normal 1,024 x 768
32 or more: SQ2 high 640 x 480
82 or more: SQ2 normal 640 x 480
Recording system: Still image: JPEG with "Design rule for Camera File System”/TIFF (non-compression)/DPOF support.
Motion picture: QuickTime Motion JPEG®*.
Imager: 1/2 inch CCD solid-state image pickup 2.11 million pixels (effective 2.02 million pixels) with primary colour filter.
White balance: iESP (intelligent Electro Selective Pattern) full-auto TTL, pre-set (daylight, overcast, tungsten light, fluorescent light), "one touch”. White balance compensation possible.
Lens: Olympus 3x multivariator zoom lens 7.1 ~ 21.3 mm, F1.8 ~ 2.6, 10 elements in 7 groups. (Equivalent to 40 ~ 120 mm lens on 35 mm camera).
Digital zoom: Continuous 1x ~ 2.5x. (up to 5x in VGA resolution (640 x 480)).
Aperture: Wide: F2.0 ~ F11.0; tele: F2.8 ~ F11.0.
Light metering: Digital ESP metering system with imager. Spot metering. Multi-centre-weighted and multi-spot metering system.
Exposure control: Programmed auto exposure, aperture priority auto, shutter priority auto.
±2 EV in ±1/3 EV steps exposure compensation.
Auto bracketing: selectable from 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV and 1 EV; 3 or 5 images.
Programmed auto: F1.8 ~ 10.0, 1 ~ 1/800 sec.
Manual exposure: shutter speed up to 16 sec.
Aperture priority: wide ; F1.8 ~ 10.0, tele ; F2.6 ~ 10.0, 1/3 EV steps.
Shutter priority: still image: 4 ~ 1/800 sec. (with mechanical shutter), 1/3 EV steps.
AE lock possible.
QuickTime Motion JPEG Image mode: 1/30 – 1/10,000 sec.
Focusing: iESP (intelligent Electro Selective Pattern) TTL system autofocus (contrast detection system) with focusing range: 0.2 m ~ infinity. Spot AF is possible.
Manual focus (manual focus setting by gauge) with focusing range:
0.2 m ~ infinity.
Working range: Standard mode: 0.8 m ~ infinity; macro mode: 0.2 ~ 0.8 m
Sensitivity: Auto or manual adjustment, selectable to approx. equivalent ISO 100, 200 and 400.
Viewfinder: Optical real-image viewfinder (close-up correction marks, autofocus mark/backlighting correction mark). LCD monitor.
LCD monitor: 4.5 cm /1.8 inch wide angle colour TFT LCD monitor with 114,000 pixels (made from low-temperature poly-silicon).
Brightness adjustment is possible.
Flash: Built-in flash.
Flash modes: Auto (automatic flash activation in low light and backlight), red-eye reduction, fill-in (forced activation), off (no flash).
External terminal: off, auto, forced activation with FL-40.
Slow synchronisation (first-curtain synchronisation effect, second-curtain synchronisation effect).
Flash working range: Wide: approx. 0.8 ~ 5.6 m; tele: approx. 0.2 ~ 3.8 m (ISO 100).
Flash recycle time: Less than 6 sec. (at normal temperature with new batteries).
Sequence mode: SHQ: approx. 1.4 frames/sec.; 3 shots or more.
HQ: approx. 1.4 frames/sec.; 7 shots or more.
SQ1 normal: 1.5 frames/sec.; 16 shots or more.
SQ1 high: 1.5 frames/sec.; 5 shots or more.
SQ2 normal: 1.6 frames/sec.; 37 shots or more.
SQ2 high: 1.6 frames/sec.; 14 shots or more.
(Excluding TIFF mode).
Motion picture mode: Format: QuickTime Motion JPEG*.
HQ: 320 x 240 pixels, 12.5 frames/sec. up to approx. 18 sec.
SQ: 160 x 120 pixels, 12.5 frames/sec. up to approx. 80 sec.
Image effect: Black & white mode, blackboard mode, whiteboard mode.
Self-timer: With approx. 12 sec. delay, 2 sec. after optional remote control operation.
Setting memorisation: Possible.
Outer connector: DC input terminal, data input/output terminal: USB interface (storage class), video output terminal (PAL), external flash terminal for FL-40 (5 pin type).
Operating environment: Temperature: 0 ~ 40°C (operation); -20 ~ 60°C (storage).
Humidity: 30 ~ 90% (operation); 10 ~ 90% (storage).
Power source: Main power source: 4 x AA Ni-MH batteries/4 x AA lithium batteries/4 x AA alkaline batteries/4 x AA Ni-Cd batteries/2 x lithium batteries LB-01 (CR-V3). (Zinc carbon (manganese) batteries cannot be used.)
Built-in lithium back-up for the calendar system. Optional AC adapter.
Date/time/calendar: Recorded simultaneously with picture data.
Automatic calendar system: Up to 2030.
Dimensions: 109.5 (W) _ 76.4 (H) _ 69.6 (D) mm (excluding protrusions).
Weight: 307 g (excluding batteries and SmartMedia card).

 

[reflecx]

Which camera is better largely depends on what kind of shooting you intend to do.

The main advantage of the C2040 over the S404 is the brighter lens (f1.8-2.6 vs f3.0-3.6). At the widest angle, the C2040 lets in 2.8x more light than the S404. This is a huge difference if you intend to do shooting in dim light conditions (eg. indoors/night).

Another smaller advantage of the C2040 is that it consumes quite a bit less power than the S404. You can't find this in the specs, you have to read reviews on the web.

Other than these two factors, the S404 outperforms the C2040.

One thing I am not sure of is whether the S404 captures images in its own proprietary colour space (the S304, Dimage 5 & 7 all do). You would need to convert all images to sRGB to view colours correctly on monitors. This can be quite le-che.

BTW, where did you get the $815 quote for the S404 from?

 

[Kevin]

Yah, that is real cheap. fcpga, mind to share where you get the quote from. It is a very attractive offer for 4MP DC.

 

[mfo]

does the S404 still use Minolta's own color space??? more info here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/minoltadimage7/page17.asp

 

[fcpga]

sorry its $915 not 815. I typed wrongly.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by fcpga
sorry its $915 not 815. I typed wrongly.

Still very cheap though!

 

[Blitz]

Can check out the pictures taken from a C2040 at my gallery if you want

But note that I'm a newbie in photography ah!

 

[fcpga]

impressive C2040

you didn't include the camera settings.
or is it on auto 'P' mode?

 

[Blitz]

Originally posted by fcpga
impressive C2040

you didn't include the camera settings.
or is it on auto 'P' mode?

It's on P mode and very very few on A/S/M mode.

You can find the settings by going to the "Photo Properties" link found on the top right hand corner.

 

[fcpga]

thanks made the decision, gotten a C2040

 

[Blitz]

Originally posted by fcpga
thanks made the decision, gotten a C2040

Wow so fast

Welcome onboard to the Oly C2040Z family, hope u will have a lot of fun with it like me

 

[Jayan]

Originally posted by Blitz


Wow so fast

Welcome onboard to the Oly C2040Z family, hope u will have a lot of fun with it like me

Good. One more to add to my list.

 

[Blitz]

Originally posted by Jayan


Good. One more to add to my list.

Jayan still dun wanna sleep ah?

 

[volk]

hi fcpga,

welcome to join us...the oly family

may I kaypo a bit...where did u buy your DC?...How much? Any gifts?

 

[Jayan]

Originally posted by Blitz


Jayan still dun wanna sleep ah?

Yawn.......good morning....sorrie afternoon....

 

[volk]

Hi blitz saw your gallery. Those photos are good.

Thinking of using the same software to put up a gallery too.
How to do it uh?

btw, where do you work? Your office looks very 'cosy'.

 

[Blitz]

Originally posted by volk
Hi blitz saw your gallery. Those photos are good.

Thinking of using the same software to put up a gallery too.
How to do it uh?

btw, where do you work? Your office looks very 'cosy'.

Hiya Volk,

Thanks for your comments, me still learning to take good pictures too lah

For the software, you will need to install it in a web server that can support PHP 4. You can find the software here:

http://gallery.sourceforge.net/

Hee I'm working inside a Call centre, so a bit messy lah