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  • Testing / Performance

  • Physical Tour

  • Components

  • Design / Layout

  • Modes

  • Control Options

  • Image Parameters

  • Connectivity / Extras

  • Overall Impressions

  • Conclusion

  • Specs

  • Testing / Performance
  • Physical Tour
  • Components
  • Design / Layout
  • Modes
  • Control Options
  • Image Parameters
  • Connectivity / Extras
  • Overall Impressions
  • Conclusion
  • Specs

Testing / Performance

The chart below offers another representation of the camera’s produced colors in a more linear and quantitative manner. The square is the color produced by the camera, while the corresponding circle is the ideal. The longer the line connecting the two shapes, more inaccurate the color reproduction was during testing.

The Olympus D-425 performed fairly well, displaying consistent color reproduction throughout testing. The camera managed to garner an overall color rating of 8.42 with over-saturation occurring in areas which can be expected from most point-and-shoot cameras. The Foliage Green (#4) and Brown (#1) hues were both over-saturated which is a bit unexpected although an over-saturated green will merely make the enhanced red and orange tones pop from the image even more without seeming too unnatural. For a low priced point-and-shoot mode, the Olympus D-425 will produce colors that are far stronger than some cameras costing twice as much.

**Still Life Scene **

Below is a shot of our innovative still life scene captured with the Olympus D-425.

[

Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: the linked file is very large)](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/viewer.php?picture=D-425-StillLifeLG.jpg)

Resolution / Sharpness*(2.94)*

The resolution and sharpness scores for the Olympus D-425 continued to impress on this little 1/2.5-inch 4 MP CCD. To properly gauge the number of pixels actually used in contrast to the number of effective pixels advertised, we capture a series of exposures of an industry standard resolution chart which are then uploaded into Imatest Imaging Software. The software reads the vertical and horizontal resolution of the photo and detects the actual number of pixels active in composing the image. We contrast each tested camera’s measured resolution with the advertised pixel count and report the scores as a percentage score and real pixel count. When this is done, cameras that achieve scores of 70% or better garner a "good" label, while scores of 80% or better are seen as "very good." Those few rare cameras that manage to achieve a 90% score or better land in the category of "excellent."

[

Click on the chart above to view full resolution version](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/viewer.php?picture=D-425-ResLG.jpg)

The Olympus D-425 managed to use 2.94 actual megapixels to form images. This is 75% of the camera’s 4 MP CCD. This should provide users some flexibility when editing in postproduction programs which may require cropping, enlarging, and printing in slightly expanded formats beyond 4 x 6 inches.

Noise Auto ISO*(4.87)
*Since the D-425 does not contain selectable ISO settings, users are forced to rely on the camera’s automatic setting. Unfortunately, the D-425 did not perform as well in terms of noise suppression as it did in color reproduction; however, the camera’s 4.87 overall auto ISO noise score is adequate and should produce images of acceptable clarity to most snapshooters.

Noise Manual ISO*(0.00)*

Although not a shocking omission for an entry level digital camera, the Olympus D-425 doesn’t provide the user with access to manual ISO settings. This may be a problem in moderate lighting when visibility remains (to the natural eye), but the camera is not sensitive enough to capture the scene.

Low light Performance*(3.5)
*We test the low light capabilities of each camera we review to evaluate its potential performance at night and perceive the sensitivity of the sensor. We tested the Olympus D-425 at 60, 30, 15, and 5 lux to simulate common low light shooting conditions; 60 lux appears like a moderately lit bedroom after dark, while 30 lux resembles the illumination of a 40 watt lightbulb, and 15 and 5 lux display the camera’s ability to capture images in near darkness. Our tests are conducted at the camera’s highest available ISO setting with the flash turned off. Since the D-425 does not have manually alterable ISO settings, the camera was set to auto and put to the test.

***Click on any of the charts above to view additional image analysis


Not surprisingly, given the camera’s purely automatic ISO setting and restricted 50-250 ISO range, the D-425 is not a strong low light performer, although it did surpass expectations. The camera’s 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor was far more sensitive than originally believed and performed well beyond some other more expensive models with manually controllable ISO settings reaching ISO 400. However, the compromised lighting did result in a significant decline in the camera’s strong color reproduction. The dramatic drop occurs from 30 lux to 15 lux, which is good news for point-and-shooters as 30 lux is relatively minimal illumination. The sensitive imager will help users shoot in shaded and indoor settings and is extremely impressive for this type of camera. Noise will be an issue, but users can always opt to utilize the flash and regain some clarity and color vibrancy.

**

Speed / Timing **
*Startup to First Shot (4.98)
*The Olympus D-425 took an eternity to boot up and record its first image - giving the user plenty of time to bake a birthday cake in between turning the camera on and taking the first shot. With 5.02 seconds of delay consumed before recording an image, hopefully users of the D-425 have a lot of patience.

*Shot to Shot Time (6.34) *

The D-425 averaged 3.66 seconds between shots, making it possible to whip up the icing for the aforementioned cake before capturing another image.

*Shutter to Shot Time (7.24)
*The Olympus D-425 displayed 0.88 seconds of lag between the release of the shutter button and capturing of the image. None of these speeds bode well for capturing images with any sort of alacrity. If shooting portraits, be prepared to provide neck braces for your subjects.

Physical Tour

**

Front***(5.0)
*Looking at the camera from straight on, the front of the Olympus D-425 features a small recessed lens located in the lower right-hand corner. This placement of the lens leaves it near the edge of the camera body and permits constantly moving fingers to wander over the edge of the lens ring and into the picture. This could be easily avoided by moving the lens into the center of the camera, an option that seems feasible due to the overall length of the camera body. To the left of the lens, along the bottom of the camera body in the center, is the camera’s on/off switch. When moved laterally, the switch will open the camera’s lens cover. If the camera enters sleep mode, the switch remains in the on position, though the lens cover closes. This means the user must flip the switch to the off position, and back into the on position to begin shooting again. This can be tedious if the user does not realize the camera is in sleep mode since it is necessary to turn the camera around when locating the switch. Above the manual on/off switch and running along the top of the camera body is the internal flash. The flash is centered and well positioned away from stray fingers; the problem is the lens is off-center, so there is a good 1/2-inch distance between the two. This will make for thick, harsh shadows cast around the subject. To the right of the internal flash is the self-timer lamp for the camera. Further to the right of both these controls is a vertical strip of elevated polished silver which is meant to serve as a right-hand finger grip. This silver grip is the only feature contributing to easy handling when the user is shooting, so beware: the slick polished surface could become a distinct problem during rain or bad weather.

Back*(5.5)
*The LCD screen is situated on the left half of the back face of the Olympus D-425. This screen is slightly recessed and framed by an elevated section of the camera body. This screen is a 1.5-inch TFT LCD display with a pixel count of just 85,000, and it is the only image viewing option available on this model. Immediately to the right of the LCD screen, at its upper right corner, the user will find the Shooting mode button for the camera, with an orange lamp to the right side of it to indicate when this mode is being engaged. Beneath the shooting mode button is the button to enter playback mode. This button has a green lamp as an indicator for mode engagement. And the final control located beside the right edge of the LCD screen is the Menu button for the camera. Beneath the menu button and near the bottom edge of the camera is the Erase button, which can be used when the camera is in playback mode. Because there is no viewfinder, the D-425 is able to allow for more space between controls and the screen, which means that the user has less of a chance of accidentally engaging an unnecessary feature. These design decisions, when paired with the generous size of the external controls, become a definite design bonus for the novice camera user.

To the right of the erase and menu button the user will find the four-way controller with an OK button located in the center. The four-way controller allows the user to navigate the onscreen menu options. When the camera is not being used for menu navigation, the user may use the four-way controller’s second set of control options. The four-way controller is a ring, a design which can often lead to inaccuracies in selection; however, due to the large size of this control, the user will find that navigations and alteration choices made through the four-way control are relatively easy to engage. The up arrow also controls flash settings for the camera. The right arrow controls the camera’s macro focus on/off. The down arrow controls the manual control settings of the camera and allows the user to reset the parameters to the default setting. And finally the left arrow on the four-way controller allows the user to engage or disengage the camera’s self-timer. Alterations to the various settings and options are rendered by depressing the OK button set into the center of the navigational ring.

Above and slightly to the right of the four-way controller is the camera’s Mode dial, which allows the user to change options within a series of general shooting preset modes for both still and movie images. The mode dial has a grooved edge and is accessible on the right edge of the camera body. With the position of the mode dial as it is, the user will often find it hard to switch modes efficiently during shooting. A red dash to the left of the mode dial at the "nine o'clock" position indicates the active mode. Above the mode dial is the zoom toggle adjustment for the camera, broken into two parts, one for telephoto and the other for wide angle. When in playback mode, this control can be used to enlarge the view of the selected image. Aside from the mode dial is a group of indentations which are intended as a resting point for the thumb of the right hand when it’s not engaging controls. This is a weak substitution for an actual rubber grip or textured region as the indentations are shallow and do not make for much additional support.

Left Side* (5.5)
*The left side of the Olympus D-425 features a gray rubber port cover which has a tab running along the back edge. When pulled open, the tab almost completely detaches, but will remain connected to the camera by its upper left corner. This corner is actually connected to the camera with a very small cylinder of rubber, so the cover can swivel out of the way, revealing a USB port on top and a DC in port below. This means that when connecting the camera to a computer or printer the cover will move out of the path of the cable and allow for less aggravation when connecting to the various components. This provides fewer possibilities for the cable to become loose because of the cover blocking a clean connection. Also, there is no grip on the left side of the camera body, or other feature to stop wandering fingers from blocking the lens of the camera. This is an unfortunate design decision, and the setup would improve if the lens was moved closer to the center of the camera body.

Right Side*(5.0)
*The right side of the Olympus D-425 has just two features. There is a door to cover the battery and memory card slots; to access these, the user must depress and slide the door cover downwards. Once it’s open, the user can access the two AA batteries or the port for an optional memory card. This door tended to catch and resist closure throughout testing, making it cumbersome and highly breakable for less patient users. Above this door is an eyelet for the wrist strap. This eyelet is set into the camera body, a good decision to prevent snagging on clothing. That being said, a seamstress will still need to be employed to thread the wrist strap through the eyelet.

Top*(6.0)
*The top of the Olympus D-425 is fairly barren, other than the large shutter release button placed off to the far right. The shutter button is polished silver and large enough in diameter to locate by feel. Also, because there isn’t a microphone on the top of the camera body, there is no need to worry about muffling sound during movie mode.

Components

Viewfinder*(0.0)
*There is no viewfinder on the Olympus D-425 which means that the user will have to rely upon the 1.5-inch, 85,000-pixel LCD entirely for all image selection choices. The LCD had a bit of a problem with glare during shooting and a viewfinder would have helped reduce the significance of such a problem in strongly lit situations such as direct sunlight. Staying within the Olympus line, and for under US $200, shoppers can find the Olympus D-595 online equipped both with a real image optical viewfinder and a 3x optical zoom. This choice may be a better option for users who find glare issues with the D-425 to be problematic.

**

LCD Screen***(3.0)
*The Olympus D-425 contains an undersized 1.5-inch TFT LCD screen composed of just 85,000 pixels. The LCD experienced some problems with glare in strong lighting and is unfortunately unavoidable without a viewfinder. Postproduction editing on personal computers may be the best venue for deciding whether it’s worth it to print a given image, since this petite LCD tends to not represent subtle nuances with accuracy. This problem makes the Olympus D-425 less and less feasible as a direct print camera. If direct printing from the camera is wanted, perhaps the Canon PowerShot A400 is a more suitable option within the price range. The A400 contains an identically sized 1.5-inch LCD, but it is made up of 115,000 pixels for higher resolution images, and it is available with a real image zoom viewfinder.

**

Flash***(6.0)
*The flash on the Olympus D-425 is actually controllable by the user, even when the camera is set in auto mode. The flash settings for the camera are accessed through the up arrow on the four-way controller and present the user of the D-425 with the following options: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction Fill in, and Off. The flash range is between 0.7 feet and 9.8 feet. There is a six second delay between when the camera is turned on and when the flash is charged. This delay can mean that low light situations where a fast photo is needed will not be possible. In most basic portrait or travel situations though, this delay will most likely be less of an issue, although waiting for the flash to engage every time the camera returns from sleep mode can be time consuming and bothersome.

Zoom Lens*(3.0)*

The Olympus D-425 does not contain optical zoom, forcing those users looking to alter the perspective to rely solely upon the 4x digital zoom. Those users unfamiliar with digital zoom should be aware that

digital zoom exponentially degrades quality - each time the image is magnified, the quality is decreased. The fixed lens on the D-425 is 6.1mm, which is equivalent to a 36.7mm lens on a 35mm camera. The lens is made up of 4 groups with 3 aspherical elements.

If the low quality of digital zooms is of concern, or if taking both landscape and portraits are desired, potential consumers may wish to seek other alternatives. The Olympus D-535 sells online for the same price as the D-425 and allows the user the opportunity to engage a 3x optical zoom before the 4x digital zoom.

Design / Layout

Model Design / Appearance*(6.0)
*The Olympus D-425 has a low slung horizontal frame that thickens slightly along the left side (when looking at the lens). The camera body is composed of plastic and dressed in a brushed silver coating. The only grip on this camera is a polished silver ridge vertically positioned on the right side of the camera’s front face where the camera body begins to thicken. The somewhat small and understated 1.5-inch LCD screen is located on the left side of the camera’s back face and protrudes slightly from the camera body. The lens cover on this model is manually opened with a sliding switch that is situated beside the lens on the front of the camera, an awkward setup for those rapidly developing shooting situations when an extra step can compromise the shot. The physical design of the D-425 is reminiscent of 35mm point-and-shoot cameras that were sold during the nineties, but lacks the density and durability of the older models. Unfortunately, one fall and this camera will likely be transformed into a desktop ornament.

Size / Portability*(7.0)
*Designed for portability and transport, the D-425 is light enough to hold without becoming taxing to the user. The rectangular camera will fit securely in one hand and is fitted with a wrist strap loop on the right side of the camera body to provide added security when not shooting photos. However, the extremely lightweight body feels feeble, even when the camera is filled with two AA batteries. Prior to the installation of batteries or memory cards, this camera only weighs 4.2 oz and is 4 x 2 x 1.4 inches excluding any protrusions. The smooth, flat design of the camera body assures that it will not get caught on pockets or other storage containers when not in use. The port cover on the left face of the Olympus D-425 fits firmly in place and its edges cleanly align with the surface of the camera body without a struggle.

Handling Ability*(6.0)
*With no design feature on the left side of the camera body to restrict meandering fingers, the lens of the Olympus D-425 will be in constant jeopardy of obstruction. Without rubber gripping pads or other features to stop the user’s hands from slipping, the potential for dropping this camera seems high. Couple this with the camera’s lack of durability and it might mean a quick $120. Additionally, the battery cover for this camera catches and disengages when being opened and closed, making it seem as though the lifespan for this cover will be rather brief. On the plus side, the small size and light weight body should aid in handling and enable users to shoot with one hand for extended periods of time.

Entering and exiting menus and shooting/playback modes is quick and easy due to the external controls located on the back of the camera body, although the mode dial is harder to control with the same speed and accuracy.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size*(7.0)
*Overall, the controls on the Olympus D-425 are minimal and well dispersed, with an adequate amount of space allotted to each control. The rather sparse design of the D-425 is beneficial for rendering quick and accurate setting alterations without requiring awkward hand movements. The on/off switch is located on the front of the camera beside the lens cover, which also opens and closes the manual lens cover for the camera. The placement of the switch is understandable when considering the dual role it plays as the open/close control of the lens cover. When the camera enters sleep mode, the cover returns to the closed position and the user must turn the camera off and then back on when beginning to shoot again.

The control placement and size of the buttons on the back of the camera are well conceived, although somewhat humorous looking, as the navigational and mode dials rival the size of the LCD screen. The oval-shaped four-way controller is a single continuous ring and has other secondary functions allotted to each cardinal direction. The D-425’s mode dial is placed on the camera’s back face, making it tedious to use with only one edge of the dial actually exposed for manipulation. The placement of the dial encourages users to control the function with their right-hand thumb, making quick changes nearly impossible and potentially leading to missed photographs. In most cases the user will have to divert their attention away from the action and focus specifically on altering the mode dial setting before returning to photographing. Other controls on the back of the camera body such as menu, delete, and shooting modes are smaller in size, but contain universal symbols placed near or upon them, allowing for instant recognition and easy use of the controls.

Menu*(7.0)
*The Olympus D-425’s menu button is situated beside the lower right-hand corner of the LCD screen, on the back of the camera body. Once the Menu button is depressed the user is able to access some basic settings using the four-way controller/OK button. The menu allows the user to alter image size, date/time, and EV Compensation as well as some generalized settings found within the setup subsection. When altering the Exposure Compensation (EV) setting, the menu format switches from an opaque backdrop to a live feed with a transparent overlay displaying the various options. The switch to a live feed display during EV compensation is a pleasant surprise and will help users attain the desired exposure for the shot. This live feed allows the user to directly view the resulting lighting effect from altering the EV Compensation scale.

The menu of the D-425 remains in line with most Olympus models and is easy for any level user to understand and adjust to. The multi-screen or page format begins with a single page broken into four graphics and accordingly leads users to the various settings. The only downside is that the camera’s resolution settings revert to the second highest quality setting, which will force users looking to maximize resolution to become familiar with the menu to a frustrating extent.

**Ease of Use ***(8.0)*

Users of the Olympus D-425 should expect a straightforward point-and-shoot camera that will do the work for you. The camera offers direct, largely fixed options, clearly labeled controls, and basic menus that are not going to overwhelm or confound a beginner. If the user begins to push the camera by taking images at night and in other complicated lighting situations, they may find the lack of input and technological depth of this camera to be restrictive. A few alterations could have be made to the placement of the on/off switch and the mode dial, but once the user becomes acclimated to these controls, the generous size and space of external buttons will be appreciated and enjoyed. Consumers seeking an automatic camera for snapshots will get a selection of preset modes and basic video that can be captured at 30 or 15 frames per second with the D-425. This camera’s layout, format, and design will not intimidate even the most novice user and make it ready to shoot with right out of the box.

Modes

Auto Mode*(7.0)
*When the Olympus D-425 is set to auto mode, the user is unable to access the EV compensation settings located within the onscreen menu. The user may still utilize the macro mode, flash settings, and self-timer when the camera is in auto mode. For those users seeking a bit more control without assuming the burden of the exposure, there is also a program mode available. Program mode functions similarly to auto mode, except users gain the ability to utilize the exposure compensation settings of the camera. This setup ensures those in Auto mode will not make accidental alterations to the photographs being captured. The addition of EV compensation when the camera switches into Program mode should pave the way for an eventual comfortable move towards more manual cameras.

******Movie Mode***(6.0)
*The movie mode on this camera allows the user to shoot in two different frame rates and in one image size. The movie mode shoots in a 320 x 240 format at either 15 fps or 30 fps in a QuickTime movie format. There is no audio capture available with this camera. It is also possible to adjust the EV compensation when in movie mode. The amount of time available on either memory card or internal memory is displayed in the lower right-hand corner of the LCD screen. With such a small amount of internal memory, users of the Olympus D-425 looking to record video will want to purchase a large memory card of at least 128MB.

By entering into Playback mode and pressing OK the user is able to view previously captured movies on the LCD screen. While movies captured at 15 frames per second will result in choppy, disjointed video, 30 frames per second will give the budding videographer smooth and cohesive footage. That being said, the lack of audio recording options means that users will have to narrate their footage when showing to friends.

By comparison, the Canon PowerShot A400 offers the user the opportunity to record audio clips up to 60 seconds in length. However, video quality suffers with this model and limits the user to a frame rate of only 15 fps maximum.

Drive / Burst Mode*(0.0)
*There is no drive or burst mode available to the user of the Olympus D-425, though there is a self-timer mode which allows the user to set up a shot and automatically capture the image 12 seconds after the shutter release is pressed. Most other manufacturers within this price range don’t sacrifice speed altogether and see it necessary to include a burst mode on even their most affordable offerings.

Picture Quality / Size Options (6.5) There are three image size settings available to the user of the Olympus D-425 when shooting in still image capture mode. These settings are 2288 x 1712 (SHQ), 2288 x 1712 (HQ), 1600 x 1200 (SQ1), and 640 x 480 (SQ2). When shooting in movie mode the user is able to choose between two separate frame rates of 15 or 30 fps and is relegated to shooting only in 320 x 240 format for image size. ****

Playback Mode*(6.5)
*Playback mode on the Olympus D-425 is surprisingly accessible by pressing the playback button, located on the back of the camera body beneath the standard shooting mode button. When the camera is set into Playback mode, the user is able to view images as either single frames or as a 9 frame multi-up format which displays thumbnail images. To select multi-up format while in this mode, the user must press the wide angle portion of the zoom control until thumbnail images are displayed on the LCD screen. It is then possible to scan these selections using the four-way controller. Once a single image is selected the user may utilize the playback zoom to crop into an image. To move throughout a single image the user must merely use the four-way controller to navigate this enlargement. To exit playback, the user can just press the standard shooting mode button. Images can be enlarged up to 4x their original size using the digital zoom feature. These enlarged photos cannot be saved to the memory card of the camera, and the playback zoom cannot be used in movie mode.

Custom Image Presets*(7.0)
*Although the Olympus D-425 may be insufficient for the manually oriented user looking for a budget priced camera, the camera contains plenty of custom image presets to help automatic users gain the image they desire in a variety of shooting situations. The user of the D-425 can access these settings using the mode dial located on the right side of the camera’s back face. All of the available preset modes are conveniently placed on the dial. Available modes include: auto, program, movie, beach/snow, self portrait, sport, night scene, landscape, landscape with portrait, and portrait modes. Although these titles may seem straightforward enough, the user is given a definition of each setting along with the setting title on a transparent screen overlaying a live feed image. These descriptions however don't necessarily move beyond the straightforward label assigned to each camera setting, but help clarify things to users unfamiliar with digital cameras.

Control Options

**Manual Control Options
**The D-425, like many entry level cameras in its price range, does not contain much in the way of manual controls. Users can select the image size, choose a specific flash preset and then alter the exposure using the EV compensation function. Other than that, it’s all point-and-shoot.

Focus*
*Auto (4.5)

Focus is the only focal setting that the user of the Olympus D-425 can engage, and it is available in all modes on the camera. The focal range for the D-425 is 19.7 inches to infinity in normal mode and 7.9 inches to 19.7 inches when in macro mode. There is a CCD contrast detection system within the auto focus controls of the camera, which adjusts the settings to properly register depth and focus in situations with extreme image contrast. Since this is a point-and-shoot largely intended for novice users, the lack of manual focus or other auto focus features like center focus or spot focus is not really a huge surprise or problem. For slightly more money, consumers can find other models from both Olympus and other manufacturers which allow for auto focus preset options and manual focus control.

Manual (0.0)

There is no manual focus control available to the user of the Olympus D-425. The user must rely entirely on the automatic focus settings which are outlined above. This camera is heavily intended for snapshooters looking to just point and shoot who would only be slowed down by manually adjusting focus.

******Metering***(5.0)
*The metering system for the Olympus D-425 does not allow the user to manually control it. The metering system is based on an ESP system (not that ESP; it’s an acronym for electro selective pattern). This senses the overall patterns of light and dark within the camera frame and selects a meter rating which allows for the best possible exposure setting. This system of metering works well in situations where the subject, background, and foreground are all in a similarly lit situation. When the subject is backlit, or a strong contrast exists within the frame, the user will find that having an automatic ESP setting will lead to imbalanced compositions and poor exposures. The backlit subject may appear as a member of the Witness Protection Program in the midst of an interview with Barbara Walters.

Exposure*(7.0)
*The Olympus D-425 allows the user to control the camera’s EV compensation settings; EV allows users to control the overall brightness of the image. The EV settings are accessed through the menu, which appears on the LCD screen when the Menu button is engaged. Once engaged, the user may select the EV subsection. It should be noted that this subsection menu is not labeled explicitly and is instead designated by a symbol that the user may or may not recognize, depending on familiarity with camera setups: a box divided diagonally with a plus on one side and a minus on the other. The exposure compensation is fortunately set on a live feed background so that the user may gauge the effects of specific EV settings on the image being shot. The EV scale on this camera ranges from between -2 to +2 with 1/3 step increments.

******White Balance***(0.0)
*With the Olympus D-425 the user is unable to manually control the white balance settings on the camera. The automatic white balance settings are controlled via an iESP II multi-pattern auto TTL structure. With this one setting any situation with non-standard lighting may result in photographs which are tinted inaccurately and can lead to photographs which are unflattering. Most novice level point-and-shoot digital cameras still give the user the option of choosing between at least a few general preset modes such as fluorescent, daylight, and halogen. Though in situations like those, automatic white balance often overcompensates or undercompensates levels and registers imbalanced color calibration. These lighting situations are basic and experienced by most every photographer, and it is unfortunate that even these fairly standard presets are denied to novice digital camera users.

ISO*(3.0)
The ISO settings on the Olympus D-425 are controlled automatically and are theoretically equivalent to ISO settings of 50-250. Therefore, the Olympus D-425 will be functional in relatively well lit situations, but in lower light conditions, such as night scenes or indoors, images produced by the D-425 will require the use of the flash or will likely result in dark and shadowy images. The flash on the camera will help in these situations; however, with a range of only 9.8 feet, most situations beyond arm’s reach will still be left in gloomy darkness. For around US $40 more online, the user can find the Canon PowerShot A510 which provides multiple ISO settings, shutter speeds up to 15 seconds, and manual white balance settings.*
**

Shutter Speed*(0.0)
*The shutter speed is, not surprisingly, fully automatic on the Olympus D-425. This means that the camera will select a shutter speed between 1/2 and 1/1500 of a second depending on the available light in the scene. When set in night scene mode, the user is able to shoot with a shutter speed of up to 2 seconds, but this setting is also automatic. The faster speeds found on this camera remain in line with other similarly priced models. With a 2 second maximum shutter speed, most users comfortable with flash illumination should be able to attain the exposure needed to make the subjects visible. That being said, capturing that multi-layered, distant, dusk timed safari shot, on the last night of the trip of your life, may not be so feasible.

Aperture* (0.0)
*The aperture range on the Olympus D-425 is between f/2.8—f/5.6 and is not precisely controllable by the user, though as mentioned in the exposure section above, the user can alter the overall brightness of the image on a scale between -2 and +2 in 1/3 stop increments using the exposure compensation function. The f/2.8 maximum aperture opening is typical and will help out in low light, although the camera will have to select it.

Image Parameters

Picture Effects Mode*(0.0)
*There are no picture effects settings available on this camera, a feature which is often included as an incentive on lower priced models and which creates tints like Black and White, Sepia, and Vivid toning effects. Picture effects provide users with an opportunity to vary their shooting palette without having to deal with editing software on personal computers. For example, the Samsung Digimax 250 is within the same price range as the D-425 and offers the user the option of B&W, Normal, and Sepia tone effects. These settings are often nice to have as basic options for creating different moods and styles, but do not always appear flattering on lower priced cameras.

Connectivity / Extras

**Connectivity
***Software (5.0) *

Unfortunately, the full manual for this model is placed on a CD-ROM, so those hands-off type of point-and-shooters that the camera is designed for have to go to their computer each time a feature is unknown. The Olympus D-425 also comes with Olympus Master software for image editing capabilities on both PC and Mac computers. The software will enable users to alter, crop, zoom, and otherwise edit photographs during the postproduction stage prior to printing. If cropping images and enlarging is an interest though, this camera’s digital zoom may contribute to less desirable images. The Olympus Master CD allows the user to construct albums, email images, and use photographs electronically prior to printing. It is possible to also edit movies, construct panoramic scenes, and rotate images all prior to printing as well.

*Jacks, ports, plugs (3.5)
*The left side of the camera body has a port cover which covers the camera’s DC in and USB ports; otherwise, there are no other ports available on this camera. The port cover over the DC and USB ports swivels neatly out of the way, and does not obstruct the installation of cables when going from camera to computer or printer.

*Direct Print Options (4.5) *

The D-425 is PictBridge enabled and will function with all PictBridge compliant printers.


Memory (4.0)
The Olympus D-425 comes with 14MB of internal memory and is compatible with additional memory cards which are xD-Picture Card formatted. Although the included internal memory is enough for short excursions, 14MB will be consumed quickly if shooting short video clips or higher resolution images. This means that the user should probably consider the price of a memory card in addition to the base price of the model. Olympus 256MB xD-Picture Cards can be found online for around US $60.00, increasing the price of this model by over 50 percent of its current cost online. *
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Overall Impressions

Value*(4.5)
*For the low price of around US $120.00, the first time novice user looking for a straight point-and-shoot digital camera for snapshots and unconcerned with growing into more advanced features will find this camera a feasible option. The D-425 will provide those users with a 4 MP CCD and fixed lens (with digital zoom). But even in the budget camera category, this will create problems for most users. It is likely to be only a matter of time until the digital zoom starts to look like an attractive alternative to the fixed view. Then it becomes a crutch and before you know it, all of your images are of horribly compromised quality.

The small 1.5-inch, 85,000 MP CCD is the only viewing option and with the solarization which occurred during use in strongly lit situations, it seems to be underdeveloped. The camera is capable of recording both still and movie footage, although there is no audio recording capability on this camera. The user will be able to engage in direct printing when a PictBridge compliant printer is available and users can begin shooting immediately with the 14MB of internal memory included on the camera, although optional memory cards are necessary and will add an additional cost to the camera’s base price.

While the D-425 will provide beginner and budget-conscious digital camera users with the basics at an affordable price, for less than US $50 more, users can look to the Canon PowerShot A400 or A510 and gain higher quality images, better manual control settings, more visible LCD screen and faster response times.****

Comparisons
Canon PowerShot A400 – The Canon A400 is currently retailing online for slightly more than the Olympus but offers a good deal more in the way of control and shooting flexibility. The PowerShot A400 is equipped with a 3.2 MP CCD and a 2.2x optical zoom lens, unlike the fully digital Olympus. This gives users the potential to zoom in and out, altering the focal length of the shot without losing image quality. The A400 has a small sleek body with a polished silver exterior accentuated with clean lines. The PowerShot A400 can record still images in four sizes and video clips in three sizes with varying frame rates, and it allows for more manual control options such as white balance and ISO. The A400, unlike the D-425, does not contain any built-in memory but ships with a 16MB SD memory card. The PowerShot A400 has a 1.5-inch LCD screen and a real image zoom viewfinder, unlike the D-425. If users are interested in control options beyond a fully automatic mode and desire the ability to alter the focal length of a shot using an optical zoom which will garner better quality images at a distance, then this camera seems like a good alternative--especially if one considers the number of pixels on the LCD and the fact that it also has a viewfinder.

*Hewlett Packard HP Photosmart M307 -*The M307 offers 3x optical zoom with a smaller CCD size of 3.2 MP. This camera is retailing online within the same price range as the Olympus D-425. This camera can record still images in three settings with video in one, but it is possible to record audio with this camera model. The M307 also allows for user input on white balance, ISO, EV Compensation and other settings, making this a better choice for the novice user seeking a more transitional camera for future learning. This camera also has a burst mode available. It has both an optical zoom viewfinder and a larger 1.8-inch LCD screen. The fact that it has a larger LCD, a viewfinder that registers zoom, optical zoom lens, and manual controls seems to make this a stronger candidate for the budget user seeking more flexibility and shooting alternatives.

Fujifilm FinePix A345 – The Fujifilm FinePix A345 retails for around US $179.95 online and comes with a comparable CCD size of 4.1 MP. It also has a 3x optical zoom lens and a 3.6x digital zoom setting. The A345 can record in five still and two video formats (both with a frame rate of 15 fps). Like the D-425, this camera does not have audio recording abilities. Although the A345 has manual exposure compensation, it has a more limited white balance selection than the M307. That being said, it does have EV and flash control available. The A345 does not have any built-in memory but does come with a 16MB memory card. And finally, the A345 is also able to engage in direct printing, and comes with a larger 1.7-inch LCD screen with a pixel count of 115,000 pixels. When compared with the M307 in regards to options and features, it seems that the HP is still a better option for the user who is looking for more control and higher image quality/number of image settings for capturing photos and videos.**
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**Who It's For
***Point-and-Shooters -* The Olympus D-425 is solely designed for the point-and-shoot market. The camera is light on manual controls but compensates by creating a fully automated interface. Users can shoot and print right out of the box without any photographic understanding or camera training. This is all offered at a budget price and if a fixed focal length lens is not a problem, will be sufficient for most beginner users.

*Budget Consumers - *This camera is certainly a potential choice for the budget consumer, due to the affordable online price of $125.00 (currently); however, if the user can afford to pay a bit more, they could remain under $200 and gain a lot in the way of control and image quality.

Gadget Freaks – The D-425 is a basic, stripped down, unfettered, point-and-shoot camera with no surprising or intriguing add-ons to stimulate the gadget freak into a frenzy of tech talk and spec citing.

Manual Control Freaks - *Unless frustration is an intended result of this camera purchase, the manual control user would benefit from looking elsewhere for their next camera with point-and-shoot capability.
*Pros/Serious Hobbyists -
There is no reason that the pro or serious hobbyist would be drawn to this camera model since the Olympus D-425 has so few manual controls, low image resolutions, no optical zoom, and requires extra memory for a memory card for higher quality images to be captured.

Conclusion

Conclusion

The Olympus D-425 is specifically tailored for the novice user who is looking for an affordable and likely introductory digital camera. The D-425 can be found online for an average price of around US $120.00. There are few to no manual control options available outside of flash and EV compensation settings and a full user manual is not available unless the user wishes to run it from the included CD-ROM. The lack of user controls can be seen as understandable when considering the intended market, however the placement of a full manual on a CD-ROM means that more complex or layered sections of the camera will remain inaccessible to users who (like their camera) do not want to be bothered with a convoluted computerized interface. The layout of the camera itself is sparse and straightforward, providing users with the essentials and sparing them extraneous controls that might just get in the way. The menu is intuitive and graphically-reliant but might take a little time for users to familiarize themselves with the various icons. Fortunately, the D-425 contains brief explanations of the various modes to accompany the graphics. Unfortunately, the D-425 contains neither optical zoom nor a burst mode for continuous shooting. These are basic inclusions on most digital cameras and this lack handicaps users substantially. Digital zoom is provided as some form of compensation; however, it will just become an empty temptation and result in decreased quality.

If a consumer is looking to grow as a photographer and become more adept with digital cameras, the D-425 will not be a strong candidate; it has a limited palette of user control beyond the point-and-shoot rubric. Many of the automatic settings for the camera will not be enough in the long run when more complicated shots and lighting situations are encountered. However if basic snapshots are desired, the user will find the D-425 to be a sufficient and affordable alternative (although the price point seems to be the only logical draw to the camera). Consumers willing to spend just a little more money will be able to gain a lot in the way of control and image quality. For under $200 (USD), there are many offerings by various manufacturers that include optical zoom lenses, burst modes for continuous shooting, and manually adjustable settings that can be used without sacrificing automatic exposure or point-and-shoot functionality.

Specs

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Specs Table**
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James Murray

James Murray

Editor

James Murray is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

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