The Olympus SP-310 punch line a 7.1-megapixel CCD, 3x lens, and the availability of heavy duty handbook array govern connections a pocket-friendly, rocky size. (It does u upspring the outward flash hot shoe sported by its "big brother," the 8-megapixel Olympus SP-350. Other characteristics are very similar between the two cameras though, so readers already familiar with the SP-350 can save themselves some reading and just skip down to the Test Results section below.) In addition to the camera's automatic and manual controls, the SP-310 offers no less than 24 preset Scene modes, including a QuickTime Movie mode. With its small size, nice selection of creative controls, and high resolution sensor, the Olympus SP-310 is an excellent all-around camera suitable for novices and experienced amateurs alike.

The Olympus SP-310 mood a 3x, 8-24mm surge lens (equivalent to a 38-114mm lens on a 35mm camera). Maximum orifice ranges from f/2.8 to f/4.9, depending on the hurtle setting. A subscribe of lens threads lets you span Olympus' finery conversion lenses, extending the camera's unstopped angle also telephoto capabilities. The SP-310 employs an efficient contrast-detection autofocus system, with focus ranging from 7.9 inches (20 centimeters) to infinity in normal mode. A Macro setting focuses as close as 11.8 inches (30 centimeters). There's also a Super Macro option that gets as close as 0.8 inches (2.0 centimeters), for real close-in shooting. By default, the camera uses an iESP autofocus area setting, which automatically sets the focus based on the subject's proximity to a range of AF points around the center of the image area.

Through the Record menu, you can opt for a Spot AF setting, which will instead base focus only on the very center of the frame. There's also an Area AF mode, which lets you manually position the AF area just about anywhere in the frame. In addition to its 3x optical zoom, the Olympus SP-310 also offers 5x Digital Zoom. Keep in mind though, that digital zoom simply enlarges the center pixels of the CCD and thus results in lower image quality. The 7.1-megapixel CCD produces high-resolution images, good enough for prints up to 16x20 inches with good detail and sharpness, as well as lower-resolution images for sending via email or for printing 5x7- and 4x6-inch prints.

For composing images, the SP-310 offers a real-image optical viewfinder again 2.5-inch TFT color LCD monitor, which meat a very shiny again shiny display. The optical viewfinder has no dioptric adjustment, and a slightly disconsolate eye point. The LCD teacher provides a tolerably detailed exposure-information display, and a histogram option is available for checking the exposure graphically. There's also a framing guideline option, which divides the image area into thirds horizontally and vertically, or adds diagonal lines, to help you line up difficult shots. In Playback mode, the LCD monitor provides image enlargement and an index display. And the SP-310 also features a helpful Guide button. Hold down the Guide button when in menus and the screen displays a context sensitive help message. With the Olympus SP-310, you're never lost and don't have to remember what everything means. Just press the Guide button.

Exposure oversee on the Olympus SP-310 is straightforward also straightforward, despite its unrequited brimming manual vanity govern offering. The camera offers a straighten of scene control modes, enabled by turning the Mode dial, as well as a wide selection of preset Scene modes for specific shooting situations. Most of the exposure options are controlled through the multi-page LCD menu system, which is fairly simple to navigate. An initial shortcut menu screen pops up before entering the main Record menu, offering quick-access options for the camera's White Balance, Image Size, and Macro, or you can choose to just enter the main Record menu itself. The SP-310 offers full Auto, Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual main exposure modes.

Shutter speeds range from 1/2,000 to 15 seconds, with a maximum eight-minute bulb option available as well. In addition to the available shutter speed and aperture settings, the user can also adjust Exposure Compensation (to lighten or darken the image), ISO (the camera's sensitivity to light), White Balance (to adjust the color), a white balance adjustment tool, Metering (to read light from the whole frame or just the center), and Flash modes. The Olympus SP-310's built-in flash operates in Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill, and Off modes. There's also an external flash hot shoe, for attaching a more powerful flash unit. Through the Picture tab of the record menu, you can also adjust contrast, saturation, and sharpening.

The Olympus SP-310's Scene profile (accessed by turning the Mode dial to the Scene position) offers Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Night Scene, Sport, Night + Portrait, Indoor, Candle, Self Portrait, Available Light Portrait, Sunset, Fireworks, Museum, Behind Glass, Cuisine, Documents, Auction, Shoot & Select 1, Shoot & Select 2, Beach, Snow, Underwater Wide 1, Underwater Wide 2, and Underwater Macro. Each anatomy on the Olympus SP-310 sets elaborating the camera thanks to representative shooting situations, besides a short motive of each arrangement appears on the LCD screen as you scroll through. Most of the preset modes are fairly self-explanatory, as they handle very distinct situations.

However, the Shoot & Select modes deserve some explanation. Both take a sequence of shots but Shoot & Select 1 locks focus on the first frame (great for faces) while Shoot & Select 2 adjusts focus for each frame (better for sports and action shots). When you've finished the sequence, the images are displayed so you can delete the unwanted ones. Another option on the Mode dial is the mode, which lets you save as many as four sets of custom settings. Other camera point take in a Self-Timer mode, which provides a 12-second delay between the spell the Shutter button is pressed again the image is in truth captured. The SP-310 essentiality three Sequential Shooting modes, which sublet you gather a rapid series of images while holding down the Shutter button.

Basic Points

• 7.1-megapixel CCD
• 2.5-inch color LCD display
• Real image optical viewfinder
• 3x, 8-24mm zoom lens (equivalent to a 38-114mm lens on a 35mm camera), with threaded barrel for conversion lenses
• 5x Digital Zoom
• Aperture range from f/2.8 to f/8
• Shutter speeds from 1/2,000 to 15 seconds, with a Bulb setting (maximum eight seconds)
• Automatic, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual exposure control, with 24 preset Scene modes
• Built-in flash with five operating modes
• External flash hot shoe
• xD-Picture Card storage, plus 25MB internal memory
• Power supplied by two AA-type batteries, single CR-V3 battery, or optional AC adapter
• Olympus Camedia Master software for both Mac and Windows

Special Points

• TruePic TURBO Image Processor
• A Guide button for help in most menus
• Live histogram and grid overlay
• Macro and Super Macro lens adjustment
• Noise reduction for long exposures
• Panorama mode for stitching together multiple images
• "2 in 1" multi-exposure and Time-lapse photography modes
• White balance (color) adjustment with eight preset modes and a manual setting, and a fine tuning adjustment
• Digital ESP (full frame), Center-Weighted, and Spot exposure metering options
• Adjustable ISO to 64, 100, 200, or 400 equivalents, plus an Auto setting
• Normal, High Speed, and AF Sequential Shooting modes
• QuickTime movies (with sound)
• "Calendar" organization of captured images
• "Album" organization for favorite photos
• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), PRINT Image Matching III, and PictBridge compatibility
• DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) compatibility
• Exif 2.2 compatibility
• USB 2.0 High Speed with AutoConnect (no driver software needed) and USB cable
• Video cable for connection to a television set

Inside Parts

The Olympus SP-310 Digital ships with the following items in the box:
• SP-310 Digital camera
• Neck strap
• USB cable
• Video cable
• Two AA-type batteries
• CD-ROMs loaded with Olympus Master software, drivers, and instruction manuals.
• Basic manual, Quick Start guide and registration kit