Olympus Stylus 740 / µ Digital 740 Digital Camera

I bought this camera on a cruise when my other camera failed. In general, I've been pleased with it. the resolution and color balance are very satisfactory. The speed with which it writes to the media also exceeds my expectations. The operating controls are flexible, yet simple, and the automatic modes cover most common situations. The camera opens and closes quickly in order to grab those "fleeting moments" that you come across.

The one big disappointment I have is that the flash is so pitiful. It is just barely adequate to provide "fill-in" on shots when required. It is nowhere near capable of providing enough light for shooting indoors. This is not the camera to take to a birthday party at a restaurant.

I've tried numerous adjustments to improve performance, but nothing seems to help much.

Battery life has been about average for me, but I do keep a spare battery handy. The battery charger that comes with the camera uses a detachable cord and is about five times bigger than it needs to be. If you end up with this camera (or any other Olympus using a similar battery pack), the first thing you need to do is buy a third-party charger that just plugs into an outlet.

Overall, a nice, very small camera with a sad flash.