Is is true that only Olympus xD card works on Olympus

[photoguy]

Several years ago I used an Olympus camera which used SmartMedia Card. I found that other SmartMedia cards did not work on that camera.

Since I am planning to buy an Olympus SP-350, I wanted other members to let me know that any xD cards can be used on this camera. I do not want to be restricted to only one brand of xD card.

[kgosden]

No, it is not true now with xD cards and was not true with SmartMedia. I have owned a D-220L, D-420, C3030-Z, C5050-Z and an E-500. All of them work with non-Olympus branded media. Now what has been true is that many of these cameras had one or two functions that only enabled with Olympus media. The most common of these was the panoramic mode. Other than that the cameras work fine.

[photoguy]

Thank you for the information. But what I recall, whenever the media card was loaded, camera kept giving a readout "error."

I am glad any xD card will work with an Olympus SP-350.

[David Metsky]

I have an older Oly that uses SmartMedia and I had many different brands of cards that all worked, except for the panorama feature.

Any xD card should work.

-dave-

[photoguy]

Thanks.

I can now buy an Oly SP-350 with confidence.

[Jaykup]

you need an olympus ad card to use some of the features on the software that comes with the camera....i know this because i just bought a sp-350 and did alittle research...you need the serial numbers from a olympus card to use the program features....

BTW the camera is so freaking sweet....

[photoguy]

you need an olympus ad card to use some of the features on the software that comes with the camera....i know this because i just bought a sp-350 and did alittle research...you need the serial numbers from a olympus card to use the program features....

BTW the camera is so freaking sweet....


Please give me more details on the need for serial numbers. Do mean the serial number from the card that comes with the camera. Also let me know your experience with this camera. Does it shoot fast. How much is the delay betwen pictures.

Thanks

[Jaykup]

When you start the program up you can use everything fine except for when you get the the editing parts....such as wanting to change pictures from normal to an oil painting or to a water color picture....now these features are more for fun i think, i dont think an actual perfessional would use these features....When you go to click on a feature that needs a serial number it will prompt you....i have yet to get my Gig card yet but it should be here on friday...i will keep you posted on how everything works out....

as for your second concern on the time it takes from one picture to the next:

I am no professional...I consider Myself an Amature with a need for quality products lol...this camera is by far the best I've owned...and ive owned probably 4 or 5 kodaks...The reason i mainly bought this camera was for all the preset functions and the simplicty of the user interface...this camera has lots of goodies and is easy to use...i also enjoy the Super macro mode and being able to focus on items .8 inches from the lense...

Unfortunatly i have'nt had the time to explore everything the camera has to offer..i work overnights and rarly have time at home when im not sleeping or eating lol...

Anywho enough for now lol....

I Will keep you posted on how the software and XD card works out.....

Also im not sure if there was questions on this thread about the battery life or not....but i will let people know that there is indeed a firmware update and the battery problem seems to be no longer and issue!

Thanks
Jacob

[Jaykup]

ok..this sucks.....unfortunatly i bought the type M XD card....which works with the camera fine....but wont unlock the program features...in order to unlock the features you need to buy the older...less efficiant...H type card.....so all in all i got screwed because i wanted a better card and now have to pay an extra 20 bucks to get the features i wanted....

needless to say i am dissapointed....dont make the same mistake i did....buy the lesser quality...lol

Damn.
Jacob

[photoguy]

Thank you. Please let me if you learn any more things.

What about a good flash? Have got any flash for this camera. One of my major consideration for buying this camera is that I can use an accessory flash for taking pictures on the stage.

Thanks again. Look forward to from hearing your experience with this camera.

Ravi

[photoguy]

Thanks for your information.

Let me know of your experience with this camera.

Ravi

[Jaykup]

HMM THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING.....

I just E-mailed Olympus and asked them why i was being penalized for buying a better card....and also asked if there was any way i could still get to my other goodies without having to take and sacrifice the performance of the better card....

Wonder what there reply will be....

As for an Alternate flash, I havent got one...tho in the future it will prolly become something i will get...the flash on the camera is a bit bright...even when toned down...

Jacob

[smargs]

Type M is a better card? Type H cards are newer & allow 3D function/editing. They are also 2-3 times faster than previous xD cards.

[spikked27]

So if i dont have a olympus stamped XD card i cant use the panorama feature on the camera at all?, or you just cant use the computer program that lets you stitch them together?

[David Metsky]

So if i dont have a olympus stamped XD card i cant use the panorama feature on the camera at all?, or you just cant use the computer program that lets you stitch them together?
With my C-720 and SmartMedia cards you could not use the on-camera parorama helper mode, and therefore couldn't use the Olympus supplied stitch tool which depended on data captured in that mode. I took the panoramas by hand and used a third-party stitch tool with no problems.

I assume it's the same with xD cards and newer Olympus cameras.

-dave-

[CuriousGeorge]

So if i dont have a olympus stamped XD card i cant use the panorama feature on the camera at all?, or you just cant use the computer program that lets you stitch them together?

In general this is true, but you can modify the xD cards with the panorama header fix just like you do with the SM cards. Actually, it's even easier than modifying the SM cards as long as you have a reader that works with the low level format utility that is floating around.

P.S. Yes I know this is a very old topic, but I'm new here and figured maybe enabling the PAN feature for non-Olympus xD cards was a burning quest for someone other than me. My xD cards are actually all genuine Olympus but I intentionally messed one up so the camera thought it was generic (and therefore disabled panorama mode) just so I could figure out how to make it work again. Sometimes it's all about the quest.

Check out the OlyPan site (http://olypan.quotaless.com) for more than you'd ever want to know on the topic.