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It's an all-Olympus review this round, with three new models ranging in price from a moderate $599 to a breathtaking $1999. Olympus's budget buster is the Camedia E-10, a monster of a camera with through-the-lens viewing that should grab the attention of nearly all hard-core amateur photographers and many pros. The E-10's large, bright viewfinder, fast operation, and extensive controls make it a digital competitor to 35mm single-lens-reflex models.

Olympus's two other new additions are updates of earlier models. The 3.3-megapixel, $999 Camedia C-3040 is a stepped-up version of the C-3030, and the $599 C-2040 replaces the C-2020. Both new models are relatively minor improvements, with faster f1.8 lenses for better shooting with flash or in low light and an improved USB connection called Storage Class USB. Built into Windows 2000 Pro, Windows Millennium Edition, and Mac OS 8.6+, Storage Class USB lets you connect supported devices to your computer without installing drivers. It's handy if you want to plug your camera into someone else's PC and don't want to carry the driver CD around with you.

All three of these Olympus cameras seem well constructed and fit comfortably in your hand.

In the next round we'll review new cameras from Minolta and others in the under-$500 category.

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