I recieved my D560 as a Christmas gift in 2003. I never liked the way it drained batteries; I basically needed a new set every time I used it, but other than that it was a good camera. 40 days after the warrenty expired, the screen completly went out on it. I have always taken extremly good care of my camera, never dropped it, left it in a hot car or anything. I sent it to Olympus for repair, they said the repair would be 140.00 and the warrenty would not cover it. After 2 emails and 1 letter, with no response from Olympus I asked that they send the camera back unrepaired, and after 2 weeks, I still have not recieved my camera. Beware of buying from this company.

I really enjoy having this camera. As a music student, I'm busy, I don't have time to fuss with a camera, and this one has continued to hold up to my mild abuse. It's sturdy, compact, durable, and lives in my backpack all the time, unharmed.

For a point-and-shoot camera, it produces many high-quality pictures (all of the example photos are ones I took), and the camera is really easy to learn to use. I have been really pleased with it, and from what I've seen, this camera stands up to entry level professional SLR's. I purchased a 128 card, and can get ~190 top resolution pictures out of it. The camera easily adjusts to the situation, regardless of light levels or lighting fixtures, especially if the flash is turned off. One drawback in my mind is that the camera is always on auto flash, and as I use the camera at night, I don't like to have to turn the flash off every time I turn the camera on.

About the batteries: I generally use alkaline. I generally use the viewfinder and not the lcd screen, as one can always check the picture right after it's taken (each picture displays on the screen regardless...). It's also very easy to access the view-only mode, which can be on for extended periods of time even when the camera itself doesn't have enough juice. In continuous use, a set of alkaline batteries generally last 2-2.5 hours. Also...if it dies, you can turn the camera off, wait about 30 seconds, and it'll be fine for another 5-10 pictures. (This method can be repeated about 40 times before it really dies.)

The movie mode is nice, quick, and doesn't take up too much space. Depending on battery life, you can record up to 30 secs, but my camera generally averages about 15. Also, the digital zoom function is nice, but I've found that it takes time to get to, and I don't really use it anyway.

When I first got the camera, I dropped it and had to send it in to be fixed. The service was very prompt, free, and the Olympus people have been VERY helpful and easy to work with. The software that comes with the camera "Camedia Master" is easy to install and very easy to use. It has all of the editing tools that the average person needs ("instant fix", crop, contrast, colour balance, brightness, lightness, saturation levels, resizing tools, a couple fun effects, etc.), and a very thorough help section.

Overall, I have been very impressed with this little camera, and it suits my purposes exactly. The only major drawback is that it makes me dream of $1,500 SLR's.

This camera is great, and also horrible. I've had it for about a year now.

Great
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o Lightweight
o Very small and portable
o Cheap
o Cool "macro" mode for close-ups
o Nice 3x optical zoom
o Takes great outdoor pictures in full sun
o Takes great indoor close shots
o Hold a LOT of pictures in a 256MB xD card.

Horrible
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o Eats batteries - of all types - forget Alkalines - takes maybe 20 photos, with Lithium, takes maybe 50. With NiMH, it will do about 100, but like another reviewer said, it quits long before the battery is discharged. And when it quits, it usually "hangs", making you remove the batteries and put in fresh ones just to close the door (and losing the last shot you took).
o The flash is a real joke. If you use the zoom at all, then the photos are very dark and unusable.
o Once you take a photo (especially with the flash), there is a considerable time before you can take the next one - not as bad as on my FIRST digital camera (also an Olympus), but bad enough so that you miss half of the wedding party when they are walking SLOWLY down the isle. Also when you want to take that second shot of a group, they get impatient with you as you stand there and keep pushing the button and nothing happens.
o The "macro" mode still gives blurry pictures sometimes.
o The (optional) underwater housing is cute, albet bulky, but the photos you take with it are not clear (because of the bad flash).

On the down side, Battery life is not long and the camera is slow to respond. One the good side it does take good pictures.

Takes very good quality photos, but the batteries run out after a day of use. It also freezes up quite a bit-i.e. you can't close the front bc the lense will not retract.

I bought this for my mother's lst digital camera. I have had several Olympus cameras and this one is just right for her. She is very pleased with it - relatively easy to use, great photos and small enough to carry in her purse. I got a very good price and for the money this is a very good value.
Because of the reviews regarding battery problems, I got her the NiMH rechargeable batteries, with charger, and she has had no problems at all.

After using this camera for the past year and a half, never having any problems, all of a sudden the flash is not working properly, my pictures that once turned out great, are dark and unusable....talked to Olympus, they will charge me $100 to take a look at the camera and then charge me to fix it, it is just not worth it. Also, this camera takes too long in between photos, and drains batteries, you are better off buying one of their newer versions.

I have had the pleasure of owning this camera since Sept. 03 when I purchased it on my way to a military deployment in Kosovo. It worked great in all situations that is found in the moist cold environment of the Balkins in my 9 months there. I was thinking of replcing it with a new higher MP camera for my recent deployment to Iraq however I have been putting it off for some time because the darn camera is still kicking. It barely has any silver paint left on the plastic body. I have taken literally thousands of pictures gigabytes of space on my hard drive are filled with pictures from everywhere I have traveled. The LCD still works fine, the flash still works, perfectly, it functions flawlessly even after a 120+ degree Iraqi summer. After my stay in the sand box for the next year it will probably become a hand me down to one of my friends who doesn't have a digital camera. Although this model is kind of old it would still make a great bargain priced camera for anyone who wants to get a lot of bang for their buck. Keep in mind this camera is not designed to use AA batteries, they work in a pinch but not for very long.

Drains batteries. Large size. Long delay so you never capture the moment. Takes horrible pictures; I would say 1 out of every 5 taken are actually decent. I swear every time I use this camera all I can think about is how I wish I had bought something else. I will be glad to throw it in the river when I replace it.

I've owned the D560Zoom since May, 2003, when I bought it just in time for my oldest daughter's graduation from college. From the start, I was amazed at the incredible detail and picture quality available from a 3.2MP camera. I'm not a professional photographer, but I've had some education, and I do know perhaps a little more about photography, lighting and composition than most novices.

I've owned a Nikon SLR and shot on little else but Kodachrome 64 since the mid 80's. I'd figured that this digital camera would serve as a backup to my Nikon, and get very little actual use. In fact, just the opposite has occured. The Nikon sits in its bag with its array of lenses, flashes and filters, and I reach for the Olympus when I go on vacation or attend a family function. It's just so easy to use, and while the white balance and exposure may not be perfect all the time, they're very, very close. I have shot some really incredible photos with this little camera, including some of my younger daughter's wedding which actually turned out better than the hired photog's pictures.

My biggest complaint with this camera is its tendency to cause red-eye, which is due to the fact that the flash is so close on axis to the lens. This is just the way it is in a camera of this size and price, and is not a fault unique to Olympus.

I also had some problems getting the camera to power up so that I could download photos from it to my computer when it was new. Since then, I've discovered that this was a bug related to the firmware in the camera when used with a computer that runs an AMD based chipset, like my Compaq 6430NX Presario. I solved the problem by buying an externally powered USB hub, and plugging the camera into that. No more troubles. I've since learned that Olympus has a firmware upgrade for the camera, but it requires that the camera be returned to them.

As another reviewer stated, one needs to understand the workings and limitations of alkaline batteries, and why they're not a good choice for this or any other digital camera. They're fine for penlights and garage door openers, but not cameras. I used the set that came with mine only to power up the camera long enough to become familiar with the menus, then I threw them out and bought some NiMH. In the end, I think the problems that most people have experienced with this camera are due to a lack of understanding of how the camera works, and what its limitations are.

Since I've had the camera for almost 3 years, I was thinking of upgrading to a Canon A620, but I still like the picture quality of the D560 so much, that I can't as yet really justify spending $350 or more on a new one that will likely just duplicate what I've already got.

I received this camera as a gift 2 1/2 years ago, and after less than 2 years of use, the camera started having problems. Now, when I open the front of the camera to take pictures, the lens doesn't come out. Instead, the camera beeps at me continuously. When I try to access the menus or turn on the LCD screen with the front closed, the camera continues to beep at me. Regardless of what I do, the camera refuses to work. Of course, the camera works fine 30% of the time. But what good is a camera that only works 30% of the time?? Don't waste your money on this camera. From what I've read on other websites, this is a common problem with Olympus point-and-shoot digital cameras that have come out in the past few years. They've cut back on quality in order to sell affordable cameras.

I've had my camera for a bit over 4 years now, and it still works great. I know the problem that the previous person has had, but I figured out how to fix it somehow (probably something with the batteries). This camera takes 2 double A batteries and I use the rechargable ones. However, the batteries don't have much life in them after a year and run out of juice pretty fast so I always have to bring lots of spares (think like 3 replacement sets for an event where you take lots of pics).

It does take video, but the quality isn't worth it for the 60 seconds you get. There is no sound recorded for the video.

The best thing I can say about this camera is that if you know how to use it well, it takes really good quality pictures. Get familiar with the different settings and learn how to control what the camera does, and with that I'd argue it is almost as good as my friend's $300 camera for sheer beauty of pictures. The only glitch is I hate the flash. I just don't tend to like pictures with flash anyways, I like the more yellowy natural light look. I also tend to have a problem with red-eye with regular flash so I always have to use the red-eye reduction setting to take pics of people. This camera also comes with a panorama setting which works well with the program that comes with it (with some practice).

I really like how you don't need a card reader to download your pics onto your computer - the USB cable (which is a pretty common cable among electronics) plugs right into the camera port.

Overall a great camera for its current price, great camera overall in my opinion, and a wonderful camera for learning how to take and edit digital photographs!

I have had this camera for 2 years now. It has its pros and cons.
Like everyone else, the battery life is terrible. Others say that you need a lithium battery which I have not tried. Regular AA batterys only lets me take about 25 pictures.
Also, it is slow and has long delay when shooting picture. You definatly miss the moment you are trying to capture.
Pros: It is pretty user friendly. I love how it hooks up to my computer and downloads VERY easy. Anyone can do it. You dont need to be a rocket scientist on this one.

After four or more years old reliable is gone. I must replace her. Olympus FE-250 I think will be my new camera. That old 3.2 MP took great pictures for emails and stuff. Yes you can expect two AA batteries per 20-30 pictures, but if you use it on the go, and infrequently it's perfect. 5 stars for reliability, ready when I am and ease of finding batteries. But for $59 she's too cheap to replace and I can afford better.

I bought this camera from a user on amazon used, in "new" condition. It arrived during the winter holidays fine. The pictures are okay if you know how to work it. The camera eats batteries like crazy, so you almost have to buy lithiums (Which add up in price quite quickly.) The camera now pauses for about one minute after each picture, and sometimes the lens or screen won't even work!!! My sister just got a new canon point and shoot. It made me realize how much better the new cameras are for the same price. If you are buying a point and shoot, don't waste your money on this. Buy something that lasts.

I've owned this product for 3 years. The title of this review is my first complaint. Date stamps are very important when capturing an event and when on vacation. And I forget easily. My second complaint is no customizable default resolution setting. It reverts to the factory default resolution setting every time you close the cover. Irritating. Otherwise, I have had no problem in light or dark environments. Good clarity. Works well with iPhoto on my Mac. Definitely not a "pocket cam".