Olympus's entry 14MP compact of 2012 — US name for the VG-160/X-990, 5x 26-130mm zoom, SD storage
The Olympus D-745 was the North American designation for the entry-level compact sold elsewhere as the VG-160 and in Japan as the X-990, announced in January 2012. It belonged to the budget VG line in the final years of Olympus compact production, when cheap CCD point-and-shoots were being squeezed out by smartphone cameras.
It carries a 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD behind a 5x zoom covering 26-130mm equivalent, with a 3.0-inch 230,000-dot LCD as the only means of framing. Video tops out at 720p Motion JPEG, sensitivity runs ISO 80-1600, and iAuto scene recognition picks from 29 scene programs. Storage is on current SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and power comes from a rechargeable LI-70B lithium-ion battery.
It suits buyers after a very simple, light everyday camera or a cheap entry into the CCD compact look, with the useful 26mm wide end helping indoors and for landscapes. There is no optical image stabilisation or manual control, so expectations should stay at snapshot level.
Because it takes standard SD cards, storage is no obstacle — unusual among older Olympus compacts. The LI-70B battery is smaller and less universal than the older LI-42B, so check a working battery and charger or USB cable are included. Inspect the large screen for scratches and confirm the zoom runs its full range without complaint.