Olympus C-50 Zoom 5-megapixel digital camera

Features
Recording Images
Displaying and Editing Images
Supplied Software
xD Picture Card Capacity

Features

Recording Media: The camera records still images or moving images on an xD Picture Card (a 32MB card is supplied). Still images are recorded in TIFF and JPEG formats. Moving images are recorded in the Quick Time Motion JPEG format. Non-Olympus brand cards must first be formatted before using in the camera.

Recording Modes: Images recorded in the TIFF format are uncompressed and require an enormous amount of memory (You can store only 2 TIFF formatted images on the included 32MB xD Picture Card). When recording in the JPEG format, several recording modes are available requiring varying amounts of memory: SHQ (super high quality), HQ (high quality), SQ1 and SQ2 (standard quality). When recording movies, you can choose between HQ and SQ.

Resolution: Images can be recorded at one of the following resolutions: 2560 x 1920 (TIFF, SHQ and HQ), 2048 x 1536 pixels (SQ1), 1600 x 1200 pixels (SQ2), 1280 x 960 pixels (SQ2), 1024 x 768 pixels (SQ2), and 640 x 480 pixels (SQ2).

TruePic Technology: This camera has Olympus' exclusive TruePic technology for producing better images. Most digital camera designs throw away pixels when creating smaller file sizes. TruePic technology utilizes all the pixels captured by the CCD to create a better and truer photographic image, especially at lower resolutions. This technology also micro-smoothes the image to produce a clearer and smoother photo.

Automatic Pixel Mapping: In some rare cases, the camera may acquire some "dead" or "stuck" pixels in the CCD. Automatic Pixel Mapping (APM) allows you to engage a menu function and re-map the CCD, instead of having to send the camera back to an Olympus service center. The APM feature is normally only found in expensive, high-end studio cameras. It is recommended that Pixel Mapping be done once a year.

Exif Print (Exif 2.2): The Olympus C-50 Zoom conforms to "Exif Print", a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

PRINT Image Matching: PRINT Image Matching (P.I.M.), a technology developed by Seiko Epson Corporation, ensures that PRINT Image Matching-enabled digital cameras and printers work together perfectly to produce the best possible prints. After an image is captured, the camera automatically tags the picture with the optimal image settings and includes it as part of the Exif Print header in the JPEG file. A P.I.M.-enabled photo printer reads and utilizes the information in order to make the most accurate print.

Adjustable Sensitivity: Similar to 35mm photography, the camera's ISO Sensitivity can be adjusted. The higher the ISO value, the greater the camera's light sensitivity and better its ability to shoot in low light conditions. You can choose from an automatic ISO setting or 80, 160 or 320 manual ISO Sensitivity settings.

White Balance: Color reproduction differs depending on the lighting conditions. This camera allows you to automatically or manually adjust the White Balance setting. Manual settings can be set for daylight, overcast, tungsten light and florescent light.

Contrast: You can adjust the contrast of images, making those with strong differences in light and shadow milder, and those with weaker differences more vivid. There are three contrast settings available: High, Normal and Low. 

Image Pickup Device: This camera uses a high quality 1/1.76" (.55") CCD solid-state image pickup with 5.36 million gross pixels (5 million effective pixels). Note: In much of their literature, Olympus rounds up the CCD size to 1/1.8".

Viewfinder and LCD Monitor: This camera has an optical viewfinder with an autofocus/backlight mark and a diopter adjustment dial, allowing you to see the autofocus mark more clearly. The camera is also equipped with 1-1/2" color TFT LCD monitor (approx. 134,000 pixels). The LCD monitor allows you to view images being taken as well as review stored images.

Monitor Indicators: The LCD monitor displays status indicators, which include shooting information, playback information, a battery gauge and memory gauge. In the camera menu, you can indicate whether you want just the basic information displayed in the viewfinder and monitor, or very detailed information in the display.

Viewing Images: Still and moving images can be played back on the camera's color LCD monitor, or the images may be transferred to a computer, where they can be displayed or manipulated with the use of compatible software. The camera has an Auto-Connect USB port for quick downloading of images to a computer. This port is compatible with most computers with a USB port without additional software to be installed. In addition, the images can be played back on a television (NTSC or PAL), if the television has an RCA video input.

Optics: The lens in the camera is an Olympus multivariator aspherical 7.8mm to 23.4mm glass lens with an 3x optical zoom, specifically designed for digital photography. It contains 7 elements in 6 groups and is equivalent to a 38mm to 114mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Zoom: In addition to the 3x optical zoom, the camera has a 4x digital zoom which, in combination, results in a seamless 12x zoom.

Flash Modes: This camera features an automatic flash which fires in low-light and backlight conditions. There are additional flash modes to choose from including: red-eye reduction, fill-in flash, slow-shutter synchronized flash (first curtain and first curtain with red-eye reduction) and flash off. The flash charging time is approximately 7 seconds at normal operating temperature with a charged battery. The flash working ranges are 7.8" to 11' for wide angle, and 11.8" to 6.6' for telephoto at ISO 160. You can also manually adjust the intensity of the flash if you desire.

Focusing Ranges (Normal and Macro): The focusing ranges for the normal shooting mode are 19.7" to infinity for both wide-angle and telephoto. In the macro mode, the range is 7.8" to 23.6" in wide-angle and 11.8" to 19.7" in telephoto.

Remote Control: The C-50 Zoom comes with an RM-1 wireless IR remote control. When in the record mode, you can press the W or T buttons to zoom in or out. You can also use the remote to start the self-timer mode if you want to be included in the shot (the self-timer mode delay is shortened when using the remote). In the playback mode, you can press the W button to get an index display and select pictures with the + and -- buttons. For a close-up display, you can press the T button. In case of IR code interference, you can switch to another IR code.

Power Requirements: This camera uses one LI-10B Lithium-Ion battery. A LI-10C battery charger is supplied with the camera. To operate the camera on AC power, an optional Olympus D-7AU AC adapter is available from the manufacturer. An AC adapter is recommended when showing images in a slide-show fashion for long periods of time. Note: No battery capacity information is available.

Inputs/Outputs: The camera has a DC input jack for use with the optional AC adapter. The video output jack (a mini-jack output for use with the supplied composite video cable) allows you to connect the camera to a TV (NTSC or PAL system). The USB connector (Mini-B Version 2.0) allows you to connect the camera to a computer for downloading images. You can also connect the camera directly to a compatible photo printer through the USB jack.

Sleep Mode: To save battery power, the camera has an adjustable sleep timer. In the menu, you can select 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes or 10 minutes. The camera automatically enters the sleep mode if the selected amount of time has passed with no operations being performed. The camera always turns off after 3 minutes when left in the playback mode.

Time and Date Information: The camera has an internal clock, and the time and date information can be recorded on each image, if desired. The automatic calendar system will display dates through 2099.

Recording Images

Single Frame or Sequential Shooting (Drive Mode): The C-50 Zoom can shoot one frame at a time, or several frames in sequence. While in the Drive Mode, you can choose one of the following shooting modes.

• Single Frame: Shoots one frame at a time.
• Sequential Shooting: Shoots a maximum of 3 sequential pictures at approximately 1 frame per second in the HQ mode. The focus, exposure and white balance are locked at the first frame
• AF Sequential Shooting: Focus, exposure and white balance are set for each frame individually. (Shooting speed is slower than normal sequential shooting)
• Auto Bracketing: If you're not sure if the Auto Exposure setting will be optimal for the shot you want, you can automatically take a sequence of pictures, all with different exposure settings. You can choose the exposure differential for each frame (1/3 EV or 1 EV) and the number of frames to shoot in sequence (3 or 5).

Self-Timer/Remote Control: This function is useful for taking pictures when you want to be included in the photograph. The self-timer can be used for both still pictures and movies. The red LED on the front panel will light up for approximately 10 seconds after the shutter button is pressed, then blink for 2 seconds before the picture is taken or the movie recording starts. The camera can also be controlled by the supplied RM-1 remote control. When starting the self-timer using the remote, the delay is shortened from 12 seconds to 4 seconds.

Panorama Shooting: It is possible to connect together images with overlapping edges into a single panoramic image. You can connect together up to 10 images either horizontally or vertically. This function requires the use of Olympus CAMEDIA brand xD Picture Cards and the supplied CAMEDIA Master software.

2-In-1 Shooting: This feature allows you to take two pictures in succession and store them side-by-side as one image. After selecting "2-In-1" in the menu, the first shot taken will be stored on the left half of the frame and the second shot taken will be stored on the right half of the frame. The images are stored in SHQ in the TIFF record mode.

Menu Functions: The camera settings can be selected by using the menus that appear on the LCD monitor. There is one Shortcut Menu for quick access to the most frequently used menu settings. There are two Mode Menus for more detailed settings of Shooting and Playback settings.

Basic Shooting Modes: By turning the Mode Dial button on the back of the camera, you can choose one of the basic shooting modes:

• Full-Auto: This fully automatic mode allows you to take still pictures using no special functions or manual adjustments.
• Program Shooting: In this mode, the camera sets both the aperture and the shutter speed.
• Aperture Priority: You set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed.
• Shutter Priority: You set the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture.
• Manual: You set both the aperture and shutter speed.
• My Mode: Your favorite settings (aperture value, zoom position, etc) can be saved in one of four My Mode presets.
• Self-Portrait: When you take a picture of yourself while holding the camera, the camera automatically selects the optimal settings and the focus is locked on you.
• Night Scene: The camera automatically sets a slower shutter speed than normal, suitable for shooting pictures in the evening or at night.
• Landscape + Scene: The foreground and background are both in focus and the colors are more vividly reproduced, excellent for shooting natural outdoor scenery.
• Landscape + Portrait: The foreground and background are both in focus, allowing you to clearly see your subject in front of a scenic background.
• Sports Shooting: This automatic mode allows you to capture fast-moving action (such as a sports scene or moving vehicles) without blurring.
• Portrait Shooting: This automatic mode allows you to shoot a portrait-style image of a person with the foreground subject in focus and the background out of focus.
• Movie Record: This fully automatic mode allows you to record movies. The camera sets the aperture and shutter speed automatically; the focus and exposure are locked when the shutter button is pressed halfway. There is no sound recorded with this camera.

Advanced Shooting Modes: Controls on the rear panel of the camera can access any of the advanced shooting modes: 

• Spot Metering: You can choose between Digital ESP metering, and spot metering (including spot metering in the macro mode).
• Macro Mode: You can shoot close to the subject (minimum distance 12") with quicker focusing.
• Exposure Compensation: You can make fine changes in exposure setting. You can adjust +/-- 2.0 EV in 1/3 steps.

Displaying and Editing Images

Image Playback: Once the images or movies have been captured, the camera gives you several options for playing them back. Playback of images can be done on the LCD monitor, or on a compatible TV using the supplied composite video output cable. For still images, you can play them back one at a time manually or present them in a slide show fashion. You can also enlarge the images up to 4x, or rotate the images if they aren't oriented horizontally. For viewing multiple images at once, you can create an index display of 4, 9 or 16 frames. For movies, you can playback the images in full motion forward or backward, create an index of 9 frames, or display one frame at a time.

Editing Still Images: You can edit images in the camera before transferring them to a computer. You can create black-and-white or sepia-toned images, or resize the pictures into smaller files such as 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 pixels. This is frequently done when you desire to attach an image to an e-mail.

Printing Options: Once the images have been captured and edited, you have three options for printing the pictures you have taken:

• Computer: If you have downloaded the CAMEDIA Master software on your computer, or if it has software applications that support JPEG images, you can print images on a printer connected to your computer.
• Print Reserve (for Printing at a Photo Lab): Applying Print Reserve to your pictures allows you to take the camera or a SmartMedia card to a DPOF-compatible photo lab for printing. DPOF is the Digital Print Order Format, and allows you to add information to your photographs such as which pictures to print, adding date and time to each image, the number of prints desired, etc. You can also print images on a personal DPOF-compatible printer.
• Olympus CAMEDIA Printer: When you insert a SmartMedia card with Print Reserve data into an Olympus CAMEDIA P-400, P-330N(E), or P-200 digital printer, you can print images without a computer.

Supplied Software

CAMEDIA Master 4.0 Software: This camera is supplied with CAMEDIA Master 4.0 software which allows you to transfer images from the camera's xD Picture Card to a computer hard drive. The software also allows you to create HTML albums to share and view photos, e-mail images, make slideshows, stitch images together for a panoramic view, edit movies, print contact sheets and backup images on separate storage media. There is also a copy of the reference manual in a PDF file which contains more detail than the basic manual included with the camera. Once this software is downloaded into your computer, software upgrades are available for downloading from the Olympus website.

Auto-Connect USB Compatibility: For Windows, the software is compatible with Windows 98, 98SE, Me, 2000 Pro, and XP with a USB port. For Macintosh, the software is compatible with Mac OS 8.6 -- OS X 10.1 with USB port.

 Windows System Requirements:

• Operating System: Windows 98, 98SE, Me, 2000 Pro, or XP
• CPU: Pentium or later
• RAM: 64MB or greater
• CD-ROM Compatible Drive
• Minimum Free Hard Disk Space: 120MB
• Display: Monitor with thousands or more colors

Macintosh System Requirements:

• Operating System: Mac OS 9.0(8.6)--9.2, OS X 10.1
• CPU: Power Macintosh
• RAM: 40MB or greater for applications
• Minimum Free Hard Disk Space: 120MB
• Display: Monitor with thousands or more colors

xD Picture Card Capacity

Image Capacity of xD Picture Card*: