The latest, in what is now a long line of Olympus C Series cameras
that have used a similar body design, the C-3020 Zoom (D-3020Z
in Europe) offers a 3X optical zoom that features a good wide angle (the
equivalent of a 32mm), a 3.2 megapixel resolution, and multiple shooting
modes.
While
many of the controls of the C-3020 are carried over from previous cameras
in the C-series — the zoom control around the shutter release
for example — with each new model using this general body style,
Olympus has tweaked the design and this one is no different. The Mode
Dial for example now offers 3 different basic recording modes, 2 of which
combine multiple capabilities which are selected in the camera menu:
Program
shooting modes: Portrait, Sports, Landscape,
Portrait, Night Scene and Movie mode.
Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual
mode, or My Mode (instantly available user preferences).
Program
Mode (camera decides aperture and shutter speed).
Power
On/Off
Playback
Most
camera settings are indicated on a fairly large top-mounted status screen:
image quality, flash modes, focus mode, white balance, auto bracketing,
self-timer, card formatting, metering mode, and of course, the number
of photos remaining.
Although the status display can't replace the use of the LCD screen in
modes that require setting aperture or shutter speed, in most other cases
it does allow the use of optical viewfinder instead of the screen, and
can greatly reduce the drain on the batteries.
The
viewfinder itself is again similar to those found
on other C-series camera, featuring a clear image and a diopter
correction.
With so many of
the newer cameras using 1.5 inch LCD screens, the camera's 1.8 inch screen
really stands out. Although the size difference may sound minute, it is
quite noticeable and details are much easier to see.
Besides
the shutter release, the zoom control and the Mode dial, all the other
controls of the C-3020Z are organized above and to the right of the LCD
screen.
Flash
Modes: cycles through Auto, Forced Off, Forced On, Redeye Reduction;
and also doubles as a Delete button in Playback.
Macro
Mode and Spot
Metering also provides a combined Macro and Spot metering setting;
in addition to a one-touch means to select photos to be printed while
the camera is in Playback, and access the photo cropping menu if required,
before tagging the image for printing.
Arrow
Pad: is used to make selections in the menus, change exposure
compensation (right and left arrow), and select apertures or shutter
speeds (up and down arrows) according to the recording mode in use.
Three more buttons
aligned on the right edge of the LCD screen are used for:
OK/Menu:
used to bring up the camera menus, and also used to "OK"
selections. As a secondary function, holding down the OK/Menu button
for more than 1 second provides access to the Manual Focus mode.
LCD
Screen: On/Off, and is slightly recessed to avoid turning on the
screen accidentally.
AEL/Custom:
Primarily an Auto Exposure Lock, the button can have another
function assigned to it in the menu, permitting a Custom use.
In Playback the button is used to protect an image against accidental
deletion.
The controls and their
functions are quite straightforward, and become quickly familiar. This,
coupled with a very usable viewfinder — although it could still benefit
from a rubberized trim — and one of the larger LCD screens found
on current compact-type cameras, make the C-3020 one of the most interesting
mid-priced cameras.
Introduction
found
on other C-series camera, featuring a clear image and a diopter
correction.
