The
Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom is a "first": a small compact
camera equipped with a 10X optical zoom lens; apparently the smallest
such lens ever built. C-3040
and others.
Most of the controls
will be immediately familiar to anyone acquainted with any of the other
C series cameras: a two-stage
shutter release with a zoom control around it; a mode dial easily rotated
with the thumb while using the camera.
This particular Mode Dial offers 8 positions:
Playback,
Auto,
Landscape,
Sports,
Portrait,
Program,
Aperture/Shutter
Priority and Manual,
Movie.
All
the remaining controls are situated on the back of the camera, and a number
of these offer double functions, one in the Recording mode, the other
in the Playback mode. Of these buttons, the most visible is the Power
button (red) which when pressed gets the camera ready to shoot in approximately
5 seconds.
The three buttons
arranged between the viewfinder and the Mode Dial, belong to the group
that have different functions depending on the mode of the C-700UZ.
First, the one closest
to the viewfinder and labelled Drive, cycles through the various
shooting mode: Single Shot, Sequential Shooting, Sequential Shooting
with Autofocus, Self-timer, Auto Bracketing. Second, the centre button
controls Spot Metering, Macro Mode, Macro Mode with Spot Metering. Third,
the button closest to the Mode Dial cycles through the Flash Modes:
Auto, Redeye Reduction, Forced Flash, Slow Synchronization, Flash Off.
Moving
down the C-700's back, the AEL button not only serves as an Auto
Exposure Lock, including memorizing the metering of 8 user-selected
points in the frame to create an average (Multi-Metering); but can also
be reprogrammed as a quick access to a Custom Function. The programming
possibilities for the custom setting include: Info (On/Off); ISO (Auto,
100, 200, 400, 800); A/S/M (A, S, M); Slow Synchro (1 or 2); Digital Zoom
(On/Off); Full time AF (On/Off); a Function (Black Board, White Board,
Sepia, B&W); a quick access to resolution (TIFF, SHQ, HQ, SQ), or
white balance setting. In Playback, the same button also serves to rotate
photos, right or left only, but not 180°.
Below, the Jog Dial allows making selections in the Menu called
up by pressing the button at its centre. The Jog Dial also controls such
things as exposure compensation, and the selection of apertures and shutter
speeds when the camera's Mode Dial is set to the A/S/M position.
The
C-700UZ is equipped with an electronic viewfinder with a diopter
correction. The viewfinder display has a relatively fast refresh rate,
but its image is quite coarse, making it difficult to see details. Still,
it also features an overlay that provides information on the current settings
of the C-700UZ.
Like all the viewfinders of this type, it can show the camera menus, and
selections can be made without having to resort to the 1.5 inch LCD
screen.
The
C-700UZ uses a pop-up flash which is released by a small button, placed
strategically near the shutter release and the Mode Dial.
In addition, a
5-pin external flash jack is provided on the left side of the camera.
Although it is designed to operate with Olympus' FL-40 unit, other third-party
flash units can also be used if they meet certain criteria.
The C-700UZ
may be small but it offers numerous feature, something which is reflected
in the complexity of its controls and menus. In short, this is a camera
that demands a bit of effort on the part of anyone who wants to get accustomed
to all its functions.
