The
Olympus C-730UZ can be seen almost as a bridge camera, offering
compatibility with both SmartMedia, and the new xD memory format,
developed jointly by Olympus and Fuji Photo Film.
Although it bears a strong resemblance to the C-720UZ
the C-730UZ isn't just a C-720UZ with a new memory format. It offers a
10X optical zoom and a 3.2 megapixel image size.
zoom control around
the shutter release, and a Mode dial. Aside from a semi-transparent
blue-grey plastic strip on the right side, the most notable difference
is the Mode Dial which provides 12 positions and includes all program
and scene modes:
Program:
the camera controls aperture and shutter, but the user has access
to all other settings.
Aperture
Priority: user sets the aperture and the camera sets the shutter
speed.
Shutter
Priority: user sets the shutter speed and the camera matches
it to an aperture.
Manual:
full control over all aspects of the camera.
Auto
Night
Scene
Portrait
Self
Portrait
Sports
My
Mode
(4 groups of "My Mode" user selectable settings)
Landscape-Portrait
Movie
Mode (with
sound)
Landscape
Playback
With
the C-730UZ Olympus has increased the resolution of the EVF, but retained
a similar LCD screen as is used on the C-720UZ. The EVF of the C-730UZ
provides 180,000 pixels (114,000 on the C-720UZ); while the 1.5 inch LCD
screen is the same stays at a resolution of 114,000 pixels.
A diopter correction is built into the right side of the EVF's housing,
allowing most eyeglass wearers to use the viewfinder without their glasses.
All
other controls are found on the back of the C-730UZ. Of these, a number
offer one function when the camera is in recording mode, and another when
it is in playback. Playback functions — aside from delete —
are shown in green.
Self
timer or Remote control
Single
frame delete in Playback.
Macro
Mode or Spot metering, or macro mode and Spot metering.
Calls
up the Print Order screen in Playback.
Flash
Modes (see further)
Frame
protect
A
red Power button is located directly above the LCD screen and by default,
when the camera is turned on, the EVF is activated but not the LCD screen.
A 4-direction controller dominates the right side of the screen and serves
for menu navigation. In addition, its left and right arrows can be used
to adjust Exposure Compensation, while the up/down arrows will control
apertures and shutter speeds in the priority modes.
The
AEL (Auto Exposure Lock) button can also be re-programmed for another
function. Any 1 of 15 functions can be assigned including the default
AEL function.
In
Playback the button can be used to rotate an image displayed on
the screen.
The
OK/Menu button at the centre of the 4-direction control serves to
call up the menu and confirm selections made there. As a secondary
function, it calls up the manual focus mode if held in for approximately
2 seconds.
the
Monitor button is used to turn the 1.5 inch LCD screen on or off.
Worth noting, when the LCD screen is on, the EVF stays on, too.
The Monitor button also serve to show, or clear, the information
overlaid on the screen or the EVF. Finally, pressed twice rapidly,
it calls up the Quick View mode that avoids having to turn the Mode
Dial to the Playback position to see a recorded image.
The
pop-up flash of the C-730UZ is manually released using a small button
near the Mode Dial. The available modes cover:
Auto,
Auto
with Redeye reduction,
Forced
on,
Slow
Sync (front or rear curtain, or front curtain with redeye reduction).
Forced
off is assumed when the flash is left closed.
In
addition to the pop-up flash the C-730UZ is equipped with an external
flash socket covered by a screw-on cap.
The C-730UZ is primarily designed to work with the Olympus FL-40
flash. The flash is attached to a bracket (FL-BK01), which is itself
attached to the tripod mount of the C-730UZ. A cable (FL-CB01) links
the two. The flash supports all the still image shooting modes of the
C-730UZ.
The C-730UZ can also be used in combination with other (non-Olympus)
flash units but the camera can only be used in the A/S/M
modes, and a connection cable is required.
In
terms of ergonomics, the C-730UZ is much the same as the C-720UZ. The
layout of controls is broadly similar, and the functions assigned to the
buttons have few differences. Still, like the other cameras in this series,
the C-730UZ would benefit from a rubber trim on its viewfinder which would
make it more comfortable to use.
Otherwise the logical layout of the controls makes them easily remembered,
and once accustomed to one of these models, moving on to another is a
remarkably painless process.
