The
Olympus C-740UZ is one of two 10X UZ (Ultra Zoom) cameras recently
released by Olympus — the other being the C-740UZ.
The C-740UZ provides a 3.2 megapixel resolution, is equipped with an ED
(Extra low Dispersion) lens to improve the image, and uses xD cards exclusively
to store photos.
Olympus
UZ cameras have evolved to have smoother, rounder shapes, than the first
ones. The C-740UZ has few sharp ridges, and is very pleasant to hold.
Like previous
UZ models, the C-740UZ provides an EVF (electronic viewfinder) to compose
the image, or a 1.5 inch LCD monitor with 114,000 pixels.
The EVF is equipped with a dioptre adjustment, but the position of the
corrector's dial makes it a bit difficult to use while looking through
the viewfinder. Still, on this model Olympus has added a rubber trim,
an excellent touch for those who use glasses as it prevents damage.
As with all EVF, the image the tiny LCD screen provides is clear but isn't
able to precisely show distant details. It has the advantage however,
of being able to superimpose all camera settings, and the menus, if desired.
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:
the simplest shooting mode.
Night
Scene:
designed for night photos. Uses a low shutter speed (the camera
should be stabilized on a tripod).
Portrait:
uses a wide aperture to blur the background behind the subject slightly
and is most effective when the zoom is used.
Self
Portrait:
allows the camera to be pointed back towards the photographer. The
lens is automatically set to the widest angle.
Sports:
Makes use of a fast shutter speed to stop action.
My
Mode: allows
saving user preferences for most of the C-740UZ's settings. Up to
4 different sets of "My Mode" settings can be saved.
Landscape-Portrait:
enhances blues and greens and uses an aperture that will maintain
both foreground and background in focus.
Movie
Mode:
records video clips that can last as long as there is space on the
memory card. Sound cannot be recorded.
Landscape:
also enhances blues and greens and a small aperture to maximize
the depth of field.
Playback
Mode.
The
remaining external controls of the C-740UZ are grouped on the back edge
of the camera, and around the LCD monitor. As is often the case with Olympus
cameras, many of the buttons have a dual function, one in the Recording
mode (identified by a black symbol), and one in Playback (marked with
either a red or green symbol).
The three buttons near the viewfinder are typical of this arrangement,
and serve for:
Self
timer 12 second delay.
Single
frame delete in Playback, or in the Quick View mode.
Macro
Mode or Spot metering, or Macro mode and Spot metering combined.
Calls
up the Print Order screen in Playback so that photos can be selected
for later printing.
Flash
Modes (see further), while the little button above pops-up the flash.
In
Playback, the button serves to protect frames against deletion.
Aside
from the red power button, the controls on the right side of the monitor
also provide multiple functions. Starting with the top button:
AEL
(Auto Exposure Lock) serves not only to lock the metered exposure,
but can also be re-programmed for any one of 15 other possible functions.
The list includes AF Lock, Drive mode, ISO, Shooting mode, A/S/M,
Slow flash synch, Noise Reduction, Digital Zoom, Full time AF, AF
mode, Super Macro mode, and calling up specific menu items.
in
Playback the button can be used to rotate an image displayed on
the screen in 90° increments.
The
four-directional arrow buttons are primarily used for menu navigation,
but they are also used to set the exposure compensation, and to make the
selection of apertures and shutter speeds in the Priority and Manual shooting
modes. At the centre, a round button is used to:
call up the menu and confirm selections made there. This button
also has a secondary function, when pressed and held for more than
2 seconds in the recording modes, it calls up the Manual focus mode.
The last button, the one to the lower right of the LCD screen, serves
to:
control
the Monitor display and act as a toggle switch between the
EVF and the LCD monitor. In addition, when pressed twice in rapid
succession, it calls up the Quick View mode. The Quick View
mode avoids having to turn the Mode Dial to the Playback position
to see an image that has just been captured.
The
pop-up flash of the C-740UZ is slightly different from the ones that were
found on previous UZ cameras. The
flash now pops up a bit higher thanks to a re-designed hinge, and in wide
angle the shadow cast by the lens when the camera is close to the subject
has been minimized over previous models.
The Flash modes are controlled by the small button beneath the flash
release on the back of the camera:
Auto.
Auto
with red-eye reduction.
Forced
on.
Slow
Sync: front or rear curtain, or front curtain with red-eye reduction.
Forced
off is assumed when the flash is left closed.
