In many respects the C-740UZ is very similar to previous UZ cameras.
In handling and use, the C-740UZ would be quite familiar to anyone with
experience with any of the recent UZ cameras.
However, when it comes to the images the C-740UZ captures, one thing
can be seen quite quickly: the chromatic aberration that could be seen
under some circumstances with the previous models is not noticeable
with this one.
Aperture: f 2.8, shutter speed 1/15 sec.
That
very major improvement can be directly traced to the use of ED
glass with the C-740UZ.
Aperture: f6.3, shutter speed 1/800 sec.
Extra-low Dispersion glass is superior to plain optical glass at bending
light and at keeping all the colour components of light properly aligned,
a critical point for a powerful zoom lens such as the one on the C-740UZ.
By the same token,
ED glass improves colour and contrast, another one of the improvements
that can be seen in the photos of the C-740UZ when the zoom is used at
its maximum magnifying power and to capture relatively distant subjects.
The
C-740UZ is also more compact than previous versions. The C-740UZ has a
height and depth that are each about 1 cm (0.39 inch) less than the C-730UZ,
and a smoother and rounder shape, making it not only easier to carry,
but less boxy-looking and more "up-to-date". In large part this
size reduction is due to the use of xD memory card, an extremely compact
format with great capacity, unlike SmartMedia, which used to be the mainstay
of Olympus cameras.
Aperture: f 3.2, shutter speed 1/15 sec.
Aperture: f 3.5, shutter speed 1/800 sec.
As
mentioned above, in some aspects the C-740UZ is similar to previous UZ
cameras. For instance, the external controls such as the macro/spot focus
button still react comparatively slowly when pressed, quite unlike the
shutter release which exhibits no noticeable lag.
And clearly, the fact that many of the features of the earlier models
are present on the C-740UZ is of benefit.
The C-740UZ
offers a broad range of image resolutions and formats, including a TIFF
format that saves a 9MB image file in approximately 15 seconds. Furthermore,
this model continues to offer a wealth of functions and features that
allow the user to fine-tune both the camera and the way the image is recorded.
Still, one item is still not available with this camera: an image stabilizer.
Aperture: f7, shutter speed 1/650 sec.
The C-740UZ remains a camera that can be difficult to shoot at the maximum
zoom when hand held. Good light is required to ensure the shutter speed
is sufficiently high so as to avoid any possibility of camera shake.
Otherwise, the camera needs to be stabilized somehow, or a tripod needs
to be used.
Overall,
the improvements brought to the C-740UZ may not be obvious — aside
from the styling differences — but are of real value to the user.
In our opinion, the use of ED glass makes the C-740UZ the best UZ camera
to date.
