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The Olympus C8080 Wide Zoom is a new move for Olympus as it steps further into the prosumer market.. It has an 8 megapixel sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens.
Its magnesium alloy body gives it a solid feel and its fast start up and shutter release times make it one of the faster cameras going around. This is a camera to watch.
Read reviews and more news on the Olympus C8080 at:
- DP Review - Olympus C8080 Wide Zoom - Hands on Preview
- Imaging Resource - Olympus C8080
- Steve's Digicams - Review of Olympus C8080
- DP Now - Olympus C8080wz
- Luminous Landscape - Olympus C8080
See picture samples of this camera in comparison to other 8 megapixel cameras at DCRP.
Learn more about the Olympus C8080 wide zoom from the following press release from Olympus announcing the camera.
Press Release
The 8th wonder: the 8 Megapixel Olympus C-8080 WIDE ZOOM
Olympus is delighted to introduce the 8 megapixel C-8080 WIDE ZOOM digital camera. The C-8080 WZ delivers an outstanding performance and confidently measures up to a digital SLR in its class. Packed with features and offering a wide angle, 5x zoom lens, sunshine LCD technology and a short shutter release lag time, the C-8080 WZ is capable of even the most demanding of creative photography. Housed in a black, robust magnesium alloy body, the C-8080 WIDE ZOOM is due for release in April 2004, RRP £899.99 [inc VAT]. For stockist information call free phone 0800 072 0070 or visit www.olympus.co.uk.
The C-8080 WZ is equipped with a 5x, f2.4-3.5 zoom lens to draw the maximum performance from the camera’s 8 megapixel CCD. The high quality optics include 14 high quality lenses arranged in five groups and two aspherical lenses to reduce distortion. In addition, three ED elements help minimise chromatic aberration, an effect that often occurs when shooting in telephoto setting. The focal length extends from 7.1 to 35.6mm, equivalent 28mm to 140mm on a 35mm camera.
The C-8080 WZ features an electronic viewfinder to guarantee precise framing of a shot. It boasts a resolution of 240,000 pixels, an image refresh rates of 60fps and a delay of a mere 50ms. Furthermore, it displays all activated settings so that the photographer doesn’t need to take their eye from a subject when shooting.
In addition to a release time lag of just 0.3 sec, rapid data processing also dictates very fast exposure rates. For example, 1.6 frames (each with 8 million pixels) can be shot per second in the sequence shooting and auto bracketing settings in any JPEG mode.
Olympus UK Press Release 12/02/04Despite the rapid development and optimisation of digital cameras in recent years, when it comes to LCD monitors, there remains one frustrating problem - in bright light, it’s often impossible to see the picture on the monitor. The C-8080 WZ boasts a new sunshine LCD to put an end to this. Even under dazzling spotlights or in the summer sun, it displays bright, clear images, to allow the photographer to frame and check their shots accurately. The monitor can also be tilted down 20 degrees or up to 90 degrees to provide a clear view of a subject when shooting from a difficult perspective.
The C-8080 WZ holds its own against many digital SLR models when it comes to precision metering technology too. Alongside highly accurate light and white balance metering systems, the C-8080 WZ features a dual AF system. A TTL contrast detection system is combined with an additional passive metering system, which uses a second sensor to calculate the phase difference and thus the subject’s distance. The camera then fine-tunes the readings for optimum sharpness. The user can select a range of focusing options: iESP, spot autofocus (the metering spot can be placed in 13 different positions in the frame), full time AF and, of course, manual focus.
Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Full Manual modes provide full creative scope to achieve the image required. To capture moving pictures, the C-8080 WIDE ZOOM offers a movie recording option with sound. The sequence’s duration is limited only by the memory card’s capacity. Both xD-Picture cards or CompactFlash cards may be used with the C-8080 WZ and thanks to an USB 2.0 AutoConnect interface, all results can be downloaded quickly and easily to a PC.
The C-8080 WZ is also compatible with a wide range of CAMEDIA system accessories and has a bayonet mount system to allow the quick and effortless addition of tele and wide angle lens converters. A hot shoe connection allows the use of high performance external flash units for professional lighting effects.
This C-8080 WZ is packaged with the CAMEDIA Master 4.2 software. Perfect for optimising, editing and managing digital files, this updated version of the software allows RAW format images to be converted according to the user’s requirements. This offers ambitious photographers the opportunity to “develop” shots using the optimal PC settings.
The C-8080 WIDE ZOOM – main features
- 8.0 mega pixels
- Magnesium alloy body
- 5x optical zoom (equiv. 28 – 140mm on 35mm camera), f2.4-3.5
- Very short shutter release time lag of 0.3 sec. and extremely fast startup time
- Sunshine LCD monitor (may be tilted down 20 and up 90 degrees)
- High speed sequence shooting: 1.6 frames per second (except TIFF)
- Auto bracketing: up to 5 images (except TIFF)
- Electronic viewfinder with 240,000 pixels
- Programme, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Full Manual modes
- Numerous focusing control options: iESP, spot (manual positioning of metering spot in frame), full time AF, manual focus
- Dual AF system
- Hot shoe
- Movie recording function with sound
- USB 2.0
- A variety of newly-developed accessories are available, including a direct filter mount and bayonet mount conversion lens system
- CAMEDIA Master 4.2 software
I just recieved mine this week.
I am very pleased with it so far.
I took it out night shooting last night. That is certainly the weakest link for any digital camera. You find out pretty fast whether the buttons are convienintly placed when you have to feel for them. Which leads me to one of the great mysteries of cameras in this case digital cameras. Why dont they have it so the controls are illuminated at night so you can see what your doing? I was shooting a stain glass church window and had to use a flashlight to see what settings I wanted to select on the camera. Thats very interesting that they spend so much detail in some areas and so little in others.
This camera feels very good in your hand. In fact better than any of the others I tried in its class. The Sony to me was too big and felt awkward. HP was boxy and did not feel compfortable. I did like the feel of Fuji as well as Minolta cameras I tried out before picking this one. The Canon camera I compared did not have an electronic view finder and you could see the lens it was in the way of the viewfinder.
I love the live histogram on this camera. It is especially useful in low light conditions. The other big bonus is the custom modes and even a custom user button that is assignable.
Design wise flat black was a good color to choose. It makes the camera look of professional quality.
This camera is still very new. I have read mostly positive reviews on it.
I liked the Electronic view finder very much in this camera. It seemed much clearer to me than Sony's.
The zoom is very smooth and it did not seem to have a bad effect using it on battery life.
I changed the default shutoff settings from three minutes to one minute to save battery power.
I have not installed the software yet so cant comment on that. I will be using Photoshop anyway to do my editing on any images taken.
This camera includes a new LCD chip technology that utilizes cyan into the Red Green and Blue areas on the chip. This in theory will increase the blues and violets and greens and dark reds and flesh tones and shadow areas you can shoot and retain the detail. I tested this on some muted color chips that I had printed and it did do very well in maintining the detail and little differences in hue changes on the chips.
I wish this camera had a stablization system like the Minolta Diamage A2 does.
For any night shooting at all I would recommend using a trypod.
LCD graphic display workjed very well. I am still learning all the buttons but the screen items are very clear... Some things are confusing such as MF. Does MF mean Macro Focus or Manual Focus? That is what I mean. One should not have to read a manual to know. It would have been better to put a hand instead of MF for Manual mode. I still have not been able to figure out how to focus manually with this camera. My Cannon AE-1 you would just focus in the front but those days are gone? It should still be that easy thought.
I am happy with my purchase on this camera and I would reccommend it if you can get a good deal on one.
To me it all comes down to pricing, as Minolta and Sony and Olympus, Canon are all very similar in image quality so it comes down to user preferences. Each camera has its thing its good at. On the Sony it has a better zoom lens on it than the Olympus. On Minolta it has the stablization feature etc.
Everyone says I cant comment on Image quality yet because I have a pre model.
I myself can say without hesitation that the images I have shot have been very stunning when blown up. Lots of detail in shadow areas and subltlle color.
The night shot of the church stain glass window turned out fantastic. I am very happy with it. The colors were very true to what they were and there were even details of the light shining thought the window on the sidewalk.
Thanks Olympus for making this camera. The manual could be a bit better, more detailed. Some things are taken forgranted that users will know how to do it such as Manual focus so are therefore not explained how the camera is sopposed to do this at all.
best regards,
Bob P.