Ultra-compact Olympus C-50 ZOOM announced

Packaged within a stylish full metal jacket, the new C-50 ZOOM digital camera from Olympus is sure to pack a punch for any avid photographer. From the versatile, bright 3x optical zoom, to its impressive five megapixel resolution, Olympus say this innovative camera ensures great photos no matter what the subject.

Olympus has achieved elegance by incorporating two high-performance yet space-saving innovations. Supporting Olympus' new memory format, the C-50 ZOOM is supplied with a 32Mb the xD-Picture Card to meet your picture needs. The C-50 ZOOM also benefits from using a new ultra small rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charger. This allows the camera to be smaller, and means scores of shots can be taken before the battery needs recharging.

But the C-50 ZOOM doesn't just concentrate on style, inside it offers a number of automatic and manually adjustable settings to guarantee plenty of scope for creative photography. TruePic image optimisation previously only seen on high-end professional Olympus cameras ensures top quality results.

With a 1/1.8inch primary colour filter CCD, a bright f2.8/f4.8 3x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 38 - 114 m on a convention 35mm camera) and a 5x digital zoom the C-50ZOOM offers the flexibility that we all look for in a digital camera. The optical system is comprised of seven lenses arranged in six groups and features two aspherical elements for edge-to-edge clarity. Exposure can be controlled via the manual and spot metering features for the advanced users, as can the shutter and aperture settings.

The C-50 ZOOM also comes with an automatic digital ESP (Electro Selective Pattern) option, as well as, an auto-bracketing feature to take a series of shots with different exposure values. A TTL contrast detection autofocus ensures photos are crisp and clear.

The C-50 ZOOM comes with six-scene program shooting modes and a selection of 'my modes' to provide photographers with pre-sets for night scenes, sports and landscapes and other creative options.

The built in flash systems offers a variety of different situations including slow synchronization, red eye reduction and automatic activation in low light and backlight situations.

Those looking for more adventurous pictures can opt for the macro or panorama modes, while users wanting to record moving pictures can do so with the built in movie mode.