Olympus C-500 ZOOM digital camera

Category	:	Compact Cameras
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The C-500 ZOOM digital camera is an exciting new addition to the Olympus range. It gives enthusiasts the ease of use associated with automatic functions but still allows plenty of room for creativity and experimentation with full manual control. With 5.0 million pixels and TruePic TURBO technology, images are guaranteed to be rich and highly defined. A bright 3x zoom lens (35mm equiv: 38-114mm) adds shooting flexibility. Movies with sound can also be recorded and photos can be viewed on the 4.6cm LCD monitor.

The C-500 ZOOM is an ideal camera for all photographers looking for an easy to use camera without wishing to forgo full manual control, the camera will be available in late March (pricing to be confirmed).

With the C-500 ZOOM, shooting is as easy or as creative as the photographer desires. Users can choose from 15 scene programmes including Fireworks, Portrait and Night Scene. A special help function describes the selected mode and gives a sample picture to make sure the right one is chosen. Additionally, this camera offers full manual control over the exposure settings enabling photographers free reign to explore their creativity a feature virtually unheard of in a camera of this category. Shooting flexibility is increased by the Super Macro mode that permits shots from only 2cm away.

5.0 million pixels equip this model with the power to capture images in extraordinary detail. A 3x zoom lens (35mm equiv: 38-114mm) brings subjects in close and ensures superior results. The TruePic TURBO image processor means users can not only look forward to generating brilliant images but also fast camera start-up and operating speeds.

With the new special re-size with frame illustration editing function, the photographer can choose from a variety of templates, directly on the camera. Being PictBridge compatible, images can then be printed directly on any printer supporting this standard, such as the Olympus P-10 without needing to go via a PC.

The C-500 ZOOM can also record movies, with length of film dependent on XD card capacity. Results can then be presented on the integrated 4.6cm LCD monitor.

The Olympus C-500 ZOOM main features
5.0 million pixels
3x zoom lens (38-114mm equivalent), 1:2.8-4.9
Automatic and Manual modes for full manual operation
15 scene programmes (e.g. Fireworks, Portrait, Night Scene) with help function and Function shooting (e.g. Sepia, Black&White)
4.6cm/1.8 LCD monitor with 85,000 pixels
14MB internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
Movies with sound (time limited only by memory capacity)
Editing functions (Incl. Re-size with frame illustration)
PictBridge and TruePic TURBO
Multilingual menu (more languages can be downloaded using the included Olympus Master 1.1 software)
Uses standard or rechargeable AA-size batteries (shipped with two alkaline batteries)

For more information and where to buy Olympus products please go to www.olympus.co.uk or call free on 0800 072 0070

Full specifications

Type		Digital camera with 4.6cm/1.8 colour TFT LCD monitor.
Image sensor
Image sensor		1/2.5 CCD solid-state image pickup with 5.04 million pixels.
Effective pixel number		5.0 million pixels. (The actual number of pixels used in image processing.)
Filter array		Primary colour filter (RGB).
Media
Storage media type		14 MB internal memory, Removable xD-Picture Card (16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512MB and 1GB).
Lens
	Optical zoom	3x.
	Structure	6 lenses in 5 groups, 3 aspherical lens elements.
	Focal length	6.3 18.9mm (equivalent to 38 114mm lens in 35mm format).
	Maximum aperture	1: 2.8 (wide) 4.9 (tele).
Digital zoom		4x.
Viewfinder		Optical real image.
LCD monitor		4.6cm/1.8 colour TFT LCD monitor with 85,000 pixels.
Focusing
System		TTL system iESP auto focus with contrast detection.
Mode	Auto	iESP autofocus.
Working range	Standard mode	0.5m infinity.
	Macro mode	0.2m 0.5m (Wide), 0.5m 0.9m (Tele).
	Super Macro mode	2cm.
Light metering
Mode		Digital ESP metering. Spot metering.
Exposure
Exposure control		Programme AE, manual exposure setting.
		Scene programmes (Portrait, Self Portrait, Night Scene, Landscape, Landscape with Portrait, Sport, Beach, Snow, Cuisine, Indoor, Firework, Sunset, Candle, Behind Glass, Available light Portrait).
Shutter speed		15 1/2,000 sec .
Compensation		Yes, up to +/- 2 EV in EV steps.
Sensitivity
	Auto	ISO 50-250.
White balance
Mode	Auto	iESP auto.
	Preset	Sunlight, overcast, tungsten light, fluorescent light.
	Manual	One-touch.
Flash
Built-in flash	Modes	Auto (automatic activation in low and backlight), Red-eye reduction, Fill-in (forced activation), Off (no flash).
	Working range	0.2m 3.7m (wide) / 2.1m (tele).
	Guide number	7.3.
Sequence shooting		1.2 frames per second, up to 5 pictures.
Processing
Image processing		TruePic TURBO, pixel mapping, noise reduction (at 0.5 sec shutter or longer).
Function shooting		2 in 1, Panorama (with optional Olympus xD-picture Card), Sepia mode, Black & White mode, Vivid.

Editing
Still image edit		Re-size with frame illustration, Black & White, Sepia, Rotation.
Motion picture edit		Index, Edit.
Recording system
Still image		JPEG (DCF: Design rule for Camera File system), Exif 2.21 support, Print Image Matching II support, DPOF support, DPS.
Motion picture		QuickTime Motion JPEG* with sound.
Voice recording		Wave compatible.
Number of storable frames (approx., with 14MB internal memory)
Still picture mode		2,560 x 1,920	SHQ: 3
			HQ: 11
		1,600 x 1,200	SQ1: 26
		640 x 480	SQ2: 108
Motion picture mode		Up to memory cards capacity. With internal memory: in HQ mode (320 x 240 pixels), 30 fps: 20 sec. in SQ mode (320 x 240 pixels). 15 fps: 41 sec.
Power supply
	Rechargeable battery	2 x AA Ni-MH, 2 x AA Ni-Cd.
	One time use battery	2 x AA alkaline batteries, Lithium battery LB-01 (CRV3).
	AC adapter	Optional AC adapter C-3AC; AC 100V-240V, 50-60Hz; DC 3.3V and 3A.
Interface		DC input terminal, AV and USB AutoConnect multi interface (storage class).
Other features
DPOF setting		Single-frame print reservation, all print reservation, number of prints, date / time display.
Direct printing (DPS)		PictBridge support allows direct printing with compatible printers.
Multilingual menu		English / French / German / Spanish / Russian / Italian. Additional languages can be downloaded through OLYMPUS Master software from the Internet.
SDK compatible		Possibility to develop software for camera control.
Self-timer		Yes.
Date/time/calendar system		Up to year 2099.
Size
Dimensions		104.5 x 60.5 x 36.2mm.
Weight		150g (without batteries and xD-Picture Card )
Box contents		Strap, USB cable, audio/video cable, 2 x AA batteries, OLYMPUS Master 1.1.