PMA Spring 2004 Show
Return to:
Previous Page
PMA Spring 2004 Index

Olympus' Camedia C-8080 Wide Zoom digital camera. Courtesy of Olympus, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Olympus announces 8mpix, 5x zoom digicam (UPDATED)
By Bethany Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:44 EST)

The Camedia C-8080 Wide Zoom announced by Olympus today offers an 8 megapixel CCD with a 5x optical zoom 28-140mm equivalent lens.

The camera is available this month with an estimated street price of US$999. The C-8080 features customizable settings that provide shortcuts to frequently used settings, as well as a "custom button" for quick feature access. This model has a 1.8" LCD display, 5 flash modes, and accepts xD-Picture Cards (a 32MB card is included), as well as CompactFlash Type I and Type II. There are 4 metering options, and the ISO settings available range from 50 to 400. Full specifications are shown below:

Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom
Olympus' Camedia C-8080 Wide Zoom digital camera. Courtesy of Olympus, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
CCD Imager
8 megapixel effective
8.31 megapixel gross
2/3" (2.7m) CCD
Lens Olympus aspherical glass 5x optical zoom lens 7.13-35.6mm (28-140mm equivalent in 35mm photography), 15 lenses in 13 groups
Digital Zoom Seamless to 15x (5x optical and 3x digital combined)
Aperture Range f2.4 - f3.5 (adjustable in 1/3 steps EV)
Shutter Speeds
P: f2.4 - f8.0, 1/4000 to 4 seconds
Aperture/Shutter: f2.4 - f8.0, 1/4000 to 16 seconds
Manual: f2.4 - f8.0, 1/4000 to 16 seconds, Bulb (max. 8 minutes)
ISO 50, 64, 80, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400
Recording Modes
Still image: EXIF 2.2 TIFF (non-compressed), EXIF JPEG, DCF (Design rule for Camera File system)
Movie mode: QuickTime motion JPEG
Adjustable Resolutions
3264 X 2448 TIFF, SHQ, HQ
2592 X 1944 TIFF, SQ1
2288 X 1712 TIFF, SQ1
2048 X 1536 TIFF, SQ1
1280 X 960 TIFF, SQ2
1024 X 768 TIFF, SQ2
640 X 480 TIFF, SQ2
3:2 3264 X 2176 SHQ, HQ
QuickTime Movie
15 frames per second in 640 x 480 HQ mode
15 frames per second in 320 x 240 SQ mode
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Print reserve, All print reserve, Date/time
Pixel Mapping Selectable mode remaps CCD via bicubic interpolation
Image Edit Effects Black and white, Sepia, Sharpness, Contrast, Color Phase, Size (portable file size for e-mail or Web), Guideline
Panorama Up to 10 frames stitchable automatically with CAMEDIA Master software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture Card
Sequence 1.6 frames per second in burst in any JPEG mode
Viewfinder 0.44" (1.1cm) electronic viewfinder, 240,000 pixels
LCD 1.8" (4.6cm) Wide-View color TFT LCD (approx. 134,000 pixels)
Focusing System AF (autofocus), TTL system (contrast detection)
Focusing Ranges
Normal mode: 23.6" - infinity (0.6m - infinity)
Macro mode: 3.9" - 6.5' (0.1m - 2m)
Super Macro mode: 2" (5cm)
Exposure Control
Program auto: f2.4 (W)/f3.5 (T) - f8.0, 1/4000 sec. - 4 sec.
Aperture priority: f2.4 (W)/f3.5 (T) - f8.0, 1/4000 sec. - 16 sec.
Shutter priority: f2.4 (W)/f3.5 (T) - f8.0, 1/4000 sec. - 16 sec.
Program scene modes: f2.4 (W)/f3.5 (T) - f8.0, 1/4000 sec. - 4 sec.
Night-Scene mode: 1/4000 sec. - 4 sec.
Manual: f2.4 (W)/f3.5 (T) - f8.0, 1/4000 sec. - 16 sec.
Exposure compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Auto bracketing: Selectable from 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV and 1 EV steps, 3 or 5 images
AE lock (exposure lock)f
Scene Programs Portrait, Sports, Landscape, My Mode (customizable), Night Scene
Metering System Digital, ESP, Spot, Center Weighted
White Balance System IESP2 auto TTL, Pre-set manual (Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten and Fluorescent)
Flash Built-in pop-up flash
Flash Modes Auto for low light and backlight, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill-In (forced on), Slow Shutter Synchronized (1st Curtain and 1st Curtain with Red-Eye Reduction), Forced Off
Flash Working Range
Wide: 31" - 17.4' (0.8m - 5.3m)
Tele: 31" - 11.8' (0.8m - 3.6m)
Flash Charging Time Approx. 7 seconds at normal temperature with BLM-1 Li-Ion rechargeable battery
Removable Media 3V (3.3V) xD-Picture Card (16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512) 32MB xD-Picture Card included, Compact Flash Type 1 or Type II
Selftimer 12 second delay
Settings Memory On/Off
Outer Connectors USB connector (Auto-Connect), NTSC video out, DC input
Auto-Connect USB Compatible with Windows 98 rev 2/ME/2000 Pro/XP and Mac OS 8.6 - OS X 10.1
System Requirements
Windows 98 rev 2 driver provided on CD
Mac OS 8.6 requires USB mass storage driver 1.3.5 available at apple.com
Downloading to laptop computer without USB port possible with optional FlashPath or PCMCIA xD-Picture Card reader
Image Playback
Still image: Index display, Up to 5x enlargement, Slide-show, Scene rotation
Movie: Normal, Reverse, Frame-by-frame, Voice Playback
Operating Environment
Operation: 32°F - 104°F (0°C- 40°C) 30-90% Humidity
Storage: -4°F - 140°F (-20°C - 60°C) 10-90% Humidity
Power Supply Li-Ion Rechargeable battery (BLM-1) and charger (BCM-2) included. AC Power: 7.8V AC adapter (optional)
Date/Time Calendar Simultaneous recording into image data, automatic up to year 2099
Size 4.9" (W) x 3.3" (H) x 3.9" (D) (124mm x 84.5mm x 99mm)
Weight 23.3 oz (660g) without batteries and xD-Picture Card
More Photos
Olympus' Camedia C-8080 Wide Zoom digital camera. Courtesy of Olympus, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
.

UPDATED 2003-02-12 11:20ET For the benefit of those of you who are reading our PMA Report pages rather than the news page, we're updating this item to note that we've just posted a first-look review for the Olympus Camedia C-8080 Wide Zoom! For the full story, click here and check it out !

Original Source Press Release:

OLYMPUS LAUNCHES HIGH PERFORMANCE 8.0 MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL CAMERA: THE C-8080 WIDE ZOOM

TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor Speeds Up Camera Functions, and Battery Holder, Lenses and Flash System Accessories Put More Control in the Hands of Photographers

Melville, New York, February 12, 2004 - The first time photographers power up the new Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom they will be impressed by the camera's lightning-fast start-up and shot-to-shot recycling time courtesy of the Olympus TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor. But perhaps the greatest revelation about this feature-rich, top-of-the-line consumer camera is that it delivers 8 million pixels of resolution for producing color-rich prints of large sizes, and a super-bright f2.4 wide angle glass lens all for an estimated street price of $999.

"The C-8080 Wide Zoom and it's wide range of accessories make this camera the ideal choice for photographers interested in an all-in-one, high performance solution that offers incredible ease of use and seemingly limitless customization," said T.J. Dickson, Product Manager of Digital, Olympus America Inc. "The C-8080 Wide Zoom delivers incredible speed thanks to a new image processor, and more features than most prosumer models on the market today at this price point."

Olympus high-quality optical technology distinguishes the C-8080 Wide Zoom and sets it apart from other digital cameras. The camera's world-class Olympus all-glass lens with 3 aspherical extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements is designed specifically for digital capture. The fast and bright f2.4/3.5 to f8.0 lens is a 15x seamless wide angle zoom (5x optical wide zoom and 3x digital combined), 28mm-140mm equivalent in 35mm photography.

Innovative
By combining a designed-to-be-digital wide-angle zoom lens with an 8.0-megapixel sensor, Olympus developed a camera that delivers optimal image quality for a variety of applications. The C-8080 Wide Zoom has also been enhanced with an improved image processor called TruePic TURBO™ that significantly improves image quality and delivers faster overall processing speeds for rapid startup, shutter release and playback. TruePic TURBO allows the C-8080 to capture information from all 8.0 million pixels with pixel "micro-smoothing" that delivers clearer and more color-accurate photos up to poster-size and larger.

No design detail has been overlooked in creating the C-8080 Wide Zoom. When photographers look through the camera's electronic viewfinder and see super-clear images that rival the clarity of optical viewfinders, it's because the C-8080's super-high resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) has been improved to a sharp 240,000 pixels. Moreover, this is a full information viewfinder and has the advantage of allowing users to view all of their camera's settings without using additional power from the LCD.

Stylish & Durable
The C-8080 Wide Zoom is the embodiment of style and durability. It has a rugged, black, ergonomic magnesium alloy body that measures a mere 4.9" (W) x 3.3" (H) x 3.9" (D) and weighs 23.3 ounces (without the battery or media). This solid camera conforms to the photographer's hand with a rubberized grip and lens body that's easy to hold for lengthy photo shoots.

More Choices Equals Greater Ease of Use
Photographers are sure to appreciate the freedom of choice of the C-8080 Wide Zoom. It has so many options that the possibilities to customize the camera are seemingly limitless, yet the variety of choices makes the camera intuitive to operate.

  • By pressing one of the 13 direct control buttons arrayed around the camera body, a range of options can be viewed on the LCD or EVF, and the ideal setting can then be selected via the jog dial. The C-8080 Wide Zoom's advanced settings provide full manual operation and are ideal for experienced photographers who want to take control.
  • On the top of the camera a mode dial enables quick settings for an assortment of shooting situations with a turn of the dial, including Portrait, Sports, Landscape, and Night-Scene modes.
  • Eight customizable "MyMode" settings enable users to have quick and easy access to frequently used settings they assign.
  • A dedicated Custom button allows users to jump into the feature they use the most with just the press of a button.
  • The camera takes two types of memory media - the xD-Picture Card™ or Compact Flash™ Type I or II including microdrives - and can hold both media cards simultaneously for flexible storage options.
  • A multi-position 1.8" LCD for optimized image viewing allows photographers to swivel the LCD in multiple directions: upward from the camera body 90 degrees to shoot from the hip or 45 degrees downward to get the perfect over-the-head shot.
  • Transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the Auto-Connect USB 2.0 that does not require software drivers (for most computers/operating systems) for hassle-free and high-speed image downloads.
  • Images may also be viewed on a television using the audio/video cable.
  • Thanks to PictBridge technology, it is possible to print directly from the C-8080 Wide Zoom to any PictBridge-enabled printer via USB 2.0. Image cropping, paper selection, date imprinting, and printing quantities can be set directly from the camera's LCD.
  • The C-8080 Wide Zoom captures QuickTime™ video with audio so users can create short movies that can be sent over the Internet to co-workers, friends and family.

Power Battery Holder Delivers Performance
For photographers who want to extend their shooting pleasure, the C-8080 Wide Zoom can accommodate the new B-HLD30 Power Battery Holder. It holds a maximum of two Lithium ion BLM-1 rechargeable batteries to turn the camera into a powerhouse that has the energy to keep on shooting for hours (one BLM-1 battery is included with the C-8080). The BLM-1 Lithium ion rechargeable battery that ships with the camera delivers an impressive performance of 7.2V, 1500 mAh and can be charged overnight with the included BCM-2 battery charger.

For more convenience, the holder features an additional shutter release button and zoom lever for added ease of use when composing vertical shots. The battery holder even has a space to store an additional xD-Picture Card to replace the one in use when it becomes full.

Envisioning More Possibilities with Accessory Lenses
Two new conversion lenses have been specially created for the C-8080 Wide Zoom, and both feature a bayonet mount for quick and easy attachment to and removal from the CLA-8 conversion lens adapter that screws into the body of the camera. The Olympus conversion lenses deliver the high optical quality required in digital image capture and have been designed to suit the imaging system of the C-8080 Wide Zoom to ensure optimal results without sacrificing quality.

The WCON-08D is a 0.8x wide-angle converter lens that reduces the focal length by a factor of 0.8x (35mm conversion of 22.5mm) when fitted to the C-8080 Wide Zoom, providing greater wide-angle coverage without altering the aperture setting.

To get even closer to the action, the TCON-14D, a 1.4x teleconverter lens, increases the focal length by a factor of 1.4x (35mm conversion of 160mm). To attach the TCON-14D or WCON-08D, the CLA-8 conversion lens adapter is required.

Flexible Flash to See More
In addition to the camera's own pop-up flash, powerful external flash units have been developed for use with the C-8080 Wide Zoom and other Olympus digital cameras. Offering precise TTL flash control or manual operation for full creative flexibility, these flash units are sure to satisfy the most discerning photographers. Delivering great illumination power, the FL-50 has a guide number of 50 at tele settings and of 28 for wide-angle shots. The ultra-compact and lightweight FL-20 can easily fit into a shirt pocket and has a guide number of max. 20, ideal for fill flash.

The very precise flash output of the FL-50 and FL-20 (in 1/8EV increments) make them ideally suited for use with digital camera CCDs to provide even illumination across the entire imaging sensor. A flash bracket plus a range of flash connection cables enable attachment of these models to the various Olympus digital cameras such as the C-5060 Wide Zoom, C-5050 Zoom, C-5000 Zoom and C-770 Ultra Zoom.

Availability
The C-8080 Wide Zoom will be available in February 2004. It includes a 32MB xD-Picture Card™, Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, Auto-Connect USB cable, Audio/Video Out cable, carrying strap, lens cap with retainer cord, lens hood, Olympus CAMEDIA Master Software, RM-2 Remote Control, user manual and Quick Start guide.

U.S. Pricing:
C-8080 Wide Zoom Estimated Street Price: $999 (U.S.)
C-8080 Wide Zoom MSRP: $1149
TCON-14D MSRP: $239.95
WCON-08D MSRP: $219.95
CLA-8 Conversion Lens Adapter MSRP: $44.95
B-HLD30 Power Battery Holder MSRP: $199.95

ABOUT OLYMPUS
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in healthcare and consumer electronics worldwide.

Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Tokyo-based Olympus Corporation, to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:

  • Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
  • Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
  • Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents; and
  • Digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders.

In the U. S. and Canada, Olympus serves healthcare, scientific and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers efficiently, reliably, safely, and easily achieve superior results. Olympus is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. The company's market-leading consumer electronics business spans North and South America. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.

Return to:
Previous Page
PMA Spring 2004 Index

Powered by Coranto