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Olympus' Camedia C-700 UltraZoom digital camera, front view. Courtesy of Olympus. Newsflash: World's smallest 10x optical zoom digicam!
By
(Monday, March 19, 2001 - 00:02 EST)

Olympus prepares for launch of its latest digicam, with 2 megapixel resolution and 10x optical zoom in a compact design...

Olympus America Inc. will today announce a new digital camera, the Camedia C-700 UltraZoom, confirming speculation from Japan yesterday of just such an announcement... The C-700 is billed by the company as 'the world's smallest 10X optical zoom digital camera', and packs that 10x optical zoom lens into a chassis that is near identical width and height-wise to Olympus' existing 10x zoom C-2100, but a whopping 63mm (45%) shorter than that camera. (To put this in perspective, in comparison to Olympus' popular C-3030 and siblings, the C-700 is roughly the same width and height, and is only another 8mm (11%) deeper at 78mm - truly amazing when you consider that the C-700's lens has more than triple the strength of the C-3030!

Other features of the new C-700 include USB Mass Storage Class connectivity for driverless connection to Windows 2000, Windows ME and Mac OS 8.6+ computers, whilst a driver is provided for older operating systems. The camera also has a 2.11 megapixel CCD, SmartMedia storage, full manual capabilities (shutter, aperture, focus, white balance, flash), movie and audio clip functions, and more. Full specifications are now in our database...

Specification Highlights - full specifications here
Olympus Camedia C-700 UltraZoom
Olympus' Camedia C-700 UltraZoom digital camera,  front view. Courtesy of Olympus. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Model Number: C-700
Camera Format: Compact
Retail Price: $699
Date Available: 2001-05-31
Image Capture
Image Sensor: 0.370" 2.11 megapixel RGBG CCD (2.02 megapixel effective rating)
Image Resolution: 1600x1200, 1280x960, 1024x768, 640x480
Movie Resolution: 320x240, 160x120
Lens
Focal Length (effective): 38 - 380 mm
Digital Zoom: Yes (Up to 2.7x seamless)
Auto Focus: Yes
Manual Focus: Yes
Normal Focus Range: 60 cm to Infinity; 23 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 10 - 60 cm; 4 - 23 in
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (wide) / 3.5 (tele) - f/8
Display
Optical Viewfinder: Yes (0.55" Color Eye Level LCD)
LCD Viewfinder: Yes (1.5 inch, 114000 pixel)
Exposure
ISO Settings: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800
White Balance Settings: Auto, daylight, overcast, tungsten light, fluorescent light, one-touch WB and manual WB correction
Manual White Balance: Yes
Shutter Speeds: 16 - 1/1000 second
Exp Adj Range: +/- 2.0 EV in 1/3 EV steps
Metering Modes: Digital-ESP multi pattern, Spot, 8 positions multi spot, AE Lock
Exposure Modes: Auto, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual
Self Timer (seconds): Yes (12 seconds)
Flash
Internal Flash: Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Forced, Off, First and Second Curtain Slow Sync
Flash Range Description: Wide: 3.9" (0.1 m) - 18 ft (5.5 m); Tele: 4 ft (1.2 m) - 14.4 ft (4.4 m) @ ISO100
Ext Flash: Yes
Ext Flash Connection: External Flash terminal for optional Olympus FL-40 (5 pin type)
Image Storage
Storage: SmartMedia
Memory Included (MB): 8
File Formats: JPEG, TIFF, AVI, WAV
More Information
Remote Control: Unknown
Tripod Mount: Yes
Weight: 311 g; 10.9 oz
Weight With Batteries? No
Size: 108 x 76 x 78 mm; 4.2 x 3.0 x 3.1 in
Notes & Features: Compatible with SmartMedia to 128MB. Has spot autofocusing capability. Shutter speeds from 1/2 to 16 seconds available only in full manual mode. Can record 4-second audio clips along with each image (WAV format). USB connection is 'mass storage class' type for driverless use with Win2000, WinME and MacOS 8.6+. Has in-camera movie editing function, and 3 or 5 image auto exposure bracketing capability. User can change sharpness/contrast settings of images, and brightness of LCD. Sound recording can be switched off in movie mode, camera zoom can be used in movie mode only if sound is switched off. Setting memory can be switched on or off, or customised. Bundled with 8 MB SmartMedia Card, 2 x CR-V3 AA Lithium Batteries, CAMEDIA Master Software, Win/Mac USB Cable, NTSC A/V Cable, Instruction Manual, Carrying Strap, Lens Cap and Retainer Cord.
More Photos
Olympus' Camedia C-700 UltraZoom digital camera,  rear view. Courtesy of Olympus. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' Camedia C-700 UltraZoom digital camera,  front view. Courtesy of Olympus. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' Camedia C-700 UltraZoom digital camera,  front view. Copyright (c) 2001, The Imaging Resource.  All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' Camedia C-700 UltraZoom digital camera,  rear view. Copyright (c) 2001, The Imaging Resource.  All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' Camedia C-700 UltraZoom digital camera,  closeup of menu system. Copyright (c) 2001, The Imaging Resource.  All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
 

Source: Olympus America Inc.

Original Source Press Release:

OLYMPUS INTRODUCES CAMEDIA C-700 ULTRAZOOM

Full Featured with 27X Digital Zoom, USB AutoConnect Ease-of-Use, and QuickTime Movie & Audio -- All Packed into Compact, Stylish Body

Melville, New York, March 19, 2001 — Olympus America Inc., the world leader in film and filmless photography, today introduced the CAMEDIA C-700 UltraZoom, the world’s smallest 10X optical zoom digital camera. Packed with advanced capabilities and offering outstanding image quality and control, the C-700 UltraZoom raises digital photography to new heights while establishing a new industry benchmark for compactness, style, versatility and ease of use.

The C-700 UltraZoom features a 10X optical zoom lens that delivers the equivalent of a 38mm – 380mm lens on a 35mm camera. This optical zoom capability is complemented by a 27X seamless digital zoom, which extends the camera’s maximum zoom range to 1,026mm—another industry first for a camera of this size. ‘Seamless’ means the C-700 UltraZoom will automatically switch to digital zoom when the camera reaches the limit of its optical range, enhancing ease of use and allowing users to capture intricate details from great distances.

Fully programmable, the C-700 UltraZoom is versatile enough to match any user’s comfort level and application. In Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking in average situations. For unique or difficult to shoot conditions, the C-700 UltraZoom offers greater control with aperture priority (Wide: f2.8 – f8.0, Tele: f3.5 – f8.0), shutter priority (1/2 – 1/1,000 sec.), full manual operation and a host of special programs including Night Scene, Sports Action, Portrait and Landscape modes. Multiple ISO settings from 100 to 800 allow users to capture sharp images even in low light conditions.

The C-700 UltraZoom uses industry standard SmartMedia™ cards to capture images in JPEG and TIFF formats. The camera ships with an 8MB card standard, providing ample capacity to store up to 82 pictures in SQ-Normal mode. Additional SmartMedia cards are available in 16, 32, 64 and 128MB increments, and deliver virtually unlimited, reusable image storage capacity without the time or expense associated with film developing. But the C-700 UltraZoom is more than a still image digital camera. A QuickTime™ Movie mode enables users to capture up to 62 seconds of full motion video with sound at 15 frames per second on an 8MB SmartMedia card, making it the perfect choice for users producing webcasts and e-mailing short videos. The C-700 UltraZoom also records up to four seconds of audio captioning for each still image.

“The C-700 UltraZoom is targeted at a photographically-savvy audience; the experienced digital photographer who’s ready to step up to a more capable device, but at the same time wants a small, ease to use camera,” states John Knaur, Digital Product Manager, Olympus Consumer Products Group. “The C-700 UltraZoom delivers the full featured functionality and greater image control demanded by accomplished amateurs, but without the price tag associated with professional cameras. In fact, with its extensive capabilities and simple operation at this price point, the C-700 UltraZoom is one of the best values in its class.”

Whether capturing still pictures or full motion video, every image is processed through the C-700 UltraZoom’s 2.11-megapixel CCD, and displayed on a 1.5-inch, 113,000-pixel color TFT LCD monitor. As a result, the C-700 UltraZoom delivers photo-quality images up to 8” x 10” when image data is downloaded to a computer and output on a photo-quality printer. SmartMedia cards may also be inserted directly into one of Olympus’ P Series dye sublimation printers for computer-free printing.

For fast and simple downloading, the C-700 UltraZoom features USB AutoConnect technology. The Olympus USB AutoConnect feature allows users to plug the camera directly into any USB-configured computer. No drivers or additional software are required for PCs running the latest operating systems including Windows® 2000, Windows Me and Mac OS™ 8.6 and higher—these computers will mount and recognize the C-700 UltraZoom automatically. This eliminates the need to restart the system, so image viewing, downloading and printing can be performed immediately upon connection. (Card readers are also available for non-USB equipped PCs.) The C-700 UltraZoom supports the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) standard for adding data to images and tagging specific photographs to print to DPOF-compatible printers.

“This camera can be as simple or sophisticated to operate as any user needs it to be. It functions great as a point-and-shoot digital camera for family vacation and holiday use, and is also well suited for the more creative photographer who desires pinpoint image control,” says Knaur. “Its AutoConnect capability makes it easy to download, print and share both still images and short video clips. We expect the C-700 UltraZoom to be very well received by the experienced digital consumer, and to maintain Olympus’ position as the leader in filmless digital photography.”

The Camedia C-700 will be available in May. It ships with an 8MB SmartMedia, 2 CR-V3 AA Lithium Battery Pack, CAMEDIA Master Software, Win/Mac USB Cable, video cable, manual, carrying strap, lens cap and retainer cord.


CAMEDIA C-700 UltraZoom Street Price: $699.00
CAMEDIA C-700 UltraZoom Suggested Retail Price: $799.00

For more information including photos of the C-700 UltraZoom, please contact the Olympus America Consumer Products Group http://www.olympus.com, or Thomas Public Relations at (631) 549-7575.

Specifications subject to change without notice.
About Olympus America, Inc.
Olympus America distributes a wide range of products to the consumer, scientific, healthcare, commercial and industrial markets. These include film and filmless cameras, Microcassette™ and digital voice recorders, binoculars, film scanners, personal photo printers, medical and industrial endoscopes, biological and metallurgical microscopes and measuring instruments, clinical analyzers, and other high technology products. Olympus America is responsible for sales in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Olympus is a registered trademark, and CAMEDIA is a trademark of Olympus Optical Co. Ltd. Macintosh and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Computer. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. SmartMedia is a trademark of Toshiba America, Inc.

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