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Olympus C-5050 Zoom

Their best camera yet? - Olympus introduces a top-of-the-line five-megapixel model with noise reduction technology, optimum image enlargement, an improved interface, and support for three memory formats.

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Page 11:Video, Power, Software

Review First Posted: 01/09/2003

Video Out

The C-5050 Zoom has a Video Out port for connecting the camera directly to a television set. Through the Setup menu, you can select either NTSC or PAL formats. The video output can be used for reviewing previously captured images and movies, or running slide shows from the camera. It also shows all of the LCD menu screens, as well as the preview display from the LCD viewfinder. Combined with the supplied infrared remote control device, the C-5050 Zoom's video capabilities make the camera a unique presentation device.



Power

The C-5050 Zoom is powered by two CR-V3 lithium battery packs, four AA batteries (alkaline, lithium, NiMH, or NiCd), or by an optional AC adapter that can significantly extend battery life if you're doing a lot of downloads on the computer or working in a studio environment. The camera comes with a set of four AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (rated at 1700 mAh capacity) and a charger, and I highly recommend picking up a second set and keeping them freshly charged at all times.

Operating Mode
Power
(@6.5 volts on the external power terminal)
Est. Minutes
(Four 1600 mAh NiMH cells, true capacity)
Capture Mode, w/LCD
474 mA
150
Capture Mode, no LCD
10 mA
~5 days (!)
Half-pressed shutter w/LCD
476 mA
149
Half-pressed w/o LCD
329 mA
215
Memory Write (transient)
502 mA
N/A
Flash Recharge (transient)
985 mA
N/A
Image Playback
305 mA
233

Overall, the C-5050 Zoom shows very good battery life for an AA-powered camera. Particularly impressive is its near-zero power drain when it's in capture mode with the LCD display turned off. - You could easily leave it on and ready to shoot all day without appreciably draining the batteries. (This is one reason I really wish the 5050's optical viewfinder were more accurate than the (fairly average) 86% that it is. If you could rely upon it more exclusively, the 5050's battery life would be unmatched.)



Included Software

Learn what the manual left out -
How to *use* your camera.

Camera manuals are (sometimes) fine for knowing which button does what, but where do you go to learn how and when to use the various features? Dennis Curtin's "Shortcourses" books and CDs are the answer. (Cheap for what you get, too.) Order the Shortcourses manual for the camera reviewed in this article.

The C-5050 Zoom comes with a nice complement of software on the supplied CD. Direct camera control and image downloading are provided by Olympus' Camedia Master software package (Version 4.0) for both Mac and Windows platforms (Macintosh OS 8.6 - 10.1, Windows 98/98SE/Me/2000/XP). USB drivers for both platforms and an Apple QuickTime reader are also included.

Camedia Master allows you to download and organize images, as well as perform minor image correction and enhancement functions (such as adjusting contrast, sharpness, and color balance). For panoramic images, Camedia Master supplies a "stitching" utility to piece together shots vertically or horizontally. A complete printing utility works with the DPOF settings and allows you to print images directly to Olympus or other photo printers.


In the Box
The following items are included in the box:

  • C-5050 Zoom digital camera
  • 32MB xD-Picture Card
  • RM-1 Remote control
  • Four AA NiMH batteries
  • Battery Charger
  • USB cable
  • NTSC video cable
  • Camedia Master 4.0 software CD-ROM
  • Neck strap
  • Lens cap with tether strap
  • User manuals and registration card


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