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Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom

Review posted 10/22/02



Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom
Click to take a QTVR tour of the C-730UZ


Based on Olympus' popular C-700 and C-720 Ultra Zoom, the C-730 Ultra Zoom is the world's smallest 3.2-megapixel camera with a 10x optical zoom (38 to 380mm in 35mm photography.) With a fast shutter speed of 1/1000 sec., it's perfect for distant fast action shots such as sporting events, wildlife, school graduations, and performances. A powerful, easy-to- use and affordable camera, the portable C-730 Ultra Zoom has a compact and stylish body weighing only 11.1 ounces and measuring a mere 4.2" wide x 3.0" high.

The C-730UZ has been further improved with the addition of 4 My Modes, QuickTime movie mode w/sound, 4cm Super Macro mode, Hi-Speed 2.4fps burst mode, Optimum Image Enlargement mode, Noise Reduction, Six Scene Program Modes, dual media support - both SmartMedia and xD-Picture Cards. The Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) has been upgraded with more resolution and shows you exactly what the camera will capture on the CCD. The EVF also displays aperture, shutter speed, and image quality settings and can be used in playback as well as the larger 1.5" color LCD display.

The C-730 Ultra Zoom is extremely easy to use. In Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking in typical situations. The easy-to-use Scene Program on the mode dial provides fully automatic exposure adjustments for the photographer who wants optimum results in a wide variety of settings: Portrait, Landscape-Portrait, and Sports shooting. The special "My Mode" feature saves time by letting the user assign a frequently-used function to the mode dial for quick access.


Olympus C-730 UltraZoom

The 3.2 megapixel CCD and Olympus' TruePic™ technology allows users to retain a realistic look to their photographs at all photo sizes e-mailed or printed. The 3.2 Megapixel imager captures the detail need for true photo quality printing even on large print sizes over 8" x 10".

Other controls include Digital ESP multi-pattern and spot metering; adjustable white balance; multiple flash settings including slow sync flash; and auto bracketing and exposure compensation. The digital camera comes with an external 5 pin dedicated flash terminal that enables even more flash control.

Transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the supplied Auto-Connect USB cable for "no software required," hassle-free image downloads with the latest Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Pictures and movies may also be viewed on a television with the supplied audio-video cable.


C-730 Ultra Zoom Features:

  • Powerful 10x zoom (38-380mm equivalent in 35mm photography)
  • 3.2-Megapixel resolution for 2048x1536 pixel native images and, up to 3200x2400 with Optimum Image Enlargement mode
  • 0.5-inch color EVF viewfinder with 180,000 pixels
  • 1.5-inch color Wide-View TFT LCD monitor
  • Uncompressed TIFF, JPEG and QuickTime movie formats
  • Program AE, Shutter-speed priority, Aperture priority and full Manual exposure modes
  • Six (6) Scene Program Modes including Sports, Portrait, and Landscape
  • Normal 1.2fps burst to 11 frames in HQ mode
  • Hi-Speed 2.4fps burst to 3 frames in HQ mode
  • 320x240 QuickTime Movies with sound at 15fps
  • f2.8 - f8 adjustable aperture in 1/3-step EV
  • 1/1000 to 16 second shutter speeds with Noise Reduction on shutter speeds of 1 second or longer
  • iESP auto TTL white balance with presets and manual
  • Digital ESP metering with Spot option
  • Built-in multimode popup flash
  • Super Macro focus as close as 1.6", regular Macro from 3.9" to 23.6"
  • Exposure compensation in 1/3EV steps
  • ISO auto or fixed at 100, 200 or 400
  • Adjustable image sharpness, contrast and saturation
  • TTL connector for external FL40 speedlight
  • Automatic pixel mapping (map out bad pixels)
  • SmartMedia or xD-Picture Card storage
  • USB 1.1 "auto connect" connectivity
  • Uses four AA or two CR-V3 batteries

The C-730 Ultra Zoom is available now (Oct 2002) with a street price of about $599. It includes an Auto-Connect USB cable, Video Out cable, carrying strap, lens cap with retainer cord, 2 LB-01 CR-V3 Lithium batteries, a 16MB xD-Picture card, Olympus CAMEDIA Master Software 4.0, instruction manual and Quick Start guide.




Physical Views



Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom

Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom

Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom

Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom

Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom

Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom





Olympus C-730 Ultra Zoom

Here's the 10x C-730UZ and its 8x zoom sibling the C-720UZ







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C-730 Ultra Zoom Specifications

CCD Imager 3.2 Megapixel Effective
3.3 Megapixel Gross
Size 1 /2.7" (0.37") CCD
Lens Olympus multivariator 2 aspherical glass 10x zoom lens 5.9-59 mm (38-380mm equivalent in 35mm photography)
Seamless Digital Zoom 30x (10x optical and 3x digital combined)
Aperture Range F2.8-8 (W) / F3.5-8 (T); adjustable in 1/3 steps EV
Shutter Speeds Program Auto/Aperture Priority/Shutter Speed Priority: 1/1,000 sec. – 1 sec.
Night Scene: 1/1,000 sec. – 4 sec.
Manual: 1/1,000 sec. – 16 sec.
ISO Manual: 100, 200, 400 (equivalent)
Recording Mode(s) Still image: EXIF TIFF (non-compressed), EXIF JPEG, DCF (design rule for Camera File system), QuickTime® Motion JPEG (Movie Mode), Sound: WAV format
Adjustable Resolutions 3,200 x 2,400 SHQ JPEG-OIE/HQ JPEG-OIE
2,048 x 1,360 (3:2) TIFF, SHQ/HQ JPEG
2,048 x 1,536 TIFF, SHQ/HQ JPEG
1,600 x 1,200 TIFF, SQ1 JPEG-High/Normal
1,280 x 960 TIFF, SQ1 JPEG-High/Normal
1,024 x 768 TIFF, SQ2 JPEG-High/Normal
640 x 480 TIFF, SQ2 JPEG-High/Normal
320 x 240 @15fps QuickTime Motion JPEG
160 x 120 @15fps QuickTime Motion JPEG
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Print Reservation (Single, Multiple, All, Number of copy), Date/Time, Cropping
Optical Image Enlargement Yes
Image Adjustment Modes Sharpness: +/- 5 in 1 steps; Contrast: +/- 5 in 1 steps; Saturation: +/- 5 in 1 stepsExposure Compensation: +/- 2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
Image Effects Noise Reduction: available at shutter speeds of 1 second or longer
Panorama Up to 10 frames stitchable automatically with CAMEDIA Master software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture cardTM or SmartMediaTM
Sequence Normal: 1.2 frames per second burst up to 11 frames in HQ mode
Hi-Speed: 2.4 frames per second burst up to 3 frames in HQ mode
Viewfinder 0.44" (1.1cm) electric viewfinder, 180,000 pixels with Diopter Adjustment
LCD 1.5" (3.8cm) Color TFT LCD (114,000 pixels)
Focusing System iESP AF (autofocus) TTL system (contrast detection), x Multi area spot AF, Full Time AF (Movie Mode),
Focusing Ranges Super Macro Mode: Up to 1.6" (4cm) no optical zoom available
Macro Mode 3.9" – 23.6" (0.1m - 0.6m) (W); 47.2" – 78" (1.2m –2m) (T)
Standard AF 23.6" – Infinity (0.6m – Infinity) (W), 78" – Infinity (2m – Infinity) (T)
Manual Focus: 3.9" – Infinity (0.1m - Infinity) (W); 47.2" – Infinity (1.2m –Infinity) (T)
Exposure Control Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Manual
Exposure compensation: +/- 2EV in 1/3 steps
Auto Exposure Bracketing: Selectable from 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV and 1EV steps, 3 or 5 images
Metering System Digital ESP Meter, Spot
White Balance System iESP auto TTL
6 Pre-set manual (Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten and Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2 and Fluorescent 3) and Manual White Balance
White balance compensation: +/- 7 in 1 steps
Flash Built-in Pop Up Flash
Flash Modes Auto Flash for low and backlight
“Red-eye” Reduction Flash
Fill-in Flash
Slow Shutter Synchronized Flash (1st curtain, 2nd curtain, 1st curtain w/red-eye reduction)
Flash Off
Flash Working Range Wide: 0.04” – 18.0’ (0.1m – 5.5m) @ ISO 100
Tele: 0.5” – 14.4’ (1.2m – 4.4m) @ISO 100
Flash Charging Time Less than 6 seconds (at normal temperature with new batteries)
Removable Media Card 3V (3.3V) SmartMedia card (4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 MB)
xD Picture Card (4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 MB)
Selftimer/Remote 12-second delay Selftimer/2-second delay (Optional Remote control RM-1)
Setting Memorization On, Default, 4 My Modes
Outer Connectors USB connector (USB Auto-Connect), Audio/Video Out, DC input, 5 pin external Flash Terminal for optional Olympus FL-40
Auto-connect USB Compatible with Windows 98 rev2/ME/2000 Pro/XP-MacOS 8.6-9.1/OSX (10.1)
Image Playback Still: Index display (4/9/16), 4x enlargement by 0.5x steps, Slide-show, Histogram, Scene rotation;
Movie: Normal Playback, Reverse Playback, Frame by Frame
Operating Environment Operation: 32 F –104F (0C – 40C) 30-90% Humidity
Storage: -4 F – 140F (-20C – 60C) 10-90% Humidity
Power Supply Main Power Source:
2 x LB-01 (CR-3V) Lithium batteries
4 x AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries
4 x AA Lithium batteries
4 x AA Alkaline batteries
(Manganese batteries cannot be used)
AC Power: C-7AU AC adapter (optional)
Date/Time Calendar Simultaneous recording into image date
Calendar Automatic up to the year 2099
Size 4.2" W x 3.0" H x 3.1" D (107.5m W x 76mm H x 77.5mm D)
Weight 11.1 Oz./310 g without batteries and xD Picture Card

(Specifications as represented by the manufacturer)







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