Olympus C-50 Zoom Review

The C-50 Zoom sports an Olympus multivariator aspherical glass 3x zoom lens with a 38 - 114mm (35mm equivalent) focal length. It's further enhanced by a 4x digital zoom function (5x in VGA only). The aperture is variable from f2.8 to f10 in 1/3 EV steps.

The auto focus range is 19.7" to infinity, Macro mode is 7.8" to 23.6" (W) and 11.8" to 19.7" (T)

This is an Olympus "clam shell" type camera. The lens retracts into the body when powered down and the front cover slides over to protect it. The camera is powered up automatically when the front cover is opened.

Built in multi-mode intelligent speedlight; Auto (automatic flash activation in low light and backlight), red-eye reduction, fill-in (forced activation), Slow Shutter Sync (first curtain), Slow Shutter Synch (first curtain) w/red-eye reduction, off (no flash).

Working flash range (at ISO 160): Wide angle 7.8" to 11 feet, Telephoto 11.8" to 6.6 feet

The C-50 has a good eyelevel optical viewfinder, it does not have any dioptric adjustment.

The green LED indicates a focus lock and the amber LED tells you the status of the flash.

Controls on top are just the shutter release with the zoom lens control mounted around it. The zoom lever also functions as the index and zoomed playback control while in play mode.

Controls on the back: Flash mode/Delete button and Focus & Metering mode/Protect button on the top. Mode Dial with positions for AUTO, P A/S/M, MyMode, Movie, 2 IN 1, Sports, Nighjt Scene, Landscape, Night+Portrait and Portrait. The Monitor button turns the camera on in Playback mode, functions as Quick Review in record mode and controls the color LCD. The 4- way "Arrow Controls" for navigating menus, changing settings and selecting playback images. The OK button accepts menu selections and calls up the menu.

On the right and left sides are the I/O ports:

Video Out is selectable NTSC or PAL, USB 1.1 data port and DC INput for AC adapter or battery pack

The C-50 stores its images on 3.3v xD-Picture Card. Olympus includes a 32MB xD-Picture Card with panorama function.

The C-50 Zoom is powered by a proprietary Olympus LI-10B 3.7v lithium rechargeable battery pack. The small LI-10C 110-240V AC charger is included and charges the battery in 120 minutes or less.

One of my favorite Olympus accessories, the ever handy RM-1 infrared remote control. This allows you to control the zoom and trip the shutter in record mode and control playback while connected to a television.