INTRODUCTION
I got to use the Olympus CAMEDIA C-700 only when one of my photography club member loan the unit to me for my project work a few months ago.
I was doing a digital photography project with a group of photographers at that time, and my Nikon CoolPix 950 was touring Australia with my brother at that time.
Although the Olympus CAMEDIA C-700 is not comparable to the Nikon CoolPix 950 in term of resolution, but for a simple digital workshop with the members, it is enough for a demonstration session.
RESOLUTION
The Olympus Camedia C-700 comes with a 1/2.7-inch CCD solid-state image pickup device, which provides 2.11 megapixels, with 2.02 megapixels effective. The highest resolution provided by the Olympus Camedia C-700 is 1, 600 x 1, 200 pixels.
We did most of our test shots in this setting. Photo printout quality on our HP Plotter is as follow
1) 6x4 - Excellent
2) 10x8 - Okay
3) 11x14 - Poor
In Summary, The Olympus Camedia C-700 can produce images in the following size,
1) 1, 600 x 1, 200 pixels
2) 1, 280 x 960 pixels
3) 640 x 480 pixels
The Olympus Camedia C-700 can also store motion pictures in the following size,
1) 320 x 240 pixels
2) 160 x 120 pixels
STORAGE
The only storage for the Olympus Camedia C-700 is through the provided SmartMedia card. A 8 MB card is provided as a standard package.
Due to the size of high quality pictures, it is advisable to get a few higher capacity cards to prevent any disappointment due to storage shortage.
BUILD
The Olympus Camedia C-700 has a very good build. It might not have the feel of robustness, but it definitely does not have the cheap plastic feel some cheaper models have.
OPTIC
The Olympus Camedia C-700 uses Olympus multivariator zoom lens, 5.9 - 59 mm (Equivalent to 35mm zoom in 38 - 380 mm film format), F2.8 - 3.5, 10 elements in 7 groups (include 2 glass Aspherical lenses).
This is a fast lens, and the 10 times optical zoom is very useful, meaning it covers a very wide range of photography opportunities.
EXPOSURE CONTROL
The Olympus Camedia C-700 offers
1) Programmed Auto
2) Aperture-Priority
3) Shutter-Speed-Priority
4) Manual
As well as,
Scene Programmed (full-auto, portraits, sports, landscape)
METERING
The Olympus Camedia C-700 offers
1) Digital ESP Metering
2) Spot Metering
FOCUS
The Olympus Camedia C-700 offers
1) TTL system iESP Autofocus
2) Manual Focus
OTHER FEATURES
The Olympus Camedia C-700 also offers the following features
01) White Balance
02) Light Sensitivity Setting
03) 2.7 x Digital Zoom
04) Manual Exposure Compensation
05) Slow synchronization
06) Auto bracketing
07) Macro mode: 0.1 - 0.6 m
08) 1.5-inch TFT color LCD
09) Built In Flash
10) Self Timer
QUALITY TEST
I remember testing the Olympus Camedia C-700 in the Botanic Garden during the Digital Photography Project.
When I first got the camera, I do not have the manual with me, as I was not provided for. My friend lost it many months ago in a trip. But nevertheless, I manage to use the Olympus Camedia C-700 with no difficulty. In fact, after my experience with the camera, I believe it really does not need any manual guidance to work with. The camera layout is very well planned for, and figuring it out by yourself is as simple as any point and shoot camera.
The shape of the Olympus Camedia C-700 is something, which does not attract me. The body is rather square, and handling it was not the most comfort of all. Although it does not pose too much of a hindrance when shooting, but it just does not provide the type of comfort I expect.
I did most of my shots in the Programmed Auto mode with the Olympus Camedia C-700, with light sensitivity set at ISO 100. This mode is very reliable, with most of the pictures well exposed. Setting it to Aperture Priority mode, the operation is not much different.
One major praise for the Olympus Camedia C-700 is the Digital Metering provided by Olympus. All the pictures taken on the day, both at the Botanic Garden and some indoor shots in the nearby shopping center is very well exposed. There is only one shots that disappoint me, which was a shot with side lighting.
The 10x high quality Olympus zoom lens is one of the major attractions to buyer. The high magnification zoom range is very helpful. The pictures taken with this lens are all very sharp, especially in the lower magnification range. At the end of the telephoto range, the picture quality tends to degrade a bit, but I believe that is cause by hand motion rather than the effects of the lens.
SUMMARY
The Olympus CAMEDIA C-700 is not the best available digital options available in the market right now. But if you can get it cheap in the used market in good working condition, it will be a good camera for Internet uses.
It will not be able to fight against the higher resolution model in the market now, especially when 5 Megapixels is starting to enter the market.