Olympus America has announced the C-5060 Wide Zoom, a 5.1-megapixel digital camera with a wide-angle lens (27mm to 110mm, f2.8 – f8.0) and 14x total wide-angle zoom (4x optical + 3.5x digital). Due in November, it will have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$799.95.
The C-5060 Wide Zoom has a black, magnesium alloy body that measures 4.6 by 3.4 by 2.6 inches and weighs 15.2 ounces (without the battery or media). It also has a rounded edge on the corner where the mode dial is located, positioned so your thumb can manipulate the dial easily. The camera’s built-in hot-shoe allows an external flash to be connected with no need for cables. The C-5060 has optional accessories like the Wide Angle and Tele Converter lenses, and a Power Grip battery.
The camera comes with special histograms. In the “Direct” setting, the histogram generates red or blue squares atop the image on the LCD to show the light or dark areas of the subject, respectively. By adjusting exposure, you can equalize contrasting light and dark areas of an image to keep details from disappearing; the red and blue squares become equal in number as adjustments are made.
The C-5060 Wide Zoom’s settings include controls for aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual operation. It takes two types of memory media — the xD-Picture Card or Compact Flash Type I or II (including microdrives) — and can hold both media cards simultaneously.
The multi-position LCD can be swiveled in multiple directions: upward from the camera body and swiveling right or left to shoot from the hip or to take an over-the-head shot, or set up a self-portrait. It also rotates to hide the LCD and protect it from damage.
The C-5060’s controls are located on the camera body. By pressing one of the direct buttons, like the one for Flash Mode, a range of flash options can be viewed on the LCD, and the preferred setting can then be selected via the jog dial. On the top of the camera, a mode dial enables settings for an assortment of shooting situations. In Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers basic point-and-shoot. Scene Programs on the mode dial can be enabled for exposure adjustments for Night Scenes, Portrait, Landscape Portrait, Sports and Landscape photography. Plus, the eight programmable “MyMode” options let you assign your own frequently used settings.
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, Noise Reduction and Optimum Image Enlargement modes. Additionally, the C-5060 Wide Zoom can capture QuickTime video and sound.
The camera’s Auto-Connect USB feature automatically works with such operating systems as Mac OS X. Images can also be viewed on a television using the video cable or printed directly to a PictBridge-enabled printer thanks to the camera’s support of PictBridge technology.
The C-5060 Wide Zoom will ship with includes an Auto-Connect USB cable, audio/video out cable, carrying strap, lens cap with retainer cord, Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, a 32MB xD-Picture Card, Olympus Camedia Master Software, RM-2 Remote Control, user manual and Quick Start guide.
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