Tiny Olympus can zoom up to 10X optical, 4X digital

Tiny Olympus can zoom up to 10X optical, 4X digital

By JAMES CUMMINGS

Cox News Service

DAYTON, Ohio _ Camera manufacturers are continuing to roll out new

digital models to fill all the niches previously dominated by film

cameras.

If you're a serious amateur photographer who likes to use telephoto

lenses, Olympus has a model that may be nearly as versatile as your

film camera and a lot more convenient.

The 4.0 megapixel Camedia C-750 comes with a 10X optical lens, giving

it range equivalent to a camera with a traditional zoom lens going

from 38mm to 380mm. And it offers 4X digital zooming that brings the

total magnification to 40X.

Olympus says the Camedia C-750 is the smallest digital camera

available with that optical zooming range. At 10.4 ounces and 4.2

inches long, the company says the camera is perfect to toss in a

pocket, purse or backpack for sporting events, sightseeing trips and

other outdoor activities.

The Camedia C-750 is based on the popular Olympus C-700 that was

introduced a couple of years ago. The C-700 also offered 10X optical

zooming, but only 2.7X digital zooming. The older model could make

objects appear 27 times closer; the Camedia C-750 brings subjects 40

times closer.

The Camedia C-750 also has significantly improved resolution,

offering 4.0 megapixels compared with 2.11 for the C-700. The

improved resolution should allow clearer images when photos are

printed in large formats. In addition, the new model has a metal body

that is more durable than its predecessor.

In automatic mode, the Camedia C-750 operates like a point-and-shoot

camera to take normal pictures in typical conditions. But for

advanced photographers, it lets the user control exposure and speed.

It can be set to capture action with shutter speed down to 1/1,000th

of a second, or it can capture time exposures of up to 16 seconds for

low-light photography.

The Camedia C-750 is available through camera and electronics

retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $599. For more

information, visit www.olympusamerica.com and click on "digital

cameras."

James Cummings writes for the Dayton Daily News. E-mail: jcummings(at)

DaytonDailyNews.com

Story Filed By Cox Newspapers