Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom review

What you need to know

Reviewed by: David D. Busch

Reviewed on: 6 April 2005

Tags: Olympus, Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom, photography, attachments, purple fringing

We like:

Full manual controls; wide-angle lens with excellent macro capabilities; excellent battery life

We don't like:

Undistinguished image quality; excessive shutter lag in dim light

You might also need:

1GB CompactFlash card

CNET UK judgement:

Enthusiasts will enjoy the rich set of control options but will find some aspects of the camera disappointing

Full review:

Although it shares a 7-megapixel sensor and key features with its stablemate, the C-7000, the Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom is an entirely different beast. With an expansive 27-110mm zoom (35mm equivalent), full manual controls, support for both xD and CompactFlash cards, and a macro mode accurate to 25mm, this looks like a photo enthusiast's compact alternative to a digital SLR or an electronic-viewfinder-equipped camera. However, though a similar price to its dSLR and EVF competition, it offers only an optical viewfinder and a colour LCD.Adding to this camera's semipro allure is a rugged magnesium-alloy body; bountiful exposure, focusing, and flash sync options; and optional add-ons that include a vertical grip/battery holder with integral shutter release/zoom lever, an underwater case, and three wide-angle and telephoto adapters. Although a full range of JPEG, TIFF, and raw file formats are available, undistinguished photos and some low-light focusing performance issues add a few sour notes. Continue Reading...