Olympus C-8080 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Wide Zoom
Index

Compras Nikon
Bluetooth
8-megapixel effective recording * 35mm focal length equivalent: 28-140mm * 5X optical/3X digital/15X total zoom * 1-13/16" articulated color LCD viewscreen * LCD viewfinder * JPEG options: resolution up to 3264 x 2448; 2592 x 1944; 2288 x 1712; 2048 x 1536; 1600 x 1200; 1280 x 960; 1024 x 768; 640 x 480 * QuickTime movie mode with audio * TIFF mode for capturing uncompressed photos * PictBridge compatibility (for direct printing to compatible printers) * Exif 2.2-capable recording (for use with compatible photo printers) * autofocus * manual focus (using distance gauge) * auto exposure modes * variable ISO (sensitivity) * aperture and shutter speed priority modes * white balance control * macro mode for focusing on close-up subjects (2" for Super macro; 8.4"-2.6' for Macro) * hot accessory shoe for external flash attachments * built-in pop-up flash * USB interface (2.0) * NTSC A/V output * 4-15/16"W x 3-1/2"H x 4-11/16"D * weight: 17.6 oz. without batteries and media * warranty: 1 year
With the C-8080, Olympus enters the 8-megapixel arena with a splash. It's well suited both to amateur photo enthusiasts who want to ramp up their power and to professional photographers who need a smaller camera that's still loaded with a high-quality lens and expected high-end features. To that end, the C-8080 has a hot shoe for an external flash and the ability to add lenses (in conjunction with Olympus's bayonet-connected lens adapter tube).

With a body modeled after Olympus's professional E-20N, it has a classic SLR-style look but with a smaller profile (it's less bulky than Sony's DSC-F828). The rubber hand grip feels quite comfortable, making it easy for our fingers to access all the operation buttons on the right side. That said, we had to train ourselves to press the shutter-release button instead of the power button, since it is placed a bit lower from the top than where our fingers wanted to go. We also occasionally turned off the camera when making adjustments to the mode dial.

The left side also collects several buttons that are used in combination with the jog dial on the back (enabling quick access without having to go through all the menus). These buttons include flash pop-up and mode selection, resolution and image quality, and exposure compensation buttons. The LCD can be pulled away from the camera body and tilted up and down, which is especially handy for capturing ground-level photos.

Ergonomics aside, the C-8080 offers a powerful array of photographic features that make it easy to snap pics automatically or with your own manual settings. Here are some highlights:

Other fave features included the electronic viewfinder (which helps keep the LCD from draining battery power), the My Mode setting (which can save up to 8 presets), and the ability to shoot in RAW format.

Although the 5x optical zoom is smaller than other current 8 MP models, we found it to be quite adequate. It's also a bit on the wide side--28-140mm with maximum aperture settings of f2.4 at wide and f3.5 at telephoto. The aspherical glass lens is built to the same quality level as the Zuiko lenses used with Olympus's E-1 digital SLR. We were quite happy with its clarity and ability to pick up fine details--even in a romantically lit restaurant.

The included 32 MB xD memory card is nice start, but you'll definitely need the space for storing 8 MP photos; we were able to fit 20 HQ 3264 x 2448 images onto the card. It's also compatible with Type I and II CompactFlash cards, and we recommend purchasing either a large-capacity CF card or a MicroDrive to ensure you've got enough capacity. One bonus of using xD is its faster write speed (images save about one second faster than a MicroDrive). The downside to using the two card formats at once is you have to choose a destination card each time you start the camera (it defaults to the xD card, even if it's maxed out).

We found the battery life to be quite long-lasting--we only used about half of its capacity during five days of moderate use. The C-8080 is powered by the rechargeable lithium-ion BLM-1 battery. The camera conserves battery power by going to sleep within three minutes of not being used; press any button to immediately bring it back to life.

Overall, Olympus delivers a worthy, professional, SLR-style camera with a good range of high-end controls, handy features, expandability, and great image detail. The only factor that tempers our enthusiasm is its somewhat awkward button layout. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

Cons:
Professional and advanced amateur photographers will appreciate the powerful features found in the 8-megapixel Olympus Camedia C-8080. It featrues lightning-fast start-up and shot-to-shot recycling time, thanks to Olympus's new TruePic Turbo image proceesor. Housed in a black magnesium alloy body, the C-8080 also offers a 5x wide-angle zoom, movie mode with audio, dual memory card slot (XD and CompactFlash), tiltable LCD monitor, and full manual controls.

Optics and Resolution
With its 8-megapixel resolution, the C-8080 captures 3264 x 2448 pixel images for amazingly detailed poster-sized print enlargements. It also offers a full range of resolution modes, including: 2592 x 1944, 2288 x 1712, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480.

The C-8080 is equipped with a 5x, f2.4-3.5 optical zoom lens, which is constructed from 14 high quality lenses arranged in five groups and two aspherical lenses to reduce distortion. In addition, three ED elements help minimise chromatic aberration, an effect that often occurs when shooting in telephoto setting. The focal length extends from 7.1 to 35.6mm, equivalent 28mm to 140mm on a 35mm camera.

Movie Mode
In addition to capturing still images, you can also shoot short videos (without audio) in QuickTime motion JPEG format at 15 frames per second (fps). TheC-8080 has two resolution modes: 640 x 480 and 320 x 240.

More Features
By pressing one of the 13 direct control buttons arrayed around the camera body, a range of options can be viewed on the LCD or EVF (electronic viewfinder), and the setting can then be selected via the jog dial. The C-8080's advanced settings provide full manual operation and are ideal for experienced photographers who want to take control of their creativity.

The C-8080 boasts a new LCD that displays bright, clear images even under dazzling spotlights or in the summer sun. The adjustable 1.8-inch LCD (TFT, 134,000 pixels) enables you to swivel the LCD in multiple directions--upward from the camera body 90 degrees to shoot from the hip or 45 degrees downward to get the perfect over-the-head shot.

Alongside highly accurate light and white balance metering systems, the C-8080 features a dual AF system. A TTL contrast detection system is combined with an additional passive metering system, which uses a second sensor to calculate the phase difference and thus the subjectÕs distance. The camera then fine-tunes the readings for optimum sharpness.

In addition to a release time lag of just 0.3 seconds, rapid data processing also dictates very fast exposure rates. For example, 1.6 frames (each with 8 million pixels) can be shot per second in the sequence shooting and auto bracketing settings in any JPEG mode.

Other features include:

Direct Printing
The C-8080 is PictBridge compatible, which enables you to transfer pictures from your digital camera to a compatible printer (such as the Olympus P-10), without a PC or image-editing software. All PictBridge devices share three basic features: camera-to-printer connecting, single-image printing, and uniform error messages (in case something goes wrong).

Storage and Transfer
The C-8080 features dual memory card slots--one for XD Picture Cards and another for CompactFlash Type I and II cards (MicroDrive compatible)--and can hold both media cards simultaneously for flexible storage options. It comes with a 32 MB XD memory card, which can store approximately 16 shots at 3264 x 2448 (HQ, JPEG setting).

Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via ultra-fast USB 2.0 connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98 Rev2Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a lithium-ion rechargeable battery (BLM-1). It measures 4.9 x 3.3 x 3.9 (W x H x D) and weighs 23.3 ounces (excluding battery and storage media).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Camedia C-8080 digital camera, 32 MB XD memory card, lithium-ion rechargeable battery (BLM-1) and charger (BCM-2), remote control (RM-2), USB and A/V cables, carrying strap, lens hood, lens cap with retainer cord, quick-start guide, and printed instruction manual. The CD-ROM features Camedia Master software, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Camera Reference Manual.

Optional Accessories
The C-8080 accommodates the optional B-HLD30 Power Battery Holder. It holds a maximum of two lithium-ion BLM-1 rechargeable batteries for added energy to keep shooting for hours (one BLM-1 battery is included with the camera). Two new conversion lenses have been specially created for the C-8080 Wide Zoom, and both feature a bayonet mount for quick attachment to and removal from the CLA-8 conversion lens adapter that screws into the body of the camera.

1 An amazing camera!
I have been using a Canon G5 for the last year. I wanted higher resolution (althought the Canon is excellent for 8"x10" images). I have read C-8080 Wide Zoom reviews on the most prominent review sites. I noted the comments about the excellent image quality and the comments about slow writes shooting raw, the power button too close to the shutter release, etcetera...Forget all the negative nonsense. I acknowledge that I am only one user in thousands of my new C-8080, but this camera is wonderful. The image quality is stunning. I took the time to read the online manual (I don't care if it wasn't printed all nice and tidy). I studied the settings, got used to the features. It took a few days of practice.

I find myself truly motivated to plan outings to practice the art of photography. If my images aren't quite what I am expecting, I can use the incredible C-8080 feature array to make the necessary adjustments. I use a tripod when necessary. I use a polarizing filter when necessary. I am waiting to receive my FL36 Olympus flash for additional lighting when needed.

If you are more serious about image quality and control than a particular button being "here" instead of "there", you should give this camera serious consideration. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy the art of photography. I'm leaving now to take my C-8080 Wide Zoom and create some new works of personal expression. Good luck to you in your own photographic experience!
2 Excellent 8MP camera
This camera takes excellent, clear, vivid, high resolution images. A myriad of different customizable variables. Super bright lense system. EXCELLENT battery life (more than 400+ photos w/ LCD screen ON and flash OFF). The startup time for the camera is very quick, among the fastest I've seen. Would definitely recommend over the other 8MP cameras. Owned the 8080 for about two months now.
3 No, 6 stars
I'm not getting it.

I have no problem with this camera defaulting to the xd card when you turn it on. It stays wherever it was when I shut it off.

I'm having no problem with the power switch. It's on the top, the shutter is on the front. Since I'm still trying to learn how to walk and chew gum at the same time, I don't understand the problem many seem to be having.

Swivel LCD? It's cute but the only use I found for it is taking a pic of myself in a mirror. (Not a pretty sight!) :)

Low light problems? I have no complaints. Contrary to popular belief, *most* indoor shots with a digital camera *don't* need flash. In fact, more often than not, flash will ruin it. The "film" is free. Try it both ways. :) Experience will let you know when you need it and when you don't. Don't just pop up the flash simply because you are indoors. I remember a few years back reading a lot of complaints about my old nikon coolpix 800 having low lite problems but I never did. No problem with the c8080 either. And if all else fails... that's what they make Photoshop for! (And I hardly ever need it with this camera)

Auto focus problems? Don't use it if it doesn't work for you. (Yes, it does have manual focus)

Remote shutter release plugs in? I must be missing something again. I got a cordless one with the camera.

The only con I have is that the manual has to be printed out, but what doesn't anymore? Never had a digital that came with a book.

Ok, two cons. Yes, I know it's a heavy piece of equipment but still I would have liked a wrist strap.

I learned from past experiences with digitals... even before you take your first shot, print the manual and read it.

If you go by the old adage... when all else fails, read the manual... you do this camera and yourself a disservice. And reading it on your computer doesn't really cut it. You need to print it out or you're going to miss a lot.
4 Nikon vs. Minolta vs. Canon vs. Olympus, or d-SLR?
Ok, this isn't one of my usual hands-on reviews. I ain't got the kind of money to buy all these cameras and test them. But I wanted to give potential buyers some help...

Should you consider an SLR-type EVF (electronic viewfinder) digital camera or an interchangeable-lens digital SLR for serious photography? I faced this question and agonized over it for months. I wish I had come across this brief and very helpful article by Popular Photography Magazine (I'm not affiliated with them in any way):

[...]

The article compares five current-model EVF cameras: Canon PowerShot Pro 1, Konica-Minolta Dimage A2, Nikon Coolpix 8700, Olympus Camedia C-8080, and Sony Cybershot DSC-F828. It's a very easy read, and at the end the writers give you a helpful checklist for the EVF vs. d-SLR decision.

As for myself, I'm going with a d-SLR since I want 1) high-quality lens, 2) lens choices, 3) little to no shutter lag, and 4) accessory choices. Good luck!
5 Extremely Happy
As someone who has jsut begun to get beyond the basics in photography, this camera has allowed me to really grow. This is a terrific tool and I have been extremely pleased with my pictures:

www.pbase.com/djsmack

Yes, it is slow in low light to focus. Yes it is a bit bulky (but feels good in the hand to hold) but that lens takes terrific pictures.

I have had the camera for about 6 months now and love taking it out more every day. Lots of flexibility and features to keep me busy.
6 Disappointed
I've pursued photography as a hobby for many years, and have been using digital cameras or a number of years. After reading the glowing reviews of the 8080, I decided to give it a try.
The camera build is excellent, and the ergonomics are great too. It has a wonderful feel to it, and the controls are placed well.
But, unfortunately, I have found this camera to be very slow focusing indoors, and that focusing is often inaccurate. Shooting in a living room with an incandescent lamp or two, the focusing performance is poor, going through a hunting sequence. It takes about 4 seconds to get a prefocus lock. I have experimented with the AF light on/off, and various focus settings, but nothing really helped.
If you shoot mainly outdoors or in bright light, this is not an issue, of course, but if you intend to shoot indoors at holidays, parties, etc, you may be disappointed because of this issue.
The playback time tends to be slow as well (using a CF card)... to move from pic to pic takes a second or two - noticibly slow.

Others have discussed already the great picture quality, so I won't go into that here. The slow performance in low light has made it a dissapointment for me, and I will return it.

7 Reaching out to touch the world
Today's bright and sunny, but you have major photos in which you have to take for that over due book or portfilo. The olpmpus C-8080 wide zoom digital camera catches the closest snap shots when you need to get that 200-400 speed shot of a moving animal or that clear visible close-up shot of the models on runway.. Although, it may seem like a timeless task, but with this camera , the photos are taken like a breeze. Also, it is very easy to use ,so no need for that refresher course for visual commications for that new heads up on speed photograpy...<br /> <br /> So here's to the high life of the world of photography<br /> <br /> Thank You<br /> Shara L. Bouie<br /> Atlanta,Ga
8 EXCELLENT OPTICS, GREAT PICTURES, COMPLICATED.
After 40+ years of taking pictures in 35mm I decided to wet my toe in digital waters with an Olympus C2020. Used that excellent
camera for three years and decided this spring to upgrade to the
Olympus C8080WZ just then released by Olympus.

This camera takes great pictures, many examples can be viewed at digicam.com by going to the forum for Olympus Digital. The Olympus lens is considered by many reviewers to be the best available for digital. So... why not five stars?

End results are, of course, the bottom line in an camera but some weight must be given to how difficult it is to get those results. This is where I must hold back a star on the C8080WZ.

The camera is difficult to focus in many situtations... low light, low contrast, fast moving subjects. There are options as to how the camera's auto-focus is applied but each has its own issues. I do not think Olympus has done a good job with the auto-focus in this otherwise excellent camera.

Personally I don't like the EVF (electronic viewfinder). It is overloaded with information in my opinion and under high contrast conditions it suffers degrading vertical color bands which do not show in the photos but are distracting when trying to compose a nice landscape scene.

The power zoom works... but I would prefer a manual zoon. Power zoom seems a waste to me, it is never as accurate nor fast as manual zoom and uses battery power in the bargain. I suppose this is a necessary evil but could do nicely without it.

Maybe I'm spoiled by my years of Nikon SLRs that were straight forward in their operation. Look through the lens, set apature and shutter from built in metering, focus and trip the shutter.
Now it's a half dozen choices to be made and in things like focus you really don't have much control anyway... the camera
decides and you are stuck with that.

My Olumpus C2020 remains my favorite for most outings. It is a true "point and shoot" and gives fine results within its 2mp
capability. An 8mp camera that operated as nicely as my C2020
would be a true "upgrade" for me.
9 No major issues so far...
I am still getting acquainted with this little gem. In spite of all the criticism below, I am definitely happy with it.

I have to say that I agree with pretty much everything JB said in his review "Great in the day, noisy at night" -- I haven't done any night work with this yet.

So why post? Some comments I've got are not included elsewhere. Some are worth repeating.

As mentioned in other reviews, I too have hit the power button when I wanted something else. The main annoyance with this is the camera's configuration is reset on power-on, so if you had a shutter speed set, you get to reset it. There is a camera setting to reset all settings on powerup or not which is presumably intended to correct this. Personally I'd rather have the settings reset and have the power button recessed, or at least a little bit stiffer. The power button is *very* responsive.

I *LOVE* the startup speed. It's on and ready to shoot before I can have the shot framed. (This does take some of the sting out of hitting the power button accidentally)

I *HATE* the manual focus. It zooms into the center of the image and you are supposed to be able to tell from very raw pixels when you are focused or not. It isn't as easy as it sounds -- slow, painful, inaccurate, and tedious. There has to be a better way. My Nikon CoolPix 995 boosted the sharpness of the preview in a way that let you tell what was in focus and what wasn't. Still painful, but much better than this.

The 8080 doesn't overexpose as much as my 995 did. I like not having to adjust. The only thing I have encountered (which I need to reshoot to understand better) was a pinkish flower in my yard that for some reason was oversaturated on the blue channel. Probably an out-of-gamut RGB color?

I very much like having all the buttons for individual settings. The 995 was a real pain going into the menu and browsing to find the setting. The 8080 is nice -- hit the right button, spin the wheel to the value you want without being required to dig through menus. Those of you who like digging through menus will be relieved to know that you can do everything through the menus that you can do with buttons.

I definitely like it.
10 If you are serious, look elsewhere.
If you are thinking of purchasing this camera, STOP!
It was too late for me to send mine back to Amazon when I found out this camera can NOT be focused to infinity manually. It focuses to 16 feet. Which means everything beyond is fuzzy. And to add insult when the Auto-focus gets confused it goes to 16 feet. (The point of manual control is to get the shot even if the auto stuff does not produce the image you want) Which means the dirt at your feet is sharp but the fall leaves on the Vermont hills you're hoping to get this fall will be blurry. I have hundreds of ruined shots with no way to ever take them again. Everything else is great about the camera but what does it matter if the metering is excellent if the shot is out of focus? You still have to throw it away...

I wish I found this out in time to exchange for the SONY F-828. If you are looking for a camera with all the manual controls you need for "Prosumer" level work, get the Sony.

(I called Olympus and "they're a International company and they're not going to change the firmware" for me.)
11 Great in the day, noisy at night
Some thoughts from an amateur having been using it for a while. Note that my overall score is high and I'm very happy with this camera: bang for the buck this is great.
So - these comments are deliberately critical since I think that's what most people want to know about. If something really cool stands out - such as dark frame subtraction on this camera for us astronomers - then I'll point it out.

1. Do not look at this camera as a 'point and shoot, slip it in my pocket' sort of camera. This is big, has many functions and can be overwhelming at first if you're new to this level of camera. That said - the functionality and positioning of features is exemplary: for example the dual use of buttons to allow quick access to features and settings. Also, assuming you've got the camera setup how you want it - you can flick it on and be snapping away pretty quickly; the 'user setting modes' are great in this regard, since you can save different types of setup to allow quick access.
2. In auto focus mode, the camera can be a little slow to focus and you can miss your intended photo moment - frustrating! You can set it to manual focus mode, but that can be slower since there isn't a focus ring for you to turn a-la-SLR. You have to use the buttons to focus and that can be tricky with your eye wedged up to the viewfinder on sunny days!
3. A full printed manual isn't provided - it is online on the CD only. I think that is cheap, Olympus!
4. I'm an astrophotographer and so far I've only been able to take piggy-back shots (not a problem with the camera - I just need to make some adapters). Dark frame subtraction in night mode is extremely useful, but so far it seems the noise generated by the CCD is too much for it to handle, even in relatively short exposures (on a 75 degree F night at ISO400). I'm going to try slower ASO speeds since that should improve it a litle, and I know cooler evenings will help a great deal, but still not off to a great start. Also, cooling would help but at 800 bucks you can't get everything! ;-) ADDENDUM 9/NOV/04: this camera works OK as an astrophotography camera, but basically you get what you pay for. Because it isn't an SLR, it is difficult to achieve focus using the camera with it's fixed lens, through an eyepieve and into the telescope. hugely magnified and actually too much noise to speak of. I'm persevering, but I'd recommend the extra step to an SLR if you're going to be into astrophotography (Canon 20D)
5. The remote shutter release doesn't plug into the camera: you have to buy a power battery holder and plug the shutter release into that. That seemed a little stupid to me and just an excuse by Olympus to make you buy more stuff.
6. I find it very frustrating that you can't plug the camera in to the mains (with the optional mains adapter) and CHARGE the battery with it still in the camera. You have to remove the battery and use the separate battery charger. That means more stuff to carry - and that's annoying.
7. Battery life seemed exceptionally good to me, but because of the charging scenario described above, I would get a spare battery
8. Video quality is good: I've taken a few but for some reason I have to convert them on my PC, presumably because of some coding issues (they import into Adobe Photo Album v2.0 but won't play). ADDENDUM 9/NOV/04: this is now resolved and is not an issue related to this product, but rather some clash in load order between Adobe and Quicktime.
9. I don't like Camedia Master, whatever version. I'd personally recommend the use of a separate photo manager and ditch Camedia. The only useful thing I've gotten out of it so far is stitching some panorama shots together, which worked quite well but it won't stay installed on my PC just to do that! Other software can do that, too!


Overall? I like the camera and it's taking some great shots that have printed onto 11x14 photo paper to produce stunning images. I find it comfortable, easy to use (after a simple learning curve) and everything you'd reasonably expect from a camera at this level.
So far, though, I haven't been that impressed with the night time photography - but I'll be able to test that extensively soon so will update this review at that time. ADDENDUM 9/NOV/04: my conclusion for astrophotography is it is worth saving some extra pennies and going for an SLR (the Canon 20D). For daytime shooting, this camera has produced some stunning shots and I'm extremely pleased with it.

Happy shopping
JB
12 Outstanding 8-Megapixel Camera with top quality lens.
After some extensive research on 8-megapixel digital cameras, I decided on the Olympus C-8080 for several reasons. I'll highlight a few of them below.

* The magnesium cased Olympus C-8080 has a quality feel to it in my hands. It feels solid. This camera won't creak or flex when handled like some of the others I tried.

* The Olympus C-8080 power up time is extremely fast which is important for catching those special moments. It has one of the fastest power up times of any 8-megapixel camera.

* The C-8080 has one of the best lenses available in its class with just the right balance of range and speed... The lens is rather large for good light gathering ability. It's also very sharp. At 5x and 28mm - 140mm (35mm equivalent) range, some might lean more toward a camera with a broader optical range sacrificing speed and quality. For me, it's about quality not quantity! I find that I often use 28mm indoors where space is limited or for those wide outdoor scenic shots. And 140mm is usually sufficient for most of my 'telephoto' needs. You can also purchase optional adapters for wider angle or more zoom if you find it necessary.

* Battery life on this camera is top notch... it's one of the longest lasting and far superior to most other 8-megapixel cameras. Although I own 2 batteries for my Olympus C-8080, I have yet to need more than one for an entire day of shooting. My findings pretty much mirror what the professional reviewers have tested with regard to long battery life on the Olympus C-8080. I have yet to see my 'low battery' indicator come on!

I should also mention that I wear eye glasses which is a problem for me with some viewfinders. Not so with the Olympus C-8080. The ring surrounding the viewfinder is rubberized and when I place the lens from my eye glasses up against the view finder, I can see the entire frame clearly and comfortably. The viewfinder also has a diopter adjustment to compensate for less than perfect vision.

Some people have commented that the controls on the Olympus are a bit confusing. The camera is very versatile with many features and I've gotten used to the controls. Also, the power on/off button is located fairly close to the shutter release button but I got used to this within just a few minutes. It really isn't a problem. Unless you're seriously lacking in manual dexterity, you'll get used to it very quickly.

Also, don't skimp on the memory card. I have a 512MB xD card in the camera and keep a blank 256MB card in my pocket in case I fill up the first card before getting a chance to download all the images to my PC. I might just get a 512MB CompactFlash card as well since the camera has a slot for both xD and CF style memory cards.

To quote another reviewer, the Olympus C-8080 is the one to get!

13 A review for the ambitious amature
This is my third digital camera. My first was a canon powershot g3-- A camera I would still be using if it hadn't developed a problem with storing images to CF cards and downloading them to the computer. My 2nd camera is a Canon s100 point and shoot. Just so that you can understand the view point of this review, I will let you know that I consider myself an amature with intentions of improvement. If you are a pro photographer or even an advance amature, this review won't offer you much.

That being said, if your aspirations are like mine, this camera is an excellent choice. I explored most of the major online sites prior to making my choice: Steve's Digicams, DPR, etc. All those sites gave the camera high marks.

What I liked most about this camera was the image quality. It had the least noise, and least chromatic abberation and distortion of any of the 8 megapixel cameras in nearly all the reviews. Since what I wanted most at the end of it all were excellent photos, this was enough for me to make my choice. And if you aren't happy with the shots straight from the camera, you can tweak every thing from sharpness to saturation to achieve the results you want.

Other features that I liked included the wide array of image size, and shooting options available. I felt that this camera could certainly grow with my skill level for years to come.

Many have complained about the placement of the power button. I haven't had any probs with it. I have not accidentally turned it off or on even once.

Now what I would change if I could:
Oh I wish the LCD were a swivel display. I have grown accustom to this with my canon.

The flash does not automatically pop up when you need it.

The EVF is taking some getting used to. I am still wary of weather or not what I am seeing actually represents actually color, lighting etc...

The menu system could use some revision. I am sure it will take me a while to learn to use the camera to its best capacity simply because the menu system is not intuitive. You actually need to read the manual and the one on the CD to work out the ends and outs of the camera.

The camera defaults to the xD card if you have a both and xD and a CF card in place. This has caused me some problems. You will be less frustrated if you only have one or the other installed.

I like this camera more and more every time I use it. I researched my choice exaustively and none of the other 8 megapixels currently available even tempt me when I look at the whole picture. I don't think this camera will dissappoint you .

14 5X Zoom Question
Here's a little optic lesson.

The higher the zoom ratio i.e. 2x vs 7x, the more problems with the lens. This may show up as
distortion, out of focus corners, resolution, etc. Generally, the greater power, the more
apochromatic problems with the lens. Also the higher the zoom power, the lens gets larger or the
f/ get smaller as it's zoomed. Olympus did a very good job with this lens. The "cost" of a greater
power would be of not much value if they had to compromise the image quality. Just about, the
only one who cares about 5x vs 7x are idiots. Don't get a complex over it. You have the best lens (for 8MP camera's today)

15 Only 5X?
I bought this camera a month ago. so happy with that.

This is my first digital camera, so I am not sure I have to authority to compare?

Bought this one since all my previous cameras were Olympus and I loved them.

However, I am a bit questioning the 5X optical zoom. Since I am new to digicam I am not sure what I am missing here. Can someone please say what is the drawback of having 5X in the C8080 versus the 7X or more in the Nikon Coolpix and Minolta A1/A2?

Thanks

16 Robert F Derenthal
If Robert F Derenthal contacts me, I will send him the CD for the 8080. erroha@bluefrog.com
17 Outstanding camera
Make sure your read the last paragraph of this review to see why an outstanding camera gets only three stars.

Before buying this camera I read a variety of professional reviews on various websites. The consensus seemed to be that this was the best of the lot of the new 8 megapixel cameras. As a lifetime Canon owner who also has a Canon D60 6.3mp SLR digital camera I was disappointed that the new Canon Pro1 didn't get as high ratings, but I believe that quality pics beats any brand loyalty that I might have.

I was in the market for one of these new high resolution cameras because I wanted something to carry around for quick shots when I didn't want the trouble of lugging my Canon D60 and a host of lenses.

I took it on a recent trip in to the California coastal mountains. I was totally pleased with the results. The professional reviewers were all concerned with noise in higher ISO settings for this breed of cameras. All of my pictures were shot in the range of ISO 100 to 160 in bright light. I used Photoshop to greatly enlarge pictures taken at 100 and 160 and compared them for noise. ISO 160 pics were noisier, but still printed out clear 7.125 by 9.5 prints. Colors were very accurate, and I noticed no significant distortion.

The large number of buttons and menus posed no real problems for me. You just work yourself gradually into this, and soon you are at ease. I particularly liked the button on the top that allows you to make a custom setting. I use it for ISO settings, making it a breeze to quickly change ISO when I want to.

What criticisms can I make? Here's my brief list:

1. Buttons on the top right of the camera are very crowded, and it takes a while to get used to them, and not be changing the wrong one. I find it somewhat difficult to hold down the custom button and rotate the selector wheel at the same time.

2. I am not too enthralled with the electronic viewfinder. I found it sometimes difficult to see things clearly, and colors were harder to detect as accurately as in a normal viewfinder. I particularly had problems adjusting a circular polarizer filter to best effect.

3. I am used to manually zooming an SLR camera, and the power zoom on the c-8080 is a bit frustrating. It is difficult to zoom to the exact point that you want. You keep over and under zooming it. But I suppose this is a problem found on most power zoom cameras.

As most professional reviewers have noted, this camera is built like the photographic equivalent of a tank. It feels solid and indestructible, a heft that you usually find only on very expensive professional cameras.

Oh yes. Why did I give this camera only a three star rating. When I received the camera the software disk was broken. The disk is important insofar as Olympus is too cheap to provide a complete manual with the camera, and a further 180 pages or so of it are on the disk. Three phone calls and an email, and over a month later I get a software disk in the mail. But it's not for the c-8080. Another phone call and I am told the that the c-8080 disks come only with the camera itself. They have no extras, and I will simply have to do with this one which is written for other cameras. It supposedly will suffice for the camera to computer interface, although the c-8080 is missing from the reference manual of listed cameras. When I first called and waited on hold for a long long time no one even new how to deal with this problem. I was given the run around from department to department to department. You better hope that nothing is damaged in shipment, and that you never ever need tech support from them.

18 olympus c8080
I've owned the c2020, c5050, nikon's 5700, canons d10, in that order,and I'm back with olympus c8080. theres nothing in my opinion like the glass of olympus, great for daytime shots, too slow in low light situations. the on off button is to close to the wide angle, telephoto button it's taking some time to get used to. pros.........the colors are the truest no need to adjust in photoshop, and rarely in photoshop with this camera...what you see is what you want to keep! it's alot of camera for a small package........very light for all thats inside....go olympus!
19 A Honey of a camera
I've owned nine digital cameras at one time or another, looking for the perfect one. The olympus E-20 came close except for the weight and that monsterious lens that scaried the hell out of people. Then i found the Fuji S7000, which is a great one and i thought nothing could ever beat it. So i was hesitant to buy the Olympus 8080 but was glad i did. As soon i handled the camera, i knew this was different. I love the camera more each day, it grows on you. It has licked most if not all the past problems associated with digitals. Speed in all departments and well, what you read in the specs is all true. and the price is also great. I was a little worried about the placement of the off and on button, but i got used to it.
20 Wow. Ok, almost Wow, but best I've owned so far.
I bought this to supplement my E-20, and after having used it for just over two weeks, I think I'll put the E-20 away.

Pros:
-Nice size. I have big, arthritic hands, and it is a joy to use
-Best image from any digital i've owned, and i've got/had a few
-FAST, FAST, FAST, except for playback
-Quiet
-Beautiful resolution, edge to edge.
-I really like the rubber grip on the lens (and the body)
-Great battery life.

Cons:
-Slow playback (but I rarely use it, so ho hum)
-You must have a micro drive for images
-Lens cap doesn't fit well with lens hood (nitpick).

I am particularly impressed with blues and greens. Great rich color and great detail. Can be manipulated to give results very much like film, or crank up the saturation, contrast, whatever, and go crazy.

I also really like the sort of odd angle the lens is at with the body and the viewfinder, makes the camera VERY intuitive to aim and hold. I've seen some complaints about the position of the power button and exposure button, but I find them very well placed. All the controls on the left side of the camera are easy to access when holding the camera with your right.

My brother, who is a photo novice bought the camera at the same time I did, and he is producing very nice images, just using it point and shoot.

21 8080
Very good camera but...

If you shake the camera, it rattles, the lens is not firmly mounted.

The power botton is horriable. You can hit it with you finger working the camera and be turning it off in the middle of an operation.

Highlights can easily be blown out.

Focus in the dark are out of focus.

jog wheel is over too far, and trigger bottom tripped over the front too much, instead of on top.

Pixel per pixel, my 2 MP Canon S110 is by far sharper.

Odd backround noise in movies.

Most external flashes hit the pop up flash, making it no good.

Lens hood will interfere with flash on 3 ft close ups.

Can not come close to SLR optical manual focusing. This has manual by buttons. Not that great.

Slow post views of images.

LCD sticks out and I'm afraid will be the blunt of bumbs.

Battery charger has cord. My Canon, has flip out AC plug.

Have not used software yet.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Since most people only want the bad, that's what's above. I don't have the time to list all the good. I think this is the best 8MB to date. Bought for $789 I'm still learning about it too. Wanted the Nikon D70, but with lenses and flash, too much $.

22 A Miriade of features at a reasonable price
If your like me and dont have a bunch of lenses already there that could be added to the camera as in the Canon Rebel then the next best choice is to try to get a camera that has all you need in one camera. This camera also feels better than any other camera I tried. And I tried them all, HP, Canon, Minolta, Fuji, Sony, and Olympus less expensive older models.

That is what I see is one of the main advantages of the Olympus C-8080. It is a very flexible highly featured camera. The lenses on it feature both wide and telephoto capabilities and Olympus has taken the time to make sure that the lense does well in these areas. They were special produced for this camera.
I have been able to get some excellent image quality out of my Olympus C-8080 so far. By excellent I mean that there is alot of detail in mid tones. Some of the noise artifacts in high contrast areas in other cameras such as purple hazing seem to either not be there or greatly reduced. In other words I have not seen that as an issue. This is attributable to a new CCD for the camera that impliments cyan dots into the color capture system. I love the extra colors I am getting from the CCD on board that has increased my color ranges in blues and greens as well as neutral shadow areas.

Olympus also implimented an anti noise feature in this camera that is said to help with those issues.

This camera is complex. It will take alot of time to be able to use all its featured capabilities. The menu system is intuitive and very customizable.

Am I glad I bought it? Yes definitely.

Also look at the built in historgram. Better than any of the competion. That is because it has a historgram in a historgram. You can learn on line how to use historgrams and then that feature will mean more.

Negatives:
Red laser focus system can be blinding for shooting portraits
lack of stablization system like Minolta uses
Lack of illuminated controls for night shooting

23 Great camera
Pros: Outstanding picture quality, surprisingly low noise level, fast startup time, magnesium body, USB 2.0 PC interface.

Cons: power off/on button is located too close to the shutter.

24 The Refined Camedia
The Camedia body design has always been traditional, which I've favored over Sony's outlandish model F717 & F828 body/lens layout. The C8080 has a nicely refined body style. It's a compact 4.75" wide, by 4.7" deep, and 3.4" high. For old-school film SLR users like myself, it resembles that look and feel. The ergonomics is just about perfect. It's a real joy to hold, even with one hand. The controls are easy to see and become acquainted with. The shutter lag is almost undetectable. And if you set it for continuous frames (1.6 fps), it will give you 3 to 5 shots in quick succession. The lens and picture quality is up to par with the previous Camedias. Olympus lenses are outstanding. The 8 megapixels sure help.

The things I like about the C8080 are: 2 memory card slots (CF and XD)and you can toggle between the 2 cards. So if you have a 512 MB capacity for both cards, that's 1024 MB total. If you want more, get an IBM 1GB microdrive. You don't have to download software. Plug into the USB 2 in your PC, and you're in business (Win XP os). The viewfinder is electronic, which saves on battery consumption. The display screen can tilt up or down, and is visible even in bright sunlight. It's very comfortable to hold and shoot. And of course, it's got 8 megapixels. The thing I don't like about the C8080 is you have to remove the battery to charge it.

For pro-level amateurs and professionals, I recommend it highly.

25 Movies with audio?
>shoot short videos (without audio)

The odd thing is that the review says "without audio" (as above) but the Olympus website says it works with audio as the 5050 etc do. Any idea why it would say that?


Sunday, 07-Sep-2008 01:57:46 CDT
Quote of the Day:


The longest part of the journey is said to be the passing of the gate.

		-- Marcus Terentius Varro






"Boy, life takes a long time to live."

		-- Steven Wright