The Olympus Camedia C-5050 is a monster in terms of performance, compatibility, and unfortunately, price. This 5.0 megapixel camera captures images at some of the highest detail possible in a digital device. It also supports a variety of storage media including CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Microdrive, and XD (it ships with a 32 MB XD card).
The 3x optical zoom lens slides into the black body of the camera when it's turned off. Although this doesn't cut down much on the heft of the 13-ounce Magnesium device, its design still allows it to be easily held in one hand while shooting. Since its powered by four AA batteries, you'll want to pick up some rechargeable ones to save on battery swapping.
Its bright, large 1.8-inch LCD can be viewed easily even in high light environments. It also conveniently detaches from the camera body and swivels out into multiple positions to aid in atypically angled shots (although not through as wide a range as other cameras offering this feature).
All of the controls within this camera are adjustable, including aperture and shutter priority, Panorama, special effects, etc., as well as programmable into a My Mode, letting you customize your most oft-used settings. Captured images were incredibly detailed at the highest resolution of 2560 by 1960 (large enough for printing out at 13 by 17 inches). You can also capture video clips complete with sound with lengths limited only by your storage capacity.
The myriad buttons and dials on the top and back of the camera might prove a bit daunting to the novice digital photographer, although the power and price of this camera will most likely be attracting intermediate or advanced users.
This isn't a camera to get for your kid's sweet sixteen present, but if you're looking for a digital cam with the performance and range of features to compete with a high-end film camera, the C-5050 holds its own. --J. Curtis
Pros:
- Lots of features
- High resolution captures
- Video with audio
Cons:
- Pricey and hefty
- Menus have a learning curve
With the Camedia C-5050, Olympus introduces a new professional standard within the compact digital camera class. With an exceptionally bright, high-quality 3x zoom optical system and 5-megapixel resolution, the C-5050 includes a full complement of high-end features. An ergonomic design and intuitively located controls further enhance this model. In addition to the optical real-image viewfinder, the tilting LCD monitor located on the rear of the camera is particularly helpful when shooting from difficult angles.
Optics and Resolution
The 5-megapixel Olympus C-5050 digital camera can produce quality prints up to 11 by 14 inches and beyond. It boasts a 3x optical zoom lens and 3.3x digital zoom for a total zoom of 10x.
Storage
This model is compatible with the new XD memory-card format (it includes 32 MB card), as well as SmartMedia, CompactFlash, and Microdrive cards.
More Features
Serious photographers will appreciate the versatility of manually adjustable aperture settings and shutter speed, as well as the manual focus. Sharpness control can of course also be left to the camera's automatic TTL iESP (intelligent Electro Selective Pattern) contrast-detection focusing system.
White balance can be fine-tuned via nine preset options, including four fluorescent settings, and may also be regulated manually or automatically with the TTL iESP II system. Five preset scene program modes, such as sport, landscape, and portrait, provide users with settings that reflect the typically optimal photographic parameters for a range of common situations.
Two impressive continuous shooting speeds are attainable: either 11 images at 1.7 frames per second, or 4 shots at a fast 3.3 frames per second.
In addition to its powerful built-in flash with numerous modes, including first- and second-curtain synchronization, the C-5050 also incorporates a hot-shoe for connecting an optional external flash unit, and works with slave strobe lights.
1 Good Camera That's Seen Better Times
The C5050 is a remarkable camera in so many ways that only the passage of time can take away from it. Just a year after the 5050 made its debut, the market saw a veritable flood of 6- and 7-megapixal cameras, most considerably smaller with new features and capabilities. For those who have external flash units, this camera offers a flash shoe; however, those who want to travel light, I'd recommend a smaller 6-megapixal with a non-glare LCD and AA batteries. Skip the proprietary batteries. They won't be around in a few years.
The Olympus D-40's a great camera if you can still find one. It's a 4-megapixal, but it's a beauty.
2 Sudden unexpected problems
I have been using my Camedia C-5050 for 13 months. I was always VERY pleased with good picture quality. One of the big pluses this camera has is the lens. While on a trip in Brazil I was able to take pictures of wildlife at dawn when a friend of mine with a similar 5MP cmaera of another brand could not get his to focus because of lack of light.
Unfortunatelly, just after 1 year of use I had to send it in for repairs since all the pictures started turning out purple! All resetting and formatting of storage cards was to no avail. Sending a great camera for repairs when you've always treated it with great care, is discouraging, but I guess that can happen with any camera or brand.
Rodolfo
3 Outstanding Camera
So as not to be too redundant, read 4 star review by Charles from 12/03, "Sees in the dark like a cat".
Having owned the C-2000, C-3000, & C-4040, obviously I'm a big fan of Olympus. But the C-5050 is more than a simple upgrade, its been significantly re-tooled. Key improvements are:
-Dual media slots: one takes either a SM or xd, and the other a CF. You can toggle between the two of them easily. This is the only Olympus model to offer this feature, and its nice that I don't have to toss my SM cards.
-Pivoting LCD screen (180). If you compose on the LCD screen as I do, this is a great feature for shooting overhead or down low.
-Macro & SuperMacro modes: takes crystal clear photos from 1.2".
-Additional Program Modes: Beyond P Mode, the are presets for Sports, Portrait, Landscape, and Portrait + Landscape (foreground in focus), and Night. But I tend to get less noise in low light photos w/o flash in P mode vs. Night mode
-Separate on/off toggle wheel that also functions as a "quick select" of certain options, including flash type, freeing you from the menus.
-Five "My Mode" settings where you can save your own custom settings
-Option to shoot in 3:2 SHQ mode to enable 4X6 prints w/o cropping.
The P mode is so good, I rarely use the full manual settings. Easy to modify P mode with buttons that can change exposure +/- in 1/3 stops.
I shoot almost exclusively without flash, and it's truly amazing how much brighter the image will appear than actual. Autofocusing can be slow if the subject is not well-defined, but that's to be expected. There's an option to turn on a red autofocus beam.
This is Olympus' only 5+ MP model to have the f1.8 lens, and is worth the trade-off of lower zoom than the C-5060 or C-8080, which have f2.8 lenses. Having traded down once to f2.8 with the C-3000, I think the f1.8 is of more value. At 5MP, its not a problem to severely crop on the PC & still have a top quality image.
Re: the comment about settings not being saved, there is a menu item "All reset". Default is "yes", simply change to "No", and settings will remain intact.
As for weaknesses, the Manual is next to worthless, and the Camedia software could be better, but I have Photoshop 5.5 and MS Image Pro, so not really a drawback for me. Also, when the batteries are changed or die, the date needs to be reset.
Even if you've had an Olympus C-series before, enough has changed that you'll need to sit down and go through all the menus initially. There are alot of good online references (Steve's Digicams is one). The Olympus website also has support and tutorials.
I hightly recommend this camera. I plan to keep this for many years to come, as 5MP is enough for me.
4 Very good except for low light focus
I have had this camera since Dec 2002 and love it. The only thing to watch out for is very, very slow focus in low light (and it does have a nice f1.8 lens). The same holds true if you try to focus on a featureless space.
5 Digital Reincarnation of the OM-1
For more than ten years of mountaineering, running rivers and exploring remote corners of the world, my OM-1 was my constant companion. Although not a professional, I was passionate about photography. In 1990 I was experimenting with low-light color photography. In a cement health clinic in a roadless corner of Nicaragua, my OM-1 suffered a fall and a fatal head injury.
I had bought and experimented with half a dozen cameras since, but none could begin to replace my photographic partner. After only a week with my C5050, I am still learning just how to get the precise image I envision - but already I am capturing wonderful light effects, the color is true, the display almost as good as the SLR. The brilliant optics, the feel of the shutter, the sophisticated but not unfriendly programs and manual override, and the ease of in-camera composition echo this camera's great film predecessors. My beloved OM-1 is reincarnated for the 21st century. I can hardly wait to get back into the wilds.
6 shoots in very low light
I have this camera and the quality of the pictures it takes are astounding.I live in Nashville Tennessee and take alot of pictures of aspiring songwriters when they play in clubs this camera takes great professional photos under stage lighting without a flash.you can hand hold it and still get sharp professional images;even when the lighting is low it still performs well.I have had mine a year and had no trouble with it.I also use it to take astounding outdoor pictures of nature;this camera will make you look like a professional photographer.It takes xd,compactflash,and smartmedia cards and can write images between the xd and smart media slot and the compactflashcard slot.It can shoot from the program mode(good for beginers)and can be used fully manual so you can tweak every setting.I am not a techno geek but I found the menues easy to follow.You can start as a beginner and develope your skill as you learn to use it.you can also shoot two different pictures on one frame which comes in handy when taking pictures for inventory. I have no regrets about buying this camera.
7 Comparibly Better & Cheaper than the E-Series
The C-5050 is one of the best digital cameras out there. The multi-function settings allow for extreme versatility, and the mini-videos are neat when there is no camcorder available (although it would be great if a light was pre-installed for low lighting videos). It's shape & weight makes it look & feel like a regular 35 mm film camera. For those who are looking for a digital camera with manual functions; this is the camera for you. I originally wanted one of the Olympus digital cameras in the E-Series, but after some comparison, I found that the C-5050 has more capability at a much cheaper price.
8 Auto-focus or Outta-focus.... you choose.
I've had my sony DSC S85 for about 14 months now and the one thing that I just can't stand about this camera is the absolutely HORRIBLE auto focus. This is the second Sony digital still camera that I've owned and I've used a few more. The other (2.1MPixel) unit that I had before suffered from the same crappy focussing system. The earlier Sonys that I've used were much better.
Some pictures come out beautifullly sharp, and others are not well-focussed. The thing that really bothers me is that I know that it's not me, since I'm a very experienced SLR photographer and have very good success with almost all the other camera gear that I've used. And that it's not predictable... there is no one thing that I can nail down to being the cause. I can use a tripod, or go hand-held and it doesn't make much difference.
Good things about this camera are the user-interface. Sony really has a great system that is quick to use, simple to understand and effective. This camera is also loaded with an excellent battery system, lots of manual and automatic features. It's really just one step below a true SLR in many ways.
That's it... I like everything about the camera but the focussing system.
9 A Review for First Time Buyers
I think this camera is worthy of a different kind of review than some of the ones I've read here, so I'll try to deliver that. I was a first-time-digital-user & buyer before this camera, and this is what I'd have wanted to know before buying this camera. First: You've probably heard now that this camera offers a thorough selection of manually adjustable options. If you're patient with the camera-manual (first the paper-bound one, then the much-longer CD-based one -which I ended up printing out) you can learn enough about the camera to experiment with every aspect of it. This brings me to my main point about this machine: Even though there are many controls, you can figure them out in a reasonable amount of time, and you get to EASILY experiment by taking pictures with different settings & simply learning what does what. My knowledge of photography has grown SO MUCH (from virtually nothing to a decent basic-understanding) because of trial & error with this c5050Z. You can do this too, and I think you'll like having so much control when you want it (it also has all the same pre-programmed "auto" modes for those who want to just point-&-shoot). AND NOW THE BEST PART ABOUT HAVING THE C5050: This camera features a "superbright" 1.8 lens. What this allows you (essentially) to do is take many pictures indoors WITHOUT using the flash (you can just turn it off). I've taken most of my pictures indoors (low-light settings seem to be the biggest challenge for digital-cameras), and I've been absolutely DELIGHTED with the ability to leave the flash off. This way, the subtle shadows that you see & warm lighting colors of your home don't get lost or bleached out, and you have pictures that are MUCH more realistic looking. MOST other 5MP cameras sacrifice this low "1.8" number for a greater optical zoom. Check out the f-stop range & see for yourself! (The higher the number, the less you have the ability to take living-room-light pictures without being forced to use flash.) Even Olympus sacrificed this feature in it's newer C5060, and I wouldn't make the trade-off for myself. TRUST ME, I LUCKED INTO THIS FEATURE, NOT KNOWING WHAT IT REALLY WAS, and wouldn't trade it for anything! Another nice feature is that this camera is actually MADE IN JAPAN. Call me 'old-fashioned,' but I still think that's better than being made in China or Indonesia (which they do with their more basic models). The feel and build quality of this product is just great. This model's already over a year old (which I knew before buying it last month), and there are fancier things out there now, but I think now's the time to get a great deal on this machine, and I would be surprised if you felt left-behind in any sense. In one of my recent Consumer Reports issues (November or December 2003), they rated this camera #2 in the 5MP group. But the camera that they listed as #1 (a Nikon) makes the kind of trade-off that I described earlier. It's also a good deal more expensive. My bottom line is that I believe you'll get a better value here than with most other cameras right now, and I offer you my encouragement to feel comfortable & excited about this choice. I'm sure there are drawbacks compared to other models & vice-versa, but I'm a very picky person, and I'm entirely satisfied that I bought an excellent product all-around. Good luck!
10 Great Pictures but problem with Battery Door and Lens
It takes great pictures! I had to send back my unit twice because the tiny plastic clip in the battery door keeps breaking off for some reason. Also be extra careful handling the unit. The lens retraction mechanism is very delicate. Next time, I will go for a camera with a lens that stays inside the body. Also remember, the repair warranty only lasts 6 months.
11 Where's the repair in repair center?
Had to return my camera when the lens would not open. Arrvied at Olympus on Dec 10th 2003. Put into their system on December 15th. Contacted the repair center after the initial 10 day estimate to repair. They informed me that they were waiting on parts. Offered to give me a replacement camera, I declined. On 1/12/04 contacted them for the second time. It was only then that they told me that the parts could take over one month to arrive. At that I agreeded to get a refurbished camera. They told me that they would ship the next day and I would have on 1/16/04. Called on the 1/21/04 only to be told that they did not have any refurbished cameras in stock and that I would have to wait, 1-2 weeks.
Purchased the camera in July 2003 and by the time I get "my" camera back, Olympus will have had possesion of it for over two months. If I would have known about the lack of repair in the Olympus repair centers I would have gone for a different camera.
12 Ultra-sharp pics... but *very* noisy images.
Unbelievably great close-up shots! Poor low light performance and most of the images are quite noisy. Widest range of features I've ever seen in this category.
13 Sees in the dark like a cat.
Being an old SLR owner, I like a camera with a lot of glass. The C5050, with the f 1.8 lens, will amaze you in subdued natural lighting situations. It will generally show things much brighter than your eyes would. I recently photographed some of my wife's homemade Christmas ornaments using only a lamp across the room and the tree's own twinkle lights. Of course, a tripod was very helpful as was the C5050's tiny remote. No need to touch the camera, so no shake. Beautiful!
I give this camera 5 stars but not the software and the manual. The Camedia software is a fluffy icon-infested version of its buggy predecessor. Come on, guys, you could have done a lot better by now. (I've had an Olympus 460Z 1.3mp for years and the software that came with it.)
If you don't know something about photography to start with, you will have a very difficult time with the manual. Get a good paperback book on basic photography and you'll be OK. As someone else said, this is not the camera to give your sweet 16 for her birthday, unless she happens to be in the photography club at school!
Here's a quickie tutorial on running the menus: All the buttons under your left index finger are menu selectors. Pick one and hold it down. The LCD display will light up with an animated ring of settings to pick. Use your right thumb to scroll the selector wheel until the setting you want is in its proper place. Let go of the button and you're done. The manual is written exactly backwards for understanding this. (If you learned to speak in the manner the manual is written, you would have had to memorize the dictionary before you would be taught to say, "Da Da.") Explore the menus with your left index finger and your right thumb and all will become clear with time.
Recommendation: buy an extender tube (they're cheap)to go over the lens. It will allow you to use filters (the polarizer with a clear blue sky is wonderful) and it will protect the delicate moving lens from impacts and grit. Do the old SLR trick of leaving a UV filter on at all times. Very inexpensive insurance.
Pros:
1. Sees in very subdued lighting.
2. You can manually intervene on most everything.
3. The macro modes are marvelous. It will focus right up to the lens. (How about a full-frame of your fingerprint?)
4. AA batteries are the way to go. Buy a bunch of NiMH AA's and a good charger. Look around; there are deals to be had.
Cons:
1. Reverts to default settings every time you turn it off except if you put them into the My memory. Annoying but managable.
2. The manual. What can I say...
3. The software was created by the art department, not users. It does work, however.
Bottom line: I LOVE THIS CAMERA. At my house, film is dead.
14 One Great Camera
I've had this camera for about 2 months and I love it. If you have some basic experience it is easy to use (though it takes a little while to get used to the menu system). I upgraded from a 1.3MP Panasonic. So far I've mostly used the program mode. Excellent pictures in program mode 19 out of 20 times. Nice feel good design.
15 Consumer Reports top pick...OK number 2
I just went online with Consumer Reports and they have the C 5050 by Olympus as the number 2 spot in the 5 megapixel showdown. The Nikon coolpix was number one. I don't exactly understand that considering that the 5050 gets 400 shots per battery charge, and the coolpix only 100. Additionally, the coolpix has an 8x zoom, and the Olympus has a 3x. Sometimes bigger isn't better. The problem with bigger zooms, is that they have really small lense sizes, therby limiting the amount of light they are capable of taking in. For inside the building shots, that is a super big factor. The Olympus with a 1.8 Super Bright Lense beats the competition. Think about it, if you want to take a shot in low light conditions, you have to have a long shutter speed. With a long shutter speed you need a tripod or a very steady hand. With a bright lense the C-5050 you barely need a flash. I have the Olympus C-2040 which also has the 1.8 lense, and I prefer to take pictures without the flash. It is almost like the camera records light undetected by the naked eye. The pictures are unbelievably bright for a so so light condition. Without the flash, you avoid the red eye problem, and the bleached out flash light. Skin tones and colors look a lot better without a flash.
Think about the brighter lense this way, when someone is moving around, or when you are in an action shot, the brighter lense automatically creates a faster shutter speed, so you get a non blurry shot. With a smaller lense opening, you are stuck with a longer shutter speed which results in a fuzzy shot. I know my earlier experience with 80-210 zooms, I always had to work around a 2.8 aperture. That is a serious limitation. My 2040 has a 3x zoom, and that is all you need. If you go crazy with a high zoom, you once again, should be using it on a tripod. The slightest hand shake is magnified with a big zoom. Then that is amplified even greater with the smaller aperture.
My Olympus C-2040 was consumer reports number one rated camera two years back. As CR puts it, the 2040 had superior printed picture results even above the 5 megapixel cameras. The following year it was comparable to the 5s. When printed on 8 1/2 by 11 glossy photo paper, you can't tell it from a 35mm photo. I have seen shots blown up to that size with a direct comparison to the Nikon Coolpix at twice the price, and the 1.8 lense made the background a lot more defined. Both produced great detail in the subject.
I am keeping my 2040, but I thought something should be said about the 5050.
16 the best under $1,000 digicam out there
After having my 4040 stolen about 1.5 years ago, I saved a bit for a replacement. I got the 5050 about 2 months after it was released and I couldn't be happier. The image quality blows away anything in its category, including the coolpix. Getting familiar with the RAW mode is highly recommended as it will give you smaller images than the tiff format (and in much better quality), eliminates all noise, and gives you a greater range of controls over the image once it is taken.
The controls are exhausting, and took a bit of time to get used to, but now it's like second nature.
The flash is a little too bright and requires some compensation for a decent image.
In conjunction with a middle-of-the-road photo printer, I'm able to produce images superior to any point-and-shoot 35mm and that rivals my SLR.
17 Not as robust as you would expect
The functions and features of the Olympus 5050 are superb - and so is the picture quality. However, when relative dropped the camera just 4 inches onto a table top the program selector button broke off. The plastic shaft that had held it in place turned out to be constructed having a very, very thin diameter. I had to pay $180 to get it fixed at Olympus original service. They said it had happened to other users as well, it was a typical error. I didn't expect this kind of problem from a magnesium body camera claimed to be "robust". My old Canon SLR cameras have had much more rough handling without any trouble. Olympus said they had checked the camera from a to z when fixing the broken button, but 1 month later the lens operation jammed for no apparent reason. After gently shaking the camera suddenly started working again, but I wonder, if and when this could happen again.
18 Good quality, easy to use
I've had this camera for about three months now. I don't mind that it's heavier than most. I love the feel of it -- no trouble holding it in one hand. Picture quality is very good.
19 impressive feature set, but check out the competition
pros:
- fast F1.8 lens, 5MP resolution, 3X zoom lens.
- very good resolution.
- good reliable metering.
- good color balance.
- full manual controls.
- allows fine-tuning of white balance.
- impressive macro performance.
- solid build quality.
- shooting priority play mode (double press quick view button to go to shooting mode).
- eight separate user settings - that's a lot!
- very wide range of manual and parameter controls.
- flash hot-shoe.
- good night exposures with noise reduction enabled.
- no color cast from flash.
- AF assist lamp.
- impressive bundle included IR remote control.
- flexible: supports three types of memory cards: xD, SD, CF.
- supports both RAW and TIFF formats.
- uses non-proprietary rechargeable AA batteries. this means that in a pinch, replacement batteries are as close as the nearest convenience store.
- impressive battery life.
cons:
- competition has at least 4x zoom.
- noticeable purple fringing.
- images noisier than expected, even at low ISO setting.
- jagged diagonals sometimes visible.
- complex user interface - button placement has a random feel to it.
- shutter lag when shutter speed isn't fast.
- LCD only tilts and not flip-out like canon's and nikon's.
- cannot cancel writing to memory during TIFF capture - very frustrating if you already know you're going to trash the picture you just took.
- slow start-up (over 5 seconds!).
- slow shot to shot times.
- bigger and heavier than its competition: 4.5 x 2.7 x 3.2 in, weighing 17.1 oz.
- 32MB xD card provided is inadequate so add $$ to your budget to buy external memory.
- manual is on CD - very annoying.
this is a solid 5MP camera but suffers from noisier than expected images (even at low ISO settings) and noticeable chromatic aberrations. its flexibility and wide feature set deserves consideration; just makes sure you also check out its impressive competition: the canon g5, sony dsc-v1, and nikon 5400.
i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.
20 I love the Camera - I hate Olympus
The camera is great and the Underwater Housing to go with it is Brilliant.
What I hate is Olympus' marketing - They give you a piece of cruddy software to go with it that doesn't handle all the file formats the camera is capable of.
Why buy a 5Mpixel camera ? For the quality of course and to shoot in RAW format. But Olympus' raw format is .ORF the software that comes with the camera cannot do anything but view these pictures, can't convert or manipulate. There is a plugin but it only works for photoshop - Olympus' user support recommendation - To use RAW files you're going to have to buy Photoshop at $700!!! They don't tell you that when you buy the camera, additionally I bought Photoshop Express - Useless with RAW so another $100 wasted, combined with the problem with 1GB flash cards I find Olympus' attitude to customers has huge holes. As a major sony and canon fan Its a shame that there is not a comparable package for underwater photography and I'm stuck with Olympus!
21 REALLY GREAT & EXCELLENT CAMERA
When I bought this camera I was not sure how it will work but I took almost 135 pictures and printed it on my photo printer I never thought that the pictures will come this much Crystal Clear.I took close up photo of my kids and I saw all small dot on the face was came on pictures.It was 100% Crystal clear.There are different kind of mode in this camera and that really works
greate.
22 Living with a digital camera
I have been doing photography for 30+ years: portrait, scenery, sports/action and so on. I expect a lot out of my equipment as I push it to the limits. Digital cameras tended to be too much marketing, too little substance and too much changing too rapidly. As such, I held off getting a digital camera for a long time.
Overseas travel loomed in my future. I did not want to lug the camera, lenses, films and such across the ocean only to be inspected at every security point. With the possibility of fogged film, I decided to take the plunge. I had used Olympus for decades, liked the gear and found generally good reviews for the C5050 model. So I took the plunge and purchased the camera.
After using the C5050 for close to 6 months now, I am quite pleased and happy with the purchase. The images are crystal clear, sharp and true to the original scene or subject. And with 5MP of resolution, I can crop, blow up and print without getting stairsteppy, something that lower resolution cameras do not do as well. The various modes also allow me to adjust to a variety of situations with just the touch of a dial. There is even a setting to take video and sound for motion pictures. All in all, Olympus has done an excellent job with this camera.
Only nit: it comes with a 16MB memory card. That's too small for normal use. Solution: go out to Crucial and buy a 512 MB card for it. That gives you 400+ high-res shots, more than enough for even the most snap-happy photographer.
Bottom line: if I could take it back and do it over again, I would still buy the camera.
23 Excellent camera
I am new to he digital camera and this is the first one I got. I still need to learn the different focus mode that works in different condition but, I took quite a few pictures as soon as I bought it with auto setting and guess what, the picture was beautifull. I fell in love with this camera already. One down side is the LCD view monitor was not as flexible as Canon G-3 camera.
24 Excellent Camera
This is a great camera. While I've only used it for two weeks, it does everything I've asked it to. The menus are easy to use and intuitive. The buttons are easy to use and the battery life seems really good. The delay between depressing the button shutter button and the recording of the picture is much better than my previous camera but there is a delay. SLR camera are still better than digital for action photography because of this.
25 a very nice camera with lots of bells and whistles
I got it a week ago and am very impressed. If you are willing to play a little with the settings, the results are amazing! With default settings, the pictures are a little too sharp, and the flash slightly overexposes, but it is all adjustable, and you can make the camera remember several sets of custom settings. The menu system takes some getting used to, but at the end it seems intuitive. The thing is, there is a lot you can adjust. I have seen easier cameras, like Toshiba PDR-M4, with simple menus. It is easy to design a menu system for point and shoot, but not for a complex camera like 5050, and they still did a good job. The software is not that nice, most annoying is keeps re-reading a large image file as you go through menus. Overall, excellent shots! Also the pics are always in focus, amazing! Buy a tube adapter to avoid the extending lens push against the cap when you turn the camera on
26 Fantastic camera
After three weeks of using my new C-5050, I have these words to say about it: I have been a dedicated film user for many years but always wished for the ease and speed of digital. I've been waiting for the digital quality to match the quality of film before spending this kind of money on a new camera. My family has a 2MP Olympus that we have used for vacation photos and snapshots, and the quality of those pictures is what has kept me from using a digital camera for more serious work. When Canon released the EOS-1Ds, I thought that was the perfect digital camera, albeit with a price ten times higher than this Olympus. I thought nothing short of the 11 mega-pixel Canon would produce images nice enough to fool any normal viewer. I have read many of the reviews posted here and elsewhere and even have a relative who uses this model, and after reading what they all had to say I decided to take the plunge and go digital. Out of the box, the pictures this thing takes are amazing. With the right system tweaks, the pictures are shockingly good. I usually print 8x10 inches on an Epson printer, but the pixel count is high enough for larger prints. Even better than the resolution, though, is the amazing clarity and detail you can capture with the nice lens of this camera. Admittedly, you have to turn down some of the camera's sharpening and ISO settings for the best quality, but you would use slower film for smaller grain in any camera. The RAW option is also nice if you want to export directly to Photoshop in 16-bit mode (the Olympus web site has a RAW Import Photoshop plug-in available as a free download), or you can shoot TIFF files (very large file sizes!) for the best quality 8-bit pics. The range of manual overrides is the best thing about the camera as far as I'm concerned - few serious photographers want the camera to do all the work - and the auto modes are simple enough for any family member to use. An all-metal body gives the camera a "pro" feel, too. If you want to show prints to your friends and family that make their eyes pop, you will not be disappointed with this camera. And I almost forgot: It uses the included rechargeable AA batteries, or standard AA batteries, or longer lasting lithium photo batteries. Of all the cameras that I compared this one to, this is the only one that supports AA batteries that you can buy anywhere in the world. Great feature!
27 Great Photos!!
I was not too thrilled about getting a digital camera, but I received this one as a gift from husband. And I'm really glad he did choose this one! Along with the Olympus P-400 dye-sub printer, the photos are in my opinion PROFESSIONAL QUALITY! I enjoy photography as a hobby, and this camera has taught me a thing or too about photography. I highly recommend it!
28 Very Dissapointed
I owned an Olympus C-3040 and had a great experiences with the camera. After reading reviews I upgraded to the C-5050 (worst mistake ever). The pictures were out of focus most of the time and with noticible noise. I adjusted everything from AF spot to Sharpness, but seemed to get the same results. Comparing my old pictures from C-3040 to C-5050 I am very dissapointed. I returned it back to the store and waiting to either go with the Sony DSC-F717 or upgrade to the New Canon Rebel digital which is due mid-sept. I wish I never sold my original C-3040. But I will try out all cameras before buying to see how the crisp the photos come out when I upload them to my laptop.
29 Who needs Polaroid?!
As a professional photographer who still strongly believes in film (and first experienced digital imaging as a $40,000 option for a twin-lens Rolli) I've watched closely as digital cameras evolved. That said, it took me until I had a serious need for a camera that could hook up to my Speedotron studio strobes. I needed a replacement for a defunct Polaroid back so that I could test my lighting, etc. I also wasn't looking to replace my film based equipment so my need was for something reasonably priced that could produce fairly high quality images, can use camera/lens mounted filters and could fire off my studio strobes. I found that in this camera! Since the camera has a hot shoe (and no p.c. outlet) I'm able to attach a Wein Hot-shoe to PC adapter and fire my strobes. The camera has fantastic optics and amazing range of capabilities that I've yet to get the opportunity to fully appreciate. The picture quality is crisp and contrasty and yields excellent results under a variety of lighting conditions. The fast 1.8 lens (at the wide angle position) produces fine images even hand held at 1/15th of a second (not that I'd typically take something that slow handheld but, I had to try it!). Overall, a great camera for someone who needs the bells and whistles such as full manual exposure, multi-spot metering, flash exposure compensation, etc.
PROS:
- Mult-spot metering
- Flash exposure compensation
- "MY Mode" custom exposure mode settings
- HOT SHOE!! (which can provide TTL flash with their flashes)
- fast lens
- adjustable display
- rugged construction
- Multiple media formats, multiple power source options
- much, much more!
CONS:
- Doesn't go down to ASA 50 (though easily correctable with exposure compensation)
- Learning curve for multi-spot metering because of unclear directions in manual
- when in full manual the monitor doesn't show you what the image will look like at the current settings (check out the Canon A70 to see what I mean) it only shows you what a "proper" exposure would be (as determined by the camera's meter).
- f1.8 only at wider angle setting. Would be nice if it maintained f1.8 maximum through entire range.
- would like a minimum aperature of f16 or f22
- minimum aperature not consistant throughout entire zoom range.
- would prefer a camera that had a zoom range of 28 - 135 (35mm equivilant)
Now, that being said, the minimum and maximum aperature issue seemed to be consistant through every brand I played with. Overall, the Olympus 5050 best fit my needs in features, performance, quality, etc. For someone who loves the technical side of photography this is a great addition to your set-up. For the avid amature, you won't be disappointed!
As another reviewer pointed out, the Olympus CLA-1 lens adapter is a must. Not only so that you can use filters on the camera but also to protect the zoom lens from damage (a fear of mine where all non-SLR or non Pro equipment is concerned).
So much more can be said but I'll leave it at this. You can't go wrong with this camera if it's in your price range.
30 great little canera but look out...
I like the pictures this camera takes but when I bought it I was told I could get an extended zoom to go with it to reach x 10 and now I learn that the zoom is very limited and doesn't even reach x10. Accesories are hard to find and way to camera spacific. Look on this site and see how many adapters are listed touse with the 5050 zoom....If I had to do it all over again I would buy something else
31 this is my review
I have two slight annoyances with this camera.
First i wish olympus would solve that lense cap problem where it would strain against the cap when you turn it on wiithout removing the cap.
Second, like all the reviews said, the noise is too high until you lower the sharpness setting. But after i fixed it the images were just great.
Otherwise The camera is absoltely great. I begin using all the advanced settings right away and i just love the images im getting.
32 Great camera, but one big warning
I love this camera. That said, I have experienced a major glitch you should know about. I originally bought a Viking 1 GB CompactFlash card to go with it. Hours out of the box the card doesn't work. After reading extensive forums on the subject (look under Olympus forum ..., it seems there are major compatibility issues with higher capacity CompactFlash cards and this camera. Specifically firmware version 77 and 76 (and lower if you have it). Version 78 seems to have very few complaints and you only get v79 when you send in the camera for repair and they happen to update it. Now, there seems to be no way to check this version until you take a pic, put it onto you computer and use a program to look at the Exif information (like Exifer, freeware). Olympus, Nikon, and other companies experiencing this are not giving up any info on this subject. Apparently Olympus firmware upgrades can only happen overseas. Some CompactFlash card companies are starting to list camera compatibility charts, but be warry. Viking says the CF1GB works with the C-5050, but it didn't in my case. I'm still trying to figure out whether I will be returning the camera and try to get another one in hopes it will have the better firmware. Fortunately this camera takes 4 types of media. Interesting how Olympus and Fuji make there own, new media type (xD Picture Card) and now the camera has problems with the CompactFlash. Hmmm. Maybe I should buy the Olympus brand card. Kind of fishy, but I bought this camera with plans of using the cheaper CF cards. I'm no expert on this. You now know what to look into if you want or have this camera. This is an annoying issue, but notice I still gave the camera 5 stars. I love it otherwise.
33 Like a pro - Great Camera!
Fantastic camera that allows you to have 8 preprogammed settings. This feature is perfect for very precise work where you want to get certain creative effects. Like blue toned pictures or settings for high contrast lighting. Writes images pretty fast (except Tiff) Flash is bright but you can easily reduce it's intensity with settings, but with a hotshoe, you can get a different flash. Viewfinder is decent. Great grip and well built, metal body. Only flaws are the delay when you turn it on (3-5 seconds) and "manual focus" is really not usable (some digital system with focus on LCD), and no Tiff abort write command. You won't outgrow this camera until 10MP cameras are cheap!
34 if only someone wrote this before...
My review is going to be very valuable for those who bought already and have problems with Olympus C-5050 digital camera. That's the reason I post this as a Negative review although I think this is a very good camera when you understand how to use it. Here it goes. Read my lips: do NOT use Auto ISO - you'll get a lot of noise in your pictures. Configure you own settings (using My Mode) and set your ISO to 64 at all times. Any ISO higher that 64 (even 100) will produce noticeable noise. Also, while configuring "My Mode", set Noise Reduction to "On" and, the most important, set Sharpness to "-4" or "-5". If you do all the above, Canon G3 owners will be jealous of your shots.
35 if only someone wrote this before...
My review is going to be very valuable for those who bought already and have problems with Olympus C-5050 digital camera. That's the reason I post this as a Negative review although I think this is a very good camera when you understand how to use it. Here it goes. Read my lips: do NOT use Auto ISO - you'll get a lot of noise in your pictures. Configure you own settings (using My Mode) and set your ISO to 64 at all times. Any ISO higher that 64 (even 100) will produce noticeable noise. Also, while configuring "My Mode", set Noise Reduction to "On" and, the most important, set Sharpness to "-4" or "-5". If you do all the above, Canon G3 owners will be jealous of your shots.
36 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER'S DON'T WORRY
A professional i will never be. But from the first photo
I am quite proud of the beautifulpictures, point and shoot.
It is also idiot proof ,in down loading.
37 Automatic and manual features a big plus
I purchased my C5050 just 1 week before heading to AZ for vacation. I had done my homework both on the vacation spots I intended to shoot and also on which camera to purchase. My previous digital was an Olympus D-510 which I had simply outgrown as my needs changed. I would still certainly recommend a 2.1 megapixel camera for anyone whose main goal is to take family photos and print out nothing larger than 5x7. I was even able to use my D-510 for photos which were submitted to a trade magazine for publication and had some great shots - learning the lighting features was a big plus. As anyone who has made the leap to a higher level digital camera knows, however, the real challenge comes in when you want to enlarge your photos. The C-5050 produced some real "knock your socks off" shots. Using the manual features feels a bit like a return to my earlier 35mm days, but because I have an understanding of shutter and aperature priorities, bracketing, etc. it's basically a refresher course for my photo brain. I don't intend to outgrow this one for quite some time to come! Love this camera and all its features!
38 There are few cameras of this quality at this price
The Olympus C-5050 Zoom is a full featured camera that can do it all. You will need some knowledge of photography if you intend to take advantage of all of its capabilities. Yet, if you are a beginner, the camera will do most of the work if you want it to. The black metal body has a solid, heavy feel, but it is easy to manuever. The rubber grip on the right side secures the camera in your right hand. Many of the functions accessed through complicated menus in previous Olympus cameras are accessed by one touch buttons and a knurled wheel on this camera. A knurled wheel on top of the camera allows you to select one of eleven different shooting modes. Photos are sharp, vivid and accurate in color. It accepts xD-Picture, SmartMedia, Compact Flash and Microdrive memory cards. It has the feel and appearance of quality. If you want more than a snapshot, I highly recommend it.
39 From 640 to 2560 px!
My interest in digital photography began with my mother's Sony Mavica FD-75. I began taking photos of flowers in our backyard, but hated lugging around floppy disks wherever I went, and found the bulky body too cumbersome for my delicate subjects.
Following my love of Sony products, I went for the Cyber-Shot P-30, a much more compact version of the previous camera. The MemoryStick media was much more convenient. But after less than a year, my photos were becoming more detailed and 1-2 megapixels just wasn't enough. I was also sick of tossing 9 out of 10 photos because they were out of focus.
I needed something better, something that could focus within an inch and had all the bells and whistles so I could fine-tune before I even shot.
Enter Olympus Camedia C-5050 Zoom. This camera is totally custimizable, with buttons for most everything and menu functions for the rest. It can focus on a subject while the lens rubs against it, with SuperMacro. And it can handle most of the standard memory media, including the new xD format. It can capture and associate sounds with your images, apply special effects to them, and then save them DPOF format directly to your digital printer. Even more exciting, this one doesn't use interpolation like almost every other digital, so you don't end up with grainy images. When they say 5 megapiexls, they mean it.
My new best friend.
40 I really love this camera!
This is my first digital camera and I just love it! The color and features are awesome. I highly recommend it. It has lots of bells and whistles to learn compared to a less complicated camera but well worth the extra effort. I love it!
41 Best Non-SLR digital available on the market!
Typically, digitals have suffered from two major problems. Shutter lag and poor performance in low light situations. The Olympus cameras (particularly this one) suffer none of that. The shutter opens when you push the button which is crucial when your subject is a two year with the attention span of a gnat. Additionally, the f1.8 aperture lens is as good as it gets for a non-slr and consequently this camera does a great job in low light situations. Combine this with the incredible # of features (umpteen shooting modes, you can shoot the shot in Sepia, save to SmartMedia, CompactFlash, & XD picture cards), this is one great camera. I simply could not be more pleased. Finally, if you learn to master a decent photo editor (e.g., photoshop, paint shop pro), you can produce near works of art with this camera that people are willing to part money for. I have.
42 Overall, a good camera
Picture quality is good.
43 massive auto-focus problems
I've owned several olympus digital cameras. The 2020, 3030, and D40 (and now the 5050). I returned the 5050 6 hours after purchasing. The camera takes wonderful pictures, has a feature set to die for, and all around is a fantastic product...except. about 40-70% of the time it takes pictures completely out of focus. If you're careful and setup the shot very carefully the pictures are fantastic. If there is a fore-ground and a background the camera tends to focus on the background blurring the foreground. After 4 years of digital photography this is the only camera that has ever behaved this way. Great camera and pictures for carefully composed pictures, as a point/shoot this camera fails most of the time. Not suitable for my wife to use for quick pictures of the kids...{sigh} I really liked the feature set.
44 Outstanding Quality with great control of settings
GREAT CAMERA: I have owned many Olympus Digital cameras and I find this to be the best near pro model there is. I love the control I get with the many setting options and manual settings. The Multi-storage media and hot-shoe for flash gives added selection and options.
You get excellent pictures weather you are a novice or pro.
The only problem I can find is in the fact that the owner's manual is on Adobe file and not printed. It could have been written better so you could understand the control buttons more easily.
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45 First Impressions - Delighted with Ease of Use
I just upgraded from my first digital camera (340R) and am very pleasantly surprised with the intuitive controls and the wide range of features. I have a lot to learn but can get the results I need now, while I learn how to really use this wonderful camera.
I create web sites for small businesses and play lots of roles including occasional photographer of locations, people, and products. I'm glad I waited for the C-5050. I appreciate being able to use my smart media as well as XD. I work mainly with the web but am looking forward to having the ability to create high quality prints.
46 Very happy - near 35mm SLR quality
Can't say enought bout it. Nice hand feel, clear and sharp images, plenty of options. Picked up a 1GB storage card for it and can still use all my old smartmedia at the same time (dual slots) This is THE semi-pro choice at the moment.
47 Happy customer
I have had the Olympus 5050 since November and now feel comfortable with many of the cameras features (many of which are different from traditional, manual 35mm cameras). I didn't have the benefit of many reviews at that time; but decided the time, features and price were right. To put things in perspective, I was (and still am) a 35mm photographer of landscapes using slide film although I use the film camera much less now. I have a film scanner that I used to convert the negatives and slides to hi-res digital image files and would print these files after editing in Photoshop LE and/or Elements. The 5050 has improved the process in these areas:
1. instant feedback. I have a good idea as to whether or not the shot will be a good one.
2. no wait for developing, no associated film and developing cost
3. sufficient megapixel count for larger prints. Camera includes internal interpolation to 8 megapixels. Use of Photoshop Elements bicubic (or equivalent) interpolation to larger pixel counts can result in great large prints. I've printed 10x15's that look as good as the 35mm prints. I have yet to print 20x30s; but I expect to be pleased (note: interpolation will be required via photoshop elemets or equiv.).
Additional pluses: uses a CF card, XD or Smart Media... I like having these choices given the uncertain nature of different memory standards.
The camera feels good. It's metallic and heavy feeling which gives at least the illusion of being well made. (e.g. passes the kick the tires test) ;-)
The camera has exposure times up to 16 seconds which can enable fairly low light shooting including night shots (see sample photos links below).
The camera includes a built-in number of modes for point and shoot picture taking as well as a manual mode (which I use exclusively except when taking panoramics).
I use the 1gb CF microdrive and can fit almost 300 pictures on it taken at max resolution (SHQ enlarge size (jpg)). Less for RAW and TIFF pictures.
A couple of minor points:
- I took several test shots under controlled conditions and found that a sharpening settings of -2, or -3 yielded prints with less noise
- Constrast and saturation settings of -2 seemed to work best
- I use iso setting of 64 exclusively for landscape shots. Results in lower noise than at higher ISOs.
- Movie mode is ok; but more of a toy than anything else (resolution 320x240) and is QuickTime format which is proprietary and the included Camedia software doesn't include the ability to edit or save to a different format.
- Raw import plug-in wasn't available for photoshop at the time; but is available now
- Olympus requires use of Olympus media to use the panoramic feature on the camera. You can use the 32mb XD card to take the shots and use the camera's internal copy feature to copy the pictures to a non-olympus brand CF card.
- I'm still tinkering with the white balance when shooting sunsets. The colors don't seem to look as nice; but I've been able to correct this in Photoshop.
48 Needs a wee bit of improvement
Pros:
The camera takes wonderful photos which is the most important of all. The rounded grip makes a one handed hold very comfortable.
Cons:
There is no protection for the LCD display on back (unlike the Canon Powershot G1-3 in which the LCD folds in) so I had to purchase a separate LCD Protector for it. The little "wheel" knob under the on/off switch forces you to have to use two hands to make adjustments to the flash mode, macro shots etc.
49 Serious film-based photo-hobbyist, the wait is over!
I have been an avid photographer for over 35 years. I recently sold over $7,000 worth of Leica equipment because it was gathering dust. Even so, I have not given up on film-based photography just yet and have a complete collection of professional-grade Nikon SLR equipment. This is the context in which I make the following comments about the Olympus C-5050, a 5 megapixel digital camera.
I have been watching the evolution of digital cameras for a number of years, wondering if they would ever approximate film-based photography for the advanced hobbyist. I can report without reservation that based on my brief experience with the Olympus C-5050 that day has come.
Are we there yet? - When I reviewed the current crop of "pro-sumer" non-SLR digital cameras, I expected to pick up an interim camera that would hold my "digital curiosity" for a couple years and revisit the issue when 20 megapixel cameras were the norm and film-based photography was dead to all but a few narrowly focused professionals. What I came away with is that 5 megapixel is more than adequate for 99% of your print requirements and strikes a good balance in the areas of file size and write speed. Will 6, 8 and 10 megapixel cameras that come out in the next couple years do a better job? Not necessarily if the bulk of your prints are in the 5x7 to 8x10 range (although even 11x14 fairs rather well) and you crop your subjects with care.
The images - After reading a couple of reviews, not the least of which was at dPreview.com, I was concerned about a couple issues; noise levels (the equivalent of grain in film-based photography) and chromatic aberrations in high contrast images. There was also criticism that the sharpness of the images was a little harsh. Resultantly, I set the camera for sharpness, contrast and saturation as recommended by this well respected reviewer. The first thing I noticed was the images were not contrasty enough. Then I started to look at other attributes including the noise and CA issue. I came to the opinion that Olympus may have taken these criticisms to heart and recalibrated their software to correct the noise problem and zeroed out the sharpness, contrast and saturation adjustments. In terms of the CA issue, I simply haven't shot into situations where this is a problem. Then again, maybe I'm not as critical as some reviewers.
Point is, the camera takes wonderfully sharp, contrasty, and "noiseless" photographs that 99% of the people using this camera would be hard pressed to differentiate from a 35mm pro-sumer SLR.
The camera - I was an owner of Leica rangefinder equipment for over 10 years so I appreciate a well made camera. I loved the solid feel of the Leicas, the ergonomics, and precision of these photographic instruments in miniature. I wasn't expecting this, but I have the same appreciation for this Olympus. The magnesium body has weight, it feels solid (with the exception noted below), it fits your hands perfectly, the controls are where you would expect them, and there is just the right number of external controls; not too many to be confusing and not too few to require frequent visits to "drop-down menu hell" which is a place even Nikons occasionally send you to.
The caveat to the comments about the "feel" of the camera is the lens that extends and retracts when you turn the camera on and off. It looks cheesy and subjects the extendable plastic lens housing to damage. The solution is to permanently install an Olympus CLA-1 conversion lens adapter, a 43-46mm step-up ring and a UVa filter. This well machined metal extension provides a self-contained extension in which the lens extends and retracts and looks every bit a part of the original design of the camera. The lens is protected and it improves the looks of an already good looking camera.
The competition - I didn't start looking for the Olympus. I was initially looking at the Leica Digilux 1, the Nikon CoolPix 5000 and 5700. I also looked at the well-regarded Canon G3. When I asked the salesperson whether there were other cameras I should consider, he pointed me to the Olympus C-5050, "Try this, a lot of people come away with a very favorable impression of the Olympus and end up buying it." Mind you this is at a high-end camera store in the Bay Area.
The Leica was a little bigger and boxier than it needed to be; not a bad camera but didn't necessarily follow in the footsteps of the M6 or M7. I was disappointed by the Nikons. In addition to the reliability problems reported about the CoolPix 5000 elsewhere, the ergonomics weren't quite right and you needed to delve into confusing menu options too change basic settings. The 5700's LCD was simply too small and it was annoying how you either got the LCD screen on the back of the camera or the LCD through the viewfinder, never both. The Canon was nice but felt a little too much like a point-and-shoot.
Other picks, the Leica and Nikons use a proprietary battery which means you will have to add an additional hundred dollars or so to the purchase of the camera if you don't want to run out of power. The Olympus wisely uses standard AA's that you can get anywhere in a pinch and even the best rechargeables cost only $20 for a pack of 4. Additionally, the Olympus is very good on battery power, you can shoot an entire day and the batteries still have a good charge. The Leica uses only SD memory and the Nikons use only CF whereas the Olympus can use 4 different types of memory.
Bottom line, the Olympus exceeded my expectations in every respect. And here's the best complement one can pay any camera - with the Olympus C-5050, I don't miss my Leica's.
50 Pretty good, a few issues.
Been using the 5050 for while now. Very happy with the quality of most shots. Features and flexibility are pretty good. The shooting modes are nice, programmability is good. Memory card flexibility is great (accepts Compact Flash, Microdrive, xD cards and Smart Media). The camera also offers a lot of resolution and compression options (including seperate TIFF AND RAW modes, in addition to other JPEG compression settings. Also includes a charger and rechargable batteries. Nice touch.
The onboard flash is a little aggressive, causes lots of hot spots on subjects' hair, etc. Even with home-rigged diffusers it's a bit much. Fortunately, the hot shoe is not a dummy (it has contacts) so perhaps a suitable external flash can compensate for this.
Images come out with significant noise in low light situations. Combined with the flash issue, this makes for problematic indoor shooting.
I will probably keep this for the studio setting and pick up another camera for point-and-shoot stuff.
51 I LOVE this camera!!!!!
This is my first (well actually my second but I returned the first one (not an Olyumpus) within a week of purchase) digital camera and I absolutely love it! I have been a Canon Sure Shot user for the last 5 years and was really looking for a easy-to-use camera that would take great photos with little work. I received it one day before leaving for a vacation in Las Vegas and was taking photos like a pro the entire trip. It was very user friendly and took no time at all to learn the most useful features.
Although I've only had the camera for 10 days, I've taken well over 200 photos and the only feature that bothers me so far is the lens cap. Since I had read the information on the problems with the cap prior to purchase, I knew it would be a drawback, but it's a small price to pay for such great photos.
The colors are extremely vivid, the quality is incredible and it really does take great great photos in low-light situations. I did a ton of research after my first digital camera impulse buy and am thrilled that it paid off with this purchase!
52 Olympus C-5050 is great but ....
I am an experienced amateur photographer and like this camera a lot because of its great picture quality, its excellent automatic adjustments in program mode, its high burst speed, its excellent low-light capabilities and its use of standard AA rechargeable batteries. It is very easy to use; and after the initial short learning curve, the extraordinary numbers of available custom adjustments are easy to make even from a somewhat confusing interface. I have taken spectacular pictures with it out of the box; and it is a great easy-to-use point-and-shoot camera despite its sophistication.
However, pictures shot at wide angle have an unacceptable amount of noise and purple fringing (from chromatic aberration in the lens) which flaws otherwise gorgeous pictures; and there is too much lag time between pressing the shutter and taking the shot (even in pre-focus mode), which means that despite its burst speed, you won't be able to use it easily for action or candid shots to get the picture you saw through the viewfinder. These problems have been documented in various reviews of the camera on established digital camera review sites. It should be noted, however, that all of the 5 megapixel cameras of this sophistication (such as the Nikon 5700 and the Minolta 7IL) have some issues which make them less than ideal; and if you can accept the flaws in this camera, its price-performance ratio is spectacular.
53 Best Camedia Yet....
I've had models 2000, 3000, 4040 and now the 5050. (I keep the model for about 1.5 years and sell the old one for about 50% of the new model price.)
Of all the upgrades, this was the least expensive.... Yet it has the most additional features/options. (Most of these are covered well in the other reviews below.)
Only two disappointments are that the max (native) MP rate is 2560x1920. Do the math... thats 4,915,200 not 5,000,000. Where did the others go??? (The model 4040 had the same issue, it wasn't really 4MP either.) And the recharger takes NINE HOURS to charge completely dead batteries. (Others on the market charge in two hours.)
Other than these two things, the simply best camera on the market ! (I've done the research.)
54 Keeps Getting Better
Admittedly I'm an Olympus fan. This is my 4th Olympus starting with the D-340R and moving through the C2000Z, C3040Z, and now the C5050Z. With each model I've found that Olympus has incorporated improvements that solve real user problems and have added useful features. The C5050Z is no exception. There has always been some aspect of each camera that I wished they had done differently. On the C5050Z the only thing I would change is the on/off lever. I carry my cameras with me everywhere (and take more than 1,200 photos per month) and the new on/off lever projects enough to get advertantly turned on in the camera bag. The ability to hold two memory devices is a great addition, especially since they retained the SM card for backwards compatibility. A great camera with all the features I could have ever asked for!
55 Continuing the Olympus quality tradition
I was very leary of the digital world, having seen very mediocre pictures from friends' digital cameras in the 1.0 megpixel range. I was very concerned when my wife presented me with an Olympus D-490 2.1 megapixel camera as a gift. The first few shots of our dog (zoomed in to show the whiskers with a wonderful sharpness) changed my mind. While the difference between film and this camera's pictures was apparent, the benefits of digital made this our camera of choice 90%of the time. A fall put the camera out of service, and I "upgraded" to a Nikon 885, thinking that our other Nikon film cameras were top notch, and Nikon wouldn't let a poor performer out the door. The disappointment despite my trials at fixing the poor contrast, smudged appearing results was a constant reminder of this poor choice.
When Olympus announced the C-5050, I decided to try it again, specifically because of the experience with the D-490, and the fact that I had a collection of Compact Flash cards that would now fit into this Olympus product.
The thrill is back! The first few pictures brought back the same excitement of seeing a wonderfully crisp, well exposed photo. There is a significant improvement in the ability to "zoom in" on portions of the image and still get very acceptable 5x7 prints. The lcd screen's sharpness and detail are improved. This is what the Nikon should have been.
Sure, the menus take a bit of getting used to. And the on-off switch invariably gets turned to the on position when I put the camera back into my coat, and the position of the tab on the switch makes it less intuitive to switch it off without looking. The pivoting lcd only pivots 20 degrees down, making it hard to frame a shot while holding the camera above your head and the rest of the crowd. But despite a few rough edges, this camera's performance and features now place it as one of the best I've had the pleasure to handle. I've yet to test the night shots and extended exposure times, and the flash needs augmentation for larger group shots, but after all, there is a hot shoe on top. The feel of the camera is solid and professional, and while a tad hefty, its compact size adds to the feel of quality.
I hope the depenability of my original Olympus flows through to this camera.
56 I love this camera
This compact camera takes beautiful & sharp photos & has tons of features to boot. Nice ergonomics with a good sturdy grip. Works well in low-light situations. The camera accepts various storage media, SM, CF, XD and you can have load both an SM/CF card and an XD card & switch off between them. Nice tilting lcd although I must say I'm disappointed with the rather cheap viewfinder. It takes some time getting used to the camera & the many menus but it's not too overwhelming. Lots of flash options including red eye & 2 slow flash options plus slave. The live histogram is an interesting & very helpful function. After reading up on it & experimenting with it, I'm sure it will help me with proper exposure. Will update in a few months or so after I've worked more with the camera. For now, I'm very happy with it & the pictures I've taken & look forward to improving my photography skills.
