Olympus C-8080 Wide ZoomOlympus enters the 8 megapixel arena with a feature-packed body and fast f/2.4-3.5 5x zoom lens.<<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 02/12/2004, Updated: 05/07/04 |
Video Out
The
C-8080 Wide Zoom has a Video Out port for connecting the camera directly to a
television set. Through the Setup menu, you can select either NTSC or PAL formats.
The video output can be used for reviewing previously captured images and movies,
or running slide shows from the camera. It also shows all of the LCD menu screens,
as well as the preview display from the LCD / Electronic viewfinders. Combined
with the optional infrared remote control device, the C-8080 Wide Zoom's video
capabilities make the camera a unique presentation device.Power
The
C-8080 Wide Zoom is powered by a single PS-BLM1 lithium-ion battery pack (7.2v,
1500mAh), or by an optional AC adapter that can significantly extend battery life
if you're doing a lot of downloads on the computer or working in a studio environment.
The camera comes with a battery and a charger and as usual, I recommend picking
up a second battery and keeping it freshly charged at all times. (Although the
C-8080's battery life is good enough that most users may not find a need for the
second battery.) The table below shows the power consumption in various operating
modes, and the projected run times you could expect based on the stated capacity
of the provided battery pack/|
|
(@ 6.5 v) |
(Olympus PS-BLM1 battery, 7.2v, 1500 mAh) |
| Capture Mode, w/LCD |
|
|
| Capture Mode, EVF |
|
|
| Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
|
|
| Half-pressed w/EVF |
|
|
| Memory Write (transient) |
|
|
| Flash Recharge (transient) |
|
|
| Image Playback |
|
|
Thanks to its surprisingly low power drain and a beefy LiIon rechargeable battery, the C-8080 Wide Zoom has excellent battery life, with nearly 3.5 hours of run time in its worst-case power drain mode. (Also surprising is that its power consumption with the EVF enabled is actually slightly higher than when using the larger rear-panel LCD.) I couldn't measure its current drain in "sleep" mode, because the camera wouldn't sleep when running from the external power terminal that I was using to measure the power. I've found in the past though, that Olympus cameras tend to power down very well when sleeping. I still recommend purchasing a second battery along with the camera, to handle long outings, but the C-8080's battery life is good enough that most users will probably find a single battery sufficient.
Included Software
Although our prototype sample arrives sans software, I assume that the C-8080 Wide Zoom will ship with Olympus' standard complement of software on CD. Direct camera control and image downloading are provided by Olympus' Camedia Master software package for both Mac and Windows platforms (Macintosh OS 8.6 - 10.1, Windows 98/98SE/Me/2000/XP). USB drivers for both platforms and an Apple QuickTime reader are also included.
Camedia Master allows you to download and organize images, as well as perform minor image correction and enhancement functions (such as adjusting contrast, sharpness, and color balance). For panoramic images, Camedia Master supplies a "stitching" utility to piece together shots vertically or horizontally. A complete printing utility works with the DPOF settings and allows you to print images directly to Olympus or other photo printers.
In the Box
The following items are included in the box with the C-8080 Wide Zoom:
- C-8080 Wide Zoom digital camera
- 32MB xD-Picture Card
- One Li-ion battery (model BLM)
- Battery Charger
- RM-2 remote control
- USB cable
- Audio/Video cable
- Neck strap
- Lens hood
- Lens cap with tether strap
- Quickstart guide (printed) and registration card
- Camedia Master software CD-ROM, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Electronic Reference Manual
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