Don't let the sun cloud your view

Delivering outstanding performance even when compared to digital SLRs in its price range, the Olympus C-8080 WIDE ZOOM also wins in the weight and size category. This 8 million pixel digital camera, protected by a magnesium alloy body, is the perfect companion when out hunting for big images in the city or country. It further features the specially designed Sunshine LCD. No more will you have to hunch over your camera, trying to shade the screen to catch a glimpse of the picture you just took. The innovative display technology makes sure you are shown a bright image even under a strong sun or glaring city lights. The camera's 5x wide zoom lens permits full creative expression.
To draw the maximum performance from the camera's 8 million pixel resolution - allowing excellent prints even above A3 format - the C-8080 WIDE ZOOM has been equipped with a 5x, f2.4-3.5 lens of the highest optical standard. It comprises 14 high quality lenses arranged in five groups and includes two aspherical lenses to reduce distortion. In addition, three ED elements help minimise chromatic aberration, an effect that often occurs when shooting in the tele setting. The focal length extends from 7.1 to 35.6mm (35mm camera equivalents: 28mm to 140mm) for a range of subjects and styles, from landscapes and architecture to intimate close-ups. The camera is also compatible with a wide range of CAMEDIA system accessories, such as a power grip, and has a bayonet mount system (like those used in SLR camera systems). This allows quick and effortless attachment and removal of tele and wide angle lens converters.

Besides the short release time lag of just 0.3 sec. rapid data processing also enables 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.

Alongside highly accurate light and white balance metering systems, this model 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 thereby the subject's distance. The camera then fine-tunes the readings for optimum sharpness. The user can select a range of focusing options: iESP, spot autofocus (the metering spot can be placed in 13 different positions in the frame), full time AF and, of course, manual focus.

Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Full Manual modes plus other functions provide full creative scope to get the results you want. To capture even moving pictures, the C-8080 WIDE ZOOM permits movie recording with sound. The sequence's duration is limited only by the memory card's capacity. Either the xD-Picture Card or CompactFlash cards may be used with this camera model. Thanks to the USB 2.0 AutoConnect interface, all results can be downloaded quickly and easily to the computer.