Olympus has today announced the 'mid-priced' C-3020Z, a 3 megapixel, 3x optical zoom digital camera. This is essentially an 'improved' C-3000Z with the following new features: scene exposure modes, 'My Mode', storage class USB, AE lock, noise reduction, contrast and sharpness setting has more levels, one touch white balance, flash compensation, image rotation. Other noteworthy details - No video out, no remote control, no external flash, uses the slower F2.8 lens (compared to the F1.8 on the C-3040Z). All this at a street price of $499.

This camera appears as though it will be labelled as the C-3100Z in Japan.

Olympus C-3020Z compared to C-3000Z

Press release:

The New C-3020 Zoom Offers Award Winning Features Without the Price Tag

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus America Inc., the world leader in film and filmless photography, today announced the C-3020 ZOOM 3.2 Megapixel (2048 x 1536 effective pixel resolution) filmless digital zoom camera to its line of award-winning digital cameras. The C-3020 ZOOM offers consumers an easy to use point & shoot camera with all the creative controls of an advanced camera -- all for only $499.

Although simplicity of operation is clearly a focus, the C-3020 ZOOM is much more than a point & shoot camera. The C-3020 ZOOM combines a large collection of creative control features and high picture quality in a compact easy to use design. Based on the familiar and well-established Olympus C-3000 series of digital cameras, most of the advanced features of the award-winning Olympus C-3000 ZOOM are included: a 3X optical zoom aspherical glass lens with continuous 2.5X digital telephoto for a 7.5X total seamless zoom (32-240mm equivalent); 6 mode flash with a slow synchro red-eye reduction mode; and a host of manual exposure adjustments -- all for that perfect picture. In addition, DPOF compatibility in the camera allows for easy setup and printing of the photographs you select.

New in the C-3020 ZOOM is 5 Scene Program Modes, which make the perfect shot easy, plus the customizable ``My Mode'' setting; USB Auto-Connect ready for Windows XP and Mac OSX for fast downloads; user-friendly menu system; extended battery life; and Noise Reduction modes.

Unsurpassed Optics

Olympus digital cameras are well-known for their exceptionally high-quality images. Images captured with the C-3020 ZOOM produce photographs equivalent to that of many film-based cameras. This is achieved by a number of factors, including a ``designed to be digital'' truly world-class all glass 8-element 3X zoom lens with a fast f2.8-f11 aperture range, low compression ratios including an uncompressed mode, and a host of other sophisticated Olympus technologies. Because of these technologies, Olympus high quality images can be achieved above an 8`` x 10'' photo size.

New Features:

• Noise Reduction System -- Gives the user clean colors and sharp pictures. For exposures of 1/2 second or longer, the Noise Reduction Mode (when activated) automatically compares the original image with an image taken immediately after the first exposure with no light. This
  frame contains only the background noise. The C-3020 ZOOM then compares both images and cancels background noise in the original image for clearer, sharper pictures.
• My Mode -- Creates unique custom camera settings that can be accessed by simply turning the mode dial to the "My Mode" position.
• New Scene Program Modes -- Scene Program selects the perfect settings for portrait, sports, landscape-portrait, night-scene, and QuickTime movie modes.
• USB Auto-Connect -- Connects to most any USB-compatible Windows computer (running Windows Me, 2000, or XP) or Macintosh (running MacOS 8.6 - OSX) in seconds. The camera is configured as an external hard disk for easy downloading of image files to computers without any additional software.
• Extended Battery Life -- New energy-saving circuitry gives longer battery life.

The C-3020 ZOOM will be available the end of October 2001 for $499. It includes a 16MB SmartMedia card, Auto-Connect USB cable, carrying strap, lens cap and retainer cord, 4 AA alkaline batteries, Camedia Master Software 2.5, manual, QuickStart Guide and remote control.

• Suggested Retail Price: $599.95
• Street Price: $499