PMA 2003: Olympus has today announced the three megapixel C-740 and four megapixel C-750 Ultra Zoom digital cameras. These are direct successors to the C-730 Ultra Zoom. Featuring the now familiar C-7xx body the both cameras feature a 10x optical zoom lens (38 - 380 mm equiv.). Like all newly announced Olympus digital cameras they store images on xD-Picture Card, and are powered by AA batteries. Although the format may be familiar the lens system is new, all elements are glass and we hope this will help to eliminate some purple fringing seen in other C-7xx models.

Press Release - C-750 Ultra Zoom (Olympus UK):

Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom

40x magnification zooms you in on the action

Olympus announces the launch of its latest Ultra Zoom model, the C-750 UZ. The perfect tool for those who want to get in to the action, this 40x Zoom, 4 million pixel digital camera is available from April, RRP of £499.99 (inc VAT). For stockist information call 0800 072 0070.

Building on the success of the C-730 Ultra Zoom, the new C-750 Ultra Zoom features a redesigned body that is smaller and lighter than the current model, plus an increase in mega pixels. Combined with the introduction of a large 1.8" display this means capturing your digital moments is even easier.

The 10x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom give users a massive 40x magnification (equivalent to 1520mm on a 35mm camera) zooming you in to any subject with ease. At the other end of the scale the C-750 UZ boasts a macro mode that can get you as close as 3cm away.

The C-750 Ultra Zoom features a bright, high performance f2.8 - f3.7 lens, comprising of 11 elements arranged in seven groups and including two aspherical lenses plus ED elements, which are only found in top-end SLR cameras and significantly help reduce chromatic aberration.

Aperture, shutter priority and aperture and shutter speeds can all be customised, giving the user more time for creative expression. The C-750 Ultra Zoom also offers iESP, spot and AF area autofocus. The user may use digital ESP, spot or mulit-spot exposure metering. A histogram displays brightness distribution of both captured and live images in a graphic form to allow the exposure to be checked.

However, the C-750 Ultra Zoom isn't all about high level customisation and for the novice or intermediate user the camera offers ten scene programs including portrait, self-portrait, night scene, sports, landscape, landscape plus portrait and four programmable "My Mode" settings.

With a built in flash, the C-750 Ultra Zoom offers an intelligent automatic white balance metering system that assures realistic colour reproduction. Pre-set white balance settings for daylight, overcast and tungsten light conditions and three options for fluorescent light are available, as well as one touch white balance. Five Flash modes are included for shooting in darkness or low light. The C-750 Ultra Zoom also incorporates a hot shoe for connecting external flash units (such as the Olympus Camedia FL-40 and FL-20)

Other functions include a sequence shooting mode capable of up to 12 exposures at a rate of 2.6 frames per second, a panorama mode, 2 in 1 shooting, Black & White or Sepia modes and the ability to record short movie sequences in QuickTime Motion JPEG format.

The C-750 Ultra Zoom comes with 16Mb xD-Picture Card and supports the new EXIF 2.2 standard as well as PIM II, enabling compatible printers to apply the saved data to produce optimised image printouts.

The C-750 UZ can be expanded to enhance your photographic skills further with specially-developed tele (TCON-17) and wide-angle (WCON-07) converter lenses. The C-750 Ultra Zoom is also compatible with the FL-40 and FL-20 external flash units via its built-in hot shoe connection to give even greater control over the users flash needs.

Olympus C-740 / C-750 Ultra Zoom Specifications