Olympus announce 2.1 megapixel C-21

Olympus Japan today announced the new fixed focal length C-21. This tiny unit (slightly smaller than the Canon A5) sports the same 2.1 megapixel CCD as the C-2000Z but with no zoom lens (fixed 38mm lens is used instead) or manual features.

This camera is squarely aimed as competition to the Nikon Coolpix 700, Fuji MX-2700 and Canon A50. Priced at 89,000 YEN (US$729) and to be released in Japan at the beginning of August.

PC Watch Sample Images (from a beta camera)

Nice example of chromatic abberations in this shot

Brief specifications:

• 2.1 Megapixel CCD (1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480)
• Fixed 7mm (38mm equiv. 35mm lens) F2.4 lens (5 elements)
• Digital Zoom: 1.6x, 2x, 2.5x
• Aperture range: F2.4, F8.0
• Shutter range: 1/2s - 1/750s
• Focus range: 60cm normal, 15cm macro
• Capture modes: SHQ (TIFF), HQ, SQ
• Burst mode: 1fps up to 5 frames (HQ), 1.5fps up to 15 frames (SQ:XGA)
• Storage: SmartMedia (up to 32MB cards)
• Metering modes: Digital "ESP" and Spot metering
• Exposure compensation: +/-2EV in 1/3EV steps
• Sensitivity: Auto (between ISO100 and ISO400) or ISO100, 200, 400
• White balance modes: Auto, 4 modes and manual
• Optical viewfinder
• 1.8" TFT LCD
• Focus modes: Focus can be locked to infinity or 0.2m and 2.5m
• Flash modes: Auto, Red-Eye, Forced On, Off
• Flash charge time: 6 seconds
• Flash range: 4.4m
• Power: supplied lithium battery pack (CR-V3) or 2 x AA batteries (supplied battery should last for 200 shots on a fresh full charge)
• Communications: RS232 (What-no-USB?)
• Size: 106.5mm x 35.5mm x 62.3mm (slightly smaller than Canon A5)
• Weight: 190g (without batteries, roughly same weight as Canon A5)

The lens is uncovered by sliding the door down this also powers up the camera and uncovers the viewfinder window.