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Average rating:
4.42
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Olympus C-740 UZ3.1 megapixels | 1.5" screen | 38 – 380 mm (10×)
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Average rating:
4.42
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Opinion: Nice optics.
10x Optical Zoom
f/2.8/3.7 - f/8.0
1/1000-16secs shutter speed
Useful Macro Mode
Run on AA batteries
Built in Flash
Panorama mode (requires Olympus branded xD cards)
Video (but no sound)
No hotshoe
Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Program modes, as well as the usual dummy modes
3.2 Mega Pixels
Takes in my opinion very nice photos.
I bought this camera in around 2003 as I had just got a job where I would be working overseas in London, for several months, so I though I ought get a camera.
My prior experiences with digital cameras were with borrowed digitals and the lessons I learnt were, proprietary batteries were a pain (if you only had one and it ran out) and that 3x-4x optical zoom was not very useful for anything but birthday party type photography. Hence my requirements were simple (and not well thought out or researched):
1) decent optical zoom
2) must use non proprietary batteries.
Very few cameras met the decent optical zoom criteria, the C740 was I think one of the top 3, if not the top optical zoom available (one of the others being the slightly upmarket C760UZ - sound with the video, a hotshow and more pixels).
I really fell on my feet with my purchase choice, when I selected the C740UZ.
It turns out that the C740UZ is a pretty nice camera. I was very lucky my "requirements" lead me to it.
The C740UZ takes really nice photos.
It has the "pro" or "creative" modes (Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Program).
The creative controls for a given mode are accessible without delving into menus. i.e. once you choose say Manual mode via a menu, the aperture and shutter speed can be adjusted from buttons and you don't need to go into the menu to set them.
I did quite a bit of fairly successful night photography with this camera - those manual controls make it possible.
Problems: Shutter lag - like most point and shoots, especially point and shoots from 8 years ago, the C740 had shutter lag, which makes using it for anything dynamic an artform - and an art form that is stricty limited by low frame rate.
One thing that did suck was that you had to use Olympus Branded xD cards to use the panorama feature.
No sound for video (available in the C760)
No hotshoe (available in the C760)
3.4MP limits the ability to blow up shots, but that is not really a problem with the camera.
Uses xD cards.
I didn't really have any problems with the C740 for what it is, it does it's job very well.
My scoring is based on how well it performed considering the class of camera it belonged to, not against all cameras available.
Opinion: Great camera overall. I've had it for 4 years now. It was my first digital camera. Near perfect picture quality. For example, when taking live nature shots of birds, you can see the detail of feathers. When taking shots of my son at his various school events, the zoom comes in handy. I like being able to switch from the LCD view to the view finder with a press of a button. LCD is small at 1 1/2" but I believe that was the standard size when I bought the camera in 2003.
The flash works super. There are a lot of features that I haven't used too much like the action shot. The ability to change ISOs is easy but it cannot be done on the fly. I have been so pleased in general with this camera. I do plan to purchase a more compact camera soon but will stick with the Olympus brand.
Problems: I have never had a problem with this camera. Although it does tend to drain batteries, get a good rechargeable set. That worked best for me.
The only downside to the camera is although its small, its still a bit cumbersome to "whip out" to take a shot unless you have it hanging on your neck. Not a good on the go camera. For that you need a point & shoot which I plan to get for active vacations.
One more downside, movies do NOT have sound so if that is important to you, skip this camera.
Opinion: (I have had this camera for 4.5 years, and just upgraded to a Pentax K10D digital SLR.)
The Olympus C-740 UZ was a great first digital camera (thanks, Grandma :-). But it's hampered by the fact that it has one GREAT feature (a 10X zoom) without much else to back it up.
The zoom is great, but the autofocus is way too slow to use it for action or wildlife shots at a distance. The shutter lag is pretty bad even with focus locked in. The flash is weak, but the white balance invariably comes out wrong without it. The various shooting modes are useful, and the manual mode is very good for a non-SLR camera. The movie mode only takes really short clips, and no sound (!!!) so it's pretty much useless.
Well, this camera is pretty much off the market by now... but I wouldn't recommend buying it used even. You can get a lighter, faster, modern camera with a 7-10X zoom these days.
Problems: * The LCD screen cracked. Unlike with most newer/larger cameras, there was no protective hard plastic cover over it. Fortunately, the electronic viewfinder screen is an *exact* duplicate of the main LCD, so this hasn't affected my ability to use the camera.
* Olympus has stuck with stupid xD cards, while everyone else now uses SD. xD cards are way more expensive, harder to find, and slower. Really annoying.
* If you forget and leave the camera on, it drains the batteries even though it claims to have auto shutoff.
Opinion: I have had this camera for 3 years now. I don't think anyone will be looking to pick one up, but I have loved it so much for so long I had to write something. I have had no physical porblems with it. However if you have one of these make sure not to drop it on the viewfinder. My wife did and the LCD in the viewfinder went a bit blurry. Besides that it gave me thousands of great images of my little gril the frist 3 years of her life. Just now I have moved up to a new camera. I picked up a D40, check it out!! In auto it is easy to use and blows the doors off this guy. But it will always be in my bag for a quick high zoom pic unitl I can get a nice zoom for the D40.
Problems: It is 3 years old so it all the technology on it, so yes the focus is slow and the MP is low, and it kind a blows in low light conditions even with a F2.8 appature.
Opinion: I love this little camera! This was my first foray into digital and I didn't want to spend much money until I had at least a working knowledge of a digital camera. Three years later and I'm only now looking for a more advanced digital camera. Earlier this year I bought a C-750 as a second camera for my trip to London in case something went wrong with the C-740 - it didn't. My 8x10 home-prints are crisp and clear. Metal body, attached lens cap, couldn't be easier to use.
Problems: I'm looking for a faster camera because I'm shooting a very hyper 16 mo. old grandson and the shutter lag is too long if autofocus is turned on. Add the pop-up flash and he's long gone by the time the picture is taken.
Opinion: I am a little bit late of giving my comments as I have this camera for years. It's still running well and I still like its 10x zoom and its picture quality. I bought a few new DC afterwards but It is still one of the best.
Opinion: Excellent!!!
Opinion: Image quality is good, especially on macro where it is stellar (which is interesting given the touted 10x optical zoom). Full telephoto can be hard in low light due to camera/hand shake, but you can get good shots. There's some shutter delay and the auto-focus isn't quick, but if you learn to press half-way for focus, and then take the photo, you get very good results.
The 10x zoom, extra-low dispersion lens is the reason to buy this camera. When it came out last summer, it was the only digicam in the price range with such a large zoom.
I've had the camera for over a year now and things are still working well and I've gotten very accustomed to it.
There are LOTS of manual features, which is a great plus; more than most cameras that were in the original price range. 3.2 megapixel does 8x10s no problem.
Problems: Slow auto-focus, often.
The electronic viewfinder is great for saving batteries and being able to navigate menus without taking the camera away from your face, but it isn't so hot in very very low light situations.
I wish it had audio to go with the video clips (as the C750 does), but I knew it didn't when I bought it.
The only breakage problem is that the rubber cushion around the viewfinder eyepiece has come loose -- nothing a little glue and fix easily.
Opinion: The C740Z is my fourth digital camera. The first three were all Kodaks.
The Olympus is far superior to the last of those, it being the DC215Z.
Combined with its included Camedia software, downloading, editing, and printing pictures is a snap. For more precision in editing, however, I also use three other editing programs.
Though DPR's "full review" says 5x7" is the largest size for a print, I've done many 8x10s. Some of those are close to art-prints.
Problems: The 10x zoom -- what I mainly bought the camera for -- is excellent, though I'll seldom use it. On the one occasion I did, it captured parrots in flight in the Amazon fairly well (in rather dim light just after dawn): that is, there was little blur even though I had steadied the camera merely by leaning against a post on our small, anchored boat.
The controls are a bit complicated, but once mastered they give a good range of options.
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 | 22.3 megapixels 3.2" screen Full frame sensor |
