Connections

On the left side of the camera (from the rear) is the connections compartment and flash synch terminal. The flash terminal isn't the standard PC type but rather a proprietary Olympus design for connection to their own FL-40 external flash. Behind the connections compartment door (again, same plastic construction as the SmartMedia door) is a DC-IN port (6.5V), AV output (for use with supplied cable) and USB connector.

Lens

The C-700 UZ's ace card is its amazing ten times optical zoom lens. In the retracted position it protrudes from its outer case by about 6 mm (0.2 in), once powered up the lens extends to 27 mm (1.1 in). The lens takes 2.89 seconds to extend, it does seem to be a development of the C-3040Z lens system (it makes the same noise). The 6 mm protrusion is protected by the supplied clip-on lens cap which works by gripping the end of the lens rather than clicking into place.

The lens system surprisingly bright with a maximum aperture of F2.8 - F3.5, the same as its brother the C-2100UZ. However, one thing it hasn't inherited from the C-2100 UZ is image stabilization, the floating lens which helps to keep the image steady for those long focal length shots. This, it would seem, is the trade off for a much lower price and smaller form factor.

Pop-up (flip-up?) flash

The C-700 UZ features one of these new fangled flip-up flash units (I'm sounding like an old-timer already). We first saw this design used (on a digital camera) on Kodak's DC4800. The flash unit is flipped-up by pressing the small flash button towards the back-top of the case, it must be closed by hand. Obviously the aesthetics design team had some input into this flash, when it's closed it keeps the cameras lines clean and the camera front clutter free.

The flash is rated with a maximum range of, at wide, 5.5 m (18 ft) and at tele, 4.4 m (14.4 ft).

Base / Tripod mount

The base of the camera is a simple enough affair with the battery compartment on the left side and the plastic (cough) tripod mount mounted somewhere near the front of the case (second cough) and not in line with the lens (third cough). Sorry Olympus, no brownie points here.

Shoulder Strap

I don't normally go to the trouble of mentioning the shoulder strap in my reviews. But this one is noteworthy, it's a neat design which uses a thinner material loop to attach to the camera on the metal SmartMedia door hinge. The strap itself can be adjusted from waist length all the way up to (almost) wrist sized. Best of all it doesn't get in the way when holding the camera.

Box contents

Supplied in the box are: (exact contents may vary by region)

• Olympus C-700 UZ Digital Camera
• 8 MB SmartMedia Card
• Shoulder strap
• Lens cap & string
• 2 x Olympus CR-V3 Lithium batteries
• USB cable
• AV cable (ends in two RCA jacks)
• User Manual
• CD-ROM's (drivers / Camedia application software)