Olympus have today announced the C-5000 Zoom. We don't have much information, except the press release from Olympus Europe, but it seems that its a 5 megapixel, 3x zoom model with a fair degree of manual control and appears to be a similar transition as was made from the C-4040 Zoom to the C-4000 Zoom, the new C-5000 Zoom looks like a cut-down C-5050 Zoom. Sales of the camera are expected to commence in autumn 2003.

Press Release:

The Olympus C-5000ZOOM

Hamburg, 29 August 2003 – Creativity knows no bounds. That is why the photographer’s main tool – the camera – must not impede any impulse to compose even the most imaginative of motifs. The five megapixel CAMEDIA C-5000ZOOM is such an instrument. Whether the glistening ripples of water gently lapping on a shore at sunset or the interplay of light and shadow on a portrait shot, it lets you express your photographic ideas with confidence. With its silvery, ergonomically contoured body, the very attractively priced C-5000ZOOM also gets top marks for a distinctive design that underlines the user’s artistic flair.

The provision of features that support photographer’s creative impulses is central to the C-5000ZOOM concept. That’s why an emphasis has been placed on enabling a high degree of manual control options. Virtually all camera settings can be adjusted. Focus, exposure, white balance and ISO to name but a few. The result: complete freedom to create a composition limited virtually only by your imagination. Photos can be captured from as close as 4 cm in Super Macro mode and extended exposure times of up to 16 seconds guarantee superb versatility.

Sure, you can also utilise the multiple automatic shooting modes to take fast snapshots and play with the 3x optical zoom to enlarge a scene, which combined with the 4x digital zoom enables even 12x magnification. But for real lovers of photography the CAMEDIA-5000ZOOM allows for the necessary individuality which makes the difference between a good and a great composition.

While a built-in flash lets you get optimal illumination for most situations of low and challenging light conditions – and offers room for experimentation with 1st and 2nd curtain slow synchronisation – the C-5000ZOOM does not set its limits there. A hot shoe connection allows external flash units to be clipped on. In this way, photographers are not only provided with the possibility to obtain greater flash power. They are also bestowed with considerably more flexibility to create a wider range of moods by using bounce flash techniques, for example. And in a camera of this price segment, this feature is almost unheard of.
Several function shooting modes such as two-in-one, panorama, B&W and sepia enhance the creative potential of the new camera model. The precision optical system is comprised of seven glass lenses which are arranged in six groups. Power supply is ensured by an ultra-small rechargeable lithium-ion battery, for which a quick-charger with a maximum recharging time of two hours is supplied with the camera.

Its many adjustable photographic features and sensational ergonomic design make the C-5000ZOOM a true object of desire for users demanding a camera that keeps up with their compulsion for creative expression. Sales of the camera are expected to commence in autumn 2003.

Olympus C-5000 Zoom Features

Creative features and a ‘photographic’ design at a reasonable price
  • Firm grip and intuitive layout of buttons and controls
  • 1.8” LCD with 134,000 pixels
  • 5.0 million pixels
  • 3x optical zoom f2.8/4.8 (equiv. 38 – 114 mm on 35 mm camera)
  • plus 4x digital zoom
  • Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Full Manual modes
  • 6 scene programs (portrait, self-portrait, sports, night scene, landscape, landscape portrait)
  • Hot shoe for external flash connection
  • Built-in flash with multiple modes including 1st and 2nd curtain slow synchronisation
  • Super Macro mode for shots as close as 4 cm
  • Shutter speed ranges from 1/1,000 to 16 seconds
  • Movie recording function

Olympus C-5000 Zoom Specifications

Type Digital camera with 4.5cm/1.8 inch colour TFT LCD monitor.
Image sensor 1/1.76 inch CCD solid-state image pickup with 5.19 million pixels.
Effective pixel number 5.0 million pixels. (The actual number of pixels used in image processing.)
Filter array Primary colour filter (RGB).
Storage media type Removable xD-Picture Card (16, 32, 64, 128, 256 and 512 MB).
Lens Optical zoom : 3x.
Structure : 7 lenses in 6 groups.
Filter diameter : No filter can be attached.
Focal length : 7.8 � 23.4mm (equivalent to 38 � 114mm lens in 35mm format).
Maximum aperture : 2.8 (WIDE) � 4.8 (T )
Digital Zoom Up to 4x.
Viewfinder Optical real image.
LCD monitor 1.8 inch colour TFT LCD monitor with 134,000 pixels.
Focusing System CCD contrast detection.
Focusing Mode Auto: Spot autofocus, AF area is selectable, AF lock.
Manual: Yes
Working range Standard mode: 0.5m � infinity.
Macro mode: 0.2m � 0.5m (W); 0.3m � 0.5m (T).
Super Macro mode: From as close as 4cm.
Light metering Mode : Digital ESP metering. Spot metering.
Function: AE lock.
Exposure control Programme AE, AE lock. Aperture priority AE, Shutter priority AE, Manual Exposure. Scene programs: Portrait, Self-portrait, Sports, Night Scene, Landscape, Landscape-portrait.
Shutter speed 16 � 1/1000 sec.
Compensation �2 EV in 1/3 EV steps.
Auto bracketing Auto exposure.
Sensitivity Auto: ISO 50/80/160/320
Manual: ISO 50/80/160/320
White balance modes Auto : Full auto TTL.
WB adjustment : 14 steps.
Pre-set : One-touch, sunlight, overcast, tungsten light, fluorescent light 1,2,3.
Flash (Built-in) Modes : Auto (automatic activation in low and backlight),Red-eye reduction,Fill-in (forced activation),Slow synchronisation (1st and 2nd curtain), Off (no flash).
Working range: 3.9m (W); 2.3m (T).
Guide Number: 8-9
External flash connection Hot shoe.
Sequence shooting 1.7 frames per sec. and up to 5 frames (in HQ mode).
Image processing TruePic, pixel mapping, noise reduction.
Image quality adjustment Sharpness � 2.
Contrast � 2.
Saturation � 2.
Function shooting 2 in 1 function,
Panorama function,
Black & white mode.
Sepia.
Still image edit Re-size, rotation.
Motion picture edit Index.
Still image JPEG (DCF: "Design rule for Camera File system"),
TIFF (non-compress), Exif 2.2 support,
Print Image Matching II support, DPOF support.
Motion picture QuickTime Motion JPEG�*.
Sound No.
Number of storable frames (approx., with 32MB xD-picture Card) Still picture mode : 2,560 x 1,920 TIFF 2 SHQ 8 HQ 26 2,272 x 1,704 TIFF 2 SQ1 high 11 / normal 33 2,048 x 1,536 TIFF 3 SQ1 high 13 / normal 40 1,600 x 1,200 TIFF 5 SQ1 high 22 / normal 66 1,280 x 960 TIFF 8 SQ2 high 35 / normal 104 1,024 x 768 TIFF 12 SQ2 high 55 / normal 153 640 x 480 TIFF 30 SQ2 high 142 / normal 398
Motion picture mode: HQ (320 x 240 pixels): 114 sec. max. (15 frames/sec.) SQ (160 x 120 pixels): 453 sec. max. (15 frames /sec.)
Power supply Rechargeable battery: Li-ion battery 4.8 V.
One-time use battery: No
AC Adapter: Optional AC adapter, 4.8 V.
Interface DC input terminal,
USB Auto Connect interface (storage class),
Video output terminal , External Flash Connector (Hot-Shoe)
DPOF setting date/time display.
Multilingual menu English / French / German / Spanish.
Setting memorisation ON /OFF/ My mode.
Self-timer Yes.
Date/time/calendar system Up to year 2099.
Dimensions 105 (W) x 74 (H) x 46 (D) mm (excluding protrusions).
Weight 240g (without batteries and xD-Picture Card).
Box contents Strap, 32MB xD-Picture Card, USB cable, video cable,
4.8 V rechargeable battery, battery charger, CAMEDIA Master 4.1.