In the crowded digital camera market, the products that are likely to get the edge are the ones aiming at superior quality of image allied to flexibility for the serious camera enthusiast and as many 'extras' as you can cram under the hood.
The C-70 Zoom goes squarely for photo superiority with 7.1 megapixels of quality image. The 5x optical zoom is complemented by a 6x digital zoom and the results can be viewed either through the optical viewfinder or the 2-inch colour TFT LCD screen. The lens leaps out in record time when you switch on, so you know this is a camera that means business.
Olympus uses its TruePic TURBO image processor to boost contrast and colours and to significantly increase processing speed. There are also two Macro modes, including Super Macro which will get you as close as 2cm away from your target. Images can be stored in either TIFF, JPEG or RAW file formats and can then be transferred to computer (or printer) via a USB port or viewed on TV through an AV out.
The controls on the back of the camera are easy to access and navigate. Within thumb range at the top are the Metering/Auto Focus mode, the Self Timer/Remote Control and the Flash mode (which includes red-eye reduction).
The main mode dial features Programme auto exposure (i.e. the main shooting mode), Aperture priority (ranging from f2.8 to f8.0), Shutter priority (with speeds up to 1/2000 sec) and Manual exposure. Experienced photographers will greatly appreciate the My Mode addition which will enable you to store any of the PSAM settings in any of four memory banks. White balance and auto-bracketing are also adjustable.
If that's too much like hard work for you, the SCENE option will offer you presets for Sport, Landscape, Portrait and Night shooting. If you also feel the urge to capture a special moment on moving pictures, you can film around 20 seconds of movies with sound at 15 and 30fps, at resolutions of 640 x 480 and 320 x 240.
The only control on the main mode dial that is largely redundant is the Play function, as all its features (viewing, rotating, zooming, etc) are duplicated on a separate Quick View button beside the LCD display.
Surprisingly, the one area where the C-70 Zoom is disappointing is in the basic design and layout. Although there's a comfortable rubber hand grip on the right side of the camera, the lens is positioned so far over to the left side that it's difficult to find a clear grasp. The pop-up flash button is unusually stiff to operate, it wasn't wise to put the power-on switch so close to the shutter button and for some strange reason the tripod socket in the base is off-centre and overlapping the battery compartment.
