Model Design / Appearance
The body of the Olympus C-5500 is a brushed silver color with polished silver highlights around the lens and some buttons. The right-hand grip is a darker silver tone with a dark gray rubber grip for the fingers. The rubber is a great functional design feature. The C-5500 is an attractive digital camera with a logical and ergonomic design. The lens looks especially sexy with its polished highlights and clean edges.

Size / Portability
The C-5500 is not a slim card-sized camera, but it is still compact. It is too bulky for a pocket, but could easily be transported without a camera bag. The C-5500 measures 4.9 x 3.3 x 3.9 inches. The camera weighs 8.6 ounces without the battery and memory card. The lens protrudes from the camera when turned on, adding more bulk. The weight seems evenly distributed though, so it doesn't tip forward or backward terribly.

Handling Ability
The camera is easy to navigate and comfortable to hold and control. The right-hand grip makes handling feel natural. The rubber on the right-hand grip provides a nice padded feel and good gripping texture for the fingers. The buttons on the back of the C-5500 are clearly laid out, enabling quick adjustments to shooting settings without straining the fingers.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
As with most digital cameras, the Olympus C-5500's control buttons are located on the back of the camera. They are adequate in size and placement. The layout looks and feels logical. All of the buttons are clearly labeled with either words or commonly known icons like the Flash symbol. The Mode Dial is located near the top of the camera, so quick mode changes can be made without seriously interrupting shooting.

Menu
The menus are at least preliminarily designed in accordance with previous Olympus models. The initial menu screen enters into a four-way selection with Image Size/Quality, Self Timer, Monitor, and Setup options available, directing the user into the various subsets of control. All components of the C-5500 Zoom menu screen are superimposed over the live feed image, enabling the user to perceive possible alterations to the image prior to selection.

Ease of Use
The Olympus C-5500 is comfortable to hold and easy to operate. The buttons are logically placed and properly sized for easy access. The casing is ergonomically designed with recessed areas and protruding buttons to enhance comfort while shooting for long periods of time. This camera is still considered a point-and-shoot, but has far more options than most digital cameras in this price range.

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