Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

The C-5500 is expected to attract consumers who want a fast burst mode and a long zoom perspective. The camera will retail for $349.99 (USD) and should be available for purchase in February 2005. The C-5500 has 5.1 effective megapixels and a 5x optical zoom lens, which when coupled with the 2.7-frame-per-second burst mode, makes an ideal combination for creating sharp, shallow focused prints of sports or action. For movie clips of action or movement, there is also an included image stabilization system. In this price range, image stabilization is a rare find, but welcomed, of course.
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Auto Mode
The Auto mode is clearly labeled and easily accessible on the main mode dial, located on the back of the C-5500. In full automatic mode, the camera will meter, focus and expose the image without any necessary user control. This is designed to accommodate true point-and-shooters and allow for instantaneous capture, rendering all necessary adjustments to shooting settings automatically.

Drive / Burst Mode
The C-5500 contains a rapid burst mode that will capture images at 2.7 frames per second. This is incredibly fast for a camera under $400.

Playback Mode
Images can be played back in single frames or thumbnails of 4, 9, or 16. Images can be enlarged up to 5x. Slide shows can be played with fades and other inserted transitions. Histograms can be viewed and rotations made; what more could one want? Movie clips can be played back with audio at normal speed - or fast-forwarded or frame-by-frame.

Movie Mode
The Olympus C-5500 has a movie mode that has image stabilization, which is unheard of in this price range. It shoots at 320 x 240 resolution, which is not the greatest, but no digital still camera will parallel camcorder-quality movies. The clips can be recorded with or without sound.

Custom Image Presets
There are 11 scene settings, found in the “Scene” section of the C-5500’s main Mode Dial. Within the Scene setting are: Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Night Scene, Picture for Keepsake, Beach & Snow, Fireworks, Sunset, Candle, Available Light and Portrait settings.

Along with the host of image presets offered on the C-5500, the user can select from a series of modes selection options, including: Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual and Movie modes.

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