Manual Control Options
The C-7070 Wide Zoom is stocked with manual controls, providing as much user control as any non-SLR is capable of. With full Manual and Priority modes, all elements of exposure are manually alterable. The user can manipulate the focus, set the frame’s aspect ratio, recording format, and light sensitivity rating, as well as customize white balance, and apply accessory lens and flash units. Clearly, for a “compact” camera, there is no shortage of manual control on the C-7070 Wide Zoom.

Auto Focus
The C-7070 Wide Zoom utilizes an iESP focusing system containing multiple automatic focusing modes within its Spot Advanced AF. For the prosumer audience, Olympus advertises two automatic focus systems, designed to suit the “artistic needs of advanced users.” A Predictive AF setting is included to measure the rate and placement of moving subjects in order to estimate their location at the moment of shooting and set the focus accordingly. An AF Target Selection function is also included to provide advanced control and focal depth within the image by enabling manual selection of the 143 AF zones.

In normal shooting mode, the camera will focus from 31” from the front of the lens to infinity (0.8m — infinity). In Macro mode it will focus from 8” — 31” (0.2m — 0.8m) and in Super Macro mode, from 1” — 8” (.03m - 0.2m).

Manual Focus
Unfortunately, as with most compact cameras, there is no manual focus ring surrounding any of the C-7070’s variable lenses. Olympus does include a mechanized means for attaining manual focus on the C-7070, although it is quite cumbersome to utilize in a live shoot.

Metering
The C-7070 Wide Zoom contains a digital ESP metering system, with Spot and Center Weighted options.

Exposure
The C-7070 Wide Zoom includes four main exposure modes: Program, Manual and both Aperture and Shutter Priority. There is also an additional exposure compensation feature available when subtle alterations to exposure are sought. Exposure compensation is offered in the standard +/-2 range, alterable in 1/2 or 1/3 EV stop increments.

White Balance
What the C-7070 lacks in light sensitivity and ISO range, it attempts to compensate for with an expansive array of white balance options. Extending far beyond point-and-shoot selection, the C-7070 acts far more like a prosumer model in terms of color capabilities and tonal parameters. Employing an iESP2 multi-pattern auto TTL white balance system, the C-7070 includes full Automatic and Custom settings, as well as 6 preset options for instantaneous orientation. Among the included presets are: Shade, Overcast, Sunlight, Evening Sun, Tungsten, and Fluorescent settings. An additional white balance compensation feature also offers a +/-7 incremental range to render subtle changes in color gradation.

ISO
A glaring flaw and apparent inconsistency in the C-7070’s design is its restrictive point-and-shoot sensitivity range. Within a manually selectable 50-400 ISO range, the user can set the sensitivity, but relinquishes control in the diminished late afternoon and evening light. While the camera does include a noise reduction mechanism for longer exposures which exceeds 1/2 second in duration, the 400 maximum ISO rating on the C-7070 is not sufficient for shooting indoors without studio lights or constant reliance on the flash. This may prove to be a major deterrence for many members of the C-7070’s more photographically-inclined audience, who typically expect at least an ISO 800 setting. While the 100-400 range is adequate for most snapshooters, potential prosumer users of this camera will be suffocated by the confined range. Whereas lenses and flashes can be changed, this camera’s light sensitivity is, unfortunately, fixed.

Shutter Speed
The C-7070 contains a standard, though flexible, 1/4000 — 16 sec shutter speed range. The shutter duration can be manually altered in both full Manual and Shutter-Priority modes, allowing the user to control exposure and visible motion within the image.

Aperture
The Aperture diaphragm on the C-7070 opens from f/2.8 — f/11 and is also manually adjustable using the Manual and Aperture-Priority settings. This is an extensive aperture range, particularly considering the camera’s wide angle emphasis; with an f/11 setting and 27mm (equivalent) focal length available, the C-7070 will rival any non-SLR for attainable depth-of-field.