Olympus C-2100 ZoomWow! A superb 10X, optically stabilized zoom lens on a high-quality 2 megapixel camera!<<Video, Power, Software :(Previous) | (Next): Reference: Datasheet>> Page 12:Test Results & ConclusionReview First Posted: 10/18/2000 |
Test Results
In keeping with our standard policy, our comments here are rather condensed, summarizing our key findings. For a full commentary on each of the test images, see the Olympus C2100 Ultra Zoom's "pictures" page.
As with all Imaging Resource camera tests, we encourage you to let your eyes be the judge of how well the devices performed. Explore the images on the pictures page, to see how well the Olympus C-2100 images compare to other cameras you may be considering buying.
Overall, the C-2100 performed very well, with great color balance in most instances. The automatic white balance setting accurately handled most of our test light sources, though it produced a slightly warm cast when working under studio lights. We occasionally used the fluorescent white balance when working in the studio, though it produced a slightly magenta cast in some images (we admit to having a tough time getting a true white value here). This is our only real complaint about this camera, and we'd like to see a manual white balance option for more accurate results. The C-2100 did accurately reproduce the large color blocks in the Davebox test target, though the subtractive primaries (cyan, magenta, and yellow) appeared just a touch undersaturated. Tonal handling was also very good, as the subtle tonal variations of the Q60 target were completely visible up to the "B" range. Other than the slight color casts we mentioned earlier, the C-2100 does an excellent job.
The C-2100 Ultra Zoom produced a sharp, clear image on our resolution target tests. We called the resolution as 650 lines per picture height in both horizontal and vertical directions, although detail was visible out as far as 800 lines in both directions. Some aliasing was visible as low as 550 lines per picture height in both directions, somewhat more pronounced in the vertical direction, but not too objectionable in either. Overall, good resolution for a 2 megapixel camera.
The C-2100 provides excellent exposure control, with Automatic, Shutter Priority, and Aperture Priority modes, as well as a full Manual mode and a Special Program mode. The user can also control focus, sharpness, metering, ISO, exposure compensation, and white balance, in addition to flash mode. The C-2100 performed very well in our low-light tests, as we obtained bright, useable images as low as 1/16 of a foot candle (0.67 lux). At these low light levels, with long exposure times, there is only a very moderate amount of noise present in the images, even at the ISO 200 and 400 settings. Color balance looks great in these low-light images, as does detail. To put the C-2100's low-light performance into perspective, an average city night scene under modern street lighting corresponds to a light level of about one foot candle.
We were very pleased with the C-2100's LCD viewfinder, which showed approximately 98 percent of the final image area at wide angle, and about 99 percent at telephoto (at all four image sizes). Since we generally like to see LCD monitors as close to 100 percent accuracy as possible, the C-2100's viewfinder performance is outstanding.
The C-2100 also performs nicely in the macro category, capturing an impressive minimum area of 2.44 x 1.83 inches (61.93 x 46.45mm). Color balance appears slightly warm and magenta, but detail and resolution are both excellent. The C-2100's built-in flash does a great job of throttling down for the macro area, with just a little reflection from the shiny coin and a small sparkle on the brooch.
We have to say that we were very impressed with the C-2100's performance throughout our testing. We thoroughly enjoyed the extensive exposure control available on the camera, as well as the whopping 10X optical zoom. Low-light and macro performance were both wonderful, as well as image quality and color.
Conclusion
Wow, what a camera! The 10X optical zoom with image stabilization piqued our interest, and the camera's very extensive exposure controls definitely kept our attention. The full manual exposure mode and the ability to finely tune metering and focus makes the C-2100 Ultra Zoom an interesting option for prosumers who want a lot of control, while the full automatic and preset shooting modes keep it simple for novices. This is a great camera for novices who want to learn more about digital photography, as several levels of exposure control allow you to learn as you go. Great image quality and color balance, a bounty of features, and an exceptional lens system make the C-2100 a camera you won't want to leave behind. Highly recommended!
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