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Olympus C-211 Zoom Have your cake and eat it too! - 2 megapixels worth of digital photos, and a built-in Polaroid printer! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet C-211 Zoom Test Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on C-211 Zoom Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 9/25/2000

Optics
The C-211 is equipped with a 3X, 5.4-16.2mm, aspherical glass zoom lens (equivalent to a 35-105mm zoom on a 35mm camera), with eight elements in six groups. The camera automatically sets the aperture one of two values, which vary from f/2.8 to f/4.4 or f/5.6 to f/8.6, depending on the zoom setting. Although not mentioned anywhere in the camera's documentation, we also noticed a set of filter threads on the lens bezel, but they appear to be an odd size: We didn't have any filters or adapter rings that fit them, so we can't be certain, but it appears that they are 35 or 36mm in diameter. (Best guess is 35mm.)

The C-211 provides four focus settings: two automatic TTL and two preset functions. By depressing the Focus button under the LCD monitor, you can choose Normal TTL autofocus, which covers objects from 31 inches away (80cm) to infinity (in this mode, no symbol appears on screen); Macro autofocus, indicated by a flower symbol, which focuses on objects from 8 to 31 inches (20-80cm); a Quick Focus manual setting which locks the focus on 8 feet (a 2.5m/8ft symbol appears on screen); and the Quick Focus Infinity setting, indicated by the infinity symbol, zeros in on objects as close as 4.3 feet in telephoto mode and objects no closer than 22 feet in wide-angle mode. (Note: In the 8 feet Quick Focus mode, the actual range of focus will be 5.9 feet to infinity in Wide-angle mode, and from 2.9 feet to infinity in Telephoto mode

The Quick Focus settings are particularly useful when you want to take a quick series of images without waiting for the camera to refocus, or if the light level is so low that the autofocus system can't achieve a good "lock".

The recessed glass lens is protected by a snap-in, plastic lens cap, which attaches to the camera body with a small strap. A series of small filter threads on the inside lip of the lens barrel is presumably designed to accommodate future accessory lens attachments. A 2X digital telephoto setting (controlled by the far left button under the monitor) is available at all focal lengths, but isn't as effective as true optical zoom. Digital telephoto enlarges the center of the CCD image, thereby increasing the amount of noise in the image and softening the resolution.