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Olympus C-50 Zoom Olympus packs a 5.0-megapixel CCD into an ultra-compact body, with a host of advanced features too. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet C50 Photo Gallery! C50 Sample 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 C50 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 11/26/2002

Image Storage and Interface
The C-50 uses xD-Picture Cards for memory storage, and comes equipped with a 16MB card. Larger card capacities are available up to 128MB separately. (256 MB cards are slated for introduction in 2003.)

The C-50 can store images in both uncompressed TIFF and compressed JPEG file formats. JPEG compression levels include Super High Quality (SHQ), High Quality (HQ), and Standard Quality (SQ). No less than six resolutions are available, with a variety at the Standard Quality setting. Resolutions include 2,560 x 1,920; 2,048 x 1,536; 1,600 x 1,200; 1,280 x 960; 1,024 x 768; and 640 x 480 pixels.

The C-50's file naming protocol includes the month and day at the beginning of the file name, and provides the option of numbering images progressively from one card to the next, or of resetting the naming sequence for each card. The camera lets you write-protect individual images from accidental erasure through the Playback menu (though individually protected images can still be erased by a card format operation).

The table below summarizes the compression ratios and number of images which can be stored on the included 32MB xD-Picture Card with each size/quality combination.

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 32MB Memory Card		Hi (TIFF)	Fine	Normal
Full Resolution 2,560 x 1,920	Images (Avg size)	3 8,000KB	12 2,667KB	26 1,231KB
	Approx. Compression	1:1	6:1	12:1
2,048 x 1,536 pixels	Images (Avg size)	N/A	N/A	40 800KB
	Approx. Compression	N/A	N/A	12:1
1,600 x 1,200 pixels	Images (Avg size)	N/A	N/A	66 485KB
	Approx. Compression	N/A	N/A	12:1
1,280 x 960 pixels	Images (Avg size)	N/A	N/A	104 308KB
	Approx. Compression	N/A	N/A	12:1
1,024 x 768 pixels	Images (Avg size)	N/A	N/A	152 211KB
	Approx. Compression	N/A	N/A	11:1
640x480 pixels	Images (Avg size)	N/A	N/A	198 162KB
	Approx. Compression	N/A	N/A	6:1

The C-50 comes with interface software and cables for both Mac and Windows computers. It employs a USB (version 1.1) interface for high-speed computer connection. I clocked the C-50's download speed at 571 KBytes/second when connected to my G4 PowerMac. This is at the upper end of the speed range for digicams I've tested, with only a few models coming in faster. Like most (all?) other current Olympus digicams, the C-50 is a USB storage-class device. Olympus refers to this as "USB Auto-Connect," and it means that you can connect it to computers running Windows Me, XP, or 2000 or Mac OS8.6 or later, without the need to load separate driver software. (Very nice if you're traveling and want to offload images on a computer in an internet cafe or other computer-for-hire venue.)

Lost Images? - Download this image-recovery program so you'll have it when you need it...
Since we're talking about memory and image storage, this would be a good time to mention the following: I get a ton of email from readers who've lost photos due to a corrupted memory card. It's tragic when it happens, there are few things more precious than photo memories. Corrupted memory cards can happen with any card type and any camera manufacturer, nobody's immune. "Stuff happens," as they say. A surprising number of "lost" images can be recovered with an inexpensive, easy to use piece of software though. Given the amount of email I've gotten on the topic, I now include this paragraph in all my digicam reviews. The program you need is called PhotoRescue, by DataRescue SA. Read our review of it if you'd like, but download the program now, so you'll have it. It doesn't cost a penny until you need it, and even then it's only $29, with a money back guarantee. So download PhotoRescue for Windows or PhotoRescue for Mac while you're thinking of it. (While you're at it, download the PDF manual and quickstart guide as well.) Stash the file in a safe place and it'll be there when you need it. Trust me, needing this is not a matter of if, but when... PhotoRescue is about the best and easiest tool for recovering digital photos I've seen. (Disclosure: IR gets a small commission from sales of the product, but I'd highly recommend the program even if we didn't.) OK, now back to our regularly scheduled review...