Olympus C-720 Ultra ZoomOlympus packs an 8x zoom lens into an amazingly small body, for an amazingly low price.<<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 7/1/2002 |
Video Out
The
C-720 has a Video Out port which supports the NTSC timing format. (I assume
that PAL systems are available for European customers.) The video output can
be used for reviewing previously captured images and movies, or running slide
shows from the camera. It also shows all of the LCD menu screens, as well as
the preview display from the LCD viewfinder. (This last means that you could
use a TV monitor as a "remote viewfinder" if you wanted to.)
Power
The
C-720 is powered by two CR-V3 lithium battery packs, four AA batteries (alkaline,
lithium, NiMH, or NiCd), or by an optional AC adapter that can significantly
extend battery life if you're doing a lot of downloads on the computer or working
in a studio environment. As usual, I measured the C-720's power consumption
in various operating modes, and translated the results into estimated minutes
of runtime for each. (Based on a set of true 1600 mAh capacity NiMH batteries.)
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(@6.5 volts on the external power terminal) |
(4 1600 mAh NiMH cells) |
| Capture Mode, w/LCD |
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| Capture Mode, no LCD |
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| Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
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| Half-pressed w/o LCD |
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| Memory Write (transient) |
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| Flash Recharge (transient) |
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| Image Playback |
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The C-720's battery life is pretty good, better than many compact cameras, but not as good as larger models using hefty LiIon battery packs. Ultimate battery life is limited somewhat by the need to keep the EVF display running in order to aim the camera and compose your shots. I was surprised by how good runtime was in capture mode with only the EVF active though: Over 3 1/2 hours of continuous operation, much better than average among EVF-equipped cameras I've tested. Overall, battery life is pretty good, although I still strongly recommend that you purchase a couple of sets of high-capacity NiMH rechargeable AA cells, and a good charger. Read my NiMH Battery Shootout page for the latest on actual battery performance, or my review of the Maha C204F to see why it's my favorite charger.
Included Software
The C-720 comes with a nice complement of software on the supplied CD. Direct camera control and image downloading are provided by Olympus' Camedia Master software package (Version 4.0) for both Mac and Windows platforms (Macintosh OS 8.6-9.2/OS X, Windows 98/98SE/Me/2000 Pro/XP). USB drivers for both platforms and an Apple QuickTime reader are also included.
Camedia Master lets download and organize images, as well as perform minor image correction and enhancement functions (such as adjusting contrast, sharpness, and color balance). For panoramic images, Camedia Master supplies a "stitching" utility to piece together shots vertically or horizontally. A complete printing utility works with the DPOF settings and allows you to print images directly to Olympus or other DPOF-compliant photo printers.
In the Box
The following items are included in the box:
- C-720 Ultra Zoom digital camera.
- 16MB SmartMedia card.
- Four AA-type alkaline batteries.
- USB cable.
- NTSC video cable.
- Camedia Master 4.0 software CD-ROM.
- Neck strap.
- Lens cap with strap.
- User manuals and registration card.
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