C series

[trudyscout]

Combining the 10x optical zoom of the 730 with 4mp of the 4000 would seem to make for a highly desirable camera. Wondering out loud why Olympus wants to make us choose between two such features...

[Gary Senkus]

Trudy,
the 730 will be 3.2 vs the 4000 at 4.0, I shoot more with my 2.1 2100UZ than my 3040 3.34.
Gary

[lg]

Trudy, I searched for two years for the best digital camera to buy, and I really like the features that Olympus cameras had to offer. Your same question came to my mind when they dropped the image stabilization feature of the 10x zoom of the C-2100. I was ready to buy the D-490, but they came out with the D-510 to replace it. But... they dropped some features of the 490 that I liked! When the 510 was replaced with the 520, they equipped it with a smaller LCD. When the 720 came out, you just had to ask yourself, why not a 10x Zoom, and when will they come out with 3-4 MP camera equipped with image stabilization? My perception is that they are taking away costly features to sell a cheaper camera to a larger audience.

[gibsonpd3620]

I agree with lg about Olympus trying to reach the consmumer market. The C4000Z has a few features removed from the C4040, thus a $200 price difference. The C4000Z is still a great camera even with the missing features. I wanted those missing features and purchased the C4040Z. I bought it on the web for $500. The C4000 can be purchased from a good reseller on the web for about $400. What a deal a great 4 mega pixel camera for $400. Maybe Olympus has the right idea. Let the public decide what they want in their camera features.

[sasc]

As for the IS they got that from Canon and lost the rights to it. Canon seems not to want to come out with another with it in either. Apparently they didnt make enough on them at the original price. Or maybe they prefer to keep it in their slr lenses? Even tho I have a D30 I just bought a used UZI. I also have a Pro90. The UZI is really a nice little camera and has fast focus and turn on. The Pro90 while it takes a great picture has a very slow full time unturnoffable focus and shutter. I like the deeper DOF with the digicams for many shots compared to the slr.

[Willa]

And if you have seen Sarah's work, you would know that SHE knows what she's talking about! (Sorry for the shameless plug, Sarah, but I love your stuff!)


Willa

[Mike_PEAT]

It's a shame though that Oly still hasn't realized the benefit of having (or at least the rail for) a proper eyecup! The first month I owned my C700 I tried it without, and (being left-eyed) it was totally useless! If it wasn't for the other benefits of the camera I wouldn't have bought it (especially finding out since that Oly treats their digital customers who need service like dirt).

[steve6]

Sara tells us Oly lost the right to IS. That's the first time I've heard that mentioned and explains a lot. Did Oly lose it or did Canon start charging too much royalty? IS is old technology, you'd think oly could devise their own. Even stranger, virtually all camcorders have it so why not digicams. What's going on???????

[Willa]

I've read/heard the same story; that Sony's 'lease' of the IS technology from Canon had expired.

I have thought the same as you ... if all the camcorders have it, why not all the digicams as well?

[steve6]

Imagine the position Canon would be in, if only they had IS. They're not using it liberally with their cams though, dam strange all this.

We should start digging, asking Oly, Canon, Nikon etc why they are so mean with IS on digicams.