OT: The Little Digital That Could...

[shadowfox]

This is my first OT thread starter, mods, please be lenient 😉

Thanks to the stuff I read on the net on Alex Majoli, and here on RFF, my latest D-GAS result is this:

I have since recommended this camera in a few threads asking for a good digital backup for their RF gears (ehm.. have to tie this in with RF somehow 🙂 ).

What I like: manual focus, RAW format, tilt live view LCD, and SHARP, FAST, lens!!

This camera is truly one of the better ones coming out of Olympus R&D. Here are some samples:

Night shot with f1.8:

... and of course a butt-kicking macro mode:

 

[Chaser]

Great shots. The second one seems to be a good example of what small sensor cameras are best at. I will one day have one of these cameras, I have been thinking about them for a while.

PS anyone have one of these they would like to trade for an om2 or Iskra?

 

[ray_g]

I have the C5050, too. It was the first digital that I ever bought. Back in 2004 I think. Great little camera.

I love the 'my mode' presets. And the fast lens is stellar.

Try THIS out, Shadowfox

 

[payasam]

The C5050 is undoubtedly a fine piece of work. A pity that later Olympus models do not have lenses so fast.

 

[shadowfox]

Chaser: exactly, I was surprised to see how the background managed to stay sharp compared to the up-close face of the police officer.

Ray: Thanks a bunch, I didn't realize that A. Wrotniak is a fan also. I haven't mess with the modes yet, but I will since I can't stand the shutter lag with the autofocus.

payasam: I don't know why Olympus didn't come out with another P&S with 1.8 or faster lenses, surely the production cost shouldn't be that much more. Also, they should find a way to tap into the secondhand market. Thanks to its unique qualities, this camera retains more value compared to other digital cameras of the same age in the used market.

 

[ray_g]

I don't know why Olympus didn't come out with another P&S with 1.8 or faster lenses, surely the production cost shouldn't be that much more.

I think it is because they opted for wider, rather than faster, with subsequent models going to 28mm, rather than 35mm, on the wide end. A fast 28 would be expensive and bulky.

 

[Kin Lau]

Ray: Thanks a bunch, I didn't realize that A. Wrotniak is a fan also. I haven't mess with the modes yet, but I will since I can't stand the shutter lag with the autofocus.

Just set it to F4, manual focus at approx 5ft and DOF will take care of everything from 2.5ft on out at the wide end - 35mm equiv. That's what I do with my Canon A70.

 

[Steve B]

C-7070

C-7070

I have the later C-7070 and got it over the competition due to the 27mm lens but wish it was a little faster sometimes, its 2.8/4.8. I do like the swivel screen but I find that I only use it for work as I have trouble stomaching the lousy optical viewfinder. It relegates the camera to utilitarian status for me. For shooting pleasure I'll use something with a reasonable viewfinder, like my M6 or F3HP. Now there's a great viewfinder! Even my DSLR has a pretty lousy viewfinder. Seems like we're so caught up in pixel count and other specs. in modern cameras that we've lost track of features that we used to consider important in a camera, like mirror lock-up, a good viewfinder and good ergonomics, etc. Maybe in a few years I can afford a digital rangefinder with all the characteristics that I like. I wonder what the future holds for cameras like the M8 and R-D1. Will others follow their lead? Will CV come out with something? Is the market big enough to inspire manufacturers? Sorry, rambling here. But I would sell the C-7070 in a heartbeat to help afford a digital RF.

 

[Pablito]

I have the 5060 which does go to 28mm wide. Very good image quality but shutter lag is very annoying. I have not found a digi point n' shoot with no shutter lag. DSLR is the only way to go digital if you're shooting movement.

 

[Eryximachos]

I have one of these 5050s and it's been a great camera, especially for night shots. Mine recently got a (preventive) sensor replacement from Olympus under a recall, even though it was not showing any of the symptoms described in the recall. That's good service from Olympus. My only complaint with the Oly 5050 is the slow write times and shutter lag. Plus the grinding sound it makes when it powers up and the lens tube extends. On the plus side, the menu is easy to navigate and it can take filters with a screw in tube. (I use a 43mm - 55mm step up ring to be able to use my collection of 55mm filters.)

 

[Trius]

Damn... now I'm setting up an eBay search for the 5050... 🙁

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

I have one too, and I think it has very good qualities as mentioned above. Two downsides though: a bad VF and it eats 4 AA batteries (not flak!). But, still a great camera.

Here's a gallery with pictures taken only with my Oly C5050Z. Don't know if they do justice to its qualities, but here goes nothing:

http://www.kolumbus.fi/~w427831/kuvat/Gallery/

PS. I think it gives really nice results with Saturation upped from the settings, I used Sat +3 with those graveyard photos. Makes midday shooting more pleasurable. No more bland colors!

 

[Gray Fox]

Kin Lau: That method works well with my Coolpix 5000, too. It's a 28-85, 2.8.-4.8 and has a fine raw mode, and a hinge and tilt screen. The viewfinder is about 85% accurate and has parallax lines. I set it at 5.6 and 8 ft and it does a great job. It also has a B&W mode, but I prefer to work with channels in CS2. The 5K goes cheap these days, so it might be worth checking out, too. It often goes with me when I haven't room for the G2 with the 35-70. It goes into a quart zip lock bag in a belt pouch when I'm out prowling the bush with one of my traditional bowhunting rigs. It's tilting screen and macro mode have brought home lots of wildflower shots I'd have missed with just about any other rig, film or digital.

 

[shadowfox]

Jim: Thanks for the heads up on the recall, I may try to call them and see if I have one of the defective ones.

Trius: It took me a month to get one at the price that I like, some people are willing to spend a lot more than I do on this camera 😛

Tuomo: Nice shots, this one is my favorite http://www.kolumbus.fi/~w427831/kuvat/Gallery/slides/P1010090.JPG did you use the manual focus on it?

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Tuomo: Nice shots, this one is my favorite http://www.kolumbus.fi/%7Ew427831/kuvat/Gallery/slides/P1010090.JPG did you use the manual focus on it?

Thank you! I believe it was taken with AF.

PS: Love that macro photo in your initial post!

 

[kbg32]

I have the 5060 which does go to 28mm wide. Very good image quality but shutter lag is very annoying. I have not found a digi point n' shoot with no shutter lag. DSLR is the only way to go digital if you're shooting movement.

For a p n s with virtually no lag, try the Panasonic Lumix LX1 or the Ricoh GRD.

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Aaaaaaargh! My Olympus died!

Aaaaaaargh! My Olympus died!

This is what I'm getting with this camera. :bang:



Dead weight.

 

[lament]

Looks beautiful 🙂

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Looks beautiful 🙂

Yeah, twist that knife around.

😀

 

[Xmas]

remove battery, wipe contacts with C2H5OH damp rag, fit new battery, might work

Noel
Your English is annoyingly good...