Olympus C-350

The Olympus C-350 Editor’s Summary includes product information and brand news in an easy to read page. Written November 2005.

The Bigger Picture

The Olympus C-350 is a mid price compact digital camera which has been a resounding success with Review Centre contributors. Olympus launched the C-350 Zoom in 2003 offering 3.2 megapixel resolution, automatic shooting and 3x optical zoom lens. The decent sized 1.8 inch LCD monitor should be enough to allow comfortable viewing and framing of shots. Images are stored on a compact removable xD-Picture Card. Olympus market the groovy looking Olympus C-350 as a high quality entry level into digital zoom photography and Review Centre reviewers tend to agree citing its superb professional picture quality and versatility in different light situations.

Features

• 
• 3.2 million pixels for image processing
• 3x optical zoom lens
• Multiple functions include image rotation, B/W, sepia, night scene mode, panorama and 2-in-1
• LCD monitor - 1.8 inch
• Full auto program and four scene programs for easy shooting
• Multi-language menu
• QuickTime motion JPEG for video recording
• Ultra-compact xD-Picture Card
• USB AutoConnect for fast data transfer and video output

Olympus C-350 Facts

• The C350 followed in the footsteps of the C-300 Zoom with a slimmer redesign.
• In order to achieve bold effects without sacrificing ease of use, the Camedia 350zoom provides several digital editing functions.
• Shots can change to sepia or black and white and a convenient resizing option allows reduction of the data's file size.
• The image rotation feature can be used for viewing photos on a television.

Reviews from Review Centre

"The Olympus C-350 is a light, stylish and compact digital camera which is brimming full of features. Excellant picture quality. Easy to use menu system. You can start taking photos almost straight away. This is my first Olympus and Id highly recommend it to anyone."

"The picture quality is outstanding, with some excellent functions such as Split Picture and Panoramic Picture. Light and easy to use, it has a larger than average LCD screen, and is aesthetically pleasing."

"This is the right choice for everyone who wants to make photos. For almost year and half I made over 7000 photos. In one word I sleep with the camera."

Media Reviews

Betterphotos.com said:

"The Olympus C350 is a very good camera for beginners..."

Personal Computer World said:

"The 3.2megapixel C-350 Zoom is a smart little snapper..."

Pocket-lint.co.uk said:

"..the camera coped well in fading light..."

Olympus Facts

• Olympus is the worlds fourth best-selling digital camera brand after Canon, Sony and Kodak, but is considered one of the weaker players in an industry suffering from slowing growth and steerice falls.
• Olympus has signed up with British researchers at QinetiQ to develop fuel cell technology for its camera range.
• The contract is to develop a 10w fuel cell by 2008, and then extend the technology to cover as many Olympus products as possible.

Olympus News

• Although the company overall is in very good shape, Olympus has suggested it will be heavily reducing its compact digital camera range to focus on higher end Digital SLR models, lenses and accessories. This is due to poor sales and weakening profits, according to Reuters in Japan.
• Earlier this month, Olympus said its group net profit tumbled to 2.17 billion yen ($18.50 million) in the April-September first half from 6.71 billion yen a year earlier. The drop was due to a large loss in its camera division.
• Olympus aims to have digital compact cameras account for 40 per cent of sales in its imaging division, five years from now, almost half of what it did in sales last year in the sector.
• Demand for SLR cameras is growing faster than demand for compact models. SLR cameras also fetch higher profit margins than compacts which are under increasing pricing pressure as more than 30 brands are now on the market.