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Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom Digital Camera (Olympus-225420)
| Image quality: To gauge picture quality, we take a series of shots, with and without flash, at 640 by 480 resolution and at the camera's highest resolution. We photograph a complex still life and a mannequin to see how well each camera captures details and subtle colorings such as skin tones. A panel of judges reviews the on-screen and printed photos and assigns image-quality scores; we then average those scores. | Very Good |
| Ease of use | Very Good |
| Features | Good |
| Maximum effective pixels/resolution | 5.1 megapixels at 2592 by 1944 |
| Bundled media | 32MB XD-Picture Card plus CompactFlash slot |
| Optical zoom/Focal range (35mm equivalent) | 4X/27mm to 110mm |
| Aperture range | Wide-angle: f2.8 to f8; telephoto: f4.8 to f8 |
| Shutter speed range (seconds) | 15 seconds to 1/2000 second |
| Viewfinders | Optical viewfinder, 1.8-inch LCD display |
| Video and audio recording | 640 by 480 video with audio, clip length limited by size of media |
| Semi-automatic/manual modes | Five scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and manual modes; manual focus |
| Continous shooting speed (at highest JPEG setting) | Up to 3.3 frames per second for a maximum of 4 frames |
| Optional lenses | Wide-angle and telephoto |
| Software | Olympus Camedia Master |
| Battery score | Outstanding |
| Battery life: Battery life testing cut off at 500 shots | Over 500 shots |
| Battery number and type | One rechargeable lithium ion |
| Dimensions (w/d/h) and weight | 4.6 by 2.6 by 3.4 inches; 17.9 ounces |
| Support policy score | Good |
| Support policies | One-year parts and labor warranty; 13-hour weekday toll-free support |
Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom
C-5060 Wide Zoom Digital Camera (Olympus-225420) Review, by Tracey Capen December 19, 2003
The first time we saw the Olympus C-5060, we thought it a rather odd-looking camera--big and blocky, with lots of odd angles. But the design grew on us the more we used the camera. This model seems bigger and heavier than the C-5050 it's derived from, but it has about the same overall dimensions and weighs only about a half-ounce more (17.9 ounces with its battery). Overall, the C-5060 gives you both a little more and a little less than the C-5050. Both models offer nearly all of the imaging controls an advanced photographer is likely to look for.
Olympus gave the C-5060 a 4X optical zoom (up from 3X) that covers a 35mm-equivalent range of 27mm to 110mm--especially nice if you love wide-angle shots. An optional wide-angle converter lens takes you down to 19mm ($200 for the lens, plus another $40 for the screw-on lens adapter). Olympus also offers a $200 1.7X telephoto lens converter.
A more obvious change is the C-5060's fully articulated LCD panel. The older model's panel simply hinged up 90 degrees from the body of the camera. The updated version swivels upward 180 degrees and also rotates, so you can use it at many angles--say, for a macro shot with the camera in portrait mode.
Working with the C-5060's plethora of controls is faster and more intuitive than operating the C-5050's. The control buttons are nicely placed and work in concert with the control wheel and menus. For example, when setting the flash mode, you press a button and spin the control wheel; the current setting shows up in the small status panel on top of the camera, in the LCD as part of a carousel of options, and in a new virtual status panel that displays on the LCD.
This last feature is one of the color LCD's display options. In place of an image of your scene, the virtual status panel shows a comprehensive list of camera stats, including the current settings for exposure value, white balance, resolution, focus mode, ISO, and shutter and aperture exposure mode.
A few of the C-5060's features take a step backwards, however. The f2.8 lens is slower than the C-5050's f1.8, and the camera has one fewer media slots: In addition to the XD-Picture Card and CompactFlash media that both cameras support, the older model has a SmartMedia slot. No great loss there, though.
We were extremely impressed with the C-5060's test images. Shooting in automatic (default) mode, this model outscored higher-end digital SLRs, such as the Canon EOS Digital Rebel and Pentax's ist D. Against 11 other advanced digital cameras, the C-5050 ranked number one in color accuracy and sharpness, and number two in exposure accuracy. The flash shot of our mannequin model had pleasing colors, correct skin tones, and even lighting; our outdoor photo had fine contrast range--from bright blue sky to dark street shadows. Our only knock on the outdoor shot was its somewhat flat colors.
The C-5060 uses a long-lasting lithium ion rechargeable battery: It still had life when we stopped testing at 500 shots. But the C-5060 doesn't have the same range of battery options as the C-5050, which uses either two disposable CR-3V batteries or four AAs. One other minor criticism of the C-5060: If you use the wide-angle converter lens, you'll have to switch to an external flash when shooting indoors--the lens is so wide it casts a huge shadow in your flash shots.
Upshot: It's not an especially light or compact camera, but the C-5060's imaging power, zoom range, and advanced features should put it high on any advanced photographer's shopping list.
Tracey Capen
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User Reviews
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: gotts
Strengths: Sharp pictures, long battery life. Can take pictures from any angle: ground-level shot of a puppy or high picture of a crowd.
Weaknesses: Reliabilty & long life of the camera is a big issue.
Overall: Its a great camera, sharp pictures, long battery life. I took ~ 250 shots on a single charge and life still left. After about a year, it starts acting up. I think its sensitive to humidity, the lens gets noisy, and the camera became non-functional. Lucky me, I got the extended warranty at the last minute, and if you still have time, get the extended warranty.
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Reviewed by: hgl27
Strengths: Lot of great features for the advanced amateur
Weaknesses: Does not work after a year and a half
Overall: Takes great pictures when it works. The control and arrow dials do not work after 15 months. Very poor software. Do not buy this camera unless you are prepared to spend an additional $170.00 for repairs within 15 months.
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Reviewed by: frango
Strengths: Easy to use and wonderful photos while it worked well
Weaknesses: Right now doesn`t work because of the DIAL MODE PROBLEM, dial buttons donnot work, i cannot erase the photos, and olympus people just say pay for us$200 maintainance service. I can`t enter the menu!!
Overall: What can i do with this camera to get it fixed whitout paying for that quantity of money, this is a problem that has itself the camera and it was not because of the us.
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Reviewed by: sreese93
Weaknesses: Horrible customer service.
Overall: DO NOT BUY!Olympus has a problem w/ part# VC7997 on these cameras that causes menus to pop up on LCD w/o touching buttons and buttons stop working. Numerous people are complaining about this problem on the Internet - go to yahoo groups, Olympus_405080. Olympus needs to recall camera. Mine worked fine for almost 3 months before problem arose so don't think yours won't fail.
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Reviewed by: Arvieviloria
Strengths: GREAT PICTURE QUALITY (even in low-light conditions), fast start-up, swiveling LCD, nice to handle, manual setting options
Weaknesses: disappointing software (well, i purchased the product not because of this)
Overall: Great pictures! That's all what matters really why one buys a camera. I have been eyeing the Olympus-C4000 and the Sony Cybershot P9 for more than a year now but the battery life, low-light condition pics, and not so great pic quality of the cybershot was a turn off :( The C-4000 only has 4.1 MP quality, and the lens (cylinder moving according to some reviews) again were turn-offs :(So I finally decided to get the C-5060 (yes, I stuck to the Olympus brand) and i made the right choice! Great pic quality! The wide zoom lens is also nice, I can take a picture of our whole family inside a van not having to move backward and finding a good position to shoot! Great position of buttons for manual shooting settings! If you are intimidated by those buttons, fear not! You can always use the default settings and have great pictures! And besides, the cd has a manual clearly describing all the uses of those buttons and you can shoot like a pro in no time! You have to be patient browsing the manual though. But it's well worth the time! The LCD is great! And the battery is good for around 450 shots (with LCD turned on)! By the way, the Sony P9 lasts just around 80 shots, no-contest really.The camera is also very tough (fell from a table the 3rd day i bought it and no dents, working just fine)!!! The video's great too! And you can have a good grip on the camera because of its shape and the material of the casing. Well, you can buy those models with metallic casing and look cool holding your new digital camera. Or you can choose the C-5060 while looking (and shooting) like a pro.
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