Olympus UK Press Release

Wide-eyed precision and accuracy - The Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom

London, 5 January 2005
Today Olympus launches the much-anticipated new 7.1 million pixel C-7070 WIDE ZOOM.  With a magnesium-alloy body and high quality lens, extending from 27mm all the way to 110mm for 4x optical zoom power, it excels in versatility and precision.  And, for the very first time in an Olympus compact camera, it incorporates a 143-point dual autofocus system that enables predictive measurements, allowing images to be taken with incredible sharpness – even when the subject is moving.

The C-7070 WIDE ZOOM will hit the shelves from the end of February 2005, priced at £499.99 inc VAT (769.99 Euros)

Perfect for macro & wide angle photography
With 7.1 million pixels, even the most intricate aspects of an image are captured in minute detail by the C-7070 WIDE ZOOM and its F2.8-4.8 high-precision lens. Comprised of eight elements arranged in seven groups, it incorporates two aspherical lenses and one low-refractive-index ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element. The 4x zooming range extends to 110mm from an ultra-wide-angle starting point of just 27mm (35mm equivalents).

It’s ideally suited for architects, interior designers and any others requiring an extremely wide angle of view. Even cornershading at wide viewing angles is not an issue, thanks to a lens system tailor-made for digital photography and featuring nearly telecentric optics. The C-7070 WIDE ZOOM is also geared for extreme close-ups. From just 3cm away, this model can fill a frame with a subject of just 20.7 x 27.8mm in Super Macro mode.

Remains in focus – even with moving subjects
Equipped with a 143-point dual autofocus system, photographers can now ensure crisp image capture under any circumstances.  Arranged in a 13x11 grid pattern, 75% of the frame’s vertical and about 87.5% of its horizontal area is covered. Both a passive external sensor and a CCD-based TTL contrast detection system are used to achieve the most accurate readings and an AF illuminator is built in for extra precision when shooting in darkness.

Featured in an Olympus compact camera for the very first time, the AF target function allows sharp exposures of moving subjects thanks to its Predictive process. The external AF sensor detects the distance of the moving subject and then calculates its predictive location at the moment of shutter release. At this point, an AF target mark appears on the camera’s LCD to verify that the correct subject has been tracked.

Supports any creative impulse
While the C-7070 WIDE ZOOM comes with a full suite of automatic functions – including seven scene programmes such as underwater shooting – full manual control options are available for enthusiast photographers, allowing complete control over focus, white balance, ISO, aperture or shutter speed and more.  An added feature is the video (with sound) function.  In SHQ mode you can record at 30fps for up to 20 seconds.  This can be viewed on the 4.5cm/1.8” multi-angle Sunshine LCD monitor which, fixed to a flexible hinge, can be tilted up and swivelled round by 270° to provide a clear view of the subject even from difficult perspectives.

Speed is the key
Not only does the C-7070 WIDE ZOOM boast a swift start-up and an incredibly low shutter release time lag to ensure users capture that one-off moment, it is also equipped with TruePic TURBO.  This means that image processing is considerably accelerated to allow faster shot-to-shot performance while improving image definition and fidelity.

Accessories to expand the areas of application
A range of accessories for the C-7070 WIDE ZOOM allows the user to broaden their photographic horizons even further:
· With the WCON-07 converter, a wide-angle focal length equivalent of just 18.9mm can be achieved
· The new TCON-30C tele conversion lens extends the maximum focal length to an amazing 330mm – without any loss in aperture
· Matched with the new FR-100 flash adapter and either SRF-11 or STF-22 ring or twin flash units from the Olympus E-System, this is a perfect option for dentists, dermatologists as well as those taking technical macro shots
· Thanks to its hot shoe external flash, units such as the Olympus FL-20, FL-36 or FL-50 can be connected
· The PT-027 Underwater Case will be available soon and offers protection up to a water pressure depth equivalent of 40 metres.

C-7070 WIDE ZOOM – Main Features:

· 7.1 million pixels
· 4x optical zoom (equiv. 27–110mm) F2.8-4.8 with eight elements in seven groups incl. two aspherical elements and one ED element
· Dual 143-point AF system with Predictive AF
· Multi-angle 4.5cm/1.8” Sunshine LCD monitor with 134,000 pixels
· Programme, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Full Manual modes
· Hot shoe
· Robust magnesium-alloy body with ergonomic design
· Produces JPEG, TIFF and RAW file data
· Movie recording function with sound
· Saves to xD-Picture Card, CompactFlash Type I & II
· TruePic TURBO image processor and PictBridge compatibility
· High speed sequence shooting: 10 frames at 1.4 fps in HQ mode
· Shipped with Olympus Master 1.1 software, 32MB xD-Picture Card, rechargeable BLM-1 lithium ion battery, and charger.