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Olympus C-50 Zoom 4 to 5 Megapixel

4.06/5 (16 Reviews)


  • Image Sensor TypeCCD
    Resolution5.3 Megapixel
    Optical Zoom3x
    Camera TypeStandard Point and Shoot
    Interchangeable LensNot Interchangeable Lenses
    35mm Zoom Lens38 - 114 mm
    Digital Zoom4x
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Focus Range20 in. to Infinity (w) / 19.7 in. to Infinity (t)
    Macro Focus Range8 - 24 in. (w) / 11.8 - 19.7 in. (t)
    Focal Length7.8 - 23.4 mm
    Camera Resolution5.3 Megapixel
    Image Resolutions640 x 480 • 2560 x 1960 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1280 x 960 • 1024 x 768
    Video Resolutions320 x 240 (QVGA) • 160 x 120
    Video Speed15 fps
    Max Movie Length70 Seconds
    Video FormatQuickTime
    Aperture Rangef10/f10 (w/t) - f2.8/f4.8 (w/t)
    Shutter Speed1/2 - 1/1000 sec
    White BalanceManual
    Frames Per Second1 Frames
    Memory TypexD Picture Card
    Compression ModesFine • SuperFine • Normal • Uncompressed
    Compression TypeJPEG • TIFF
    File Size (High Res.)16 MB (8 images on 128MB card)
    File Size (Low Res.)0.16 MB (about 800 images on 128MB card)
    ISO SpeedsAuto • 160 • 320
    Flash TypeBuilt-In
    Flash FunctionsFlash Off • Auto Flash • Rear Sync Flash • Fill-in Flash • Red-eye Reduction Flash • Slow Sync
    ViewfinderOptical (Through-the-lens)
    LCD PanelWith LCD Panel
    LCD Panel Size1.5 in.
    LCD Screen Resolution134,000 pixels
    LCD Protected PositionWithout LCD Protected Position
    Interface TypeUSB
    Video InterfaceVideo Out
    Battery TypeProprietary Lithium
    Mp3 Built In
    Built-in MicrophoneWithout Built-in Microphone
    Tripod MountWith Tripod Mount
    Operating SystemApple Mac OS 8 • Apple Mac OS 9 • Apple Mac OS X • Microsoft Windows 2000 • Microsoft Windows 98 • Microsoft Windows 98SE • Microsoft Windows ME • Microsoft Windows XP
    Width3.9 in.
    Depth1.6 in.
    Height2.3 in.
    Weight0.43 lb.
    Warranty6 Months
    Exterior ColorSilver
    Included AccessoriesSoftware • USB Cable • Video Cable • Hand Strap • 32 MB Memory Card • Driver • Lithium Battery • Battery Charger • Remote Control
    MPN050332-137950
    Product ID20257190

Product Description

  • Sensor: 5 megapixel CCD
  • Max resolution: 2560 x 1920 pixels
  • All-metal body
  • Lens: 7.8-23.4mm f/2.8-4.8 (35mm equivalent: 38-114mm) w. 4x digital zoom
  • Exposure: Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Exposure compensation, and Auto Exposure Bracketing
  • Panorama mode with CAMEDIA Master software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture card
  • Storage media: xD-Picture card
  • USB interface


  • Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

    Reviews 1 - 5 (16 Reviews Total) | Next 15

    User Reviews

    Overall Rating:4
    Value Rating:4
    Submitted by Lakeverna a Casual

    Date Reviewed: October 23, 2009

    Strengths:    I like the pictures it takes and it is very easy to use.

    Weaknesses:    Age and use are even hard on cameras.

    Bottom Line:   
    I have the same camera with the same problem but I have gone a step further. I took the slide off and checked to see what activated the lens to extend and withdraw. What I found was a small slide switch which was recessed in a channel that is in the slide.

    As the camera got a few years use behind it the plastic slide wore and stretched. This took the small switch out of the groove that is part of the slide cover. The grove is mostly a straight path but towards the end it make a 45 degree turn. It is this change in the path that pushes the switch up and activates the lens to open and close.

    The quick fix is to place your index finger on top of the slide and slight push down on the slide as you move it back (all done with the same hand). The tip of the index finger needs to be placed after the word camera on the slide because it is in the last 1/2 inch of the end of the slide that the channel makes it s 45 degree change.

    Using this technique the lens opens every time I want to take a picture.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   21+ years

    Type of photography:   Outdoor


    Overall Rating:3
    Value Rating:2
    Submitted by Wade a Expert

    Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007

    Strengths:    See Review

    Weaknesses:    See Review

    Bottom Line:   
    Camera takes excellent pictures, BUT . . . shutter door has developed a problem that prevents camera lenses from extending and operating. The shutter door works on a track system that is made from low grade plastic. Over time, the plastic track has deteriorated and the shutter door no longer is able to make a solid connection with the contact points that signal when the lenses should open or close.

    I would have considered this a function of normal wear and tear, BUT, I purchased this same camera for 2 of my family members and ALL OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. This camera is far too expensive to have an unremedied design defect which prevent use within 36 months of purchase. Needless to say, repairing the problem is cost prohibitive.

    Based upon this problem, I cannot recommend this product if you intend to use the camera for 3 years or more.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   21+ years

    Price Paid:    $450.00

    Purchased At:   Internet Sales

    Type of photography:   Outdoor


    Overall Rating:4
    Value Rating:3
    Submitted by sandyza a Casual

    Date Reviewed: September 24, 2006

    Strengths:    Good picture quality and panoramas.

    Weaknesses:    The lense cover is extremely sensitive! If you touch it at ALL while trying to take a picture it will close. This has happened not only on my camera but a friend's as well. Lense cover is very slow to open as well. Hate having to reset the date every time I recharge the battery, but am pretty much used to it by now.

    Bottom Line:   
    This was a nice upgrade from my previous digital camera. Takes great outdoor shots (we use it primarily for vacations, but also family gatherings), and wonderful panoramas! Has a LOT of settings, and I have tried almost all of them which are easy to do if you read the manual. I usually take the couple of page sthat shows all the settings with us on vacation, since I don't use the different ones that often and do tend to forget them all. Works nicely on a tripod.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   21+ years

    Price Paid:    $399.00

    Purchased At:   CompUSA

    Type of photography:   Outdoor


    Overall Rating:3
    Value Rating:3
    Submitted by lalotafoya a Intermediate

    Date Reviewed: August 13, 2006

    Strengths:    Verry compact and easy to use.

    Weaknesses:    No options on fine ajustments for low light. you have to use a tripod to take a good picture in low light.

    Bottom Line:   
    This cammera is a light wieght and compact camera, easy to use and i have enjoyed using it verry much, i bought it about 4 years ago when it first came out, the first time that i used it was in Disnyland, the pictures came out colorful and share,

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

    Price Paid:    $799.00

    Purchased At:   comp usa

    Similar Products Used:   Minolta Freedom zoom 65, Fuji A360.

    Type of photography:   Outdoor


    Overall Rating:4
    Value Rating:3
    Submitted by Jeth a Casual

    Date Reviewed: November 18, 2005

    Strengths:    Size, modes & options, 5 MP, night shots, macro shots.

    Weaknesses:    Very sensitive lens cover, over-exposure on some outdoor shots.

    Bottom Line:   
    Overall this is a nice little camera. I bought it as an upgrade. I previously used the Olympus D-460 and D-560. I have had it for about 2 years now. I bought this one in anticipation of my 2 week trip to Europe. As I suspected, I took a ton of pictures! I loved that this camera is so small it could go everywhere with me, yet it has the higher resolution and options to deliver really nice photos. I mostly use the camera on the Program AE mode. I often use the night mode and landscape mode, as appropriate. Many of my pictures turned out great. Particularly indoors and in low-light (with a tripod), I got many wonderful shots. But I did have some problems with overexposure (I think that was the problem) outdoors. I was actually very dissapointed because I didn't really notice how bad they were till I got home and saw them on my computer. It was mainly in bright light with overcast skies. Most of my pictures of the Acropolis in Athens are totally washed out. The sky looks white, and there is little contrast with the rocks and monuments. Also, when the pictures involve people, they are very washed out, too. Same problem with pictures in Santorini. There were white houses with white clouds above, and everything got totally washed out. Even though there was some blue sky, the camera didn't capture it right. I am wondering if I had turned down the exposure value, if they would've come out better. I wish I had noticed and tried that.
    I had one other problem with it. In the middle of my trip, the flash died. It just stopped working. The settings still worked, but it just never fired. This was a major bummer since that meant no more indoor or night shots for the rest of the trip. On a positive note, as soon as I got home I sent it into Olympus and they fixed it quickly at no charge.
    I have not read any other reports of bad exposure from this camera, so it could be something I was doing wrong. I really should've taken a closer look and then I probably could've made an adjustment to fix the problem. I was taking so many pictures, I was basically in point-n-shoot mode (although not using auto mode on camera) so I didn't stop to examine every photo. And as I mentioned, many of them did come out fine when it wasn't as bright outside or if there was a lot of contrast, or if I was indoors.
    I still really like this camera. The controls are easy to use, once you figure them out. Read the manual!! Many people complain about things that are incorrect because they don't know. Like the auto-reset, you can turn that off. And the quick view button. I think in general it does take very nice pictures, and the higher resolution gives you a lot of freedom to tweak and crop them later. The macro mode seems to work very well, I have gotten great up-close shots indoors and outside. The battery seems to last quite long, I think I only used my spare once or twice. My only complaint with the handling is the lens cover. It is extremely sensitive. I find it annoying when I am composing a shot, if I just barely brush against the cover with my finger, it triggers the camera to shut off. Even if the cover didn't actually move. And then you have to actually close and re-open the cover to get the camera to come back on. Very annoying when you're in the middle of taking a shot.
    Some great things are the shortcut menu to change the resolution, having the tripod mount for night shots, the quick view button, and the small size.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

    Price Paid:    $498.00

    Purchased At:   ABT Electronics

    Type of photography:   Outdoor



    Reviews 1 - 5 (16 Reviews Total) | Next 15

    Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating


    • Image Sensor TypeCCD
      Resolution5.3 Megapixel
      Optical Zoom3x
      Camera TypeStandard Point and Shoot
      Interchangeable LensNot Interchangeable Lenses
      35mm Zoom Lens38 - 114 mm
      Digital Zoom4x
      Focus TypeAutofocus
      Focus Range20 in. to Infinity (w) / 19.7 in. to Infinity (t)
      Macro Focus Range8 - 24 in. (w) / 11.8 - 19.7 in. (t)
      Focal Length7.8 - 23.4 mm
      Camera Resolution5.3 Megapixel
      Image Resolutions640 x 480 • 2560 x 1960 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1280 x 960 • 1024 x 768
      Video Resolutions320 x 240 (QVGA) • 160 x 120
      Video Speed15 fps
      Max Movie Length70 Seconds
      Video FormatQuickTime
      Aperture Rangef10/f10 (w/t) - f2.8/f4.8 (w/t)
      Shutter Speed1/2 - 1/1000 sec
      White BalanceManual
      Frames Per Second1 Frames
      Memory TypexD Picture Card
      Compression ModesFine • SuperFine • Normal • Uncompressed
      Compression TypeJPEG • TIFF
      File Size (High Res.)16 MB (8 images on 128MB card)
      File Size (Low Res.)0.16 MB (about 800 images on 128MB card)
      ISO SpeedsAuto • 160 • 320
      Flash TypeBuilt-In
      Flash FunctionsFlash Off • Auto Flash • Rear Sync Flash • Fill-in Flash • Red-eye Reduction Flash • Slow Sync
      ViewfinderOptical (Through-the-lens)
      LCD PanelWith LCD Panel
      LCD Panel Size1.5 in.
      LCD Screen Resolution134,000 pixels
      LCD Protected PositionWithout LCD Protected Position
      Interface TypeUSB
      Video InterfaceVideo Out
      Battery TypeProprietary Lithium
      Mp3 Built In
      Built-in MicrophoneWithout Built-in Microphone
      Tripod MountWith Tripod Mount
      Operating SystemApple Mac OS 8 • Apple Mac OS 9 • Apple Mac OS X • Microsoft Windows 2000 • Microsoft Windows 98 • Microsoft Windows 98SE • Microsoft Windows ME • Microsoft Windows XP
      Width3.9 in.
      Depth1.6 in.
      Height2.3 in.
      Weight0.43 lb.
      Warranty6 Months
      Exterior ColorSilver
      Included AccessoriesSoftware • USB Cable • Video Cable • Hand Strap • 32 MB Memory Card • Driver • Lithium Battery • Battery Charger • Remote Control
      MPN050332-137950
      Product ID20257190
      Release Date6/2/2004


     

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