Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom 4MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom

by Olympus

Product Details

Product Manual [9.76mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0001DKR0O
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,071 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 12, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description Olympus yet again raises the bar in the ultra-zoom digital camera arena with the 4-megapixel Camedia C-770. It's the smallest digital camera in the world featuring an optical 10x optical zoom (as of February 2004), measuring 4.11 x 2.36 x 2.7 inches (12-percent smaller than its predecessor, the C-750) and weighing only 9.9 ounces. It also features an MPEG4 movie mode with sound for high-resolution video at 30 frames per second. Other features include an all-metal body, a Super Zoom function that extends to 14x close-ups, fast USB 2.0 connectivity, and a bevy of manual features.

Optics and Resolution

	Olympus' 10x optical zoom gets the detail of hard-to-reach subjects without loss of image quality.

With its 4-megapixel resolution, the C-770 captures 2288 x 1712 pixel images for impressive, photo-quality 11 x 14-inch print enlargements. It als features a full range of resolution modes: 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480 pixels. It records both in JPEG and TIFF format. The C-770's bright (f2.8-f3.7) optical system--normally only found in pro-level SLR cameras--comprises 11 elements arranged in 7 groups and includes two aspherical lenses to reduce distortion as well as an ED element to help reduce chromatic aberration.

The 10x optical zoom lens (6.3-63mm, or 38-380mm equivalent in 35mm photography) is combined with a 4x digital zoom for a seamless 40x total zoom. The new Super Zoom function--captured at 1600 x 1200 (2-megapixel) resolution--enables you to extend to an amazing 14x optical zoom.

Movie Mode
The C-770 captures video with audio in MPEG4 movie format, the next-generation video standard with more efficient file compression. You can shoot at an astonishing 30 frames per second (fps) while in SHQ mode (640 x 480 pixels). Two other resolution modes (320 x 240 and 160 x 120) capture video at 15 fps.

More Features
The C-770 is one of the first Olympus models to feature TruePic Turbo, a new image processor that sharpens image clarity, contrast, and color for life-like results. This feature also makes the camera 30% faster in processing images and is combined with a super-fast shutter release time.

The mode dial offers quick access to automatic settings, as well as four customizable "My Mode" settings.

In auto mode, the C-770 offers point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking. For those times when you want to tweak your creativity, the C-770 has aperture priority, shutter priority, or full manual settings. The 6 Scene modes (controlled by the dial on top of the camera) provide fully automatic exposure adjustments in a wide variety of settings: Portrait, Self Portrait, Landscape-Portrait, Sports, Night Scene and Landscape photography. The 4 customizable "My Mode" settings help save time by allowing you to assign frequently used settings to the mode dial for quick access.

The optimized electronic viewfinder (unlike many optical viewfinders) enables precise framing of the shot as well as displays all activated settings so you don't have to take your eyes off your subject.

Other features include:

• 1.8-inch low-temperature poly-silicon TFT LCD (118,000 pixels)
• Built-in flash with several modes: auto for low light and backlight, red-eye reduction , fill-in (forced on), and slow shutter synchronized
• Dedicated hot shoe connection for adding an external flash or sync to a studio strobe
• 1.5 frames per second burst mode up to 8 frames in HQ mode
• ISO settings: Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400

Direct Printing
The C-770 is PictBridge compatible, which enables you to transfer pictures from your digital camera to a compatible printer (such as the Olympus P-10), without a PC or image-editing software. All PictBridge devices share three basic features: camera-to-printer connecting, single-image printing, and uniform error messages (in case something goes wrong).

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on XD Picture Card memory cards. The card's small size, about the same as a postage stamp, helps to keep the camera size down. The included 16 MB card will store approximately 16 images at 2288 x 1712 pixels (at HQ, JPEG setting). Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via ultra-fast USB 2.0 connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98 Rev2Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery (model Li-10B, included), which provides approximately 175 shots per charge with typical use. It measures 4.11 x 2.36 x 2.7 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 9.9 ounces (excluding battery and storage media).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Camedia C-770 digital camera, 16 MB XD memory card, lithium-ion rechargeable battery (Li-10B) and battery charger, USB and A/V cables, carrying strap, lens cap with retainer cord, quick-start guide, and printed instruction manual. The CD-ROM features Camedia Master software, VideoStudio7 SE Basic (for MPEG4 video editing), Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Camera Reference Manual.

Product Description

OLYMPUS C-770, 4.0 MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL CAMERA WITH 1.8 LCD SCREEN

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Olympus C-770 Is Excelent, July 29, 2004

By 

K. Koy "KKreview" (Germantown, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom 4MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I've just bought this camera for approximately a month from
somewhere else to replace my old Olympus C-2100 which is
accidently broken during a recent vacation. So far I like this
C-770 a lot. I still miss my C-2100 though, for the Image
Stabilizer. Here are a few things that I like about this C-770:
- It has 4 megapixels.
- 10X zoom is tremendous. You can do a lot with it.
- 14X Super Zoom is very handy. With the Super Zoom, the
resolution is set automatically to only 2mp. This is OK,
since I'm used to the C-2100 that has 10X with 2mp.
- Very clear picture even with full zoom. I heard some
complaints about not able to focus on full zoom - but I did
not experience this problem at all during normal light
conditions.
For low light and full zoom, it's a little challenging to
focus. But this could happen with any cameras even with the
Image Stabilization.
- This camera also works with remote control (unlike the C-765
that doesn't support remote control at all???). The remote
that come with the camera package, RM-2, provide only the
basic function: shooting. Fortunately, I have the
RM-1 that came with my old C-2100. In addition to just
shooting, I can also use it to do the zooming.
- The MPEG movie is excelent. I have not got a chance to
compare the quality of this MPEG mode and the normal Quictime
mode yet - but so far I like this MPEG mode a lot. It saves
a lot of space. I could actually record a long movie if I had
a large xd card. With my 128mb xd, I believe I could make
up to 8-9 minutes movie. I intend to use the MPEG movies, and
convert them to a VCD format so that I can play on my DVD
players. With Quicktime, it's hard and time-consuming to do
so. If you don't like this MPEG mode, you can always set your
C-770 to do the normal Quictime instead.
- The built-in flash range of this C-770 is better than the
C-765. It can work up to 5 meters (16ft) instead of just 3.5
meters with the C-765.
- Other capabilities that I like, but never get a change or
resource to try yet, are: external flash, external lenses for
Telephoto, wide-angle, and macro modes, and external
microphone.

Something that I wish this C-770 to have are:
- Need to come with a better battery. It comes with the LI-10B
battery that Olympus doesn't give any estimates on how long it
can be used for each recharge. So far I don't have much to
complaint since I can use my camera for a while each time
before I have to recharge the battery. I need to buy a new
battery, the LI-12B for $49.95 from Olympus. According to
the spec., this LI-12B should allow you to do approx. 175
shots for each recharge.
- Optical zooming will not work when recording movies with
sounds. Somewhere, someone mention that I need to use
external microphone to take movies with sounds and to use
optical zoom at the same time. I have not got a chance to
try this yet.

Before I decide to buy this C-770, I also have some thoughts
about its twin, the C-765. I bought this C-770 instead, for
the remote control, MPEG4 movie mode, and the external flash.
I also did some research on other brands - some comes with
Image Stabilizer and some not. The Image Stabilizer (like my
old C-2100) is something that is nice to have, but the picture
quality is something that I must have. The zooming and the
capabilities of adding external telephoto lens for extra
zooming are something that I really want to have - I can take
candid pictures of my kids, at home or anywhere in the crowds,
with ease.

96 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best camera on the market under $1000, June 21, 2004

By 

Robert Justice "Just-ice" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom 4MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This is one of the greatest cameras you can buy for under $1000 excluding proffesional SLR cameras. When someone goes to a store like Best Buy and looks around for a digital camera I always see people unsure of their product choice as if they don't necessarily know what they are getting and end up with a camera that doesn't hold up to there expectations. However the olympus c-770 will hold up to your expectations and possibly even go beyond your expectations. You may look at the price and think "wow $600? I'm not willing to pay that much for a camera when I can just buy one for $400 or less!(Lets just say the Sony Cyber Shot)." Anyone who thinks that is wrong. If you compare the two cameras you will see a significant price difference and quality difference. The SCS(Sony Cyber Shot) which represents most inexpensive cameras may have alot of the megapixels youve been told about which is good but when you consider other factors contributing to the camera 5 or so mega pixels won't seem a good enough reason to buy it instead of the olympus. A few factors that play its part in a good digital camaera are these few things. Mega pixels(SCS's best version has more than the olympus's c-770[OC])Then you need to consider the type of memory card( SCS has a regular type of memory card and the OC has an XD picture card which increases the storage space significantly and causes the pictures taken to be saved more effeitiently which leads to a better picture(although not noticable until you print the picture at a large size.) Then you consider the zoom(SCS has 4 opticle zoom and 3 digital zoom that comes out to a maximum of 12 zoom, the OC has 10 opticle zoom and 4 digital zoom.) As you can see the OC has much more zoom which is something really important. A more complex thing is the type of picture format which is also very important. Sony's can't reach TIFF format when the OC can. This is very important to the picture. Then comes the focusing. OC is much faster at this and can achieve certain points of focus in even the worst of conditions. After considering all of these things the OC in result can 80% of the time achieve a much better picture. Other things to consider that the OC is better at is it's ease of use, manual controlls, variety of options "including night seen' which alows you to take pictures in any condition, extended flash for more light, looks, reliability, endurance, weight, metal body, the 4 megapixels and finally the ablity to adapt to your skills as you get more and more advanced. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE ABOUT THIS CAMERA IS THE ABILITY TO TAKE MOVIES! WITH SOUND! I am totaly amazed about these movies. It films in MPEG4 which films with the quality you watch T.V in! Also the sound reciever works fine. Over all I highly recomend this camera! Ignore the price. It's well worth it! "I compared it to the sony cyber shot since that camera is the best a cheap camera can get, I used it to represent all cheap cameras with the SCS's same abilitys or less.Thankyou for reading my review.

Okay, its now 6 months later. I'm back and i love this camera more than ever. The image quality is HD, it actually has a resolution to good for the computer screen causing it to degrate on lower end screens. So far i took it too Umbria, Italy and Jackson, Wyoming. It performed very well in 110 degrees in italy. And in Wyoming the screen never froze, fogged or broke. I have read all of the other reveiws and have decided that they don't know how to use this camera correctly. I you read the other reveiws everything that they say that is wrong with this camera can be fixed in the menu of the camera. Also, i dropped it in the moutains while hiking in italy, it barely scratched and didn't hurt the system at all. Now that this camera is 450$(80$ less than what i bought it for) it is really still after 6 months the best choice. But make sure you have a HD T.V. to fully live up to the resolution otherwise you won't be able to view the pictures at there best, preferably an LCD. One more thing, check for a really good picture i took with it up above.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent camera for all-round shooting, December 10, 2004

By 

Jeremy Anderson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom 4MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I purchased this camera approximately a month ago, and I couldn't be more thrilled with its performance. I had used two older Olympus cameras that could be considered the precursor to this C770. They both had similar features and zoom capabilities, although they didn't quite have all the bells and whistles this C770 has. Both of those older versions I used at work for my job as a wildlife biologist and they did an excellent job taking "nature" pictures. I therefore knew what kind of quality I would be getting when I purchased this C770 for my personal use. It may be cliche, but the C770 has gone beyond my expectations. Although I'm still learning how to use all the extra features, it has done everything I've needed it to do thus far. It has taken crystal-clear indoor pictures of people using the flash. I've been thoroughly impressed with the outdoors pictures I've taken, particularly the ones of people and my dog. When I bought this camera I also purchased a Cannon Pixma ip5000 printer, and together they have produced clear, colorful, incredible pictures (after a search for the proper combination of paper and settings on the printer). I'd say that the pictures are better than those I was getting developed from my old SLR camera using standard 35mm film. I also purchased an Olympus 256mb XD card, and I'm able to get approximately 260 pictures on the highest quality settings. It also takes approximately 15 minutes of video with that 256mb card, and that's just an added bonus to the picture taking capabilities of this camera. I would make a recommendation, however: purchase an extra Li-ion battery to have as a spare in addition to the one battery the camera comes with, as this camera doesn't use typical AA batteries (like it's predecessors did). The charger that comes with the camera works in about 2 hours, so recharging batteries is fairly quick. I had grown accustomed to using an SLR camera and having the ability to adjusting shutter speed and aperature. This C770 allows you to use manual settings and adjust speed, aperature, and ISO for more versatility. However, even the auto settings (essentially "point and shoot") abilities of this camera are great. Although I haven't tried them out yet, I'm looking forward to trying the black-and-white and sepia settings for taking more artistic pictures. I was also impressed that the camera is smaller than it's predecessors. I'd highly recommend this camera to anyone who wants not only a simple camera to use that has automatic settings, but who also wants the flexibility to adjust aperature, speed, and has a 10x zoom (combined with 4x digital zoom for 40x total) for taking pictures of distant features. The 10x optical zoom was essential for someone like myself who loves taking pictures of the great outdoors and animals. One last recommendation: if you want to buy a digital camera, I'd recommend buying at least a 4 megapixel camera such as this C770. I've been very pleased with the picture clarity of this 4 megapixel camera.