Olympus C2020 2MP Digital Camera

by Olympus

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.6 x 4.2 x 2.9 inches ; 10.9 ounces
• 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: B000035YC4
• Item model number: C2020 Digital Zoom Camera
• Batteries: 4 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,444 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Following in the tradition of the popular C-2000 Zoom, Olympus's C-2020 Zoom offers high-performance digital imaging in a compact, great-looking body.

The styling on the C-2020 is a sure winner. It looks like a miniature traditional SLR that fits in one hand, and its front grip makes it easy to hold. The C-2020's menu system is fairly easy to use, although you might have to refer to the manual to find out what the cryptic abbreviations, such as WB (white balance) and Q (quality setting) mean.

The C-2020 packs a powerful 3x zoom lens and offers an excellent resolution of 1,600 x 1,200 pixels. (You can also set it for lower resolutions.) Its large half-inch CCD produces incredibly sharp, colorful pictures. While most settings use the JPEG format, this camera also has an uncompressed TIFF format for high-end, ultradetailed photo work. You can save your images on compact SmartMedia memory cards.

Olympus manages to marry high-end manual controls with more consumer-oriented, popular features in the C-2020. This digital camera offers superb creative control, featuring traditional aperture- and shutter-priority modes, as well as a full manual setting. The C-2020 shows both aperture and shutter speed on the display in all modes, as well as a quick-adjust exposure compensation--one of the most useful displays we've seen. This lets you change settings more quickly and easily than even a traditional SLR film camera will allow. The C-2020 also offers a macro setting for close-up work. It gives you a spot-metering option for tricky exposures as well; its advanced TTL matrix metering worked very well for most of our scene exposures. In addition, the C-2020 has a new black-and-white mode and a new movie mode, which lets you take up to 60 seconds of QuickTime video (without sound).

Overall, we were very pleased with the Olympus C-2020's performance--while it offers high-end creative control, it's also easy enough for a novice to use. Its compact size and great styling were big plusses as well. The only drawback we experienced was its tendency, as with all digital cameras, to drain batteries very quickly--we'd recommend investing in a set of rechargeable AAs.

Pros:

• Extensive creative control
• Very compact
• Powerful zoom
• Records short movies

Cons:

• Drains batteries quickly

Amazon.com Product Description

Based on the design of the award-winning C-2000 Zoom, the Olympus C-2020 Zoom digital camera is a range-finder camera with a high-resolution 3x zoom lens (equivalent to a 35 to 105mm zoom on a 35mm film camera) and a 2.11-megapixel capacity. Maximum picture resolution is 1,600 x 1,200 pixels. This camera includes a number of exposure presets as well as Digital ESP TTL matrix metering with image and spot metering.

The C-2020 Zoom is Olympus's first filmless digital camera to shoot color or black-and-white images. It's also the first Olympus camera that can shoot up to 60 seconds of QuickTime movie. This higher-end digital camera is for the photographer who wants to move beyond standard point-and-shoot quality without sacrificing a user-friendly interface.

Other advanced features include fully automatic and true manual controls for focus, white balance, and exposure; a new wide-view 1.8 LCD, for easy viewing at any angle, even in direct sunlight; a wireless remote control; a new power control dial and better power efficiency; and onscreen menus and controls. The built-in flash has five modes, including red-eye reduction, fill-in, and flash off to match any lighting situation. Also included are a 12-second delay self-timer and a date imprinting function.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Value - Features Galore, February 27, 2000

By 

David Fitch (Rogers, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus C2020 2MP Digital Camera (Electronics)

I searched the web extensively for digital camera reviews and comparisons trying to make the best possible purchase and value in a digital camera amidst a jungle of opportunities. The results? Well, I purchased the Olympus C2020 Digital Zoom Camera and from the time I received it have been very happy. Even with minimal manual reading, my 14yr. old son started taking great pictures right out of the box. It probably has many more features than the average individual will ever fully utilize, but they're there for almost every possible concievable photo opportunity. It's a digital camera whose results rival some of the best from conventional film cameras. I waited to buy a digital camera until the technology, which Olympus is now using, would produce a quality comparable, if not better than most 35mm SLR film cameras. I use this camera for both recreation and business. In business, I have a need to email product photo images overseas.

If you're a point and shoot buff or looking for high tech manipulation, you'll find great satisfaction in the Olympus C2020. I really wanted something compact for travel and outdoor adventure, (a big attraction to this camera in contrast to others), but don't let it's nice small size fool you, it's cram packed with advanced technology. Under a mulititude of lighting situations the results were consistantly top quality. I would, however, recommend purchasing the software application, ThumbsPlus 4.0 for Windows by Cerious Software. It's the best of all the basic photo manipulation and archiving software I've found, a must for all the photos you'll end up taking. It's reasonably priced, easy to use, and full featured for even the most discriminating photo professional.

67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real world comparison, March 7, 2000

By 

Max J. Pucher (Zug Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Olympus C2020 2MP Digital Camera (Electronics)

I have used three cameras lately: 1) Sony DSC-505 2) Olympus C-2020 3) Kodak DC280. All three have 2.1 Megapixel and good lenses. The Sony is the only one with no Zoom, but has the best picture quality and the best lowlight exposure. There is also the DSCF505 which has the huge 3xzoom lens, but it is too big to be nice. The Sony is also the smallest and the easiest to use. The operating system is similar to the DV camcorders. The second best is the Olympus C-2020 due to its zoom lens, the viewfinder and just weaker in low light conditions. The 130 pictures will fit onto a 64MB Smartmedia in HQ, a little more than with Sony. The Kodak I liked the least, mostly because of its klunky operating system and the poor colors (in comparison). I currently use the Olympus for professional work and the Sony due to its breast pocket size to snap great photos anywhere and anytime.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent features for the price!, March 15, 2000

By 

Steven A. Richards (St.Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Olympus C2020 2MP Digital Camera (Electronics)

I have used several digital camera's in the past 2 years. Kodak DC210, Sony Mavica, Olympus 400, Olympus C2000 and the Olympus C2020 Digital Zoom Camera!

The Olympus C2020 is the by far the BEST digital camera I have ever owned. The resolution is near the quality of 35mm print film and the features are many while being very intuitive in operation. The camera is not tiny, but is very small and easily carried around. Although the strap position causes it to hang at an unusual angle, it is still VERY portable!

I would recommend this camera to anyone looking for a very good digital camera.