Anyone can get great results with the Olympus C-370 ZOOM. Compact and lightweight, this camera is simple and fun to use. It is based on a ‘one button, one function’ design principle, which makes navigating menus and features easy. However, this camera should not be underestimated. With 3.2 million pixels and a 3x optical zoom lens, delivering crisp photos is a snap, whilst the Super Macro mode allows dramatic close-up shots of extremely small subjects.The Olympus C-370 ZOOM will be available from October 2004, priced £119.99 (approx $175). It comes with the new Olympus Master 1.0 software and incorporates a range of features including:

• Easy to use, ‘one button, one function’ operation
• 3.2 million pixels
• 3x optical zoom
• 1.5 inch LCD
• Endless recording with movie function (limited only by the size of the available memory)
• PictBridge compatibility

The Olympus C-370 ZOOM is a marvel of simple design. Stylish but functional, it gets the job done with an absolute minimum of fuss with easy-to-use controls offering straightforward point and shoot photography. Using this camera could not be easier, even the four programme modes are supported by a special help function, which describes the selected mode on the LCD monitor.

With 3.2 million pixels, the Olympus C-370 ZOOM doesn’t stint on performance. Definition and image clarity is further enhanced by a 3x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 38–114mm on a 35mm camera), which incorporates three aspherical elements. A 4x digital zoom provides additional magnification power.

The C-370 ZOOM delivers great versatility. A Super Macro mode means subjects as little as 2cm away can be captured easily. Meanwhile video sequences are limited in length only by available memory. Image data is saved to the 12MB internal memory or on xD-Picture Cards of up to 512MB.

The Olympus C-370 ZOOM – main features:

• 3.2 million pixels
• 3x optical zoom (equiv. 38 – 114mm on 35mm cameras) f2.9-5.0
• 1.5 inch LCD, 130,000 pixels
• 12MB internal memory
• One button per function concept, reset button
• New user interface with useful descriptions of programme modes
• Four scene programmes (Portrait, Self-Portrait, Night Scene, Landscape)
• Endless recording with movie function (limited only by the size of the available memory)
• PictBridge support
• Super Macro, from as close as 2 cm
• Accepts standard (rechargeable) AA batteries

Special menus explain what each of the camera’s four scene modes do, each selected using a small dial positioned to fall nicely under the right thumb. The scene modes on offer are portrait, self-portrait, night scene and landscape. You also get a fun movie mode offering 320 x 240 movies with sound and recording to the limit of the xD Picture card storage. Exposure control is run through an accomplished Program Auto exposure mode that provides true point-and-shoot ease of use.

PictBridge support allows shots to printed off directly from any compatible printers without the need to transfer pictures to a PC first.

The 3x zoom lens has an unremarkable 38-114mm focal range, but it’s more than adequate for this camera’s typical user and has a respectably fast F2.9 maximum aperture. The C-370′s stand-out feature has to be its great 2cm macro mode. It works well and provides stunning, frame-filling close-up capability.

However, there are a couple of problems. The most irritating is the lack of a custom set-up feature that allows you to set the camera for repeated use within the same mode; it always ‘resets’ back to the default settings. This means you have to repeatedly set the camera up again, each time you turn it on – even the quality setting isn’t retained.