4. Technical Data, Modes And Menus

No surprises here: The C-8080 has all the features you could expect from a camera in this category. P, A, S and M modes are present and correct, along with Scene modes, a wide choice of focus and light metering settings, plus a number of other handy features not found in its rivals. For instance, the sensitivity scale of 50 to 400 ISO can be adjusted in increments of 1/3, which enables very fine tuning. This is very convenient and, once you get used to it, you can't do without it. Note there is also a sound video mode (in 640x480 at 15 fps), which is only limited by the storage capacity available.

On the subject of missing modes, it is quite valid to wonder about the virtual absence of the macro mode that, though it is mentioned, is useless for close-up shots. Here, the C-8080 is like the Sony F828 and Canon Pro1, which are very disappointing in this respect. You just have to face the fact that focusing is a problem under 50cm. Considering that the Konica Minolta A2 has an outstanding macro mode (true it's only in telephoto), you wonder why the others don't follow suit.

Images are captured in JPEG, TIFF or RAW format and recorded on a CompactFlash or xD Card. Olympus deserves a round of applause for its very professional attitude which offers you a wide choice but lets you decide for yourself what you want to use.

A few words on the wide range of colors on the C-8080. It has no less than nine presets (in addition to automatic and manual) to adjust the picture to all sorts of lighting conditions. Four of them are specifically for neon, the most exasperating of light sources. Another round of applause. And then there is the shutter speed, which ranges in the usual way from 15 to 1/4000 seconds, but which can be extended to 8 minutes in bulb mode, a feature the pros will like.