Olympus Camedia C-5050 Zoom Digital Camera

Pros: Ease of use, flexibility, ability to do it all, various memory card formats.
Cons: Shutter lag is an annoyance, but only because everything else works so well.

The camera is easy to use. It offers the basic point and shoot simplicity or the features and associated complexity of an SLR. It provides great pictures and is everything and more than expected from a former Olympus 3030 owner.

The Olympus is more than adequate for 99% of your print requirements and 5MP strikes a good balance in the areas of file size and write speed. I’ve come to the opinion that Olympus may have recently recalibrated their software to correct the reported noise problem and zeroed out the sharpness, contrast and saturation adjustments. In terms of the reported CA issue, I simply haven’t shot into situations where this is a problem. Point is, the camera takes wonderfully sharp, contrasty, and “noiseless” photographs that 99% of the people using this camera would be hard pressed to differentiate from a 35mm pro-sumer SLR. The magnesium body has weight, it feels solid, it fits your hands perfectly, the controls are where you would expect them, and there is just the right number of external controls. The single caveat is the lens extension. To fix permanently install an Olympus CLA-1 conversion lens adapter and a UVa filter. Bottom line, the Olympus exceeded my expectations.

My other baby is the Nikon Coolpix 5000, but the C-5050 is easier to understand and operate. You will have a lot of a camera for your money. Applause for Olympus!!

This a great camera. The adapter for filter is a feature found on few other digital cameras. You can actually put a polarizing filter on this camera. The NiMH batteries last about 100 shots. The picture quality is super, as good as my Nikon SLR.

I have moved from the olympus D300 to C2020 and now the C5050. This camerera has the fetures I had on a Cannon T90 which was a professional model all the way. If you are a novice that wants to move up, this will delight you with every new feture you learn how to use. Be sure to purchace at authorised distributor or rick not having a warnty

This camera is amazing. You really do get the best bang for the buck in this camera. Great ergonomics, lens, imager and feature set. This is a camera one can grow into, from an amateur to a professional and is reasonably priced. For all u cheap bastards out there that complain about the manual, go and print it at your office and stop griping. The pictures, the start up and write to card times and the in camera picture review and image compensation are overall excellent. This camera uses several different storage mediums and different types of AA batteries as well as single use olympus lithium type so there should be no griping about either of these things as batteries are cheap and plentiful. Dont listen to the people who talk about esoteric terms and bitch about really trivial things in thier reviews, im telling u if u want the corvette of current 5mp cameras this is the one.

The lag time between taking pictures is poor at best. I turn the camera on with the lens cap still in place. It sounds like the lens is pushing into the cover which does not secure to the lens itself. This straining sound is followed by an alarm that indicates the lens cap has not been removed. The camera should have the protective plastic films that are common for most electronics devices. The video feature audio is slightly out of sinc with video during playback. The popout display is great if you are viewing with the camera at your waist line. It cannot be used if the camera is above your head. The max ISO is 400. Would have been nice to see 600, 800, 1000 3 slots for memory cards,you can only use 2 at the same time. SM & XD use the same slot. Only Olympus type cards for the panaramic option. Red eye. Even at close range the light is not enough to reduce the pupil size. Dogs are dificult at best.

A state of the art Piece of equipment. I'm a long time semi pro photographer, I've own bought 4 digital cameras and now I'm using 2. The C5050 for all purpose shutting and the C730 for tele pics.

Outstanding camera!. Before this camera I was shooting SLR 35mm film. I have been using Nikon SLR body and lenses. I've been waiting for a quality digi camera with little or no "shutter lag", this is it!! Very flexible camera. Has many preprogramed functions or you can shoot in total "manual" mode. Construction is very solid. I'd buy this camera again tomorrow.

Over the years I have owned an OlympusOM10,Nikon F401,Nikon Pronea.Fujii finepix 6800 zoom.This camera seems to offer fantastic quality,easy to use once you spend uninterrupted time playing around with it,also it seems like an excellent camera in a compact size,allowing for more control over piccies but easily goes in my handbag.Other 35m cameras have been great sharp pictures but needed a trolley on wheels to transport.I would willingly reccommend this camera.For those of you who are dubious about these reviews - I do not work in photographic sales so have no ulterior motive in my reccommendations.

I have over 10 years experience in pro photography, I have also significantly researched/used other similar products Nikon 5700, Canon G3 and Fuji Digital Camera. Nothing can come close to C5050Z. All I can say it is an incredible camera. Well constructed, incredible pictures and do not worry about others claiming the CA problems, this happens in all Digital cameras. With a bit of adjustment and/or Photoshop you’ll get rid of the CA if it ever happens.Lots of Pro Camera like features. Do not think twice, if you need a digital camera this is the one.

We do a lot of indoor shots with less than good lighting. The C-5050 is about as good as it gets. We tried the Sony DSC S85 with the Carl Zeiss lens - NOT EVEN CLOSE - sorry Sony -Olympus has you here. The ability to adjust flash intensity while shooting is Great !!! Color reproduction is Fabulous.

I couldn't be happier with my purchase, I knew that no camera would be perfect but this one comes close. The 5X7 prints are amazing, rivaling my Nikon N70 35mm. the 8X10's are nearly the same and definetly good enough to hang on the wall. The battery issue is balanced with the fact that it uses a standard battery (AA's). the lens cap is a minor pain but everything else about this camera is awesome

As an old pro of many years ago standard cameras were very comfortable. The alure of digital imaging finally caught me as I am also a computer freak.Although I have only had this camera a few days I am still absolutely amazed at the quality and capacity of this unit. Once I have my mindset trained I anticipate a happy relationship with this camera.

Come on Olympus! for a camera that lists for $800.00 you have to buy a user guide for $10.00. Otherwise this is an awesome camera. What picture quality! Great feature is ability to use multiple type memory cards. Many bells and whistles, maybe too many. Highly recommended.