Product Description

Reaching new performance heights in the ULTRA ZOOM series, the Olympus C-720 ULTRA ZOOM is the first model to feature three million pixels. The camera's sensational resolution is supported by a host of precision-metering systems and bright optical system. With its very compact, stylish form the cam features an 8x zoom lens. When used together with the 3x digital zoom, 24x magnification is possible. Shooting is easy thanks to full auto and scene program modes. The more adventurous user will also appreciate the many manually adjustable settings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16052 in Camera & Photo
• Size: Medium Size
• Brand: Olympus
• Model: 720 Ultra Zoom
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Platforms: Windows Me, Windows, Mac OS 9 and below, Windows NT, Mac OS X, Macintosh, Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 4, Windows NT 5, PowerMac
• Dimensions: 4.13" h x 7.48" w x 7.17" l, 1.70 pounds
• Memory: 8MB
• Display size: 1.5

Features

• 3-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create prints up to 11 x 14
• Autofocus lens with 8x optical zoom and 3x digital zoom (for 24x total zoom)
• Included 16 MB SmartMedia card holds 21 images at high quality setting
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses 2 CR-V3 lithium batteries (included) or 4 AA batteries

Amazon.com Product Description
The 3-megapixel Olympus C-720 Ultra Zoom digital camera boasts an outstanding 8x optical zoom lens (plus 3.0x digital zoom--equivalent to 40-320mm in 35mm camera) and an ultracompact size (4.2 by 3 by 3 inches). The impressive aspherical glass lens gives you excellent detail and sharp, clear pictures, plus the size of the camera makes it easy to bring along wherever you go.

The C-720 offers rapid-succession firing--just over half a second per shot--and QuickTime movie mode for short video clips. Additional features include multipattern TTL autofocus, built-in flash, diopter adjustment, 1.5-inch color LCD monitor, self-timer with 12-second delay, autoexposure bracketing (three or five images), auto white balance, and special image effects such as sepia mode and black and white.

The C-720 stores images on removable SmartMedia cards. The camera can be operated in several modes: in programmed auto mode the camera does everything for you. In aperture- and shutter-priority modes, you get to set the aperture or priority, and the camera does the rest. In manual mode, you have control over all camera functions, with shutter speeds as long as 16 seconds.

Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software. The C-720 also ships with two CR-3V long-life disposable lithium batteries (four AA batteries can also be used), a 16 MB SmartMedia card, lens cap, strap, retainer cord, USB and A/V cables, and software.

From the Manufacturer
Take your photography further with the C-720 Ultra Zoom, with its 8x optical--3x digital--zoom. Combine that with a 3-megapixel CCD and exclusive TruePic technology and you've got sharp, colorful, realistic digital images. And, with four scene-program modes, you don't have to be an expert to take superb portraits, action shots, and more. Autoconnect USB lets you easily download your images to a computer, while automatic features and customizable controls provide the flexibility necessary to meet your needs.

Customer Reviews

Could the 700 be improved?
In a word, yes. The 700 was my favorite digicam ever, putting most everything else in storage. However, along comes the 720 & adds a 50% better resolution while sacrificing only a small amount of the fine optical zoom (from 10x to 8x) that the 700 is known for. In point of fact, zooming at 10X without a tripod or image stabilization (not present on either the 700 or the 720) is extremely challenging. Anyway, this camera is beautifully made and ergonomically engineered. The aspherical all glass lens system is excellent and the resulting 3 megapixel images are crystal clear at 8" x 10" and quite acceptable at 11" x 14". The zoom of course remains the trump card on the 720, and the smoothness (just the right damping) with which it reaches its 8x limit is awesome. Another nice feature is its ability to take QuickTime movies, which really adds to its versatility. The camera as shipped does benefit from some upgrading, but these things can be added later. I would suggest the first purchase be a much larger memory card than the 16 megs included (I like the 128); if possible, buy Olympus, as these proprietary cards allow for a few more digital formatting tricks than do the others.

Excellent camera... wonderful zoom and great battery life
This is my 4th digital camera and they have certainly improved. I chose the 720 because of it's 8X zoom lens and small size, plus the use of standard sized batteries. I took it on a two week canoe trip in Ontario and it performed great. The photos are crisp and sharp. Even with the maximum zoom, the focus was sharp, although I did use a mono-pod for stability. I was particularly impressed with the battery life. Based on my older cameras, I took 6 sets of batteries for the two week trip.... but I ended up only using two sets: one set of NiMH rechargables and one set of lithium batteries was all it took for two weeks and over 600 photos, including lots of previewing with the LCD display.
I also found the LCD viewfinder more acceptable than I had first expected. It is a bit grainy and takes some getting used to, but it was brighter than most reviews have implied and it was great to be able to see 'exactly' what was going to be in the picture since it is 'through the lens'.

Overall, I am very pleased with the camera. Very impressive.

Extremely pleased with this camera!
****
The best selling points of this camera (for me):
- it works on AA batteries, and if needed, you can buy them in any country. (Buy rechargeables!)
- it has an awesome zoom (when coupled with the digital zoom)
- the pictures are beautiful, and can blow up to 8x10 on high resolution
- even when you shoot the shot at a high resolution, you can change it later to a lower res if you want to. But be careful, you can go down, but not back up!
- it has a panorama function that works pretty good, and it includes stitching the pictures together
- it fits on a tripod
- it is quite practical in size
- it is very affordable for what you get and the quality of output.
- you can view your pictures immediately on a television with the video cable
- you can view the image on the TV while you are shooting the picture (works great for family portraits so you can see the shot before it is taken and fix things that don't quite look right)
- I like the rapid fire shooting it has

The things I can live with but wish were better:
- it takes any smart media card, but the panorama function only works if you buy the Olympus smart media card
- If you plan on using it for extended periods, you really need to buy rechargeables
- the digital zoom is not very clear when viewing the image UNTIL you actually take the shot. And you really need a steady hand. But the shot comes out perfect. The thumbnails look blurry, though the picture really isn't.
- The pics take a long time to load onto your computer if you try to load them through your camera. I bought the DAZZLE ZIO! SMART MEDIA READER and it downloads the images boom-boom-boom-boom...instantly! Excellent feature, but sold separately.
- Doesn't come with a carrying case (good carrying cases are expensive - also sold separately)
- it only comes with a 16mb smart media card, YOU NEED MORE! (cha-ching)...for a 128mb, which by the way is about all you need for a week vacation. Takes 167 pics at high resolution.
- It sometimes takes a long time to focus and I did miss a few action shots because of this, but if you are prepared and pre-focus the camera it works great. You can also use the rapid firing option and just delete the ones you don't want. I did that too and it worked great.

Overall, this (in my opinion) was an excellent choice. I have had the camera for 2 months now and I LOVE IT! It was quite affordable if I were only buying the camera at... but when you add in the rechargeables, the recharger, smart card, carrying case, cleaning rags, media card reader, and tax, you do need to think of it more like an investment than a toy. The final bill came out to... OUCH! Would I do it again? You bet! Considering the stock market, it was the best investment I made all year. Do I regret not getting the 4.0 mp? No way, the zoom is not nearly as good as the 3.1, and when am I really ever going to print out an 11x14 picture (which is the only reason you ever need to go bigger than a 3.1.) besides, my printer isn't even big enough to print it, so I would have to have a shop print it - not realistic. Don't waste better options for more mega pixels, unless you are a professional, you really won't have the need for them.
Hope this helps!