Olympus takes shot at digital

Olympus has launched two digital cameras to succeed the Camedia 800 and 400.

The C-820L and C-420L are sleeker than their predecessors, with a larger, clearer screen for reviewing shots. They also boast PAL compatibility for direct TV link-up.

The C-420L, suitable for first-time users of digital, has a 350,000 pixel imager and costs #499.99. The C-820L, which costs #899.99, has 810,000 pixels and a 1024 x 768 pixel recording image in high-quality mode.

Both cameras can hold any number of shots, and images are stored on portable 2Mb and 4Mb smart media cards, which hold between 10 and 80 images each, depending on the quality mode chosen. Each camera is supplied with one card. The company also plans to release 8Mb, 32Mb and 64Mb cards.

The cards include a Panorama Function for synthesising up to 20 images in one picture. It automatically adjusts the colour and lighting values of individual shots to match the first photo, and subsequent photos can be stored horizontally or vertically.

Also available for the cameras is a PC adaptor card, also from Olympus, which offers direct reading of the smart media card images via the PC's PCMCIA slot.