These notes about the Olympus C-8080 include a broader discussion regarding the difference between a “rangefinder” type of camera like the C-8080 versus the current crop of digital SLR cameras (DSLR). My background has been professional photography with Leica rangefinder and SLR cameras along with some experimentations with DLSR cameras.

I have been using an Olympus C-8080 "prosumer" camera (8 megapixel) for over a year now. I have liked it better than the professional DSLR cameras I’ve tried for several reasons. It seems really odd that professional level cameras don't give me the features of the C8080 that I have grown to rely on:

1) Histogram readings while composing the photograph. This is invaluable to get really good exposure *before* you take the picture. I just hold down a button and get a histogram overlaying the scene in the electronic viewfinder.

2) Fold-out LCD. People who have not used Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex cameras or Hasselblads may not understand how useful a waist-level finder can be. Probably 25% of my photos are taken by folding out the LCD and looking down while composing the image, much like a twin lens reflex camera. I can set the camera on the floor or a table for a rock-steady and sometimes better composition. Also, I can hold the camera high overhead to clear crowds or get better vertical perspective, too, all while looking at the LCD viewfinder and not guessing what the picture is like you must do with a DSLR. Why do professional camera DSLRs still give you only the view of a little window that has to be held up to your eye?

3) Built in flash. "Real" pros might scoff at a little flip-up flash on a pro DSLR. But the small flash on the Olympus, set at 1.5 stops underexposure (just for the flash) has givens some excellent subtle fill light at times. A quick flip of the flash and I'm shooting.  I carry a nice Metz pro flash around, too, but by the time I get that setup, the photo could be gone.

4) Size. This history of modern electronics has been a steady miniaturization of components - everywhere except DSLRs! What is with these humongous bodies? My Olympus handles more like a Leica M rangefinder camera. I don't understand the trend to oversized DSLRs.

DSLR designers are definitely a bunch of 'in the box' thinkers, both literally and figuratively. I'm really disappointed that professional DSLR manufacturers have ignored so many great features, which are part of the "amateur" camera design. The Olympus C-8080, while it has its own set of faults, has improved the creativity of my photography even more than when I switched from a simple little Dacora brand camera to a Leica cameras 35 years ago.

Today, I am waiting for the real advancement in digital photography. Although very capable in capturing images, I am disappointed that most "pro" digital  SLR camera bodies are still designed around film mode - much like early automobiles that still had the mud guards up front to keep the horses from splashing on the occupants!

Prosumer cameras seem to have avoided the DSLR film/mud guard design trap. My Olympus C-8080 with 28-140mm equiv zoom has been a very "M-Leica-like" camera for me, along with the best of the new digital technologies.

The f2.4 lens at 28mm is fast for digital and the shutter lag is acceptable, except in low light (set it to manual focus then).  I would not use it for sports photography.

The quality and sharpness of the lens are remarkable. I have also used the Olympus wide-angle supplementary lens. The tail is wagging the dog with that huge piece of glass added on in front, but the 22mm equiv results are stunning (and no f-stop loss). The 8 megapixel image makes great enlargements, too.

As for problems with the C-8080, here is what I would like to see changed by Olympus in some future "C-8181" upgrade:

•  Proper manual focus at infinity (Olympus tech support actually excuses this major focus flaw by pointing out that the manual says that it doesn’t work right – shame on you Olympus for “fixing” the problem in the manual!)
•  Faster write times to the card for RAW and Tiff files.
•  A true optical finder (altho you get used to the high-rez eye-finder pretty quickly).
• Power-off button that isn't so easy to hit accidentally.
•  A twistable LCD monitor so you could do waist level portrait orientation shots. Landscape orientation works great with the tiltable LCD monitor - it's amazing how often I use that feature like a TLR set on the ground or high overhead. The Sony DSC-R1 has this feature that gives a tilt-out screen in both portrait and landscape mode.
•  Faster auto-focus (it's not a camera for shooting sports).
•  Manual zoom-ring and manual focus-ring override.

I much prefer the rangefinder feel of the C-8080 to any DSLR I've tried (have always shot Leica M cameras ten-to-one over my Leica SLR's, so am biased there from the beginning). It handles solid and fast, there is no mirror blackout or noise, and, unlike a DSLR, you can use the LCD for composing, not just reviewing the shot. The Olympus even comes with a cool lens hood that differentiates this camera from the rest of the P&S digital crowd.

At a cost under $700, most folks would not consider the C-8080 a "professional" camera, but my clients have appreciatively paid for it many times over in the last year of use for professional photography.

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