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Monday, July 14, 2025

A Compact Comeback, And The Half-Frame Format

Olympus VR-370
Compact Comeback: A quick look at image making with a vintage compact, the Olympus VR-370, held vertically to shoot in the half-frame format.
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As we are seeing the strong comeback for compact and pocketable vintage digital point-and-shoot cameras, or digicams, compelled by the interest among younger generation of digital camera shooters, we are also seeing the prompts for a very modern compact half-frame digital camera with a fixed focal length lens and a vertically oriented sensor, designed for the fun and the experience of shooting with half-frame film cameras.

For a fraction of the cost, a vintage digicam, held vertically to capture images in the 3:4, or half-frame format, can also be equal to the task, fitting the bill for both, without the need to break the bank.

Olympus VR-370

My constant on-the-go companion, for this example, is a compact point-and-shoot travel-zoom, the 16MP CCD Olympus VR-370, fitted with a 24-300mm equivalent 12.5 x optical zoom lens, introduced by Olympus in 2013. The specifically compact ultra-zoom, known for its extended zoom capabilities, compact size, and decent imagery, comes in a range of models that include the VR-310, VR-320, VR-330, and VR-340. The series was in production from around 2011 to 2013.

Olympus VR-370
Olympus VR-370

Functionalities of the VR-370, as mentioned earlier, include the 24-300mm equivalent 12.5 x optical zoom lens, a 16MP CCD sensor, Built-in Flash, Dedicated One-Touch Video Button, Dual Image Stabilization, Ergonomic Grip Design, and 3.0-inch LCD with Anti-Glare Technology. Exposure capability includes Program, Intelligent Auto, Beauty, Scene, Magic (Filter), and Panorama features.

Olympus VR-370
Olympus VR-370

Images in the 3:4 aspect ratio (or the half-frame mode) are also referred to as the portrait format. The image is 3 units wide by 4 units tall, a derivative format for most digicams, which are normally fitted with 4:3 landscape image sensors. When the camera is held vertically, the image equates to the 3:4 aspect. The image format, a natural choice for mobile photography enthusiasts, is equally significant in social media content creation, as it allows photos to appear exactly as shot without cropping.

Olympus VR-370
Olympus VR-370

An additional functionality of the camera is the ability for the camera's battery to be charged on board, i.e., with the battery still mounted in the camera, via a multi-use USB (CB-USB7) cable. A very convenient concept, no doubt, as it eliminates the need to have a charger on hand all the time and allows for the replacement of the USB cable at a lower cost if both the cable and charger are missing from the kit.

Olympus VR-370
Olympus VR-370

Time to make the choice you wouldn't want to miss out on, to satisfy your craving for a simple, reliable reach and creative versatility in a (retro-styled) compact with its CCD sensor and video capabilities that reflects the technology of the 2010s, and in-camera features and effects that still appeals to vintage digital enthusiasts and nostalgia travelers alike.



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