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Olympus VR-370

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Photo of the Day

Olympus VR-370

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Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

A Compact Comeback, And The Half-Frame Format

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Zuiko OM 35mm 1:2.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Zuiko OM 35mm 1:2.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.