Olympus's 2004 4MP ultra-zoom compact — 10x 38-380mm equiv lens, EVF, xD storage, Li-ion power
The Olympus C-765 Ultra Zoom was a compact superzoom announced in 2004, one of the smaller entries in Olympus's long-running Camedia Ultra Zoom line that stretched from the C-700 UZ onwards. It sat below the flagship C-770 Movie of the same year and sold in the US for around $499 at launch.
A 4-megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD sits behind a 10x optical zoom equivalent to 38-380mm at f/2.8-3.7, with 4x digital zoom on top. Framing is via a 240,000-pixel electronic viewfinder or a 1.8-inch 114,000-pixel LCD. It offers TTL contrast-detect iESP and spot autofocus, shutter speeds to 1/1000 second, 640x480 movie recording, xD-Picture Card storage and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Maximum stills resolution is 2288x1712, with TIFF as well as JPEG output.
The draw is enormous reach in a genuinely small body — a pocketable alternative to the bigger bridge cameras of the day. There is no image stabilisation, so the long end demands bright light or a support, and the small EVF feels dated now. It suits travel and daylight wildlife snaps, and CCD colour gives its files a distinct period look.
Confirm the proprietary lithium-ion battery (LI-10B type) holds charge and a charger is included, since spares are third-party only now. xD-Picture Cards are discontinued — value bundles that include one. Zoom the lens through its full 10x travel listening for grinding, check the EVF and LCD both display, and look for dust drawn into the lens group.