Old Digitals also need love: Olympus C-725

**ismaelg** · 10-01-2021, 09:54 PM - **5 Likes**

Hello,

Over the years I have posted a few older digitals that were left for dead and I just had fun bringing them back. Nothing serious. Mostly cosmetic work. Contrary to vintage film cameras, which can still be used with excellent results, old digitals are really left in the dust, especially point and shoots. I'm just keeping this from the landfill.
So a friend of mine gave me this he was going to throw away.
Olympus CAMEDIA C-725. This little monster has a whopping 3.0 Megapixles and a 8X optical zoom. It was released in early 2004 to not so good reviews.
This one has the battery door broken. It won't latch.
Before doing anything, I put fresh batteries and held the battery door in place. It is alive.

No camera, regardless of how bad it performs, deserves this kind of treatment.

So after analyzing the situation, I came up with an idea. I drilled a strategic hole and made an L shaped key from brass to fit tight on the drilled hole.

Know what? It works!

So, a cleanup, batteries and an old XD card I had around:

Made in Japan!

Yikes, Yeah, I wasn't expecting much either. But maybe it works better in bright sunlight.

As for the main question: WHY? I don't know! I've never claimed to be normal.
Maybe if there is a zombie apocalypse where only 3MP 8X zoom cameras work...

By the way, just for fun the camera shots were taken on this 2010 Fuji AX230 (my sister's)

which was photographed with a 2004 Fuji S3100

Thanks,
Ismael

**BigMackCam** · 10-01-2021, 10:45 PM

Another cool project, Ismael. Nice job with the little L-shaped key!

I love playing with old digital cameras, and find it interesting to see what images can be squeezed out of them. In decent light outdoors, I'm sure you'll find the C-725 is capable of producing decent photos

CedrusMacro · 10-02-2021, 03:18 AM

Nice Ismael, no need to justify as I reckon most into photography have curiosity not logic driving them. I've just rescued an old Nikon D2H, with a mighty 4.2.mp!! It's been a surprise how good a photo such small numbers can produce! I hope people continue to buy the latest tech and leave the older stuff to become affordable toys to play with.

**UncleVanya** · 10-02-2021, 04:34 AM

Wow. I think I own both of those cameras! My kids used the Olympus (neither one developed a photography hobby) and my wife owned the Fuji when cell phones sucked as cameras. The one we have is blue.

**sergysergy** · 10-02-2021, 10:53 AM

Nice job!
My first digital camera was a Kodak. My second one a Pentax

10-01-2021, 09:54 PM - 5 Likes	#1
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,681	Old Digitals also need love: Olympus C-725 Hello, Over the years I have posted a few older digitals that were left for dead and I just had fun bringing them back. Nothing serious. Mostly cosmetic work. Contrary to vintage film cameras, which can still be used with excellent results, old digitals are really left in the dust, especially point and shoots. I'm just keeping this from the landfill. So a friend of mine gave me this he was going to throw away. Olympus CAMEDIA C-725. This little monster has a whopping 3.0 Megapixles and a 8X optical zoom. It was released in early 2004 to not so good reviews. This one has the battery door broken. It won't latch. Before doing anything, I put fresh batteries and held the battery door in place. It is alive. No camera, regardless of how bad it performs, deserves this kind of treatment. So after analyzing the situation, I came up with an idea. I drilled a strategic hole and made an L shaped key from brass to fit tight on the drilled hole. Know what? It works! So, a cleanup, batteries and an old XD card I had around: Made in Japan! Yikes, Yeah, I wasn't expecting much either. But maybe it works better in bright sunlight. As for the main question: WHY? I don't know! I've never claimed to be normal. Maybe if there is a zombie apocalypse where only 3MP 8X zoom cameras work... By the way, just for fun the camera shots were taken on this 2010 Fuji AX230 (my sister's) which was photographed with a 2004 Fuji S3100 Thanks, Ismael

10-02-2021, 03:18 AM	#3
CedrusMacro Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 513	Nice Ismael, no need to justify as I reckon most into photography have curiosity not logic driving them. I've just rescued an old Nikon D2H, with a mighty 4.2.mp!! It's been a surprise how good a photo such small numbers can produce! I hope people continue to buy the latest tech and leave the older stuff to become affordable toys to play with. Attached Images

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10-01-2021, 10:45 PM	#2
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	Another cool project, Ismael. Nice job with the little L-shaped key! I love playing with old digital cameras, and find it interesting to see what images can be squeezed out of them. In decent light outdoors, I'm sure you'll find the C-725 is capable of producing decent photos

10-02-2021, 04:34 AM	#4
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Wow. I think I own both of those cameras! My kids used the Olympus (neither one developed a photography hobby) and my wife owned the Fuji when cell phones sucked as cameras. The one we have is blue.

10-02-2021, 10:53 AM	#5
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,170	Nice job! My first digital camera was a Kodak. My second one a Pentax