Olympus asserts its rule with camera flood

Olympus asserts its rule with camera flood

Olympus introduces quintet of new digital cameras. Image: Stylus 1050 SW/Olympus.


If you want to convincingly grab market attention, then product grasp really must be squarely aimed betwixt the legs of unsuspecting consumers, which is a tactic mercilessly executed by Olympus this week following the unveiling of a whole host of new and appealing digital cameras.

First up is the new Stylus 1050 SW, a rugged compact that offers itself up as shockproof, waterproof and freezeproof camera that’s even sensitive to touch via the innovation of Tap Control technology, which means common menu interactions can be delivered via finger taps against the top, back and sides of the camera’s body.

“For example, to turn on the flash or Shadow Adjustment Technology, tap the camera’s side twice,” outlines Olympus. “In adverse climates, where the Stylus 1050 SW thrives, the new Tap Control ensures fast results – so you get the shot – even if you are adjusting settings while fighting frostbite with large gloves that would make traditional buttons nearly impossible to maneuver.”

Providing 10.1 mega pixels of performance, the Stylus 1050 SW comes in a choice of four “trendy” colours and has been designed to withstand the rigours of everyday life. According to Olympus, the 1050 SW will survive five-foot drops, operate in freezing conditions and even swim with the fishes.

Other features include Face Detection, Smile Shot, In-Camera Panorama, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing, Red-Eye Fix, TruePic III Image Processing, Digital Image Stabilization, a HyperCrystal II LCD display, Master 2 software, an LED Illuminator, and support for microSD memory expansion.

Set for arrival in October, the Stylus 1050 SW will hit retail for around $300 USD.

Following close behind the new Stylus is its 1040 counterpart, which is described as a streamlined camera “perfect for style-conscious consumers.”

The Stylus 1040 comes equipped with 10 mega pixels of performance, a generous 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD display and Intelligent Auto Mode. As with the 1050 SW, other features include Face Detection and Smile Shot, In-Camera Panorama, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing, TruePic III Image Processing, Digital Image Stabilization, Master 2 software, and support for microSD memory expansion.

Also available in October, the Stylus 1040 will come attached to a price point of around $200 USD.

Not finished polishing its consumer appeal, Olympus has also announced the FE-360 and FE-370 point-and-shoot digital cameras, which combine easy operation and smart performance to capture brilliant images at the push of a button. And. while small and compact, the two cameras offer “impressive imaging technologies” packed into colourful slimline metal casings for people on the move.

Both entrants come with 8.0 mega pixel performance, Image Stabilization, Face Detection, Perfect Shot Preview, In-Camera Help Guides, Master 2 software, a microSD adapter, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and an LCD backlight boost. Both are also available in choices of red, blue, pink, black and silver.

Individual attributes include a super-slim 0.7-inch metallic body, 20 custom shooting modes and a 3x Optical Zoom on the FE-360, while the FE-370 comes with Dual Image Stabilization, TruePic III Image Processing, Intelligent Auto Mode, a 5x Optical Zoom, 2.7-inch high-res LCD display, Smile Shot and Expression Edit.

Due to hit store shelves before the close of August, the FE-360 will cost around $150 USD, while the FE-370 comes in at approximately $200 USD.

Last, but certainly not least, is the SP-565 Ultra Zoom (UZ), which Olympus lauds as a smaller and lighter version of the SP-570 UZ, “the world’s most powerful ultra zoom digital camera.”

Balancing the amazing precision of its 20x wide-angle telephoto zoom lens along with point-and-shoot simplicity, the SP-565 UZ offers 10 mega pixel performance, Dual Image Stabilization, enhanced Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology and Perfect Shot Preview.

Other features include, Manual Controls, High-Speed Sequential Shooting and Pre-Capture (up to 13.5 frames per second at 3.0 mega pixels), Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing, TruePic III Image Processing, Master 2 software, microSD memory support and 33 Shooting Modes.

Scheduled to land in October, the SP-565 UZ will sting prospective consumers for around $400 USD.

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Canon Preps For Xmas With New Powershots

Canon Preps For Xmas With New Powershots

Even though the big Canon news of the moment is the official announcement of the 50D (which you can expect in AU from October 1 for a price still to be determined, incidentally), they've actually flooded the market with new product releases, from scanners and printers to these new PowerShot models (My inbox literally has 7 emails from Canon in a row).

The new Powershot range, including the A1000, A2000, SX110 and E1 models, all take a much more streamlined approach to design, so much so in the case of the E1 that journalists were asking why they weren't branded IXUS instead.

Aside from the engaging design, each of the new Powershot models is powered by AA batteries, plus the E1 comes in a selection of colours (including pink - huzzah!). They're all packed with Megapixels and zoom, as well as some of the more useful features like face detect and optical image stabilisation.

Prices atart at $249 for the A1000, the A2000 costs $299 and the E1 will cost $229. The SX110 IS is yet to be priced, but my money's on it being a similar price to the others.

This Christmas looks like it's going to be very competitive in the digital compact market, with Fujifilm and Olympus also offering low-cost cameras that are packed with features.

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Canon launches PowerShot E-series cameras...you know, for kids

Canon launches PowerShot E-series cameras...you know, for kids

Canon's keeping it real with the new PowerShot E1 digital camera line targeted at the teen and tween markets. According to the press release, "whether taking photos with a 'BFF' at a slumber party, snapping shots while watching a hot band perform, or capturing cap-and-gown moments for a scrapbook or brag book, the PowerShot E1 digital camera offers just the right combination of intuition and style." (Oh jeez. You gotta love it when a major corporation tries to "get down" verbally with the youth.)

The E1 is a 10-megapixel compact with a 4x optical zoom and available in three colors (blue, pink, and white). Of course it comes packed with shooting modes (17 in all) including--and probably most importantly--face detection, and it has a 2.5-inch LCD.

You can also apparently take "customization and expression to the max" as the E1's shutter, start-up, and operation sounds can be customized as can the color of the menus and start-up screens. (Hmmm, where have I heard this before?)

The PowerShot E1 will hit stores mid-September for $199.99.

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Two new entry-level 8-megapixel cameras, the Olympus FE-370 and FE-360, have now been released in five different colors.

Two new entry-level 8-megapixel cameras, the Olympus FE-370 and FE-360, have now been released in five different colors.

Announced a while ago, Olympus now releases two new FE-series point-and-shoot digital cameras that combine easy operation with slim metal bodies; the Olympus FE-370 and Olympus FE-360. Check out a comparison of them here.

The Olympus FE-370 and FE-360 are available in red, blue, pink, black and silver. Both cameras can detect up to 16 faces, and takes advantage of smile detection and Perfect Shot Preview (lets users preview added effects live on the LCD screen before taking a shot).

The Olympus FE-360 comes in a super-slim (0.7 inch) metal body, and features 3x optical zoom (36-108mm equivalent) and 20 custom shooting modes. It's also got an 8-megapixel 1/2.35" CCD sensor and a 2.5-inch screen.

The Olympus FE-370 takes it all one step further, adding sensor-shift image stabilization, TruePic III image processor and a Intelligent Auto Mode. The latter selects the appropriate shooting mode automatically based on where the camera is aimed (Portrait, Landscape, Night + Portrait, Macro, Sports).

Furthermore, the Olympus FE-370 offers 5x optical zoom (36-180mm equivalent) and a 2.7-inch screen. The camera sports an 8-megapixel 1/2.35" CCD sensor, and also offers a high ISO 3200 mode at 3 megapixels.

The Olympus FE-370 and Olympus FE-360 is available now for $200 and $150, respectively.

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Casio launches four new EXILIM digital cameras

Casio launches four new EXILIM digital cameras

Casio announced the release of four new, high-profile additions to its EXILIM family of digital cameras. The 10.1 effective megapixel EXILIM Zoom EX-Z300 and the 9.1 effective megapixel EXILIM Zoom EX-Z250 both deliver beautiful high resolution images and outstanding functionality made possible by a new Casio imaging engine for high speed image processing. The 9.1 effective megapixel EXILIM Zoom EX-Z85 and EX-Z19 cameras feature a stylish design and are packed with the kind of innovative features users have come to expect from Casio.

EX-Z300 and EX-Z250 combine high resolution and high speed image processing to produce beautiful photos of people and night scenes:
Thanks to Casio’s new EXILIM Engine 3.0, these two cameras produce beautiful image quality with low noise and moiré. Both are high resolution models, and they boast excellent resolving power, offering precise, smooth rendering of images. The image processing speed and power of Casio’s new engine make possible entirely new functions that deliver fantastic photos of people’s faces, night scenes and other subjects that have challenged photographers for years. These cameras automatically detect and correct for difficult situations, such as night scene photography where camera shake could be a problem, or backlit subjects where faces often come out too dark. This all means that users get great, well-balanced photos of family and friends against any background with no more worry than it takes to press the shutter button. These cameras also feature a Makeup function that creates beautiful photographs of people’s faces: high end image processing can smooth skin and soften facial shadows caused by sunlight. The photographer gets to choose to apply such image processing at one of twelve levels, from weak through strong, and can shoot while checking the results of the effects in the LCD monitor. At last, a camera that brings out all the beauty of the human face, creating images worthy of keeping forever as special memories.

EXILIM Zoom EX-Z85 and EX-Z19 — Two 9.1 effective megapixel cameras with stylish designs:
The EX-Z85 comes with a Face Recognition function that can detect the presence of up to 10 people’s faces and then give priority to the faces of pre-registered people for correct focus and exposure, and an Auto Shutter function, which automatically takes a photo the instant camera shake ceases, as well as a Movie button that lets users easily record widescreen movies. The design of the focus frame and the color of the menu screen can be customized in accordance with each user’s wishes, and the camera comes in eight colors — silver, black, vivid pink, pink, blue, green, brown and orange. The EX-Z19 features a BEST SHOT feature that allows the camera to be set up to optimally capture images according to user-selected scene types. In Easy Mode, the camera’s settings menu has been simplified to just three items — flash, self timer and image size — making it a snap for even total beginners to use. Both of these cameras deliver high performance with a compact, stylish look.

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Olympus FE-370

Olympus FE-370

A month before the Photokina 2008 show starts a new Olympus camera is introduced. Olympus introduces a sleek and stylish FE-Series point-and-shoot digital camera that combines easy operation and smart performance to capture brilliant images at the push of a button. While small in size, the new Olympus FE-370 is full of impressive imaging technologies packed into colorful slim metal body ideal for people on the move. Raising the bar for entry-level digital cameras, the camera features 8.0 megapixels of resolution; Image Stabilization for virtually blur-free images; Face Detection for crisp portraits and a Perfect Shot Preview to see various shot options before the shutter is pressed.

Olympus FE-370 Specs
Leading these impressive specs, Dual Image Stabilization virtually eliminates blur from shaking hands or moving subjects and joins with the TruePic III Image Processor to produce crystal clear images. A new Intelligent Auto Mode selects the appropriate shooting mode automatically based on where the camera is aimed, and optimizes the settings accordingly. Its powerful 5x Optical Zoom captures action at a distance that is displayed on a big and bright 2.7-inch high resolution LCD; and Smile Shot automatically triggers the shutter only when a subject smiles, and Expression Edit can even turn frowns upside down.

Image Stabilization
Dual Image Stabilization adds mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization to Digital Image Stabilization to provide one powerful anti-blur solution for capturing great images even if the photographer or the subject is moving. Olympus' mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD image sensor to compensate for camera movement, which often occurs in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. By combining the two technologies, Olympus FE-370 users are able to take crystal clear images in virtually any shooting situation.

Face detection
Tired of changing the settings on your camera every time you're shooting something different? Included in the Olympus FE-370, the Intelligent Auto Mode automatically identifies what you are shooting (Portrait, Landscape, Night + Portrait, Macro, Sports) and adjusts the camera's settings to capture the best quality results. First-time users will enjoy this quick and hassle-free feature, which does the thinking for them and produces incredible images like a pro. Face Detection tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subject is moving, the camera continuously tracks your subject's face without having to press the shutter button. The Olympus FE-370 can detect up to 16 individual faces in one shot.

Olympus FE-370 included perfect shot preview
The new Olympus FE-370 camera offers Perfect Shot Preview mode, which enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring they are capturing the exact image desired. It is a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.

Olympus FE-370 offers pre-set shooting modes with Smile Shot
The Olympus FE-370 camera offers numerous pre-set shooting modes, such as Sports, Fireworks and Night Scene with Portrait. The camera also offers VGA & AVI-quality video and sound, which enable users to shoot and share movies on the big screen or on the Web. The Olympus FE-370 features Smile Shot, which tracks your subject's face to detect a smile and automatically fires off three consecutive shots so you never miss that perfect smile. This feature is great for parents hoping to capture hard-to-predict baby smiles. The FE-360 offers 18 shooting modes (including three for underwater shooting with the camera's optional housing).

Photo editing in Olympus FE-370 digital compact camera
The new Olympus FE-370 camera offers Red-Eye Fix, Exposure Fix and in-camera editing features such as resizing and cropping that enable photographers to edit images after the photo has been captured. Photographers sometimes struggle with making subjects say "cheese." Now they can really turn a frown upside down when their subjects refuse to smile for the birdie. This fun feature on the Olympus FE370 uses Face Detection technology to edit a subject's facial expression after the image is captured. Four different expressions can be previewed in a multi-frame window on the LCD, and users can select their favorite expression at the touch of a button.

Olympus Camera Help Guides
The new FE-Series camera features an enhanced In-Camera Help Guides that make digital photography simple and fun for users of all ages and skill levels. The Olympus FE-370 offers Program Auto Mode. Located on the cameras' mode dial, this option enables consumers to easily adjust ISO and white balance. A tutorial "shooting guide" educates users on tips for achieving specific effects, such as "shooting into backlight," perfect for bright situations such as a day at the beach, and "adjusting image quality" for uploading images to auction sites. The shooting guide not only provides detailed descriptions for various situations and environments, but also sets the camera for optimum results with the touch of a button.

Olympus TruePic 3 Image Processor
The Olympus FE-370 features Olympus' exclusive TruePic III image processor, which was developed for the demanding performance of professional Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus' enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.

Memory Solution for the Olympus FE370
All Olympus digital point-and-shoot cameras accept xD-Picture Card media. The Olympus FE-370 will also come equipped with an adapter, which will enable microSD memory cards to be used when capturing images. The microSD cards are emerging in consumer electronic devices, including mobile phones and PDAs. Users can also easily display photos on their HDTVs.

Olympus Software
Olympus Master 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. Additionally, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.

Olympus FE-370 Price
The Olympus FE-370 will be available in August 2008. The Olympus FE-370 includes a new LI-60B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery and Charger, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Manual, CD-ROM with Olympus Master 2 Software, Warranty Card and microSD adapter. Furthermore the new FE-series digital camera features an user-friendly In-Camera Help Guides that make print manuals obsolete; a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for convenience; and an LCD backlight boost for viewing in bright light. The new Olympus FE370 compact camera is available in red, blue, pink, black and silver and offers a unique set of features so consumers can choose the FE camera that best meets their needs. The Estimated Street Price for the Olympus FE-370 digital compact camera is $199.99 (U.S.).

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Casio Exilim Z85

Casio Exilim Z85

Casio Exilim EX-Z85 digital camera : Casio announced the release of a new, high-profile addition to its Exilim family of digital cameras. The 9.1 effective megapixel Exilim Zoom EX-Z85 camera feature a stylish design and are packed with the kind of innovative features users have come to expect from Casio. The Casio Exilim Z85 comes with a Face Recognition function that can detect the presence of up to 10 people's faces and then give priority to the faces of pre-registered people for correct focus and exposure, and an Auto Shutter function, which automatically takes a photo the instant camera shake ceases, as well as a Movie button that lets users easily record widescreen movies. Casio will showcase the Casio Z85 at the Photokina 2008.
Casio Exilim Z85 body measurement
The design of the focus frame and the color of the menu screen can be customized in accordance with each user's wishes, and the camera comes in eight colors - silver, black, vivid pink, pink, blue, green, brown and orange. The Casio Exilim Z85 camera delivers high performance with a compact, stylish look. This high performing model with 9.1 million effective pixels takes high definition photographs. The Casio Z85 features a stylish design contained within a compact size. Body measurements for the EX-Z85 are 89.7mm wide by 51.7mm high by 19.0mm thick.
Casio EX-Z85 - LCD monitor and Body colors In addition to the standard body colors, this camera comes in a rich variety of expressive colors such as vivid pink (available in a total of eight colors: silver, black, vivid pink, pink, blue, green, brown and orange). In addition to the usual rectangular focus frame that is indicated on the LCD monitor, users can choose from frame designs featuring a heart shape or a butterfly, for example. When the scene is properly focused, a clear heart shape is displayed, and when the scene is out of focus the heart shape breaks up. This makes it easy to see when the picture is in focus, and users will enjoy it, too. Casio Z85 captures H264 video format
Users can choose their preferred option from six different colors (black, chocolate, cinnamon, rose, sky blue and olive) as the color for the menu screens. The Casio Z85 uses the H.264 video format, which records beautiful, high quality movies in highly compressed video files. When the Movie button is pressed, the camera records widescreen movies with an aspect ratio of 16:9. This camera comes with a highly visible 2.6 inch widescreen display. Information on camera settings is displayed in the "Control Panel" on the right hand edge of the screen, so settings can be changed quickly and easily. Casio Exilim EX-Z85 self-portrait photography Using blur detection technology, the Casio EX-Z85 can automatically take a photo the instant that hand shake or subject movement stops, even without the need to push the shutter button. This reduces photo blur caused by the movement involved in pressing the shutter. The camera will also automatically release the shutter at the moment of a smile or the moment subject blur ceases in a panning shot. A shot can also be taken the moment the user's face fills the frame when taking a self-portrait. Casio Exilim Z85 includes automatic face recognition The Face Recognition function allows users to detect the presence of up to 10 people's faces, and then, prior to shooting, the camera automatically recognizes the pre-registered face or faces that should be most clearly photographed, and gives those faces priority for correct focus and exposure. The settings menu in the easy mode has been pared down to just three items - flash, self timer and image size - making it easy for even beginners to understand and use.

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