Olympus storms in with 10 digicams
Prior to the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in February, Olympus yesterday hit the digital imaging industry unawares with a total of 10 digital cameras.
The highlight of the announcements had to belong to the Olympus E-330 digital SLR. This new 7.5-megapixel camera offers users a live preview option for framing of pictures. Its vari-angle 2.5-inch LCD allows photographers to shoot at difficult angles without looking like a clown.
Editors' note:
We have updated the pricing for the Olympus E-330, Mju 720SW, Mju 810, Mju 700, FE-115, FE-150 and FE-160. All the cameras are expected to be available in mid-March 2006, except the E-330 and Mju 700 which will be in stores before the end of February.
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Accompanying what could be world's first digital SLR with a live view option were nine other consumer models which also made their appearance at yesterday's announcement. Among these were several low-end budget offerings and compact units capable of shooting in RAW.
Most of these units featured weather-resistant bodies, a trademark of the Mju series lineup. The Mju 720SW was one such model which claimed to be able to withstand drops of up to 1.5m and is waterproof up to a depth of 3m.
However, not all 10 units may be available in Asia. We're expecting the cameras to ship by end-February.
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Riding on the success of its Four Thirds lens mount system, Olympus finally revealed what could be the world's first digital SLR with live viewing capabilities. The E-330, adopts the rather unconventional design of its predecessor, the E-300, but this time with a 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD panel and live preview to frame your shots. The E-330 will be available at a recommended retail price of S$1,999 (US$1,471.77).
 Read first take
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Olympus's all-weather Mju series is getting three new models, including the slimline Mju 720SW. Olympus claims the 720SW can handle a 1.5m drop or submergence in 3m of water. The 720SW has a 7.1-megapixel sensor, a 3x optical zoom with image stabilization, and 29 different shooting modes. The Mju cameras boast Olympus' Bright Capture technology to help with low-light shots, and they use the TruePic Turbo Image Processor in their processing. The Olympus Mju 720SW will be available at a recommended retail price of S$749 (US$551.45). |
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The 8-megapixel Olympus Mju 810 has a 3x optical zoom with image stabilization and 23 different shooting modes, not to mention that it's resistant to water, dust, and snow. The Olympus Mju 810 will be available at a recommended retail price of S$799 (US$588.27). |
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The 7.1-megapixel Olympus Mju 700 has a 3x optical zoom with image stabilization and 28 different shooting modes, not to mention that it's resistant to water, dust, and snow. The Olympus Mju 700 will be available at a recommended retail price of S$649 (US$477.83). |
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The Olympus SP-320 is the follow-up to the SP-310, the low-end model in the company's SP series of point-and-shoot cameras. It's mostly a cosmetic upgrade to the SP-310, showing off a new metallic charcoal-black color while keeping the SP-310's 7.1-megapixel sensor, 30 shooting modes, threaded barrel, and manual controls. The Olympus SP-320 ships in the spring with a price tag of about US$300. |
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Budget models
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