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Olympus to suitors: We’ll take your cash but not your name

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Olympus has been struggling recently, reporting massive losses while those within the company have been struggling to get the brand back to profitability. There have been rumors that Panasonic was a potential saviour for the company, with a plan to invest around $635 million in Olympus as part of a rescue package. Panasonic quickly denied the rumors, saying there were no plans to invest. Now an Olympus executive has said that even if it does acquire much-needed capital from another firm, the company will try to retain its brand.

Yasuo Takeuchi, a senior executive managing officer at Olympus, said: “We understand we need to consider an increase in capital as one of our key management issues. The main premise is to fully preserve our Olympus brand.” Reports indicate that the ailing camera maker is currently in talks with another company for a ¥50 billion yen (~$629 million) cash injection.

Sony is currently rumored to be that company, and if the deal moves ahead it would leave Sony as the top shareholder in Olympus, with a stake totalling more than 10%. Olympus has faced financial troubles ever since it was discovered that the company hid ¥117.7 billion (~$1.48 billion) in losses that date back all the way to the 90s.

[via City AM]


Olympus to suitors: We’ll take your cash but not your name is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus MEG4.0 Google Glass rival revealed

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Google’s Glass may not be headed to buyers until next year, but Olympus is wasting no time with its own alternative augmented reality display, the MEG4.0. The stem-like wearable features battery life of up to eight hours and floats a 320 x 240 virtual screen above the user’s regular eye-line, hooking up via Bluetooth to a nearby smartphone or tablet.

The headset weighs under 30g, though it’s worth noting that Olympus’ battery estimates aren’t based on continuous usage. Instead, the company says it expects the display to be used in fifteen second chunks every three minutes or so; under those circumstances, it can manage a maximum continuous runtime equivalent of around two hours total use, Olympus predicts.

Also integrated is an accelerometer, for using head-control features or figuring out which way the wearer is facing, though unlike Google Glass there’s no camera. While Google has so-far focused on the potential for photography and video capture with Glass, emphasizing how useful it could be to have a persistent record of your experiences, Olympus apparently believes discrete content consumption is more relevant to augmented reality adoptees.

The company is also particularly proud of the brightness of its microdisplay, which it claims is sufficiently powerful to be used even in strong daylight. Pricing and availability is unconfirmed, and it’s not clear whether Olympus will actually be commercially launching the MEG4.0 or instead pushing to license the display technology to other companies.

[via The Verge; via Akihabara News; via Newlaunches]


Olympus MEG4.0 Google Glass rival revealed is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review

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With the Olympus OM-D E-M5 you’ve got the manufacturer taking what was great about the original OM line of SLR units with a collection of fabulous add-ons that work perfectly well in the digital world. In this 4.8 x 3.5 x 1.69-inch beast that weighs in at just under a pound (supposing you’ve not added on tons of accessories), you’ve got a great combo. It’s a device that’s set out to bring you awesome image and video quality in a tiny package that’s as powerful as it is cute.

Hardware

Looking down on the camera you’ll see a “main dial” to the right of the main hump, then another sub-dial to the right of that around the shutter release. On the left of the hump you’ve got an exposure mode dial as well. The right-side dials are made to be accessed by your thumb and your index finger, while the one on the left is made to be accessed by your thumb on your left hand. Each of these dials are extremely easy to work with.

The three buttons up top of the device are also easy to use, one for your shutter, one for video recording, and a third labeled Fn2. This third button is programmable and can be tied to a set of operations such as auto exposure lock, ISO, and white balance.

As far as that big hump in the middle; you’ll be using it if you’re not interested in working with the giant display on the back for a viewfinder, but the main bulk of the bump is made to house your accessories to attach to. So it’s an Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), accessory port, and hot shoe all in one. You can plug in a bluetooth module, a microphone adapter, or a lovely gigantic lamp, all of which will fit snug.

There’s a rubbery thumb-grip up on the back right and of the device, otherwise you’re working with hard plastic. Olympus does offer a HLD-6 grip and battery extender, this accessory made not only for those of you who plan on being in the filed for an extended time, but for a better grip for the large-handed and sweaty-palmed. Those of you that’ve got giant hands or trouble gripping small cameras, you’ll want to seriously consider this $300 accessory. This could be a bit of a bummer for those of you looking to stay in the $1300 range (that being the price of the kit that includes the lens we’ve tested as well,) but it’ll be worth it in the end.

The lens we’ve got is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 zoom lens, and it’s a fabulous little number other than the quick-release for the mechanical zoom. You can either set it to auto or manual zoom by loosening the ring in the center – it’s a bit too easy to do for my taste. That said, it is nice to be able to do this on the fly, just so long as you’re not tossing the thing around and getting sand in the gears (never a good idea anyway!)

Another item that this reviewer isn’t that fond of is the sensor that detects when you raise the camera to your eye. This sensor works fine for those that are willing to take the time to get used to it, but if you’re switching from camera to camera when those other cameras don’t have the sensor in place, you’ll be just a bit annoyed when your screen is flipping on and off. I’ve had similar feelings about recent Android phones that do similar things as well – I’m certainly more of a manual sort of guy.

You can also decide to use the display or the EVF interchangeably outdoors – with the display being OK in the shade but not so perfect for the brightest of brights in the middle of the day.

You’ve got multiple exposure capabilities in this device, Art Filters and effects that you might never use, and the ability to preview these effects before you shoot. When you’ve gotten past the fun bits, you’ll find that the Olympus OM-D E-M5 is one heck of a high quality photo shooter. Compared to other micro four thirds cameras we’ve seen and tested, this device is right near the top if not the best overall.

You can shoot photos at 9fps, you’ve got 5-axis stabilization (that’s the sound you’re hearing when you’re focusing in), and the ability to shoot photos with your shutter release or by tapping the touch-screen right up front and center. As you may have realized already; this camera may look retro, but its abilities are anything but.

The software you’ll be able to use with this camera for processing Raw files is just a bit more limited than some might like. Though Adobe Lightroom and Corel AfterShot Pro, and of course Photoshop will work fine, Apple’s products are less lucky. Both iPhoto and Aperture have no ability to support this camera’s Raw files. Don’t worry though, the JPEG shots this device shoots are more than high quality enough for everyone other than the most hardcore photographer.

Photo and Video Quality

Have a peek at an example of some shots taken with the camera to get an idea of how powerful this shooter is. Below the gallery you’ll also see an example of some basic video footage taken with the camera as well.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The video below is taken at full resolution on a bright, sunny day. Pay special attention to the on-the-spot focusing and light changes as well as the subtle sounds of summer.

Wrap-Up

With such knock-out features like 5-axis stabilization in such a tiny body as this, you’ve got one heck of a mobile-minded shooter on your hands. This device is great for those of you out there looking to amp up your game with your old OM, and with Olympus dedicated to the future of this line, as they always are, you can rest easy knowing you’ll be able to pick up accessories galore along the way. This camera certainly isn’t made for rough-and-tumble photographers as its display on the back being on hinges, but you’re a careful shooter, right – go for it!

You can pick this device up for $1000 with the body only or for $1300 as a kit with the 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 zoom lens, that being the setup you’re seeing above (with all photos being taken with that lens as well. Grab if from your favorite retailer today!

buttonsback changes displaysun hero121 leftdial lens_frontright lens lensside memorycard portsout rightdials_side rightdials screenturn screenturnfragile top touchscreen
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus LS-100 Sound Recorder Review

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It’s time to take a peek at a sound recorder the likes of which we don’t see very often around these parts, the Olympus LS-100, fully equipped to be your mobile recording studio on the go. What you’ve got here is a sound recorder that can act on its own completely independent of add-on accessories, or it can be the hub that brings your sound recording game up to professional level in a snap. Inside the box you’ve got the device, a strap to ring it around your wrist if you like, a simple manual, and a lovely Olympus carrying case – and that’s all you’ll need.

Hardware

This device is made for sound recording with either its two built-in microphones or via inputs for 3rd party devices. The two built-in stereo condenser microphones are angled at 90 degrees away from one another and support 140 dBspl of sound pressure. With your built-in microphones you’ll be able to record dual-track sound clips and monitor left and right recordings independently.

You’ve got two XLR inputs for your whole collection of line-out sources using a 1/4 inch RCA jack – like your electric guitar, for example, and you’ve got 48V-24V of phantom power to keep you rocking and rolling with devices that require power through their cords as well. This will reduce the amount of power you’ve got on the LS-100 quicker than if you were only working with the devices’ built-in microphones, but you’ll have plenty of time to record tracks galore no matter what.

You’ve got a two channel recording system here with eight channel playback. You can record, edit, and mix your tracks onboard – in a relatively simple manner, of course, you don’t want to be making massive changes on a small screen like this – and you can burn a CD from this device without a PC at all if you like! We don’t recommend doing this as it’s such a strange situation – might as well push the track to your PC for safekeeping anyway – but it’s fun to know that you’re able!

Onboard you’ve got 4GB of storage, which is a fabulous amount, but you’ve also got a full-size SD card slot (SD, SDHC, or SDXC) as well to expand by up to 64GB. You’ll be able to store all your files on that card and transfer them that way or you can work with the device’s built-in USB port if you wish.

This device supports remote controls through its tiny remote port – Olympus has a massive collection of accessories for this device (we haven’t had the chance to mess with them yet, mind you, but we can say that the price is right) – see them listed over at [OlympusAmerica]. The remote they’ve got in stock works with start/stop/pause functions and that’s it. The LED light lets you know you’re in business and that’s it – good to go!

Of course you’ve also got an earphone jack so you can see how your recording is going as you’re working with it, and you’ve got the ability to switch your left and right inputs on the fly with two physical switches between 48/24V. The left side of the device is where you’ll be working with most of your ports and switches, with the power switch being there near the volume for playback as well.

The massive knob you see in the right of the device is marked by a red rectangle with “REC LEVEL” on it so you know not to mess with it unless you mean to. Both left and right built-in microphones sit up top near “PEAK” LED lights that let you know when you’re maxing out, and the front of the device shows you everything else on a 2-inch LCD color display. This display is no match for a high-end smartphone in that it’s certainly not high definition, but the amount of color and detail that you DO get is extremely helpful in identifying variations in tracks and editing.

The display has a user interface that’s easy to learn and rather simple to use. There are a few points at which even I had trouble figuring out how to move backward or forward due to the massive amount of physical buttons controlling the interface at any one given time – but that’s probably just my modern brain being used to a touchscreen-only UI. This device’s display is NOT a touchscreen, I should mention, and we’re thankful for that. At this size, even my relatively small fingers would have trouble being accurate.

The battery inside this device is 925 mAh, certainly not giant when you compare it to the beasts that modern smartphones and tablets have, but when you’re only powering sound recording and a tiny display, that power goes a LONG way. One of the sound samples you’re about to hear comes from the press junket for the film Total Recall where I recorded several hours worth of material in all – the battery went strong through the whole event and was STILL at 2/3 full – believe it or not!

The whole unit measures in at 3.25 x 2.75 x 1.31 inches, aka 159.0 x 70.0 x 33.5mm, and weighs in at 280g aka 9.8 oz. You get an AC adapter with the package to charge up your battery as it sits inside the device (though it is removable, we should mention), but you’ll need to pick up all other cords on your own.

Sound Quality

Though we’ve done our fair share of audio device reviews at this point and do consider ourselves fairly sound-sensitive, this device did require a step back and a humbling to realize what we were hearing. Speaking with some audiophile friends of ours as well as checking with some associates from 3rd party groups also reviewing the device, we confirmed the same thing, time and time again. This device records sound just as well as Olympus says it does. “Better than CD quality” is what we’re hearing both from the device and from our associates testing the device around the world.

You’re able to capture audio at up to 96kHz/24 bit – that’s massive – CD quality you can measure at 44.1 kHz/16 bit. You of course also have the ability to drop your recording quality down to that point if you want normal-sized files, of course, but the idea that you’re able to record at fabulous high-quality such as you’re able here – it’s certainly nice to know you’re getting what you payed for.

You’ll find that the pre-amps in devices such as these – the LS-100 being no exception to the rule – are far more high-quality than any DSLR camera we’ve had on hand. One would hope so for the cost of this device, of course, but there it is: high quality from a sound recording device made specifically for sound recording.

We’ve got a couple example clips of sound here for your listening pleasure, each of them recorded with the built-in microphones right out of the box.

Above: in San Francisco near Moscone Center during Google I/O 2012 as an emergency vehicle passes on the street. Below: at Total Recall press junket in Los Angeles with director Len Wiseman.

Special Features

This beast works to record sound like a superstar, but it’s also got tools you can use to your advantage for pre-recording supremacy as well. You’ve got a metronome here as well as a tuner and you’ve got a pre-recording buffer built in to make sure you’re not missing anything you need in a quick recording.

Lissajou – if you’ve never heard of this before, you’re in for a bit of a treat. This feature takes readings from both of its two built-in microphones first. Then it adjusts polar paterns according to its readings. The result is a perfectly timed recording between the two inputs – without this, there’s always a chance that you’ll have a minuscule delay between two mics – here there’s none!

Wrap-Up

When you move to a sound recording device like this with a full color display and more recording options than you’d ever have thought possible on a single hand-held machine, you wont be able to go back to your simpler one-trick-pony recorder. You’ll feel terrible using anything less fabulous than the LS-100 once you’ve got it in the field.

The cost of this device at $399.99 is going to be prohibitive for most of your average hobby users, but should you save up your lunch money for several months to buy it, you will not be disappointed.


Olympus LS-100 Sound Recorder Review is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus E-PL5 and E-PM2 digital cameras leak

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This has been quite a week for digital camera leaks and unveils. Earlier this week, the rumored Sony RX1 full-frame digital camera was unveiled with a massive price tag to go with it. The little camera sells for almost $3000 and doesn’t have interchangeable lenses. Olympus has now had a couple of its coming compact digital cameras that do have interchangeable lenses leak.

The black camera you see is the Olympus E-PL5 and the silver camera is the E-PM2. The two cameras look so similar you could almost believe they are simply different color versions of the same digital camera. However, if you look closely you’ll notice that the black camera has a slightly different design and a larger knob on top than the silver.

We don’t have an abundance of details on these two cameras right now since these are leaked images. The few details that did leak along with these photographs include that the cameras both use the same Olympus E-M5 sensor that features the TruePic VI image processing engine. Both of these cameras are also said to have touchscreen LCDs on the back.

Pricing for the silver E-PM2 is said to be €399 including a 14-42 mm kit lens. The black E-PL5 is tipped to sell for €599 including a similar 14-42 mm kit lens. There are some indications that both cameras could go official early next week. That’s all we really know about these two leaked Olympus offerings at this point.

[via 43rumors]


Olympus E-PL5 and E-PM2 digital cameras leak is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus PEN cameras bring world’s fastest touch AF shutter

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There’s a couple more cameras in the world today that’ve got the next level on their minds, both of them with Olympus‘ PEN branding on their back. There’s the Olympus PEN E-PL5 and the Olympus PEN E-PM2, both of them bringing superior image technology the likes of which we’ve not quite seen yet in our collective photography history – not in this combination, anyway. You’ve got ultra fast processing speeds, classic camera bodies, and super-simple controls for the point-and-shoot generation.

Both devices here work with the same 16.1-megapixel high-speed Live MOS Sensor and brand new TruePic VI image processing engine that the Olympus OM-D E-M5 has – and yes, we’ve had our own Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review opportunity too! What we’ve gotten from that camera has been amazing – with the PEN series we’ve got high hopes! The technology these devices share includes a maximum ISO of 25,600, great performance in low-light situations, and finest-ever gradations between light and dark areas.

Both PEN cameras work with the BCL-15 f8.0 Body Cap Lens, a body cap when you’re carrying the camera without its interchangeable lens, and when not, transforms into a pan-focus shapshot lens. Inside these cameras you’ve got the Olympus Image Share application compatible with both iPhone and Android devices – you’ll be able to connect using FlashAir and the built-in wi-fi connectivity between your PEN and your smartphone for ultra-quick and simple sharing abilities! These cameras also work with a lovely collection of Art Filers like Pop Art, Diorama, and Pin Hole – oddities galore!

Both models also have a 3-inch 460,000-dot high-definition LCD display with Anti-Finger Print coating over their screens. These displays can be used with your Touch AF Shutter function to take photos with a tap on your display where you want to focus, and with “FAST AF” you’ll be rocking even harder. FAST AF stands form Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology and also exists on the OM-D to make it the world’s fastest autofocusing camera. These cameras work with a maximum frame rate of 8 fps in Single AF mode.

PEN E-PL5

This device works with an all-metal body that comes in black, white, or silver, and brings on DSLR quality images with a lovely swivel display. The display sits on a swivel that allows up to 170 degrees of movement up and 65 degrees down – and works with the AF Shutter abilities mentioned above.

PEN E-PM2

This device is ultra-compact and made to be the more entry-level of the new Olympus lineup. The E-PM2 is made to be the first interchangeable lens camera for new users and has a collection of controls that will make the first step an easy one. This camera will be available in black, white, silver, and red.

Pricing and Release

You’ll be able to pick up the E-PL5 for a body-only estimated street price of $649.99, while the body-only price for the E-PM2 will ring in at $549.99. The E-PL5 will also be available with a MSC M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED m14-42mm II R f3.5/5.6 Zoom Lens in a package that’ll ring in at $699.99, while the E-PM2 with that lens in a single package will cost you $599.99 – again, all of these prices are estimated at the moment.

Both cameras will be available in October and ship with the camera body itself, Flash FL-LM1, Li-ion battery BLS-5, Li-ion battery charger BCS-5, USB cable, AV cable, Shoulder strap, OLYMPUS Viewer 2 CD, Instruction manual and Warranty card. The PEN E-PL5 will also be shipping with the entirely lovely MCG-4 Changeable Grip. Stick around for more info as these devices roll closer to their final drop date!


Olympus PEN cameras bring world’s fastest touch AF shutter is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus Stylus XZ-2 iHS revealed with flagship aspirations

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There’s a brand new compact digital camera here in the Olympus camp and it’s aiming for greatness with Stylus XZ-2 iHS on its name tag and high-performance point-and-shoot action on its list of checkmarks. This device has the lovely 4x optical / 4x Digital zoom iZUIKO DIGITAL f1.8-2.5 large-diameter lens favored by the predecessor to this device from Olympus and adds a hybrid control ring, a touch-sensitive tilt screen, and a TruePic VI image processor. You’ll be rocking with Full HD movie recording as well as FlashAir compatibility to rock and roll with your smartphone or mobile-connected tablets instantly – social time!

Inside you’ve got a 12-megapixel 1/1.7″ high-sensitivity back-lit CMOS sensor teamed up with the same processor you’ll find in the impressive Olympus OM-D E-M5 we reviewed earlier this year. That’s the TruePic VI processor and with it combined with the lens, you’ll have faster recovery time as well as shutter releases on a regular basis. You’ve got up to ISO 12,800 with the device’s speedy f1.8 lens for full-resolution photos that look excellent even in dim conditions.

The hybrid control ring is what Olympus lets us know is the world’s first of its kind. Here you’ve got function settings able to be assigned with ease and switches between digital operations and analog with little effort. You’ve also got touch controls, of course, with the XZ-2′s touch screen on the back with Live Guide and a user interface quite similar to the OM-D we’ve reviewed and the PEN shooters also just revealed today.

This camera will be available in November of 2012, just in time for the holiday season, and will be appearing with a USB cable, video cable, Lithium-ion battery pack, battery charger, shoulder strap, Olympus ib software CD, manuals, registration card, and a healthy dose of love from Olympus. This unit will be available for an estimated street price of $599.99 USD and will be available in any color just so long as its black. This unit has an accessory port – as you may have noticed – so you’ll be able to be compatible with what Olympus notes is a “growing range of Micro Four Thirds accessories” – fun stuff!


Olympus Stylus XZ-2 iHS revealed with flagship aspirations is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60MM F2.8 “Nature Macro Lens” unleashed with classic partner

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There are a couple new lenses out in the open today from Olympus, both of them with aspirations for greatness and a new generation of both control and limited edition coolness. The First of these is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60MM F2.8 “Nature Macro Lens”, made with dust proofing and splash proofing together with 1x magnification and a focusing distance of 19cm. The second is the Limited Edition M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12mm f2.0 in Black, basically the same as the original M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12mm f2.0 large-aperture, wide-angle, single-focal-length interchangeable lens, but this time in black.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60MM F2.8 Macro Lens

The macro lens we’re looking at here is a single focal-length lens with weather-proofing along with 13 lens elements. You’ve got 13 lens elements in 10 groups of lenses inside this beast with special glass materials such as ED (Extra-low Dispersion), HR (High Refractive index) and E-HR (Extra-High Refractive index) – each added to bring you to a new level of professional greatness. You’ll be all but eliminating the chromatic aberrations you’re likely used to from other telephoto macro lenses, and you’ll be good to go for HD video as well.

This macro lens works with an Olympus developed MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) autofocusing mechanism with inner focus system for ultra quick and completely quiet focusing on the go. There are three different modes of focus range that you can work with for photography, those being the following: close-up (focusing distance between 19 and 40 cm), normal (distance from 19 cm to infinity) and far view (distance from 40 cm to infinity). There’s also an optional LH-49 Lens Hood made specifically for the macro lens at hand, and there’s also the FR-2 Macro Ring in play here which enables compatibility with the RF-11 Ring Flash and the STF-22 Twin Flash Set.

Limited Edition M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12mm f2.0 in Black

This lens is the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12mm f2.0 large-aperture, wide-angle, single-focal-length interchangeable lens you’ve grown to love with a lovely black color in a limited edition release. This release has a snap ring for pan focus with distance indicators in place and the unit has a wide angle of 12mm. Inside you’ve also got the OlympusMSC (Movie & Still Compatible) mechanism which allows quiet, fast autofocusing for still photography and in video. This black version of the lens is sold in a kit with the LH-48 Metallic Lens Hood (Black), the LC-48 Metallic Lens Cap (Black), and the PRF-D46PRO Protection Filter.

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f1.8 in Development

Olympus has also let it be known that they’ve got a M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f1.8 in development, coming soon with an emphasis on snapshots and street shooting. You’ll be working with a high-quality metallic outer finish and what Olympus says is a focal length equivalent to 34mm on a 35mm camera. More details will be coming soon from Olympus as they get closer to a release date, that being somewhere inside the first half of 2013.

Pricing and Release

The Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm f2.8 Dust-and-Splash-Proof Macro lens is coming in October and will be available for approximately $499.99 USD. The Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12mm f2.0 lens limited edition Black unit will be out in early October (here in 2012 as well) for an estimated street price of $1,099.99 USD. Stay tuned for more Olympus action as the camera crew brings on more heat through the year!


Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60MM F2.8 “Nature Macro Lens” unleashed with classic partner is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: September 17, 2012

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Welcome to Monday evening, folks. Today, we entered the final few days before the iPhone 5 releases, and we found out that the device has netted 2 million pre-orders in its first 24 hours of availability. Some of those same pre-orders began shipping out from China over the weekend, and AT&T is claiming that the iPhone 5 is the most successful iPhone launch ever, which everyone could have probably already guessed. We take a look at the iPhone 5′s already astounding success, while Samsung was busy comparing the iPhone 5 to the Galaxy S III in a new ad that was rolled out over the weekend.


The HTC One X was spotted in a leaked photo earlier today, and it would appear that many of the world’s online retailers are having some trouble keeping Wii U pre-orders in stock. Google Plus has grown to 400 million users total, with 100 million of those people using the social networking service actively. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer thinks that Windows 8 may prove to be as big as Windowws 95 (and talks very briefly about the “sweet spot” for Surface pricing), while we’re hoping that Microsoft’s Windows 8 event on October 25 will give us some more solid details on the price of Surface.

The Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablet was the subject of a teardown earlier today, showing us just what exactly is under the hood. Speaking of the Kindle Fire, today Nokia confirmed that it has licensed its Location Platform to Amazon for use in the Fire line up, meaning that Amazon will be giving Google Maps the boot. JetBlue says it will soon be offering free Wi-Fi during its flights, and HP CEO Meg Whitman has looked to Apple for inspiration when it comes to redesigning the PCs and laptops it offers. Dragon Age III: Inquisition was officially announced today too, something we’re sure will get the anti-BioWare crowd all riled up.

The Angry Birds spin-off Bad Piggies was given its first gameplay video today (no it isn’t the same as Angry Birds), and today we got word that the Samsung Galaxy S IV may be launching as early as March 2013 – less than a year after the S III hit shelves. The Nokia Lumia 820 has been outfitted with a new bumper shell, and in one of the day’s more interesting stories, archaeologists may have uncovered a fort that was critical to Caesar’s conquest of Gaul. Canon revealed a number of new cameras today, but perhaps the most important reveal was of the Canon EOS 6D. Not to be outdone, Olympus had a couple of reveals as well, announcing the new Stylus XZ-2 iHS and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 60MM F2.8 “Nature Macro Lens.”

Finally tonight, we invite you to check out new review of the Sony Reader PRS-T2. That does it for Monday’s Evening Wrap-Up, so go out and enjoy the rest of your night!


SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: September 17, 2012 is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

$640m gets Sony 11% of Olympus: New 4K medical camera company formed

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Sony has squirted $640m into ailing Olympus, collaborating on imaging sensors for new digital cameras, and forming a new medical business for surgical cameras and more. The alliance will “combine Olympus’s lens and optical technologies, as well as the strength of its brand and R&D, with Sony’s broad range of technologies including digital imaging technologies and apply them in the rapidly growing medical market” the pair say [pdf link], in addition to Sony providing image sensors for future Olympus cameras, in exchange for lenses and mirror cells.

In return for its 50 billion yen, Sony will get 34,387,000 Olympus common shares, giving the company an 11.46-percent voting right. The first bunch of shares will be passed over on October 23, with the second due sometime between then and February 28.

Someone of Sony’s choosing will also be appointed to the Olympus board, or at least Olympus “will make every effort” to ensure that happens.

The name of the new medical business venture has not been decided upon, though it will have four Sony-nominated directors and three by Olympus; each will suggest an auditor and a representative director, while Sony will elect the president and Olympus the deputy president. Kicking off with a 50 million yen investment – 51-percent from Sony, the remainder from Olympus – it will focus on 4K-resolution (or higher) surgical endoscopes that may also include 3D support, together with the hardware needed to use them.

Eventually, Sony says, it expects the medical business to become a consolidated subsidiary of its own, though there’s no telling when, exactly, that will happen. The goal is a market share in excess of 20-percent by 2020.


$640m gets Sony 11% of Olympus: New 4K medical camera company formed is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: September 28, 2012

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It’s Friday once again folks, with most of you already enjoying the weekend. Today, the iPhone 5 launched in 22 additional regions around the world, setting Apple’s plan to have it in over 100 countries by the end of the year on track. Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized for the sad state of Apple Maps today (recommending some other Maps apps in the process), and we took a closer look at his words in a new column. Even more surprising is the fact that the iOS App Store now features a download page specifically for other Maps applications.


All of you Apple dissenters will definitely want to watch the iPhone 5 get destroyed by some powerful lasers, and Sharp reassured today that it’s making plenty of iPhone 5 screens, which are rumored to be the bottleneck on production. Today we got a closer look at the vibrator inside the iPhone 5, and learned that it costs less than $1 to charge your iPhone for an entire year. Microsoft has assured that it has tested Windows 8 thoroughly ahead of next month’s launch, and it seems that Kodak will soon be dropping out of the inkjet printer business.

Google now lets YouTube creators re-download their movies in their original format, and the FCC has approved an auction to reclaim broadcast TV spectrum. HP has launched Open webOS 1.0, and Amazon gave us a little video detailing the technology behind the Kindle Paperwhite. Good news for all of you Call of Duty fans: Modern Warfare 3 is free-to-play on Steam this weekend, and there are rumors floating around that HP will soon be jumping back into the mobile market.

Microsoft was spotted lamenting the lack of highly skilled technology workers today, and Notch is refusing to certify Minecraft for Windows 8, despite Microsoft’s requests. For the first time ever, Instagram has beat Twitter when it comes to daily mobile users, Sony has invested $640 million into slowly dying camera company Olympus, and a new BlackBerry 10 video gives us our first look at RIM’s new QWERTY device. Finally tonight, Chris Davies takes an up-close look at RIM’s Q2 results, which were posted yesterday, while Chris Burns has a new review of the movie LOOPER, starring Bruce Willis and Jason Gordon-Levitt. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy your weekend everyone!


SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: September 28, 2012 is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus Image Share app adds remote Instagram-style effects

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Olympus may have its metaphorical hands busy dealing with its new Sony venture, but that hasn’t stopped the firm from pushing out an Instagram-style companion app for iPhone and iPad. Olympus Image Share hooks up the company’s PEN micro four thirds cameras via a FlashAir memory card and sucks their shots to your phone or tablet, allowing for various filters and effects to be added before sharing them via Facebook and other social networking sites.

A single FlashAir-equipped camera can be simultaneously connected to more than one smartphone or tablet, allowing for easier sharing of images when you’re actually shooting them, rather than having to share them out later on. Olympus has integrated one-time password support too, so that your friends won’t necessarily always be able to access your shots.

Even if you don’t have a FlashAir card, the app can import shots from the iOS device’s gallery and apply filters to those instead. Unlike some camera remote apps we’ve seen, such as from Samsung, the Olympus software won’t actually allow you to remotely control your camera and fire off images from a distance, unfortunately.

Olympus Image Share is a free download from the App Store [iTunes link]. Olympus says an Android version of the app is in the pipeline too.

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[via The AppSide]


Olympus Image Share app adds remote Instagram-style effects is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus Stylus XZ-2 Review

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The premium compact camera you’re about to experience is the Olympus XZ-2, coming in hard with a 12.3 megapixel 1/1.7” BSI CMOS sensor, an ultra-bright zoom lens at 28-112mm equivalent f/1.8-2.5, and a 3-inch touchscreen on the back with full tilting action. It’s not the camera you’re going to buy to blow up your family’s eyeballs with fashionability on the outside – it’s the compact high-class shooter that’s going to make the difference on the inside. What we’re seeing here is a premium experience at a relatively low price considering the quality of the output, that’s for certain.

Hardware

This camera measures in at 113 x 65.4 x 48mm (without protrusions) and weighs 346g (including battery and memory card), coming with an exchangable grip that’ll be provided with accessories sooner than later and a lovely removable clip up top for your microphone, bright lamp, or whatever else you want to jam into it. There’s also a pop-up flash light that you can trigger with a physical switch or allow you pop up automatically when it’s needed.

The lens that this camera works with is a lovely Olympus i.ZUIKO DIGITAL 4x wide optical zoom ed at 6-24mm focal length and 1:1.8-2.5 aperture. Focal length equivalency to 35mm here is 28-112mm, and it’s entirely non-replaceable. The majority of the camera’s body is made of black metal and, in addition to the traditional buttons up top and on the back, you’ve got a hot-key switch and button up front that you can tell to do basically anything – quite handy!

This little monster keeps both its SD card slot and battery compartment in one place so you’re not messing with several different doors. There’s a plastic door on the right of the device that holds your micro-HDMI port (type D) and your USB 2.0 port – and that’s combined V and USB output, mind you, and the whole beast is able to work with Eye-Fi cards as well as FlashAir for wireless connectivity.

The LI-90B lithium-ion battery will last you several photo sessions at least, though working with video for hours will leave you with that – the display’s to blame for such a thing here. Unfortunately you do have to use the display to see what you’re taking photos or video of, as there is no option to turn it off entirely. You can work with the device’s Sleep Mode, on the other hand, which turns the whole thing off after 1, 3, or 5 minutes of inactivity.

The touchscreen is ready for full-on tilt action for your down-low and up-high photography needs galore. Pull it out and tilt it up if you need to take a photo under your desk, or pull it out and tilt it down to take a photo over the fence into your neighbor’s yard – once you’ve had such a display, you’ll never be able to go back to a flat, unmovable dinosaur. Your ability to touch the display to take photos and make adjustments remains regardless of the angle of the display – if you were wondering.

Software

The user interface you’ve got here works with a combination of physical keys and the touchscreen, but you do not need to use the touchscreen at all if you do not want. On the other hand, you do need to press the physical “on” button to be able to even begin using the touchscreen – after that though, feel free to just tap away.

While some options are buried rather deep in the menu, the most-used items are right up near the top where you need them, and essentially anyone is going to be able to make the basics happen. Make no mistake, though, this device is not for beginners. You certainly can just switch the whole machine over to Auto and have at it, but making precise adjustments here isn’t a “dummy-proof” situation.

That said, we’ve had little to no trouble getting to each of the featured items we wanted to try out, and the most common shooting modes and environmental changes were extremely easy to access.

Video and Photo Samples

First what you’re going to see is a simple showing of the camera’s video-capture abilities in a rather simple situation with both light and dark, far and near subject matter. Pay attention to how quickly the device focuses on the objects at hand and the adjustments to lighting conditions for a basic idea of how high quality your average video is going to be.

Then have a peek at a collection of shots of the same object showing off the effects and special abilities of camera. Note that these are all of the same metal door we had a look at in the basement and in the dark back in our camera comparison between the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Samsung Galaxy S III – this is also a good opportunity to see how well this Olympus camera handles low light in many different modes – and with odd effects turning the whole party upside-down.

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Then have a peek at a set of shots in many different sorts of environments with high-quality HD output. Note that in the most basic sense, this camera has shown itself to be every bit the beast that Olympus claims it is, taking high quality photos and video with great ease. Colors appear to be as accurate as any of the highest-quality cameras we’ve tested at the price range and size we’re working with here, and no abnormalities have been discovered in any way.

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Wrap-up

This device presents a collection of abilities that make it a camera worth picking up if you’re a photo enthusiast who wants to get into the big leagues without paying monster amounts of cash for high-quality photo gear. At £479.99 / $599.99 and available in any color just so long as its black, this is just the little beast you’re going to want to toss in your backpack or purse.

The touchscreen interface is simple and there when you want it, but you’ve got all the physical buttons and controls you could possibly want or need if you’re not all about the touch. The user interface is simple the understand, adjustments are simple, and the output is great in the end – and best of all, it’s an major name-brand camera so you know they’ll stick with it as far as accessories go – latch on!


Olympus Stylus XZ-2 Review is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus unveils new Micro Four Thirds 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko lens

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Today, Olympus officially announced the M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 lens. The new lens is designed for street photographers, and is a fast and moderate 17mm wide-angle lens for the Micro Four Thirds system that features a maximum aperture of f/1.8, as well as depth-of-field and distance indicators. The aperture and focal length make it a great option for street, landscape, or low-light photography.

The lens is constructed mostly from metal parts and features the same Snapsnot Focus mechanism with a distance indicator as already seen on the premium 12mm lens, which allows for easy pan focusing with the built-in distance indicator. Extra-low reflection optical coatings were also applied to the lens to help reduce lens flare and ghosting, even when shooting against the light.

The focus ring on the new lens can be used to quickly snap between manual- and auto-focus modes, and sliding the ring back reveals range markings on the lens barrel that include distance and depth-of-field scales, which act as useful guides when optimizing the focal distance. There’s also a high Refractive index lens to help reduce aberrations.

The lens measures less than two inches long, which makes it compact and easy to carry around. The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.8 lens will be priced at around $500, and should be available sometime next month. A release date and price in the UK is still yet to be determined by Olympus.


Olympus unveils new Micro Four Thirds 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko lens is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus teases hybrid Four Thirds/Micro Four Thirds camera for 2013

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Olympus is working on a hybrid Four Thirds/Micro Four Thirds camera for release late next year, which will support both types of lenses and offer the feel of a regular DSLR. Olympus Spain chief exec Miquel Àngel Garcia confirmed the roadmap to Spanish site Quesabesde, refusing to give specific details about the new interchangeable lens camera, but suggesting that it would be for “those who want the feel of an SLR and at the same time take advantage of a small system.”

 

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That implies a mirrorless setup, as per Olympus’ current PEN-series cameras, though Garcia declined to say whether that would be the case. It’s also not specified whether it would slot into the PEN range, the OM-D line-up, or a new family.

According to Garcia, development of the new camera was not prompted by modular cameras from Panasonic or others, but instead as an attempt to give owners a clear upgrade path. That way, those with either existing Four Thirds or Micro Four Thirds lenses would be able to use them on the same camera body, rather than having to sell them and re-invest in a new set.

What it isn’t, however, is a new Four Thirds E-7, Garcia says. According to DSLRmagazine, it’s been in development since 2009 under the codename “Kasei” and with a clandestine thirteen-strong team involved.

[via 43 Rumors]


Olympus teases hybrid Four Thirds/Micro Four Thirds camera for 2013 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus announces six cameras, offers ultra-durability, long zoom, and more

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Olympus has announced several new cameras that it will be rolling out this year, each with its own special something that targets a market and offers an array of applicable features. From the Stylus SZ-16 iHS to the flagship Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS, there’s a little bit of everything for the photographer in you. We’ve got a run down of each camera and pictures after the jump.

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First up is the Stylus SH-50 iHS, the world’s first point and shoot with 5-axis video stabilization, as well as 3-axis stabilization for taking still images. Images and videos come out with exceptional clarity and sharpness, with blurs being virtually impossible to achieve. The unit can record full HD videos and 720p films at 120fps, as well as 240fps in HVGA resolution. The SH-50 iHS will be available in March for $299.99 in black and white.

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Next is the Stylus Tough TG-830 iHS, a mid-range compact that can record video in full HD. The unit is waterproof to 33ft., shockproof from heights up to 6.6ft, crushproof up to 220lbs, freezeproof to 14F, and it has a dust-resistant body. The TG-830 iHS features a 16-megapixel back-side illuminated CMOS sensor and Truepic VI image processor. The camera can record high-speed video at 120 frames per second in 720p and 240 frames per second in HVGA resolution, along with High-Speed Sequential shooting of still images at the push of a button.

The Stylus Tough TG-630 is an entry level camera that is waterproof to 16ft, shockproof from heights up to 5.5ft, freezeproof to temperatures as low as 14F, and dustproof. The device features a Truepic VI image processor, a backlit CMOS sensor, high-speed sequential shooting, full HD 1080p video recording, dual-image stabilization, backlit HDR, Multi-Motion Movie Image Stabilization, and Hand-Held Starlight mode. It will be released in March for $199.99 in white, red, black, and blue.

The Stylus SZ-16 iHS is a super-compact long zoom camera with 24x optical wide-angle zoom optimized for movie making. The device features 1080p video recording, Multi-Motion Movie Image Stabilization, a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, the Truepic VI image processor, Hand-Held Starlight mode, HDR backlight adjustment, built-in dual image stabilization, Telephoto Macro mode, eleven Magic Filters, Smart Panorama, and Beauty Make-up mode. It will be available in March for $229.99 in silver and white.

The Stylus SZ-15 is very similar to the SZ-16, likewise a super compact long zoom with 24x optical wide-angle zoom. There’s built-in dual image stabilization, Telephoto Macro, eleven Magic Filters, Smart Panorama, and Beauty Make-up mode. The camera will be available in March for 199.99 in silver, black, and red.

Finally, there’s the Stylus Tough TG-2, Olympus’ latest flagship camera offering full HD video recording. The device is waterproof to 50ft, shockproof from heights of 6.6ft, freezeproof to 14F, crushproof to 220lbs, dustproof, with a high-sensitivity, high-speed 12-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor. Users get DSLR image quality via the Truepic VI image processor; there’s a Microscopic Macro function, and the unit can shoot five frames per second at full resolution and 60fps at 3-megapixels. Features Multi-Motion Movie Image Stabilization and HDR backlight adjustment. Available in March for $379.99.

SZ-15_SLV_FRONT SZ-15_RED_FRONT SZ-15_BLK_FRONT SH-50_BLK_TOP SH-50_BLK_FRONT SH-50_BLK_RIGHT
Olympus announces six cameras, offers ultra-durability, long zoom, and more is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus’ full 2013 rough-and-tumble camera range hands-on

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Olympus is taking the spirit of CES to heart and then some, announcing six brand new cameras during the trade show. These cameras range from sleek and slim to tough and rugged, so there should be something for almost everyone with this new range. Cameras included in this grand CES 2013 showing include the Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS, Stylus Tough TG-830 iHS, Stylus Tough TG-630 iHS, Stylus SH-50MR iHS, Stylus SZ-16 iHS, and Stylus SZ-15, each of them prepared for a 2013 release. This week we got the opportunity to get our hands on the full lot.

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Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS

We’ll start with the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-2 iHS, which is for those who need a camera that will stand up to abuse but still takes good shots. Most times it seems you can’t have both, but that’s what Olympus is shooting for with the TG-2, offering a 12MP backlit CMOS sensor in a package that’s waterproof up to 50 feet, and if you feel like taking your camera diving, the cmaera includes a manometer that will keep track of your depth and warn you when you’re closing in on 50 feet.

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Of course, a camera can’t exactly be called “tough” if it’s only waterproof, but thankfully the TG-2 is also crushproof up to 220 pounds, shockproof from heights of up to 6.6 feet, freezeproof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and dustproof. It also makes use of multi-motion movie image stabilization to create a smoother video regardless of movement while recording. As you can tell from the name of the camera, it boasts the iHS family of technologies to make it easier to snap pictures in less-than-favorable shooting conditions.

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The TG-2 is capable of recording video in full HD, and it comes equipped with a TruePic
VI image processor and a high-speed f2.0 lens. The camera is also expandable, and supports both Olympus’ fisheye converter lens and teleconverter lens. The TG-2 comes in black or red, and sports a 4x optical zoom (which can go up to 14x zoom with the camera’s microscopic macro function), 8x super resolution zoom, and a 3-inch OLED screen around the back.

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At $379.99, the TG-2 is the most expensive camera Olympus introduced today, so be prepared to plop down some cash if you want to take it home. Olympus says the TG-2 will be available starting in March.

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BONUS: We had the chance to capture the rig that our kind Olympus host created to take macro photos with the TG-2 – have a quick peek here!

Stylus Tough TG-830 iHS

Next we come to the TG-830, which has more than a few things in common with its slightly more expensive brother, the TG-2. The TG-830 is waterproof like the TG-2, but only to 33 feet. It also happens to be shockproof up to 6.6 feet, crushproof up to 220 pounds, dustproof, and freezeproof, so you’re getting an extra rugged camera with this bad boy. It uses a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor, features a 3-inch LCD screen, and is capable of recording full HD video.

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(Also pictured at the head of this article.)

With the TG-830, you’ve got features like HDR backlight adjustment, smart panorama, and high-speed sequential shooting, so Olympus is trying to make this camera easier to use in difficult conditions. You’ll be able to shoot HD video at 60fps thanks to 60i Movie from Olympus, while dual-image stabilization will do its part to make sure that image blur stays under control. You’ll also have a range of colors to choose from, including silver, black, red, and blue. This one is slightly cheaper than the TG-2, coming in with a price tag of $279.99. Like the TG-2, Olympus is planning to launch the TG-830 in March.

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Stylus Tough TG-630 iHS

If you want the same kind of durability as the TG-830 but don’t want to spend quite so much, the TG-630 might be worth a look. Like the TG-830, this one is waterproof up to 16 feet, shockproof to 5.5 feet, freezeproof, and dustproof, so the only difference between the two is a lack of crushproofing in the TG-630. It actually has many of the same features as the TG-830 as well, including backlight adjustment and sequential shooting, along with TruePic VI image processing and full HD video functionality.

tough_630

The TG-630 features a backlit sensor CMOS sensor and a number of ease of use features, including sequential shooting, backlit HDR, handheld starlight, and dual image stabilization. The TG-630 also features a number of “Magic Art Filters” that you can apply to photos and an HDMI port so you can hook it up to you TV to watch your videos and view your photos.

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Note: the screen protector the device ships with is still on the device in this photo – the real deal is not quite so strange looking (glassy smooth).

Available in four different colors – blue, red, white, and black – the TG-630 sports a price tag of $199.99, which shouldn’t be too much for those looking for a decent camera on the cheap. Expect to see this guy hitting shelves in March.

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Stylus SH-50MR iHS

Now it’s time to move away from the rough and tumble bunch and onto the Olympus Stylus SH-50MR iHS. Olympus promises that this one comes with “all the bells and whistles,” including 5-axis video stabilization and 3-axis image stabilization. You can use the camera’s photo-in-video feature along with the 16MP CMOS sensor to snap pictures while you’re recording HD video, which is a handy feature indeed. Like the TG-830, you’ll also have 60i Movie at your disposal, which lets you capture 60fps HD video.

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You’ll have 24x optical zoom and 48x super resolution zoom to take advantage of here, and Olympus is shooting for increased ease-of-use with this camera as well, including features like hand-held starlight and HDR backlight adjustment. There’s also a 3-inch LCD touch screen around the back, which allows for easy image editing on the fly. Available in only white and black, the SH-50MR doesn’t feature the wide array of color options its brothers do, and at $299.99, you’ll have to make a pretty significant investment before you take one home. Like al of the other cameras introduced today, the SH-50MR should be hitting shelves in March.

Stylus SZ-16 iHS

Next we come to the Stylus SZ-16 iHS, which once again features a 16MP CMOS sensor. Many of the other talking points with the cameras introduced today are present in SZ-16, including 1080p video capabilities and multi-motion movie image stabilization. We’ve got 24x optical zoom and 48x super resolution zoom standard on this bad boy, along with a 25mm wide angle lens.

stylus_16

stylus_16_b

A 3-inch LCD screen has taken up residence on the back, and ease-of-use features out of the box include HDR backlight adjustment and high-speed sequential shooting. It sounds quite similar to some of the other cameras that were introduced today (including a March launch), but this one will only set you back $229.99. Something to consider if you’ve been on the lookout for a decent camera that isn’t going to break the bank.

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Stylus SZ-15

Finally, we have the SZ-15, which is in very many ways a more affordable (and less feature-rich) SZ-16. You’ll be working with a 14MP CMOS sensor out of the box, which is upgradable to 16MP if you don’t mind parting with a little extra cash. This appears to be smaller than the other cameras we’ve seen today, though it only features 24x optical zoom. Super resolution zoom is available as an extra, so that kind of functionality won’t come standard.

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We’re also getting a bit of a downgrade with the TruePic image processor, as this one is only a TruePic III+ rather than TruePic IV. The magic art filters we saw with the TG-630 are present in the SZ-15, as is a 3-inch LCD screen. At $199.99 and a March release window, the SZ-15 comes in three different colors: silver, red, and black.

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So there you have it folks – Olympus announced quite the line up of cameras here at CES, so if you’ve been searching for a new snapper, one of these might be worth considering. We’re sure we’ll be hearing more about these cameras in the days and weeks to come, so keep an eye out for those details. Of course, we’ll have plenty more from CES 2013 coming up here at SlashGear, so stay here with us!


Olympus’ full 2013 rough-and-tumble camera range hands-on is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm f4-6.7 II Lens revealed

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This week the folks at Olympus have shown off their newest iteration of an ultra-powerful machine: the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 II Super Telephone Zoom Lens. Beyond the addition of the “II” to the end of the name, this lens has attained ZERO-Coating for an improved experience with ghosts and flares, the whole unit will be printed in black only (with the exception of the thin blue ring near the focus, and the entire zoom range will be printed now instead of patched. This release will be popping up soon and will be effectively replacing the original model in all stores where fine cameras are sold.

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This lens will be shipping in March of 2013 and will have its own unique (and optional) hood (LH-61E), case (LSC-0918), and protection filter (PRF-D58 PRO). Combined with the fabulous Olympus OM-D and its 5axis IS, you’ll be working with no less than what Olympus tags as hand-held super zoom shooting – capture the Birds of Paradise with ease. The images you see above and below are connected to the OM-D as well – bask in the lovely glow of this hot combination.

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This lens has a 16 – 4.1 degree angle of view, 18 lens throughout it in 13 groups including a Super ED lens, 2ED lenses, and 3 HR lenses, and its all works as micro four-thirds system standard – connect at will. The focal length of 75-300mm on this beast is equivalent to a 35mm 150-600mm, and you’ll find that the closest focusing distance you’re going to get is 0.9m – that’s with 75mm focal length. When you’re outside of a 75mm focal length, you’ll be focusing in at 1.5m at least.

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The maximum aperture on this amalgamation of photography excellence is f4.8 at 75mm and f6.7 at 300mm, while the minimum aperture is always f22. The diameter you’re working with for filters is 58mm while the actual final size of the lens is 69 (diameter) x 116.5mm, with a final weight at 423g. Inside the box you’re going to get a front Lens Cap (LC-58E), Lens Rear Cap (LR-2), and both an instructions manual and an Olympus Worldwide Warranty Card. This lens will be available in March of this year for an estimated price of $549.99 USD – get pumped up!


Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm f4-6.7 II Lens revealed is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus unveils the Stylus XZ-10 compact point-and-shoot camera

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Olympus has unveiled its Stylus XZ-10, a compact camera with a sophisticated, classic design that is sure to appeal to many photographers. The point-and-shoot comes with fairly standard features, as well as support for FlashAir wireless image transfer, making it a solid mid-range compact model. You can check out the camera in all its colors and designs after the jump.

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The Olympus Stylus XZ-10 features a 5x, f/1.8 – 2.5, 26mm to 130mm i.ZUIKO Digital optical zoom lens. The lens is treated with what Olympus calls its ZERO – which stands for ZUIKO Extra-low Reflection Optical – coating. This coating is inteded to reduce both flares and ghosting by halfing reflectivity. There’s a 3-inch, 920k TFT display, dual image stabilization, 5x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom, and a 12-megapixel sensor.

There’s a Super Macro mode that allows macro images to be taken as close as 1 centimeter, as well as an ND filter for exposure control. Videos can be recorded in slow-motion at 240fps/432 x 324 resolution, in 720p at 120fps and 720p widescreen at 30fps, and full 1080p HD at 30fps. Videos are recorded in MOV format (H.264 MPEG).

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In the age of smartphones and Instagram, it’s not surprising that Olympus has also included both filters and what it calls Photo Story on the XZ-10. Photo Story allows users to take several images and combine them into one, hence telling a story with images. The photo filters include 5 art effect and 11 art filters. As can be seen in the image above, the camera will also be available with a vine-like design, presumably also aimed at the artistic among us.

The Stylus XZ-10 will be available in late February in black, white, and brown; price not yet specified.

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[via Olympus Global]


Olympus unveils the Stylus XZ-10 compact point-and-shoot camera is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Olympus rolls out 1080p VH-520 compact digital camera

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Olympus has introduced its new VH-520, a compact digital camera offering full 1080p high-definition recording, as well as a variety of other features. Its slim design and colorful options aside, this unit boasts excellent low-light quality due to iHS technology, which is, as the company points out, often only found in larger cameras at higher price points, making it the VH-520′s most appealing feature.

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The Olympus VH-520 offers a 14-megapixel CMOS sensor, and utilizes the TruePic V processor, which was first developed for use in digital SLR cameras. Zoom is fairly high at 10x optical zoom with a digital boost to 20x, and image stabilization is achieved in the form of lens-shift. ISO range goes up to 6400, and there’s HDR Backlight Adjustment. The display is a cool 3-inches.

There are also a some decent video recording specs to talk about, including the ability to record in full high definition, as well as High Speed Movie mode, which provides slow motion playback. For sharp videos, there’s also a Multi-motion Move IS mode, and audio is recorded in stereo to provide a soundtrack that is the same quality as its full HD video counterpart.

Finally, images and video can be edited with Magic Filters, which are presets available for photographers to apply effects to recorded and saved content a la Instagram and other similar popular photography apps. The Olympus VH-520 compact digital camera will be available in red, purple, blue, black, and brown in April for €149.99.

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[via Olympus]


Olympus rolls out 1080p VH-520 compact digital camera is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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