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Olympus' Micro Four Thirds camera launching this summer
We're not gonna get excited just yet, but Olympus has shown one of its cards at PMA , and it happens to indicate at least one of its Micro Four Thirds cameras will be hitting retail channels this summer. That jibes with a rumor we heard back in late January. From what we can tell, there's still a dearth of detail / specs on this hunk of retro hotness -- a shame, too, since it'd have pretty much every camera aficionado's attention right now. With several months to go, we get the feeling the company's gonna play this one close to the chest for a little while longer.
Olympus' E-620 raises the bar for entry-level DSLRs
Olympus just joined the pre-PMA pileup with the announcement of its E-620 DSLR for entry-level enthusiasts. The E-620 is a mash-up of Olympus' semi-pro E-30 and entry-level E-520 in a compact body approaching Oly's own E-420 (the world's smallest DSLR when launched). The resulting cam brings a 12.3 megapixel Live MOS image sensor with sensor-shift image stabilization, 7-point AF, TruePic III+ image processor, built-in wireless flash controller, and a fully articulating, 2.7-inch tilt-and-swivel live-view LCD. It also features Olympus' Art Filters which take in-camera image enhancements a bit beyond sepia. Expect the E-620 body to ship in May for about $700; $800 with the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens. Front-side front after the break.Read -- Press release Read -- DP Review preview Read -- DigitalCameraInfo first impression
UK retailer launches exclusive Olympus X-915, X-890 digital cameras
Olympus still hasn't let out any sort of official word on a release date for it hotly-anticipated Micro Four Thirds cameras, but the company has just announced two new less-than-anticipated models, which will apparently each be exclusive to UK retailer Jessops for the time being. On the higher end of the range is the 12-megapixel Olympus X-915 (pictured above), which packs an ample 5x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch "hypercrystal" LCD, image stabilization, smile recognition, and a price tag of £299 (or about $435). At £259 (or $375), the 10-megapixel X-890 will save you a few bucks, but you'll have to make do with some not insignificant trade-offs, including a more conventional 3x optical zoom, and a lack of smile recognition and some other features, though you will apparently still get some basic face recognition. No word on a broader roll-out for these just yet, but those in UK should be able to snag each at Jessops right now.
Olympus PC 3D Viewer Kit: perfect for up-and-coming stereoscopic stars
Like it or not, 3D is back. Er, it's attempting to be back, though we'd argue the jury is still out on whether it'll stick around for any meaningful amount of time this go 'round. At any rate, those who are already sold on the mesmerizing powers of stereoscopics should probably give this one a look, Olympus' PC 3D Viewer Kit is one of the first consumer-level packages designed to give 3D content creators a look at their work on a standard LCD. The bundle will be comprised of a BenQ E2400HD 24-inch LCD (1,920 x 1,080 resolution), 3D media player software, 3D shutter glasses and a controller box -- just enough to get you proofing without having to rent out a visual effects studio. There's no word on a price for the currently Japan-only package, but really, you can't put an MSRP on the third-dimension.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Two Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras rumored for soonish release
Usually, we'd just brush something such as this off and carry on about our day, but there are just too many stars aligning to ignore this one. Given that Olympus pledged its allegiance to Micro Four Thirds early on -- not to mention that we've already seen proof of prototypes -- we're really, really tempted to believe the latest rumors from Russia. As the story goes, Olympus is gearing up to launch a pair of MFT cameras, likely named the M-1 and M-100. Both units are apt to be about the size of a bulky point-and-shoot, with the former boasting a 3.2-inch LCD monitor and HD video capture. Oh, and did we mention that PMA is just over a month away? Sounds like a perfect spot to launch this duo into the mainstream.[Via Engadget Spanish]
Olympus E-30 DSLR reviewed: distinctly different, but that's a good thing
Olympus' E-30 just recently began to hit store shelves after being announced last November, and the shutterbugs at DigitalCameraReview have taken the liberty of critiquing it for all prospective buyers to see. The cam maintained the quirkiness that tends make an Olympus, well, an Olympus, but when it came down to actual performance, the DSLR didn't disappoint... much, anyway. It should be noted that it couldn't hold a candle to the D90 at ISO 3,200, so low-light fiends may want to look elsewhere. That aside, critics were more than pleased with the copious amount of features, the top-shelf focusing speed and the remarkable build quality. If it were priced a few hundies lower, it'd almost be a no-brainer, but with an asking price of around $1,300 at present time, it'll be hard to sway the eyes of those already focusing on another shooter. Have a look at the read link for a few sample shot comparisons and the full writeup.
Olympus unveils SP-590UZ, bevy of new Stylus and FE models
Olympus announced a number of new cameras this week -- at least nine, by our count -- with models that'll attract those with finer tastes, frugal minds, and everything in between, which are all launching before March. First up, for the little espionage in training, we've got the Ultra Zoom SP-590UZ, a 10 megapixel behemoth with a 26x zoom lens and 5x digital zoom for up to 130x zoom in all. It can record RAW files and will shoot 10 frames per second in three megapixel mode. No price mentioned -- for any of these cameras, actually -- and according to the presser, it's set to launch in March. There's also the 10 megapixel Stylus 550WP that's water-resistant up to three meters and is coming February in crystal blue, pure white and midnight black. Olympus is touting the Stylus 9000 as the smallest 10x zoom / 12 megapixel camera on market and is debuting in February along with a similarly-spec'd 7000 (pictured) with 7x zoom, while a 5x zoom variant is due out mid-January. The 10 megapixel TOUGH-6000 and 12 megapixel TOUGH-8000 boast Tap control and will hit retail mid-January and February, respectively. Finally, we've got three budget-priced cameras, including a (potentially Europe-only) 10 megapixel FE-5000 with 5x optical zoom, a 12 megapixel / 3x zoom FE30-10, and a 10 megapixel / 3x zoom FE-45. All three models feature black or gold paint colors, with the FE-45 having deep blue and FE30-10 magenta options, as well. The latter is coming in March, while the other two will hit late this month.%Gallery-40841%Read - FE-5000, FE30-10, and FE-45Read - SP-590UZRead - Stylus 550WPRead - Stylus 5000 / 7000 / 9000 Read - Stylus Tough-6000 / 8000
Olympus Mju Tough cameras are tougher, mjuier
If you need a pocketable digi-cam that works in all the extremes you do -- from the aquatic expanse of water jogging class to the frigid wastelands at the ski lodge's heated terrace -- you traditionally haven't had many choices. Olympus is the biggest player with its SW series of non-flimsy Mju cameras (µ if you dig special chars), and is now extending and re-branding that line to reinforce its durable nature, completely dropping "SW" and instead going for the rather more apt label of "Tough," as in Mju Tough and Stylus Tough (monikers already applied to the lineup elsewhere on this hostile planet). The series will include options at varying levels of durability, with the lightweight ones handling shock and submersion, and the more hardcore models adding the ability to work in freezing temperatures and survive some crushing action. They sound perfect for capturing your next expedition to the park on a cold, rainy day, but sadly there's no mention of improving the one aspect that's been lacking in these cameras: picture quality. We'll see how well they fare in that department when the new models drop in January.[Via PhotographyBLOG]
Adapter weds Leica lenses to Micro Four Thirds cameras -- for real, Heidi
The German outfit Novoflex has just announced an adapter that will allow you to mount Leica lenses onto your Micro Four Thirds system cameras. Due out this month at €149 (about $193), the mount is one in a planned series, with adapters for Leica R, Nikon, Contax / Yashica, Olympus OM, Pentax and Minolta MD lenses expected in February. Of course, the only MFT camera out there is Panasonic's Lumix G1, but with a new Olympus on the horizon and more sure to follow, this is certainly good news for all of you budget-conscious photographers out there.[Via Wired]
Olympus fills the E-520/E-3 gap with the E-30 DSLR
If you're looking for an Olympus DSLR but don't have the bank for a $1,499 E-3, yet couldn't be seen with a pedestrian $599 E-520, Olympus is about to fill your niche with the upcoming $1,299 E-30, a shooter that sits neatly betwixt the two in most stats despite actually having a higher megapixel sensor than either. (We all know that doesn't necessarily mean more quality, right?) Like its higher and lower cousins it too offers in-body image stabilization and Live View, borrowing the 2.7-inch LCD from the E-520 while snagging the 11-point auto-focus function from the E-3. It also nets a built-in level that displays roll and pitch, plus an integrated wireless flash receiver, making it sound very much like a prosumer model -- though it has enough consumery shooting modes like "Grainy Film" and "Pop Art" to make any would-be-photog cringe. Best of both worlds or unwanted offspring? We'll wait for the first round of reviews when it launches in January before being too judgmental.Update: As it turns out crave was perhaps a wee bit premature in announcing the E-30, but it's all good now, as Olympus has made the cam officially official.
Olympus Mju 1040 Crystal proves that elegance is relative
Olympus is betting that you're the type of person that equates quality and style with crystal-encrusted consumer electronics. If so, it's high time you gave that old Mju 1040 a second look -- the limited-edition Mju 1040 Crystal's pretty much the same 10-megapixel shooter as before, except now it's adorned with ninety-eight Swarovski elements, rendering the camera suitable for black tie events like cotillions and charity balls. Look for it in the UK market for £175 ($303) at the end of October.
Olympus confirms micro Four Thirds cams coming in the next year
Panasonic might be the first to ship its new micro Four Thirds G1, but Olympus definitely stole the hotness crown with that retro concept cam, and the company just confirmed that it'll join the ranks of the shipping -- Olympus European marketing director Miquel Angel Garcia told Pocket-lint that we should expect a camera similar to the prototype within the next 12 months. According to Garcia, micro Four Thirds is "about design and style, not about a smaller black box" -- take that, Panny. Hopefully this means we'll be seeing the DSLR-sized micro Four Thirds sensor shake up the fashion cam market, but we'll see what Olympus has in store -- the sooner the better, guys.
Olympus drops jaws with retro Micro Four Thirds concept
We heard it was coming, but we didn't expect Olympus to bust out its first Micro Four Thirds system with such vintage hotness. Taking its visual cues from the classic Rangefinder cameras, this unnamed Olympus is just a concept for now with no pricing, specs, or release date announced. Still, it shows just how far Olympus and Panasonic can push the Micro Four Thirds standard while maintaining Four Thirds lens compatibility and a DSLR-sized 18 x 13.5-mm sensor. One more snap after the break, more beyond the read link.
Olympus outs mid-range Four Thirds E-A1 and Micro Four Thirds prototype
In the run-up to Photokina, Olympus just announced its latest Four Thirds DSLR targeting the "advanced amateur." Positioned in the enormous gap between Olympus' flagship E-3 and E-520 shooters, the new E-A1 DSLR inherits the E-3's high-speed 11-point AF system, image stabilization with 5 stops correction, while featuring improved weather sealing around a housing we expect to be relatively compact by comparison. Available in Q1 2009 if things stay on track.As co-conspirators with Panasonic behind the Micro Four Thirds format, it's no surprise to hear that Olympus also has a tiny, mirror-less prototype camera to show off at Photokina as well. The only surprise is that it'll be on display under glass without a date, specs, or price.[Via cnet]
Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.2
Today Apple released an update for Mac OS X's RAW compatibility. iPhoto '08 and Aperture will now be able to work with RAW formats from the following cameras: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/Kiss Digital F/1000D Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n Nikon D700 Olympus EVOLT E-420 Olympus EVOLT E-520 Olympus SP-570 Samsung GX-10 Samsung GX-20 Sony DSLR-A300 Sony DSC-R1 I'm sure this isn't a fix for everyone, but will probably make most photographers happy to see their camera on the list. You can download this update by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by visiting Apple's downloads website and downloading the installer package.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Olympus' new trio touts 10 megapixel Stylus 1050 SW with motion sensitive Tap Control
When pumping out unimpressive point-and-shoot cameras, one sure-fire way to grab some attention is to innovate around the UI. That seems to be Olympus' approach with its new semi-rugged, Stylus 1050 SW ($300) pictured above. Able to withstand drops from 5-feet (1.5-meters), temps as low as 14 degrees F (-10 C), and submersion to 10-feet (3-meters), the new 10.1-megapixel shooter with 3x zoom and 2.7-inch display also packs an accelerometer for Olympus' new motion-driven "Tap Control" -- tap twice on the back, top or sides with your bulky, gloved hand to switch the camera into different modes. Pretty smart, actually... let's hope it takes quality images too. Of less interest is the skinny new 16.5-mm Stylus 1040 ($200) offering all of the 1050's guts without the Tap Control and weatherproofing. Last up is the Olympus SP-565 UZ ($400). It bungs the 10 megapixel sensor and 20x zoom from Olympus' SP-570 UZ into the 8 megapixel, 18x SP-560 UZ introduced this time last year. All three cams due in October. See the 1040 and SP-565 UZ after the break. Update: Speaking of unimpressive, Olympus also outed its 8 megapixel FE-20 (£120 / $221) with 2.5-inch LCD and 3x zoom. We managed to escape our ennui just long enough to post a picture after the break.Read -- Stylus 1050SW Read -- The rest
Olympus trots out 8-megapixel FE-360 and FE-370 digital cameras
Look out, world -- we're not so certain you're ready to behold the greatness of Olympus' latest duo. In all seriousness, we're not so certain you'll be able to stay awake as we explain the details, but stay up and you just may run across something you're into. The FE-360 and FE-370 point-and-shoots each include an 8-megapixel sensor, face detection, image stabilization, a video mode and an xD card slot. There's also a bundled attachment that enables the use of microSD cards, but we're assuming the all-but-forgotten xD slot is kept in there to stroke a suit's ego somewhere up the chain. Anywho, the two differ in the optical zoom category (3x on the FE-360, 5x on the FE-370) and LCD size (2.5-inches versus 2.7-inches). Each shooter will arrive in a variety of hues and will hit the UK market for £129.99 ($242) / £179.99 ($334) next month.[Via DigitalCameraInfo]
Olympus Mju 1060 hits the scene
With Photokina just around the corner, it's time for camera manufacturers to start kicking out the standard updates so we can all be appropriately focused next month, and it looks like Olympus is getting things started with the new Mju 1060 point-and-shoot. The 10 megapixel shooter (it'll be a Stylus when it comes Stateside) has a nice 7x optical zoom, dual image stabilizers, Intelligent Auto mode with face detection and shadow adjustment, and takes both xD-Picture and MicroSD cards, in case you're into semi-obscure memory card formats. Should be out in the UK in September for £259 ($482), we'd expect it to arrive here for less shortly thereafter.
Olympus and Panasonic launch Micro Four Thirds, compact "DSLRs" will be yours
Ready for this? Olympus and Panasonic just announced a new mirrorless format and lens mount based on the venerable Four Thirds standard. Dubbed Micro Four Thirds System, the enhanced standard uses the same 18 x 13.5-mm sensor but promises 50% slimmer cameras due to the removal of the mirror box. We're also looking at smaller lenses (while remaining compatible with existing Four Third lenses with an adapter) thanks in part to a new reduced lens mount which is now 6-mm smaller. With the mirror box gone, Micro Four Third cameras will lose the optical viewfinder so you'll have to frame up your subjects using a Live View LCD or an external viewfinder. How big of a development is this? Huge. As Phil Askey, editor over at dpreview puts it, "This is without doubt the most exciting digital photography announcement this year. It's fair to say that this "extension / addition" to the Four Thirds standard is finally able to deliver on the original promise of that format; considerably smaller and lighter lenses and bodies." Unfortunately, no products were announced so you've got plenty of time to debate the spec and pore over the illustrations we've dropped in after the break. [Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]
Olympus' 10MP EVOLT E-520 DSLR gets reviewed
Although we were able to take an all-too-brief peek at Olympus' EVOLT E-520 late last month, the results weren't exactly indicative of what this thing is capable of -- you know, considering the unit in question was defective. The cats over at PhotographyBLOG managed to secure a fully functional unit, and results were much, much improved. Although reviewers didn't go quite so far as to call it the perfect camera, it sure came close in their eyes. Aside from the depressingly small viewfinder and the low quantity of AF sensors, critics found the unit quite hard to bash. Overall, it managed to snag a stellar 4.5 out of 5 rating, and better still, it was said to be just the thing for "beginners and enthusiasts alike." Taking Olympus more seriously in your search for a suitable DSLR just might be in order.
