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Olympus's Stylus 780
Oh yeah, and Olympus also announced the Stylus 780, another in their line of cleverly press-photographed cameras that may not be as thin as some by other camera makers, but that does feature 5x optical zoom, a 7 megapixel sensor, 2.5-inch display, 15MB of internal memory, xD slot, and a $350 pricetag which we think could be a bit high. It's due May, so you've got plenty of time to decide whether this is the camera for you.%Gallery-1889%
Olympus's EVOLT E-510 and E410 live LCD DSLRs
It's been a while since Olympus did anything with that E-500 (although not so much with the newish E-400), but the new EVOLT E-510 (above) is sure to considered be an improvement, what with its live view LCD. On the sensor side you'll be working with 10 megapixels at up to 1600 ISO on that Fourth Thirds lens mount, CF and xD card support, as well as making use of its newest-generation TruePic III image processor. The difference between the E-510 and E-410, however, isn't just in the $100 price gap: the E-510 also has OIS and a higher capacity battery (and the larger grip, so you know it from the 410 in the gallery). The body only E-510 will run you $799 in June 2007, while the E-410 will land for $699 in May.[Thanks, camerasnap]Read - E-510Read - E-410%Gallery-1888%
Olympus SP-550UZ with 18x zoom reviewed
If you had high hopes for Olympus' new feature-packed 7.1 megapixel SP-550UZ digicam, PopPhoto's review is sure going to dent -- but not burst -- your bubble. Olympus made sure to hype the SP-550UZ as having the first wide 18x optical zoom on a compact digital camera, shooting from a wide 28mm to an impressive 504mm supertelephoto focal length. Other pluses include RAW capture, and bright 2.5-inch LCD with EVF, good color accuracy, a solid, comfortable body, and user-friendly guide mode. The downsides mostly revolve around a bundle of features that sound great, but only work by sacrificing image quality and resolution. First we have the shockingly fast 15 fps Burst Rate capturing at a relatively low 1.2 megapixels, then slowed way down to 3 frames in a bit two seconds if you want full resolution. Olympus also stresses ISOs up to 5000, however shots taken at ISO 5000 and 3200 suffer a resolution of only 3.2 megapixels. ISO speeds overall were iffy, where certain settings, with or without blur filtering, would yield high-noise shots with unacceptable resolution. To break it down, at about $500, the SP-550UZ is a pretty decent choice if you're looking to go compact digital -- it's just too bad Olympus put a few too many compromises in the fine print.[Via Photography Blog]
Olympus unveils VJ-10 clock radio, touts 37GB hard drive
Although the recording industry is making quite the stink around here about satellite radio receivers with internal storage, that's not stopping Olympus from kicking out a svelte clock radio with gobs of room for backing live broadcasts up. Granted, the VJ-10 only tunes into AM / FM transmissions, but the whopping 37GB internal HDD gives users the ability to store between 1,250 and 2,500 hours of footage based on quality into WAV files. Moreover, the USB 2.0 connector allows users to access the drive from any PC if you're looking to consolidate your radio and external storage, and the SRS WOW XT stereo speakers should provide decent office enjoyment as well. As expected, users can queue up recordings based on time, and thanks to the large integrated LCD screen, all the information you need will be front and center. Currently, the VJ-10 is slated to land in Japan on March 16th for the ever elusive "open price," but it looks like an English version will only be a fortnight or so behind.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Olympus revealing new DSLR(s) on March 5th?
Teaser campaigns are getting so popular these days that even camera manufacturers are hopping on the bandwagon: last year we saw Sigma try to generate some buzz for its Foveon-powered SD14 DSLR, and now Olympus has posted a similar photo with just enough info to get us interested, but not enough to determine anything concrete about the camera(s) being promised. All that we're given in the pic on Olympus' European site are three increasingly faded silhouettes of either a single or multiple DSLRs; besides the hot shoe and the control ring, we can also see a white badge with the date "5 March 2007." As is our wont, we'll obviously be trying to get the scoop on this new cam well before the official announcement, so stay tuned to this channel while we go dredging for deets in the seedy gadget underworld.[Via Digital Photography Blog]
Olympus voice-activated DS-50 records days of audio
Olympus might have halted production of its DAPs, but it's still taking time out from busting out wicked zoom cameras to dabble in the portable audio realm. The DS-50 is a handheld audio recorder / audiobook player hybrid, and aside from its ability to hold between 17 hours (STXQ stereo mode) and 275 hours (paltry LP mode) on the built-in 1GB of storage, it also touts voice-activated record / playback controls, a backlit LCD screen, MP3 / WMA support, and the obligatory integrated microphone. You'll get around 26 to 31 hours of battery life on a pair of AAA cells, USB connectivity, and Audible support as well. So if you're looking to capture days and days of audio, and want to break up the podcasting sessions with a few books / tunes along the way, the DS-50 can be snapped up now for a stiff £249 ($487).[Via ShinyShiny]
Olympus' low-enders: FE-210, FE-230, FE-240, and FE-250 with ridiculous ISO 10,000
Tired of the Olympus news yet? No, then try on four new entry-level cams from their FE-series: the FE-210, FE-230, FE-240, and FE-250. All ship in February with a 2.5-inch LCD 'round back and support for xD-Picture Card format -- all lack image stabilization which we expect at the low end. The $150 FE-210 is at the bottom of this pile with a 7.1 megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom, and power supplied by 2x AA batteries. The $200 FE-230 and $250 FE-240 share that CCD but introduce Olympus' TruePic Turbo image processing to the series as well as a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The FE-230 packs an ISO 1250 while the FE-240 scales back to ISO 1000 but ups the optical zoom to 5x with a 3-cm macro mode. The $300 FE-250 then, is lord of the serfs with an 8.1 megapixel sensor, 3x zoom, BrightCapture low-light technology, and likely pointless ISO 6400 (or ISO 10,000 at 3 megapixels) without any image stabilization. Peep the rest of the pics after the break if you're not seething after that last one. Olympus, out.[Thanks, David]Read -- FE-210Read -- FE-230Read -- FE-240Read -- FE-250
Olympus' Stylus (Mju) 760 and 770SW all weather and underwater shooters
In addition to that freaky 18x zoomer, Olympus is shepherding out a pair of newborn Mjus this morning with their Mju (AKA, Stylus) 760 and Mju 770SW all weather shooters. Both pack a 7.1 megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch 230k color LCD, choice of 3 all American/French/Dutch colors (red, white, and blue), support for xD-Picture Cards, ISO 1600 shots, and a suite of pre-defined underwater modes for easy point-and-shoot snaps as deep as 40-meters when coupled with their optional underwater cases. The Mju 760 differs by offering mechanical image stabilization not found in the 770SW. And while the 760 won't shy away from a little dampness, the 770SW downright prefers it just like its predecessors. In fact, it can take pretty much anything you throw at it: it's shockproof against falls from as high as 1.5-meters, waterproof to a depth of 10-meters, freezeproof in temps as low as -10 Celsius, and can withstand loads up to 100-kg (220-pounds) for those tempted to risk a slip of this slimster into their back pocket. It also packs a built-in "one-touch light" to find subjects tucked inside the reefs, an on-screen water pressure gauge, and a lens slathered with water repellent for droplet-free shooting. Both are expected to hit in March with the 760 demanding about £200/$394 and the 770SW about £300/$591. Pics of the 760 after the break. [Thanks, David]Read -- Mju 760Read -- Mju 770SW
Olympus SP-550 UZ: a compact monster with 18x optical zoom
Prepare to kick your pathetic, 3x optical zoomer to the curb kids. Olympus just announced what they are calling the world's first, wide 18x optical zoom on a compact digital camera. The SP-550 UZ features a smokin' 28-504mm (35mm camera equivalent) focal length with "Dual-Image stabilization" (high 6,400 ISO value combined with CCD-based mechanical image stabilizer) to protect against blurring. The 7.1 megapixel CCD is joined on the feature list by a 2.5-inch 230,000 pixel LCD, 15fps high-burst rate in 1.2 megapixel resolution, BrightCapture low light shooting technology, a super macro mode for taking shots as close as 1-cm, and xD-Picture Cards support with 4x AA batteries providing the juice. Available February 2007 for an estimated street price of $500.%Gallery-1342%[Thanks, David]
Olympus M:Robe finally finds its calling: running Linux
While hackers eagerly work on getting Tux onto their Zunes, M:Robe fans can rejoice as their wait is finally over. After cracking the firmware, crafty "Shirour" has managed a great feat in not only getting his media player to run Linux kernel 2.6.15, but also in creating a touchscreen driver for it and putting together a serial interface to make those "wasted job hours" more productive. If you're interested in taking advantage of the fruits of his labor, the modified Linux files are available for download, allowing you to breathe some new life into your favorite (or not so favorite) discontinued music player. Just remember, those of you who opted for the extended warranties, any damages incurred during the course of this hack will undoubtedly void it.[Thanks, Daniel P]
Olympus E-400 DSLR review roundup
Sure, we all heard about how "small and light" this newfangled E-400 was supposed to be, but seeing it in its (relatively speaking) wee-sized glory sure put things in perspective. Olympus downsized its E-500, upped the resolution to match the bevy of competitors, and managed to include "the first anti-dust system" (Supersonic Wave Filter) reviewers at CameraLabs had ever tested "that proved genuinely effective." While we're always skeptical when there's high praise across the board, the E-400 truly seems like a solid offering through and through; its ease of use (in auto and manual modes), pocket-friendlier size, "excellent" image quality, and exceptional versatility seemed to deliver in all the areas that make or break a DSLR. Reviewers did mention that consumers may be immediately turned off by the somewhat higher pricetag, but noted that the "high quality" lens kit that accompanies this model actually offers "excellent value for the money." Moreover, it was nearly unanimous that the E-400 should've landed in place of the E-300 in order to seem "more revolutionary," and now faces an uphill climb in an attempt to dethrone the current kings of DSLR. Overall, however, reviewers couldn't find much to complain about in the results department, and noted that it made for an outstanding option if you're just now thinking about delving into this (admittedly wallet-draining) addiction hobby -- so if Olympus' latest has caught your eye, be sure to hit the read links below for the variety of opinions.Read - CameraLabs (85 out of 100; Highly Recommended)Read - TrustedReviews (9 out of 10) Read - DigicamReview (Highly Recommended)Read - DigitalCameraInfo ("Great, but too late.")
PNY and Olympus team up to release 2GB xD-Picture Card
If you've been holding off on picking up Fujifilm's 2GB xD card in hopes of future competition driving prices down, you're in luck. PNY is teaming up with Olympus to release a 2GB xD-picture card which can house "one thousand digital shots with a camera resolution of eight megapixels." It also touts compatibility with the "exclusive Olympus panorama option," but we're sure they're just stretching for reasons to pick this up over the much more abundant SD and CF alternatives. Regardless, if you're still in need of high-capacity xD storage, you can pick up the PNY xD-Picture Card Type M now for £61.00 ($117).[Via Camborg]
Check out the E-400, K10D and NV7 in their Photokina glory
The peeps over at DigitalCameraInfo.com got their grubby mitts on some digicam hawterness over at Photokina and they've posted up their impressions for y'all to see. In the high end we have the Olympus EVOLT E-400 DSLR (top) with a £700 list price ($1324 US) for its Europe-only launch. Overall, it seems the 10 megapixel camera is a solid offering, with a particularly small form factor, but since you're not exactly going to be slipping this into your jeans pocket, that doesn't really set it apart from the crowd, and neither do the rest of its features. It should work for the more casual users, but DCI isn't really feeling this one for other higher-end uses. As for the Pentax K10D (middle), the DCI folks have pretty much nothing but praise, and are thinking it could work out as a budget alternative to the Nikon D200, and might be a fit for the pro set if the image quality is good enough. With a 10 megapixel CCD and features like shake reduction and dust reduction, all wrapped up in a well-made, weatherproof and easy to use package, the K10D could well be a worthy successor to the K1000, and at 1,000 Euros ($1,269 US), the price isn't too shabby neither. Finally, on the point and shoot end, there's the Samsung NV7 OPS. The $400 cam features an optically stabilized lens, 7.2 megapixel CCD, and an interesting "Smart Touch" interface, which involves buttons along the side of the LCD for intuitive menu navigation. Apparently the interface works great, but the rest of the camera isn't so hot. Performance is pretty clunky, and while DCI is reserving judgement on image quality until they can get the NV7 into the lab, the initial impressions weren't great. The good news is that colors looked accurate, and the image stabilization worked fine.Read - Olympus EVOLT E-400Read - Pentax K10DRead - Samsung NV7 OPS
Olympus woodcam premieres at Photokina
As much as we love shiny new toys, there's something to be said for the elegance of polished wood. At the Photokina exhibition in Germany, Olympus recently wowed everyone with a Japanese cypress encased camera. Olympus issued a press release with a great number of details about the wood, and included photos of how the wood was carved -- but unfortunately neglected to tell us what kind of hardware resides in this hardwood. We're betting that Olympus is holding off on releasing further info until it can develop a way to convert its pristine images into equally stunning Japanese woodblock prints.[Via FarEastGizmos]
Olympus' E-1 followup on display at Photokina
When Olympus unveiled the E-1 DSLR way, way back in 2003 it was the first DSLR designed from art-to-part specifically for digital photography. Now the lucky few attending Photokina will be the first to see the eagerly anticipated E-1 followup when the show kicks off tomorrow. Well, kinda. See, Olympus will be displaying a concept model when the doors swing wide so take these images as a taste of what's to come, 'cause that's all we've got for now. Oh, and be sure to go full screen, 'cause just like Paris, the new Engadget's a moveable feast.[Thanks, oly_man]
Olympus E-400 DSLR announced and previewed
Why helllooo there Olympus E-400. So, you're the world's smallest and lightest 10 megapixel Digital SLR camera huh? Announced today, this new digital shooter shares the looks of its film-based Olympus cousins and brings that fancy Supersonic Wave Filter to keep the CCD sensor dust free, Zuiko Digital lens, 2.5-inch LCD, 3fps continuous shooting, and dual-memory card slots for xD-Picture Card and CompactFlash. Oh, and the E-400 will work any of those FourThirds-compliant lenses you might have lying around including the complete range of Olympus E-System accessories. Let'sGoDigital got their mits on a pre-production unit and came away with a "very good impression" of the "remarkably compact" E-400 which will certainly sway many first timers looking to move from compact formats to DSLR. Scheduled to drop in Europe come November and the US... wha, it's not coming to the US? Oh Olympus, why? A couple of more teaser shots after the break.[Via Digital Camera Review, Thanks Joshua]
Olympus announces Mju 725 sw, Stylus 730, Stylus 740, Stylus 750, and Stylus 1000
Olympus also knocked out five new digital cameras in their Stylus line this morning, all of which are weatherproofed. Click on for images and details of each of them:
The seven megapixel Olympus SP-510UZ
Olympus just dropped a new 7.1 megapixel member of the Ultra Zoom family on us, and this is one shooter that thrives at night. Although it's got a fairly impressive maximum ISO of 1600 and a very impressive 10x optical zoom at full resolution, the real fun comes when you step the SP-510UZ down to 3 megapixels; at that res, you can bump the ISO all the way up to 4000 and employ a special Fine Zoom of 15x -- you know, for late night sporting events and such. Like its 6 megapixel predecessor, the SP-500UZ, this model also sports a 2.5-inch LCD, digital image stabilization, and support for those same damn xD cards that would seem to encourage consumers to turn to other brands. Still, if this sounds like your type of cam, you'll be able to pick one up in September for around $490.[Via Digital Camera Review]
Olympus Stylus 810 reviewed
C|net just layed mits to the 8 megapixel Olympus Stylus 810. In their review of this weatherproof (not waterproof) shooter with image stabilization, c|net calls the 810 a "very good" camera with "solid" image quality. Sure, noise is the "biggest problem" with the 810 -- quite visible at ISO 400 until becoming a "distinct texture" by the time you reach IS0 3200. However, the reviewer still considered the quality "acceptable" when compared to the alternative of dark and blurry shots taken under low lighting conditions. But by now, no one should really expect the small CCDs found in these compact shooters to perform any differently, right? Notably, the camera suffered from an "easily washed-out" LCD when used in sunlight which is potentially crippling at times due to the lack of a glass viewfinder. Still, the $349 cam pulled a 7/10 rating largely due to its hot (for a compact) burst mode capable of 12 shots in about 2.6 seconds (at 3 megapixel resolution) and generally good image quality. Still, if you're looking for an 8 megapixel camera, you can probably do better.[Via Digital Photography Blog]
Olympus m:robe MR-500i firmware cracked
If you're an owner of the late, ill-fated Olympus m:robe 500i, we're pleased to inform you that one rather obsessed fan known only as mrobe.fan has successfully cracked the firmware of your dear late device, so as to, um, re-skin the player. Yeah, that's it. Anyone wanting to add codec support, turn this thing into a portable video player, or basically do something -- anything-- to make into something useful (no offense intended to the four who were really into "remixing" photos and music) will have to continue their silent vigil over the device as the hackers continue to have their way with it. Perhaps some day soon the m:robe will actually live up to its potential, though we're sorry we can't report that being today.[Via m.robe.org, thanks Daniel]
