Olympus announced new cameras on Wednesday in its Stylus, FE and SP lines that will be available in September. All of the cameras include scene modes--camera presets that can be selected for optimum shooting, depending on lighting, motion and other factors surrounding each shot.
The Stylus 730 (with a list price of $399.99) has a 7.1-megapixel CCD (charge coupled device, or image sensor), and a 3x optical zoom. The relatively high resolution of the CCD means that pictures will remain sharp when blown up to a 16-by-20-inch poster-size print.
The Olympus Stylus 730 also has a 3-inch LCD screen, which is notably larger than the 2.5-inch screen typically found on many compact cameras.
Another new releases in the Stylus line, the 750, has a virtually identical metal body to that of the 740. They both have rubber gaskets to make them less susceptible to damage from dust and water.
Olympus is billing them as "all weather" cameras designed for rugged use. They both have a 7.1-megapixel CCD, a 5x optical zoom and a rechargeable lithium battery. Housing cases for underwater shooting are being offered on both models for $249.99.
The only major difference between the Stylus 750 (priced at $399.99) and the Stylus 740 ($349.99) is in the cameras' image stabilization features.
While the Stylus 740, shown here, has image stabilization that adjusts ISO (sensor sensitivity) and shutter speed to avoid blur, the Stylus 750 has something called CCD-shift image stabilization. This feature uses special sensors to record the camera's movement and adjust the light sensor in the CCD.
The Stylus 1000 ($399.99) has a 10-megapixel CCD good for sharp large-print photos. Like other models in the line, it has an all-weather body and digital image stabilization. However, the Stylus 1000 also has a digital image stabilization edit feature that enables photographers to fix a blurry image after the picture is taken.
All of the new models in the Olympus FE series have a 6-megapixel CCD, a digital image stabilization mode to prevent blurring caused by camera shake, and a 2.5-inch LCD screen.
The FE-170, shown here, and FE-180 are identical in body style but have slightly different features. The FE-170, for example, does not have a movie mode, while the FE-180 does. The FE-170 takes an AA alkaline battery and is set to retail for about $149.99.
The Olympus FE-180, meanwhile, uses a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery that will last up to 500 shots, according to Olympus. The FE-180 will retail for $179.99.
The Stylus FE-170 also accommodates an optional water-resistant case that enables photographers to shoot underwater at depths of 10 feet or less.
At only 0.7 inches thick, the Olympus FE-190 ($199.99) is even slimmer than the 170 and 180 models.
The Olympus FE-190, while very compact, is similar to other Olympus FE models with its 6-megapixel CCD, 2.5-inch screen size and familiar back design and button arrangement. It operates on a lithium ion rechargeable battery.
The Olympus FE-200 ($249.99) offers the same screen size, CCD sensor and image stabilization features as those found in the rest of the FE line, but it also includes a 5x wide optical zoom.
The Olympus SP-510 Ultra Zoom ($329.99) has a 7.1-megapixel CCD and a 2.5-inch screen. It also includes a 10x optical zoom lens. The lens used for the zoom offers "edge to edge" sharpness, according to Olympus.
The SP-510 UZ offers both preset scene modes and full manual controls. The camera takes four AA alkaline batteries that get about 630 shots, according to Olympus.