Olympus Announces Even More Compacts

Half a year after the last major compact revamping, Olympus has new models featuring some of the latest trends in photography, or at least in point and shoot photography.

Let's start with the zoom monster, the SP-560, successor of the first 18x optical zoom camera, the SP-550. Basically it's the same camera, but with some minor tweaks: a jump from 7 to 8 megapixels, face detection technology and Shadow Adjustment Technology.

Other than these, it's the same 18x optical zoom (27-486mm with f/2.8 at the wide angle and f/4.5 at the tele end) with image stabilization and 2.5-inch LCD.

As expected, the Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE). The Shadow Adjustment Technology compensates for difficult lighting situations, increasing the detail in highlights and shadows, to produce more balanced photos;

The SP-560 UZ will be available in October 2007 for around $450, which includes Neck Strap, WIN/Mac USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, four AA Batteries, Manual, Warranty Card and OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM.

Olympus has also updated the Stylus series with the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200. These features include Face Detection Technology, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Image Stabilization, large HyperCrystalTM LCD screens and Preset Shooting Modes. Note that only the Stylus 830 has the true mechanical Sensor-Shift Stabilization, the rest only benefiting from the "marketing image stabilization", called ISO boosting.

The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature light-weight metal bodies with rubber gaskets throughout the interior to protect them from the elements.

The Stylus 1200 offers a 12-megapixel image sensor (sometimes it's just too much resolution) while the Stylus 820 and Stylus 830 use an 8-megapixel solution.

In terms of optical zoom, the Stylus 820 and Stylus 830 feature a 5x optical zoom lens (36mm - 180mm, F3.3 - F5.0 equivalent in 35mm photography) and the Stylus 1200 stops at 3x (35mm - 105mm, F2.8 equivalent in 35mm photography).

The Stylus 820 will be available in September 2007 for $250 and the Stylus 830 and 1200 for $330 and $350, respectively.

The low-budget spectrum of the new compact lineup consists of the FE-300, FE-290 and FE-280. The FE-300 provides a 12-megapixel image sensor, but does not incorporate a 3-inch LCD like the FE-290. Instead it uses a 2.5-inch unit.

The FE-300 and FE-280 feature a Perfect Shot Preview mode, which enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot.

The FE-280, FE-290 and FE-300 will be available in August 2007 for $200, $250 and $300, respectively. Each will include a LI-42B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery and Charger, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Manual, CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Master 2 Software and Warranty Card.

We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .