14 DAY TRIAL // As you've been able to see for yourselves over the past couple of weeks, Olympus brought plenty of cool new surprises at CES 2011, the latest we've decided to tackle being the SP-610UZ, a lightweight, 22x wide-angle ultra-zoom camera with HD Video capability.
The new super-zoomer leverages the optical features provided by the f2.8 (Wide) / f5.6 (Tele) wide-angle lens, that enables the equivalent of a 28-616mm focal length, a performance level that's actually comparable to that of a 500mm equivalent telephoto lens for Digital Single lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras.
Furthermore, the device also sports a 3.0-inch LCD monitor, 14-megapixel sensor and TruePic III+ Image Processor for fast in-camera image processing.
Plus, given the popularity of the whole 3D trend, the SP-610UZ also offers users a 3D Photo Mode, letting them create photos with an illusion of depth.
Additional features worth mentioning include the Eye-Fi Card Compatibility, In-Camera Panorama, AF Tracking, as well as HD Movie & HDMI Control, meaning that the 720p HD video recorded on the camera is easily transferred at broadcast-quality on an HDTV.
"The new SP-610UZ combines the zoom power that has made Olympus ultra-zooms famous with fully automatic controls ideal for amateur photographers looking to capture it all at the touch of a button and in-camera Magic Filters for artistic control in a portable body" says Jennifer Schmell, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc.
"The 22x wide-angle optical zoom on the SP-610UZ is an upgrade to the SP-600UZ, which provided a 15x wide-angle zoom. We're continuing to push the boundaries of what camera optics and software can do for the consumer," Mrs. Schmell added.
The SP-610UZ will be available in February 2011 and will have an estimated retail price point of around $229.99 (U.S.), which is actually not that bad, given the feature roster it provides.
