Last Updated on 01/07/2013 by Chris Gampat
Olympus has announced six new point and shoots to it’s collection at CES, and the outdoorsy action shooters should perk their ears as it seems Olympus is outing a number of upgrades to their Tough camera lineup, making them able to withstand just about all the natural elements. With waterproofing, shock proofing, dust proofing, and freeze proofing on the list, these point and shoots seem like the ultimate challenger to mother nature.
If you’re not the type to dive into the oceans and climb the highest mountains to get your shot, Olympus has your back too. They’ve packed features such as Panorama modes, High-Speed Sequential Shooting which is similar to a DSLR’s continuous burst, and Hand-Held Starlight that takes multiple images and realigns them to form a single clean and crisp photo. Check out everything CES had to offer after the break.
Starting off with the TG-2, it is a 12MP backside illuminated CMOS shooter capable of 1080p HD video at up to 50 ft of water. Olympus is also expanding the number of compatible accessories and lenses for the TG-2. Some other interesting capabilities are the various dial modes such as Low Light mode, Super Sport mode, and a brand new Super Macro mode. Super Macro mode claims to be able to zoom in at microscopic levels without deteriorating image quality. This works with the 4x optical zoom combined with a 8x super resolution zoom. The TG-2 will cost you a substantial $379.99 retail.
Next we have the TG-830 that is designed for the all-around adventurer with 33ft of waterproofing, 6.6ft of shock proofing, freeze proof, dust proof, and it’ll hold its own against 220lbs of weight. Hidden within this casing is a 5x, 10x zoom lens and a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor with a TruePic VI processor capable of 1080p HD video. Something users have been wanting with a camera designed for the outdoors is a GPS feature, which Olympus has finally provided. The shooter now comes with a GPS and e.Compass to guide you on your trip. The TG-830 will set you back $279.99 come release.
If you’re not willing to go all out on the TG-830, then Olympus gives you a more economical option of $199.99 for the TG-630. With similar weatherproofing and specs as it’s bigger brother, this cheaper version won’t come with GPS or e.Compass but it will have a Magic Art filter, a beauty makeup filter, and a frontal metal plate to increase durability.
Moving away from the Tough lineup is the SH-50MR that focuses on excellent image quality. This 16MP camera is equipped with a BSI CMOS sensor and TruePic VI Image processor that backs up a compact but long 24x, 48x zoom lens. 1080p HD video is there too. Something new and flashy is the 3″ Touch LCD for majority of your controls. There are some extra ease of use features such as HDR backlight adjustment and High Speed Sequential Shooting, which is basically continuous burst and Hand-held Starlight mode. The SH-50MR will have a sub $300 price tag on the day of release.
Here we have the SZ-16 equipped with a 14MP CMOS sensor capable of 24x and 48x zoom on a 25mm wide-angle lens. TruePic VI Image processor powers this camera and pumps out 1080p HD video. This shooter is equipped with similar features as the SH-50MR including HDR backlight adjustment, High Speed Sequential shooting, and Hand-Held Starlight. The SZ-16 will be on sale for $229.99.
Lastly on Olympus’ revealing list is the SZ-15 which is a camera more suited for the very beginners, if that. Stuffed with a 16MP CMOS sensor with a 25mm wide angle lens capable of 24x optical zoom all powered by a TruePic III+ processor, the SZ-15 lacks the features all of its other siblings have except the artsy Magic Art filters and Beauty Mode functions. It will still cost a pretty $199.99 once it is released.
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