Just when we though the era of the point-and-shoot was over, new models come trickling in. And it seems that when Olympus introduced the Stylus 1 a while back, a new era of the point-and-shoot began. This is the era of the specialized point-and-shoot that comes with a clever twist, something that makes each model unique and stand out from the crowd. And above all, that makes it a camera you’d actually consider to buy for a change.
The latest point-and-shoot models from Olympus are the rugged TOUGH TG3 and the superzoom model SH-1, and both are trying to win your heart with unique features. Read on past the break to find out if one of them is for you.
Olympus Stylus TOUGH TG-3
The TOUGH TG-3 continues Olympus’ series of rugged cameras. It is waterproof down to 50 ft (15 m), Crushproof up to 220 lbf (100 kgf), shockproof up to 7 ft (2.1 m) and freezeproof down to 14° F (-10° C.) But instead of trying to sell just by being a rugged camera, the TG-3 comes with a number of clever features. Most notably, the TG-3 has an unusually fast lens for an outdoor camera, which starts at f2 at the wide-angle end.
It also sports a macro mode with automated focus stacking, which should make it super easy to capture macro shots that are in focus throughout. But on top of that the camera can focus as close as 1 cm (0.4 in) with a magnification of up to 44.5x in what is called the ‘Microscopic Mode.’ Ever wanted to get a real close look at a grain of dust? Now you can.
In order to properly light your macro shots, the TG-3 can be fitted with a ring light guide that snaps onto the lens and channels the light of the camera’s built-in LED light. This way you can get really close to your subject, and achieve proper macro images even when the surrounding light is not sufficient. Should you need more wide-angle or more telephoto, the TG-3 can be fitted with corresponding converters. And finally, it comes with a built-in compass on top of the GPS module, plus an altimeter, so you never lose track of where you are.
Tech Specs
- 16 MP 1/2.3″ BSI CMOS sensor
- ISO 100-6,400
- TruePic VII image processor
- 25-100mm (equivalent) f2-4.9 zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3″, 460k dot rear display
- 5 fps continuous shooting (up to 60 fps at reduced resolution)
- 1080/60p Full-HD video recording (high-speed 240 fps video at reduced resolution)
- Connectivity: WiFi, GPS
- Size (W x H x D): 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.2 in (11.2 x 6.6 x 3.1 cm)
- Weight: 8.7 oz (247 g)
The Olympus Stylus TOUGH TG-3 will be available in June in black and red at an MSRP of US-$ 349.99.
Olympus Stylus SH-1
Haven’t I seen this camera before? That’s what you’ll probably think of the Olympus Stylus SH-1, which looks a bit like a PEN E-P5 that stayed in the tumble dryer too long. And indeed the SH-1 was styled to look similar to the E-P5, just like the Stylus 1 was designed to resemble the OM-D E-M5. But this camera is not only beautiful to look at, it’s also got some great specs going for it.
Its super compact 25-600mm equivalent 24x zoom lens is supported by a 5-axis lens stabilizer like the one we already know from the Olympus OM-D series. And the great thing is that the sophisticated stabilization system is available even for movies, so you’ll be able to record videos that look like they were taken with a steady shot system. Besides 1080/60p Full-HD video, the Stylus SH-1 has a 240 fps high-speed video mode at reduced resolution, as well as a built-in time-lapse movie mode.
Tech Specs
- 16 MP 1/2.3″ BSI CMOS sensor
- ISO 125-6,400
- TruePic VII image processor
- 25-600mm (equivalent) f3-6.9 zoom lens
- 5-axis image stabilization
- 3″ 460k dot rear display
- 11.5 fps continuous shooting (up to 60 fps at reduced resolution)
- Interval shooting mode with 1-99 frames at 10 sec. to 60 min. intervals
- 1080/60p Full-HD video recording (high-speed 240 fps video at reduced resolution)
- Connectivity: WiFi
- Size: (W x H x D): 4.3 x 2.5 x 1.7 in (10.9 x 6.3 x 4.2 cm)
- Weight: 9.5 oz (271 g)
The Olympus Stylus SH-1 will be available in April in black, silver and white at an MSRP of US-$ 399.99.
