Olympus Unveils Its Latest Camera Offering, the Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is the latest product that Olympus unveiled recently that is inspired by the OM lineup of SLR cameras.

This recently introduced camera brings some features that will likely appeal to both enthusiasts and professionals although were not previously available in the Micro Four Thirds system. These features that are included on the Olympus OM-D E-M5 include the high-res electronic viewfinder, advanced image stabilization and weather sealing.

The three-inch display of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 is an OLED touch screen that offers a rapid refresh rate while its viewing angle is wider compared to an LCD. The device also features a 16MP CMOS sensor that offers a maximum ISO setting of 25600 that is useful for lowlight photography.

The electronic viewfinder is integrated into the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and has a resolution of 1.44MP, 1.15x magnification and an 18mm eye point.

The body of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 is made of magnesium alloy, which is similar to the Olympus E-5

The autofocus system of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 is the same as the one found on the Olympus PEN E-P3 although the sensor readout was increased to around 240fps. Continuous autofocus will offer 4.2 fps while non-changing focus offers a shooting capability of 9 fps.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 also offers QuickTime video recording while the processor dealt with some issues experienced by the Olympus Pen cameras.

Aside from the Olympus OM-D E-M5, reports have also revealed that a weather-sealed lens will be offered by Olympus, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm EZ lens. Although the lens can be purchased individually, it can also be acquired as the kit lens for the Olympus digital camera.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is anticipated to be available for sale by April and will come in silver or blue. The price tag for the body is at around $1,000 while the camera together with the M.Zuiko Digital ED lens will be available at around$1,300.

Latest Compact Super-zoom Camera - the SX30 IS

Guess what! Canon has recently released its latest compact super-zoom camera - the SX30 IS. This 24 mm ultra wide angle camera has an optical zoom of up to 35x or an equivalent of up to 840mm. Imagine taking an action-shot of the slam by your favorite hoops superstar . . .  from the other end of the court. Or capturing the save by your favorite football team's goalkeeper . . . from the other end of the pitch.The Canon SX30 IS is a fitting follow-up to the PowerShot SX20 IS. This latest high performance camera blends the advanced optics that Canon is known for with a myriad of imaging technologies, allowing even greenhorn photo enthusiasts to capture high quality images. Aside from the huge optical zoom and wide angle lens, the other features of this latest offering by Canon include:

• 14.1 megapixel sensor
• Digic 4 processor
• Optical Image Stabilizer (4.5 stop), USM, UCM
• 720p HD movie recording
• 2.7 inch LCD screen
• Zoom Framing Assist function

This is one point and shoot camera that really packs a punch. With this out in the market, Canon has now raised the ante in the compact camera market. The next question will be - when will the other digital camera companies come up with their own version of Canon's latest compact super-zoom camera?

Sources: engadget and Canon
Images taken from Canon

Another Superzoom Camera from Panasonic

I have always been partial to bridge cameras, especially the ultra and superzoom models. And when Panasonic released another superzoom camera, it immediately piqued my interest. Ever since I purchased my trusty old Olympus C-760, I would immediately search the net each time a new bridge camera would come out into the market to check out its specs. One of the latest bridge cameras from Panasonic is a 14.1 megapixel beauty with a ultra-wide angle and powerful optical zoom lens. Aside from the latest LEICA DC VARIO-ELMART lens, which boosts its optical zoom from 25 mm all the way to 600 mm, the DMC-FZ100 also boasts of having a full HD movie recording capability.

The FZ100 has a 14.1 MOS sensor that allows it to record high quality 1980x1080 full HD movies. The same high speed sensor also allows it to to have one of the fastest burst shooting in the industry at an 11 fps on a 14.1 megapixel resolution using its mechanical shutter and up to 60 fps using it 3.5 megapixel recording mode.

Image blurs due to the movement of the subject or handshake has also become a thing of the past with the brilliant brightness of the lens and the Power Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S). This is especially useful if you are into sports photography or simply want to shoot moving objects.  Its Face Recognition function also allows it to remember faces allowing it to make the necessary AF/AE adjustments when taking pictures of people.

Although I would focus more on the optical zoom and image quality of bridge cameras, there are a lot more that this camera has to offer such as the Venus Engine FHD, which allows it to have a rapid response time allowing it to record a number of consecutive high resolution shots and full HD movie recording, an Intelligent Scene Selector, which allows it to automatically adjust the modes according to the shooting situation, an Intelligent Exposure function that helps it avoid overexposing or underexposing the image and an efficient battery system which allows it to take 410 shots for a single charge. The kit also comes in with a bundled software, the PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.2 HD Edition that can be installed on your PC.

All of these features are packed in a camera that is priced much lesser than a full-blown Digital SLR camera. This is definitely on bridge camera I would not mind putting on my wish list.

Source: Panasonic

Olympus Superzoom Digital Camera

Early this month, the latest Olympus superzoom digital camera was unveiled in Hamburg. The Olympus SP-800 UZ takes the DSLR-like or bridge cameras to the next level. According to wikipedia.org:

Bridge cameras are cameras which fill the niche between the single-lens reflex cameras (SLRs) and the Point-and-shoot camera. They are often comparable in size and weight to the smallest DSLRs, but almost all digital bridge cameras lack an optical viewfinder system (film bridges generally had a lighter version of a reflex finder).

In other words, these are the cameras that basically have the same function as DSLRs but at a much cheaper price as well as without the bulkiness. I have been quite fascinated by bridge cameras ever since I got my trusty old Olympus C-760 compact a couple of years ago. This latest Olympus superzoom digital camera will combined the power of the DSLR without its bulkiness and its need for additional lenses. The newest Olympus bridge camera is a 14 megapixel monster that has a 30x 'ultra-telephoto' lens or is equivalent to an 800 mm lens. With this amount of lens power, you can probably take a picture of a fly a couple of hundred meters away.

It also has a 2GB internal memory as well as the capability to shoot HD movies. Its built in Dual Image Stabilisation technology allows you to take pictures with a certain amount of guaranteed clarity. You will be able to capture the action with its high speed shooting mode of 10 fps.

This bridge camera not only bridges the gap between the DSLRs and the compacts, it also bridges the gap between taking and sharing your pictures. The new Photo Surfing tool will allow you to tag the pictures of the people, places and events that you took. You can also surf through the pictures in high definition by linking the camera with HDMI compatible HDTVs.

The camera also has the following features that you will learn to appreciate once you start using the camera:

• 3” LCD with 16:9 wide format (230,000 dots)
• Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
• USB charging

The Olympus superzoom digital camera or Olympus SP-800 UZ is reportedly going to be available next month for a an estimated retail price of £369.99.