Digital Trends
Olympus has taken the wraps off five new consumer-oriented digital camera models today, including the semi-rugged 1050SW and the new SP565 UZ with a 20× zoom. The company has also unveiled a new green packaging initiative, in which it has cut out 70 to 80 percent of the plastic used to package its audio products and xD picture cards.
Olympus has joined the ranks of digital camera manufacturers who avoid making big announcements at January’s Consumer Electronics Show, opting instead to introduce new models in the press vacuum after CES and before the PMA (Photo Marketing Association) show in March. And there’s nothing timid about Olympus’s announcements: seven new cameras targeting a broad range of the photography market.
Olympus pulled out all the stops today, announcing a gaggle of new digital camera models—and we aren’t even getting started on the four new VN-series voice recorders the company also unleashed. On the basis of the sheer number of products it offers, Olympus is making a big bid for shelf space as the ever-tingly holiday buying season approaches.
On to the cameras:
The Stylus Verve S combines a 5.0-megapixel CCD image sensor with Olympus’ exclusive image processor, TruePic TURBO, which significantly enhances image quality and delivers faster overall processing speeds for rapid startup, shutter release and playback. TruePic TURBO uses pixel “micro-smoothing” to deliver clearer, more color-accurate photos, even at lower resolutions. The result is high quality prints that can be cropped and printed to 11 x 14 inches and larger. And with a fast startup of less than one second and nearly instant shutter release time, you’re always ready to take great pictures.
From the press release:
Featuring an impressive 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD that is as bright as it is big, 5.0-megapixels of image resolution, and a compact, durable, all-weather body, the Stylus 500 demonstrates that power and elegance can co-exist in a stylish package that delivers brilliant images.
“At Olympus we believe that great design is fundamental to the functionality of our cameras,” said Tomoko Matsunaga, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “When you merge superior performance with exceptional style, the result is an elegant looking camera that performs at the top of its class. With the introduction of the Stylus 500, Olympus has added advanced features and power to the lineup, such as a large, high quality LCD, 23 shooting modes and Album functionality.”
Quote from the review at Anandtech:
“Olympus gives new meaning to the word “fashionable” with the Stylus Verve. It is sleek, stylish, and comes in a variety of colors. Although it is a point-and-shoot camera by definition, it also offers extra features such as special image effects and unlimited video recording. The body is water-resistant and ergonomically designed for easy handling and portability. However, in our camera reviews, we place a strong emphasis on performance. Unfortunately for the Stylus Verve, it is not going to turn too many heads with its performance results. “
Epson is extending its DURABrite ink product lineup with the new Stylus CX6600 all-in-one device. This general purpose all-in-one has a suggested retail price of $179 (after a $20 rebate), one-touch photo restoration and the ability to print images from your digital memory card without using a PC. The Stylus CX6600 can print up to 22 ppm, copy up to 16 cpm without a PC, and scan documents and photographs at up to 1200 x 2400 dpi with 48-bit color depth.
Quote from the review:
“Epson’s Stylus CX6600 is a fantastic value all-in-one printer that should satisfy all but the most demanding digital photographers or business users. Regular home users, or even small businesses, should welcome the printer’s performance, speed and robustness, but it’s let down by an unintuitive on-screen menu and the lack of a built-in fax or NIC. Otherwise, the Stylus CX6600 would have been given our Editors’ Choice Award. If you can handle these shortcomings, the Stylus CX6600 represents excellent value for money.”
From Epson’s press release:
Epson America, Inc. is adding two new all-purpose printers to its award-winning product line that deliver fast print speeds and incredible print quality at affordable prices. Replacing the award-winning EPSON Stylus C64 and C84, the EPSON Stylus(R) C66 and C86 produce text, documents and beautiful frame-ready borderless photographs, and are available for estimated street prices of $69 and $99, respectively.
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