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Olympus: New shock-proof, water-proof digicam
By Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 00:29 EST)

One of three Stylus digital camera announcements today, the Olympus Stylus 720 SW sits in the middle of the group price-wise, but offers something its siblings don't - a shock-absorbing design rated to the MIL-STD-810F standard.

As well as the shock-absorption, the Stylus 720 SW is designed with weather-proof sealing that make the camera waterproof to the JIS Level 8 standard. The combination of the weather and shock proofing should make this quite an attractive option for outdoor types. Other features of the camera, which will cost $399.99 when it ships this March, include a 7.1 megapixel CCD imager, 2.5" LCD display, 3x optical zoom lens, xD-Picture card and 19.1MB built-in storage, as well as USB and video connectivity.

Olympus Stylus 720 SW
General
Camera Type Compact
Manufacturer Olympus
Model Number 720 SW
Dimensions 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8"
91.0 x 58.7 x 19.8mm
Weight 149.0 g
5.2 oz
Planned Price $399.99
Planned Availability Mar 2006
Image Capture
Sensor Type 1/2.33" CCD
7.40 megapixels (total)
7.10 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio 4:3
Image Dimensions 3072 x 2304 (7.1 megapixels)
2560 x 1920 (4.9 megapixels)
2304 x 1728 (4.0 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)
1280 x 960 (1.2 megapixels)
1024 x 768 (0.8 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder No
LCD 2.5", 115,000 pixels
Playback Zoom 10.0x max
Lens
Lens Type Olympus Lens
3x optical zoom
Image Stabilization No
Focal Length 6.7 - 20.1mm (actual)
38 - 114mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range f/3.5 (wide) / f/5.0
Focusing System CCD Contrast Detection
Focusing Range Normal: 20" - infinity (50 cm - infinity)
Macro: 2.9" - infinity (7.0 cm - infinity)
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Shutter Speed 4 - 1/1000 second
Metering Modes Digital ESP multi-pattern, Spot Metering
Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance Image Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten, Fluorescent1, Fluorescent2, Fluorescent3
Internal Flash Modes: Auto, red-eye reduction, fill, off
Range: Wide: 12.5ft (3.8m), Tele: 8.5ft (2.6m)
Creative
Scene Modes Portrait, Landscape, Landscape Portrait, Night Scene, Night & Portrait, Sport, Indoor, Candle, Self-Portrait, Available Light Portrait, Sunset, Fireworks, Museum, Cuisine, Behind Glass, Documents, Auction, Shoot & Select1 & 2, Beach & Snow, UnderWater Wide1 & 2, UnderWater Macro, UnderWater Snapshot
Digital Zoom 5x
Self Timer Yes, 12 seconds
Time Lapse No
Movie Format 640x480 and 160x120
Max. frame-rate: 15 frames per second
Storage
Recording Medium xD Picture Card, Built-in
File System Complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File Format JPEG (Exif 2.2)
Connectivity
Video Yes
Computer USB 2.0 Full (LOW) Speed
Other DC In
Power
Battery Type Lithium Ion rechargeable
Battery Form Factor Proprietary Li-40B / Li-42B
Product Bundle
Flash Memory 19.1MB built-in memory
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant Yes
PictBridge Compliant Yes
Remote Control No
More Photos
 

Original Source Press Release:

OLYMPUS INTRODUCES RUGGED VERSATILITY WITH STYLE: THE REVOLUTIONARY STYLUS 720 SW DIGITAL CAMERA

Shock Proof, Waterproof Body Design Combines with Bright Capture Technology to Deliver a Breakthrough in Digital Photography

Melville, New York, January 26, 2006 – With the new Stylus 720 SW, Olympus Imaging Inc. unveils its latest evolution in the Stylus series – a digital camera that can withstand a 5-foot drop, shoot under water down to 10 feet, and capture phenomenal photos in any situation. The Stylus 720 SW combines light, durable body construction and shock-absorbing materials throughout the interior with the sealant technology used in Olympus underwater housings. The fully-featured, compact Stylus 720 SW offers 7.1 megapixels, 3x optical Olympus Zoom Lens, 2.5” LCD, Bright Capture Technology, Digital Image Stabilization Mode and much more.

“The shock-proof, waterproof, dust proof design of the Stylus 720 SW sets a new standard in digital camera performance and versatility,” said Michael Barnett, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Powerful, durable, yet slim enough to fit in your pocket, the Stylus 720 SW is designed for capturing amazing images, anytime, anywhere.”

The rugged Stylus 720SW is packed with a wealth of premium features such a large 2.5” LCD and Olympus’ exclusive Bright Capture Technology providing dramatically improved shooting in low-light conditions – indoor, sunset, night time, and underwater. The combination of Olympus’ TruePic TURBO Image Processor and the 7.1-megapixel image sensor captures crisp, high-quality images fast. And the 28 shooting modes – including Digital Image Stabilization Mode – offer maximum versatility for shooting in most any situation.

Designed to Withstand Drops Up To 5 Feet
Built with durable materials and shock-absorption technology that minimizes the impact delivered to the lens and circuitry, the Stylus 720 SW delivers superior durability in a premium point-and-shoot digital camera.

Waterproof to 10 Feet
By combining a lightweight, metal, all-weather exterior with rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal the camera’s interior, Olympus delivers a slim body design that performs as well under water as it does on land. The camera can shoot under water to depths up to 10 feet. The large 2.5-inch LCD, Bright Capture Technology, and four underwater scene modes make it the perfect camera for the pool, beach or snorkeling. Want to dive deeper? The PT-033 underwater housing, designed specially for the Stylus 720 SW, enables the camera to shoot at depths up to 130 feet.

Stylish, Compact Design
Like all Stylus series digital cameras, the 720 SW is defined by high performance, durability and style. In addition to the shock proof, waterproof construction, the Stylus 720 SW features the metal body and clean, smooth lines that make it the ideal pocket camera. At a thickness of less than one inch – 3.6" (W) x 2.3" (H) x 0.78" (D) – the camera easily slips into a pocket, handbag or backpack.

Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
Low-light photography has never been easier thanks to Olympus’ revolutionary Bright Capture Technology. Shooting in low light is easy with a brightened preview on the LCD; and with specific scene modes for high sensitivity settings (up to ISO 2500) and rapid auto-focus, even fast-action photos can be captured under low levels of available light.

Digital Image Stabilization Mode
The Stylus 720 SW also features Digital Image Stabilization Mode for capturing crisp, clear pictures - free from the blur sometimes caused by camera shake or moving subjects - with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speed.

Large 2.5-Inch LCD
With a bright 2.5-inch LCD, the Stylus 720 SW easily doubles as a portable digital photo album. The larger LCD makes it easier to see your images clearly both when shooting and sharing photos with friends without having to download to a computer.

7.1-Megapixel Image Sensor for Superior Image Quality
The 7.1-megapixel CCD image sensor inside the Stylus 720 SW delivers high-quality images that are consistently sharp and vivid even in large-format prints – up to poster sizes as large as 16 x 20 inches.

High Quality Olympus Lens Elements
Olympus lenses are known worldwide for producing sharp, vibrant image quality. This is achieved through a number of key technologies, such as Olympus ED and high-refractive lens elements, designed specifically for digital cameras. The lens provides the equivalent of 38 to 114mm focal length in 35mm photography, with 15x combined total zoom (3x optical and 5x digital) to bring the action closer, and a Super Macro Mode that captures details as nuanced as the iridescent petals of a flower, from as close as 2.8 inches.

TruePic TURBO™ for High-Speed Response
Olympus’ exclusive TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor enhances image quality and delivers faster overall processing speeds for rapid startup, shutter release and playback. TruePic TURBOTM enables the Stylus 720 SW to capture information from all 7.1 million pixels with pixel “micro-smoothing” that delivers clearer and more color-accurate photos. The fast startup of less than one second and nearly instant shutter release time ensures a high-speed response so your camera is always ready to take great pictures.

28 Selectable Shooting Modes
With 25 pre-programmed scene modes, such as Beach & Snow, Available Light Portrait, Sunset, and Under Water Snapshot, the Stylus 720 SW makes it easy to capture beautiful images in a variety of lighting and shooting situations. And with its QuickTime® Movie Mode, the Stylus 720 SW can also record VGA-quality videos with sound, limited only by the size of the internal memory or xD-Picture Card™ in the camera.

PictBridge Enabled – No Computer Necessary!
The power of PictBridge technology enables your photos to be printed directly from the Stylus 720 SW to any PictBridge-enabled printer without using a computer. And the one-touch “Print" button makes printing a single-step process. Printing and sharing images has never been easier.

In-camera Editing
With in-camera editing features such as red-eye fix, resizing, adding frames or text, and color brightness or saturation adjustments, users can edit photos anywhere with ease – touch up or embellish your photos without your computer.

Easy USB Auto-Connect
Connecting the Stylus 720 SW to a computer is easy with the USB Auto-Connect feature, which connects directly via USB 2.0 cable and requires no software.

OLYMPUS Master™ Software
OLYMPUS Master™ software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are searchable by date or keyword in the Calendar View. And with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away.

Availability
The Stylus 720 SW will be available in March 2006. It includes: a wrist strap, camera WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, Li-42B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, quick start guide, basic instruction manual, warranty card, (2) CD-ROM’s with OLYMPUS Master software and advanced manual.

U.S. Pricing
Stylus 720 SW Estimated Street Price: $399.99 (U.S.)

ABOUT OLYMPUS IMAGING AMERICA INC.
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering award-winning products for consumer and professional markets.

Olympus Imaging America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhance people’s lives every day. These include:

  • Digital and film cameras
  • Professional SLR Imaging Systems
  • Digital and Microcassette recorders
  • Digital Music Players
  • Personal Photo Printers
  • Digital Print Kiosks
  • Digital Video Projectors
  • Digital Media
  • Binoculars

Olympus Imaging America Inc. is responsible for sales in United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. For more information, visit: www.olympusamerica.com.

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