Go to:
Previous Item
Current News
Next Item

Olympus' Stylus Tough-3000 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Olympus unveils Stylus Tough-3000
By
(Thursday, January 7, 2010 - 23:05 EST)

Rounding out the company's CES show announcements, Olympus has unveiled its shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, shakeproof Stylus Tough-3000 digital camera.

Able to survive a drop from 5 feet, to capture photos at up to 10 feet underwater, and even to be used in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit / -10 degrees Celsius, the Olympus Stylus-Tough 3000 offers a twelve megapixel image sensor and an Olympus-branded 3.6x optical zoom lens with a useful 28mm wide-angle. The Olympus 3000 provides a 2.7-inch LCD display on which to frame and review images, and includes true mechanical image stabilization. ISO sensitivity ranges from a low of ISO 64 to a maximum of ISO 1,600 equivalent.

The Olympus Stylus 3000 is the first in the Tough series camera to offer HD movie capture (720p), as well as an HDMI output to view images and movies on your HDTV (cable not included). The Stylus Tough-3000 draws power from a rechargeable LI-42B lithium-ion battery, with a CIPA rating of 160 shots per charge. Images are stored in the Stylus 3000's uncommonly generous 632MB of available internal memory, as well as on SD/SDHC memory cards. Images and videos can be transferred to a PC over the Tough 3000's USB 2.0 High-Speed connection.

The Olympus Tough-3000 will be available in the USA from February 2010 with pricing of about US$230. For more details, read our Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 preview.

Olympus Stylus Tough-3000
Olympus' Stylus Tough-3000 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera TypeCompact
ManufacturerOlympus
Model NumberNorth America: Tough-3000
International: mju Tough-8000
Dimensions3.8 x 2.6 x 0.9 in.
(96 x 65 x 23 mm)
Weight4.4 oz
(125 g)
Planned Price$230
Planned AvailabilityFebruary 2010
Image Capture
Sensor TypeCCD
1/2.3" (approx. 0.43 in. diagonal)
12.00 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio4:3, 16:9
Image Dimensions3968 x 2976 (11.8 megapixels)
2560 x 1920 (4.9 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)
1280 x 960 (1.2 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
3968 x 2232 (8.9 megapixels)
Image Preview / Review
ViewfinderNo
LCD2.7 in. diagonal
230,000 dots (approx. 77,000 pixels)
Playback Zoom10.0x max
Lens
Lens TypeOlympus lens, 10 Lenses in 8 Groups, 2 Aspherical Lenses, 1 ED Lenses
3.6x optical zoom
Focal Length5.0 - 18.2mm (actual)
28 - 102mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Rangef/3.5 (wide) / f/5.1 (tele) - ???
Focusing SystemCCD contrast detection; iESP Auto, Spot AF, Face Detection AF, AF Tracking
Focusing RangeNormal: 20" - infinity (50 cm - infinity)
Macro: 0.8" - 20" (2 cm - 50 cm)
Exposure
ISO SensitivityAuto, High Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Shutter Speed4 - 1/2000 second
Exposure ModesProgram
Metering ModesDigital ESP Metering, Spot Metering, Face Detection AE (when Face Detection AF is selected)
Exposure Compensation+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White BalanceImage Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3
Internal FlashModes: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill-In, Off
Range: Wide: 0.33ft (0.1m) � 13.1ft (4.0m) at ISO 800 Tele: 1.0ft (0.3m) � 8.9ft (2.7m) at ISO 800
Creative
Scene ModesIntelligent Auto, Panorama, Beauty Mode, Magic Filter, Scene Modes (1. PORTRAIT, 2. LANDSCAPE, 3. NIGHT SCENE. 4. NIGHT+PORTRAIT, 5. SPORT, 6. INDOOR, 7. CANDLE, 8. SELF PORTRAIT, 9. SUNSET, 10. FIREWORKS, 11. CUISINE, 12. DOCUMENTS, 13. BEACH & SNOW, 14. UNDERWATER SNAPSHOT, 15. SNOW)
Digital ZoomUp to 5x
Self TimerYes, 12 or 2 seconds
Movie FormatMPEG-4 with audio
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC including SDHC, Built-in
File FormatJPEG
Connectivity
VideoHigh definition: Yes (HDMI)
Standard definition: Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable
ComputerUSB 2.0 High Speed
OtherMulti-Terminal (USB Connector, Audio/Video Output)
Power
Battery TypeLithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Form FactorProprietary LI-42B
Product Bundle
SoftwareOLYMPUS [ib] Software
Battery / Charger1 x Proprietary LI-42B Lithium-ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory632.0MB Internal
Other
Internal MicrophoneYes
Internal SpeakerYes
Tripod MountYes
NotesSensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization, Tap Control, Intelligent Auto, In-Camera Panorama, 720p HD movies, HDMI output. Shockproof:MIL-STD-810F Shock Equivalent (5ft/1.5m); Waterproof: Equivalent to IEC60529 IPX8/JISC0920 (10ft/3m);Freezeproof: MIL-STD-810F Low Temp Equivalent (-10oC/14oF); Dustproof: Equivalent to IEC60529 IP6X/JISC0920. Available in Oxide Red, Turquoise Blue, Hot Pink and Emerald Green.

Original Source Press Release:

Return From Life's Everyday Adventures With High Definition Proof: The New Olympus Stylus Tough-3000

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 7, 2010 – Olympus unveils the STYLUS TOUGH-3000, a shockproof, waterproof and freezeproof compact camera designed to capture all of life’s adventures from the extreme to the everyday. As the first Stylus Tough camera with High-Definition (HD) video, features like Magic Filter that expand your creativity and AF tracking to keep subjects in focus, the STYLUS TOUGH-3000 is as smart as it is durable. It’s also the first of several Stylus Tough cameras to be launched in 2010.

The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 also offers a new graphical user interface (GUI) for intuitive operation and new OLYMPUS [ib] software for rapid downloading and enhanced photo organization with Geotagging and Face Recognition functionality.

“The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 is the latest in the Stylus Tough series, a family of compact cameras designed for the places where families really go, like the pool, the slopes and the great outdoors,” said Nadine Clark, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “With HD video and 12 megapixels of resolution, you’ll relive life’s adventures.”

HD Videos and HDMI Control for a Home Theater Experience
The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 shoots gorgeous 720p HD videos using a dedicated one-touch button, so you’ll always capture the scene. Playback is also a breeze. Now, you’ll be the hit of the party or any family function when you proudly display your brilliant images and videos on high-definition televisions. Simply connect the camera to an HDTV with an HDMI™ cable, which can be purchased separately at any consumer electronics store. With HDMI Control, you can use your HDTV’s remote to control playback functions and navigate the camera’s menus from the comfort of your favorite couch.

AF Tracking for Friends and Man’s Best Friend
AF Tracking technology locks your fast-moving subject in focus, and continuously adjusts focus and brightness. This enables you to keep in focus fast-moving and unpredictable subjects like snowboarders on your favorite mountain, tropical fish while snorkeling or children at play anywhere in the great outdoors to capture the perfect shot. There’s even a specially designed AF Tracking “Pet Mode” for animal lovers.

Express Your Inner Artist with Magic Filter
In-camera Art Filters debuted on Olympus E-System DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras last year. Similar technology, called Magic Filter, has been developed for the new STYLUS TOUGH-3000. The Magic Filter enables the user to enhance and customize images as they’re being captured. This translates into more fun and flexibility as customization is no longer limited to using expensive and time-consuming computer software.

The new Magic Filter includes:

  • Pop Art – Enhance and saturate colors to create vivid, high-impact pictures that express the joyful, lighthearted feeling of the Pop Art style of the 1960s;

  • Pin Hole – Reduce the peripheral brightness of an image as though it were shot through a pin hole, connecting the viewer intimately with the subject at the center;

  • Fish-Eye – Emulate the wide-angle of a fish-eye lens by taking extremely wide, hemispherical images and magnifying the center of the frame; and

  • Drawing – Turn your image into a sketch outline for children to color.

Nothing Can Shock This Tough Camera
Afraid the mountain wind might sweep a camera out of your hands and dash it on the rocks below? Never fear, the STYLUS TOUGH-3000, available in fun and sporty red, pink, blue and green, can withstand a five-foot drop thanks to the Stylus Tough series’ shock-absorbing technology, which minimizes the impact on the lens and circuitry.

Point-Dunk-and-Shoot Cameras
Stylus Tough series cameras perform as well underwater as they do on land because their lightweight, yet durable exteriors are matched with interior rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal out the elements. The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 can be submerged up to 10 feet underwater. The inclusion of four preset underwater scene modes makes this camera perfect for taking photos while swimming, snorkeling or simply having worry-free fun in the pool. It can also capture HD movies underwater. The camera features a water-repellent lens coating to prevent water droplets from forming on the lens and enabling you to get crystal-clear shots no matter how wet the shooting environment.

Freezeproof for Arctic Adventures
Whether you’re in the arctic tundra or building a snowman in your backyard, the STYLUS TOUGH-3000 camera can still perform when the temperature dips well below freezing (14 degrees Fahrenheit; -10 degrees Celsius). Stylus Tough cameras continue to enable you to capture great images in freezing situations where most traditional cameras would fail.

Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Captures It All
The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 features a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom (28-102mm equivalent in 35mm photography, f3.5-5.0) so that even more of the subject makes it into each shot – perfect for underwater photography. The lens does not protrude from its body so it is further protected from harsh conditions.

Cut Out the Blur with Dual Image Stabilization
Dual Image Stabilization combines two technologies – mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization – to provide one powerful anti-blur solution for capturing great images whether the photographer or the subject is moving. Olympus’ mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the internal image sensor to compensate for camera movement, even in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Additionally, Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject.

Hit Them with Your Best Shot: Tap Control
The Stylus Tough cameras can be controlled with a simple tap on their top, back or sides, which is made possible thanks to their internal 3D accelerometer that detects the direction of the force on the camera’s body. In adverse climates, Tap Control ensures fast adjustment of settings even if you are wearing gloves that make pressing traditional buttons nearly impossible.

12 Megapixels for Superior Image Quality
The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 camera offers a 12-megapixel image sensor enabling consumers to achieve consistently sharp and vivid images when producing large-format prints or cropping/enlarging a portion of an image.

Can’t Hide with Face Detection!
Portrait and group shots make family reunions live beyond the short event, and with Face Detection you’ll capture even the shyest relatives. The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 detects up to 16 faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure to capture sharp, brilliant portraits and group shots. Thanks to the unrivaled durability of the Stylus Tough series, you’ll capture amazing photos even if your next family reunion is at a national park, a water park or a ski slope!

Intelligent Auto Thinks for You
Skating at night? You won’t be the last one on the ice setting your camera. Intelligent Auto Mode automatically identifies what you are shooting (i.e., Portrait, Night + Portrait, Landscape, Macro and Sports) and adjusts the camera’s settings to capture the best quality results. First-time users can jump into this quick and hassle-free feature that does the thinking for them and produces incredible images.

Broaden Your Horizons with In-Camera Panorama
The places you can take Stylus Tough cameras – the rocky terrain of the Grand Canyon, the arctic glaciers of Alaska or the volcanic sand beaches of Hawaii – are locations where you want to capture as much of the scene as you can. In-Camera Panorama mode makes it easy by capturing three images and stitching them together to create one amazing panoramic picture. Simply press the shutter button and slowly pan across a panoramic scene. The second and third images will be captured automatically and stitched together with the first image – resulting in one seamless panorama-size picture. To create the ultimate panoramic picture, consumers can use the OLYMPUS [ib] Software to stitch up to 10 images together.

TruePic™ III Image Processor
Olympus developed its exclusive TruePic III image processor for the demanding performance of digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.

OLYMPUS [ib] Software and In-Camera Manual
All Spring 2010 digital compact cameras, including the Stylus Tough series, will offer the new OLYMPUS [ib] software. The new software includes photography workflow, browsing, editing and unique photo organizing functions. You can organize your photos by person with automatic face recognition technology, by location with a Geotagging function or by event. You can easily view photos on an HDTV or on the camera’s LCD with the Photo Surfing or Slideshow functions. The name [ib] stands for image bridging, image browsing and brighten images. The new software will be available for Windows operating systems only.

The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 will come equipped with the instruction manual saved on the camera’s new internal memory. This translates into easily referencing instructions while shooting on the go. The internal memory also enables in-camera image playback in an organized fashion. Eliminating a paper or CD-Rom instruction manual is part of Olympus’ ongoing environmental commitment to conserve natural resources and reduce its carbon footprint.

SD Compatibility
Olympus’ new Spring 2010 digital compact cameras offer SD capability for up to 32 gigabytes of capacity.

Availability
The STYLUS TOUGH-3000 will be available in February 2010. It includes: wrist strap, camera WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, Li-Ion rechargeable battery, warranty card and manual and OLYMPUS [ib] Software on the camera.

U.S. Pricing
STYLUS TOUGH-3000 Estimated Street Price: $229.99 (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 ultimate parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhances people’s lives every day. These include:

  • Digital Cameras

  • Professional Digital SLR Imaging Systems

  • Related Underwater Products and Accessories

  • Digital and Microcassette Recorders

  • Digital Media

  • Binoculars

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

*Specifications and design are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. All trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective holder.
©2010 Olympus Imaging America Inc.

###

Go to:
Previous Item
Current News
Next Item