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Olympus' VG-110 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Olympus VG-110: $100 ultracompact targets the value-conscious (UPDATED)
By
(Tuesday, February 8, 2011 - 01:01 EST)

Olympus Corp. has today announced imminent availability of the Olympus VG-110 ultracompact digital camera.


The Olympus VG110 combines a twelve effective megapixel image sensor and an Olympus-branded 4x optical zoom lens in an ultracompact body. Sadly -- but perhaps not surprisingly, given the pricing -- the Olympus VG-110 lacks any form of mechanical image stabilization. Images and movies are framed on a 2.7-inch LCD display with ~77k pixel resolution, roughly equating to a 320 x 240 pixel array.

As well as still images, the Olympus VG110 can record VGA standard definition movie clips. Connectivity options include standard definition composite video output, and USB 2.0 High Speed data. Power comes from a proprietary lithium ion cell, and the VG110 has a CIPA rating of 170 shots per charge.

The Olympus VG-110 ships in the USA from February 2011, with pricing of about US$100. Available body colors include black, silver, and red. For more details, read our Olympus VG110 preview.

Olympus VG-110
Olympus' VG-110 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera TypeUltra Compact
ManufacturerOlympus
Model NumberNorth America: VG-110
Dimensions3.6 x 2.1 x 0.8 in.
(92 x 54 x 20 mm)
Weight3.7 oz (105 g)
Planned Price$90
Planned AvailabilityFebruary 2011
Image Capture
Sensor TypeCCD
1/2.3" (approx. 0.43 in. diagonal)
12.00 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio4:3
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)
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; 6 elements in 5 groups, 4 aspherical elements
4x optical zoom
Focal Length4.8 - 19.2mm (actual)
27 - 108mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Rangef/2.9 (wide) / f/6.5 (tele) - ???
Focusing SystemCCD contrast detection; iESP Auto, Spot AF, Face Detection AF, AF Tracking
Does not have AF assist lamp
Focusing RangeNormal: 24" - 4,081" (60 cm - 9,999 cm)
Macro: 2.0" - 4,081" (5 cm - 9,999 cm)
Exposure
ISO SensitivityAuto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Shutter Speed4 - 1/2000 second
Exposure ModesProgram
Metering ModesDigital ESP Metering, Face Detection AE
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: ISO 800: Wide: 0.66ft (0.2m) - 15.4ft (4.7m), Tele: 1.97ft (0.6m) - 6.9ft (2.1m)
Creative
Scene Modes Scene Modes (1. PORTRAIT, 2. LANDSCAPE, 3. NIGHT, 4. NIGHT+PORTRAIT, 5. SPORT, 6. INDOOR, 7. CANDLE, 8. SELF PORTRAIT, 9. SUNSET, 10. FIREWORKS, 11. CUISINE, 12. BEACH & SNOW, 13. DOCUMENTS, 14. PET); Magic Filter (Pop Art, Pinhole, Fisheye, Drawing, Soft Focus, Punk, Sparkle)
Digital ZoomUp to 4x
Self TimerYes, 12 or 2 seconds
Movie FormatAVI with audio
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC including SDHC, Built-in
File SystemFAT16, FAT32
File FormatJPEG
Connectivity
ComputerUSB 2.0 High Speed
Power
Battery TypeLithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Form FactorProprietary LI-70B
Product Bundle
SoftwareOLYMPUS [ib] software
Battery / Charger1 x Proprietary LI-70B Lithium-ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory18.0MB Built-in
Other
Internal MicrophoneYes
Internal SpeakerYes
Tripod MountYes
NotesIntelligent Auto, 14 Scene Modes, Magic Art Filters (Pop Art, Pin Hole, Fish-Eye, Drawing, Soft Focus, Punk, Sparkle), AF Tracking, In-camera Help Guide.
More Photos
Olympus' VG-110 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' VG-110 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' VG-110 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' VG-110 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' VG-110 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
Olympus' VG-110 digital camera. Photo provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
 

UPDATED 2011-02-08 12:48ET: We've just been informed that the price listed in the press release was incorrect, and that the VG-110 will actually ship for $99.99. We've updated this item to reflect the correct pricing information.


Original Source Press Release:

Compact, Sleek, Smart And Affordable Olympus VG-110™ Defies Your Expectations

Magic Art Filters, 12-Megapixels and 26mm 4x Wide-Angle Zoom Lens Make This Camera a Must-Have for Capturing Your World

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 8, 2011 – Today Olympus launches the VG-110, a sleek, smart, pocket-sized point-and-shoot with a 12-megapixel sensor to create large prints and 4x wide-angle zoom to help you capture your memories. The VG-110 also boasts Magic Art Filters to achieve a new level of artistic expression, AVI movie, AF Tracking to capture fast moving subjects, Digital Image Stabilization and a 2.7-inch LCD, all for the affordable price of $99.99. To add to these features, the Olympus VG-110 is a multi-function camera that’s great for both the beginner and someone who’s been photographing for years. It is available in black, red or silver to suit your individual style.

“With its 12-megapixel image sensor, 26mm 4x wide-angle zoom and slim body, the Olympus VG-110 provides the ultimate combination of value and functionality,” said Jennifer Schmell, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “AF tracking makes it a breeze to capture images of a moving subject, while fun Magic Art Filters like Punk and Sparkle enable you to maximize your creativity.”

Perfectly Frame Your Work with Each Shot
No more worrying about achieving the frame you desire. With the 26mm 4x wide-angle optical zoom, you can produce it effortlessly. Guaranteeing that each shot will be as beautiful and crisp as you had hoped, no matter how large you want it.

Express Your Inner Artist with Magic Art Filters
The Olympus VG-110 is equipped with in-camera Magic Art Filters that enable users to enhance and customize images as they’re being captured. Have more fun and flexibility without expensive and time-consuming computer software.

The Magic Art Filters include:

  • 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 effect lens by taking extremely wide, hemispherical images and magnifying the center of the frame;

  • Soft Focus – encloses the foreground of an image in gentle, pastel colors with a soft, elegant focus; similar to effects achieved in a studio;

  • Drawing – turn your image into a sketch outline for children to color;

  • New! Sparkle – shoot photos with the luxurious feel of added twinkling lights; and

  • Punk – create two-tone images full of rock-and-roll spirit.

Lock Onto the Action with AF Tracking
AF Tracking technology locks on your fast-moving subject and continuously adjusts focus and brightness. This enables you to keep fast-moving, unpredictable subjects like small children in focus for the perfect shot.

Record Those Special Moments
What’s better than catching the action as it happens? The opportunity to replay each moment over and over again on your camera, television or on YouTube®. The Olympus VG-110 shoots amazing video, allowing every day to be a movie day. Playback is also a breeze. Gone are the days of friends and family huddling around a tiny LCD to see the pictures you just snapped.

Reviewing your Shots Just Got Easier
After you’ve taken your photographs, do you have trouble picking the best one? Say nothing more! With a 2.7-inch display, reviewing all your shots just got a lot easier. With just the click of a button, your crisp photos are displayed right before your eyes, enabling you to choose the perfect one to share with everyone.

Digital Image Stabilization to Eliminate Blurry Images
The Olympus VG-110 features Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) to capture crisp, clear pictures. By boosting the camera’s ISO sensitivity and shutter speed, DIS freezes the action and provides virtually blur-free images, even when you or your subject is moving.

Face Detection for Better Group Shots!
Wedding, birthday and family reunion group shots have never been easier with Face Detection. The Olympus VG-110 detects up to 16 faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure to capture sharp, brilliant portraits and group shots. Even more remarkable, the VG-110 comes equipped with Beauty Mode. Designed to touch up the appearance of your subject’s skin as the photo is captured, enhancements that typically would necessitate retouching in a graphics editing program.

Let the Camera Do the Thinking with Intelligent Auto
With the Intelligent Auto Mode in the Olympus VG-110, your camera knows and it 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. Anyone has the ability to jump into this quick and hassle-free feature that does the thinking for them and produces incredible images.

Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing
Olympus’ Perfect Fix feature offers quick solutions for unanticipated image quality issues, which may be caused by several adverse conditions. Lighting Fix can be used to adjust any underexposed areas and Red-Eye Fix can be used to reduce the effects of red-eye sometimes caused by a direct flash. Additional in-camera editing functions can be quickly accessed right in the camera by the touch of a button; features available include resizing and trimming.

Easy Operation with Scene Modes and In-Camera Help Guide
The new Olympus VG-110 has 14 scene modes and enhanced In-Camera Help Guides that make digital photography simple and fun for users of all ages and skill levels. The scene modes include portrait to capture loved ones, landscape to show off the scenery, a fun fireworks mode and a specially designed “Pet Mode” to help animal lovers capture man’s best friend.

The In-Camera Help Guide displays a brief description of camera settings and features on the LCD enabling consumers to easily adjust ISO and white balance settings using the Program Auto mode. Additionally, Exposure Compensation enables users to preview and select various exposure effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This smart feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring they are capturing the exact image desired. Program Auto and Exposure Compensation are great modes that enable novice users to get results like the pros while learning about the effects of different photography techniques. Menus are available in various languages for convenient operation.

Sharing is Caring: SD Compatibility
With SD compatibility, the Olympus VG-110 allows users to share their work easily through SD-compatible computers, digital picture frames and HDTVs.

OLYMPUS [ib] Software Makes it Even Easier to Share and Print Your Photos
All Olympus digital compact cameras now offer the new OLYMPUS [ib] photo organizing and editing software. It includes photography workflow, browsing, editing and unique photo organizing functions. You can organize photos by person with automatic face-recognition technology, by place with a map-tagging function, or by event. All information will be tagged in each photo’s data. You can then easily upload images to the integrated online service, [ib on the net], to share and backup photos, as well as order prints and photo merchandise. The name [ib] stands for image bridge, because the software is designed to create a bridge to help you get images from your camera to services where you can do more with your photos.

Availability
The Olympus VG-110 will be available in February 2011. It will ship with a Lithium Ion Battery, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Instruction Manual, Warranty Card and OLYMPUS [ib] software.

U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations
Estimated Street Price:
Olympus VG-110 - $99.99

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 and Interchangeable Lens System Cameras

  • 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, design and pricing are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. All trademarks and registered trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective holders, in the US and/or other countries.
© 2011 Olympus Imaging America Inc.

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