Olympus SP-620UZ: A new Ultrazoom for the US and Europe
posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 3:09 AM EST
Alongside Olympus Europe's launch of the SP-720UZ, the Olympus SP-620UZ has been launched in both the USA and Europe.
The Olympus SP-620UZ is quite closely related to the SP-720UZ, but it differs from the other camera in several important ways. Its image sensor is a slightly higher-res but much slower 16 megapixel CCD chip, and while we don't know the full-resolution burst shooting rate, you can get an idea for its rather pedestrian nature from the fact that even at a reduced eight megapixel rating, the SP-620UZ is limited to just three sequential frames at 0.92 frames per second. Compared to the other camera, the SP-620 also has a less powerful 21x optical zoom lens, and is restricted to 1,280 x 720 pixel movie capture, rather than Full HD. Finally, the SP-620UZ lacks the 'Dramatic' Magic Filter and HDR mode of its sibling, but adds an advanced face detection function, although we don't yet know how this differs from the SP-720's face detection capability.
The Olympus SP-620UZ ships from January 2012 in the US market, priced at around US$200. In Europe, it should arrive in mid-January 2012, with pricing of about €190. More details can be found in our Olympus SP-620UZ preview.
| Olympus SP-620UZ | |
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| General | |
| Camera Type | Mid-Sized |
| Manufacturer | Olympus |
| Model Number | North America: SP-620UZ |
| Dimensions |
4.3 x 2.9 x 2.9 in. (110 x 74 x 74 mm) |
| Weight | 15.3 oz (435 g) |
| Planned Price | $200 |
| Planned Availability | January 2012 |
| Image Capture | |
| Sensor Type |
CCD 1/2.3" (approx. 0.43 in. diagonal) 16.60 megapixels (total) 16.00 megapixels (effective) |
| Aspect Ratio | Other, 4:3 |
| Image Dimensions |
4608 x 3456 (15.9 megapixels) 4608 x 2592 (11.9 megapixels) 3264 x 2448 (8.0 megapixels) 2560 x 1920 (4.9 megapixels) 2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels) 1920 x 1080 (2.1 megapixels) 1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels) 1280 x 960 (1.2 megapixels) 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels) |
| Image Preview / Review | |
| Viewfinder | No |
| LCD |
3.0 in. diagonal 230,000 dots (approx. 77,000 pixels) |
| Playback Zoom | 10.0x max |
| Lens | |
| Lens Type |
Olympus lens; 12 Lenses in 9 Groups, 3 Aspherical 21x optical zoom |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Focal Length |
4.5 - 94.5mm (actual) 25 - 525mm (35mm equivalent) |
| Aperture Range | f/3.1 or 8.7 (wide) / f/5.8 or 16.3 (tele) |
| Focusing System |
CCD Contrast Detection; iESP Auto, Spot AF, Face Detection AF, AF Tracking Has AF assist lamp |
| Focusing Range |
Normal: 8" - infinity (20 cm - infinity) Macro: 0.4" - 4,082" (1 cm - 10,000 cm) |
| Exposure | |
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto, High Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 |
| Shutter Speed | 4 - 1/1500 second |
| Exposure Modes | Program |
| Metering Modes | Digital ESP Metering, Spot Metering, Face Detection AE (when Face Detection AF is selected) |
| Exposure Compensation | +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments |
| White Balance | Image Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten, Fluorescent , One-touch |
| Internal Flash | Modes: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off |
| Flash Exposure Compensation | +/- 0.0EV |
| Creative | |
| Scene Modes | Scene Modes [Portrait, Beauty, Landscape, Night Scene, Night + Portrait, Sport, Indoor, Candle, Self Portrait, Sunset, Fire Works, Cuisine, Documents, Beach & Snow, Pet (Cat), Pet (Dog)], Magic Filters [Pop Art, Pin Hole, Fish Eye, Drawing, Soft Focus, Punk, Sparkle, Water Color, Reflection, Miniature, Fragmented] , In-Camera Panorama, PC Panorama, 3D |
| Digital Zoom | Up to 4x |
| Self Timer | Yes, 2, 12, Pet auto-shutter seconds |
| Movie Format | MP4 (MPEG-4) with audio |
| Storage | |
| Recording Medium | SD/MMC including SDHC, SDXC, Built-in |
| File Format | JPEG, MPO |
| Connectivity | |
| Video |
High definition: Yes (HDMI) Standard definition: Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable |
| Computer | USB 2.0 High Speed |
| Other | Multi-Terminal (USB Connector, Audio/Video Output), HDMI Type-D |
| Power | |
| Battery Type | Alkaline/Lithium disposables, NiMH rechargeables |
| Battery Form Factor | 4 x AA |
| Product Bundle | |
| Software | OLYMPUS [ib] software CD-ROM |
| Battery / Charger | 4 x Alkaline AAs battery |
| Other | |
| Internal Microphone | Yes |
| Internal Speaker | Yes |
| Tripod Mount | Yes |
| Remote Control | Yes, Optional wired |
| Notes | Dual Image Stabilization, HD Video, Magic Art Filters, 3D Image Capture. Available in silver and black. |
| More Photos | |
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Press Release
Portable Powerhouse: Olympus SP-620UZ Ultrazoom Boasts Outstanding Optics, Image Quality And Affordability
High-Performance 21x Wide Zoom Compact Camera--The Ideal Travel Companion
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 9, 2012 – Olympus today unveils the SP-620UZ, a long zoom camera designed for consumers looking for a powerful, great-value, go-anywhere compact that captures challenging shots. Offering impressive wide-angle capability for shooting landscapes, interiors and crowds, it's a 21x optical zoom lens (25-525mm equivalent*) gives you the flexibility to focus and capture wildlife, competitive sports and other distant subjects without having to carry interchangeable lenses.
The outstanding optics are matched by Olympus' advanced technologies, including Multi-Motion Movie Image Stabilization, which minimizes camera shake even when the user is moving and Dual Image Stabilization allowing you to record crisp, clear stills and HD videos. Capture images with radiant colors, low noise and razor-sharp edges, thanks in part to the 16-megapixel CCD sensor.
In addition to shooting wide-angle shots in close quarters, expansive panoramas and nose-to-nose close-ups, the Olympus SP-620UZ is flexible enough to experiment with intermediate zoom settings for portraits, still-life subjects and movies. A host of creative in-camera Magic Art Filters enables you to apply spectacular effects to all of life's adventures both with stills and in video mode.
No time to fix your make-up before someone takes your picture with the SP-620UZ? Olympus' Beauty Make-up mode will let you apply everything from eyeliner to eye shadow and rouge. You can even lift cheekbones and morph your subjects into cover-models. With 3D image capture, the Olympus SP-620UZ combines two photos of the same subject from different angles to generate dynamic 3D images that can be viewed on a 3D-compatible monitor or television.
Eye-Fi™ card compatibility and a 3.0"LCD make it simple to share stills and HD videos with ease.
*35mm camera equivalent.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The SP-620UZ will be available in January and ships with a Camera Strap, Protective Lens Cap, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, 4 AA Batteries, Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual and OLYMPUS [ib] Software CD-ROM and a Warranty Card.
Estimated Street Price: $199.99 (Available in silver and black)
For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website: www.getolympus.com.
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 enhance people's lives every day. These include:
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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.
©2012 Olympus Imaging America Inc.
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