Olympus Announces Seven New Digital Cameras

The new year has brought new digital imaging products from most of the heavy hitters. Now Olympus follows Sony, Canon and Pentax with the announcement they will release seven new digital cameras including the SP-550 UZ Ultra Zoom with an 18X optical zoom lens. That is a 35mm film equivalent of 28-504mm! The 7.1MP SP-550 can shoot in RAW, features dual-image stabilization, manual exposure controls, 2.5-inch LCD and will list for around $499.99; very impressive for a point-and-shoot digital camera.

Four new FE-series cameras will be available, the FE-210, FE-230, FE-240 and the FE-250. All will include a 3X optical zoom lens, and 7.1MP CCD sensor except for the FE-250 which will sport a 5X optical zoom and 8MP sensor. Two new Stylus-series cameras the Stylus 770 SW and Stylus 760 are also 7.1MP sensor models with 3X optical zoom lenses and 2.5-inch LCD. However the Stylus 770 SW has the added feature of being waterproof up to 33 feet underwater (depth gauge included) and in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, an equivalent of minus 10 degrees Celcius. While the 760 is considered 'weatherproof' with its metal body and rubber gaskets. Image stabilization and digital IS are additional features of the Stylus 760. The 770 SW will list for $399.99 while the 760 will list for $279.99. Expect these new Olympus models to be available in February and March. With these products from Olympus, Sony and others the bar has definitely been raised for digital point-and-shoots.

Image provided by Olympus.