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| Click photo for more images of the Olympus SP-560UZ. |
Olympus has added a new model to its line of high-zoom point-and-shoots. The 8-megapixel SP-560 Ultra Zoom features an f/2.8-4.5, 27mm-486mm (35mm camera equivalent) 18x zoom lens that incorporates Extra-low Dispersion (ED) and aspherical elements to minimize chromatic aberration and other optical flaws. In addition to providing an impressive focal-length range, the lens can capture subjects as close as four inches at wide angle. Mechanical image stabilization is available via a sensor-shift system. An electronic viewfinder (EVF) supplements the camera's 230,000-pixel, 2.5-inch LCD. In addition to advanced features such as manual exposure and RAW image capture, the SP-560 provides Olympus's latest automatic technology. This camera also benefits from an upgrade to Olympus's latest image processor, TruePic III.
The SP-560 UZ provides 33 shooting modes, including manual and priority exposure and three underwater modes for use when the camera is submerged in Olympus's PT-037 underwater housing. One of the most noteworthy automatic modes is the new Smile Shot, which uses face-detection technology to automatically snap a photo when someone in front of the camera smiles.
Exposure controls include light-sensitivity settings up to ISO 6400 and a shutter-speed range of 1/2000 to 15 seconds, with a Bulb mode allows exposures as long as 8 minutes. There's also a live histogram, automatic exposure bracketing, spot and center-weighted metering, and an interval mode for timelapse photography. Exposures can be improved after the shot with Olympus's Shadow Adjustment Technology feature, which uses software processing to open up dark shadows while retaining highlight detail.
The camera's advanced automatic tools include face-detection autofocus and autoexposure; Perfect Shot Preview, which helps users preview the effects of setting changes before taking a photo; and Perfect Fix, which automatically adjusts exposure, sharpens blurry areas, and corrects redeye in playback mode.
For high-speed photography SP-560 UZ's continuous-shooting mode can capture 2-megapixel images at a nearly video-like 15 frames per second in 40-frame bursts, or shoot 23 3-megapixel photos at 7fps. At full resolution, it captures a series of seven shots at 1.2fps. The camera's Pre-Capture feature can be used to automatically save five frames as soon as focus is locked. There's also a video mode that records 640x480 video at a smooth 30 frames per second.
The SP-560 UZ comes with Olympus Master 2 image processing software and supports Olympus's TCON-17 teleconversion lens to achieve more than 30x optical zoom. The camera will be available in October 2007 for $449.99.
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