NewsAugust 2006

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Olympus SP-510 UZ

Pre-Photokina 2006: Oympus has announced a raft of new models in its FE, Mju (Stylus) and SP ranges. First up is the replacement for the SP-500UZ, the SP-510UZ. Aside from a silver paint job there's a resolution increase to 7 million pixels, and several enhancements, including sensitivity up to ISO 4000 (1600 at full resolution).

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Press Release:

Get as close as you like with a 10x zoom

Feel part of the action with the Olympus SP-510 UZ

London, 23 August 2006 – With an Olympus SP-510 UZ by their side, photographers need never miss the action again. Thanks to its powerful 10x optical zoom lens (equiv. to 38-380mm on a 35mm camera) they’ll be able to reach out to distant subjects and bring them in for closer scrutiny. The 7.1 million pixel resolution means that every detail will be there to see. Should anyone need to delve deeper still, in 3.0 million pixel resolution, a Fine Zoom option can increase the magnification of the optical zoom to a phenomenal 15x. Nothing escapes the gaze of the SP-510 UZ, even when the sun starts to set. Olympus BrightCapture Technology comes into play boosting maximum ISO value to an amazing 4000* allowing the camera to deliver great results even in low-light conditions Energy efficient to the extreme, the SP-510 UZ needs just one set of AA batteries for up to 630** shots. So, what with its powerful zoom, high resolution, great low light capabilities, and energy efficiency, photographers using the SP-510 UZ can continue shooting way into the evening. Even if the light fails, they know that their camera won’t.

Expect to see the Olympus SP-510 UZ in UK High Streets in September, priced at around £260.00. For stockist information call 0800 0720070 or visit www.olympus.co.uk.

For wildlife and sports photographers in particular, the SP-510 UZ offers a huge advantage. Its 7.1 million pixel CCD and 10x optical zoom (equiv. to 38-380mm on a 35mm camera) can be used to pick out either a distant zebra, or footballer, to fill the frame in breathtaking detail – without scaring them off or interrupting play! And, when shooting in 3.0 million pixel mode, a special Fine Zoom option is available that boosts magnification to a phenomenal 15x, making the zoom equivalent to a 38-570mm zoom on a 35mm camera. Yet in spite of these impressive specifications, the SP-510 UZ remains a remarkably compact and easy to use camera.

Framing photos is made simple and straightforward with a 6.4cm LCD screen, large enough to show off even quite small details. This naturally doubles up as a monitor to view shots on, once they’ve been saved to either the camera’s internal memory or an optional xD-Picture Card. Of course, the use of the SP-510 UZ isn’t confined to just sports and wildlife, as 21 pre-defined scene modes are available to make life easy in a wide range of shooting environments including Landscapes and Beach&Snow. To keep the more ambitious photographer happy, the camera also offers Aperture and Shutter Priority exposure, as well as full Manual control, so they can let their creativity and experimental impulses run wild.

In case the animal being photographed is nocturnal, or the match is being played under floodlights, the SP-510 UZ has been equipped with Olympus’ unique BrightCapture Technology. This increases the camera’s sensitivity to light by boosting the maximum ISO value to a striking 4000*, lessening the need to use flash and preserving the atmosphere of the ambient light. Faster shutter speeds can also be used, helping to avoid blurry images due to camera shake – very handy for a camera with a powerful zoom lens.

A powerful 10x zoom lens and great capabilities in low light make the 7.1 million pixel SP-510 UZ a great choice for people who want to capture the action, no matter where it is, whether that’s at a family party or out in the wilds. The camera will be available from all good camera shops as of September 2006, with a price tag of around £260.00.

The Olympus SP-510 UZ – main features:

• 7.1 million pixels
• 10x optical zoom (equiv. to 38-380mm on a 35mm model) 1:2.8-3.7
• 15x Fine Zoom option with 3MP
• 6.4cm/2.5” LCD
• BrightCapture Technology for better low-light photography
• Digital Image Stabilisation Mode
• ISO 50-1600 with full 7.1MP, ISO 2500/4000 in 3MP mode via manual setting
• 21 scene modes (incl. Landscape, Beach&Snow, Night Scene)
• Multi-language menu with 10 languages plus possibility to download 15 more languages from the internet (on board: English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, Czech, Polish, Danish, Dutch)
• Supplied with Olympus Master Software and 4 AA batteries for 630** shots

* In 3.0 million pixel mode
** According to CIPA standard

Olympus SP-510 UZ specifications

Sensor	• 1/2.5 " Type CCD • 7.4 million pixels total • 7.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3072 x 2304 • 2072 x 2048 (3:2) • 2560 x 1920 • 2304 x 1728 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1280 x 960 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 @ 15/30fps • 320 x 240 @ 15/30fps • QuickTime Motion JPEG with sound
File formats	• JPEG • RAW • EXIF 2.2 • PIM III • DPS • DPOF
Lens	• 38-380mm (35mm equiv) • F2.8/3.7 • 10x optical zoom
Image stabilization	Digital Image Stabilisation Mode
Conversion lenses	No
Digital zoom	up to 5x
Focus	• TTL iESP AF with contrast detection • Spot
AF area modes	143 AF areas selectable
AF assist lamp	n/a
Focus distance	• Standard: 0.6m - infinity (wide) 2m - infinity (tele) • Macro: 0.07m - infinity (wide) 1.2m - infinity (tele) • Super Macro: from 3cm
Metering	• ESP • Spot • Center-weighted • Histogram in shooting mode
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 2500 (with BrightCapture Technology) • ISO 4000 (with BrightCapture Technology)
Exposure compensation	+/- 2EV in 1/3 steps
Exposure bracketing	5 frames in 0.3EV steps
Shuttter speed	B, 1/2sec - 1/1000sec, up to 4sec in Night Scene mode, up to 15sec in Bulb mode
Aperture	F2.8.3.7
Modes	• Sequential shooting • Scene
Scene modes	• Portrait • Landscape • Landscapoe with Portrait • Night Scene • Night Scene with Portrait • Sports • Indoor • Candle • Self Portrait • Available Light Portrait • Sunset • Fireworks • Museum • Cuisine • Behind Glass • Documents • Auction • Shoot & Select 1 & 2 • Beach • Snow
White balance	• iESP II • Sunlight • Overcast • Tungsten • Fluorescent 1, 2 & 3 • Manual white balance (One Touch)
White balance fine tune	-7 Red to +7 Blue
Self timer	Yes
Continuous shooting	1.7fps, 3 frames (high speed)
Image parameters	B&W, Sepia, Resize, Trimming, RAW data edit, Attach a frame, Attach a title, Attach a calendar, Attach a layout, Red-eye reduction, Correction of Brightness, Correction of Saturation, Lighting Fix
Flash	• Auto, Red-eye reduction, Fill-in, Off, Red-eye reduction & Fill-in, Slow sync • Range: 0.3m - 4.5m (wide) 1.2m - 3.4m (tele) • Compensation: +/- 2EV
Viewfinder	201,000 pixel electronic
LCD monitor	• 2.5-inch • 115,000 pixels
Connectivity	• DC in • Combined AV & USB output
Storage	• Internal memory • xD-Picture Card compatible
Power	4x AA batteries
Weight (no batt)	325 g
Dimensions	105.5 x 74.5 x 70 mm