Pre-CES: Olympus has revealed the VG-160 affordable style compact. The VG-160 combines a 14 megapixel sensor with a 5x optical zoom covering the 26-130mm equivalent range. It has a 3.0" LCD screen and features the company's iAuto, automatic exposure mode that will identify and use any of the 29 scene modes that it recognizes. It can capture movies at up to 720p quality and includes the company's Magic Art Filter processing options. It will cost around $99.

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Press Release:

NEW OLYMPUS VG-160 DELIVERS POINT-AND-SHOOT SIMPLICITY AND QUALITY AT A LOW PRICE

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 9, 2012 – Olympus today announces the launch of a new V Series camera offering everything you’d expect and more at an ultra affordable price. The 14-megapixel VG-160 sports a superb 5x optical zoom and a wide-angle lens (26-130mm equivalent*) packed into a super-slim body that gets you close to your subject. At just 19.3mm deep, the VG-160 slips easily into your pocket, and includes all the capabilities you need in one compact camera. The slender and affordable Olympus VG-160 is packed with in-camera Magic Art Filters, HD Video and an intelligent, iAuto.

A large 3.0-inch LCD offers a clear preview of your images, and technological enhancements like AF Tracking, Shadow Adjustment Technology and Face Detection help you capture images just the way you intended. Intelligent Auto (iAuto) automatically recognizes shooting conditions that match any of 29 built-in scene modes, such as self-portrait, landscape & night + portrait, and then adjusts the focus and exposure for the perfect balance of color and clarity. Whether you’re capturing the kids on a playground, or taking pictures at a birthday party, the Olympus VG-160’s iAuto will optimize your camera’s settings to ensure capture your everyday moments with ease.

A single one-touch HD Video button ensures instant access to movie mode on the Olympus VG-160, so you can start recording in 720p High-Definition without changing menu settings. Built-in Digital Image Stabilization ensures your images and videos will have amazing clarity.

Add style and artistic flair to your photos with Magic Art Filters. Joining Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Fish Eye and Soft Focus are Punk, which creates a two-tone image with a classic Punk Rock feel; Watercolor, which transforms images into frame-worthy paintings; and Sparkle, which adds a special twinkle to your photos.

* 35mm camera equivalent.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Olympus VG-160 will be available in February and ships with a Camera Strap, USB Cable, USB-AC Adapter (F-2AC), Lithium-Ion Battery (LI-70B), Audio/Video Cable, Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual and OLYMPUS [ib] Software CD-ROM and a Warranty Card.

Estimated Street Price: $99.99 (Available in silver, black, red and orange).

For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website: www.getolympus.com.

Olympus VG-160 specifications

Body type
Body typeCompact
Sensor
Max resolution4288 x 3216
Other resolutions3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480
Image ratio w:h4:3
Effective pixels14 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors15 megapixels
Sensor size1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
Sensor typeCCD
Image
ISOAuto, High Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
White balance presets6
Custom white balanceNo
Image stabilizationNo
Uncompressed formatNo
Optics & Focus
Focal length (equiv.)26–130 mm
Optical zoom5×
Maximum apertureF2.8–6.5
Autofocus
  • Contrast Detect (sensor)
  • Multi-area
  • Face Detection
Digital zoomYes (4x)
Manual focusNo
Normal focus range60 cm (23.62)
Macro focus range7 cm (2.76)
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCDFixed
Screen size3
Screen dots230,000
Touch screenNo
Screen typeTFT Color LCD
Live viewYes
Viewfinder typeNone
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed4 sec
Maximum shutter speed1/2000 sec
Exposure modes
  • Program AE
Scene modes
  • Portrait
  • Beauty
  • Landscape
  • Night Scene
  • Night + Portrait
  • Sport
  • Indoor
  • Candle
  • Self Portrait
  • Sunset
  • Fireworks
  • Cuisine
  • Documents
  • Beach & Snow
  • Pet
Built-in flashYes
Flash range4.80 m
External flashNo
Flash modesAuto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Drive modes
  • Single
  • Continuous
  • Self-timer
Self-timerYes (2 or 12 sec)
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Spot AF-area
Exposure compensation±2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
WB BracketingNo
Videography features
Resolutions1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
FormatMotion JPEG
MicrophoneMono
SpeakerMono
Storage
Storage typesSD/SDHC
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMINo
Remote controlNo
Physical
Environmentally sealedNo
BatteryBattery Pack
Battery descriptionLithium-ion rechargeable LI-70B battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)165
Weight (inc. batteries)125 g (0.28 lb / 4.41 oz)
Dimensions96 x 57 x 19 mm (3.78 x 2.24 x 0.75)
Other features
Timelapse recordingNo
GPSNone

Additional images