Olympus SP-610UZ

Posted on January 24, 2011

The Olympus SP-610UZ is a digital camera with a 22x zoom, ranging from wide-angle to ultra-tele and HD video. The f/2.8-5.6 lens is the equivalent of a 28-616 mm focal length. That is an incredible range.

The camera is equipped with in-camera Magic Filters to enhance and customize images: Pop Art, Pin Hole, Fish-Eye, Soft Focus, Drawing, Watercolour, Sparkle, and Punk.

The SP-610UZ shoots 720p HD video and has a new 3-D Mode. Select the 3D Photo shooting mode, release the shutter for your first shot, slowly pan until the camera automatically takes a second image from a slightly different perspective. The 3D data is processed in-camera resulting in an .mpo file, the universal industry 3D format for easy display on 3D televisions or laptops.

The camera is compatible with an optional Eye-Fi SD card, adding Wi-Fi capability so you can automatically upload images to your computer as you take them.

There’s a 3.0-inch LCD monitor, an upgrade over its predecessor’s 2.7-inch LCD.

Dual Image Stabilization combines two technologies – Mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization. Mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the internal image sensor to compensate for camera movement. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds.

In-Camera Panorama mode captures three images and stitches them together to create a panoramic picture. Simply press the shutter button and slowly pan across the scene. The second and third images will be captured automatically and stitched together with the first image. Or you can use the Olympus [ib] Software to stitch up to 10 images together.

Face Detection? Of course. The SP-610UZ detects up to 16 faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure. Beauty Mode touches up the appearance of your subject’s skin as the photo is captured.

AF Tracking technology locks focus on fast-moving subjects, continuously adjusts focus and brightness. Two newly designed “Pet Modes” offer the ability to recognize the faces of a variety of breeds of both cats and dogs.

Intelligent Auto Mode automatically identifies what you are shooting (i.e., Portrait, Night + Portrait, Landscape, Macro or Sports) and adjusts the camera’s settings to capture the best quality results.

The SP-610UZ offers a 14-megapixel sensor, and has migrated the technology of the TruePic III+ Image Processor from its DSLRs to this camera. The processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each photo to deliver exceptional clarity with more accurate colours, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds, says Olympus. TruePic III+ is also said to capture crisp, clear photos at high ISO settings.

The SP-610UZ will be available in February at a street price of $199.99.