Olympus Unveils SH-1 & TG-3

2014.03.31

Today, Olympus unveiled an all-new high-end compact digital camera. Looking similar to recent PEN mirrorless models, the Olympus Stylus SH-1 is the first ultra-zoom with to feature 5-axis image-stabilization. Its extending lens provides a 25 - 600mm equivalent focal-range which is highly versatile.

The 16 megapixels SH-1 offers full manual-controls, including custom white-balance, built-in WiFi and an impressive array of video features. It supports full 1080p HD capture at 60 FPS and as time-lapse video where it can compress 5 hours into a 20s video. It can also capture high-speed 720p video at 120 FPS and 640p at 240 FPS.

The Olympus Stylus SH-1 is scheduled to be available this May for a suggested price of $399 USD or CDN.

Along with the above ultra-zoom, Olympus revealed a reworked Stylus Tough TG-3, to follow the TG-2 with a new 16 megapixels high-speed CMOS sensor. It preserves the same class-leading body which is waterproof down to 15m, freezeproof to -10C, crushproof to 100kg and shockproof to 2.1m drops. All this with an unusually bright F/2 wide-angle 25-100mm lens.

This rugged compact is built for adventurous photographers with a built-in GPS, digital compass, barometer, manometer which operate above and below water. It adds built-in WiFi for sharing and remote-control. The TG-3 can record full 1080p HD video at 30 FPS and 720p time-lapse video which shows 100 frames in 10 seconds.

New to the TG-3 is digital focus-stacking which lets the camera compensate for shallow depth-of-field at high magnifications. Between 30 and 100mm of equivalent focal-range, this camera can focus down to 1cm from the lens for extreme close-ups.

The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-3 is scheduled to ship in June for a suggested price of $349 USD or CDN.

• Digital Camera