2012 is starting with a bang for Olympus as seven new compacts are announced at CES in Las Vegas.

From Smart to TOUGH and Super-zoom to Ultra-zoom there is something for everyone in the new crop of Olympus compact digital cameras.

SP-720UZ:
- 26x wide angle optical zoom
- HDR Backlight Adjustment for perfectly exposed pictures of inanimate objects even when shooting against the light
- 14 Megapixel CMOS sensor

SP-620UZ
- 21x wide angle optical zoom
- 16 Megapixel CCD sensor
- Multi-motion Movie IS for capturing HD movies with reduced blur even while shooting and moving.

SZ-14
- 24x wide optical zoom lens
- Multi-motion Movie IS for capturing HD movies with reduced blur even while shooting and moving.

SH-21
- 16MP backlit CMOS sensor
- Touch-sensitive LCD with Touch Shutter and Touch AF
- 1080p Full HD Movies with Multi-motion Movie IS

TG-320
- Waterproof to 3m, shockproof to 1.5m and freezeproof to -10°C for worry-free use anytime anywhere
- Sliding double lock mechanism for optimum protection of battery, card slots and ports
- Hard glass lens barrier for extra-tough lens protection

VR-340
- 10x super-wide-angle optical zoom in a slim metal body
- New Beauty Make-up mode for adding make-up effects before you shoot.
- 16MP and high ISO for enhanced shooting in low-light conditions

VG-170
- Best-in-class flash with 15m range
- Super-slim body with new Smart Grip for enhanced camera stability
- 5x wide optical zoom

URL: www.olympus.co.uk

New Smart Series compact excels with fantastic flash

Olympus VG-170 puts rivals in the shade Easy-to-use VG flagship features best-in-class flash

London, 10 January 2012 – Lots of compact cameras claim to make your world brighter, but only the Olympus VG-170 has the best-inclass flash to back up that claim. The flash on the new VG Series flagship is nearly twice as powerful as on regular compact cameras, which means it can light up faces and objects up to 15 metres away. In Long Flash Mode, it’ll even automatically adjust ISO sensitivity to make sure your camera is set up just right for low light. It’s this sort of practical, user-friendly feature that makes the VG Series a pleasure to use on a day-to-day basis, no matter how little you know about cameras. Compact, convenient and fantastic value for money, the topof- the-range VG-170 is the perfect choice for anyone who just wants to point and shoot – and let their camera do the rest. With 14 Megapixels, a 5x wide optical zoom, big 3” LCD and a host of automatic features and effects, you can be sure you’ll get a quality photo or movie every time. With its slim, stylish body and sturdy retro design, the VG-170 could be mistaken for a high-end camera, but there’s nothing high-end about the price. It’s available for a mouthwatering £99.99 and will be in the shops from the mid-February.

Matchless flash
The flash is the most commonly used function on compact cameras*, so it’s surprising how little attention it gets. A great flash can make a huge difference to the quality of your photos – in low light, it’s often the difference between getting the shot you want and getting no shot at all. The flash on the new Olympus VG-170 is massive, especially for an inexpensive camera. It’s roughly four times more powerful than its nearest rival, which means it has twice the range (the VG-170’s guide number is 8.8 compared to 4 to 5.6 for regular digital compacts). The VG-170 can light up people or buildings fully 15 metres away on the wide-angle setting. What’s more, in Long Flash Mode, the camera automatically trades off Megapixels against ISO sensitivity to give you the perfect light setting. At five Megapixels instead of the usual 14, you can still blow up your photo to A4 size without losing that trademark Olympus picture quality.

Effortless imaging
The VG-170 comes with a 5x wide optical zoom lens (26mm- 130mm**) that gives you the flexibility you need in a variety of everyday situations. Whether you’re zooming in for a close-up or taking a wider, more expansive scene, you can frame your shot quickly and easily on the big 3” LCD. If you have wobbly hands, the new Smart Grip, designed to ensure a firm hold for stable shots and reduced handshake (even when shooting in dark places) should help to minimise blur along with the built-in Digital Image Stabilisation. A host of automatic aids like i-Auto, Face Detection and AF Tracking will also ensure you always have the ideal settings for the conditions you’re shooting in. Your photos come out bright and sharp and your movies are recorded in High Definition, which makes for great viewing on a big HD TV. You can even display 3D photos on regular TVs, computers or digital photo frames – simply by turning on the new Red & Cyan 3D feature before you take the picture (3D glasses are even included in the box). If you want to get creative on-camera, there’s a choice of nine Magic Filter effects that work at the touch of a button. And if you like sharing your images online with family and friends, that’s just as easy as everything else on the VG-170. Thanks to wireless Eye-Fi card compatibility, it’s also cable-free.

The VG-170 is available for £99.99 from mid-February in black, white or red.

Outstanding features:
Image Quality:
 5x wide optical zoom lens (26-130mm**) for effortless close-ups and wide-angle shots
 720p HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in excellent quality
 14 Megapixels for high-quality full-size movies, stills and prints
 Digital Image Stabilisation for reducing blur

Usability:
 Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
 3” colour LCD (460,800 dots) for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots
 Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people’s faces just as you want them
 Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
 Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
 Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)

Other key features:
 Super-slim body for an attractive, highly portable design
 [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event.
 ISO 80 to 1600, with automatic adjustment in Long Flash Mode
 SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible***
 Built-in smart flash
 In-camera help guide
 USB battery charging

* In Europe and the United States, according to Olympus research.
** 35mm camera equivalent.
*** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association. UHS Speed Class is not supported.

New OLYMPUS TOUGH is ideal for active families & holidays

A TOUGH at this price is tough to beat Restyled TG-320 offers imaging worry-free fun

London, 10 January 2012 – Buying a new compact camera can be like getting a new pair of sunglasses – you spend a lot on something impressive only for it to break the first time you drop it. Which is why Olympus developed TOUGH. Shockproof*, waterproof* and freezeproof*, the new OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-320 comes with a worry-free guarantee. Not only is it virtually indestructible, it’s also fantastic value for money. For less than £140 you get a camera with everything you need to capture HD movies and still photos in 14-Megapixel quality. The TG-320 has a host of automatic aids and a versatile lens that gives you the flexibility to take wide-angle group shots or zoom in for those special close-ups that stand out in your album. The lens is protected by a special hard glass barrier and when you don’t have to worry about damaging high-grade components like this, using your camera is suddenly a lot more fun. You can get creative with 3D underwater photo shooting or Magic Filters and share your shots wirelessly via an Eye-Fi card that automatically uploads stills and movies to a website or PC. With the TG-320, everyone can afford the look they want – no matter how butter-fingered or talent-free. For a camera in this price category, the spec and build quality are both exceptional. It’s available from mid-February for just £139.99.

One TOUGH cookie
A cup of coffee knocked over at breakfast, a fall onto the floor of a famous cathedral, a night left out on the ski chalet balcony … there are no end of ways to ruin a regular compact camera. But not if your camera’s an Olympus TOUGH. At £139.99, the TG-320 is excellent value for money but that doesn’t mean Olympus has skimped on its trademark rugged build. You can drop it onto a rock from a height of 1.5 metres or let it sink in a pool that’s fully three metres deep. You can also leave it lying outside in temperatures as low as -10° Celsius. When you brush the snow off in the morning, it’ll still work just fine. The fantastic durability comes courtesy of unique Olympus technologies. A sophisticated system of double seals protects the inner casing while a double lock mechanism stops anyone unintentionally opening the card slots, ports and battery compartment underwater. A hard glass lens barrier safeguards the precision 3.6x wide optical zoom lens (28-102mm**).

One of a kind
Olympus was the first camera manufacturer to develop a range of super-tough compacts and their expertise shows through in a clever choice of features that make it easy to capture HD movies and photos in excellent quality. For example, the 2.7” scratch-resistant LCD isn’t touch sensitive because you can’t use a touch screen with wet hands or gloves. But it is easy to read in bright sunlight. Likewise Dual Image Stabilisation (Dual IS). Cameras in this class don’t have space for wide-aperture lenses or support high ISO numbers to counteract image blur. The TG-320 compensates with Dual IS, reducing blur in poor light and with fast-moving shots. Other Automatic aids on the TG-320 include Underwater 3D mode, Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking that help ensure even hectic scenes come out bright and sharp. There are eight Magic Filters for adding special effects and – unlike on most rival cameras– six of these work with HD movies as well as just stills.

The Olympus TOUGH TG-320 is available in blue or red from mid-February. It costs a mere £139.99.

Outstanding features:
Toughness
 Waterproof* to 3m, shockproof* to 1.5m and freezeproof* to -10°C for worry-free use anytime anywhere
 Sliding double lock mechanism for optimum protection of battery, card slots and ports
 Hard glass lens barrier for extra-tough lens protection

Image Quality
 3.6x wide optical zoom lens (28-102mm**) for shooting flexibility
 3D photo shooting mode for striking HD movies and stills
 Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots
 TruePic III+ processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise
 720p HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in excellent quality
 14 Megapixels for high-quality full-size movies, stills and prints
 ISO 80 to 1600
 Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills: Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole (photos only), Drawing, Soft Focus, Fish Eye, plus new Sparkle (photos only) and Watercolour  Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
 Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
 Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people’s faces just as you want them
 Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog’s or cat’s faces when they look at the camera
 Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)
 In-Camera Panorama for quick and easy panorama shots

Storage & Sharing
 2.7” 230,000 dot colour LCD for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots
 SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible***
 Photo Surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
 Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
 HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it’s connected to HD equipment

Other
 Built-in flash
 In-camera manual and help guide
 USB charging

* Waterproof according to IEC standard publication 529 IPX8. Shockproof figures equivalent to MIL Standard (Olympus test conditions). Freezeproof according to Olympus test conditions
** 35mm camera equivalent.
*** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association. UHS Speed Class is not supported.

New SZ Series camera boasts a powerful zoom plus a new Magic Filter

Olympus ‘Super Zoom’ camera lets you get sharper and closer SZ-14 features new Multi-motion Movie IS

London, 10 January 2012 – Vivid movies and close-ups bring memories of holidays and other trips to life. That’s why the latest star of Olympus’ compact SZ ‘Super Zoom’ Series comes with Multi-motion Movie Image Stabilisation (Movie IS) and a massive wide optical zoom lens – 24x or 25-500mm*. With this powerful new compact, you can zoom right in to shoot close-ups without capturing your own shadow or disturbing your subject. Cutting-edge Multi-motion Movie IS complements the High Definition Movie capability by reducing blur. It delivers HD movies that are crisp and vivid, even when you’re filming moving subjects while walking yourself, for example on the beach with friends and family. With eleven Magic Filters you can add a whole range of special effects to your images directly on-camera, including the new Fragmented filter. The SZ-14 will be available from mid-February in silver, black and red for £199.99.

Get sharp with Multi-motion Movie IS
Despite its small and stylish design, the new SZ-14 is packed with state-of-the-art Olympus technology that delivers excellent image quality. In combination with a 14-Megapixel resolution and world-class optical zoom lens, Multi-motion Movie Image Stabilisation ensures 720p HD films couldn’t be better defined. It reduces the blur that occurs naturally when people make slow-paced movies on trips – because they have to film spontaneously and don’t have time to set up a tripod. Even tracking shots turn out sharp and virtually blur-free, as do movies you make while you’re moving yourself.

Get creative with Magic Filters
The SZ Series is ideal for people who like to get creative – thanks to a whole host of Magic Filters, most of which can be applied to HD movies and still photos. The SZ-14 comes equipped with an amazing 11 filters – it’s one of the first Olympus cameras to feature the advanced Fragmented filter. When you apply Fragmented to a photo of landscape or people, the result is a collage of tiles that look as though the original picture has been cut up and reassembled. They give the shot a lively new look and feel with a friendly, three-dimensional texture.

Get closer with Telephoto Macro
The SZ-14 also features the new Telephoto Macro that gets you right up close for stand-out macro shots. You can capture all the glorious colour, texture and detail of small subjects like flowers from just 30cm away. The wide optical zoom lens likewise give you the chance to zoom right up – from a distance – to capture intricate subjects like a butterfly that might otherwise be disturbed by your presence and move off before you get a chance to shoot. This powerful lens is also ideal for defocusing the background to create professional looking images with an undistorted foreground subject and intentional background blur. The camera allows you to enjoy your images on a large three-inch LCD display and share them wirelessly on a website or computer via Eye-Fi Card – or in all the glory of High Definition via HDMI on a big-screen HD TV.

The SZ-14 is available for £199.99 from mid-February.

Outstanding features:
Image Quality
* 24x wide optical zoom (25-600mm*) for superb close-ups
* Multi-motion Movie IS for capturing HD movies with reduced blur while walking
* TruePic III+ image processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise
* 720p HD Movie with sound for movies in excellent quality
* 14 Megapixels for high-quality full-size movies, stills and prints
* Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots

Usability
* 3” colour LCD (460,000 dots) for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots
* Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people’s faces just as you want them
* Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
* Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
* Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog’s or cat’s faces when they look at the camera
* Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)

Creativity & Flexibility
* Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
* 3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
* Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills: Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Fish Eye, Soft Focus, Sparkle (photos only), Watercolour, Miniature, Reflection and new Fragmented (photos only).

Other key features
* Photo surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
* HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it’s connected to HD equipment
* ISO 80 to 1600
* In-Camera Panorama
* SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible**
* Built-in flash
* In-camera manual
* USB charging

* 35mm camera equivalent.
** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association. UHS Speed Class is not supported.

Olympus Ultra Zoom cameras set the benchmark. Again

Olympus lets its zooms do the talking
New UZ duo promise another decade of dominance

London, 10 January 2012 – An Olympus Ultra Zoom ‘Traveller’ camera wears its class on its sleeve – there’s no mistaking the huge optical zoom lens on the front, nor the extraordinary character and quality of the images it delivers. That’s what makes the new SP-620UZ and SP- 720UZ Travellers the cameras of choice for anyone with the ambition to step up from a pint-sized point-and-shoot to a powerful, great-value, go-anywhere compact that can capture genuinely challenging shots. Both offer impressive wide-angle capability for shooting landscapes, interiors and crowds. But it’s the extreme telephoto potential that really stands out. Notwithstanding its super-slim, compact design, the SP- 620UZ comes with a 21x optical zoom while the top-of-the-range SP- 720UZ delivers fully 26x magnification. That gives you the flexibility to zoom in and capture the expressive energy of wildlife, competitive sports and other unapproachable subjects without having to carry interchangeable lenses. The outstanding optics are matched by some of Olympus’ very best automatic aids and components, including Multi- Motion Movie IS (on the SP-620UZ) and HDR Backlight Adjustment (on the SP-720UZ) that achieves perfect exposure when you’re shooting against the light. The SP-720UZ is available from late March for £229.99. The SP-620UZ goes on sale for £179.99 in mid-February. Both cameras come in silver or black.

Performance to be proud of
More than ten years ago, with its first SP Ultra Zoom (UZ) camera, Olympus laid down a marker for first-class specifications, versatility and sheer telephoto performance. On the evidence of the latest editions to the Traveller family, in this specialist segment they remain the cameras to beat. The powerful optics are all the more impressive given the modest dimensions. In fact, they take up most of the camera, especially on the SP-620UZ, which is incredibly slender and light for a camera of this zoom potential. It comes equipped with a 21x wide-angle optical zoom lens (25- 525mm*) while the SP-720UZ has a spectacular 26x wide-angle optical zoom (26-676mm*). In addition to close-quarter wide angles, expansive panoramas and nose-to-nose close-ups, these lenses give you the flexibility to experiment with intermediate zoom settings – from portraits to still lifes and holiday movies in Full HD (720p HD on the SP-620UZ). Image quality is excellent on both cameras, thanks in part to the 14-Megapixel CMOS sensor on the SP-720UZ and a 16-Megapixel CCD on the SP-620UZ. You can look forward to radiant colours, low noise and razorsharp edges. Blur is conspicuous only by its absence.

Assistants you can trust
Olympus’ Traveller Series has a history of ingenious electronic aids and the latest generation is again packed with technical wizardry. Like Multi-Motion IS on the SP-620UZ which cuts out camera shake even when the user is moving, allowing you to record movies in the best quality available in a compact camera today**. Another unique feature is HDR Backlight Adjustment (on the SP-720UZ) that captures the scene just as you see it, no matter if you’re shooting against the light. Instead of recording just one shot, it takes multiple images very quickly at different exposure settings then creates a collage of ideally exposed photos, blended seamlessly into one perfect shot.

With a host of creative Magic Filters, Olympus again steals a march on the competition. Unlike most rival filters, the majority of these spectacular effects can be applied to movies as well as still photos. Eye-Fi card compatibility, 3D photo shooting and a 3” LCD are just some of the other features that make it simple to capture and share stills and HD movies with outstanding character and quality.

The SP-720UZ is available from late March for £229.99. The SP-620UZ costs £179.99 and comes out around a month earlier.

Outstanding features:
Image Quality:
 26x wide angle optical zoom lens with 26-676mm* for superb closeups and group shots (SP-620UZ: 21x wide angle optical zoom with 25-525mm*)
 14 Megapixel CMOS sensor for high-resolution, superb-quality fullsize movies, stills and prints, even in low light (SP-620UZ: 16 Megapixel CCD sensor)
 TruePic III+ image processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise
 1080p Full HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in the best image quality currently available in compact cameras**
(SP-620UZ: 720p HD Movie)
 Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots
 Multi-motion Movie IS for capturing HD movies with reduced blur while walking (SP-620UZ only)

Usability:  Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
 3” colour LCD (460,000 dots) for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots (SP-620UZ: 230,00 dots)
 HDR Backlight Adjustment for perfectly exposed pictures of inanimate objects even when shooting against the light (SP-720UZ only)
 Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people’s faces just as you want them (SP-720UZ: regular Face Detection)
 Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
 Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)

Creativity & Flexibility:
 Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills: Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Fish Eye, Soft Focus, Sparkle (photos only), Watercolour, Reflection, Miniature, Fragmented (photos only) and Dramatic (photos and SP-720UZ only)
 Beauty Make-up Mode for adding fun make-up effects to three people and hiding blemishes before you shoot
 3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
 Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog’s or cat’s faces when they look at the camera
 High-speed sequential shooting for a dynamic series of fast-moving objects
 Macro shooting for beautiful, detail-rich close-ups

Other key features:
 Slim body for an attractive, highly portable design
 Photo surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event.
 HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it’s connected to HD equipment
 In-camera Panorama for quick and easy panorama shots
 SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible***
 Built-in flash
 In-camera manual and in-camera help guide (SP-720UZ: in-camera help guide only)
 USB battery charging (SP-720UZ only)

* 35mm camera equivalent.
** As of November 2011.
*** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association. UHS Speed Class is not supported.

Olympus launches SH-21 Traveller-series compact in Europe following premiere in Japan

Olympus nails the pocket-sized camera 16-Megapixel CMOS sensor & Touch Panel give SH-21 the edge

London, 10 January 2012 – Once in a while there comes a product that defines a segment, that ticks all the boxes at an unbeatable price. For pocket-sized cameras, the Olympus SH-21 could well be that product. If you need an inexpensive compact that you can rely on to get a great shot first time, there’s no looking beyond this elegant and exceptional all-rounder.

What makes the SH-21 so special?
Rich colours, low picture noise, excellent contrast – the SH-21 is all about tremendous picture quality. The ultra-slim design ensures it never looks out of place at more sophisticated occasions and when you want to be sure to capture a one-off event like a wedding, it’s good to know your camera has a 16-Megapixel Backlit CMOS sensor with the high sensitivity to perform in dim-lit interiors. For wide-angle shots, you can call on a high-grade superwide 24-300mm** lens and there’s a 12.5x optical zoom for razor-sharp close-ups.

When it comes to recording films, the SH-21 goes one better still. It captures 1080p Full HD movies in the best quality available in a pocketsized camera today*, and Multi-Motion IS cuts out camera shake even when the user is moving. If you know next to nothing about high-end D-SLR-style imaging, the SH-21 makes it all wonderfully easy, Live Guide shows you in real time how fine tuning key settings will make (or break) your picture, Touch Autofocus tracks moving objects you tap on the LCD while Touch Shutter actually takes their picture for you.

The beautiful SH-21 is available in gold, red and black for £189.99 from mid-February.

Outstanding features:
Image Quality:
 12.5x super wide optical zoom (24-300mm**) for superb close-ups and group shots
*16 Megapixel backlit CMOS sensor for high-resolution, superbquality full-size movies, stills and prints, even in low light
*1080p Full HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in the best image quality currently available in compact cameras*
*Multi-motion Movie IS for capturing Full HD movies with reduced blur while walking
*TruePic III+ image processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise
*Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots

Usability:
*3” touch-sensitive colour LCD (460,000 dots) for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots
*Touch Shutter for focussing on the subject you touch on the LCD and taking the picture automatically
*Touch AF for focussing automatically on the subject you touch, even if it moves
*Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people’s faces just as you want them
*HDR Backlight Adjustment for perfectly exposed pictures of inanimate objects even when shooting against the light
*Handheld Starlight Mode for shooting blur-free at night without a tripod
*Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
*Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
*Live Guide for easy slide-bar adjustment of key settings in real time, including background blur, colour intensity, colour temperature and brightness
*Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog’s or cat’s faces when they look at the camera
*Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)
*High-Speed Continuous Shooting for capturing up to seven full-size frames per second

Creativity and Flexibility:
*Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
*3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
*Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills: Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Fish Eye, Soft Focus, Sparkle (photos only), Watercolour, Reflection and Miniature
*Smart Panorama for capturing sweeping stills just by panning the camera
*Photo with Movie Clip for shooting movies while taking still photos

Other key features:
*Photo surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
*HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it’s connected to HD equipment
*ISO 80 to 3200
*SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible***
*Built-in flash
*In-camera manual and help guide
*USB charging

* As of November 2011.
** 35mm camera equivalent.
*** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association. UHS Speed Class is not supported.

Price down, zoom quality up

Olympus VR-340 offers fantastic value

London, 10 January 2012 – The first generation of Olympus VR Series compacts proved you don’t have to pay a fortune for a great-looking camera with a powerful zoom lens, slim metal casing and a whole bunch of fun, cutting-edge wizardry. Now the enhanced second generation is here. The new VR-340 keeps the exquisite, all-metal design of its predecessor – and benefits from a new, slightly retro ‘smart grip’ at the front. A glance at the powerful zoom lens shows why Olympus’ engineers added the grip. The VR-340 comes with a 10x super-wide optical zoom lens (24-240mm*). When you zoom right in for an expressive close-up, the grip makes it a lot easier to hold the camera steady and avoid blurring your shot. It’s further proof of Olympus’ determination that its slim cameras should deliver stills and movies that live up to its reputation for the very highest image quality. With 16 Megapixels (instead of 14), higher ISO for shooting in poor light and some new technological trickery for enhancing your shots with creative effects, the VR-340 succeeds. The VR-340 is available from late February in silver, black, red and purple for £129.99.

Ready when you are
Busy people don’t plan photo sessions. Opportunities to capture special shots just happen and when they do, you need a camera that’s easy to use, has a versatile lens and the full array of high-tech aids – to make sure you get the very best images you can. The VR-340 gives you just that – and it’s beautifully designed, too. Powerful and flexible, the super-wide zoom lens is exceptional for this price category. Complementing the lens, the smart grip helps you hold the camera steady when you’re making full use of the zoom, while built-in Dual Image Stabilisation cuts out blur caused by imperceptible camera shake or fast-moving subjects. That’s especially important when you want to capture an HD movie. No matter how bad (or good) a photographer you are, with 16 Megapixels, high ISO capability and a host of sophisticated electronic assistants like i-Auto and AF Tracking, Olympus’ trademark picture quality is virtually guaranteed.

Ready when you’re not
With the VR-340, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t had time to fix your makeup before someone takes your picture. Olympus’ Beauty Make-up Mode can customise up to three people’s faces before you start. Laid out like a cosmetic toolbox, it lets you apply everything from eyeliner and eye shadow to rouge for skin blemishes. You can even lift cheekbones. It’s a lot of fun morphing each other into cover-model faces. Beauty Make-up Mode isn’t the only reality-warping fun feature on the new VR-340. The new camera can also take photos in 3D Red & Cyan, which means you can appreciate the startling 3D effect on regular 2D devices – no specialised 3D equipment required.

Once you’ve captured your images, there’s a whole raft of other effects you can apply to your stills photos. The VR-340 comes with nine Olympus Magic Filters and, unlike on most rival compacts, all but one of them also work with movies.

The VR-340 will be available from late February for £129.99.

Outstanding features:
Image Quality:
*10x super wide angle optical zoom with 24-240mm*
*720p HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in excellent quality
*16 Megapixels for high-quality full-size movies, stills and prints
*Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots

Design:
*Smart grip design for hand-held stability and reducing blur with highzoom close-ups
*Slim, full-metal body for an exquisite and robust design

Usability:
*3” colour LCD (460,000 dots) for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots
*Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people’s faces just as you want them
*Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
*Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)

Creativity & Flexibility:
*Beauty Make-up Mode for adding fun make-up effects to three people and hiding blemishes before you shoot
*Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
*Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills: Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Fish Eye, Soft Focus, Sparkle (photos only), Watercolour and Reflection
*3D photo shooting mode for striking stills (3D Red & Cyan for sharing 3D stills on 2D devices)

Other key features:
*[ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event.
*ISO 80 to 1600
*SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible**
*Built-in smart flash
*In-camera manual and help guide
*USB battery charging

* 35mm camera equivalent. ** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association. UHS Speed Class is not supported.

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