Olympus announces weatherproof digital Mju

15th January - 2003
By Ian Burley

Click here for Official Olympus UK press release

Two new compact digicams from Olympus feature metal bodies and weather-proofing.

Since launching its C-50Z, the smallest-yet 5 megapixel digicam, at Photokina last year (click here), Olympus has been developing 3.2 megapixel and 4.0 megapixel additions to its pocket-sized line up. These are the Mju 300 Digital and Mju 400 Digital.

Olympus first introduced its Mju concept back in the early 1980s. It was the first ultra compact 35mm ‘capsule’ camera with the trademark sliding panel to protect the lens so a separate soft case was not absolutely necessary. It has been a huge success, with several million models shipped.

The 4MP Mju 400 Digital has slightly different
colouring to its 3MP Mju 300 sibling

The new Mju Digital models, with their metal alloy bodies retain the basic design ethos of the original Mju, being small, rugged and with that sliding lens cover come steadying grip. Both new models are also weather proofed to the IEC 529 IPX4 specification.

A 3x AF zoom lens, rechargeable lithium ion battery and 16MB xD memory card are common to both models, as is a 5 scene-type programmed auto exposure system, movie clip function and effects modes, including black and white and sepia tone shooting. Auto and preset white balance settings are featured too.

The Mju 300 Digital is all-silver

Other features include a relatively large 1.5 inch LCD viewscreen, macro mode and red-eye reduction flash mode. Both Epson PIM2 and Exif Print 2.2 standards are supported for optimised printing with compatible photo printers.

Unlike the C-50Z, which is an enthusiast’s camera, complete with multi-mode manual settings and added creative control, the Mju Digitals are more aimed at point and shoot users who are happy to let the camera work things out for itself.

The 4MP Mju 400 Digital is expected to sell for £429.99 when it ships in April, while the 3.2MP Mju 300 Digital is priced £349.99 and hits the shelves a month earlier in March.

Click here for Official Olympus UK press release

The Olympus PIX local dealer support site can be found here.

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