Olympus announces range of new compacts

Olympus VG-170
Olympus has announced several new compacts, including the VG170

Olympus has announced five new compact cameras to sit in its line-up, including a rugged "Tough" camera.

Here's a rundown of all the new cameras that have been announced, along with expected prices and availability.

VG series

First up is the Olympus VG-170, which claims to have the best flash of any camera of its type, covering twice the range. Faces and objects up to a full 15 metres away can be illuminated, while in Long Flash Mode it will automatically adjust ISO sensitivity to make sure the camera is set up correctly for low light.

Also on board the camera is a 14 million pixel sensor, 5x wide angle optical zoom lens and a 3 inch LCD screen.

A host of automatic aids, such as i-Auto, Face Detection and AF tracking also included, while full HD video recording is also available.

Nine fun Magic Filter effects are included, while the camera is also compatible with wireless Eye-Fi cards.

The Olympus VG-170 UK price will be around £99.99, and will be available in shops from the middle of February.

VR series

vr34

ABOVE: Olympus VR-340

Next up is the V4-340, which comes equipped with a 10x wide-angle optical zoom lens and a 16 million pixel sensor and high ISO capabilities.

HD video recording at 720p is available, along with dual image stabilisation for reducing blur.

Automatic aids, including iAuto, are also available on the VR-340, while automatic scene mode can also be applied.

The Olympus VR-340 UK price will be around £129.99 and will be available from late February.

SZ series

Olympus sz-14

ABOVE: Olympus SZ-14

The latest Olympus superzoom comes in the form of the 24x optical zoom SZ-14.

Other key technologies include Multi-motion Movie IS, which complements the HD video recording capability by reducing blur.

A range of magic filters are of course included, this time featuring 11 including the new Fragmented filter.

The SZ-14 also features a new Telephoto Macro function, which allows the photographer to get right-up close for macro shots, including the texture and detail of small subjects from just 30cm away.

Available from mid-February, the Olympus SZ-14 UK price is set to be around £199.99.

SH series

Olympus sh21

ABOVE: Olympus SH21

The next camera is the 12.5x optical zoom SH21, which also features a 16 million pixel Backlit CMOS sensor with high sensitivity, especially designed for dimly lit situations.

Full HD (1080p) video recording is available, with the camera also equipped with the Multi-Motion IS to help reduce camera shake, even when the user is moving.

Live Guide is included to show in real time how fine tuning key settings can make a picture. Touch Autofocus tracks moving objects you tap on the LCD, while Touch Shutter activates the shutter release.

The Olympus SH21 will be available from February, with the UK price of £189.99

TG series

tg 320

ABOVE: Olympus TG-320

Finally, the latest Olympus tough camera has been introduced. The TG-320 is shockproof, waterproof and freezeproof, and is, according to Olympus, "virtually indestructible."

What that actually translates to is drop-proof from 1.5 metres, waterproof down to three metres and freezeproof down to -10 degrees celcius. A system of double seals protects the inner casing, while a double lock mechanism means that unintentionally opening the card slots is made difficult.

It also features a 14 million pixel sensor and HD video recording capability. The 3.6x wide angle optical zoom lens is protected by a special hard glass barrier to protect against damage.

Dual IS is included to help reduce blur in poor light and with fast moving subjects. Intelligent Auto Mode and AF tracking are also included.

Creative features include 3D underwater photo shooting and Magic Filters, which is also available when recording video.

The Olympus TOUGH TG-320 UK price is £139.99 and it will be available from mid-February.

Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar. 

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