Okinava’s Weblog

The lightweight, 10-megapixel Olympus E420 DSLR offers heavyweight technologies, including a bigger, more viewable 2.7-inch LCD and consumer-friendly fast On-Screen Autofocus, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology and Perfect Shot Preview to get the most out of the Live View experience. Additionally, when it comes to Live View, not all LCDs are created equal. At 2.7 inches, the portable E-420 LCD is large enough for users to compose and review images without squinting. The small camera’s LCD is not just larger, it is part of a camera with technologies intelligent enough to take advantage of the Live View photography experience. These innovative technologies include:

• On-Screen Autofocus works as seamlessly as a point-and-shoot to display subjects in focus on the LCD the instant the shutter is pressed half way.
• Face Detection Technology targets and locks on up to eight faces to ensure they are in focus and crystal clear for amazing portraits.
• New and Improved HyperCrystal II Technology delivers twice the contrast and better viewing in extreme lighting conditions, a broader range of color detail, and a wider angle of view on the LCD so you and your friends can see it up to 176 degrees off-center.
• Shadow Adjustment Technology captures detail in the bright areas of a frame and opens up detail in the shadows that other cameras would render too dark or underexposed.
• Perfect Shot Preview enables you to view and select your favorite effect right on the LCD, and see how the image will look before you even capture it, so you know that what you see is what you get.

Evolt E420 Digital SLR Highlights

World’s smallest digital SLR A camera designed to be held away from the face lets you take great photographs without weighing you down. The E-420 is small enough to fit into a purse or a jacket pocket and light enough to shoot with comfortably all day. Measuring 5.1 inches by 3.6 inches by 2.1 inches (excluding protrusions), it is the world’s smallest digital SLR. And at a featherweight 13.4 ounces, only its predecessor (E-410) weighs less. The E-420’s new ergonomic grip on the front of the body allows for easier one-handed operation and ensures a secure hold in the most challenging shooting conditions.

14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko lens included The Zuiko Digital 28-84mm equivalent (ED 14-42mm Four Thirds) f3.5-f5.6 lens perfectly matches the imager so light strikes the sensor directly to ensure rich, accurate colors and edge-to-edge sharpness. This lens are part Olympus’ expanding line of 100 percent digital lenses — designed specifically for digital photography. Unlike other camera companies, Olympus does not rely on old film lenses, which often result in images with soft edges or other imperfections.

The Live View experience Olympus was the first to bring Live View to a consumer DSLR (the E-330 in 2006), and Live View has revolutionized DSLR photography. Anyone who has photographed young children knows that you get the best reactions when you hold the camera away from your face and maintain eye contact and an engaging smile. If you have tried to take photos high above the heads in a crowd or low near the ground, you will appreciate that it is easier to use a swivel LCD screen than to climb a ladder or lie on your stomach.

The E-420 solves these problems with its Live View LCD, which enables photographers to hold the camera away from their faces and at angles they just cannot reach by using the optical viewfinder alone. The E-420’s new Live View autofocus functionality now simplifies the process by working just like a point and shoot. By simply pressing the shutter button halfway, your subjects come into focus on the LCD, so when the perfect moment occurs it is easy to capture sharp images.

A viewable LCD is where a great Live View experience begins. Few things are more annoying for a photographer than squinting to see an image on an LCD screen in bright sunlight or a dimly lit room. The E-420 solves this problem with its large, bright 2.7-inch LCD display that incorporates new HyperCrystal II technology. This display offers twice the contrast for better viewing in extreme light conditions (i.e. when the sun is at your back), a broader color gamut that displays a greater range of color detail, and a 176-degree viewing angle.

Always find a face in the crowd A camera this consumer-friendly is perfect for taking portraits of friends and family while out and about. The E-420’s Face Detection feature distinguishes between people’s faces and the background. It tracks up to eight faces within the image area and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks their faces.

Bright day or deep shadow, never miss a detail Shooting scenes with shadows can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark and bright areas. The E-420 addresses this challenge with Shadow Adjustment Technology that compensates for extreme contrast when shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. Now users can preview and capture images with the same fine contrast they see with their own eyes.

Preview all the possibilities With 18 pre-set scene-select modes for every imaginable shooting scenario and full manual controls, the E-420 offers a world of possibilities to photographers. Additionally, Perfect Shot Preview enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-window screen on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature shows photographers what their images will look like beforehand under various settings, ensuring that they capture exactly what they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.

Enlarge your photos Capturing, enlarging and displaying amazing images on your wall is a snap thanks to the E-420’s 10 million pixels for high-resolution photos. The 10-megapixel sensor gives users the flexibility to enlarge prints to the sizes supported by many of today’s printers, or crop the image to print only a part of the image that is important to them. The high-performance Live MOS image sensor in the E-420 delivers excellent dynamic range for accurate color fidelity and a new state-of-the-art amplifier circuit dramatically reduces noise and captures fine image details in the highlight and shadow areas.

Improved auto white balance Many digital SLR users want to focus their attention on things other than white balance while they are on the move. As a result, the E-420 features an improved automatic white balance performance with a new algorithm for more accurate color.

TruePic III for image clarity and speed Olympus’ TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible for every photo with accurate color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal representation in between. TruePic III also lowers image noise by one step to reduce graininess in images shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations.

Worried about missing the winning goal at the soccer game? The image processor on the E-420 enables it to shoot up to 3.5 frames per second in sequenced shooting mode, which means that photographers will be able to capture fast-paced action as it happens.

Dust Reduction System for spot-free images Life moves too fast to spend time worrying about dust ruining your images. Olympus’ proven Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter. The patented ultrasonic technology vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor and captures it on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on. These spot-free photos liberate users from hours spent retouching photographs at the computer or sending their cameras back to the manufacturer to remove dust trapped inside.

Media versatility Accepting both CompactFlash Type I & II, Microdrives, and xD-Picture Cards, the E-420 provides a choice of data storage options for enhanced flexibility, and it is possible to transfer image files from one card to the other right inside the camera.

Wireless flash capability If you decide to venture into the arena of advanced lighting, the E-420 is ready to meet the challenge. The E-420 is compatible with the Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R wireless electronic flashes that are designed exclusively for digital photography. When these flashes are used in combination with the E-420, wireless multi-flash photography is possible. The E-420 can control up to three wireless flash groups independently, with several flash units per group.

Product Description
The E-420 is the world’s smallest digital SLR with all the features you need to take great pictures anywhere you go, every day. The innovative and unique Olympus Autofocus Live View function allows you to frame and focus your photos using the large 2.7-inch LCD as a viewfinder. The E-420’s Scene Select Modes make you an instant expert – or switch to manual mode to expand your creative control. This feature-rich digital SLR also sports Shadow Adjustment Technology and Face Detection, both viewable in real time on the Live View LCD.

The powerful, versatile Olympus SP-570 Ultra Zoom digital compact camera stands out from the crowd with an astounding precision-crafted 20x, wide-angle optical zoom (26-520mm equivalent) and 10 million pixels of resolution for superior image quality in any shooting situation.

The SP-570 UZ offers the advanced manual controls that experienced photographers demand and find on a digital SLR (single lens reflex), including a new zoom ring and hotshoe for external flash, and RAW format capture. At the same time, users can easily set the camera to operate like a simple point-and-shoot with automatic scene modes. Beyond its impressive lens and pixel count, the SP-570 UZ delivers other key innovations, including:

• Dual Image Stabilization combines the benefits of Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization to compensate for both camera shake and moving subjects, ensuring beautiful, blur-free images in any situation;
• Face Detection continually tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses, and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures even if your subject is moving;
• Shadow Adjustment Technology enables users to preview and capture images as the human eye sees them, compensating for difficult lighting situations and maintaining detail in highlights while improving the detail in the shadows to produce more balanced photos;
• Perfect Shot Preview takes the guesswork out of great photography by allowing users to preview and select various photographic effects live on the LCD screen, before snapping the shot; and
• Large, 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD with anti-glare technology improves visibility in bright sunlight and provides a wider viewing angle (176 degrees in every direction) for easier composition and viewing of images during playback.

Olympus SP-570UZ Highlights

Capturing it all, far and wide Precision optics is fundamental for producing quality images, and the SP-570 UZ comes fully equipped with the equivalent of three lenses in one complete camera. The bright, f2.8-4.5 lens provides the equivalent of 26-520mm focal length with 100x total seamless zoom (5x digital zoom).

Get close to the action with the camera’s versatile yet compact 20x super telephoto zoom and at the same time, the wide-angle (26mm) lens captures more in each frame. Its super-macro capabilities capture the subtlest details from as close as one centimeter.

The compact lens construction combines high-refractive, aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity. Whether it is capturing fast-action sports or for everyday use, this sturdy compact body with a wide-angle and telephoto lens provides the versatility to get the job done.

Dual Image Stabilization Dual Image Stabilization enables users to take crisp, clear pictures in virtually any shooting situation — adjusting for camera shake and a moving subject. Olympus’ mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD to compensate for camera shake, which often occurs when zooming in on your subject and in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blur caused by a moving subject.

Full manual control The Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes give users versatility and control for optimal performance in any situation. Users can express their creative vision — adjusting the f-stop for detailed portraits with softened backgrounds, or slowing the exposure speed to create the blurred effect of motion, or just sit back and let the camera do the thinking through the use of the automatic settings. Manual focus is also available for users who want to have full creative control.

Hotshoe for external flashes The SP-570 UZ offers a hotshoe for connecting an external flash, providing greater versatility for different lighting effects. Additionally, the SP-570 UZ supports wireless flashes, enabling a user to capture beautiful images even in difficult lighting situations.

Face Detection Face Detection tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) quickly for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Now, your subject’s face is in focus whether it is in the center of the target area or not.

High-Speed Sequential Shooting and Pre-Capture The SP-570 UZ is capable of capturing images at an incredible 13.5 frames per second (with a reduced image size of 3 megapixels). The inclusion of Pre-Capture technology, which works in conjunction with High-Speed Sequential Shooting, enables users to capture the action before and after fully pressing the shutter button. Pre-Capture begins working as soon as the focus is locked, automatically archiving five frames in the camera’s buffer memory prior to the shutter release — virtually guaranteeing that none of the action will be missed even if the user’s reaction time is slow. Perfect for situations where timing is essential, such as photographing a tennis player serving, children playing or a whale breaching.

2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD The SP-570 UZ utilizes a HyperCrystal LCD designed to offer a wider viewing angle without glare or shadow. Now, images and movies appear crisp and clear on the LCD with a greater than 140-degree viewing angle (left-to-right or up-and-down), while composing or reviewing an image. Its electronic viewfinder is very sharp and includes a diopter to adjust to one’s own eye strength when not wearing glasses.

Shadow Adjustment Technology Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlight areas. While the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The SP-570 UZ addresses this challenge head-on with a new Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With the new technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye.

Perfect Shot Preview The SP-570 UZ features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects (such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering) on a live, multi-window screen before snapping the shot. Perfect Shot Preview enables users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques.

Perfect Fix in-camera editing Olympus’ Perfect Fix feature offers quick solutions for unanticipated image quality issues, which may be caused by several adverse conditions. Lighting Fix can be used to adjust any underexposed areas and Red-Eye Fix can be used to reduce the effects of red-eye sometimes caused by a direct flash. Additional in-camera editing functions can be quickly accessed right in the camera by the touch of a button; features available include resizing, trimming, frames, text options, black and white, and sepia.

TruePic III image processor Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III image processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures sharp images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.

31 shooting modes The SP-570 UZ makes it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations with 31 shooting modes, including a Multi-Fireworks mode. To capture the most stunning fireworks displays, this multi-exposure feature overlays the fireworks to create the memory of a lifetime. To activate any of the camera’s pre-set modes, simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action and more.

Olympus Master 2 software Olympus Master 2 software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. Also, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.

vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio vaio