Olympus released three new compact point and shoot digital cameras, the FE-4050, FE-5050 and the µ-7050. All three cameras are slim in size and are available in several color options. They are also all equipped with the TruePic III image processing engine, providing color consistency and a wide dynamic range.
Shooting functions feature six Magic Filters, which allow you to transform a normal scene via Pop, Pin Hole, Fisheye, Drawing, Punk and Soft Focus options. They include easy-to-understand descriptions of camera modes on the LCD monitor and an iAUTO function that automatically optimizes the camera settings by analyzing the scene. AF Tracking helps keep a moving subject in focus by tracking it automatically, whilst Perfect Fix corrects backlight exposure and redeye. They also come with a USB battery charging option, which allows the camera battery to be recharged from a PC.
There isn’t a lot of difference between the FE-4050 and FE- 5050, except for megapixel capacity (12- and 14-megapixels respectively), optical zoom (4X and 5X) and color options. The µ-7050, however, boasts a high-magnification 7X optical zoom lens with wide-angle shooting capability. The zoom capabilities are supported by a 14-megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD that works together with the high-resolution lens to capture high-definition images. A built-in “DUAL IS” image stabilization compensates for image blur due to camera shake by adjusting the direction of the CCD.
Here’s a quick look at some key specs of each model:
FE-4050
- Effective pixels: 12-megapixels
- Optical zoom: 4X
- Wide-angle shooting: 27mm (35mm camera equivalent)
- Image stabilization: High-sensitivity shooting
- LCD size: 2.7-inch, 230,000 dots
- LCD type: TFT colour
- Movie recording: VGA (Motion JPEG)
- Compatible media: SD memory card / SDHC memory card
FE-5050
- Effective pixels: 14 megapixels
- Optical zoom: 5X
- Wide-angle shooting: 26mm (35mm camera equivalent)
- Image stabilization: High-sensitivity shooting
- LCD size: 2.7-inch, 230,000 dots
- LCD type: TFT colour
- Movie recording: VGA (Motion JPEG)
- Compatible media: SD memory card / SDHC memory card
µ-7050
- Effective pixels: 14 megapixels
- Optical zoom: 7X
- Wide-angle: shooting 28mm (35mm camera equivalent)
- Image stabilization: DUAL IS (CCD-shift image stabilization & High-sensitivity shooting)
- LCD size: 3.0-inch, 230,000 dots
- LCD type: TFT colour
- Movie recording: HD movie (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)
- Compatible media: SD memory card / SDHC memory card
All three will launch in Japan later in August, while the FE-4050 and FE-5050 arrive in Europe in September. Prices are yet to be announced, and availability for the U.S. hasn’t been announced either.
