By Shutterbug Staff

September 25, 2007 — Olympus has introduced the SP-560 Ultra Zoom digital camera with 27mm wide-angle to 18x optical zoom) and an 8-megapixel image sensor. Its super-macro captures from as close as one centimeter. The compact lens construction combines high-refractive, aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements. The bright, f/2.8-4.5 lens provides the equivalent of 27-486mm focal length with 100x total seamless zoom (5.6x digital zoom).

Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.

The SP-560 UZ also incorporates Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail.

Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor is said to produce 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.

The SP-560 UZ features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It’s a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.

Dual Image Stabilization technology adjusts 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.

The SP-560 UZ features a new in-camera panoramic photo shooting capability, which captures three images and stitches them together to create one panoramic picture. Users can easily do this by pressing the shutter button and slowly panning across a panoramic scene. The second and third images will be automatically captured and stitched together with the first image – resulting in one panoramic-size picture. To create the ultimate panoramic picture, consumers can use the Olympus Master Software 2 to stitch up to 10 images together to produce an even larger panoramic image.

Capable of capturing images at 15 frames per second (image size reduced), the SP-560 UZ is said to offer the highest burst rate of any compact digital camera. 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.

The SP-560 UZ has 33 shooting modes, including TV-quality video with sound (640x480/30fps). Simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action, macro and more.

An underwater housing (PT-037) works with the SP-560 UZ, enabling great images to be captured while scuba diving to depths of approximately 130 feet (40 meters) beneath the surface. The SP-560 UZ also features a threaded lens barrel, which enables easy attachment of the TCON-17 teleconversion lens for more than 30x optical zoom (requires CLA-10 Lens Adapter). Olympus also offers a nylon ultra-zoom carrying case.

The SP-560 UZ will be available in October 2007. It will also include: Neck Strap, WIN/Mac USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, four AA Batteries, Manual, Warranty Card and OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM.

Estimated Street Price: $449.99 (U.S.)

http://www.olympusamerica.com.