Olympus Adds d-SLRs & Stylus

By Greg Scoblete -- TWICE, 3/12/2007

CENTER VALLEY, PA. — Olympus will ship a pair of EVOLT digital SLRs to dealers this summer along with a new model in its Stylus line.

Both the E-510 and E-410 will be available for less than $1,000 and offer the company's 10-megapixel Live MOS image sensor, 2.5-inch Live View LCD with a 170-degree viewing angle and Olympus' supersonic wave filter dust-reduction system. They also incorporate the firm's TruePic III processor and are compatible with 4/3 standard lenses and accessories.

The E-510 features a CCD-shifting mechanical image stabilization system alongside digital image stabilization, which is one of 28 shooting modes. It offers manual controls and accepts both CompactFlash and xD memory cards.

The E-510 will ship in July in three configurations. A body-only kit will retail for an estimated $799. A single lens kit will bundle the 3x optical Zuiko Digital ED 14–42 mm lens (28mm–84mm, 35mm equivalent) for $899. For $999, a two-lens bundle adds the ED 40-150mm (80mm-300mm, 35mm equivalent) telephoto lens, a $279 value.

The E-410 will ship in May and offer many of the same features of the E-510, minus the mechanical image stabilization. It offers 30 scene modes, including digital image stabilization mode.

A body-only version of the E-410 will retail for $699.

The E-410 one-lens kit includes the Zuiko 14–42 mm lens for $799. The two lens bundle adds the Zuiko 40-150mm for $899.

Also due in May is the all-weather Stylus 780 for $349. The 7-megapixel camera incorporates the CCD-shifting mechanical stabilization found on the E-510, along with a digital image stabilization mode. It features a new shadow adjustment tool for correcting scenes of extreme contrast to bring detail out in shadowed areas.

The camera features a 5x optical zoom lens, a 2.5-inch LCD, 23 shooting modes, in-camera editing, the TruePic III engine, Bright Capture technology with a maximum ISO of 2,500, face-detection autofocus/autoexposure and a new Perfect Shot Preview mode. When selected, the preview will show consumers the effects of various shooting modes on the image they're framing in the LCD.