Olympus Digital Still Cameras Shop Olympus Digital Cameras Online Olympus Compact Digital Cameras Feature Comparison Chart See also Olympus E System Digital SLR. Click on model number in the chart below to see photo and detailed features. Click on any underlined feature on this chart for a more detailed explanation.

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Olympus Digital Camera Feature Explanations:

1 - Optical Zoom

Olympus photos are known worldwide for sharp, vibrant image quality. The SP-570's powerful, ultra-compact lens gives you unmatched shooting versatility for sports, travel or everyday photography. The bright, f/2.8-4.5 lens provides the equivalent of 26-520mm focal length (in 35mm photography), with 100x combined total zoom (20x optical and 5x digital). Users can 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.

2 - Auto-Connect USB 2.0 High Speed

Transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the Auto-Connect USB 2.0 that does not require software drivers (for most computers/operating systems) for hassle-free and high-speed image downloads.

3 - AVI Movies With Audio

Instead of writing a dozen postcards, shoot a video of the surf crashing below your balcony and then e-mail it to everyone back home.

4 - LCD Display

Composing and reviewing images with an LCD is an asset when taking digital pictures because it allows users to accurately frame their photographs and make decisions about saving or deleting them. Now you can easily compose, view and share your images indoors and outdoors, even in direct sunlight. The large, high-resolution HyperCrystal LCDs feature a wider viewing angle (140 degrees, left to right or up and down) and anti-glare technology that uses natural light to brighten the LCD.

5 - Dual Image Stabilization

Dual Image Stabilization is an advanced combination of mechanical CCD-shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization. CCD-shift Image Stabilization uses built-in electro-gyro sensors to record camera movement and adjust the CCD image sensor. This ensures that light remains centered on the image sensor to maintain image clarity despite a slight movement on the part of the photographer. Digital Image Stabilization Mode boosts ISO sensitivity and shutter speed so that images remain crisp and clear -- free from the blur caused by moving subjects. The combination of the two Image Stabilization Technologies ensures the best image clarity in virtually any shooting environment.

6 - TruePic™ TURBO / TruePic™ III Image Processor Technology

This exclusive Olympus technology uses all pixels at all resolutions, for unmatched detail even at lower resolution settings. With Olympus' TruePic TURBO Image Processor, you can capture even higher quality images by using all pixels, all the time, at all resolutions. Pixel-smoothing produces smoother, clearer, more color-accurate photos even at lower resolutions. Image edges are sharper, and random digital noise is reduced.

The more powerful TruePic III image processor was developed for the demanding performance of professional digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. The processor captures beautiful images with superior quality and eliminates graininess. Even pastel colors are reproduced in true-to-life colors across the entire photograph.

7 - xD-Picture Card

Olympus and Fujifilm jointly developed the xD-Picture Card, a new type of memory media with an ultra-compact design about the size of a postage stamp, image storage capacity of up to 8 gigabytes, compatibility with different digital camera brands, and prices that are comparable to current SmartMedia™ cards. The name of the new xD-Picture Card was inspired by the words "eXtreme digital" to signify the excellence of this new memory media for recording, storing, and transporting audio-visual information.

Camera users concerned with compatibility of digital media between different brands of digital cameras will appreciate the xD-Picture Card's versatility. With a CompactFlash adapter the xD-Picture Card can be used with any CompactFlash compatible device for even more possibilities. A USB Reader/Writer provides easy computer connectivity, and a PCMCIA PC Card adapter for laptops and other devices ensures the easy downloading of data.

Although similar in some ways to all flash media, xD-Picture Cards are designed for increased durability and reliability despite their size. The small size of the card allows the design of even smaller, more stylish and powerful digital cameras.

8 - microSD Memory Card Compatible

All Olympus digital point-and-shoot cameras accept xD-Picture Card media. The Stylus 1030 SW also comes equipped with an adapter which will enable microSD memory cards to be used when capturing images. The microSD cards are emerging in consumer electronic devices, including mobile phones and PDAs. Users can also easily display photos on their HDTVs.

9 - All Weather Construction

The lightweight and ergonomic metal body of the Stylus Digital provides all-weather protection from the elements, so it's fine to take the camera outside in a downpour, on the slopes, on the yacht or in a blizzard. Rubber gaskets throughout the camera's interior ensure that rain, sleet and snow can't stop the Stylus Digital from taking great shots -- get the camera wet, wipe it off, and keep on shooting.

10 - Shock Proof, Waterproof, Freeze Proof

The Stylus 1030 SW can withstand a 6.6-foot drop with its shock-absorbing technology, which minimizes the impact on the lens and circuitry. In addition, the Stylus 1030 SW features a crushproof body that can withstand up to 220 pounds of crushing pressure. The Stylus 1030 SW performs as well underwater as it does on land because its lightweight, stainless steel and aluminum exterior is matched with interior rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal out the elements. It can be fully submerged to capture beautiful images down to 33 feet (10 meters) underwater, and features a built-in manometer, making it ideal for more serious underwater adventurers who want to know the depth of where their images were taken. Unlike other point-and-shoot cameras that freeze up in frosty weather, the Stylus 1030 SW still performs when the temperature dips well below freezing (14 degrees Fahrenheit; -10 degrees Celsius) so it is ready to climb the mountain or hit the slopes when you are. Finally, the rugged Stylus 1030 SW is an ideal companion for an expedition in the Sahara because its airtight construction is impervious to dust, dirt and other particles. When the camera gets dirty, just rinse it off with your canteen.

By combining a light-weight, aluminum exterior with rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal the interior from the elements, Olympus delivers a slim body design that performs as well under water (down to 10 feet / 3 meters below the surface) as it does on land. The Stylus 850 SW also features a water-repellant lens coating to prevent water droplets from forming on the lens so you get crystal-clear shots no matter how wet the shooting environment. The Stylus 850SW is designed to withstand a 5-foot drop, bump or other mishap. Built with durable materials and shock-absorption technology that minimizes the impact delivered to the lens and circuitry when dropped, the Stylus 850 SW offers superior durability in a point-and-shoot digital camera. Perfect for skiing, snowboarding, sledding and other winter fun, the Stylus 850SW is winterized to perform at temperatures even below freezing (14°F / -10°C).

11 - Direct Print Capability

Thanks to the power of PictBridge technology, it is now possible to connect these cameras directly via USB cable to any PictBridge-enabled printer like the Olympus P-10 Digital Photo Printer. Printing and sharing images has never been easier, and the P-10 uses photo lab-quality printing -- dye-sublimation -- to create archival quality prints rich in color.

12 - Built-in Multi-Mode Flash

A built-in flash that offers settings to provide a wide range of options:

• Auto Flash fires automatically in low light or back-light, to help ensure the illumination is appropriate.
• Red-Eye Reduction Flash Mode emits a series of pre-flashes right before the shutter snaps, allowing the subject's eyes to adjust to the light level of the flash -- reducing the red-eye effect.
• Fill-In Flash Mode (forced on) adds light to eliminate shadows, for a more natural look in photos when your subject is in both bright light and dark shadow.
• Flash Off Mode is available when flash photography is not permitted or to allow for long exposures for shots like sunsets and night scenes.

13 - Noise Reduction

Olympus' noise reduction technology helps prevent the image noise that could otherwise appear in longer exposures taken in low light.

14 - Program Auto Exposure With Shooting Modes

In fully Programmed Auto mode, the camera provides basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless snapshots. The camera also features a generous assortment of Shooting Modes for optimal results in a variety of situations, such as Night, Portrait, Landscape, and Sports. Users can also create My Mode settings for additional customization through self-defined combinations of white balance, sharpness, contrast and other settings in an easy-to-view histogram function.

15 - Accessory Lenses Accepted

Accepts accessories such as close-up lenses and wide-angle or tele conversion lenses.

16 - In-camera Editing

With in-camera editing features such as Red-Eye Fix, image composition with the option to add a built-in frame or text, and color brightness or saturation adjustments, users can edit photos on the fly -- no longer do you have to tool around with computers and editing software for simple image touch-ups!

17 - ED Glass Lens

Extraordinary Dispersion Glass elements ensure crisp detail and vibrant color from edge to edge. With inferior lenses there is a noticeable difference in the brightness of the image at the center compared to the outer edges of the frame. The primary benefit of this lens design is that it allows for a faster lens, capable of providing greater detail in shadow areas or in low light with less fall off of light from the center of the lens to its outer edges.

18 - 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. Many Olympus cameras address this challenge head-on with Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With this technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye. Combined with Face Detection Auto Focus and Auto Exposure, these cameras capture smiles in shadows without getting a dark image in difficult lighting such as in backlight situations. The technology can also be turned off for any shooting situation where shadows are a key element of a photograph's drama.

19 - Face Detection Auto Focus and Auto Exposure

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. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button.

20 - Perfect Shot Preview

Perfect Shot Preview mode enables users to view and select various photography effects on the multi-view screen before even snapping the shot. The 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 an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.