Cheaper Prints at home

Eastman Kodak Company entered the consumer inkjet industry with a revolutionary new product line for home.

Kodak Easyshare All-in-One Printers will enable consumers to affordably print, sharp documents and Kodak lab-quality photos at home using premium, pigment-based inks that will save consumers up to 50 percent on everything they print. The three new printers provide ultimate levels of print quality and ease-of-use, while offering low total cost of ownership compared to other leading consumer inkjet printers on the market.

The Kodak EasyshareAiO Printers use Kodak’s premium, pigment-based ink, priced at $9.99 for a cartridge of black ink and $14.99 for a five-ink color cartridge. For every $15 spent on color ink and $10 spent on black ink, consumers can print the same number of pages at half the cost of other consumer inkjet printers.When the KODAK Photo Value Pack is purchased, a 4 x 6-inch photo costs as little as 10 cents per print.

According to a study by InfoTrends, the greatest obstacle to printing at home is the cost of ink and supplies.

All-In-One Printers Available in March – Featuring KodakcolorTechnology

The Kodak Easyshare AiO Printers feature exclusive Kodakcolor Technologythat enables consumers to cost-effectively print documents and Kodak lab-quality photos. Kodakcolor Technology is a combination of four key elements—pigment-based inks, micro-porous photo papers, color and image science, and the Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) print head—that deliver outstanding results for general-purpose printing of text and graphics and stunning color photos that are sharp and vibrant.

• The KODAK EASYSHARE 5100 All-in-One Printer ($149.99 US MSRP), featuring print, scan and copy capabilities, delivers high-quality documents and photos. The device can print and copy up to 32 pages per minute in black and 22 pages per minute in color, and print photos from Pictbridge-enabled cameras without involving a PC.
  
• The KODAK EASYSHARE 5300 All-in-One Printer ($199.99 US MSRP) builds on the 5100’s features by offering a 3-inch color LCD display that enables photo viewing and cropping directly from the printer. Memory card slots provide an additional quick and simple way to print digital pictures without a PC.
  
• The KODAK EASYSHARE 5500 All-in-One Printer ($299.99 US MSRP) is the perfect solution for home-office users. In addition to sharing the features of the 5100 and 5300 printers, the 5500 has fax functionality and includes a 2.4-inch color LCD display, an automatic document feeder and a duplexer attachment.

New Website from Kodak - www.inkisit.com

The site includes interactive games; videos of a comedic, mock-TV show called “Ink Is It”; a print-cost calculator for consumers to determine how much they are currently spending on ink; and detailed information about the new line of products. Over the next few months, Kodak will release several new videos, introduce new prize contests and provide other interactive, consumer-oriented features on the Web site.

Ricoh 500SE

Capture Location Data by Image

High-resolution Rugged Camera Optimizes GIS Mapping Workflows. It is developed for outdoor location-based photography, the 500SE boasts extreme durability and high resolution to meet the image quality and all-weather usability demanded by the mobile GPS photographer. The camera's integrated GPS module provides for an all-in-one, easy- to-use device for geo-coding images and video at the time of capture. For applications that require even greater precision, the camera is capable of receiving NMEA data streams from external GPS devices via its on-board Bluetooth(R) radio.

Once the captured "geo-images" and "geo-video" files are transferred to a PC, they are automatically converted to shape files or merged into geo- databases for instant integration into Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Points representing each file's position may be hovered over to display a thumbnail of the file, or clicked on to access the original image or video.

In addition to storing GPS data in the image and video files, the camera also utilizes a user-configurable "data dictionary" to tag files with workflow-related information. These attributes become part of the GIS layer table for automated database integration.

The 500SE's waterproof and shock-resistant shell protects a high- resolution 8MP sensor that is image stabilized and has an ultra rapid shutter response. Additional features include GPS track log capability, GPS lock (to record the position of an object as opposed to the position of the photographer), and the ability to send images wirelessly to handheld devices via Bluetooth(R) or WiFi. (R)

Features

- Wireless Imaging Simplified
- Bidirectional communication capabilities allow for instant transfer of images to mobile devices via Bluetooth or WiFi*. Alternately, the camera accepts NMEA data from external Bluetooth-enabled GPS devices.
- *WiFi version required.

Geo-coded Images and Video
The 500SE’s LCD provides precise real-time WGS-84 or MGRS position information derived from either the camera’s detachable GPS module or from external GPS devices. As content is captured, this data is embedded into the media file’s header.

Automatic Map Integration

Geo-coded images and video are automatically converted into ‘layer files’ by available GIS plug-ins. Hovering over a point displays a thumbnail with the user-defined attributes, while clicking on the point opens the full-size image.

Camera Shake Blur Reduction
The 500SE reduces camera shake blur by combining high ISO settings with fast shutter speeds.

2.5-inch LCD Screen

The LCD screen features an anti-reflection coating to preserve screen readability in high ambient light environments. You can easily adjust screen brightness to optimize image clarity. There is also an optical viewfinder, so you can use whichever is right for the situation, for more reliable photography.

28mm Wide-angle Zoom Lens
1cm Macro Photography

Capture subjects as close as 1cm away in the macro wide-angle mode or 10cm away in the tele-macro mode. The built-in flash unit illuminates subjects as close as 20cm from the camera.

Kodak Professional Image Enhancement Plug-Ins

Kodak Professional Image Enhancement Plug-Ins allow consumers to quickly improve the most common problems associated with digital images. There are four professional and three standard versions available and each programme is designed to target a different problem area. Photographers can download a free trial of the Image Enhancement Plug-Ins software by visiting http://www.asf.com/

KODAK DIGITAL GEM PLUG-IN / DIGITAL GEM PROFESSIONAL PLUG-INS

Smooths Skin Surfaces

The DIGITAL GEM Plug-In automatically reduces image noise/grain without sacrificing image detail or excessive softening. The plug-in allows photographers to create soft-focus effects, and image sharpening that surpasses most “unsharp mask” filters. It is possible to reduce or remove JPEG compression artefacts, as well as line screening patterns from flatbed scanners. For the more advanced user, the DIGITAL GEM Professional Plug-In offers greater flexibility and control with advanced features such as additional algorithms and 16-bit capability to control noise and grain.

KODAK DIGITAL GEM AIRBRUSH PROFESSIONAL PLUG-IN

Reduces Image Noise and Grain

The DIGITAL GEM AIRBRUSH software allows users to create an airbrush effect by automatically smoothing areas of a digital image without blurring or reducing fine detail. It minimises the imperfections of skin and other surfaces whilst fully preserving details like hair and eyebrows. The software can be used to create a starting image for more customised retouching and is fully compatible with ADOBE Photoshop.

KODAK DIGITAL ROC PLUG-IN / DIGITAL ROC PROFESSIONAL PLUG-IN

Restores, Corrects, and Balances Colour

The DIGITAL ROC Plug-In restores, balances and corrects the colour of any digital image by removing colour casts that have been caused by coloured lighting or fading. The software works by analysing the colour gradients of a digital image and then finding the optimum tone curve for each colour. The plug-in can be used to correct the effects of tungsten and fluorescent lighting and also to restore density and contrast to black and white digital images. The professional version includes additional features and functionality to give the user more controls.

KODAK DIGITAL SHO PLUG-IN / DIGITAL SHO PROFESSIONAL PLUG-IN

Optimises Contrast and Exposure

The DIGITAL SHO software automatically adjusts the dark areas in a digital image so that more detail is visible. The plug-in corrects exposure problems in images with backlit subjects and uneven flash illumination, as well as partial shade. The plug-in analyses the image and reveals the detail in the shadows without sacrificing any detail in the highlights. The professional plug-in works on both shadow detail lighting and highlight darkening.

KODAK IMAGE ENHANCEMENT PLUG-INS work with 8 bit digital photographs from any source, including film scanners, flatbed scanners, digital cameras, CD and the internet. The professional plug-ins work with 8 or 16 bit digital photographs. The plug-ins are compatible with ADOBE Photoshop and other programmes that support Photoshop plug-ins and are available on both Windows and Macintosh platforms.

Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z1050

Best-in-class

The new camera from Casio features a 7 shot/second burst rate and a continuous shutter Subject blur reduction. It also has a special auto-tracking mode which utilizes the AF motion analysis technology. Casio EX-Z1050 has been officially announced in London on January 30, 2007. Casio introduced a newly developed, high-performance, image-processing module, which makes shooting super-high resolution very easy, that means 10.1 megapixels files. Last year, Casio was the first company to introduce a camera, the Exilim Zoom EX-Z1000, which has 10.1 megapixels and a size to fit in any pocket. The EX-Z1050 is smaller than the EX-Z1000, but it features a new 2.6 inch Wide LCD display. The camera’s lightweight aluminum construction makes it very light.

Main Features

* Slim, compact model featuring 10.1 million effective pixels and 3x optical zoom.
* Maximum 7 shots/second high-speed continuous shooting (Limited to 2.0 megapixels and normal image quality. Requires use of a High Speed SD Memory Card.*)
* EXILIM Engine 2.0 image processing module featuring new motion analysis technology.
* Blur-reduction technologies - Automatically analyzes the velocity and vector of a moving subject and sets the most appropriate ISO sensitivity and shutter speed. - Anti Shake DSP reduces blur due to shaky hands and subject movement, using high shutter speeds and high sensitivity settings. - Movie mode with electronic camera shake compensation function.
* “Auto Tracking AF” function follows moving subjects, keeping them continuously in focus until the photo is taken.
* Newly developed 2.6 inch Wide and Bright LCD display (maximum brightness of 1,000 cd/m2 at centre of screen).
* Control panel that displays shooting information on the right side of the monitor and enables direct camera control.
* Super Life Battery allows up to 370 shots to be taken when fully charged. The number of shots that can be taken varies depending on the SD Memory Card used.

Specifications:

Sensor	• 1/1.75 " Type CCD • 10.3 million pixels total • 10.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3648 x 2736 • 3648 x 2432 (3:2) • 3648 x 2048 (16:9) • 2560 x 1920 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 @ 25fps • 512 x 384 @ 25fps • 320 x 240 @ 12.5fps
File formats	• JPEG Exif v2.2 • DCF • DPOF • Motion JPEG • AVI
Lens	• 38-114mm (35mm equiv) • 3x optical zoom
Image stabilization	No
Conversion lenses	No
Digital zoom	up to 4x
Focus	Contrast Detection AF
AF area modes	Spot, Multi, Tracking
AF assist lamp	Yes
Focus distance	• AF: 40cm - infinity • Macro: 10 - 50cm • Manual: 10cm - infinity
Metering	• Multi-pattern • Center-weighted • Spot by imaging element
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800
Exposure compensation	+/-2EV in 1/3 EV steps
Shuttter speed	• 1/2 - 1/1000 sec (Auto) • 4 - 1/1000 sec (Night Scene)
Aperture	F2.8 - 8.0 auto switching
Modes	• Program AE • BEST SHOT
White balance	• Auto • Fixed (6 modes) • Manual
Self timer	10 or 2 sec, Triple self-timer
Continuous shooting	• approx 1.1 sec intervals • High-speed: max 7 fps
Flash	• Auto • On • Off • Soft Flash • Red-eye reduction • Range: 0.1 - 3.3m (wide) 0.5 - 1.8m (tele) • Rapid Flash: 0.4 - 2.0m (wide) 0.5 - 1.1m (tele)
Viewfinder	No
LCD monitor	• 2.6-inch TFT • 114,960 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Full Speed • USB / AV
Print compliance	n/a
Storage	• SDHC / SD / MMC / MMC plus card compatible • 15.4 MB built-in memory
Power	• Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery NP-40 • Charger included
Weight (no batt)	125 g
Dimensions	91.1 x 57.2 x 24.2 mm

GPS, Mp3 player, photo camera...all in one

The new camera from Samsung, the i7, is equipped with an unic Physical User Interface (PUI) designed to make capture unic moments. It also features a 3.0” (bigger then thatof 2.5" from the professional Canon 1D MarkII camera) touch screen LCD which rotates through 180 degrees allowing the user to quickly switch between features. A built-in Tour Guide function provides instant access to travel information and guide covering 4,000 regions in 30 countries. Further information can also be downloaded directly from the Internet.

The 7 mega pixel i7, with 3x optical zoom, has been created for those who want to capture sound, video and photos wherever they are. With the LCD in neutral (0 degrees) the user can access SRS quality music files through the integrated MP3 player; and with the LCD rotated to 90 degrees its Portable Multimedia Player (PMP) function; and turned a full 180 degrees, high quality still images and MPEG-4 SVGA quality moving pictures can be taken. The camera also provides on-camera editing.

The camera is equipped with the Samsung Advanced Shake Reduction (ASR) system and ISO 1600 high sensitivity support so that images can remain sharp even in low light situations. It also features a Face Recognition feature for shooting portraits.

The Samsung I7 will be on sale from middle of march having a price of about 500 euro.

New firmware for D40 and D80!

Here are the latest firmware from Nikon for D40 and D80!



http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=14167&p_created=1169491133&p_accessibility=0&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PWRmbHQmcF9ncmlkc29ydD0zOjImcF9yb3dfY250PTEwODUmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li=&p_topview=1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8

The Lumix DMC-FZ8 is equipped with a 7.2 megapixel CCD and a LEICA DC
VARIO-ELMARIT lens offering a powerful 12x optical zoom (equivalent to
36mm to 432mm on a 35mm film camera) with an aperture of F2.8 to F3.3.
If this wasn’t enough, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical
Zoom function uses the centre part of the CCD to provide additional
magnification, extending the zoom power to an impressive 18x. Using this
feature in combination with the 4x digital zoom brings the total zooming
power to a remarkable 72x.
The combination of 11 elements in eight groups, including 3 aspherical
lenses generates superior optical performance while maintaining the
compactness of the unit.

O.I.S.

By shifting the O.I.S lens unit to keep the optical axis aligned
straight against the CCD, the camera ensures images are captured with supreme
clarity and sharpness.Another problem is the motion blur that can occur when a subject moves as the shot is being taken – particularly common when taking pictures
of sports, or young children for example. Building on the success of its
predecessor the FZ8 incorporates a new feature designed to resolve
motion blur. Intelligent ISO Control detects whether the subject is moving
and, as necessary raises the ISO setting and shutter speed according to
how fast the subject is moving and the light conditions. This happens
automatically, so you can effortlessly shoot without the need to adjust
the settings every time the conditions change.Panasonic Lumix offers solutions for both major causes of blurred images – O.I.S when you are moving, and Intelligent ISO Control when the subject is moving. Thanks to Panasonic, you can now take clear and
beautiful images in even the most demanding situations.
A key improvement is the inclusion of Panasonic’s advanced
image-processing LSI, Venus Engine III that can record at a sensitivity setting as
high as ISO 1250 with full resolution. Noise reduction is also greatly
improved, with picture noise removed in stages during image processing.
Critical noise is analysed, and chromatic and luminance noise are
reduced separately. The chromatic noise, which has greater effect on picture
quality, is then selectively suppressed, resulting in clearer images.
Spontaneous moments can easily be captured thanks to a 1.8 second start
up time and a 0.005 second shutter release time lag (the time between
pressing the button on the camera and the photo being taken).
Additionally, the burst shooting mode boasts the capability of sequential shots
at a rate of 3 frames per second at full resolution. The unlimited
consecutive shooting function allows you to take photos in succession up to
the capacity of the memory card or built in memory. Thanks to the
energy-efficient Venus Engine III, the FZ8 offers a long battery life,
allowing around 380 shots on a single battery charge.

Auto Focus

The various AF methods can be selected according to the shooting
environment and the position of the subject: multi, 3 point high-speed,
1-point high speed, 1-point normal-speed and spot. With the 1-point AF
method, the auto-focusing area can be chosen from as many as 11 points with
the joystick or cursor button. Various group area patterns can also be
selected in the new Multi method.

Movie Recording

In addition to standard VGA (640x480) motion image recording, the
DMC-FZ8 also records stunning full-size movies in wide-aspect VGA (848x480)
at 30fps, enabling you to view your recordings on a widescreen
television.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 specifications

Sensor • 1/2.5 " Type CCD
• 7.38 million pixels total
• 7.2 million effective pixels

Image sizes • 3072 x 2304
• 2560 x 1920
• 2048 x 1536
• 1600 x 1200
• 1280 x 960
• 640 x 480
• 3072 x 2048 (3:2)
• 2048 x 1360 (3:2)
• 3072 x 1728 (16:9)
• 1920 x 1080 (16:9)
Movie clips • 640 x 480 @ 30 / 10fps
• 320 x 240 @ 30 / 10fps
• 848 x 480 @ 30 / 10fps (16:9)
File formats • JPEG Exif v2.2
• DPOF
• QuickTime Motion JPEG
Lens • 36-432mm (35mm equiv)
• LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT
• 12x optical zoom
• Extra Optical Zoom (4:3: 14.4x for 5MP, 18x for 3, 2, 1, 0.3MP, 3:2:
18x for 2.5MP, 16:9: 18x for 2MP
Image stabilization MEGA O.I.S. (Mode1 / Mode2)
Conversion lenses Yes
Digital zoom up to 4x
Focus AF/AF-Macro/MF Switchable, Manual Focus(Joystick), Continuous AF
On/Off
AF area modes 1-point / 1-point high speed / 3-point high speed /
Multi-point / Spot
AF assist lamp Yes
Focus distance • Normal: 30cm-infinity (wide) 200cm - infinity (tele)
• Macro: 5cm-infinity (wide) 200cm - infinity (tele(except tele end)
• Tele Macro(at tele end : 100cm - infinity
Metering • Intelligent Multiple
• Center-weighted
• Spot
ISO sensitivity • Auto
• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400
• ISO 800
• ISO 1250
• High Sensitivity mode ISO 3200
Exposure compensation +/- 2EV in 1/3EV steps
Exposure bracketing +/- 1/3 EV -1EV step, 3 frames
Shuttter speed • Program AE: 1-1/2000 sec
• Aperture Priority AE / Shutter Priority AE: 8-1/2000 sec
• Manual: 60-1/2000sec.
• Starry Sky Mode: 15, 30, 60sec
Aperture F2.8 - 8 (wide) F3.1 - 8 (tele)
Modes • Program AE
• Aperture Priority AE
• Shutter Priority AE
• Manual
• Scene
• Simple
• Intelligent ISO
Scene modes • Portrait
• Soft Skin
• Scenery
• Sports
• Night Portrait
• Night Scenery
• Panning
• Food
• Party
• Candle
• Fireworks
• Starry Sky
• Baby 1 & 2
• Aerial photo
• Snow
• High Sensitivity
• Beach
• Sunset
• Pet
White balance • Auto
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Shade
• Halogen
• Flash
• White Set 1/2
White balance fine tune 2-axis adjustable, ±9steps each, Blue/Amber
and Magenta/Green bias
Self timer 2 or 10sec, 10sec / 3 images
Continuous shooting Full-Resolution: 3 frames/sec or 2 frames/sec max.
7 images (Standard mode), Max. 5 images (Fine Mode)
Image parameters Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia
Flash • Auto
• Auto / Red-eye reduction
• Forced On
• Forced On / Red-eye Reduction
• Slow Sync / Red-eye reduction
• Forced Off
• Flash output adjustment 1/3EV step, +/-2 EV
• Range: 0.3 - 6.0m (wide) 1.0 - 5.4m (tele)
Viewfinder 0.44" Color EVF (188K Pixels), Field of View : approx. 100%
LCD monitor • 2.5-inch Polycrystalline TFT
• 207,000 pixels
Connectivity • DC in
• AV out
• USB
Print compliance PictBridge
Storage • SD/SDHC/MMC card
• 27 MB built-in memory
Power • Li-ion battery pack
• Optional AC adapter
Weight (no batt) 310 g (0.68lb)
Dimensions 112.5 x 72.2 x 79.0 mm (4.43 x 2.84 x 3.11 in)

The Canon G7

Main features
· 10.0 Megapixels
· 6x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer and SR coating
· DIGIC III and iSAPS with Advanced Noise Reduction and Face Detection AF/AE
· 2.5” high-resolution LCD with wide viewing angle and anti-glare coating
· ISO 1600 for flash-free, low light shooting
· Ergonomic design with dedicated ISO and Multi Control dials for fast, easy operation
· 25 shooting modes including full manual control and 2 custom settings
· Extra telephoto reach with Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
· Hot shoe support for Canon Speedlite flashes and optional lens accessories

In comparison with the G6 many things have changed regarding the Canon G7. First the resolution is 10 MP not 7 like the Canon G6. The processor has also been changed now it is a Digic III and also optical zoom is longer. The G7 also features image stabilization, wider ISO range, but has los the Raw mode.
Performance
Regarding the responsiveness it is a much improvement over the G6. The focus speed is acceptable, especially given the huge zoom range, but there are faster cameras on the market - even the S3 IS, with twice the zoom range, consistently beats it at the wide end of the zoom. The G7's auto focus is slow in low light or macro mode. Shutter lag when using the LCD is disappointing. The time between pressing the shutter and taking the picture is a very short 0.05 seconds (approx).
Built-in Flash
The built-in flash unit has a specified range of 4.0 m at wide angle and 2.5 m at telephoto (when the ISO is set to auto). The FUNC menu offers a Flash Exposure Compensation setting (-2.0 to +2.0), and the AF illuminator helps focus in low light. The red-eye reduction works ok at shorter distances. The shutter lag when using flash increases to half a second. On a more positive note you can use the flash in continuous (burst) mode.
Chromatic Aberrations
The G7 does suffer from some purple fringing, especially at the wide end of the zoom and in contre-jour situations. Chromatic aberration is also visible at the wide end of the zoom and wide apertures.

Dynamic range
The most important problem with the G7 is it’s dynamic range performance. The clipping is caused by a combination of limited dynamic range, the camera's default tone curve and a tendency to overexposure. You need great care with the exposure and it would also be good to use a lower contrast setting.
ISO and IS
The G7 uses the same 10MP 1/1.8-inch sensor as the other cameras. At ISO 80 and 100 there's plenty of detail. The G7's noise reduction begins to mix in at ISO 200, but it still preserves enough detail. From iso 800 things begin to be quite serious, you loose a lot of detail and 1600 is almost impossible to use.
The optical image stabilization works very good. There are three modes: Continuous (IS on all the time), 'Shoot only' (IS is activated at the moment the exposure is made) and Panning (for horizontally panned shots).
The first option makes framing easier - the IS system steadies the preview image, and we found it more consistently effective at extremes.
Shoot only - is effective when you have the almost correct shutter speed.
You can handheld shoots at almost 5 times slower than normal speeds, but it works almost perfectly at 2 stops slower.
So…
The Canon G7 is very well built, it has a lot of features like image stabilization and it also has a robust body. Image quality is very good at ISO 50 and 100, but at high ISO you need perfect exposures for the best results. At ISO between 200-800 it can’t be compared with a SLR, but it has acceptable results. The drawbacks in comparison with the G6 is the lose of the maximum aperture F2.0-3.0 and they also tried to keep the price very low.
Format: Compact
Max resolution: 3648 x 2736
Low resolution: 2816 x 2112, 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
Image ratio with: 4:3, 3:2
Effective pixels: 10.0 million
Sensor photo detectors: 10.3 million
Sensor size: 1/1.8 " (7.18 x 5.32 mm)
Sensor type: CCD
Colour filter array: RGB
ISO rating: Auto, 80 ,100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Zoom wide (W): 35 mm
Zoom tele (T): 210 mm (6 x)
Digital zoom: Yes, 4.0x
Image stabilization: Yes,
Lens Auto Focus: Yes
Manual Focus: Yes
Auto focus type: AiAF TTL 9-point (with face detection)
Normal focus range: 50 cm
Macro focus range: 1 cm
White balance override: 6 positions & manual preset
Aperture range: F2.8 - F4.8
Built-in Flash: Yes
External flash: Yes, hot-shoe
Flash modes: Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Exposure compensation: -2 to +2 EV in 1/3
EV steps: Metering Evaluative, Center Weighted, Spot
Aperture priority: Yes
Shutter priority: Yes
Continuous Drive: Yes, 2.0 fps
Movie Clips: Yes, 1024 x 768 @ 15 fps, 640 x 480 @ 30/15 fps, 320 x 240 @ 30/15 fps, 160 x 120 @ 15 fps
Self-timer: Yes
Storage types: SD/MMC card
Compressed format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
Quality Levels: Super-Fine, Fine, Normal
Viewfinder: Optical
LCD: 2.5 " LCD Pixels 207,000
Video out: Yes
USB: Yes, 2.0
Firewire (IEEE 1394): No
Weight (inc. batteries):380 g
Dimensions: 106 x 72 x 43 mm

A day, a picture

Watch this!
Noah takes a photo of himself every day from 11 January 2000 - 31 July 2006

First 18x optical zoom camera

Olympus SP-550 UZ

With an 18x wide zoom lens (equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm camera) there’s no need to disturb your subject. Telephoto shots can be prone to blur caused by camera shake, so the SP-550 UZ features Dual Image Stabilization to help deliver clear results. The burst rate is up to 15 frames per second*! And with a 6.4cm LCD it’s easy to frame and capture shots, without having to squint and make guesses about how the image will turn out.

Night shoots

You can rely on BrightCapture Technology to add brightness to any shot, even in movie mode! With the help of an extra-bright LCD, framing dim shots is no problem, making high-quality photo and video capture a reality in virtually any low-light situation.

The SP-550 UZ main features:

• 18x wide optical zoom (equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm camera) 1:2.8-4.5
• Dual Image Stabilization
• 7.1 Megapixels
• 6.4cm/2.5” LCD with 230,000 pixels
• High burst rate (up to 15fps*)
• Super Macro mode (from as close as 1cm)
• P/A/S/M exposure modes
• BrightCapture Technology for better low light photography – also available in movie mode
• 23 scene modes (including Portrait, Sports, Night Scene)
• 25 languages on board
• Internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
• Supplied with Olympus Master software and four AA batteries
ISO sensitivity • Auto ISO
• ISO 50
• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400
• ISO 800
• ISO 1600
• ISO 3200
• ISO 5000