Olympus Announces SP-720UZ

PRESS RELEASE

August 22, 2012

Equipped with a 26x optical ultra-zoom and Full High-definition movie capability

Announcing the OLYMPUS SP-720UZ compact digital camera

Olympus Imaging (Haruo Ogawa, president) is proud to announce the OLYMPUS SP-720UZ, on sale from August 31, 2012. This camera is equipped with a 26x optical ultra-zoom and Full High-definition movie capability^*1.

Main Features

• This camera packs a 26mm^*2 wide-angle to 676mm^*2 telephoto, 26x optical ultra-zoom lens. Equipped a CMOS shift-type sensor, and high-sensitivity DUAL IS^*3, for double image stabilization.
• Supports Full High-definition movie (MOV/H.264) shooting. Magic Filter^*4 is also available for use when shooting movies
• The 14.0 megapixel^*5 CMOS sensor enables HDR backlit correction, and easy high-speed continuous shooting

The SP-720UZ is equipped with a 26mm wide-angle to 676mm super-telephoto, high-magnification zoom lens, enabling an extremely wide range of shooting possibilities. The power of a large and heavy size super-telephoto lens is available on the compact body of the SP-720UZ, fitting in the palm of your hand, and making it the perfect companion for keeping baggage light on a trip. This is an “all-in-one” camera for easily taking high-grade pictures and movies on the go.

With the 26x optical zoom lens, users can capture the expressions on children’s faces at school games and plays, and the action of athletes at sporting events, with a level of detail not visible to the naked eye. With the wide-angle 26mm, users can not only shoot wide-open scenery, but also capture shots in small rooms or large group shots as well. With just this one camera, users can enjoy shooting various scenes at just the right angles. With CMOS shift-type image stabilization and DUAL IS for high-sensitivity shooting, camera shake is effectively reduced during telephoto shooting.

Simply pressing the button on the back of the camera allows high magnification, Full High-definition movie shooting, and Magic Filter also adds to the enjoyment of shooting movies on a digital camera.

Main Features — Details

26x Optical Ultra-Zoom Lens
The compact body of this camera is crammed with the power of a high-performance SLR 600 mm telephoto lens. The high-powered zoom on the SP-720UZ captures far away subjects dynamically, showing the details of their expressions.

Full High-Definition Movies
With a 1920 x 1080 High-definition size, and H.264 movie compression, beautiful movies can be shot even longer. With a dedicated movie button, starting and stopping movies is easy with a single touch. Linear PCM method is used for clear audio quality when recording.

DUAL IS Image Stabilization
DUAL IS is an image stabilization system that counteracts the direction of camera shake by moving the CMOS sensor via a shift-type image stabilization mechanism, and uses digital SLR algorithms. By using this function in combination with high-sensitivity shooting, camera shake and subject blur is effectively reduced, providing double image stabilization.

Magic Filter
Dramatic and Random Tile have been added to the popular Magic Filter mode. In addition to previous options, the two new filters make a total of 12 different options to choose from: Pop, Pinhole, Fisheye, Sketch, Wedding, Rock, Watercolor, Crystal, Miniature, and Mirror. Pop, Pinhole, Sketch, Fisheye, Wedding, Rock, Watercolor, Miniature, and Mirror can also be used when shooting movies.

Beauty Mode^*6 Makeup Function
The Makeup function has been added to Beauty mode, allowing users to apply full makeup to people’s faces in images after shooting. This function offers a full range of 17 different effects that will make women happy. Because effects are divided into four different themes such as Makeup, Eye Effects, Performance, and Spa, they are easy to choose from.

The Makeup menu screen is packed with cosmetic choices such as Cheeks, Eye Shadow, and False Eyelashes, so that users can easily choose and apply effects. In the Eye Effect menu, users can not only change eye color, but make eyes appear bigger. In the Spa menu, users can make subjects faces appear smaller, and add effects such as Lift-up to make faces look even more beautiful.

High-Speed Continuous Shooting
This camera is able to shoot 5 fps at 14 megapixels. In high-speed continuous mode, the camera can shoot at a maximum speed of up to 30 fps. Continuous shooting function: 2 fps (14M), 5 fps (14M), 10 fps (5M), 30 fps (5M)

3D Photo^*7 Shooting Function
This function enables capturing everything from everyday scenes to dynamic scenery in 3D.
3D Photo brings a fully three-dimensional feel to photos so that it feels like looking at actual scenery. For even more intense enjoyment, users can view the images on a 3D compatible TV or computer.

By simply selecting 3D Photo from the shooting mode, pressing the shutter button and sliding the camera horizontally, a 3D photo is created. Both the 3D data (MPO format) and the JPEG data are saved. 3D Photo can be used in Auto (after the first shot is complete, the second shot will automatically be taken once the camera is moved to match the target) and Manual (after the first shot is complete, the user takes the second shot after matching the semi-transparent layers). To play back, users simply select 3D Photo or regular photo, and then images can be viewed on a 3D compatible TV or computer.

MPO Files (Multi Picture Format)
This is a file format that conforms to CIPA standards for treating multiple images as a single image file. With 3D Photo, the two images with a disparity between the left and right eyes are merged into a single image and recorded as a Multi Picture Format file.

Pet Mode (Scene Mode)^*8
Dogs and cats are automatically detected. By selecting Pet-cat or Pet-dog modes, the camera will automatically detect cats or dogs and focus on their faces. Up to ten dog or cat faces can be detected.

Auto Shutter
Capture pets’ cute expressions. With Auto Shutter, the camera will automatically shoot when a pet faces the camera head-on. With this function, users won’t miss the whimsical antics of their pets. (Auto Shutter can detect only one pet.)

Eye-Fi Support^*9
Eye-Fi cards are SDHC memory cards that contain an internal wireless LAN. Images can be wirelessly uploaded to picture services, online photo albums, and computers.

SNS Upload Function
This function allows images to be easily uploaded to services such as Facebook and Flickr.
After shooting, images users want to share can be added to a list, and then transferred to a computer. Images added to a list on a computer can be searched with a single touch and easily uploaded. (It is necessary to preinstall the included software, OLYMPUS Viewer2, on a computer.)

^*1 The recording time for a single movie clip is limited to 29 minutes. Recording will automatically stop once the file size has reached 4 GB.
^*2 35mm film conversion
^*3 Differences in image stabilization may occur depending on shooting conditions.
^*4 The image size for still images is limited to 5M and lower when using the following Magic Filters: Sketch, Wedding, Watercolor, and Crystal. Filters available for use when shooting movies are limited.
^*5 Camera effective pixels
^*6 The image size is limited to 5M and lower for corrected images. Effects may differ from person to person.
^*7 3D Photo will not work for moving subjects. Movies are not available in this mode. The recorded 3D file complies with CIPA Multi Picture Format standards. A JPEG image will be simultaneously recorded along with the 3D file when shooting. The flash, zoom, face detection, Auto Tracking AF, and timer are not available in 3D Photo. The focal distance is locked at 35mm (35mm film equivalent) (Shooting range is 50 cm to ∞). Settings cannot be changed after the first shot is recorded.
^*8 The number of detectable pets are as follows. Auto shutter on: 1, Auto shutter off: 10. Faces may not be detectable in certain shooting conditions or for certain subjects. During pet detection, detection of people’s faces, and use of the flash are not available.
^*9 Eye-Fi card use is only permitted in the country of purchase. Make sure to abide by the laws in the country of use. Do not use Eye-Fi cards inside aircraft, or where the use of radio transmissions are limited or forbidden, or set the Eye-Fi card’s transmission function to OFF. Images and movies with a file size exceeding 2 GB cannot be sent. Data recorded with 3D Photo (MPO file) is only compatible with X2-Pro. For questions concerning Eye-Fi cards, contact the manufacturer.

Basic Features

Other Features

• Face and Back Control detects subjects faces and adjusts the focus, and optimizes the exposure
• Scene Mode allows for shooting not only standard scenes, but also enables easy shooting of beautiful images even in difficult shooting conditions
• HDMI Output Control*10 enables control of the camera, such as selecting and switching images with a TV remote control
• Face Detect AF lets the camera automatically detect faces
• Intelligent iAUTO automatically detects scenes and optimizes settings for shooting
• In-camera Panorama Merge allows users to easily shoot up, down, left, or right panoramic images by simply moving the camera as directed.
• Auto Tracking AF automatically tracks moving subjects and adjusts the focus
• Photo Surfing allows users to search for images by keyword, such as the date and subject (person, dog, cat)
• Supports AF Illuminator for focus assistance in dark situations
• Supported media: SD, SDHC, SDXC, Eye-Fi cards