Olympus Announces TG-810

Looks like Olympus has delivered the final word on TOUGH cameras with the TG-810. It’s waterproof (to a depth of 10m), shockproof (from a height drop of 2m), freezeproof (down to -10°C) and crushproof (up to 100kg weight). Most tough cameras nowadays do not feature a lens barrier, but the TG-810 does, protecting the lens from potential breakage from a fall. The manometer for checking depth underwater is back for those who does lots of diving. It also features an improved TAP Control Mode for controlling the camera by tapping or tilting the body, useful when wearing gloves. The 5x wide optical zoom (28-140mm) is important for wide-angle shots and to allow you to get close when underwater. New is the addition of a GPS & Electronic Compass with unique three-sensor technology for orientation and key information at a glance. Also new is the 3D photo shooting mode. The 3.0-in. LCD gains a high 921k-dot resolution and the camera now features Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC.

PRESS RELEASE

LEAD THE WAY WITH THE OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810™: SHOCKPROOF, WATERPROOF, FREEZEPROOF AND CRUSHPROOF CAMERA NOW HAS GPS TO KEEP YOU ON THE MAP

Capture Beautiful 720p HD Video, Venture Deeper with a Built-In Manometer, Tag Your Locations with Built-In GPS and Enjoy the Full Power of 3D Images!

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 2, 2011 – Today Olympus unveils the TOUGH TG-810, a shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof and crushproof compact camera designed to capture all of your extreme adventures, no matter where you go. Whether you are capturing close-ups of sea creatures on a scuba diving trip in the Bahamas, shooting ski stunts in crisp high-definition video (HD video) in the Rockies or hitting the skate park near your house, the Olympus TOUGH TG-810 is perfect for you. Rugged has met its match.

This 14-megapixel camera remembers exactly where you took the perfect image, so you don’t have to. The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 also boasts Dual Image Stabilization to cut the blur out of your photography, Wi-Fi compatibility for instant image sharing via an optional Eye-Fi Card, 3D still image capture in and out of the water.

• GPS, Electronic Compass and Manometer – use as a regular compass, tag images with landmark information or capture your altitude or depth of water in addition to location data and map coordinates;
• HD Video and HDMI® Control – HD video delivers a broadcast-quality movie experience when played back on a high-definition television (HDTV);
• 3D Photo Mode – captures two shots of a scene from two different angles to create still photos that can be viewed with the added excitement and realism of 3D;
• Eye-Fi™ Card Compatibility – allows automatic wireless uploading of images to the website or PC of your choice;
• New! Magic Art Filters – make it possible to create special artistic effects in still images and/or movies directly in the camera;
• In-Camera Panorama – offers quick and easy panorama shots; and
• AF Tracking – tracks a moving subject automatically and keeps it in focus for optimal image quality.

Track Your Adventures with GPS, Electronic Compass and Built-In Manometer
The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 features GPS and an Electronic Compass. The GPS on the camera automatically records your location while you are shooting so it remembers where you took a favourite photo. The Electronic Compass allows you to check your shooting direction in the field. The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 also offers a Manometer, which measures water and air pressure, enabling you to accurately monitor the depth or altitude of your images. It is the perfect camera for adventure seekers who want to snap shots while scuba diving, hiking or skiing. The location, direction, depth and altitude are recorded when each image is taken, and the information is stored within each picture’s digital file so you can easily trace your shooting locations once you are back at home.

HD Videos and HDMI Control for a Home Theatre Experience
The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 shoots gorgeous 720p HD video, so you all always capture the scene above and below the surface. Playback on your HDTV is also a breeze. You all be the hit of the party or any family function when you proudly display your brilliant images and videos on HDTV. Simply connect the camera to an HDTV with an HDMI™ cable, which can be purchased separately at any consumer electronics store. With HDMI Control, you can use your HDTV’s remote to control playback functions and navigate the camera’s menus from the comfort of your favourite couch.

3D Photo Mode
Now you can add even more dimension to your photographs by shooting dynamic 3D photos in any mode from macro to landscape, even underwater. Recreate a sense of depth like that of the original scene. Simply select the 3D Photo shooting mode, release the shutter for your first shot, slowly pan until the camera automatically takes a second image from a slightly different perspective. The 3D data is processed in-camera resulting in an .MPO file, the universal industry 3D format for easy display on 3D televisions or laptops.

Ready for real life
You don’t have to take an OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-810 outside to appreciate its outstanding build and image quality – but outside is where the camera‘s technology conquers. Whether it is the local pool or a tropical reef, the Automatic Underwater White Balance feature optimizes white balance settings to deliver Cousteau-like shots of life beneath the waves. It is also outside that the 3-inch, 920,000-dot, Super Precision HyperCrystal III LCD for TOUGH comes into play. This high-resolution, ultra scratch-resistant display delivers beautifully bright and clear images that are a joy to share – even in direct sunlight. A special layer in the LCD cuts down reflection for better visibility, so it is easier to frame, review and share movies and stills. An impressive optical zoom is another bonus in the open air.

Share Images Instantly with Eye-Fi Card Compatibility
Ready to upload and share your party images live as they happen? The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 is compatible with an optional Eye-Fi SD card, adding Wi-Fi capability so you can automatically upload images to your computer as you take them. Be the life of the social media party by uploading your shots immediately.

Express Your Inner Artist with New Magic Filter Movie
The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 is equipped with in-camera Magic Art Filters that enable users to enhance and customize images as they are being captured. Have more fun and get more flexibility without expensive and time-consuming computer software. Magic Filter Movie is a powerful new feature that allows you to apply Magic Art Filters to your high-definition videos to take them to a new level of artistic expression and places you in the director’s chair.

The Magic Art Filters include:
• Pop Art – enhance and saturate colours to create vivid, high-impact pictures that express the joyful, lighthearted feeling of the Pop Art style of the 1960s;
• Pin Hole – reduce the peripheral brightness of an image as though it were shot through a pinhole, connecting the viewer intimately with the subject at the center;
• Fish-Eye – emulate the wide angle of a fish-eye lens by taking extremely wide, hemispherical images and magnifying the center of the frame;
• Soft Focus – enclose the foreground of an image in gentle, pastel colours with a soft, elegant focus; similar to effects achieved in a studio;
• Drawing – turn your image into a sketch outline for children to colour;
• Watercolour – transform your images with a finish like that of watercolour paintings;
• New! Sparkle – shoot photos with the luxurious feel of added twinkling lights; and
• New! Punk – create two-tone images full of rock and roll spirit.

Broaden Your Horizons with In-Camera Panorama
Take the Olympus TOUGH TG-810 to places where you want to capture as much of the scene as you can. In-Camera Panorama mode makes it easy by capturing three images and stitching them together to create one amazing panoramic picture. Simply press the shutter button and slowly pan across the scene. The second and third images will be captured automatically and stitched together with the first image – resulting in one seamless panorama-size picture. To create the ultimate panorama, consumers can use the OLYMPUS [ib] software to stitch up to 10 images together.

AF Tracking for Friends and Man’s Best Friend
Whether you have got skiers or surfers in your sites, the AF Tracking technology on the Olympus TOUGH TG-810 locks your subject in focus and continuously adjusts focus and brightness whether you or your subject is moving, and is perfect for unpredictable situations like photographing skiers on a mountain, tropical fish while snorkelling or children at play in the backyard. There are even two newly designed “Pet Modes” for animal lovers, offering the ability to recognize the faces of a variety of breeds of both cats and dogs.

Point-Dunk-and-Shoot Cameras
The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 performs as well under water as it does on land, thanks to its lightweight, aluminum exterior, interior rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal out the elements. The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 can be submerged up to 33-feet under water. Four preset underwater scene modes make this camera perfect for taking photos while scuba diving, snorkelling or simply having worry-free fun in the pool. It can also capture HD movies under water. The camera features a water-repellent lens coating to prevent water droplets from forming on the lens so you get crystal-clear shots no matter how wet the shooting environment.

Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Captures it All
For those close-ups that make action shots special, the Olympus TOUGH TG-810 features a 5x wide-angle 28mm optical zoom lens (28-140mm), so that even more of the subject makes it into each shot – perfect for underwater photography. The lens does not protrude from its body so it is further protected from harsh conditions.

Nothing Can Shock This Tough Camera
The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 can withstand a 6.6-foot drop thanks to shock-absorbing technology designed to minimize the impact on the lens and circuitry. The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 can also resist up to 220-pounds of crushing pressure. This vacation-ready digital camera can take a beating and keep up with just about any active lifestyle. There is no need to think twice about bringing it along on a mountaineering trek or letting the kids take a few pictures at a picnic. Even for shots at the beach or capturing the wonder of marine life while snorkelling.

Freezeproof for Arctic Adventures
Whether you are in the arctic tundra or building a snowman in your backyard, the Olympus TOUGH TG-810 camera can still perform when the temperature dips well below freezing (14 degrees Fahrenheit; -10 degrees Celsius). TOUGH-series cameras continue to allow you to take great images in freezing situations where most traditional cameras would fail.

Dustproof Design
The rugged Olympus TOUGH TG-810 is an ideal companion for outdoor expeditions because its airtight construction is impervious to dust, dirt and other particles. When the camera gets dirty, just rinse it off.

Cut Out the Blur with Dual Image Stabilization
Dual Image Stabilization combines two technologies – mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization – to provide one powerful anti-blur solution for capturing great images whether the photographer or the subject is moving. Olympus’ mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the internal image sensor to compensate for camera movement, even in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Additionally, Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds to prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject.

Tough Cameras, Not Tough to Use
Whether you are shooting a portrait under the stars or an action shot of a hockey game, you won’t have to think too hard thanks to Intelligent Auto Mode. It automatically identifies what you are shooting (i.e., Portrait, Night + Portrait, Landscape, Macro and Sports) and adjusts the camera’s settings to capture the best quality results. Anyone can jump into this quick and hassle-free feature that does the thinking for them and produces incredible images.

LED Illuminator
An LED Illuminator on the Olympus TOUGH TG-810 works like a mini-flashlight on the front of the camera to enhance focus and exposure for macro shooting – great for underwater close-ups where light is scarce. The LED illuminator also works in conjunction with Bright Capture to help illuminate your subject when taking low-light portraits.

Beauty Mode
Taking beautiful portraits in the pool or on the slopes is easy with the Olympus TOUGH TG-810’s Beauty Mode. It enables you to soften shadows and smooth wrinkles or blemishes on your subject’s face – all in the camera and as you capture the image! Additionally, subtle edits can be made post-capture using the Beauty Fix mode. Choose “Clear Skin” to smooth a person’s complexion, “Dramatic Eye” to slightly emphasize the eyes, and “Sparkle Eye” to brighten and enhance the contrast of the iris and pupils. You can also apply all three edits at once. Have fun customizing your brilliant images without a PC and costly image editing software.

TruePic™ III+ Image Processor Delivers Superior Quality and Performance
Olympus developed its exclusive TruePic III+ image processor for the demanding performance of digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III+ Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colours, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III+ also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.

OLYMPUS [ib] Software Makes it Even Easier to Share and Print Your Photos
All Olympus digital compact cameras now offer the new OLYMPUS [ib] photo organizing and editing software. It includes photography workflow, browsing, editing and unique photo organizing functions. You can organize photos by person with automatic face-recognition technology, by place with a map-tagging function or by event. All information will be tagged in each photo’s data. You can then easily upload images to the integrated online service, [ib on the net], to share and backup photos, as well as order prints and photo merchandise. The name [ib] stands for image bridge, because the software is designed to create a bridge to help you get images from your camera to services where you can do more with your photos.

SD Compatibility
The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 is SD card compatible. The use of an optional SDHC/SDXC card expands the camera’s capacity up to 64 gigabytes.

Availability
The Olympus TOUGH TG-810 comes in black and silver and will be available in April 2011. It includes a Wrist Strap, WIN/Mac USB cable, Audio/Video Cable, Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery, Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual, software CD-ROM and Warranty Card

Canadian Pricing
TOUGH TG-810 Estimated Street Price: CAD $399.99 [US $399.99 | EUR €299]

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