Olympus Mju Tough 8000
- Brand: Olympus
- Subject: Digital Cameras
- Category: Digital Cameras
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CES report
There’s really only one word to describe the new shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, crushproof and shakeproof camera from Olympus: Tough! Built to withstand some of the harshest environments on earth, the Mju Tough series build on the impressive specifications of the renowned Mju SW Series by adding Dual Image Stabilization. Now, when the Mju Tough-8000 arrives at the windy mountain peak or dive into choppy waves, it stays steady and ready to capture blur-free images in virtually any condition. The Olympus Mju Tough 8000, designed for active and adventurous people, features 12 Megapixels for poster-sized prints and can survive a 6.6-foot drop, venture 33 feet underwater, withstand 220 pounds of crushing pressure, and laugh at freezing temperatures.
Olympus Mju Tough 8000 digital camera
The Olympus Mju 8000 camera features Tap Control to make it easy for skiers, divers and snowmen makers to control key settings without removing their gloves. It can also just be fun for those who enjoy new modern technology. “Olympus designed the new Mju Tough series to go places other point-and-shoot cameras wouldn’t dare to go, and by adding Dual Image Stabilization we ensure that adventurers will come home with crisp, clear images of their travels,” said Nadine Clark, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “After all, when you make cameras that can be dropped, submerged and frozen you expect the terrain where you use them to get a little rocky along the way, and you want stability as well as durability.”
Olympus mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
For the first time, Dual Image Stabilization will be offered on Olympus’ cameras in the tough category. In the cold climates where the Olympus Mju Tough 8000 thrives, you may shiver, but the camera performs sure and steady even in shaking hands. 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 that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject.
Shock- & Waterproof Olympus Mju 8000
Afraid the mountain wind might sweep a camera out of your hands and dash it on the rocks below? Never fear, the Olympus Mju Tough-8000, available in stylish blue, black or silver, can withstand a 6.6-foot drop and features a crushproof body that can withstand up to 220 pounds of pressure. Olympus Mju Tough series cameras perform as well underwater as they do on land because their lightweight, stainless steel and aluminum exteriors are matched with interior rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal out the elements. The Olympus Mju Tough 8000 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. Additionally, movies can be captured and colors are more vibrant using the underwater movie mode on the Mju Tough 8000.
Freezeproof Olympus Mju Tough 8000
The Olympus Touch 8000 digital camera also features a water-repellant lens coating to prevent water droplets from forming on the lens to get crystal-clear shots no matter how wet the shooting environment. Whether you’re in the arctic tundra or building a snowman in your backyard, the Mju Tough 8000 still performs when the temperature dips well below freezing (14 degrees Fahrenheit; -10 degrees Celsius). Olympus Mju Tough series cameras continue to allow you to take great images in freezing situations where most traditional cameras would fail.
Olympus Mju Tough 8000 Beauty mode
The new “OR” button makes it easy to activate Olympus’ unique features, including In-Camera Panorama, Shadow Adjustment and Perfect Shot Preview. Simply press the new OR button to easily access these commonly used features. Taking beautiful portraits in the pool or on the slopes is easy with the new 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.
Olympus Mju Tough 8000 Tap Control
The Mju Tough 8000 can be controlled with a simple tap on its top, back or sides, which is made possible thanks to its internal 3D accelerometer that detects the direction of the force on the camera’s body. To turn on the flash or Shadow Adjustment Technology, all that is required is a couple of taps on the camera’s sides and top. In adverse climates Tap Control ensures fast adjustment of settings even if you are fighting frostbite wearing large gloves that make pressing traditional buttons nearly impossible.
Wide-Angle Optical zoom lens
The Olympus Mju Tough 8000 features a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom (28-102mm equivalent in 35mm photography, f3.5-5.0) 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. All Olympus digital point-and-shoot cameras accept xD-Picture Card media. Starting with products available in August 2008, they also accept microSD memory cards to capture images. The new Olympus Mju Tough 8000 camera offers the flexibility to use either xD-Picture Card or microSD memory cards, which is just one more advantage of Olympus point-and-shoot cameras.
Face detection on the Olympus Mju Tough 8000
The next generation of Olympus’ LCD technology - HyperCrystal III - displays twice as bright as previous versions so that you can see the details more clearly, even in direct sunlight. The new technology is offered on the Mju Tough-8000 in a 2.7-inch LCD. Portrait and group shots make family reunions live beyond the short event, and with Face Detection you’ll capture even the shyest relatives. The Mju Tough-8000 detects up to three within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure to capture sharp, brilliant portraits and group shots. Thanks to the unrivaled durability of the Olympus Tough cameras, you’ll capture amazing photos even if your next family reunion is at a National Park, a water park or a ski slope!
Olympus Tough 8000 features an Intelligent Auto Mode
Skating at night? You won’t be the last one on the ice 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. First-time users can jump into this quick and hassle-free feature that does the thinking for them and produces incredible images. The places you can take Olympus Mju Tough series cameras - the Grand Canyon or the volcanic sand beaches of Hawaii - are locations where you want to capture as much of the scene as you can. In-Camera Panorama mode makes it possible by capturing three images and stitching them together to create one amazing panoramic picture. Simply press the shutter button and slowly pan across a panoramic 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 panoramic picture, consumers can use the Olympus Master Software 2 to stitch up to 10 images together.
Olympus Shadow Adjustment Technology
Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlit 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. The Olympus Mju Tough 8000 addresses 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 with the same contrast as the naked eye.
Olympus Perfect Shot Preview
The Olympus Mju Tough 8000 features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-window screen before snapping the shot. Perfect Shot Preview enables users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing
The Olympus Mju Tough 8000 offers Red-Eye Fix and Shadow Adjustment Edit, in-camera editing features such as resizing, and saturation adjustments, enabling users to edit photos right in the camera. With the Perfect Fix function, multiple editing features can be applied at once. An LED Illuminator on the Olympus Mju Tough series camera 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 also works in conjunction with Bright Capture to help illuminate your subject when taking low-light portraits.
Olympus TruePic III Image Processor
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 colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III captures sharp images at high ISO settings, minimizing image noise or grainy photos traditionally associated with shooting with high ISO.
Olympus Mju Tough 8000 offers smart charging
For the first time, the new Olympus Mju Tough 8000 offers internal charging. Using an AC adapter, the camera plugs directly into a power outlet and charges the battery like a traditional mobile phone. It minimizes the need to open the battery compartment door, and helps to maintain the watertight gaskets that keep your camera tough.
Olympus Mju Tough 8000 Accessories
Olympus offers a number of optional accessories, specifically designed for the Mju Tough series cameras. For users looking to capture their underwater adventures deeper than 33 feet (10 meters), Olympus offers the PT-045 underwater housing for the Olympus Mju Tough 8000, which enables users to take pictures as deep as 130 feet (40 meters). A highly visible floating wrist strap frees users’ hands when swimming or chasing the next big wave. Stylish silicone skins protect the camera from scratches. Additionally, new carabineer straps available in blue and black attach directly to the camera and can be hooked to a bag, swimming suit or hiking shorts. Durable, sporty neoprene cases are also perfect for active or outdoor expeditions. Olympus Mju Tough series cameras continues to make smooth transitions from outdoor adventures to cocktail parties. Rinse the camera and place it in an Olympus premium case for added sophistication. The premium cases are available in a variety of colors, including red, black and brown leather as well as various patterns.
Olympus Master 2 Software
Olympus Master 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. A direct link makes uploading your images and videos to YouTube easier than ever. Additionally, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or emailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates. Additionally, create scrapbooks, greeting cards and other fun prints using the optional ArcSoft Print Creations plug-in.
Olympus Mju Tough 8000 Price & Availability
The Olympus Mju Tough-8000 will be available in February 2009. It will include: a wrist strap, camera WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, LI-50B Li-Ion rechargeable battery, F-1AC charger, MASD-1 (microSD Adapter), manual, warranty card and Olympus Master 2 software (CD-ROM). Olympus Mju Tough-8000 Estimated Street Price: $399.99 US. As soon as a full production sample will be available you can expect a full Olympus Mju Touch 80000 review from LetsGoDigital, including the usual sample photo gallery.
