Olympus SP-590UZ

" The SP series is an ultrazoom legend and with the new SP-590UZ Olympus improved its zoom competence once more: due to the built-in 26x ultrazoom it is now nearly impossible to escape the SP-590UZ. The Dual Image Stabilisation prevents blurry images, even when using the 26x optical zoom, and with Advanced Face Detection Technology your camera detects up to 16 faces and sets the optimal focus and exposure. The camera offers of a high speed 10fps sequence shooting and P/A/S/M exposure mode for creative freedom. And thanks to the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI™) you can admire your razorsharp photos on a High Definition Television. "

- Olympus -

Capturing It All – Near, Far and Wide

Optical precision is the foundation for creating quality images. The bright, f2.8-5.0 lens provides the equivalent of 26-676mm focal length. Users can get close to the action with the compact 26x 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. The compact lens construction combines aspherical lens elements and extra-low dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity. Whether it is capturing fast-action sports or everyday snapshots, this sturdy compact body with a wide-angle and telephoto lens provides the versatility to get the job done.

12-Megapixel for Superior Image Quality

The SP-590UZ has a 12-megapixel sensor that enables consumers to achieve consistently sharp and vivid images when producing large-format prints or cropping/enlarging a portion of an image.

Unleash Your Creativity with New Artistic Scene Modes

Olympus' ultra zoom cameras have been known for being the perfect, versatile solution for dual households; providing flexibility and manual controls for experienced shutterbugs, while being as easy and approachable as a point-and-shoot for novice or even first-time users. The SP-590UZ takes this to a new level with pre-capture scene modes: Multiple Exposure, Soft Background Focus and Beauty Mode. The new features enable creative effects to be made inside the camera as the images are captured! The new creative features were adopted from Olympus' recently announced E-30 DSLR camera.

Multiple Exposure, in the new SP-590UZ, empowers consumers to take two separate photographs and overlay them to craft one unique image. Create a masterpiece for Mother's Day with a beautiful image of the kids overlaying her favorite landscape. Use the new Soft Background Focus mode on your next trip to a National Park. It enables you to slightly blur the beautiful vista, lake or canyon in the background to accent the majestic wildlife in the foreground.

Beauty Mode lets you 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.

Your Images on HDTV

Gone are the days of friends and family huddling around a camera's LCD to see the pictures you just snapped. Now, you'll be the hit of the party or any family function when you proudly display your brilliant images on high-definition televisions. Simply connect the new SP-590UZ to an HDTV with an HDMI™ cable, which can be purchased separately at any consumer electronics store.

Versatile Memory

All Olympus digital point-and-shoot cameras accept xD-Picture CardTM media. Starting with products available in August 2008, they also accept microSD memory cards to capture images. The new SP-590UZ 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.

Dual Image Stabilization

Dual Image Stabilization enables users to take crisp, clear pictures in virtually any shooting situation – adjusting for camera shake and a moving subject. Olympus' mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the image sensor to compensate for camera shake, which often occurs when zooming in on your subject and in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blur caused by a moving subject.

Ultra High-Speed Sequential Shooting and Pre-Capture with TruePicTM III Image Processor The Olympus TruePic III Image Processor makes it possible for the SP-590UZ to capture images at incredible speeds. The inclusion of Pre-Capture technology, which works in conjunction with High-Speed Sequential Shooting, enables users to capture the action before and after fully pressing the shutter button. Pre-Capture begins working as soon as the focus is locked, automatically archiving frames in the camera's buffer memory prior to the shutter release – virtually guaranteeing that you'll get the shot even if the user's reaction time is slower than the action. Perfect for situations where timing is essential, such as photographing a tennis player serving, children playing or a whale breaching.

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 also captures sharp images at high ISO settings, minimizing image noise or grainy photos traditionally associated with shooting with high ISO.

Full Manual Control

The Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes give users versatility and control for optimal performance in any situation. Users can express their creativity – adjusting the f-stop for detailed portraits with softened backgrounds, or slowing the exposure speed to create the blurred effect of motion, or just sit back and let the camera do the thinking through the use of the automatic settings. Manual focus is also available for users who want to have full control.

Face Detection

Face Detection tracks up to 16 faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) quickly for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Now, your subject's face is in focus whether it is in the center of the target area or not.

Wireless Flash Compatibility

Wireless flashes can help photographers cast the best light on their subjects and capture great images. For this reason, the SP-590UZ is compatible with the Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R wireless electronic flashes that are designed exclusively for digital photography. When these flashes are used in combination with the SP-590UZ, wireless multi-flash photography is possible. The SP-590UZ can control up to three wireless flash groups independently, with multiple flash units in each group.

Large HyperCrystal™ II LCD

The SP-590UZ boasts an advanced HyperCrystal II LCD. It reproduces true colors with a dynamic contrast ratio of more than 180 percent and a color reproduction performance of more than 160 percent compared to HyperCrystal LCD, providing a preview that is more true to the final image.

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. The SP-590UZ addresses this challenge head-on with a new Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With the new technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye.

Perfect Shot Preview

The SP-590UZ features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects (such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering) 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.

Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing

Olympus' Perfect Fix feature offers quick solutions for unanticipated image quality issues, which may be caused by several adverse conditions. Shadow Adjustment Edit can be used to adjust any underexposed areas and Red-Eye Fix can be used to reduce the effects of red-eye sometimes caused by a direct flash. Additional in-camera editing functions can be quickly accessed right in the camera by the touch of a button; features available include resizing, trimming, black and white, and sepia.

29 Shooting Modes

The SP-590UZ offers new features, including, Multi-Exposure, Soft Background Focus and Beauty Mode. A new Bird Watching mode is also great to capture the unpredictable movements of wildlife. The new camera offers a total of 20 pre-set scene modes. To activate, simply select the desired mode for multi-fireworks, portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action and more.

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.

More external Olympus SP-590UZ reviews!

Image Sensor	12 Megapixels (effective), 1/2.33" CCD
Focal Length/Lens Configuration	4.6 – 119.6mm (26 – 676mm equivalent in 35mm photography) 14 Lenses in 11 Groups, 4 Aspherical Lenses, 3 ED Lenses
Zoom	26x Optical Zoom + 5x Digital Zoom
Maximum Aperture	F2.8 (W) / F5.0 (T)
Display	2.7" (6.9cm) HyperCrystalTM II LCD 230,000 dots 5 Steps Brightness Adjustment
Viewfinder	Electronic viewfinder with dioptric correction
Focus System	CCD Contrast Detection
Focus Range (from lens surface)	Normal mode: Wide: 3.9" – infinity (0.1m – infinity) Tele: 66.9" – infinity (1.7m – infinity) Macro mode: Wide: 3.9" – infinity (0.1m – infinity) Tele: 66.9" – infinity (1.7m – infinity) Super Macro mode: 0.39" - infinity (1cm - infinity)
Focus Mode	iESP Auto, Spot AF, Selective AF Target, Face Detection AF, Full-Time AF, Predictive AF, AF Lock, Manual Focus
Shutter Speed	Auto: 1/2000 sec. –1/2 sec. (up to 4 sec. in Night Scene) Manual: 1/2000 sec - 15 sec Bulb: Up to 8 min.
ISO Sensitivity (SOS: Standard Output Sensitivity)	Auto, High Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400
Exposure Metering	Digital ESP Metering, Spot Metering, Center-Weighted Metering, Face Detection AE (when Face Detection AF is selected)
White Balance Control	iESP 2 Auto, One-Touch, Presets (Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten, White Fluorescent Lamp, Neutral White Fluorescent Lamp, Daylight Fluorescent Lamp), White Balance Compensation
Exposure Compensation	±2 EV steps in 1/3 EV steps
Image File Format	Still Image: JPEG Movie: AVI Motion JPEG
Number of Recorded Pixels	12MP (3,968 x 2,976) 5MP (2,560 x 1,920) 3MP (2,048 x 1,536) 2MP (1,600 x 1,200) 1MP (1,280 x 960) VGA (640 x 480) 16:9 L (3,968 x 2,232) 16:9 S (1,920 x 1,080)
Motion Blur Suppression	Dual Image Stabilization
Shooting Modes	28 Shooting Modes; Auto, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Manual, My Mode, Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization, Beauty Mode, Scene Modes (1. PORTRAIT, 2. LANDSCAPE, 3. SPORT, 4. NIGHT SCENE, 5. NIGHT+PORTRAIT, 6. INDOOR, 7. CANDLE, 8. SUNSET, 9. FIREWORKS, 10. MULTI FIREWORKS, 11. MULTIPLE EXPOSURE, 12. CUISINE, 13. DOCUMENTS, 14. SMILE SHOT, 15. BEACH & SNOW, 16. BIRD WATCHING, 17. PRE-CAPTURE MOVIE, 18. QUICK SHUTTER, 19. SOFT BACKGROUND SHOT), Movie
Panorama	In-Camera Panorama, PC Panorama (Up to 10 frames automatically stitchable with OLYMPUS Master software)
Continuous Shooting	High-speed2: 10 frames per second, 25 frames (3MP) High-speed1: 6 frames per second, 25 frames (5MP) Normal speed: 1 frame per second, 5 frames (12MP) Bracketing: Exposure Bracketing, 5 Frames Interval Shooting
Shooting Assist Functions	Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation, Perfect Shot Preview, Histogram, Frame Assist, AF Lock, AE Lock, Voice Recording
Movie Mode	AVI Movie with Sound: 640x480 (30/15fps) 320x240 (30/15fps)
Image Processing	TruePic™ III Image Processor
Noise Reduction	Set automatically at shutter speeds of 0.5 second or longer in specific scene modes
Image Playback	Still Image: Single, Index Display (4/9/16/25), Up to 10x Enlargement, Slideshow, Rotation, Calendar, Histogram, Voice Playback Movie: Normal, Fast-Forward, Reverse, Frame-by-Frame, Index, Voice Playback
Playback Edit Effects	Still Image: Red-Eye Fix, Shadow Adjustment Edit, Beauty Fix, Resize, Cropping, Black & White, Sepia, Calendar, Face Focus, Brightness Movie: Movie Edit, Still Image Cropping, Frame Index
Flash	Built-in, Wireless Flash
Flash Modes	Auto (for low light and backlit conditions) Red-Eye Reduction Fill-in Fill-in + Red-Eye Reduction Slow Synchro1 Slow1 + Red-Eye Reduction Slow Synchro2 Off
Flash Working Range	Wide: 0.98ft (0.3m) - 29.5ft (9m) at ISO 800 Tele: 5.6ft (1.7m) - 16.4ft (5m) at ISO 800
Self-Timer	12 Seconds
Memory	22 MB internal memory
Removable Media Card	xD-Picture Card™ (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required)
Outer Connectors	Multi-Terminal (USB Connector, Audio/Video Output), DC Input, HD Output
Auto-Connect USB	USB 2.0 High-Speed (USB Mass Storage)
System Requirements	Auto-Connect USB: Windows® 2000/XP/VISTA with USB port, Mac OS X 10.3 or later with USB port Software: Windows® 2000PRO/XP/VISTA, Mac OS X 10.3 - 10.5
Operating Temperature/Humidity	Operation: 32° – 104°F (0° – 40°C) Storage: -4° – 140°F (-20° – 60°C) Operation: 30% – 90% humidity Storage: 10% – 90% humidity
Power Source	(4) AA Batteries, AC Adapter (C-7AC)
Battery Life (CIPA DC-002)	340 shots
Dimension	4.3"W x 3.5"H x 3.6"D (110.1mm x 89.7mm x 91.0mm)
Weight	15.3oz (435g) without batteries and memory card

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