The Olympus µ TOUGH-6010: an action hero

The µ TOUGH with Magic Filters

London, 17 July 2009 – From adrenaline packed days to activities with the family, the Olympus µ TOUGH-6010 is ready for action. Whether enjoying a day at the beach or out carving on the slopes, this 12 Megapixel powerhouse is the ultimate companion. Shockproof, waterproof, and freezeproof just like the rest of the µ TOUGH series, it ensures extreme fun. Aspiring artists can even find their fill with a new set of Magic Filters. Featuring a 3.6x wide optical zoom, the µ TOUGH-6010 is of course also packed with the latest in Olympus opto-digital technology. Boasting everything from Dual Image Stabilisation to Tap Control, it was created to ensure photographic peace of mind while enjoying life’s many adventures. Available in a striking choice of colours, the latest µ TOUGH will be available from July 2009 for a retail price of £299.99

With the Olympus µ TOUGH-6010, photographers never have to worry about going where a camera can’t take the knocks. In addition to being freezeproof to -10 C, it is waterproof to 3m* and provides shockproof protection against drops of up to 1.5m**. The versatile 3.6x wide optical zoom (28-102mm***) seen on the TIPA award winning µ TOUGH-8000 is also on board for great group photos or close-ups of distant subjects. To make those shots even more memorable, the µ TOUGH-6010 now features inspiring Magic Filters. By applying Pin Hole, for example, images will seem to have been taken with a traditional pin hole camera. Pop Art, Fish-Eye, and Sketch add interesting effects of their own. What’s more, Dual Image Stabilisation keeps images blur-free even in rough and tumble environments. And so you’re always ready for that perfect shot, a practical Tap Control mode gives even gloved-hands easy access to a range of settings which can be viewed on the 6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal III LCD. The display’s new “triple coating” protects it against reflection, scratches, and moisture to ensure comfortable shooting on the ski slopes and under water.

Since you don’t get a second chance for the perfect shot in the heat of the action, the µ TOUGH-6010 also boasts a range of clever functions. Delivering perfect images of once in a lifetime moments i-Auto Mode, for example, automatically adjusts camera settings to one of five recognised commonly-used scenes. In addition, Advanced Face Detection Technology detects up to 16 faces for consistent quality across group portraits. And for a flawless look under tough conditions, Beauty Mode is on hand to smooth out imperfections and leave subjects looking refreshed.

The shockproof, waterproof, and freezeproof µ TOUGH-6010 is a sturdy and reliable companion that will meet any challenge. It arrives in stores in July 2009 along with a new software version: Olympus Master 2.2 for more image management and editing possibilities.

The Olympus µ TOUGH-6010 – main features:

• Shooting when it’s getting tough, wet and cold – shockproof to 1.5m**, waterproof to 3m* and freezeproof to -10°C
• Available in Titanium Grey, Turquoise Blue, Lava Red
• High-precision 3.6x wide optical zoom (28-102mm***) to capture great scenes through to stunning close-ups even in extreme conditions
• Avoids blur thanks to Dual Image Stabilisation (combines mechanical and digital image stabilisation)
• TAP Control Menu for great convenience
• 12 Megapixels to make poster-size prints
• 6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal III LCD for best ever preview even in brilliant sunlight and at extreme angles (230,000 dots)
• Advanced Face Detection of up to 16 persons for perfectly focused and exposed faces. In combination with Shadow Adjustment Technology other main parts of the picture are also correctly exposed.
• The easy way to perfect images – Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) detects the five most commonly used scenes and adjusts settings, focus and exposure automatically
• Spice up your pictures with built-in Magic Filters
• Liven up your memories with movie recording with sound (up to VGA resolution at 30fps)
• xD-Picture Card and microSD**** Card compatible

* According to IEC standard publication 529 IPX8
** Equivalent to MIL Standard (Olympus test conditions)
*** Equivalent to a 35mm camera
**** microSD is a trademark of SD Card Association

Appendix

Advanced Face Detection Technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that’s sharp in the right places and ideally exposed. Advanced Face Detection Technology can detect up to 16 faces.

Beauty Mode
Beauty mode touches up the appearance of subjects even while the shot is being taken. This feature recognises faces and automatically makes skin on the face and adjacent areas appear smoother, brighter and more youthful.

Dual Image Stabilisation
Providing two-fold protection, this special function helps to avoid image blur caused by camera shake or fast-moving subjects. It combines high ISO values with a CCD-based mechanical image stabiliser, where a built-in gyro sensor detects camera movement and adjusts the CCD accordingly.

i-Auto mode
This “intelligent-Auto” mode uses advanced automatic detection technology to allow the camera to recognise the five most commonly used scenes automatically. They enable the capture of perfect photos without any need for manual settings.

Magic Filters
Enables special artistic effects to be created directly in the camera.
Pop Art: Enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid to create high-impact pictures that express the happy, light-hearted feeling of the pop art style.
Fish-Eye: Reproduces the dramatic effect of a fish eye lens, lending a new perspective to the whole scene with a “round” effect.
Sketch: Gives the impression that subjects have been sketched by an artist by transforming images into line drawings.
Pin Hole : Reduces the peripheral brightness like an image seen through a pinhole. Added to this is a unique colour tone that results in a style that has an air of secrecy or portrays the feeling of being lost in another dimension or space.

microSD compatibility
A special attachment comes bundled with this camera which provides for microSD card compatibility in addition to being able to use xD-Picture Cards.

Shadow Adjustment Technology
A technology designed to improve exposure for pictures with dark areas. Using a sensor that works much like the human eye, dark parts of a composition (e.g. a shadow under a tree) are identified and the camera then adjusts the exposure settings accordingly for those areas. The result is a more realistic and detailed picture.

TAP Control mode
“TAP Control Mode” is a unique interface that lets users access a range of camera functions by simply tapping on the camera body. Quick View mode, Scroll Playback Pictures and a user-defined function (Flash or SAT) can be accessed by tapping at particular points of the camera.

Olympus µ TOUGH-6010 specifications

Sensor	• 1/2.33" Type CCD • 12.7 million total pixels • 12 million effective pixels • Primary colour filter (RGB)
Image sizes	• 12M 3968 x 2976 • 5M 2560 x 1920 • 3M 2048 x 1536 • 2M 1600 x 1200 • 1M 1280 x 960 • VGA 640 x 480 • 16:9 1920 x 1080
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 @ 30/ 15 fps • 320 x 240 @ 15 fps
File formats	• JPEG (EXIF 2.21) • AVI Motion JPEG • WAV audio
Lens	• 3.6 x • 2 Aspherical glass elements • Focal length 5.0 - 18.2 mm mm • Focal length (equiv. 35mm) 28 - 102 mm • 10 lenses / 8 groups • Aperture 3.5 - 5.1
Image stabilization	Yes
Digital zoom	Yes 5x
Focus	• TTL iESP auto focus with contrast detection • Face Detection AF • Spot • Standard • Macro • Super-Macro
Focus distance	• Standard mode 0.5m (wide) / 0.5m (tele) • Macro mode 0.2m - (wide) / 0.3m (tele) • Super Macro mode Closest focusing distance: 2 cm
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • High Auto • Manual ISO 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Exposure compensation	• +/- 2 EV • 1/3 EV steps
Shuttter speed	1/4 - 1/2000
Aperture	f3.5 - f5.1
Scene modes	19
White balance	• Auto • Preset
Self timer	Yes, 12 seconds
Flash	• Auto • Red-eye reduction • Fill-in • Off
Flash Range	• Wide 0.1 - 4.0 m (ISO 800) • Tele 0.3 - 2.7 m (ISO 800)
LCD monitor	• 2.7" / 6.9 cm HyperCrystal III LCD • 230,000 dots
Connectivity	• DC input • Combined A/V & USB output • USB 2.0 compatible
Storage	• xD-Picture Card • microSD Card • 45MB |Internal
Power	• LI-50C Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery
Weight (no batt)	149g
Dimensions	95 x 63 x 22 mm

Canon TS-E 24mm 1:3.5 L II

Canon TS-E 24mm 1:3.5 L II review
Andy Westlake, July 2009

PMA 2009 was a show distinctly light on noteworthy announcements, but one of the most technically interesting developments may well have slipped under the radar of many enthusiast photographers. Canon introduced two new perspective control lenses to its TS-E ('Tilt and Shift for EOS') range, in the shape of the TS-E 24mm F3.5 L II and the TS-E 17mm F4L. But while the latter quite naturally grabbed the limelight as the widest-angle perspective control optic ever made for an SLR system, both feature a significant improvement over existing mainstream designs.

What is literally revolutionary about these two lenses is that both allow, for the first time (at least for wideangle focal lengths designed specifically for DSLRs), independent rotation of the tilt and shift axes relative to the camera and to each other. (Hartblei's 'Super Rotator' designs achieve similar movements, but using longer focal length optics originally designed for medium format cameras.) Previously the tilt axis was set as standard at 90º to the shift axis, and the lenses could be modified to set them both in the same axis if the user desired. This restriction has now been discarded, making the lens movements, and therefore creative options, much more flexible. The tilt and shift mechanism rotates +/-90°, allowing shift in any direction, and in addition the tilt mechanism independently rotates +/-90°, allowing tilt in any direction relative to the shift. This functionality enables photographers to maximize depth of field in their images without stopping down as far as they would otherwise need - essential when wishing to squeeze every last pixel of detail from the latest 20+ Mp DSLRs while avoiding the deleterious effects of diffraction.

Canon has also gone to town on the the optical designs, including the use of high-precision aspherical front elements to keep distortion to a minimum, and multiple UD elements to reduce chromatic aberration. In the case of the TSE 24mm F3.5 L II, this means a considerably more complex formula than its predecessor - 16 elements in 11 groups, as compared to the 11 elements in 9 groups of the older design. According to Canon the usable image circle is also much larger - 67.2mm as opposed to 58.6mm - which in principle allows a greater range of movements without vignetting. The lens also utilizes the company's new 'Sub-Wavelength Structure Coating', which is designed to reduce flare and ghosting dramatically in lenses that contain large curve-radius elements - most notably wideangles. Also included is the currently-fashionable circular aperture diaphragm, designed to give an appealing rendition to out-of-focus regions of the image.

The price for all these improvements is, however, pretty breathtaking. The 'II' version commands a $1000 premium over the older lens on its introduction, which means it costs very nearly as much as an EOS 5D Mark II body. There will doubtless be more than a few owners of the original lens wondering whether it's worth the upgrade, and whether the new optics and flexibility of movements offer sufficient reason to break out the credit card. Let's see what we can find out.

Headline features

• 24mm focal length; F3.5 maximum aperture
• ± 8.5° Tilt and ±12mm Shift
• Independent rotation of tilt and shift movements (through 90º and 180º respectively)

Angle of view

The pictures below illustrate the angles of view on 35mm full frame and APS-C camera bodies:

24mm (35mm full-frame)	24mm (APS-C; 38mm equivalent)

Canon TS-E 24mm F3.5 L II specifications

Street Price	• $2200 • £1900
Date introduced	May 2009
Maximum format size	35mm full frame
Focal length	24mm
35mm equivalent focal length (APS-C)	38mm
Diagonal Angle of view (FF)	84º
Diagonal Angle of view (APS-C)	60º
Maximum aperture	F3.5
Minimum aperture	F22
Lens Construction	• 16 elements in 11 groups • Aspherical elements • 3 UD glass elements
Number of diaphragm blades	8, rounded
Minimum focus	0.21m (8.3")
Maximum magnification	0.34 x
AF motor type	Manual focus only
Focus method	Internal (rear) focus
Image stabilization	None
Filter thread	• 82mm • Does not rotate on focus
Supplied accessories	Front and rear caps, hood
Weight	790g (28 oz)
Dimensions	89mm diameter x 106mm length (3.5 x 4.2 in)
Lens Mount	Canon EF only

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area