Olympus SZ-30MR Super Zoom Captures Full HD Movies and 16MP Stills Together

Camera Review

Center Valley, PA—Olympus’s full-featured SZ-30MR is a super-zoom camera with a multi-recording function that simultaneously records 1080p HD video and 16 megapixel still images—captured with a 24x optical wide-zoom lens for display on its 3.0-inch, high-res LCD.

Olympus Dual Engine technology and the camera’s dual TruePic III+ image processor make it possible to record simultaneously in more than one mode and in a variety of combinations. Users can record two different movies at once: in wide-angle and close-up; Full HD and lower resolution; or original and filtered (using one of seven magic filters for movies). Now, using the “photo with movie clip” setting, it’s possible to capture moving footage before and after taking a single photo.

The camera’s 24x 25-600mm equivalent zoom and 16MP backlit CMOS sensor are engineered for capturing low-light shots with higher sensitivity and lower noise for producing large-format prints or cropping/enlarging a portion of a photograph.

“The Olympus SZ-30MR has one of the world’s first multi-recording function to ensure you can take both full-resolution 16 megapixel stills and 1080p HD video to capture life’s most important moments,” said Jennifer Schmell, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “With its 24x optical zoom, 16 megapixel backlight CMOS sensor and the ability to capture still images in 3D, the Olympus SZ-30MR gives the photo enthusiast a powerful tool.”

The camera also incorporates a handheld starlight mode to help shoot blur-free night scenes while hand-holding the camera, as well as provides 9-frames-per–second, full-res continuous shooting.

Additionally, a new 3D photo mode can be used in any mode from macro to landscape to capture two shots of a scene from two different angles to create still photos that can be viewed with a 3D effect.

Other features include: dual image stabilization; ISO 3200; iAuto mode that automatically detects conditions and adjusts settings; smart panorama; HDMI control so that when the camera’s connected to an HDTV via an optional HDMI cable, users can control camera functions through the TV’s remote; Eye-Fi card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to the Web or a PC; magic art filters for stills and videos (pop art, pin hole, fisheye, soft focus, drawing, watercolor, sparkle and punk); beauty mode to touch up skin; AF tracking for fast-moving subjects; and Shadow Adjustment technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail.

New Olympus S-series cameras have scene modes and enhanced in-camera help guides to help make digital photography simple and fun for users of all ages and skill levels. The scene modes include portrait to capture loved ones, landscape to show off the scenery and a fun fireworks mode. There are even two newly designed pet modes that recognize the faces of a variety of breeds of both cats and dogs. The in-camera guide displays a brief description of settings and features on the LCD. And, exposure compensation enables users to preview and select various exposure effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot, so they can see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made.

SD card compatible, the Olympus SZ-30MR will be available in April 2011. $399.99. olympusamerica.com