Olympus Introduces Two New TOUGH Cameras: TG-310 and TG-610

Rough And Ready: New Olympus Tough Duo Capture All The Action With Ease

Waterproof Shockproof and Freezeproof Cameras Tackle All of Life’s Moments with HD Video, AF Tracking, In-Camera Creative Filters and New 3D Mode

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 5, 2011 –Olympus, known for its robust line of ruggedized digital cameras today has added the new Olympus TG-610 and TG-310 Waterproof, Shockproof and Freezeproof models. They build on the Tough series’ reputation of delivering amazing images while enduring extreme expeditions and everyday adventures, including life with kids.

The new Tough cameras are Waterproof (to 16 feet for the TG-610 and 10 feet for the TG-310), Shockproof (to 5 feet) and Freezeproof (to 14 degrees Fahrenheit) to deliver amazing images even when you take them to extremes. Beyond their durable exteriors, the TG-610 and TG-310 deliver superior image quality thanks to 14 megapixels, high-definition (HD) video, wide-angle optical zoom lenses (5x on the TG-610 and 3.6x on the TG-310) and dual image stabilization. The cameras come in a variety of colors to complement your own individual style.

Whether at the local pool, a tropical reef or the ski slopes, consumers want a camera tough enough for life’s thrills. The new Tough cameras come packed with a variety of new features that deliver a worry-free use, anytime, anywhere.

• HD Movie & HDMI Control – high-definition video (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 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.

“Because life’s an adventure, you need a camera that’s tough enough to make the journey with you,” said Jennifer Schmell, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “When you’re swimming with the dolphins, the powerful underwater functions like Underwater Snapshot Mode and Underwater HD Movie in 3D will ensure that your trip is more memorable than ever before.”

HD Videos and HDMI Control for a Home Theater Experience
The TG-610 and TG-310 shoot gorgeous 720p HD videos above and below the water’s surface, so you’ll always capture the moments you cherish in clear, crisp high-definition at the touch of a button. With HDMI Control, playback is also a breeze. Gone are the days of friends and family huddling around your camera’s tiny LCD to see the pictures and movies you just captured. Now, you’ll be the hit of the party or any family event when you proudly display your brilliant images and movies on high-definition televisions. Simply connect the camera to an HDTV with an optional HDMI cable. 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 couch.

New 3-D Mode
Now you can add even more dimension to your photographs by shooting dynamic 3D photos in any mode from macro to landscape, and even under water. Recreate a sense of depth like that of the original scene. Catch a shot of your friends jumping into the water and view it in 3D. Simply select the 3D Photo Mode on either your TG-610 or TG-310, release the shutter for your first shot, and 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.

Share Images Instantly with New Eye-Fi Card Compatibility
Ready to upload and share images of your adventures live, as they happen? The TG-610 and the TG-310 are compatible with Eye-Fi SD cards (sold separately) adding Wi-Fi capability to the camera enabling you to automatically upload images to your computer as you take them. Share your pictures of sandcastles right from the beach by uploading your shots immediately.

New High-Resolution Display for High-Definition Video
Whether composing still images or HD videos, photographers will appreciate the sharp 3.0-inch HyperCrystal III scratch-resistant LCD monitor on the TG-610. The LCD boasts 920,000 dots, making it one of the highest resolution screens in any digital compact camera. It reproduces colors and shades more accurately with deeper black tones, while consuming less power. The wide-viewing angle enables you to view small details clearly, even in strong sunlight. See that fish you just caught clearly in the LCD without glare.

Express Your Inner Artist with New Magic Filter Movie
The TG-610 and TG-310 are equipped with in-camera Magic Filters that enable users to enhance and customize images as they’re 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 Filters to your high-definition movies to take them to a new level of artistic expression and put you in the director’s chair.

The Magic Filters include:


• Pop Art - enhance and saturate colors 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 pin hole, 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 - encloses the foreground of an image in gentle, pastel colors with a soft, elegant focus; similar to effects achieved in a studio;
  
  
• Drawing - turn your image into a sketch outline for children to color;
  
  
• New! Watercolor - transform your images with a finish like that of watercolor 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.

Point-Dunk-and-Shoot with Powerful Underwater Functions
The TG-610 and TG-310 cameras can perform as well in the water as they do on land because their lightweight, rugged exteriors are matched with interior rubber gaskets and o-rings to seal out the elements. The TG-610 can venture 16 feet underwater, while the TG-310 can dive 10 feet underwater. The inclusion of four preset underwater scene modes in the TG-610 and one in the TG-310 make these cameras perfect to play in the water right along with you. They also capture HD movies with audio even in 3D and under water – perfect for bringing back memories that other cameras would miss. The TG-610 even comes with Automatic Underwater White Balance, eliminating the need to adjust white balance under water, a Macro LED, a convenient function for capturing close-ups in dark places and an Underwater 3D Movie function. Both cameras feature a water-repellent lens coating to prevent water droplets from forming on the lens, enabling you to get crystal-clear shots no matter how wet the shooting environment. To go even deeper, the optional underwater case for the TG-610 (PT-049) enables photographers to explore the fascinating world underwater up to 131’.

Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Captures It All
The TG-610 has a 5x wide-angle optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent in 35mm photography), and TG-310 has a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom (28-102mm equivalent), ideal for shooting various journeys such as camping, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, skiing or simply your family vacation.

Nothing Can Shock These Tough Cameras
Taking lots of photos is a vital part of any vacation, but it’s no fun to lug around a digital camera if you are constantly worried that it might break. The TG-610 and TG-310 can withstand a 5-foot drop, thanks to their shock-absorbing technology, which minimizes the impact on the lens and circuitry, so they’ll take more punishment. These vacation-ready digital cameras can take a beating and keep up with just about any active lifestyle. There’s 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 snorkeling.

Don’t Fear the Frost with these Freezeproof Cameras
Whether you’re cruising the Alaskan ice highway in a snowmobile or building a snowman in your backyard, the new TG-610 and TG-310 can still perform when the temperature dips well below freezing (14 degrees Fahrenheit; -10 degrees Celsius). Enjoy consistently sharp and vivid high-resolution images in freezing situations where most traditional cameras would fail.

Fight 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.

Can’t Hide with Face Detection!
Portrait and group shots make your vacation photos live beyond the short event, and with Face Detection you’ll capture even the most bashful relatives. The TG-610 and TG-310 can detect up to 12 faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure to capture sharp, brilliant portraits and group shots. Even more remarkable, the TG-610 and TG-310 come equipped with Beauty Mode. Designed to touch up the appearance of your subject’s skin as the photo is captured, enhancements that typically would necessitate retouching in a graphics editing program.

AF Tracking for Friends and Man’s Best Friend
Whether you’ve got skiers or surfers in your sites, the AF Tracking technology on the TG-610 and the TG-310 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 snorkeling or children at play in the backyard. There’s 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.

Tough Cameras, Not Tough to Use
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. Amateurs can jump into this quick and hassle-free feature that does the thinking for them and produces incredible images.

Broaden Your Horizons with In-Camera Panorama
You take the TG-610 and TG-310 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.

New TruePic™ III+ Image Processor
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 colors, 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
Olympus’ new spring 2011 digital compact cameras offer SD capability for up to 32 gigabytes of capacity.

What Color Fits Your Adventuresome Personality? Tough Cameras in a Range of Colors
The Tough cameras come in a variety of colors: the TG-610 in black, red and silver and the TG-310 in blue, orange, red, silver and white - to suit everyone’s style.

Availability
The TG-610 and TG-310 will be available in February 2011. They ship with a wrist strap, WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, Li-Ion rechargeable battery, manual, warranty card and OLYMPUS [ib] software.

U.S. Pricing
TG-610 Estimated Street Price: $299.99 (U.S.)
TG-310 Estimated Street Price: $199.99 (U.S.)