Center Valley, PA—Olympus debuted the latest Stylus SH pocketable, point-and-shoot model, the Stylus SH-2. The retro-styled camera showcases a 24x wide-angle optical zoom lens, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for remote shooting and sharing with a smart device, RAW capture, 5-Axis image stabilization for still image and Full HD video capture, and nightscape modes.
Reflecting the aesthetic of the Olympus PEN series, the SH-2’s top panel and main controls are constructed of aluminum alloy. The camera is available with two finishes: silver for a classic camera feel; black for a monotone look. Its key features include: a 16 megapixel, 1/2.3 CMOS sensor; a 3-inch, 460,000-dot touch LCD monitor; and a 24x optical zoom lens that adjusts from 25mm wide angle to 600mm telephoto. The camera is also equipped with tele-macro functionality that allows users to capture detail from a distance of up to 15.75 inches.
New nightscape modes permit users to select from sub-modes to shoot night scenes, cityscapes and star trails. Pressing the movie button while in nightscape mode records video with gradation optimized for night scenes. Night + Portrait mode captures flash-illuminated portraits against dimly lit backgrounds. Night scene mode uses an extended shutter speed to capture additional light from low-light scenes for bright images, without the use of a tripod. In addition, fireworks mode handles high-contrast images from the dark sky while live composite and handheld starlight modes extract the brightest areas from a sequence of interval shots and combine them into one exposed image.
Additionally, the Stylus SH-2 uses the image stabilization (IS) mechanism from the Olympus OM-D E-M1 as a base for its integrated 5-axis IS system. Combined with the nightscape modes, this system helps eliminate motion blur that can occur when shooting in low light. It also compensates for camera movement when recording video while walking.
The camera is also equipped with advanced movie modes, including Full HD 1080p captured at 60 frames per second for smooth motion playback of fast action footage. High-speed movie mode stretches scenes in slow (120 fps) or super-slow motion (240 fps), and time-lapse movie compresses five hours of action into a 20-second time-lapse video. Plus, photo in movie mode allows users to shoot still shots—including RAW images—while recording 1080p video.
And after the photos and videos are captured, configuring the built-in Wi-Fi to share the content is accomplished by syncing an iOS/Android smart device by scanning the QR code displayed on the camera’s LCD. The smart device can then be used for remote shooting of the SH-2.
The Olympus Stylus SH-2 will be available in April at an estimated street price of $399.99. olympusamerica.com
