Olympus updates the popular mju 720 SW with the 7 megapixel Olympus mju 725 SW, which is waterprooof up to 5m depth. From October 2006, the Olympus mju 725 SW will be available in a choice of three colours: Deep Blue, Cherry Red and Titanium Grey, priced at around £300.00.

Olympus UK Press Release

London, 23 August 2006 – With today’s hectic and active lifestyles, photographers need a camera they can truly rely on when the going gets tough. Luckily, being waterproof to 5m** and shockproof to 1.5m*, the Olympus mju 725 SW can pretty much shrug off anything that life throws at it. When Olympus introduced the innovative mju 720 SW – waterproof to 3m – at the start of 2006, it looked like a tough act to follow. However, the new Olympus mju 725 SW is even harder, being waterproof to a greater depth of 5m*. The Olympus mju 725 SW takes its protection from a durably-constructed and yet great looking metal body. Image quality is equally impressive, due to a 7.1 million pixel CCD, coupled with a sharp 3x optical zoom lens (equiv. to 38-114mm on a 35mm camera) and 24 specialist scene modes. BrightCapture technology improves performance in low light– such as when shooting beneath the waves – when the camera’s bright 6.4cm LCD screen also comes into its own. Whether it’s being taken snorkelling in a rock pool, mountain biking over rough terrain, or skateboarding through the city, the Olympus mju 725 SW will deliver great results, regardless of what the photographer demands of it.

When other manufacturers say their cameras can “cope with anything” they usually mean the extremes of exposure or focusing, they don’t mean being dropped on the ground or dunked in water! Being shockproof up to 1.5m* and waterproof up to 5m**, the Olympus µ (mju) 725 SW’s gives a whole new meaning to this phrase. And, should this level of protection not be enough, photographers can use the optional PT-033 Underwater case to extend the camera’s sub aqua capabilities to an amazing 40m below the surface.

Needless to say a high level of protection has been extended to the cameras bright 1:3.5-5.0, 3x optical zoom lens (equiv. to 38-114mm on a 35mm camera). This has been specially constructed and employs a folded optical light path that allows the lens to be permanently contained inside the camera’s metal body, removing the need to have the lens protrude from the body and risking damage if play gets rough.

Equal attention has been given to optimising picture quality. A 7.1 million pixel CCD ensures that pictures taken on the µ (mju) 725 SW are packed with detail, and BrightCapture Technology is employed to deliver exceptional performance in low light. By extending the ISO range to 1600, BrightCapture also helps to avoid image blur. The higher sensitivity enables faster shutter speeds to be used, thereby reducing the risk of blurred images – especially at night.

BrightCapture is also brought into play to improve performance in some of the camera’s 24 special scene modes. From Sports, through to Landscapes, and onto Macro and various Underwater modes, pre-defined settings help the user get the best shot with the minimum of fuss.

Not limited to taking only still images, the µ (mju) 725 SW can also record movies with sound (in 640x480 pixel quality) with the duration of the movie only limited by the amount of memory available. This might be the camera’s internal memory, or optional xD-Picture Cards of up to 1GB which can also be used.

The µ (mju) 725 SW is great for fuss-free operation in extreme situations. Framing shots is easy on the large 6.4cm LCD screen. This boasts a contrast level 4x brighter than conventional LCD’s, making it easier to locate the desired subjects, something that is particularly welcome in low-light conditions. And should the photographer ever need a quick reminder as to how to get a particular effect, they can consult the camera’s Guide Function, which gives brief explanations of the camera functions directly on the LCD – just like having the instruction book built in! 

With waterproof protection to 5m** and resistant against falls of up to 1.5m*, the tough, metal-bodied Olympus µ (mju) 725 SW is sure to become a firm favourite with active photographers. The camera hit the shelves from October 2006, priced at around £300.00.

The Olympus µ (mju) 725 SW – main features:
• Waterproof up to 5m**
• Shockproof (equivalent to 1.5m)*
• 7.1 million pixels
• Tough metal body in three colours: Deep Blue, Cherry Red and Titanium Grey
• BrightCapture Technology for better low light photography – with improved brightness for underwater scenes
• 6.4cm/2.5” LCD with 115,000 pixels
• Bright 3x optical zoom (equiv. to 38-114mm on a 35mm model) 1:3.5-5.0, with optical folded light-path
• 24 scene modes (incl. Portrait, Candle, Landscape and various underwater modes) plus Auto
• Movie function with sound (640x480 pixels, 15fps)
• Macro and Super Macro mode for shots from as little as 7cm
• Editing functions (e.g. Red-eye Fix, Calendar Composition, Layout Composition, Title Composition)
• Internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
• Multi-language menu with 10 languages plus possibility to download 15 more languages from the internet (on board: English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, Czech, Polish, Danish, Dutch)
• Supplied with Olympus Master Software and LI-42B battery plus
• LI-40C charger
•    Optional underwater case PT-033 (waterproof up to 40m)

*Shockproof according to Olympus test methods.
**Waterproof equivalent to the IEC standard publication 529 IPX8.

For stockist information call 0800 0720070 or visit www.olympus.co.uk.