Olympus - µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 is announced today. The Olympus - µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 is an 8 megapixel compact digital camera that features Olympus’ new Bright Capture technology. Bright Capture improves shooting performance when photographing in minimal light. Other standout features on the mju 800 include a 6.4cm LCD screen with 215,000 pixels, a bright, 3x zoom all-glass lens, 19 scene modes and Aperture and Shutter Priority modes. The Olympus mju 800 uses xD-Picture Cards and has 19Mb of built-in storage. The Olympus - µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 is available from July 2005 and will have an estimated street price of £350.

Olympus UK Press Release

Highly illuminating - Eight million pixels in a stylish metal body, the new Olympus - µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 will light up your life

London, 12th May 2005 - Olympus is set to redefine low-light photography with the launch of their latest model, the µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800. Olympus’ new Bright Capture technology will enable photographers to achieve excellent results in dark situations, and provide trouble free night time and indoor photography in conditions that were previously unheard of.

Come rain or shine, night or day, the compact and weatherproof µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 allows you to keep on shooting. Its eight million pixel resolution coupled with Bright Capture technology and an array of additional image capturing options, means the µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 is a welcome addition to the growing range of mju cameras. Finished in a dark blue or silver metal body with a 3x optical zoom the camera will be available from July 2005 and will have an estimated street price of £350.

The Olympus µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 – main features:
· 8.0 million pixels
· Weatherproof metal body with glossy surface in dark blue or silver
· Bright 3x zoom lens (38-114mm equivalent), 1:2.8-4.9
· Bright Capture Technology for superior performance under low light conditions
· Extra-large 6.4cm HyperCrystal LCD (with ultra-wide 160° horizontal and vertical viewing angles)
· 19 Scene Programmes plus Programme Auto, Aperture priority and Shutter priority
· Blur protection to guard against the effects of camera shake
· High-speed sequential shooting
· Movie function with sound (in VGA quality)
· Macro and Super Macro shooting (from as close as 3cm in Super Macro mode)
· TruePic TURBO image processor
· Calendar function
· PictBridge compatible
· Multilingual menu (more languages can be downloaded using the Olympus Master software)
· Shipped with rechargeable Li-Ion battery and charger, USB cable, AV cable and Olympus Master software

Turning Night into Day
Bright Capture technology gives the µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 unique capabilities and contains a whole host of new functions to improve shooting performance when photographing in minimal light. For example, in Night Mode the camera automatically increases sensitivity, without using the flash, whilst at the same time reducing the image resolution, thus preventing previous problems with noise. On the other hand, by selecting Indoor Mode the camera couples this setting with the flash to guarantee even the furthest corner of a room is properly and fully exposed. In addition, Bright Capture gives the photographer extra protection against blurring their shots when shooting fast moving action in low light levels. By making better use of available light faster shutter speeds can be used thereby significantly reducing the potential negative effects of camera shake. For extra-low light situations Bright Capture comes into its own. By radically brightening the image displayed in the LCD it makes framing shots possible in lighting conditions that have a mere 1/5th of the luminosity previously required.

Advanced LCD technology
The Bright Capture technology built into the µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 is coupled with a 6.4cm Olympus HyperCrystal LCD. In addition to providing extraordinary viewing angles of up to 160°, HyperCrystal offers the photographer three times the contrast of an ordinary LCD, returning clear pictures and minimising screen glare in just about any situation. Furthermore, HyperCrystal ensures a minimal colour variation right across all of its 215,000 pixels, with the special cell construction virtually eradicating any blur or afterimages.

Sharp shooting
The image resolution of the µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 is second to none with eight million pixels ensuring extremely high-definition shots of razor-sharp clarity. To make the best of such tremendous imaging performance and Bright Capture technology, Olympus has equipped the µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 with a bright, 3x zoom all-glass lens system. This system incorporates a newly developed, high-refractive-index aspherical lens element that captures images in true-to-life detail with virtually no distortion. The integrated TruePic TURBO image processor further optimises image quality by boosting contrast and colour while also increasing the cameras processing speed.

Highly versatile and extremely user-friendly
The µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 offers photographers a huge choice for getting their compositions just right and in most cases there is little need to consult the user’s manual. The new, in-built Guide Function shows you the recommended use of the various camera functions directly onto the LCD, perfect for the keen amateur wanting to get that little extra piece of advice on how to compose the best image. Besides fully automatic shooting in Programme Auto mode, 19 individual scene programmes are on hand to provide optimal settings for a broad range of situations from capturing sunsets in the great outdoors to taking holiday snaps at the beach or in the snow.

Users can also satisfy their more demanding creative urges using the Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, which give added control over image results. Macro and Super Macro modes provide plenty of opportunities for capturing subjects in fine detail from as little as only 3cm away. Naturally, the camera is also equipped with a movie recording function that can capture action, with sound, in VGA quality.

A 19MB internal memory allows images to be saved even when there is no memory card inserted. By using an Olympus xD-Picture Card (now available in various sizes up to a capacity of 1GB) photographers need never be caught short of storage space. The Calendar Function makes image viewing a breeze, it stores images in date order and provides a monthly view of small thumbnail image icons. When it comes to printing the µ [mju:] DIGITAL 800 is PictBridge compatible meaning that the camera can be directly connected to any PictBridge enabled printer without the need for a PC.