Olympus has taken the wraps off the Olympus Stylus SH-1, a stylish point-and-shoot camera with advanced image stabilisation usually associated with much bigger cameras.
In fact, the company is calling the Olympus Stylus SH-1 "the first compact camera equipped with optical 5-axis image stabilisation for both still images and videos."
This 5-axis IS technology was initially developed for the Olympus OM-D E-M5, an enthusiast-level Micro Four Thirds launched in 2012. It enables super-steady, blur-free shots, and even allows you to shoot decent low-light shots without the use of a flash or a tripod. It also makes those walking videos blissfully shake-free.
While 5-axis image stabilisation is the headline feature, the Olympus Stylus SH-1 has another impressive trick up its sleeve in the shape of a fixed 24x zoom f/3.0-6.3 lens.
Elsewhere, things look slightly more ordinary. The SH-1 uses a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch image sensor, which isn’t likely to give the Sony RX100 sleepless nights.
Still, it’s certainly a looker, with a classy PEN-like aluminium alloy and black leather-effect design. You also get a 3-inch 460k dot display, Wi-Fi, and the ability to shoot video at 240fps or 120fps 720p.
The Olympus Stylus SH-1 will be available in the US some time in May at an estimated price of $400. There’s no news yet on pricing and availability here in the UK.
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