Olympus, the industry leader in opto-digital technologies and pioneer in the digital camera market, today introduced the new Olympus µ[mju] DIGITAL 500, a compact 5-megapixel digital camera with 3x optical zoom.

The Olympus µ[mju] DIGITAL 500 is the next-generation model of Olympus’ highly successful µ[mju] DIGITAL line. The camera comes in an all-weather metal body, and features a new flat-surface body design, a large LCD monitor, and a wide range of easy-to-use high-performance shooting functions.

Next Generation Features
Although exceedingly compact, the Olympus µ[mju] DIGITAL 500 is equipped with a large 2.5-inch, high-definition HyperCrystal™ LCD monitor that provides a bright, clear image for both shooting and viewing, with 160° screen visibility on both the horizontal and vertical axis. It also features the "Top Shell Barrier", first introduced on the Olympus µ-mini DIGITAL, and boasts full-flat body design that takes the series into a new direction.

The camera’s 5-megapixel CCD sensor is coupled with Olympus’ exclusive image processor, TruePic TURBO, which significantly enhances image quality and delivers faster overall processing speed for startup, shutter release and playback. The fast startup of less than one second and nearly instant shutter release time ensures high-speed response.

A total of 20 Scene Program modes make it easy for users to obtain optimum results in virtually any shooting situation. There are 16 scene-based modes, as well as two new Shoot & Select modes that make it easier to capture moving subjects, and two new Underwater modes for underwater wide-angle and macro shooting.

The Tradition Of All-Weather Design
Continuing its tradition of all-weather design, the body of the Olympus µ[mju] DIGITAL 500 is constructed of durable, lightweight metal with runner gaskets throughout the interior to ensure that rain, sleet, snow or sand do not get in the way of great pictures.

With its QuickTime Movie Mode, movies of any length can be recorded, limited only by the capacity of the memory card in the camera.

Connecting the camera to a computer is a cinch with the USB Auto Connect feature. Alternatively, PictBridge-compatibility enables photos to be printed directly from the Olympus µ[mju] DIGITAL 500 to any PictBridge-enabled printer.

The body is offered in three elegant colors to suit the user’s preference, including Diamond Dust (silver), Eclipse Night (navy blue), and Red Moon (red).

The Olympus µ[mju] DIGITAL 500 – main features:

• 5.0 million pixels
• Weather-proof* metal body in silver, navy blue or red
• Retracting lens barrier
• 3x optical zoom (equiv. 35 – 105mm on 35mm camera), f3.1 – 5.2
• Large 6.4cm / 2.5inch Hyper Crystal LCD with 215,000 pixels
• 20 scene programmes (Incl. Portrait, Night Scene, Self Portrait, Landscape, Candle, Sunset, Underwater, Behind Glass)
• Super Macro mode from as close as 7cm
• Movie recording function with sound
• Multi-language menu
• PictBridge support and TruePic TURBO
• Shipped with 32MB xD-Picture Card, Olympus Master Software, Li-12B rechargeable battery, charger
• Underwater case (PT-026) optionally available soon

* weather-proof equivalent to the IEC standard publication 529 IPX4