Olympus Stylus 7040, Stylus 7030 and Stylus 5010 launch with 7 and 5x zoom

Olympus updates today its Point and Shoot lineup with the Stylus 7040, 7030 and 5010. Their focus is offering a wide angle lens with up to 7x optical zoom range - available in the Stylus 7040 and 7030 - and a 5x zoom in the Stylus 5010.

Olympus Stylus 7040 and Stylus 7030
The 7x optical zoom 7040 and 7030 cover an equivalent focal range of 28-196mm. They both pack a 14 megapixel sensor into a compact camera body, stepping up from the 12 megapixel resolution in the currently available Stylus 7010. The Stylus 7040 will shoot 720p HD video, and the 7030 will record movies in standard definition.

Olympus Stylus 7040

Olympus Stylus 7030

Olympus Stylus 5010
Trading in for a slightly smaller equivalent zoom range of 28-130mm, Olympus says that the Stylus 5010 features a slimmer form factor than the higher zoom models. That 5x optical zoom power is accompanied by 720p HD video recording and presumably the same 14 megapixel sensor.

Olympus Stylus 5010

Standard features shared by all of the above models include:

• In-Camera Panorama: One shutter press will capture three images as the user pans across a scene. Images are stitched together in-camera.
• Dual Image Stabilization: Digital image stabilization, which raises ISO and increases shutter speed in dim light, is coupled with lens-shift stabilization in hopes of reducing blurry photos.
• Shadow Adjustment: An optional tool that aims to recover underexposed detail in scenes with tricky lighting.
• Magic Filter: Four in-camera digital filters that will add artistic effects to photos - Pop art, fisheye, pinhole, and drawing (coloring book style).

The new Stylus cameras carry the TruePic III image processor as well as a number of interesting changes to the existing Stylus model. First, the new cameras will forgo the xD picture card in favor of SD card compatibility - a welcome change for those already invested in the ubiquitous SD card. They've also re-designed the GUI (graphical user interface) and ditched the physical copy of their user manual, offering instead a full copy on the camera's built-in memory.

All priced at or under $250, the new Stylus cameras aim to please the photographer looking for a camera that covers a lot of angles for less money. Our own review of the Stylus 7010 saw it through a cross-country roadtrip. We liked the flexibility of the wide angle lens coupled with a 7x zoom range, though image quality suffered at higher ISO settings. We'll be interested to see whether another 2 megapixels creates a significant increase in noise apparent in high ISO images.

Pricing and availability
Starting from the top, the Stylus 7040 will retail for $249.99, the Stylus 7030 for $199.99, and the Stylus 5010 for $199.99. They are slated for availability in February.