Olympus Stylus SH-1 compact camera takes inspiration from PEN range
The latest Olympus compact camera, the Stylus SH-1, has a retro design that takes inspiration from the company's PEN micro four thirds range
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Published on 31 March 2014
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Olympus has steadily released a stream of retro-inspired PEN micro-four thirds cameras over the past few years, and has now expanded the classic 1970’s styling down to its compact Stylus line-up. The Stylus SH-1 has a metal body made from aluminium alloy and a (synthetic) leather grip, which should help it stand out from the huge selection of compact cameras already on the market.
Olympus hasn’t prioritised design over features, however. With a 16-megapixel back side illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor and Olympus’ TruePic VII image processor, the Stylus SH-1 has great image quality credentials, but Olympus has also added 5-axis optical image stabilisation – a world’s first, and a step above the usual pitch and yaw stabilisation found on most compact cameras. It should help shoot pin-sharp images and record smooth Full HD video – even at the maximum 24x optical zoom, which has a 35mm equivalent range of 25-600mm.
A maximum 6,400 ISO and pop-up flash should help with low-light shooting, while the 3in, 460k dot LCD touchscreen should make it easy to frame your photos. The camera also has integrated Wi-Fi, for sharing photos and videos with a smartphone, or to turn your phone into a remote shutter. It supports zoom and selective focus, giving you complete control even when you aren’t holding the camera itself.
Like the more expensive PEN range, the Stylus SH-1 will also launch with a set of genuine leather accessories, including body jackets and shoulder straps, which protect the camera or make it easier to carry around.
The SH-1 will be available in black, silver or white colours from the end of April onwards, with a UK RRP of £349.99.
Written by
Tom Morgan
Tom started writing about technology right after graduating from University, but has been a games and gadget fan for as long as he can remember. Beyond photography, music and home entertainment, he's also the first port of call for all reviews content on Expert Reviews.
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