Olympus launches new lenses, tough camera and pro OM-D kit

Alongside a new baby OM-D, Olympus also has a couple of lenses, the TG-850 tough model and a 50x optical zoom camera to show off.

The big announcement is the new E-M10, a new compact interchangeable lens camera (ILC) that comes with a range of features that are found on the company's OM-D range, all squashed down into a smaller package. You can read more in-depth about the new E-M10 here in our preview.

For photographers who want a little more grunt from their ILC, there is a new premium version of the E-M5 that comes with a 12-40mm f/2.8 lens. Nothing has changed in terms of internal features, but on the outside things start to look a bit different. There is now a leather-like textured grip, while the main and sub-main dials have been redesigned based on feedback from owners. It still features the same weather-sealed construction as the regular E-M5.

The camera will also be able to reach a new native low ISO of 100 thanks to a new firmware update. The kit will be available for AU$1699.

On the compact camera front, Olympus has two new models vying for your attention: the TG-850 and SP-100. As you may have guessed by now, the TG-850 is a new model in the touch range, shockproof to 2.1 metres, waterproof to 10 metres and crush-resistant to up to 100kgf. It has the widest lens available on a compact camera, at 21mm. A 5x optical zoom and 180-degree tilting LCD screen — perfect for underwater selfies — completes the main specs. A 16-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, 1080/60p video and the Olympus art filters are also on the spec sheet. The TG-850 will retail for AU$399.

On the long-lens front, the SP-100 boasts a 50x optical zoom (that's 24-1200mm in 35mm equivalent) with 1080/60p video and a 16-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. As you may know from having used a superzoom camera before, obtaining focus and keeping an eye on the action when you are zoomed all the way out to the telephoto end can be difficult. For this reason, the SP-100 comes with a red dot sight system for keeping an eye on subjects. Expect this to be on sale for AU$449.

Lenses

Though a bodycap lens might not be the most optically prestigious piece of glass in a vendor's lens lineup, the new 9mm f/8 wants to add a bit of fish-eye excitement at a low price. It offers a 140-degree field-of-view, manual focus ring and two aspherical elements for AU$139.

As well as the new 14-42mm pancake zoom lens (detailed in our preview of the E-M10), Olympus also has a 25mm f/1.8 prime lens, finally giving its ILC range the coveted "nifty fifty" 50mm focal length. It will offer very similar performance to the 45mm f/1.8 in the range and will retail for AU$499.

All of the new cameras and lenses will ship in Australia in March.