Launched in January 2010 the Olympus Stylus Tough 3000 joins the ranks of the other Stylus Tough digital cameras from Olympus that are known for their rugged and heavy-duty performance. Like its older siblings, the Tough 3000 is waterproof, shockproof, and freeze-proof.
What is new in the Tough 3000 is its capability to shoot 720p HD videos. With a one-touch button, you can record clear and sharp movies and view them on your HDTV by simply connecting it to the camera using an HDMI cable. You can even use the HDTV’s remote to navigate the camera’s menus and control playback functions.
A thoughtful addition is the 1GB internal memory which stores plenty of still photos and videos. If you’re still not satisfied with it, an SD card slot is just waiting to be filled. Another innovation is Photo Surfing which allows you to skim over captured photos, but if you want to quickly locate a particular photo, you can use the camera’s [ib] software. This software tags your photos and organizes them using GPS, face-detection, or dates. Charging via USB is also included.
The Tough 3000 uses the same 3.6x optical zoom, which is equivalent to 28 – 102mm in a 35mm camera, found in the Tough 8000 model allowing both panoramic and close up shots. Also like in the 8000, the lens does not extend beyond the camera body. A 12-megapixel image sensor assures you of high resolution photos both on screen and in print. A 2.7-inch LCD monitor equipped with anti-glare and a wide viewing angle makes composition and shooting possible even when under direct sunlight.
A Dual Image Stabilization feature that eliminates blur by speeding up shutter speeds, and an AF Tracking that keeps your subjects in sharp focus even when they are moving guarantee vivid images regardless of shooting conditions.
All these features come in a package that is waterproof up to three meters, can be dropped from a height of 1.5 meters, and can operate without a hitch at temperatures as low as 14°F.