Olympus launches Stylus Tough-8010, Stylus Tough-6020

BY: Allison Johnson, DigitalCameraReview.com Editor

Olympus adds two more rugged cameras today to their Tough series. The Stylus Tough-8010 and Stylus Tough-6020 are shockproof, waterproof, crushproof, and freezeproof, making them ready for waves and ski slopes alike. They have a softer side, too. They're equipped with in-camera art filters and HD video recording. Read on for more of the rugged details.

Olympus Stylus Tough-6020

The Olympus Stylus Tough-8010 and Stylus Tough-6020 will both feature a 14 megapixel sensor and an f/3.9-5.9 5x optical zoom lens. They're each equipped with a TruePic III image processor and dual image stabilization with mechanical sensor-shift function. Face detection will find up to 12 faces within a frame, and in-camera art filters will include pop art, pin hole, fish-eye, and drawing. Both cameras utilize a 2.7 inch LCD and will accept only SD and SDHC memory cards.

Olympus recognizes that harsh conditions are not ideal for manipulating camera menus, so they've brought their Tap Control function back for these new Tough cameras. The camera can be controlled by tapping one of its sides thanks to an internal accelerometer.

Olympus Stylus Tough-8010
The slightly-tougher Stylus Tough-8010 is built to withstand up to a 6.6 foot drop. Underwater, it will function to an impressive depth of 33 feet. The camera should hold up in below freezing temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 Celsius). Like the Stylus-6010, it's powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery rated for 240 shots.

Olympus Stylus Tough-6020
The Tough-6020 offers the same freezeproof rating of 14 degrees Fahrenheit as the Tough-8010, though it won't go as far below the waves. It's good for 16 feet underwater and is built to withstand a 5 foot drop.

Like the Tough-8010, it will allow users to create panoramic images with In-Camera Panoramic mode. Using this feature, the photographer can sweep the camera across a scene and with one press of the shutter button, the Stylus Tough will record and stitch together three images. Both cameras feature an LED illuminator to assist when focusing in macro mode.

Pricing and availability
The Olympus Stylus Tough-8010 will arrive in February 2010 with an MSRP of $399.99. The Stylus Tough-6020 will also become available in February, debuting with a cost of $299.99.