The successor to Olympus?s SP-550 UZ 18x zoom camera heads nine new models due in UK shops during the autumn.

The eight-million-pixel SP-560 UZ (pictured) sports an 18x optical zoom designed to deliver the 35mm viewing angle equivalent of a 27-486mm lens.

An optional £100 teleconverter (TCON-017) and £28 adapter ring (CLA-10) extends zoom power to 826mm.

If this is used in conjunction with the digital zoom, this is boosted to ?4626mm? focal length equivalent in 35mm terms, according to Olympus.

Priced around £350, features are said to include face detection.

In super macro mode the camera aims to shoot as close as 1cm. Its 2.5in LCD screen boasts a resolution of 230,000 pixels.

Among a quartet of Mju newcomers is the 12MP Mju 1200, priced £270 and kitted out with a 2.7in LCD screen, face detection and ?weather-proof? body, along with a 3x optical zoom.

Joining the Mju stable is the 8MP Mju 820 (£180), 8MP Mju 830 (£250) and 7.1MP Mju 790 SW (£200) ? the latter claimed to be shockproof against falls from 1.5m and waterproof to a pressure equivalent of 3m.

Meanwhile, four new additions to the FE range come in the form of the 12MP FE-300 (£200), 8MP FE-280 (£140), 7.1MP FE-290 (£170) and 7.1MP FE-270 (£100).

Face detection appears to be built in to all the models except the FE-270 and FE-290.

All are due out in September, apart from the SP-560 UZ, Mju 1200 and Mju 830, which are due out in October.

For more details call 0800 0720070.

Olympus SP-560 UZ