Olympus has launched what it claims is the first digital camera with a 20x zoom.

The camera is equivalent to a 35mm model with a lens capable of ranging from a near wide-angle 26mm to a telescopic 520mm.

Available in March, the £389.99 SP-570 UZ packs dual-image stabilisation which minimises blur caused by camera shake.

It also includes features such as face detection, shadow adjustment and bright capture - designed to ensure good exposure in poor lighting.

The real zoom range is 4.6mm to 92mm, but it equates to a longer focal length on a film camera because digital sensors are smaller than a 35mm frame.

A Super Macro mode allows shots from a distance as little as 1cm. The SP-570 UZ is compatible with wireless flash units and also allows for manual focus using the lens ring, as on an SLR.

Olympus has also launched two "shock-proof, waterproof and freeze proof" models, the mju 1030 SW and mju 850 SW.

The 10.1-megapixel 1030 has a 3.6x optical zoom and costs £319.99; the 8-megapixel 850 has a 3x zoom and costs £229.99.