Today Olympus announced three new compact point and shoots aimed at the sub-$250 market.

The first and most modest of this addition is the VG-110, (to be available in black, silver, and red) with a 4x optical zoom starting at 27mm equivalent over a 12MP sensor. Like nearly every compact digital these days you do all of your composing on rear panel LCD -in this case it’s 2.7″ with 230K dots. The VG110 will record your stills or VGA video to an SD/SDHC card, can connect to your computer via MiniB USB, and operates from a rechargable Lithium Ion battery.

Next up, the VR-320. -after the break -

A hopping 12.5x optical zoom that starts at a respectable 24mm (35mm equivalent) over a 14MP sensor. The LCD gives you some breathing room at 3″ and 460K dots. Keep in mind that 12.5x optical zoom fits into a 1.1″ thick frame. A lithium ion battery powers the VR-320 and it records the stills and 720p HD video to SD/SDHC cards. You can playback on the LCD or through HDMI type C cables.

The SZ-10, scooting under the $250 mark by the smallest unit of US currency, has the same LCD specs of the VR-320 (3.0″, 460K dots), and a whomping 18x optical zoom starting at 28mm (35mm equivalent) and SDXC support.

The SZ-10 is also hopping on the 3D Photo wagon using some mystical Olympian two-by-2d=3d process to generate immersive pics viewable on compatible devices.

Also of note is a high speed mode, allowing 10fps of 3MP images, the inclusion of Magic Filters, In-Camera Panorama, and 720P HD video recording.