Olympus SP-550 UZ - The First Digital Camera With 18X Optical Zoom Lens
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Olympus SP-550 UZ
18x optical zoom lens - it sounds incredible, but it's true... The newest 7.1 megapixel SP-550 UZ camera from Olympus is the first digital camera with such fantastic lens. In case you're wondering what UZ stands for, it is "ultra zoom." This camera offers maximum shooting versatility for travel, sports and everyday use. It features 30 shooting modes including movie with sound that optimize the camera's settings for any shooting situation - including Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Sports, Beach and Snow, Underwater, etc.
You can record TV-quality AVI movies with sound (640 x 480 resolution at 30fps), up to the capacity of your xD card. Sensor-shift image stabilization keeps your shot steady and digital image stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds. New Pre-Capture technology automatically archives five frames in the camera's buffer memory .
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SP-550 UZ - Technical Details - Product Features & Technical Details
- Product Features:
* 7.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
* 18x super-telephoto zoom lens; 15fps high-speed sequential shooting
* 2.5-inch, high-resolution LCD screen
* Bright Capture technology for low-light photography and image viewing
* Stores images on xD Picture Cards - Technical Details:
* Sensor: 7.1 Megapixel
* Size: 1/2.5-inch
* Image Resolution: 1024 x 768
* Image Resolution: 1600 x 1200
* Image Resolution: 2048 x 1536
* Image Resolution: 1280 x 960
* Image Resolution: 640 x 480
* Image Resolution: 2304 x 1728
* Image Resolution: 2560 x 1920
* Image Resolution: 3072 x 2048
* Image Resolution: 3072 x 2304
* Movie Resolution: 320 x 240
* Movie Resolution: 640 x 480
* Optical Zoom: 18x
* Digital Zoom: 5.6x
* Combined Zoom: 100x
* Focal Length: 4.68 - 84.24mm (28 - 504mm equivalent in 35mm photography)
Why I Love My SP-550 UZ
- It provides more than a typical point-and-shoot camera, but it's not as expensive and not as big as digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses.
- It has many more features that any other digital cameras of this type and in this price range, with these that I love most: terrific 18x zoom lens, mechanical image stabilization, 30 shooting modes including movie with sound, ability to shoot underwater extreme close-ups, guide setting (helps to easily adjust the camera's settings to best suit the shot - much easier than with a manual!), choice of using either LCD screen on the back or a display in the viewfinder (great feature during bright sunlight).
- It's at least few hundred dollars cheaper than a comparable digital SLR camera with a zoom lens; it's also much smaller.
Buy SP-550 UZ from Amazon.com
SP-550 UZ has some drawbacks, but they are typical for the cameras in this class:
- Color saturation and noise reduction could be better.
- Shooting at the maximum image resolution (3,072x2,304 pixels) can result in delays of several seconds before you can take another shot - especially in RAW mode. Luckily, the delays are minimal at lower resolutions and in JPEG mode.
- When you use 15 frames-per second burst mode, you can only use 1,280x960 resolution.
CNET VIDEOS - Digital Cameras - including SP-550 UZ
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Olympus CLA-10 Lens Adapter Tube for Olympus SP-550 UZ
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Olympus PT-037 Underwater Housing for SP-550 UZ
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Interesting reviews of SP-550 UZ
- Olympus SP-550 UZ: 18x ultra zoom: Digital Photography Review
- Olympus SP-550 UZ: 18x ultra zoom: Today is Olympus day with the announcement of eight new cameras in the FE, Stylus (Mju) and SP ranges.
- DCRP Review: Olympus SP-550 Ultra Zoom
- This is the final review of the Olympus SP-550 Ultra Zoom. Product shots and screenshots that were featured in the preview have been re-shot, and all sample ...
- Olympus SP-550 UZ - Digital Photography Reviews, News, Hacks, Tips ...
- The Olympus SP-550 UZ (Ultra Zoom) is a point-and-shoot digital camera featuring 7.1 million effective pixels with 18x optical zoom (35mm equiv: 28-504mm) ...
- First Look: Olympus SP-550 UZ - - PopPhotoJanuary 2007
- The just-announced 7.1 megapixel Olympus SP-550 UZ (MSRP: $499.00) is certain to get people talking long before it hits the shelves. Why?
- Olympus SP-550 UZ: a compact monster with 18x optical zoom - Engadget
- The SP-550 UZ features a smokin' 28-504mm (35mm camera equivalent) focal length with "Dual-Image stabilization" (high 6400 ISO value combined with CCD-based ...
- Olympus SP-550 UZ - PhotographyBLOG
- Olympus SP-550 UZ PMA 2007: The Olympus SP-550 UZ is the first digital camera to offer an 18x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28-504mm! ...
- Olympus SP-550 UZ Review and User Opinions. 7 Megapixels Reviews ...
- Digital Trends' detailed Olympus SP-550 UZ analysis: unbiased review, video footage, prices, user reviews, specs and more.
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divegear_guy wrote...
Cool camera and great lens. Does the SP 550 come with an underwater housing? Would like to take this during scuba diving.
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Posted September 02, 2008
VegeSoup wrote...
Excellent lens. 5-star for you.
Warmest Regards,
7-Day Cabbage Soup Diet
Posted July 17, 2008
Applyit wrote...
Great Lens!!! Who doesn't love taking pictures, lol! I just finished my 2nd lens! If you have a minute come check it out at: http://www.squidoo.com/CheapTravelSites Oh, and don't forget to let me know what you think!
Posted May 06, 2008
DonnaMiller wrote...
Wow cool! I want one now :) Thanks for all the info and bring this to my attention. 5 stars!
Posted October 09, 2007
Aika wrote...
I dream to own one of these Olympus Digi-cam. Love photography and definitely this is very fantastic for my hobby.
Posted September 19, 2007
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