Olympus SP-800 UZ

Opinion: As an owner of a 2100UZ, I decided to upgrade to an SP-800UZ for a trip to Glacier
Bay, Alaska. Here are some of my observations about the SP-800UZ after 400+
photos were taken on this trip.

Pro:

Very satisfied with all of the individual photos taken in a variety of lighting conditions
in P-mode. Only P-mode and Panorama-mode were used throughout the trip.

Use of the monitor allowed for rapid target acquisition and the zoom was fast
enough to capture the action while whale watching. This was a pleasant surprise for
one used to the electronic-through-the-lens monitor on the 2100UZ.

Battery life was never an issue while shooting throughout the day.

Use of an 8 GB SD Memory Card provided ample storage for all photos taken.

Con:

Panorama-mode flat DOES NOT WORK - don't use it ! Take individual pictures in
some other mode and stitch them together with other software (think Calico). Not
only does the panorama mode not work, it erases the original frames after the
camera [ib] software "constructs" the panorama. End result, no panorama and no
pictures. Olympus consultant recommends using PC-mode to take panoramas and
this means the panorama is not constructed in-camera with the [ib] software, but
later after you download to a PC with PC software. Use of the PC-mode also reduces
the image size of each frame to a maximum of 2 Megapixels.

The lens cap is a constant nuisance and is ineffective, a screw-on cap or a screw-on
filter would be more useful.

Opinion: I bought this thinking that I might have been buying a
reasonable quality camera from a company that is
respected as a camera manufacturer of long standing
and some repute. I was a bit wrong.

This is a super zoom camera for persons who don't
think much about their photography and will be
satisfied with something less than the optimum in
images.

It starts off by feeling cheap and plastic.

Its images are noisy at high ISO. Its dynamic range
struggles and it has difficulty in focusing from time to
time. It is also quite slow in recording images.

Its good points are that its colour balance is fair if you
use its ESP mode rather than the garish over-saturation
of the other methods on offer.

The captures are actually better than the k230 pixel
screen might show. When it works the images are fine
but the results are a bit too much hit and miss for my
liking.

There is no real control over the camera other than
ISO setting and Exposure Value and these involve
menu scrolling that always starts at the top and you
work down. Most unsophisticated users would hardly
bother and those that think a bit will find it awfully
frustrating.

There is absolutely no control over aperture, exposure
speed or manual focus. There are many scene modes
and it is obvious that this is an expensive camera for
what it offers in Australia and the cut rate price on
Amazon in the USA shows that it is a twee point and
shoot for for those who are happy to stick to a scene
mode and let the camera do its work or its worst. I
guess everybody gets lucky sometimes.

The flash is well calibrated for fill flash use and that is a
plus as most flash units tend to blow away their
subject in this situation.

Big zoom has possibilities for those that might need it
but the rest of the camera lets it down big time.

A bit of all engine and no controls.

It would be ideal as a cheap disposable-type travel
camera for those that are happy with using scene
modes - it has every possibility of capturing those
distance images with a bit of practice and in good light.

At its Australian asking price it is way overpriced for
what it is. At Amazon prices a lot of people would find
it useful as I have described and could be very happy
with it within its limitations.

Use it scene mode or press the prominent big red movie button and do a movie
and you will be happy enough with what it prooduces - it is a camera that does
not require a lot of thought to use and if you just want to take images without a
course in photography then this might be the camera for you but if you know
anything about cameras then it is not for you. It will drive you mad.

Opinion: Estoy sorprendido con las capacidades y flexibilidad de esta cámara, sin tener que caer en las complicaciones de una cámara reflex y con una calidad muy parecida.

Finalmente si tus fotos las vas a ver en la pantalla de una
computadora o cuando mucho en una pantalla LCD es mas
que suficiente

Opinion: I have had my SP800UZ for about two years. I posted comments when I first got it. Was dissapointed then and still am. Admittedly it is chuck full of techo wonders but falls down in areas for actual use. lacking an eye level viewer is a big deficit in my opinion. The close up is not really much of a close up. Approaches macro but not quite. It will not focus at really close ranges. As a former long-time professional I take care of my equipment value a few features that help with that chore. One is the use of a UV filter a/k/a invisible lens cap. The lens on this camera is right up front and hightly vunerable to damage. Of course, other filters cannot be used either. e.g. pola. There is no means of attaching a lens hood. I believe a lens hood is as important for sharp pictures as good lenses. Meaning, pic quality is not up to what I achieve with my other cameras, even older models.
This is a no or one star rating. Do not buy.