Announced just before PMA in January 2007 the SP-550UZ is the first serious attempt by Olympus to take back some ground in the super zoom sector, a sector it almost single-handedly created back in 2000 with the legendary C-2100UZ, but has since struggled to make a mark in. The SP-550UZ is a significant step up from the previous models in the 'SP' range (including the current SP-510UZ), offering 7MP resolution, image stabilization (CCD-shift) and an astounding 28-500mm (equiv.) 18x optical zoom range. The 'super zoom' market is an increasingly crowded and competitive one, and the SP-550UZ goes head to head with popular and well-regarded models such as the Sony H5, Canon S3 IS and Panasonic FZ8. Rarely has a camera caused so much interest based on its specification alone... so can the SP-550UZ live up to the hype? Let's find out, starting as ever with the headline specifications:
- 18x wide optical zoom (equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm camera) 1:2.8-4.5
- Dual Image Stabilization
- 7.1 Megapixels
- 6.4cm/2.5” LCD with 230,000 pixels
- High burst rate (up to 15fps in 1.2 Megapixel mode )
- Super Macro mode (from as close as 1cm)
- P/A/S/M exposure modes
- RAW mode
- BrightCapture Technology for better low light photography – also available in movie mode
- 23 scene modes (including Portrait, Sports, Night Scene)
- 25 languages on board
- Internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
- Supplied with Olympus Master software and four AA batteries
Side by side
Although not a small camera the SP-550UZ is very similar in size and weight to the Canon S3 IS and Panasonic Lumix FZ8 (also the Sony H2/H5, not shown). In fact the only cameras in this class that are significantly different in size are the considerably larger Fujifilm S6000 and the Panasonic FZ50 (not shown).
Olympus SP-550UZ specifications
| Street Price | • US: $490 • UK: £300 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal and plastic |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5" Primary color filter (RGB) Type CCD |
| Image sizes | • 3072 x 2304 • 3072 x 2048 (3:2) • 2560 x 1920 • 2304 x 1728 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1280 x 960 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 30fps • 320 x 240 30fps • Up to capacity of card (H cards only) |
| File formats | • Still: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW • Movie: Quicktime Motion JPEG (AVI) • Sound:Wave format |
| Lens | • 4.7-84.2mm (28-504 35 mm equiv) • 14 Lenses / 11 groups • Four Aspherical glass elements • 18x optical zoom • F2.8-4.5 |
| Image stabilization | Yes (CCD Shift) |
| Conversion lenses | Yes (with CLA-10 adaptor) |
| Digital zoom | Up to 5.6x |
| Focus | • TTL iESP auto focus with contrast detection • Predictive AF |
| AF area modes | • iESP multi-pattern • 143 area selectable spot • Manual focus |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | • 0.1m-∞ (wide), 1.2-∞ (tele) • 1cm closest focus (super macro) |
| Metering | • ESP multi-pattern • Center-weighted • Spot |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto ISO • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 (2048 x 1536 max) • ISO 5000 (2048 x 1536 max) |
| Exposure compensation | • +/- 2EV • 1/3 EV steps |
| Exposure bracketing | • +/- 5EV • 1/3 EV steps |
| Shutter speed | • 15-1/2000 sec (dependent on mode) • Bulb (max 8 minutes) |
| Aperture | F2.8 - 8 (wide) F3.1 - 8 (tele) |
| Modes | • Auto |
| Scene modes | • Portrait • Landscape • Landscape with portrait • Night scene • Night scene with portrait • Sports • Indoor • Candle • Self portrait • Available light portrait • Sunset • Fireworks • Cuisine • Behind glass • Documents • Auction • Shoot & select 1 • Shoot & select 2 • Snow • Beach • Underwater wide 1 • Underwater wide 2 • Underwater macro |
| White balance | • Auto • Sunlight • Overcast • Tungsten • Fluorescent 1 • Fluorescent 2 • Fluorescent 3 • Custom white balance |
| White balance fine tune | -7 Red - +7 Blue |
| Self timer | 2 or 12sec |
| Continuous shooting | • 1.2fps/7 frames (Full image size) • 7fps/15 frames (3MP) • 15fps /20 frames (1.2MP ) |
| Image parameters | • Black & White • Sepia • Brightness correction • Saturation correction |
| Flash | • Built in pop-up • Red-eye reduction • Fill-in • Fill-in with red-eye reduction • Slow sync • Working range 0.3-4.5m |
| Viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch Polycrystalline TFT • 207,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • DC in • AV out • USB |
| Print compliance | • PictBridge |
| Storage | • xD-Picture Card • 20 MB built-in memory |
| Power | • 4x AA batteries (alkaline included) • Optional NiMHs and charger |
| Other features | • RAW data edit • In camera editing / effects • Panorama function (with optional Olympus xD-Picture card) • Digital image stabilizer for movie capture |
| Weight (no batt) | 365g (12.9 oz) |
| Dimensions | 116 x 78.5 x 78 mm (4.6 x 3.1 x 3.1 in) |
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