Olympus SP-550 UZ Ultra Zoom Camera

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Olympus's most ambitious Ultra Zoom yet, the 7.1 megapixel Olympus SP-550 UZ features a whopping 18x (28 to 504mm equivalent) optical zoom lens, ranging from true wide-angle to long telephoto. The relatively fast f/2.8 - 4.5 lens employs high-refractive, aspherical, and extra-low dispersion elements to maximize sharpness and clarity, and is also capable of focusing as close as 0.39 inches (1cm), an amazing feat considering the record-breaking zoom range. Sadly, the cameras that followed weren't nearly as interesting, with their biggest flaw being a lack of image stabilization. Better still, while most super-zooms are limited to modest wide angle capabilities, the SP-550UZ features decent coverage equivalent to 28mm. Built-in sensor-shift represents one half of what Olympus describes as Dual Image Stabilization. The other half relies on high sensitivities to achieve faster shutter speeds. The SP-550UZ offers a remarkably wide range of sensitivities from 50 to 5000 ISO.

The SP-550UZ additionally offers the usual array of manual control and exposure adjustments, but packs everything into a surprisingly compact, well-built and comfortable package. A separate mode uses a "Pre-Capture" feature that starts capturing shots the moment focus is locked, storing five frames just before the shutter release is fully depressed, compensating somewhat for user response time and shutter lag. There may be neither flash hot shoe nor flip-out screen, but the SP-550UZ appears to have pretty much everything else covered.

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Specification of Olympus SP-550 UZ

• Image Sensor : 7.1 Megapixel (effective), 7.4 Megapixel gross, 1/2.5” CCD
  
• Focal Length/Lens Configuration : 4.68 – 84.24mm (28 – 504mm equivalent in 35mm photography), 14 lenses in 11 groups; 4 aspherical lenses, 2 ED lenses
• Zoom : 18x Optical + 5.6x Digital (Seamless to 100x)
  
• Maximum Aperture : f2.8 – f4.5 (adjustable in 1/3 EV step)
• Display : 2.5” (6.4cm) Color LCD, approx. 230,000 pixels
• Viewfinder : Electronic (dioptic correction)
• Focus System : CCD Contrast Detection
  
• Focus Range (from lens surface)
  Normal Mode:
  (Wide) 3.94” – infinity (.1m – infinity)
  (Tele) 47.24” – infinity (1.2m – infinity)
  Macro Mode:
  (Wide) 3.94” – infinity (.1m – infinity)
  (Tele) 47.24” – infinity (1.2m – infinity)
  
• Focus Mode : iESP Auto, Spot AF, Selective AF Target, Manual
• Shutter Speed : 1/2000 sec. – 15 sec, Bulb
• ISO Sensitivity (SOS: Standard Output Sensitivity) : Auto, High ISO Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 5000 (approx. 3MP)
• Exposure Metering : Digital iESP Auto Multi-Pattern TTL, Center-Weighted Metering
• White Balance Control : iESP2 Auto, One-Touch, Presets (Sunlight, Overcast, Tungsten, and 3 Fluorescents)
• Exposure Compensation : ±2 EV steps in 1/3 EV increments
• Image File Format : Still Image: DCF Exif 2.21, JPEG, PIM3
• Movie : AVI Motion JPEG
• Pixel Mapping : Automatic Pixel Mapping (APM) available via menu setting
• Image Playback Still Image : Single, Index, Enlargement, Slideshow, Calendar, Album, Histogram, Rotation
• Playback Edit Effects Still Image: Red-Eye Fix, Black & White, Sepia, Crop, Resize, Rotate, Brightness, Saturation, Frame, Label, Calendar, Layout
• Direct Printing Options PictBridgeTM and DPOF
• Flash : Built-in
• Flash Modes : Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill-In, Fill-In & Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Off

Features of Olympus SP-550 UZ

• With 15fps Sequential Shooting you can take several shots in rapid succession that freeze moments in time.
• Use Pre-Capture technology to capture action even before you fully press the shutter button. Perfect for shooting kids, pets, sports and other fast-moving subjects.
• ISO 5000 allows superior low-light and fast-action photography.
• Shoot and print in rich detail with the 7.1-megapixel imager.
• Frame and share your shots on the big 2.5" high-resolution LCD screen, or use the electronic viewfinder.

[Dr.pter]

I think it is a good camera, because it has many options like landscape, portrait, portrait etc. But the speed of the photos are not as fast as I wan to have it.At the same time i also has one good features that we set up a photo and directly into your camera black and white or and the mode we want to have the pictures.Olympus SP-550 also has ultra zoom feature too.