Olympus SP-570 UZ ultra zoom hands-on

Fujifilm may have laid claim to "smallest 12x zoom," but Olympus' SP-570 UZ blows by that with a 20x optical zoom. In case you didn't know, the "UZ" stands for "ultra zoom." Not a bad piece of glass; f/2.8 - f/4.5 with dual image stabilization so you can actually use the 20x end of the lens. The 10-megapixel sensor and full manual control options make sense on this high-end digicam, as does the hot shoe for a flash. Not all the niceties have been sacrificed, though -- face detection is in there too, for when you hand the camera over to a "less-enthusiastic" shooter.

Gallery: Hands-on with the Olympus SP-570 UZ ultra zoom

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[Alex Haas @ Jan 31st 2008 1:40PM]

Digg this!!

http://digg.com/gadgets/Olympus_SP_570_UZ_ultra_zoom_hands_on

[flyhen @ Jan 31st 2008 2:38PM]

One thing I am interested to know, is where exactly is the tripod mount is located at the bottom of the camera. Is it on the center line of the lens? or is it off? The reason I ask, is because this is very crucial to take panorama photos with a tripod, especially at night. But of course, with a 26mm wide-angle lens, who needs that, right?

[Tony C @ Jan 31st 2008 4:02PM]

I don't know if I'd get my hopes up about the tripod mount... Olympus should be better about those kinds of things, but the slightly older 560's is NOT in line with the lens centerline.

[Tony C @ Jan 31st 2008 3:56PM]

Wow. That is one LONG ASS BARRELL for a compact digicam! Imagine the size of the filter tube! LOL

[OhLimpUs @ Jan 31st 2008 4:29PM]

They took a giant step backwards in video capability from the 550/560UZ with this "new and improved" model. It looks like videos are now limited to 10sec clips instead of full card capacity.

[flyhen @ Jan 31st 2008 4:25PM]

for a camera like this, i do hope they get it right this time, otherwise, i will be mightily disappointed.

[JACOB @ Jan 31st 2008 4:56PM]

well for someone who can carry that monstorous camera its ok just ok


fujifilm FTW

[JACOB @ Jan 31st 2008 4:59PM]

does it have iflash? extreame shurter speed snow shot mode antired-eye flash?

fujifilm FTW

[JACOB @ Jan 31st 2008 4:59PM]

does it have iflash? extreame shurter speed snow shot mode antired-eye flash?

fujifilm FTW

[DarthVader @ Feb 1st 2008 4:09PM]

It supports movie mode as much as the card can take... Unlike what OhLimpUs claims... RTFM...

[meja @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:12AM]

Just got this to try it out.. for me the control on the zoom was AWFUL. it's powered and operates like it's on a bungy cord.. taking it back today
other than that the pix were fine but I didn't spend a lot of time with it, because of zoom control

[IamnotHao @ Apr 21st 2008 4:02AM]

Yea the zoom control is bad but it is fast zooming compare to any other ultra zoom camera.

[painterdude @ Apr 29th 2008 12:56PM]

humm tried this cam out for a day or two and took it back. Zooming is difficult to truly annoying with camera shake an issue almost throughout the range. Poor color, disappointing pictures. noisey low light performance +lousey camera performance = no go for me. The Fuji S100fs absolutely creams this camera in all departments but zoom reach, and chromatic distortion, but in the end that turns out not to be a benifit for a point and shoot like this OLy ..cuzz you really do need a tripod to take advantage of the zoom to get anything worth keeping ..