Olympus SP-570UZ First Impressions | Summary
Monday, November 24, 2008
The megapixel war may be raging onward elsewhere, but the Olympus SP-570UZ is claiming a victory among the competition in the ultra-zoom digital camera market. Its 20x optical zoom lens is the longest on a compact digital camera. The resolution isn’t a slouch either at 10 megapixels. The new SP-570 is redesigned to look more like a DSLR and less like a compact camera with its retro zoom ring, more designated buttons, and sturdier body. The Olympus SP-570UZ will retail for $499, the same initial price of its predecessor, the SP-560UZ.
The camera we looked at for this First Impressions Review is a pre-production model, so the specs and performance may change by the time it goes on sale in March.
Overall Impressions
Value
The Olympus SP-570UZ costs $499, the same as its predecessor. This is pricey for a compact digital camera these days, but Olympus knows it. At this price, they know they’re competing with low-end DSLRs, said product manager Sally Smith Clemens. They are vying for consumers who want "the all-in-one solution" of the versatile lens, instead of carrying around a chunky DSLR and three lenses in a huge bag. The SP-570 is less expensive than buying a DSLR and three lenses, certainly. It’s pricey, but comes with some of the biggest features on the market.
Comparison to Olympus SP-560UZ
The SP-560UZ has less resolution on its 8-megapixel CCD, but it’s paired with the same image processor, so many of its performance features are the same as on the new model. For instance, the normal-speed Burst mode is still 1.2 fps. Face detection is included once again. The same wide array of exposure modes are available. The SP-560’s lens is one millimeter narrower and also shorter with its 18x, 27-486mm range. The lens has the same sensor-shift image stabilization system that pairs up with Olympus’ older digital image stabilization technology. The LCD screen is slightly smaller, at 2.5 inches, but the resolution is just the same at 230,000 pixels. The Olympus SP-560UZ doesn’t seem to offer any advantages over the SP-570, but still appears on the manufacturer’s website with the same $499 price. This will likely fall when the superior SP-570 becomes available.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – The newly-redesigned SP-570 looks more like a DSLR, and will scare off these users even if it does have a tutorial-like function guide.
Budget Consumers – At $499, the SP-570 isn’t built for those on the cheap.
Gadget Freaks – The Olympus SP-570UZ will make those who like to brag about the size of their lenses very happy. It doesn’t have any brand new gadgetry, but has old favorites like face detection and dual image stabilization.
Manual Control Freaks – There is a fully Manual mode, but with no jog dial to easily access the shutter speed and aperture, options are tougher to get to than on most DSLRs.
Pros/ Serious Hobbyists – The SP-570 has a versatile lens and can sync with wireless flash systems, making it a good option for hobbyists
Summary
Likes
• Retro DSLR look
• Great handling
• 20x zoom lens
• DSLR-like buttons
• Lots of in-cam editing
• Multi-Firework mode
• Fingerprint-less LCD
Dislikes
• xD compatible up to only 2GB
• Can’t have audio AND zoom in movies
• Zoom ring isn’t very sensitive
• Slow burst
We looked at the Olympus SP-570UZ at the PMA show and here’s what we can tell you. It has a very cool retro DSLR look that fooled many eyes and made many people think Olympus may have put out yet another DSLR. Its design is not only classy but comfortable with its rubber surfaces and excellent handling.
This camera is packed with features, features, features. It has 10 megapixels, a whopping 20x optical zoom lens with a manual zoom ring, and an exposure mode for every person on the planet – including the very cool Multi-Firework mode that snaps several exposures and merges them into one image file.
I have a few major complaints, the main one being that the awesome optical zoom lens doesn’t fully function in the Movie mode. You have to choose whether you want audio or zoom: you can’t have both. But if you aren’t going to shoot video with the SP-570, then this isn’t a big deal.
All in all, the Olympus SP-570UZ looks like a winner with its excellent redesigned body, long and versatile 26-520mm lens, and scores of cool features.
