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No surprises that you also get image compensation system (both mechanical and digital, using a sensor shift system and ISO boost), Face Detection, Red Eye Reduction and a host of in-camera editing features. There are a number of drive modes too including, two high speed sequential shooting modes at 7.2 f/s (5MB file size) and 13.2 f/s (3MB max file size). There’s also a pre-capture mode available at the fastest speed, which stores the first 10 frames when the shutter is half-pressed.

In both cases, the buffer can store up to 30 frames. A nice touch is that RAW images can be edited in-camera, for example, converted to a high-res JPEG (useful if you’re sending an image to a person doesn’t have the appropriate RAW file reader on their PC), and you can also adjust parameters such as sharpness, contrast and saturation.

Olympus SP-570 UZ

The SP-570 UZ is packed with features and functions

In terms of handling, the SP-570 UZ is a bit of a curate’s egg. The right hand grip is comfortable and the index finger falls naturally on the shutter button while the thumb can be used to move the control dial: handy if you want to change say, the shutter speed in shutter priority mode.

However, the left hand grip is not so comfortable, especially if you have large hands. Providing the option of an EVF or LCD screen is to be commended, but the EVF’s resolution is rather coarse (it’s like looking through a chicken wire fence) and you get blurring whenever the camera is panned.

We found the menu system rather fiddly, with lots of scrolling involved. The function button was more useful for making quick adjustments to a range of functions such as, white balance, ISO, flash mode, image quality and contrast. Although the zoom ring is operated manually, it doesn’t offer true manual control; servo motors move the lens. As a result, there is a short lag between making an adjustment and the camera being ready for action.

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Latest Comments

Olympus Fan and here's why

My main camera is a Nikon D200 with all the expected gear. Sometimes, I just need a good point and shoot without all the weight and lens changes. This olympus camera is supurb for general purpose shooting. But the macro outdoes anything I have been able to find for truly authentic close ups. The camera is easy to use if you just don't try to make it into more than a point and shoot. I'd download examples that compete with some of the best dlsrs, but there isn't any way to do so. If you want to see them, go here: http://flickr.com/photos/29259953@N02/sets/72157606689869130/

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People, calm down

This is not a professional camera, of course the image won't be great but don't turn your noses up at it. They fill a void which 'daddy cameras' do not cater for. What they boast is an all-in-one solution which is overall easy to use and has some great features (compared to proper cameras). I have a friend who owns the Rebel Xt who found it too cumbersome to keep changing lenses for different shots, this usually meant that he missed the shot - so what's the point of spending all that money for a shot you missed? So he brought himself a superzoom too, purely for the convenience and speed of setup. Yeah it was relatively crap, yet he was happy with his move - why? becasue he got his shots!

You’ll find the image quality for this camera (noise, chromatic aberration, barrelling etc) to be par the course for these cheaper pro-sumer units; those can mostly be fixed in post processing if need be anyway. Thanks to image stabilisation, the user can always drop the ISO to get decent photos – I only ever use ISO 50. Apart from the loose barrel I'm dead happy with my SP550, I can take it anywhere and can get some really natural shots of people. It does everything - not brilliantly but it does it.

Anyone who ever pays RRP is crazy.

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@stu

20x zoom is bad idea anyway, no matter where you attach it to, due to size, design compromises and maximum aperture. The one you mentioned, Sigma 10x 50-500 (which translates to FoV 75-750 in 35mm format) obviously lacks wide angles. You'd be better off with Tamron 18-250 or similar, if you are ready to trade picture quality and max aperture for conveniance. I know I am not. In fact, I am very happy with my Pentax K10D with couple of Limited fixed-focal lenses.

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