Olympus SP-550 UZ, 7.1 Megapixel, 18x Optical/5.6x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

For what I need this camera for, and for the price, I couldn't ask for anything better. I'm currently taking digital photography in college and I started out using a point and shoot Olympus camera, but soon realized that I needed a camera with better soom, more options, and more versatility.

This camera has all of that and more. Bulb mode is fun, it has many settings and adjustments you can make...it's great for beginners who are thinking about getting into digital photography.

If there was one thing I could complain about, it is the lag at times, but for me it's rarely a problem. Given all the features that it already has, it's hard to nitpick.

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

Simple use
The lens is capable for any use.
A camera for a step higher from from amateur.

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

It is a great camera. My granddaughter plays soccer and I wanted to take some nice action shots. The zoom and the sport scene works great!

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

I purchased this camera as a Christmas gift for my wife. She wanted a digital camera that had a zoom lens long enough to photograph birds in and around her feeders.

I did not really expect much out of the camera. However, this camera has more than exceeded my expectations. While not the easiest camera for a novice to use, the controls and menus are easy to follow and the "HELP" guide in the camera menu is very helpful The evaluative metering (Olympus calls it ESP) is the best I have seen to date. She has taken images using ESP that I would have had to use spot metering and exposure compensation with my Pentax and Fuji to obtain similar results.

The camera does have some faults. Downloading images from the camera is painfully slow thanks to Olympus not utilizing USB 2.0. Olympus still sticks with xD cards where the maximum size you can buy is 2 GB. Auto focus is slow and boot up is slow too. Flash performance is not consistent with some images needing - 2/3rd stop compensation. The manual is confusing but typical for digital cameras. Only Pentax shines in the area of writing a clear, concise owners manual.

But the end results in any camera is the end product speaking the image and the SP-550 UZ really delivers. Sharp, clear, well exposed images with next to no chromatic aberrations. This plus the excellent 28 to 504mm (in 35mm terms) lens makes this an excellent camera.

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

I've had 2 earlier versions of the Olympus Ultra Zoom cameras and each one is better than the last. They do everything I want them to do and more.

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

Our family has had our Olympus SP-550 UZ for nearly three years. We have taken this compact camera on our hiking trips to Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Canada. The viewfinder option I find particularly handy when using the camera in bright conditions. It is lightweight and ergonomic. The lense is versatile enough that we have used this camera for macro shots of plants and insects; panoramic shots of mountain ranges and canyons; to zoom shots of desert bighorn. To me it is the perfect "compromise" camera between the pocket camera and a full size SLR.

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

This is the Camera that started it all with the 18X Zoom after that every one jump on the wagon this Camera have more for your Dollar just take a look the list and look at other at the same price

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

I received my 550 uz quickly from B&H! Nice Job on shipping. Out the box camera was very easy to use; pretty simple for average user...do not recommend to a beginner but you could easily learn with this camera. Rarely inexpensive compared to others in the same field, great zoom features takes awesome outdoor photos from sports to still objects. Will take good photos indoors if you have patience to adjust for that moment. Love the look, feel and weight. I can't wait to get the telephoto lens to zoom in even more. Awesome camera Olympus...really!!!!

Expertise: AMATUER

Problems Encountered: None so far, takes some patience when making adjustments for certain condition but once you learn you be quick as a cat. You can't expect a camera to do a perfect photo in every scenario unless you set it up for that particular type.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Olympus FE-210, Sony Cybershot

Items I Recommend: Get a case or bag!

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

I have mine about 2 weeks now, have taken lots of photoswith the included alkaline batteries and they are stillgoing strong.Pictures are sharp, color is excellent and menus not toodifficult to go thru, Olympus is quite clever, they give you the opportunity toincrease the sharpness, color, contrast etc.,The camera is very good looking and all of its controls areplaced in a logical way.I am not a professional photographer, but am a retiredengineer who loves taking pictures, the 550 really does thejob for me, no schlepping lenses, do not have to worry aboutchanging lenses and suddenly the wind comes up and blowsdirt into your dslr sensor.Must admit, I have not read the manual, just glanced at it,took it right out of the box and started shooting, first inauto, results were excellent, then went to program, Iusually underexpose by 1/3 to 2/3 stops, when I did thiswith the 550 the results were like etchings, very impressive.

Expertise: 40 years amateur photographer, have sold some of my work

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Om1, om2, nikon d50,

Items I Recommend: some sort of case

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

I ordered this camera 2 days before B&H closed for Easter and received it 1 day before my 7 night Caribbean Cruise because it had been out of stock. Since I did not have time to read the instruction book, I left it on auto for most of the shots. The 28 mm wide angle was perfect for taking interior shots of the ship, everybody laying around the pool and the narrow streets and sidewalks on St. Thomas. On the 500 mm end I took some full frame shots of Iguanas from 25 ft away that you can see every scale on their body. I like the AA batteries because they are easy to find and replace. If the LCD can't be seen because of the sun, just press a button on the camera and it switches everything over to the viewfinder. Also this camera does a great job of reducing red eye while using the on camera flash. I like it that you can enlarge the image so much in the viewfinder or on the LCD and move it around to check for details. I felt special that I was the only one that had a camera this good on the cruise, but a couple of days ago I noticed that they are starting to show up in the big chain stores. Too bad, now every other person will probably have one. I would highly recommend this camera, especially to people who like to travel.

Problems Encountered: It's a little bit soft on the 500mm end in low light.Also has a standby mode after you leave it on for so long it takes several seconds after you press the shutter button to return to the shooting mode. By the time I got to the 500th shot, I was on my third set of batteries, but I did a lot of zooming in and out with it. The shutter lag is too slow to take any shots of birds in flight.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: OM 1, OM2, Stylus 730, Nikon D200, Fuji S-1

Items I Recommend: Olympus 2 GB Xd picture card

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

I agree with both George from California and Jack from Arkansas. All cameras will have their compromises. This camera is not your run of the mill point and shoot camera. And although this camera does not have as many features and interchangeability as the professional cameras, it also does not have the size, weight, or cost as the professional camera body or bodies plus multiple lenses. I have found the camera reasonably easy to use even though it has many menus and menu choices. Other than my wife's digital camera (Olympus C-7000), this camera will be the only camera I am taking to Italy on my vacation (digital flies easier and this is a vacation - even from my 35 pound camera bag). I agree with George's assessment that the lens is slightly soft wide open at the 504mm and, like George, I do not find this to be a problem. And I, like Jack, do not understand what these disappointed buyers were expecting. With this camera's 28mm to 504mm, f2.8 / 4.5 lens and the excellent image stabilization system, I expect to miss very few photographic opportunities in Italy.

Problems Encountered: None with the camera, only some with the photographer using the camera.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: OM-1 / OM-4Ti system, Canon A2E with 28mm to 135mm lens, Hasselblad 503 system, wife's Olympus C-7000

Items I Recommend: NiMH batteries and a charger, a lot of XD memory chips, and a 43mm to XXmm step-up ring

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

I used to shlep around 2 Nikon bodies and 10 lbs. of lenses. That is all gone. How can you beat a 28 - 504 mm lens ?Ergonomics are great, with easy transition from from my 3 year old C 765 Olympus, which also was super.

Problems Encountered: None

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Olympus C 765

Items I Recommend: BU 400 charger and UV filter, so you can dispense with the Lens cap

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

This is a great camera for the price. If you want theultimate image quality from 28mm to 504mm go buy a DSLRand a backpack full of lenses. If you want a small and lightall-in-one camera that can shoot 7 fps or 15 fps when youneed it or RAW when you need the best quality, this is thecamera for you. Every cameras has compromises. At 504mmthe camera is a bit soft but once I stop down a little imagequality improves. When comparing to other cameras at samefocal lengths (28mm to 380), this camera is as sharp andperforms very well. This camera easily exceeds myexpectations.

Problems Encountered: None

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Olympus C-2100UZ, Olympus C-5050, Olympus E-1, Olympus E-330, Kodak DC4800

Comments about Olympus SP-550 UZ Digital Camera:

I shoot Canon 20D, 5D and xt350D. SLR's. Canon 100-400L is lens, does a great job. I wanted more reach for my wildlife photography, with out spending heaps of cash. This Olympus point and shoot attracted me because of its 504mm top end focal length along with image stabilization.Not a bad price either. A potential gap filler in the long range.Ordered from BH Photo, where I buy most all my photo equipment and have owned it three days now. Have shot every day, checking it out.It is a good looking camera , feels good in the hand and controls are straight forward.I have read in forums, some buyers were disappointed in this camera. I do not know what they expected, I find it an above average point and shoot. The big zoom is everything it claimed to be. Images are sharp in all focal lengths.Overall, this is an outstanding camera, it does what it is designed to do. I will have it with me anytime I am out .

Problems Encountered: None

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Minolta z1, Sony h2, and a host of SLR'S

Items I Recommend: Battery charger and extra rechargable battrys, you will shoot a lot.