Olympus SP-550 UltraZoom

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.

Olympus SP-550 is equipped with both hardware and software image stabilization.
Sensor-shift image stabilization, a first for Olympus, detects camera motion, and moves
the CCD to compensate, reducing blur due to camera shake..

The SP-550 also has a flexible, high-speed sequential shooting mode, which allows
bursts at rates from 1.2 frames-per-second for 7 frames at full resolution, to as rapid as 15
frames-per-second for 20 frames at 1.2 megapixels.

A 7.1 megapixel 1/2.5 inch CCD that delivers images up to 3,072 x 2,304 pixels in size.
With such a long zoom, the SP-550 also uses an electronic viewfinder with diopter
correction.

There are four focus modes including manual. Exposure modes include Program,
Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Auto, Guide mode,

The SP-550 stores images and movies on xD-Picture cards, or 20MB of built-in memory.
The Olympus SP-550 also offers Audio/Video and USB (full-speed) computer
connectivity. Power comes from four AA batteries or an optional C-7AU AC adapter.
Basic Features

• 7.10-Mp, 1/2.5-inch CCD

• 18x zoom (28-504mm 35mm equivalent) with 14 elements in 11 groups, 4
aspherical lenses, 2 ED lenses
• 5.6x digital zoom (seamless 100x total zoom)
• Maximum aperture of f2.8 to f4.5, minimum f8.0
• 2.5 inch LCD with 230,000 pixels
• Electronic viewfinder with dioptric correction
• ISO 50 to 1600 at full resolution
• Shutter speeds from 15 seconds to 1/2000 second with Bulb
• Multipattern and center-weighted metering
• Auto, custom and preset white balance options
• Built-in flash with six modes
• Self timer with 12 and 2 second options
• xD Picture Card storage media up to 2GB
• PictBridge and DPOF compatible
• USB 2.0 Full Speed
• Powered by four AA batteries

Special Features

• Seamless 100x zoom range with 18x optical plus 5.6x digital
• TruePic Turbo Image Processor
• Sensor-shift optical and digital (high ISO, fast shutter) image stabilization
• 15 frame per second sequential shooting
 • Precapture technology at reduced image size to record action before shutter is
pressed
• ISO 3200 and 5000 at reduced (3.1Mp) image size
• Olympus Bright Capture Technology for low light situations
• Full manual control plus 30 shooting modes, including Movies with sound
• Scene modes include Portrait, Landscape, Landscape & Portrait, Sport, Night
Scene, Night & Portrait, Indoor, Candle, Self-Portrait, Available Light, Sunset,
Fireworks, Cuisine, Behind Glass, Documents, Auction, Shoot & Select1, Shoot
& Select2, Beach, Snow, Underwater Wide1, Underwater Wide2, Underwater
Macro
• Up to 10 frames in Panorama modes
• Setting memorization to store changes or restore defaults
• 20MB internal memory

In the Box

The Olympus SP-550 UZ ships with the following items in the box:

• Olympus SP-550 UZ digital camera

• Four AA alkaline batteries
• USB cable CB-USB6
• Audio/Video cable CB-AVC3
• Shoulder strap with rings
• Lens cap with strap
• Printed manual
• CD-ROM with Olympus Master 2.0 software
• Warranty card

Pro:

• Great color and better dynamic range than the LCD shows in the field
• Zoom range starts at 28mm, so you can get the corners of a room
• Dual image stabilization with Olympus' Sensor-Shift optical stabilization and
high ISO and fast shutter speeds providing digital stabilization as well

Con:
 • Very high ISO only available at reduced image sizes
• Sluggish autofocus
• Slow startup and shutdown

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