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"Amazing point-n-shoot but with the soul of a DSLR" on by Jedi Master
Pros: Great picture quality, impresive zoom, manual mode and diferents scenes modes available, 13 fps, RAW mode, zoom ring, panoramic mode
Cons: Feeling of the zoom ring but you can get used, 4 AA batteries, xD Card, no full lenght video
Summary: Is an amazing camera you can use it like a point-n-shoot but if you want more control in your pictures you can use manual mode an RAW format, the pictures are colorfull and sharp, I owned a Sony DSC-H9 and the SP-570 is by far better than the H9, the zoom ring could have a strange feeling if you are use to mechanical zoom rings; great quality in day and night shoots and the Macro (Macro and Super Macro) modes are really amazing the only cons that I have are the use of AA batteries, xD Card and the video mode is limited to small clips (40s@VGA30FPS) but it can be fix it with a firmware update. Is a great camera, suited for serious amateurs
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"Go with an entry level DSLR over this" on by route2
Pros: Great look, comfortable to handle, smart controls, great features, amazing zoom range, promising macro mode, promising burst mode functions, much less weight and size than DSLR kit
Cons: You pay for this all-in-one zoom range and small factor with image quality - loss of shaprness and noise. Auto Focus is hit or miss and tends to hunt for a while. I have a lot of slightly out of focus pictures with this camera. Long shutter delay.
Summary: Macro mode is a tease because AF in macro mode is hit or miss and manual focus is almost impossible for me to use well. When I set AF on area mode, sometimes it doesn't focus on the object in the brackets, but focuses on the background or something else instead (not only macro mode is affected by this), especially if the lighting is not the brightest. I suppose it would be less of a problem if you mostly take pictures of people in really good light (because the camera has face detection focus mode) or distant objects and landscapes. The camera has autoexposure bracketing, but exposure compensation range is too small for HDR (from -2 to +2 only).
For the price of Olympus I strongly suggest going with an entry level DSLR for a big difference in precision of autofocus and much better image quality. This camera requires you to learn just as much as you would with DSLR to take good pictures and is of the size of smaller DSLR minus the size of long telephoto lens. -
"Amazing, a perfect fit for the low-budget enthusiast." on by sebastopolgoose
Pros: Amazing zoom (equivalent to 500mm), 10 mp, can alter with aperture and shutter speed, 13.5 fps sequential shooting, high ISO, large LCD, a lot of SLR-level features, zoom ring, comfortable to hold, excellent super macro, multi fireworks mode.
Cons: xD memory card, can be very, very slow when using flash, has difficulty focusing at times, unpredictable with focus, small aperture range (predictable for a non-SLR, I suppose).
Summary: I'm going to have to disagree with most of the other reviewers and say that I like the feel of the zoom ring, and I haven't had any problems with unpredictability-- indeed, I find it much more accurate than electronic, W-T style zoom.
For anyone doubting the 20x zoom, the equivalent of 500mm, I have to point out that so far I have seen only one other point-and-shoot camera with the same zoom capabilities, and to get the same level of magnification in an SLR, one would have to shell out nearly$1000 for a decent lens. On the other end of the spectrum, the macro and super macro modes are superior to any other camera I have used; I can produce crystal-clear images with the lens literally touching the object. Unfortunately, the camera can be very finnicky with the focus, mostly with close-up shots; I often have to take 5 or more pictures of the same object in order for the camera to focus correctly.
I like both the sequential shooting and "shoot and select" options, and they produce focused, sharp images, although at a reduced resolution of 3 MP. The fastest options are far faster than those of most SLRs.
The ISO is very useful, although the noise can be unbearable at times. However, at times when the slow flash reaction is a problem, pictures using the maximum ISO (6400) are a definite alternative, and I find the effects colored lighting produces with high ISO are very attractive.
Both the shutter speed and aperture can be fiddled with, for creative options. One problem is that the aperture cannot go above f/8.0, due to the small lens. Therefore, a shutter speed above 1/500 is not feasible in most circumstances.
I also have fun with the "multi fireworks" mode in the scene options, which allows me to take multiple exposures in the same image. The Panorama option is also very useful (however, a tip to users: "combine in camera 2" produces far smoother results).
Some reviewers have mentioned the weight of the camera, but I don't find that an issue. It is light enough not to be an inconvenience, but large enough to feel comfortable in my hands. The only issue is that the zoom ring means I have to use both hands to use the camera effectively.
The major disadvantage to the camera is the huge amount of time it can take to take pictures when using the flash- I sometimes have to wait of 6 seconds for the flash to fire, and occasionally the focus is off. This can be bothersome when taking posed pictures or low-light action shots. However, like all troubles, I learn to deal with this; you just have to get to know the camera.
The other major problem is that it requires an xD picture card, which as of now cannot store more than 2 GB, or a little over 800 10-MP pictures. For someone like me, who can take that many pictures in less than a day, this can be a problem
Overall, however, the camera is perfect for someone with a tight budget who wants to take SLR-level pictures. Despite the drawbacks, the camera has is capable of some phenomenal pictures, and, as with all cameras, the results depend on the person behind the camera. -
"Great Camera Short of a DSLR, but much easier to carry." on by fdunn3
Pros: Zoom and wide angle is phenomenal. I too have taken some full 20x shots of a quarter moon though even with it's anti-shake made me steady it on a fence.
Wide angle inside shots are great and close-ups (macro). Also the battery life is great.Cons: It is a bit slow to autofocus and capture but with the flash on that time is reduced substantially and even with the flash the battery life is still great. No other cons I have found. I have owned it for ~4 months.
Summary: I recommend this camera to anyone that would normally use a DSLR as a secondary camera and you may find yourself using it more than the DSLR.
I give it a 9 out of 10. -
"Great Camera I rate it 9!!!" on by plainsdrifters
Pros: Great pictures from close up or long away 20x zoom
Cons: slow shooting raw pictures
Summary: I have mind for three weeks. It takes great pictures. I still have alot to learn useing the camera. It has alot of settings. Its a fun camera to use.
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