Olympus SP-550 UZ

[Tami]

SP-550 UZ

Estimated Retail Price: $599.99 CDN

sp550.jpg

Far and wide, the world's most powerful ultra zoom. Capture the moment, and capture the action, with the world's most powerful ultra zoom — the 7.1 megapixel SP-550 UZ. Its new 18x wide-angle super-telephoto zoom lens gets you closer to your subject than any other compact digital camera on the market. Dual Image Stabilization eliminates blur. And with high-speed sequential shooting and new Pre-Capture technology, you'll capture anything that moves. Even shoot in low light without a flash, thanks to Bright Capture Technology, and it's easy to preview, shoot and share with the large 2.5" high-resolution LCD.

Designed For Creative Control

18X WIDE-ANGLE ZOOM.
The 18x super-telephoto zoom brings you closer to the action than any other compact digital camera on the market, and at the same time, the wide-angle lens allows more in your frame. The SP-550's 100x total zoom capability is perfect for indoor shooting, landscapes and group shots.

15FPS & PRE-CAPTURE.
With a burst rate of up to 15fps, you can freeze moments in time to get the shot you want. And the new Pre-Capture technology works as soon as the focus is locked, it automatically archives five frames in the camera's buffer memory prior to the shutter release. You'll capture the perfect shot even if your reaction time is slow.

FULL MANUAL EXPOSURE CONTROL.
The SP-550 is as versatile as you want it to be. It allows advanced creative control, yet it's easy enough for any family member to point-and-shoot beautiful images.

DUAL IMAGE STABILIZATION.
Olympus' new 2-in-1 anti-blur solution. Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps your shot steady by compensating for camera shake (ideal for shooting in low light and zooming), and Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds. These two technologies combine to help you capture crisp, clear images in any situation, even at longer focal lengths.

ISO 5000.
The SP-550 UZ offers the highest ISO sensitivity of any ultra zoom for superior low-light and fast-action photography. Combine this with shutter speeds of up to 1/2000 second and you'll capture fast-action photos, at the game or in your own backyard, with ease.

BRIGHT CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY.
Even when it’s too dark for your eyes to see, you can preview your subject clearly on the LCD, then capture an image that’s clear and bright without having to use a flash.

Specifications:

Imager 7.1 Megapixel (effective), 7.4 Megapixel gross, 1/2.5” CCD

Lens 4.68 – 84.24mm (28 – 504mm equivalent in 35mm photography), 14 lenses in 11 groups; 4 aspherical lenses, 2 ED lenses

Zoom 18x Optical + 5.6x Digital (Seamless to 100x)

Aperture Range f2.8 – f4.5 (adjustable in 1/3 EV step)

LCD 2.5” (6.4cm) Color LCD, approx. 230,000 pixels

Viewfinder Electronic (dioptic correction)

Focus System CCD Contrast Detection

Focus Range
Normal Mode:
(Wide) 3.94” – infinity (.1m – infinity)
(Tele) 47.24” – infinity (1.2m – infinity)

Macro Mode:
(Wide) 3.94” – infinity (.1m – infinity)
(Tele) 47.24” – infinity (1.2m – infinity)

Focus Mode iESP Auto, Spot AF, Selective AF Target, Manual

Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec. – 15 sec., Bulb

ISO Auto, High ISO Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200*, 5000* (*approx. 3MP)

Metering Mode Digital iESP Auto Multi-Pattern TTL, Center-Weighted Metering

White Balance iESP2 Auto, One-Touch, Presets (Sunlight, Overcast, Tungsten, and 3 Fluorescents)

Exposure Compensation ±2 EV steps in 1/3 EV increments

Recording Modes Still Image: DCF Exif 2.21, JPEG, PIM3

Movie: AVI Motion JPEG

Adjustment Resolutions
3,072 x 2,304, RAW / SHQ / HQ
3,072 x 2,048, 3:2 / SHQ / HQ
2,560 x 1,920, SQ1 High, Normal
2,304 x 1,728, SQ1 High, Normal
2,048 x 1,536, SQ1 High, Normal
1,600 x 1,200, SQ2 High, Normal
1,280 x 960, SQ2 High, Normal
1,024 x 768, SQ2 High, Normal
640 x 480, SQ2 High, Normal

30 Shooting Modes: Auto, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, My Modes, GUIDE, Scene Presets (Portrait, Landscape, Landscape & Portrait, Night Scene, Night & Portrait, Sport, Indoor, Candle, Self-Portrait, Available Light Portrait, Sunset, Fireworks, Cuisine, Documents, Auction, Shoot & Select1, Shoot & Select2, Beach, Snow, Underwater Wide1, Underwater Wide2, Underwater Macro), Movie

Panorama Modes Up to 10 frames automatically stitchable with OLYMPUS Master Software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture Card™

Sequential Shooting
Hi-Speed2: 15 frames per second for 20 frames (1.2MP)
Hi-Speed1: 7 frames per second for 15 frames (3MP)
Normal Speed: 1.2 frames per second for 7 frames (7MP)
Bracket: Exposure bracketing up to 5 frames
Interval Shooting

Shooting Assist Functions Histogram, Frame Assist

Movie Mode AVI Movie with Sound: 640x480/30fps, SHQ; 640x480/15fps, HQ; 320x240/30fps, SQ1; 320x240/15fps, SQ2

Image Processing TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor

Pixel Mapping Automatic Pixel Mapping (APM) available via menu setting

Noise Reduction Set automatically at shutter speeds of 0.5 second or longer

Image Playback Still Image: Single, Index, Enlargement, Slideshow, Calendar, Album, Histogram, Rotation

Playback Edit Effects Still Image: Red-Eye Fix, Black & White, Sepia, Crop, Resize, Rotate, Brightness, Saturation, Frame, Label, Calendar, Layout

Direct Printing Options PictBridgeTM and DPOF

Flash Built-in

Flash Modes Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill-In, Fill-In & Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Off

Flash Working Range Wide: 14.8 ft. (4.5m), Tele: 9.2 ft. (2.8m) at ISO 200

Wide: 42.3 ft. (12.9m), Tele: 26.2 ft. (8.0m) at ISO 1600

Selftimer 12 Seconds/2 Seconds, AUTO

Setting Memorization On (stores changes) / Off (restores default settings)

Date/Time Calendar Automatically recorded with each image (up to 2099)

Memory 20MB internal memory

Removable Media Card xD-Picture Card™ (16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512MB, 1GB or 2GB)

Outer Connectors USB Connector, Audio/Video Output, DC Input

Auto-connect USB 2.0 Full Speed

System Requirements Auto-connect USB: Windows® 98SE/ME/2000PRO/XP/VISTA with USB port, Mac OS® 9.0-9.2x/OS X 10.1-10.4 with USB port.

Software: Windows® 2000PRO/XP/VISTA, Mac® 10.3 and higher

Operating Environment
Operation: 32° – 104°F (0° – 40°C), 30% – 90% humidity
Storage: -4° – 140°F (-20° – 60°C), 10% – 90% humidity

Power Supply (4) AA Batteries, AC Adapter (C-7AU)

Size 4.6” W x 3.1” H x 3.1” D (116mm x 78.5mm x 78mm)

Weight 12.9oz. (365g) without batteries and media card