Olympus SP 570 Ultra Zoom Hands-on Preview
The Olympus UZ series is evolving quickly, and we managed to get our hands on a decidedly preproduction sample of its newest member, the Olympus SP 570 UZ. Unlike the previous two models, this is a serious overhaul, not just a few minor cosmetic changes.
As you can see, the camera is far from finished – nevertheless, the ergonomics are good. The grip is bigger and placed differently, with a large shutter release that makes holding the camera even easier.
A few exposure control buttons have been added to the back of the camera, making it easier to adjust the most commonly used settings and making camera operation that much faster. Not happy with that, Olympus engineers added a FUNC button that acts sort of like the Shift key on the keyboard, making it possible to access even more functions without having to use the menus. It really does feel a bit like using one of their DSLR cameras, which is no bad thing.
Now let us bow our heads in recognition of the unbelievable awesomeness that is this camera’s lens. It’s a 20x zoom.
A 20x zoom, ladies and gents. And it starts at a truly useful 26 mm equivalent at the wide angle, meaning you won’t have to step back and fall of the cliff just to get all those people in the frame. As to the telephoto end, well, that’s an equally priapism inducing 520 mm equivalent, all at a not at all shabby 2.8 (wide) or 4.5 (tele) maximum aperture.
Oh, and it has 10 megapixels. Excite this does me not.
There’s also another new feature – a zoom ring. Yes, it’s just as if you were using a DSLR, except that it’s not physically coupled to the lens, meaning that you get added accuracy compared to a tiny little zoom lever, but you still don’t get the really fine control. Nevertheless, it’s a nice feature, although you should remember that no matter how quickly you twist the ring, the lens will only zoom as quickly as its motors let it.
The camera uses 4 AA batteries, a good thing if you happen to run out, and records your snaps to xD cards. It’s also possible to use an external flash, which is nice.
Another new feature – automated panoramas. Take the shot, rotate the camera, and as soon as the camera senses that you’re approaching the edge of the first frame, it automatically takes the shot. If you’re into panoramas, this is possibly a godsend.
First impressions? This is truly a camera that breaks the mold. If everything works OK in production cameras and if image quality is good enough, this will sell like hot cakes.
The grip is completely different.
This is a preproduction camera, so all the rubber was cut by hand and glued onto the camera, just to make sure you don’t touch bare plastic. Despite this, the ergonomics are good.
Loads of buttons at the back. Again, this is a good thing, as it makes it possible to quickly change the settings. Also, the menu is accessed differently.
From the side, the camera is noticeably different than its predecessors. Just look at the lens.
The lens at full mast. That’s 520 mm equivalent for you.
