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Olympus 20x zoom camera for the vox paparazzi

The Olympus SP-560 UZ enters the megazoom territory beloved by sports fans and stalkers.

LoriGruninNewHeadshot.jpg
LoriGruninNewHeadshot.jpg
Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Expertise Photography, PCs and laptops, gaming and gaming accessories
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Lori Grunin
Olympus SP-570 UZ
Olympus SP-570 UZ Olympus America

From its inception, Olympus' Ultra Zoom series--simply referred to as "UZ" in recent years--has always led the telephoto field for sheer reach. Once again, the company jumps ahead of the paused-at-18x pack with its 20x lens-equipped SP-570 UZ.

Olympus SP-570 UZ (top)
Olympus SP-570 UZ (top) Olympus America

Size matters most in this update to the SP-560 UZ: it's got a higher-resolution CCD, longer (and slightly wider-angle) lens, and slightly larger LCD display. In a nice design tweak, the lens now has a manual zoom ring; on the preproduction unit we toyed with briefly, it still had that odd servo feel that similar controls on camcorders have, but it did give a bit more control than with the zoom switches common on digital point-and-shoot cameras. The new model also supplies a hot shoe for use with external flashes and a built-in wireless flash controller (a capability that was enabled in the SP-560 UZ via a firmware upgrade).

Olympus SP-570 UZ (back)
Olympus SP-570 UZ (back) Olympus America

Key features:

  • f/2.8-4.5 26mm-520mm-equivalent (20X) lens
  • 10-megapixel CCD (1/2.33-inch)
  • ISO 50 - ISO 6400
  • Mechanical stabilization (sensor shift)
  • TruePic III image processor
  • 1.2 fps/7-frame continuous shooting (full resolution, best quality available)
  • LCD size: 2.7 inches/230,000 pixels, 140-degree viewing angle

The SP-570 UZ is slated to ship in March for $499.99