Olympus Stylus SP-100 keeps you on target (pictures)
This camera's clever dot-sight sets it apart from the other bridge cameras out there.
Joshua Goldman
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
The SP-100 is Olympus' 2014 entry into the superultramegazoom category with a 50x f2.9-6.5 24-1200mm lens.
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EVF
The camera's electronic viewfinder (EVF) has a high 920K-dot resolution and has been specially designed to minimizes contact between your face and the camera's body.
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Dot-sight framing assist
One of the big drawbacks to using a megazoom camera lens is that moving subjects can move out of frame fast, usually requiring you to retract the lens some to relocate your subject. The SP-100's unique dot-sight keeps you from having to do that.
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Head-up display
Built into the frame beneath the pop-up flash is a semitransparent mirror. The dot-sight projects a reticle on to the mirror so you can quickly track and shoot your subject without zooming the lens out and in again.
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It's a big one
When closed, the camera measures 4.8 inches wide by 3.6 inches high by 5.2 inches deep, and weighs 21.1 ounces.
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Mode dial
Shooting modes include: Intelligent Auto (iAUTO), Program Auto (P), Aperture Priority (A), Shutter Priority (S), Manual (M), Super Macro, 17 Scene Modes, 11 Art Filters, and Panorama. Just to the right of the Mode dial is thumb dial for quickly adjusting shutter speeds, apertures, or other important settings.
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Secondary zoom control and focus limiter
The lens barrel zoom control lets you change focal length with the left hand while shooting with the right. Olympus also added a focus-limit button so the camera will focus only in a set range when turned on, and focus only in the distance when off.
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Deep grip
The SP-100 has a deep right-hand grip, which should hopefully make steadying that massive zoom lens a little easier. The camera does have optical image stabilization, too.
