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Olympus SP-570 UZ

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	10.00 Megapixels
	20.00x zoom
	2.7 inch LCD

Olympus SP-570 Intro

Olympus' UltraZoom series of digital cameras are well known for their powerful zoom lenses, but the Olympus SP-570 UZ takes things up a notch with a whopping new 20x optical zoom lens boasting an equivalent focal length starting at a truly wide 26mm and extending to an ultra-telephoto 520mm.

Olympus SP-570 Features

The Olympus SP-570 UltraZoom digital camera features a 1/2.33" CCD imager with a resolution of ten megapixels, coupled with an Olympus ED-branded 20x (!!) optical zoom lens with an extremely useful 26 - 520mm equivalent focal length range and F2.8 - 4.5 maximum aperture. There's a choice of both an electronic viewfinder with diopter correction (precise specifications unknown), plus a 2.7" LCD display with 230,000 pixel resolution. Autofocus is via contrast detection, and as you'd expect Olympus has included AE / AF-linked face detection technology. The Olympus SP570UZ can also be focused manually.

The SP570's ISO sensitivity ranges from 50 to 6400 equivalent controlled automatically or manually - a fairly impressive range, but it remains to be seen what image noise at ISO 6400 from a small ten megapixel imager is like. The Olympus 570UZ also offers what the company calls "Dual Image Stabilization" mode, which combines both sensor-shift type mechanical stabilization, as well as software stabilization. By default, exposures are determined with Olympus' Digital ESP multi-pattern metering, with options available for spot, center-weighted, or face detection-linked metering options as well. Users can tweak their exposure with +/-2.0EV of exposure compensation, in 1/3EV steps. Shutter speeds range from eight minutes to 1/2000 second and both aperture and shutter speed can be controlled manually - either separately or together. The Olympus SP570UZ offers automatic or preset white balance control courtesy of six presets, plus a custom white balance mode. The Olympus SP570 also includes an eight mode internal flash good to a distance of 21 feet at wide angle, plus a hot shoe for external flash strobes. Beginners will find a generous 23 scene modes.

As well as still images, the Olympus SP-570 UZ can capture movies at VGA or lower resolution, at a rate of 30 frames per second. The Olympus 570UZ also has a twelve second self-timer to let you get into your own pictures. The camera stores images on xD-Picture cards, or 45MB of built-in memory, and also offers both video and USB 2.0 High Speed computer connectivity. Power comes from four standard AA batteries.

Additional Olympus SP-570 features and details (adapted from the press release):

• Capturing It All, Far and Wide
  Precision optics is fundamental for producing quality images, and the SP-570 UZ comes fully equipped with the equivalent of three lenses in one complete camera. The bright, f2.8-4.5 lens provides the equivalent of 26-520mm focal length with 100x total seamless zoom (5x digital zoom). Users can get close to the action with the camera’s versatile yet compact 20x super telephoto zoom and at the same time, the wide-angle (26mm) lens captures more in each frame. Its super-macro capabilities capture the subtlest details from as close as one centimeter. The compact lens construction combines high-refractive, aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity. Whether it is capturing fast-action sports or for everyday use, this sturdy compact body with a wide-angle and telephoto lens provides the versatility to get the job done.
• Dual Image Stabilization
  Dual Image Stabilization enables users to take crisp, clear pictures in virtually any shooting situation – adjusting for camera shake and a moving subject. Olympus’ mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD to compensate for camera shake, which often occurs when zooming in on your subject and in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blur caused by a moving subject.
• Full Manual Control
  The Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes give users versatility and control for optimal performance in any situation. Users can express their creative vision – adjusting the f-stop for detailed portraits with softened backgrounds, or slowing the exposure speed to create the blurred effect of motion, or just sit back and let the camera do the thinking through the use of the automatic settings. Manual focus is also available for users who want to have full creative control.
• Hotshoe for External Flashes
  The SP-570 UZ offers a hotshoe for connecting an external flash, providing greater versatility for different lighting effects. Additionally, the SP-570 UZ supports wireless flashes, enabling a user to capture beautiful images even in difficult lighting situations.
• Face Detection
  Face Detection tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) quickly for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Now, your subject’s face is in focus whether it is in the center of the target area or not.
• High-Speed Sequential Shooting and Pre-Capture
  The SP-570 UZ is capable of capturing images at an incredible 13.5 frames per second (with a reduced image size of 3 megapixels). The inclusion of Pre-Capture technology, which works in conjunction with High-Speed Sequential Shooting, enables users to capture the action before and after fully pressing the shutter button. Pre-Capture begins working as soon as the focus is locked, automatically archiving five frames in the camera’s buffer memory prior to the shutter release – virtually guaranteeing that none of the action will be missed even if the user’s reaction time is slow. Perfect for situations where timing is essential, such as photographing a tennis player serving, children playing or a whale breaching.
• 2.7-Inch HyperCrystal LCD
  The SP-570 UZ utilizes a HyperCrystal LCD designed to offer a wider viewing angle without glare or shadow. Now, images and movies appear crisp and clear on the LCD with a greater than 140-degree viewing angle (left-to-right or up-and-down), while composing or reviewing an image. Its electronic viewfinder is very sharp and includes a diopter to adjust to one’s own eye strength when not wearing glasses.
• Shadow Adjustment Technology
  Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlight areas. While the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The SP-570 UZ addresses this challenge head-on with a new Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With the new technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye.
• Perfect Shot Preview
  The SP-570 UZ features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects (such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering) on a live, multi-window screen before snapping the shot. Perfect Shot Preview enables users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques.
• Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing
  Olympus’ Perfect Fix feature offers quick solutions for unanticipated image quality issues, which may be caused by several adverse conditions. Lighting Fix can be used to adjust any underexposed areas and Red-Eye Fix can be used to reduce the effects of red-eye sometimes caused by a direct flash. Additional in-camera editing functions can be quickly accessed right in the camera by the touch of a button; features available include resizing, trimming, frames, text options, black and white, and sepia.
• TruePic™ III Image Processor
  Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures sharp images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
• 31 Shooting Modes Including Multi-Fireworks
  The SP-570 UZ makes it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations with 31 shooting modes, including a Multi-Fireworks mode. To capture the most stunning fireworks displays, this multi-exposure feature overlays the fireworks to create the memory of a lifetime. To activate any of the camera’s pre-set modes, simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action and more.

Olympus SP-570 Pricing and Availability

The Olympus SP-570 UZ ships from March 2008 in the USA, priced at $500.