Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom - UK Digital Camera Review

Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom Review

The Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom has 10x optical zoom lens combined with 5x digital zoom and 6 megapixels with the result that your images are high definition regardless of distance. Super Macro mode can be applied up to 3cm.

This camera is user friendly and has a wide variety of features which can deal well with live events and action shots.

Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom Front
Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom Back

There are 21 scene modes within the SP-500 UltraZoom including Sports, Landscape, Portrait and Sunset and the large 6.4 cm LCD allows easy viewing of your images.

The Olympus SP-500 is particularly suitable for the more ambitious photographer as it offers aperture and shutter priority shooting as well as full manual exposure control. The variety of focus options lets you choose the level of control and the predictive AF system is especially useful when shooting a moving subject.

It is possible to also make a movie recording with sound on the SP-500 UltraZoom at 30fps.

The SP-500 is PictBridge compatible and optional extras include macro, tele and wide converters which can be attached.

Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom Specifications & Features

  • 6 Megapixels
  • 10 x Optical Zoom
  • 5 x Digital Zoom
  • 50 x Smart Zoom
  • 3cm Focusing Distance
  • Overcast, Sunlight, Evening Sun, Tungsten, Fluorescent1, Fluorescent2, Fluorescent3 and Custom White Balance Settings
  • 2.5" TFT, 115,000 pixels
  • TTL Auto Focus with Contrast Detection and AF illuminator function
  • Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Fill-in, Fill-in and Red-eye Reduction and Off Flash Modes
  • Maximum Image Size 2816 x 2112 Pixels
  • 320 x 240, 30fps Movies
  • PictBridge Compatible
  • xD-Picture Card with 10MB Internal memory
  • 4x Size-AA NiMH Batteries
  • Approximate Weight 285g

Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom User Reviews

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Reviewer: Andy Page - UK
I bought this camera at the end of last year but, unfortunately, have not been pleased with the results. I am not totally new to photography but I find that my photos are not always good ones and I don't find it that easy to use. The fact that there is no printed manual either doesn't help me to understand. Maybe it is a camera for those who are closer to professional standard than me.

Features
Rating 9/10
Image Quality
Rating 7/10
Usability
Rating 4/10
Reviewer: Wayne Bottomley - UK
My uncle bought the SP500 UltraZoom for me for my last birthday as he knew I had some experience with cameras and would appreciate the extra facilities in this one.

There are a lot of scene modes which I have been trying out but this camera also lets me take charge and I have found that I have taken some pretty good photos.

My next experiment will be with action shots as I am a greyhound racing fan and would like to have some decent pictures.

Features
Rating 9/10
Image Quality
Rating 10/10
Usability
Rating 9/10
Reviewer: Zoe - UK
Have not found it that easy to use but I am sure that, with time, I will master this camera and produce great results. It takes very good outdoor shots, is easy to hold due to the grip, is inexpensive and has a large viewer. I have faith that I will succeed.

Features
Rating 9/10
Image Quality
Rating 8/10
Usability
Rating 6/10
Add a ReviewAdd a review for the Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom
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Olympus SP-500 UltraZoom Review & Features - © UK Digital Camera Reviews 2008
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