Olympus SP-570 UZ adds 20X, wide-angle zoom
updated 09:25 am EST, Tue January 22, 2008
Olympus SP-570 UZ
In a lone addition to its ultra-zoom cameras, Olympus this morning revealed the SP-570 UZ. Oriented as a 'prosumer' camera, the body sits between compact cameras and entry digital SLRs but revolves around a built-in lens stronger than many of those from either class. At 20X zoom, the lens can capture very long-range telephoto shots courtesy of a 520mm-equivalent focal length; but with a wide angle, it can also shoot with a 26mm length that allows the camera to shoot macro images of subjects as close as 0.39 inches away. With newer image processing, it also shoots as quickly as 13.5 frames per second by dropping from its native 10.1 megapixels to 3.
Like the Stylus updates also introduced today, the 570 UZ can either use sensor-shift image stabilization or an ISO boost to ensure a sharp image. As a semi-professional camera, however, the new Olympus also provides full manual control to supply a more exact shot. Face detection, shadow correction, and other features of the compacts nonetheless find their way into the camera, which is due in March for $500.
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Joined: Mar 2001
wide angle
It'll be great to have a wider angle lens than the 38mm equivalents in most cameras today, but the focal length has nothing to do with macro focusing range. There are cameras out there with 38mm equivalent which can focus down to 0". (Yes, you can actually have the object touching the lens.)