Latest – Review by CNET (added 31 March’08)
Olympus SP-560 UZ features:
- 8 megapixel
- 18x optical zoom
- 2.5-Inch LCD
- Dual image stabilization
- Face detection
- 27-486mm focal length
- Shadow adjustment
- Perfect shot preview
- 33 shooting modes
- Full manual control
- ISO up to 3200
Read More Reviews – (updated 31 March ‘08)
| CNET |
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| GoodGearGuide |
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| ThinkCamera |
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| Megapixel |
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| Photography Review |
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| Cameras.co.uk |
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| DigitalCameraReview |
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| DPReview |
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| TrustedReviews |
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| Photoxels |
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| Imaging-Resource |
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| DigitalCameraInfo |
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| Steves-Digicams |
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| InfoSync |
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| ePhotozine |
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| PhotoReview |
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CNET – 31 March’08 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and felt the softness and digital noise hurt the cameras images. Here’s a summary of their review -
“In test the SP-560 was a middle of the ground performer. Granted it has a huge zoom lens but the lens is also its achilles heel in that with the large puling power you also get soft images. Digital noise begins to creep in as early as ISO 200 and progressively gets worse as you go up. One of the outstanding aspect of this camera is the beautiful and highly effective body design.”
GoodGearGuide – 29 January’08 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and thought the colors were lightly over saturated. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Not the fasted camera on the block the 560 UZ was a little slow to start up but shot-to-shot was respectable. One feature that impressed the reviewer was the shadow adjustment mode which when activated exhibited a lot more detail in the dark areas of images. ISO performance was as expected – usable for small prints up to around ISO 800 but beyond that and you better keep your prints REALLY small because of the digital noise.”
ThinkCamera – 23 January’08 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and felt the color reproduction was not very good. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Offering a slightly wider lens and a big zooms the 560 UZ’s colors lacked the punch and sharpness the review was looking for. It appears the cameras noise reductin system is pretty aggressive and is what accounts for images hat appear a little on the soft side. There were times when it was difficult getting the camera to focus on the subject which created some wasted time while the camera struggled against itself. As most of know THOSE can be critical times when you either get the shot or not.”
Megapixel – 15 January’08 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and liked the fact the controls have been well thought out and strategically placed. Here’s a summary of their review -
“While overall the camera was good with nice photos but the video mode was not impressive at all primarily because of digital noise. Another item that was disappointing was the LCD screen was tough to use in bright sunlight. One area of concern is the daunting array of scene modes and that because of the number of choices photographers may spend a lot of time trying to pick the right setting.”
Photography Review – 10 January’08 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and noted it has an incredible depth of features, so many that it might be a little intimidating to a new photographer. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Capturing hard to get photos all of sudden turns into an easy chore with the SP-560 UZ’s long lens. The cameras image stabilization also made difficult lighting situation much easier, even low light portraits of people. the reviewer was not particularly thrilled with the difficult to operate power button or the difficulty switching scene modes. All in all if the reviewer were shopping for a new camera they indicated they would by this one is a heartbeat.”
Cameras.co.uk – 08 January’08 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and was not exactly thrilled with their sample photos. Here’s a summary of their review -
“There seems to be a lot of fuss over technology and the reviewer felt that Olympus placed less emphasis addressing image quality, in other words just because it packs a big zoom does not mean it delivers great photographs. Navigating menus is a little difficult in that you always need to maneuver through the main menu which slows the cameras overall operation. “
DigitalCameraReview – 28 December’07 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and felt the camera tended to overexpose highlights in bright scenes. Here’s a summation of their review -
“Upfront the camera seemed pretty together with a huge zoom and a long list of features. However, actually using it day-to-day was a different story. One of the BIGGEST gripes was the poorly designed menu system which made finding even the most basic setting an exercise in frustration. One of the great things is you can use ordinary AA batteries which would be a very handy feature of you’re packing this as a travel camera.”
DPReview – 22 December’07 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and points out this camera because of it wireless flash capability is able to take better portraits than all its competitors. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“It’s not particularly fast but has a good metering system and well thought-out processing that helps it to produce good images at low ISO settings. And, of course, it has the incredibly flexible lens which will continue to offer: “I wonder whether I can… Wow!” moments. At base ISO, the image quality of the Olympus is at least the equal of its two most obvious rivals but that base setting is so low it can leave you struggling with low shutter speeds even outdoors during daylight. And, given that it’s hard to recommend its performance above ISO 200 as being particularly special, it’s a camera you’ll get the most out of outdoors.”
TrustedReviews – 21 December’07 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and was disappointed with the image quality. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“The Olympus SP-560UZ is an extremely accomplished camera, and more than makes up for its slightly disappointing predecessor. Outstanding design and handling, good performance and a huge degree of versatility make it a superb tool for the keen hobbyist. Image quality is at least as good as its main rivals, and the inclusion of RAW mode means that you can get the best from your photos. If you weren’t already stumped trying to decide between a Fuji S8000fd and a Panasonic FZ-18, now your decision is even harder.”
Photoxels – 03 December’07 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and suggests that beginners should not be afraid of the camera but more experienced shooters will have a blast with its advanced features. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“s a well designed and very good ultra zoom digital camera. It is enjoyable to use with an excellent wide-angle for large group and wide landscape shots and a tele that is more manageable than on the SP-550 UZ. The serious photographer will appreciate the extensive amount of control and customization available, the excellent metering and very good image quality at the low ISOs.”
Imaging-Resource – 30 November’07 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and warns that when you shoot in RAW the camera slows down considerable. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“In addition to its 8.0 megapixel sensor, the Olympus SP-560 also sports new features like the Effects Preview and Shadow Adjustment Technology. More importantly, shutter lag is greatly reduced, making the Olympus SP-560 nearly irresistible. Though the zoom is a little wonky in movie mode, the long zoom, 27mm wide angle lens, optical image stabilization, and respectable image quality make the Olympus SP-560 an easy winner in the Long Zoom category.”
DigitalCameraInfo – 11 November’07 – reviews the Olympus SP-560 UZ and feels the camera produces undersaturated and inaccurate colors. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“The Olympus SP-560UZ improves upon its predecessor, but still falls short of its competition. Its colors are inaccurate and there are still problems with basic features like focus and continuous shooting modes: they aren’t fast and the focus can be soft, especially in movies. In the end, there are more things to dislike about the SP-560 than there are to like. There are better ultra-zoom digital cameras out there for less expensive prices.”
Steves-Digicams – 06 November’07 – has reviewed the Olympus SP-560 UZ and comments the powerful zoom makes this a very versatile camera. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“The Olympus SP-560 UZ is a very well balanced super-zoom model. Overall, the camera offers some very appealing features, great image quality both indoors and out, and plenty of resolution to create up to poster size prints. The only negatives I found with the camera were its shooting performance results in single exposure mode are a bit behind the rest of the market, and while it offers blazing fast performance in High Speed mode, you are forced to use such a small image size setting.”
InfoSync – 24 October’07 – has reviewed the Olympus SP-560 UZ and writes that this camera takes outstanding pictures. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“Our first thought when testing this camera was that it would be too big; we like cameras that fit in our shirt pockets, letting us take them anywhere. But the images we got from the SP-560UZ were so good, we found ourselves finding excuses to take it along. The zoom was stunning and the options were plentiful; we see this as a perfect bridge between the point-and-shoot market and the D-SLR market, a great way for someone looking to take better pictures without taking the leap and spending $800 on a D-SLR.”
ePhotozine – 18 October’07 – has reviewed the Olympus SP-560 UZ and felt the ease of handling and the large zoom capability make this a definite recommended camera. Here’s an excerpt from their review verdict -
“All these things said, it’s the zoom range that will sell the camera. The lens performs well, it’s very handy to have a 27mm wide angle view with it, and all the other features, plus the nice build quality and attractive design, make this a cracking little camera with a very big zoom.”
PhotoReview – 07 October’07 – has reviewed the Olympus SP-560 UZ and thought the main disadvantage of the camera was its complicated menu structure. Here’s the overall conclusion -
“The SP-560 UZ is a mixed bag, containing features that are designed to help novice users take better pictures and controls to please photo enthusiasts. If you stay clear of the high sensitivity settings and fast frame rates and use a tripod and mid-range aperture at the longest zoom setting, it’s a pretty good performer – although not quite as good as the Panasonic FZ18 (although it’s $80 cheaper).
That said, the SP-560 UZ would still be a worthwhile choice for travelers who want a compact, versatile digicam with good still and video recording capabilities. As long as it’s used in reasonably bright conditions, it should be up to most shooting situations – although you may have problems shooting action in low light levels and capturing fast-moving wildlife or children. “
Sample Test Photos
[Sample Test Photos Megapixel]
[Sample Test Photos Photography Review]
[Sample Test Photos Cameras.co.uk]
[Sample Test Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Test Photos at TrustedReviews]
[Sample Test Photos at Photoxels]
[Sample Test Photos at Imaging-Resource]
[Sample Test Photos at DigitalCameraInfo]
[Sample Test Photos at Steves-Digicams]
[Sample Test Photos at InfoSync]
[Sample Test Photos at PhotoReview]
Specifications
[Official Olympus Specifications]
Owners Manual
Press Release
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 23, 2007 – Olympus introduces the new SP-560 Ultra Zoom digital camera, the all-in-one solution for consumers looking for power and versatility for any shooting situation. The compact SP-560 UZ blends ease-of-use with an industry-leading focal range (27mm wide-angle to 18x optical zoom), an 8-megapixel image sensor and the latest technologies to deliver superior image quality and performance.
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