Olympus SP-570 UZ

Discontinued

Reviewed

December 2009

by ConsumerSearch

Pros

20x zoom lens
RAW support
Easy to use
Full manual options

Cons

Image quality disappointing
Slow performance
Expensive

Where to Buy

for $239.95

Our Analysis
Specs
79 Amazon Reviews

The Olympus SP-570 UZ, at first glance, can easily be mistaken as a digital single-lens reflex camera (SLR). In fact, the Olympus SP-570 UZ has a zoom ring like an SLR, although DigitalCameraReview.com says the device is imprecise and jerky. In addition to the 20x zoom, the 10-megapixel Olympus camera touts a 2.7-inch LCD display, electronic viewfinder, manual options and RAW (uncompressed) image support. Reviewers aren't thrilled with the Olympus SP-570 UZ's speed. Power-up time is 3.5 seconds, and in-between shot recovery is 3.1 seconds. The unpredictable autofocus and convoluted menu interface hinder performance. Inconsistent image quality, however, is by far the biggest drawback. Imaging-Resource.com editors say the Olympus SP-570 UZ suffers from softness (loss of detail) at the corner of the frame and chromatic aberration, or inconsistent color. Other reviewers note image noise at higher ISO settings.

Testers at PCMag.com and CNET thoroughly evaluate cameras yet write for a general readership, using scoring and ranking systems that make for quick and easy comparisons. Longer, more technical but less comparative coverage is available at Imaging-Resource.com, Steves-Digicams.com and DigitalCameraReview.com, while user reviews at Amazon.com show potential problems that crop up with long-term use.

Where To Buy

Olympus SP-570UZ 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom

(79 reviews)
Buy new: $449.99 $239.95 12 Used & new from $119.69

In Stock.

Our Sources

1. PCMag.com

The Olympus SP-570 UZ garners a "good" rating from PCMag editors, based on good features (including the 20x lens), but it suffers from "inconsistent" image quality.

Review: Olympus SP-570 UZ, David Gussman, June 10, 2008

2. CNET

CNET's coverage is thorough, credible and readable. Lori Grunin says that the Olympus SP-570 UZ's photo quality "is solid, but not great" and that the camera is just too slow. It doesn't make her list of the nine best ultra-zooms, but the camera scores better with CNET's user ratings.

Review: Olympus SP-570 UZ, Lori Grunin, Aug. 22, 2008

3. Imaging-Resource.com

ImagingResource.com produces great testing and fairly readable reviews, falling short only in its failure to assign overall scores so you can compare cameras. Editors conclude that the Olympus SP-570 UZ would be fine "if 8x10-inch prints are all you're looking for." Otherwise, the image quality is disappointing.

Review: Olympus SP-570 UltraZoom, Mike Pasini and Stephanie Boozer, Oct. 2, 2008

4. StevesDigicams.com

The gist of this thorough review is that the 20x lens is "awesome" and that image quality is good, even indoors. But at this price and heft you are getting close to digital SLR range, and skillful photographers should keep that in mind.

Review: Olympus SP-570 UZ Review, Editors of Steves-Digicams.com, June 18, 2008

5. DigitalCameraReview.com

Reviews here are thorough and credible, but they fail to assign a numerical rating or any kind of ranking system that tells you which camera is the best of its kind. This review is also a bit dated, because at the time, the Olympus SP-570 UZ was the only 20x on the market, and that's no longer true.

Review: Olympus SP-570 UZ Review, Howard Creech, May 20, 2008

6. Amazon.com

Of the more than 70 user reviews for the Olympus SP-570 UZ, more than 80 percent give it a 4- or 5-star rating. Overall, owners are smitten with the zoom capabilities and RAW file support. Complaints include slow shooting and unpredictable autofocus.

Review: Olympus SP-570UZ, Contributors to Amazon.com

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