Olympus SP-590UZ

[Dixie Dawg]

I've been looking at getting a DSLR camera for a while now and have been leaning toward the Canon XSi or lately have been looking at getting an Olympus like Leo's... but then tonight I saw this and am wondering, what's the benefit really of a DSLR? Would this new Olympus be as good? It's not out yet, due to be released in March... whatcha think? Check it out.....


CES 2009: Olympus has announced the SP-590UZ ultra-zoom digital camera. Trumping Kodak's 24X zoom, the SP-590UZ features a 26X zoom lens that covers a 26-676mm equivalent focal length range. Thankfully there's image stabilization to help prevent camera shake at the long end of the zoom. Like previous recent Olympus UZ cameras, the SP-590UZ can record RAW files.


Don’t miss a trick with the Olympus SP-590UZ


26x optical zoom, plus 10 shots per second

London, 7 January 2009 – With a 26x optical zoom lens covering a remarkable 26-676mm* focal length range, 10fps sequential shooting, and a 12 Megapixel CCD, nothing can escape the scrutiny of the SP-590UZ. Photographers using the latest Olympus Ultra Zoom can further increase the power of its lens to 130x using the optional TCON-17N Teleconverter. Luckily, Dual Image Stabilisation is on hand to protect photos from blur caused by camera shake, and Shadow Adjustment Technology has been included to bring out details hidden in darker areas of the picture. So when photographers view their results on the camera’s 6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal II LCD, they know that they’ll be picture perfect. The SP-590UZ will be in shops from March 2009.
Whether stalking wildlife on the moors, or photographing portraits on location, the last thing that a photographer needs is to be weighed down with heavy camera equipment. But with the Olympus SP-590UZ they have every focal length they need, built into one neat 26x optical zoom. That’s the freedom to choose from a 26mm* wide-angle lens, a 676mm* super telephoto, and everything between. And, should even this impressive range not be enough, the optional TCON-17N Teleconverter can be attached using the CLA-11 Adaptor Ring to give an unparalleled focal length equivalent to 1149mm*. Alternatively, the 5x digital zoom can be used to give a total magnification of 130x, that’s equivalent to 3380mm*!

For situations when working fast is a must, photographers can choose from 18 built-in shooting modes. And when more exposure control is required, full Manual, Aperture Priority, or Shutter Priority can be selected. So that photographers can be certain of the results they’ll get, Perfect Shot Preview allows the different effects of a particular setting, White Balance for example, to be compared next to each other on screen before the photo is taken.

Portrait photographers – and their models – will be delighted with the SP-590UZ. Advanced Face Detection Technology can identify up to 16 human subjects in a photo and expose and focus for them automatically. And even more remarkable, Beauty Mode will actually touch up the appearance of subjects as the photo is being taken, making their skin appear smoother, brighter and more youthful!

Creative photographers can focus as close as 1cm for dramatic natural history shots, control the optional Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R wireless flash units remotely for special lighting effects, and even superimpose one image on top of another using Multiple Exposure.

Image quality is paramount with the SP590UZ. Dual Image Stabilisation has been included to prevent blur caused by camera shake – very useful with such a powerful zoom – and Shadow Adjustment Technology brings out details that would otherwise be lost in shadows. And, of course, the camera’s 12 Megapixel picture resolution means that even giant display prints can be produced with ease.

The new Olympus SP-590UZ is compatibility with both xD-Picture Card and microSD Card*** and will go on sale from March 2009.

The Olympus SP-590UZ – main features:

Most powerful optical performance in minimum size: 26x wide optical zoom (26-676mm*) – from extreme close-ups to the action as well as landscapes, 130x incl. digital zoom
Avoids camera shake and blurry images thanks to Dual Image Stabilisation (combines mechanical and digital image stabilisation)
Don’t miss the moment with high-speed 10fps sequence shooting**
P/A/S/M exposure modes for creative freedom
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI™) technology incorporated for viewing images in high definition on HDMI TVs
12 Megapixels to make prints up to poster-size
Advanced Face Detection of up to 16 persons for perfectly focused and exposed faces. In combination with Shadow Adjustment Technology other main parts of the picture are also correctly exposed.
6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal II LCD with a bright display even in brilliant sunlight and at extreme angles (230,000 dots)
Built-in flash and wireless flash control directly from the camera body
Liven up your memories with movie recording with sound (up to VGA resolution at 30fps)
xD-Picture Card and microSD Card*** compatible
*35mm camera equivalent
**in 3.0 Megapixel mode
***microSD is a trademark of SD Card Association

Olympus SP-590UZ Specifications
Sensor • 1/2.33" Type CCD
• 12 million effective pixels
• Primary colour filter (RGB)

Image sizes • 12M 3968 x 2976
• 5M 2560 x 1920
• 3M 2048 x 1536
• 2M 1600 x 1200
• 1M 1280 x 960
• VGA 640 x 480
• 16:9 1920 x 1080
Movie clips • 640 x 480 / 30 fps Recording time: Up to card capacity
(10s with 30fps when xD standard type or MASD-1 is used)
• 640 x 480 / 15 fps Recording time: Up to card capacity
• 320 x 240 / 30 fps Recording time: Up to card capacity
File formats • DCF
• RAW
• EXIF 2.21
• PIM III
• DPS PictBridge
• DPOF
• AVI Motion JPEG
• WAV audio

Lens • 26x
• 14 lenses / 11 groups
• 55 mm Use CLA-11 to attach conversion lens.
• Focal length (equiv. 35mm) 26 - 676 mm
• Aperture 2.8 - 5.0
Image stabilization Yes
Conversion lenses Yes
Digital zoom Yes 5 x / 130 x
Focus • TTL iESP auto focus with contrast detection
• Face Detection AF
• Spot
• Standard
• Macro
• Super-Macro
• Predective
• Single AF

AF assist lamp Yes
Focus distance • Standard mode 0.1m (wide) / 1.7m (tele)
• Macro mode 0.1m - (wide) / 1.7m (tele)
• Super Macro mode Closest focusing distance: 1 cm
Metering • ESP light metering
• Spot
• Centre weighted metering
• Histogram in shooting mode

ISO sensitivity • Auto / High Auto Automatically selected
• Manual ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Exposure compensation • +/- 2 EV
• 1/3 EV steps
Shuttter speed 1/2 - 1/2000 s / < 8min (Bulb mode) / < 4 s
Aperture f2.8 - f5.0
Shooting modes • Auto
• Programme automatic,
• My mode
• Beauty
• Aperture priority
• Shutter priority
• 19 Scene Modes

White balance • White Balance iESP II
• Auto
• Preset
Drive • 6 fps / 25 frames (in 5MP mode)
• High speed: 10 fps / 25 frames (in 3MP mode)
Self timer Yes
Flash • Auto
• Red-eye reduction
• Fill-in
• Off
LCD monitor • 2.7" / 6.4 cm LCD
• 230,000 dots
Connectivity • HDMI
• DC input
• Combined A/V & USB output
• USB 2.0 compatible
Storage • DCF
• EXIF 2.2
• PIM III
• PictBridge
• DPOF
Power • 4 x AA batteries


http://www.dpreview.com/news/0901/09010705olympussp590uz.asp

 

[leo]

I have used the Oly UZ Point and Shoot cameras for a long time, I currently have the SP550UZ which is basically the same as the SP590UZ except less mpixels and only 18x zoom, it is a fine camera and I occasionally post pics with it (search SP550UZ to see them)

That camera, and all Point and Shoots, have a lot of features compressed in a small light weight package, and IMO they do an amazing job of getting good shots, they will also be a lot cheaper in the long run than a DSLR.

The benefit for me, and the reason I moved up to a DSLR, was wanting more control over my camera/shooting, and the many options available with DSLR’s ( I’m sure others can explain the benefit’s a lot better than I can)


I guess that choosing a good P and S rather than a DSLR would really be a personal decision, depending on how involved you want to get into photography, and how much control you want in taking your pics (and how much money you can invest in it). If you plan to stay with the “auto”/ “scene” settings then a P and S is better, but if you need to make your pics more “personal” and try and get the best results you can then I would suggest a DSLR. I only use the entry level DSLR’s, but have enjoyed my pic taking and learned a whole lot more with them

Hope this helps you to make your choice,

 

[rip18]

Wow - that's a pretty impressive little package! (And certainly cheaper than a DSLR).

Whether that would be better or a DSLR would depend on how you wanted to use it.

Mrs. Rip and I have had SLRs and DSLRs for what seems like a long time. We had never had a digital P&S - though we both have used them at work. Well, with Little Critter around, it is sometimes too much for Mrs. Rip to carry a camera bag and a diaper bag, so I got her an Olympus FE-370 P&S for Christmas - not an ultrazoom. It does a fine job for a little bitty flat thing that goes in a shirt pocket, but we are both a little frustrated by the lack of control options (but we knew that limitation when we talked about P & S, and I knew it when I bought that particular model). The shutter delay looked reasonable on the specification sheet, but when combined with slow focusing, it isn't as reasonable in the real world (compared to our DSLRs). I'm pleased with it for the price because it has been places that we didn't have the DSLRs with us, but I personally wouldn't want that to be my only camera option. The quality is good enough that I've considered getting another one to throw in my shirt pocket for the wider-angle view without having to pull out a second DSLR or change lenses.

I'm not sure that my response is any help, but if you have other questions or more detail about how you see yourself using the camera (what kinds of shots, etc.), then I bet we can help more?

 

[FERAL ONE]

i am dumb as a sack of hammers when it comes to camera speak, but i bought an "almost" dslr , a fuji s5200 and while it took good pics, the flexibility was not the same as it is with my dslr. mainly in the manual focusing ability and the shutter lag time. i shoot such a variety of stuff that the point and shoot would be great for 75% of it but the other 25 i really need to be able to push buttons and tweak for the shot. that sounds like a heck of a camera though !!!

 

[Hoss]

I'll deffer to Leo on the merits of the Oly P&S. I've used P&S and DSLR. Both can do a great job. DSLR's IMHO offer a great deal more flexibility, but the price is you have to put the time in to learn how to use em and often requires additional purchases, more lenses, more lights, more other stuff. Now the same can be said about P&S in that to do a good job, you've got to spend some time with the camera to learn it's capabilities. The difference is in that once you hit the limit on the P&S capabilities, it's look for a new camera whereas with a DSLRs, it's buy a new lens or other attachment. The decision rests with how far do you want to pursue photography.

Hoss