Olympus SP-550 Uz

[Larry C]

Probably a combination of size, shape and pricepoint. Graphic designers and focus groups have a lot to say about what products we get. If they like the angled look of a flip up flash or putting a hotshoe on top makes the camera look too square or bulky, off it comes. If something bumps the price by $25 and the consumer focus group says "I would pay $XXX.XX for this product" off it comes. Fortunately, there are more and more high quality ttl equipped slave strobes these days and I hear that the optical cords are improving as well. Many shops are now saying, "Why hard wire your strobe, our customers are doing great with optical cords on P & S cameras."

 

[maynard.hogg]

The specs list three underwater modes: macro, wide 1, and wide 2.

IMHO, zoom beyond 3x is useless underwater. Note, however, that I dive mostly in murky northern waters (around 38°N).

 

[Wisnu]

Say, hotshoe is not an issue - with street price of $500, means the additional zoom + dual image stabilization features cost more than $300, even more for underwater. I believe the PT-037 will be much more expensive than PT-030.
As maynard said, zoom beyond 3x is useless underwater - so, what we actually get from more than $300 difference ?

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

... a camera that has more usefullness onland while still being capable UW.

This photography thing, its not limited to below the surface

 

[maynard.hogg]

As maynard said, zoom beyond 3x is useless underwater - so, what we actually get from more than $300 difference ?

Who said I was thinking of underwater? (smile)

I'm finding the 10x zoom lens on my old 750 fairly useless in taking pictures of birds on my daily walks. (The 4.0-meg CCD is not that limiting, but it won't content me forever, either.)

Much as I would like to replace my mu/Stylus-40, having to simultaneously replace the housing sends it way down my toy wish list.

 

[Wisnu]

The more information from SB and other sites did not help me to make a decision to purchase sp-350 + Pt-030 now or wait till March for almost double cost of 550 uz + Pt-037 - but my 20 cent coin did effectively - it said - one month waiting is not too long.

 

[Wisnu]

Finally I got my SP-550 UZ last week -but for the PT-037 seem I really have to wait till March. Will see its topside performance soon, at least nice and comprehensive onscreen menu than my C-5000.

 

[DiverDun]

How is the performance of your new SP-550 UZ Wisnu? Does the optical zoom work well when taking videos?

 

[Wisnu]

Diverdun,
I haven't have much chance to play with this camera; and usualy I never use digicam as videocam. I am quite happy with my SR100.
Since you asked, then I check it.
Yes, the optical zoom work "well"; but I don't think I will use the recording mode with max. optical zoom. Although it work well - but relatively slow, the picture quality during the lense moving is poor; not very quiete; I can hear the motor's noise - probably this one of the reason the optical zoom will be disabled if sound is set on.
In general I have no complain with SP-550 UZ as a topside camera. In fact much better than my C5000 and Dimage-Z5.
It take 4 second for the camera to be ready to take picture; The RAW model require 8 second before the next shot.
For underwater -do not know; still can not find the PT-037 here or available ex-stock at any online store. Next week I'll visit KL hope I can get PT-037 there; so I can play it for my next dive trip to Bali early April.

 

[DiverDun]

Thanks Wisnu

I hope you can find a underwater case soon.
For anyone else watching, I think http://www.dcresource.com/ will have a full review out in March sometime.