The Olympus SP-570UZ features 20x zoom, optical image-stabilization, and a full-manual mode. Are its images worthy of its features-set?
Review summary of the Olympus SP-570UZ:
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 The Olympus SP-570UZ is superbly designed and packed with worthy features, including optical image-stabilization and a whopping 20x zoom. It's easy to use for point-and-shooter and prosumer alike, and it includes features spanning both markets, from face detection to RAW support. The only thing hampering the SP-570UZ from a sure-fire recommendation is its so-so, point-and-shoot sized imaging-sensor, which performs well for its class but undermines the camera's prosumer appeal. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a functional bridge between a compact and a DSLR, the SP-570UZ could fit the bill. Release: April 2008. Price: $440.
Pros: 20x zoom. Optical image-stabilization. Excellent design.
Cons: Small imaging-sensor. Issues with fringing and distortion. Only supports xD cards.
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Full Olympus SP-570UZ Review:
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Design - Very good
Clearly patterned after a DSLR, the Olympus SP-570UZ does a great job of packing in most of the controls of an SLR body while remaining small enough to fit in a jacket pocket. Even with the 20x zoom lens fully extended, the camera is only about as long as a typical SLR with a standard lens attached, and with a battery it hardly weighs any more than an SLR body with no lens.
The top houses the sizable pop-up flash, which extends a good inch above the body in order to clear the lens, and to its right is a standard mode-wheel with a rotary on/off switch. On the very right-hand side is a dial for selecting shooting parameters, and on the front-right is the shutter release and a button for toggling between shutter, aperture, and exposure compensation settings. Along the left of the lens is a switch for AF / MF operation and a shortcut for burst-mode settings, and on the left of the body is the flash-release. It's a convenient amount of control for those who wish to take advantage, all without being too overwhelming for newbies.
The back is similar to a toned-down DSLR. To the right of the 2.7" LCD viewfinder is a four-way controller with preset buttons. Above the LCD is the electronic viewfinder, which, unlike the relatively wimpy ones found on most compacts, should prove useful in day-to-day shooting: though not an optical display, this EVF at least features a raised frame and focus correction.
The best aspect of the Olympus SP-570UZ's design is its level of comfort. There's a nice, rubberized thumb-grip on the top-right corner on the back, which perfectly complements the deep hand-grip on the front-right, itself outfitted with plush, rubber padding. Our favorite aspect of the SP-570UZ, though, is the inclusion of a zoom ring behind the lens. While not truly variable – focus still lurches forward in piecemeal steps, just like a compact – it's nevertheless a thoughtful addition that allows the camera to function almost exactly like a DSLR.
Features - Very good
Olympus straddles the border between compact and prosumer with the SP-570UZ. The camera includes optical image-stabilization, a full selection of burst-modes, and an extremely broad ISO range, and even has fringe features like support for RAW and Hot Shoe. Coupled with standard point-and-shoot aides like face detection and full-auto modes, it's an extensive feature set.
The SP-570UZ features a full-fledged manual mode, which allows independent selection of shutter speeds and f-stops. Shutter-speeds range from 15 - 1/1000 seconds (up to 1/2000 at closed apertures) with bulb support, and f-stops range from f/2.8 – f/8.0 (this may not seem like much, but keep in mind that, with small sensors, f/8.0 is already essentially deep-focus, and anything smaller results in diffraction). ISOs range from 64-6400, which is an impressive maximum, though our image tests revealed that both 3200 and 6400 are heavily affected by noise-reduction and really should only be used if absolutely necessary.
As mentioned, the camera also features RAW support, though the files themselves are given the extension 'ORF.' Users eager to shoot in RAW should keep in mind that, as is the case with all new variations of the format, support for the SP-570UZ has only recently been added to Adobe's Camera RAW plugin, and only the latest version of Photoshop (CS3) can develop the camera's ‘.ORF' files.
Interface - Very good
Olympus delivers a solid interface on the SP-570UZ, one that coalesces the functionality of an SLR with the ease of point-and-shoot automation. In the full-automatic mode, the user only has control over JPEG size and compression, while everything else is automated by the camera. In full-manual mode, however, the user has control over everything from white balance to metering to noise reduction, as well as the standard settings for sharpness, contrast, and saturation. Furthermore, while in manual the user can toggle to a full settings menu and use the dial to quickly tweak shot-settings.
The system menu is available in all modes and has control over camera operation, including output settings and card formatting. We also particularly liked the ability to remap button shortcuts and the zoom ring to other functions. Our only complaint is over the camera's reliance on xD memory cards, a format with more cost but less commonality than SD cards. Also, our particular review unit tended to make strange noises during testing, usually right after boot-up, that sounded as if the camera was purring. We're not the biggest fan of noisy electronics, though it was kind of cute.
Image quality - Good
A point-and-shoot imaging sensor in an SLR body is still a point-and-shoot imaging sensor, and we were disappointed that Olympus didn't outfit the SP-570UZ with something beefier than a typical 1/2.33" CCD. This damages the camera's aspirations, and, as we've seen with other underpowered prosumers, makes the RAW mode more of an add-on than a legitimate feature, simply because the middling definition and dynamic-range of a tiny sensor doesn't yield much headroom in RAW development. Considering what the SP-570UZ is equipped with, it managed decent to good image quality. Were it a modestly priced compact, we would be ecstatic, but for a prosumer priced at half a grand, we have to reign in our enthusiasm.
Noise is tightly packed at lower sensitivities but becomes noticeable at ISO-400, distortive at ISO-800, and inescapable at ISO-1600. At ISO-3200 the camera's noise-reduction kicks in, and noise is lessened in equal measure with image definition, leading to smeary pictures. At ISO-6400 images become a blur, and even still some noise manages to escape the NR processing and afflict shadows with green and purple blots.
Scene test
Regardless, the SP-570UZ did perform admirably in this scene test: colors are saturated and accurate, edges are well-defined, and noise is kept under control. However, while we do like the diffused quality of the background light, this is undesirable in terms of accuracy and a sign of either an underperforming lens or sensor.
Telescopic test [20x]
Strangely, this telescopic test from the same scene is nearly a botch. The camera incorrectly focused on the foreground when the midground was clearly the intended subject, and moreover the majority of the image is marred with a strange, oscillative distortion (this was taken on a temperate day, so this isn't heat refraction, nor was there a widespread gas-leak). Worse yet, there's an equally baffling neon-green fringe along the top of the bus that looks like some sort of ectoplasmic aura.
Edge test
We can also see purple fringing along the top of the building in this edge test, though otherwise the image is relatively noiseless and detailed. Dynamic range is somewhat cramped in this image, however, leading to a washed-out appearance.
Indoor test
Thankfully, the Olympus SP-570UZ recovers in this indoor test. Here edges are distinct, there's no fringing despite the strong backlighting, and the optical image-stabilization rendered a sharp exposure from a 1/25-second shutter. We also liked how much detail the camera managed to eke out of the foreground from such a difficult contrast scenario.
Super-macro test
No equivocations necessary, the SP-570UZ's macro mode is spectacular. Featuring not only standard macro but a super-macro mode that focuses to within 0.4", the camera managed to give a relatively sharp image even though we had the lens all but flush against the wall. Granted, the sample is not completely focused, but none of the lens aberration or diffraction typical of P&S macro-modes is present.
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