Manual Control Options
The Olympus SP-500 UZ offers degrees of manual control for various skill levels. Beginning photographers can take advantage of the vast number of scene modes available, while intermediate photographers can explore the aperture and shutter priority modes. More adventurous photographers can engage the SP-500’s manual mode and choose to manually set the exposure, white balance and even manually focus (although I wouldn’t recommend using this camera’s manual focus) if they so choose. For photographers with generally consistent preferences, shooting styles, or favorite shooting scenarios, there are four "MyMode" settings. Users can select the recording mode, aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, LCD or viewfinder display, zoom, flash mode, metering, macro setting, burst mode, ISO, self-timer, flash compensation, flash sync mode, flash to be used, digital zoom, noise reduction, auto focus mode, focus mode, fulltime auto focus, panorama mode, voice memo, time lapse, predictive auto focus, image size, white balance, white balance compensation, sharpness, contrast, saturation, information display, histogram, and even a frame assist. As you can tell, the list is comprehensive to the point of absurdity and lets users control just about any aspect of the camera.
Focus
Auto Focus (6.5)
The Olympus SP-500 has a CCD contrast detection auto focus system that is a bit slower than average for still photography and faster than average in the movie mode. Focus modes include iESP Auto, Spot AF, Selective AF target, and Manual. There is also a Predictive auto focus mode to help focus on subjects in motion. This mode uses an algorithm to approximate where subjects are moving and focuses accordingly. In low light, the camera sends out an orange beam of light to assist the auto focus system. Overall, the auto focus works well but lacks a bit in low light.
The SP-500 has a focus range from 23.6 inches in wide and 78 inches in telephoto to as far as one can see. The macro mode focuses from 2.76-23.62 inches in wide and 47.24-78.74 inches in telephoto and the super macro mode keeps its focus around 3 cm.
Manual Focus (2.0)
The SP-500 UZ has a manual focus option, but it is so horrible that it’s essentially unusable. A sliding bar is displayed on the left side of the LCD screen showing distances in meters or feet (this is selectable in the setup menu). Users can zoom in and out, then focus with the directional arrows of the multi-selector. Unfortunately, when these buttons are pressed, a box appears in the center of the screen to magnify whatever is at the center. This is supposed to aid users in focusing. However, the screen resolution is so incredibly poor that I couldn’t focus the camera at all! Just pretend this feature isn’t available. Using it will only ruin your pictures.
Metering (7.0)
The metering is the first option in the mode menu’s long list. Users can decide among the Digital iESP multi-pattern auto TTL, spot metering, and center weighted metering. The selection is easier with the AEL button, though. This button acts as a shortcut and only displays the metering choices instead of the entire mode menu. This is nice because users can actually see a live view and select accordingly.
Exposure (7.5)
The Olympus SP-500 UZ helps users to get the right exposure by offering live histograms and a standard exposure compensation scale of +/- 2 EV in 1/3 increments. Shutter speed and aperture are manually controllable too and when adjusted, an exposure value appears to give users an idea of the lighting available in the shot.
White Balance (7.5)
The SP-500 has a nice list of white balance presets, but its best feature is its manual white balance. It is easy to set (so easy, Olympus calls it "one-touch") and use. When one touch is simply too much, the through-the-lens automatic white balance setting is available. And when there’s enough time to make a specific selection, the following white balance preset modes are available: Overcast, Sunlight, Evening Sun, Tungsten, and 3 Fluorescent modes. All of these modes are represented by icons, so the live view is quite helpful. A live view also comes with the white balance compensation that is available in all of the modes. A 15-step scale edges the tones toward red or blue. The white balance modes are all easy to use and accurate.
ISO (6.75)
The ISO range on the Olympus SP-500 UZ is more typical of a compact digital camera with its 80, 100, 200, and 400 manual settings. The camera can also adjust the ISO automatically. Users can scroll through the options in the recording menu, but there isn’t a live view.
Shutter Speed (6.75)
The shutter speed can be automatically chosen in the auto and scene modes or users can manually adjust it in the shutter priority and manual modes. Using the up and down arrows of the multi-selector, users can scroll from 1/1000th of a second to 15 seconds and even use a bulb option. Many compact models have a wider range of about 1/2000-30, but most also do not offer the bulb setting. The Olympus SP-500 automatically uses a noise reduction system at shutter speeds slower than a half second; this is intended to eliminate the speckles of noise that appear in longer exposures.
Aperture (7.0)
In the manual or aperture priority modes, users can manually adjust the aperture in its f/2.8 - f/8 range. By pushing the left and right arrows of the multi-selector, the full range of apertures can be used at the lens’ widest setting and a shortened f/3.7 - f/8 range is available at the 63mm telephoto end. When the aperture and shutter speed are adjusted, the exposure value appears on the screen along with the live view that dims or brightens with each push of the button. This is helpful especially for beginning users. The aperture is controlled by five small petals that tighten and loosen within the Olympus ED lens.
