Olympus SP-550 UZ

Model Design / Appearance (8.5)
Olympus seems to hit and miss in this area. Its Stylus Verve had a bold design that looked good but wasn’t very functional. Some of Olympus’ E-series DSLRs have flat-topped designs that don’t look good at all but are very functional. The Olympus SP-550UZ seems to get it just right. It looks good, and its looks don’t hinder its function. There are several materials that combine on the camera’s surfaces: rubber, dark gray plastic that has a metallic sheen, and chrome. The rubber grips around the camera are great, but they attract dust and dead skin. Despite the exfoliation factor, the Olympus SP-550UZ is a huge improvement over the homely SP-500 that was boxy and cheap-looking. The new model is assembled tightly so there aren’t cracks in the housing and the buttons are firmly in place. It has curved edges too, unlike the squarish SP-500, and it feels balanced and comfortable in shooting position. 

Size / Portability (5.25)
The Olympus SP-550 is short and stout with its 4.6 x 3.1 x 3.1-inch measurements and 12.9 ounce weight. That weight doesn’t include the four AA batteries, which add a substantial amount to the total. The camera is equally heavy though. It has the batteries on one side and the huge 18x lens on the other. On each side of the SP-550 is a tiny strap lug that is nicely blended into the camera’s design. Olympus included neck and lens cap straps along with two rings that attach the straps to the tiny holes in the camera body. The Olympus SP-550 isn’t very big, but it is large enough to require a camera bag or case of some form.

Handling Ability (8.75)
Olympus’ original ultra-zoom digital camera had a boxy look that handled like, um, a box. The SP-500’s lack of contours and gripping surfaces combined with a cheap plastic shell make for an uncomfortable handling experience. Many consumers complained and it seems that Olympus took notice. The new SP-550UZ has a tougher shell, although it is still plastic. The camera is noticeably heavier too, which may be a strain on the wrist but makes it feel more substantial than less expensive models. The Olympus SP-550 has rounded edges very unlike the sharper SP-500.

The new ultra-zoom digital camera has plenty of variation in its surfaces that make it better to handle too. The rubber coating covers almost everything on the front of the SP-550. The right hand grip is coated with the textured rubber, along with a thin strip on the left side that gives just enough room for the left fingers to hold. The rubber extends around the barrel of the lens too; this is a nice touch because the lens is so large and will require some support from underneath. To balance in the back, the Olympus SP-550 has a thumb grip that extends from the LCD screen’s top edge to the right side of the camera on a curled protrusion. This feature gives users extra stability and allows them to shoot one-handed if they dare. While it is possible with the grips and placement of the components, the sheer weight of the SP-550 will prevent frequent one-handed shooting. Overall, the comfortable contours and perfectly placed grips make this model one of the best cameras Olympus has made in terms of handling.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.75)
The SLR-shaped Olympus SP-550UZ combines elements from DSLRs and compact digital cameras. Most DSLRs have lots of easily accessible buttons and almost always have a mode dial. The SP-550 has a large mode dial that showcases its manual and automatic modes. Beside the mode dial is the shutter release button and zoom control, the combination of which is just as large as the mode dial.

There are only a few designated buttons on the camera, and they cover the basic point-and-shoot functions: Menu, Delete, Display Info, Playback, Power, Image Stabilization, and LCD/EVF. These buttons aren’t elaborate and all have printed labels, which look like they could rub off after a few years. It is a little confusing that there is a playback mode button on the back of the camera as well as a playback position on the mode dial. It is probably faster to access it with a button but having it located in two separate places is a little strange. All of the buttons on the back seem to be too flush with the camera body. Users have to give a good push for them to register.

The zoom control is definitely more reminiscent of compact cameras than DSLRs. The control is a ring around the shutter release that moves to the right and left to zoom in and out. The control zooms in nicely, but it causes some stuttering when zooming out.

The multiselector looks lifted off a compact camera. It consists of a central OK/Func button with a surrounding ring decorated with icons: exposure compensation on top, flash on right, self-timer on bottom, and macro on left. The multiselector doesn’t protrude much from the camera and the surrounding ring feels a little flimsy – both undesirable characteristics for this control.

The overall size and placement of the controls and buttons seems to be just fine and labeling works well too. All of the buttons are within reach of the right thumb. The biggest problem is the close proximity of the buttons on the back of the camera that are clustered into a tight rectangular pattern.

Menu (6.0)
Olympus has a menu system that is a bit baffling. It is split into a short menu of frequently used options and a longer menu cluttered with everything but the kitchen sink. The split menu system isn’t the problem. This same concept is used on Canon and Fujifilm digital cameras, among others. The baffling problem comes in the lengthier menu, where items are crammed tightly and buried under tabs that are only labeled by numbers and not functionality. We’ll get to that later. First, here is the short and more frequently used menu accessed by the OK/Func button in the middle of the multiselector.

OK/Func Menu
White Balance	Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Custom
ISO	Auto, High ISO Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 5000
Drive	Single, Continuous, High-Speed 1, High-Speed 2, High-Speed 2 Pre, AF Drive, Bracketing
Metering	ESP, Spot, Center-weighted

The advantage of this menu is not only that it is easy to access, but that it has a live view in its background. While users scan the white balance options, they can view the consequences of the selected choice in real-time. This menu is composed mainly of icons, but they are all quite intuitive.

The main menu is made up mainly of text, although there are some random icons thrown in that aren’t that intuitive. The text is printed in all capital letters, which tends to drive obsessive people like me crazy. The main menu is accessible by pushing the Menu button, and selecting the central Camera Menu option that is mixed with these other options on the initial screen: Image Quality, Setup, Silent Mode, Scene, and Reset.

Camera Menu
White Balance	Auto, Preset (Daylight, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3), One-Touch (set)
ISO	Auto, High ISO Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 5000
Drive	Single, Continuous, High-Speed 1, High-Speed 2, AF Drive, Bracketing (+/- 0.3 x 3 or x 5, +/- 0.7, +/- 1)
Metering	ESP, Spot, Center-Weighted
Fine Zoom	On, Off
Digital Zoom	On, Off
AF Mode	iESP, Spot, Area
Focus Mode	AF, MF
Full-Time AF	On, Off
AF Predict	On, Off
AF Illuminator	On, Off
Image Stabilizer	On, Off
Flash Compensation	+/- 2 in 1/3 increments
Flash Syncro	Sync 1, Sync 2
External Flash	In, Slave (1-10)
Voice Memo	On, Off
Panorama	(shows grid lines left to right)
White Balance +/-	+/- 7 blue to red
Sharpness	+/- 5 in full steps
Contrast	+/- 5 in full steps
Saturation	+/- 5 in full steps
Noise Reduction	On, Off
Time Lapse	On (Pictures 2-99, Interval 1-99 minutes)
Conversion Lens	On, Off

This is a lengthy menu and it is divided up into five tabs, but they are labeled by numbers rather than icons. In the Canon menu system, the tabs have cameras and memory cards to distinguish the functions of the groups of options. Here, it is hard to remember which tab the Sharpness option is located in, for instance. Scrolling down to it is likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome in the thumb.
I dislike this menu for a few reasons. Yes, the capital letters rub me the wrong way, and the random conversion lens and other icons aren’t intuitive. There is also no live view for options like white balance. This menu is merely a guessing game.

The following setup menu is just as long and divided into five numbered tabs.

Setup Menu
Format	Yes, No
Backup	Yes, No
Language	English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Power On Setup	Screen (Off, 1, 2), Sound (Off, 1, 2)
Screen Setup	(couldn’t access on pre-production model)
Beep	Off, 1 (Low, High), 2 (Low, High)
Playback Volume	Off, Low, High
Shutter Sound	Off, 1(Low, High), 2 (Low, High)
Volume	6 levels
Rec. View	On, Off
File Name	Reset, Auto
Pixel Mapping	Start
LCD Brightness	+/- 2 in full steps
Date & Time	(set year, month, day, time, YMD)
Dual Time	On, Off
Alarm Clock	Off, One Time (set time, Snooze On and Off, 3 alarm sounds can be set to High or Low), Daily (same options as One Time)
Video Out	NTSC, PAL
Frame Assist	Off, Rule of Thirds, Diagonal Cross Lines
Histogram	On, Off, Direct
My Mode Setup	Current, Reset, Custom (all with My Modes 1-4 options)
m/ft	m, ft
Custom Button	Image Stabilizer, AE Lock, AF Lock, Image Quality, Fine Zoom, Digital Zoom, AF Mode, Focus Mode, Full-time AF, AF Predict, Flash Sync, External Flash, Voice Memo, Noise Reduction

The setup menu allows for plenty of customization. Users can choose everything from the sound the alarm clock makes to whether the LCD displays the metric or English measurement system. In general, it is best to avoid the menu altogether because it isn’t very intuitive, and it is likely that users will get lost in the mess.

Ease of Use (6.25)
This is one of the easiest-to-use Olympus cameras – but that’s not saying much. Olympus made lots of improvements upon the SP-500 and is moving in the right direction. The Olympus SP-550UZ has a fat mode dial, properly labeled buttons, and rubber grips that make handling pleasant. The Auto mode makes the camera easy to operate for point-and-shooters. For those users who want to access manual controls or the menus, a bit of patience and a briefing with the manual will be necessary.

The camera does include a Guide position on the camera that takes users step-by-step through common shooting problems like brightening subjects and shooting into backlight. Overall, the SP-550 isn’t the easiest camera to use on the market, but it is one of the easiest Olympus models.

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Olympus SP-550UZ Digital Camera Review Navigation
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