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Introduction
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01.Product Tour
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02.Color
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03.Noise
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04.Resolution
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05.Video
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06.Sample Photos
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07.Playback
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08.Hardware
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09.Controls
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10.Design & Handling
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11.Canon SX1 Comparison
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12.Nikon P90 Comparison
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13.Sony HX1 Comparison
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14.Conclusion
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15.Photo Gallery
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16.Comments
Olympus SP-590UZ
Previous: Page 9
ControlsNext: Page 11
Canon SX1 ComparisonDesign & Handling
The nice large grip makes it easy to handle, though it desperately needs a control dial.
Handling (6.00)
We’re of two minds about the handling of this Olympus. It’s light and doesn’t feel as sturdy as many of the other ultrazooms we’ve tested. The grip on the right side is decently large, and lets you get a solid hold on the camera. That said, the left side of the camera doesn’t have a good area to put your hand, which makes two-handed shooting awkward. This is especially frustrating, as when shooting at 26x zoom, you really need to use both hands to keep the camera stable.
Buttons & Dials (9.50)
While we were pleased with the placement and resiliency of most of the buttons on the 590UZ, the one thing missing is a control dial of some sort. A dial is much faster than using the four-way controller buttons for changing aperture and shutter speed, browsing in playback and entering manual focus adjustments. One addition we did appreciate is the Custom button, which can be bound to a number of features. Any amount of personalization is a plus, especially if it lets us cut down on scrolling through menus.
Menus (5.00)
The menu system for the 590UZ was a real letdown. While legible and easy to see, thanks to large icons, it was slow to navigate, and scattered options around willy-nilly, making it hard to find the settings you want. A more logical arrangement of menu items would have been greatly appreciated.
Manual & Learning (4.00)
Given how complex ultrazoom cameras like this tend to be, we are disappointed by the manual for the SP-590UZ. There are a huge number of options and modes on this camera, and almost none of them are dealt with effectively. The Scene Modes are glossed over, concepts aren’t dealt with effectively, and both the table of contents and index are underwhelming. The illustrations are good, though. The manual can be downloaded from here.
Shop for the Olympus SP-590UZ
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