Olympus SP-800 UZ

usability, portability, zoom, image quality, performance

screen, energy, focus, reliability

90% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

zoom, image quality, durability, performance, design

100% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Very good image quality ; Awesome 30x optical zoom ; Sensor shift image sensor assists with handheld images ; Dedicated video record button works in all shooting modes ; 2GB internal memory ; Powerful pop-up flash

Possibility of blurry images even with optical image stabilization when shooting at full telephotoMono microphoneNo audio input for HD video recordingOnly 200 shots per charge ; Bottom Line ; The SP-800 UZ is one of the most versatile cameras on the...

The SP-800 UZ is one of the most versatile cameras on the market today thanks to the 30x wide optical zoom lens. Combining the lens with its other features, performance and image quality make this an excellent ultra-zoom option.Read more in our

The Olympus SP-800UZ is the latest in a long series of ultra-zoom cameras from Olympus, and one of only two digicams in the world to offer a 30x optical zoom. That immediately makes it special, and worthy of anyone's attention. Being able to photograph...

30x wide zoom with image stabilization ; Relatively compact ; 3-inch LCD ; Good build quality ; Powerful flash ; Good single-shot cycle time ; High-speed burst modes (but at reduced resolutions) ; 720p30 MPEG4 movies ; Multiple exposure mode ; Super...

Soft images even at base ISO due to strong noise reduction ; Soft corners at both wide-angle and telephoto ; Our sample had strong blurring on the left side at intermediate focal lengths ; High chromatic aberration ; Higher-than-average barrel...

Flash: In our manufacturer-specified testing (shown at right) the SP800's flash performs to Olympus' specification. Olympus specifies the flash range at wide-angle at 41 feet using ISO 1,600. That range is too far for our lab, so we shot at the...

Good build quality, Versatile extra-long lens, Accurate color, Good auto white balance, Excellent flash

Blurry images at long focal lengths, Slow shot-to-shot time, Auto focus problems in dim light, No viewfinder or manual control over shutter speed and aperture

Sections

Generally good white-balance, Good color accuracy, Low optical distortion, Excellent image stabilization, Good body handling, Durable build quality, Usable high-speed continuous drive modes

Noise and smudging of details even at base ISO, Occasional overexposure, Slow autofocus, Slow shot-to-shoot speeds, Some autofocus misses, Video recording delay, Dificulty setting initial video framing

The Olympus SP-800UZ has several things going for it, most importantly its compact solid design and extreme 30X wide-angle optical zoom lens. The stabilization mechanism is very effective which greatly helps with such a long zoom range. Body handling...

Quality: about average, not brilliant but OK; sun flare was a problem in some situations. Why you would buy the SP-800UZ: you have hands steady enough to fully take advantage of the long zoom; you want a really compact, pocketable camera; you need a...

Huge focal range and large 2GB internal memory provide plentiful options from the outset

Optical zoom disabled when shooting video with audio, no EVF or optical viewfinder as alternative to the LCD for framing and review, menus are simplistic but finding more expansive settings is convoluted

If you want a huge zoom in a relatively small and portable package, the class-leading focal range provided by the Olympus SP-800UZ is worth seeking out.