SO NEAR, YET SO FAR
It was only a month ago that I was singing praises of the compact, new digital SLR camera from Nikon, the D40. I got really good results with it on my trip to India.
The only negative was missing some photo opportunities while switching from my normal kit zoom lens to a bigger zoom lens.
In addition, even with a 70-200mm equivalent "super zoom" lens that I was carrying in my camera bag, there were times I wished for a lens with even more zoom capability.
Of course that'd have meant carrying a bigger, heavier lens, which is a consideration when you're trying to travel as light as possible.
As a result, the following camera announcement by Olympus caught my eye today.
As DPReview notes:
"Most interesting is the (Olympus) SP-550 UZ ultrazoom, boasting the world's first 18x (yes 18x) zoom capability.
Covering an astounding 28-504mm (equiv.) range it is sure to appeal to travellers seeking a compact camera for all occasions.
Also featuring CCD-shift Image Stabilization, a 15fps burst mode (1.2MP) and a 7.1 megapixel sensor, the SP-550 continues a legacy of innovative large-zoom cameras from Olympus."
At 365 grams and dimensions of 4.6 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches, the camera seems relatively compact as well. It's not a full-fledged SLR camera, but the seeming flexibility of the "super duper" zoom lens with an optical 18x capability MAY make up for the deficiency.
The only negative is that Olympus seems to insist on sticking with the xD-Picture card for storage rather than the more widely used and available SD or Compact Card flash formats.
It means carrying yet another type of card and the affiliated paraphernalia like card readers and adapters and the like.
It's slated to be available next month, and I'll keep an eye out for some official reviews of the camera.
surely a good APN, to see!
Posted by: Max | Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 12:49 PM