Olympus Camedia C 5500 ZOOM - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Megapixels: 5.1, Included Memory Amount: 16 MB, Included Memory: Media Card, Media Format: xD-Picture Card, Maximum...

Pros: 5X optical zoom. Good picture quality.

Cons: A bit big for a true compact. Boot-up speed should be quicker.

Verdict: The 5.1-megapixel Olympus C-550 is a decent buy, with a long zoom and clean image quality. We just wish it were a bit smaller and faster.

Review summary: The Olympus C-5500 made its way to shelves in February, following its unveiling the previous month at the extravagant Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The C-5500 is quite versatile for its $349.99 price tag. It packs 5.1 effective megapixels on its

Pros: -cool features like live histograms and pixel mapping -easy to set manual white balance -image stabilization

Cons: -shaky digital zoom in movie mode -disappointing burst mode -illogical menus with some vague icons

Verdict: The Olympus C-5500 has a full automatic mode, both Shutter and Aperture Priority modes, 11 scene modes, and a manual mode. These provide a versatile range of shooting options for both beginning and intermediate users. Beginners who purchase this camera ca

Review summary: While putting the boxy and hefty Olympus C-5500 Sport Zoom through its paces, I found much to like about its design. The sizable grip feels comfortable, and the positioning of the buttons and camera navigation wheel allowed me to use the camera one-handed

Pros: Accurate exposures Long zoom range

Cons: Flash doesn't pop up automatically Auto focusing can be slow

Verdict: With a 5X optical zoom that offers the equivalent of a 38mm-to-190mm lens--a generous reach for a camera in this class--a movie mode with image stabilization, and an impressive number of manual controls, the C-5500 does little to box you in creatively. Bu

Review summary: Impressive image quality helps this model make its mark, despite some limitations.

Verdict: Lots of manual controls and great image quality are offset by the C-5500's sluggish response time.

Review summary: The 5.1-megapixel Olympus C-5500 Sport Zoom takes very good pictures and offers some impressive features, making it a good choice for enthusiasts on a budget.

Pros: 5x optical zoom; live histogram; helpful exposure warnings; autofocus (AF) illuminator; Area AF mode.

Cons: Awkward flash location; video is only 320 by 240 pixels; requires more-expensive xD Picture Cards.

Verdict: The C-5500 has a solid feel, and an oversized grip makes the camera comfortable to hold, but the flash is located on the top left of the camera, leaving no comfortable place for your left hand when the flash is open. The generous 2-inch LCD is bright and