Olympus SP 500

Verdict: The 500UZ's long zoom reaches from 38-380mm, a full 10x. That used to be a lot more impressive, but these days there are quite a few competitors with similar specs, and most of those cameras have something the SP-500UZ doesn't: image stabilization. ...

Review summary: Although Olympus' SP-500 UZ is small for a dSLR-like camera, it has a 6-megapixel CCD and many options for the photographer to play around with. Users are able to do street or sports...

Pros: Compact size ; 10x optical zoom ; full manual capability ; supports RAW format shooting

Cons: No optical image stabilization ; no diopter adjuster for the electronic viewfinder ; meager internal memory ; lackluster performance

Verdict: The SP-500 UZ is an average prosumer camera which won't break your arms carrying it. But there are other models out there with better features, performance and image quality.

Review summary: An easy to use 6 mega-pixel camera with plenty of features and advanced modes

Pros: 10x Zoom (38-380mm in 35mm equivalent) ; 21 different scene modes

Cons: 10 mb internal memory ; Feels light and plastic

Verdict: In summary, the SP500-UZ is one of those that allows users to dig further into creative photography with plenty of features and a whopping 35 mm equivalent 380mm lens. Easy to use, even in the advanced modes, the overall build and output is excellent; ...