Reviews Written by John

Wow! The SP-550UZ is amazing!

Pros: Menu access, 18X optical zoom

Cons: Menu array

It's easy to get caught up on some of the picky things, such as how the menu items are arranged. It would make sense to me that the white balance fine tuning adjustment would be near (or at least close to) the white balance setting (as it is in my old 740-UZ) - not the case on the SP 550-UZ.

For the price, this is - by far- one of the best deals ever. Yeah, some people may complain that shooting in RAW takes a little time to write to the XD Card - then get a DSLR. For the PnS crowd, this is, hands-down, one of the best bargains you're gonna find on the market!

If you're already familiar with Olympus cameras and how they work (their menus, etc.) then you should find this rather intuitive; though it doesn't mean you'll never need to look at the instruction manual. For anyone making the switch to Olympus, well, it really depends on the level of knowledge you already have.

There are numerous pre-existing shooting modes built-in to this camera for assistance. One thing I really like is the ability to get "quick-access"; to certain things (e.g. ISO, White Balance, Shooting Mode and Meter). The custom button (which I use now for the AE Lock) is a blessing - something which I've never experienced on my previous Olympus.

Again - overall, this camera is totally worth what you'll pay for it. If you're looking for something to last you for at least the next three- to four-years, this one is definitely it! ...