[MarJus]

Has anyone got/tried this camera? Olympus launch 18x optical zoom SP-550 UZ
Have been thinking about it but would mean also changing all the cards as mine currently takes SD....

Thanks!

[MarJus]

I guess not then! lol!

[Dabhand16]

Looks like you are out of luck on this one. Back to the reviews!

Panasonic bridge cameras get good press, as do Fuji. Check out the Fuji s100fd (I think that is the right model number), which is the current model, or for a bargain, the previous model the s9600, now available for around £200 or less.

[MarJus]

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to reply!
The thing that attracted me to this Olympus was the x18 optical zoom. I don't think that there are any others yet on the market comparable to this. My current camera (which I'm very pleased with) is a Minolta Dimage Z3 which has a x12 optical zoom, but alas Minolta have stopped making cameras!

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by MarJus

The thing that attracted me to this Olympus was the x18 optical zoom. I don't think that there are any others yet on the market comparable to this.

That is impressive, but make sure that the wide end of the zoom range (that you will almost certainly be using more than the long end) has not been sacrificed to get the 18x range. Many ultra telephoto lenses will not go very wide as it is more difficult to manufacture a lens that starts from a wider angle at the short end.

In 35mm equivalent, 28mm is the target, and preferably 24mm. Most bridge cameras will start from about 35mm

[MarJus]

Yes this one is 28 to 504 mm! Another attraction actually as I do like to use wide angle in some situations! My current camera is 35 mm at its 'widest'! It amazes me that one camera can do so much as it also has a good macro to 1 cm!! When I had the 35mm kit I needed about 4 separate lenses to cover all of that!

[Dabhand16]

Sounds good

[MarJus]

Actually! Just realised it was the SP-570 I was interested in!
Olympus SP-570 UZ

24-520 mm equivalent!!