Olympus SP-320 Digital Camera - Online or B&M - 199$ - 7.2 Megapixels - RAW - Image Stabilization

episodic

Lifer
Feb 7, 2004
11,088
2
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http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/147...list.do/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do#tabs


http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/sp320.html


And to add to this, I just got the camera myself to replace a Canon A610. I love it. Check the reviews there on circuit city as well. I do believe this is the only cam that shoots in raw for this price.

In high quality, you can fire away shots (saved to jpeg) with little in between shot time. When shooting in raw, the shutter lag is minimal - but there is about a 3-5 second recycle time. Considering the price - I don't find this an issue. The resulting raw files are handled excellently with adobe camera raw 3.4

You can do some in camera raw developing (changing white balance, red eye, etc.).

There are like over 30 scene modes as well.

Some people complain about battery life. I'm using energizer 2500mh rechargeables. I get about 150 shots. I have 8 of them, so it isn't a big deal. You can turn off the lcd to conserve if that is your style as well.

The macro mode has 2 modes - one lets you get as close as .8 of an inch away from the subject.

If you are gonna shoot in raw - don't skimp - find a 1 gig xd card on sale. A 1 gig card will only hold about 100 raw images - make sure you think about storage, too. The 1 gig card will hold hundreds of high quality jpegs, though.
 

episodic

Lifer
Feb 7, 2004
11,088
2
81
Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
how does this compare to the canon sd550?

The sd550 is a little more pocketable. The canon has no raw. The canon's media (sd cards) are cheaper. Both are excellent cams. . . Depends on what you want.
 

SpeedZealot369

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2006
2,778
1
81
Originally posted by: episodic
Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
how does this compare to the canon sd550?

The sd550 is a little more pocketable. The canon has no raw. The canon's media (sd cards) are cheaper. Both are excellent cams. . . Depends on what you want.

What do you mean "raw"
 

lzpoof

Senior member
Jan 20, 2001
916
0
0
Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
Originally posted by: episodic
Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
how does this compare to the canon sd550?

The sd550 is a little more pocketable. The canon has no raw. The canon's media (sd cards) are cheaper. Both are excellent cams. . . Depends on what you want.

What do you mean "raw"

RAW meaning essentially unprocessed/uncompressed/uncompensated on brightness etc. Basically if it's a setting in the camera that doesn't correspond to something physically changin (aperture etc.) then it hasn't been done to the photo. That would include brightness/ contrast, compression,color temperature,sepia.....

It sounds very similar to the panasonic LX1 as far as concept and features with possibly better image quality... although with much slower shooting performance. Considering the LX1 costs $400+ this sounds like a decent alternative if you can deal with 5-10 second lag between pictures.

 

episodic

Lifer
Feb 7, 2004
11,088
2
81
Originally posted by: lzpoof
Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
Originally posted by: episodic
Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
how does this compare to the canon sd550?

The sd550 is a little more pocketable. The canon has no raw. The canon's media (sd cards) are cheaper. Both are excellent cams. . . Depends on what you want.

What do you mean "raw"

RAW meaning essentially unprocessed/uncompressed/uncompensated on brightness etc. Basically if it's a setting in the camera that doesn't correspond to something physically changin (aperture etc.) then it hasn't been done to the photo. That would include brightness/ contrast, compression,color temperature,sepia.....

It sounds very similar to the panasonic LX1 as far as concept and features with possibly better image quality... although with much slower shooting performance. Considering the LX1 costs $400+ this sounds like a decent alternative if you can deal with 5-10 second lag between pictures.

The only lag is when you shoot in raw btw. The high quality 7megapixel jpegs have no lag at all.

 

Mac

Senior member
Oct 31, 1999
728
0
76
The major caveat about Olympus or Fuji consumer digicams in my mind is the xD meida. xD is slow compared to other types plus is typically twice the price (or more) for SD or CF media. To add insult to injury, Oly has a practice of deliberately crippling camera features such as panoramic mode unless you are using Olympus branded media. I don't know if that applies to this model or not.