Tested: The Olympus SP-800UZ compact ultrazoom camera

The Olympus SP-800UZ is a great camera for beginners. Firstly, it’s pretty sexy and much nicer to hold than a ‘flat’ digital camera, though it’s not quite as comfortable as the more bulky DSLR’s. It also has a big three-inch screen for picture viewing.
Its 14 mega-pixels ensure quality images and it has a mind-blowing 147 mm zoom lens. The lens is an f2.8-5.6, which is great in low light conditions but can be a bit limiting with depth of field. It also has a super macro function of impressive note. The creative options are endless – my favourite being the ‘fish eye’ setting distorting the world around – not to mention the HD video capabilities.
Once learnt, it is simple to navigate through the menu and this is where it stands out. It has a built-in manual, telling you exactly what each setting should be used for. I will say it again: it is a great camera for beginners wanting to get good, quick, creative results effortlessly. Happy snapping!
R2999