Olympus 225835 Olympus SP-510 Ultra Zoom 7.1MP Digital Camera with Digital Image Stabilized 10x Optical Zoom

Buy discount Olympus SP-510 Ultra Zoom 7.1MP Digital Camera with Digital Image Stabilized 10x Optical Zoom

DisappointedBy DLDCI purchaed this camera to replace my older Olympus C750 camera. My main criteria in a camera is the 10x zoom. Both cameras have 10x zoom but the C750 has 4MP vs the SP510's 7MP. I expected the SP510 to be a better camera, especially since it's at least two generations newer and it is loaded with extra features such as motion stablizer and higher movie resolution with sound. However, I was deeply disappointed to find that some of the picture quality of the SP510 isn't as good as my older C750. Both camera are used almost exclusively in auto-mode. My older C750 produced very sharp and vibrant outdoor pictures while the newer SP510's outdoor pictures are not as sharp and the colors have lost some of their vibrance. I used to highly recommend Olympus cameras because of the great pictures that they produced, but now I'm not too sure I'll do the same. The main reasons for me are the decreased outdoor picture quality compared to my older Olympus C750 and the frustrating way the SP-510 shifts its focus when used in auto-mode. The way the SP510 focuses is not adjustable when used in auto-mode. Below are my pro and con for the SP510. I've now had this camera for several month and have taken 1000+ pictures and a bunch of movies on the SP510.PROS:1. Indoor and night time shots are clearer and does not look too washed out.2. Battery lasts very long. With NiMH batteries I am able to take several hundred pictures and a bunch of movies without recharging.3. Camera is very well made and feels solid.4. Movie quality is much improved over the older Olympus and now has sound.5. Able to capture pictures in lower light then many other cameras.CONS:1. For outdoor shots, the SP510 is not as sharp or vibrant as my older Olympus C750. I've updated the firmware and made sure that the focus is locked on the subject and have found the SP510's pictures tend to look out of focus. Some pictures will sometimes be more focused than others, but even then the depth of focus seems to be shallow (e.g. other nearby objects are not as in focus). When I compare the pictures between my two Olympus cameras the pictures taken with my older Olympus are simply sharper.2. Very frustrating to focus. The SP510 keeps locking focus away from the subject in the center. Even when I point the center of the frame at the subject the camera often locks on some object to the side. My old C750 does not have this problem and neither does my low-end Nikkon camera. I'm not sure why Olympus changed how the camera locks on a subject. The way the camera focuses cannot be changed in auto-mode.3. xD Picture is more expensive than the sD memory card.4. The view screen is very dark when using the camera in low light. I can't see where I'm pointing the camera. However the view screen does gradually brighten after a several seconds or when I lock focus on the subject.Overall I am disappointed because I expected ... »» Read more about Olympus SP-510 Ultra Zoom 7.1MP Digital Camera with Digital Image Stabilized 10x Optical Zoom.

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