The user interface of the SP-550
UZ is rather standard. The icons arranged on the periphery
of the screen or EVF are readily understandable, and their
location and meaning quickly become familiar, all of which
is greatly helped by the fact that the SP-550 UZ offers a
monitor that has twice the resolution of its predecessor.
The selected shutter speed and aperture are indicated clearly
as long as the camera is used in P, S, A or M mode, but is
absent in the numerous Scene modes, which is regrettable as
it could be useful information.
While the layout of the menu system is legible, it is, in
our opinion, probably too complex. Multiple steps are often
necessary to reach a particular function, increasing the time
needed to change a setting. And, although the camera is equipped
with a Function menu that regroups some of
the most commonly needed settings, it is short, and omits
the image size and quality.
Still, the Setup menu is always accessible from the
shortcut screens that preface menus. The Setup menu is composed
of 5 screens, as is the capture menu, and moving from one
screen to the next happens automatically once the last option
of any given page is reached, returning to the beginning once
the final option of the fifth screen is passed:
Format: serves to format the memory card, or the
internal memory.
Backup: serves to copy all data located in the
internal memory to a memory card.
Language decides the interface language, which
on this North American version of the camera are: English,
French, Spanish or Portuguese. Other languages can be added
using Olympus Master (see further) while the camera
is connected to a computer via USB.
PW On Setup: decides if an image is shown on the
monitor when the camera starts (the Olympus logo, an image
captured with the camera, or nothing), and if a sound is
played simultaneously (two options or none).
Screen Setup: serves to select an image captured
with the camera that can be used as a start-up image in
the preceding option (see above).
Beep: offers a choice of 2 sounds and two volume
settings or none for the sounds produced by the camera when
it is operated.
:
serves to adjust the volume of camera warning sounds (Low,
High or Off).
Shutter Sound: offers a choice of 2 sounds and
two volume settings or none for the sounds produced by the
camera when the shutter release is pressed.
Volume: serves to adjust the Playback volume over
5 steps.
Rec View: decides whether or not an image is displayed
briefly post-capture or not.
File Name: decides whether files are numbered consecutively,
or restart at 1 when a new memory card is used or the card/internal
memory is formatted.
Pixel Mapping: a function that verifies the operation
of the CCD and the image processor. This function should
be used once a year.
Monitor Brightness: serves to adjust the monitor
brightness over ±6 levels.
Date and Time: serves to set the internal clock
and calendar of the camera, and select the format of the
date.
Dual Time: serves to set home and destination time
zones when traveling.
Alarm Clock: controls the camera's built-in alarm
clock. Can be set to operate once or daily. The alarm time
can be set, as well as the snooze time and the alarm sound
(3 sounds) and the volume.
Video Out: NTSC or PAL.
Frame Assist: allows superimposing one of two types
of guidelines to help compose images.
Histogram offers three options:
Off.
On, displays a real-time histogram on the lower
part of the image.
Direct: displays potentially overexposed zones
in the image as red, while those potentially underexposed
appear as blue.
My Mode: serves to save up to 4 distinct sets of
preferences (My1 through My4).
m/ft: selects the measurement units to be used
while manually focusing.
Custom Button: allows reassigning the
(stabilizer) button to another function, Any function accessed
in the capture menu can be assigned.
The Olympus SP-550 UZ is supplied with a printed manual
that integrates the formerly independent Quick Start
Guide and Advanced Manual into
a single booklet. The manual provides basic but limited information
about the camera, and details all its various parts with page
references, albeit at the end of the manual.
Software
In North America, the Olympus SP-550 UZ is supplied with
a single CD containing Olympus Master 2 (for Windows
and Macintosh) and a trial version of Muvee TheaterPack
for Windows.
Olympus Master opens
on an image browser window that presents the computer's folders
on the left side of the screen, and thumbnails (whose size
can be adjusted) of the images contained in the currently
selected folder on the right.
The program allows displaying all the EXIF data (capture
parameters for an image) in a third column, as well as a histogram
for the image currently highlighted.
At the top of the program's window,
a tool bar provides tools to import images, see photos as
a slide show, e-mail images, print, and access the editing
window or the RAW development window.
When a JPEG image is opened
in the Editing window, editing tools are presented on the
right side of the window in a column. These tools make it
possible to resize, crop (trim), and insert text. In addition,
it is possible to adjust the image's brightness, contrast,
colour balance, or even to tweak its hue, and gamma, or automatically
correct tint, saturation, etc.
The original image can be displayed
on the left of the screen, while a copy of it on the right
of the screen shows the effect of the correction.
The RAW Development window also presents the image on the
left with the program's tools on the right.
Two tabs contain the different
tools offered: Basic1 serves to adjust exposure
compensation, white balance, and resize the image; Basic2
provides tools to adjust the colour, contrast, sharpness,
saturation, or even change the image to black and white, change
its colour tone, apply noise reduction filters, or change
its colour space.
Once processed, images can be saved as TIFF, TIFF Exif, JPEG
(with a selection of compression levels) or BMP.
Muvee TheaterPack,
enclosed with the disc, is designed to create slide shows
that include a variety of transition effects and background
music, and then burn the creation onto a CD or DVD.
The version of Muvee TheaterPack enclosed is a trial version,
and only operates for fifteen days. After which, if desired,
the full version can be purchased online.
Compare Prices for Olympus SP-550 UZ 7.1 MP Digital Camera - Black
Interface & Software
:
serves to adjust the volume of camera warning sounds (Low,
High or Off).
(stabilizer) button to another function, Any function accessed
in the capture menu can be assigned.
