Olympus 560UZ

Reviewed January 2008

Test Photos

STILL LIFE PHOTO

This scene was photographed indoors in a room lit by natural light. The camera flash is used to add fill light.

At the zoom's widest setting, exposure is good and the colors are true. There's some light drop-off in the left corner of the picture where the dark surface of the floor meets the light surfaces of the wall. Image is sharp throughout. even the printing on the Clementine box can be easily read. Noise is minimal.

ZOOM PHOTO

This shot tests the camera's zoom on the still life scene under the same lighting conditions.

Color and exposure remain good when the zoom is used to focus on a portion of the still life. Detail is also well-defined.

The Olympus SP-560UZ has two macro modes. This is normal macro. The shot is indoors with the lens about three inches from the subject. A flash was used. White balance in the shot is good, although the lettering on the mug appears slightly soft.

SUPER MACRO PHOTO

BUILDING PHOTO

This is an outdoor test shot. The house has lots of fine detail in the shingles and slate roof, as well as the architectural design of the doorway.

Given less than optimal lighting conditions--a cloudy day--the wide angle shot of the house has good color fidelity and the exposure is right on. The shingle work on the front of the home, though, and the roof lack definition. At full size, the "ice breakers"--small metal strips staggered along the lower part of the roof (inset photo)--are lost in the roof detail.

ZOOM BUILDING PHOTO

With the zoom at its maximum focal length, this detail of the house's entrance was taken. Color is faithful to the lighting and exposure is good. The focus is slightly soft, but that has less to do with the camera than the photographer.