sp-350

[donblume]

SP-350

Guess what? Costco has the SP-350 for $199. plus tax. And from what I was told by an employee, they have lifetime money back guarantee for any reason on all products except Laptops. And I just bought one on the Web before the rebate ended for a total cost of about $216. about the same price with tax from Costco.

 

[donblume]

NEW OLYMPUS CAMERA
Yep they did again. After I bought Two (2) Sp-350's and UW Housing, they came out with the camera that I was looking for all along. It is the SP-510 UZ with 10x zoom. They list an UW housing Oly PT-032, but it does not show up in the UW Housing list yet. Lists at $329. to $379.

 

[torrey]

I'm no photo expert, but I noticed on Olympus' website that the aperture range is 2.8 to 3.7...isn't that kind of a narrow range? I've seen a few people mention that the optimal f-stop for underwater is like f4.5 - f6 or so, right? I noticed the scene modes didn't include any underwater modes like those found on the SP-350. I'm wondering if this camera would really do well in underwater conditions. Any experts who can enlighten us?

Here's the page with the specs: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1268&fl=4

edit: maybe I'm looking at it wrong. They show the aperature range for the SP-350 to be f2.8 to f4.9...but I know from playing with it, you can set it as high as f8.0. There must be something I'm missing. Also, the SP-510UZ doesn't have manual white balance for those who really like it.

 

[rjsimp]

I'm no photo expert, but I noticed on Olympus' website that the aperture range is 2.8 to 3.7...isn't that kind of a narrow range? I've seen a few people mention that the optimal f-stop for underwater is like f4.5 - f6 or so, right? I noticed the scene modes didn't include any underwater modes like those found on the SP-350. I'm wondering if this camera would really do well in underwater conditions. Any experts who can enlighten us?

Here's the page with the specs: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1268&fl=4

edit: maybe I'm looking at it wrong. They show the aperature range for the SP-350 to be f2.8 to f4.9...but I know from playing with it, you can set it as high as f8.0. There must be something I'm missing. Also, the SP-510UZ doesn't have manual white balance for those who really like it.

I think what you are seeing on the F-Stops should be the minimum aperture at each of the zooms.. So throughout the zoom range, it will change the minimum aperture from 2.8 to 3.7.. IF this is really the range, then wow, that is narrow..

This new camera has lower resolution, but the other thing to keep in mind, you really wouldn't use a 10X optical zoom underwater, so it seems to be optimized more as a land camera which is maybe why they left off the underwater modes.. hard to say.. the SP-350 is a good camera though and will be for many years I am sure..

Also, it doesn't appear to have a hot shoe either for an external TTL flash. It almost looks like it has a pop-up flash and so that may be problematic too with using fiber optic sync cables.

 

[scubaaaronh]

NEW OLYMPUS CAMERA
Yep they did again. After I bought Two (2) Sp-350's and UW Housing, they came out with the camera that I was looking for all along. It is the SP-510 UZ with 10x zoom. They list an UW housing Oly PT-032, but it does not show up in the UW Housing list yet. Lists at $329. to $379.

Where did you see that oly is making a housing for the 510. I have been watching and havent seen anything on it. I think you have a wrong number for the housing. When i did a search it came up for a stylus 710 camera with that housing number. Can you post a link to the housing for the 510.

 

[donblume]

I apologize, I can't find it either. I could have sworn that I had seen it. Still, it will be my above water camera.

Don

 

[alcina]

I think what you are seeing on the F-Stops should be the minimum aperture at each of the zooms.. So throughout the zoom range, it will change the minimum aperture from 2.8 to 3.7.. IF this is really the range, then wow, that is narrow..
.

Yes, this is the widest aperture at various zoom settings. You will still be able to stop down to f8 at all ranges but the widest you will be able to open will change depending on how much zoom you use...usually the more zoom, the less aperture range (so fully zoomed would be 3.7 to 8; no zoom 2.8 to 8.)

 

[scubaaaronh]

I apologize, I can't find it either. I could have sworn that I had seen it. Still, it will be my above water camera.

Don

I was hoping you had found something i didn't see. I would really like to make the 510 my next underwater cam. I'll have to watch to see if someone else decides to make a housing. We are trying to hold out a little before getting a 350 and housing. My wife wanted to wait and see what oly brings our for next year with cams and housings.

 

[Larry C]

I was looking at the SP-500 a lot, before I bought my 350, but they didn't make the UW housing. The 510 ups the ante with higher resolution and some new features. If they haven't changed the body, I think Ikelite makes a housing for the 500. If it shoots manual, you wouldn't really need the UW preset. I just bought a back-up 350 at Costco, for flood insurance and topside use. My wife is taking it on her lobster trip to the Channel Islands this week for topside shots. Would love the 10x on the 500/510 though. Really get the close-ups on those dolphins, whales, etc.

Edit-Ikelite does have an SP-500 housing, at $439. No ttl, but the built in flash works and their flash controller allows 10 manual settings. No word yet if the 510 fits it, but they look the same.

 

[torrey]

Yes, this is the widest aperture at various zoom settings. You will still be able to stop down to f8 at all ranges but the widest you will be able to open will change depending on how much zoom you use...usually the more zoom, the less aperture range (so fully zoomed would be 3.7 to 8; no zoom 2.8 to 8.)

This is going down in my "learn something new every day" diary.