The Olympus SP-620UZ reminds us of the Olympus SZ-12 superzoom in many ways. Both the cameras are capable of generating stunning images at relatively low ISO settings, but struggle at higher settings. Moreover, both are limited to just 720p video clarity. The SZ-12 superzoom is a bit smaller and has some limitations. Folks who are looking for more flexibility and prefer the AA batteries may want to check out the SP-620UZ model.

Design and Features

Weighing in at 15.3 ounces, the SP-620UZ measures up 2.9X4.3X2.9 inches but is compact when compared to most of the superzoom models. The 21x zoom of this camera is impressive. The zooming capabilities are controlled electronically, you’ll have to use the LCD present at the rear end to frame or view images, and we feel this is one of the weaker spots of the SP-620UZ. The pop-up flash can be controlled by flipping it up when you want to take a snap and flipping it down when you don’t want to take photos.

The camera is powered by four AA batteries. The control options are passably minimal – the power button is located at the top plate just behind the lens shutter. The buttons that you’ll find at the back are – Play, Record, OK, Menu and Help. Surrounding the “OK” button is a four-way controller. It’s actually easy to navigate through the menu where you will get one-click access to photo shooting controls. This isn’t the right camera for professional photo shooters as there is no user-friendly manual, shutter priority or aperture priority modes in the camera. The program mode, scene mode and the iAuto feature are some of the features that might grab an enthusiastic photo lover’s attention. Also, there are some prominent photo shooting modes such as Fireworks, Portrait, Sports, Cuisine, Landscape and Scenic mode. And there are some high-end modes such as the standard 3D capture, panorama mode, and art filter mode. The on-screen guide, encompassing some straightforward answers to the commonly asked questions, helps amateur photographers understand what they need to adjust in the settings and lets them take snaps the way they want.

Performance

The SP-620UZ delivers impressive performance for the low price for which it’s out for sale. It shoots pictures in 1.9 seconds and generates a 0.2 second shutter lag. At full resolution, it lets you shoot in 1.3 seconds and is capable of capturing images with 5 mega pixel clarity at the rate of 4.6 frames per second. Due to its low shutter lag and faster loading of frames per second, the SP-620UZ seems to be a better performer than some of the competitors like Sony Cyber shot DSC-HX30V.

Conclusion

Overall, our view on Olympus SP-620UZ is neutral. There are some great features like: better image quality in bright light, long zoom focus, and speed. On a negative note, it lacks some of the advanced features that we see in most of its competitors. But for AA battery lovers who don’t wish to cough up so much money for a superzoom, the SP-620UZ is a great choice.

This is a guest post by Christy Haywood of offers.telcoservicesgroup.net, a site that offers savings and current information on at&t u-verse reviews, as well as att.com services.