Olympus SP 510 Video Guide

The Olympus SP-510 is a fairly typical super zoom digital camera. It has seven megapixels and a ten times optical zoom lens.

Image stabilisation is available too. Although image stabilisation is an advantage on any digital camera it is even more useful on a super zoom model such as the SP-510. Image stabilisation is a mechanism that is built into the camera to compensate for tiny hand movements. These movements are often known as camera shake and are one of the main contributory factors to photos where some of the sharpness has been lost.

Heavier cameras like the SP-510 are that bit harder to hold steady for any length of time. When the zoom is in full use it reduces the amount of light coming into the camera and hitting the sensor. One solution to balance this problem out is to use a slower shutter speed. This means that you have to hold the camera steady for longer before the picture is taken. Hence the need for image stabilisation.

One problem I see time and again with super zoom cameras is purple fringing. This is where a thin purple line is added to the edge of bright object where they are caught by the sun. I'm afraid to say this is an issue for the SP-510 as well. In fact the only manufacturer who appears to have managed to get on top of this problem at all is Fuji. Purple fringing can be cleaned up with a software package such as Photoshop, but it would certainly make life a lot easier if it was not there in the first place.

As well as the long zoom lens and image stabilisation the SP-510 also offers some advanced controls and features. Olympus have included a fully manual exposure mode, plus aperture priority and shutter priority. These will tempt a more experienced photographer, but this type of digital camera is also a good choice for anyone who is learning the basics of photography. With its' long lens and manual controls it is a much cheaper option than a digital SLR.

In addition to being a cheaper option it is also a smaller option. Although a fair bit larger than a pocket sized digital camera it is still much more compact than a standard SLR camera. As the lens does not retract into the body or have a barrier that closes across it a lens cap is included in the box with the camera. A case is always a good idea for protecting a camera from everyday bumps and bruises.

When it comes to power some super zoom cameras use rechargeable lithium ion batteries while others use AA batteries Olympus have set up the SP-510 to use four AA batteries. Although digital cameras have improved considerably in the past couple of years when it comes to battery consumption it still makes sense to consider rechargeable batteries to keep running costs under control. If you do decide to go down this route I would suggest buying a set with a minimum mAh rating of 2000. If you can find batteries with a rating above this at 2500 or 2600 go for those. The higher the rating the longer the batteries should be able to go without the need to recharged.

In terms of ease of use this type of camera will obviously take more getting used to than a standard point and shoot model. Therefore you will need to set some time aside to read through the key sections of the manual and to experiment if you are to get the most out of the SP-510.

Click here for: Olympus SP 510 Review

Olympus SP 510 Video Guide - March 2007