Looking back at the 2005 Olympus SP-500UZ, a well-built and robust 6MP CCD digital bridge camera with a 38-380mm equivalent optical zoom lens.
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The Olympus SP-500UZ, a compact ultra-zoom digital bridge camera released by Olympus in 2005, features a 6.0MP CCD sensor and a 10x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 38-380mm zoom on a 35mm full-frame camera. The camera, designed for both hobbyist photographers who want manual control functionalities and casual users who prioritize point-and-shoot, has a shutter speed range from 15 - 1/1000 (up to 8 minutes in Bulb mode), ISO sensitivity from 80 to 400, a 2.5-inch LCD screen with 115,000 dots and a 201,600-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) and runs on 4x AA (NiMH, NiCd, alkaline, lithium) batteries. The camera's body weight is 285 grams without batteries.
Fast forward to 2025, the camera is 20 years old now, but a good working copy will still give you the pleasure and fun of dabbing around with a CCD vintage, enjoying the creamy film-like images CCD sensors are acknowledged for. The SP-500UZ is normally listed as a low-cost option on auction listings.
For what it is, the well-built and robust SP-500UZ is endowed with an extensive array of features and controls listed within the many layers of its menu system. While casual shooters have access to the basic function and functionalities of the camera with one or two key presses, advanced enthusiasts have a whole range of features they can set the camera up with.
Exposure modes selectable from the top-mounted dial carry settings for Auto and PASM modes, a customizable My Mode setting, 21 Scene selection modes, Movie, Playback functions, and an AEL (for its default function) button that can be assigned other shooting variables, including ISO or white balance. On the camera back, located to the right of the LCD screen is the 4-way controller, used to navigate menus, and above it, the flash, display, and quick view buttons.
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On initial startup, the LCD screen displays a focus bracket, memory in use, live histogram, current file setting, and a 'memory gauge' that turns green as the buffer fills. Setting the camera to Program mode adds aperture and shutter information to the display and an AE compensation indicator on the top right of the screen. The Disp / Guide button can be used to unclutter the preview screen.
Olympus SP-500UZ
Pressing the menu button in the middle of the four-way controller brings up the main menu. The top, left, and bottom 'shortcuts' can be assigned to almost any function. The right arrow takes you to the menu pages, with four tabs for the camera, picture, card (formatting), and setup settings. The menus have options for virtually every shooting variable, from macro, burst, time-lapse, and drive mode to ISO, white balance, focus mode, sharpness, saturation, and contrast.
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