550WP Pond Video
This is one murky video shot using the 550WP Read More »
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Waterproof Depth: 10 ft
Shock Proof: No
Freeze Proof: No
Resolution: 10MP
Zoom: 5.0x
Focal length: 38-114 mm
Shock Proof: No
Freeze Proof: No
Resolution: 10MP
Zoom: 5.0x
Focal length: 38-114 mm
Olympus 550 WP
Site Score
3.3 Good: Cheap
Bad: Slow. Uses xD card
Retail
$180
The 550wp is not a fast camera. And the pictures aren’t as sharp as we’d expected from a 10Mp camera. But if you’re a patient traveler with tight budget, this sub $200 waterproof camera could be a good shooting companion even during the rain.
The Good
- Price — half the cost of the top of the line waterproof cameras.
The Bad
- Underwhelming pictures & videos.
- Slow.
- Has one of the worst battery life among the waterproof cameras we’re checked.
- Uses Olympus’s and Fuji’s xD memory instead of SD. Fortunately you can use a microSD card using an adapter.
The Verdict: How Good Is This Camera ?
| We Review | We Found | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Picture Quality | The picture are usually washed out. But if you mainly shoot outdoor under bright daylight, you'll still be able to print acceptable quality pictures. Under limited lights (indoors, underwater, around dusk or at night) your pictures will start to get very grainy. For an under $200 camera that you can still shoot during the rain, we won't complain much about the picture quality. | C+ |
| Video Quality | The 640x480 vga movies are better than the photos. But it's still nothing to shout about. The audio is muted until you get them to play on your computer. Since the quality is relatively poor, we suggest that you turn it off. | C+ |
| Ease of Use | The 2.5 LCD screen works well in bright light and good in low-light. And the menu is a simplified version of the more expensive Olympus Tough camera - with text and icons large enough for you read underwater. Our only complain is the camera has problem focusing under low light. | B+ |
| Battery Life | 2 hours of full charging translates to around 2 hours of picture taking (or around 140 pictures). If you take videos, the Li-ion battery should last around 30-40 minutes. Because of this lower-than-average battery life, you definitely need a backup battery or two during your travel. | C |
| Built Quality | This slim pocketable camera feels well-built and sturdy. The ergonomics is quite good but those with big fingers may have trouble with the thin navigation buttons. | B+ |
| Speed | The autofocus speed is around 1 second. And there's 3 seconds delay between shots where the LCD goes blank. Because of this, you cannot use the time to compose your next shot. And if you use flash, it'll be much slower. So, this is not a camera for the impatient. Note: There's no burst mode too. | C+ |
| Toughness | Treat it like your normal point and shoot. It handles shallow water well - but not shocks, accidental knocks or extreme temperature. For that you need a higher end model like the Olympus Tough 8000. | B |
| Number of Functions | There are 13 modes in total with (surprisingly) 5 modes for night use - from fireworks and candlelight to night portraits. Unfortunately, there's no beach mode that you can use. | B |
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Olympus 550WP Spec
Toughness
Water Proof Depth:
10feet
Shock Proof:
No
No
Freeze Proof:
No
No
Picture Taking Ability
Resolution:
10MegaPixel
Zoom:
3x
Focal length:
38-114mm
LCD Size:
2.5inch
Picture Taking Assistance
Image Stabilizer:
noDigital only
Face Detection:
yes3 Faces
Scene Modes:
yes13 Options
Viewfinder:
none
Video Taking Ability
Type:
VGA
Zoom:
noonly digital zoom
Max Shooting Duration
Photos:
140photos per charge
Video:
10seconds per clip (unless you use M+ card)
Memory & Battery
Memory Type:
xD, microSD
Battery Type:
749 mAh Lithium-ion
Olympus 550WP Sample Pics
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