Olympus SP-620 UZ: A Budget-Friendly Superzoom Camera

Looking for a camera that can capture stunning photos even from a distance? Meet the Olympus SP-620 UZ, a superzoom camera that won't break the bank. With its impressive zoom range and user-friendly features, it's a great choice for beginner photographers on a budget.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Olympus SP-620 UZ article cover photo

Key Features

Jan 10 2012

Announced

16 megapixels

Resolution

BrandOlympus
Sensor Type1/2.3-inch
SensorCCD
Weight435g
MSRP$199USD

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Overview of the SP-620 UZ

As a beginner photographer, investing in a high-end camera can be daunting, especially if you're not sure where to start. Luckily, Olympus SP-620 UZ offers an affordable option for those looking to capture stunning photos without breaking the bank. With a whopping 21x optical zoom, this superzoom camera can get you up close and personal with your subject, from wildlife to sports events. What's more, it packs in a variety of features that make it easy to use, even if you're new to photography. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the Olympus SP-620 UZ and explore why it's a smart choice for beginner photographers on a budget.

Olympus SP-620 UZ Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Olympus SP-620 UZ camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

High-resolution images
Large zoom range
Affordable price point
Image stabilization
Easy to use
Compact size
Good battery life

Cons

Limited low-light performance
No manual focusing
Slow autofocus
Plastic construction feels cheap
Mediocre video quality
Small sensor size
Limited flexibility in settings

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Olympus SP-620 UZ

Weather sealed
Dimensions110 x 74 x 74mm
Weight435g
Thickness74mm
Weight
Min
Avg
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Max
Thickness
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Max

Weather Sealing

The Olympus SP-620 UZ is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderNone
Screen TypeFixed Type
Screen Resolution230k dots
Body typeCompact

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a fixed type 3.00" screen, with a display resolution of 230k dots. This makes the Olympus SP-620 UZ not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. Unfortunately, the camera does not have a touch screen, which may make it less user-friendly.

Viewfinder

Olympus SP-620 UZ does not include a viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder on the SP-620 UZ camera may make it less suitable for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Olympus SP-620 UZ has a 16MP sized CCD sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 16 pixels. Olympus SP-620 UZ has a native ISO range of 100 - 3200 which can be boosted to null - null.

Key Features

Jan 10 2012

Announced

100 - 3200

ISO Range

Sensor1/2.3-inch
Extended ISOnull - null
Max resolution4608 x 3456 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Olympus SP-620 UZ camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the SP-620 UZ is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: 1/2.3-inch

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC
Battery Life
Battery Model4 x AA
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Olympus SP-620 UZ supports SD/SDHC/SDXC with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Olympus SP-620 UZ uses the 4 x AA model of undefined. This is rated for undefined shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Olympus SP-620 UZ has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. However it lacks an external flash shoe, which limits you to using the built-in flash.

Shutter

The Olympus SP-620 UZ boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/1500s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Olympus SP-620 UZ includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with null number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Olympus SP-620 UZ?

The Olympus SP-620 UZ features a CCD sensor

Is the Olympus SP-620 UZ weather sealed?

No the SP-620 UZ does not have weather sealing.

When was the Olympus SP-620 UZ announced?

The Olympus SP-620 UZ was announced on Jan 10 2012

Does the Olympus SP-620 UZ have in-body image stabilization?

Yes the SP-620 UZ does have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Olympus SP-620 UZ?

The SP-620 UZ has a native ISO range of 100-3200, which can be expanded to ISO null-null for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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