The new Olympus SP-550 UZ Ultra Zoom offers the ultimate in power and versatility with a compact, best-in-class 18x optical zoom lens (28-504mm), which gives users the ability to shoot telephoto, wide-angle and macro (as close as 1cm) all in one.
Clear images can be captured far and wide with Dual Image Stabilization and the broadest focal range available on any digital point-and-shoot. The camera's full manual exposure control provides professionals and photo-enthusiasts with unlimited creativity, while its automatic settings and Built-in Help Guides will put novice users at ease.
This revolutionary ultra zoom is equipped with several unique features to deliver near-DSLR performance in a compact size, including:
- Dual Image Stabilization combines the benefits of Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization to ensure blur-free images.
- High-Speed Sequential Shooting records multiple images in rapid succession (up to 15 frames per second).
- Pre-Capture compensates for slow reaction times by capturing images (five frames) even before the shutter button is fully pressed to ensure you catch the perfect shot.
The SP-550 UZ will be available in the US by March 2007 at an estimated street price of $499.99.
i purchaesd one sp550uz model olympus camera a few months ago. the pictures are superb, zooming fine, macro too good, but the batteries and power is giving me problem . either aa size alkaline or 4 aa size nimh batteries are running out of power very quickly inspite of keeping the screen off and viewing thrugh the viewfinder, lesser zooming, etc. its so power hungry that the camera shows empty battery in 15 minutes. whats the solution? 
