Olympus SP-350 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)

by Olympus

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.5 x 3.9 inches ; 7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000A7B9YY
• Item model number: 225715
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,231 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 22, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

For outstanding image quality and advanced features, SP series delivers the power and versatility you want. Start with 8.0 megapixels, then enjoy the view with the large 2.5-inch LCD, the feel with a traditional ergonomic grip, and Easy Print one-touch printing to any PictBridge-enabled printer. Full manual and Automatic settings let you or the camera assume control. 30 selectable shooting modes mean you're ready for any situation. Add Olympus conversion lenses to the camera's threaded barrels or an external flash to the SP-350's hot shoe. Our exclusive TruePic TURBO Image Processor helps you capture more of what you see--and gives you the quality images you expect.

8.0 Megapixels
This 8.0-megapixel camera features a 3x optical and Olympus precision-crafted lenses to help you capture high-quality images with subtle detail--up close or at a distance.

2.5-Inch LCD
The large LCD helps you view and share images during shooting and playback.

Easy Print
One-button printing from the camera to any PictBridge-enabled printer (including the Olympus P-11).

Full Manual and Automatic Control
Whether you're feeling creative or prefer the camera to handle things, you have the power to decide.

30 Selectable Shooting Modes
Simply turn the dial and select the desired shooting mode from 27 creative scene options--including landscape, portrait, indoor, night scene, candle, or fireworks.

Expanded Capabilities
As your needs change, add conversion lenses to the camera's threaded barrels. The SP-350 even has a hot shoe to attach external flashes for photo ops with challenging lighting conditions. The camera can be taken on your scuba vacation with the optional underwater housings. (Not included; must be purchased separately.)

TruePic TURBO Image Processor
Olympus' exclusive built-in technology enables smoother, more accurate images with accelerated startup and shutter release times.

QuickTime Movie Mode with Audio
Bring your pictures to life, then e-mail them to family and friends.

What's in the Box
Olympus SP-350 digital camera, strap, multi-connector for USB and AV, CR-V3 battery, basic instruction manual, quick start guide, warranty card, CD ROM: Olympus Master Software, and advanced manual

Product Description

This solid and elegant compact camera combines a slew of advanced manual functions with the perfect compliment of easy, automatic choices to deliver superb performance day or night. From one-touch printing and 30 shooting modes to customizable settings, there's a comfort level for just about anyone who picks it up. With 8 Megapixel high-resolution still imaging and VGA movie modes, the SP-350 leaves room for your creative potential. In addition to its built-in multimode electronic-flash, this camera has a hot-shoe for adding an Optional external electronic-flash model. The Lens can accept optional teleconversion and wide-angle adapters. It's a very special camera for the every event of your life. A threaded barrel and hot shoe allow for the addition of a conversion lens or an external flash. 3x Optical Zoom 8.0 - 24.0mm (38 - 114mm equivalent in 35mm photography), 5x digital-zoom 2.5 Color LCD / Viewfinder Optical viewfinder Focus Range Normal/Macro Mode - Wide - 7.9 - infinity (0.2m- infinity) Tele - 11.8 - infinity (0.3m - infinity) Super Macro Mode - 0.8 - infinity (2cm - infinity) / Focus Mode iESP auto, Spot AF, Selective AF target, Manual 30 shooting modes - AUTO, Program Auto, A, S, M, My mode, Scene Preset (Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Night Scene, Sport, Night + Portrait, Indoor, Candle, Self-Portrait, Available Light Portrait, Sunset, Fireworks, Museum, Behind Glass, Cuisine, Documents, Auction, Shoot & Select1, Shoot & Select2, Beach, Snow, Underwater wide1, Underwater wide2, Underwater macro) Panorama option Size 3.92W x 2.56H x 1.38 D / Weight 6.6 ounces

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Balance of Size, Price and Performance, November 11, 2005

By 

G. Hirsch (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus SP-350 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black) (Electronics)

The SP-350 provides sharp images and user control in a light, compact body. You can go with a wide choice of automatic modes or control the aperture, shutter, ISO, etc. settings yourself. It may not be a camera for professional photographers, but for amatuers who wants more than a "point a shoot", this camera is great. Like many compact cameras, the SP-350's built in flash has a limited range, but unlike many others, the SP-350 has a "hot shoe" (which the 7.1 megapixel SP-310 lacks) so you can add a more powerful flash. Olympus makes a very compact flash unit, the FL-20, as well as more powerful units, labelled FL-36 and FL-50. Telephoto (1.7x) and wide angle (.7x) conversion lenses are also available. The ability to use regular AA batteries is a real plus for travel. I considered many cameras, including the Canon Powershot SD-550, the Casio Elixim Ex-Z750 , and the Nikon Coolpix L1. I wanted quality images, some manual control, and a camera that is comfortable to hold. The SP-350 feels natural in one average sized hand. My pictures shot with the SP-350 have been excellent. Finally, for what you get, the price is quite reasonable. There are many good digital cameras, my advice is to get the one which you are comfortable with.

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great little camera!!, November 25, 2005

By 

Peter Gaffney - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus SP-350 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black) (Electronics)

I bought this camera after finding that my EOS 20D was too cumbersome for hiking in the Sierras. After shooting about 40 images of both friends and scenery, i can only say that the results are spectacular. Images are wonderfully sharp, colors are very true and vivid and the exposure meter does a first rate job under a variety of lighting conditions. The camera is easy to use, (although the power button could stand to be two-sizes bigger,) and it nests very comfortably on the strap inside a jacket, out of the way and weighing practically nothing, yet readily accessible for those sudden shots.
I've used several generations of Canon Powershot cameras in the past, as well as the very excellent 20D and I was sceptical about this camera after reading a previous negative review. I have to say that I'm completely sold - a great hiking camera that is also perfect for everyday use.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An advanced amateur camera at a point and shoot price., April 17, 2006

By 

Carl M. Flarity (Sunnyvale, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus SP-350 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black) (Electronics)

I bought this camera for myself as a Christmas present four months ago. The longer I've owned and used it, the more I appreciate it. As noted in the other reviews, it takes sharp, brilliant pictures that make great 81/2 X 11 prints (or larger I suppose).

The first thing that caught my attention on this camera is the hot shoe. Very unusual in this size and price range. I've purchased the FL-36 flash unit so I can do bounce flash. This avoids the "deer in the headlights" look you usually get with an on-camera flash. The bounce flash pictures I've taken look as if no flash was used at all - great! I'm considering getting the hot shoe extension cable to give me even more flexibility in the use of the flash. If you hold a direct flash more than a couple feet away from the camera you don't get red-eye.

As an advanced amateur photographer, I appreciate the ability to manually control the shutter speed, aperture and even manually focus the lens as needed. Of course, you can set it to full Auto and let the camera do all the thinking if you want. If you press the shutter release half way it will focus and set the exposure. Then press the shutter the rest of the way to avoid delay in actually taking the picture.

I've also been taking quite a few (spectacular) macro photographs with this camera. It focuses very closely in normal mode. It gets even closer in macro mode. As in most other cameras, you lose zoom capability in macro mode. I'm a little disappointed that the smallest aperture is F8 rather than F16 (or better still F22 or F32). A smaller aperture would give more depth of field for macro photography. But I get by okay with F8.

When I first got the camera I tried using alkaline AA batteries instead of the disposable CRV-3 lithium battery. This did not work well at all. I only got about ten shots before the batteries were declared dead by the camera. They were actually NOT dead. It's just that the camera needs a higher Voltage than alkalines can deliver when only slightly used. So I bought a rechargeable lithium battery, which works extremely well in this camera even though it's not listed in the specifications given by Olympus. Unfortunately, although it fits in the flash unit, the rechargeable lithium does not work in the FL-36. Its Voltage is actually too high (higher than the disposable lithium) and the flash unit shuts itself down after two seconds. The AA alkalines work fine in the flash unit but the disposable lithium CRV-3 gives faster recycling times.

I also purchased the 1.7x Tele Conversion Lens as well as the Wide angle lens. You also need to purchase an adapter tube to use either accessory lens. (They are over-priced.) The Tele Conversion lens blocks a corner of the optical view finder. The wide angle lens blocks most of the view finder. This can be a problem when you use the camera out of doors where the LCD is not usable because of the bright light. The front end of the adapter tube is 37mm but uses a non-standard thread so you can't put filters or other accessory lenses on it. I have since discovered that there is an adapter tube made by another company with a standard 37mm thread on the front. I can now install a polarizing (or other) filter on my SP-350. There are a large number of (non-Olympus) 37mm accessory lenses that will work with the SP-350 using this adapter tube. I'm having a lot of fun with the wide-angle fisheye lens I bought. Do a Google search for this stuff.

I noticed they have recently introduced a faster version of the xD memory card. If I didn't already own the slower version I would pay extra for the faster one. I recommend buying either the 512 Meg or one Gigabyte card.