When you turn on the camera the lens extends about 2.5 cm, at maximum (24-fold) optical zoom to an additional 2.5 cm up to a total depth of more than 9 cm from far. Comprised of individual telescopic lens rings anyway my copy wobbles starting at about 5x Zoom markedly noticeable and audible what makes a good impression and suggests at first that this is detrimental to the optical performance.
The zoom can be adjusted to the shutter around motor quickly (for an operation during video recordings probably much too fast) by pushing levers and corresponds to small format the extreme focal length range from 25 to 600 mm. In addition, a maximum of 48 times digital zoom is possible (switchable). Close succeed from 10 cm (wide) or from 40 cm (Telephoto), the Super Macro mode (fixed focal length) with only 3 cm.
Below the camera is selectively compared to me also present Olympus XZ-10, which is currently classified priced similarly, but only a 5x zoom has.
Apart from a cross-switch three buttons on the back are arranged to the right as a continuous bar that operating errors especially favors the Video button. The remote keys from Olympus XZ-10, though delicate, with its own handle for the right thumb ergonomically appear as the far better solution to me.
The device has a built-in, left only to keystroke haughty flash. (When the XZ-10 he always moves automatically and sometimes unexpectedly - what is there also sometimes criticized.) At the bottom of the camera has a tripod socket available. An optical viewfinder is missing. The display also acts as a touch screen, can control over which parts of the menu, the autofocus and also triggering (both separately switchable). Incidentally, as usual middle spot focused and triggered by a two-stage shutter button can be pressed. I use the touch screen to define the sharp object as alternate for the Auto Focus (focus lock) and then solve for accurate determination of the image section in peace without shaking over the button. These functions are in the XZ-10 equal.
The camera has a Full Auto and manual mode (with only two adjustable aperture values, 3.0 and 8.7 - in the XZ-10 there are 14 values from 1.8 to 8.0), and a variety thoughtful program automatics, with the professional standard setting and correction options. However, it lacks an independent aperture and shutter speed automatics than-mode, as it is about the XZ-10. The camera and its built-in microphones can also record HD video, SD slow motion at 120 frames / s is also possible. For details I refer to the 87-page guide that is can also be downloaded from the service area of Olympus URL.
Especially excited I was, of course, on the sharpness performance. In each case the same sunny landscape motifs I have compared the SH-50 (16 megapixel) with the XZ-10 (12 megapixel) on the PC using the standard Windows Photo Viewer software. Both cameras were set in automatic mode and in largest number of pixels and best JPEG coding depth (of its factory state of the SH-50 was this switch to "Fine", that of the XZ-10 "Super Fine").
To return the result to the point and do not count peas: Both cameras provide in their common, one to five times the zoom range equal to sharp images, up to extreme digital magnification. Even when printed in poster size should be noted no significant difference in the normal case (except perhaps professional test-images). Striking in direct comparison, however, was noticeably more saturated, warmer hue of the XZ-10 images, while the SH-50 rather paler, the pastel colors continuous supplied (although the photos were taken at constant sunlight every few minutes). But for this there Adjustments possible, both in the two cameras as well (at the latest) in the post-processing software ("Photoshop" or similar).
In its upper focal length range, the SH-50, the XZ-10 surpassed course sharpness after the latter with only digital (PC) carried out on the same scale magnification here already shows increasingly clearly visible artifacts. However, it is in spite of the 5-axis stabilizer of the SH-50 is not easy, even in daylight, with 24 x optical zoom lens to shoot still really sharp, blur-free photos with a free hand out. Here possibly help tripod and self-timer, or even the half-dozen times manual trial and the selection of the sharpest photos then at home on your PC.
CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the other Olympus models, the upscale, zoom-reaching to SLRs class of compact cameras, the SH-50 offers a somewhat stripped-down, for the discerning amateur photographers in general but still adequate portfolio of technical and artistic possibilities. Their real benefit lies in its outstanding focal length range while maintaining excellent optical performance, however, the user sometimes his physical limits showing despite the advanced image stabilizer in terms of jitter. Equipment and operation are the usual part thicknesses, partly weaknesses. As in everyday life really disturbing I find the missing breakpoint on the right thumb, which has always tried as a result of non-ergonomic design of the back wall to start a video recording. After I hardly use the video function, I have the relevant key with a piece of heavy cardboard taped now and so created me my own Thumb breakpoint.
