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Olympus SP-570-UZ Review
I have quite a bit of money invested in the Olympus system. My first foray into serious digital photography began when I bought the Olympus C-700 UZ super zoom camera. Soon after I started taking indoor photos, I realized the built in flash was not enough. I bought separate flash units made by Olympus and I migrated right on up to the most powerful unit they make which was the FL-50 Flash with a hot shoe connection to the camera body. To use the flash with the C-700 I had to buy a synch cable and flash bracket with a hot shoe to connect it to the flash. The TTL flash metering system makes sure the exposure is right every time because the feedback to the flash unit comes right through the lens used to take the photo. The flash has become the most important piece of equipment I use in my photography because without good lighting you cannot get good photos. So my first consideration each time I buy an Olympus camera is does it have a hot shoe for the flash? I sold the C-700 and bought a C-750. I sold that after a while and migrated to the C-770. I kept the C-770 and I also bought an E-Volt 330 which is my main camera now for event photography.

However I still like to have a compact camera to go out with which is why I kept the C-770. This camera was the last of the C series super zooms. Olympus then came out with the SP series of super zooms. Some had a hot shoe some do not. Olympus goes in cycles with their super zooms as to whether or not to include hot shoe, which is what I need to connect to the FL-50 flash. The SP-570-UZ has a hot shoe the SP-565 and SP-560 do not. The new SP-590 has a radio remote flash trigger to work with the new FL-50R flash that can be triggered by radio signals. I think Olympus has moved away from the hot shoe connection for good. So now was the time for me to buy the SP-570-UZ which has a hot shoe. I am of course very pleased with the camera, but I do not think it has an adapter for the Olympus wide angle lens attachment like my C-770. I know it can take the telephoto lens using the CLA-10 adapter tube. I am still happy to have this camera. It is very compact and easy to take along on trips without feeling like I am lugging around a brick.

Great product!
Love it except it is sometimes slow in taking a photo or slow in the zoom. Not the best for quick photography. Good with close ups. Great for stills and when you have time to set up the shot. I would highly recommend it. Great value for the price. Rarely need to use the flash indoors....

My First Digital Camera
Eventually, digital photography will offer the same quality as film, but until that happens this camera is the perfect compromise for a film guy getting into digital. Nobody needs to explain the concept of "optical stabilization" to a film guy, and this camera has it. Also, this fully automatic camera can go to fully manual with just the touch of a buttom. There's enough megapixels (10), to statisfy a film guy's need for "acceptable quality". But someday, there will be a digital camera with 26 to 28 megapixels . . . .

Please Note: If you buy this Olympus camera buy the Olympus flash (FL-50R). The two were made for each other. And, with a telephoto lens the built-in flash is not sufficient.

Bad camera
I was looking for a 20X zoom and normally trust Olympus. Due to the many failings of this camera I don't believe it was designed by Olympus. Some, and just some, of the major defects: 1.Very short battery life (time to recharge) 2. No battery meter 3. Stabilizer poor 4.Plastic flash insert 5. Zoom in general, all features 6. Read Steve's review.

Amazing camera, perfect for a low-budget enthusiast.
Pros: Amazing zoom (equivalent to 26-520mm), 10 mp, can alter with aperture and shutter speed, 13.5 fps sequential shooting, high ISO, large LCD, a lot of SLR-level features, zoom ring, comfortable to hold, excellent super macro, multi fireworks mode.

Cons: xD memory card, can be very, very slow when using flash, has difficulty focusing at times, unpredictable with focus, small aperture range (predictable for a non-SLR, I suppose).
I'm going to have to disagree with most of the other reviewers and say that I like the feel of the zoom ring, and I haven't had any problems with unpredictability-- indeed, I find it much more accurate than electronic, W-T style (manual) zoom.

For anyone doubting the 20x zoom, the equivalent of 500mm, I have to point out that so far I have seen only one other point-and-shoot camera with the same zoom capabilities; and to get the same level of magnification in an SLR, one would have to shell out nearly 00 for a decent lens. On the other end of the spectrum, the wide-angle is spectacular, and the macro and super macro modes are superior to any other camera I have used; I can produce crystal-clear images with the lens literally touching the object. Unfortunately, the camera can be very finnicky with the focus, mostly with close-up shots; I often have to take 5 or more pictures of the same object in order for the camera to focus correctly.
I like both the sequential shooting and "shoot and select" options, and they produce focused, sharp images, although at a reduced resolution of 3 MP. The fastest options are far faster than those of most SLRs.
The ISO is very useful, although the noise can be unbearable at times. However, at times when the slow flash reaction is a problem, pictures using the maximum ISO (6400) are a definite alternative, and I find the effects colored lighting produces with high ISO are very attractive.
Both the shutter speed and aperture can be fiddled with, for creative options. One problem is that the aperture cannot go above f/8.0, due to the small lens. Therefore, a shutter speed above 1/500 is not feasible in most circumstances.
I also have fun with the "multi fireworks" mode in the scene options, which allows me to take multiple exposures in the same image. The Panorama option is also very useful (however, a tip to users: "combine in camera 2" produces far smoother results).
Some reviewers have mentioned the weight of the camera, but I don't find that an issue. It is light enough not to be an inconvenience, but large enough to feel comfortable in my hands. The only issue is that the zoom ring means I have to use both hands to use the camera effectively.
The battery life is very impressive, especially for AA batteries- I can fill up a 2-GB card sometimes twice before having to change batteries.
The major disadvantage to the camera is the huge amount of time it can take to take pictures when using the flash- I sometimes have to wait of 6 seconds for the flash to fire, and occasionally the focus is off. This can be bothersome when taking posed pictures or low-light action shots. However, like all troubles, I learn to deal with this; you just have to get to know the camera. The slowness is what many people have complained abut, but it's not as big a deal as they may make it out to be.
The other major problem is that it requires an xD picture card, which as of now cannot store more than 2 GB, or a little over 800 10-MP pictures. For someone like me, who can take that many pictures in less than a day, this can be a problem.
Overall, however, the camera is perfect for someone with a tight budget who wants to take SLR-level pictures. Despite the drawbacks, the camera has is capable of some phenomenal pictures, and, as with all cameras, the results depend on the person behind the camera.