Review posted 09/20/2011

Quick Take

Pros

Nice compact body Versatile 18x optical zoom Dual IS Captures pleasing 14-megapixel photos in most conditions Plethora of easy to use exposure modes 8 Magic Filter modes for fun with stills and video Dedicated video record button for shooting HD video in any shooting modes Robust shooting performance Good battery life (up to 300 photos) Speedy shooting performance Easy on the wallet for a super-zoom

Cons

iAuto had some issues indoors ISO 800 and 1600 show a good amount of noise Red-eye in most of our indoor portraits Average HD video quality No manual exposure options

Bottom Line

The Olympus SZ-10 is a competitive super-zoom camera in the sub $300 category. With easy to use exposure options, good shooting performance, and pleasing image quality in various shooting conditions, the SZ-10 is one to consider. Read more in our Full Conclusion.

Olympus continues to produce appealing super-zoom digital cameras, and the SZ-10 is no exception. The first "SZ" labeled camera we've ever seen from them, the SZ-10 is what we consider a compact super-zoom, with its petite frame, yet powerful 18x optical zoom lens. This is a nice wide lens too, which covers a 35mm equivalent range of 28-504mm and a relatively fast aperture of f/3.1 at wide angle.

Other key features on the SZ-10 include 14-megapixels of resolution, Dual IS, a 3.0-inch LCD screen with 460k dots, Intelligent Auto, various exposure modes, AF tracking, 3D capture mode, 720p HD video, and Olympus' ever popular Magic Art Filter modes.

Olympus SZ-10 features:

• 14-megapixel 1/2.3" image sensor
• 18x optical zoom covers 28-504mm equivalent zoom range
• Dual IS stabilization system (Sensor-shift + Digital)
• TruePic III+ image processor
  
• 3.0-inch LCD screen with 460,000 dots of resolution
• MP4 HD video recording at 720p resolution
• Intelligent Auto
  
• 8 Magic Art Filters, including 2 new options (Watercolor and Sparkle)
• 3D Mode
• Shadow Adjustment technology
• SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot; Eye-Fi complaint
• Li-ion battery pack

The SZ-10 is available in either black or sliver, with a retail price will be approx. $249.99 US. See our buy boxes below for the most current online pricing.