Long zooms used to be 10x or maybe 12x, but 2007 was the year that Olympus introduced the 18x zoom; and before the year goes out, Olympus has rolled out an improved version with more resolution, and speed enhancements galore.
In addition to its 8.0 megapixel sensor, the Olympus SP-560 UZ also sports new features like the Effects Preview and Shadow Adjustment Technology. More importantly, shutter lag is greatly reduced, making the Olympus SP-560 nearly irresistible. Though the zoom is a little wonky in movie mode, the long zoom, 27mm wide angle lens, optical image stabilization, and respectable image quality make the Olympus SP-560 an easy Dave’s Picks in the Long Zoom category.