Customer Reviews
GREAT for macro work 
2008-09-14
My Olympus SP-320 gives me better color than my Kodak EasyShare Z1275, but what I really love the Olympus for is its macro capability. I was just experimenting and took some shots of a small pile of salt and pepper from maybe an inch and a half to two inches away. They came out VERY nicely, quite crisp. I've also gotten some amazing shots of flowers, bugs, water droplets, etc.
The SP-320 actually has two macro settings. In regular macro mode, the zoon and flash are still operative, though you can't get as close. The zoom and flash are disabled in "super" macro mode.
I haven't noticed the "shutter lag" someone else mentioned UNLESS the batteries get low. I use rechargeables; it does tend to go through them pretty quickly.
The SP-320 is a little bigger than a lot of point-and-shoots because one end is contoured to fit a right hand. I like this because that's the hand I normally hold the camera with. Someone who prefers to do things left-handed might not be as enthused.
I like the size of the XD cards the SP-320 uses, but one drawback I've found is that a lot of computers, especially if they're a few years old, have only SP and not SP readers. This didn't affect me until I went on vacation and filled up BOTH of my XD cards. The friends I was staying with had an SP reader, but not an XP, so I had to go to Wal-Mart and have a couple CDs made so I could make some room on the cards.
Also, the zoom is digital, not optical, but when you're using all 7.1 megapixels it doesn't make THAT much difference.
A solid camera 
2007-09-25
I know many photographers are hung up on DSLR cameras being better than compact point and shoots but in reality a good compact can create an image when enlarged to 11X14 that even a pro cannot distinguish from a high end DSLR. This camera can do that work. It is solid and well made. Buy one!
TJ
I love my Olympus SP-320 Digital Camera. 2007-07-31
I have been using my Olympus SP-320 for more than 6 monthes, and I am very satisfied with its performance.
If you are looking for an easy to use, compact, high resolution digital camera with advanced features then Olympus SP-320 is the best choice for you. With 30 shooting modes plus the option of using manual settings for more creative control, the SP-320 is a highly flexible camera.
No doubt, the Olympus SP-320 is powerful enough for the advanced user yet simple enough for a beginner to capture incredible images. In addition, the Olympus SP-320 is a good choice for someone looking for a camera with advanced features, but who is on a tight budget.
The Olympus SP-320 and the Olympus SP-310 are similar in being compact, rich in features; the only difference between the two is the digital image stabilization available on the Olympus SP-320. The Digital Image Stabilization Mode is very useful in capturing crisp, clear pictures--free from the blur sometimes caused by camera shake or moving subjects.
The 3x optical zoom lens on the SP-320 has a focal length range of 8mm -- 24mm (35mm equivalent of 38mm -- 114 mm).
The Olympus SP-320 is powered by 2 AA batteries, which makes it very easy to replace any time any where.
The SP-320 has also a range of amazing optional accessories, including lens converters and an underwater casing.
One sweet camera that is a pleasure to use! 2007-07-20
My first experience with Olympus dates back to the days when the top-end digital cameras just passed the 1 mega-pixel point, and most cameras were under 1MP. Since then, I have used countless digital cameras, and have seen them improve greatly and come down in price - yet also cheapen in quality. When shopping in this price range, the SP-320 is a breath of fresh air compared to many of it's competitors.
To have aperture and shutter priority as well as full manual operation is a major plus that I appreciate - and this camera has them. Yet for the person who needs fully automatic operation, it also has a host of presets for various conditions, including one for image stabilization. Controls work well, focus is quick and accurate, and most important of all - results are excellent time and time again. This is one camera where when I delete a shot, it's due to my fault and not bercause of the cameras inability to do it's job. Great macro capability with 2 modes that leave flash in automatic or off without also pressing the flash button.
The overall shape and feel is great, and this model still retains an optical viewfinder, which allows for battery conservation. Plus it has a power saver mode which remembers your settings. I use the lithium CRV3 batteries and am amazed at how long a battery lasts - longer than a charged set of rechargeables.
As for shortcomings, I can think of some that may or may not be annoying. The xD memory cards cost a bit more than SD cards that most other cameras use, but seem to be coming down. Lastly, the image stabilization is only available as a preset scene mode and can not be turned on as an option manually. Minor 3rd issue is that the battery door is blocked when using a tripod. Barrel distorton is noticeable depending on lens position, which has been a common Olympus issue I've seen before.
Yet overall, I am very pleased with this camera for everyday use. It stikes a nice compromise between simple point/shoot and a digital SLR. In fact this makes a great compliment to a DSLR as a second camera when you don't want the bulk, yet want manual operation and even RAW format.
**UPDATE** After several months, I am still very pleased with this camera. This is one of the very few cameras that I have been pleased with so long - the only one in this price range. I am still amazed at the battery life. Just replaced it last night, and can't remember when I put the weak one in. WOW!
XD Card Killer 
2007-06-11
I've had this camera for nearly a year now. I was initially impressed with the quality of outdoor shots and really close-up portraits. It has this uncanny habit of darkening the background, but giving beautiful fleshtones and super clarity. The macro feature are also pretty cool, and I got some creepy closeup photos of some brown recluse spiders that we ran across in our basement. on the other hand, low-lighting shots are a real pain, and the only way I can get nice crisp images is to turn the flash off, leave the shutter open for a bit, and hope nothing moves during capture.
My main reason for purchasing was that I had owned an Olympus point-and-shoot for several years that ran like a tank, and this thing had so many manual features for the price. I loved my little olympus point-and-shoot (still have it, in fact). Unfortunately, my biggest complaint is that this Digital Olympus has killed 1 XD 1Gb memory card, and is now giving me the same errors with a new Fuji card that I just bought. The Olympus XD card is now totally unusable, and unreadable by anything. My new Fuji XD card is still working (for now) but the camera gives me sporadic errors at times (like trying to force me to reformat over images on the card). I had heard that only unloading from the camera (not a USB reader) can help these problems, but with the new Fuji card I am still getting the errors.
The software that comes with the camera is absolutely horrible...locks up all the time, and is extremely slow to process anything.
I emailed Olympus and they are saying that I can send it in for repair. May have to Ebay this thing if/when I get it back. XD cards are too expensive to have to replace every six months.
Do your homework and decide if the extra savings are really worth the potential problems when considering this one.
Good but could be better 
2007-06-06
Take great photos with convenient automatic settings or tap into your creative side with full manual controls. Digital Image Stabilization Mode puts an end to blurry images resulting from camera shake or fast-moving subjects. QuickTime Movie Mode turns moments into exciting, VGA-quality videos ready to share on the bright, 2.5" LCD. Capture images in JPEG or RAW file formats. The SP-320's slim, ergonomic design is packed with these and many other amazing options for superior digital photography performance and versatility.
ehhh 2007-04-16
I too did a lot of research before I chose this camera as a replacement for the sony cybershot DSCW5 (i believe) camera that went through a series of unfortunate events. I got the camera in July of last year and it has given me pretty mediocre results. I was attracted to the manual features the most, and they have come in handy. Although sometimes (based on lighting conditions) it will exclude either the lower or the higher f stops. Also, even on an ISO of 200, the pictures are still pretty noisy. The manual focus is also quite impractical unless your subject is stationary and the lighting doesn't change (because once you've selected the focus, you cannot alter the shutter speed or fstop)
I also take a lot of pictures at live shows when I can, and it seems no matter what I try, this camera seems to produce very contrast heavy images in this situation. It turns concert lighting into blocks of color with very little gradation, I think this bugs me the most.
And as the other reviewers have noted, the battery life is pretty awful, and the lag between pictures is not the best.
This would probably make for a nice point-and-shoot, but not worth it for the money. I can however appreciate the size of the screen and the fact that it has a hard shield over it.
I think I just bought the wrong camera for my needs, when really I should have saved for a digital slr.
Great camera for the price that I paid 2007-03-19
This is my second digital camera. My first was a crappy kodak C315. This camera is a thousand times better. Sure there are many better camera's out there, but I paid $119.00 at Office Depot. They had a 2 day "friends and family" sale. I am very happy with the picture quality, for the price that I paid. There are lots of options that I still have to try out.
Many features 2007-03-10
The SP-320 is an improved version of SP-320. It has digital image stabilization similar to Fuji cameras and an increased ISO 800 number. An interesting feature is the raw mode allowing to capture image from the CCD sensor directly without compression artifacts (very few cameras have this). The colors are good and resolution satisfactory with lens giving relatively soft images. It provides satisfactory prints. Good colors and exposure. Uses two AA batteries - rechargeable NiMH of large capacity are recommended. Many features, including manual adjustments and a histogram.
great picture not so good at keeping a charge 2007-02-17
This is a great camera the pictures are wonderful.The options are so nice to have. As far as the pictures go it's right on... great pictures every time. Problem is the batteries just don't last even the rechargeable ones are drained real fast. If it weren't for this one thing I think it would have been a teriffic camera.
