The Zoom555 broadens Optio's line of digital cameras with an affordable 5.0-megapixel CCD and a 5x optical zoom. It's similar in size and appearance to Optio's 550 model, but adds longer maximum shutter and movie recording times.
With a sturdy, metal body, the camera is built to hold up well to wear and tear. The front of the camera holds a flash, optical viewfinder window, self-timer lamp, and sensor window for an optional remote control. A shutter-like lens cover slides out to protect the camera's lens when the camera is not in use. When the camera is powered on, the lens telescopes out from the camera about an inch. The flat, smooth front of the camera lacks finger grips, but two small ridges around the lens barrel accommodate a finger or two.
A wide range of recording modes and creative tools make this a good choice for novices as well as advanced users. The Optio 555 offers eight color filters, and a Soft filter that softens images. The camera also provides a variety of image contrast, saturation, and sharpness settings. A User setting on the Mode dial lets you save a set of exposure adjustments, which is helpful if you frequently shoot in the same conditions.
When the camera is in record mode, an informative display on the LCD monitor reports not only the current shutter speed and aperture settings, but a number of basic shooting options. There's also a grid display for aligning shots, and a histogram display to check exposure (both are displayed in playback mode as well).
The zoom toggle button on the top of the Zoom555 camera controls both optical and digital zoom during any record mode. Pressing it once puts the camera into playback mode, and a second press puts the camera back into record mode. Below the zoom toggle button is a four-way arrow pad that navigates through menu settings.
An easy-to-use control layout with clearly labeled buttons and icons makes navigating the camera's features a breeze. On the right side of the camera, a flap covers the connector compartment, with a DC In and PC/AV port on the bottom of the camera, and an eyelet for attaching a neck strap.
The Optio 555 has a reasonably good exposure performance, requiring only moderate amounts of positive exposure compensation when shooting in bright outdoor lighting, and performing well on the Davebox studio test. The camera demonstrates good dynamic range with an ability to distinguish subtle tonal differences in highlights and shadows, although it does struggle with high contrast subjects. An autofocus system with both Spot and Wide AF modes, along with an Infinity / Landscape focus mode, gives the camera excellent flexibility in a wide range of situations. The camera also offers a Night Scene mode, which increases the sensitivity of the image processor and reduces noise when shooting in low light. This makes it particularly useful for shooting scenes with fast motion, such as a sporting event or an indoor concert.
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