Compact ‘superzoom’ cameras are designed to be all things to everyone.

The 10-megapixel Olympus SP-570UZ is a good example, incorporating a very broad 26mm—560mm zoom range in its 20x lens for a price a good deal cheaper than a digital SLR with an equivalent lens.

Unlike with an SLR the lens can't be swapped for another one as it remains fixed to the body, but the advantage is that physical dimensions are smaller and so the camera is more portable, if chunky compared with a basic snapshot model.

Then there's the price: it's identical to Olympus's E-420 digital SLR, which comes without a lens.

While overall quality was good, the length of the lens means that pin-sharp results at maximum zoom were only really possible with the aid of a tripod, even with the SP-570UZ’s image stabilisation.

As well as to bringing the faraway closer, this camera lets the snapper get nearer to what’s already close with its 1cm macro mode. For sports and action photography it can take 13.5 frames per second, matching Fujifilm's S8100fd, though as with that camera the trade-off is a lower-quality three-megapixel image.

Power is provided by four AA batteries (one set is provided). Annoyingly, it only accepts the relatively uncommon XD memory cards for storage.

The camera's zoom differs from its rivals: it's s controlled using a rubber ring around the lens rather than a button on the camera. While this should allow for more precise control, the camera’s response is surprisingly sluggish, meaning your subject may have moved by the time you've reached maximum zoom length.

Photos (or videos) can be composed using the 2.7in screen on the rear, or the electronic viewfinder above that. It can take maximum-quality Raw files al ongside the usual JPEGs (the advantage of Raw is that the camera doesn’t process the image at all, so you can play with it on the computer with more flexibility).

While good results can be achieved with plenty of light, images sometimes appeared washed out and flat in less sunny conditions. That said, the so-called Shadow Adjustment Technology with which the camera is equipped did a good job of evening out tricky exposures such as a bright background against a dark foreground.

If you don't mind using with a tripod for long shots, though, the realistic colours and zoom length make this a winner for users who want to shoot both close-up and far away.