Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Digital Camera Review

The Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is one tough little camera. The company claims it will shoot 33 feet underwater, withstand temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, survive a 6.6-foot drop and 220 pounds of pressure. We didn’t make it down quite that deep (yet), but the other claims certainly, um, hold water. Most people aren’t going to buy a digital camera just for those high-stress occasions, though – we want the same camera to shoot weddings and laughing children as well as snorkeling trips and snowboarding runs. That’s why we put the dauntless 10.1-megapixel 1030 SW through our harrowing laboratory testing. And the result? The feature set and controls are limited compared to other cameras at the price, and roughly equivalent photo quality can be achieved with a much less expensive camera. On the other hand, if you value imperviousness to the elements and are willing to pay a premium to get it, the 1030SW can certainly do double duty in comfy environments with reasonable, if not spectacular results.