Olympus Stylus 1030 SW
Digital Camera Review
Aug 08, 2008
- By Steve Morgenstern
1.9
The Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is tough. The company claims it will shoot 33 feet underwater, withstand temperatures down to 14 degrees, survive a 6.6-foot drop and 220 pounds of pressure. But can it handle weddings and laughing children as well as snorkeling trips and snowboarding runs? To find out, why we put the dauntless 10.1-megapixel 1030 SW through our harrowing laboratory testing. And the result? Features and controls are limited, and you'll find roughly equivalent photo quality in less expensive cameras. If imperviousness to the elements is worth a premium price, though, the 1030SW can certainly shoot in comfy environments with reasonable, if not spectacular results. For details, read the complete review.
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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.
Section
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The Good
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The Bad
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Tour
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Solid metal construction, effective waterproof seals
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Mushy shutter release
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Testing/Performance
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Solid results for resolution and image noise
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Color accuracy and white balance scores lag the competition
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Components
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Clearly legible menu display
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LCD washes out in bright light, tiny flash
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Design/Layout
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Small size yet easy to handle
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Multifunction buttons increase learning curve
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Modes
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Plethora of custom presets, text-based shooting guide
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Slow continuous-mode shooting
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Control Options
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Useful on-screen preview for white balance, exposure comp
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Lacks manual controls
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Image Parameters
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Extensive in-camera effects, panorama shooting
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Old-fashioned designs in frame and label modes
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Connectivity/Extras
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Decent included software
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Limited battery life, xD memory card format
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Value
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Better photo performance available at the same price
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Good buy if you'll shoot frequently in rough environments
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