Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Digital Camera Review

Olympus Stylus 1030 SW

Digital Camera Review

Feb 02, 2008 - By Emily Raymond
1.9 Olympus has introduced another tough digital camera with its Stylus 1030SW. It can handle a drop from 6.6 feet, a dunk in water 33 feet deep, temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and crushing weight of up to 220 pounds. The 10.1-megapixel 1030SW improves upon its predecessor, the 770SW, with increased shock absorption capabilities, more resolution, a slightly larger LCD screen, and a longer 3.6x optical zoom lens. It will retail for $399 when it goes to market in March or April.
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Olympus Stylus 1030 SW
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Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Review
 
Likes
- Toughest camera ever
- 3.6x lens longer than its predecessor’s
- Skinny body
- Pre-capture movies
- Thorough Playback mode
Dislikes
- Slow Burst mode
- $399 price
- Weak flash
- Poor handling
- Confusing menus
 
 
Conclusion
The 10.1-megapixel Olympus Stylus 1030SW now lets casual divers record higher resolution images of fish and underwater fauna. This digital camera is the toughest on the market – even tougher than the 770SW. It can be smashed, dunked, frozen, and dropped and the warranty will still be valid. You won’t get that from any other digital camera.
 
As far as the camera’s inner features go, the 1030SW is solid, but won’t satisfy you if you want manual control. It is brief with controls and instead opts for lots of automated features and a long list of Scene modes. Still, it’s an easy-to-use point-and-shoot.
 
We’ve been wowed before by Olympus’ waterproof cameras, only to be disappointed by its poor performance in our imaging lab back at the office. We can’t judge this part of the Olympus Stylus 1030SW on the show floor; we have to wait until March or April to put it to the test. We hope it overcomes its predecessors’ poor marks.
 
The Olympus 1030SW is so unique that it hardly has any competition with its sturdy body. If you need a sturdy, waterproof digital camera, this might be the one for you. If you want a standard point-and-shoot, the $399 price might be a too much. The real verdict will come when we get this camera into our imaging lab.
Overall Impressions Page 10 of 10
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