Olympus Stylus 1050 SW

Value (7.00)
For the right audience, the 1050 SW is a nice deal: stop worrying about splashes around the pool, strap it to your wrist when you go surfing, bring it up the mountain and back down again in a flurry of fine powder. The lab results aren't all we'd like to see, but out in the great outdoors under challenging conditions, it's a question of getting the shot with a weatherproof camera or not getting the shot at all, and $300 seems reasonable under those circumstances. If all you want is a cool-looking little camera, though, there are other, less ruggedized options that offer better picture quality and a broader feature set at the same price, or less.

Comparisons

Fujifilm F60fd – This $299 model offers a well-constructed metal body, albeit without the weatherproof specs of the Olympus. It has a larger screen than the 1050SW, at 3 inches versus 2.7, and higher resolution (12 megapixels versus 10). In a head-to-head comparison, what catches our attention are the F60fd's superior performance in color accuracy and resolution. Still, there are better-performing cameras than either of these available at the same price (notably the Samsung below).

Olympus Stylus 1030SW– The 1050 SW is not the camera Olympus would put up against Jack Bauer-like abuse: that honor goes to the 1030 SW, which is waterproof to 33 feet (10 meters), shockproof from a 6.6-foot (2 m) height, and adds a 'crushproof' claim to withstand 220 pounds of pressure (the two cameras share a 14-degree temperature resistance). To achieve these brawnier specifications, the 1030 SW is larger and heavier than the 1050 SW, and costs an additional $50. You get more than brawn for the extra bucks, though: you also get superior performance in nearly all of our lab tests. Unless the extra ounce of weight seems burdensome to you, we'd be inclined to spend the extra cash and go with the 1030 SW.

Pentax Optio W60 – This attractive 10-megapixel model is the Pentax entry in the ruggedized fray: waterproof to 13 feet (4 meters), freezeproof down to 14 degrees F (-10 C), resistant to dirt, sand and dust. The Pentax zoom lens is more powerful (4x versus 3x for the Olympus 1050 SW), and the price is slightly higher ($329.95 versus $299.99). The lab testing results fall in the Optio's favor in nearly every match-up, which gives this camera a decided edge at a very small price premium and virtually the same size and weight. 

Samsung TL34HD– This is our leading model at this point for point-and-shoot landlubbers. Unlike the 1030 SW, this one offers extensive manual controls, solid test performance across the board, a touch-screen LCD interface that's both fun to use and practical, and effective optical image stabilization that's notably missing in the Olympus, all at the same $299 price. Of course, if you accidentally drop the TL34HD in a swimming pool at some point, you may wish you'd bought the Olympus instead.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – The camera is easy to use, with a wide range of scene modes to help tailor casual clicking for superior results.  Good looks and solid metal construction are additional points in the 1050 SW's favor. Unless you fear meteorological mischief, though, there are plenty of higher-performing, lower-priced point-and-shoots on the market.

Budget Consumers – The 1030 SW, at $300, can actually be a good deal compared to buying a camera and waterproof case separately, but it could only be considered alluring to the 'budget' buyer if laughing at the elements is a purchase priority.

Gadget Freaks – There is certainly a gadget-loving appeal to jumping into the pool with your camera, or falling down in the snow while taking snapshots without fear, but beyond this specialized capability the camera functions are very basic indeed.

Manual Control Freaks – Not a chance.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists – Maybe for special waterlogged occasions but, even then, there are better choices for those who are sensitive to image quality.