Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

The Olympus Stylus 1050SW lives for moderate danger; it is water, shock and freezeproof, so it can stand up to the rigors of a trip to the beach or an adventure in the snowy wastelands. And we found the camera to be easy to use, with the new tap control (where you tap the sides, top and back of the camera to control it) to be an interesting and useful addition.
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Conclusion

If you are the sort of person who likes to visit moderately dangerous places, the Stylus 1050SW is worth considering. It is water, shock and freezeproof, so it should stand up to shallow water, drops and chilly weather. But the 1030SW may be a better pick if you like to go to really dangerous places; since it can survive diving deeper and falling farther.

We weren't able to test the image quality of the 1050SW, but the resolution increase to 10.1 megapixels looks to be a positive step. And the new tap control system works well; although it only offers access to a couple of controls, it is definitely easier to use than the on-screen menu. Our only real complaint was the poor placement of the zoom control. It just wasn't comfortable to use with one hand.

So, for those who need a camera that can stand up to some rough treatment, the 1050SW looks to be an interesting option.


Likes 

- Water, shock, and freeze proof
-
Tap control works well
- Fits well in the hand

Dislikes

- Zoom control is poorly located, making the camera slip when used
- No manual controls
- No shutter- or aperture- priority mode
- Screen is a little grainy



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