Olympus Stylus 710

Value
At $349.99, the Stylus 710 is in the middle to slightly higher-end price range for a 7 MP compact camera these days. While the 710 has an all-weather design, the new Bright Capture Technology and a Digital Image Stabilization Mode, all features that are basically exclusive to Olympus, some of its other features, such as a lower resolution screen and a body that is actually less than half metallic, put it a notch below competitive models from other leading manufacturers.

If you like cameras that are small and light, though, the Stylus definitely has that in spades. We, however, wonder how durable this model will be over the long haul and question the quality of images attained using the camera’s higher sensitivities (ISO 800 and 1600). Since this is only a First Impression review, we’ll reserve judgment on that until we can examine durability and image quality issues more closely.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – This slim little camera seems solidly aimed at the point-and-shoot crowd, particularly those who wants a camera light enough to forget about.

Budget Consumers – To put the large 7 MP chip and some advanced features into a camera so small costs a little extra. Those on a budget would probably want to consider a less svelte model.
Gadget Freaks – Aside from some of the new technology such as Bright Capture and Digital Image Stabilization, there are not a lot of unique features on the 710 to satiate the gadget freak.

Manual Control Freaks – There is very little manual control on this model, but then again, it’s aimed towards first-time users.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists – Advanced features are in short supply on the 710. Unless they really want something extra that’s small and light, pros and serious hobbyists won’t be interested.