Front (8.5)
The unique body of the Olympus Stylus 720SW looks like a cell phone because of its face plate and component placement, but more closely resembles a PDA device in size. At the front of the camera, a chrome frame surrounds a textured matte silver plate on every side but the left, where the matte wraps around the side. An Olympus logo, as well as the name of the camera and the phrase “Shock + Waterproof,” are on the left side. At the top and bottom of the left side are two bolts that make the camera look especially sturdy. Three holes next to the top bolt combine to form the microphone, and above the bolt is the self-timer indicator. To the right of the indicator is the built-in flash. The 3x optical zoom lens is in the top right corner of the front, and stays within the body at all times, protected from the elements by a single silver barrier. The top of the camera flattens the otherwise-circular lens opening. Across the bottom edge, the lens flaunts its specs: “Olympus Lens AF Zoom 6.7-20.1 mm 1:3.5-5.0.” In the center of the right edge is another tough-looking bolt with “7.1 Megapixel” embossed next to it.
Back (8.5)
Although the control buttons stick out slightly, the back of the camera is flat. Most of the space is taken up by the 2.5-inch LCD screen which sits at the left side, with the Olympus logo and “Shock + Waterproof” reminder at its bottom. The chrome frame surrounds the entire back, including the LCD screen, and the central panel is the same matte silver as the front. A profusion of control buttons on an inch-thick strip to the right, however, nearly obscure it from view.
At the top of the control strip are two zoom buttons; the left zooms wide and the right zooms in to a telephoto view. An LED indicator is below the center of these two buttons, and a relatively large set of holes, which acts as a speaker, rests below that. To the right of the speaker are two small, circular buttons. The top one cycles through recording modes, while the bottom accesses playback.
Below the buttons and speaker is a navigational control, a dial with a central OK/Function button. Each direction on the dial has an engraved icon to show its dual functionality: the top adjusts the exposure compensation, the right changes the flash mode, the bottom activates the self-timer, and the left calls up the macro mode. In playback, the bottom can also be used to delete photos with a trashcan icon below the dial.
At the very bottom of the control strip are two buttons. The Menu button sits at the left, and the Print button is crammed into the right corner. At the very right edge of the back is an extension of the chrome frame, with an eyelet in it to attach a wrist strap.
Left Side (8.0)
The matte silver plate from the top wraps around and extends down the center of the left side, sandwiched by the chrome framework on the front and back. The left side is otherwise featureless.
Right Side (8.0)
The right side has the same design scheme as the rest of the camera; the middle has a matte silver plate and is framed by chrome plating. At the rear edge of this side is the eyelet with three bolts holding it on, and at the top is an unlabeled door to the multi-terminal.
Top (8.0)
The central silver matte plate extends only to the middle of the 720SW’s top. It covers the left side, where “3.0x Optical Zoom” is engraved.. The right side has a shiny chrome finish and bumps to aid grip.. Two buttons are on top of the camera: a thin, oval-shaped shutter release button at right, and the power button to the left.
Bottom (8.5)
The left half of the bottom opens to reveal the nicely sealed and securely fastened battery compartment and xD card slot. To the right of the door is the tripod socket. The model number, company name, and other such required information occupy the right side
