Digital Camera Review
Dec 30, 2004
- By Alex Burack
By now, you have probably already been exposed to the flood of advertising surrounding the Olympus Stylus Verve. Television commercials, print ads, and the repetition of the phrase, “find your verve,” all created a growing marketing buzz for arguably the year’s hottest digital camera. The sleek shape and shiny contours of the Verve’s frame (along with the promotional barrage) propelled Olympus into the consciousness of many holiday shoppers. Though manufacturers consistently try variations on traditional forms and motifs, few seem able to “break the mold” and create an appealing new shape that gains practical acceptance.
| Digital Camera News |
- Mar 07, 2010Micro 4/3 x 2 from Panasonic
- Feb 20, 2010Casio Intros Inexpensive EX-S7, EX-Z35
- Feb 20, 2010Samsung Delivers Fast Lens with TL500, Fast Burst with TL350
- Feb 24, 2010Pentax Adds Ultrazoom X90, Waterproof W90
- Feb 17, 2010Sony Plunges into Waterproof Market with TX5
- Feb 08, 2010Canon Announces Flagship Rebel T2i
- Feb 08, 20104 New Canon PowerShots Include 14x SX210, Touch-screen SD3500
- Feb 02, 2010Hands-On Preview: Olympus E-PL1
- Feb 02, 2010Nikon Updates Budget L series, Stylish S Series and Intros P100
- Feb 01, 2010Olympus Adds HD Video Ultrazoom and Stylus Tough Models
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| Likes |
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-Genuinely original stylish design
-Compact frame fits comfortably in a pocket and is easily portable
-LCD screen handles glare of bright light with minimal solarization
-Interesting selection of presets, grants options beyond the typical set
-Reasonably priced and generally affordable
-Cuisine mode always offers a good laugh
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| Dislikes |
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-Performance was not given as much attention as design
-Lots of noise often contributes to poor image quality
-No customizable white balance setting
-Tiny buttons difficult to control and access
-Weak movie mode compared to current competition
-Limited zoom range
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Conclusion
While the Olympus Stylus Verve will draw many of its users based on its appearance, the camera is an average with some strong limitations. The camera offers adequate color and resolution capabilities but is drastically limited by an inability to control noise in restricted lighting and will force the user to rely on the fixed in-camera flash. The Verve’s stylish design contains a smooth 1.8” LCD screen that projects one of the brighter, more visible images I have seen in low light. With an affordable price tag, currently below the $300 USD mark, the camera is designed for the fashion-conscious user who wants something portable and stylized that they can throw in their pocket and carry along on a night on the town. While the camera’s restricted performance elements strongly limits the Verve’s user base, it will fit the needs of the beginner or true point-and-shooter with minimal interest in manual control and a strong preference for style.