Color (6.76)
To evaluate the Olympus Stylus Verve’s color reproduction, we recorded a series of exposures of our GretagMacbeth color chart and imported the images into Imatest Imaging Software. The software helps us assess the camera’s overall color accuracy as well as the individual rendering of each tone. The results are depicted in the modified color chart below. For each color tile, the outer square displays the camera’s recorded color, while the inner square is the camera’s produced color corrected by the software, and the small vertical rectangle in the center represents the ideal.

The graph below displays the Olympus Stylus Verve’s color, contrasting the camera’s rendered tones with the ideal ones. The circles are used to represent the camera’s produced tones, while the corresponding squares signify the ideal. The line linking the two reflects the variance; the greater the distance, the less accurate the camera is at producing that tone.

The Stylus Verve received a disappointing 6.76 overall color score. As expressed in the 105.4% mean color saturation value, many of the Verve’s produced tones appear unnecessarily over-saturated. While most compact digital cameras embellish specific warm hues to smooth out skin tones, there should be greater consistency and accuracy in the colder hues, and less exaggeration. The Stylus Verve displays difficulty producing cooler tones. Blues, greens, and orange hues all stray significantly from the ideal. Take note of #4 “foliage,” #14 “green,” #11 “yellow green,” #13 “blue,” #8 “purplish blue,” #18 “cyan,” #6 “bluish green,” #12 orange yellow,” #7 “orange,” and #16 “yellow.” Only one color produced by the Stylus Verve is spot on: #17 “magenta.” The other tones express an abnormal margin of error and may deter many of the Verve’s potential consumers, who are drawn to the camera for its unorthodox design.

Still Life Scene
Below is a shot of our distinctive still life scene, as captured by the Olympus Stylus Verve.

Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: the linked file is very large!)

Resolution / Sharpness (2.96)
At this point in the “digital camera revolution,” there has been such widespread discussion regarding the “megapixel race” and the true value of resolution that we feel it necessary to clarify our stance and make the intentions of our resolution test known. Most manufacturers invariably advertise the largest image size (in pixels) that the camera is capable of producing as the camera’s megapixel count. However, not all 4.0 megapixel images have identical sharpness; they just maintain similar frame dimensions. Therefore, we test the camera’s ability to produce sharp, crisp images while using as many of the available pixels as possible.

To conduct this test, we take a series of exposures of our ISO Resolution Chart and import the images into Imatest Imaging Software to determine a “true resolution” count. This is a means of quantifying the active pixels used to compose the tested image. When these tests are conducted, there is always some discrepancy between the manufacturer’s marketed megapixel count and the number of actual pixels used in formulating an image. We contrast the number of detected pixels with the image size to get a percentage score of the camera’s resolution against its potential. Typically, cameras that record 70-79% of the marketed megapixel count are considered “good” performers, while 80-89% is viewed as a “very good,” and anything exceeding 90% is “excellent.”

The Olympus Stylus Verve utilized 2.96 million pixels to compose its images. This is 77% of its advertised megapixel count, and a respectable score. Nearing the 80% mark is an accomplishment for a small point-and-shoot camera, particularly one that is noted more for its style than its performance. With 2.96 functional megapixels, the user of the Stylus Verve has the potential to blow up images to 5 x 8 or 8 x 10 prints and keep sharp detail and definition.

Noise - Auto ISO (4.27)
Surprisingly, the Stylus Verve’s performance in automatic ISO mode surpassed its manual capabilities. This is surely a photographic anomaly, as most cameras have a reduced ISO range available in automatic mode. I’m sure this was intentional on the part of Olympus, as it works to the user’s advantage; most Stylus Verve users will opt to shoot in the automatic ISO mode. In automatic mode, as long as a flash is used to fill the scene or decent ambient lighting is available, extensive noise in images should not be a problem. As available light is diminished, though, increased noise drastically ensues. The Stylus Verve should be more than adequate for recording indoor events under overhead lighting or capturing exterior shots in daylight. Just respect the camera’s limitations.

Noise - Manual ISO (3.44)
For all cameras that include manual ISO settings, we test the amount of noise visible at each available rating using a GretagMacbeth Color chart and Imatest Imaging Software. We put the individual results through a regression analysis to determine an overall noise using the manual ISO setting. The results are depicted in the graph below, with the horizontal X-axis representing the ISO ratings and the vertical Y-axis representing the produced noise.

The chart above indicates the Stylus Verve had substantial difficulty controlling noise when ISO ratings are pushed. The 3.44 overall manual ISO noise score the Stylus Verve received attests to this flaw, as images shot using the camera’s ISO 400 rating appear fraught with noise. The inclusion of an ISO 64 rating will help reduce noise and produce clean images when optimal lighting is available. Shooting with ISO 100 and ISO 200 ratings shows a significant reduction in quality, but the images remain usable. It is not until the camera is pushed to its limit (ISO 400) that distortion fills the image and undermines the camera’s strong resolution.

Speed / Timing
Startup to First Shot (7.4)
The Stylus Verve takes 2.6 seconds to bootup and record its first shot. This is almost twice as long as many recently released compact cameras; reduced startup time appears to be gaining increasing importance among the point-and-shoot camera ranks.

Shot to Shot (7.89)
Spanning 2.11 seconds between consecutive images, the Stylus Verve is not a speed-driven machine, but should be more than adequate for most users.

Shutter to Shot (7.9)
The Stylus Verve exhibits impressive speed from the time the shutter is pressed to the moment the image is captured, recording the image .55 seconds after the shutter is released. This significant reduction in lag time will help users avoid the possibility for last minute motion and blurring to sneak into the image.