Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera with Dual Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom (Orange) by Olympus
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Digital camera reviews of Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera with Dual Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom (Orange)
Digital camera Review: Don't make my mistake!
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this camera after a 5-foot drop killed my wonderful Casio Exilim. I got it precisely because it is rugged and waterproof, and figured that was worth the extra money. And it is - if you don't mind the TERRIBLE PICTURE QUALITY.
The Casio excelled at taking pictures in low light. If you turned off the flash and set it to anti-shake, it would warn you about low exposure, but it would still take the picture with quick shutter speed to minimize blurring. It was perfect for concerts, campfires, candlelight, any time you didn't want a flash.
This camera is USELESS in low light. As soon as you turn of the flash, it slows the shutter speed waaaay down. I have tried using the presets for "candlelight," "available light," and "night scene," and they all slow the shutter speed and recommend using a TRIPOD (yeah, sure, got one in my pocket). You can't even MANUALLY speed up the shutter with the flash off. It overrides your settings and you end up with blurry pictures. Any time you're not in direct sunlight, or taking pictures with the camera's auto-flash, expect to take multiple pictures, cursing and fiddling with settings, and still ending up blurry. It's terrible.
Not only that, but it has a far shorter battery life than the Casio Exilim and seems to loose its charge even when not in use.
Not only THAT, but it takes a weird proprietary XD memory card. I have a brand new laptop with a reader that takes 4 different formats, but not this one. Don't expect to pop the memory stick out and put it in your reader -- don't lose the USB cable!
I want to cry when I think of the Exilim, which cost $100 less than this doorstop of a camera. I'm stuck constantly charging the battery, endlessly messing with the settings -- this is only a point-and-shoot camera in broad daylight with the subject ten feet away. It's laughable. I wish it would break so I could justify getting another Casio, which makes its ruggedness a drawback at this point.
Digital camera Review: Everything I Wanted
Summary: 5 Stars
Compact, waterproof, I can shake like crazy and get clear night pictures. I love it! The battery life is long.Digital camera Review: Good For What It Is, But...
Summary: 4 Stars
I have some special requirements for a digital camera, and the Olympus is one of the few that seemed to fit the bill. In particular I needed a camera that had image stabilization and be somewhat weather proof as I use it to take one-handed shots from a moving vehicle. While I am not a photo journalist, I do take a lot of photos for a motorcycle publication and needed something that I could use in less than ideal circumstances.
Unfortunately my last camera had no image stabilization, so about 1/3 to 1/2 of all the photos I took came out blurred. But before I could make a decision on a replacement, my old one died. Apparently some road grit had gotten into the lens and one day it refused to extend or retract. Since most of the compact digital cameras on the market have lenses that extend prior to use, it narrowed the field down dramatically. This was the main reason I decided to go with the Olympus.
I've had it for a few months now and had occasion to use it for both moving and normal photography (I've posted a few good and bad photos here). I'm not completely sold on it, but to me the pros outweigh the cons so I'm going to keep it. There are however, a few design issues that I find frustrating.
The first is the focus time (the time between pushing the shutter button and when the photo is actually taken). With my old compact digital it was almost instantaneous, so "I got what I shot". With the Olympus it takes a second or two, which when shooting moving vehicles (from a moving vehicle) is enough time to allow the subject to change position and now be slightly out of focus. Unfortunately image stabilization will not compensate for that.
Another issue is the placement of the flash. On most cameras the flash is on the opposite side from where you hold it (the flash is usually on the left while you hold it on the right). However, on the 790SW the flash is on the same side as the hand grip, which means that if you are not extremely careful your finger will block part of the flash. I have some group photos taken at night where the people on the right side are in darkness while those on the left and in the center are properly lit.
But the biggest issue I have is with the battery life. Typically I would get between 300-400 shots from the battery on my old compact digital camera. However, the battery life on the 790SW is amazingly short. My first trip I got only 170 daylight shots before the camera completely shut down. As it was only mid morning and I wouldn't be able to charge the battery until that night, I spent the rest of the day with a useless camera while dozens of great photos got away. Since then I picked up a second battery, but still have to keep an eye on my power consumption so that I don't run out before the end of the day. I thought about buying a third or forth battery, but at that point I would be spending a large chunk of the overall cost of camera just to keep it powered.
In short:
Pros:
Bulletproof (water/dust/freeze/crush/shock proof)
Non extending lens will not jam from dirt or dust
Auto open/shut metal lens cover
Image Stabilization
7.1 Megapixel
Cons:
Focus time
Placement of the flash
Battery life
Must remove the battery to charge it
While the focus lag-time problem might be unique to my work, the flash and battery issues are ones that everyone should consider before buying this camera. If you have unique needs (camera robustness, weather/water proof) then this is one of the few choices on the market and worth the money. However, if you don't need the special abilities this camera has to offer, I think you would be better served looking for something else in this (or even a lower) price range.
Digital camera Review: Good Stylish Digital Camera
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, I love the orange color of my camera and it looks highly stylish. The camera is really small so it fits easily into my pocket so I can carry it around everywhere. The fact that the camera is waterproof and shock proof is amazing and most unique. I used the camera in the hot tub and snow skiing and didn't even worry about the camera getting wet or broken. As for the photos, they are crisp and the color and quality seem more than good enough for most uses. Also, the setting and options on the camera are very diverse and allow for almost any photographic situation you will encounter. Excellent and very cool camera!Digital camera Review: Great Camera
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this camera because we needed a waterproof camera. We are always in the water and at the beach. So the sand and water has runied all my other cameras but this camera has held up great and works wonderful in those condition's!! It takes great picture's
I couldnt be happier with this camera and im glad that I got it