Overview
The Olympus MJU 1030 SW really stands out from the crowd. This is a tough, almost unbreakable camera. It is drop proof, crushproof, waterproof and freeze proof too. It is small enough to fit into a pocket. It has 10 megapixels and a 3.6x wide angle lens.
Why Buy The Olympus MJU 1030 SW
As you can see from the features above the MJU 1030 SW is a very robust camera. It can be used on the beach, on the ski slopes and in the desert. It is likely to also prove attractive to families. You shouldn't need to worry if this camera gets into the hands of younger members of the family as long as they are not planning to launch it form a bedroom window.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
10
3.6x
2.7 inches
93.2 x 61.4 x 21.3 m
173g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
2cm
No
No
Lithium ion
xD
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
The first outdoor shot gets us off to a solid start. I must admit to having had some problems with Olympus models in the past in terms of sharpness and their inability to handle sun glare. The MJU 1030 SW handles these potential problems much better than some other Olympus cameras I have tested.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
This is a fair effort. Colours are again strong without being too powerful. The general level of definition in the photo is good, but focusing does soften up as you move towards the edges.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
Looking at some of the key points in the photo that I use to check sharpness I can see that the MJU 1030 SW falls somewhere in the middle ranking. There are plenty of plus points though and there are none of problems I sometimes come across such as purple fringing in this shot.
Outdoor 4 (Building):
Pin sharp? No, not quite. When it comes to picture sharpness there are better pocket sized digital cameras out there, such as the Canon IXUS 85 IS, but if you are looking for a camera that can take decent enough snapshots, then this should not be a great problem.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
This is quite a bright photo when compared with many other digital cameras. The amount of light in the photo does take a little of the colour away from the face, but this sort of thing is a matter of personal taste and I am quite happy with the final result.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
With this photo I am not so impressed with the way this Olympus digital camera handles the lighting. The flash has caused a red band to appear across the centre of the face. This area in the photo is far redder than it truly is.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
This is a much better and far more natural looking shot. In fact it is one of the better indoor shots I have taken without flash.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Without being brilliant the MJU 1030 SW should be able to take a decent close up shot for you.
I like the colours produced during my tests. Compared to other brands I would say in terms of strength my test shots fall somewhere in the middle of the pack.
One of the main reasons for taking picture with the ISO level adjusted is to combat low light. To be honest this Olympus digital camera is not very good once you boost this setting. In fact at ISO 1600 the picture just becomes a mass of noise and distorted colours. In my view this is not the end of the world. This is after all a snapshot camera and in most lowlight instances you are likely to be within the range of the flash unit.
Summary
I have no serious complaints when it comes to picture quality. It may not end up in my top 10 when it comes down to picture quality, but it still takes a decent shot.
Style
This camera looks a bit different to many others. It has a very shiny centre piece on the front with a matt section around it. The lens is in top left hand corner rather than holding a central position. It is available in black silver and green.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.24 seconds
8.15 seconds
0.42 seconds
16.12 seconds
Ease of Use
I found my way around easily enough. My only complaint is that the menus are divided up quite a lot, so you need to work out which menu will hold the setting you are looking for.
Points I Like
Waterproof and shockproof - looks good
Where it Could Improve
There is nothing that really stands out
Verdict
If I was looking for a tough, family camera then this Olympus digital camera is the one I would go for. It is very hard to break, works in just about any environment and fits into a pocket too. There is not a lot else to look for really.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Olympus MJU 1030 SW Review Olympus MJU 1030 SW Specification Olympus MJU 1030 SW Sample Images Olympus MJU 1030 SW Features
Review Date
May 2008
