Overview
The Olympus MJU 790 SW is a digital camera with a difference. Not only is it waterproof to a depth of 3m, it is also shockproof if dropped from a height of 1.5m. There are very few other digital cameras that offer either a waterproof or a shockproof body, so to find a camera offering both is a very rare combination. The camera can also be used in extreme cold and can cope with temperatures down to -10 degrees centigrade. Aside from those features the MJU 790 SW will slip into a pocket and is a straightforward, easy to use camera. It has seven megapixels and a three times optical zoom lens.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
7
3x
2.5 inches
93.6 x 60.9 x 21.3 m
136g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
7cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
xD
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
The most noticeable point on looking at my first test shot is that the lens on this camera is not the sharpest I have ever come across. Add in problems with sun glare and the photo lacks definition. I would suggest that you could get away with this to a degree if you are planning to make relatively small prints, but these problems will become more and more apparent when compared to other digital cameras when you make larger prints.
There are areas of the photo where the focusing is indeed quite soft.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
The wide angle test is a difficult one for any camera. The MJU 790 SW makes a decent attempt although the sharpness of the photo is again below the standard I like to see. On the edges of lighter colour objects I can also see a small amount of purple fringing. This is where a thin purple line is added to the edges of objects.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
With the lens zoomed into its maximum capacity the same problems and issues arise. Although this scene is still a little distant for a 3x zoom lens I would still expect to see greater sharpness in the photo.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
With the subject a lot closer to the lens quality improves quite dramatically. This photo shows a great improvement in terms of sharpness compared to my scenic shots. Even with the white balance control set to cloudy I would still like to see more zest in the colours and I feel the photo looks a little washed out.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
Moving indoors with the camera, focusing remains much better. The strength of the flash does wash a lot of the colour out of the shot, but overall this is a good attempt. There is no red eye showing in the photo. This does not mean that the camera will never produce red eye, but does suggest the MJU 790 SW does a fair job of suppressing it.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
With the flash turned off I am very impressed with my indoor shot. This is much better than I have achieved with other cameras. The advantage of not using the flash is that the colours in the shot are far more natural.
Macro, Colours and Noise
This is not the sharpest macro shot I have ever taken. The occasional macro shot of a nature subject might work well, but I could not recommend this camera to anyone who wanted to take regular close up shots.
Overall I would like to see a greater depth to the colours in all my test shots. I also feel that a number of the photos are too bright for my liking. Perhaps if the brightness was toned down more colour would come through. In my special test for colours I also notice that blue have bled into areas that should be white.
At ISO 400 the camera does quite a good job. As with any compact digital camera noise starts to appear in the shot, but it is still a fair effort.
At higher levels noise becomes a major issue. Colours also go awry at this setting.
Summary
As you can see picture quality is some way from being the best. Distant scenes tend to overload the focusing capabilities of this camera, but there is a big improvement on closer subjects.
Style
The MJU 790 SW is quite classy looking in my opinion. It is available in a number of colours (Starry Silver, Midnight Black, Sunset Orange or Marine Blue) and I personally prefer black. It is small and compact and will fit easily into a pocket.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.45 seconds
10.15 seconds
0.59 seconds
14.92 seconds
Ease of Use
This camera is straightforward. The menu system is quite simple without being perfect and it should not take you long to get up and running. There is also a 14 point guide with tips for taking better photos.
Points I Like
Indoors when light not perfect - ease of use - style and design - waterproof - shockproof
Where it Could Improve
Sharpness of photos - photos very bright
Verdict
The Olympus MJU 790 IS may not be the greatest digital camera ever produced when it comes to picture quality, but if you are looking for a fun camera for the beach it is well worth considering. The fact that it is shockproof will also appeal to many families where children see themselves as budding photographers.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Olympus MJU 790 SW Review Olympus MJU 790 SW Specification Olympus MJU 790 SW Sample Images Olympus MJU 790 SW Features
Review Date
November 2007
