Overview
The Olympus MJU Tough 3000 is waterproof to 3m, shockproof to falls of up to 1.5m and freezeproof down to -10 degrees centigrade. In addition it has 12 megapixels and a 3.6x wide angle lens. The MJU Tough 3000 also offers High Definition movies and image stabilisation. 0.6GB of storage has been built in by Olympus and the camera can be recharged by connecting it to a computer via a USB cable.
On the whole I was impressed with the quality of my test photos. O.K. picture quality falls short of the highest levels as you would expect, but it can take a fair snapshot.
I do have a couple of reservations about this camera. To start with I was not impressed by the quality of the LCD screen. I found it difficult to compose photos in sunny conditions. The MJU Tough 3000 also posted very slow times in my shutter delay tests. The time take to turn the camera on and take the first shot was very slow too.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
3.6x
2.7 inches
95.9 x 65.0 x 23.4 mm
159g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
2cm
Yes
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
The MJU Tough 3000 produced a set of sharp photos. Using differing amounts of zoom in all four of my outdoor test shots makes little difference to how well the camera is able to focus. It appears to be equally at home when the lens is fully zoomed in or out. Sharpness also remains as you move out towards the edges of the shots as well.
The level of detail showing in the shots does not quite match up to the best digital cameras in this category, but if you are only after snapshot sized prints then you are not likely to notice too much difference.
When it comes to colour I like the contrast levels showing in the test photos. My outdoor shots are bright. In fact they are brighter than I am used to seeing. How bright you like your photos to look is a matter of personal taste.
Problems I encounter from time to time when testing cameras such as purple fringing and sun glare are controlled well and they do not appear to be an issue with this camera.
Portraits
There is not too much to report when it comes to my three portrait test shots. On the whole the MJU Tough 3000 matches up well to other cameras in this area. You should be able to take some pleasing portrait shots with this camera, especially outside in good light.
Moving indoors with flash the MJU Tough 3000 does well. Lighting is even and is bright enough to reach problem areas such as the hair.
Indoors without flash see the quality slip. Although there was plenty of natural lighting coming in through the windows the MJU Tough 3000 was not able to produce a sharply focused shot. A little noise starts to creep in too.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro shots are not a strong point. My photo is too bright and detail is lost from the photo.
I have no complaints concerning the colours this camera produces. They are fairly typical and are well balanced.
The indoor portrait taken without flash suggests the MJU Tough 3000 needs plenty if light to work at its best. As the light begins to fall or if you encounter shady areas then noise is likely to be more of an issue with this camera than most digital cameras.
Summary
Ultimate quality? No probably not, but the MJU Tough 3000 handles snapshots well and I am very happy with the overall quality it produces.
Style
This camera is available in blue, pink, green and red. It has bands at the top and bottom of the camera and the lens is quite dominant when looking at the front.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
1.68 seconds
19.59 seconds
1.93 seconds
21.09 seconds
6.19 seconds
Ease of Use
I like the fact Olympus has added the current settings for main features down the side of the LCD screen. This means you can see instantly what the main settings are. It also makes them very easy to change. There is also a built in manual.
Points I Like
Ease of use - USB battery charging - 0.6GB of built in memory - built in manual - robust features
Where it Could Improve
Turn on time - shutter delay - LCD screen quality
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Olympus MJU Tough 3000 Review Olympus MJU Tough 3000 Specification Olympus MJU Tough 3000 Sample Images Olympus MJU Tough 3000 Features
Review Date
April 2010
