Overview
The Olympus MJU Tough 6010 is one of the growing number of digital cameras that is waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof. You can take the MJU Tough 6010 into water to a depth of 3m, use it in cold conditions down to -10 degrees centigrade and drop the camera from heights of up to 1.5m. Another feature that you do not usually see on a digital camera is Tap Control. This allows you to change some settings and scroll through photos by tapping the camera.
More standard features include 12 megapixels, a 3.6x wide angle lens, image stabilisation and a 2.7 inch LCD screen.
Why Buy The Olympus MJU Tough 6010
This type of digital camera is often popular with families who would like to take photos around the pool. The fact that it gives protection against accidental drops also makes it attractive.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
3.6x
2.7 inches
95.3 x 63.4 x 22.4mm
149g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
2cm
No
No
Lithium ion
xD / MicroSD
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Quite a lot of detail has been lost from the lightest and darker areas of the shot. This suggests the dynamic range of the camera is not as large as it is with other cameras. This means it may struggle with scenes where there is a large amount of contrast.
There is plenty of punch to the colours in this shot. Focusing is sharp enough. There is a very minor amount of purple fringing, but I can't see this being a problem unless you are planning to make super sized prints.
Focusing levels are inline with the standard I am used to seeing from a mid range digital camera. There is a very slight haze around the white boats, but as with my previous shot this will not be an issue as long as you keep print sizes reasonable.
On the whole focusing in my outdoor test shots has been good. There is a slight fall off as you move towards the edges of this test shot. The colour of the brickwork looks very accurate.
Portraits
This straightforward test gives a straightforward result. There are no problems with focusing and I like the natural look the MJU Tough 6010 gives to the skin tones.
Looking at this photo I think it could do with a little more light. This would help to brighten darker areas such as the hair. The shot is not quite pin sharp.
The lighting at the time this shot was taken was quite good. Despite this there is still noise in the shot taking the edge off the definition. This suggests to me that the majority of indoor shots will require flash to be used.
Macro, Colours and Noise
As I have seen with other Olympus digital cameras the picture takes on a slight purple tinge under artificial lighting. This is not really a camera I would recommend for any serious close up photography, but it is o.k. for the occasional snapshot.
I like the colours the MJU Tough 6010 produces. I think it does especially well with skin tones.
Noise levels soon pick up when taking photos where the light is not perfect. Although this is true of all compact digital cameras it is more noticeable with this camera than many others.
Summary
The MJU Tough 6010 does well enough, but one or two issue hold it back in comparison to other tough cameras.
Style
When you consider the emphasis is on keeping water out of the camera it looks good. The lens is positioned in the top right hand corner. You can select from turquoise, blue and red models.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.38 seconds
11.93 seconds
0.49 seconds
19.55 seconds
2.78 seconds
Ease of Use
There are not a massive amount of features to get used. This helps to make the camera straightforward.
Points I Like
Ease of use - waterproof - shockproof - freezeproof
Where it Could Improve
High contrast scenes - lower light situations
Verdict
The Olympus MJU Tough 6010 will handle most photo opportunities as long as you do not go overboard on print size. If picture quality means a lot to you then there are better bets out there, but taking into account all the features it is still a decent camera.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Olympus MJU Tough 6010 Review Olympus MJU Tough 6010 Specification Olympus MJU Tough 6010 Sample Images Olympus MJU Tough 6010 Features
Review Date
October 2009
