Overview
The Olympus MJU Tough 8000 certainly earns the tough part in its name. It is shockproof to a height of 2m, waterproof to a depth of 10m, crush proof up to 100kg and freezeproof to -10 degrees centigrade. Other 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 8000
If you are worried your camera will take the off knock or you would like to be able to use your camera in or around water then this camera is a very good choice.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
3.6x
2.7 inches
95 x 61.7 x 21.5 mm
182g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
2cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
xD Micro SD
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
This is a bright photo, with sharpness levels about average. As you move towards the right hand edge of the photo some of the sharpness starts to slip away. If you are planning to make large size prints you are likely to start to notice the picture looking a little softer. You are also likely to see a loss of detail in the lightest areas of your photos if they fall in direct sunlight.
Taking into account the MJU Tough 8000 has a wide angle lens sharpness is in line with my expectations or perhaps a shade above. There is plenty of colour to the picture and I like the contrast between the blue sky and the green foliage.
Again I like the colour and general look of the photo. As in the first test shot focusing starts to soften as you move to the right of the photo. This is also something I have noticed with other Olympus digital cameras in this series.
Looking at the brickwork in this picture confirms my earlier views about focusing. The shots may not be absolutely pin sharp, but they are good enough for most print sizes.
Portraits
My outdoor portrait shot is one that any digital camera should be able to master. The MJU Tough 8000 has no problems at all. The camera gets the colour balance just about right.
Lighting levels are good, with the brightness from the flash being spread throughout the picture. The artificial lighting makes the skin tones look a little harsh, but this is unlikely to be a major problem.
Compared to other digital cameras the MJU Tough 8000 does well here. The photo is quite bright and noise levels are kept relatively low. This leads to more detail showing in this photos than I am used to seeing.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro shots are not really a strong point. I am sure you will still be able to take decent enough close up shots as long as your expectations are not too high. The fact is if you are really serious about macro photography I would have thought it unlikely that you would have this camera as your first choice anyway.
I am pleased with the colours in my test shots. Although they are vivid they retain a natural look.
As suggested by my indoor portrait the MJU Tough 8000 is able to control noise relatively well. As is always the case I would still only opt to increase the ISO settings if it is absolutely necessary in order to get the shot.
Summary
I found no major issues with picture quality. This camera can handle most snapshot situations.
Style
With a square box around the lens in the top corner the MJU Tough 8000 looks different to most digital cameras. It has a highly reflective front piece too. You can buy black, blue and silver versions.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.39 seconds
11.78 seconds
0.53 seconds
20.67 seconds
3.39 seconds
Ease of Use
There is nothing too tricky about this camera. To help you along there is a menu guide available.
Points I Like
Robust features - ease of use
Where it Could Improve
Watch out for a loss of detail in light areas of your shots
Verdict
The Olympus MJU Tough 8000 does the job it sets out to do. It is certainly a tough camera. You can use it more or less anywhere. It takes a good snapshot for most photo opportunities.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Olympus MJU Tough 8000 Review Olympus MJU Tough 8000 Specification Olympus MJU Tough 8000 Sample Images Olympus MJU Tough 8000 Features
Review Date
June 2009
