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| Brand: Olympus
Category: Photography
List Price: $349.99
Buy New: $299.94
You Save: $50.05 (14%)
New (40)
Avg. Customer Rating:  136 reviews
Color: Silver
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Includes Software: Yes
Optical Zoom: 3.6
Digital Zoom: 5
Connectivity: AV
Display Size: 2.7
Maximum Focal Length: 18.2
Minimum Focal Length: 5
Maximum Resolution: 10.1
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 3.7 x 0.8 x 2.4
MPN: B0011E87QI
Model: B0011E87QI
UPC: 050332162914
EAN: 0050332162914
Release Date: March 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Want just a point & shoot with 10 seconds of video? March 31, 2008
17 out of 27 found this review helpful
I bought this camera because of the ability to plunk it in the water. . . But I'm still returning it as you will read.
I consider myself a skilled serious amateur photographer and currently own two Panasonic Lumix cameras (LX-1 & LX-2). When I shoot photos I am apt to change the exposure value for photos, consciously choose the f-stop and shutter speed when the conditions are less than ideal, and I am highly conscious of lighting and framing issues.
But I swim and wanted to take underwater movies for my stroke analysis. I earlier bought a DiCAPac plastic enclosure for my Panasonic but decided to stop using the enclosure after the plastic began to tear along the opening seam. So when I found the Olympus 1030SW I thought great! I can shoot underwater movies without a housing!
The Good. . . . I really like the shadow compensation technology. You can actually accomplish it in the computer but it is kind of cool to have it as a feature in the camera. I also like the length of time that the battery lasts before it needs to be recharged. The camera has a led light that you can choose to illuminate macro shots. This is a great feature if you intend to do close up macro shots. You can use the led as an emergency small light in the hotel room on vacation (if you can find the button). There is also a built-in alarm clock that could be quite handy. THe arrow pad control was intuitive. The camera has built in controls to modify or manipulate images (black and white, cropping, framing it, color manipulation) for those who don't have a computer. I do, however, question the ability to actually see the image well enough on the camera screen to intelligently modify the image in the camera.
The not so good. . . . The most annoying feature of the camera is that you must be very careful that you don't put your finger in front of the lens window. It's very easy to do; I know, I did it even though I was aware of the problem.
I do understand that this camera is designed to be used by the occasional photographer, but at $350 (I paid $400 at Amazon when it first came out) it seems that there should be at least some ability to consciously choose some settings without having to go into the "Mode Dial" "SCN" selection menu to find a comparable scene.
The Mode Dial has the following settings:
AUTO: "Shooting pictures with full automatic settings. The camera determines the optimum settings for the shooting conditions automatically" It changes ISO [sensitivity and color balance settings I think] - This is basically the point and shoot mode.
Program auto: "Set the optimum aperture value and shutter speed. The camera automatically sets the optimum aperture value and shutter speed for the brightness of the subject." I didn't really try to figure it out, but I never did understand the difference between AUTO and PROGRAM AUTO modes.
IMAGE STABILIZATION MODE: "Shooting pictures using digital image stabilization. This function reduces the blur caused by a moving subject or camera movement when taking pictures." So I wonder why there is a mode just for this rather than having a single button to turn it on and off? So is it like the Program Auto, or the Auto mode with image stabilization? Quien sabe?
SCN mode: "Shoot pictures by selecting a scene mode according to the situation. You can shoot pictures by selecting a scene mode according to the situation." So there are more than a dozen "scenes" that you are supposed to scroll down through to find one similar to the one you are going to shoot. Here's the list "PORTRAIT / LANDSCAPE / LANDSCAPE +PORTRAIT / NIGHT SCENE*1 /NIGHT+PORTRAIT*1 / SPORT / INDOOR / CANDLE*1 / SELF PORTRAIT /AVAILABLE LIGHT*1 / SUNSET*1 / FIREWORKS*1 / CUISINE / BEHIND GLASS /DOCUMENTS / AUCTION*2 / SHOOT & SELECT1*2 / SHOOT & SELECT2*3 /BEACH & SNOW / PRE-CAPTURE MOVIE / UNDERWATER SNAPSHOT*4 /
UNDERWATER WIDE1*4 / UNDERWATER WIDE2*4*5 / UNDERWATER MACRO". So what is a poor bloke to do? I know. "Oh wait! Let me shoot the picture of you, Johnnie, blowing out the candles. Margot! Tell him to wait! Now, Hmmm. Where was that mode? I know there supposed to be a way to take a picture of my kiddie blowing out a candle if you'll just give me a minute to find it. . . . "
Methinks the various scenes that you can select thru the SCN mode probably address lighting issues, light color issues, etc. But still! It is too impractical to use it. I doubt many will ever use it though Olympus may try to push it as a selling point.
Now, we come to the reason that I returned the camera. I play golf as well so today I went to use the camera in the movie mode for the first time in order to record my swing on video[swimming was to be later this week]. I had already set the camera to the VGA movie mode but when I pushed the button it turns out that you can only record ten seconds of video in VGA mode! That's ridiculous. There must be a lack of horsepower under the hood that it can't stream that resolution to the memory card, but it can in the QVGA mode since the resolution is less good. So, when I go to Hawaii in a couple of months and I want to shoot a video of my wife snorkeling with the dolphins in the water I'll be able to get ten seconds of video. Sounds peachy keen! That combined with the the dismal ability to choose the aperture and f-stop make it a sure returner for me. So sorry. . . :(
So, I'm returning it despite the fact I bought a silicone skin, two extra batteries and two 2gb memory cards.
Very Well Built - Great for Hiking and Beach March 29, 2008
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
I received this camera a few days ago and have been putting it through it's paces. I live in Hawaii, so have been using it while at the beach and free diving. For me, this is an ideal point and shoot camera.
I feel that the image quality is great. I may not have a very good eye to judge this, but my experience says that most cameras produce good images when used correctly. Poor images are more due to the user than the camera. I was impressed with the menu controls and how much explanation is on the camera itself (I especially like the on camera guide). Compared to my other cameras (Canon SD600 and Sony DCR-PC350 video camera with 3 MP still support) the menu system is much improved and easier to use. This is my first Olympus camera, so I can't compare it too prior models. I really like how I can use the full auto feature for simplicity, but the camera can guide me through more detailed situations using either the scene menu or the guide.
Physically, I was impressed with this camera. It is rather heavy, but feels very solid. For the first time, I feel like I can take a camera anywhere with little worries. I already dropped it on a hike in some mud and just pored some water on it and kept shooting. This, to me, is well worth the slight price premium for this camera. I simply couldn't get these pictures before without an expensive housing. The dial on the back of the camera is difficult to use, but a minor inconvenience.
I was rather impressed with the in camera panoramic function. If you take your time, it can give you good results.
 Battery Charging May 18, 2008
15 out of 30 found this review helpful
I will have to return this camera unless I am seriously not understanding something. I plugged my fully-charged camera into my laptop via USB and within 20 minutes the battery was completely dead.
Then I noticed page 62 on the Instruction Manual where is says: During the conditions described below, power is consumed continuously and the battery becomes exhausted quickly: - The camera is connected to a computer or printer.
So, connecting the 1030 via USB doesn't charge the battery as anyone with a cell phone or PDA would expect, it actually kills it! Quickly! Connecting the camera and getting distracted for a few minutes means you have a dead battery and no more shooting for 2-3 hours while recharge it! This has to be the dumbest "feature" I've ever seen on an electronic device. Am I just missing something?
Great camera (for what it's designed for). June 22, 2008
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
I recently bought this camera mainly because I was sick and tired of accidentally breaking more fragile point and shoots. As many reviews state, this camera is a tank but (IMHO) very well designed and visually appealing. The photos are good but not great for a camera in this price range. However, the way I look at it, you are paying for the durability and underwater capabilities over picture quality.
The shooting options and settings are varied and flexible and the "scene" and "guide" modes are a great addition for newbies who either don't know how or don't wish to bother with manually changing the ISO, white balance etc. Also, this camera produces nice video both in and out of the water as well.
Overall I am pleased with my purchase EXCEPT for the following facts which I feel that I need to point out and which really disappoint me about Olympus:
1) When taking video in VGA mode at 30fps you are limited to only 10 seconds of recording time!! Well, that is unless you purchase one of Olympus's new xD Type M+ cards. In that case you can record up to the limit of the card but there is still a catch; the new xD Type M+ cards only go up to 2gb. This limits you to only 18 minutes of record time. Plus, even though this camera accepts 8gb microSDHC cards (with the included adapter), Olympus has decided that you can only record at that setting for longer than 10 seconds on their own, proprietary card. Also, even when shooting at lesser settings, Olympus caps your videos at 29 minutes REGARDLESS of the storage capacity of the medium. On top of all this is the fact that the documentation on the camera, though "technically" accurate, is very misleading on this point. Nowhere in the documentation does Olympus ever state 29 minutes is the maximum recording time. If you look at page 54 of the manual, it shows a 1GB card maxing out at 29 minutes, but doesn't show the limits of a 2GB or higher card...this leaves the average consumer to think that larger cards could record longer of course.
2) Another feature that is disabled unless you are using one of Olympus's proprietary cards is the panoramic function. This is disabled when using a micro SD card for storage. Why would Olympus do this? IMO both of the above situations are just Olympus's way of pressuring the consumer to buy their memory cards. Overall this wouldn't be that big of issue (well, besides the whole shadyness of the tactic) but Olympus's cards are too small and too slow when compared with the newer generation of microSDHC cards that currently can hold up to 8gb and move data at up to 6mb per second. Plus, why not allow standard SDHC cards which can hold up to 32gb and can be MUCH faster? Heck, I wouldn't necessarily mind buying and using an xD card but Olympus really needs to up their storage capacity and speed in order to compete with SDHC and MicroSDHC instead of attempting to hold the consumer hostage by means of petty, unnecessary function limits.
 Camera for the Desert June 8, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I'm a soldier over in Afghanistan and I have to say that this is the perfect camera for this enviroment. The camera's durability, especially it's toughness and ability to keep out dust or in my case sand is perfect. I also really like it's setting that allows you to take pictures when your moving and have the picture come out clear. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone.
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