Olympus Stylus 1030 SW (Green)
Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc. Part number: 226350
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Other cameras may deliver better image quality and performance, but none can survive the range of conditions that the Olympus 1030 SW was designed for.
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CNET editors' review
Olympus Stylus 1030 SW (Green) price range: $599.99
- Reviewed by: Theano Nikitas
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 09/05/2008
- Released on: 03/01/2008
The good: Rugged, sealed body that's waterproof, crushproof, shockproof, and freezeproof; solid build and design, onboard Guide for beginners; live preview.
The bad: Average image quality and performance.
The bottom line: Other cameras may deliver better image quality and performance, but none can survive the range of conditions that the Olympus 1030 SW was designed for.
Olympus has some of the roughest and toughest cameras on the market, most notably the 10-megapixel Stylus 1030 SW, a compact, point-and-shoot camera that's rugged enough to outlast any contestant on Survivor. But you don't have to be exiled or an adventurer to take advantage of the camera's waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, and crushproof specifications.
Although the 1050 SW is newer than the 1030 SW, don't let the numerical sequence fool you. The 1030 SW succeeds the 790 SW while the not-quite-as-tough 1050 SW replaces the 770 SW. What you really need to know is that the 1050 doesn't match up to the 1030's capability to withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it (or throw it at). While the 1050 SW is shockproof to 5 feet, waterproof to 10 feet and freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, the 1030 SW beats on all counts and adds a few extras. You can drop the latter from a height of 6.6 feet, take it underwater to a depth of 33 feet, haul it out in 14-degree weather and attempt to crush it with up to 220 pounds of pressure. A 3.6x wide-angle zoom lens with a 35mm-equivalent focal range of 28mm-102mm also sets it apart from its siblings.
You only have to look at--and hold--the metal-bodied 1030 SW to start believing that this compact camera is rugged enough to withstand everything Olympus promises. At the same time, the camera is attractively designed; at 3.7 inches by 2.4 inches by 0.8 inch and 6.8 ounces fully loaded, it's compact enough to carry in your pocket while you're hiking up the side of a mountain or around your wrist while diving a shipwreck or a garden of coral and pretty fish.
Scuba divers should note that underwater time is limited to one hour. If you want to take the camera deeper or on an extended dive, check out Olympus' underwater housing for the 1030 SW. Also, anyone using the camera under, on or near the water should be aware that the camera is not buoyant--if you let go, the camera's going to sink.
But you don't have to participate in extreme sports to benefit from the camera's tightly sealed seams. Gaskets and O-rings, as long as you maintain them, will keep out water, snow, sand, dirt and other assorted tiny debris that would wreak havoc with more vulnerable digital cameras.
Like most snapshot cameras, the 1030 SW lacks an optical viewfinder. But its 2.7-inch, 230K-dot LCD features a wide angle of view and, with its five-step brightness adjustment, can be tweaked to work reasonably well under most conditions. If you're diving in dark environments--East Coast shipwrecks come to mind--you may have some problems viewing the display. But midsummer swimming pool conditions with bright sunlight overhead improves the LCD's underwater usability.
Given the camera's physical dimensions and the LCD's size, the controls are pretty small and tightly grouped. If you have large hands, try the camera before you buy it (which we recommend for all camera purchases). More important, even though the camera can handle subfreezing temperatures, you may not be able to handle the 1030 SW while wearing heavy gloves. It's going to be interesting to see how well the 1050 SW's new TAP control interface works since that might be a good option for the 1030 SW's successor.
On the plus side, the 1030 provides easy access to settings through its dedicated controls and function button, a good thing since I've never been crazy about Olympus' virtual menu system. Since the 1030 SW is strictly point-and-shoot, you probably won't be fiddling with too many adjustments, but when you do, the function button will provide quick and easy access to settings you're most likely to change: white balance, ISO, drive mode, metering, and image quality.
The 1030 SW offers the requisite Auto, Program AE, and Movie modes along with a variety of scene modes, including special underwater options. However, the camera is tricked out with a couple of cool features. Live preview allows you to see how different settings--white balance, for example--will affect the photo you're about to shoot. And beginners will appreciate the 1030 SW's onboard Guide. Just choose from one of more than a dozen shooting situations or tasks (such as backlight or brightening a subject) and the Guide will offer options and automatically set the camera for whatever selection you make. It's a good learning tool, too.
Although performance is improved over the 790SW, speed isn't one of the 1030 SW's big selling points. Although start-up time is a respectable 1 second, it takes close to two seconds between shots without flash and more than double that with the flash. At only 0.8 second, the burst mode won't keep up with action. But autofocus is fairly responsive and its shot lag of 0.5 second under optimal conditions and 0.6 second in dim, is minimal.
While colors reproduce accurately, the camera's bright exposures can sometimes make them look a bit washed out. Although test shots show good detail, the photos tend to be soft. In fact, the 1030 SW isn't going to score many points for sharp focus. Overall, the photos look pretty pleasing, though.
Let's face it; other cameras will deliver better image quality, a broader feature set, and faster performance at the same price or less. But you're not going to find another camera that's as tough as the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW.
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User reviews
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Camera is NOT waterproof
by loneale on November 22, 2008
Pros: good in the rain
Cons: horrible underwater, as it leaks and stops working
Summary: I bought this camera specifically to take pictures snorkeling in Fiji. I had used it in the rain and it was fine. Minute I tried to take a picture underwater (...
Summary: I bought this camera specifically to take pictures snorkeling in Fiji. I had used it in the rain and it was fine. Minute I tried to take a picture underwater (less than 1m down, and it should be good to 10m) it broke. Water leaked into the body, ruining the card and battery. Thankfully it was a new card and I didn't lose any pictures.
I am NOT the only one this happened to. Another woman at the resort I was at had the exact same camera and it broke the exact same way. I, now camera-less and complaining about it, met three other people who had similar problems. Everyone who has one of the 700s or the 850 has no problems. But the 1030 is faulty.
Thankfully, the camera was under warranty and it was repaired and the battery and card were replaced. I still won't trust it underwater however. I'm going to buy it a case.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great camera but has brand quirks
by bosnoval on May 27, 2008
Pros: Small, sleek, great display, good battery life, underwater features work well
Cons: Proprietary battery, charger & not-included AC adapter. Misleading advertisement of xD vs. microSD compatibility (some features gone with microSD). Out-right false advertisement concerning video
Summary: Angry about microSD limitations (pic features missing using microSD & video limited to 10 second duration) but still love the camera. Purchased a 4GB microSD (class 6) memory card but ...
Summary: Angry about microSD limitations (pic features missing using microSD & video limited to 10 second duration) but still love the camera. Purchased a 4GB microSD (class 6) memory card but will still end up ordering a 2GB xD (Type M+ or H) just to be able to use all of the camera?s features. Olympus no doubt added limitations while using microSD cards to push their xD card sales. I?ve read people commenting about bad picture quality: I have to say I disagree. The camera takes wonderful quality pictures but its interface is a bit more complex than others cameras I?ve used. I can see a novice user getting bad results just due to mis-configuration. Several of the camera?s default settings are simply bad choices and need to be changed.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome Pics
by Skorpii on April 18, 2008
Pros: Wide lens,built tough and cool features/modes
Cons: Battery as short life and video mode is short(10sec)
Summary: Awesome camers, I bought the 850SW AND the 1030SW and love the features and ruggedness of both units,they work marvelously under water and in the Arctic cold of Canada....
Summary: Awesome camers, I bought the 850SW AND the 1030SW and love the features and ruggedness of both units,they work marvelously under water and in the Arctic cold of Canada.
Updated
...and several battery charges(7x) I am VERY disapointed with the battery, I get on average approx 20-30 pictures(no flash) before the screen shows that I need to re-charge the battery then it shuts off. IF you require another battery, it will cost you 46$.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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camera LEAKED!!
by ttannoyed on September 3, 2009
Pros: ..hum i didn't get to use the camera enough to figure out the pro's..if they are any
Cons: not waterproof!
Summary: i've had so many problem with this camera it's spent more time being serviced than it has in my hand.
waterproof my @$%!
first time i used it in ...Summary: i've had so many problem with this camera it's spent more time being serviced than it has in my hand.
waterproof my @$%!
first time i used it in a pool..barely submerged water leaked in..
i sent it in to fix and received it back with the lcd screen very bright beyond adjustment... i sent it back in and they changed the lcd.... so all in all the built me a new camera..
but then i take it in a pool.. again submerged jut so the lens is underwater it was there all of 5secs before water leaked in ...again.. some service job.
yesterday i called in and they said to send this camera in and they will replace it with the new model .. but i don't think i'll be using that one in the water -
Leaked 2nd time in water
by Robmoo on August 21, 2009
Pros: Compact and take a fall.
Cons: Not water proof and poor warranty support.
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GREAT video and pics, havent in deep water
by waitinforabus on April 28, 2009
Pros: Great videos, very durable, waterproof, great pics, guides you to adjust the camera to take better pictures.
Cons: I wish it had is some sort of nightvision or light for taking video at night. i'm gonna experiment with a head lamp or something else and see how that works. But all things considered this camera exceeded my expectations by far.
Summary: I have used this camera to make videos while skating down parking garages, to make climbing videos, while kayaking, and in a kiddie pool. It has worked very well. I ...
Summary: I have used this camera to make videos while skating down parking garages, to make climbing videos, while kayaking, and in a kiddie pool. It has worked very well. I have taken pictures of my nieces while swinging on the tire swing and the pictures weren't blurry. The videos came out great and they look good on youtube. I haven't taken the camera to any significant depths, but I'm confident that it will work after all it's got a 1 year warranty. just make sure you close all the doors on it till they lock. READ THE MANUAL
Like I said this camera has exceeded my expectations by far. if you want a camera to capture all the crazy stuff you do, this is it. -
awesome, tough, sleek and good all-around camera
by RedRocket70 on January 21, 2009
Pros: tough as nails, actaully water proof, great easy menu
Cons: battery life a little low, menu items may be a little slow and sub-par pic quality for 10.1mp
Summary: The first digital I ever had was a Stylus 300. This camera builds on that foundation and is one heck of a good point and shoot. Yes, the battery life ...
Summary: The first digital I ever had was a Stylus 300. This camera builds on that foundation and is one heck of a good point and shoot. Yes, the battery life is a little short, the menu is a little slow and the pic quality may be sub par (but not bad by any means....besides if you want to be a pro then by a digital SLR!!!) This camera is meant to be taken anywhere and you dont have to worry about it. I was on the beach in the wash with this in my shorts and would take it out off and on to take pics....and it was just fine. This thing has been with me hunting in -20F, fishing in 100F+ in the ocean, dropped, frozen and stepped on and it works like new....Honestly this is what I think every point and shoot should be like because you can take this Olympus ANYWHERE and not worry about it.
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Movie mode has sound problem
by appell on September 8, 2008
Pros: I upgraded from the original Stylus 720SW and they have made great improvements. Face recognition, increased depth range, more mega-pixels, increased memory capacity and longer zoom range.
Cons: The sound recorder has a popping sound in the movie. Olympus is aware of the problem and is promising a firmware fix. The higher ISO numbers create poor quality pictures. The "shake" setting increases the ISO and also creates poor picture quality.
Summary: This is a great, rugged camera for still pictures. If you are interested in the movie mode with sound I would suggest waiting to buy until Olympus fixes the sound ...
Summary: This is a great, rugged camera for still pictures. If you are interested in the movie mode with sound I would suggest waiting to buy until Olympus fixes the sound problem.
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Best Pre-Vacation Investment I Made!
by jolt1019 on August 13, 2008
Pros: Underwater capablilites are amazing, great picture quality, vibrant colors, VERY durable
Cons: can't think of any...
Summary: I was looking for a good, durable camera to take with me on my recent trip to Puerto Rico....and boy did I find it...AND MORE!
Buying this camera ...Summary: I was looking for a good, durable camera to take with me on my recent trip to Puerto Rico....and boy did I find it...AND MORE!
Buying this camera was the best possible pre-vacation purchase that I made! The picture quality is AMAZING! (It took better pictures than my girlfriends Cannon SLR camera!)
The underwater feature is great too! It was so much fun to be able to take the camera into the pool, hot tub and ocean without having to worry about it getting wet. I had NO PROBLEM AT ALL with leaks and the underwater pictures of fish, coral and my daughter making funny underwater faces are b e a u t i f u l!
I would definitely recommend this camera to anyone! -
Phenomenal Camera for the family
by Satishsk on April 3, 2008
Pros: Great features and great picture quality
Cons: Slightly Bulky but the pros outweigh the cons
Summary: I have a 4 yr old son who loves water and he plays around like any 4 yr old. The camera is rugged and he has dropped it numerous times ...
Summary: I have a 4 yr old son who loves water and he plays around like any 4 yr old. The camera is rugged and he has dropped it numerous times and taken it in the pool. Recently we were in Aruba and the pictures I took while Scuba diving was spectacular and it was a crowd pleaser. My other camera is a Canon SLR and now the whole family uses this especially my wife. My previous camera was a Casio Exilim which my son so craftfully broke the lens. So he loves his new Olympus while we get to play with both cameras.... I never thought I would like this better than Canon but who knew. Try it and you wont be dissappointed. Bestbuy was the place I got it at. They pricematch and they have all the accessories needed.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc.
- Part number: 226350
- Description: The Stylus 1030 SW is one tough camera. The shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof and dustproof design gives active people the confidence to take this camera anywhere and shoot in nearly any condition. Plus, the wide-angle lens lets users capture more of what they see. It is great for divers, surfers, rafters, skiers and anyone with an active lifestyle.
General
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Width 3.7 in
- Depth 0.8 in
- Height 2.4 in
- Weight 6 oz
- Enclosure Color Green
- Body Material Metal
Main Features
- Resolution 10.1 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 10,700,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 10,100,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.35 in
- Light Sensitivity ISO 80, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO auto
- Digital Zoom 5 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Candle, Indoor, Sunset, Auction, Cuisine, Documents, Fireworks, Landscape, Anti shake, Beach/snow, Night scene, Sports mode, Behind glass, Portrait mode, Self-portrait, Night portrait, Panorama assist, Shoot & select 1, Shoot & select 2, Underwater macro, Underwater wide 1, Underwater wide 2, Landscape-portrait, Underwater snapshot, Available light portrait
- Special Effects Sepia, Frames, Saturation, Black & White
- Max Shutter Speed 1/1000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 4 sec
- Exposure Metering Spot, Matrix
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- White Balance Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (daylight), Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white)
- Digital Video Format AVI
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Continuous Shooting Speed 5.2 frames per second
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture AVI - 640 x 480 - 8 sec - With 14MB built-in memory, AVI - 640 x 480 - 16 sec - With 14MB built-in memory, AVI - 320 x 240 - 19 sec - With 14MB built-in memory, AVI - 320 x 240 - 38 sec - With 14MB built-in memory
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 14.7 MB Flash - XD-Picture Card
- Integrated Memory 14.7 MB
- Floppy Drive None
- Digital Storage Media None
- Image Storage Fine JPEG 3648 x 2736 : 3 - With 14MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 3648 x 2736 : 5 - With 14MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 6 - With 14MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 12 - With 14MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 9 - With 14MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 19 - With 14MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 15 - With 14MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 30 - With 14MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 1280 x 960 : 24 - With 14MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 1280 x 960 : 47 - With 14MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 89 - With 14MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 640 x 480 : 163 - With 14MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 1920 x 1080 : 14 - With 14MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 1920 x 1080 : 28 - With 14MB built-in memory
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective Flash Range 3.3 ft - 13.4 ft
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 5 mm - 18.2 mm - F/3.5-5.1
- Focal Length 5 mm - 18.2 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 28 - 102 mm
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 2cm
- Lens Aperture F/3.5-5.1
- Optical Zoom 3.6 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 8 group(s) / 10 element(s)
- Lens Manufacturer Olympus
- Features ED glass, Aspherical lens
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 12 sec
- Additional Features DPOF support, Direct print, Face detection, Audio recording, Auto power save, Shock resistant, Cropping an image, Histogram display, Resizing an image, Built-in manometer, PictBridge support, PRINT Image Matching, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image rotation, Digital noise reduction, Display brightness control, In-camera panorama preview, Automatic Pixel Mapping (APM)
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.7 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Format 230,000 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video/audio output, 1 x DC power input
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x xD-Picture Card
Software
- Software Olympus Master, Drivers & Utilities
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows XP, MS Windows 2000, MS Windows Vista, Apple Mac OS X 10.3 or later
- Peripheral Devices USB port
- System Requirements Details Windows 2000/XP/Vista - Pentium III - 256 MB - 500 MB, MacOS X 10.3 or later - PowerPC G3 - 256 MB - 500 MB
Miscellaneous
- Carrying Case None
- Underwater Depth up to 30ft
- Microsoft Certifications Certified for Windows Vista
- Included Accessories Wrist strap, microSD to XD adapter
- Cables Included USB cable, A/V cable
Power
- Power Device Battery charger - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Olympus Li-50B
- Supported Battery 1 x Olympus Li-50B Li-ion rechargeable battery - 925 mAh ( Included )
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 14 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
- Min Storage Temperature -4 °F
- Max Storage Temperature 140 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 30 - 100%
- Humidity Range Storage 10 - 90%
Product series
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Olympus Stylus 1030 SW (Silver)
Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 10.1 megapixels, 3.6 x, 2.7 in LCD display, 14.7 MB - XD-Picture Card
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Olympus Stylus 1030 SW (Black)
Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 10.1 megapixels, 3.6 x, 2.7 in LCD display, 14.7 MB - XD-Picture Card
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Olympus Stylus 1030 SW (Green)
Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 10.1 megapixels, 3.6 x, 2.7 in LCD display, 14.7 MB - XD-Picture Card
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Olympus America Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Olympus America Inc. products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.olympusamerica.com/
- Address:
Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747 - Phone: 631-844-5000
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