Olympus MJU 1030 SW Review

July 13, 2009

Olympus MJU 1030 SW is a great addition to the budget range of digital cameras offered by Olympus. Its not that there are no cameras available in the market that are resistant to shock, dust and water but the ever growing competition and advancement in technologies has forced camera makers to update their profile with models both well equipped and durable. Same is the case with Olympus which has added another gem in its collection i.e. the Olympus MJU 1030 SW.

Talking about tough and steady, MJU 1030 SW is the right choice. It can bear a fall from a height of 2m and remains intact under water up to a depth of 10m. And for those who are always worried about the camera life, this one comes with a 2 year warranty (only for UK).

Having a beautiful metallic body, the camera may not be the first one having 10.1 mega pixel CCD sensors but it has something that is not so common and that is the 3.6X wide zoom lens with a focal length of 28-108mm which is unique in design. The zoom works internally and does not protrude out like other lens giving 1030 SW a stylish peri scope like look.

The Auto ISO resolution ranges from 80-1600 and a 24 scene mode collection just adds up to the features.

Face detection, Shadow adjustments and Digital Image Stabilizer are yet some of the functions that only make shooting easier and better. The videos can be viewed on the 2.7 inch Hyper crystal II LCD, 30,000
pixel screen and the imaging is made more efficient by the True Pic Turbo III processor which is the same as that of Olympus E-3.

It takes care of color contrast, sharpness, noise reduction and makes multi-burst shooting at a faster

rate possible. Now you can shoot up to 11 frames in 3 MP High Speed Mode 5.2 fps) whereas in the Sequential Mode at maximum resolution, you can shoot at 0.7 fps on over 7 frames. The Digital Image Stabilizer is for the better since it prevents camera shake in case you extend the exposure time when there is no light.

The camera is available in fantastic colors of black, platinum and British Green that gives a vibrant feel to it. The case is scratch proof and the camera is able to bear weight of around 100 kg, talking of
toughness, eh? The robustness of the physique, its ability to bear high freezing temperatures of up to -10 degrees Celsius and being dust proof, water proof and shock proof, the camera is a wonder. Available at a price of just around £229.99, Olympus MJU 1030 SW has a full box of accessories with it.

Though a larger memory card and a more appropriate case would have made the package more appealing, a number of other equipments such as a wrist strap, a lithium rechargeable battery, a battery charger Li-50c and an AV and USB cable makes up for them.

Olympus master 2 software CD ROM and a basic printed manual along with a CD are all there for your help! All in all, it’s an amazing deal that is both unique and stylish in performance.