Olympus Stylus 1030SW 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x

Great Camera, Great price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very happy with this camera. As an avid amateur photographer I hate being without a camera at all times. My Olympus Evolt 510 is great but too bulky to carry all the time. The 1030SW fills the bill as a snapshot camera. Water (and weatherproof) I never have to worry about it getting wet in the constant rain in SE Alaska were I live. Its small enough to slip in a pocket and takes very good pictures as well as good video. Shutter lag is minimal which has been a problem with other digital snapshot cameras. the body is small and very slippery, but the addition of a silicon skin makes it easy to hold. The photos are very sharp and the relatively large screen helps to frame shots well. I always shoot pictures at the highest resolution and the 2GB xD card holds well over 100 shots so I am not limited with the number of photos I can take. I look forward to obtaining a housing, and using this little gem while diving.

My 2 minor problems with the camera are the easy of including fingers over the lens in shots, especially when shooting quick action shots, and the lack of raw mode. I have become spoiled with my DSLR, shooting in raw mode and the ease of manipulating the files. I suppose one can’t have everything for under $450.00.

Nitejazz

Great Camera bad paint
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great little camera. Good battery life very good pictures, a little slow, but good enough for family vaca stuff. It’s incredible underwater, jsut to be able to go in and out like that is phenomenal. I go from beaches to the desert and everywhere in between and this thing is great.

One con is the finish. I bought the black one and the paint just wiped off after one trip to the ocean. It is basically the stainless model with just a little paint on the outside. Not really a big deal. But it isnt black anymore.

Leaks!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I was super excited to take my new digital camera snorkeling. It worked great, until the last day when an error message came up saying that the battery cover was open…it was NOT open! I did notice a small amount of water inside. I called Olympus to get it fixed. They wanted to charge me the expense of sending their defective product back to them – and possibly have to pay the expense of fixing it too. Since the camera was so new, I actually took it back to the store we bought it from and they exchanged it without any problems.

Camera #2…snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Took a number of pictures on land, jumped in the water and it stopped working. There was a trace of water inside the battery compartment.

I would NOT recommend this camera. The concept is great, but the camera is NOT waterproof.

Works GREAT 1.5 years after purchase
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera when it first debuted in the Spring of 2008. It is mid-November 2009, and I have had nothing less than a perfect experience with the camera. I purchased it in the black color and also bought a protective silicone shell, which I would purchase over any leather or neoprene camera case (http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Tough-8000-Protective-Silicone-Digital/dp/B001TKTDP8/ref=pd_sim_p_67) to provide additional protection for the camera against scratches and falls and to keep all compartments securely closed underwater preventing accidentally opening the camera. I have used it on numerous family vacations, which include taking it snorkeling, to the pool, beachside, on a boat, in the snow, and at the bar (dumped beers, wet bars, my friends’ slippery hands), etc. It takes fantastic pictures for a point and shoot camera. I really love the wide-angle lens, which allows me to take a picture of 5 people and me without missing a face and holding the camera at arm’s-length. I would definitely recommend using the xD card, because I love taking panoramic photos, there are 3 panoramic settings for the camera with two options that “stitch” the three pictures in-camera and one where you manually “stitch” the pictures together on your computer after you upload them. The panoramic feature cannot be utilized without the use of an xD card.

My only complaint is that with the black camera after snorkeling for 1/2 a day in the Caribbean, the salt water rubbed away part of the black on the front of the camera. It looks like paint chipping off the camera, but it is a completely superficial flaw with no impact on the camera’s features or capabilities. Also, after a day-long hiking trip in the Yucatan and cave swimming and rappelling, I noticed that the plastic lens cover (the small plastic square frame on top of the lens, not the retractable lens cover) had fallen off. This happened one year ago, and it has not affected the camera’s waterproofing or image quality.

Whenever I go on vacation, my Mom calls to see if I’m bringing my camera with me, and she leaves hers at home. I have never called Olympus or had to deal with customer service because I haven’t had a problem with the camera. I take it out every single weekend (not an exaggeration), and it has been able to put up with all of the abuse I inflict upon it. Additionally, the battery life is excellent! I have tweaked the settings to optimize the battery life, and doing so has allowed me to take over 600 pictures or use every single weekend for a month on one charge.

Pros:

Waterproof

Indestructible

Takes Great Pictures

Panoramic Capabilities

Wide-Angle Lens

Cons:

Heavier than a similarly sized point & shoot camera

Paint chipped off on camera front (cosmetic flaw)

Great Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
For a point and shoot, this camera is great. I highly reccommend this as far as point and shoots go and a Canon SLR Digital if you are looking for zoom and the highest quality digital pics.

PROS:

- Practically indestructable (I throw in my back pocket all the time, take it fishing, have used it under water and have had zero problems). I haven’t tried freezing it, but I have dropped it a time or two).

- No lens telescopes out, so I can get pictures when people aren’t expecting it, so it makes for funny off-guard pics.

- Very Clear Pictures

- I like the sunset function. I’ll try going back and posting a photo I took with it in this function.

- Have had multiple compliments on the Stainless Finish

CONS:

- Short delay in pushing down on button and the camera taking the pic, but probably no worse than any other camera in this price range

- Zooming capability is not there, but again, its a point-and-shoot so I was looking for more durability and small size to carry around with me.

- I need to discover how to save battery life. It runs out quickly.

- Does not use standard memory cards. You have to buy the Olympus ones.

OVERALL: Great buy for the price, my friend has the model with fewer megapixels and convinced me to purchase this one for the waterproof aspect and I am glad I did. We both like ours a lot.

Underwater video shot Cayman Islands in rough water 30fps setting
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RN1YRO86TWCCL The best review is camera in action in the real world. Next to reef off Grand Cayman in rough seas. Much better in low light than expected. Great little camera and tough as hell

Consider another camera
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
While I’ve been happy with this camera for the past 45 days, now that I’m in Hawaii and on vacation, it stopped working almost immediately. There are numerous positive reviews of this camera but it appears there are growing “issues” with an apparent design flaw – I count three reviews already from unhappy owners of this camera. Unfortunately, we’ve already bulked up on xD cards and other accessories but are now considering spending a likely small fortune to have our unit repaired, after vacation, and buying another underwater camera, most likely a Sony or Canon with an underwater housing, to be shipped to us overnight. Overall, a very expensive experiment with Olympus…and their Service Department was very unhelpful in this situation – send it to us and we’ll fix it in 5-7 business days. I would suggest you carefully look at your options BEFORE buying this particular camera.

Olympus 1030SW Camera and companion soft camera case
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Ordered this camera as a bundle with the companion soft camera case and 2GB picture card for my husband. Handsome, sleek and extremely functinal. My husband is in the diving and marine industry so the underwater, waterproof and impact features are a must. Sharp pictures also needed for job visuals and reports. Camera has definately stepped up to the plate regarding all of these features. Great camera for a fair price!

Great Gift for Friend on the Go
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my friend that is heading to China to pick up his “to-be-adopted” daughter, Lily. My friend uses gadgets but is generally uncomfortable with electronics and the intricacies of tweaking options, downloading pictures, etc. He is also pretty rough on stuff. I can see him dropping the camera, splashing it, etc.

So this camera seems a perfect fit for him. So far he says the shutter delay is much less than his previous camera (an old model Canon point and shoot). He says he has great comfort knowing this camera is indestructible. I can see him using it more knowing that he isn’t likely to ruin it by having it with him all the time. He loves the video feature.

I didn’t get a chance to see the image quality so I cannot comment. I wish I could.

I’ll add more to this review later if I get more specifics from him.

Amazing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is amazing. The quality of the photos are outstanding. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who is interested in purchasing a camera for themselves or as a gift.

fails in four hours
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
We bought an Olympus 1030 for a family trip to the Florida keys which included some snorkling. The camera quit working half way thru the trip with only 3 to 4 hours in water. We were very dissapointed and missed a lot of good photo opps. It is going back.

Great Camera on Paper…
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I really wanted to love this camera. It has everything I wanted: rugged, compact, waterproof, and takes great pictures. I currently have a Panasonic Lumix TZ-5, and a the Panasonic waterproof casing for it, and never used this combo with the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW around!

It was so easy to carry the Stylus 1030 SW around on the pool/beach and into the water. It starts up almost immediately upon pressing the power button so I never missed a shot. I loved that it was shock-proof so I didn’t have to mentally treat it with kid gloves, and there are no protrusions on the camera to worry about breaking.

Now the bad news. After the first time going into the pool for about 3 feet underwater, the camera seems to be adversely affected. I was extra careful and followed the directions regarding checking the seals for foreign objects that may cause leaks, and they were properly closed.

I noticed that the videos taken (maybe from this point on, maybe always had this problem) had a smudge about the middle of the screen. This was not dirt on the outside of the lens where I can get at and clean. It would disappear under certain lighting conditions, but most underwater shots had it. My guess is that it’s an internal reflective defect or dirt on the optics. Curiously, I don’t notice it in my photos, just videos.

In addition to this, the lens would fog up during the night after some underwater excursions. The fog would cloud up the lens internally, so all photos and videos were foggy. Holding the camera in my hands would warm it up, causing the fog to get cloudier. As a work-around, I would air dry the camera each night with all its ports open, but this doesn’t always work.

Another major drawback of this camera that was not publicized very well is that you MUST use the type M+ XD memory card to record VGA in 30 frames/sec. Using the included adapter my 4GB MicroSDHC card, you are limited to 10 seconds VGA 30 frames/sec videos. You can record lower resolution or VGA with 15 frames/sec videos without the M+ XD memory card, though.

Additionally, my videos would sometimes have strange regular very loud clicking sounds, about once click per second for certain stretches. This was very disconcerting.

I also noticed that the videos of bright lights indoors would sometimes have vertical glares above and below the light sources. I never noticed this phenomenon on my TZ-5 videos.

The final weird restriction that I found out only after using this camera was that it had two video modes: Underwater, and Non-underwater. In Underwater mode, you have no audio, but can use zoom. In Non-underwater mode, you can record audio, but cannot zoom. Perhaps the zooming caused horrible audio noises to be recorded so the engineers decided to never record audio while allowing zooming?

In conclusion, the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW was everything I was looking for on paper and would have been a wonderful all purpose point-and-shoot photo and video camera for all occasions. Unfortunately, my particular unit seemed not be quite waterproof as advertised, and the model had some major design drawbacks in the areas of video recording.

I really cannot recommend this camera based on the unit I had.

Update 9/6/08

The return process at Amazon.com was extremely smooth and painless. I definitely recommend Amazon.com based on their customer service.

Update 9/12/08

Upon looking at my pictures taken with this camera, I noticed that they did not have the proper orientation flag set. On my other digital cameras, my landscape and portrait shots have proper orientation flags so that programs like Picasa can auto-rotate. Not so with this camera. Seems like a strange omission from Olympus.

Present for the wife
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My wife has the habit of sitting on cameras and cell phones or putting them through the washer. I bought this camera for that reason. She loves the camera. It does great macros of her flowers and great all around shots. It is the first electronic item that she has found easy to operate. For what I bought it for is gets 5 stars.

Awesome Camera – The Waterproof Part is THE BEST!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1AEEPYVR3DL9J Love the Olympus 1030SW – it matches my lifestyle… rough, tough & ready for anything, especially water. Shot a short video of me jumping in a lake, which obviously doesnt phase the camera whatsoever.

Great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Took camera on a month long trip to Central and South America and it performed wonderfully. I used it many times under water and the pictures came out really good. I also “bumped” it a few times and since it is shock-proof, no harm done. Highly recommend it.

Do not Purchase- 4 out of 5 leaked/stopped working
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Do not purchase this camera! This camera was purchased for a family trip to Maui and I was very excited about using it for snorkeling. The camera (black olympus 1030sw)had worked great for my father the previous year and as such 4 more cameras were purchased by friends/family (green olympus 1030sw). Within 5 days all 4 green cameras had stopped working due to water entering the supposedly water tight battery or USB compartments.

I was successfully able to use my new camera for 1 day, but upon entering the water on day 2 the camera’s LCD screen stopped working.

Of the other 3 other broken cameras, 1 stopped working immediately after going underwater, 1 stopped working on the 3rd snorkel trip and the other on snorkel day 5.

While in Maui I did a quick internet search to find that this is a very common issue [...] with the Olympus 1030sw. Additionally, while on a snorkel trip to Lanai one of the deckhands on the boat overheard our conversation about the camera and indicated hers died after 10 underwater trips. She also said this has happened to many people/customers taking her snorkel tour.

The 1 functional unit in our group (black camera) was perfectly fine for a previous 2 week Hawaii trip, but within 2 days this time the black paint had began to flake off. By day 4 all of the paint was gone and on day 5 the frame that surrounds the lens on the face of the camera fell off.

Although it is cosmetically damaged, it does still function. All in all 4 of 5 cameras completely stopped working and now we will all be contacting Olympus for replacement.

love it, love it, love it!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my daughter for her honeymoon. Everyone looked at her like she was crazy when she took it in the pool and when she went snorkeling. The pictures came out amazing both underwater and on land. She took a great picture of her husband above the water from under the water and the resort even shows up in the background!! Now her friends and cousins are going to sell their cameras and buy this one. I highly recommend this. Make sure you read all of the directions and do your settings correctly and you will be amazed at the ease and quality.

Fantastic Point & Shoot!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve owned this little camera for about a year now, and it is FANTASTIC!! I let my three year old daughter play with it ALL the time (she’s becoming a shutterbug,) even in the bathtub, and my 15 year old takes it on Boy Scout campouts. I never have to worry about it, except for fear of losing it. Loaded with features, great photos, waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof! What more can you ask for in a camera for versatility?? I carry it DAILY, because it is so convenient.

About nine months into the ownership, I had to send it back to Olympus for service because when recording video, there was always a popping noise present. It had done that since purchasing it new and never really bothered me, but I DID want to get it fixed before the warranty ran out. They repaired it promptly and returned it. NO other complaints or problems!

35 mm Film Takes Better Pictures
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera last September as a replacement for an earlier Olympus camera. I love the convenience of this digital. I don’t have to work about breaking it. It works perfectly, but the picture quality isn’t as good as film.

I was sorting through my old stuff and found some old 35 mm Kodak Advantix film, took it to get it developed, and the picture quality was much better than anything I’ve every seen with either one of my Olympus cameras.

In summary a 35 mm camera takes much better pictures… I thought I would opt for the Canon 40D later on, but I might be going back to film.

nice little camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’m still not sure if I’m in love with this camera enough to justify the price. Two little things I haven’t liked…1) the battery life is too short. Would strongly recommend the purchase of at least one spare battery, I will probably purchase two. I took it on vacation & was only shooting about 100 pictures a day on 3MG and I was loosing the battery by the end of the day; 2) the response time in between pictures is a little slower than I would have liked.

Some positives: The camera has a lot of scene selections & specialty modes that allowed me to get a few pictures that in the past I would not have gotten with a point & shoot — like shooting into backlighting. I didn’t have to worry about it getting wet on rainy days or if I dropped or bumped it so that was nice. The picture quality was good, I took most on 3mg & a few on 10mg. I loved the size…slipped easily into my pocket. I like the wide angle of the camera but I wish it had a little bigger zoom. I’m still learning about the camera & how to optimize all the different options. The main reason for buying the camera was to have a durable, sturdy, all weather camera that I could use in a variety of conditions and activities so overall I’m pleased.

Exactly what he wanted
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This was a gift for my husband. He is a big hunter and fisherman so it is perfect for him. He loves it. It is hard to see through the screen though looking into the sun but really that isn’t a big deal for him.

The best choice for underwater.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera for one thing and one thing only; it’s ability to take photos underwater up to 33 feet without any other housing or attachments. I’m very satisfied with that aspect.

Check out the user photos for some pics I took from Grand Cayman. 90 percent of all my underwater shots (even when I couldn’t see the screen because of glare or brightness of the sun) were very nice.

The scene selection menu is very helpful when you need a quick way to get just the right settings for a photo.

Out of the water, the pictures are fine if you aren’t trying to zoom very far. I’ll keep shooting all my out of water photos with my Sony DSC-H5. The Stylus just can’t hold a candle to 12x optical zoom and a Carl Zeiss lense.

A Dream Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought two cameras at first, this one and lumix, both at the same time so I could return the one I didn’t want. I kept this one- no doubt the Lumix is the better build quality, but I felt like I was going to break it. This one isn’t quite as good as the Lumix in image, but dam I dropped it like 3 times so far and the pictures are still pretty good. Great for when your in the shower with that special someone too .

As for pricing, its a tad high when I bought it, seems to have dropped since, dam.

Super durable camera, OK pictures, new firmware addresses movie length issues
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Most reviewers purchased this product for the same reasons and have had the same experiences. They want an abuse-proof and/or waterproof camera (probably have kids, too) and, yes, the pictures are good but not as good as their old Canon that was crushed or dropped.

Same for me. I had (2) Canons, one dropped with the lens extended, the other forgotten in my bathing suit mesh pocket. My 8 mega-pixel Canon SD870-IS took consistently clearer, richer photos than this one. By a wide margin? No, but it’s noticeable when browsing my photo library.

Where this camera excels is in its durability and I suspect most folks requiring this functionality will end up purchasing something in the Stylus SW line. Ironically, it hasn’t been dropped yet, but it’s gotten dirty, wet, and dusty. I no longer have to obsess about seeing or imagining motes of dust in the lens. This camera is air-tight and I like that the lens is fixed. Best part is that the directions tell you to clean the camera under running water. Nice.

I went in the pool with this camera for 20 minutes and followed the included wet-care instructions and didn’t encounter the problems claimed by other reviewers. That doesn’t mean they’re not true — maybe the camera was defective or the environment subjected to the camera was more severe.

As for camera performance, well it’s OK. I’m not going to go into technical details but 1) I experience a lot of white, bleached faces with the auto setting and 2) occasional inconsistent flash leading to image blurring. Image stabilization for low-light photography is ho-hum and certainly inferior to the beloved Canon.

Some elements that are top-notch for a point&shoot though (and exceed my Canon):

- Camera takes wonderful panoramic photos with auto-stitching on the fly. A dummy could use it and get seamless images.

- High-speed photos in manual-mode look great

- A plethora of useful presets such as available light, candlelight, and cuisine

- Macro mode takes stunning pics with LED flash options

Now to movie mode which is now quite decent. There used to be *so* many caveats with movie length and what memory cards are compatible with what movie mode that aren’t worth mentioning. Suffice it to say that there have been major improvements in the latest firmware version 1.1. Read on:

- With an Olympus xD TypeM+ or TypeH card you can record movies (640×480, 30fps) up to the full capacity of the card (max xD card size is still 2GB I think). However, a single movie can’t exceed 29 minutes.

- Lameness still exists when using micro SDHC or non M+/H xD cards. 640×480, 30fps is still limited to 10 seconds (??). However, 4GB+ mSDHC cards are now supported for movie-mode full card capacity *although* only in 320×240. Single movie length is likewise limited to 29 minutes.

Bottom line: download and install the firmware from the Olympus site.

Last but not least, (2) final things:

1) Regular usb cables aren’t compatible with Olympus devices so add another cable to detangle from the spaghetti.

2) Why, oh why is Olympus still using xD memory cards? The fact that these cameras support micro SDHC cards with an adapter is just a sign that xD has limited time on this planet. They’re trailing in capacity, more expensive, and larger. I made sure I ordered an 8GB microSDHC SanDisk card with this camera. I only use the 2GB xD M+ when I know I’m going to be recording a movie and don’t feel like bringing a camcorder (note to self: buy a Flip HD).

In summary:

- 5 stars, Durability

- 3 stars, General, auto-mode photo quality vs. Canon

- 4 stars, Camera functionality

- 3 stars, Movie functionality

- This camera looks great – sexy comes to mind but I didn’t say it. Canon has the waterproof, shock-resistant D10 but it looks bubbly, like a Fisher Price kid camera.

- For features/price this camera wins over the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000. With that model you pay a price premium for the 2 extra mega-pixels. Otherwise everything else is identical even down to the image processor.

Very convenient camera.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The fist time I took it in salt water was nerve wracking, but it worked as advertised. The underwater pictures are tricky to get, and you do need to use the underwater setting or the shots come out blurry. It takes great pictures for a camera that you can treat like a B** stepchild.

Because of the fact that it’s so rugged and takes good pictures, I will probably get another one in the future. If you want to take stunning pictures though, you need to purchase a quality DSLR.

Quick note: Buy an extra battery! You can find generic replacement batteries online for about $12 bucks a piece at the time of this writing, and I strongly recommend you get at least one.

Also, you dont need to purchase the expensive XD card, it comes with an adaptor that accepts the common and CHEAP MicroSD card.

Good for a couple years of abuse
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
i bought this camera (june 2008) because it was waterproof and it had lots of megapixels. I like to do winter/water sports, although, ever since i moved in with my girlfriend, i don’t do much of that anymore. It takes photos and videos underwater. But i think i messed up my microphone because there is a setting for underwater video, and i had it on regular video and was recording some underwater excitement, and now the audio is terrible. I don’t know if it was the many times i took it underwater on ‘surface mode’ or if the audio is just bad anyway. Every single video i take now has a thumping in it, it sounds like someone is wacking the microphone every couple of seconds.

‘shutter’ button sticks. i sometimes need to take a picture of my dog cuz he’s so cute, but the picture doesn’t take when i push the button. I have to roll my finger on the button or just wait until it takes. This doesn’t happen all the time, just when i need it to be quick

i brought the camera to the beach in my bathing suit pocket and i played a game of 500 with a frisbee and the labels on the mode wheel started coming off. they are partially there now and i can barely see what setting i’m in

There is a metal frame part around the lens which has recently become loose. I dont’ think its waterproof anymore. I’ve only had the camera for 1.5 years. i was rough with it, but i was expecting more durability.

i think this camera is perfect if you use for gently water sports, don’t use it for extreme water sports. It’s shock resistance is questionable, i never really banged it, it just started falling apart and having bad audio.

it takes high pixelated photos, so make sure its in focus or else you’ll have a bad picture that takes up a lot of space on your hard drive.

Not always waterproof!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera at a friend’s recommendation in advance of a cruise vacation. I looked forward to using the waterproof feature. I carefully read the directions and followed them — but when I used the camera underwater (not more than a foot underwater), the camera stopped working. I was extremely disappointed that a brand new camera was ruined, and that I did not then have a camera available for the rest of my trip.

The friend that recommended the camera to me travelled with me on the same trip, and was successful in using her camera underwater — but apparently there is some inconsistency in production of this camera that makes it less than completely reliable.

Active Lifestylers>>> THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is the bomb! I purchased a refurb from this site not too long ago. I have taken it underwater and to the top of Whistler B.C. with me. It has handled the elements and takes great high quality pics. I have owned a few point and shoots and I finally have found one that I will definately purchase an identical model of in the future….IF THAT DAY EVERY COMES. This thing is indestructable. I love it!!! Water, drop, freeze, and crush proof. That says it all. The only thing this doesnt have is loss proof…I lost my last cam

It comes with a MicroSD adapter
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I just got my camera today and have only used the 7.1 version. From that experience I didn’t want to repeat what everyone else has already said, I just wanted to share my story so far.

The back story:

I purchased the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5. It was a nice little point and shoot camera, but after carrying it around in my pocket one day, lint got behind the lens. Having had a couple point and shoot cameras in my time, I didn’t even realize this was possible, it’s never happened before. I’ve only had it a few months and short of completely disassembling the camera, there’s nothing I can do about it. The pictures are so bad now it’s not worth taking any. Frustrating!

Flash forward to a couple weeks ago:

I took the kids to an indoor water park and didn’t even bother bringing the lint damaged camera. After a couple hours of fun, I noticed the park had digital waterproof cameras for rent so I tried it. It was the Olympus 7.1 megapixel camera. It was great, I could take it down the slides, take underwater shots of the kids in the pool and carry it around without having to worry about anything. The shots were good, not outstanding, but good considering what I was putting it though.

So that got me to thinking, I didn’t really need a waterproof camera, but if I had one, I wouldn’t have to worry about LINT!

So as to not get burned again, I went out and did a little looking around. There really wasn’t much else out there. So I got this 10 megapixel version in hopes of a slightly better picture, after all, 7.1 was good, 10 must be great! Right? Anyway, when I went to order, this is when I got schooled on memory cards. From what I found, Olympus and Fuji only use XD cards, which are slower and more expensive. Not to mention, the biggest card I could find was 2 gigs. I’m sure that will be fine for the most part…and if not, I could get another… but I already had gigs of SD and MicroSD cards, so I wasn’t real happy I couldn’t use those.

So my camera shows up today, I open the box and right on top is an Olympus XD adapter for MicoSD cards! Fantastic. I didn’t recall seeing anything about an adapter anywhere I read, so I just wanted to pass this along.

One Tough Cookie
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is laden with features and takes great pictures but not perfect pictures. What cinched the deal for me was its sturdiness of build quality. That being first rate.

It does the job well
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I won’t go over all the points & features others have already covered well. So I’ll just quickly note I am very happy with this camera. It doesn’t have the best lens by any means or the strongest zoom, but it is amazingly waterproof. We used it in the ocean snorkeling as well as in the pool taking various shots and videos. Worked like a charm.

You do have to play with the numerous settings and modes to get some pictures to look just right — especially in lowlight situations. (Daylight pictures were no problem.) I found some night pics didn’t always come out so well and it was very much a matter of trial & error to get them to work, so be sure to practice before trying to take pictures of an important event, trip or moment. Also the flash is not the strongest either so be sure your main subject(s) are fairly close and pretty much forget about the background showing up if it’s any real distance away. The panorama function worked really well in just about every situation and the camera can even stitch the images together for you itself and you can see the results in a few seconds.

The camera fits nicely in the pocket of your shirt or pants. The charger will charge the battery fully in about an hour or so. We also bought the orange flotation strap which did keep the camera from sinking in water. It’s a good, solid all purpose camera which we had a lot of fun using.

A very good sport camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I just returned from a kayaking and white water rafting trip in Colorado. I bought this camera when my last digital stopped working after a trip to the beach. I wanted to make sure that didn’t happen again and I liked the fact that the 1030SW is waterproof/dustproof/freezeproof/shockproof. As advertised it was exactly suited to my trip. I’m happy to report that the camera worked out fine. Even after being knocked about and complteely submerged it still took wonderful pictures and is none the worse for wear. The pictures are not as crisp as I thought a 10 MP camera would be and there are undoubtedly better cameras available. But if you have an active lifestyle that includes snorkling, rafting, or other chalenging environments, then this is a perfect choice. Better a very good picture with this camera than no pictures and maybe no camera with something less durable.

Olympus Stylus 1030sw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this camera! I purchased it right before a Curacao vacation and didn’t have too much time to figure it out beforehand. I found that it was easy to figure out with a little help from the book. At first I was afraid to taake it underwater but then I took the plunge! The pictures came out wonderful. We were snorkeling and the colors of the fish came out true. You need to watch were you place your fingers beause it’s easy to put over the lens. I would recommend this item!

Lovin’ It
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bought this a little over a week ago, just after testing my underwater housing for my Canon S30 and finding it was leaking. We were leaving for five days of snorkeling in Cozumel and I wanted to be able to take underwater pictures. The Stylus 1030SW really fit the bill. Got a 2GB Olympus card and spare battery. The card was more than enough capacity and I was really pleased with how many shots I could take on a single battery charge. Over the 5 days I took over 800 photos and one battery usually lasted most of the day, even though I had the camera on most of the time I was in the water. I’m sure I surface dove to 15 and 20 ft a number of times, so, the 1030 was a better solution for me than the 850 would have been. I also really like the wider angle (effective 28mm). Camera worked great underwater and for other vacation shots. I usually turned the flash off underwater since shots taken with it would have lots of spots from reflection off all the little bubbles and stuff in the water, but, got some real nice fish & coral photos anyway. It can be tough to see the LCD in real bright conditions, and, the black is just paint (one time when getting out I got trown by a wave and slammed the camera into the coral bottom scratching the paint but otherwise the camera was uneffected). I’m very impressed with the quality of the photos this little camera is giving me, the range of adjustments, and, after a fairly short learning curve, the ability to adjust the settings pretty easily. I also got the floating strap which does keep this heavy little beast from going to the bottom if you happen to lose hold of it. I’m very pleased with this camera so far and looking forward to using it a lot, particularly taking it along biking, hiking, camping and other active outdoor uses.

Rugged Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great product. Really clear photos underwater, quick-ready so you can grab it and snap a photo in seconds. Feature-packed. I really like the create calendar feature. The only changes I would make to the design? Add a viewfinder for use with action scenes and video; also it might be better to have the lens in the center of the camera instead of where fingers naturally get in the way.

Battery life is very long, microphone is accurate for audio reproduction and this thing will take a beating. I used it for a month in Costa Rica in all sorts of weather, in hot springs and on the beach/salt water. Zero problems. A really great camera! Just what I expected from Olympus.

Really surprised it is such a poor camera
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Just got the green version last week as a tougher and easier-to-carry replacement for my Canon S60, then went on a weekend trip to the beach with the family. We split our time and pictures between hotel room, pool, and beach, so we got pictures in a bunch of different settings and lighting conditions.

Overall, I have to say the pictures all leaned toward muddy, with weak color, and simply not so good. Slow focusing was a consistent problem. Maybe I have been spoiled by my earlier cameras (this is my first non-Canon compact digicam), but Olympus has no excuse for making such a mediocre camera in this price range. I know they can do better, they just don’t seem to be trying. If Olumpus is skimping on the camera to pay for making it tough and still hit the $399 MSRP price point, they should consider just putting in the effort to make it a good camera and charging $449. I would have given a good camera a better review (I only pay for the camera once, but I use it 8,000 times).

I gave it an extra star for being so immersable and droppable, which is totally cool. It made me feel better when my five-year-old would pick it up and start snapping.

For the nearly $400, I simply expected a better camera. This one will get returned.

Over 300 pictures with it and I’m very pleased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had the camera for about 3 weeks. I’m very pleased. I own four other camera’s and the 1030sw is fast becoming my favorite. The buttons make sense where they have them and the camera as a whole was definitely user friendly.

Lot’s of extra goodies in the software to manipulate settings. And I’m just as pleased with the closeups too.

I will be taking it to work in my lunch box for the sole purpose of getting pictures of train derailments and if you view the photo gallery I put half a dozen pic’s there that will speak for themselves.

Yes the camera is spendy but if you want tough, and easy to pull out of a shirt pocket and use (quickly) this is it.

5 stars for this waterproof, crushproof, IRONMAN TANK OF A CAMERA!!

Stylus 1030 SW
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased the 1030SW before I went on a cruise 2 years ago, and I really love it. I was able to take it snorkeling and it took great underwater shots. It is fairly easy to use and has a lot of helpful information on settings in the menu so you don’t have to have a manual to understand it. I think it is perfect for an amateur photographer who wants to be able to use their camera near or under the water. My teenagers use it all the time for waterskiing pictures and I don’t have to worry that they will break it.

Just got it a few days ago…..loving it so far.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I will update my review as I learn more about it. But straight out of the box I love it so far. Easy to use, the pictures I have taken so far are great quality, and it takes much quicker shots than my Sony Cybershot DSC-W90. Happy so far and there is still so many things to test on it…….like the waterproof aspect.

fully satisfied
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
it is great so far. I enjoy the weight of it as well as the larger buttons. Can’t wait to use it in the surf!

broken in 90 days
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I did lots of research before purchasing this camera for water use and now I’m very sad that I picked this one. I’ve had the camera for about 90 days, used it in the water only about 5 times and there’s apparenlty water behind the lens because the picture is cloudy. So now, I’ve got to send it back at my own expense for repair. Wish I’d heeded the warning of a few other reviews that had the same problem I did and stuck to the disposable waterproof cameras! BUYER BEWARE !!!

Worked Only for a Few Days
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Appears to be a nice product, but if the LCD goes black then you have no view finder and no access to the functions. The camera only worked for a few days so I would not recommend it.

The ideal knockabout travelling camera, except for two problems.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I purchased this to be the camera I could finally just stick in my pocket or pack and be gone. No other has been able to take the abuse. And it’s very, very good, including features and optional on-camera guides to effects.

The problems have to do with use as a travelling camera. One cannot download pictures without their special computer to camera cord. Looks like a mini-USB, isn’t, and you can’t take pictures and process on a friends laptop without dragging that around also. When one is travelling light carrying the cord is a nuisance. It’s in the way and weighs.

An out would have been having an SD card instead of their proprietary memory card. Their card cannot be read by anything found in the course of normal human events. Bluetooth would have been nice.

Great item as long as one wants it only for short jaunts and doesn’t plan on processing any photos without dragging along that proprietary cord. Or a reader of some type for their memory card.

CAMERA NOT WATERPROOF!!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Bought this camera for a snorkeling trip. After two days it proved not to be waterproof. I didn’t go below 2 ft before getting a warning to “close the battery compartment” except I never opened it once, It had been sealed properly the 2 previous days. Camera got moisture in the compartment and now does not turn on! It remains to be seen what olympus will do about it.

Over it.
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I have sent my camera in TWICE for repair (which they said I didn’t close the battery compartment and water got in) but I think that there is a problem somewhere else cause the first time they “replaced the battery lock” and the same thing happened again. I had the older model of this camera for 3 years without one problem. I had to pay for shipping to get it fixed and after these two time of sending it in, it has another problem, it beeps extremely loud saying “warning depth” and the camera hasn’t been in the water since I sent it in and now it’s giving me this warning like I’m under water too deep. I’m so irritated with this camera every time I want to use it for something important it screws up. I’ve contacted Olympus about this and I just want either a different camera that works by them or I’m completely done with this company. I was going to get 4 of my family members Olympus cameras for Christmas but I think I might go with Sony or something else. I’m over it.

Camera Leaks
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
WARNING! I bought this camera to use on a trip to Anguilla & the camera leaked!!

This is not a user error, I was very careful! It happened not once but twice & the second time the camera stopped working.

Another couple on our snorkel trip had the same camera they had also bought for their trip & it too leaked. They were able to recover their photos after drying it out but the screen had water in it & the photos all had a blurry area in the same location on all the photos from water.

It would be a great camera if it worked but I would NOT trust it with your vacation photos. Olympus clearly needs to work out some bugs before this is ready for purchase!

Olympus 1030SW – I like it!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I, after much research, purchased this camera about a week ago. Since then I have shot about 100 pictures both indoors and out, on cloudy and sunny days. I have also shot quite a few macro photos on both manual and automatic settings. I have experimented with some the scene modes. I have not tested the movie mode and have not dropped it, frozen it or submerged it yet (however I am going snorkeling in the Bahamas next month). The build design is definitely rugged and the fit and finish is excellent. This is the best built point and shoot I have ever handled. The LCD is big and bright and the buttons and menus are well designed and laid out. Flash seems consistent with other point and shoots in this category (so-so).

Photo Quality: For the most part I am pleased with the photos, especially those taken close up using all three of the macro modes. Outdoor pictures in sunlight were sharp and clear. Cloudy day photos lacked a little sharpness that I felt I got more of with my Canon 870 however I also think that I need to experiment with the spot metering focus mode versus the ESP metering mode. I know my Canon had 9 point AiAf focusing which seemed to make more objects in the photo in focus. I don’t think this camera has the same type of focusing system. I haven’t really tried the face recognition feature that much but it did work when I tried it in the store prior to purchasing. The color reproduction seems accurate to me and the photos I took outdoors on a sunny day seemed to really pop. Indoor photos seemed overly noisy however this has been consistent with other point and shoots that I have owned (Canon S500 and 870).

Value: The price of this camera is admittedly high however it does offer features that other point and shoots in this category don’t. The crush, freeze and water resistant features are compelling. I typically have very high expectations for items that I purchase and initially was a little disappointed with this camera. However as I use it more and take more pictures with it I am becoming increasingly satisfied. It’s not a digital SLR and it doesn’t have a lot of manual controls, viewfinder, light-up-the-night-sky flash, etc. It is a very well built, extremely rugged and water proof (to 33ft) 10MP digital camera with a decent LCD, zoom and software that takes good point and shoot quality photos.

Olympus 1030 SW
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Bought as replacement for old Konica-Minolta Dimage Xg (broken display).

So far happy of this optimised purchase when looking for sleeky design and increased protection level.

Optical viewfinder + manual focusing function would make this camera perfect = having everything I need.

Olympus Stylus 1030SW 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Wide Angle Zoom (Green)
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bought this product before our trip to Jamaica, mon. Tried it out in the pool before leaving and it worked great. Took it on our trip and got great pictures, with one caveat. Make sure you’re using the right setting. If the colors don’t look right on the screen, you’re probably taking above water pictures using the underwater setting.

In clear water, underwater pictures are outstanding. In murky water, your underwater pictures are murky.

I wish it had a 10X optical zoom.

Stopped working after 3 hours of use
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I received this product several months ago as a gift. I like to snorkel and my girlfriend gave me this as a generous gift. I used it this weekend to take pictures during a boat trip. After taking some great pictures and video and recharging the battery, I powered-up the camera only to find that the digital display on the camera is no longer working. The camera appears to power up, takes pictures, but the display does not come on. Since I have only used this camera on maybe 5 occasions for a total of 3 hours, I can only deduce that there is a defect either in the design or a defective part. I am sending the camera back to Olympus for repair or replacement. I will follow-up regarding their service. Stay tuned.

Not a reliable camera.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Olympus would be expected to produce a camera that lives up to the description, but this camera does not. It will leak. The seals MUST BE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED OLYMPUS DEALER YEARLY at your expense. The seals are VERY fussy and they are prone to collect debris and lint. Olympus does not seem to think that end users should be allowed to change the seals and they do not indicate any method to use any sort of lubricant/sealer to improve the seal. With this in mind, the camera will leak at some point and it will likely cost more than a new camera to repair it. Our Olympus had the LCD fail 48 days out of warranty and Olympus had several suggestions to the cause of the failure: water leaking past seals, poor LCD connector contact, and or failed LCD. We took excellent care of the camera. It did not see extensive underwater use. The seals WERE quite clean. In short, the camera does not live up to its rugged hype by Olympus. It is a pricey camera that takes a mediocre picture. The idea of a rugged camera like this is great; this was just poor execution by Olympus. We now own over $450 worth of camera, chargers, batteries, cases, and accessories that are of little use after only 14 months. I am an Engineering Systems Analyst for the aircraft and aerospace industry with 25 years of design and engineering experience as well as 30 years experience as an amateur photographer and videographer.

A Great Point and Shoot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After taking some time to research this camera, I went ahead and purchased it. On a recent trip to Cabo San Lucas, this camera survived a 2-1/2 to 3 ft. fall onto a marble floor, vibrations from an atv ride, the dust from said atv ride, and the rinse off of the dust. I also used it in the rain at a baseball game, something I would have been hesitant to do with a standard point-and-shoot. The pictures and video were of very good quality just in the normal settings, as I haven’t gone through all the settings yet. High marks to Olympus for this camera.

LEAKS!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This camera leaked on me three times. I kept sending it back to Olympus and they would “fix” it rather than replace it. After the third time they replaced it (but not the memory card that was ruined).I never abused the camera, never took it deep in the water. It just seems like its not very waterproof. When it works, it is a beautiful camera, takes great pictures, and is easy to use. This may be better suited to someone who will not submerge the camera, which was what I needed.

Great Camera – Needs Minor Improvements
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is really great. I typically hate having to take pictures on vacations with my family. I usually end up carrying the equipment and hate having to be careful not to damage it or get it wet while still trying to enjoy the my vacation to its fullest.

I specifically purchase the Olympus 1030SW because of I wanted a rugged waterproof camera which would allow me to take picures of our vacation and still allow me to participate in all the action. This camera really fit the bill and I was able to take some really great action pictures while participating in the action. I actually enjoyed carrying the camera and snapping all the great pictures.

I just have a couple of suggestions that could be made to improve upon the the camera. First, add a view-finder to the camera. The view screen becomes useless under bright sunlight. The addition of the view-finder would help on these occasions. The second is to, of course, improve upon the view screen when in bright sunlight. On these occassions I was able to take the picture by aiming the camera in the general direction. Most of these pictures came out fine, but a view-finder would really help.

Other than this I am glad I purchase this camera and can’t wait till our next outing.

Waterproof vs. Image Quality
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Purchased Olympus 1030SW mainly for waterproof/freezer/drop features. My vacations are watersports and wintersports. So now I don’t have to worry about climate and environment factors effecting my pictures or making sure the camera is inside a ziploc bag.

BUT … the image quality is sacrificed. My old Canon S400 4MP camera image quality is better, I mean way better. Sharper + better color. Even the Canon flash pictures don’t look so “white”. Since I don’t print anything bigger than 5×7, I can live with it for now.

Excellent features, ok photos
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I wanted a camera I couldn’t break with my persistent clumsiness and bought this one on the recommendation of two friends. I’m very pleased with its durability and general ease of use. I’m not very techno-savvy, though, so a lot of my pictures in low light come out really fuzzy. It might just be that I have it on some of the wrong settings, but it seems to me that I got better low-light pictures from my previous camera, which I broke by dropping too many times. But I’m willing to concede that the problem might be me, not the camera.

Want just a point & shoot with 10 seconds of video?
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
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.

Don’t waste your $
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Bought this camera in April of 2008, we live in Ohio and have only taken underwater once or twice on vacation. By September of 2009 all of the paint has peeled off of the front of the camera and the piece around the lens came off. I contacted Olympus and they refuse to repair since the warranty period is only one year. I do not recommend this product because of it’s high price and poor quality.

Olympus 1030SW
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Wow, I’m glad I waited. This is a fantastic camera. Easy to use, many features, easy to carry. Too bad it didn’t come with a camera case, though.

Waterproof? NO!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Got this camera as a replacement for an earlier generation of Olympus’s waterproof line. After four uses when snorkeling, it died. There is no question after reading many reviews that this camera is not waterproof. MUCH better to use disposable underwater FUJI cameras or get a case for a compact digital.

Olympus Stylus 1030SW 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Wide Angle (Silver)
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I recently bought this camera. So far I have noted that its pictures have a great deal of noise and are rather grainy. It is as sturdy as it is touted to be. I have not used underwater yet. It’s picture preview is good, and the screen is bright and sharp. Takes poor flash pictures in the dark. Weak overall.

tough cookie
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
so far so good i’ve dropped it, landed on it and forgot to charge the battery. panorama is just like it says 180 view. video underwater in a clear planter not too deep but with sound (i can hear the people in the room). i like it. power saver is made for me cause i forgot the charger on vaction and took video and pictures all week mountain biking and hanggliding. good wide angle pictures too. i wish they made it in yellow. snow boarding and diving next.

great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
amazing camera! It traveling to Iraq and is doing great in the sand and heat!

Good for watersports, not great on land.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I spend a lot of time on and in the water and I bought this camera to stick in my pocket and go. It is very good for that. For general purpose use though it is poor-to-mediocre in comparison to other point and shoot digitals at this price that I looked at. I usually shoot slide film/ SLR, but I figured for the price this camera would probably take acceptable pictures.

The good: the macro mode works very well and is fun to use. The underwater thing is as cool as it sounds. The camera is well built and rugged and easy to carry around. The battery life is outstanding. All in all it should be a great outdoors person’s pocket camera

The bad. The biggest problem (and it is a huge one) is the horrible program mode system. The lack of an aperture or shutter priority setting is a major, major issue in light of the bizarre pre-sets on this camera.

For starters, the camera sets the aperture wide open, no matter what you’re actually trying to take a picture of. I shot about 150 pictures in “Landscape” and “Portrait & Landscape” modes last week and every time the camera set the aperture to the max allowed by the zoomed lens, usually f/3.5. Even if you point it at a fluorescent light or bright water (so there are no low-light issues) it does not stop down. This is stupid. It means that the only thing in focus in most of the “landscape” photos was a tree-branch in the foreground or some guy’s hat. There is no manual override. Apparently it is a fixed aperture camera. The only way is to zoom to the max which only has a max aperture of up to 5.6 or so. Of course this means that the wide angle feature is useless for landscapes.

Even if you manage to get an appropriate f-stop, the camera has a problem picking appropriate ISO and shutter speeds, especially in low light. It seems to prioritize for low ISO, meaning that it also slows the shutter speed down, resulting in blurry and noisy photos. A speed of 1/40s with ISO 80 is pretty useless in terms of getting good handheld pictures vs speed of 1/250 and ISO 200, for example. Using the LED seems to fix this in the Macro mode but in other modes the camera insists on reducing shutter speed and opening up the lens inappropriately. You can set the ISO manually but the modes are fiddly and it’s easy to forget if you switch back and forth a lot.

Finally my autofocus simply refuses to focus on anything more than about 70′ away. Even if I confirm spot-focus before shooting on a distant object it will be blurry in the final picture, while random closer objects are in focus.

It is possible that there is something wrong with the camera I have as I can’t imagine anyone designed it this way (right?). However I went to a local camera store and tried their two display models and had the same issues. It’s going back.

Fun for kids
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I like this camera for a ‘FUN CAMERA’. The zoom isn’t very good at all. The audio is horrible. But I do like how long the video clips can be and I LOVE the waterproof and shockproof feature. I bought the ‘silicone skin’ for a cover and it’s basically my 5 year old boys camera. He enjoys playing with it and I have no worries.

Awesome
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera in July of 09 and love it. It takes great pictures and also takes abuse with no complaints. So far this camera has been shot with a sim munition (small dent), dropped in the Chicago river, been skiing in Canada (-40 F) and gone SCUBA diving in the Gulf of Mexico. I would recommend the “float” style wrist strap for water activities and the silicon cover to keep all the compartments closed.

Do not buy this camera!!!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Do not buy this camera!!!! it is the worse camera ever. We were at the lake and the camera stopped working and you can see some water had entered the camera. I sent the camera in to Olympus and they told me that I have to pay $120 to get fix after I paid $400 for it and they actually told me that I have to send the camera every year to get it refurbish. After complaining about the misleading advertisement, the lady actually told me you can go to the web and express your feelings!!!! EVERY YEAR PAY $120 – IT IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY – AGAIN DO NOT BUY!!!!!

Waterlogged Easily
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Purchased this camera and within a month of snorkeling on weekends (live in Hawaii) the camera was full of water without going deeper than maybe 5ft. The product was purchased directly through amazon.com versus through one of the other vendors available through amazon.com so the return policy was easy & uncomplicated – they even paid for the return shipping costs & made a full refund. My next camera purchase is the same model through amazon.com as well (return process was so easy always check vendor if possible) as the picture clarity is great, camera is so simple and easy to use, and is compact enough you can swim without it being too bulky or heavy. New order should arrive this week – check to see in a month if the last one was just a fluk defect or if this camera is flawed as a quasi-underwater camera for novice photographers. I look forward to purchasing the underwater housing…then it can come along on scuba days too!

Excellent action camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
On my last trip to Hawaii, I bought a few of those disposable underwater cameras for my snorkel trips. I was very disappointed to discover over half of the pictures were useless. This was bright light underwater.

So for my second trip, I decided I was going to research some different cameras. I discovered this Olympis 1030SW. While it has some mixed reports on picture quality I took a chance.

I was very pleasantly surprised. I took pictures with this camera that the disposable camera could not capture. I found some of the really bright pictures on the beach did not come out right, but with further manipulation, I was able to get good results. Most the problem is learning curve figuring out what scene or mode to use in the camera. I also got some very nice movie footage of dolphins. I pretty much took the camera out without reading the manual. So I only captured the movies in 15fps, but found out that you can change the quality to 30fps.

The operations and menu’s are not too difficult to figure out.

For the price, I’m not sure there is a better camera for sports activities. The compact size is great.

The biggest disappointment is probably the zoom magnification, but it’s something I can live with for this type of camera. On your next active vacation, take a look at the Olympus.

GREAT CAMERA!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just got this camera for my birthday and i been looking at the reviews on amazon saying that this camera takes bad pictures. HELL NO IT DOESNT! It is probably the easiest camera to use. I think the problem with people getting bad shots is that they dont know how to use a camera in general. I mean the settings are right there for you to use. Honestly if you cant choose the pre settings that are available then just switch it to auto. lol

I dont know what other people are talking about with the battery. If someone is saying something negative about it then they just got a bad one. Hey, it happens. When I got my camera, I put the battery in right away and used it for 15 min. After 15 min it said it was gonna die. I recharged it for 3 hours. The next day I took it to the water park for 6 hours. And during the six hours it was probably turned on for 5 because i hardly turned it off. I was taking so many pictures! Also if you need to know, the camera was in the water pretty much the entire time possible. Gave me no problems. So after 5 hours of it being on, I checked the battery life on the screen. GUESS WHAT!?!?! Still FULLY CHARGED!!!

Taking video.. On VGA mode yes only ten seconds. But on QVGA at 30fps IT LOOKED GREAT!! and it records as long as you have space on your memory card. Sound could be a little better but its a camera for a reason. to take pictures.

Great camera. I would recommend this camera to anyone looking to get their moneys worth.

Great camera, great price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After much research, and a trip to the local camera store, I purchased this camera for my son who is taking it on a hiking trip this coming summer. Although we have not yet tested it agains the elements we are very happy with the picture quality and camera itself. Make sure you buy a floating strap for the camera if you plan on using it near/in water.

Camera is NOT waterproof
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
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.

takes LOUSY, Grain, noisy picutres
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I’ve always leaving 4,5 stars reveiws, and there is a reason I think 1030 sw sucks.

I bought a refurbished one on Amazon on Oct 27,2008; and I first seen this camera when hiking with my friend in New Hampshire last winter, I heavily relied on the customer reviews on Amazon to make a decision (was going to by a canon SD), and somehow I pretty set up my mind in buying one so I just ignored the negative reviews and think they either got a lemon or they don’t know how to shoot a good picture.

And this Thanksgiving my friend came from Detriot to Boston and brought his Canon 1100is, we went to Boston, Harvard University and took a trip to Ipswich which is a beautiful town north of Boston. I wasn’t trying to compare anything but just copied all our photos into one folder and boy was I surprised.

ALL & EVERY picture that was taken by my $300 something camera was noisy and not focused well, while pictures taken by canon were way better. My friend tried to convince me that my investment was good but even he can tell the huge difference, all the details, focus are lost with this olympus SW 1030 camera. I know how to shoot good pictures and I am so pissed that I spend 300 bucks on this high-end camera and it takes lousy pictures.

I was upgrade from a Canon A610 and bought my girlfriend a Canon SD 900, I moved to Olympus because I read an article said that they had a very good DSLR E520, so I figure the SW 1030 should be good, and also I do lots of hiking, mountaineering and sea kayaking, it’s just the picture quality is too bad to tolerate, it’s far worse than my 3-year-old A 610.

Don’t say I am not buying the right camera because this camera is good for waterproof, shockproof and all that things. Of course I love those features but I love good quality too!!!!!!!!! If you think quality matters than don’t buy this camera, believe me or not you will find out yourself.

I’ve sold mine after Thanksgiving plus the extra 60 bucks I spend on the cases, xD cards, I am thinking of moving to a canon sd 990 but don’t have the money now, I’ll just wait for the price drop on sd 990.

Nice camera, although it takes a little getting used to
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this camera for about a week now and have been very happy with it. It’s a little bigger than some of my previous cameras, but seems to be made well and is sturdy.

PROS

- built solid

- large, vivid screen

- intuitive controls

- waterproof (see below)

- no protruding lens (everything stays flat)

CONS

- a bit heavy (has to be to be sturdy, I guess)

- lens is in upper corner instead of center (keep getting my finger in the way)

- USB cable is proprietary – standard cables won’t work

- uses XD cards (although it shipped with a MicroSD adapter)

Don’t let the CON’s fool you – I like this camera! Once I learn to hold it with my finger out of the way of the lens, it will be smooth sailing. As for waterproofness – the jury is still out on that one. Olympus claims it is waterproof to 33 feet, but in view of the small seals and gaskets, I don’t think I’d do that. I own a Nikonos and that’s what I feel a true waterproof camera should look like. The Olympus should be good for being caught in the rain, and perhaps an occasional soaking in a wet gear bag, though.

Point and Shoot – Special features balance make it great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is NOT a replacement for a good DSLR. If you aren’t expecting that, you won’t be disappointed by this Point and Shoot (P&S) camera.

This camera offers strong features for a “take it anywhere” camera – water PROOF (to 30 feet) drop proof (to 6 feet) and dust proof. After a month of dragging it everywhere, I think the claims are real. I’ve gotten it soaked, dropped it, and been in wind-blown dirt without any damage or crud appearing on my shots.

The camera also offers numerous metering modes for shooting. The auto exposure is current with today’s best P&S technology. Once you learn the menu system, you can get a good shot almost anywhere, and the default setting works well almost anywhere.

Yes, it is 10MP. No, it won’t rival shots from a Canon 40D (unless you have really cheap glass on it). But you will get shots that don’t fall apart into blurriness when you crop them or blow them up a bit, the colors will be good, and you’ll have it with you, in your pocket, not home in the camera bag.

Downsides? Sure, there are a few, and they will probably vary by personal taste. Mine include:

1. There is NO finder window, you MUST use the view screen to frame your shot. It’s awkward for those of us accustomed to a view finder. But I’ve learned… (and I’m over 50, so you probably can too )

2. The menus are not complex, but there are a lot of options. There are settings that work for “instant” shots. But for more challenging situations there are great options – especially useful is the “portrait flash” options that let you highlight a face while not losing the background. It actually works as advertised.

3. The lens is limited in aperture. This type of camera does not let you stop down to f/11 for that “perfect” depth of field shot. You are shooting around f/5 and changing the exposure time as you select different settings. What it sees is what you get.

4. It’s small. I have several great shots — that feature my finger over the left 1/3 of the lens.

5. it has the usual metering delay of P&S – so you can’t take a TRULY instant shot – but there IS a feature called SHOOT&SELECT – which takes about 8 shots in “motor drive” mode – you then pick one or more that you want to keep. (you must do it NOW – before going on to the next shot, and it does take a moment for them to save.) But for action shots of kids, its fun and works well.

SUMMARY: For a camera you can throw in your kayak, drop off your bike, keep in your jacket pocket, and let your kids take pictures from the monkey bars without worrying about, this is the perfect fit.

No help on returns
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Had a problem with a defect in the camera through no fault of company. They were unwilling to exchange the product even though it was well within the 30 day return policy that they have. Were unwilling to help and would not return calls or emails. Refered me to Olympus,said it was not there problem. Thank god for Amazon,they stepped in and took care of everything fast.All money was refunded,I still bought the same camera, works great

Yes, it’s waterproof, but very marginal picture quality
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Well, I wanted this to be the camera that could do it all. I have an old Canon S40 with a UW housing that takes excellent quality pictures – great optics for a point and shoot – but the old Canon is a bit heavy for my shirt pocket and very bulky with the UW housing. Unfortunately, this Olympus 10mp camera takes poorer quality pictures than my old 4mp Canon S40, with or without the UW housing on. Bright sunny day pics turn out acceptably on the Olympus, but any other lighting conditions result in dull, washed out looking, somewhat grainy pictures. Sent it back.

Take a beating
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a Marine in Iraq, this camera has stood up to the dust storms, sweat, wind, and a pounding from it’s owner. This camera is extremely tough and rugged, and the battery life is good. A great buy for anyone who wants a camera that can stand up to anything. I only wish it used SD like everyone else.

The best camera I’ve ever owned!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera has every feature anyone could want. I love that it’s waterproof, I can take it anywhere! The pictures taken with this camera are of great quality, especially in or near water shots. The camera is small enough to fit in my jeans back pocket easily, and I don’t have to worry about it breaking if I sit on it.

DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera and used it for several day kayaking trips. NEVER dropped it, NEVER submerged it, ALWAYS was careful. I am a part time photographer. Last week I tried the camera and it would not power up. Changed batteries, etc. DEAD CAMERA. Emailed Olympus. Still waiting to hear from them. What a waste of $$$$.

Great camara. . . but could be better
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Everything about the camara is as described , but the quality of photos done in dark conditions is not as good as other similar camaras (eg canon, panasonic..) which lack the water and shock proof features. . .

But overall very happy with it and would recommend it… may be in the near future Canon or Panasonic will go for those features and then.. will see.

great until it broke
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Well i brought my camera for taking pictures of me surfing. i read the booklet and made surf it would be okay in the conditions. The first day i shoot night shoot of some friends for 45 minutes. the following day i was shooting some friend in small surf when the camera failed and was broken. im very disappointed. 300$ for a camera that breaks in the first 2 days.

Tough Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I decided to purchase this particular camera for the shock + waterproof feature. I do a lot of backpacking/traveling. I wanted something that was small and durable, yet still had good photo quality. I love the waterproof feature for around the beach or on the boat. Shockproof is good and I have tested it a couple of times accidentally. I am still learning to use all the features. My first trip using this camera was a couple week backpacking tour around the UK. Photos were good for the most part. The waterproof feature certainly came in handy as it poured rain most days. The menus are easy to navigate. My only real complaint is the positioning of the lens. You will find you get many shots with fingers in the corner. Overall I am pleased, It is exactly the rugged, small camera I was looking for. Price was excellent compared to other websites, and the shipping was fast.

Bought It and Returned It in Less Than a Week
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I had high expectations of this camera due to the price. I loved the solid build and tough box construction. But the photos disappointed me over and over again. I have bought Canon Elph Powershot cameras for over (5) years because they take unbelievable, high quality photographs. Long story short – I returned it and purchased a 10 megapixel Canon at Sam’s Club. The other issue is that X-D cards are expensive and not always compatible with universal card readers, especially on laptop computers.

Olympus Stylus 1030sw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera, you can use it everywhere, the quality of the pictures has improve a lot from the latest model.

I love this camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera is great and I received it quickly without any issues what so ever.

The best camera EVER!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this camera!!! Water proof and easy to use!! I have had two to date one was stollen and I had to have another one!!

You Can Use More Than 2GB Memory Cards
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just received the camera, bought together with the 2GB XD memory card because someone said that 2GB was all the camera could support. Wrong. The version 1.1 camera firmware update, already installed on my camera when it arrived (no need to have it downloaded with the Olympus Master 2 software – although there is an update available for that as well), allows support of memory cards greater than 2GB. The camera comes with an adapter to convert microSDHC cards (8 GB for example) to the XD format needed for the camera.

I was impressed with the ease of navigation through the camera settings using only one hand to hold and navigate at the same time.

Great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great camera for underwater and travel. It is very easy to use, it takes good pictures and it truly is waterproof, drop-proof, crush-proof and so much more!

The only issue I had with it was drying the lens off after taking it out of the water when I wanted to take an above water picture. Otherwise, I love it! It certainly serves its purpose.

This camera is NOT WATERPROOF!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought the Olympus 1030SW hoping to finally have found the camera that I could take, and use, without worrying about it, anywhere I go.

I thought I would love the camera; the onboard panoramic photo-combining feature is something I’ll definitely get in my next purchase; the automated “scene” settings work great (especially for fireworks), but the POS IS NOT WATERPROOF. Well, it may be, if you’re lucky…

I used the camera about 5 times in the water, and had it fail 2/4. I.E. after 1 or 2 photos, the camera goes dark and no more photos. Opening the latches and drying out the water inside brought the camera back to life. This last time, the metal “ring” around the shutter came off underwater, the camera turned dark, and no amount of “drying” or charging the battery has brought it back to life.

I also dumped money into buying a larger M+ xD picture card, which appears to be only usable in Olympus cameras. More dollars down the toilet.

great little camera with all I needed
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Having just returned from a trip to Costa Rica and being disappointed with my older Kodak digital I started looking for a new camera. The problems with the Kodak, which served me well for a number of years, were: didn’t zoom enough, LCD screen was awful (I always used the viewfinder), horizon that was always off, battery life was good, but to recharge you had to lug the dock with you. Another problem was the on/off lever, which, inside my day bag, kept getting turned on by mistake and wasting battery.

I looked at the Olympus because my favourite old film SLR was an Olympus manual. This camera has a 3.6 optical zoom along with a digital zoom that takes it to 18-23X depending on your settings. The menu is much easier to go through and I like the “idiot proof” sample pics on the menu to tell you exactly what each setting will mean. There’s even sample pics through the viewfinder of the different light settings. The on/off button is a much better design than the old Kodak. The flash on/off is very easy. I also like snorkeling and thought that having a camera that could serve both above and underwater would mean having to lug one less camera along with me on trips. I also liked the fact that the recharger was much, much smaller than the Kodak. I was pleased to discover that it will also take underwater movies. The LCD screen is large and very easily viewed in all conditions. My first pictures taken with the camera were very pleasing. I tried a bunch of lighting conditions and the camera did well in all. The only drawback that I can see is that when you push the camera up to 18-23X the pictures get a bit grainy, but that happens with all other cameras that I’ve used and is to be somewhat expected. The menu has such useful settings as: “through glass”, indoor, night, candle, etc.

For those who like to do top notch HD zooms, this is not the camera for you and why would you be looking at this anyway. For those who like a camera that will go anywhere with you and do most of the stuff a much larger camera does, this is a great buy

quite nice
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
definitely cool. hoping that it can have a better zoom in function, however. i wonder if thats too much for a camera that already can take pics in the water and stand certain weather conditions. but it would be nice for sure

fun versitile
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought the camera for my sister, as she travels all of the world doing mission and relief work in central and south America, and this camera is perfect for her. IT is durable, shock resistant and waterproof.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera just before a trip to Iceland. It handled the temperature extremes from being at the top of a cold windy mountain to being dunked in geothermal pools up to 104 degrees. The shaky hand feature is wonderful for taking shots from a moving car!!!! I would highly recommend this for any traveler. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of a bigger SLR professional camera, this met all my needs of taking good pictures in many different situations, and is also very durable!

Great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my third Olympus camera and I love the flexibility of not worrying about water. I broke one camera when I accidentally sat on in with the lens open. Since this one is completely contained, there is no risk.

If you want a camera that you can take to the beach, on a kayak trip, skiing, etc. This is the one for you. I will be trying it on a scuba trip later this summer.

The photos I am getting are really clear. I had a 7 Mega pixel camera before, but I can crop farther with this one.

The digital zoom seems to work OK, but it limits the resolution of the photos.

I have been using this camera for a month now and still have not had to recharge the battery, so I guess battery life is going to be good.

1030SW is a Great Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After dropping/breaking my previous Olympus camera, I new it was time for a “not so fragile” digital. We also live on the lake and were always worried about dropping the camera in the water and getting our hands dry before using it. I don’t know how many good shots I missed due to being wet. Problem solved. This camera is rugged and can withstand the weather. If you have been researching this camera, you know it is waterproof to 33′ (with underwater snap shot and video modes), freezeproof to -14 degrees, crush proof up to 220 lbs, and shock proof to 6′. There is no other digital camera that can withstand this type of abuse.

I am extremely happy with this camera. Others have suggested the scene modes (on the menu) to be an extra step, but I like the way it outlines each mode, so you can have the right mode for the situation. The camera does great in auto mode and I’ve found the scene modes to be very helpful. The under water pictures are very clear and the scene options work well. My biggest surprise was the clarity on the “fireworks” mode. It really does great!

The only downside is the zoom. I’m used to 10x optical on my last Olympus while this one has 3.6x. However, the other features far outweigh the lack of zoom. You can’t expect high optical zoom in a camera the size of a deck of cards.

If you buy this camera, you must get the M+ or H card. These high speed memory cards allow you to shoot video at 30fps for the entire length of your memory. Standard XD cards and M cards only allow for 10 second clips. My 2GB M+ allows for 18 minutes of consecutive video at 30fps. The XD M+ and H cards are also 1.5 times faster, so the “next shot” delay is shorter.

I would recommend this camera to anyone who is active. Standard digitals are just too fragile. Throw it in the boat, canoe, or ski pack and do “your thing” without a worry of breaking your camera.

One tough camera!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve owned this for almost a year now and I love it. I’m not a huge shutterbug and can’t speak intelligently on high-end photo quality. However, I need a camera that takes good pictures while standing up to anything my life throws at it, and this one fits the bill. This camera has survived multiple hiking trips, being dropped by my three-year old, and exposure to saltwater on multiple occasions. I have had this camera in my pocket while parachuting into the ocean…twice. A quick rinse in the sink afterward is all that is required. Throughout all the abuse I have thrown its way, the camera works great with only a couple of small cosmetic scratches. I’m very pleased with the photos it takes, being purely of a point-and-shoot variety. The video is limited to 10 second clips when set to the high resolution mode but unlimited when set to the lower resolution. It’s not of the quality you would see in a dedicated video camera but it’s great when something video-worthy happens right in front of you.

The bad:

The USB jack on the camera is a NON-STANDARD USB plug, unlike any I have ever seen before. This requires me to pack an additional cord with me rather than use the same USB cable that I use with my other USB devices. Or, I can just take out the XD card and use the card reader on my laptop. Also, this camera is quite heavy when compared to others in its size range. This is due to the tough construction and waterproofing and makes the camera’s weight very noticeable when carried in a shirt pocket. I think the weight penalty is worth it, but it’s worth noting.

IT LEAKS. Get a different camera.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I used to own the 770SW… great camera, virtually indestructable. Unfortunately, I had it stolen from me, so I ‘upgraded’ to the 1030SW.

Unfortunately, the 1030SW leaks. The first time I tried it out underwater, it streamed bubbles from the battery cover and died on the first day of my vacation. No pictures from that trip!

Back at home, I sent it in under warranty and got a replacement. It worked fine on land for a few months… but then I took another trip and, once again, it began leaking from the battery cover! I was careful not to use it in the water anymore, but the camera would act a little funny about batteries, saying they were dead after a couple hours, etc.

Finally, it died, and I sent it in again on some B.S. excuse to avoid having to say it was water damage. Replacement came in — I took that diving, and once again, it leaked and broke.

The main selling point of this camera is that it’s waterproof — well, it’s not that waterproof and will probably leak on you. Get another camera or, if you must get this one, GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY covering all damages. It’s a must.

Aside from the leaking, the pictures, movies, etc. you take will be pretty decent for a point-and-shoot. Having the capability to use a micro-SD in the XD adapter is nice, as micro-SD is a superior card and faster / cheaper / more space than the XD.

Excellent versatile and durable
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is the perfect all around camera with better than average image quality, durable housing, simple controls with the right depth of complexity for customizable images with great battery life.

We took our camera on a cruise – this camera was perfect. Underwater, bouncing off the ground and then taking great shots moments thereafter ..could you ask for anything more?

Great!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Everything they say it is!

Worked great, takes exceptional wide pics; I use it for taking pics of my jobsites and homes that I am estimating. I can typically fit in the entire house in one shot.

Built very well; a bit heavy, but worth it!!

Best value for the money!!

This is a great (underwater) camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very pleased with with this camera both under water and on land. It takes great pictures and the multiple scenes selection is great! I was able to take some great sunset pictures at Key West and it was fun to take on uor snorkling cruise. IF you own a boat, this is the camera to have! Just get the floating strap to go with it in case you drop it overboard and then you just pick it up with your boathook and it will be as good as new!

Great camera but lacks…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We took this camera to Puerto Vallarta last August. It did really well with pictures taken on the outside. The underwater pictures were great too. The only problem I have with this camera is the fact that when in movie recording mode, you can’t zoom.

This is the second Olympus camera I’ve owned and love the ease of use. But aside from this minor issue, I would say this is as good a product as my older Olympus.

Great camera
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This is the second Olympus 1030 that I purchased so I must be satisfied with it. I bought the first one last year and used it on vacation in the carribean. All the pictures were perfect and with it being waterproof, we used it snorkeling and got some great shots. It’s so small and lightweight you can take it anywhere and it really is shock proof. Time for a graduation gift and this seemed like the perfect choice.

Good camera, but easily scratched
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I took this camera on a few kayak trips. It performed great, is easy to use, and had excellent battery life. One problem was that the camera insisted the battery cover was open, although it wasn’t. It took a hair dryer for a few seconds to the open battery compartment to straighten things out. The only reason I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the lcd and the face of the camera were scratched for no apparent reason other than the normal exposure to gear and elements of a kayaking trip. A camera that is supposed to be tough shouldn’t scratch so easily. I would suggest getting the silver as the scratches may be less noticeable if you plan to take it along on a similar trip.

1030 SW great idea, failed after a week of heavy use
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I used my 1030 SW as backup for a digital SLR during a once in a lifetime cruise through the Galapagos. Picture quality good for P&S; after 4 one hour trips in the water, the camera failed. It turned on and off, but would not take pictures and the LCD screen did not work. I am sending it back for replacement. Its a great idea for a go anywhere do anything camera, but it did not stand up to what I consider minor water exposure. Others have had better experience, but I had not warning of potential crash.

Bad picture quality
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Pictures turn out to bright, with to much glare in the pictures. Had someone who knows a lot about cameras check her out and they said the brightness could not fixed. They tried to fix the exposure settings and they did not work, nothing we do helps. Tried playing with the shadow adjustment mode but it does not make a difference, every picture you take infront of something has your shadow and it looks like your head is disfigured. Although I had no problems with it leaking, i think it takes better pictures underwater than on land! I do not recommend this camera, to much money to spend on a camera with these kind of flaws.

Absolutely amazing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For underwater shooting – this is a terrific little camera for recreational use! Haven’t used it for land shots much as I have another camera for that purpose – but I highly recommend it for the person who loves to spend time photographing fish – tropical or otherwise. In tougher surf, good to have the floatable wrist band as well.

Kudos to Olympus for this one!

Was great until it didn’t work anymore
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
We purchased this for a trip to the Bahamas. It worked fine for about 2 days of mostly land shots. We did try a few underwater shots and got what we expected from a P&S camera. I liked the Scene selection menu for camera settings, it was helpful and improved my ability to take decent shots in a variety of conditions without thinking about settings too much. Solid package, nice controls, would buy again…if I trusted it. We had to buy disposable cameras for the remainder of our trip because in 15 minutes in a 4ft 5in pool (taking photos just below the surface for fun and mostly just using it like I would a water resistant camera, it leaked water into the lens housing. This wasn’t enough to fry the electronics…just enough to make the picture all white when taking pictures (foggy is a good descriptor). It also affected the controls because it would zoom in fully automatically each time I turned it on.

I was VERY conscientious of checking the seals for debris or defect and ensureing the memory card and battery were fully seated (because I had read reviews saying people had leaks and others saying they weren’t careful enough). It still leaked and it did it around the lens housing (there’s no user operated seal there, it’s just built in).

The search for a replacement ensues.

Olyumpus Digital Camera 1030 SW
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The reference camera is excellent. My wife has the older version, 720 SW, and this is improved and more rugged for my clumsey hands. The zoom lens never extends beyond the plane of the case so there is no chance of damage if dropped like my last camera. It is easy to operate.

Flawed
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
The screen stopped working before a dozen pictures were taken. The warranty does not cover the shipping. Very expensive and disappointing.

Oly 1030 great camera except it floods often !
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Ever since the Olympus 770 debuted, I bought a couple. Since I live in the Carribbean, they are hard to come by, hence my owning one extra as a back-up. I also bought the PT-043 Olympus housings to scuba dive with the camera. I also own the newer (at the time) 1030 and have five of them now (mine, my back-up, 1 for each of two daughters). That’s four …..

Unfortunately, every one of these cameras has flooded either snorkeling at 5 feet max, or while in my swim suit while wading chest deep. And every one had to go back to Oly for a repair, which they did no problem (other than the logistics of shipping from outside the USA.

Yes, I bought extended warranties on all of these cameras but they all flooded well within the original 1 year warranty period ! Olympus denies any issue with these c

ameras, but do a google search for OLYMPUS STYLUS FLOODING and you will see I am not alone. Several major USA camera repair centers DO acknowledge they get a lot of these cameras back for flooding damage. I called and spoke at great length with Oly in NY and they promised to get back to me with a response. That was in September and am still waiting!

DISCLOSURE : I was a professional photog for 30+ years and I know how to care for the camera. Despite careful cleaning of the seals, and assuring they were closed prior to wading, they still flooded.

In August I got one of the 1030′s back from Olympus, went wading, and it flooded again ! So back it went. That’s when I bought camera # 5 last week. It is on its way back to Oly as I type this!

So why did I buy another one ????? Because it is otherwise a great camera, especially for macro shots. (Though the flash is useless beyond 6 feet or so.) But mainly because I own several of the Olympus PT-043 underwater housings and no other camera will fit inside. Both of these models I bought are supposed to go 33 feet (10 metres) without the need for a housing.

MORAL : Use the camera ONLY IN A HOUSING if you plan on getting it wet ! OR, buy a cheap 3 year extended warranty from MACK CAMERA who are FANTASTIC to deal with by the way! ( I am not associated with MACK in any way. )

A very well rounded solid camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this camera a couple weeks ago because I am going to be doing some traveling in the future, I got it as a refurbished camera (this means that it was approved by Olympus to be up to the standards of a new camera) When I got it the first thing I did was drop it into the sink. It worked! I then took the camera with me to the Lower Gauley river up in West Virginia. I kept it in my life jacket pocket the entire trip, the water was very cold, as was the air. It got wet and cold and still took pictures beautifully. Before I bought the camera I read a lot of reviews that said the picture quality was not very good, obviously its not up to the standards of a DSL, but the quality was a lot better than I was expecting and truthfully blew me away. I took some beautiful pictures of the gorge and of us paddling. It was a very good purchase and I cannot wait to take it with me on the rest of my trips! I would highly recommend to anyone!

Super convenient
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Canon, Sony or Nikon do not offer a waterproof digital camera. So it was a no brainer that if I were to finally hang up my trusty old Nikonos waterproof underwater camera and get a replacement it would have to be an Olympus. I have used my Nikonos as an all purpose outdoor camera mostly for my fishing trips taking pictures of my quarry in the rivers or the salt water flats. I rarely went diving and don’t really need an underwater camera, like the Nikonos, that is waterproof up to 300 feet. Waterproof cases are bulky and expensive and therefore it was not an option for me to consider. I recently took my new Olympus 1030SW to my Bonefishing trip in the Bahamas and was pleasantly surprised at how advanced and user friendly the features are. There are three features that are new to me that I find innovative. Panorama – combining three shots into one in camera. Guide – shoot with effects preview, allows you to compare previews of different effects such as variations of exposure, zoom, color temperature, thirdly super macro – allows you to shoot super close ups.

There isn’t really anything I dislike about the camera. The compact size is great, the battery last more than a day of constant shooting (without flash), writing to the memory card is abit slow and can get in the way if you need to take multiple shots quickly, Using the faster M Plus card, which I should have bought, may speed things up.

I highly recommend this camera to all anglers and others sportsmen near water, you can hang it around your neck or put it in your pocket and not worry about it until you need to take a picture. Having a camera with you at all times, instead of putting it back into a waterproof bag, ensures that you don’t miss out on any photo opportunities

great go anywhere anything camara to have aroud
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
i have throughly tested this camera,i brought it in to a jungle and stomped around with it for a month. took it in the ocean down to 15 ft droped it couple times but it kep on going. the pictures come ouit good and so does the video its a fast and easy camera to learn. down sides are the zoom is terrible. but they offer decent costomer support and they back up there warrentes. for 300$ its 10 megapixls and a video recorder with water capabilities. they have lots of great accessories for it to so if you wanna go deep or not have to worrie at all about ur camera then u put out 120+$ and you got a waterhousing. good buy for first timers and adventures.

Can’t get your pictures back
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
After a few light uses I was surprised to get a CARD ERROR on an OLYMPUS card (which you have to use or some of the functions are not supported!) Called tech support and they said to purchase third party software!! Would not send NEW card. So lost 1/3 of our Hawaiian pictures. And there are whole websites about this problem. Now you know.

Buyer beware
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Bought this product about one week before a ten day vacation in the British Virgin Islands. Tested the camera beforehand. Have shot exclusively in Digital SLR for last four years. Wanted a waterproof camera for snorkeling and the beach. The 10 megapixels was a plus. Minimal shutter-lag was also a plus.

Here was the big downside . . . the LCD quit working after four days. We took the camera in the water each day. Never exceeded the fine print of only one hour in the water at a time. Nor did we exceed the depth recommendations. However, the lcd quit after taking it to a pool for about one hour on the 3rd day of the trip.

Tried to contact tech support at Olympus, which promptly sent an automated reply that I would hear within 48 hours. Over one week later, I received a disappointing email that stated I could send the camera back and may be responsible for the expense.

The camera shot great pictures . . . when it worked. A brand new camera as well as a new product for Olympus should not be so unreliable. Perhaps your purchase will not react the same way . . . but buyer beware. Buy at your own risk!

Great camera and very sturdy.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Received camera the same week as ordered. Takes great photo’s and is water proof. Already fell into a punch bowl and washed up great.

Ceased working in two feet of water
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this camera for almost a year now. I agree with other reviewers that the picture quality leaves something to be desired. However, when you want to take a photograph underwater or when climbing a mountain an ok picture is certainly better than no picture. So long if the camera works as advertised.

This camera had worked well in cold environments and underwater for the first several months of ownership. When snorkeling in just a couple feet of water around month 7 of ownership it died. Olympus repaired the camera, but now that it’s out of its warranty period I’m hesitant to take it underwater again…

Perhaps I was unlucky and got stuck with a dud, but I’m contemplating switching to the Panasonic TS1 even though it’s not rated for the same depths, and isn’t freezeproof. Reasons:

a) the Panny supposedly has better picture/video quality,

b) I’ve generally had good luck with Panasonic products in general

c) I’m not confident that my 1030SW could survive in 30 feet of water (I’ve never taken it that deep) given it failed in two feet. So I might as well go with something that is rated for less depth

Having said that, it sounds like the fine print on the Panny TS1 has all sorts of disclaimers about the shock and waterproof guarantee.

As for the Canon D10, it doesn’t match up with the Panny in PQ and, as Gizmodo put it, “The D10 looks like it was designed by Ringo on the set of Yellow Submarine–its bulbous shell and porthole-like screws drive home the fact that this baby is going underwater. But on land, it’ll be tough to fit it into a pants pocket without some serious bulging.”

Bottom line: the “Adventure” camera segment still needs some work.

For peace of mind I wish a store like REI, with a total customer satisfaction guarantee, would carry these types of cameras. Until then here’s to hoping that the manufacturers build a better product and/or extended warranty program.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a perfect camera if you want one that you can beat around a bit and not worry about it getting broken or ruined.

We use this all the time when hiking, bike riding or hanging out in the pool. It is waterproof so I am able to take shots I could not get before since I can be in the water and not have to worry about splashing (or when taking pictures at the side of the pool.)

The image quality is pretty good for a point and shoot and cannot complain about prints I have had made. Up to 8 x 10 work well for the most part.

Super Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera was recommended to me by daughter who loved her similar Olympus camera. this camera has surpassed my expectations. I was very happy with my Canon digital camera but as we spend a lot on time in our boat and love snorkeling this water proof camera intriged us…we Love it. Wonderful clear pictures and very user friendly.

Best Olympus Stylus yet
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve owned a few stylus over the years due to their durability. This one is the new and best yet even offering 3.6x Wide Angle Zoom and a much nicer image quality then past models of the camera. Feels like a tank, have little fear of damaging on adventures do to crush proof features. Just plan a lot of fun to use to.

Best Buy
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the third Olympus Stylus 1030 SW I’ve purchased in the last year for myself and family members. We have had no problems with this camera at all and buying through Amazon is absolutely the way to go.

The only negative feature with this camera is very, very low volumn when you use the video side of the camera and Olympus is aware of the problem.

Bullet Proof!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera to take with me to the ocean. It is definitely a great buy if you tend to drop/smash things or will be near water with it. The camera functions as expected, works really well under water. It’s great to know you don’t have to worry about it accidentally falling off of a counter or getting wet. I’d say it’s worth the extra money.

Rugged and waterproof, but takes lousy pictures
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Olympus Stylus 1030SW 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Wide Angle Zoom (Silver)

This is a nice camera if you’re looking primarily for a camera that is small, rugged, and waterproof. However, if you’re looking for a camera that takes great pictures – keep looking. The image quality is terrible so forget the 10.1 mega pixel feature. And since the 3.6 optical zoom is hardly enough to zoom in on far away objects the poor image quality becomes a big deal. When you crop a photo in an attempt to “zoom” digitally, you can see terrible pixilation, grain, and blur.

I considered sending the camera back to Amazon, but decided to keep it for taking photos in the water. If I didn’t want that feature I would have definitely returned it for something else.

Update – December 12, 2009

I replaced this camera with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 12MP Digital Camera with 4.6x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Orange) and couldn’t be happier! The photo quality is strikingly superior. Even the new models from Olympus are no better. Read the following article for a nice 3rd party review.

[...]

Camera Leaks DO NOT PURCHASE
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Bought this camera for our 12 day adventure trip to Costa Rica. Camera stopped working after day 6. Was extra careful to check all seals before using in water. After one day of canyonering and rappeling down waterfalls, another day of zip lining in the rain, some light use in the pool and a brief moment in the ocean it died. LCD went dead and camera was full of water. Camera was never more that a foot or two under water. Looked like the water had been in there for a while too since it came out green colored and the battery contact points were corroded. Have not even had a chance to see how the 300 or more pictures I took came out. Hopefully I can retrieve the pics from the M card. It looks like a sealed unit and is not corroded. Guy on our canyoneering trip noticed the camera and mentioned that he bought the same one for his trip as well and it died 6 days after he was using it in the ocean for surfing shots. Very disapointed. I am now past the 14 day return policy date too. Looks like the fun is just beginning on this purchase. Will add more details after I try to resolve this issue.

TOTALLY AMAZING CAMERA
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Olympus Stylus 1030SW is the coolest camera I’ve ever seen!!! I just got back from the beach with my family and it worked great. We had a ball with it in the ocean and now have some great memories to boot!!! The picture quality couldn’t be better (as long as you use good photography techniques, you cant fight physics). I took video of myself and family riding waves in the ocean and it looks amazing. This camera is a great product that I am recommending to all my friends and family. Also, as a creative arts director for a non-profit I will be recommending its purchase by all of our new recruits.

-Make sure you buy a huge memory card though…I have the 2gig and it allows almost 2 hrs of video.

-The floating wrist strap is a must if you intend to use the camera anywhere near moving water.

Great Job Olympus!!!!

Great Camera for Outdoors
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Previously, I owned a Samsung digital camera which performed quite well in outdoors but not very resistant to be used outdoors. This Olympus camera is simply awesome. You can take it wherever you want and it will resist almost everything. I love to do four-wheeling in mud, snow, deserts, forests all the four seasons and of course go to the beach and sea and I have no complains about this camera.

Clearly it is not a DSRL camera but you will get very decent high quality pictures.

Poor quality / Good features
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
The camera has cool features that you will not find on most digital cameras including the fact that it is crush proof, water proof, and freeze proof. These are all great but the quality of the pictures is lacking. I tried many different settings and set the size and the quality to the maximum size but the quality still suffered. I gave this camera 2 stars out of 5 because of the poor quality which is unacceptable for a camera at this price range and also the fact that this is the 3rd generation of these cameras. The quality of the pictures is more important to me than all of the features I mentioned above which is why I returned this camera and purchased a Canon Powershot SD790-IS. My previous camera was a Canon which I loved so I decided to stick with what I know will not disapoint me.

If somewhat grainy and fuzzy pictures do not bother you and you need something that can handle rough terrain, kids, or clumsy hands than this camera is for you. If you are like me and prefer nice quality photographs than I recommend you steer clear.

Great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I saw this camera at a dive show. The Olympus rep placed the camera flat and then hit the LCD with a closed fist. I’ve broken many a point N shoot, so after seeing that, I figured this one would last a bit longer. I just returned from Little Cayman. The camera was dropped, it still worked; submerged in salt water, still worked; submerged in a pitcher of beer, still worked; and subjected to normal stresses found on a bouncing boat and it still works! The battery lasted for several days prior to needing a recharge. The UW pics turned out ok. Most required some color correction but nothing horrible. I’d like if the camera would record in RAW. For snorkeling, this would be great or shallow dives.

Not really waterproof….
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I am not happy with this product at all. It is supposed to be a waterproof camera and that is why you pay a little more when you buy it. It is supposed to be good at 33ft. under water but the first time I used it inside the swimingpool with the kids it was full of water and stopped working. I don’t call this a waterproof camera so don’t buy it if that is what you want to use it for.

Battery Charging
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
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?

Excellent Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an excellent camera. My husband bought it for me for our trip to Hawaii after my Pentax waterproof camera broke. It takes great terrestrial photos as well as underwater photos. The battery lasts fairly well, and the charger is small and compact. It has many options of different modes, including a few different choices for underwater modes -which is great. It was a convenient size to make it easy to take anywhere. I also use Nikon D300 and this is great for when you just want to take snapshots and don’t want to take along a big camera.

Picture this
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is a good camera for on the go. Not the best but certainly not a loser. the photo quality at distance is not great but for everyday use is fine. In order to take video segments that are more than 10 seconds you need to buy the more expensive m+ card (which are not very fast) and download a patch that allow this camera to take long video segments.

Best camera in its class
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve always liked waterproof cameras, but this one takes it to a new level! Don’t have to worry about others taking pictures with it because they couldn’t break it even if they tried!

Good quality, decent features, and super strong. Love it!

A great choice for a tough point and shoot!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just upgraded to the Olympus Stylus 1030SW from the Olympus Stylus 770SW, and I’m definitely glad I did. This one has everything I loved about the 770 plus some improvements.

Olympus fixed the 2 biggest problems I had with the 770. First being that the only button that can power on the 1030 is the actual power button. On the 770, both the play button and the mode button could also power on the camera, which leads to drained batteries when they’re easily hit accidentally while in your pocket.

The other big problem that was fixed was the addition of the mode wheel (is that even what it’s actually called?). On the 770, I was always annoyed that if I wanted to switch to movie mode or one of the other scene modes from auto, I had to hit the mode button twice, select video (or whatever else I wanted), and then hit enter. Having a new baby and enjoying taking still pictures and video, it’s nice to now be able to switch very quickly just by turning the wheel between still and video.

What I’ve always loved about Olympus cameras and still holds up here, is that they’re well built. I’ve used a lot of friends cameras that are other brands (won’t mention any specifically), and a lot of them just feel really cheap and easily breakable. This camera is sturdy and with the added benefit of being waterproof, shockproof, and crushproof (all up to a certain point obviously), I never worry about accidentally breaking it. I know it can take a beating and still go strong.

I won’t complain about picture quality, as I think it’s just fine. Is it as good as my SLR? No, but I don’t expect it to be. This camera does everything I want it to do and the quality is very good.

I wanted to get the camera in black, but ended up with green since for some reason there’s an almost 200 dollar difference. Looking at the pictures, I wasn’t crazy about the green but wasn’t about to pay so much more just for a difference in color. I was pleasantly surprised when I received the camera that the green looks much better in person than it does in the photo. I actually really like the green now, much more than the silver that I had the 770 in.

I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a point and shoot that you can take absolutely anywhere!

What a disappointment
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I read the reviews about poor, grainy picture quality-they all sounded like they came from more experienced photographers so I figured an amateur like myself would never notice. WRONG! We bought this camera because our old Sony wasn’t taking pictures like it used to after being abused by our two young boys for 5 years-even after all that, our old Sony takes better pics at the lowest resolution (under 1 megapixel)in bad lighting than the Olympus at the highest megapixel (10.1) in good lighting. We tried everything and couldnt get a picture that wasn’t grainy, at best. Also, DON’T EVEN TRY to take pics at a sporting event-the shutter speed and reset is so slow that I took a picture of my 5 year old son getting handed the football at the 20 yard line and it didn’t reset until after he was done celebrating in the end zone. At his Kindergarden graduation he had to walk 100 feet to the podium…I could only take one shot it was SO SLOW. Definitely a DO NOT BUY…a terrible shame considering how cool the Shockproof, Waterproof features are.

1030sw – great product!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I love the camera! The versatility is amazing. It has many “quick expert mode” settings, that make it very easy to use. My only wish is that the shutter button and the lens, are a little closer to the center of the camera. It would make it much easier to use with one or two hands.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This Camera takes excellent pictures for something that fits in your pocket. Always handy, it provides a means to capture those shots that would get away if you had to drag around a big Camera. The Macro also works excellent.

durable, compact, nice pictures
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was worried that this camera would not have the quality of pictures that it does due to some reviews. I like the features and is really easy to use. The size is nice, and fits well in a pocket. I’ve taken super pictures with the macro setting. It is also nice when there is a bright light behind the object of focus. I have only taken it about a foot underwater so far, but has taken decent pictures in murky water. I am active outdoors, I scuba dive, snorkel, raft, snowboard etc. and I think this camera is ideal for me. It is a point and shoot and has limited capabilities, but I was not looking for a SLR camera.

Beware of leak problems
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Bought this camera to take pictures while snorkeling. Tested it in a bathtub for leakage before packing for vacation, and all was well with no leaks. But after only two pictures in the water while snorkeling the camera stopped working. Maybe I should’ve tested it in salt water! The camera would not turn on. All I got were the dreaded chimes of death. I called Olympus service and they sent me a link to request a service repair. You have to send in a copy of your sales receipt, the warranty card, and a brief description of the problem. Sent it by priority mail (cost about $5) on the Friday after returning from vacation. Olympus made the warranty repair and returned it to me the following Friday! That was quick. They even got rid of some scratches on the camera’s front black face. All works fine now, although I’m not sure that I will try it in water again! The attached repair packing slip just said “liquid damaged”. So the bad news is that the camera is not necessarily water-proof, but the good news (at least for me) was the super fast warranty repair. And I agree with everyone who say that the photo quality from this camera is subpar.

Be Careful: Does not work with card readers, and poor tech support
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This camera is OK. The wide zoom and durability features are great for the way my department it – to take pictures of construction sites. There is one big problem, though: Olympus built software into this camera that prevents the xD card from being read in anything other than an Olympus card reader.

When I called Olympus tech support for a solution, their response was rude and aggravating. The tech basically told me they did this because they sell a card reader, and if I wanted to use a card reader, I had to buy theirs. Or, I could plug the camera into the PC. I sent the letter below to Olympus tech support email. It will be interesting to see if/how they respond.

MY LETTER TO OLYMPUS TECH SUPPORT AFTER A BAD TELEPHONE SUPPORT EXPERIENCE:

I just bought a new Stylus 1030SW for my department. I thought it was a great little camera, until I needed some tech support.

Here’s the problem:

This is a department camera. The goal was to make it available to all of my product managers, and let each of them have their own storage cards. We need the ability to read the storage cards through a card reader, because plugging the camera into the PC is not practical. I’ve never had a problem with this in the past, and I own an Olympus C7070 Wide Zoom that works fine. Unfortunately, with this new Stylus, when I plug into the card reader, I get an error message that the card needs to be formatted. If I format the card in the reader, when I put it back in the camera, the camera says it needs to format the card. Ugh!

I need a solution that does not involve plugging the camera directly into the PC (impractical because the camera might be out on another job) and does not involve buying an additional card reader (impractical because I already have a multi-card reader plugged into my PC, and I use it to read cards from other cameras, and I don’t need any more network drive conflicts right now).

Please provide an acceptable solution. I would hate to have to return this camera, because I like the size and functionality. I just don’t like the inclusion of proprietary software that doesn’t add any consumer benefits.

F@#$KEN GREAT
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
ALL I CAN SAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE BEEN THIKING ABOUT BUYING A CAMERA

DON’T BUY THIS ONE IT’S F*^%$KEN GREAT

This camera does it all
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
and is easy to use…great user interface. Underwater movies with sound is a cool feature. Just when you think you have all the features you need, you read the instructions and find that there are many more that are easily mastered and a lot of fun. Get the floating wrist strap and take it on a snorkeling trip.

exactly what I thought it would be
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
When I first heard that Olympus was making a waterproof digital camera line, I instantly wanted one. I have been an Olymus owner for countless years through several different models. I’m always taking pictures and end up buying waterproof disposable cameras far too often! Months passed and I sort of forgot about it until a friend showed me her 1030 she recently purchased.

In all of my research (a ritual for me before buying anything over 100 dollars) I read several reviews that gave the camera great ratings and some that mentioned poor picture quality, difficulty finding settings for taking different types of photos, and faulty waterproof features. I was a little disheartened. Still I figured if my friend had one and loved it than maybe I should give it a try.

I’ve had my 1030 for a little over a month and LOVE this camera! If you have used Olympus digitals before the menu and settings are pretty standard with a few new features. I find them very simple and easy to use. It even does well when just left on the auto setting.

As far as picture quality goes, it can be awesome at times and sometimes a little faulted. Mostly the pictures that don’t come out great are that way due to my improper use of the camera functions ( I need to take a little time to play with more of the settings), or in water situations a droplet getting on the lens (which is to be expected at times and doesn’t really bother me). Being able to have a camera in water is worth a few botched shots, especially when its digital and you can see that there’s a problem and fix it right away. The way I figure it, if I wanted the most fantastic and perfect pictures ever I wouldn’t be looking for a durable waterproof camera. It is what it says it’s going to be, end of story.

In reading the manual, I came to find out that this camera cannot be guaranteed waterproof after being immersed in water for over an hour. The people who gave the reviews saying that it was in fact not waterproof all had theirs in water for much longer. One person had it in for over three hours! I find it awesome that it lasted that long! I’ve been dipping, dunking, splashing, and dropping mine all over the place and it is still as good as new.

In short, if you are looking for a durable waterproof camera that can take quality photos of your expeditions, vacations, fun times, and memorable moments, this is the one for you!

Great little camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera for an upcoming trip to Costa Rica for 3 months. I wanted something lightweight and rugged – and this fit the bill. I normally use a Canon Powershot S2 IS – this is my first camera outside of the Cannon family, and I’ve had quite a few dating back to the Canon AE-1 SLR. I was sold by the Olympus 1030SW because of its underwater capabilities, and it’s “crushproof”-ness. My Canon Elf traveled around in my pocket to all the college clubs and parties, and eventually the LCD screen broke. Since that, I have been more aware of how neglectful I can be of my electronics, so I was willing to pay the $$ to have a camera that is practically indestructible. I have yet to test the underwater capabilities.

I looked at the 790SW model, but was interested in greater underwater depth capability, and after checking them both out at my local retailer, I liked the feel of the 1030 – it just seemed to be more heavy duty.

I have been very impressed with the pictures I’ve taken so far. For a point and shoot, I really like the range of options I have. The macro function performs nicely, in both low and high lighting conditions. The “natural light” mode is by far my favorite, I personally dislike photos that look whitewashed by a flash when it’s hardly necessary to the photo. On auto the pictures look good – your average point and shoot. The shutter speed is much better than my Cannon S2, and so far the battery life has been great as well. Many of the features I haven’t had a chance to use in the month I’ve had the camera, but if I have any issues I’ll be sure to update this review!

I’m giving it 4 stars because of the price. You pay a premium at this point because it was just released and for all the “shockproof/waterproof/etc” capabilities. If that’s what you are looking for, then it’s great. If you are looking for excellent quality photos, and don’t care much about where the camera goes and what conditions it works in, then I’d shop around for a more affordable option.

I’ll update this post CR with results from the trip…

Vacation Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am aware that the reviews rate this camera inferior to others. However, if you want a camera that you can use anywhere, this is the camera for you. it take great underwater movies and I am quite satisfied with the Quality of almost all the shots I took. I took pictures in the water of a tow banana boat that I could not let go of more than one hand and they turned out great. Of course I didn’t know that until after the ride.

Great camera (for what it’s designed for).
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
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.

Great Little Rugged/Waterproof/Take-It-Anywhere Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I did a lot of research looking for a replacement for my aging Pentax 43WR. I wanted rugged, waterproof, compact & capable of unlimited 640x480x30fps video with sound as we go rafting, to the water park, etc and movie clips of good times are a must with us. The earlier Olympus SW series didn’t meet all my requirements but the new 1030SW looked very promising, especially with the firmware update that allows for unlimited video when using the Olympus M+ xD memory card. Now that I’ve had it for awhile, here are my thoughts:

Pros: Small, rugged, waterproof, easy to use for most simple point&shoot shots, good pics (not as good as my DSLR shots but then it goes where the DSLR can’t) & good videos w/sound.

Cons: Uses proprietary battery & memory card if you want unlimited video (annoying but minor), no optical viewfinder for those rare times the LCD display washes out, battery drains quickly when transferring pics to computer (I suggest the optional DC power supply & adapter, adapter should be part of the basic camera kit but isn’t).

Bottom line: If your emphasis is on rugged/waterproof & small enough to take anywhere then seriously consider this camera. Pics aren’t DSLR quality but then it’s not made to compete w/DSLR’s and the handiness, ruggedness & video capabilities more than make up for pic quality for my needs. If it had an optical viewfinder I’d give it 5 stars in spite of the proprietary battery, adapter & memory card.

Great purchase for its purpose.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Great camera if you want/need a waterproof/shockproof camera.

The image quality for pictures taken outdoors is great. But it is really not good for indoor pictures with high ISOs, the pictures becomes extremely pixelated and grainy. I wish they had used a better processor for higher ISO pictures. But if waterproof is the ultimate goal this is definitely the way to go. I took some great pictures underwater and outdoors in general. Nice size and robust built. High recommend for its purpose but if artistic/great shots is your goal, go for a DSLR. This is a bit pricey too, and I got it because I broke my last two cameras because of water spills.

I absolutely love it! Friend used mine in Cabo, bought one on his return.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great pocket camera. period. it shoots fabulous pictures, great video… oh and it never leaves your pocket so it’s always available.

That was my biggest complaint with my other fancier cameras. I’d bring this expensive, cool camera on vacation and then because i was going to the beach I’d leave it in the hotel… or bring it with and have a friend “watch” it while we went in the ocean. I hated that.

Now I stick the camera in my pocket, we went horseback riding, swimming in the pool (took underwater shots), lounging on the beach, kayaking, deep sea fishing, and swimming in the ocean (took underwater and in/out of water shots there too). Yeah!

I have shots of all of that from our adventures so far… not to mention great distance shots from a hike into the snow and a Mirror Lake.

I can’t say enough great things.

Is it a $1000 Digital SLR with $1000 interchangeable lenses? Nope. One of my great friends is a pro photographer, so I occasionally get to play with her toys and her glass… amazing. But convenience and always having it available for shots is more important to me. Will I buy an expensive, awesome Digital SLR… probably…but I still won’t get rid of my waterproof great pocket shooter.

I’d recommend getting two of the xD cards (I have 2x2Gig). I went for the Olympus brand so I could use their panoramic feature… however to date I’ve never used it. I use Google Picasa or Windows Live Photo Gallery to do my panoramic photo collage creations with no special hardware. I also bought two batteries for convenience… although this thing is incredible on batteries (IMHO).

One last thing. I’m a scuba diver too. I bought the Olympus case that fits this camera for diving and took it down to Mexico. Worked like a charm and a friend just borrowed it for their trip to Kona. Goes down to 140′. (Note: as will all diving camera setups, good maintenance, condensation packs, and a final check on that O ring should keep you out of trouble.)

Enjoy!

Very nice camera and works great underwater
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Very nice camera. Great underwater shots including video. I Highly recommend this camera if you are in and around water on a vacation or have a pool at home.

Defect in the Olympus Stylus 1030sw
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
The Olympus Stylus 1030SW has been shipping with a known defect by Olympus. In the video recording mode the sound track contains a popping sound. It is generated by any touching of the camera. Olympus is supposedly coming out with a firmware fix in September. The buyer should beware of this problem and perhaps wait to purchase until a fix is incorporated in the cameras.

i didn’t even rough it up but the rubber on the front bailed in a few months!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
i must say i was very considerate with this camera…i wasn’t all happy with the pictures i got..they weren’t sharp especially in low light, the flash was no good (it just blinds you yet the range was pathetic) and the colors were just wrong but i thought it was FAIR since i had to sacrifice quality pictures as long as i could “take it anywhere”, “drop it”, “get it underwater”..i got to use the underwater feature in a pool one time and i still babied it since it wasn’t scratchproof..then i noticed the rubber on the front was wobbly and protruding..now i cant trust it to be anythingproof! its just wrong! i didn’t even get to optimize the features and it bails on me just like that! now i have to get it fixed making it more costly than it already is, such a hassle! i didn’t give it a 1-star rating since i can still take pictures with it..but not being able to get it wet even with a little drizzle loses the whole purpose of buying it!

Excellent – the 3rd one we’ve purchased!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve bought two of these for my company and one for personal use. I’m considering another for personal… it is an excellent camera with outstanding durability. On top of it all, it takes beautiful, clear, crisp pictures withOUT a delay! Only my very expensive DSLR is faster, but not by much!!

A must have for everyone who enjoys photography, but wants to have something they can take anywhere, regardless of the weather, and fit it in their pocket or purse.

Steer clear of this camera or prepare to get burned
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
My Olympus Stylus 1030 SW had a water leak when I took it snorkeling to the beach. I’ve had this camera for only 13 months from when purchased brand new. Before going into the water I took a few pictures and it was working as expected, then I got to swimming and then took the camera out for my snorkeling partner to take a picture. The LCD never turned on and the little amber LED next to the dial was blinking trying to tell me something as well as the camera giving it’s audible funeral tones. The lens cover worked for some time while holding the camera above the water and turning it on and off, so at the moment I still had a pulse from the camera. I took it out of the water immediately but after my resuscitation attempts and letting it dry with it’s guts to the sun, it was clear that Olympus had ran away with my money. I must say that I never trusted the battery door latch and sealing molding on this camera and it finally failed to keep the water out. The paint on the face of the camera has started to peel off and the metal square around the lense has shifted; signs of its flawed design since I have never even dropped the camera, plus it has always been handled like a stick of dynamite while in my ownership. I found the picture quality average at best, but it worked, so no complaints there. The thing that this camera had going with me was that it was “water-proof”. I’m currently looking to jump ship to a better brand/quality of under water camera after my Olympus mistake, as I’m not even going to try to get it fixed, instead I’m going to let it swim with the fishes. I am dissatisfied with the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW and do NOT recommend it to anyone willing to listen. Olympus should go back to the drawing board with this camera and fix its shortcomings, ie. the water leak problem through the battery door due to a flimsy sealing rubber molding, the paint peeling off problem and lense frame that just comes loose, which happened to me or just falls off the camera, which people have documented. Until Olympus corrects these problems with this otherwise sharp looking camera, the Olympus Stylus 1030SW makes for a luxurious paper weight for any occasion. Get yours now!..

Love it!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great investment! Love the camera and all of its features. It also has the capability of going deeper in water with the underwater case! Would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a waterproof, shock proof camera…

I love having a compact, on the go, rugged, waterproof camera that can take movies, and print posters.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my 3rd digital camera and the best one yet. I love it! I have had it for 3 months and already dropped it over 6 feet, left it out in the rain and hot sun, banged it around hiking and climbing, shot under water photos, taken spur of the moment action photos, day and night, cloudy and sunny, interior room photos, landscapes, close ups, macro, portrait, panorama, made movies, and made web page pictures, photos of art collection, as well as photographs to hang in an art show.

It is so easy to use, compact, durable, rugged, waterproof and makes great pictures that can be blown up to poster size. The macro settings are very good, and the wide angle is a plus. The underwater settings are great for use day and night. The LCD is big and bright and easy to use without glasses, the buttons and menus are laid out and designed in a manner that is intuitive making it very user friendly.

Most of my photography is of paranormal phenomena and at night. My pictures are very detailed not too much noise or grain. I have printed up large 13″ x 19″ photos that are exquisite in detail and color. I haven’t even explored all of the features yet. One is the built in LCD light, shadow adjustment, shoot and select, and there are many more hidden goodies.

When researching cameras, I thought that not having manual control was going to be a compromise. Wanting a wide angle lens was a priority for me, big and bright LCD, another was ease of operation for spur of the moment photos. Having many SLR cameras, carting around extra lenses, batteries, flash, and etc., and making sure to have the right setting was time consuming, cumbersome and burdensome, and felt like work. Put it in your purse, pocket, bathing suit, so easy to carry, turn it on, dial in a scene mode and shoot! It is so fun and in the moment! Take as many pictures as you want. You can make movies to your hearts content. There is a lot of versatility and room for creativity with this point and shoot. Having a camera always with me and ready to quickly capture those odd moments is such a delight and I have some amazing photos of lights, orbs, bugs and things that go bump in the night.

Buy it, Love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Green for some reason is cheaper than the others but I can’t see why, its better looking in person.

Bought this camera and simply love it. It takes any video length I want. Pictures look great. Videos look great. Its durable, waterproof etc.. Easy to operate and sleek. I didn’t find anything I didn’t like about it. My dell studio and dell inspiron both take the sd card so no cables needed to upload my pictures and video.

I wasn’t sure I would need waterproof, but I have taken it to the lake and made underwater vids just because I can. It also came in handy at a big waterfall with lots of spray, not to mention rain wont stop you from snapping away. I have dropped it 2x with no ill affects. The battery lasts forever! I charged it 3x in 7 months with moderate use. It also takes micro sd with the provided adapter.

I am very pleased with the purchase and expect it to last for a while. Feels nice and solid in my hands.

Durable point-and-shoot for the outdoors
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera to replace my old powershot SD700, which broke when it was dropped onto a carpeted floor from a height of maybe 4 feet. Overall, I’m happy with the Olympus, but it falls short of my SD700 in a few areas.

Pros:

- The Olympus is smaller than I expected. It fits easily into my pocket and is not cumbersome to carry around on backpacking trips, for example.

- This thing is durable. You can feel the “sturdiness.” I added a screen protector from bestskinsever, and now I feel like it’s indestructible. I never worry about it.

- It does a great job with macros (close-ups). It even has a special macro mode that uses a small, built-in LED to light your subject. Very nice feature.

- It has an impressive zoom; better than the 3X of my old SD700.

- It has an impressively high-res CCD: 10.1MP; again, better than my old SD700.

Cons:

- My old SD700 still took better pictures. I can’t think of a way to quantify this qualitative observation, but I think it’s true. I recently went on a backpacking trip and my buddy brought his camera, which happened to be an SD700. We took pictures of the same scenery, but the Fall colors looked more vibrant through his camera. Images also seem…”sharper” with the SD700, despite the megapixel advantage of the Olympus. Maybe someone who knows more about cameras could explain this.

- There are a handful of different acquisition settings on the Olympus, but navigating to them is not very intuitive and definitely not very fast.

- There’s no real manual control of things like shutter speed, etc.

I use this camera for all of my outdoor activities: backpacking, snowboarding, climbing, and trips to the beach. That’s what this thing was made for, and it feels good to carry it around in my pocket or toss it into my gear bag without worrying about it breaking like my other cameras. The pictures it takes are good enough for me, but are out-shined even by older, cheaper cameras of the same size. If you get this camera, you’ll like it. Just keep in mind that you’re paying quite a premium for durability.

great all around…can take it anywhere and the pictures are amazing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camer to take on trips. Awesome for pool parties…No need to woryy about breaking it and it takes very good quality pictures.

Great Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I love my new camera. I am not, by any means, a professional but it does everything I wanted it to do. I carry it with me all the time because it is so small and lightweight. I took it kayaking and got some great photos and did not have to worry about it getting wet. I also took it to an amusement park and on all the water rides. I live in a wooded area with a lot of wildlife. I have been able to get some awesome photos of the deer through windows from inside the house so as not to scare them. Yes it does have one issue, you have to be careful not to put fingers in front of the shutter, but that’s easy to learn. I am very happy with my purchase.

The best camera ever
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera because my old camera was stolen. I previously owned the Olympus 720 SW.

The 1030SW is absolutely awesome. It is SOOOOO much more user friendly than the other one I had and it takes much better pictures and video. Adjusting the settings to best fit lighting and movement is idiot proof. PLUS….it’s freeze proof, water proof, dust proof and impact resistant! Which makes it PERFECT for snowboarding, snorkling, four wheeling, paragliding, surfing, swimming…you name it! It is the BEST camera available for adventurous people who love an adrenaline rush….it is the only camera that can keep up with me

Great Sports Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
You can take it anywhere (beach, snow, underwater) and do not have to worry about it getting damaged.

I have tried it 28 feet under water, went rafting, kayaking, canopy, and recorded videos while diving into the water and it still works.

Good quality pics, up to 10 MP, lots of digital functions for you to play with in different environments.

Flash is not that strong, but is does the work.

You have to clean your camera every day after any extreme sport because dirt tends to get inside the water seals and in may lose its waterproof features. It’s an easy clean up though.

Olympus Stylus 1030SW
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is a great beach camera. It is waterproof to 33 Ft and can withstand bumping and banging. It was fun to take it in the water and shoot pictures snorkeling, boating, swimming, etc. The picture quality is very good, but we did have some issues with the video. When zooming in while taking a video, the video quality became very blurry. Also, the way the camera is designed your fingers get in the way of the speaker and you end up with a bumping noise on your videos. The only other complaint is that while the camera itself is durable, the finish on the camera scratches easily. After only a few days of use, it looked very ‘beat up’. While this doesn’t affect how it works, it looks bad cosmetically.

Olympus 1030SW
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I recently purchased this camera. After looking at many — I previously owned a HP 797 — top of the line 4 years ago and loved it. My new camera is great. I purchased it because I can take it under water up to 30′ and take pictures when I snorkel. The only thing I miss is the view finder — I have to take pictures using the screen on the back of the camera. Just a retraining of where to look. It is easy to use — again just retraining myself to use different buttons. I like to 10.1 mp for a point and shoot camera. The price thru Amazon.com was good too.

Good camera, not problem free
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
For the most part this is a good camera. I bought it for it’s durability and compactness. The photos are quality, the camera is easy to use and it has a lot of nice photo options. Panarama mode is not perfect, but nice. You can edit photos right on the camera. This was a great purchase for what I wanted…a good second camera for extreme winter conditions. My complaints are the following: Battery life: By the end of the day, I was already getting a message battery was low…disappointment when you have to ration your photo selection. Speed of use: When you are in the SCN mode, everytime you turn the camera on, you have to confirm that you want that setting. I kept the camera in Landscape mode and everytime I turned it on, I had to answer “yes” I wanted to be in that mode. Also, any changes I made to this setting (like light balance), I had to reset every time I turned the camera on. Also, the flip open cover is nice, but it easily slides open and turns the camera on as you slide it into your pocket.

Don’t get me wrong. I am satisfied with the camera all around, these are minor complaints (except battery life).

Worst service by merchant
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I ordered a green camera but the merchant Amazon assigned shipped me a silver one. Reason? They didn’t have one. They asked me to return it for credit but by that time I needed a camera. Now I am stuck with a camera I did not want.

Just bad people.

Great Pictures
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I took this out on father’s day. I used it to take some surfing pictures in the ocean and some wine tasting pictures in Temecula and all turned out great. It’s very easy to use and I really like the casing.

Wasn’t quite a good as I would have hoped
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I dropped my Canon 800si camera and the shutter quit working. Since it was over the warranty period, I bought this camera as a replacement since it looked so cool. I found it not to be as good as my Canon for zooming and picture quality even though my Canon was a 7.1 megapixel and this one is a 10 megapixel. I should have bought another Canon 800si.

Great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is versatile, easy to use and takes great pictures. Although I have not tried the underwater movie mode yet, I look forward to doing that this summer. Its heavy-duty design takes the worry out of the camera being knocked about. I ordered the strap with the carabiner-type clip for easier attachment to a backpack or belt. This camera, so far, seems to be worth the money.

Pretty cool…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Hey, it’s waterproof and shock proof. Nice for travel with the kids!!! Just wish the zoom was a little better for a 10 mp camera.

great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
very good camera! rivals my nikon d80 shots! great for beach pictures and when raining/drizzling outside!

This was a great buy!

Great but lacking some manual features
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love all the features this camera has, I’m not going to get into them because you already know them if you are reading the reviews.

The fast start up is great but if you are in “Scene” mode you must press the “OK” button before you can take pictures.

The biggest thing for me is that the slowest shutter speed that I can get is 1/4 sec at f3.5. This doesn’t work in super low light situations and is frustrating. I realize that most point and shoot users just turn on the flash, while the flash has a time and place it isn’t always the best choice.

You will notice that despite the fast shutter speed I still gave the camera 5 stars. I love it!

ive abused it, no worries
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
seriously, ive abused this camera and it works great! Ive brought it snorkeling, sandy beaches, snow skiing(not very good fell many times on it)ive dropped it in alcohol drinks as pranks, thrown it in pools and dropped it a bunch of times..this thing works great,

took some funny pictures and videos, with no worries..i love that i dont worry about it at all..there have a BUNCH of instances where if it would have been a regular camera it would have been ruined from people just spilling things on tables or dropping it. it’s hilarious to mess with people that dont know its waterproof..although it’s pretty well known now

the only thing i can say i dont like about it is for when you take off the flash, if you are not perfectly still the picture will be fuzzy..

the only issue ive had with the camera is a sticking lens cover sometimes and that is because i didnt rinse the camera well after whatever mess it was in..but i would soak it or run some water and poof working again..

honestly a great camera, and it is the only one i buy..i bought the first one when it came out…and just never bought anything else..so im currently on this one and was going to see about upgrading to the next level one the tough 8000..but there is not much of a difference, so i will stick with this one a little longer till they raise the depth and drop height.

Happy!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I love this camera! It’s a bit heavy, and a bit complicated to learn to use….but it is so awesome to take it into the water!! It opens up a whole new world of pictures!!!

Was this ever tested for water use??
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
We purchased this camera in April of 09, getting ready for a wonderful beach season….We used it at the beach the first time in June and from June to September, we had to return the camera for 3 times. It leaks, the seal does not hold in water, sand makes it mad and it just isn’t good quality for water use…Olympus cameras finally sent us a new one and it did the same thing…Costumer service was rude and started attempting to tell us how to use it correctly in the water..I read the directions, I knew how to use it. Don’;t waste your money on this one…go with a SeaLife camera.

Great Camera! You won’t be dissappointed!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I researched this camera heavily before purchasing it. I was even a bit skeptical with its claims of being waterproof, shockproof, etc. But in the end, I decided to give it a shot and I have not been disappointed.

This camera lives up to its promise. I tested it underwater and it took very nice pictures! Although, one thing you do need to keep in mind is that for the camera to stay functional, you need to follow the very simple upkeep instructions.

Image quality: Absolutely amazing. I bought a 2gb xd for the camera and on 10mp normal resolution you can take about 400 photos. I set my photos at 10mp fine resolution. I really like this feature because on my older camera, I had to convert the image to high-res after it was on the computer.

One thing with the image quality that you might need to watch out for: if you are shooting macro or super-macro, you’ll probably want to use a tripod. You can get a decent shot without one, but a tripod makes it soo much easier.

Another great thing about this camera is the battery. I wasn’t sure I was going to like having a battery you had to plug into the wall to charge but its great to not have to keep buying AAs all the time. The battery keeps a charge quite a few hours of fairly heavy use (constant zooming, turning off/on, viewing images, etc.) You can find replacement batteries for fairly cheap too. I found an offbrand battery for $[...] and free shipping on [...].

Also, in researching this camera, I found some links to the possibilities of photography with this camera.

Photos taken with Olympus 1030sw: [...]

Videos taken with Olympus 1030sw:[...]

UPDATE: Out of curiousity I’ve been checking up to see how people have liked this camera, to see how other people have been liking it.

I noticed some people have complained about bad picture quality in close up and that is most likely the users fault because of not using macro mode AND a tripod (which I said before).

And with the waterproof thing, you want to open the compartments up after you’ve used it to dab up any water that was sitting on the waterproof seals (Make sure you’re away from water at that point… and that you’re hands are dry). When I opened the camera up the last time I used it underwater, I noticed some water laying on the top of the battery, which I’m sure was due to the fact the I opened it upside-down. I’m assuming that the water that was being stopped by the seals has shifted from me opening the compartment. At that point, I just carefully dabbed the wetness with a dry paper towel and it was fine. Camera works perfect still. No problems with it that I have seen. Still a 5/5.

This camera is very user friendly, you just have to make sure keep it well. Follow the instructions and you’ll love it. Enough said.

Poor quality, not waterproof
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Do not buy this camera if you are planning to use it underwater. I used it for two days while snorkeling and the camera shut down and I was not able to use it for the rest of our vacation. The frame around the shutter fell off and all the black paint on the front of the camera came off. I sent it to Olympus and they sent it back painted with the metal frame glued back on, but they never addressed the waterproof issue.

The camera is a great idea, but the quality is terrible.

Perfect choice.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Looking for a durable camera for your thru-hike? You’ve found it. You can’t find another camera with comparable features, this has everything you need to make it from Mexico to Canada and then some. Make the right choice and get the one that will make it all the way with some really adverse conditions to go through and keep on working. You don’t want to miss any shots or worry about that last river crossing so get the camera that will get the job done and very well at that.

Great little camera – leaked once
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Well, I have had this camera for a year now and just sent it in for warranty repair.

The camera is versatile and takes great pictures.

The built-in software is superb and easy to navigate.

I have snorkelled down to about 25′ in Australia, Alaska (yes), Florida and the Caribbean with it and have gone Skiiing in North Carolina. Only once did it leak.

I dried it out and it has worked ever since.

However, due to the exposure to salt water, when it had leaked, the USB port began to give trouble connecting to the computer over a period of months until it finally failed. Thus it has gone in for warranty repair.

The Black trim on my camera did not last more than a few months before it began peeling off. So it you are planning to get one, get a silver model.

Also, it is a good idea to buy an extra battery to keep in rotation with the original. You never know when you may need it and face it, if you are out on an excursion, this doesn’t take AAA batteries, so you can’t just pop into a convenience store and solve your dead battery issues.

One hopes that in future models the leaking issue would be resolved. It only happened once to me, so I wouldn’t call it a problem with all the units made. Maybe it was a lemon. However, I went with the model that could go to 30ft, because I can freedive that easily.

It may be a good idea to get a silicone skin. My view screen is scratched up.

Would I buy again? Probably. This is my second unit as an upgrade from the 10ft depth model

Awesome Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I admit I was a little weary about buying this camera with all the mixed reviews. Most everyone seems to like it. The individuals who gave bad ratings sound like they are just having operator problems.

Works great in water. Takes good photos, but you’ll have to change some settings around to get it perfect. Setting it to auto usually doesn’t produce the best pictures.

I’ve already taken this camera skiing, sailing, spelunking, kayaking, hiking, and to grandma’s house to Christmas pictures. Perfect!!

Takes a ‘lickin and keeps on tickin!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
WHat an amazing camera! The video quality is great, picture quality is excellent. I recently took this camera on a 7-day cruise where I knew I would be snorkeling and spend most of my time underwater. I was afraid at first to get the baby wet…but it handles like a pro. My advice….USE THE DIFFERENT SETTINGS!!!!! They really made a difference between shooting landscapes, on the beach, in the water etc. I dropped this camera several times with not a single problem. it just works…. If you plan on shooting alot of video clips, I would recommend the special 2GB M type video card (it was less than $15 on amazon) I’s also recommend the floating wriststrap, which came in very handy while swimming….and yes it keeps the camera from sinking!). I can’t tell you how many people were asking me about my camera…they were so envious that I could take great digital photos without some bulky plastic camera housing!

Pros:

DURABLE …this thing took a beating

Great pre-settings for different conditions

Love the thumb wheel to toggle between camera and video and the Guide

big LCD screen

great mic quality when taking video

very sleek/slim design

worth every damn penny if you live outdoors!

came with mini SD card adapter

Cons:

Wrist strap doesn’t tighten to wrist ( i just took one off an older camera)

LCD screen is hard to see in sunny conditions ( but that’s with every LCD camera)

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I researched the heck out of this camera before buying it….it’s purpose was for our Disney trip, specifically the water parks. I tried it out at home in the pool and just love this camera. People are amazed at the underwater videos I’ve taken, and the pictures come out great too. Not so good on maximum zoom in low light, but that’s the only complaint. I got a 8gb microsd and came home from florida with 300 hundred photos and a TON of video, with a ton of memory to spare. This camera has given us video memories that NO OTHER little camera would do. My only suggestion is to keep an eye on the lens if you’re using it in the water. Sometimes a droplet of water will stay on the lens and show up on subsequent pictures. I just blow on it to get rid of any water. No viewfinder is really no problem….I haven’t used one since my first digi camera 10 years ago!!! I feel bad for those who have had trouble with this camera, because for me, it’s been amazing.

Final Thoughts – Great camera for what it’s meant to do. Good enough outside of the water.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
***Edit #2 – After using the camera a lot more, including in my pool, i’ve upgraded my rating to a 4 star. The underwater capabilities of this camera are great. Great photo quality (clearer the water, the better). Survivability of camera is also great. So far, 2 trips to the pool, approximately 30 min of consistent time under the water, including me jumping into the pool with the camera running – no significant issues so far. Quality of pics are great. Clear water provides great range. You can see the other end of the pool from the opposite end clearly. You will occasionally get bubbles that form on the lens and therefore, your image will contain this bubble, but, crap happens. the bubbles did not stay on the camera and that’s what’s important. I took a video of myslef jumping into the pool – no degradation in image quality nor issues with camera functionality. Worked great. No sound though for underwater movie mode – but it makes sense since otherwise, all you’d hear is water swooshing. You’re not buying this camera to listen to whales after all.

***

I’ve had this camera for a little over two weeks. Bought it so that i can take underwater images when in Hawaii. Haven’t tried out the waterproof aspect yet, but can go ahead and give some insight into the quality of its normal pics.

10 mp camera, but is limited to 3 mp images when shooting on some of the preset modes (scenes) – specifically candlelight images and other night-time image settings. If you don’t use the scene options, your images can be maxed at the 10 mp setting. Night images using scene (candlelight) were pretty grainy, so i’d avoid using that setting.

Normal daytime images were good. Crisp and clear. From power to first image – is really quick. However, taking one image at 10 mp causes a delay before you can take the next image of ~2 seconds. Unless you use the burst mode. 3-shot burst allows for 10 mp images, whereas the super 12 shot mode caps it again at 3 mp images.

People have written that the lcd screen is easy to see in any light from any angle. I discovered that this is not true. Taking an image into the sun (i know this isn’t recommended) while holding the camera up high (which people will use when at weddings to shoot over people’s heads) leads to glare. I had to guess what i was shooting at. I’d say image visibility on the lcd was ~50% when doing this.

Even given the above, i still like the camera a lot. Looks nice. Takes panoramic photos, battery lasts forever. Used it on and off for 4 days before it finally warned me of being low. Be careful b/c the battery indicator is deceiving. It said full for most of the time and then jumped to warning quick on me. Didn’t even notice any intermediate indication position.

I give it a 3 for now until i go and try out the underwater capability.

Edit #1: Forgot to mention that the menus are pretty easy to use. Scrolling wheel menu cycles between the different options. One touch photo preview. Icons are easy to understand.

I’ve tried using the macro and super macro – works really well. Good detail on the close images.

One other con though – could not for the life of me figure out how to get the face detection to work. I swear that it’ll sometimes follow a face and sometimes it’ll target a random cup. I don’t yet see an option in any of the menus that allows me to force it to do face rec every shot. Not a huge issue – but it’s a spec that is being advertised, therefore i expect it to work.

Already broken
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera to replace a stylus 770 that I had for a couple years. I thought Olympus made great cameras and I loved the fact these are waterproof especially since I am studying abroad in the Caribbean this semester– too bad I won’t get to capture any memories.. the screen on this camera broke within the first week. I will be sending this camera back, and not investing in another Olympus

Awesome
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this camera!!! It takes beautiful picts both wet and dry. We were just on vacation in Hawaii and used it on a sailing trip with lots of splashing water and underwater in salt and fresh water as well as dry land shooting. For the most part the lens squeegee works real well. The pictures are sharp. Remember underwater shots are as good as the water is clear. I plan to use the camera for underwater shots of synchronized swimming. The video is great both on land and underwater.

Mine failed in the water also
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Same as most everyone else, after a week, my camera just stopped functioning, and looking inside I found water, corroded battery points, etc. I did recover the pictures and plenty had water spots (condensation) blocking the images–I’m bummed.

If I were to buy one now, I’d only purchase at a bricks and mortar store of repute, because there is a good chance you’ll be bringing it back. Then, Once home, test it rigorously for a week–get it underwater at least a few feet for a half hour to test out the seals…before you take it on your once-in-a-lifetime vacation. I believe that they can’t ALL be as bad as mine…but you better test it and make sure when you are still in warrantee, etc. (A spritz of water is not a test–leave it in the bathtub overnight–the seals need to feel some water pressure. good luck!

Keeps leaking, sending back for the 3rd time
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Decent little camera, if it only worked as advertised. I really liked the idea of having a smaller outdoor based camera that could take a little pounding and still function. Especially was high on it being waterproof and being able to take pictures in the pool. Heck, their advertisement shows 2 people cliff jumping with the camera into the water.

Due to it’s waterproof requirements, I expected it to be limited in image quality and features (compared to non WP counterparts)…but it still takes decent shots for a point and shoot. I didn’t have too high of expectations other then the basics and it’s SW features.

Definitely not a good camera for taking pictures in non-optimal lighting scenarios. Tried to take pictures of my son playing Mighty Mites soccer inside a gym…and unless they are close enough for a fill flash or standing still, you aren’t going to get much. Inside it’s not all that great either, but when there is enough natural light…pictures are much better. Definitely harder to see the LCD in bright light, but not surprised. Battery life is much shorter then expected, but I also kind of knew that going in.

Problems started when I took it into the water for the first time, which was where I was the most excited about using;-(. I ended up taking it into a swimming pool (shallow end, never more then a foot or 2 under water). At first, it was too good to be true. Was working like a charm and enabled me to be pretty creative. Then after a couple of minutes, the LCD screen started changing to almost like looking at a Black and White negative, where I could barely make out shapes. Then it soon turned all while and I couldn’t see anything. I would check it about every couple of hours, and it took roughly 1.5 days for the camera to “dry out” and for the LCD to return to normal.

Called their support line, tech says to send it in (on my dime) to get it repaired. Took the repair facility about a week to repair. As soon as I got it back, tested again in the water. After about 1 – 2 minutes in the water, same thing…sigh. called Olympus back up, they requested that I send it in for repair again (at least this time on their dime). Got it back after another week of being with out a camera. As soon as I could, tried it in a sink full of water…so far so good. Took it to the pool the next morning….same problem again!!! Just got off the phone with Olympus Support a few minutes ago, requesting that I send it in again where they will evaluate either “fixing” it again or “potentially replacing”. So we’ll see.

I’d have rated it 3 or 4 stars if it was actually WP and I wasn’t having all this back and forth with Olympus. Unfortunately, there weren’t very many options for other outdoor/WP cameras when I bought this back in January of ’09. Now, I’d probably be considering a different model (Cannon probably) since I haven’t been very satisfied with the Olympus product.

Camera for the Desert
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
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.

Great Camera, except for zoom and black color panel
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have the black version of this camera and I have loved using it. I have put it through a lot and tried it in many different conditions and it has been great. The only drawbacks are the minimal zoom, the fact that it does not have zoom while in video mode, and the color panel (in my case, black) on the front has gotten really scratched. The black has been scratched away in places to reveal the silver camera underneath. I wish I had known about this scratch problem because I would have chosen the silver camera instead.

Overall, I am very pleased with this camera and it works perfectly with the recommended 2G chip. Holds tons of pictures and videos.

so disappointing
Rating:1 out of 5 stars

I used my new Olympus 1030 SW on a trip to Grand Cayman, after the first use in water it kept reading a message that there was a compartment open, which I could not see. The next day I was able to use it and I took hundreds of pics. Some were awesome and others grainy, but then again it stopped working saying there was a compartment open. I returned it; got a new one. Took some really great pics out of water, then the first time in the water after taking a few pics it just turned off and turning it on did not do a thing. I am returning it luckily within 30 days. But I am extremely disappointed in this product.

Anywhere Anytime the Stylus 1030 SW the Best
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Muy buen producto, es una Camara diseñada para tipo de actividades, he usado las diferentes funciones y todas responden perfectamente, en nevadas en dias soleados en el interior de la casa en todas partes las fotografias son muy buenas, en algunos casos hay que definir las condiciones para tomar las fotos con mas claridad, pero es un proceso muy simple un gran producto como todo lo que Produce Olympus America.

I Love me new Stylus 1030 SW its ready for Scuba dive, mountain climb and adventurer It is shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, crushproof and dustproof and delivering amazing images while enduring extreme expeditions and everyday adventures. It can drop from 6.6 feet with a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD screen and digital imaging advances, including Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology, and a TruePic III image processor to capture rich, vibrant detail with every shot.

Great little camera that takes VGA 30fps videos for more than 10sec!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
After 5 years with a 5MP Olympus Camedia C-50 with the underwater housing, I decided it was time to upgrade. We only used the underwater housing to protect the camera from the elements when we went sailing. We used it a couple of times to go snorkeling, but it wasn’t worth the bulkiness of the housing.

So, that being said, I went looking for another camera that was waterproof–we could take it on the boat or for the occasional swim without buying an underwater housing. The options were limited with the Pentax and the Olympus. I went for the Olympus because we were happy with the old camera and still have a few xd cards. I went for the 1030sw since it is the latest and greatest. So far I am glad with my choice.

In the box: The camera, USB cable (not the same camera connection as the old one), audio/video cable, microSD converter (put the microSD card in to fit into the xd space), Olympus Master Software, battery, and wall plug-in charger (no more cord–although the manual says in some areas a cord is still used). No xd-card is included.

I took the camera right out of the box and started playing. I took videos of my dog and plenty of pictures of him, too. I loved it! It is strange to me not to have an eye viewfinder, but I am getting used to it. It is super easy to use and I had so much fun dropping it in a bowl of water to test it out and having it work! I’ve ruined a camera before because it got wet, so this was the coolest feature!

I bought the camera even though I knew it only took VGA video at 30fps for 10sec, which was a disappointment, but I figured I could live with it. Well, after registering the camera a couple of days ago, I got an email this morning saying that an update to the firmware was available that would allow longer video at 30fps! Yea! I upgraded the firmware (through the provided software) and tried it out and it didn’t work. Then I re-read the email–an M+ or H xd card is required. The older (or cheaper) M xd cards don’t allow for the longer videos at 30fps. So, I ran out and bought a 2GB M+ xd card and sure enough, I can take VGA videos at 30fps for as long as the card can hold. That does away with that negative!

Let’s get down to the pros and cons:

Pros:

*small & lightweight,

*takes nice pictures,

*easy to change settings (a quick click on the “ok” button and you can change settings,

*lots of available features on the camera itself (it even has a selection that will “guide” you for certain things),

*nice big LCD

Cons:

*the xd card–just about every other camera out there uses an SD card and computers don’t have built-in xd reading capability,

*it doesn’t have a remote to take group photos–the c-50 did and I loved it because I didn’t have to set the timer and run into the picture–I’m going to miss that,

*it is easy to get your finger in front of the lens–I will have to learn to keep my fingers off to the side.

It doesn’t have all the features of an SLR, but hey, it isn’t an SLR! For a point and shoot, it does enough for me. I have the SLR for the “big” projects and this is for the times when I don’t want something bulky and want to take pictures. I can’t wait to take it on the boat or snorkeling!

I highly recommend this camera for someone looking for a sturdy camera that is waterproof (not just all weather) and easy to carry around. Go for the M+ xd card for the video capability (I went for the 2GB). I would also recommend protective covering for the LCD (I’m thinking about the silicone cover, too). An extra battery is always nice, too, but it doesn’t seem necessary so far–I’ve been playing with it for 3 days running around taking videos and pictures and it still shows a full battery even though I don’t think I even charged the battery all the way when I first got it because I was so excited to play with the camera.

Love this camera! Lost it, buying a new one!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Hands down, this camera is fantastic.

I’ve taken it under water, through the worlds largest tomato fight in Spain, and all over the place. It can go through anything.

It also has a picture mode for just about anything you can think of, and takes good pictures.

I’m an outdoor enthusiast, and this camera is fantastic in almost every way. I love that I don’t have to worry about where I take this camera, whether I get it dirty, or anything else – it just simply works. I love that.

Ok, now the bad stuff. Really this camera should get a rating of 4.8, because it lacks in a couple of areas.

1) You can’t charge it from a USB source, so if you’re going on a long trip, you’re going to have to buy lots of extra batteries – bummer! And I’m terribly annoyed that they did this.

2) It doesn’t turn pictures right side up for you automatically. My friends $140 camera does this for her, and mine does not. It makes me cry every time she pulls out her cheapie.

But, those two deficiencies shouldn’t be enough to draw you away from this camera. This thing is bullet proof, works in any environment, and “Just works!” period.

I think they added those two deficiencies just because it would be unfair to the other camera companies if they actually produced a completely perfect camera, no one would want any other one, we would loose competition, and ultimately monopolies are bad for the consumer anyway.

Cheers

Not great
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This is the 4th “waterproof” digital camera I’ve owned. With its SW line, Olympus has marketed itself as the manufacturer of the most robust point and shoot cameras. In my experience, however, this camera is no more robust than those made by competitors (most notably Pentax, but others including Canon have now also entered this niche). And it has a lot of annoyances to keep me from recommending it:

Pros:

1. Fast – very little shutter lag. Allows reasonably sharp action photos, especially in sport mode.

2. Decent battery time

3. Fairly rugged lcd

4. Self-retracting lens cover protects underlying glass

5. Adequate picture quality

6. Fair video quality for a point and shoot (though see reservations below).

Cons:

1. Contrasty images with blown highlights in full sun

2. Need to go through the special shooting mode menu every time you turn the camera on somewhat negates the speed advantage of sport mode – a significant consideration for a camera that is intended to be used for fun and sun

3. Proprietary memory card (xD made by Olympus) limited to 2gb, meaning less capacity. Competing cameras use SD card which are less expensive, enjoy use in a wide variety of electronic devices, and available up to 32gb. (xD cards from other companies – if you can find them – won’t support full length video, nor will the even more awkward microSD card, which requires an adapter). Furthermore, all but a few card readers on the market don’t work with xD cards, so you’ll have to keep your camera cable handy to download. The lower capacity of xD means more frequent downloads (especially if you shoot videos very often, and because most card readers won’t recognize xD cards you will need to keep you camera cable handy. And if your camera fails with pictures left on the card you’ll have to buy a compatible card reader to ever see them.

3. Batteries of previous Oly SW cameras won’t work in this one, if you’re thinking of upgrading.

4. Not that robust: leaked the very first (and only) time I snorkeled with it in salt water, though I was not close to its depth limit. Oly did repair it under warranty, but the process was by no means seamless. (With the camera was a sheet that stated there was a depth meter – barometer – built into the camera confirming that warranty terms had not been violated, something I don’t recall seeing in the manual). The camera does not, in my experience, live up to its specifications and is not more shockproof or waterproof than competing models from other manufacturers. Consider an extended warranty.

5. The tiny icons on the mode selection wheel – there are 8 of them – wear off with use. Mine are no longer legible, and the warranty repair did not address this.

6. Unfortunate lens placement in the upper right hand corner of the camera body. Even after taking a couple thousand pictures with this camera, I still occasionally catch a part of one of the fingers of my steadying left hand in the image. Overall ergonomics of this camera rate a C+ making it hard to shoot with one hand (in my case this is important as I am frequently holding a kayak paddle in the other). My favorite in this regard was Sony’s DSC U-60, long since discontinued.

Outstanding Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This thing is amazing! You won’t find a more durable camera anywhere! Buy it now!

great overall camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
this camera is great. it’s a wonderful overall do anything camera. I have a sony cybershot and also a cannon digital camera and features wise, this one rocks. it has so many pluses, let me just go over the parts i didn’t like.

1.wrist strap. i wish they would of gave us a locking wrist strap. i mean come on! this is supposed to go anywhere.

2.water bubbles. i was taking some videos in the water ( a river) and noticed when i switched to picture mode that there was huge watter bubble right in the middle of the lens!!!

3.no video zooming. no video zooming, this sucks, i want to be able to zoom when i take video, is that soo hard!!!

4.panorama mode blurs. I love panorama mode, but half the time it will mess up. it just takes soo long, and when it does mess up, i just delete the picture and I don’t feel like retaking it… maybe the free space isn’t a bad thing.

5. xd card. i hate xd cards, and now i want to get the high speed card just to take 30fps video… oh well, i guess i will live with the lower speed.

well, those are the only negatives i can think of. if this camera survives the ocoee river (rafting trip) i will post back another review. all in all, it is a great purchase, especially if you often do watersports.

Fuzzy Fotos
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This is a terrible camera, of my 500 photos taken over 3/4 of them were out of focus and fuzzy. Photos that were posed and up close were fuzzy – not just action shots. We are returning this camera.

Fantastic! Durable point & shoot. Great pictures!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Important to know info: BUY memory cards. It doesn’t come with them and you can only take about 5 or 6 pics without it. I didn’t know this so I had to go to Best Buy to play with my new toy the day it arrived. oops. Get the M+ cards (rather than “M”) to enjoy all the features and faster speed!

.

I purchased this camera because of the water proof and shockproof features. From the web research, I expected it to be bigger, so the compact size is a pleasant bonus! Thus far it is performing as advertised. I have 3 children, ages 13, 3, 2. I have let all of them play with this camera in the house and in the pool. It takes great pictures under water and it is perfectly OK after being dropped by a toddler! My husband cringed when I gave my new camera to our 3 year old, but I said “It’s shockproof up to 6 feet and she’s only 3 feet tall. The most she will drop it is probably 2 feet”. He cringed even more when she did finally drop it on a tile floor. I checked it out. Everything is fine! We are taking this new camera/memory saver on every future family vacation, starting with a trip to the Grandparents in TN next week. Can’t wait to see those lake pictures … both above and below water!!

.

Of course every camera could have improvements, so I will include my wish list, but this in no way should take away from what a great little camera this is. There are 2 things I would like to see:

1. I would like more/better zoom.

2. I would like a faster recovery time between pictures, so I can take a bunch quickly and then later delete whichever ones aren’t good. I don’t like that it thinks for a second or two about each picture, displays it for me, and then gets ready for the next shot. For this issue, I can either shoot video and make pix, or there is a quick shoot feature where you get to shoot a few and then delete. Maybe I haven’t figured that one out yet, it seems weird to me.

.

Like I said, don’t let my extra wish list deter you from getting this camera. It’s my attempt at “fair and balanced” reporting. This is a fantastic little camera and I highly recommend it. I have had lots of fun with it.

Perfect gift for those a little less than careful…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my mom and I also bought one for my boyfriend, they both have exclaimed it was their favorite Christmas gift. It’s durable, sleek, and lightweight. It does not give away the fact that it is – for all accidental occurences – virtually indestructible.

The options for taking different types of pictures are numerous, but if you are able to take good care of your camera, you don’t really need to add the option that makes it able to endure 220lbs of force. The zoom option is also not too significant, if you really like taking close-ups from far away, I suggest a different model.

A must have camera!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had the Olympus Stylus 1030SW for almost a year. It is a great camera for the active traveler. It is small and rugged. Use it at the water parks, snorkeling, diving, and at the pool. You do not need to worry about kids dropping it. It is shockproof. It can go down under water 33 feet. Take it along snow skiing or on a tabogan ride. This camera can take a beating and it will keep on going strong. The quality of the pictures are great. It is not a portrait camera so do not expect that feature. It can do everything else.

Good shots, but watch out for getting any water in it
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We bought this camera new to take on a snorkeling trip and were quite happy with the results, considering that we were learning to snorkel and to use the camera at the same time. While we could not always see what we were shooting, due to reflections on the viewing screen, we got some great shots. We used a tape-on automagic filter to compensate for the blue-tinted underwater light. Once a few drops of water got into the card area; this may have occurred because one of our snorkels lasted more than an hour. After that, the camera became erratic and refused to record photos to the card (meaning that we got an error screen and could not take any more photos). I suggest being more careful about not using the camera underwater for more than an hour. Otherwise, it was great to have a small, easy-to-use point-and-shoot underwater.

Not great….
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I got this camera a few months ago to have a rugged camera that I could use at the beach and stick in my pocket. I had a Canon Powershot SD600 before that had been ruined by beach spray. Previous to that I had an Olympus Camedia D-560 Zoom in college which had been abused thoroughly and survived 5 years and mutliple countries. I was disappointed with the Canon as it was so delicate so I decided to switch back to Olympus.

To summarize… This camera is well below average. I have tried using it in a variety of settings and all have been subpar. I waited to write a review after a few months, thinking I might be able to work out the kinks – but after a wonderful Thanksgiving – I felt I must mention this camera’s inadequacies:

1. The camera takes rather blurry pictures when it should not – it’s pot luck – some turn out alright, many do not. There is a setting that is supposed to eliminate this problem, but it does not.

2. I like simple cameras that don’t require me to adjust the setting for any moment. This camera doesn’t allow that so when a moment strikes -pictures often come out either overexposed, blurry, or grainy. Ridiculous for a camera of this price.

2. The movies are absolutely terrible – seriously, I could probably draw a flipbook better than the movies this thing takes. I was amazed how absolutely horrible the movies are after my previous two cameras – one 3.2MP and the other 6.0MP. I realize this is not a camcorder, but it’s nice being able to take brief movies when the moment arises – as my old Canon was able to.

Overall – I am very dissapointed with this camera. I have not used the underwater capabilities but have let my 3 year old niece use it to see how rugged it is. Actually that’s the best thing so far – I have no worries that she’ll break it and don’t really care if she does.

Back to Canon now…..

Useless in poor light conditions
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
My son came home from a school trip with my Canon Ixy 10 (bought in Japan, called Ixus 70 in Europe) dead after dropping it or carrying it in his pocket or whatever. So, I decided on getting a camera that could take rough handling. I had a Pentax Optio WP a few years ago, so I knew that underwater photography is a lot of fun.

This camera is a sturdy piece. It feels MUCH heavier than other cameras of its size, which I can live with, given that you can drop it and all. Its programs are user friendly, the software that comes with it is OK and it takes decent pictures outside, but… Don’t even bother inside or in poor light conditions.

Sorry Olympus, but you don’t come close to my old (lighter, cheaper but much frailer) Canon in any respect. The screen is not as clear and distinct as the Canon screen either. If all you need is a waterproof camera, go for Pentax.

NOT Waterproof!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I had this camera for a little over one year, and thought it took good photos. I never took it into the water until this summer, which fried it instantly. Since it was more than one year old, the warranty had expired, and Olympus wasn’t interested in trying to help. After doing some research, I found many people who had the same problem with the camera, specifically when taking it into salt water (which I did). I’ve since replaced the camera with a Canon Elph. It’s much lighter than the Olympus, about half the price, and without the phony waterproof claim. I would definitely NOT recommend buying the Olympus.

Good fix for the bits I didnt like in the last generation of SW Cameras
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought the green Olympus Stylus 1030SW after losing a 770SW that I had for 6 months. Yes, its crush proof, ice proof, heat proof, drop proof and water proof but not loss proof!

It seems Olympus have fixed all the bits I did not like about the previous model. The fidgety controls and menu system are now much easier to use. The spec has been significantly upgraded with the widescreen lense (not so wide that you notice a huge different but nice all the same), 3.6x zoom and much better video capabilities as well as the ability to take 10MP shots. There is a huge array of scene modes for every possible need with a helpful multi multi-devided screen view for trying out different ISO settings.

From 3 days of playing with it I really like what I see, its very rugged although i would have liked a viewfinder for those moments in the wilderness where the battery is dying or sun is shining on the LCD. The green model is much nicer in reality then it looks online (British Racing Green is the color-name in the UK FYI). It comes with a helpful MASD connector so if you have a microSD card lying about, it will fit the xD style adaptor and fit in the camera. So far it hasnt slowed the camera down at all. I cant wait to get it out kayaking or skiing some day to really put it to the test.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We love this camera. It is great for water vacations as you can take it in the water with you, take underwater pictures, etc. The kids have taken it with them to sporting events and it has started raining and were the only ones that didn’t have to hurry to put their cameras in a waterproof case! It is sturdy and durable and very easy to use. We had bought one for both of our daughters and couldn’t resist getting one for ourselves because they loved theirs so much! We are a 3 Olympus Stylus 1030SW family!!!

Berry good product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
this is the best camera that i had

This camera offers strong features for a “take it anywhere” camera – water PROOF (to 30 feet) drop proof (to 6 feet) and dust proof. After a month of dragging it everywhere, I think the claims are real. I’ve gotten it soaked, dropped it, and been in wind-blown dirt without any damage or crud appearing on my shots.

The camera also offers numerous metering modes for shooting. The auto exposure is current with today’s best camera that i had. Once you learn the menu system, you can get a good shot almost anywhere, and the default setting works well almost anywhere.

1. There is NO finder window, you MUST use the view screen to frame your shot. It’s awkward for those of us accustomed to a view finder. But I’ve learned…

2. The menus are not complex, but there are a lot of options. There are settings that work for “instant” shots. But for more challenging situations there are great options – especially useful is the “portrait flash” options that let you highlight a face while not losing the background. It actually works as advertised.

3. The lens is limited in aperture. This type of camera does not let you stop down to f/11 for that “perfect” depth of field shot. You are shooting around f/5 and changing the exposure time as you select different settings. What it sees is what you get.

4. It’s small. I have several great shots — that feature my finger over the left 1/3 of the lens.

5. it has the usual metering delay of P&S – so you can’t take a TRULY instant shot – but there IS a feature called SHOOT&SELECT – which takes about 8 shots in “motor drive” mode – you then pick one or more that you want to keep. (you must do it NOW – before going on to the next shot, and it does take a moment for them to save.) But for action shots of kids, its fun and works well.

Expensive Item, but worth every penny
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’m not a camera expert by any means, so this is not a very technical review. I bought this camera to take to the Caymans for vacation. It worked great for underwater and regular shots. I bought a microSD instead of the Olympus XD and it worked fine. The only advice I can tell you is make sure you swap modes once you get back out of the water or else your pictures will look weird. Also, watch your thumb when you take pics.

Outstanding Camera for Active Lifestyles
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I absolutely love this camera. I bought one and loved it so much, I bought a second one. Let me first say that I made this purchase looking for a rugged camera. I have a very nice digital SLR that I use if I want to make a poster-sized print or churn out professional quality work. I think this camera produces pictures of very respectable quality considering this is the most ruggedly awesome camera ever.

I can toss this camera in my motorcycle’s tank bag without having to worry if it starts raining. I can take amazing pictures in and around water that I would never risk with my other camera. I love the panorama feature at places like the Grand Canyon. It takes up a fraction of the space of my SLR, and I don’t have to worry about dropping it. I typically stick to cameras that take AA or AAA batteries, but I made an exception with this camera and it is completely worth it.

I’ve read a lot of reviews from people who were unhappy with certain aspects of the camera (such a picture quality). If you are looking for spectacular photo quality, you may want to keep looking. If you are looking for a camera that can survive just about anything you can throw at it and still give you really good photo quality, this is the camera for you.

Broke after 8 months
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I really liked the camera. It took great pictures both on land and under water. I followed all the proper maintenance (limiting use under water and soaking it in water after use), but the LCD display died after 8 months

Stopped working the first time it went into the water
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought this as a Christmas present for my brother and he said it stopped working the first time he took it into the water.

This might be a defective build but there seems to be plenty of people that had similar problems.

Incredible outdoor camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
While owning a dSLR for a long time I’ve been interested in getting a compact camera but never did it. Once my son started swimming I thought how cool it would be to get a compact camera that can take pictures while in the pool… Finding very limited selection I was concerned over the quality of the camera but after receiving it all of my doubts have left me!

The camera is not as lightweight as it might seem from the images. It is compact and can be carried in a pocket but it is durable. I have not tested the “shockproof” aspect of the camera but from its construction I assume it lives up to the hype.

As for the pictures there are positives and negatives. Any outdoor picture taken has been great – including the underwater photos. The color is good and rich, action shots (taken in the right mode) turn out great and of course the big reason to get this camera, the underwater photos are stunning. Swimming is an all new experience with this camera and its a lot of fun to get this special pictures that you can’t get with most cameras! The negative side are indoor pictures. While the pictures are still good and usable for prints there is visible noise in the pictures in many of those pictures – even when using the flash. The camera is usable indoors but it is at its best outdoors.

I haven’t taken many videos yet. Having a hi-def camcorder I didn’t buy this camera for its video feature… Of course, you can take video underwater with this camera which is also fairly unique I just haven’t done it yet. Note that in order to get the maximum resolution and FPS for the camera you need to specificly get the Olympus M+ media card. Non-Olympus or non-M+ Olympus cards will restrict the video to 10 seconds at maximum resolution/fps…

Everyone that I have shown the camera to, the pictures and then told them the price were amazed at it and have talked about ordering one as well. A great buy to get some very special pictures!

I love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As far as I’m concerned, this is the optimal camera. It has all the features I’ve come to rely on with a point and shoot (video, image stabilization, autofocus, even 3x zoom) but also is waterproof and shockproof! I had no worries letting my 5 year old cousin use it unsupervised, there wasn’t much she could do to it except maybe lose it. My favorite feature is the “rapid fire” mode, were I can take several pictures a second when trying to capture just the right frame.

The only thing I miss is having a view finder. But actually so far I haven’t been in a situation when the LED screen hasn’t been sufficent to take a shot. Its just when I hand it to someone unfamiliar with digital cameras that it ever was an issue.

Best in it’s class
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I researched all the point and shoot cameras and found the Olympus Stylus 1030SW has the most to offer for the money. Besides the obvious features no other cameras can match like the Water Proof, Crush proof and so on is the overall quality of the camera. It looks and feels very well made. The pictures are sharp and clear and the menu and buttons are easy to understand and operate. One of the truely best point and shoot cameras out there.

Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We went to BurningMan this summer and the dust destroyed my Minolta digital camera. I searched for something dust proof, water proof, shock proof and the Olympus was the answer. After it arrived it took very few minutes to read instructions and began taking excellent pictures. I look forward to another week on the Playa with a camera that will take the abuse.

Good All Around
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera primarily for its waterproof, dustproof, and almost indestructible make. Let’s make it clear that I am no professional photographer, but I do see some problems with this camera which would easily make me replace it for something else.

The 10 megapixels made it an ever better deal since you can enjoy your pictures up on a big screen, but here is the biggest problem with this stylus. The images don’t look quite as nice as you would expect from a 10 megapixel camera. Some appear really grainy, others too dark or washed, and others have chromatic aberrations. I have minimized all of these by tweaking some of the setting in the camera, and have found that the auto setting is only good up to a certain point. Also, higher isos reveal very grainy and washed-out pictures – setting it at 200 and 400 have given me near perfect shots. Sometimes I don’t feel comfortable switching it around according to the lighting, so I just go with the preset modes – and there are a whole lot of them which also give very good images.

While the picture quality was really upsetting at first, once I went snorkeling my doubts about the Stylus 1030 SW completely dispersed. This camera goes where no other can go, and the pictures and movies underwater made for some good time.

I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something fun, durable and with good picture quality. However, if you’re looking for great picture quality then you’re better off going with other models or even an expensive SLR.

* This stylus also has the Olympus Panorama function which takes picture in a phenomenal panoramic view. One of the other reasons why I bought it, and it was definitely worth it.

Amazing
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is amazing. You can do so much with it. Drop it in water, throw it who cares. Awesome. However the first one I bought stopped working. I returned it and they quickly sent me a new one that works great.

1030 SW leaked in less than 5 ft of fresh water!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought an Olympus 1030 SW in May, and first used it 6/28/08, with 75 photos taken on it total. I last used it 8/28/08 when snorkeling in Lake Tahoe (fresh water, depth of 5 ft). On 9/5/08 when I tried to use it again, it started, beeped 4 times, then shut down. Charger says the battery is fully charged, and the “View” mode works (where the camera also indicates a fully-charged battery), but cannot otherwise take photos or videos. Was shocked to see that Olympus warrantee excludes damage caused by water, shock, or “abuse” to a supposedly waterproof, shockproof and crushproof camera. After the horror stories I see posted on the Internet regarding Olympus “No Service” and charging people to fix their defective/leaking cameras, I’m considering contesting the credit card charge I bought it with.

Be warned! You may get lucky and get a “Good” Olympus 1030 SW, but their quality control appears to be letting some defective, non-waterproof units get into the retail stores. I would NOT trust this camera on a “Once-in-a-lifetime” trip !

love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you want a good overall camera and don’t expect the quality to be similar to your SLR, you’ll like this camera. It takes better pictures than alot of point-and-shoot cameras I’ve seen and the underwater feature is a hoot! I haven’t tried dropping it yet, but it’s completely waterproof. I’m very satisfied.

Great Underwater Photos and Video!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been using a Sony camera for a few years and was fairly happy with it. My first digicam was an Olympus and I loved it, I’m still not sure why I bought a Sony after that??? Well, I’m happy to say that I’m back with Olympus again in this fine camera!

Compared to the Soney Cybershot T-9, the Olympus is just slightly bigger and heavier, but not much of either. I really like the way it is put together, feels solid and well made. I’ve only used it for about a week now so I can’t report thoroughly on it but here are my first impressions…

The Good: Solid, well made feel. Large LCD screen is very clear and easy to see in daylight. Waterproof feature is great! The macro functions are very nice, there is an LED light that can be turned on to highlight the subject. It works well in Macro mode but not good for much more. I’m not a pro but I think it takes awesome pictures. The underwater shots I took on the first day (in the pool) were fantastic. Everybody that sees them thinks they are great too! I also took some underwater video and it came out great. The underwater settings seem to work well but I haven’t tried any other settings underwater yet. One thing I want to try is video with sound underwater just to see what it picks up. I am not using the software that came with the camera so I can’t comment on that, but I will say that it comes with Olympus software that is pretty extensive. I remember the version on my old Olympus was pretty good but now I just use what’s included with Windows Vista, which is fine for me right now.

The Not So Good: The controls are a bit small so it is sometimes difficult to get my chubby fingers on the right buttons. Just a minor annoyance though. The wrist strap that comes with the camera is nice but for a camera whose main feature is Waterproof, they should have included a beefier strap that could cinch up around your wrist. If I were a to take this camera in deeper water I would want a better strap to ensure it wouldn’t come off and sink to the bottom.

That’s all I have for now. I’ve had no problems at all so far and the waterproof features are working well. Just remember to flush the camera with fresh water after you take it in the pool or ocean and make sure all the seals are intact before you dunk it in any water!

Many nice features
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’m very happy with this product overall. I think it has some great features and takes nice pictures. I haven’t used it underwater yet but will be in a couple of weeks. My only complaint is the zoom is not that impressive. My previous point and shoot camera’s have had a much better zoom. But I’m still happy with the product.

Fantastic, Tough Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a GREAT camera. Takes nice, clear, well detailed pictures that show well on a computer and make lovely prints. Functions are easy to understand and use. Have taken it to the pool and it is waterproof as claimed and the underwater pictures it took were just fabulous. Only complaint is that the power button and the shoot button are awfully close together which makes it easy to accidently turn the camera off instead of shoot a picture. Also, the lens is in kind of an aquward place if you have larger hands, so you have to watch where you are holding the camera or your fingers will find their way into the picture. Wouldn’t hesitate to buy it again!

Very Well Built – Great for Hiking and Beach
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
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.

5 stars if you need waterproof feature, otherwise 3 stars
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have used this camera in the pool and in the water park for many times and it has worked great. No leaks or any other problems. Picture quality is average/mediocre compared to other digital cameras in the same price range at around $300+ (I also own a canon S2IS for non-water use, for it takes much better pictures even though it is a couple generations older). The wide-angle lens is great and I think this alone is well worth the $50 price difference between this and the 850SW. It takes some getting used to to hold the camera properly without touching the lens. The lens is kind of difficult to clean (especially when you get sunscreen “grease” on it). Video quality is ok but the microphone/voice quality is not good. It’s hard to get good sound out of it because it is on the side of the camera where you hold it rather than on the front of the camera. The slideshow playback on the large LCD screen makes it a great “toy” for my toddler (I don’t need to worry about the camera being dropped and abused). If you definitely need the waterproof feature, this camera will not disappoint. If that’s optional and you primarily want great pictures, then there are a lot of other better cameras out there to choose from. BTW, replace the strap with a Wii strap so you won’t have to worry about losing the camera in the water!

So far so good
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This was my first digital camera so I have not fully mastered the learning curve yet, but what I see so far is good. I found I could download pics without the Olympus software which is great. I discovered that I cannot see through the viewfinder AT ALL when trying to take outdoor pics – how do I fix that?!?!? It is like shooting blind for heavens sake. Resolution on pics is AWESOME. I gave it a dunk and it performed as advertised. Tough to find accessories but hopefully that will improve with time. I dislike being forced into Olympus brand accessories and need a car charger too but no luck so far. Guess that comes with jumping on a totally new camera very early on

Great Pics before it died
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Got this camera in anticipation of lots of snorkeling in Maui, Hawaii. Great pics above and below water for 5 of 6 days of the trip. On the 6th day, the best snorkeling spot the camera would not work. Water had gotten inside the camera. So I’m conflicted in the review. Thrilled with the pics I got, really, really upset I missed taking pics on the last day of my trip.

Olympus 1030SW-Almost Perfect!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Thing i like about this camera: Waterproof, tough, shiny, wide angle zoom. The picture quality is great after you get used to with difference the settings and shooting modes.

Drawbacks; LCD not as sharp and clear as Canon powershots, and its not made in Japan…

I think Olympus 1030SW is the best waterproof, shockproof camera atm.

1030SW Great Durability but soft pictures
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I got this camera for taking on trips outdoors. I wanted something small that was water proof. Everything works well and the pictures during a sunny day are great. When there is less light, it suffers a bit.

Auto mode picture taking is ok but I wish there were manual modes. It is tough to get the picture I want at night.

ISO 400 and above is grainier than other compact cameras.

The pictures are a bit soft but reproducible to nice prints.

Water proof in the surf. You should definitely give it a fresh water rinse after use. Make sure that there is no sand in the lens cover. I heard that it would get stuck but I have not experienced this yet.

It is a bit heavy for the size but it is really heavy duty I suppose for the impact resistance.

XD cards are a little more expensive but it comes with an adapter to use micro SD cards. You can get 2gb micro SD for $7.99. This will allow for some serious pictures but make sure you have an extra battery to fill the card.

Video mode only does 10 seconds at the higher frames per second mode which sucks but the XD-m and other newer XD-h allow for longer videos in the higher resolution modes. Ten seconds is ok because we don’t do to much video with the camera. You can get more time at the 15 frames per second mode at 640×480 if needed. I will get some XD-m+ cards later for video at the highest rating later. It is just cool to be filming a video while surfing and in the tube action vid.

Battery power is pretty good and sustains at prescribed projections by Olympus.

Overall I really like this camera but there are little things that make it so I can’t give it 5 stars so it gets 4. For a point and shoot in swamps of Mexico, deserts of the Mojave, Oceans of the pacific kayaking or surfing, and at the size it comes in and with an optional floating camera strap, it is a great camera for $280. The floating strap was $15 which was pretty good. It would really suck if it was dropped and sank to the bottom of the ocean while surfing or snorkeling.

I have a Canon SD300 that takes way better quality pictures because of the manual modes, but it is very fragile. I broke 2 of them but good thing I purchased the warranty. This is a dry land camera and the size is great but not water proof. When I take this out to the beach, the salt air affects it and seems to clog it up. I have a water proof box for it but it is big and bulky. The 1030sw is the ultimate outdoors person camera. There is a pentax optio that is water proof but it is a bit bigger. Size is a big concern for us being we need something small and stealthy to fit in our gear.

I also have an older Olympus C-3020 that takes awesome pictures and has more of a manual mode. Of course the lens is bigger and the pictures at 3.2 megapixels are crisper. This camera is pretty big and it tough to take around hiking on trips. It still works really well.

When I got this 1030sw from Amazon, I should have ordered the accessories with it but forgot until later. They shipped really fast and I was pretty happy about it.

I would recommend this camera for anybody that is into outdoors h20 sports or the likes, but be aware of the camera not allowing for full manual mode. It is just a small compact point and shoot camera built tough.

4 stars given – If olympus fixed and added the things that were addressed here, they could sell a ton of these and would warrant 5 stars plus.

Have fun shopping for your camera

Olympus Stylus 1030SW
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great product! I purchased this for a trip my wife was going on and she loves it. It takes great pictures and completely lives up to the product description in terms of toughness. Highly recommended.