Latest - Review and Sample Test Photos by Megapixel (added 14 March ‘08)
Olympus Stylus 790 SW features:
- 7.1 megapixels
- 3x optical zoom
- 2.5 inch HyperCrystal„¢ LCD
- Digital image stabilization
- Shockproof and waterproof to 10 feet
- Face detection
- Dimensions - 3.7″W x 2.4″H x 0.84″ D (93.6mm x 60.9mm x 21.3mm)
- Weight - 4.8oz (136g)
Check Current PriceRead More Reviews - (updated 14 March ‘08)
| Megapixel |  |
| Imaging-Resource | |
| USAToday |  |
| ThinkCamera | |
| LetsGoDigital | |
| PCAdvisor |  |
| TrustedReviews | |
| CameraLabs | |
| Cameras.co.uk | |
| ComputerActive | |
| Steve’s Digicams | |
| WashingtonPost |  |
| InfoSync | |
| DigitalCameraInfo | |
| GoodGearGuide | |
| CNET | |
| PhotoReview | |
| Pocket-lint | |
| CNET.co.uk | |
| Photoxels | |
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Megapixel - 14 March’08 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and thought it was really slow writing to the memory card. Here’s a summary of their review -
“One real downside to the 790 SW was that you are locked into using xD memory cards and because of that you can not use state of the art cards like the Eye-Fi wireless card. One thing that surprised the reviewer was how the camera when switched into auto mode how well it could handle difficult lighting situations. Image quality was good however dynamic range tended to fluctuate shot-to-shot.”
Imaging-Resource - 29 February’08 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and feels that if your hard on cameras - the 790 SW is probably for you. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Olympus’s guided shooting mode (designed for beginners) was a little confusing at times. Looks like it was a nice idea they just didn’t quite manage to make it intuitive. Of course the litmus test of any digital camera is its image quality and sadly the Imaging-Resource reviewer found the 790 SW’s pictures to be poor across all ISO settings. Poor images can be a result of many things but in the case of the 790 SW it was due to some pretty heavy noise suppression.”
USAToday - 17 January’08 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and noted they were pretty tough on the camera in the review by knocking it around and submerging it. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Actually the reviewer submitted the camera to what could appropriately called a torture chamber. Everything from being buried in ice to being bounced on the ground. After passing the rugged test they proceeded to do the next thing everyone is interested in, taking photos. And in short the review used the words exceptional to describe the resulting images. However, what the right hand giveth the left hand taketh away. In this case they were too thrilled with the placement of the zoom controls and the menu system could be a little easier to figure out.”
ThinkCamera - 11 January’08 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and feels weatherproof and rugged are higher priority than performance. Here’s a summary of their review -
“One of the main problems with this camera is that when Olympus built this rugged point-and-shoot it’s durability features seem to have created a situation where it is more difficult to perform basic camera functions. Soft images may be attributed to the protective lens covering plus under exposing in low light environments and the flash has a tendency to over expose.”
LetsGoDigital - 01 January’08 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and felt the camera can take just about anything you throw at it. Here’s a summation of their review -
“Here is a camera that the target market is clear; people who want to take their digital camera into environmental situations that would destroy other cameras. On the downside there is a severe lack of wide angle capability and the amount of digital noise at ISO 400 is simply unacceptable. this cameras built in guide function will be much appreciated for people who don’t understand the subtleties of photography and only want a great photo.”
PCAdvisor - 27 December’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and thought that the camera delivers more vivd colors than other Olympus cameras. Here’s an excerpt from their review verdict -
“The Olympus Mju 790 SW is a camera that is less about headline image quality and more about the practicalities of taking photos in scenarios that would otherwise test – or possibly destroy – lesser rivals. You pay a premium for the Olympus Mju 790 SW’s ‘death proof’ abilities. Extreme sports enthusiasts who care more about capturing the moment than poster-sized prints would seem to be the most receptive target market.”
TrustedReviews - 17 December’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and was impressed with the remarkable increase in image quality. Here’s an excerpt from their review verdict -
“The Olympus mju 790 SW is a welcome return to form for a series that has seen some image quality and performance problems. It offers a simple specification and basic feature set for the price, but apart from the disappointing video mode it performs well and is capable of taking high quality pictures in situations that would defeat most other cameras. If you’re looking for a stylish compact that you can take almost anywhere, the 790 SW is the ideal choice.”
CameraLabs - 17 December’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and notes this camera is particularly suited to the outdoors types. Here’s an excerpt from their review verdict -
“The image quality isn’t anything to write home about. We’ve tested compacts which cost the same and deliver much better quality, while also boasting wider angle lenses and proper anti-shake facilities. So if you’re after the best image quality and photographic features, and aren’t bothered about the tough or waterproof aspects of the 790 SW, we’d recommend buying a different camera.”
Cameras.co.uk - 28 November’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and comments this may not be the best digital camera ever made but if you hang out at the beach it might be worth looking into it. Here’s an excerpt from their review verdict -
“There are not many waterproof, shockproof and weatherproof cameras out there. If you are expecting the very best in picture quality you will be disappointed, but if you are looking for a fun camera to use at the beach then this one is worth looking into.”
ComputerActive - 21 November’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and notes that although the camera looks cute its picture quality is substandard. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“The images produced by the Mju 790 SW are all about color - and good, vibrant color at that - though detail is a little soft overall, even when shooting at just the lowest sensitivity rating, which should in theory show the best results. Though this can be sharpened using image-editing software on the computer, the results straight out of the camera fall below what we would expect.”
Steve’s Digicams - 17 October’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and was disappointed the camera could only go down to a depth of 10 feet. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“The Olympus Stylus 790 SW is a good digicam for the active user needing a weather resistant/water proof camera, and though Olympus claims it is also “Shock Proof” up to 5 feet, we opted not to test this feature. The 790’s 7-megapixel SHQ images have plenty of resolution to create high- quality prints up to 13×19 inches or larger, however we had some issues with the poor position of the lens (my finger kept getting in the way), and I was a bit disappointed in the waterproof specs dropping from 33 to 10 feet.”
WashingtonPost - 10 October’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and thought photos of people exihbited skin tones that had a greenish hue. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“The 790SW is made of low-quality components. Its small 3x optical zoom lens is the same used on the Olympus 720 and 770, the other waterproof models this manufacturer sells. The low-quality lens causes bright streaks and other artifacts to appear in photos of bright scenes. The flash is also very weak and spotty, leaving corners dark and subjects pale. The 2.5-inch LCD screen isn’t great as a viewfinder, and looks more like a streaky, choppy preview from a bad camera phone. To its credit, the LCD has a wider viewing angle than the older 770SW and the same great 230,000-pixel resolution.”
InfoSync - 07 October’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and after trying many of the scene modes concluded the resulting photos were not good, however the camera did score major points for design and durability. Here’s the reviews verdict -
“The Stylus 790SW is an average digital camera wrapped in one of the most outstanding packages we’ve tested. The combination of style and durability in the casing is phenomenal, and we loved that no matter how much we beat it up, it took shots just as well as it did right out of the box. Unfortunately, right out of the box, it took pretty mediocre photographs. We were also extremely disappointed by the built-in limitations in the video mode. Ultimately, Olympus delivered on their promise of a tough-as-nails, yet pretty-as-flowers camera, but was off the mark delivering what we want a camera to do: take great pictures.”
DigitalCameraInfo - 05 October’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and felt this camera lacked quality and ultimately produced inferior photos. Here’s an excerpt from their final conclusion;
“The Olympus Stylus 790SW has a lot of interesting features packed into an extremely durable body. It can survive falls, water, sandstorms, and toddlers. The 7.1-megapixel digital camera is unique in that it can go underwater without a separate housing. However, if we came back from an expensive snorkeling trip with an album full of pictures from this camera, we’d be pretty disappointed.”
GoodGearGuide - 30 September’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes;
“Most of the usual features are present including ISO sensitivities up to 1600, a variety of focus and metering modes and a host of scene modes. Face detect makes a welcome appearance as does Olympus’ guide mode, which is brilliant for helping new users (although the interface is extremely intuitive). Our only disappointment in this regard was the lack of manual white balance.”
CNET - 29 September’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes;
“While the Stylus 790 SW is far from perfect, it’s one of the few cameras on the market, especially in this price range, that can take a beating and actually operate under water or at the top of a ski resort without worry. If you need a camera that can face up to those challenges, then the 790 SW makes sense. If not, you’re probably better off with a regular compact camera that can perform faster and give you better image quality.
The bottom line: If you need a camera that you can take snorkeling or skiing, then the Stylus 790 SW might be just the ticket, but you can find better image quality for the same price.”
PhotoReview - 28 September’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes;
“Low-light performance was unimpressive; largely because the camera’s flash is weak and long exposure times are not supported. Even with the ISO 1600 setting, the flash was only just able to illuminate an average-sized room. Night-time outdoor shots taken with the ISO 1600 setting were too noise-affected to be usable.”
Pocket-lint - 27 September’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes;
“Image softness and sluggish focusing hamper an otherwise accomplished package, as does the lack of a proper manual.
However, this is a very versatile camera that is simple to use and one that’s extremely tough and waterproof to boot, making it a camera that provides a good level of point and shoot capability (but with fairly limited photo features, it’s true) and at a good price for a camera that you can literally take anywhere, even underwater.”
CNET.co.uk - 26 September’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes;
“The Olympus mju 790 SW may trumpet its tough, waterproof and shockproof characteristics, but it’s a more than capable compact on dry land. Respectable image quality and a number of helpful features set it apart from similarly specced 7-megapixel cameras with 3x zooms and 64mm screens, even before the robustness comes in handy.
What we think: A respectable compact, but its tough qualities bump up the price”
Photoxels - 17 September’07 - reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes;
“The Olympus Stylus 790 SW is easy to use and operate. It is built as tough as it gets (though not as tough as the 770 SW it replaces), yet succeeds in being elegant as well. Being shockproof as well as waterproof makes it the ideal choice for boaters, campers, hikers, and anyone else who values a digital camera that does not go out of commission at the first bump. For those living in cold climates, the Stylus 790 SW is also winterized so there’s no fear it’ll get damaged if accidentally dropped into the snow (choose the orange color to make it easier to find). It is a beautiful and fun digital camera for travel and hiking to any part of the world. All digital cameras should be built this tough!”
Sample Test Photos
[Sample Test Photos at Megapixel]
[Sample Test Photos at Imaging-Resource]
[Sample Test Photos at LetsGoDigital]
[Sample Test Photos at TrustedReviews]
[Sample Test Photos at CameraLabs]
[Sample Test Photos at Cameras.co.uk]
[Sample Test Photos at Steve's Digicams]
[Sample Test Photos at DigitalCameraInfo]
[Sample Test Photos at PhotoReview]
[Sample Test Photos at Pocket-lint]
[Sample Test Photos at Photoxels]
Videos
Specifications
[Official Olympus Specifications]
Owners Manual
Press Release
London, 23 August 2007 Shockproof* against falls from 1.5m and waterproof** to a water pressure equivalent of 3m, the newest addition to the [mju:] tough series keeps up with just about any active lifestyle. There’s no need to think twice about taking it along on a mountaineering trek or letting the kids take a few pictures at a picnic. Even for shots at the beach or capturing the wonder of marine life while snorkelling, the [mju:] 790 SW can take it all. For added fun, this 7.1 Megapixel camera is available in a choice of four expressive colours (starry silver, midnight black, sunset orange or marine blue). This attractively styled camera also incorporates a number of exciting innovations such as Face Detection Technology which improves the exposure and sharpness of human subjects by recognizing faces in a composition and automatically optimizing the settings accordingly.
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