Customer Reviews

Olympus Stylus Verve 4MP Digital Camera with 2x Optical Zoom (Black)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is my third digital camera I have owned, and my first Olympus digital camera. To start off with the pros, the camera looks really slick, especially when you get it in a color other than silver. The camera is small and lightweight and carrys with it plenty of functions for those that aren't very photography-inclined. The photos that this camera takes are superb for being its size and the battery life is excellent. With a 512mb xD picture card I can take 523 pictures on High-Quality (2nd from best setting) and 180 on Super-High-Quality (the best setting). I don't see much of a difference between the HQ and SHQ as I am not a photo-junkie, so taking 523 pictures on HQ is plenty enough for me.

The only problems I have with the camera, however, is that you cannot charge the battery inside the camera, and every time you take the battery out to charge it (or swap it with another) the settings clear and you have to set the camera back up and set the date all over again. One would at least think that a digital camera nowadays would have battery-backup on the memory. Guess not. Also, the camera does not come with very much storage. Although most cameras do not either, most others come with 32mb, while the Sylus Verve comes with only 16mb, so if you're getting one of these cameras, be sure to purchase another xD picture card.

All in all, however, I feel that the pros outweigh the cons with this little camera. The camera is perfect for those of us who are not totally obsessed with digital photography. If, however, you are really into digital photography and want a camera, might I suggest looking elsewhere. But if you're looking for your first digital camera, or just something to replace your old one, and you only want it for family vacations and whatnot, then this camera is good for you. Just be sure to pick up another xD card!

I have used a variety of 35 mm cameras over the years, from SLRs to portables. My previous digital camera, a 3 megapixel HP 720, was too large to fit in a pocket. So I bought this for the wife for Christmas. We've been using it for almost 5 months now.

It is VERY portable. Luckily, I haven't had any of the problems some of the other reviewers have experienced (broken lens cover). I did have the experience of the date reseting, but it hasn't happened recently (maybe it doesn't really happen on battery removal, but when you run the battery to empty).

In my experience the photos are very good. I regularly blow them up to 8x10 on our printer. But I agree there's no point in using the highest resolution, maybe because we're running into the optical limitations of the lens.

The weakest part of the camera so far is the flash. Digital cameras don't have nearly the contrast ratio of film, so it's important to avoid things such as shadows on faces for pictures in bright sunlight. In the past I've relied on the flash fill to take care of that. But with this camera, I've had little luck with that option -- the flash doesn't seem to be powerful enough to fill in those shadows. Most I can fix on the computer, but it's a bit annoying, nonetheless.

I have used the video function on several occasions. As with my HP, the resolution isn't nearly as good as my video camera. But the audio is very good. The unlimited time is a nice option. And it is HUGELY more convenient. Plugging it into the TV with the included cable to watch my daughter's musical performance that I had recorded a few minutes earlier blew grandma's mind!

All in all, I think this is a good camera. If you have the time to wait for the next generation of tiny digital cameras, that may be a wise option. But for now, I like the size and convenience of this camera. It slips into my pocket for almost any outing (but make sure the battery is charged!), and you're ready to go!

UPDATE: After using this camera for 3 years, I gve it back to the wife and bought myself a digital SLR (Nikon D50). The Olympus is still working well. In fact I bought the wife a second battery. She carries with her everywhere in her purse and takes it aout a couple of times a month. The old photos I have taken are not as good as my new Nikon, but still very good. I found this to be a very good point and shoot camera!

Hi,

I have bought this camera yesterday and i saw a lot of cameras, so ill tell you the reasons that let me buyit:

1st- Small camera, it fits very well in your hand and in your pocket.
2nd- It uses a batery, you cant imagine the money that you can save with it, using regular batteries, it turns your camera very expensive to use (sony and cannon use regular bateries).
3rd- 4 Mega pixes for image quality.
4st- Good loking, and a very solid construction and materials (mutch better, than others).

I have 4 cameras (1 mediaum format, one slr, 2 digital) and this is my 2nd digital camera, i bought it, to use it during my holydays with my familly.

This is not a professional camera, it's a very portable camera, and we shouldnt expect mutch more than this.

The lenses are small (because the camera is small) so, to take pitures with this camera in dark places is not the best idea (this is true for all cameras with small lenses, not for just this one), but this is a holiday camera, so it's excelent in places with a lot of light (beach and snow, out doors, or indoor placs with a lot of light).

For the persons that are saying that the picture quality is bad, i sugest them to change the ISO, instead to use auto, change it to 100, or in places with a lot of light, you can use 64.
And you will see that the picture quality is verry good.

In general, this is a great camera, it has a lot of Scene programs, that will help you to take better pictures.

Im happy with it.

I got this camera as a supplimentary camera to my nicer Fuji. What I wanted was something that could easily and confortably fit in my pocket, instead of having to have a camera around my neck all the time. The size and form factor is excellent for this; it feels no bigger then a cell phone in your pocket.
Picture quality is great. Pictures are crisp and clear. Macro mode takes very detailed close-ups.
It would be nice to have more then 2X zoom, but that is what my bigger camera is for, so no big deal.
A note the date being retained when the battery is removed. The date is only lost if the battery is out for a period of time. I got an extra battery off eBay (way cheaper then what is offered on Amazon) and on a swap out, the time and date stays. There is probably a capacitor on the memory that keeps this setting. This cap can only provide power to the memory for so long before needing a recharge. Get an extra battery off eBay for $10, problem solved.
For the money, this is an excellent sidekick to your primary camera.

This camera is pretty good, I can admit that I was seduced by it's good looks. But having owned two Canons in the past, I think I still prefer Canon cameras.
The Stylus Verve is shaped like a used bar of soap and is pretty slick, so when shooting pics in a hurry, the camera can easily slip from your grip. The power button is very close to the picture taking button so sometimes you will shut the unit off by accident and miss a moment. It's more sensitive to movement than I'm used to. You'll need to have the steady hands of a surgeon. I cheat by leaning against something and having a big memory card so I can take shot after shot until I get a non-blurry one. When I do take a nice picture, it's not as crisp as my canon...but I can deal with it. I've learned to use Photoshop. I thought the 2X optical zoom would be more dramatic than it is. But I realized that I can just walk the extra couple of steps closer to whatever I'm trying to shoot.
One thing I really don't like is...once you remove the battery (like when you are recharging it) all your settings reset. There is no back-up power to help you keep your settings. I ALWAYS have to reset date and time--a bit annoying. Oh and the battery, memory card and usb port are all accessed through the same opening. I don't know if that's good. But I prefer the usb opening to be separate from the battery and memory card because you have to access that a lot.
It also doesn't come with a carrying case. Only a carrying strap. I tried to look for a carrying case but Olympus only has huge, bulky, generic ones that fit any camera in their Stylus series. What is the point of getting a cute and tiny camera if you have to carry it around in a huge ugly bag? I ended up finding something else that was suitable enough...at Sanrio (yes, I'm a girl).
Through all of that...I still like the camera because it fits in my purse and goes anywhere. It is super cute and it matches all my stuff (I have the white one). The viewing screen is big and bright and it makes funny sounds :) Also it's easy enough to use that you can figure it out without reading the entire owner's manual.
I like my camera and I willing to put up with the slight functional CONS for all the good looks it possesses. But when Canon comes out with a even cuter Elph...I'm there.
P.S. This is definitley not for the serious photographer or people with big hands.
P.P.S I wanted to change from 4 stars to 3 but amazon won't let me :)

I did not buy this camera but used it for vacation after my parents bought it. [...]

To begin with - i am definetly not a digital camera savvy person but i can tell you when a picture is good or not and that is what i expect from a camera.

This one is very sleek looking & is amazing in its simplicity. It has the basic functions you need to take pics, review them and take make small movies. You don't need to be a techie or open a manual for this. I have to say that outdoor pics are GREAT. I have to underline this b/c i saw people complaining in reviews about picture quality. My pics were mostly outside so i am not quite sure about pic quality in dimly lit rooms or at night but day pics are amazing.

Summary:

Good things: sleek looking, easy to use, sturdy, excellent pic quality (at least outside pics)

Cons: you have to buy a memory card b/c w/o one you can only take around 30 pics.

There are a lot of great digital cameras on the market, and when comparing features and functions they all start to look pretty much the same. Unless you're a hardcore photographer you probably won't even use half of the functions on your camera anyway. As far as technical specs, the Verve is comparable to a lot of other cameras in it's price range, but what makes it so cool is the way it feels in your hand. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. You have to actually see and touch this camera to get the full effect. It's about the size of a cell phone, so I can fit it in my jeans pocket (which makes such a big difference in terms of how often I actually USE a camera), yet it doesn't have the chintzy plastic feel of so many other cameras. It feels really solid and has lots of nifty dials and buttons. Okay, so these probably aren't the qualities you buy a digital camera for, but they are the qualities that make you LOVE your digital camera. Because it also takes great pictures, and it's extremely easy to use. I highly recommend the Verve.

As an owner of the full-featured Olympus C-5050, I was looking for a second smaller camera that would slip in a small purse pocket, or easily hang around my neck for trips to the dog park; something that I would always have with me. While I love my C-5050, its too large & heavy to carry all of the time. If you are looking for a supplemental point & shoot camera, and not your sole camera, the Stylus Verve is a good choice.

The curved design of the camera was a key selling point for me; it's very comfortable to use with one hand, something I found lacking with other 'flat recatangle' designs. The TFT screen is exceptionally bright and clear. Button placement is logical, and it powers up instantly. The menu system is similar to other Olympus cameras, and fairly extensive, with multiple program modes for indoor, outdoor, nightime, portrait, etc. and color adjustment options not present in the C-series; really more than I'll likely use casually.

The optical quality of outdoor/sufficient lighting photos is excellent. Results when using the flash aren't always great, but that's to be expected in a tiny camera with a tiny flash. Olympus smartly did offset the flash to the side of the lens opening, which helps minimize redeye.

Aside from the limited flash capability, the other downside is having only a 2x optical telephoto, while 3x is generally the bottom for other small cameras. (There is an additional 2x digital zoom for a total of 4x, but I generally stay away from using digital zoom as it usually degrades the image. Better to zoom and crop on the PC.) Aggain, for my intended usage, this is not a big issue; I've got the 'powerhouse' camera for more planned or serious photography.

With battery, the camera weighs under 5 oz., about the same as my cell phone.

Lastly, a nice feature is small metal plate attached to the back with a hole large enough to accept the metal clamp on many lanyards. As an alternative, Olympus sells a very nice silver chain neckstap.

The flash and limited zoom capability keep me from recommending this as a sole camera for most, as there are better options out there. However, if you want a second go-everywhere camera that looks great, is comfortable to use, and takes great photos under well-lit conditions, then the Olympus Verve is an excellent choice.

First, Olympus as a company does not sell any of the verves cameras at a seprate price structure. The Prices venders pay for the cameras are exactly the same, so if you see different prices for different colors then the vendor is setting those prices. Just look at Amazon every color is the same price. As far as bad picture issues my Verve is great! The pictures are awesome and look really good on the LCD screen. Compaired to some of these small LCD screen cameras, I can see everything in great detail. I really dont se how you could take a bad picture with this camera. Plus, as far as awkwardness, I find the camera very easy to use. I can take a picture and zoom in and out and switch between movie picture and play back modes with one hand! Im again dont understand how it could be awkward when everything is so easy.

I wanted this camera badly because of the size & the features (love the soft focus & love the ability to edit after you've taken the picture using the camera itself). I've had it for a little less than a month and used it at a couple family parties. I'd have to say that I'm not very pleased with the quality of the pictures. I keep it on the highest resolution setting and I always make sure the AutoFocus lamp is lit before shooting, but my pictures still come out blurry and grainy when I hook it up to view them my computer. Maybe I haven't quite figured out the best setting to get the best pictures, but I'd have to say I'm quite disappointed for the amount I paid ($350). For some reason only objects that are fairly close (from my experience, approximately 6 feet - that would be a guess) to the camera come out clear. If I'm going to pay that much for a camera, it better work well!!! I can't return it to Circuit City anymore since it's been more than 14 days, so I'm stuck with it.