Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera with Dual Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom (Orange)

Other products by Olympus

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 7.4 x 5.5 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000UW3DB6
• Item model number: Stylus 790SW Orange
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (131 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,506 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 24, 2007

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, and sand/dustproof Stylus 790SW captures amazing 7.1-megapixel images in any situation -- whether it is a day of fun at the beach, an action-packed snorkel adventure, a family ski trip or a night out with friends.

The camera’s good looks, smooth design and rugged exterior contain an array of innovative features and technologies that ensure sharp, vibrant images in any environment.

Stylus 790SW Highlights

Worry-free, shockproof design Built with durable materials and shock-absorption technology that minimizes the impact delivered to the lens and circuitry when dropped, the Stylus 790 SW offers superior durability in a point-and-shoot digital camera.

Takes pictures underwater By combining a light-weight, aluminum exterior with rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal the interior from the elements, Olympus delivers a slim body design that performs as well under water (down to 10 feet/3 meters below the surface) as it does on land. The inclusion of four preset underwater scene modes makes the Stylus 790 SW the perfect camera for the pool, waterpark, or snorkeling in the ocean. The Stylus 790 SW also features a water-repellant lens coating to prevent water droplets from forming on the lens, so you get crystal-clear shots no matter how wet the shooting environment.

Freezeproof for winter fun You can take the cold, so why shouldn’t your camera? Unlike other point-and-shoot cameras, the Stylus 790 SW still performs when the temperature dips below freezing (14 degrees Fahrenheit; -10 degrees Celsius) so this camera is ready to hit the slopes.

Sand/dustproof for everyday durability The Stylus 790 SW is the perfect camera for a trip to the beach or the great outdoors. Its airtight construction makes the camera impervious to dust, dirt and other particles. Shoot without worry no matter how harsh the conditions; when the camera gets dirty, just rinse it off in the sink!

Face Detection technology Face Detection technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.

Shadow Adjustment technology Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlit areas -- while the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The Stylus 790 SW addresses this challenge head-on with Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With this technology, users can preview and capture images with the same contrast as their naked eye.

Large, 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD The Stylus 790 SW boasts a large, high-resolution HyperCrystal LCD, which displays clear, high-contrast images. It increases the brightness of the LCD for better visibility in low-light and bright-light situations -- perfect for composing pictures underwater or in direct sunlight. Images are also viewable on the 2.5-inch LCD from 176-degrees, enabling photos to be composed from a wider range of angles and viewed by several people at once.

Bright Capture Technology for easy low-light photography Low-light photography has never been easier thanks to Olympus’ revolutionary Bright Capture Technology. A brightened preview on the LCD enables simple composition, and with specific scene modes for high sensitivity settings (up to ISO 1600) and rapid auto-focus, even fast-action photos can be captured under low levels of available light.

Bright Capture Technology in Action

Digital Image Stabilization The Stylus 790 SW features Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) for capturing crisp, clear pictures. By boosting the camera’s ISO sensitivity and shutter speed, DIS freezes the action and provides blur-free images, even when you or your subject is moving.

Perfect Shot Preview mode The Stylus 790 SW features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.

TruePic III image processor Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III image processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures sharp images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.

LED Illuminator An LED Illuminator works like a mini-flashlight on the front of the camera to enhance focus and exposure for macro shooting -- great for underwater close-ups where light is scarce. The LED also works in conjunction with Bright Capture to help illuminate your subject when taking low-light portraits.

Stylish, compact, rugged design The Stylus 790 SW combines light, durable body construction with shock-absorbing materials throughout the interior and the sealant technology used in Olympus underwater housings. In addition to the shockproof and waterproof construction, the Stylus 790 SW features a light-weight, all-metal body and clean, smooth lines that make it the ultimate pocket camera. At a slim 0.8 inches, the camera easily slips into a pocket, handbag or backpack.

27 selectable shooting modes With 27 pre-programmed shooting modes, such as Beach & Snow, Available Light Portrait, Sunset and Under Water Snapshot, the Stylus 790 SW makes it easy to capture beautiful images in a variety of lighting and shooting situations. The Stylus 790 SW features a Movie Mode that can record TV-quality video (640x480/30fps) with sound -- above and below the water’s surface.

In-camera editing With in-camera editing features such as red-eye fix, resizing, adding frames or text, and color or saturation adjustments, users can edit photos anywhere with ease -- touch up or embellish photos without a computer.

Olympus Master 2 software Olympus Master 2 software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to a computer quick and simple. Images are easily organized by folders or albums and are searchable by date in the Calendar View. With one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee Theater Pack to create professional-quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.

Product Description

The Stylus 790SW combines Olympus precision optics with innovative waterproof sealants so you can capture beautiful images above and below the surface. Have fun taking snapshots in the pool, at the waterpark or in the ocean down to depths of 10 feet. Accidents happen -- but don't worry. The Stylus 790SW is designed to withstand a 5-foot drop, bump or other mishap. The rugged metal body and revolutionary shock-absorbing construction minimize impact to the lens, LCD, image processor and other sensitive components for worry-free shooting. Freeze the action! With high ISO sensitivity and faster shutter speeds, you can capture sharp, blur-free images, even if you or your subject is moving. With the large 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD, you can have more fun in the sun. Now you can easily compose, view and share your images indoors and outdoors, even in direct sunlight. The large, high-resolution LCD features a wider viewing angle (140 degrees, left to right or up and down) and anti-glare technology that uses natural light to brighten the LCD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

223 of 229 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Convert, November 22, 2007

By	Rich Ball (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I will admit I was a skeptic when I bought this camera. I have a toddler and a tech-retarded wife, both of whom are responsible for previous spectacular digicam annihilations. So I turned to the Stylus 790 more out of desperation than anything.

Now I admit to being a total convert. For the price-point, I was just hoping for something that took mediocre pics and wouldn't die in 6 months at the hands of my ruthless gadget assassins. It, in fact, takes remarkable pictures, comes with a ton of handy features barely noted on Amazon, and really is indestructible.

Really. And by indestructible I mean it has survived being burried at the beach, dropped in the bubble bath, thrown in the toilet (more than once), gone through the dishwasher cycle (don't ask), dropped from our 3-level balcony to the sidewalk below, and having been laundered (washer AND dryer).

Plus battery is good for hundreds of shots, the video clips are surprisingly crisp, and I rarely have issues with blurry pictures any more. Also, Olympus' face-finding technology is pretty amazing stuff.

Overall I would highly recommend this camera on its own merits as a great camera. The fact the it survived my household is the icing on the cake, since (I hope) you won't be nearly as rough in testing it. Enjoy!

90 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Performance in a small package, November 20, 2007

By	B. Palmer "B. Palmer" (MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a pro photographer, shooting with a Nikon D2Xs. I was looking for a compact camera for my wife, when I saw this camera in the reviews, it seemed like a good choice. I did some research and found a SCUBA website that tested it to 64' deep, and although the depth gauge stops at 30 something feet, it performed fine event at over double the rated depth.

I was specifically concerned about the contrast these little point and shot cameras have, coming from the world of pro DSLRs... This isn't a $4500 D2Xs, but I was very surprised how good the picture is. The large screen is very sharp and bright. The integrated lens cover is metal, and seems like it would be sturdy.

I would recommend this camera as a high performance compact point-and-shoot.

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good For What It Is, But..., December 10, 2007

By	Bruce Motta - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have some special requirements for a digital camera, and the Olympus is one of the few that seemed to fit the bill. In particular I needed a camera that had image stabilization and be somewhat weather proof as I use it to take one-handed shots from a moving vehicle. While I am not a photo journalist, I do take a lot of photos for a motorcycle publication and needed something that I could use in less than ideal circumstances.

Unfortunately my last camera had no image stabilization, so about 1/3 to 1/2 of all the photos I took came out blurred. But before I could make a decision on a replacement, my old one died. Apparently some road grit had gotten into the lens and one day it refused to extend or retract. Since most of the compact digital cameras on the market have lenses that extend prior to use, it narrowed the field down dramatically. This was the main reason I decided to go with the Olympus.

I've had it for a few months now and had occasion to use it for both moving and normal photography (I've posted a few good and bad photos here). I'm not completely sold on it, but to me the pros outweigh the cons so I'm going to keep it. There are however, a few design issues that I find frustrating.

The first is the focus time (the time between pushing the shutter button and when the photo is actually taken). With my old compact digital it was almost instantaneous, so "I got what I shot". With the Olympus it takes a second or two, which when shooting moving vehicles (from a moving vehicle) is enough time to allow the subject to change position and now be slightly out of focus. Unfortunately image stabilization will not compensate for that.

Another issue is the placement of the flash. On most cameras the flash is on the opposite side from where you hold it (the flash is usually on the left while you hold it on the right). However, on the 790SW the flash is on the same side as the hand grip, which means that if you are not extremely careful your finger will block part of the flash. I have some group photos taken at night where the people on the right side are in darkness while those on the left and in the center are properly lit.

But the biggest issue I have is with the battery life. Typically I would get between 300-400 shots from the battery on my old compact digital camera. However, the battery life on the 790SW is amazingly short. My first trip I got only 170 daylight shots before the camera completely shut down. As it was only mid morning and I wouldn't be able to charge the battery until that night, I spent the rest of the day with a useless camera while dozens of great photos got away. Since then I picked up a second battery, but still have to keep an eye on my power consumption so that I don't run out before the end of the day. I thought about buying a third or forth battery, but at that point I would be spending a large chunk of the overall cost of camera just to keep it powered.

In short:

Pros:

Bulletproof (water/dust/freeze/crush/shock proof)
Non extending lens will not jam from dirt or dust
Auto open/shut metal lens cover
Image Stabilization
7.1 Megapixel

Cons:

Focus time
Placement of the flash
Battery life
Must remove the battery to charge it

While the focus lag-time problem might be unique to my work, the flash and battery issues are ones that everyone should consider before buying this camera. If you have unique needs (camera robustness, weather/water proof) then this is one of the few choices on the market and worth the money. However, if you don't need the special abilities this camera has to offer, I think you would be better served looking for something else in this (or even a lower) price range.