|
Reviewed by
bellsy
, Intermediate
Price Paid
$325.00
at Online
Photography Experience
21+ years
Summary
The Olympus Stylus 770 SW brings one unique quality to the compact point-and-shoot category: robustness. It is marketed as a shockproof, freezeproof, waterproof wonder, one which can stand up to the outer limits of what anyone would consider reasonable for a piece of sophisticated electronics and imaging hardware.
My initial experience with the camera was extremely positive. It held up to cold weather, high altitude, and repeated excursions underwater (though none very deep). I was particularly impressed with its ability to keep shooting pictures in sub-freezing temperatures.
Of course, with a physical package like this there are bound to be compromises. Chief among those, the auto-focus is both slow and somewhat inaccurate, and the exposure metering is erratic. The focus issue can at least be partially compensated for by careful planning and pre-focus, but the metering is annoying. Since there is no manual (or even semi-manual) mode, one is left to play with ISO, exposure compensation, and various pre-programmed modes to try and force the right exposure for even mildly difficult situations.
However, given the claimed durability of the camera, these trade-offs should be worth it. Skiing, mountain biking, and (of course) traveling with a child who spends as much time as possible underwater demands a rugged camera. I've gotten some really incredible photographs with this camera (and with the Pentax Option WP which preceded it in my bad), not because these kinds of cameras are technically great, nor because I'm such a skilled photographer, but simply because having a camera that can withstand difficult conditions means it's with me when the shot appears. Many much better cameras (including some I own) would be left sitting on the shelf when this one is in my pocket.
And there, unfortunately, lies the problem with the Olympus 770 SW. Despite Olympus' claims for this unit's durability, my experience is that it simply doesn't live up to its billing.
A couple of months into my ownership I had a minor failure, but one which necessitated sending it back to Olympus for service. I don't know if it was caused by immersion, cold, shock, or simply a manufacturing problem, but I do know the camera was never subjected to conditions which even approached its claimed limits.
Two weeks later I had it back. Not the quickest service, but acceptable. Except that on the first day of a trip with the newly repaired camera the seals failed completely after less than ten minutes in waist-deep water. So no photos for that trip, and another two-week trip for repair.
This time I received a replacement camera. Again, the delay (and the hassle of packing and shipping) was annoying but within reason. Except that, again, the seals failed on the first day of a trip, this time within 20 minutes of hitting water (and, as before, in non-continuous use at depths less than three feet).
Olympus' telephone support was unhelpful, so off the camera goes again, and as before, I included a note requesting that they verify the integrity of the seals before shipping me a repaired or replaced unit. Unlike previously, however, I won't trust a trip's photos to just this camera anymore. Sure, I'll test the replacement in my bathtub, but I'm not comfortable leaving town with only this camera in my bag. And that, in a nutshell, makes it only slightly better than not having it at all.
I have to contrast my experience with this camera with that of my first waterproof point and shoot, a first generation Pentax Optio WP. The Pentax was more limited in its capabilities, and on paper at least, was much less rugged. My experience with that camera, however, was that it was extremely robust, putting up with underwater exposure that exceeded its rated abilities. It also produced images which were closely on par with those of the Olympus (a little more noise, less resolution, but better focus and exposure). It didn't work well in the cold, which was a serious limitation, but then it never claimed to do so. The Olympus is better on paper, but in the real world my experience is that it doesn't even remotely live up to its claimed waterproofness.
In conclusion, I love having a rugged, waterproof, go-anywhere camera that gives me the chance to take pictures in situations where I normally wouldn't have a camera, but the Olympus 770 SW is definitely not the tool for the job.
Strengths
On paper, a very rugged, robust, durable camera which opens the door to pictures under severe conditions.
Weaknesses
The reality. There's a serious problem with the waterproofing on at least some of the examples of this camera. I've now been through two, and simply can't trust that the next one will be any better.
Since this camera makes many picture quality compromises in pursuit of its vaunted durability, I have to call this camera a near total failure for its intended use.
Similar Products Used
Pentax Optio WP
Customer Service
Not good. Two weeks is stretching it for repair turnaround, in my opinion, especially when multiple trips are necessary. Shipping an untested and not completely functional unit back to the customer (and doing so twice!) is completely unacceptable. I was also surprised at how totally unconcerned (and unapologetic) Olympus was on the phone. Frankly, I will not be purchasing any more products from Olympus because of this.
|
(5 views/week)
1 of 5
1 of 5
