The Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is a rugged 10.1 megapixel point and shoot camera. The 1030 SW also features a 2.7 inch LCD and 3.6x optical zoom lens. Keep reading for a review of features offered in this Olympus Stylus model - including ISO, memory, shutter lag, and more...

This camera is also shockproof and can handle up to a 6.6 foot drop, waterproof up to 33 feet, cold-proof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and also crushproof up to 220 pounds.  This is a camera for an adventurer!

The 1030 also features a built-in manometer which can record air or water pressure and attach that data to your images as altitude or depth.  There is also an LED illuminator next to the flash that can be used to illuminate close-up shots or other shots where you can’t or don’t want to use a flash.

There are plenty of usual camera features as well, such as fact detection and panorama mode.  The other shooting modes are typical of most compact digital cameras: Auto, Program Auto, Scene, Digital Image Stabilization, and Movie.  With Auto mode, the camera takes care of everything for the exposure while you can set the flash mode, timer, and macro settings.  Program Auto mode is still basically automatic, but you can also change metering, ISO, and enable burst or sequential shooting.  The Stylus 1030 SW has 24 scene modes including four underwater scenes to choose from.  Digital Image Stabilization increases the ISO to minimize blur from either hand-shake or subject movement.  Finally, with the Movie mode, you can choose from resolutions of 640x480 and 320x240 at both 30 frames per second and 15 frames per second.  Unfortunately, optical zoom is not available during movie mode.  Additionally, the mode dial allows you to access the Playback mode and Favorites mode.  With the Favorites mode you can browse images that you’ve selected as favorites.

The 1030 SW isn’t much of a change in design from the other SW models, with its metal accents and industrial look.  This camera feels as solid as it should and measures 3.7 inches by 2.4 inches by .084 inches and weighs 6.3 ounces without memory card or battery.

Overall, the performance of the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW is good.  The shutter lag and other timing aspects perform well.  Image quality is good and while its not the best when compared to other compacts, if you need a rugged camera you should definitely take a look at the 1030 SW.  The 1030 SW performs particularly well on timing and shutter lag.  Cycle time between shots was also great with the camera able to take another picture within just a few seconds.  Flash charge time was also very good with 3-4 seconds between discharges.

The maximum aperture of the Stylus 1030 SW ranges from f/3.5 to f/5.1 – not the fastest, but pretty typical.  The compact lens of the 1030 SW provides a 3.6x optical zoom range. The lens is also capable of a wider angle than most compact cameras, with a 35mm focal range of 28-102mm.

There are also three focus modes available on the 1030 SW – face detection Auto Focus (AF), spot AF, and iESP (multi-area) AF. The face detection works well. iESP focus mode chooses what it thinks is the best focus point in the shot. Finally, the spot mode gives you the most control, since you know exactly where the focus point is.

As far as focus ranges, the Stylus 1030 SW fares fairly well. In normal focus mode, you can focus on subjects as close as 19.7 inches. There are also two macro modes: the first allows you to zoom – at wide angle you can focus as close as 3.9 inches and at telephoto you can focus as close as 11.8 inches.

The built-in flash on the 1030 SW comes with the minimal shooting modes of Auto, Fill (always on), redeye reduction, and disabled.  The flash has a max range of 13.5 feet may sound good, but this is at ISO 800, which isn’t ideal for many shots.  You also have the added option of the LED illuminator with this model, however.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Stylus 1030 SW is that it does not have any sort of optical or mechanical image stabilization system.  It does have a mode called Digital Image Stabilization that will boost the ISO to get faster shutter speeds and as a result, less blurriness.  The good thing about this is that it will reduce blurriness from both subject movement and hand shake.  However, boosting the ISO can give you a lot of noise.

If you need a waterproof, shockproof, cold-proof, and crushproof camera, then the Stylus 1030 SW great choice.  However, this camera isn’t a great choice for everyone.  Those who don’t need a rugged camera will make unnecessary compromises on image quality and features if they choose the 1030 SW. 

Recommended: Yes, for those who need a rugged camera.

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