Water Poof Digital Camera

Olympus Stylus 790 SW : It’s shockproof and it’s waterproof. Since then, however, the camera has impressed me with its intelligence and its ability to create quality shots under almost any circumstances.

The shockproof and waterproof labels come with important disclaimers. It’s shockproof only on falls up to five feet. In reality, almost any digital camera will survive a 5′ fall. The 790 SW’s metal body, floating circuit board and internal shock absorbers should provide significantly more than the stated shockproof performance.

The 790 SW is waterproof up to ten feet. That may not seem like much, but when was the last time you were below 10′ of water?

Both the shockproof and waterproof performance can be enhanced with Olympus accessories. The PT-041 Underwater Housing increases the waterproof guarantee up to 40 meters. The Silicon Clear Skin provides a cozy rubberized cover to protect the camera (and the finish) against the effects of drops.

The 790 SW is also freeze-proof to 14F (-10C). I’m not freeze-proof, so this was not an important feature for me.

Similarly, the camera’s 7.1 megapixel resolution far exceeds my requirements. My photos will be compressed significantly for publication on the web. Most of them will be published at less than one megapixel.

The 3x optical zoom is very nice to have. No digital zoom can ever take the place of a decent optical zoom feature and it’s amazing to have a 3x optical zoom on a camera this tiny.

The 2.5″ HyperCrystal LCD is an amazing performer, especially in sunlight.

SCN mode allows you to configure the camera quickly for the type of photo you intend to take. You can choose from 23 different options with presets to help ensure the best picture possible.

Guide mode is the real genius of this little camera. The shooting guide enables you to set an enormous variety of photographic effects — and preview them on the screen before the photo is taken. It’s like having your own photography instructor in your pocket.

This is an awesome little camera. If I had a complaint, it would be that the camera may be just a little too little for my club-like hands. Other than that, this may me the most perfect pocket camera on the market today. And it’s waterproof.