Olympus Stylus 1030SW 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Wide Angle Zoom (Silver)

Product Details

Product Reviews

(5 stars) - Works GREAT 1.5 years after purchase
I bought this camera when it first debuted in the Spring of 2008. It is mid-November 2009, and I have had nothing less than a perfect experience with the camera. I purchased it in the black color and also bought a protective silicone shell, which I would purchase over any leather or neoprene camera case (http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Tough-8000-Protective-Silicone-Digital/dp/B001TKTDP8/ref=pd_sim_p_67) to provide additional protection for the camera against scratches and falls and to keep all compartments securely closed underwater preventing accidentally opening the camera. I have used it on numerous family vacations, which include taking it snorkeling, to the pool, beachside, on a boat, in the snow, and at the bar (dumped beers, wet bars, my friends' slippery hands), etc. It takes fantastic pictures for a point and shoot camera. I really love the wide-angle lens, which allows me to take a picture of 5 people and me without missing a face and holding the camera at arm's-length. I would definitely recommend using the xD card, because I love taking panoramic photos, there are 3 panoramic settings for the camera with two options that "stitch" the three pictures in-camera and one where you manually "stitch" the pictures together on your computer after you upload them. The panoramic feature cannot be utilized without the use of an xD card.

My only complaint is that with the black camera after snorkeling for 1/2 a day in the Caribbean, the salt water rubbed away part of the black on the front of the camera. It looks like paint chipping off the camera, but it is a completely superficial flaw with no impact on the camera's features or capabilities. Also, after a day-long hiking trip in the Yucatan and cave swimming and rappelling, I noticed that the plastic lens cover (the small plastic square frame on top of the lens, not the retractable lens cover) had fallen off. This happened one year ago, and it has not affected the camera's waterproofing or image quality.

Whenever I go on vacation, my Mom calls to see if I'm bringing my camera with me, and she leaves hers at home. I have never called Olympus or had to deal with customer service because I haven't had a problem with the camera. I take it out every single weekend (not an exaggeration), and it has been able to put up with all of the abuse I inflict upon it. Additionally, the battery life is excellent! I have tweaked the settings to optimize the battery life, and doing so has allowed me to take over 600 pictures or use every single weekend for a month on one charge.

Pros:
Waterproof
Indestructible
Takes Great Pictures
Panoramic Capabilities
Wide-Angle Lens

Cons:
Heavier than a similarly sized point & shoot camera
Paint chipped off on camera front (cosmetic flaw)

(2 stars) - Oly 1030 great camera except it floods often !
Ever since the Olympus 770 debuted, I bought a couple. Since I live in the Carribbean, they are hard to come by, hence my owning one extra as a back-up. I also bought the PT-043 Olympus housings to scuba dive with the camera. I also own the newer (at the time) 1030 and have five of them now (mine, my back-up, 1 for each of two daughters). That's four .....

Unfortunately, every one of these cameras has flooded either snorkeling at 5 feet max, or while in my swim suit while wading chest deep. And every one had to go back to Oly for a repair, which they did no problem (other than the logistics of shipping from outside the USA.

Yes, I bought extended warranties on all of these cameras but they all flooded well within the original 1 year warranty period ! Olympus denies any issue with these c
ameras, but do a google search for OLYMPUS STYLUS FLOODING and you will see I am not alone. Several major USA camera repair centers DO acknowledge they get a lot of these cameras back for flooding damage. I called and spoke at great length with Oly in NY and they promised to get back to me with a response. That was in September and am still waiting!

DISCLOSURE : I was a professional photog for 30+ years and I know how to care for the camera. Despite careful cleaning of the seals, and assuring they were closed prior to wading, they still flooded.

In August I got one of the 1030's back from Olympus, went wading, and it flooded again ! So back it went. That's when I bought camera # 5 last week. It is on its way back to Oly as I type this!

So why did I buy another one ????? Because it is otherwise a great camera, especially for macro shots. (Though the flash is useless beyond 6 feet or so.) But mainly because I own several of the Olympus PT-043 underwater housings and no other camera will fit inside. Both of these models I bought are supposed to go 33 feet (10 metres) without the need for a housing.

MORAL : Use the camera ONLY IN A HOUSING if you plan on getting it wet ! OR, buy a cheap 3 year extended warranty from MACK CAMERA who are FANTASTIC to deal with by the way! ( I am not associated with MACK in any way. )

(1 stars) - Over it.
I have sent my camera in TWICE for repair (which they said I didn't close the battery compartment and water got in) but I think that there is a problem somewhere else cause the first time they "replaced the battery lock" and the same thing happened again. I had the older model of this camera for 3 years without one problem. I had to pay for shipping to get it fixed and after these two time of sending it in, it has another problem, it beeps extremely loud saying "warning depth" and the camera hasn't been in the water since I sent it in and now it's giving me this warning like I'm under water too deep. I'm so irritated with this camera every time I want to use it for something important it screws up. I've contacted Olympus about this and I just want either a different camera that works by them or I'm completely done with this company. I was going to get 4 of my family members Olympus cameras for Christmas but I think I might go with Sony or something else. I'm over it.

(1 stars) - Steer clear of this camera or prepare to get burned
My Olympus Stylus 1030 SW had a water leak when I took it snorkeling to the beach. I've had this camera for only 13 months from when purchased brand new. Before going into the water I took a few pictures and it was working as expected, then I got to swimming and then took the camera out for my snorkeling partner to take a picture. The LCD never turned on and the little amber LED next to the dial was blinking trying to tell me something as well as the camera giving it's audible funeral tones. The lens cover worked for some time while holding the camera above the water and turning it on and off, so at the moment I still had a pulse from the camera. I took it out of the water immediately but after my resuscitation attempts and letting it dry with it's guts to the sun, it was clear that Olympus had ran away with my money. I must say that I never trusted the battery door latch and sealing molding on this camera and it finally failed to keep the water out. The paint on the face of the camera has started to peel off and the metal square around the lense has shifted; signs of its flawed design since I have never even dropped the camera, plus it has always been handled like a stick of dynamite while in my ownership. I found the picture quality average at best, but it worked, so no complaints there. The thing that this camera had going with me was that it was "water-proof". I'm currently looking to jump ship to a better brand/quality of under water camera after my Olympus mistake, as I'm not even going to try to get it fixed, instead I'm going to let it swim with the fishes. I am dissatisfied with the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW and do NOT recommend it to anyone willing to listen. Olympus should go back to the drawing board with this camera and fix its shortcomings, ie. the water leak problem through the battery door due to a flimsy sealing rubber molding, the paint peeling off problem and lense frame that just comes loose, which happened to me or just falls off the camera, which people have documented. Until Olympus corrects these problems with this otherwise sharp looking camera, the Olympus Stylus 1030SW makes for a luxurious paper weight for any occasion. Get yours now!..

(4 stars) - Great little camera - leaked once
Well, I have had this camera for a year now and just sent it in for warranty repair.
The camera is versatile and takes great pictures.
The built-in software is superb and easy to navigate.
I have snorkelled down to about 25' in Australia, Alaska (yes), Florida and the Caribbean with it and have gone Skiiing in North Carolina. Only once did it leak.
I dried it out and it has worked ever since.
However, due to the exposure to salt water, when it had leaked, the USB port began to give trouble connecting to the computer over a period of months until it finally failed. Thus it has gone in for warranty repair.
The Black trim on my camera did not last more than a few months before it began peeling off. So it you are planning to get one, get a silver model.
Also, it is a good idea to buy an extra battery to keep in rotation with the original. You never know when you may need it and face it, if you are out on an excursion, this doesn't take AAA batteries, so you can't just pop into a convenience store and solve your dead battery issues.
One hopes that in future models the leaking issue would be resolved. It only happened once to me, so I wouldn't call it a problem with all the units made. Maybe it was a lemon. However, I went with the model that could go to 30ft, because I can freedive that easily.
It may be a good idea to get a silicone skin. My view screen is scratched up.

Would I buy again? Probably. This is my second unit as an upgrade from the 10ft depth model

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