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

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.

13 Responses to “Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera with Dual Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)”

1. Odakota says:

   July 31, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   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!
2. Addie says:

   August 1, 2009 at 2:48 am

   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.
3. Yasma says:

   August 1, 2009 at 2:56 am

   4.0 out of 5 stars
   4 stars for Olympus warranty, minus 1 star for durability
   We purchased this camera for our son who builds water parks and takes photographs of job progress. We figured he would need a camera that was waterproof and rugged.
4. Yuma says:

   August 1, 2009 at 4:54 am

   5.0 out of 5 stars
   Handy Camera for many occasions
   I have owned this camera since September 2007. I took it to Egypt, Aruba, Belize. I took about 1400 photos in Egypt -in the water, in the desert, from the bus window, at night, at…
5. Jens says:

   August 1, 2009 at 9:16 am

   5.0 out of 5 stars
   Hard as nails and takes great pictures !!
   I purcahsed this as a Christmas present for my step daughter, she is very heavy handed and dare I say it clumsy, it has taken several drops to the ground and has a few war wounds…
6. Falk says:

   August 1, 2009 at 10:18 am

   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.
7. Xhosa says:

   August 1, 2009 at 1:05 pm

   5.0 out of 5 stars
   OLYMPUS 790SW
   THIS CAMERA IS GREAT, TAKE REALLY GOOD QUALITY, COLOR, DIGITAL PICTURES. I CARRY IT AROUND ALL DAY IN POCKET SO IT GETS A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR AND IT STILL WORKS GREAT.
8. Yeardleigh says:

   August 1, 2009 at 4:15 pm

   5.0 out of 5 stars
   Amazing compact camera
   This camera is absolutely amazing. I have had it for over a year now and have used it in almost every imaginable environment.
9. Estralita says:

   August 1, 2009 at 8:52 pm

   1.0 out of 5 stars
   poor overall design
   Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera with Dual Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom (Orange)
   Very disappointing camera.
10. Tablita says:

    August 2, 2009 at 2:17 am

    1.0 out of 5 stars
    Bad water proof system
    I bought this camera because i was traveling to galapagos and i thought that this trip deserves a water proof camera.
11. Winfred says:

    August 2, 2009 at 9:13 am

    3.0 out of 5 stars
    It’s Ok but not great
    I purchased this camera for vacations on the water and the ability to take shots in rainy weather. It is indeed waterproof and durable, however the shutter lag makes it very…
12. Anonymous says:

    August 2, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Best camera for a kid
    This is a great camera for a kid. It looks good and is water resistant and shockproof. However, make sure to read the directions together to learn to use it well.
13. Lindley says:

    August 2, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Sturdy Camera for City Public Works Dept
    I have purchase 7 of the Olympus Stylus 790SW cameras for the City in their Parks & Rec, Building & Zoning, Engineering, and Utilities departments.