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Olympus Digital Camera Review
With summer still here and the weather hot and steamy, I’ve found myself in water fairly often. My goal this summer was to teach my kids to swim. I am happy to say we succeeded. There are so many negotiable things in parenting like playing an instrument, but swimming is a matter of life or death. Kids need to learn to swim. So, we spent our afternoons at swim lessons and then swam in our pool for fun and practice.
I came up with a great way to encourage my kids to dive down to the bottom when they were still hesitant at the beginning. I shot photos of them underwater. The more pictures I took, the more they wanted to go under. Their comfort level in the water moved from cautious to carefree in a matter of days.
Picking a Camera
When looking for a camera, I decided it needed to be tough, easy to use, and of course waterproof. I chose the Olympus Stylus 770 SW and have had great success with it.
Olympus says the Stylus 770 SW is the toughest digital camera in the Stylus series and was built for active lifestyles. Well, who has a more active lifestyle than a run around mom? Not many.
This 7.1-megapixel ultra-compact digital camera is designed to take great photos in nearly any environment, including underwater down to 33 feet, and in winter weather as frigid as 18 degrees below freezing. I can’t imagine finding myself in weather that cold, but it is comforting to know that on a snowy day or a ski trip, the camera will keep on shooting.
Probably one of the most mom-friendly features is its ability to survive falls up to five feet and heavy loads up to 220 pounds. So, when your kids want to turn the camera on you or the family dog, there is nothing to worry about. Even if the wrist strap falls off and they drop the camera, it will survive the fall. Inside this rugged exterior is an amazing little camera that packs in an array of innovative technologies to ensure clear, sharp images in the roughest of shooting situations.
What Makes It Different
The Stylus 770 SW boasts several signature features including shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof and crushproof. It has a large, bright 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD screen which improves shooting and sharing pictures in bright-light and low-light situations. This was really helpful when shooting in the pool outside on a bright sunny day. Another great feature is the Digital Image Stabilization which boosts ISO sensitivity and shutter speed to capture crisp, clear pictures when you or your subject is moving.
How It Stays Dry
I felt odd putting it into the pool for the first time, but after the first dunk, I realized this camera was ready to take the plunge and swim alongside us. By combining a lightweight, stainless steel exterior with rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal the interior from water, Olympus created a slim body design that performs as well under water as it does on land. The inclusion of four custom underwater scene modes make it the perfect camera for the pool, snorkeling and scuba diving. The Stylus 770 SW also features a water-repellant lens coating to prevent water droplets from forming on the lens so you get clear shots no matter how wet the shooting environment.
Can’t Be Crushed
The camera is thin enough to fit in your back pocket and since is can withstand loads of up to 220 pounds, you do not have to worry about damaging your camera in a purse, backpack, luggage, or by simply sitting down.
Easy to Use
I had a great out-of-box experience. I turned the camera on, it prompted me to set the date and time and then I was ready to shoot. Downloading the pictures to my computer was also a breeze with the USB cord that came with the camera. There is a lot packed into this little camera, but it wasn’t overwhelming. I chose to keep it simple and it works great.
If you are in the market for a new digital point and shoot camera, need something tough enough for a run around mom, and would love it to be underwater friendly, take a look at the Olympus Stylus 770 SW. It has made our summer of swimming a lot more fun.
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