Olympus MJU 770SW

Adventure-loving photographers who thrive upon adrenaline rushes and exploring inhospitable frontiers will at some point face the restriction of what their favourite camera can, and more importantly can’t, cope with.

Whether it’s diving around coral reefs, trekking across snowscapes in blizzards or rafting down white-water rapids, the damage on the device is sure to limit your photographic exploration. If the array of sturdy waterproof housings available

still isn’t enough to persuade you to dip your expensive equipment in the sea, perhaps investing in an affordable compact that attempts to deliver adequate quality in a made-for-action exterior is the answer. Many producers are attempting to

crack this segment of the market, with Olympus launching the [mju:] 770 SW this spring, adding to the already popular series of compacts.

To look at it, photographers won’t notice anything too out of the ordinary with the 770 SW. It’s a cigarette-packet-sized compact, like any other currently on the shelves, with the added detail of a reinforced plate attached to the front, and a slightly invasive metal hand-tie loop on the right edge. Venturing away from the industry-standard silver casing, or in this case Titanium Grey, Olympus has also delivered Dark Blue and Mocca Brown variations.

Olympus has played it safe in terms of controls, with nothing the rank amateur couldn’t fathom, making it ideal for point-and-shoot photography, which, when patrolling a seabed or when hands are crippled by bitterly cold weather, is nothing short of a godsend. Added into the equation for all-round ease of usability are 25 preset scene modes with four specifically tailored for underwater environments. Furthermore, a handy on-screen water-pressure gauge has been included, alerting water delvers to the model’s submerged limitations. Unfortunately, despite the manufacturer’s best efforts to produce an enhanced LCD (the 770 SW hosts a 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD with 230,000 pixels), tests proved that it was extremely difficult to view subjects in direct sunlight and, with the lack of a viewfinder, framing subjects became a quest of trial and error.

Durability wise, the device’s specifications will resonate with photographers looking for a camera that can keep up with their adventure-seeking lifestyle. The 770 SW, offering users 7.1 megapixels, boasts an ability to stay waterproof up to ten metres, shockproof to falls equivalent of 1.5 metres, crushproof against weights of up to 100kg and freezeproof to minus ten degrees. Professionals may be disappointed with the rather limited 3x optical zoom, and the macro capabilities will potentially be under par in comparison to the kind of prosumer models available, but in the realms of its peers, it sits satisfactorily. In its favour, the optical folded light path has a water-repellent lens coating guaranteed to deliver on its aquatic promises.

As with many of the units spawned under the brand, the 770 SW uses Olympus’s BrightCapture technology aiding low-light photography. The camera engineers this by extracting the data from the image sensor to generate an image on the LCD, which is four times brighter than conventional types, making framing easier, especially when in dark situations.

Getting to grips with the device’s imaging technology was unchallenging, and after only minutes of use, the unit held a catalogue of impressive images. In particular, points are awarded for the Olympus 770 SW’s abilities to correctly expose images without having to tweak the EV compensation, delivering detailed and colour-accurate shots in a variety of lighting situations. The built-in image-stabilisation technology is a definite aid, particularly in adventure-orientated pursuits where setting up a tripod is an impossibility.

Overall, the Olympus compact delivers the same standard of quality akin to the brand’s line of units, with the added bonus of a handful of extra scene modes that may resonate with point-and-shoot enthusiasts. The durability features of the 770 SW are essentially what will separate the model from its competitors, increasing the value of what is otherwise another generic compact camera. We think that professionals may struggle to satisfy their creative lust with the limited delivery of manual functionally, but for an affordable compact suited to adventure photography, the 770 SW will do well.