by Laurence Chen
www.lchenphoto.com

Photo-John called me last March with a proposition: “What are you doing in May? Wanna go on a factory tour?” The cheery tone in his voice raised my suspicions just a bit.

My first reaction was, “Uh well, maybe, but I’ve got a zillion things I’m behind on. And who really wants to go away to inhale lithium grease vapor and eat mystery meat for lunch?” Of course, I didn’t say that; what I said was, “Hmm, interesting. Tell me more.”

“It’s Manfrotto/Gitzo. It’s in Italy.”

“Oh! Well, interesting…” And immediately trying not to sound too excited: “I’m pretty sure I’m free. Um, what are the dates again?”

So it was that I found myself with a dozen or so photo industry editors and writers winding our way up through a narrow valley, passing through quintessential Italian mountain towns, following the course of a river whose name I missed completely thanks to numerous other conversation topics. Manfrotto’s factory is located in Feltre, a town in the lower Dolomites of North-Eastern Italy. It’s a light-industrial complex not unlike one you’d find just about anywhere in America. And as such the unassuming exterior reveals nothing of the complex logistical and manufacturing activity within.

One of our many guides on the tour was none other than Paul Wild, the president of Bogen Imaging. Mr. Wild’s history with Manfrotto (also known as Bogen in the U.S.) dates back “to the very early days” when he was with ARRI Lighting and he partnered with Lino Manfrotto to design and build reliable and functional stands. He later joined Manfrotto and this intimate involvement with the company made for highly informative presentations. In fact I got a kick out of Mr. Wild’s frequent color commentary supplementing someone else’s presentation. (Note that he was always respectful and polite about jumping in!) Indeed, Mr. Wild’s genuine and contagious enthusiasm was clearly shared across the company.

Manfrotto designs and manufactures both their line of camera and lighting supports as well as the Gitzo brand which they acquired in 2003. Though the two brands are now designed and manufactured in the same location, they represent two different approaches to satisfy the many individual styles and techniques found in the field. Plus the company serves not only still photographers, but the video and film industry as well. Thus they stock up to 45,000 parts at any given time. Each day about 10,000 tubes of various materials are cut and cleaned for tripod legs alone. And as demand for their products continues to grow, Manfrotto finds itself needing to deliver greater quantities of product faster than ever before. Expect to find more automation in their future warehouses and factories.

For example, cut tubes have residual shavings and lubricants that need to be removed. This process has been done by hand for over 20 years because a machine could not be built to do this reliably over Manfrotto’s large production runs. Only recently has such a device been created to meet the necessary quality and consistency standards. (If you’re worried about all the white-gloved human tube cleaners who just lost their jobs, rest easy. Our guide assured us that “[they] have lots of other things for them to do!”)

Perhaps the thing that makes Manfrotto unique is their in-house machine tool stamping division—a product of the ARRI Lighting partnership led by Mr. Wild. Years ago they saw the benefit of controlling their own tool design and manufacturing. This is like McDonald’s (restaurant) owning their own potato farms to ensure the consistency of their French fries. By having their own tool and machine engineers work tightly with the tripod design engineers, Manfrotto greatly reduces the cost and complexity of bringing a product to market, not to mention saving many months of effort when a design or material specification changes. Manfrotto’s reputation for quality undoubtedly stems from this competitive advantage.

Finally, product testing is a critical piece of the process. Knowing that their supports literally must stand up to just about anything, Manfrotto stress- and cycle-tests their designs for up to 2 months straight. Various enemies such as salt, heat, and cold can mar inferior finishes or materials. One test (shown below) simulates six months’ exposure to salt water in 24 hours. Regarding other brands, one guide said, “they may look like our [products] but they don’t react like ours.”

One might ask, “who needs all this quality, anyway, isn’t it overkill?” As it turns out, a lot of people want this level of quality and durability—the film and video industries in particular, along with many demanding photo consumers in Asia and around the world. Japan is a huge market for tripods, and they are some of the most informed customers who inspect every aspect of a product’s design and build quality. (Some consumers are willing to return a product even if the product box arrives damaged!) Here in the States, market research reveals that there are now more women turning pro, and that they too desire a higher level of quality.

As photographers, our heads and hands are full of image ideas. We want our supports to “just work.” Fortunately, the folks at Manfrotto have their heads and hands full of ways to support cameras, lights, light modifiers, and just about anything else we might need to lock in place on location or in the studio. New design approaches such as the 458B Neotec with its surprisingly rapid open/close leg mechanism or the 190XPROB and its horizontal center column change the way we think about what a tripod can do. Gitzo’s Explorer GT2530EX and off-center ball head G1276M make recomposing for slight changes quick and easy. I look forward to working with these tools and I’ll report my impressions here in the near future.

It’s summer vacation time again. For many people, that means it’s also time for a new digital camera. This guide will help you decide on the best digital camera for your summer travels. There are a few different vacation camera strategies. You might want one that’s small and easy to keep handy. Or you might want a full-featured digital camera that can do it all. You might even be thinking your camera phone will be the best tool for summer photos. No matter what your budget, experience, or inclination, we can help you choose the best digital camera. Read on to learn about different digital camera types, useful camera features, and digital camera accessories that will help you capture and save your summer vacation memories.

Camera Types

There are lots of ways to classify digital cameras. For summer vacation, I think the best way to break them down is pocket-sized, weatherproof (and waterproof), full-featured/super-zooms, and digital SLRs. To be honest, this isn’t really any different from normal digital camera breakdowns. But we’re going to take a look at these digital camera categories from a summer vacation perspective.

Pocket-Sized Digital Cameras are small enough to fit in your pocket. They’re compact, inconspicuous, and you can keep them with you all the time. A camera that’s with you all the time will get more pictures than a big one you’ll be tempted to leave at home or in the car. There are lots of pocket cameras available, with all kinds of features. You can get a pocket camera with any resolution and almost any features you want. A couple of features you won’t get are a long zoom lens or a tilt/swivel LCD. But the lenses are getting better and there are current pocket-sized cameras with 5x and 7x zoom lenses. That’s a lot of lens for a digital camera that fits in your pocket.

Super-Zoom Digital Cameras have 10x or longer zoom lenses, usually have image stabilization to keep photos sharp, and include a full range of exposure modes. Super-zooms are sometimes called “bridge” cameras because they bridge the gap between normal compact digital cameras and digital SLRs with changeable lenses. Because of their long lenses, super-zoom digital cameras are usually more bulky than most digital cameras. But the long lenses and full feature-sets make them very powerful. A 10x zoom lens that’s equivalent to a 350mm lens on a 35mm camera can pull in distant subjects for landscape photos and make angles and framing possible that you could never get with a more conservative camera. Unless you have thousands of dollars for lenses, a super-zoom compact digital camera even offers more reach than a digital SLR. If you’re a more creative photographer and want maximum control and flexibility, then a super-zoom digital camera might be right for you. I think super-zooms are the ideal vacation travel cameras for most people.

8 to 10-Megapixel Super-Zoom Digital Camera Reviews >>
6 to 7-Megapixel Super-Zoom Digital Camera Reviews >>

Waterproof and Weatherproof Digital Cameras are more specialized, but they are definitely the best choice for some people’s summer vacations. If you plan to spend time in or near water, or you’ll be exposed to the elements while hiking or biking, then a waterproof or weatherproof model may be the best digital camera for you. A camera that can take a dousing means you’ll worry less and take pictures when you might be inclined to leave another camera in the car, motel, or camera case. Underwater housings are also available for lots of digital cameras now. I’ll talk a little more about those later. But they are another option for people who are going to spend a lot of time around water.

Waterproof and Weatherproof Digital Camera Reviews:
Olympus Stylus Digital Cameras >>
Pentax Optio W30 >>
Pentax Optio W20 >>
Pentax K10D Digital SLR >>

Digital SLR Cameras are the top-of-the-heap with digital cameras. They have superior image quality, speed, maximum flexibility, changeable lenses, and you can use external flashes and all kinds of other accessories. Even the smallest digital SLR is heavy and bulky compared to most compact digital cameras. And big cameras can be very tempting to leave in the bag, in the car, or even at home in the closet. A camera that isn’t with you means missed photo opportunities. But if you want the best image quality, a digital SLR is absolutely the way to go. Because of the superior sensor technology used in digital SLRs, no compact digital camera compares in the image quality department.

Digital SLR Reviews >>
Discuss Digital SLRs >>

Digital Camera Features

As well the type of camera you choose, you should also consider what features will be best for your summer vacation camera. Having the right features will ensure that you bring home the best possible photos of the places, people, and events you experience in your vacation travels. I think image stabilization, low-light sensitivity, and a variety of scene modes will be the most useful for most people.

Resolution is not as important as the camera companies would have us believe. We’ve been taught that the number of pixels is the most important measure of a digital camera’s quality. The truth is, although image quality may vary because of resolution, most digital cameras with at least 6-megapixel sensors have very good image quality. Resolution is still an important consideration – especially since digital cameras are often categorized by the number of pixels they can capture. I recommend cameras in the 7 to 8-megapixel range. More is nice, but not really necessary for most people and purposes. I think the next features I’m going to describe offer more real benefits to the average digital photographer.

Image Stabilization is one of the most valuable features you can have in a digital camera. It helps eliminate blur caused by shaky hands and keeps your photos sharp when you’re taking pictures in low light or zooming in from a long distance. For more on how image stabilization works and how it can improve your photos, read the Image Stabilization Guide in our Learn section.

Low-Light Sensitivity is called high ISO performance on digital cameras. Look for the ISO sensitivity specifications of cameras you’re interested in. Generally, the higher the number, the better the pictures will be in low light. This particular camera feature was improved by leaps and bounds in 2007. So a camera introduced after March of 2007 will likely have much better high ISO image quality than one from last yeat – even if the ISO numbers are the same (e.g. ISO 800 or ISO 1600).

Scene Modes are auto exposure modes designed for specific types of subjects or photographic situations. Ninety-nine percent of the available compact digital cameras have scene modes and the entry-level digital SLRs offer them as well. Some typical scene modes are Sports, Portrait, Landscape, and Party. Some cameras even have dedicated underwater scene modes. If you’ve got experience with manual exposure modes, then you probably don’t need the scene modes. However, they are a quick and simple way to access settings that help make great photos in different circumstances. And for people who don’t have any experience with manual controls, they offer some creative options and access controls and settings that help ensure they get the shot. A good example is low-light and night photography. If you don’t understand ISO, aperture, or shutter speed, there’s almost always a Night scene mode that does understand those things and will automatically choose the best settings for your subject. Same goes for action photos. The Sports mode will choose camera settings that help freeze your subject in action, even if you don’t know how to. Scene modes will make sure you get more photos in a variety of circumstances, on your vacation.

Digital Camera Accessories

Just buying a new digital camera for your vacation isn’t enough – especially if you plan to take it on a trip for a few days or weeks. You need to consider how you’re going to protect your camera, how often you’re going to be able to recharge the batteries (if your camera has rechargeables), and what you’re going to do with all the digital picture files you take.

Camera Cases are very important. A good camera case protects your camera, helps organize your memory cards and batteries, and keeps your camera available when you need it. If you’re traveling, it’s good to get something inconspicuous that doesn’t shout “Camera!” at potential thieves you pass on the street.

Read Camera Bag Reviews >>

Batteries are easy to take for granted. Most digital cameras now use proprietary, rechargeable batteries and have very good battery life. But if your batteries die when you’re on a tour bus in the middle of nowhere, what are you going to do? The best thing is to have at least one extra battery and make sure to charge them both up every night. You might also consider digital cameras that use AA batteries, since AA batteries are readily available all over the world. But for most people and purposes, two rechargeable batteries and recharging every night will be adequate.

If you’ll be camping, without access to power, plan accordingly. I would recommend testing the battery life of your camera, multiplying it out by the number of days you’ll be away from civilization, and buying enough batteries to cover that time – plus one. Better to have too many than not enough.

Extra Memory is an important consideration. You never want to discover that your memory card is full, right when you’re about take the most important photo of your vacation. It’s better to always have more memory than you really need. Memory cards are so cheap now, there’s no reason not to have at least a couple of gigs. If you travel with a laptop, you can transfer your files every night. That’s what I do. But if you don’t want to carry a laptop, buy some extra memory cards so that you don’t run out while you’re traveling. Do some calculations to figure out how many photos you take per day, how much memory they’ll require, and multiply by the number of days you’ll be traveling. Buy enough memory to cover the result – and then buy some more. Better to have too much than not enough.

Underwater Housings are available for many compact digital cameras, and if you’re willing to pay, for digital SLRs, too. If you plan to spend time at the beach or around water this summer, you may want to invest in one. You can buy a waterproof digital camera. But an underwater housing will give you more camera choices. Sine the major camera manufacturers all make underwater housings, you can choose your camera first and a housing second. A digital camera with an underwater housing will cost more and be much bulkier than a dedicated point-and-shoot underwater digital camera. But if features and image quality are your top priority, than a better camera with an underwater housing might be the right decision.

Using a Camera Phone On Your Vacation

No doubt, some of you are thinking a camera phone will be adequate for taking all your summer vacation and travel photos. Camera phones have improved a lot in the last couple of years. They have better resolution, better lenses, and some even have some real camera controls. However, even the best camera phone doesn’t offer the control or image quality of a simple 3-megapixel digital camera. No matter what the resolution, the lenses and sensors on camera phones can’t match the quality of a decent digital camera from 4-5 years ago. That said, they are very convenient and they will record a scene or event for you. What they won’t do is capture quality that prints well. Even prints from the best 5-megapixel camera phone are very poor compared to a current $150 digital camera. So keep that in mind if you’re thinking about using a camera phone to take pictures this summer. The convenience factor is definitely an important consideration. But if you appreciate having nice photos to remember your trips and summer events, then I would suggest an actual, dedicated digital camera. This decision is comparable to what I said about batteries and memory. Sure, a camera phone might get the job done. But what if it doesn’t? Better to play it safe and buy a camera that can do more than just deliver the minimum.

Conclusion

Hopefully this summer digital camera guide helped you understand what the different camera types, features, and accessories can do for you. Below you’ll find links to digital camera guides, reviews, and tips to help you take better pictures with your new camera. And don’t forget to share your travel and vacation photos with us on the PhotographyREVIEW.com gallery!

Read Digital Camera Reviews
Digital Camera Buyer’s Guide
Digital SLR Guide
Digital Camera Memory Guide
Image Stabilization Guide
Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera Tips
Discuss Digital Cameras

The most recent addition to Olympus Stylus Digital camera line, the pocket-sized 7.1-megapixel Stylus 780 has a weatherproof body, 5x optical zoom lens, and 2.5-inch LCD display. Mechanical image stabilization and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 1600 set the Olympus Stylus 780 apart from previous Stylus digital cameras. It’s a lot of camera in a very small package - and you can take it out in the rain!

Olympus Stylus 780 Studio Test Images
	ISO 80 Sample >> ISO 100 Sample >> ISO 200 Sample >> ISO 400 Sample >> ISO 800 Sample >> ISO 1600 Sample >>

Pros Weatherproof Pocket-sized 5x optical zoom Real mechanical image stabilization! Live histogram display Great high-ISO performance Excellent macro options	Cons No optical viewfinder Weak flash No aperture or shutter speed display Soft spots in lens Slow shot-to-shot time

Introduction
I saw the Olympus Stylus 780 at the 2007 PMA tradeshow in Las Vegas and couldn’t wait to try it. It’s got all the makings of a great pocket-sized, outdoor and travel camera. The weatherproof body, Dual iS image stabilization, new TruePic III processor, a 5x zoom lens, and sensitivity up to ISO 1600 make for a powerful and flexible compact digital camera camera. Plus, I’ve enjoyed my experience with other Olympus Stylus digital cameras. So I told them to put me at the top of the list to review the Stylus 780.

I got the camera a few weeks ago and have used it almost every day, mostly for outdoor photos on hikes, mountain bike rides, and trips to the park with the dog. I’ve also taken a lot of flower pictures since my yard and the mountains are in full bloom.

Features
The Olympus Stylus 780 digital camera has a great set of features. Pocket-sized, weatherproof point-and-shoot performance is the name of the game with the Olympus Stylus line, which began back in 1991 with the Olympus Stylus/mju 35mm point-and-shoot camera. With a 5x optical zoom lens, 2.5-inch LCD, mechanical and electronic image stabilization, and a weatherproof body, the Stylus 780 has a pedigree and all the parts to make a great take-everywhere digital camera.

For me, the most important feature on the Olympus Stylus 780 is the image stabilization. (Learn more about image stabilization) The 780 uses what Olympus calls “Dual iS” image stabilization. It’s “dual” because the camera has both mechanical image stabilization (MIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS). Olympus’ Sensor Shift image stabilization - the mechanical part of the system, helps compensate for camera shake when you’re taking pictures in low light. Electronic image stabilization uses high ISO settings to help freeze action. EIS is activated either by choosing the “High Auto” ISO setting in the Function menu or one of the three scene modes that use electronic image stabilization for action or low light photography.

The Olympus Stylus 780 doesn’t have advanced exposure modes like aperture priority or metered manual. It has a program mode that offers exposure adjustment via exposure compensation, an pure point-and-shoot Auto mode, and 22 scene modes ranging from standards like Landscape and Portrait, to more specialized modes like Underwater Wide and Auction. Each scene mode includes a description of what the mode is for and how it helps capture that type of subject. There’s also a Shooting Guide menu, which lists different types of subjects and photo problems with detailed instructions for how to best capture them with the Stylus 780.

Olympus Stylus 780 - SCN Mode Menu

Olympus Stylus 780 - GUIDE Menu

There are two macro modes with a dedicated button on the back of the camera. One lets you focus at 7.9-inches/20 cm at wide zoom and 23.6-inches/60 cm at the telephoto end of the zoom. The other, Super macro mode, fixes the zoom and allows you to focus as close as 1.2-inches/3 cm - that’s close!

In the Hi drive mode, the Olympus Stylus 780 can capture 3.5 images per second for up to 11 frames. Flash and ISO settings are limited in the Hi drive mode, and the resolution is restricted to 2048 x 1536 pixels (3.1 megapixels). But the flash will strobe in the Hi drive mode and that’s very impressive.

The 5x f/3.5-5.0 optical zoom lens is equivalent to a 36-180mm lens on a 35mm film camera. That’s a pretty good range for a camera that fits in the pocket of your jeans. It’s capable of getting in pretty close to most subjects and works great for zooming in for landscape photos. However, the 36mm wide end isn’t really what I consider wide.

There are a couple of other features that should be mentioned: Shadow Adjustment Technology and the Panorama scene mode. Essentially, the Panorama scene mode is a built-in stitching system that helps the photographer create a panoramic image in the camera. You have to use an Olympus xD memory card and the included Olympus Master software in order to use the Panorama scene mode. Shadow Adjust has a dedicated button on the back of the camera that simply and automatically compensates for contrasty lighting or backlit subjects.

Camera Menus

Olympus Stylus 780 shooting mode display w. info and histogram		Olympus Stylus 780 Function menu
Olympus Stylus 780 menu navigation		Olympus Stylus 780 main menu
Olympus Stylus 780 playback mode display w. info		Olympus Stylus 780 playback mode display w. info and histogram

Design
The Olympus Stylus 780’s most important design element isn’t readily visible. In order to protect delicate mechanical parts and sensitive electronics, rubber gaskets protect all openings on the camera.

Two-thirds of the camera back are dedicated to the 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD. Like most compact digital cameras now, the Olympus Stylus 780 has no optical viewfinder. Camera controls are placed well, with everything in reach of your right index finger and thumb. I like the Function button, which gives quick access to often used controls like ISO and white balance. Dedicated buttons give even easier access to the most important controls - exposure, flash, macro and self-timer. There’s also a Mode Dial for choosing the shooting mode, viewing photos, using the Guide mode.

I like point-and-shoot cameras that actually fit in my pocket. And in spite of having some big camera features, the Olympus Stylus 780 will fit in a shirt or jeans pocket. That means you can have it with you all the time, ready to get the shot - no matter what the place or occasion.

Camera Experience
I’m always on the lookout for digital point-and-shoot cameras that can do serious trail duty with minimal compromise. The Olympus Stylus 780 is tiny and packs a lot of power along with excellent features. I was excited about it having actual mechanical image stabilization. In my experience, mechanical image stabilization is invaluable because it means I can shoot in lower light and use lower ISO settings for less noise, hence better image quality. I’m also a long-time fan of the weatherproof Stylus line. I am in the outdoors in all kinds of weather and a camera that can handle some moisture gives me a lot more confidence.

I didn’t have a real opportunity to test the Stylus 780’s weatherproofing because it never really rained while I had it. However, I gave it a couple of good blasts with the hose, just for a photo. It performed just fine after that. And based on my experience with other Olympus Stylus digital cameras, I am not at all concerned about using the 780 in the rain. Olympus has the weatherproof thing down.

For the most part, camera performance was very good. The new TruePic III processor is very good, making the camera quick, and delivering very usable images at high ISO settings. I was actually unprepared and happily surprised by the high ISO performance of the Olympus Stylus 780. I’ve come to expect mediocre to terrible quality from compact digital cameras at sensitivity settings over ISO 400. But Olympus has done a great job in this area. I’m a little uncomfortable about what I’m going to say next, because it goes against what we’ve all come to expect from compact digital cameras. But I’ve checked and re-checked and I believe that the 780 has absolutely usable ISO 1600. If you doubt, I suggest you download the full resolution version of the image above and print it to see for yourself. Normally I try to use the lowest ISO possible to minimize noise and optimize image quality. After using the 780 for a couple of weeks, I think I would actually try to shoot at ISO 200 or even 400 most of the time so that the camera can use a smaller aperture and faster shutter speeds. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, rest assured that the Olympus Stylus 780’s auto and scene modes will serve you well and you’ll get better photos in low light than you have with previous digital cameras. Olympus has done an amazingly good job with their TruePic III camera processor. Every type of photographer will benefit from the improved image quality and low light performance.

There were a couple of problems with the camera. One is that it doesn’t display exposure settings. It does have a histogram display to help judge exposure. But I like to be able to see the shutter speed the camera is using so that I know if I’m going to get a sharp photo. In my opinion, this is a major omission and it makes it hard for me to really get the most out of the camera. The average photographer might not care. But anyone who has a little camera experience is likely to want to know what shutter speed the camera is selecting. Knowing your shutter speed allows you to decide whether a photo is possible and the best technique to use.

Since the majority of my serious photography is of mountain bikers, I always take test cameras out on the trail. I had high hopes for the 780 as a mountain bike camera. However, like yours truly on the dirt jumps, it falls short. It’s really hard to take panning photos with only an LCD display. An optical viewfinder is more accurate and you pan better with the camera braced against your eye. And although it’s comparable to most cameras in its class, the 36mm wide angle zoom isn’t wide enough for tight trail photos. Finally, the flash is very weak. When shooting in the woods, the standard technique is to use the flash and follow the rider (pan). The lack of an optical viewfinder and a weak flash made it next to impossible for me to get a clean panning shot. Panning shots in the woods resulted in spookily dark photos of decapitated riders. Also, unless you’re using the Hi drive mode with its lower resolution, the shot-to-shot time makes it easy to miss a shot. It takes the camera a while to process and save an image. However, if you’re willing to use the Hi drive mode and shoot 3-megapixel photos, then the 780 is pretty quick.

The Olympus Stylus 780 excels at close-up photography. There are two macro modes that allow you to get pretty close. But the Super macro mode allows you to get within 1.2-inches/3 cm of your subject. There’s some distortion around the edges, but since depth-of-field with macro is so limited, it’s not that noticeable. And since the mountains and my yard are full of flowers, I found myself taking lots of close-up flower photos. In fact, I think these flower closeups - especially the ones I took after some rain - are the best photos I took with the 780. The mechanical image stabilization makes a big difference for a lazy photographer like me, too. Normally, a tripod would be necessary for these photos. But I did all right shooting handheld. If you like to take close-up pictures then this camera works very, very well. The mechanical image stabilization also makes it possible to take slow exposures of moving water, for that silky look. Normally, without a tripod, the image below would be all blurry because of my shaky hands. But the Stylus 780’s mechanical image stabilization, a few tries, and some careful bracing and breathing, made this come out very nicely, in spite of the super slow 1/13th of a second shutter speed.

Now the bad news. As wonderful as the design and features of the Olympus Stylus 780 are, the camera is spoiled for me by some hard to avoid lens problems. I took a lot of pictures with this camera. And I started to notice that many of them had soft spots that couldn’t be attributed to anything but a lens problem. Since I shot a lot of outdoor photos, I kept thinking the soft spots might be wind on leaves. But I did some very controlled tests to confirm the problem and discovered that the spots were there, in the same place, no matter what the subject. I then asked Olympus for another camera, in case I just got a bad one. The second camera had the same problem. Photos taken in low light, with the aperture wide open have soft spots around the middle of the frame. Click on the image below to view the high-res file and scroll around to see the soft spots. This would have been a very nice photo if it weren’t for the mushy areas.

There is a possible solution to the lens problem. Actually it’s more of a workaround, but it will help. Since the soft spot only occurs when the lens is wide open, using a higher sensitivity setting should avoid it. And since the Stylus 780 has such impressive high ISO performance, this is a realistic strategy for minimizing the problem. However, it’s a problem that shouldn’t be there in the first place. I like to always use the lowest sensitivity setting a camera offers, so I can get the best possible image quality. With the 780, I have to compromise ultimate image quality in order to avoid the soft spots. That’s a bummer.

Image Quality
Generally, I find that Olympus digital camera image quality isn’t quite as good as I’d like. That’s not to say it’s bad. I have tons of photos I’ve taken with Olympus digital cameras that I’m very pleased with. It’s just that Canon, Sony, Panasonic, and Nikon are usually a little better. The Olympus Stylus 780 is consistent with that experience. However, I was very pleased with the noise levels at high ISO settings. Olympus’ new TruePic III processor does a really excellent job at reducing noise and I have no problem using this camera at ISO 400, 800, and even 1600! The Stylus 780’s high ISO performance was a big surprise for me and I think it’s the most impressive part of the camera.

There’s a noticeable absence of purple fringing in Stylus 780 images. I’m not saying there isn’t any. But it’s much improved since the last Olympus Stylus digital camera I tested (Olympus Stylus 720 SW) and it’s not obvious enough to matter.

I almost always use auto white balance with point-and-shoot digital cameras. Olympus Stylus 780 color is pretty good, although there is occasional white balance wackiness, with darker images having a somewhat warm, reddish hue. Shadow and highlight details are preserved fairly well, although highlights have more of a tendency to blow out than with some other cameras I’ve used. Careful exposure, using the histogram will take care of this. Most point-and-shoot photographers likely won’t notice or care. But the camera does tend to lose some sky and cloud detail. And that’s always disappointing if you’re taking landscape or other outdoor pictures. Auto exposure metering is very good and aside from the highlight problem, I rarely had an exposure that really disappointed me. Most of the photos you see accompanying this review have had at least some adjustment in Photoshop. That being the case, they should be viewed as representing the ultimate potential of the camera and not what it delivers at the most basic point-and-shoot level. For pure, untouched image quality, it’s best to look at the studio sample photos.

Detail is very good. However, I often lost critical details in low light due to the soft spots I mentioned in the Camera Experience section. I checked and rechecked and neither focus nor noise was the problem. But there are distinct soft spots in many images, where important textural details like leaves, branches, and rocks are too soft. And what might have great photos are throwaways. Basically, a very nice camera has been seriously compromised by a lens problem.

Click on thumbnails to view sample photos.

Conclusion
There are so many good things about the Olympus Stylus 780. It fits in your pocket, it’s quick, it’s weatherproof, the image stabilization works great, and the high ISO performance is amazing for a compact digital camera. But no matter how much I want to like it, I can’t ignore the 780’s lens problems. The Olympus Stylus 780 might have been a great camera. But not with this lens. Aside from the weatherproof body, there are other cameras that offer a lot of the same features and functionality. Unless you’re a photographer that shoots in bright, perfect light, where the lens won’t reveal its flaws, you don’t care about small details, or you need the weatherproof design, the 780 is likely to disappoint you, as it did me. Hopefully, the camera designers at Olympus will read this and go the extra mile on the next Stylus digital camera. I want it all. And I know they can do it.

Who Should Buy It
Pardon me, but I’m going to backtrack a little here. No one makes an outdoor point-and-shoot camera like Olympus. If you spend a lot of time hiking, boating, fishing, biking, skiing, or doing anything where a pocket-sized, weatherproof digital camera will come in handy, the Olympus Stylus 780 may serve you well. The only caveat is you must be aware of the camera’s limitations. If you aren’t super picky about image quality and don’t plan on shooting masterpieces or printing larger than 8×10, then the 780 is a smart, worthy camera. There are so many good things about it that everyone will like. But if you’re an experienced, demanding photographer, used to looking closely at your images, then I would advise you to steer clear of the Olympus Stylus 780. Unless I happened to get two bad samples, I predict the lens will let you down.

- end -

Contents of the Olympus Stylus 770 Box
• Olympus Stylus 780 Digital Camera
• LI-42B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger
• USB cable, Audio/Video cable
• Wrist strap
• Manual
• CD-ROM (OLYMPUS Master 2.0 Software)
• Warranty card

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