Can the Olympus mju 820 review (Olympus Stylus 820), an affordable weatherproof camera from Olympus really impress?

Product Overview

Overall rating:

82%

Olympus mju 820

Overall score:82%
Features:80%
Value:80%
Performance:80%
Image Quality:80%
Design:90%

Pros:

  • Weatherproofing, Wedge-shaped design

Cons:

  • Soft, Noisy images, Muddling interface

Product:

Olympus mju 820 Review

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:

£180.00

Olympus’ affordable and weatherproof Olympus mju 820 review (also known as the Olympus Stylus 820 in the US) comes in four colours, the stylish model offering a range of features in line with its competitors. The 8MP sensor is accompanied by a 5x optical zoom and an impressive 2.7in HyperCrystal LCD screen.

The body of the mju 820 is characteristically wedge-shaped and results in an ergonomic thick end that serves nicely as a handgrip. In terms of usability, it’s quite a mixed bag. Scene modes are easily located and whilst shutter lag is minimal, shot-to-shot speed is lacking.

Images are a tad soft but fringing is well controlled. Exposures and white balance are consistent, but noise is a problem over ISO 400.

Verdict

A mixed bag of a compact that impresses little aside from its weatherproof capabilities

Details

Other:-
Connectivity:USB 2.0
Power:Li-ion
Dimensions:96.4 x 56.4 x 24.3mm
Weight:125g
White Balance:Auto, Sunlight, Tungsten, Overcast, Florescent 1, Florescent 2
Flash Modes:6
Memory Card:xD + 47MB Internal memory
ISO Range:50-3200
Metering System:-
Exposure Modes:20 Scene modes
Shutter Speeds:1/2 - 1/2000 s / 4 s (Night scene)
File Formats:JPEG
LCD:2.7in 230,000 pixels
Lens:36-180mm
Sensor:8mp