Available in a choice of three colours, the Olympus mju 725SW (Olympus Stylus 725SW in the US) is similar to its mju 720 SW predecessor in many ways.

Features
It features a 3x zoom, claims to be shockproof when dropped a distance up to 1.5m, and is waterproof to depths of 5m (the 720 managed three). Its top ISO speed is 1600.

Design
With the back dominated by the 2.5in LCD, there’s no optical viewfinder. Attendant controls are small, but responsive. The 725’s all-metal body is rugged and slots easily into both palm and pocket.

Performance
The 725 powers up instantly. There’s little shutter lag and write time is similarly swift, though it’s easy for fingertips to stray into shot. If we’re nit picking, the LCD displays ghosting under artificial light. Still, the menu screens are very easy to navigate.

Image Quality
Typically, there’s evidence of purple fringing between areas of high contrast, and colours are slightly washed out when compared with the vivid default results from competing compacts. Shots in less than bright light are soft due to camera shake – despite the dedicated image stabilisation setting – plus there’s visible noise.

Value For Money
The 725 SW is at the top of the price bracket for its class; you’re paying a premium for its rough and tumble features and sealed, all-metal build.