News

• The Good: Shockproof and waterproof like previous model, but also crush and freeze-proof; up to 25 dedicated shooting modes; learning curve isn't difficult at all; image quality is very good; comes in three colours.
• The Bad: Sensor is a bit slow in processing images, particularly in lower-light settings; white balance isn't all that impressive when shooting in low light, even if it can be fixed on a PC.
• The Verdict: The most durable camera out there
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There really is nothing like tossing a $400 digital camera onto a floor, in full view of horrified onlookers, though it's arguably even better when you get them to drop it themselves.

Without a doubt, one of the more interesting aspects of reviewing the Olympus Stylus 770 SW was in how many of the people I encountered couldn't bring themselves to drop it. This, despite the fact that I informed them of how it is shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof and even crushproof. Heck, there was even a sticker on the front of the camera that told them so.

So imagine the dismay of the three women I approached by dropping the camera in front of them, followed by me stepping and putting all my weight on it. But their disposition changed quickly after I picked it up and took a photo of them.

Takes a licking and keeps on ticking

The 770 SW is the successor to last year's great 720 SW model. The difference, right off the bat, is that the 720 SW was never freezeproof nor crushproof. Indeed, even the look of the two cameras is similar with a small lens in the top righthand corner, nestled within a durable frame made of stainless steel.

According to Olympus, the 770 SW can withstand a drop of up to five feet, water depths of up to 33 feet, about 220 lbs. of weight and temperatures around -10 celsius. All of these appear to be true, although I never got to test the water depth.

The idea behind the 770 SW obviously isn't to drop it constantly, even if there is a strange bit of fun in doing so. Rather the camera's durability is meant to be relevant in a variety of locales and settings, like a scuba diving trip or a hike up a snow-covered mountain. In short, you can just about take the 770 SW anywhere and not worry about its well-being.

Even accidentally sitting on the camera, as foolish as that sounds, won't affect the camera in any way based on how much weight it can handle. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the 770 SW was indeed very freezeproof, not just handling very cold temperatures, but also functioning perfectly in its frozen state. Doing this with the average digital camera is dangerous because the circuits go from one extreme in temperature to another.

This level of choice is great but doesn't necessarily carry the camera's true credentials, which naturally lie in how good it performs and what kind of photos it's capable of taking.

Shake, shake, shake

As with all Olympus cameras, there are about 25 different shooting modes that you can use for specific shots. The usual suspects are here (Portrait, Night, Landscape, Sunset, Candlelight, etc.) along with a few new ones (Auction, Behind Glass and Underwater Wide).

The great thing about all these modes is that they truly make the 770 SW automatic. You don't need to understand the differences between shutter speeds or ISO to make the most of your surroundings. For instance, the Auction setting is a new one in this camera and it augments the lighting to accentuate a product you're shooting for an online auction.

The same goes for Behind Glass, which is an important mode simply because of how many times we tend to shoot images from behind a window. Now you can do it without a reflection ruining the image.

But in following a trend that is purveying all makes and models of digital cameras, anti-blur features are offered here to save you from shaky hands. There's nothing inherently new about how it works with the 770 SW, but it's a crucial feature that comes in handy in all the different modes and settings you shoot in.

One thing to keep in mind when shooting in low light and anti-blur modes is that the white balance isn't extremely good. Expect to see yellowish tinges that will drape the entire photo, which looks bad initially, but is actually quite manageable using photo-editing software that can adjust the levels.

Good quality, except for the yellow haze

At 7.1 megapixels, some might lament the lack of "quality" in the 770 SW, but that's all a myth. Megapixels never have, and never will make a camera great. But what makes this particular model so good is its range. Having different dedicated shooting modes is a huge plus, but you need to practice with them so that you know your surroundings better as you go along.

True, a candlelight setting might be ideal for the Candlelight mode, but don't be surprised if both the Natural Light and Anti-shake modes are slow in response time. Olympus cameras have had this slight drawback in their line before, so it didn't really surprise me, but so long as you keep the camera steady for an extra half-second, you should be fine.

Four "proofs" make it foolproof

The Olympus 770 SW is a nice piece of gear, and is definitely well suited for the rough and tumble consumers. It's not a sexy camera, which is fine when you consider it's durability, but the performance is the real key.

The multitude of shooting modes should make life easier for even the most novice photographer, but because of the slow response time and questionable white balance, the 770 SW demands a lot of experimentation getting to know those modes.

Oh, and just for the sake of a good laugh — drop the thing right in front of an unsuspecting friend. You'll be glad you did.