Tough as nails and can attest to the 33 feet depth in water. Simple to use. Macro led light comes in handy as well. Compact and easy to carry around.

Put it in your pocket and go camera, water, snow, dust, sand or occational oops it will work.

Zoom is basically useless. So if you want to take photos far away get a different camera.

You have to use XD cards for all the camera features to work. Bad Olypus.

The modes list is difficult to navigate and you have to remember to slect ok before the camera will allow shooting. Not so handy when your in a hurry.

Low light result not great but with some practice and playing with functions pertty good.

I have owned my Olympus SW 1030 for several years, I think it is 5 years old now. I have used on numerous vacations to Mexico and a number of local hiking trips. It still works perfectly and besides the decrotive lens bezel falling off have had no issues.

I love this camera, I take it to the beach, go swiming with it, snorkling with it, in the pool and in high humidity. It takes nice pics but as with most of these rugged point and shoots it is not perfect. Underwater pics are good but the more light the better. The underwater movie function is excellent as well.

I have taken photos in excess of the 33 feet depth, snorkling with no ill effects.

I like some of the added features like the macro with led light.

If you are a vacationer who likes to be spontaneous, like jump into a cenote U need one. I never worry about water, dust or being rough with this camera.

I am looking at purchasing a new one to upgrade some features.

Has nice options setting. Point and shoot

don't use it underwater ......risk of not having a camera to use!splash proof thats about it. Camera is on the heavy side for being so compact.Picture quality fair!

This camera has been ...lets just say a disappointment. First time of underwater use (snorkeling) water leaked in and shorted out camera. sent in in since it had only been less than 6 mths ...they reconditioned it and sent it back. 2 yrs later was snorkling again and again seals failed. Lost alot of photos opportunities. And also want to add underwater photos not very good. Sent it back to the company the told us that they no longer had parts to repair it and wanted to sell us thier latest camera. And informed us that you need to send in your camera to have seals redone at a cost 39.90 each time to maintain your camera.Come on Olympus that is rediculous!!!!! Can't even get a repair on a camera thats 4 yrs old. I will not recommed this camera to anyone in seach of what they call a underwater camera. Seriously!!!!!!!

Customer Service

Customer service poor to rectify our concerns and the problems we had incurred since the purchase of this camera and how little we actually used it underwater. They just want to sell us another newer camera. Never heard of not being able to repair a camera that is only 4 yrs old!

Great for skiing, river rafting and snorkeling

Leaks. Bad quality indoors and average light.

Incredible underwater photos! Below average picture quality in most other settings. Handled with care, leaked after 4th trip...not worth it!

Customer Service

Just replacing the battery to test the camera costs too much.

This is a very positive review...be warned

I purchased my Olympus SW1030 (for around AUD400 - sorry I can't remember) about 18months ago. I needed it to take pictures during my outdoor lifestyle in AK and while riding a bike across Africa. I have also since used it doing an Alpen Crossing, dolomites wandering and hiking through Turkey.

I have crashed on my bike and physically landed on my camera, I have dropped it a metre or more (while falling myself) and have clumsily dropped it. While riding through Africa it was in the outer non-waterproof pocket of my camel back for easy access, and, yes it does rain hard in Africa!!

Needless to say that I don't take my camera underwater anymore for fear I have now ruptured any seal, (there is visible physical damage to the casing) but it still takes all the pictures I need. It has plenty of functions and I experiment with them all in different conditions. I will admit that the pics are not as crisp as some point and shoots I have seen, and not as cheap, but I wouldn't bet a dollar on other cameras handling the same abuse.

I am looking for a new camera now (I am mving to warmer climes and anticipate diving) and am looking to the 1050SW. I believe that says it all. Thanks

works under all adverse conditions

picture quality

I hate anything that doesn't work especially when I pay a lot for it. I am writing this as a service to anyone who needs a rugged camera. Buy the olympus, it works as advertized. It takes pictures in salt water, fresh water and in freezing conditions. I've backpacked it from coast to coast and it has never failed to work just fine. It probably doesn't have the image quality you might want in a digital camera but it takes great pictures in conditions that it is designed to work under.

Customer Service

don't need it

Similar Products Used:

none

decent image quality. very pocketable. easy to use.

coating on lens cover wears off every dip in salt water.
no service center in the Philippines.
rated waterproof at depth of 10m but water leaked at just 1m deep.
lcd display is hard to see under water on clear daylight.

after being used for about 17 months, my 1030SW leaked. i am always very careful that before going in the water, i check the lids for any object that would let the water in. i dont know how to swim so the camera never goes beyond 6 feet deep underwater. it is mostly used on the surface. but on the second day of our vacation water just leaked in the battery compartment.

Customer Service

olympus has no service center in the Philippines thats why customers either shy away or does not repeat buying the brand. the official servicing was being provided by another company that charges way too high that you would opt to just buy a new camera, with a company service center.

None

Not Waterproof, even in very light use. Poor pics, even for a small point and shoot. Lens is not fast enough.

Excited at first, but found that the above water pics are flat and the underwater pics require extra lighting.

Third time in shallow water (less than 4 feet deep) LEAKS, now it's full of water and will not work properley.

Avoid.

Customer Service

Not Satisfied.

Similar Products Used:

Canon D10. A friend is using one in the same conditions with no problems.

Good size, great battery life, big screen and easy to use.

Underwater feature failing

This camera was great for me, until recently.
I bought it 24 August 2008 and as I had dropped and broken 2 other cameras, I decided it was time to invest in a new one.
I looked online and decided the olypmus was my best bet, as I also had a friend who had the older model and we had borrowed it on a family holiday. The underwater pictures were great and I was excited to buy my own.
I have had no problems until now with this camera, the picture quality is good, not the best but that is what you expect with an underwater/freezeproof/shockproof camera.
I can so far vouch for the shock and drop proof qualities as I have dropped it a few times and it takes a good battering.
I climbed a glacier earlier this year and the camera had no problems with the low temperatures and it was raining yet I didn't have to put mine away. This is one of the reasons I loved this camera!
As for use underwater, the feature I use the most I am at a loss. It worked perfectly for me on many occasions, in the sea, in the swimming pool and generally being wet. I never took it beyond a few metres but I never encountered any problems.

On holiday this summer just under a year after purchase I was in the swimming pool and I noticed the camera was having problems. The screen was funny with lines across it looking like water was inside the viewing screen. I took it out immediately and found water in the battery compartment. I let it dry out and didn't use it underwater again as I feared it would break. It worked perfectly for other holiday snaps out of water.
When I got home my dad checked it as he is a photographer. He said he found a bit of sand or grit in the seal, and he tested it in the sink it seemed to be working fine now.
I then used it last week in a hot tub at my friends. Now I didn't worry as I had used it before in the hot tub so I knew it could cope with the temperature and we didn't use it too much underwater. But this time after the first use it looked very funny with lots of condensation and again water inside the screen. I dried it out in rice immediately overnight and then took it out the next day. The screen was very foggy, but when i looked at older pictures they were picture perfect and clear so it wasn't the screen but must have been a problem within the lens. I then put it in the hot press with a dehumidifier pack and left it again.
Today I have found it is much better with clear pictures although they look faintly stripy. It's not the same as before but I think this is all I will get.
I bought this from www.simplyelectronics.net and I had no problems with the order but their guarantee service was rubbish. I had e-mailed after the summer holiday as I knew my year would soon be up but they made it pretty clear all risk and payment was with myself and since it was not completely broken I knew it would cost me more to try and get it fixed.

I am in conclusion, writing to warn you all. This is supposed to be an underwater camera but it seems from mine and other reviews it can change at any point with no warning. The seals seem to be weak and I am no longer going to risk putting it anywhere near water. And until I can afford a new camera I will be taking photos in my new stripy quality. If you find any problems underwater do air it out right away and I found the rice and humidifier pack worked really well although it did not return it to the original state.

I would be less angry if I hadn't paid so much for this camera, as you can buy 10 mega pixel cameras for so cheap these days, I was only paying the extra presuming this camera would last me so much longer.

great to begin with, took it to the local pool, great, no probs underwater, then took it to the coast, began ok, then after a couple of days it says that the memory card cover is not seated correctly, then that the battery compartment is open?? i immediately get out the water, dry off, open the back cover and .....bloody water everywhere. not happy one bit. camera ruined, the black paint peels off very easily and the lense 'surround' just fell off after a short while.

Waterproof, shockproof preezeproof etc. Compact size.
When paired with the M+ XD Cards you can stream video until the card fills up 640x480 30fps!
The streaming video excellent when compared to many other cameras.
Sealed well (no more getting dust under the lens).
Stylish.

while using it under water, after a while the lens got a bit foggy (cleared out fairly quick.

They make the front shiny which is not idea for a "rugged" camera IMO... The anodized finish scratches easy.

Large landscape photography is not sharp.

Lens Location is easy to cover with a finger (Even if you can avoid it, when handing it to someone else to take a picture they often get their finger in the picture).

Limited Memory card choice (XD card), and small M+ XD Card sizes (2GB)

This camera is OK. It seems to me that it always uses the lowest aperture even when set to landscape mode which is not ideal. Although it blows for large landscapes compared to other cheaper cameras it does have underwater capabilities and is sealed much better than your typical tiny Point n Shoot.

I did use it's under water capabilities in Hawaii.

I'm not afraid to get dust in the lens when I go Riding my ATV in the dusty Glamis Sand Dunes.

I expected a bit more for the price I paid but I still use it when hiking or on bike rides and I don't want to lug around the SLR.


I'm going to give it a 4 star rating because of it being waterproof and sealed, but not because it is a huge value or has amazing picture quality.

Similar Products Used:

Canon S410 (not exactly similar but compact).