The Bottom Line
During my review of the Olympus Stylus 7010, I found a beginner-level camera with one of the larger optical zoom lenses that you'll find in a sub-$200 camera. The Stylus 7010 also offers some interesting features, what Olympus calls "magic filters," which are art filters that allow for effects such as fish eye, among others.
However, the Stylus 7010 has a few awkward features, especially the navigational buttons on the back. The directional buttons are not raised, making it easy to have your finger slip and push the wrong button. It's also possible to end up in an odd shooting mode because of a tricky menu structure.
Pros
- At less than $200, this camera is a great value
- Large (7X) optical zoom lens rarely found on models in this price range
- Super macro mode works great for extreme close-up photography
- Can see explanations of most features through "?" button
- "Magic" filters add some interesting shooting options
Cons
- Navigation button is awkward to use
- Menu structure is a little confusing to use
- Images seem a little flat, not vibrant
- Only one 16:9 ratio resolution option, no other non-standard ratios available
- Low-light photos have some noise
Description
- Resolution: 12.0 megapixels
- Optical zoom: 7X (28-196mm equivalent)
- LCD: 2.7-inch, 230,000 pixels
- Maximum image size: 3968x2976
- Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
- Dimensions: 3.8 x 2.2 x 1.0 inches
- Weight: 4.4 oz. (without battery and memory card)
- Image sensor: 1/2.33-inch CCD
Guide Review - Olympus Stylus 7010 Review
Image Quality
For a sub-$200 camera, the image quality in the Olympus Stylus 7010 (also called the Mju 7010) is about what you'd expect. It isn't great, but isn't poor, either.
Most of the images I shot with the Stylus 7010 just seemed a little flat. Images were sharp and colors were accurate, but they didn't seem to have as much brightness as I'd like to see. Noise can be a problem in low-light photos, too.
With 12.0 megapixels of resolution, this model can create large prints, which is uncommon among cameras in this price range, as is the 7X optical zoom lens.
Performance
Response times are pretty good with the Stylus 7010. Start-up is fast, and the camera has almost no shutter lag or shot to shot delays. The Stylus 7010 does experience some problems with response times when you're forced to shoot with the flash.
In terms of extra features, the Stylus 7010 is a mixed bag. The camera's art filters are interesting, allowing you to add effects to the photos as you're shooting them. You can shoot at a variety of resolutions, from 12 megapixels to VGA (0.3 megapixels), which is nice. However, you only have one resolution option (about 2.5 megapixels) for shooting at a 16:9 ratio, and no other non-standard ratios are available.
Finally, the Stylus 7010's super macro mode is outstanding, focusing clearly in extreme close-up photos.
Design
The camera's design is a mixed bag, too. It's a tiny model that's available in pink, silver, and black, which is nice. However, the 2.7-inch LCD could be a little larger. (The LCD is easy to see in bright sunlight.)
Some aspects of the Stylus 7010's menus were easy to use, and some were tough to decipher. The camera does have a "?" button, which causes explanations of some of the camera's features to appear on the LCD, but the "?" button doesn't work with every feature, which is frustrating at times.
