|
Natalie Hitchins is news editor of What Digital Camera magazine and a former editor of Digital Photographer. Here she picks the best digital cameras to slip in your pocket or handbag Click to view Top 5 Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras.
|
Best for Thrill-Seekers (Olympus mju 725) |
|
 Outdoor thrill-seekers looking for a camera to keep up with their high-octane lifestyles need look no further than the Olympus mju 725 SW. This 7-megapixel ultra compact with 3x optical zoom combines superb handling with a durable waterproof, shockproof body.
|
| |
| A worthy successor to its award-winning predecessor, the mju 720 SW, the 725 is waterproof to an even greater depth of 5m and shockproof to drops from up to 1.5m. Protected by a stylish and durable metal body, it’s available in three stylish colours: titanium grey, deep blue and cherry red. Weighing in at just 200g and measuring 91 x 58.7 x 19.8mm it’s also super-portable, and could even be worn around the neck if needed. |
Shockproof Survival |
There’s little in the way of manual functions, but an effective program mode gives users a great degree of control over the camera, including a selectable ISO of up to a super high 3200, two metering options and super macro functionality for taking detailed close up photos from just 7cm.
|
| |
 A massive selection of 25 scene modes cover more than just the basics, and include outdoor must-haves such as beach and snow, underwater and sports modes. It also features Olympus’s own ‘BrightCapture technology’ that combines the aforementioned high ISO with the ability to automatically brighten the 2.5-inch LCD in low light to help with framing and image viewing.
But despite its healthy feature set, it is the 725 SW’s outer body that makes this a true dream machine. Not only does the camera's thick metal exterior feel exceptionally robust, it also has the science to back up its waterproof and shockproof claims. The casing is classified ‘MIL Standard’, which means it has passed a rigorous set of military-grade durability tests to ensure it can withstand shocks about 50 times greater than the human body can endure. Put even more simply, whether it's being taken snorkelling, mountain-biking, or even put in the hands of a clumsy child, you need never worry about the mju 725.
|
Outdoor Adventure |
“Equally at home on the beach or by the swimming pool, the mju 725SW combines rugged build and excellent image quality with the interesting addition of dust and water-proofing.” That was the conclusion of the experts at ePhotozine. “This makes it a great choice for those who pursue outdoor activities such as water sports or for those who just live life to the full.”
In action, it more than comes up with the goods. Quick to start up and focus, the 725 uses its high-tech circuitry to ensure that whatever you’re up to, you’ll never miss a shot. And results are extremely worthy. Clean edges and sharp details define an overall image quality that is bright and clean, even in high-octane shooting conditions.
|
| |
 Doug Harman writing for Pocket-lint.co.uk agrees, “The image quality lives up to the build, with the Digital ESP metering working very well indeed (though you do have the bonus of spot metering as well)," he says. “Colour is vibrant (thanks to that BrightCapture Technology) but not overly so and in terms of detail, the 725 compares very well indeed.”
PhotoReview’s conclusion of the 725 is similarly typical, dubbing the 725, “an ideal camera for active photographers.”
In some respects it is fair to say that less adventurous photographers will find some better-featured cameras for a comparable price to the mju, but none that can match the 725 for pure hardman body-work. Impressively robust, simple to use and yielding great photographs, Olympus’s tough nut wonder is an essential purchase for the outdoor adventurer.
|
| |
| Typical Price: £219/$430 to £260/$510 |
|
Other great reviews in Gadgets:
|
|
RELATED PAGES
|
Could this