When I first got the Olympus Stylus 1030SW home, I was marveled by its overall appearance. In no way, shape, or form did this ordinary looking digital camera look like something that could be so abused, let alone get plopped into water. I would have to get used to bringing the camera into the water, it just seemed so naked and vulnerable without some sort of protective housing.
I admit that the digital camera appeared to be rather high in quality, with a bit more weight to it compared to my older digital cameras. The 1030SW weighs in at 6.3 ounces, and is approximately 3.7"W x 2.4"H x 0.84" D. It fits in the hands quite nicely though, and navigating the cameras menu and function buttons were all very easy to understand. The cameras function and menu buttons are all conveniently located on the right hand side of the camera.
The 1030SW I picked up was the silver on silver model. There are other colors to choose from, but for me silver on silver looked like it would be the easiest color to spot, had I ever dropped the camera in the water while snorkeling.
The very first thing I noticed before taking in the camera as a whole was its 2.7 inch Hyper-Crystal II LCD screen. The screen is large, and when powered on, it is very bright and easy to see. All photos are taken by peering down at the LCD screen, as there is no eye hole. It took some getting used to, but quickly I appreciated the fact that I no longer had to squint and shut one eye while snapping pictures.
Anyhow, the 1030SW naturally comes with an attachable wrist string that easily gets wrapped around the appropriate hole for a nice sturdy secure hold while you are toting the camera along.
-Turn to the next page to read about the many features, and the many different picture modes that come packed in the underwater digital camera.
