Olympus Stylus 780

Reviewed August 2007

Characteristics

The Olympus Stylus 780 is fitted with a 1/2.3-inch CCD with 7.38 million pixels of which 7.1 million pixels are effective when capturing images. Nine image sizes are available:

• SHQ: 3072 x 2304 pixels
• HQ: 3072 x 2304 pixels
• SQ1:
  • 2560 x 1920 pixels
  • 2304 x 1728 pixels
  • 2048 x 1536 pixels
• SQ2:
  • 1600 x 1200 pixels
  • 1280 x 960 pixels
  • 1024 x 768 pixels
  • 640 x 480 pixels
• 16:9: 1920 x 1080 pixels, a format that corresponds to 1080 HDTV and which is not available when Shadow Adjustment Technology is active.

Covering a focal length range of 6.4 to 32 mm, the 5X optical zoom of the Stylus 780 is equivalent to a 36 to 180 mm on a 35 mm format camera. Composed of 8 elements in 6 groups, it includes 4 aspherical surfaces to correct distortions. The zoom's apertures start at f3.3 at the wide angle end and f5 at the telephoto end.

The Stylus 780 has a built-in image stabilization system that operates at the CCD level (CCD Shift). When active, the CCD shift stabilization adjusts the position of the CCD so as to compensate for the photographer's involuntary movements, helping capture a clear image.

Starting at 80 ISO, the CCD sensitivity can be increased to 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 ISO when the camera is set to the Program mode only. In addition, two other settings allow the camera to increase sensitivity automatically while set to the Program mode: Auto ISO, which lets the camera adjust the sensitivity over a range of 80 to 400 ISO and High Auto ISO, which increases the upper limit to 1600 ISO. Moreover, when the Available Light mode is used, the camera can increase sensitivity up to 2500 ISO.

The shutter speed range of the Stylus 780 — which just as the aperture is entirely under the control of the camera — extends from 1/2000 second to 1/2 second, but these values change according to the capture mode and the ISO sensitivity. Set to the Landscape Night Scene or Fireworks modes, an exposure can be as long as 4 seconds. Noise reduction is applied to images, not only based on the length of the exposure, but also on the ISO setting

As with many Olympus cameras, pressing the MENU button displays a screen with five options when the camera is set to a capture mode:

• Image Quality: serves to set the image size and compression (as indicated above) or the movie frame size (as specified in the Ergonomics section of the review).
• Reset: returns all camera settings to their original values with the exception of the interface language and the setting for the AV (Audio/Video) out signal.

• Camera Menu contains options related to image capture. All the options are available when the camera is set to the Program mode, while some are not accessible when the camera is set to one of the Scene modes:
  • WB:serves to select the white balance (Auto, Sun, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent 1, 2 or 3).
  • ISO: allows setting the ISO sensitivity (Auto, High Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1600 ISO).
  • Drive: serves to choose the sequential mode (Single, Sequential or High Speed Sequential).
  • ESP: is to set the metering pattern (ESP or Spot).
  • Digital Zoom: controls the 5.6X digital zoom that is a cropping tool that then interpolates the image to the currently selected size, lowering the image quality as the magnification increases.
  • AF Mode: to select the iESP, which automatically finds the focus point, or Spot, which always focuses on whatever is at the centre of the frame.
  • : On or Off. When this function is active, the camera records 4 seconds of sound immediately after the image is captured.
  • Panorama: this function is only available when an Olympus brand xD memory card is used. It serves to capture a series of images, specifying a vertical or horizontal direction for the images before hand, which will be assembled into a panoramic image later, using the software supplied with the camera. The edge section of the last photo is presented semi-transparently on the monitor so that the next image has an overlap that the software will use to assemble the series into a single image later.
• Setup: is the access to the basic settings of the Stylus 780. The contents of the Setup menu is covered in the Interface and Software section of the review.
• SCN: only shown when the Mode dial is set to the SCN position, serves to select a specific scene mode.
• Silent mode: serves to turn off all sounds produced by the camera so it can be used discreetly .

Worth noting, the Auto mode does not have an access to the Camera Menu and theGUIDE mode does not have a menu.

The Playback mode's menu functions in a similar way to the capture mode's menu, starting with a screen that, in this case, offers nine options:

• Slide Show: serves to view images that are stored on the camera or on the memory card. A choice of four transition effects are available (normal, fader, slide or zoom) as is background music. The show loops until stopped. This option is replaced by Movie Play if the first frame of a movie is on screen when the MENU button is pressed.

• Edit provides options to edit images:
  • Resize: allows creating a smaller size image of the one that is under review (640 x 480 or 320 x240 pixels).
  • Shadow Adj.: serves to brighten up the dark areas of an image and then save it as a new image.
  • Redeye Fix: serves to correct the red-eye effect and save the corrected image as a new image.
  • Black & White: makes a black and white copy of an image.
  • Sepia: makes a sepia-toned copy of an image.
  • Frame: serves to add a frame to an image and then save it as a new image.
  • Label: allows superimposing a title on an image and then saving it as a new image.
  • Calendar: allows selecting a calendar format, integrating a picture in it, and saving it as a new file.
  • Brightness: serves to adjust the brightness of an image and then save it as a new image.
  • Saturation: serves to adjust the colour saturation of an image and then save it as a new image.

  When a Movie instead of a still image is under review, all the options above are replaced by:

  • Index: a function that allows extracting 9 frames from the movie, which can then be used to illustrate the movie's content. The option allows selecting the start and end images.
• Print order (DPOF): this option serves to select images for printing, making it possible to specify how many prints to make of each, and whether the time and date on which the image was captured should be permanently superimposed on the image when it is printed.
• Add Favourite: allows selecting up to 9 images as Favourites. The selected images are then stored in the camera's internal memory, and will not be erased when the memory is formatted. These images can then be used as a start-up images, or as backgrounds behind the menu screens.
• Playback Menu provides access to the following functions:
  • Protect: allows selecting images for protection so they cannot be accidentally erased.
  • Rotate: serves to rotate and image in ±90°.
  • : allows adding a 4 second sound clip to an image under review.
• Setup: provides access to the basic settings of the Stylus 780.
• Calendar: makes it possible to review images according to their capture date. This option is also accessible using the zoom control.
• Erase: serves to delete one or all images in memory or on a memory card. Protected images cannot be erased this way.
• Silent Mode: as with the capture mode, this option makes it possible to turn off all sounds produced by the camera.

The Stylus 780 is powered by a Li-ion (LI-42B) battery that is housed in a compartment underneath the camera, behind a weather-proof door. The battery is held in place by a clip so that it does not slide out when the memory card is accessed.

A charger, LI-40C, is supplied with the camera. It plugs into the wall receptacle using a cable that can be switched for one that fits other countries, as the charger is compatible with 100~240V 50-60Hz. A full charge takes approximately 5 hours when the battery is fully drained.

The Olympus Stylus 780 is equipped with a 16 MB internal memory of which a small part is used up by the frames and labels that can be applied to images post capture, and by any image that has been added to the Favourites. The camera is also equipped with an xD memory card slot.

The chart below provides the approximate number of images and the length of movies that can be captured using the internal memory and an optional and inexpensive 1 GB xD memory card:

The Stylus 780 only has a single external connection. The jack is protected against dust and humidity by a cover that has a gasket and which seals tightly on the left side of the camera. The connection depends on the cable used.

It can be used to connect an optional AC-DC adapter (D-7AC) to power the camera from household current.

it can also be used for A/V Out (Audio/Video) and the output signal can be selected in the Setup menu to be either NTSC or PAL.

The same connection also serves as USB Port (2.0 High Speed). And, when the camera is connected to a computer or a printer, a USB protocol selection screen appears:

• PC (type Mass Storage) to connect the camera to a computer which will recognize the camera's memory as a removable hard disk.
• Easy Print (PictBridge) which serves to print an image shown on screen immediately.
• Custom Print serves to assign printing parameters to images.