As can be observed by the ultra
compact cameras currently available on the market, some technical
characteristics are becoming almost standard, be it at the
level of the resolution, the power of the zoom, or the size
of the monitor. Nevertheless, differences can be found at
the level of features that have an impact on the image quality,
and the overall quality of the camera. In the case of the
Olympus Stylus 780, these differences are its 5X optical zoom,
its CCD shift image stabilization system, and its rare weatherproof
construction.
Olympus’ Stylus Series (Mju
in Europe) is traditionally equipped with seals that protect
buttons and doors, preventing the ingress of moisture and dust
into the camera, a real comfort when the camera is taken to
the beach, poolside, or when it is lightly raining.
The stabilization system of
the Stylus 780 — a breakthrough on a Stylus camera —
is called a Dual Stabilization System by Olympus, describing
a system that operates in part at the level of the CCD by
moving so as to cancel the effect of inadvertent movements
by the user, and an increase in CCD sensitivity to permit
a higher shutter speed.
The CCD stabilization system is very efficient, as exemplified
by the image shown at right, which was captured with the camera
held firmly while leaning against a utility pole. Observed
at 100% on a monitor, the image is nearly perfectly sharp
aside from the movement of passers-by.
Aperture: f3.3, shutter speed: 1.3 sec., 100 ISO.
The other aspect of the Dual Stabilization
system, the ISO sensitivity increase, is a process which, generally,
has made us a bit leery as it commonly translates into a noticeable
increase in noise, and a decrease in image quality. However,
in the case of the Stylus 780, we have had to revisit our opinion.
Indeed, unlike its predecessors,
this camera appears to be little sensitive to noise.
Between 80 and 100 ISO, whether photos are captured in direct
sunlight, or in open shade, images are entirely devoid of
noise. At 200 ISO, noise starts to make a very small appearance
in deeper shadow areas. The 400 ISO level brings only a marginal
increase, but we can see a slight softening of fine details
in images, likely caused by a post-capture noise reduction
process.
The 800 ISO setting is accompanied by more noticeable noise,
albeit still mostly detectable in shadow areas than in bright
ones, and the smoothing effect of the image processing is a
bit more readily visible. At the 1600 ISO level, noise becomes
dominant and the images lose a lot of their sharpness.
In view of this, the Available
Light mode with its upper limit of 2500 ISO may seem
a touch excessive. Yet, this mode limits the image size to
a maximum of the 2048 x 1536 (3 megapixel), and while the
resulting images are visibly noisy, when printed out to a
4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm) size at 341 dpi, the resulting photos
are quite acceptable. The example shown at right was captured
in such low lighting conditions that a flash would have normally
been necessary. Yet, with this mode, the camera was handheld.
Olympus has chosen, for a while now, to associate the image
size with the level of compression, with the exception of the
highest image resolution. Indeed, it is possible to capture
a full resolution image using the SHQ format, which applies
a compression of 6:1, or with the HQ format that more than doubles
it to 13:1. The other image sizes — SQ1, SQ2 and 16:9
— are all compressed to a ratio equivalent to the HQ format.
The SHQ format delivers JPEG
images that are rich in detail, free of any compression artefacts,
and retain excellent colour nuances. Regrettable, however,
is that with an otherwise fast and responsive camera, saving
an SHQ image requires up to 4 seconds. And, while it is possible
to force the camera to capture another image while the first
is being saved, it still requires a minimum of 2 seconds before
the camera reacts and captures the image.
With flash photography, the Olympus
Stylus 780 is rather well served by its little built-in flash.
It provides even coverage up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in a relatively
well-lit room, users should have no hesitation setting the sensitivity
to Auto ISO as the camera increases sensitivity minimally, and
it will augment the effect of the flash without any serious
increase in noise.
The Olympus Stylus 780 is, to
put it simply, a good camera. It delivers an excellent image
quality and its 5X optical zoom allows more flexibility when
framing shots than most of its competitors. The value of the
zoom is moreover enhanced by the CCD stabilization system,
albeit that the (audible) noise that the system produces is
at first a bit surprising. This, combined with the capability
of capturing good images at 400 ISO outdoors, and doing so
with an ultra compact camera that is weather and dust proof,
makes the Stylus 780 very attractive.
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