Olympus Stylus 830

Pros: 5x zoom in a sturdy, weatherproof compact body with optical IS.

Cons: Slow lens (typical of class), no manual controls and iffy battery life.

The Bottom Line: Recommended for the photograher looking for a long 5x zoom and optical image stabilization in a super-compact, sturdy, weatherproof body--as long as you can live without manual controls.

Review: I've been a fan of the Olympus Stylus line of point-and-shoot cameras dating back to their 35mm film days. The Stylus 830 represents my third foray into the digital side of that pool which I began with the original digital Stylus, the ...

Pros: Size, weight, menus are excellent.

Cons: Images not razor sharp.

The Bottom Line: Everything about this camera looks and operates like a dream. My big problem is the images seem less than razor sharp. Camera is going back.

Review: I feel that this camera has a very soft focus. Compared to my 2 year old Sony DSC-W7 I find the Sony has razor sharp images, especially when you zoom in on the PC. The photos I have taken with the 830 have a bit weaker color and most annoyingly the ...