Imaging-Resource reviews Olympus Stylus 820 8.0MP digital camera
With its all-weather construction, large 2.7-inch LCD monitor, and 5x optical zoom lens, the Stylus 820 is another attractive offering from Olympus. The Stylus line of digital cameras has been a popular one, thanks to very small, portable camera sizes and a nice selection of features, underscored by the now-standard weatherproof design. The Stylus 820's all-weather design makes it impervious to minor moisture concerns like drizzly rain and falling snow, and prevents damage from dirt and sand, making it a no-brainer option for anyone who likes to travel.
The 5x optical zoom lens is another welcome feature, offering a zoom range equivalent to 36-180mm on a 35mm camera. Like many current Olympus models, the Stylus 820 has a digital zoom option available, as well as Olympus' Fine Zoom, which really just crops the image down to a smaller resolution for the appearance of increased zoom capability. Though it isn't true optical zoom, Fine Zoom is a better option than digital zoom, as it doesn't attempt to digitally enlarge the image area. The Stylus 820 offers a wide range of preset scene modes, perfect for a variety of situations like indoor portraits or candle light, and it has an informative Guide mode to help you figure out the best settings for challenging situations. Options like Perfect Shot Preview and Perfect Fix make it downright easy to get the exposure you want, either with a live preview to guide your exposure decisions or the benefit of post-capture image editing in-camera. Combine these features with Olympus' Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment technologies, and the Stylus 820 is a perfect match for novice consumers looking to learn more about digital photography...
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