Olympus Mju 790 SW: Tough as nails

Edvarcl Heng | Oct 22, 2007

Built like a tank, the previous 770 SW looked as if it was designed to withstand bullets. It was tough, heavy and just about as attractive as a silver-skinned ogre. Male geeks loved it. But because of its Incredible Hulk attributes, it hardly fits a too-chic Gucci clutch bag.

The new 790 SW, on the other hand, is a decidedly prettier offering. It's available in five colors and brings to mind comic book characters like Batgirl, Elektra and even Storm from the X-men series--sexier alter egos to the beefy superheroes.

The 790 SW is waterproof, shockproof and freeze-proof. You can take pictures underwater, throw it repeatedly from a height of 1.5m onto the floor (just like the 770 SW), freeze it into a block of ice, and it will still come out clicking. But compare it with the older 770 SW and you will find that, in a sexist fashion, the 790 SW's "powers" have been toned down.

For example, instead of being able to plunge to a depth of 10m unscathed, the 790 SW can manage only 3m. The same goes for its crushability (none at all vs 100kg). It's too bad that manicured nails just aren't as tough.

We really like the new glossy finish and the minimalist front panel. These put it in the league of designer-ish models from Canon and Sony and that's not a bad thing. The navigation menu has also undergone a bit of a spruce-up. The Jog Dial acts as a shortcut for the camera's primary functions and the Menu button is context-sensitive.

But beyond its tough guy image, can the 790 SW offer more than just point-and-shoot simplicity? Find out here in our full review.

Filed under: Digital Cameras
Leave a comment | Bookmark | Share