Camera Phones Plaza

Some people really like to take their cameras everywhere they go. On top of Mount Everest, underwater, in the desert, Moon, Mars…. they need to take pictures of those cool places. Unfortunately, not every digital camera can operate in extreme conditions. There are some solutions out there, but apart from the ruggedness they offer, they don’t really provide the needed picture quality. Olympus now comes along and offers a solution that is both rugged and offers good quality for your snapshots.

The new 10.1 megapixel Stylus 1030 SW digital camera from Olympus is waterproof down to 33', withstands falls from 6 1/2', and is impervious to temperatures as low as 14 F, allowing you to capture high quality shots in extreme outdoor conditions with impunity. The camera resists up to 220 lbs. of pressure, thanks to its rugged metal body encased in a frame pressure-sealed with rubber gaskets to prevent penetration from water, sand, dirt, and dust.

Olympus even thought of integrating a manometer that measures air and water pressure, displaying the readings on the LCD so you can quickly determine depth and altitude of your photographs. If you are concerned about the picture quality, know that this is no ordinary digital camera. It uses the same technology designed for professional digital SLRs, as the image processor delivers true-to-life color with sharper detail and less noise than typical digital cameras.

The compact rugged camera also features a 3.6X optical zoom (5X digital) and the 2.7" LCD lets you see things clearer underwater or in direct sunlight. It also comes with a cool panoramic mode which connects three consecutive images, allowing you to print 5.4" x 21" wide-angle photographs of mountain ranges or landscapes.

You won’t be shooting only natural wonders and spiffy landscape with this one, because you also get an advanced face detection system for clear portraits, plus digital image stabilization, and shadow adjustment technology that ensure high quality photographs in all environments. IN case you need to shoot a short clip, the Olympus rugged camera lets you record AVI Movie videos (up to 640 x 480) with sound. It only has an internal memory of 14.7 MB which is dedicated to the firmware mostly, but you can use XD and microSD memory cards. The package also includes a rechargeable Li-Ion battery.

The rugged camera is already available and you can get it from Hammacher Schlemmer for $499.95