Olympus MJU 7000 Review

The Olympus MJU 7000 offers something a little different. It is small enough to fit into a good sized pocket while offering extra zoom compared to most similar sized competitors. Olympus has built in a 7x zoom lens. You will certainly notice the difference with this length of zoom when compared to the more standard models offering 3x to 4x zoom. So if you already own a digital camera, but find getting in close enough to take the photos you would like then the MJU 7000 is certainly an option worth considering.
Owing to its size and the extra zoom it offers Olympus are positioning the camera as a good choice for anyone who is on the move, perhaps as a traveler or general holidaymaker. It also helps that you should find the camera easy to use. Help is available for each of the menu options. This makes the job of getting to know your camera that bit easier.
Just to confuse things slightly Olympus gives the camera different names in different parts of the world. So although it is called the MJU 7000 in Europe it is known as the Olympus Stylus 7000 in America.
When it comes to picture quality the camera sits somewhere in mid division. That means it is good enough for most snapshot situations and as long as you are not looking to blow your photos up particularly large then you should be quite happy with the way your photos look. I did notice that this is one of the many cameras that need to use flash almost as soon as lighting starts to slip below perfect levels. As a bonus I found the camera to be pretty good at taking close up shots. The macro mode can focus from 2cm away from the subject and this will get you in more than close enough in most situations.
Olympus has given the MJU 7000 an unfussy and simple design. The regular rectangular look is enhanced by a slightly rounded side at one end of the camera. The front of the camera is also given a small elevation. The lens unit protrudes from the camera body by 3 or 4mm. You have a choice of three colours with the camera available in black, silver and blue versions.
Looking at the features I would describe the camera as a fairly typical point and shoot model. Features worth a special mention include a large 3 inch LCD screen and image stabilisation. You can also add 4 seconds of commentary to each of your still images. Again this could come in handy if you are on holiday and would like to note what was happening at the time the picture was being taken. Perhaps a little more gimmicky there is a smile shutter mode and a beauty mode. The smile shutter will fire off a photo automatically if the camera detects someone is smiling while the beauty mode will attempt to make portrait shots look better by smoothing skin and minimizing any blemishes.
As is normal for this size of camera, power is supplied by a lithium ion battery. Olympus supplies the battery and charger as standard. For storing images there is a small amount of built in memory. The camera is also compatible with xD cards and also micro SD cards.
It is not easy to come up with alternative cameras to the MJU 7000. Olympus has done a good job of positioning the camera. Your options are to step up to a slightly larger camera size and get a zoom lens offering 10x or 12x zoom or to go for a similar sized or smaller camera with less lens capacity.
Andy writes and reviews digital cameras for Cameras.co.uk. See his test shots and ratings for the Olympus MJU 7000 Review and Ratings
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Needham

Olympus Stylus 7000 Detail

-12-megapixel resolution for photo-quality, poster-size prints
-7x optical dual image-stabilized zoom (including mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization)
-3.0-inch HyperCrystal II LCD screen; Face Detection with Shadow Adjustment Technology
-HDMI compatible for easy hook-up to your HDTV
-Compatible with xD Picture Cards and microSD memory cards (not included)
-Aperture: f3.5 (W) / f5.3 (T)
-Display: 3.0 inch HyperCrystalTM II LCD with Backlight Boost
-Power Source: Li-ion Rechargeable Battery (LI-42B), AC Adapter (D-7AC) with the optional DC Coupler (CB-MA1/CB-MA3)
-Storage Media: 16 MB Internal Memory, xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required)
-Optical Zoom: 7x
-Digital Zoom: 5x
-Minimum Focal Length: 0.79 inches
-Maximum Focal Length: infinity
-Focus Modes: iESP Auto, Spot Auto Focus, Face Detection Auto Focus
-Focus Type: CCD Contrast Detection
-Focus Range: 6.6 to 46.2 millimeters
-Exposure Metering: Digital ESP Metering, Spot Metering, Face Detection AE (when Face Detection AF is selected)
-Exposure Compensation: 2 EV steps in 1/3 EV steps
-Picture Quality: 12 megapixels
-Shooting Modes: Intelligent Auto, Program Auto, Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization, 14 Scene Modes, Movie
-Shutter Speed: 1/2000 second to 1/4 second; Up to 4 seconds in Night Scene mode
-White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten and 3 Fluorescents
-Light Sensitivity: Auto, High Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
-Minimum Flash Range: 0.33 feet
-Maximum Flash Range: 15.5 feet
-Included Flash Types: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off
-File Formats: Still Image: JPEG Movie: AVI Motion JPEG
-Width: 3.8 inches
-Depth: 1 inch
-Height: 2.2 inches
-Weight: 4.7 ounces