Olympus mju(µ)-Mini (Stylus Verve)

The Olympus mju(µ)-Mini (known as the Stylus Verve in the US) is an stylishly designed compact 'weather proof' 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a 2x Optical Zoom. It is available in a range of 6 colors, 16 shooting modes, 1.8inch LCD screens and PictBridge support.

Digital Camera Review has a good product preview of the Olympus mju and writes - 'The camera appears to have had the menu system updated / revamped slightly, to include scene modes, fish eye effect, soft focus, and make the camera more easy to use. The screen colour, refresh rate, and clarity is very impressive - due to the small size of the camera, the TFT screen appears larger than it actually is - it seemed like a 2" TFT screen, when in fact it is a 1.8" TFT screen. The speed and responsiveness of the camera seemed very good, with a very quick on/off time - watch a video of the camera being switched off and then on below.'

Time Magazine have named the Olympus Stylus Verve as their gadget of the week. They write - 'What is the Stylus Verve, if not a fashion statement? Olympus paid a lot of money to tout it at New York's Fashion Week this fall, but its looks would have earned it a place on the runway even without the sponsorship: smooth lines, a subtle angularity, multiple colors (silver, white, blue, black, copper and red � collect all six?) and the funky selector wheel that reminds me of a vintage cigarette lighter designed in an era when smoking was cool. Mechanics such as the retracting circular lens hatch and the whoosh start up sound effect add to the flavor.

None of that would mean much if the Verve didn't take good pictures, but it handles its primary function well, particularly in two areas where other point-and-shoot cameras suffer: low-light shots without flash, and up-close shots with flash. The autofocus on previous Stylus models was slow to lock on, but the Verve is quick on the draw, and passed beautifully in most real-life tests.'

Pocket Lint has a review of the Olympus mju and writes - 'Overall the Mju-mini is a pocket full of dynamite. The design looks great and Olympus fans will be delighted by the familiarity of the controls and functions. It's nice to see Olympus getting the bit between their teeth again and developing their mainstay products in intelligent new directions.' Rating: 8

Steve's Digicams reviews the Olympus mini stylus Verve and writes - 'the Verve is a great addition to Olympus' Stylus line. We feel it will make a great vacation or outdoors camera, especially if you plan on getting a little wet! And it's not too expensive with an MSRP of $349. There are just two things you'll want to add to your purchase; A larger xD card and a second LI-30B battery.'

CNET reviews the Olympus Stylus Verve and writes - 'Image quality was acceptable, with detail a bit softer than you'd expect from a 4-megapixel camera and colors that tended to be muted. Flesh tones tended to be a little yellow, and blown-out highlights and moderate purple fringing plagued many images. The red-eye-reduction feature didn't work particularly well, and flash pictures beyond the rated 9 feet were usually badly underexposed. In these situations, the Verve automatically boosted ISO to compensate, but this produced underexposed, noisy photos.'

DigiCamReview reviews the Olympus Mju Mini and writes - 'The Olympus Mju Mini Digital / Olympus Stylus Verve is an ultra compact weatherproof 4mp, 2x optical zoom digital camera with a great 1.8" colour screen. If you want an ultra compact, extremely cool and stylish, weatherproof digital camera, with a quick response time and want high quality photos outside, inside, or for macro photos, then this camera is excellent. The camera can also record unlimited videos with sound. For around �199 (UK) $325 (US) from Amazon this camera offers very good value for money. The camera is available in 6 different colours, so you get to have the camera in a colour that suits you. I love this camera and HIGHLY recommend it - I expect it will be VERY popular, and would make a brilliant Christmas present.'

Imaging Resource reviews the Olympus Stylus Verve and writes - 'The new Olympus Stylus Verve takes the Stylus line into a new direction. With its small dimensions, stylish design, and nice array of features, the Olympus Verve should prove a popular model with novices and most anyone interested in a compact, rugged, and very portable camera. Its all-weather body design means it can go just about anywhere, and its small size makes it feel at home in your shirt pocket. With 2x optical zoom, a 4.0-megapixel CCD, and five preset shooting modes, the Stylus Verve is another in a long line of excellent consumer digicam designs from Olympus. Exposure control is automatic and hassle free, with limited adjustments available for more experienced users. Image quality is high enough to make sharp 8x10-inch prints, while low-resolution image options are ideal for sending photos as email attachments over the Internet. Color and other image-quality characteristics are surprisingly good for such a compact model. The user interface, slightly redesigned with 3-D buttons, is also uncomplicated and easy to follow. The Stylus Verve is perfect for novices making the transition from film to digital, and is also an excellent "take anywhere" snapshot camera for more experienced users. Likewise, the stylish design of the Verve will appeal to anyone who dislikes the boxy "gadgety" appearance of most other digital cameras on the market.'

PC Magazine reviews the Olympus Stylus Verve and writes - 'The Olympus Stylus Verve is certainly one of the cooler-looking ultracompact digital cameras on the market today. And it's full of nice design touches, like a weather-resistant body, and a built-in lens cover that can't accidentally be pushed open. But unfortunately, the fact that it is available in six colors and will impress your style-conscious friends doesn't make up for its muddy, grainy pictures.'

Megapixel reviews the Olympus Stylus Verve and writes - 'Colourful, stylish, compact and weatherproof, the Stylus Verve is an attractive and very pocketable little camera. Its only shortcomings are an image quality that is occasionally affected by noise and a comparatively short zoom. Its advantages, beyond its size and moisture resistance, are its ease of use, versatility and good image quality. The Verve may well provide a perfect and painless introduction to digital photography for many people.'

Digital Camera Info reviews the Olympus Stylus Verve and writes - 'While the Olympus Stylus Verve will draw many of its users based on its appearance, the camera is an average with some strong limitations. The camera offers adequate color and resolution capabilities but is drastically limited by an inability to control noise in restricted lighting and will force the user to rely on the fixed in-camera flash. The Verve�s stylish design contains a smooth 1.8� LCD screen that projects one of the brighter, more visible images I have seen in low light. With an affordable price tag, currently below the $300 USD mark, the camera is designed for the fashion-conscious user who wants something portable and stylized that they can throw in their pocket and carry along on a night on the town. While the camera�s restricted performance elements strongly limits the Verve�s user base, it will fit the needs of the beginner or true point-and-shooter with minimal interest in manual control and a strong preference for style.'

LetsGoDigital reviews the Olympus mju-mini DIGITAL and writes - 'All in all the Mju-mini Digital is a very pleasant camera to work with. This model belongs to the 2e generation of Olympus digital Mju cameras. And it goes without saying: the result is praiseworthy. A waterproof housing, a fantastic design and the user-friendly operation seem the ideal combination to hold a successfully vendible product. The Mju-mini is the perfect camera for someone who loves the design and besides that looks for a camera with an easy operation and a photo-realistic end result. In short, a recommendable camera!'

PhotographyBLOG reviews the Olympus Mju Mini and writes - 'The Olympus Mju Mini Digital seems to be less an attempt at making a great camera and more one at making a great style icon. Unfortunately Olympus haven't paid attention to those all-important small details, and for all the great things about this camera, there seems to be something else that is poorly designed or made. Underneath all that styling is a basic digicam that performs well enough in terms of image quality and ease-of use. The Mju Mini Digital will undoubtedly meet your needs if all you want is a point and shoot camera that produces good images, but beyond that it starts to struggle against the competition in terms of value for money.'

DP Review has a good review of the Oympus Stylus Verve - a stylish digital camera that is sure to be popular. They write - 'As a straightforward point-and-shoot camera the Stylus Verve does a perfectly good job at a competitive price point. The splash proofing alone will be enough to recommend it to some potential purchasers, and the simplicity of operation will endear it to first time users. I personally like the design, but I know not everyone shares this opinion. It's nice to see Olympus at least trying - albeit in a small way - to offer an alternative to the sea of look-alike silver boxes on the market.'

Get more information on the Olympus mju (µ)/Stylus Verve from the following press release or at:
- Imaging Resource - Olympus Announces STylus Verve
- DP Review Stylus Verve - DP Now - Olympus unveils trendy new baby Mju - DCRP First Look: Olympus Stylus Verve - Digit - Olympus �-mini Digital

Olympus Press Release

Dressed to impress

The Olympus Mju (µ) - mini DIGITAL - Small and perfectly formed

The Mju (µ) -mini DIGITAL from Olympus is a real showstopper. With a futuristic design and smooth contours, it is true to the Mju philosophy, by creating a perfect balance between design and technology. Its four million pixels deliver stunning picture quality, whilst a weather-proof* metal body is available in a choice of six striking colours (Silver, Pure White, Black, Crystal Blue, Velvet Red and Copper Orange), so you can select the one most in tune with your personality.

The Mju1 (µ) -mini DIGITAL from Olympus is planned for release in October 2004, priced £249.99 inc. VAT. It will be supplied with the new Olympus Master 1.0 software, and incorporates a range of features:

- 4.0 million pixels
- 2x optical zoom
- A 1.8 inch, high-contrast LCD to deliver bright, vivid colours and wide viewing angles even in bright sunlight
- The TruePic TURBO image processor boosts picture quality and processing speed
- The camera includes a movie recording function with sound
- Still image editing functions include new fish-eye and soft focus modes

Stunning design
The Mju (µ) -mini DIGITAL looks anything but ordinary. Creating this look required some fresh thinking. An innovative manufacturing process means the camera body is made from just a single sheet of metal. This ensures sleek, fluid lines and an exquisite finish.

Preserving the Mju (µ) -mini DIGITAL’s clean lines meant giving special attention to the lens barrier, which retracts into the body of the camera when switched on. This enables the zoom lens to extend effortlessly, whilst making the Mju (µ) - mini DIGITAL’s distinctive "full-flat" design possible.

Better image quality
The Mju (µ) - mini DIGITAL’s performance is just as impressive as its revolutionary appearance. The camera packs in four million pixels and features the Olympus TruePic TURBO image processor, which enhances picture quality while increasing image recording and display speed. In addition, the zoom lens incorporates three aspherical lens elements to strike a perfect balance between compact lens size and high-resolution.

The camera also makes it easier to review pictures. A new 1.8 inch, 134,000 pixel, wide-angle display boasts three times the contrast of conventional LCD screens and shows sharper, brighter, more vivid images. Vertical and horizontal viewing angles of 160° ensure that everyone has a clear view, even in bright sunlight.

Easy-to-use features
The Mju (µ) -mini DIGITAL makes it easy for users to get creative. Unique functions like the new fish-eye and soft focus modes enable image editing without a personal computer. Meanwhile, movie recording is only limited by the memory card capacity (over 20 minutes may be saved on a 512MB xD-Picture Card in High Quality mode).

Users can also get creative about where they take pictures. The optionally available protection case allows users to retain complete control of all the photo functions, while being water resistant up to a pressure equivalent of three metres depth this means that action shots in sea or snow are not a problem.

The Olympus Mju (µ) -mini Digital – main features:

- Revolutionary design
- Six body colour variations (Jewellery Silver, Pure White, Cosmic Black, Crystal Blue, Velvet Red and Copper Orange)
- Weather-proof* metal body
- 4.0 million pixels
- 2x optical zoom (equiv. 35 – 70mm on 35mm camera), f3.5-4.9
- 1.8 inch high-contrast LCD (134,000 pixels) with 160° viewing angles on both the vertical and horizontal axis
- TruePic TURBO image processor
- Still image editing functions including new fish-eye and soft focus modes
- Movie recording function with sound
- PictBridge support
* weather-proof equivalent to the IEC standard publication 529 IPX4

Posted by Darren in our Olympus category on September 03, 2004

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