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Olympus Stylus Verve


Review Posted 11/01/2004

Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Olympus Stylus Verve
Click on the Stylus Verve to take a QuickTime VR tour


The Olympus Stylus Verve is a compact, fashionable and all-weather, 4.0-megapixel digital camera that's available in 6 brilliant designer colors. Instead of the typical "boxy" body, the Verve sports rounded corners and a smooth contoured shape.

The Verve is compact (only 3.74" x 2.18" x 1.08") and weighs just 3.7 ounces. Its ergonomic metal body provides all-weather protection from the elements, rubber gaskets throughout the camera’s interior insure that rain, sleet and snow won't stop you from taking clear and colorful images in any weather condition – get the camera wet, wipe it off, and keep on shooting.

With a 2x optical zoom lens (35-70mm equivalent in 35mm photography) and 4x digital zoom, the Stylus Verve delivers a seamless 8x total zoom to bring the action closer. The very best picture quality is always assured thanks to incorporation of the TruePic TURBO image processor, which delivers a broad color spectrum of light and dark colors with breathtaking clarity. Camera start-up and shot-to-shot time are also enhanced so no photo opportunity is missed.


Olympus Stylus Verve

Available in Black, Blue, Red, Silver, Copper, and White colors


The Verve employs a new circular lens barrier that tucks away inside the camera body with a satisfying snap when the power is turned on, and protects it by creating a durable, impermeable seal from the elements when closed. The camera comes to life with your choice of one of three start-up sounds and a customizable image on the LCD. The Verve also has three different shutter sounds to choose from. Atop the camera’s body is a unique rotating mode dial that spins to set the camera to take pictures, record movies or review images taken.

The Verve's HyperCrystal™ LCD is a bright 1.8-inch display with 134,000 pixels of resolution that delivers a 160° angle of viewing so it can be seen clearly from above, the side, and from below. Where conventional LCD displays fail to deliver clear, visible pictures under bright conditions, the HyperCrystal LCD is viewable even in bright sunlight at the beach or on the slopes.

The Verve has 16 selectable Scene Program Modes that cover the gamut of possible shooting situations: Portrait, Self-Portrait, Landscape, Beach & Snow, Indoors, Cuisine, Night Scene, Fireworks, Panorama and more. Accessing these modes is as simple as a push of a new navigation control pad that allows users to quickly and easily cycle through the various settings displayed on the LCD screen menu. After an image is captured you can apply in-camera editing effects like Soft Focus, Fish Eye, Black and White, and Sepia.

PictBridge support allows direct printing from the Verve to any PictBridge-enabled printer, like the Olympus P-10 Digital Photo Printer, without using a computer. In addition, transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the Auto-Connect USB 2.0 that does not require software drivers (for most computers/operating systems) for hassle-free and high-speed image downloads. The Verve also comes with a rechargeable Li-Ion battery and charger.


Stylus Verve Features:

  • 4-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels
  • 2x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 35-70mm zoom on a 35mm camera
  • Durable metal, all-weather body lets you shoot in any weather condition
  • Program (Auto), Movie, and 16 Scene program modes
  • 1.8-inch HyperCrystal LCD monitor with 134,000 pixels
  • QuickTime movies at 320x240 or 160x120 with audio
  • Shutter speeds from 1/1000 to 1/2 second (up to 4 secs in night mode)
  • Built-in flash with auto, fill and red-eye reduction modes
  • ISO sensitivity; Automatic (64 - 250), 64/100/200/400
  • Built-in all-weather speaker and microphone
  • xD-Picture Card media, 16MB card included
  • Auto-Connect USB for quick and easy image transfer to computer
  • Direct printing to any PictBridge compatible printer
  • Lithium rechargeable battery and charger included


The Stylus Verve outfit includes a 16MB xD-Picture Card, Wrist Strap, Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery and Charger, USB cable, Audio-Video Cable, Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual, CD with OLYMPUS Master Editing Software for a street price of approx. $349.00 (U.S.)

A metal neck strap, leather carrying case, water-resistant underwater housing, AC Adapter and AC Power Coupler are optional accessories.




DIWA Gold Medal Award

DIWA Award for Stylus Verve


12. November, 2004: DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), today announced their first Design Award to the unique Olympus Stylus Verve construction.

The Olympus Stylus Verve is a radical diversion from traditional camera designs, replacing conservative symmetrical camera shapes with an indefinable oval profile. Unlike many other design products, the Olympus Stylus Verve is not an over-priced collector’s item for the few, but a useful imaging tool for any design conscious lifestyle enthusiast.

Despite its exciting, soap-like form, the camera complies with all conventional rules of ergonomics, making it just as user-friendly as any ordinary digital camera. It even features a large dial for easy setting of primary camera functions, as well as a bright and user friendly 1.8” LCD-screen. Being part of the Stylus camera range, the Stylus Verve also features a weather resistant construction.

To enhance the eye-catching exterior and the smooth, silky finish, the Stylus Verve is available in six fashionable colours. DIWA believes that this ground-breaking and ambitious approach by Olympus may encourage the industry to allow more radical camera designs in the future.




Physical Views

Olympus Stylus Verve

Olympus Stylus Verve

Olympus Stylus Verve

Olympus Stylus Verve Olympus Stylus Verve

Olympus Stylus Verve

Olympus Stylus Verve





Olympus Stylus Verve

The Stylus Verve compared in size to a standard CD.




Olympus Stylus Verve

The C7000 Zoom and the Stylus Verve



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UK visitors Olympus Li-30B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery for Stylus Verve

£ 7.49 at Bargain Basement Batteries
£ 10.99 at Batteries Europe






Stylus Verve Specifications

CCD Imager 4.0 megapixel (effective)
4.2 megapixel gross
1/2.5 type (o.4 type) CCD
Lens 5.8-11.6mm (35-70mm equivalent in 35mm photography), 5 lens in 3 groups
Seamless Digital Zoom Seamless to 8x (2x optical and 4x digital combined)
Aperture Range f3.5-f4.9
Shutter Speeds AUTO 1/2-1/1000 (Night Scene - longest 4 sec.)
ISO 64/100/200/400/Auto (64-250)
(Only in "INDOOR" and "CANDLE" scene mode: up to 500)
Recording Mode(s) Still Image: DCF Standard (JPEG, EXIF 2.2). DPOF, PIM 2.5 compatible
Movie mode: DCF Standard (QuickTime motion JPEG)
Adjustable Resolutions 2272 x 1704 JPEG (SHQ, HQ)
2048 x 1536 JPEG (SQ1)
1600 x 1200 JPEG (SQ2)
1280 x 960 JPEG (SQ2)
1024 x 768 JPEG (SQ2)
640 x 480 JPEG (SQ2)
QuickTime Movie: 15 frames per second in 320 x 240 HQ mode
15 frames per second in 160 x 120 SQ mode
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Print reserve (single, all, number of copies), Date
Optimum Image Enlargement N/A
Image Adjustment Modes 2-in-1 picture mode
Image Effects Black and White, Sepia, Resize, Rotation, Fisheye and Soft Focus
Panorama Up to 10 frames automatically stitchable with Olympus Master software when using an Olympus brand xD Picture Card
Sequence 1.3 frames per second in HQ mode
Viewfinder None
LCD 1.8" HyperCrystal LCD (134K Pixel TFT) for taking and viewing pictures (no optical viewfinder)
Focusing System Autofocus (Contrast detection)
Focusing Ranges Normal mode: 20in. (0.5m) - infinity
Macro mode: 8in. (0.2m) - infinity
Super Macro mode: 3.5in.-8in. (0.08m-0.5m) (Tele side only, flash off)
Exposure Control 2Ev Step1/3Ev
Metering System Digital ESP multi-pattern, Spot
White Balance System iESP multi-pattern auto TTL, Pre-set manual (Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten and Fluorescent)
Flash Built-in
Flash Modes Auto for low and backlight
Red-eye Reduction
Fill-in
Off
Flash Working Range Wide: 8in.–9.2ft. (0.2m–2.8m), Tele: 8in.–6ft. (0.2m–2.0m)
Flash Charging Time 5 seconds
Removable Media Card xD Picture CardTM, 16MB included
Selftimer/Remote 12 seconds
Setting Memorization On/Off (Hold changes/Reset to default settings)
Outer Connectors USB & Audio/Video multi-terminal
Auto-connect USB mini B
Image Playback Still image: Index display, up to 4x enlargement, slide show, scene rotation
Movie: Normal, Frame-by-frame
Operating Environment Operation: 32 - 104°F (0 - 40°C) 30 - 90% humidity
Storage: -4 - 140°F (-20 - 60°C) 30 - 90% humidity
Power Supply 1 Li-30B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery (included)
1 Li-30C Battery Charger (included)
Date/Time Calendar Simultaneous recording into image data, Automatic up to 2099
Calendar Automatic up to 2099
Size 3.74 in. (95mm) x 2.18 in. (55.5mm) x 1.08 in. (27.5mm) (excluding protrusions)
Weight 3.7oz. (115g) (without battery and media card)
Number of Storable Photos
Quality Pixel Resolution 16MB xD-Picture CardTM (included) 512MB xD-Picture CardTM
Still Image (w/out sound)
Unit: shots
SHQ 2272x1704 5 shots 180 shots
HQ 2272x1704 16 shots 523 shots
SQ1 2048x1536 20 shots 652 shots
SQ2 1600x1200
1280x960
1024x768
640x480
24 shots
38 shots
58 shots
90 shots
779 shots
1229 shots
1879 shots
2904 shots
Still Image (with sound) SHQ 2272x1704 5 shots 178 shots
HQ 2272x1704 15 shots 507 shots
SQ1 2048x1536 19 shots 626 shots
SQ2 1600x1200
1280x960
1024x768
640x480
23 shots
35 shots
52 shots
76 shots
743 shots
1141 shots
1681 shots
2458 shots
Movie (w/sound)
Unit: minutes
HQ 320x240 approx. 41 sec. approx. 1300 sec.
SQ 160x120 approx. 150 sec. approx. 4800 sec.

(Specifications as represented by the manufacturer)



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