There are only small differences in body design, as the 830 has an added button next to the shutter release to enable or disable image stabilization. This feature was originally located on the mode dial. All of the other controls have stayed the same, and are well placed on the body. One feature we especially liked, was that the controls light up when pressed, which is very helpful when shooting in low lighting. Although the screen is slightly smaller than the previous model, it is still incredibly easy to see in any lighting situation. This is mainly due to the fact that is has the same resolution, at 230,000 pixels. With the anti-glare coating, it is usable even in direct sunlight. The display also "gains up" in low light situations, making framing your shots a snap. Like so many LCDs, the 830's is very prone to fingerprints (they really stand out on the non-glare coating); nothing a quick wipe with a cotton T-shirt can't fix. This is a Stylus series model, however, while the camera is weather-resistant (it wont hurt it to get splashed or rained on), it can Not be submerged underwater.

The performance was quite a nice surprise, as it was much improved over the 820 model. Power up to first image captured measured just 1.8 seconds. When prefocused, the shutter lag was about 1/10 of a second and 5/10 of a second including autofocus. In single shooting mode, I was able to capture an image every 2.4 seconds without using the flash and 3.3 - 4 seconds with the flash. There are also two separate continuous shooting modes to choose from. In continuous mode you can capture 3 shots in less than 1 second, but that will fill the buffer, and you will have to wait about 3 seconds until you can shoot another sequence. This mode also works with the flash, taking 5 shots in 1.3 seconds before the buffer filled. The other shooting mode is High Speed continuous, which will only shoot with a image size of 2048x1536 (SQ1). This is great however for shooting action as it captured 39 shots in just 6.5 seconds before it filled the buffer, and took 9 shots with the flash in just 2.5 seconds. The tests where completed using a standard M 512MB xD-picture card, SHQ quality, flash off, and all other settings at the camera default unless noted otherwise. Times may vary depending on lighting conditions, camera settings, media, etc.

Because the 820 and 830 feature the same 8-megapixel image sensor, our image quality results were similar; great for an ultra-compact camera. When shooting outdoors it produced images that were sharp, well exposed, and had very vivid color. There was no evidence of chromatic aberrations or pin-cushioning, although I did notice a little barrel distortion at the wide end of the 5x optical zoom; very common among consumer models. The new sensor-shift IS feature allows you to use much lower shutter speeds and ISO settings while still eliminating camera shake, and keeping noise levels down.

Indoor shooting also produced very good results. When in portrait mode, the images came out very natural, with nice looking skin tones, combined with a very well exposed image. The flash adjusted itself to illuminate the subject that was focused on and didn't worry as much about the background (see our portrait example on the samples page). This makes sure that your subjects are lit correctly, but may leave the background a little dark. While the flash worked very well, and to the full extent of the listed ranges (Wide: 0.66ft - 11.8ft., Tele: 2.0ft - 7.9ft. at ISO Auto), do not expect it to light up a medium to large sized room.

The Stylus 830 also has the ability to record high-quality video at resolutions of 640x480 (30fps), 320x240 (15fps) or 160x120 (15fps). The 5x optical zoom is not available when recording, but you can preset the desired focal length before hand. The video quality was good, with great color and smooth playback.

Power comes from a 3.7v 740mAh LI-42B rechargeable lithium battery, which is charged by the included LI-40C charger. Because it charges the battery out of the camera, it's easy to charge a second battery, while using another. This allows you to always have a fully charged one ready. You can't power the camera with any other battery type, so we strongly recommend the purchase of a second pack. Olympus claims you can capture up to 300 frames on a single charge. I was able to capture roughly 50 pictures (using the flash often), take several videos, and concluded our other tests before having to charge the battery. I was a little disappointed by the life of the battery, but some of this could be contributed to the new back-lit buttons that come on every time you press one.

Bottom line - The performance and quality improvements that were made to the Olympus Stylus 830 from the previous models are welcomed. The only problem is the short battery life, which can easily be fixed with the purchase of a backup battery. The camera is still incredibly easy to use with a built in Guide and "Perfect Shot" preview, allowing anyone, beginner or novice, to take great looking pictures as soon as they pick it up. With a price of US$329 or less, it offer a good value for such a versatile ultra-compact digicam.