Olympus µ1010 compact camera

Sample shots

The µ1010 has a super macro function that lets you take shots just a few centimetres away from an object

The 7x zoom really takes you close up to distant subjects. In this shot, look at the blue sign with the white text in the far right-hand corner

The same shot at the longest focal length and you can now clearly read the words

Low-light shooting was impressive too, although there is the inevitable increase in picture noise as the ISO shifts up a notch or two. Even so, the shots we took around a city at dusk and inside a dark club were pretty presentable. And if you’re not completely satisfied with the results, there’s even a bunch of in-camera editing features that include cropping, shadow adjustment, red-eye correction and colour editing.

The swift start-up is accompanied by an auto-focus system that soon locks onto the target. Battery life was good too - we shot well over 200 images on a single charge.

Verdict

The only fly in the Olympus µ1010 ointment is that it takes the several seconds before it’s ready for the next shot, unless you use the continuous mode function - although you have to settle for smaller image files if you use this feature. The µ1010 isn’t aimed at the enthusiast, but then it’s much more than just a basic camera. Best of all, it’s packed full of friendly features.