Product Reviews

Available in a range of colours, the Mju-mini Digital is one of the flashiest looking cameras we've seen. But just because it has supermodel looks, it doesn't mean the Mju-mini is all style and no substance. Like all Olympus Mju cameras, it's 'weatherproof', which means that you can safely take photos in a downpour without fear of damaging the camera.

The Mju-mini sits comfortably in your hand, with your forefinger resting naturally on the shutter release button. Your thumb is free to move swiftly between the zoom rocker and the four-way selector that gives access to macro, flash, 13 pre-programmed scene modes and self-timer settings, as well as navigation though the main menu. Beware that the curved design isn't well suited to people with large hands, as the small body is hard to get a grip on.

There are three modes: photo, movie and

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playback. You move between these by toggling the barrel switch sunk onto the body of the camera. This is a practical approach that makes it easy both to change mode and identify which mode you are in. In the absence of an optical viewfinder, shots are composed using the bright 1.8in screen on the back.

A 4-megapixel sensor takes pictures at a resolution of 2,272x1,704 pixels - enough detail for high-quality prints up to A4 size. At this resolution, you can only fit five photos on the supplied 16MB xD memory card, so you should budget for an additional 64MB or 128MB card. A fully-retracting 2x zoom lens gets you closer to the action, but a 3x lens would have been better. Video mode records at 320x240 at 15 frames per second.

The Mju-mini produces sharp, well-balanced pictures with realistic rather than overly vibrant colours. Photos are generally well exposed, whether in full daylight or using the built-in flash. In most conditions, they're improved by using the 13 available scene modes. Little manual control is available for enthusiasts, but sepia, black and white, fish-eye and soft-focus effect can be applied to an image once it has been taken. A useful (if basic) image management and editing suite is supplied.

Technically and aesthetically, this is a great camera. It's easy to get to grips with and makes taking good snaps a breeze. But it's just too expensive. It may look good, but there are better deals available.