Olympus's rugged mju compact of 2008 — 8MP, internal 38-114mm zoom, waterproof to 3m, shockproof, freezeproof
The Olympus Mju 850 SW was announced on 22 January 2008 as part of the mju SW family of ruggedised compacts, the line that evolved into the Tough series. It was sold as the Stylus 850 SW in North America and marketed as the mju Tough Lite in some regions, arriving in UK shops from February 2008 at £229.99.
An 8-megapixel CCD pairs with an internal, non-extending 38-114mm-equivalent 3x zoom, keeping the sealed body just 21.3mm thick and 136g. The camera is waterproof to 3m, shockproof against drops from 1.5m and freezeproof to -10C. A 2.5-inch 230k LCD handles framing, an LED illuminator aids macro shots, and face detection and digital image stabilisation round out the feature set. Storage is xD-Picture Card plus 14.8MB internal, with power from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
This is the take-anywhere compact of its generation: beach, ski slope, kayak or building site, places no ordinary digicam survived. The internal zoom means nothing protrudes to break, though the folded optics cost some sharpness and the 3m depth rating suits splashing about rather than proper diving. It remains a neat pocket camera for travellers documenting rough conditions.
On waterproof compacts the seals matter most: inspect the battery/card door gasket for grit, tears or corrosion inside the compartment, the classic sign of past flooding. The xD card format is discontinued, so confirm a card is included. Check the lens window for scratches that soften images, verify the battery charges, and test all buttons, which stiffen when seals age.