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Olympus C-2100 Zoom Wow! A superb 10X, optically stabilized zoom lens on a high-quality 2 megapixel camera! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet C-2100 Zoom Test Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on C-2100 Zoom Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 10/18/2000

Camera Modes and Menus

Because the Record menu is essentially the same in all capture modes, we will give a brief description of each capture mode and then list the Record menu options afterwards.

Movie Mode: This mode is marked on the mode dial with a miniature movie camera symbol, and allows you to record moving images with sound. Movies can be as long as the memory card will allow, and capture time is approximately 15 frames per second. Available file sizes are 320 x 240 pixels (HQ, or High Quality) and 160 x 120 pixels (SQ, or Standard Quality).

Scene Program Mode: The next stop on the mode dial, this one offers four preset exposure modes for shooting in special situations:

• Portrait: Uses a larger aperture to blur the background while keeping the subject in sharp focus.
• Sports: Uses faster shutter speeds to freeze fast-moving action.
• Landscape: The opposite of Portrait mode, Landscape uses a smaller aperture to increase the depth of field, keeping the background and foreground in focus.
• Night Scene: Slows the shutter speed to allow more ambient light into an image. This mode can be combined with the Redeye Reduction flash mode for night portraits.

Manual Mode: In this mode, you can control both the lens aperture setting (from f/2.8 to f/8.0) and the shutter speed (from 1/800 to 16 seconds). All of the other exposure controls are available, with the exception of exposure compensation.

Shutter Priority Mode: This mode allows you to set the shutter speed (from 1/800 to 1/2 second), while the camera selects the corresponding lens aperture setting. All other exposure features are available, including exposure compensation.

Aperture Priority Mode: The opposite of Shutter Priority mode, Aperture Priority allows you to select the lens aperture setting (from f/2.8 to f/8.0) while the camera selects the best shutter speed. Again, all other exposure features are available.

Program Mode: The camera controls both aperture and shutter speed, while you maintain control over the remaining exposure options (which can all be left on their automatic settings or factory defaults for complete automatic exposure).

Record Menu: In all capture modes, the LCD-based record menu is accessed by pressing the Menu button on the back panel. The following options are available:

• Image Stabilization: Turns the Image Stabilization feature on or off. When turned on, this feature minimizes the effect of camera shake when using the lens at telephoto settings.
• Digital Zoom: Enables or disables the 2.7X digital telephoto.
• White Balance: Adjusts the camera's white balance system to work under different light sources. Options are Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Fluorescent, and Tungsten.
• ISO: Sets the camera's light sensitivity level to film speed equivalents of ISO 100, 200, or 400.
  
  
  
• Flash Intensity: Controls the camera's built-in flash intensity level (as well as an external FL-40 flash, when connected). Intensity is adjustable from -2 to +2 in 1/3 EV increments, in still capture mode only.
• Slow Synchronized Flash: Activates the slow synchronization flash mode, which synchronizes the flash with a slow shutter speed to allow more ambient light into the image. (Still capture mode only.) Options are:
  • Slow 1: Fires the flash at the beginning of the exposure.
  • Slow 2: Fires the flash at the end of the exposure.
• Bracket: Sets up the conditions for the auto-bracketing feature, including what EV increment to vary the shots by and the number of shots to include in the series (three or five). (Not available in Movie mode.)
• Multi-Metering: Activates the multi-metering function, which allows you to average the exposure from up to eight points in an image.
  
  
  
• AF Mode: Adjusts the focusing area for autofocus, with the following choices:
  • iESP: Bases the focus on the entire image, via a multi-pattern autofocus system.
  • Spot: Bases the focus on the direct center of the image, designated by the autofocus target mark on the LCD screen.
• Full-time AF: Enables the full-time autofocus feature, which constantly sets focus without the need to depress the shutter button halfway. Because the camera is always adjusting focus though, this mode consumes slightly more battery power.
• Sound: Turns on the sound recording feature that allows you to record up to four seconds of sound to accompany a captured image.
  
  
  
• Panorama or Special Function: Activates the panorama feature when using a standard Olympus brand SmartMedia card, or accesses any special functions from an Olympus Special Function SmartMedia card. (Not available with Movie mode.)
• Function: Displays a special effects menu, for creative shooting:
  • Monochrome: Captures images in monochromatic black and white.
  • Sepia: Captures images in monochrome, but with a sepia tint reminiscent of old photos.
  • White Board: Adjusts the contrast for capturing black text on a white background (still capture mode only).
  • Black Board: Similar to White Board, adjusts contrast for capturing white text on a dark background (still capture mode only).
• Card Setup: Formats the SmartMedia card, which erases all files on the card (even protected ones).
  
  
• Mode Setup: Accesses the camera settings submenu:
  • All Reset: Resets all the camera settings to their factory defaults.
  • Sharpness: Adjusts the image sharpness level. Options are Hard, Soft, or Normal.
  • TIFF: Selects the TIFF image size. Options are 1,600 x 1,200, 1,280 x 960, 1,024 x 768, or 640 x 480 pixels. (Still capture mode only.)
  • SQ: Selects the image size for the Standard Quality mode. Options are 1,280 x 960, 1,024 x 768, or 640 x 480 pixels, with each size offering a High or Normal quality setting. (Still capture mode only.)
  • Volume: Adjusts the camera's operating sounds.
  • AF Illuminator: Turns the autofocus assist lamp (on the front of the camera) on or off. This light helps the autofocus system in low-light situations. (Still capture mode only.) As noted earlier, it's very nice to be able to turn the AF illuminator off when you don't want it.
  • Record View: Determines whether or not the recorded image is displayed on the LCD monitor while being recorded to the SmartMedia card.
  • Sleep: Sets the duration of time before the camera goes to "sleep" to save power. Options are Off, 30 seconds, one minute, two minutes, or five minutes.
  • File Name: Specifies whether to reset the file naming with each new SmartMedia card, or to continue sequentially.
  • LCD Brightness: Adjusts the brightness of the LCD and optical viewfinder displays.
  • Date and Time: Sets the camera's internal date and time.
  • Meters/Feet: Designates whether the manual focus distance scale reports distances in meters or feet.
• Scene Program: Selects the Scene Program exposure mode. Options are Portrait, Sports, Landscape, or Night Scene.
• Image Quality: In any still capture mode, sets the image quality (file size/compression level), with options of TIFF, SHQ (Super High Quality), HQ (High Quality), and SQ (Standard Quality). In Movie mode, sets image quality at HQ (320 x 240 pixels) or SQ (160 x 120 pixels).

Playback Mode: The final stop on the mode dial, this mode is marked by the traditional green playback symbol. In Playback you can review captured images, delete or protect them, mark them for printing, enlarge images for close-up review, or rotate vertical images. Pressing the menu button displays the following playback menu options:

Still Image Display

• Automatic Playback: Activates an automatic slide show of all images on the memory card.
• Sound: Allows you to record up to four seconds of sound to accompany a captured image.
• Card Setup: Formats the SmartMedia card and erases all images (even protected ones).
• Mode Setup: Calls up a similar camera settings menu to that in Record mode:
  • All Reset: Resets all of the camera settings to their factory defaults.
  • Sharpness: Adjusts the image sharpness level. Options are Hard, Soft, or Normal.
  • Volume: Adjusts the camera's operating sounds.
  • Sleep: Sets the length of time before the camera goes to "sleep" to save power. Options are Off, 30 seconds, one minute, two minutes, or five minutes.
  • LCD Brightness: Adjusts the brightness of the LCD and optical viewfinder displays.
  • Date and Time: Sets the camera's internal date and time.
  • Index Display: Controls how many index images are displayed on the screen at one time. Choose from four, nine, or 16 thumbnails.

Movie Image Display

• Movie Play: Plays back the movie with sound. (No internal speaker, sound only audible via A/V jack.)
• Function: Creates a movie index, allowing you to edit individual frames of a movie.
• Card Setup: Formats the SmartMedia card, and erases all images (even protected ones).
• Mode Setup: Displays the same camera settings menu as with the Still Image display menu.