Olympus C-211 ZoomHave your cake and eat it too! - 2 megapixels worth of digital photos, and a built-in Polaroid printer!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 9/25/2000 |
Operation and User Interface
We found the user interface on the C-211 to be pretty straightforward, with a fair amount of exposure options controllable through the function buttons on the back panel. Although the lack of an optical viewfinder necessitates the C-211's reliance on its LCD display, we were pleased to note that basic features like flash mode, focus mode, digital telephoto, and exposure compensation can be adjusted without calling up the Record menu.
We should also point out that the Record menu itself is well navigable, showing only one page of options per feature. The ability to temporarily change menu settings is also a plus, allowing you to change a setting, take the picture, and then return to your original settings without going through another menu change.
The C-211's control layout prevents extensive one-handed operation, although this is a minimal issue, since the camera's size practically ensures that you'll want a two-handed grip. Overall, we found the controls to be relatively simple to operate. The only noticeable problem was the excessive lag time between pressing the shutter button and firing the shutter.
Control Enumeration
Shutter Button: Located on the very front of the camera, directly beneath the lens, this silver button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed. When fully pressed, it fires the shutter.
Mode Dial: Positioned in the top right corner of the back panel, this nearly flat dial sets the camera's operating mode, with the following choices:
- Record Mode: Powers the camera on and sets it up for recording images.
- Off: Turns the camera off.
- Playback Mode: Allows the user to scroll through captured images, set up printing for DPOF devices, view a slide show, protect or delete images, or reformat the SmartMedia card.
- Print Mode: Sets up the camera for printing captured images with the internal Polaroid printing mechanism.
- Setup/Digital Mode: Readies the camera for connecting to a computer, if the camera is connected via the USB cable, or accesses the Setup menu for changing the camera's settings if not connected.
LCD Backlight Switch: To the right of the LCD monitor, this switch opens and closes the small plastic reflector on top of the LCD monitor. When open, the reflector directs natural light into the monitor chamber, thereby illuminating the LCD image with natural light
Digital Telephoto/Protect Button: The first function button (left to right) below the LCD monitor, this button enables the 2X digital enlargement feature when in Record mode. In Playback mode, this button protects individual images from accidental erasure (except during card formatting).
Focus/Info Button: To the right of the Digital Telephoto/Protect button, is the Focus/Info button, which cycles through the Focus menu in Record mode. Focus options include: Macro, 8 feet (2.5 meter), Infinity, and standard autofocus. In Playback mode, this button cycles between the filename and frame number of the currently displayed image.
Flash/Erase Button: Next in line is the Flash/Erase button. This cycles through the following flash modes when the camera is set on Record mode:
- Auto: Automatic flash based on existing light levels and exposure settings.
- Redeye Reduction: A small pre-flash fired before the full flash to prevent the occurrence of Redeye
- Off: Disables the flash so that it never fires, regardless of the lighting conditions.
- Fill-in: Sets the flash to fire with each exposure.
- Slow Sync: Times the flash with a slow shutter speed, to allow more ambient light into the image in low-light situations.
- Slow Sync with Redeye Reduction: Combines the slow shutter with the Redeye Reduction pre-flash for night portraits.
In Playback mode, this button deletes the currently displayed image from the SmartMedia card. After pressing the button, a small confirmation screen asks you to verify the action.
Menu Button: The last button in the line, this one pulls up the settings menu in Record, Playback and Print modes. It also dismisses the menu and cancels selections.
OK Button: Positioned to the lower right of the Menu button, this button confirms menu selections and actions in all modes.
Zoom Switch: Encircling the four arrow keys in the center of the back panel, this switch controls the 3X optical zoom while the camera is in Record mode. In Playback mode, pressing the switch toward the "W" activates the nine-image thumbnail index display. Pressing the switch toward the "T" enables the playback zoom feature.
Arrow Buttons: Four keypad arrow buttons, each pointing in a cardinal direction, are located in the center of the zoom switch. In Record mode, the left and right buttons adjust the amount of exposure compensation (EV) from -2 to +2 in 0.5 EV increments. In Playback mode, the left and right arrow buttons scroll through captured images. When playback zoom is enabled, all four arrow buttons allow the user to scroll around within the enlarged image. In all camera modes, the arrow keys navigate through menu settings.
Polaroid Digital Prints Button: Just beneath the zoom switch, this large, green button initiates the Polaroid printing process when the camera is in the Print mode. In Playback mode, pressing this button twice allows you to set up images for printing on a DPOF compatible device.
Film Tray Release Lever: Located opposite the camera lens, this sliding lever releases the Polaroid film tray.
Battery Compartment Lever: On the bottom panel of the camera, beside the battery compartment, this sliding lever unlocks and ejects the battery tray from its compartment.
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