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Olympus C-720 Ultra Zoom Olympus packs an 8x zoom lens into an amazingly small body, for an amazingly low price. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet C720 Sample 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 C720 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: 7/1/2002

Camera Modes and Menus

Movie Mode: Accessed by turning the Mode dial to the movie camera symbol, Movie mode lets you capture movies (without sound) for as long as the SmartMedia card has available space. Shutter speed is set automatically, from 1/8,000 to 1/30 second, depending on light levels.

My Mode: Configures the camera based on a set of user-defined camera settings, specific to shooting conditions. Exposure variables such as aperture, shutter speed, white balance, etc. can all be saved. You can even save the lens zoom position. My Mode settings are made through the Setup menu.

P/A/S/M Mode: Accesses a range of manual and semi-manual exposure modes, including Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual modes. Program mode puts the camera in charge of aperture and shutter speed, while Aperture and Shutter Priority modes give the user control over one exposure variable and the camera control over the other. Manual mode offers full user control over both aperture and shutter speed. Apertures range from f/2.8 to f/7.1, depending on the zoom setting. Shutter speeds range from 1/1,000 to 1/30 second in Program and Aperture Priority modes, extend to 1/2 second in Shutter Priority mode, and to eight seconds in Manual mode.

Portrait Mode: Optimizes the camera for capturing portraits. A larger aperture is used, so that the subject is sharply focused in front of a slightly soft background.

Sports Mode: The camera's exposure system is biased toward faster shutter speeds to freeze action with moving subjects.

Landscape / Portrait Mode: This mode is best for capturing wide views of scenery or portraits in front of landscapes. The camera uses a smaller aperture setting, which increases the depth of field to capture both the foreground and background in sharp focus.

Auto Mode: The final capture mode on the Mode dial, this mode puts the camera in charge of everything, except for zoom, flash mode, image size, and drive mode. This is a true "point & shoot" mode, requiring almost no input from the user apart from a press of the shutter button.

Playback Mode: This mode lets you view previously captured images using the Arrow Pad to scroll through frames stored in memory. The Zoom Lever switches the image display to Index mode when moved in the wide angle direction, and when moved in the telephoto direction, enlarges a single image. While zoomed in on an image, the Arrow buttons can move the enlarged view around the full image area, allowing you to inspect all parts of it.

Still Picture Shooting Menu: (Note that available menu options will change depending on capture mode.)

• Camera
• ISO: Adjusts the ISO sensitivity to Auto, 100, 200, or 400.
• P/A/S/M: Sets the exposure mode to Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, or Manual.
• Flash +/-: Adjusts the intensity of the internal flash, from -2 to +2 EV in one-third-step increments.
• BKT: Determines whether an Auto Bracketing series captures three or five images, and specifies the exposure variation between shots. Choices are +/-0.3, +/-0.7, or +/-1.0 step sizes.
• Digital Zoom: Turns the digital zoom function on or off.
• Panorama: Activates Panorama mode, only when an Olympus-brand SmartMedia card is in use. (I didn't have an Olympus card in the camera when I snapped the screen shots, so the cursor skips over this option.)
• 2 in 1: Activates 2 in 1 mode, which captures two images and records them side-by-side as one image.
  
  
  
  
• Picture
  • Image Size and Quality: Sets the resolution and quality for still images. Choices are TIFF (1,984 x 1,488 pixels), SHQ (1,984 x 1,488 pixels), HQ (1,984 x 1,488 pixels), SQ1 (1,600 x 1,200 pixels), or SQ2 (offers 1,280 x 960, 1,024 x 768, and 640 x 480 pixel resolutions). In Movie mode, size options are HQ (320 x 240 pixels) and SQ (160 x 120 pixels).
  • White Balance: Sets white balance to Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten, or Fluorescent.
  • Sharpness: Sets image sharpness to Hard, Normal, or Soft.
  • Contrast: Adjusts the amount of contrast in the image to High, Normal, or Low.
    
    
    
• Card
  • Card Setup: Formats the SmartMedia card.
    
    
    
• Setup
  • All Reset: Resets all options to their defaults.
  • Info: Turns the LCD information display off or on.
  • Volume: Controls the camera's beep sounds, with settings of Off, Low, or High.
  • Record View: Turns on the Quick Review function which displays the captured image on the LCD screen immediately after capture.
  • My Mode Setup: Customizes settings for My mode, and allows you to reset settings to their defaults.
  • Sleep: Designates the amount of time before the camera puts itself to sleep. Choices are 30 seconds, or 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes.
  • File Name: Resets file numbers with each new memory card or continues in sequential order.
  • Pixel Mapping: Checks the CCD and image processing circuit for errors.
  • LCD Brightness: Adjusts the brightness of the LCD monitor.
  • Date/Time: Sets the camera's date and time.
  • Battery Save: Activates a camera operation mode which saves battery power by permanently disabling the LCD monitor.
  • Short Cut: Edits the Short Cut menu options to include any of the options from the Camera and Picture menus.
  • Custom Button: Assigns a function to the AE Lock button. Choices are AE Lock, Info, ISO, P/A/S/M, Digital Zoom, Image Size/Quality, and White Balance.

Playback Menu

• Slide Show Play (shortcut screen): Activates an automated slide show of captured images on the card.
• Movie Play (shortcut screen): Plays back captured movie files.
• INFO (shortcut screen): Changes the level of information displayed over a captured image. Two information modes are available, one that reports limited camera settings, and a second that reports detailed exposure information. The information display appears over the image for a few seconds, then disappears.
  
  
  
• Edit
  • Black & White: Records a black and white copy of the displayed image.
  • Sepia: Creates a sepia-toned copy of the currently displayed image.
  • Resizing: Resizes the current image to either 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 pixels.
    
    
    
• Card
  • Card Setup: Formats the SmartMedia card, or erases all images on the card.
    
    
• Setup
  • All Reset: Resets all options to factory defaults.
  • Volume: Controls the camera's beep sound.
  • Brightness: Adjusts the LCD monitor brightness.
  • Date/Time: Sets the camera's internal date and time setting.
  • Index Display Adjustment: Sets the number of images to be viewed on screen in Index Display mode: 4, 9, or 16.