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Olympus Brio D-100 Olympus uses tricky optics to build a sleekly compact 1.3 megapixel digicam with excellent image quality! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Brio D-100 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 Brio D-100 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 5/6/2001

Image Storage and Interface
The D-100 stores all images on a 3.3v SmartMedia card, and an 8MB card is supplied with the camera. Currently, you can upgrade to card sizes as large as 128MB. The SmartMedia slot on the camera's right side is protected by a hinged, plastic door. When the lens cover is slid open, it covers up the SmartMedia door, making it impossible to remove the card when the camera is on. SmartMedia cards insert into the camera with the gold electrodes going in first, facing the back of the camera (a diagram on the inside of the door shows the process). To remove the card, you simply pull it out of the slot with your fingers.

The D-100 stores images in a compressed JPEG file format, with a variety of resolutions and quality settings available. Compression levels are Super High Quality (SHQ), High Quality (HQ), and Standard Quality (SQ). Both SHQ and HQ compression levels record images at 1,280 x 960-pixel resolution, while the SQ setting records images at the 640 x 480-pixel resolution.

The D-100 allows you to write-protect individual images from accidental erasure through the Playback menu. Entire SmartMedia cards can be write-protected by placing a write-protection sticker over a specified spot on the card. While individually protected images can still be erased by a card format operation, cards that are write-protected with a sticker are also protected against card formatting. Write-protect stickers can only be used once and must be clean to be effective (a set of stickers accompany the SmartMedia card).

The table below summarizes the compression ratios and number of images that can be stored on the included 8MB memory card with each size/quality combination.

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 8MB Memory Card		Super High	High	Standard
High Resolution 1280x960	Images	18	36	N/A
	Approx. Compression	8:1	17:1	N/A
Normal Resolution 640x480	Images	N/A	N/A	122
	Approx. Compression	N/A	N/A	14:1

The D-100 comes with interface software and cables for both Mac and Windows computers, employing a USB interface for high-speed computer connection. Like all Olympus' recent USB cameras, the D-100 is a "storage class" USB device, which means you can plug it directly into computers running Windows ME or Mac OS 9.1 or later. (Older versions of Windows will need the driver software included on the CD that ships with the D-100.) In our tests, we clocked the D-100's data transfer speed at 251 KBytes/second. - This means it can empty a full 8MB memory card in about 32 seconds. This isn't as fast as some higher-end cameras, but is quite competitive, and fast enough that there's little or no need for a separate card reader.

One of the first things any new digicam owner will need is a larger memory card for their camera: The cards shipped with the units by the manufacturers should really be considered only "starter" cards, you'll definitely want a higher capacity card immediately. - Probably at least a 32 megabyte card for a 1.3 or 2 megapixel camera, 64 megabytes or more for a 3, 4, or 5 megapixel one. (The nice thing about memory cards is you'll be able to use whatever you buy now with your next camera too, whenever you upgrade.) To help you shop for a good deal on memory cards that fit the D-100, we've put together a little memory locater, with links to our price-comparison engine: Just click on the "Memory Wizard" button above to go to the Olympus memory finder, select your camera model , and click the shopping cart icon next to the card size you're interested in. You'll see a list of matching entries from the price-comparison database. Pick a vendor & order away! (Pretty cool, huh?)