Olympus Camedia D-510 ZoomOlympus updates its popular 2.1 megapixel D-490 model with a new user interface and improved features.<<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & InterfaceReview First Posted: 6/18/2001 |
Image Storage and InterfaceThe D-510 uses SmartMedia cards to capture and store images. An 8MB 3.3V card comes standard with the camera, but upgrade cards are available in sizes up to 128MB. You can use third-party SmartMedia cards, but Olympus recommends formatting them in the camera immediately before use. Be sure to use only 3.3V cards. SmartMedia from third-party vendors will not support the camera's Panorama shooting mode, but they will operate fine for all other functions. Special function SmartMedia cards are also available from Olympus.
The remaining image capacity is shown on the LCD monitor when the camera is turned on. When the number reaches zero, the camera beeps and the green LED next to the optical viewfinder flashes. The table below shows the number of images of each size that can be stored on the provided 8MB memory card, and the approximate level of JPEG compression used for each.
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| High Resolution | Images | 1 | 5 | 16 |
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| Approx. Compression |
1:1 | 8:1 | 17:1 |
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| Standard Resolution | Images |
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| Approx. Compression |
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SmartMedia should never be removed from the camera while it is in operation
to avoid damaging the media. The card fits into a slot on the side of the
camera, protected by a plastic flap that snaps firmly into place.
The entire SmartMedia card can be write-protected by placing a write-protection
sticker in the designated area. Write-protection stickers can only be used
once and must be clean to be effective. Write protection keeps the card free
from any alteration, except for card formatting. You can protect individual
images while in Playback mode by depressing the Lock (up arrow) button on
the back of the camera and holding it down for one second. Once depressed,
a "lock" key symbol appears in the LCD monitor and that image cannot
be erased unless the entire SmartMedia card is formatted or the protection
is subsequently removed. Individual image protection is not available when
the write-protection sticker has been placed on the SmartMedia card.
Stored images are assigned file numbers from 0001 to 9999. Through the Shooting
menu, the File Naming option allows you to select from Auto File and Name
Reset. Auto File assigns a continuing number from the last file number of
the last card used. This prevents the same file number from being used for
images taken together and saved on multiple cards. Name Reset sets the file
number back to 0001 each time a card is inserted into the camera.
The Drive / Erase (down arrow) button allows you to erase individual images
while in Playback mode. To erase all frames, press the Menu button while in
Playback mode and select the Card Setup function, then select Erase all frames,
represented by the trash can icon. You can also erase the entire card by selecting
Format in the Card Setup function, represented by the outline of a SmartMedia
card with a hammer in the middle. Format will erase even the write-protected
images.
The D-510 Zoom features USB AutoConnect technology, which allows users to
plug the camera directly into any USB-configured computer with a compatible
operating system. No drivers or additional software should be required for
PCs running the Windows 2000, Windows Me, or Mac OS 8.6 or higher. These computers
should mount and recognize the D-510 Zoom automatically. Machines running
Windows 98 will need to install the driver software that Olympus provides
with the camera. Image downloading via the USB connection is quite speedy.
- We clocked the D-510Zoom at only 11.6 seconds to download a full-resolution
TIFF file to our PowerMac G4, a transfer rate of 497 KBytes/second. This is
very fast, about as fast as any camera we've tested, regardless of price range.
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-510 Zoom, 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?)
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