Olympus E-10A 4 megapixel sensor and unique SLR optics make for a major coup for Olympus! (Final review, based on full-production model.)<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 1/26/2001 |
Operation and User Interface
We found the user
interface on the E-10 very straightforward, though the large number of external
camera controls may seem a bit complicated at first glance. We always appreciate
being able to change camera settings without resorting to the LCD menu, as it
helps conserve battery power and makes for much quicker navigation of the
camera's functions. The majority of the E-10's exposure settings are changed by
pressing a control button while turning either the main command dial or
sub-dial, and the status of these settings is reported on the small status
display panel on the top of the camera. While this works rather well, it does
mean you have to use two hands to change the camera setting. This can be a
little hard to do when you're trying to make changes while maintaining your
shooting position. When we did use the LCD menu to change settings, we found it
to be reasonably uncomplicated and navigable, as the arrow buttons allow you to
scroll up and down through options and screens. The tilting LCD monitor was also
helpful, as it kept the viewfinder visible when shooting in awkward positions,
and we enjoyed the ability to manually control the optical zoom and focus with
the lens collar. Overall, the E-10 has the look and feel of a traditional 35mm
SLR, which made for a very comfortable user experience.
The picture above shows the contents of the small status display panel on the
top of the camera. The E-10 provides an large amount of information there, making
settings changes very fast.
Control Enumeration
Quick Reference White Balance Button: Located on the very front of the
camera, just beneath the infrared autofocus sensor, and right under your middle
finger as you grasp the hand grip, this button adjusts the camera's white balance
based on a white card held in front of the lens. (A very handy position for
this button.)
Shutter Button: Resting at an angle on the large hand grip, this button
sets both focus and exposure when halfway pressed, and fires the shutter when
fully pressed. When shooting in Self-Timer mode, this button triggers the 12
second countdown before the shutter is fired.
AE Lock Button: Positioned in the top right corner of the back panel,
this button locks the exposure when pressed and held.
Main Command Dial: Just above the shutter button, this notched dial sets
a variety of camera settings when rotated while a control button is pressed.
In Aperture and Shutter Priority exposure modes, this dial used by itself sets
either the aperture or shutter speed, depending on the mode. In Manual mode,
turning the dial without a control button pressed sets the shutter speed.
White Balance Button: Situated on the outside edge of the command dial,
this button controls the camera's white balance mode. Holding down this button
while turning either command dial cycles through the Auto, Preset, and Quick
Reference white balance modes.
Record Mode Button (Image Quality): Positioned on the top of the camera,
just inboard of the main command dial, this button lets you cycle through the
available image quality settings by pressing it and rotating either command
dial. Available modes are TIFF, SHQ (Super High Quality), HQ (High Quality),
and SQ (Standard Quality). The specific resolution/compression settings for
SHQ, HQ, and SQ are configured via the LCD menu system. - This struck us as
a neat feature, in that you can set up the E-10's three "standard" image quality
choices to match your exact needs. When pressed in conjunction with the Flash
button just beside it, all of the camera's exposure and control settings are
reset to their factory defaults.
Flash Button: Directly to the left of the Record Mode button, this button
controls the camera's flash mode. Pressing it and rotating either command dial
(while the flash is in its operating position) cycles through the Automatic,
Slow Synchro, Redeye Reduction, Redeye Reduction with Slow Synchro, and Fill-in
flash modes. When pressed in conjunction with the Record Mode button, all of
the camera's exposure settings are reset to their factory defaults.
Mode Dial: Located on the far right edge of the camera's top panel, this
notched dial rests on top of the power switch. Turning the mode dial controls
the camera's operating mode, with the following choices:
- Manual Mode: Puts the camera in Manual exposure mode, where you can adjust both the shutter speed and lens aperture settings independently of each other. Available shutter speeds range from eight to 1/640 seconds, with a Bulb setting for exposures as long as 30 seconds. Apertures range from f/2.0 to f/11.0, depending on the zoom setting. All exposure variables are available with the exception of metering, exposure compensation, and AE Lock, all of which really only apply to automatically determined exposure settings.
- Shutter Priority Mode: Lets you select the shutter speed while the camera picks the best aperture setting. The shutter speed range changes to two to 1/640 seconds, while the aperture range remains the same. All exposure controls are available.
- Aperture Priority Mode: Lets you adjust the aperture setting while the camera determines the shutter speed. Shutter speed and aperture ranges are the same as with Shutter Priority mode. All exposure controls are available.
- Program Mode: The camera controls both aperture and shutter speed, you control all other exposure variables.
- Playback Mode: Displays the images on the memory card, allowing you to protect or delete them, as well as make copies or view their exposure data and histograms (if the latter option is enabled).
- Print Mode: Sets up images for printing on DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatible devices.
- PC Connection Mode: Allows the camera to connect to a computer for downloading images. The main camera settings menu is also available in this mode by pressing the menu button.
Power Switch: The power switch is located underneath the mode
dial, in the form of a rotating collar with a projecting tab. A flip of the
thumb turns the camera on or off.
Light Button: Situated just beneath the small
status display panel, this button turns on a gentle backlight for viewing the
panel in the dark. The backlight stays on for eight seconds after the button is
pressed.
SM / CF
Button: Just to left and back of the Light button, this button selects
either the SmartMedia or CompactFlash memory card slot for saving or retrieving
images. (The camera can carry both types of cards simultaneously, which could be
handy for squeezing out a few extra megabytes of storage space on and extended
sortie.
Subcommand Dial: On the camera's back, just left of the AE
Lock button, this dial duplicates the function of the main Command dial for many
functions. (A convenience factor.) In Manual exposure mode, turning this dial
adjusts the lens aperture setting. In Playback mode, turning the dial to the
left activates the index display mode, while turning the dial to the right
activates the playback zoom feature. (Five zoom steps ranging from 1.5x to 4.0x
are provided.)
Display Button: Just below the subcommand dial, this button
enables and disables the LCD monitor display in any mode. Also in any capture
mode, pressing this button twice in quick succession puts you into "quick image
review mode", displaying the most recently captured image. This quick review
mode is actually offers all the standard Playback functions, but is instantly
canceled when you touch the shutter button again.
Menu Button: Just below the
Display button on the E-10's back panel, the Menu button calls up the settings
menu in all camera modes. It also cancels the menu display.
Arrow Keys: Located
to the right of the LCD monitor, these four arrow buttons each point in one of
the four cardinal directions (up, down, left, and right). While in any settings
menu, these buttons navigate through menu options and selections. In Playback
mode, the left and right buttons scroll through captured images. When playback
zoom is enabled, the four arrows let you scroll around within the enlarged image
to check on the details.
Memory Card Slot Release Lever: On the far right side of
the camera's back panel, next to the memory card slot, this lever releases the
spring-loaded card slot door.
OK Button: Centered between the arrow key pad and the
Memory Card Slot Release lever, this button confirms menu selections in all
settings menus.
Erase Button: Situated beneath the lower right corner of
the LCD monitor, this button lets you delete the currently displayed image, with
an option to cancel.
Protect Button: To the left of the Erase button, this
button write-protects the currently displayed image while in Playback mode. Once
protected, a key symbol appears in the LCD monitor. This button also removes
write-protection.
Info Button: Beneath the lower left corner of the LCD
monitor, this button controls the information display in all capture modes, as
well as in Playback mode. In any capture mode, pressing this button repeatedly
cycles between the exposure information display and the distance display on the
LCD monitor. The exposure display reports the current exposure settings, and the
distance display reports the approximate distance between the subject and the
camera. In Playback mode, pressing this button and rotating either command dial
selects one of three levels of exposure information overlaid on the images.
Pressed by itself, it toggles between the histogram (when enabled) and the image
information display.
Viewfinder Switch: Located to the left of the optical
viewfinder eyepiece, this lever flips an internal shutter into the optical
viewfinder's light path, preventing light entering the viewfinder eyepiece from
affecting the exposure.
Dioptric Adjustment Dial: Surrounding optical viewfinder
eyepiece, this rotating collar adjusts the focus of the viewfinder to
accommodate eyeglass wearers.
Metering Button: The topmost button of the camera's lens
side, using this button with either command dial cycles through the three
metering modes: ESP, Center, and Spot. Metering mode selections are available in
all exposure modes except for Manual.
Drive Button: Just below the Metering button, this
button cycles through the camera's shooting modes when pressed while turning the
either command dial. Available drive modes are Sequence, Self-Timer, and Remote
Control.
LCD
Release Switch: Situated next to the LCD monitor (but on the lens side of
the camera), this latch releases the LCD monitor allowing it it to swivel upward
by 90 degrees, or downward by 20 degrees.
Popup Flash Release Button:
Located on the side of the popup flash compartment, this button releases the
popup flash into its operating position.
Macro Button: Directly below the Popup Flash
Release button, pressing this button and rotating either command dial puts the
camera into macro mode or returns it to normal shooting mode again. The Macro
button is only active in Autofocus mode: In manual focus mode, you can focus the
lens across its entire range without switching modes.
Exposure Compensation Button: To
the left of the Macro button, this button controls the amount of exposure
compensation in all capture modes except for Manual. Pressing the button while
turning the command dial adjusts the exposure from -3 to +3 EV in 1/3 EV
increments.
AF /
MF Switch: Centrally located on the lens side of the camera, this switch
selects Auto or Manual focus mode.
Battery Compartment Lock Switch: Located on the
bottom of the camera, in the center of the battery compartment door, this switch
locks and unlocks the battery compartment. When unlocked, the battery tray
slides out from the compartment for changing batteries (holds either four AA
alkaline, NiCd, or NiMH batteries, or two CR-V3 lithium ion
batteries).
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