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Olympus Camedia E-100 Rapid Shot Olympus unleashes a 1.5 megapixel speed demon: By FAR the fastest digicam we've tested to date! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Camedia E-100RS 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 Camedia E-100RS 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: 1/18/2001

Image Storage and Interface
The E-100RS features both SmartMedia and CompactFlash (Type I and II) memory card slots. The two slots are side-by-side in a compartment on the hand grip side of the camera. You can designate which card type is to be used through the Record and Playback menus' "SM/CF" option, enabling you to keep both card types in the camera simultaneously. The dual memory card system also allows images to be copied from one card to another. An 8MB SmartMedia card comes packaged with the camera, but optional upgrades are available. with up to 64MB per card. Remember to use only 3.3V SmartMedia cards (sometimes marked simply 3V) and steer clear of the 5V type. Though the E-100RS accommodates both CompactFlash card sizes, Olympus states that the camera is not compliant with the IBM Microdrive.

Following are the approximate number of recordable images and compression ratios for an 8MB memory card:

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality (Number of images that fit on an 8MB Card)		TIFF Uncompressed	SHQ	HQ	SQ (High)	SQ (Normal)
1360 x 1024	Images	1	8	21	N/A	N/A
	Approx. Compression	1:1	4:1	11:1	N/A	N/A
1280 x 960	Images	2	N/A	N/A	9	24
	Approx. Compression	1:1	N/A	N/A	4:1	11:1
1024 x 768	Images	3	N/A	N/A	14	38
	Approx. Compression	1:1	N/A	N/A	4:1	11:1
640 x 480	Images	8	N/A	N/A	36	82
	Approx. Compression	1:1	N/A	N/A	4:1	9:1

 

Following is the approximate number of movie recording seconds available for 8MB and 16MB memory cards, at a rate of 15 frames per second (when the frame rate is set to 30 fps, the time is cut in half):

 

Resolution Sizes	8MB	16MB
HQ (640 x 480)	10	12
SQ (320 x 240)	24	24

 

Here's a listing of the approximate numbers of images which may be recorded in a single sequence in Continuous mode (assuming sufficient space is available on the memory card):

 

Resolution/Quality setting	Typical max continuous sequence (16MB card)
Uncompressed TIFF	n/a
SHQ	10 frames
HQ	27 frames
SQ (Normal)	>100 frames

 

To avoid damaging the media, memory cards should never be removed while the camera is on, nor should the camera be turned off while performing operations. A red light on the back panel notifies you when the card is in use. Always load the SmartMedia with the gold electrodes going into the camera first and facing the back of the camera. Release the card by pressing it down quickly, causing it to pop up slightly, so you can pull it out. CompactFlash cards should be inserted with the connector side loaded first (an arrow on the card indicates the proper loading). A small button beside the CompactFlash slot releases the card. There's also a loading and unloading illustration for both media inside the compartment door.

You can write-protect SmartMedia cards by placing a write protection sticker on the designated area. Write-protect stickers can only be used once and must be clean to be effective. CompactFlash cards cannot be entirely write-protected, but the E-100RS allows you to protect individual images in Playback mode, through the Playback menu. Protection prevents images from being accidentally erased, or manipulated in any other way, except when the card is formatted, which erases all of the images. The Erase button on the camera's back panel works in Playback mode only, and deletes the currently displayed image (with an option to cancel).

Frames are assigned file numbers from 0001 to 9999, with a preceding directory or folder number. Once 9999 is reached, the directory number goes up by one. The Playback menu allows you to reset the frame numbering sequence for new cards. Images are saved in DCF compliant (Exif Ver.2.1 JPEG compliant), or uncompressed TIFF format. Movie files are saved as Motion JPEGs, and sound clips in WAV format. Four image sizes are available: 1,360 x 1,024, 1,280 x 960, 1,024 x 768, and 640 x 480 pixels. The TIFF quality setting can be assigned to any of the resolution sizes through the Mode Setup sub-menu. JPEG quality levels are Super High Quality (SHQ), High Quality (HQ), and Standard Quality (SQ). In the Mode Setup sub-menu, the SQ quality setting can be assigned to a specific resolution size, with a High or Normal compression level. Movie file quality settings are HQ (640 x 480) and SQ (320 x 240).

Interface software and a USB cable accompany the camedia E-100RS, for high-speed connection to a computer. The USB connection is quite fast, clocking a data transfer rate of 357 KB/second in our tests.