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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 <<Executive Overview :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 3:Design Review First Posted: 1/18/2001

Design
The Olympus E-100 Rapid Shot (E-100RS) appears to be "all lens" at first glance, but its 10x Stabilizer Zoom lens (extending nearly 3.75 inches from the main body) is not oversized when compared to similar high-powered, auto-focus lenses. The camera body alone is reasonably compact, with a substantial right hand grip surrounding the battery and memory card compartments on one side, and a bright, 1.8-inch LCD monitor on the other. The optical viewfinder -- referred to as an Electronic ViewFinder (EVF) by Olympus -- is actually a .55-inch version of the rear-panel LCD. Located directly above the LCD monitor, it is well-protected by a large rubber eye-piece around the edges to keep ambient light out and boost the brightness of the LCD image inside.

Overall, the E-100RS measures 4.7 x 3.4 x 6.0 inches (119.4 x 86.4 x 152.4mm) and weighs 24.6 ounces (703 grams) including four AA-cell batteries, about the size and weight of a small- to medium-size 35mm SLR. Though it definitely does not fit in the compact-digicam category, we were impressed by the efficient use of real estate, and how well Olympus managed to fit all of the dials, buttons, viewscreens, and knobs into such a small amount of space (not to mention the various bulky, but necessary, compartments for batteries and storage media). The following virtual tour offers compelling evidence of the design ingenuity applied.

The most visible feature from the front of the E-100RS is the 10x optical zoom lens. The lens glass is protected by a spring-loaded, snap-on plastic cap that holds firmly in place when the camera's not in use. Although Olympus doesn't provide a cord for attaching the cap to the camera, there is a small hole in the cap that can easily accommodate one of the many cords sold by photo accessory manufacturers. The lens has a rubber grip around the outside of the barrel, providing a secure hold when you have to grasp the camera with two hands. Next to the lens is an infrared remote control receiver and the Self-Timer/Autofocus assist light. On top of the lens barrel is a well-concealed, pop-up flash that is opened by a small sliding lever directly below it.

 

The rubber hand grip, located on the right side of the camera (from the back), surrounds an interior battery compartment, which is accessible from the bottom panel, and a dual-format memory card compartment, for SmartMedia and CompactFlash Type I and II cards, which is covered by a hinged plastic door on the handle. A detailed diagram on the inside of the compartment door shows how to load and release both types of memory cards. In addition, two eyelets are provided -- one on each side of the camera -- to attach the provided neck strap.

On the opposite side of the camera, you'll find a dioptric adjustment dial next to the EVF viewfinder, a five-pin external flash connection (protected by a tiny, screw-on cap), and an input/output jack compartment with a wired remote jack (for attaching an extra accessory wired remote), a USB port, DC-In jack, external microphone jack, and the A/V Out jack. Like the memory card compartment, the input/out compartment is protected by a hinged, plastic door. Just beside the compartment door, underneath the external flash connection, is the camera's internal microphone.

The top panel of the E-100RS has several camera controls, as well as a small, black-and-white LCD control panel that displays as many as 25 camera settings indicators. Three buttons to the left of the panel control Macro, Metering, and Drive features. To the right of the panel is the Mode dial, with a Power On/Off and Reset switch underneath. The Shutter button sits in front of the Mode dial, with a Zoom lever surrounding it (doubles as an Index (W) or Magnify (T) lever in Playback mode). Behind the Mode dial is an Auto Exposure Lock (AEL) button, which can be used to lock in an exposure when you take a spot meter reading. You can also use the AEL as a Multi-Metering button by taking exposure readings from up to eight different points in the scene, and a Print button when you're preparing files for a Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compatible printer.

The remaining camera controls are located on the camera's back panel, along with the viewfinder eyepiece and LCD monitor. The 1.8-inch, TFT color LCD monitor, with approximately 118,000 pixel display, is complemented by a smaller 0.55-inch "optical" Electronic ViewFinder (EVF) that performs exactly the same as the monitor, but in miniature format. The two cannot be activated simultaneously. A Display button, to the right of the monitor and recessed into a raised plastic ridge, switches between the EVF and LCD monitor, disengaging one as it engages the other. The top button next to the viewfinder is the Flash mode/Erase button. Below that is an "Info" button that allows you to choose between full, partial, and no information displayed on the viewfinder or monitor. An Arrow Pad to the right of these two controls scrolls through menu items and recorded images (in Playback mode) using the Up and Down, and Left and Right Arrow keys. Below that is an "OK" button to set menu selections. It also serves as a Manual Focus control (in conjunction with the Arrow Pad), and a Protect key in Playback mode. The Menu button, located below the Monitor button, brings up menus for various camera functions, depending on what mode the camera is in.

Finally, the camera's flat bottom panel features a threaded tripod mount, battery compartment door, and a speaker to play back sounds recorded in Movie mode or audio memos recorded to accompany still images. (This is a feature that most sound-enabled digicams leave out; you can't hear what's been recorded by the camera until you play back the movie or sound-byte on your computer.) The plastic tripod mount is located just slightly off-center. Its proximity to the battery compartment rules out any quick battery changes when working with a tripod, which is more of a concern with the E-100RS than with the smaller, point-and-shot models we frequently review, as it is more suited for use with tripods or monopods. The battery compartment door is fairly easy to open: a small, sliding switch unlocks it, and a smooth forward motion opens the door so that it can pop up to reveal the battery chamber. (This is a welcome switch from many of the digicams we've reviewed, which require strong nails, nimble fingers, and a knack for opening puzzle boxes to access the batteries.)