Olympus E-20Olympus updates their bargain-priced Pro SLR with a 5 megapixel sensor and improved electronics<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 11/28/2001 |
Operation and User Interface
I found the user interface on the E-20 quite straightforward, though the large number of external camera controls may seem a bit complicated at first glance. I 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-20'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 many camera settings. This can be a little hard to do when you're trying to make changes while maintaining your shooting position. When I did use the LCD menu to change settings, I found it to be uncomplicated and easily 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 I enjoyed the ability to manually control the optical zoom and focus with the lens collar. Overall, the E-20 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-20 provides a goodly 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. Pressing this button locks the exposure at the current setting, and holds it as long as the button is held down.
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 RAW, TIFF, SHQ (Super High Quality), HQ (High Quality), and SQ (Standard Quality). (The RAW option is set by turning the control knob one notch past the selection for TIFF, at which point the TIFF indicator in the top-panel LCD readout blinks, indicating RAW mode.) The specific resolution/compression settings for SHQ, HQ, and SQ are configured via the LCD menu system. - This struck me as a neat feature, in that you can set up the E-20'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 60 to 1/18,000 seconds, with a Bulb setting for exposures as long as 120 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 60 to 1/18,000 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 ranges from 1/18,000 to two seconds. 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 an 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-20'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 Shutter Control: 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 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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