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Epson PhotoPC 3100Z Epson updates their excellent 3 megapixel digicam with a new user interface, and support for PRINT Image Matching! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet E3100 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 E3100 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: 7/10/2001

Image Storage and Interface
The 3100Z stores images on a CompactFlash card, with a 16MB card accompanying the camera. You can purchase additional Type I CompactFlash cards in sizes up to 512MB from third parties. Image quality and size are controlled by the Image Quality button on top of the camera, which cycles through Standard JPEG (640 x 480 pixels), Fine JPEG (1,600 x 1,200 pixels), Super Fine JPEG (2,048 x 1,536 pixels), HyPict JPEG (2,544 x 1,904 pixels interpolated) or Uncompressed TIFF (2,048 x 1,536 pixels). To determine which of the two higher quality settings is available, the Shot Setup option under the Setup menu must be set to either JPEG or TIFF (using the File Type button); the JPEG compression level is also set to either Standard or Low (best quality) using the JPEG Compression button.

Images can be individually protected through the Playback menu by pressing the Lock button. (You can also remove the protection through this menu setting.) Write protection prevents the file from being accidentally erased, except through card formatting, which is accessed in the Setup menu, under the Memory Setup option. File numbering is reset with each new card inserted into the camera, with no option to carry file numbers from one card to the next. (We'd really like to see this useful option added to future Epson cameras.)

With each image captured, the 3100Z creates an image information file that reports the exposure settings used for that image. This file is accessed by pressing the Menu Change button in Playback mode, and then pressing the Info button. The camera also contains two print preparation programs: DPOF and PRINT Image Matching. DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) lets you create a file with the information needed to print images directly off the CompactFlash card, at a photo lab or with a DPOF-compatible printer. PRINT Image Matching sets the color space and gamma for your printed photos and saves a file with print commands designed specifically for the camera's output and the PRINT Image Matching compatible printer. Images are marked for printing with the green Print Button in the lower left corner of the camera's back panel. The menus for making the adjustments are accessible through the PC mode setting on the Mode dial.

The table below shows the number of images, and their approximate compression levels, that can be stored on a 16MB CompactFlash card:

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 16MB Card		Uncompressed	Fine	Normal
HyPict Resolution (2544 x 1904)	Images	1	12	-
	Approx. Compression	1:1	11:1	-
Full Resolution (2048 x 1536)	Images	-	15	29
	Approx. Compression	-	9:1	17:1
SXGA Resolution (1280 x 960)	Images	-	29	56
	Approx. Compression	-	10:1	20:1
VGA Resolution (640 x 480)	Images	-	122	199
	Approx. Compression	-	7:1	12:1

A computer problem prevented us from testing the 3100Z's data-transfer time, but it should be pretty fast, being a USB-connected camera. (Typical USB download speeds from digital cameras we've tested run between 250-350 KBytes/second.)