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Toshiba PDR-M81 Toshiba steps into the 4-megapixel arena with a value-priced, full-featured model. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PDR-M81 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 PDR-M81 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 08/24/2001

Camera Modes and Menus

Movie Mode: Noted on the Mode dial with a movie camera icon, this mode allows the user to record movies with sound, for as long as the memory card has available space. Pressing the Menu button pulls up the Record menu, with the following options available:

• Color: Adjusts the color mode to Standard, Vivid, Monochrome, or Sepia.
• Contrast: Sets the overall contrast to Normal, Strong, or Soft.
• LCD Brightness: Controls the brightness of the LCD display.
  
  

Manual Record Mode: Marked on the Mode dial with an "M" next to a camera icon, this mode captures still images and provides very flexible exposure control. The following menus are available:

On-Screen Menu:
• Exposure: Sets the exposure mode to Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, or Manual.
• White Balance: Adjusts the color balance to match a variety of light sources. Choices are Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Blue Fluorescent, Red Fluorescent, and Incandescent.
• Autoexposure: Designates the metering system used to determine exposure, Spot or Multi.
• Single / Continuous: Specifies the shooting mode: Single, Burst, or Autoexposure Bracketing.
  
  Record Menu:
• Preview: Turns the image preview option on or off.
• Color: Adjusts the color mode to Standard, Vivid, Monochrome, or Sepia.
• ISO: Changes the camera's light sensitivity. Options are Normal (100 ISO), 2x (200 ISO), or 4x (400 ISO).
• Sharpness: Adjusts the in-camera sharpening to Normal, Hard, or Soft.
• Contrast: Sets the overall contrast to Normal, Strong, or Soft.
• Digital Zoom: Turns digital zoom on or off.
• LCD Brightness: Controls the brightness of the LCD display.
  
  

Automatic Record Mode: A single camera icon designates this mode on the Mode dial. Here, the camera controls all exposure decisions, with the exception of flash mode. A variety of preset shooting modes are also available.

On-Screen Menu:
• Scene: Selects the preset shooting mode. Options are Automatic, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night, and Multi-Shot.
  
  Record Menu:
• Preview: Turns the image preview option on or off.
• Color: Adjusts the color mode to Standard, Vivid, Monochrome, or Sepia.
• ISO: Changes the camera's light sensitivity. Options are Normal (100 ISO), 2x (200 ISO), or 4x (400 ISO).
• Sharpness: Adjusts the in-camera sharpening to Normal, Hard, or Soft.
• Contrast: Sets the overall contrast to Normal, Strong, or Soft.
• Digital Zoom: Turns digital zoom on or off.
• LCD Brightness: Controls the brightness of the LCD display.
  
  

Playback Mode: The traditional green playback symbol indicates this mode on the Mode dial. In Playback mode, captured images and movies can be reviewed, and images can be deleted, resized, protected, set up for printing, or played back in a slide show. The following menu options are available in the Playback settings menu:

• Slide Show: Plays back still images in a slide show format.
• Resize: Decreases the resolution size of a selected image by half.
• Quality: Compresses a selected image to half its size.
• Protect: Write-protects selected images from accidental erasure or any other manipulation (except through card formatting). You can also remove protection.
• Copy: Copies selected images to the buffer memory, so they can be saved to another SmartMedia card.
• DPOF: Displays the print setting submenu:
  • Select Image: Allows you to select the images to be marked for printing, as well as specify the number of copies.
  • Confirm: Confirms the selections, allowing you to make changes if necessary.
  • Clear All: Deletes all print settings.
  • End: Returns to the main menu.
• LCD Brightness: Controls the brightness of the LCD display.
  
  

PC Mode: Designated on the Mode dial by a crooked arrow icon, this mode allows you to connect the camera to a computer and download images.

Setup Mode: A wrench icon indicates this mode on the Mode dial. Here, you can change basic camera settings. The following menu appears on the LCD screen upon entering the mode:

• Auto Power Off: Sets the period of inactivity before the camera shuts itself off. Choices are one, two, or three minutes.
• Sound: Turns the camera sound on or off.
• Time & Date: Sets the camera's internal clock and calendar.
• OSD Language: Changes the menu language to English or Japanese.
• Video Out: Assigns the video timing to PAL or NTSC.
• Quality: Sets the three size / quality setting combinations available via the Image Quality button. Resolution sizes include 2,400 x 1,600-, 1,200 x 800-, and 720 x 480-pixels. Quality settings are Fine, Normal, and Basic (indicated by the number of stars: three for Fine, two for Normal, one for Basic).
• System Info: Displays the following options:
  • Firmware Version: Reports the camera's firmware version.
  • Card Info: Reports the card size, amount of available space, and the amount of used space.
  • Reset: Resets all camera settings to their defaults.
  • Cancel: Returns to the main menu screen.