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Ricoh RDC-7 A 3 megapixel "Image Capturing Device" for mobile professionals with some unusual capabilities! Select a topic 13. Reference: Datasheet 14. RDC-7 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 --------------------------------- 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: 8/2/2000

Camera Modes and Menus

Setup Mode: The Setup mode is accessed by turning the mode dial to the "Set" position, which automatically displays the Setup menu in the LCD monitor.

• Format: Formats either the internal memory or the SmartMedia card, depending on which has been selected with the Card / IN button.
• Serial Transfer: Allows the camera to transfer captured images to a computer.
• Keep Settings: Saves the current camera settings, so that they are recalled the next time the camera is powered on.
• LCD Confirmation: Sets the amount of time that the confirmation screen appears after an image is captured, from zero to five seconds.
• Auto Power Off: Enables or disables the auto power off function.
• Beep Sound: Turns the camera's beep sound on or off.
• Power Save Mode: Decreases the brightness of the LCD monitor to save battery power.
• Sequential No.: Turns sequential file numbering on or off.
• Date Setting: Sets the camera's date and time.
• Video Out Mode: Sets the video out signal to NTSC or PAL.
• Language: Changes the camera's menu language to English, French, German or Japanese.
• Initialize Setting: Resets all the camera settings to their defaults.

Motion Picture Mode: Noted on the mode dial with a white movie camera symbol, this mode sets up the camera to record moving images with sound. White balance and exposure compensation are adjustable in this mode, and the flash is automatically disabled. Pressing the Menu button activates the following settings menu:

• Focus: Sets the camera's focus control to either Automatic or Manual.
• Monochrome Mode: Activates or deactivates the black and white or sepia monochrome modes.
  

Continuous Shooting: Accessed by turning the mode dial to the multi-shot symbol, this mode allows you to capture multiple images in rapid succession with just one press of the shutter button. Shot to shot cycle time varies depending on memory space and the image size and quality settings. The flash is automatically disabled in this mode, but white balance and exposure compensation are adjustable. The Menu button calls up the following options:

• Focus: Adjusts the camera's focus control to either Automatic or Manual.
• ISO Sensitivity: Sets the camera's sensitivity setting to Auto, 200 or 400 ISO equivalents.
• Date Imprint: Turns the date and time stamp on or off.
• Soft Mode: Enables or disables the camera's soft shooting mode.
• Monochrome Mode: Activates the black and white or sepia monochrome shooting modes.
  

Text Mode: Marked on the mode dial with a white text symbol, this mode allows you to capture images of text, either on papers, white boards or signs. All of the flash modes are available, as is the exposure compensation adjustment. Pressing the Menu button pulls up these options:

• Image With Sound: Records a 10 second sound byte with the image.
• Focus: Sets the camera's focus control to either Automatic or Manual.
• Flash Strength: Adjusts the flash intensity to Strong, Normal or Soft.
• ISO Sensitivity: Selects the ISO setting as Auto, 200 or 400.
• Date Imprint: Turns on the date and time stamp.
• Interval Mode: Allows you to set the interval time for time-lapse photography from 30 seconds to three hours.
• PRO: Accesses the Pro quality settings (Pro, Pro-L, Pro-H).

Sound Mode: This mode is marked on the mode dial with a white microphone symbol, and allows you to record audio files of any length (depending on available memory space). There is no settings menu for this mode.

Still Mode: This mode, noted by a green camera symbol on the mode dial, sets up the camera to record single, still images. You have control over flash, white balance, exposure compensation, image quality and size, as well as access to the self-timer and macro modes. A push of the Menu button enables the following settings menu:

• Image With Sound: Records a 10 second sound clip to accompany the image.
• Focus: Switches between Automatic and Manual focus control.
• Flash Strength: Selects the level of flash intensity, from Strong, Normal or Soft.
• Redeye Reduction: Activates the Redeye Reduction pre-flash setting.
• ISO Sensitivity: Sets the camera's sensitivity to Auto, 200 or 400 ISO equivalents.
• Date Imprint: Turns on the date and time stamp.
• Soft Mode: Records images with soft outlines.
• Monochrome Mode: Activates or deactivates the black and white or sepia monochrome shooting modes.
• Interval Mode: Sets an interval for shooting time-lapse photography, from 30 seconds to three hours.
• Auto Bracket: Turns on the Auto Bracketing feature, which snaps three images at -0.5, 0.0 and +0.5 exposure compensation levels, based on the existing amount of exposure compensation.
• No Compression: Activates the uncompressed TIFF quality mode.
• PRO: Accesses the Pro quality settings, with choices of Pro, Pro-L, Pro-H and Off.
• Time Exposure: Allows you to take longer exposures, with available shutter speeds of one, two, four and eight seconds.

Playback Mode: Activated when the mode dial is turned to the white playback symbol, this mode lets you scroll through captured images and play back movie and audio files. While in this mode, the Menu button accesses the Play menu:

• Multi Image: Displays as many as six thumbnail images at a time on the LCD screen.
• Zoom Playback: Digitally enlarges the current image for closer inspection. (Options depend on recorded image size: At maximum resolution, choices are 1.3, 1.6, 3.2x)
• Auto Playback: Plays back all files, either from the SmartMedia card or internal memory, in a slide show format.
• Copy: Copies recorded files from the internal memory to the SmartMedia card, or from the SmartMedia card to the internal memory.
• Select Folder: Allows you to play back files from another digital camera (either Ricoh or non-Ricoh). The capability to play back images from cameras other than the RDC-7 is very unusual! We unfortunately were not able to display images that had been modified in Photoshop(TM) however, something we would very much have liked to have seen, as this would enhance the RDC-7's usefulness as a presentation device.
• Rotation: Rotates the selected file 90 degrees right or left, or 180 degrees.
• Protect: Write protects individual files from accidental erasure (except from memory formatting).
• DPOF: Sets up images for printing to DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) devices.