The use of direct buttons to call
up specific menu options is a real advantage with the C-8080.
However, the fact that these same options also reappear inn the
Mode Menu is probably superfluous, and can be a bit confusing
at first. Similarly, the menu section simply labelled with an
icon, ,
and the fact that it is so similar to options available in the Setup mode
selected on the mode dial adds unnecessarily, in our opinion,
to the complexity of the camera's interface.
The C-8080 is equipped with a Setup position on the Mode Dial that
simply presents a menu screen with 3 tabs. The first two tabs are repeats
of those found in the Mode menus: Card which serves to format memory
cards; and the aforementioned ,
which regroups all the options available in different mode menus into 1
area. The last, SET, provides options for all other basic camera
settings. Worth noting, some of the settings made in the Setup mode appear
to get overridden by similar settings made in other modes, adding to the
confusion of the menu system.
Leaving aside the Card menu tab and its single option, the tab
provides for:
All Reset: On or Off. Determines whether current
settings are recalled after the camera has been turned off.
Rec. View: decides whether or not and for how long
a just captured image is displayed (Off, Auto, 3 sec, 5 sec,
10 sec.)
Beep: Off, Sound 1 or Sound 2.
Shutter Sound: Off, Sound 1 or Sound 2.
Dial: Normal, Custom 1, Custom 2.
EV Step: 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV.
Custom Button: selects alternate functions for the
Custom []
button.
Shortcut: assigns different items to the Recording
mode's Shortcut menu.
My Mode Setup: saves or resets My Mode memories.
Control Panel: Off or On. Decides whether all the
current camera settings will be displayed on the LCD screen
as an intermediate step between EVF and Monitor.
Volume: sets the playback volume (0 through 5).
Thumbnails: decides how many thumbnails will be
displayed on the Index screen in Playback (4, 9, 16).
Last the Setup tab adds these options:
Language: selects the interface language (English,
French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese).
Date and Time: to set the date and time on the camera.
Sounds: controls the sound volume for camera warning
sounds (Off, Low, High).
Sleep: sets the delay to automatic shut down (30
sec, 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes).
File Name: Reset (restarts numbering file names
when the card is empty or formatted); or Auto (continues
numbering files consecutively).
Battery Save: On or Off. Controls energy saving.
Pixel Mapping: controls a diagnostic system that
checks pixels and camera functions.
Monitor brightness: provides adjustment for the
monitor or EVF.
Distance Units: Metric or Imperial/US (feet).
Video Out: sets the A/V output signal (NTSC or PAL).
AF Illuminator:Off or On. Controls whether
or not the C-8080 will use its AF illuminator light when
the ambient is too low for the AF systems to operate without
additional light.
USB: sets the USB protocol, PC (mass storage), or
Print (PictBridge).
The Olympus C-8080 manual is supplied
in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format on the Olympus software disc. The
manual, over 260 pages long in English, is partially interactive
and the page numbers indicated in its index, or mentioned as
references within the text lead to the appropriate sections of
the manual. Moreover, new bookmarks can be created, making it
easier to return to previous sections.
Software
Olympus Camedia Master is
bundled with the C-8080. This light version of the program can
be upgraded on-line to the Pro
version.
Camedia Master is designed to
handle retrieving the images from the camera or a hard disk,
browsing photos; printing single photos; arrangement of photos
or index prints; editing images and creating panoramas.
In addition, Camedia Master can also be used to create instant wallpapers
(screen backgrounds), calendars, postcards and albums.
Image editing is available for all image formats
captured by the camera: JPEG, TIFF and RAW; and the options offered
are the same for all formats:
Rotate or flip.
Resize, or crop.
Insert text or superimpose a template.
Fix distortion.
Adjust contrast, brightness, gamma.
Alter colour balance, or hue and saturation.
Sharpen or Blur.
Remove red eye, or do an instant fix.
Convert the image to sepia or black and white.
An Adobe Photoshop Plug-in to import
the C-80808's RAW files directly into Photoshop should be available
from Olympus
America's site in the next few weeks.
Compare Prices for 3.2x Telephoto HD Professional Accessory Kit for Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom Digital Camera
Interface & Software
,
and the fact that it is so similar to options available in the Setup mode
selected on the mode dial adds unnecessarily, in our opinion,
to the complexity of the camera's interface.
]
button.
