Although the E-20 uses a 5 megapixel 2/3 inch CCD rated at a starting
ISO of 80, it can be pushed to 160 and 320 ISO, just like the 4-megapixel
CCD of the E-10. An Auto mode is also available, letting the camera
increase the CCD sensitivity as required when the flash intensity is insufficient.
The lens is also the same, having being designed for a CCD with a similar
surface area, albeit with a lower resolution. A 9 to 36 mm lens
with a maximum aperture of f2,
is composed of 14 elements in 11 groups, which include aspherical
elements and ED glass¹. The 4X
zoom of the lens is the 35mm equivalent of a 35~140mm and has a
62mm filter diameter.
¹
ED
refers to Extra-low Dispersion, a type of glass that
reduces the amount of chromatic aberration.
As
part of the camera kit, Olympus includes a hard lens hood which clips
to the front of the lens, and can be reverse mounted for storage. The
hood is designed to avoid vignetting at all focal lengths. A clip-on lens
cap is also provided.
One major addition to the E-20 as compared to the E-10 is the implementation
of a Progressive Scan mode. At its full resolution of 5 megapixel,
the E-20 captures the image using an Interlaced Scan and is limited
to a maximum shutter speed of 1/640 sec.
Switching the scanning method to Progressive Scan, the E-20 is able to
capture an image at shutter speeds up to 1/4000 sec. in Program and Aperture
Priority modes; and up to 1/18,000 sec in Shutter Priority and Manual
mode. The Progressive Scan mode uses a CCD electronic shutter,
and reduces the vertical resolution by half compared to the Interlaced
Scan mode. Although the Progressive Scan mode offers much faster "shutter"
speeds, it also entails a lower image quality, the appearance of some
jaggies along angled lines, and is limited to JPEG format.
In the IS mode (Interlace Scan) the E-20 also adds a Noise Reduction
system. The system operates by taking the exposure (up to 8 minutes
in Manual mode with the Bulb setting) and then capturing a similar length
black exposure without exposing the CCD to the light. The noise data gathered
from the second exposure is then subtracted from the first, and the resulting
image saved.
Photos can be
captured at any one of five image sizes, but the uncompressed modes (TIFF
and RAW) are limited to 2560 x 1960 pixel images exclusively.
As can be seen from the chart below, the level of the JPEG
compression is adjustable for all resolutions. Note that SHQ, HQ
and SQ can be assigned to be any combination of resolution and
compression.
Quality
Resolution
Compression
RAW
2560
x 1920
None
+ No ICC profile attached
TIFF
2560
x 1920
None
+ ICC profile
SHQ
•
2560 x 1920
• 1792 x 1344
• 1280 x 960
• 1024 x 768
• 640 x 480
The RAW mode
records 10bit/channel data from the CCD and can be read by the utility
provided with the camera: Camedia Master 2.5, or imported into
Photoshop using a plug-in provided on the disk. Photos recorded in RAW
mode have a file size of 9.4 MB — smaller than TIFF's 15.2
MB.
To record photos, four different shooting modes are available:
Program:
the E-20 automatically selects the best aperture and shutter speed
according to the metering of the subject.
Aperture
Priority: lens apertures can be set between f2 and f11.
Shutter
Priority (IS): shutter speeds between 2 seconds and 1/640.
Manual
Mode: full manual control over the aperture range and the shutter
speeds which are extended with additional time settings up to 60 seconds
(with the included remote control), and Bulb for long exposures
(using the remote cable RM-CB1) up to 8 minutes.
The Olympus E-20
offers a wide array of possible adjustments, designed to cover most situations.
The white
balance, for example, is adjustable from Auto to any of 2 incandescent,
2 fluorescent modes, plus sun, shade, shadow, and a user pre-set mode;
all indicated in degrees Kelvin:
-A- Auto
Auto
white balance
3000K
Incandescent
3700K
Incandescent
with warm tone
4000K
Fluorescent
lighting
4500K
Daylight
fluorescent lighting
5500K
Sun
6500K
Cloudy
7500K
Shadow
(for use outdoors on a clear day)
-0- Quick Reference
One
touch white balance. Camera is pointed at a white surface and the
Quick Reference white balance (near the top of the grip) is used
to set the correct white point.
Besides being
able to capture images one at a time, the E-20 is also equipped with a
Multiple Exposure mode, capable of taking up to 4 photos, even
in TIFF format, in rapid succession (IS mode), buffered in its internal
memory. Using the PS mode, up to 7 shots can be captured. In addition,
a Timelapse option, capable of intervals from 1 minute to 24 hours
can be used.
Worth noting, the hinged monitor can be used for previewing an
image as well as reviewing it. The Preview mode offers 2 settings:
Manual and Auto. In the Manual mode, the brightness of the LCD screen
changes in accordance with the shutter speed and aperture selected. In
the Auto mode the monitor adjusts automatically to provide the brightest
image possible.
Any one of three
separate metering systems can be used, and changed easily and quickly,
by pressing the meter button on the top left side of the viewfinder
while turning the Command Dial:
Metering
selection is indicated on both the status LCD display above the grip,
and in the viewfinder.
The same
side of the camera that provides controls for the metering and drive
modes also provides access to the Exposure
compensation (±3EV in 0.3EV increments). In addition,
a simple flash synchro socket with a positive centre pin, for use in
Manual Mode can be used to connect other flash units (lower connector
in the image above); while a connection for Olympus' remote cable release
(RM-CB1) is above. The top mounted hotshoe is dedicated for the Olympus
FL-40 flash unit, but other manual flash units can be also used. However,
a third-party manual flash unit will require a bit of experimentation
to produce good results.
Using the Flash button next to the top status display, the built-in
pop-up flash of the E-20 can provide different functions according to
the program mode used:
Program
and Aperture Priority
Shutter
Priority and Manual Mode
Auto
Fill-in
Flash with Red-eye Reduction
Auto
with Red-eye Reduction
Fill-in
Flash 2nd Curtain
Slow
Synchro
Fill-in
Flash
Slow
Synchro 2nd Curtain
Forced
Off
Fill-in
Flash
Forced
Off
The output of the flash
can also be compensated by ±2EV in 0.3EV increments.
All
other camera parameters are set within the 3 screens of the Recording
menu:
Formatting:
which memory card to format is selected with a button below the status
display.
ISO:
80, 160, 320.
Exposure
Bracketing: can be set for 1/3, 2/3 or 1 full EV over 3 exposures.
Flash
compensation: ± 2EV in 1/3 EV increments.
Sharpness:
Hard, Normal, Soft.
Contrast:
High, Normal, Low.
Image
size and Compression,
interval
shooting: timelapse photos can be taken at intervals of 1 min.
up to 24 hours. The camera continues taking pictures until it is released
from the mode, or the batteries run out, or the card is full.
Shutter
sound: type of sound, and volume.
Warning
sound: focus and other conditions (On or Off).
Rec
View Time: displays, or not, a just captured photo on the LCD
screen (Off, Auto, 5 sec.)
With the
E-20's Mode Dial set to the Connect position, a Setup
menu is available (See the Interface/Software section for a description
of its options).
In Playback, the E-20 presents a single screen for the menu:
Start:
turns on an automatic slide show that will cycle through all the photos
over and over until the OK button is pressed.
Copy:
allows copying images from one card to another card, including between
the CompactFlash and SmartMedia cards that may both be present in
the camera.
Card
Setup: can be used to delete all images from the card, or format
the card.
Monitor
Brightness.
Still
in the Playback mode, turning either the Main Dial or the Sub-dial
to the right will magnify a photo displayed on the LCD screen (4X), while
turning either to the left will display thumbnails in groups of 4, 9 or
16.
A histogram — a graphic representation of the distribution
of brightness within a specific frame — can also be displayed. The
histogram function needs to be enabled in the Setup menu first,
and can then be called up by pressing the Info button below the
LCD screen.
While
the Olympus E-10 has the capability of using both SmartMedia and CompactFlash
I/II, it does not support Microdrives. The E20 on the other hand
is fully Microdrive compatible. The cards are located behind a
large door in the right side of the camera. The door features a locking
mechanism that requires a button be pressed while sliding the release
down. Memory cards can be used concurrently, and switching from one to
the other, is done at the press of a button below the status screen.
The E-20N is sold with one 32MB SmartMedia memory card, which allows
storing (at the largest image size):
RAW
3
TIFF
2
JPEG
(1:2.7)
8
JPEG
(1:8)
21
A USB
port and a Video Out connection are located on the left side of the camera.
The video signal is dependent on where the E-20 is purchased: NTSC for
North America and Japan (E-20N), PAL for Europe (E-20P).
With Windows 2000, Windows Millenium and Mac OS 9.0 - 9.1 the camera is
recognized as a disk drive and the photos are instantly accessible. With
Windows 98/98SE a driver must be installed.
Below the door covering the USB and Video connections, a rubber cover
protects the camera's DC input. Olympus sells the AC adapter as an accessory
for the E-20.
The
E-20 is powered by four batteries, which are inserted in a battery holder,
and locked into position in the grip of the camera, next to the speaker
used for the sounds and beeps of the E-20.
As
an option, an additional battery holder can be attached to the bottom
of the camera. The LBS-32 Grip Kit consists of an LBP-12 lithium
polymer battery which can supply power to the camera for extended periods,
and a charger.
The
E-20 is powered by four batteries, which are inserted in a battery holder,
and locked into position in the grip of the camera, next to the speaker
used for the sounds and beeps of the E-20.
