Unlike
recent Olympus interfaces such as those found on the C-700, the C-4040
and others, the interface of the E-20 remains similar to those of earlier
models. If the menu is composed of more than one screen it loops, meaning
that pressing the up arrow on the first page will immediately take the
user to the last page's option and vice versa.
The Setup menu, shown at right, is well hidden, accessed only when the
Mode Dial is turned to the Connect
position.
The Setup menu is
composed of two screens and deals with the least commonly accessed camera
settings:
Decides
whether a conversion lens is selected when the Macro button is pressed.
Sets
year/month/day format and sets time and date.
Decides
whether File Numbering will be sequential, or renewed after a freshly
formatted memory card is used.
Monitor
Preview mode in Manual Shooting mode: Auto to have the brightest
image possible; Manual to have the monitor image reflect the effect
of aperture and shutter speed.
Switches
the histogram function on or off.
Pixel
Mapping: Check the image processing circuitry and adjusts the CCD.
(Olympus recommends using the function once a year.)
Sleep
Mode: can be set so the camera turns off automatically after 1,
2, 5, 10 minutes, or set to off.
The only
other menu of the E-20 is the Print Reserve menu. It serves for
three functions related to the way the photos can be tagged for later
printing, either with a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatible
printer, or service:
Print
Selection: select or cancel all pictures for printing.
Time
Date Selection: set date or time stamping on prints.
Index
Print Selection: select or cancel all pictures for index printing.
Software
Camedia Master
Version 2.5 is one of the 2 CD-ROMS supplied with the Olympus E-20N.
Version 2.5 of this utility program is able to decode the RAW files
(ORF extension) of the E-20. RAW files, about 10 MB each, are a straight
output of what the CCD captured, unaffected by white balance, sharpness,
contrast or colour correction, although that information is retained
as part of the file. Later, as the image is imported, the settings can
be applied or not, the choice being left up to the user.
TIFF
files, also uncompressed, can be read by Camedia Master but are a processed
image (the settings of the camera have been applied to the image). Camedia
Master is also able to display the shooting data of any one image as part
of the photo's Properties.
Buyers of the E-20 wil also find a real treat in the bundled software
of the camera — at least buyers in North America. Included with the
camera is a full version of Adobe's latest creation: Photoshop Elements
Version 1.0.
Photoshop
Elements is based on Photoshop 6.0, but specifically geared to the digital
camera user. It provides most of the tools of Photoshop 6.0 and a similar
interface, but is augmented by specific photo editing "receipes"
that walk the user through most processes, and by "hints" that
explain the functions of each tool.
To a Photoshop user, the program is instantly familiar, and yet very friendly
and understandable to the new user.
position.
