Olympus E-410

Reviewed May 2007

Characteristics

The Olympus E-410 is equipped with a Live MOS Four Third format sensor that measures 17.3 x 13 mm. The sensor's sensitivity starts at 100 ISO and can be modified in all modes with the exception of the scene modes accessed through the SCENE position on the Mode Dial, over a range that covers 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1600 ISO.

The sensor is composed of 11.8 million pixels of which 10 million are effective. Images can be saved as RAW, JPEG or RAW+ JPEG, the latter format offering a choice of seven image sizes and various compression levels:

The RAW format records the output of the sensor without any image processing for such settings as white balance, sharpness, contrast, etc. Images must then be brought into the software supplied with the camera, Olympus Master, so they can be seen and converted to more common formats such as TIFF, TIFF exif, JPEG or BMP. The camera also allows capturing a JPEG version — using a selectable size and compression level — simultaneously with the RAW image.

The E410 has a Zuiko Digital Four Third lens mount, giving it compatibility with all Four Third lenses. In North America is it sold as a kit that includes an Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-42 mm f3.5-5.6 ED and a 40-150 mm f4-4.5 ED. Both these lenses were developed concurrently with the E-410 and are more compact and light — even the lens mount is polycarbonate — than previous versions, and both are supplied with a lens hood.

The E-410 has a shutter speed range of 1/4000 second to 60 seconds, but most scene modes, however, have a maximum exposure time of 1/4 second, or 1 second. Set to the Manual mode, the camera adds a B (Bulb) mode that allows exposures as long as 8 minutes if the optional RM-UC1 remote control is used.

In addition to the parameters that can be set directly through the Control Panel screen which is displayed when the INFO button is pressed, the E-410 has a menu system controlled by the MENU button. The menu is composed of five sections, that are constant in all modes: Shooting Functions 1 and Shooting Functions 2, Playback, Custom and Setup.

The first two sections relate to image capture, the first having the most options when the camera is set to P, S, A or M, while some scene modes have some options omitted:

• Card Setup: serves to All Erase, or Format memory cards.
• Custom Reset Setting: when the camera is turned off, all the current settings that have been modified from their original settings are saved in one of two memories. This option makes it possible to save a group of preferred settings at any point, or reset them to their defaults.

• Picture Mode controls the way colours are recorded:
  • Vivid*: increases colour saturation.
  • Natural*: records colours without any increase of decrease in saturation.
  • Muted*: lowers contrast and colour saturation.
    *For each of these three settings, the contrast, sharpness, and saturation can be adjusted over ± 2 steps or to 0).
  • Monotone: allows recording a monochromatic image with accents on contrast or sharpness, or as black and white, which can be neutral, tinted yellow, orange, red or green, by varying the colour tone (neutral, sepia, blue, purple or green).

• Gradation: allows selecting the gradation of the image: High Key, Normal, Low Key.
• Image Quality: serves to choose the image quality, as outlined above.
• WB controls the white balance: Auto, Sun (5300°K), Cloud (6000°K), Shade (7500°K), Incandescent (3000°K), Fluorescent 1 (4000°K), Fluorescent 2 (4500°K), Fluorescent 3 (6600°K), One-Touch White Balance (set under ambient light), Custom (set between 2000°K and 14000°K). And, with the exception of the One Touch white balance, all white balance settings can be adjusted over ±7 increments towards red or green. The AFL/AFL button can be used to turn on the Live View mode and see the effect adjustments have on the colours of the subject about to be photographed.
• ISO: serves to adjust the sensor sensitivity (see above).
• Noise Filter: selects the strength of the post-capture noise processing applied to all images (Off, Standard, Low or High).
• Noise Reduction: On or Off. Controls the noise reduction applied after all long exposure images. When Sequential shooting is set, Noise reduction is automatically turned off.

The second section of the menu contains the following options, all of which are shown when the camera is set to P, S, A or M:

• Metering serves to choose the metering pattern:
  • Digital ESP:
    • ESP + AF: the multi zone metering takes note of the active AF point.
    • ESP: the multi zone metering does not take the focus point into account.
  • Centre Weighted.
  • Spot.
  • Hi Spot: spot metering with highlight control.
  • SH Spot: Spot metering with shadow control.

• Flash Compensation: serves to adjust the flash output over a range of ± 2 EV in 1/3 EV increments.
• AF Mode: AF-S (Single), AF-C (Continuous), Manual Focus, AF-S + Manual adjustment, AF-C + Manual adjustment.
• Focus Area: decides whether the auto focus automatically picks the focus point using any of the three AF points, or if it is fixed left, right or centre.
• AE BKT: automatically brackets the exposure over three frames capturing images with 0.3, or 0.7, or 1 EV variations.

• Anti-Shock: makes it possible to raise the mirror prior to an exposure so as to avoid any possible camera vibration during long exposures. Settings are Off, 1 second, or 30 seconds.

The third section of the menu consists of options related to the Playback mode:

• Slide Show: serves to review images automatically at a 5 second interval, and if desired as index sheets with 4, 9, 16 or 25 images per screen.

• Rotation: allows changing the orientation of an image in 90° increments by pressing the button.
• Edit: allows applying the camera settings that were recorded (white balance, exposure compensation, sharpness, contrast, etc.) along with a RAW image to the image and saving the result as a a new JPEG image. Or alternatively, change JPEG images to monotone, sepia, or correct red-eye, or adjust the saturation. In addition, JPEG images can be resized to 1280 x 960, 640 x 480, or 320 x 240 pixels.

• DPOF (Print Order): serves to select images that will be printed (either one at a time, or all at once) and choose whether the time and date of which photos were captured is superimposed on the printed image. The E-410 is compatible with PictBridge and can be used to print images directly to a similarly compatible printer via the USB cable.
• Copy All: Yes or No. Serves to copy images from one card to another.
• Reset Protect: serves to remove all protection from images that were protected using the button.

The last two sections of the menu, Custom and Setup are described in the Interface and Software section of the review.

The E-410 is compatible with both CompactFlash Type I and II (including microdrives) and xD memory cards. Both card slots are located on the right side of the camera, behind a solid door. A red LED, on the back of the camera near the top of the memory card door, indicates card activity. An xD card is ejected by pressing on it, while a folding lever is provided to push a CompactFlash card out of the slot. The E-410 kit does not include a memory card, as is standard practice with digital SLR cameras.

The chart below lists the number of images that can be captured with a 1 GB xD card, and a 4 GB CompactFlash card:

The E-410 is powered by a Lithium-ion battery (BLS-1), housed inside the grip area of the camera, behind a solid, locking door. A battery charger is included in the kit (BCS-1) and takes approximately 210 minutes to completely recharge the battery.

The E-410 only has 1 external connection, tucked away behind a small door that is positioned below the 4-direction control.

The function of the connection is dictated by the cable used: either USB Port or Video Out which makes it possible to connect the E-410 to a television. The cables, USB and Video, are included with the camera.