Olympus E-410

Reviewed May 2007

Interface & Software

Interface

The interface of the E-410 depends on the information presented in its TTL viewfinder, and its monitor. Both these systems are complimentary as the camera does not have a status screen. Still, when the optical viewfinder is used, the monitor can be used to display current settings, and with a press of the OK button, allows rapid changes to the most critical settings.

The Live View mode of the E-410 is one of its most important characteristics. The image the monitor provides is clear and fluid, thanks to a high refresh rate, and makes it easier to frame some shots such as macros.

The menu system is clear as well. Composed of five sections that are always shown irrespective of the camera mode, divides settings into those that are relevant to capturing images, those that are relevant to playing back images, and those that help to set the basic configuration of the camera. Options are presented in a way that makes them very legible, white on a dark background, and the monitor remains very legible under most lighting.

The first section is called Custom and identified with a "1" while the second section is identified as "Setup" with a "2":

• All WB±: this function allows compensating the all the white balance values, or resetting them to their defaults.
• SQ: serves to set the default setting for image size and compression of the SQ image quality.
• Auto Pop Up: selects whether or not the flash opens automatically when the camera is set to the Auto mode or one of the scene modes that are accessed through the SCENE position on the Mode Dial, or if it has to be opened manually.
• AEL/AFL: serves to choose a function for the AEL/AFL button:
  • C-AF: Mode 1 (AE-L) or Mode 2 (AF-L).
  • S-AF: Mode 1 starts the AF) or Mode 2 (AE-L).
  • Manual Focus: Mode 1 (S-AF) or Mode 2 (AE-L).

• AEL/AFL Memo: decides whether the AEL/AFL button must be pressed in to act, or if it can be pressed once to lock the function, and pressed again to release it.
• AEL Metering:allows selecting the type of metering performed when the AEL button is pressed: Auto, Multi zone, Centre-weighted, Spot, High Spot or Shadow Spot. When set to Auto, the AE-L uses the current metering setting selected in the metering option of the menu.

• Function: makes it possible to assign a function to the left arrow of the 4-direction control when the camera is set to a capture mode:
  • Off.
  • One Touch White Balance.
  • Test Picture: allows seeing the way an image will be captured on the monitor without actually capturing it and saving it to the memory card.
  • Preview: allows visualizing the depth of field produced by the selected aperture.
  • Live Preview: makes it possible to preview the depth of field on the monitor in Live View mode by pressing the left arrow.
• AF Illumination: controls the AF assist system, provided by the flash. The flash must be opened for the function to work.
• Live View Boost: decides whether or not the camera amplifies the brightness of the monitor during Live View so that a brighter image can be seen under low light.
• Beep: controls the sounds produced by the camera when it is operated.
• Frame Assist: serves to select the composition guides that are superimposed on the monitor in the Live View mode (grid, scale or none).
• : serves to change the scene modes available when the Mode dial is set to Sport or Night Scene so that they select Underwater Wide, or Underwater Macro.

The next section, labelled 2, provides basic options for the configuration of the E-410:

• Date and Time: serves to set the time and date on the camera.
• CF/xD: to choose which memory format is used first when two cards are in the camera.
• File Name: to select whether image file names are numbered consecutively, or restart at 1 when the card is formatted or a new card is used.
• Monitor Brightness: serves to adjust the brightness of the monitor over a range of ± 7 increments.
• Language sets the language for the interface: English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese.

• Video Out: NTSC or PAL.
• Rec View: Decides whether or not an image is displayed on the LCD monitor immediately post capture (Off, or 1 to 20 seconds).
• Sleep: sets the delay after which the camera goes to sleep if it is inactive (Off, 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes).
• Backlit LCD: decides the time delay after which the monitor's backlit dims to conserve power (8 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or Hold).

• USB Mode: serves to set the USB protocol before-hand, which avoids having to select it when the camera is plugged into a computer or printer:
  • Auto: lets the user choose the mode to use every time a USB cable is plugged into the camera.
  • Storage: is for a Mass Storage connection, allowing the E-410 to be recognized as a removable hard disk by a computer.
  • Control: is to control the camera from a computer using the optional Olympus Studio software.
  • Easy: sets the camera to communicate with a PictBridge compliant printer, making it possible to print images directly to the printer without a computer.
  • Custom: can be used when connecting the camera to a PictBridge compliant printer, making it possible to set the number of prints to make, select the type of printing paper, and adjust other settings.
• Colour Space: sRGB or Adobe sRGB.
• Pixel Mapping: checks, detects, and corrects any problems with the Live MOS sensor and/or the image processor. Olympus recommends using this function once a year.
• Cleaning Mode: allows access to the Live MOS so it can be dusted using a commercially available dust blower.
• Firmware displays the version of the firmware currently running on the camera and the lens.

The Olympus E-410 is supplied with a printed manual that covers all the functions and options of the camera. The manual is well-written and with some rare exceptions, the information is easy to understand. Some time is necessary, however, to get accustomed to the way the contents are organized.

Software

The Olympus E-410 includes one CD containing Olympus Master 2 and a trial version of Olympus Studio 2.

Olympus Master 2 is an image browser that presents images organized into albums sorted by name or date, or the folders of the computer on the left side of the program screen, while the contents of the currently selected album or folder are shown on the right using thumbnails whose size can be increased or decreased.

A third pane can be added to the program's window, showing all the EXIF data and a histogram for the currently selected thumbnail.

When a JPEG photo is opened in the editing window, editing tools are presented in a column on the right, making it possible to adjust the image size, crop, superimpose text, adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, colour balance, tweak colour tone and gamma, or apply an automatic correction.

The editing window can show the original image on the left, and the impact of the editing on the same image on the right.

The RAW Development window also presents the image on the left, and the tools on the right.

Two tabs at the top of the tools section contain different tools: Basic1 allows adjusting exposure compensation, white balance, and resizing the image. The other tab, Basic2, provides control over the colour mode, contrast, sharpness, and saturation. In addition, it also provides tools to change the image to black and white, change the image tone, its gradation, apply a noise filter, or change the image's colour space.

Olympus Studio 2 (a 30 day trial version) looks similar to Olympus Master, at least at the interface level, but is designed to speed up the work flow. Image collections can be created quickly, images can be zoomed in fast to compare them and evaluate which is the best. RAW images can be batch processed with or without applying the shooting parameters and backups can be made to CD or DVD. In addition, the program allows controlling the camera via USB, making it possible to shoot remotely from the computer.