The interface of the FE-140 is
as simple to use as the rest of the camera. The FE-140's large
monitor may not have a very high resolution, but the information
that is superimposed on it is legible, using large contrasting
characters that stand out clearly whatever the background.
And, while in comparison to others nowadays the FE-140 reacts
a bit slowly to its controls, it features a Guide mode
that allows a new user to simply pick the best description
for the photo to be captured, while the camera makes all the
necessary adjustments.
Moreover, as an additional aid to new digital users, the
FE-140 is equipped with information screens that offer a short
explanation for each menu option when the
is pressed while the option is highlighted.
The menus appear on a coloured contrasting background to
ensure legibility, and both menus offer an access to the Setup
menu, which provides options for the basic configuration of
the FE-140:
Memory Format: to format the internal memory or
a memory card.
Backup: serves to copy images stored in the internal
memory to an xD card.
Language: to select the interface language (English,
French, Spanish or Portuguese).
Colour: to select the background colour of the
menus (blue, green or pink).
Pixel Mapping: serves to check the proper functioning
of the CCD and the image processor. It is recommended for
use once a year.
Monitor Brightness: to adjust the monitor's backlight
(Normal or Bright).
Date and Time: to set the FE-140's internal clock
and calendar.
Video Out: to choose the signal produced by the
FE-140, either NTSC or PAL so the camera can be connected
to almost any television world-wide.
Olympus supplies the FE-140 a very short printed manual that
offers instructions in English, French and Spanish. Regrettably,
the manual only provides basic instructions without any elaboration.
To obtain more information about the camera, the Advanced
Manual, in PDF format (Adobe Acrobat), which is located on
one of the CD-ROMs included with the camera must be consulted.
Software
As with all current Olympus
cameras, the FE-140 is retailed in North America with two
CD-ROMs, one containing Olympus Master (version 1.41)
the other containing the camera’s instruction manual
in a variety of languages.
Olympus Master starts with a window that offers a number
of tasks that can be performed with the program: transferring
images from the camera to the computer, printing them at home
or on-line via a service, updating the software or the camera’s
firmware, or even adding languages to the camera’s interface.
The left side of the program’s
window shows either the images organized by date, or the folders
on the computer. At the centre, the window shows thumbnails,
with an adjustable size, of the images contained in any selected
folder. And the right side of the program’s window contains
links to various on-line print services, or to purchase accessories.
The top part of the window contains tools to control the program
itself, transfer images, edit a selected image, print, or
e-mail.
Moreover, another panel can be shown
to the right of the thumbnails, revealing the camera settings
for any one selected image.
With an image selected, clicking
the Edit button opens the photo in another window where it
can be adjusted or modified using the tools aligned at the
top of the window.
Changes can be made to the images orientation and framing;
redeye can be fixed, and the colour balance can be adjusted.
In addition, the image can be printed.
At the bottom of the editing window,
tools are provided to select portions of the image based on
geometric shapes, or with a magic wand so that any modification
to the photo is constrained to the selected area.
This version of Olympus Master
can be upgraded online to the Olympus Master Plus version,
which adds additional and more extensive tools than are offered
in the bundled version: the creation of Video CDs or of DVDs
(functions performed by Pixela’s ImageMixer VCD DVD
2); the printing of Albums and Index prints; and the creation
of slide shows with sound.
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Interface & Software
is pressed while the option is highlighted.
