Based on its 115,000-pixel, 2.5-inch
monitor, the interface of the Stylus 720 SW is quite legible.
Parameters and settings are clearly indicated on the monitor,
with one regrettable exception: there is no indication of
shutter speed or aperture when the shutter release is pressed
halfway. Moreover, this information is also omitted in the
playback mode. On the other hand, the Function menu is a practical
addition, making it possible to change some settings rapidly.
The menu system of the 720 SW is mostly typical of those
found on other Olympus cameras. It starts by presenting a
Top Menu that contains a number of options that can be quickly
accessed, and which provides access to a second menu level
containing additional options for the current camera mode,
along with an access to the Setup menu and the camera’s
basic settings:
Format: serves to format either a memory card or
the internal memory.
Backup: copies all images in internal memory to
a memory card.
serves to choose the interface language. With this north
American model, the choices are: English, French, Spanish
and Portuguese. If needed, other languages can be loaded
into the camera using Olympus Master while the camera is
connected to a computer through the USB connection.
:
serves to decide if these buttons can be used to turn on
the camera.
Config On: to choose if an image captured with
the camera, or the Olympus logo, or nothing is displayed
when the camera starts; and select a sound or none to play
on start-up.
Screen Setup (only shown in Playback mode):
to register an image so that it can be used later on as
a start-up image.
Colour: serves to select the background colour
for the menus (Normal, Blue, Black, Pink).
Beep: to choose if the camera produces a noise
when the buttons are used, and its volume (None, Low, High).
:
serves to adjust the volume of the noise that accompanies
the Self-timer (None, Low or High).
Shutter Sound.(only shown in the capture modes):
offers three distinct sounds and volume settings (High,
Low or None).
Volume (only shown in Playback mode): serves
to adjust the sound volume (Off, Low or High).
Rec View(only shown in the capture modes):
to decide if the image is displayed briefly immediately
post capture.
File Name(only shown in the capture modes):
to decide if images are numbered sequentially, or restart
at 1 after formatting or a new memory card is used.
Pixel Mapping: automatically verifies the CCD and
the image processing functions. Recommended to be used once
a year.
Monitor Brightness: serves to adjust the brightness
of the LCD monitor over ± 6 brightness levels.
Date and Time: to set the internal date and time
of the camera, and select the date format.
Dual Time Setup: makes it possible to set an additional
date and time, useful while traveling.
Alarm Clock: serves to set an alarm and select
whether the alarm rings on a specific date or daily, and
set a Snooze function.
Video Out serves to select the video signal: NTSC
or PAL.
A small printed manual, in English, French and Spanish is
included with the Stylus 720 SW, but it only offers the most
basic instructions. To get more information, the user has
to look to the PDF (Adobe Acrobat) instruction manual found
on one of the CDs that are included with the camera. The PDF
is informative, and its bookmarks are linked to the manual,
simplifying its use. The explanations it offers are clear,
covering all aspects of the camera.
Software
As with all current Olympus cameras, the Stylus 720 SW 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, update the software or the camera’s
firmware, or even add 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 controls 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
serves to choose the interface language. With this north
American model, the choices are: English, French, Spanish
and Portuguese. If needed, other languages can be loaded
into the camera using Olympus Master while the camera is
connected to a computer through the USB connection.
:
serves to decide if these buttons can be used to turn on
the camera.
:
serves to adjust the volume of the noise that accompanies
the Self-timer (None, Low or High).
