Being almost free of external controls
because of the 3-inch touch screen, makes the interface of
the T10 critical to its operation. And, thanks to the monitor's
high resolution, the use of readily understandable text and
graphics, the interface is clear and provides effective control
over the camera. Moreover, the fact that the interface can
be operated with fingertips as well as with the stylus improves
the ease and speed with which the camera is controlled. One
regret however, the Toolbars disappear too quickly off the
monitor, making it hard to see the necessary option, particularly
when 4 additional options have been added to the Capture Toolbar.
The menu system is excellent, consisting of large on-screen
buttons that are easy to activate. Similarly, the fact that
the MENU button always displays the same menu options,
whatever the mode, shortens the time needed to learn to use
the camera. The menu is composed of 6 on-screen buttons, each
accessing different areas, but the last two buttons: Sound
and Setting contain options used for the basic configuration
of the T10.
The first of these, Sound, controls the sounds produced by
the camera:
Operating Volume: serves to set the volume of sounds
produced by the camera as it is operated (5 levels or Off).
Playback Volume: controls the playback volume of
either voice annotations or movies (5 levels or Off).
Start-up Sound: controls the sound produced by
the T10 during start-up (3 sounds, a user-recorded sound
or none).
Shutter Sound: selects the sound produced by the
T10 when the shutter release is pressed (3 sounds, a user-recorded
sound or none).
Operating Sound: selects the sound made by the
T10 while it is operated (3 sounds, a user-recorded sound
or none).
Self-timer Sound: selects the self-timer sound
(3 sounds, a user-recorded sound or none).
The Setting menu is more
important and its options are spread over two screens:
Format: serves to format either the internal memory,
or a memory card. Formatting deletes all files, including
those that have been protected.
Date Adjust: serves to adjust the internal clock
and calendar of the T10, and select the date format.
World Time: serves to set a Home location, and
a Destination, making it possible to have the camera adjust
the time while travelling.
Language: selects the interface language (Japanese,
English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish,
Dutch, Russian, Thai, Korean, traditional Chinese and Simplified
Chinese).
Folder Name serves to change the way the camera
creates folders: Standard (XXXPENTX) or based on the capture
date.
USB Connection : allows selecting the USB protocol
(Mass Storage) to connect directly to a computer, or PictBridge
to connect the camera to a PictBridge compatible printer.
Video Out: selects the A/V out signal, NTSC or
PAL.
Brightness Level: allows adjusting the brightness
of the monitor over 7 steps.
Power Saving: serves to save battery power by having
the monitor turn off automatically after a pre-selected
period of time (5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 seconds or Off).
Auto Power Off: serves to set the time delay after
which the camera powers off when inactive (3 or 5 minutes
or Off).
Guide Display: decides whether the Guide Display
— a description of each icon's function — will
appear when an icon of the Capture Palette or Playback Palette
is touched.
Reset: reset all options to their original factory
settings.
The printed manual provided with the Optio T10 is complete
and thorough. Information covering all the options and functions
of the camera are clearly written and very detailed. In addition,
pertinent "Memo" notes provide additional information,
shortcuts to specific operations and tips.
Software
In North America Pentax includes
a single CD-ROM with the Optio T10, containing ACDSee for
Pentax 2.0 in a number of languages, as well as QuickTime
7 and DirectX 9.0. The primary application is composed
of three applications: ACDSee version 6, FotoSlate
version 3 and Showtime!.
ACDSee is currently one
of the most powerful programs for image organization, image
presentation, and image printing. Worth noting however, the
ACDSee is now up to version 8 when downloaded from the ACDSee
Systems site.
The program makes it possible to view images in a number
of ways as the primary program window can be reorganized at
will (full-screen, thumbnails of various sizes with or without
details, personalized menus, etc.)
A part of ACDSee, Edit,
provides tools to adjust images, and once an image is selected
for editing, it opens in a new window.
The Editing window makes it
possible to adjust the image for exposure, colour, correct red-eye,
adjust sharpness, crop and save the cropped image, resize it,
rotate it, and convert it to another image format. In addition,
the image can be converted to sepia or black and white, and
effects such as oil paint, swirl, magnifier, etc. can be applied.
Whatever the processing being done, a before and after view
is always provided.
FotoSlate is designed to print photos, to create Index
prints, albums, calendars, postcards, or even to create templates
that can be reused.
Showtime! is designed to create presentations containing
photos, movies and sounds. Worth noting, its installation
requires the prior installation of Microsoft Windows Media
Player version 7.0 or higher.
Interface & Software
