The interface of the Optio T30
rests exclusively on its 3-inch touch screen that serves not
only to preview shots but select all camera settings. The
monitor's high resolution and high refresh speed make it very
pleasant to use. However, it must be noted that under direct
sunlight it can be become difficult to decipher.
Using the touch-screen is very simple, the on-screen buttons
are generously sized making mistakes rare, and the menus become
familiar quickly as the Menu button always displays the same
menu, whether the camera is set to a capture mode or the playback
mode.
The menu displays 6 buttons, each opening a specific section,
and only the last two sections contain options that are directly
tied to the basic configuration of the camera.
The Sound section 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 T30 during start-up (3 sounds, a user-recorded sound
or none).
Shutter Sound: selects the sound produced by the
T30 when the shutter release is pressed (3 sounds, a user-recorded
sound or none).
Operating Sound: selects the sound made by the
T30 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 has options
that 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 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 traveling.
Language: selects the interface language (Japanese,
English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish,
Dutch,Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish,
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 Optio T30 is accompanied by a excellent and very detailed
manual that is very well organized. All the camera's options
and functions are explained clearly.
Software
As sold in North America, a single
CD-ROM is included with the Optio T30. The disc contains 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, ACDSee
is now up to version 9 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.)
The program also makes it possible
to view all the EXIF information of images.
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.
Compare Prices for Pentax Optio T30 7.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
Interface & Software
