Olympus Camedia E-100 Rapid ShotOlympus unleashes a 1.5 megapixel speed demon: By FAR the fastest digicam we've tested to date!<<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 1/18/2001 |
Video Out
An NTSC audio/video cable accompanies the E-100RS, for connection to a television
set. We assume that European models come equipped for PAL timing, although a
note in the Instruction Manual warns that television connection may not be possible
in all areas. Once connected to a television set, the camera's LCD monitor automatically
switches off. All Playback menu functions are available. The Infrared Remote
can also be used to control image playback. The +/- buttons on the remote control
scroll through captured images, while the Wide and Tele buttons control the
index display and image enlargement. Olympus notes that the image may appear
off-center on some television sets, and also that a black border may appear
around the image. Both are due to specific television settings, and do not affect
the image.
Power
The Camedia E-100RS is powered by four AA alkaline, NiMH, NiCd, or lithium batteries,
or two CR-V3 lithium battery packs. A set of four NiMH rechargeable batteries
and a battery charger are provided with the camera. An optional AC adapter is
available as a separate accessory, which we highly recommend for tasks like
playing back images and downloading files.
An adjustable Sleep mode shuts the camera off after a certain period of inactivity,
which is user-selectable from 30 seconds to five minutes. According to Olympus,
if the camera is left for approximately one week without batteries, all settings
will revert to the factory defaults. The current battery consumption level appears
on the LCD screen when the camera is powered on, as well as when the Info button
is pressed. The battery icon shows red when power is too low.
Olympus estimates that a set of fully charged NiMH batteries should provide
about 50 frames of shooting or about 100 minutes of playback time.
|
|
|
| Capture Mode, w/LCD |
|
| Capture Mode, 1/EVF |
|
| Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
|
| Half-pressed w/EVF |
|
| Continuous autofocus |
|
| Memory Write (transient) |
|
| Flash Recharge (transient) |
|
| Image Playback |
|
Overall, power consumption on the E-100RS is rather high, particularly when the camera is running from the internal batteries: Our measurements above were taken from the external power port: The corresponding numbers for direct battery power could be as much as 30% higher than the numbers above. Fortunately, Olympus ships the E-100RS with a very high-capacity (1600 mAh) set of NiMH rechargeable batteries and a charger. As always, we recommend digicam owners have on hand at least two sets of batteries, so a second set of NiMH cells would be a wise purchase.
Given the E-100's high power consumption, you may want to consider an external battery pack for it. Take note though, that most external packs are based on NiMH cells, and put out less than 6 volts. This isn't enough to power the E-100 from its external power jack. Fortunately, a LiIon "PowerBank" is available from Maha that has a high enough voltage to power the E-100. Running about $60, this unit provides about 1400 mAh of power at a terminal voltage (under moderate load) of a bit over 8 volts. This should be enough to give you an extra hour to hour and a half of continuous running in maximum-power mode. (With the LCD enabled in capture mode.) One note - Maha makes both NiMH and LiIon versions of the PowerBank, make sure you get the LiIon model for the E-100. (Model number MH-DPB140LI.) You can order these online from Thomas-Distributing. Highly recommended!
Included Software
Three software CDs and a USB cable are provided for connecting the E-100RS to a PC or Macintosh computer to download images. All software is compatible with Windows 95/98/NT 4.0/2000 and Macintosh OS 8.6 and up. Direct camera control and image downloading are provided by an updated version of Olympus' own Camedia software package (Version 2.5) which allows you to download and save images to your hard drive, and perform rudimentary organization and correction functions. Also included in the Camedia Master package is QuickTime 4.0, for playing back movies and performing minor editing. Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE provides more in-depth image editing and manipulation tools, including creative filters and effects for enhancing digital images. The Altamira Genuine Fractals plug-in for Adobe Photoshop offers scaling technology for enlarging images without worrying about resolution. Four image encoding methods and three rendering solutions allow you to create resolution-independent images from any file size for display on the Internet or for printing. The included plug-in is intended for RGB image files, but an upgrade to CMYK is available from the Altamira website (www.altamira-group.com).
Included Hardware
- E-100 Rapid Shot digital camera
- 8MB SmartMedia card
- RM-1 Infrared Remote control
- Four AA NiMH rechargeable batteries with charger
- USB cable for Macintosh and Windows computers
- NTSC audio/video cable
- Camedia Master 2.5 CD-ROM (download, photo-manipulation, and QuickTime movie editing software)
- Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE CD-ROM
- Altamira Genuine Fractals 2.0 plug-in CD-ROM
- Neck strap, lens cap
- User guide and registration card
Follow Imaging Resource: