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Olympus C-4000 Zoom Olympus introduces a top-of-the-line four-megapixel model with superb *configurability* great image quality, and an impressively low price. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet C-4000 Photo Gallery! C-4000 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on C-4000 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User Interface Review First Posted: 8/27/2002

Operation and User Interface

One of the most noticeable changes implemented with the C-4000 is the newly designed user interface. A "virtual dial" lets you quickly scroll through Scene Program modes or A/S/M (aperture/shutter/manual/my camera) options, using the left and right arrow keys to move the on-screen dial. The screen shot above right shows the virtual mode dial options for the Scene Program modes.

Here's another shot of the virtual dial interface, this time showing options for A/S/M mode.

Like previous Olympus digicams, the C-4000 Zoom's menu system has an initial menu screen with four shortcut buttons on it that lead to sub-menus for quick access of frequently-used menu items. These shortcuts are displayed on the screen as three or four buttons, each selected using the arrow key that corresponds to its position on the screen. The right button generally takes you to the Mode menu, which includes all of the sub-menus available for that particular Shooting or Playback mode. The Mode menu itself is divided into four subject tabs -- Camera, Picture, Card, and Setup -- with sub-menus associated with each. The other two or three buttons (top, left, and bottom) on the initial menu screen are shortcuts to the most frequently used sub-menus, such as ISO, White Balance, and Quality settings. (In the P and A / S / M modes, two of the Shortcut buttons are user programmable, a nice feature. No fewer than 24 different functions may optionally be assigned to the left and bottom short cut buttons.) Though it can take a little getting used to, this dual-level menu system does let you make adjustments to three of the most often used camera settings quite quickly.

The C-4000's external control layout is very similar to previous Olympus Camedia digicam setups. The Custom Function / Protect button (which normally activates the virtual mode dial in A/S/M and Scene modes) can have a special function assigned to it through the Setup sub-menus. This can create a short cut to circumvent the menu system completely for a frequently-used adjustment. For example, if you use the Quality adjustment a fair amount, you could assign it to the Custom Function button as a short cut. No fewer than 17 different functions can be assigned to this button, including the Virtual Dial. (Note that the AEL (auto exposure lock) function must be assigned to this button, before the multi-exposure metering mode will work.)

Control Enumeration

Mode Dial: The most obvious control on top of the C-4000 is the Mode Dial, which turns the camera On or Off, and selects the various camera operating modes: Playback, Off, Program, Aperture / Shutter Speed / Manual (A/S/M), and Scene-Program / Movie modes. Program and A/S/M are the Still Shooting or Record modes. Scene Program / Movie mode accesses the Movie, Self-Portrait, Night Scene, Landscape / Scene, Landscape / Portrait, Sports, and Portrait modes.

Zoom Lever: Also on top of the camera, in front of the Mode Dial, the Zoom Lever controls the optical zoom in all exposure modes, and the digital zoom when enabled through the Shooting menu. In Playback mode, the lever switches between Index view, normal image display, and playback zoom.

Shutter Button: Located in the center of the Zoom Lever, the Shutter button sets focus and exposure settings when depressed halfway and triggers the shutter when fully pressed.

Flash / Erase Button: Located on the top, central portion of the camera's back panel, this button controls the Flash mode in all exposure modes for which flash is available. Pressing it cycles through Auto-Flash, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Flash Off, and Slow Sync modes. In Playback mode, this button calls up the Erase menu, which allows you to erase the currently displayed image.

Spot / Macro / Print Button: Directly beneath the Flash / Erase button on the back panel is the Spot / Macro / Print button. In all Shooting modes, this button cycles between normal metering (Digital ESP), Spot metering, Macro (Closeup) focus mode, and Macro with Spot Metering modes. In Playback mode, this button accesses the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) print settings menu, which allows you to tag the current image, or all of the images on the card, for printing. Once the image is selected, you can set the number of copies, whether or not to print the date and time stamp on the photo, or to print a cropped area of the image.

Four-Way Arrow Pad: The largest control on the back panel, the Arrow Pad controls many of the C-4000's operations. In all Shooting modes except Manual, the left and right Arrow keys increase or decrease the exposure compensation setting (provided the LCD monitor is active). In Aperture or Shutter Priority exposure modes, the up and down Arrow keys adjust the lens aperture or shutter speed settings, depending on which mode you've selected. In Manual mode, the up and down Arrows control shutter speed, while the left and right Arrows control aperture.

In Playback mode, the left and right Arrows move forward or backward through the pictures stored on the card, or scroll around portions of the expanded image in Zoom Playback mode.

In the LCD menu system, the Arrow keys navigate through menu screens and select settings.

OK / Menu Button: Located below the four-way Arrow pad, this button activates the menu system on the rear panel LCD monitor and confirms selected menu settings in the LCD menu screens. If the LCD monitor is turned on when you press the Display button, it will call up the menu options and display them over the image. If the LCD monitor is off when you press Display, it brings up the camera's menu system with no viewfinder image. Holding this button down for approximately two seconds brings up the Manual Focus distance display, along with the AF and MF icons. Highlighting the MF icon with the right Arrow button engages the Manual Focus mode, after which the up and down Arrow buttons adjust the focus.

Display / Quick View Button: Just to the right of the LCD monitor, encircled by a raised plastic lip, this button turns the LCD monitor on or off. If pressed twice in quick succession, it activates the Quick View function, which displays the previously captured image on the screen, and lets you access most playback-mode functions. A third press returns the LCD to its normal display.

Custom / Protect Button: Located on the camera's back panel, below the Display button, this button normally actuates the "Virtual Dial" display in Scene or A/S/M exposure modes. It can be programmed to serve any one of 16 other functions though, via an option in the Setup menu. Available functions include Virtual Dial, AE Lock, self-timer, drive (continuous or single shot options), ISO, Flash, Slow Sync, Noise Reduction, Digital Zoom, Full Time AF, AF Mode, Super Macro, Function, Info, Histogram Display, Size/Quality, and White Balance. If the AE Lock function is selected, the camera is in spot metering mode, and the Multi Metering option is enabled in the Shooting menu, you can take up to eight spot meter readings with this button, which the camera will then average to determine the final exposure. In Playback mode, pressing this button write-protects individual images against accidental erasure (except from card formatting).

Diopter Adjustment Dial: Located on the left side of the optical viewfinder's eyepiece, this dial adjusts the viewfinder optics to accommodate eyeglass wearers. I don't have any way of quantifying the action of such adjustments, but can say that it wasn't quite enough to adjust for my normal 20:180 (!) vision, although it works fine when I'm wearing my "computer" glasses, which correct my vision to somewhere around 20:80 or so. Since I'm not farsighted, I don't have any idea of the range it might cover for farsighted people, but would guess it provides a similar range of adjustment in that direction as well.