Olympus Stylus Digital 500 Review

Typical record mode screen. The "P" indicates Program AE exposure mode. In the center are the auto focus target marks, the zoom indicator (sliding bar) is displayed momentarily whenever the focal length is changed. Across the bottom is image quality, SHQ = Super High Quality, image size is 2560x1920 (5 megapixels) and there's enough space on our xD card for 142 pictures. Other icons indicate Macro focus mode, forced off flash, and the buffer level indicator (black box at the bottom right.)

When you half-press the shutter release it starts the autofocus process and if it locks you'll get the "focus OK" green icon (top left). The autofocus marks will also move to the selected area of focus. If focus fail you will get a red "can't focus" icon (not shown.)

To change the exposure mode you press the 4-way selector "Up" while in record mode. Then use the "Up" and "Down" buttons to select the desired mode from the virtual mode dial displayed on the LCD screen. Once you stop on a specific scene mode, a brief description of its intended use will be displayed (see above). This will help beginners find the perfect shooting mode for certain situations.

You can choose from 20 different modes: Program Auto, Landscape, Landscape+Portrait, Portrait, Indoor, Sport, Beach&Snow, Behind Glass, Self-Portrait+Self-Timer, Self-Portrait, Sunset, Night scene, Night Portrait, Cuisine, Documents, Candle light, Under Water Wide (Optional underwater housing required), Under Water Macro(Optional underwater housing required), Shoot&Select 1, and Shoot&select 2.

Press the OK/MENU button to bring up the Record mode Menu. You can use the shortcut menus to quickly change exposure compensation, image resolution, or adjust white balance. To access all menu options press the 4-way selector to the "Right" for the Mode Menu - see the next frame.

Shortcut Menu Options

Exposure Compensation - Override metering by +/- 2.0 EV in 1/3 EV steps

Resolution - SHQ or HQ (2560x1920), SQ1 (2048x1536), SQ2 (640x480 default or select 1600x1200, 1280x960, 1024x768)

White Balance - Choose Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Tungsten (Incandescent), or Fluorescent 1, 2, and 3

CAMERA

ESP/Spot - Select ESP or Spot metering

Drive - Single frame or Continuous

ISO - Select Auto, 64, 100, 200, or 400 equivalents

Digital Zoom - Enable or disable digital zoom option

AF Mode - i ESP or Spot focus modes

Sound Memo - Enable or disable sound attachment to still pictures

Panorama - Enable Panorama mode (only if using Olympus xD card)

2 IN 1 - Enable the 2IN1 exposure mode (takes two separate pictures and then merges them into one side-by-side image)

Live Histogram - On/Off

CARD

Card Setup - Format the xD-picture card

SETUP

All Reset - If OFF then current settings are remembered from power off to power on. If ON then all settings are reset to default.

Menu Language - Japanese, English, French, German

PW ON Setup - Select power up screen animation and sound level

Color - Allows you to change the menu system's color scheme (Normal, Blue, Green, Pink)

Camera Sounds - Adjust the sound levels (Off, Low, High)

Shutter Sound - Select shutter sound theme

Rec View - View image immediately after capture on LCD

File Name - Select between Reset and Auto

Pixel Mapping - Map out bad pixels

Monitor Brightness - Adjust LCD backlight

Set Clock - Set time and or date

Video Out - Video out signal - NTSC or PAL format

Press the 4-way selector to the Right to enable Macro focus mode and take closeup shots at a range of 8 in. - infinity from the lens, or enable Super Macro mode and get as close as 2.8-inches.

The 2-IN-1 exposure mode lets you capture two different images and then merges them together inside of the camera to produce one completed image.

The Panorama mode has an onscreen guide to help you make the best possible panorama pictures by getting the necessary overlap between successive images. Up to 10 frames can be captured and then stitched together with the Camedia Master software. You must use an Olympus brand xD-Picture Card to use the Panorama mode.

Here's the screen when using HQ (320x240) Movie mode. You can also use SQ (160x120) mode for smaller file sizes, which is great for sending clips via email, etc. The length of a movie is limited only by the available memory. Because sound is recorded, the zoom can not be used during recording but can be preset before. However you can enable to Digital Zoom and use it during recording, but it degrades image quality.

Pressing the Menu button in Movie mode give you access to theses options. From the shortcut menu you can use exposure compensation, change the resolution, and adjust white balance. The mode menu give you access to metering, ISO and the digital zoom.