Olympus Stylus Digital 600 Review

Typical record mode screen. The "P" indicates Program (Auto) exposure mode, in the center are the auto focus target marks, and across the bottom is image quality, SHQ = Super High Quality (6-megapixels) and there's enough space on our xD card for 134 pictures.

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). If focus fail you will get a red "can't focus" icon (not shown.) If the flash is enabled it will show if it is ready with the "red lightning bolt" icon.

The Stylus 600 offers a wise variety of Scene modes, by pressing the Camera/Scene button the back of the camera. As you go through the Scene selections an image depicting the mode is shown and then a brief text explanation of the mode is presented (shown above.) You can choose from 24 different exposure mode: Portrait, Landscape, Landscape+Portriat, Night Scene, Night+Portrait, Sport, Indoor, Candle, Self Portrait, Available Light Portrait, Sunset, Fireworks, Museum, Cuisine, Behind Glass, Documents, Auction, Shoot&Select 1, Shoot&Select 2, Beach&Snow, Under Water Wide 1, Under Water Wide 2, Under Water Macro, and Reducing Blur.

Even though the Stylus 600 is weather resistant, it can not be submerged. To use its underwater scene modes, the optional underwater housing is required.

Blur Reduction mode uses the Bright Capture technology and boosts the ISO sensitivity up to 1000. This keeps shutter speeds higher in order to reduce the blurring effects of camera shake or subject movement during the exposure. When using its Bright Capture modes, the image size is reduced to SQ1 (1600x1200.)

Press the OK/MENU button to bring up the Record mode Menu. You can use the shortcut menus to quickly change image resolution, ISO, 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. When you want to reset all settings to the factory default, simply press and hold the OK/Menu button.

Shortcut Menu Options

ISO - Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600

Resolution - SHQ, HQ, SQ1, SQ2

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

Mode Menu Options

CAMERA

ESP/Spot - Select ESP or Spot metering

Drive - Single, Continuous, High Speed Continuous

Digital Zoom - Enable or disable digital zoom option

AF Mode - iESP or Spot focus modes

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

CARD

All Erase - Erase All images

Format - Format the xD-picture card

Backup - Copies images stored on the internal memory to an xD card

SETUP

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

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

Dual Time Setup - On/Off

Video Out - Video out signal - NTSC or PAL format

Histogram - On/Off

Frame Assist - Toggles frames assist display settings

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

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.

Movie mode lets you capture SHQ (640x480), HQ (320x240) or SQ (160x120) resolution motion video at 15fps (without sound.) The length of a movie is limited only by the available memory. Because the Stylus 600 does not feature a built-in microphone or speaker, the optical zoom may be used during recording.