Olympus µ[mju:] 410 Digital
(Also known as the Olympus Stylus 410)
Review Date: 31st May 2004
|
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the SHQ 2272x1704 mode, which gives an image size of just under 1Mb and allows around 65-70 images to be stored on a 64Mb xD-Picture Card memory card.
Noise
As mentioned previously, the ISO range available on the µ[mju:] 410 Digital is 64-500, but unfortunately you can't choose which ISO speed to use. Instead the camera selects what it thinks is the most appropriate speed for you. This is OK when the ISO is 64, but not so good when it's 500. The camera will always try to keep the subject sharp at the expense of greater image noise.
ISO 64 (100% crop) |
ISO 100 (100% crop) |
 |
 |
ISO 125 (100% crop) |
|
 |
Sharpening
Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. As you can see, the out-of-the camera images are a little soft and will benefit from some sharpening.
Original 100% Crop |
Sharpened 100% Crop |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Chromatic Aberrations
As with most digital cameras, the Olympus µ[mju:] 410 Digital does suffer from some chromatic aberrations, especially in high-contrast photographs with the sun in the frame or just outside it. The good news is that chromatic aberrations are very well controlled, and only a couple of the sample photographs that I took showed any signs of this problem.
 |
 |
Overall Image Quality
The Olympus µ[mju:] 410 Digital delivers punchy, well-saturated images straight out of the camera. ISO 64 produces photos with very little noise, whilst photos taken at the higher ISOs are noticeably noisier but still acceptable. The images could benefit from a little more in-camera sharpening, but unfortunately this can't be changed, so it will have to be done on your computer using Photoshop or an equivalent software package. Chromatic aberrations are virtuall non-existent and when they do appear they are better controlled than on many other digital cameras. Overall I was very impressed with the images that the camera delivered during the review period.
|