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Auto Mode
There are two levels of auto mode. The full-auto setting locks out everything but image size/compression and exposure compensation. The Program mode takes care of exposure settings, but allows the user to adjust other parameters.
Movie Mode
The 590UZ shoots movies in 640x480 and 320x240 resolutions, each at either 30 or 15 frames per second, with audio. The results are stored in AVI files, in Motion JPEG format.
Drive / Burst Mode
According to Olympus, the 590UZ can fire off 1.2 shots per second at full resolution, up to 7 consecutive shots. At reduced resolutions, the camera can handle 6 frames per second (5 megapixel resolution) and 10 frames per second at 3 megapixels.
Exposure bracketing is also available, along with a fun automated interval shooting mode, which lets you set the total number of frames and the time between shots.
Playback Mode
During playback, using the zoom control enlarges the image by up to 10x, a good way to judge image sharpness. Zooming out beyond 1x view brings up navigable thumbnails, first 4 images per page, then 9, then 16, then 25, and finally a calendar view that categorizes stored images based on the dates they were taken.. A slideshow option is also available.
Editing options during playback include basic cropping and resizing, a limited color editing function, the ability to create a printable calendar page incorporating a photo you like, and an assortment of labels and frames that can be superimposed on your image. In line with the Beauty shooting mode (more details below), there are also three Beauty editing functions designed to smooth complexions, remove wrinkles and make eye "pop." (a thoroughly unpleasant-sounding edit).
Custom Image Presets
There are 19 custom scene modes in all:
- Portrait
- Landscape
- Sport
- Night Scene
- Night + Portrait
- Indoor
- Candle
- Sunset
- Fireworks
- Multi Fireworks (multiple exposure)
- Cuisine
- Documents
- Smile Shot (camera waits for smiling face before taking photo)
- Beach & Snow (high-contrast scenes)
- Bird Watching
- Pre-Capture Movie (maintains a constant video buffer, which is stored when the shutter button is pressed)
- Quick Shutter (enabled continuous auto focus)
- Soft Background
The noteworthy new addition to the Olympus custom mode family is Beauty, which is being added to several new camera models. Available directly from the mode dial, Beauty mode softens wrinkles, eliminates blemishes, evens out complexions and generally attempts to counteract the will of Mother Nature. There are a few oddities to the Beauty mode, The After picture is saved at just 2-megapixel resolution. It takes quite a while for the image processing to take place - we'd ballpark it at a full minute or more - which means the camera is tied up between shots. And there is no way to adjust the intensity of the effect: Beauty is all or nothing, and in the eye of the processor rather than the beholder. On a more positive note, the system automatically saves a copy of the unretouched image as well as the refried version, so you aren't committing irrevocably to the whims of the algorithm when pressing the shutter.
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