Manual Control Options
Manual control is not intended to be a particular strength of the Stylus Verve, although there are some shooting elements that remain within the user’s control. These features include the ISO setting, Image size options, selection of AF and Metering modes, and the exposure compensation feature.

Auto Focus (7.0)
Auto focus on the Stylus Verve functions in line with other compact digital cameras on the market; the camera is designed to be pulled out of your pocket and used to snap a shot without the user messing with metering or setting the focus. During the depression of the shutter release, the Stylus Verve will automatically focus prior to recording. There is also a “focus lock” feature which is a typical means of providing the user some creative control within the automatic focusing parameters; while the shutter is partially depressed and held, the user can recompose the image and retain focus. There are two automatic focusing modes available on the Stylus Verve: Spot and iESP modes. Spot AF mode will focus on the subject that is located within the AF “target” box in the center of the frame. iESP auto focus is designed to focus on an off-center subject within the composition. When the desired object is selected, the focus will lock on the subject regardless of its positioning within the frame. Focus modes are accessible through the camera’s Menu within the AF mode subsection.

Automatic focus on the Stylus Verve is solid. It definitely exceeds the capabilities of many similar models. Auto focus, like automatic white balance, seems to be an area of difficulty for digital camera engineers; it is a feat to find a reliable, competent model that can properly adapt to various depths and planes within the image. The Stylus Verve’s automatic focus exhibits a slight delay when the user toggles between extreme variances in depth, but it does attain accurate focus given the necessary time.

Manual Focus (0.0)
Ordinarily, I would say that it is unfortunate that no manual focus options are offered on any given camera; however, considering the Stylus Verve’s targeted users, it does not seem like a viewfinder would be practical. Additionally, the means of manual focus included on most of Stylus Verve’s competitors is often tedious and frustrating; buried within a subset of the menu, the user often alters focus with zoom toggle controls or some other two-button +/- setup. This is so annoying that users will often ignorethe feature altogether rather than try to adjust it.

Metering (6.5)
The Stylus Verve employs two distinct methods for metering the scene, offering both Spot and ESP metering options. Spot metering measures the area in the center of the frame and determines the proper exposure for that specified segment. This can be used in conjunction with an exposure lock feature to expose specific objects within the composition. When the focus is locked, metering settings will also be maintained.

ESP Metering is used to gain an even exposure of the overall scene, weighing the area at the center of the frame with the surrounding area to formulate an even overall exposure for the entire scene.

The two metering settings offered on the Olympus Stylus verve are fairly standard and should cover the basic layout of the scene: overall and specifics. While more metering selections may have made the camera look more impressive, it really is not necessary on a point-and-shoot camera.

Exposure (7.0)
Exposure Compensation is offered on the Stylus Verve in the standard +/- 2 range, in 1/3 EV step increments. This is typical of most digital cameras and appears to be a practically fixed range.

White Balance (5.0)
White Balance is perhaps the most essential control on compact point-and-shoot digital cameras. Many people record and print hundreds of exposures with their digital camera, all set on automatic white balance without giving it a second thought. They will look at their prints and consciously or unconsciously perceive variations in coloration and chalk it up to the printer or ink cartridge; however, it is likely that the camera’s white balance setting was having difficulty reading the lighting in the scene. When this difficulty occurs, the camera cannot accurately discern “true white” and scales each tone to comply with its interpretation. Typically, point-and-shoot digital cameras have a tough time when multiple, varying light sources are used in the shot. The camera will set the color balance according to the dominant source and the other visible light will alter the reading and skew the color in portions of the frame. To counter this effect, often the user will have to manually set the white balance for the scene if a custom or manual option is available. Unfortunately, the Stylus Verve does not contain any customizable white balance settings, opting instead to include a selection of four preset options: Sunlight, Cloudy, Tungsten, and Fluorescent settings along with the Automatic white balance control. This is an extremely limited selection of options even by point-and-shoot standards and puts the user in a powerless position without the manual option. White balance is perhaps the Stylus Verve’s weakest performance element and is also unfortunately one of the most important. This is where the manufacturer's focus on the camera’s target audience seems to have impaired the camera’s potential. For many point-and-shooters, the lack of a customizable setting will not be noticed; however, for the engaged compact camera user who is seeking a portable camera capable of recording first class images, this will not fly.

ISO (7.0)
There are five ISO ratings offered on the Stylus Verve that can be manually controlled or set automatically by the camera. The Verve contains settigs of Auto, 64, 100, 200, and 400. While the available sensitivity range does not stray far from general point-and-shoot expectations, the inclusion of an ISO 64 setting is somewhat rare and provides opportunity for advanced clarity given ample lighting. The problem that often arises in compact cameras offering ISO settings below ISO 100 is that low ratings often allude to issues the camera might have with handling noise when ISO 100 and 200 ratings are used. Unfortunately, this proved to be the case with the Stylus Verve as well and the ISO 64 setting shifted from a nice inclusion to an absolute necessity (a more elaborate description of the Verve’s noise production is provided in the Auto ISO Noise and Manual ISO Noise sections of the review).

The range offered on the Stylus Verve is adequate for the point-and-shoot bracket and will allow enough flexibility for the user to shoot outside during daylight without a problem. Issues will arise when higher ratings are used and excessive noise enters into the image, forcing the Stylus Verve user into constant reliance on the flash. For crisp, clean images captured without additional lighting, the Verve user will have to shoot with the ISO 64 or ISO 100 settings.

Shutter Speed (0.0)
With limited manual control, the Olympus Stylus Verve automatically sets the shutter speed for the shot within a 1/2 second – 1/1000 of a second range. The maximum shutter duration available is 4 seconds, accessible in the Night Scene preset shooting mode. This is a somewhat restricted range for many photographers; however, the point-and-shoot user interested in the Verve should find the available settings adequate, as I would not anticipate many Verve users shooting with a tripod – it seems to defy the reasons for purchasing this camera: portability, pocket-accessibility and style. The 1/1000 speed offered is rapid enough to freeze motion as well as minimize the possibility of visible motion blur from camera shake.

Aperture (0.0)
Again, with limited manual control, the Olympus Stylus Verve automatically determines the aperture opening for each shot. The utilized range runs from f/3.5-f/4.9 and is completely controlled by the camera. This is a pretty narrow range, restricting the depth of field possible in the shot with f/4.9 being the smallest opening possible. For most occasions and certainly with portraits and “people pictures” the f/4.9 opening should suffice; however, if deeper perspectives and landscape images are sought, the Stylus Verve will show its limitations.