Olympus released the E-410 EVOLT Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera in 2007. This camera falls into the same market category as Canon's Digital Rebel and Nikon's D40/D80 series of entry-level DSLRS. It's a big step from a point-and-shoot camera to the E-410, so don't be discouraged if it takes you a while to master its functions to produce the kind of shots you'd expect from a powerful camera. One advantage of the E-410 is its two kit lenses, one for wide-angle photography and one for moderate zooms.
Instructions
1. Charge the battery completely before using the camera for the first time. You don't want to just to get the hang of the E-410 and then have it die on you. The battery charges in about three and a half hours. Insert the battery into the charger and plug the charger into a wall outlet. When the light turns green, the battery is charged. Open the battery compartment cover on the base of the E-410 and insert the battery. Then open the side panel and insert a memory card -- either a compact flash or XD card.
2. Attach a lens. The basic E-410 kit comes with two lenses -- a 14-42mm wide-angle lens, and a 40-150mm zoom lens. The wide-angle lens is easier to work with, so attach this one first. Remove the body lens cap from the E-410, then remove the rear lens cap from the 14-42mm lens. Line up the red mark on the lens with the red mark on the body, push the lens into place and turn it clockwise until it clicks.
3. Rotate the power switch to "On." The first time you turn on the E-410 you'll be prompted to set the time and date. Use the control pad to navigate through the fields, then press the "OK" button when you are finished.
4. Rotate the mode dial to "Auto" for now. This is the easiest mode to learn use your camera, but it doesn't take advantage of the range of settings and features. Look through the viewfinder to frame your shot. Zoom in and out by rotating the barrel of the lens. All zooms on a DSLR camera are manual. Twist the barrel to the right to zoom out and left to zoom in. A 14-42mm lens doesn't have a powerful zoom; you use this lens for wide-angled shots of landscape or for groups of people.
5. Tap the shutter button half-way to engage the auto focus on the camera. When the picture snaps into focus, press the shutter button all the way down to take the shot. In auto mode, the E-410 adjusts everything for you. It will engage the flash if necessary and change the photographic settings to match light levels.
6. Press the "Play" button on the back of the E-410 to review your last shot. Press left and right on the control pad, or spin the control dial beneath the shutter button (on the rear of the camera) to cycle through photos.
7. Experiment. A camera like the E-410 isn't designed for its auto mode. Swap lenses and see what kind of shots you can take with the zoom lens. Rotate the mode dial to "A" to use aperture priority or "S" for shutter priority, two modes that help you capture light levels more naturally. Olympus produces a 130-page instruction manual for the EVOLT E-410 to help you complete more complex tasks.
Tags: shutter button, 14-42mm lens, auto mode, DSLR camera, E-410 then, first time, kind shots