Quick Start Guide Introduction First Steps Taking Pictures Other Functions Installing PictureProject Viewing Pictures on a Computer En En En En Introduction Package Contents Remove the camera and accessories from the box and confirm that you have all the items listed below. COOLPIX L12 digital camera Camera strap LR6 alkaline batteries (×2) USB Cable UC-E6 · User's Manual CD · Quick Start Guide (this guide) · Warranty Dock Insert PV-13 Audio/Video Cable EG-CP14 · PictureProject installer CD (yellow) · PictureProject Reference Manual CD (silver) NOTE: Memory card not provided. See page 107 of the User's Manual for a list of approved memory cards. Supplied batteries are for trial use only. Viewing the Camera User's Manual CD The User's Manual (on CD) can be viewed using Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or later, available for free download from the Adobe website. 1 Start the computer and insert the User's Manual CD. 2 Double-click the CD (COOLPIX L12) icon in My Computer (Windows) or on the desktop (Macintosh). 3 Double-click the [INDEX] or [INDEX.pdf] icon to display a language selection screen. Click a language and follow the links to view the User's Manual. c: This icon indicates that more information is available elsewhere in this manual. 2 First Steps Step 1 Attach the Camera Strap Attach the camera strap as shown. Step 2 Insert the Batteries W T 3 2 1 Note orientation of "+" and "­" terminals 1 2 Batteries To use batteries other than the supplied alkaline batteries see page 10 of the User's Manual. The procedures described in this Quick Start Guide are for basic, initial settings. 3 First Steps Step 3 Turn On the Camera 3.1 Slide the mode selector to L (auto). W T 3.2 Press the power switch to turn on the camera. · The power-on lamp (green) will light for a moment and the monitor will turn on. ON/OFF Power Saving Function in Shooting Mode If no operations are performed for about five seconds, the monitor will dim to save power. Using any of the camera controls will reactivate the display. The monitor turns off and the power-on lamp blinks if no operations are performed for fifteen seconds. If no operations are performed for another fifteen seconds, the camera enters standby mode. After a further three minutes, the camera will turn off automatically. For more information on Auto off, see page 101 of the User's Manual. 4 First Steps Memory Cards By default, pictures are stored in the camera's internal memory. If desired, a removable Secure Digital (SD) memory card can be used for additional storage. Internal memory is used for recording and deletion only if no memory card inserted. To insert a memory card: 1 Turn the camera off, and open the memory card slot cover. 2 Insert the memory card. · Make sure that the camera is off (power-on lamp is off) before inserting or removing the memory card. · Slide the memory card in as shown until it clicks into place. · Close the memory card slot cover. 3 Turn the camera on. If the message shown at right is displayed in the monitor, the memory card must be formatted before it can be used in the camera. Use the multi selector G or H to choose [Format] and press d. The screen shown at right will be displayed. To start formatting, choose [Format] again and press d. Do not turn the Terminals Card is not formatted. No Format camera off or remove the battery or memory card until formatting is complete. Note that formatting permanently deletes all pictures and other data on the memory card. Before formatting, be sure to make copies of any pictures you wish to keep. To remove memory cards, turn the camera off and confirm that the poweron lamp and the monitor are off. Open the memory card slot cover and press the card in to partially eject the card. The card can then be removed by hand. 5 First Steps Step 4 Choose a Language and Set the Camera Clock A language-selection dialog is displayed the first time the camera is turned on. Follow the steps below to choose a language and set the time and date. Use the multi selector to navigate the camera menus. Move cursor up Make selection Return to previous screen (Move cursor left) Move cursor down In the descriptions that follow, the buttons used to perform a task are shown in white. Move to next screen (Move cursor right or make selection) W T Example: press the multi selector up or down 4.1 4.2 Date Set time and date? No Yes Highlight the desired language and press d. · The [Date] menu is displayed. Highlight [Yes] and press d. · The [Time zone] menu is displayed. 6 First Steps 4.3 Time zone London, Casablanca DaylightSaving If daylight saving time is in effect, press the multi selector down to highlight [Daylight saving] and press d to select. Press the multi selector up to return to Step 4.3. Press the multi selector right. · The [Home time zone] menu is displayed. 4.4 Home time zone 4.5 Date D 01 M 01 00 : Y 2007 00 London, Casablanca MENU Back Press the multi selector left or right to select your home time zone and press d. · The [Date] menu is displayed. Press the multi selector up or down to edit the day ([D]) and press the multi selector right. 4.6 Date D 15 00 M 05 : 00 Y 2007 4.7 Date D 15 00 M 05 : Y 2007 00 Press the multi selector up or down to edit the month ([M]) and press the multi selector right. Use the multi selector up or down to edit the year ([Y]), hour, and minutes. Press the multi selector right after setting each item. · [D], [M] and [Y] blink. 7 First Steps 4.8 Date D 15 15 M 05 : 10 Y 2007 Press the multi selector up or down to choose the order in which the day, month, and year are displayed and press d. · The settings are applied. When daylight saving time ends, turn [Daylight saving] off from the date menu in the setup menu. The camera's clock is automatically set back one hour. For more information on setting date and time, see page 94 of the User's Manual. 8 Taking Pictures Step 1 Check Indicators in the Monitor W T Check the battery level and number of exposures remaining. Shooting mode To take pictures in M (auto) mode, slide the mode selector to M (c 15). Page 16 of the User's Manual Internal memory Pictures will be recorded to internal memory (approximately 21 MB). When memory card is inserted, M is not displayed and pictures will be recorded to memory card. L M w W Vibration reduction (VR) Reduce the effects of camera shake. Pages 38, 100 of the User's Manual E 12 Number of exposures remaining Battery Level Monitor NO ICON K Description Batteries fully charged. Batteries low; ready spare batteries. Batteries exhausted. Replace with fresh batteries. Warning! Battery exhausted. Image mode Choose image size and quality from the image mode menu. Page 77 of the User's Manual 9 Taking Pictures Step 2 Ready the Camera · Hold the camera steadily in both hands, keeping your fingers and other objects away from the lens, flash, and AF-assist illuminator. · When taking pictures in "tall" orientation, turn the camera clockwise so that the built-in flash is above the lens. Step 3 Frame a Picture Frame the subject near the center of the monitor. Use the zoom buttons to adjust the size of the framed subject. W T L M W The zoom buttons Press v (k) to zoom in on the subject so that it fills a larger area of the frame. Press t (j) to zoom out, increasing the area visible in the frame. E 12 10 Taking Pictures Step 4 Focus and Shoot 4.1 Press the shutter-release button halfway, stopping when you feel resistance. The camera focuses on and adjusts the exposure to the subject in the focus area. Focus remains locked while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. With the shutter-release button pressed halfway, check focus and flash: Focus indicator On (green) Subject in focus. W T L p M W E 12 p Flash lamp Blinks red Camera unable to focus. Change composition and try again. On (red) Blinks red Off Flash will fire when picture is taken. Flash charging. Flash off or not required. 4.2 Smoothly press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down. · The picture will be recorded to the memory card or internal memory. · The flash may fire or the AF-assist illuminator may light if the subject is poorly lit. 11 Taking Pictures Step 5 View Pictures Press i to display a picture in the monitor (fullframe playback mode). Use the multi selector to view other pictures. Press the multi selector right or down to view pictures in the order recorded, left or up to view pictures in reverse order. View previous picture View next picture The following operations can be performed in full-frame playback mode: To Zoom picture in View thumbnails Enhance contrast Record/play voice memo Delete picture Use v (k) t (j) A d T Press i or the shutter-release button to switch to the shooting mode. Page 22 of the User's Manual Deleting Selected Pictures To delete the picture currently displayed in the monitor, press T. A confirmation dialog will be displayed; highlight one of the following options and press d: · [No]: Exit without deleting the picture. · [Yes]: Delete the picture. Erase 1 image? No Yes 12 Taking Pictures Step 6 Turn the camera off Press the power switch to turn the camera off. The monitor will go out. ON/OFF Using Camera Menus A variety of shooting and playback settings can be adjusted from the camera menus. Press m to display the menu for the current mode and use the multi selector to select an option as described on page 5. If a "?" icon is displayed in the monitor, help for the current menu item can be viewed by pressing l (v). Press d while the help dialog is displayed to apply the setting. Shooting menu Set up Image mode White balance Continuous BSS Exit W T 13 Other Functions Flash, Self-Timer, Macro Close-up Mode, and Exposure Compensation Pressing the multi selector up, down, left, or right during shooting displays the flash, self-timer, macro close-up mode, and exposure compensation menus. Flash The following flash modes are available: Mode Description Flash W T z Auto Auto with A red-eye reduction B C D Off Fill flash Slow sync Flash fires automatically when lighting is poor. Reduces "red eye" in portraits. Flash will not fire even when lighting is poor. Flash fires whenever picture is taken. Use to "fillin" (illuminate) shadows and back-lit subjects. Flash illuminates main subject; slow shutter speeds are used to capture background at night or under dim light. Page 24 of the User's Manual Exposure Compensation Exp. +/Exposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the camera to make pictures brighter or darker. When the picture is too dark: adjust the exposure compensation to "+" side. When the picture is too bright: adjust the exposure compensation to "-" side. Page 28 of the User's Manual Macro Close-up Mode Use for close-ups. The camera can focus at a distance of 15 cm (5.9 in.) when the F turns green or the digital zoom is in effect (zoom indicator turns yellow). Page 27 of the User's Manual Self-Timer The camera is equipped with a ten-second timer for self-portraits. When using the self-timer, mount the camera on a tripod and the tripod on a flat surface. Page 26 of the User's Manual Macro close-up ON OFF Self-timer ON OFF OFF 14 Other Functions The m (Mode) button W T Pressing m during shooting or playback displays the shooting or playback menu. Displaying the Shooting Menu Set the mode selector to L (auto) and press m to display the shooting menu. W T Shooting menu Set up Image mode White balance Continuous BSS Exit Displaying the Playback Menu Display a picture by pressing i and press m to display the playback menu. W T Playback menu Set up Print set Slide show Delete Protect MENU Exit ? To exit the shooting or playback menu, press m. While each menu is displayed (except for Voice recording), press the shutterrelease button to switch back to the shooting mode. Anti-shake Mode This mode reduces effects of camera shake and blurred subjects, and produces clear images. To enter anti-shake mode during shooting, press F. Page 38 of the User's Manual ON/OFF 15 Other Functions Scene Modes Scene modes allow you to take pictures optimized for a particular subject type by simply choosing a scene mode. 1 Select b mode. 2 Press m to display the scene menu. 3 Press the multi selector G or H to choose the scene mode and press d. · Four pages of scene modes are available, beginning with [Portrait] and ending with [Voice recording]. W T The following scene modes are available: Description For clear portrait shots. For vivid landscapes and cityscapes. For dynamic action shots. For portraits taken at night. For parties and other indoor scenes. For brightly-lit expanses of water, sand, H Beach/snow or snow. I Sunset For sunsets and sunrises. J Dusk/dawn For low-light landscape shots. G Night landscape For night landscapes. M Close up For close-ups. For ind ...