E For Better Images 4 About Focusing Manual Focus The autofocus feature makes use of the light-dark contrast of the subject. For this reason, the autofocus acts funny with continuously repeating patterns, subjects of low contrast such as skies and walls, excessively bright subjects like spotlight, sparkling subjects like the surface of water and when multiple objects are at different distances from the camera. In these cases, you should either use the focus locking technique or focus on the subject manually. For more information on subjects which cannot be brought into focus with the autofocus feature, see "Hard-to-(Auto)Focus Subjects" (P. 17). Also, photography can be troublesome when you're trying to lock focus on subjects of low contrast or when using a tripod. Therefore, it is wise to bring the subject into focus manually. 1 Press the [FOCUS] button and then manually focus on the subject. 2 Specify the distance to the subject with the top and bottom points of the jog dial. For more details, refer to "Manual Focusing" (P. 31). Substitute Subject Focus When taking a picture of a moving train, the train may pass before you get a shot off as you try focusing on the train. The camera won't let you do that in some cases. What you should do instead is to set the focus on an object just near to where the train will pass before it comes. Don't miss those once-in-a-lifetime photos trying the impossible. 1 Lock focus on an object just near to where the train will pass. 2 Hold the shutter release button down halfway and press the [OK] button. The focus remains locked even if you take your finger away from the shutter release button. 3 When the train arrives, press the shutter release button down all the way. The image will be taken with an appropriate exposure. Close-Up Photography TELE When you want to take sharp pictures of plant pistils or stamen, the results are often out-of-focus if an ordinary zoom is used. However, sharp clear images are possible with the Camedia C-2500L using the macro or super macro (in the "WIDE" mode only) modes. In normal shots, you can get as close as 0.6 m of the subject, but with the macro mode, you can get as close as 0.3 m.(1 ft.) In super macro mode, you can even get as close as 2 cm (0.8 in.) of the subject. Because you are much closer to the subject than in normal photography, macro photos are often out-of-focus even with the slightest movement of the hand or subject. Hold the camera steadily and firmly with both hands. Images come out even better when you use a tripod. How to Select Zoom To photograph plants in their natural environment without including too much background, it is a good idea to use the "TELE" mode. The difference in sizes amongst the various objects will seem similar as to when the eye perceives it. Also, the natural setting can be reproduced because what little background is included will be out-of-focus. WIDE E-62 When the Subject Is Not in the Centre of the Frame It is hard to focus on a subject if it is not in the center of the frame, but you can bring the subject to the autofocus mark just enough to lock focus on it, and then, without lifting your finger off of the shutter release button, compose the frame as you like and take the picture. 1 While looking into the viewfinder, center the subject. 2 Press the shutter release button down halfway to lock focus. The green lamp inside the viewfinder lights up. 3 Compose the image as desired and press the shutter release button down all the way. When the Subject Is Too Close or Very Small If the subject is very thin or small, for example, when taking a close-up of plants, it will be hard to focus on it. If that is the case, focus on an object at the same distance from the camera as your subject. E For Better Images 1 Set a substitute subject which the camera can lock on in front of the subject. 2 While looking into the viewfinder, press the shutter release button down halfway to lock focus. The green lamp inside the viewfinder lights up. 3 Hold the shutter release button down halfway, and remove the substitute subject. Then, recompose the picture, and press the shutter release button down all the way. Nighttime Photography Auto Exposure At normal exposure, nocturnal scenes come out too dark and unclear. This happens because camera exposure is set automatically and exposure takes place at standard brightness, even when the picture is taken at night. Nonetheless, you can take nighttime pictures at a more suitable exposure. Using the "M" mode, select a slower shutter speed. The higher the ISO rating, the faster the shutter speed usable to take pictures. However, these pictures will be grainy. Take several test shots and then select the best ISO rating. If it is difficult for autofocus to lock on the subject, focus on it manually (P. 31). Metering should be applied to a wide range, so center metering is the best choice. Also, with nighttime photography, shutter speed is set slower than usual, so even the slightest movement can easily affect focus. It is recommended to use a tripod. Again, a good idea with nighttime photography is to take several shots until finding a suitable aperture and shutter speed. Aperture fixed wideopen E-63 How to Use 2nd Curtain Synchronization Effect 2nd Curtain Synchronization Effect This technique involves firing the flash at the tail end of a slow shutter speed picture. Using this technique, a nighttime shot of a moving car will come out with the lights from the tail lamps drawn behind the car like in a wide-open photograph. With the Camedia C-2500L, pictures can be easily taken with 2nd curtain synchronization effect. If 1st curtain synchronization effect is selected, the headlights of a moving car will flow in the direction in which the car is heading. With slow shutter photographs, the slightest movement can seriously affect picture focus, therefore it is a good idea to use a tripod. For more information, see "Flash Synchronization Effect" (P. 51). 1st Curtain Synchronization Effect Taking Natural Color Pictures Under Fluorescent Light When pictures are taken under fluorescent light or a special light source, the colors may lose their overall balance. With the Camedia C-2500L, pictures taken under fluorescent light can come out in natural-looking colors by changing the reference tone with the "white balancing with reference" feature in the [WB] menu (P. 49). Required Supplies · Camera · White sheet of A4 size paper or larger 1 Press the [ ] button, and select under . 2 Pressing the [OK] button will display the window to set white balancing. 3 Hang a white sheet of paper on the wall or have someone hold it so that it is illuminated by a fluorescent lamp. Focus on the paper so that it fills the viewfinder and press the [OK] button. "GOOD" appears on the LCD monitor, and the reference tone will be set. 4 After setting, proceed as with any other photograph. E-64 E Processing Images on Personal Computer 5 Processing Images on Personal Computer Image processing software allows you to edit images taken on your computer. This section explains how to connect the Camedia C-2500L to a personal computer and edit images taken using the CAMEDIA Master 1.11. How to Connect to Personal Computer Connecting the Camedia C-2500L to a personal computer makes it possible to download images from the card in the camera to the PC. The connection will differ depending on the type of PC used. PC Environment Check that your computer satisfies the following requirements. DOS/V Computer (IBM PC/AT Compatible) · CPU Windows 98:486DX or later, Min. 66MHz Windows 95/NT4.0:486SX or later, Min. 33MHz (Pentium or later version recommended) · OS Windows 95/98/NT4.0 · Hard disk available area Min. 20MB · Memory Windows 95/98 Min. 16 MB Windows NT4.0 Min. 24 MB · Connector Standard RS-232C interface DOS/V Computer (IBM PC/AT Compatible): D-SUB 9-pin connector · Monitor Min. 256 colors (32,000 colors recommended), Min. 640 480 dot Apple Macintosh · · · · · · CPU OS Hard disk available area Memory Connector Monitor 68040 or later System 7.5 or later, Min. 20 MB Min. 24 MB Serial port, Miniature DIN 8-pin connector Min. 256 colors, Min. 640 480 dot (32,000 colors recommended) *Direct connection between the C-2500L and USB connector is not possible. E-66 Connecting to Personal Computers A Apple Macintosh The Camedia C-2500L can be connected to a personal computer as follows. 1 Install CAMEDIA Master 1.11. For an explanation on installation, see the online manual. 2 Check that power to both the computer and camera is OFF. 3 Connect the PC connection cable into either the COM1 or COM2 serial port on the computer. RS-232C PC serial cable Conversion connector for Macintosh B DOS/V A Apple Macintosh: Connect the conversion connector for Macintosh to the printer port or modem port on the computer. B DOS/V: Connect the PC connection cable for DOS/V to the conversion connector for Macintosh connected to the serial port. E Processing Images on Personal Computer D-SUB 9-Pin serial port C-2500L RS-232C PC serial cable 4 Open the camera's connector cover. 5 Connect the other end of the PC connection cable to the camera's 5 communication connector. 6 Set the camera's mode dial to To the computer . 7 Turn ON the power to the camera. 8 Turn ON the power to the computer and start up CAMEDIA Master 1.11. Communications connector 6 NOTE · Using AC adaptor is recommended when connecting the camera to the computer. E-67 Transferring Images to a Personal Computer Transferring Images via Provided CAMEDIA Master 1.11 By installing the provided software (CAMEDIA Master1.11), you can download images to a computer via the serial cable and access the following functions. For installation and operation, refer to the CAMEDIA Master 1.11's online manual. Image download Image download via the RS-232C cable, as well as support for adding/canceling Protection, picture erase, date set, and others. Image viewer Single and Index display, Slide-Show, and easy image storage. Format exchange Image rotation, format exchange and file renaming can be done from the index window. Image processing Rotation (90° clockwise, 90° counterclockwise, 180°, desired angle), changing the number of colors, size change, text insertion, and filtering (brightness, contrast, color balance, sharpness). Printing In addition to single prints, single prints with dates, index prints, and layout prints (automatic layout of 3, 4, and 6 shots) are also available. MEMO Features supported are slightly different from those of the respective software. For operation, refer to the software's online manual. A A Transferring Directly via PC Card Adapter for SmartMedia PC Card Adapter The image data in the SmartMedia can be directly transferred to a personal computer* equipped with a PC card (PCMCIA) slot or an external PC card reader/writer, using the optional PC Card Adapter. *For more information, please contact our Customer Service Centre. B B Transferring Directly via PC Card Adapter for CompactFlash CompactFlash Adapter The image data in the CompactFlash can be directly transferred to a personal computer* equipped with a PC card (PCMCIA) slot or an external PC card reader/writer, using the optional CompactFlash Adapter. *For more information, please contact our Customer Service Centre. C Transferring Directly from SmartMedia via FlashPath C FlashPath Floppydisk Adapter The picture data in the SmartMedia can be directly transferred to a compatible personal computer* equipped with a 3.5"FDD, using the optional FlashPath FIoppydisk Adapter. *For more information, please contact our Customer Service Centre. E-68 Viewing Images Stored on the Card on Your Computer You can view images stored on SmartMedia/CompactFlash memory card via the CAMEDIA Master 1.11. 1 1 Start the CAMEDIA Master 1.11 installed on the computer. 2 Click on "My Camera" icon. A thumbnail index of stored images will be displayed. 2 3 Place the cursor on the desired image and double-click on it. This will magnify and display the selected image. MEMO To switch the SmartMedia and the CompactFlash, operate with the camera. Operating with a computer is not possible. E Processing Images on Personal Computer 3 Read Images Stored on the Card to Your Computer The CAMEDIA Master 1.11 reads images stored on the card to your computer. 1 1 Start the CAMEDIA Master 1.11 installed on the computer. 2 Select [Download All Image] from [camera] of the menu bar. The computer will start reading images from the card inserted to the camera. MEMO · You can view via such application software as graphics software like Paint Shop Pro/Photo Shop which support JPEG, or Internet Browsers like Netscape Communicator/Microsoft Internet Explorer as well as the CAMEDIA Master 1.11 that comes with the camera. 2 E-69 Processing Images via Software on Your Computer You can process images (changing tones, comp ...