User manual MINOLTA DIMAGE 5

9224-2773-11 H-A106 E INSTRUCTION MANUAL BEFORE YOU BEGIN Thank you for purchasing this Minolta digital camera. Please take the time to read through this instruction manual so you can enjoy all the features of your new camera. This manual contains information regarding products introduced before June, 2001. To obtain compatibility information for products released after this date, contact a Minolta Service Facility. Check the packing list before using this product. If any items are missing, immediately contact your local camera dealer. Minolta DiMAGE digital camera AA alkaline batteries (set of four) Neck strap for DiMAGE 7/5 NS-DG7 Lens shade for DiMAGE 7/5 DLS-7 16MB CompactFlash card Video cable for DiMAGE 7/5 VC-100 USB cable for DiMAGE 7/5 USB-100 DiMAGE software CD-ROM DiMAGE Image Viewer Utility version 1.1 instruction manual Camera manual Quick Reference Guide Warranty card Because the low performance of alkaline batteries with digital cameras, the use of Ni-MH batteries is recommended. 2 FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE Read and understand all warnings and cautions before using this product. WARNING Using batteries improperly can cause them to leak harmful solutions, overheat, or explode which may damage property or cause personal injury. Do not ignore the following warnings. · Only use the batteries specified in this instruction manual. · Do not install the batteries with the polarity (+/­) reversed. · Do not use batteries which show wear or damage. · Do not expose batteries to fire, high temperatures, water, or moisture. · Do not attempt to short or disassemble batteries. · Do not store batteries near or in metallic products. · Do not mix batteries of different types, brands, ages, or charge levels. · Do not charge alkaline batteries. · When recharging rechargeable batteries, only use the recommended charger. · Do not use leaking batteries. If fluid from the batteries enters your eye, immediately rinse the eye with plenty of fresh water and contact a doctor. If fluid from the batteries makes contact with your skin or clothing, wash the area thoroughly with water. · Use only the specified AC adaptor within the voltage range indicated on the adaptor unit. An inappropriate adaptor or current may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. · Do not disassemble this product. Electric shock may cause injury if a high voltage circuit inside the product is touched. · Immediately remove the batteries or unplug the AC adaptor and discontinue use if the camera is dropped or subjected to an impact in which the interior, especially the flash unit, is exposed. The flash has a high voltage circuit which may cause an electric shock resulting in injury. The continued use of a damaged product or part may cause injuries or fire. 3 FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE · Keep batteries or small parts that could be swallowed away from infants. Contact a doctor immediately if an object is swallowed. · Store this product out of reach of children. Be careful when around children, not to harm them with the product or parts. · Do not fire the flash directly into the eyes. It may damage eyesight. · Do not fire the flash at vehicle operators. It may cause a distraction or temporary blindness which may lead to an accident. · Do not use the monitor while operating a vehicle or walking. It may result in injury or an accident. · Do not use this product in a humid environment, or operate this product with wet hands. If liquid enters the product, immediately remove the batteries or unplug the AC adaptor and discontinue use. The continued use of a product exposed to liquids may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. · Do not use the product near inflammable gases or liquids such as gasoline, benzine, or paint thinner. Do not use inflammable products such as alcohol, benzine, or paint thinner to clean the product. The use of inflammable cleaners and solvents may cause an explosion or fire. · When unplugging the AC adaptor, do not pull on the power cord. Hold the adaptor unit when removing it from an outlet. · Do not damage, twist, modify, heat, or place heavy objects on the AC adaptor cord. A damaged cord may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. · If the product emits a strange odor, heat, or smoke, discontinue use. Immediately remove the batteries taking care not to burn yourself as the batteries become hot with use. The continued use of a damaged product or part may cause injuries or fire. · Take the product to a Minolta Service Facility when repairs are required 4 CAUTION · Do not use or store the product in a hot or humid environment such as the glove compartment or trunk of a car. It may damage the product and batteries which may result in burns or injuries caused by heat, fire, explosion, or leaking battery fluid. · If batteries are leaking, discontinue use of the product. · The camera temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns. · Burns may result if the CompactFlash card or batteries are removed immediately after extended periods of use. Turn the camera off and wait for it to cool. · Do not fire the flash while it is in contact with people or objects. The flash unit discharges a large amount of energy which may cause burns. · Do not apply pressure to the LCD monitor. A damaged monitor may cause injury, and the liquid from the monitor may cause inflammation. If liquid from the monitor makes contact with skin wash the area with fresh water. If liquid from the monitor comes in contact with the eyes, immediately rinse the eyes with plenty of water and contact a doctor. · The rim of the lens hood can cause injury. Take care not to accidentally strike anyone with the camera when the lens hood is attached. · When using the AC adaptor, insert the plug securely into the electrical outlet. · Do not use if the AC adaptor cord is damaged. · Do not cover the AC adaptor. A fire may result. · Do not obstruct access to the AC adaptor; this can hinder the unplugging of the unit in emergencies. · Unplug the AC adaptor when cleaning or when the product is not in use. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Names of parts Camera body ...........................................................................................................................10 Data panel ...............................................................................................................................13 EVF and LCD monitor display .................................................................................................14 Getting up and running.........................................................................................................................15 Camera-shake warning ...........................................................................................................15 Attaching the camera strap .....................................................................................................16 Removing the lens cap ............................................................................................................16 Attaching the lens hood...........................................................................................................17 Inserting batteries....................................................................................................................18 Inserting the CompactFlash card ............................................................................................18 Handling the camera ...............................................................................................................19 Turning on the camera and displays .......................................................................................19 Taking pictures.........................................................................................................................20 Using the built-in flash .............................................................................................................21 Flash range - automatic operation...........................................................................................21 Viewing and deleting pictures in quick view ............................................................................22 Basic operation ....................................................................................................................................23 Changing batteries ..................................................................................................................24 Battery condition indicators .....................................................................................................25 Auto power save ......................................................................................................................25 External power supplies (sold separately)...............................................................................26 Changing the CompactFlash card...........................................................................................26 Setting the camera to record images automatically ................................................................28 EVF and LCD monitor display .................................................................................................28 Basic recording operation........................................................................................................29 Focus lock................................................................................................................................30 Focus signals...........................................................................................................................31 Special focusing situations ......................................................................................................31 Display controls - recording mode...........................................................................................32 Quick view ...............................................................................................................................34 Deleting images in quick view.....................................................................................35 Recording mode - advanced operation ................................................................................................36 What is an Ev? What is a stop? ..............................................................................................36 Pro-auto button ........................................................................................................................37 Digital-subject-program button.................................................................................................38 Setting the function dial ...........................................................................................................40 Image size ...............................................................................................................................42 6 Image quality ...........................................................................................................................43 About super-fine and RAW image quality...................................................................44 Image-file size and CompactFlash card capacity....................................................................45 Exposure modes......................................................................................................................46 Program - P ................................................................................................................47 Program shift....................................................................................................47 Aperture priority - A ....................................................................................................48 Shutter priority - S.......................................................................................................49 Manual exposure - M ..................................................................................................50 Drive modes ............................................................................................................................51 Continuous advance ...................................................................................................52 Self-timer.....................................................................................................................53 Bracketing ...................................................................................................................54 Exposure bracketing ........................................................................................54 Digital Enhanced Bracketing............................................................................55 Interval ........................................................................................................................56 White balance..........................................................................................................................58 Automatic white balance .............................................................................................59 Preset white balance ..................................................................................................59 Custom white balance ................................................................................................60 Camera sensitivity - ISO..........................................................................................................61 Digital Effects Controller ..........................................................................................................62 Exposure compensation .............................................................................................63 Contrast compensation ...............................................................................................64 Color-saturation compensation ...................................................................................65 Autofocus areas and control....................................................................................................66 Flex Focus Point ......................................................................................................................67 Autofocus modes .....................................................................................................................68 Macro mode.............................................................................................................................69 Digital zoom .............................................................................................................................70 Manual focus ...........................................................................................................................71 Electronic magnification (DiMAGE 7 only)...............................................................................71 Electronic viewfinder................................................................................................................72 Diopter adjustment......................................................................................................72 Automatic monitor amplification (DiMAGE 7 only)......................................................72 AF/AEL button .........................................................................................................................73 Metering modes.......................................................................................................................74 Flash metering.........................................................................................................................75 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS Flash modes ............................................................................................................................76 Flash compensation ................................................................................................................78 Flash range..............................................................................................................................79 Attaching a Minolta accessory flash (sold separately) ............................................................79 Navigating the recording-mode menu .....................................................................................80 Recording-mode menu - Basic................................................................................................82 Recording-mode menu - Custom 1 .........................................................................................83 Recording-mode menu - Custom 2 .........................................................................................84 Memory - storing camera settings...........................................................................................85 Sharpness ...............................................................................................................................86 Color mode ..............................................................................................................................86 Data imprinting ........................................................................................................................87 Electronic keyboard .................................................................................................................88 Instant playback.......................................................................................................................89 Movie recording .......................................................................................................................90 Bulb exposures ........................................................................................................................92 Attaching a remote cord (sold separately) ..............................................................................92 Playback mode - viewing and editing images ......................................................................................93 Viewing pictures ......................................................................................................................94 Viewing movies........................................................................................................................95 Deleting images.......................................................................................................................95 Single-frame playback display .................................................................................................96 Movie playback display............................................................................................................96 Histogram display ....................................................................................................................97 Display controls - playback mode............................................................................................98 Enlarged playback .................................................................................................................100 Navigating the playback-mode menu ....................................................................................102 Playback-mode menu - basic ................................................................................................104 Deleting images ........................................................................................................104 Locking images .........................................................................................................105 Changing the index playback format ........................................................................105 Playback-mode menu - Custom 1 (Slide Show)....................................................................106 Playback-mode menu - Custom 2 .........................................................................................108 About DPOF .............................................................................................................108 Creating a DPOF print order.....................................................................................108 Ordering an index print .............................................................................................109 Canceling a DPOF print order ..................................................................................109 Copying images ........................................................................................................110 8 Frame-selection screen .........................................................................................................111 Viewing images on a television .............................................................................................112 Setup mode - controlling the camera's operation...............................................................................113 Navigating the setup menu....................................................................................................114 Setup menu - basic ...............................................................................................................116 EVF and LCD monitor brightness.............................................................................116 Formatting CompactFlash cards...............................................................................116 Auto power save .......................................................................................................117 Beep..........................................................................................................................117 Language ..................................................................................................................117 Setup menu - Custom 1 ........................................................................................................118 File number memory.................................................................................................118 Select folder ..............................................................................................................118 New folder.................................................................................................................119 Setup menu - Custom 2 ........................................................................................................120 Reset default.............................................................................................................120 EVF auto switch ........................................................................................................121 Setting the date and time..........................................................................................122 Setting the date format .............................................................................................122 Video output..............................................................................................................122 Data-transfer mode.............................................................................................................................123 Connecting the camera to a computer ..................................................................................124 Connecting to Windows 98....................................................................................................126 Automatic installation ................................................................................................126 Manual installation ....................................................................................................127 Connecting to Mac OS 8.6 ....................................................................................................129 QuickTime 4.1 system requirements .....................................................................................129 CompactFlash card folder organisation.................................................................................130 Auto power save (Data-transfer mode)..................................................................................131 Disconnecting the camera from the computer ......................................................................132 Changing the CompactFlash card (data-transfer mode) .......................................................134 Appendix ..................................................................................................................................135 A short guide to photography ................................................................................................136 System accessories...............................................................................................................138 Troubleshooting .....................................................................................................................139 When using filters with the DiMAGE 7 .....................................................................141 Care and storage...................................................................................................................142 Technical specifications/NOTE ABOUT BATTERIES ............................................................146 9 NAMES OF PARTS CAMERA BODY * This camera is a sophisticated optical instrument. Care should be taken to keep these surfaces clean. Please read the care and storage instructions in the back of this manual (p. 142). Data panel (p. 13) Digital-subject-program button (p. 38) Built-in flash (p. 21) Focal-length index Pro-auto button (p. 37) Strap eyelet (p. 16) Zooming ring1 Control dial Shutter-release button Lens* Focusing ring (p. 71) Card-slot door (p. 26) The USB port is located behind the card-slot door. Self-timer lamp (p. 53) 1. The focal-length scale on the zooming ring is given in 35mm focal-length equivalents. Both cameras have a 7.2 - 50.8 mm Minolta GT lens, but because of the CCD size the DiMAGE 7 has an equivalent zooming range of 28 - 200mm and the DiMAGE 5 has an equivalent of 35 - 250mm. For more on equivalent focal lengths, see page 135. 10 Playback mode (p. 93) Recording mode (p. 29) Movie mode (p. 90) Setup mode (p. 113) Data-transfer mode (p. 123) Display mode switch Display information button (p. 32, 98) Accessory shoe Eyepiece sensors* (p. 32) Electronic viewfinder* (EVF) (p. 72) CCD plane Dial release Main switch/Mode dial AF/AE lock button (p. 73) Menu button Access lamp LCD monitor* (p. 14) Controller Magnification button Remote-control terminal cover (p. 92) Battery-chamber lock (p. 24) QV/ Delete button (p. 34) DC/Video-out terminal cover (p. 26, 112) 11 NAMES OF PARTS Exposure modes (p. 46) Image quality (p. 43) Image size (p. 42) Drive modes (p. 51) White balance (p. 58) Camera sensitivity (p. 61) Function button Macro release (p. 69) Function dial (p. 40) Diopter-adjustment dial (p. 72) Focus-mode (AF/MF) button (p. 71) Tripod socket Digital Effects Controller (p. 62) Digital-effects button Digital-effects switch Contrast compensation (p. 64) Exposure compensation (p. 63) Color-saturation compensation (p. 65) 12 DATA PANEL White-balance indicators (p. 58) · Daylight, tungsten, fluorescent, cloudy, and Custom. Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 61) Aperture/Exposure-compensation/ Flash-compensation display Shutter-speed/ Camera-sensitivity display Subject-program indicators (p. 38) Exposure-mode indicators (p. 46) Battery-condition indicator (p. 25) Digital-subject-program icons (p. 38) Drive-mode indicators (p. 51) · Bracketing · Self-timer · Single-frame advance · Continuous advance Red-eye reduction indicator (p. 76) Manual-focus indicator (p. 71) Image-size display Image-quality display Frame counter Contrast indicator Color-saturation indicator Flash-compensation indicator (p. 42) (p. 43) (p. 42) (p. 64) (p. 65) (p. 78) 13 NAMES OF PARTS EVF AND LCD MONITOR DISPLAY a. Flash-mode indicators (p. 76) b. Flash signals (p. 21) c. Mode indicator d. Flash-compensation display (p. 78) e. Sharpness display (p. 86) f. Contrast-compensation display (p. 64) g. Color-saturation-compensation display (p. 65) h. Exposure-compensation display (p. 63) i. White-balance indicators (p. 58) j. Exposure-mode/Digital-subject-program indicators (p. 46/38) k. Metering-mode indicators (p. 74) l. Shutter-speed display m. Aperture display n. Camera-shake warning (p. 15) 14 o. Camera-sensitivity (ISO) display (p. 61) p. Manual-focus indicator (p. 71) q. Focus signals (p. 31) r. Frame counter (p. 42) s. Drive-mode indicators (p. 51) t. Macro-mode indicator (p. 69) u. Battery-condition indicator (p. 25) v. Image-quality indicator (p. 43) w. Image-size indicator (p. 42) x. Digital-zoom (Electronic-magnification) indicator (p. 70) 1. Focus frame 2. Spot metering area (p. 74) 3. AF sensors (p. 29) 4. Flex Focus Point (p. 67) GETTING UP AND RUNNING This is a quick reference guide so that the camera can be used as soon as possible. However, it is recommended that the entire manual be read to properly operate the camera and to achieve the best results. CAMERA-SHAKE WARNING If the shutter speed falls below the point where the camera can be hand held safely, the camera-shake warning will appear in the EVF and LCD monitor. Camera shake is slight blurring caused by subtle hand motion and is more pronounced at the telephoto setting of the lens than at the wide-angle setting. The warning appears at approximately the reciprocal of the focal length used; if the lens is set at 100mm, the camera shake warning will appear at 1/100 second. Although the warning appears, the shutter can still be released. If the warning appears, the following steps can be taken: · Place the camera on a tripod. · Use the built-in flash (p. 21). · Increase the camera sensitivity (ISO) (p. 61). · Zoom the lens towards the wide-angle position. 15 GETTING UP AND RUNNING ATTACHING THE CAMERA STRAP Attach the camera strap to the strap eyelets as shown. · Always keep the camera strap around your neck incase you drop the camera. 1 2 REMOVING THE LENS CAP Using your thumb and index finger, pinch the inside or outside tabs of the lens cap to remove. · When the camera is not in use, always replace the lens cap. 16 ATTACHING THE LENS HOOD The lens hood is used to control stray light from entering the lens and causing flare. When using the camera under bright light, the use of the lens hood is recommended. The lens hood should not be used with the built-in flash as it can cause a shadow. To mount the lens hood, align the rectangular raised line on the rim of the hood with the focal-length index on the top of the lens barrel Slide the hood onto the end of the lens and turn it 90° clockwise until it clicks and the circular raised dot is aligned with the focallength index. 1 2 · When mounted correctly, the large petals of the lens hood should be to the top and bottom. · Never force the lens hood. If it does not fit, check its orientation. · To detach the lens hood, turn it 90° counterclockwise and remove. The lens hood can be reverse mounted when the camera is not is use. With one of the large petals to the top, slide the hood onto the end of the lens. Turn it 90° clockwise until it clicks. · The lens hood can be attached or removed with the lens cap on the camera. · To detach the lens hood, turn it 90° counterclockwise and remove. 17 GETTING UP AND RUNNING INSERTING BATTERIES Open the battery-chamber door by moving the battery-chamber lock to the open position . Insert the batteries. · Make sure the positive and negative battery terminals are orientated as illustrated on the diagram in the battery chamber. INSERTING THE COMPACTFLASH CARD Open the card-slot door (1). 2 1 Insert the CompactFlash card (2) and fold down the card-eject lever. · Insert the card so that the face is toward the front of the camera. Always push the card in straight, never at an angle. Never force the card. If the card does not fit, check its orientation. 18 HANDLING CAMERA While using the electronic viewfinder (EVF) or LCD monitor, grip the camera firmly with your right hand while supporting the body with the palm of your left hand. Keep your elbows at your side and your feet shoulder-width apart to hold the camera steadily. The EVF can be tilted between 0° and 90°. This is useful for low-level camera positions. TURNING ON THE CAMERA AND DISPLAYS 2 While pushing in the dial release (1), turn the mode dial (2) to the still-image recording position. 1 The display switch at the back of the camera controls which display will activate during camera operation. Turn the switch to the auto-display position (A); the display will alternate between the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and LCD monitor automatically. Display switch 19 GETTING UP AND RUNNING TAKING PICTURES With the mode dial set to still-image recording, the camera will be on and the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and LCD monitor will activate. The zooming ring can be used to frame your subject. The effect of the zoom is immediately displayed on the EVF and LCD monitor. Compose the image in the EVF or on LCD monitor taking care to place the subject within the focus frame. Press the shutter-release button all the way down to take the picture. · The access lamp will glow indicating the image data is being written to the CompactFlash card. Never remove the CompactFlash card while data is being transferred. 20 USING THE BUILT-IN FLASH In low-light conditions or indoors, the flash is needed to illuminate the subject and reduce blurring through camera shake. The flash can also be used as a fill light in direct sunlight to soften harsh shadows. To use the flash, simply pull up the unit by the tabs on each side. Icons will appear in the upper left corner of the EVF and LCD monitor (see chart below). · The flash position must be set manually. · The flash will always fire regardless of the amount of ambient light. · Always remove the lens hood when using the built-in flash. The hood may cast a shadow if mounted. Flash warning. In backlit situations, the icon will appear to recommend the use of the flash. When pressing the shutter-release button partway down, the red flash icon indicates the flash is charging. When pressing the shutter-release button partway down, the white flash icon indicates the flash is ready to fire. After taking the picture, a blue flash icon will appear if the flash properly exposed the subject. FLASH RANGE - AUTOMATIC OPERATION The camera will automatically control the flash output. For well-exposed images, the subject must be within the flash range. Because of the optical system, the flash range is not the same at the lens' wide-angle position as it is at the telephoto position. Wide-angle position Telephoto position 0.5m ~ 3.8m (1.6 ft. ~ 12.5 ft.) 0.5m ~ 3.0m (1.6 ft. ~ 9.8 ft.) 21 GETTING UP AND RUNNING VIEWING AND DELETING PICTURES IN QUICK VIEW Captured images can be viewed in recording mode. Simply press the QV/delete button to access the images, and use the controller to scroll through the pictures on the CompactFlash card. 1 Press the QV/delete button to In quick view, images can also be deleted. Care playback the recorded images. should be taken when deleting image; once deleted it is impossible to recover the picture. 2 Use the left/right keys of the controller to scroll When selecting an image for deletion, a through the images. confirmation screen will appear before the operation is executed. For more information about quick view, see page 34. 3 To delete the displayed image, press the QV/delete button. · A confirmation screen will appear. 4 Use the left/right keys to highlight "YES." · Choosing "NO" will cancel the operation. 5 Menu button Pressing the controller will delete the image. 6 Press the menu button to return to the recording mode. Controller QV/delete button 22 BASIC OPERATION This section covers the basic operation of the camera. Please thoroughly familiarise yourself with the operations in this section before moving on to other sections in the manual. 23 BASIC OPERATION CHANGING BATTERIES This digital camera uses four AA-size batteries. Ni-MH batteries can be used, and are recommended as they will offer longer life. When using Ni-MH batteries, fully recharge them with a battery charger suitable for Nickel Metal Hydride cells. Please consult your vendor about an appropriate charger. When replacing batteries, check that the mode dial is in the off position. Open the battery-chamber door by moving the batterychamber lock to the open position . Insert the batteries. · Make sure the positive and negative battery terminals are orientated as illustrated on the diagram in the battery chamber. Close the battery-chamber door and slide the lock lever to the close position . 24 BATTERY-POWER INDICATORS This camera is equipped with an automatic battery-condition indicator. When the camera is on, the battery-condition indicator appears on the data panel and monitors. The monitor icon will change from white to red when battery power is low. If the data panel and monitors are blank, the batteries may be dead or installed incorrectly. Full-battery Icon - The batteries are fully charged. This icon is displayed for five seconds on the monitors when the camera is turned on. The icon remains on the data panel. Low battery warning - Battery power is very low, but all functions are operational. The battery should be replaced as soon as possible. This warning automatically appears and remains on the display until the batteries are changed. Blinking low battery icon - When displayed on the data panel with no other icons, power is insufficient for camera operation. The shutter will not release. Replace the batteries immediately. AUTO POWER SAVE To conserve battery power, the camera will turn off displays and unnecessary functions if an operation is not made within a certain period. The LCD monitor will turn off after thirty seconds. The EVF and data panel turn off after one minute. To restore the displays, press the shutter-release button partway down or press the displayinformation button. The length of the auto-power-save period for the EVF and data panel can be changed in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 114). 25 BASIC OPERATION EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLIES (SOLD SEPARATELY) The AC Adaptor allows the camera to be powered from an electrical household outlet. During periods of heavy use, the AC Adaptor can conserve battery power. Its use is recommended when the camera is interfaced with a computer. AC Adaptor model AC1L is for use in North America, and AC-2L is for use in all other areas. The External High-power Battery Pack Kit EBP-100 is a portable source of power for the camera. This battery pack will significantly extend the operating time of the camera. Do not change the power supply while the camera is on. Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies. Remove the DC terminal cover by using the notch on the right. · The cover is attached to the body to prevent loss. Always remove exhausted batteries before connecting an external power supply! Insert the mini plug of the AC adaptor or battery pack into DC terminal. Insert the AC adaptor plug into an electrical outlet. CHANGING THE COMPACTFLASH CARD A CompactFlash card must be inserted for the camera to operate. If a card has not been inserted, a "no-card" warning will automatically be displayed on the monitors. IBM Microdrives are compatible with this camera. For recording media care and storage, see page 143. 26 Always turn off the camera and confirm the access lamp is not lit before inserting or removing a CompactFlash card otherwise the card may be damaged, and data lost. 1 2 3 4 5 Open the card-slot door in the direction indicated (1). To eject a CompactFlash card, lift (2) then press (3) the card-eject lever. The card can now be pulled out. · Take care when removing the card as it becomes hot with use. Insert the CompactFlash card into the card slot until the card-eject lever pops out (4). · Insert the card so the face is toward the front of the camera. Always push the card in straight, never at an angle. Never force the card. If the card does not fit, check that it is orientated correctly. Fold the card-eject lever down as shown (5) and close the card-slot door. If the card-not-recognised message appears, the inserted card in the camera may need to be formatted. A CompactFlash card used in another camera may need to be formatted before being used. If the "unable-to-use-card" message appears, the card is not compatible with the camera and should not be formatted. A card can be formatted in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 116). When a card is formatted, all the data on the card is permanently erased. 27 BASIC OPERATION SETTING THE CAMERA TO RECORD IMAGES AUTOMATICALLY 2 While holding in the dial release (1), turn the mode dial to still-image recording. Press the pro-auto button (2) to reset the programmed and automatic functions. All camera operations are now fully automatic. The autofocus, exposure, and imaging systems will work together to bring professional results effortlessly. 1 EVF AND LCD MONITOR DISPLAY Focus frame Mode indicator Image-size indicator (p. 42) Image-quality indicator (p. 43) Metering-mode indicators (p. 74) Exposure-mode/Digitalsubject-program indicators (p. 46/38) Shutter-speed display Drive-mode indicators (p. 51) Frame counter (p. 45) Focus signals (p. 31) Aperture display 28 BASIC RECORDING OPERATION With the mode dial set to still-image recording, the camera will be on and the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and LCD monitor will activate. Place the subject within the focus frame. · For off centre subjects use the focus-lock function (p. 30). · Make sure the subject is within the focus range of the lens: 0.5m - . For subjects closer than 0.5m, use the macro function (p. 69). Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) or press and hold the AF/AEL button (2) to lock the focus and exposure. 1 2 3 · The focus signals (p. 31) in the monitors will confirm that the image is in focus. If the focus signal is red, the camera was unable to focus on the subject. Repeat the previous steps until the signal is white. · When the focus is set, an AF sensor symbol will briefly appear on the live image to indicate the point of focus. · The shutter speed and aperture value will change from white to black indicating the exposure is locked. Press the shutter-release button all the way down (3) to take the picture. · The access lamp will glow indicating the image data is being written to the CompactFlash card. Never remove a CompactFlash card while data is being transferred. 29 BASIC OPERATION FOCUS LOCK The focus-lock function is used when the subject is off-centre and outside the focus frame. Focus lock may also be used when a special focusing situation prevents the camera from focusing on the subject. Focus lock can be controlled one of two ways. The shutter-release button can be pressed and held partway down or the AF/AEL button at the back of the camera can be pressed and held. Place the subject within the focus frame. Press and hold the shutter-release button partway down or press the AF/AEL button. · The focus signals will indicate that the focus is locked. The shutter speed and aperture value will change from white to black indicating the exposure is locked. · When the focus is set, an AF sensor will briefly appear on the live image to indicate the point of focus. Without lifting your finger from the shutter-release button or the AF/AEL button, recompose the subject within the image area. Press the shutter-release button all the way down to take the picture. The function and operation of the AF/AEL button can be changed in the Custom 1 section of the recording-mode menu (p. 80). The Flex Focus Point can also be used for off-centre subjects (p. 67). 30 FOCUS SIGNALS This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system. The focus signals in the lower right corner of the EVF and LCD monitor indicate the focus status. For more information on autofocus modes see p. 68. Focus icon: white Focus icon: red Focus confirmed. Cannot focus. The subject is too close or a special situation is preventing the AF system from focusing. · The shutter can be released even if the camera cannot focus on the subject. · When the AF system cannot focus, the focus is set to infinity. When the flash is in use, the focus is set between 3.0 and 3.8m. In this case, focus lock can be used with an object at the same distance as the main subject or the camera can be focused manually (p. 71). SPECIAL FOCUSING SITUATIONS The camera may not be able to focus in certain situations. If the autofocus system cannot focus on a subject, the focus icon will turn red. In this situation the focus-lock function can be used to focus on another object at the same distance as your main subject, and then the image can be recomposed to take the picture. The subject is too dark. The subject in the focus frame is low in contrast. Two subjects at different distances overlap in the focus frame. The subject is near a very bright object or area. 31 BASIC OPERATION DISPLAY CONTROLS - RECORDING MODE Located on the back of the camera, the display-mode switch and the displayinformation button controls on which monitor the image is displayed and what information is included in the display. The three position switch allows the choice between automatic display and setting the display to the EVF or LCD monitor. Auto display - the camera will automatically change between displaying the live image in the EVF or on the LCD monitor. The EVF's eye sensors monitor if the EVF is being used and switches the display location accordingly. EVF display - the live image will only be displayed in the electronic viewfinder. Under bright-light, the image is easier to see in the EVF than on the LCD monitor. LCD monitor display - the live image will only be displayed on the LCD monitor. If battery power is a concern, have the eye sensor activate the EVF when in use, but not the LCD monitor. The auto-display function can be changed in the Custom 2 section of the setup menu (p. 114). 32 In the centre of the display switch, the display-information button controls what information is displayed with the live image. Each time the button is pressed the display cycles to the next format: full display (shooting data, warnings, and focus frame), warnings and focus frame, live image only. Full display Warnings and focus frame · A warning will be displayed if battery power is low, autofocus cannot lock, or exposure is beyond the aperture and shutter-speed range. Live image only 33 BASIC OPERATION QUICK VIEW Captured images can be viewed in recording mode. Simply press the QV/delete button to access the images, and use the controller to scroll through the pictures on the CompactFlash card. Images can be displayed with various information: date, frame number, printing status, and lock status. A histogram of the image with shooting data can be displayed. For more information on the histogram display, see page 97. 1 2 Press the QV/delete button to play back the recorded images. Use the left/right keys of the controller to scroll through the images. 3 Press the up key to see the histogram of the displayed image. · Pressing the down key returns to quick view. 4 To return to the recording mode, press the menu button . Menu button Controller QV/delete button 34 QUICK-VIEW DISPLAY Mode indicator Image size (p. 42) Image quality (p. 43) To view the histogram of the displayed image, press the up key of the controller (p. 97). Time of capture Date of capture Lock icon (p. 105) Frame number/ total number of images Print icon (p. 108) DELETING IMAGES IN QUICK VIEW In quick view, the displayed image can be deleted. When selecting an image for deletion, a confirmation screen will appear before the operation is executed. Once deleted, an image cannot be recovered. Care should always be taken when deleting images. 1 2 To delete a displayed image, press the QV/delete button. · A confirmation screen will appear. Use the left/right keys to highlight "Yes." · "No" will cancel the operation. Delete this frame? Yes No 3 Pressing the controller will execute the command on the confirmation screen. · The camera will return to quick view. Confirmation screen 35 RECORDING MODE ADVANCED OPERATION This section contains detailed information on the camera's recording functions and operation. Read the sections pertaining to your interest and need. The `setting the function dial' (p.40), Digital Effects Controller (p. 62), and the `navigating the recording-mode menu' (p. 80) sections cover setting most of the advanced features in this camera. Each of these sections are followed by detailed descriptions of the settings. WHAT IS AN EV? WHAT IS A STOP? Ev stands for exposure value. Stop refers to click stops in mechanical cameras. A change of one Ev or one stop will adjust the exposure calculated by the camera by a factor of two. Adjustments to exposure in the A, S, and M exposure modes are made in 1/2 stop increments or 0.5 Ev. Change in Ev +2.0 Ev +1.0 Ev 0.0 Ev ­1.0 Ev ­2.0 Ev 36 Change in stops +2 stops +1 stop ­1 stop ­2 stops Adjustment to exposure 4X as much light 2X as much light 1/2 as much light 1/4 as much light Calculated exposure PRO-AUTO BUTTON Simply pressing the pro-auto button (1) resets the camera to programmed and automatic functions. The camera's systems work together to bring professional results leaving the operator free to concentrate on aesthetic decisions. 1 The pro-auto button only affects functions in the recording mode. The button has a limited effect in the movie mode; exposure, contrast, and colour-saturation compensation as well as the focus mode is reset. Digital subject program (p. 38) Exposure mode (p. 46) Drive mode (p. 51) Focus mode (p. 68, 71) Autofocus area (p. 66) White balance (p. 58) Metering mode (p. 74) Exposure compensation (p. 63) Contrast compensation (p. 64) Colour-saturation compensation (p. 65) Flash metering (p. 75) Flash compensation (p. 78) Flash mode (p. 76) Sharpness (p. 86) Cancelled Program Single-frame advance Single AF Wide Auto white balance Multi-segment metering 0.0 0 0 ADI metering 0.0 Fill or red-eye reduction* Normal 37 * The flash mode is reset to whichever of the two modes was set last. RECORDING MODE DIGITAL-SUBJECT-PROGRAM BUTTON The subject-program button (1) optimises the camera's performance for various conditions and subjects. Exposure, white-balance, and imageprocessing systems work in unison for beautiful results. Pressing the subject-program button cycles through the modes: portrait, sport action, sunset, night portrait, text, and the original exposure mode. A pointer will indicate the active subject program. The subject program will remain in effect until it is changed. 1 Portrait Sport action Sunset Night portrait Text Optimised to reproduce warm, soft skin tones and a slight defocusing of the background. Used to capture fast action by maximising shutter speeds and tracking subjects with continuous AF. Optimised to reproduce rich, warm sunsets. For deep, subtle night scenes. When used with flash, the subject and background are balanced. For the crisp reproduction of black text on white backgrounds. 38 While camera performance is optimised for each shooting condition, some changes can be made to camera settings when using subject programs. The autofocus mode can be changed (p. 80). The sport action mode uses continuous AF, the other modes use single AF. The digital effects controller can be used to compensate exposure, contrast, and colour saturation (p. 62). White balance can be changed in all modes except sunset and night portrait (p. 58). Sharpness can be changed in the sport action, sunset, and text modes (p. 80). The metering mode cannot be changed. Shooting tips Portrait - Most portraits look best at long focal lengths. Features are not exaggerated and the background is softer because of a shallower depth of field. Use the built-in flash with strong direct sunlight or backlight to reduce harsh shadows. Sports action - When using a flash, make sure the subject is within the flash range: 0.5 - 3.0m (telephoto). The flash range can be extended by changing the camera sensitivity (p. 79). A monopod is more flexible and compact than a tripod when shooting events. Sunset - When the sun is above the horizon, do not point the camera toward the sun for prolonged periods of time. The intensity of the sun could damage the CCD. Between exposures, turn off the camera or cover the lens. Night portrait - When taking pictures of a landscape at night, use a tripod to eliminating blurring from camera shake. The flash can only be used with close subjects such as with a portrait of a person. When using the flash, ask your subjects not to move after the burst; the shutter will still be open for the background exposure. Text - When taking pictures of small text on a sheet of paper, the macro mode (p. 69) can be used. Use a tripod to eliminate camera shake and ensure the sharpest images. 39 RECORDING MODE SETTING THE FUNCTION DIAL Image size, image quality, exposure modes, drive modes, white balance, and camera sensitivity are controlled by the function dial. Making changes with the function dial is simple. The function dial can only be used for still photography. Turn the function dial to the mode to be changed (1). 1 While pressing the button in the centre of the function dial, turn the control dial near the shutter-release button to change the mode (2). Release the function button to set the mode. · Changes are displayed on the monitors and data panel. 2 SIZE QUAL Image size Image quality Controls the pixel resolution (p. 42). (p. 43). Controls the rate of compression Changes exposure mode Changes drive mode (p. 46). P.A.S.M. Exposure modes DRIVE WB ISO 40 Drive modes White balance Camera sensitivity (p. 51). Changes between automatic, preset, and Custom white balance (p. 58). Changes camera sensitivity (p. 61). Function Dial SIZE Display Setting 2560 X 1920 (2048 X 1536) 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 RAW Super fine Fine Standard Economy Program Aperture priority Shutter priority Manual Single-frame advance Continuous advance Self-timer Bracketing Interval Automatic white balance Daylight Tungsten Fluorescent Cloudy Custom setting Custom calibration Automatic gain Preset camera sensitivity in ISO equivalents. Page 42 42 42 42 43 43 43 43 43 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 56 59 59 59 59 59 60 60 61 61 EVF & Monitor Display QUAL 2560 (2048) 1600 1280 640 RAW S. FIN FINE STD ECON Numbers in brackets are for the DiMAGE 5. Display for the data panel, EVF and LCD monitor are the same unless indicated. P.A.S.M. P A S M DRIVE (No display when set) WB (No display when set) ISO 100, 200, 400, 800. ISO value is displayed 41 RECORDING MODE IMAGE SIZE Changing image size affects the number of pixels in each image. The greater the image size, the larger the file size. Choose image size based on the final use of the image - smaller images will be more suitable for web sites whereas larger sizes will produce higher quality prints. Image size must be set before the picture is taken. Changes made to image size are displayed on the data panel, EVF, and LCD monitor. Image size must be reset manually. See setting the function dial section on page 40. Data panel EVF and LCD monitor Number of pixels (hor. X vert.) Image size FULL UXGA SXGA VGA 2560 (2048)* 1600 1280 640 2560 X 1920 (2048 X1536)* 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 * The number in brackets indicates the value for the DiMAGE 5. ABOUT THE FRAME COUNTER The frame counter indicates the approximate number of images that can be stored on the CompactFlash card at the camera's image quality and size settings. If the settings are changed, the frame counter adjusts accordingly. Because the calculation is based on average file sizes, the actual image may not change the counter or may decrease it by more than one. The frame counter cannot exceed 999. When the number of recordable images exceeds this, 999 will be displayed. The frame counter will continue to count down when the number of recordable images falls below one thousand. 42 IMAGE QUALITY This camera has five image quality settings: raw, super fine, fine, standard, and economy. Always select the desired setting before taking the picture. See `setting the function dial' section on page 40. Image quality controls the rate of compression, but has no effect on the number of pixels in the image. The higher the image quality, the lower the rate of compression and the larger the file sizes. The super-fine mode will produce the highest quality image and the largest image files. If the economical use of the CompactFlash card is important, use the economy mode. Standard image quality is sufficient for normal usage. File formats vary with the image quality setting. Super fine images are saved as a TIFF file. The fine, standard, and economy settings are formatted as a JPEG file. Super fine, fine, standard, and economy files are saved as 24-bit colour or 8-bit monochrome images. RAW creates a file format that can only be read with the DiMAGE Image Viewer Utility software. If the image quality is changed, the data panel will display the approximate number of images that can be recorded at that setting on the installed CompactFlash card. One CompactFlash card can contain images with differing qualities. Data panel EVF and LCD monitor RAW S. FIN FINE STD ECON RAW - unprocessed image data. Super fine - the highest quality image. Fine - high quality image. Standard - the default setting. Economy - the smallest file sizes. 43 RECORDING MODE ABOUT SUPER-FINE AND RAW IMAGE QUALITY Because super-fine and RAW data files are so large, the continuous-advance mode (p.52) cannot be used with these image-quality settings. If the continuous advance is used with either of these settings, only one image will be captured when the shutter-release button is pressed and held. With the bracketing drive mode, the continuous advance is cancelled and the shutter must be released manually for each frame of the bracket. When capturing super fine and RAW images, a delay of between thirty to forty seconds can occur as the image is saved to the CompactFlash card; the monitors will be blank and the access lamp will glow during that period. In the RAW image-quality mode, the image size is set at full and cannot be changed. The image size will not be displayed in the monitor. The digital zoom, enlarged playback, and data imprinting cannot be used. Unlike the other image-quality modes, RAW image data is unprocessed and requires image processing before it can be used. To view the RAW data, the DiMAGE Image Viewer Utility software is required. The utility software can reconstruct the image and apply the same image processing controls as the camera. RAW data is saved as a 12-bit file; the DiMAGE Viewer Utility software can convert this data into 48-bit TIFF files. When the camera is set to RAW image quality, the camera's image processing controls alter the live image displayed in the EVF and on the LCD monitor in recording mode, but have no effect on the stored image. When the image is played back on the camera, image processing is not applied and the colours of the image can look unnatural. When viewed on a computer using the DiMAGE Image Viewer software, the natural colours will be restored. A RAW image is stored with a file header that contains white-balance information, changes made to contrast and saturation with the digital effects controller, any image processing applied in a subjectprogram setting, and changes to sharpness. The colour mode has no effect on the final image; a raw image taken in the black and white mode can be restored to a colour picture. The changes in camera sensitivity are applied to the RAW data; ISO values can be manually set to control noise (p. 62). Note If JPEG or TIFF files are retouched and overwritten with image processing applications that do not support Exif files such as Adobe Photoshop, they can not be read or displayed in the DiMAGE Image Viewer Utility (an error message "File not supported" appears). 44 IMAGE-FILE SIZE AND COMPACTFLASH CARD CAPACITY The number of images that can be stored on a CompactFlash card is determined by the size of the card and the file size of the images. The actual file size is determined by the scene; some subjects can be compressed further than others. The tables below list approximate file sizes based on average file sizes. Approximate file sizes. Image quality Image 2560 X 1920 1600 X 1200 size (2048 X 1536)* 1280 X 960 ­ 3.6MB 0.66MB 0.41MB 0.29MB 640 X 480 ­ 0.96MB 0.27MB 0.2MB 0.15MB RAW Super fine Fine Standard Economy 9.5MB (6.1MB) 14.1MB(9.1MB) 2.1MB (1.6MB) 1.1MB (0.9MB) 0.65MB (0.59MB) ­ 5.6MB 1.0MB 0.6MB 0.38MB Approximate number of images that can be stored on a 16MB CompactFlash card. Image 2560 X 1920 Image 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 size (2048 X 1536)* quality RAW Super fine Fine Standard Economy 1 1 7 15 22 (2) (1) (9) (16) (27) 2 17 33 46 ­ (2) (15) (26) (41) 4 28 50 67 ­ (4) (23) (38) (54) ­ 16 (16) 80 (57) 115 (81) 135 (104) * The figures in parentheses apply to the DiMAGE 5 only. 45 RECORDING MODE EXPOSURE MODES The four exposure modes allow extensive control over image making. Programmed AE gives carefree operation, aperture and shutter priority allow photographers to maximise exposures in different situations, and manual exposure provides complete freedom in controlling the final image. See setting the function dial section on page 40. P A S M Program Aperture priority Shutter priority Manual exposure The camera controls both the shutter speed and aperture. The photographer selects the aperture and the camera sets the appropriate shutter speed. The photographer selects the shutter speed and the camera sets the appropriate aperture. The photographer selects both the shutter speed and aperture. Data panel LCD monitor Exposure modes Shutter speed Aperture All exposure mode icons on the data panel have been shown for clarity. 46 PROGRAM - P The programmed AE exposure control uses luminance and focal-length information to ensure perfect exposures. The sophisticated exposure system allows the photographer the freedom to shoot without having to worry about the technical details of exposure settings. The shutter speed and aperture value of the exposure are displayed on the monitors and data panel. The program line adjusts with the changes in focal length of the zoom lens. The camera is programmed to maximise depth of field in the wide-angle range to provide sharp landscape pictures, and to maximise shutter speed in the telephoto range to minimise camera shake and blurred images. When the shutter speed falls below an acceptable limit for the camera to be hand held, the camera-shake warning appears in the lower left corner of the monitors (p. 15). PROGRAM SHIFT Although exposure calculations can be left to the camera, photographers can still have control over the final exposure with the program-shift function. As described in the basic recording operation (p. 29), press the shutter-release button partway down (1) until the shutter speed and aperture value is displayed. The control dial (2) can then be used to shift the shutter speed and aperture combination; each combination will give the optimum exposure. The built-in flash cannot be used with program shift. The camera gives priority to the flash exposure; once the flash is raised, any changes made will the program shift will be cancelled. Pressing the function button will also reset the program shift. 1 2 47 RECORDING MODE APERTURE PRIORITY - A The photographer selects the aperture and the camera sets the appropriate shutter speed to ensure correct exposure. When A mode is selected, the aperture value on the monitor and EVF will turn blue. Turn the control dial (1) to set the desired aperture value. Press the shutter-release button to activate the exposure system (2); the corresponding shutter speed will be displayed. The aperture values can be changed by half stop increments between f/2.8 and f/8 at the lens' wide-angle position and f/3.5 to f/9.5 at the lens' telephoto position. If the aperture value is beyond the shutter-speed range, the shutter-speed display will blink on the data panel and turn red on the monitors. When the shutter speed falls below an acceptable limit for the camera to be hand held, a warning appears in the lower left corner of the EVF and LCD monitor. When the warning appears, decrease the aperture value until the warning disappears or place the camera on a tripod. Because the shutter speeds can be adjusted in fine steps, the same shutter speed maybe displayed when the aperture is changed. With the camera sensitivity (ISO) set to auto, the shutter speed may not change when the aperture is adjusted. 2 1 48 SHUTTER PRIORITY - S The photographer selects the shutter speed and the camera sets the appropriate aperture to ensure correct exposure. When S mode is selected, the shutter speed on the monitor and EVF will turn blue. Turn the control dial (1) to set the desired shutter speed. Press the shutter-release button to activate the exposure system (2); the corresponding aperture will be displayed. The shutter speeds can be changed by half stop increments from 4 seconds to 1/2000. If the shutter speed is beyond the aperture range, the aperture display will blink on the data panel and turn red on the monitors. 2 1 Camera Notes For 35mm photographers, an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/8 does not seem impressive. However, because of the CCD size and the actual focal length of the lens, the apertures on this digital camera give significantly more depth of field at any given angle of view with any given aperture than a 35mm camera. So even with the minimum aperture of f/8, the depth of field will give the coverage needed to create beautiful, sharp images. 49 RECORDING MODE MANUAL EXPOSURE - M Manual exposure mode allows individual selection of shutter speeds and apertures. This mode overrides the exposure system giving the photographer total control over the final exposure. The shutter speeds and aperture values can be changed in half stop increments. The value that is being set will turn blue on the monitors. As changes are made to the exposure, the effect will be visible on the monitors. The shutter-speed and aperture display will blink on the data panel and turn red on the monitors, if the image extremely under or overexposed. If the monitors are black, increase the exposure until the image is visible; decrease the exposure if the monitors are white. In manual mode, the auto camera sensitivity setting will be set to ISO 100. The camera sensitivity can be changed with the function dial (p. 40). Bulb exposures can made in M mode, see page 92 for more information. 1 To set the shutter speed: · Turn the control dial (1) to set the desired shutter speed. To set the aperture: · Set the digital effects switch (2) to the exposurecompensation position. · While pressing the digital effects button (3), turn the the control dial (1) to set the desired aperture value. 3 50 2