User manual MINOLTA DIMAGE F300

E INSTRUCTION MANUAL 9222-2785-11 P-A211 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. Check the packing list before using this product. If any items are missing, immediately contact your camera dealer. Minolta DiMAGE F300 digital camera CR-V3 battery Hand strap HS-DG100 16MB SD Memory Card AV cable AVC-200 USB cable USB-500 DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM DiMAGE Instruction Manuals CD-ROM Quick Reference Guide (printed) Minolta International Warranty Certificate Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, Mac OS, and the Mac OS logo are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. The official name of Windows is Microsoft Windows Operating System. Pentium is a registered trademark of the Intel Corporation. Power PC is a trademark of the International Business Machines Corporation. QuickTime is a trademark used under license. USB DIRECT-PRINT is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2 BEFORE YOU BEGIN 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 lithium 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. · Tape over lithium battery contacts to avoid short-circuiting during disposal; always follow local regulations for battery disposal. 3 · Use only the specified AC adapter within the voltage range indicated on the adapter unit. An inappropriate adapter 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 adapter and discontinue use if the s 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. · 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 look directly at the sun or strong light sources through the viewfinder. It may damage your eyesight or cause blindness. · 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 adapter 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 adapter, do not pull on the power cord. Hold the adapter unit when removing it from an outlet. · Do not damage, twist, modify, heat, or place heavy objects on the AC adapter cord. A damaged cord may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. · If the product emits a strange odour, 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 FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE 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 lens retracts when the camera is turned off. Touching the lens barrel while it is retracting may cause injury. · The camera temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns. · Burns may result if the memory 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. · When using the AC adapter, insert the plug securely into the electrical outlet. · Do not use if the AC adapter cord is damaged. · Do not cover the AC adapter. A fire may result. · Do not obstruct access to the AC adapter; this can hinder the unplugging of the unit in emergencies. · Unplug the AC adapter when cleaning or when the product is not in use. 5 About this manual The basic operation of this camera is covered between pages 14 and 37. This section of the manual covers the camera parts, preparation of the camera for use, and the basic camera operation for recording, viewing, and deleting images. The basic and advanced auto-recording mode sections cover all the basic functions of the camera in this mode and in the multi-function recording mode. Take time to read these sections before moving on to the multi-function recording mode section. The basic playback section describes how to view images. The other sections can be read as needed. Many of the features of this camera are controlled with menus. The menu navigation sections concisely describe how to change menu settings. Descriptions of the settings immediately follow the navigation sections. Names of parts.....................................................................................................................................10 Camera body ...........................................................................................................................10 Viewfinder ................................................................................................................................12 Mode dial .................................................................................................................................12 Data panel ...............................................................................................................................13 Getting up and running.........................................................................................................................14 Changing the CR-3V battery ...................................................................................................14 Installing AA batteries..............................................................................................................15 Attaching the hand strap .........................................................................................................15 Battery condition indicator .......................................................................................................16 Auto power save ......................................................................................................................16 Connecting the AC adapter (sold separately) .........................................................................17 Changing the memory card .....................................................................................................18 About memory cards........................................................................................................19 Setting the date and time ........................................................................................................20 Auto-recording mode - basic operation ................................................................................................22 Handling the camera ...............................................................................................................22 Power / Access lamp ...............................................................................................................22 Setting the camera to record images automatically ................................................................23 Using the zoom lens ................................................................................................................24 Focus range.............................................................................................................................24 About camera operation ..........................................................................................................25 Basic recording operation........................................................................................................26 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Focus signals...........................................................................................................................27 Special focusing situations ......................................................................................................27 Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection ..........................................................................28 Digital-subject-program button.................................................................................................29 Display button - recording mode .............................................................................................31 Flash modes ............................................................................................................................32 Flash range - auto-recording mode .........................................................................................33 Flash signals............................................................................................................................33 Camera-shake warning ...........................................................................................................33 Playback - basic operation ...................................................................................................................34 Single-frame playback and histogram display .........................................................................34 Viewing and deleting images...................................................................................................35 Display button - playback mode ..............................................................................................36 Display button - Quick View.....................................................................................................36 Enlarged playback ...................................................................................................................37 Auto-recording mode - advanced operation .........................................................................................38 Navigating the auto-recording mode menu .............................................................................38 Digital zoom .............................................................................................................................40 Drive modes ............................................................................................................................41 Self-timer .................................................................................................................................42 Remote control (sold separately) ............................................................................................43 Continuous advance ................................................................................................................44 UHS continuous advance ........................................................................................................45 Bracketing ................................................................................................................................46 Image size and image quality..................................................................................................48 Date imprinting ........................................................................................................................50 Exposure compensation ..........................................................................................................51 Focus area selection ...............................................................................................................52 Focus lock................................................................................................................................53 Multi-function recording mode - advanced operation ...........................................................................54 Multi-function recording mode display .....................................................................................55 Navigating the multi-function recording mode menu ...............................................................56 Exposure modes......................................................................................................................58 Programmed AE - P.........................................................................................................58 Aperture priority - A .........................................................................................................58 Shutter priority - S............................................................................................................59 Manual exposure - M .......................................................................................................60 Bulb exposures ........................................................................................................................61 7 White balance..........................................................................................................................62 Automatic white balance ..................................................................................................62 Preset white balance .......................................................................................................62 Custom white balance .....................................................................................................63 Focus modes ...........................................................................................................................64 Single-shot AF .................................................................................................................64 Subject Tracking AF .........................................................................................................64 Manual focus....................................................................................................................65 Full-time AF .............................................................................................................................65 Flash compensation ................................................................................................................66 Metering modes.......................................................................................................................66 Camera sensitivity - ISO..........................................................................................................67 Flash range and camera sensitivity .................................................................................67 Digital Effects Control ..............................................................................................................68 Voice memo .............................................................................................................................70 Instant playback.......................................................................................................................71 A short guide to photography ...............................................................................................................72 Using exposure and flash compensation ................................................................................74 What is an Ev? What is a stop? ..............................................................................................75 Exposure latitude.....................................................................................................................75 Movie and audio recording...................................................................................................................76 Recording movies ....................................................................................................................76 Recording audio ......................................................................................................................77 Navigating the movie menu .....................................................................................................78 Notes on movie recording .......................................................................................................79 Recording movies and audio with the RC-3 remote control (sold separately)........................79 Playback mode - advanced operation ..................................................................................................80 Playing back voice memos and audio captions.......................................................................80 Playing back movies and audio recordings .............................................................................81 Navigating the playback-mode menu ......................................................................................82 Frame-selection screen ...........................................................................................................84 Deleting files ............................................................................................................................85 Locking files .............................................................................................................................86 Audio captioning ......................................................................................................................87 Slide Show...............................................................................................................................88 About DPOF ............................................................................................................................90 Creating a DPOF print order ...................................................................................................90 Ordering an index print............................................................................................................91 Copy and E-mail Copy.............................................................................................................92 Viewing images on a television ...............................................................................................94 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Setup mode - controlling the camera's operation.................................................................................95 Navigating the setup menu......................................................................................................96 LCD monitor brightness...........................................................................................................98 Formatting memory cards .......................................................................................................98 Auto power save ......................................................................................................................99 Language.................................................................................................................................99 File number (#) memory ..........................................................................................................99 Folder name...........................................................................................................................100 Audio signals .........................................................................................................................100 Shutter FX .............................................................................................................................101 Volume...................................................................................................................................102 Reset default..........................................................................................................................102 Noise reduction......................................................................................................................104 Setting the date and time ......................................................................................................104 Setting the date format ..........................................................................................................104 Video output ..........................................................................................................................104 Data-transfer mode - connecting to a computer ................................................................................105 System requirements.............................................................................................................105 Connecting the camera to a computer ..................................................................................106 Connecting to Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition ..............................................................108 Automatic installation .....................................................................................................108 Manual installation .........................................................................................................109 Connecting to Mac OS 8.6 ....................................................................................................111 QuickTime system requirements ...........................................................................................111 Auto power save (data-transfer mode) ..................................................................................111 Memory card folder organisation...........................................................................................112 Disconnecting the camera from the computer ......................................................................114 Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition..............................................................................114 Windows Me, 2000 Professional, and XP......................................................................114 Macintosh.......................................................................................................................115 Changing the memory card (data-transfer mode) .................................................................116 Appendix .......................................................................................................................................117 Troubleshooting .....................................................................................................................117 About Ni-MH batteries ...........................................................................................................119 Uninstalling the driver software - Windows............................................................................120 Using USB DIRECT-PRINT ...................................................................................................121 Care and storage...................................................................................................................122 Technical specifications .........................................................................................................126 9 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. 122). Mode dial (main switch) Shutter-release button Data panel (p. 13) Self-timer/ Remote-control lamp (p. 42) Microphone Speaker Remote-control receiver Flash (p. 32) Lens* Viewfinder window* The tripod socket is located on the bottom of the body. 10 NAMES OF PARTS Flash mode/Information button (p. 32, 34) Viewfinder* (p. 12) Exposure-compensation button (p. 51) Strap eyelet (p. 15) Controller Power/Access lamp (p. 22) LCD monitor* Display button (p. 31, 36) QV/ Delete button (p. 35) Menu button Digital-subject-program button (p. 29) Battery-chamber door (p. 14) Card-slot door (p. 18) The USB port, AV-out terminal, and DC terminal are located behind the terminal cover. 11 Viewfinder Focus lamp (green) Flash lamp (orange) Because the optical viewfinder and the lens are slightly separated, the image seen through one is not exactly the same as the other; this is called parallax. Parallax can cause errors in framing at close distances and is more pronounced at longer focal lengths. When the subject is closer than 1m (3ft) at the wide-angle lens position or 3m (9.8ft) at the telephoto position, use the LCD monitor to compose the image; because the lens creates the monitor image, it does not suffer from parallax. Mode dial This dial gives direct and easy access to the camera's major modes. It also acts as the main switch. Auto-recording mode (p. 22, 38) Multi-function recording mode (p. 54) Playback mode (p. 34, 80) Movie-recording mode (p. 76) Audio recording mode (p. 76) Setup mode (p. 95) 12 NAMES OF PARTS Data panel Located on the top of the camera body, the data panel shows the status of the camera. All icons have been shown for clarity. Frame counter (p. 49) Manual-focus indicator (p. 65) Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 67) Spot-metering indicator (p. 66) White-balance indicator (p. 62) Drive-mode indicators (p. 41) Battery-condition indicator (p. 16) Microphone indicator (p. 70, 77, 87) Flash-mode indicators (p. 32) Image-quality display (p. 48) Image-size display (p. 48) Exposure-mode indicators (p. 58) Exposure / Flash-compensation indicator (p. 51, 66) 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. 13 GETTING UP AND RUNNING Changing the CR-V3 battery This digital camera uses one CR-V3 lithium battery. When replacing the batteries, the mode dial should be in the off position.N.B. Whilst this battery is available in some digital camera stores we recommend that Ni-MH AA batteries be used. See next section. 2 1 Open the battery-chamber door by sliding the door toward the bottom of the camera (1) to release the safety catch; the door can then be opened (2). Insert the battery. The CR-V3 battery must be inserted with the battery terminals first. The flat side of the battery should face the front of the camera. If the battery does not fit, check its orientation. Never force the battery. Close the battery-chamber door (3) and slide it toward the top of the body (4) to engage the safety catch. 4 3 After installing the battery, the set-time/date message may appear on the monitor. The clock and calendar are set in the custom 2 section of the setup menu (p. 20). 14 GETTING UP AND RUNNING Installing AA batteries When the supplied CR-V3 battery is exhausted please use two AA-size Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. We do not reccomend the use of Alkaline or Lithium AA batteries. Ni-MH batteries offer improved performance partiucally when charged with an `intellegent' charger. Intellegent chargers recharge each battery with the amount power it requires.1800mAh or higher capacity batteries are reccomended. Install the AA batteries as shown in the diagram; make sure the positive and negative battery terminals are oriented correctly. Attaching the hand strap Always keep the strap around your wrist in case the camera is accidentally dropped. An optional metal chain neck strap, NS-DG100, and leather neck strap, NS-DG200, are also available from your Minolta dealer. Availability varies with region. 1 2 Pass the small loop of the hand strap through the strap eyelet on the camera body (1). Pass the other end of the strap through the small loop and tighten (2). 15 Battery condition indicator 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 monitor. If the data panel and monitor are blank, the battery may be exhausted or installed incorrectly. Full-battery indicator - the battery is fully charged. This icon is displayed for five seconds on the monitor when the camera is turned on. The icon remains on the data panel. Low-battery indicator - battery power is low. The battery should be replaced as soon as possible. The monitor will turn off while the flash is charging to save power. Low-battery warning - battery power is very low. The monitor icon is red. The battery should be replaced as soon as possible. This warning automatically appears and remains on the monitor until the battery is changed. The monitor will turn off while the flash is charging to save power. If power falls below this level, the battery-exhausted message will be displayed just before the camera shuts down. Blinking low-battery warning - displayed on the data panel with no other icons; power is insufficient for camera operation. The shutter will not release. Auto power save To conserve battery power, the camera will turn off displays and unnecessary functions if an operation is not made within a minute. The LCD monitor turns off after thirty seconds. To restore power, press any button or key, or turn the mode dial to another position. Except for the thirty-second monitor period, the length of the auto-power-save period can be changed in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 96). 16 GETTING UP AND RUNNING Connecting the AC adapter (sold separately) The AC Adapter AC-6 allows the camera to be powered from an electrical household outlet. The AC Adapter is recommended when the camera is interfaced with a computer or during periods of heavy use. Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies. 1 Lift the DC terminal cover from the bottom (1). The cover is attached to the body to prevent loss. Insert the mini plug of the AC adapter into the DC terminal (2). Insert the AC adapter plug into an electrical outlet. 2 17 Changing the memory card An SD Memory Card or MultiMediaCard 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 monitor and three dashes (­ ­ ­) will be displayed on the data-panel frame counter. Always turn off the camera and confirm the power/access lamp is not red before removing or inserting a memory card; damage and data loss may result. 1 2 3 4 Open the card-slot door (1) from the fingernail notch at the bottom of the camera. Insert the memory card all the way into the card slot and release (2). Insert the card so the face is toward the front of the camera. Always push the card in straight. Never force the card. If the card does not fit, check that it is oriented correctly. The card should catch in the slot. To eject a memory card, press the card into the slot and release (3). The card can now be pulled out. Take care when removing the card as it becomes hot with use. Close the card-slot door (4). The door should click into place. 18 GETTING UP AND RUNNING If the card-not-recognized message appears, the inserted card in the camera may need to be formatted. A card used in another camera may have to be formatted before being used. If the unable-touse-card message appears, the card is not compatible with the camera and cannot be formatted. A card is formatted in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 96). The formatting operation permanently erases all the data on the card. About memory cards The response time during recording and playback is longer with MultiMediaCards compared with SD Memory Cards. This is not a defect, but rather due to the specifications of the cards. When using large capacity cards, some operations like deletion may take longer. Writeprotect switch SD Memory Cards have a write-protect switch to prevent image data from being deleted. By sliding the switch to the bottom of the card, the data will be protected. However, when the card is protected, images cannot be recorded. If an attempt is made to record or delete an image with the camera, the card-locked message will Lock appear on the monitor. For memory card care and storage see page position 123. Memory cards should not be used to permanently store image data. Always make a copy of camera files on an appropriate storage device or recording media. Making an additional backup copy of the data is recommended. Minolta has no responsibility for any loss or damage to data. 19 Setting the date and time After initially inserting a memory card and battery, the camera's clock and calendar must be set. When images are recorded, the image data is saved with the date and time of recording. Depending on the region, the menu language may also have to be set. To change the language, see the camera notes on the following page. Turn the mode dial on the top of the camera to the setup position. The camera will turn on and the setup menu will be displayed. Navigating the menu is simple. The up/down and left/right keys of the controller (1) move the cursor and change settings on the menu. The central button of the controller selects menu options and sets adjustments. 1 Basic Format Power save Language Custom1 Custom2 ­ ­ 1 min. English LCDbrightness 20 GETTING UP AND RUNNING Use the right key to highlight the custom 2 tab at the top of the menu. Basic Custom1 Custom2 Use the down key to highlight the date/time-set menu option. Reset default ­ ­ YYYY/MM/DD NTSC Noise reduction Off Date/Time set Date format Video output Press the right key. "Enter" will appear on the right side of the menu. Setup menu: custom 2 section Press the central button to display the date/time setting screen. Use the left and right keys to select the item to be changed. Use the up and down keys to adjust the item. Date/Time set Press the central button to set the clock and calendar. The setup menu will be displayed. Enter Date/Time setting screen Camera notes For customers in certain areas, the menu language must also be set. Highlight the language option in the basic section of the setup menu. Press the right key to display the language settings. Using the up/down keys, highlight the desired language. Press the central button to set the highlighted language; the setup menu will be displayed in the selected language. 21 AUTO-RECORDING MODE ­ BASIC OPERATION This section covers the basic operation of this camera. Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the operations in this section before moving on to the other sections in the manual. The sophisticated technology employed in the auto-recording mode frees the photographer from complicated camera settings. Although automated, the camera's operation can be changed to meet various conditions as well as to suit personal shooting preferences. Handling the camera While using the viewfinder or LCD monitor, grip the camera firmly with your right hand while supporting the body with your left. Keep your elbows at your side and your feet shoulder-width apart to hold the camera steadily. When taking vertical pictures, hold the camera so that the flash is above the lens with the grip to the top. Take care not to cover the lens with your fingers or the strap. Power / Access lamp The power / access lamp turns green and glows steadily when the camera is on. The lamp will turn red and blink when data is being transferred between the camera and memory card; never remove the card during this period. If the lens is hindered while extending, the green lamp may blink for a three-minute period. Turn the camera off and on to initialize the lens. 22 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION Setting the camera to record images automatically 1 Turn the mode dial to the auto-recording mode position (1); all camera operations are now fully automatic. The autofocus, exposure, and imaging systems will work together to bring beautiful results effortlessly. While many of the camera's systems in this mode are automatic, the camera's operation can be optimized to different subjects very simply with the digital subject program button (p. 29). The flash mode (p. 32) and drive mode (p. 41) can also be changed. Image size and quality can be set on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38). Exposure mode ­ Program (fixed) Metering mode ­ Multi-segment (fixed) Camera sensitivity (ISO) ­ Auto (fixed) Flash mode ­ Autoflash (can be changed*) Focus area ­ Wide focus area (can be changed*) Focus control ­ Area AF & Subject Tracking AF (fixed) Drive mode ­ Single-frame advance (can be changed*) Exposure compensation ­ 0.0 (can be adjusted*) Sharpness ­ Normal (fixed) Contrast ­ Normal (fixed) Saturation ­ Normal (fixed) Color mode ­ Natural Color (fixed) White balance ­ Auto (fixed) * Changes to the flash mode, focus area, drive mode, or exposure compensation will be reset when the mode dial is turned to another position. The flash mode is reset to autoflash or autoflash with red eye reduction depending on which of the two modes was set last. 23 Using the zoom lens This camera is equipped with a 7.8 to 23.4mm optical zoom. This is equivalent to a 38 to 114mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera. In 35mm photography, focal lengths below 50mm are referred to as wide-angle; the angle of view is larger than that of the human eye. Above 50mm is referred to as telephoto and makes distant objects appear closer. The effect of the optical zoom is visible in both the viewfinder and LCD monitor. 1 The zoom lens is operated by the controller (1). Pressing the up key (T) will zoom in to the telephoto position of the lens. Pressing the down key (W) will zoom out to the wideangle position. Focus range Normal focusing range 0.5m - (1.6ft - ) Macro mode (p. 29) 0.2m - 0.6m (0.7ft - 2ft) All distances are measured from the CCD. CCD plane 24 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION About camera operation The auto-recording mode uses advanced technology to make photography as effortless as possible. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection optimizes exposure, color, and image-processing settings for each subject. The sophisticated AF system locates and tracks the subject automatically. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection - The icons at the top of the LCD monitor display indicate the Digital Subject Program in use. When taking pictures, the icon for the active subject program will remain. If no icons are displayed, programmed AE is employed. For more on Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection, see page 28. Automatic Digital Subject Program Display Area AF focus frames AF sensor Area AF & Subject Tracking AF - Area AF locates the subject within the extra large focus frames. An AF sensor will be displayed when the camera locates and focuses on the subject. Subject Tracking AF will continue to follow the subject in the focus frames whether the subject moves or the camera position is changed. Subject Tracking AF 25 Basic recording operation With the mode dial set to auto recording, the camera will be on and the LCD monitor will activate. Auto recording mode uses two advanced AF systems, Area AF and Subject Tracking AF, to locate and track the subject in the the extra-wide focus frames. Place the subject anywhere within the focus frame. · Make sure the subject is within the focus range of the lens: 0.5m - (1.6ft - ). For subjects closer than 0.5m, use the macro function (p. 29). · If the subject is closer than 1m at the wide-angle lens position or 3m at the telephoto position, use the monitor to frame the subject. Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock onto the subject and fix the exposure. · The focus signals on the monitor will confirm subject lock. If the focus signal is red, the camera was unable to locate the subject. Repeat the previous steps until the signal is white. · When the subject lock engages, an AF sensor will appear on the live image to indicate the subject. If the subject moves within the focus frames, the AF sensor will change to track the subject. · The shutter speed and aperture will appear indicating the exposure is locked. · See page 28 for information on Automatic Digital Subject Selection. 1 2 Press the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to take the picture. · The access lamp will turn red and blink indicating image data is being written to the memory card. Never remove a memory card while data is being transferred. 26 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION Focus signals This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system. The focus icon in the lower right corner of the LCD monitor and the green focus lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status. The shutter can be released even if the camera cannot focus on the subject. Focus icon: white Focus lamp: steady Focus icon: red Focus lamp: blinking Subject locked. The camera will continue to track the subject within the focus frames. Cannot focus. The subject is too close or a special situation is preventing the AF system from focusing. If the subject lock is lost, the monitor icon will change from white to red, but the focus lamp will continue to glow steadily. For more about Subject Tracking AF, see page 64. When the AF system cannot focus, focus lock with Focus Area Selection can be used (p. 52, 53). 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, focus-lock with Focus Area Selection can be used to focus on an object at the same distance as the main subject and then the image can be recomposed on the monitor (p. 52, 53). 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. 27 Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection Automatic Digital Program Selection chooses between programmed AE and one of five subject programs: portrait, sports action, landscape, sunset, and night portrait. The digital subject programs optimize the camera`s performance for various conditions and subjects. Exposure, white-balance, and image-processing systems work in unison for beautiful results. For information on individual subject programs, see page 30. A row of gray indicators at the top on the monitor display will indicate Automatic Digital Subject Selection is active. Place the subject in the focus frames; the procedure is the same as the basic recording operation described on page 26. Press the shutter-release button partway down; the AF system will locate the subject and the Automatic Digital Subject Selection function will choose a subject program. If no icons are displayed, programmed AE is active. Press the shutter-release button all the way down to take the picture. Programmed AE Portrait Sports action Landscape Hold the camera steadily when the sunset or night-portrait subject program is selected as exposures can be long. Sunset Night portrait 28 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION Digital-subject-program button Pressing the subject-program button (1) cycles through the modes. The active subject program will be indicated at the top of the live image. The subject program will remain in effect until it is changed or the mode dial is turned to another position. Except for macro and night portrait, digital subject programs cannot be used in the multi-function recording mode. For information on individual subject programs, see page 30. 1 Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection Macro Portrait Sports action Landscape Sunset Night portrait (No icons) Programmed AE While camera performance is optimized for each shooting condition, some changes can be made to camera settings with subject programs. The flash mode (p. 32) can be changed and the exposure can be altered using exposure-compensation (p. 51). In extreme lighting conditions, adjustments using exposure compensation may not produce the intended results in the portrait, or night-portrait mode. The camera-shake warning (p. 33) may appear in macro, landscape, sunset, or night-portrait modes. 29 MACRO - used for close-up photography between 20 and 60 cm (0.7 - 2.0ft) from the CCD. The lens will automatically zoom to the macro position and cannot be changed. Because of parallax, the LCD monitor should be used to compose the picture. Full-time AF (p. 65) is employed. Available in the multi-function recording mode. PORTRAIT - optimized to reproduce soft skin tones and a slight defocusing of the background. Most portraits look best at a telephoto setting; longer focal lengths do not exaggerate facial features and the shallower depth of field softens the background. SPORTS ACTION - optimized to stop action. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection activates this mode when shooting moving subjects at a distance with a telephoto lens setting. Full-time AF (p. 65) is employed. LANDSCAPE - optimized to produce sharp, colorful landscapes. With bright outdoor scenery, Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection activates this mode with distant subjects at a wide-angle lens setting. The flash will not fire in this mode. To use the flash, change the flash mode to fill flash. SUNSET - optimized to produce rich, warm sunsets. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection recognizes the warmth of the setting sun in a landscape photograph and activates this mode. NIGHT PORTRAIT - the flash and ambient exposures are balanced to reveal the subject and background in low light. Ask your subject not to move after the flash burst; the shutter may still be open for the background exposure. To take pictures of landscapes at night, set the flash mode to flash cancel (p. 32). Because the exposures can be long the use of a tripod is reccomended. 30 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION Display button - recording mode The display button controls the LCD monitor display. The display cycles to the next position each time the button is pressed: full display, live image only, and monitor off. Battery power can be conserved by turning the monitor off and using the viewfinder to take pictures. When the menu or exposure-compensation button is pressed, or the macro mode is activated, the monitor will automatically turn on. Subject Tracking AF, Full-time AF (p. 65), and the digital zoom are disabled when the monitor is off. Full display Live image only Monitor off Display button 31 Flash modes To set the flash mode, simply press the flash mode button (1) on the back of the camera until the appropriate mode is indicated. Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in lowlight and backlit conditions. Red-eye reduction - multiple flashes are used before the main flash burst to reduce red-eye; an effect caused by light reflected from the retina. Use in low-light conditions when taking photographs of people or animals. The pre-flashes contract the pupils of the subject's eyes. Fill-flash - the flash fires with each exposure regardless of the amount of ambient light. Fillflash can be used to reduce harsh shadows caused by strong direct light or sunshine. 1 Autoflash Autoflash with red-eye reduction Fill-flash Flash cancel Flash cancel - the flash will not fire. Use flash cancel when flash photography is prohibited, natural light is desired to illuminate the subject, or the subject is beyond the flash range. The camera-shake warning may appear when flash cancel is selected. 32 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION Flash range - auto-recording mode 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 ~ 3.4m (1.6 ft. ~ 11.1 ft.) 0.5m ~ 2.0m (1.6 ft. ~ 6.6 ft.) Flash signals The orange flash lamp next to the viewfinder indicates the status of the flash. When the lamp blinks quickly, the flash is charging and the shutter will not release. The lamp glows steadily when the flash is charged and ready to fire. Camera-shake warning If the shutter speed falls below the point where the camera can be safely hand held, the camerashake warning will appear on the LCD monitor and the orange flash lamp will blink slowly. Camera shake is slight blurring caused by subtle hand motion and is more pronounced at the telephoto position of the lens than at the wide-angle. 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. · Zoom the lens towards the wide-angle position until the warning disappears. 33 PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION Images can be viewed in the Quick View or playback modes. This section covers the basic operations in both modes. The playback mode has additional functions, see page 80. To view images from the playback mode, turn the mode dial to the playback position. To view images from the auto-recording or multi-function recording modes, press the Quick View / delete button. Single-frame playback and histogram display Mode indicator Image size (p. 48) Image quality (p. 48) Aperture value Shutter speed Time of capture Date of capture Audio-track indicator (p. 80) Lock indicator (p. 86) Print indicator (p. 90) Frame number/ total number of images White-balance setting (p. 62) Sensitivity setting (p. 67) Degree of exposure compensation (p. 51) Folder name Folder number Histogram image file number 34 PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION The histogram shows the luminance distribution of the image from black (left) to white (right). The 256 vertical lines indicates the relative proportion of that light value in the image. The histogram can be used to evaluate exposure, but displays no color information. To switch between the single-frame playback and histogram display, press the information button. Viewing and deleting images In Quick View or the playback mode, use the left/right keys of the controller to scroll through the images. To return to the recording mode from Quick View, press the menu button or shutter-release button partway down. Controller Menu button Quick View / Delete button The displayed image can be deleted. Once deleted, an image cannot be recovered. To delete the displayed image, press the QV/delete button. A confirmation screen will appear. Delete this frame? Use the left/right keys to highlight "Yes," "No" will cancel the operation. Press the central button of the controller to delete the image. Yes No 35 Display button - playback mode The display button controls the display format. Each time the button is pressed, the display cycles through to the next format: full display, image only, index playback. Full display Image only Index playback Display button In index playback, the four-way keys of the controller will move the yellow border. When the image is highlighted with the border, the date of recording, voice-memo indicator, the lock and printing status, and the frame number of the image are displayed at the bottom of the screen. The highlighted image can be deleted using the QV/delete button (p. 35), or an audio track or movie clip can be played by pressing the central button of the controller. When the display button is pressed again, the highlighted image will be displayed in the single-frame playback mode. Display button - Quick View Pressing the display button in Quick View switches between the full display and the image-only display. 36 PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION Enlarged playback In single-frame playback in Quick View or the playback mode, a still image can be enlarged up to 6X in 0.2 increments for closer examination. With the image to be magnified displayed, press the up key of the controller to activate the enlarged playback mode. The degree of magnification is displayed on the LCD monitor. Pressing the up key increases the image magnification. Pressing the down key decreases the magnification. The display button switches between showing the full display and the image only. Scroll To scroll the image, press the central button of the controller; the central button switches between the enlarged-playback and scroll screens. Use the four-way keys of the controller to scroll the image. Zoom To exit the enlarged playback mode, press the menu button. 37 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION Navigating the auto-recording mode menu In auto-recording mode, the menu button (1) turns the menu on and off. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting. Use the up/down keys of the controller (2) to scroll through the menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed. With the menu option to be changed highlighted, press the right controller key; the settings will be displayed with the current setting highlighted. To return to the menu options, press the left key. Use the up/down keys to highlight the new setting. Press the central button of the controller to select the highlighted setting. 2 Basic Drive mode Image size Quality Digital zoom Date imprint Single 2560 X 1920 Standard Off Off 1 Once a setting has been selected, the cursor will return to the menu options and the new setting will be displayed. Changes can continue to be made. To return to the autorecording mode, press the menu button. 38 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION Basic Drive mode Single Timer / RC Continuous UHS cont. Bracketing 2560 X 1920 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 640 X 480 Super fine Fine Standard Economy On / Off On / Off Except for the drive mode, settings made with the autorecording menu will remain in effect until changed or the camera is reset to its default settings (p. 102). Drive modes - to control the rate and method of image capture. Image size - to set the pixel resolution of the images. Image size affects the size of the image file. Image quality - to set the rate of compression of the images. Image quality affects the size of the image file. Digital zoom - the digital zoom can be turned off or on. Date imprinting - to imprint the date of capture on each image when it is recorded. Read the following sections for more details on these options and settings. Changes made to image size, image quality, digital zoom, and date imprinting will affect the multi-function recording mode. All of these functions appear on the multi-function recording mode menu. Image size Quality Digital zoom Date imprinting select enter Use the left/right keys to select the bracketing increment (p. 46). 39 Digital zoom The digital zoom is activated on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) and in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). The digital zoom extends the power of the telephoto position of the optical zoom by up to 4X in 0.1X increments. The transition between the optical zoom and digital zoom is seamless. When the digital zoom is active, the image magnification is displayed on the monitor and the focus frames change to a single focus area. The autofocus mode is set to single-shot AF (p. 64). The digital zoom is canceled if the LCD monitor is turned off. Digital zoom images are interpolated to the set image size. There can be some loss of quality with images taken with the digital zoom. 1 The digital zoom is operated by the controller (1). Pressing the up key (T) will zoom in to the telephoto position of the lens. When the digital zoom activates, the image magnification will be displayed at the top of the monitor. Only the LCD monitor will show the effect of the digital zoom; the viewfinder cannot be used. Press the down key (W) to zoom out. Magnification display 40 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION Drive modes The drive modes control the rate and method of image capture. Icons indicating the selected drive mode appear on the data panel and LCD monitor. Data panel All icons have been shown for clarity. The single-frame advance and continuous drive indicators occupy the same area of the data panel. All the drive-mode icons appear in the lower right corner of the monitor. LCD monitor Single-frame advance Self-timer/ Remote control Continuous advance UHS continuous advance Bracketing To take a single image each time the shutter-release button is pressed (p. 26). To delay the release of the shutter. Used for self-portraits. To take multiple images when the shutter-release button is pressed and held. To take up to eleven 1280 X 960 images in one second. To take a series of three images with differing exposures. In auto-recording mode, the drive mode resets to single-frame advance each time the position of the mode dial is changed. In multi-function recording mode, the drive mode will remain in effect until changed on the menu or the camera is reset to its default settings. 41 Self-timer Used for self-portraits, the self-timer will delay the release of the shutter for approximately ten seconds after the shutter-release button is pressed. When the drive mode is set to self-timer, the focus mode is changed from Subject Tracking AF to single-shot AF allowing the use of focus lock (p. 53). The self-timer is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) or in the basic section of the multifunction recording mode menu (p. 56). With the camera on a tripod, compose the picture so the subject is within the focus frames. Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock the exposure and focus (1). Press the shutter-release button all the way down to begin the countdown (2). Because focus and exposure are determined when the shutter-release button is pressed, do not stand in front of the camera when setting up a self-timer image, the camera will focus on you in that position rather than your position when the photograph is taken. Always confirm the focus with the focus signals before beginning the countdown (p. 53). During the countdown, the self-timer lamp on the front of the camera (3) will start to blink and is accompanied by an audio signal. A few seconds before the exposure, the self-timer lamp will blink rapidly. The lamp will glow steadily just before the shutter fires. To stop the countdown, turn the mode dial to another position. The self-timer drive mode is cancelled after the exposure. The audio signal can be turned off in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 96). 1 2 3 Shooting tips The self-timer can be used to minimize camera shake with long exposures. When using the camera on a tripod, photographs of static subjects (landscapes, still-lifes, or close-up photographs) can be made with the self-timer. Because no contact is made with the camera during exposure, there is no risk of camera shake caused by the operator. 42 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION Remote control (sold separately) The IR Remote Control RC-3 allows remote camera operation up to 5m (16 ft.) away. The remote control unit can also be used in movie and audio recording (p. 79). The remote control may not operate with backlit subjects or under fluorescent light. Place the camera on a tripod, and set the drive mode to self-timer / remote control (p. 38, 56). Arrange the camera and subject to compose the picture. When setting up the camera, make sure the subject will fall within the focus frames. Focus lock cannot be used with the IR remote control. Focus area selection (p. 52) and manual focus (p. 65) can be used. Point the emitter window of the remote control unit toward the camera and press the release button or the delay button to take the picture. Emitter window When the release button is pressed, the self-timer lamp on the front of the camera (1) will blink once before the picture is taken. When the delay button is pressed, the self-timer lamp will blink for two seconds before the picture is taken. Delay button Release button 1 43 Continuous advance The continuous-advance drive mode allows a series of images to be captured while holding down the shutter-release button. Continuous advance acts like a motor drive on a film camera. The number of images that can be captured at one time and the rate of capture depend on the image-quality and image-size setting. The maximum rate of capture is 1.2 fps with the shutter FX on (p. 101), or 1.5 fps with it off. Date imprinting lowers the frame rate. The continuous-advance mode is set on the autorecording mode menu and in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). When the shutter-release button is pressed and held, the camera will begin recording images until the maximum number has been taken or the shutter button is released. Super-fine images (p. 48) cannot be captured. The built-in flash can be used, but the rate of capture is reduced because the flash must recharge between frames. Compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 26). Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock onto the subject and set the exposure for the series. Press and hold the shutter-release button all the way down (1) to begin taking pictures; focus is locked with the first frame. The following chart lists the maximum number of images that can be captured with different image-quality and image-size combinations. 1 Quality Size 2560 X 1920 5 10 20 2048 X 1563 1600 X 1200 8 16 30 13 25 45 640 X 480 64 101 142 Fine Standard Economy 44 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION UHS continuous advance UHS continuous-advance mode allows up to eleven 1280 X 960 images to be captured in one second. The UHS continuous-advance mode is set on the auto-recording mode menu and in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). This mode cannot be used with super-fine image quality, flash illumination, the digital zoom, or Digital Subject Programs. Shutter speeds slower than 1/30th of a second cannot be used. If the red low-battery warning (p. 16) appears, power is insufficient for UHS drive operation and the shutter cannot be released. When the shutter-release button is pressed and held, the camera will begin recording images until the eleven frames have been taken or the shutter button is released. Very bright light sources in the image may cause streaking. A recorded image may show black areas caused by a loss of data. Compose the picture as described in the basic recording section (p. 26). Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock the exposure and focus for the series. Press and hold the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to begin taking pictures. The last frame in the series is briefly displayed before the images are saved. 1 2 45 Bracketing This mode makes a three-image bracket of a scene. Bracketing is a method of taking a series of images of a static subject in which each image has a slight variation in exposure. The bracketing mode is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) or in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). Brackets cannot be made with super-fine images (p. 48). The order of the bracket series is normal exposure, underexposure, and overexposure. The exposure bracket can be made in 0.3, 0.5, or 1.0 Ev increments (p. 75). The larger the number, the greater the difference in exposure between the images in the bracketed series. Normal Under Over 0.3 Ev bracket 0.5 Ev bracket 1.0 Ev bracket After the bracketing drive mode has been selected on the menu, a screen to choose the bracketing step will be displayed. Use the left and right keys of the controller (1) to select the bracketing increment. Press the central button of the controller (2) to set the value. To change the increment, select the bracketing drive mode again from the menu. 1 2 select enter 46 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION Compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 26). Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock onto the subject and set the exposure for the series. Press and hold the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to make the bracket series; three consecutive images will be captured. Focus is locked with the first frame. 1 2 Number of frames in bracketing series Frame counter The remaining number of frames in the bracket series is displayed on the monitor next to the bracketing icon. If the memory is filled or the shutter button is released before the series has completed, the camera will reset and the entire bracket must be made again. If the red low-battery indicator appears, the bracketing drive mode is disabled. The flash cannot be used with the bracketing drive mode. When using exposure compensation (p. 51), the bracketing series will be made in relation to the compensated exposure. Under extreme conditions, one of the bracketed exposures may be inaccurate because it is outside the exposure control range of the camera. 47 Image size and image quality 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. Data panel LCD monitor 2560 2048 1600 640 Number of pixels (hor. X vert.) 2560 X 1920 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 640 X 480 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. If economical use of the memory card is important, use the economy mode. Standard image quality is sufficient for normal usage. The super-fine mode will produce the highest quality image and the largest image files. A status bar is displayed when large images are saved. Data panel LCD monitor S. FIN FINE STD. ECON. Super fine - the highest quality image. Fine - high-quality image. Standard - the default setting. Economy - the smallest file sizes. File type TIFF JPEG JPEG JPEG 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 can be recorded as color or monochrome images (p. 68) in the multi-function recording mode. Image size and quality must be set before the picture is taken. Changes are displayed on the data panel and LCD monitor. Image size and quality must be reset manually. See navigating the autorecording mode menu section on page 38. In multi-function recording mode, image size and quality are controlled in the basic section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56). 48 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION If image size or quality are changed, the frame counter will display the approximate number of images that can be recorded at that setting on the installed memory card. One memory card can contain images with differing sizes and qualities. The number of images that can be stored on a memory 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. Approximate file sizes. Quality Super fine Fine Standard Economy Super fine Fine Standard Economy Size 2560 X 1920 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 15MB 2.5MB 1.3MB 650KB 1 5 11 22 9.5MB 1.6MB 850KB 450KB 1 9 17 32 6.0MB 1.0MB 550KB 300KB 2 14 27 47 640 X 480 1.0MB 200KB 150KB 100KB 14 69 100 150 Approximate number of images that can be stored on a 16MB memory card. Camera Notes The frame counter indicates the approximate number of images that can be stored on the memory card at the camera's image quality and size settings. If the settings are changed, the frame counter adjusts accordingly. Because the counter uses approximate file sizes, the actual image taken may not change the counter or may decrease it by more than one. When the frame counter displays zero, it indicates no more images at the image size and quality settings can be captured. Changing those settings may allow more images to be saved to the card. 49 Date imprinting The date of recording can be printed directly on the image. The imprinting function must be activated before the image is taken. Once activated, the date will continue to be imprinted until the function is reset; a yellow bar is displayed behind the frame counter on the monitor to indicate the imprinting function is active. Date imprinting is activated with auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) and with the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56). Date-imprinting indicator The date is imprinted in the lower right corner of the image when viewed horizontally. It is printed directly on the photograph writing over the image information. The date can be imprinted in three formats: year/month/day, month/day/year, and day/month/year. The date and date format are set in the custom 2 section of the setup-mode menu (p. 96). Camera Notes Every time a still image is recorded, it is stored with an exif tag that contains the date and time of recording as well as shooting information. This information can be viewed with the camera in the Quick View or playback mode, or on a computer with the DiMAGE Viewer software. 50 AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION