User manual MINOLTA DIMAGE XT

E INSTRUCTION MANUAL 9222-2786-11 P/ME-A302 BEFORE YOU BEGIN Thank you for purchasing this Minolta product. Please take the time to read through this instruction manual so you can enjoy all the features of your new digital camera. Check the packing list before using this product. If any items are missing, immediately contact your camera dealer. Minolta DiMAGE Xt digital camera Lithium-ion battery NP-200 Lithium-ion battery charger BC-300 Hand strap HS-DG100 SD Memory Card AV cable AVC-200 USB cable USB-500 DiMAGE software 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 NP-200 Lithium-ion batteries The DiMAGE Xt operates on a small, but powerful lithium-ion battery. Misuse or abuse of the lithiumion battery can cause damage or injury through fire, electric shock, or chemical leakage. Read and understand all warnings before using the battery. DANGER · Do not short, disassemble, damage, or modify the battery. · Do not expose the battery to fire or high temperatures over 60°C (140°F). · Do not expose the battery to water, or moisture. Water can corrode or damage the internal battery safety devices and cause the battery to overheat, ignite, rupture, or leak. · Do not drop or subject the battery to strong impacts. Impacts can damage the internal battery safety devices and cause the battery to overheat, ignite, rupture, or leak. · Do not store the battery near or in metallic products. · Do not use the battery with any other products. · Only use the specified charger. An inappropriate charger may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. · Do not use a leaking battery. If fluid from the battery enters your eye, immediately rinse the eye with plenty of fresh water and contact a doctor. If fluid from the battery makes contact with your skin or clothing, wash the area thoroughly with water. · Only use or charge the battery in an environment with ambient temperatures between 0° and 40°C (32° and 104°F). Only store the battery in an environment with ambient temperatures between ­20° and 30°C (­4° and 86°F) and a humidity of 45% to 85% RH. WARNING · Tape over the lithium-ion battery contacts to avoid short-circuiting during disposal; always follow local regulations for battery disposal. · If charging is not completed after the specified period elapses, unplug the charger and discontinue charging immediately. 3 GENERAL WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS Read and understand the following warnings and cautions for safe use of the digital camera and its accessories. WARNING · Only use the battery specified in this manual. · Only use the specified charger or AC adapter within the voltage range indicated on the unit. An inappropriate adapter or current may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. · Only use the charger power cord in the sales region for which it was designed. An inappropriate current may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. · Do not disassemble the camera or charger. Electric shock may cause injury if a high voltage circuit inside the product is touched. · Immediately remove the battery or unplug the AC adapter 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. · Keep the battery, memory card, 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. 4 FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE · Do not use these products in a humid environment, or operate them with wet hands. If liquid enters these products, immediately remove the battery or unplug the product, 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 these products 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 these products. The use of inflammable cleaners and solvents may cause an explosion or fire. · When unplugging the AC adapter or charger, do not pull on the power cord. Hold the plug when removing it from an outlet. · Do not damage, twist, modify, heat, or place heavy objects on the AC adapter or charger cord. A damaged cord may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. · If these product emits a strange odor, heat, or smoke, discontinue use. Immediately remove the battery taking care not to burn yourself as the battery may 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. 5 CAUTION · Do not use or store these products in a hot or humid environment such as the glove compartment or trunk of a car. It may damage the camera, charger, and battery which may result in burns or injuries caused by heat, fire, explosion, or leaking battery fluid. · If the battery is leaking, discontinue use of the product. · The camera, charger, and battery temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns. · Burns may result if the memory card or battery is 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 and charger, insert the plug securely into the electrical outlet. · Do not use transformers or travel adapters with the charger. The use of these devices may cause a fire or damage the product. · Do not use if the AC adapter or charger cord is damaged. · Do not cover the AC adapter or charger. A fire may result. · Do not obstruct access to the AC adapter or charger; this can hinder the unplugging of the units in emergencies. · Unplug the AC adapter or charger when cleaning or not in use. 6 FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE The following marks may be found on the product: This mark on your camera certifies that this camera meets the requirements of the EU (European Union) concerning interference causing equipment regulations. CE stands for Conformité Européenne (European Conformity). This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference Tested To Comply With FCC Standards received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Changes or modifications not approved by the party responsible for FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: · Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. · Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver. · Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Tested by the Minolta Corporation 101 Williams Drive, Ramsey, New Jersey 07446, U.S.A. Do not remove the ferrite cores from the cables. Digital Camera: 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS The getting up and running section covers how to prepare the camera for use. It contains important information about power supplies and memory cards. The basic operation of this camera is covered in the recording - basic operation section between pages 22 and 31, and the playback - basic operation section between pages 32 and 35. Read the data-transfer mode section in its entirety before connecting the camera to a computer. 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. The appendix contains a troubleshooting section to help answer questions about the operation of the camera. Information covering camera care and storage is also provided. Please store this manual in a safe place. Names of parts.....................................................................................................................................12 Getting up and running.........................................................................................................................14 Inserting the lithium-ion battery ...............................................................................................14 Charging the lithium-ion battery ..............................................................................................15 Battery-condition indicator .......................................................................................................16 Auto power off..........................................................................................................................16 AC adapter (sold separately)...................................................................................................17 Attaching the hand strap .........................................................................................................17 Installing and removing a memory card ..................................................................................18 About memory cards ...............................................................................................................19 Setting the date and time ........................................................................................................20 Recording - basic operation .................................................................................................................22 Handling the camera ...............................................................................................................22 Setting the camera to record images ......................................................................................22 Using the zoom lens ................................................................................................................23 LCD monitor display - basic ....................................................................................................24 Camera-shake warning ...........................................................................................................24 Basic recording operation........................................................................................................25 Focus lock................................................................................................................................26 Focus range.............................................................................................................................26 Focus signals...........................................................................................................................27 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Special focusing situations ......................................................................................................27 Flash modes ............................................................................................................................28 Flash range - Automatic operation ..........................................................................................29 Flash signals............................................................................................................................29 Display button - recording mode .............................................................................................30 Playback - basic operation ...................................................................................................................32 Single-frame playback display .................................................................................................32 Viewing images .......................................................................................................................33 Deleting single images ............................................................................................................33 Display button - playback mode ..............................................................................................34 Display button - Quick View.....................................................................................................34 Enlarged playback ...................................................................................................................35 Recording - advanced operation ..........................................................................................................36 LCD monitor display - advanced .............................................................................................36 Exposure compensation ..........................................................................................................36 Navigating the recording-mode menu .....................................................................................38 Drive modes ............................................................................................................................40 Continuous advance ........................................................................................................41 Self-timer..........................................................................................................................42 White balance..........................................................................................................................43 Image size and image quality..................................................................................................44 Customizing key functions.......................................................................................................46 Compensating exposure with the menu ..................................................................................46 Camera sensitivity - ISO..........................................................................................................47 Flash range and camera sensitivity.........................................................................................47 Metering modes.......................................................................................................................48 Noise reduction........................................................................................................................48 Auto reset ................................................................................................................................49 Color mode ..............................................................................................................................49 Voice memo .............................................................................................................................50 Date imprinting ........................................................................................................................51 Digital zoom .............................................................................................................................52 Instant playback.......................................................................................................................53 Spot AF....................................................................................................................................54 Recording without a memory card ..........................................................................................55 Movie and audio recording...................................................................................................................56 Movie recording .......................................................................................................................56 Audio recording........................................................................................................................57 Navigating the movie/audio recording menu ...........................................................................58 Notes on movie recording .......................................................................................................59 9 Playback - advanced operation ............................................................................................................60 Playing back voice memos and audio captions.......................................................................60 Playing back movies and audio recordings .............................................................................61 Navigating the playback-mode menu ......................................................................................62 Frame-selection screen ...........................................................................................................64 Deleting image and audio files ................................................................................................65 Audio caption ...........................................................................................................................66 Locking image and audio files .................................................................................................67 Slide show ...............................................................................................................................68 About DPOF ............................................................................................................................70 Creating a DPOF print order ...................................................................................................70 Ordering an index print............................................................................................................71 E-mail copy ..............................................................................................................................72 Viewing images on a television ...............................................................................................73 Setup mode .........................................................................................................................................74 Navigating the setup menu......................................................................................................74 LCD monitor brightness...........................................................................................................76 Formatting memory cards .......................................................................................................76 File number (#) memory ..........................................................................................................77 Folder Name ............................................................................................................................77 Language.................................................................................................................................78 Audio signals ...........................................................................................................................78 Shutter FX ...............................................................................................................................78 Custom FX recording...............................................................................................................78 Auto power off..........................................................................................................................80 Volume.....................................................................................................................................80 Reset default............................................................................................................................80 Date and time ..........................................................................................................................82 Date format..............................................................................................................................82 Video output ............................................................................................................................82 Transfer mode..........................................................................................................................82 Data-transfer mode...............................................................................................................................83 System requirements...............................................................................................................83 Connecting the camera to a computer ....................................................................................84 Connecting to Windows 98 and 98SE.....................................................................................86 Automatic installation .......................................................................................................86 Manual installation ...........................................................................................................87 QuickTime system requirements .............................................................................................89 Auto power off - data-transfer mode........................................................................................89 Memory card folder organization.............................................................................................90 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS Disconnecting the camera from the computer ........................................................................92 Windows 98 and 98SE ....................................................................................................92 Windows Me, 2000 Professional, and XP........................................................................92 Macintosh.........................................................................................................................93 Changing the memory card - data-transfer mode ...................................................................94 Using USB DIRECT-PRINT .....................................................................................................94 Notes on printing errors...........................................................................................................96 Navigating the USB DIRECT-PRINT menu .............................................................................96 Printing DPOF files ..................................................................................................................97 Remote camera system requirements ....................................................................................98 Installing the remote camera driver .........................................................................................98 Connecting the remote camera .............................................................................................100 Notes on remote camera operation.......................................................................................101 Appendix .......................................................................................................................................102 Troubleshooting .....................................................................................................................102 About the lithium-ion battery charger cord ............................................................................104 Viewfinder indicator lamps.....................................................................................................105 Removing the driver software - Windows ..............................................................................106 Care and storage...................................................................................................................107 Technical specifications .........................................................................................................110 11 NAMES OF PARTS * 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. 107). Shutter-release button Main switch Self-timer lamp (p. 42) Viewfinder window* Flash (p. 28) AV-out-terminal/ USB-port Lens* Microphone Charger contacts* DC terminal (p. 17) Battery/Card chamber door (p. 14, 18) Tripod socket 12 NAMES OF PARTS Recording Playback Movie/Audio recording Setup mode mode mode mode (p. 22) (p. 32) (p. 56) (p. 74) Mode dial Controller Indicator lamp (p. 105) Viewfinder* Strap eyelet (p. 17) LCD monitor* Speaker Flash-mode button (p. 28) Display button (p. 30, 34) Quick View / Delete button (p. 32, 33) Menu button 13 GETTING UP AND RUNNING INSERTING THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY This digital camera uses one NP-200 lithium-ion battery. Before using the battery, read the safety warnings on pages 3 and 4 of this manual. When replacing the battery, the camera should be turned off. Slide the battery-chamber door toward the front of the camera to release the safety catch (1). Open the door. 1 Move the battery latch towards the back of the camera to insert the battery (2). Slide the battery into the battery chamber with the battery terminals first until it is caught by the latch. To remove the battery, move the latch towards the back of the camera until the battery is released (3). Pull the battery out of the chamber. Close the battery-chamber door (4) and slide it toward the back of the camera to engage the safety catch. After installing the battery, the set-time/date message may appear on the monitor. The clock and calendar is set in the custom 2 section of the setup menu (p. 20). An internal battery protects the clock, calender, and memory settings for more than 24 hours if the camera is used for at least 5 minutes before removing the battery. 2 3 4 14 GETTING UP AND RUNNING CHARGING THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY Before the camera can be used, the lithium-ion battery must be charged. Before charging the battery, read the safety warnings on pages 3 and 4 of this manual. Only recharge the battery with the supplied battery charger. The battery should be recharged before each shooting session. See page 108 for battery care and storage. 1 2 Plug the power cord into the back of the charger unit (1). Plug the other end of the cord into a live household outlet. The included AC cord is designed for the current of the sales region. Only use the cord in the region it was purchased. For more on the AC cable, see page 104. With the camera facing forward, firmly place it into the charger. The indicator lamp (3) will glow to show the battery is charging. The lamp will go out when the battery has been charged. Charging time is approximately 120 minutes. The camera must be off in order to charge the battery. If the indicator lamp blinks slowly, confirm that a battery has been inserted in the camera. 3 Remove the camera from the charger. Unplug the power cord from the outlet. A single battery can be charged. With the battery terminals forward and the label face up, slide the battery into the charger. The indicator lamp (3) will glow to show the battery is charging. The lamp will go out when the battery has been charged. Charging time is approximately 80 minutes. 15 BATTERY-CONDITION INDICATOR This camera is equipped with an automatic battery-condition indicator displayed on the LCD monitor. The icon will change from white to red when battery power is low. Full-battery icon - the battery is fully charged. This icon is displayed when the camera is on. Half-full-battery icon - the battery is partially charged. This icon is displayed when the camera is turned on. The LCD monitor will turn off when the flash is charging. Low-battery warning - battery power is very low. The battery should be replaced as soon as possible. This warning automatically appears and remains on the monitor until the battery is recharged. If the power level falls below this level when the camera is on, the battery-exhausted message will appear just before the camera shuts down. If power is insufficient for camera operation, the indicator lamp next to the viewfinder will turn red and blink for three seconds. The shutter will not release. The battery must be recharged. AUTO POWER OFF To conserve battery power, the camera will shut down if an operation is not made within three minutes. To restore power, press the main switch. The length of the auto-power-off period can be changed in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 74). When the camera is connected to a computer, the auto-power-off period is set to ten minutes and cannot be changed. 16 GETTING UP AND RUNNING AC ADAPTER (SOLD SEPARATELY) Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies. 1 The AC adapter AC-4 or AC-5 allows the camera to be powered from a household outlet. The AC adapter is recommended when the camera is interfaced with a computer or during periods of heavy use. AC adapter model AC-4 is for use in North America, Japan, and Taiwan, and AC-5 is for use in all other areas. The battery cannot be charged using the AC adapter. Insert the mini plug of the AC adapter into the DC terminal (1). Insert the AC adapter plug into an electrical outlet. ATTACHING THE HAND STRAP 1 2 Always keep the strap around your wrist in the event that the camera is accidentally dropped. 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). 17 INSTALLING AND REMOVING A MEMORY CARD Always turn off the camera and confirm the indicator lamp is not orange and blinking before changing the memory card, otherwise the card may be damaged, and data lost. An SD (Secure Digital) Memory card or MultiMediaCard must be inserted for the camera to operate. If a card has not been inserted, a no-card warning will appear on the LCD monitor; the shutter can still be released and a single image can be captured (p. 55). Slide the battery-chamber door toward the bottom of the camera to release the safety catch (1). Open the door. Insert the memory card all the way into the card slot and then release (2). The card should catch in the slot. 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. If a MultiMediaCard is inserted incorrectly, it will lock, but the card chamber door will not close. To eject a memory card, press the card into the slot and release (3). The card can now be pulled out. Close the battery-chamber door and slide it toward the top of the camera to engage the safety catch (4). 2 1 3 4 18 GETTING UP AND RUNNING 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. The SD Memory Card has 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 Writeprotect made to record or delete an image with the camera, the cardswitch locked message will appear and the LED lamps near the viewfinder will turn red and blink quickly. For memory card care and store see page 108. If the unable-to-use-card message appears, the inserted card in the camera may need to be formatted. A card used in another Lock camera may also have to be formatted before being used. A position card can be formatted in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 74). When a card is formatted, all the data on the card is permanently erased. 19 SETTING THE DATE AND TIME After initially inserting a memory card and charging the battery, the camera's clock and calendar must be set on the setup menu. 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. 1 2 Turn the camera on by pressing the main switch near the shutter-release button (1). Turn the mode dial to the setup position (2). Controller Basic Format Custom1 Custom2 ­ Off Std. form English LCDbrightness ­ File # memory Folder name Language Navigating the setup menu is simple. The fourway keys of the controller move the cursor and change settings on the menu. Pressing the center of the controller selects menu options and sets adjustments. 20 GETTING UP AND RUNNING Basic Reset default Date/Time set Date format Video output Transfer mode Custom1 ­ ­ Custom2 Use the right key to highlight the custom 2 tab at the top of the menu. Use the down key to highlight the date/timeset menu option. Press the right key. "Enter" will appear on the right side of the menu. Press the central button to display the date/time setting screen. YYYY/MM/DD NTSC Data storage Setup menu: custom 2 section Use the left and right keys to select the item to be changed. Use to adjust the item. Press the central button to set the clock and calendar. The setup menu will be displayed. Date/Time set :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 RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION This section covers basic recording operation. To prepare the camera for use, read pages 14 through 21. HANDLING THE CAMERA While using the viewfinder or LCD monitor, grip the camera firmly with your right hand while supporting the camera 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 shutter-release button to the top. Take care not to cover the lens with your fingers or the strap. SETTING THE CAMERA TO RECORD IMAGES 1 2 Turn the camera on by pressing the main switch near the shutter-release button (1). Turn the mode dial to the recording position (2). 22 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION USING THE ZOOM LENS This camera is equipped with a unique 5.7 - 17.1mm zoom lens. This is equivalent to a 37 to 111mm lens on a 35mm camera. The lens is operated by the controller at the back of the camera. The effect of the optical zoom is visible in both the viewfinder and LCD monitor. To zoom in on the subject, push the up key (T) of the controller. To zoom out, push the down key (W) of the controller. The digital-zoom function can increase the power of the lens. The digital zoom is activated in the custom 2 section of the recording-mode menu (p. 38). Shooting tips The zoom lens not only affects how large the subject is in the picture, but it also influences the depth of field and perspective. Depth of field is the area between the closest object in focus and the furthest object in focus. As the lens zooms in to the telephoto position, the depth of field becomes shallower, separating the subject from the background. Many portraits are taken with telephoto lenses. Zooming the lens out to the wide-angle position makes both the foreground and background appear sharper. Usually landscape photographs take advantage of the large depth of field of wide-angle lenses. Wide-angle lenses also create a strong perspective which gives a sense of depth in the image. Telephoto lenses compress the space between the subject and background and create a weak perspective. 23 LCD MONITOR DISPLAY - BASIC Recording mode Flash modes (p. 28) Image size (p. 44) Image quality (p. 44) Battery-condition indicator (p. 16) Wide focus frame Camera-shake warning Drive mode (p. 40) Frame counter (p. 45) Focus signal (p. 27) LCD monitor CAMERA-SHAKE WARNING If the shutter speed falls below the point where the camera can be hand held safely, the camera-shake warning indicator will appear on the monitor and the viewfinder indicator lamp will turn green and 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 wideangle position. Although the warning appears, the shutter can still be released. If the warning appears, place the camera on a tripod or use the built-in flash. 24 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION BASIC RECORDING OPERATION Turn the camera on and turn the mode dial to the recording position. Place the subject within the focus frame on the LCD monitor or center the subject in the viewfinder. · The focus-lock function (p. 26) can be used with off-center subjects. · If the subject is closer than 1m (3ft.) at the zoom lens' wide-angle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position, only use the LCD monitor to frame the subject. · The spot focus area can be used for focusing; press the center of the controller for about 1 second to activate the area (p. 54). 1 2 Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock the focus and exposure. · The focus signals (p. 27) on the monitor and the indicator lamp next to the viewfinder will confirm that the image is in focus. If the monitor focus signal is red or the indicator lamp is green and blinks quickly, the camera was unable to focus on the subject. Repeat the previous steps until the focus signal is white and the lamp glows steadily. Press the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to take the picture. · After the shutter releases, the indicator lamp next to the viewfinder will turn orange and blink indicating image data is being written to the memory card. Never remove a memory card while data is being transferred. · The image can be previewed after it is captured by continuing to hold down the shutter-release button. This function is disabled if the monitor is off. Instant playback also can be used (p. 53). 25 FOCUS LOCK The focus-lock function is used when you want to compose the image with the subject off-center and outside the focus frame. Focus lock may also be used when a special focusing situation prevents the camera from focusing on the subject. This function is controlled with the shutter-release button. Place the subject within the monitor focus frame or center the subject in the viewfinder. Press and hold the shutter-release button partway down to lock the focus. · The focus signal on the monitor and the viewfinder indicator lamp will indicate if the focus is locked. Without lifting your finger from the shutter-release button, recompose the subject within the image area. Press the shutter-release button all the way down to take the picture. FOCUS RANGE The focus range is 15cm (0.5ft.) to infinity. Both the LCD monitor and viewfinder can be used to frame the subject. However, because of parallax, only the monitor's live image will be accurate with subjects closer than 1m (3ft.) at the zoom lens' wide-angle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position. 26 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION FOCUS SIGNALS This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system. The focus signal in the lower right corner of the LCD monitor and the indicator lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status. The shutter can be released regardless if the camera can focus on the subject or not. Focus confirmed - the LCD monitor focus signal is white, the viewfinder indicator lamp is green and steady. Focus is locked. Cannot focus - the LCD monitor focus signal is red and the viewfinder indicator lamp is green and blinks rapidly. Focus signal SPECIAL FOCUSING SITUATIONS The camera may not be able to focus in certain situations. In these situations the focus-lock function (p. 26) 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. 27 FLASH MODES The flash can be used when taking still images. To select the flash mode, press the flash mode button (1) on the back of the camera until the desired mode is displayed. Press the shutter-release button to set the mode. The active flash mode is displayed in the top left corner of the LCD monitor. When the camera is turned off and auto reset (p. 49) is active, the flash mode is reset to autoflash with red-eye reduction if this mode was last set, if not the mode will be reset to autoflash. While the flash is charging, the shutter cannot be released. Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in low-light and backlit conditions. Red-eye reduction - the flash fires multiple bursts before the main flash burst to reduce red-eye; an effect caused by light reflected from the retina. Use in lowlight 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. Fill-flash 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 Night portrait 28 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION 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 (p. 24). Night portrait - for flash portraits at night. The camera automatically balances the flash and background exposures. When taking portraits, ask your subject not to move after the flash burst; the shutter will still be open for the background exposure. The red-eye reduction function is used with night portrait. FLASH RANGE - AUTOMATIC OPERATION The camera automatically controls 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. The flash ranged can be changed with camera sensitivity (ISO), see page 47. Wide-angle position 0.15m ~ 3.2m (0.5 ft. ~ 10.5 ft.) Telephoto position 0.15m ~ 2.5m (0.5 ft. ~ 8.2 ft.) FLASH SIGNALS The indicator lamp next to the viewfinder indicates the status of the flash. When the lamp is red and blinks quickly, the flash is charging and the shutter will not release. When the lamp turns green, the flash is charged and ready to fire. 29 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. If the display button is pressed and held, the LCD-brightness adjustment screen will be displayed, see page 76. Full display Live image only Monitor off Display button Battery power can be conserved by turning the monitor off and using the viewfinder to take pictures. However, because of parallax, the monitor should be used for subjects closer than 1m (3ft.) at the zoom lens' wide-angle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position. When the flash-mode or menu button is pressed, the monitor will automatically turn on. The batterycondition and date-imprinting indicators can appear on the live image only display. The digital zoom is canceled and the AF area and exposure-compensation setting is fixed when the monitor is off. The monitor cannot be turned off in audio or movie recording. When the LCD monitor is off, it will automatically activate for the instant playback period. When auto reset is active, the LCD monitor will be reset to the full display when the camera is turned off. 30 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION Minolta history In the center of the Sakai plant in Japan is Okina bridge. In the 15th century, Sakai was a very prosperous free city, and Okina bridge spanned the moat at one of the entrances into the walled town. For centuries, this bridge carried pilgrims on their way to two of Japan's sacred places: the mountain monastery of Koyasan and the great Shinto shrine, Kumano Taisha. The bridge in the courtyard dates from 1855. In 1968, Minolta offered to remove and preserve the bridge when the city government announced they would fill in the moat for a planned highway. The bridge now spans a specially constructed goldfish pond. The writing on the stone bollard at the front of the bridge prohibits vehicles from crossing. 31 PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION Images can be viewed in the Quick View or playback modes. This section covers the basic operation in both modes. The playback mode has additional functions, see page 60. To view images from the playback mode, turn the mode dial to the playback position. To view images from the recording or movie/audio recording mode, press the Quick View / Delete button. SINGLE-FRAME PLAYBACK DISPLAY Mode indicator Magnification display (p. 35) Image-size display (p. 44) Image-quality indicator (p. 44) aBattery-condition indicator (p. 16) Time of recording Date of recording Audio-track indicator Lock indicator (p. 67) DPOF-set indicator (p. 70) E-mail copy indicator (p. 72) Folder number - file number (p. 77) Frame number / total number of images 32 PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION VIEWING IMAGES In Quick View or the playback mode, use the left/right keys of the controller to scroll through the images on the memory card. To return to the recording mode from Quick View, press the menu button or press the shutterrelease button partway down. Controller Menu button Quick View / Delete button DELETING SINGLE IMAGES To delete a displayed file, press the flash-mode/delete button. A confirmation screen will appear. Use the left/right keys to highlight "YES." "NO" will cancel the operation. Press the center button of the controller to delete the file. Delete this frame? Yes No 33 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. Image only Full display Index playback Display button In index playback, the left/right and up/down keys of the controller move the yellow border around the index thumbnails. When the image is highlighted with the border, the date of recording, audio-track indicator, the lock and printing status, e-mail copy indicator and the frame number of the image are displayed at the bottom of the screen. The accompanying audio track of the highlighted image can be played by pressing the center 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. 34 PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION ENLARGED PLAYBACK In single-frame playback in both the Quick View and playback modes, a still image can be enlarged by up to 6X in 0.2X increments. 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 image magnification. The display button switches between showing the full display and image only. Scroll To scroll the image, press the center button of the controller. The center button switches between the enlarged-playback and scroll screens. Use the left/right and up/down keys of the controller to scroll the image. To exit the enlarged playback mode, press the menu button. Zoom The locator indicator in the top right corner of the monitor shows the area of the image being displayed. 35 RECORDING - ADVANCED OPERATION LCD MONITOR DISPLAY - ADVANCED Microphone indicator Color mode (p. 49) Digital zoom (p. 52) Image size (p. 44) Image quality (p. 44) Spot-metering area (p. 48) Drive mode (p. 40) Frame counter (p. 45) Date-imprinting indicator (p. 51) Focus signal (p. 27) Metering-mode indicator (p. 48) Camera-sensitivity display (p. 47) White balance (p. 43) Exposure compensation Flash modes (p. 28) LCD monitor EXPOSURE COMPENSATION The camera exposure can be adjusted to make the final picture lighter or darker by as much as ±2Ev in 1/3 increments with still image and movie recording. The exposurecompensation value will remain in effect until it has been reset. Exposure compensation can also be set in the custom 1 section of the recording-mode menu (p. 46). The function controlled with the left/right keys of the controller can be changed with the menu, see page 46. The exposure compensation must be set before the image is captured. When setting the exposure compensation, the amount of compensation is shown next to the exposure-compensation icon on the monitor. When set to any value other than 0.0, the icon will remain on the LCD monitor as a warning. To set the exposure compensation, the monitor must be on. 36 RECORDING - ADVANCED OPERATION Use the left/right controller keys to adjust the exposure-compensation value. The LCD monitor will display the exposure-compensation icon and value. The change in exposure is visible in the monitor image. Exposure compensation is set automatically after five seconds or when another camera button is pressed. Shooting tips Sometimes the camera's exposure meter is deceived by certain conditions. Exposure compensation can be used in these situations. For example, a very bright scene, such as a snowy landscape or a white sandy beach, can appear too dark in the captured image. Before taking the picture, adjusting the exposure by +1 or +2 EV will result in an image with normal tonal values. Calculated camera exposure ­1.0Ev ­2.0Ev In the example above, the dark water caused the camera to overexpose the image making it bright and washed-out. By compensating the exposure, detail is brought out in the leaves, and the stones and water appear richer. Ev stands for exposure value. A change of one Ev will adjust the exposure calculated by the camera by a factor of two. +2.0 Ev +1.0 Ev 0.0 Ev ­1.0 Ev ­2.0 Ev 4X as much light 2X as much light Calculated exposure 1/2 as much light 1/4 as much light 37 NAVIGATING THE RECORDING-MODE MENU Navigating the menu is simple. The menu button turns the menu on and off. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller control the cursor and change settings on the menu. Pressing the center button of the controller selects menu options and sets adjustments. To activate the recording-mode menu, press the menu button. The basic tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menus will change as the tabs are highlighted. When the desired menu section is displayed, use the up/down key 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 key; the settings will be displayed with the current setting indicated by an arrow. To return to the menu options, press the left key. Use the zoom lever to highlight the new setting. Press the center button of the controller to select the highlighted setting. Basic Image size Quality Custom1 Custom2 Program 2048 X 1536 Standard Auto Exp. comp. Drive mode 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 recording mode, press the menu button. WhiteBalance Key Func. 38 RECORDING - ADVANCED OPERATION Basic Drive mode Single Continuous Self-timer 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 TIFF Fine Standard Economy Auto Daylight Cloudy Tungsten Fluorescent Exp. comp. White balance Drive mode Sensitivity Color mode Custom 1 Sensitivity ISO 400 ISO 200 ISO 100 ISO 50 Auto Multi-segment Spot ­2.0 ~ +2.0 Ev On Off On Off Image size Metering mode Exp. comp. Noise reduction Auto reset Quality White balance Custom 2 Color mode Color B&W Sepia On Off YYYY/MM/DD MM/DD/hr:min Off On Off On Off Key func. Voice memo Date imprinting Refer to the following sections for details on the menu options and their settings. Digital zoom Instant playback 39 DRIVE MODES The drive modes control the rate and method images are captured. Indicators indicating the selected drive mode appear on the monitor. The drive mode is selected in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 38). If auto reset (p. 49) is active, the drive mode is reset to single-frame advance when the camera is turned off. Single-frame advance - to take a single image each time the shutter-release button is pressed. This is the camera's default setting. Continuous advance - to take multiple images when the shutter-release button is pressed and held (p. 41). Self-timer - to delay the release of the shutter (p. 42). Used for self-portraits. 40 RECORDING - ADVANCED OPERATION Continuous advance The continuous-advance drive mode allows a series of images to be captured while holding down the shutter-release button. 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. With the image-size setting of 2048 X 1536, the maximum rate of capture is 1.3 fps. If the image quality is set to TIFF (p. 44) only one frame can be captured at a time. Continuous advance is selected in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 38). Compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 25). Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock the exposure and focus for the series (1). Press and hold the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to begin taking pictures. 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. The built-in flash can be used, but the rate of capture is reduced because the flash must recharge between frames. Date imprinting (p. 51) also reduces the rate of capture. The frame counter is adjusted after the series has been taken while the images are being saved. The chart lists the maximum number of images that can be captured with different image-quality and image-size combinations. 1 2 Image Quality Image Size 2048 X 1536 5 10 20 1600 X 1200 8 16 30 1280 X 960 13 24 43 640 X 480 43 68 95 Fine Standard Economy 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. The self-timer drive mode is selected in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 38). With the camera on a tripod, compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 25). Focus lock (p. 26) can be used with offcenter subjects. 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 shutterrelease button is pressed, do not stand in front of the camera when taking a selftimer image. Always confirm the focus with the focus signals before beginning the countdown (p. 27). A countdown timer is displayed on the monitor. During the countdown, the selftimer 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, press the up/down keys of the controller or the menu button. The drive mode will be reset to single-frame advance after the exposure. The audio signal can be turned off in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 74). 1 2 3 42 RECORDING - ADVANCED OPERATION WHITE BALANCE White balance is the camera's ability to make different types of lighting appear neutral. The effect is similar to selecting daylight or tungsten film, or using color compensating filters in conventional photography. One automatic and four preset white-balance setting are available with still image and movie recording. White balance is set in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 38) or the movie/audio recording menu (p. 58). When auto reset (p. 49) is active, the white balance will be reset to automatic white balance when the camera is turned off. The automatic white balance compensates for the color temperature of a scene. In most cases, the auto setting will balance the ambient light and create beautiful images, even under mixed-lighting conditions. When the built-in flash is used, the white balance is set for the color temperature of the flash. Preset white-balance settings must be set before the image is taken. When one of the preset white-balance settings is selected, an indicator will be displayed on the LCD monitor to indicate the active white-balance setting; the effect is immediately visible on the monitor. To record the ambient light, set the flash mode to flash cancel (p. 28). The built-in flash can be used with preset white-balance, but will create a pinkish or blueish cast with the fluorescent and tungsten settings. The flash is daylight balanced and will produce good results with the daylight and cloudy settings. Daylight - for outdoor and sunlit subjects. Cloudy - for overcast outdoor scenes. Tungsten - for incandescent lighting: household filament light bulbs. Fluorescent - for fluorescent lighting: office ceiling lights. 43 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. LCD monitor Number of pixels (hor. X vert.) 2272 1600 1280 640 2048 X1536 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 TIFF FINE STD. ECON. A high-quality TIFF image. Fine - high-quality JPEG image. Standard - the default setting. (JPEG) Economy - the smallest file sizes. (JPEG) 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 TIFF mode will produce the highest quality image and the largest image files. A status bar is displayed when large images are saved. File formats vary with the image quality setting. TIFF images are saved as a TIFF file. The fine, standard, and economy settings are formatted as a JPEG file. TIFF, fine, standard, and economy files can be recorded as color or monochrome images (p. 49). Image size and quality must be set before the picture is taken. Changes are displayed on the LCD monitor. Image size and quality must be reset manually. Image size and quality are set in the basic section of the recording menu. See navigating the recording mode menu section on page 38. 44 RECORDING - 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 TIFF Fine Standard Economy TIFF Fine Standard Economy Size 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 9.1MB 1.6MB 820KB 440KB 1 9 17 32 5.5MB 990KB 520KB 290KB 2 14 27 47 3.6MB 660KB 360KB 210KB 3 22 39 69 640 X 480 950KB 210KB 130KB 90KB 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. 45 CUSTOMIZING KEY FUNCTIONS Initially in the recording mode, exposure compensation is adjusted with the left/right keys of the controller, see page 36. The function adjusted with these keys can be changed in the basic section of the recording-mode menu. This function does not affect the movie recording mode. Select the key func. option in the basic section of the recording mode menu. Use the up/down keys to select the function (1). Press the central controller button to set the function (2). The selected function will now be activated when the left/right controller keys are pressed in the recording mode. Basic Image size Quality Custom1 Custom2 Exp. comp. WhiteBalance Drive mode Sensitivity Drive mode 1 2 WhiteBalance Key func. Color mode Refer to the following sections for information on the drive mode (p. 40), white balance (p. 43), camera sensitivity (p. 47), and color mode (p. 49). For information on exposure compensation and the use of the left/right keys for making settings, see page 36. COMPENSATING EXPOSURE WITH THE MENU Exposure compensation increases or decreases the exposure by as much as 2 Ev. For information on exposure compensation, see page 37. Exposure compensation can also be set with the left/right keys of the controller, see above and page 36. Select the exposure compensation option in the custom 1 section of the recording mode menu. Use the up/down keys to adjust the degree of compensation (1). Press the central controller button to set this value (2). If any value other than 0.0 is set, an indicator will be displayed on the monitor as a warning. Basic Sensitivity Metering mode Exp. comp. NoiseReductn Auto reset +1.3 Custom1 Custom2 ­2 ~ +2 1 2 46 RECORDING - ADVANCED OPERATION CAMERA SENSITIVITY - ISO Four camera sensitivity settings can be selected with a still image: Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400; the numerical values are based on an ISO equivalent. ISO is the standard used to indicate film sensitivity: the higher the number, the more sensitive the film. Sensitivity can be changed in the custom 1 section of the recording-mode menu The auto setting automatically adjusts the camera sensitivity to the light conditions between ISO 50 and ISO 160. When any other setting than auto is used, "ISO" and the set value will appear on the LCD monitor. A specific sensitivity setting can be selected. As the ISO value doubles, the camera sensitivity doubles. Like grain in silver-halide film that increases with speed, noise increases with the sensitivity in digital imaging; an ISO setting of 50 will have the least noise and 400 will have the most. FLASH RANGE AND CAMERA SENSITIVITY 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. ISO setting AUTO 50 100 200 400 Flash range (wide angle) 0.15m ~ 3.2m (0.5ft. ~ 10.5ft) 0.15m ~ 1.8m ( 0.5ft. ~ 5.9ft) 0.15m ~ 2.5m ( 0.5ft. ~8.2 ft) 0.15m ~ 3.6m ( 0.5ft. ~11.8 ft) 0.15m ~ 5.1m ( 0.5ft. ~16.7 ft) Flash range (telephoto) 0.15m ~ 2.5m ( 0.5ft. ~8.2ft) 0.15m ~ 1.4m ( 0.5ft. ~4.6ft) 0.15m ~ 2.0m ( 0.5ft. ~6.6ft) 0.15m ~ 2.8m ( 0.5ft. ~9.2ft) 0.15m ~ 4.0m ( 0.5ft. ~13.1ft) 47 METERING MODES The icons indicating the metering modes are displayed on the monitor. The metering mode is set in the custom 1 section of the recording mode menu (p. 38). Multi-segment metering: uses 256 segments to measure luminance and color. This data is combined with distance information to calculate the camera exposure. This advanced metering system will give accurate worry-free exposures in almost all situations. Spot metering: uses a small area within the image to calculate the exposure. When this mode is selected, the LCD monitor will automatically activate if off and a small circle will appear in the middle of the live image indicating the measuring area. The spot allows precise exposure measurements of a particular object without being influenced by extremely bright or dark areas within the scene. If the LCD monitor is turned off, the spot-metering mode will remain active. Spot-metering area Spot-metering indicator NOISE REDUCTION This function reduces the affect of dark noise caused by long exposures. Noise reduction is only applied to exposures of one second or longer. Processing is applied to each image after it is captured. The processing time varies from image to image; a message will be displayed during this period. 48 RECORDING - ADVANCED OPERATION AUTO RESET When auto reset is active, the following functions return to their program setting when the camera is turned off. Auto reset is initially off. This function can be turned on in the custom 1 section of the recording-mode menu (p. 38). Flash mode Drive mode White balance Camera sensitivity Exposure compensation Metering mode Color mode AF area LCD monitor display (p. 28) (p. 40) (p. 43) (p. 47) (p. 36) (p. 48) (p. 49) (p. 25) (p. 30) ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Auto Single-frame advance Auto Auto 0.0 Ev Multi segment Color Wide focus frame Full The flash mode is reset to autoflash with red eye reduction if autoflash with red eye reduction was last set, if not the mode will be reset to autoflash. See page 28 for information on flash modes. Camera Notes The camera will reset if the battery is removed for an extended period. An internal battery protects the clock, calendar, and camera settings for more than 24 hours if the camera is used for at least 5 minutes before the battery is removed. COLOR MODE The color mode controls whether a still image is color or black and white. This must be set before the image is recorded. The color mode is set in the custom 2 section of the recording mode menu (p. 38). The live image on the monitors will reflect the selected color mode. The color option uses no monitor indicator when active. The color mode has no effect on image file size. The black & white mode produces neutral monochrome images. Sepia creates warm-tone monochrome images. Black & White Sepia 49 VOICE MEMO Voice memo allows an audio track up to fifteen second to be recorded with a still image. The function is activated in the custom 2 section of the recording-mode menu (p. 38). When the function is active, the microphone indicator is displayed on the LCD monitor. The voice memo must be set before taking a picture. It will remain in effect until reset. When the LCD monitor is turned off (p. 30), it will automatically activate for the voice-memo period. After an image is captured, a screen will appear indicating the audio recording has started. A bar graph (1) will display the amount of recording time remaining. To stop the recording, press the shutter-release button or the center button of the controller (2). The recording will automatically stop when the fifteen-second limit has elapsed. Voice memo is attached to the last image of a continuous-advance series (p. 41). When played back, images with voice-memo audio tracks have a note icon displayed with them (p. 60). 2 Recording audio. Stop Microphone 1 Remaining recording time Camera Notes When making audio recordings, be careful not to touch or cover the microphone. The quality of the recording is proportional to the subject to microphone distance. For best results, hold the camera approximately 20cm (8in) from your mouth. 50 RECORDING - ADVANCED OPERATION