En The Guide to Digital Photography with the DIGITAL CAMERA En Shoot, View, and Enjoy A Flowchart Guide to Using Your Camera STEP 1--Ready the camera Getting ready Camera setup STEP 2--Take pictures Snapshots (auto mode) Creative photography (scene mode) Custom shots and movies STEP 3--Play them back... ...while shooting... ...after shooting... Review and Deletion Basic Playback 31 78 Tutorial: Taking Pictures Getting Creative Taking Pictures: The Details 24 36 51 First Steps First Steps Camera Setup 16 16 69 ...and delete unwanted pictures... ...immediately ...while shooting ...during playback Delete multiple pictures STEP 4--Install camera software Install software Get to know Nikon View 5 Quick Start Guide (provided) Nikon View 5 Reference Manual (provided on CD) -- -- Keep or Delete Review and Deletion Basic Playback Deleting Pictures 58 31 78 86 STEP 5--Copy pictures to your computer Transfer pictures Connections 41 Product Documentation The documentation for this product includes the manuals listed below. Please be sure to read all instructions thoroughly to get the most from your camera. Quick-Start Guide The Quick-Start Guide takes you through the process of unpacking and setting up your Nikon digital camera, taking your first pictures, installing software, and transferring pictures to your computer. Guide to Digital Photography The Guide to Digital Photography (this manual) provides complete operating instructions for your camera. Nikon View 5 Reference Manual The Nikon View 5 Reference Manual can be found in electronic format on the reference CD provided with your camera. For information on viewing the Reference Manual, see "Connections" in this manual. Overview Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500 Menu Guide First Steps Taking Pictures Review and Deletion Getting Creative Connections Beyond Point-and-Shoot Fine-Tuning Camera Settings Camera Setup Basic Playback The Playback Menu Technical Notes Index i For Your Safety To prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or to others, read the following safety precautions in their entirety before using this equipment. Keep these safety instructions where all those who use the product will read them. The consequences that could result from failure to observe the precautions listed in this section are indicated by the following symbol: This icon marks warnings, information that should be read before using your Nikon product to prevent possible injury. WARNINGS Turn off immediately in the event of malfunction Should you notice smoke or an unusual smell coming from the equipment or from the AC adapter (available separately), unplug the AC adapter or remove the battery immediately, taking care to avoid burns. Continued operation could result in injury. After removing the battery, take the equipment to a Nikon-authorized service center for inspection. Do not use in the presence of flammable gas Do not use electronic equipment in the presence of flammable gas, as this could result in explosion or fire. Do not disassemble Touching the product's internal parts could result in injury. In the event of a malfunction, the product should be repaired only by a qualified technician. Should the product break open as the result of a fall or other accident, remove the battery or AC adapter and then take the product to a Nikon-authorized service center for inspection. Observe caution when using the camera strap Caution should be exercised to prevent strangulation when wearing the camera strap around your neck. Never place the strap around the neck of an infant or child. Observe proper precautions when handling batteries Batteries may leak or explode if improperly handled. Observe the following precautions when handling batteries for use in this product: · Be sure the product is off before replacing the battery. If you are using an AC adapter, be sure it is unplugged. · Use only a rechargeable Nikon EN-EL2 lithium-ion battery (supplied). · When inserting the battery, do not attempt to insert it upside down or backwards. · Do not short or disassemble the battery. · Do not expose the battery to flame or to excessive heat. · Do not immerse in or expose to water. · Do not transport or store with metal objects such as necklaces or hairpins. ii · Batteries are prone to leakage when fully discharged. To avoid damage to the product, be sure to remove the battery when no charge remains. · When the battery is not in use, attach the terminal cover and store in a cool place. · Immediately after use, or when the product is used on battery power for an extended period, the battery may become hot. Before removing the battery, turn the camera off and allow the battery to cool. · Discontinue use immediately should you notice any changes in the battery, such as discoloration or deformation. Use appropriate cables When connecting cables to the input and output jacks, use only the cables provided or sold by Nikon for the purpose, to maintain compliance with product regulations. The lens section · Do not insert your fingers in the gap between the rotating lens section and the camera body. Your fingers could be pinched between the body and the lens section, resulting in injury. Particular care should be observed in the case of small children. · To prevent your fingers, flesh, or other objects from being pinched in the gap between the rotating lens section and the camera body, return the lens section to its housing in the camera body before transporting the camera. Keep out of reach of children Particular care should be taken to prevent infants from putting the battery or other small parts into their mouths. Removing memory cards Memory cards may become hot during use. Observe due caution when removing memory cards from the camera. CD-ROMs The CD-ROMs on which the software and manuals are distributed should not be played back on audio CD equipment. Playing CD-ROMs on an audio CD player could cause hearing loss or damage the equipment. Observe caution when operating the flash Using the flash close to your subject's eyes could cause temporary visual impairment. Particular care should be observed if photographing infants, when the flash should be no less than one meter (39) from the subject. Avoid contact with liquid crystal Should the monitor break, care should be taken to avoid injury due to broken glass and to prevent liquid crystal from the monitor touching the skin or entering the eyes or mouth. iii Caring for the Camera and Battery Keep dry This product is not waterproof, and may malfunction if immersed in water or exposed to high levels of humidity. Rusting of the internal mechanism can cause irreparable damage. Keep free of salt, sand, and dust After using your camera at the beach or seaside, wipe off any sand or salt with a lightly dampened cloth and then dry your camera thoroughly. Do not touch the lens with your fingers The proper procedure for cleaning the lens is described in "Technical Notes: Caring for Your Camera." Handle the lens and all moving parts with care Do not apply force to the lens or to the battery, card, and connector covers. These parts are especially susceptible to damage. Turn the product off before removing the battery or unplugging the AC adapter Do not unplug the product or remove the battery while the product is on, or while images are being recorded or deleted. Forcibly cutting power to the product in these circumstances could result in loss of data or in damage to product memory or internal circuitry. To prevent an accidental interruption of power, avoid carrying the product from one location to another while the AC adapter is connected. Do not drop The product may malfunction if subjected to strong shocks or vibration. Keep away from strong magnetic fields Do not use or store this device in the vicinity of equipment that generates strong electromagnetic radiation or magnetic fields. Strong static charges or the magnetic fields produced by equipment such as radio transmitters could interfere with the monitor, damage data stored on the memory card, or affect the product's internal circuitry. Avoid sudden changes in temperature Sudden changes in temperature, such as occur when entering or leaving a heated building on a cold day, can cause condensation inside the device. To prevent condensation, place the device in a carrying case or a plastic bag before exposing it to sudden changes in temperature. Notes on the monitor · The monitor may contain a few pixels that are always lit or that do not light. This is a characteristic common to all TFT LCD monitors and does not indicate a malfunction. Images recorded with the product will not be affected. · Images in the monitor may be difficult to see in a bright light. · The monitor is lit by an LED backlight. Should the monitor begin to dim or flicker, contact your Nikon service representative. · Do not apply pressure to the monitor, as this could cause damage or malfunction. Dust or lint adhering to the monitor can be removed with a blower brush. Stains can be removed by rubbing the surface lightly with a soft cloth or chamois leather. · Should the monitor break, care should be taken to avoid injury due to broken glass and to prevent the liquid crystal from the monitor touching the skin or entering the eyes or mouth. iv Smear When you frame bright subjects, vertical comet-like streaks that whiten toward either end may appear in the monitor. This phenomenon, known as "smear," does not appear in the final photograph and does not indicate a malfunction. Some smearing may appear in movies. Batteries · When you turn the device on, check the battery-level displayed in the monitor to determine whether the battery needs to be replaced. The battery needs to be replaced when the battery-level indicator is flashing. · Ready a spare battery and keep it fully charged when taking pictures on important occasions. Depending on your location, you may find it difficult to purchase replacement batteries on short notice. · On cold days, the capacity of batteries tends to decrease. Be sure the battery is fully charged before taking pictures outside in cold weather. Keep a spare battery in a warm place and exchange the two as necessary. Once warmed, a cold battery may recover some of its charge. · Should the battery terminals become dirty, wipe them off with a clean, dry cloth before use. Memory cards · Turn the power off before inserting or removing memory cards. Inserting or removing cards with the power on could render them unusable. · Insert memory cards as shown in the illustration at right. Inserting cards upside down or backwards could damage the camera or the card. Storage · To prevent mold or mildew, store the camera in a dry, well-ventilated area. If you will not be using the product for long periods, remove the battery to prevent leakage and store the camera in a plastic bag containing a desiccant. Do not, however, store the camera case in a plastic bag, as this may cause the material to deteriorate. Note that desiccant gradually loses its capacity to absorb moisture and should be replaced at regular intervals. · Do not store the camera with naphtha or camphor moth balls, close to equipment that produces strong magnetic fields, or in areas subject to extremes of temperature, for example near a space heater or in a closed vehicle on a hot day. · To prevent mold or mildew, take the camera out of storage at least once a month. Turn the camera on and release the shutter a few times before putting the camera away again. · Store the battery in a cool, dry place. v Notices · No part of the manuals included with this product may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form, by any means, without Nikon's prior written permission. · Nikon reserves the right to change the specifications of the hardware and software described in these manuals at any time and without prior notice. · Nikon will not be held liable for any damages resulting from the use of this product. · While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in these manuals is accurate and complete, we would appreciate it were you to bring any errors or omissions to the attention of the Nikon representative in your area (address provided separately). Notice for customers in Canada CAUTION This class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference Causing Equipment Regulations. ATTENTION Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada. A Note on Electronically-Controlled Cameras In extremely rare instances, unusual characters may appear in the monitor and the camera may stop functioning. In most cases, this phenomenon is caused by a strong external static charge. Turn the camera off, remove and replace the battery, and turn the camera on again, or, if you are using an AC adapter (a ...