User manual NIKON COOLPIX L15

DIGITAL CAMERA User's Manual En Trademark Information · Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. · Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Inc. · Adobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. · The SD logo is a trademark of the SD Card Association. · PictBridge is a trademark. · ImageLink and the ImageLink print system logo are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company. · D-Lighting technology is provided by P Apical Limited. · All other trade names mentioned in this manual or the other documentation provided with your Nikon product are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Introduction First Steps G A C H c D Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode Auto Mode Shooting Suited for the Scene One-touch Portrait Mode More on Playback Movies Connecting to Televisions, Computers and Printers d Shooting, Playback and Setup Menus Technical Notes 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 this Nikon product to prevent possible injury. WARNINGS Turn off in the Event of Malfunction Should you notice smoke or an unusual smell coming from the camera or AC adapter, unplug the AC adapter and remove the batteries immediately, taking care to avoid burns. Continued operation could result in injury. After removing or disconnecting the power source, take the equipment to a Nikon-authorized service representative for inspection. Do not Disassemble Touching the product's internal parts could result in injury. Repairs should be performed only by qualified technicians. Should the camera break open as the result of a fall or other accident, take the product to a Nikonauthorized service representative for inspection after unplugging the product and/or removing the batteries. Do not use the Camera or AC Adapter 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. Handle the Camera Strap with Care Never place the strap around the neck of an infant or child. Keep out of Reach of Children Particular care should be taken to prevent infants from putting the batteries or other small parts into their mouths. ii For Your Safety Observe caution when handling batteries Batteries may leak or explode if improperly handled. Observe the following precautions when handling batteries for use in this product: · Before replacing the batteries, turn the product off. If you are using an AC adapter, be sure it is unplugged. · Use only the batteries approved for use in this product (A 12). Do not combine old and new batteries or batteries of different makes or types. · If Nikon rechargeable EN-MH1 NiMH batteries are purchased separately, charge and use each of them as a set. Do not combine batteries from different pairs. · Insert batteries in the correct orientation. · Do not short or disassemble batteries or attempt to remove or break battery insulation or casing. · Do not expose batteries 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. · Batteries are prone to leakage when fully discharged. To avoid damage to the product, be sure to remove the batteries when no charge remains. · Discontinue use immediately should you notice any change in the batteries, such as discoloration or deformation. · If liquid from damaged batteries comes in contact with clothing or skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water. Observe the following precautions when handling the Battery Charger MH-71 (available separately) Keep Dry. Failure to observe this precaution could result in fire or electric shock. Dust on or near the metal parts of the plug should be removed with a dry cloth. Continued use could result in fire. Do not handle the power cable or go near the battery charger during lightning storms. Failure to observe this precaution could result in electric shock. Do not damage, modify, forcibly tug or bend the power cable, place it under heavy objects, or expose it to heat or flame. Should the insulation be damaged and the wires become exposed, take it to a Nikonauthorized service representative for inspection. Failure to observe these precautions could result in fire or electric shock. Do not handle the plug or battery charger with wet hands. Failure to observe this precaution could result in electric shock. · · · · · iii For Your Safety 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. Handle moving parts with care Be careful that your fingers or other objects are not pinched by the lens cover or other moving parts. CD-ROMs The CD-ROMs supplied with this device should not be played back on audio CD equipment. Playing CDROMs on an audio CD player could cause hearing loss or damage the equipment. Observe caution when using 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 in.) from the subject. Do not operate the flash with the flash window touching a person or object Failure to observe this precaution could result in burns or fire. Avoid contact with liquid crystal Should the monitor break, care should be taken to avoid injury caused by broken glass and to prevent liquid crystal from the monitor touching the skin or entering the eyes or mouth. iv Notices Notice for customers in the U.S.A. FCC RF Interference Statement This equipment was 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 receiver. · Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help. CAUTIONS Modifications The FCC requires the user to be notified that any changes or modifications made to this device that are not expressly approved by Nikon Corporation may void the user's authority to operate the equipment. Interface Cables Use the interface cables sold or provided by Nikon for your equipment. Using other interface cables may exceed the limits of Class B Part 15 of the FCC rules. Notice for customers in the State of California WARNING: Handling the cord on this product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. Nikon Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Road Melville, New York 11747-3064 USA Tel: 631-547-4200 COOLPIX L15 v Notices Notice for customers in Canada CAUTION This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. ATTENTION Cet appareil numéique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada. Symbol for Separate Collection in European Countries This symbol indicates that this product is to be collected separately. The following apply only to users in European countries: · This product is designated for separate collection at an appropriate collection point. Do not dispose of as household waste. · For more information, contact the retailer or the local authorities in charge of waste management. vi Table of Contents For Your Safety ......................................................................................................................................ii WARNINGS................................................................................................................................................ ii Notices......................................................................................................................................................v Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................1 About This Manual ................................................................................................................................ 1 Information and Precautions............................................................................................................. 2 Parts of the Camera............................................................................................................................... 4 The Camera Body ...................................................................................................................................................4 The Monitor................................................................................................................................................................6 Basic Operations..................................................................................................................................... 8 The Shooting Mode Button .............................................................................................................................8 The c (Playback) Button..................................................................................................................................8 The Multi Selector...................................................................................................................................................9 The d Button....................................................................................................................................................10 Help Displays..........................................................................................................................................................11 Attaching the Camera Strap .........................................................................................................................11 First Steps ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Insert the Batteries...............................................................................................................................12 Supported Batteries ...........................................................................................................................................12 Turning On and Off the Camera.................................................................................................................12 Setting Display Language, Date and Time .................................................................................14 Inserting Memory Cards ....................................................................................................................16 Removing Memory Cards...............................................................................................................................17 G Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode ....................................................... 18 Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select G (Easy Auto) Mode .............................................18 Step 2 Frame a Picture .......................................................................................................................20 Step 3 Focus and Shoot .....................................................................................................................22 Step 4 Viewing and Deleting Pictures ..........................................................................................24 Using the Flash......................................................................................................................................26 Setting the Flash Mode....................................................................................................................................26 Taking Pictures with the Self-timer ...............................................................................................28 Macro Mode...........................................................................................................................................29 Exposure Compensation ...................................................................................................................30 A Auto Mode..................................................................................................................................... 31 Shooting in the Auto Mode..............................................................................................................31 vii Table of Contents C Shooting Suited for the Scene................................................................................................ 32 Shooting in the Scene Mode ...........................................................................................................32 Setting the Scene Mode..................................................................................................................................32 Features .....................................................................................................................................................................33 H One-touch Portrait Mode......................................................................................................... 40 Shooting in the One-Touch Portrait Mode.................................................................................40 The One-touch Portrait Menu .........................................................................................................41 c More on Playback....................................................................................................................... 42 Viewing Multiple Pictures: Thumbnail Playback ......................................................................42 Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom ..........................................................................................43 Editing Pictures.....................................................................................................................................44 Enhancing Brightness and Contrast: D-Lighting..............................................................................45 Creating a Cropped Copy: Crop .................................................................................................................46 g Resizing Pictures: Small Picture ...........................................................................................................47 D Movies ............................................................................................................................................. 48 Recording Movies ................................................................................................................................48 The Movie Menu...................................................................................................................................49 Selecting Movie Options.................................................................................................................................49 Stop-Motion Movies ..........................................................................................................................................50 Movie Playback .....................................................................................................................................51 Deleting Movie Files...........................................................................................................................................51 viii Table of Contents Connecting to Televisions, Computers and Printers ............................................................ 52 Connecting to a TV ..............................................................................................................................52 Connecting to a Computer...............................................................................................................53 Before Connecting the Camera..................................................................................................................53 Transferring Pictures from the Camera to a Computer ...............................................................54 Connecting to a Printer......................................................................................................................57 Connecting the Camera and Printer........................................................................................................58 Printing Pictures One at a Time ..................................................................................................................59 Printing Multiple Pictures ...............................................................................................................................60 Creating a DPOF Print Order: Print Set.........................................................................................63 Connecting to an ImageLink-compatible Printer ....................................................................65 Removing the Dock Insert .............................................................................................................................65 d Shooting, Playback and Setup Menus ............................................................................. 66 Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu .......................................................................................66 Displaying the Shooting Menu...................................................................................................................66 A Image Mode ....................................................................................................................................................67 B White Balance.................................................................................................................................................69 C Continuous ......................................................................................................................................................71 F Color Options..................................................................................................................................................72 Restrictions on Camera Settings ................................................................................................................73 Playback Options: The Playback Menu ........................................................................................74 Displaying the Playback Menu....................................................................................................................74 b Slide Show........................................................................................................................................................76 c Delete ...................................................................................................................................................................77 ix Table of Contents Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu..........................................................................................78 Displaying the Setup Menu...........................................................................................................................79 a Menus..................................................................................................................................................................79 c Welcome Screen...........................................................................................................................................80 d Date.......................................................................................................................................................................81 e Monitor Settings ..........................................................................................................................................84 f Date Imprint.....................................................................................................................................................85 g Vibration Reduction....................................................................................................................................86 h AF Assist ............................................................................................................................................................87 i Sound Settings ..............................................................................................................................................87 k Auto Off ..............................................................................................................................................................88 l Format Memory/m Format Card ......................................................................................................89 n Language ...........................................................................................................................................................90 o Video mode......................................................................................................................................................90 p Reset All ..............................................................................................................................................................91 s Battery Type .....................................................................................................................................................93 d Protect ...............................................................................................................................................................93 h Copy .....................................................................................................................................................................93 r Firmware Version .........................................................................................................................................94 Technical Notes.................................................................................................................................. 95 Optional Accessories ..........................................................................................................................95 Approved Memory Cards ...............................................................................................................................95 Image File and Folder Names ..........................................................................................................96 Caring for the Camera ........................................................................................................................97 Cleaning ....................................................................................................................................................................99 Storage .......................................................................................................................................................................99 Error Messages................................................................................................................................... 100 Troubleshooting................................................................................................................................ 103 Specifications ..................................................................................................................................... 108 Supported Standards ...................................................................................................................... 111 Index ...................................................................................................................................................... 112 x Introduction About This Manual Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon COOLPIX L15 digital camera. This manual was written to help you enjoy taking pictures with your Nikon digital camera. Read this manual thoroughly before use, and keep it where all those who use the product will read it. Symbols and Conventions To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols and conventions are used: Introduction B This icon marks cautions, information that should be read before use to prevent damage to the camera. This icon marks notes, information that should be read before using the camera. D This icon marks tips, additional information that may be helpful when using the camera. This icon indicates that more information is available elsewhere in this manual or in the Quick Start Guide. C A Notations · A Secure Digital (SD) memory card is referred to as a "memory card." · The setting at the time of purchase is referred to as the "default setting." · The names of menu items displayed in the camera monitor, and the names of buttons or messages displayed in the computer monitor are indicated with brackets ([ ]). Screen Samples In this manual, images are sometimes omitted from monitor display samples so that monitor indicators can be more clearly shown. Illustrations and Screen Display Illustrations and text displays shown in this manual may differ from actual display. C Memory Cards Pictures taken with this camera can be stored in the camera's internal memory or on removable memory cards. If a memory card is inserted, all new pictures will be stored on the memory card and delete, playback and format operations will apply only to the pictures on the memory card. The memory card must be removed before the internal memory can be formatted or used to store, delete or view pictures. 1 Information and Precautions Life-Long Learning As part of Nikon's "Life-Long Learning" commitment to ongoing product support and education, continually updated information is available online at the following sites: · For users in the U.S.A.: http://www.nikonusa.com/ · For users in Europe and Africa: http://www.europe-nikon.com/support/ · For users in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East: http://www.nikon-asia.com/ Visit these sites to keep up-to-date with the latest product information, tips, answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), and general advice on digital imaging and photography. Additional information may be available from the Nikon representative in your area. See the URL below for contact information: http://nikonimaging.com/ Introduction Use Only Nikon Brand Electronic Accessories Nikon COOLPIX cameras are designed to the highest standards and include complex electronic circuitry. Only Nikon brand electronic accessories (including battery chargers, batteries and AC adapters) certified by Nikon specifically for use with this Nikon digital camera are engineered and proven to operate within the operational and safety requirements of this electronic circuitry. THE USE OF NON-NIKON ELECTRONIC ACCESSORIES COULD DAMAGE THE CAMERA AND MAY VOID YOUR NIKON WARRANTY. For more information about Nikon brand accessories, contact a local authorized Nikon dealer. Before Taking Important Pictures Before taking pictures on important occasions (such as at weddings or before taking the camera on a trip), take a test shot to ensure that the camera is functioning normally. Nikon will not be held liable for damages or lost profits that may result from product malfunction. About the Manuals · 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 was 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). 2 Information and Precautions Notice Concerning Prohibition of Copying or Reproduction Note that simply being in possession of material that was digitally copied or reproduced by means of a scanner, digital camera or other device may be punishable by law. · Items prohibited by law from being copied or reproduced Do not copy or reproduce paper money, coins, securities, government bonds or local government bonds, even if such copies or reproductions are stamped "Sample." The copying or reproduction of paper money, coins, or securities which are circulated in a foreign country is prohibited. Unless the prior permission of the government was obtained, the copying or reproduction of unused postage stamps or post cards issued by the government is prohibited. The copying or reproduction of stamps issued by the government and of certified documents stipulated by law is prohibited. · Cautions on certain copies and reproductions The government has issued cautions on copies or reproductions of securities issued by private companies (shares, bills, checks, gift certificates, etc.), commuter passes or coupon tickets, except when a minimum of necessary copies are to be provided for business use by a company. Also, do not copy or reproduce passports issued by the government, licenses issued by public agencies and private groups, ID cards and tickets, such as passes and meal coupons. · Comply with copyright notices The copying or reproduction of copyrighted creative works such as books, music, paintings, woodcut prints, maps, drawings, movies and photographs is governed by national and international copyright laws. Do not use this product for the purpose of making illegal copies or to infringe copyright laws. Introduction Disposing of Data Storage Devices Please note that deleting images or formatting data storage devices such as memory cards or builtin camera memory does not completely erase the original image data. Deleted files can sometimes be recovered from discarded storage devices using commercially available software, potentially resulting in the malicious use of personal image data. Ensuring the privacy of such data is the user's responsibility. Before discarding a data storage device or transferring ownership to another person, erase all data using commercial deletion software, or format the device and then completely refill it with images containing no private information (for example, pictures of empty sky). Be sure to also replace any pictures selected for the welcome screen (A 80). Care should be taken to avoid injury or damage to property when physically destroying data storage devices. 3 Parts of the Camera The Camera Body 1 Introduction 23 4 5 Lens cover closed 11 6 7 12 8 13 10 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shutter-release button..............................22 Power-on lamp ..............................................12 Power switch...................................................18 Built-in flash......................................................26 Speaker................................................................51 Self-timer lamp.......................................28, 98 AF-assist illuminator............ 23, 33, 87, 98 Built-in microphone....................................48 8 9 Lens ............................................................97, 108 Power connector cover for optional AC adapter....................................95 10 Eyelet for camera strap..............................11 11 Connector cover............................52, 54, 58 12 Cable connector............................52, 54, 58 13 Lens cover .........................................................97 4 Parts of the Camera 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Introduction 11 12 13 14 1 2 3 4 5 Monitor ..................................................................6 Shooting mode button................................8 c (playback) button....................................8 Flash lamp .........................................................27 Multi selector......................................................9 Zoom buttons ................................................21 f : Zoom out ...........................................21 g : Zoom in...............................................21 h : Thumbnail playback....................42 i : Playback zoom................................43 j : Help .......................................................11 7 8 9 10 d button ......................10, 41, 49, 66, 74 k (apply selection) button...................... 9 l (delete) button.........................24, 25, 51 Battery-chamber/ memory card slot cover....................12, 16 11 Tripod socket 12 ImageLink ..........................................................65 13 SD card slot.......................................................16 14 Battery-chamber............................................12 6 5 Parts of the Camera The Monitor The following indicators may appear in the monitor during shooting and playback (actual display varies with current camera settings). Introduction Shooting 2 21 20 19 +1.0 56 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 7 1 10 9999 17 16 15 13 14 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Shooting mode* ............18, 31, 32, 40, 48 Exposure lock.................................................. 39 Macro mode.................................................... 29 Zoom indicator...................................... 21, 29 Focus indicator .............................................. 22 Digital zoom interpolation indicator... 21 Flash mode....................................................... 26 Internal memory indicator...................... 19 Battery level indicator................................ 18 13 "Date not set" indicator.......................... 100 Time zone indicator....................................81 14 Date imprint.....................................................85 Number of exposures remaining 15 (still pictures) ...................................................18 Movie length...................................................48 16 Focus area .........................................................22 17 Exposure compensation value ............30 18 Image mode ....................................................67 19 Color options ..................................................72 20 White balance mode..................................69 21 Continuous shooting mode..................71 10 ISO sensitivity.................................................. 27 11 Vibration reduction icon.......................... 86 12 Self-timer indicator...................................... 28 * Differs according to the current shooting mode. Refer to the sections on each mode for details. 6 Parts of the Camera Introduction Playback 1 14 2 3 4 5 15/11/2007 12:00 9999.JPG 13 12 6 9999 9999 10 11 9 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Date of recording......................................... 14 Time of recording......................................... 14 Internal memory indicator...................... 19 Battery level indicator................................ 18 File number and type ................................ 96 Volume indicator.......................................... 51 Current frame number/ total number of frames............................. 24 Movie length................................................... 51 8 9 Movie playback indicator ........................51 D-Lighting icon..............................................45 10 Image mode ....................................................67 11 Small picture....................................................47 12 Protect icon......................................................93 13 Print-order icon..............................................63 14 Movie indicator*............................................51 * Differs according to the selected movie option. 7 Basic Operations The Shooting Mode Button · Press the shooting mode button in playback mode to enter shooting mode. · Press the shooting mode button in shooting mode to display the shooting-mode selection menu. Introduction Easy auto mode The Shooting-mode Selection Menu In the shooting-mode selection menu, use the multi selector to select the shooting mode. G Easy auto mode (A 18) D Movie (A 48) C Scene (A 32) H One-touch portrait (A 40) A Auto mode (A 31) The shooting-mode selection menu is continuously displayed until you select the shooting mode and press k to determine the mode, or you press the shooting mode button again. The c (Playback) Button · Press c in shooting mode to enter playback mode. 8 Basic Operations The Multi Selector This section describes standard uses of the multi selector to select modes, select menu options and to apply selection. Introduction For Shooting Display m (flash mode) (A 26) menu or move cursor up. Display n (self-timer) (A 28) menu. Display o (exposure compensation) (A 30) menu. Apply selection. Display p (macro mode) (A 29) menu or move cursor down. Flash mode For the Playback Mode 15/11/2007 15:30 0004.JPG Display the previous picture. Display the next picture. 4 4 For the Menu Screen Move cursor up. Return to the previous screen. Move cursor down. Apply selection (Go to the next screen). Go to the next screen (Apply selection). Auto mode Image mode White balance Continuous Color options Set up MENU Exit ? C Notes on the Multi Selector Multiple operations are available with the multi selector but no detailed operation is described here. In the manual, the button indicating up, down, left and right of the multi selector is shown as H, I, J and K. 9 Basic Operations The d Button Press d to display the menu for the selected mode. Use the multi selector to navigate the menus (A 9). To exit the menu display, press d again. Easy auto mode Image mode Set up Introduction Exit The selected option Displayed when the menu contains two or more pages Displayed when there are more previous menu items Set up Date imprint Vibration reduction AF assist Sound settings Auto off Exit AF assist Auto Off Displayed when ? there are one or more menu items to follow Press the multi selector K or k to proceed to the next set of options. Exit Press the multi selector K or k to apply selection. 10 Basic Operations Help Displays Press g (j) when M is displayed at the lower right of the menu screen to view a description of the currently selected menu option. To return to the original menu, press g (j) again. Continuous Choose single frame, continuous mode, BSS (camera chooses sharpest shot in series), or multi-shot 16. Exit Back Introduction Attaching the Camera Strap 11 First Steps Insert the Batteries 1 Open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover. · Hold the camera upside down to prevent the batteries from falling out. 1 3 2 2 Insert the batteries. · Insert the batteries correctly as shown at right. First Steps 3 Close the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover. 2 1 Supported Batteries This camera uses the following size AA batteries. · Two LR6 alkaline batteries (batteries supplied) · Two FR6/L91 lithium batteries · Two ZR6 oxyride batteries · Two Nikon EN-MH1 rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries (available separately) Turning On and Off the Camera To turn on the camera, press the power switch. The power-on lamp (green) will light for a moment and the monitor will turn on. To turn off the camera, press the power switch again. When the camera turns off, both the power-on lamp and monitor will turn off. 12 Insert the Batteries B B Replacing Batteries Turn the camera off and make sure that the power-on lamp and the monitor have gone out before opening the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover. Additional Precautions Regarding Batteries · Read and follow the warnings and cautions (A iii, 98). · Do not combine old and new batteries or batteries of different makes or types. · Batteries with the following defects cannot be used: First Steps Batteries with peeling Batteries with insulation that does not cover the area around the negative terminal. Batteries with a flat negative terminal B Battery Type To improve battery performance, select the type of battery currently inserted in the camera in the setup menu. The default setting is the type of battery supplied with purchase. If your camera was purchased in Europe and alkaline batteries were supplied, change the setting to [Alkaline]. When any other type of battery is used, turn the camera on and change the setting (A 93). C C Alkaline Batteries Performance of alkaline batteries may vary greatly depending on the manufacturer. Choose a reliable brand. Alternative Power Resources To power the camera continuously for extended periods, use an EH-65A AC adapter (available separately) (A 95). Do not, under any circumstances, use another make or model of AC adapter. Failure to observe this precaution could result in overheating or in damage to the camera. D Power Saving Function in Shooting Mode If no operations are performed for about five seconds, the monitor will dim to save power. Using any of the camera controls will reactivate the display. The monitor turns off if no operations are performed for thirty seconds (default setting). The camera enters standby mode. After a further three minutes, the camera will turn off automatically (A 88). 13 Setting Display Language, Date and Time A language-selection dialog and date menu are displayed the first time the camera is turned on. 1 First Steps Press the power switch to turn on the camera. The power-on lamp (green) will light for a moment and the monitor will turn on. 2 Use the multi selector to choose the desired language and press k. For information on using the multi selector, see "The Multi Selector" (A 9). 3 Choose [Yes] and press k. If [No] is selected, the date and time will not be set. Proceed to step 8. Date Set time and date? No Yes 4 Press k. The home time zone menu is displayed. Time zone London,Casablanca Daylight saving D Daylight Saving Time 14 If daylight saving time is in effect, turn on [Daylight saving] in the time zone menu and set the date. 1 Before pressing K, press the multi selector I to choose [Daylight saving]. 2 Press k to enable daylight saving time (w). Pressing k toggles the daylight saving time option on and off. 3 Press the multi selector H, and then press K to proceed to step 5. When daylight saving time ends, turn [Daylight saving] off from the date menu (A 81) in the setup menu. The camera's clock is automatically set back one hour. Setting Display Language, Date and Time 5 Select your home time zone (A 83) and press k. The date menu is displayed. Home time zone London,Casablanca Back First Steps 6 Edit the date. · Press H or I to edit the highlighted item. · Press the multi selector J or K to change the highlighted item. The highlight moves in the order of day ([D]), month ([M]) and year ([Y]) or vice versa (the order of highlight movement may differ in some areas). After editing the minutes, press the multi selector K. The row for setting the order in which the date is displayed will blink. Date D M Y 01 00 09 00 2007 7 Choose the order in which the day, month, and year are displayed and press k or K. The settings are applied. Date D M Y 15 15 11 10 2007 8 Press k to exit the screen. The camera enters shooting mode. Press this button in shooting mode for shooting-mode selection menu. D Change the selected date and time To change the already set date and time, select [Date] from [Date] (A 81) in the setup menu (A 78) and perform steps 6 and 7. 15 Inserting Memory Cards Pictures are stored in the camera's internal memory (23 MB) or on removable Secure Digital (SD) memory cards (available separately) (A 95). If a memory card is inserted in the camera, pictures are automatically stored on the memory card and pictures recorded to the memory card can be played back, deleted or transferred. Remove the memory card to store pictures in the internal memory, or play back, delete or transfer pictures from the internal memory. 1 First Steps Turn the camera off and open the batterychamber/memory card slot cover. Make sure that the camera is off (the power-on lamp and the monitor are off) before opening the batterychamber/memory card slot cover. Hold the camera upside down to prevent the batteries from falling out. 1 3 2 2 Insert the memory card. Slide the memory card in correctly until it clicks into place. Close the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover. B Inserting Memory Cards Inserting the memory card upside down or backwards could damage the camera or the memory card. Make sure that the memory card is correctly oriented. 16 Inserting Memory Cards Removing Memory Cards Before removing memory cards, turn the camera off and confirm that the power-on lamp and the monitor are off. Open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover and press the card in 1 to partially eject the card 2. The card can then be removed by hand. 1 2 First Steps B Formatting Memory Cards If the message at right is displayed, the memory card must be Card is not formatted. formatted before use (A 89). Note that formatting permanently Format card? deletes all pictures and other data on the memory card. Be sure to make copies of any pictures you wish to keep before formatting the No memory card. Yes Use the multi selector to choose [Yes] and press k. A confirmation dialog is displayed. To start formatting, choose [Format] and press k. · Do not turn the camera off or open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover until formatting is complete. · The first time you insert the memory cards used in other devices into the COOLPIX L15, be sure to format them (A 89). B The Write Protect Switch Write protect switch Memory cards are equipped with a write protect switch. Pictures cannot be recorded or deleted and the memory card cannot be formatted when this switch is in the "lock" position. Unlock by sliding the switch to the "write" position. B Memory Cards · Use only Secure Digital memory cards. · Do not perform the following during formatting, while data is being written to or deleted from the memory card, or during data transfer to a computer. Failure to observe this precaution could result in the loss of data or in damage to the camera or memory card: - Eject the memory card - Remove the battery - Turn off the camera - Disconnect the AC adapter · Do not disassemble or modify. · Do not drop, bend, or expose to water or strong physical shocks. · Do not touch the metal terminals with your fingers or metal objects. · Do not affix labels or stickers to the memory card. · Do not leave in direct sunlight, closed vehicles or areas exposed to high temperatures. · Do not expose to humidity, dust, or to corrosive gases. 17 Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select G (Easy Auto) Mode This section describes how to take pictures in G (easy auto) mode, an automatic, "point-and-shoot" mode recommended for first-time users of digital cameras. 1 Press the power switch to turn on the camera. The power-on lamp (green) will light for a moment and the monitor will turn on. Proceed to step 4 when U is displayed. 2 Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode Press the shooting mode button. The shooting-mode selection menu will be displayed. 3 Press the multi selector H or I to choose G and press k. The camera enters G (easy auto) mode. Easy auto mode 4 Check the battery level and number of exposures remaining. Battery Level Monitor NO INDICATOR B N Warning! Battery exhausted. Cannot take pictures. Replace batteries. Description Batteries fully charged. Batteries low; prepare to replace batteries. Battery level indicator 10 Number of exposures remaining Number of Exposures Remaining The number of pictures that can be stored will be displayed. The number of pictures that can be stored depends on the capacity of the memory or memory card and image mode setting (A 68). 18 Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select G (Easy Auto) Mode Indicators Displayed in G (Easy Auto) Mode Internal memory indicator Pictures will be recorded to internal memory. When memory card is inserted, C is not displayed and pictures will be recorded to memory card. Shooting mode U displayed in easy auto mode. Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode 10 Image mode Display image size and quality set in the image mode menu. The default setting is y Normal (3,264 × 2,448). Vibration reduction icon Reduce the effects of camera shake. D Available Functions in G (Easy Auto) Mode In G (easy auto) mode, macro mode (A 29) and exposure compensation (A 30) can be applied and pictures can be taken using the flash mode (A 26) and self-timer (A 28). Pressing d in G (easy auto) mode displays the shooting menu. This menu allows you to specify the image mode (A 67) and setup menu (A 78). D Vibration Reduction [Vibration reduction] (A 86), when [On] (default setting) is selected, can be applied to effectively reduce blur, caused by slight hand movement known as camera shake, that commonly occurs when shooting with zoom applied or at slow shutter speeds. Vibration reduction can be used in all shooting modes. Turn vibration reduction off when using a tripod. 19 Step 2 Frame a Picture 1 Ready the camera. Hold the camera steadily in both hands, keeping your fingers and other objects away from the lens, flash, selftimer lamp and built-in microphone. When taking pictures in "tall" orientation, turn the camera so that the built-in flash is above the lens. Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode 2 Frame the picture. Position the main subject near the center of the monitor. 10 20 Step 2 Frame a Picture Using the Zoom Use the zoom buttons to activate optical zoom. Press g (i) to zoom in so that the subject fills a larger area of the frame. Press f (h) to zoom out, increasing the area visible in the frame. Zoom out Zoom in When the camera is zoomed in to the maximum magnification (3×), holding down g (i) triggers digital zoom. The subject is magnified up to 4×, for a total magnification of 12×. A monitor indicator shows the current zoom ratio. Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode Zoom indicator displayed when the zoom buttons are pressed. Optical zoom (up to 3×). Zoom indicator turns yellow when digital zoom is in effect. B Digital Zoom and Image Quality If possible, digital zoom will create a picture by cropping the area visible in the monitor to the current image mode (A 67), increasing magnification without affecting quality. If the crop would be smaller than the current image mode, additional pixels are added through a process known as interpolation, creating a slightly "grainy" image. The amount of zoom available before interpolation is used depends on the option currently selected for image mode, as shown in the following table. Maximum Zoom Ratio without Interpolation Image mode z, y, Y e g Zoom ratio 3.0× (up to the maximum optical zoom ratio) 3.6× (digital zoom up to 1.2×) 4.2× (digital zoom up to 1.4×) Image mode j k Zoom ratio 9.0× (digital zoom up to 3.0×) 12× (digital zoom up to 4.0×) The camera pauses temporarily in its zooming operation when it reaches the maximum zoom ratio possible before interpolation is used. V is displayed when interpolation is in effect. 21 Step 3 Focus and Shoot 1 Press the shutter-release button halfway. The camera focuses on the subject overlapping the focus area in the center of the monitor. When the subject is in focus, the focus area and focus indicator (Q) glow green. When the camera is unable to focus, the focus area and focus indicator blink red. Change the composition and try again. 10 Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode 2 Press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down. The picture will be recorded to the memory card or internal memory. B During Recording While pictures are being recorded, the O (wait) icon will be displayed and the C or X icon will blink. Do not turn the camera off, open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover, or remove or disconnect the power source while these icons are displayed. Cutting power or removing the memory card in these circumstances could result in loss of data or in damage to the camera or card. D Shutter-release Button The camera features a two-stage shutter-release button. To set focus and exposure, press the shutter-release button halfway, stopping when you feel resistance. Focus and exposure lock while the shutter-release button is held in this position. To release the shutter and take a picture, press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down. Do not use force when pressing the shutter-release button, as this may result in camera shake and blurred pictures. Press the shutterrelease button halfway to set focus and exposure. Press the shutterrelease button the rest of the way down to take picture. 22 Step 3 Focus and Shoot B Autofocus Autofocus may not perform as expected in the following situations. In some rare cases, the subject may not be in focus despite the fact that the active focus area and the focus indicator glow green: · Subject is very dark · Objects of sharply differing brightness are included in the scene (e.g. the sun is behind the subject and is in deep shadow) · No contrast between the subject and surroundings (e.g. when the subject is standing in front of a white wall, wearing a white shirt) · Several objects are at different distances from the camera (e.g. the subject is inside a cage) · Subject is moving rapidly In the situations noted above, try pressing the shutter-release button halfway to refocus several times, or focus on another subject and use focus lock. When using focus lock, be sure that the distance between the camera and the subject with which focus was locked is the same as that for the actual subject. Basic Photography and Playback: Easy Auto Mode