Argus DC2700 Camera User Manual
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Argus DC2700
Digital Camera User Manual
NOTE THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Argus DC2700 Camera User Manual
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction
________________________________
3
1.1 Specifications and PC requirements
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3
1.2 Physical Descriptions
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4
1.3 Camera Accessories Checklist _____________________________________________ 5
Chapter 2
Recording
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6
2.1 Turning the Power On
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6
2.2 Using the Live Viewfinder
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7
Adjusting Exposure (brightness)
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7
2.3 Using Camera with TV ___________________________________________________ 7
2.4 Recording a Still Picture
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8
2.5 Make a Video with Sound ________________________________________________ 9
2.6 Make a Sond Recording only
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11
Chapter 3
Using the Menu System
____________________________
14
3.1 Main Menu
3.1.1 THE SELF TIMER
________________________________
__________________________
14
3.1.2 REVIEW – Reviewing Pictures and Sounds
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14
3.1.3 INFO – Camera Information
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16
3.1.4 PROCESS – Setting the Picture Taking Features
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17
3.1.5 SETUP – Changing the Basic Camera Settings
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18
3.2 Loading New Camera Firmware
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20
3.3 Compact Flash vs. Internal Memory Storage of Pictures
20
Compact Flash Error and Status Messages
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20
Chapter
4
Host Software
________________________________
________________________________
___________________________
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________________________________
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___________________________
22
Appendix I – Trouble Shootings
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24
Appendix II -- QuickTime Tutorials______________________________________ 25
Appendix III – MGI PhotoSuite® III SE Tutorials __________________________ 27
Appendix IV – DC2700 Menu Flow Chart ________________________________28
Argus DC2700 Camera User Manual
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CChhaapptteerr 11 IInnttrroodduuccttiioon
The
DC2700
Digital Camera is a state of the art VGA resolution digital camera with a
complete set of sophisticated features.
1.1 Specifications
•
HP 640X480 CMOS Sensor with
10 bit A/D
•
Three Record Modes
•
Still Frame
•
Video with Sound
•
Sound
•
320X240X24 bit Color Micro
Display
•
Auto Exposure - +/- 2 f/stops
manual compensation
•
Auto White Balance
•
Attachable external Flash
•
7mm f/1.8 Fixed Focus Lens with
Manual Macro Position (Fully
Coated, includes IR Filter)
•
Electronic Shutter
•
B to 1/2000 Second
•
Compact Flash Removable
Memory
•
2 Mbytes Synchronous DRAM for
Rapid Fire
•
1 Mbytes NV Flash RAM for
Program and 10 Picture Storage
•
Clarity 2 ASIC
•
ARM7 48MHz Processor with
integral 8KB Cache
•
USB Interface
•
Composite Video Out
•
NTSC/PAL Selection
•
4 AA battery power supply
•
Battery level monitor
•
Small Size and Weight
•
Rapid Fire – Zero delay between
shots
•
Audio Recording and Playback
•
Self Timer
•
Digital 2X Zoom
•
Variable JPEG Compression – 40
to 90
•
Variable Quality Modes – Fine,
Economy
•
Shutter Release Button
•
3 Feature Selection Buttons
•
PC Host Software Ensemble
•
Browser and Image Processor
•
Video for Windows Driver
PC Requirements
Microsoft Windows 98 (version 2) or higher versions.
PC with Pentium 75MHz processor or higher
16 MB RAM or higher
Super VGA card and color monitor
Available USB port (Window 98)
100 MB free disk space for software installation.
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1.2 Physical Descriptions
The
DC2700
is shown below:
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eerraa AAcccceessssoorriieess CChheecckklliisst
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CChhaapptteerr 22 RReeccoorrddiinng
The operation of your camera is controlled through three
Feature Buttons
and a
Shutter
Release Button
. In general,
Feature Up
Button causes the selection to increase, the
Feature
Down
Button causes it to decrease and the
Feature Select
Button causes a selection to occur.
Your camera can operate in any of three record modes or a playback mode. The record
modes include: Still frame, Sound and Movie with Sound. The playback mode can be used to
view or listen to recorded pictures, sounds or movies. Record Specifications are:
Mode Specification
Still Frame 640 x 480 x 24 bit Color
Sound 8KHz 16 bit Mono
Movie 160 x 120 x 24 bit Color at 15fps
2.1 Turning the Power On
To turn the power on, press either the
Power
Button located on the rear of the camera or the
Shutter Release
button.
The camera can be powered on either by batteries or USB power supply.
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To turn the power off, press the
Power
button. Or, power will turn off automatically when
the Power Off
Timeout
occurs with no user action. You can change the Power Off
Timeout
through the
SETUP MENU
.
When power is first applied, the camera always starts with the
Live Viewfinder
running.
If the camera is attached to a
USB
port, then, the power is obtained from the USB and the
power will not turn off automatically.
2.2 Using the Live Viewfinder
The
Live Viewfinder
is an Active display that allows you to see what the camera sees. The
Live Viewfinder accurately indicates the tonality and composition of the scene that you will
capture. While constantly updating the image, the camera automatically determines the best
exposure
setting and the best
white balance
setting.
If you pan to a new scene that is much brighter or darker than the last, the camera may
require several seconds to adjust to the new lighting condition. Take a picture when these
modifications have completed.
Note that the DC2700 is designated with its best focus at 1.867 m
The
Viewfinder
may require focus adjustment. A
Focus Adjustment Knob
is located at the
top of your camera. This focus adjustment does not change the lens focus and therefore will
not affect pictures in any way. It is only an adjustment for your viewing of the
Viewfinder.
Adjusting Exposure (brightness)
While looking at the Live Viewfinder, you can easily adjust the brightness of the image with
the
Feature Up
and
Down
buttons. The Up button will increase the brightness, while the
Down
button decreases it. This can be especially useful with a scene that has a strong back
light (such as a window), behind the subject. Brightening the image will adjust the
exposure
for the subject and allow the window to saturate.
Note that any exposure adjustment that you make will be indicated in the Record Menu. It
however, is not saved when you turn the camera power off.
2.3 Using Camera with TV
TV mode vs LCD mode
The Live Video and MENU (OSD) on Cyber Display can be transferred to TV ( TV mode ) by
connecting the camera via RCA cable. Basically, displaying on TV serves the same purpose as
displaying on the Viewfinder except that TV will enable an instant playback of recorded sound
files.
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Note: While in TV mode, Cyber Display may turn off.
2.4 Recording a Still Picture
While in the
Live Viewfinder
Mode, if you
momentarily
press the
Shutter Release
Button
you will capture a single
Still
image. After the image is captured, a
Freeze Frame
presentation of the captured image will appear in the Viewfinder. This
Freeze Frame
accurately represents the image that you have captured and therefore gives you the ability to
decide immediately if another shot is required.
Still images are stored in .JPG format in your camera.
At this point, pressing the
Shutter Release
Button again will return you to the
Live
Viewfinder
, and more Still Pictures can be taken.
After the first picture in a sequence, you may immediately return to the Live Viewfinder and
take a second picture. However, after the second in a series of pictures is taken, attempting
again to return to the
Live Viewfinder
may result in displaying a
BUSY
message. This
indicates that the camera has no more Scratch Memory for image capture. After
approximately 4 seconds, the camera will return to
Live Viewfinder
mode automatically.
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2.5 Make a Video with Sound
You can take a short
Quick Time
( Please see APPENDIX II for the download and operation
of Quicktime applications ) movie ( maximum 10 seconds ) with your camera by pressing and
holding the
Shutter Release
button down. At first, your camera will take a Still Picture.
But, if the
Shutter Release
still being held down,
Quick Time Movie
will then be acquired.
The movie will continue to be acquired until either you release the
Shutter Release Button
,
or after 10 seconds have elapsed.
You will notice a "Q" at the bottom-right hand corner of the
Viewfinder
, indicating that the
image is a
Quick Time Movie
.
Movies are stored in .MOV format in your camera.
Steps:
- Power on the camera
- Hold SHUTTER button to begin capturing a video clip.
- Release SHUTTER button when finished
- Image with Q sign appearing at the bottom-right corner of a still frame indicates a
Quicktime video file.
View a Video ( At PC only, not for TV mode )
Steps:
- Power on the Camera