Casio QV-5700 User Manual

Digital Camera

QV-5700

User’s Guide

E

Congratulations
upon your
selection of the
new CASIO
Digital Camera.
To get the most
out of your new
CASIO Digital
Camera, make
sure you read
this manual
carefully and
keep it on hand
for future
reference.

K822PCM1DMX

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Contents

2 INTRODUCTION

Quick Reference .......................................................... 6

Getting Ready 6
Recording an Image 7
Viewing (Playing Back) an Image 8
Deleting an Image 9

Features ......................................................................11

Recording Features 13

Precautions ................................................................ 14

General Precautions 14
Operating conditions 15
Condensation 15
Lens Precautions 16
About the camera’s backlight… 16

17 GETTING ACQUAINTED

General Guide ............................................................ 17

Front 17
Back 18
Side 19
Bottom 19
Open Terminal Panel Cover 19

Mode Dials ................................................................. 20

Using the Control Button............................................ 21

Monitor Screen Indicators .......................................... 22

REC mode 22
PLAY mode 23
Changing the Contents of the Monitor Screen 24

Indicator display ......................................................... 24

Operation Indicator Lamp .......................................... 25

Operation/card access lamp 25
Flash Charge lamp 26
AF Assist Light/Self-timer Lamp 26

Using the Bundled Accessories ................................. 27

Attaching the Neck Strap 27
Adjusting the Length of the Neck Strap 27
Using the Lens Cap 28

Power Requirements ................................................. 29

Loading Batteries 29
Battery Handling Precautions 32
Low Battery Indicator 33
Using AC Power 33
Turning the Camera On and Off 35
Power Save Settings 35

Memory Cards............................................................ 37

Inserting a Memory Card into the Camera 37
Removing a Memory Card from the Camera 38
Formatting a Memory Card 39
Memory Card Precautions 40
IBM Microdrive Precautions 41

Menu Screens ............................................................ 42

Setting the Current Date and Time............................ 43

Setting the Date and Time 43
Selecting the Date Format 44

2

INTRODUCTION

45 BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

Using the Full Auto Mode........................................... 45

Recording Precautions 47
Focusing 47
About Auto Focus 48
Image Recording when the Batteries are Low 48
About the REC Mode Monitor Screen 49

Using Optical Zoom ................................................... 49

Using the Viewfinder for Recording ........................... 51

Using the Self-timer ................................................... 52

Camera Orientation Detection ................................... 53

54 OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS

Recording a Single Image (1-Image) ........................ 54

Previewing the Last Image Recorded 54
Deleting the Last Image Recorded in the REC Mode 55

Using the Flash .......................................................... 55

Selecting the Flash Mode 55
Flash Status Indicators 56
Adjusting the Flash Intensity 57
Changing the Sync Speed 57
Selecting a Flash Sync Setting 58
Precautions when Using Flash 60

Selecting the Focus Mode ......................................... 61

Using Auto Focus (Multi-area Auto Focus) 62
Using the Spot Auto Focus Mode 63
Using the Manual Focus Mode 64

Using the Infinity Mode 65
Using the Macro Mode 65
Using Focus Lock 66
Expanding the Focus Area 67
Camera Shake Indicator 67

Selecting the Metering Mode ..................................... 68

Selecting White Balance ............................................ 69

Adjusting White Balance Manually 70

Using AE Lock ............................................................ 71

Exposure Compensation............................................ 72

Using the Histogram .................................................. 74

Using Digital Zoom..................................................... 75

Instant Setup Using the Best Shot Mode .................. 76

Copying a Scene from the CD-ROM Best Shot Library 77
Registering Your Own Best Shot Scenes 80
Specifying the Location of Best Shot Mode Scenes 81

Specifying the Exposure Mode .................................. 82

Full Auto 82
Program AE 83
Aperture Priority AE 84
Shutter Speed Priority AE 85
Manual Exposure 87

Using the Continuous Shutter Mode.......................... 88

Using the AEB (Automatic Exposure Bracketing) Mode ...

To configure AEB Mode settings 89
To record an image using AEB 90

89

Creating a Panorama ................................................. 91

3

INTRODUCTION

Recording a Movie ..................................................... 93

REC Mode Camera Settings ..................................... 94

Specifying Image Size and Quality 94
Specifying Sensitivity 96
Enhancing Certain Colors 96
Using the Filter Function 97
Specifying Color Saturation 98
Specifying Contrast 98
Specifying Outline Sharpness 99
Turning the On-screen Grid On and Off 99
Inserting a Time Stamp into an Image 100
Specifying Power On Default Settings 101
Resetting the Camera 102

Using the Remote Shutter Release ......................... 103

Using an External Flash........................................... 104

External Flash Unit Requirements 104
Attaching an External Flash Unit 104

Attaching a Conversion Lens,

Close-up Lens, or Filter ........................................... 106

Installing a Conversion Lens or Close-up Lens 106
Using a Filter 108

109 PLAYBACK

Basic Playback Operation........................................ 109

Playing a Movie.........................................................110

Playing a Panorama.................................................. 111

Enlarging the Playback Image ..................................112

Displaying the 9-image View ....................................113

Selecting a Specific Image in the 9-image View 114

Displaying the Histogram and

Other Image Information ...........................................115

Using the Slide Show Feature ..................................117

Resizing an Image ....................................................118

119 DELETING IMAGES

Deleting the Displayed Image...................................119

Deleting Selected Images ........................................ 120

Deleting All Images in Selected Folders.................. 121

Deleting All Unprotected Images ............................. 122

123 MANAGING IMAGES

Folders and Files...................................................... 123

Folders 123
Files 124

Protecting Images Against Deletion......................... 125

Protecting Selected Images 125
Protecting and Unprotecting All Images in Selected

Folders 126

Protecting and Unprotecting All Images 127

4

INTRODUCTION

DPOF........................................................................ 127

Making DPOF Settings for Particular Images 128
Making DPOF Settings for Particular Folders 129
Making DPOF Settings of All Images on the

Memory Card 129

PRINT Image Matching II .......................................... 130

Exif Print ................................................................... 131

132 OTHER SETTINGS

Changing the Menu Language ................................ 132

Installing a Different Language Set 132

Turning the Confirmation Beep On and Off............. 136

137 CONNECTING TO EXTERNAL EQUIPMENT

Connecting to a Television....................................... 137

Selecting the Video Output Signal Mode 138

Connecting to a Computer ....................................... 139

Installing the Software from the CD-ROM 139
About the bundled CD-ROM 139
Computer System Requirements 140
Installing Software from the CD-ROM in Windows 141
Installing Software from the CD-ROM on a Macintosh 143
Installing Software 143
Transferring Files to a Computer 147

Using a Memory Card to Transfer Image Data ....... 149

Memory Card Data 150
DCF Protocol 150
Memory Card File Structure 151
Image Files Supported by the Camera 152
Precautions when Using a Memory Card

on a Computer 153

Using the HTML Card Browser ................................ 154

Specifying the Card Browser Type 154
Viewing Card Browser File Contents 156
Saving Card Browser Files 158

159 REFERENCE

Camera Menus......................................................... 159

REC mode 159
PLAY mode 160

Mode Settings .......................................................... 161

Settings in Each Mode 161
Drive Mode + Exposure Mode Combinations 162

Full Auto Mode Settings........................................... 163

Menu Settings 163
Non-Menu Settings 163

Troubleshooting........................................................ 164

Messages 167

Specifications ........................................................... 169

5

INTRODUCTION

Quick Reference

Getting Ready

1

Load batteries.

12 3

Set the current time and date.

(page 29)

Insert the memory card.

12

3

6

2

(page 37)

3

(page 43)

INTRODUCTION

Recording an Image (page 45)

1

Remove the lens cap
from the lens.

2

Align the exposure
mode dial with
(Full Auto Mode).

3

Align the drive mode dial
with (1-Image).

Use the Diopter Dial to adjust the view through
the viewfinder to suit your particular eyesight.
(page 51)

5

Point the camera at the subject,
compose the image on the monitor
screen, and press the shutter re­lease button half way to focus the
image.

4

Align the power/func­tion switch with .

6

After confirming that the Auto
Focus operation is complete (the
operation lamp lights green),
press the shutter release button
all the way down to record the
image.

7

INTRODUCTION

Viewing (Playing Back) an Image (page 109)

1

Align the
power/function
switch with .

2

Rock the control
button to the left or
right to scroll through
stored images on the
monitor screen.

8

INTRODUCTION

Deleting an Image (page 119)

4

Double check to
make sure that you
really want to
delete the image
you selected.

• You can exit the image
delete operation by
pressing AE-L .

3

Press AE-L .

1

Align the
power/function
switch with .

9

2

Rock the control
button to the left or
right to scroll through
stored images and
display the one you
want to delete.

5

Rock the control
button down to
select “Yes” and
then click the
control button.

INTRODUCTION

• The contents of this manual are subject to change without
notice.

• CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. assumes no responsibility
for any damage or loss resulting from the use of this
manual.

• CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. assumes no responsibility
for any loss or claims by third parties which may arise
through the use of the QV-5700.

• CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. shall not be held liable for
any damages or losses suffered by you or any third party
due to the use of Photo Loader, Photohands and/or Pan­orama Editor.

• CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. assumes no responsibility
for any damage or loss caused by deletion of data as a
result of malfunction, repairs, or battery replacement. Be
sure to back up all important data on other media to protect
against its loss.

• CompactFlashTM and the logo are registered trade­marks of SanDisk Corporation.

• Windows, Internet Explorer, and DirectX are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

• Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer,
Inc.

• Acrobat and Acrobat Reader are trademarks of Adobe Sys­tems Incorporated.

• The USB driver (mass storage) uses Phoenix Technolo­gies Ltd. software.
Compatibility Software Copyright C 1997

Phoenix Technologies Ltd., All Rights Reserved.

• Other company, product and service names used herein
may also be trademarks or service marks of others.

• Photo Loader, Photohands and Panorama Editor are the
property of CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. Except as
stipulated above, all copyrights and other related rights to
these applications revert to CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.

10

INTRODUCTION

Features

• High-resolution 5.0 megapixel CCD (5.36 million total pixels)
Record images that capture everything from delicate skin
tone nuances to all the fine detail of natural scenery.

• Canon F2.0 wide-aperture lens
Provides high contrast and captures the most delicate of
nuances.

• World’s first digital soft focus
Creates stunning effects for portraits and floral shots.

• Real-time histogram
Quickly and easily obtains exactly the exposure you want,
even under difficult lighting conditions.

• Easy-to-understand control panel
Aperture, shutter speed, focus and other settings can be
seen at a glance, even when the monitor screen is turned
off.

• Dual dial operation
A pair of dials helps to make drive mode and exposure
mode settings quick and easy.

• AF assist light
Improves auto focus accuracy when shooting under dim
lighting.

• Multi-area AF
Helps to prevent out-of-focus areas in an image.

• Focus area expansion
Makes it easier achieve the focus you want.

• Image preview
Provides instant preview of an image you just recorded.

• 1.8-inch TFT low-glare color LCD (HAST) monitor screen

• 9.6X seamless digital zoom
3X digital zoom, 3.2X digital zoom

• External flash connectability

• Memory card image storage
Supports CompactFlash cards (CF TYPE I/II) and the IBM
Microdrive.

• Digital Print Order Format (DPOF)
Images can be printed easily in the sequence you want
using a DPOF compatible printer. DPOF can also be used
when specifying images and quantities for printing by pro­fessional print services.

• PRINT Image Matching II Compatible
Images include PRINT Image Matching II data (mode set­ting and other camera setup information). A printer that
supports PRINT Image Matching II reads this data and ad­justs the printed image accordingly, so your images come
out just the way you intended when you recorded them.

11

INTRODUCTION

• DCF Data Storage
DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) data storage
protocol provides image inter-compatibility with printers
and other digital cameras.

• VIDEO OUT terminal
Connects to your TV for big-screen viewing of images.

• USB compatibility
Connects to your computer for quick and easy image ex­change.

• Image management and manipulation software
The QV-5700 comes bundled with a CD-ROM that’s
packed with useful software: Photo Loader for transferring
images to your computer, Photohands* for editing and
printing images, and Panorama Editor* for stitching images
into panoramas. Other bundled...
* Windows version only.

12

INTRODUCTION

Recording Features

Best Shot Mode

page 76

Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)

Automatically records multiple images at different expo­sure settings.

page 89

Panorama Mode

Stitches multiple images into a sweeping panorama.

page 91

Movie Mode

page 93

Five focus modes

Multi-area AF, Spot AF, Manual, Infinity, Macro

page 62 to 65

Three metering modes

Multi-pattern, Center-weighted, Spot

page 68

Five exposure modes

Full auto, Program AE, aperture priority AE, shutter speed
priority AE, manual exposure

page 82 to 87

13

INTRODUCTION

Precautions

General Precautions

Be sure to observe the following important precautions
whenever using the QV-5700.

All references in this manual to “this camera” and “the cam­era” refer to the CASIO QV-5700 Digital Camera.

• Never try to take pictures or use the built-in display while
operating a motor vehicle or while walking. Doing so cre­ates the danger of serious accident.

• Never try to open the case of the camera or attempt your
own repairs. High-voltage internal components create the
risk of electrical shock when exposed. Always leave main­tenance and repair work up to authorized CASIO service
providers.

• Never fire the flash in the direction of a person operating a
motor vehicle. Doing so can interfere with the driver’s vi­sion and create the danger of accident.

• Never fire the flash while it is too close to the subject’s
eyes. Intense light from the flash can cause eye damage if
it is fired too close to the eyes, especially with young chil­dren. When using the flash, the camera should be at least
one meter (3.3´) from the eyes of the subject.

• Keep the camera away from water and other liquids, and
never let it get wet. Moisture creates the danger of fire and
electrical shock. Never use the camera outdoors in the rain
or snow, at the seashore or beach, in the bathroom, etc.

• Should foreign matter or water ever get into the camera,
immediately turn power off, unplug the AC adaptor from the
power outlet, and contact your dealer or nearest CASIO
service provider. Using the camera under these conditions
creates the danger of fire and electrical shock.

• Should you ever notice smoke or a strange odor coming
out of the camera, immediately turn power off and unplug
the AC adaptor from the power outlet. Using the camera
under these conditions creates the danger of fire and elec­trical shock. After making sure there is no more smoke
coming from the camera, take it to your nearest CASIO ser­vice provider for repair. Never attempt your own mainte­nance.

• At least once a year, unplug the AC adaptor from the power
outlet and clean the area around the prongs of the plug.
Dust build up around the prongs can create the danger of
fire.

• If the camera’s case should ever become cracked due to
dropping it or otherwise subjecting it to rough treatment,
immediately turn power off, unplug the AC adaptor from the
power outlet, and contact your nearest CASIO service pro­vider.

• Never use the camera inside of an aircraft or in any other
areas where its use is prohibited. Doing so can result in an
accident.

• Physical damage and malfunction of this camera can
cause the image data stored in its memory to be deleted.
Be sure to always keep backup copies of data by transfer­ring them to personal computer memory.

14

INTRODUCTION

• Never open the battery compartment cover, disconnect the
AC adaptor from the camera or unplug it from the wall
socket while recording images. Doing so will not only make
storage of the current image impossible, it can also corrupt
other image data already stored in camera memory.

Operating conditions

• This camera is designed for use in temperatures ranging
from 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F).

• Do not use or keep the camera in the following areas.
— In areas subject to direct sunlight
— In areas subject to high humidity or dust
— Near air conditioners, heaters, or other areas subject to

temperature extremes

— Inside of a closed vehicle, especially one parked in the

sun

— In areas subject to strong vibration

Condensation

• When you bring the camera indoors on a cold day or other­wise expose it to a sudden change of temperature, conden­sation can form on the exterior of the camera or on internal
components. Condensation can cause malfunction of the
camera, so you should avoid exposing it to conditions that
might cause condensation.

• To keep condensation from forming, place the camera into
a plastic bag before moving it into a location that is much
warmer or colder than your current location. Leave it in the
plastic bag until the air inside the bag has a chance to
reach the same temperature as the new location.

15

INTRODUCTION

Lens Precautions

• Fingerprints, dust, or any other soiling of the lens can inter­fere with proper image recording. Never touch the lens with
your fingers. You can remove dust particles from the lens
surface by using a lens blower to blow them off. Next, wipe
the surface of the lens with a soft lens cloth.

• The lens of this camera extends from its body when you
turn on power and retracts when you turn off power. Take
care not to subject the lens to undue force or impact, and
never set the camera face down so the lens is in contact
with a tabletop, etc. Be sure to remove the lens cap before
turning on the camera.

• If you align the power/function switch with while the
lens cap is on the lens, the message “LENS CAP” appears
on the display and camera power turns off automatically. If
this happens, remove the lens cap and try again.

• Never remove the camera’s batteries or unplug its AC
adaptor while the lens is extended. Doing so leaves the
lens extended, and creates the risk of lens damage.

About the camera’s backlight…

• The camera is equipped with a fluorescent light source to
provide the back lighting for its LCD.

• The normal service life of the backlight is approximately six
years, when the camera is used for about two hours a day.

• Should the LCD image appear abnormally dark, take the
camera to your dealer or an authorized CASIO service pro­vider to have the light source replaced. Note that you will
be charged for this replacement.

• Under very cold conditions, the backlight may require more
time than normal to light, or reddish bands may appear in
the displayed image. These conditions do not indicate mal­function, and normal operation should return at higher tem­peratures.

16

GETTING ACQUAINTED

GETTING ACQUAINTED

This section contains important information you should know when trying to operate the camera.

General Guide

The following illustrations show the names of each component, button, and switch on the camera.

Front

Selector dial

Shutter release
button

(page 45)

Power/function
switch

(pages 35, 45)

Flash

(page 55)

Exposure sensor

(page 60)

Indicator display

(page 24)

Lens

(page 16)

Viewfinder

(page 51)

AF assist light/
Self-timer lamp

(page 26)

Terminal panel cover

(page 19)

17

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Back

Flash charge lamp

(page 26)

Operation/card
access lamp

(page 25)

(Metering Mode)

button

(page 68)

WB (White balance)
button

(page 69)

FOCUS (Focus Mode)
button

(page 61)

AE-L (AE Lock/Delete)
button

(pages 55, 71, 119)

MENU button

(page 42)

Monitor screen

(page 22)

18

(Self-Timer) button

(page 52)

(Flash) button

(page 55)

Zoom controller
(Enlarge/Nine Images)

(pages 49, 75, 112, 113)

Control button

PREVIEW button

(page 54)

DISP button

(page 24)

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Side Bottom

DIGITAL terminal

(page 103)

VIDEO OUT terminal

(page 137)

USB port

(page 139)

Diopter dial

(page 51)

Tripod
screw hole

Battery compartment
cover lock

(page 29)

DC IN 6V terminal

(page 33)

External flash
sync terminal

(page 104)

Memory card slot
cover

(pages 37, 38)

Card slot cover
lock

(pages 37, 38)

19

Battery compartment
cover

(page 29)

Open Terminal Panel Cover

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Mode Dials

Drive mode dial

Exposure mode dial

■ Drive mode dial

AEB Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) page 89

Continuous Shutter recording page 88
1-Image recording page 54
Movie recording page 93
Panorama recording page 91

■ Exposure mode dial

M M Mode (Manual Exposure) page 87
S S Mode (Shutter Speed Priority AE) page 85
A A Mode (Aperture Priority AE) page 84
P P Mode (Program AE) page 83

Full Auto Mode page 82
Best Shot Mode page 76

20

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Using the Control Button

Control button

The control button is used to select menu items and execute
function. The following are the terms used in this manual to
describe control button operations.

Term
Rock

Click

Use your thumb to move the control button up,

Meaning

down, left, or right.
Press the control button straight down until it clicks,
something like a computer mouse.

21

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Monitor Screen Indicators

The following describes the different indicators and markings that appear on the camera’s monitor screen.

REC mode

Aperture value
Shutter speed value

• An out of range
aperture or shutter
speed causes the
corresponding monitor
screen value to turn
amber.

Focus Mode indicator

Multi-area Auto Focus
Spot Auto Focus
Manual Focus
Infinity
Macro

Metering Mode indicator

Multi-pattern Metering
Center-weighted Metering
Spot Metering

Camera shake indicator

AE lock indicator

Battery capacity

Focus frame

• Focusing complete: Green

• Focusing failed: Red

No memory card alert

Self-timer

10 SEC, 2 SEC

EV value

22

Drive Mode indicator

1-Image
CONTINUOUS
AEB
MOVIE
PANORAMA

Image size

2560x 1920 pixels
2544 x 1696 pixels
1600x 1200 pixels
1280x 960 pixels

640x 480 pixels

Date and time

• Today’s date appears for
about two seconds.

Exposure Mode indicator

M Mode: Manual Exposure
S Mode: Shutter Priority AE
A Mode: Aperture Priority AE
P Mode: Program AE
Full Auto Mode

Best Shot Mode

Memory capacity
(Remaining number
of storable images)

Quality

FINE, NORMAL, ECONOMY, TIFF

Image information

• Movie Recording: recording time (seconds)

• Panorama: number of images (P1 to P10)

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Flash Mode indicator

None Auto

Flash On
Flash Off
Red-eye reduction

• Flash indicator indicates that the flash will fire
(when auto flash is selected).

White balance indicator

Daylight
Shade
Tungsten
Fluorescent
Manual

Zoom bar

• Lower half indicates
optical zoom.
Upper half indicates
digital zoom.

PLAY mode

Image protection indicator

File name/
File number

Battery
capacity

Folder number

File number

Image size

Quality

Date and time

23

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Changing the Contents of the Monitor Screen

Use DISP to cycle through monitor screen information set­tings as shown below.

Histogram display on
(pages 74, 115)

DISP

Information display on

DISP

IMPORTANT!

• The histogram is not displayed in the movie REC or
PLAY mode (pages 93,110).

(pages 22, 23)

DISP

Information display off

DISP

Monitor screen off

Indicator display

The indicator display located on the top of the camera also
shows various camera status indicators during image re­cording. The indicator display comes in handy especially
when the monitor screen is turned off.

Line 1
Line 2
Line 3

Multi-area AF
indicator

Spot AF indicator

MF Manual focus indicator

Infinity indicator
Macro mode indicator
Flash off indicator
Flash on indicator
Red eye reduction

indicator
Remaining number of

Line 1

images/File number

Multi-pattern Metering
indicator

Center-weighted
Metering indicator

Spot Metering
indicator

Battery capacity

Line 2 Aperture value

Self-timer time settings
Exposure compensation

Shutter speed value/EV

Line 3

value

24

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Operation Indicator Lamp

Operation/card access lamp

The operation/card access lamp
shows the operational status of
the camera as described below.

Operation/card
access lamp

REC mode

Lamp

Color

Green

One of the following operations is in progress: start
up, save (multiple), movie recording standby

• The camera is ready to record when the lamp is off.

Partial press of the shutter release button

Lamp

Color

Green

Red

Auto Focus complete
Auto Focus operation failed

Flashing

On

PLAY mode

Lamp
Color

One of the following operations is in progress:

Green

Red

delete, format, battery alert, card browser
generation.

Memory card is defective.

• The operation/card access lamp remains lit (green) while
the monitor screen is turned off in the PLAY mode.

IMPORTANT!

• Never open the memory card cover while the opera­tion/card access lamp is flashing.

Flashing

25

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Flash Charge lamp

The flash charge lamp also lights
and flashes during a record op­eration as described below.

REC mode

Lamp Color

Amber

Flash is charging.

Partial press of the shutter release button

Lamp Color

Amber

IMPORTANT!

• When batteries go low, the operation/card access
lamp and flash charge lamp flash amber for about one
second. After that, the camera powers down automati­cally. If this happens, replace batteries as soon as
possible.

Ready to fire.

Flash charge lamp

Flashing

On

AF Assist Light/Self-timer Lamp

The AF assist light operates automatically to assist the Auto
Focus operation whenever you are shooting where lighting is
dim. This lamp also flashes to indicate the countdown until
the shutter releases during a self-timer operation.

AF assist light/self-timer lamp

IMPORTANT!

• Auto Focus using the AF assist light/ self-timer lamp is
possible when the distance from the camera to the
subject is less than about 2.5 meters (8.2´).

• When the AF assist light operates while Multi-area AF
or Spot AF is specified as the focus mode, the camera
automatically assumes that focus area is the center
area for Spot AF. See pages 62 and 63 for more infor­mation.

• Do not look directly at the AF assist light/self-timer
lamp or point it directly at the subject’s eyes.

26

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Using the Bundled Accessories

Attaching the Neck Strap

Attach the neck strap to the strap ring as shown in the illus­tration below.

Strap ring Strap ring

Adjusting the Length of the Neck Strap

Use the buckle to adjust the length of the neck strap.

Buckle

IMPORTANT!

• Be sure to keep the neck strap around your neck when
using the camera to protect against accidentally drop­ping it.

• The supplied neck strap is intended for use with this
camera only. Do not use it for any other application.

• Never swing the camera around by the neck strap.

• Allowing the camera to swing freely from your neck

can result in damage to the camera due to its bumping
against other objects. It also creates the danger of the
camera becoming caught in a door or on other ob­jects, resulting in personal injury.

• Keep the camera out of the reach of small children,
especially when the neck strap is attached. The neck
strap can accidentally wind around the neck of a child
and create the risk of strangulation.

27

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Using the Lens Cap

Always keep the lens cap on the lens whenever you are not
using the camera. Always leave the lens cap on the lens
when the camera is turned off and the lens is retracted.

Cap holder

Large loop

Small loop

Attach the lens cap holder to the neck strap or the strap ring.
This protects against accidental loss of the lens cap.

IMPORTANT!

• Never turn on camera power with the lens cap affixed
to the lens.

28

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Power Requirements

Your camera features a two-way power supply that lets you
use either AA-size batteries or household AC current.

■ Batteries

• Four AA-size alkaline batteries: LR6

• Four AA-size lithium batteries: FR6

• Four AA-size nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batter-

ies: NP-H3

■ Household Current

• AC Adaptor: AD-C620 (Option)

• AC Adaptor/Charger: BC-3HA (Option)

Loading Batteries

Make sure that camera power is turned off whenever loading
or replacing batteries.

1.

On the bottom of the camera,
slide the battery compart­ment cover lock in the
direction indicated by the
arrow and open the battery
compartment cover.

2.

Load the batteries so their
plus (+) and minus (–) ends
are facing as shown in the il­lustration.

3.

Close and press down on the
battery compartment cover
as you slide the battery
compartment cover lock in
the direction indicated by the
arrow to lock it.

IMPORTANT!

• Never use manganese batteries. Use only the battery
types specifically mentioned in this User’s Guide.

29

GETTING ACQUAINTED

● Battery Life Guidelines

The battery life guideline values given below indicate the
amount of time at standard temperature (25°C (77°F)) until
power automatically turns off due to battery failure. They do
not guarantee that batteries will provide the amount of ser­vice indicated. Low temperatures reduce battery life.

Type of Operation

AA-size Alkaline
Batteries LR6

AA-size Lithium
Batteries FR6

AA-size Ni-MH
Batteries NP-H3

Continuous

Playback*

180 minutes

320 minutes

180 minutes

2

Continuous

Recording*

75 minutes
(460 shots)

180 minutes
(1130 shots)

90 minutes
(540 shots)

1

*1 Continuous Recording Conditions

• Normal temperature: 25°C (77°F)

• Flash: Off

• Monitor screen: On

• Image recorded about every 10 seconds using the fol-

lowing operations: Zoom to full wide angle Auto Fo­cus Zoom to full close-up Auto Focus Image
recording
— Recording one image per minute under the above

conditions reduces battery life to about one sixth of
that noted above.

*2 Continuous Playback Conditions

• Normal temperature: 25°C (77°F)

• Scroll one image about every 10 seconds

• The above values are approximations only.

• The above guidelines are based on the following battery

types:
Alkaline: MX1500 (AA) DURACELL ULTRA
Lithium: Energizer

* Battery life varies with brand.

• Battery life is greatly affected by how much you use flash,
zoom and other functions, and how long you leave power
turned on.

● Tips for Prolonging Battery Life

• Use to turn off the flash when you are not using it (page

55).

• You can also use the power save settings (page 35) to pro­tect against wasting battery power when you forget to turn
off the camera.

• You can also conserve battery power by using DISP to turn
off the monitor screen.

● Alkaline Battery Life

The actual life of alkaline batteries is affected by a variety of
factors, including the battery manufacturer, the amount of
time the batteries spend in storage before you use them,
temperature while you are recording, and photographic con­ditions. As a rule, we recommend the use of lithium batteries
or Ni-MH batteries, which have longer lives than alkaline bat­teries.

30

GETTING ACQUAINTED

The following examples show how alkaline battery life
changes under different shooting conditions.

Example 1: Intermittent use of the camera shortens battery

life.

Conditions

• Temperature: 25°C (77°F)

• Repeat of a cycle of recording of one shot per minute

for 10 minutes, followed by one minute of playback,
and nine minutes of power off (power on, full lens ex­tension, half lens contraction, full lens extension, im­age recording, power off)

• Flash on

Approximate Battery Life: 35 minutes (32 shots)

Example 2: Low temperatures shorten battery life.

Conditions

• Temperature: 0°C (32°F)

• Repeat of a cycle of recording of one shot per minute

for 10 minutes, followed by one minute of playback,
and nine minutes of power off (power on, full lens ex­tension, half lens contraction, full lens extension, im­age recording, power off)

• Flash on

Approximate Battery Life: 8 minutes (8 shots)

● About rechargeable batteries

Use only the nickel-metal hydride batteries (NP-H3) that are
specifically recommended for this camera. Proper camera
operation is not guaranteed when other rechargeable batter­ies are used.

AC Adaptor/Charger : BC-3HA
Nickel-metal hydride batteries (4-battery set)/Quick
Charger Set : BC-1HB4
Nickel-metal hydride batteries (4-battery set) : NP-H3P4

IMPORTANT!

• Be sure to keep all four batteries together as a set at
all times, for both charging and powering the camera.
Mixing batteries from different sets can shorten overall
battery life and cause malfunction of the camera.

• Batteries cannot be charged while they are loaded in
the camera.

31

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Battery Handling Precautions

Incorrect use or handling of batteries can cause them to leak
or burst and create the danger of serious damage to your
camera. Be sure to note the following important precautions
to avoid problems with batteries.

• Use only LR6 (AM-3) type alkaline or FR6 type
lithium or Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride) dry cell
batteries with this camera. Never mix old bat­teries with new ones. Doing so can result in
bursting or leaking of batteries, creating the

CAUTION

danger of fire or personal injury.

• Always make sure that the plus (+) and minus
(–) ends of the batteries are facing correctly, as
noted by the markings on the camera itself.
Improper loading of batteries can result in
bursting or leaking of batteries, creating the
danger of personal injury or soiling of objects
nearby.

• Remove batteries from the camera if you do not plan to use
it for more than two weeks.

• Never recharge non-rechargeable type batteries, never al­low direct connection between two ends of a battery, and
never try to take batteries apart.

• Do not expose batteries to direct heat or dispose of them
by burning. Doing so can create the danger of explosion.

• Never mix batteries of different types.

• Dead batteries are susceptible to leakage, which can

cause serious damage to your camera. Remove batteries
from the camera as soon as you notice they are dead.

• The batteries that power the camera normally become
warm as they discharge.

32

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Low Battery Indicator

The following shows how the battery capacity indicator on
the monitor screen and the indicator display changes as bat­tery power is used. Replace all four batteries as soon as pos­sible after they go dead. If you continue to use the camera
while the battery level is , camera power will automati­cally turn off.

Battery
Capacity

Monitor
Screen

Indicator
Display

High

Low

Using AC Power

Use the adaptor as shown below to power the camera from a
household power outlet.

DC IN 6V
(AC power terminal)

• AC Adaptor: AD-C620 (Option)

• AC Adaptor/Charger: BC-3HA (Option)

The BC-3HA functions both as an AC adaptor and as a
charger unit for AA-size nickel metal hydride batteries. It
comes complete with four rechargeable nickel metal hy­dride batteries. This AC adaptor/charger unit can be used
with any household power outlet rated for 100V to 240V
AC.

33

GETTING ACQUAINTED

CAUTION

AC Adaptor precautions

• Never use an electrical outlet whose voltage is
outside the rating marked on the AC adaptor.
Doing so can create the danger of fire or elec­tric shock. Use only the optional AC adaptor
specified for this camera.

• Do not allow the AC adaptor power cord to be­come cut or damaged, do not place heavy ob­jects on it, and keep it away from heat. A dam­aged power cord creates the risk of fire and
electric shock.

• Never try to modify the AC adaptor power cord,
or subject it to severe bending, twisting, or pull­ing. Doing so creates the risk of fire and elec­tric shock.

• Never touch the AC adaptor while your hands
are wet. Doing so creates the risk of electric
shock.

• Do not overload extension cords or wall out­lets. Doing so creates the danger of fire and
electric shock.

• Should the cord of the AC adaptor become
damaged (exposed internal wiring), request a
replacement from an authorized CASIO ser­vice provider. A damaged AC adaptor cord
creates the danger of fire or electric shock.

• Be sure to turn off power before connecting or disconnect­ing the adaptor.

• Always turn camera power off before disconnecting the AC
adaptor, even if the camera has batteries installed. If you
don’t, the camera will turn off automatically when you dis­connect the AC adaptor. You also run the risk of damaging
the camera whenever you disconnect the AC adaptor with­out first turning power off.

• The AC adaptor may become warm to touch after extended
periods of use. This is normal and is not cause for alarm.

• After using the camera, turn it off and unplug the adaptor
from the AC outlet.

• The camera automatically switches over to AC adaptor
powered operation whenever the AC adaptor is plugged
into the camera.

• Always use the AC adaptor to power the camera whenever
it is connected to a computer.

34

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Turning the Camera On and Off

Rotate the power/function switch to turn camera power on
and off.

:Turns on power and enters the REC mode.
:Turns on power and enters the PLAY mode.

OFF :Turns off power.

IMPORTANT!

• Never align the power/function switch with while
the lens cap is on the lens.

• Never align the power/function switch with while
the lens is facing downwards towards the ground.

• To restore camera power after it has been turned off
by auto power off, rotate the power/function switch to
OFF and then back to or .

Power Save Settings

The settings described below let you specify sleep and auto
power off trigger times that help to conserve valuable battery
power.

AUTO POWER OFF

Auto Power Off turns off camera power if no operation is
performed for five minutes in the PLAY mode. In the REC
mode, you can specify an Auto Power Off trigger time of
two or five minutes.

SLEEP

The monitor screen enters a sleep state if no operation is
performed for a specified amount of time in the REC mode.
Pressing any button immediately wakes up the monitor and
restores normal operation. You can specify 30 seconds, 1
minute, or 2 minutes before the sleep state is triggered, or
you can turn off this setting entirely.

35

GETTING ACQUAINTED

To configure power save settings

1.

Align the power/function switch with .

2.

Press MENU.

3.

Rock the control button up or down to select
“Power Save” and then rock the control button
to the right.

4.

Rock the control button up or down to select
the item whose settings you want to change,
and then rock the control button to the right.

•

To make auto power off settings, select “Auto Power Off”.

• To make sleep settings, select “Sleep”.

5.

On the screen that appears, rock the control
button up or down to make the setting you
want, and then click the control button to apply
it.

Auto power off settings: “2 min” “5 min”
Sleep settings: “Off” “30 sec” “1 min” “2 min”

6.

Press MENU to exit the setting procedure.

• In the PLAY mode, the Auto Power Off trigger time is
fixed at five minutes.

• Sleep is disabled in the PLAY mode.

• Performing any button operation while the monitor is

asleep immediately wakes it up and restores normal
operation.

• The Auto Power Off setting is given priority if you have
“2 min” set for both Sleep and Auto Power Off. This

means that the camera turns off if you do not perform
any operation for about two minutes in the REC mode.

• Auto Power Off is automatically disabled under any
one of the following conditions.

— While a slideshow is playing
— When you are performing operations on a com-

puter connected to the camera’s USB port

— While the AC adaptor is connected to the camera

36

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Memory Cards

This camera supports use of a CompactFlash memory card
(CF TYPE I/II) or IBM Microdrive for image storage. Note
that all mentions of “memory” card in this manual refer both
to a CompactFlash memory card and IBM Microdrive, unless
specifically noted otherwise.

IMPORTANT!

• Make sure that the power of the camera is turned off
before you insert or remove a memory card.

• When inserting a memory card into the camera, make
sure its correct side is facing up and that you insert its
terminal end into the camera. Trying to force a card
into the camera can damage the card and the camera.

Inserting a Memory Card into the Camera

1.

Slide the card slot cover lock in the direction
indicated by the arrow and open the memory
card slot cover.

2.

With the side of the memory card that has an
arrow marked facing towards the memory card
slot cover, slide the card into the camera as far
as it will go.

• If the eject button is extended, press it in before sliding
the memory card into the slot.

Eject button

Side marked
with arrow
should face the
memory card
slot cover.

Side marked
with arrow

3.

Close the memory card slot cover.

Card slot
cover lock

Memory
card slot
cover

37

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Removing a Memory Card from the Camera

1.

Slide the card slot cover lock in the direction
indicated by the arrow and open the memory
card slot cover.

2.

Press the eject button so it
extends from the camera.

Eject button

3.

Press the eject button once
again to eject the card.

4.

Remove the memory card.

5.

Close the memory card slot cover.

IMPORTANT!

• Insert only memory cards into the memory card slot.
Inserting any other type of card can cause malfunc­tion.

• Should water or any other foreign matter get into the
memory card slot, immediately turn off power, unplug
the AC adaptor, and contact your original retailer or
nearest CASIO Service Provider.

• Never eject the memory card while the card slot is fac­ing downwards. Doing so creates the danger of the
memory card falling, which can corrupt data or dam­age the memory card.

• Never remove the memory card from the camera
while the operation/card access lamp is flashing. Do­ing so can cause loss of recorded images or corrup­tion of memory card data.

38

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Formatting a Memory Card

You can format a memory card to delete all of the data
stored on it.

IMPORTANT!

• Formatting a memory card deletes all images on the
card, even if some or all of the images are protected
(page 125).

• Formatting a memory card deletes all Best Shot Mode
scene files you have imported from the CD-ROM and
stored on the card. After formatting the card, you have
to import the Best Shot scene files you want to the
memory card (page 77).

• Data deleted by a memory card format operation can­not be recovered! Be sure to carefully check and con­firm that you no longer need the data stored in a
memory card before formatting it.

1.

Align the power/function switch with or .

2.

Press MENU.

3.

Select “Format” and then rock the control but­ton to the right (page 42).

4.

In response to the confirmation message that
appears, rock the control button up or down to
select “Yes” to format or “No” to exit and then
click the control button.

Yes : Formats the memory card.
No :Does not format the memory card.

39

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Memory Card Precautions

• Images cannot be recorded with this camera unless a
memory card is installed in it.

• Be sure to use only CASIO or SanDisk CompactFlash
cards, or an IBM Microdrive. Proper operation is not guar­anteed with other memory cards.

• Static electricity, electrical noise, and other electrical phe­nomena can cause corruption or even total loss of data
stored on a memory card. Because of this, you should al­ways make backup copies of important images on other
media.

• Memory card problems can be corrected by reformatting
the memory card. Reformatting a memory card deletes all
images stored on the card, but you can use a computer to
copy the images you want to keep to the computer’s hard
disk before reformatting your card. If you plan to be record­ing images where you do not have access to a computer, it
is a good idea to take along an extra memory card or two
just in case you experience an unexpected memory card
problem.

• Formatting is recommended for any memory card that you
suspect contains corrupted image data (due to a RECORD
ERROR, strange image colors, malformed images) or for
newly purchased memory cards.

• Before starting a format operation, switch to AC adaptor
power or load a new set of recommended batteries into the
camera.

40

GETTING ACQUAINTED

IBM Microdrive Precautions

Compatibility of the camera with the IBM Microdrive has
been confirmed by CASIO. However, you should note the
following important points whenever using the IBM
Microdrive.

• Be sure to carefully read all of the documentation that
comes with the Microdrive before using it.

• Note that the Microdrive becomes hot during normal use.
Take care when removing it from the camera.

• Take care to avoid strong pressure on the label side of the
Microdrive when it is removed from the camera. Strong
pressure can damage internal components and cause mal­function.

• Never turn off camera power or subject the camera to im­pact while the operation/card access lamp is flashing. Do­ing so can cause malfunction of the Microdrive.

• The Microdrive is a very high precision device. Dropping
the camera can result in malfunction of the Microdrive,
even though the camera is undamaged. Take extra care
when handling the camera while the Microdrive is installed.

• The Microdrive has very large storage capacity. Because
of this, certain operations can take a relatively long time to
perform.

• The Microdrive may not operate properly in areas where
barometric pressure is low. Because of this, you should
avoid using it at high altitudes.

• A Microdrive consumes much more electrical power than a
CompactFlash card. Depending on how a Microdrive is
used, it can greatly reduce battery life. When using alkaline
batteries, certain operating conditions and certain battery
brands can result in batteries going dead right after you
install new ones. Whenever using a Microdrive, we recom­mend that you use rechargeable nickel metal hydride bat­teries or lithium batteries to power the camera.

• When battery power is low, the amount of time required
between shots may become longer. This longer interval is
designed to protect the Microdrive.

In case of Microdrive malfunction....

• Contact your original Microdrive retailer or the contact
point noted in the Microdrive documentation.

• CASIO does not provide any servicing or maintenance
support for the Microdrive.

• Note that CASIO assumes no responsibility for any data
loss you may suffer while using the Microdrive.

• This camera supports use of both a CompactFlash card
and the Microdrive. Note, however, that ejecting a
Microdrive from the camera is relatively more difficult than
ejecting a CompactFlash card.

41

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Menu Screens

Pressing MENU displays the menu screen. The contents of
the menu screen depend on whether you are in the PLAY
mode or REC mode. The following procedure shows opera­tion in the REC mode as an example.

1.

Align the power/function switch with .

• To perform a menu operation in the PLAY mode, align
the power/function switch with .

2.

Press MENU.

If you want to do this:
Select a menu item
Display details of the selected

menu item
Execute the selected item
Back step to the previous screen

3.

Rock the control button up or down to select

Rock the control button
up or down.

Rock the control button
to the right.

Click the control button.
Press MENU.

the menu item you want, and then rock the
control button to the right.

• See the “Camera Menus” on page 159 for more information
about menu contents.

42

Do this:

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Setting the Current Date and Time

Use the following procedures to set the current date and
time, and to select the date format.
When you record an image, the time and date the image was
shot is registered in accordance with data from the camera’s
built-in clock. You can even use the time stamp function to
“stamp” the date and time inside the image (page 100).

IMPORTANT!

• The time and date settings are cleared if the camera is
left for about 24 hours without battery and AC power
being supplied. If this happens, restore power and
make new time and date settings before using the
camera again.

• A flashing time display indicates that the time and date
(clock) settings have been cleared. Use the procedure
on this page to make the correct time and date set­tings.

• If you do not set the camera’s built-in clock to the cur­rent date and time, all images are recorded with the
default date and time, which probably is not your cor­rect current date and time. Be sure to correctly set the
clock before you use the camera.

Setting the Date and Time

1.

Align the power/function switch with or .

2.

Press MENU.

3.

Select “Date” and then rock the control button
to the right.

4.

Select “Adjust” and then rock the control but­ton to the right.

5.

Select and change the digits on the screen to
set the current date and time.

Purple
selection
boundary

43

GETTING ACQUAINTED

If you want to do this:
Move the selection boundary
Increase or decrease the value

where the selection boundary is
located

6.

Click the control button to apply your settings.

7.

Press MENU to exit the setting procedure.

Do this:

Rock the control button
to the left or right.

Rock the control button
up or down.

Selecting the Date Format

You can use the following procedure to select one of the
three different date formats.

1.

Align the power/function switch with or .

2.

Press MENU.

3.

Select “Date” and then rock the control button
to the right.

4.

Select “Date Style” and then rock the control
button to the right.

5.

Rock the control button up or down to select
the setting you want to use, and then click the
control button to apply it.

Example: October 23, 2002

Year/Month/Day: 02/10/23
Day/Month/Year: 23/10/02
Month/Day/Year: 10/23/02

6.

Press MENU to exit the setting procedure.

44

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

This section describes the basic procedure for recording an
image using the Full Auto Mode. It also explains about basic
camera settings.

Using the Full Auto Mode

The Full Auto Mode makes it easy even for complete novices
to record good-looking digital images every time. The cam­era makes focus, shutter speed, aperture, flash and other
settings automatically in accordance with subject brightness.

IMPORTANT!

• In the Full Auto Mode, all keys except for the shutter
release button, DISP, the zoom controller, and are
disabled. See “Program AE vs Full Auto” on page 83
for more information.

1.

Before turning on the camera, remove its lens
cap.

2.

Align the exposure mode dial with (Full
Auto Mode).

3.

Align the drive mode dial with (1-Image).

45

4.

Align the power/function
switch with .

:Turns on power and

enters the REC mode.

:Turns on power and

enters the PLAY mode.

OFF :Turns off power.

5.

Compose the image as you view it on the moni­tor screen.

• If you prefer to use the optical viewfinder to compose
the image, press DISP to turn off the monitor screen.

6.

Press the shutter release
button about half way and
hold it there to perform
auto focus.

Shutter release button

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

• Pressing the shutter release button causes the focus
frame to appear on the monitor screen (page 62).

• Multi-area Auto Focus (page 62) automatically fo­cuses the image and displays shutter speed and aper­ture values.

• You can find out the status of
the Auto Focus operation by
checking the color of the
focus frame and the status of
the operation/card access
lamp.

Operation/card
access lamp

If you see this:
Focus frame: Green
Operation/card access lamp:

Green
Focus frame: Red
Operation/card access lamp:

Red

• Take care that you do not
block the lens or the
sensors with your fingers
as you hold the camera.

It means this:

The image is in focus.

The image is not in focus.

46

7.

After confirming that
the image is in focus,
press the shutter
release button all the
way down to record the
image.

• Recorded images are temporarily stored in a buffer
from which they are stored to the memory card. You
can continue to shoot consecutive images as long as
there is space available in the buffer.

• The number of images you can store in the camera
depends on the storage medium and the image quality
setting (pages 95, 169) you are using.

• To avoid hand movement, press the shutter release
button gently.

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

IMPORTANT!

• In any of the following cases, the message “One mo­ment please...” appears on the display after you
record each image as it is saved to the memory card.
— When you are recording TIFF (uncompressed) im-

ages (page 95)

— When you are recording a movie or panorama

(pages 91, 93)

— When you are recording using certain Best Shot

scene setups (page 76)

— When the low battery indicator is on the dis-

play while you are using a CompactFlash card
(page 33)

— When the low battery indicator is on the dis-

play while you are using an IBM Microdrive (page

33).

• Recording images in the Full Auto Mode causes a
number of camera settings to be made automatically
in accordance with shooting conditions. See “Full Auto
Mode Settings” on page 163 for more information.

Recording Precautions

• Never remove the camera’s batteries, disconnect the AC
adaptor, or remove the memory card from the camera
while it is saving images to its memory card. Doing so not
only causes a loss of the image being saved, it can also
corrupt images already stored on the memory card.

• Fluorescent lighting actually flickers at a frequency that
cannot be detected by the human eye. When using the
camera indoors under such lighting, you may experience
some brightness or color problems with recorded images.

Focusing

The Full Auto Mode uses Multi-area AF, which measures
three distances and automatically focuses on the subject
nearest to the camera. Note that the focusing range is ap­proximately 30 cm to ∞ (11.8˝ to ∞).

IMPORTANT!

• You cannot select a different focusing method when
using the Full Auto Mode (Page 61).

47

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

About Auto Focus

Auto Focus tends not to work well with the types of subjects
listed below.

• Solid color walls or objects with little contrast

• Strongly backlit objects

• Polished metal or other brightly reflective objects

• Venetian blinds or other horizontally repeating patterns

• Multiple images that are varying distances from the camera

• Subjects in poorly lit areas

• Moving subjects

Auto Focus also may not work properly when the camera is
unsteady or shaking.

■ Fixed Focusing Distances

• Depending on actual conditions, a green operation/card
access lamp and focus frame do not necessarily guarantee
that the image is in focus.

Image Recording when the Batteries are Low

To protect against unexpected loss of image data, each im­age is recorded directly to the memory card (without going
into the buffer) whenever battery level is indicated as or
lower. The message “ Press to cancel save” appears
on the monitor screen during the save operation under this
condition. As long as you do not press DISP, the save opera­tion continues and takes a few seconds to complete.
Pressing DISP while the “ Press to cancel save” is on
the monitor screen cancels the image save operation.

• If you have a Microdrive loaded in the camera, the above
message appears whenever the battery level is indicated
as or lower.

• The message “ Press to cancel save” also appears
momentarily during save operations in the Panorama
Mode, Movie Mode, and when you are using certain Best
Shot scene setups. In this case, this message does not in­dicate that battery power is low.

• The message described above does not appear while the
monitor screen is turned off.

48

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

About the REC Mode Monitor Screen

• The actual image is recorded and saved in accordance
with the image quality setting currently selected on your
camera. The image recorded on the memory card has
much better resolution and detail than the REC mode
monitor screen image.

• Certain levels of subject brightness can cause the re­sponse of the REC mode monitor screen to slow down,
which causes some static noise in the monitor screen im­age.

Using Optical Zoom

Optical zoom enlarges the image by changing the focal dis­tance of the lens. You can zoom an image by a zoom factor
ranging from 1 (normal size) to 3 (three times normal size).

1.

Align the power/function switch with .

2.

Push the zoom controller
upwards towards
(telephoto) to zoom in
on the subject, or down­wards towards (wide­angle) to zoom out.

(telephoto) (wide-angle)

Zoom controller

49

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

NOTES

• Changing the optical zoom factor also affects the lens
aperture value.

• The lens aperture value indicated on the camera is the
aperture when optical zoom is 1X. Using a higher opti­cal zoom setting results in a higher aperture value
(smaller aperture).

• Use of a tripod is recommended for telephoto shots to
avoid blurring of the image due to camera movement.

50

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

Using the Viewfinder for Recording

The illustrations below show what you see when you look
through the viewfinder to compose an image for recording.

Focus Frame

Focus Range
Frame

Short distance to subject

Note that the focus range frame is valid for subjects that are
about three meters (9.8´) away. A different focus range is
used for subjects that are closer or farther away. Because of
this, you should change to the Manual Focus Mode (MF) or
Macro Mode ( ) whenever the distance between the cam­era and the subject is 30cm (11.8˝) or less (pages 64, 65).

• The monitor screen turns on automatically whenever the
camera is in the Manual Focus Mode or Macro Mode. Use
the monitor screen to compose images in the Manual Fo­cus Mode or Macro Mode.

• You can use the Diopter Dial to adjust the image in
viewfinder screen to your eyesight.

Diopter Dial

IMPORTANT!

• Focusing of the viewfinder image is disabled while the
camera is turned off or in the PLAY mode.

51

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

Using the Self-timer

You can set the self-timer to either one of two starting times.

1.

Align the power/function switch with .

2.

Press to select the self­timer time you want.

Self timer

Time

52

Self-timer Time Settings:

Each press of cycles through the available self­timer settings described below.

To do this:
Turn the self-timer off
Record 10 seconds after the

shutter release button is pressed
Record two seconds after the

shutter release button is pressed

3.

Press the shutter release button to start the

Select this setting:

No display

10SEC

2SEC

self-timer countdown.

• The AF assist light/self-timer lamp flashes as the sec­onds are counted down. If you have the monitor
screen turned on, the seconds are counted down on
the screen.

• To stop a countdown part way through, press the shut­ter release button.

NOTES

• The hand-shake limiter is enabled when you use a
slow shutter speed and the two-second self-timer at
the same time.

• You cannot use the self-timer in combination with the
Continuous Shutter Mode.

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING

Camera Orientation Detection

The camera automatically
detects whether it is
oriented vertically or
horizontally when you
record an image, and
stores the orientation
along with the image data.
When you display the images on the camera’s monitor
screen, they are automatically oriented correctly as you
recorded them. You can also configure the bundled Photo
Loader application (page 139) so it automatically positions
each image using the orientation data stored with it.

IMPORTANT!

• Note that all images are displayed on the camera’s monitor
screen using standard horizontal orientation during fast
scrolling of images, on the 9-image screen, and on all im­age selection menu screens.

• Note the following precautions to ensure that the sensor
built into the camera can correctly detect the orientation of
the camera.

— Make sure you are holding the camera still when re-

cording images. Camera movement can cause sensor
errors.

— When recording portrait orientation images, position

the camera so it is standing up as straight as possible,
as shown in the illustration below. Holding the camera
at an angle can cause sensor errors. As a general
rule, do not allow the camera to be more than about 20
degrees off of vertical.

— Tilting the camera too far upwards or downwards can

also cause sensor errors. As a general rule, do not
allow the camera to point more than about 60 degrees
up or down.

— The camera orientation sensor does not work with

movie images.

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