Kodak EasyShare Z915 Extended User Guide

KODAK EASYSHARE Z915

Digital Camera

Extended user guide

www.kodak.com

For interactive tutorials, visit www.kodak.com/go/howto

For help with your camera, visit www.kodak.com/go/z915support

Eastman Kodak Company

Rochester, NY 14650

© Kodak, 2009

All screen images are simulated.

Kodak, EasyShare, and Perfect Touch are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.

P/N 4H5245_en

Product features

Back view

1

2

3 4

5

13 12

6

7

8

9

10

11

1	Speaker	8	Self-timer/Burst button
2	Mode dial	9	3V DC-In/USB/AV out
3	On/Off button	10	Strap post
4	Zoom Wide Angle/Telephoto lever	11	Share button
5	Shutter button	12	, OK
6	Flash button	13	Delete/Menu/Info/Review buttons
7	Focus (Macro/Infinity) button		For batteries, see page 1.
			For SD/SDHC cards, see page 3.

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Product features

Front view

1

4

2

3

1Flash

2Self-timer/Video/AF Assist light

3 Lens/Cover

4Microphone

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Table of contents
1	Setting up your camera .........................................................................	1
	Attaching the strap .......................................................................................	1
	Loading the batteries ....................................................................................	1
	Turning on the camera ..................................................................................	2
	Setting the language, date/time.....................................................................	2
	Storing pictures on an (accessory) SD or SDHC Card.......................................	3
2	Taking pictures/videos ...........................................................................	4
	Taking a picture ............................................................................................	4
	Taking a video ..............................................................................................	5
	Capture modes .............................................................................................	6
	Using optical zoom .......................................................................................	8
	Using the flash..............................................................................................	9
	Using the Focus button ...............................................................................	10
	Using the self-timer.....................................................................................	11
	Using burst .................................................................................................	11
	Taking panoramic pictures...........................................................................	12
	Getting help from your camera ....................................................................	13
	P, A, S, and M modes..................................................................................	14
	Using exposure compensation to adjust brightness ......................................	16
	Using the histogram to view picture brightness............................................	17
	Understanding the picture-taking icons........................................................	17
3	Working with pictures/videos ..............................................................	18
	Reviewing pictures/videos ...........................................................................	18
	Deleting pictures/videos ..............................................................................	19
	Using shortcuts ...........................................................................................	21
	Using the menu button in Review................................................................	21
	Adding sound tags ......................................................................................	22
	Cropping pictures........................................................................................	23
	Using KODAK PERFECT TOUCH Technology.................................................	24
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Table of contents
	Editing videos .............................................................................................	25
	Play a multimedia slide show.......................................................................	28
	Displaying pictures/videos on a television.....................................................	29
	Viewing pictures/videos in different ways.....................................................	30
	Selecting multiple pictures/videos ................................................................	30
	Copying pictures/videos...............................................................................	31
	Understanding the review icons...................................................................	31
4 Using the menu button .......................................................................		32
	Using the Setup menu.................................................................................	35
5	Transferring, printing, and sharing pictures .........................................	38
	Installing the software.................................................................................	38
	Transferring pictures with the USB cable......................................................	39
	Printing pictures..........................................................................................	40
	Marking your pictures .................................................................................	42
6	Troubleshooting ..................................................................................	46
7	Getting help ........................................................................................	51
	Helpful links................................................................................................	51
8 Appendix .............................................................................................		53
	Camera specifications .................................................................................	53
	Storage capacities .......................................................................................	55
	Important safety instructions .......................................................................	56
	Upgrading your software and firmware........................................................	57
	Battery life ..................................................................................................	57
	Care and maintenance ................................................................................	58
	Limited warranty .........................................................................................	58
	Regulatory compliance ................................................................................	60

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1 Setting up your camera

Attaching the strap

Loading the batteries

	Other battery types	see page 57
	Purchase accessories, such as batteries,	www.kodak.com/go/z915accessories
	battery chargers, SDHC cards, etc.
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Setting up your camera

Turning on the camera

Setting the language, date/time

Language:

to change.

OK to accept.

Date/Time:

At the prompt, press OK.

to change current field.

for previous/next field.

OK to accept.

NOTE: To change language or date/time in the future, use the Setup menu (see page 37).

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Setting up your camera

Storing pictures on an (accessory) SD or SDHC Card

Your camera has internal memory. You can purchase an SD or SDHC Card to store more pictures and videos. (Maximum supported card size is 32 GB.)

CAUTION:

A card can only be inserted one way; forcing it may cause damage. Inserting or removing a card when the camera is on may damage the pictures, the card, or the camera.

1	Turn off the camera.
2	Insert or remove the
	optional card.
3	Turn on the camera.

Purchase accessories www.kodak.com/go/z915accessories

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2 Taking pictures/videos

Taking a picture

1 Turn the Mode dial

	to Smart Capture	.
2	Press the Shutter
	button halfway to
	lock on the subject.

When the framing marks turn green, press the Shutter button completely down.

NOTE: For more information on Smart Capture and other modes, see page 6. Framing marks do not appear in some SCN (scene) and Video modes.

Using the framing marks

Framing marks

Framing marks indicate the camera focus area.

1Press the Shutter button halfway.

If the camera is not focusing on the desired subject, release the Shutter button and recompose the scene.

2Press the Shutter button completely down to take the picture.

NOTE: Framing marks do not appear in all modes. Multiple framing marks may appear when faces are detected.

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Taking pictures/videos

Taking a video

1	Turn the Mode dial
	to Video	.
2	Press the Shutter
	button completely

down and release.

(To stop recording, press and release again.)

Reviewing the picture/video just taken

After you take a picture/video, the LCD displays a quickview for several seconds. (To dismiss the quickview sooner, press the Shutter button halfway.) The picture/video is saved unless you press the Delete button.

Delete

Play a video

To review pictures/videos anytime, see page 18.

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Taking pictures/videos

Capture modes

Choose the mode that best suits your subjects and surroundings.

Capture mode	For

Smart General picture taking—it offers excellent image quality and ease of

Capture use.

■Faces are detected.

■The scene is analyzed for other content and for lighting.

■KODAK PERFECT TOUCH Technology is applied, for better pictures.

You can choose the best picture size and aspect ratio for your needs—just press the Menu button and choose Picture Size.

■3:2 (the best choice when making 4 x 6 prints)

■16:9 (wide screen)

■4:3 (the default setting)

		Sport	Subjects that are in motion. Shutter speed is fast.

Panorama “Stitching” 2 or 3 pictures into 1 panoramic scene. (See page 12.)

SCN Scene Point-and-shoot simplicity when taking pictures under special conditions.

PProgram More creative control. (See page 14).

AAperture

S Shutter

MManual

Video Video with sound. (See page 5.)

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Taking pictures/videos

Scene modes

1 Turn the Mode dial to Scene		.
2 Press	to highlight Scene modes.
NOTE: If the mode description turns off before you finish reading it, press OK.
3 Press OK to choose a Scene mode.
SCN mode	For
Portrait	Full-frame portraits of people.
Children	Action pictures of children in bright light.
Backlight	Subjects that are in shadow or “backlit” (when light is behind the subject).
High ISO	People indoors, in low-light scenes.
Beach	Bright beach scenes.
Snow	Bright snow scenes.
Sunset	Capturing the deep hues seen at sunset.
Self-Portrait	Close-ups of yourself. Assures proper focus and minimizes red eye.
Night	Reducing red eye of people in night scenes or low-light conditions. Place the
Portrait	camera on a flat, steady surface or use a tripod.
Candle light	Capturing the ambiance of candle light.
Night	Distant scenery at night. Flash does not fire. Place the camera on a flat, steady
Landscape	surface or use a tripod.
Landscape	Far-away scenes. The camera uses infinity auto-focus. Framing marks are not
	available in Landscape.
Manner/	Quiet occasions, like a wedding or lecture. Flash is off.
Museum
Stage	People on a lit stage. Fast shutter speed, high ISO. Flash and sounds are off.
	(Flash setting can be changed.)
Fireworks	Bright, colorful light displays. Flash does not fire. Place the camera on a flat,
	steady surface or use a tripod.
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Taking pictures/videos

SCN mode	For
Flower	Close-ups of flowers or other small subjects in bright light. Focus is Macro.
Text	Documents. Focus is Macro.

Using optical zoom

Use optical zoom to get up to 10X closer to your subject while taking pictures/videos.

1Use the LCD to frame your subject. For focus distances, see Camera specifications, page 53.

2Press Telephoto (T) to zoom in. Press Wide Angle

(W) to zoom out.

3 Take the picture or video.

NOTE: To get a focused picture every time, remember:

■Use the framing marks, page 4.

■As you zoom in, move away from your subject.

Optical zoom Digital zoom

Use digital zoom to get up to 5X beyond optical zoom while taking pictures. Turn digital zoom on/off using the Setup menu (see page 35). Digital zoom is not available in Smart Capture mode.

NOTE: You may notice decreased image quality when using digital zoom. The slider on the LCD turns red when the picture quality reaches the limit for an acceptable 4 x 6-in. (10 x 15 cm) print.

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Taking pictures/videos

Using the flash

Use the flash when you take pictures at night, indoors, or outdoors in heavy shadows. Flash settings are limited in some capture modes.

Press the Flash button repeatedly to scroll through flash modes

The current flash mode is shown on the LCD.

Flash modes						Flash fires
Auto						When the lighting conditions require it.
Fill						Every time you take a picture, regardless of
						the lighting conditions. Use when the subject
						is in shadow or is “backlit” (when the light is
						behind the subject). In low light, hold the
						camera steady or use a tripod.
						NOTE: (Not available in Smart Capture mode.)
Red-eye Reduction		Preflash				A preflash fires, shrinking the eye pupil,
Choose Preflash or Digital						before the picture is taken.
Correction using the Setup
	menu (see page 35).
		Digital Correction				A preflash does not fire; the camera corrects
						red eye.
Off						Never.

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Taking pictures/videos

Using the Focus button

Press the Focus button repeatedly to scroll through focus modes.

The current Focus mode is shown on the LCD.

1In most Still modes, press the Focus button until the desired focus icon is displayed on the LCD:

Mode	Icon	For
Auto Focus (AF)	No icon.	Normal picture taking.
Infinity		Distant scenery, or for taking pictures
		through a window.
Macro		Subjects that are 12–60 cm (4.7–23.6 in.)
		from the lens.

2Press the Shutter button halfway to focus and set exposure, then completely down to take the picture.

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Taking pictures/videos

Using the self-timer

Use the self-timer when you want to be included in a picture, or to ensure a steady Shutter button press. Place the camera on a tripod or flat surface.

1Repeatedly press the Self-timer/Burst button to choose a setting:

10 seconds—A picture is taken after a 10-second delay (so you have time to get into the scene).

2 seconds—A picture is taken after a 2-second delay (for a steady, shutter release on a tripod).

2 shot—The first picture is taken after a 10-second delay. A second picture is taken 8 seconds later.

2Compose the scene. Press the Shutter button halfway, then completely down.

The camera takes the picture/pictures after the delay.

Use the same procedure to take a 2- or 10-second self-timer video, but press the Shutter button completely down.

Using burst

Use the Burst feature to take up to 3 pictures in quick succession.

NOTE: Burst is unavailable in Portrait, Night Portrait, Night Landscape, Backlight, Fireworks, and Panorama modes.

1 Repeatedly press the Self-timer/Burst button until the Burst icon appears on the LCD.

2 Press the Shutter button halfway to focus and set exposure.

3 Press the Shutter button completely down and hold it to take pictures.

The camera takes up to 3 pictures while the Shutter button is pressed.

NOTE: During quickview, you can delete all pictures in the burst series. To delete selectively, do so in Review (see page 19).

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Taking pictures/videos

Taking panoramic pictures

Use panorama to “stitch” up to 3 pictures into a panoramic scene.

NOTE: For best results, use a tripod. Individual pictures are not saved, even if panorama capture is cancelled before stitching occurs. (Exposure Compensation, White Balance, Exposure Metering, AF Zone, AF Control, Color Mode, and Sharpness are set with the first picture. The flash is set to Off.) You can use the self-timer (2- and 10-second delays) while taking panoramic pictures. See page 11.

1 Turn the Mode dial to Panorama .

2Press to highlight Panorama Left-Right or Panorama Right-Left (depending on the direction you want to pan), then press OK.

3Take the first picture.

After a quickview, the LCD displays the liveview and an “overlay” from the first picture.

4Compose the second picture. Make the overlay from the first picture cover the same portion in the new picture.

5If you are taking only 2 pictures, press OK to stitch them together.

After you take 3 pictures, the pictures are automatically stitched together.

Take 2 or 3 pictures.

Get 1 panoramic picture.

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Taking pictures/videos

Getting help from your camera

You want the most from your camera. You want to understand:

■What it can do for you

■And how to take the best possible pictures and videos

Great news!

Your camera offers a built-in Help system. It describes every setting for every menu choice. If you learn nothing else about your camera, learn how to use on-camera Help. Because the more you know your camera, the more confident you become!

Turning on camera Help

1	Press the Menu button, then
	highlight a menu choice.

2 Press the Info button.

Scroll through a Help topic

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Taking pictures/videos

P, A, S, and M modes

Use these modes when you want more control over your camera and pictures.

Mode			When to use	Press
				to control
			Program mode offers the ease of auto shooting	Exposure compensation (how
			with full access to all menu options. The camera	much light enters the
			automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture	camera), flash compensation,
			(f-stop) based on the scene lighting.	and ISO speed
			Aperture Priority mode controls depth of field (the	Aperture, exposure
			range of sharpness). The aperture setting may be	compensation, flash
			affected by optical zoom.	compensation, and ISO speed
			Shutter Priority mode prevents blur when your	Shutter speed and flash
			subject is moving. The camera automatically sets the	compensation
			aperture for proper exposure. (To prevent blur, use a
			tripod for slow shutter speeds.)
			Manual mode offers the highest level of creative	Aperture, shutter speed, flash
			control. (To prevent blur, use a tripod for slow shutter	compensation, and ISO speed
			speeds.)

NOTE: Settings you change in P, A, S, or M modes apply only to pictures taken in those modes. The settings, including Flash, are maintained for P, A, S, and M modes—even when you change modes or turn off the camera. Use Reset Camera (see page 37) to reset P, A, S, or M mode to its default setting.

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Taking pictures/videos

Changing P, A, S, or M mode settings

PASM modes control the aperture (f-number, also known as f-stop), shutter speed, exposure compensation, flash compensation, and ISO. Use the Menu button to control all other settings.

1 Turn the Mode dial to P, A, S, or M.

2 Press to access a setting. Press to change the setting.

NOTE: A yellow setting indicates possible unsatisfactory results. (However, you can still take the picture.)

ISO

Flash compensation

Exposure compensation

Shutter speed

Aperture

ISO—adjust the camera’s sensitivity to light. Higher ISO indicates greater sensitivity. NOTE: A higher ISO may produce unwanted “noise” in a picture.

Flash Compensation—adjust flash brightness.

Exposure Compensation—adjust the exposure. If the scene is too light, decrease the setting; if it’s too dark, increase the setting.

Shutter speed—control how long the shutter stays open. (Use a tripod for slow shutter speeds.)

Aperture—(also known as f-stop) control the size of the lens opening, which determines the depth of field.

■Smaller f-stop numbers indicate a larger lens opening; good for low-light.

■Larger f-stop numbers indicate a smaller lens opening; keeps the main subject sharp; good for landscapes and well-lit conditions.

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Taking pictures/videos

Using exposure compensation to adjust brightness

In P, A, S, and Panorama modes, you can adjust exposure compensation before you take a picture to make your pictures darker or lighter. Only the first picture in Panorama mode can be adjusted—that adjustment is applied to the remaining pictures.

■Press to access the exposure compensation setting.

■Press to decrease or to increase exposure compensation.

An exposure compensation level is shown on the LCD and the image gets darker or lighter.

Take the picture when you are satisfied with the exposure compensation level.

Using exposure compensation with exposure bracketing

In P and A modes, you can use exposure compensation in conjunction with exposure bracketing to get the best exposure.

If the exposure	And if the exposure bracketing	Then the exposures
compensation is set to:	interval is set to 0.3 steps:	taken are:

0.0

+1.0

–1.0

Set the Exposure Bracketing Interval –0.3, 0.0, +0.3 in the Capture+ menu (see page 35). +0.7, +1.0, +1.3

–1.3, –1.0, –0.7

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Taking pictures/videos

Using the histogram to view picture brightness

Use the histogram to evaluate the distribution of light before or after you take a picture. Optimal exposure is achieved when the peak is in the middle of the histogram. The flash may affect a picture’s light and shadow.

To turn on the histogram in Capture mode or in Review, press the Info button until the histogram appears.

Dark picture		Balanced picture		Bright picture

Understanding the picture-taking icons

Focus mode

Self timer

Flash mode

Capture mode				Pictures/time remaining
				Zoom slider

Tag name						Battery level
						Date stamp

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