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INSTRUCTION MANUALE
9222-2785-11 P-A211
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B
EFORE YOU BEGIN
Thank you for purchasing this Minolta digital camera.Please take the time to read through this
instruction manual so you can enjoy all the features of your new camera.
Check the packing list before using this product.If any items are missing, immediately contact your
camera dealer.
Minolta DiMAGE F300 digital camera
CR-V3 battery
Hand strap HS-DG100
16MB SD Memory Card
AV cable AVC-200
USB cable USB-500
DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM
DiMAGE Instruction Manuals CD-ROM
Quick Reference Guide (printed)
Minolta International Warranty Certificate
Before you begin
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, Mac OS, and the Mac OS logo are registered
trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of the
Microsoft Corporation. The official name of Windows is Microsoft Windows Operating System.
Pentium is a registered trademark of the Intel Corporation. Power PC is a trademark of the
International Business Machines Corporation. QuickTime is a trademark used under license. USB
DIRECT-PRINT is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.
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Read and understand all warnings and cautions before using this product.
Using batteries improperly can cause them to leak harmful solutions, overheat, or explode
which may damage property or cause personal injury.Do not ignore the following warnings.
• Only use the batteries specified in this instruction manual.
• Do not install the batteries with the polarity (+/–) reversed.
• Do not use batteries which show wear or damage.
• Do not expose batteries to fire, high temperatures, water, or moisture.
• Do not attempt to short or disassemble batteries.
• Do not store batteries near or in metallic products.
• Do not mix batteries of different types, brands, ages, or charge levels.
• Do not charge
lithium batteries.
•When recharging rechargeable batteries, only use the recommended charger.
• Do not use leaking batteries. If fluid from the batteries enters your eye, immediately
rinse the eye with plenty of fresh water and contact a doctor.If fluid from the batteries
makes contact with your skin or clothing, wash the area thoroughly with water.
•Tape over lithium battery contacts to avoid short-circuiting during disposal; always follow
local regulations for battery disposal.
WARNING
For proper and safe use
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F
OR PROPER AND SAFE USE
•Use only the specified ACadapter within the voltage range indicated on the adapter unit.An
inappropriate adapter or current may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock.
• Do not disassemble this product. Electric shock may cause injury if a high voltage circuit inside the
product is touched.
•Immediately remove the batteries or unplug the AC adapter and discontinue use if the s dropped or
subjected to an impact in which the interior, especially the flash unit, is exposed.The flash has a
high voltage circuit which may cause an electric shock resulting in injury.The continued use of a
damaged product or part may cause injuries or fire.
•Keep batteries or small par ts that could be swallowed away from infants. Contact a doctor
immediately if an object is swallowed.
•Store this product out of reach of children.Be careful when around children, not to har m them with
the product or parts.
• Do not fire the flash directly into the eyes. It may damage eyesight.
• Do not fire the flash at vehicle operators. It may cause a distraction or temporary blindness which
may lead to an accident.
• Do not use the monitor while operating a vehicle or walking. It may result in injury or an accident.
• Do not look directly at the sun or strong light sources through the viewfinder. It may damage your
eyesight or cause blindness.
• Do not use this product in a humid environment, or operate this product with wet hands. If liquid
enters the product, immediately remove the batteries or unplug the AC adapter and discontinue
use.The continued use of a product exposed to liquids may cause damage or injury through fire or
electric shock.
• Do not use the product near inflammable gases or liquids such as gasoline, benzine, or paint
thinner.Do not use inflammable products such as alcohol, benzine, or paint thinner to clean the
product.The use of inflammable cleaners and solvents may cause an explosion or fire.
•When unplugging the AC adapter, do not pull on the power cord.Hold the adapter unit when
removing it from an outlet.
• Do not damage, twist, modify, heat, or place heavy objects on the AC adapter cord. A damaged
cord may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock.
• If the product emits a strange odour, heat, or smoke, discontinue use.Immediately remove the
batteries taking care not to burn yourself as the batteries become hot with use.The continued use
of a damaged product or part may cause injuries or fire.
•Take the product to a Minolta Service Facility when repairs are required
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• Do not use or store the product in a hot or humid environment such as the glove
compartment or trunk of a car. It may damage the product and batteries which may
result in burns or injuries caused by heat, fire, explosion, or leaking battery fluid.
• If batteries are leaking, discontinue use of the product.
• The lens retracts when the camera is turned off.Touching the lens barrel while it is
retracting may cause injury.
•The camera temperature rises with extended periods of use.Care should be taken to
avoid burns.
• Burns may result if the memory card or batteries are removed immediately after
extended periods of use. Turn the camera off and wait for it to cool.
• Do not fire the flash while it is in contact with people or objects.The flash unit
discharges a large amount of energy which may cause burns.
• Do not apply pressure to the LCD monitor.A damaged monitor may cause injury, and
the liquid from the monitor may cause inflammation. If liquid from the monitor makes
contact with skin, wash the area with fresh water. If liquid from the monitor comes in
contact with the eyes, immediately rinse the eyes with plenty of water and contact a
doctor.
•When using the AC adapter, insert the plug securely into the electrical outlet.
• Do not use if the AC adapter cord is damaged.
• Do not cover the AC adapter.A fire may result.
• Do not obstruct access to the AC adapter; this can hinder the unplugging of the unit in
emergencies.
• Unplug the AC adapter when cleaning or when the product is not in use.
CAUTION
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T
ABLE OF CONTENTS
The basic operation of this camera is covered between pages 14 and 37.This section of the manual
covers the camera parts, preparation of the camera for use, and the basic camera operation for
recording, viewing, and deleting images.
The basic and advanced auto-recording mode sections cover all the basic functions of the camera in
this mode and in the multi-function recording mode.Take time to read these sections before moving
on to the multi-function recording mode section.The basic playback section describes how to view
images.The other sections can be read as needed.
Many of the features of this camera are controlled with menus.The menu navigation sections concisely describe how to change menu settings. Descriptions of the settings immediately follow the navigation sections.
About this manual
Names of parts .....................................................................................................................................10
Camera body...........................................................................................................................10
Viewfinder................................................................................................................................12
Mode dial.................................................................................................................................12
Data panel...............................................................................................................................13
Getting up and running.........................................................................................................................14
Changing the CR-3V battery...................................................................................................14
Installing AA batteries..............................................................................................................15
Attaching the hand strap .........................................................................................................15
Battery condition indicator.......................................................................................................16
Auto power save......................................................................................................................16
Connecting the AC adapter (sold separately).........................................................................17
Changing the memory card.....................................................................................................18
About memory cards........................................................................................................19
Setting the date and time ........................................................................................................20
Auto-recording mode - basic operation................................................................................................22
Handling the camera ...............................................................................................................22
Power / Access lamp ...............................................................................................................22
Setting the camera to record images automatically................................................................23
Using the zoom lens ................................................................................................................24
Focus range.............................................................................................................................24
About camera operation..........................................................................................................25
Basic recording operation........................................................................................................26
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Focus signals...........................................................................................................................27
Special focusing situations......................................................................................................27
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection..........................................................................28
Digital-subject-program button.................................................................................................29
Display button - recording mode .............................................................................................31
Flash modes............................................................................................................................32
Flash range - auto-recording mode.........................................................................................33
Flash signals............................................................................................................................33
Camera-shake warning ...........................................................................................................33
Playback - basic operation...................................................................................................................34
Single-frame playback and histogram display.........................................................................34
Viewing and deleting images...................................................................................................35
Display button - playback mode ..............................................................................................36
Display button - Quick View.....................................................................................................36
Enlarged playback...................................................................................................................37
Auto-recording mode - advanced operation .........................................................................................38
Navigating the auto-recording mode menu.............................................................................38
Digital zoom .............................................................................................................................40
Drive modes ............................................................................................................................41
Self-timer .................................................................................................................................42
Remote control (sold separately) ............................................................................................43
Continuous advance ................................................................................................................44
UHS continuous advance........................................................................................................45
Bracketing................................................................................................................................46
Image size and image quality..................................................................................................48
Date imprinting ........................................................................................................................50
Exposure compensation..........................................................................................................51
Focus area selection ...............................................................................................................52
Focus lock................................................................................................................................53
Multi-function recording mode - advanced operation...........................................................................54
Multi-function recording mode display .....................................................................................55
Navigating the multi-function recording mode menu ...............................................................56
Exposure modes......................................................................................................................58
Programmed AE - P.........................................................................................................58
Aperture priority - A .........................................................................................................5 8
Shutter priority - S............................................................................................................59
Manual exposure - M.......................................................................................................60
Bulb exposures ........................................................................................................................61
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ABLE OF CONTENTS
White balance ..........................................................................................................................62
Automatic white balance..................................................................................................62
Preset white balance .......................................................................................................62
Custom white balance .....................................................................................................63
Focus modes...........................................................................................................................64
Single-shot AF .................................................................................................................64
Subject Tracking AF.........................................................................................................64
Manual focus....................................................................................................................65
Full-time AF.............................................................................................................................65
Flash compensation ................................................................................................................66
Metering modes .......................................................................................................................66
Camera sensitivity - ISO..........................................................................................................67
Flash range and camera sensitivity.................................................................................67
Digital Effects Control..............................................................................................................68
Voice memo.............................................................................................................................70
Instant playback.......................................................................................................................71
A short guide to photography ...............................................................................................................72
Using exposure and flash compensation ................................................................................74
What is an Ev? What is a stop?..............................................................................................75
Exposure latitude .....................................................................................................................75
Movie and audio recording...................................................................................................................76
Recording movies ....................................................................................................................76
Recording audio ......................................................................................................................77
Navigating the movie menu .....................................................................................................78
Notes on movie recording .......................................................................................................79
Recording movies and audio with the RC-3 remote control (sold separately)........................79
Playback mode - advanced operation..................................................................................................80
Playing back voice memos and audio captions.......................................................................80
Playing back movies and audio recordings .............................................................................81
Navigating the playback-mode menu......................................................................................82
Frame-selection screen ...........................................................................................................84
Deleting files............................................................................................................................85
Locking files .............................................................................................................................86
Audio captioning......................................................................................................................87
Slide Show...............................................................................................................................88
About DPOF............................................................................................................................90
Creating a DPOF print order ...................................................................................................90
Ordering an index print ............................................................................................................91
Copy and E-mail Copy.............................................................................................................92
Viewing images on a television...............................................................................................94
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Setup mode - controlling the camera’s operation.................................................................................95
Navigating the setup menu......................................................................................................96
LCD monitor brightness...........................................................................................................98
Formatting memory cards .......................................................................................................98
Auto power save......................................................................................................................99
Language.................................................................................................................................99
File number (#) memory..........................................................................................................99
Folder name...........................................................................................................................100
Audio signals.........................................................................................................................100
Shutter FX .............................................................................................................................101
Volume...................................................................................................................................102
Reset default..........................................................................................................................102
Noise reduction......................................................................................................................104
Setting the date and time ......................................................................................................104
Setting the date format..........................................................................................................104
Video output ..........................................................................................................................104
Data-transfer mode - connecting to a computer ................................................................................10 5
System requirements.............................................................................................................105
Connecting the camera to a computer..................................................................................106
Connecting to Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition..............................................................108
Automatic installation.....................................................................................................108
Manual installation.........................................................................................................109
Connecting to Mac OS 8.6....................................................................................................111
QuickTime system requirements...........................................................................................111
Auto power save (data-transfer mode)..................................................................................111
Memory card folder organisation ...........................................................................................112
Disconnecting the camera from the computer ......................................................................114
Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition..............................................................................114
Windows Me, 2000 Professional, and XP......................................................................114
Macintosh.......................................................................................................................115
Changing the memory card (data-transfer mode).................................................................116
Appendix .......................................................................................................................................117
Troubleshooting.....................................................................................................................117
About Ni-MH batteries...........................................................................................................119
Uninstalling the driver software - Windows............................................................................120
Using USB DIRECT-PRINT ...................................................................................................121
Care and storage...................................................................................................................122
Technical specifications.........................................................................................................126
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N
AMES OFPARTS
* This camera is a sophisticated optical instrument. Care should be taken to keep these surfaces
clean. Please read the care and storage instructions in the back of this manual (p. 122).
Camera body
Data panel (p.13)
Shutter-release button
Lens*
Self-timer/
Remote-control
lamp (p.42)
Flash (p.32)
The tripod socket is located on
the bottom of the body.
Speaker
Microphone
Remote-control
receiver
Mode dial (main switch)
Viewfinder window*
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The USB port, AV-out terminal, and DC terminal are located behind the terminal cover.
Digital-subject-program button
(p.29)
Strap eyelet (p. 15)
Viewfinder* (p.12)
LCD monitor*
Menu button
Flash mode/Information button (p.32, 34)
Power/Access
lamp (p.22)
QV/ Delete button (p.35)
Battery-chamber door (p. 14)
Exposure-compensation button (p.51)
Controller
Card-slot door (p.18)
Display button (p. 31, 36)
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N
AMES OFPARTS
Mode dial
Auto-recording mode (p. 22, 38)
Multi-function recording mode (p.54)
Playback mode (p. 34, 80)
Movie-recording mode (p.76)
Setup mode (p.95)
Audio recording mode (p.76)
Viewfinder
Focus lamp (green) Flash lamp (orange)
This dial gives direct
and easy access to
the camera’s major
modes. It also acts
as the main switch.
Because the optical viewfinder and the lens are slightly separated, the image seen through one is not
exactly the same as the other; this is called parallax. Parallax can cause errors in framing at close
distances and is more pronounced at longer focal lengths.When the subject is closer than 1m (3ft) at
the wide-angle lens position or 3m (9.8ft) at the telephoto position, use the LCD monitor to compose
the image; because the lens creates the monitor image, it does not suffer from parallax.
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Data panel
Frame counter (p. 49)
Exposure / Flash-compensation indicator (p.51, 66)
Camera-sensitivity indicator (p.67)
Spot-metering indicator (p. 66)
Battery-condition indicator (p. 16)
White-balance indicator (p.62)
Flash-mode indicators (p.32)
Manual-focus indicator (p. 65)
Image-size display (p. 48)
Image-quality display (p.48)
Drive-mode indicators (p.41)
Microphone indicator (p.70, 77, 87)
Exposure-mode indicators (p.58)
Located on the top of the camera body,
the data panel shows the status of the
camera. All icons have been shown for
clarity.
The frame counter cannot exceed
999.When the number of recordable images exceeds this, 999 will
be displayed.The frame counter
will continue to count down when
the number of recordable images
falls below one thousand.
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Close the battery-chamber door (3) and slide it toward the top of
the body (4) to engage the safety catch.
After installing the battery, the set-time/date message may
appear on the monitor.The clock and calendar are set in the
custom 2 section of the setup menu (p.20).
3
4
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ETTING UP AND RUNNING
GETTING UP AND RUNNING
Changing the CR-V3 battery
Insert the battery.The CR-V3 battery must be inser ted with the
battery terminals first. The flat side of the battery should face the
front of the camera. If the battery does not fit, check its orientation. Never force the battery.
1
2
This digital camera uses one CR-V3 lithium battery.When replacing the batteries, the
mode dial should be in the off position.N.B.Whilst this batter y is available in some digital camera stores we recommend that Ni-MH AA batteries be used. See next section.
Open the battery-chamber door by sliding the door toward the bottom of the camera (1) to release the safety catch; the door can then be opened (2).
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When the supplied CR-V3 battery is exhausted please use two AA-size Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries.We do not reccomend the use of Alkaline or Lithium AA batteries. Ni-MH batter ies offer improved
performance partiucally when charged with an ‘intellegent’charger. Intellegent chargers recharge each battery with the amount power it requires.1800mAh or higher capacity batteries are reccomended.
Installing AA batteries
Install the AA batteries as shown in the diagram; make
sure the positive and negative battery terminals are oriented correctly.
Always keep the strap around your wrist in case the camera is accidentally
dropped. An optional metal chain neck strap, NS-DG100, and leather neck
strap, NS-DG200, are also available from your Minolta dealer. Availability
varies with region.
Attaching the hand strap
Pass the other end of the strap through the small loop
and tighten (2).
2
1
Pass the small loop of the hand strap through the strap
eyelet on the camera body (1).
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G
ETTING UP AND RUNNING
Battery condition indicator
Full-battery indicator - the battery is fully charged. This icon is displayed for five seconds on the monitor when the camera is turned on.
The icon remains on the data panel.
Blinking low-battery warning - displayed on the data panel with no
other icons; power is insufficient for camera operation.The shutter
will not release.
Low-battery indicator - battery power is low.The battery should be
replaced as soon as possible.The monitor will turn off while the flash
is charging to save power.
This camera is equipped with an automatic battery-condition indicator.When the camera is on, the
battery-condition indicator appears on the data panel and monitor. If the data panel and monitor are
blank, the battery may be exhausted or installed incorrectly.
Aut o p ower save
To conserve battery power, the camera will turn off displays and unnecessary functions if an operation is not made within a minute.The LCD monitor turns off after thirty seconds. To restore power,
press any button or key, or tur n the mode dial to another position. Except for the thirty-second monitor period, the length of the auto-power-save period can be changed in the basic section of the setup
menu (p.96).
Low-battery warning - battery power is very low.The monitor icon is
red.The batter y should be replaced as soon as possible. This warning automatically appears and remains on the monitor until the battery is changed. The monitor will turn off while the flash is charging to
save power. If power falls below this level, the battery-exhausted
message will be displayed just before the camera shuts down.
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The AC Adapter AC-6 allows the camera to be powered from an electrical household outlet.The AC
Adapter is recommended when the camera is interfaced with a computer or during periods of heavy
use.
Always turn off the camera before
changing between power supplies.
Connecting the AC adapter (sold separately)
1
Lift the DC terminal cover from the bottom (1).The
cover is attached to the body to prevent loss.
Insert the mini plug of the AC adapter into the DC terminal (2).
Insert the AC adapter plug into an electrical outlet.
2
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ETTING UP AND RUNNING
Changing the memory card
An SD Memory Card or MultiMediaCard must be inserted for the camera to operate. If a card has
not been inserted, a no-card warning will automatically be displayed on the monitor and three
dashes (– – –) will be displayed on the data-panel frame counter.
Open the card-slot door (1) from the fingernail notch at the bottom of the camera.
Insert the memory card all the way into the card slot and release (2). Inser t the card so the face is
toward the front of the camera.Always push the card in straight. Never force the card.If the card
does not fit, check that it is oriented correctly.The card should catch in the slot.
To eject a memory card, press the card into the slot and release (3). The card can now be pulled out.
Take care when removing the card as it becomes hot with use.
Close the card-slot door (4).The door should click into place.
1 234
Always turn off the camera and confirm the power/access lamp is not
red before removing or inserting a memory card; damage and data
loss may result.
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The response time during recording and playback is longer with
MultiMediaCards compared with SD Memory Cards.This is not a
defect, but rather due to the specifications of the cards.When using
large capacity cards, some operations like deletion may take longer.
SD Memory Cards have a write-protect switch to prevent image data
from being deleted. By sliding the switch to the bottom of the card,
the data will be protected. However, when the card is protected,
images cannot be recorded. If an attempt is made to record or
delete an image with the camera, the card-locked message will
appear on the monitor.For memory card care and storage see page
123.
Memory cards should not be used to permanently store image data.
Always make a copy of camera files on an appropriate storage device or recording media.Making an
additional backup copy of the data is recommended.Minolta has no responsibility for any loss or
damage to data.
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If the card-not-recognized message appears, the inserted card in the camera may need to be formatted. A card used in another camera may have to be formatted before being used. If the unable-touse-card message appears, the card is not compatible with the camera and cannot be formatted.A
card is formatted in the basic section of the setup menu (p.96). The formatting operation permanently erases all the data on the card.
Writeprotect
switch
Lock
position
About memory cards
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Basic Custom1 Custom2
LCDbrightness
Format
Power save
Language English
1 min.
–
–
1
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ETTING UP AND RUNNING
Setting the date and time
After initially inserting a memory card and batter y, the camera’s clock and calendar must be set.
When images are recorded, the image data is saved with the date and time of recording.Depending
on the region, the menu language may also have to be set.To change the language, see the camera
notes on the following page.
Turn the mode dial on the top of the camera to the setup position.The camera will
turn on and the setup menu will be displayed.
The central button of the controller selects menu options and sets adjustments.
Navigating the menu is simple.The up/down and left/right keys of the controller (1)
move the cursor and change settings on the menu.
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Custom1
Basic
Reset default
Date/Time set
Date format
Video output
–
–
YYYY/MM/DD
NTSC
Custom2
Use the right key to highlight the custom 2
tab at the top of the menu.
Use the down key to highlight the
date/time-set menu option.
Press the central button to display the
date/time setting screen.
Use the left and right keys to select the item to be
changed.
Press the central button to set the clock and calendar.The setup menu will be displayed.
Enter
Date/Time set
Press the right key.“Enter” will appear on
the right side of the menu.
Setup menu: custom 2 section
Date/Time setting screen
Use the up and down keys to adjust the item.
For customers in certain areas, the menu language must also be set. Highlight the language
option in the basic section of the setup menu. Press the right key to display the language settings. Using the up/down keys, highlight the desired language.Press the central button to set
the highlighted language; the setup menu will be displayed in the selected language.
Camera notes
Noise reduction Off
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Power / Access lamp
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A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION
AUTO-RECORDING MODE –
BASIC OPERATION
While using the viewfinder or LCD monitor, grip the camera firmly with your
right hand while supporting the body with your left. Keep your elbows at your
side and your feet shoulder-width apart to hold the camera steadily.
When taking vertical pictures, hold the camera so that the flash is above the
lens with the grip to the top.Take care not to cover the lens with your fingers
or the strap.
Handling the camera
This section covers the basic operation of this camera.Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the operations in this section before moving on to the other sections in the manual.
The sophisticated technology employed in the auto-recording mode frees the photographer from
complicated camera settings. Although automated, the camera’s operation can be changed to meet
various conditions as well as to suit personal shooting preferences.
The power / access lamp turns green and glows steadily when the
camera is on.The lamp will turn red and blink when data is being
transferred between the camera and memory card; never remove the
card during this period.
If the lens is hindered while extending, the green lamp may blink for a
three-minute period.Turn the camera off and on to initialize the lens.
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Setting the camera to record images automatically
Turn the mode dial to the auto-recording mode position (1); all
camera operations are now fully automatic.The autofocus, exposure, and imaging systems will work together to bring beautiful
results effortlessly.
While many of the camera’s systems in this mode are automatic,
the camera’s operation can be optimized to different subjects
very simply with the digital subject program button (p.29). The
flash mode (p.32) and dr ive mode (p. 41) can also be changed.
Image size and quality can be set on the auto-recording mode
menu (p.38).
Exposure mode Program (fixed)
Metering mode
* Changes to the flash mode
, focus area, drive mode, or exposure compensation will be reset
when the mode dial is turned to another position. The flash mode is reset to autoflash or
autoflash with red eye reduction depending on which of the two modes was set last.
1
Multi-segment (fixed)
Camera sensitivity (ISO)
Flash mode
Focus area
Focus control
Drive mode
Auto (fixed)
Autoflash (can be changed*)
Single-frame advance (can be changed*)
Exposure compensation
Sharpness
0.0 (can be adjusted*)
Normal (fixed)
Contrast Normal (fixed)
Saturation Normal (fixed)
Color mode
White balance
Natural Color (fixed)
Auto (fixed)
Area AF & Subject Tracking AF (fixed)
Wide focus area (can be changed*)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
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A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION
This camera is equipped with a 7.8 to 23.4mm optical zoom.This is equivalent to a 38 to 114mm
zoom lens on a 35mm camera. In 35mm photography, focal lengths below 50mm are referred to as
wide-angle; the angle of view is larger than that of the human eye.Above 50mm is referred to as telephoto and makes distant objects appear closer.The effect of the optical zoom is visible in both the
viewfinder and LCD monitor.
Using the zoom lens
The zoom lens is operated by
the controller (1). Pressing the
up key (T) will zoom in to the
telephoto position of the lens.
Pressing the down key (W)
will zoom out to the wideangle position.
Focus range
Normal focusing range
Macro mode (p.29)
0.5m - ∞ (1.6ft - ∞)
0.2m - 0.6m (0.7ft - 2ft)
All distances are measured from the CCD.
CCD plane
1
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About camera operation
The auto-recording mode uses advanced technology to make photography as effortless as possible.
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection optimizes exposure, color, and image-processing settings for each subject.The sophisticated AF system locates and tracks the subject automatically.
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection - The icons at the top of the LCD monitor display
indicate the Digital Subject Program in use.When taking pictures, the icon for the active subject program will remain. If no icons are displayed, programmed AE is employed. For more on Automatic
Digital Subject Program Selection, see page 28.
Area AF & Subject Tracking AF - Area AF locates the subject within the
extra large focus frames.An AF sensor will be displayed when the camera
locates and focuses on the subject. Subject Tracking AF will continue to follow the subject in the focus frames whether the subject moves or the camera position is changed.
Automatic Digital Subject Program Display
Area AF focus frames
Subject Tracking AF
AF sensor
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Basic recording operation
With the mode dial set to auto recording, the camera will be on and the LCD monitor
will activate.Auto recording mode uses two advanced AF systems, Area AF and
Subject Tracking AF, to locate and track the subject in the the extra-wide focus
frames.
Place the subject anywhere within the focus frame.
• Make sure the subject is within the focus range of the lens:
• If the subject is closer than 1m at the wide-angle lens position
Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock onto the
subject and fix the exposure.
• The focus signals on the monitor will confirm subject lock. If the
•When the subject lock engages, an AF sensor will appear on
1
2
• The shutter speed and aper ture will appear indicating the
• See page 28 for information on Automatic Digital Subject
Press the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to take the
picture.
• The access lamp will turn red and blink indicating image data is
0.5m - ∞ (1.6ft - ∞). For subjects closer than 0.5m, use the
macro function (p.29).
or 3m at the telephoto position, use the monitor to frame the
subject.
focus signal is red, the camera was unable to locate the subject.
Repeat the previous steps until the signal is white.
the live image to indicate the subject. If the subject moves within
the focus frames, the AF sensor will change to track the subject.
exposure is locked.
Selection.
being written to the memory card. Never remove a memory card
while data is being transferred.
26
UTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION
A
Page 27
27
This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system.The focus icon in the lower right corner of the LCD monitor and the green focus lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status.The
shutter can be released even if the camera cannot focus on the subject.
Subject locked.The camera will continue to track the
subject within the focus frames.
Focus icon: white
Focus lamp: steady
Focus icon: red
Focus lamp: blinking
The camera may not be able to focus in certain situations. If the autofocus system cannot focus on a
subject, the focus icon will turn red. In this situation, focus-lock with Focus Area Selection can be
used to focus on an object at the same distance as the main subject and then the image can be
recomposed on the monitor (p.52, 53).
The subject in the
focus frame is low in
contrast.
The subject is too dark. Two subjects at differ-
ent distances overlap
in the focus frame.
The subject is near a
very b right object or
area.
Cannot focus.The subject is too close or a special
situation is preventing the AF system from focusing.
If the subject lock is lost, the monitor icon will change from white to red, but the focus lamp will continue to glow steadily. For more about Subject Tracking AF, see page 64.
When the AF system cannot focus, focus lock with Focus Area Selection can be used (p.52, 53).
Focus signals
Special focusing situations
Page 28
28
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection
Automatic Digital Program Selection chooses between programmed AE and one of five subject programs: portrait, spor ts action, landscape, sunset, and night por trait. The digital subject programs optimize the camera‘s performance for various conditions and subjects. Exposure, white-balance, and
image-processing systems work in unison for beautiful results.For information on individual subject
programs, see page 30.
A row of gray indicators at the top on the monitor display will indicate
Automatic Digital Subject Selection is active.Place the subject in the
focus frames; the procedure is the same as the basic recording operation described on page 26.
Press the shutter-release button partway down; the AF system will
locate the subject and the Automatic Digital Subject Selection function
will choose a subject program. If no icons are displayed, programmed
AE is active.Press the shutter-release button all the way down to take
the picture.
Programmed AE
Portrait
Sports action
Landscape
Sunset
Night portrait
Hold the camera steadily when the sunset or
night-portrait subject program is selected as
exposures can be long.
Page 29
29
Pressing the subject-program button (1)
cycles through the modes.The active subject program will be indicated at the top of
the live image.The subject program will
remain in effect until it is changed or the
mode dial is turned to another position.
Except for macro and night portrait, digital
subject programs cannot be used in the
multi-function recording mode. For information on individual subject programs, see
page 30.
Digital-subject-program button
1
Sports action
Landscape
Sunset
Night portrait
Programmed AE
Portrait
Macro
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection
While camera performance is optimized for each shooting condition, some changes can be made to
camera settings with subject programs.The flash mode (p. 32) can be changed and the exposure
can be altered using exposure-compensation (p.51). In extreme lighting conditions, adjustments
using exposure compensation may not produce the intended results in the portrait, or night-portrait
mode.The camera-shake warning (p. 33) may appear in macro, landscape, sunset, or night-portrait
modes.
(No icons)
Page 30
30
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION
MACRO - used for close-up photography between 20 and 60 cm (0.7 - 2.0ft) from
the CCD.The lens will automatically zoom to the macro position and cannot be
changed. Because of parallax, the LCD monitor should be used to compose the
picture. Full-time AF (p. 65) is employed.Available in the multi-function recording
mode.
NIGHT PORTRAIT - the flash and ambient exposures are balanced to reveal the
subject and background in low light.Ask your subject not to move after the flash
burst; the shutter may still be open for the background exposure.To take pictures
of landscapes at night, set the flash mode to flash cancel (p.32). Because the
exposures can be long the use of a tripod is reccomended.
PORTRAIT - optimized to reproduce soft skin tones and a slight defocusing of the
background. Most portraits look best at a telephoto setting; longer focal lengths do
not exaggerate facial features and the shallower depth of field softens the background.
LANDSCAPE - optimized to produce sharp, colorful landscapes.With bright outdoor scenery, Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection activates this mode
with distant subjects at a wide-angle lens setting.The flash will not fire in this
mode.To use the flash, change the flash mode to fill flash.
SPORTS ACTION - optimized to stop action. Automatic Digital Subject Program
Selection activates this mode when shooting moving subjects at a distance with a
telephoto lens setting. Full-time AF (p. 65) is employed.
SUNSET - optimized to produce rich, warm sunsets. Automatic Digital Subject
Program Selection recognizes the warmth of the setting sun in a landscape photograph and activates this mode.
Page 31
31
Monitor
off
The display button controls the LCD monitor display. The display cycles to the next position each time
the button is pressed: full display, live image only, and monitor off.
Battery power can be conserved by turning the monitor off and using the viewfinder to take pictures.
When the menu or exposure-compensation button is pressed, or the macro mode is activated, the
monitor will automatically turn on. Subject Tracking AF, Full-time AF (p. 65), and the digital zoom are
disabled when the monitor is off.
Full display Live image only
Display button
Display button - recording mode
Page 32
32
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION
Flash modes
To set the flash mode, simply press the flash
mode button (1) on the back of the camera until
the appropriate mode is indicated.
Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in lowlight and backlit conditions.
Red-eye reduction - multiple flashes are used
before the main flash burst to reduce red-eye; an
effect caused by light reflected from the retina.
Use in low-light conditions when taking photographs of people or animals.The pre-flashes
contract the pupils of the subject’s eyes.
Fill-flash - the flash fires with each exposure
regardless of the amount of ambient light. Fillflash can be used to reduce harsh shadows
caused by strong direct light or sunshine.
1
Autoflash
Autoflash with
red-eye reduction
Fill-flash
Flash cancel
Flash cancel - the flash will not fire. Use flash cancel when flash photography is prohibited, natural
light is desired to illuminate the subject, or the subject is beyond the flash range.The camera-shake
warning may appear when flash cancel is selected.
Page 33
33
The orange flash lamp next to the viewfinder indicates the status of the flash.When the lamp blinks
quickly, the flash is charging and the shutter will not release.The lamp glows steadily when the flash
is charged and ready to fire.
If the shutter speed falls below the point where the camera can be safely hand held, the camerashake warning will appear on the LCD monitor and the orange flash lamp will blink slowly.Camera
shake is slight blurring caused by subtle hand motion and is more pronounced at the telephoto position of the lens than at the wide-angle. Although the warning appears, the shutter can still be
released. If the warning appears, the following steps can be taken:
•Place the camera on a tripod.
• Use the built-in flash.
• Zoom the lens towards the wide-angle position until the warning
disappears.
Camera-shake warning
Flash range - auto-recording mode
The camera will automatically control the flash output. For well-exposed images, the subject must be
within the flash range. Because of the optical system, the flash range is not the same at the lens’
wide-angle position as it is at the telephoto position.
Wide-angle position
Telephoto position
0.5m ~ 3.4m (1.6 ft. ~ 11.1 ft.)
0.5m ~ 2.0m (1.6 ft. ~ 6.6 ft.)
Flash signals
Page 34
34
P
LAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION
To view images from the auto-recording or
multi-function recording modes, press the
Quick View / delete button.
PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION
Images can be viewed in the Quick View or playback modes.This section covers the basic operations
in both modes.The playback mode has additional functions, see page 80.
To view images from the playback mode, turn the mode dial to
the playback position.
Single-frame playback and histogram display
Date of capture
Frame number/ total number of
images
Lock indicator (p.86)
Print indicator (p. 90)
Image size (p.48)
Image quality (p.48)
Time of
capture
Audio-track
indicator (p.80)
Shutter speed
Aperture value
White-balance
setting (p.62)
Sensitivity
setting (p.67)
Degree of exposure
compensation (p.51)
Folder name
Folder number image file number
Histogram
Mode
indicator
Page 35
35
To switch between the single-frame playback and histogram display, press the
information button.
The histogram shows the luminance distribution of the image from black (left) to white (right).The
256 vertical lines indicates the relative proportion of that light value in the image.The histogram can
be used to evaluate exposure, but displays no color information.
To return to the recording mode from Quick View, press
the menu button or shutter-release button partway down.
Controller
Menu button
Quick View / Delete button
In Quick View or the playback mode, use the left/right keys of the controller to scroll
through the images.
The displayed image can be deleted.Once deleted, an image cannot be recovered.
Delete this frame?
NoYes
To delete the displayed image, press the QV/delete
button. A confirmation screen will appear.
Press the central button of the controller to delete the
image.
Use the left/right keys to highlight “Yes,”“No” will cancel
the operation.
Viewing and deleting images
Page 36
36
P
LAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION
Full display
Index playback
In index playback, the four-way keys of the controller will move the yellow border.When the image is
highlighted with the border, the date of recording, voice-memo indicator, the lock and printing status,
and the frame number of the image are displayed at the bottom of the screen.The highlighted image
can be deleted using the QV/delete button (p.35), or an audio track or movie clip can be played by
pressing the central button of the controller.When the display button is pressed again, the highlighted
image will be displayed in the single-frame playback mode.
The display button controls the display format. Each time the button is pressed, the display cycles
through to the next format: full display, image only, index playback.
Image only
Display button - playback mode
Display button
Display button - Quick View
Pressing the display button in Quick View
switches between the full display and the
image-only display.
Page 37
37
Enlarged playback
With the image to be magnified displayed, press the up key of the controller to
activate the enlarged playback mode.The degree of magnification is displayed on
the LCD monitor.
Use the four-way keys of the controller to scroll
the image.
In single-frame playback in Quick View or the playback mode, a still image can be enlarged up to 6X
in 0.2 increments for closer examination.
Pressing the up key increases the image magnification.
Pressing the down key decreases the magnification.
To scroll the image, press the central button of the controller;
the central button switches between the enlarged-playback
and scroll screens.
To exit the enlarged playback mode, press the
menu button.
Zoom
Scroll
The display button switches between showing the full
display and the image only.
Page 38
Date imprint Off
Basic
Drive mode
Image size
Quality
Digital zoom Off
Standard
2560 X 1920
Single
1
38
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
In auto-recording mode, the menu button (1) turns the menu on and off.The left/right and up/down
keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu.Pressing the central button of the
controller will enter a setting.
Use the up/down keys of the controller (2) to scroll through the menu options.Highlight the
option whose setting needs to be changed.
With the menu option to be changed highlighted, press the right controller key; the settings
will be displayed with the current setting highlighted.To return to the menu options, press
the left key.
Once a setting has been
selected, the cursor will
return to the menu
options and the new setting will be displayed.
Changes can continue
to be made.
To return to the autorecording mode, press
the menu button.
Use the up/down keys to highlight the new setting.
Press the central button of the controller to select the highlighted setting.
Navigating the auto-recording mode menu
2
AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Page 39
39
Except for the drive mode, settings made with the autorecording menu will remain in effect until changed or
the camera is reset to its default settings (p.102).
Drive modes - to control the rate and method of image
capture.
Image size - to set the pixel resolution of the images.
Image size affects the size of the image file.
Image quality - to set the rate of compression of the
images. Image quality affects the size of the image file.
Digital zoom - the digital zoom can be turned off or on.
Date imprinting - to imprint the date of capture on
each image when it is recorded.
Read the following sections for more details on these
options and settings. Changes made to image size,
image quality, digital zoom, and date imprinting will
affect the multi-function recording mode.All of these
functions appear on the multi-function recording mode
menu.
Drive mode Single
Continuous
Timer / RC
Bracketing
2560 X 1920
2048 X 1536
1600 X 1200
640 X 480
Super fine
Fine
Standard
Economy
On / Off
On / Off
Image size
Quality
Date imprinting
Digital zoom
Basic
select enter
Use the left/right keys to
select the bracketing increment (p.46).
UHS cont.
Page 40
40
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Digital zoom
The digital zoom is activated on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) and in the custom 2 section of
the multi-function recording mode menu (p.56). The digital zoom extends the power of the telephoto
position of the optical zoom by up to 4X in 0.1X increments.The transition between the optical zoom
and digital zoom is seamless.When the digital zoom is active, the image magnification is displayed
on the monitor and the focus frames change to a single focus area.The autofocus mode is set to single-shot AF (p.64). The digital zoom is canceled if the LCD monitor is turned off.
Digital zoom images are interpolated to the set image size.There can be some loss of quality with
images taken with the digital zoom.
The digital zoom is operated by the
controller (1). Pressing the up key (T)
will zoom in to the telephoto position
of the lens.When the digital zoom
activates, the image magnification
will be displayed at the top of the
monitor.Only the LCD monitor will
show the effect of the digital zoom;
the viewfinder cannot be used. Press
the down key (W) to zoom out.
1
Magnification display
Page 41
41
The drive modes control the rate and method of image capture.Icons indicating the selected dr ive
mode appear on the data panel and LCD monitor.
Single-frame
advance
Continuous advance
Self-timer/ Remote
control
Bracketing
To take a single image each time the shutter-release
button is pressed (p.26).
To take multiple images when the shutter-release button is pressed and held.
To delay the release of the shutter.Used for self-portraits.
To take a series of three images with differing exposures.
LCD monitor
Data panel
All icons have been shown for
clarity.The single-frame
advance and continuous drive
indicators occupy the same
area of the data panel. All the
drive-mode icons appear in the
lower right corner of the monitor.
Drive modes
UHS continuous
advance
To take up to eleven 1280 X 960 images in one second.
In auto-recording mode, the drive mode resets to single-frame advance each time the position of the
mode dial is changed. In multi-function recording mode, the drive mode will remain in effect until
changed on the menu or the camera is reset to its default settings.
Page 42
42
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Used for self-portraits, the self-timer will delay the release of the shutter for approximately ten seconds after the shutter-release button is pressed.When the drive mode is set to self-timer, the focus
mode is changed from Subject Tracking AF to single-shot AF allowing the use of focus lock (p.53).
The self-timer is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p.38) or in the basic section of the multifunction recording mode menu (p.56).
With the camera on a tripod, compose the picture so the subject is within the focus
frames. Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock the exposure and
focus (1). Press the shutter-release button all the way down to begin the countdown
(2). Because focus and exposure are determined when the shutter-release button is
pressed, do not stand in front of the camera when setting up a self-timer image, the
camera will focus on you in that position rather than your position when the photograph is taken. Always confirm the focus with the focus signals before beginning the
countdown (p.53).
During the countdown, the self-timer lamp on the front of the
camera (3) will start to blink and is accompanied by an audio
signal. A few seconds before the exposure, the self-timer lamp
will blink rapidly.The lamp will glow steadily just before the
shutter fires.To stop the countdown, turn the mode dial to
another position.The self-timer drive mode is cancelled after
the exposure.The audio signal can be turned off in the custom
1 section of the setup menu (p.96).
The self-timer can be used to minimize camera shake with long exposures.When using the
camera on a tripod, photographs of static subjects (landscapes, still-lifes, or close-up photographs) can be made with the self-timer.Because no contact is made with the camera during
exposure, there is no risk of camera shake caused by the operator.
Shooting tips
1
3
Self-timer
2
Page 43
When setting up the camera, make sure the subject will
fall within the focus frames. Focus lock cannot be used
with the IR remote control. Focus area selection (p.52)
and manual focus (p.65) can be used.
Point the emitter window of the remote control unit toward
the camera and press the release button or the delay button to take the picture.
43
The IR Remote Control RC-3 allows remote camera operation up to 5m (16 ft.) away.The remote
control unit can also be used in movie and audio recording (p.79). The remote control may not operate with backlit subjects or under fluorescent light.
Place the camera on a tripod, and set the drive mode to self-timer / remote control
(p.38, 56). Arrange the camera and subject to compose the picture.
Remote control (sold separately)
1
When the release button is pressed, the self-timer lamp on the
front of the camera (1) will blink once before the picture is taken.
When the delay button is pressed, the self-timer lamp will blink
for two seconds before the picture is taken.
Emitter window
Delay button
Release button
Page 44
44
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
The continuous-advance drive mode allows a series of images to be captured while holding down the
shutter-release button. Continuous advance acts like a motor drive on a film camera.The number of
images that can be captured at one time and the rate of capture depend on the image-quality and
image-size setting.The maximum rate of capture is 1.2 fps with the shutter FX on (p. 101), or 1.5 fps
with it off. Date imprinting lowers the frame rate.The continuous-advance mode is set on the autorecording mode menu and in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p.56).
When the shutter-release button is pressed and held, the camera will begin recording
images until the maximum number has been taken or the shutter button is released.
Super-fine images (p.48) cannot be captured. The built-in flash can be used, but the
rate of capture is reduced because the flash must recharge between frames.
Compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 26).
Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock onto the
subject and set the exposure for the series.Press and hold the
shutter-release button all the way down (1) to begin taking pictures; focus is locked with the first frame.
The following chart lists the maximum number of images that can
be captured with different image-quality and image-size combinations.
Economy
Standard
Fine
2560 X 1920 2048 X 1563 1600 X 1200 640 X 480
5
10
20
8
16
30
13
25
45
64
101
142
Continuous advance
1
Quality
Size
Page 45
UHS continuous-advance mode allows up to eleven 1280 X 960 images to be captured in one second.The UHS continuous-advance mode is set on the auto-recording mode menu and in the basic
section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p.56).
This mode cannot be used with super-fine image quality, flash illumination, the digital zoom, or Digital
Subject Programs.Shutter speeds slower than 1/30th of a second cannot be used. If the red low-battery warning (p. 16) appears, power is insufficient for UHS drive operation and the shutter cannot be
released.
When the shutter-release button is pressed and held, the camera will begin recording images until the eleven frames have
been taken or the shutter button is released.Very bright light
sources in the image may cause streaking. A recorded image
may show black areas caused by a loss of data.
Compose the picture as described in the basic recording section (p.26). Press the shutter-release button partway down (1)
to lock the exposure and focus for the series. Press and hold
the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to begin taking
pictures.The last frame in the series is briefly displayed before
the images are saved.
45
UHS continuous advance
1
2
Page 46
This mode makes a three-image bracket of a scene. Bracketing is a method of taking a series of
images of a static subject in which each image has a slight variation in exposure.The bracketing
mode is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p.38) or in the basic section of the multi-function
recording mode menu (p.56). Brackets cannot be made with super-fine images (p.48).
The order of the bracket series is normal exposure, underexposure, and overexposure.The exposure
bracket can be made in 0.3, 0.5, or 1.0 Ev increments (p. 75). The larger the number, the greater the
difference in exposure between the images in the bracketed series.
46
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Bracketing
select enter
After the bracketing drive mode has been selected on
the menu, a screen to choose the bracketing step will
be displayed.Use the left and right keys of the controller (1) to select the bracketing increment.Press
the central button of the controller (2) to set the
value.To change the increment, select the bracketing
drive mode again from the menu.
1
2
0.3 Ev
bracket
0.5 Ev
bracket
1.0 Ev
bracket
Normal
Under
Over
Page 47
47
Compose the picture as described in the basic
recording operation section (p.26). Press the
shutter-release button partway down (1) to
lock onto the subject and set the exposure for
the series. Press and hold the shutter-release
button all the way down (2) to make the bracket series; three consecutive images will be
captured. Focus is locked with the first frame.
1
Number of frames in
bracketing series
Frame counter
2
The remaining number of frames in the bracket series is displayed on the monitor next to the bracketing icon. If the memory is filled or the shutter button is released before the series has completed, the
camera will reset and the entire bracket must be made again.If the red low-battery indicator appears,
the bracketing drive mode is disabled.The flash cannot be used with the bracketing drive mode.
When using exposure compensation (p.51), the bracketing series will be made in relation to the
compensated exposure.Under extreme conditions, one of the bracketed exposures may be inaccurate because it is outside the exposure control range of the camera.
Page 48
Changing image size affects the number of
pixels in each image.The greater the image
size, the larger the file size.Choose image
size based on the final use of the image smaller images will be more suitable for web
sites whereas larger sizes will produce higher quality prints.
Image quality controls the rate of compression, but has no effect on the number of pixels in the
image.The higher the image quality, the lower the rate of compression and the larger the file sizes. If
economical use of the memory card is important, use the economy mode. Standard image quality is
sufficient for normal usage.The super-fine mode will produce the highest quality image and the
largest image files. A status bar is displayed when large images are saved.
48
A
UTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Data panel LCD monitor
2560
2048
1600
640
Number of pixels
(hor.X ver t.)
2560 X 1920
2048 X 1536
1600 X 1200
640 X 480
Image size and image quality
Data panel
S. FIN
LCD monitor File type
TIFF
JPEG
JPEG
JPEG
File formats vary with the image quality setting. Super fine images are saved as a TIFF file.The fine,
standard, and economy settings are formatted as a JPEG file. Super fine, fine, standard, and economy files can be recorded as color or monochrome images (p. 68) in the multi-function recording
mode.
Image size and quality must be set before the picture is taken.Changes are displayed on the data
panel and LCD monitor.Image size and quality must be reset manually.See navigating the autorecording mode menu section on page 38. In multi-function recording mode, image size and quality
are controlled in the basic section of the multi-function recording menu (p.56).
Economy - the smallest file sizes.
Super fine - the highest quality image.
Fine - high-quality image.
Standard - the default setting.
FINE
STD.
ECON.
Page 49
49
Super fine
Fine
Standard
Economy
11214
591469
11 17 27 100
22 32 47 150
Approximate number of images that can be stored on a 16MB memory card.
Quality
Size
2560 X 1920 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 640 X 480
Super fine
Fine
Standard
Economy
15MB 9.5MB 6.0MB 1.0MB
2.5MB 1.6MB 1.0MB 200KB
1.3MB 850KB 550KB 150KB
650KB 450KB 300KB 100KB
Approximate file sizes.
If image size or quality are changed, the frame counter will display the approximate number of
images that can be recorded at that setting on the installed memory card. One memor y card can
contain images with differing sizes and qualities.The number of images that can be stored on a
memory card is determined by the size of the card and the file size of the images.The actual file size
is determined by the scene; some subjects can be compressed fur ther than others.
The frame counter indicates the approximate number of images that can be stored on the memory card at the camera’s image quality and size settings.If the settings are changed, the frame
counter adjusts accordingly. Because the counter uses approximate file sizes, the actual image
taken may not change the counter or may decrease it by more than one.When the frame
counter displays zero, it indicates no more images at the image size and quality settings can be
captured. Changing those settings may allow more images to be saved to the card.
Camera Notes
Page 50
50
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UTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Date imprinting
Every time a still image is recorded, it is stored with an exif tag that contains the date and time
of recording as well as shooting information.This information can be viewed with the camera in
the Quick View or playback mode, or on a computer with the DiMAGE Viewer software.
Camera Notes
The date is imprinted in the lower right corner of
the image when viewed horizontally.It is pr inted
directly on the photograph writing over the image
information.The date can be imprinted in three formats: year/month/day, month/day/year, and
day/month/year.The date and date format are set
in the custom 2 section of the setup-mode menu
(p.96).
The date of recording can be printed directly on the image.The imprinting function must be activated
before the image is taken.Once activated, the date will continue to be imprinted until the function is
reset; a yellow bar is displayed behind the frame counter on the monitor to indicate the imprinting function is active. Date imprinting is activated with auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) and with the custom 2
section of the multi-function recording menu (p.56).
Date-imprinting indicator
Page 51
51
The camera exposure can be adjusted to make the final picture lighter or darker by as much as ±2Ev
in 1/3 increments. For information on the use of exposure compensation, see page 74.In autorecording mode, exposure compensation is reset when the mode dial is moved to another position. In
multi-function recording mode exposure compensation will remain in effect until it has been reset.
Exposure compensation must be set before the image is captured.When making adjustments to
exposure, the amount of compensation is shown next to the exposure-compensation indicator on the
monitor.After the setting is made, the shutter-speed and aper ture displays will indicate the actual
exposure.Because the exposure can be adjusted in fine steps, the shutter speed or aperture value
displayed may not change.When set to any value other than 0.0, the exposure-compensation indicator will remain on the data panel and LCD monitor as a warning.
To adjust the exposure, press the exposure-compensation button (1).The exposure-compensation
screen will appear.
Exposure compensation
select
enter
Use the left/right keys of
the controller (2) to adjust
the exposure-compensation
value. Changes to exposure are visible in the live
image.
Press the central button of
the controller or the exposure-compensation button
to set the adjustment.
1
2
Page 52
Press the shutter-release button partway down
(3) or press the central button of the controller
(4) to select the area; the other four areas will
disappear.Focus and exposure are locked when
the shutter-release button is pressed partway
down. Press the shutter-release button all the way down to
take the picture.
Once a focus area is selected, it will remain active even after
the picture has been taken. Only when a focus area has been
selected, can the controller be used to operate the zoom.
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Individual focus areas can be selected. Press and hold the central button of the controller (1) until the Area-AF frame lines change to the spot-focus-area display. Press
and hold the controller again to return to the Area-AF frame lines.
Focus area selection
1
Use the four-way key of the controller (2) to highlight the
desired autofocus area; the active area is blue.
2
4
Press and hold the central button of the controller about one second to return to the
Area AF focus frames.To use another focus area, repeat the procedure.
3
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53
The focus-lock function prevents the AF system from focusing.Focus lock can be used with off-center subjects or when a special focusing situation prevents the camera from focusing (p.27).
When using single-shot AF with Area AF in the multi-function
recording mode, place the subject in the focus frames and press
the shutter-release button partway down.The focus frames will
disappear and a red AF sensor will indicate the point of focus.
Without lifting your finger from the shutter-release button, recompose the subject within the image area. Press the shutter-release
button all the way down to take the picture.
The focus signal in the lower right corner of the LCD monitor and
the green focus lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status.
Focus lock
Focus locked.
Focus icon: white
Focus lamp: steady
Focus icon: red
Focus lamp: blinking
Cannot focus.The subject is too close or a special situation is preventing the AF system from focusing.
When using focus area selection, place the active focus area on
the subject. Press and hold the shutter-release button partway
down; the active focus area will turn red and the other areas will
disappear.The focus signal should turn white to indicate the focus
is locked.
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MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING –
ADVANCED OPERATION
Except for digital subject programs, the basic operation of the camera in multi-function recording
mode is identical to the auto-recording mode.Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the previous sections before moving on.
The multi-function recording mode allows greater control over image making.This recording mode
gives more control over autofocus and composition.The menu controls are extensive allowing critical
adjustments to image qualities such as sharpness, contrast, and color saturation.
In the center of the Sakai plant in Japan is Okina bridge.
In the 15th century, Sakai was a very prosperous free
city, and Okina bridge spanned the moat at one of the
entrances into the walled town.For centuries, this bridge
carried pilgrims on their way to two of Japan’s sacred
places: the mountain monastery of Koyasan and the
great Shinto shrine, Kumano Taisha.
The bridge in the courtyard dates from 1855. In 1968,
Minolta offered to remove and preserve the bridge when
the city government announced they would fill in the
moat for a planned highway. The bridge now spans a
specially constructed goldfish pond.The wr iting on the
stone bollard at the front of the bridge prohibits vehicles
from crossing.
Minolta history
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55
d. Flash-mode indicator (p.32)
h. White-balance indicator (p.62)
n. Camera-sensitivity (ISO) display (p. 67)
k. Metering-mode indicator (p. 66)
m.Camera-shake warning (p. 33)
j. Shutter-speed display
l. Aper ture display
o. Focus signal (p.27, 53)
s. Digital-zoom display (p. 40)
r. Drive-mode indicator (p. 41)
p. Date-imprinting indicator (p. 50)
q. Frame counter (p. 13, 49)
v. Color-mode display (p.68)
u. Image-size display (p. 48)
t. Image-quality indicator (p. 48)
c. Mode indicator
1. Focus frame
2. Spot metering area (p. 66)
3. Spot focus areas (p. 52)
i. Exposure-mode indicator (p. 58)
f. Sharpness, contrast, and color-
saturation compensation displays (p. 68)
a. Digital-subject-program indicator (p.29)
b. Microphone indicator
g. Exposure-compensation display (p. 51)
e. Flash-compensation display (p.66)
Multi-function recording mode display
Page 56
Basic Custom1 Custom2
ExposureMode
Drive mode
Image size
Quality Standard
2560 X 1920
Single
Program
WhiteBalance Auto
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Press the central button of the
controller to select the highlighted
setting.
Activate the recording-mode menu with the menu button.The basic tab at the top of the
menu will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the controller to highlight the
appropriate menu tab; the menu will change as the tabs are highlighted.
In the multi-function recording mode, the menu button (1) turns the menu on and off.The left/right
and up/down keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central
button of the controller will enter a setting.
When the desired menu section is displayed, use the up/down keys to scroll through the
menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed.
With the menu option to be changed highlighted, press the right controller key; the
settings will be displayed with the current setting highlighted.To return to the menu
options, press the left key.
Use the up/down keys to highlight
the new setting.
Navigating the multi-function recording mode menu
Once a setting has been
selected, the cursor will
return to the menu options
and the new setting will be
displayed.To return to the
recording mode, press the
menu button. Changes made
to image size, image quality,
digital zoom, and date
imprinting will affect the autorecording mode.
1
2
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57
Refer to the auto-recording mode section
for details on drive modes (p. 41), image
size (p.48), image quality (p. 48), date
imprinting (p. 50), and digital zoom (p.
40).
Exposure mode Program
Aperture priority
Shutter priority
Manual
2560 X 1920
2048 X 1536
1600 X 1200
640 X 480
Super fine
Fine
Standard
Economy
Cust.set
Auto
Drive mode
Image size
Quality
White balance
Basic
Focus mode AF-single
Tracking AF
MF
On / Off
±2.0
Multi-segment
Spot
64 - 400 ISO
Auto
Full-time AF
Flash compensation
Metering mode
CameraSensitivity
Custom 1
Digi FX ctrl Color mode
Voice memo
Date imprinting
Digital zoom
Instant playback
Custom 2
Single
Continuous
Self-timer
Bracketing
Sharpness
Contrast
CustRecall
Preset
Use the left/right keys
to select the setting
and the central button
to enter the setting.
select enter
UHS cont.
Center weighted
On / Off
On / Off
On / Off
10 sec.
2 sec.
Off
Saturation
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The photographer selects the aperture and the camera sets the appropriate shutter speed to ensure the correct exposure.When aperture pr iority
is selected, the aperture value on the monitor turns blue and a double
arrow icon appears next to it.If the LCD monitor is tur ned off, the aperture value is fixed at the last setting and cannot be changed.The flash
mode is set to flash cancel. Fill-flash and fill-flash with red-eye reduction
can be selected (p.32).
The program exposure mode controls both the shutter speed and aperture to ensure perfect exposures.The sophisticated exposure system allows the photographer the freedom to shoot without having to worry about the technical details of exposure settings.The shutter speed and aperture values
of the exposure are displayed on the monitor.If shutter speed and aperture displays turn red, the
scene is beyond the exposure control range of the camera.This exposure mode is also used in the
auto-recording mode, but the exposure-mode indicator is not displayed.
Aperture prior ity - A
Exposure modes
Programmed AE - P
1
Use the left/right keys of the
controller (1) to set the aperture.The aper ture value can be
changed in half stop increments. Press the shutterrelease button to activate the
exposure system; the corresponding shutter speed will be
displayed on the monitor.
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59
The photographer selects the shutter speed and the camera sets the
appropriate aperture to ensure correct exposure. When shutter priority is
selected, the shutter speed on the monitor turns blue and a double arrow
icon appears next to it. If the LCD monitor is turned off, the shutter speed
is fixed at the last setting and cannot be changed.The flash mode is set
to flash cancel. Fill-flash and fill-flash with red-eye reduction can be selected (p.32).
Shutter priority - S
Because the maximum aperture is not the same at the wide-angle and telephoto position, as the lens
is zoomed, the aperture will automatically shift. If the aper ture value is beyond the shutter-speed
range, the shutter-speed display will turn red on the monitor.
1
Use the left/right keys of the
controller (1) to set the shutter
speed. Press the shutterrelease button to activate the
exposure system; the corresponding aperture will be displayed on the monitor.
The shutter speed can be set between 1/1000 and 15 seconds. If the shutter speed is beyond the
aperture range, the aperture display will turn red on the monitor.
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Manual exposure - M
Press the exposure-compensation button
(1) to select the aperture or shutter
speed; the active display will turn blue.
Use the left/right keys of the controller
(2) to change the exposure setting.
Manual exposure mode allows individual selection of shutter speeds
and apertures. This mode overrides the exposure system giving the
photographer total control over the final exposure.
The changes made to the exposure will be visible in the live image on the monitor.The monitor shutter-speed and aperture display will turn red if the image is underexposed or overexposed by more
than 3 Ev.If the monitor is black, increase the exposure until the image is visible;decrease the exposure if the monitor is white. If the LCD monitor is turned off, the exposure is fixed at the last setting
and cannot be changed.When the shutter-release button is pressed par tway down, the brightness of
the live image may change while the camera focuses.
In manual exposure mode, the auto camera-sensitivity setting will fix the ISO value at 100.The camera sensitivity can be changed in the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording menu (p.56).
The flash mode is set to flash cancel. Fill-flash and fill-flash with red-eye reduction can be selected
(p.32), but the live image will not reflect the flash exposure.
1
2
Page 61
To take the picture, press and hold the shutter-release button (3) for the duration of the exposure.
The monitors will be blank during the exposure.Releasing the shutter button will end the exposure.
The optional remote control RC-3 can be used to eliminate the risk
of camera shake.Set the dr ive mode to self-timer / remote control
in the basic section of the multi-function mode menu (p.56). While
pointing the remote control toward the front of the camera, press
and release either button to begin the exposure;the delay button
begins the exposure after two seconds.Press either button again
to end it.
Bulb photographs can be taken in the manual-exposure mode.
Exposures up to fifteen seconds can be made. A tripod is recommended for bulb exposures.The camera’s exposure system cannot
be used to calculate bulb exposures.The use of a separate light
meter is recommended.
61
2
1
3
Bulb exposures
Emitter window
Delay button
Release button
Use the left key of the controller (1) to
decrease the shutter-speed value below 15
seconds until “bulb” is displayed.
To set the aperture value, press the exposurecompensation button (2); the aperture display
will turn blue. Use the left/right keys of the
controller (1) to set the aperture. Noise reduction processing will be applied to the image
after the exposure.Noise reduction can be
canceled in the custom 2 section of the setup
menu (p.96).
Page 62
Preset white-balance settings must be set before the image is taken.Once set, the effect is immediately visible on the LCD monitor.
The built-in flash can be used with preset
white-balance settings, but will create a pinkish or blueish cast with the fluorescent and
tungsten settings.The flash is daylight balanced and will produce acceptable results
with the daylight and cloudy settings.
To apply a preset white-balance setting,
select preset from the white balance option in
the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu; the preset setting screen will
open.
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Automatic White Balance
Preset White Balance
The automatic white balance compensates for the color temperature of a scene.In most cases, the
auto setting will balance the ambient light and create beautiful images, even under mixed-lighting
conditions.When the built-in flash is used, the white balance is set for the color temperature of the
flash.
Fluorescent - for fluorescent lighting: office
ceiling lights.
Tungsten - for incandescent lighting:
household filament light bulbs.
Daylight - for outdoor and sunlit
subjects.
Cloudy - for overcast outdoor scenes.
White balance is the camera’s ability to make different types of lighting appear neutral.The effect is
similar to selecting daylight or tungsten film, or using color compensating filters in conventional photography.An indicator will be displayed on the monitor if a setting other than auto white-balance is
chosen.White balance is set in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56).
White balance
Page 63
Custom white-balance allows a photographer to calibrate the camera to a specific lighting
condition.The setting can be used repeatedly until reset. Custom white balance is espe-
cially useful with mixed-lighting conditions or when critical control over color is needed.
The object used to make a calibration must be neutral.A blank piece of white paper is an ideal surface and can easily be carried in a camera bag.
To calibrate the camera, select custom set from the white balance option in the basic section of the
multi-function recording mode menu; the custom white-balance calibration screen will open.
Fill the image area with a white object; the object does not need to be in focus. Press the central button of the controller to make the calibration or press the menu button
to cancel the routine.The live view will show the effect of the new
white balance setting.
The custom setting will remain in effect until another calibration is
made or the white-balance setting is changed. If the custom whitebalance setting is required again, select custom recall from the
white-balance option of the menu; the last custom white-balance
setting will be applied to the camera.The same custom white-balance setting is made and accessed from both the multi-function
recording mode and the movie mode.
63
Custom White Balance
M
Custom WB set
Enter
select
enter
2
1
Use the left/right keys of the controller (1) to select the preset setting, an indicator is displayed in the bottom left corner of the screen and the live image shows the effect of the
white-balance setting. Press the central button of the controller (2) to apply the setting.
Calibration screen
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This camera has autofocus and manual focus control.The focus mode is set in the custom 1 section
of the multi-function recording mode menu (p.56).
Autofocus will produce excellent results in almost every situation, however, under certain conditions,
the autofocus system will not work accurately; see special focusing situations on page 27. In these
situations the camera can be manually focused.
Focus modes
Single-shot AF
Subject Tracking AF
Single-shot AF focuses on the subject and locks the focus position.This focus mode is ideal for static
subjects. Because the focus is locked when the shutter-release button is pressed partway down, single-shot AF can be used when the subject is outside the focus frames, or when a special focusing
situation is preventing the autofocus system from focusing. For more on focus lock, see page 53.
Focus Area Selection (p.52) and the self-timer/remote control drive mode (p. 42) use single-shot AF.
Place the subject within the Area-AF focus frames and press the shutterrelease button partway down; Subject Tracking AF will lock onto the subject
and follow the subject’s movement in three-dimensional space through the
focus area; the AF sensors are displayed to indicate the subject.Subject
Tracking AF will not work with fast moving subjects.This is the primar y
focus mode in the auto-recording mode.
Subject Tracking AF will automatically switch to single-shot AF under very
low lighting conditions. Single-shot AF is used with Focus Area Selection (p.
52), the self-time/remote control drive mode (p.44), and the digital zoom, or
when the monitor is turned off (p. 31).
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65
Press the controller to switch between focus and zoom
(1).The active function is highlighted in blue (2).
Use the up/down keys of the controller to
zoom or focus.When focusing, the monitor
image is automatically magnified by a maximum of 2.5X depending on the digital zoom
setting.The live image returns to nor mal
after two seconds, when zooming, or when
the shutter-release button is pressed partway down.
Manual focus
After setting the camera to the manual focus mode (MF), “ZOOM”and “FOCUS” will appear at the
top of the LCD monitor.Press the central button of the controller to switch between the two functions;
the function highlighted in blue is active.With “FOCUS” highlighted, use the up/down keys of the controller to focus; the monitor image is automatically magnified so that image sharpness can be judged.
Manual focus is disabled when the monitor is turned off; the controller function will automatically
switch to the zoom.
1
Full-time AF
With full-time AF active, the autofocus systems continually focuses to keep the monitor image sharp.
This also reduces the autofocusing time when taking pictures.Full-time AF can be activated in the
custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p.56).
When the monitor is turned off or when the camera is set to manual focus, full-time AF is disabled.
Turning the full-time AF function off can help conserve battery power.Full-time AF is always used
with the macro subject program as well as the sports action subject program in the auto-recording
mode (p.29).
Focusing scale
shows approximate distance.
2
Page 66
Center weighted: a traditional metering method in film cameras.The system measures light
values over the entire image area with emphasis given the central region.
Spot metering: uses a small area within the image to calculate the exposure.When this mode is selected, the LCD
monitor will automatically activate if off and a small circle
will appear in the middle of the live image indicating the measuring
area.The spot allows precise exposure measurements of a particular object without being influenced by extremely bright or dark
areas within the scene. If the LCD monitor is turned off, the spotmetering mode will remain active.
Multi-segment metering: uses 256 segments to measure luminance and color.This data is
combined with distance information to calculate the camera exposure.This advanced meter-
ing system will give accurate worry-free exposures in almost all situations.
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The icons indicating the metering modes are displayed on the monitor.The meter ing mode is set in
the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p.56).
Metering modes
Flash compensation
Flash compensation increases or decreases the flash exposure in
reference to the ambient exposure by as much as 2 Ev.For information on the use of flash compensation, see page 74.
Select the flash compensation option on the custom 1 section of
the multi-function recording mode menu. Use the up/down keys to
adjust the degree of compensation (1). Press the central controller
button to set this value (2).If any value other than 0.0 is set, an
icon will be displayed on the monitor and data panel as a warning.
Full-time AF
Flash comp.
Metering mode
+1.3
Basic Custom 1 Custom 2
Focus mode
– 2 ~ + 2
Sensitivity
1
2
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67
ISO setting
AUTO
64
0.5m ~ 3.4m (1.6 ft. ~ 11.1 ft.)
Flash range (telephoto)
0.5m ~ 2.0m (1.6 ft. ~ 6.6 ft.)
0.5m ~ 1.9m (1.6 ft. ~ 6.2 ft.) 0.5m ~ 1.1m (1.6 ft. ~ 3.6 ft.)
The flash range is measured from the CCD.Because of the optical system, the flash range is not the
same at the lens’ wide-angle position as it is at the telephoto position.
Camera sensitivity - ISO
Flash range and camera sensitivity
Five camera sensitivity settings can be selected: Auto, 64, 100, 200, and 400;the numerical values
are based on an ISO equivalent. ISO is the standard used to indicate film sensitivity: the higher the
number, the more sensitive the film. Camera sensitivity is set in the custom 1 section of the multifunction recording mode menu (p.56).
The auto setting automatically adjusts the camera sensitivity to the light conditions between ISO 64
and 200.When any other setting than auto is used, “ISO” will appear on the data panel, and “ISO”
and the set value will be displayed on the monitor.
A specific sensitivity setting can be selected. As the ISO value doubles, the camera sensitivity doubles. Like grain in silver-halide film that increases with speed, noise increases with sensitivity in digital imaging; an ISO setting of 64 will have the least noise and 400 will have the most noise.An ISO
setting of 400 may allow the camera to be hand-held in low-light conditions without the need of a
flash.The affect of noise with exposures of one second or longer is reduced by the noise-reduction
function in the custom 2 section of the setup menu (p.96).
100
200
400
0.5m ~ 2.4m (1.6 ft. ~ 7.9 ft.)
0.5m ~ 3.4m (1.6 ft. ~ 11.1 ft.)
0.5m ~ 4.8m (1.6 ft. ~ 15.7 ft.)
0.5m ~ 1.4m (1.6 ft. ~ 4.6 ft.)
0.5m ~ 2.0m (1.6 ft. ~ 6.6 ft.)
0.5m ~ 2.8m (1.6 ft. ~ 9.2 ft.)
Flash range (wide angle)
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Changes in color, sharpness, contrast, and saturation can be made using the custom 2 section of the
multi-function recording mode menu (p.56). These imaging controls give photographers the ability to
maximize the image information at the scene.For example, if a scene is too contrasty, information
can be lost in the shadows and highlights; decreasing the contrast will bring out more detail.
Any changes made with these functions are
applied to the live image on the monitor.The color
mode, sharpness, contrast, and color saturation
levels must be set before the image is recorded.
These functions can be used individually or in combination.Turning the camera off will not reset these
functions; they must be manually reset using the
menu.
Color saturation - to accent or subdue the color of a scene in three levels:high (+), normal, and low (–).
Contrast - to increase or decrease the contrast of the scene in three levels:high (+), normal, and low (–).
Sharpness - to accent or soften details in an image in three levels:hard (+), nor mal, and
soft (–).
Color mode - to select between Natural Color, Vivid Color, and black and white images.
Vivid Color has increased saturation.
High
contrast scene
After compensation (–)
Digital Effects Control
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69
The setting will remain in effect until it is changed. If sharpness, contrast, or color saturation is set to
any setting other than normal, an indicator will be displayed indicating an increase (+) or decrease
(–) in the quality selected. If the Vivid Color or black and white is selected, an indicator indicating the
color mode will be displayed at the top of the monitor.
Unlike the display on a computer, changes made with sharpness, contrast, and color saturation may
be difficult to see on the LCD monitor.However, when viewed with imaging software, the changes will
be evident.
select
enter
2
1
Use the left/right keys of the controller (1) to select
the color mode, or level of sharpness, contrast, or saturation; an indicator is displayed on the screen and
the live image shows the effect of each setting.Press
the central button of the controller (2) to apply the setting.
To change color, sharpness, contrast, or saturation, select the setting from the Digital Effects Control
option in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu; the setting screen will
open.
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Voice memo allows a fifteen second audio track to be recorded with a still image. The function is activated in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56).When the function is
active, the microphone indicator is displayed on the data panel and LCD monitor.Voice memo must
be set before taking a picture.It will remain in effect until reset.
After an image is captured, a screen will
appear indicating the audio recording has
started. A bar graph (1) will display the
amount of recorded time remaining.The
recording will automatically stop when the
set time has elapsed.To stop the recording before the total time has elapsed,
press the central button of the controller
(2).
When used with the continuous-advance
or bracketing drive modes (p. 41) the audio
file is attached to the last frame of the
series.The voice memo can be played
back in Quick View or the playback mode
(p.80). Images with voice-memo audio
tracks have the audio-track indicator displayed with them.
When making audio recordings, be careful not to touch or cover the microphone.The quality of
the recording is proportional to the subject to microphone distance. For best results, hold the
camera approximately 20cm (8in) from your mouth.
Recording Tips
Recording audio
:stop
Auto
1
2
Voice memo
Microphone
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An image can be displayed on the monitor after it is captured.When used with the continuousadvance or bracketing drive modes (p. 41), thumbnails of the last six images in the series will be displayed.Only the last frame in a series is displayed with UHS continuous advance or when using date
imprinting.
Instant playback is activated in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p.56). A
playback period of two or ten seconds can be selected.When used with voice memo, the audio
recording will begin after the image is played back.
Instant playback
Single still images can be previewed immediately after being captured without instant playback
active.Simply continue to hold the shutter-release button down after taking the picture to display
the image. Release the shutter button to end the playback.
Camera Notes
To cancel the playback and save the image before the end of the playback period,
press the shutter-release button partway down.
Page 72
Photography can be a rewarding pursuit. It is a broad and disciplined field that can take years to
master.But the pleasure in making photographs and the joy of capturing a magical moment cannot
be compared.This guide is an introduction to some basic photographic principles.
The lens aperture controls not only exposure, but also depth of field; the area between the closest
and the furthest object in focus.The larger the aper ture value, the greater the depth of field and the
longer the shutter speed needed to make the exposure.The smaller the aperture value, the shallower
the depth of field and the faster the shutter speed needed to make the exposure. Usually landscape
photographs use a large depth of field (large aperture value) to keep the foreground and background
in focus, and portraits use a shallow
depth of field (small aperture value) to
separate the subject from the background.
Depth of field also changes with focal
length.The wide-angle position of the lens
has a large depth of field; the telephoto
position has a shallow depth of field.
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A SHORT GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPHY
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73
The shutter controls not only exposure, but
also the ability to stop motion. Fast shutter
speeds are used in sport photography to stop
action. Slow shutter speeds can be used to
show the flow of motion such as water cascading over a waterfall.The use of a tr ipod is
recommended with slow shutter speeds.
The change in aperture and shutter speed is not apparent in the live image. Unlike film cameras, test
photographs can be taken and immediately viewed.For critical work, take a test photograph at the
set aperture or shutter speed and view the result in Quick View.The image can be deleted if not
acceptable and another test image can be taken at a different setting.
Page 74
Sometimes the camera’s exposure meter is deceived by certain conditions.Exposure compensation can compensate for these situations.
For example, a very bright scene, such as a snowy landscape or a
white sandy beach, can appear too dark in the captured image.
Before taking the picture, adjusting the exposure by +1 or +2 EV will
result in an image with normal tonal values.
In this example, the dark scene appears bright and washed-out on
the LCD monitor.By decreasing the exposure by –1.5 EV, the richness of the sunset is preserved.
Flash compensation changes the ratio between the ambient and flash
exposures.For example, when using the fill-flash to reduce harsh shadows on the subject caused by
bright illumination or direct sunlight, flash compensation can change the ratio between the highlights
and shadows.The fill-flash will affect the darkness of the shadows without affecting the area illuminated by the main light source.By decreasing the flash output with a negative Ev setting, the shadows will receive less light and be deeper, but will bring out shadow details that would be lost without
the flash. Increasing the flash output by using a positive Ev setting will soften and can even nearly
eliminate shadows.
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Positive compensation
No compensation
Negative compensation
Using exposure and flash compensation
Page 75
What is an Ev? What is a stop?
Ev stands for exposure value.The ter m stop comes from the name of aper ture plates used in ear ly
lenses. A change of one Ev or one stop will adjust the exposure calculated by the camera by a factor
of two.
Change in Ev Change in stops Adjustment to exposure
+2.0 Ev
+1.0 Ev
0.0 Ev
–1.0 Ev
–2.0 Ev
+2 stops
+1 stop
Calculated exposure
–1 stop
–2 stops
4X as much light
2X as much light
1/2 as much light
1/4 as much light
Exposure latitude
How much the exposure can be adjusted using
exposure compensation or manual exposure
before there is a loss of image quality depends
on subject contrast. High-contrast subjects have
High-contrast subject
Low-contrast subject
a great range of tones, deep shadows and brilliant highlights, whereas low-contrast subjects
have a limited tonal range,such as a landscape
on an overcast day.
High-contrast subjects have a much narrower
exposure latitude before the shadows block up
from underexposure or the highlights washout
from overexposure.To ensure the best possible
exposure for a subject, brackets (p.46) can be
made. Some scenes are beyond the contrast
range of the CCD.In those situations, expose for
the main subject of the image.
Decreasing exposure
Increasing exposure
75
Page 76
This camera can record digital video with sound.Total recording time varies with the image size.See the navigating the
movie menu section on page 78. In movie recording, some
functions can be used, some are fixed, and some are disabled.
See the notes section on page 79.
Before recording, the data-panel and monitor frame counters
will show the maximum time in seconds that can be recorded
on the next movie clip.
76
M
OVIE AND AUDIO RECORDING
MOVIE AND AUDIO RECORDING
1
Recording time
Shooting digital video is simple. Set the main dial to movie
recording (1). Frame the picture as described in the basic
recording operation section (p.26). Press the shutter-release
button partway down to lock the focus (2).Press the shutterrelease button all the way down and release to start recording.
Recording indicatorCountdown in seconds
Recording movies
During recording, the focus is fixed, but a stepless 4X digital
zoom is available.The camera will continue to record until the
recording time is used or the shutter-release button is pressed
again.When recording, the data panel and monitor frame
counters will count down the remaining time.
2
Image size
Page 77
77
Recording audio
Audio can be recorded without an image.
About 30 minutes of audio can be stored on a
16MB memory card. Audio is recorded at
approximately 8KB/s.A maximum of 180 minutes can be recorded at one time; the optional
AC adapter is required for long recordings.
Recording audio.
Press shutter to stop.
Press shutter button to record.
1
2
Remaining recording time
Recording countdown
To begin recording, press and release the shutter button (2). A
bar graph (3) and the frame counter will display the amount of
recorded time.The recording will stop when the shutter-release
button is pressed again or the remaining time has elapsed.
When making audio recordings, be careful not to touch or cover
the microphone.The quality of the recording is propor tional to
the subject to microphone distance. For best results, hold the
camera approximately 20cm (8in) from your mouth.
Microphone
Turn the mode dial to the audio-recording position (1); a blue
screen is displayed.In stand-by, the monitor and data panel
show the approximate recording time available. Above the data
panel frame counter, the unit of the remaining time is displayed:
M - minute, S - second.
3
When turning the camera on, the lens can be prevented from extending.Press and hold the down
the central key of the rear controller when turning the mode dial from off to the audio recording
position.
Camera Notes
Page 78
Image size not only affects the resolution of the movie
image, but also changes the maximum length of the
movie clip.The maximum recording time for a 320 X 240
size movie is 3 minutes at approximately 340 KB/sec, and
20 minutes at approximately 85 KB/sec for a 160 X 120
movie. A 16 MB memory card can contain approximately
42 seconds of digital video recorded at 320 X 240 or 170
second at 160 X 120.
See page 62 for information on white balance.
The movie mode option selects the type of movie recorded. Standard produces a normal movie clip.
Night Movie uses high camera sensitivity to record under low light levels. Image quality is lower with
Night Movies because of the higher sensitivity.
78
M
OVIE AND AUDIO RECORDING
Once a setting is made, the cursor returns to the menu options and the new setting is displayed.To
return to the movie mode, press the menu button.
Use the up/down keys to highlight the option whose setting
needs to be changed.
Press the right controller key to display the settings;the
current setting is indicated by an arrow.To return to the
menu options, press the left key.
Use the up/down keys to highlight the new setting.
Press the central button of the controller to select the highlighted setting.
With the mode dial set to the movie recording position,
press the menu button to active the menu.
Navigating the movie menu
Basic
Image size
WhiteBalance
Movie mode Standard
Auto
320 X 240
320 X 240
160 X 120
Night movie
STD.movie
Cust set
Auto
Image size
Movie mode
White balance
CustRecall
Preset
Basic
Page 79
In movie recording, some functions can be used, some are fixed, and some are disabled, see chart.
Image size, white balance, and movie mode can be selected with the movie menu.
When the red low-battery
indicator appears (p.16),
power is insufficient for movie
recording.The writing speed
of the memory card in use
may prevent an entire movie
clip from being recorded.
The RC-3 remote control (sold separately) can be used to record movie clips and audio tracks (p. 77)
from up to 5m (16ft) away. Simply point the remote control toward the camera and use the release or
delay button to start and stop the recording.
When the release or delay button is pressed, the
self-timer lamp will blink before the camera starts
to record; there is a two second delay when the
delay button is used before the lamp glows to indicate recording. Both buttons will stop the recording when pressed.The remote control may not
operate with backlit subjects or under fluorescent
light.
79
Remote movie and audio recording with the RC-3
Single-shot AF (fixed)
Area AF focus frames (fixed)
Program (fixed)
Auto (fixed)
Focus mode
Autofocus area
Exposure mode
Camera sensitivity
–
–
–
–
Notes on movie recording
4X (fixed)Digital zoom –
DisabledFlash –
Available (p. 51)Exposure compensation –
Emitter window
Delay button
Release button
DisabledDigital subject programs –
Multi-segment (fixed)Metering mode –
Page 80
80
P
LAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
When turning the camera on, the lens can be prevented from extending.Press and hold the
down the central key of the rear controller when turning the mode dial from off to the playback
position.
Camera Notes
Playing back voice memos and audio captions
Voice memos (p. 70) and audio captions (p. 87) can be played back in Quick View and
the playback mode.When one of these audio tracks is attached to a still image, the
audio-track indicator will be displayed at the bottom of the monitor.
Stop
Press the central button of the controller to start the
audio playback.
Press the menu button to cancel the playback.
Playback time is displayed on a bar at the top of the image.The
display will return to Quick View or the playback mode when the
audio track finishes.
Vol.
During playback, the up/down keys of the controller
adjust the volume.
PLAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
The basic functions in this mode are described in the basic playback section on pages 34 through
37.This section covers how to playback movie clips and audio tracks as well as the advanced function on the playback menu.
Page 81
Press the controller to
pause the movie or
audio playback;press
the controller again to
resume the playback.
81
Movie clips and audio recordings are played back the same way.Use the left/r ight keys of the controller to display the movie or audio file;audio files are displayed with a blue screen.These files cannot be played back in Quick View.
Press the center of the
controller to play back
a movie or audio file.
Playing back movies and audio recordings
Stop
Vol
Pause
Vol
Rewind Forward
Press the display button to view the movie with or without the guidance bar.
During playback, the up/down keys adjust the volume and the left/right keys
rewind and fast forward the recording.
:play
Audio file
Movie file
To cancel the playback, press the menu button.
:play
Stop
Page 82
Basic Custom1 Custom2
Delete
Lock
Audio caption –
–
–
82
P
LAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Once a setting has been
selected, the cursor will
return to the menu
options and the new setting will be displayed.
Changes can continue to
be made.To return to the
playback mode, press the
menu button.
Navigating the playback-mode menu
Press the central button of the
controller to select the
highlighted setting.
Activate the playback menu with the menu button.The basic tab at the top of the menu
will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the controller to highlight the appropriate
menu tab; the menu will change as the tabs are highlighted.
In playback mode, the menu button turns the menu on and off.The left/right and up/down keys of the
controller are used to move the cursor in the menu.Pressing the central button of the controller will
enter a setting.
When the desired menu section is displayed, use the up/down keys to scroll through the
menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed.
With the menu option to be changed highlighted, press the right controller key; the
settings will be displayed with the current setting highlighted.To return to the menu
options, press the left key.
Use the up/down keys to highlight the new
setting. If “Enter” is displayed, press the
center button to continue.
Page 83
83
1 Copying to camera memory.
Refer to the following sections
for descriptions of the menu
options and their settings.
Choosing “Yes” will execute the
operation, “No” will cancel it.
Yes No
For information on
frame-selection screens,
see page 84.
New folder
name
2 Change card.
3 Copying to memory card.
4 Copying completed.
Delete This frame
All frames
Marked frames
Enter
Lock
Audio caption
Basic
This frame
All frames
Marked frames
Unlock frames
Slide show Enter
1 - 60 sec.
Yes / No
Duration
Repeat
Custom 1
Print This frame
All frames
Marked frames
Index print
Custom 2
Cancel all
Yes / No
Copy This frame
Marked frames
E-mail Copy This frame
Recording audio
Pressing the down key of the
controller will cancel the slide
show and return to the menu.
Number of
copies
Folder name
All framesPlayback
Marked frames
Marked frames
Page 84
When a marked-frames setting is chosen on a menu, the frame selection screen will appear.This
screen allows multiple images to be chosen.
The left/right keys of
the controller move
the yellow border to
select the image.
The up key of the
controller selects
the frame; when
selected, an icon
will appear next to
the image.The
down key will
deselect the image
removing the icon.
The menu button
cancels the screen
and any operation
made.
The garbage-can icon indicates the image is selected for deletion.
The key icon indicates the image is locked or selected to be locked.
The check icon indicates the image is selected for the slide show or to
be copied.
The printer icon indicates the image is selected for printing.The number next to the icon shows the number of copies requested.
:move:sel. : enter
Frame-selection screen
84
P
LAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Press the central button of the controller to complete the operation.
Page 85
85
Deleting permanently erases the file. Once deleted, a file cannot be
recovered.Care should be taken when deleting images.
Single, multiple, or all files on the memory card can be deleted in the basic section of the playbackmode menu (p.82). Before a file is deleted, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Yes” will
execute the operation, “No” will cancel the operation.The delete option has three settings:
Deleting files
The file displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be deleted.
The delete function will only erase unlocked files.Locked files must be unlocked before they can be
deleted.
This
frame
All frames
Marked
frames
To delete multiple files.When this setting is chosen, the frame-selection screen will be
displayed.Use the left/right keys of the controller to highlight the first file to be deleted.
Pressing the up key will mark the thumbnail with the garbage-can icon.To deselect a
file for deletion, highlight it with the yellow border and press the down key; the garbagecan icon will disappear.Continue until all the files to be deleted are marked. Press the
central button of the controller to continue (the confirmation screen will appear), or
press the menu button to cancel the operation and return to the playback menu.On the
confirmation screen, highlighting and entering “Yes” will delete the marked files.
All unlocked files will be deleted.
Page 86
86
P
LAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Single, multiple, or all files can be locked.A locked file cannot be deleted by either the playbackmode menu functions or the QV/delete button. Important images and audio recordings should be
locked.The lock function is in the basic section of the playback menu (p. 82). The lock option has four
settings:
Locking files
Locking a file will protect it from a delete function. However, the formatting function (p.98) will erase
all files on a memory card whether locked or not.
The file displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be locked.
This
frame
All frames
Marked
frames
To lock or unlock multiple files.When this setting is chosen, the frame-selection screen
will be displayed.Use the left/right keys of the controller to highlight the file to be
locked.Pressing the up key will mark the file with the key icon.To unlock a file, highlight
it with the yellow border and press the down key; the key icon will disappear.Continue
until all the files to be locked are marked.Press the central button of the controller to
lock the marked thumbnails, or press the menu button to cancel the operation and
return to the playback menu.
All files on the memory card will be locked.
Unlock
frames
All files on the memory card will be unlocked.
Page 87
87
A still image can have a fifteen-second audio caption attached to it.This function will also replace a
voice-memo audio track recorded with an image. Audio captions cannot be attached to movie clips,
nor can they overwrite audio recordings.
Audio captioning
Display the image to which the audio caption will be attached. If the
image is locked, unlock it using the basic section of the playback menu
(p.82).
Basic Custom 1 Custom 2
Enter
Delete
Lock
Audio caption
1
Recording audio.
Stop
On the playback menu, highlight the enter setting in the
audio-caption option.
Press the central button of the controller (1) to start
recording. If an audio track is already attached to the
image, a confirmation screen will appear.Choosing and
entering “Yes”will start the audio caption recording replacing the previous audio track.“No” will cancel the audiocaption operation.
The audio caption can be stopped during the fifteen-second recording period by pressing the central button of the
controller (1).
Page 88
88
P
LAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
The custom 1 section of the playback-mode menu controls the slide-show function.This function
automatically displays all still images on the memory card in order.
Slide Show
Press the central button of the controller to pause and restart the slide show presentation.
To cancel the presentation, press the down key.
The presentation can be viewed without image information.Before opening the playback menu, press the display button to turn off the information display.
Camera Notes
Page 89
89
Menu options Settings
Slide
show
Playback
Duration
Repeat
Enter
All frames
Marked
Frames
1 - 60s.
Yes / No
To start the slide-show presentation. Pressing the central
button of the controller will pause the presentation. During
the slide show, press the down key of the controller to stop
the presentation and return to the playback-mode menu.
To select all the images on the memory card to be displayed in the slide-show presentation.
To select specific images to be displayed in the slide-show
presentation.When this setting is chosen, the frame-selection screen will be displayed.Use the left/r ight keys of the
controller to highlight the image to be included in the presentation. Pressing the up key will mark the image with a
check icon.To deselect a marked image, highlight it with the
yellow border and press the down key; the check icon will
disappear.Continue until all the images have been edited.
Press the controller to set the marked frames, or press the
menu button to cancel the operation and return to the playback menu.
To select the period each image will be displayed during the
slide show.
Selecting “Yes” will cause the slide show to repeat until it is
canceled using the down key of the controller.“No” will end
the slide show presentation and return to the playbackmode menu when all the images have been displayed once.
Page 90
90
P
LAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
The print menu option is used to set an order for standard prints from still images on the memory
card. Single, multiple, or all images can be printed. Print orders are created in the custom 2 section
of the playback-mode menu (p. 82). The print menu option has four settings:
About DPOF
This camera is supported by DPOF™ version 1.1.The DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) allows
direct printing of still images from digital cameras. After the DPOF file is created, the memory card is
simply taken to a photofinishing service or inserted into the memory-card slot of DPOF compatible
printers.When a DPOF file is created, a misc. folder is automatically created on the memory card to
store it (p.112).
Creating a DPOF Print Order
To create a DPOF file for the displayed or highlighted image.
This
frame
All frames
Marked
frames
To choose a group of images to be printed or when the number of copies of each
image varies.When selected, the frame selection screen will appear. Use the left/right
keys of the controller to highlight an image to be printed. Pressing the up key will mark
the image with the printer icon.The number next to the icon indicates the number of
copies that will be printed. Pressing the up key will increase the number of copies,
pressing the down key will decrease the number. A maximum of nine copies can be
ordered.To deselect an image for printing, press the down key until the number of
copies reaches zero and the printer icon disappears. Continue until all the images to be
printed are marked. Press the central button of the controller to create the DPOF file, or
press the menu button to cancel the operation and return to the playback menu.
To create a DPOF file for all images on the memory card.
Cancel all To delete the DPOF file.
Page 91
When the this-frame or all-frames setting is chosen, a screen will appear requesting the number of
copies of each image; a maximum of nine copies can be ordered. Use the up/down keys of the controller to set the required number of copies. If the all-frames setting was used to create a print order,
any additional images recorded afterwards will not be included in the order.
DPOF files created with another camera will be canceled. After the pictures have been printed, the
DPOF file will still remain on the memor y card and must be canceled manually.
Ordering an Index Print
To create an index print of all the images on the card, select “Yes.”
To cancel an index print, simply change the setting to “No.”
If an index-print order is created, any additional images saved afterwards on the card will not be included in the index print.The number
of images printed per sheet differs between printers.The information
printed with the thumbnails can vary.
91
The DPOF print file, including the index print, can be directly printed from the camera with
Epson USB DIRECT-PRINT compatible printers.For instructions on how to connect and use the
camera with these printers, see page 121.
Camera Notes
Page 92
92
P
LAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
The copy function makes exact copies of image, audio, or movie files and can store the copied data
on another memory card. E-mail Copy makes a standard 640 X 480 (VGA) JPEG copy of an original
still image so that it may be easily transmitted by e-mail.If an economy image is selected for E-mail
Copy, the image quality will not change.E-mail copies can only be copied to the original card. The
copy functions are selected in the custom 2 section of the playback-mode menu (p. 82).
When a copy function is used, a folder is created for the files (p. 112); copy files are placed in a folder
with a name ending in CP, and E-mail Copy images are placed in a folder ending in EM. Images with
voice memos are copied with their audio files. Copies of locked images are unlocked.DPOF information is not copied.
The copy and E-mail copy functions have two menu options:
Copy and E-mail Copy
Up to 15 MB of data can be copied. If too many images have been selected, a warning will appear
and the copy routine will be canceled. Divide the number of images into two or three batches.The
amount of data can be converted into E-mail copies depends on the free space remaining on the
memory card.
To copy the file displayed or highlighted in playback mode.
This
frame
Marked
frames
To copy single or multiple files.When selected, the frame-selection screen will appear;
highlight the file to be copied with the yellow border and then press the up key of the
controller to mark it with the check icon.To deselect a file to be copied, highlight the
selected thumbnail and press the down key;the check icon will disappear. Continue
until all the files to be copied are marked. Press the central button of the controller to
continue, or press the menu button to cancel the operation and return to the playback
menu.
Page 93
Copy
93
When the change-card message is highlighted, remove the camera’s memory card and insert the card to which the image should
be copied. Press the central button of the controller to continue or
the menu button to cancel the copy operation.
After the copy-completed message is highlighted, a new screen
will appear to indicate the name of the new folder containing the
copied images; press the central button of the controller to return
to the menu.
When the image(s) to be copied are selected, a screen with four
messages is displayed.The messages are highlighted during the
copying procedure.
Copy
Enter
Copying to camera memory.
1
2
3
4
Change card.
Copying to memory card.
Copying completed.
Copied to 101MLTEM
OK
E-mail Copy
When the image(s) to be converted to an e-mail file are selected, the copy routine will begin and a screen will appear indicating the name of the folder containing the copied images; press the central button of the controller to return to
the menu.The same folder is used to store e-mail copies until the number of
images exceeds 9,999.
OK
The copy-unsuccessful message will appear when one or all of the images could not be copied.
Check the memory card to see which files were copied and then repeat the procedure for the
uncopied images.
Camera Notes
Copied to 101MLTCP
Page 94
94
P
LAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION
Viewing images on a television
It is possible to view camera images on your television.The camera has a video-out terminal to make
the connection using the supplied AV cable.The camera is compatible with the NTSC and PAL standards.The video-output setting can be checked and set in the custom 2 section of the setup menu
(p.82).
2
3
1. Turn off the television and the camera.
2. Insert the mini-plug end of the AV cable into the camera’s AVout terminal.
3. Plug the other end of the AV cable into the video and audio
input terminals on the television.The yellow plug is for the
video output.The white plug is for the monaural audio output.
4. Turn the television on.
5. Change the television to the video channel.
6. Turn the camera’s mode dial to the playback position.The
camera’s monitors will not activate when the camera is
attached to a television.The playback-mode display will be
visible on the television screen.
7. View images as described in the playback section.
Page 95
95
The setup mode is used to control the camera’s functions and operation.The navigating the setup
menu section covers the operation of the menu.The section is followed by detailed descriptions of
the settings.
Innovation and creativity has always been a driving
force behind Minolta products.The Electro-zoom X
was purely an exercise in camera design. It was
unveiled at Photokina in Germany in 1966.
The Electro-zoom X was an electronically controlled
aperture-priority mechanical SLR with a built-in 30 120mm f/3.5 zoom lens giving twenty 12 X 17mm
images on a roll of 16mm film.The shutter-release
button and battery chamber are located in the grip.
Only a few prototypes were built making it one of
Minolta’s rarest cameras.
Minolta History
CONTROLLING THE CAMERA’S OPERATION
SETUP MODE
When turning the camera on, the lens can be prevented from extending.Press and hold the
down the central key of the rear controller when turning the mode dial from off to the setup
position.
Camera Notes
Page 96
Basic Custom1 Custom2
LCDbrightness
Format
Power save
Language English
1 min.
–
–
96
S
ETUP MODE
To access the menu, simply turn the mode dial to the setup position. The left/right and up/down keys
of the controller are used to move the cursor in the menu.Pressing the central button of the controller
will enter a setting.
Once a setting has been
selected, the cursor will
return to the menu
options and the new
setting will be displayed.
You can continue to
make other settings.
Navigating the setup menu
Press the central button of the
controller to select the
highlighted setting.
The basic tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the
controller to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menu will change as the tabs are
highlighted.
When the desired menu section is displayed, use the up/down keys to scroll through the
menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed.
With the menu option to be changed highlighted, press the right controller key; the
settings will be displayed with the current setting highlighted.To return to the menu
options, press the left key.
Use the up/down keys to highlight the new
setting. If “Enter” is displayed, press the
cent
ral button to continue.
Page 97
97
Choosing “Yes” on the
confirmation screens
will execute the
operation, “No” will
cancel it.
Yes No
Yes No
Enter
Setup
Date/Time set
2003 07 20 16 33
:..
On the date/time setting screen, use the left/right keys
of the controller to select the year, month, day, hour,
or minute.The up/down keys are used to change the
value. Press the central button of the controller to set
the calendar and clock.
LCD brightness
Format
Language
Basic
Enter
Enter
1, 3, 5, 10 min.
Español
Japanese
English
Deutsch
Français
Power save
File # memory
Folder name
Custom 1
On / Off
Standard form
1Audio signals
Date form
2
Off
1Shutter FX
2
Off
Reset default
Date/Time set
Custom 2
Enter
Enter
MM/DD/YYYY
Date format YYYY/MM/DD
DD/MM/YYYY
NTSC Video output
1 (Low) - 3 (High)Volume
PAL
Refer to the following sections for descriptions of the menu options and their settings.
Use the left/right keys to adjust
the monitor brightness. Press
the central button to set the
level.
Noise reduction On / Off
Custom
Custom record
Page 98
98
S
ETUP MODE
LCD monitor brightness
The brightness of the LCD monitor can be set in eleven
levels.The brightness setting screen is opened from the
basic section of the setup menu (p.96). Use the left/right
keys of the controller (1) to adjust the brightness.The
monitor image will change accordingly. Press the central
button of the controller (2) to set the brightness level.
Formatting memory cards
The formatting function is used to erase all data on a memory card. Before formatting a memory
card, copy the data to a computer or storage device. Locking images will not protect them from being
deleted when the card is formatted. Always format the memory card using the camera; never use a
computer to format a card.
When the format option is selected and entered in the basic section of the setup menu (p.96), a confirmation screen will appear. Choosing “Yes” will format the card, choosing “No” will cancel the formatting operation. A screen will appear to indicate the card has been formatted.
If the card-not-recognized message appears, the inserted card in the camera may need to be formatted. A memor y card used in another camera may also have to be formatted before being used.If the
unable-to-use-card message appears, the card is not compatible with the camera and cannot be formatted.
Enter
Low
High
1
2
When a memory card is formatted, all data on the card is erased.
Page 99
99
Aut o p ower save
To conserve battery power, the camera will shut down if no operation is made within a certain period.
The length of the auto-power-save period can be changed to 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes.When the camera is connected to a computer, the auto-power-save period is fixed at ten minutes.
Language
The language used in the menus can be changed.The language is selected in the basic section of
the setup menu.
If file number memory is selected, when a new folder is created, the first file stored in the folder will
have a number one greater than the last file saved. If the file number memory is disabled, the image
file number will be 0001. File number memory is activated in the custom 1 section of the setup menu.
If file number memory is active and the memory card is changed, the first file saved to the new card
will have a number one greater than the last file saved on the previous card if the new card does not
contain an image with a greater file number.If it does, the file number of the new image will be one
greater than the greatest on the card.
File number (#) memory
Page 100
100
S
ETUP MODE
Folder name
All recorded images are stored in folders on the memory card. Folder names
come in two formats, standard and date.
Standard folders have an eight character name.The initial folder is named
100MLT17.The first three digits are the folder’s serial number, which will increase
by one each time a new folder is created. The next three letters refer to Minolta,
and the last two numbers indicate the camera used; 17 indicates a DiMAGE
F300.
A date folder name also starts with the three digit serial number and is followed
by one register for the year, two registers for the month, and two registers for the
day: 101YMMDD.The folder 10130412 was created in 2003 on April 12th.
With the date folder format selected, when an image is recorded a new folder with
the day’s date will be created.All images recorded that day will be placed in that folder.Images
recorded on a different day will be placed in a new folder with the corresponding date. If the file number memory function is off (p. 99), when a new folder is created, the serial number in the image-file
name is reset to 0001. If file number memory function is on, the serial number in the image-file will
be one greater than the last image saved.For more information on folder organisation and file
names, see page 112.
100MLT17
10130412
(Standard)
(Date)
Audio signals
Every time a button is pressed, an audio signal will give a positive confirmation of the operation.The
audio signals can be turn off in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 96).The tone of the signal
can also be changed; signal 1 is mechanical and signal 2 is electrical.
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