DiMAGE Xt
INSTRUCTION MANUALE
9222-2786-11 P/ME-A302
2 BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Thank you for purchasing this Minolta product.Please take the time to read through this instruction
manual so you can enjoy all the features of your new digital camera.
Check the packing list before using this product.If any items are missing, immediately contact your
camera dealer.
Minolta DiMAGE Xt digital camera
Lithium-ion battery NP-200
Lithium-ion battery charger BC-300
Hand strap HS-DG100
SD Memory Card
AV cable AVC-200
USB cable USB-500
DiMAGE software CD-ROM
DiMAGE Instruction Manuals CD-ROM
Quick Reference Guide (printed)
Minolta International Warranty Certificate
BEFORE Y OU 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.
FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE
NP-200 Lithium-ion batteries
The DiMAGE Xt operates on a small, but powerful lithium-ion battery.Misuse or abuse of the lithiumion battery can cause damage or injury through fire, electric shock, or chemical leakage. Read and
understand all warnings before using the battery.
DANGER
• Do not short, disassemble, damage, or modify the battery.
• Do not expose the battery to fire or high temperatures over 60°C (140°F).
• Do not expose the battery to water, or moisture.Water can corrode or damage the internal battery
safety devices and cause the battery to overheat, ignite, rupture, or leak.
• Do not drop or subject the battery to strong impacts. Impacts can damage the inter nal batter y safety devices and cause the battery to overheat, ignite, rupture, or leak.
• Do not store the battery near or in metallic products.
• Do not use the battery with any other products.
•Only use the specified charger.An inappropriate charger may cause damage or injury through fire
or electric shock.
• Do not use a leaking battery.If fluid from the batter y enters your eye, immediately rinse the eye with
plenty of fresh water and contact a doctor.If fluid from the battery makes contact with your skin or
clothing, wash the area thoroughly with water.
• Only use or charge the battery in an environment with ambient temperatures between 0° and 40°C
(32° and 104°F).Only store the battery in an environment with ambient temperatures between –20°
and 30°C (–4° and 86°F) and a humidity of 45% to 85% RH.
WARNING
•Tape over the lithium-ion battery contacts to avoid short-circuiting during disposal; always follow
local regulations for battery disposal.
• If charging is not completed after the specified period elapses, unplug the charger and discontinue
charging immediately.
3
4 FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE
WARNING
• Only use the battery specified in this manual.
•Only use the specified charger or AC adapter within the voltage range indicated on the unit.An
inappropriate adapter or current may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock.
• Only use the charger power cord in the sales region for which it was designed.An inappropr iate
current may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock.
• Do not disassemble the camera or charger.Electric shock may cause injury if a high voltage circuit
inside the product is touched.
•Immediately remove the battery or unplug the AC adapter and discontinue use if the camera is
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 the batter y, memory card, or small parts 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 harm 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.
GENERAL WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS
Read and understand the following warnings and cautions for safe use of the digital camera and its
accessories.
• Do not use these products in a humid environment, or operate them with wet hands.If liquid enters
these products, immediately remove the battery or unplug the product, 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 these products 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 these
products.The use of inflammable cleaners and solvents may cause an explosion or fire.
•When unplugging the AC adapter or charger, do not pull on the power cord. Hold the plug when
removing it from an outlet.
• Do not damage, twist, modify, heat, or place heavy objects on the AC adapter or charger cord.A
damaged cord may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock.
• If these product emits a strange odor, heat, or smoke, discontinue use. Immediately remove the battery taking care not to burn yourself as the battery may 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.
5
6 FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE
• Do not use or store these products in a hot or humid environment such as the glove compartment
or trunk of a car.It may damage the camera, charger, and battery which may result in burns or
injuries caused by heat, fire, explosion, or leaking battery fluid.
• If the battery is leaking, discontinue use of the product.
•The camera, charger, and battery temperature rises with extended periods of use.Care should be
taken to avoid burns.
• Burns may result if the memory card or battery is 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 and charger, insert the plug securely into the electrical outlet.
• Do not use transformers or travel adapters with the charger.The use of these devices may cause a
fire or damage the product.
• Do not use if the AC adapter or charger cord is damaged.
• Do not cover the AC adapter or charger. A fire may result.
• Do not obstruct access to the AC adapter or charger; this can hinder the unplugging of the units in
emergencies.
• Unplug the AC adapter or charger when cleaning or not in use.
CAUTION
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.Operation is subject to the following two conditions:(1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation.This equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications.However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connect-
ed.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Tested by the Minolta Corporation 101 Williams Drive, Ramsey, New Jersey 07446, U.S.A.
Do not remove the ferrite cores from the cables.
This mark on your camera certifies that this camera meets the requirements of the
EU (European Union) concerning interference causing equipment regulations. CE
stands for Conformité Européenne (European Conformity).
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
The following marks may be found on the product:
7
Digital Camera:
Tested To Comply
With FCC Standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
8 TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Names of parts .....................................................................................................................................12
Getting up and running.........................................................................................................................14
Inserting the lithium-ion battery...............................................................................................14
Charging the lithium-ion battery ..............................................................................................15
Battery-condition indicator.......................................................................................................16
Auto power off..........................................................................................................................16
AC adapter (sold separately)...................................................................................................17
Attaching the hand strap .........................................................................................................17
Installing and removing a memory card..................................................................................18
About memory cards ...............................................................................................................19
Setting the date and time ........................................................................................................20
Recording - basic operation.................................................................................................................22
Handling the camera ...............................................................................................................22
Setting the camera to record images......................................................................................22
Using the zoom lens ................................................................................................................23
LCD monitor display - basic ....................................................................................................24
Camera-shake warning ...........................................................................................................24
Basic recording operation........................................................................................................25
Focus lock................................................................................................................................26
Focus range.............................................................................................................................26
Focus signals...........................................................................................................................27
The getting up and running section covers how to prepare the camera for use. It contains impor tant
information about power supplies and memory cards.The basic operation of this camera is covered
in the recording - basic operation section between pages 22 and 31, and the playback - basic operation section between pages 32 and 35. Read the data-transfer mode section in its entirety before
connecting the camera to a computer.
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.
The appendix contains a troubleshooting section to help answer questions about the operation of the
camera. Information covering camera care and storage is also provided. Please store this manual in
a safe place.
Special focusing situations......................................................................................................27
Flash modes............................................................................................................................28
Flash range - Automatic operation..........................................................................................29
Flash signals............................................................................................................................29
Display button - recording mode .............................................................................................30
Playback - basic operation...................................................................................................................32
Single-frame playback display.................................................................................................32
Viewing images .......................................................................................................................33
Deleting single images ............................................................................................................33
Display button - playback mode ..............................................................................................34
Display button - Quick View.....................................................................................................34
Enlarged playback...................................................................................................................35
Recording - advanced operation..........................................................................................................36
LCD monitor display - advanced.............................................................................................36
Exposure compensation..........................................................................................................36
Navigating the recording-mode menu.....................................................................................38
Drive modes ............................................................................................................................40
Continuous advance........................................................................................................41
Self-timer..........................................................................................................................42
White balance ..........................................................................................................................43
Image size and image quality..................................................................................................44
Customizing key functions.......................................................................................................46
Compensating exposure with the menu..................................................................................46
Camera sensitivity - ISO..........................................................................................................47
Flash range and camera sensitivity.........................................................................................47
Metering modes .......................................................................................................................48
Noise reduction........................................................................................................................48
Auto reset ................................................................................................................................49
Color mode..............................................................................................................................49
Voice memo.............................................................................................................................50
Date imprinting ........................................................................................................................51
Digital zoom .............................................................................................................................52
Instant playback.......................................................................................................................53
Spot AF....................................................................................................................................54
Recording without a memory card ..........................................................................................55
Movie and audio recording...................................................................................................................56
Movie recording.......................................................................................................................56
Audio recording........................................................................................................................57
Navigating the movie/audio recording menu...........................................................................58
Notes on movie recording .......................................................................................................59
9
10 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Playback - advanced operation............................................................................................................60
Playing back voice memos and audio captions.......................................................................60
Playing back movies and audio recordings .............................................................................61
Navigating the playback-mode menu......................................................................................62
Frame-selection screen ...........................................................................................................64
Deleting image and audio files................................................................................................65
Audio caption ...........................................................................................................................66
Locking image and audio files.................................................................................................67
Slide show...............................................................................................................................68
About DPOF............................................................................................................................70
Creating a DPOF print order ...................................................................................................70
Ordering an index print ............................................................................................................71
E-mail copy ..............................................................................................................................72
Viewing images on a television...............................................................................................73
Setup mode .........................................................................................................................................74
Navigating the setup menu......................................................................................................74
LCD monitor brightness...........................................................................................................76
Formatting memory cards .......................................................................................................76
File number (#) memory..........................................................................................................77
Folder Name............................................................................................................................77
Language.................................................................................................................................78
Audio signals...........................................................................................................................78
Shutter FX ...............................................................................................................................78
Custom FX recording...............................................................................................................78
Auto power off..........................................................................................................................80
Volume.....................................................................................................................................80
Reset default............................................................................................................................80
Date and time..........................................................................................................................82
Date format ..............................................................................................................................82
Video output ............................................................................................................................82
Transfer mode..........................................................................................................................82
Data-transfer mode...............................................................................................................................83
System requirements...............................................................................................................83
Connecting the camera to a computer....................................................................................84
Connecting to Windows 98 and 98SE.....................................................................................86
Automatic installation.......................................................................................................86
Manual installation...........................................................................................................87
QuickTime system requirements.............................................................................................89
Auto power off - data-transfer mode........................................................................................89
Memory card folder organization .............................................................................................90
Disconnecting the camera from the computer ........................................................................92
Windows 98 and 98SE ....................................................................................................92
Windows Me, 2000 Professional, and XP........................................................................92
Macintosh.........................................................................................................................93
Changing the memory card - data-transfer mode...................................................................94
Using USB DIRECT-PRINT.....................................................................................................94
Notes on printing errors ...........................................................................................................96
Navigating the USB DIRECT-PRINT menu.............................................................................96
Printing DPOF files..................................................................................................................97
Remote camera system requirements ....................................................................................98
Installing the remote camera driver.........................................................................................98
Connecting the remote camera.............................................................................................100
Notes on remote camera operation.......................................................................................101
Appendix .......................................................................................................................................102
Troubleshooting .....................................................................................................................102
About the lithium-ion battery charger cord............................................................................104
Viewfinder indicator lamps.....................................................................................................105
Removing the driver software - Windows..............................................................................106
Care and storage...................................................................................................................107
Technical specifications.........................................................................................................110
11
12
NAMES OF PARTS
* 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. 107).
Flash (p.28)
Self-timer lamp (p.42)
Lens*
Main switch
Microphone
AV-out-terminal/
USB-port
Tripod socket
Battery/Card chamber door (p. 14, 18)
DC terminal (p. 17)
Shutter-release button
Viewfinder window*
Charger contacts*
NAMES OF PARTS
Viewfinder*
Indicator lamp (p.105)
Mode dial
Controller
LCD monitor*
Display button (p. 30, 34)
Quick View / Delete button (p.32, 33)
Menu button
Speaker
Movie/Audio recording mode (p.56)
Strap eyelet (p.17)
Playback mode (p. 32)
Flash-mode button (p.28)
Recording mode (p.22)
Setup mode (p.74)
13
14 GETTING UP AND RUNNING
GETTING UP AND RUNNING
INSERTING THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY
This digital camera uses one NP-200 lithium-ion battery.Before using the battery, read the
safety warnings on pages 3 and 4 of this manual.When replacing the batter y, the camera
should be turned off.
Slide the battery-chamber door toward the front of the camera to release
the safety catch (1). Open the door.
1
2
3
4
Move the battery latch towards the back of the camera to insert
the battery (2). Slide the batter y into the battery chamber with the
battery terminals first until it is caught by the latch.
To remove the battery, move the latch towards the back of the
camera until the battery is released (3). Pull the batter y out of
the chamber.
Close the battery-chamber door (4) and slide it toward the
back of the camera to engage the safety catch.
After installing the battery, the set-time/date message may
appear on the monitor.The clock and calendar is set in the
custom 2 section of the setup menu (p.20). An internal battery protects the clock, calender, and memory settings for
more than 24 hours if the camera is used for at least 5 minutes before removing the battery.
CHARGING THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY
Before the camera can be used, the lithium-ion battery must be charged. Before charging the battery,
read the safety warnings on pages 3 and 4 of this manual. Only recharge the battery with the supplied battery charger.The batter y should be recharged before each shooting session. See page 108
for battery care and storage.
A single battery can be charged. With the battery terminals forward and the label face up, slide the batter y
into the charger.The indicator lamp (3) will glow to
show the battery is charging.The lamp will go out
when the battery has been charged. Charging time is
approximately 80 minutes.
1
2
3
With the camera facing forward, firmly place it into the
charger.The indicator lamp (3) will glow to show the
battery is charging. The lamp will go out when the battery has been charged. Charging time is approximately
120 minutes.The camera must be off in order to
charge the battery.If the indicator lamp blinks slowly,
confirm that a battery has been inser ted in the camera.
Remove the camera from the charger. Unplug the
power cord from the outlet.
Plug the power cord into the back of the charger unit (1).
Plug the other end of the cord into a live household outlet.
The included AC cord is designed for the current of the
sales region. Only use the cord in the region it was purchased. For more on the AC cable, see page 104.
15
16 GETTING UP AND RUNNING
BATTERY-CONDITION INDICATOR
Full-battery icon - the battery is fully charged. This icon is displayed when
the camera is on.
Low-battery warning - battery power is very low.The batter y should be
replaced as soon as possible.This warning automatically appears and
remains on the monitor until the battery is recharged. If the power level falls
below this level when the camera is on, the battery-exhausted message will
appear just before the camera shuts down.
AUT O PO WER OFF
To conser ve battery power, the camera will shut down if an operation is not made within three minutes.To restore power, press the main switch. The length of the auto-power-off period can be
changed in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p.74).When the camera is connected to a computer, the auto-power-off period is set to ten minutes and cannot be changed.
This camera is equipped with an automatic battery-condition indicator displayed on the LCD monitor.
The icon will change from white to red when battery power is low.
Half-full-battery icon - the battery is par tially charged. This icon is displayed
when the camera is turned on.The LCD monitor will turn off when the flash is
charging.
If power is insufficient for camera operation, the indicator lamp next to the
viewfinder will turn red and blink for three seconds.The shutter will not
release.The battery must be recharged.
AC ADAPTER (SOLD SEPARATELY)
The AC adapter AC-4 or AC-5 allows the camera to be powered from a
household outlet.The AC adapter is recommended when the camera is
interfaced with a computer or during periods of heavy use. AC adapter
model AC-4 is for use in North America, Japan, and Taiwan, and AC-5 is
for use in all other areas.The battery cannot be charged using the AC
adapter.
Insert the mini plug of the AC adapter into the DC terminal (1).
Insert the AC adapter plug into an electrical outlet.
Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies.
Always keep the strap around your wrist in the
event that the camera is accidentally dropped.
Pass the small loop of the hand strap through the
strap eyelet on the camera body (1).
Pass the other end of the strap through the small
loop and tighten (2).
1
2
1
ATTACHING THE HAND STRAP
17
18 GETTING UP AND RUNNING
INSTALLING AND REMOVING A MEMORY CARD
An SD (Secure Digital) Memory card or MultiMediaCard must be inserted for the camera to operate.
If a card has not been inserted, a no-card warning will appear on the LCD monitor; the shutter can
still be released and a single image can be captured (p.55).
Always turn off the camera and confirm the indicator lamp is not orange
and blinking before changing the memory card, otherwise the card may be
damaged, and data lost.
Slide the battery-chamber door toward the bottom of the camera to release the safety catch (1).Open the door.
Insert the memory card all the way into the card slot and then
release (2).The card should catch in the slot.
Insert the card so the face is toward the front of the camera.
Always push the card in straight, never at an angle.Never
force the card. If the card does not fit, check that it is orientated correctly. If a MultiMediaCard is inserted incorrectly, it will
lock, but the card chamber door will not close.
To eject a memor y card, press the card into the slot and
release (3).The card can now be pulled out.
Close the battery-chamber door and slide it toward the top of
the camera to engage the safety catch (4).
1
2
3
4
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.
The SD Memory Card has 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 cardlocked message will appear and the LED lamps near the
viewfinder will turn red and blink quickly. For memory card care
and store see page 108.
If the unable-to-use-card message appears, the inserted card in
the camera may need to be formatted.A card used in another
camera may also have to be formatted before being used. A
card can be formatted in the basic section of the setup menu
(p.74). When a card is formatted, all the data on the card is
permanently erased.
ABOUT MEMORY CARDS
Writeprotect
switch
Lock
position
19
20 GETTING UP AND RUNNING
SETTING THE DATE AND TIME
After initially inserting a memory card and charging the batter y, the camera’s clock and calendar
must be set on the setup menu.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 camera on by pressing the main switch
near the shutter-release button (1).
Turn the mode dial to the setup
position (2).
Navigating the setup menu is simple.The fourway keys of the controller move the cursor and
change settings on the menu. Pressing the center of the controller selects menu options and
sets adjustments.
Basic Custom1 Custom2
LCDbrightness
Format
File # memory
Folder name Std. form
Off
–
–
Language English
1
2
Controller
Reset default
Date format
Video output
Transfer mode
–
YYYY/MM/DD
NTSC
Data storage
Use the right key to highlight the custom 2
tab at the top of the menu.
Use the down key to highlight the date/timeset 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 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
Date/Time set –
Basic Custom1 Custom2
21
1
22 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION
RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION
This section covers basic recording operation.To prepare the camera for use, read pages 14 through
21.
HANDLING THE CAMERA
While using the viewfinder or LCD monitor, grip the camera firmly
with your right hand while supporting the camera 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 shutter-release button to the top.Take care
not to cover the lens with your fingers or the strap.
SETTING THE CAMERA TO RECORD IMAGES
Turn the camera on by pressing the main switch
near the shutter-release button (1).
Turn the mode dial to the recording position (2).
2
USING THE ZOOM LENS
This camera is equipped with a unique 5.7 - 17.1mm zoom lens.This is equivalent to a 37 to 111mm
lens on a 35mm camera.The lens is operated by the controller at the back of the camera.The effect
of the optical zoom is visible in both the viewfinder and LCD monitor.
To zoom in on the subject, push the
up key (T) of the controller.
To zoom out, push the down key (W)
of the controller.
The digital-zoom function can
increase the power of the lens.The
digital zoom is activated in the custom 2 section of the recording-mode
menu (p.38).
The zoom lens not only affects how large the subject is in the picture, but it also influences the
depth of field and perspective.Depth of field is the area between the closest object in focus and
the furthest object in focus. As the lens zooms in to the telephoto position, the depth of field
becomes shallower, separating the subject from the background. Many portraits are taken with telephoto lenses. Zooming the lens out to the wide-angle position makes both the foreground and
background appear sharper.Usually landscape photographs take advantage of the large depth of
field of wide-angle lenses.Wide-angle lenses also create a strong perspective which gives a sense
of depth in the image.Telephoto lenses compress the space between the subject and background
and create a weak perspective.
Shooting tips
23
24 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION
LCD MONITOR DISPLAY - BASIC
If the shutter speed falls below the point where the camera can be hand held
safely, the camera-shake warning indicator will appear on the monitor and the
viewfinder indicator lamp will turn green and 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 wideangle position. Although the warning appears, the
shutter can still be released. If the warning
appears, place the camera on a tripod or use the built-in flash.
CAMERA-SHAKE WARNING
Image size (p.44)
Image quality (p.44)
Battery-condition indicator (p. 16)
Drive mode (p.40)
Frame counter (p. 45)
Focus signal (p.27)
Recording mode
Flash modes (p.28)
Camera-shake warning
Wide focus frame
LCD monitor
BASIC RECORDING OPERATION
Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock the focus
and exposure.
• The focus signals (p. 27) on the monitor and the indicator lamp next
to the viewfinder will confirm that the image is in focus.If the monitor
focus signal is red or the indicator lamp
is green and blinks quickly, the camera
was unable to focus on the subject.
Repeat the previous steps until the focus
signal is white and the lamp glows
steadily.
Press the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to take the picture.
•After the shutter releases, the indicator lamp next to the viewfinder
will turn orange and blink indicating image data is being written to
the memory card. Never remove a memory card while data is being
transferred.
• The image can be previewed after it is captured by continuing to hold
down the shutter-release button.This function is disabled if the
monitor is off. Instant playback also can be used (p.53).
Turn the camera on and turn the mode dial to the recording position.
1
Place the subject within the focus frame on the LCD monitor or center the subject in the viewfinder.
• The focus-lock function (p.26) can be used with off-center
subjects.
• If the subject is closer than 1m (3ft.) at the zoom lens’wide-angle
position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position, only use the LCD
monitor to frame the subject.
• The spot focus area can be used for focusing;press the center of
the controller for about 1 second to activate the area (p. 54).
2
25
26 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION
FOCUS LOCK
The focus-lock function is used when you want to compose the image with the subject off-center and
outside the focus frame.Focus lock may also be used when a special focusing situation prevents the
camera from focusing on the subject.This function is controlled with the shutter-release button.
Place the subject within the monitor focus frame or center the
subject in the viewfinder.Press and hold the shutter-release button partway down to lock the focus.
• The focus signal on the monitor and the
viewfinder indicator lamp will indicate if the
focus is locked.
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.
FOCUS RANGE
The focus range is 15cm (0.5ft.) to infinity. Both the LCD monitor and viewfinder can be used to
frame the subject. However, because of parallax, only the monitor’s live image will be accurate with
subjects closer than 1m (3ft.) at the zoom lens’ wide-angle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position.
FOCUS SIGNALS
SPECIAL FOCUSING SITUATIONS
This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system.The focus signal in the lower right
corner of the LCD monitor and the indicator lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status.The
shutter can be released regardless if the camera can focus on the subject or not.
The camera may not be able to focus in certain situations. In these situations the focus-lock function
(p.26) can be used to focus on another object at the same distance as your main subject, and then
the image can be recomposed to take the picture.
The subject in the
focus frame is low in
contrast.
The subject is too dark. Two subjects at
different distances
overlap in the focus
frame.
The subject is near a
very b right object or
area.
Focus confirmed - the LCD monitor focus signal is white, the
viewfinder indicator lamp is green and steady. Focus is locked.
Cannot focus - the LCD monitor focus signal is red and the
viewfinder indicator lamp is green and blinks rapidly.
Focus signal
27
28
FLASH MODES
The flash can be used when taking still images.To
select the flash mode, press the flash mode button (1)
on the back of the camera until the desired mode is
displayed.Press the shutter-release button to set the
mode.The active flash mode is displayed in the top left
corner of the LCD monitor.When the camera is tur ned
off and auto reset (p.49) is active, the flash mode is
reset to autoflash with red-eye reduction if this mode
was last set, if not the mode will be reset to autoflash.
While the flash is charging, the shutter cannot be
released.
Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in low-light
and backlit conditions.
Red-eye reduction - the flash fires multiple bursts
before the main flash burst to reduce red-eye; an effect
caused by light reflected from the retina. Use in lowlight 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. Fill-flash can be
used to reduce harsh shadows caused by strong direct
light or sunshine.
Flash cancel
Autoflash with
red-eye reduction
Fill-flash
Night portrait
RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION
1
Autoflash
FLASH RANGE - AUTOMATIC OPERATION
The camera automatically controls 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.The flash ranged can be changed with camera
sensitivity (ISO), see page 47.
Wide-angle position Telephoto position
FLASH SIGNALS
The indicator lamp next to the viewfinder indicates the status of the flash.
When the lamp is red and blinks quickly, the flash is charging and the
shutter will not release.When the lamp turns green, the flash is charged
and ready to fire.
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 (p. 24).
Night portrait - for flash por traits at night. The camera automatically balances the flash and background exposures.When taking portraits, ask your subject not to move after the flash burst; the shutter
will still be open for the background exposure.The red-eye reduction function is used with night portrait.
0.15m ~ 2.5m (0.5 ft. ~ 8.2 ft.)0.15m ~ 3.2m (0.5 ft. ~ 10.5 ft.)
29
30 RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION
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. If the display button is pressed and
held, the LCD-brightness adjustment screen will be displayed, see page 76.
Full display Live image
only
DISPLAY BUTTON - RECORDING MODE
Display button
Battery power can be conserved by turning the monitor off and using the viewfinder to take pictures.
However, because of parallax, the monitor should be used for subjects closer than 1m (3ft.) at the
zoom lens’ wide-angle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position.
When the flash-mode or menu button is pressed, the monitor will automatically turn on.The batterycondition and date-imprinting indicators can appear on the live image only display. The digital zoom is
canceled and the AF area and exposure-compensation setting is fixed when the monitor is off.The
monitor cannot be turned off in audio or movie recording. When the LCD monitor is off, it will automatically activate for the instant playback period.When auto reset is active, the LCD monitor will be
reset to the full display when the camera is turned off.
Monitor
off
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