Konica Minolta VECTIS 300 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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1

Thank you for purchasing the Minolta Vectis 300. The Vectis 300 is an easy to
operate lens shutter camera from Minolta’s line of Advanced Photo System™
cameras. Your camera features drop-in loading, a 24 - 70mm zoom lens, and
a wide focus frame. The sleek and compact design gives the Vectis 300 a
sophisticated appearance suitable for any occasion. This manual is designed
to help you understand the operation of your camera and its functions. Please
familiarize yourself with the names of the controls and their locations on the
camera, then read this manual thoroughly.

* Advanced Photo System™ is a trademark of the five system developing companies.

Advantages of the Advanced Photo System
New print formats…

Classic C print, wider H print, and panorama P print formats are available with
Advanced Photo System cameras.

New processing…

In addition to returning your prints in the format you
selected, certified photofinishers will return your
Advanced Photo System film in its original cassette
with an index print. To order reprints, simply choose
the images you want from the index print. No more
searching through negatives to find the right frame.

Easier to load…

Advanced Photo System cameras use the
new IX240 type film. This new film
features drop-in-loading to make loading
your camera simple, the first time, every
time. Indicators on the cassette tell you
and your camera if the film is unexposed,
partially exposed, exposed, or processed.

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE.....................................................................4

NAMES OF PARTS .........................................................................................6

QUICK OPERATION.....................................................................................10

BASIC OPERA

TION

Attaching The Strap..................................................................................13

Installing The Battery................................................................................14

Checking The Battery Power ...................................................................15

Loading Film .............................................................................................16

Full-Auto Operation..................................................................................21

For Closer Subjects..................................................................................24

Special Focusing Situations.....................................................................26

Focus Hold...............................................................................................28

Rewinding the Film...................................................................................30

Processing................................................................................................32

USING THE BUILT-IN FLASH 33

Flash Lamp...............................................................................................34

Flash Range.............................................................................................35

Selecting the Flash Mode.........................................................................36

Red-eye Reduction...................................................................................37

Manual Fill-flash.......................................................................................38

Flash Cancel ............................................................................................39

Night Portrait ............................................................................................40

ADDITIONAL

FEATURES

Date Imprinting.........................................................................................42

Title Imprinting ..........................................................................................48

Self-timer..................................................................................................56

Remote Control (Sold Separately)...........................................................58

APPENDIX

Lab Services.............................................................................................64

Caring For Your Camera ..........................................................................66

Technical Details ......................................................................................72

3

4 5

FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE

Read and understand all warnings and cautions before using this product.

WARNING

Batteries may become hot or explode due to improper use.

• Use only the batteries specified in this instruction manual.

• Do not install the batteries with the polarity (+/–) reversed.

• Do not subject batteries to fire or high temperatures.

• Do not attempt to recharge, short, or disassemble.

• Tape over lithium battery contacts before disposal. Follow local codes
for battery disposal.

Use caution, accidents may occur when using this product near young
children.

Keep batteries or things that could be swallowed away from young
children. Contact a doctor immediately if an object is swallowed.

Immediately remove the batteries and discontinue use if...

• the camera is dropped or subjected to an impact in which the interior
is exposed.

• the product emits a strange smell, heat, or smoke.

The lens retracts when the camera is turned off or Auto Power Off is
activated. Touching the lens barrel while it is retracting may cause injury.

Do not disassemble. Electric shock may occur if a high voltage circuit
inside the camera is touched. Take your camera to a Minolta Service
Facility when repairs are required.

6 7

NAMES OF PARTS

For information on specific parts, refer to the page numbers shown in parenthesis.

Flash-mode/Select button

Self-timer/Remote­control/Adjust button

Viewfinder*

Data panel

Shutter-release
button

Battery chamber

* - Do not touch

Camera Body

Viewfinder window*

AF window*

Meter window*
Remote-control

receiver*

Flash* (33)

Self-timer/Remote­control lamp

Lens*

Tripod socket

Film-chamber release (18)

Film chamber

Manual-rewind
button (31)

Strap eyelet

Title button (48)

Zoom buttons (22)

Main switch
Date button (42)

Format-selector
switch (21)

8 9

NAMES OF PARTS - CONT’D

• Only the necessary indicators will appear in the data panel.

Flash mode
indicators (36)

Self-timer
indicator (56)

Remote-control
indicator (58)

Film cassette mark

Film transport
signals

Frame counter

Battery-condition
indicator (15)

Title mark

Title/Date-time/Film speed indicator

Data Panel Viewfinder

Flash lamp (orange)
on flash charged
slow blinking use flash or tripod
fast blinking flash charging

Focus lamp (green)
lamp on focus OK

focus cannot be confirmed

slow blinking or special focus situation

(p. 26)

fast blinking too close

Close-framing guide (25)

Focus frame

10 11

QUICK OPERATION

1.Insert the
battery (p. 14).

2.Turn the camera
on, then insert
the film (p. 16).

3.Select the print
format (p. 21).

4. Frame the
subject as
desired (p. 22).

5. Center your
subject in the
focus frame
(pp. 22-23).

6.Press the
shutter-release
button all the
way down to
take the picture
(p. 23).

W

T

12 13

ATTACHING THE STRAP

BASIC OPERATION

Attach the strap as shown.

• A button key is included on the strap for
pressing the Date button and Manual­rewind button.

Button key

14 15

INSTALLING THE BATTERY CHECKING THE BATTERY POWER

Your camera uses one 3-volt CR-2 lithium
battery to supply power for all camera
operations.

1.Open the battery chamber as
shown.

2.Insert the battery into the chamber
as indicated by the + and – marks.

3.Close the battery chamber.

• After installing a new battery, reset the date

and time (p. 44).

Each time the main switch is turned on, a symbol will appear in the data
panel to indicate the power status of the battery.

• If no display appears, replace the battery or check that it is inserted correctly.

• To save power, your camera will shut down and retract the lens if it is not operated
for more than eight minutes. Press the main switch to restore power.

• Do not obstruct the lens while it is retracting.

Power is sufficient
for all camera
operations.

Power is sufficient,
but the battery will
have to be replaced
soon.

Replace the battery.
The shutter will lock
until the battery is
replaced.

16 17

LOADING FILM

Visual Exposure Indicators

• The current VEI has a white indicator behind it.

VEI MEANING

UNEXPOSED
PARTIALLY EXPOSED
EXPOSED
PROCESSED

Your camera uses IX240 type film designed for use in Advanced Photo
System cameras.

• Your camera’s automatic transport system loads the film, sets the film
speed, and advances the film after each exposure.

• After loading, the film chamber cannot be opened until rewind has been
initiated.

• DEP, Double Exposure Prevention, prevents the camera from accepting
exposed film.

• This camera will only load film with the mark current.

1.Press the main switch to turn the
camera on.

• Film can be loaded when the camera is on or off.

• If film is loaded with the camera off, all

indicators in the data panel will disappear after
the number of frames remaining is displayed.

Continued on following page.

18 19

LOADING FILM - CONT’D

Continued on following page.

3.Open the film-chamber door and insert
the cassette into the film chamber.

2.Turn the camera upside down, then
turn the film-chamber release in the
direction indicated. The film-chamber
door will open partway.

4.Press the film-chamber door closed
until it clicks.

• The camera will display the cassette mark and

the film’s ISO in the data panel, then advance
the film to the first frame. The frame counter
will display the number of frames remaining
on the roll.

• Do not load film without an operational battery

in the camera.

• Do not hold or turn the release when

closing the door. If the release is turned, the
film will not load properly; the cassette’s VEI
indicator will change to and the film cannot
be used.

20 21

LOADING FILM - CONT’D FULL-AUTO OPERATION

1.Press the main switch to turn the
camera on.

• The camera is set for fully-automatic operation

and the flash will fire automatically when
necessary.

2.Select the print format. The viewfinder
will change to match your selection.

Hold the camera steady, making sure your
fingers do not cover the flash. If you are taking
a vertically framed picture, turn the camera so
the flash is on top.

If 0 and the film transport signals blink in the data
panel, turn the film chamber release, open the
chamber, then remove the film.

- If the film’s current VEI is , insert a new roll of film.

- If a partially exposed roll of film was loaded into this
camera, the VEI has been changed from to .

- If a processed roll of film was loaded into this camera,
the VEI has been changed from to .

- If the film’s current VEI is , remove the film, remove
and reinsert the battery, then reload the film. If the film
will not load, contact the nearest authorized Minolta
Service Facility.

Continued on following page.

22 23

FULL-AUTO OPERATION - CONT’D

• In low-light conditions, the AF illuminator (flash) will fire to determine focus
distance (unless is selected).

• If the orange flash lamp blinks quickly, the flash is not charged.

• Press the shutter-release button with a slow steady squeeze - never a
quick jab.

5.When the green focus lamp glows,
press the shutter-release button all­the-way down to take the picture.

• Turn the camera off after use.

• Do not hold or obstruct the lens barrel.

3.Looking through the viewfinder, frame
the subject as desired.
Press the W zoom button to zoom out.
Press the T zoom button to zoom in.

4.Center your subject in the focus
frame, then press the shutter-release
button partway down.