Minolta DiMage S404 User guide

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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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.

This manual contains information regarding products introduced before February, 2002. To obtain compatibility information for products released after this date, contact a Minolta Service Facility listed on the back cover of this manual.

Check the packing list before using this product. If any items are missing, immediately contact your camera dealer.

Minolta DiMAGE S404 digital camera AA alkaline batteries (set of four) Neck strap NS-DG304 Lens cap LF-236 16MB CompactFlash card AV cable AVC-100 USB cable USB-600 DiMAGE software CD-ROM ArcSoft PhotoImpression CD-ROM DiMAGE Image Viewer Utility instruction manual Camera manual Warranty card

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Because the performance of alkaline batteries with digital cameras is low, the use of Ni-MH batteries is recommended. Although alkaline batteries are supplied with this product, its performance will be limited; only use alkaline batteries for test photographs or when Ni-MH batteries, the Minolta external battery pack, or the AC adapter are not available. Fully recharge the Ni-MH batteries just before using the camera.

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 alkaline 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.

WARNING

FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE

• Use only the specified AC adapter 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 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.

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FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE

• Keep batteries 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 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 odor, 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

• 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 camera temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns.

• Burns may result if the CompactFlash 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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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The basic operation of this camera is covered between pages 10 and 27. 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 auto-recording mode section covers all the basic functions of the camera in this mode and the multi-function recording mode. Take time to read this section before moving on to the multi-function recording mode section. The other sections, movie recording mode, playback mode, setup mode, and data transfer mode, 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.

Throughout the text are shooting tips and camera notes. Shooting tips give advice and information on photography and how to use the camera to achieve the best results. Camera notes cover details on camera operation.

ABOUT THIS MANUAL

Basic recording operation........................................................................................................23

Focus lock ...............................................................................................................................24

Focus range.............................................................................................................................24

Focus signals...........................................................................................................................25

Special focusing situations......................................................................................................25

Quick view...............................................................................................................................26

Quick-view display......................................................................................................27

Deleting images in quick view ....................................................................................27

Digital-subject-program button ................................................................................................28

Flash modes............................................................................................................................30

Flash range - auto-recording mode.........................................................................................31

Flash signals............................................................................................................................31

Camera-shake warning ...........................................................................................................31

Drive modes ............................................................................................................................32

Self-timer.....................................................................................................................33

Remote control (sold separately)................................................................................34

Continuous advance...................................................................................................35

Bracketing...................................................................................................................36

Display button - recording mode .............................................................................................37

Navigating the auto-recording mode menu.............................................................................38

Image size ..................................................................................................................40

Image quality ..............................................................................................................41

Image-file size and CompactFlash card capacity .......................................................42

Voice memo ................................................................................................................43

Date imprinting............................................................................................................44

Instant playback ..........................................................................................................45

Exposure compensation..........................................................................................................46

What is an Ev? What is a stop?..............................................................................................47

Multi-function recording mode - advanced operation...........................................................................48

Autofocus areas and control....................................................................................................48

Navigating the multi-function recording mode menu ...............................................................50

Exposure modes .........................................................................................................52

Program.................................................................................................................52

Aperture priority - A...............................................................................................52

Manual exposure - M ............................................................................................53

White balance.............................................................................................................54

Automatic white balance .......................................................................................54

Preset white balance .............................................................................................54

Names of parts

Camera body...........................................................................................................................10

Viewfinder................................................................................................................................12

Mode dial.................................................................................................................................12

Data panel...............................................................................................................................13

LCD monitor display................................................................................................................14

Getting up and running.........................................................................................................................15

Attaching the neck strap and lens cap....................................................................................15

Changing batteries ..................................................................................................................16

Battery condition indicator.......................................................................................................17

Auto power save......................................................................................................................17

External power supplies (sold separately)...............................................................................18

Changing the CompactFlash card ...........................................................................................18

Auto-recording mode - basic operation ................................................................................................20

Handling the camera ...............................................................................................................20

Setting the camera to record images automatically................................................................21

Zoom lens and digital zoom ....................................................................................................22

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Custom white balance ...........................................................................................55

Focus modes..............................................................................................................56

Camera sensitivity - ISO .............................................................................................57

Flash range and camera sensitivity............................................................................57

Full-time AF.................................................................................................................58

Metering modes..........................................................................................................58

Exposure bracketing...................................................................................................59

Digital zoom and image size.......................................................................................59

Image control - color, sharpness, contrast, & saturation ............................................60

Bulb exposures ........................................................................................................................61

A short guide to photography...............................................................................................................62

Movie recording....................................................................................................................................64

Recording movies with the RC-3 remote control (sold separately).........................................65

Playback mode - viewing and editing images ......................................................................................66

Single-frame playback display.................................................................................................66

Histogram display....................................................................................................................67

Movie playback display............................................................................................................67

Viewing pictures ......................................................................................................................68

Viewing movies........................................................................................................................69

Deleting images .......................................................................................................................69

Display button - playback mode..............................................................................................70

Enlarged playback...................................................................................................................71

Navigating the playback-mode menu......................................................................................72

Playback-mode menu - basic..................................................................................................74

Deleting images..........................................................................................................74

Locking images ...........................................................................................................75

Changing the index playback format..........................................................................75

Playback-mode menu - custom 1 (Slide Show)......................................................................76

Playback-mode menu - custom 2............................................................................................78

About DPOF ...............................................................................................................78

Creating a DPOF print order.......................................................................................78

Ordering an index print...............................................................................................79

Canceling a DPOF print order ....................................................................................79

Copying images..........................................................................................................80

Frame-selection screen...........................................................................................................81

Viewing images on a television...............................................................................................82

Setup mode - controlling the camera’s operation ................................................................................83

Navigating the setup menu......................................................................................................84

Setup menu - basic .................................................................................................................86

LCD monitor brightness..............................................................................................86

Formatting CompactFlash cards.................................................................................86

Auto power save.........................................................................................................87

Audio signals ..............................................................................................................87

Volume........................................................................................................................87

Language....................................................................................................................87

Setup menu - custom 1...........................................................................................................88

File number memory...................................................................................................88

Select folder ................................................................................................................88

Setup menu - Custom 2 ..........................................................................................................89

Resetting the camera..................................................................................................89

Setting the date and time............................................................................................90

Setting the date format...............................................................................................91

Video output................................................................................................................91

Data-transfer mode - connecting to a computer ..................................................................................92

Arcsoft PhotoImpression system requirements .......................................................................93

QuickTime system requirements.............................................................................................93

Connecting the camera to a computer....................................................................................94

Connecting to Windows 98 and 98SE.....................................................................................96

Automatic installation ..................................................................................................96

Manual installation......................................................................................................97

Connecting to Mac OS 8.6......................................................................................................99

Auto power save (data-transfer mode)....................................................................................99

CompactFlash card folder organization .............................................................................................100

Disconnecting the camera from the computer ......................................................................102

Windows 98 and 98SE.............................................................................................102

Windows Me, 2000 Professional, and XP................................................................102

Macintosh..................................................................................................................103

Changing the CompactFlash card (data-transfer mode) .......................................................104

Troubleshooting..................................................................................................................................105

About Ni-MH batteries...........................................................................................................107

Removing the driver software - Windows..............................................................................108

Care and storage ...............................................................................................................................109

Technical specifications......................................................................................................................114

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* 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. 109).

NAMES OF PARTS

CAMERA BODY

Data panel (p. 13)

Shutter-release button

Lens*

Card-slot door (p. 18) The USB port and AV-out terminal are located behind the card-slot door.

Self-timer/ Remote-control lamp (p. 32)

Flash (p. 30)

Digital-subject-program button (p. 28)

Strap eyelet (p. 15)

Viewfinder* (p. 12)

LCD monitor*

(p. 14)

Menu button

Battery-chamber lock (p. 16)

Flash mode/Magnification button (p. 30, 71)

DC terminal cover (p. 18)

Access lamp

QV/ Delete button (p. 26)

Tripod socket

Speaker

Microphone

Remote-control

receiver

Mode dial (main switch)

Viewfinder window*

Battery-chamber door (p. 16)

Card-slot door release

Drive-mode button (p. 32)

Exposure-compensation button (p. 46)

Controller

CCD plane

Display button (p. 37, 70)

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DATA PANEL

Frame counter

(p. 42)

NAMES OF PARTS

MODE DIAL

Auto-recording mode (p. 20) Multi-function recording mode (p. 48) Playback mode (p. 66) Movie-recording mode (p. 64) Setup mode (p. 83) Data-transfer mode (p. 92)

VIEWFINDER

Focus lamp (green)

Flash lamp (orange)

Focus frame

This dial gives direct and easy access to the camera’s major modes. It also acts as the main switch

Digital-subject-program indicators (p. 28)

Exposure-compensation indicator (p. 46)

Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 57) Spot-metering indicator (p. 58)

Battery-condition indicator (p. 17)

White-balance indicator (p. 54)

Flash-mode indicators (p. 30)

Manual-focus indicator (p. 56)

Image-size display (p. 40) Image-quality display (p. 41)

Drive-mode indicators (p. 32)

Microphone indicator (p. 43)

Exposure-mode indicators (p. 52)

Digital-subject-program icons (p. 28)

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 positions or 3m (9.8ft) at the telephoto lens position, use the LCD monitor to compose the image; because the lens creates the monitor image, it does not suffer from parallax.

Using your thumb and index finger, pinch the outside tabs of the lens cap to remove or attach.

• When the camera is not in use, always replace the lens cap.

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NAMES OF PARTS

Attach the camera strap to the strap eyelets as shown.

• Make sure the neck strap passes through the loop of the lens-cap strap.

• Always keep the camera strap around your neck in the event that you drop the camera.

Attach the small strap to the lens cap by passing one of the small loops through the eyelet on the cap (1) and then passing the other loop through the first loop (2) and tightening.

ATTACHING THE NECK STRAPAND LENS CAP

GETTING UP AND RUNNING

LCD MONITOR DISPLAY

b. Flash-mode indicator (p. 30)

d. Contrast-compensation display (p. 60) e. Color-saturation-compensation

display (p. 60)

f. Exposure-compensation display (p. 46) g. White-balance indicator (p. 54)

m. Camera-sensitivity (ISO) display (p. 57)

j. Metering-mode indicator (p. 58)

l. Camera-shake warning (p. 31)

i. Shutter-speed display

k. Aperture display

n. Manual-focus indicator (p. 56)

r. Macro indicator (p. 28)

q. Drive-mode indicator (p. 32)

o. Focus signal (p. 25) p. Frame counter (p. 42)

v. Digital-zoom display (p. 22)

u. Image-size display (p. 40)

t. Image-quality indicator (p. 41)

s. Battery-condition indicator (p. 17)

a. Mode indicator (p. 12)

1. Focus frame (p. 48)

2. Spot metering area (p. 58)

3. AF sensors (p. 23)

h. Exposure-mode (p. 52)/

Digital-subject-program indicators (p. 28)

c. Sharpness display (p. 60)

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CHANGING BATTERIES

Insert the batteries.

• Make sure the positive and negative battery terminals are orientated as illustrated on the diagram in the battery chamber.

This digital camera uses four AA-size alkaline or Ni-MH batteries. Ni-MH batteries are recommended because of longer life. When using Ni-MH batteries, fully recharge them with a battery charger suitable for complex electronic equipment. Please consult your vendor about an appropriate charger.

When replacing batteries, the mode dial should be in the off position.

• If the camera is not turned off when replacing exhausted batteries, the low-battery warning may not reset.

Close the battery-chamber door and slide it back toward the body (4) to engage the safety catch. Move the lock lever (5) to the close position .

• After installing the batteries, 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. 84).

BATTERY CONDITION INDICATOR

Full-battery Icon - the batteries are 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 icon - when displayed on the data panel with no other icons, power is insufficient for camera operation. The shutter will not release. When replacing exhausted batteries, wait thirty seconds between removing the old batteries and inserting the new ones.

Low-battery warning - battery power is very low. The batteries should be replaced as soon as possible. This warning automatically appears and remains on the monitor until the batteries are changed.

AUTO POWER SAVE

To conserve battery power, the camera will turn off displays and unnecessary functions if an operation is not made within a certain period. The LCD monitor will turn off after thirty seconds. The data panel turns off after one minute. To restore the displays, press any button or key, or turn the mode dial to another position. The length of the autopower-save period for the data panel can be changed in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 84).

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. The monitor icon will change from white to red when battery power is low. If the data panel and monitor are blank, the batteries may be dead or installed incorrectly.

Open the battery-chamber door by moving the batterychamber lock (1) to the open position . Slide the door forward (2) to release the safety catch; the door should spring open (3).

GETTING UP AND RUNNING

When installing batteries, make sure the battery terminals are clean. Residue or dirt on the terminals can sometimes cause a false low-battery warning. Always use a clean, dry cloth to clean batteries.

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