Minolta DiMage Xt User guide

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

E

2 3BEFORE 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 Viewer manual
Camera manual
Warranty card

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 lithium-ion battery can cause damage or injury through fire, electric shock, or
chemical leakage. Read and understand all warnings before using the battery.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

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 internal
battery 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 battery 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.

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.

4 5FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE

• 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. Adamaged cord may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock.

• If these products 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.

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 inap­propriate 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 battery, 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.

76 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. Afire 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

connected.

• 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:

Digital Camera:

Tested To Comply
With FCC Standards

FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE

8 9TABLE 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
important 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 data­transfer 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

10 11TABLE 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

1312

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

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)

Tripod socket

Battery/Card chamber door (p. 14, 18)

DC terminal (p. 17)

Strap eyelet

(p. 17)

Shutter-release button

Viewfinder window*

Playback mode (p. 32)

Charger contacts*

Flash-mode button (p. 28)

NAMES OF PARTS

Recording mode (p. 22)

Setup mode (p. 74)

14 15GETTING UP AND RUNNING

GETTING UP AND RUNNING

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 3and 4 of this manual. Only recharge the
battery with the supplied battery charger. The battery should be recharged before each
shooting session. See page 108 for battery care and storage.

Asingle battery can be charged. With the battery
terminals forward and the label face up, slide the
battery 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.

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 battery, 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 battery 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
battery 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.

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 inserted 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.

16 17GETTING 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 battery 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.

AUTO POWER OFF

To conserve 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.

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.

Half-full-battery icon - the battery is partially 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.

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

18 19GETTING UP AND RUNNING

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 card-locked
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. Acard 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.

INST ALLING AND REMOVING A MEMORY CARD ABOUT MEMORY CARDS

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 memory 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

Write­protect
switch

Lock
position

20 21GETTING UP AND RUNNING

SETTING THE DATE AND TIME

After initially inserting a memory card and charging the battery, 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
four-way 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.

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/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 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 lan-

guage.

Camera notes

Date/Time set –

Basic

Custom1 Custom2

Basic Custom1 Custom2

LCDbrightness
Format
File # memory
Folder name Std. form

Off

–

–

Language English

1

2

Controller

1

22 23RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION

RECORDING MODE - BASIC OPERATION

This section covers basic recording operation. T o preparethe 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.

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).

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

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

When the camera is turned on, the monitor
may turn off for a few seconds while the
flash charges.

24 25RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION

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’ wide­angle 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
controller button for about 1 second to activate the area (p. 54).

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 tele-

photo 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

2

LCD monitor

26 27RECORDING - 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 shutter­release 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 focus­lock 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 differ-

ent distances overlap
in the focus frame.

The subject is near a
very bright 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

28 29

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 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 shutter­release button to set the mode. The active flash
mode is displayed in the top left corner of the
LCD monitor. When the camera is turned of f 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 low­light and backlit conditions.

Red-eye reduction - the flash fires multiple
bursts before the main flash burst to reduce red­eye; an effect caused by light reflected from the
retina. Use in low-light conditions when taking
photographs of people or animals, the pre­flashes 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.

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

Autoflash with

red-eye reduction

Fill-flash

Night portrait

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 portraits 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.)

RECORDING - BASIC OPERATION

1

Autoflash

3130 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 battery-condition 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

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 writing on
the stone bollard at the front of the bridge prohibits
vehicles from crossing.

Minolta history

32 PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION

PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION

SINGLE-FRAME PLAYBACK DISPLAY

Images can be viewed in the Quick View or playback modes. This section covers the
basic operation in both modes. The playback mode has additional functions, see page

60.

Mode indicator

Time of recording

Date of recording

Lock indicator (p. 67)

Magnification display (p. 35)

Image-size display (p. 44)
Image-quality indicator (p. 44)
Battery-condition indicator (p. 16)

Frame number / total number of images

Audio-track indicator

DPOF-set indicator (p. 70)

Folder number - file number (p. 77)

E-mail copy indicator (p. 72)

33

To delete a displayed file, press the flash-mode/delete
button. Aconfirmation screen will appear.

DELETING SINGLE IMAGES

Delete this frame?

NoYes

To view images from the playback mode, turn the mode
dial to the playback position.

To view images from the recording or
movie/audio recording mode, press the
Quick View / Delete button.

VIEWING IMAGES

In Quick View or the playback mode,
use the left/right keys of the
controller to scroll through the
images on the memory card.

To return to the recording mode from Quick View,
press the menu button or press the shutter­release button partway down.

Controller

Quick View / Delete button

Menu button

Press the center button of the controller to
delete the file.

Use the left/right keys to highlight “YES.”
“NO” will cancel the operation.

34 PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION

In index playback, the left/right and up/down keys of the controller move the yellow
border around the index thumbnails. When the image is highlighted with the border, the
date of recording, audio-track indicator, the lock and printing status, e-mail copy indicator
and the frame number of the image are displayed at the bottom of the screen. The
accompanying audio track of the highlighted image can be played by pressing the center
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.

DISPLAY BUTTON - PLAYBACK MODE

Display button

35

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 left/right and up/down keys of
the controller to scroll the image.

In single-frame playback in both the Quick View and playback modes, a still image can
be enlarged by up to 6X in 0.2X increments.

Pressing the up key increases the image magnification.
Pressing the down key decreases the image
magnification.

To scroll the image, press the center button of the
controller. The center 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 image only.

Pressing the display button in
Quick View switches between the
full display and the image-only
display.

DISPLAY BUTTON - QUICK VIEW

Full
display

Image only

Index playback

The locator indicator in the top right corner of
the monitor shows the area of the image being
displayed.