MINOLTA Vectis 300 L Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Thank you for purchasing the Minolta Vectis 300L. This camera is an easy to operate lens shutter camera from Minolta’s line of Advanced Photo System™ cameras, featured with Drop-in Loading and a 24 - 70mm zoom lens. The sleek and compact design gives the Vectis 300La 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.

Unexposed Exposed

Processed

Partially Exposed

FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE.........................................................................6

NAMES OF PARTS.............................................................................................8

QUICK OPERATION.........................................................................................12

BASIC OPERATION

Attaching the Strap..................................................................................15

Installing the Battery................................................................................16

Checking the Battery...............................................................................17

Loading Film............................................................................................19

Full-Auto Operation .................................................................................24

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

For Closer Subjects.................................................................................30

Special Focusing Situations....................................................................33

Rewinding the Film..................................................................................34

Processing...............................................................................................36

USING THE BUILT-IN FLASH

Selecting the Flash Mode........................................................................38

Flash Range ............................................................................................39

Red-eye Reduction ..................................................................................40

Fill Flash ..................................................................................................41

Flash Cancel............................................................................................42

Night Portrait............................................................................................43

Landscape/Night View .............................................................................44

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Date Imprinting ........................................................................................46

Title Imprinting.........................................................................................52

Self-timer..................................................................................................60

Remote Control (Sold Separately)..........................................................62

APPENDIX

Lab Services............................................................................................68

Caring For Your Camera .........................................................................70

Technical Details ......................................................................................76

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAUTION

6 7

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 to avoid short-circuit when disposing of batteries, and follow local regulations for battery disposal.

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

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

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

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.

CAMERA BODY

8 9

NAMES OF PARTS

Flash-mode (38)/ Adjust button

Self-timer (60)/ Remote-control (62)/ Select button

Data panel (10)

Shutter-release button (27)

Title button (53)

Zoom buttons (26)

Date button (46)

Format switch (24)

* Do not touch

Viewfinder window*

AF windows*

Meter window*

Remote-control receiver*

Flash* (38)

Self-timer/Remote-control/ Red-eye reduction lamp*

Lens*

Tripod socket

Film chamber (21)

Manual-rewind button (35)

Strap eyelet (15)

Battery chamber (16)

Ready lamp (green) (11)

Viewfinder* (11)

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

Film-chamber release (21, 34)

Main switch

10 11

NAMES OF PARTS

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

Flash-mode indicators (38)

Self-timer indicator (60)

Remote-control indicator (62)

Cassette mark

Frame counter

Battery-condition indicator (17)

Title marks (54)

Date/Time/Title/ISO display

Ready lamp (green)

Close-framing guide (31)

Focus frame (26)

With the shutter-release button pressed partway down -

Glows: Camera is ready Blinks quickly: Subject is too close (shutter is locked) Blinks slowly: Camera shake warning Off: Flash is charging (shutter is locked)

DA TA PANEL VIEWFINDER

12 13

QUICK OPERATIONS

3. Select the print format (p. 24).

4. Frame the subject as desired (p. 26).

5. Center your subject in the focus frame (p. 26).

6. Press the shutterrelease button allthe-way down to take the picture (p. 27).

1. Insert the battery (p. 16) and press the main switch (p.

20).

2. Insert the film (p. 21).

14 15

ATTACHING THE STRAP

BASIC OPERATION

Attach the strap as shown.

Button keys are included on the strap. Use the smaller key to push the manual-rewind button (p. 35).

Button keys

16 17

INSTALLING THE BATTERY CHECKING THE BATTERY

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

1. Open the battery chamber as shown.

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

Briefly appears. Power is sufficient for all camera operations.

Power is sufficient, but the battery must be replaced soon.

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

Continued on following page.

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. 48).

18 19

CHECKING THE BATTERY

LOADING FILM

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.

• Use film from ISO 25-3200. Your camera will automatically set the proper ISO.

• 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.

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

• Auto Power Off: The data panel will shut off and the lens will retract if the camera is not operated for more than eight minutes. Press the main switch to restore power.

• Do not obstruct the lens while it is retracting.

Continued on following page.

20 21

LOADING FILM

3. Insert the cassette into the film chamber with the VEI on top.

• Do not use force when opening the film-chamber door.

2. Turn the camera upside down, then slide the film-chamber release to open the film door.

Visual Exposure Indicators

• The current VEI has a white indicator behind it.

VEI MEANING

UNEXPOSED PARTIALLY EXPOSED EXPOSED PROCESSED

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

Continued on following page.

22 23

LOADING FILM

If 0 blinks in the data panel, press 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.

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

• The data panel will display the cassette mark and the film’s ISO, then the number of frames remaining on the roll.

• After the film is loaded, the film chamber cannot be opened until the film has been rewound.

• 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.

24 25

FULL-AUTO OPERATION

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

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.

Continued on following page.

Correct Incorrect

2. Select the print format.

• The viewfinder will change to match your selection.

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