Nikon 2500 User Manual

En

En

The Guide to Digital Photography

with the

DIGITAL CAMERA

Shoot, View, and Enjoy

A Flowchart Guide to Using Your Camera

STEP 1—Ready the camera

Getting ready First Steps 16

Camera setup

STEP 2—Take pictures

Creative photography
(scene mode)

STEP 3—Play them back…

…and delete unwanted pictures…

First Steps
Camera Setup

Tutorial: Taking PicturesSnapshots (auto mode) 24

Getting Creative

Taking Pictures: The DetailsCustom shots and movies 51

Review and Deletion…while shooting… 31

Basic Playback…after shooting… 78

Keep or Delete…immediately 58

Review and Deletion…while shooting 31

Basic Playback…during playback 78

Deleting PicturesDelete multiple pictures 86

16
69

36

STEP 4—Install camera software

Quick Start Guide (provided)Install software

Get to know Nikon View 5 —

STEP 5—Copy pictures to your computer

Nikon View 5 Reference
Manual (provided on CD)

ConnectionsTransfer pictures 41

—

Product Documentation

The documentation for this product
includes the manuals listed below.
Please be sure to read all instructions
thoroughly to get the most from your
camera.

Quick-Start Guide

The Quick-Start Guide takes you
through the process of unpacking
and setting up your Nikon digital
camera, taking your first pictures, in­stalling software, and transferring
pictures to your computer.

Guide to Digital Photography

The Guide to Digital Photography
(this manual) provides complete op­erating instructions for your camera.

Nikon View 5 Reference Manual

The Nikon View 5 Reference Manual
can be found in electronic format
on the reference CD provided with
your camera. For information on
viewing the Reference Manual, see
“Connections” in this manual.

Overview

Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500

Menu Guide

First Steps

Taking Pictures

Review and Deletion

Getting Creative

Connections

Beyond Point-and-Shoot

Fine-Tuning Camera Settings

Camera Setup

Basic Playback

The Playback Menu

Technical Notes

Index

i

For Your Safety

To prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or to others,
read the following safety precautions in their entirety before using this equip­ment. Keep these safety instructions where all those who use the product
will read them.

The consequences that could result from failure to observe the precautions
listed in this section are indicated by the following symbol:

This icon marks warnings, information that should be read before us­ing your Nikon product to prevent possible injury.

WARNINGS

Turn off immediately in the event
of malfunction

Should you notice smoke or an un­usual smell coming from the equip­ment or from the AC adapter (avail­able separately), unplug the AC
adapter or remove the battery imme­diately, taking care to avoid burns.
Continued operation could result in
injury. After removing the battery,
take the equipment to a Nikon-autho­rized service center for inspection.

Do not use in the presence of flam­mable gas

Do not use electronic equipment in
the presence of flammable gas, as this
could result in explosion or fire.

Observe caution when using the
camera strap

Caution should be exercised to pre­vent strangulation when wearing the
camera strap around your neck. Never
place the strap around the neck of an
infant or child.

ii

Do not disassemble

Touching the product’s internal parts
could result in injury. In the event of
a malfunction, the product should be
repaired only by a qualified technician.
Should the product break open as the
result of a fall or other accident, re­move the battery or AC adapter and
then take the product to a Nikon-au­thorized service center for inspection.

Observe proper precautions when
handling batteries

Batteries may leak or explode if im­properly handled. Observe the follow­ing precautions when handling bat­teries for use in this product:

• Be sure the product is off before re­placing the battery. If you are using
an AC adapter, be sure it is un­plugged.

• Use only a rechargeable Nikon EN-EL2
lithium-ion battery (supplied).

• When inserting the battery, do not at­tempt to insert it upside down or
backwards.

• Do not short or disassemble the bat­tery.

• Do not expose the battery to flame
or to excessive heat.

• Do not immerse in or expose to water.

• Do not transport or store with metal
objects such as necklaces or hairpins.

• Batteries are prone to leakage when
fully discharged. To avoid damage to
the product, be sure to remove the
battery when no charge remains.

• When the battery is not in use, attach
the terminal cover and store in a cool
place.

• Immediately after use, or when the
product is used on battery power for
an extended period, the battery may
become hot. Before removing the
battery, turn the camera off and al­low the battery to cool.

• Discontinue use immediately should
you notice any changes in the battery,
such as discoloration or deformation.

Use appropriate cables

When connecting cables to the input
and output jacks, use only the cables
provided or sold by Nikon for the pur­pose, to maintain compliance with
product regulations.

The lens section

• Do not insert your fingers in the gap
between the rotating lens section and
the camera body. Your fingers could
be pinched between the body and the
lens section, resulting in injury. Par­ticular care should be observed in the
case of small children.

• To prevent your fingers, flesh, or other
objects from being pinched in the gap
between the rotating lens section and
the camera body, return the lens sec­tion to its housing in the camera body
before transporting the camera.

Keep out of reach of children

Particular care should be taken to pre­vent infants from putting the battery
or other small parts into their mouths.

Removing memory cards

Memory cards may become hot dur­ing use. Observe due caution when
removing memory cards from the
camera.

CD-ROMs

The CD-ROMs on which the software
and manuals are distributed should
not be played back on audio CD
equipment. Playing CD-ROMs on an
audio CD player could cause hearing
loss or damage the equipment.

Observe caution when operating
the flash

Using the flash close to your subject’s
eyes could cause temporary visual im­pairment. Particular care should be
observed if photographing infants,
when the flash should be no less than
one meter (39˝) from the subject.

Avoid contact with liquid crystal

Should the monitor break, care should
be taken to avoid injury due to bro­ken glass and to prevent liquid crystal
from the monitor touching the skin
or entering the eyes or mouth.

iii

Caring for the Camera and Battery

Keep dry

This product is not waterproof, and may
malfunction if immersed in water or ex­posed to high levels of humidity. Rusting
of the internal mechanism can cause irrepa­rable damage.

Keep free of salt, sand, and dust

After using your camera at the beach or
seaside, wipe off any sand or salt with a
lightly dampened cloth and then dry your
camera thoroughly.

Do not touch the lens with your fingers

The proper procedure for cleaning the lens
is described in “Technical Notes: Caring for
Your Camera.”

Handle the lens and all moving parts
with care

Do not apply force to the lens or to the
battery, card, and connector covers. These
parts are especially susceptible to damage.

Turn the product off before removing
the battery or unplugging the AC
adapter

Do not unplug the product or remove the
battery while the product is on, or while
images are being recorded or deleted.
Forcibly cutting power to the product in
these circumstances could result in loss of
data or in damage to product memory or
internal circuitry. To prevent an accidental
interruption of power, avoid carrying the
product from one location to another while
the AC adapter is connected.

Do not drop

The product may malfunction if subjected
to strong shocks or vibration.

iv

Keep away from strong magnetic fields

Do not use or store this device in the vicin­ity of equipment that generates strong
electromagnetic radiation or magnetic
fields. Strong static charges or the mag­netic fields produced by equipment such
as radio transmitters could interfere with
the monitor, damage data stored on the
memory card, or affect the product’s inter­nal circuitry.

Avoid sudden changes in temperature

Sudden changes in temperature, such as
occur when entering or leaving a heated
building on a cold day, can cause conden­sation inside the device. To prevent con­densation, place the device in a carrying
case or a plastic bag before exposing it to
sudden changes in temperature.

Notes on the monitor

• The monitor may contain a few pixels that
are always lit or that do not light. This is
a characteristic common to all TFT LCD
monitors and does not indicate a mal­function. Images recorded with the prod­uct will not be affected.

• Images in the monitor may be difficult to
see in a bright light.

• The monitor is lit by an LED backlight.
Should the monitor begin to dim or
flicker, contact your Nikon service repre­sentative.

• Do not apply pressure to the monitor, as
this could cause damage or malfunction.
Dust or lint adhering to the monitor can
be removed with a blower brush. Stains
can be removed by rubbing the surface
lightly with a soft cloth or chamois
leather.

• Should the monitor break, care should
be taken to avoid injury due to broken
glass and to prevent the liquid crystal
from the monitor touching the skin or
entering the eyes or mouth.

Smear

When you frame bright subjects, vertical
comet-like streaks that whiten toward ei­ther end may appear in the monitor. This
phenomenon, known as “smear,” does not
appear in the final photograph and does
not indicate a malfunction. Some smear­ing may appear in movies.

Batteries

• When you turn the device on, check the
battery-level displayed in the monitor to
determine whether the battery needs to
be replaced. The battery needs to be re­placed when the battery-level indicator
is flashing.

• Ready a spare battery and keep it fully
charged when taking pictures on impor­tant occasions. Depending on your lo­cation, you may find it difficult to pur­chase replacement batteries on short
notice.

• On cold days, the capacity of batteries
tends to decrease. Be sure the battery is
fully charged before taking pictures out­side in cold weather. Keep a spare bat­tery in a warm place and exchange the
two as necessary. Once warmed, a cold
battery may recover some of its charge.

• Should the battery terminals become
dirty, wipe them off with a clean, dry cloth
before use.

Memory cards

• Turn the power off before inserting or re­moving memory cards. Inserting or re­moving cards with the power on could
render them unusable.

• Insert memory cards
as shown in the illus­tration at right. In­serting cards upside
down or backwards
could damage the
camera or the card.

Storage

• To prevent mold or mildew, store the
camera in a dry, well-ventilated area. If
you will not be using the product for long
periods, remove the battery to prevent
leakage and store the camera in a plastic
bag containing a desiccant. Do not, how­ever, store the camera case in a plastic
bag, as this may cause the material to
deteriorate. Note that desiccant gradu­ally loses its capacity to absorb moisture
and should be replaced at regular inter­vals.

• Do not store the camera with naphtha
or camphor moth balls, close to equip­ment that produces strong magnetic
fields, or in areas subject to extremes of
temperature, for example near a space
heater or in a closed vehicle on a hot day.

• To prevent mold or mildew, take the cam­era out of storage at least once a month.
Turn the camera on and release the shut­ter a few times before putting the cam­era away again.

• Store the battery in a cool, dry place.

v

Notices

• No part of the manuals included with this product may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any
language in any form, by any means, without Nikon’s prior written permis­sion.

• Nikon reserves the right to change the specifications of the hardware and
software described in these manuals at any time and without prior notice.

• Nikon will not be held liable for any damages resulting from the use of this
product.

• While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in these
manuals is accurate and complete, we would appreciate it were you to
bring any errors or omissions to the attention of the Nikon representative
in your area (address provided separately).

Notice for customers in Canada

CAUTION

This class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interfer­ence Causing Equipment Regulations.

ATTENTION

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règle­ment sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.

A Note on Electronically-Controlled Cameras

In extremely rare instances, unusual characters may appear in the monitor and the
camera may stop functioning. In most cases, this phenomenon is caused by a strong
external static charge. Turn the camera off, remove and replace the battery, and turn
the camera on again, or, if you are using an AC adapter (available separately), discon­nect and reconnect the adapter and turn the camera on again. In the event of contin­ued malfunction, contact your retailer or Nikon representative. Note that disconnect­ing the power source as described above may result in loss of any data not recorded to
the memory card at the time the problem occurred. Data already recorded to the
memory card will not be affected.

vi

Notice for customers in the U.S.A.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio Frequency Interfer­ence Statement

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 receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

Tested To Comply
With FCC Standards

FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE

CAUTIONS

Modifications

The FCC requires the user to be notified that any changes or modifications
made to this device that are not expressly approved by Nikon Corporation
may void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Interface Cables

Use the interface cables sold or provided by Nikon for your equipment. Using
other interface cables may exceed the limits of Class B Part 15 of the FCC
rules.

Nikon Inc.,
1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York
11747-3064, U.S.A.
Tel.: [phone]

E2500

vii

Notice Concerning Prohibition of Copying or Reproduction

Note that simply being in possession of material that has been digitally copied or repro­duced by means of a scanner, digital camera or other device may be punishable by law.

• Items prohibited by law from being
copied or reproduced

Do not copy or reproduce paper money,
coins, securities, government bonds, or
local government bonds, even if such cop­ies or reproductions are stamped
“Sample.”

The copying or reproduction of paper
money, coins, or securities which are cir­culated in a foreign country is prohibited.

Unless the prior permission of the gov­ernment has been obtained, the copying
or reproduction of unused postage
stamps or post cards issued by the gov­ernment is prohibited.

The copying or reproduction of stamps
issued by the government and of certi­fied documents stipulated by law is pro­hibited.

Trademark Information

Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac OS, Power Macintosh, PowerBook, and QuickTime are regis­tered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Finder, Power Mac, iMac, and iBook are trademarks of Apple
Computer, Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Microsoft,
Windows, and Outlook are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Internet Explorer is a
product of Microsoft Corporation. Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Internet is a trademark
of Digital Equipment Corporation. Netscape and Netscape Navigator are registered trademarks of
Netscape Communications Corporation. CompactFlash is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. Lexar
Media is a trademark of Lexar Media Corporation. Adobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of
Adobe Systems Inc. Zip is a registered trademark of Iomega Corporation in the U.S. and other coun­tries. Eudora is a registered trademark of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, licensed to
QUALCOMM Incorporated. PRINT Image Matching is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All
other trade names mentioned in this manual or the other documentation provided with your Nikon
product are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

• Cautions on certain copies and repro­ductions

The government has issued cautions on
copies or reproductions of securities is­sued by private companies (shares, bills,
checks, gift certificates, etc.), commuter
passes, or coupon tickets, except when a
minimum of necessary copies are to be
provided for business use by a company.
Also, do not copy or reproduce passports
issued by the government, licenses issued
by public agencies and private groups, ID
cards, and tickets, such as passes and meal
coupons.

• Comply with copyright notices

The copying or reproduction of copy­righted creative works such as books, mu­sic, paintings, woodcut prints, maps,
drawings, movies, and photographs is
prohibited except when it is done for per­sonal use at home or for similar restricted
and non-commercial use.

viii

Table of Contents

Product Documentation .................................................................................. i

For Your Safety ............................................................................................... ii

Caring for the Camera and Battery ................................................................. iv

Notices ........................................................................................................... vi

Introduction: Before You Begin ...................................................................... 1

Overview: About This Manual ....................................................................... 2

Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500: The Parts of the Camera and Their

Functions ......................................................................................................... 4

Where to Find It—Parts of the COOLPIX 2500 ................................................ 4

How to Use It—Camera Controls and Displays ................................................ 6

Menu Guide: Index to Menu Options ........................................................... 9

Tutorial: Getting Started ................................................................................. 15

First Steps: Getting Ready to Use Your Camera ............................................ 16

Step 1—Attach the Camera Strap ................................................................... 16

Step 2—Insert the Battery and Memory Card .................................................. 16

Step 3—Check the Battery Level ..................................................................... 18

Step 4—Choose a Language .......................................................................... 20

Step 5—Set the Time and Date ....................................................................... 22

Taking Pictures: The Basics ............................................................................. 24

Step 1—Ready the Camera ............................................................................. 24

Step 2—Choose Mode .......................................................................... 25

Step 3—Adjust Camera Settings (Optional) ..................................................... 26

Step 4—Frame the Picture .............................................................................. 26

Step 5—Focus and Shoot ............................................................................... 28

Step 6—Put the Camera Away ....................................................................... 30

Review and Deletion: Quick Review ............................................................. 31

Quick Review .................................................................................................. 32

Full-Screen Review .......................................................................................... 32

Thumbnail Review .......................................................................................... 34

Getting Creative: Scene Selection ................................................................. 36

Connections: Your Camera and Your Computer ............................................ 41

Before You Begin: Installing Nikon View 5 ....................................................... 42

Making the Connection: Connecting to Your Computer ................................. 44

ix

Taking Pictures: The Details ............................................................................ 51

Beyond Point-and-Shoot: Camera Controls .................................................. 52

, , or Movie: Choosing a Shooting Mode ......................................... 52

Flash Photography: The Button .................................................................. 53

Delaying Shutter Release: Choosing a Self-Timer Mode ................................... 55

Framing Pictures: Optical and Digital Zoom ..................................................... 57

Keep or Delete: Picture Review ....................................................................... 58

Fine-Tuning Camera Settings: The -Mode Menu ..................................... 59

Making Effective Use of Memory: Image Quality and Size ............................... 60

Adjusting Exposure: Exp. +/–........................................................................... 63

Keeping Colors True: White Balance ............................................................... 64

Taking Pictures in a Sequence: Continuous ...................................................... 66

Getting Sharper Pictures: BSS (Best Shot Selector) ........................................... 67

Making Edges More Distinct: Image Sharpening ............................................. 68

Camera Setup: The SET-UP Menu ................................................................... 69

Adjusting Monitor Brightness: Brightness ........................................................ 72

Formatting Memory Cards: CF Card Format .................................................... 73

Setting the Time and Date: Date ..................................................................... 74

Conserving Battery Power: Auto Off ............................................................... 74

Choosing a Language: Language .................................................................... 75

Choosing a USB Protocol: USB ........................................................................ 75

Restoring Default Settings: Reset All ( Mode Only) .................................. 76

Playing Pictures Back: Playback Mode ........................................................... 77

Basic Playback: Full-Frame and Thumbnail Playback ................................... 78

The Playback Menu: Managing Pictures ....................................................... 85

Deleting Pictures: Delete ................................................................................. 86

Ordering Prints: Print Set................................................................................. 88

Safeguarding Valuable Pictures: Protect .......................................................... 90

Marking All Pictures for Transfer: Auto Transfer............................................... 91

Technical Notes: Camera Care, Options, and Resources ............................... 93

Caring for Your Camera .................................................................................. 94

Optional Accessories ....................................................................................... 95

Web Resources ............................................................................................... 96

Troubleshooting.............................................................................................. 96

Specifications ................................................................................................. 103

Index ................................................................................................................. 106

x

Introduction

Before You Begin

This chapter is divided into the following sections:

Overview

Read this section for a description of how this
manual is organized and for an explanation of the
symbols and conventions used.

Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500

Bookmark this section and refer to it as you read
through the manual for information on the names
and functions of camera parts.

Menu Guide

Refer to this section for instructions on using the
menus that control some aspects of camera opera­tion. This section also contains an index of menu
options.

Overview

2–3

Getting to Know the
COOLPIX 2500

4–8

Menu Guide

9–14

1

Overview

About This Manual

Thank you for your purchase of a COOLPIX 2500 digital camera. This manual
has been written to help you enjoy taking digital pictures with your COOLPIX

Introduction—Overview

2500. Read this manual thoroughly before use, and keep it handy when
using the product.

Use Only Nikon Brand Electronic Accessories

Your Nikon COOLPIX digital camera is designed to the highest standards and
includes complex electronic circuitry. Only Nikon brand electronic accessories
(including battery chargers, batteries, and AC adapters) certified by Nikon
specifically for use with your Nikon digital camera are engineered and proven
to operate within the operational and safety requirements of this electronic
circuitry.

THE USE OF NON-NIKON ELECTRONIC ACCESSORIES COULD DAMAGE YOUR CAMERA AND MAY VOID

NIKON WARRANTY.

YOUR

For more information about Nikon brand accessories, contact your local au­thorized Nikon dealer.

2

To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols and
conventions are used:

This icon marks cautions, infor­mation that you should read be­fore use to prevent damage to
your camera.

This icon marks tips, additional
information you may find help­ful when using your camera.

Introduction—Overview

This icon marks notes, informa­tion that you should read before
using your camera.

This icon indicates that more in­formation is available elsewhere
in this manual.

Life-Long Learning

As part of Nikon’s “Life-Long Learning” commitment to ongoing product sup­port and education, continually-updated information is available on-line at
the following sites:

•For users in the U.S.A.: http://www.nikonusa.com/

•For users in Europe: http://www.nikon-euro.com/

•For users in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa:

http://www.nikon-asia.com/

Visit these sites to keep up-to-date with the latest product information, tips,
answers to frequently-asked questions (FAQs), and general advice on digital
imaging and photography. Additional information may be available from the
Nikon representative in your area. See the URL below for contact information:

http://www.nikon-image.com/eng/

3

Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500

The Parts of the Camera and Their Functions

Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls and displays.
You may find it helpful to bookmark this section and refer to it as you read

Introduction—Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500

through the rest of the manual.

Where to Find It—Parts of the COOLPIX 2500

The parts of the camera are identified below. For more information on the
function of each part, refer to the page numbers listed.

A1

45 3 2

1 Shutter-release button ..... 28, 29

2 Eyelet for camera strap .......... 16

3 Built-in Speedlight ................. 53

4 Lens ........................ 18, 26, 103

5 Self-timer lamp ...................... 55

6 Zoom buttons (

........................... 27, 57, 80, 81

7 Cover latch ............................ 17

/ )

4

8 Battery-chamber/memory card

slot cover .............................. 17

9 Cover release (for use when

connecting optional EH-60 AC

adapter) .......................... 19, 95

10 USB connector

(under cover) ......................... 45

11

12 button ............... 59, 70, 85

/SMALL PIC. button...

31, 82

Introduction—Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500

17

15 13 12 1116

13 / button .. 36, 46, 79, 80
14 Tripod socket

/ button..... 33-34, 53, 78, 80

15

16 Flash-ready lamp ................... 28

17 Non-slip grip

B

C

6

1014

A Mode selector ......................... 6

B Monitor................................... 6

C Multi selector .......................... 8

7

8

9

5

How to Use It—Camera Controls and Displays

Introduction—Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500

A The Mode Selector

The mode selector selects the operating mode and
turns the camera on and off. Choose to take
still pictures and movies ( 52), (playback
mode) to play them back ( 78). Slide the mode
selector to OFF when you have finished using the
camera.

B The Monitor

The monitor is where you compose pictures before shooting. In mode,
the monitor shows the view through the camera lens, together with icons
indicating the status of camera settings.

13245

17
16

15
14
13

NORMAL

1600

15

89101112

1 Zoom indicator ...................... 57

2

Focus indicator1..................... 28

3 Recording indicator ............... 29

4 “Date not set” icon2............. 23

3

5 Camera shake icon

.............. 54

6 Battery level indicator4.......... 19

7 Self-timer indicator ................ 55

6

8 Number of exposures remaining

............................................. 25

9 Exposure compensation ......... 63

7

10 Flash mode ............................ 53

11 Image quality ........................ 61

12 Image size ............................. 62

13 Sensitivity gain indicator ........ 54

14 Best shot selector (BSS)/continu-

ous shooting mode .......... 67/66

15 Image sharpening .................. 68

16 White balance ....................... 64

17 Shooting mode ............... 25, 36

mode

Playback mode

1 Displayed only when shutter-release button is

pressed halfway.

2 Appears when clock-calendar has not been set.

6

3 Appears only at slow shutter speeds.
4 Appears only when battery is running low.

The monitor is also used to play pictures back. When a picture is played back
full screen, information about the image is shown superimposed on the photo.

11
10

NORMAL

1600

0012/0015

789

1

1 Current folder ....................... 49

2
3

2 File number and type ............. 49

3 Battery level indicator*........... 19

4

4 Transfer icon........ 33, 34, 44, 79

5
6

5 Print-order icon ..................... 88

6 Protect icon ........................... 90

7 Current frame number/

total number of frames

8 Image quality ........................ 61

9 Image size ............................. 62

10 Time of recording .................. 22

11 Date of recording .................. 22

* Appears only when battery is running low.

Controlling the Monitor

To hide camera settings or photo info, press the multi selector to the left.
Press the multi selector to the left a second time to view indicators again.

Introduction—Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500

Indicators
displayed

1600

NORMAL

Indicators

hidden

15

7

C The Multi Selector

Introduction—Getting to Know the COOLPIX 2500

The multi selector is used to navigate through cam-
era menus, to page through or select pictures
during playback ( 78), and to control the dis­play of indicators in the monitor. In mode, the
multi selector is also used to select the shooting
mode and to turn the self-timer on and off.

Self-timer on/off ( 55)

Press up to display
self-timer menu, press

ONON

up or down to highlight

OFFOFF

option. Press right to
exit menu.

Indicators on/off ( 7)

Press to left to hide or
display indicators in
monitor.

8

Shooting mode selection

( 52)

Press down to display shoot­ing-mode menu, press up or
down to highlight option.
Press right to exit menu.

Menu Guide

Index to Menu Options

Changes to some camera settings are made with the help of menus that
appear in the camera monitor. The options available depend on the operat­ing mode and, in mode, on the shooting mode selected ( 52).

Menu DescriptionMode

SHOOTING

SET-UP

PLAY

BACK

In (auto) and scene modes, the SHOOT­ING menu is used to set image quality and size,
and to adjust exposure for very bright, very dark,
or high-contrast subjects.

(manual) mode gives you full control over
camera settings. In addition to the settings avail­able in auto and scene modes, the manual­mode SHOOTING menu contains four advanced
shooting options.

The SET-UP menu, which is accessed from the
SHOOTING menu, contains options for basic
camera setup (e.g., setting the time and date,
choosing a language).

The PLAY BACK menu contains options for
managing the pictures stored on the memory
card by, for example, deleting selected images
or selecting pictures for printing or for transfer
to your computer.

10,

59–

63

11,

59–

68

12,

70–

76

13,

72–

73,

85–

91

Introduction—Menu Guide

No menu is available in movie mode ( 52, 98).

9

SHOOTING MENU

Introduction—Menu Guide

SELECT

OFF

MENU

IMAGE QUALITY

IMAGE QUALITY

Choose FINE for printing and enlarg­ing, BASIC to reduce file size.

SET

SELECT

OFF

MENU

IMAGE SIZE

IMAGE SIZE

Choose small sizes for e-mail or the
web, large sizes for printing.

SET

SELECT

OFF

MENU

–

EXP.+/

EXP. +/–

Adjust exposure for bright, dark, or
high contrast subjects.

SET

SELECT

OFF

MENU

The Shooting Menu / Scene

Pressing the MENU button when the mode selector is
set to displays the SHOOTING menu. In (auto)
and scene modes, this menu contains three basic shoot­ing options.

SET

FINE

NORMAL

61

BASIC

1600

1280
1024

62

640

Choose from settings
between –2.0 and

63

+2.0 EV

10

SHOOTING MENU

SELECT

OFF

MENU

IMAGE QUALITY
FINE

NORMAL

BASIC

SELECT

OFF

MENU

IMAGE SIZE

SELECT

OFF

MENU

WHITE BALANCE

SELECT

OFF

MENU

–

EXP.+/

SELECT

OFF

MENU

CONTINUOUS

Single

Continuous
Multi-Shot 16

SELECT

OFF

MENU

BEST SHOT SELECTOR

On

Off

SELECT

OFF

MENU

IMAGE SHARPENING

Auto

High
Norm

al

Lo

w

ff

O

SELECT

OFF

MENU

The Shooting Menu

In (manual) mode, the SHOOTING menu contains
four advanced shooting options in addition to the three
basic options available in auto and scene modes.

SET

IMAGE QUALITY

Choose FINE for printing and enlarg­ing, BASIC to reduce file size.

SET

IMAGE SIZE

Choose small sizes for e-mail or the
web, large sizes for printing.

SET

WHITE BALANCE

Match to lighting to ensure
that colors are reproduced
accurately.

SET

64

EXP. +/–

Adjust exposure for bright, dark, or
high contrast subjects.

SET

CONTINUOUS

Take pictures in sequence or create
collages of sixteen consecutive pho­tographs.

SET

BEST SHOT SELECTOR

Use when photos could be blurred by
inadvertent camera movement.

SET

IMAGE SHARPENING

Heighten or reduce the
sharpness of outlines in your
photographs.

SET

68

FINE

NORMAL

61

BASIC

1600

1280
1024

62

Auto

A

White Bal Preset
Fine
Incandescent

Choose from settings
between –2.0 and

63

+2.0 EV

66

On

Off

67

Auto

High
Normal

Introduction—Menu Guide

640

Fluorescent
Cloudy
Speedlight

Single

Continuous
Multi-Shot 16

Low
Off

11

SET-UP
Brightness
CF Card Format

Introduction—Menu Guide

Date
Auto Off
Language
USB
Reset All

MENU

SELECT

OFF

BRIGHTNESS

Brightness

Adjust monitor brightness.

SET

SELECT

OFF

MENU

CF CARD FORMAT

WARNING !
All images will
be deleted !

No

Format

SELECT

OFF

MENU

DATE

CF Card Format

Format memory cards for use in your
camera.

SET

Date

Set the time and date.

SET

SELECT

OFF

MENU

AUTO OFF

Brightness
CF Card Format
Date

Auto Off

Language
USB
Reset All

SELECT

OFF

MENU

LANGUAGE

Brightness
CF Card Format
Date
Auto Off

Language

USB
Reset All

SELECT

OFF

MENU

USB

Brightness
CF Card Format
Date
Auto Off

PTP

Language

Mass Storage

USB

Reset All

SELECT

OFF

MENU

RESET ALL

Reset all settings
to default values

No

Reset

SELECT

OFF

MENU

Auto Off

Specify how long the monitor will re­main on before turning off automat­ically to save power.

SET

Language

Choose the language in which cam­era messages and menus are dis­played.

SET

USB

Choose a transfer protocol for use
when your camera is connected to a
computer.

SET

Reset All ( mode only)

Reset camera settings to their default
values.

SET

12

The Setup Menu / / Scene

The SET-UP menu, which can be accessed from the
SHOOTING menu, contains options for camera setup.

SET

Maximum

(Five levels)

72

Minimum

No

Format

73

Year, Month, Day, hour,
minute, order of dis­play for year, month,

22–23

and day

30 s

1m
5m

74

30 m

De (German)

20–21

En (English)

Fr (French)

Es (Spanish)

PTP

Mass Storage

75

No

Ye s

76

(Japanese)

Delete

Print Set
Protect
Auto Transfer
CF Card Format
Brightness

OFF

MENU

DELETE

Selected Images

All Images

SELECT

OFF

MENU

PRINT SET

Print set

Delete print set

SELECT

OFF

MENU

PROTECT

SELECT SET

AUTO TRANSFER

All ON

All OFF

SELECT

OFF

MENU

CF CARD FORMAT

WARNING !
All images will
be deleted !

No

Format

SELECT

OFF

MENU

BRIGHTNESS

SELECT

OFF

MENU

DELETE

The Playback Menu

Pressing the MENU button when the mode selector is
set to displays the PLAY BACK menu, which con­tains options for managing the pictures on the memory
card.

SELECT

SET

Delete

Delete all or selected pictures.

SET

Print Set

Select pictures for printing on a DPOF­compatible device.

SET

Protect

Protect selected pictures from acci­dental deletion.

QUICK

DONE

Auto Transfer

Mark all pictures for transfer to a com­puter, or remove transfer marking
from all pictures.

SET

CF Card Format

This option is used to format memory
cards for use in your camera.

SET

Brightness

Adjust monitor brightness.

SET

86–87

88–89

90

91

73

72

Introduction—Menu Guide

Selected Images
All Images

Print set
Delete print set

Select pictures for pro­tection. Protected pic­tures are marked by a

icon.

All ON

All OFF

No

Format

Maximum

(Five levels)

Minimum

13

The Scene Menu ( and Modes)

Your Nikon digital camera offers a choice of twelve “scene” modes for com-

Introduction—Menu Guide

mon compositions. When a scene is selected from the SCENE menu, camera
settings are automatically adjusted to produce optimal results for the selected
scene, sparing you the necessity of adjusting camera settings one-by-one.

Mode Description

Portrait

Party/Indoor

Night Portrait

Beach/Snow

Landscape

Sunset

Night Landscape

Museum

Fireworks Show

Close Up

Copy

Back Light

Use for portraits.

Use to capture background details or the effects
of candlelight and other indoor lighting.

Use when shooting portraits against a backdrop
of night scenery.

Use for bright subjects such as snowfields, beach­es, and sunlight expanses of water.

Use to enhance outlines, colors, and contrast in
skyscapes, forests, and other landscape shots.

Use to preserve the deep hues seen in sunsets and
sunrises.

Use when taking landscape shots a night.

Use where a flash is prohibited.

Use to capture the expanding burst of light from
a firework.

Use to capture vivid colors in close-up shots of
flowers, insects, and other small objects.

Use to copy text and line drawings from a white
board or from a book or other printed matter.

Use when light is coming from behind your sub­ject, throwing their features into shadow.

37

37

38

38

38

39

39

39

39

40

40

40

14

Tutorial

Getting Started

This chapter is divided into the following four sec­tions:

First Steps

This section details the steps you will take before
using your camera for the first time.

Taking Pictures

Read this section for a step-by-step guide to the
basics of taking pictures with the COOLPIX 2500.

Review and Deletion

Learn how to review and delete pictures while set­ting up your next shot.

Getting Creative

Explore the creative possibilities of scene mode.

First Steps

16–23

Taking Pictures

24–30

Review and Deletion

31–35

Getting Creative

36–40

15

First Steps

Getting Ready to Use Your Camera

Before using your camera for the first time, you will need to complete the
steps shown below.

Tutorial—First Steps

Attach the Camera Strap 16STEP 1
Insert the Battery and Memory Card 16–17STEP 2
Check the Battery Level 18–19STEP 3
Choose a Language 20–21STEP 4
Set the Time and Date 22–23STEP 5

Step 1—Attach the Camera Strap

To ensure that the camera is not dropped and damaged, attach the strap as
shown and wear it around your neck while using or carrying the camera.

Adjust to length shown if

wearing around neck

Step 2—Insert the Battery and Memory Card

Your camera is powered by a rechargeable Nikon EN-EL2 lithium-ion battery,
which can be charged using the MH-60 battery charger provided with the
camera. To store pictures, your camera uses CompactFlash™ memory cards.

.1 Charge the battery

2

The EN-EL2 lithium-ion battery supplied with your camera is not fully
charged at shipment. We recommend that you charge the battery be­fore use. Instructions for charging the battery may be found in the
instruction manual included with the battery charger.

.2 Turn the camera off

2

Before inserting or removing the battery or
memory card, be sure the mode selector is
in the “OFF” position.

16

.3 Open the battery-chamber/card slot cover

2

Slide the cover latch in the direction of the icon (A1) until the red dot
is visible (A2), indicating that the cover is unlatched. Slide the cover out
(B) and flip it open (C).

A B

.4 Insert the battery and memory card

2

Insert a fully-charged EN-EL2 battery with
the “+” and “–” contacts oriented as shown

C

A

2
L
E

­N
E

in the label on the underside of the battery­chamber/card slot cover (A). Insert the
memory card as shown in the label at the
entrance to the memory card slot (B), slid-

2
L
E

­N

B

E

ing it in until it is firmly in place and the
eject button pops up (the card is fully in­serted when the top of the card is level with
the top of the eject button).

.5 Close the battery-chamber/card slot cover

2

Close the battery chamber/card slot cover (A, B) and slide the latch in
the direction of the icon until the red dot is hidden, indicating that
the cover is latched (C). To prevent the battery or memory card being
dislodged during operation, be sure that the cover is securely latched.

Tutorial—First Steps

2
L
E

­N
E

EL 2

­EN

A

B

C

Formatting Memory Cards

The memory card supplied with your camera is formatted at shipment. Other
memory cards, however, must be formatted before first use. For information
on formatting memory cards, see “Camera Setup: CF Card Format” ( 73).

17

Step 3—Check the Battery Level

Before using the camera, check the battery level in the monitor to make sure

Tutorial—First Steps

that the battery is charged.

.1 Turn the lens section to shooting position

3

Before taking pictures, rotate the lens sec­tion to bring the lens into shooting position,
as shown at right. If you omit this step be­fore sliding the mode selector to , a mes­sage will be displayed in the monitor. To
clear the message from the screen, rotate
the lens section to shooting position.

.2 Turn the camera on

3

Slide the mode selector to .

Read Battery Warnings

Read and follow all warnings and instructions supplied by the battery
manufacturer.

The Lens Section

When adjusting the angle of the lens, rotate the
lens section slowly; do not use excessive force.
Care should be taken to avoid catching fingers,
hair, or clothing between the lens section and the
camera body.

Removing the Memory Card

Memory cards can be removed without loss of data
when the camera is off. When removing memory
cards, turn the camera off and open the battery
chamber/card slot cover (1). Press the eject but­ton to partially eject the card (2), and then remove
the card by hand.

18

1

2