Nikon COOLPIX 3700 Owner Manual

The Nikon Guide to Digital Photography

with the

DIGITAL CAMERA

(En)

Trad emark I nformation

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. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Internet is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation. Adobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. The SD logo is a trademark of the SD Card Association. Epson and USB Direct Print are trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. PictBridge is a trademark. 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.

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 this Nikon product to prevent possible injury.

WARNINGS

Do not look at the sun through the view-

ﬁ nder

Viewing the sun or other strong light source through the viewﬁ nder could cause permanent visual impairment.

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 and 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 representative for inspection.

Do not use in the presence of ﬂ ammable

gas

Do not use electronic equipment in the presence of ﬂ ammable gas, as this could result in explosion or ﬁ re.

Observe caution when using the camera

strap

Never place the strap around the neck of an infant or child.

Do not disassemble

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

Observe proper precautions when han-

dling batteries

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

• Before replacing the battery, turn the product off and make sure the poweron lamp has gone out. If you are using an AC adapter, be sure it is unplugged.

• Use only rechargeable Nikon EN-EL5 lithium-ion batteries (supplied) or CP1 lithium batteries (available separately).

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

• Do not short or disassemble batteries.

• Do not expose batteries to ﬂ ame 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, at tach 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 change 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.

Keep out of reach of children

Particular care should be taken to prevent infants from putting the batteries 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

ﬂ ash

Using the ﬂ ash close to your subject’s eyes could cause temporary visual impairment. Particular care should be observed if photographing infants, when the ﬂ ash 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.

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 speciﬁ cations of the hardware and software described in these manuals at any time and without prior notice.

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.

• 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).

E3700

CAUTIONS

Modiﬁ cations

The FCC requires the user to be notiﬁ ed that any changes or modiﬁ cations 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.

Notice for customers in the State of California WARNING: Handling the cord on this

product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.

Nikon Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747-3064, U.S.A. Tel.: 631-547-4200

iii

Notice for customers in Canada

CAUTION

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

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 certiﬁ ed documents stipulated by law is prohibited.

ATTENTION

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

• 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 certiﬁ cates, 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 governed by national and international copyright laws. Do not use this product for the purpose of making illegal copies or to infringe copyright laws.

Use Only Nikon Brand Electronic Accessories

Nikon COOLPIX cameras are designed to the highest standards and include complex electronic circuitry. Only Nikon brand electronic accessories (including battery chargers, batteries, and AC adapters) certiﬁ ed by Nikon speciﬁ cally for use with this Nikon digital camera are engineered and proven to operate within the operational and safety requirements of this electronic circuitry.

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

WARRANTY.

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

Before Taking Important Pictures

Before taking pictures on important occasions (such as at weddings or before taking the camera on a trip), take a test shot to ensure that the camera is functioning normally. Nikon will not be held liable for damages or lost proﬁ ts that may result from product malfunction.

Life-Long Learning

As part of Nikon’s “Life-Long Learning” commitment to ongoing prod uct sup port and ed u ca tion, con tin u al ly-updated information is avail able on-line at the following sites:

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

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

• 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 in for ma tion, tips, an swers to fre quent ly-asked ques tions (FAQs), and gen er al advice on digital imaging and pho tog ra phy. Ad di tion al information may be available from the Nikon rep re sen ta tive in your area. See the URL below for contact in for ma tion:

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

For Your Safety.................................................................................... i

Notices................................................................................................ iii

Introduction 1

Parts of the Camera .................................................................................. 2

The Monitor .............................................................................................. 4

The Mode Dial........................................................................................... 6

Navigating the Menus .............................................................................. 6

The Shutter-Release Button ..................................................................... 7

Turning the Camera on and off ............................................................... 7

First Steps 8

Inserting Batteries..................................................................................... 8

Inserting Memory Cards ........................................................................... 10

Basic Setup................................................................................................. 12

Basic Photography 14

Step 1 —Select

Step 2 — Frame the Picture ....................................................................... 16

Step 3 — Focus and Shoot.......................................................................... 18

Step 4 — View the Results ......................................................................... 21

Scene Mode 24

Taking Pictures in Scene Mode........................................................ 24

Taking Pictures for a Panorama.......................................................... 30

Introduction

Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon COOLPIX 3700 digital camera. This manual has been written to help you enjoy taking pictures with your Nikon digital camera. Read this manual thoroughly before use, and keep it where all those who use the product will read it.

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

Introduction

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

This icon marks notes, information that should be read before using the camera.

This icon marks tips, additional information that may be helpful when using the camera.

This icon indicates that more information is available elsewhere in this manual or in the Quick Start Guide.

First Steps

Basic Photography

Scene Mode

Parts of the Camera

Power-on lamp

(

Shutter-release button

7, 18)

(

Eyelet for camera strap

Introduction

Power switch ( 7)

Memory card slot/ battery-chamber cover (

8, 10)

Microphone ( 36, 39, 43, 55)

Attaching the Camera Strap

Speaker (

41, 49, 55)

Built-in Speedlight ( 32)

Self-timer lamp

34)/

( Red-eye reduction lamp ( 32)/ AF-Assist illuminator (

Viewﬁ nder

Lens

(

Lens not extended

Lens cover

19)

104, 113)

Attaching the Viewﬁ nder Eyecup

A viewﬁ nder eyecup can be attached as an aid to users who wear glasses or to prevent light from entering via the viewﬁ nder. Attach the eyecup as shown at left.

Red ( ) lamp ( 18)

Green (AF) lamp

18)

(

Viewﬁ nder

16, 17)

(

(monitor) button

( 17)

Zoom buttons (

16)

Monitor (

4, 5)

(delete) button

( 22, 42, 49, 52)

(play/transfer)

button ( 21, 52, 57, 80)

Tripod socket

Mode dial (

USB (digital I/O) (

59, 65)/ Audio / video (A/V) out ( 56) connector

Multi selector (

(menu) button

( 24, 44, 69, 80)

Interface connector cover (

56, 59)

Power connector cover for AC adapter

Battery latch ( 9)

Battery chamber ( 8)

Memory card slot

10)

(

Introduction

The Monitor

1.0

Shooting

The following indicators appear in the monitor during shooting:

Introduction

23 22 21 19 18 17

1 Shooting mode................... 6, 14

2 Exposure lock.............. 30, 48, 76

3 Zoom indicator1...................... 16

4 Focus indicator2....................... 18

5 Recording indicator................. 19

6 Battery level indicator3....... 14, 15

7 Camera shake

icon4................... 25, 32, 33, 106

8 “Date not set” icon5............... 12

9 Time zone indicator ................ 94

10 Self-timer indicator.................. 34

11 Sound-release indicator........... 36

12 Date imprint indicator ............. 96

1 Displayed when zoom buttons are pressed. 2 Displayed when shutter-release button is pressed

halfway. 3 Appears when batteries are running low.

1.0

7 89

10 12

131416 15

13 Number of exposures

remaining ......................... 14, 71

Maximum total movie

length............................... 43, 46

14 Flash mode .............................32

15 Focus areas and focus-area

selection guide........................ 79

16 Image mode............................ 70

17 Exposure compensation ..........38

18 Sensitivity gain indicator6... 27, 33

19 Continuous shooting mode..... 74

20 Best Shot Selector (BSS)........... 77

21 White balance......................... 72

22 Macro close-up mode .............37

23 Image sharpening ...................78

4 Appears at slow shutter speeds to warn that pic-

tures may be blurred. 5 Appears when camera clock has not been set. 6 Indicates that camera has raised sensitivity auto-

matically.

Playback

0008

100

2003

The following indicators appear in the monitor during playback:

2003

15 14

11 10

1 Current folder......................... 23

2 File number and type ..............23

3 Battery level indicator1............. 15

4 Volume indicator......... 41, 49, 55

5 Voice memo recording guide... 55

6 Voice memo playback guide.... 55

7 Current frame number/

total number of frames ........... 23

Movie length........................... 49

8 Rotation indicator ...................21

1 Appears when batteries are running low.

100

N I KON

0008

8/10

9 Movie playback indicator......... 49

10 Voice memo icon .................... 55

11 Image mode............................ 70

12 Movie indicator....................... 43

13 Protect icon............................. 86

14 Print-order icon....................... 62

15 Transfer icon ........................... 87

16 Time of recording.................... 12

17 Date of recording.................... 12

1 2

5 7

Introduction

The Mode Dial

To select a mode, align the mode icon with the “ ” mark next to the mode dial.

Scene ( 24)

Auto ( 14)

Introduction

A simple “point-and-shoot” mode in which the majority of camera settings are controlled by the camera. Recommended for ﬁ rst-time users of digital cameras.

Movie ( 43)

Choose from eight movie modes.

Manual ( 15, 69)

Six shooting menu options can be adjusted to suit the subject.

Choose from ﬁ fteen “scenes” suited to different subjects or shooting conditions and let the camera do the rest.

Voice recording

Record sound over the built-in microphone.

Setup ( 91)

Choose this mode to display the setup menu, where you can perform such tasks as setting the camera clock and adjusting monitor brightness.

Navigating the Menus

The multi selector is used to navigate through the camera menus.

Move cursor up

( 39)

Press left, right,

up, or down

Cancel and return to previous menu, or move cursor left

Press center ( )

to make selection

Display sub-menu, move cursor right, or make selection

Move cursor down

The Shutter-Release Button

Your camera has a two stage shutter-release button. The camera sets focus and exposure when the button is pressed halfway. The green (AF) lamp next to the viewﬁ nder will light when the focus operation is complete. Focus and exposure will remain locked while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. To take the picture, press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down.

Turning the Camera on and Off

Turning the Camera On

Rotate the power switch in the direction shown until it stops and then release it. The power-on lamp lights when the camera is on.

Turning the Camera Off

Rotate the power switch in the direction shown until it stops and then release it. The camera is off when the power-on lamp is off. Do not remove the battery or disconnect the AC adapter until the power-on lamp has gone out.

Camera status is shown as follows:

Introduction

Power on lamp

Blinking

Off Off

Auto power off (standby mode; 15, 98)

Camera

First Steps

Inserting Batteries

Your camera uses either of the following batteries:

Battery Description

• Provided with camera

Rechargeable Nikon

EN-EL5 lithium-ion

batteries (×1)

Non-rechargeable CP1

First Steps

lithium batteries (×1)

• Can be recharged using supplied MH-61 battery charger (be sure to charge battery before using camera for ﬁ rst time or after long period of disuse). About two hours are required to charge battery when no charge remains.

• Available at many retail outlets

• Not rechargeable

EN-EL5

CP1

Open the memory card slot/battery-chamber cover

Slide the cover in the direction shown in () until it stops and the cover opens ().

Insert the battery

Insert the battery as shown in the label at the entrance to the battery chamber, making sure the positive (“+”) and negative (“–”) terminals are in the correct orientation. The small projection on the battery is on the same side as the negative terminal.

Inserting Batteries

Inserting the battery upside down or backwards could damage the camera. Check to be sure the battery is in the correct orientation.

The orange battery latch is pushed aside as the battery is inserted. The latch will close when the battery is fully inserted.

Battery latch

Close the memory card slot/battery-chamber cover

Close the cover () and slide it in until it latches ().

Replacing Batteries

Turn the camera off before removing or inserting batteries.

Do not open the memory card slot / battery-chamber cover while the power-on lamp is lit. Slide the battery latch in

the direction indicated to eject the battery, which can then be removed by hand. Note that the battery may become hot during use; observe due caution when removing the battery.

Read Battery Warnings

Read and follow the battery warnings and cautions on pages i–ii and 105 of this manual, together with any warnings and instructions supplied by the battery manufacturer.

Alternative Power Sources

To power the camera continuously for extended periods, use an EH-62A AC adapter.

Do not, under any circumstances, use another make or model of AC adapter.

Failure to observe this precaution could result in overheating or in damage to the camera.

First Steps

Inserting Memory Cards

Your Nikon digital camera stores pictures on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. No other cards can be used. For information on compatible SD memory cards, see “Technical Notes: Optional Accessories” ( 102).

Conﬁ rm that the camera is off

The power-on lamp should be off.

First Steps

Terminals

Direction of

insertion

Open the memory card slot/battery-chamber cover

Slide the cover in the direction shown in () until it stops and the cover opens ().

Insert the memory card

Insert the memory card as shown in the label at the entrance to the memory card slot.

Inserting Memory Cards

Insert the memory card terminals ﬁ rst. Inserting the card upside down or backwards could damage the camera or the card. Check to be sure the card is in the correct orientation.

Close the memory card slot/battery-chamber cover

Close the cover () and slide it in until it latches ().

Formatting Memory Cards

The memory card supplied with your camera is formatted at shipment. Other memory cards must be formatted before ﬁ rst use. For information on formatting memory cards, see “The Setup Menu: Card Format” (

99).

Memory Cards

• Use only Secure Digital (SD) memory cards.

• Do not disassemble or modify.

• Do not drop, bend, or expose to water or strong physical shocks.

• Do not touch the metal terminals with your ﬁ ngers or metal objects.

• Do not afﬁ x labels or stickers to the memory card.

• Do not leave in direct sunlight in a closed vehicle or in other areas exposed to high temperatures.

• Do not expose to high levels of humidity or to corrosive gas.

The Write Protect Switch

SD cards are equipped with a write protect switch to prevent accidental loss of data. When this switch is in the “lock” position, pictures can not be recorded, deleted, or edited, and the card can not be formatted. Do not lock the card when taking, deleting, or editing pictures or when transferring pictures to a computer ( 57).

Write protect switch

When card is locked, pictures can be played back but can not be recorded, deleted, edited, or transferred using the camera ( ) button.

Removing Memory Cards

Memory cards can be removed without loss of data when the camera is off. To remove memory cards, turn the camera off and conﬁ rm that the power-on lamp is off. Do not open

the memory card slot / battery-chamber cover while the power-on lamp is lit. Open the memory card slot / battery-

chamber cover and press the eject button to partially eject the card. The card can then be removed by hand. Note that memory cards may become hot during use; observe due caution when removing memory cards.

First Steps

Basic Setup

LANGUAGE

DATE

Set time and date ?

DATE

Set time and date ?

HOME TIME ZONE

ack

TIME ZONE

The ﬁ rst time the camera is turned on, a language-selection dialog will be displayed in the monitor. Follow the steps below to choose a language and set the time and date.

First Steps

Conﬁ rmation dialog displayed.

* Select No to exit to mode currently selected with mode dial. If you exit without set-

ting time and date, (“date not set”) icon will ﬂ ash in monitor when camera is in shooting mode and all pictures will have time stamp of “0000.00.00 00:00.”

TIME ZONE menu displayed.

† To turn daylight saving time on or off, press multi selector down to highlight

DaylightSaving and press center of multi selector. When DaylightSaving is checked, time will automatically be advanced one hour ( 95). To return to Step 4, press multi selector up to highlight current time zone.

LANGUAGE

Deutsch English Español Français Italiano

Set time and date ?

Nederlands Svenska

日本語

DATE

Yes

TIME ZONE

Set

2003. 01 . 01 00 : 00

London, Casablanca

DaylightSavin

Highlight Deutsch (German), English, Español (Spanish), Français (French), Italiano, (Italian), Nederlands (Dutch), Svenska (Swedish),

(Korean).

†

Display map of world time zones.

(Simpliﬁ ed Chinese), or

Highlight Yes.

(Japanese),

DATE

Set time and date ?

Yes

HOME TIME ZONE

London, Casablanc

Set

DATE

HOME TIME ZONE

ack

Select home time zone.

HOME TIME ZONE

London, Casablanc

Set

Display DATE menu.

DATE

DM Y

200301

00 00

DATE

DM Y

00 00

DATE

200301

Select Month. Repeat steps 8–9 to

edit Month, Year, hour, and minute.

Edit Day (order of Day, Month, and

Year may differ in some areas).

DM Y

Highlight D M Y.

The Clock Battery

When the main battery is installed or an AC adapter is connected, the clock battery will charge in about 10 hours. When fully charged, the clock battery can provide several days of backup power. The DATE menu will automatically be displayed when the battery is exhausted.

200310

10 00

Choose order in which Day, Month,

and Year will be displayed.

Exit to mode currently selected with mode dial. Note that time and date of recording will not be imprinted on pictures unless Date or Date and time is selected for Date imprint ( 96).

DATE

DM Y

00 00

DATE

MD Y

10 00

First Steps

200310

200331

Basic Photography

Step 1 —Select Mode

This section details the basic steps involved in taking pictures in (auto) mode. In this automatic, “point-and-shoot” mode, the majority of camera settings are controlled by the camera in response to shooting conditions, producing optimal results in most situations.

Rotate the mode dial to

Turn the camera on

Basic Photography

Shooting mode

indicates auto

mode.

The power-on lamp will light and the monitor will display a welcome screen. The camera is ready to shoot when the monitor shows the view through the camera lens.

Battery indicator

Appears when the battery is running low.

Choose from ﬁ ve options depending on how you plan to use the picture ( The default setting is .

70).

Flash mode

Choose from ﬁ ve modes depending on lighting and your creative intent ( 32). The default setting is AUTO (auto).

remaining

The number of pictures that can be stored on a memory card depends on the capacity of the card and the option chosen for Image

mode ( 70).

The Battery Indicator

(

)

(AF) l

ill blink wh

Display Description

NO ICON Battery fully charged.

Low battery. If ﬂ ash ﬁ res, monitor turns off while Speedlight recharges.

WARNING!!

BATTERY

Battery exhausted. Replace with fully-charged battery.

EXHAUSTED

e red

and green

amps w

en the “battery exhausted” warning is

displayed.

“Out of Memory”

If the message “OUT OF MEMORY” is displayed in the monitor, no further pictures can be taken until you:

• insert a new memory card ( 10)

•

delete some pictures ( 22, 52, 84), voice recordings ( 42), or voice memos ( 55)

The camera may also be able to take additional pictures at another image mode setting ( 70).

Mode

(manual) mode provides additional menu options that give you full control over such settings as white balance and image sharpening. See “The Shooting Menu” ( 69).

Auto Power Off ( Standby Mode)

If no operations are performed for one minute (three minutes when menus are displayed), the monitor will turn off automatically and the camera will enter standby mode to reduce the drain on the batteries. While the camera is in standby mode, the poweron lamp will blink. The camera will be reactivated when you:

• Rotate the power-on switch

• Press the button or press the shutter-release button halfway

• Press the button to view the pictures on the memory card

• Press the button to display the menu for the current mode

• Rotate the mode dial to select a new mode The length of time before the camera enters standby mode can be changed using the Auto off option in the setup menu ( 98).

If no operations are performed for three minutes after the camera enters standby mode, the camera will turn off automatically and the power-on lamp will go out.

Basic Photography

Step 2 — Frame the Picture

Basic Photography

Zoom

out

Indicator in monitor shows amount of zoom when either button is pressed

Ready the camera

Hold the camera steadily in both hands. Photographs can be framed in the monitor A or the viewﬁ nder B.

Don’t Block the Shot

To avoid mufﬂ ed sound or dark or partially obscured pictures, keep your ﬁ ngers and other objects away from the microphone, lens, and ﬂ ash window.

The Viewﬁ nder Eyecup

Use the viewﬁ nder eyecup when wearing glasses or to prevent light entering via the viewﬁ nder ( 2).

Frame your subject

Your Nikon digital camera is equipped with two types of built-in zoom: optical zoom, in which the camera’s telescoping lens can be used to magnify the subject up to 3 ×, and digital zoom, in which digital processing is used to further magnify the image up to 4 ×, for a total of 12 ×. Use the zoom buttons to frame your subject in the center of the monitor:

• Press the button to zoom out from your subject, increasing the area visible in the frame.

• Press the button to zoom in on your subject

so that it ﬁ lls a larger area of the frame.

• When the camera is zoomed in to maximum magniﬁ cation, holding the button down for about one second will trigger digital zoom. The zoom indicator will turn yellow, and the green (AF) lamp next to the viewﬁ nder will blink. Use the and buttons to adjust zoom in the digital zoom range. To cancel digital zoom, press

until the zoom indicator turns white.

Digital zoom

Digital Zoom

In digital zoom, data from the camera’s image sensor are processed digitally, enlarging the center portion of the picture to ﬁ ll the frame. Unlike optical zoom, digital zoom does not increase the amount of detail visible in the picture. Instead, details visible at maximum optical zoom are simply enlarged, producing a slightly “grainy” image. Note that the effects of digital zoom are not visible in the viewﬁ nder—use the monitor when framing pictures with digital zoom. Digital zoom is not available at a Continous setting of Multi-shot 16 or when the monitor is off. If the monitor turns off when digital zoom is in effect, zoom will return to the maximum optical zoom position. While digital zoom is in effect, the camera focuses on the center focus area.

When Lighting Is Poor

When lighting is poor, sensitivity is raised to compensate and the image in the monitor may be slightly mottled. This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.

Monitor or Viewﬁ nder?

Use the monitor to conﬁ rm camera settings at a glance while at the same time viewing an image that shows how the ﬁ nal picture will appear. This is particularly useful when the image in the viewﬁ nder does not accurately reﬂ ect what will appear in the ﬁ nal picture, for example when your subject is less than 1 m (3´3˝) from the camera or digital zoom is in effect.

Use the viewﬁ nder when you want to save power by turning the monitor off, or when bright ambient lighting makes it difﬁ cult to see the display in the monitor.

Controlling the Monitor

To hide or display indicators in the monitor, press the button. When the monitor is turned off, the camera enters energy-saving mode. The camera focuses on the center focus area and focus response speed drops slightly.

Monitor shows current settings and view through lens

Framing guides

displayed

Basic Photography

Monitor off (

and modes only)

Monitor shows view

through lens only

Step 3 — Focus and Shoot

1717

Focus

Press the shutter-release button halfway to set focus and exposure ( 7). In mode, the camera will automatically focus on the subject at the center of the frame. Focus and exposure will lock while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.

Red ( ) lamp

Basic Photography

Focus indicator

Green (AF) lamp

With the shutter-release button pressed halfway, check focus and ﬂ ash. Focus is indicated by the green AF (autofocus) lamp next to the viewﬁ nder and by the focus indicator in the monitor. Flash status is indicated by the red next to the viewﬁ nder.

lamp

focus indicator

Take the picture

Press the shutter release button the rest of the way down to take the picture. To prevent blur, press the

shutter-release button down smoothly.

(ﬂ ash-ready) lamp

Red ( )

On Flash will ﬁ re when picture is taken.

Blinks Flash charging.

Off Flash off or not required.

Green (AF) lamp/

On (green) Subject in focus.

Blinks

green (AF

lamp) or

red (focus

indicator)

Camera unable to focus on subject at center of frame. Using focus lock, focus on another subject at same distance, then recompose picture and shoot.

During Recording

While pictures are being recorded to the memory card, the green (AF) lamp will blink and a ( recording) or ( wait) icon will be displayed in the monitor. The camera can continue to take pictures until the icon is displayed. Do not turn the camera off,

eject the memory card, or remove or disconnect the power source while the green (AF) lamp is blinking or the

or icon is displayed. Cutting power or

removing the memory card in these circumstances could result in loss of data or in damage to the camera or card.

If Both the Green and Red Lamps Blink

If the green (AF) and red ( ) lamps blink together, an error has occurred. Check the message displayed in the monitor ( 106).

Low Battery

If the ﬂ ash ﬁ res when the low battery icon is displayed, the monitor will turn off while the Speedlight recharges.

Getting Good Results with Autofocus

Autofocus performs best when there is contrast between the subject and the background and the subject is evenly lit. It does not perform well if the subject is very dark or moving rapidly, if there are objects of sharply differing brightness in the scene (e.g., the sun is behind your subject and their features are in deep shadow), or if there are several objects at different distances from the camera at the center of the frame (e.g., your subject is inside a cage).

The AF-Assist Illuminator

If lighting is poor, the built-in AF assist illuminator will light when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, allowing the camera to focus even when the subject is poorly lit. When the camera is zoomed all the way out, the AF-assist illuminator has a range of 0.4 – 2.0 m (1´4˝ – 6´7˝). The range at maximum zoom is 0.4 –1.5 m (1´4˝ – 4´11˝). The AF-assist illuminator is not available at scene mode settings of (Landscape), (Night landscape), (Museum), (Fireworks show), (Sports), and (Dusk / Dawn) ( 26–29). When AF Area Mode is set to Manual ( 79) or (Portrait), (Night portrait), or (Close up) is selected in scene mode ( 25–28), the AF-assist illuminator will only light when the center focus area is selected.

Basic Photography

AF/AE Lock

Focus and exposure lock when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, and remain locked while the shutter-release button is held in this position (focus lock). Focus lock can be used to take pictures of off-center subjects or in situations in which the camera is unable to focus using autofocus.

Focus

Position the subject in the center of the frame and press the shutter-release button halfway.

Basic Photography

Check the green (AF) lamp and focus indicator

Recompose the picture

Take the picture

With the shutter-release button pressed halfway, check that the green (AF) lamp and focus indicator glow steadily, indicating that the subject is in focus.

Focus and exposure remain locked while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. Do not change the distance between the camera and the subject while focus lock is in effect. If the subject moves, release the shutter-release button and focus again at the new distance.

Press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down to shoot.

+ 97 hidden pages

Nikon COOLPIX 3700 Owner Manual

For Your Safety

Notices

Table of Contents

Introduction

Parts of the Camera

The Monitor

The Mode Dial

Navigating the Menus

The Shutter-Release Button

Turning the Camera on and Off

First Steps

Inserting Batteries

Inserting Memory Cards

Basic Setup

Basic Photography

Step 1 —Select Mode

Step 2 — Frame the Picture

Step 3 — Focus and Shoot