Nikon COOLPIX S2 User Manual

The Nikon Guide to Digital Photography

with the

DIGITAL CAMERA

Water Resistance

Read the following warnings before using the camera. Damage or malfunction resulting from failure to observe the following precautions is not covered under warranty.

The accessories provided with the camera are not water-resistant.

Important: Read Before Use

The COOLPIX S2 is not waterproof, and should never be immersed in water. It is water and dust tight, giving it water resistance equivalent to IEC

60529 IPX4 (“splash proof”). Its enclosures are intended for use indoors and outdoors to protect the enclosed equipment against water splashed from any direction. Please observe the following precautions:

Do not wash in water

Use a dry cloth to remove spray or other moisture.

Do not immerse

Do not use underwater

Keep terminals dry

Ensure that the multi connector cover is tightly closed.

Trademark Information

Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. The SD logo is a trademark of the SD Card Association. Adobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. PictBridge is a trademark. D-Lighting technology is provided by Apical Limited. Face-priority AF technology is provided by Identix®. 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.

Symbols and Conventions

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.

Memory Cards

Pictures taken with this camera can be stored in the camera’s internal memory or on removable memory cards. If a memory card is inserted, all new pictures will be stored on the memory card and delete, playback, and format operations will apply only to the pictures on the memory card. The memory card must be removed before the internal memory can be formatted or used to store, delete, or view pictures.

First Steps

Basic Photography

More on Photography

Scene Mode

Voice Recordings

Movies

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

Turn off in the event of malfunction

Should you notice smoke or an unusual smell coming from the camera or AC adapter, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery immediately, taking care to avoid burns. Continued operation could result in injury. After removing or disconnecting the power source, take the equipment to a Nikonauthorized service representative for inspection.

Do not disassemble

Touching the internal parts of the camera or AC adapter could result in injury. Repairs should be performed only by qualiﬁ ed technicians. Should the camera or AC adapter 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 product and / or removing the battery.

Do not use the camera or AC adapter 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.

Handle the camera strap with care

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

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.

Observe the following precautions when

handling the AC adapter

• Use only adapters designated for use with this product.

• Keep dry. Failure to observe this precaution could result in ﬁ re or electric shock.

• Dust on or near the metal parts of the plug should be removed with a dry cloth. Continued use could result in ﬁ re.

• Do not handle the power cable or go near the adapter during thunderstorms. Failure to observe this precaution could result in electric shock.

• Do not damage, modify, forcibly tug or bend the power cable, place it under heavy objects, or expose it to heat or ﬂ ame. Should the insulation be damaged and the wires become exposed, take it to a Nikon-authorized service representative for inspection. Failure to observe these precautions could result in ﬁ re or electric shock.

• Do not handle the plug with wet hands. Failure to observe this precaution could result in electric shock.

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. If you are using an AC adapter, be sure it is unplugged.

• Use only rechargeable Nikon EN-EL8 lithium-ion batteries (supplied). Charge the battery either by inserting it in the camera and connecting the supplied AC adapter, or by inserting it in a MH-62 battery charger (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.

• Replace the terminal cover when transporting the battery. 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.

• 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.

Handle moving parts with care

Care should be taken to prevent ﬁ ngers or other objects from being pinched in the sliding lens cover or other moving parts.

CD-ROMs

The CD-ROMs supplied with this device 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.

Do not ﬁ re the ﬂ ash while it is touching

a person or object

Such use can result in the person being burned, and / or their clothes igniting from the heat of the ﬂ ash.

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

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).

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

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.

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.

• 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.

Disposing of Data Storage Devices

Please note that deleting images or formatting data storage devices such as memory card or built-in camera memory does not completely erase the original image data. Deleted ﬁ les can sometimes be recovered from discarded storage devices using commercially available software, potentially resulting in the malicious use of personal image data. Ensuring the privacy of such data is the user’s responsibility.

Before discarding a data storage device or transferring ownership to another person, erase all data using commercial deletion software, or format the device and then completely reﬁ ll it with images containing no private information (for example, pictures of empty sky). Be sure to also replace any pictures selected for the welcome screen ( 73). Care should be taken to avoid injury or damage to property when physically destroying data storage devices.

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

Introduction 1

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

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

The MV-12 COOL-STATION............................................................................ 6

The EH-63 AC Adapter .................................................................................. 6

First Steps 7

Inserting the Battery ..................................................................................... 7

Charging the Battery..................................................................................... 8

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

Turning the Camera On .............................................................................. 12

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

Basic Photography 14

Step 1 — Select Mode .............................................................................. 14

Step 2 — Frame the Picture .......................................................................... 15

Step 3 — Focus and Shoot ............................................................................ 16

Step 4 — View the Results ............................................................................ 17

Introduction

Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon COOLPIX S2 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.

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 and Africa: http://www.europe-nikon.com/support

• For users in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East: 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://nikonimaging.com/

Introduction

Parts of the Camera

Power-on lamp ( 12, 14)

Shutter-release button (

Introduction

Eyelet for camera strap

Memory card slot/ Batterychamber cover (

7, 10, 11)

16)

Microphone

33, 36, 44)

(

Built-in ﬂ ash (

Memory card slot (

10−11)

Battery chamber (

Battery latch ( 7)

Speaker

33, 40, 44)

(

Sliding lens

cover ( 12)

18)

Choose from four movie modes.

Self-timer lamp ( 20) /

AF-assist illuminator

(LED; 16, 80, 83, 95)

Lens (

95)

Sliding lens cover closed

Movie ( 36)

84,

Scene ( 22)

Choose from ﬁ fteen “scenes” suited to different subjects or shooting conditions and let the camera do the rest. An additional voice recording mode is available for creating audio recordings ( 33).

Auto ( 14)

A simple “point-and-shoot” mode in which the majority of settings are controlled by the camera. A shooting menu offers control over seven shooting options.

Mode button ( 14, 22, 36)

Press to cycle through shooting modes as shown below:

Mode indicators ( 14, 22, 36)

(playback)

button ( 17,

41, 65)

Monitor (

14, 84, 95)

Tripod socket

(menu) button

( 22, 35, 36, 58,

65, 72)

Zoom (

/ ) / button

( 15, 22, 41, 42)

Indicator lamp (

Flash lamp ( 16)

(delete) button

( 17, 34, 40, 41, 44)

Multi connector ( 6, 8)

9) /

Introduction

Multi connector cover ( 6, 8)

• Menu navigation: Move cursor up.

• Shooting (

): Display ﬂ ash mode

menu ( 18).

• Menu navigation: Cancel and re- turn to previous menu, or move cursor left.

• Shooting (

): Display self-timer

mode menu ( 20).

• Menu navigation: Move cursor down.

• Shooting (

): Display macro

mode menu ( 21).

Multi selector

Press center ( ) to make selection

• Menu navigation: Display sub- menu, move cursor right, or make selection.

The Monitor

100NIKON

9999

01.01.2 0 0 5 00:00

9999.JPG

:START

1.0 AUTO

999

The following indicators may appear in the monitor during shooting and playback (actual display varies with current camera settings):

Shooting

Introduction

32 4

Playback

100 200 400

19 18

17 16 15

1.0

15161718

01.01.2005

01.01.2005 00:00

00:00

13 12 10

AUTO

9999

9999/9999

:START

101010

999

1214

100NIKON

9999.JPG

9999

1 2

8 9

5 6

7 8

1 Shooting mode.................. 14, 22, 36

2 Exposure lock .................... 32, 39, 62

3 Zoom indicator

............................ 15

4 Focus indicator 2............................. 16

5 Battery level indicator 3................... 14

6 Internal memory / memory card

indicator.................................. 14, 16

7 Camera shake icon 4.......... 19, 28, 78

8 “Date not set” indicator 5............... 13

9 Time zone indicator ....................... 74

10 Self-timer indicator ........................ 20

11 Date imprint / date counter ............. 77

Displayed when zoom button is pressed. 2

Displayed when shutter-release button is pressed

halfway. 3

Appears when batteries are running low.

12 Number of exposures

remaining................................ 14, 93

Movie length........................... 36, 38

13 Flash mode.................................... 18

14 Exposure compensation................. 61

15 Image mode .................................. 59

16 Sensitivity ...................................... 64

17 Continuous shooting mode ..... 61–62

18 Best Shot Selector (BSS) ................. 63

19 Macro close-up mode.................... 21

20 White balance ............................... 60

21 Color option.................................. 64

Appears at slow shutter speeds to warn that pic-

tures may be blurred. 5

Appears when camera clock has not been set.

Introduction

1 Current folder ......................... 93–94

2 File number and type............... 93–94

3 Internal memory / memory card

indicator............................ 14, 16, 41

4 Battery level indicator 1................... 14

5 D-Lighting guide ........................... 43

6 Volume indicator ............... 34, 40, 44

7 Voice memo recording guide......... 44

8 Voice memo playback guide .......... 44

9 Current frame number /

total number of frames............ 93–94

Movie length................................. 36

Appears when batteries are running low.

10 D-Lighting icon.............................. 43

11 Movie playback indicator ............... 40

12 Voice memo icon........................... 44

13 Image mode .................................. 59

14 Movie indicator ............................. 40

15 Protect icon ................................... 68

16 Print-order icon ............................. 51

17 Tr ansfer icon............................ 69, 80

18 Time of recording .........12–13, 74–75

19 Date of recording .........12–13, 74–75

The MV-12 COOL-STATION

Place the camera in the supplied MV-12 COOL-STATION to:

• Charge the camera battery ( 8)

• View pictures on a television ( 45)

• Copy pictures to a computer ( 47)

• Print pictures via direct USB connection ( 52)

Introduction

USB connector

47, 52)

(

DC-IN connector

( 8)

Camera connector ( 8)

The MV-12 COOL-STATION is not water-resistant.

Placing the Camera in the COOL-STATION

Open the multi connector cover and place the camera in the COOL-STATION as shown below, making sure that the connector is fully inserted in the matching connector on the COOL-STATION.

Cover ﬁ ts

here

Removing the Camera from the COOLSTATION

Remove the camera as shown below and close the multi-connector cover. Make sure the cover is tightly closed.

The EH-63 AC Adapter

The supplied EH-63 AC adapter can be connected directly to the camera or via the MV-12 COOL-STATION to charge the battery or power the camera ( 8).

The EH-63 AC adapter is not waterresistant.

Power

lamp

Audio / video

connector

(A / V out;

DC plug (connects to

DC-IN connector)

AC inlet

AC plug

45)

Power cord (connects to

household power outlet)

First Steps







Inserting the Battery

The camera uses a rechargeable Nikon EN-EL8 lithium-ion battery (supplied).

Open the memory card slot/battery-chamber cover

Slide the cover in the direction shown () until it opens ().



Insert the battery

Insert the battery as shown in the label at the entrance to the battery chamber. The orange battery latch is pushed aside as the battery is inserted.

Inserting the Battery

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 will pop up when the battery is fully inserted, locking the battery in place.

Close the memory card slot/battery-chamber cover

Close the cover () and slide it in the direction shown until it latches ().





Battery latch



First Steps

If the Camera Is Wet

Dry the camera with a cloth to prevent water from getting inside.

Charging the Battery

Charge the battery before ﬁ rst use or when the battery is running low.

Connect the AC adapter to the MV-12 COOL-STATION

After connecting the AC adapter power cord to the AC inlet (), insert the DC plug into the COOL-STATION’s DC-IN connector () and then plug the power cord into a household AC power outlet (). The power lamp on the AC adapter will light ().

First Steps

Turn the camera off

Charging the Battery

Check that the camera power-on lamp is off. The battery will not charge when the camera is on.

Place the camera in the COOL-STATION

Open the multi connector cover and place the camera in the COOL-STATION with the monitor facing forwards and the connector fully inserted in the matching connector on the COOL-STATION.

Cover ﬁ ts here

Charge the battery

The indicator lamp next to the camera monitor will blink green while the battery charges. During charging, battery status is shown as follows:

Indicator lamp Description

Blinks Battery charging.

On Battery fully charged.

Flickers

About two hours are required to charge a fully depleted battery.

Remove the camera from the COOL-STATION

When charging is complete, remove the camera from the COOL-STATION, close the multi connector cover, and unplug the AC adapter. Make sure that the multi connector cover is tightly closed.

Removing the Battery from the Camera

Turn the camera off ( 12) before removing or inserting batteries. To eject the battery, slide the battery latch in the direction shown. The battery can then be removed by hand. Note that the battery may become hot during use; observe due caution when removing the battery.

EN-EL8 Batteries

Before using the EN-EL8, read and follow the warnings and cautions on pages ii–iii and 85 of this manual.

The EH-63 AC Adapter

The supplied EH-63 AC adapter can also be connected directly to the camera as shown at right. Whether connected directly to the camera or to the MV-12 COOL-STATION, the EH-63 can be used to power the camera or to charge the battery. 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.

When connecting the adapter, be sure the DC plug is in the correct orientation. Inserting the plug upside down could damage the camera or COOL-STATION.

After disconnecting the camera from the AC adapter, make sure that the multi connector cover is tightly closed.

Check that camera is correctly inserted in COOL-STATION. If camera is correctly inserted, battery requires replacement.

First Steps

Inserting Memory Cards





Pictures are stored in the camera’s internal memory (approximately 12 MB) or on removable Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. For information on compatible memory cards, see “Technical Notes: Optional Accessories” ( 82).

If no memory card is inserted, pictures are recorded to, and played back and deleted from, the camera’s internal memory. Formatting ( 79) affects internal memory only.

If a memory card is inserted, the card is used for recording, playback, and de-

First Steps

letion. Formatting affects only the memory card, not internal memory. The memory card must be removed from the camera before internal memory

can be formatted or used to record, delete, or view pictures.

To insert a memory card:

Conﬁ rm that the power-on lamp is off

Inserting Memory Cards

Turn the camera off ( 12) before inserting or removing memory cards.

Open the memory card slot/battery-chamber cover

Slide the cover in the direction shown () until it opens ().





Insert the memory card





Slide the memory card in terminals ﬁ rst until it clicks into place.

Direction of

insertion

Terminals

Inserting Memory Cards

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

Before inserting the card, make sure that it is unlocked. If the card is locked, pictures can not be recorded, deleted, or edited and the card can not be formatted.

Close the memory card slot cover/battery-chamber cover

Close the cover () and slide it in the direction shown until it latches ()



Formatting Memory Cards

Before they can be used in the COOLPIX S2, memory cards must be formatted using the

Format card option in the camera setup menu ( 79).

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 card in to partially eject the card. The card can then be removed by hand.



Lock

switch

First Steps

Tur ning the Camera On

DATE

Confirm

Cancel

Confirm

TIME ZONE

Confirm

DATE

Confirm

Open the sliding lens cover. The camera will turn on and the power-on lamp will light. The power-on lamp shows camera status as follows:

Power-on lamp Camera status

On On

Flickers Battery exhausted (

Off Off or Auto power off (standby mode)

First Steps

86)

Basic Setup

The ﬁ rst time the camera is turned on, a language-selection dialog will be displayed. Choose a language and set the time and date as follows:

DATE

Highlight language.

Cancel

Cancel Confirm

Confirm

Conﬁ rmation dialog displayed.

* Press button to exit without selecting language.

DATE

Set time and date?

Confirm

Highlight Yes.

TIME ZONE menu displayed.

† See “The Setup Menu: Date” ( 74) for information on setting daylight saving time.

DATE

Set time and date?

Yes

Confirm

TIME ZONE

London, Casablanc

DaylightSaving

Confirm

†

Tur ning the Camera Off

To turn the camera off, close the sliding lens cover. The camera is off when the poweron lamp is off. Do not remove the battery or memory card or disconnect the AC adapter until the power-on lamp has gone out.

Auto Power off (Stand-by Mode)

If no operations are performed for about ﬁ ve seconds, the monitor will gradually dim to save power. Full brightness can be restored by pressing the shutter-release button or operating any of the controls next to the monitor. If no operations are performed for about a minute, the monitor will turn off altogether and the camera will enter stand-by mode, further reducing the drain on the battery ( 79).

HOME TIME ZONE

Back

Confirm

Madrid, Paris, Berlin

Back

Confirm

London, Casablanca

DATE

Confirm

AUTO

DATE

Confirm

HOME TIME ZONEHOME TIME ZONE

Back

Confirm

Back Confirm

Display map of world time zones.

DATE

YDM

2005..01

00 00:

Select home time zone.

HOME TIME ZONE

Back

Confirm

Back Confirm

DATE

00 00:

YDM

2005..01

First Steps

Display DATE menu.

Edit Day (order of Day, Month, and

Year may differ in some areas).

DATE

00 00:

YDM

200520 . .

DATE

15 10:

Highlight D M Y.Select Month. Repeat steps 8–9 to

edit Month, Year, hour, and minute.

Choose date display order.

DATE

15 10:

Confirm

200504 . .20

Exit to current mode.

DATE

Do Not Touch the Lens

Avoid touching the camera lens when opening or closing the sliding lens cover.

The Camera Clock

The clock battery charges when the main battery is installed or an AC adapter is connected, and can provide several days of backup power after about 10 hours of charging. The clock and birthday counter may be reset when the battery runs low; when the battery is exhausted, the DATE menu will be displayed automatically. If the clock is not set, a (“date not set”) icon will ﬂ ash in the monitor during shooting. Pictures taken while this icon is displayed will have a time stamp of “00.00.0000 00:00,” while movies will be dated “01.01.2005 00:00.”

Confirm

AUTO

200520 . .04

Basic Photography

AUTO

This section describes how to take pictures in (auto) mode, an automatic, “point-and-shoot” mode recommended for ﬁ rst-time users of digital cameras.

Step 1 — Select Mode

Open the sliding lens cover. The camera will turn on and the power-on lamp will light. Press the mode button until the green camera is ready to shoot when the view through the camera lens is displayed in the monitor.

Basic Photography

Shooting mode: indi- cates auto mode.

ﬁ ve options depending on how picture will be used ( 59). Default is .

Flash mode: choose from ﬁ ve modes according to lighting and creative intent ( 18). Default is AUTO.

(auto) mode indicator lights. The

Battery indicator: appears when battery is running low.

Internal memory / memory card indicator: indicates whether

internal memory ( ) or memory card ( ) is used.

Number of exposures remain-

AUTO

ing: depends on capacity of

internal memory or memory card and on option chosen for Image Mode ( 93).

The Battery Indicator

Display Description

NO ICON Battery fully charged.

WARNING!!

BATTERY

EXHAUSTED

Shooting Options

(auto) mode offers ﬂ ash ( 18), self-timer ( 20), and macro close-up options (

21). In addition, a seven-item shooting menu gives full control over such settings as white balance and exposure compensation ( 58).

Low battery; prepare to recharge or change battery. If ﬂ ash ﬁ res, monitor will turn off while ﬂ ash recharges. Battery exhausted. No pictures can be taken until battery has been recharged or replaced with fully-charged spare battery. Power-on lamp ﬂ ickers.

Step 2 — Frame the Picture

Ready the camera

Hold the camera steadily in both hands.

Don’t Block the Shot

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

Frame the subject

The 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 over a second will trigger digital zoom, and the zoom indicator will turn yellow. 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

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.

out

Indicator shows

amount of zoom

Digital zoom

Basic Photography

Do Not Touch the Lens

Avoid touching the lens when opening or closing the sliding lens cover.

Close the Multi-Connector Cover

Make sure the multi-connector cover is tightly closed before using the camera.

Step 3 — Focus and Shoot

Focus

Press the shutter-release button halfway to set focus and exposure. 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.

With the shutter-release button pressed halfway, check the focus and ﬂ ash indicators:

indicator

Basic Photography

Focus

Indicator lamp

(ﬂ ash lamp)

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 (a blur warning may appear at slow shutter speeds; 78).

Subject in focus.

(green)

Camera unable to focus on subject at

Blinks

center of frame. Using focus lock, focus

red

on another subject at same distance, then recompose picture and shoot (

Flash will ﬁ re when picture is taken.

(red)

Blinks

Flash is charging.

red Off Flash is off or not required.

Focus indicator

92).

Indicator lamp

(ﬂ ash lamp)

During Recording

While pictures are being recorded, the internal memory / memory card indicator ( or ) will blink. The camera can continue to take pictures until the (wait) icon is displayed. Do not turn the camera off, eject the memory card, or remove or dis-

connect the power source while the internal memory / memory card indicator is blinking or the 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.

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 (

80).

Step 4 — View the Results

Confirm

Erase 1 image (s)?

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Press the button

A picture will be displayed in the monitor.

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04.20.2005 15:30

15:30

View additional pictures

Press the multi selector down or right to view pictures in the order recorded, up or left to view pictures in reverse order. Pictures are displayed brieﬂ y at low resolution while being read from memory, making it possible to scroll rapidly through pictures without waiting for each image to be displayed at full resolution. Keep the multi selector pressed to scroll quickly to the desired picture.

To return to shooting mode, press the button again.

Deleting Unwanted Pictures

To delete the picture currently displayed in the monitor, press the button. A conﬁ rmation dialog will be displayed; press the multi selector up or down to highlight an option and then press the center of the multi selector to make a selection.

• No: Exit without deleting the picture.

• Yes : Delete the picture.

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Erase 1 image (s)?

Yes

Confirm

Basic Photography

The Button

If the button is pressed for about one second while the sliding lens cover is closed, the camera will turn on in playback mode. To turn the camera off, press the button again.

More About Playback

For more information on playback, see “More on Playback” ( 41).

More on Photography

AUTO

:Confirm

AUTO

:Confirm

Using the Flash

The following ﬂ ash modes are available:

Mode How it works When to use it

AUTO

Auto

Auto with

red-eye

reduction

Flash Cancel

(off)

More on Photography

Anytime Flash

( ﬁ ll ﬂ ash)

Slow sync

Flash ﬁ res when lighting is poor. Flash ﬁ res several times at low intensity before main ﬂ ash; pictures are further processed to reduce red-eye if required ( 19).

Flash will not ﬁ re even when lighting is poor.

Flash ﬁ res whenever picture is taken.

Auto ﬂ ash combined with slow shutter speeds.

Best choice in most situations.

Use to reduce “red-eye” in portraits. Works best when subject looks directly at low-intensity ﬂ ashes. Not recommended when quick shutter response is required. Use to capture natural lighting under dim light or where use of ﬂ ash is prohibited. If (camera shake) icon appears, care should be taken to avoid blurring.

Use to “ﬁ ll-in” (illuminate) shadows and back-lit subjects.

Use to capture both subject and background at night or under dim light.

Display ﬂ ash-mode menu.

Flash

AUTO

:Confirm

Highlight mode.

Exit menu (to exit without changing mode, wait two seconds). Selection is shown by icon at bottom of display.

101010

Flash

AUTO

:Confirm

When Lighting Is Poor

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

The (Camera Shake) Icon

When lighting is poor and the ﬂ ash is off ( ), shutter speeds will slow and pictures may be blurred. If the shutter speed required for exposure is very slow, a (camera shake) warning be displayed. Use of a tripod or support is recommended. Mottling may appear in pictures taken when this icon is displayed.

Dust or Mist

Light from the ﬂ ash reﬂ ected from particles of dust or other matter in the air may appear in pictures as bright specks. If this occurs, turn the ﬂ ash off and try again.

Red-eye Reduction

The COOLPIX S2 uses advanced red-eye reduction. Low-intensity light pulses cause the subject’s pupils to contract before the ﬂ ash ﬁ res. The camera then analyzes the image for red-eye; if red-eye is detected, the image will be processed to reduce its effects (“In-Camera Red-Eye Fix”). This slightly increases the amount of time needed to record each picture. If red-eye reduction does not produce the desired results, try again at another ﬂ ash setting.

Default Flash Mode

When the camera is turned on in (auto) mode, the most recent ﬂ ash setting will be restored; in other modes, the ﬂ ash will be reset to the default for the selected mode. Reset all ( 80) resets the ﬂ ash to AUTO ( mode) or to the default for the current mode (assist and scene modes).

Flash Range

Flash range varies with zoom position. When the camera is zoomed all the way out, the ﬂ ash has a range of 0.3 – 2.5 m (1´ – 8´2˝). The range at maximum zoom is 0.3 –1.4 m (1´ – 4´7˝). As a result, the ﬂ ash may not be able to light the entire subject at distances of less than 0.3 m (1´). When taking close-ups, play each picture back after shooting

More on Photography

OFF

:Confirm

OFF

AUTO

Taking Pictures with the Self-Timer

The camera is equipped with a ten-second timer for portraits or to avoid blurring that may result from the camera moving when the shutter-release button is pressed. When using the self-timer, mount the camera on a tripod (recommended) or rest it on a ﬂ at, level surface.

Self-timer

Display self-timer menu.

More on Photography

Exit menu (to exit without changing

mode, wait two seconds). Selection

is shown by icon in display.

AUTO

OFF

101010

Start timer; display in monitor shows seconds remaining before shutter is released. To stop timer before picture is taken, press shutter-release button again or press multi selector left.

Set focus and exposure.

The self-timer lamp on the front of the camera will blink until one second before the picture is taken, staying lit during the ﬁ nal second to warn that the shutter is about to be released.

Self-timer

Highlight ON.

OFF

AUTO

OFF

:Confirm

101010

+ 80 hidden pages

Nikon COOLPIX S2 User Manual

For Your Safety

Notices

Table of Contents

Introduction

Parts of the Camera

The Monitor

The MV-12 COOL-STATION

The EH-63 AC Adapter

First Steps

Inserting the Battery

Charging the Battery

Inserting Memory Cards

Tur ning the Camera On

Basic Setup

Basic Photography

Step 2 — Frame the Picture

Step 3 — Focus and Shoot

Step 4 — View the Results

More on Photography

Using the Flash

Taking Pictures with the Self-Timer