Olympus CAMEDIA C-55 Zoom, CAMEDIA C-5500 Sport Zoom, Camedia C-5500 Zoom Advanced Manual

DIGITAL CAMERA

C-5500 ZOOM
C-55 ZOOM

Detailed explanations of all the

Advanced

functions for getting the most out

Manual

of your camera.

Basic Operation

Basic Shooting

Advanced Shooting

Playing Back

Printing

Online Pictures

Thank you for purchasing an Olympus digital camera. Before you start to use your

new camera, please read these instructions carefully to enjoy optimum performance
and a longer service life. Keep this manual in a safe place for future reference.

We recommend that you take test shots to get accustomed to your camera before

taking important photographs.

In the interest of continually improving products, Olympus reserves the right to update

or modify information contained in this manual.

Camera Settings

Navigation

How to use the camera

Using a computer...

Using the OLYMPUS Master
software on your computer lets you
enjoy editing, viewing, and printing
the pictures downloaded from your
camera.

Using a card...

Pictures taken with this
camera are stored on an
xD-Picture Card. By
storing the relevant print
reservation data with the
images on the card, you
can print pictures at a
print shop or on a
PictBridge-compatible
printer.

Using a printer...

With a PictBridge-compatible
printer, you can print pictures
directly from your camera.

2

Using a TV...

You can use a TV to view
pictures or playback
movies from your camera.

Using the mode dial...

Use the mode dial to select a
shooting or playback mode. f
lets you select the optimum
settings for the shooting conditions
from 10 different situations.

Using the arrow pad and N
button...

AE/AF

CAM

WB

PICTURES

PICTURE

SHARPNESS

CARD

INTERVAL

SATURATION

SET

SELECT

AF:

iESP

TIMELAPSE

SPOT
AREA

:

:

AE:ESP

ESP

MULTI METERING

SELECT GO

SPOT

± 0

SET

The arrow pad and N button are for
selecting and setting menu options as well
as viewing pictures frame by frame.

Using the direct buttons...

Direct buttons let you perform functions such as
erasing or protecting pictures or setting the flash
mode, making camera operation easy.

Using the menus...

02

OK
01

GO

Shooting and playback-related
functions are set from the menus

OK

displayed on the monitor.

3

How to use this manual

(Indications used in this manual

A sample page is shown below to explain how to read the instructions in this
manual. Look at it carefully before taking or viewing pictures. See the
reference pages for further details on how to use the buttons or menus.

Set the mode dial to one of these symbols.
g “Mode dial” (P.12)

Select the menus in the
order indicated by.
g“Menus” (P.16)

Available languages vary
depending on the area where
you purchased this camera.
g“Selecting a
language” (P.108)

This sample page is only for your reference. It may differ from the actual page in
this manual.

Note

Important information on factors which may lead to a malfunction or operational
problems. Also warns of operations that should be absolutely avoided.

TIPS

Useful information and hints that will help you get the most out of your camera.

g

Reference pages describing details or associated information.

(Basic and Advanced Manuals

The instruction manual accompanying this camera is divided into two
parts: the Basic Manual and the Advanced Manual (this document).

Basic
Manual

This manual helps you get used to the camera. It gives you easy-to­follow explanations on how to take pictures and view them.

Advanced
Manual

This manual introduces you to the camera’s many functions after you
have mastered the basics. It will help you to use the camera’s
capabilities to take much more creative pictures, with more fun!

4

Composition of the manual

A quick guide to the camera’s
capabilities.

Read this part before using the
camera.

Explanation of techniques from
basics to advanced, giving you
an understanding of all the
functions related to taking
pictures.

How to use the camera

Table of Contents

Basic operation

Tips before you start
taking pictures

Basic shooting functions

Advanced shooting
functions

More useful functions

P.2

P.6

P.11

P.21

P.31

P.45

P.71

1

2

3

4

5

To view, edit and sort the
pictures you have taken.

Settings to make your camera
easier to use.

To print the pictures you have
taken.

To enjoy the pictures you have
taken on a computer. To use
OLYMPUS Master.

Troubleshooting
For when you want to know the
names of parts, see a list of
menus, or find what you are
looking for.

Playback

Settings

Printing pictures

Connecting the camera to
a computer

Appendix

Miscellaneous

P.83

P.105

P.123

P.141

P.157

P.179

6

7

8

9

10

11

The title page of each chapter gives a short description of the contents.
Be sure to check it out.

5

Table of Contents

How to use this manual....................................................................... 4

Composition of the manual ................................................................. 5

1 Basic operation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -11

Mode dial........................................................................................... 12

Direct buttons .................................................................................... 13

Using the direct buttons in shooting mode .................................. 13

Using the direct buttons in playback mode ................................. 15

Menus ............................................................................................... 16

About the menus ......................................................................... 16

How to use the menus ................................................................ 19

2 Tips before you start taking pictures - - - - - -21

Holding the camera ........................................................................... 22

Turning the monitor on/off ................................................................. 23

If correct focus cannot be obtained ................................................... 24

How to focus (focus lock) ............................................................ 24

Subjects that are difficult to focus on .......................................... 25

Record mode K ............................................................................. 26

Still picture record modes............................................................ 26

Movie record modes.................................................................... 27

Card capacity in number of pictures/remaining recording time... 28

To change the record mode........................................................ 30

3 Basic shooting functions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -31

Selecting a shooting mode according to the situation....................... 32

Zooming in on a distant subject ........................................................ 35

Using the optical zoom................................................................ 35

Using the digital zoom................................................................. 36

Taking close-up pictures (macro/super macro mode) &% ............ 37

Flash shooting # ............................................................................. 39

Flash intensity control w .......................................................... 43

Slow synchronization L ................................................... 44

4 Advanced shooting functions - - - - - - - - - - -45

Aperture priority shooting A ............................................................ 46

Shutter priority shooting S ............................................................... 47

Manual shooting M .......................................................................... 48

My Mode r .................................................................................... 49

6

Table of Contents

Focusing applications........................................................................ 49

AF mode...................................................................................... 49

Fulltime AF .................................................................................. 50

AF area ....................................................................................... 50

AF illuminator .............................................................................. 51

Manual focus

Metering ............................................................................................ 54

ESP/Spot metering

Multi-metering ............................................................................. 54

AE lock B ..................................................................................... 56

ISO sensitivity ................................................................................... 58

Exposure compensation F .............................................................. 59

White balance WB ........................................................................... 60

Auto white balance...................................................................... 60

Preset white balance................................................................... 61

One-touch white balance V ..................................................... 62

White balance compensation > ............................................ 63

Sharpness N ................................................................................... 64

Contrast J ....................................................................................... 65

Saturation 6 ................................................................................... 65

Noise reduction O ......................................................................... 66

Histogram u ................................................................................... 67

Displaying shooting information INFO .............................................. 69

Frame assist...................................................................................... 70

M ....................................................................... 52

Kn ...................................................... 54

5 More useful functions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -71

Recording movies n ....................................................................... 72

Camera movement compensation h ...................................... 73

Sequential shooting j 7 .......................................................... 74

Sequential shooting j ............................................................. 74

Auto bracketing 7 ................................................................. 75

Time lapse shooting L .................................................................... 76

Self-timer shooting Y ...................................................................... 77

Function shooting (black & white/sepia)............................................ 78

Panorama shooting ........................................................................... 79

Recording sound with still pictures R ............................................... 81

Recording sound with movies R ...................................................... 82

6 Playback - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -83

Single-frame playback q ................................................................ 84

7

Table of Contents

Close-up playback U ...................................................................... 84

Index display G .............................................................................. 85

Selecting the number of pictures G ......................................... 86

Calendar display G ........................................................................ 86

Slideshow m .................................................................................. 88

Slideshow setup m .................................................................. 88

Picture rotation y ............................................................................ 89

Playing back movies q .................................................................. 90

Editing still pictures ........................................................................... 91

Resizing Q .............................................................................. 91

Trimming P .............................................................................. 92

Red-eye correction...................................................................... 93

Recording sound R .......................................................................... 94

Editing movies................................................................................... 95

Creating an index........................................................................ 95

Editing a movie............................................................................ 96

Playback on a TV .............................................................................. 98

Video output selection................................................................. 99

Information display INFO ............................................................... 100

Histogram u ................................................................................. 101

Protecting pictures 0 .................................................................. 102

Erasing pictures SR ................................................................... 102

Single-frame erase S .............................................................. 103

All-frame erase R .................................................................. 103

Formatting I ................................................................................. 104

7 Settings- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 105

All reset ........................................................................................... 106

Selecting a language W ........................................................... 108

Power on/Power off setup ............................................................... 108

Rec view.......................................................................................... 109

Screen setup................................................................................... 110

Playback volume ............................................................................. 111

Beep 8 ......................................................................................... 111

Button operation beep..................................................................... 112

Shutter sound.................................................................................. 112

My Mode setup r ........................................................................ 113

File name ........................................................................................ 116

Pixel mapping.................................................................................. 117

Monitor brightness adjustment s ................................................ 117

8

Table of Contents

Setting the date and time X ........................................................ 118

Measurement units (m/ft) m/ft ........................................................ 119

Shortcut........................................................................................... 120

Setting the shortcut menus ....................................................... 121

Using the shortcut menus ......................................................... 121

8 Printing pictures - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 123

Direct printing (PictBridge) .............................................................. 124

Using the direct printing function ............................................... 124

Connecting the camera to a printer........................................... 125

Printing pictures ........................................................................ 126

Easy printing ............................................................................. 126

Printing by selecting a print mode ............................................. 128

Trimming P ............................................................................ 131

Exiting direct printing................................................................. 132

If an error code is displayed ...................................................... 133

Print settings (DPOF) < ................................................................ 134

How to make print reservations................................................. 134

All-frame reservation/Single-frame reservation U < ............. 135

Trimming P ............................................................................ 138

Resetting print reservation data < .......................................... 139

9 Connecting the camera to a computer - - - - 141

Flow................................................................................................. 142

Using OLYMPUS Master ................................................................ 143

What is OLYMPUS Master?...................................................... 143

Installing OLYMPUS Master ..................................................... 144

Connecting the camera to a computer............................................ 147

Starting up OLYMPUS Master ........................................................ 149

Displaying camera images on a computer ...................................... 151

Downloading and saving images .............................................. 151

Viewing still pictures and movies .................................................... 153

Printing pictures .............................................................................. 154

To download and save images to a computer without using

OLYMPUS Master..................................................................... 156

10 Appendix - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 157

Troubleshooting .............................................................................. 158

Error codes................................................................................ 158

Troubleshooting ........................................................................ 159

9

Table of Contents

Camera care ................................................................................... 166

AC adapter (optional)...................................................................... 167

Safety Precautions .......................................................................... 168

Handling the Camera ................................................................ 168

Battery handling precautions..................................................... 171

Card handling precautions ........................................................ 174

LCD Monitor .............................................................................. 175

Glossary of terms ............................................................................ 176

11 Miscellaneous - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 179

Menu list.......................................................................................... 180

List of factory default settings.......................................................... 186

Modes and shooting functions ........................................................ 189

Names of parts................................................................................ 191

Camera ..................................................................................... 191

Monitor indications .................................................................... 193

Index ............................................................................................... 196

10

1 Basic operation

36

BLUE

RED

SELECTGOGO

OK

CANCEL

HQ

Basic operation



Don’t you sometimes feel that advanced
shooting and editing functions are only for
professional photographers?
With their experience and skill, they can
make all kinds of fine adjustments to
achieve a variety of effects.
Now you too can achieve such effects
simply by pressing the buttons on your
digital camera. You can use the advanced
functions available on your camera by
setting the menu items to adjust the amount
of light passing through aperture or alter the
focusing range.
Just display a menu on the monitor and use
the buttons to choose a setting. Familiarize
yourself with the buttons and menus before
reading the explanations of the various
functions.

1

MONITOR OFF

HQ

Movies

MODE MENU

000:0:36

0 0:3 6

CANCEL

CANCEL SELECT

SELECT

Sequential shooting

GO

BLUE

OK

OK

RED

11

Mode dial

This camera features a mode dial for selecting the camera’s mode. The
modes are divided into shooting and playback modes, with shooting mode
divided into 8 modes. Select the mode you want, then press the POWER
switch to turn the camera on.

1

Shooting modes

Set the mode dial to one of
these positions to take
pictures or movies.

Basic operation

(About the mode dial

There is no need to use special functions or change any settings.

h

A

M

Shooting modes

r

The camera automatically adjusts all settings including focus and
exposure for you.

The camera automatically sets the aperture value and shutter

P

speed.

This function allows you to set the aperture manually. The camera
sets the shutter speed automatically. gP.46

This function allows you to set the shutter speed manually. The

S

camera sets the aperture automatically. gP.47

This function allows you to set the aperture and shutter speed
manually. gP.48

This function allows you to set your own shooting parameters and
register them as your original mode. gP.49

Playback mode

Set the mode dial to this
position to view pictures or
movies.

This function allows you to select from 10 situation-related modes
set to the shooting conditions. gP.32

This function allows you to record movies with sound.

This function allows you to view still pictures and movies, as well
as playback sound. gP.84, 90

Playback

mode

f

n

q

TIPS

•

The direct button functions and menu contents vary depending on the position of
the mode dial.

• You can change the mode before and after turning the camera on.

g

12

g

P.72

“Direct buttons” (P.13), “Menus” (P.16), “Menu list” (P.180)

Direct buttons

F2.8

1/1000

0.0

2592 1944

HQ

The direct buttons have different functions in shooting mode and in
playback mode.

Using the direct buttons in shooting mode

c

d

e

g

f

1

Basic operation

c

d

QUICK VIEW button

Pressing the QUICK VIEW button displays the last picture taken on the
monitor. All the functions in normal playback mode are available.
g“6 Playback” (P.83)
To return to shooting mode for taking the next picture, press the QUICK
VIEW button or press the shutter button halfway.

[ (AE lock) button

The exposure (AE) lock function is alternately activated and canceled
each time you press the button. g“AE lock” (P.56)

1/1000

P

HQ

2592 1944

AE lock screen

F2.8

0.0

303030

13

Direct buttons

1/1000

F2.8

0.0

2592 1944

HQ

1/1000

F2.8

0.0

2592 1944

HQ

F2.8

1/1000

0.0

2.5m

1.2m

0.6m

1

Basic operation

e

f

# (flash mode) button
Press the # (flash mode) button repeatedly to change the setting. The

setting changes in the following order with each press of the button.
g“Flash shooting” (P.39)

1/1000

HQ

2592 1944

F2.8

AUTO

0.0

303030

AUTO (Auto-flash)

$ (Flash off)

#SLOW (Slow

synchronization)

! (red-eye

reduction flash)

# (fill-in flash)

& (Macro) button

Press the & (macro) button repeatedly to change the macro settings.
The setting changes in the following order with each press of the button.
g“Taking close-up pictures (macro/super macro mode)” (P.37)

1/1000

F2.8

0.0

OFF

g

&

(Macro)

%

HQ

2592 1944

303030

(Super macro)

N button

The focus mode is alternately selected. Holding down N for more than
1 second displays the following screen. Press bd to alternately select AF
(Auto focus) and MF (Manual focus). g“Manual focus” (P.52)

F2.8

0.0

Currently, AF (Auto focus) is set. Press b to
switch to MF (Manual focus).

2.5m

1.2m

0.6m

P

1/1000

303030

14

Using the direct buttons in playback mode

16 15

30 30

100

0030

HQ

16 15

30 30

100

0030

HQ

16 15

30 30

100

0030

HQ

SELECT

GO

OK

c
d
e

Direct buttons

Basic operation1Basic operation

c

d

e

y (Rotation) button

Pressing the y (Rotation) button after selecting a still picture rotates it.
Each pressing rotates the image in the following sequence:
90° clockwise, 90° counterclockwise, and back to the original.
g“Picture rotation” (P.89)

100

’0505.

0202.

-

0030

16 15

:

30 30

HQ

’0505.

0202.

0030

16 15

:

30 30

HQ

100

’0505.

0202.

-

0030

16 15

:

30 30

HQ

100

-

0 (Protect) button
Pressing the 0 (Protect) button after selecting a picture sets the protect

function. g“Protecting pictures” (P.102)

S (Erase) button
Pressing the S (Erase) button after selecting a picture displays the

screen below. Follow the operation guide at the bottom of the screen to
erase the picture. g“Erasing pictures” (P.102)

ERASE

YES

NO

SELECT

SELECT GO

GO

OK

OK

Operation guide

15

Menus

Menus are used to set functions. Press N to display the menu on the monitor.

About the menus

The menu items that can be used differ depending on the mode.

1

Top menu

Menus are divided into shortcut menus
and mode menus.

Basic operation

Shortcut menus

You can select menu items that are normally
accessed from the mode menu. There are
shortcut menus that allow you to select on/off.

Top menus

(

Shooting modes

h mode

gP.77

SETUP

MODE MENU

MONITOR OFF

Mode menus

The settings are categorized into tabs by
function. The mode menu is not
displayed in h mode.

P A S M mode (Factory default setting)

∗

MODE MENU

MONITOR OFF

r mode

r1/2/3/4

MODE MENU

MONITOR OFF

16

gP.23
gP.26

gP.49

gP.23
gP.26

MONITOR OFF

f mode

MODE MENU

MONITOR OFF

gP.23
gP.26

gP.32

gP.23
gP.26

n mode

Menus

gP.73

MODE MENU

MONITOR OFF

gP.23
gP.26

(Playback mode (q mode)

MovieStill picture

gP.88

gP.101
gP.100

INFO

m

MODE MENU

u

∗ You can change the shortcut menus in P/A/S/M modes. The functions

assigned to the shortcut menus can also be set from the mode menu.
g“Shortcut” (P.120)

MOVIE PLAY

INFO

MODE MENU

Basic operation1Basic operation

gP.90

gP.100

Setup

Shooting modes (h)

(

In h mode, the SETUP screen allows you to format the memory card
and perform basic settings for ease of use.

SETUP

FORMAT

ALL RESET

W

s

SELECT

ON

ENGLISH

SETUP

GO

OK

17

Menus

Mode menus

Shooting modes (P A S M r f)

(

1

CAMERA tab

PICTURE tab

CARD tab

SETUP tab

AE/AF
DRIVE

CAMERA

ISO

PIC
CARD

SET

AUTO
OFF

0.0

Basic operation

CAMERA tab

PICTURE tab

CARD tab

SETUP tab

For setting shooting-related functions.

For setting picture-related functions, such as white balance.

For formatting the memory card.

For setting basic camera functions and functions for easy use of the camera.

(Playback mode (q mode)

PLAY tab

EDIT tab

CARD tab

SETUP tab

PLAY tab

EDIT tab

CARD tab

SETUP tab

For recording sound and reserving for printing.

For editing saved pictures.

For formatting cards and erasing all image data.

For setting basic camera functions and functions for easy use of the camera.

PLAY

EDIT
CARD
SET

TIPS

•In n mode, the mode menu differs in shooting mode and in playback mode.

For details, see “Menu list” (P.180).

• For details of mode menu items in setup and mode menu, see “Menu
list” (P.180).

18

Menus

How to use the menus

Use the arrow pad and N to select and set the menu items.
Follow the operation guide on the screen and use the arrow pad to set the
items. How to use the menus is shown below.

Basic operation1Basic operation

Ex: Setting [

7] (Auto bracketing)

Mode dial

acbd buttons
N button

1 Set the mode dial to either P, A, S, M, r or f.
2 Press N.

• The top menu is displayed.

Top menu

3 Press d to select [MODE MENU].

This refers to the arrow
pad (acbd).

4 Press ac to select the

[CAMERA] tab, then press d.

• Refer to the arrows on the screen to
select a setting with the arrow pad.

This refers to the arrow pad
(cd).

MONITOR OFF

AE/AF
DRIVE

CAMERA

ISO

PIC
CARD

SET

MODE MENU

AUTO
OFF

0.0

19

Menus

5 Press ac to select [DRIVE],

then press d.

• Refer to the arrows on the screen to

1

select a setting with the arrow pad.

• Unavailable settings cannot be
selected.

6 Press ac to select [BKT], then

Basic operation

press d.

• Refer to the arrows on the screen to
select a setting with the arrow pad.

The selected item
appears indented.

AE/AF
DRIVE

CAMERA

ISO

PIC
CARD

SET

AE/AF

DRIVE

CAMERA

ISO

PIC
CARD

SET

AUTO
OFF

0.0

BKT

7 Press ac and select the

exposure differential from [±0.3],
[±0.7] and [±1.0], then press d.
Press ac and select the
number of shots from [×3] and

± 0.3
± 0.7
± 1.0

[×5], then press N.

• Follow the operation guide at the bottom
of the screen and use the arrow pad to
select and set a setting.

Operation guide

Press b to cancel.

Press ac to select a setting.

Press d to move settings.

Press N to make your selection.

TIPS

In this manual, Steps 2 to 6 of how to use the menus are expressed as follows:

Top menu [MODE MENU] [CAMERA] [DRIVE] [BKT]

CANCEL

BKT

SELECT

3

5

GO

OK

20

2 Tips before you start taking pictures

SHQ

SQ2

Tips before you start
taking pictures



Your pictures are almost guaranteed to
come out well just by setting the mode dial
to h and pressing the shutter button.
But occasionally, you can’t focus on your
subject, or the subject is too dark, or the
picture doesn’t come out the way you
want…
Just knowing which button to press or which
setting to change can help you solve these
problems.
And did you know that by selecting an
image size according to how you plan to use
the pictures afterwards, you can store more
pictures on the memory card? These are
just some of the hints provided in this
chapter.

2

Printing
applications

Ideas

Ideas

SHQ

SHQ

Online applications

SQ2

SQ2

21

Holding the camera

Sometimes when you look at a picture you have taken, the contours of the
subject are blurred. This is often caused by movement of the camera at the
precise moment that the shutter button is pressed.

2

Picture where subject is not clearly defined

To prevent the camera from moving, hold the camera firmly with both
hands while keeping your elbows at your sides. When taking pictures
with the camera in the vertical position, hold the camera so that the flash
is positioned higher than the lens. Keep your fingers and the strap away
from the lens and flash.

Tips before you start taking pictures

Horizontal grip Vertical grip

Top view

Do not hold this part of the lens.

22

Turning the monitor on/off

You can take pictures with or without using the monitor.

MONITOR ON For taking pictures using the monitor (factory default setting)
MONITOR OFF For taking pictures using the viewfinder

Mode dial

Top menu [MONITOR OFF] / [MONITOR ON] g“Menus” (P.16)

(Features of the monitor and viewfinder

Monitor Viewfinder

Advantages

Disadvantages

Tips

Viewfinder

You can check the picture area
that the camera actually
records.

Camera movement occurs easily
and subjects may be difficult to
see in bright/dark places. The
monitor uses more battery power
than the viewfinder.

Use the monitor when you need to
know the exact area the camera
records, or to take a close-up of a
person or flower (macro shooting).

• The camera records a wider area than the image in the
viewfinder.

• As you get closer to the subject, the actual image recorded
(the shaded area in the illustration on the left) differs
slightly from the image in the viewfinder.

Camera movement does not
occur easily and subjects can be
seen clearly even in bright places.
Little battery power is used.

When close to a subject, the
image in the viewfinder differs
slightly from the picture that the
camera actually records.

Use the viewfinder for general
snapshots, landscape pictures
and other casual shots.

2

Tips before you start taking pictures

TIPS

The monitor turns off automatically.

→ If the camera is not used for over 3 minutes, the monitor turns off automatically.

Press the shutter button or zoom lever to turn the monitor on.

To adjust the brightness of the monitor.

→ Adjust the brightness with the [s] settings. g“Monitor brightness

adjustment” (P.117)

The monitor is hard to see.

→

Bright light, such as direct sunlight, may cause vertical lines (smears) to appear
on the image in the monitor. This does not affect recorded pictures.

23

If correct focus cannot be obtained

F2.8

1/1000

0.0

2592 1944

HQ

F2.8

1/1000

0.0

2592 1944

HQ

The camera automatically detects the focus target in the frame. The level
of contrast is one of the criteria it uses to detect the subject. The camera
may fail to determine subjects with lower contrast than the surroundings or
with an area of extremely strong contrast in the frame. If this happens, the
simplest solution is to use the focus lock.

How to focus (focus lock)

2

Mode dial

1 Position the AF target mark on

the subject you want to focus on.

• When shooting a hard-to-focus subject
or a fast-moving subject, point the
camera at an object about the same
distance away as the subject.

2 Press the shutter button halfway

until the green lamp lights.

Tips before you start taking pictures

• When the focus and exposure are
locked, the green lamp lights.

• The AF target mark moves to the focus
position.

• When the green lamp blinks, the focus
and exposure are not locked. Release your finger from the shutter button,
re-position the AF target mark on the subject and press the shutter button
halfway again.

1/1000

P

HQ

2592 1944

AF target mark

Shutter button

F2.8

0.0

303030

3 Keeping the shutter button

pressed halfway, recompose
your shot.

24

Green lamp

1/1000

P

HQ

2592 1944

F2.8

0.0

303030

4 Press the shutter button fully.

TIPS

If correct focus cannot be obtained

Shutter button

The frame in which you focus on a subject is different from the frame in
which you lock the exposure.

g“AE lock” (P.56)

Focus on the subject in the center of the frame.

g“AF mode” (P.49)

Subjects that are difficult to focus on

Under certain types of conditions, the auto focus may not work properly.

The green lamp blinks.
The subject cannot be
brought into focus.

The green lamp lights,
but the subject cannot
be brought into focus.

Subject with
low contrast

Subject with an
extremely bright area in
the center of the frame

Subject without
vertical lines

Tips before you start taking pictures2Tips before you start taking pictures

If this happens, focus on an object with high contrast at the same distance as the
intended subject (focus lock), recompose your shot and then take the picture. If the
subject has no vertical lines, hold the camera vertically and focus the camera using
the focus lock function by pressing the shutter button halfway, then return the
camera to the horizontal position while keeping the button pressed halfway and take
the picture.
If the subject still cannot be focused on, use the manual focus. g“Manual
focus” (P.52)

Subjects at
different
distances

Fast-moving
subject

The subject to be
focused on is not in
the center of the frame

25

Record mode

You can select a record mode in which to take pictures or shoot movies.
Select the best record mode for your purpose (printing, editing on a
computer, website editing, etc.). For information on the image sizes for
each record mode and the memory capacity of the card, see the table on
P.28.

Still picture record modes

Record mode depicts the image size and compression rate of pictures you wish to

2

record.
Pictures are made from thousands of dots (pixels). If a picture with relatively few
pixels is enlarged, it looks like a mosaic. A picture with many pixels is denser and
clearer, but requires a larger file size (data size), decreasing the number of pictures
that can be saved on a card. Increasing the compression rate reduces the file size,
but makes the pictures appear grainy.

Picture with high number of pixel

Tips before you start taking pictures

(Normal image modes

Application

Select according to

print size

For small-sized

prints and websites

Image size becomes larger

Picture with low number of pixel

Image becomes clearer

Compression

Image size

2592 × 1944 SHQ HQ

2288 × 1712

2048 × 1536

1600 × 1200

1280 × 960

1024 × 768

640 × 480

Low com-

pression

SQ1

HIGH

SQ2

HIGH

High com-

pression

SQ1

NORMAL

SQ2

NORMAL

26

Record mode

F2.8

1/1000

0.0

2592 1728

HQ

Image size

The number of pixels (horizontal × vertical) used when saving an image. If the image
will be printed, higher resolutions (larger numbers) are recommended so that the
image will be clearer.

Compression

In record modes other than TIFF, image data are compressed. The higher the
compression, the less clear the image will be.

(Special record modes

Record mode Features Image size

3:2

(SHQ, HQ)

This is useful for ordering prints from a photo
lab.

2592 × 1728

3:2

The image aspect ratio is normally 4:3. If the
aspect ratio is changed to 3:2, the image can be
printed at a photo lab without losing the image
borders.

1/1000

P

HQ

2592 1728

Monitor display when

F2.8

3:2 is set

Movie record modes

Tips before you start taking pictures2Tips before you start taking pictures

0.0

303030

(HQ, SQ

Movies are recorded in Motion-JPEG format.

27

Record mode

Card capacity in number of pictures/remaining
recording time

Still pictures

Record

mode

2

Image size

Com-

pression

File

format

Card capacity

in number of pictures

Using a 16 MB card

With sound

Without sound

Tips before you start taking pictures

SHQ

HQ

SQ1

SQ2

2592 × 1944

3:2

3:2

2288 × 1712

2048 × 1536

1600 × 1200

1280 × 960

1024 × 768

640 × 480

2592 × 1728 4 4

2592 × 1944

2592 × 1728 13 14

Low

com-

pression

High

com-

pression

HIGH

NORMAL 15 16

HIGH 6 6

NORMAL 19 20

HIGH 11 11

NORMAL 30 32

JPEG

44

12 12

66

*

HIGH 16 17

NORMAL 45 49

HIGH 25 26

NORMAL 66 76

HIGH 58 66

NORMAL 124 165

*HIGH = low compression / NORMAL = high compression

Movies

Record

mode

HQ

SQ2

320 × 240 (30 frames/sec.)

320 × 240 (15 frames/sec.)

Image size File format

28

Motion-JPEG

Remaining recording time

(sec.)

Using a 16 MB card

With sound

23 sec. 24 sec.

46 sec. 48 sec.

Without sound

Record mode

F2.8

1/1000

0.0

2592 1944

HQ

HQ

36

0.0

TIPS

• When a picture is transferred to a computer, the size of the picture on the
computer screen varies depending on the computer’s monitor setting. For
instance, a picture taken with an image size of 1,024 × 768 fills as the screen
if you set the picture to 1× when the monitor setting is 1,024 × 768. However, if
the monitor setting is over 1,024 × 768 (such as 1,280 × 1,024), the picture only
takes up part of the screen.

• The number of storable still pictures/recording time is displayed on the monitor
when a card is inserted in the camera.

Tips before you start taking pictures2Tips before you start taking pictures

P

HQ

1/1000

F2.8

2592 1944

Number of storable
still pictures

0.0

303030

HQ

Remaining recording time

0.0

00:0:36

0 0:36

Note

• The number of storable still pictures and movie recording times listed in the
table are approximate.

• The number of storable still pictures may change according to the subject or
factors like whether print reservations have been made or not. In certain
instances, the number of remaining pictures does not change even when you
take pictures or stored images are erased.

29

Record mode

To change the record mode

Mode dial

Top menu [K] g “Menus” (P.16)

2

1 Select a record mode from

[SHQ], [HQ], [SQ1] and [SQ2].

SELECT

SHQ

HQ
SQ1
SQ2

SET

For still pictures

GO

OK

For movies, select a record mode
from [HQ], [SQ]. g Go to Step 3

Tips before you start taking pictures

2 If you selected [SHQ], [HQ],

[SQ1] or [SQ2], choose an image
size.

If you selected [SQ1] or [SQ2],
press d after choosing the image
size, then select [HIGH] or
[NORMAL].

3 Press N.

SQ1 320 240

SQ2 320 240

SELECT GO

For movies

SHQ

2592 1944

3:2

2592 1728

CANCEL

SELECT

30fps

15fps

GO

OK

OK

30