Pentax Optiio550 User Manual

Digital Camera

Operating Manual

To ensure the best performance from
your camera, please read the Operating
Manual before using the camera.

Thank you for buying the Pentax Optio 550 Digital Camera. Please
read this manual before using the camera in order to get the most
out of all the features and functions. Keep this manual safe, as it
can be a valuable tool in helping you to understand all the cam­era’s capabilities.

Regarding copyrights

Images taken using the Optio 550 that are for anything other than personal
enjoyment cannot be used without permission according to the rights as
specified in the Copyright Act. Please take care, as there are even cases
where limitations are placed on taking pictures even for personal enjoyment
during demonstrations, industrial enterprise or as items for display. Images
taken with the purpose of obtaining copyrights also cannot be used outside
the scope of use of the copyright as laid out in the Copyright Act, and care
should be taken here also.

Regarding trademarks

• The SD logo is a trademark.

• PENTAX is a trademark of PENTAX Corporation.

• Optio is a trademark of PENTAX Corporation.

• All other brands or product names are trademarks of registered trade­marks of their respective companies.

• This product supports PRINT Image Matching II.

When used in combination, PRINT Image Matching II enabled digital still
cameras, printers and software help photographers to produce images
more faithful to their intentions.
Copyright 2001 Seiko Epson Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
PRINT Image Matching is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

FOR SAFE USE OF YOUR CAMERA

Sufficient attention has been paid to the safety of this product but please
pay particular attention to the warnings indicated by the following symbols
during use.

Warning

These symbols indicate that it is possible that the
user may experience serious difficulties
if the warnings are not heeded.

Caution

These symbols indicate that it is possible that the
user may experience minor or middling difficulties or
physical difficulties if the warnings are not heeded.

Warning:

• Do not attempt to take the camera apart or remodel the camera. High voltages are
present within the camera, and there is therefore a danger of electric shocks.

• If the inside of the camera should become exposed as a result of, for example, the
camera being dropped, please do not under any circumstances touch such exposed
portions, as there is a danger of receiving an electric shock.

• Wrapping the strap of the camera around your neck is also dangerous, please take
care that small children do not hang the strap around their necks.

• To avoid the risk of it being swallowed by mistake, keep the SD Memory Card out of
the reach of small children. Seek medical attention immediately if accidentally swal­lowed.

• Use an AC adapter that are of the power and voltage specified for exclusive use with
this product. The use of an AC adapter other than that specified exclusively for use
with this product may cause fire or electric shocks.

• If the camera emits smoke or a strange smell, or in the event of any other irregularity,
stop using the camera immediately, remove the battery or disconnect the AC adapter
and contact your nearest Pentax service center. Continued use of the camera may
result in fire or electric shock.

• Discontinue use of the AC adapter during thunderstorms. This can cause a fire or
electrical shock.

Caution:

• Never try to disassemble, short the battery. Also, do not dispose of the battery in fire,
as it may explode.

• Remove the battery from the camera immediately if it becomes hot or begins to smoke.
Be careful not to burn yourself during removal.

• Some portions of the camera heat up during use, so please take care, as there is a risk
of low temperature burns if such portions are held for long periods of time.

• Do not place your finger on the flash when it is discharging as there is a risk of burns.

• If any of the battery leakage should come in contact with your eyes, do not rub them.
Flush your eyes with clean water and get medical attention immediately.

• If any of the battery leakage should come in contact with skin or clothes, wash the
affected areas thoroughly with water.

1

Care to be Taken During Handling

• Do not clean the product with organic solvents such as thinner or alcohol benzene.

• Places of high temperature and humidity should be avoided. Particular care should be
taken regarding vehicles, which can become very hot inside.

• Storing the camera where pesticides and chemicals are handled should be avoided.
Remove from case and store in a well-ventilated place to prevent the camera from
becoming moldy during storage.

• Do not use the camera where it may come in contact with rain, water or any other
liquid, because the camera is not weather, water, or liquid resistant. Should the cam­era get wet from rain, splashing water, or any other liquid, wipe it off immediately with
a dry soft cloth.

• Ensure that the camera is not subjected to substantial vibrations, shocks or pressure.
Place the camera on a cushion for protection when the camera is subjected to the
vibrations of a motorbike, car, or ship, etc.

• The liquid crystal display will become black at temperatures of approximately 60°C
(140°F) but will return to normal when normal temperatures are returned to.

• The response speed of the liquid crystal display becomes slow at low temperatures.
This is due to the properties of the liquid crystal and is not a fault.

• Remove dust from the lens and viewfinder using a blower or clean off dust using a
lens brush.

• Periodic checks are recommended every 1 to 2 years in order to maintain high­performance.

• When the camera has not been used for a long time, confirm that it is still working
properly, particularly prior to taking important pictures (such as at a wedding or dur­ing travelling). Pentax is not responsible for consequential damages (costs incurred as
a result of taking pictures, loss of benefits that were to be obtained through taking pic­tures) arising from failure of this product.

• If the camera is subjected to rapid temperature changes, condensation may form on
the inside and outside of the camera. Therefore put the camera in a bag or plastic
bag, and take the camera out when the difference in temperature has subsided.

• The temperature range in which the camera can be used is 0°C to 40°C (32°F to
104°F).

• Avoid contact with garbage, dirt, sand, dust, water, toxic gases, salt, etc. as this may
cause damage to the camera. If rain or drops of water get onto the camera, please
wipe dry.

• Refer to “Precautions When Using an SD Memory Card/MultiMediaCard” (p.17) regard­ing the SD Memory Card/MultiMediaCard.

• Be sure to use the rechargeable lithium-ion battery D-LI7 provided for this camera. If
you use any other battery the camera may be damaged or malfunction.

2

To users of this camera

• There is a possibility that recorded data may be erased or that the camera may
not function correctly when used in surroundings such as installations generating
strong electromagnetic radiation or magnetic fields.

• The liquid crystal panel used in the LCD display is manufactured using extreme­ly high precision technology. Although the level of functioning pixels is 99.99% or
better, you should be aware that 0.01% or fewer of the pixels may not illuminate
or may illuminate when they should not. However, this has no effect on the
recorded image.

• There is a possibility that the illustrations and the display screen of the LCD
monitor in this manual are different form the actual product.

3

4

Contents

FOR SAFE USE OF YOUR CAMERA ·····················································1
Care to be Taken During Handling ···························································2
Contents ···································································································4
Contents of the Operating Manual ···························································7
Checking the Contents of the Package ····················································8
Name of Parts ··························································································9
Names of Operating Parts ····································································10

Getting Started ············································································11

Attaching the Strap ··························································································11
Powering the Camera ······················································································12

Charging the Battery ··············································································12
Installing the Battery ··············································································13

Using the AC Adapter (optional) ····························································15
Installing the SD Memory Card/
MultiMediaCard ·······························································································16
Turning the Camera On and Off ······································································18
Adjusting the Viewfinder ··················································································19
Initial Settings ··································································································20

Setting the Display Language ································································20

Setting the Home Town ··········································································21

Setting the D.S.T. Mode ··········································································21

Setting the Date and Time ·····································································22

Quick Start ····················································································24

Taking Still Pictures ·························································································24
Playing Back Still Pictures ···············································································26

Playing Back Images ··············································································26

Playing Back Previous or Next Images ··················································26
How to View the Recorded Images ·································································28

Common Operations ···································································30

Changing the Mode ··························································································30
Using the Button Functions ··············································································31

Capture Mode ························································································31

Playback Mode ·······················································································33
Using the Menus ·····························································································34

How to Set the Menus ············································································34

Menu List ································································································36

Taking Pictures ············································································38

Displaying Shooting Information (Capture Mode) ············································38
Setting the Shooting Functions ········································································40

Selecting the Focus Mode ·····································································40

Selecting the Flash Mode ······································································42

Selecting the Recorded Pixels ·······························································43

Selecting the Quality Levels ···································································44

Adjusting the Color Balance according to Lighting (White Balance) ·····45

Changing the AF Area (Focusing Area) ·················································47

Setting the Light Metering Range to Determine the Exposure

(AE Metering) ·························································································48

Setting the Sensitivity ·············································································49
Setting the Instant Review time (Instant Review) ··································50
Setting the Image Sharpness (Sharpness) ············································51
Setting the Color Saturation (Saturation) ···············································52
Setting the Image Contrast (Contrast) ···················································53

Taking Pictures·································································································54

Letting the Camera Set the Exposure (Program Mode) ························54
Setting the Aperture Value (Aperture Priority Mode) ·····························55
Setting the Shutter Speed (Shutter Priority Mode) ································56
Setting the Exposure Manually (Manual Exposure Mode) ·····················57
Selecting the Picture Mode According to the Shooting ························59
Scene (Picture mode) ············································································59
Taking Movie Pictures (Movie Picture Mode) ·········································61
Taking Panorama Pictures (Panorama Assist Mode) ·····························63
Taking Stereo Pictures (3D Image Mode) ··············································65
Taking Pictures with Digital Filters (Digital Filter Mode) ·························70
Using Preset Function Settings (User Mode) ········································72
Recording Sound (Voice Recording Mode) ············································73
Using the Zoom ······················································································74
EV Compensation ··················································································76
Using the Self-Timer ··············································································77
Using the Remote Control Unit (optional) ··············································78
Continuous Shooting ··············································································79
Taking Pictures at Fixed Intervals (Interval Shooting) ····························80
Superimposing One Picture on Top of Another
(Multiple Exposure Mode) ······································································82
Automatically Changing the Shooting Conditions (Auto bracket) ··········84
Taking Fast Forward Movie Pictures (Fast Fwd Movie) ·························86

Saving the Settings (Memory) ··········································································87

Saving the Menu Items (Memory) ··························································87
Registering Functions in User Mode ······················································88

Playback/Erasing ·········································································89

Playing Back Images and Sound ····································································89

Playing Back Still Pictures ······································································89
Zoom Display ·························································································89
Adding a Voice Memo ············································································90
Playing Back Movie Pictures ··································································91
Playing Back Sound ···············································································92
Playing back Shooting Information (Playback Mode) ·····························93
Nine-image Display ················································································94
Slideshow ·······························································································95

Erasing Images ·······························································································96

Erasing a Single Image or Sound ··························································96
Erasing All Images ·················································································98

Protecting Images from Deletion (Protect) ·············································99
Viewing Images on a TV ················································································100
Setting the Printing Service (DPOF) ·····························································101

Printing Single Image ···········································································101

Printing All Images ···············································································103

5

Viewing Images with your PC ·······································································104

About the included software ·································································104
System environment ············································································104
Installing the software ··········································································105
Displaying and copying images using ACDSee™ ·······························112
Joining panorama images using ACD photostitcher ····························113
Disconnecting the camera from your computer ···································116

Viewing Images with your Macintosh ····························································118

About the included software ·································································118
System environment ············································································118
Installing the software ··········································································118
Displaying and copying images using ACDSee™ ·······························120
Disconnecting the camera from your Macintosh ··································121

Editing/Settings ·········································································123

Editing Images ·······························································································123

Changing the Image Size ·····································································123
Trimming Images ··················································································125

Camera Settings ····························································································126

Formatting a SD Memory Card/MultiMediaCard ··································126
Changing the Sound Settings ······························································127
Setting the Date Style ··········································································129
Changing the Date/Time ······································································130
Setting the World Time ·········································································130
Changing the Display Language ··························································132
Changing the Video Output Format ·····················································132
Changing the Start-up Screen ·····························································133
LCD Power Saving (Sleep Timeout) ····················································134
Setting Auto Power Off ·········································································134
Setting the Quick Delete Function ·······················································135
Setting the Quick Zoom Function ·························································135
Registering Functions ··········································································136
Adjusting the Focus Limit ·····································································138
Resetting to Default Settings (Reset) ···················································138

Setting the Alarm ···························································································139

Checking the Alarm ··············································································139
Setting the Alarm ·················································································139
Turning the Alarm Off ···········································································140

Appendix ····················································································141

List of City Names ·························································································141
List of Menu Default Settings ········································································142
Adjustable [Rec.Mode] Menu Items by Shooting Mode ································144
Messages ······································································································145
Troubleshooting ·····························································································147
Optional Accessories ·····················································································150
WARRANTY POLICY ····················································································151
Main Specifications ·······················································································152

6

Contents of the Operating Manual

This Operating manual contains the following chapters.

 Getting Started

This chapter explains what you need to do after purchasing the camera
before you start taking pictures. Be sure to read it and follow the instructions.

 Quick Start

This chapter explains the simplest way to take pictures and play back images.
Use it if you want to start taking pictures straightaway. It also tells you how to
use the SD Memory Card/MultiMediaCard.

 Common Operations

This chapter explains common operations such as the functions of the mode
dial and buttons, and how to use the menus. For more details, refer to the
respective [Taking Pictures], [Playback/Erasing] and [Editing/Settings] chapters.

 Taking Pictures

This chapter explains the various ways of capturing images and
how to set the relevant functions.

 Playback/Erasing

This chapter explains how to play back images on the camera or
on a TV and how to delete images.

 Editing/Settings

This chapter explains how to edit images and set the camera-related func­tions.

 Appendix

This tells you about the messages displayed on the LCD monitor and what
to do in the event of trouble.

The meanings of the symbols used in this Operating manual are
explained below.

☞

memo

Caution

indicates the reference page number for an
explanation of the related operation.

indicates information that is useful to know.

indicates precautions to be taken when
operating the camera.

The icons above the title show the Capture
modes, that can activate the function.

Contents of the Package

7

Checking the Contents of the Package

Camera

Optio 550

Lithium-ion battery

D-LI7

Battery charger

(D-BC7) (∗)

(Rechargeable) (∗)

USB cable
I-USB7 (∗)

3D Image Viewer

O-3DV1

Digital Camera

Operating Manual

To ensure the best performance from
your camera, please read the Operating
Manual before using the camera.

AV cable

I-AVC7 (∗)

Software (CD-ROM)

S-SW7

AC plug cord

D-C02 (∗)

Strap

O-ST5 (∗)

Operating Manual

this manual

About items marked with (

∗)

∗ Items marked with (∗) are also available as optional accessories. For other option-

al accessories, refer to the list on page 150.

✽ Type of AC plug cord

D-CO2A Australia / D-CO2B United Kingdom / D-CO2E Europe / D-CO2H
Hong Kong / D-CO2J Japan / D-CO2K Korea / D-CO2U North America,
Canada

8

Name of Parts

Front

Back

Remote control receiver

Shutter release button

Self-timer lamp

Power switch

Autofocus window

Speaker

Viewfinder

Built-in flash

Microphone

Lens

Viewfinder

LCD monitor

Strap lug
Terminal cover

USB/AV output
terminal
DC input terminal

Battery lock lever

Battery chamber/card cover

Tripod socket

9

Names of Operating Parts

Diopter adjustment lever

/ button

DPOF button

/

Power switch

Shutter release button
Mode dial

Zoom / / button

/ button

Playback button

OK button

Four-way controller

)

(

Display button

Status lamp (green)

Flash lamp (red)

Menu/Fn button

 Guide indications

A guide to available button operation is displayed on the LCD monitor during
operation. The buttons are indicated as shown below.

10

Four-way controller ()

Four-way controller ()

Four-way controller ()

Four-way controller ()

Menu/Fn button

Shutter release button



Zoom / / button (Only
for digital zoom and magni­fied playback)

DISPLAY button



DPOF button





button

button

OK button