Polaroid PDC-640 Manual

Introducing Your Polaroid PhotoMAX

PDC 640CF Digital Camera

Your Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera Kit contains everything you need to take digital photos, transfer them to your computer, change them in many creative ways, include them in e-mails, print them, and find other great ways to use them.

Note: To install the PhotoMAX software that comes with the camera, see page 22.

aCamera case

bPolaroid 640CF Digital Camera

cWrist strap

dUser’s Guide

ePolaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker Software CD-ROM

fFour AA batteries

gAC power adapter

hCamera-to-computer RS-232 Serial cable

iCamera-to-computer USB cable

	c
a	b
	f
d	e
g
	i
	h

Your Camera

Front view

a	Optical viewfinder		b
b	Flash		a
c	Lens cover and on/off switch	i		c
d	Tripod mount
		h
e
	Self-timer LED	g
f	Battery compartment
g	Wrist strap slot		e d
h	Lens	f
i	Hand grip
			Rev. 1, June 10, 2002
	Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual			1

Rear view

a	Status LCD		a	bc d	e
b	Flash status LED
c	Camera power/status
	LED				f
d	Optical viewfinder				g
			k		h
e	Shutter button	n			i
			l
		o
f	Color LCD on/off button	p	m
	(DISPLAY)
g	Color LCD scroll up			j
	button

hColor LCD scroll down button

iMenu on/off and selection button (MENU/SELECT)

jColor LCD (menu/viewfinder)

kFlash setting button

lSelf-timer button

mPhoto delete (trashcan) button

nUSB and RS-232 Serial connection

oAC power adapter connection

pMemory card slot

Note: For a detailed list of camera specifications, see the PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera Specifications section of the online Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.

2	Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual

Status LCD

When you turn the camera on, icons appear on the Status LCD on top of the camera. Icons may appear differently (or not at all), depending on the mode the camera is in.

aBattery status (page 12)

bSelf-timer status (page 13)

cPhotos in the camera (page 13) or the selftimer countdown (page 13).

dPhoto resolution setting (page 14)

ePhoto quality setting (page 14)

fFlash setting (page 15)

a b c

f e d

Color Menu/viewfinder LCD

You use the color LCD on the back of the camera:

•As a live viewfinder for taking

photos

• To review photos you have	a
	b
taken	c

•To change camera settings and menus

a	Flash mode button	(page 15)
b	Self-timer button	(page 13)
c	Photo delete (trashcan) button		(page 20)
d Color LCD DISPLAY on/off button
e	Color LCD scroll up button		(page 11 and pag e19)

fColor LCD scroll down button (page 11 and pag e19)

gMENU/SELECT button (page 11)

d e

f g

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Preparing to Take Photos

Power supply

You can operate the camera using batteries or the AC adapter provided. To conserve battery life, the camera shuts off after 30 seconds of inactivity, if the menu/viewfinder LCD is on. The camera then shuts off after 3 minutes of inactivity. To activate the camera again, close and reopen the lens cover.

Note: Use the AC adapter whenever possible to extend the life of your batteries. Keep a set of extra batteries handy, especially on a trip, when it may not be possible to find replacement batteries easily.

When not using the camera, close the lens cover. And when not using the camera for more than a few days, remove the batteries.

Loading batteries

1Open the battery compartment cover on the bottom of the camera by sliding the cover out to the side as far as it will go and lifting it.

2Insert four AA batteries with the + and – terminals oriented as shown inside the battery compartment.

•Use only AA high-capacity super alkaline

or lithium disposable batteries or NiCad or NiMH rechargeable batteries.

•Never mix old batteries with new batteries, different types of batteries, or batteries from different manufacturers.

3 Close the battery compartment cover securely.

If you feel resistance, do not force the cover. Slide it out to the side as far as it will go, press it down flat against the camera base, and slide it back into the base to lock it closed.

Note: For important information about using batteries properly and safely, see the Tips, Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of the online

Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.

4	Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual

Using the AC adapter

To maximize the life of your camera batteries, use the AC adapter whenever possible. For example, always use the AC adapter when reviewing stored photos on the LCD or transferring photos into your computer.

Note: The AC adapter may become warm to the touch after extended periods of use. This is no cause for alarm.

If you are using rechargeable batteries, using the AC adapter will not recharge them. For more information about how to recharge the batteries, see the instructions provided by the battery manufacturer.

1 Close the lens cover to turn the camera off.

2Connect one end of the AC adapter (a) to the AC connection on the camera.

3 Connect the other end of the AC adapter to

a grounded electrical outlet.	a

4 Slide the lens cover open to turn the camera on.

Note: For important information about using

the AC adapter properly and safely, see the Tips, Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of the online Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.

Turning the camera on

Slide the lens cover to the right to turn the camera on.

Close the lens cover to turn the camera off.

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Photo storage

The PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera is ready to store your photos in 2 MB of internal memory (or in any optional ATA Type I CompactFlash memory card, as described below).

Depending on the camera’s photo-quality setting (page 14), its internal memory normally stores from 16 to 33 photos at 640 x 480 resolution or 64 to 132 photos at 320 x 240 resolution.

Note: For more information about the camera’s storage capacity, see the

Tips, Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of the online Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.

Using an optional CompactFlash card

The PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera includes a slot for an optional ATA Type I CompactFlash memory card of any size.

Note: For more information about CompactFlash memory cards, visit your local computer retailer.

If you insert a CompactFlash memory card into the camera, photos are stored on the card, and not in the camera’s internal memory. Photos already in the camera’s internal memory are not lost, however. You can still access them by removing the CompactFlash card.

Caution:Do not insert or remove a memory card while the camera power is on. Doing so may damage the memory card or corrupt photos stored on it.

6	Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual

Installing and Removing a CompactFlash card

1 Turn the camera off.

2 To install a memory card:

a Open the memory compartment cover

		on the side of the camera (a).	a
	b	Insert the card carefully, but firmly,
			c
		into the slot with the raised lip on the
		edge of the card facing the front of the	b
		camera (b).

The card fits completely into the slot in only one way. When the card is inserted correctly, the eject button above the card pops up (c).

Note: If the card does not seem to fit correctly, do not force it.Turn the card over and retry.

c Close the memory compartment cover.

3 To remove a memory card:

a Open the memory compartment cover

	on the side of the camera (a).	a
	b Push the eject button above the
		b
	memory card (b).
	c Grasp the edge of the memory card	c
	and pull it out (c).

d Close the memory compartment cover.

Note: For a description of card-related error

messages that may appear on the color LCD, see page 26.

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Formatting a CompactFlash card

You may need to format a new memory card before you can use it. Also, you may need to reformat a card (or the camera’s internal memory) to eliminate corrupted files.

Note: If you are using a CompactFlash memory card, any photos on the card are deleted, but photos stored in the camera’s internal memory are not. You must remove the memory card to format the camera’s internal memory.

1Insert the new CompactFlash memory card.

2Turn the camera on.

3Press the MENU/SELECT button to display the MAIN MENU.

4Use the LCD scroll buttons to highlight FORMAT MEDIA in green.

5Press the MENU/SELECT button to display the FORMAT MEDIA options.

The camera displays a CONTINUE FORMAT OF MEDIA? message.

6Use the LCD scroll buttons to highlight OK or CANCEL (the default) and press the MENU/SELECT button to make your selection.

•If you select OK, the camera displays FORMATTING CARD and then turns the LCD off.

•If you select CANCEL, the camera returns to the MAIN MENU without formatting memory.

7If you are finished with the MAIN MENU, use the LCD scroll buttons to highlight DONE and press the MENU/SELECT button to exit the MAIN MENU and turn the LCD off.

Note: For a description of card-related error messages that may appear on the color LCD, see page 26.

Note: If you cannot format the card, it may be defective. Return it to the retailer where you purchased it.

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Taking Photos

Now that you have prepared your PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera for action, it’s time to take some photos! For your convenience, this section briefly describes the entire process:

•Taking photos

•Reviewing photos in the camera

•Deleting unwanted photos

•Transferring photos to your computer

This section also tells you where go in this guide for detailed explanations of each step.

You can take photos using either the optical viewfinder or the LCD viewfinder. Use the optical viewfinder:

•For faster processing and flash recycle time

•To optimize battery life

To take a photo

To take a photo, set up the camera for the first time, or to redefine camera settings after changing the batteries:

1Turn the camera on (page 5).

2Set the flash mode, if needed (pag e15).

3Set the photo resolution (pag e14).

Note: You need not set every parameter for every photo. You can often use camera default settings. Some settings (like resolution) also remain at their current value until you change them or remove the camera’s batteries.

4Set the photo quality (pag e14).

5Set the exposure-value brightness compensation, if needed (pa ge16).

6Set the white-balance compensation, if needed (pag e17).

7Set the preview mode, if desired (pag e18).

8Activate the self-timer, if desired (page 13).

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9Stand at the proper distance from the subject:

•Outdoors: 2 feet (60 cm) or more from the subject

•Indoors: 3 to 10 ft. (1 to 3 m) from the subject (see page 15)

10Frame the subject:

•Within the yellow framing lines in the optical viewfinder

•Within the color LCD screen

11Press the shutter button down fully to take the photo.

Hold the camera steady until you hear a beep followed by two quick beeps.

Note: If the camera’s internal memory (or CompactFlash card) is full, the camera will not take more photos. For a description of storage-related error messages that may appear on the color LCD, see page 26. When a card is full, you must review and delete some photos before taking more (see page 19).

Note: After you take a photo, the green power/status LED immediately to the left of the optical viewfinder blinks while the camera processes and saves the photo. Wait until the power/status LED stops blinking before you turn the camera off or take another photo. If you used the flash, the flash LED to the far left of the optical viewfinder also blinks after the power/status LED stops blinking.

12Review and delete unwanted photos from the camera to regain storage space (page 19).

13Transfer photos from the camera to your computer and delete unwanted photos using the PhotoMAX software (page 22).

Note: For more information about taking better photos, see the Tips, Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of the online Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.

10 Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual