Polaroid PDC-640 User Manual

Introducing Your Polaroid PhotoMA X
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 way s, include them in e-mails, print them, and
find other great ways to use them.

To install t he P h ot oM AX software th at come s with the camera, see

Note:

page 22.

Camera case

a

Polaroid 640CF Digital Camera

b

Wrist strap

c

User’s Guide

d

Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker

e

Software CD-ROM
Four AA batteries

f

AC power adapter

g

Camera-to-computer RS-232 Serial

h

cable
Camera-to-computer USB cable

i

a

d

g

b

e

h

c

f

i

Your Camera

Front vi ew

Optical viewfinder

a

Flash

b

Lens cover and on/off switch

c

Tripod mount

d

Self-timer LED

e

Battery compartment

f

Wrist strap sl ot

g

Lens

h

Hand grip

i

Polaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 1

a

i
h

g

f

b

d

e

Rev. 1, June 10, 2002

c

Rear view

Status LCD

a

Flash status LED

b

Camera power/status

c

LED
Optical viewfinder

d

Shutter button

e

Colo r LCD on/off button

f

(

DISPLAY

Color LCD scroll up

g

)

button
Color LCD scroll down button

h

Menu on/off and selectio n button (

i

Color LCD (menu/viewfinder)

j

Flash setting button

k

Self-timer button

l

Photo delete (trashcan) button

m

USB and RS-232 Serial connection

n

AC power adapter connection

o

Memory card s lot

p

n

o

p

MENU/SELECT

k

l

m

a

b

f
g
h

i

j

e

d

c

)

For a detailed list of camera specifications, see the PhotoMAX PDC

Note:

640CF Digital Camera Specifications section of the online Polaroid
PhotoMAX Image Maker Us er’s Guide.

2 Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manu al

Status LCD

When y ou turn the ca m era 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.

Battery status (page12)

a

Self-timer status (page 13)

b

Photos in the camera (page13) or th e self-

c

b ca

timer countdown (page 13).
Photo resolution setting (page 14)

d

Photo quality setting (page14)

e

Flash setting (page15)

f

f

e d

Color Men u/viewfinde r LC D

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

• As a live viewfinder for taking
photos

• To r eview photos you have
taken

• To change camera settings and
menus

a

b

c

d
e

f

g

Flash mode button (page 15)

a

Self-timer button (page 13)

b

Photo delete (trashcan) button (page20)

c

Color LCD

d

Color LCD scroll up button (page 11 and pag e19)

e

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

f
gMENU/SELECT

DISPLAY

Polaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s M anual 3

on/off button

button (page11)

Preparing to Take Photos

Power supply

You can operate the camera using batte ries or the AC adapter pro vided. To
conserve b attery life, the camera shuts off after 30 s econds 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.

Us e t h e AC adapter whe never possible to ex tend the li f e of your

Note:

batteries. K eep a set of extra batt eries handy , especially on a trip, when
it may not be possible to find replacement batteries easily.

When not using the c am era , close the len s cov e r. And when not using
the camera for more than a few days, remove the batteries.

Loadi n g batteri es

1 Open the battery compartment cover on the

bottom of the camera by sliding the cove r out to
the side as far as it will go and lifting it.

and –

2 Insert four AA batteries with the

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 batt e ry compartment co ver securel y.

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.

+

For important information about using batteries properly and safely,

Note:

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

4 Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manu al

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.

The AC adapter may become warm to the touch after extended

Note:

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.

) to

2 Connect one end of the AC adapter (

the A C connection on the c ame ra.

3 Connect the other end of the AC adapter to

a grounded electrical outl et .

4 Slide the lens cov er open t o t ur n th e camera

on.

For important information about using

Note:

the AC adapter properly and safely, see the Tips, Tricks, Terms, and
Techniques section of the online Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker

User’s Guide.

a

a

Turning the camera on

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

Close the lens cover to turn the camera off.

Polaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s M anual 5

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 (page14), 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.

For more information about the camera’s st or ag e ca pa city, see the

Note:

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

Using an optional CompactFlash card

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

For more information about CompactFlash memory cards, visit your

Note:

local computer retailer.

If you insert a CompactFlash memory card into the camera, photos are
stored on the card, and not i n 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 C o mpact Flas h car d.

Caution:

6 Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manu al

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.

Installing and Removing a CompactFlash card

1 Turn the camera off.

2 To inst all a memory card:

Open the m emory compa rtment co ver

a

on the side of the camera (
Insert the card ca r efully, but firmly,

b

into the slot with the raised lip on the
edge of the card facing the front of the

).

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 (

Note:

c

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

Close the mem ory compartmen t co v er.

c

3 To remove a memory card:

Open the memory compartment cover

a

on the side of the camera (
Push the eject button above the

b

memor y card (
Grasp the edge of the memo ry card

c

and pull it out (
Close the mem ory compartmen t co v er.

d

For a description of card-related error

Note:

).

b

).

c

messages that may appear on the color LCD, see page26.

).

a

).

a

a

c

b

a

b

c

Polaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s M anual 7

Formatting a CompactFlash card

You ma y need to form a t a new memory card bef ore you can use it. Also, you
may need to reformat a card (or the came ra’s internal memory) to eliminate
corrupted files.

If you are using a CompactFlash memory card, any photos on the

Note:

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.

1 Insert the new CompactFlash memory card.
2 Turn the camera on.
3 Pre ss the

MENU/SELECT

button to display the

4 Use the LCD scro ll b uttons to highlight
5 Pre ss the

MENU/SELECT

button to display the

options.
The camera displ a y s a

CONTINUE FORMA T OF MEDIA?

MAIN MENU

FORMAT MEDIA

FORMAT MEDIA

.

in green.

message.

6 Use the LCD scro ll b uttons to highlight

and press the

If you select OK, the camera displays

•

MENU/SELECT

button to make your selection.

or

OK

CANCEL

FORMATTING CARD

then turns the LCD off.
If you select

•

CANCEL

, the camera returns to the

without formatting memory.

7 If you are finished with the

to highlight

MAIN MENU

For a description of card-related error messages that may appear on

Note:

and press the

DONE

and turn the LCD off.

MAIN MENU

MENU/SELECT

, use the LCD sc rol l butt ons

button to exit the

the color L C D, see page 26.
If you cannot format the card, it may be defective. Return it to the

Note:

retailer where you purchased it.

(the d efault)

and

MAIN MENU

8 Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manu al

Taking Photos

Now that you have prepar ed yo ur PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera
for action, it’s time to take some photos! For your convenience, this section
brie fly describes th e entire process:

• Taking photos

• Reviewi ng 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 LC D
viewfind er . Use the optica l viewf i n der:

• For fa ster processing and flash rec ycle time

• To optimize battery life

To take a photo

To take a ph o t o, set up the c a me ra fo r th e first time , or to rede f ine camera
settings after changing the batteries:

1 Turn the camera on (page 5).
2 Set the flash mode, if needed (pag e15).
3 Set the photo resolution (pag e14).

You need not set every parameter for every photo. You can often

Note:

use camera defa ult setti ngs. Some set tings (like resolutio n) als o
remain at their current value until you change them or remove
the camera’s batteries.

4 Set the photo quality (pag e14).
5 Set the exposure-value brightnes s compensation, if needed (pa ge16).
6 Set the white-balance compensation, if needed (page17).
7 Set the preview mode, if desired (page18).
8 Activate the self-timer, if desired (page 13).

Polaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s M anual 9

9 Stand at the proper distance from the su bject:

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

•

Indoors: 3 to 10 ft. (1 to 3 m) from the subject (see page15)

•

10 Frame the subject:

Within the yello w f raming l ine s in the optical viewfinder

•

Within the color LCD screen

•

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

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

If the camera’s internal memory (or CompactFlash card) is full,

Note:

the c a me ra will not take m o re p hotos . For a des cr i pt ion 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).

After you take a photo, the green power/status LED immediately

Note:

to the left of th e op ti cal viewfind e r blinks whil e t he 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 flas h, the flas h L ED to the far l e ft of the

optical viewfinder also blinks after the power/status LED stops
blinking.

12 Review and delete unwanted photos from the camera to regain storage

space (page 19).

13 Transfer photos from the camera to your computer and delete unwanted

photos using the PhotoMAX software (page 22).

For more information about taking better photos, see the Tips,

Note:

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

10 Polaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s M anual