Polaroid 640CF - PDC 0.3MP Digital, PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Camera User Manual

Introducing Your Polaroid PhotoMAX
PDC 640CF Digital Camera

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

Note:

To install the Ph ot oM AX software that comes with the camera, see
page 22.

Camera case

a

P ola r oid 640CF Digital Camera

b

Wrist strap

c

User’s Guide

d

Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker

e

Softwar e CD-ROM
Four AA batterie s

f

AC power adapter

g

Camera-to-computer RS-232 Serial

h

cable
Camera-to-computer USB cable

i

Your Camera

c

a

e

d

g

b

f

i

h

Fro nt v i ew

Optical viewfinder

a

Flash

b

Lens cover and on/off switch

c

Tripod mount

d

Self-timer LED

e

Battery compartment

f

Wrist str ap slot

g

Lens

h

Hand grip

i

Polaro id PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Ma nual 1

b

a

i
h

g

d

e

f

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

Color LC D on/off bu t ton

f

(

DISPLAY

Color LCD scroll up

g

)

button
Color LCD scroll down button

h

Menu on/off an d s electi on button (

i

Color LCD (menu/viewfinder)

j

Flash setting butt on

k

Self-timer butto n

l

Photo delete (trashcan) button

m

a

n

o

p

MENU/SELECT

k

l

m

e

d

c

b

f
g
h

i

j

)

USB and RS-232 Serial connection

n

AC power adapter connection

o

Memory card slot

p

Note:

For a detailed list of camera specifications, see the PhotoMAX PDC
640CF Digital Camera Specifications section of the online Polaroid

PhotoMAX Image Mak er U ser’s Guide.

2 P olaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual

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

Phot os in the cam er a (p a ge13) 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 M en u/view finder LCD

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

• As a live vi ewfinder for taking
photos

• To review photos you have
taken

a

b

c

• To change camera settings and
menus

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

on/off button

button (page11)

d
e

f

g

Polaro id PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 3

Preparing to Take Photos

Power supply

You can operate the camera using batteries or the AC adapter provided. To
conserv e b at tery 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 adap ter whenever possibl e t o extend th e li f e of you r
batteries. K eep a set o f extra batteries 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.

Load ing ba tterie s

1 Open 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.

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.

+

Neve r m ix old batte ries with new b atteries,

•

different types of batteries, or batteries
from different manufacturers.

3 Close the battery compartment cov e r secu r ely.

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:

4 P olaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual

For important information about using batteries properly and safely,
see th e Tips, Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of the online
Polaro id PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s G uide.

Using the A C 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 ph otos 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 A C adapter will not
recharge them. For more information about how to recharge the
batteries, see the instructions provided by the battery manufacturer.

1 Close th e lens cover to turn the camera off.

) to

2 Connect one end of the AC adapter (

a

the AC connection on the camera.

3 Connect the other end of the AC adapter to

a grounded el ectrical outlet.

4 Slid e the lens co v er open to turn the came ra

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.

a

Turning the camera on

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

Close th e lens cover to turn the camera off.

Polaro id PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 5

Photo storage

The PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera is ready to store your photos in
2 MB of internal memor y (or in any optional ATA Type I CompactFlash
memor y card, as d escribe d b elow).

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 r esolution.

Note:

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

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

Using an optional CompactFlash card

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

Note:

If you insert a CompactFla sh memory card into the camera, pho to s ar e
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 C o mpact Flas h car d.

Caution:

For more information about CompactFlash memory cards, visit your
local comp ut er retail er.

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 P olaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual

Installing and Removing a CompactFlash card

1 Turn the camera off.

2 To install a memory card:

Open the memory co mpartment c ov er

a

on the side of the came ra (
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 comp letely into the slot in
only one way. When the card is inserted
correctly, the eject button above the card

).

pops up (

c

).

a

a

c

b

Note:

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

Close th e mem ory compartmen t co v er .

c

3 To rem ove a memory card:

Open th e memory compartment cover

a

on the side of the came ra (
Push the eject button above th e

b

).

b

).

c

c

d

Note:

memory card (
Grasp the edge of the m emo ry card

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

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

).

a

a

b

c

Polaro id PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 7

Formatting a CompactFlash card

You ma y need to fo rmat a new memory card bef ore you can us e it . Al so, 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.

1 Insert the new CompactFlash memory card.
2 Turn the camera on.
3 Press th e

MENU/SELECT

4 Us e the LCD scro ll b ut to ns to highli ght
5 Press th e

MENU/SELECT

button to display the

FORMAT MEDIA

button to display the

options.
The camera di spl a y s a

6 Us e the LCD scro ll b ut to ns to highli ght

and press the

If you select OK, the camera displays

•

MENU/SELECT

CONTINUE FORMAT OF MEDIA?

OK

button to make your selection.

then turns the LCD off.
If you select

•

CANCEL

, the camera returns to the

without formatting memory.

MAIN MENU

.

in green.

FORMAT MEDIA

message.

or

CANCEL

FORMATTING CARD

(the d efau lt )

MAIN MENU

and

7 If you are finished with the

to highlight

MAIN M E NU

Note:

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

DONE

and press the

and turn the LCD off.

MAIN M E NU

MENU/SELECT

, use the LC D sc rol l butt ons

button to exit the

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.

8 P olaroid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual

Taking Photos

No w that you have prepar ed your Photo MAX 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 p hotos in the camera

• Deleting un wanted 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
viewfi nd er . Use the optic a l viewfind er:

• For faster processing a nd f lash recyc le ti me

• To optimize battery life

To tak e a photo

To take a p h oto , se t u p th e came ra fo r th e f i rst time, or to redefi n e 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).

Note:

4 Set the photo quality (pag e14).
5 Set the ex posure-value brightness compensation, if needed (pa ge16).
6 Set the white-balance compensation, if needed (pag e17).
7 Set the preview mode, if desired (page18).
8 Activat e the self-timer, if desired (page 13).

You need not set every parameter for every photo. You can often
use camera def a ult setti ngs. Some set tings (like resolution) a ls o
remain at their current value until you change them or remove
the came ra’s batteries.

Polaro id PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 9

9 Stand at the proper distanc e 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:

With in 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 camer a steady until you hea r a beep followed by two quick
beeps.

Note:

If the camera’s intern al memor y (or CompactFlash card) is full,
the camera will not tak e more p hotos. For a de s cri p tio n 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 le ft of th e op ti cal viewfin d e r blinks whi l e t he camer a
processes and saves the photo. Wai t until the power/status LED

stops blinking before you turn the came ra off or take another
photo. If yo u used th e flas h, the flas h L ED to the f ar l e ft of the

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

12 R eview 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).

Note:

For more information about taking better photos, see the Tips,
Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of the online Polaroid

PhotoMAX Image Maker Us er’s Guide.

10 Pola roid PhotoMA X PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual