Ricoh RDC-I500 User Manual

Chapter

2

Basic Operations

Turning On/Off the Camera ....24

How to Use the Mode Dial ...... 25

LCD Monitor and LCD Panel .. 26

Recording Mode...........................26

Play Mode ....................................27

How to Select the Items.......... 28

Character Input........................30

Registering the Camera

Information ..............................31

Setting the Date and Time ...........31

Checking Owner Information........34

Before You Start Recording ...35

Formatting the Storage Memory ..35
Adjusting the Viewfinder Diopter ..36
Adjusting the LCD Monitor

Brightness ....................................37

How to Hold the Camera ..............37

Turning On/Off the Camera

Use the power button to turn the camera on and off.

■ Turning the Camera ON

A Press the power switch.

• You can turn the camera on when

Note

the LCD monitor is opened →
P.117 “Turning the Camera On
When the LCD Monitor is Opened”

■ Turning the Camera OFF

A Press the power switch.

Tips

Auto Power Off

The camera will turn off automatically (auto power off) to conserve
the battery if it is left idle (no buttons operated) for a fixed time. To
resume use, turn the power on again. The auto power off feature
does not activate when the camera is powered by an AC adapter. →
P.110 “Auto Power Off Setting”

24

How to Use the Mode Dial

The camera offers a number of modes for shooting and playback. Use the
mode dial to select the mode you need.

Mode Dial Mode Action

Setup mode For changing and verifying camera and
Play mode For playing back recorded files.

Still Picture mode Basic shooting mode.
Voice Memo mode Used when recording sound.
Text mode Used when recording text. Eliminates

Motion Picture For recording motion pictures with sound.
mode

PC mode For connecting the camera to a PC,

Communication For transmitting images and using Internet
mode functions.

A Turn the mode dial to change the

mode used.

The screen displayed on the LCD monitor
differs according to the mode. For details of
operation, refer to the following.

(Setup) → P.108

•

(Play) → P.82

•

(Still Picture) → P.47

•

(Voice Memo) → P.51

•

(Text) → P.50

•

• (Motion Picture) → P.52

communication settings.

gradations and records in black and white.

transmitting images from the camera to
the PC and operating the camera from the
PC.

2

Basic Operations

• For details of the (PC mode) and (Communication mode), see

Note

‘Connecting to a Personal Computer’ operation manual and
‘Communication/Internet’ operation manual.

25

LCD Monitor and LCD Panel

The LCD monitor or LCD panel displays the camera status, such as the battery
level, recordable picture count and mode setting, in symbols and figures.

Recording Mode

LCD panel LCD monitor

Remaining
picture count

Message

Storage Memory *1
Flash mode
Red-eye reduction

mode
White balance —
File type
Size/No. of pixels 2048, 1024, 640
Image quality/ F, N, E, NC

Compression rate
Exposure compensation — EV –2.0 ~ EV +2.0

value
Digital zoom — × 1.3, × 1.6, × 3.2
ISO Sensitivity —
Auto bracket — AB
Focus — AF, MF, S,
Macro shooting —
Self timer mode
Battery symbol
Monochrome mode — B&W · SEPIA
Sharpness — SHARP+1, SHARP-1
Time Exposure mode — L1, L2, L4, L8

is displayed in the LCD panel even when the Microdrive has been inserted

*1

in the card slot.

*2 The battery mark will be displayed when the battery level gets low.

• For details of the messages displayed on the LCD panel and LCD

Note

26

monitor, see “Error Messages” (P.131).

Remaining picture count

Folder
name

Zoom
bar

Date
and time

LCD panel LCD monitor

AUTO, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800

*2

*2

Remaining
recording time

Play Mode

LCD panel LCD monitor

Playback file no./
Total no. of files

Folder
name/
File
name

Playback
time

Date
and
time

LCD panel LCD monitor

Storage memory *1
File type
Size/No. of pixels 2048, 1024, 640
Image quality/ F, N, E, NC

Compression rate
Battery symbol
Protect symbol —
Voice annotation

*1 is displayed in the LCD panel even when the Microdrive has been

inserted in the card slot.

*2 The battery mark will be displayed when the battery level gets low.

*2

*2

2

Basic Operations

27

How to Select the Items

You can select items, and confirm or cancel camera settings using the buttons
on the operation panel.

■ Switching the Displays

(1)

→
←

(2)

Display the MENU screen

Press the MENU
button.

• The legends [CANCEL] and [ENTER] below the END and OK buttons

Note

displayed at the bottom of the screen indicate the relevant button.

Next screen (1)

Press the
button to move
the focus (blue
frame enclosing
an item) on the
lower item. When
the focus is on
the bottom item,
press the
button.

■ Selecting and Canceling Items

(1)

→
←

(3)

(1)

→
←

(2)

Previous screen (2)

Press the
button to move
the focus on the
upper item. When
the focus is on the
top item, press
the

button.

(2)

→

Exit the MENU screen

Press the
CANCEL button.

28

Select the item (1)

Press the
buttons to move the
focus and press the
button.

• The dimmed items can not be selected.

Note

Select the setting (2)

Press the buttons
to move the focus and
press the ENTER
button.

Cancel the setting (3)

Press the CANCEL button.

■ How to Use the Check Box ( )

Use the · · · buttons to set the focus
on the desired item and press the
FUNCTION button. To cancel the selection,
press the button again.

■ How to Use the Spin Box ( )

Use the · buttons to set the focus on the
desired item and specify the number with the

button or button.
Pressing the button increases the number
and pressing the
number.

button decreases the

2

Basic Operations

29

Character Input

You can input characters when adding folders, setting the mail environment,
etc. as follows.

A Press the button to display the

character input screen.

B Move the cursor on the desired

character by using the • • •
buttons and press the FUNCTION
button.

C Press the ENTER button exit the

character input screen.

■ Deleting

Use the • • • buttons to move the
cursor to the right of the character and press
the button.

■ Available items

• Folder name

• Dial-up account

Dial-up name
Telephone number
External call
PPP account
PPP password
Primary name server
Secondary name server
IP address

• Network connection

RDC-i500 host name
DNS server address
Gateway address
RDC-i500 IP address
Subnet mask

• P.106 “Adding or Deleting a Folder”

See

•“Chapter 2 Setting the Communication Function” in the

30

‘Communication/Internet’ operation manual

• Mail environment

SMTP server
POP server
POP account
POP password
Mail address
Sender’s name (alphanumeric)
Signature (alphanumeric)

• PC connection

Connection PC IP address
RDC-i500 IP address

• Modem settings

AT command

• Mail message* (alphanumeric)
(*Preset memo can not
be created.)

Registering the Camera Information

This section explains how to register the camera information such as setting the
date and time and owner information.

Setting the Date and Time

Set the date and time on the camera. You can also follow these procedures
when you use the camera for the first time or need to change the date and time
settings.

• Use the yyyy format to set the year.

Note

• Time is displayed in the 24-hour clock format. Midnight is expressed
as 00:00 and noon as 12:00.

A Set the mode dial to [SET].

B Select [CAMERA SETTINGS] and

press the button.

The Camera Settings menu will be displayed.

C Select [DATE SETTINGS] and press

the button.

The Date Setting menu will be displayed. Set
the following three items.

•“Set the Date and Time” → P.32

•“Select the Date To Be Used” → P.32

•“Select the Date Format” → P.33

2

Basic Operations

31

■ Setting the Date and Time

Set the date and time. You can set the date in two patterns, HOME and
DESTINATION, and switch the pattern when you travel across the time zone.

A Select [HOME DATE/TIME] or

[DESTINATION DATE/TIME] and press
the button.

B Set the date and time and then press

the ENTER button.

Specify which date you will use, HOME
DATE/TIME or DESTINATION DATE/TIME,
by “Selecting the Date To Be Used” (See
below).

• P.29 “How to Use the Spin Box ( )”

See

C Press the ENTER button.

The display will return to the Camera
Settings menu.
Press the CANCEL button to return to the
Setup menu.

• The date and time settings are reset if the battery has been removed

Note

for about 20 days, as at replacement. Set the date and time again.

■ Selecting the Date To Be Used

Select the date you wish to use, HOME DATE/TIME or DESTINATION DATE/
TIME. It will be used for the camera information (Recording or sending date and
time, etc.).

A Select [DATE TO BE USED] and press

the button.

32

B Select [HOME DATE/TIME] or

[DESTINATION DATE/TIME] and then
press the ENTER button.

C Press the ENTER button.

The display will return to the Camera
Settings menu.
Press the CANCEL button to return to the
Setup menu.

■ Selecting the Date Format

Select the date format. There are three types to choose from.

Example: Setting September 15. 2001, 10:00 am
YYYY/MM/DD hh:mm → 2001/09/15 10:00
MM DD YYYY hh:mm → SEP 15 2001 10:00
DD MM YYYY hh:mm → 15 SEP 2001 10:00

A Select [DATE/TIME FORMAT] and

press the button.

2

Basic Operations

B Choose the date and time format you

wish to use and then press the
ENTER button.

C Press the ENTER button.

The display will return to the Camera
Settings menu.
Press the CANCEL button to return to the
Setup menu.

Tips

How to Verify the Date and Time

The set date and time are displayed on the LCD monitor in Recording
or Play mode. P.41, P.85 “LCD Monitor Display”

33

Checking Owner Information

You can check owner information, such as your name, telephone number,
company name, and the name of the photographer registered on a PC.

• Register the owner information from a PC. → “User Information

Note

Settings” in the ‘Connecting to a Personal Computer’ operation manual

A Set the mode dial to [SET].

B Select [CAMERA SETTINGS] and

press the button.

The Camera Settings menu will be displayed.

C Select [OWNER INFO.] and press the

button.

D Check the owner information.

Scroll the screen by using the •
buttons.

E When checking is completed, press

the ENTER button.

The display will return to the Camera
Settings menu.
Press the CANCEL button to return to the
Setup menu.

34

Before You Start Recording

Before you start recording, format the storage media, adjust the viewfinder
diopter and check the way to hold the camera.

Formatting the Storage Memory

This function enables you to format the card and internal memory.
Before using a new card or a card that has been used on another device, such
as a PC, format the card with the camera first.

Important

• Formatting the storage memory will erase all the recorded files

Note

(including protected files). Copy important files before formatting the
storage memory. → P.88 “Copying Files”

• Cards formatted on other devices may not be used.

A Set the mode dial to [SET].

B Select [FORMAT] and press the

button.

The format menu will be displayed.

2

Basic Operations

C Choose the storage memory to be

formatted (IN or CF CARD) and press
the ENTER button.

[CF] refers to the memory card, and [IN] to
the internal memory.
The confirmation message will be displayed.

35

D Press the shutter release button.

●CF Card
The “Formatting ...” message will be
displayed. When formatting is completed, the
screen will return to the Setup menu.

●Internal memory (IN)
The confirmation message will be displayed.

Press the shutter release button again.
The “Formatting ...” message will be displayed,
and when formatting is completed, the display
will return to the Setup menu.

Important

• When you format the internal memory, received mail, preset memos

Note

and images saved will be all deleted.

Adjusting the Viewfinder Diopter

Adjust the diopter so that you can see the subject clearly in the viewfinder.

A Turn the diopter adjuster to the left or

right to adjust the visibility and
ensure that you can see the subject
clearly.

36

Adjusting the LCD Monitor Brightness

If the LCD monitor is hard to see, for example in bright sunlight, adjust the
brightness of the monitor.

A Press the DISPLAY button

approximately 2 seconds.

B Adjust the brightness of the LCD

monitor using the · button.

The adjustment bar will disappear 2 seconds
later.

How to Hold the Camera

Unintentional movement of the camera during shooting will result in blurred
images. To keep the camera steady, hold the camera in the manner described
below. Be particularly careful to keep the camera steady when taking telephoto
zoom shots.

2

Basic Operations

A Hold the camera steady with both hands with the elbows lightly

touching your body.

● When viewing through the viewfinder

With the camera lightly pressed against your head, aim it at your subject and
look through the viewfinder.

37

● When viewing using the LCD monitor

Hold the camera firmly in both hands, aim it at your subject and look at the LCD
monitor.

B Press the shutter release button lightly with your fingertip.

The shutter release buttons are located on top and front sides of the camera.
Use either button depending on the situation.

Important

• Apply gentle but firm pressure to the shutter release button. Pressing

Note

the button quickly can result in a blurred image.

• Do not move the camera until the beep sound is heard.

You can rotate the LCD monitor as shown in
the illustration, enabling you to shoot images
at a variety of angles.

Important

• Open the LCD monitor 90 degrees

Note

in a horizontal direction before
rotating it.

■ Precaution

Be careful to keep the camera lens and flash
from being covered by your fingers or hair or
the camera strap.

38