Sanyo VPCS4 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

VPC-S4

Digital Camera

Important note

This manual explains how to safely operate the VPC-S4.

Please read these instructions carefully before using the digital camera. Make
sure to read and understand the section “USING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA
SAFELY AND CORRECTLY” on pages 5 to 16. Keep this manual in a safe place
for later reference.

Warning

TO PREVENT THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE

FOR AMERICAN USERS

i This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a

Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

h Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
h Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
h Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to

which the receiver is connected.

h Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

i Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible

for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Declaration of Conformity

Model number: VPC-S4
Trade Name: SANYO
Responsible party: SANYO FISHER COMPANY
Address: 21605 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, California 91311
Telephone No.: [phone]
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including

interference that may cause undesired operation.

i English

FOR CANADIAN USERS

i This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

English ii

OUTLINE OF OPERATION

To help you get started enjoying using your digital camera right away, given
below is an outline of the fundamental operation, from setup to shooting to
playback.

SETUP

1 Install the batteries (see page 21).

<When using a card>
h Your camera has a 16MB internal memory

that lets you store images even when no SD
Memory Card is installed. In addition, images
stored in the camera's internal memory can
be copied to a card, and vice versa (see
page 72).

2 Install the SD Memory Card
3 Format the SD Memory Card (see page 91).

NOTE

i Be sure to format the SD Memory Card with this

digital camera before using it. A card that is not
formatted using the digital camera may interfere
with the operation of your camera.

SHOOTING

1 Capture an image.

h Shoot a still image (see pages 29 and 30).
h Shoot a sequential shots series (see pages

29 and 32).

h Shoot a video clip*

PLAYBACK (see page 57)

*1

(see page 22).

2

(see pages 30 and 33).

1 English

* 1: About the SD Memory Card

This digital camera can use either an SD Memory Card or a Multi Media
Card for data storage. This manual is written with the premise that SD
Memory Cards are used. In this manual, SD Memory Card and Multi Media
Card are both referred to as “card”.

* 2: About video clips

This digital camera does not have audio record or playback functions.
Therefore, your recorded video clips will not have sound. Moreover, even if
you play back video clips that do have recorded sound with this camera, no
sound will be generated.

Symbols used in this manual

HINT Points that may prove useful when using the digital camera.
NOTE Points giving some extended instructions or special points to

CAUTION Points that require special attention.
(see page xx) Refer to the page indicated for detailed information.

You may find the answers to questions or problems concerning camera
operation in the sections “COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS” (see page

113) and “TROUBLESHOOTING” (see page 122).

pay attention to.

English 2

CONTENTS

OUTLINE OF OPERATION ................................................................... 1

CONTENTS ........................................................................................... 3

USING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA SAFELY AND CORRECTLY .......... 5

CHECKING THE INCLUDED ACCESSORIES .................................... 17

CAUTIONS CONCERNING THE CARD .............................................. 18

 PREPARATION

PARTS NAMES ................................................................................... 19

INSTALL THE BATTERIES AND CARD .............................................. 21

TURNING THE POWER ON/OFF ....................................................... 23

 SHOOTING

BEFORE TAKING PICTURES (for best results) .................................. 25

CAPTURING IMAGES ......................................................................... 29

OTHER SHOOTING FUNCTIONS ...................................................... 34

CHANGING THE SHOOTING SETTINGS .......................................... 40

 PLAYBACK

VIEWING IMAGES .............................................................................. 57

DISPLAYING THE PLAYBACK SETTING SCREEN ...........................62

CHANGING IMAGE SIZE (RESIZE) .................................................... 64

ROTATING AN IMAGE ........................................................................ 66

SLIDESHOW PLAYBACK ................................................................... 67

OTHER PLAYBACK FUNCTIONS ....................................................... 68

3 English

 CAMERA SETTINGS

CHANGING THE CAMERA SETTINGS ...............................................82

LCD MONITOR SETTING ....................................................................84

DATE AND TIME SETTING .................................................................86

HELP DISPLAY ....................................................................................89

LANGUAGE ..........................................................................................90

INITIALIZING THE CARD MEMORY AND INTERNAL MEMORY .......91

POWER SAVE SETTING .....................................................................93

FILE NO. RESET FUNCTION ..............................................................95

RESETTING THE CAMERA SETTINGS ..............................................97

CHECKING THE REMAINING CARD MEMORY

AND INTERNAL MEMORY ..............................................................98

CHECKING THE REMAINING BATTERY CHARGE ...........................99

 OTHER FUNCTIONS AND CONNECTIONS

CONNECTING TO A COMPUTER .....................................................101

DIRECT-PRINT ..................................................................................104

 APPENDICES

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ...................................................113

TROUBLESHOOTING ........................................................................122

SPECIFICATIONS ..............................................................................129

English 4

USING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA SAFELY AND CORRECTLY

CONCERNING THE DIGITAL CAMERA

WARNING

k If the digital camera makes a strange noise, emits a strange odor, or if

smoke comes out from it, immediately turn off the power and remove
the batteries.

i If the digital camera is used under these conditions, it

may cause a fire or electric shock. Immediately turn off
the digital camera, remove the batteries, and wait to
make sure no more smoke comes from the digital
camera. Then take it to the dealer for service. Do not try
to repair or open the digital camera yourself.

k Do not modify or open the cabinet

i High voltage circuits are inside, and there is a high risk

of fire or electric shock if they are touched. Any internal
check, setting, or repair should be performed by the
dealer.

k Do not use while driving

i Do not capture images, play back images, or watch the

LCD monitor while driving a vehicle. Doing so may
cause an accident.

i Be careful where you put down the digital camera inside

an automobile. During sudden stops or turns it may fall
behind the brake pedal and prevent braking.

k Be aware of your surroundings when using the

digital camera

i Pay close attention to your surroundings when using the

digital camera. Failure to do so may lead to an accident
or injury.

i When using the digital camera while walking, be very

careful of your surroundings and especially the traffic to
avoid accidents.

i Do not use the digital camera inside an airplane or

elsewhere where its use may be restricted.

5 English

k Do not get the digital camera wet

i This digital camera is not water-resistant. Do not allow it

to get wet, as doing so may cause a fire or electric
shock.

i Do not use the digital camera in a bathroom.
i If the digital camera gets wet, immediately turn it off and

remove the batteries. Then take it to a dealer for repair.
Using the digital camera after it has been become wet
may cause a fire, electric shock, or other accident.

k Do not use during a storm

i To avoid the risk of being struck by lightning, do not

use the digital camera during a thunderstorm. In
particular, if used in an open field, you have an
increased chance of being struck by lightning. Quickly
seek refuge in a place that will protect you from
lightning.

k Do not place on an unstable surface

i The digital camera may fall, resulting in damage to the

digital camera or injury.

i If the digital camera has fallen and its body is

damaged, turn it off, remove the batteries, and take it
to the dealer for repair. Using the digital camera after
its body has been damaged may cause a fire or
electric shock.

k Do not look through the digital camera into the

sun

i Do not look through the digital camera at the sun or

any other strong source of light. Doing so may
seriously injure your eyes.

k Do not use the flash close to a person's face

i To prevent possible eye injury, do not use the flash

near a person's face (especially young children or
babies). If the flash is used close to a person's opened
eyes, there is a risk that it may damage that person's
eyesight.

English 6

USING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA SAFELY AND CORRECTLY

(CONCERNING THE DIGITAL CAMERA)

WARNING

k Do not use where there is risk of explosion

i Do not use the digital camera in a location where

there is explosive gas, or any other flammable
material in the air. Doing so may cause a fire or an
explosion.

k Keep the digital camera out of the reach of children

i The following may happen if children play with the

digital camera:
h They may wrap the strap around their neck and

suffocate.

h They may swallow the batteries or other small

parts. In such a case, consult a physician
immediately.

h They may damage their eyesight if the flash goes

off too close to their eyes.

h They may get hurt by the digital camera.

CAUTION

k Cautions when carrying the digital camera

i Do not walk around holding the digital camera by the

handstrap. It may hit other objects and get damaged.
When walking around, hold the digital camera in your
hand or place it in a pocket.

i Be careful not to drop the digital camera or subject it

to strong shocks.

i Make sure direct sunlight does not hit the digital

camera lens, as that may damage the internal parts.
When not using the digital camera, be sure to always
turn it off and retract the lens.

k If the digital camera is not going to be used for a

long period of time

i For safety's sake, remove the batteries from the

camera. This will prevent any possible excess heat or
leakage of battery fluid that may result in injuries or
damage to nearby objects. (Note that when the
batteries is removed for a long period, the time and
date settings will be cleared.)

7 English

k Cautions during use and storage

i This digital camera is a precision instrument. When using or storing the

digital camera, make sure to avoid the following locations.

h Places in direct sunlight
h Places where humidity and temperature are high
h Places that may get wet
h Places close to an air conditioner or heater
h Inside a car
h Places where there is dust and dirt
h Places where there is a fire burning
h Places where volatile products are stored
h Places subject to vibration

Operating environment

i Temperature 0 to 40°C (operation)

i Humidity 30 to 90% (operation, no condensation)

–20 to 60°C (storage)

10 to 90% (storage, no condensation)

English 8

USING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA SAFELY AND CORRECTLY

WARNING

Cautions concerning the alkaline batteries

i Follow all the warnings indicated below to prevent the batteries from

leaking, overheating, exploding, catching fire, or becoming damaged.

h Do not install with the polarities ((+) and (–)) inverted.
h Do not recharge the batteries.
h Do not heat the batteries or throw them in a fire.
h Do not allow metal objects to touch the terminals. Do not carry loose

with necklaces, hairpins, etc.

h Do not transform, take apart, or modify the batteries.
h Do not solder the batteries.
h Do not allow the batteries to come into contact with fresh or salt water,

or allow the terminals to become wet.

h Do not attempt to remove or puncture the outer casing.
h Immediately discontinue use if there is leaking, swelling, temperature

rising, discoloration, or any other abnormal condition.

h Keep out of the reach of children.

In the event that a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention right
away.

h Do not drop, hit, or submit the batteries to strong shocks.

9 English

General precautions concerning the batteries

i Use only alkaline batteries or other specified batteries in this

camera. Manganese batteries cannot be used, as they have a
short battery life and may overheat, causing damage to the digital
camera.

i Never use an alkaline battery together with a Ni-Cd battery, or batteries

of different types or different brands at the same time.

i Do not use a new battery together with an old battery, or combine

consumed batteries.

i Make sure not to invert the polarity ((+) and (–)) when installing the

batteries.

i Use of batteries of different types, new and old batteries, or consumed

batteries together may generate heat or cause the batteries to leak,
resulting in fire, injury or burns, or damage to the digital camera and
any other nearby object.

i When purchasing batteries, be sure to purchase only the specified

batteries. Use of batteries without protective casings or other inferior
products may cause a fire, injury, or burns.

Batterij niet

NL

weggooien, maar

inleveren als KCA.

English 10

USING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA SAFELY AND CORRECTLY

WARNING

i The batteries may be warm immediately after the

digital camera is used. If removing the batteries, turn
off the digital camera and allow the batteries to cool
down before removing them.

i If a battery is leaking and the electrolyte gets on your

skin or clothing, immediately rinse with clean water. If
the electrolyte gets into your eyes, you risk losing
your eyesight. Do not rub your eyes, but immediately
rinse your eyes with clean, running water, and seek
medical attention right away.

i Do not drop or hit the batteries, or submit them to

strong shocks.

i If the digital camera is not going to be used for a long period of time,

remove the batteries and store them in a cool place. (When the batteries
are removed for a long period, the time and date settings will be cleared.)

i When disposing of the batteries, be sure to follow all applicable

regulations.

i Except for the lithium battery (CR-V3), if used in temperatures below 10°C,

the service life of the batteries will be shorter than normal.

i If using rechargeable batteries, use after fully recharging with the exclusive

battery charger. Always read the instruction manuals that may come with
the batteries you purchase before use.

11 English

Concerning the accessories

CAUTION

k Cautions concerning the use of the AC adapter

i Use only the separately sold AC adapter (model VAR-G4AEX for Europe,

U.K. and others, and model VAR-G4AU for North America and others) with
your digital camera. Do not use an AC adapter other than the one indicted
here, designed for specific use with your digital camera.

i If an AC adapter other than the specified one is used, it may damage the

digital camera and cause a fire or electric shock.

i Normally when using an AC adapter, remove the batteries. Otherwise the

batteries may cause excess heat, leakage, injury or damage to nearby
objects.

i For complete information on how to use the AC adapter, refer to the

instructions accompanying it.

k Cautions concerning the card

i Immediately after use, the card will be very hot. Before removing the card,

turn off the digital camera and wait for the temperature to cool down.

i Keep out of the reach of children. Young children may put the media in

their mouth and choke or cause some other unexpected injury or accident.

English 12

USING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA SAFELY AND CORRECTLY

FOR CORRECT USE OF YOUR CAMERA

k Cautions before capturing important images

i Before capturing important images, make sure that the digital camera

is operating properly and in condition to capture the image properly.

i Sanyo Electric shall not be held responsible for any losses that result

from images that could not be recorded, are erased, destroyed, or
damaged in any way due to a problem with the digital camera, any of
its accessories, or its software.

k Caution concerning copyrights

i The images you capture with your digital camera are for your own

private use; any other use may violate the rights of copyrights owners.

i Please note that photography may be restricted at stage

performances, shows or exhibitions, even in presentations whose
purpose is entertaining or amusing individuals.

i Also note that images that are intended to be copyrighted cannot be

used outside those limits defined by the regulations of the relevant
copyright laws.

k Cautions when cleaning the digital camera

Cleaning procedure
1 Turn off the digital camera and remove the batteries.
2 Remove the dirt with a soft cloth.
3 If the digital camera is extremely dirty, wipe with a soft cloth

moistened with a mild detergent diluted with water and wrung dry.

Caution

i Do not use benzene or thinner products to clean the digital camera. Doing

so may cause deformation, discoloration, or paint peeling. When using a

chemically treated cloth, carefully read its instructions and warnings.

i Do not spray insecticides or volatile sprays on the digital camera. Do not let

rubber or vinyl objects contact the digital camera for a long period. They

may cause deformation, discoloration, or paint peeling.

13 English

k Caution concerning the batteries and terminals

i Periodically clean the battery terminals ((+) and (–)) as well as the

terminals in the camera's battery compartment cover with a dry cloth.

Do not touch the terminals of either the batteries or the battery
compartment with your bare hands. Doing so will allow contaminants from
your hands to adhere to the terminals and oxidize, increasing the contact
resistance. If the contact resistance increases, the usable life of the
batteries will diminish.

k Caution when cleaning the lens

i If the lens gets dirty, use a commercially available air blower or a cleaning

cloth for photographic equipment to clean it.

k When not using the digital camera for a long period

i Remove the batteries. However, when the batteries are removed for a long

time, the digital camera functions may begin to not work properly.
Periodically reinstall the batteries and check the digital camera functions.

i If the batteries are left in the digital camera, a small amount of power is still

used even if the digital camera is turned off. If the batteries are left in the
digital camera for a long period, they may become completely discharged
and cannot be used.

k Cautions concerning condensation

i Using the digital camera with condensation inside it may damage the

digital camera.

If condensation seems likely to form

i Place the digital camera in a plastic bag and seal it, and then wait until the

digital camera has reached the ambient temperature.

Be careful of condensation under the following conditions

i When moving the digital camera suddenly from a cold place to a warm

place.

i When the ambient temperature changes drastically, such as when a heater

is turned on to quickly heat the room.

i When the digital camera is placed in the path of cool air from an air

conditioner.

i When the digital camera is placed in a location of high humidity.

English 14

USING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA SAFELY AND CORRECTLY

FOR CORRECT USE OF YOUR CAMERA (Continued)

k Caution concerning undesired interference

i The digital camera may create undesired interference if used close to a

television or radio. To avoid this type of interference, make sure the cores

on the supplied video cable and USB interface cable are not removed.

Dedicated USB interface cable (supplied)

k Cautions concerning data storage

i It is recommended that any important data be copied onto a separate

media (such as a hard disk, MO disk, or CD-R disk).

i Stored data may be lost (or corrupted) in cases such as those listed below.

Sanyo Electric will not be held responsible for any damage or lost profits

arising from the loss of data.

h If the card is used incorrectly.

h If the card is not inserted correctly into the digital camera.

h If the card is subjected to electrical or mechanical shocks or other

forces.

h If the camera is turned off or a card is inserted/removed while the

internal memory or card is being accessed.

h If the card has reached the end of its usable life.

Core

15 English

CAUTION

k Cautions when handling the cards

i The cards are precision devices. Do not bend, drop, or subject them to

strong forces or shocks.

i Avoid using or storing the cards in places with extremely high or low

temperatures, subject to direct sunlight, in a completely closed vehicle,
near air conditioners or heaters, or in humid or dusty locations.

i Avoid using or storing the cards in locations where strong static electrical

charges or electrical noise can be easily generated.

i Do not allow the edges of the cards to become contaminated with foreign

materials. Gently wipe away any contamination with a soft, dry cloth.

i Do not carry the cards in trouser pockets, as the cards may become

damaged when you sit down or make other movements that may apply
forces.

i Before using a new card or a card that was used in other equipment, be

sure to format it using the digital camera (see “INITIALIZING THE CARD
MEMORY AND INTERNAL MEMORY” on page 91).

i When buying commercially available products, carefully read the

instructions and warnings that come with the card.

English 16

CHECKING THE INCLUDED ACCESSORIES

i Handstrap i Software: 1 CD-ROM

i AA alkaline batteries: 2

(batteries specially made to
be used as included
accessories)

i Dedicated USB interface

cable: 1

Using the included accessories

ATTACHING THE HANDSTRAP

17 English

CAUTIONS CONCERNING THE CARD

Media cards that can be used with this digital camera

The types of card that can be inserted into and used with this digital camera

are:

i SD Memory Card
i Multi Media Card

What “card” means in this manual

i In this manual, SD Memory Cards and Multi Media Cards that can be used

in this digital camera are referred to as “card”.

i The cards in the illustrations in this manual are SD Memory Cards, but all

installation, removal, and formatting procedures are the same for both SD
Memory Cards and Multi Media Cards.

English 18

PREPARATION

1234

PART S N A M E S

Front

1 Shutter release button
2 Power button
3 Mirror

h When taking a picture of

yourself, use it to check the
angle.

4 Flash

56789

5 OUTPUT terminal
6 DC IN (external DC power)

h For connecting a separately

sold AC adapter (model VAR­G4AEX for Europe, U.K. and
others, and model VAR-G4AU
for North America and others)

7 Tripod stand hole
8 Lens
9 Viewfinder

19 English

Rear

12 3 8

7

1 Accessing indicator: The red

LED
Lit:

h Indicates that shooting is

enabled; during shooting
without using the LCD monitor
(see page 84); or during USB
connection (see pages 101
and 104).

Flashing (1-second intervals):

When the camera is starting up
or when the flash is recharging
(shooting not possible); while
the manual focus is being set
(see page 53); when exposure
correction is active (see page

56) or the digital zoom is being
used (see page 36) (shooting is
possible); During self-timer
countdown (see page 37); when
the batteries are consumed; or
while an image is being saved.

4

8

MENU

5

A

9

0

9

SET

A

6

Slow flashing (2-second
intervals):

h When the power save mode is

active (see page 24); or when
the memory is full (shooting
not possible).

Rapid flashing (2 flashes per
second):

h When an unformatted card

(see page 91) or a locked card
is installed (shooting not
possible); or during self-timer
countdown (see page 37)

2 Viewfinder
3 Main switch
4 Zoom switch
5 Handstrap holder
6 Battery compartment cover
7 LCD monitor
8 MENU button
9 [n] and [m] arrow buttons
0 SET button
A [l] and [o] arrow buttons

English 20

INSTALL THE BATTERIES AND CARD

Install the batteries

Make sure that the batteries' polarities ((+) and (–)) are correct.

1 2

Open battery compartment cover
on the camera bottom.

3

Close the battery compartment
cover.

CAUTION
Manganese batteries cannot be used

i Not only do manganese batteries have a short battery life, but there is the

danger of their overheating and causing damage to the digital camera.

Other batteries

i If you wish to use batteries other than the alkaline

batteries (LR6), we recommend the following.

h AA-size nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries

(SANYO HR-3UB) × 2

h AA-size Ni-Cd batteries (SANYO N-3UV) × 2

h Lithium battery (CR-V3) × 1

When installing the batteries, make sure that they are

oriented correctly.

Do not open the battery compartment cover when the camera is turned
on.

i If the battery compartment cover is opened while the power is on,

important data may be lost. Sanyo Electric shall not be held responsible for

any losses that result from failure to comply with this warning.

Insert the batteries.

i To remove the batteries...

2 Pull out

1 Open

CR-V3

21 English

Insert the card

The card can be used after it has been formatted with the camera (see page 91).

When inserting the card, make sure that it is correctly oriented.

Take special care to orient the card correctly when inserting it. Attempting to

insert the card incorrectly may result in damage.

1 2

[o] mark

Open battery compartment cover on
the camera bottom.

3

Close the battery compartment cover.

HINT

Shooting without a card

i When a card is installed in your camera, you can photograph images and

play them back from the card. When no card is installed, you can still shoot
pictures and play them back from the camera's 16 MB internal memory.
Also, the internal memory icon appears on the LCD monitor when the
camera is turned on and there is no card installed.

About the internal backup battery

i This camera's internal battery serves to maintain the date and time

settings, as well as the shooting settings. The backup battery will be fully
charged when the batteries are kept in the camera continuously for about 2
days. In the fully charged state, the backup battery will maintain the
camera settings for about 7 days.

When not using the camera for a long time, remove the batteries

i A small amount of power is still used even if the digital camera is turned off,

and it is therefore recommended that the batteries be removed from the
camera if it is not going to be used for a long time. Note that when the
batteries are removed for a long period, the time and date settings may be
cleared. Before using your camera again, be sure to confirm that the
camera settings are correct.

Insert all the way until it clicks.

i To remove the card...

2 Push

down

Do not attempt to forcefully remove the
card.

3 Pull out

1 Open

English 22

TURNING THE POWER ON/OFF

Turning the power on

When capturing images

1 Set the main switch to [ ] or [ ].

[ ]: To shoot still images or

sequential shots

[ ]: To shoot video clips

2 Press the power button.

h The power turns on, an image

appears on the LCD monitor, and
the accessing indicator next to the
viewfinder lights.

When playing back images

1 Set the main switch to [ ].

2 Press the power button.

h The power turns on, and an image

appears on the LCD monitor.

Main switch

Accessing
indicator

LCD monitor

Main switch

LCD monitor

PC

Power
button

PC

Power
button

23 English

Turning the power off

1 Press the power button.

h The power turns off.
h The LCD monitor and accessing

indicator turn off.

h If the lens is extended, it

automatically retracts.

Accessing indicator

Powe r button

LCD monitor

Turning the power on when the power save function is active

In order to save the battery power, the power save function will automatically

turn off the power after one minute of no use during shooting, or five minutes

of no use during playback (factory-preset setting).

i When the power save function is active, the power is restored after any of

the following operations:

h Press the power button.
h Press the shutter release button.
h Press the MENU button.
h Press the SET button.

i After the power save function has been active for 15 minutes, the power

will turn off completely.

i When the separately sold AC adapter (model VAR-G4AEX for Europe,

U.K. and others, and model VAR-G4AU for North America and others) is
connected, the power save function will become active about 10 minutes
after the camera is turned on (factory-preset setting).

i The user can specify the time elapsed before the power save function is

activated (see page 93).

i When the camera is connected to a computer or printer using the

dedicated USB interface cable, the power save function is disabled, and
the camera turns off after about 12 hours.

English 24

SHOOTING

BEFORE TAKING PICTURES (for best results)

Recording the date and time

When the correct date and time are set in your camera, the date and time are
recorded with the image each time you snap a picture (see page 86).
To facilitate organizing your photographed data, it is recommended that you
complete your camera’s date and time settings before shooting pictures.
A clock alert icon appearing on the LCD monitor indicates that the date
and time settings have not been completed.

Holding the camera

Hold the camera securely with both hands, keeping your elbows close to your
body and making sure the camera is stable.

Correct hold Incorrect hold

A finger is blocking the lens.

Make sure that the lens or flash is not blocked by your fingers or the
handstrap.

HINT

i Images captured in the still image shooting mode or sequential shots

shooting mode can be rotated when they are played back (see page 66).

Note that video clips cannot be rotated while they are being played back.

i When the optical zoom is used or when the autofocus is operating, the

image may appear to waver, but this is not a malfunction.

25 English

Using the Autofocus

The autofocus will work in almost all situations; however, there are certain

conditions that may cause the autofocus function to not work properly. If the

autofocus function is not working properly, set the focus range to capture

images (see page 53).

k Conditions that may cause incorrect focus

The following examples are some of the situations where the autofocus

function may not work.

i Subjects with low contrast, very bright

subjects at the center of the image, or
dark subjects or locations

Use the focus-lock function (see page 30)
to lock the focus on an object with contrast
at the same distance as the desired
subject.

i Subjects without vertical lines

Use the focus-lock function to lock the
focus on the subject while holding the
digital camera vertically.

English 26

BEFORE TAKING PICTURES (for best results)

The following examples are some of the situations where the autofocus
function may work, but not as desired.

i When both near and far objects are

present

Use the focus-lock function to lock the

focus on an object at the same distance as

the desired subject, then reposition the

camera to compose the picture.

i Fast-moving subjects

Use the focus-lock function to lock the

focus on an object at the same distance as

the desired subject, then reposition the

camera to compose the picture.

Hints for taking pictures

Saving battery power

i When you take pictures without using the LCD monitor, you can slow down

the rate of battery consumption (see page 84).

Where is the image data saved?

i When there is a card installed in your camera, the images you photograph

are stored on the card. If there is no card installed, the images are stored

in the camera's internal memory.

Taking pictures in backlight conditions...

i When taking pictures with the light coming from behind the subject, due to

the characteristics of the lens, light lines or ghost patterns (flare

phenomenon) may appear in the captured image. In this situation, it is

recommended that you avoid taking pictures with the subject lit from

behind.

27 English