Sony DSC-P8, DSC-P10, DSC-P12 User Manual

3-080-892-11(1)

Getting started_______________________

Digital Still Camera

Operating Instructions

Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly, and retain it for future reference.

Owner’s Record

The model and seria l nu mbers are located on the bottom. Record the serial number in the spa ce provided below. Refer to these numbers whenever you call upon your Son y dea l er regarding this product.

Model No. DSC-P8/P10/P12 Serial No.

DSC-P8/P10/P12

Shooting still images _________________

Viewing still images __________________

Deleting still images__________________

Before advanced oper at ions ____________

Advanced still image shooting___________

Advanced still image viewing____________

Still image editing _____________________

Enjoying movies_______________________

Enjoying images on your computer

Troubleshooting_______________________

Additional information__________________

Index________________________________

________

WARNING

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.

For the Customers in the U.S.A.

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

Never expose the battery pack to temperatur e above 60°C (140°F), such as in a car parked in the sun or under dir ect s unlight.

If you have any questions about this product, you may call:

Sony Customer Information Center 1-800-222-SONY (7669)

The number below is for the FCC related matters only.

Regulatory Information

Declaration of Conformity

Trade Name: SONY Model No.: DSC-P8 Responsible Party: Sony Electronics Inc. Address: 680 Kinderkamack Road,

Telephone No.: 201-930-6972

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the

Oradell, NJ 07649 U.S.A.

following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interfe renc e , a nd (2) this device must accept a ny inter ferenc e received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Declaration of Conformity

Trade Name: SONY Model No.: DSC-P10 Responsible Party: Sony Electronics Inc. Address: 680 Kinderkamack Road,

Telephone No.: 201-930-6972

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 interfe renc e , a nd (2) this device must accept a ny inter ferenc e received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Oradell, NJ 07649 U.S.A.

CAUTION

Y ou are cautio ned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Note:

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 interfe renc e 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:

— Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. — Increase the separation between the

equipment and receiver.

— Connect the equipment into an outlet on a

circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

— Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/

TV technician for help.

The supplied interface cable must be used with the equipment in order to comply with the limits for a digital device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules.

For the Customers in the U .S.A. and Canada

RECYCLING LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

Lithium-Ion b a tteries are recyclable. You can help preserve our environment by returning your used rechargeable batteries to the collection and recycling location nearest you.

For more information regarding recycling of rechargeable batteries, call toll free 1-800-822-8837, or visit http://www.rbrc.org/

Caution:Do not handle damaged or leaking

Lithium-Ion batteries.

CAUTION

TO PREVENT ELECTR IC SHOCK, DO NOT USE THIS POLARIZED AC PLUG WITH AN EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTL ET UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULL Y INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE.

Notice on the supplied AC Adaptor for the customers in the United Kingdom

A moulded plug complying with BS 1363 is fitted to this equipment for your safety and convenience.

Should the fuse in the plug supplied need to be replaced, a 5 AMP fuse approved by ASTA or BSI to BS 1362, (i.e., marked with or mark) must be used.

If the plug supplied with this equipm e nt ha s a detachable fuse cover, be sure to attach the fuse cover after you change the fuse. Never use the plug without the fuse cover. If you should lose the fuse cover, please contact your nearest Sony service station.

Attention for the Customers in Europe

This product has been tested and found compliant with the limits sets out in the EMC Directive for using connection cables shorter than 3 meters (9.8 feet).

Attention

The electromagnetic field at the specific frequencies may influence the picture and sound of this camera.

Notice

If static electricity or electromagnetism causes data transfer to discontinue midway (fail), restart the application or disconnect and connect the USB cable again.

Certain countries may regulate disposal of the battery used to pow e r this product. Please consult with your local authority.

“Memory Stick” and battery pack

For the Customers in the U.S.A. and Canada

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 THA T MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION. THIS CLASS B DIGITAL APPARA TUS COMPLIES WITH CANADIAN ICES-003.

Before using your camera

Trial recording

Before you record one-time events, you may want to make a trial recording to make sure that the camera is working correctly.

No compensation for contents of the recording

Contents of the recording cannot be compensated for if recording or playback is not possible due to a malfunction of your camera or recording media, etc.

Back up recommendation

To avoid the potential risk of data loss, always copy (back up) data to a disk.

Notes on image data compatibility

• This camera conforms with the Design rule for

Camera File system universal standard established by the JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association).

• Playback of images recorded with your camera

on other equipment and playback of images recorded or edited with other equipment on your camera are not guaranteed.

Precaution on copyright

Television programs, films, video tapes, and other materials may be copyrighted. Unauthorized recording of such materials may be contrary to the provision of the copyright laws.

Do not shake or strike the camera

In addition to malfunctions and inability to record images, this may render the “Memory Stick” unusable or image data breakdown, damage or loss may occur.

LCD screen, LCD finder (onl y models with an LCD finder) and lens

• The LCD screen and the LCD finder are

manufactured using extremely high-precision technology so over 99.99% of the pixels are operational for effective use. However, there may be some tiny black points and/or bright points (white, red, blue or green in color) that constantly appear on the LCD screen and the LCD finder. These point s are normal in the manufacturing process and do not affect the recording in any way.

• Be careful when placing the camera near a

window or outdoors. Exposing the LCD screen, the finder or the lens to direct sunlight for long periods may cause malfunctions.

• Do not press the LCD screen hardly. The s creen

may be uneven and that may cause a malfunction.

• Images may be trailed on the LCD screen in a

cold location. This is not a malfunction.

The power zoom lens

This camera is equipped with a power zoom lens. Be careful not to bump the lens, and be careful not to apply force to it.

Clean the flash surface before use

The heat of flash emission may cause dirt on the flash surface to become discolored or to stick to the flash surface, resulting in insufficient light emission.

Do not get the camera wet

When taking pictures outdoors in the rain or under similar conditions, be careful not to get the camera wet. If moisture condensation occurs, see page 107 and follow the instructions on how to remove it before using the camera.

Do not expose the camera to sand or dust

Using the camera in sandy or dusty locations may cause malfunction.

Do not aim the camera at the sun or other bright light

This may cause irrecoverable damage to your eyes. Or it may cause the malfunction of your camera.

Notes on the camera locations

• Do not use the camera near a location that

generates strong radio wave or emits radiation. The camera may not be able to record or play back properly.

• Do not use the camera near a TV, radio, tuner.

Noise may be caused on the camera.

On illustration

Illustrations used in this manual are of DSC-P8 unless noted otherwise.

The pictures used in this manual

The photographs used as examples of pictures in this manual are reproduced images, and are not actual images shot using this camera.

Trademarks

• “Memory Stick,” and “MagicGate

Memory Stick” are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

• “Memory Stick Duo” and

are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

• “Memory Stick PRO” and

are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

• “MagicGate” and are

trademarks of Sony Corporation.

• “InfoLITHIUM” is a trademark of Sony

Corporation.

• Microsoft and Windows are registered

trademarks of the U.S. Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

• Macintosh, Mac OS, QuickTime, iBook and

Power Mac are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

• Pentium is a trademark or a registered

trademark of Intel Corporation.

• In addition, system and product names used in

this manual are, in general, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective developers or manufacturers. Howeve r, the or ® marks are not used in all cases in this manual.

™

Table of contents

Before using your camera............... ..........4

Identifying the parts .................................8

Getting started

Charging the battery pa ck ....................... 10

Using an external power source..............13

Using your camera abroad......................13

Turning on/off your ca mera....................14

How to use the control button.................14

Setting the date and time......................... 15

Shooting still images

Inserting and removing a

“Memory Stick” .............................17

Setting the still image size......................18

Image size and quality ............................19

Basic still image shooting (using auto

adjustment mode)...........................21

Checking the last image you sh ot

— Quick Review............................ 23

Using the zoom feature....................... 23

Shooting close-ups — Macr o .............24

Using the self-timer............................ 25

Selecting a flash mode........................ 26

Shooting images with the finder.........28

Inserting the date and time on a still

image..............................................29

Viewing still images

Viewing images on the LCD screen of your

camera............................................ 30

Viewing images on a TV screen.............32

Deleting still images

Deleting images.............................. ........ 34

Formatting a “Memory Stick”................37

Before advanced operations

How to setup and operat e your camera .. 39

Changing the menu settings ............... 39

Changing the items in the SET UP

screen ............................................. 39

Deciding the still image quality.............. 40

Creating or selecting a folder................. 40

Creating a new folder.........................41

Changing the recording folder ........... 41

Advanced still image shooting

Choosing an auto focus method.............42

Choosing a focus range finder frame

— AF range finder.........................42

Choosing a focus operation

—AF Mode.................................... 43

Setting the distance to the subject

— Focus preset .............................. 44

Adjusting the exposure

— EV adjustment...........................45

Displaying a histogram.......................46

Selecting the meteri ng mode...................47

Shooting three images with the exposure

shifted — Exposure Bracket

(DSC-P10/P12 only).................... ...48

Adjusting color tones

— White Balance ...........................49

Adjusting the flash level

— Flash Level................................50

Shooting multiple fra mes

— Clip Motion ...............................51

Shooting in Multi Burst mode

— Multi Burst.................................52

Shooting three or two images continuously

— Burst 3 (DSC-P10/P12)/

Burst 2 (DSC-P8) ...........................53

Shooting still images for e-mail

— E-Mail........................................53

Shooting still images with audio files

— Voice..........................................54

Shooting according to scene conditions

— Scene Selection..........................55

Adding specia l effects

— Picture Effect.............................57

Advanced still image viewing

Selecting the folder an d playing back

images — Folder ............................58

Enlarging a portion of a still image.........59

Enlarging an imag e

— Playback zoom.................... .......59

Recording an enlarged image

— Trimming.................... ...............60

Playing back successive images

— Slide Show.................................60

Rotating still images

— Rotate.........................................61

Playing back images shot in Multi Burst

mode ...............................................61

Playing back continuously ..................62

Playing back frame by fr am e

— Jog playback..............................62

Still image editing

Protecting images — Protect...................63

Changing image size — Resize...............65

Choosing im ages to print

— Print (DPOF) mark....................65

Enjoying movies

Shooting movies.....................................68

Viewing movies on the LCD screen....... 69

Deleting movies............................... ....... 70

Editing movies........................................ 71

Cutting movies....................................72

Deleting unnecessary portions

of movies........................................ 73

Enjoying images on your computer

Copying images to your computer

— For Windows users....................74

Copying images to your computer

— For Macintosh users..................84

Creating a Video CD..............................85

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting...................................... 87

Warnings and messages.......................... 95

Self-diagnosis display............................. 97

Additional information

Number of images that can be saved or

shooting time...................................98

Menu items.................. ..........................100

SET UP items....................... .................104

Precautions............................................107

On “Memory Stick” ..............................108

On “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack .........109

Specifications........................................110

The LCD screen ....................................112

Index

Index......................................................115

Identifying th e parts

See the pages in parentheses for details of ope ra tion.

A POWER button (14) B POWER lamp (14) C Shutter button (21) D Hook for wrist strap E Flash (26) F Speaker (bottom surface) G Microphone H Finder window I Self-timer lamp (25)/

AF illumina tor (27, 104)

J Lens

Attaching the strap

K Tripod receptacle (bottom

surface)

• Use a tripod with a screw length of less than

5.5 mm (7/32 inch). You will be unable to firmly secure the camera to tripods having longer screws, and may damage the camera.

• Do not touch the microphone while recording.

• The “3.2 MEGA PIXELS” indicated on DSC-

P8 shows the number of effective pixels. The number of actually recorded pixels is maximum

3.1 MEGA PIXELS. The effective pixels number is determined according to the recommendation of the JCIA (Japan Camera Industry Association).

SET UP: To set the SET UP items

: To shoot movies, Clip

Motion images or Multi Burst mode images

: To view or edit images

J Zoom button (for shoot i ng) (23)/

Index button ( for viewing) (31)

K Battery/“Memory St ick” cover L RESET button (87)

M Access lamp (17) N Battery eject lever (10) O Jack cover P (USB) jack (78)

A Control button

(Menu on) (v/V/b/B/z) (14)/ (Menu off) ( / /7/) (26, 25, 23 ,

24)

B (Display/LCD on/off) button

(28)

C Finder (28)

Self-timer lamp (red)

AE/AF lock la m p (green) (21)

/CHG

/CHG lamp (orange)

(11, 26)

(25)

(22)

/recording

D LCD screen E MENU button (39, 100) F DC IN jack (10, 13) G A/V OUT (MONO) jack (32) H (Image Size/Delete)

button (18, 34)

I Mode dial (15, 22)

: To shoot still images in auto

adjustment mode

: To shoot still images in

programmed mode

SCN: T o shoot in the Scene

Selection mode

Charging the batter y pack

Getting started

Jack cover

, Open the battery/“Me m ory

Stick” cover.

Slide the cover in the direction of the arrow.

• Be sure to turn off your camera when charging the battery pack (page 14).

• Your camera operates with the

“InfoLITHIUM” NP-FC11 battery pack (C type) (supplied). You can us e only C type battery pack (page 109).

Battery eject lever

, Install the battery pack, then

close the battery/“Memory Stick” cover.

Insert the battery pack with the B mark facing toward the battery compartment as illustrated. Make sure the battery pack is firmly inserted all the way, then close the cover.

• The battery pack is easily inserted by pushing

the battery eject lever at the front of the battery compartment down.

DC plug

AC Adaptor

, Open the jack cover and

connect the AC-LS5 AC Adaptor (supplied) to the DC IN jack of your camera.

Open the cover in the arrow direction as illustrated above. Connect the plug with the v mark facing up.

• Do not short the DC plug of the AC Adaptor

with a metallic object, as this may cause malfunction.

• Clean the DC plug of the AC Adaptor with a

dry cotton bud. Do not use the dirty plug. Use of the dirty plug may not properly charge the battery pack.

2 To wall outlet (wall socket)

Power cord (mains lead)

, Connect the power cord (mains

lead) to the AC Adaptor and then to a wall outlet (wall socket).

The /CHG lamp (orange) lights up when charging begins, and goes off when charging is completed.

To remove the battery pack

Battery eject lever

Open the battery/“Memory Stick” cover. Slide the battery eject lever in the direction of the arrow, and remove the battery pack.

• Be careful not to drop the battery pack when

removing it.

Battery remaining indicator

The battery remaining indicator on the LCD screen shows the remaining shooting or viewing time.

min

• The black portion of the battery remaining

indicator in the illustration shows the actual remaining time.

• When you switch the LCD screen on/off, it

takes about one minute for the correct battery remaining time to appear.

• The displayed time remaining may not be

correct under certain circumstances or conditions.

3.1M

101

S AF

Getting started

/CHG

/CHG lamp

• After charging the battery pack, disconnect the

AC Adaptor from the DC IN jack of your camera.

Charging time

Approximate time to charge a completely discharged battery pack using the AC-LS5 AC Adaptor at a temperature of 25°C (77°F).

Battery pack

NP-FC11 (supplied) Approx. 150

Charging time (min.)

Number of images and battery life that can be recorded/ viewed

The tables show the approximate number of images and the battery life that can be recorded/ viewed when you shoot images in normal mode with a fully charged battery pack at a temperature of 25°C (77°F). The numbers of images that can be recorded or viewed take into account changing the supplied “Memory Stick” as necessary. Note that the actual numbers may be less than indicated depending on the conditions of use.

Shooting still images

Under the average conditions

Image size

NP-FC11 (supplied) LCD

No. of images

screen

DSC-P10/P12

5.0M

VGA

On Approx. 180 Approx. 90 Off Approx. 2 40 Approx. 120 On Approx. 180 Approx. 90 Off Approx. 2 40 Approx. 120

DSC-P8

3.1M

VGA

On Approx. 200 Approx. 100 Off Approx. 2 50 Approx. 125 On Approx. 200 Approx. 100 Off Approx. 2 50 Approx. 125

Shooting in the following situations: – [P. Quality] is set to [Fine] – Shooting one time every 30 seconds

Battery life (min.)

– The zoom is switched alternately between

the W and T ends – The flash strobes once every two times – The power turns on and off once every ten

times.

Viewing still images

NP-FC11 (supplied)

Image size

No. of images

Battery life (min.)

DSC-P10/P12

5.0M Approx. 3600 Approx. 180 VGA Approx. 3600 Approx. 180 DSC-P8

3.1M Approx. 3850 Approx. 190 VGA Approx. 3850 Approx. 190

Viewing single images in order at about three second intervals

Shooting movies

NP-FC11 (supplied) LCD

screen on

LCD screen off

DSC-P10/P12 Approx. 90 Appro x. 135 DSC-P8 Approx. 100 Approx. 145

Shooting continuously at 160 (Mail) image

size

• The number of images and the battery life that

can be recorded/viewed are decreased under the following conditions: – The surrounding temperature is low – The flash is used – The camera has been turned on and off many

times – The zoom is used frequently – [LCD Backlight] is set to [Bright] in the SET

UP settings – [Power Save] is set to [Off] in the SET UP

settings – The battery power is low

The battery capacity decreases as you use it

more and more and as time passes

(page 110). – [AF Mode] is set to [Monitor] or [Cont] in the

SET UP settings

The Power Save function

When the Power Save functi on is activate d, you can shoot for a longer period of time. Set the mode d ial to SET UP, an d set [Power Save] in (Setup 1) to [On]. The factory setting is [Off] (page 105).

• [Power Save] appears only when you use the

camera with the battery back.

When [Power Save] is set to [On]

While charging the flash, the /CHG lamp flashes and the LCD screen turns o ff. After the charging is complete, the lamp goes out and the LCD screen turns on.

Using an external po wer source

Jack cover

DC plug

AC Adaptor

Power cord (mains lead)

2 To wall outlet (wall socket)

Using your camera abroad

Power sources

You can use your camera in any country or area with the s upplied AC Adap tor within 100 V to 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz. U se a commercially available AC plug adaptor [a], if necessary, depending on the design of the wall out let (wall sock et) [b].

AC-LS5

Getting started

, Open the jack cover and

connect the AC-LS5 AC Adaptor (supplied) to the DC IN jack of your camera.

Connect the plug with the v mark facing up.

• Connect the AC Adaptor to an easily accessi ble

wall outlet (wall socket) close by. I f any trouble occurs while using the adaptor, immediately shut off the power by disconnecting the plug from the wall outlet (wall socket).

, Connect th e power cord ( mains

lead) to the AC Adaptor and then to a wall outlet (wall socket).

• When you have finished using the AC Adaptor,

disconnect it from the DC IN jack of the camera.

• The set is not disconnected from the AC power

source (mains) as long as it is connected to the wall outlet (wall socket) even if the set itself has been turned off.

• Do not use an electronic transformer (travel

converter), as this may cause a malfunction.

Turning on/off your camera

POWER

, Press POWER.

The POWER lamp (g reen) li ghts u p and the power is on. When you turn on your camera for the first time, the Clock Set screen appears (page15).

Turning off the power

Press POWER again. The POWER lamp goes out, and the cam era turns off.

• Do not remove the battery pack or the AC Adaptor with the lens portion extended, as this may cause malfunction.

• If you turn on the power when the mode dial is

set to , , SCN or , the lens portion moves. Do not touch the lens portion while it is operating.

POWER button

POWER lamp

Auto power-off function

If you do not operate the camera for a while* during shooting or viewing or when performing SET UP, the camera turns off automatically to pr ev en t wearing down the battery. The auto power -off function only operates when the camera is operating using a battery pack. Th e auto power -off f unction also will not op erate in the follow ing circumstances.

• When viewing movies

• When playing back a slide show

• When a connector is pl ugge d into the (USB) jack or the A/V OUT (MONO)

jack.

* When [Power Save] is set to [On]:

approximately 90 seconds When [Power Save] is set to [Off]: approximately three minute s

How to use the control button

0EV

EV ISO

400 200 100 Auto

ISO

To change the curre nt settings of the camera, bring up the menu or the SET UP screen (page 39), and use the control button to make the changes. For each item, press v/V/b/B to select the desired value, th en press the center z or b/B to make the setting.

Setting the date a nd time

Mode dial

, Set the mode dial to .

• You can also carry out this operation when the

mode dial is set to

• To change the date and time, set the mode dial

to SET UP, select [Clock Set] in (pages 39 and 105), and perform the procedure from step 3.

, SCN, or .

(Setup 1)

POWER

Clock Set

2003

12 00

Y/M/D M/D/Y D/M/Y

Cancel

POWER button

, Press POWER to turn on the

power.

The POWER lamp (g reen) li ghts u p and th e Clock Set screen appears on the LCD screen.

Clock Set

2003

12 00

Y/M/D M/D/Y D/M/Y

Cancel

, Select the desired date display

format with v/V on the control button, then press z.

Select from [Y/M/D] (year/ month/day), [M/D/Y] (month/day/yea r) or [D/ M / Y] (day/month/year).

• If the rechargeable button battery, which

provides the power for saving the time data, is ever fully discharged (page 108) , the Clock Set screen will appear again. When this happens, reset the date and time, by starting from step 3 above.

Getting started

Clock Set

2003

12 00

Y/M/D M/D/Y D/M/Y

Cancel

Clock Set

2003

/:/

Y/M/D M/D/Y D/M/Y

12 00

Cancel

Clock Set

2003

/:/

Y/M/D M/D/Y

10 30

D/M/Y

Cancel

, Select the year, month, day,

hour or minute item you want to set with b/B on the control button.

The item to be set is indicated with v/V.

, Set the numeri c v alue wi th v/V

on the control button, then press z to enter it.

After entering the number , v/V moves to the next item . Repeat this step until all of the items are set.

• If you selected [D/M/Y] in step 3, set the time

on a 24-hour cycle.

, Select [OK] with B on the

control button, then press z.

The date and time are entered and the clock starts to keep time.

• To cancel the date and time setting, select

[Cancel] with v/V/b/B on the control button, then press z.

Shooting still image

Inserting and removing a “Memory Stick”

Terminal Side

Shooting still images

, Open the battery/“Memory

Stick” cover.

Slide the cover in the direction of the arrow.

• For details on “Memory Stick,” see page 108.

Label side

, Insert the “Memory Stick.”

Insert a “Memor y Stick” all the wa y in unti l it clicks as illustrated.

• Push the “Memory Stick” all of the way in so

that it is securely seated in the connector. If the “Memory Stick” is not inserted correctly, you may not be able to record or display images with the “Memory Stick.”

Access lamp

, Close the battery/“Memory

Stick” cover.

To remove a “Mem ory Stick”

Open the battery/“Memory Stick” cover, then push the “Memory Stick” to pop it out.

• Whenever the access lamp is lit, the camera is recording or reading an image. Never remove the “Memory Stick” or turn off the power at this time. The data may be corrupted.

Setting the still image size

Mode dial

, Set the mode dial to , and

turn on the power.

• You can also carry out this operation when the

mode dial is set to

or SCN.

DSC-P8DSC-P10/P12

5.0M

4.5M(3:2)

3.1M

1.2M VGA

Image Size

3.1M

2.8M(3:2)

2.0M

1.2M VGA

Image Size

, Press (Image Size).

The Image Size setup appears.

• For details on the image size, see page 20.

DSC-P8DSC-P10/P12

5.0M

4.5M(3:2)

3.1M

1.2M VGA

Image Size

3.1M

2.8M(3:2)

2.0M

1.2M VGA

Image Size

, Select the desired image size

with v/V on the control button.

The image size is set. When the setting is compl ete, pre ss (Image Size) so that the Image Size setup disappears from the LCD screen.

• The image size selected here is maintained even

when the power is turned off.

Image size and quality

You can choose image si ze (number of pixels) and im age quality (compress ion ratio) based on the kind of images you want to shoot. The larger yo u ma ke the image size and the higher you make the image quality, the better your image, but also the larger the amount of data needed to preserve your image. This means you can save fewer images in your “Memory Stick.” Choose an image size and qu al it y le ve l appropriately for the kind of i mages you want to sho o t. You can resize the images later (Resize function, see page 65).

You can choose image size from am ong the five options in the following t ab le s . The below image size is a minimum setting for examples. When you want to improve image quality, select the larger image si ze.

Image size Examples

5.0M (DSC-P10/P12)

4.5M(3:2)1) (DSC-P10/P12)

3.1M 2048×1536 Printing A4 size images

2.8M(3:2) (DSC-P8)

2.0M (DSC-P8)

1.2M 1280×960 Printing postcard size im ag es VGA 640×480 Creating home pages

This option records images in a horizontal to vertical proportion of 3:2 to match the size of the print paper used.

2592×1944 Very fine print

2592 (3:2) 3:2 pr ints

2048 (3:2) 3:2 pr ints

1632×1224 Printing A5 size images

Shooting still images

The number of images that can be saved in a “Memory Stick”

The number of images that can be save d i n Fine (Standard)3) mode are shown below.

(Units: number of images)

Capacity

Image size

5.0M (DSC-P10/P12)

4.5M(3:2) (DSC-P10/P12)

3.1M

2.8M(3:2) (DSC-P8)

2.0M (DSC-P8)

1.2M

VGA

When [REC Mode] is set to [Normal] For the number of images that can be saved in other modes, see page98.

For more information about the image quality mode, see page 40.

16MB 32MB 64MB 128MB

(11)

(18)

(30)

(46)

(243)

(23)

(37)

(61)

(93)

196

(491)

(48)

(74)

(123)

101

(187)

394

(985)

(149)

(246)

(376)

(1975)

(96)

133

202

790

MSX-

256

(174)

148

(264)

148

(264)

238

(446)

357

(649)

1428

(3571)

MSX-

512

188

(354)

188

(354)

302

(537)

302

(537)

484

(907)

726

(1320)

2904

(7261)

MSX-1G

384

(723)

384

(723)

617

(1097)

617

(1097)

988

(1852)

1482

(2694)

5928

(14821)

• The “3.2 MEGA PIXELS” indicated on DSC-

P8 shows the number of effective pixels. The number of actually recorded pixels is maximum

3.1 MEGA PIXELS.

• When 1600×1200 size images recorded using

earlier Sony models are played back on this camera, “2.0M” indicator appears on the LCD screen. However, the actual image size is 1.9M in these cases.

• When the images are viewed on the LCD

screen of the camera, they all look the same size.

• Number of shooting images can differ from

these values according to shooting conditions.

• When the number of remaining shooting

images is greater than 9999, the “>9999” indicator appears on the LCD screen.

Basic still image shooting (using auto adjustment mode)

Mode dial

min

AE/AF lock indicator Flashes green t Light up

101

FINE

VGA

S AF

F2.8

Shooting still images

, Set the mode dial to , and

turn on the power.

The name of the folder where the image will be recorded ap pears on the LCD screen for approximately five seconds.

• The lens cover opens when the power is turned

on.

• Do not touch the lens portion while it is

operating, such as when you press POWER to turn on the power or when the zoom function is working (page 23).

• This camera can create new folders and select

folders to be stored in the “Memory Stick” (page 40).

, Hold the camera steadily with

both hands and position the subject in the center of the focus frame.

Do not cover the lens, flash or m ic rophone (page 8) with your fingers.

• The minimum focal distance to a subject is as

follows: DSC-P10/P12: Approx.50 cm (19 3/4 inches) (W)/ 60 cm (23 5/8 inches) (T) or more DSC-P8: Approx. 50 cm (19 3/4 inches) (W/T) or more To shoot subjects at distances closer than this, use the macro mode (page 24).

, Press and hold the shutter

button halfway down.

The beep sounds but the imag e i s no t yet recorded. When the AE/AF lock indicator changes from flashing to steadily lit, the camera is ready for shooting. (The LCD screen may be froz en for a split second depending on the subj ec t. )

• If you release the shutter button, shooting will

be canceled.

• When the camera does not beep, the AF

adjustment is not complete. You can continue to shoot, but the AF is not set properly (except in Continuous AF, page 43).

• The frame indicated on the LCD screen shows

the focus adjustment range (AF range finder, page 42).

min

101

VGA

S AF

, Press the shutter button fully

down.

The shutter sounds. The image will be recorded in the “Me mory Stic k.” Wh en t he recording lamp (pag e 9) goes out, you ca n shoot the next im age.

• When operating the camera using a battery

pack, if you do not operate the camera for a while during recording or playback, the camera turns off automatically to prevent wearing down the battery (page 14).

Mode dial for still image shooting

When shoo ting still images with you r camera, you can choose from the following shooting methods.

(Auto adjustment mode)

The focus, exposure and white balance are automatically adjusted to allow easy shooting. The image quality is set to [ Fine] and the AF range finder frame is set to [Multi AF] (page 42).

(Programmed mode)

You can set the desired shooting functions using menus (pages 42 and 100) .

SCN (Scene selection)

You can select from the following modes to shoot accordin g to the scene conditions (page 55).

– (Fireworks mode) – (High-speed shutter mode) – (Beach mode) –

(Snow mode)

–

(Landscape mode)

–

(Twilight portrait mode) (Twilight mode)

–

Auto Focus

When you try to shoot a subject tha t is difficult to f ocus on, the AE/AF lock indicator changes to flashin g slow ly. The Auto Focus function may have difficulty working under th e following conditions. In such cas es, releas e the shu tter button, then recompose the shot and focus again.

• The subject is distant from the camera and dark.

• The contrast between the subjec t a nd i ts background is poor.

• The subject is seen through glass, such as a window.

• A fast-moving subjec t.

• The subject reflects or has a lustrous finish, such as a mirror or a luminous body.

• A flashing subject.

• A backlit subject.

There are two Auto Focus func tions: “AF range finder frame” which sets the focus position according to the subject position and size, and “AF mode” which set s the focus operatio n according to the AF response and the battery consumption. See page 42 for details.

Checking the last image you shot — Quick Review

Using the zoom feature

min

VGA

8/8

Review

RETURN

101

10:30

2003 7 4101-0029

, Press b (7) on the contro l

button.

To return to the normal shooting mode, press lightly on the shutter button or press b (7) again.

To delete the image displayed on the screen

1 Press (Delete). 2 Select [Del ete] with v on the control

button, then press z. The image is d eleted.

W (wide-angle)

min

x1.1

T (telephoto)

101 101

VGA

S AF

x5.0

min

VGA

S AF

, Press the zoom buttons to

choose the desired image size for shooting.

The minimum focal distance to the subject

DSC-P10/P12: Approx. 50 cm (19 3/4 inc he s ) (W )/60 cm (23 5/8 inches) (T) from the lens surface DSC-P8: Approx. 50 cm (19 3/4 inches) (W/T) from the lens surface

• The lens portion moves during zoom operation.

Do not touch the lens portion while it is operating.

• The zoom feature cannot be used while

shooting movies (page 68).

Smart zoom

Digital processing le ts you zoom in the image without deteriorati on. When the zoom ex ceeds 3 ×, enla rgemen t is carried out usin g the smart zoom. When the smart zoom is not needed, set [Smart Zoom] to [Off] in the SET UP settings (page 104). When you press the zoom button, the zoom scaling ind icator appears on the LCD screen.

Zoom scaling indicator

The T side of this line shows the extent of smart zoom

x2.5

Shooting still images

Shooting close-ups — Macro

The maximum zoom scal e de pe nds on the image size.

DSC-P10/P12

[3.1M]: 3. 8× [1.2M]: 6. 1× [VGA]: 12×

DSC-P8

[2.0M]: 3. 8× [1.2M]: 4. 8× [VGA]: 9.6×

When the image size is [5.0M] or [4.5M(3:2)] (DSC-P10/P12)/[3.1M] or [2.8M(3:2)] (DSC-P8), the smart zoom does not work.

• You cannot confirm the image with the finder

when using the smart zoom function.

• When using the smart zoom, the image on the

LCD screen may look rough. However, this phenomenon has no effect on the recorded image.

• AF range finder is not shown when using the

smart zoom. When 9 (Focus) is set to [Multi AF] or [Center AF], or flashes and the centrally-located subject has priority to focus on.

The macro recording mode is used when zooming up a small subject , such as flowers or insects. You can shoot close- ups of subjects up to the distan ces speci fied belo w.

When the zoom is set all the way to the W side:

Approx. 10 cm (4 inches) from the lens surface

When the zoom is set all the way to the T side:

DSC-P10/P12: Approx. 60 cm (23 5/8 inches) from th e lens surface DSC-P8: Approx. 50 cm (19 3/4 inches) from the lens surface

min

101

VGA

S AF

, Set the mode dial to , and

press B ( ) on the control button.

The (macro) indicator appears on the LCD screen.

• If the menu is currently displayed, press MENU

first so that the menu disappears.

• You can also carry out this operation when the

mode dial is set to

(Fireworks mode), (Landscape

mode) or (Twilight mode), page 55) or .

or SCN (other than

Using the self-timer

min

101

FINE

VGA

S AF

F2.8

min

101

VGA

S AF

min

FINE

101

VGA

S AF

F2.8

Shooting still images

, Center the subject in the frame,

and shoot the image.

To return to normal recording mode

Press B ( ) on the control button again. The indicator disappears from the LCD screen.

• Use the LCD screen to shoot when using the

macro feature. If you use the finder, the limits of what you see and what you actually shoot may be different.

, Set the mode dial to , and

press V ( ) on the control button.

The (self-timer) indicator appears on the screen.

• If the menu is currently displayed, press MENU

first so that the menu disappears.

• You can also carry out this operation when the

mode dial is set to

, SCN or .

, Center the subject in the frame,

and press the shutter button fully down.

The self-timer lamp (page 8) flashes and a beep sounds after you press the shutter button until the shutter opera tes (approximately 10 seconds late r).

To cancel the self-timer in the middle of the operation

Press V ( ) on t he control button again. The indicator disappear s f rom the LCD screen.

• If you press the shutter button while standing in

front of the camera, the focus and the exposure may not be correctly set.

Selecting a flash mode

min

101

VGA

S AF

, Set the mode dial to , and

press v ( ) on the control button repeatedly to select a flash mode.

Each time you press v ( ), the indicator changes as follows.

No indicator (Auto): The flash automatically strobes when shooting images in a dark place or against a light source.

(Forced flash): The flash strobes

regardless of the surrounding brightness.

(Slow synchro): The flash strobes

regardless of the surrounding brightness. The shutter sp eed is sl ow in a dark place, s o you can clearly shoot the background that is out of flash light.

(No flash): The flash does not strobe.

• If the menu is currently displayed, press MENU

first so that the menu disappears.

• You can also carry out this operation when the

mode dial is set to or (Clip M otion).

• When [ISO] is set to [Auto] in the menu

settings, the recommended shooting distance using the flash is as follows: DSC-P10/P12: Approx. 0.5 m to 3.5 m (19 3/4 inches to 11 feet 5 3/16 inches) (W)/0.6 m to

2.5 m (23 5/8 inches to 8 feet 2 7/16 inches) (T) DSC-P8: Approx. 0.5 m to 3.5 m (19 3/4 inches to 11 feet 5 3/16 inches) (W)/0.5 m to 2.5 m (19 3/4 inches to 8 feet 2 7/16 inches) (T)

• You can change the brightness of the flash with

[Flash Level] in the menu settings (page 50). (You cannot change the brightness of the flash while the mode dial is set to .)

• When using the (Slow synchro) or (No

flash) mode, the shutter speed becomes slower in dark places, so using a tripod is recommended.

• While charging the flash, the /CHG lamp

flashes. After the charging is complete, the lamp goes ou t.

• This setting is maintained even when the power

is turned off.

Shooting images against a light source

In auto adjustment mode, shooting against a light source automatically stro bes even when there is enough li ght around the subject (Daylight synchro).

Before strobed

When strobed

• Daylight synchro may not procedure the

desired effects depending on shooting conditions.

• When you do not want to use the flash, set the

flash mode to (No flash).

To reduce the red-eye phenomenon when shooting live subjects

Set [Red Eye Reduction] to [On] in the SET UP settings (page 104). indicator appears on the LCD screen, and the flash pre-strobes before shooting to reduce the red-eye phenomenon.

• Red-eye reduction may not produce the desired

effects depending on individual differences, the distance to the subject, if the subject does not see the pre-strobe, or other conditions.

Shooting images with the AF illuminator

The AF illuminator is fill light to focus more easily on a subject in dark surroundings. Set [AF Illuminator] (page 104) to [Auto] in the SET UP settings. appears on the LCD screen and the AF illuminator emits red light when the shutter button is pressed halfwa y unt il the focus is locked.

• If AF illuminator light does not reach the

• Focus is achieved as long as AF illuminator

• When the focus preset distance is set (page 44),

101

min

subject sufficiently or the subject has no contrast, focus will not be achieved. ( A distance up to approximately 3.5 m (11 feet 5 3/16 inches) (W)/2.5 m (8 feet 2 7/16 inches) (T) is recommended.)

light reaches the subject, even if the light is slightly off the center of the subject.

the AF illuminator does not function.

FINE

VGA

S AF

F2.8

• When 9 (Focus) is set to [Multi AF] or

[Center AF], the AF range finder is not displayed. or flashes and the centrally-located subject has priority to focus on.

• The AF illuminator operates only when SCN is

set to (Beach mode), (Snow mode) or

(Twilight portrait mode) in the menu

settings (page 55).

• The AF illuminator emits very bright light.

Although there are no problems with safety, directly looking into the AF illuminator emitter at close range is not recommended, as you may see residual spots for several minutes afterwards, such as after looking into a flashlight.

Shooting still images

Shooting images with the finder

Finder

The finder is convenient w he n you want to save battery power, or when it is difficult to confirm th e image usin g th e LCD screen. Each time you press , the disp lay changes in the following ord er.

Histogram on

60min

VGA

Indicators off

LCD screen off

Indicators on

60min

VGA

• The image through the finder does not indicate

101

S AF

the actual recordable range. To confirm the recordable range, use the LCD screen.

• For a detailed description of the indicators, see

page 112.

• Just as with the AE/AF lock indicator on the

LCD screen, when the AE/AF lock lamp of the finder section stops flashing and remains on, you can start shooting (page 21).

• When the LCD screen is turned off, the smart

zoom does not function (page 23).

• When the LCD screen is turned off, the AF

Mode is set to [Single] (page 43).

• If you press (Flash mode)/ (Self-time r )/

(Macro) with the LCD screen turned off, the image will be displayed on the screen for approximately two seconds so you can check or change the setting.

• For a detailed description of the histogram, see

page 46.

• This setting is maintained even when the power

is turned off.

101

S AF

Inserting the date and time on a still image

Camera

Moving Image: AF Mode:

Smart Zoom: Date/Time:

Red Eye Reduction AF Illuminator:

SELECT

MPEG Movie Single On Off Off Auto

, Set the mode dial to SET UP.

The SET UP screen appears.

• When images are shot with the date and time

superimposed, the date and time cannot be removed later.

• The date and time do not appear on the LCD

screen during shooting, instead, indicator appears in the upper left corner of the LCD screen. The actual date and time appear in red during playback only.

• On DSC-P10/P12, item is displayed as

and (page 104).

Camera

Moving Image: AF Mode:

Smart Zoom:

Date/Time:

Red Eye Reduction AF Illuminator:

Day&Time Date Off

, Select (Camera1) (DSC -P10/

P12) or (Camera) (DSC-P8) with v on the control button, then press B. Select [Date/Time] with v/V, then press B.

• If you select [Date], the date is superimposed

onto the image in the order selected in “Setting the date and time” (page 15).

Camera

Moving Image: AF Mode:

Smart Zoom: Date/Time:

Red Eye Reduction: AF Illuminator:

PAGE SELECT

MPEG Movie Single On Date Off Auto

, Select the date and time setting

with v/V on the control button, then press z.

Day & Time: Superimposes the date, hour,

and minute onto the image. Date: Superimposes the year , mont h and day onto the image. Off: Does not superimpose the date and time onto the image. After the setting has been compl eted, set the mode dial to , and shoot the im a ge.

• You can also carry out this operation with the

mode dial set to or SCN.

• This setting is maintained even when the power

is turned off.

Shooting still images

Viewing images on the LCD screen of your

camera

Single (single-image) screen

60min

VGA

101

8/9

10:30

2003 7 4101-0008

BACK/NEXT VOLUME

Index (nine-image) screen

MOVESINGLE DISPLAY

Index (triple-image) screen

2003 7 4101-0002

BACK/NEXT

F2.8 1/30

0.0 100

10:30

Aperture Value: Shutter Speed: Exposure Value: ISO:

SINGLE DISPLAY

Viewing single images

60min

VGA

101

8/9

10:30

VOLUME

2003 7 4101-0008

BACK/NEXT

You can view imag es shot with yo ur camera almost immediate ly o n th e sc reen . You can select the fo llowing three methods f or viewing im ages.

Single (single-image) screen

You can view one image at a time, displayed over the entire screen.

Index (nine-image) screen

Nine images are displayed simultaneously in separate panels on the screen.

Index (triple-image) screen

Three images a re dis play ed simult an eou sly in separate panels on the screen. Various image informat ion i te ms are al so di spl ayed .

• For details on viewing movies, see page 69.

• For a detailed description of the indicators, see

page 114.

, Set the mode dial to , and

turn on the power.

The last image in the select ed rec ording folder (page 58) appears on the screen.

+ 90 hidden pages