Sony MVC-FD81 User Manual

3-864-932-11 (1)

Digital Still Camera

Operating Instructions Manual de instrucciones

MVC-FD81

GB ES

English

Operating instructions

Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly, and retain it for future reference. As you read through this manual, buttons and settings on the camera are shown in capital letters. e.g., Press FLASH.

WARNING

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

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.

Owner’s Record

The model and serial numbers are located on the bottom. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to these numbers whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product.

Model No. MVC-FD81 Serial No.

2-GB

CAUTION

Never expose the battery pack to temperatures above 140°F (60°C), such as in a car parked in the sun or under direct sunlight.

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT USE THIS POLARIZED AC PLUG WITH AN EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE.

You are cautioned 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 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: – 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.

For the Customers in the United States and CANADA

DISPOSAL OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY. LITHIUM ION BATTERY. DISPOSE OF PROPERLY.

You can return you unwanted lithium ion batteries to your nearest Sony Service Center or Factory Service Center. Note: In some areas the disposal of lithium ion batteries in household or

business trash may be prohibited.

For the Sony Service Center nearest you call 1-800-222-SONY (United States only) For the Factory Service Center nearest you call 416-499-SONY (Canada only)

Caution: Do not handle damaged or leaking lithium ion batteries.

3-GB

NOTICE 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 2 or @ mark) must be used.

If the plug supplied with this equipment has 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

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

4-GB

Table of contents

Before using your camera....................................................................... 7

Parts identification .................................................................................. 8

Basic operations 11

Preparation ...................................................................................... 11

1: Charging the battery pack........................................... 11

2: Installing the battery pack........................................... 12

3: Setting the date and time ............................................ 13

Recording and playing back images............................................ 16

1: Recording still images ................................................. 16

2: Recording moving images .......................................... 17

3: Playing back still images ............................................. 19

4: Playing back moving images ...................................... 19

Battery life/No. of images that can be recorded/

played back ....................................................................... 22

Viewing images using a personal computer ....................... 23

Advanced operations 24

Changing the mode settings ......................................................... 25

Using various functions for recording ........................................ 34

Focusing manually .................................................................. 34

Enjoying Picture Effect ........................................................... 35

Using the PROGRAM AE function....................................... 36

Additional information 36

Changing the lithium battery in the camera .............................. 37

Precautions ...................................................................................... 38

Troubleshooting.............................................................................. 40

Self-diagnosis display .................................................................... 42

Specifications................................................................................... 43

Warning messages................................................................... 44

Index ................................................................................................. 45

5-GB

Be sure to read 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 cannot be made due to a malfunction of the camera, floppy disk, etc.

Precaution on copyright

Floppy disks, television programs, films, video tapes, and other materials may be copyrighted. Unauthorized recording of such materials may be contrary to the provisions of the copyright laws.

• IBM PC/AT is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation of the U.S.A.

• MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks licensed to Microsoft Corporation, registered in the U.S.A. and other countries.

• Netscape Navigator is a trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation.

• Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S.A. and other countries.

• All other product names mentioned herein may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Furthermore, “TM” and “” are not mentioned in each case in this manual.

6-GB

Before using your camera

This digital still camera uses a floppy disk as a medium for recording images. Use the following floppy disk type:

•Size: 3.5 inch

•Type: 2HD

•Capacity: 1.44 MB

•Format: MS-DOS format (512 bytes × 18 sectors) When using 3.5 inch, 2HD floppy disk other than described above, format it using the camera or personal computer.

Do not shake or strike the unit

Malfunctions, inability to record images as well as inability to use floppy disks or image and memory data breakdown, damage or loss may occur.

Do not get the unit wet

When taking pictures outdoors in the rain or under similar conditions, be careful not to get the unit wet. If moisture condensation occurs, refer to page 39 and follow instructions on how to remove it before using.

Back up recommendations

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

Supplied accessories

Digital still camera (1) NP-F330 battery pack (1) Power cord (1 set) Lens cap (1) Shoulder strap (1) String for lens cap (1) Battery charger (1)

7-GB

Parts identification

See pages in ( ) for more details.

Microphone

Do not touch when recording.

Shutter button (16, 17) Photocell window

for flash

Do not block when recording.

Slot for AC power adaptor code

Flash emitter (10) Self-timer lamp

The lamp keeps on blinking until recording starts after the shutter button is depressed.

Tripod receptacle

Make sure that the length of the tripod screw is less than 7/32 inch (6.5 mm).

Lens Focus ring (34)

Lens cap

FOCUS AUTO/ MANU switch (34)

To insert the floppy disk

Insert the floppy disk until it clicks.

DISK EJECT lever

PUSH button

To remove the floppy disk

While pressing PUSH, slide DISK EJECT in the direction of the arrow.

Before inserting, check that the write protect tab set to the recording position.

8-GB

LCD BACK LIGHT switch

Normally select ON. Set to OFF to save the battery.

BRIGHT +/– button

Press to adjust the brightness of the LCD screen.

Hooks for strap

Attaching the shoulder strap

PLAY/STILL/MOVIE switch (16, 17, 19)

Lithium battery compartment (37)

PICTURE EFFECT button (35)

PROGRAM AE button (36) DISPLAY button

Press to display or turn off the indicators on the LCD screen. The indicators do not go off in the following modes: Program AE, Picture effect, Manual focus, Zoom, AE Lock, Self-timer, Flash and Adjusting the exposure.

Control button

Upper side

Left side

Right side

Press to

Lower side

execute.

LCD screen POWER switch

Slide down to turn on/off the power.

ACCESS lamp

(16, 19)

DISK EJECT lever

(8)

Battery cover/ OPEN (BATT) button (12)

PUSH button (8) Control button

Function of the control button

You can execute the functions by pressing the upper, lower, left or right side of the control button. When an item is selected in the menu, the color of the item changes from blue to yellow. To enter your selection, press the center of the control button.

9-GB

Zoom lever

“T” side: for telephoto (subject appears closer) “W” side: for wide-angle (subject appears farther away) Move the zoom lever to the “W” side until the focus is sharp. You can shoot a subject that is at least about 5/6 feet (about 25 cm) away from the lens surface in the telephoto position, or about 1/2 inch (about 1 cm) away in the wide-angle position.

Photocell window for LCD screen

The LCD screen becomes brighter when exposed to sunlight.

VOLUME +/– button

Press to adjust the volume of the speaker.

FLASH/CHARGE lamp

Floppy disk slot

POWER lamp

(16, 19)

FLASH button

AUTO is set at the factory. Each time you press the button, the flash mode changes as follows:

AUTO (no indication) n forced-flash n no flash n AUTO

In AUTO mode, the flash goes off automatically according to the brightness of the surroundings. The subject must be 1 5/8 feet to 8 1/3 feet (0.5 m to 2.5 m) away. When you record using the flash and conversion lens (not supplied), an eclipse may occur.

10-GB

Speaker

Self-timer

Select “ ” with the control button, then press it. About 10 seconds after you press the shutter button, the subject is recorded.

Exposure

Select “ ” or “ ” on the LCD screen with the control button, then press it to select the desired value.

+EV: To raise the exposure value

(brighten the picture)

–EV: To lower the exposure value

(darken the picture)

Adjustable in a range of –1.5 EV to +1.5 EV in steps of 0.5 EV.

Preparation

Charging the battery pack

To charge the battery pack, use the battery charger. For details, refer to the instruction manual of the battery charger.

1 Connect the power cord

to a wall outlet.

2 Insert the battery pack

in the direction of the $ mark. Slide it down until it clicks.

To remove the battery pack

Slide up the battery pack.

Charging time

Battery Full charge* Normal charge**

NP-F330 210 min. 150 min. NP-F530 225 min. 165 min. NP-F550 240 min. 180 min.

Approximate minutes to charge a discharged battery pack using the battery charger BC-V615. (Lower temperatures require a longer charging time.)

* Charging for about one hour after the CHARGE lamp goes out. **Charging just until the CHARGE lamp goes out.

CHARGE lamp (orange)

The CHARGE lamp (orange) lights up. Charging begins.

Battery charger

Basic operations

11-GB

÷ Preparation

Installing the battery pack

1 Open the battery cover.

While sliding OPEN (BATT) in the direction of the arrow.

(base)

2 Install the battery pack.

Insert the battery pack with the $ mark facing toward the battery compartment.

3 Close the cover.

Press the cover until it clicks.

To remove the battery pack

Open the battery cover. While sliding the battery release lever rightward, remove the battery pack.

Be careful not to drop the battery pack when removing.

Remaining battery time indication

This camera shows on the LCD panel how many minutes you can still keep on recording or playing back images*. Note, however, that the time might not be displayed correctly under some use conditions or in some environments. * The time displayed during recording or during playback refers to the time

for which the battery lasts if you simply keep the camera on or if you simply keep it displaying images without performing any operation.

Battery release lever

Auto power-off function

During recording if you leave the camera inactive for about 3 minutes while the power is on, the camera turns off automatically to prevent wearing down the battery.

12-GB

About the power source

This camera can be powered from the following two power sources:

•InfoLITHIUM battery* NP-F330 (supplied)/F530 (not supplied)/ F550 (not supplied)

•AC power adapter AC-V700 (not supplied)

When you use the camera for a long time, we recommend you to power the camera from a wall outlet with the AC power adaptor.

* “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack

The “InfoLITHIUM” is a lithium ion battery pack which can exchange data with compatible equipment about its battery consumption. ”InfoLITHIUM” is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

Setting the date and time

When you use the camera first, set the date and time. The date and time are necessary for MS-DOS format recording. If they are not set, incorrect date and time are recorded, and CLOCK SET screen in step 3 appears whenever you turn on the camera in STILL/MOVIE mode.

1 Slide POWER down to turn on the power. 2 Select “CLOCK SET” in MENU with the control button,

then press it.

CLOCK SET BEEP DISK TOOL FILE NUMBER FLASH LEVEL IMAGE SIZE QUALITY REC MODE

120min

13-GB

–EV

Basic operations

÷ Preparation

CLOCK SET

D/M/Y 

M/D/YY/M/D

1998 1 8 10:20

ENTER

CANCEL

3 Select the desired display of the date with the control

button, then press it.

Y/M/D (year/month/day) M/D/Y (month/day/year) D/M/Y (day/month/year)

4 Select the date and time with the control button, then

press it.

The item to be changed is indicated with 4/$. Select number by pressing the upper side or lower side of the control button, then press it to enter the number. After entering the number, 4/$ moves to the next item.

CLOCK SET

M/D/Y

Y/M/D

1 8 10:20

1998

D/M/Y 

ENTER

CANCEL

When “D/M/Y” is selected, set the time on a 24-hour cycle.

5 Select “ENTER” with the control button, then press it

at the desired moment to begin clock movement.

14-GB

CLOCK SET

1998 10 10 10:20

D/M/Y

M/D/YY/M/D



ENTER

CANCEL

To cancel setting the date and time

Select “CANCEL” with the control button, then press it.

Note

If the “I” indicator appears on the LCD screen, replace the lithium battery according to the procedures on page 37.

Basic operations

15-GB

Recording and playing back images

Recording still images

To record the images, slide POWER down to turn on the power (The POWER lamp lights up) and insert the floppy disk until it clicks.

POWER lamp

ACCESS lamp

1 Set PLAY/STILL/MOVIE to STILL.

2 Press the shutter button halfway

down.

The AE lock indicator r (green) flashes. When AE (auto exposure), AWB (auto white balance) and AF (auto focus) are frozen, the AE lock indicator stops flashing.

3 Press the shutter button fully

down.

The image is recorded on the disk.

The number of images you can record on a floppy disk

About 10 – 16 images with all default settings. (p. 27)

Note

When the image is recorded on the disk, the ACCESS lamp flashes. When the ACCESS lamp is flashing, never shake or strike the unit. Also, do not turn the power off or remove the battery pack or floppy disk. Otherwise, an image data breakdown may occur and the floppy disk may become unusable.

16-GB

Recording moving images

1 Set PLAY/STILL/MOVIE to MOVIE. 2 Press the shutter button fully down momentarily.

The image and sound are recorded for 5 seconds.

Hold the shutter button fully down.

The image and sound are recorded until you release it. Maximum 60 seconds when recording 160 × 112 size

15 seconds when recording 320 × 240 size

Moving images will be softer than still images.

Functions you can use for image recording

Basic operations

Adjusting the brightness of the

LCD screen (p. 9)

Flash (p. 10)* Zoom (p. 10) Self-timer (p. 10) Adjusting the exposure (p. 10) Focusing manually (p. 34) Picture effect (p. 35) PROGRAM AE function (p. 36)

* You cannot use these functions for MOVIE mode.

Selecting the recording mode

– REC MODE (p. 26)*

Selecting the image quality

– QUALITY (p. 28)*

Selecting the flash level

– FLASH LEVEL (p. 28)*

Selecting the file numbering mode

– FILE NUMBER (p. 29)

Selecting the image size

– IMAGE SIZE (p. 28, 29)

17-GB

÷ Recording and playing back images

The indicators during recording

The indicators on the LCD screen are not recorded.

Flash indicator /Flash level indicator

Manual focusing Program AE

indicator Exposure indicator/

Zoom indicator* Picture effect

W T

SEPIA

indicator LCD brightness

indicator* /VOLUME

LCD BRT

–EV

indicator* Adjusting the

exposure button MENU button Self-timer button

* Only displayed during operation.

BMP

STD

E : 91 : 01

120min

AE lock indicator Recording mode

indicator/Moving image indicator

Image size indicator

Image quality indicator*

Remaining disk capacity indicator

No. of stored images

Self-diagnosis function indicator /Recording time indicator

Remaining battery time indicator

Self-timer indicator

18-GB

Playing back still images

To watch the recorded images on the LCD screen, slide POWER down to turn on the power (The POWER lamp lights up) and insert the floppy disk until clicks.

1 Set PLAY/STILL/MOVIE to PLAY.

The ACCESS lamp flashes and the last recorded image appears on the LCD screen.

POWER lamp

ACCESS lamp

2 Select the recorded image with the control button.

Select the button on the LCD screen with the control button, then press it.

: To display the preceding recorded image. : To display the next image. : To display 6 recorded images at a time (INDEX screen).

INDEX

Playing back moving images

1 Set PLAY/STILL/MOVIE to PLAY.

The ACCESS lamp flashes and the last recorded image appears on the LCD screen.

The image recorded in MOVIE mode is displayed one-size smaller than the other normal-sized images.

2 Select the playback start button on the LCD screen

with the control button, then press it.

The moving image and sound start.

19-GB

Basic operations

÷ Recording and playing back images

The indicators during playback

During playback still images (STILL)

Image number Recording mode of the playback

image indicator Image size indicator

STD

11/12

[

MVC-011S

INDEX

]

1998 7 4

12:30PM

120min

During playback moving images (MOVIE)/Still images with sounds (VOICE)

Image quality indicator Remaining disk capacity indicator

Number of stored images in the floppy disk

File name Recording date of the playback

image Remaining battery time indicator

INDEX button MENU button

Image search buttons / buttons (Single screen mode) / buttons (Index screen mode)

Counter

20-GB

0:00

INDEX

9/12

Playback image

Play bar

120min

Playback moving image start/ pause button/Playback VOICE start button

In INDEX screen mode

: To display the preceding

6 images.

: To display the following

10 11

6 images.

: Moving image file : Still image with sound file

[

MVC-011S

]

11/12

1998 7 4

12:30PM

120min

• To return to the normal playback screen (Single screen), select an image with the control button, then press it.

• The number displayed at the upper right side of the image shows the recording order on the disk. It is different from the file name (p. 27).

Functions you can use for playback of recorded images

Basic operations

Adjusting the volume of the

speaker (p. 10)

Adjusting the brightness of the

LCD screen (p. 9)

Protecting images

– PROTECT (p. 30)

Copying recorded images to

another floppy disk – COPY (p. 31)

Deleting images – DELETE (p. 32)

Note

The images recorded by this camera may not be played back correctly by MVC-FD5/FD7/FD51/FD71/FDR1/FDR3.

21-GB

÷ Recording and playing back images

Battery life/No. of images that can be recorded/played back

STILL mode

Battery Battery life No. of images NP-F330 Continuous recording* 55 (50) 650 (550)

(Supplied) Continuous playing NP-F530 Continuous recording* 90 (80) 1100 (950)

NP-F550 Continuous recording* 120 (110) 1500 (1350)

Approximate battery life and no. of images that can be recorded/played back at a temperature of 77°F (25°C), 640 × 480 image size, in NORMAL recording and STANDARD quality mode. Numbers in parentheses indicate the time when using a normally charged battery. The battery life and no. of images are the same as when using the flash. If you record 1240 × 768 size images, the no. of images that can be recorded is reduced from the above figures by about 10%.

* Recording at about 5 second intervals **Playing back single image at about 4 second intervals

Continuous playing

Continuous playing** 210 (190) 3100 (2800)

MOVIE mode

Battery Battery life No. of images

NP-F330 Continuous recording 60 (55) 40 (35) (Supplied)

NP-F530 Continuous recording 100 (90) 65 (55) NP-F550 Continuous recording 140 (125) 90 (80)

Approximate minutes that can be recorded at a temperature of 77°F (25°C) and 160 × 112 image size. Numbers in parentheses indicate the time when you use a normally charged battery.

(min.) (record/playback)

** 100 (90) 1500 (1350)

** 160 (140) 2400 (2100)

(min.) (record)

• Battery life and no. of images will be decreased if you use the camera in a cold environment or while you repeat turning the power on/off and zooming.

• The capacity of a floppy disk is limited. The above figures are a guide when continuously recording/playing back while replacing the floppy disks.

22-GB

Viewing images using a personal computer

With this camera, the still image data is compressed in JPEG format and move image data is compressed with MPEG-1 format. These data can be viewed using a personal computer which installed JPEG and MPEG browsing software as Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0. For further information to use the browsing software, refer to the personal computer instruction manual.

Example: personal computer with Windows 95 installed

1 Start up personal computer and insert the floppy

disk into the disk drive of the personal computer.

2 Open “ My computer” and double click

“

3.5 inch FD (A:)”.

3 Double-click the desired data file.

Recommended OS/applications example

Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or later, Windows NT 3.51 or later, etc.

applications

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, Netscape Navigator etc.

To display the image list, double-click “MAVICA.HTM” of the floppy disk recorded with this camera if your personal computer is installed with a browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Basic operations

23-GB

÷ Recording and playing back images

Notes

•To play back an MPEG file, install Active Movie Player (Direct Show).

• For playing back a file recorded in MOVIE or VOICE mode, first copy it to the hard disk of the personal computer. If you play back the file from a floppy disk, the picture and sound may break off.

• You cannot play back an MPEG file with Windows 3.1.

• Opening non-compressed images recorded in BITMAP mode (p. 26, 27) requires an application program designed to view bitmapped images.

• For Macintosh, you can use the floppy disk recorded with this camera using the PC Exchange with Mac OS system 7.5 or higher. A viewing application for Macintosh is also necessary for viewing images. To play back an MPEG file, install Quick Time 3.0.

24-GB

Changing the mode settings

1 Select “MENU” with the control button, then

press it.

The menu appears on the LCD screen.

2 Select desired item with the control button, then

press it.

When an item is selected, the color of the item changes from blue to yellow.

3 Change the setting with the control button, then

press it.

When the setting is finished, the menu screen returns to the screen of step 1.

CLOCK SET BEEP DISK TOOL FILE NUMBER FLASH LEVEL IMAGE SIZE QUALITY REC MODE

120min

(

NORMAL

120min

BITMAP VOICE E–MAIL NORMAL

Advanced operations

25-GB

÷ Changing the mode settings

To cancel changing the mode settings

Press the left side of the control button. The screen returns to the menu screen. To cancel the menu screen, select “ ” with the control button, then press it.

Setting the mode of each item

* is set at the factory.

Items in STILL mode

REC MODE <NORMAL*/ E-MAIL/ VOICE/

BITMAP>

•Normally select NORMAL. A JPEG file is recorded in selected image size.

•Select E-MAIL to record a 320 × 240 JPEG file besides a 640 × 480 (or 1024 × 768) JPEG file. E-mail files are suitable for e-mail transmission, etc. because they contain compressed data.

•Select VOICE to record a still image and sound together besides a JPEG file.

Press the shutter button down momentarily.

The sound is recorded for 5 seconds.

Hold the shutter button down.

The sound is recorded until you release it. (Maximum 40 seconds)

•Select BITMAP to record a non-compressed image (640 × 480) besides a JPEG file. This is good for recording images in clearer detail.

26-GB

Recording Image Recorded file File name can be recorded

mode size (ex.)** on a floppy disk

MVC– STANDARD FINE

NORMAL 1024 JPEG (1024 × 768) 001L.JPG

E-MAIL 1024 JPEG (1024 × 768) 001L.JPG

VOICE JPEG (1024 × 768) 001L.JPG

BITMAP* 1024 JPEG (1024 × 768) 001L.JPG

* The non-compressed image in BITMAP mode is 640 × 480 size regardless of

IMAGE SIZE in the MENU settings.

**If you record images in FINE quality mode, the last character of file name

will be “X” or “F”. (ex. MVC-001X.JPG)

× 10 – 16 6 – 8

768 For index screen 001L.411 640 JPEG (640 × 480) 001S.JPG

× 25 – 40 15 – 20

480 For index screen 001S.411

× JPEG (320 × 240) 001E.JPG 9 –14 5 – 7

768 For index screen 001L.411 640 JPEG (640 × 480) 001S.JPG

× JPEG (320 × 240) 001E.JPG 20 – 35 12 – 15

480 For index screen 001S.411

1024 MPEG audio with

× still image 001A.MPG 4 – 9 3 – 6

768 (320 × 240)

For index screen 001L.411 JPEG (640 × 480) 001S.JPG

640 MPEG audio with

× still image 001A.MPG 5 – 14 4 – 10

480 (320 × 240)

For index screen 001S.411

× Non-compress

768 (640 × 480)

For index screen 001L.411

640 JPEG (640 × 480) 001S.JPG

× Non-compress

480 (640 × 480)

For index screen 001S.411

001L.BMP 1 1

001S.BMP 1 1

No. of images that

27-GB

Advanced operations

+ 61 hidden pages