Vivitar Vivicam 3555T User Manual

Vivicam 3555T User Manual

Vivicam 3555T Digital Camera User’s Manual

ii

Preface

About this manual

This manual is designed to make using your new 3555T Digital Camera
as easy as possible. Information in this document has been carefully
checked for accuracy; however, the information in this document is
subject to change without notice. Product features and functionality are
subject to continual revision and refinement. Revisions to this manual, if
any, will be posted on the Vivitar website at www.vivitar.com.

Copyright

© Copyright 2002 Vivitar Corporation
This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright.

All rights are reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced by any
mechanical, electronic or other means, in any form, without prior written
permission of Vivitar Corporation, Inc.

Trademarks

All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.

Photo Express, DVD PictureShow, Cool 360 and PhotoExplorer,
Copyright 2002, Ul ead Systems Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Presto! VideoWorks, Presto! Image Folio and Presto! Mr. Photo,
Copyright 2002, NewSoft Technology Corporation, All Rights Reserved.

020828

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Getting Started........................................................... 1

Features..................................................................................... 1

Safety Information ................................................................... 2

Components and Accessories.............................................. 3

Camera Overview................................................................... 4

Front View.................................................................... 4

Back View.................................................................... 6

Bottom View................................................................ 8

Inserting a Memory Card ....................................................... 9

Installing the Batteries ........................................................... 11

Language Selection.............................................................. 13

Setting the Time and Date................................................... 14

Chapter 2 - Taking Pictures.......................................................... 16

Preparing the Camera..........................................................16

Selecting the Camera Mode.............................................. 17

Framing your Shots.................................................................17

Zoom and Shoot..................................................................... 18

Turning the Camera Off........................................................ 18

Chapter 3 - Reviewing Your Pictures........................................... 19

Switch to Playback Mode.................................................... 19

Full-Screen Review ................................................... 19

Thumbnail Review.................................................... 20

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Chapter 4 - Connecting to a Computer ...................................... 21

Preparing your Computer – Initial Installation ..................23

Using the V3555T with your Computer............................... 25

Copying Images to your PC ................................................ 26

Using the V3555T as a PC Camera..................................... 27

Chapter 5 – Operational Modes.................................................. 28

RECORD Mode ......................................... 28

Timer Mo de .................................................... 29

Preset Mode ............................................. 30

Playback Mode .............................................. 31

Setup Mode ................................................ 32

Delete / Format........................................................ 32

Resolution................................................................... 34

DPOF........................................................................... 35

Date/Time.................................................................. 35

Language.................................................................. 36

Storage Media.......................................................... 36

Chapter 6 – Using the LCD Display .............................................. 37

Icon Descriptions.................................................................... 38

Appendix 1 – Button Function Guide........................................... 40

Appendix 2 – Troubleshooting..................................................... 41

Service and Support ……………………………………..…...41

1

Chapter 1 - Getting Started

Features

• Three resolution settings:

o 1600 x 1200 Extrapolated Resolution (Super Fine)
o 1152 x 864 Native resolution (Fine)
o 640 x 480 VGA resolution

• 2X Digital Zoom

• Color STN LCD viewfinder screen

• 8 MB internal memory

• USB interface

• Automatic exposure

• Fixed focus

• Three flash Modes:

o Automatic
o Off
o Red-Eye reduction

• White Balance Modes: Auto/ Daylight / Shade /
Tungsten / Fluorescent

• 10 second self-timer mode

• Full screen or Thumbnail preview

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Safety Information

l Do not look at the sun through the viewfinder. Viewing the sun or other

strong light source through the viewfinder could cause permanent visual
impairment.

l Do not disassemble the camera. Touching the product’s internal parts could

result in injury. In the event of a malfunction, only a qualified technician should
repair the product.

l Avoid contact with liquid crystal. Should the LCD display break, care

should be taken to avoid injury due to broken glass. Avoid contact with the
liquid crystal material. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, or mouth.

l Do not use in the presence of flammable gas. Using electronic equipment

in the presence of flammable gas could result in explosion or fire.

l Observe proper precautions when handling batteries. Use only

approved AA batteries. Batteries may leak or explode if handled improperly.
Remove the batteries and memory card from the camera if you plan to store the
camera for extended periods of time. Be sure the camera is turned off before
inserting or removing batteries. Do not insert batteries backwards or upside down.
Do not disassemble batteries. Do not expose batteries to flame or excessive heat
nor immerse batteries in water. Discontinue use immediately if you notice any
changes in the battery such as discoloration, deformation or leakage.

l Observe caution when operating the flash. Do not use the flash close to

anyone’s eyes. This can cause damage to eyesight. Particular care should be
observed when photographing infants – keep the flash at a distance of at least
three feet from infants’ eyes.

3

Components and Accessories

Your V3555T digital camera comes equipped with the
following components. Please note that product inclusions
vary depending upon the options specified by your
retailer.

1. Digital Camera

2. User’s manual

3. Quick Reference Guide

4. USB cable

5. Two (2) AA alkaline batteries

6. Installation and software CD-ROM

7. Soft carrying case

8. Hand strap

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Camera Overview

The front, rear, bottom, and top views of the V3555T
camera are shown below. Please take a moment to
review these illustrations and familiarize yourself with the
terms used in the rest of this manual.

Front View

1. Shutter Button: Press the Shutter Button to
take digital images (pictures), and to select
options from the menus.

2. Built-in Flash: The flash allows the camera to
take pictures in low light conditions.

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3. Light Sensor: Using this sensor the V3555T can
automatically detect the ambient light level
to determine whether or not the flash is
needed. Take care not to block the sensor
with your finger while taking a picture.

4. Viewfinder: The optical viewfinder can be
used to compose your pictures without using
the LCD display.

5. Lens: The lens focuses the light onto the
image sensor. For the best picture quality,
care should be taken to make sure it
remains free of dust, fingerprints, and
scratches.

6. Lens Cover: When not using the camera, the
lens cover should be closed to protect the

lens. Rotate the cover clockwise to close
and counterclockwise to open .

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Back View

1. Viewfinder: The viewfinder can be used to compose
your pictures without using the LCD.

2. Status LED: When power is first turned on the LED will
flash. When the LED stabilizes to solid green the camera
is ready to take a picture (or accept user commands.)
When the camera is processing an image the LED will
also flash momentarily.

3. Power: Use this button to turn the camera on & off.

4. Zoom Out: This button is used to zoom out during
preview or playback. If pressed repeatedly in playback
mode, Zoom Out will switch between thumbnail
and full-screen views. There are five zoom steps.

7

5. Zoom In: This butt on is used to zoom in for a closer
view of live images, or displayed pictures.

6. Mode Dial: Rotate this dial to select camera
modes. Choices are: Record, Playback, Self-Timer,
Preset, or Setup.

7. Shutter Button: While taking pictures, use this button to
capture a digital image. While navigating the menus,
use this button to select a menu item.

8. USB Port: The USB (Universal Serial Bus) port is used
to connect the camera to a PC for transferring images,
and for use as a PC Video Camera.

9. Hand Strap Loop: Attach the hand strap to this loop for
ease of carrying.

10. Up: During playback, use to select the next image.

11. Down: During playback, use to select the previous
image.

12. Flash/Copy: During preview, use to set flash
mode. During playback, use to copy an image.

13. WB/Delete: Press this button to cycle through the
White Balance presets: Automatic, Daylight (sun),
Shade, Tungsten and Fluorescent.

14. Display: Press this button to cycle through the four
display options: LCD and backlight with status
information; LCD and backlight without status info; LCD
without backlight; and LCD off.

15. LCD Display: The LCD display can be used to preview a
scene, playback images, or configure the camera.

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Bottom View

1. Tripod Socket: Use this ¼”-20 socket to mount
your camera on a tripod. A tripod is especially
useful for low light and night pictures. It can also
be very helpful to hold the camera when taking
group pictures or when using the self-timer
mode.

2. Battery / Memory Card Cover: Open this cover
for access to the 2 AA batteries and the
memory card slot.

3. Memory Card Slot: Insert a SmartMedia™
memory card into the memory slot to increase
the storage capacity of your camera. Memory
cards are available at major retailers.

4. Battery Chamber: Insert two AA alkaline
batteries.

9

Inserting a Memory Card

Follow these steps to insert a memory card:

1. Make sure the camera is turned off.

2. Open the battery/memory card compartment by
pressing on the cover and sliding in the direction of
the arrow toward the outside edge of the camera.

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3. Insert the memory card with the notched corner
facing the outside edge of the camera and the
gold circuitry facing toward the back of the
camera as shown:

4. Close the battery / memory card cover.

Note: The V3555T uses “SmartMedia” memory
cards, also known as SSFDC (solid-state floppy disc
card). These memory cards can be used to expand
the memory capacity of the camera. SmartMedia
cards are available at photo, electronics, and
computer retailers.

11

Installing the Batteries

Follow these steps to install or replace the batteries:

1. Make sure the camera is turned off.

2. Open the battery compartment on the bottom
of the camera.

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3. Insert the batteries into the chamber making
sure that the positive and negative ends

are properly oriented with the polarity as
indicated on the inside of the compartment
(adjacent to the memory card slot).

4. Close the battery compartment cover.

13

Language Selection

The V3555T camera can display text and messages
in English, French, Spanish and German.

Follow these steps to select a different language:

1. Rotate the Mode Dial to the Setup mode .

2. Turn the camera on.

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3. Use the Down Key to select Language then
press the Shutter Button to enter this menu.

4. Use the Down Key and Up Key to select
which language you want to use. Press the
Shutter Button to select that language.

Setting the Time and Date

The V3555T will “date stamp” each digital image file
with time and date information. The benefit of having
the time and date set is that when you transfer the
images to a computer, the file properties will show
the correct time and date that the picture was taken.

To set the time and date:

1. Set the Mode Dial to Setup

.

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2. Turn the camera on.

3. Use the Down Key to select Date/Time, and
then press the Shutter Button to enter this menu.

4. Use the Down Key and Up Key to adjust
the hour, and then press the Shutter Button to
set the minutes. Once the time is set, press the
Shutter Button to set the year, then the month,
and finally the day.

5. When the settings are correct, press the Display
Key to save the date and time and return
to the Setup Menu.

Vivicam 3555T Digital Camera User’s Manual

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Chapter 2 - Taking Pictures

This chapter guides you through the steps involved in
taking pictures (capturing images) with the 3555T.

Preparing the Camera

Follow these steps to make sure the camera is ready to
take pictures:

1. Open the lens cover. Rotate the lens cover switch to
the Open position.

2. Press the Power button to turn the camera on. The
LED will flash momentarily. When the LED is solid
green the camera is ready for use.

Make sure you have installed 2 AA batteries. Note
also that using the LCD display consumes
considerable battery power. To prolong the life of your
batteries it is recommended to keep the LCD display
off when not in use. Use the optical viewfinder to
compose most shots.

If you want to store your photos on a memory card,
make sure it is inserted before you turn on the
camera. If you prefer to store images directly to the
camera's internal memory, either remove the memory
card, or select Internal from the Storage Media menu.

17

Selecting the Camera Mode

There are three modes that can be used to take pictures:

Record, Timer, and Preset. Record mode is used for

normal picture taking. The Timer mode allows you to take
a picture after a 10-second delay. Preset mode allows you
to take pictures in one of two preset color schemes:
Monochrome (Black & White), or Sepia.

Rotate the Mode Dial to the mode you wish to use. Most
often you will use the Record mode which is indicated on

the Mode Dial by the camera icon . To use the self­timer, rotate the Mode Dial to the timer icon . To take

pictures in either Monochrome or Sepia presets, rotate the
Mode Dial to PRE SET and select Sepia or Monochrome.

Framing your Shots

Prevent the camera from shaking (resulting in blurred
pictures) by holding the camera steadily with both hands.
You can use either the Viewfinder or the LCD display to
preview the picture. Turning off the LCD display and using
the Viewfinder will extend battery life. However, it may be
more convenient to use the LCD display in some situations.
Hold the camera with thumb and forefingers of both
hands on either side of the camera, with the forefinger of
your right hand on top of the Shutter Button.

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To avoid accidentally obscuring the picture, keep your
fingers and other objects away from the lens, flash,
and sensor on the front of the camera.

Zoom and Shoot

Zoom in on a particular object

You can use the digital Zoom In or Zoom Out
buttons to zoom in or out. When using zoom, use the LCD
display to preview the effects of the zoom function.

When you are satisfied with the preview, slowly press the
Shutter Button. (Quickly pressing the Shutter Button might
shake the camera and cause a blurry picture.)

Press the Shutter Button half way to initiate the camera's
image processing functions – auto exposure and white
balance. The camera will prepare to take the image
based upon the lighting conditions. The camera will also
determine whether or not the flash is required. Press the
shutter button the rest of the way to take the shot.

Turning the Camera Off

When you are finished taking pictures, make sure to close
the lens cover and shut the camera off. Closing the lens

cover will protect the lens from damage and shutting
the camera off will conserve battery power.

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Chapter 3 - Reviewing Your Pictures

One of the benefits of a digital camera is the ability to
immediately review the image (picture) you just took,
affording you the opportunity to re-take the picture if
you wish to make a change.

Switch to Playback Mode

To view the images that you have stored
in internal memory or on a SmartMedia™
Card, rotate the Mode Dial to Playback
Mode and turn the camera on.

If the LCD is not turned on, press the
Display button to turn it on. To conserve battery
power, you can turn the LCD display on but leave the
backlight off. You can cycle through these modes by
repeatedly pressing the Display button.

Full-Screen Review

In Playback mode, images are displayed on the LCD.
You can press the Up Key a and Down Key to

cycle through the pictures in the camera's memory.

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Normally, the entire image will be displayed. You can
zoom in to see more detail on a particular image by
using the zoom keys to. Press "Zoom In" to zoom in on an
image at zoom ratios of: x1.2, x1.4, x1.6, x1.8, x2.0. Press
the "Zoom Out" to decrease the zoom ratio from x2.0
down to x1 (normal/full screen ).

Thumbnail Review

If you press the Zoom Out key when the zoom ratio
is at x1 (normal/full screen size), you will enter the

Thumbnail Review mode.

In Thumbnail Review mode, four pictures will be shown
on the LCD at once. You can use the Up Key and
Down Key to scroll through your images. You may

find that Thumbnail Review mode is faster way to find a
particular image.

To return to full-screen review mode, select the image
you want to view and press either the Shutter Button or
the Zoom Out button. The selected image will then be
shown, expanded to fill the entire LCD.

21

Chapter 4 - Connecting to a Computer

The V3555T stores pictures as digital data rather than
using film. Consider your image files to be digital
negatives. (Actually they are “positives” – more like
slides than film negatives.) Copy your images from the
camera memory (or memory card) to your computer for
storage. Once transferred to your computer, your
images can be viewed, printed, sent to your friends and
family via e-mail, used for a web site, or even sent to an
online or store-based photofinisher. For safe, long-term
storage consider saving your images on removable
media such as floppy disk, Zip disk, CD-ROM, DVD or
other archival media.

After transferring pictures to your computer, images
stored on the memory card or on the camera's internal
memory can be deleted to make space for new images.

The V3555T interfaces to your computer in either of two
modes:

1) A mass storage device (a removable disk)

2) A PC (web) camera

This chapter explains how to connect your camera in
either of these two modes. As a mass storage device
you will be able to access and view your images
(photos), whereas the PC camera mode is for live video.

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Which mode do you use?

• If you are interested in retrieving your digital
images (pictures) from your camera you will
need to use the mass-storage mode.

• If you wish to use your digital camera as a video
camera where live (real-time) video is displayed
on your computer use the PC camera mode.

Mass Storage Device. MSD is a name given to a USB
product (like a digital camera) that works with your
computer as if it was a removable disk. In essence the
computer “sees” your camera as if it were a floppy disk
or a CD ROM. The concept is simple. Think of the
memory inside your camera as if it were a floppy disk (or
a Zip disk, or a CD ROM). Think of the camera as a
“reader’.

When you connect an MSD device to a computer it will
appear as a new “drive.” Go to My Computer and
observe the various drives. For example:

• 3-1/2” floppy drive (A:)

• Local disk (C:)

• CD ROM (D:)

• Removable disk (E:) This is the Camera Memory

PC Camera. The V3555T allows you to view live video
from your camera on your computer using optional
(third-party) video software.

23

Preparing your Computer – Initial Installation

Follow these instructions to install the camera drivers and
software on your system. Make sure to install the drivers

before connecting the camera to your computer.

Operating System MSD PC Camera

Windows 98, 98SE Driver is

required

Driver is required

Windows Me,
2000, XP

No Driver
required

Driver is required

Note that Windows Me, 2000, and XP users do not need
drivers to operate the camera in MSD mode, whereas
drivers are required for PC Camera operation.

Have your Windows CD-ROM ready beforehand, as
you may need it during the installation process.

Step 1: Driver Installation from CD ROM

1. Do not connect the camera to your PC yet! Insert the
V3555T CD into your CD-ROM drive. The installation
program should start automatically.

• If not, go to your PC’s desktop. Double click on My
Computer. Double click on your CD-ROM drive.
Double click the file named 'setup.exe'

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2. Follow the on-screen instructions. All the necessary
drivers and utility software will be installed
automatically.

Step 2: Complete the MSD/PC Camera Driver Installation

1. To complete the MSD setup - set the Mode Dial to
any position except Setup: . (Go to step 3)

2. To complete the PC Camera mode setup - set the
Mode Dial to Setup Mode: . (Go to step 3)

3. Connect the
small USB cable
connector to the
camera, as
shown:

4. Connect the
large USB cable
connector to a USB
slot on your
computer. To
locate USB slots on
your computer, look

for the USB icon .

5. The Windows “Add Hardware Wizard” will
automatically detect the camera and lead you
through the installation procedures for the mode you
select in step 1 or 2, either MSD or PC Camera.

25

6. You will need to repeat steps 3 through 5 for the other
mode (PC Camera or MSD).

Reboot your computer before using camera and
software for the first time. Remember that you will
need to connect your camera to the PC with the USB
cable each time to download your images.

Using the V3555T with your Computer

The V3555T has two modes when connected to your
computer:

• Mass Storage Device (MSD)

• PC Camera

MSD mode allows you to use the camera just like a
standard storage device, copying, deleting and moving
files to and from the camera just as you would any other
disk drive.

PC Camera mode allows you to use the camera as a PC
video camera, for video teleconferencing, video
capture, etc. You will need video software to take full
advantage of the PC camera mode.

Use the USB cable to connect your digital camera to
your PC for use as either a MSD or a PC Camera.

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Copying Images to your PC

When connected to your computer in MSD mode, the
camera will behave exactl y like a disk drive on your
computer. This makes copying images to your hard drive
as easy as copying files from a floppy disk to your hard
drive.

To use MSD mode, turn the Mode dial to any position
except “Setup” and connect the camera to your PC
using th e USB cable. (The Setup position is for use as a PC
Camera – as described in the PC Camera section
below.)

After connecting your camera to your computer,
double-click on “My Computer ” from your PC desktop.
The contents of your computer will be displayed,
including all your disk drives. If the camera is connected,
a new disk drive will appear, representing the camera's
memory.

Double click this new drive and subsequent folders to
find the images located in the camera. Select these
image files and drag and drop them onto your
computer’s hard disk.

Note: You may wish to create a new folder on your
desktop first. Name this new folder according to the
subject of your new images. Drag and drop your
images into the folder your have recently created.

27

Using the V3555T as a PC Camera

To use the V3555T as a PC Camera, turn the Mode Dial
to Setup: and then connect the camera to the
computer using the USB port.

When connected, the camera can
be used in conjunction with
commercially available video
capture software to create your own
home videos.

It can also be used with
communications software such as

Microsoft NetMeeting™ for real-time videoconferencing.

To use the digital camera as a PC Camera you
must set the Mode Dial to Setup: :

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Chapter 5 – Operational Modes

The V3555T camera has five operational modes.
Modes are selected by rotating the Mode Dial to
the desired position. This chapter describes each of

the operational modes. Depending upon the mode
the camera is in; the buttons on the camera have
different meaning and functionality.

RECORD Mode

The Record mode is used for basic picture taking.

The following buttons can be used in RECORD mode

• Display: Press this button to cycle through the
four display options: LCD and backlight with status
information; LCD and backlight without status info;
LCD without backlight; and LCD off.

• Flash/Copy: Selects the flash mode.
Pressing the flash button rotates through the
choice of flash settings: Automatic (A), Off, and
Red Eye Reduction.

• WB / Delete: Adjusts the White Balance
settings. Pressing the WB key rotates through the

29

settings: Automatic, daylight, shade, tungsten
(incandescent light), and fluorescent light.

• Zoom In: Used to zoom in (digitally) on your
scene. There are five zoom steps from 1.2 to 2.0

• Zoom Out: This key can be used to zoom out if
you zoomed -in, showing a wider field-of-view.

Timer Mode

Timer mode is used to take a picture after a ten
second delay. This is particularly useful for self­portraits and group photos. To use the Timer:

1. Position the camera on a tripod (optional product)
and frame your shot.

2. Set the Mode Dial to Timer. Press the Shutter Button.

3. The camera will take a picture after 10 seconds.

All other camera buttons behave as in the RECORD
mode.

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Preset Mode

The Preset Mode allows you to capture images
in two distinct stylistic settings: Monochrome
and Sepia. Select the Preset option for the type

of picture you want to take using the Up and Down

buttons, and then press the Shutter Bu tton to confirm

your choice.

Sepia: Sepia toning is used by
photographers to create a warmer
print tone. The shadows remain black

while the mid tones of the image are
adjusted towards brown and orange colors. This
produces a warm, old-fashioned look for creating artistic
style photographs.

Monochrome: For Black & white
digital photography. Your images
will include no colors except black,
white, and shades of gray. This is
another easy way to add style and
distinctiveness to your images.

31

Playback Mode

The Playback mode is used to view images
stored in the camera’s memory – either
onboard memory, or on a memory card.

To view your images, rotate the Mode Dial to the
Playback mode position. If the LCD display is off, press
the Display button to turn it on.

The following controls can be used in Playback mode:

• Up: View the previous image.

• Down: View the next image.

• Display: Press this button to cycle through the

four display options: LCD and backlight with status
information; LCD and backlight without status info;
LCD without backlight; and LCD off.

• Flash/Copy: Copies selected image from
onboard memory to a memory card or vice versa.

• WB/Delete: Deletes the selected image.

• Zoom In: Zooms in on an image for more detail.

• Zoom Out: Zooms out. If you keep zooming

out you will switch to “Thumbnail” view – displaying
four images on the LCD screen simultaneously.

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Setup Mode

Setup Mode is used to configure the camera. To
access the Setup menu, rotate the Mode Dial to
the Setup position and then turn on the camera.

The Setup menu will be displayed on the LCD:

Each of the setup menu items is
described in this chapter.

Delete / Format

To delete images from either the camera's internal
memory or from a Memory Card, select
Delete/Format from the Setup menu.

The Delete/Format menu contains two sub options –
format:

33

Delete All: This option quickly erases all images on the
internal memory or memory card. (Which device is
erased depends on which storage device is selected ­see the “Storage Media” section for more information.)

Format: This option will do a complete erase and
reformat of the storage device, similar to formatting a
hard drive. Although Format takes longer than Delete All,
be sure to format your storage device occasionally to
ensure you have access to all the available memory.

Select either Delete All or Format, and press the Shutter
button. You will be asked to confirm your decision.
Select Yes (using the arrow keys) and press the Shutter
button to confirm. Press No to cancel and return to the
Setup menu.

As onboard memory may become fragmented over
time, you should periodically Format your onboard
memory to ensure you have access to all available
memory.

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34

Resolution Setting

Adjust the image resolution by selecting Quality from the
Setup menu.

There are three resolution choices available:

1600 x 1200 Super (~16 pictures)
1152 x 864 Fine (~35 pictures)
640 x 480 Normal (~108 pictures)

(The approximate number of images that can be stored

in 8 MB is indicated in parenthesis)

The higher the resolution, the larger and sharper your
images will be, but at the same time the image file size
will be larger, and therefore you will be able to store
fewer pictures in memory.

The “native” resolution for the V3555T is 1152 x 864.
However, you may actually capture 2MP images (1600 x

1200) with the V3555T. This is done inside the camera
using a process called extrapolation.

35

DPOF

The Digital Printer
Order Format
(DPOF) feature
can be used to
print your images
directly to a DPOF printer.

Select the images you wish to print or select “All Images”
to print all images to the printer. Select “Reset Setting” to
deselect images and disable the current DPOF selection.

Date/Time

The V3555T will mark each image file with the date &
time. The benefit of
having the correct
date & time is that
when you transfer
images to a
computer, the file
properties will show
the correct date & time the image was taken. To set the
date and time, select DATE/TIME from the Setup menu:

Adjust the hour, minute, year, month and date using the
Up and Down buttons, and press the Shutter

button to confirm changes. Press the Display button
to set the changes and return to the Setup menu.

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Language

The V3555T can disp lay text in English, French, Spanish,
and German. To set the language for the LCD display,
select Language from the Setup menu:

Choose the language using the Up and Down
buttons, and confirm by pressing the Shutter button.

Storage Media

Use the Storage Media menu selection to choose
whether you want to store images in the onboard
memory or on a removable memory card.

Select the storage media using the Up and Down
buttons, and confirm by pressing the Shutter button.

37

Chapter 6 – Using the LCD Display

When the camera is in any mode (other than Setup
mode) current camera settings - such as zoom and
resolution - are indicated by icons on the LCD display.
This chapter describes these icons and their meanings.

Vivicam 3555T Digital Camera User’s Manual

38

Icon Descriptions

Icon Name Description

Auto Flash The camera senses whether the flash is needed

by detecting the amount of ambient light.

Flash Off Flash is turned off, regardless of the amount of

light available.

Red-Eye

Reduction

Use the Red-Eye Reduction function to reduce
the occurrence of "red-eye" (eyes appear red
in the pictures due to flash reflection in dark
pictures). This function causes the camera to
flash quickly before the picture is taken to
reduce red-eye.

RECORD

Mode

Indicates the camera is in RECORD mode (the
standard mode for taking pictures).

Timer

Mode

Indicates the camera is in Timer mode. Pressing
the Shutter button will initiate the 10-second
countdown timer before taking a picture.

Playback

Mode

Indicates the camera is in Playback mode. This
mode is used to view images stored on the
camera's internal memory or on a memory card.

Normal

Resolution

Indicates the camera's resolution is set to Normal
(640 x 480).

Fine

Resolution

Indicates the camera's resolution is set to Fine
(1152 x 864).

39

Super

Resolution

Indicates the camera's resolution is set to Super
(1600 x 1200). 2MP extrapolation.

Zoom

Indicates the level of zoom currently applied. Zoom
options are: x1.0, x1.2, x1.4, x1.6, x1.8, x2.0.

Battery

Indicator

Indicates the level of battery power remaining.

White

Balance

Indicates the current White Balance setting. The
default setting is Auto.

Auto WB

The camera automatically determines the White
Balance setting.

Daylight

Use this setting when taking images in bright
daylight, to reduce the effect of "whitewashed"
pictures.

Shade

Use this setting when taking images in shade, or
any time your pictures come out too dark.

Tungsten

Use this setting for taking images under tungsten or
incandescent light.

Fluores-

cent

Use this setting for taking images under fluorescent
light.

Vivicam 3555T Digital Camera User’s Manual

40

Appendix 1 – Button Function Guide

Mode

Shutter Up Key Down

Key

Display Strobe/

Copy

WB/

Delete

Zoom

Out

Zoom

In

RECORD

Single

Capture

NOP NOP LCD +

Light →

LCD

only

→

LCD Off

Flash

Auto

→

Off

→

Red eye

Auto→
Day →

Shade

→

Bulb→

FL

Zoom

Out

Zoom In

Timer

Single

Capture

NOP NOP LCD +

Light →

LCD

only

→

LCD Off

Flash

Auto

→

Off

→

Red eye

Auto→
Day →

Shade

→

Bulb→

FL

Zoom

Out

Zoom In

Preset

Single

Capture

Select

B/W or

Sepia

Preset

color

scheme

Select

B/W

or

Sepia
Preset
theme

LCD +

Light →

LCD

only

→

LCD Off

Flash

Auto

→

Off

→

Red eye

Auto→
Day →

Shade

→

Bulb→

FL

Zoom

Out

Zoom In

Playback

Select
image

Page Up Page

Down

LCD +

Light →

LCD

only

→

LCD Off

Copy

image

to/from

Internal

card

Delete Zoom

Out

Zoom In

Setup

Execute

Function

Select Select NOP NOP NOP Select Select

41

Appendix 2 – Troubleshooting

Problem Possible cause Solution

Camera is turned
off.

Press the power button to turn the camera
ON.

The batteries are
discharged.

Replace the batteries with fresh ones.
Refer to Chapter 1- Installing Batteries.

The camera has no
power.

Batteries inserted

incorrectly.

Check the battery orientation. Refer to
Chapter 1- Installing Batteries.

Ensure that the
green Camera
Ready LED
indicator is on,
not flashing.

If the light is flashing, wait until it emits a
steady light before taking a picture. The
camera may be waiting for the flash to
charge.

The camera won’t
take a picture.

Is the camera
connected to a
computer?

The camera’s buttons are not functional
when connected to a PC. Disconnect the
camera to take more pictures.

Is the flash on? Ensure that the flash is set to auto or

always on. Refer to Setting the Flash.

The flash doesn’t
work.

The batteries
may be weak.

If the batteries are too weak, the flash will
be unable to recharge. Turn the camera
off and wait a few seconds before turning
it back on. If this doesn’t work, you will
need to replace the batteries.

The images are
blurry.

Camera or
subject was
moving when the
shot was taken.

Hold the camera steady or put it on a
tripod to take pictures.

Vivicam 3555T Digital Camera User’s Manual

42

The personal
computer does not
recognize the camera

The camera was
connected to a
personal
computer by
USB before
installing
software.

Connect the camera to the computer with
the USB cable. Select [My computer] >

[Control panel] > [System] > [Device
manager]. From [other devices] in [device
manager], delete [Composite USB device]
or [unknown device]. Disconnect the
camera from the computer, install the
software, and then reconnect the camera.

In Windows ME and
Windows 2000, when
the USB cable is
unplugged from the
PC, an "Unsafe
Removal Device
Detected" error
message appears.

When removing

USB devices, it is

recommended
that users follow
the "Safe
Removal of USB
Device"
procedure.

Procedure:

A. Right-click the Unplug or eject

hardware icon at the bottom-right of
your computer screen.

B. Left-click the Unplug or eject hardware

text box to bring up the 'Unplug or
Eject Hardware' screen.

C. From the 'Unplug or Eject Hardware'

screen, select the device to be
disconnected and then click the Stop

button to bring up the 'Stop a Hardware

device' confirmation screen.

D. From the 'Stop a Hardware device'

confirmation screen select the device
to be stopped and click OK to bring up
the 'Safe To Remove Hardware'
confirmation.

E. You may now disconnect the Digital

Camera from your PC.

Service and Support

For Customer Service and technical support, visit Vivitar
on the worldwide web at www.vivitar.com