E 9222-2785-11 P-A211 INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Before you begin Thank you for purchasing this Minolta digital camera. Please take the time to read through this instruction manual so you can enjoy all the features of your new camera. Check the packing list before using this product. If any items are missing, immediately contact your camera dealer.
For proper and safe use Read and understand all warnings and cautions before using this product. WARNING Using batteries improperly can cause them to leak harmful solutions, overheat, or explode which may damage property or cause personal injury. Do not ignore the following warnings. • Only use the batteries specified in this instruction manual. • Do not install the batteries with the polarity (+/–) reversed. • Do not use batteries which show wear or damage.
• Use only the specified AC adapter within the voltage range indicated on the adapter unit. An inappropriate adapter or current may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock. • Do not disassemble this product. Electric shock may cause injury if a high voltage circuit inside the product is touched. • Immediately remove the batteries or unplug the AC adapter and discontinue use if the s dropped or subjected to an impact in which the interior, especially the flash unit, is exposed.
CAUTION • Do not use or store the product in a hot or humid environment such as the glove compartment or trunk of a car. It may damage the product and batteries which may result in burns or injuries caused by heat, fire, explosion, or leaking battery fluid. • If batteries are leaking, discontinue use of the product. • The lens retracts when the camera is turned off. Touching the lens barrel while it is retracting may cause injury. • The camera temperature rises with extended periods of use.
About this manual The basic operation of this camera is covered between pages 14 and 37. This section of the manual covers the camera parts, preparation of the camera for use, and the basic camera operation for recording, viewing, and deleting images. The basic and advanced auto-recording mode sections cover all the basic functions of the camera in this mode and in the multi-function recording mode. Take time to read these sections before moving on to the multi-function recording mode section.
Focus signals...........................................................................................................................27 Special focusing situations ......................................................................................................27 Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection ..........................................................................28 Digital-subject-program button.........................................................................................
White balance..........................................................................................................................62 Automatic white balance ..................................................................................................62 Preset white balance .......................................................................................................62 Custom white balance .....................................................................................................
Setup mode - controlling the camera’s operation.................................................................................95 Navigating the setup menu......................................................................................................96 LCD monitor brightness...........................................................................................................98 Formatting memory cards ...............................................................................................
Camera body * This camera is a sophisticated optical instrument. Care should be taken to keep these surfaces clean. Please read the care and storage instructions in the back of this manual (p. 122). Mode dial (main switch) Shutter-release button Data panel (p. 13) Self-timer/ Remote-control lamp (p. 42) Microphone Speaker Remote-control receiver Flash (p. 32) Lens* Viewfinder window* 10 NAMES OF PARTS The tripod socket is located on the bottom of the body.
Flash mode/Information button (p. 32, 34) Viewfinder* (p. 12) Exposure-compensation button (p. 51) Strap eyelet (p. 15) Controller Power/Access lamp (p. 22) LCD monitor* Display button (p. 31, 36) QV/ Delete button (p. 35) Menu button Digital-subject-program button (p. 29) Battery-chamber door (p. 14) Card-slot door (p. 18) The USB port, AV-out terminal, and DC terminal are located behind the terminal cover.
Viewfinder Focus lamp (green) Flash lamp (orange) Because the optical viewfinder and the lens are slightly separated, the image seen through one is not exactly the same as the other; this is called parallax. Parallax can cause errors in framing at close distances and is more pronounced at longer focal lengths. When the subject is closer than 1m (3ft) at the wide-angle lens position or 3m (9.
Data panel Located on the top of the camera body, the data panel shows the status of the camera. All icons have been shown for clarity. Frame counter (p. 49) Manual-focus indicator (p. 65) Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 67) Spot-metering indicator (p. 66) White-balance indicator (p. 62) Drive-mode indicators (p. 41) Battery-condition indicator (p. 16) Microphone indicator (p. 70, 77, 87) The frame counter cannot exceed 999. When the number of recordable images exceeds this, 999 will be displayed.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING Changing the CR-V3 battery This digital camera uses one CR-V3 lithium battery. When replacing the batteries, the mode dial should be in the off position.N.B. Whilst this battery is available in some digital camera stores we recommend that Ni-MH AA batteries be used. See next section. 2 Open the battery-chamber door by sliding the door toward the bottom of the camera (1) to release the safety catch; the door can then be opened (2). 1 Insert the battery.
Installing AA batteries When the supplied CR-V3 battery is exhausted please use two AA-size Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. We do not reccomend the use of Alkaline or Lithium AA batteries. Ni-MH batteries offer improved performance partiucally when charged with an ‘intellegent’ charger. Intellegent chargers recharge each battery with the amount power it requires.1800mAh or higher capacity batteries are reccomended.
Battery condition indicator This camera is equipped with an automatic battery-condition indicator. When the camera is on, the battery-condition indicator appears on the data panel and monitor. If the data panel and monitor are blank, the battery may be exhausted or installed incorrectly. Full-battery indicator - the battery is fully charged. This icon is displayed for five seconds on the monitor when the camera is turned on. The icon remains on the data panel. Low-battery indicator - battery power is low.
Connecting the AC adapter (sold separately) The AC Adapter AC-6 allows the camera to be powered from an electrical household outlet. The AC Adapter is recommended when the camera is interfaced with a computer or during periods of heavy use. Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies. 1 Lift the DC terminal cover from the bottom (1). The cover is attached to the body to prevent loss. Insert the mini plug of the AC adapter into the DC terminal (2).
Changing the memory card An SD Memory Card or MultiMediaCard must be inserted for the camera to operate. If a card has not been inserted, a no-card warning will automatically be displayed on the monitor and three dashes (– – –) will be displayed on the data-panel frame counter. Always turn off the camera and confirm the power/access lamp is not red before removing or inserting a memory card; damage and data loss may result.
If the card-not-recognized message appears, the inserted card in the camera may need to be formatted. A card used in another camera may have to be formatted before being used. If the unable-touse-card message appears, the card is not compatible with the camera and cannot be formatted. A card is formatted in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 96). The formatting operation permanently erases all the data on the card.
Setting the date and time After initially inserting a memory card and battery, the camera’s clock and calendar must be set. When images are recorded, the image data is saved with the date and time of recording. Depending on the region, the menu language may also have to be set. To change the language, see the camera notes on the following page. Turn the mode dial on the top of the camera to the setup position. The camera will turn on and the setup menu will be displayed. Navigating the menu is simple.
Use the right key to highlight the custom 2 tab at the top of the menu. Basic Custom1 Reset default Custom2 – Noise reduction Off Date/Time set Date format Video output Use the down key to highlight the date/time-set menu option. – YYYY/MM/DD NTSC Setup menu: custom 2 section Press the right key. “Enter” will appear on the right side of the menu. Press the central button to display the date/time setting screen. Use the left and right keys to select the item to be changed.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE – BASIC OPERATION This section covers the basic operation of this camera. Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the operations in this section before moving on to the other sections in the manual. The sophisticated technology employed in the auto-recording mode frees the photographer from complicated camera settings. Although automated, the camera’s operation can be changed to meet various conditions as well as to suit personal shooting preferences.
Setting the camera to record images automatically 1 Turn the mode dial to the auto-recording mode position (1); all camera operations are now fully automatic. The autofocus, exposure, and imaging systems will work together to bring beautiful results effortlessly. While many of the camera’s systems in this mode are automatic, the camera’s operation can be optimized to different subjects very simply with the digital subject program button (p. 29). The flash mode (p. 32) and drive mode (p.
Using the zoom lens This camera is equipped with a 7.8 to 23.4mm optical zoom. This is equivalent to a 38 to 114mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera. In 35mm photography, focal lengths below 50mm are referred to as wide-angle; the angle of view is larger than that of the human eye. Above 50mm is referred to as telephoto and makes distant objects appear closer. The effect of the optical zoom is visible in both the viewfinder and LCD monitor. 1 Focus range CCD plane Normal focusing range 0.5m - ∞ (1.
About camera operation The auto-recording mode uses advanced technology to make photography as effortless as possible. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection optimizes exposure, color, and image-processing settings for each subject. The sophisticated AF system locates and tracks the subject automatically. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection - The icons at the top of the LCD monitor display indicate the Digital Subject Program in use.
Basic recording operation With the mode dial set to auto recording, the camera will be on and the LCD monitor will activate. Auto recording mode uses two advanced AF systems, Area AF and Subject Tracking AF, to locate and track the subject in the the extra-wide focus frames. Place the subject anywhere within the focus frame. • Make sure the subject is within the focus range of the lens: 0.5m - ∞ (1.6ft - ∞). For subjects closer than 0.5m, use the macro function (p. 29).
Focus signals This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system. The focus icon in the lower right corner of the LCD monitor and the green focus lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status. The shutter can be released even if the camera cannot focus on the subject. Focus icon: white Focus lamp: steady Subject locked. The camera will continue to track the subject within the focus frames. Focus icon: red Focus lamp: blinking Cannot focus.
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection Automatic Digital Program Selection chooses between programmed AE and one of five subject programs: portrait, sports action, landscape, sunset, and night portrait. The digital subject programs optimize the camera‘s performance for various conditions and subjects. Exposure, white-balance, and image-processing systems work in unison for beautiful results. For information on individual subject programs, see page 30.
Digital-subject-program button Pressing the subject-program button (1) cycles through the modes. The active subject program will be indicated at the top of the live image. The subject program will remain in effect until it is changed or the mode dial is turned to another position. Except for macro and night portrait, digital subject programs cannot be used in the multi-function recording mode. For information on individual subject programs, see page 30.
MACRO - used for close-up photography between 20 and 60 cm (0.7 - 2.0ft) from the CCD. The lens will automatically zoom to the macro position and cannot be changed. Because of parallax, the LCD monitor should be used to compose the picture. Full-time AF (p. 65) is employed. Available in the multi-function recording mode. PORTRAIT - optimized to reproduce soft skin tones and a slight defocusing of the background.
Display button - recording mode The display button controls the LCD monitor display. The display cycles to the next position each time the button is pressed: full display, live image only, and monitor off. Battery power can be conserved by turning the monitor off and using the viewfinder to take pictures. When the menu or exposure-compensation button is pressed, or the macro mode is activated, the monitor will automatically turn on. Subject Tracking AF, Full-time AF (p.
Flash modes To set the flash mode, simply press the flash mode button (1) on the back of the camera until the appropriate mode is indicated. Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in lowlight and backlit conditions. 1 Red-eye reduction - multiple flashes are used before the main flash burst to reduce red-eye; an effect caused by light reflected from the retina. Use in low-light conditions when taking photographs of people or animals. The pre-flashes contract the pupils of the subject’s eyes.
Flash range - auto-recording mode The camera will automatically control the flash output. For well-exposed images, the subject must be within the flash range. Because of the optical system, the flash range is not the same at the lens’ wide-angle position as it is at the telephoto position. Wide-angle position 0.5m ~ 3.4m (1.6 ft. ~ 11.1 ft.) Telephoto position 0.5m ~ 2.0m (1.6 ft. ~ 6.6 ft.) Flash signals The orange flash lamp next to the viewfinder indicates the status of the flash.
PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION Images can be viewed in the Quick View or playback modes. This section covers the basic operations in both modes. The playback mode has additional functions, see page 80. To view images from the playback mode, turn the mode dial to the playback position. To view images from the auto-recording or multi-function recording modes, press the Quick View / delete button. Single-frame playback and histogram display Image size (p. 48) Image quality (p.
The histogram shows the luminance distribution of the image from black (left) to white (right). The 256 vertical lines indicates the relative proportion of that light value in the image. The histogram can be used to evaluate exposure, but displays no color information. To switch between the single-frame playback and histogram display, press the information button. Viewing and deleting images In Quick View or the playback mode, use the left/right keys of the controller to scroll through the images.
Display button - playback mode The display button controls the display format. Each time the button is pressed, the display cycles through to the next format: full display, image only, index playback. Full display Image only Index playback Display button In index playback, the four-way keys of the controller will move the yellow border.
Enlarged playback In single-frame playback in Quick View or the playback mode, a still image can be enlarged up to 6X in 0.2 increments for closer examination. With the image to be magnified displayed, press the up key of the controller to activate the enlarged playback mode. The degree of magnification is displayed on the LCD monitor. Pressing the up key increases the image magnification. Pressing the down key decreases the magnification.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION Navigating the auto-recording mode menu In auto-recording mode, the menu button (1) turns the menu on and off. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting. Use the up/down keys of the controller (2) to scroll through the menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed.
Basic Drive mode Single Timer / RC Continuous UHS cont. Bracketing 2560 X 1920 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 640 X 480 Super fine Fine Standard Economy On / Off On / Off Image size Quality Digital zoom Date imprinting select Except for the drive mode, settings made with the autorecording menu will remain in effect until changed or the camera is reset to its default settings (p. 102). Drive modes - to control the rate and method of image capture. Image size - to set the pixel resolution of the images.
Digital zoom The digital zoom is activated on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) and in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). The digital zoom extends the power of the telephoto position of the optical zoom by up to 4X in 0.1X increments. The transition between the optical zoom and digital zoom is seamless. When the digital zoom is active, the image magnification is displayed on the monitor and the focus frames change to a single focus area.
Drive modes The drive modes control the rate and method of image capture. Icons indicating the selected drive mode appear on the data panel and LCD monitor. Data panel All icons have been shown for clarity. The single-frame advance and continuous drive indicators occupy the same area of the data panel. All the drive-mode icons appear in the lower right corner of the monitor. LCD monitor Single-frame advance To take a single image each time the shutter-release button is pressed (p. 26).
Self-timer Used for self-portraits, the self-timer will delay the release of the shutter for approximately ten seconds after the shutter-release button is pressed. When the drive mode is set to self-timer, the focus mode is changed from Subject Tracking AF to single-shot AF allowing the use of focus lock (p. 53). The self-timer is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) or in the basic section of the multifunction recording mode menu (p. 56).
Remote control (sold separately) The IR Remote Control RC-3 allows remote camera operation up to 5m (16 ft.) away. The remote control unit can also be used in movie and audio recording (p. 79). The remote control may not operate with backlit subjects or under fluorescent light. Place the camera on a tripod, and set the drive mode to self-timer / remote control (p. 38, 56). Arrange the camera and subject to compose the picture.
Continuous advance The continuous-advance drive mode allows a series of images to be captured while holding down the shutter-release button. Continuous advance acts like a motor drive on a film camera. The number of images that can be captured at one time and the rate of capture depend on the image-quality and image-size setting. The maximum rate of capture is 1.2 fps with the shutter FX on (p. 101), or 1.5 fps with it off. Date imprinting lowers the frame rate.
UHS continuous advance UHS continuous-advance mode allows up to eleven 1280 X 960 images to be captured in one second. The UHS continuous-advance mode is set on the auto-recording mode menu and in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). This mode cannot be used with super-fine image quality, flash illumination, the digital zoom, or Digital Subject Programs. Shutter speeds slower than 1/30th of a second cannot be used. If the red low-battery warning (p.
Bracketing This mode makes a three-image bracket of a scene. Bracketing is a method of taking a series of images of a static subject in which each image has a slight variation in exposure. The bracketing mode is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) or in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). Brackets cannot be made with super-fine images (p. 48). The order of the bracket series is normal exposure, underexposure, and overexposure. The exposure bracket can be made in 0.
Compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 26). Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock onto the subject and set the exposure for the series. Press and hold the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to make the bracket series; three consecutive images will be captured. Focus is locked with the first frame.
Image size and image quality Changing image size affects the number of pixels in each image. The greater the image size, the larger the file size. Choose image size based on the final use of the image smaller images will be more suitable for web sites whereas larger sizes will produce higher quality prints. Data panel 2560 Number of pixels (hor. X vert.
If image size or quality are changed, the frame counter will display the approximate number of images that can be recorded at that setting on the installed memory card. One memory card can contain images with differing sizes and qualities. The number of images that can be stored on a memory card is determined by the size of the card and the file size of the images. The actual file size is determined by the scene; some subjects can be compressed further than others. Approximate file sizes.
Date imprinting The date of recording can be printed directly on the image. The imprinting function must be activated before the image is taken. Once activated, the date will continue to be imprinted until the function is reset; a yellow bar is displayed behind the frame counter on the monitor to indicate the imprinting function is active. Date imprinting is activated with auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) and with the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56).
Exposure compensation The camera exposure can be adjusted to make the final picture lighter or darker by as much as ±2Ev in 1/3 increments. For information on the use of exposure compensation, see page 74. In autorecording mode, exposure compensation is reset when the mode dial is moved to another position. In multi-function recording mode exposure compensation will remain in effect until it has been reset. Exposure compensation must be set before the image is captured.
Focus area selection 1 Individual focus areas can be selected. Press and hold the central button of the controller (1) until the Area-AF frame lines change to the spot-focus-area display. Press and hold the controller again to return to the Area-AF frame lines. Use the four-way key of the controller (2) to highlight the desired autofocus area; the active area is blue.
Focus lock The focus-lock function prevents the AF system from focusing. Focus lock can be used with off-center subjects or when a special focusing situation prevents the camera from focusing (p. 27). When using focus area selection, place the active focus area on the subject. Press and hold the shutter-release button partway down; the active focus area will turn red and the other areas will disappear. The focus signal should turn white to indicate the focus is locked.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING – ADVANCED OPERATION Except for digital subject programs, the basic operation of the camera in multi-function recording mode is identical to the auto-recording mode. Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the previous sections before moving on. The multi-function recording mode allows greater control over image making. This recording mode gives more control over autofocus and composition.
Multi-function recording mode display a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. Digital-subject-program indicator (p. 29) Microphone indicator Mode indicator Flash-mode indicator (p. 32) Flash-compensation display (p. 66) Sharpness, contrast, and colorsaturation compensation displays (p. 68) Exposure-compensation display (p. 51) White-balance indicator (p. 62) Exposure-mode indicator (p. 58) Shutter-speed display Metering-mode indicator (p. 66) l. Aperture display m. Camera-shake warning (p. 33) n.
Navigating the multi-function recording mode menu In the multi-function recording mode, the menu button (1) turns the menu on and off. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting. Activate the recording-mode menu with the menu button. The basic tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted.
Basic Exposure mode Drive mode Image size Quality White balance Custom 1 Program Aperture priority Shutter priority Manual Single Self-timer Continuous UHS cont. Bracketing 2560 X 1920 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 640 X 480 Super fine Fine Standard Economy Cust.set CustRecall Auto Preset Focus mode Full-time AF Flash compensation Metering mode CameraSensitivity AF-single Tracking AF MF On / Off ±2.
Exposure modes Programmed AE - P The program exposure mode controls both the shutter speed and aperture to ensure perfect exposures. The sophisticated exposure system allows the photographer the freedom to shoot without having to worry about the technical details of exposure settings. The shutter speed and aperture values of the exposure are displayed on the monitor. If shutter speed and aperture displays turn red, the scene is beyond the exposure control range of the camera.
Because the maximum aperture is not the same at the wide-angle and telephoto position, as the lens is zoomed, the aperture will automatically shift. If the aperture value is beyond the shutter-speed range, the shutter-speed display will turn red on the monitor. Shutter priority - S The photographer selects the shutter speed and the camera sets the appropriate aperture to ensure correct exposure.
Manual exposure - M Manual exposure mode allows individual selection of shutter speeds and apertures. This mode overrides the exposure system giving the photographer total control over the final exposure. The changes made to the exposure will be visible in the live image on the monitor. The monitor shutter-speed and aperture display will turn red if the image is underexposed or overexposed by more than 3 Ev.
Bulb exposures Bulb photographs can be taken in the manual-exposure mode. Exposures up to fifteen seconds can be made. A tripod is recommended for bulb exposures. The camera’s exposure system cannot be used to calculate bulb exposures. The use of a separate light meter is recommended. 3 2 1 Use the left key of the controller (1) to decrease the shutter-speed value below 15 seconds until “bulb” is displayed.
White balance White balance is the camera’s ability to make different types of lighting appear neutral. The effect is similar to selecting daylight or tungsten film, or using color compensating filters in conventional photography. An indicator will be displayed on the monitor if a setting other than auto white-balance is chosen. White balance is set in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56).
1 Use the left/right keys of the controller (1) to select the preset setting, an indicator is displayed in the bottom left corner of the screen and the live image shows the effect of the white-balance setting. Press the central button of the controller (2) to apply the setting. 2 select enter Custom White Balance Custom white-balance allows a photographer to calibrate the camera to a specific lighting condition. The setting can be used repeatedly until reset.
Focus modes This camera has autofocus and manual focus control. The focus mode is set in the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). Autofocus will produce excellent results in almost every situation, however, under certain conditions, the autofocus system will not work accurately; see special focusing situations on page 27. In these situations the camera can be manually focused. Single-shot AF Single-shot AF focuses on the subject and locks the focus position.
Manual focus After setting the camera to the manual focus mode (MF), “ZOOM” and “FOCUS” will appear at the top of the LCD monitor. Press the central button of the controller to switch between the two functions; the function highlighted in blue is active. With “FOCUS” highlighted, use the up/down keys of the controller to focus; the monitor image is automatically magnified so that image sharpness can be judged.
Flash compensation Flash compensation increases or decreases the flash exposure in reference to the ambient exposure by as much as 2 Ev. For information on the use of flash compensation, see page 74. Select the flash compensation option on the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu. Use the up/down keys to adjust the degree of compensation (1). Press the central controller button to set this value (2). If any value other than 0.
Camera sensitivity - ISO Five camera sensitivity settings can be selected: Auto, 64, 100, 200, and 400; the numerical values are based on an ISO equivalent. ISO is the standard used to indicate film sensitivity: the higher the number, the more sensitive the film. Camera sensitivity is set in the custom 1 section of the multifunction recording mode menu (p. 56). The auto setting automatically adjusts the camera sensitivity to the light conditions between ISO 64 and 200.
Digital Effects Control Changes in color, sharpness, contrast, and saturation can be made using the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). These imaging controls give photographers the ability to maximize the image information at the scene. For example, if a scene is too contrasty, information can be lost in the shadows and highlights; decreasing the contrast will bring out more detail. Any changes made with these functions are applied to the live image on the monitor.
To change color, sharpness, contrast, or saturation, select the setting from the Digital Effects Control option in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu; the setting screen will open. 1 2 select Use the left/right keys of the controller (1) to select the color mode, or level of sharpness, contrast, or saturation; an indicator is displayed on the screen and the live image shows the effect of each setting. Press the central button of the controller (2) to apply the setting.
Voice memo Voice memo allows a fifteen second audio track to be recorded with a still image. The function is activated in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56). When the function is active, the microphone indicator is displayed on the data panel and LCD monitor. Voice memo must be set before taking a picture. It will remain in effect until reset. After an image is captured, a screen will appear indicating the audio recording has started.
Instant playback An image can be displayed on the monitor after it is captured. When used with the continuousadvance or bracketing drive modes (p. 41), thumbnails of the last six images in the series will be displayed. Only the last frame in a series is displayed with UHS continuous advance or when using date imprinting. Instant playback is activated in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56). A playback period of two or ten seconds can be selected.
A SHORT GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPHY Photography can be a rewarding pursuit. It is a broad and disciplined field that can take years to master. But the pleasure in making photographs and the joy of capturing a magical moment cannot be compared. This guide is an introduction to some basic photographic principles. The lens aperture controls not only exposure, but also depth of field; the area between the closest and the furthest object in focus.
The shutter controls not only exposure, but also the ability to stop motion. Fast shutter speeds are used in sport photography to stop action. Slow shutter speeds can be used to show the flow of motion such as water cascading over a waterfall. The use of a tripod is recommended with slow shutter speeds. The change in aperture and shutter speed is not apparent in the live image. Unlike film cameras, test photographs can be taken and immediately viewed.
Using exposure and flash compensation Sometimes the camera’s exposure meter is deceived by certain conditions. Exposure compensation can compensate for these situations. For example, a very bright scene, such as a snowy landscape or a white sandy beach, can appear too dark in the captured image. Before taking the picture, adjusting the exposure by +1 or +2 EV will result in an image with normal tonal values. In this example, the dark scene appears bright and washed-out on the LCD monitor.
What is an Ev? What is a stop? Ev stands for exposure value. The term stop comes from the name of aperture plates used in early lenses. A change of one Ev or one stop will adjust the exposure calculated by the camera by a factor of two. Change in Ev Change in stops +2.0 Ev +1.0 Ev 0.0 Ev –1.0 Ev –2.
MOVIE AND AUDIO RECORDING Recording movies This camera can record digital video with sound. Total recording time varies with the image size. See the navigating the movie menu section on page 78. In movie recording, some functions can be used, some are fixed, and some are disabled. See the notes section on page 79. Image size Before recording, the data-panel and monitor frame counters will show the maximum time in seconds that can be recorded on the next movie clip.
Recording audio Audio can be recorded without an image. About 30 minutes of audio can be stored on a 16MB memory card. Audio is recorded at approximately 8KB/s. A maximum of 180 minutes can be recorded at one time; the optional AC adapter is required for long recordings. 1 Microphone 2 Press shutter button to record. Turn the mode dial to the audio-recording position (1); a blue screen is displayed. In stand-by, the monitor and data panel show the approximate recording time available.
Navigating the movie menu Basic Image size 320 X 240 WhiteBalance Auto Movie mode Standard With the mode dial set to the movie recording position, press the menu button to active the menu. Use the up/down keys to highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed. Press the right controller key to display the settings; the current setting is indicated by an arrow. To return to the menu options, press the left key. Use the up/down keys to highlight the new setting.
Notes on movie recording In movie recording, some functions can be used, some are fixed, and some are disabled, see chart. Image size, white balance, and movie mode can be selected with the movie menu. When the red low-battery indicator appears (p. 16), power is insufficient for movie recording. The writing speed of the memory card in use may prevent an entire movie clip from being recorded.
PLAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION The basic functions in this mode are described in the basic playback section on pages 34 through 37. This section covers how to playback movie clips and audio tracks as well as the advanced function on the playback menu. Camera Notes When turning the camera on, the lens can be prevented from extending. Press and hold the down the central key of the rear controller when turning the mode dial from off to the playback position.
Playing back movies and audio recordings Movie clips and audio recordings are played back the same way. Use the left/right keys of the controller to display the movie or audio file; audio files are displayed with a blue screen. These files cannot be played back in Quick View. Press the center of the controller to play back a movie or audio file.
Navigating the playback-mode menu In playback mode, the menu button turns the menu on and off. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting. Activate the playback menu with the menu button. The basic tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the controller to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menu will change as the tabs are highlighted.
Basic Delete Lock Audio caption This frame All frames Marked frames This frame All frames Marked frames Unlock frames Enter Yes No Choosing “Yes” will execute the operation, “No” will cancel it. Recording audio Custom 1 Slide show Playback Duration Repeat Enter All frames Marked frames 1 - 60 sec.
Frame-selection screen When a marked-frames setting is chosen on a menu, the frame selection screen will appear. This screen allows multiple images to be chosen. The left/right keys of the controller move the yellow border to select the image. The up key of the controller selects the frame; when selected, an icon will appear next to the image. The down key will deselect the image removing the icon. The menu button cancels the screen and any operation made. : move : sel.
Deleting files Deleting permanently erases the file. Once deleted, a file cannot be recovered. Care should be taken when deleting images. Single, multiple, or all files on the memory card can be deleted in the basic section of the playbackmode menu (p. 82). Before a file is deleted, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Yes” will execute the operation, “No” will cancel the operation.
Locking files Single, multiple, or all files can be locked. A locked file cannot be deleted by either the playbackmode menu functions or the QV/delete button. Important images and audio recordings should be locked. The lock function is in the basic section of the playback menu (p. 82). The lock option has four settings: This frame All frames The file displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be locked. All files on the memory card will be locked. Marked frames To lock or unlock multiple files.
Audio captioning A still image can have a fifteen-second audio caption attached to it. This function will also replace a voice-memo audio track recorded with an image. Audio captions cannot be attached to movie clips, nor can they overwrite audio recordings. Display the image to which the audio caption will be attached. If the image is locked, unlock it using the basic section of the playback menu (p. 82).
Slide Show The custom 1 section of the playback-mode menu controls the slide-show function. This function automatically displays all still images on the memory card in order. Press the central button of the controller to pause and restart the slide show presentation. To cancel the presentation, press the down key. Camera Notes The presentation can be viewed without image information. Before opening the playback menu, press the display button to turn off the information display.
Menu options Settings Enter To start the slide-show presentation. Pressing the central button of the controller will pause the presentation. During the slide show, press the down key of the controller to stop the presentation and return to the playback-mode menu. All frames To select all the images on the memory card to be displayed in the slide-show presentation. Marked Frames To select specific images to be displayed in the slide-show presentation.
About DPOF This camera is supported by DPOF™ version 1.1. The DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) allows direct printing of still images from digital cameras. After the DPOF file is created, the memory card is simply taken to a photofinishing service or inserted into the memory-card slot of DPOF compatible printers. When a DPOF file is created, a misc. folder is automatically created on the memory card to store it (p. 112).
When the this-frame or all-frames setting is chosen, a screen will appear requesting the number of copies of each image; a maximum of nine copies can be ordered. Use the up/down keys of the controller to set the required number of copies. If the all-frames setting was used to create a print order, any additional images recorded afterwards will not be included in the order. DPOF files created with another camera will be canceled.
Copy and E-mail Copy The copy function makes exact copies of image, audio, or movie files and can store the copied data on another memory card. E-mail Copy makes a standard 640 X 480 (VGA) JPEG copy of an original still image so that it may be easily transmitted by e-mail. If an economy image is selected for E-mail Copy, the image quality will not change. E-mail copies can only be copied to the original card. The copy functions are selected in the custom 2 section of the playback-mode menu (p. 82).
Copy 1 Copying to camera memory. Copy When the image(s) to be copied are selected, a screen with four messages is displayed. The messages are highlighted during the copying procedure. 2 Change card. 3 Copying to memory card. 4 Copying completed. Enter When the change-card message is highlighted, remove the camera’s memory card and insert the card to which the image should be copied. Press the central button of the controller to continue or the menu button to cancel the copy operation.
Viewing images on a television It is possible to view camera images on your television. The camera has a video-out terminal to make the connection using the supplied AV cable. The camera is compatible with the NTSC and PAL standards. The video-output setting can be checked and set in the custom 2 section of the setup menu (p. 82). 1. Turn off the television and the camera. 2. Insert the mini-plug end of the AV cable into the camera’s AVout terminal. 3.
SETUP MODE CONTROLLING THE CAMERA’S OPERATION The setup mode is used to control the camera’s functions and operation. The navigating the setup menu section covers the operation of the menu. The section is followed by detailed descriptions of the settings. Camera Notes When turning the camera on, the lens can be prevented from extending. Press and hold the down the central key of the rear controller when turning the mode dial from off to the setup position.
Navigating the setup menu To access the menu, simply turn the mode dial to the setup position. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting. The basic tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the controller to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menu will change as the tabs are highlighted.
Basic LCD brightness Format Power save Language Enter Enter 1, 3, 5, 10 min. Japanese English Deutsch Français Español Yes No Choosing “Yes” on the confirmation screens will execute the operation, “No” will cancel it. Use the left/right keys to adjust the monitor brightness. Press the central button to set the level.
LCD monitor brightness The brightness of the LCD monitor can be set in eleven levels. The brightness setting screen is opened from the basic section of the setup menu (p. 96). Use the left/right keys of the controller (1) to adjust the brightness. The monitor image will change accordingly. Press the central button of the controller (2) to set the brightness level. Low High 1 2 Enter Formatting memory cards When a memory card is formatted, all data on the card is erased.
Auto power save To conserve battery power, the camera will shut down if no operation is made within a certain period. The length of the auto-power-save period can be changed to 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes. When the camera is connected to a computer, the auto-power-save period is fixed at ten minutes. Language The language used in the menus can be changed. The language is selected in the basic section of the setup menu.
Folder name All recorded images are stored in folders on the memory card. Folder names come in two formats, standard and date. Standard folders have an eight character name. The initial folder is named 100MLT17. The first three digits are the folder’s serial number, which will increase by one each time a new folder is created. The next three letters refer to Minolta, and the last two numbers indicate the camera used; 17 indicates a DiMAGE F300.
Shutter FX When the shutter is released, a shutter sound effect will give a positive confirmation of the operation. The sound effect can be turned off in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 96). Three shutter effects are available; signal 1 is mechanical, signal 2 is electrical, and custom for a personalized effect. The mechanical shutter sound was taken from the legendary Minolta CLE, a compact rangefinder that represents the pinnacle of the development of the Leitz-Minolta CL.
Test? Yes Stop No To test the recording select and enter “Yes.” During playback, the up/down controller keys control volume and the menu button cancels the playback. Select and enter “No” to continue. Vol. Playback display Save? Yes No To save the shutter sound effect and replace any previous recording, select and enter “Yes.” “No” will cancel the operation. Once saved the sound effect can be recalled anytime by selecting the custom setting from the sound FX option on the setup menu.
Image size (still) 2560 X 1920 p. 48 Image size (movie) 320 X 240 p. 78 Metering mode Multi-segment p. 66 Exposure compensation 0.0 p. 51 Flash compensation 0.0 p. 66 Movie mode Standard p. 78 Camera sensitivity (ISO) Auto p. 67 White balance Auto (custom setting deleted) p. 62 Voice memo Off p. 70 Date imprinting Off p. 50 Instant playback Off p. 71 Color mode Natural Color p. 68 Sharpness Normal p. 68 Contrast Normal p. 68 Color-saturation Normal p.
Noise reduction This function reduces the affect of dark noise caused by long exposures. Noise reduction is only applied to exposures of one second or longer. Processing is applied to each image after it is captured. The processing time varies from image to image; a message will be displayed during this period. Setting the date and time It is important to accurately set the clock.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE Read this section carefully before connecting the camera to a computer. Instructions on using and installing the DiMAGE Viewer software are found in the supplied software manual. The DiMAGE manuals do not cover the basic operation of computers or their operating systems; please refer to the manual supplied with your computer.
Connecting the camera to a computer Confirm the battery has sufficient power before connecting the camera to a computer, the full-battery indicator should be displayed on the monitor and data panel. The use of the AC adapter (sold separately) is recommended over the use of the battery. For users with Windows 98, 98SE, or Mac OS 8.6, read the respective sections on how to install the necessary USB driver before connecting the camera to a computer (Windows 98 - p. 108, OS 8.6 - p. 111).
When the camera is properly connected to the computer, a drive icon, or volume, will appear. When using Windows XP or Mac OS X, a window will open requesting instructions on what to do with the image data; follow the directions in the window. If the computer does not recognize the camera, disconnect the camera and restart the computer. Repeat the connection procedure above. Windows XP Mac OS X Windows Earlier Mac OS Mac OS X The volume name varies between memory cards.
Connecting to Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition The driver needs only to be installed once. If the driver cannot be installed automatically, it can be installed manually with the operating system’s add-new-hardware wizard; see the instructions on the following page. During installation, if the operating system requests the Windows 98 CD-ROM, insert it into the CD-ROM drive and follow the accompanying instructions on the screen.
Manual Installation To install the Windows 98 driver manually, follow the instructions in the connecting-the-camera-to-acomputer section on page 106. When the camera is plugged into the computer, the operating system will detect the new device and the add-new-hardware-wizard window will open. Place the DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive. Click “Next.” Choose the recommended search for a suitable driver. Click “Next.” Choose to specify the location of the driver.
The add new hardware wizard will confirm the location of the driver. Click “Next” to install the driver in the system. • One of three drivers may be located: MNLVENUM.inf, USBPDR.inf, or USBSTRG.inf. • The letter designating the CD-ROM drive will vary between computers. The last window will confirm the driver has been installed. Click “Finish” to close the add new hardware wizard. Restart the computer. When the my-computer window is opened, a new removable-disk icon will be displayed.
Connecting to Mac OS 8.6 To access this camera with a computer with Mac OS 8.6, the USB storage support must be installed first. This software is supplied by Apple Computer, Inc. free of charge. The latest version can be downloaded from the Apple Software Updates web site at http://www.apple.com/support. To download and install this software, follow the instruction on the Apple web site. Always read the attached terms and conditions before installing any new software.
Memory card folder organisation Once the camera is connected to the computer, image and audio files can be accessed by double clicking on icons. Image folders are located in the DCIM folder. To copying images and audio recordings, simply drag and drop the file icon into a location in the computer. Files and folders on the memory card can be deleted using the computer. Never format the memory card from the computer; always use the camera to format the card.
Image and audio file names begin with “PICT” followed by a four-digit file number and a tif, jpg, mov, or thm extension. Voice-memo and audio caption files have a wav extension and the file name corresponds to their image file. Audio recordings also use the wav extension. The thumbnail images (thm) are produced with super-fine images and are only used in camera and DiMAGE Viewer operation. Copy images (p. 92) are placed in a folder with a name ending in “CP.
Disconnecting the camera from the computer Never disconnect the camera when the access lamp is red - the data or memory card may be permanently damaged. Windows 98 / 98 Second Edition Confirm that the access lamp is not lit. Turn the mode dial to another position and then disconnect the USB cable. Windows Me, 2000 Professional, and XP To disconnect the camera, click once on the unplug-or-eject-hardware icon located on the task bar. A small window will open indicating the device to be stopped.
The hardware devices to be stopped will be displayed. Highlight the device by clicking on it then click “Stop.” A confirmation screen will appear to indicate the devices to be stopped. Clicking “OK” will stop the device. A third and final screen will appear to indicate the camera can be safely disconnected from the computer. Close the window, turn the camera off, and then disconnect the USB cable.
Changing the memory card (Data-transfer mode) Care should be taken when changing memory cards while the camera is attached to the computer. Data could be lost or damaged if the camera is not properly disconnected. Never remove the card when the access lamp is red - the data or memory card may permanently be damaged. Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition 1. Turn off the camera. 2. Change the memory card. 3. Turn on the camera to remake the USB connection. Windows ME, 2000 Professional, and XP 1.
APPENDIX Troubleshooting The section covers minor problems with basic camera operation. For major problems or damage, or if a problem continues to reoccur frequently, contact a Minolta service facility. Problem The camera will not work. Symptom Cause Solution The battery is dead. Replace battery (p. 14). AA Ni-MH batteries are inserted incorrectly. Reinsert the batteries taking care that the negative and positive terminals are orientated as indicated on the inside of the battery chamber door (p.
Problem Symptom Focus signal is red. Pictures are not sharp. Pictures are taken indoors or in low-light situations without flash. Cause Solution Subject is too close. Make sure the subject is within the autofocus range (p. 24) or use the macro mode (p. 29). The camera is in macro mode. Cancel the macro mode setting (p. 29). A special situation is preventing the autofocus system from focusing (p. 27). Use the focus-lock function to focus on an object at the same distance as the subject (p.
Problem Symptom Shooting data is displayed, but live image is entirely black or white. Camera set to manualexposure mode (M). Cause Shutter speed and aperture combination is extremely under or overexposing the live image. Solution Change the shutter speed or aperture value until an image appears on the monitor (p. 60). The camera temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns when handling the camera, batteries, or memory card.
Uninstalling the driver software - Windows 1. Insert a memory card in the camera and connect it to the computer with the USB cable. Other devices must not be connected to the computer during this procedure. 2. Right click on the My-computer icon. Select “properties” from the drop-down menu. Windows XP: from the start menu go to the control panel. Click on the performance and maintenance category. Click “System” to open the system properties window. 3.
Using USB DIRECT-PRINT USB DIRECT-PRINT allows still images to be printed directly from a compatible Epson printer using a DPOF file (p. 90). Images to be printed are selected with the print option in the custom 2 section of the playback menu. An index print can also be selected on the menu. Super fine images cannot be printed with USB DIRECT-PRINT. Before each print run, check the printer settings; refer to the printer manual.
Care and storage Read this section in its entirety to get the best results from your camera. With proper care, your camera will provide years of service. Camera care • Do not subject the camera to shock or impact. • Turn off the camera when transporting. • This camera is neither waterproof nor splashproof. Inserting or removing batteries or the memory card, or operating the camera with wet hands may damage the camera. • When at the beach or near water, take care not to expose the camera to water or sand.
Operating temperatures and conditions • This camera has been designed for use in temperatures from 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F). • Never leave the camera exposed to extreme high temperatures, such as in a car parked in the sun, or to extreme humidity. • When taking the camera from a cold to a warm environment, place it in a sealed plastic bag to prevent condensation from forming. Allow the camera to come to room temperature before removing it from the bag.
Batteries • Battery performance decreases with temperature. In cold environments, we recommend keeping spare batteries in a warm place, such as the inside of a coat. Batteries can recover their power when they warm up. • If batteries have been exhausted when used in the camera, do not reload them even if their charge seems to recover over time. These batteries will interfere with normal camera operation. • A special built-in long-life battery supplies power to the clock and memory when the camera is off.
Before important events and journeys • Check the camera’s operation; take test pictures and purchase spare batteries. • Minolta has no responsibility for any damage or loss incurred by equipment malfunction. Questions and service • If you have questions about your camera, contact your local camera dealer or write to the Minolta distributor in your area. • Before shipping your camera for repair, please contact a Minolta Service Facility.
Technical specifications CCD: Number of effective pixels: Total number of pixels: Camera sensitivity (ISO): Aspect ratio: Lens construction: Maximum aperture: Focal length: Focusing range (from the CCD): Autofocusing system: Shutter: Shutter speeds: Built-in flash recycling time: Viewfinder: Monitor LCD: Monitor field of view: A/D conversion: Recording media: File formats: Printing output control: Menu languages: AV output: 126 APPENDIX 1/1.8-type interline primary-color CCD 5.0 million 5.
Batteries: One CR-3V lithium battery or two AA Ni-MH batteries. Battery performance (recording): Approximately 260 frames: based on Minolta’s standard test method: CR-3V lithium battery, LCD monitor on, full-size images (2560 X 1920), standard image quality, no instant playback, no voice memo, no full-time AF, no subject tracking AF, flash used with 50% of the frames.
© 2002 Minolta Co., Ltd. under the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention.
