E 9222-2799-11 PR-A212/ME0302 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.
• Store this product out of reach of children. Be careful when around children not to harm them with the product or parts. • Do not fire the flash directly into the eyes. It may damage eyesight. • Do not fire the flash at vehicle operators. It may cause a distraction or temporary blindness which may lead to an accident. • Do not use the monitor while operating a vehicle or walking. It may result in injury or an accident. • Do not look directly at the sun or strong light sources through the viewfinder.
• The camera temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns. • Burns may result if the memory card or batteries are removed immediately after extended periods of use. Turn the camera off and wait for it to cool. • Do not fire the flash while it is in contact with people or objects. The flash unit discharges a large amount of energy which may cause burns. • Do not apply pressure to the LCD monitor.
TABLE OF CONTENTS The basic operation of this camera is covered between pages 15 and 42. 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.
Basic recording operation........................................................................................................25 Focus lock................................................................................................................................26 Focus range.............................................................................................................................26 Focus signals.......................................................................................
A short guide to photography ...............................................................................................................66 Movie recording....................................................................................................................................68 Notes on movie recording .......................................................................................................69 Recording movies with the IR Remote Control RC-3 (sold separately) .....................
Data-transfer mode...............................................................................................................................92 System requirements...............................................................................................................92 Connecting the camera to a computer ....................................................................................93 Connecting to Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition .............................................................
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. 107). Mode dial (main switch) Shutter-release button Digital-subject-program button (p. 28) Data panel (p. 13) Viewfinder window* Microphone Speaker Flash (p. 30) Strap eyelet (p. 15) Remote-control receiver Self-timer/ Remote-control lamp (p. 33) Lens* Battery-chamber door (p. 16) Battery-chamber lock (p.
Flash mode/Magnification button (p. 30, 41) Drive-mode button (p. 32) Exposure-compensation button (p. 50) Viewfinder* (p. 12) LCD monitor* (p. 14) Controller Menu button QV/ Delete button (p. 38) Display button (p. 37, 40) Access lamp Card-slot door release DC terminal cover (p. 18) Card-slot door (p. 18) The USB port and AV-out terminal are located behind the card-slot door.
VIEWFINDER Focus lamp (green) Flash lamp (orange) Focus frame 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.
DATA PANEL Digital-subject-program indicators (p. 28) White-balance indicator (p. 60) Manual-focus indicator (p. 59) Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 62) Spot-metering indicator (p. 63) Flash-mode indicators (p. 30) Image-size display (p. 44) Image-quality display (p. 44) Drive-mode indicators (p. 32) Microphone indicator (p. 46) Battery-condition indicator (p. 17) Exposure-compensation indicator (p. 50) Exposure-mode indicators (p. 56) Digital-subject-program icons (p.
LCD MONITOR DISPLAY a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n. Voice memo indicator (p. 46) Mode indicator (p. 12) Flash-mode indicator (p. 30) Sharpness display (p. 65) Contrast-compensation display (p. 65) Filter display (p. 65) Exposure-compensation display (p. 50) White-balance indicator (p. 60) o. p. q. r. s. t. u. v. w. Exposure-mode (p. 56)/ Digital-subject-program indicators (p. 28) x. Shutter-speed display Metering-mode indicator (p. 63) Aperture display 1. Camera-shake warning (p. 31) 2.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING ATTACHING THE NECK STRAP AND LENS CAP Attach the small strap to the lens cap by passing one of the small loops through the eyelet on the cap (1) and then passing the other loop through the first loop (2) and tightening. 2 1 Attach the camera strap to the strap eyelets as shown. Make sure the neck strap passes through the loop of the lens-cap strap. Always keep the camera strap around your neck in the event that you drop the camera.
CHANGING BATTERIES This digital camera uses four AA-size alkaline or Ni-MH batteries. Ni-MH batteries are recommended because of longer life. When using Ni-MH batteries, fully recharge them with a battery charger suitable for complex electronic equipment. Please consult your vendor about an appropriate charger. When replacing batteries, the mode dial should be in the off position. If the camera is not turned off when replacing exhausted batteries, the low-battery warning may not reset.
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. The monitor icon will change from white to red when battery power is low. If the data panel and monitor are blank, the batteries may be dead or installed incorrectly. Full-battery Icon - the batteries are fully charged. This icon is displayed for five seconds on the monitor when the camera is turned on.
EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLIES (SOLD SEPARATELY) The AC Adapter 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. AC Adapter model AC-1L is for use in North America, Japan, and Taiwan; AC-2L is for use in all other areas. The External High-power Battery Pack Kit EBP-100 is a portable source of power for the camera. The kit contains a high-power lithium-ion battery, holder, and charger.
Always turn off the camera and confirm the access lamp is not lit before inserting or removing a CompactFlash card, otherwise the card may be damaged, and data lost. 1 2 3 4 Slide the card-slot door release down to open the card-slot door (1). To eject a CompactFlash card, press the card-eject lever (2). The card can now be pulled out. Take care when removing the card as it becomes hot with use. Insert the memory card into the card slot until the card-eject lever pops out (3).
SETTING THE DATE AND TIME After initially inserting a memory card and batteries, 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. Setup Basic Custom1 Custom2 Reset default – Date/Time set – Date format MM/DD/YYYY Video output NTSC Use the down key to highlight the date/time-set menu option. Press the right key. “Enter” will appear on the right side of the menu. Custom 2 section of the setup menu Press the center of the controller 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 to be able to simply concentrate on the subject and composition.
SETTING THE CAMERA TO RECORD IMAGES AUTOMATICALLY Turn the mode dial to automatic recording (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. 28). The flash mode (p. 30) and drive mode (p. 32) can also be changed.
HANDLING THE CAMERA While using the viewfinder or LCD monitor, grip the camera firmly with your right hand while supporting the body with your left hand. Keep your elbows at your side and your feet shoulder-width apart to hold the camera steadily. When taking vertical pictures, hold the camera so that the flash is above the lens with the grip to the bottom. Take care not to cover the lens with your fingers or the strap. USING THE ZOOM LENS This camera is equipped with a 7.15 to 28.6mm optical zoom.
BASIC RECORDING OPERATION With the mode dial set to auto recording, the camera will be on and the LCD monitor will activate. Place the subject within the focus frame. • The focus-lock function (p. 26) can be used with off-center subjects. • The subject must be within the focus range of the lens: 0.5m - ∞ (wide-angle position), 0.9m - ∞ (telephoto position). For subjects closer than 0.6m, use the macro function (p. 28).
FOCUS LOCK The focus-lock function is used when the subject is off-center and outside the focus frame. Focus lock may also be used when a special focusing situation prevents the camera from focusing on the subject. This function is controlled with the shutter-release button. Place the subject within the focus frame. Press and hold the shutter-release button partway down. • The focus signals will indicate that the focus is locked.
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. Focus icon: white Focus lamp: steady Focus locked. Focus icon: red Focus lamp: blinking Cannot focus. The subject is too close or a special situation is preventing the AF system from focusing. • The shutter can be released even if the camera cannot focus on the subject.
DIGITAL-SUBJECT-PROGRAM BUTTON 1 CCD plane The digital-subject-program button (1) optimizes the camera’s exposure, white-balance, and image-processing systems for various conditions and subjects. Pressing the subject-program button cycles through the modes: macro, portrait, landscape, night portrait, text, macro & text, and the original exposure mode. A pointer will indicate the active subject program.
PORTRAIT - optimized to reproduce soft skin tones and a slight defocusing of the background. The flash mode can be changed (p. 30). Most portraits look best at a telephoto setting; longer focal lengths do not exaggerate facial features and the shallower depth of field softens the background. LANDSCAPE - optimized to produce sharp, colorful landscapes. The flash mode is set to flash cancel. Fill-flash can be used (p. 30). NIGHT PORTRAIT - for deep, subtle night scenes.
FLASH MODES To set the flash mode, simply press the flash mode button (1) on the back of the camera until the desired mode is displayed. Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in low-light and backlit conditions. Fill-flash - the flash fires with each exposure regardless of the amount of ambient light. Fill-flash can be used to reduce harsh shadows caused by strong direct light or sunshine. Flash cancel - the flash will not fire.
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 ~ 3.5m (1.6 ft. ~ 11.5 ft.) Telephoto position 0.9m ~ 3.0m (3.0 ft. ~ 9.8 ft.) At the wide-angle lens position, when using the flash with subjects closer than 1m (3ft.), vignetting can occur.
DRIVE MODES The drive modes control the rate and method images are captured. Icons indicating the selected drive mode appear on the data panel and LCD monitor. To change the drive mode, simply press the drive-mode button (1) on the back of the camera until the desired mode is displayed. 1 All drive-mode indicators have been shown for clarity. The singleframe advance and continuous drive indicators occupy the same area of the data panel.
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. The self-timer is set with the drive-mode button (p. 32). With the camera on a tripod, compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 25). Focus lock ( 26) can be used with off-center subjects. Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock the exposure and focus (1).
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 be used in movie recording (p. 68). Place the camera on a tripod, and set the drive mode to self-timer / remote control (p. 32). Arrange the camera and subject to compose the picture. Frame the subject within the focus frame when setting up the camera. Focus lock cannot be used with the IR remote control.
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 1.6 fps. The continuous-advance mode is set with the drive-mode button (p. 32).
BRACKETING This drive 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 with the drive-mode button (p. 32). Brackets cannot be made with TIFF images (p. 44). Normal Under Over The order of the bracket series is normal exposure (as indicated by the shutter speed and aperture displays), underexposure, and overexposure.
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: standard display, focus frame only, real-time histogram, live image only, and monitor off. The number of screens and their formats can be changed in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 84) Battery power can be conserved by turning the monitor off and using the viewfinder to take pictures.
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 70. To view images from the playback mode, turn the mode dial to the playback position. To view images from the auto-recording, multifunction recording, or movie recording modes, press the Quick View / delete button. SINGLE-FRAME PLAYBACK AND HISTOGRAM DISPLAY Mode indicator Image size (p. 44) Image quality (p.
To view the histogram of the displayed still image, press the up key. The histogram shows the luminance distribution of the image from black (left) to white (right). The 224 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 return to single-frame playback, press the down key.
DISPLAY BUTTON - PLAYBACK 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 Display button Index playback In index playback, the left/right keys of the controller will move the yellow border to the next or the previous image.
ENLARGED PLAYBACK In single-frame playback, a still image can be enlarged up to 3.5X in 0.2X increments for closer examination. 640 X 480 size images can only be enlarged between 1.2X and 2.0X. The maximum enlargement of 1024 X 768 digital zoom images is 3.2X. TIFF images cannot be enlarged. With the image to be magnified displayed, press the magnification button (1) to activate the enlarged playback mode. The degree of magnification is displayed on the LCD monitor.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE ADVANCED OPERATION NAVIGATING THE AUTO-RECORDING MODE MENU In auto-recording mode, press the menu button (1) to activate the menu. The menu button also turns off the menu after settings are made. The four-way keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the center of the controller will enter a setting. Use the up/down keys of the controller to scroll through the menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed.
Basic Image size 2272 X 1704 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 Settings made with the auto-recording menu will remain in effect until changed or the camera is reset to its default settings (p. 90). Image size - To set the pixel resolution of the images. Image size affects the size of the image file. 640 X 480 Quality TIFF Fine Standard Economy Voice memo 15 sec. 5 sec. Off Date imprinting On Off Digital zoom On Off Inst.Playback 10 sec. 2 sec.
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 LCD monitor 2272 1600 1280 640 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.
VOICE MEMO Voice memo allows a five or fifteen second audio track to be recorded with a still image. The function is activated and the length of the recording time is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 42). In multi-function recording mode, voice memo is controlled in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 54). When the function is active, the microphone icon is displayed on the data panel and LCD monitor. The voice memo must be set before taking a picture.
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 date imprinting is active. Date-imprinting indicator Date imprinting is activated with a menu; see navigating the auto-recording mode menu section on page 42.
DIGITAL ZOOM Assisting the optical zoom is a 2.2X digital zoom. The effect of the digital zoom doubles the power of the telephoto position of the optical zoom giving the equivalent of a 308mm lens on a 35mm camera. The effect is visible on the LCD monitor only. The digital-zoom is canceled if the LCD monitor is turned off (p. 37). The digital zoom is activated in the auto-recording menu (p. 42).
INSTANT PLAYBACK After an image is captured, it can be displayed on the monitor before being saved. An index display is used with the continuous-advance or bracketing drive modes (p. 32). When used with voice memo, the audio recording begins after the image is played back. Instant playback is activated with a menu; see navigating the auto-recording mode menu section on page 42. Instant playback is also set in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 54).
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. In auto-recording mode, exposure compensation is reset when the mode dial is moved to another position. The exposure-compensation value will remain in effect until it has been reset in the multi-function recording mode. The exposure compensation must be set before the image is captured.
Shooting tips Sometimes the camera’s exposure meter is deceived by certain conditions. Exposure compensation can be used in 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. Calculated camera exposure –1.0Ev –2.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING MODE 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 flexibility over image making. This recording mode gives more control over autofocus and composition.
The focus area selection controls which spot focus area is active. This function can be used for offcenter subjects or to single out an individual subject from a group. Press and hold the controller to display the spot focus areas; the active area is blue. Use the four-way key of the controller to highlight the desired autofocus area. 1 Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) or press the center of the controller (2) to select the area; the other four areas will disappear.
NAVIGATING THE MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING MODE MENU In multi-function recording mode, press the menu button (1) to activate the menu. The menu button also turns off the menu after making settings. The four-way keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the center 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 Custom 1 Program Full-time AF On / Off Aperture priority Metering mode Multi-segment Manual Image size 2272 X 1704 Spot Exposure bracket 1600 X 1200 0.5 Ev 1280 X 960 Quality 0.3 Ev 640 X 480 Digital zoom On / Off TIFF Instant playback 10 sec. Fine 2 sec.
EXPOSURE MODES The three exposure modes allow extensive control over image making: program, aperture priority, and manual exposure. Exposure modes are set in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 54). Program 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.
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 shutter speeds can be changed in half stop increments between 1/1000 and 4 seconds. As changes are made to the exposure, the effect will be visible on the monitor. The shutter-speed and aperture display will turn red on the monitor if the image is extremely under or overexposed.
BULB EXPOSURES Bulb photographs can be taken in the manual-exposure mode (M) (p. 57). Exposures up to fifteen seconds can be made by pressing and holding the shutter-release button. The use of a tripod is recommended. The camera’s exposure system cannot be used to calculate bulb exposures; a separate light meter is recommended. Set the exposure mode to manual in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 54). Set the drive mode to single-frame advance (p. 32).
FOCUS MODES This camera has autofocus and manual focus control. The focus mode is set in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 54). 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.
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 is 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. 54).
Custom White Balance Custom-white-balance function allows a photographer to calibrate the camera to a specific lighting condition. The setting can be used repeatedly until reset. Custom white balance is especially useful with mixed-lighting conditions or when critical control over color is needed. The object used to make a calibration should be white. A blank piece of white paper is an ideal surface and can easily be carried in a camera bag.
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 basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 54). The auto setting automatically adjusts the camera sensitivity to the light conditions between ISO 64 and 320.
FULL-TIME AF With full-time AF active, the autofocus systems continually focuses to keep the monitor image sharp. This also reduces the autofocusing time when taking pictures. Full-time AF can be activated in the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 54). When the monitor is turned off or when the camera is set to manual focus, full-time AF is disabled. Turning the full-time AF function off can help conserve battery power.
EXPOSURE BRACKETING INCREMENT In multi-function recording mode, three bracketing steps can be selected: 0.3 Ev, 0.5 Ev, 1.0 Ev. The larger the number, the greater the difference in exposure between the images in the bracketed series. For information on the bracketing drive mode, see page 36. The bracketing increment can be changed in the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 54). Normal Under Over 0.3 Ev bracket 0.5 Ev bracket 1.
IMAGE CONTROL - SHARPNESS, CONTRAST, & FILTER Changes in color, sharpness, and contrast can be made using the custom 2 section of the multifunction recording mode menu (p. 54). The sharpness, contrast and filter imaging controls give photographers the ability to maximize the image information at the scene. Any changes made with these functions are applied to the live image on the monitor. Changes made to sharpness and contrast may be difficult to see on the monitor.
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.
MOVIE RECORDING This camera can record up to sixty seconds of digital video with sound. The motion JPEG image is 320 X 240 pixels (QVGA). The effective image area is 284 X 211 pixels; two thin lines will appear to the left and right of the image when played back. Under certain conditions less than sixty seconds of digital video may be recorded. Total recording time with an 16MB CompactFlash card is approximately 51 seconds. The digital video recording rate is approximately 296KB per second.
NOTES ON MOVIE RECORDING In movie recording, some functions can be used, some are fixed, and some are disabled. This mode has no menu controls. Exposure mode Program (fixed) Camera sensitivity (ISO) Auto (fixed) Focus area Wide focus area (fixed) Focus control Autofocus (fixed) White balance Auto (fixed) Macro mode Available (p. 28) Exposure compensation Available (p. 50) Display button All displays available except monitor off (p.
PLAYBACK MODE ADVANCED OPERATION The basic functions in this mode are described in the basic playback section on pages 38 through 41. This section covers how to play back movie clips and voice memos as well as the advanced functions on the playback menu. PLAYING BACK VOICE MEMOS Voice memos (p. 46) can be played back in Quick View and the playback mode. The voice memo indicator will be displayed at the bottom of the monitor if an audio track is attached to the displayed still image.
VIEWING MOVIES Movie clips can be played back in Quick View and the playback mode. A thumbnail of the first frame of the clip indicates a movie file. Play Use the left/right keys of the controller to display the movie clip to be viewed. Press the center of the controller to play back the clip. : pause : stop 23s Playback time is displayed on a bar at the top of the image. The display returns to Quick View or the playback mode when the movie clip finishes.
NAVIGATING THE PLAYBACK-MODE MENU In playback mode, press the menu button (1) to activate the menu. The menu button also turns off the menu after making settings. The four-way keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the center of the controller will enter a setting. Activate the playback-mode menu with the menu button. The basic tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted.
Basic Delete Yes This frame No All frames Choosing “Yes” will execute the operation, “No” will cancel it. Marked frames Lock This frame All frames Marked frames Unlock frames Index format 9 frames For information on frame-selection screens, see page 74. 4 frames Custom 1 Slide show Enter Playback All frames Marked frames Duration 1 - 60 sec. Repeat Yes Pressing the down key of the controller will cancel the slide show and return to the menu.
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. An indicator in the bottom left corner shows if the image is a movie clip or has a voice memo. The index format of the screen can be changed in the basic section of the playback-mode menu (p. 72). Play Mark frames The left/right keys of the controller move the yellow border to select the image.
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. 84). 1. Turn off the television and the camera. 2. Insert the mini-plug end of the AV cable into the camera’s AVout terminal. 2 3.
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 in a folder can be deleted with the playback-mode menu. Before an image file is deleted, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Yes” will execute the operation, “No” will cancel it. To delete files in other folders, the folder must first be selected in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 84).
LOCKING FILES Single, multiple, or all files in a folder can be locked. A locked file cannot be deleted by either the playback-mode menu functions or the QV/delete button. Important image files should be locked. To lock files in other folders, the folder must first be selected in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 84). The lock option has four settings: This frame - The file displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be locked. All frames - All files in the folder will be locked.
SLIDE SHOW The custom 1 section of the playback-mode menu controls the slide-show function. This function automatically displays all still images in a folder in order. Frame countdown / total number of images in the presentation. Press the controller to pause and restart the presentation. To cancel the presentation, press the down key of the controller.
Menu options Slide show Settings Enter To start the slide-show presentation. Pressing the center 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 in the folder to be displayed in the slide-show presentation. Marked Frames To select specific images in the folder 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 CompactFlash card is simply taken to a photofinishing service or inserted into the CompactFlash-card slot of DPOF compatible printers. When a DPOF file is created, a misc. folder is automatically made on the CompactFlash card to store it (p. 98).
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 number of copies desired. If the all-frames setting was used to create a print order, any additional images saved afterwards in the folder will not be included in the order. DPOF files created with another camera will be canceled.
COPYING IMAGES Image files can be copied from one CompactFlash card to another. Up to 23MB of data can be transferred. Every time the copy function is used, a new folder is automatically created for the images (p. 98). Images with voice memos are copied with their audio files. Copies of locked images are unlocked (p. 77). DPOF information is not copied. This frame - To copy the image displayed or highlighted in playback mode. Marked frames - To copy single or multiple images.
If too many images have been selected, a warning will appear and the copy routine will be canceled. Divide the number of images into two or three batches. The copy-unsuccessful message will appear when one or all of the images could not be copied. Check the second CompactFlash card to see which files were copied and then repeat the procedure for the images that were not transferred. Minolta History On February 20th, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.
SETUP MODE NAVIGATING THE SETUP MENU To access the menu, simply turn the mode dial to the setup position. The four-way keys of the controller (1) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the controller will enter a setting. When the menu activates, 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 menus will change as the tabs are highlighted.
Basic Custom 2 LCD brightness 1 (Low) ~ 5 (High) Reset default Enter Format Enter Date/Time set Enter Power save 1, 3, 5, 10 min. Date format YYYY/MM/DD Language Japanese MM/DD/YYYY English Deutsch DD/MM/YYYY Video output NTSC Français PAL Español Display mode Standard display Yes No Focus frame Histogram Grid Choosing “Yes” on the confirmation screens will execute the operation, “No” will cancel it.
LCD MONITOR BRIGHTNESS The brightness of the LCD monitor can be set in five levels from 1 (low) to 5 (high). When this option is selected, the live image is displayed behind the menu. As each setting is highlighted, the monitor will adjust accordingly; the controller must be pressed to set the highlighted level. FORMATTING COMPACTFLASH CARDS When a CompactFlash card is formatted, all data is erased. The formatting function is used to erase all data on a CompactFlash card.
LANGUAGE The language used in the menus can be changed. The language is selected in the basic section of the setup menu (p. 84). DISPLAY MODE Standard display Focus frame only Real-time histogram Grid Scale Live image only The recording mode displays activated by the display button (p. 37) can be selected in the basic section of the setup menu. The display cycle is the same as the order shown on the menu. Setup Basic Custom1 Custom2 LCDbrightness Std.
FILE NUMBER (#) MEMORY When file number memory is selected, if a new folder is created, the first file stored in the folder will have a number one greater than the last file saved. If the file number memory is disabled, the image file name will have a number one greater than the last image saved in the folder.
SELECT FOLDER This option allows the selection of existing folders. All images recorded will be placed in the selected folder if the folder-name option is set to standard form. In quick view or playback mode, only the images in the selected folder can be viewed or edited. Except for the all-frames-C setting in the custom 2 section of the playback-mode menu, changes made with menus only affect the images in the selected folder.
RESETTING THE CAMERA This function affects all modes. When selected, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Yes” resets the following functions and settings, “No” cancels the operation.
LCD monitor brightness 3 86 Auto-power-save period 1 minute 86 Display mode Standard, focus frames only, real-time histogram, live image only 87 File number memory Off 88 Folder name Standard 88 Audio signals 1 89 Shutter FX 1 89 Volume 2 89 DATE AND TIME SETTING It is important to accurately set the clock.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE Read this section carefully before connecting the camera to a computer. Details 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 A fresh set of batteries should be used when the camera is connected to a computer. The use of the AC adapter (sold separately) is recommended over the use of batteries. For users with Windows 98 or 98SE, read the section on how to install the necessary USB driver before connecting the camera to a computer (P. 95). 1 Start up the computer. The computer must be turned on before connecting the camera. 3 4 5 2 Insert the CompactFlash card into the camera.
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 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 93. 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 software 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.
COMPACTFLASH CARD FOLDER ORGANIZATION Drive Icon Dcim 100MLT24 PICT0001.TIF 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 audio files have a wav extension and the file name corresponds to its image file. The thumbnail images (thm) are produced with TIFF images and movie clips and are only used in camera and DiMAGE Viewer operation. Copy images (p. 82) 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 permanently be damaged. Windows 98 / 98 Second Edition Confirm that the access lamp is not lit. Turn off the camera 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 in the unplug-or-eject-hardware window. Highlight the device by clicking on it then click “Stop.” A confirmation screen will appear to indicate the devices to be stopped. Click “OK” to 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 COMPACTFLASH CARD - DATA-TRANSFER MODE Never remove a memory 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 CompactFlash card. 3. Turn the mode dial to the data-transfer position to remake the USB connection. Windows ME, 2000 professional, and XP 1. Stop the USB connection using the unplug-or-eject-hardware routine (p. 100). 2. Turn off the camera. 3. Change the CompactFlash card. 4.
QUICKTIME SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS IBM PC / AT Compatible Pentium-based computer Windows 95, 98, 98SE, NT, Me, or 2000 Professional. 32MB or more of RAM Sound Blaster or compatible sound card DirectX 3.0 or later recommended QuickTime is used for viewing movie clips and playing voice-memo audio files. To install QuickTime, follow the instructions in the installer. Macintosh users can download the latest version of QuickTime free of charge from the Apple Computer web site: http://www.apple.com.
Problem Symptom Cause “000” is displayed on the frame counter. CompactFlash card is full and unable to store an image at the image-quality or image-size setting on the camera. Insert a new CompactFlash card (p. 18), delete some images (p. 76), or change the image-quality or image-size setting (p. 44). No-card warning appears on the monitors. No CompactFlash card in the camera. Insert a CompactFlash card (p.18). Subject is too close. Make sure the subject is within the autofocus range (p.
Problem Symptom Cause Solution While using flash, the pictures are too dark. The subject is beyond the flash range (p. 62). Move closer to the subject or change the camera sensitivity to a higher setting (p. 62). Shooting data is displayed, but live image is entirely black or white. Camera set to manualexposure mode (M). Change the shutter speed or aperture value until an image appears on the monitor (p. 57). “Err” displayed on the data panel.
REMOVING 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.
CARE AND STORAGE 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 CompactFlash 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. Water, sand, dust, or salt can damage the camera. • Do not leave the camera under direct sunlight.
LCD MONITOR CARE • Although the LCD monitor is manufactured using high precision technology, there may occasionally be a lack of color or bright points on the LCD monitor. • Do not apply pressure to the surface of the LCD monitor; it may be permanently damaged. • In a cold environment, the LCD monitor may become temporarily dark. When the camera warms up, the display will function normally. • The LCD monitor may be slow to react in low temperatures or may turn dark in a hot environment.
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. As the performance of Ni-MH batteries are less affected by temperature, their use is recommended when shooting in cold environments. • Remove the batteries when the camera is not in use for an extended period. Leaking battery fluid may damage the battery-chamber.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Number of effective pixels: CCD: Camera sensitivity (ISO): Aspect ratio: Lens construction: Maximum aperture: Focal length: Focusing range (from the CCD): Filter diameter: 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: Video output: 110 APPENDIX 4.0 million 1/1.8-type interline primary-color CCD with a total of 4.
Batteries: 4 AA Ni-MH or alkaline batteries. Ni-MH batteries are recommended over alkaline. Battery performance (recording): Approximately 160 frames. Based on Minolta’s standard test method: 1,850mAh Ni-MH batteries, LCD monitor on, full-size images (2272 X 1704), standard image quality, no instant playback, no voice memo, flash used with 50% of the frames.
Minolta Customer Support: www.minoltasupport.com © 2003 Minolta Co., Ltd. under the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention.
