E 9222-2777-11 HA-A204 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. This manual contains information regarding products introduced before May, 2002. To obtain compatibility information for products released after this date, contact a Minolta Service Facility listed on the back cover of this manual. Check the packing list before using this product.
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.
FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE • 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.
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 camera temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns.
TABLE OF CONTENTS About this manual The basic operation of this camera is covered between pages 14 and 38. 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 auto-recording mode section covers all the basic functions of the camera in this mode and the multi-function recording mode. Take time to read this section before moving on to the multi-function recording mode section.
About camera operation ..........................................................................................................25 Basic recording operation........................................................................................................26 Focus signals...........................................................................................................................27 Special focusing situations .................................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS White balance..........................................................................................................................62 Automatic white balance ..................................................................................................62 Preset white balance .......................................................................................................62 Custom white balance .................................................................................
Viewing images on a television ...............................................................................................94 Setup mode – controlling the camera’s operation................................................................................95 Navigating the setup menu......................................................................................................96 LCD monitor brightness.....................................................................................................
NAMES OF PARTS 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. 121). 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 The tripod socket is located on the bottom of the body.
Flash mode/Information button (p. 32, 78) Viewfinder* (p. 12) Exposure-compensation button (p. 52) Strap eyelet (p. 15) Controller Power/Access lamp LCD monitor* Display button (p. 31, 81) • When the lamp is red, data is being transferred to and from the memory card. QV/Delete button (p. 34) 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.
NAMES OF PARTS 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 positions 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. Manual-focus indicator (p. 65) Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 67) Frame counter (p. 47) Spot-metering indicator (p. 66) White-balance indicator (p. 62) Drive-mode indicators (p. 40) Battery-condition indicator (p. 16) Microphone indicator (p. 48, 76, 87) Exposure-compensation indicator (p. 52) Flash-mode indicators (p. 32) The frame counter cannot exceed 999.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING 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. 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. • The CR-V3 battery must be inserted with the battery terminals first. The flat side of the battery should face the front of the camera.
Installing AA batteries Although performance is better with a CR-V3 lithium battery, two AA-size Ni-MH batteries can also be used. Other types of AA batteries should not be used. 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. Install the AA batteries as shown in the diagram; make sure the positive and negative battery terminals are oriented correctly.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING 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 battery may be dead or installed incorrectly. Full-battery Icon – the battery is fully charged.
Connecting the AC adapter (sold separately) The AC-6 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. Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies. Remove the battery from the camera 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.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING 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. For memory card care and storage, see page 122. Always turn off the camera and confirm the power/access lamp is not red before inserting or removing a memory card; the card may be damaged, and data lost.
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). When a card is formatted, all the data on the card is permanently erased.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING 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.
Custom1 Basic Reset default – Date/Time set – Date format Video output Custom2 YYYY/MM/DD Use the right key to highlight the custom 2 tab at the top of the menu. Use the down key to highlight the date/time-set menu option. NTSC Press the right key. “Enter” will appear on the right side of the menu. Playback menu: custom 2 section 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 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 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.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. The zoom lens is operated by the controller (1).
About camera operation The auto-recording mode uses advanced technology to make beautiful photography as effortless as possible. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection optimizes exposure, color, and image-processing settings to 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.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. 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. The subject is too close or a special situation is preventing the AF system from focusing.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection Automatic Digital Program Selection chooses between programmed AE and one of five subject programs: portrait, sport action, landscape, sunset, and night portrait. The digital-subject-programs optimise 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 1 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, digital subject programs cannot be used in the multi-function recording mode.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. PORTRAIT – optimized to reproduce soft skin tones and a slight defocusing of the background.
Display button – recording mode The display-information 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.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. 1 Autoflash Autoflash with red-eye reduction Autoflash – the flash fires automatically in lowlight and backlit conditions. Fill-flash Red-eye reduction – the flash fires twice before Flash cancel the main flash burst to reduce red-eye; an effect caused by light reflected from the retina.
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 ~ 2.9m (1.6 ft. ~ 9.5 ft.) Telephoto position 0.5m ~ 1.7m (1.6 ft. ~ 5.6 ft.) 1 Flash signals The orange flash lamp next to the viewfinder indicates the status of the flash.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE Quick View Captured images can be viewed in auto-recording and multi-function recording mode. Simply press the QV/Delete button to access the images. The date and time of capture, frame number, printing status, lock status, image size, and image quality are displayed with the images. Images can be enlarged to view detail (p. 36). The histogram and shooting data of the image can also be displayed in Quick View. Press the QV/Delete button to play back the recorded images.
Quick-view display Mode indicator Image size (p. 46) Image quality (p. 46) Aperture value Shutter speed Time of capture White-balance setting (p. 62) Sensitivity setting (p. 67) Degree of exposure compensation (p. 52) Folder name Date of capture Audio-track indicator Lock indicator (p. 86) Print indicator (p. 90) Frame number/total number of images To view the histogram, press the information button.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE Enlarged playback In Quick View or in single-frame playback (p. 77), a still image can be enlarged in six steps for closer examination: 1.5X, 2.0X, 2.5X, 3.0X, 3.5X, 4.0X, 4.5X, and 5.0X. 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.
Other Quick View features Voice memos (p. 48) and audio captions (p. 87) can be played back in Quick View. When one of these audio tracks is attached to a still image, the audio-track indicator will be displayed at the bottom of the monitor. Press the central button of the controller to start the audio playback. Stop Vol. Playback time is displayed on a bar at the top of the image. The display will return to Quick View when the audio track finishes. Press the menu button to cancel the playback.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE Navigating the auto-recording mode menu In auto-recording mode, the menu button(1) turns the menu on and off. 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 (2) to scroll through the menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed.
Basic Drive mode Single Continuous Timer/RC Bracketing 2272 X 1704 1600 x 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 Super fine Fine Standard Economy 15 sec. 5 sec. Off On/Off Image size Quality Voice memo Digital zoom select Settings made with the auto-recording menu will remain in effect until changed or the camera is reset to its default settings (p. 101). Drive modes – to control the rate and method of image capture Image size – to set the pixel resolution of the images.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. LCD monitor Data panel 40 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.
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.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. 51).The self-timer is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) or in 1 the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56).
SINGLE-SHOT AF 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. 75). Place the camera on a tripod, and set the drive mode to self-timer / remote control (p. 38, 55). Arrange the camera and subject to compose the picture. When setting up the camera, make sure the subject is within the focus frames. • Focus lock cannot be used with the IR remote control. • Focus area selection (p.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. 46). The order of the bracket series is normal exposure, underexposure, and overexposure.
1 2 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. The remaining number of frames in the bracket series is displayed on the monitor next to the bracketing icon.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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 Number of pixels (hor. X vert.
File formats vary with the image quality setting. Super fine images are saved as a TIFF file. The fine, standard, and economy settings are formatted as a JPEG file. Super fine, fine, standard, and economy files can be recorded as color or monochrome images (p. 68) in the multi-function recording mode. Image size and quality must be set before the picture is taken. Changes made to image size are displayed on the data panel and LCD monitor. Image size must be reset manually.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. 38) or in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56). 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. It will remain in effect until reset.
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 two and a half times in six steps: 1.25X, 1.5X, 1.75X, 2.0X, 2.25X, and 2.5X. 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.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE Focus area selection 1 Individual focus areas can be selected. Press and hold 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 Focus lock can be used with off-center subjects or when a special focusing situation prevents the camera from focusing (p.27). This function is controlled with the shutter-release button and can be used with focus area selection and single-shot AF (p. 64). Place the active focus area on the subject. Press and hold the shutter-release button partway down. • The focus active focus area will turn red and the other four areas will disappear.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. The exposure-compensation value will remain in effect until it has been reset. In auto-recording mode, exposure compensation is also reset when the mode dial is moved to another position. 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. In this example, the dark scene appears bright and washed-out on the LCD monitor. By decreasing the exposure by –1.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING MODE 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 section 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. Macro-mode indicator (p. 29) Microphone indicator Mode indicator Flash-mode indicator (p. 32) Sharpness, Contrast, and Colorsaturation-compensation displays (p. 68) Exposure-compensation display (p. 52) White-balance indicator (p. 62) Exposure-mode indicator (p. 58) Shutter-speed display Metering-mode indicator (p. 66) k. Aperture display l. Camera-shake warning (p. 33) m. Camera-sensitivity (ISO) display (p. 67) n. Focus signal (p.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING Navigating the multi-function recording mode menu In multi-function recording mode, the menu button turns the menu on and off. The four-way keys of the controller 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 Drive mode Image size Quality White balance Custom 1 Program Aperture priority Shutter priority Manual Single Continuous Self-timer Bracketing 2272 X 1704 1600 x 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 Super fine Fine Standard Economy Cust set CustRecall Auto Preset Focus mode Full-time AF AF sensor display Metering mode CameraSensitivity AF-single Tracking AF MF On/Off On/Off Multi-segment Spot 100 – 800 ISO Auto Custom 2 Digi FX ctrl Voice memo Date imprinting Digital zoom Instant playbac
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING 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.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING 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. As changes are made to the exposure, the effect will not be visible on the monitor. The shutter-speed and aperture display will turn red on the monitor if the image is underexposed or overexposed by more than 1 EV.
Bulb exposures Bulb photographs can be taken in the manual-exposure mode. Exposures up to fifteen seconds can be made by pressing and holding the shutter-release button. The use of a tripod is recommended for bulb exposures. Use the controller (1) to decrease the shutter-speed value below four seconds until “bulb” is displayed. To set the aperture value, press the exposure-compensation button (2); the aperture display should turn blue. Use the controller (1) to set the aperture.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING 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 icon 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).
Use the left/right keys of the controller (1) to select the preset setting. An icon 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. 1 2 select enter 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.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING 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.
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 center 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. Manual focus is not available when the monitor is turned off.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING AF sensor display When using Area AF, the AF-sensor display indicating the point of focus can be turned off. The AreaAF focus frames will remain on the display when the shutter-release button is pressed partway down. Metering modes The icons indicating both metering modes are displayed on the monitor only. The metering mode is set in the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56).
Camera sensitivity ISO Five camera sensitivity settings can be selected: Auto, 100, 200, 400, and 800; 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 100 and 200.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING 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 optimise 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.
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 icon 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.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING Date imprinting The date of recording can be printed directly on the image. The imprint- Date-imprinting indicator ing 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 the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56).
Instant playback After an image is captured, it can be displayed on the monitor before being saved. When used with the continuous-advance or bracketing drive modes (p. 40), thumbnails of the last six images in the series will be displayed. Instant playback is activated in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56). A playback period of 2 or 10 seconds can be selected. When used with voice memo, the audio recording will begin after the image is played back.
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 object in focus 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 MOVIE RECORDING This camera can record up to thirty-five seconds of digital video with sound. The motion JPEG image is 320 X 240 pixels (QVGA). Total recording time with an 16MB memory card is approximately 41 seconds. The digital video recording rate is approximately 340KB per second. Actual memory card capacity depends on the subject and the number of files stored on the card. In movie recording, some functions can be used, some are fixed, and some are disabled.
1 2 Countdown in seconds Shooting digital video is simple. Set the main dial to movie recording (1). Frame the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 26). Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock the focus (2). Press the shutterrelease button all the way down and release to start recording. During recording, the focus is fixed, but a stepless 2.5X digital zoom is available.
AUDIO RECORDING AUDIO RECORDING 1 Microphone PressShutterButtonToRecord. 2 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 30 minutes can be recorded at one time Turn the mode dial to the audio-recording position (1); a blue screen is displayed. Remaining recording time In stand-by, the monitor and data panel show the approximate recording time available.
PLAYBACK MODE VIEWING AND EDITING IMAGES Single-frame playback and histogram display Mode indicator Image size (p. 46) Image quality (p. 46) Aperture value Shutter speed Time of capture Date of capture Audio-track indicator (p. 78) Lock indicator (p. 86) Print indicator (p. 90) Frame number/total number of images White-balance setting (p. 62) Sensitivity setting (p. 67) Degree of exposure compensation (p.
PLAYBACK MODE Viewing images Simply turn the mode dial to the playback-mode position to access images and audio tracks. Image and audio files can be deleted, locked, and copied in the playback mode. Use the left/right keys of the controller to scroll through the image and audio files on the memory card. Playing back voice memos and audio captions Voice memos (p. 48) and audio captions (p. 87) are indicated by the audio-track indicator displayed at the bottom of the monitor image.
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. Press the center of the controller to play back a movie or audio file. • Press the display button to view the movie with or without the guidance bar.
PLAYBACK MODE Enlarged playback In Quick View or in single-frame playback, a still image can be enlarged in six steps for closer examination: 1.5X, 2.0X, 2.5X, 3.0X, 3.5X, 4.0X, 4.5X, and 5.0X. 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.
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 Display button Index playback In index playback, the four-way keys of the controller will move the yellow border.
PLAYBACK MODE Navigating the playback-mode menu In playback mode, the menu button turns the menu on and off. The four-way keys of the controller are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the center 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 Duration Repeat Start 1 – 60 sec.
PLAYBACK MODE 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 menu button cancels the screen and any operation made. 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. : sel. : conf.
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. The delete option has three settings: This frame – The file displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be deleted.
PLAYBACK MODE 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 – The file displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be locked. All frames – All files on the memory card will be locked.
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). On the playback menu, highlight the enter setting in the audio-caption option.
PLAYBACK MODE 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. Frame countdown/total number of images in the presentation. Press the central button of the controller to pause and restart the presentation. To cancel the presentation, press the down key.
Menu options Slide show 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.
PLAYBACK MODE 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 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 cannot be created for images captured with another camera.
PLAYBACK MODE Copy and E-mail Copy The copy function makes exact copies of audio or image files and can store the copied image on another memory card. E-mail Copy makes a standard 640 X 480 (VGA) JPEG copy of the 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. The copy functions are selected in the custom 2 section of the playback-mode menu (p. 82).
Copy 1 Copying to camera memory. 2 Change card. 3 Copying to memory card. When the image(s) to be copied or converted to an e-mail file are selected, a screen with four messages is displayed. The messages are highlighted during the copying procedure. 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.
PLAYBACK MODE 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. 96). 1. Turn off the television and the camera. 2. Insert the mini-plug end of the AV cable into the camera’s AV-out terminal. 3.
SETUP MODE CONTROLLING THE CAMERA’S OPERATION The setup mode is used to control the camera’s functions and operation as well as to select image folders. The navigating the setup menu section covers the operation of the menu. The section is followed by detailed descriptions of the settings. Minolta History Innovation and creativity has always been a driving force behind Minolta products. The Electro-zoom X was purely an exercise in camera design. It was unveiled at Photokina in Germany in 1966.
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 are used to move the cursor in the menu. 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 the operation. Use the left/right keys to adjust the monitor brightness. press the central button to set the level.
SETUP MODE 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.
SETUP MODE 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 100MLT08. 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; 08 indicates a DiMAGE F100.
Shutter FX When the shutter is released, a shutter sound effect will give a positive confirmation of the operation. The sound effect can be turn off in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 96). Two shutter effects are available; signal 1 is mechanical and signal 2 is electrical. 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.
SETUP MODE Metering mode Multi-segment p. 66 Exposure compensation 0.0 p. 52 Camera sensitivity (ISO) Auto p. 67 White balance Auto p. 62 AF sensor display On p. 66 Voice memo Off p. 48 Date imprinting Off p. 70 Instant playback Off p. 71 Color mode Natural Color p. 68 Sharpness Normal p. 68 Contrast Normal p. 68 Color-saturation Normal p. 68 Date format YYYY/MM/DD p. 103 Duration (Slide Show) 5 seconds p. 88 Repeat (Slide Show) No p.
Setting the date and time It is important to accurately set the clock. When a still image or a movie clip is recorded, the date and time of the recording are saved with the image and are displayed during playback or can be read with the DiMAGE Viewer software included on the CD-ROM. The camera’s clock is also used with date imprinting (p. 70). When the Date/Time-set option is selected and entered, the date/time screen will be displayed.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE DATA-TRANSFER MODE CONNECTING TO A COMPUTER 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.
System requirements For the camera to be connected directly to the computer and used as a mass-storage device, the computer must be equipped with a USB port as a standard interface. The computer and the operating system must be guaranteed by their manufacturers to support USB interface. The following operating systems are compatible with the camera: IBM PC / AT Compatible Windows 98, 98SE, Me, 2000 Professional, and XP. Macintosh Mac OS 8.6 – 9.2.2 and Mac OS X 10.1.1 – 10.1.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE Connecting the camera to a computer A fully charged battery 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 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). 1 Start up the computer.
5 Turn the mode dial to any position to initiate the USB connection. • While the camera is connected to a computer, the datatransfer screen will be displayed. When the camera is properly connected, a drive icon will appear on the computer. When using Windows XP, the removable-disk window will be displayed. If the computer does not recognize the camera, disconnect the camera and restart the computer. Repeat the connection procedure above.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE Connecting to Windows 98 and 98SE 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, inset 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 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.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE 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 1.3.5.smi must be installed first. This software is supplied by Apple Computer, Inc. free of charge. It 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.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE Memory card folder organization Drive Icon Dcim 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 copy 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 its 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 operation. Copy images (p. 92) are placed in a folder with a name ending in “CP.” E-mail Copy images are placed in a folder ending in “EM.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE 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 and 98SE Confirm that the access lamp is not red. Turn the camera off and then disconnect the USB cable. Windows ME, 2000 professional, and XP To disconnect the camera, left click on the unplug-or-eject-hardware icon located on the task bar. A small window will open indicating the device to be stopped.
On the unplug-or-eject-hardware window, 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. Turn the camera off and then disconnect the USB cable.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE 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. Always confirm the access lamp is not red before removing the memory card. Windows 98 and 98SE 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.
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 listed on the back cover of this manual. Problem The camera will not work. Symptom Cause Solution The battery is dead. Replace battery (p. 14). AA Ni-MH batteries are inserted incorrectly.
TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Symptom Focus signal is red. Pictures are not sharp. Pictures are taken indoors or in low-light situations without flash. Continuous advance and bracketing drive mode does not work. While using flash, the pictures are too dark. 118 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).
Problem Symptom Cause Solution Shooting data is displayed, but live image is entirely black or white. Camera set to manualexposure mode (M). Shutter speed and aperture combination is extremely under or overexposing the live image. Change the shutter speed or aperture value until an image appears on the monitor (p. 60). If the camera does not function normally, turn it off, remove and reinsert the batteries, or unplug and reconnect the AC adapter.
TROUBLESHOOTING 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 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. Water, sand, dust, or salt can damage the camera. • Do not leave the camera under direct sunlight.
CARE AND STORAGE 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. • Remove the batteries when the camera is not in use for an extended period. Leaking battery fluid may damage the battery-chamber. • If batteries have been exhausted when used in the camera, do not reload them even if their charge seems to recover over time.
CARE AND STORAGE COPYRIGHT • TV program, films, video tapes, photographs, and other materials may be copyrighted. Unauthorized recording or duplication of such material may be contrary to copyright laws. Taking pictures or images of performances, exhibitions, etc., is prohibited without approval and can infringe on copyright. Images protected by copyright can only be used under the provisions within the copyright laws.
The following marks may be found on the product: This mark certifies that this camera meets the requirements concerning interference causing equipment regulations in Japan. This mark on your camera certifies that this camera meets the requirements of the EU (European Union) concerning interference causing equipment regulations. CE stands for Conformité Européenne (European Conformity).
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Number of effective pixels: CCD: 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: Video output: 126 3.95 million 1/1.8-type interline complementary-color CCD with a total of 4.13 million pixels.
Batteries: External power source: Dimensions: Weight: Operating temperature: Operating humidity: One CR-3V lithium battery or two AA Ni-MH batteries. AC-6 adapter 111.0 (W) X 52.3 (H) X 32.0 (D) mm 4.4 (W) X 2.1 (H) X 1.3 (D) in Approximately 185g / 6.5 oz. (without batteries or memory card) 0° – 40°C / 32° – 104°F 5 – 85% (noncondensing) Specifications are based on the latest information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.
© 2002 Minolta Co., Ltd. under the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention.
