E 9222-2783-11 SY-A209 INSTRUCTION MANUAL
BEFORE YOU BEGIN Thank you for purchasing this Minolta product. Please take the time to read through this instruction manual so you can enjoy all the features of your new digital camera. This manual contains information regarding products introduced before October, 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 NP-200 Lithium-ion batteries The DiMAGE Xi operates on a small, but powerful lithium-ion battery. Misuse or abuse of the lithiumion battery can cause damage or injury through fire, electric shock, or chemical leakage. Read and understand all warnings before using the battery. DANGER • Do not short, disassemble, damage, or modify the battery. • Do not expose the battery to fire or high temperatures over 60°C (140°F). • Do not expose the battery to water, or moisture.
FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE WARNING • Tape over the lithium-ion battery contacts to avoid short-circuiting during disposal; always follow local regulations for battery disposal. • If charging is not completed after the specified period elapses, unplug the charger and discontinue charging immediately. General warnings and cautions for product use. Read and understand the following warnings and cautions for safe use of the digital camera and its accessories.
• 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. It may damage your eyesight or cause blindness.
FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE CAUTION • Do not use or store these products in a hot or humid environment such as the glove compartment or trunk of a car. It may damage the camera, charger, and battery which may result in burns or injuries caused by heat, fire, explosion, or leaking battery fluid. • If the battery is leaking, discontinue use of the product. • The camera, charger, and battery temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns.
TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THIS MANUAL The getting up and running section covers how to prepare the camera for use. It contains important information about power supplies and memory cards. The basic operation of this camera is covered in the recording-mode section between pages 20 and 29, and the playback-mode section between pages 54 and 60. Read the data-transfer mode section in its entirety before connecting the camera to a computer. Many of the features of this camera are controlled with menus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Special focusing situations ......................................................................................................25 Flash modes ............................................................................................................................26 Flash range - Automatic operation ..........................................................................................27 Flash signals................................................................................
Deleting single images ............................................................................................................55 Display button - playback mode ..............................................................................................56 Enlarged playback ...................................................................................................................57 Navigating the playback-mode menu ................................................................................
NAMES OF PARTS * 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. 90). Flash (p. 26) Main switch Self-timer lamp (p. 32) Shutter-release button Viewfinder window* Microphone Lens* DC terminal (p. 15) Strap eyelet (p. 15) Tripod socket (Located on the bottom of the body.) Battery/Card chamber door (p.
Viewfinder* Indicator lamp (p. 87) Left key Right key Zoom lever (p. 21) Mode switch Recording mode (p. 20) Playback mode (p. 54) LCD monitor* Speaker Enter button Menu button Flash-mode/delete button (p. 26, 55) Display button (p.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING GETTING UP AND RUNNING This section covers how to prepare your camera for use. Details on the use and installation of the battery and memory card are given as well as how to attach the hand strap and optional AC adapter. Charging the lithium-ion battery Before the camera can be used, the lithium-ion battery must be charged. Before charging the battery, read the safety warnings on pages 3 and 4 of this manual. Only recharge the battery with the supplied battery charger.
Changing the lithium-ion battery This digital camera uses one NP-200 lithium-ion battery. Before using the battery, read the safety warnings on pages 3 and 4 of this manual. When replacing the battery, the camera should be turned off. 2 Slide the battery-chamber door toward the bottom of the camera to release the safety catch (1). Open the door (2). 4 Move the battery latch towards the back of the camera to insert the battery (3).
GETTING UP AND RUNNING Battery-condition indicator This camera is equipped with an automatic battery-condition indicator displayed on the LCD monitor. The icon will change from white to red when battery power is low. Full-battery icon - the battery is fully charged. This icon is displayed for three seconds when the camera is on or switched between the recording or playback mode. Half-full-battery icon - the battery is partially charged. This icon is displayed for three seconds.
AC adapter (sold separately) Do not change the power supply while the camera is on. Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies. The AC adapter AC-4 or AC-5 allows the camera to be powered from a 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-4 is for use in North America, Japan, and Taiwan, and AC-5 is for use in all other areas.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING Installing and removing a memory card Always turn off the camera and confirm the indicator lamp is not orange and blinking before changing the memory card, otherwise the card may be damaged, and data lost. An SD (Secure Digital) Memory card or MultiMediaCard must be inserted for the camera to operate. If a card has not been inserted, a no-card warning will appear on the LCD monitor; the shutter can still be released.
About memory cards The response time during recording and playback is longer with MultiMediaCards compared with SD Memory Cards. This is not a defect, but rather due to the specifications of the cards. When using large capacity cards, some operations like deletion may take longer. The SD Memory Card has a write-protect switch to prevent image data from being deleted. By sliding the switch to the bottom of the card, the data will be protected. However, when the card is protected, images cannot be recorded.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING Setting the date and time After initially inserting a memory card and charging the 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, refer to page 69. 1 4 Slide the mode switch to the playback position (2). 2 The date and time can be set on the playback menu. Navigating the menu is simple.
Basic Setup 1 Setup 2 Press the menu button to active the playback menu. LCD brightness Power off 3 min. Audio signals On Date/Time set - Date format YYYY/MM/DD Playback menu: setup 1 section Date/Time set Enter Use the right key to highlight the setup 1 tab at the top of the menu. Use the zoom lever to highlight the date/time-set menu option. Press the right key. “Enter” will appear on the right side of the menu. Press the enter button to display the date/time setting screen.
RECORDING MODE RECORDING MODE This section covers the basic recording operation as well as advanced recording functions. To start using the camera, read pages 20 through 29. Many of the recording functions are controlled with menus. The menu navigation sections concisely describe how to change menu settings. Descriptions of the settings immediately follow the navigation section.
Using the zoom lens This camera is equipped with a unique 5.7 - 17.1mm zoom lens. This is equivalent to a 37 to 111mm lens on a 35mm camera. The lens is controlled by the zoom lever at the back of the 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.
RECORDING MODE LCD monitor display - recording mode Microphone indicator Recording mode Flash modes (p. 26) Exposure compensation (p. 48) White balance (p. 38) Camera-sensitivity display (p. 44) Digital zoom (p. 41) Image size (p. 35) Image quality (p. 36) Battery-condition indicator(p. 14) Camera-shake warning Drive mode (p. 30) Frame counter (p. 37) Wide focus frame (p. 50) Spot focus area (p. 50) Focus signals (p. 27) Date-imprinting indicator (p.
Basic recording operation Turn the camera on and slide the mode switch to the recording position. Place the subject within the focus frame on the LCD monitor or center the subject in the viewfinder. • The focus-lock function (p. 24) can be used with off-center subjects. • If the subject is closer than 1m (3ft.) at the zoom lens’ wide-angle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position, only use the LCD monitor to frame the subject.
RECORDING MODE Focus lock The focus-lock function is used when you want to compose the image with the subject 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 monitor focus frame or center the subject in the viewfinder. Press and hold the shutter-release button partway down to lock the focus.
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 indicator lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status. The shutter can be released regardless if the camera can focus on the subject or not. Focus confirmed - the LCD monitor focus signal is white and the viewfinder indicator lamp is green and steady.
RECORDING MODE Flash modes The flash can be used when taking still images. To set the flash mode, simply press the flash mode/delete button (1) on the back of the camera until the desired mode is displayed. The active flash mode is displayed in the top left corner of the LCD monitor. When the camera is turned off and auto reset (p.40) is active, the flash mode is reset to autoflash with red-eye reduction if this mode was last set, if not the mode will be reset to autoflash.
Flash cancel - the flash will not fire. Use flash cancel when flash photography is prohibited, natural light is desired to illuminate the subject, or the subject is beyond the flash range. The camera-shake warning may appear when flash cancel is selected (p. 22). Night portrait - for flash portraits at night. The camera automatically balances the flash and background exposures.
RECORDING MODE Navigating the recording-mode menu Camera operations and recording functions are controlled on the menu. Navigating the menu is simple. The menu button turns the menu on and off. The zoom lever and left and right keys control the cursor and change settings on the menu. The enter button selects menu options and sets adjustments. To activate the recording-mode menu, press the menu button. The “Basic” tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted.
Custom Basic Drive mode Image size Single Continuous Self-timer Movie Audio rec.
RECORDING MODE Drive modes The drive modes control the rate and method images are captured. Icons indicating the selected drive mode appear on the monitor. The drive mode is selected in the basic section of the recordingmode menu (p. 28). If auto reset (p.40) is active, the drive mode is reset to single-frame advance when the camera is turned off. Movie recording (p. 33) Single-frame advance Audio recording (p. 34) Continuous advance (p. 31) Self-timer (p.
Continuous advance The continuous-advance drive mode allows a series of images to be captured while holding down the shutter-release button. 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. With the image-size setting of 2048 X 1536, the maximum rate of capture is 1.6 fps. If the image quality is set to super fine (p. 36) only one frame can be captured at a time.
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. The self-timer drive mode is selected in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28). With the camera on a tripod, compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 23). Focus lock (p.24) can be used with offcenter subjects.
Movie recording The movie-recording drive mode is selected in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28). Movie clips up to approximately thirty-five seconds in length with audio can be recorded. The movie image is 320 X 240 pixels (QVGA) and is recorded at a rate of around 340KB/s. Approximately one 41-second movie clip can be stored on one 16MB memory card. Shooting digital video is simple. Frame the picture on the LCD monitor.
RECORDING MODE Audio recording 30 minutes of audio can be recorded without an image. The audio-recording drive mode is selected in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28). When the function is active, the live view is replaced with a blue screen. Approximately 31 minutes of audio can be stored on one 16MB memory card. Audio is recorded at approximately 8KB/s. Microphone In stand-by, the monitor displays the approximate recording time available.
Image size 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. Image size must be set before the picture is taken. Image size is set in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28).
RECORDING MODE Image quality This camera has four image-quality settings: super fine, fine, standard, and economy. Always select the desired setting before taking the picture. Image quality is set in the basic section of the recordingmode menu (p. 28). Image quality controls the rate of compression, but has no effect on the number of pixels in the image. The higher the image quality, the lower the rate of compression and the larger the file sizes.
The frame counter and memory card capacity The number of images that can be stored on a memory card is determined by the size and type of 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. Image quality Image size Super fine Fine Standard Economy 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 5.5MB 0.95MB 0.48MB 0.25MB 0.91MB 0.17MB 0.09MB 0.05MB 9.2MB 1.6MB 0.80MB 0.40MB 3.5MB 0.61MB 0.
RECORDING MODE 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. One automatic and four preset white-balance setting are available with still image and movie recording. When one of the preset white-balance settings is selected, an icon will be displayed on the LCD monitor to indicate the active white-balance setting.
Preset white balance Preset white-balance settings must be set before the image is taken. Once set, the effect is immediately visible on the monitor. To record the ambient light, set the flash mode to flash cancel (p. 26). The built-in flash can be used with preset white-balance, but will create a pinkish or blueish cast with the fluorescent and tungsten settings. The flash is daylight balanced and will produce good results with the daylight and cloudy settings. Daylight - for outdoor and sunlit subjects.
RECORDING MODE Auto reset When auto reset is active, the following functions return to their program setting when the camera is turned off: Function Reset to Page Flash mode* Auto 26 Drive mode Single-frame advance 30 White balance Auto 38 Camera sensitivity Auto 44 LCD monitor Full display 52 Spot focus area Wide focus frame 50 *The flash mode is reset to autoflash with red eye reduction if autoflash with red eye reduction was last set, if not the mode will be reset to autoflash.
Digital zoom Assisting the optical zoom is a 2X and 4X digital zoom. The digital zoom is activated in the custom section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28). The digital zoom increases the magnification of the greatest telephoto setting of the optical zoom in 0.2 steps up to 2X or 4X.
RECORDING MODE Instant playback After a still image is captured, it can be displayed on the monitor for two seconds before being saved. Instant playback shows the last frame in the series when used with the continuous-advance drive mode (p. 31). When the LCD monitor is turned off (p. 52), it will automatically activate for the instant playback period. Instant playback can be activated in the custom section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28).
Voice memo Voice memo allows an audio track up to fifteen second to be recorded with a still image. The function is activated in the custom section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28). When the function is active, the white microphone icon is displayed on the LCD monitor. The voice memo must be set before taking a picture. It will remain in effect until reset. When the LCD monitor is turned off (p. 52), it will automatically activate for the voice-memo period.
RECORDING MODE Camera sensitivity - ISO Four camera sensitivity settings can be selected with a still image: Auto, 50, 100, 200, 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. Sensitivity can be activated in the custom section of the recording-mode menu The auto setting automatically adjusts the camera sensitivity to the light conditions between ISO 50 and ISO 160.
LCD brightness The brightness of the LCD monitor can be set in eleven levels. After selecting the LCD brightness option and pressing the enter button on the menu (p. 28, 58), the LCD brightness screen will be displayed. Pressing and holding the display button will also active the LCD brightness screen. Low Use the left and right keys (1) to adjust the brightness level; the monitor image will change accordingly.
RECORDING MODE Imprinting the date and time 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 next the frame counter on the monitor to indicate the imprinting function is active. Date imprinting is activated in the custom section of the recording-mode menu.
Setting the date and time It is important to accurately set the clock. When a recording is made, the date and time of the recording are saved with the file and are displayed in playback mode or with the DiMAGE Viewer software included on the CD-ROM. The date and time are set in the setup 1 section of the recording and playback-mode menu (p. 28, 58). When the Date/Time-set option is selected and entered, the date/time screen will be displayed.
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 with still image and movie recording. The exposurecompensation value will remain in effect until it has been reset. The exposure compensation must be set before the image is captured. When setting the exposure compensation, the amount of compensation is shown next to the exposure-compensation icon on the monitor. When set to any value other than 0.
Sometimes the camera’s exposure meter is deceived by certain subjects. 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.
RECORDING MODE Spot AF The spot AF is used for selective focusing. Both focus and exposure are determined with the spot focus area. 3 When the LCD monitor is off, the AF system cannot be switched between wide and spot AF; the last AF mode set will be active. When the monitor display is live image only, switching between the wide and spot AF modes resets the display mode to full. 2 1 50 Press and hold the enter button (1) to switch between the wide focus frame and the spot focus area.
When auto reset (p.40) is active, the AF mode will reset to the wide focus frame when the camera is turned off. The spot focus area can be used with movie recording. The focus area must be set before recording. When used with the digital zoom (p.41), spot focus area is enlarged.
RECORDING MODE 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. If the display button is pressed and held, the LCD-brightness adjustment screen will appear, see page 45. Battery power can be conserved by turning the monitor off and using the viewfinder to take pictures.
A short guide to photography Photography can be a rewarding pursuit. This guide is an introduction to some basic photographic principles. The zoom lens does not only affect how large the subject is in the picture, but it also influences the depth of field and perspective. Depth of field is the area between the closest object in focus and the furthest object in focus. As the lens zooms in (telephoto position) to the subject, the depth of field becomes shallower, separating the subject from the background.
PLAYBACK MODE PLAYBACK MODE This section details how to view and edit images on the camera. Basic operation of the playback mode is covered from page 54 to 60. Detailed descriptions of the playback menu settings follow the menu navigation section. Single-frame playback display Still image Mode indicator Magnification display (p. 57) Image size display (p. 35) Image quality indicator (p. 36) Movie clip Time of recording Date of recording Play Battery-condition indicator (p.
Viewing images and playing back audio recordings Playing back still images, movie clips, and audio recordings is simple. Slide the mode switch to the playback position (1) and use the left and right keys to scroll through the recordings on the memory card (2). A note icon at the bottom of the monitor indicates the image has an audio track. To play back the audio track, press the enter button (3). 2 • To cancel a voice memo or audio caption, press the menu button.
PLAYBACK MODE 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 Display button Image only Index playback In index playback, the left and right keys, and zoom lever moves the yellow border around the index thumbnails.
Enlarged playback 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, and 4.0X. With the image to be magnified displayed, press the zoom lever up to activate the enlarged playback mode. • The degree of magnification is displayed on the LCD monitor. Pressing the zoom lever up increases the image magnification. Pressing the zoom lever down decreases the image magnification.
PLAYBACK MODE Navigating the playback-mode menu In playback mode, simply press the menu button to activate the menu. The menu is used to edit images and control camera operations. Activate the playback-mode menu with the menu button. The “Basic” tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menus will change as the tabs are highlighted. When the desired menu section is displayed, use the zoom lever to scroll through the menu options.
PLAYBACK MODE Frame-selection screen When a marked-frames setting is chosen on the menu, the frame selection screen will appear. This screen allows multiple image and audio files to be chosen. Pressing the zoom lever up selects the frame; when selected, an icon will appear next to the frame. Pressing the zoom lever down deselects the frame removing the icon. The left and right keys move the yellow border to select the frame. The menu button cancels the screen and any operation made. Sel.
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 over rewrite 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. 58).
PLAYBACK MODE Deleting image and audio files Deleting permanently erases the image or audio file. Once deleted, a file cannot be recovered. Care should be taken when deleting files. Single, multiple, or all image or audio files on the memory card can be deleted with the playback-mode menu. Before a file is deleted, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Yes” will execute the operation, “No” will cancel the operation.
Locking image and audio files Single, multiple, or all image or audio files on the memory card can be locked. A locked file cannot be erased by a playback menu delete function. Important images should be locked. The lock option has four settings: This frame - The frame displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be locked. If the this-frame option is used with a locked image, the image will be unlocked. All frames - All image and audio files on the memory card will be locked.
PLAYBACK MODE About DPOF This camera is supported by DPOF version 1.1. 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 card slot of DPOF compatible printers. When a DPOF file is created, a misc. folder is automatically made on the memory card to store it (p. 82).
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 zoom lever to set the number of copies desired. If the all-frames setting was used to create a print order, any additional images saved afterwards on the memory card will not be included in the order. The print icon is displayed with selected images in playback mode.
PLAYBACK MODE E-mail Copy E-mail copy makes a economy 640 X 480 (VGA) JPEG copy of an original still image so that it may be easily transmitted by e-mail. Images with voice memos are copied with their audio files. Copies of locked images are unlocked. DPOF information is not copied. Movie clips and audio files cannot be copied, and E-mail copies cannot be recopied. The e-mail copy function is selected in the basic section of the playback-mode menu.
Folder name All recorded images are stored in folders on the memory card. Folder names come in two formats: standard and date. Standard folders have an eight character name. The initial folder is named 100MLT15. 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; 15 indicates a DiMAGE Xi.
PLAYBACK MODE File Number (#) Memory If file number memory is selected, when 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 # memory is disabled, the image file name will have a number one greater than the last image saved in the folder. File number starts from 0001 when all the frames are deleted, an empty card is inserted, or the folder is changed. File # memory does not affect E-mail copies.
Setting the menu language 1 The menu language is set on the setup 2 section of the playback menu. Turn the camera on by pressing the main switch near the shutter-release button (1). Slide the mode switch to the playback position (2). 2 Press the menu button to active the playback menu. Use the right key to highlight the setup 2 tab at the top of the menu. Use the zoom lever to highlight the language menu option. Basic Setup 1 Format Folder name Setup 2 Std.
PLAYBACK MODE Formatting memory cards When a memory card is formatted, all data on the card is erased. The formatting function is used to erase all data on a memory card. Before formatting a card, copy the data to a computer or storage device. Locking images will not protect them from being deleted when the card is formatted. Always format the memory card using the camera; never use a computer to format a card. When the format option is selected and entered, a confirmation screen will appear.
Viewing images on a television It is possible to view camera images on your television. The camera has a AV-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 setup 2 section of the playback menu (p. 58). 1. Turn off the television and the camera. 2. Insert the AV cable into the camera’s AV-out / USB terminal. 3.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE 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 (PDF). 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 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. 75, OS 8.6 - p. 78). 1 Start up the computer. • The computer must be turned on before connecting the camera.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE 5 5 Turn on the camera 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 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. Windows XP The volume name varies between the brand of memory card.
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, insert it into the CD-ROM drive and follow the accompanying instructions on the screen. No special driver software is required for other Windows operating systems.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE Manual installation To install the Windows 98 driver manually, follow the instructions in the connecting-the-camera-to-acomputer section on page 73. 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.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE 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 web site at http://www.apple.com. 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.
Changing the memory card - data-transfer mode Care should be taken when changing memory cards while the camera is attached to a computer. Data could be lost or damaged if the camera is not disconnected properly. Windows 98 and 98SE 1. Turn off the camera. 2. Disconnect the USB cable. 3. Change the memory card. 4. Reconnect the USB cable. 5. Turn on the camera to remake the USB connection. Never remove the USB cable while the viewfinder indicator lamp is lit! Windows Me, 2000 professional, and XP 1.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE Memory card folder organization Once the camera is connected to the computer, image and audio files can be accessed by double clicking on icons. To copying images and audio recordings, simply drag and drop the file icon into a location in the computer. Drive Icon The misc. folder contains DPOF print files (p. 60). Dcim 100MLT15 Misc 10121012 PICT0001.TIF PICT0001.THM Super-fine image 102MLTEM PICT0002.JPG Fine, standard, or economy image The MLTEM.
Files and folders on the memory card can be deleted using the computer. Do not change the name of a file on the card or add a date to the card with a computer. Never format the memory card from the computer; always use the camera to format the card (p. 58, 70). The number in the image file name may not correspond to the frame number of the image on the camera.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE Disconnecting the camera from a computer Windows 98 and 98SE Confirm the indicator lamp is not lit. Turn off the camera and then disconnect the USB cable. Never remove the USB cable while the viewfinder indicator lamp is lit! 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. Click on the small window to stop the device.
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; click OK. Turn the mode dial to another position and then disconnect the USB cable.
TROUBLESHOOTING This 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 (www.minotasupport.com). Problem The camera will not work. Shutter will not release. 84 Symptom Cause Solution The battery is dead. Recharge the battery (p. 12). The auto-power-off function has shut down the camera. Turn the camera on using the main switch. The AC adapter is not connected properly.
APPENDIX Problem Pictures are not sharp. Symptom Focus signal is red and the viewfinder indicator lamp is green and blinking quickly. Pictures are taken indoors or in low-light situations without flash. Cause Solution Subject is too close. Make sure the subject is within the autofocus range of 25cm (0.8ft.) to infinity. A special situation is preventing the autofocus system from focusing (p.25) Use the focus-lock function to focus on an object at the same distance as the subject (p. 24).
TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Symptom Cause Solution Subject appears too far to the right in the image. Viewfinder was used for framing. Parallax is apparent with subjects closer than 1m (3ft.) at the zooms’ wide-angle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position. Only use the LCD monitor for framing with close subjects. Part of the image area is hidden behind a dark object. Viewfinder was used to capture the image. When using the viewfinder, take care not to cover the lens.
APPENDIX The indicator lamp next to the viewfinder can be used to diagnose camera operations. The lamp colors change between green, red, and orange, and the lamp can glow steadily or blink at two rates. Color Green State Indication Steady Camera ready to take an image. Blinking slowly Camera-shake warning - shutter speed is below the limit where the camera can be safely hand-held. Use flash (p. 26) or tripod. Blinking quickly The camera cannot focus. The subject is closer than 0.25m (0.8ft.
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.
SYSTEM ACCESSORIES (sold separately) Marine Case MC-DG110 Protects the camera down to a depth of 30m (approximately 100ft.) underwater. The extremely compact shell retains the camera’s portability while protecting it from the elements on land or sea. All camera operations are available when the case is sealed. Availability depends on the region. Contact your local dealer or an authorized Minolta Service Facility for details.
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 the battery or 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.
APPENDIX 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. • Do not store the battery when it is fully charged. • When storing the battery for extended periods, recharge the battery for five minutes every six months. The battery may not be able to be recharged if completely exhausted.
CARE AND STORAGE 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.
APPENDIX The following marks may be found on the product: 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). This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Number of effective pixels: CCD: Camera sensitivity (ISO): Aspect ratio: Lens construction: Maximum aperture: Focal length: Focusing range: Autofocusing system: Shutter: Shutter speeds: Built-in flash recycling time: Viewfinder: Monitor LCD: Monitor field of view: A/D conversion: Recording media: File formats: Print Image Matching: Menu languages: Video output: 94 3.2 million 1/2.7-type interline complementary-color CCD with a total of 3.3 million pixels.
APPENDIX Battery: Battery performance (recording): Operating temperature: Operating humidity: Minolta NP-200 lithium-ion battery. Approximately 120 frames: based on Minolta’s standard test method: NP-200 lithium-ion battery, LCD monitor on, full-size images (2048 X 1536), standard image quality, no instant playback, no voice memo, flash used with 50% of the frames.
©2002 Minolta Co., Ltd. under the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention.
