EXPOSURE LOCK The AE lock button locks the automatic exposure system. This function allows the exposure to be set by a gray card or reference target outside the scene. When using flash in the P or A exposure modes, slowshutter sync is active (p. 87). The operation of the AE lock button can be customized in section 1 of the recording menu (p. 94). Press and hold the AE lock button to lock the exposure; the shutter speed and aperture monitor displays turns black; releasing the button cancels the setting.
PROGRAM - P Program exposure is set with the exposure-mode dial (p. 50). The program AE uses luminance and focal-length information to calculate exposures. This allows the photographer to shoot without worrying about exposure settings. The shutter speed and aperture values of the exposure are displayed on the monitors and data panel.
AUTO RECORDING Auto recording is set with the exposure-mode dial. Auto recording is the same as the program exposure mode (p. 51), except that when the camera is on, if the exposure mode dial is turned to or from the auto position, the auto exposure mode is reset. Turning the camera off will not reset the mode.
Instant playback Voice memo Color mode Sharpness Noise reduction Monitor amplification Monitor amplification - Manual exp. Magnification button DSP setup Subject tracking AF AE Lock Spot AE area Direct manual Focus (DMF) Off Off Natural color (sRGB) Normal On Auto Exposure priority Digital zoom DSP (Digital Subject Programs) On Off Center spot Off p. 100 p. 101 p. 102 p. 97 p. 103 p. 104 p. 104 p. 105 p. 106 p. 106 p. 94 p. 107 p.
APERTURE PRIORITY - A Aperture priority is set with the exposure-mode dial (p. 50). The photographer selects the aperture and the camera sets the appropriate shutter speed to ensure the correct exposure. When A mode is selected, the aperture display on the monitors turns blue. Turn either the front or rear control dial to change the aperture. Press the shutter-release button partway down to activate the exposure system; the corresponding shutter speed is displayed. The aperture values can be changed by 0.
SHUTTER PRIORITY - S Shutter priority is set with the exposure-mode dial (p. 50). The photographer selects the shutter speed and the camera sets the appropriate aperture to ensure correct exposure. When S mode is selected, the shutter speed display on the monitors turns blue. Turn either the front or rear control dial to change the shutter speed. Press the shutter-release button partway down to activate the exposure system; the corresponding aperture will be displayed.
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. Manual exposure is set with the exposure-mode dial (p. 50). The shutter speeds and aperture values can be changed in 1/3 stop increments. The shutter speed range in manual exposure mode is 30 to 1/16000 second including bulb (p. 57).
BULB EXPOSURES Bulb photographs can be taken in the manual-exposure mode (M). Exposures up to thirty seconds can be made by pressing and holding the shutter-release button. The use of a tripod and a remote cord is recommended for bulb exposures. The camera’s exposure system cannot be used to calculate bulb exposures. The use of a separate light meter is recommended. Use the front control dial to decrease the shutter-speed until “bulb” is displayed.
DIGITAL-SUBJECT-PROGRAMS Digital subject programs optimize the camera’s exposure, whitebalance, and image-processing systems for specific conditions and subjects. Simply turn the exposure mode dial to select the appropriate subject program. Portrait - optimized to reproduce warm, soft skin tones and a slight defocusing of the background. Most portraits look best at a telephoto setting; the longer focal length does not exaggerate facial features and the shallower depth of field softens the background.
EXPOSURE AND FLASH COMPENSATION The ambient light and flash exposure can be adjusted before the image is captured to make the final picture lighter or darker. Exposure can be adjusted by as much as ±2Ev in 1/3 increments (p. 111). The exposure and flash compensation will remain in effect until it has been reset. For more on exposure and flash compensation, see page 110. Adjustments to exposure must be set before the image is captured.
USING THE FUNCTION DIAL The memory function, metering mode, drive mode, white balance, and camera sensitivity are controlled by the function dial. The custom position is for a designate menu function that can be set in section 2 of the setup menu. Only white balance can be set in the movie recording mode. 1 Turn the function dial to the mode to be changed (1). 3 2 4 Press the function button in the center of the dial (2). Turn the front control dial to change the mode (3).
DRIVE MODES The drive modes control the rate and method images are captured. Indicators showing the selected drive mode appear on the data panel and monitors. The drive mode is set with the function dial (p. 60). Single-frame advance - to take a single image each time the shutterrelease button is pressed (p. 33). Bracketing - to take a series of images with differing exposure, contrast, saturation, and color (p. 62).
BRACKETING This drive mode makes a three image bracket of a scene. Bracketing is a method of taking a series of images of a static subject in which each image has a slight variation in exposure. Contrast, saturation, and filter brackets can also be made. Turn the function dial to the drive mode position (1). 1 3 2 4 Press the function button in the center of the dial (2). Turn the front control dial to select the bracketing drive mode (3).
Compose the picture as described in the basic recording section (p. 33). Press and hold the shutter-release button all the way down (1) to make the bracket series; three consecutive images will be captured. If single-frame advance bracketing is selected, the shutter-release button must be pressed for each exposure. If set to continuous AF (p. 46), the camera will continue to focus during a continuous bracket. 1 Normal Under Over Number of frames in bracketing series Frame counter 0.
STANDARD AND HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS ADVANCE Continuous-advance 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 depends on the image-quality setting; five with RAW images, and three with the other options.
1 Compose the picture as described in the basic recording section (p. 33). Press and hold the shutterrelease button all the way down (1) to begin taking pictures. If the shutter-release button is continuously held down after the series, a new series of images will be capture after a short delay. Camera Notes To change function dial or Digital Effects Controller settings quickly, simply press and hold the center dial or controller button (1) and select the setting with the front and rear control dials (2).
INTERVAL The interval mode makes a series of still or moving images over a period of time. Similar to time-lapse photography, a series of images of a slow moving event can be taken: the blossoming of a flower, the construction of a building. The built-in flash can be used. Instant playback (p. 100) is disabled. The parameters of the interval series is set up in section 2 of the recording menu.
After mounting the camera on a tripod, compose the image so that the subject area falls within the focus frames; the camera sets the focus, exposure, and white balance, and charges the flash just before each exposure. Continuous AF can be used. Settings locked with the AE lock button are canceled after the first frame. To override the automatic systems, use manual focus (p. 46), manual exposure (p. 56), and preset or custom white balance (p. 70).
SELF-TIMER Used for self-portraits, the self-timer will delay the release of the shutter after the shutter button is pressed. A ten second and two second self-timer is available. 1 Turn the function dial to the drive mode position (1). Press the function button in the center of the dial (2). Turn the front control dial to select the self-timer drive mode (3). Use the rear control dial (4) to switch between a ten-second and twosecond delay.
METERING MODES 1 2 Metering mode indicators are displayed on the monitors only. To lock the exposure while pressing the shutter-release button partway down, the AE lock option in section 4 of the recording mode menu should be on. If the luminance levels of the scene are outside the metering range, the metering indicator turns red. 3 3 Turn the function dial to the metering mode position (1). Press the function button in the center of the dial (2).
WHITE BALANCE White balance is the camera’s ability to make different types of lighting appear natural. Any changes are immediately visible on the monitors. 1 3 2 Turn the function dial to the white-balance (WB) mode position (1). 4 Press the function button in the center of the dial (2). Turn the front control dial to select the whitebalance mode (3). Use the rear control dial (4) to shift the color balance of the preset modes or to select the custom white-balance register.
CUSTOM WHITE-BALANCE CALIBRATION Custom-white-balance function allows the camera to be calibrated to a specific lighting condition. Three setting can be stored in the camera and used repeatedly. Custom white balance is especially useful with mixed-lighting conditions or when critical control over color is needed. Select a white object and fill the the center of the live image with it; the object does not need to be in focus.
MEMORY - STORING CAMERA SETTINGS Five sets of camera settings can be saved. This saves time under frequently repeating conditions by eliminating the need to set the camera. Except for functions like subject programs, data imprinting, voice memo, and instant playback, most recording-mode camera settings will be saved including the position of the Flex Focus Point, the display mode, and changes made with the function dial and digital effects control. Setting are displayed before being saved.
MEMORY RECALL Camera settings saved with the function dial are recalled with the exposure-mode dial. Simply turn the exposure mode dial to the memory recall (MR) position (1); the register-selection screen will open. Memory recall 2 1 3 :select :enter On the register-selection screen use the control dials or left/right keys of the controller (2) to select the memory register in which the settings are stored; as the registers are selected the camera settings are displayed on the screen.
CAMERA SENSITIVITY - ISO Five settings can be selected for camera sensitivity: 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. 3 1 2 3 Turn the function dial to the ISO position (1). Press the function button in the center of the dial (2). Turn the front or rear control dials to change the camera sensitivity (3).
FLASH RANGE AND CAMERA SENSITIVITY For correct flash exposures, the subject must be within the flash range. The flash range can be extended by changing the camera sensitivity. When the camera sensitivity is set to auto, the ISO is set between ISO 100 and 200. The flash range is measured from the CCD. 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.
USING THE FLASH SYNC TERMINAL The flash sync terminal allows a studio or location flash system to be connected to the camera with a standard PC cord. The terminal is compatible with both center positive (normal polarity) and center negative (positive polarity) flash units with a voltage of 400V or lower. Unscrew the terminal cover. Securely connect the flash’s PC cord to the flash sync terminal. Confirm the flash is off before connecting the cable to prevent it from firing.
DIGITAL EFFECTS CONTROL The Digital Effects Controller can adjust image contrast, color, and saturation. Changes are instantly visible on the monitors before the image is captured. Turn the Digital Effect switch (1) to the image characteristic to be adjusted. 3 Filter 3 2 1 Color-saturation Contrast Press the Digital Effects button (2) in the center of the switch; the setting screen is displayed. Turning the front or rear control dial (3) to make adjustments.
CONTRAST COMPENSATION The contrast of a scene can be adjusted within eleven levels (±5) with the Digital Effects Controller (p. 77). The contrast must be set before the image is captured. When changing the contrast setting, an indicator is displayed to show an increase (+) or decrease (–) in contrast. If contrast is set to any other value than zero, the indicator and value remain on the displays as a warning.
Minolta History On February 20th, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. On board his Friendship 7 spacecraft was a Minolta Hi-matic camera to record that historic event. The 4 hour, 55 minute, and 23 second flight orbited the Earth three times at an average speed of 28,000 kph (17,500 mph). Mr. Glenn visited our Sakai camera factory in Japan on May 24th, 1963 to plant a palm tree to celebrate the occasion.
RECORDING MENU In recording mode, press the menu button to activate the menu. The menu button also closes the menu after making settings. The four-way key of the controller is used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting. NAVIGATING THE RECORDING MENU Activate the recording menu with the menu button. Tab 1 at the top of the menu will be highlighted.
To set image resolution (p. 82). Image size Quality Flash mode Flash control AEL button Reset 2560x1920 Fine Fill-flash ADI flash AE hold – To set file type and compression (p. 82). To set the flash mode of the built-in flash (p. 86). To set automatic or manual flash control (p. 92). To customize the operation of the AEL button (p. 94). To reset the recording-mode functions (p. 95). To set the interval drive mode parameters (p. 66) Int. set Bracket set Data imprint Imprint to Inst.
IMAGE SIZE AND IMAGE QUALITY Image size and quality must be set before the picture is taken. Changes are displayed on the LCD monitor and data panel. Image size and quality are set in section 1 of the recording menu (p. 80). 2560 2080 1600 640 2560 2080 1600 640 X X X X 1920 1560 1200 480 Changing image size affects the number of pixels in each image. The greater the image size, the larger the file size.
The number of images that can be stored on a memory card is determined by the size of the card and the file size of the images. One memory card can contain images with differing sizes and qualities. The actual file size is determined by the scene; some subjects can be compressed further than others. Approximate file sizes.
ABOUT RAW IMAGE QUALITY In the RAW image-quality mode, the image size is set at full and cannot be changed. The image size will not be displayed on the monitors. The digital zoom, enlarged playback, data imprinting, and print functions cannot be used. Unlike the other image-quality modes, RAW image data is unprocessed and requires image processing before it can be used. To view the RAW data, the DiMAGE Viewer software is required.
NOTES ON IMAGE SIZE AND RESOLUTION Image size changes the number of pixels in the image. When displayed at the same resolution, images appear to have the same amount of detail, but the dimensions of the image increases with the number of pixels; except for the 640 X 480 image, the other pictures are too large to be displayed on this page. When the images are enlarged to the same dimensions, the difference in the recorded image size affects the resolution of details.
FLASH MODES The flash mode can be changed in section 1 of the recording menu (p. 80). For the flash to fire, the built-in unit must be manually lifted. The flash will fire in the selected mode regardless of the amount of ambient light. When the flash is used, the camera sensitivity is automatically set between ISO 100 and 200. This setting can be changed using the function dial (p. 74). The auto-white-balance setting will give priority to the flash’s color temperature.
