9224-2781-11 H-A201 E 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 February, 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 • 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 use this product in a humid environment, or operate this product with wet hands. If liquid enters the product, immediately remove the batteries or unplug the AC adapter and discontinue use.
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 10 and 27. 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.
Special focusing situations ......................................................................................................25 Quick view ...............................................................................................................................26 Quick-view display ..............................................................................................................27 Deleting images in quick view ............................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS Focus modes ......................................................................................................................56 Camera sensitivity - ISO.....................................................................................................57 Flash range and camera sensitivity....................................................................................57 Full-time AF ...................................................................................................
Setup mode - controlling the camera’s operation.................................................................................83 Navigating the setup menu......................................................................................................84 Setup menu – basic.................................................................................................................86 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. 109). Mode dial (main switch) Shutter-release button Digital-subject-program button (p. 28) Data panel (p. 13) Viewfinder window* Microphone Speaker Flash (p. 30) Strap eyelet (p. 15) Remote-control receiver Self-timer/ Remote-control lamp (p. 32) Lens* Battery-chamber door (p.
Flash mode/Magnification button (p. 30, 71) CCD plane Drive-mode button (p. 32) Exposure-compensation button (p. 46) Viewfinder* (p. 12) LCD monitor* (p. 14) Controller Menu button QV/ Delete button (p. 26) Display button (p. 37, 70) Access lamp Card-slot door release Tripod socket DC terminal cover (p. 18) Card-slot door (p. 18) The USB port and AV-out terminal are located behind the card-slot door.
NAMES OF PARTS VIEWFINDER Focus lamp (green) Flash lamp (orange) Focus frame Because the optical viewfinder and the lens are slightly separated, the image seen through one is not exactly the same as the other; this is called parallax. Parallax can cause errors in framing at close distances and is more pronounced at longer focal lengths. When the subject is closer than 1m (3ft) at the wide-angle lens positions or 3m (9.
DATA PANEL Digital-subject-program indicators (p. 28) White-balance indicator (p. 54) Manual-focus indicator (p. 56) Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 57) Digital-subject-program icons (p. 28) Spot-metering indicator (p. 58) Flash-mode indicators (p. 30) Image-size display (p. 40) Image-quality display (p. 41) Drive-mode indicators (p. 32) Microphone indicator (p. 43) Battery-condition indicator (p. 17) Frame counter (p. 42) Exposure-compensation indicator (p. 46) Exposure-mode indicators (p.
NAMES OF PARTS LCD MONITOR DISPLAY a. Mode indicator (p. 12) b. Flash-mode indicator (p. 30) c. Sharpness display (p. 60) d. Contrast-compensation display (p. 60) k. Aperture display l. Camera-shake warning (p. 31) m. Camera-sensitivity (ISO) display (p. 57) n. Manual-focus indicator (p. 56) o. Focus signal (p. 25) e. Colour-saturation-compensation display (p. 60) p. Frame counter (p. 42) f. Exposure-compensation display (p. 46) q. Drive-mode indicator (p. 32) g. White-balance indicator (p. 54) r.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING ATTACHING THE NECK STRAP AND LENS CAP 2 Attach the small strap to the lens cap by passing one of the small loops through the eyelet on the cap (1) and then passing the other loop through the first loop (2) and tightening. 1 Attach the camera strap to the strap eyelets as shown. • Make sure the neck strap passes through the loop of the lens-cap strap. • Always keep the camera strap around your neck in the event that you drop the camera.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING CHANGING BATTERIES This digital camera uses four AA-size alkaline or Ni-MH batteries. Ni-MH batteries are recommended because of longer life. When using Ni-MH batteries, fully recharge them with a battery charger suitable for complex electronic equipment. Please consult your vendor about an appropriate charger. When replacing batteries, the mode dial should be in the off position.
BATTERY CONDITION INDICATOR This camera is equipped with an automatic battery-condition indicator. When the camera is on, the battery-condition indicator appears on the data panel and monitor. The monitor icon will change from white to red when battery power is low. If the data panel and monitor are blank, the batteries may be dead or installed incorrectly. Full-battery Icon - the batteries are fully charged. This icon is displayed for five seconds on the monitor when the camera is turned on.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLIES (SOLD SEPARATELY) The AC Adapter allows the camera to be powered from an electrical household outlet. The AC Adapter is recommended when the camera is interfaced with a computer or during periods of heavy use. AC Adapter model AC-1L is for use in North America, Japan, and Taiwan and AC-2L is for use in all other areas. The External High-power Battery Pack Kit EBP-100 is a portable source of power for the camera.
Always turn off the camera and confirm the access lamp is not lit before inserting or removing a CompactFlash card, otherwise the card may be damaged, and data lost. 1 2 3 4 Slide the card-slot door release down to open the card-slot door (1). To eject a CompactFlash card, press the card-eject lever (2). The card can now be pulled out. • Take care when removing the card as it becomes hot with use. Insert the CompactFlash card into the card slot until the card-eject lever pops out (3).
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 Turn the mode dial to automatic recording (1); all camera operations are now fully automatic. The autofocus, exposure, and imaging systems will work together to bring beautiful results effortlessly. While many of the camera’s systems in this mode are automatic, the camera’s operation can be optimized to different subjects very simply with the digital subject program button (p. 28). The flash mode (p. 30) and drive mode (p. 32) can also be changed.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE ZOOM LENS AND DIGITAL ZOOM This camera is equipped with a 7.15 to 28.6mm optical zoom. This is equivalent to a 35 to 140mm 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. Assisting the optical zoom is a 2.
BASIC RECORDING OPERATION With the mode dial set to auto recording, the camera will be on and the LCD monitor will activate. Place the subject within the focus frame. • The focus-lock function (p. 24) can be used with off-center subjects. • Make sure the subject is within the focus range of the lens: 0.5m ∞ (wide-angle position), 0.9m - ∞ (telephoto position. For subjects closer than 0.6m, use the macro function (p. 28).
AUTO-RECORDING MODE FOCUS LOCK The focus-lock function is used when the subject is off-center and outside the focus frame. Focus lock may also be used when a special focusing situation prevents the camera from focusing on the subject. This function is controlled with the shutter-release button. Place the subject within the focus frame. Press and hold the shutter-release button partway down. • The focus signals will indicate that the focus is locked.
FOCUS SIGNALS This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system. The focus icon in the lower right corner of the LCD monitor and the green focus lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status. Focus icon: white Focus lamp: steady Focus icon: red Focus lamp: blinking Focus confirmed. Cannot focus. The subject is too close or a special situation is preventing the AF system from focusing. • The shutter can be released even if the camera cannot focus on the subject.
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. 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. 40) Image quality (p. 41) To view the histogram, press the up key. Aperture value Shutter speed Time of capture White-balance setting (p. 54) Sensitivity setting (p. 57) Degree of exposure compensation (p. 46) Folder name (p. 100) Date of capture Voice-memo icon (p. 43) Lock icon (p. 75) Print icon (p. 78) Frame number/total number of images Folder number - image file number Histogram (p.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE DIGITAL-SUBJECT-PROGRAM BUTTON The digital-subject-program button (1) optimizes the camera’s performance for various conditions and subjects. Exposure, white-balance, and imageprocessing systems work in unison for beautiful results. 1 Pressing the subject-program button cycles through the modes: macro, portrait, landscape, night portrait, text, macro & text, and the original exposure mode. A pointer will indicate the active subject program.
PORTRAIT - optimized to reproduce soft skin tones and a slight defocusing of the background. The flash mode can be changed (p. 30). • Most portraits look best at a telephoto setting; longer focal lengths do not exaggerate facial features and the shallower depth of field softens the background. NIGHT PORTRAIT - for deep, subtle night scenes. When used with fill-flash, the subject and background exposures are balanced.
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. LCD monitor Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in lowlight and backlit conditions. Fill-flash - the flash fires with each exposure regardless of the amount of ambient light. Fillflash can be used to reduce harsh shadows caused by strong direct light or sunshine.
FLASH RANGE - AUTO-RECORDING MODE The camera will automatically control the flash output. For well-exposed images, the subject must be within the flash range. Because of the optical system, the flash range is not the same at the lens’ wide-angle position as it is at the telephoto position. Wide-angle position 0.5m ~ 3.5m (1.6 ft. ~ 11.5 ft.) Telephoto position 0.9m ~ 3.0m (3.0 ft. ~ 9.8 ft.) At the wide-angle lens position, when using the flash with subjects closer than 1m (3ft.), vignetting can occur.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE DRIVE MODES The drive modes control the rate and method images are captured. Icons indicating the selected drive mode appear on the data panel and LCD monitor. To change the drive mode, simply press the drive-mode button (1) on the back of the camera until the desired mode is displayed. 1 LCD Monitor Data Panel Single-frame advance To take a single image each time the shutter-release button is pressed (p. 23). Self-timer/ Remote control To delay the release of the shutter.
SELF-TIMER Used for self-portraits, the self-timer will delay the release of the shutter for approximately ten seconds after the shutter-release button is pressed. The self-timer is set with the drive-mode button (p. 32). With the camera on a tripod, compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 23). Focus lock (p.24) can be used with off-center subjects. Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock the exposure and focus (1).
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. 65). Place the camera on a tripod, and set the drive mode to self-timer / remote control (p. 32). Arrange the camera and subject to compose the picture. Frame the subject within the focus frame when setting up the camera. • Focus lock cannot be used with the IR remote control.
CONTINUOUS ADVANCE The continuous-advance drive mode allows a series of images to be captured while holding down the shutter-release button. Continuous advance acts like a motor drive on a film camera. The number of images that can be captured at one time and the rate of capture depend on the image-quality and image-size setting. The maximum rate of capture is 1.3 fps. The continuous-advance mode is set with the drive-mode button (p. 32).
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 with the drive-mode button (p. 32). Brackets cannot be made with super-fine images (p. 41). Normal The order of the bracket series is normal exposure (as indicated by the shutter speed and aperture displays), underexposure, and overexposure.
DISPLAY BUTTON - RECORDING MODE The display-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. Full-time AF (p.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE NAVIGATING THE AUTO-RECORDING MODE MENU In auto-recording mode, press the menu button to activate the menu. The menu button also turns off the menu after settings are made. 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. Use the up/down keys of the controller (2) to scroll through the menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed.
Auto Image size 2272 X 1704 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 Quality Super fine Fine Standard Economy Voice memo 5 sec. 15 sec. Settings made with the auto-recording menu will remain in effect until changed or the camera is reset to its default settings (p. 89). Image size - To set the pixel resolution of the images. Image size affects the size of the image file. Image quality - To set the rate of compression of the images. Image quality affects the size of the image file.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE 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. Changes made to image size are displayed on the data panel and LCD monitor. Image size must be reset manually.
IMAGE QUALITY This camera has four image quality settings: super fine, fine, standard, and economy. Always select the desired setting before taking the picture. See navigating the auto-recording mode menu section on page 38. In multi-function recording mode, image quality is controlled in the basic section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 50). Image quality controls the rate of compression, but has no effect on the number of pixels in the image.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE IMAGE-FILE SIZE AND COMPACTFLASH CARD CAPACITY The number of images that can be stored on a CompactFlash card is determined by the size of the card and the file size of the images. The actual file size is determined by the scene; some subjects can be compressed further than others. Approximate file sizes. Image size 2272 X 1704 1600 X 1200 Image quality Super fine Fine Standard Economy 12MB 2MB 1MB 0.68MB 5.6MB 1.0MB 0.6MB 0.38MB 1280 X 960 640 X 480 3.6MB 0.66MB 0.41MB 0.
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). In multi-function recording mode, voice memo is controlled in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 50). 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.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE DATE IMPRINTING The date of recording can be printed directly on the image. The Date-imprinting indicator imprinting function must be activated before the image is taken. Once activated, the date will continue to be imprinted until the function is reset; a yellow bar is displayed behind the frame counter on the monitor to indicate the imprinting function is active. Date imprinting is activated with a menu; see navigating the autorecording mode menu section on page 38.
INSTANT PLAYBACK After an image is captured, it can be displayed on the monitor before being saved. Instant playback is disabled when used with the continuous-advance or bracketing drive modes (p. 32). Instant playback is activated with a menu; see navigating the auto-recording mode menu section on page 38. In multi-function recording mode, instant playback is set in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 50).
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.
Switching between the wide focus area and the spot focus areas is simple. Press and hold the controller (1) until the wide-focus-area frame lines change to the spot-focusarea display. Press and hold the controller again to return to the wide-focus-area frame lines. 1 The focus area selection controls which spot focus area is active. This function can be used for off-center subjects or to single out an individual subject from a group.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING NAVIGATING THE MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING MODE MENU In multi-function recording mode, press the menu button to activate the menu. The menu button also turns off the menu after making settings. 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 Custom 1 Program Full-time AF On / Off Aperture priority Metering mode Multi-segment Spot Manual Image size 2272 X 1704 Exposure bracket 0.5 Ev 1600 X 1200 0.3 Ev 1280 X 960 Quality 640 X 480 Digital zoom On / Off Super fine Instant playback 2 sec. Fine Standard Economy White balance Cloudy 10 sec.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING EXPOSURE MODES The three exposure modes allow extensive control over image making: program, aperture priority, and manual exposure. Exposure modes are set in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 50). PROGRAM The program exposure mode controls both the shutter speed and aperture to ensure perfect exposures.
MANUAL EXPOSURE - M Manual exposure mode allows individual selection of shutter speeds and apertures. This mode overrides the exposure system giving the photographer total control over the final exposure. The shutter speeds can be changed in half stop increments between 1/1000 and 4 seconds. As changes are made to the exposure, the effect will be visible on the monitor. The shutter-speed and aperture display will turn red on the monitor if the image is extremely under or overexposed.
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 colour 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. 50).
CUSTOM WHITE BALANCE Custom-white-balance function allows a photographer to calibrate the camera to a specific lighting condition. The setting can be used repeatedly until reset. Custom white balance is especially useful with mixed-lighting conditions or when critical control over colour is needed. The object used to make a calibration should be white. A blank piece of white paper is an ideal surface and can easily be carried in a camera bag.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING FOCUS MODES This camera has autofocus and manual focus control. The focus mode is set in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 50). 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 25. In these situations the camera can be manually focused.
CAMERA SENSITIVITY - ISO Five camera sensitivity settings can be selected: Auto, 64, 100, 200, and 400; the numerical values are based on an ISO equivalent. ISO is the standard used to indicate film sensitivity: the higher the number, the more sensitive the film. Camera sensitivity is set in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 50). The auto setting automatically adjusts the camera sensitivity to the light conditions between ISO 64 and 320.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING FULL-TIME AF With full-time AF active, the autofocus systems continually focuses to keep the monitor image sharp. This also reduces the autofocusing time when taking pictures. Full-time AF can be activated in the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 50). When the monitor is turned off or when the camera is set to manual focus, full-time AF is disabled. Turning the full-time AF function off can help conserve battery power.
EXPOSURE BRACKETING In multi-function recording mode, the bracketing increment can be changed in three steps: 0.3 Ev, 0.5 Ev, 1.0 Ev. The larger the number, the greater the difference in exposure between the images in the bracketed series. For information on the bracketing drive mode, see page 36. The bracketing increment can be changed in the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 50). DIGITAL ZOOM AND IMAGE SIZE The digital zoom doubles the lens magnification (p. 22).
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING IMAGE CONTROL COLOUR, SHARPNESS, CONTRAST, & SATURATION Changes in colour, sharpness, contrast, and saturation can be made using the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 50). These imaging controls give photographers the ability to maximize the image information at the scene. For example, if a scene is too contrasty, information can be lost in the shadows and highlights; decreasing the contrast will bring out more detail.
BULB EXPOSURES Bulb photographs can be taken in the manual-exposure mode (M) (p. 53). 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. Set the exposure mode to manual in the basic section of the multifunction recording mode menu (p. 50). Set the drive mode to single-frame advance (p. 32). Use the controller (1) to decrease the shutter-speed value below four seconds until “bulb” is displayed.
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 sixty seconds of digital video with sound. The motion JPEG image is 320 X 240 pixels (QVGA). The effective image area is 284 X 211 pixels; two thin lines will appear to the left and right of the image when played back. Under certain conditions less than sixty seconds of digital video may be recorded. Total recording time with an 16MB CompactFlash card is approximately 52 seconds. The digital video recording rate is approximately 0.
2 1 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. 23). Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock the focus. Press the shutter-release button all the way down and release to start recording (2). The zoom and focus are fixed during recording. The camera will continue to record until the recording time is used or the shutter-release button is pressed again.
PLAYBACK MODE PLAYBACK MODE VIEWING AND EDITING IMAGES This section contains detailed information on the camera’s playback functions and operation. Read the sections pertaining to your interest and need. The viewing pictures, viewing movies, deleting images (p. 68 - 69), the navigating the playback-mode menu (p. 72), and frame-selection screen (p. 81) sections cover the use of most of the features for viewing and editing images.
HISTOGRAM DISPLAY Image size (p. 40) Image quality (p. 41) To return to singleframe playback, press the down key. Shutter speed Aperture value White-balance setting (p. 54) Camera sensitivity setting (p. 57) Degree of exposure compensation (p. 46) Histogram Folder name (p. 100) Folder number - image file number The histogram shows the luminance distribution of the recorded image from black (left) to white (right).
PLAYBACK MODE VIEWING PICTURES 1 Still images and movie clips can easily be viewed and edited in playback mode. To set the camera to view images, turn the mode dial to the playback position (1). Simply use the controller to scroll through the pictures on the CompactFlash card. The date and time of capture, frame number, printing status, lock status, image size and image quality are displayed with the images. The histogram and shooting data of a still image can also be displayed.
VIEWING MOVIES Use the left/right keys of the controller to display the movie clip to be viewed. Press the center of the controller to play back the clip. • Pressing the controller during playback will pause the movie clip; pressing the controller again will resume the playback. When the movie clip finishes, the first frame will be displayed. • Press the display button to view the movie with or without the guidance bar.
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 Image only Display button Index playback In index playback, the left/right keys of the controller will move the yellow border to the next or the previous image.
ENLARGED PLAYBACK In single-frame playback, a still image can be enlarged for closer examination in three steps: 2x, 2.5X, and 3.5X. 640 X 480 size images can only be enlarged one step to 2X. The maximum enlargement of 1024 X 768 digital zoom images is 3.2X. Super fine images cannot be enlarged. With the image to be enlarged displayed, press the magnification button. • The degree of magnification is displayed on the LCD monitor.
PLAYBACK MODE NAVIGATING THE PLAYBACK-MODE MENU In playback mode, press the menu button to activate the menu. The menu button also turns off the menu after making settings. 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-mode menu with the menu button. The “Basic” tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted.
Basic Delete This frame Yes All frames Choosing “Yes” will execute the operation, “No” will cancel it. Marked frames Lock This frame All frames Refer to the following sections for descriptions of the menu options and their settings. Marked frames Unlock frames Index format Custom 1 9 frames 4 frames Slide show Enter Playback All frames For information on frame-selection screens, see page 81. Marked frames Duration 1 ~ 60 sec.
PLAYBACK MODE PLAYBACK-MODE MENU - BASIC DELETING IMAGES Deleting permanently erases the image. Once deleted, an image cannot be recovered. Care should be taken when deleting images. Single, multiple, or all images in a folder can be deleted with the playback-mode menu. Before an image is deleted, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Yes” will execute the operation, “No” will cancel the operation.
LOCKING IMAGES Single, multiple, or all images in a folder can be locked. A locked image cannot be deleted by either the playback-mode menu functions or the QV/delete button. Important images should be locked. To lock images in other folders, the folder must first be selected in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 84). The lock option has four settings: This frame - The image displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be locked. All frames - All images in the folder will be locked.
PLAYBACK MODE PLAYBACK-MODE MENU - CUSTOM 1 (SLIDE SHOW) The custom 1 section of the playback-mode menu controls the slide-show function. This function automatically displays all still images in a folder in order. Frame countdown / total number of images in the presentation. Press the controller to pause and restart the presentation. To cancel the presentation, press the down key of the controller.
Menu options Slide show Settings Enter To start the slide-show presentation. Pressing the center of the controller will pause the presentation. During the slide show, press the down key of the controller to stop the presentation and return to the playback-mode menu. All frames To select all the images in the folder to be displayed in the slide-show presentation. Marked Frames To select specific images in the folder to be displayed in the slide-show presentation.
PLAYBACK MODE PLAYBACK-MODE MENU - CUSTOM 2 ABOUT DPOF This camera is supported by DPOF™ version 1.1. The DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) allows direct printing of still images from digital cameras. After the DPOF file is created, the CompactFlash card is simply taken to a photofinishing service or inserted into the CompactFlash-card slot of DPOF compatible printers. When a DPOF file is created, a misc. folder is automatically made on the CompactFlash card to store it (p. 100).
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 COPYING IMAGES Image files can be copied from one CompactFlash card to another. Up to 23MB of data can be transferred. Every time the copy function is used, a new folder is automatically created for the images (p. 100). Images with voice memos are copied with their audio files. Copies of locked images are unlocked (p. 75). DPOF information is not copied. This frame - To copy the image displayed or highlighted in playback mode. Marked frames - To copy single or multiple images.
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 index format of the screen can be changed in the basic section of the playback-mode menu (p. 72). Play The left/right keys of the controller move the yellow border to select the image. 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.
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. 84). 1. Turn off the television and the camera. 2 2. Insert the mini-plug end of the AV cable into the camera’s video-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 (p. 84) 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. Pressing the controller will enter a setting. When the menu activates, the “Basic” tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the controller to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menus will change as the tabs are highlighted.
Basic LCDbrightness 1 (low) ~ 5 (high) Format Enter Power Save 1, 3, 5, or 10 min Audio signals Off w/o sound FX Yes No Choosing “Yes” on the confirmation screens will execute the operation, “No” will cancel the operation. Sound FX only On Volume 1 (low) ~ 3 (high) Language Japanese Please refer to the following sections for descriptions of the menu options and their settings.
SETUP MODE SETUP MENU - BASIC The basic section of the setup menu allows changes to be made to the operation of the camera as well as the ability to format CompactFlash cards. LCD MONITOR BRIGHTNESS The brightness of the LCD monitor can be set in five levels from 1 (low) to 5 (high). As each setting is highlighted, the monitor will adjust accordingly; the controller must be pressed to set the highlighted level.
AUTO POWER SAVE The camera will turn off the data panel to conserve battery power if no operation is made within a certain period. The length of this period can be changed to 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes. The auto-powersave option will not affect the display period of LCD monitor; it will shut down after 30 seconds. To restore the displays when they shut down, simply press the shutter-release button. When the camera is connected to the computer, the auto-power-save period is set to ten minutes.
SETUP MODE SETUP MENU - CUSTOM 1 The custom 1 section of the setup menu controls file number sequencing and the selection of folders. See page 100 for information on the organization of the folders on the CompactFlash card FILE NUMBER (#) MEMORY When file number memory is selected, if a new folder is created, the first file stored in the folder will have a number one greater than the last file saved.
SETUP MENU - CUSTOM 2 RESETTING THE CAMERA This function affects all modes. When selected, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Yes” resets the following functions and settings, “No” cancels the operation.
SETUP MODE Default Setting Page Sharpness Normal 60 Contrast Normal 60 Colour-saturation Normal 60 Index playback format 9 frames 75 Duration (Slide Show) 5 seconds 76 Repeat (Slide Show) No 76 Index print No (Canceled) 79 LCD monitor brightness 3 86 Auto-power-save period 1 minute 87 Audio signals On 87 File number memory Off 88 SETTING THE DATE AND TIME It is important to accurately set the clock.
SETTING THE DATE FORMAT The date format that is displayed or imprinted can be changed: YYYY/MM/DD (year, month, day), MM/DD/YYYY (month, day, year), DD/MM/YYYY (day, month, year). Simply select the format and enter it by pressing the center of the controller; the new format will be displayed on the menu. VIDEO OUTPUT Camera images can be displayed on a television (p. 82). The video output can be changed between NTSC and PAL. North America uses the NTSC standard and Europe uses the PAL standard.
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 Image Viewer Utility 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.
ARCSOFT PHOTOIMPRESSION SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS IBM PC / AT Compatible Pentium-based computer Macintosh Power PC Windows 95, 98, 98SE, NT 4.0, Me, 2000 Professional, and XP. Mac OS 8.5 - 9.2.1 32MB or more of RAM (128MB or more with Windows XP) 32MB or more of RAM (64MB or more is recommended) 125MB or more of hard disk space A monitor with 32000 colours or more 120MB or more of hard disk space A monitor with 32000 colours or more PhotoImpression is an application software for still images.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE CONNECTING THE CAMERA TO A COMPUTER A fresh set of batteries should be used when the camera is connected to a computer. The use of the AC adapter (sold separately) is recommended over the use of batteries. For users with Windows 98, 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. 96, OS 8.6 - p. 99). 1 Start up the computer.
5 Set the mode dial to the data-transfer position to initiate the USB connection. • A screen will appear to indicate the beginning of the connection process. When the signal has been received by the computer, the LCD monitor will turn off. Trans Initializing USB connection When the camera is properly connected to the computer, a drive icon will appear. When using Windows XP, the removable-disk window will open.
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 94. 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 COMPACTFLASH CARD FOLDER ORGANIZATION The misc. folder contains DPOF print files (p. 78). Drive Icon Misc Image-file names begin with “pict,” followed by a four-digit file number, and a tif, jpg, avi, or thm extension. Voice-memo audio files have a wav extension and the file name corresponds to its image file. The thumbnail images (thm) are used in camera operation and cannot be opened.
Once the camera is connected to the computer, image files can be accessed by simply double clicking on icons. Copying images can be done by dragging and dropping the image-file icon into a location in the computer. Files and folders on the CompactFlash card can be deleted using the computer. Never format the CompactFlash card from the computer; always use the camera to format the card. The index number on the image file may not correspond to the frame number of the image.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE DISCONNECTING THE CAMERA FROM THE COMPUTER Never disconnect the camera when the access lamp is lit - the data or CompactFlash card may permanently be damaged. WINDOWS 98 AND 98SE Confirm that the access lamp is not lit. Turn the mode dial to another position and then disconnect the USB cable. WINDOWS ME, 2000 PROFESSIONAL, AND XP To disconnect the camera, 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 mode dial to another position and then disconnect the USB cable.
DATA-TRANSFER MODE CHANGING THE COMPACTFLASH CARD (DATA-TRANSFER MODE) Care should be taken when changing CompactFlash 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 out before removing the CompactFlash card. WINDOWS 98 AND 98SE 1. Turn off the camera. 2. Change the CompactFlash card. 3. Turn the mode dial to the data-transfer position to remake the USB connection.
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 Nothing displayed on the data panel or the monitors. Cause Solution The batteries are dead. Replace batteries (p. 16). The 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 drive does not work. While using flash, the pictures are too dark. “Err” displayed on the data panel. 106 Cause Solution Subject is too close. Make sure the subject is within the autofocus range (p. 24) or use the macro mode (p. 28). The camera is in macro mode. Cancel the macro mode setting (p. 28).
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. 53). 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 CompactFlash card, or operating the camera with wet hands may damage the camera. • When at the beach or near water, take care not to expose the camera to water or sand. Water, sand, dust, or salt can damage the camera. • Do not leave the camera under direct sunlight.
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. As the performance of Ni-MH batteries are less affected by temperature, their use is recommended when shooting in cold environments. • Remove the batteries when the camera is not in use for an extended period. Leaking battery fluid may damage the battery-chamber.
CARE AND STORAGE BEFORE IMPORTANT EVENTS OR JOURNEYS • Check the camera’s operation; take test pictures and purchase spare batteries. • Minolta has no responsibility for any damage or loss incurred by equipment malfunction. QUESTIONS AND SERVICE • If you have questions about your camera, contact your local camera dealer or write to the Minolta distributor in your area. • Before shipping your camera for repair, please contact a Minolta Service Facility.
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): Filter diameter: Autofocusing system: Shutter: Shutter speeds: Built-in flash recycling time: Viewfinder: Monitor LCD: Monitor field of view: A/D conversion: Recording media: File formats: Print Image Matching: Menu languages: Video output: 114 3.95 million 1/1.8-type interline primary-colour CCD with a total of 4.
Batteries: 4 AA Ni-MH or alkaline batteries. Ni-MH batteries are recommended over alkaline. Battery performance (recording): Approximately 150 frames: based on Minolta’s standard test method: 1,700mAh Ni-MH batteries, LCD monitor on, full-size images (2272 X 1704), standard image quality, no instant playback, no voice memo, flash used with 50% of the frames.
© 2002 Minolta Co., Ltd. under the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention.
