minolta dimage x Camera Instruction manual

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Manuals
E 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 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.
FOR
PROPER AND SAFE USE
NP-200 Lithium-ion batteries
The DiMAGE X operates on a small, but powerful lithium-ion battery. Misuse or abuse
of the lithium-ion battery can cause damage or injury through fire, electric shock, or
chemical leakage.
Read and understand all warnings before using the battery.
Check the packing list before using this product. If any items are missing, immediately
contact your camera dealer.
Minolta DiMAGE X digital camera
Lithium-ion battery NP-200
Lithium-ion battery charger BC-200
Hand strap HS-DG100
8MB SD Memory Card
AV cable AVC-200
USB cable USB-500
DiMAGE software CD-ROM for DiMAGE X
DiMAGE Image Viewer Utility manual
Camera manual
Warranty card
Do not remove the ferrite cores from the cables.
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, Mac OS, and the Mac OS logo are registered
trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of the
Microsoft Corporation. The official name of Windows is Microsoft Windows Operating System.
Pentium is a registered trademark of the Intel Corporation. Power PC is a trademark of the
International Business Machines Corporation. QuickTime is a trademark used under license. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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. Water can corrode or damage the
internal battery safety devices and cause the battery to overheat, ignite, rupture, or
leak.
• Do not drop or subject the battery to strong impacts. Impacts can damage the internal
battery safety devices and cause the battery to overheat, ignite, rupture, or leak.
• Do not store the battery near or in metallic products.
• Only use the battery specified in this camera manual.
• Only use the specified charger within the voltage range specified on the charger unit.
An inappropriate charger or current may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock.
• Do not use a leaking battery. If fluid from the battery enters your eye, immediately
rinse the eye with plenty of fresh water and contact a doctor. If fluid from the battery
makes contact with your skin or clothing, wash the area thoroughly with water.
(Continued on the next page.)
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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.
• Only use the battery specified in this manual.
• If charging is not completed after the specified period elapses, unplug the charger and
discontinue charging immediately.
• Only use or charge the battery in an environment with ambient temperatures between
0° and 40°C (32° and 104°F) and a humidity of 45% to 85% RH. Only store the battery in an environment with ambient temperatures between -20° and 30°C (-4° and
86°F) and a humidity of 45% to 85% RH.
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.
WARNING
• Do not disassemble the camera or charger. Electric shock may cause injury if a high
voltage circuit inside the product is touched.
• Immediately remove the battery or unplug the AC adapter and discontinue use if the
camera is dropped or subjected to an impact in which the interior, especially the flash
unit, is exposed. The flash has a high voltage circuit which may cause an electric
shock resulting in injury. The continued use of a damaged product or part may cause
injuries or fire.
• Keep the battery, memory card, or small parts that could be swallowed away from
infants. Contact a doctor immediately if an object is swallowed.
• Store this product out of reach of children. Be careful when around children, not to
harm them with the product or parts.
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• 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 use these products in a humid environment, or operate these products with
wet hands. If liquid enters these products, immediately remove the battery or unplug
the power cord, and discontinue use. The continued use of a product exposed to liquids may cause damage or injury through fire or electric shock.
• Do not use these products near inflammable gases or liquids such as gasoline, benzine, or paint thinner. Do not use inflammable products such as alcohol, benzine, or
paint thinner to clean these products. The use of inflammable cleaners and solvents
may cause an explosion or fire.
• When unplugging the AC adapter or charger, do not pull on the power cord. Hold the
plug when removing it from an outlet.
• Do not damage, twist, modify, heat, or place heavy objects on the AC adapter or
charger cord. A damaged cord may cause damage or injury through fire or electric
shock.
• If these products emits a strange odor, heat, or smoke, discontinue use. Immediately
remove the battery taking care not to burn yourself as the battery may become hot
with use. The continued use of a damaged product or part may cause injuries or fire.
• Only use the specified AC adapter within the voltage range indicated on the adapter
unit. An inappropriate adapter or current may cause damage or injury through fire or
electric shock.
• Take the product to a Minolta Service Facility when repairs are required.
5
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.
• Burns may result if the memory card or battery is removed immediately after extended
periods of use. Turn the camera off and wait for it to cool.
• Do not fire the flash while it is in contact with people or objects. The flash unit discharges a large amount of energy which may cause burns.
• Do not apply pressure to the LCD monitor. A damaged monitor may cause injury, and
the liquid from the monitor may cause inflammation. If liquid from the monitor makes
contact with skin, wash the area with fresh water. If liquid from the monitor comes in
contact with the eyes, immediately rinse the eyes with plenty of water and contact a
doctor.
• When using the AC adapter and charger, insert the plug securely into the electrical
outlet.
• Do not use if the AC adapter or charger cord is damaged.
• Do not cover the AC adapter or charger. A fire may result.
• Do not obstruct access to the AC adapter or charger; this can hinder the unplugging
of the units in emergencies.
• Unplug the AC adapter or charger when cleaning or not in use.
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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 50 and 56. Read the datatransfer mode section in its entirety before connecting the camera to a computer.
Many of the features of this camera are controlled with menus. The menu navigation
sections concisely describe how to change menu settings. Descriptions of the settings
immediately follow the navigation sections.
The appendix contains a troubleshooting section to help answer questions about the
operation of the camera. Information covering camera care and storage is also
provided. Please store this manual in a safe place.
Names of parts ....................................................................................................................................10
Getting up and running.........................................................................................................................12
Charging the lithium-ion battery ..............................................................................................12
Changing the lithium-ion battery..............................................................................................13
Battery-condition indicator .......................................................................................................14
Auto power off .........................................................................................................................14
AC adapter (sold separately)...................................................................................................15
Attaching the hand strap .........................................................................................................15
Installing and removing a memory card ..................................................................................16
About memory cards ...............................................................................................................17
Setting the date and time ........................................................................................................18
Recording mode ...................................................................................................................................20
Handling the camera ...............................................................................................................20
Setting the camera to record images ......................................................................................20
Using the zoom lens................................................................................................................21
LCD monitor display - recording mode....................................................................................22
Camera-shake warning ...........................................................................................................22
Basic recording operation........................................................................................................23
Focus lock ...............................................................................................................................24
Focus range.............................................................................................................................24
7
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Focus signals...........................................................................................................................25
Special focusing situations ......................................................................................................25
Flash modes ............................................................................................................................26
Flash range..............................................................................................................................27
Flash signals............................................................................................................................27
Navigating the recording-mode menu .....................................................................................28
Drive modes ............................................................................................................................30
Single-frame advance .................................................................................................30
Continuous advance ...................................................................................................31
Self-timer.....................................................................................................................32
Movie recording ..........................................................................................................33
Audio recording...........................................................................................................34
Image size ...............................................................................................................................35
Image quality ...........................................................................................................................36
The frame counter and memory card capacity........................................................................37
White balance..........................................................................................................................38
Automatic white balance.............................................................................................38
Preset white balance ..................................................................................................39
Digital zoom.............................................................................................................................40
Instant playback.......................................................................................................................41
Voice memo.............................................................................................................................42
Folder name ............................................................................................................................43
LCD brightness........................................................................................................................44
Auto-power-off menu settings..................................................................................................44
Audio signals ...........................................................................................................................44
Setting the date and time ........................................................................................................45
Setting the date format ............................................................................................................45
Exposure compensation ..........................................................................................................46
What is an Ev? ........................................................................................................................47
Display button - recording mode .............................................................................................48
A short guide to photography ..................................................................................................49
Playback mode ....................................................................................................................................50
Single-frame playback display.................................................................................................50
Viewing images and playing back audio recordings ...............................................................51
Display button - playback mode ..............................................................................................52
Enlarged playback ...................................................................................................................53
Navigating the playback-mode menu ......................................................................................54
Frame-selection screen ...........................................................................................................56
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Audio captioning ......................................................................................................................57
Deleting image and audio files ................................................................................................58
Locking image and audio files .................................................................................................59
About DPOF ............................................................................................................................60
Creating a DPOF print order ...................................................................................................60
Ordering an index print............................................................................................................61
Formatting memory cards........................................................................................................62
Video output ............................................................................................................................62
Language.................................................................................................................................62
Viewing images on a television ...............................................................................................63
Data-transfer mode ..............................................................................................................................64
DiMAGE X system requirements.............................................................................................64
Connecting the camera to a computer ....................................................................................65
Connecting to Windows 98 and 98SE.....................................................................................67
Automatic installation..................................................................................................67
Manual installation ......................................................................................................68
Connecting to Mac OS 8.6 ......................................................................................................70
QuickTime system requirements .............................................................................................70
Auto power off - data-transfer mode .......................................................................................70
Changing the memory card - data-transfer mode ...................................................................71
Memory card folder organization.............................................................................................72
Disconnecting the camera from the computer ........................................................................74
Windows 98 and 98SE ...............................................................................................74
Windows Me, 2000 Professional, and XP ..................................................................74
Macintosh....................................................................................................................75
Appendix
....................................................................................................................................76
Setting the menu language .....................................................................................................76
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................................77
Care and storage.....................................................................................................................82
Technical specifications ...........................................................................................................86
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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. 82).
Viewfinder*
Indicator lamp (p. 81)
Shutter-release button
Left key
Flash (p. 26)
Main switch
Self-timer lamp (p. 32)
Viewfinder window*
Right key
Zoom lever (p. 21)
Microphone
Mode switch
Recording mode (p. 20)
Lens*
Playback mode (p. 50)
LCD monitor*
DC terminal (p. 15)
Speaker
Strap eyelet (p. 15)
Enter button
Menu button
Flash-mode button (p. 26)
Display button (p. 48, 52)
Battery/Card chamber door (p. 13, 16)
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Tripod socket
(Located on the bottom of
the body.)
AV-out-terminal/USB-port cover
11
GETTING
UP AND RUNNING
Changing the lithium-ion battery
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. The battery should be recharged
before each shooting session. See page 83 for battery care and storage.
Plug the power cord into the charger unit (1).
With the battery terminals toward the front and
the label face up, slide the battery into the
charger (2).
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.
Unplug the power cord from the outlet.
Remove the battery from the charger (4).
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4
Move the battery latch towards the back of the camera to insert the battery (3). Slide the battery into the
battery chamber (4) with the battery terminals first
until it is caught by the latch.
6
1
2
1
3
To remove the battery, move the latch towards the
back of the camera until the battery is released
(5). Pull the battery out of the chamber (6).
Plug the charger into a live household outlet.
• After a few seconds, the indicator lamp (3) will
glow to show the battery is charging. The lamp will
go out when the battery has been charged.
Charging time is approximately eighty minutes.
2
Slide the battery-chamber door toward the bottom of the
camera to release the safety catch (1). Open the door (2).
5
7
4
3
Close the battery-chamber door (7) and slide it toward the
top of the camera to engage the safety catch (8).
8
• After installing the battery, the set-time/date message may
appear on the monitor. The clock and calendar is set in the
setup 1 section of the menu (p. 18).
13
GETTING
UP AND RUNNING
Battery-condition indicator
AC adapter (sold separately)
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.
Do not change the power supply while the camera is on.
Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies.
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.
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.
Half-full-battery icon - the battery is partially charged. This icon is
displayed for three seconds. The LCD monitor will turn off when
the flash is charging.
1
Low-battery warning - battery power is very low. The battery
should be replaced as soon as possible. This warning automatically appears and remains on the monitor until the battery is
recharged. If the power level falls below this level when the camera is on, the battery-exhausted message will appear just before
the camera shuts down.
If power is insufficient for camera operation, the indicator lamp
next to the viewfinder will turn red and blink for three seconds. The
shutter will not release. The battery must be recharged.
Insert the AC adapter plug into an electrical outlet.
Attaching the hand strap
Always keep the strap around your wrist in the event
that the camera is accidentally dropped.
2
Auto power off
To conserve battery power, the camera will shut down if an operation is not made within three minutes. To restore power, press the main switch. The length of the autopower-off period can be changed in the setup 1 section of the recording and playbackmode menu (p. 28, 54). When the camera is connected to a computer, the auto-poweroff period is set to ten minutes and cannot be changed.
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Insert the mini plug of the AC adapter into the DC terminal (1).
Pass the small loop of the hand strap through the strap
eyelet on the camera body (1).
Pass the other end of the strap through the small loop and
tighten (2).
1
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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.
2
3
1
Slide the battery-chamber door toward the bottom of
the camera to release the safety catch (1). Open the
door (2).
Insert the memory card all the way into the card slot and
then release (3). The card should catch in the slot.
4
5
6
• Insert the card so the face is toward the front of the camera.
Always push the card in straight, never at an angle. Never
force the card. If the card does not fit, check that it is
orientated correctly.
• If a MultiMediaCard is inserted incorrectly, it will lock, but the
card chamber door will not close.
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. If an attempt is made to record or delete an
image with the camera, the card-locked message will
appear and the LED lamps near the viewfinder will turn
red and blink quickly. For memory card care and store
see page 82.
Writeprotect
switch
Lock
position
If the unable-to-use-card message appears, the inserted
card in the camera may need to be formatted. A card used in another camera may
also have to be formatted before being used. A card can be formatted in the setup 2
section of the playback menu (p. 54). When a card is formatted, all the data on the
card is permanently erased.
To eject a memory card, press the card into the slot and
release (4). The card can now be pulled out.
Close the battery-chamber door (5) and slide it toward
the top of the camera to engage the safety catch (6).
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17
GETTING
UP AND RUNNING
Setting the date and time
Basic
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 76.
1
Turn the camera on by pressing the
main switch near the shutter-release
button (1).
Setup 1
Setup 2
LCD brightness Power off
3 min.
Audio signals
On
Date/Time set
-
Date format YYYY/MM/DD
Playback menu: setup 1 section
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. The menu button (3) turns
the menu on and off. The zoom lever
and left and right keys (4) control the
cursor and change settings on the
menu. The enter button (5) selects
menu options and sets adjustments.
Press the menu button to active the
playback menu.
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.
Use the left and right keys to select the
item to be changed. Use the zoom lever
to adjust the item.
Date/Time setting screen
Press the enter button to set the clock and calendar. The playback menu will be displayed.
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Press the menu button to close the playback
menu.
19
RECORDING
MODE
Using the zoom lens
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.
Handling the camera
While using the viewfinder or LCD monitor, grip the camera
firmly with your right hand while supporting the camera body
with your left. Keep your elbows at your side and your feet
shoulder-width apart to hold the camera steadily.
When taking vertical pictures, hold the camera so that the
flash is above the lens with the shutter-release button to the
top. Take care not to cover the lens with your fingers or the
strap.
Setting the camera to record images
1
Turn the camera on by pressing the main switch (1).
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.
To zoom in on the subject, push
the zoom lever up.
To zoom out, push the zoom lever
down.
The digital-zoom function can double the power of the lens. The digital zoom is activated in the custom
section of the recording-mode
menu (p. 28).
Slide the mode switch to the recording position (2).
2
2
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21
RECORDING
MODE
LCD monitor display - recording mode
Microphone indicator
Recording mode
Flash modes (p. 26)
Exposure compensation (p. 46)
White balance (p. 38)
Basic recording operation
Digital zoom (p. 40)
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.
Image size (p. 35)
Image quality (p. 36)
Battery-condition indicator
(p. 14)
• 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’ wideangle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position, only use
the LCD monitor to frame the subject.
Drive mode (p. 30)
Frame counter (p. 37)
Camera-shake warning
Focus signals (p. 27)
The frame counter cannot exceed 999. When the number of recordable images
exceeds this, 999 will be displayed. The frame counter will continue to count down
when the number of recordable images falls below one thousand.
Camera-shake warning
If the shutter speed falls below the point where the camera can be
hand held safely, the camera-shake warning indicator will appear on
the monitor and the viewfinder indicator lamp will turn green and
blink slowly. Camera shake is slight blurring caused by subtle hand
motion and is more pronounced at the telephoto position of the lens than at the wideangle position. Although the warning appears, the shutter can
still be released. If the warning appears, place the camera on
a tripod or use the built-in flash.
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Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock the
focus and exposure.
1
2
• The focus signals (p. 25) on the monitor and the indicator lamp
next to the viewfinder will confirm that the image is in focus. If
the monitor focus signal is red or the
indicator lamp is green and blinks
quickly, the camera was unable to
focus on the subject. Repeat the
previous steps until the focus signal is
white and the lamp glows steadily.
Press the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to take
the picture.
• After the shutter releases, the indicator lamp next to the
viewfinder will turn orange and blink indicating image data is
being written to the memory card. Never remove a memory card
while data is being transferred.
23
RECORDING
MODE
Focus lock
Focus signals
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.
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.
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 confirmed - the LCD monitor focus signal is
white and the viewfinder indicator lamp is green and
steady.
• The focus signal on the monitor and the
viewfinder indicator lamp will indicate if
the focus is locked.
Without lifting your finger from the shutter-release
button, recompose the subject within the image area.
Press the shutter-release button all the way down to
take the picture.
Cannot focus - the LCD monitor focus signal is red and
the viewfinder indicator lamp is green and blinking
quickly. When the AF system cannot focus, the focus is
set to 2m (6.5ft).
Focus signal
Special focusing situations
The camera may not be able to focus in certain situations. In these situations the
focus-lock function (p. 24) can be used to focus on another object at the same distance
as your main subject, and then the image can be recomposed to take the picture.
Focus range
The focus range is 25cm (0.8ft.) to infinity. Both the LCD monitor and viewfinder can be
used to frame the subject. However, because of parallax, only the monitor’s live image
will be accurate with subjects closer than 1m (3ft.) at the zoom lens’ wide-angle position or 3m (10ft) at the telephoto position.
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The subject is too dark.
The subject in the
focus frame is low in
contrast.
Two subjects at different distances overlap
in the focus frame.
The subject is near a
very bright object or
area.
25
RECORDING
MODE
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).
Flash modes
The flash can be used when taking still images. To set the
flash mode, simply press the flash mode 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, the flash mode
is reset to autoflash with red-eye reduction if autoflash with
red-eye reduction or night portrait was last set, if not the
mode will be reset to autoflash.
Night portrait - for flash portraits at night. The camera
automatically balances the flash and background exposures. When taking portraits, ask your subject not to move
after the flash burst; the shutter will still be open for the
background exposure. The red-eye reduction function is
used with night portrait.
1
The flash modes are displayed in the following order:
Flash range
Autoflash
Autoflash with
red-eye reduction
Fill-flash
Flash
cancel
Night
portrait
Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in low-light and backlit conditions.
Red-eye reduction - the flash fires multiple bursts before the main flash burst to
reduce red-eye; an effect caused by light reflected from the retina. Use in low-light conditions when taking photographs of people or animals, the pre-flashes contract the
pupils of the subject’s eyes.
Fill-flash - the flash fires with each exposure
regardless of the amount of ambient light.
Fill-flash can be used to reduce harsh shadows caused by strong direct light or sunshine.
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The camera automatically controls 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
Telephoto position
0.25m ~ 2.9m (0.8 ft. ~ 9.5 ft.)
0.25m ~ 2.3m (0.8 ft. ~ 7.5 ft.)
Flash signals
The indicator lamp next to the viewfinder indicates the status
of the flash. When the lamp is red and blinks quickly, the flash
is charging and the shutter will not release. When the lamp
turns green, the flash is charged and ready to fire.
27
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.
Basic
Drive mode
To activate the recording-mode menu, press the menu button.
Image size
When the desired menu section is displayed, use the zoom lever to scroll through
the menu options. Highlight the option whose setting needs to be changed.
Quality
Use the zoom lever to highlight the new setting.
• If “Enter” is displayed, press the enter button to display the setting screen.
Basic
Custom
Setup 1
Drive mode
Single
Image size
1600X1200
Quality
Standard
White balance Auto
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Press the enter button to select the
highlighted setting.
Once a setting has been selected, the cursor will
return to the menu options and the new setting will
be displayed. Changes can continue to be made. To
return to the recording mode, press the menu
button.
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Single
Digital zoom
On / Off
Continuous
Instant playback
On / Off
Self-timer
Voice memo
On / Off
Movie
Folder name
Standard form
Audio rec.
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.
With the menu option to be changed highlighted, press the right key; the settings
will be displayed with the current setting indicated by an arrow.
• To return to the menu options, press the left key.
Custom
1600 X 1200
1280 X 960
White balance
Date form
Setup 1
640 X 480
LCD brightness
Enter
Super fine
Power off
1 minute
Fine
3 minutes
Standard
5 minutes
Economy
10 minutes
Auto
30 minutes
Daylight
Audio signals
On / Off
Cloudy
Date/Time set
Enter
Tungsten
Date format
YYYY/MM/DD
Fluorescent
DD/MM/YYYY
MM/DD/YYYY
Refer to the following sections for
details on the menu options and their
settings. The setup 1 section can be
accessed from both the recording-mode
and playback menu (p. 54).
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RECORDING
MODE
Drive modes
Continuous advance
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 recording-mode menu (p. 28). When the camera is turned off, the drive
mode is reset to single-frame 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 1600 X
1200, the maximum rate of capture is 2 fps. If the image quality is set to super fine (p.
36) only one frame can be captured at a time. Continuous advance is selected in the
basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28).
Movie recording (p. 33)
Audio recording (p. 34)
Single-frame advance
Continuous advance (p. 31)
Self-timer (p. 32)
Single-frame advance
Single-frame advance allows only one image to be captured each time the
shutter-release button is pressed. This is the camera’s default setting.
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Compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation
section (p. 23). Press the shutter-release button partway down to lock
the exposure and focus for the series. Press and hold the shutterrelease button all the way down (1) to begin taking pictures. When the shutter-release button is pressed and
held, the camera will begin recording images until the
maximum number has been taken or the shutter button
is released. The built-in flash can be used, but the rate
of capture is reduced because the flash must recharge
between frames. The frame counter is adjusted after
the series has been taken while the images are being
saved.
The chart lists the maximum number of images
that can be captured
with different imagequality and image-size
combinations.
Image
Quality
Image
Size 1600 X 1200
Fine
Standard
Economy
7
15
29
1
1280 X 960
640 X 480
11
23
44
44
81
140
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RECORDING
MODE
Self-timer
Movie recording
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 off-center subjects. Press the shutter-release button partway
down to lock the exposure and focus (1). Press the shutter-release button all the way down to begin the countdown (2). Because focus and
exposure are determined when the shutter-release button is pressed,
do not stand in front of the camera when taking a self-timer image.
Always confirm the focus with the focus signals
before beginning the countdown (p. 25).
During the countdown, the self-timer lamp on the
front of the camera (3) will start to blink. A few seconds before the exposure, the self-timer lamp will
blink rapidly. The lamp will glow steadily just before
the shutter fires. To stop the countdown, press the
zoom lever. To stop the countdown and
cancel the self-timer, press the main
switch. The drive mode will be reset to
single-frame advance after the exposure.
1
2
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 recorded at a rate of around 340KB/s.
Approximately one 19-second movie clip can be stored on one 8MB memory card.
Shooting digital video is simple. Frame the picture on the LCD monitor. Press and
release the shutter-release button to begin recording (1); “Rec” will be
displayed during recording. The camera will continue to record until the
1
recording time is used or the shutter-release button is pressed again.
When recording, the frame counter will countdown the
recording time. Take care not to cover the microphone
while recording. During recording, focus is locked and
the optical zoom is disabled. However, a stepless 2X
digital zoom can be used with the zoom lever.
After recording, a screen will appear
indicating the movie clip is
being saved to the memory
Recording
card. Never remove the
memory card or disconnect
the power supply while the
clip is being saved.
Stand-by
Maximum recording
time for the next clip.
Saving to card.
Recording indicator
Remaining recording time
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RECORDING
MODE
Audio recording
Image size
Ninety seconds of audio can be recorded without an image. The audiorecording 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 842 seconds of audio can be stored on one 8MB memory card. Audio is
recorded at approximately 8KB/s.
Microphone
1
To begin recording, press the shutter-release
button (1). A bar graph (2) will display the
amount of recorded time. The recording will
stop when the shutter-release button is
pressed again or the ninety-second limit has
elapsed.
Stand-by
When making audio recordings, be careful
not to touch or cover the microphone. The
quality of the recording is proportional to the
subject to microphone distance. For best
results, hold the camera
approximately 20cm (8in) from
your mouth.
PressShutterButtonToRecord.
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).
Three image sizes are available: 1600 X 1200
(UXGA), 1280 X 960 (SXGA), and 640 X 480
(VGA). Image size is defined by the image’s
horizontal and vertical dimensions in pixels.
The selected image-size setting is displayed
on the LCD monitor by the horizontal
dimension only.
If the image size is changed, the frame counter will display the approximate number of
images that can be recorded at that setting on the installed memory card. One memory
card can contain images with differing sizes.
Recording audio.
Press shutter to stop.
2
Recording
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Remaining recording time
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RECORDING
MODE
Image quality
The frame counter and memory card capacity
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 recording-mode menu (p. 28).
The number of images
Approximate file sizes.
that can be stored on a
Image
memory card is
size 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960
Image
640 X 480
determined by the size
quality
and type of card and the
Super fine
5.5MB
3.5MB
0.89MB
file size of the images.
Fine
0.93MB
0.60MB
0.17MB
The actual file size is
determined by the
Standard
0.47MB
0.31MB
0.09MB
scene; some subjects
Economy
0.24MB
0.17MB
0.05MB
can be compressed
Approximate
card
capacity
for
an
8MB
memory
card.
further than others.
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. If the economical use of the memory card is important, use
the economy mode. Standard image quality is sufficient for normal usage. The superfine mode will produce the highest quality image and the largest image files.
File formats vary with the image quality setting. Super fine images are saved as a TIFF
file. Fine, standard, and economy images are formatted as JPEG files.
If the image quality is changed, the LCD monitor will display the approximate number of
images that can be recorded at that setting on the installed memory card. One memory
card can contain images with differing qualities.
LCD monitor
display
S. FIN
FINE
STD
ECON
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File type
Super fine - the highest-quality image.
TIFF
Fine - high-quality image.
JPEG
Standard - the default setting.
JPEG
Economy - the smallest file sizes.
JPEG
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Super fine
1 image
1 image
7 images
The frame counter indiFine
6 images
10 images
39 images
cates the approximate
13
images
20
images
68 images
Standard
number of images that
Economy
25 images
39 images 117 images
can be stored on the
memory card at the
camera’s image quality and size settings. If the settings are changed, the frame
counter adjusts accordingly. Because the calculation is based on approximate file
sizes, the actual image taken may not change the counter or may decrease it by more
than one.
When the frame counter displays three red zeros, it indicates no more images at the
image size and quality settings can be captured. Changing the image size or quality
settings may allow more images to be captured.
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RECORDING
MODE
White balance
Preset 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.
Preset white-balance settings must be set before the image is taken. Once set, the
effect is immediately visible on the monitor.
One automatic and four preset white-balance setting
are available. 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. White balance is set in the basic section of the
recording-mode menu (p. 28).
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.
Cloudy - for overcast outdoor scenes.
Automatic white balance
The automatic white balance compensates for the color temperature of a scene. In
most cases, the auto setting will balance the ambient light and create beautiful images,
even under mixed-lighting conditions. When the built-in flash is used, the white balance
is set for the color temperature of the flash.
Tungsten - for incandescent lighting: household filament light bulbs.
Fluorescent - for fluorescent lighting: office ceiling lights.
Shooting tips
White balance cannot correct high-energy vapor lighting: sodium-vapor (yellow highway lights),
or mercury vapor. For portraits under these lighting conditions, the flash can be used to overpower the ambient light. With landscapes containing these types of lights, set the white balance
to the preset daylight setting.
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RECORDING
MODE
Digital zoom
Instant playback
Assisting the optical zoom is a four-step 2X digital zoom. The digital zoom is activated
in the custom section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28).
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. 48), it will automatically activate for
the instant playback period.
The digital zoom increases the magnification of the greatest telephoto setting of the
optical zoom in four steps: X1.25, X1.50, X1.75, and X2.00. Although the images
recorded with the digital zoom are interpolated to the set image size, the quality of the
images may not be equal to images taken without the digital zoom. The effect of the
digital zoom is visible on the LCD monitor only. The digital-zoom function is canceled if
the LCD monitor is turned off (p. 48).
Instant playback can be activated in the custom
section of the recording-mode menu (p. 28). When
used with voice memo, the audio recording will
begin after the image is played back.
Activate the digital zoom in the custom
section of the recording mode menu.
• The digital zoom will remain active until
reset on the menu.
At the maximum telephoto position, press
the zoom lever up to engage the digital
zoom.
• The zoom magnification will be displayed in
the top right corner of the monitor.
• To zoom out, press the zoom lever down.
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.
The Electro-zoom X was an electronically
controlled aperture-priority mechanical SLR
with a built-in 30 - 120mm f/3.5 zoom lens
giving twenty 12 X 17mm images on a roll of
16mm film. The shutter-release button and
battery chamber are located in the grip. Only
a few prototypes were built making it one of
Minolta’s rarest cameras.
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