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. Check the packing list before using this product. If any items are missing, immediately contact your camera dealer.
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. •...
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• Use only 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. • Do not disassemble this product. Electric shock may cause injury if a high voltage circuit inside the product is touched.
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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. •...
About this manual The basic operation of this camera is covered between pages 14 and 37. 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 basic and advanced auto-recording mode sections cover all the basic functions of the camera in this mode and in the multi-function recording mode.
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White balance...62 Automatic white balance ...62 Preset white balance ...62 Custom white balance ...63 Focus modes ...64 Single-shot AF ...64 Subject Tracking AF ...64 Manual focus...65 Full-time AF ...65 Flash compensation ...66 Metering modes...66 Camera sensitivity - ISO...67 Flash range and camera sensitivity ...67 Digital Effects Control ...68 Voice memo ...70 Instant playback...71...
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Setup mode - controlling the camera’s operation...95 Navigating the setup menu...96 LCD monitor brightness...98 Formatting memory cards ...98 Auto power save ...99 Language...99 File number (#) memory ...99 Folder name...100 Audio signals ...100 Shutter FX ...101 Volume...102 Reset default...102 Noise reduction...104 Setting the date and time ...104 Setting the date format ...104 Video output ...104...
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. 122). Shutter-release button Self-timer/ Remote-control lamp (p. 42) Remote-control receiver Flash (p.
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Flash mode/Information button (p. 32, 34) Viewfinder* (p. 12) LCD monitor* Display button (p. 31, 36) QV/ Delete button (p. 35) Menu button Digital-subject-program button Exposure-compensation button (p. 51) Card-slot door (p. 18) (p. 29) The USB port, AV-out terminal, and DC termi- nal are located behind the terminal cover.
Viewfinder Focus lamp (green) 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 position or 3m (9.8ft) at the telephoto position, use the LCD monitor to compose the image;...
Data panel Located on the top of the camera body, the data panel shows the status of the camera. All icons have been shown for clarity. Manual-focus indicator (p. 65) Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 67) Spot-metering indicator (p. 66) White-balance indicator (p. 62) Drive-mode indicators (p.
GETTING UP AND RUNNING Changing the CR-V3 battery This digital camera uses one CR-V3 lithium battery. When replacing the batteries, the mode dial should be in the off position.N.B. Whilst this battery is available in some dig- ital camera stores we recommend that Ni-MH AA batteries be used. See next section.
Installing AA batteries When the supplied CR-V3 battery is exhausted please use two AA-size Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) bat- teries. We do not reccomend the use of Alkaline or Lithium AA batteries. Ni-MH batteries offer improved performance partiucally when charged with an ‘intellegent’ charger. Intellegent chargers recharge each bat- tery with the amount power it requires.1800mAh or higher capacity batteries are reccomended.
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. If the data panel and monitor are blank, the battery may be exhausted or installed incorrectly. Auto power save To conserve battery power, the camera will turn off displays and unnecessary functions if an opera- tion is not made within a minute.
Connecting the AC adapter (sold separately) The AC Adapter AC-6 allows the camera to be powered from an electrical household outlet. The AC Adapter is recommended when the camera is interfaced with a computer or during periods of heavy use. Always turn off the camera before changing between power supplies.
Changing the memory card An SD Memory Card or MultiMediaCard must be inserted for the camera to operate. If a card has not been inserted, a no-card warning will automatically be displayed on the monitor and three dashes (– – –) will be displayed on the data-panel frame counter. Always turn off the camera and confirm the power/access lamp is not red before removing or inserting a memory card;...
If the card-not-recognized message appears, the inserted card in the camera may need to be format- ted. A card used in another camera may have to be formatted before being used. If the unable-to- use-card message appears, the card is not compatible with the camera and cannot be formatted. A card is formatted in the basic section of the setup menu (p.
Setting the date and time After initially inserting a memory card and battery, the camera’s clock and calendar must be set. When images are recorded, the image data is saved with the date and time of recording. Depending on the region, the menu language may also have to be set. To change the language, see the camera notes on the following page.
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Custom1 Custom2 Basic – Reset default Noise reduction Off – Date/Time set Date format YYYY/MM/DD Video output NTSC Setup menu: custom 2 section Use the left and right keys to select the item to be changed. Use the up and down keys to adjust the item. Press the central button to set the clock and calen- dar.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE – BASIC OPERATION This section covers the basic operation of this camera. Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the opera- tions 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.
Setting the camera to record images automatically Exposure mode Metering mode Camera sensitivity (ISO) Exposure compensation White balance , focus area, drive mode, * Changes to the flash mode when the mode dial is turned to another position. autoflash with red eye reduction depending on which of the two modes was set last. Turn the mode dial to the auto-recording mode position (1);...
Using the zoom lens This camera is equipped with a 7.8 to 23.4mm optical zoom. This is equivalent to a 38 to 114mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera. In 35mm photography, focal lengths below 50mm are referred to as wide-angle;...
About camera operation The auto-recording mode uses advanced technology to make photography as effortless as possible. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection optimizes exposure, color, and image-processing set- tings for each subject. The sophisticated AF system locates and tracks the subject automatically. Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection - The icons at the top of the LCD monitor display indicate the Digital Subject Program in use.
Basic recording operation With the mode dial set to auto recording, the camera will be on and the LCD monitor will activate. Auto recording mode uses two advanced AF systems, Area AF and Subject Tracking AF, to locate and track the subject in the the extra-wide focus frames.
Focus signals This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system. The focus icon in the lower right cor- ner of the LCD monitor and the green focus lamp next to the viewfinder indicate the focus status. The shutter can be released even if the camera cannot focus on the subject.
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection Automatic Digital Program Selection chooses between programmed AE and one of five subject pro- grams: portrait, sports action, landscape, sunset, and night portrait. The digital subject programs opti- mize the camera‘s performance for various conditions and subjects. Exposure, white-balance, and image-processing systems work in unison for beautiful results.
Digital-subject-program button Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection Macro Portrait While camera performance is optimized for each shooting condition, some changes can be made to camera settings with subject programs. The flash mode (p. 32) can be changed and the exposure can be altered using exposure-compensation (p.
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MACRO - used for close-up photography between 20 and 60 cm (0.7 - 2.0ft) from the CCD. The lens will automatically zoom to the macro position and cannot be changed. Because of parallax, the LCD monitor should be used to compose the picture.
Display button - recording mode The display 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.
Flash modes To set the flash mode, simply press the flash mode button (1) on the back of the camera until the appropriate mode is indicated. Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in low- light and backlit conditions. Red-eye reduction - multiple flashes are used before the main flash burst to reduce red-eye;...
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 Telephoto position Flash signals...
PLAYBACK - BASIC OPERATION Images can be viewed in the Quick View or playback modes. This section covers the basic operations in both modes. The playback mode has additional functions, see page 80. Single-frame playback and histogram display Mode indicator Time of capture Date of capture...
The histogram shows the luminance distribution of the image from black (left) to white (right). The 256 vertical lines indicates the relative proportion of that light value in the image. The histogram can be used to evaluate exposure, but displays no color information. Viewing and deleting images In Quick View or the playback mode, use the left/right keys of the controller to scroll through the images.
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 Index playback Display button In index playback, the four-way keys of the controller will move the yellow border.
Enlarged playback In single-frame playback in Quick View or the playback mode, a still image can be enlarged up to 6X in 0.2 increments for closer examination. With the image to be magnified displayed, press the up key of the controller to activate the enlarged playback mode.
AUTO-RECORDING MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION Navigating the auto-recording mode menu In auto-recording mode, the menu button (1) turns the menu on and off. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting.
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Basic Drive mode Single Timer / RC Continuous UHS cont. Bracketing Image size 2560 X 1920 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 640 X 480 Quality Super fine Fine Standard Economy Digital zoom On / Off Date imprinting On / Off select enter Use the left/right keys to...
Digital zoom The digital zoom is activated on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) and in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). The digital zoom extends the power of the telephoto position of the optical zoom by up to 4X in 0.1X increments. The transition between the optical zoom and digital zoom is seamless.
Drive modes The drive modes control the rate and method of image capture. Icons indicating the selected drive mode appear on the data panel and LCD monitor. Data panel LCD monitor Single-frame advance Self-timer/ Remote control Continuous advance UHS continuous advance Bracketing In auto-recording mode, the drive mode resets to single-frame advance each time the position of the...
Self-timer Used for self-portraits, the self-timer will delay the release of the shutter for approximately ten sec- onds after the shutter-release button is pressed. When the drive mode is set to self-timer, the focus mode is changed from Subject Tracking AF to single-shot AF allowing the use of focus lock (p. 53). The self-timer is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p.
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 also be used in movie and audio recording (p. 79). The remote control may not oper- ate with backlit subjects or under fluorescent light.
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.
UHS continuous advance UHS continuous-advance mode allows up to eleven 1280 X 960 images to be captured in one sec- ond. The UHS continuous-advance mode is set on the auto-recording mode menu and in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). This mode cannot be used with super-fine image quality, flash illumination, the digital zoom, or Digital Subject Programs.
Bracketing This mode makes a three-image bracket of a scene. Bracketing is a method of taking a series of images of a static subject in which each image has a slight variation in exposure. The bracketing mode is set on the auto-recording mode menu (p. 38) or in the basic section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p.
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Compose the picture as described in the basic recording operation section (p. 26). Press the shutter-release button partway down (1) to lock onto the subject and set the exposure for the series. Press and hold the shutter-release button all the way down (2) to make the brack- et series;...
Image size and image quality Changing image size affects the number of pixels in each image. The greater the image size, the larger the file size. Choose image size based on the final use of the image - smaller images will be more suitable for web sites whereas larger sizes will produce high- er quality prints.
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If image size or quality are 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 and qualities. The number of images that can be stored on a memory card is determined by the size of the card and the file size of the images.
Date imprinting The date of recording can be printed directly on the image. The imprinting function must be activated before the image is taken. Once activated, the date will continue to be imprinted until the function is reset; a yellow bar is displayed behind the frame counter on the moni- tor to indicate the imprinting function is active.
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. For information on the use of exposure compensation, see page 74. In auto- recording mode, exposure compensation is reset when the mode dial is moved to another position. In multi-function recording mode exposure compensation will remain in effect until it has been reset.
Focus area selection Individual focus areas can be selected. Press and hold the central button of the con- troller (1) until the Area-AF frame lines change to the spot-focus-area display. Press and hold the controller again to return to the Area-AF frame lines. Press the shutter-release button partway down (3) or press the central button of the controller (4) to select the area;...
Focus lock The focus-lock function prevents the AF system from focusing. Focus lock can be used with off-cen- ter subjects or when a special focusing situation prevents the camera from focusing (p. 27). When using single-shot AF with Area AF in the multi-function recording mode, place the subject in the focus frames and press the shutter-release button partway down.
MULTI-FUNCTION RECORDING – 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 sec- tions before moving on. The multi-function recording mode allows greater control over image making. This recording mode gives more control over autofocus and composition.
Multi-function recording mode display a. Digital-subject-program indicator (p. 29) b. Microphone indicator c. Mode indicator d. Flash-mode indicator (p. 32) e. Flash-compensation display (p. 66) f. Sharpness, contrast, and color- saturation compensation displays (p. 68) g. Exposure-compensation display (p. 51) h.
Navigating the multi-function recording mode menu In the multi-function recording mode, the menu button (1) turns the menu on and off. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller (2) are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting.
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Basic Exposure mode Program Aperture priority Shutter priority Manual Drive mode Single Self-timer Continuous UHS cont. Bracketing Image size 2560 X 1920 2048 X 1536 1600 X 1200 640 X 480 Quality Super fine Fine Standard Economy White balance Cust.set CustRecall Auto Preset...
Exposure modes Programmed AE - P The program exposure mode controls both the shutter speed and aperture to ensure perfect expo- sures. The sophisticated exposure system allows the photographer the freedom to shoot without hav- ing to worry about the technical details of exposure settings. The shutter speed and aperture values of the exposure are displayed on the monitor.
Because the maximum aperture is not the same at the wide-angle and telephoto position, as the lens is zoomed, the aperture will automatically shift. If the aperture value is beyond the shutter-speed range, the shutter-speed display will turn red on the monitor. Shutter priority - S The photographer selects the shutter speed and the camera sets the appropriate aperture to ensure correct exposure.
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 changes made to the exposure will be visible in the live image on the monitor. The monitor shut- ter-speed and aperture display will turn red if the image is underexposed or overexposed by more than 3 Ev.
Bulb exposures Bulb photographs can be taken in the manual-exposure mode. Exposures up to fifteen seconds can be made. A tripod is recom- mended for bulb exposures. The camera’s exposure system cannot be used to calculate bulb exposures. The use of a separate light meter is recommended.
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 pho- tography. An indicator will be displayed on the monitor if a setting other than auto white-balance is chosen.
Use the left/right keys of the controller (1) to select the pre- set setting, an indicator is displayed in the bottom left cor- ner of the screen and the live image shows the effect of the white-balance setting. Press the central button of the con- troller (2) to apply the setting.
Focus modes This camera has autofocus and manual focus control. The focus mode is set in the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). Autofocus will produce excellent results in almost every situation, however, under certain conditions, the autofocus system will not work accurately;...
Manual focus After setting the camera to the manual focus mode (MF), “ZOOM” and “FOCUS” will appear at the top of the LCD monitor. Press the central button of the controller to switch between the two functions; the function highlighted in blue is active. With “FOCUS” highlighted, use the up/down keys of the con- troller to focus;...
Flash compensation Flash compensation increases or decreases the flash exposure in reference to the ambient exposure by as much as 2 Ev. For infor- mation on the use of flash compensation, see page 74. Select the flash compensation option on the custom 1 section of the multi-function recording mode menu.
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 custom 1 section of the multi- function recording mode menu (p.
Digital Effects Control Changes in color, sharpness, contrast, and saturation can be made using the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu (p. 56). These imaging controls give photographers the ability to maximize the image information at the scene. For example, if a scene is too contrasty, information can be lost in the shadows and highlights;...
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To change color, sharpness, contrast, or saturation, select the setting from the Digital Effects Control option in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording mode menu; the setting screen will open. select enter The setting will remain in effect until it is changed. If sharpness, contrast, or color saturation is set to any setting other than normal, an indicator will be displayed indicating an increase (+) or decrease (–) in the quality selected.
Voice memo Voice memo allows a fifteen second audio track to be recorded with a still image. The function is acti- vated in the custom 2 section of the multi-function recording menu (p. 56). When the function is active, the microphone indicator is displayed on the data panel and LCD monitor. Voice memo must be set before taking a picture.
Instant playback An image can be displayed on the monitor after it is captured. When used with the continuous- advance or bracketing drive modes (p. 41), thumbnails of the last six images in the series will be dis- played. Only the last frame in a series is displayed with UHS continuous advance or when using date imprinting.
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;...
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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 cas- cading over a waterfall.
Using exposure and flash compensation Sometimes the camera’s exposure meter is deceived by certain con- ditions. Exposure compensation can compensate for 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.
What is an Ev? What is a stop? Ev stands for exposure value. The term stop comes from the name of aperture plates used in early lenses. A change of one Ev or one stop will adjust the exposure calculated by the camera by a factor of two.
MOVIE AND AUDIO RECORDING Recording movies Image size Recording time Countdown in seconds OVIE AND AUDIO RECORDING This camera can record digital video with sound. Total record- ing time varies with the image size. See the navigating the movie menu section on page 78. In movie recording, some functions can be used, some are fixed, and some are disabled.
Recording audio Microphone Press shutter button to record. Recording audio. Press shutter to stop. Recording countdown Camera Notes When turning the camera on, the lens can be prevented from extending. Press and hold the down the central key of the rear controller when turning the mode dial from off to the audio recording position.
Navigating the movie menu Basic Image size 320 X 240 WhiteBalance Auto Movie mode Standard Use the up/down keys to highlight the new setting. Press the central button of the controller to select the highlighted setting. Once a setting is made, the cursor returns to the menu options and the new setting is displayed. To return to the movie mode, press the menu button.
Notes on movie recording In movie recording, some functions can be used, some are fixed, and some are disabled, see chart. Image size, white balance, and movie mode can be selected with the movie menu. When the red low-battery indicator appears (p. 16), power is insufficient for movie recording.
PLAYBACK MODE - ADVANCED OPERATION The basic functions in this mode are described in the basic playback section on pages 34 through 37. This section covers how to playback movie clips and audio tracks as well as the advanced func- tion on the playback menu.
Playing back movies and audio recordings Movie clips and audio recordings are played back the same way. Use the left/right keys of the con- troller to display the movie or audio file; audio files are displayed with a blue screen. These files can- not be played back in Quick View.
Navigating the playback-mode menu In playback mode, the menu button turns the menu on and off. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting.
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Basic Delete This frame All frames Marked frames Lock This frame All frames Marked frames Unlock frames Audio caption Enter Custom 1 Slide show Enter Playback All frames Marked frames Duration 1 - 60 sec. Repeat Yes / No Custom 2 Print This frame All frames...
Frame-selection screen When a marked-frames setting is chosen on a menu, the frame selection screen will appear. This screen allows multiple images to be chosen. The left/right keys of the controller move the yellow border to select the image. The menu button cancels the screen : move and any operation...
Deleting files Deleting permanently erases the file. Once deleted, a file cannot be recovered. Care should be taken when deleting images. Single, multiple, or all files on the memory card can be deleted in the basic section of the playback- mode menu (p.
Locking files Single, multiple, or all files can be locked. A locked file cannot be deleted by either the playback- mode menu functions or the QV/delete button. Important images and audio recordings should be locked. The lock function is in the basic section of the playback menu (p. 82). The lock option has four settings: This The file displayed or highlighted in playback mode will be locked.
Audio captioning A still image can have a fifteen-second audio caption attached to it. This function will also replace a voice-memo audio track recorded with an image. Audio captions cannot be attached to movie clips, nor can they overwrite audio recordings. Display the image to which the audio caption will be attached.
Slide Show The custom 1 section of the playback-mode menu controls the slide-show function. This function automatically displays all still images on the memory card in order. Press the central button of the controller to pause and restart the slide show presen- tation.
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Menu options Settings Slide Enter show All frames Playback Marked Frames Duration 1 - 60s. Repeat Yes / No To start the slide-show presentation. Pressing the central button of the controller will pause the presentation. During the slide show, press the down key of the controller to stop the presentation and return to the playback-mode menu.
About DPOF This camera is supported by DPOF™ version 1.1. The DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) allows direct printing of still images from digital cameras. After the DPOF file is created, the memory card is simply taken to a photofinishing service or inserted into the memory-card slot of DPOF compatible printers.
When 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 con- troller to set the required number of copies. If the all-frames setting was used to create a print order, any additional images recorded afterwards will not be included in the order.
Copy and E-mail Copy The copy function makes exact copies of image, audio, or movie files and can store the copied data on another memory card. E-mail Copy makes a standard 640 X 480 (VGA) JPEG copy of an original still image so that it may be easily transmitted by e-mail.
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Copy When the image(s) to be copied are selected, a screen with four messages is displayed. The messages are highlighted during the copying procedure. Copied to 101MLTCP E-mail Copy When the image(s) to be converted to an e-mail file are selected, the copy rou- Copied to 101MLTEM tine will begin and a screen will appear indicating the name of the folder con- taining the copied images;...
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 stan- dards.
SETUP MODE CONTROLLING THE CAMERA’S OPERATION The setup mode is used to control the camera’s functions and operation. The navigating the setup menu section covers the operation of the menu. The section is followed by detailed descriptions of the settings. Camera Notes When turning the camera on, the lens can be prevented from extending.
Navigating the setup menu To access the menu, simply turn the mode dial to the setup position. The left/right and up/down keys of the controller are used to move the cursor in the menu. Pressing the central button of the controller will enter a setting.
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Basic LCD brightness Enter Format Enter Power save 1, 3, 5, 10 min. Language Japanese English Deutsch Français Español Custom 1 File # memory On / Off Folder name Standard form Date form Audio signals Shutter FX Custom Custom record Volume 1 (Low) - 3 (High) Custom 2...
LCD monitor brightness High The brightness of the LCD monitor can be set in eleven levels. The brightness setting screen is opened from the basic section of the setup menu (p. 96). Use the left/right keys of the controller (1) to adjust the brightness. The monitor image will change accordingly.
Auto power save To conserve battery power, the camera will shut down if no operation is made within a certain period. The length of the auto-power-save period can be changed to 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes. When the cam- era is connected to a computer, the auto-power-save period is fixed at ten minutes.
Folder name All recorded images are stored in folders on the memory card. Folder names come in two formats, standard and date. Standard folders have an eight character name. The initial folder is named 100MLT17. The first three digits are the folder’s serial number, which will increase 100MLT17 by one each time a new folder is created.
Shutter FX When the shutter is released, a shutter sound effect will give a positive confirmation of the operation. The sound effect can be turned off in the custom 1 section of the setup menu (p. 96). Three shutter effects are available; signal 1 is mechanical, signal 2 is electrical, and custom for a person- alized effect.
Test? Stop Vol. Playback display Save? Volume The volume of the audio signals and shutter FX can be increased or decreased in the custom 1 sec- tion of the setup menu (p. 96). This affects the camera’s audio signals only and will not change the playback levels of an audio track.
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Image size (still) Image size (movie) Metering mode Exposure compensation Flash compensation Movie mode Camera sensitivity (ISO) White balance Voice memo Date imprinting Instant playback Color mode Sharpness Contrast Color-saturation Noise reduction Duration (Slide Show) Repeat (Slide Show) LCD monitor brightness Auto-power-save period Audio signals Shutter FX...
Noise reduction This function reduces the affect of dark noise caused by long exposures. Noise reduction is only applied to exposures of one second or longer. Processing is applied to each image after it is cap- tured. The processing time varies from image to image; a message will be displayed during this peri- Setting the date and time It is important to accurately set the clock.
The updated version of the driver software included on the supplied DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM is required for the operation of the DiMAGE F300 with a computer. The new software will have no affect on the performance of older DiMAGE cameras.
Connecting the camera to a computer Confirm the battery has sufficient power before connecting the camera to a computer, the full-battery indicator should be displayed on the monitor and data panel. The use of the AC adapter (sold sepa- rately) is recommended over the use of the battery. For users with Windows 98, 98SE, or Mac OS 8.6, read the respective sections on how to install the necessary USB driver before connecting the camera to a computer (Windows 98 - p.
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When the camera is properly connected to the computer, a drive icon, or volume, will appear. When using Windows XP or Mac OS X, a window will open requesting instructions on what to do with the image data; follow the directions in the window.
Connecting to Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition The driver needs only to be installed once. If the driver cannot be installed automatically, it can be installed manually with the operating system’s add-new-hardware wizard; see the instructions on the following page. During installation, if the operating system requests the Windows 98 CD-ROM, insert it into the CD-ROM drive and follow the accompanying instructions on the screen.
Manual Installation To install the Windows 98 driver manually, follow the instructions in the connecting-the-camera-to-a- computer section on page 106. When the camera is plugged into the computer, the operating system will detect the new device and the add-new-hardware-wizard window will open.
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The last window will confirm the driver has been installed. Click “Finish” to close the add new hardware wizard. Restart the computer. TRANSFER MODE The add new hardware wizard will confirm the location of the driver. Click “Next” to install the dri- ver in the system.
Connecting to Mac OS 8.6 To access this camera with a computer with Mac OS 8.6, the USB storage support must be installed first. This software is supplied by Apple Computer, Inc. free of charge. The latest version can be downloaded from the Apple Software Updates web site at http://www.apple.com/support.
Memory card folder organisation Once the camera is connected to the computer, image and audio files can be accessed by double clicking on icons. Image folders are located in the DCIM folder. To copying images and audio recordings, simply drag and drop the file icon into a location in the computer.
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Image and audio file names begin with “PICT” followed by a four-digit file number and a tif, jpg, mov, or thm extension. Voice-memo and audio caption files have a wav extension and the file name corre- sponds to their image file. Audio recordings also use the wav extension. The thumbnail images (thm) are produced with super-fine images and are only used in camera and DiMAGE Viewer operation.
Disconnecting the camera from the computer Never disconnect the camera when the access lamp is red - the data or memory card may be permanently damaged. Windows 98 / 98 Second Edition Confirm that the access lamp is not lit. Turn the mode dial to another position and then disconnect the USB cable.
The hardware devices to be stopped will be dis- played. Highlight the device by clicking on it then click “Stop.” A confirmation screen will appear to indi- cate 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 discon- nected from the computer.
Changing the memory card (Data-transfer mode) Care should be taken when changing memory cards while the camera is attached to the computer. Data could be lost or damaged if the camera is not properly disconnected. Never remove the card when the access lamp is red - the data or memory card may permanently be damaged.
APPENDIX 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. Problem Symptom Nothing dis- The camera played on the will not work. data panel or the monitors.
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Problem Symptom Focus signal is red. Pictures are not sharp. Pictures are taken indoors or in low-light situations with- out flash. Continuous advance and bracketing The image quality is set to super fine. drive mode does not work. While using flash, the pic- The subject is beyond the flash tures are too...
Problem Symptom Shooting data Camera set to is displayed, manual- but live image exposure is entirely mode (M). black or white. The camera temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid burns when handling the camera, batteries, or memory card. If the camera does not function normally or the system error message appears, turn it off, remove and reinsert the batteries, or unplug and reconnect the AC adapter.
Uninstalling 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.
Using USB DIRECT-PRINT USB DIRECT-PRINT allows still images to be printed directly from a compatible Epson printer using a DPOF file (p. 90). Images to be printed are selected with the print option in the custom 2 section of the playback menu. An index print can also be selected on the menu. Super fine images cannot be printed with USB DIRECT-PRINT.
Care and storage Read this section in its entirety to get the best results from your camera. With proper care, your cam- era will provide years of service. Camera care • Do not subject the camera to shock or impact. •...
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.
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. • If batteries have been exhausted when used in the camera, do not reload them even if their charge seems to recover over time.
This mark on your camera certifies that this camera meets the requirements of the EU (European Union) concerning interference causing equipment regula- tions. CE stands for Conformité Européenne (European Conformity). Digital Camera: Tested To Comply With FCC Standards FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Technical specifications CCD: Number of effective pixels: Total number of pixels: Camera sensitivity (ISO): Aspect ratio: Lens construction: Maximum aperture: Focal length: Focusing range (from the CCD): 0.5 m - ∞ / 1.6 ft - ∞ Autofocusing system: Shutter: Shutter speeds: Built-in flash recycling time: Viewfinder: Monitor LCD:...
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Batteries: Battery performance (recording): Approximately 260 frames: based on Minolta’s stan- Battery performance (playback): External power source: Dimensions: Weight: Operating temperature: Operating humidity: Specifications are based on the latest information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.
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