Minolta 800si manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL E BASIC OPERA TION FOCUS BASICS FLASH BASICS SUBJECT PROGRAM MODES EXPOSURE BASICS ADV ANCED AUTOFOCUS ADV ANCED EXPOSURE ADV ANCED FLASH ADDITIONAL FEA TURES APPENDIX 2152EE 17/10/97 10:50 AM Page 1[...]

1 Thank you for purchasing the Minolta Dynax/Maxxum 800si. The 800si features Minolta's highly acclaimed 14-Segment Honeycomb Pattern Metering, a built-in high-power zoom flash, and built-in Intelligent Card functions. The built-in flash covers focal lengths from 24 to 80mm and has a guide number of up to 20. A screw-type PC terminal and Rear-[...]

T ABLE OF CONTENTS 2 3 BASIC OPERA TION FOCUS BASICS FLASH BASICS SUBJECT PROGRAM MODES EXPOSURE BASICS ADV ANCED AUTOFOCUS ADV ANCED EXPOSURE ADV ANCED FLASH ADDITIONAL FEA TURES APPENDIX Names of Parts.............................4 Loading the Film ...........................16 Handling the Camera ...................18 Diopter Adjustment ........[...]

NAMES OF P ARTS 4 5 BODY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 33 34 35 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 32 ( 1 3 ) ( 9 ) 28 A B C D E F G H 1.Grip sensor (20) 2. AF illuminator/Self-timer lamp (32, 1 17) 3. Front control dial 4. Shutter-release button 5. Data panel (6) 6. Program-reset button (9, 120) 7. Built-in flash (34-39) 8. Subject[...]

NAMES OF P ARTS 6 7 DA T A P ANEL VIEWFINDER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 2 3 3 4 3 5 1. Subject Program Selection icons 2. Battery-condition indicator 3. Film-speed mark 4. Flash-mode indicators 5. Shutter-speed/Film- speed/Focus-area display 6. Aperture/Exposure- compe[...]

QUICK OPERA TION 8 9 Insert the batteries. • The camera uses one 2CR5 cell. Attach a lens. • Align the red marks, then turn it gently clockwise until it clicks. T urn the camera on. • Set the main switch to ON. Load the film. • Line the film-tip with the red mark, then close the back cover . Set the camera to full-auto operation. • Press [...]

10 ST ANDARD ACCESSORIES 11 NECKSTRAP Attach the neckstrap as shown. EYEPIECE CUP Attach the eyepiece cup as shown. EYEPIECE AND ACCESSOR Y SHOE CAPS An eyepiece cap is attached to the strap. Before using the self-timer or making long exposures, remove the the eyepiece cup and attach the cap to the viewfinder eyepiece to prevent stray light from en[...]

INST ALLING THE BA TTERIES 12 13 Y our camera uses one 6-volt 2CR5 battery to supply power for all camera operations. Please read all warnings in the For Proper and Safe Use section of this manual, as well as warnings supplied by the battery manufacturer . Set the main switch to LOCK. Slide the battery-cover release in the direction indicated to op[...]

A TT ACHING AND REMOVING THE LENS 14 15 Remove the camera body cap and the rear lens cap as shown. Align the red bead on the lens with the red dot on the camera's lens mount. Gently insert the lens into the mount and turn it clockwise until it clicks into the locked position. • Do not press the lens-release button while attaching the lens. T[...]

LOADING FILM 16 17 Remove and discard the protective cover in the film gate before loading film for the first time. Check the film window before loading film. If a film cartridge is loaded, do not open the back cover . See page 24 for instructions on rewinding a partially exposed roll of film. Slide the back-cover release down to pop open the back [...]

DIOPTER ADJUSTMENT HANDLING THE CAMERA 18 19 Hold the camera grip firmly with your right hand while supporting the lens with your left hand. Keep your elbows at your side and your feet shoulder-width apart to hold the camera steady . Always keep the camera strap around your neck or wrist in the event you accidentally drop the camera. • Do not tou[...]

EYE-ST ART 20 21 The eye-start system automatically activates the 800si’s main systems as soon as you bring the camera to your eye. When you set the main switch to ON, the data panel and grip sensor activate. T ouching the grip sensor activates the infrared emitter detector located beneath the eyepiece. When an object is detected near the viewfin[...]

SHOOTING IN FULL-AUT O MODE 22 23 T urn the camera on. Press the program-reset button. • The camera will return to the default settings. T urn eye-start on. Raise the flash if flash is desired. Put the flash down if no flash is to be used. • The flash always fires when up. Rotate the zooming ring, if using a zoom lens, until your subject is fra[...]

REWINDING THE FILM 24 25 After you have exposed the last frame, the camera will automatically rewind the film silently . When the film is completely rewound, the motor will stop and will blink in the data panel, indicating it is safe to open the back cover . W ait until rewind is complete. Slide the back-cover release down to pop open the back cove[...]

FOCUS LOCK FOCUS SIGNALS 26 27 The following indicators appear in the viewfinder to report focus status. Continuous focusing - focus confirmed. Focus is confirmed and locked. Focusing in autofocus mode - shutter locked. Focus cannot be confirmed; shutter locked; the subject is too close or in one of the special focusing situations listed on page 30[...]

FOCUS LOCK 28 29 Center your subject in the focus area . Press and hold the AF button. • The camera will focus on the subject, then lock focus. When focus is locked, will appear in the viewfinder . • A local focus area indicator appears in the viewfinder to show where the camera is focusing on the subject. Choose a different area by turning the[...]

MANUAL FOCUS SPECIAL FOCUSING SITUA TIONS 30 31 In situations like those described below , it may be difficult or impossible for the camera to focus accurately; you may need to use focus lock (p 27) or manual focus (p 31). If two subjects at different distances overlap within the focus frame. If a subject composed of alternating light and dark line[...]

AF ILLUMINA TOR 32 33 In low light situations or when the contrast of your main subject is too low to be read by the AF sensors, the autofocus illuminator will activate automatically . The AF illuminator projects a pattern of lines onto your subject which the AF sensors detect and use to focus. • Be careful not to obstruct the AF illuminator whil[...]

FLASH SIGNALS USING THE BUIL T -IN FLASH 34 35 Grip both sides of the flash and gently lift it. The flash will fire every time when it is up. Push the flash down to turn it of f. The built-in flash provides coverage for lens focal lengths from 24mm to 80mm. The flash output is automatically controlled by the camera's TTL flash metering system.[...]

FLASH RANGE 36 37 The range of the built-in flash depends on the speed of the film and the selected aperture. Make sure your subject is within the working range of the flash, specified in the tables below . With ISO 100 Film Coverage of the Zoom Flash Aperture 24mm Focal Length 80mm Focal Length f/2.8 1.0-5.0m/3.3-16.4 ft. 1.0-7.1m/3.3-23.3 ft. f/3[...]

FILL FLASH 39 RED-EYE REDUCTION 38 When photographing people or animals at night or other low-light situations, the effect called red-eye may occur due to the flash reflecting off the inside of the subject's eyes. T o reduce this ef fect, use the built-in flash's red-eye reduction mode. When selected, the flash fires a series of small bur[...]

SUBJECT PROGRAM SELECTION 41 40 Subject program selection lets you choose one of the five subject program modes listed below . These program modes customize the exposure settings for the type of picture you will be taking. Portrait Mode - for portrait photography Landscape Mode - for scenic and travel photography Close-up Mode - for close-up photog[...]

LANDSCAPE MODE 43 PORTRAIT MODE 42 Select Landscape mode for scenic, landscape, or travel photographs. Landscape photography generally requires a large depth-of-field to make sure the entire scene is in focus. T o achieve this, the camera sets the smallest aperture possible while maintaining a fast shutter speed to prevent blur . Press and hold the[...]

SPORTS MODE 45 CLOSE-UP MODE 44 Select Sports mode when faster shutter speeds are needed to stop action. In Sports mode, the camera sets the fastest possible shutter speed and continually adjusts the focus to track fast-moving subjects. Press and hold the subject- program button. T urn either control dial until appears alone in the data panel. Rele[...]

47 NIGHT PORTRAIT MODE 46 When photographing scenery at night, set the camera to Night Portrait mode and do not use the flash. Longer shutter speeds are set in this mode, so you can easily capture beautiful photographs of twilight scenery and night skylines. Press and hold the subject- program button. T urn either control dial until appears alone i[...]

EXPOSURE MODES 49 48 P - (PROGRAM) -Programmed Autoexposure Mode P mode (PROGRAM) is ideal when you want to give your full attention to the subject and give the camera control over exposure. A - Aperture Priority Mode In A mode, you select the aperture and the camera automatically sets the shutter speed required for proper exposure. Use this mode w[...]

P - PROGRAM EXPOSURE MODE 51 EXPOSURE MODES 50 P mode (PROGRAM) is ideal when you want to give your full attention to the subject and give the camera control over exposure. When focused on your main subject, Expert Program Selection automatically analyzes subject size, motion, and magnification as well as lens focal length. Then, it sets the shutte[...]

A - APERTURE PRIORITY MODE 53 P - PROGRAM EXPOSURE MODE 52 In A mode, you select the aperture and the camera automatically sets the shutter speed required for proper exposure. Use A mode when you want to control the depth-of- field in an image (p 55, p 1 14). While pressing the exposure- mode button, turn either control dial until A appears in the [...]

55 A - APERTURE PRIORITY MODE 54 Large Aperture (small f-number) Small Aperture (large f-number) The size of the aperture (lens opening) determines the depth-of- field in the final image as well as the intensity of the light falling on the film. Depth of field is the area in front of and behind the point where the lens is focused which will appear [...]

57 S - SHUTTER PRIORITY MODE 56 S-MODE FLASH • When the flash is ready , will appear in the viewfinder . • Choose a shutter speed of 1/200 or slower , as this is the sync speed. The aperture is set automatically . • A larger f-number will result in a smaller flash range. • Push the flash down if it is not needed. When the built in flash is [...]

M - MANUAL MODE 59 S - SHUTTER PRIORITY MODE 58 In M mode, you have full control of exposure and the camera's meter index will show you how your settings relate to the TTL meter . While pressing the exposure- mode button, turn either control dial until M appears in the data panel. Release the exposure-mode button to enter the selection. • Th[...]

61 MANUAL MODE 60 M-MODE FLASH When the built in flash is up or an attached accessory flash is on, it will fire each time a picture is taken. The camera's TTL control ensures a proper exposure. METER INDEX In manual mode, the metering index will show you how the exposure you have set compares with the camera's meter reading. The 0 positio[...]

63 BULB 62 When bulb is selected, the shutter will remain open as long as the shutter-release button is pressed. Use the bulb function to make long exposures. While in M mode, turn the front control dial to the left until "bulb" appears in the viewfinder and the data panel. T urn the rear control dial to select the aperture. Mount the cam[...]

65 AUT OFOCUS MODES 64 SINGLE-SHOT AUT OFOCUS When the shutter-release button is pressed partway down, the camera focuses until sharp focus is confirmed and then focus is locked. Focus will remain locked while the shutter-release button is pressed partway down or until after the shutter-release button is pressed all the way down. Use Single-shot Au[...]

FOCUS FRAME 67 AUT OFOCUS MODES 66 Y our camera has a wide focus area and four local focus areas. A wide focus area is ideal for catching subjects in motion and snapshots. A local focus area allows for precise control over the location of focus. WIDE FOCUS AREA The camera uses all of the AF sensors to focus. It determines which sensor is focusing o[...]

RELEASE PRIORITY 69 FOCUS FRAME 68 The default setting of the 800si is autofocus-priority shutter release. When the camera is in autofocus, the shutter will not release if the subject is not in focus. Y ou can set the camera to shutter-release priority so the shutter will release even if the subject is not sharply focused. Press and hold the adjust[...]

METERING 71 70 Y our camera takes meter readings of the light in the scene to determine the correct exposure. The 800si has three methods of taking meter readings. Use the method most appropriate for your subject. 14-SEGMENT HONEYCOMB-P A TTERN METERING Fourteen-Segment Honeycomb-Pattern Metering is the camera's standard metering mode and will[...]

73 METERING 72 SELECTING A METERING METHOD Press the metering-mode button in the control panel. T urn either control dial until the icon of the desired method appears in the data panel. Press the shutter-release button partway down to enter the setting. MEMORY : The Metering Mode setting can be stored in memory . See page 99 for information. CENTER[...]

AE LOCK 75 EXPOSURE COMPENSA TION 74 Use this function to lock the automatic exposure settings without locking the autofocus. Center the subject of which the meter-reading will be made. Press and hold the AE Lock button. • AEL appears in the viewfinder and the data panel. • The spot-metering frame appears in the viewfinder . • The 0 mark in t[...]

EXPOSURE BRACKETING 77 AE LOCK 76 Exposure bracketing lets you expose a series of frames with exposures below and above the normal metered exposure. This function is especially useful when shooting with reversal film, because of the film's low tolerance for exposure error . With the 800si, you can choose a series of 3, 5, or 7 frames. The expo[...]

FLASH BRACKETING 79 EXPOSURE BRACKETING 78 Flash bracketing lets you expose a series of frames with exposures below and above the normal metered exposure while using flash. With the 800si, you can choose a series of 3, 5, or 7 frames. Exposures can be made in 0.3, 0.5, or 1.0 EV increments. The exposure is controlled by the flash output. Raise the [...]

MUL TIPLE EXPOSURE 81 FLASH BRACKETING 80 Press the drive-mode button in the control panel. T urn either control dial until the multiple exposure indicator appears in the data panel. Press the adjust button in the control panel. • will start blinking. The multiple-exposure mode lets you overlap up to 9 images on the same frame. Repeat steps 3 and[...]

83 MUL TIPLE EXPOSURE 82 CANCELLING MUL TIPLE EXPOSURE Cancel multiple-exposure mode by setting another drive mode. ✎ It is also possible to change the number of exposures remaining in the multiple-exposure series after starting the series. Follow the instructions for Setting Multiple Exposure. The number of exposures set will be the number remai[...]

85 METERING INDEX 84 DISPLA Y POINTER The 0 position represents the exposure calculated by the camera. The pointer is on the exposure-compensation value. The 0 position represents the exposure locked-in by the AE button. The pointer represents the value of the spot-meter area when compared to the locked exposure. The 0 position represents the expos[...]

HIGH-SPEED FLASH SYNC 87 Conventional Fill Flash High-speed Sync The maximum sync speed of the 800si is 1/200. However , with the 5400HS accessory flash (sold separately) shutter speeds up to 1/8000 can be used. High-speed sync (HSS) is particularly useful when photographing portraits outdoors. With it, a larger aperture can be selected to limit th[...]

REAR-FLASH SYNC 89 SLOW -SHUTTER SYNC 88 W ith Rear-flash Sync Without Rear-flash Sync The rear-flash sync function is designed to create action shots that leave a blur of motion behind the subject. Rear-flash sync requires a slow shutter speed to make the 'blur' exposure with the ambient light, then the flash fires to properly expose the[...]

91 REAR-FLASH SYNC 90 This function enables you to bias the output of the built-in flash or an accessory flash as much as + or – 3 EVs in .5 increments. While pressing the flash- compensation button, turn either control dial. When the desired compensation factor appears in the viewfinder and data panel, release the button. MEMORY : The Flash Comp[...]

93 WIRELESS/REMOTE OFF-CAMERA FLASH 92 SETTING WIRELESS/REMOTE FLASH MODE Attach the flash to the camera, then turn it on. Press the flash mode button in the control panel. T urn either control dial until appears in the data panel. Press the shutter- release button partway down to enter the selection. Detach the accessory flash unit, then raise the[...]

ISO 100 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 ISO 400 ISO 100 ISO 400 Camera-Subject Distance 3500xi Flash-Subject Distance 95 WIRELESS/REMOTE OFF-CAMERA FLASH 94 W ait for both flash units to become fully-charged. • When the off-camera flash is charged, its AF illuminator will blink and will glow in the flash’s data panel. • The built-in flash is charged when glows[...]

97 WIRELESS/REMOTE OFF-CAMERA FLASH 96 This camera is equipped with a PC connector which enables you to connect PC-capable flash units with a flash sync cord. Set the exposure mode to M, then set the shutter to 1/200 or slower . • Turn the flash unit of f before connecting the sync cord to the PC terminal or the flash unit may fire unexpectedly w[...]

99 98 The memory function allows you to store a variety of camera settings as a group and recall them at anytime. The 800si is capable of storing three different sets of camera function settings. This feature is convenient when you will be repeating the same shooting conditions and want to use the same settings each time. FUNCTIONS SETTINGS THA T C[...]

101 MEMOR Y 100 ✎ Clear all three sets of memory settings by pressing and holding the enter button while turning the camera off, then on again. STORING SETTINGS IN MEMOR Y Set the camera with all the function setting you want to save (see chart on the previous page). Assign the group a number by turning the memory-number lever to the desired numb[...]

103 CUST OMIZED SETTINGS 102 1 AF Priority 2 Release Priority 1 Auto 2 Manual 1 Rewind into cartridge 2 Out of rewound cartridge 1 On 2 Off 1 Manual switchover 2 Autoswitchover 1 Focus hold 2 Center-area select 3 Continuous AF 1 Grip switch 2 Main switch 1 Normal 2 Counts down 1 Wide or Local 2 Center only while pressing AF button 1 Active while bu[...]

105 CUST OMIZED SETTINGS 104 Press the shutter-release button partway down to enter the selections. • Turning the camera of f or removing the batteries will not affect the Customized Function Settings. Note: When Customized Function #15 - Eye-start Switch is on setting 2 or 3, the dials are completely disabled when the switch is set to ON. In thi[...]

107 DA T A MEMOR Y 106 When data memory is selected, the following information about each photograph is stored at the time of exposure: FILM AREAS The data from each of the 9 rolls of film is stored separately in nine different areas called "film areas". The first roll of film is stored in film area 1, the second in film area 2, and so on[...]

109 DA T A MEMOR Y 108 DA T A RECALL Press the data-memory button in the control panel. T urn either control dial until appears in the data panel. Continue turning the dial until the number for the desired data area appears. Press the adjust button. • The display in the data panel shows the aperture and shutter speed information for the first fra[...]

111 DA T A MEMOR Y 110 DELETING ALL OF THE ST ORED DA T A Press and hold the data- memory button in the control panel. Press the adjust button. • will appear and will blink in the data panel. • Release both buttons. Press the data-memory button again. • will blink while the data is being deleted. • The stored data will be completely deleted[...]

113 FOR OWNERS OF THE QUARTZ DA TE MODEL 112 Press the ADJUST button to change the data to the correct value. Data continues changing as long as the button is held down. • In time mode, pressing the ADJUST button while : is blinking resets the second counter to 00. When all data is correct, press the SELECT button until the data stops blinking. ?[...]

SETTING FILM SPEED MANUALL Y 115 DEPTH-OF-FIELD PREVIEW 114 The film speed can be set manually when you want to override the DX-coded film speed or you are using non-DX-coded film. Film speeds can be set from ISO 6 to ISO 6400 in 1/3EV increments. Load the film, then press the ISO button in the control panel. T urn either control dial to change the[...]

SELF-TIMER 117 SETTING FILM SPEED MANUALL Y 116 The self-timer delays the release of the shutter for approximately 10 seconds after the shutter-release button is pressed. Place the camera on a tripod, then press the self-timer/drive- mode button in the control panel. T urn either control dial until appears in the data panel. Press the shutter relea[...]

119 FILM DRIVE MODES 118 APPENDIX The 800si has two film-drive modes: Continuous Advance and Single Frame Advance . In Single Frame Advance, the camera makes one exposure and advances the film one frame each time the shutter-release button is pressed. In Continuous Advance, the camera will release the shutter and advance the film (up to 3 frames pe[...]

ACCESSOR Y INFORMA TION 121 PROGRAM RESET BUTT ON 120 The Minolta 800si was designed to work specifically with lenses, flash units and other accessories manufactured and distributed by Minolta. Using incompatible products with this camera may result in unsatisfactory performance or damage to the camera or accessories. COMP A TIBILITY OF LENSES AND [...]

TROUBLESHOOTING 123 Indicators blink in the viewfinder and data panel when there is a problem with exposure. Indicator Cause Solution Scene or subject brightness is beyond the camera’s metering range. Light level is beyond the range of available shutter speeds and apertures. The required shutter speed is beyond the range of the camera. The requir[...]

125 TROUBLESHOOTING 124 Solution Page Press the Focus-mode button to select autofocus. 31 Use focus lock or focus the lens manually . 27, 31 Make sure you are not closer than the minimum focus distance listed in the lens' instruction manual. – Use a compatible lens and attach it properly . 14,121 In AF priority , the shutter will not release[...]

127 CARE AND ST ORAGE 126 BEFORE IMPORT ANT EVENTS • Check the camera's operation carefully or take test photographs. • Minolta is not responsible for damages incurred by equipment malfunction. OPERA TING TEMPERA TURES AND CONDITIONS • This camera is designed for use from –20° to 50°C (–4° to 122° F). • Never leave your camera [...]

TECHNICAL DET AILS 129 CARE AND ST ORAGE 128 Camera T ype: 35mm single lens reflex (SLR) with built-in flash, autoexposure (AE), and action- predictive autofocus (AF) Lens Mount: Minolta A-type bayonet mount (Maxxum/Dynax lenses) Focus: T ype: Through-the-lens (TTL) phase detection, multi metering with CCD line sensor metering cell. Autofocus and m[...]

131 TECHNICAL DET AILS 130 Film T ransport: Loading: Auto loading (automatically advances to the first frame when back cover is closed) Drive Modes: Single frame, continuous (3 frames/sec.), self-timer , exposure or flash bracketing, multiple exposure (2 - 9 exposures) Rewind: Auto rewind, manual start (Count- down display) Rewind Time: Standard (s[...]

133 132 NOTES NOTES 2152EE 17/10/97 11:02 AM Page 132[...]

Minolta Co., Ltd. 3-13, 2-Chome, Azuchi-Machi, Chuo-Ku, Osaka 541, Japan Minolta GmbH Kurt-Fischer-Strasse 50, D-22923 Ahrensburg, Germany Minolta France S.A. 365 Route de Saint-Germain, F-78420 Carrieres-Sur-Seine, France Minolta (UK) Limited Rooksley Park, Precedent Drive, Rooksley , Milton Keynes, MK13 8HF , England Minolta Austria Ges. m.b.H. A[...]