Minolta dimage7 manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL E[...]

2 3 Thank you for purchasing this Minolta digital camera. Please take the time to read through this instruction manual so you can enjoy all the features of your new camera. This manual contains information regarding products introduced before June, 2001. T o obtain compatibility information for products released after this date, contact a Minolta S[...]

4 5 FOR PROPER AND SAFE USE • Do not use or store the product in a hot or humid environment such as the glove compartment or trunk of a car . It may damage the product and batteries which may result in burns or injuries caused by heat, fire, explosion, or leaking battery fluid. • If batteries are leaking, discontinue use of the product. • The[...]

6 7 T ABLE OF CONTENTS Names of parts Camera body ...........................................................................................................................10 Data panel ...............................................................................................................................13 EVF and LCD monitor display .....[...]

8 9 T ABLE OF CONTENTS Flash modes ............................................................................................................................76 Flash compensation ................................................................................................................78 Flash range...........................................[...]

* 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. 142). 10 11 NAMES OF P AR TS CAMERA BODY Data panel (p. 13) Pro-auto button (p. 37) Control dial Shutter-release button Focusing ring (p. 71) Focal-length index Zooming [...]

12 13 DA T A P ANEL Subject-program indicators (p. 38) Aperture/Exposure-compensation/ Flash-compensation display Camera-sensitivity indicator (p. 61) Exposure-mode indicators (p. 46) Shutter-speed/ Camera-sensitivity display Battery-condition indicator (p. 25) White-balance indicators (p. 58) • Daylight, tungsten, fluorescent, cloudy , and custo[...]

If the shutter speed falls below the point where the camera can be hand held safely , the camera-shake warning will appear on the monitors. Camera shake is slight blurring caused by subtle hand motion and is more pronounced at the telephoto setting of the lens than at the wide-angle setting. The warning appears at approximately the recipro- cal of [...]

17 16 GETTING UP AND RUNNING A TT ACHING THE CAMERA STRAP A TT ACHING THE LENS HOOD REMOVING THE LENS CAP Using your thumb and index fin- ger , pinch the inside or outside tabs of the lens cap to remove. • When the camera is not in use, always replace the lens cap. T o mount the lens hood, align the rectangular dimple on the rim of the hood with [...]

While using the electronic viewfinder (EVF) or LCD monitor , grip the camera firmly with your right hand while supporting the body with the palm of your left hand. Keep your elbows at your side and your feet shoulder-width apart to hold the camera steadily . The EVF can be tilted between 0° and 90°. This is useful for low-level camera positions. [...]

20 21 T AKING PICTURES GETTING UP AND RUNNING With the mode dial set to still-image recording, the camera will be on and the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and LCD monitor will activate. The zooming ring can be used to frame the subject. The ef fect of the zoom is immediately displayed in the EVF and on the LCD monitor . Compose the image in the EVF o[...]

QV/delete button Menu button VIEWING AND DELETING PICTURES IN QUICK VIEW Captured images can be viewed in recording mode. Simply press the QV/delete button to access the images, and use the controller to scroll through the pictures on the CompactFlash card. 1 2 3 4 5 Press the QV/delete button to playback the recorded images. Use the left/right key[...]

24 25 CHANGING BA TTERIES BA TTERY CONDITION INDICA T ORS BASIC OPERA TION Open the battery-chamber door by moving the battery- chamber lock to the open position . Insert the batteries. • Make sure the positive and negative battery terminals are orientated as illustrated on the diagram in the battery chamber . This digital camera uses four AA-siz[...]

26 27 EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLIES (SOLD SEP ARA TEL Y) CHANGING THE COMP ACTFLASH CARD BASIC OPERA TION The AC Adapter allows the camera to be powered from an electrical household outlet. , The AC Adapter is recommended when the camera is interfaced with a computer or during periods of heavy use. AC Adapter model AC-1L is for use in North America, and [...]

28 29 BASIC OPERA TION BASIC RECORDING OPERA TION SETTING THE CAMERA TO RECORD IMAGES AUTOMA TICALL Y EVF AND LCD MONITOR DISPLA Y While holding in the dial release (1), turn the mode dial to still-image recording. Press the pro-auto button (2) to reset the programmed and automatic functions. All camera operations are now fully automatic. The autof[...]

This digital camera has a quick, accurate autofocusing system. The focus signals in the lower right corner of the EVF and LCD monitor indicate the focus status. For more information on autofocus modes see p. 68. 30 BASIC OPERA TION FOCUS LOCK FOCUS SIGNALS SPECIAL FOCUSING SITUA TIONS Focus confirmed. Focus icon: white Focus icon: red The camera ma[...]

32 33 BASIC OPERA TION DISPLA Y CONTROLS - RECORDING MODE Auto display - the camera will automatically change between displaying the live image in the EVF or on the LCD monitor . The EVF’s eye sensors monitor if the EVF is being used and switches the display location accordingly . EVF display - the live image will only be displayed in the electro[...]

T o delete a displayed image, press the QV/delete button. • A confirmation screen will appear . Captured images can be viewed in recording mode. Simply press the QV/delete button to access the images, and use the controller to scroll through the pictures on the CompactFlash card. Images can be displayed with various information: date, frame numbe[...]

Flash mode (p. 76) Color-saturation compensation (p. 65) Exposure mode (p. 46) 36 37 RECORDING MODE ADV ANCED OPERA TION PRO-AUTO BUTT ON 1 Simply pressing the pro-auto button (1) resets the camera to programmed and automatic functions. The camera’s systems work together to bring professional results leaving the operator free to concentrate on ae[...]

38 39 RECORDING MODE DIGIT AL-SUBJECT -PROGRAM BUTTON 1 The subject-program button (1) optimizes the camera’s performance for various conditions and subjects. Exposure, white-balance, and image- processing systems work in unison for beautiful results. Pressing the subject-program button cycles through the modes: portrait, sport action, sunset, ni[...]

40 41 RECORDING MODE SETTING THE FUNCTION DIAL Image size, image quality , exposure modes, drive modes, white balance, and camera sensitivity are controlled by the function dial. Making changes with the function dial is simple. The function dial can only be used for still photography . T urn the function dial to the mode to be changed (1). While pr[...]

42 43 Data panel IMAGE QUALITY This camera has five image quality settings: raw , super fine, fine, standard, and economy . Always select the desired setting before taking the picture. See setting the function dial section on page 40. Image quality controls the rate of compression, but has no effect on the number of pixels in the image. The higher [...]

44 45 IMAGE-FILE SIZE AND COMP ACTFLASH CARD CAP ACITY Image quality Image size 2560 X 1920 (2048 X 1536)* 1600 X 1200 1280 X 960 640 X 480 RA W Super fine Fine Standard Economy 1 (2) – – – 1 (1) 2 (2) 4 (4) 16 (16) 7 (9) 17 (15) 28 (23) 80 (57) 15 (16) 33 (26) 50 (38) 1 15 (81) 22 (27) 46 (41) 67 (54) 135 (104) Approximate number of images t[...]

46 47 RECORDING MODE PROGRAM - P The programmed AE exposure control uses luminance and focal-length information to ensure perfect exposures. The sophisticated exposure system allows the photographer the freedom to shoot without having to worry about the technical details of exposure settings. The shutter speed and aperture values of the exposure ar[...]

The photographer selects the shutter speed and the camera sets the appropriate aperture to ensure correct exposure. When S mode is selected, the shutter speed on the monitors turns blue. T urn the control dial (1) to set the desired shutter speed. Press the shutter-release button to activate the exposure system (2); the corresponding aperture will [...]

Manual exposure mode allows individual selection of shutter speeds and apertures. This mode overrides the exposure system giving the photographer total control over the final exposure. The shutter speeds and aperture values can be changed in half stop increments. The value that is being set will turn blue on the monitors. As changes are made to the[...]

Continuous-advance mode allows a series of images to be captured while holding down the shutter-release button. Continuous advance acts like a motor drive on a film camera. The number of images that can be captured at one time and the rate of capture depends on the image-quality and image-size setting. The maximum rate of capture is 1.1 fps (1.3 fp[...]

After setting the drive mode to bracketing, turn the digital effects switch to the exposure-compensation setting. The order of the bracket series is normal exposure (as indicated by the shutter speed and aperture displays), underexposure, overexposure. The exposure bracket is set to 1/3 stop increments, but can be adjusted to 1/2 or 1 stop incremen[...]

The interval mode makes a series of still images over a period of time. Similar to time- lapse photography , a series of images of a slow moving event can be taken: the blossoming of a flower , the construction of a building. The built-in flash can be used. Instant playback (p. 89) is disabled. Use the function dial to set the drive mode to interva[...]

White Balance is the camera’s ability to make dif ferent types of lighting appear neutral. The ef fect is similar to selecting daylight or tungsten film, or using color compensating filters in conventional photography . When setting the white balance, “Auto” (data panel) and “A WB” (monitors) will be displayed to indicate the auto white-b[...]

60 61 RECORDING MODE CAMERA SENSITIVITY - ISO Five settings can be selected for camera sensitivity: Auto, 100, 200, 400, and 800; the numerical values are based on an ISO equivalent. ISO is the standard used to indicate film sensitivity: the higher the number , the more sensitive the film. See setting the function dial section on page 40 to change [...]

2 DIGIT AL EFFECTS CONTROL 62 63 RECORDING MODE Color-saturation compensation Contrast compensation Exposure compensation 1 1 2 T urn the digital effects switch to the image characteristic to be changed. Press and hold the digital-effects button in the center of the switch and adjust the setting by turning the control dial next to the shutter-relea[...]

The color saturation of a scene can be adjusted within seven levels (± 3) with the Digital Effects Controller . Colors can be accented or subdued. The color saturation must be set before the image is captured. When changing the color-saturation setting, an icon will appear on the data panel and in the live image. The data panel and monitors will i[...]

66 67 RECORDING MODE AUTOFOCUS AREAS AND CONTROL In still-image recording mode, the controller selects the focus area used and moves the spot-focus area within the image. The two focus areas, wide focus area and spot focus point, allow flexibility over a variety of situations. The wide focus area is an array of local focus areas that work together [...]

68 69 RECORDING MODE AUTOFOCUS MODES This digital camera has two autofocusing modes. The single and continuous autofocus modes are selected in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 80). • Do not confuse these icons with the metering-mode icons (p. 74 ). • The shutter can be released even if the camera cannot focus on the subject. The[...]

Manual control over focus is simple. The focus mode button (AF/MF) (1) toggles between automatic and manual focus. The MF icon is displayed on the data panel and monitors when the camera is in the manual- focus mode. Use the focus ring (2) at the rear of the lens barrel to make a sharp image in the EVF or on the LCD monitor . The approximate distan[...]

When the shutter-release button is pressed partway down, the focus and exposure are locked. The AF/AEL button performs the same operation when press and held; the focus signals and exposure displays will confirm if the settings are locked. The operation of this button can be changed in the custom-1 section of the recording-mode menu (p. 80). Changi[...]

75 74 RECORDING MODE FLASH METERING T wo flash-metering methods are available: ADI and pre-flash TTL. The flash metering- mode can be changed in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 80). ADI flash metering - Advanced Distance Integration. This metering mode combines distance information from the autofocusing system with information from[...]

77 76 RECORDING MODE FLASH MODES Data panel EVF & LCD monitor – – Fill-flash Red-eye reduction Rear flash sync Used in low-light conditions and to reduce shadows under direct sunlight. T o reduce the red-eye effect with flash photographs of people and animals Flash fires at the end of long exposures. The flash mode can be changed in the bas[...]

79 78 RECORDING MODE The flash output can be controlled by ± 2 Ev in 1/3 Ev increments. Flash compensation is set in the basic section of the recording-mode menu (p. 80). If the flash compensation is set to any value other than 0.0, the flash- compensation indicator will appear on the monitors and data panel. FLASH COMPENSA TION When using the fil[...]

1 2 Activate the recording-mode menu with the menu button (1). The “Basic” tab at the top of the menu will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the controller (2) to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menus will change as the tabs are highlighted. 80 81 RECORDING MODE NA VIGA TING THE RECORDING-MODE MENU Basic AF mode Metering mode F[...]

2 ~ 99 frames Uses only pre-flash information to calcu- late exposure. 82 83 RECORDING MODE RECORDING-MODE MENU - BASIC Menu option Settings Description EVF and LCD monitor display Data panel display Multi-segment AF mode (p. 68 ) AF-single Focus is calculated and set when the shutter-release button is pressed partway down. AF-continuous Camera con[...]

Sets the degree of sharpness to be applied before the image is captured. 84 85 RECORDING-MODE MENU - CUSTOM 1 (CONT .) Menu option Settings Description EVF and LCD monitor display RECORDING-MODE MENU - CUSTOM 2 Soft (–) Sharpness (p. 86) Hard (+) Normal Color B&W Disables the data imprinting function. Imprints date on image Imprints date and [...]

86 87 RECORDING MODE SHARPNESS The sharpness of the image can be altered. This must be set before the image is recorded. Sharpness is set in the custom 2 section of the recording-mode menu (p. 80). If any setting other than normal is selected, the sharpness icon will be displayed on the monitors with the degree of sharpness. Sharpness must be reset[...]

89 QV/delete button 88 RECORDING MODE ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD The electronic keyboard is used to enter text for imprinting data or for naming new folders. The keyboard automatically appears when text needs to be entered. INST ANT PLA YBACK After an image is captured, it will be displayed on the monitors before being saved. When in continuous-advance or[...]

Disabled This camera can record up to sixty seconds of digital video. The motion JPEG image is 320 X 240 pixels (QVGA). The effective image area is 308 X 240 pixels; two thin lines will appear to the left and right of the image when played back. Shooting digital video is simple. Set the main dial to movie recording (1). Frame the picture as describ[...]

T o set the aperture value, turn the Digital Effects Controller to exposure compensation (2). While pressing the digital effects button (3), turn the control dial (1) until the correct aperture is displayed. • The camera’s exposure system cannot be used to calculate bulb exposures. The use of a separate light meter is recommended. 1 3 2 92 93 R[...]

T o delete a displayed image, press the QV/delete button. • A confirmation screen will appear . 1 Still images and movie clips can easily be viewed and edited in playback mode. T o set the camera to view images, turn the mode dial to the playback position (1). Simply use the controller to scroll through the pictures on the CompactFlash card. Imag[...]

96 97 PLA YBACK MODE SINGLE-FRAME PLA YBACK DISPLA Y MOVIE PLA YBACK DISPLA Y HISTOGRAM DISPLA Y Image size (p. 42) Image quality (p. 43) Frame number/ total number of images in folder Printing icon (p. 108) Lock icon (p. 105) Date of recording T ime of recording Frame number/ total number of images in folder Date of recording T ime of recording Mo[...]

98 99 PLA YBACK MODE DISPLA Y CONTROLS - PLA YBACK MODE In the center of the display switch, the display-information 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 In index playback, the left/right [...]

The number of magnification steps in enlarged playback is dependent on the size of the recorded image. The smaller the image size, the fewer steps are available. 1024 X 768 digital zoom images recorded with the DiMAGE 5 are enlarged in three steps: 2X, 2.5X, and 3.2X. 100 101 PLA YBACK MODE ENLARGED PLA YBACK In single-frame playback, a still image[...]

1 2 Play Basic Custom1 Custom2 Delete Lock Index format – – 9 frames Activate the playback-mode menu with the menu button (1). The “Basic” tab will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the controller (2) to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menus will change as the tabs are highlighted. NA VIGA TING THE PLA YBACK-MODE MENU 1 2 I[...]

104 105 PLA YBACK MODE PLA YBACK-MODE MENU - BASIC Deleting permanently erases the image. Once deleted, an image cannot be recovered. Care should be taken when deleting images. Single, multiple, or all images in a folder can be deleted with the playback-mode menu. Before an image is deleted, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Y es” wi[...]

T o select all the images in the folder to be displayed in the slide-show presentation. The custom 1 section of the playback-mode menu controls the slide-show function. This function automatically displays all still images in a folder in order . 106 107 PLA YBACK MODE PLA YBACK-MODE MENU - CUSTOM 1 (SLIDE SHOW) Slide show Menu options Playback Dura[...]

108 109 PLA YBACK MODE PLA YBACK-MODE MENU - CUSTOM 2 The print menu option is used to set an order for standard prints from images in a specific folder . Single, multiple, or all images can be printed. If a CompactFlash card has multiple folders, a printing file must be created for each folder . Folders are selected in the custom 1 section of the [...]

111 110 PLA YBACK MODE COPYING IMAGES Image files can be copied from one CompactFlash card to another . Up to 10MB of data can be transferred. Every time the copy function is used, a new folder is automatically created for the images (p. 130). This frame - T o copy the image currently displayed. Marked frames - T o copy single or multiple images. W[...]

112 113 This section contains detailed information on controlling the camera’s functions and operation as well as creating and selecting image folders. The navigating the setup menu section (p. 1 14) covers the operation of the setup menu. The section is followed by detailed descriptions of the settings. SETUP MODE CONTROLLING THE CAMERA ’S OPE[...]

114 115 The “Basic” tab will be highlighted. Use the left/right keys of the controller (2) to highlight the appropriate menu tab; the menus will change as the tabs are highlighted. NA VIGA TING THE SETUP MENU T o access the menu, simply turn the main dial to the setup position. The four-way keys of the controller are used to move the cursor in [...]

116 117 SETUP MODE SETUP MENU - BASIC The basic section of the setup menu allows changes to be made to the operation of the camera as well as the ability to format CompactFlash cards. EVF AND LCD MONITOR BRIGHTNESS The brightness of the EVF and LCD monitor is set independently of each other . Brightness is controlled in five levels from 1 (low) to [...]

118 119 SETUP MODE SETUP MENU - CUSTOM 1 The custom 1 section of the setup menu controls file number sequencing and the cre- ation of new folders. See page 130 about the organization of the folders on the CompactFlash card FILE NUMBER (#) MEMORY When file number memory is selected, if a new folder is created, the first file stored in the folder wil[...]

Image quality EVF auto switch 120 121 SETUP MODE SETUP MENU - CUSTOM 2 RESET DEF AUL T Unlike the pro-auto button (p. 37), this function affects not only the recording mode, but also the playback, and setup modes. When selected, a confirmation screen will appear; choosing “Y es” resets the following functions and settings, “No” cancels the [...]

122 123 SETUP MODE SETTING THE DA TE AND TIME It is important to accurately set the clock. When a still image or a movie clip is record- ed, the date and time of the recording are saved with the image and are displayed dur- ing playback or can be read with the DiMAGE Image Viewer Utility software included on the CD-ROM. The camera’ s clock is als[...]

Set the mode dial to the data-transfer position. • The data-transfer menu will be displayed. CONNECTING THE CAMERA TO A COMPUTER 125 124 DA T A-TRANSFER MODE When the camera is properly connected to the computer , a drive icon will appear . If the computer does not recognize the camera, disconnect the camera and restart the com- puter . Repeat th[...]

127 126 DA T A-TRANSFER MODE CONNECTING TO WINDOWS 98 Choose the recommended search for a suitable driver . Click “Next.” Choose to specify the location of the dri- ver . The browse window can be used to indicate the driver location. When the location is shown in the window , click “Next.” • The driver should be located in the CD- ROM dri[...]

129 128 DA T A-TRANSFER MODE QUICKTIME 4.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS IBM PC / A T Compatible Pentium-based computer Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, 2000. 16MB or more of RAM QuickT ime is used for viewing movie clips. T o install QuickTime, follow the instructions in the read-me folder and in the installer . Users with Windows Me can use the system’s media pla[...]

131 130 DA T A-TRANSFER MODE Image-file names begin with “pict,” followed by a four-digit file number , and a tif, jpg, avi, mrw , or thm extension. The thumbnail images (thm) are used in camera opera- tion and cannot be opened. Once the camera is connected to the computer , image files can be accessed by simply double clicking on icons. Copyin[...]

DISCONNECTING THE CAMERA FROM THE COMPUTER 133 132 DA T A-TRANSFER MODE WINDOWS ME AND WINDOWS 2000 Confirm that the access lamp is not lit. T urn the mode dial to another position and then disconnect the USB cable. Never disconnect the camera when the access lamp is lit - the data or CompactFlash card may permanently be damaged. T o disconnect the[...]

135 134 DA T A-TRANSFER MODE CHANGING THE COMP ACTFLASH CARD (DA T A-TRANSFER MODE) Care should be taken when changing CompactFlash cards while the camera is attached to the computer . Data could be lost or damaged if the camera is not properly disconnected. WINDOWS 98 1. T urn off the camera. 2. Change the CompactFlash card. 3. T urn on the camera[...]

The lens aperture controls not only exposure, but also depth of field; the area between the closest object in focus and the furthest object in focus. The larger the aperture value, the greater the depth of field and the longer the shutter speed needed to make the exposure. The smaller the aperture value, the shallower the depth of field and the fas[...]

139 138 Problem Symptom Cause Solution The camera will not work. Nothing dis- played on the data panel or the monitors. The batteries are dead. The batteries are inserted incorrectly . The AC adapter is not connected properly . Replace batteries (p. 24). Reinsert the batteries taking care that the negative and pos- itive terminals are orientated as[...]

141 140 If the camera does not function normally , turn it off, remove and reinsert the batteries, or unplug and reconnect the AC adapter . Always turn the camera off using the mode dial otherwise the CompactFlash card may be damaged and camera settings reset. The camera temperature rises with extended periods of use. Care should be taken to avoid [...]

143 142 OPERA TING TEMPERA TURES AND CONDITIONS • This camera has been designed for use in temperatures from 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F). • Never leave the camera exposed to extreme high temperatures, such as in a car parked in the sun, or to extreme humidity . • When taking the camera from a cold to a warm environment, place it in a seal[...]

145 144 BA TTERIES • Battery performance decreases with temperature. In cold environments, we recommend keeping spare batteries in a warm place, such as the inside of a coat. Batteries can recover their power when they warm up. As the performance of Ni-MH batteries are less affected by temperature, their use is recommended when shooting in cold e[...]

147 146 TECHNICAL SPECIFICA TIONS Specifications are based on the latest information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. 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 Micros[...]

Minolta Co., Ltd. 3-13, 2-Chome, Azuchi-Machi, Chuo-Ku, Osaka 541-8556, Japan Minolta Corporation Head Office 101 Williams Drive, Ramsey , New Jersey 07446, U.S.A. Los Angeles Branch 1 1 150 Hope Street Cypress, CA 90630, U.S.A. Minolta Canada Inc. 369 Britannia Road East, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 2H5, Canada Minolta Europe GmbH Minoltaring 1 1, D-[...]