Vivitar V15 manual

V15 Freelance Digital Camera Owner’s Manual © 2009 Sakar International, Inc. All rights reserved. Windows and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.[...]

1 Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................... 2 Key Features ............................................................. 2 What your camera includes ...................................... 3 Computer System Requirements for[...]

2 Introduction Thank you for purchasing the V15 Freelance Vivitar Digital Camera. Everything you need to take quality digital photos and videos is included with your device. Please read this manual carefully FIRST in order to get the most out of your digital camera. Important Notic e: Please do not plug the ca mera into the USB port of your compute[...]

3 What your camera includes • Digital Camera • PhoTags Express, WebCam Express and driver installation CD • USB cable • User’s Manual in CD • Neck strap • Warranty card • Quick User Guide Computer System Requirements for Windows To be able to download photos and videos to your PC you will need the following minimum configuration: ?[...]

4 A Quick Look at Your Camera[...]

5 Inserting Batteries Open the camera’s battery compartment cover (if the screw on the compartment has been fixed, please use a small screwdriver to loose the screw, then open the battery compartment cover) and insert 2 new AAA alkaline batteries according to the polarity shown. Close the cover and press the Power/Menu button to power on the came[...]

6 the camera softw are and drivers. In order to install the Software and drivers to download and edit the photos and videos captured using this camera, you need to install the CD installation disk. Insert the installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. A Menu screen will automatically appear. Warning: DO NO T PLUG YOU R CAMERA INTO THE USB PORT UNTIL T[...]

7 button. Please review the license terms and click the “ I Agree ” button to continue. Let the “PhoTags Express” installer create the folde r where the program will be installed to, and then click “Install”.[...]

8 Please wait while the application is being installed on your computer. Once the application has been installed on your computer, click the “Finish” button to let the “PhoTags Express” installer finish the installation program.[...]

9 This will automatically launch the Install shield for the camera driver. Click “Next” to continue. Follow the Setup screens that appear to install the driver for this camera. Once the program has finished installing you will be asked to restart your computer. Please do so.[...]

10 Congratulations!! You have successfully installed the “PhoTags Express”, “WebCam Express” software and the Camera Driver. Camera Modes Note: In order to dow nload the photos and vide os captured with this ca mera you need to install the PhoTags Express, WebCa m Express and camera specific driver for this de vice as described in the previ[...]

11 Press the Power /Menu button to save your choice. Below is an explanation for each of the Submenus on the Main Menu. Camera Submenu Press the Power/Menu button to enter the Main Menu. By default the camera icon is automatically selected. Press the Shutter button to toggle through the following various options within the camera submenu. Take Phot[...]

12 Press the Power/Menu button to select and save the mode of your choice. The LCD screen will show your choice with a symbol in the upper left corner. Self-Timer AVI （ Video ） Continuous Capture[...]

13 Resolution Modification Submenu Press the Power/Menu button to enter the Main Menu. Press the Up button until the Resolution Modification icon is selected and then press the Shutter button to toggle between the different resolution options. Press the Power/Menu button again to select and save the desired resolution. Options within the Resolution[...]

14 Compression Rate Submenu Press the Power/Menu button to enter the Main Menu, press the Up button until the Compression Rate icon is selected and then press the Shutter button to toggle between the different compression rate options, and then press the Power/Menu button again to select and save the desired compression. Options within the Compress[...]

15 Note: 60Hz is suitable for the U.S. and Japan, and 50Hz for Europe and Asia. Select the correct frequenc y for the present conditions you find yourself. Delete All Submenu Press the Power/Menu button to enter the Main Menu, press the Up button until the Delete All icon is selected and then press the Shutter button to select this submenu. Upon en[...]

16 Battery Capacity Icons: An icon will appear on the top right corner of your LCD screen, showing the amount of battery power available. Once the battery indicator falls below 35% it is advisable to download the images to your computer as quickly as possible so as not to lose them. Once the batteries run low and the camera turns off , the images m[...]

17 5%-35% power less than 5% power Capturing Photos TAKI NG INDIVID UAL PHOT OS You can compose your shot using the LCD screen. Hold the camera steady and press the shutter button. A beep will sound and the red LED indicator on the front of the camera will light up, indicating that the photo has been taken. Do not move the camera until y ou hear th[...]

18 If there is not enough battery power, two quick beeps will sound, indicating that the photo cannot be taken. If the camera’s memory is full, two quick beeps will sound, indicating that photos cannot be taken. In order to continue taking photos you will need to download the photos on the camera to the computer and then d elete them from the cam[...]

19 TIMER Your camera can be set up with the timer mode to take a photo after 10 seconds. Select the Timer shot mode from the camera menu options on the LCD screen. Press the Power/Menu button. Toggle between the camera modes by pressing the Shutter button unti l the Timer icon appears in the top left corner. Press the Power/Menu button to save your[...]

20 You may also delete single photos in the Playback mode. Select the present photo you wish to delete. Press the Power/Menu button. A Delete single photo icon will appear on the LCD screen with 2 options. Press the Up button to move between the options, “Yes” to Delete the present photo, or “N o” to Cancel. Press the Shutter button to conf[...]

21 press the Power/Menu button . (Manual Power-Saving) Press and hold the Power/Menu button for 3 se c onds. After hearing two beeps the camera will go into a sleep mode manually. In sleep mode, energy consumption is very low and the battery life is prolonged. Your camera can remain in sleep mode to save power. To use your camera again just simply [...]

22 camera modes by pressing the Shutter button unti l the video icon appears in the top left corner. Press the Power /Menu button to save your choice. When the video icon appears in the top left corner you can now prepare your shot. Once in the Video mode, press the shutter button for the camera to start capturing an AVI video. A clock counter on t[...]

23 To use the WebCam Express software see the “Using your Camera as a Webcam” section further on in t his guide. Everything you need to get the most from your photos The “PhoTags Express” software that is installed on your computer allows you to edit e xisting photos that you have on your computer as well as the photos that you have capture[...]

24 If the Camera is off it will automatically be turned on when the USB cable is properly connected. Click the “PhoTags Express” icon that appears on your desktop to open the “PhoTags Express” Software. From the Main Menu screen that appears, select the “ Select Photos ”, “ Enhance P hotos ” or “ Add Captions ” buttons . Y ou ca[...]

25 Manage your photos by creating countless unique photo collections without duplicating any photos. Burn CD’s of any folders for backup and storage. Enhance your photos ; Auto Enhance, Crop, Correct Red Eye, Manually Adjust and add Special Effects. Add A ctive Captio ns - add Text Captions, Frames, Shapes, Keywords… and more that can be viewed[...]

26 How to purchase additional “Workshop” projects In addition to the free Calendars, two-sided Greeting Cards and Postcards Workshop projects, you have the ability to purchase two additional Workshop projects: "A lbums" and "Video CD" online, at anytime. 1. To purchase the “Workshop Project” simply click the one you want[...]

27 to your PC using PhoTags Express. Select the “Get Photos” button from the top of the PhoTags Express Main Menu screen. The Get Photos Wizard opens. Step 1 - Select the “Dual Mode Camera” o ption in the Active Devices window on the left and then select either the “Custom” or “Express” copy ra dial button in the Copy methods box. C[...]

28 Add Active Captions to your pictures. You can add a date, keywords, categories and more. Click “Next” to continue. Step 3 - Choose where to place your photos and videos. The default is to place all photos and videos into a folder under the C:My Documents My Pictures folder with the date when the photos we re taken as the folder[...]

29 name. Click the “Finish” button to start the download process. A photos download progress bar appears showing the number of media (videos included) downloading from you camera to your computer. All the media – Photos and Videos on your camera are now downloaded to your computer. Open the “Select Photos” mode of Photags Express to view [...]

30 PhoTags application select the “Show Me How” or the “?” Help Guide b utton found on the top right of the screen. Express Copy Method Select the “Express” copy radial button if you want to have all the images transferred to the PC without the option to select which photos you want to transfer. In this mode you will not see a preview o[...]

31 Using your Camera as a Webcam Connect your camera to your computer using the USB cable attached. Capturing AVI w ith WebCam Express Now that you have WebCam Exp ress softw are installed, you can use it to capture short movies called AVI video files or take JPEG snapshots. The length of time you can record an AVI while the camera is connected to [...]

32 5. Click the “ Capture ” button to start recording the video. The recording elapse time will appear under the video. 6. Click the “ Pause ” button to hold the recording. To continue recording click the “ Capture ” button again. 7. To finish recording click the “ Stop ” button. 8. The videos will be automatically saved into a defa[...]

33 Capturing Photos: You can also take snapshots with your Webcam. Your Webcam NEEDS to be connected at all times to the computer in order to capture the photos. There are 2 methods to capture and save photos taken with your WebCam Express software. Method 1 – Capture Mode: 1. Position the Webcam so that it is pointing in the direction of the obj[...]

34 Method 2 – Playback Mode: 1. After capturing an AVI video with your Webcam as explained above, select the “Playback” mode button at the top of the application screen. 2. Select the AVI video you wish to view from the view screen on the left. 3. Run the video by pressing the “ Play Video ” button. 4. While the video is running select th[...]

35 folder and select the photos you wish to edit using the software. To learn more on how to capture JPEG snapshots from your Webcam or from you r existing AVI movies, go to the “Take Snapshots” section in the Help Guide in the application. To learn how to change the User Settings, go to the “Set User Preferences” section in the Help Guide.[...]

36 Sakar Warranty Card This warranty covers for the original consumer purchaser only and is not trans fer able. Products that fail to function properly UNDER NORM A L USAGE, due to defects in material or work manship. Your product will be repaired at no charge for parts or labor for a period of one year. What Is Not Covered By Warrant y: Damages or[...]

37 Appendix A: Technical Specifications Image Sensor 1.3M Pixels (1280X1024) SXGA Image Resolution 1280x1024, 640x480, 320x240 Focus f=8.3mm Image Variation 0.5m - Infinity Lens Non-spherical Lens Aperture 1: 3.0 Illumination 100 – 16000 (lux) File Format JPEG / AVI File Storage 8 MB Resolution Hi Lo (1280x1024) 15 30 (640x480) 46 70 Storage capa[...]

38 Appendix B: Troubleshooting Q: I have taken photos, but my computer sa ys "No photos in came ra." What do I do? First, ensure that you have taken photos with your camera. Press the shutter button a few times to take some sample photos and try again. If you still get a no photos error, this indicates that the software was not installed [...]

39 Now reinstall the software. Insert the CD that came with your camera. It should automatically run the installation. Restart the computer. Once your computer is back up, plug the camera into your computer's USB port. Right-click on the "My Computer" icon. Select Properties. Click on hardware and then Device Manager. If the camera i[...]

40 loss. Q: If I have a MAC, w ill the device work? Unfortunately, the system requirements for our digital cameras and webcams require a Windows operating system. There is no Mac driver available and no cu rrent plan to develop. Q: If the w ebcam does not work: Make sure you have connected the webcam correctly into an available USB port or hub.[...]