|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Digital Camera Basics
DIGITAL IMAGING
· Indicates an action.
Digital imaging is a way to take filmless photos. They can be transferred to your computer and then to a disk. While in your computer they can be edited, enhanced, adapted to meet your needs and then printed on plain or photo quality paper, inserted into a report or presentation, placed on a web site or emailed to your friend and relatives.
The process of taking the photo is similar to a film camera and some of the same essentials such as light and background are important with digital images as well. The photos are recorded digitally instead of on film. You can keep, erase, view and retake immediately.
There are many types of Digital Cameras but they all have essentially the same features.
We will be using the Olympus Camera.
· Look at the front of the camera
There is a sliding lens cover to protect the lens . When closed you can view the photos you have already taken
When the lens cover is open, you are ready to take photos.
· Open the lens cover and view the lens. It is easy to get your fingers in the photo so remember to keep them well back from the lens.
The bottom of the OLYMPUS camera has the battery hatch. Fresh batteries are essential so keep an extra set handy. The camera comes with rechargeable batteries and a battery charger.
The sides of the camera each have a hatch.
One side opens to reveal the plug ins,
One for direct transfer to video output
One for direct transfer to computer and
One for an AC adapter
The hatch on the other side of the camera is the Card Compartment
· Open the card compartment and carefully withdraw the SMART CARD.
This small card, like a computer disk, records all the photos until you erase them. The number of pictures the card can hold depends on the capacity of the card and the Resolution quality you choose.
There are three capacity cards and three resolution qualities - Standard Quality - High Quality and Super High Quality
The 2MB card will allow you to store 30 images at Standard Quality, 9 images at High Quality and 4 super high quality images.
The 8 MB card will allow you to store 122 standard quality images \, 36 high quality and 18 super high quality images.
The Back of the Camera has a viewing screen and the view finder.
When the lens cover is closed, the green button will activate the viewing screen to view the photos on the smart card. You can travel through each image one at a time by using the + or - buttons.
Try it now.
· Be sure the Lens cover is closed
· Press the Green button
The viewer will slowly reveal an image that is on the smart card.
· Press the + button
It will show you the next image on the card
If it BEEPS, that is the last image already in the camera. The viewer turns off.
The next photo you take will not replace any images but will be placed after that image.
· If you have an image on the viewer press the - button
The viewer will move back to the previous photo on the smart card.
Pressing the - button will take you one at a time back to the first image.
· Press the green button It will close the viewer.
· Now slide open the lens cover in the front.
· Look through the small view finder on the back.
This is just like a film camera.
You can take a photo from here.
· So go ahead and click the large button on the top of the camera.
This is the shutter release. Squeeze slowly and wait for the beep.
· Keep the lens cover open
· Press the green button on the back.
The screen becomes a view finder for the camera as well.
· Move the camera around until you get a good image in the screen.
· Hold the camera steady and click the shutter release.
· Now close the lens cover and press the green button to view your photos
It is as easy as that!
You are now ready to take digital photos.
· Play around and take 10-12 photos
So what are all the other buttons on the top of the camera?
You will become familiar with these functions as you use the camera. The following is a brief overview:
The Control Panel - The little window on the top of the camera gives you instant information.
Each small icon informs you about the mode the camera is in, the number of remaining pictures and shows the battery check.
In the upper right corner is the battery check. When the lens cover is opened you can view the status of the battery by the amount of fill in the icon. Fully black = AOK. When the battery icon blinks, it is time to replace or recharge the batteries
When you open the lens cover the number displayed on the control panel is the number of remaining photos at the set resolution.
To set the resolution:
Look at the top of the camera. The middle button on the left has a box with the letters HQ in it.
This is the quality button.
· Open the lens cover
· Press the button above the HQ
· Watch the three qualities change on the control panel each time you press the button.
The number of remaining photos also changes according to the quality. You can have differing qualities on the same smart card.
The camera has four flash modes.
The button closest to the shutter release is the flash mode button. There is a small lightning icon below it.
· Open the lens cover
· Look at the Control panel
· Press the flash mode button
· Watch the control panel.
No icon - the flash fires in low light automatically
Circle in an oval - this reduces red eye
Lightning in a circle - the flash is off
Lightning - the flash always flashes
The button next to the Control Panel on the Left is the Self Timer.
· Open the Lens cover.
· Frame your photo. A tripod for the camera works best.
· Press the self timer button
You have 12 seconds to join your group.
When the lens cover is open, the icons at the bottom of the buttons on the top of the camera in BLACK are active. The icons from left to right are: a star, the HQ in a rectangle, the timer icon, and the lightning bolt.
The same buttons used in Display mode with the lens cover closed, have different functions. The icons from left to right are the green star, the grid, the lock, and the red delete buttons.
· Close the Lens cover
· Press the green button on the back of the camera.
· Press the middle button on the left of the control panel on the top of the camera.
9 Small photos are shown. Pressing the + or - will take you through each one to the next panel of nine.
Erasing pictures -
· Close the lens cover
· Press the green button on the back of the camera
· Use the + and - buttons to find the photo you want to erase
· Press the button closest to the control panel on the right.
· Press the Erase button again to cancel the erase or
· Press the Shutter Release button to OK the erase.
The camera will beep to let you know the erase was completed.
· When finished erasing, press the green button on the back of the camera to turn it off.
To erase all the photos:
· Close the lens cover
· Press the green button on the back of the cameras
· Press the Flash and erase buttons at the same time ( the two buttons on the right side of the control panel.
· Press the erase button again to cancel the erase or press the shutter release button to OK the erase
The last button on the left is a function button - Standard, sequence, macro, tele and wide, or function card mode.
When you want to learn these read about them in the Camera manual or take the advanced digital imaging
· Take several images
Practice setting the quality, erasing the images, and using the flash settings.
The next lesson will transfer the photos to the computer.
TRANSFER to COMPUTER
There are two ways to transfer the photos to the computer.
Both of them require that software be installed first.
You can preview your Photos on the view finder of the camera first and erase any that you are not interested in or wait until they have been transferred to the computer to eliminate poor quality photos.
USING THE FLASH PATH ADAPTOR
Check to see if the Software in installed
· Click on the START Button
· CLICK on PROGRAMS
· Look for FLASHPATH
If FLASHPATH is not Installed, locate the software and install in on your computer.
Once FLASHPATH is installed on the computer, you are ready to transfer the photos.
· Find the FLASH PATH Floppy Disk Adapter
· Open the Smart Card Compartment of the camera
· Carefully remove the Smart Card
· Insert it into the slot where the notch is on the Floppy disk adapter
· Insert the Floppy Disk Adapter into the 3.5" floppy drive of the computer.
· Click START
· Go to PROGRAMS
· Scroll to find WINDOWS EXPLORER
· Open Windows Explorer
· Click VIEW
· If as Web Page is not checked then click on it
· Change to the 3.5" drive by typing A:/ in the address box
The program will access the Floppy Disk Adaptor.
· Open the folders until the photos are displayed on the right hand side of your monitor.
I
You can preview the photo, copy, cut or delete any photo right from here by using the tool bar.
Double clicking on a photo will open it in the image editor indicated to the right of the photo.
You can copy the photo and place it directly into the folder of your choice
· Highlight the photo you would like to transfer to a folder
· Click on COPY or CUT from the tool bar
· Double Click on the folder you would like to transfer the photo in the left hand frame to open it
· Click on Paste from the tool bar.
The photo will be placed directly into that folder.
You can select several images at a time to transfer by holding the shift key and pressing the arrow keys to highlight more than one image or click EDIT then Select All to transfer all the photos in to a folder at the same time.
You can print the photo directly from Windows Explorer by clicking FILE then Print
When you have downloaded the images, they can be viewed, manipulated, cropped with image editing software.
USING THE CONNECTOR
Check to see if the Software is installed
· Click on the START BUTTON
· CLICK on PROGRAMS
· LOOK FOR OLYMPUS Digital Vision
· GO TO CONNECTING THE CAMERA
If the OLYMPUS Digital Vision isn't installed on the computer
· Place the Utility CD in the CD DRIVE
· If the drive does not automatically begin the installation, CLICK on START
· TYPE in the letter of your CD Drive , usually D:/, and type setup
OLYMPUS Digital Vision should install on your computer
CONNECTING THE CAMERA TO THE COMPUTER
· Find the appropriate connector in the digital camera materials. The IBM connector has a pin on one end that inserts into the camera and a 9 pin connector to fit into a COM 1 or COM 2 port in the computer. The Macintosh adaptor connects to the IBM connector to change the type of connecting cable.
· Be sure the digital camera and the computer are turned OFF
· Look in the back of the computer to find the COM 1 or COM 2 port
· Connect the adapter to the port and screw it in finger tight.
· Bring the other end of the cable to the front of the computer and open the Port entry compartment on the side of the camera.
· Insert the pin on the end of the connector to the port on the lower left of the camera port entry compartment.
· Open the Lens Cover on the front of the camera
· Turn on the Computer
· Click on START
· Click on Programs
· Scroll to Find Olympus Digital Vision
· Click on Olympus to Open
· Click on the Thumbnail display
· Select a thumbnail by using the arrow keys
· Save or print the image
Remember where you are saving the images - better yet create your own folder.
You can download all the images at once or only those you wish to save.
When you have downloaded the images, they can then be viewed, manipulated, cropped with image editing software.