Casio Exilim EX S500 User Manual

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
61
[ ] (  )
Flash mode indicator
Using the Flash
Perform the following steps to select the flash mode you
want to use.
The approximate effective range of the flash is shown
below.
Wide Angle Optical Zoom:
Approximately 0.4 to 2.8 meters
(1.3´ to 9.2´) (ISO Sensitivity: Auto)
Telephoto Optical Zoom:
Approximately 0.4 to 1.4 meters
(1.3´ to 4.6´) (ISO Sensitivity: Auto)
*Depends on zoom factor.
1.In the REC mode, press [] ( ).
Each press of [] ( ) cycles through the flash
mode...

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
62
 IMPORTANT! 
The flash unit of this camera fires a number of times
when you record an image. The initial flashes are
pre-flashes, which the camera uses to obtain
information that it uses for exposure settings. The
final flash is for recording. Make sure that you keep
the camera still until the shutter releases.
Using the flash while “Auto” is selected for the ISO
Sensitivity setting increases sensitivity, which can
cause large amounts of digital noise to appear in the
image....

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
63
 IMPORTANT! 
Note the following important points when using red-
eye reduction.
Red-eye reduction does not work unless the people
in the image are looking directly at the camera during
the pre-flash. Before pressing the shutter button, call
out to the subjects so they all look at the camera
while the pre-flash operation is performed.
Red-eye reduction may not work very well if the
subjects are located far away from the camera.Flash Unit Status
You can find out the current flash...

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
64
Changing the Flash Intensity Setting
Perform the following steps to change the flash intensity
setting.
1.In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2.Use [
] and [] to select the “Quality” tab.
3.Use [] and [] to select “Flash Intensity”,
and then press [].
4.Use [] and [] to select the setting you
want, and then press [SET].
 IMPORTANT! 
Flash intensity may not change if the subject is too
far or too close to the camera.
To make flash intensity:
Stronger
Normal
Weaker
Select this...

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
65
4.Use [] and [] to select “Auto”, and then
press [SET].
Selecting “Off” disables flash assist.
 IMPORTANT! 
Flash assist may not produce the desired result for
some types of subjects.
Flash assist may have little effect on your image if
you changed any of the following settings when you
recorded it.
—Flash intensity (page 64)
—Exposure compensation (EV shift) (page 79)
—ISO sensitivity (page 114)
—Contrast (page 118)
Using flash assist can cause an increase of digital
noise...

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
66
When the flash is turned off (), mount the camera on a
tripod to record images in an area where available lighting
is dim. Recording images under dim lighting without the
flash can cause digital noise, which makes images
appear coarse.
When red-eye reduction (
) is selected, flash intensity
is adjusted automatically in accordance with the
exposure. The flash may not fire at all when the subject is
brightly lit.
Using flash in combination with another light source
(daylight,...

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
67
To do this:
Specify a 10-second self-timer
Specify a 2-second self-timer
Specify Triple Self-timer
Disable the self-timer
Select this setting:
10s 10 sec
2s 2 sec
x3 X3
Off
This causes an
indicator identifying the
selected self-timer type
to appear on the
monitor screen.
With the Triple Self-timer,
the camera records a
series of three images in
the sequence described
below.
1. The camera performs a 10-second countdown
and then records the first image.
2. The camera prepares to...

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
68
AF assist light/
Self-timer lamp5.Press the shutter
button to record the
image.
When you press the
shutter button, the AF
assist light/self-timer
lamp flashes and the
shutter releases after the
self-timer reaches the
end of its countdown
(about 10 seconds or two
seconds).
You can interrupt an ongoing self-timer countdown
by pressing the shutter button while the AF assist
light/self-timer lamp is flashing.
 NOTE 
The “2 sec” self-timer setting is best when shooting
with a slow...

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
69
Specifying Image Size
“Image size” is the size of the image, expressed as the
number of vertical and horizontal pixels. A “pixel” is one of
the many tiny dots that make up the image. More pixels
provide finer detail when an image is printed, but a higher
pixel count also causes the image’s file size to be larger.
You can select an image size to suit your needs for greater
detail or smaller file size.
Note that this setting is valid for snapshots only. For
information about movie...

BASIC IMAGE RECORDING
70
Specifying Image Quality
Compressing an image before storage can cause a
deterioration of its quality. The more an image is
compressed, the greater the loss of quality. The image
quality setting specifies the compression ratio to be used
when an image is stored in memory. You can select an
image quality setting to suit your needs for higher quality or
smaller file size.
• Note that this setting is valid for snapshots only. For
information about movie image quality, see page 95....