Nikon Coolpix L21 Users Manual

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Auto Mode
Auto Mode
Shooting in the Auto Mode
In A (auto) mode, macro mode (A33) and exposure compensation (A34) can 
be applied and pictures can be taken using the flash mode (A30) and self-timer 
(A32). Pressing the d button in A (auto) mode allows you to set the items in 
the shooting menu (A72) according to shooting conditions.
1Press A to display the shooting-mode 
selection menu.
•The shooting-mode selection menu will be displayed.
2Press the multi selector H or I to choose A 
and press k.
•The camera enters A (auto) mode.
•Set the flash (A30), self-timer (A32), macro mode 
(A33) and exposure compensation (A34) 
according to shooting conditions.
•By pressing d, you can also set the items in the 
shooting menu (A72) according to shooting conditions.
3Frame the subject and shoot.
Camera focuses on subject in center of 
frame.
Auto mode
44
DFocus Lock
When the camera focuses on an object in the center of the frame, you can use focus lock to focus on 
an off-center subject.
•
Be sure that the distance between the camera and the subject does not change while focus is locked.•When the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, exposure is locked.
Position the subject 
in the center of the 
frame.Continue holding 
down the shutter-
release button halfway 
and recompose the 
picture.Press the 
shutter 
release 
button 
halfway.Confirm that the 
focus area is 
green.Press the 
shutter-
release button 
the rest of the 
way down.F3.11/1251/125 F3.1F3.11/1251/125 F3.144
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Auto Mode
Using the Flash
The flash mode allows you to specify the settings according to shooting conditions.
•For L22, the flash has a range of approx. 0.5-7.0 m (1 ft. 8 in.-23 ft.) when the 
camera is zoomed out all the way, and 0.5-3.0 m (1 ft. 8 in.-9 ft. 10 in.) when the 
maximum optical zoom is applied. For L21, the flash has a range of approx. 0.5-
5.5 m (1 ft. 8 in.-18 ft.) when the camera is zoomed out all the way, and 0.5-2.5 m 
(1 ft. 8 in.-8 ft.) when the maximum optical zoom is applied.
•Note that when using easy auto mode (A20), only U Auto (default setting) 
and W Off are available. When U Auto is applied, the camera automatically 
selects the optimum flash mode setting for the scene mode it has selected.
•The following flash modes are available when shooting in auto mode (A29) 
and certain scene modes (A35).
Setting the Flash Mode
1Press m (flash mode) on the multi selector.
The flash menu is displayed.
2Press the multi selector H or I to select a 
mode and press k.
The icon for the selected flash mode is displayed at the 
top of the monitor.
D will disappear after a few seconds regardless of the 
Photo info option (A92).
If a setting is not applied by pressing k within a few 
seconds, the selection will be cancelled.
UAuto
Flash fires automatically when lighting is poor.
VAuto with red-eye reduction
Reduces “red-eye” in portraits (A31).
WOff
Flash will not fire even when lighting is poor.
XFill flash
Flash fires when a picture is taken. Use to “fill-in” (illuminate) shadows and back-lit subjects.
YSlow sync
Auto flash mode is combined with slow shutter speed.
Suitable for taking portraits with the night landscape as the background. Flash 
illuminates main subject; slow shutter speeds are used to capture background at 
night or under dim light.
Flash mode
4
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Using the Flash
Auto Mode
BShooting When Lighting Is Poor and the Flash Is Disabled (W)
•Use of a tripod is recommended to stabilize the camera during shooting and avoid the effects of 
camera shake.
•The E is displayed when the camera automatically increases sensitivity to minimize blur caused 
by slow shutter speed. Pictures taken when E is displayed may be slightly mottled.
BNote on Using the Flash
When using the flash, reflections from dust particles in the air may appear as bright spots in pictures. 
To reduce these reflections, set the flash to W (Off).
CThe Flash Lamp
The flash lamp indicates flash status when the shutter-
release button is pressed halfway.
•On: Flash will fire when picture is taken.
•Blinks: Flash charging. Wait a few seconds and try 
again.
•Off: Flash will not fire when picture is taken.
If the remaining battery level is low, the monitor will turn off until the flash has finished charging.
CThe Flash Mode Setting
The default setting of the flash mode depends on the shooting mode.
•G (easy auto): U Auto
•Scene: varies with the selected scene mode (A35-42).
•F (smart portrait): U Auto
•A (auto): U Auto
Flash cannot be used simultaneously with certain features. ➝ “Camera Settings that Cannot Be Set 
at the Same Time” (A80)
When the shooting mode is A (auto) mode, the changed flash setting will be stored even if the 
camera is turned off.
CRed-eye Reduction
This camera uses advanced red-eye reduction (“In-Camera Red-Eye Fix”).
If the camera detects “red-eye” when a picture is taken, Nikon’s own In-Camera Red-Eye Fix 
processes the image before it is saved.
Note the following when taking pictures:
•The time required to save images increases slightly.
•Red-eye reduction may not always produce the desired results.
•In some rare cases, other portions of pictures may be affected. Use flash modes other than auto 
with red-eye reduction in above cases.
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Auto Mode
Taking Pictures with the Self-timer
When using the self-timer, pictures are taken 10 seconds after the shutter-release 
button is pressed. When using the self-timer, use of a tripod is recommended.
1Press n (self-timer) on the multi selector.
The self-timer menu is displayed.
2Press the multi selector H or I to select ON 
and press k.
The self-timer icon (n 10) is displayed.
If a setting is not applied by pressing k within a few 
seconds, the selection will be cancelled.
3Frame the picture and press the 
shutter-release button halfway.
Focus and exposure will be set.
4Press the shutter-release button the 
rest of the way down.
The self-timer starts and the number of seconds 
remaining until the shutter is released is 
displayed in the monitor. The self-timer lamp 
will blink. The lamp stops blinking one second 
before the picture is taken and remains lit until 
the shutter is released.
When the shutter is released, the self-timer will be set to OFF.
To stop the timer before a picture is taken, press the shutter-release button again.
Self-timer
F3.11/1251/125 F3.1
1010
F3.11/1251/125 F3.1
99
COOLPIX L22 COOLPIX L21
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Auto Mode
Macro Mode
Macro mode is used for taking pictures of objects as close as 5 cm (2 in.). Note that 
the flash may be unable to light entire subject at distances of less than 50 cm (1 ft. 
8in.).
When using G (easy auto) mode (A20), the macro mode button cannot be 
used to activate macro mode.
1Press p (macro mode) on the multi selector.
•The macro menu is displayed.
2Press the multi selector H or I to select ON 
and press k.
The macro mode icon (F) is displayed.
If a setting is not applied by pressing k within a few 
seconds, the selection will be cancelled.
3Rotate the zoom control to move to the wide 
zoom position.
•Macro mode can be used to take a picture at the 
current zoom position when F or the zoom indicator 
glows green.
•The camera can focus on objects as close as about 5 cm (2 in.) at the widest zoom 
position, and as close as about 7 cm (2.8 in.) at the position where G is displayed.
Macro mode
CAutofocus
When using macro mode, the camera focuses continuously until the shutter-release button is 
pressed halfway to lock the focus. A sound will be heard while the camera focuses.
CThe Macro Mode Setting
When the shooting mode is A (auto) mode, the macro mode setting will be stored even if the 
camera is turned off.
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Auto Mode
Exposure Compensation
Exposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the 
camera to make pictures brighter or darker.
1Press o (exposure compensation) on the 
multi selector.
•The exposure compensation guide is displayed.
2Press the multi selector H or I to select the 
desired setting and press k.
•To make the subject brighter, adjust the exposure 
compensation to the “+” side.
•To make the subject darker, adjust the exposure 
compensation to the “-” side.
•Exposure compensation can be set to values between 
-2.0 and +2.0 EV.
•If a setting is not applied by pressing k within a few seconds, the selection will be 
cancelled.
•When set to any value other than 0.0, H and the value are displayed.
3Press the shutter-release button to shoot.
•To turn off exposure compensation, repeat from step 1 
and set the value to 0.0, then press k.
Exposure compensation
44
CExposure Compensation Value
When the shooting mode is A (auto) mode (A29), the exposure compensation setting will be 
stored even if the camera is turned off.
DUsing Exposure Compensation
The camera tends to reduce exposure when the frame is dominated by brightly lit objects and to 
increase exposure when the frame is mostly dark. Positive compensation may therefore be required 
to capture the brilliancy of very bright objects that fill the frame (for example, sunlit expanses of 
water, sand, or snow) or when the background is much brighter than the main subject. Negative 
compensation may be called for when large areas of the frame contain very dark objects (for 
example, a swath of dark green leaves) or when the background is much darker than the main 
subject.
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Shooting Suited for the Scene
Shooting Suited for the Scene
Using the Scene Mode
Camera settings are automatically optimized for the selected subject type. The 
following scene modes are available.
Setting the Scene Mode
1Press A in shooting mode to 
display the shooting-mode 
selection menu and use the multi 
selector H and I to select scene 
mode.
The icon of the last scene mode used is 
displayed. b (Portrait) is the default setting.
2Press K, press H, I, J, or K to select a scene 
mode, then press k.
•The shooting mode screen for the selected scene is 
displayed.
•“Features“ ➝ A36
3Frame the subject and shoot.
b Portraitf Party/indoorj Night landscapem Fireworks show
c Landscapeg Beach/snowk Close-upn Copy
d Sportsh Sunsetu Foodo Backlight
e Night portraiti Dusk/dawnl Museump Panorama assist
Portrait
Beach/snow
44
DImage Mode
When using scene mode, you can set the Image mode setting (A74) by pressing d. If the 
image mode setting is changed, the new image mode setting is also applied to other shooting 
modes (except movie mode).
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Using the Scene Mode
Shooting Suited for the Scene
Features
The following icons are used for descriptions in this section: X = flash mode 
(A30), n = self-timer (A32), p = macro mode (A33), o = exposure 
compensation (A34).
* Other settings can be selected.
* Other settings can be selected.
b Portrait
Use this mode for taking portraits in which the main subject 
stands out clearly.
•If the camera detects a face, it focuses on the face. See “Face 
Detection” (A24) for more information.
•If more than one face is recognized, the camera focuses on 
the face closest to the camera.
•If no faces are detected, focus will be on the center of the frame.
•Digital zoom is not available.
mV*nOff*pOffo0.0*
c Landscape
Use this mode for vivid landscapes and cityscapes.
•Camera focuses at infinity. The focus area or focus indicator 
(A8) always glows green when the shutter-release button 
is pressed halfway. Note, however, that objects in the 
foreground may not always be in focus.
•The AF-assist illuminator (A97) does not light.
mWnOff*pOffo0.0*
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Using the Scene Mode
Shooting Suited for the Scene* Other settings can be selected.
*1Flash mode is set to fill flash with slow sync and red-eye reduction, and cannot be changed.*2Other settings can be selected.
d Sports
Use this mode for dynamic action shots that freeze the action 
in a single shot and record motion in a series of pictures.
•The camera focuses on the subject in the center of the 
frame. The camera focuses continuously until the shutter-
release button is pressed halfway to lock the focus.
•While the shutter-release button is held down, the L22 
shoots up to 5 frames at 0.9 frames per second (fps), and the L21 shoots up to 5 frames at 
1 fps (when image mode is set to I 4000×3000 for L22 and R 3264×2448 for L21).
•The maximum frame rate with continuous shooting may vary depending upon the 
current image mode setting and the memory card used.
•Focus, exposure compensation, and white balance are fixed at the values determined 
with the first shot in each series.
•The AF-assist illuminator (A97) does not light.
mWnOffpOffo0.0*
e Night portraitO
Use this mode to achieve a natural balance between the main 
subject and background lighting in portraits taken at night. 
Flash is used to illuminate the subject while maintaining the 
mood of the background.
•If the camera detects a person’s face, the camera will focus 
on that person (face detection: A24).
•If more than one face is recognized, the camera focuses on the face closest to the 
camera.
•If no faces are recognized, focus will be on the center of the screen.
•Digital zoom is not available.
mV*1nOff*2pOffo0.0*2
O: For those scene modes with O, use of a tripod is recommended.
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Using the Scene Mode
Shooting Suited for the Scene
*1The flash may change to slow sync with red-eye reduction. Other settings can be selected.*2Other settings can be selected.
* Other settings can be selected.
* Other settings can be selected.
f Party/indoor
Captures the effects of candlelight and other indoor 
background lighting.
•Camera focuses on subject in center of frame.
•As pictures are easily affected by camera shake, hold the 
camera steadily. In a dark place, the use of a tripod is 
recommended.
mV*1nOff*2pOffo0.0*2
g Beach/snow
Captures the brightness of such subjects as snowfields, 
beaches, or sunlit expanses of water.
•Camera focuses on subject in center of frame.
mU*nOff*pOff*o0.0*
h SunsetO
Preserves the deep hues seen in sunsets and sunrises.
•Camera focuses on subject in center of frame.
mW*nOff*pOffo0.0*
O: For those scene modes with O, use of a tripod is recommended.
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