Nikon Coolpix S51 User Manual

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Inserting Memory Cards
First Steps
Removing Memory Cards
Before removing memory cards, turn the camera 
off and confirm that the power-on lamp is off. 
Open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover 
and press the card in 1 to partially eject the card 
2. The card can then be removed by hand.
jFormatting Memory Cards
If the message at right is displayed, the memory card must be 
formatted before use (c113). Note that formatting 
permanently deletes all pictures and other data on the 
memory card. Be sure to make copies of any pictures you wish 
to keep before formatting the memory card.
Use the rotary multi selector to choose [Yes] and press d. The 
confirmation dialog will be displayed. To start formatting, choose [Format] and press d.
•Do not turn the camera off or open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover 
until formatting is complete. 
• The first time you insert the memory cards used in other devices into the COOLPIX S51, be 
sure to format them (c113).
jThe Write Protect Switch
SD memory cards are equipped with a write protect 
switch. Pictures cannot be recorded or deleted and the 
memory card cannot be formatted when this switch is in 
the “lock” position. Unlock by sliding the switch to the 
“write” position.
jMemory Cards
• Use only Secure Digital memory cards.
• Do not perform the following during formatting, while data are being written to or deleted 
from the memory card, or during data transfer to a computer. Failure to observe this 
precaution could result in the loss of data or in damage to the camera or memory card.
- Eject the memory card
- Remove the battery
- Turn off the camera
- Disconnect the AC adapter
• Do not disassemble or modify.
• Do not drop, bend, or expose to water or strong physical shocks.
• Do not touch the metal terminals with your fingers or metal objects.
• Do not affix labels or stickers to the memory card.
• Do not leave in direct sunlight, closed vehicles, or areas exposed to high temperatures.
• Do not expose to humidity or to corrosive gases.
2
1
Card is not formatted.
Format card?
No
Ye s
Write protect switch
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select L (Auto) Mode
This section describes how to take pictures in L (auto) mode, an automatic, 
“point-and-shoot” mode recommended for first-time users of digital 
cameras.
1Press the power switch to turn on the 
camera.
The power-on lamp will light and the monitor will 
turn on.
Proceed to step 4 when M is displayed.
2Press C.
3Use the rotary multi selector to choose 
L and press d.
The camera enters L (auto) mode.
4Check the battery level and number of 
exposures remaining.
Battery level
Number of exposures remaining
The number of pictures that can be stored depends on the capacity of the memory 
or memory card and image mode setting.
MonitorDescription
NO INDICATORBattery fully charged.
wBattery low; prepare to charge 
or replace the battery.
K
Warning!
Battery 
exhausted.Cannot take pictures. Recharge 
or replace with a fully charged 
battery.
Shooting
5
MMwL
W
w
W
5
Battery level indicator
Number of exposures 
remaining
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Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select L (Auto) Mode
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Indicators Displayed in L (Auto) Mode
lAvailable Functions in L (Auto) Mode
In L (auto) mode, macro mode (c31) and exposure compensation (c32) can be applied 
and pictures can be taken using the flash mode (c28) and self-timer (c30). Pressing m 
in L (auto) mode displays the shooting menu. This menu allows you to specify the image 
mode (c87), white balance setting (c89), and to apply continuous shooting (c91), BSS 
(c92), ISO sensitivity (c93), color options (c93), and AF area (c94) to suit shooting 
conditions or your own preferences.
lVibration Reduction
[Vibration reduction] (c111), when [On] (default setting) is selected, can be applied to 
effectively reduce blur, caused by slight hand movement known as camera shake, that 
commonly occurs when shooting with zoom applied or at slow shutter speeds.
Vibration reduction can be used in all shooting modes.
lAuto Power Off in L (Auto) Mode (Standby Mode)
The monitor will dim to reduce the drain on the battery if no operations are performed for 
about five seconds. The monitor will brighten when camera controls are used. At default 
settings, the monitor will turn off altogether if no operations are performed for about a 
minute during shooting and playback. The camera will turn off automatically if no operations 
are performed for another three minutes (c112).
5
MML
WW
5
Shooting mode
M displayed in L (auto) mode
Image mode
Choose from seven image-mode 
options depending on how you plan 
to use the picture. The default 
setting is c Normal (3,264 × 2,448).Internal memory indicator
Pictures will be recorded to internal 
memory. When memory card is inserted, 
M is not displayed and pictures will be 
recorded to memory card.Vibration reduction icon
Vibration reduction can be set 
up according to the shooting 
conditions. The default setting is 
[On].
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Step 2 Frame a Picture
1Ready the camera.
Hold the camera steadily in both hands, keeping your 
fingers and other objects away from the lens, flash, 
and self-timer lamp.
2Frame the picture.
Position the main subject near the center of the 
monitor.
Using the Zoom
Use the zoom buttons to activate optical zoom. 
Press t (j) to zoom out, increasing the area 
visible in the frame, or v (k) to zoom in so that the 
subject fills a larger area of the frame.
When the camera is zoomed in to the maximum magnification (3×), holding 
down v (k) triggers digital zoom. The subject is magnified up to 4×, for a 
total magnification of 12×.
A monitor indicator shows the current zoom ratio.
5
MML
WW
5
Zoom out Zoom in
Optical zoom 
(up to 3×)Zoom indicator turns 
yellow when digital 
zoom is in effect. Zoom indicator 
displayed when the 
zoom buttons are 
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Step 2 Frame a Picture
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
jDigital Zoom
Unlike optical zoom, data from the camera’s image sensor are processed digitally with digital 
zoom. Details visible at maximum optical zoom are simply enlarged, producing a slightly 
“grainy” image.
lHigh-sensitivity Shooting Mode
In high-sensitivity shooting mode (c33), sensitivity is increased to reduce blurring caused by 
camera shake or subject movement under low lighting.
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Step 3 Focus and Shoot
1Press the shutter-release button halfway.
By default, the camera automatically focuses on the 
subject in the center focus area.
When the subject is in focus, the focus area and focus 
indicator (p) glow green.
When the camera is unable to focus, the focus area 
and focus indicator blink red. Change the 
composition and try again.
When digital zoom is in effect, the focus area is not 
displayed and focus is acquired on the subject in the 
center of the monitor.
2Press the shutter-release button the rest 
of the way down.
The picture will be recorded to the memory card or 
internal memory.
lShutter-Release Button
The camera features a two-stage shutter-release button. To set focus and exposure, press the 
shutter-release button halfway, stopping when you feel resistance. Focus and exposure lock 
while the shutter-release button is held in this position. To release the shutter and take a 
picture, press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down. Do not use force when 
pressing the shutter-release button, as this may result in camera shake and blurred pictures.
5
MM
WW
L
5
Take picture Set focus and 
exposure
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Step 3 Focus and Shoot
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
jDuring Recording
While pictures are being recorded, the y (wait) icon will be displayed, and the M (internal 
memory) or O (memory card) icon will blink. Do not turn the camera off, open the battery-
chamber/memory card slot cover, or remove or disconnect the power source while these 
icons are displayed. Cutting power or removing the memory card in these circumstances 
could result in loss of data or in damage to the camera or card.
kAutofocus
Autofocus may not perform as expected in the following situations. In some rare cases, the 
subject may not be in focus despite the fact that the focus area and focus indicator glow 
green:
• Subject is very dark
• Objects of sharply differing brightness are included in the scene (e.g., the sun is behind the 
subject and is in deep shadow)
• No contrast between the subject and surroundings (e.g., when the subject is standing in 
front of a white wall, wearing a white shirt)
• Several objects are at different distances from the camera (e.g., the subject is inside a cage)
• Subject is moving rapidly
In the situations noted above, try pressing the shutter-release button halfway to refocus 
several times, or focus on another subject and use focus lock. When using focus lock, be sure 
that the distance between the camera and the subject with which focus was locked is the 
same as that for the actual subject.
lFocus Lock
To focus on off-center subject, use focus lock as described blow.
• Be sure that the distance between the camera and the subject does not change while focus 
is locked. 
lAF-assist Illuminator and Flash
If the subject is poorly lit, the AF-assist illuminator may light by pressing the shutter-release 
button halfway, or the flash may fire by pressing the shutter-release button all the way down. Position the 
subject in the 
center focus area.Press the 
shutter-
release 
button 
halfway.Confirm that the 
focus indicator 
(p) is green.Continue 
holding down 
the shutter-
release button 
halfway and 
recompose the 
picture.Press the 
shutter-
release 
button the 
rest of the 
way down
.
55
MM
WW
L
55
MM
W
L
W
MM
WW
L
55
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Step 4 Viewing and Deleting Pictures
Full-Frame Playback
Press i.
The last picture taken will be displayed.
Use the rotary multi selector G, H, I, or J to view 
additional pictures.
Pictures taken in “tall” orientation will be rotated 
automatically (c112). The rotating direction can be 
changed (c100).
Pictures may be displayed briefly at low resolution while 
being read from the memory card or internal memory.
Press i or the shutter-release button to switch to 
shooting mode.
When M is displayed, pictures stored in the internal 
memory will be displayed. When memory card is inserted, 
M is not displayed and pictures stored on the memory 
card will be displayed.
Deleting Pictures
1Press T to delete the picture currently 
displayed in the monitor.
2Use the rotary multi 
selector to select 
[Yes] and press d.
To exit without deleting the 
picture, choose [No] and 
press d.
15/11/2007 15:3015/11/2007 15:300004.JPG0004.JPG0004.JPG
4 4O M
M
4 4O
15/11/2007 15:30
Internal memory
indicator
Erase 1 image?
No
Ye sK
Done
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Step 4 Viewing and Deleting Pictures
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
kFull-Frame Playback Mode
The following options are available in full-frame playback mode.
Quick Playback Zoom
Pressing v (k) during full-frame playback zooms the current 
picture in 3×, with the center of the picture displayed in the 
monitor (Quick Playback Zoom) (c46).
Press d to return to full-frame playback. 
kViewing Pictures
• When the camera is off, holding down i will turn the camera on in full-frame playback 
mode. If the camera is turned off in voice recording mode (c67) or audio playback mode 
(c69), the camera will be turned on in audio playback mode.
• Pictures stored in the internal memory can only be viewed if no memory card is inserted.
kDeleting the Last Picture Taken
In shooting mode, press T to delete the last picture taken. 
When the confirmation dialog shown at right is displayed, use 
the rotary multi selector to choose [Yes] and press d.
To exit without deleting the picture, choose [No] and press d.
OptionUseDescriptionc
Playback zoomv (k)Press v (k) to enlarge view of 
picture currently displayed in 
monitor up to about 10×.46
View thumbnailst (j)Press t (j) to display nine, 16, or 
25 picture thumbnails.44
Display thumbnail 
wheelRotate the rotary multi selector to 
display the thumbnail wheel.45
D-LightingAPress A to enhance brightness 
and contrast in dark portions of 
pictures.48
Record/play voice 
memodPress d to record or play back voice 
memos up to 20 seconds in length.51
Switch to shooting 
mode
iPress i or the shutter-release 
button to switch to the shooting 
mode selected in the shooting-
mode selection menu.26
X3.0
Erase 1 image?
No
Ye s
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Using the Flash
The flash has a range of about 0.3–6 m (1–19 ft. 8.0 in.) when the camera is 
zoomed out all the way. With maximum optical zoom applied, the range is 
about 0.3–4 m (1–13 ft. 1.5 in.) (when [ISO sensitivity] is set to [Auto]). The 
following flash modes are available.
1Press J (flash mode).
The flash mode menu is displayed.
2Use the rotary multi selector to choose 
the desired flash mode and press d.
The icon for the selected flash mode is displayed at 
the top of the monitor.
When z (auto) is applied, z is only displayed for 
five seconds.
The flash mode applied in L (auto) mode and high-
sensitivity shooting mode is stored in the camera’s 
memory even after the camera is turned off.
If a setting is not applied by pressing d within a few 
seconds, the selection will be cancelled.
zAuto (default setting for L (auto) mode)
Flash fires automatically when lighting is poor.
AAuto with red-eye reduction
Reduces “red-eye” in portraits (c29).
BOff
Flash will not fire even when lighting is poor.
JFill flash
Flash fires when a picture is taken. Use to “fill-in” (illuminate) shadows and 
back-lit subjects.
DSlow sync
Flash illuminates main subject; slow shutter speeds are used to capture 
background at night or under dim light.
zz
Flash mode
5
MMzz
WW
L
5
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