Vivitar Vivicam 2800 User Manual

							 10Top View
Bottom View
Compartment ViewZoom In, (W = Wide)
Zoom Out
(T = Telephoto)Shutter
ButtonCF
Card
Ejector
Tripod
Socket,¼” - 20BatteryDoorNTSC Video(RS-232)
Serial Data
6 VDC
PowerInputCF CardUSB Port  
						

							 111.7 System Requirements:
Digital cameras are PC-centric devices.  As such, system requirements become a
significant usage issue.  The V2800 is a very feature-rich camera that allows you to
connect to your PC in several ways.  As such, the PC system requirements vary
depending upon what you wish to do and how you wish to connect your camera to
your PC.  The system requirements are driven by your method of connecting to your
PC.
General System Requirements for all users:
· 486/66 MHz, or higher processor, with 16 MB RAM.
· Windows 95, Windows 98
· CD-ROM drive to load drivers and application software
· Floppy disk driver to load Twain and USB drivers (if not included on CD-ROM)
· 2 MB hard drive space for Twain and USB drivers
· Display monitor and video adapter supporting at least 256 colors at VGA (640 x
480) resolution.
Note:  If your display is set at 256 colors, your digital camera images will appear dull, colorless,
and “posterized.”  For best visual appearance set your display to 800 x 600 resolution. 16 bit
(High Color) or 24 bit (True Color) is recommended.
Additional Requirements to connect to your PC using a serial connection:
· An available 9-pin serial port, correctly configured and operational.  A 25 pin
serial port can be accessed using a 25 pin to 9 pin (25F to 9M) adapter.  Do not
use a null modem adapter.
Additional Requirements to connect to your PC using a USB connection:
· A USB port, properly configured and operational.
· Windows 95 version OSR2 with USB Supplement (OSR2.1), or
· Windows 98.
Additional Requirements to connect to your PC using a CF reader:
· Parallel port CF readers will require a parallel port (which they usually can share
with a printer, or other parallel port peripheral).  Consult with your CF reader
manufacturer for additional details.  Parallel port CF readers are available to work
with Windows 95/98, NT 4.0, and even Windows 3.x
· USB CF readers will have requirements as specified by their manufacturers.
Note:  If you have a properly configured USB port on a Windows 95/98 machine, there is little
advantage using a USB CF reader over simply using the camera itself.  The V2800 is a “storage-class”
USB device which means that when you connect the V2800 to your PC via USB, the camera appears as
a hard drive, just as does the CF reader.  
						

							 12Application Software: The application software included with the V2800 can be
installed as a matter of choice.  If you already have favorite imaging application
software installed on your PC, you may not need to install the bundled software
application.
If you plan to use the serial connection for connecting to you PC, your imaging
software must be Twain compliant and it must support a 32-bit Twain driver source.
If you plan to connect by USB or CF reader then you application software need only
be able to read common JPG files.
Additional Requirements for the PhotoExpress Application are:
· Pentium Processor, or higher
· 105 MB of hard disk space
· Minimum 800 x 600 display settings
MAC: There are no drivers or serial connection cables to directly connect the V2800
to MAC or iMAC computers, nor are there MAC USB drivers.  However, it may be
possible to use the V2800 with an iMAC or a PowerMac using an optional USB
version Compact Flash card reader, such as the ImageMate™, USB version, by
SanDisk.
Images captured with your V2800 and stored on a CF card may, however, be read
using a USB CF reader.  The CF reader dictates the MAC system requirements.  In
general you will need OS 8.1 or higher with USB system extensions.  iMAC users can
use their USB port, while PowerMac users will need a PCI to USB adapter.  
						

							 13Chapter 2 – Getting Started: Power, and Info Icons
2.1 Powering the Camera
Starting up your V2800 is as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Apply power – either batteries or an AC adapter
2. Insert a Compact Flash (CF) card (the “film” for a digital camera.)
3. Turn on the camera
2.1.1 Installing Batteries
To install batteries:
1. Place your thumb upon the battery door
2. Slide the battery door in the direction of
the arrow
3. Place the batteries with the polarity
exactly as shown.  Note that there are
polarity indicators on the inside of the
battery door
4. Close the battery door and slide it back into it’s locked position.
2.1.2 Using the AC Adapter
To use the AC adapter, plug the adapter
into a household AC outlet, open the side
compartment door of camera, and
connect the adapter terminal to lower
jack, labeled “DC 6V”
2.1.3 Power Management
Note:  The ViviCam 2800 has a power management feature designed to extend battery
life.  If the camera is running on batteries, the camera will shut-off automatically if it
is left idle for one minute.  To “wake-up” the camera, press the shutter button.
Note:  If the camera is running on AC power, the auto-off power management feature is ignored and
the camera will run indefinitely, with one exception.  The one exception is: if your camera is connected
to your PC using the AC adapter and you have downloaded all your images from camera to the PC,
then the camera will assume you are finished and the camera will auto-power off.  Otherwise, the
camera will run indefinitely when the AC adapter is in use.
Note:  The auto-power off time (factory set to one-minute) is adjustable.  See section 6.2.5.6  
						

							 14CF CardEjector2.2 Compact Flash Card
Now that the batteries are installed (or AC power applied), there must be a CF card in
the camera, just as a film camera needs a roll of film.
2.2.1 Inserting a Compact Flash Card
1. Open the side compartment door.
2. Insert the side of a CF card with the 50 small
holes into the CF slot, pointed into the camera.
3. Push the CF card into the slot until it is seated
firmly.
2.2.2 Removing a Compact Flash Card
1. Open the side compartment door.
2. Slide the memory card ejector in the direction of
the arrow.  Note how the ejector moves in a direction
opposite to the direction in which the card itself will
eject.  Feel free to slide the ejector button swiftly.
3. Remove Card  
						

							 152.3 Turning on the Camera
Now that power is applied and the CF card is in place, it’s time to turn on the camera.
At this point you have two choices.  What do you want to do?  Do you want to take
images, or review images you have already captured.
· To capture images (take pictures) slide the mode switch to the CAM position
· To review existing images slide the mode switch to the PLAY positionPower up to CAM.  If you switched to CAM, you will see the green LED come on
and the camera (like the small computer that it is) will boot up.  You will hear the
auto-focus motor run through a short exercise, the information LCD panel will display
certain information (explained in the next section), and the camera is ready to capture
images.
Note:  Part of the power management philosophy is to have the camera power-up with the image LCD
OFF, in order to save battery power.  To turn on the LCD display press the DISP button and you will
see live motion video.
Power up to PLAY.  If you switched to PLAY, you will see the green LED come on,
the information LCD panel will display certain information (explained in the next
section), and the image LCD will display an image.  Press the “-” or “+” buttons to
see the next, or previous image in memory.
Note:  What about all that information in the image LCD window?  If you prefer to turnoff all the detail
in the image LCD, press the DISP and your image LCD will omit all the information details.
2.4 Turning off the Camera
When it’s time to turn off the camera, slide the mode switch back to the center
position. The camera will power down.  Just like your PC, the V2800 takes a short
time to power down, typically three to five seconds.Slide to the leftfor PLAY modeSlide to the rightfor CAM mode  
						

							 162.5 The Information LCD Icons
2.5.1 Information Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
The small monochrome information LCD provides basic information about the status
and settings of your camera. This information LCD window comes on whenever the
camera is powered.
Note:  If the information display goes blank while the camera is in either PLAY or CAM modes, the
camera has automatically gone into a power saving “sleep” mode.  To wake up the camera, press the
shutter button.
2.5.2 Image Number
The three large digits in the upper right-hand corner of the LCD indicate the image
number.
· In CAM mode, this indicates how many more images you can take,
based upon your available CF card memory, resolution, and quality
settings.  If no CF card is present, or if it is not fully seated, the Image
display will briefly flash NoCard, and the monochrome display Image
Number will show three dashes, “---”.
Note:  The number of images remaining is an estimate.  It is a calculation based upon available
memory and the anticipated, or average, file size of an image taken in the resolution and quality
settings that are currently active.  File sizes do vary however, depending upon the scene that you have
imaged.  Complex images (where the image is very “busy”) take more space than average whereas
images of scenes which are of less contrast may be smaller than average.
· In PLAY mode, it indicates the number of the images currently on the CF card.
If no CF card is present, or if it is not fully seated, the Image display will
display NoCard, and the monochrome display Image Number will show
three zeros, “000”
.
Note:  If the CF memory card is full, the image LCD will display “CARD FULL”.Image QualityImage Counter
Battery Status
Resolution
MacroFlash ModeQualityRedeye
Flash Mode
Self Timer  
						

							 172.5.3 FLASH
The V2800 has four flash modes: On/Fill, OFF, Auto, and redeye reduction.  The flash
is designed to operate in a range from 20 inches (50 cm) to a maximum of 10 feet (3
m.)  Scene content (whether your subject is reflective or diffuse, and general lighting
conditions) will effect the range of performance.
Auto.  In the auto flash mode the camera will make a determination whether or
not the flash is required.  There is a small light sensor on the front of the camera
located between the optical viewfinder and the self-timing indicator that senses the
lighting conditions of your scene.  The camera will determine whether or not the flash
is required and it will also regulate the intensity of the flash.
 Redeye.  Redeye reduction is accomplished by firing the flash twice.  The first
flash is a precursor flash of reduced intensity which initiates a retinal reduction in
your subjects.  (This causes your subjects eyes/retinas to constrict slightly.)   The flash
will then trigger a second time in the proper intensity to capture the image.
 On.  In this mode the flash will trigger every time regardless of lighting
conditions.  This is sometimes known as “fill” flash as many photographers use
this technique to fill in shadows and areas of high contrast.
.
 Off.  In the off mode, the flash is disabled and will not fire regardless of lighting
conditions.
Hint:  The V2800 performs quite well in low light conditions.  Try capturing without flash and
determine for yourself how well the low-light performance works for you.  Do be careful, however, as
lighting diminishes the exposure time increases and you may find your subjects become blurred.  Since
the V2800 is digital and there is no film cost, experiment - try with and without flash.
Note:  If the flash is set to Auto, On, or Redeye you will hear a high pitched whine when the camera is
turned to CAM mode.  This noise is the sound of the flash capacitor charging.
Hint:  If you know you will not be using the flash (outdoors on a sunny day, for example) turn the flash
to OFF.  This will result in faster camera startups, faster image-to-image performance, and better
battery life.  By setting the flash to OFF the camera will not charge the flash capacitor, saving both time
and batteries.
Changing Flash Modes:
1. Start up the camera in CAM mode.
2. Press the flash button to toggle through
each mode.  The display icons indicate
your current flash mode.Flash mode
button  
						

							 182.5.4 Macro
The macro function disables the auto focus feature and drives the focus motor
to the minimum focus position.  The minimum focus distance will be 6” to 8”
(20cm.)
Initiating the Macro function
Start up the camera in CAM mode.
Press the macro button to toggle macro on or
off.  The flower icon indicates macro mode
Hint:  After taking a macro shot don’t forget to switch back to normal (auto focus) mode or else
subsequent images may be out of focus.
2.5.5 Image Quality
You may adjust the quality of the images you capture by selecting image quality as
Good, Better, or, Best.  Unlike traditional film photography, digital images are stored
on a memory card as a file.  All digital cameras use a technique known as
compression to save digital images in files of reasonable size.  If compression were
not used, you would only be able to store perhaps two images on a 4 MB CF memory
card.  Unfortunately, compressing an image causes degradation in the quality of the
image.  The more you compress an image, the smaller the file.  Small files, however,
allow you to store more images on a given memory card.  The choice is yours.  Best
images, or maximum number of images?  It is a trade off you can make.  The V2800
offers three levels of compression (quality).
Note:  Do not confuse quality with resolution.  Resolution determines the size of the images on your
screen – 1024 by 768 pixels or 640 by 480 pixels.  Quality determines the visual integrity of your
images.  Images that are too heavily compressed will appear blocky.
The quality setting will be indicated on the information LCD.
· Best: Using XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, and the Best quality setting you can
expect to store approximately 11 images on a 4 MB CF memory card.
· Better: Using XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, and the Better quality setting you
can expect to store approximately 24 images on a 4 MB CF memory card.
· Good: Using XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, and the Best quality setting you can
expect to store approximately 46 images on a 4 MB CF memory card.
To change quality setting, refer to Chapter 3, section 3.1.4.
Note:  You can change image quality from one image to the next.  Experiment with the compression
settings to see if you can tell the difference between the three.
Hint:  The most appropriate compression (quality) setting for you depends upon the final purpose for
your images.  If you plan to print your images, use the “Best” quality.  If you plan to email images, or
post them to a website the most appropriate setting will be “Good.”Macro mode button  
						

							 192.5.6 Battery Status
The V2800 uses four AA batteries. The information LCD has a battery status
indicator that acts as a fuel gauge.
Three indicator bars signify full battery power.  This is the optimal
condition.
Two indicator bars signify adequate, but less than full battery power.
There remains adequate power to operate all camera features.
One indicator bar signifies marginally adequate, battery power.  There
remains adequate power to capture images, but the LCD will be disabled.
No indicator bars indicate the presence of batteries but of insufficient
capacity to operate the camera.
Note:  As battery capacity diminishes, the V2800 will attempt to keep operating.  To do this the camera
will disable the image LCD when battery capacity is critically low.  This will allow you to continue to
capture images, but without the benefit of the image LCD.  The monochrome LCD will continue to
provide status information, however.
Hint:  When you remove alkaline batteries from a digital camera, do not dispose of them hastily.
Digital cameras deplete AA batteries quickly, but not completely.  Experience has shown that batteries,
which appear “dead” to a digital camera, are still more than adequate for most other consumer
electronic devices.  Take the “dead” batteries from your digital camera and use them in another device
that is not so demanding like a radio, CD player, or battery-operated toy.  Try it and see!
2.5.7 Image Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels of the images you capture.  The V2800 has
two resolutions, large and small.  Large resolution images will be 1024 pixels by 768
pixels.  This is often referred to as, XGA.  Small resolution images will be 640 pixels
by 480 pixels, known as VGA.  VGA images will result in smaller files.  Using VGA
(small) resolution you will be able to store almost 50% more images on the CF
memory card.
The following icons on the monochrome LCD indicate resolution -
Large: 1024 x 768 (XGA)
Small: 640 x 480 (VGA)
To change resolution setting, refer to Chapter 3, section 3.1.3.