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Minolta DiMAGE F100 Minolta builds a compact, stylish 4 Megapixel model with sophisticated autofocus. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet DiMAGE F100 Photo Gallery! DiMAGE F100 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on DiMAGE F100 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 04/18/2002, Updated: 05/29/2003

Camera Modes and Menus

Auto: The first setting on the Mode dial (after the Off position), this mode sets up the camera to capture still images. The camera automatically determines aperture and shutter speed, as well as white balance, color, metering, and ISO. It also controls the Digital Subject Program mode, unless the user specifies a scene. The settings menu offers the following adjustment options:

• Drive Mode: Lets you select Single, Self-Timer / Remote Control, Continuous Advance, or Bracketing drive modes.
• Image Size: Sets the image resolution to 2,272 x 1,704, 1,600 x 1,200, 1,280 x 960, or 640 x 480 pixels.
• Quality:Determines the amount of image compression used when saving images to the camera's memory card. Options are Superfine (uncompressed), Fine, Standard, or Economy.
• Voice Memo: Turns the voice captioning option on or off, and offers five- or 15-second recording times.
• Date Imprint: Imprints the date and time on the image.
• Digital Zoom: Turns the 2.5x digital zoom function on or off. (When enabled, the digital zoom picks up at the end of the optical zoom range.)

Manual: Enables still image capture, though now with increased exposure options. Pressing the Menu button pulls up three screens of options.

• Basic
  • Exposure Mode: Sets the exposure control to Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, or Manual modes.
  • Drive Mode: Puts the camera into Single, Self-Timer / Remote Control, Continuous Advance, or Bracketing drive modes.
  • Image Size: Sets the image resolution to 2,272 x 1,704, 1,600 x 1,200, 1,280 x 960, or 640 x 480 pixels.
  • Quality: Determines the amount of image compression used when saving images to the camera's memory card. Options are Superfine (uncompressed), Fine, Standard, or Economy.
  • White Balance: Adjusts the overall color balance of the image. Choices are Cloudy, Daylight, Auto, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Custom (manual setting).
    
    

• Custom 1
  • Focus Mode: Selects Single AF, Tracking AF, or Manual focusing modes.
  • Full-time AF: Tells the camera to adjust focus all the time, or only when the Shutter button is halfway pressed.
  • AF Sensor Display: Turns the on-screen focus brackets on or off.
  • Metering Mode: Selects either Multi-Segment (default) or Spot metering modes.
  • Sensitivity: Adjusts the camera's sensitivity to ISO equivalents of 100, 200, 400, or 800, or lets the camera adjust the ISO as required by the shooting conditions (the Auto option).
    
    

• Custom 2
  • Digital FX Control: Adjusts image attributes, including Color Mode, Sharpness, Contrast, and Saturation.
  • Voice Memo: Turns the voice captioning option on or off, and offers five or 15-second recording times.
  • Date Imprint: Imprints the date and time on the image.
  • Digital Zoom: Enables or disables the 2.5x digital zoom.
  • Instant Playback: Activates the Instant Playback feature, which displays the most recently captured image for either two or 10 seconds after capture.
    
    

   

Playback Mode: Reviews all captured images and movies on the SD card. Users can view a histogram of each image, enlarge images as much as 5x, or view several images at a time in the nine-image index display mode. Pressing the Menu button offers the following options:

• Basic
  • Delete: Erases the current frame, all frames, or marked frames from the memory card.
  • Lock: Write-protects the current image, all images, or marked images on the memory card. Locked images cannot be manipulated or deleted, although they will be erased if the card is reformatted.
  • Audio Caption: Records a short audio clip to accompany a previously-captured still image.
    
    

• Custom 1
  • Slide Show: Activates an automated slide show of all captured images.
  • Playback: Specifies which frames to play back in the slide show.
  • Duration: Designates the interval between each frame in the slide show. Choices range from one to 60 seconds in one-second increments.
  • Repeat: Specifies whether the slide show repeats after the final image is shown.
    
    

• Custom 2
  • Print: Designates whether the current frame, all frames, or only marked frames will be printed.
  • Index Print: Orders an index print of all images on the card.
  • Cancel Print: Cancels the DPOF print order for all files on either the card or in a specified folder.
  • Copy: Lets you copy images from the current memory card to a second one, presumably for sharing with friends. Copies the images into the camera's internal memory, prompts you to change the memory card, and then writes them back down to the second card.
  • Email Copy: Performs the same function as Copy above, but saves only a 640 x 480 pixel image, suitable for email.
    

 

Movie Mode: Indicated by the movie camera icon on the Mode dial, this mode sets the camera for capturing moving images with sound. Movies are captured at the 320 x 240 resolution, with a maximum record time of approximately 35 seconds per movie. There is no settings menu available in this mode.

Audio Mode: Records as much as 30 minutes of continuous audio, with no image(s). No settings menu is available.

Setup Mode: Displays the following Setup menu:

• Basic
  • LCD Brightness: Adjusts the overall LCD brightness level, with an adjustment bar at the top of the screen.
  • Format: Formats the SD memory card, erasing all images.
  • Power Save: Specifies the length of the period of inactivity before the camera goes to sleep. Choices are 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes.
  • Language: Sets the menu language to Japanese, English, German, French, or Spanish.
    
    

• Custom 1
  • File # Memory: Turns the file numbering memory on or off. If on, the camera continuously numbers files, regardless of what SD card is in use. If off, the camera resets its file number counter whenever the SD memory card is changed.
  • Folder Name: Designates whether the folder name is based on the date or the standard naming (An example of the latter: 100MLT08).
  • Audio Signals: Controls the sound of audio signals that play when buttons are pressed. Option 1 plays a "mechanical" noise (taken from the Minolta CLE film camera), and Option 2 plays an "electrical" noise. There's also an Off setting.
  • Shutter FX: Determines whether the shutter makes a noise when firing. Option1 and Option 2 are both available, with the same sounds as in the Audio Signals above, or the sound can be turned off.
  • Volume: Adjusts the volume of camera sounds as well as audio playback.
    
    

• Custom 2
  • Reset Default: Resets all camera settings to their defaults.
  • Date/Time Set: Sets the camera's internal clock and calendar.
  • Date Format: Offers a selection of date formats to choose from.
  • Video Output: Sets the video timing to NTSC or PAL.