Casio Exilim EX-Z4U Instruction and safety manual

58
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
No indicator
(Auto Focus)
(Macro)
PF (Pan Focus)
(Infinity)
MF (Manual Focus)
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
This section describes other powerful features and
functions that are available for recording.
Selecting the Focus Mode
You can select one of five different focus modes: Auto
Focus, Macro, Pan Focus, Infinity, and Manual.
1. In the REC mode, press []
( ).
•Each press of [] ( )
cycles thorough the focus
mode settings in the
sequence shown below.
Using Auto Focus
As its name suggests, Auto Focus focuses the image
automatically. The automatic focus operation starts when
you press the shutter release button down half way. The
following is the Auto Focus range.
Range: Approximately 40cm to ∞(1.3´to ∞)
1. Keep pressing [] ( ) until there is no
focus mode indicator on the display.
2. Compose the image
so the main subject is
within the focus
frame, and then press
the shutter release
button half way.
•You can tell whether the
image is focused by
observing the focus
frame and the green
operation lamp.
DISP
MENU
SET
[  ] ( )
1200
1200
1600
1600
NORMAL
NORMAL
99
99
03
03
/12
12
/24
24
12
12
:58
58
IN
1 / 1000
1 / 1000
F2.6
F2.6
Focus frame
Focus mode indicator
Green operation lamp

59
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
When you see this:
Green focus frame
Green operation lamp
Red focus frame
Flashing green operation lamp
It means this:
The image is focused.
The image is not in
focus.
3. Press the shutter release button the rest of
the way to record the image.
■Specifying the Auto Focus Area
You can use the following procedure to change the Auto
Focus area used in the Auto Focus Mode and the Macro
Mode. Note that the configuration of the focus frame
changes in accordance with the Auto Focus area you
select.
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. On the “REC”tab, select “AF Area”, and then
press [].
3. Select the Auto Focus area you want, and
then press [SET].
For this type of Auto Focus area:
Very limited range in the center of the
screen
•This setting works well with focus lock
(page 63).
Automatic selection of the focus area where
the subject closest to the camera is located
•With this setting, a wide focus frame,
which contains seven focus points,
appears on the monitor screen first. When
you press the shutter release button half
way, the camera automatically selects the
focus point where the subject closest to
the camera is located, and a focus frame
appears at that point.
•This setting works well for group photos.
Select this:
Spot
Multi
•Spot •Multi
Focus frameFocus frame

60
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
Using the Macro Mode
The Macro mode lets you focus automatically on close up
subjects. The automatic focus operation starts when you
press the shutter release button down half way. The
following is the focus range in the Macro mode.
Approximately 6cm to 50cm (2.4˝ to 19.7˝)
1. Keep pressing [] ( ) until the focus mode
indicator shows “ ”.
2. Record the image.
• The focus and image recording operations are
identical to those in the Auto Focus mode.
• You can tell whether the image is focused by
observing the focus frame and the green operation
lamp. The indications of the focus frame and green
operation lamp are the same as those in the Auto
Focus mode.
IMPORTANT!
• In the Macro mode, the optical zoom range is 1x to
1.8x.
Using the Pan Focus Mode
Normally, your camera performs Auto Focus to ensure that
your images are always in focus. With Pan Focus, focus is
fixed for a specific focal distance, and images are recorded
without Auto Focus. The focus range depends on the zoom
setting, the amount of light available when recording, and
other recording conditions.

61
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
1. Keep pressing [] ( ) until the focus mode
indicator shows “PF”.
2. Press the shutter release button all the way
down.
NOTE
• If you press the shutter release button half way, the
focus distance will appear on the monitor screen.
IMPORTANT!
• When using the flash, it is recommended that you
have the zoom set to wide angle.
Using the Infinity Mode
The Infinity mode fixes focus at infinity (∞). Use this mode
when recording scenery and other faraway images.
1. Keep pressing [] ( ) until the focus mode
indicator shows “ ”.
2. Record the image.

62
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
1. Keep pressing [] (
) until the focus
mode indicator shows
“MF”.
• At this point, a
boundary also appears
on the display,
indicating the part of the
image that will be used
for manual focus.
Using Manual Focus
With the Manual Focus mode, you can adjust the focus of
an image manually. The following shows focus ranges in
the Macro mode for two optical zoom factors.
Optical Zoom Factor
1X
3X
Approximate Focus Range
6cm (2.4˝) to infinity (∞)
18cm (7.1˝) to infinity (∞)
Boundary
2. While watching the
image on the monitor
screen, use [] and
[] to focus.
• Pressing [] or [] causes the area inside of the
boundary displayed in step 1 to fill the monitor
screen momentarily to aid in focus. The normal
image reappears a short while later.
3. Press the shutter release button to record the
image.
IMPORTANT!
• In the Manual Focus mode, the [] and [] keys
adjust focus, even if you used key customization to
assign other functions to them (page 82).
To do this:
Focus out on the subject
Focus in on the subject
Do this:
Press [].
Press [].
Manual focus position

63
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
Using Focus Lock
Focus lock is a technique you can use to focus on a subject
that is not located within the focus frame when you record
an image. You can use focus lock in the Auto Focus mode
and the Macro mode ( ).
1. Using the monitor
screen, compose the
image so the main
subject is within the
focus frame, and then
press the shutter
release button half
way.
• You can tell whether the image is focused by
observing the focus frame and the green operation
lamp. The indications of the focus frame and green
operation lamp are the same as those in the Auto
Focus mode.
1200
1200
1600
1600
NORMAL
NORMAL
99
99
03
03
/12
12
/24
24
12
12
:58
58
IN
1 / 1000
1 / 1000
F2.6
F2.6
Focus frame
2. Keeping the shutter
release button half
way down, re-
compose the image
as you like.
• This locks the focus on
the subject that is
currently within the
focus frame.
3. When the image is composed the way you
want, press the shutter release button the rest
of the way to record it.
• The focus and image recording operations are
identical to those in the Auto Focus mode.
NOTE
• Locking the focus also locks the exposure.
1200
1200
1600
1600
NORMAL
NORMAL
99
99
03
03
/12
12
/24
24
12
12
:58
58
IN
1 / 1000
1 / 1000
F2.6
F2.6

64
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
Exposure Compensation (EV Shift)
Exposure compensation lets you change the exposure
setting (EV value) manually to adjust for the lighting of your
subject. This feature helps to achieve better results when
recording a backlit subject, a strongly lit subject indoors, or
a subject that is against a dark background.
EV Shift Range: –2.0EV to +2.0EV
Steps: 1/3EV
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab,
select “EV Shift”, and
then press [].
Exposure compensation
value
3. Use [] and [] to
change the exposure
compensation value,
and then press [SET].
• Pressing [SET] registers
the displayed value.
Up : Increases the EV value. A higher EV value is best
used for light-colored subjects and backlight
subjects.
Down : Decreases the EV value. A lower EV value is best
for dark-color subjects and for shooting outdoors
on a clear day.
EV value

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OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
• To cancel EV Shift, adjust the value until it becomes
0.0.
4. Record the image.
IMPORTANT!
• When shooting under very dark or very bright
conditions, you may not be able to obtain satisfactory
results even after performing exposure
compensation.
NOTES
• Performing an EV shift operation causes the
metering mode to switch automatically to center
weighted metering. Returning the EV shift value to
0.0 causes the metering mode to change back to
multi-pattern metering.
• You can use key customization (page 82) to
configure the camera to perform exposure
compensation whenever you press [] or [] while in
the REC mode.
Adjusting White Balance
The wavelengths of the light produced by various light
sources (sunlight, light bulb, etc.) can affect the color of a
subject when it is recorded. White balance lets you make
adjustments to compensate for different lighting types, so
the colors of an image appear more natural.
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab,
select “White
Balance”, and then
press [].

66
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
3. Use [] and [] to select the setting you
want, and then press [SET].
NOTES
• Selecting “Manual” changes white balance to the
settings achieved the last time a manual white
balance operation was performed.
• You can use the key customization feature (page 82)
to configure the camera so the white balance setting
changes whenever you press [] or [] while in the
REC mode.
When shooting under these conditions:
Normal conditions
Outdoor daylight
Shade
Incandescent light bulb
(reddish tinge)
Fluorescent light (greenish tinge)
Difficult lighting that requires manual
control (See “Adjusting White Balance
Manually”.)
Select this setting:
Auto
Manual
Adjusting White Balance Manually
Under some light sources, automatic white balance under
the “Auto” setting can take a long time to complete. Also,
the auto white balance range (color temperature range) is
limited. Manual white balance helps to ensure that colors
are recorded correctly for a particular light source.
Note that you must perform manual white balance under
the same conditions you will be shooting under. You must
also have a white piece of paper or other similar object on
hand in order to perform manual white balance.
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab, select “White Balance”,
and then press [].
3. Use [] and [] to
select “Manual”.
• This causes the object
you last used to adjust
manual white balance to
appear on the monitor
screen.

67
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
4. Point the camera at a white piece of paper or
similar object under the lighting conditions
for which you want to set the white balance,
and then press the shutter release button.
• This starts the white balance adjustment procedure.
The message “Complete” appears on the monitor
screen after white balance adjustment is complete.
• Dim lighting or pointing the camera at a dark colored
object while performing manual white balance
adjustment can cause the procedure to take a long
time to complete.
5. Press [SET].
• This registers the white balance settings and returns
to the REC mode.
Using the BESTSHOT Mode
Selecting one of the 21 BESTSHOT scenes automatically
sets up the camera for recording a similar type of image.
■Example Sample Scene
• Portrait • Scenery
• Night Scene • Night Scene Portrait
A white piece of
paper

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OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab, select “REC Mode”, and
then press [].
3. Use [] and [] to
select “
BESTSHOT”, and then
press [SET].
• This enters the
BESTSHOT mode and
displays a sample
scene.
4. Use [] and [] to select the sample scene
you want, and then press [SET].
5. Record the image.
IMPORTANT!
• Sample scene number 4 is Coupling Shot scene
(page 71). Sample scene number 5 is a Pre-shot
scene (page 73).
• BESTSHOT scenes were not recorded using this
camera. They are provided as samples only.
• Images recorded using a BESTSHOT scene may not
produce the results you expected due to shooting
conditions and other factors.
• After selecting a BESTSHOT scene, you can change
to a different one by using [] and [] to scroll
through available scenes. When the one you want is
displayed, press [SET].
NOTE
• You can use the key customization feature (page 82)
to configure the camera to enter the BESTSHOT
mode whenever you press [] or [] while in the
REC mode.
Operation guidance and
the currently selected
BESTSHOT scene
appear on the display for
about two seconds after
you enter the
BESTSHOT mode this
way, or if the camera is in
the BESTSHOT mode
when you turn it on.

69
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
Creating Your Own BESTSHOT Setup
You can use the procedure below to save the setup of an
image you recorded for later recall when you need it again.
Recalling a setup you save automatically sets up the
camera accordingly.
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab, select “REC Mode”, and
then press [].
3. Use [] and [] to select “BESTSHOT”,
and then press [SET].
• This enters the BESTSHOT mode and displays a
sample scene.
4. Use [] and [] to
display “Register
User Scene”.
5. Press [SET].
6. Use [] and [] to
display the image
whose setup you
want to register as a
BESTSHOT scene.
7. Use [] and [] to
select “Save”, and
then press [SET].
• This registers the setup.
• Now you can use the
procedure on page 68
to select your user
setup for recording.

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OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
IMPORTANT!
• BESTSHOT user setups are located in the camera’s
built-in memory after the built-in sample scenes.
• When a BESTSHOT user setup is recalled, the
monitor screen in step 4 of the procedure on page 68
displays the text “Recall User Scene”.
• Note that formatting the built-in memory (page 128)
deletes all BESTSHOT user setups.
NOTES
• The following are the settings that are included in a
BESTSHOT user setup: focus mode, EV shift value,
white balance mode, flash mode, and ISO sensitivity.
• Note that images recorded with this camera only can
be used to create a BESTSHOT user setup.
• You can have up to 999 BESTSHOT user setups in
the camera’s built-in memory at one time.
• You can check the current setup of a scene by
displaying the various setting menus.
• User setups are assigned file names using the format
“UEXZ4nnn.jpe” (where n = 0 to 9).
■To delete a BESTSHOT user setup
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab, select “REC Mode”, and
then press [].
3. Use [] and [] to select “BESTSHOT”,
and then press [SET].
• This enters the BESTSHOT mode and displays a
sample scene.
4. Use [] and [] to display the user setup you
want to delete.
5. Press [] ( ) to delete the user setup.
• You can also delete a user setup by using your
computer to delete its file in the “SCENE” folder in
the camera’s built-in memory (page 147).

71
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
• Combined
Images
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab, select “REC Mode”, and
then press [].
3. Use [] and [] to select “BESTSHOT”,
and then press [SET].
4. Use [] and [] to select “Coupling Shot”,
and then press [SET].
Combining Shots of Two People into a
Single Image (Coupling Shot)
The Coupling Shot mode lets you record images of two
people and combine them into a single image. This makes
it possible for you to include yourself in group images, even
when there is no one else around to record the image for
you. Coupling Shot is available in the BESTSHOT mode
(page 67).
• First Image This is the part
of the image that
does not include
the person who
is recording the
first image.
• Second
Image
Making sure that
the background
of the image is
aligned correctly,
record the image
of the person
who recorded
the first image.

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OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
5. Align the focus frame
on the monitor screen
with the subject you
want on the left side
of the image, and
then press the shutter
release button to
record the image.
• The focus, exposure, white balance, zoom, and flash
settings are fixed for this type of image.
• While “Coupling Shot” is selected, the “AF Area”
(page 59) setting automatically becomes “Spot”.
6. Next, align the focus
frame with the
subject you want in
the right side of the
image, taking care to
align the actual
background with the
semi-transparent
image of the
background of the
first image, which is
shown on the monitor
screen. When
everything is aligned
correctly, record the
image.
• Pressing [MENU] any time after step 5 of the above
procedure cancels the first image and returns to step
5.
Focus frame Semi-transparent
image
IMPORTANT!
• Coupling Shot temporarily uses file memory to store
data. You may get an error during Coupling Shot
recording if there is not enough file memory available
to store the required data. If this happens, delete
images you no longer need and try again.

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OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
Recording a Subject onto an Existing
Background Image (Pre-shot)
Pre-shot helps you get the background you want, even if
you need to ask someone else to record the image for you.
Basically, Pre-shot is a two-step process.
1. You compose the background you want and press the
shutter release button, which causes a semi-transparent
image of the background to remain on the monitor
screen.
2. Ask someone else to record a shot of you against your
original background, telling them to compose the image
by using the semi-transparent monitor screen image as a
guide.
• The camera stores the image produced by step 2 only.
• Depending on how the image is actually composed in
step 2, its background may not be exactly the same as
the one you composed in step 1.
Note that Pre-shot is available in the BESTSHOT mode
only (page 67).
• Freeze the background on
the monitor screen.
• Record the image, using
the background on the
monitor screen as a guide.
• This records the image.

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OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab, select “REC Mode”, and
then press [].
3. Use [] and [] to select “BESTSHOT”,
and then press [SET].
4. Use [] and [] to
select “Pre-shot”, and
then press [SET].
5. Freeze the background on the monitor screen.
• Though a semi-transparent image of the background
appears on the monitor screen in step 6, the
background image is not saved in memory at this
time.
• The focus, exposure, white balance, zoom, and flash
settings are fixed for this type of image.
6. Next, align the focus
frame with the
subject, composing
the subject with the
semi-transparent
background shown
on the monitor
screen. When
everything is aligned
correctly, record the
image.
• This records the image composed on the monitor
screen in step 6. The reference background image is
not recorded.
• Pressing [MENU] any time after step 5 of the above
procedure cancels the background image and
returns to step 5.
Semi-transparent image

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OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab, select “REC Mode”, and
then press [].
3. Use [] and [] to select “( + )”and
then press [SET].
• This enters the Snapshot Audio Mode.
4. Press the shutter
release button to
record the image.
• After the image is
recorded, the camera
enters audio recording
standby, with the image
you just recorded on the
monitor screen.
• You can cancel audio recording standby by pressing
[MENU].
Recording Audio
Adding Audio to a Snapshot
You can add audio to a snapshot after you record it.
• Image Format: JPEG
JPEG is an image format that provides efficient data
compression.
The file extension of a JPEG file is “.JPG”.
• Audio Format: WAVE/ADPCM recording format
This is the Windows standard format for audio recording.
The file extension of a WAVE/ADPCM file is “.WAV”.
• Recording Time:
Up to about 30 seconds per image
• Audio File Size:
Approximately 120KB (30-second recording of
approximately 4KB per second)
Remaining recording time

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OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
Recording Your Voice
The Voice Recording Mode provides quick and easy
recording of your voice.
• Audio Format: WAVE/ADPCM recording format
This is the Windows standard format for audio recording.
The file extension of a WAVE/ADPCM file is “.WAV”.
• Recording Time:
Approximately 40 minutes with built-in memory
• Audio File Size:
Approximately 120KB (30-second recording of
approximately 4KB per second)
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU].
2. Select the “REC”tab, select “REC Mode”, and
then press [].
3. Use [] and [] to
select “Voice”,
and then press [SET].
• This enters the Voice
Recording Mode.
5. Press the shutter release button to start audio
recording.
• The green operation lamp flashes as recording is
performed.
• Even if you have the monitor screen turned off (page
25), the monitor screen turns on while you are
adding audio to a snapshot.
6. Recording stops after about 30 seconds or
when you press the shutter release button.
Remaining recording time

77
OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS
4. Press the shutter release button to start voice
recording.
• The remaining recording time value counts down on
the monitor screen and the green operation lamp
flashes as recording is performed.
• Pressing the [DISP] button during voice recording
turns off the monitor screen. The monitor screen
turns back on automatically when recording is
complete.
• You can insert index marks while recording by
pressing [SET]. See page 102 for information about
jumping to an index mark during playback.
5. Recording stops when you press the shutter
release button, when memory becomes full,
or when the battery goes dead.
NOTE
• You can also enter the Voice Recording Mode by
aligning the mode selector with “REC”, and holding
down [DISP] as you press the power button to turn
on the camera. In this case, the camera goes directly
into the Voice Recording Mode without extending the
lens.
■Audio Recording Precautions
• Keep the microphone on the
front of the camera pointed
at the subject.
• Take care that you do not
block the microphone with
your fingers.
• Good recording results are not possible when the camera
is too far from the subject.
• Operating camera buttons during recording can cause
button noise to be included in the audio.
• Pressing the power button or changing the mode selector
setting stops recording at that point and stores any audio
recorded up to that point.
• You can also perform “after-recording” to add audio to a
snapshot after recording it, and also change the audio
recorded for an image. See page 100 for more
information.
Microphone