Hitachi HDC-1296ER User manual

EN-1
FCC STATEMENT
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Note:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class B digital
devices, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Use of shielded cable is required to comply with Class B limits in Subpart B of Part 15
of the FCC rules.
Do not make any changes or modifications to the equipment unless otherwise
specified in the manual. If such changes or modifications should be made, you could
be required to stop operation of the equipment.
Notice
If static electricity or electromagnetism causes data transfer to discontinue midway
(fail), restart the application or disconnect and connect the communication cable
(USB, etc.) again.

EN-2
READ THIS FIRST
Trademark Information
 Microsoft
®
and Windows
®
are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Pentium®is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Inc.
SD™ is a trademark.
SDHC™ is a trademark.
Other names and products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
Product Information
Product design and specifications are subject to change without notice. This
includes primary product specifications, software, software drivers, and user’s
manual. This User Manual is a general reference guide for the product.
The product and accessories that come with your camera may be different from
those described in this manual. This is due to the fact that different retailers often
specify slightly different product inclusions and accessories to suit their market
requirements, customer demographics, and geographical preferences. Products
very often vary between retailers especially with accessories such as batteries,
chargers, AC adapters, memory cards, cables, pouches, and language support.
Occasionally a retailer will specify a unique product colour, appearance, and
internal memory capacity. Contact your dealer for precise product definition and
included accessories.
The illustrations in this manual are for the purpose of explanation and may differ
from the actual design of your camera.
The manufacturer assumes no liability for any errors or discrepancies in this user
manual.

EN-3
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read and understand all Warnings and Cautions before using this product.
Warnings
If foreign objects or water have entered the camera, turn the power off
and remove the battery.
Continued use might cause fire or electric shock. Consult the store of
purchase.
If the camera has fallen or its case has been damaged, turn the power
off and remove the battery.
Continued use might cause fire or electric shock. Consult the store of
purchase.
Do not disassemble, change or repair the camera.
This might cause fire or electric shock. For repair or internal inspection, ask
the store of purchase.
Do not use the camera in areas near water.
This might cause fire or electric shock. Take special care during rain, snow,
on the beach, or near the shore.
Do not place the camera on inclined or unstable surfaces.
This might cause the camera to fall or tilt over, causing damage.
Keep the battery out of the reach of children.
Swallowing the battery might cause poisoning. If the battery is accidentally
swallowed, immediately consult a physician.
Do not use the camera while you are walking, driving or riding a
motorcycle.
This might cause you to fall over or result in traffic accident.
Please use battery with complete external seals.
Do not use battery from which the seals have been damaged or removed.
This may cause leakage, explosion, or injury.

EN-4
Cautions
Insert the battery paying careful attention to the polarity (+ or –) of the
terminals.
Inserting the battery with its polarities inverted might cause fire and injury, or
damage to the surrounding areas due to the battery rupturing or leaking.
Do not fire the flash close to anyone’s eyes.
This might cause damage to the person’s eyesight.
Do not subject the LCD monitor to impact.
This might damage the glass on the screen or cause the internal fluid to
leak. If the internal fluid enters your eyes or comes into contact with your
body or clothes, rinse with fresh water. If the internal fluid has entered your
eyes, consult a physician to receive treatment.
A camera is a precision instrument. Do not drop it, strike it or use
excessive force when handling the camera.
This might cause damage to the camera.
Do not use the camera in humid, steamy, smoky, or dusty places.
This might cause fire or electric shock.
Do not remove the battery immediately after long period of continuous
use.
The battery becomes hot during use. Touching a hot battery might cause
burns.
Do not wrap the camera or place it in cloth or blankets.
This might cause heat to build up and deform the case, resulting in fire. Use
the camera in a well-ventilated place.
Do not leave the camera in places where the temperature may rise
significantly, such as inside a car.
This might adversely affect the case or the parts inside, resulting in fire.
Before you move the camera, disconnect cords and cables.
Failure to do this might damage cords and cables, resulting in fire and
electric shock.

EN-5
Notes on Battery Usage
When you use the battery, carefully read and strictly observe the Safety Instructions
and the notes described below:
Use only the specified battery (3.7V).
Avoid extremely cold environments as low temperatures can shorten the battery
life and reduce camera performance.
When you are using a new rechargeable battery or a rechargeable battery that has
not been used for an extended period of time (the battery that passed the expiry
date is an exception), it may affect the number of images that can be captured.
Therefore, to maximize its performance and lifetime, we recommend that you fully
charge the battery and discharge it for at least one complete cycle before use.
The battery may feel warm after a long period of continuous use of the camera or
the flash. This is normal and not a malfunction.
The camera may feel warm after a long period of continuous use. This is normal
and not a malfunction.
If the battery is not to be used for a long period of time, remove it from the camera
to prevent leakage or corrosion and store it after no battery power is left. Stored for
a long time in a fully charged condition, its performance may be impaired.
Always keep the battery terminals clean.
There is a risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect type.
Dispose of used battery according to the recycle instructions.
Charge the rechargeable!battery fully before using for the first time.
To prevent short-circuiting or fire, keep the battery away from other metal objects
when carrying or storing.
This symbol mark [crossed-out wheeled bin] indicates separate col-
lection of waste batteries in the EU countries. The batteries provided
with this product shall not be treated as household waste. Please use
the return and collection systems available in your country for the
disposal of the waste batteries.
If a chemical symbol is printed beneath the symbol mark, this
chemical symbol means that the batteries contains a heavy metal at
a certain concentration. It is indicated as follows:
Hg: mercury, Cd: cadmium, Pb: lead.

CONTENTS
EN-6
7 INTRODUCTION
7 Overview
7 Package Contents
8 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR
CAMERA
8 Front View
9 Rear View
10 LCD Monitor Display
12 GETTING STARTED
12 Preparation
13 Charging the Battery
14 Initial Settings
16 CAPTURE MODE
16 Capturing Images
17 Setting the Scene Mode
19 Setting the Panorama Mode
20 Taking Images When the Smile
Feature Is On
21 Recording Shots into Multiple Image
Layout
21 Recording Shots using Face
Detection Technology
22 VIDEO MODE
22 Recording Video Clips
22 Playing Back Video Clips
23 PLAYBACK MODE
23 Playing Back Still Images
24 Playback Display
24 Removing Red-eye
25 Attaching Voice Memos
26 Protecting Images
27 DPOF Settings
28 Erasing Images
29 MENU OPTIONS
29 Capture Menu
32 Video Menu
33 Playback Menu
35 Setup Menu
37 TRANSFERRING FILES TO
YOUR COMPUTER
37 Downloading Your Files
38 USING THE CAMERA AS A PC
CAMERA
38 Install the PC camera driver
39 EDITING SOFTWARE
INSTALLATION
40 SPECIFICATIONS
41 APPENDIX
41 Possible Number of Shots
42 Troubleshooting
43 Connecting to a PictBridge Compliant
Printer

EN-7
INTRODUCTION
Overview
Congratulations on your purchase of the new digital camera.
Capturing high-quality digital images is fast and easy with this state-of-the-art smart
camera. Equipped with a 12.0-megapixel CCD, this camera is capable of capturing
images with a resolution of up to 3968 x 2976 pixels.
Package Contents
Carefully unpack your camera and ensure that you have the following items:
Common Product Components:
Digital Camera
Instruction manual
Software CD-ROM
USB cable
AV cable
Camera strap
Camera pouch
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Battery charger
AC adapter for battery charger
Common (Optional) Accessories:
SD/SDHC memory card
Accessories and components may vary by retailer.

EN-8
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAMERA
Front View
1. Status LED
2. Flash
3. ON/OFF Power button
4. Self-timer LED
5. Mode switch
6. Lens
7. Microphone
8. Zoom lever
5
6
7
8

EN-9
Rear View
Item Function
Capture Mode Video Mode Playback Mode
1. Shutter button Record button Still image: to capture mode
Video clip: to video mode
2. Playback mode Playback mode Still image: to capture mode
Video clip: to video mode
3. Capture menu Video menu Playback menu
4. Focus Focus Next 10th image
5. Flash -- Next Image
6. Self-timer Self-timer Previous 10th image
7. Compensation
>-- Previous Image
8.
-- --
Still image: to display image
Records voice memo ( if
“Voice Memo” is “On”).
Video clip: to play video clip
9. -- -- Delete
2
3
5
6
7
1
8
9
4
a
b
c
d
e
f

EN-10
LCD Monitor Display
Capture mode
1. Zoom status
2. Battery condition
[l] Full battery power
[o] Medium battery power
[n] Low battery power
[m] No battery power
3. Flash mode
[Blank] Auto
[a] Flash On
[d] Flash Off
[c] Red-eye
[`] Slow Sync
[_] Pre-flash
4. Storage media
[ ] Internal memory (no card)
[ ] SD/SDHC memory card
5. [ ] Histogram
6. Main focus area
7. Image quality
[ ] Fine
[ ] Standard
[ ] Economy
8. Image size resolution
[ ] 3968 x 2976
[ ] 3264 x 2448
[ ] 2304 x 1728
[ ] 1600 x 1200
[ ] 640 x 480
9. Available number of shots
10. ISO
[Blank] Auto
[ ] ISO 100
[ ] ISO 200
[ ] ISO 400
[ ] ISO 800
[ ] ISO 1600
11. Self-timer icon
[f] 2 sec.
[g] 10 sec.
[h] 10+2 sec.
12. Date and time
13. [ ] Exposure compensation
[ ] Backlight correction
(Adjust exposure value with the e/ f
buttons)
14. Capture mode icon
[Blank] Single
[ ] Continuous
[ ] AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing)
[ ] Album Shot
[ ] Burst
[ ] Cont.flash
[ ] Pre-shot
[ ] Coupl.shot
15. Slow shutter warning
16. White balance
[Blank] Auto
[ ] Incand.
[ ] Fluoresc.1
[ ] Fluoresc.2
[ ] Daylight
[ ] Cloudy
[ ] Manual WB
17. Focus setting
[Blank] Auto
[ ] Face Detect
[ ] Macro
[ ] Infinity
18. Mode icon / Scene mode
[ ] Auto
[ ] Smile Detection
[ ] Anti-shake
[ ] Panorama
[ ] Portrait Man
[ ] Portrait Lady
[ ] Landscape
[]Sports
[ ] Night Portrait
[ ] Night Scene
[ ] Candlelight
[ ] Fireworks
[]Text
[ ] Sunset
[ ] Sunrise
[ ] Splash Water
[ ] Flow Water
[ ] Snow
[ ] Beach
[]Pets
[ ] Natural Green
[ ] Program AE
12
9101112
3
4
5
6
7
8
13
14
15
16
17
18
P

EN-11
Video mode
1. Zoom status
2. Flash mode
3. Battery condition
4. Storage media
5. Main focus area
6. Video quality
7. Video resolution
8. Available recording time/Elapsed time
9. Self-timer icon
10.Date and time
11. Focus setting
12. Mode icon
13. Sound off icon
Playback mode
!
-
!
Still image playback
1. Voice memo
2. Battery condition
3. Storage media
4. Histogram
5. Image quality
6. ISO
7. Image size resolution
8. File number
9. Folder number
10.Date and time
11. Exposure value
12. Aperture value
13. Shutter speed value
14. DPOF icon
15. Protect icon
16. Mode icon
Playback mode
!
-
!
Video playback
1. Video status bar
2. Elapsed time
3. File number
4. Folder number
5. Sound off icon (When the c button is pressed
during video playback)
6. Play mode
7. Mode icon
8. Total recorded time
1 2 3
8910
4
5
6
7
11
12
00 : 00 : 0800 : 00 : 08
E
100- 0001
100- 0001
:Play
:Play
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
12
6
9 8
3
4
7
5
1
1
R
100 - 0001
100-0001
100 - 0001
Total
Total
00 : 00 : 08
00 : 00 : 08
00 : 00 : 08
Play
Play
00 : 00 : 01
00 : 00 : 01
00 : 00 : 01
E
1
6
7
5
4 3
2
8
q
q
q
E
E

EN-12
GETTING STARTED
Preparation
1. Attach the camera strap.
2. Open the battery/memory card cover.
3. Insert the supplied battery with correct orientation as
shown. (label side back)
4. Insert an SD/SDHC memory card (Optional).

The camera has 32MB internal me mory (26M B available
for image storage)
, but you can load an SD/SDHC
memory card to expand the camera’s memory capacity.
Be sure to format the memory card with this camera
before its initial usage.
5. Close the battery/memory card cover and make sure it is
locked securely.
 To prevent valuable data from being accidentally erased from
an
SD/SDHC memory card , you can slide the write protect tab
(on the side of the
SD/SDHC memory card) to “LOCK”.
To save, edit, or erase data on an SD/SDHC memory card,
you must unlock the card/
To prevent damaging of an SD/SDHC memory card, be sure
to turn off the power when inserting or removing the SD/
SDHC memory card. If inserting or removing the SD/SDHC
memory card with the power on, the camera will automatically turn off.

EN-13
Charging the Battery
Charge the battery fully with the supplied battery charger before use.
1. Insert the battery into the battery charger. (Battery label side up)
2. Connect the power cord to the charger and
insert the plug into a wall outlet.
The status LED on the charger lights red
when charging has started and lights
green when charging is completed. The
LED also lights green if no battery is
inserted into the charger.
Charging time varies according to the
ambient temperature and the status of battery.
Remove the battery after charging is completed.
The battery may feel warm after it has been charged or immediately after being used. This is
normal and not a malfunction.
When using the camera in cold areas, keep the camera and battery warm by holding them inside
your outer clothes.
2
1

EN-14
Initial Settings
Setting the Date and Time
The date/time needs to be set if and when:
The camera is turned on for the first time.
The camera is turned on after leaving the camera without the battery for an
extended period of time.
When the date and time information is not displayed on the LCD monitor, follow these
steps to set the correct date and time.
1. Slide the mode switch to [ ] or [ ]; or press
the
button .
2. Press the button.
3. Select [Setup] with the fbutton.
4. Select [Date/Time] with the c/ dbuttons, and
press the button.
5. Select the date format with the c/ dbuttons,
and press the button.
Select the item’s field with the e/ fbuttons
and adjust the value for the date and time
with the c/ dbuttons.

The time is displayed in 24-hour format.
 After confirming all settings are correct, press
the button .
6. To exit from the [Setup] menu, press the
button.

EN-15
Choosing the Language
Specify in which language menus and messages are to be displayed on the LCD monitor.
1. Slide the mode switch to [ ] or [ ]; or press the button.
2. Press the button.
3. Select [Setup] menu with the fbutton.
4. Select [Language] with the c / d buttons and press
the button .
5. Select the displayed language with the
c / d
buttons and press the button .
The setting will be stored.
6. To exit from the [Setup] menu, press the
button.
Formatting the Memory Card or Internal Memory
This utility formats the memory card (or internal memory) and erases all stored images
and data.
1. Slide the mode switch to [ ] or [ ]; or press
the
button .
2. Press the button.
3. Select [Setup] menu with fbutton.
4. Select [Format] with the c / d buttons, then
press
the button .
5. Select [Execute] with the
c / d buttons, and
press
the button .
 To cancel formatting, select [Cancel] and
press
the button .
6. To exit from the [Setup] menu, press the
button.

EN-16
CAPTURE MODE
Capturing Images
Your camera is equipped with a 3.0" full colour TFT LCD monitor to help you compose
images, playback recorded images/video clips or adjust menu settings.
1. Press the ON/OFF button to turn the power on.
The status LED lights green and the camera is initiated.
2. Slide the mode switch to [ ].
3. Compose your image in the LCD monitor.
Turn the zoom lever to side to zoom in on the subject, and enlarges the
subject on the LCD monitor.
Turn the zoom lever to side to zoom out on the subject, and provides a wider
angle image.
4. Press the shutter button.

Pressing the shutter button down halfway
automatically focuses and adjusts the
exposure, and pressing the shutter button
down fully captures the image.
The focus area frame turns green when
the camera is in focus and the exposure is
calculated.
When the focus is not suitable, the frame
of the focus area turns red.

EN-17
Setting the Scene Mode
By simply selecting one of the available 21 scene modes, you can capture the image
with the most appropriate settings.
1. Slide the mode switch to [SCN].
2. Select the desired scene mode with the e/ f
buttons, and press the button.
3. Compose the image and press the shutter
button.
The table below will help you choose the appropriate scene mode:
Scene mode Description
Smile Detection Select this mode to automatically capture an image when a smiling
face is detected.
Anti-shake This mode minimizes the influences of hand shaking when you want
to capture an image.
Panorama Select this mode when you want to capture a series of shots then
stitch them together with software to make a single photo on the
computer.
Portrait Man Select this mode when you want to capture an image that makes a
man stand out against a blurred background.
Portrait Lady Select this mode when you want to capture an image that makes a
lady stand out against a blurred background.
Landscape Select this mode when you want to capture an image with infinity
focus, hard sharpness and high saturation.
Sports Select this mode when you want to capture fast-moving subjects.
Night Portrait Select this mode when you want to capture people with an evening
or night scene background.
!

EN-18
Night Scene Select this mode when you want to capture dark scenes such as
night views.
Candlelight Select this mode when you want to capture photos of candlelight
scene, without spoiling the ambience.
Fireworks Select this mode when you want to capture fireworks clearly with
optimal exposure. The shutter speed becomes slower, so using a
tripod is recommended.
Text Select this mode when you want to capture an image that contains
black and white subjects like printed documents.
Sunset Select this mode when you want to capture a sunset. This mode
helps keep the deep hues in the scene.
Sunrise Select this mode when you want to capture a sunrise. This mode
helps keep the deep hues in the scene.
Splash Water Select this mode when you want to capture photos of splashing
water.
Flow Water Select this mode when you want to capture the soft flowing water.
Snow Select this mode when you want to capture clear snow scenes
without darkened subjects and bluish tint.
Beach Select this mode when you want to capture bright beach scenes and
sunlit water surfaces.
Pets Select this mode when you want to capture your pets. Shoot from
their eye level.
Natural Green Select this mode when you want to capture the green scenery
background such as forest. This mode helps to brighten the colours.
Program AE This mode allows you to manually set parameters other than the
shutter speed and the aperture value.
Scene mode Description
P

EN-19
Setting the Panorama Mode
This mode is designed to make it easier to take a series of shots then stitch them
together with software to make a single image. You can capture a photographic subject
that won’t fit into a single frame, such as a landscape, and stitch it together later with a
program such as Arcsoft Panorama Maker®4.0 application.
1. Slide the mode switch to [SCN].
2. Select [Panorama] with the e/ fbuttons, and press the button.
3. Select the photographic direction with the e/ fbuttons.
4. Shoot the first image.
The next image appears beside the previous image.
5. Orient the camera so that the second frame overlaps a small portion of the
photographic subject of the first image and press the shutter button to capture the
next image.
6. Follow the same steps to capture subsequent images in the sequence.
7. Finish the sequence by pressing the button or switch to another mode after the
last image has been recorded.