HP PhotoSmart C500 User manual

HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 30
Chapter3-TakingPhotos
ThischapterdescribestheprocessoftakingphotoswithyourHPPhotoSmart C500 DigitalCamera,includinghow
totakeStill,Burst,andTimelapsephotos,anddetaileddescriptionsofadjustingthecamerasettings.Ifyouwanta
quickoverview,seetheBasicsguidethatyoureceivedwithyourcamera.
Therearethree settingsyoucanusetotakephotos:Still,Burst,andTimelapse.
Tip: TheBurstsettingisidealfortakingactionphotos.UsetheTimelapsesettingforobservingasubjectovera
longerperiod of time.
Overview
Taking a Photo
TheHPPhotoSmartC500DigitalCamerahasa2-stepShutterbutton.WhenyoupresstheShutterbutton1/2way
down,thecameraadjuststhefocusandexposureofthephoto.Afterthesesettingsareadjusted,a greenlight
appearstothe leftof the viewfinder,indicatingthatyoucanpresstheShutterbuttonallthewaydowntotakethe
photo.Youmaywanttopracticetoget used to thetiming,beforetakingimportantphotos.
Still Usethissettingfortakingasinglecolororblackandwhitephoto.
Burst Usethissettingfortakingupto4 photosinrapidsuccession.
Timelapse Usethissettingfortakingseveralphotos,withasetamountoftime(1minuteto24
hours)betweenphotos.

Overview
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 31
To take a photo:
1. Removethelenscover.
2. Turnthecameraonandturnthecameramodedialto Rec.
Thecameraisautomaticallyready to takeaStillphoto.
3. Frameyour subject inthe viewfinder.
4. PressandholdtheShutterbutton1/2way downto allowthe
cameratoadjustthefocusandexposure.
5. Whenyousee the greenlighttotheleftof the viewfinder,press theShutterbuttonallthe way downtotakethe
photo.Waitforthe beeps,indicatingyourphotohasbeentaken,thenreleasetheShutterbutton.
Tip: When you are takinga photo,beespeciallycarefultokeep yourfingersawayfromthelens,flash,and
sensorsonthefrontofthe camera.Thefollowing illustrationsgiveyou examplesofhow toholdthecamera.
Cameramode dial On/offbutton
Shutter button

Overview
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 32
CheckingtheCameraStatus
UsethestatusLCD and the colorLCDto checkthestatusofthecamera.Basiccamerainformationsuchasbattery
level,numberofphotosremaining,photoquality,flashstatus,andmemorycardstatusdisplayonthestatusLCD.
ThecolorLCD showsinformationsuchasthe numberofphotosstoredonthememorycard,thecurrent
compression level,resolutionsetting,andbatterystatus.
UsingtheStatus LCD
Use the status LCD on the top of the cameratocheck the status of the memory card,the battery level, and the
numberofphotosavailableonthememorycard.ThestatusLCDalsodisplaystheflashandphotoqualitysettings,
andanycameraerrormessages.
To view the camera status on the status LCD:
•Presstheon/off buttontoturnthecameraon.
Individualiconsarediscussedthroughoutthisguideoryoucanseea listofalltheicons in AppendixB“Icons”
on page 129.
Photoquality
Battery level Photos
remaining
Memory
card status
Flash

Overview
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 33
UsingtheColorLCD
UsethecolorLCD on thebackofthecameratocheckcurrentcamerasettingsandstatus,includingthenumberof
photos stored on the memory card, and the compression and resolution settings.
To view the camera status on the color LCD:
1. Turnthecameraonandturnthecameramodedialto
Rec.
2. Press the color LCD on/off buttontoturnthecolor
LCD on.
3. PresstheStatus button(rightsoftkey).
ThecolorLCD displaysthecurrentcamerasettings
andstatus.To changethecamerasettings,usethe
cameramenus.Seethefollowingsectionsofthis
chapterfordetails.Oneormoreiconsmayalso
appearonthe Statusscreen,depending on the
camera status.
ColorLCD
Color LCD
on/offbutton Softkeys

Overview
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 34
4. When youhave finished viewing the camera status,press theExitbutton(rightsoftkey).
Color LCD Status
Images taken Thenumberofphotosstoredonthe
memorycard.
Compression Thecurrentcompressionlevel.
Resolution Thecurrentresolutionsetting.
White Bal Thecurrentwhitebalancesetting.
Digita Thecamerafirmwareversionnumber.
Memory card inserted Battery status

TakingStill,BurstandTimelapsePhotos
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 35
Taking Still, Burst andTimelapse Photos
TakingStillPhotos
Usethe Still setting to take one photo each time you press the Shutterbutton.
To take a Still photo:
1. Removethelenscover.
2. Turnthecameraonandturnthecameramodedialto Rec.
ThestatusLCDdisplaystheapproximatenumberofphotos
available onthe memory card.Thecamera isnot readyuntil
this number appears.
3. Adjust your camera settingsas needed.See“Adjustingthe
Camera Settings” on page 42 for details.
4. Pressthecolor LCD on/off buttontoturnthecolorLCD on,thenpresstheleft softkeyuntilthe
Still icon appears on the lower overlay bar.
Tip: Toconservebatterypower,turnthecolorLCD offafteryouchoosethephototype.
5. Frameyoursubjectinthe viewfinder,thenpressandholdthe Shutterbutton1/2way downtoallowthecamera
to adjust the focusand exposure. If you see an orange light to the leftof theviewfinder, you mayneed to
change theflashsettingtoadjustforthelightingconditions.
Status LCD
Shutterbutton
On/offbuttonCameramode dial
Number of
photos available
Still icon

TakingStill,BurstandTimelapsePhotos
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 36
6. Whenyouseethegreenlighttothe leftof theviewfinder,presstheShutter buttonallthewaydowntotakethe
photo.Waitforthe beeps,indicatingthephotohasbeentaken,beforereleasingtheShutterbutton.
7. If Instant Review is on, your photo appears briefly on the color LCD. If you arehappy with the photo, press the
Save button (rightsoft key) to save it on the memory card. If not,presstheDeletebutton(centersoftkey)to
discard the photoandtry again.Ifyoudo not press eitherbutton,thecameraautomaticallysavesthephoto.
TakingBurstPhotos
UsetheBurstsettingtotake photosinrapidsuccessionwhileholdingtheShutter buttondown.Youcantakeupto
fourphotosatarateofoneto three frames per second.TheBurstsettingisrecommendedfortakingactionphotos.
ThedefaultBurstrateistwoframespersecond.IfyouwanttochangetheBurstrate,seebelow.Notethatyoucannot
usetheflashforBurstphotos;theflashbuttonisinactive.
Note: BurstphotostakelongertoprocessthanStillphotos becausethecameratakes up tothreeframesper
second rather than a single photo.
To take Burst photos:
1. Turnthecameraonandturnthecameramodedialto Rec.
ThestatusLCDdisplaystheapproximatenumberofphotos
available on the memory card. The camera is not ready until
this number appears.
2. Adjustyourcamerasettingsasneeded.See“Adjustingthe
Camera Settings” on page 42 for details.
3. Pressthecolor LCD on/off buttontoturnthecolorLCDon.
StatusLCD
Shutter button
On/off buttonCameramodedial
Number of
photosavailable

TakingStill,BurstandTimelapsePhotos
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 37
4. PresstheleftsoftkeyuntiltheBurst iconappearsontheloweroverlaybar.
Tip: Toconservebatterypower,turnthecolorLCD offafteryouchoosethephototype.
If thereisnot enough space on the memory card forthe numberofphotosspecified, the red
lighttotheleftoftheviewfinderflashesandtheupperoverlaybardisplays“Notenoughmemory.”Tosolvethis
problem, insert a new memory card, or try a lower photo quality setting.
5. Frameyoursubjectinthe viewfinder,thenpressandholdthe Shutterbutton1/2way downtoallowthecamera
to adjust the focusand exposure. If you see an orange light to the leftof theviewfinder, there may not be
enoughlightonyour subject.Youcanstilltakethephoto.
6. Whenyouseeagreenlighttotheleftoftheviewfinder,presstheShutterbuttonallthewaydownandholditfor
the amount of time you want to take photos, or until the camera beeps.
Tip: Ifyouaretakinganactionsequence,youcanmovethecameratofollowyoursubjectasyouholdthe
Shutterbuttondown.
7. IfInstantReviewison,yourfirstphotoappearsbrieflyonthe color LCD.If you are happywiththephoto, press
the Save button(rightsoftkey)tosavetheseriesofphotosonthememorycard.Ifnot,presstheDelete button
(centersoftkey)todiscardthephotosandtryagain.PressingDeletediscardstheentireseriesofphotos,notjust
thefirstphoto.Ifyoudonotpresseitherbutton,thecameraautomaticallysavesthephoto.
Bursticon

TakingStill,BurstandTimelapsePhotos
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 38
To change the Burst rate:
1. Turnthecameraonandturnthecameramodedialto Rec.
2. Press the Menubutton.
The color LCD displays the Media Settings menu.
3. Usethe4-wayarrowbuttontoscrolltoBurst.
4. PresstheEdit button (left soft key), and then scroll down to Burst Rate.
5. Usethe4-wayarrowbuttontochoosethedesiredsetting,from1to3
framespersecond.
6. PresstheExit button(rightsoftkey)twicetosaveyoursettingsand exitthemenus.
TakingTimelapsePhotos
UsetheTimelapsesettingto takeaseriesofphotosatpresettimeintervals.You can specifythenumberofphotos
youwantthecameratotake, as wellastheamountoftimebetweenphotos.Itisrecommendedthatyouattachthe
camera to a tripod, or place it on a firm surface at an appropriate distance and height from the subject, to keep the
camera steady.
It is recommended that you use an AC power adapter for long Timelapse photo sequences. See “Using an ACPower
Adapter(recommended)”on page 29formore information.
Tip: Bydefaultthecameratakes10 photoswith1 minuteintervalsbetweenphotos.Ifyouwanttochangethe
Timelapsesettings,seebelow.

TakingStill,BurstandTimelapsePhotos
HP PhotoSmart C500 Digital Camera User’s Guide 39
To take Timelapse photos:
1. Turnthecameraonandturnthecameramodedialto Rec.
ThestatusLCDdisplaystheapproximatenumberofphotos
availableonthe memorycard. Thecamera isnot readyuntil
this number appears.
2. Adjustyourcamerasettingsasneeded.See“Adjustingthe
Camera Settings” on page 42 for details.
3. Press the color LCD on/off buttontoturnthecolorLCDon.
4. PresstheleftsoftkeyuntiltheTimelapseiconappearson theloweroverlaybar.
Tip: Toconservebatterypower,turnthecolorLCDoffafteryouchoosethephototype.
If thereisnot enough space on the memory card forthe numberofphotosspecified, the
redlighttotheleftoftheviewfinderflashesandtheupperoverlaybardisplays“Notenoughmemory.”Tosolve
thisproblem,insertanewmemorycard,trya lowerphotoqualitysettingordecreasethenumberof photos
specifiedin the Timelapse settings.
5. Frameyoursubjectinthe viewfinder,thenpressandholdthe Shutterbutton1/2way downtoallowthecamera
to adjust the focusand exposure. If you see an orange light to the leftof theviewfinder, there may not be
enoughlightonyour subject.Youcanstilltakethephoto.
StatusLCD
Shutter button
On/offbuttonCamera mode dial
Number of
photosavailable
Timelapse
icon