HP Photosmart M437 User manual

6.5" X 9" FRONT COVER
User Guide
HP Photosmart M437/M537
Digital Camera

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Contents
1 Getting started.......................................................................................................5
Camera top and back .............................................................................................5
Camera front, side, and bottom...............................................................................6
Before taking pictures..............................................................................................6
Install the batteries...........................................................................................6
Turn on the camera..........................................................................................6
Choose the language.......................................................................................7
Set the region...................................................................................................7
Set the date and time.......................................................................................7
Install and format an optional memory card.....................................................8
Install the software...........................................................................................8
Using your camera..................................................................................................9
2 Taking pictures and recording video clips.......................................................10
Taking pictures......................................................................................................10
Recording video clips............................................................................................11
Instant Review.......................................................................................................11
Auto focus and exposure.......................................................................................11
Focusing on the subject.................................................................................12
Optimizing focus.............................................................................................12
Using Focus Lock...........................................................................................13
Optimizing exposure.......................................................................................13
Using zoom............................................................................................................13
Optical zoom..................................................................................................14
Digital zoom....................................................................................................14
3 Setting options for taking pictures and recording video clips.......................15
Setting the flash.....................................................................................................15
Flash Setting—Red-Eye.................................................................................15
Using the Picture Capture and Video Record menus............................................15
Using the Self-Timer setting...........................................................................17
Using the Burst setting...................................................................................18
4 Reviewing images and video clips....................................................................19
Deleting images.....................................................................................................20
Viewing thumbnails................................................................................................20
Magnifying images.................................................................................................20
Using the Playback Menu......................................................................................20
Removing red eyes........................................................................................21
Tagging images as Favorites.........................................................................21
Viewing slideshows........................................................................................22
5 Using the Design Gallery Menu..........................................................................23
Modifying colors.....................................................................................................23
Adding borders......................................................................................................23
Cropping images...................................................................................................24
6 Transferring and printing images......................................................................25
Transferring images with HP Photosmart Software..............................................25
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 3

Transferring images without HP Photosmart Software.........................................26
Connecting to the computer...........................................................................26
Using a memory card reader..........................................................................26
Printing images directly to a printer.......................................................................27
7 Using HP Photosmart Express...........................................................................29
Using the Photosmart Express Menu....................................................................29
Marking images for printing...................................................................................29
Buying prints online...............................................................................................30
Sharing images......................................................................................................30
Setting up online destinations in the camera.................................................31
Sending images to online destinations...........................................................31
8 Using the Camera Setup Menu...........................................................................33
9 Troubleshooting..................................................................................................34
Resetting the camera............................................................................................34
Problems and solutions.........................................................................................34
Camera error messages........................................................................................37
10 Product support...................................................................................................38
Helpful websites....................................................................................................38
Getting assistance.................................................................................................38
A Managing batteries..............................................................................................40
Top points about batteries.....................................................................................40
Extending battery life.............................................................................................40
Safety precautions for using batteries...................................................................40
Power indicators....................................................................................................41
Battery performance..............................................................................................41
Recharging NiMH batteries...................................................................................42
B Specifications......................................................................................................43
Memory capacity...................................................................................................44
Image quality.........................................................................................................44
Index............................................................................................................................46
4

1Getting started
Use this section to get familiar with camera controls, set up your digital camera for use,
and begin taking pictures.
Camera top and back
8
910
7
11
321 4 5 6
1Power light.
2button.
3Shutter button.
4Delete button—Accesses the Delete function while in Instant Review (see
Instant Review on page 11 and Playback (see Deleting images
on page 20).
5Flash button— Accesses the flash settings while in Picture Capture (see
Setting the flash on page 15).
6Selector—Switches between Picture Capture, Video Record,
and Playback (see Taking pictures on page 10, Recording video clips
on page 11, and Reviewing images and video clips on page 19).
7Zoom lever—Accesses Zoom (see Using zoom on page 13), Thumbnails
(see Viewing thumbnails on page 20), and Magnify (see Magnifying images
on page 20) functions.
8and buttons—Scroll through menus and images.
9button—Displays camera menus, selects options, and confirms actions.
10 Back button—Returns you to the previous menu or view. Press and hold to
back out of all menus.
11 Image Display.
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 5

Camera front, side, and bottom
1
2
3
6
5
4
1Flash.
2Self-Timer light (see Using the Self-Timer setting on page 17).
3Microphone.
4Tripod mount.
5Dock/USB connector—Provides direct and indirect (via optional dock) USB
connectivity.
6Battery/Memory Card door.
Before taking pictures
Complete the following procedures before taking pictures or recording video clips.
Install the batteries
1. Open the Battery/Memory Card door by sliding the
latch as indicated on the Battery/Memory Card
door.
2. Insert the batteries.
3. Close the Battery/Memory Card door.
Note If using rechargeable NiMH batteries,
fully charge the batteries before using them the
first time (see Recharging NiMH batteries
on page 42). Turn off the camera before removing the batteries.
Turn on the camera
To turn on the camera, press the button.
Chapter 1
6

Choose the language
Use to choose the language you want, then
press .
To change the language later, use the Camera Setup
Menu (see Using the Camera Setup Menu
on page 33).
Set the region
Along with the Language setting, the Region setting
determines the default date format.
Use to choose the region you want, then press
.
Set the date and time
Accurately setting the date and time will help you locate images once you have
transferred them to your computer, and will ensure that images are accurately marked if
you use the date and time imprint feature. See Date & Time Imprint under Using the
Picture Capture and Video Record menus on page 15.
1. Use to adjust the highlighted value.
2. Use to move to the other selections and repeat
Step 1 until the date and time are set correctly.
3. Press when the date, time, and format settings
are correct, then press again to confirm.
To change the date and time later, use the Camera
Setup Menu (see Using the Camera Setup Menu
on page 33).
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 7

Install and format an optional memory card
This camera supports standard and high speed Secure Digital (SD) memory cards, 32MB
to 2GB.
1. Turn off the camera and open the
Battery/Memory Card door.
2. Insert the memory card in the
smaller slot as shown. Make sure
the memory card snaps into place.
3. Close the Battery/Memory Card
door and turn on the camera.
Always format new memory cards
before first use. Formatting removes all
images from the memory card, so make
sure to transfer existing images before
formatting (see Transferring and
printing images on page 25).
1. With the camera turned on, slide to .
2. Press .
3. Use to select Format Card, then press .
4. Use to select Yes, then press to format the card.
Note Once you install a memory card, all new images and video clips are stored
on the card, rather than in internal memory. To use internal memory and view
images stored there, turn off the camera then remove the memory card. To
transfer images from internal memory to an optional memory card, see Move
Images to Card under Using the Playback Menu on page 20.
For information about supported memory cards, see Storage on page 44.
Install the software
The HP Photosmart Software provides features for transferring images and video clips
to your computer, as well as features for modifying stored images (remove red eyes,
rotate, crop, resize, adjust image quality, and more). See About the HP Photosmart
Software on page 9.
To install the HP Photosmart Software, your computer must meet the system
requirements as stated on the camera packaging.
Note If you have trouble installing or using the HP Photosmart Software, see
the Hewlett-Packard Technical Support website for more
information: www.hp.com/support.
Windows
1. Close all programs and temporarily disable any virus protection software.
2. Insert the HP Photosmart Software CD into the CD drive and follow the on-screen
instructions. If the installation screen does not appear, click Start, click Run, type
D:\Setup.exe, where Dis the letter of your CD drive, then click OK.
3. When the software has finished installing, re-enable virus protection software.
Chapter 1
8

Macintosh
1. Insert the HP Photosmart Software CD into the CD drive.
2. Double-click the CD icon on the computer desktop.
3. Double-click the installer icon, then follow the on-screen instructions.
About the HP Photosmart Software
The CD that came with your camera contains the following HP Photosmart Software sets:
●HP Photosmart Software (for Windows XP and x64 systems with at least 128 MB of
RAM).
●HP Photosmart Mac Software (for Macintosh systems).
To learn more about the software features and how to use them, see the Help feature in
the HP Photosmart Software.
Using your camera
Now that you’ve completed setup, you can take and review pictures and video clips.
For information on taking pictures and
recording video clips
See Taking pictures on page 10 and
Recording video clips on page 11
For information on setting picture capture
and video record settings
See Setting options for taking pictures and
recording video clips on page 15
For information on reviewing images and
video clips on the camera
See Reviewing images and video clips
on page 19
For information on enhancing your images See Using the Design Gallery Menu
on page 23
For information on transferring images
from your camera to a computer
See Transferring images with
HP Photosmart Software on page 25
For information on printing images See Printing images directly to a printer
on page 27
Tip To switch between Picture Capture, Video Record, and
Playback, slide to the desired option.
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 9

2Taking pictures and recording
video clips
You can take pictures when you are in Picture Capture and you can record video
when you are in Video Record. Slide to to take pictures or to to record
video clips. The Image Display resembles the following:
1●Picture Capture indicator.
●Video Record indicator.
212
0:15
●When taking pictures, pictures remaining count.
●When recording video clips, time remaining (in minutes and
seconds).
3Battery level indicator (see Power indicators on page 41).
4Memory card indicator.
5Focus brackets (see Auto focus and exposure on page 11).
Taking pictures
You can take a picture when the camera is set to Picture Capture.
1. Slide to .
2. Frame the subject for your picture in the Image Display.
3. Press the Shutter button halfway down to measure and
lock the focus and exposure. The focus brackets in the
Image Display turn solid green when focus is locked
(see Auto focus and exposure on page 11).
4. Press the Shutter button all the way down to take the
picture.
10

Recording video clips
You can record a video clip when the camera is set to Video Record.
1. Slide to .
2. Frame the subject in the Image Display.
3. Press the Shutter button halfway down to measure focus
and exposure. The focus brackets in the Image Display
turn solid green when focus is locked (see Auto focus and
exposure on page 11).
4. Press the Shutter button all the way down and release to
begin recording video.
5. To stop recording video, press and release the Shutter button again.
Instant Review
After you have taken a picture or recorded a video clip, the camera displays it briefly
in Instant Review. If you want to delete the image or video clip, press , select This
Image from the Delete sub-menu, then press .
Note To hear audio associated with video clips, transfer them to your computer
(see Transferring and printing images on page 25).
Auto focus and exposure
When you press the Shutter button halfway down, the camera automatically measures
and locks the focus (for pictures and video clips) and exposure (for pictures only). When
you auto focus:
Indicator Description
Green focus brackets Focus found.
Red focus brackets Focus not found (see Optimizing focus
on page 12).
(shaking hand icon) (Pictures only) Long exposure required (see
Optimizing exposure on page 13).
Tip If you follow the suggestions for focus and exposure and your image does
not appear to be in proper focus or exposure when viewed in Playback, see the
topics on blurry, dark, light, or grainy images in Troubleshooting on page 34.
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 11

Focusing on the subject
When you press the Shutter button halfway down, the
camera searches for focus within the focus brackets.
When it finds focus, the focus brackets turn green.
If the focus brackets do not frame your subject, use
Focus Lock (see Using Focus Lock on page 13).
Optimizing focus
When the camera cannot auto focus, the focus brackets turn red. This indicates the
picture may be out of focus because the subject is out of the focus range or the scene
has low contrast.
If you are recording a video or taking a picture with a shooting mode (see Using the
Picture Capture and Video Record menus on page 15) other than Close-up and
the camera cannot focus, it will still take the picture. Try releasing the Shutter button,
reframing, and then pressing the Shutter button halfway down again. If the focus
brackets are still red, try the following.
For pictures and video clips: If the scene has low contrast, use Focus Lock (see Using
Focus Lock on page 13) and aim at a point on the subject that has more colors or
crisp edges.
For pictures only:
●Select a shooting mode more appropriate for the scene you are capturing (see
Shooting Mode under Using the Picture Capture and Video Record menus
on page 15).
●If the subject is too close (less than 300 mm or 11.8 in), move farther away from the
subject or use Close-up (see Close-up under Using the Picture Capture and
Video Record menus on page 15).
●If the camera is set to Close-up and cannot focus, the camera will not take the
picture. Try one of the following:
– Move within the Close-up range (50-300 mm or 1.9-11.8 in) or set the
camera to Auto (see Auto under Using the Picture Capture and Video
Record menus on page 15).
– In low contrast scenes, use Focus Lock (see Using Focus Lock
on page 13).
Chapter 2
12

Using Focus Lock
Use Focus Lock to focus on a subject that is not in the center of the picture, to capture
action shots more quickly by pre-focusing in the area where the action will occur, or to
focus in low light or low contrast situations.
1. Frame the subject for your picture within the focus
brackets. In low light or low contrast situations,
frame a brighter or higher contrast object.
2. Press the Shutter button halfway down.
3. Hold the Shutter button halfway down and re-
frame.
4. Press the Shutter button all the way down to take
the picture.
Optimizing exposure
When you are taking a picture and press the Shutter button halfway down, the camera
also measures the light level to set the proper exposure.
If the camera determines the scene will require a very long exposure, a shaking hand
icon ( ) appears. The camera will take the picture, but it may be blurry because it is
difficult to hold the camera still for the length of time required. Try one of the following:
●Set the flash to Auto Flash or Flash On (see Setting the flash on page 15).
●Set the camera on a tripod or stable surface.
●If the subject is out of the flash range or you do not have a tripod, set the shooting
mode to Steady Photo (see Steady Photo under Using the Picture Capture and
Video Record menus on page 15).
●Turn on more light.
Note When you are recording a video, the camera continuously updates
exposure.
Using zoom
Your camera has both optical and digital zoom. Optical zoom physically extends the lens
to make the subject of your picture appear closer. After you have extended the lens fully
using optical zoom, the camera employs digital zoom. Digital zoom uses no moving lens
parts.
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 13

Tip The more you zoom in on the subject of your picture, the more small
movements of the camera are magnified (this is called camera shake). If
appears when you press the Shutter button halfway down, the picture may
be blurry. Hold the camera still, add more light to the scene, or use Steady
Photo shooting mode (see Using the Picture Capture and Video Record menus
on page 15). Try holding the camera closer to your body or against a steady
object, or set the camera on a tripod or stable surface.
Optical zoom
Optical zoom moves the lens between wide angle (1x) and telephoto (3x).
While in Picture Capture or Video Record, use the buttons
on the Zoom lever to control zoom. Press to zoom in and to
zoom out.
Note You can set the optical zoom to the position you want
just before recording video clips. However, you cannot use
optical zoom while the video clip is recording.
Digital zoom
In digital zoom, the Image Display shows a yellow frame around the scene and the image
quality setting (MP value). As you zoom in, the scene expands to show what the camera
will capture, and the MP value decreases to indicate the resolution at which the scene
will be captured.
When capturing images using digital zoom, make sure that the MP value on the Image
Display is appropriate for the size at which you want to print the captured image. For MP
values and their recommended print sizes, see Image Quality under Using the Picture
Capture and Video Record menus on page 15.
1. While in Picture Capture, press on the Zoom lever to optically zoom to the
maximum level, then release the lever.
2. Press and hold until the image you want to capture fills the yellow frame. If you
zoom in too far, press .
3. To return to optical zoom, press .
Note Digital zoom is not available when recording video clips.
Chapter 2
14

3Setting options for taking
pictures and recording video
clips
Your camera's settings work well for most shooting situations. For some situations,
however, the features described in this chapter can improve the pictures you take and
the video clips you record. In addition to setting features that optimize the camera for
lighting and motion, you can also set the camera to take a series of pictures rapidly or
take images 10 seconds after you press the Shutter button, giving you time to put
yourself in the image.
Setting the flash
To select a flash setting, press while in Picture Capture, use to highlight the
desired flash mode, then press . To exit without changing the flash setting, press
.
Auto Flash (Default)—The camera uses the flash if necessary.
Red-Eye—The camera uses the flash with red-eye reduction, if necessary, to
minimize the possibility of human eyes appearing red in the final image. For
information about red-eye, see Flash Setting—Red-Eye on page 15.
Flash On—The camera always uses flash. If the light is behind your subject,
use this setting to increase the light on the front of your subject.
Flash Off—The camera does not use flash. Use this setting to capture poorly
lit subjects beyond the flash range or to capture scenes with the existing light.
The Flash setting remains in effect until it is changed again, or you turn off the camera.
Note The flash is set to Flash Off in Landscape, Sunset, and Theatre shooting
modes, and while recording video clips or using Burst. The flash is set to Red-
Eye in Night Portrait shooting mode.
Flash Setting—Red-Eye
The red-eye phenomenon is caused when light from the flash reflects off the subjects'
eyes, which can make human eyes appear red in the captured image. Using Red-
Eye causes the camera to flash quickly up to three times to shrink the subject's pupils
(reducing the effect of the red-eye phenomenon) before using the main flash and
capturing the image. Since it takes longer to take a picture using this setting, make sure
your subjects wait for the additional flashes.
Using the Picture Capture and Video Record menus
The Picture Capture and Video Record menus allow you to adjust camera settings that
affect the characteristics of the pictures and video clips you capture. The Picture
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 15

Capture Menu displays only those features available for taking pictures while the Video
Record Menu displays only features available for recording video clips.
1. Slide to or , then press .
2. Use to highlight a menu option, then press to display the menu option’s
sub-menu.
3. Use to highlight a setting, then press to change the setting or press to
exit without changing the setting.
4. To exit the menu, hold down until the menu disappears.
For on-camera information about an option, use to highlight Help... in the option's
sub-menu, then press .
Shooting Modes ( only)—For selecting a predefined setting optimized for
particular types of scenes or shooting situations. The setting remains in effect
until it is changed again, or until you turn off the camera.
●Auto Mode (Default)—For taking good shots quickly, when you do not
have time to select a special shooting mode.
●Close-up—For taking close-up pictures of subjects between 50 and 300
mm (1.9 to 11.8 in) away.
●Steady Photo—For minimizing picture blur when the subject is moving
or you cannot hold the camera still long enough in moderate to dim light
conditions (see Optimizing exposure on page 13).
●Theatre—For capturing images at school programs, concerts, or indoor
sporting events without using flash.
●Landscape—For scenes with deep perspective, such as mountain
scenes.
●Portrait—For pictures that have one or more people as their primary
subject.
●Action—For capturing sporting events, moving cars, or any scene where
you want to stop the action.
●Night Portrait—For capturing images of people at night. This mode uses
the flash and a long exposure. As a result, you must set the camera on a
tripod or stable surface.
●Sunset—For capturing outdoor scenes at sunset.
Self-Timer—For capturing images or recording video after a 10-second delay
(see Using the Self-Timer setting on page 17).
Image Quality ( only)—Sets resolution and compression for images. The
greater the number, the higher the resolution. The setting remains in effect
until it is changed, even when you turn off the camera.
M537:
●6MP Best—For enlarging or printing images greater than 28 x 36 cm (11
by 14 in).
●Normal (6MP) (Default)—For printing images up to 28 x 36 cm (11 by 14
in).
●4MP—For printing images up to 20 x 25 cm (8 by 10 in).
●2MP—For printing images up to 13 x 18 cm (5 by 7 in).
●VGA—For sending images via e-mail or posting them to the Internet.
Chapter 3
16

M437:
●5MP Best—For enlarging or printing images greater than 28 x 36 cm (11
by 14 in).
●Normal (5MP) (Default)—For printing images up to 28 x 36 cm (11 by 14
in).
●3MP—For printing images up to 20 x 25 cm (8 by 10 in).
●1MP—For printing images up to 10 x 15 cm (4 by 6 in).
●VGA—For sending images via e-mail or posting them to the Internet.
Burst ( only)—For taking up to three shots quickly in succession (see Using
the Burst setting on page 18). The setting remains in effect until it is
changed again, or until you turn off the camera.
Date & Time Imprint ( only)—Imprints date in lower left corner of image.
The setting remains in effect until it is changed, even when you turn off the
camera.
●Off (Default)—No date or time imprinted on the image.
●Date Only—Date permanently imprinted.
●Date & Time—Date and time permanently imprinted.
Camera Setup...—Displays the Camera Setup Menu for setting camera
behavior (see Using the Camera Setup Menu on page 33).
Camera Help...—Displays a list of help topics for commonly used features.
Note Some menu options are not available in certain shooting modes.
Using the Self-Timer setting
The Self-Timer allows you to take an image or video clip 10 seconds after pressing
the Shutter button.
1. While in the Picture Capture or Video Record menu, use to highlight Self-
Timer, press , highlight On, press , then hold down until the menu
disappears.
2. Set the camera on a tripod or stable surface.
3. Frame the subject in the Image Display.
4. Press the Shutter button halfway down to lock focus and exposure. When the focus
brackets turn green, press the Shutter button all the way down. The camera begins
the 10-second countdown, then takes the picture or begins recording the video clip.
5. If you are recording a video clip, press the Shutter button to stop recording.
Tip If you want to include yourself in the picture, press the Shutter button all the
way down, then place the camera on a tripod or stable surface. The camera locks
focus and exposure just before the end of the countdown, allowing you time to
place yourself in the scene.
The Self-Timer setting resets to Off after the image is taken.
(continued)
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 17

Using the Burst setting
Burst allows you to take up to three pictures as quickly as possible when you press and
hold the Shutter button all the way down.
1. While in the Picture Capture Menu, use to highlight Burst , press ,
highlight On, press , then hold down until the menu disappears.
2. Frame the subject, then press the Shutter button halfway down to lock the focus
and exposure. Then press the Shutter button all the way down and hold it. The
camera takes up to three pictures as quickly as possible until you release the
Shutter button or the camera runs out of memory.
The Image Display remains off during the burst capture. After the burst images have
been taken, each image appears one at a time in Instant Review (see Instant Review
on page 11). You can delete the entire burst sequence in Instant Review. To delete
individual images, see Deleting images on page 20.
The Burst setting remains in effect until it is changed again, or until you turn off the
camera.
Chapter 3
18

4Reviewing images and video
clips
You can review and manipulate images and video clips in Playback as described here.
For information about enhancing images, see Using the Design Gallery Menu
on page 23.
1. Slide to .
2. Use to scroll through your images and video clips.
Press to view video clips; press to pause a clip. When paused, use to
scroll through the individual frames; press to resume playing the video.
During Playback, the Image Display also indicates additional information about each
image or video clip.
1Playback indicator.
2Battery indicator (see Power indicators on page 41).
3Memory card indicator.
41 of 30 Number of this image or video clip out of the total number of
stored images and video clips.
5Image tagged as Favorite (see Tagging images as Favorites
on page 21).
6Image marked for printing via an online printing service (see
Buying prints online on page 30).
7
1
Number of electronic Photosmart Share destinations (see
Using HP Photosmart Express on page 29).
83Number of copies to print (see Transferring and printing images
on page 25).
HP Photosmart M437/M537 Digital Camera 19

Deleting images
To delete a displayed image during Playback:
1. Press .
2. Use to select an option, then press .
–This Image—Deletes the image or video clip.
–All Except Favorites—Deletes all images except those tagged as Favorites.
This menu option only appears if you have images tagged as Favorites (see
Tagging images as Favorites on page 21).
–All Images (in Memory/on Card)—Deletes all stored images and video clips.
–Format (Memory/Card)—Deletes all stored files, then formats the internal
memory or memory card.
Viewing thumbnails
1. While in Playback, press (same as Zoom Out on the Zoom lever).
2. Use and to scroll through the thumbnails.
3. Press to view the highlighted image on the
Image Display.
Magnifying images
This feature is for viewing purposes only; it does not permanently alter the image.
1. While in Playback, press (same as Zoom In on the Zoom lever). The currently
displayed image is magnified 2x.
2. Use and to pan around the magnified
image.
3. Use and to change the magnification.
4. Press to return to Playback.
Using the Playback Menu
1. While in Playback, press .
2. Use to highlight an option.
3. Use to select an image or video clip, press , and follow the on-screen
instructions.
Note To hear audio associated with video clips, transfer them to your
computer (see Transferring and printing images on page 25).
Chapter 4
20