Polaroid 640CF - PDC 0.3MP Digital Camera User manual

Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CFDigital CameraUser’s Manual 1
Introducing Your Polaroid PhotoMAX
PDC 640CF Digital Camera
Your Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera Kit contains
everything you need to takedigital photos, transferthemto your computer,
changetheminmany creativeways, include themin e-mails, printthem,and
find other great ways to usethem.
Note: To install the PhotoMAX software that comes with the camera, see
page 22.
aCamera case
bPolaroid 640CF Digital Camera
cWrist strap
dUser’s Guide
ePolaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker
Software CD-ROM
fFour AA batteries
gAC power adapter
hCamera-to-computerRS-232Serial
cable
iCamera-to-computer USB cable
Your Camera
Front view
aOpticalviewfinder
bFlash
cLens cover and on/off switch
dTripod mount
eSelf-timer LED
fBattery compartment
gWrist strap slot
hLens
iHand grip
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2Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’sManual
Rear view
aStatus LCD
bFlash status LED
cCamera power/status
LED
dOpticalviewfinder
eShutter button
fColor LCD on/off button
(DISPLAY)
gColor LCD scroll up
button
hColor LCD scroll down button
iMenu on/off and selection button (MENU/SELECT)
jColor LCD (menu/viewfinder)
kFlashsetting button
lSelf-timer button
mPhoto delete (trashcan) button
nUSBand RS-232 Serial connection
oAC power adapter connection
pMemory card slot
Note: For a detailed list of camera specifications, see the PhotoMAXPDC
640CF DigitalCamera Specificationssection oftheonlinePolaroid
PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.
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Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 3
Status LCD
When you turn the camera on, icons appear on the Status LCD on top of the
camera. Icons may appear differently (or not at all), depending on the mode
thecamera is in.
aBattery status (page 12)
bSelf-timerstatus (page 13)
cPhotosin the camera (page 13)ortheself-
timer countdown (page 13).
dPhoto resolution setting (page 14)
ePhoto quality setting(page 14)
fFlash setting (page 15)
Color Menu/viewfinder LCD
You use thecolorLCD ontheback
of the camera:
•As a live viewfinder for taking
photos
•To review photos you have
taken
•To change camera settings and
menus
aFlash mode button (page 15)
bSelf-timer button (page 13)
cPhoto delete (trashcan) button (page 20)
dColor LCD DISPLAY on/off button
eColor LCD scroll up button (page 11 and pag e19)
fColor LCD scroll down button (page 11 and pag e19)
gMENU/SELECT
button (page 11)
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4Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’sManual
Preparing to Take Photos
Power supply
You can operate the camera using batteries or theAC adapterprovided. To
conserve battery life, the camera shuts off after 30 seconds of inactivity, if the
menu/viewfinder LCD is on. Thecamera then shuts offafter 3 minutes of
inactivity. To activate the camera again, close and reopen the lens cover.
Note: Usethe AC adapter whenever possible to extend the life of your
batteries.Keep asetof extrabatteries handy, especially onatrip, when
it may not be possible to find replacement batteries easily.
When not using the camera, close the lens cover. And when not using
the camera for more than a few days, remove the batteries.
Loading batteries
1Open the battery compartment cover on the
bottomofthecamera bysliding the cover outto
the side as far as it will go and lifting it.
2Insert four AA batteries withthe +and –
terminals oriented as shown insidethebattery
compartment.
•Use only AA high-capacity super alkaline
or lithium disposable batteries or NiCad or
NiMH rechargeable batteries.
•Never mix old batteries with new batteries,
different types of batteries, or batteries
fromdifferent manufacturers.
3Close the battery compartment cover securely.
If you feel resistance, do not force the cover.
Slide it out tothe sideas far as it will go, press it
down flat against the camera base, and slide it
backinto the base to lock it closed.
Note: For important information about using batteries properly and safely,
see the Tips, Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of the online
Polaroid PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.

Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 5
Using the AC adapter
To maximize the life of your camera batteries, use the AC adapter whenever
possible. For example, always use the AC adapter when reviewing stored
photos on the LCD or transferring photos into your computer.
Note: The AC adaptermay becomewarm to the touchafterextended
periods ofuse. This is no causeforalarm.
If you areusing rechargeable batteries, using the AC adapter will not
recharge them. For more information about how to recharge the
batteries, see the instructions provided by the battery manufacturer.
1Closethe lens cover to turn the camera off.
2Connect one end of the AC adapter (a) to
theAC connection on the camera.
3Connect the other endof theAC adapter to
a grounded electrical outlet.
4Slide the lens cover open to turn thecamera
on.
Note: For important information about using
the AC adapter properly and safely, see the Tips, Tricks,Terms,and
Techniques section of the online Polaroid PhotoMAXImage Maker
User’s Guide.
Turning the camera on
Slide the lens coverto the right to turn the
camera on.
Closethe lens cover to turn the camera off.
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6Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’sManual
Photo storage
The PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera is ready to store your photos in
2 MB of internal memory (or in any optional ATA Type I CompactFlash
memory card, as described below).
Depending on the camera’s photo-quality setting (page 14), its internal
memory normally stores from 16 to 33 photos at 640 x 480 resolution or 64
to 132 photos at 320 x 240 resolution.
Note: For more information about the camera’sstoragecapacity,see the
Tips, Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of theonline Polaroid
PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.
Using an optional CompactFlash card
The PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera includes a slot for an optional
ATA Type I CompactFlash memory card of any size.
Note: For more informationabout CompactFlash memory cards, visit your
local computer retailer.
If you insert a CompactFlash memory card into the camera, photos are
stored on the card, and not in thecamera’s internal memory. Photos already
in the camera’s internalmemory arenot lost, however. You can stillaccess
them by removing the CompactFlash card.
Caution:Do not insert or remove a memory card while the camera power is on.
Doing so may damage the memory card or corrupt photos stored on it.

Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 7
Installing and Removing a CompactFlash card
1Turn the camera off.
2To install a memory card:
aOpenthememorycompartmentcover
on the side of the camera (a).
bInsert the card carefully, but firmly,
into the slot with the raised lip on the
edge of the card facing thefront of the
camera (b).
The card fits completely into the slot in
only oneway. When the card is inserted
correctly, the eject button above the card
pops up (c).
Note: If the card does not seem to fit correctly, do not force it.Turn the
card over and retry.
cClosethe memory compartment cover.
3To remove a memory card:
aOpen the memory compartment cover
on the side of the camera (a).
bPush the eject button abovethe
memory card (b).
cGrasp the edge of the memory card
and pull it out (c).
dClosethe memory compartment cover.
Note: For a description of card-related error
messages that may appear on the color LCD, see page 26.
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8Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’sManual
Formatting a CompactFlash card
You may need to format a new memory card before you can use it. Also, you
may need to reformat a card (or the camera’s internal memory) to eliminate
corrupted files.
Note: If you areusing a CompactFlash memory card, any photos on the
card are deleted, but photos stored in thecamera’s internal memory
are not. You must remove the memory card to format the camera’s
internal memory.
1Insert the new CompactFlash memory card.
2Turn the camera on.
3Press the MENU/SELECT button to display the MAIN MENU.
4Use the LCD scroll buttons to highlight FORMAT MEDIA in green.
5Press the MENU/SELECT button to display the FORMAT MEDIA
options.
The camera displays a CONTINUE FORMAT OF MEDIA? message.
6Use the LCD scroll buttons to highlight OK or CANCEL (thedefault)
and pressthe MENU/SELECT button to make your selection.
•If you select OK, the camera displays FORMATTING CARD and
then turns the LCD off.
•If you select CANCEL, the camera returns to the MAIN MENU
without formatting memory.
7If you are finished with the MAIN MENU, usethe LCD scroll buttons
to highlightDONE and press the MENU/SELECT button to exit the
MAIN MENU and turn the LCDoff.
Note: For a description of card-related error messages that may appear on
the color LCD, see page 26.
Note: If you cannot format the card, it may be defective.Return it to the
retailer where you purchased it.

Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’s Manual 9
Taking Photos
Now that you have prepared yourPhotoMAXPDC 640CFDigital Camera
for action, it’s time to take some photos! For your convenience, this section
briefly describes the entire process:
•Taking photos
•Reviewing photos in the camera
•Deleting unwanted photos
•Transferring photos to your computer
This section also tellsyou where go in this guide for detailed explanations of
each step.
You can takephotos using either the optical viewfinder or the LCD
viewfinder. Use the optical viewfinder:
•For faster processing and flash recycle time
•To optimizebattery life
To take a photo
To takeaphoto, set up the camera for thefirst time, orto redefine camera
settings after changing thebatteries:
1Turn the camera on (page 5).
2Set the flash mode, if needed (pag e15).
3Set the photo resolution (pag e14).
Note: You need not set every parameter for every photo. You can often
use camera default settings. Some settings (like resolution) also
remain at their current value untilyou change them or remove
thecamera’s batteries.
4Set the photo quality (pag e14).
5Set the exposure-value brightnesscompensation, ifneeded (pa ge16).
6Set the white-balance compensation, if needed (pag e17).
7Set the preview mode, if desired (pag e18).
8Activate the self-timer, if desired (page 13).

10 Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640CF Digital Camera User’sManual
9Stand at the proper distance from thesubject:
•Outdoors: 2 feet (60 cm) or morefrom the subject
•Indoors: 3 to 10 ft. (1 to 3 m) fromthe subject (see page 15)
10 Frame the subject:
•Within the yellowframing lines in the optical viewfinder
•Within the color LCDscreen
11 Press theshutter button down fully totake thephoto.
Hold the camera steady until you hear a beep followed by two quick
beeps.
Note: If the camera’s internal memory (or CompactFlash card) is full,
the camera will not take morephotos.Fora description of
storage-relatederrormessagesthatmayappearonthe colorLCD,
see page 26. When a card is full, you must review and delete some
photos before taking more (see page 19).
Note: After you take a photo, the green power/status LED immediately
to the left of the optical viewfinderblinks while the camera
processes andsaves the photo.Waituntilthepower/statusLED
stops blinking before you turn the camera off or takeanother
photo. If you used the flash, the flash LED to thefar leftof the
optical viewfinder also blinks after the power/status LEDstops
blinking.
12 Review and delete unwanted photos from the camera to regain storage
space (page 19).
13 Transferphotos fromthecamera to your computer and delete unwanted
photos using the PhotoMAX software (page 22).
Note: Formore information about takingbetterphotos, see the Tips,
Tricks, Terms, and Techniques section of the online Polaroid
PhotoMAX Image Maker User’s Guide.