Polaroid a801 User manual

www.polaroid.com
User Guide
a801 8.0 Megapixel Digital Camera
DIGITAL QUALITY, POLAROID SIMPLICITY™
Questions? Need some help?
This manual should help you understand your new product. If you have questions, call our toll-free
number found on the insert with this icon:

2Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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Product Overview
1. Shutter button
2. Flash
3. Lens
4. Power button
5. Self-timer LED
6. Speaker
7. Microphone
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8. Zoom in button
9. Zoom out/ Thumbail button
10.
Power LED
11. Flash LED
12.
LCD Screen
13.
Left button
14.
Menu button
15.
Wrist strap holder
16.
Mode button
17. Flash / Up button
18.
Self-timer / Right button
19. Delete / Down button
20.
LCD screen on/ off button
21. OK button
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22. Tripod mount
23.
USB port
24. Battery / SD card door
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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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Table of Contents
Product Overview...........................................................................2
Table of Contents...........................................................................3
1 Getting Started ..........................................................................6
• Camera Package Contents.........................................................7
• Attaching the Wrist Strap..........................................................8
• Installing and Removing the Battery ............................................8
• Using Your Batteries .................................................................9
• Checking the Battery Level ......................................................10
• Turning the Camera On and Off ...............................................10
2 Camera Settings........................................................................11
• Checking Camera Status ........................................................11
• Capture Modes ......................................................................11
• Playback Mode.......................................................................14
• Camera Modes.......................................................................15
• How to Navigate Menus..........................................................15
• Setup Menu ..........................................................................16
• Setting Date and Time ...........................................................17
• Setting Auto Power Off ..........................................................18
• Setting the Beep Sound On / Off ............................................19
• Adjusting volume control .......................................................19
• Setting the Display Language .................................................20
• Setting the Date Stamp On / Off .............................................21
• Adjusting the LCD Brightness...................................................21
• Turning Sequence Number On / Off ..........................................22
• Restting to Default Settings ....................................................23
• Cancelling the Startup Image ..................................................24
• Choosing the Media for Storage ...............................................25
• Selecting the Battery Type ......................................................26
• Turning the Information Display On/Off .....................................27
3 Taking Pictures .........................................................................29
• Taking Pictures in Normal Mode ...............................................29
• Setting Flash Mode ................................................................30

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• Setting Self-timer ...................................................................32
• Setting the Picture Resolution and Compression .........................33
• Setting the Sharpness ............................................................36
• Zoom Feature .......................................................................37
• Specifying the Quick Review Period .........................................38
• Setting Exposure Compensation ...............................................39
• Setting White Balance.............................................................40
4 Recording Video Clips ................................................................41
• Recording Video Clips ............................................................41
• Setting Video Resolution .........................................................42
• Setting Exposure Compensation for Video Clips .........................43
• Setting White Balance for Video Clips .......................................44
5 Managing Pictures and Video Clips ..............................................45
• Reviewing Pictures ................................................................45
• Reviewing Pictures and Video Clip Files in Thumbnail ................45
• Magnifying & Trimming the Displayed Picture ............................46
• Playing a Video Clip on LCD Screen ..........................................46
• Protecting/Unprotecting Pictures and Video Clips ......................47
• Running a Slide Show .............................................................48
• Copy to Card ........................................................................49
• Copy from Card ....................................................................50
• Deleting Pictures or Video Clip ................................................51
6 Print Settings............................................................................53
• About PictBridge ....................................................................53
• About DPOF .........................................................................61
7 Using the SD (Secure Digital) Card ..............................................63
• Using the SD Card..................................................................63
• Formatting a SD card .............................................................66
8 Installing the Software onto a Computer ......................................67
• Installing the Software ............................................................67
• Software Included with Your Camera........................................69
• Computer System Requirements...............................................70

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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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9 Transferring Pictures and Video Clips to a Computer ....................71
• Before Transferring Files..........................................................71
• Connecting to Your Computer..................................................71
• Transferring Pictures and Video Clips to a Computer...................72
10 Troubleshooting Problems.........................................................74
11 Getting Help ...........................................................................77
• Polaroid Online Services ..........................................................77
• ArcSoft Software Help............................................................77
12 Appendix................................................................................78
• Technical specifications ..........................................................78
• Storage Capacities..................................................................80
• Uninstalling Polaroid a801 Driver (PC only) ................................83
• Camera Default Settings..........................................................84
• Tips, Your Safety & Maintenance .............................................86
• Regulatory Information............................................................87

6Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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1 Getting Started
Thank you for selecting the new Polaroid a801 digital camera for your
imaging needs. Incorporated with Polaroid’s sophisticated technology,
your exquisitely compact camera will offer a powerful range of high-end,
easy-to-use functions. It will allow you to capture those special occasions
with life-like clarity and beautiful color renditions.
Outstanding features that your a801 digital camera has:
• A high quality glass lens system for well exposed sharp pictures from 1.2m
to infinity including a 4X digital zoom mode:
• Built-in flash with four modes (Auto, Red-eye reduction, Off and Always
on)
• Adjust your picture’s resolution for printing or emailing .
• Automatic white balance and exposure compensation to suit lighting
conditions .
• PictBridge capability to plug-and-print your images .
• Large 2.0 inch LCD screen for easier image preview and review.

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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Camera Package Contents
First Class
Postage
Required
Post Ofce will
not deliver
without proper
postage
Digital Imaging Products
201 Burlington Road
Bedford, MA 01730-1434
Quick Start Guide Warranty Card
Skin 4 x AAA Battery USB Cable
Wrist Strap The CD-ROM Includes:
a801 Digital Camera Driver (PC only)
ArcSoft® PhotoStudio® 5.5 (PC)
/ArcSoft® PhotoStudio® 4.3 (Mac)
ArcSoft PhotoPrinter® 5 (PC)
/ArcSoft PhotoPrinter® 4 (Mac)
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ (PC&Mac)
User Manual (in PDF format)
a801
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8Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Attaching the Wrist Strap
1 2
• Installing and Removing the Battery
1. Open the camera battery door by pushing it outwards as illustrated.
2. Insert the battery as shown.
3. Close the battery door by pressing it downwards then slide it back to lock.
1
1
2
2 3
12
4. To remove the battery, slide the battery lock in the direction of the arrow
and the battery will eject out of the battery slot.
5. Pull the battery with your finger in the direction of the arrow.
2
5
1
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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Using Your Batteries
Our laboratory testing has shown that our digital camera models comply
with industry standard battery consumption levels (Camera & Imaging
Products Association commonly known as CIPA).
All digital cameras are high drain products. For the best performance and
prolonged battery life, we recommend the use of high capacity batteries
designed for such applications.
NOTE:
It is very important that the correct battery type be chosen. Go to
page 26 to make your selection.
Here are some helpful hints to extend battery life considerably by limiting
the following activities:
• Reviewing the pictures on the LCD Screen
• Using the optical viewfinder (if your camera has one) to frame the
subject when taking pictures
• Reduce the excessive use of the flash
• Remove batteries from your camera when not in use for long periods
of time.
WARNING!
• Batteries should be replaced by an adult.
• Use recommended or equivalent type of batteries only.
• Insert the batteries in the correct orientation.
• Remove exhausted batteries from the camera immediately.
• Do not short the supply terminals.
• Please dispose of the batteries properly.
These instructions should be retained for future reference.

10 Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Checking the Battery Level
Check the battery power level before taking pictures.
1. Turn on the camera.
2. Check the battery power level that appears on the LCD screen.
Battery power is full.
Battery power is adequate.
00001
x1.0
3264x2448
Battery power is low.
Batter power is exhausted. Please
replace the battery.
• Turning the Camera On and Off
1. Press the (POWER) button until the
Power on LED screen turns on.
2. Press the (POWER) button again to
turn the power off.

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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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2 Camera Settings
• Checking Camera Status
Turn on the camera, view the camera’s LCD screen to check which
camera settings are active. Those particular features whose icons are not
displayed are not activated.
• Capture Modes
Still Image Mode
00001
x1.0
3264x2448
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1 2 33
No. Description Icon Ref. Page
1 Capture Mode 15
2 Flash Mode , , , 30
3 Self-timer 2, 10 32

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No. Description Icon Ref. Page
4 Number of Remaining Pictures 00001
5 Image Resolution 3264 X 2448 33
6 Compression , , 34
7 Sharpness , , 36
8 Internal Memory/ SD Card /
9 Battery Power Level 10
10 Histogram
11 Digital Zoom Factor X 1.0 ............ X 4.0 37
12 White balance 40
13 Exposure Compensation Value 39
Need help with your digital camera?
Call our toll-free customer service number. Look for the insert with this icon:
Or visit www.polaroid.com.

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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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Video Mode
640X480
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No. Description Icon Ref. Page
1 Video Mode 41
2 Exposure 43
3 White balance 44
4 Record indicator
5 Recorded Time 00:00:03

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• Playback Mode
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001-0012
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1 2
3264x2448
2007/01/01
00:30
00:00:06
2007/01/01
00:30
No. Description Icon Ref. Page
1 Playback mode 14
2Protect 47
3 File Number 100-0012.JPG 22
4 Resolution 3264 X 2448
5Displayed Date and time 2007/01/01
00:30
6 Battery Power Level 10
7Video Mode
8Play Time 00:00:06
9Stop
10 Play and Pause /

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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Camera Modes
The camera has three working modes, Capture mode,
Playback mode and Video mode. Pressing the mode
button switches among these modes.
• How to Navigate Menus
Menus are used to select capture and play
settings, as well as other camera settings like the
Date/Time and Auto Power Off.
1. Press the button to enter Menu Settings.
Press the button and press the button to
enter setup settings.
2. Press the and buttons to scroll up and
down through menu bars.
Date /Time
Auto Power Off
Beep Sound
Volume
SETUP
1/4
Resolution
3264X2448
3072X2304
2816X2112
2048X1536
Menu Settings
Setup Settings
1/2
3. Press the button to enter. Press the button
to back to menu bars.
4. Press the and buttons to select
options.
5. Press the button to confirm your choice.

16 Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Setup Menu
You can change the basic settings of the camera in Capture and Video
modes.Here we take the mode for an example.
1. Press the button and press the button to
enter setup menu.
2. Press the and buttons to scroll up and
down through menu bars.
3. Press the button to enter. Press the button
to back to menu bars.
4. Press the and buttons to select options.
5. Press the button to confirm your choice. Menu button
6. Press the button to exit the setup menu.
.
Date /Time
2007.01.01
12:00:00
YY.MM.DD
Date /Time
Auto Power Off
Beep Sound
Volume
SETUP
1/4

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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Setting the Date and Time
1. Access the setup menu.
.
Date /Time
2007.01.01
12:00:00
YY.MM.DD
Date /Time
Auto Power Off
Beep Sound
Volume
SETUP
1/4
2. Press or button to select
(DATE / TIME).
3. Press the button to enter.
4. Press the or button to select a field,
such as year, month, day, hour, minute,
and date format.
5. Press or button to adjust the value
in the field and select the date format.
6. Press the button to confirm your choice.
NOTE:
• This setting is also available in (Video) mode.
Need help with your digital camera?
Call our toll-free customer service number. Look for the insert with this icon:
Or visit www.polaroid.com.

18 Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Setting Auto Power Off
The camera performs the following power save operation to conserve
battery power.
1. Access the setup menu.
2. Press the or button to select (Auto
Power Off).
3. Press the button to enter.
4. Press or to select the desired setting.
5. Press the button to confirm your choice.
Auto Power Off
Off
1 Minute
3 Minutes
SETUP
Date /Time
Auto Power Off
Beep Sound
Volume
1/4
1 MINUTE / 3 MINUTES The camera is designed to switch off
automatically to save battery life after the
specified period of inactivity.
OFF The power saving function is not active.
NOTE:
Auto power off is automatically disabled under any one of the following
conditions:
• While the camera is recording a video clip.
• While the camera is running a slide show.

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Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Setting the Beep Sound On / Off
The beep sound can be turned on and off in the SETUP menu. When the
beep sound is turned on, the camera will beep when you press any of the
buttons.
Beep Sound
Off
On
SETUP
Date /Time
Auto Power Off
Beep Sound
Volume
1/4
1. Access the setup menu.
2. Press the or button to select
(Beep Sound).
3. Press the button to enter.
4. Press the or button to select the desired
setting.
5. Press the button to confirm your choice.
• Adjusting Volume Control
Volume can be adjusted for beep sounds and video clips.
Volume
SETUP
Date /Time
Auto Power Off
Beep Sound
Volume
1/4
1. Access the setup menu.
2. Press the or button to select
(Volume).
3. Press the button to enter.
4. Press the or button to select the desired
setting.
5. Press the button to confirm your choice.

20 Polaroid a801 Digital Camera User Guide
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• Setting the Display Language
Under this setting, you can select the language you prefer for the LCD
screen.
1. Access the setup menu.
2. Press the or button to select
(LANGUAGE).
3. Press the button to enter.
4. Press the or button to select the desired
setting.
5. Press the button to confirm your choice.
Language
Italiano
Português
日本语
简体中文
2/2
Language
English
Deutsch
Français
Español
1/2
SETUP
Language
Date Stamp
LCD Brightness
Format
2/4