Vivitar ECam User manual

ECam User Manual and
Quick Reference Guide -
Thank you for purchasing the Vivitar ECam Digital Camera.
Ecam brings to you the ease-of-use of a traditional camera,
combined with high-tech functionality. ECam captures up to 24
images.
Once you have finished taking your images, you may download
and view on your personal computer. From there, you can use
the included image editing software to enhance your images
before you print or email them.
This booklet is divided into two sections. The first section is a
brief guide that will quickly familiarize you with the basic
features and simple operation of ECam. The second section
explains ECam in greater detail.

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Section 1 -ECAM Quick Installation Guide
Follow the these steps to get ECam working for you -
Step 1: Install the Battery--
•ECam uses a standard 9-volt DC battery. When Ecam is
put into its package there is a piece of tape over the two
battery terminals. Remove this tape.
•Open the battery compartment. Use your thumb to slide the
battery door open. After you have removed the tape from
the battery terminals, insert the battery into the
compartment. There is a decal inside that shows the proper
way to place the battery. (The round battery terminal faces
down.) Once the battery is in place, replace the cover and
installation is complete!
Step 2: Turn on ECam and Take a Picture--
•Slide the power switch to the right. ECam will beep twice to
tell you that it is OK and ready to take a picture.
•Look at your subject through the view window and press the

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shutter button to take a picture. ECam will beep once to tell
you that the picture was taken. If ECam makes three low-
beeps, it is telling you that it was not ready to take a picture.
Try again.
Step 3: Connect ECam to your Computer --
•Plug the large end of the cable that comes with ECam into a
9-pin port on the back of your computer.
•Plug the small end of the ECam cable into the data port on
ECam
Step 4: Install the Software --
•Install the Live Pix Looney Tunes software. (You only need
to do this once.) Insert the CD-ROM into your CD drive. It
should run automatically. Follow the screen messages to
finish the installation. If it does not run automatically see
detailed instructions. Don't forget to run the LivePix tutorial!
Step 5: Download your Pictures --
•Start Live Pix Looney Tunes software. Click on the small
Ecam icon to download your pictures into the Looney Tunes
Software. You are now ready to insert your pictures into
any one of the many Looney Tune project templates. Have
fun!

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Getting to Know ECam -
1. On/Off switch -Slide to the right to turn ECam on. When
ECam turns on you will hear two short beeps. Slide to the
left to turn ECam off.
2. Shutter button -Press to take a picture. Every time you
take a picture ECam beeps once.
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3. Lens -Ecam looks through the lens to take a picture.
4. Battery compartment -The 9 V battery goes behind this
door. To open the battery door slide it downward.
5. Self-Timer Button -To use the self-timer first press and hold
the self timer button, and then press the shutter button. The
RED LED will blink ten times. Then ECam takes a picture.
6. Self-timer LED -This RED LED will blink ten times before
ECam takes a timed-picture.
7. Data Port -When you connect ECam to your computer,
plug the small end of the cable into the top hole. This hole
is labeled "I 0 I 0 I". That’s the computer symbol for data.
8. AC adapter Port -If you have an AC adapter, plug it into the
bottom hole.
9. View finder -Look through here before taking a picture.
10. Speaker -When Ecam has something to tell you it make
sounds from this tiny speaker.
11. Tripod socket -On the bottom of ECam is a place where
you can mount ECam onto a tripod. This is often used with
the self-timer feature.
12. Memory Full LED -When memory is full, this LED will turn
red. This tells you to STOP taking pictures and download
the ones you have taken to your computer.

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Section 2 -ECam User Manual Contents --
What Comes with ECam?7
What is on the CD-ROM? 7
How do I take a Picture with ECam? 8
How many Pictures Can ECam take? 9
How do I know when ECam's Memory is Full? 9
How do I Erase Pictures so I can take more? 10
What do the red LEDs Mean?10
What do the Sounds Mean? 11
How do I Usethe Self-Timer?12
Let's Talk About Batteries…….12
What kind of Computer do I need? 14
How do I ConnectECam to My Computer?15
How to get ECam Pictures to my Computer? 16
What are ECam's Technical Specifications?17
Trouble Shooting and Support 18
Warranty Policy 20
FCC Notice 23
Cautions and Warnings 24

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What Comes with ECam?
ECam comeswith the following items –
•ECam Digital Still Camera with Hand Strap
•ECam User Booklet
•Live Pix Looney Tunes Photo Print Studio CD-ROM
•Looney Tune Software Template Booklet
•A cable which connects Ecam to your PC
•9 Volt battery
What is on the CD-ROM?
The CD-ROM contains Looney Tunes Photo Print Studio.
Looney Tunes is a project-oriented software that allows you to
take the images from your ECam and place them creatively into
projects and templates which feature your favorite Warner
Brothers Looney Tunes characters. The version of Looney
Tunes on your CD is optimized to work directly with ECam.
The CD-ROM includes an impressive instructional tutorial which
will show you how to use Looney Tunes Photo Print Studio.

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How do I take a Picture with ECam?
Taking a picture with ECam is easy. Simply turn ECam on, look
at your subject through the viewfinder, and press the shutter
button.
1. Turn ECam onby sliding the Power button (Item 1) to the
right. When the camera powers-up, you will hear two short
beeps ("beep-beep").
2. Look through the viewfinder (Item 9).
3. To take a picture, press the shutter button (item 2), just
like a traditional camera. Each time ECam takes a picture
successfully you will hear a single "beep". This is called the
confirmation tone. ECam is very fast. ECam can save your
images almost as fast as you can press the shutter again!
Note: If by chance, ECam is not quite ready to take the next
picture you will hear three short "boop" tones ("boop-boop-
boop). ECam is telling you that it is not ready -or -it is too dark
to take a good picture.

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How many Pictures Can ECam take?
ECam can hold twenty-four (24) pictures. When ECam's
memory is full, the red LED (item 12) will be bright, steady red.
Once ECam's memory is filled, you must erase them before
taking new ones. After your erase these 24 pictures you can
reuse ECam's memory over and over thousands of times. It's
like have an endless roll of film! To save your images
permanently, transfer them from ECam to your PC.
A technical note just for Kids: ECam's memory is "volatile". This
means that ECam requires a small amount of battery power to
keep your pictures in memory. If you remove or change the
battery you will loose your images.
How do I Know when ECam'sMemory is Full?
ECam has two ways of telling you that memory is full.
1) After you have taken your twentieth (20th)image you will
hear a warning tone. After you take the 20th picture you will
hear the normal single beep (the confirmation tone),
immediately followed by a short burst of four short beeps.
2) After you have taken your twenty-fourth (24th)image you will
see the red LED on the back of ECam turn bright red.
ECam is saying, "Stop! Memory is full."

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How do I Erase Pictures so I can take more?
Erasing old pictures is simple. There are three ways.
1) Every time you transfer images from ECam to your
computer, the images will be moved out of ECam to your
computer and now ECam is "empty" and ready to take 24
more images.
2) If ECam's memory is full, the red LED on the back (item 12)
will be a bright,steady. You can erase all 24 images if you
hold the shutter button (item 2) for more than three
seconds. You will hear many rapid beeps and the Red LED
will turn off. ECam memory is now empty.
3) You can open the battery door and remove the battery for
several seconds. This will erase all images in ECam's
memory even if memory was not full.
What do the red LEDs Mean?
If you see this -ECam is saying -
The LED on the back of ECam
is a bright, steady RED ECam'smemory is full. All 24 images have been taken
The LED on the front of ECam
is flashing ECam is going to take a picture in self timer mode, after the tenth
flash

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What do the Sounds Mean?
If you hear this sound -ECam is saying -
After ECam isswitched on-two
short beeps (high pitch) ECam is ready to take pictures
After you press the shutter
button -oneshort beep (high
pitch)
ECam hassuccessfullytaken a
picture. This is called the
"confirmation tone"
After you press the shutter
button -three short boops (low
pitch)
ECam is not ready. Either ECam
needs a little more time, or it is too
dark to take a picture
After one minute where no one
has paid attention to ECam-
two short beeps (high pitch)
ECam isbored and wasting
batteries. To save your battery you
should switch ECam off
After you press the shutter
button -oneshort beep (high
pitch) followed by four rapid
beeps
Memory warning-ECam has taken
21 images and it is close to being
full
After you press the shutter
button with thered LED ON -a
continuous sequence of rapid
beeps
Memory is full and you will erase all
24 images if you hold the shutter
down for more than 3 seconds

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How do I Usethe Self-Timer?
ECam has a 10-second self-timer. To use this function press
and hold the self-timer button down and then press the shutter
button. This will activate the self-timer LED that will begin to
flash once per second for ten seconds (ten flashes). After the
tenth flash, ECam will take a picture.
Let's Talk about Batteries……….
ECam camera uses a standard 9-volt "transistor radio" battery.
•Even when ECam is turned OFF, there is a very slight drain
on the batteries. This is required to retain your images that
are in memory If you are not going to use ECam for a while
(days), remove the battery. Removing the battery will make
your battery last longer. It also prevents battery leaks or
corrosion from hurting ECam.
•Note that if you do remove the battery, all images that are
stored inside ECam will be lost.
•If the battery goes dead, simply insert a new one, or use an
(optional) AC power supply.
•If you must dispose of your old batteries, please exercise
environmentally correct means of disposing, or recycling
them.

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Note: When fitting a battery into ECam, check the polarity
markings on the battery to ensure that you insert the battery
correctly.
ECam reminds you to turn it off --
ECam is designed to remind you to turn if off. If ECam has not
been used for a while, it will sound a double-beep every minute.
In this condition ECam has gone into a power-saving sleep
mode. Turn ECam offto preserve the battery.
Technical note for kids: Please don't forget to turn off ECam. It
will double-beep for days. It will drive your parents crazy and it
will run your battery dead in a few days, or less.
Vivitar Corporation has been developing and marketing Digital
Still Cameras since 1996. In that time we have learned a great
deal from our customers about consumer digital imaging. One
of the most common concerns is battery life. We suggest the
use of rechargeable batteries and perhaps an AC power
adaptor that allows you to use household AC power to operate
your camera. These are available at your local electronics or
computer store.

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What kind of Computer do I need?
•An IBM compatible PC with a Pentium processor
•Microsoft Windows 95, or Windows 98. (Windows 3.x and
Macintosh are not supported)
•16MB or more of RAM
•45MB of hard disk space for the Live Pix software
•An available serial port for downloading your pictures
•A CD-ROM drive to load and runthe Live Pix software
•A color display/monitor capable of displaying 800x600 (16-
bit color)is preferred
•If your displayis only capable of 640 x 480, itwill bemore
difficult to see the entire Live Pix LooneyTunes projectscreen
•If your display/monitor is set to256 colors your images will
appear dull and colorless
•Refer to yourcomputer manual to see how you can adjust
your display settings

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How do I Connect ECam to My Computer?
In order to connect ECam to your computer you must 1) install
the software, 2) connect ECam to your computerusing the
included cable. 3) Start the software and download pictures
from ECam to your computer. Additional detail follows -
Software Installation --
Install the Live Pix software. Insert the CD-ROM into your CD-
ROM drive. It is designed to automatically run. If it does not,
follow these steps for Windows 95 or 98. Click on Start, Run,
and then type d:\setup, Enter (or OK). (If a drive letter other
than d identifies your CD drive;use that letter in place of the d:)
Follow the screen instructions to complete the installation.
Connection to your Computer --
Connect ECam to a serial connection on your computer (PC) by
plugging the included data cable into an available 9 pin serial
(COM) port on the back of your PC. These ports are located at
the back of your computer. Look for a connector that is D-
shaped, has two rows of (male) pins, with a total of nine pins.
Most desktop computers have two COM ports, whereas most
notebook computers have one COM connector. While most

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desktops have two serial ports, many times your mouse, or
possibly an external modem will occupy one of them. It is further
possible that your computer may have a 25 pin male serial
connector. If this is the case, you may purchase a 25F to 9M
adapter at a local electronics or computer store. However, do
not purchase a “null modem” adapter, as it will not work)
Connect the small end of the cable to the ECam, to the port
marked “I O l O l”.
How do I get ECam Pictures to my Computer?
Now that your software and cables are installed, the final step is
to download your ECam images to your computer.
1. Connect the cable and turn on ECam
2. Launch (Start) Live Pix Looney Tunes Photo Print Studio
3. After Looney Tunes is up and running, click on the ECam
camera icon.All pictures in ECam's memory should transfer to
Live Pix.ECam's memory will then be erased for you to use
again.
Note: You may also use ECam with other imaging software by
using what is called a Twain driver which is available on the
Vivitar website, www.vivitar.com

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What are ECam's TechnicalSpecifications?
•Image Resolution: 160 x 120 pixels
•Image Sensor: CMOS
•Color: 24-bit (16.7 million colors)
•Memory: 4 Mbit internal memory
•Storage: 24 images
•Data compression: None
•File format: BMP
•Range of focus: 6inches to 8 feet (for best results)
•Connectors: AC adaptor, RS232 serial port
•Weight: 5.5 ounces (with battery), 4.5 ounces without
•Dimensions: (W) 4" x (H) 3”x(L) 1.7"
•Recommended battery: 9VDC alkaline
•AC power adapter requirements -
•9 VDC output
•UL approved
•100 milliAmp rating
•Plug = 4.0 x 1.7 x 9.5 mm, Polarity: center positive
(Design and specifications are subject to change without notice)

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Trouble Shooting and Technical Support
If your ECam does not appear to work properly, please do not
return it to the store for technical assistance. For technical
assistance consult our website at www.vivitar.com
Here are a few basic guidelines to solving problems with ECam-
1) Review this Owner’s booklet.
2) Determine if your problem is related to your camera, or your
computer connection by checking ECam's basic operations:
•Does it turn-on?
•Can you take a picture, and does the camera beep?
If ECam beeps, most likely it is functioning correctly.
3) If you cannot get your ECam to connect to your computer
(the Looney Tunes software), please consult your PC
manufacturer, or consult a local PC technician and have
your serial (COM) ports checked. Our technical support
staff can help you with your ECam, but are not able to give
expert advice regarding the configuration of your PC.
We provide technical support for 30 days, limited to three calls.
Technical Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You may reach technical support at (949)-595-2199.

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If your computer will not connect to ECam -
Connecting a digital camera to a personal computer is perhaps
the most challenging (sometimes-frustrating) aspects of
consumer digital imaging today. If your computer cannot
connect to ECam your computer's serial ports must be
examined. You can inspect your ports using the Windows
device Manager. Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel,
System, Device Manager (tab), Ports (COM & LPT).
For assistance in enabling or setting your ports, consult your PC
system manual or manufacturer. In some cases, changes may
need to be made to your System BIOS. Please consult a
knowledgeable PC expert before attempting any such changes
or modifications.

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Warranty Policy
ECam is under warranty for a period of ninety (90)days the date of
purchase, by the original purchaser. In case of defects in materials or
workmanship, Vivitar Corporation will repair or replaceECam free of
charge within the warranty period. This warranty applies to the camera
only. This warranty does not include batteries, or other accessories
that have not been manufactured by Vivitar Corporation. This warranty
will not be honored if the camera has been mishandled or tampered
with, or altered by anyone other than the manufacturer. Other than for
the warranty herein, Vivitar Corporation isnot responsible for loss,
damage, or inconvenience of any kind.
Prior to returning a camera, you must first obtain an RMA number from
Vivitar Technical Support or Customer Service. The RMA number, a
brief description of the difficulties encountered, andproof-of-purchase
(with the date of purchase clearly indicated)must accompany a
defective ECam being returned under warranty. Prior to returning any
product you must call Technical Support or Customer Service to
attempt to diagnose the problem and receive an RMA number. All
related shipping and transportation costs and insurances are at the
owner's expense. Any alteration of this warranty cannot be made
without Vivitar Corporation’s written approval.
Replacement or repairshall be at the sole and exclusive discretion of
Vivitar and performed only at Vivitar or by an authorized repair facility.
Defective products being returned to Vivitar for warranty must arrive