19
Using the Camera
2

USING VIEWFINDER

VIEWFINDER LAMP DISPLAY

Frame the shot so that the subject fills the entire AF
(Auto Focus) frame. When a picture is taken at a
distance of 0.6 m to 1.5 m (2.0 ft. to 4.9 ft.) using
the viewfinder, only the shaded area in the figure is
photographed.
To take pictures using the viewfinder, press the
“BACK (DISP)” button to turn the LCD monitor off.
Turning the LCD monitor off conserves battery
power.
!
The viewfinder cannot be used to take shots in Macro mode.
!
For more precise shot framing, use the LCD monitor to take
the picture.
3
1
2Brace your elbows against your sides and hold the
camera with both hands. Position your right thumb
so that it is handy for using the zoom.
!
Moving the camera while shooting gives a blurred picture
(camera shake). Use a tripod to avoid camera shake,
particularly for shots in the dark when the selected flash
mode is Suppressed flash.
AF frame
18
Bebeep
!
The image shown on the LCD monitor before the picture is
taken may differ in brightness, color, etc. from the image
actually recorded. Play back the recorded image to check it
(P.24).
!
The subject may sometimes be difficult to see clearly on the
LCD monitor (in bright sunlight or dimly lit scenes, etc.). If so,
use the viewfinder to take the picture.
Use the LCD monitor to frame the shot so that the
subject fills the entire AF (Autofocus) frame.

6

Press the shutter button down halfway. When a
short double-beep is heard, the camera focuses on
your subject. The AF frame on the LCD monitor
becomes smaller and the camera sets the shutter
speed and aperture. The viewfinder lamp (green)
changes from blinking to lit.
!
When a short double-beep is not heard and “{” appears on
the LCD monitor, the camera cannot focus.
!
Pressing the shutter button down halfway freezes the image
on the LCD monitor briefly. This image is not the recorded
image.
!
If “{” appears on the LCD monitor (e.g. the shot is too dark
for the camera to focus), try standing about 2 m (6.6 ft.) from
the subject to take the picture.

7

Press the shutter button down fully. When a
clicking noise is heard, the camera records the
image.
!
There is a slight delay between the shutter button being
pressed and the picture being taken. Play back the shot to
check the image.
!
When pressing the shutter button down fully in one motion,
the picture is taken without the AF frame changing.
!
When the camera takes the picture, the viewfinder lamp lights
orange (shooting disabled). The viewfinder lamp then turns
green and the next picture can be taken.
!
When taking a picture using the flash, the image may
disappear and go dark as the flash charges. The viewfinder
lamp then blinks orange.
!
See P.102, 103 for information on the warning displays.

8

Click
Before the flash fires, “” appears on the LCD
monitor.
AF frame
TAKING PICTURES (BAUTO MODE)
PHOTOGRAPHY MODE

Subjects not suitable for autofocus

The FinePix E500 / FinePix E510 uses a high-precision autofocusing mechanism. However, it may
have difficulty focusing on the following:
hVery shiny subjects such as a mirror or car
body
hSubjects photographed through glass
hSubjects that do not reflect well, such as hair
or fur
hSubjects with no substance, such as smoke or
flames
hDark subjects
hFast moving subjects
hSubjects with little or no contrast between the
subject and the background (such as white
walls or subjects dressed in the same color as
the background)
hShots where another high-contrast object (not
the subject) is close to the AF frame and is
either closer or further away than your subject
(such as a shot of someone against a
background with strongly contrasting
elements)
For such subjects use AF/AE lock (P.21).
Display Status
Lit green Ready to shoot
Blinking green AF/AE is in progress, camera shake warning or AF warning (ready to shoot)
Blinking green and
orange alternately
Recording to xD-Picture Card (ready to shoot)
Lit orange Recording to xD-Picture Card (not ready)
Blinking orange Charging the flash (flash will not fire)
Blinking green
(1-second intervals)
Camera in Power save mode (P.71)
Blinking red ixD-Picture Card Warnings
No card inserted, card not formatted, incorrect format, card full, xD-Picture Card error
iLens operation error
Detailed warning messages appear on the LCD monitor (P.102, 103).