Figure 4: Image LCD Screen in Live View

Top overlay bar shows status

Bottom

overlay bar shows soft key

labels

Soft keys

Note: By default, the image LCD is turned off when you power on the camera in Capture mode. If you want the image LCD to always turn on instead, you can change the setting in the Display submenu of the Preferences menu. (See “Display Submenu” on page 67 and “Setting the Display” on page 95.)

However, note that the image LCD uses a lot of battery power. If you are running your camera on batteries rather than with the HP-approved AC power adapter, you may want to limit your use of the image LCD.

Note: For information on setting the Exposure Mode, see “Exposure Mode Submenu” on page 56.

Note: For information on setting the Focus Mode, see “Focus Mode Submenu” on page 59.

Using the Image LCD

Turn the image LCD on by pressing the DISPLAY button on the back of the camera. You now see the live view of Capture mode on the image LCD. Live view lets you preview the pictures you can take with the camera, as well as view and change some of the camera’s settings.

The image LCD screen in the live view of Capture mode includes two opaque overlay bars and an image area in the center for viewing your picture subjects (see Figure 4). The top overlay bar displays status information about the camera while you are taking pictures. The bottom overlay bar contains labels that describe the function of the soft keys immediately below them. For example, if you press the right (Status) soft key in Capture mode, the Status screen displays. To turn the overlay bars off or on, press the middle (Overlay) soft key.

You can also use the image LCD to access menus to change camera settings in the Capture, Playback, and Review modes, and to play back and review captured images in the Playback and Review modes, respectively. The image LCD is disabled in PC Connect mode.

The following subsections provide more information about the overlay bars and the soft keys in the live view of Capture mode.

Understanding the Text Message Area

The text message area is a one-line text area in the middle of the top overlay bar. An example text message is: “Battery Low.” The following indicators will also appear in the text message area when you change certain settings in the Capture mode menus. For information on using the Capture mode menus to change camera settings, see “Using the Capture Mode Menus” on page 15.

Exposure Mode Indicator

When you set the Exposure Mode in the Photo Assist menu to either Landscape Program, Portrait Program, or Action Program, the current Exposure Mode is displayed in the text message area.

Aperture Value and Shutter Speed Indicators

When you set the Exposure Mode in the Photo Assist menu to Aperture Priority (Av) or Shutter Priority (Tv), the current aperture value and shutter speed are displayed in the text message area (for example: Tv 1/125 F5.6). The aperture value and shutter speed will update automatically and change continually as the camera zooms and measures the exposure. When the camera cannot set the correct exposure because you have selected an aperture or shutter speed that is too big or small, the line in the text message area will turn red.

Manual Focus Distance

When you set the Focus Mode in the Photo Assist menu to Manual Focus, the focus distance appears on the left side of the text message area.

Chapter 2: Preparing to Take Pictures

12

Using the Image LCD