Appendix

Fitting the zoom lens

It is important to fit the lens correctly, as otherwise damage may result. Be sure to refer to the section “Mounting the Lens” on page 42.

Viewfinder

•Do not leave the unit with the eyepiece pointing directly at the sun.

The eyepiece lens can concentrate the sun’s rays and melt the interior of the viewfinder.

•Do not use the viewfinder close to strong magnetic fields. This can cause picture distortion.

About the LCD panels

LCD panels are manufactured with extremely high-precision technology that yields effective pixel rates of 99.99% or higher. However, very rarely, one or more pixels may be permanently dark or permanently lit in white, red, blue, or green.

This phenomenon is not a malfunction. Such pixels have no effect on the recorded data, and the unit may be used with confidence even if they are present.

Phenomena specific to CCD image sensors

The following phenomena that may appear in images are specific to CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensors. They do not indicate malfunctions.

White flecks

Although the CCD image sensors are produced with high-precision technologies, fine white flecks may be generated on the screen in rare cases, caused by cosmic rays, etc.

This is related to the principle of CCD image sensors and is not a malfunction.

The white flecks especially tend to be seen in the following cases:

•When operating at a high environmental temperature

•When you have raised the master gain (sensitivity)

The problem may be alleviated by executing the APR (automatic pixel noise reduction) function on the APR page of the MAINTENANCE menu (see page 156). Pixel noise is reduced to some extent by automatic black balance adjustment (see page 55), but the detection capabilities of that function are limited. For the most effective correction, execute the APR function.

If “No More White Pixel” appears after the APR function is executed, then there are no more detectable white flecks.

In SLS mode, white flecks are more prominent when you set the shutter speed (number of frames) to higher values. Executing the APR(SLS) function on the APR page (see page

156)may alleviate the problem of white flecks in SLS mode.

Vertical smear

When an extremely bright object, such as a strong spotlight or flashlight, is being shot, vertical tails may be produced on the screen, or the image may be distorted.

1 2 3

1Monitor screen

2Vertical tails shown on the image

3Bright object (e.g. strong spotlight, strong reflected light, flashlight, the sun)

Aliasing

When fine patterns, stripes, or lines are shot, they may appear jagged or flicker.

224Important Notes on Operation