404 CAMCORDER - Camcorder ARCHOS - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL 404 CAMCORDER ARCHOS

Version 1.1 This manual contains information about the CamCorder and Camera functions of your ARCHOS 404 CamCorder device. These functions can be used by selecting the CamCorder and Camera icons. You can find instructions on how to use all other functions of this device in the ARCHOS 404 User Manual. WWW.archos.com

On the Back of the Device: ° The optical sensor of the device. FE) e Be careful not to leave your fingers in front of it when taking a picture or shooting a video. ° Take all appropriate care to avoid scratching the lens: use the included protective pouch to carry the device. Home Screen ° The Home Screen of the ARCHOS 404 CamCorder has two more icons than that of the ARCHOS 404: CamCorder and Camera. e Select an icon with the navigation pad and press ok to use the particular function.

In the Home Screen, highlight the CamCorder icon ‘©, ” | and press oK to display the CamCorder pre-re- cording screen.

11 VIDEO RECORDING PROCEDURE

*Inthe pre-record- GDS EEE ing screen, you can RAO+ adjust the recording settings if you wish: press MENU), then select Settings to enter the CamCorder Settings Screen (see: CamCorder Settings). e Before and during recording, you can: -z0om in and out using #/4. À = no zoom / © = zoom active. - adjust the recorded sound volume using <-/—+. - lock the exposure via the Lock exposure & menu item (See Light/Exposure issues). -press © to hide or display the on-screen display (menu, status bar, tabs, icons etc.).

e Press OK to start recording. e You can pause and restart your recording by pressing DK. e You can adjust cer- tain settings, such as Exposure and White Balance, dur- ing a recording: press MENU and select the Settings menu item. e Press X to stop recording. When pressing x from the pre-recording screen, you will be taken to the “Video/Camcorder” folder so you can directly view your recordings. le CAMCORDER SETTINGS gris screen aus yo GED | CRPFLHÉEXS o adjust the CamCorder recording parameters to {*) camgorder your personal taste. rer Resolution Se ar You can access the rs s a F = _ EXposure ‘ Norma CamCorder Settings ARRETE CRE screen via the Settings Sampling - € A8 KH2 menu item in the pre- eset, recording screen.

Use 4/+ to highlight a different parameter, then use +/+ to select a different setting. When you have finished, press x to return to the previous screen: your settings will be saved. e Rename -Recorded files are automatically named CAMO000, CAM0001, CAMO002, etc. -this option allows you to define a custom filename be- fore the recording begins, using the virtual keyboard. See: Using the Virtual Keyboard in the ARCHOS 404 User Manual. e Resolution - Options: QVGA ” (320x240) / VGA “ (640x480). -Use this to set the resolution (fineness) of the recorded image. - You can leave this on QVGA if you intend to watch your recorded videos on the built-in screen of your ARCHOS device: the image will be smooth and the file size small- er. However, if you plan to watch your recordings on a TV, you should set this to VGA for a sharper image. e Bitrate - Options: Low / Medium (default) / High. -Use this to set the level of compression of the recorded video file. - À higher bitrate will result in a higher-quality image, but will also take up more space on the hard drive. -The default setting (Medium) will be appropriate for most situations.

° Exposure - Options: Brighter © +2/+1,5/+1/+0,5 / Normal © / Darker © -0,5/-1/-1,5/-2. -This parameter allows you to adjust to bright or dark conditions. -Darker values will decrease the amount of exposure. -Brighter values will increase the exposure. -1f your subject has a bright background, you may want to overexpose your image a little bit so that the person’s face is more visible, thus you would set it to Brighter +1 or +2. -If you are recording a video where there is a lot of snow or the sun’s reflection on water, you may want to reduce the exposure, thus set it to Darker -1 or -2. e White Balance - Options: Auto # / Daylight # / Cloudy & / Fluorescent + {Tungsten 4 -This parameter lets the camera adjust to the ambient light source in order to best record the natural colors. ° Sampling - Options: 22 KHz / 32kHz / 44kHz / 48kHz. -The sound sampling rate. The higher value gives a higher sound quality but will take up more space on the hard rive. e Reset -This will reset the values in this screen to the factory default settings.

F2 In the Home Screen, highlight the Camera icon and © | press OK to enter the still camera mode.

2.1 TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS

e In this viewfinder screen, you can ad- just the still camera settings if you wish: press MENU), then select Settings to enter the Camera Settings Screen (see: Camera Settings). e You can zoom in and out using +/+. À = no zoom / £ = zoom active. e Lock the exposure via the Lock exposure & menu item (See Light/Exposure issues). e Press © to hide or display the on-screen display (menu, status bar, tabs, icons etc.). e Press OK to take a picture.

When pressing X from the viewfinder screen, you will be taken to the “Pictures/Photos” folder so you can directly view your photographs.

This screen allows you to adjust the Camera parameters to your per- C j he di sonal taste. _ Ÿ Resolution ® LS VGA Quality ©, , Low You can access the Enr À ANUS © Y auto EUT Camera Settings screen via the Settings menu item in the view- finder screen. Use #/4 to highlight a different parameter, then use «/+ to select a different setting. When you have finished, press x to return to the previous screen: your settings will be saved. e Rename -Photographs taken with your ARCHOS device are auto- matically named PHOTO0000, PHOTO0001, PHOTO0002, etc. -This option allows you to define the filename before tak- ing a picture, using the virtual keyboard. See: Using the Virtual Keyboard in the ARCHOS 404 User Manual.

e Resolution - Options: VGA ” /1.2 Megapixels “ -1.2 Megapixels (1280x960) gives the best image quality but the largest file size. - VGA (640x480) will give a smaller file size, but the im- ages will not be as sharp. e Image Quality - Options: Basic #: / Normal :: / Fin - For the best possible image, set this parameter to Fine. e Exposure - Options: Brighter © +2/+1,5/+1/+0,5 / Normal © / Darker © -0,5/-1/-1,5/-2. -This parameter allows you to adjust to bright or dark conditions. -Darker values will decrease the amount of exposure. -Brighter values will increase the exposure. -1f your subject has a bright background, you may want to overexpose your image a little bit so that the person’s face is more visible, thus you would set it to Brighter +1 or +2. -If you are taking a photo where there is a lot of snow or the sun's reflection on water, you may want to reduce the exposure, thus set it to Darker -1 or -2. e White Balance - Options: Auto # / Daylight # / Cloudy & / Fluorescent + {Tungsten 4 -This parameter lets the camera adjust to the ambient light source in order to best record the natural colors.

e Timer - Options: Off / 5 seconds & / 10 seconds & -The timer setting allows you to delay the moment at which the photo is taken, for example if you want to in- clude yourself in the picture. e Reset -This will reset the values in this screen to the factory default settings.

eter and set it to 5 or 10 seconds. Press X to return to the viewfinder screen.

4. The timer icon appears on the top of the viewfinder screen

(6 or 5). Press oK: the ARCHOS device will count down to zero and then take the picture.

If you notice that some of your videos or photographs are blurred, it could be due to various reasons. As with any other camcorder or still camera, keep in mind the following: e If you use the zoom, you must have a very steady hand to hold the ARCHOS 404 CamCorder when filming or taking a picture. Any shakiness is magnified and often renders the image blurry. e Shooting in low light conditions requires more time so that the device’s sensor can capture a sufficient amount of light. Thus, any camera movement or fast movement in the camera’s sight will be blurred. ° Trying to film or take pictures of close objects may also give out-of-focus results.

3.2 LIGHT/EXPOSURE ISSUES

When taking a photo against a bright light source (for ex- ample a window when you are inside, or the sun when you are in an open space), it can happen that the object or per- son appears too dark in the photo. This is because the bright background makes the camera select an exposure which is not appropriate to capture the person or object in the fore- ground. There are two ways of correcting this: e Use the Exposure setting (see: CamCorder Settings or Camera Settings).

e Use the Lock exposure & menu item: - Point the ARCHOS 404 CamCorder away from the bright light, towards an area where the light conditions are similar to those around the person or object. - Select the Lock exposure & menu item: the exposure settings become fixed and the exposure-locked icon & will appear on top of the screen. Now if you take a pic- ture against the bright light source, the exposure will stay fixed at the previous light adjustment. The image of the person or object should no longer appear as dark as before. -To return to automatic exposure, select the Auto expo- sure Si menu item.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS These are specifications for the CamCorder functions only. For general specifications of the ARCHOS 404 series, please see the ARCHOS 404 user manual. e Digital Still Camera: 1.2 mega pixels. ° CamCorder: 640x480 (300.000 pixels). e CCD (Charge Coupled Device). ° MPEG-4 SP (QVGA or VGA resolution). e Focale 4.31mm (equivalent to 36mm for a 35mm camera). ° F2.8 ° 0.50m to infinity. e 5 settings: Auto - Daylight - Cloudy - Fluorescent - Tungsten. e Digital 2x. All brands and product names are registered trademarks and the property of their respective owners. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Errors or omissions excepted. Images and illustrations may not always match contents. All the information contained in this guide was correct at the time of publication. COPYRIGHT ARCHOS" © 2006. All rights reserved.