my camera assignment

KonicaMinolta Dimage Z6

1. To set the ISO I use the manual M setting, go to the menu, tab 3, under the "sensitivity" choice I can select "auto" 50, 100, 200, 320. (pg 64)

2. The white balance has 3 settings: automatic, preset and custom. It is set independently in the in the M, P, A and S settings on the mode wheel on top of the camera. The AUTO adjusts in most settings to the ambient light and will "create beautiful images, even under mixed lighting conditions". In this mode the white balance sets to the flash when it is used. In the PRESET mode, a symbol appears onthe screen giving choices for daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent or flash. These are adjusted by the controller arrors to the right of the screen. In the CUSTOM setting they recommend using a piece of white paper, press the central button on the controller wheel to set the balance, This remains until it is reset. It also has a recall setting. (pg 60)

3. Exposure compensation can be adjusted in the subject programs , the P, A and S exposure modes. With the subject selections, the compensation is reset when the camera is shut off. In the P, A & S settings, the compensation remains in place until reset. To adjust the exposure the photographer uses the right and left arrow keys on the controller wheel. This is a very cool feature I did not know about! (pg 41)

4. Image size is set in the menu, first tab under the "quality" heading. It can be fine, standard or economy. It gives a multitude of numbers in the manual by these setting, which I do not understand. I have been shooting in standard (growl) but have now switched to fine. :) (pg 55)

5. The exposure mode is set by the mode wheel at the top of the camera. P = program. This allows the photogrpaher to see an image when the shutter release button is clicked halfway. If it is red the subject is too far away. The A = aperture setting mode. This allows the photographer to set the aperture and the camera selelcts the shutter speed. You use the up down keys of the controller to set the aperture, and again use the halfway stop onthe shutter button. I don't quite understand the part about the blue double arrows. In the S= shutter mode, the photographer selects teh shutter speed and the camera selects the appropriate aperture. There's the double blue arrow indicator message again. This also uses the up and down arrows. (pg 36-37)

6. Macro is one I have used quite a bit because I like to take close up pictures of flowers and mushrooms. However, I did not know the difference between the macro and the supermacro feature until I read this. The setting is on the top of the camera, with a separate button to push, next to the button for setting the flash. Standard macro in the wide angle position is for 3.9inches to 3.3 feet. In the telephoto position it is for 3.9 feet to 8.2 feet. When supermacro is used the lens automatically zooms to a specific focal length from .4 inches to 3.3 feet. You can cycle through the choices by pressing the button repeatedly until you get to the setting you want. (pg 35)

7. The flash button is also on the top of the camera. It cycles through auto, auto with reduced red-eye, fill, slow sync and cancel. The flash is activated when you raise the unit. Slow sync is for dark settings when you want to get details in the background. They say to ask your subject not to move and they recommend a tripod for the slow sync setting. They recommend up to 11.8 feet for the wide angle with the flash and between 3.9 -7.2 for the telephoto position with the flash. (pg 26)

Patty Meritt