Page 2 - • The SD logo
Thank you for buying the Pentax Optio 550 Digital Camera. Pleaseread this manual before using the camera in order to get the mostout of all the features and functions. Keep this manual safe, as itcan be a valuable tool in helping you to understand all the cam-era’s capabilities. Regarding copyrights...
Page 4 - Care to be Taken During Handling
Care to be Taken During Handling • Do not clean the product with organic solvents such as thinner or alcohol benzene.• Places of high temperature and humidity should be avoided. Particular care should be taken regarding vehicles, which can become very hot inside. • Storing the camera where pesticide...
Page 5 - To users of this camera
To users of this camera • There is a possibility that recorded data may be erased or that the camera may not function correctly when used in surroundings such as installations generatingstrong electromagnetic radiation or magnetic fields. • The liquid crystal panel used in the LCD display is manufac...
Page 6 - Contents; Getting Started ············································································11; Common Operations ···································································30; Taking Pictures ············································································38
4 Contents FOR SAFE USE OF YOUR CAMERA ·····················································1Care to be Taken During Handling ···························································2Contents ···································································································4Conte...
Page 7 - Playback/Erasing ·········································································89
5 Setting the Sensitivity ·············································································49Setting the Instant Review time (Instant Review) ··································50Setting the Image Sharpness (Sharpness) ············································51Setting the Color Satura...
Page 8 - Editing/Settings ·········································································123; Appendix ····················································································141
Viewing Images with your PC ·······································································104 About the included software ·································································104System environment ············································································104Ins...
Page 9 - Contents of the Operating Manual; This Operating manual contains the following chapters.; Getting Started; Contents of the Package
7 Contents of the Operating Manual This Operating manual contains the following chapters. Getting Started This chapter explains what you need to do after purchasing the camerabefore you start taking pictures. Be sure to read it and follow the instructions. Quick Start This chapter explains the simpl...
Page 10 - Checking the Contents of the Package; About items marked with (
8 Checking the Contents of the Package Camera Optio 550 USB cableI-USB7 ( ∗ ) AV cable I-AVC7 ( ∗ ) 3D Image Viewer O-3DV1 Software (CD-ROM) S-SW7 Strap O-ST5 ( ∗ ) Lithium-ion battery D-LI7 (Rechargeable) ( ∗ ) Battery charger (D-BC7) ( ∗ ) Digital Camera Operating Manual To ensure the best perform...
Page 11 - Name of Parts; Front
9 Name of Parts Front Back Remote control receiver Shutter release button Self-timer lamp Power switch Autofocus window Speaker Viewfinder Built-in flash Microphone Lens Viewfinder LCD monitor Strap lugTerminal cover USB/AV output terminalDC input terminal Battery lock lever Battery chamber/card cov...
Page 12 - Names of Operating Parts; Guide indications
10 Names of Operating Parts Guide indications A guide to available button operation is displayed on the LCD monitor duringoperation. The buttons are indicated as shown below. Diopter adjustment lever / button / DPOF button Power switch Shutter release buttonMode dial Zoom / / button / button Playbac...
Page 13 - Attaching the Strap
11 Getting Star ted Pass the narrow end of the strap through the strap lug and passthe other end through the loop. Getting Started Attaching the Strap e02_kb338_001_023_41e.qk 3/17/03 3:33 PM Page 11
Page 14 - Powering the Camera; Charging the Battery; Connect the AC plug cord to the battery charger.
12 Getting Star ted Caution Powering the Camera Charging the Battery When using the camera for the first time or when the [Batterydepleted.] message is displayed, charge the battery. z Connect the AC plug cord to the battery charger. x Plug the AC plug cord into the power outlet. c Place the battery...
Page 15 - Installing the Battery; Close the battery chamber cover.; • The rechargeable lithium-ion battery D-LI7 is exclusively for
13 Getting Star ted Caution Installing the Battery Install the battery provided. When using the camera for the firsttime, charge the battery before installing. z Slide the battery chamber/card cover in the direction indi-cated by the arrow to open the battery chamber/cardcover. x Insert the battery ...
Page 16 - Playback time; Battery Level Indicator; You can check the battery level by the
14 Getting Star ted Caution ● Approximate Operating Time (when the D-LI7 battery is fullycharged) Number of recordable images : Approx. 400 (when 50% shooting uses flash, LCD monitor ON) Playback time : Approx. 210 min. * The description above is based on Pentax measuring conditions and may vary dep...
Page 17 - Connect the AC plug cord to the AC adapter.; • Make sure that the camera is turned off when connecting
15 Getting Star ted Caution Using the AC Adapter (optional) If you intend to use the LCD monitor for a long time or connect thecamera to a PC, use of the AC adapter D-AC7 (optional) is recom-mended. z Make sure that the camera is turned off and opening theterminal cover. x Connect the DC terminal on...
Page 18 - Rotate the card with the surface of the card having the
16 Getting Star ted MultiMediaCards and the SD Memory Card can be used with thiscamera. Captured images or recorded voice are recorded on theSD Memory Card/MultiMediaCard. Make sure that the camera isturned off before inserting or removing the SD Memory Card/MultiMediaCard. z Open the battery chambe...
Page 20 - Press the power switch.; Card Check; appears on the LCD moni-; Turning the Camera On and Off; Getting Star
z Press the power switch. The camera will turn on.When the camera is turned on the lens cover opens andthe lens extends.Press the power switch again to turn the camera off. Card Check When the camera is turned on, it auto-matically performs a card check. If no SDMemory Card/MultiMediaCard has beenin...
Page 21 - Adjusting the Viewfinder
If the subject through the viewfinder are hard to see, you canadjust the diopter in the range of –3 m –1 to +1 m –1 (per meter). z Aim the camera at the bright subject. While lookingthrough the viewfinder, move the diopter adjustmentlever to the left or right until the subject appears in thesharpest...
Page 22 - Setting the Display Language; to select the display language.; • You can change the setting after it has been made. Refer to; Initial Settings
20 Getting Star ted Power switch OK button If the initial settings screen appears when you turn the cameraon, follow the procedure below to set the display language,Home Town, DST, video output format and current date andtime. If the date and time that appear at the bottom right of theLCD monitor wh...
Page 23 - Setting the Home Town; The screen for setting the next item will be displayed.
21 Getting Star ted Setting the Home Town You can choose the city (Home Town) inwhich you will use the camera. z Press the four-way controller ( ) to select the desired city (HomeTown). x Press the four-way controller ( ). The screen for setting the next item will be displayed. • See p.141 for the l...
Page 24 - Setting the Date and Time; Set the current date and time.
22 Getting Star ted Setting the Date and Time Set the current date and time. z Use the four-way controller ( ) to change the month. x Press the four-way controller ( ). and will be displayed above and below the day. c Use the four-way controller ( ) to change the day and press thefour-way controller...
Page 25 - • For an accurate time setting, when you have finished the set-; • When the initial settings screen is displayed, you can cancel
23 Getting Star ted n When you have finished the settings, press the OK but-ton when the clock reaches 00 seconds. The camera is ready to take a picture.When you set date and time except the initial settings,press the OK button again after pressing the OK buttonwhen the clock reaches 00 seconds to r...
Page 26 - Taking Still Pictures; Quick Start; Quic
Shutter release button Taking Still Pictures 24 Quick Start Quic k Star t For the simplest procedure to take still pictures:The flash fires automatically depending on the light conditions. z Press the power switch. The camera will turn on. x Set the mode dial to . c Confirm the subject and shoot-ing...
Page 27 - Press the shutter release button.; Using the Shutter Release Button; The shutter release button works in a two-step action.; Press halfway; You cannot take a picture while the flash is charging.; Pressed down fully; The picture is taken.; Instant Review; button
v Press the shutter release button. The image will be displayed on the LCD monitor for 2seconds (Instant Review) and recorded on the SDMemory Card/MultiMediaCard. (The green and redlamps on the right of the viewfinder blink alternatelywhile the image is being recorded on the SD MemoryCard/MultiMedia...
Page 28 - Playing Back Still Pictures; Playing Back Images; You can display the still picture.; Playing Back Previous or Next Images; Press the Playback button after taking a picture.
26 Quic k Star t Quick Start Playing Back Still Pictures Playing Back Images You can display the still picture. z Press the Playback button after taking a picture. The image taken will be displayed on the LCD monitor. Playing Back Previous or Next Images Still images can be played back one at a time...
Page 29 - Erasing the image displayed on the LCD monitor
27 Quic k Star t Erasing the image displayed on the LCD monitor While the image is displayed, youcan erase it by pressing the but- ton (The Delete screen will be dis-played.), press the four-way controller( ) to select [Delete], and then pressing the OK button.Press the Playback button or pressthe s...
Page 30 - How to View the Recorded Images; Viewing images on the camera; Playing Back Images and Sound; Viewing images on a TV; Viewing Images on a TV
How to View the Recorded Images Images taken with the Optio 550camera are recorded on the SDMemory Card/MultiMediaCard. Youcan view the images recorded onthe card on the camera itself, trans-fer them to your PC and print themout. Viewing images on the camera One of the advantages of a digitalcamera ...
Page 31 - Viewing images on a PC; Viewing Images with your PC; Printing images by a printing service; Setting the Printing Service
29 Quic k Star t Viewing images on a PC You can view recorded images and edit them on the PC justby connecting the camera to the PC with the USB cable anddownloading the images (you need to install the USB driver ifyou are using Windows 98). Or you can remove the SDMemory Card/MultiMediaCard from th...
Page 32 - Switching Between Capture Mode and Playback Mode; Turn the mode dial so that the mark is on; Changing the Mode
30 Common Oper ations Capture mode is for taking pictures and voice recording.Playback mode is for playing back or erasing images andsound. Switching Between Capture Mode and Playback Mode • To change from Capture mode to Playback mode, press thePlayback button. • To change from Playback mode to Cap...
Page 33 - Using the Button Functions; Common Oper; Capture Mode; Diopter adjustment lever; Adjusts the viewfinder for optimum clarity. (; Using the remote control unit (
31 Using the Button Functions Common Oper ations Capture Mode Diopter adjustment lever Adjusts the viewfinder for optimum clarity. ( ☞ p.19) button Changes the flash mode. ( ☞ p.42) button Changes the shooting mode as follows.Using the self-timer ( ☞ p.77) Using the remote control unit ( ☞ p.78) Con...
Page 34 - and; OK button
32 Common Oper ations Playback button Switches to Playback mode. ( ☞ p.30) Four-way controller ( ) Changes the EV compensation in modes other than and . ( ☞ p.76) Changes the shutter speed in mode. ( ☞ p.57) Four-way controller ( ) Adjusts the focus in mode. ( ☞ p.41) Sets the aperture value in and ...
Page 35 - Playback Mode
33 Common Oper ations Playback Mode button Protects the image from erasure. ( ☞ p.99) DPOF button Sets the DPOF data for printing pictures. ( ☞ p.101) button Deletes the image. ( ☞ p.96) Zoom / / button displays nine images at once. ( ☞ p.94) Press – in normal mode to change the size of the Zoom Dis...
Page 36 - How to Set the Menus; ) to move the frame up or; Using the Menus
34 Common Oper ations Caution When you press the Menu/Fn button, the menus are displayed on theLCD monitor. You can set functions, save the settings, and change thecamera settings on these menus. How to Set the Menus When you are making settings from a menu, a guide to opera-tion is displayed on the...
Page 37 - Example of menu operation
35 Common Oper ations • If you press the shutter release button halfway and move the camera toCapture mode, any changes to the setting will not be saved. • When you display the menu from Capture mode, the [ Rec. Mode] menu will be displayed, and when you display the menu from Playback mode, the[ Pla...
Page 38 - Menu List
36 Common Oper ations Menu List [ Rec.Mode] Menu Item Description Reference Please refer to pages 142 to 144 for List of Menu Default settings and the adjustable[Rec. mode] menu items by shooting mode. Quality Level For selecting the image compression rate. White Balance For adjusting the color bala...
Page 40 - aking Pictures; Taking Pictures; Displaying Shooting Information (Capture Mode); Display On
38 T aking Pictures Taking Pictures Displaying Shooting Information (Capture Mode) You can display information on the LCD monitor when shooting.The display mode can be changed by pressing the Display but-ton. Display On Shooting information is displayed. q Flash mode w Drive mode e Focus mode r Capt...
