INTRODUCTION Calendar screen (page 128) A simple operation displays a full-month calendar on the cameras monitor screen. Each day of the full-month calendar shows a thumbnail of the first file recorded for that date, which helps to make searching for a particular file quicker and easier. After Recording (page 134) Use this mode to add audio to snapshots after you record them. Selectable Sound Settings (page 148) You can configure different sounds to play whenever you turn on the camera, press the shutter button half-way or all the way, or perform a key operation. World Time (page 153) A simple operation sets the current time for your current location. You can select from among 162 cities in 32 time zones. Support for SD memory cards and MMC (MultiMedia Cards) for memory expansion (page 159) Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) (page 167) Images can be printed easily in the sequence you want using a DPOF compatible printer. DPOF can also be used when specifying images and quantities for printing by professional print services. PictBridge and USB DIRECT-PRINT support (page 170) Connect directly to a PictBridge or USB DIRECT-PRINT compatible printer and you can print images without going through a computer. PRINT Image Matching III Compatible (page 175) Images include PRINT Image Matching III data (mode setting and other camera setup information). A printer that supports PRINT Image Matching III reads this data and adjusts the printed image accordingly, so your images come out just the way you intended when you recorded them. DCF Data Storage (page 189) DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) data storage protocol provides image compatibility between the digital camera and printers.
INTRODUCTION Bundled with Photo Loader and Photohands (pages 196, 199, 205) Your camera comes bundled with Photo Loader, the popular application that automatically loads images from your camera to your PC. It also comes with Photohands, and application that makes image retouching quick and easy.

Precautions

I General Precautions
Be sure to observe the following important precautions whenever using the EX-Z500. All references in this manual to camera refer to the CASIO EX-Z500 Digital Camera. Never try to take pictures or use the built-in display while operating a motor vehicle or while walking. Doing so creates the risk of serious accident. Never try to open the case of the camera or attempt your own repairs. High-voltage internal components create the risk of electric shock when exposed. Always leave maintenance and repair work up to a CASIO authorized service center. Keep the small parts and accessories of this camera out of the reach of small children. If swallowed accidentally, contact your physician immediately. Never fire the flash in the direction of a person operating a motor vehicle. Doing so can interfere with the drivers vision and create the risk of accident.

I Test for proper operation before using the camera!
Before using the camera to record important images, make sure you first record a number of test images and check the results to ensure that the camera is configured correctly and operating properly.

I Data Error Precautions

Your digital camera is manufactured using precision digital components. Any of the following creates the risk of corruption of data in file memory. Removing the battery or memory card, or setting the camera onto the USB cradle while the camera is performing a record or memory access operation Removing the battery, removing the memory card, or placing the camera onto the USB cradle while the operation lamp is still flashing green after you turn off the camera Disconnecting the USB cable, removing the camera from the USB cradle, or disconnecting the AC adaptor from the USB cradle while a data communication operation is being performed Low battery power Other abnormal operations Any of the above conditions can cause an error message to appear on the monitor screen (page 220). Follow the instructions provided by the message to eliminate the cause of the error.

I Operating conditions

This camera is designed for use in temperatures ranging from 0C to 40C (32F to 104F). Do not use or keep the camera in the following areas. In areas subject to direct sunlight In areas subject to high humidity or dust Near air conditioners, heaters, or other areas subject to temperature extremes Inside of a closed vehicle, especially one parked in the sun In areas subject to strong vibration

I Condensation

When you bring the camera indoors on a cold day or otherwise expose it to a sudden change of temperature, there is the possibility that condensation can form on the exterior or on interior components. Condensation can cause malfunction of the camera, so you should avoid exposing it to conditions that might cause condensation. To keep condensation from forming, place the camera into a plastic bag before moving it into a location that is much warmer or colder than your current location. Leave it in the plastic bag until the air inside the bag has a chance to reach the same temperature as the new location. If condensation does form, remove the battery from the camera and leave the battery cover open for a few hours.

To enter this mode at startup: REC PLAY Press this button to turn on the camera: Power button or [ [ ] (PLAY) ] (REC)
Make sure you always remove the camera from the USB cradle before connecting or disconnecting the AC adaptor. Charging, USB data communication, and using the Photo Stand feature can cause the AC adaptor to become warm. This is normal and does not indicate malfunction. Unplug the AC power cord from the power outlet whenever you are not using it. Never place a blanket or any other cover on the AC adaptor. Doing so creates the risk of fire.

Power button

ON/OFF

] (PLAY) [ ] (REC)

GETTING READY NOTE Pressing [ ] (REC) to turn on the camera enters the REC mode, while pressing [ ] (PLAY) enters the PLAY mode. Pressing [ ] (PLAY) while in the REC mode switches to the PLAY mode. The lens retracts about 10 seconds after switching modes. IMPORTANT! If camera power is turned off by the Auto Power Off feature, press the power button, [ ] (REC) or [ ] (PLAY) to turn it back on again. Pressing the power button or [ ] (REC) to turn on the camera also causes the lens to extend. Take care to avoid any interference with the lens operation or allowing anything to strike the lens when it is extended.

I To turn off the camera

Press the power button to turn off the camera. NOTE You can setup the camera so it does not turn on when you press [ ] (REC) or [ ] (PLAY), or to turn off when you press [ ] (REC) or [ ] (PLAY). For details, see Configuring [ ] (REC) and [ ] (PLAY) Power On/Off Functions on page 156.
Configuring Power Saving Settings
You can configure the settings described below to conserve battery power. Sleep : Automatically turns off the monitor screen if no operation is performed for a specified amount of time in the REC mode. Performing any button operation causes the monitor screen to turn back on. Auto Power Off : Turns off power if you do not perform any operation for a specified amount of time.

3. Use [], [], [], and

[] to select the geographical area where you live, and then press [SET].
1. Press the power button, [
] (REC) or ] (PLAY) to turn on the camera.

2. Use [], [], [], and

[] to select the language you want, and then press [SET].
: Japanese English Deutsch Espaol Italiano : English : German : Spanish : Italian : Chinese (Complex) : Chinese (Simplified) : Korean Franais : French
select the name of the city where you live, and then press [SET].
5. Use [] and [] to select the summer time
(DST) setting you want, and then press [SET].
When you want to do this: Keep time using summer time (Daylight Saving Time) Keep time using standard time Select this setting: On Off

Portugus : Portuguese

6. Use [] and [] to
select the date format setting you want, and then press [SET].

7. Set the current date

and the time.
Example: December 24, 2005
To display the date like this: 05/12/24 24/12/05 12/24/05 Select this format: YY/MM/DD DD/MM/YY MM/DD/YY
To do this: Change the setting at the current cursor location Move the cursor between settings Toggle between 12-hour and 24hour timekeeping
Do this: Press [] and []. Press [] and []. Press [BS].
8. Press [SET] to register the settings and exit

the setting screen.

IMPORTANT! Make sure your fingers and the strap do not block the flash, microphone, AF assist light/self-timer lamp or lens.

Flash Microphone

This section describes the basic procedure for recording an image.

Recording an Image

Aiming the Camera
Use both hands to hold the camera still when shooting an image. Holding the camera with one hand increases the chance of movement, which can blur your images. Horizontal Hold the camera still in both hands, with your arms firmly against your sides.
AF assist light/ self-timer lamp

Vertical

When holding the camera vertically, make sure that the flash is above the lens. Hold the camera still with both hands.
BASIC IMAGE RECORDING There is a speaker on the bottom of the camera. The operation sound and other sounds can become difficult to hear if you cover the speaker with your hand while holding it.
Your camera automatically adjusts shutter speed in accordance with the brightness of the subject. Images you record are stored in the cameras built-in memory, or to a memory card if you have one loaded in the camera. When an optionally available SD memory card or MultiMediaCard (MMC) is loaded in the camera, images are stored on the card (page 159). After purchasing a memory card, be sure to load it into the camera and format it before trying to use it (page 162).

I About AF Assist Light

The AF assist light/self-timer lamp operates automatically to assist the Auto Focus operation whenever you are shooting where lighting is dim.
4. After making sure that the
image is focused properly, press the shutter button the rest of the way down to record.
The number of images you can record depends on the image size and the image quality setting you are using (pages 70, 71, 222).
BASIC IMAGE RECORDING You can turn the AF assist light on or off. It is recommended that you turn off the AF assist light when recording images of nearby people, etc.

I Recording Precautions

Never open the battery cover or place the camera onto the USB cradle while the operation lamp is flashing green. Doing so not only causes the current image to be lost, it can also corrupt images already stored in file memory and even lead to malfunction of the camera. Never remove the memory card while an image is being recorded to the memory card. Fluorescent lighting actually flickers at a frequency that cannot be detected by the human eye. When using the camera indoors under such lighting, you may experience some brightness or color problems with recorded images. When Auto is selected for the ISO sensitivity setting (page 110), the camera automatically adjusts its sensitivity in accordance with the brightness of the subject. This can cause some digital noise (graininess) to appear in images of relatively dark subjects.
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU]. 2. Use [] and [] to select the REC tab. 3. Use [] and [] to select AF Assist Light,

and then press [].

4. Use [] and [] to select the setting you
To do this: Turn on the AF assist light Turn off the AF assist light Select this setting: On Off
IMPORTANT! Do not look directly at the AF assist light/self-timer lamp or point it directly at the subjects eyes.
BASIC IMAGE RECORDING When recording a dimly lit subject while Auto is selected for the ISO sensitivity setting (page 110), the camera increases sensitivity and uses a faster shutter speed. Because of this, you need to guard against camera movement if you have flash turned off (page 62). Bright light shining on the lens can cause images to appear washed out. This tends to happen when recording images outdoors in bright sunlight. To protect against this, use your free hand to shade the lens from the light.

I About Auto Focus

Proper focus may be difficult or even impossible when shooting the following types of subjects. Solid color walls or subjects with little contrast Strongly backlit subjects Very shiny objects Venetian blinds or other horizontally repeating patterns Multiple subjects that are varying distances from the camera Subjects in poorly lit areas Moving subjects Subjects outside the shooting range of the camera Note that a green operation lamp and focus frame do not necessarily guarantee that the resulting image will be in focus. If Auto Focus does not produce the results you want for some reason, try using focus lock (page 79) or manual focus (page 78).

I About the REC Mode Monitor Screen
The image shown on the monitor screen in the REC mode is a simplified image for composing purposes. The actual image is recorded in accordance with the image quality setting currently selected on your camera. The image saved in file memory has much better resolution and detail than the REC mode monitor screen image. Certain levels of subject brightness can cause the response of the REC mode monitor screen to slow down, which causes some digital noise (graininess) in the monitor screen image. Very bright light inside of an image can cause a vertical band to appear in the monitor screen image. This is a CCD phenomenon known as vertical smear, and does not indicate malfunction of the camera. Note that vertical smear is not recorded with the image in the case of a snapshot, but it is recorded in the case of a movie (page 95).

Using Zoom

Your camera is equipped with two types of zoom: optical zoom and digital zoom. Normally, the camera automatically switches over to digital zoom after you reach the maximum limit for optical zoom. You can, however, configure the camera to disable digital zoom, if you want.

Optical Zoom

The optical zoom range is 1X to 3X.

1. In the REC mode, move

the zoom controller left or right to zoom.
Moving the zoom controller as far as it goes in either direction will zoom at high speed.

Zoom controller

To do this: Zoom out for a wider view (main subject becomes smaller) Zoom in for a closer view (main subject becomes larger)
Move the zoom controller in this direction: (Wide Angle) (Telephoto)
BASIC IMAGE RECORDING NOTE The optical zoom factor also affects the lens aperture. Use of a tripod is recommended to protect against hand movement when using the telephoto setting (zoom in). Whenever you perform an optical zoom operation while recording with the Auto Focus mode, Macro mode or manual focus, a value will appear on the monitor screen to tell you the focusing range (pages 74, 76, 79). Optical zoom is disabled during movie recording. Digital zoom only is available. Make sure you select the optical zoom setting you want to use before you press the shutter button to start movie recording (page 95).

Image Size 5M* 5M (3:2) 4M 3M 2M VGA (3:2) 640 480
Print Size A3 Print A3 Print (3:2 horizontal-tovertical ratio) A4 Print A4 Print 3.Print E-mail (optimum size when attaching image to e-mail) Smaller Larger

* M stands for Mega.

1. In the REC mode, press [MENU]. 2. Use [] and [] to select the Quality tab. 3. Use [] and [] to select Size, and then

press [].

When selecting the image size, the image size value (pixels) will alternate on the display with a corresponding print size. The print size indicates the optimum paper size when you print an image that is the image size you select.
The above print sizes are all approximate values when printing at a resolution of 200 dpi (dots per inch). Use a larger setting when you want to print at a higher resolution or when you plan to produce a larger size print. Selecting the (3:2) image size records images with a 3:2 (horizontal:vertical) aspect ratio, which is optimal for printing on photographic paper with an aspect ratio of 3:2.

Specifying Image Quality

Compressing an image before storage can cause a deterioration of its quality. The more an image is compressed, the greater the loss of quality. The image quality setting specifies the compression ratio to be used when an image is stored in memory. You can select an image quality setting to suit your needs for higher quality or smaller file size. Note that this setting is valid for snapshots only. For information about movie image quality, see page 96.
To get this: High image quality, large file size Normal image quality and normal file size Low image quality, small file size
Select this setting: Fine Normal Economy Lower Quality Higher Quality
IMPORTANT! Actual file size depends on the type of image you record. This means that the remaining image capacity noted on the monitor screen may not be exactly accurate (pages 27, 222).
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU]. 2. Use [] and [] to select the Quality tab. 3. Use [] and [] to select

OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS IMPORTANT! When Multi is selected as the metering mode, certain procedures cause the metering mode setting to change automatically as described below. Changing the exposure compensation setting (page 80) to a value other than 0.0 changes the metering mode setting to Center Weighted. The metering mode changes back to Multi when you return the exposure compensation setting to 0.0.
Using the Filter Function
The cameras filter function lets you alter the tint of an image when you record it.
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU]. 2. Select the Quality tab, select Filter, and
Available filter settings are: Off, B/W, Sepia, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink, Purple IMPORTANT! Using the cameras filter feature produces the same effect as attaching a color filter to the lens.
Specifying Outline Sharpness
Use the following procedure to control the sharpness of image outlines.
Specifying Color Saturation
Use the following procedure to control the intensity of the image you are recording.
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU]. 2. Select the Quality tab, select Sharpness,
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU]. 2. Select the Quality tab, select Saturation,
To get this: High sharpness Normal sharpness Low sharpness Select this setting: +2 +1 2
To get this: High color saturation (intensity) Normal color saturation (intensity) Low color saturation (intensity) Select this setting: +2 +1 2

Specifying Contrast

Use this procedure to adjust the relative difference between the light areas and dark areas of the image you are recording.

Resetting the Camera

Use the following procedure to reset all of the cameras settings to their initial defaults as shown under Menu Reference on page 208.
1. In the REC mode, press [MENU]. 2. Select the Quality tab, select Contrast,
1. Press [MENU]. 2. Select the Set Up tab, select Reset, and
To get this: High contrast Normal contrast Low contrast Select this setting: +2 +1 2

This starts the copy operation and displays the message Busy. Please wait. After the copy operation is complete, the monitor screen shows the last file in the folder.
5. Press [MENU] to exit the copy operation.
NOTE Files are copied to the folder in built-in memory whose name has the largest number.
I Printing Directly on a Printer Equipped with a Card Slot, or a Printer that Supports USB DIRECT-PRINT or PictBridge
After using the cameras DPOF feature to specify the images you want to print and how many copies of each should be printed, you can plug the memory card into a printer equipped with a card slot, or connect the camera to a PictBridge or USB DIRECT-PRINT printer for printing. For more information, see DPOF (page 167) and Using PictBridge or USB DIRECT-PRINT (page 170).
A digital camera provides you with a variety of different ways to print the images it records. The three main printing methods are described below. Use the method that best suits your needs.
I Professional Print Service
The cameras DPOF feature lets you specify which images you want to print and how many copies of each you want. For more information, see DPOF (page 167). NOTE Certain print service providers may not support DPOF or may support different printing protocols. In this case, use the protocol supported by your print service to specify the images you want to have printed.
I Printing with a Computer
Windows Users The camera comes bundled with Photo Loader and Photohands applications, which can be installed on a Windows computer for image transfer, management, and printing. For more information, see Using the Camera with a Windows Computer (pages 176, 193). Macintosh Users The camera comes bundled with Photo Loader for the Macintosh, which can be installed for image transfer and management, but not for printing. Use commercially available software for printing with a Macintosh. For more information, see Using the Camera with a Macintosh Computer (pages 184, 203).
The letters DPOF stand for Digital Print Order Format, which is a format for recording on a memory card or other medium which digital camera images should be printed and how many copies of the image should be printed. Then you can print on a DPOF-compatible printer or at a professional print service in accordance with the file name and number of copies settings recorded on the card. With this camera, you can select images by viewing them on the monitor screen without needing to remember file names, their locations in memory, etc. I DPOF Settings File Name, number of copies, date

To configure print settings for a single image
5. Use [] and [] to specify the number of

copies.

You can specify up to 99 for the number of copies. Specify 00 if you do not want to have the image printed.
select DPOF, and then press [].

6. To turn on date

stamping for the prints, press [BS] so On is displayed.
On indicates that date stamping is turned on.
3. Use [] and [] to select Select images,
To turn off date stamping for the prints, press [BS] so Off is displayed. Repeat steps 4 through 6 if you want to configure other images for printing.
display the image you want.
7. After all the settings are the way you want,
press [SET] to apply them.
To configure print settings for all images
5. To turn on date stamping for the prints, press

[BS] so On is displayed.

On indicates that date stamping is turned on. To turn off date stamping for the prints, press [BS] so Off is displayed.
1. In the PLAY mode, press [MENU]. 2. Select the PLAY tab, select DPOF, and
3. Use [] and [] to select All images, and
6. After all the settings are the way you want,
specify the number of copies.
PRINTING IMAGES IMPORTANT! DPOF settings are not cleared automatically after printing is complete. This means that if you perform another printing operation without clearing DPOF settings, printing will be performed in accordance with the last settings you configured. If you want to prevent this from happening, perform the procedure under To configure print settings for all images (page 169) and change the number of copies to 00. After that, you can configure new DPOF settings as required. If you take a memory card to a professional print service, be sure to tell them that it includes DPOF settings for the images to be printed and the number of copies. If you dont, the printing service may print all images without regard to your DPOF settings, or date printing may not be performed. Note that some professional print services do not support DPOF printing. Check with your service before ordering prints. Some printers may have settings that disable date stamp and/or DPOF printing. See the user documentation that comes with your printer for details about how to enable these features.
Using PictBridge or USB DIRECT-PRINT
You can connect the camera directly to a printer that supports PictBridge or USB DIRECT-PRINT, and perform image selection and printing using the camera monitor screen and controls. DPOF support (page 167) also lets you specify which images you want to print and how many copies of each should be printed. PictBridge is a standard established by the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA). USB DIRECT-PRINT is a standard proposed by Seiko Epson Corporation.
4. Connect the USB cable that comes bundled

with the camera to the USB cradle and a printer.
USB port USB cable (bundled) Connector B
When connecting to this type of device: Computer or USB DIRECTPRINT-compatible printer PictBridge-compatible printer Select this setting: Mass Storage (USB DIRECT-PRINT) PTP (PictBridge)

Connector A

](USB port)
Mass Storage (USB DIRECT-PRINT) causes the camera to see the computer as an external storage device. Use this setting for normal transfer of images from the camera to a computer (using the bundled Photo Loader application). PTP (PictBridge) simplifies the transfer of image data to the connected device.
Also, connect the AC adaptor to the USB cradle and plug the AC adaptor into an electrical outlet. If you are using battery power without the AC adaptor, make sure that the battery is fully charged. Nothing appears on the cameras monitor screen if the camera is on the USB cradle while the bundled AV cable is connected to the cradle. Be sure to disconnect the AV cable from the cradle if you want to use the cameras monitor screen to view images.
5. Turn off the camera, and then set the camera

on the USB cradle.

8. Press the USB

cradles [USB] button.

This displays the print menu on the cameras monitor screen.
6. Turn on the printer. 7. Load paper for printing the images into the

printer.

9. Use [] and [] to select Paper Size, and
10. Use [] and [] to select the paper size you
want to use for printing, and then press [SET].
The following are the print sizes that are available. 3.A4 8.By Printer Selecting By Printer prints using the paper size selected on the printer. Available paper size settings depend on the connected printer. For full details, see the instructions that come with your printer.

11. Use [] and [] to

specify the print option you want.
To print a single image: Select 1 Image and then press [SET]. Next, use [] and [] to select the image you want to print. To print multiple images or all images: Select DPOF Printing, and then press [SET]. Selecting this option will print the images selected with the DPOF settings. See page 167 for more information. You can toggle date stamping of the image on and off by pressing [BS]. The date stamp will be printed when On is indicated on the monitor screen. On indicates that date stamping is turned on.

12. On the cameras monitor screen, use [] and
[] to select Print, and then press [SET].
This starts printing and displays the message Busy. Please wait. on the monitor screen. The message will disappear after a short while, even though printing is still being performed. Pressing any of the cameras buttons while printing is in progress will cause the message to reappear. The print menu will appear when printing is complete. If you selected 1 Image in step 11, you can select another image for printing and then repeat this step to print.
13. After you are finished printing, press the USB
cradles [USB] button, and then turn off the camera.

Date Printing

Any one of the procedures described below can be used to include the recording date in image prints. Correct date printing requires that the current date be set on the camera before the image is recorded. Specifying date printing with DPOF settings (page 168) Some printers may have settings that disable time stamp and/or DPOF printing. See the user documentation that comes with your printer for details about how to enable these features. Note that some professional print services do not support DPOF printing. Check with your service before ordering prints. Specifying date printing with the Photohands software that comes with the camera See page 23 of the Photohands Users Guide for details. The Photohands Users Guide is provided as a PDF file on the CD-ROM that comes bundled with your camera. Specifying date printing when having printing done by a print service Some print services do not support date printing. Check with your service for more information.

I Printing Precautions

See the documentation that comes with your printer for information about print quality and paper settings. Contact your printer manufacturer for information about models that support PictBridge and USB DIRECT-PRINT, upgrades, etc. Never disconnect the USB cable, or perform any camera or USB cradle operation while printing is in progress. Doing so causes a printer error.

AF assist light / self-timer lamp Red Memory card problem / Memory card is unformatted. / BEST SHOT setup cannot be registered. Memory card is locked. / Cannot create folder. / Memory is full. / Write error Low battery alert Formatting card Powering down
When you are using a memory card, never remove the card from the camera while the operation lamp is flashing green. Doing so will cause recorded images to be lost.

Pattern 2

Lit Pattern 3 Pattern 3 Pattern 3
AF assist light / Operation Lamp self-timer lamp Green Lit Red Red Operational (Power on, recording enabled) One of the following operations is being performed: delete, DPOF, image protect, copy, format, power down, image resizing, image trimming, after recording, MOTION PRINT, movie editing Memory card problem / Memory card is unformatted. Memory card is locked. / Cannot create folder. / Memory is full. Low battery alert
I USB Cradle Indicator Lamps
The USB cradle has two indicator lamps: a [CHARGE] lamp and a [USB] lamp. These lamps light and flash to indicate the current operational status of the USB cradle and camera.

[CHARGE] lamp [USB] lamp

Pattern 3
[CHARGE] lamp Color Red Green Amber Red Status Lit Lit Lit Flashing

[USB] lamp Color Status

Pattern 2 Lit Pattern 3
Meaning Charging Charging complete Charge standby Charge error

Green Green

Lit USB connection Flashing Accessing memory

Troubleshooting Guide

Symptom Power does not turn on. Possible Cause 1) The battery is not oriented correctly. 2) The battery is dead. Action 1) Orient the battery correctly (page 32). 2) Charge the battery (page 33). If the battery goes dead soon after being charged, it means the battery has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced. Purchase a separately available NP-40 rechargeable lithium ion battery. 1) Turn power back on. 2) Charge the battery (page 33). 1) Press [ ] (REC) to enter the REC mode. 2) Wait until the flash unit finishes charging. 3) Transfer files you want to keep to your computer and then delete files from image memory, or use a different memory card.

Power Supply

Camera suddenly powers down.
1) Auto Power Off activated (page 44). 2) The battery is dead. 1) The camera is in the PLAY mode. 2) Flash unit is being charged. 3) Memory is full.

Image Recording

Image is not recorded when the shutter button is pressed.
Symptom Auto Focus does not focus properly. Possible Cause 1) The lens is dirty. 2) The subject is not located in the center of the focus frame when you compose the image. 3) The subject you are shooting is a type that is not compatible with Auto Focus operation (page 57). 4) You are moving the camera. The image is not focused properly. Action 1) Clean the lens. 2) Make sure the subject is centered in the focus frame when composing the image. 3) Use manual focus (page 78).