En
The 
Guide to Digital Photography with the
DIGITAL CAMERA
En
En
The Guide to Digital Photography with the
DIGITAL CAMERA
En
Shoot, View, and Enjoy
A Flowchart Guide to Using Your Camera
Product Documentation
The documentation for this product includes the manuals listed below. Please be sure to read all instructions thoroughly to get the most from your camera.
The
Guide to Digital Photography
The Guide to Digital Photography
(this manual) provides complete op- erating instructions for your camera.
Nikon View Reference Manual
The Nikon View Reference Manual can be found in electronic format on the reference CD provided with your camera. For information on viewing the Reference Manual, see the
Overview
Getting to Know the COOLPIX 3500
Menu Guide
First Steps
Taking Pictures
Review and Deletion
Getting Creative
Beyond 
Camera Setup
Basic Playback
The Playback Menu
Technical Notes
Index
i
For Your Safety
To prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or to others, read the following safety precautions in their entirety before using this equip- ment. Keep these safety instructions where all those who use the product will read them.
The consequences that could result from failure to observe the precautions listed in this section are indicated by the following symbol:
This icon marks warnings, information that should be read before using your Nikon product to prevent possible injury.
WARNINGS
Turn off immediately in the event of malfunction
Should you notice smoke or an un- usual smell coming from the equip- ment or from the AC adapter (avail- able separately), unplug the AC adapter or remove the battery imme- diately, taking care to avoid burns. Continued operation could result in injury. After removing the battery, take the equipment to a
Do not use in the presence of flam- mable gas
Do not use electronic equipment in the presence of flammable gas, as this could result in explosion or fire.
Observe caution when using the camera strap
Caution should be exercised to pre- vent strangulation when wearing the camera strap around your neck. Never place the strap around the neck of an infant or child.
Do not disassemble
Touching the product???s internal parts could result in injury. In the event of a malfunction, the product should be repaired only by a qualified technician. Should the product break open as the result of a fall or other accident, re- move the battery or AC adapter and then take the product to a
Observe proper precautions when handling batteries
Batteries may leak or explode if im- properly handled. Observe the follow- ing precautions when handling bat- teries for use in this product:
???Be sure the product is off before re- placing the battery. If you are using an AC adapter, be sure it is un- plugged.
???Use only a rechargeable Nikon
???When inserting the battery, do not at- tempt to insert it upside down or backwards.
???Do not short or disassemble the bat- tery.
???Do not expose the battery to flame or to excessive heat.
???Do not immerse in or expose to water.
???Do not transport or store with metal objects such as necklaces or hairpins.
ii
???Batteries are prone to leakage when fully discharged. To avoid damage to the product, be sure to remove the battery when no charge remains.
???When the battery is not in use, attach the terminal cover and store in a cool place.
???Immediately after use, or when the product is used on battery power for an extended period, the battery may become hot. Before removing the battery, turn the camera off and al- low the battery to cool.
???Discontinue use immediately should you notice any changes in the battery, such as discoloration or deformation.
Use appropriate cables
When connecting cables to the input and output jacks, use only the cables provided or sold by Nikon for the pur- pose, to maintain compliance with product regulations.
The lens section
???Do not insert your fingers in the gap between the rotating lens section and the camera body. Your fingers could be pinched between the body and the lens section, resulting in injury. Par- ticular care should be observed in the case of small children.
???To prevent your fingers, flesh, or other objects from being pinched in the gap between the rotating lens section and the camera body, return the lens sec- tion to its housing in the camera body before transporting the camera.
Keep out of reach of children
Particular care should be taken to pre- vent infants from putting the battery or other small parts into their mouths.
Removing memory cards
Memory cards may become hot dur- ing use. Observe due caution when removing memory cards from the camera.
The
Observe caution when operating the flash
Using the flash close to your subject???s eyes could cause temporary visual im- pairment. Particular care should be observed if photographing infants, when the flash should be no less than one meter (39??) from the subject.
Avoid contact with liquid crystal
Should the monitor break, care should be taken to avoid injury due to bro- ken glass and to prevent liquid crystal from the monitor touching the skin or entering the eyes or mouth.
iii
Notices
???No part of the manuals included with this product may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form, by any means, without Nikon???s prior written permission.
???Nikon reserves the right to change the specifications of the hardware and soft- ware described in these manuals at any time and without prior notice.
???Nikon will not be held liable for any dam- ages resulting from the use of this prod- uct.
???While every effort has been made to ensure that the information in these manuals is accurate and complete, we would appreciate it were you to bring any errors or omissions to the attention of the Nikon representative in your area (address provided separately).
Notice for customers in the U.S.A.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio Frequency Interference Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digi- tal device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to pro- vide reasonable protection against harm- ful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interfer- ence to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interfer- ence to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equip- ment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
??? Reorient or relocate the receiving an- tenna.
??? Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
???Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
???Consult the dealer or an experienced ra- dio/television technician for help.
iv
Notice for customers in Canada
CAUTION
This class B digital apparatus meets all re- quirements of the Canadian Interference Causing Equipment Regulations.
ATTENTION
Cet appareil num??rique de la classe B res- pecte toutes les exigences du R??glement sur le mat??riel brouilleur du Canada.
Notice Concerning Prohibition of Copying or Reproduction
Note that simply being in possession of material that has been digitally copied or repro- duced by means of a scanner, digital camera or other device may be punishable by law.
???Items prohibited by law from being copied or reproduced
Do not copy or reproduce paper money, coins, securities, government bonds, or local government bonds, even if such copies or reproductions are stamped ???Sample.???
The copying or reproduction of paper money, coins, or securities which are cir- culated in a foreign country is prohib- ited.
Unless the prior permission of the gov- ernment has been obtained, the copy- ing or reproduction of unused postage stamps or post cards issued by the gov- ernment is prohibited.
The copying or reproduction of stamps issued by the government and of certi- fied documents stipulated by law is pro- hibited.
Trademark Information
???Cautions on certain copies and repro- ductions
The government has issued cautions on copies or reproductions of securities is- sued by private companies (shares, bills, checks, gift certificates, etc.), commuter passes, or coupon tickets, except when a minimum of necessary copies are to be provided for business use by a com- pany. Also, do not copy or reproduce passports issued by the government, li- censes issued by public agencies and pri- vate groups, ID cards, and tickets, such as passes and meal coupons.
???Comply with copyright notices
The copying or reproduction of copy- righted creative works such as books, music, paintings, woodcut prints, maps, drawings, movies, and photographs is prohibited except when it is done for per- sonal use at home or for similar restricted and
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac OS, Power Macintosh, PowerBook, and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Finder, Power Mac, iMac, and iBook are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trade- marks of Microsoft Corporation. Internet is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation. CompactFlash is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. Lexar Media is a trademark of Lexar Media Corporation. Adobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. Zip is a registered trademark of Iomega Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trade names mentioned in this manual or the other documentation provided with your Nikon product are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
v
vi
vii
viii
Introduction
Before You Begin
This chapter is divided into the following sections:
Overview
Read this section for a description of how this manual is organized and for an explanation of the symbols and conventions used.
Getting to Know the COOLPIX 3500
Bookmark this section and refer to it as you read through the manual for information on the names and functions of camera parts.
Menu Guide
Refer to this section for instructions on using the menus that control some aspects of camera opera- tion. This section also contains an index of menu options.
Overview
Getting to Know the COOLPIX 3500 
Menu Guide
1
Overview
About This Manual
viewOver
Thank you for your purchase of a COOLPIX 3500 digital camera. This manual has been written to help you enjoy taking digital pictures with your COOLPIX 3500. Read this manual thoroughly before use, and keep it handy when using the product.
Use Only Nikon Brand Electronic Accessories
Your Nikon COOLPIX digital camera is designed to the highest standards and includes complex electronic circuitry. Only Nikon brand electronic accessories (including battery chargers, batteries, and AC adapters) certified by Nikon specifically for use with your Nikon digital camera are engineered and proven to operate within the operational and safety requirements of this electronic circuitry.
THE USE OF
YOUR NIKON WARRANTY.
For more information about Nikon brand accessories, contact your local au- thorized Nikon dealer.
2
To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols and conventions are used: 
This icon marks cautions, infor- mation that you should read be- fore use to prevent damage to your camera.
This icon marks notes, informa- tion that you should read before using your camera.
This icon marks tips, additional information you may find help- ful when using your camera.
This icon indicates that more in- 
formation is available elsewhere
in this manual.
viewOver
As part of Nikon???s
???For users in the U.S.A.: http://www.nikonusa.com/
???For users in Europe:
???For users in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa:
Visit these sites to keep
3
Getting to Know the COOLPIX 3500
The Parts of the Camera and Their Functions
to Getting
the Know
3500 COOLPIX
Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls and displays. You may find it helpful to bookmark this section and refer to it as you read through the rest of the manual.
Where to Find
The parts of the camera are identified below. For more information on the function of each part, refer to the page numbers listed.
4
16
7
8
9
15 14 13 D 12 11 10
to Getting
the Know
3500 COOLPIX
5
How to Use
to Getting
A The Mode Selector
The mode selector selects the operating mode and turns the camera on and off. Choose 
to take still pictures and movies (
42), 
(playback mode) to play them back (
68). Slide the mode selector to OFF when you have finished using the camera.
mode
Playback mode
the Know
B The Monitor
The monitor is where you compose pictures before shooting. In 
mode, the monitor shows the view through the camera lens, together with icons indicating the status of camera settings.
3500 COOLPIX
1Displayed only when
2Appears when
3Appears only at slow shutter speeds.
4Appears only when battery is running low.
6
The monitor is also used to play pictures back. When a picture is played back full screen, information about the image is shown superimposed on the photo. 
to Getting
the Know
3500 COOLPIX
Controlling the Monitor
To hide camera settings or photo info, press the multi selector to the left. Press the multi selector to the left a second time to view indicators again.
7
to Getting
the Know
3500 COOLPIX
C The Multi Selector
The multi selector is used to navigate through cam- era menus, to page through or select pictures during playback (
68), and to control the dis- play of indicators in the monitor. In 
mode, the multi selector is also used to select the shooting mode and to turn the
pictures are played back in the monitor, it is used to select images for transfer to a computer (
82). When the camera is connected to a com-
puter running Nikon View, pressing this button transfers selected pictures to a computer (not available under Mac OS X version 10.1.2; with Mac OS X ver- sion 10.1.3 or later, the USB option in the camera setup menu [
64] must be set to PTP). See the Quick Start Guide for details.
8
Menu Guide
Index to Menu Options
Changes to some camera settings are made with the help of menus that appear in the camera monitor. The options available depend on the operat- ing mode and, in 
mode, on the shooting mode selected (
42).
Guide Menu
No menu is available in movie mode (
42, 90).
9
Guide Menu
EXP.+/???
MENU OFF 
SELECT
EXP. +/???
Adjust exposure for bright, dark, or high contrast subjects.
Choose from settings 
between
+2.0 EV
10
SHOOTING MENU The Shooting Menu
In 
(manual) mode, the SHOOTING menu contains four advanced shooting options in addition to the three basic options available in auto and scene modes.
SET
Introduction
IMAGE QUALITY
Choose FINE for printing and enlarg- ing, BASIC to reduce file size.
FINE
NORMAL
BASIC
1024
640
Menu??? Guide
WHITE BALANCE
EXP. +/???
Adjust exposure for bright, dark, or Choose from settings between
high contrast subjects.
+2.0 EV
BEST SHOT SELECTOR
On
Off
Low
Off
11
Introduction
The
SET
Menu??? Guide
Brightness
Adjust monitor brightness.
62
CF Card Format
Format memory cards for use in your camera.
62
Date
Set the time and date.
Auto Off
Specify how long the monitor will re- 
main on before turning off automat- ically to save power. 
Maximum
(Five levels)
Minimum
No
Format
Year, Month, Day, hour, minute, order of dis- play for year, month, and day
30 s
1 m
5 m
Language
Choose the language in which cam- 
era messages and menus are dis- played. 
De (German)
(Japanese)
En (English) Es (Spanish)
Fr (French)
12
Introduction
Selected Images 
Delete all or selected pictures.
All Images
Selected Images
All Images
Menu???
PRINT SET
Print set Delete print set
Print Set
Select pictures for printing on a DPOF- compatible device.
Print set 
Delete print set
Guide
Select pictures for pro- tection. Protected pic- tures are marked by a 
icon.
AUTO TRANSFER
All ON
All OFF
BRIGHTNESS
Auto Transfer
Mark all pictures for transfer to a com- puter, or remove transfer marking
CF Card Format
This option is used to format memory cards for use in your camera.
62
Brightness
Adjust monitor brightness.
All ON
All OFF
No
Format
Maximum
(Five levels)
Minimum
13
Guide Menu
The Scene Menu (
and 
Modes)
Your Nikon digital camera offers a choice of twelve ???scene??? modes for com- mon compositions. When a scene is selected from the SCENE menu, camera settings are automatically adjusted to produce optimal results for the selected scene, sparing you the necessity of adjusting camera settings
14
Tutorial
Getting Started
This chapter is divided into the following four sec- tions:
First Steps
This section details the steps you will take before using your camera for the first time.
Taking Pictures
Read this section for a
Review and Deletion
Learn how to review and delete pictures while set- ting up your next shot.
Getting Creative
Explore the creative possibilities of scene mode.
First Steps
Taking Pictures
Review and Deletion
Getting Creative
15
First Steps
Getting Ready to Use Your Camera
Before using your camera for the first time, you will need to complete the 
steps shown below.
torialTu
First??? Steps
STEP 1 Attach the Camera Strap
STEP 2 Insert the Battery and Memory Card
STEP 3 Choose a Language
STEP 4 Set the Time and Date
Step
16
To ensure that the camera is not dropped and damaged, attach the strap as shown and wear it around your neck while using or carrying the camera.
Adjust to length shown if wearing around neck
Step
Your camera is powered by a rechargeable Nikon
2.1 Charge the battery
The
Alternative Power Sources
To power your camera continuously for extended playback or while the cam- era is connected to a computer, we recommend the 
87).
16
2.2
2.3
Turn the camera off
Before inserting or removing the battery or memory card, be sure the mode selector is in the ???OFF??? position.
Open the
Slide the cover latch in the direction of the 
icon (A1) until the red dot is visible (A2), indicating that the cover is unlatched. Slide the cover out
(B) and flip it open (C).
torialTu
First??? Steps
ABC
2.4 Insert the battery and memory card
Insert a
A
B
EN - 2EL
Read Battery Warnings
Read and follow all warnings and instructions supplied by the battery manufacturer.
Formatting Memory Cards
The memory card supplied with your camera is formatted at shipment. Other memory cards, however, must be formatted before first use. For information on formatting memory cards, see ???Camera Setup: CF Card Format??? (
62).
17
2.5
torialTu
First??? Steps
Close the
Close the battery chamber/memory card slot cover (A, B) and slide the latch in the direction of the 
icon until the red dot is hidden, indicat- ing that the cover is latched (C). To prevent the battery or memory card being dislodged during operation, be sure that the cover is securely latched.
A 
B
C
Removing the Battery
The battery can be removed without affecting pic- tures on the memory card. Before removing the battery, turn the camera off. Remove the battery by hand, holding it between your finger and thumb as shown at right. Do not use your fingernails.
The Clock Battery
The camera???s internal
18
Step
Camera menus and messages can be displayed in your choice of German, 
English, French, Japanese, and Spanish.
IMAGE QUALITY
torialTu
First??? Steps
Slide mode selector to 
3.3
SHOOTING MENU
Press MENU button to display menu for current shooting mode
3.4
Brightness
CF Card Format
Date
Auto Off
Language
USB
19
3.7
torialTu
First??? Steps
3.9
LANGUAGE
Brightness
CF Card Format
Date
Auto Off
Language
USB
Return to
20
Step
Information on the time and date of recording is included with all pictures 
taken with your Nikon digital camera. To set the camera???s internal clock to the correct time and date:
IMAGE QUALITY
torialTu
First??? Steps
Slide mode selector to 
4.3
SHOOTING MENU
Press MENU button to display menu for current shooting mode
4.4
Brightness
CF Card Format
Date
Auto Off
Language
USB
21
Edit selected item. Repeat steps 4.8??? 4.9 until all items have been set.
4.8
DATE
Highlight Year, Month, Day, hour, or minute (selected item blinks on and off in green)
4.10
DATE
Highlight Y M D
Choose order in which year, month, and day will be displayed
Save changes to settings and return
Any pictures taken before the time and date have been set will have a time stamp of ???0000.00.00 00:00.??? If the time and date have not been set, a flashing 
(???Date not set???) icon will be displayed in the top right corner of the monitor when the camera is in 
mode.
22
Taking Pictures
The Basics
This section details the basic steps involved in taking pictures in 
mode. In this automatic,
torialTu
Taking??? Pictures
Step
1.1
1.2
Turn the lens section to shooting position
Rotate the lens as shown.
Slide the mode selector to 
When you slide the mode selector from OFF to 
, the
The Lens Section
When adjusting the angle of the lens, rotate the lens section slowly; do not use excessive force. Care should be taken to avoid catching fingers, hair, or clothing between the lens section and the camera body.
23
torialTu
Taking??? Pictures
Number of Exposures Remaining (B)
If the number of exposures remaining is zero, a message will be dis- played in the monitor. In this case, delete pictures (
50).
24
2.1
Press multi selector down to display
option is highlighted in green)
*When you press the multi selector down to display the 
mode is already se- lected, press the multi selector to the right to exit the menu.
25
torialTu
Taking??? Pictures
Step
Image
Pictures compressed for balance between
NORMAL quality and file size that is ideal for snap- 51
quality
shots.
Step
4.1 Adjust the lens angle
The lens section can be rotated 130?? forward from its housing in the camera body, and 90?? back toward the monitor. To frame a quick
When the lens is obscured by the camera body, a warning will be dis- played in the monitor and pictures can not be taken. To clear the mes- sage from the monitor, rotate the lens section to shooting position.
26
4.2 Ready the camera
Hold the camera steadily in both hands.
4.3 Frame your subject
Use the zoom buttons to frame your subject against the background.
Indicator in monitor shows amount of zoom while either button is pressed
Zoom out Zoom in
When the camera is zoomed all the way in, holding the 
button down for about two seconds extends the zoom range digitally (digital zoom; 
47). The zoom indicator turns yellow when digital zoom is in effect.
torialTu
Taking??? Pictures
Don???t Block the Shot
To avoid dark or partially obscured pic- tures, keep your fingers and other ob- jects away from the lens and flash window.
Smear
When you frame bright subjects, vertical
27
torialTu
Taking??? Pictures
Step
5.1 Focus
Press the
With the
Green
Focus
indicator Flashes red
On
Flash-
ready Flickers
lamp
Off
Subject in focus.
Camera unable to focus. Change your composition and try again.
Flash will fire when picture is taken.
Flash charging. Remove finger briefly from
Flash off or not required.
When Lighting Is Poor
If lighting is poor, the view through the camera lens may appear slightly ???grainy??? when viewed in the monitor.
28
5.2 Take the picture
Smoothly press the
After each shot, the picture you have just taken will be displayed briefly in the moni- tor before being recorded to the memory card. If you are not satisfied with the re- sults, you can delete the picture instantly by pressing the 
(
) button. If you need more time to study the picture, you can pause the display for up to ten seconds by pressing the 
( 
) button. For more information, see ???Keep or Delete??? (
48).
torialTu
Taking??? Pictures
Getting Good Results with Autofocus
Autofocus performs best when there is contrast between the subject and background and the subject is evenly lit. It does not perform well if the sub- ject is very dark or moving rapidly, if there are objects of sharply differing brightness in the scene (e.g., the sun is behind your subjects and their fea- tures are in deep shadow), or if the subject contains objects at different dis- tances from the camera (e.g., the subject is inside a cage).
During Recording
While pictures are being recorded to the memory card, a icon will be dis- played in the monitor.
Pictures taken while earlier images are being recorded are stored in a tempo- rary memory buffer. When the buffer is full, an hourglass (
) icon will be displayed and the shutter release will be disabled.
Do not turn the camera off, remove the memory card, or remove or discon- nect the power source while
or
is displayed.
29
torialTu
Taking??? Pictures
Step
6.1 Turn the camera off
Turn the camera off to save battery power.
6.2 Return the lens section to the closed position
To protect the lens, return the lens section to its housing in the camera body.
30
Review and Deletion
Quick Review
Using the quick review function on your Nikon digital camera, you can view the results of earlier attempts while setting up the next shot, and use what you see to change camera settings or to choose a better angle. Once you have the shot you want, you can delete your failures instantly to make room for more shots on the memory card.
To use quick review, the camera must be in 
mode. Press the 
but- ton once to display the most recent picture at the top left corner of the moni- tor, twice to display pictures full screen. Pressing the button a third time returns you to 
mode.
utorialT Review???
Deletion and
2048 NORMAL
1/0011
Pictures are displayed full screen or in menus of four or nine ???thumb- nail??? images. You can zoom in on and delete individual pictures.
31
utorialT Review???
Quick Review
The following operations can be performed in quick review:
Deletion and
All other camera controls function as they do in shooting mode.
The following operations can be performed in full- screen review:
2048 NORMAL
1/0011
View other
Press the multi selector up to view pictures recorded before the current photo, down to
pictures
view pictures recorded after the current pho- to. Keep multi selector pressed to scroll rap- idly to the desired frame number.
32
To
View multiple pictures
Delete current picture
Zoom photo in
Select current picture for transfer to a computer
Hide or display photo info
Return to 
mode
Press the 
(
) button to display up to 
(
) nine pictures at a time as small thumbnail pre-
views (see following page).
Press the 
(
) button for an enlarged view of the current photo (
71). While the pho- 
(
) to is zoomed in, use the multi selector to view areas not visible in the monitor. To cancel
zoom, press 
.
Press multi selector to left to hide or display photo info superimposed on picture in mon-
itor (
7).
Shutter To end review and return to shooting mode, release/ press the
button or press the shutter-
release button halfway.
utorialT Review???
Deletion and
33
utorialT Review???
Thumbnail Review
Pressing the (
) button in
Deletion and
To
Highlight pictures
Change number of pictures displayed
Delete highlighted picture
Select highlighted picture for transfer to a computer
Return to 
mode
Press
( )/ (
)
( )
(
)
Shutter release/
Description
Press the multi selector up, down, left, or right to highlight thumbnails.
With four thumbnails displayed, press the button once to view nine thumbnail images. Press (
) to ???zoom in??? from nine thumb- nails to a
A confirmation dialog will be displayed. Press multi selector up or down to highlight op- tion, press to right to select.
Pictures selected for transfer are marked with a icon. Turn this marking on or off to select the pictures that will be transferred to a computer at a later date (
82).
To end review and return to shooting mode, press the 
button or press the shutter- release button halfway.
34
Playback Mode (
67)
This section describes quick review, which allows you to view pictures without leaving 
mode. To learn about additional playback options available in 
(playback) mode, see ???Playing Pictures Back??? (
67).
utorialT Review???
Deletion and
35
Getting Creative
Scene Selection
torialTu Getting??? eativeCr
Your Nikon digital camera offers a choice of ???scene??? modes for common compositions, such as portraits, landscapes, and
Scene selection is only available in
and
modes (for information on choosing a shooting mode, see ???Tutorial: Taking Pictures???;
23). To choose a scene:
36
In scene mode, you can adjust flash (
43) and 
45) settings (restrictions may apply depending on the scene selected). Pressing the MENU button will display the SHOOTING menu (
49). To return to 
or 
mode, select OFF in the SCENE menu.
The following pages describe when to use each scene mode.
Portrait
Use for portraits. Main subject stands out clearly while back- ground details are softened, lending the composition a sense of depth.
???Flash mode set to 
(auto with 
43).
???Degree to which background details are softened depends on the amount of light available.
torialTu Getting??? eativeCr
Party/Indoor
Use for shots that include details of the background be- hind the main subject, or to capture the effects of candle- light and other indoor background lighting.
Camera Shake
At slow shutter speeds, a 
icon appears in the monitor. Pictures taken at these speeds may be blurred by inadvertent camera movement (???camera shake???). While use of a tripod is recommended when this icon is displayed, other methods that may be successful in preventing blurring at a given setting are indicated by the number of stars in the ???Camera Shake??? rating:
???Support the camera steadily in both hands with your elbows against your torso.
?????? Place the camera on a flat, level surface such as a wall or table.
37
torialTu Getting??? eativeCr
Night Portrait
Use for shots that provide a natural balance between the main subject and the background when shooting portraits against a backdrop of night scenery.
??? Flash mode fixed at 
(auto with 
43).
Camera Shake: ???
Beach/Snow
Vividly captures the brightness of such subjects as snow- fields, beaches, or sunlight expanses of water.
???Flash mode set to AUTO; other modes can be selected (
43).
Landscape
Use for vivid landscape shots that enhance outlines, colors, and contrast in such subjects as skyscapes and forests.
???Flash turns off (
) automatically.
???Focus is fixed at infinity, allowing the camera to focus on distant scenes through foreground objects such as a window or a screen of branches. The focus indicator (AF???) is not displayed.
Noise Reduction
???Noise??? in the form of
38
Sunset
Preserves the deep hues seen in sunsets and sunrises. Flash turns off (
) automatically.
Camera Shake: ???
Night Landscape
A slow shutter speed is used to produce stunning night landscapes.
??? Focus is fixed at infinity; the focus indicator (AF???) is not displayed.
??? Flash turns off (
) automatically.
Museum
Flash turns off (
) automatically. Use indoors where flash photography is prohibited (for example in museums and art galleries) or in other settings in which you do not want to use the flash.
???The Best Shot Selector (BSS; 
57) turns on automatically, reducing the effects of inadvertent camera movement.
???Photography may be prohibited altogether in some settings. Be sure to
obtain permission first.
Fireworks Show
Slow shutter speeds are used to capture the expanding burst of light from a firework. The camera responds more rapid- ly to the
???Focus is fixed at infinity; the focus indicator (AF???) is not displayed.
???Flash turns off (
) automatically.
???Follow the firework as it ascends and press the
torialTu Getting??? eativeCr
39
torialTu Getting??? eativeCr
Close Up
Camera is set to focus on objects as close as 4 cm (1.6??) from the lens, making it possible to capture vivid colors in
???Flash mode set to AUTO; other modes can be selected (
43). ???Camera automatically selects middle zoom position for a minimum focus
distance of 4 cm/1.6?? (measured from lens). Minimum focus distance will increase if camera is zoomed in or out.
???Camera focuses on subject at center of frame.
Copy
Provides clear pictures of text or drawings on a white board, business card, or in other printed matter.
???Flash mode set to 
(off); other modes can be selected (
43). ???Colored text and drawings may not show up well in the final picture.
Back Light
Use when light is coming from behind your subject, throw- ing their features into shadow, or when your subject is in the shade but the background is brightly lit. The flash will fire automatically to ???fill in??? (illuminate) shadows.
???Flash mode fixed at 
(fill flash; 
43).
OFF
Select this item to return to the shooting mode (
or 
) in effect when scene mode was selected. The mode last in effect will be displayed in the monitor when this
SELECT 
SET option is highlighted.
40
Taking
Pictures
The Details
In ???Tutorial: Taking Pictures,??? you learned the basic order of operations for taking pictures in 
mode. This chapter details the options available for taking pictures in all shooting modes. It is divided into the following sections:
Beyond
Read this section for advice on the most frequently- used camera controls, including
This section details the options available in the SHOOTING menu.
Beyond
Shoot
Settings
41
Beyond
Camera Controls
akingT
Point Beyond and- Shoot-
,, or Movie: Choosing a Shooting Mode
In 
mode, you have a choice of four basic shooting modes (for information on choosing a shooting mode, see ???Tutorial: Taking Pic- tures???; 
23):
Auto produces good results in a wide range of situations. Use for snapshots or when you want control over image quality (
Auto 51), image size (
52), and exposure compensation (
53) while
leaving the camera in charge of other settings.
Choose this mode for complete control over all camera settings, including white balance (
54), sharpening (
58), and BSS (
Manual 57). You can also choose to take pictures in continuous sequence
while the 
56).
This mode is used to record silent movies 320 ??? 240 pixels in size (QVGA) at a rate of about fifteen frames per second. Recording begins when the
???In place of the number of exposures remaining, the exposure- count display in monitor shows the length of the movie that can be recorded.
Movie ???Movie ends automatically after 35 seconds or when no more space is available on the memory card.
???Movies are stored as QuickTime movie files ending in ???.MOV???. ???The flash turns off ( ) automatically.
???Menus and
???If the lens is rotated to point in the same direction as the mon- itor during recording, the display in the monitor will be inverted and the movie will be recorded upside down.
Pressing the SCENE button in or mode displays a menu of twelve ???scenes,??? where you can choose an option suited to your subject and com- position and let the camera adjust settings for best results. For more infor- mation, see ???Tutorial: Getting Creative??? (
36).
42
AUTO 
Flash Photography: The Button
In 
mode, the button controls the flash. Four flash modes are available
akingT
Auto with
Point Beyond
tract before photo button is fully pressed to allow the pre- is taken, minimizing flash to take effect, this setting is not
-
reduction
Flash fires whenev- Use to
(fill flash)
The
A short pause is required between exposures for the flash system to charge. If the
43
akingT
Beyond
The flash mode can be selected with the 
button:
3
Press multi selector to right to exit menu
The ISO (Sensitivity Gain) and 
(Camera Shake) Icons
When lighting is poor and the flash is off (
), the camera will automatically raise its sensitivity to light for faster exposures, minimizing blur caused by camera shake. When sensitivity is raised above the default value, an ISO icon will appear in the monitor to warn that ???noise??? may appear in the final pic- ture. If the shutter speed required for exposure is very slow, a 
(camera shake) icon will appear in the monitor. Use of a tripod or support is recom- mended.
44
ON 
OFF
Delaying Shutter Release: Choosing a
When the
To use the
1 Position the camera
Mount the camera on a tripod (recommended) or rest it on a flat, stable surface.
2 Turn the
The
akingT
Point Beyond and- Shoot-
45
akingT
Point Beyond
and- -
3 Compose the picture
Adjust camera settings and frame the picture. Remember that the camera will focus on the closest object; compose your picture with no other ob- jects between your subject and the camera.
4 Start the timer
Press the
Shoot
The
I I
I I
I
I
I
I
Restrictions on the
The 
42) or when Fireworks Show (
39) is selected in scene mode.
Digital Zoom
The 
56) is not available when digital zoom is in effect.
46
Framing Pictures: Optical and Digital Zoom
Your Nikon digital camera offers two kinds of zoom: optical zoom, in which the camera???s telescoping lens can be used to magnify the subject up to 3 ??? , and digital zoom, in which digital processing is used to further magnify the image up to 4 ??? .
Optical Zoom
Photos can be framed in the monitor using the zoom buttons.
Indicator in monitor displays amount of zoom while either button is pressed
Zoom out Zoom in
Optical zoom is not available in movie mode, although digital zoom can be used to magnify the subject up to about 3 ??? .
Digital Zoom
At the maximum optical zoom position, holding the 
button down for two seconds triggers digital zoom.
akingT
Point Beyond and- Shoot-
The camera can be zoomed in and out in the digital zoom range by pressing the 
and 
buttons. To restore ordinary optical zoom, press 
until the zoom indicator turns white.
In digital zoom, data from the camera???s image sensor are processed digitally, enlarging the center portion of the picture to fill the frame. Unlike optical zoom, digital zoom does not increase the amount of detail visible in the pic- ture. Instead, details visible at maximum optical zoom are enlarged, produc- ing a slightly ???grainy??? image. While digital zoom is in effect, the camera focuses on the subject in the center of the frame, even if objects in other areas of the frame are closer to the camera.
47
akingT
Point Beyond and- Shoot-
Keep or Delete: Picture Review
After each shot, the picture you have just taken will be displayed briefly in the monitor until being recorded to the memory card. The following op- erations can be performed while the picture is dis- played:
48
The 
-Mode
In 
mode, changes to some settings are made with the help of a SHOOT- ING menu that appears when the MENU button is pressed.
To make selections from the SHOOTING menu:
akingT
Settings Camera
(to return to previous menu, press multi selector to left)
To exit the menu and return to shooting mode, press the MENU button.
49
The options available in the SHOOTING menu depend on the shooting mode 
selected. No menu is available in movie mode.
akingT
Settings Camera
SHOOTING MENU
Shooting menu ( , scene)
SHOOTING MENU
Shooting menu ( mode)
Making Effective Use of Memory: Image Quality and Size
Together, image quality and size determine how much space each picture occupies on the memory card, which in turn determines the total number of pictures that can be stored. The current image size and quality are shown in the monitor.
50
To get an idea of how different settings for image quality and size affect the number of pictures that can be stored, view the table below, which shows the approximate number of pictures that can be stored on 16- and
*Figures are approximate. File size of JPEG images depends on scene record- ed, producing wide variations in number of images that can be stored.
akingT
Camera
Image Quality
To reduce the amount of memory that each shot occupies, pictures are compressed as they are saved to the memory card. Compression selectively re- duces the quality of the image; the more the pic- ture is compressed, the more noticeable this loss of quality is likely to be (the actual effect depends on the size of the picture when printed or dis-
SET
Settings
played and on the type of subject). The
Option
Compression
Description
ratio (approx.)
FINE 1 : 4
NORMAL 1 : 8
BASIC 1 : 16
Fine image quality, suitable for enlarge- ments or
Normal image quality, suited to most ap- plications.
Basic image quality, suitable for pictures that will be distributed by
51
akingT
Image Size
Image size refers to the physical dimensions of the image, measured in pixels. Choose an image size according to the space available on the memory card and the task at hand.
IMAGE SIZE
Settings Camera
Print sizes assume a printer resolution of approximately 200 dpi.
Print Size
The size of pictures when printed depends on the resolution of the printer (the higher the resolution, the smaller the final print size).
52
Adjusting Exposure: Exp. +/???
The Exp. +/??? (exposure compensation) menu al- lows you to alter exposure from the value sug- gested by the camera, making pictures brighter or darker.
At values other than ??0, exposure compensation is shown in the monitor.
EXP.+/???
MENU OFF 
SELECT
53
akingT
Camera
Keeping Colors True: White Balance
White balance is used to preserve natural colors under different types of lighting. At settings other than Auto, the current white balance setting is shown in the monitor.
Choosing a White Balance Setting
In 
mode, white balance can be chosen from the following options (in 
and scene modes, white balance is adjusted automatically):
2048 NORMAL
WHITE BALANCE
Settings
Option
A Auto
White Bal Preset
Fine
Incandescent
Fluorescent
Cloudy
Speedlight
Description
White balance automatically adjusted to suit light- ing conditions. Best choice in most circumstances.
White object used as reference to set white bal- ance under unusual lighting conditions.
White balance adjusted for direct sunlight.
For use with incandescent lighting.
For use with most types of fluorescent lighting.
Use for pictures taken under cloudy skies.
White balance adjusted to match light produced by flash.
54
Preset White Balance
Preset white balance is used to adjust white bal- ance when shooting under mixed lighting or to compensate for light sources with a strong color cast (for example, to make pictures taken under a lamp with a red shade look as though they had been taken under white light). When 
(White Bal Preset) is selected from the
WHITE BALANCE PRESET
Cancel
Measure
akingT
Recalls the most recent setting for preset white Cancel balance from memory and sets white balance to
this value.
To measure a new value for white balance, place a white object, such as a piece of paper, under the lighting that will be used in the final photograph. Frame this object so that it fills the square in the
Measure center of the menu shown above. Highlight Mea- sure and press the multi selector to the right to measure a new value for white balance (shutter will be released and camera will return to original zoom position, but no picture will be recorded).
Settings Camera
55
Taking Pictures in a Sequence: Continuous
akingT
The options in the ???continuous??? menu are used to take pictures in a continuous sequence. This can be useful when, for example, you are trying to capture a fleeting expression on a portrait sub- ject, or photograph a subject that is moving un- predictably. With the
CONTINUOUS
Single
Continuous
Camera Tuning
Settings
Option
Single
Continuous
Description
Camera takes one picture each time the
While the 
29) is full, although the rate at which pictures are recorded will drop.
Each time the 
52) other than 2048, or when digital zoom (
47) is in effect.
At settings other than Single, the current ???con- tinuous??? setting is indicated by an icon in the moni- tor.
2048 NORMAL
Flash, Focus Exposure, and White Balance
At settings of Continuous and
56
Getting Sharper Pictures: BSS (Best Shot Selector)
The ???Best Shot Selector??? (BSS) is recommended for situations in which inadvertent camera movement can produce blurred pictures, for example when:
???the camera is zoomed in
???the flash can not be used although lighting is poor
BEST SHOT SELECTOR
On
Off
MENU OFF SELECT SET
akingT
BSS may not produce the desired results with a moving subject or if you change the composition while the
On
Camera takes photos as long as the
Settings Camera
Off BSS off; camera functions normally.
When BSS is on, a BSS icon appears in the monitor.
Restrictions on BSS
BSS is not available at CONTINUOUS settings other than Single. Selecting Continuous or
57
Making Edges More Distinct: Image Sharpening
akingT
The camera automatically emphasizes the borders between light and dark areas of each picture, mak- ing the image seem sharper. The effects are too subtle to be seen in the camera monitor, but are visible when the picture is viewed on a computer monitor or printed. mode gives you control over the amount of sharpening performed (in
and scene modes, the camera adjusts sharpening according to the subject).
IMAGE SHARPENING
Auto
High
Normal
Low
Of f
MENU OFF SELECT SET
Camera
Auto
Camera sharpens edges for optimal results; adjustment per- formed differs from image to image.
Settings
High
Image processed to increase sharpness, making edges more distinct.
Camera performs same standard level of sharpening on all Normal images.
Low Amount of sharpening reduced below normal level.
Off No sharpening performed.
When taking pictures that will later be retouched, choose settings of Normal or Low.
At settings other than Auto, an
2048 NORMAL
58
Camera
Setup
The
This chapter details the options available in the SET- UP menu, where you can adjust basic camera set- tings and perform such tasks as formatting memory cards and restoring settings to their default values.
59
Setup Camera
The 
,
, or scene mode (no menu is available in movie mode). To make a selection from the
60
Setup Camera
Display options
9
AUTO OFF
Brightness
CF Card Format
Date
Auto Off
Language
USB
Reset All
Highlight option
(to return to previous menu, press multi selector to left)
To exit the menu and return to shoot- ing mode, press the MENU button.
Make selection
The
The Brightness and CF Card Format options can also be accessed from the playback menu in 
mode (
75).
61
Setup Camera
Adjusting Monitor Brightness: Brightness
Formatting Memory Cards: CF Card Format
The memory card provided with your camera is formatted at shipment. If you purchase additional memory cards for added storage, you will how- ever need to format the cards before first use to ensure that they work properly in your camera. Formatting memory cards is also an effective way of deleting all pictures on the card.
CF CARD FORMAT
WARNING ! All images will be deleted ! No 
Format
Selecting CF Card Format from the setup or playback menus displays the confirmation dialog shown above. To format the memory card:
12
CF CARD FORMAT
WARNING ! All images will be deleted !
During Formatting
Do not remove the memory card, remove the battery, or unplug the AC adapter (available separately) while formatting is in progress.
62
Setting the Time and Date: Date
This option is used to set the camera to the cur- rent date and time. For more information, see ???Tutorial: First Steps??? (
21).
DATE
Setup Camera
Conserving Battery Power: Auto Off
When operated on battery power, the camera will enter sleep mode if no operations are performed for thirty seconds (or three minutes when menus are displayed). The time limit for sleep mode can be chosen from thirty seconds (30 s), one minute (1 m), five minutes (5 m), and thirty minutes (30 m) using Auto Off.
AUTO OFF
Brightness
CF Card Format
Date
Auto Off
Language
USB
Reset All
MENU OFF SELECT SET
Before Formatting
Formatting memory cards permanently deletes all data they contain, includ- ing protected pictures and any other data that may be on the card. Before formatting, be sure to transfer to a computer any pictures you would like to keep.
Sleep Mode (Auto Off)
In sleep mode, the camera itself is effectively off, consuming almost no power. The camera can be reactivated by pressing the
When powered by an AC adapter kit (available separately; 
87), the camera will remain on for thirty minutes if no operations are performed, regardless of the setting in the Auto Off menu.
63
Setup Camera
Choosing a Language: Language
This option is used to choose the language in which camera menus and messages are displayed. For more information, see ???Tutorial: First Steps??? (
19).
LANGUAGE
Brightness
CF Card Format
Date
Auto Off
Language
USB
Reset All
Choosing a USB Protocol: USB
Before pictures can be copied to a computer via direct USB connection (
82), you will need to select a USB transfer protocol that matches that used by your computer???s operating system. The default setting is Mass Storage.
Operating system
Windows XP Home Edition
Windows XP Professional
Mac OS X (version 10.1.2 or later)
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
Mac OS 9 (9.0, 9.1, 9.2)
USB protocol
Choose either PTP or Mass Storage.
Choose PTP.
Choose Mass Storage.
Mac OS X
Pictures can not be transferred using the camera 
(
) button in Mac OS X 10.1.2. Use the 
button in Nikon View to transfer pictures. See the Nikon View 5 Reference Manual (on CD) for details. The camera 
(
) button can be used to transfer images in Mac OS X 10.1.3 or later.
64
Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), Mac OS 9 (9.0, 9.1, 9.2)
Do not select PTP when connecting the COOLPIX 3500 to a computer run- ning one of the above operating systems (there is no need to change the USB setting when using the camera for the first time, as Mass Storage is selected at shipment).
If you have already changed the USB setting to PTP, be sure to select Mass Storage before connecting the camera to your computer.
If you have connected the camera to a computer running one of the above operating systems with PTP selected in the USB menu, disconnect the cam- era as described below. Be sure to select Mass Storage in the USB menu before reconnecting the camera.
Windows 2000 Professional
A dialog will be displayed welcoming you to the Found New Hardware Wiz- ard. Click Cancel to close the dialog, and then disconnect the camera.
Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
After displaying a message stating that the hardware information database is being updated, the computer will start the Add New Hardware Wizard. Click Cancel to exit the wizard, and then disconnect the camera.
Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
The Add New Hardware Wizard will be displayed. Click Cancel to exit the wizard, and then disconnect the camera.
Mac OS 9 (9.0, 9.1, 9.2)
A dialog will be displayed stating that the computer is unable to use the driver needed for the ???Nikon Digital Camera E3500_PTP??? USB device. Click Cancel to close the dialog, and then disconnect the camera.
Setup Camera
65
Setup Camera
Restoring Default Settings: Reset All (
Reset All is used to reset settings to their default values. This option is only available in the
Mode Only)
RESET ALL
Reset all settings to default values
No
Reset
Choosing Reset restores the settings listed below to their default values.
Choosing Reset also clears the current file number (
69) from memory. Numbering will continue from the lowest number available on the memory card. All other settings are unaffected.
Resetting File Numbering to 0001
To reset file numbering (
69) to 0001, select Reset All after either deleting all pictures (
77) or formatting the memory card (
62).
66
Playing
Pictures Back
Playback Mode
This section details the operations that can be per- formed when the mode selector is set to 
. It is divided into the following two sections:
Basic Playback
This section covers playback operations that can be performed using the buttons on the back of the camera and the multi selector.
The Playback Menu
Read this section for a description of the operations that can be performed in the playback menu.
Basic Playback
The Playback Menu
67
Basic Playback
Pictures Playing
Playback Basic
When the mode selector is set to 
, the camera 
enters playback mode with the most recent pic-
ture displayed in the monitor.
2048 NORMAL
1/0011
The following operations can be performed in playback mode:
To Press
View other pictures
View
multiple 
(
) pictures
Description
Press the multi selector up to view pictures record- ed before the current photo, down to view pictures recorded after the current photo. Keep multi se- lector pressed to scroll rapidly to the desired frame number.
Press the 
(
) button to display up to nine pic- tures at a time as small thumbnail previews (
70).
A confirmation dialog will be displayed. Press multi selector up or down to highlight option, press to right to select.
Delete
current 
( ) picture
DELETE
No
Yes
???Select No to exit without deleting picture
???Select Yes to delete picture
68
To
Zoom photo in
Select current picture for transfer to a computer
Create small copy of current picture
Play movie back
Hide or display photo info
Display playback menu
SMALL If the current picture is a photograph, pressing the PIC. 
button will create a small copy (320 ??? 240)
( 
) for electronic distribution (
72).
Press multi selector to left to hide or display photo info superimposed on picture in monitor (
7).
Pictures Playing
Playback Basic
Image File and Folder Names
Pictures taken with the COOLPIX 3500 are identified by file names that begin with ???DSCN??? or, in the case of images created with the small picture function (
72), ???SSCN,??? followed by a 
7).
69
Pictures Playing
Playback Basic
Thumbnail Review
Pressing the 
(
) button in
Create small SMALL If the current picture is a photograph, pressing copy of high- PIC. the
button will create a small copy for elec- lighted picture (
) tronic distribution (
72).
70
Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom
Use the 
(
) button to zoom in on photos dis- played in
X2.0
SCROLL ZOOM
Pictures Playing
Back
View other areas of image
Cancel zoom
Description
Zoom increases each time button is pressed, to a maximum of 6.0 ??? . While image is zoomed in, 
icon and zoom ratio are dis- played in upper left corner of monitor.
Press the multi selector to scroll to areas of the image not visible in the monitor.
Press 
to cancel zoom.
Basic??? Playback
Playback Tips
In
To scroll quickly to a particular frame number without viewing the intervening pictures, press and hold the multi selector. The picture displayed will not change, but the frame number displayed at the bottom right corner of the monitor will increase or decrease rapidly. Release the multi selector when the desired frame number is reached.
The first and last pictures in memory are linked. Pressing the multi selector up when the first picture in memory is displayed will take you to the last picture. Pressing the multi selector down when the last picture is displayed takes you to the first picture.
71
Pictures Playing
Playback Basic
Creating a Small Copy of a Picture: Small Picture
Pressing the SMALL PIC. (
) button in
To create a small copy of the picture currently displayed in
72
Once created, copies are independent of the original: deleting a copy has no effect on the original, deleting the original no effect on the copy. Copies are stored on the memory card as independent files with names of the form ???SSCNnnnn.JPG,??? where ???nnnn??? is a
When displayed in 
71); pressing the 
(
) button when a copy is displayed has no effect.
Pictures Playing
Playback Basic
Restrictions on Small Picture
The small picture function described in this section can not be used in quick review.
Copies can not be created from movies. Additional copies of an image can not be created from a small picture file; pressing the SMALL PIC. (
) button when a copy is displayed will have no effect. Pressing the SMALL PIC. button will also have no effect if there is not enough space for the copy on the memory card.
The COOLPIX 3500 may not be able to create small copies from images taken with another make of camera.
Viewing Small Picture Files on Other Cameras
Copies created with the small picture function may not display correctly when viewed on other models of Nikon digital camera. You may also not be able to transfer copies from other models of Nikon digital camera to a computer.
73
Pictures Playing
Playback Basic
Movie Playback
Movies are indicated by a 
icon. In 
button. Movies can not be played back when thumbnails are displayed.
Advance
When movie is paused, pressing the multi se- lector down advances the movie one frame. If the last frame of the movie is displayed,
movie one
frame
pressing the multi selector down ends movie playback and displays the first frame of the movie.
Inverted Playback
Movies recorded with the lens pointing in the same direction as the monitor will be played back upside down.
74
The Playback Menu
Managing Pictures
The playback menu contains options for deleting pictures and protecting im- ages from deletion. You can also create a digital ???print order??? for printing photographs on any device compatible with the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF), and select images for transfer to a computer.
To view the playback menu:
The playback menu contains the following options:
Pictures Playing
Playback The
Menu
Memory Card Format/Brightness
The CF Card Format and Brightness options can also be accessed from the 
mode. These options are described in ???Camera Setup??? (
59).
75
Pictures Playing
Playback The
Menu
Deleting Pictures: Delete
Deleting Selected Photographs and Movies
To delete selected photographs and movies:
steps 3 and 4 to select additional pic- tures for deletion. To deselect picture, highlight and press multi selector up or down. To exit without deleting pic- tures, press MENU button.
76
Deleting All Photographs and Movies
To delete all pictures on the memory card:
Pictures Playing
1
DELETE
Selected Images
All Images
Playback The
Menu
Highlight All Images
Confirmation dialog displayed. Press multi selector up or down to highlight option, press to right to put choice into effect:
???Select No to return to playback menu without deleting pictures
???Select Yes to delete all pictures on memory card (protected pictures will not be deleted)
Before Deletion
Once deleted, pictures can not be recovered. Be sure that any pictures you would like to keep have been transferred to your computer.
Protected Pictures
Pictures marked with a 
icon are protected and can not be selected for deletion.
77
Playing
Ordering Prints: Print Set
Selecting Print Set from the playback menu dis- plays the menu shown at right. Using the Print set option, you can specify the pictures to be printed, the number of prints, and the informa- tion to be included on each print. This informa-
Back Pictures
tion is stored on the memory card in Digital Print Order Format (DPOF). Once a print order has been created, the memory card can be removed from
SET
The??? Menu Playback
the camera and inserted in any
Print set Create or modify print order.
Delete print set Cancel the current print order.
Selecting Pictures for Printing
To create a print order, or to modify the existing print order, highlight Print set in the print set menu and press the multi selector to the right. The menu shown at right will be displayed. To 
select pictures for printing:
78
3
4
???To print date of recording on all selected photographs, highlight Date and press multi selector to right. Check will ap- pear in box next to item.
???To deselect a checked item, highlight and press multi selector to right.
???To complete print order and return to playback, highlight Done and press multi selector to right. To exit without alter- ing print order, press MENU button.
Pictures Playing
Playback The
Menu
???Date???
The Date option functions in much the same way as the date imprint option in many film cameras. For the date printed on your pictures to be cor- rect, the clock calendar (
79
Pictures Playing
Playback The
Menu
Safeguarding Valuable Pictures: Protect
Protected Pictures
Protected files can not be deleted in review,
80
Marking All Pictures for Transfer: Auto Transfer
All ON Mark all pictures on the memory card for transfer to a computer.
All OFF Remove transfer marking from all pictures on the memory card.
Pictures Playing
Playback The
Menu
Transferring More than 999 Pictures
No more than 999 pictures can be transferred at one time using the 
(
) button (
82). To copy more pictures, use Nikon View. See the Nikon View Reference Manual (on CD) for details.
Marking Pictures for Transfer with Other Cameras
Pictures selected for transfer with another model of Nikon digital camera can not be transferred when the memory card is inserted in the COOLPIX 3500. Use the COOLPIX 3500 to reselect the images.
81
Pictures Playing
Playback The
Menu
Selecting Pictures for Transfer
Pictures selected for transfer to a computer are marked with a 
icon. You can turn transfer marking for selected pictures on or off by pressing the 
(
) button while the pictures are displayed in playback mode (
69, 70) or in 
33, 34).
2048 NORMAL
1/0011
Pictures are automatically marked for transfer as they are taken. If the se- lected picture is already marked with a 
icon, pressing the 
(
) but- ton will turn transfer marking off. If the picture is not marked with a 
icon, pressing the 
(
) button will turn transfer marking on. If the camera is connected to a computer as described below, pressing the 
(
) button will transfer pictures marked with a 
icon to the computer.
Transferring Pictures to a Computer
Once you have installed the Nikon View software provided with your camera, you can connect the camera via the
Use 
camera directly to computer 
as shown. Do not connect 
camera via USB hub or key- 
board.
Pictures can be transferred to the computer by pressing the 
(
) button on the camera body or by clicking the 
button in Nikon View. For infor- mation on installing Nikon View and transferring pictures using the 
(
) button, see the Quick Start Guide. More information on using Nikon View may be found in the Nikon View Reference Manual (on CD).
82
Technical
Notes
Camera Care, Options, and Resources
This chapter provides tips on cleaning and storing your camera, a list of optional accessories available for the COOLPIX 3500, information on where to get help on line, troubleshooting advice, and cam- era specifications.
83
echnicalT
Notes
Caring for the Camera and Battery
To ensure continued enjoyment of your Nikon product, observe the following precautions when using or storing the device.
Keep dry
The device will be damaged if immersed in water or subjected to high levels of moisture.
Handle the lens and all moving parts with care
Do not apply force to the lens or to the battery, card, and connector covers. These parts are especially susceptible to damage.
Turn the product off before removing or disconnecting the power source
Do not unplug the product or remove the battery while the product is on, or while images are being recorded or deleted. Forcibly cutting power to the product in these circumstances could result in loss of data or in damage to product memory or internal circuitry. To prevent an accidental interruption of power, avoid carrying the product from one location to another while the AC adapter is connected.
Do not drop
The product may malfunction if subjected to strong shocks or vibration.
Keep away from strong magnetic fields
Do not use or store this device in the vicinity of equipment that generates strong electromagnetic radiation or magnetic fields. Strong static charges or the magnetic fields produced by equipment such as radio transmitters could interfere with the monitor, damage data stored on the memory card, or affect the product???s internal circuitry.
Avoid sudden changes in temperature
Sudden changes in temperature, such as occur when entering or leaving a heated building on a cold day, can cause condensation inside the device. To prevent condensation, place the device in a carrying case or a plastic bag before exposing it to sudden changes in temperature.
84
Cleaning
Lens
One key to cleaning the lens is to not touch it with your fingers. Use a blower (typically a small device with a rubber bulb attached to one end that you pump to produce a stream of air out the other) to remove dust or lint. To remove fingerprints or other stains that can not be removed with a blower, wipe the lens with a soft cloth, using a spiral motion that starts in the center of the lens and works out to the edges.
Monitor
Remove dust or lint with a blower. To remove fingerprints and other stains, clean the monitor with a soft, dry cloth, being careful not to apply pressure.
Body
Use a blower to remove dust and lint, then wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth. After using the camera at the beach or seaside, wipe off any sand or salt with a cloth lightly dampened with fresh water, then dry thoroughly.
Do not use alcohol, thinner, or other volatile chemicals
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Notes
Avoid Contact with Liquid Crystal
Should the monitor break, care should be taken to avoid injury due to broken glass and to prevent the liquid crystal from the monitor touching the skin or entering the eyes or mouth.
Notes on the Monitor
???The monitor may contain a few pixels that are always lit or that do not light. This is a characteristic common to all TFT LCD monitors and does not indi- cate a malfunction. Images recorded with the product will not be affected.
???Images in the monitor may be difficult to see in a bright light.
???The monitor is lit by an LED backlight. Should the monitor begin to dim or flicker, contact your Nikon service representative.
85
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Notes
Storage
When the camera is not in use, turn the camera off and return the lens sec- tion to its housing in the camera body. To prevent mold or mildew, store the camera in a dry,
???are poorly ventilated or damp
???are next to equipment that produces strong electromagnetic fields, such as televisions or radios
???are exposed to temperatures above 50 ??C (122 ??F) or below
???are subject to humidities of over 60%
To prevent mold or mildew, take the camera out of storage at least once a month. Turn the camera on and release the shutter a few times before put- ting the camera away again.
Store the battery in a cool, dry place.
Batteries
???When you turn the device on, check the
???Ready a spare battery and keep it fully charged when taking pictures on important occasions. Depending on your location, you may find it difficult to purchase replacement batteries on short notice.
???On cold days, the capacity of batteries tends to decrease. Be sure the bat- tery is fully charged before taking pictures outside in cold weather. Keep a spare battery in a warm place and exchange the two as necessary. Once warmed, a cold battery may recover some of its charge.
???Should the battery terminals become dirty, wipe them off with a clean, dry cloth before use.
86
Optional Accessories
At the time of writing, the following optional accessories were available for the 
COOLPIX 3500. Contact your local retailer or Nikon representative for details.
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Rechargeable battery
AC adapter
Carrying case
CompactFlash??? memory card adapters
Monitor (LCD) hood
Additional
Notes
Memory Cards
Turn the power off before inserting or removing memory cards. Inserting or removing cards with the power on could render them unusable.
Insert memory cards as shown in the illustration at right. Inserting cards upside down or backwards could damage the camera or the card.
Approved Memory Cards
In addition to the card provided with your camera, the following memory cards have been tested and approved for use in the COOLPIX 3500:
Operation is not guaranteed with other makes of memory card. For more details on the above cards, please contact the manufacturer.
87
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Notes
Web Resources
At the time of writing, the following
For Product Information and Tips
???For users in the USA: http://www.nikonusa.com/
???For users in Europe:
???For users in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa:
For Contact Information
Contact information for the Nikon representative in your area may be found at:
Troubleshooting
If your camera fails to function as expected, check the list of common prob- lems below before consulting your retailer or Nikon representative. Refer to the page numbers listed in the rightmost column for information on solving the problems listed here.
88
Problem
Monitor is hard to read
No photo is taken when
Photos are too dark (underexposed)
Photos are too bright (overexposed)
Photos are out of focus
Possible cause
???Ambient lighting is too bright: move to a dark- er location or use
???Monitor is dirty.
???Monitor brightness requires adjustment.
???Camera is in playback mode.
???Battery is exhausted.
???Message ???Please turn the lens to the shoot- ing position??? appears in monitor: lens is blocked by camera body. Rotate lens section until message is no longer displayed.
???Message ???OUT OF MEMORY??? appears in mon- itor: insufficient memory to record pictures at current settings.
???Focus indicator flashes red: camera unable to focus.
???
???Message ???CARD IS NOT FORMATTED??? ap- pears in monitor: memory card is not format- ted for use in COOLPIX 3500.
???Message ???NO CARD PRESENT??? appears in monitor: no memory card in camera.
???Flash is off.
???Flash window is blocked.
???Subject is outside range of flash.
???Exposure compensation is too low.
???Exposure compensation is too high.
???Focus indicator flashes red: camera unable to focus.
62
6
24
26
93
28
28
92
92
43
27
96
53
53
28
89
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Notes
90
Problem
Picture can not be played back
Pressing 
button when picture is displayed full screen does not create small picture
Can not zoom in on picture during play- back or review
Nikon View does not start when camera connected or memory card inserted in card reader or card slot
Possible cause
???Picture has been overwritten or renamed by a ??? computer or other make of camera.
???Picture is a movie. Small pictures can only be 72 created from photos.
???There is not enough free space on the memo- 73 ry card for a small picture.
???Picture is a movie.
???Picture was created using small picture option. 71
???AC adapter kit (available separately) is not 87 properly connected, or battery is dead.
???USB cable not correctly connected, or card not ??? properly inserted in card reader, card adapter,
or card slot.
???USB item in setup menu set to PTP when 64 camera connected to computer running Win- dows 2000 Professional, Windows Millenni- um Edition (Me), Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), or Mac OS 9
???Camera is not registered in Device Manager ??? (Windows only).
See Nikon View Reference Manual (on CD) for further information on troubleshooting Nikon View.
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Notes
91
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Notes
Error Messages
The following table lists the error messages and other warnings that appear in the monitor and how to deal with them.
92
Display
THIS CARD
CANNOT BE USED
WARNING ! ! This CF card cannot be read
OUT OF MEMORY
IMAGE CANNOT
BE SAVED
CARD CONTAINS
NO IMAGES
Error occurs when you try to transfer
images to computer: Disconnect camera, delete Not enough space unwanted photographs 76 on memory card to and try again.
record information needed for transfer.
93
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Notes
94
Specifications
Frame coverage (
mode) Approximately 97% vertical and 97% horizontal
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Notes
A Note on
In extremely rare instances, unusual characters may appear in the monitor and the camera may stop functioning. In most cases, this phenomenon is caused by a strong external static charge. Turn the camera off, remove and replace the battery, and turn the camera on again, or, if you are using an AC adapter (available separately), disconnect and reconnect the adapter and turn the camera on again. In the event of continued malfunction, contact your retailer or Nikon representative. Note that disconnecting the power source as described above may result in loss of any data not recorded to the memory card at the time the problem occurred. Data already recorded to the memory card will not be affected.
95
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Notes
Storage
Media
File system
File formats
Exposure
Metering Exposure control
Range
Shutter
Speed
Aperture
Range
Sensitivity
Range (approx.)
Flash control
Interface
Type I CompactFlash??? (CF) cards
Compliant with Design rule for Camera File systems (DCF), Exif 2.2, and Digital Print Order Format (DPOF)
Compressed:
Movies: QuickTime
Programmed auto exposure with exposure compensa- tion
W: 1.9 ??? 16.9 EV
T: 3.5 ??? 18.6 EV
Mechanical and
2 ??? 1/3000 s
Two steps (f/2.7 and f/4.5 [W])
Approximately equivalent to ISO 50 (auto gain to ISO 200 equivalent)
0.4 ??? 3.0 m (1??4?? ??? 9??10??) (W)
0.4 ??? 1.7 m (1??4?? ??? 5??7??) (T)
Sensor flash system
USB
Design Rule for Camera File Systems (DCF)
Your camera names pictures according to the Design Rule for Camera File Systems (DCF), a standard widely used in the digital camera industry to ensure compatibility among different makes of camera.
96
*
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Notes
97
A
. See shooting mode, auto
Accessories. See optional ac- cessories
AF???. See focus indicator Autofocus, 28
Auto Off, 63
Auto Transfer, 81
B
Back Light, 40
BASIC, 51 Battery,
life, 86, 97 storing, 86
Beach/Snow, 38
BEST SHOT SELECTOR, 57
Brightness, 62
BSS. See BEST SHOT SELECTOR
C
Camera strap, 16
CF card. See memory card
CF Card Format, 62
Close Up, 40
CompactFlash??? card. See memory card
Compression. See image qual- ity
Computer. See Nikon View; transfer
CONTINUOUS, 56
Copy, 40
Copying images. See transfer
D
Date,
DCF. See Design rule for Cam- era File systems
Delete,
from playback menu,
in thumbnail review, 34, 70
Design rule for Camera File sys- tems, 69, 96
Digital Print Order Format, 78 DISP. See monitor, indicators;
photo information
DPOF. See digital Print Order Format
E
Error messages,
Exposure compensation, 6, 53
F
FINE, 51
Fireworks Show, 39
Flash, 43
Flash mode, 43
Formatting. See memory card
I
Image quality, 6, 51 Image size, 6, 52
IMAGE SHARPENING, 58 ISO. See sensitivity
J
JPEG. See image quality
L
Landscape, 38
Language,
98
M
. See shooting mode, manual
Mass storage. See USB. Memory card, 87
approved cards, 87 capacity of, 51 formatting, 62
insertion and removal of, 16??? 18
MENU button, 4, 49, 60, 75 Menus,
Mode selector, 5, 6 Monitor, 5,
brightness, 62 indicators,
framing photographs in, 27 MOV. See movies
Movies, 42 playing back, 74 recording, 42
Multi selector, 5, 8
Museum, 39
N
Night Landscape, 39 Night Portrait, 38 Nikon View, i, 82 Noise, 38, 44
Noise reduction, 38 NORMAL, 51
Number of exposures remain- ing, 6, 24
O
On/off. See mode selector Optional accessories, 87
P
Party/Indoor, 37
Photo information, 7, 33, 69 Picture Transfer Protocol. See
USB.
Playback, 68. See also quick re- view
full frame, 68 movie, 74 thumbnail, 70 zoom, 71
PLAY BACK menu, 75
Portrait, 37
Print Set,
Protect, 80
PTP. See USB.
Q
Quality. See image quality button, 4, 31
Quick review, 32 full screen, 32 thumbnail, 34
QuickTime. See movies QVGA. See movies
R
Reset All, 66
S
Scene, 36 mode,
SCENE button, 5
Sharpening . See IMAGE
SHARPENING Shooting mode, 6, 42
(auto), 42 (manual), 42
movie, 42
timer
Size. See image size SMALL PIC. button, 4, 72 Small picture, 72
Smear, 27 Specifications,
Sunset, 39
T
T. See zoom, indicator 
. See zoom, buttons Telephoto. See zoom Thumbnail display, 34, 70 Time and date. See Date Timer. See
marking images for, 33, 34, 69, 70, 81, 82
Troubleshooting,
U
USB, 64
Index
99
Index
W
W. See zoom, indicator
. See zoom, buttons Web resources, 88 White balance, 54
preset, 55
Wide angle. See zoom
Z
Zoom
buttons, 4, 27, 47, 70, 71 digital, 47
indicator, 6, 27, 47 optical, 47
100
Printed in Japan
S2G10000101(11)