Page 2
U.S.) failure to strictly comply with Seiko Epson Corporation’s operating and maintenance instructions. Seiko Epson Corporation shall not be liable for any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or any consumable products other than those designated as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.
Contents Introduction Safety Instructions..... . . 7 Warnings, Cautions, and Notes ..7 Using the Camera .
Page 4
Taking Pictures With the Self-Timer ..31 Selecting the Scene Mode ....32 Selecting the Resolution and Quality Level ......34 Reading the LCD Screen Icons .
Page 5
Chapter 5 Using Direct Print Connecting the Camera to Your Printer . . . 62 Printing Photos ......63 Printing the Photo Displayed on the Screen .
Page 6
Introduction ® Your new Epson L-500V is a compact digital camera that lets you capture all the special moments in your life and print high-quality photos without a computer. Its features include: 5.0 megapixel resolution, for clear, beautiful photos 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom 2.5-inch LCD screen using Epson’s exclusive Photo Fine...
Safety Instructions Read all of these instructions before using the camera, and keep this guide handy for later reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the camera and the options. Warnings, Cautions, and Notes Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury. Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.
If this product emits unusual noises, odors, or smoke, cancel the current operation and turn it off immediately. Remove the batteries and disconnect the AC adapter from the product, then unplug the AC adapter from the power outlet. To prevent fire or electric shock, do not cover this product with a blanket or other covering that may give off a static electric shock.
Do not use the battery that comes with the L-500V camera for other devices. Do not expose the battery to heat, fire, or water. Do not drop, puncture, or impact the battery. Keep the battery out of the reach of children. Prevent the battery from coming into contact with metal objects that could short-circuit it, such as coins or keys.
Read all relevant safety and operating instructions before using the battery charger, as misuse could result in personal injury from fire, explosion, leakage, overheating, or electric shock. Use only Epson battery charger model 2090821-00 provided to charge Epson Lithium ion battery model B32B818242. Never attempt to charge other types of batteries in this charger as they may explode, leak, overheat, or cause personal injury.
Page 11
Do not insert objects into any openings on the charger as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts. Never disassemble or modify the charger. Use the charger indoors only, in a dry location. Do not expose the charger to water or excess humidity.
Clean only with a clean, soft dry cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Keep the charger out of reach of children. This product is designed for use with Epson products only. Do not attempt to use it with other electronic devices. Using the Memory Card Use only memory cards designed for the product’s specifications.
Only use a soft, dry cloth to clean the display. Do not use liquid or chemical cleaners. Storing, Maintaining, or Transporting the Camera Do not store this product outdoors, near water, or in a location subject to high temperature or humidity, rapid changes in temperature or humidity, direct sunlight, or strong light sources.
Chapter 1 Getting Started This chapter describes the parts of the camera, and tells you how to charge and replace the battery, remove the memory card, turn the camera on and off, change the language, date, and time settings, and use the optional AC adapter. Camera Parts and Their Functions Continuous shooting mode...
Page 15
Connector cover connector Print P.I.F. button button screen Memory access light Tripod mount AC adapter connector Zoom buttons Outdoor/u Macro /l MENU Delete/Self-timer/ d button Joystick/OK button Flash /r Getting Started...
Camera buttons Name Mode dial Shutter button Print button P.I.F. button POWER button Zoom buttons MENU button Joystick/ button Function Switch camera modes by turning this dial. Take a photo. Print photos using the direct print feature. Select P.I.F. frames for printing with photos. Turn the camera on or off.
Camera lights Name Self-timer/USB light Memory access light Charging the Battery Be sure to charge the battery before you use it the first time or if you haven’t used it for a long time. Charging takes about two hours. As the battery loses power, the icon that appears when you turn on the camera changes from .
Remove the battery and unplug the charger from the outlet. Replacing the Battery If you need to replace the camera’s battery, use only an Epson lithium ion battery, part number B32B818242. Be sure to charge the new battery as described above before installing it.
Page 19
3. Release the white battery catch to remove the old battery. Then insert the new battery into the compartment, positioning it as shown, with the arrow facing down. Press it down until it clicks into place. 4. Press down on the battery cover and slide it back into place. Warning: Do not carry the battery in your pocket.
Installing and Removing Memory Cards Your camera comes with a 16MB SD following types of cards: SD card (Secure Digital) up to 1GB ® MM card (Multimedia, MMC V 2.1 or later) up to 1GB Note: Your camera won’t store photos and some of its buttons won’t operate without a memory card correctly installed.
3. Position the card as shown and slide it all the way into the slot: Notch 4. Press down on the battery cover and slide it back into place. Removing a Memory Card 1. Make sure the camera is turned off. 2.
Page 22
3. Push in the memory card to release it. The card pops out. 4. Pull out the memory card. 5. Press down on the battery cover and slide it back into place. Note: You can protect the data in the memory card by sliding the lock lever on the side of the card. This prevents you from deleting or storing additional photos on the card.
Turning Your Camera On and Off To turn on the camera, press the POWER button on the top. The LCD screen turns on. If the camera is set to a shooting mode, the lens cover opens and the lens pops out. To turn off the camera, press the POWER button.
Changing the Language, Date, and Time Settings 1. Turn on the camera. 2. Turn the Mode dial to SETUP. 3. Move the joystick to r to select Setup Menu 2. 4. Move the joystick to d to select Date/Time, then move it to r. 5.
2. Open the connector cover on the left side of the camera and plug the adapter cable into the DC IN port. 3. Plug the AC adapter into an electrical outlet. Caution: Do not use the adapter for any device other than your Epson L-500V camera. Getting Started...
Page 26
Chapter 2 Taking Photos and Videos Your camera has several modes for taking pictures. Turn the dial on top of the camera to choose the mode you want to use. Automatic mode Camera settings are automatically adjusted to give you the best shot. All you have to do is press the shutter button.
Taking Photos You can take photos while viewing the subject on the LCD screen in either automatic or manual modes. 1. Turn the Mode dial to 2. Center your subject in the middle of the square focus frame on the LCD screen. 3.
Optical zoom To zoom in on your subject, press the To zoom out, press the Digital zoom The digital zoom feature lets you move in even closer to your subject. First, you need to enable digital zoom on Setup Menu 1. For instructions, see “Adjusting Camera Settings” on page 46. Note: Photos taken using digital zoom have reduced resolution and are best used for e-mailing or posting on the web.
Controlling the Flash You can change the flash setting by moving the joystick to each time you move the joystick to Auto-flash (default setting) Flash off Auto red-eye reduction Fill-in flash (manual mode only) Slow synchro (manual mode only) (flash). The flash mode changes The camera detects the brightness automatically and sets off the flash if necessary.
Flash range The flash range varies depending on the sensitivity setting (ISO Speed). For details, see page 41. ISO Speed (sensitivity) Wide angle 2.3 to 8.5 feet (0.7 to 2.6 m) 3.3 to 12.1 feet (1.0 to 3.7 m) 4.6 to 17.1 feet (1.4 to 5.2 m) Taking Close-ups With Macro Mode Macro mode allows you to focus on subjects between 2 and 19.6 inches (5 and 50 cm) away from the camera.
Taking Pictures With the Self-Timer You can use the self-timer to create a delay between the time you press the shutter and the actual image capture. This allows you to take a picture of yourself. 1. Secure the camera on a flat surface or on a tripod. 2.
Selecting the Scene Mode In addition to the normal mode for taking pictures, special scene modes are pre-programmed in the camera to give you the best image capture settings for portraits, landscapes, and night shots: Landscape mode This mode is best for capturing landscapes more clearly. The flash is turned off automatically, but you can turn it on if necessary.
Page 33
You can use the self-timer, zoom, and other settings with these scene modes, but you can’t use the Macro setting. Note: The use of a tripod is recommended to prevent blurring in both Landscape and Portrait modes. To select the Scene Mode, you need to use manual mode and the Photography Menu as described below.
Selecting the Resolution and Quality Level You can adjust the resolution and quality settings to increase or decrease the resolution and compression of your photos. Decreasing the resolution and/or quality level makes your image files smaller and allows you to take more pictures. However, the quality will be reduced when you print enlargements.
Page 35
The resolution and quality settings determine the number of photos you can take, as shown in the table below. Note: The total number of photos varies according to the quality, compression, amount of memory left on the memory card, and the shooting conditions. Resolution Quality 2560 ×...
Reading the LCD Screen Icons You can confirm the status of the camera settings by the icons displayed on the LCD screen. Exposure compensation, sensitivity, and white balance Flash Quality Note: You can turn off display of the camera settings or select the amount of information displayed. See page 38 to turn it off or page 51 to select the amount of detail displayed.
Settings and Icons Self-timer Outdoor mode Focus frame Battery life Zoom bar Scene mode Resolution Quality Exposure compensation ISO Speed (sensitivity) (2 seconds), (10 seconds) If you have trouble seeing the LCD screen in bright sunlight, you can turn on outdoor mode to make viewing easier. Move the joystick to u to turn outdoor mode on or off.
White balance Macro mode Flash Shooting mode Photos left Warning Turning Off the Information Display If you don’t want to see information displayed on the LCD screen, you can turn it off. 1. Turn the Mode dial to 2. Press the MENU button. The Photography Menu is displayed 3.
Continuous Shooting In Continuous Shooting mode, you can capture a series of photos by holding the shutter button down. You can take up to three photos per second at maximum speed. Note: To shoot at the maximum speed, you need an SD memory card with a recording/transfer speed of 10MB per second.
Setting the White Balance The camera senses the light source and automatically adjusts the white balance to ensure color accuracy in any lighting situation. You can adjust the white balance manually to achieve truer colors under the following lighting conditions: daylight, cloudy, incandescent, fluorescent, and mercury. 1.
Setting the Light Sensitivity You can use the camera’s high sensitivity settings to take pictures indoors or in low-light situations without a flash. You can also capture fast-moving subjects with higher sensitivity settings. The camera’s default setting is Auto, which is best for most picture taking. Set the light sensitivity manually in low-light conditions or when you expect blurring problems from camera motion.
Setting the Exposure Compensation You can adjust the exposure to help control how much light falls on the camera’s CCD (light sensor). This influences the brightness of the entire image. Your camera normally adjusts the exposure automatically. However, you may want to increase the exposure manually if you’re taking a picture facing into the sun or when you have a very bright background.
Recording Videos You can record videos with sound. The length of the video is limited only by the amount of storage available in your camera or memory card. 1. Turn the Mode dial to 2. Press the MENU button. The Movie Menu is displayed. 3.
Maximum Available Video Shooting Time Resolution Quality 640 × 480 Fine Normal 320 × 240 Fine Normal 160 × 120 Fine Normal * Values may differ for SD memory cards from various manufacturers. Maximum shooting time in seconds (approx.) With a 16MB SD With a 256MB SD memory card memory card...
Enabling the Quick View and Sound Memo Features The Quick View feature displays your picture for a few seconds after you take it. This lets you verify that you have captured the shot you want. With the Sound Memo feature enabled, you can also record a message up to 30 seconds long for each picture.
Adjusting Camera Settings In setup mode, you can change settings such as Quick View, LCD Brightness, and Auto Power Off. Three Setup menus are available: two for general features and one for adjusting camera “beep” sounds. 1. Turn the Mode dial to SETUP mode. 2.
Select an image to display when you first turn on the camera. Format Format the camera’s memory card. Reset All Reset all the camera’s settings to their defaults. Default — 3 min. EPSON Logo — — Taking Photos and Videos...
Setup Menu 2 Setting items Description Date/Time Set the date and time. File No. Reset Reset the sequence of the image file numbers to 0001 when replacing or formatting the memory card. Language Set the language for the LCD screen display. Sound Menu Setting items Description...
Chapter 3 Viewing and Managing Your Photos The LCD screen lets you play back your photos individually or as a slide show. You can also view videos, select photos for printing, delete photos, and copy photos to your computer. Viewing Photos While you view your photos on the LCD screen, you can zoom in or out of photos, display up to 12 photos at once, or rotate your photos.
At the rotation screen, move the joystick to u to rotate your photo 90 degrees clockwise or move it to d to rotate your photo 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Press the OK button to set the rotation, then press the MENU button to close the menu. Viewing a Slide Show of Your Photos You can use the playback menus to view a continuous slide show of your photos.
Viewing Photo Information You can display basic or detailed information about a photo on the LCD screen, or turn off display of photo information. 1. Turn the Mode dial to 2. Press the MENU button. You see the Playback 1 Menu. 3.
Selecting Photos for Printing You can use the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) standard to select photos for printing. This format allows you to record information on the memory card including which images to print and how many copies you want for each photo. 1.
Deleting Photos You can easily delete a photo displayed on the LCD screen. Playback Menu 1 also lets you delete a group of continuous photos or all the photos on a memory card. Caution: Once a photo has been deleted, it can’t be restored. You should transfer to your computer any photos you want to keep before you delete them from the camera.
Deleting a group of continuous photos You can delete a group of photos taken in continuous shooting mode. You can also retain one or more of the individual photos in the group. 1. Turn the Mode dial to 2. Move the joystick to l or r to display one of a group of continuous photos. 3.
Copying Photos to Your Computer You can transfer photos to your computer using the PC cable included with the camera. You can also remove the memory card from the camera and copy photos using a card reader. Caution: Make sure the camera’s power is turned off before you connect it to your computer. Note: You can conserve battery power by using the optional AC adapter while the camera is connected to your computer.
If you copy PIF images to your computer, the link between the photos and the frames will be broken. PIF frames can only be printed directly from the camera or directly from the memory card inserted into supported Epson printers. Resetting the File Numbers Your camera automatically numbers photos in the order they were taken.
Note: If you have the Epson Stylus Photo RX500, you can print photos taken with P.I.F. frames by removing the camera’s memory card, inserting it into the correct RX500 memory card slot, and printing using the RX500 control panel buttons.
Page 58
In P.I.F. mode, you use frames that you have previously loaded into the camera. You can select the frame before you take the picture, or add it to a picture saved in your camera before you print. To take a picture with a frame: 1.
Adding, Changing, or Removing Frames You can change or remove a frame after you take a photo in P.I.F. mode. You can also add a frame to a photo that was taken without a frame. 1. Turn the Mode dial to 2.
Deleting and Copying Frames You can delete frames stored in the camera’s memory or on the memory card. You can also copy frames from the camera to the memory card, or from the card to the camera. 1. Press the P.I.F.
RX500 memory card slot, and printing using the RX500 control panel buttons. See the RX500 documentation for instructions. Note: Future products may be added to the list of supported printers. Check the Epson web site at www.epson.com for more information. Using Direct Print...
Connecting the Camera to Your Printer Use the USB Type A cable that comes with your camera to connect it to your printer. Make sure the camera is turned off before you begin. You can conserve battery power by using the optional AC adapter when you print from the camera.
You can print all the photos in the camera or select the ones you want to print. Images with P.I.F. frames must be printed directly from the camera on a supported Epson printer; see page 61 for a list of supported printers.
To print with white borders, turn off the date stamp, or change other settings, see page 67. 10. Press the MENU button to return to the Print screen. print button to start printing. When printing is complete, press the OK button. 11.
Printing Selected Photos You can select individual photos to print. 1. Connect the camera to the printer as described on page 62 and turn on the camera. 2. Turn the Mode dial to 3. Choose Select Images by moving the joystick to d, then press the OK button. 4.
Printing Several Photos on One Sheet You can print up to 13 photos on one sheet of paper. You can set up a print order in advance or move to the first photo in a sequence and print it along with subsequent photos. 1.
Making Print Settings You can make the following settings when printing images directly from the camera: Paper size selection Printing with or without white borders Printing the date (not available with frames) Printing with normal or high quality Note: Once you change the paper size setting, the camera retains it. 10 ×15 cm paper is not available in the U.S. 1.
Chapter 6 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Maintenance To keep your camera operating at its best, you should clean it thoroughly several times a year. Before you perform any maintenance on the camera, be sure to read the “Safety Instructions” on page 7. Then follow these guidelines. Cleaning your camera Caution: Do not use volatile chemicals such as alcohol, paint thinner, or benzine.
Lens and LCD screen To clean the lens, make sure that the camera is turned off, then blow off any loose dust or dirt or use a lens and camera cleaning brush. Breathe on the lens and wipe off all moisture with a soft dry cloth.
Problems and Solutions Camera problems The camera has no power Cause Is the battery installed correctly? Does it need to be recharged or replaced? Is the camera turned on? Is the mode dial turned completely to a mode? The camera does not take a photo after you press the shutter button Cause Is the power switched on? What to do...
Page 71
Turn the power off, and then turn it on again. If the power does not turn off, remove the battery, reinstall it, and turn the power on. Also make sure the memory card is installed correctly. If the light is still flashing, contact Epson as described on page 80. Maintenance and Troubleshooting...
Page 72
The power turns off automatically Cause Have you not touched the camera controls for a while? The camera takes too long to take a photo Cause Did you press the shutter button completely with one push? The flash does not work Cause Is the flash setting correct? What to do...
Page 73
The LCD screen is hard to see Cause Is the LCD screen brightness level set to too bright? Are you shooting photos outdoors in bright light? The LCD screen displays vertical lines Cause Did you point the camera toward a bright light? Nothing appears on the LCD screen Cause Have you not touched the...
Is the mode dial turned completely to a mode? Is the camera connected to a computer? Is the camera connected to a printer for direct printing? Image problems Images are out of focus Cause Did you operate the auto-focus correctly? Is the camera in the right distance mode setting? Is the lens dirty?
Page 75
Is the captured image blurred? The image is too dark or to bright (underexposed/overexposed) Cause Is the flash setting correct? Is the exposure set to too dark or bright? Is the light sensitivity set to too low or high? Part of the image is missing Cause Was your finger covering the lens?
See your printer manual for instructions on checking for print head clogs and cleaning the print head if necessary. Make sure you loaded Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper, Epson Semigloss Photo Paper, or PictureMate Photo Paper (for PictureMate only) in your printer.
The wrong date and/or time is displayed on your camera Cause Is the date and time setting set correctly? List of Error Messages Error message This memory card is write-protected. Memory card error. Check the memory card. No memory card inserted. Not enough free space on the memory card.
Page 78
Error message This frame cannot be used with this camera. The maximum number of Frames that can be registered to the memory card has been reached. No images. This image cannot be displayed. This file cannot be deleted because it is locked or form some other reason Printer error.
Page 79
Error message Could not print. Retry? A communication error has occurred. XX images could not be printed. Cannot print because the necessary Frame file does not exist or is unusable. Description If the printer is in the middle of printing something, it may not be able to accept the next request.
Where To Get Help Epson provides technical assistance 24 hours a day through the electronic support services and automated telephone services listed below. Service Access World Wide From the Internet, you can reach Epson Support at http://support.epson.com. At this site, you can download drivers and other files, look at product documentation, access troubleshooting information, and receive technical advice through e-mail.
Page 81
Computer configuration and operating system version Description of the problem You can purchase ink cartridges, paper, manuals, and accessories from the Epson Store (800) 873-7766 or visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral.
Appendix A Specifications Camera Effective pixels Image recording capacity Image file type Camera file system Internal memory Compatible memory cards 5.0 megapixels Still picture: 2560 × 1920 pixels Video: 640 × 480 pixels JPEG (EXIF 2.2), PRINT Image Matching II, AVI DCF file format, DPOF 1.1 4MB (for storage of four P.I.F.
Page 83
Lens Digital zoom Focus mode Auto-focus range Shutter speed White balance Sensitivity Flash Self-timer Photography modes Focal length: f=5.6 to 16.8 mm (equivalent to a 34 to 102 mm lens on a 35 mm camera) Aperture: F2.8 to F4.9 Zoom: Collapsible mount 3×...
Battery Model: Type: Output voltage: Capacity: Optional AC adapter Model: Input: Output: Power consumption: B32B818242 Lithium ion rechargeable DC 3.7 V 1230 mAh B867062 AC 100 - 240 V DC 3.4 V, 2.5 A 14 W Specifications...
Page 86
Index AC adapter specifications, 85 using, 25 Accessories, 81 Auto-flash setting, 29 Automatic mode, 26 to 27 Auto Power Off setting, 47 Auto red-eye reduction, 29 Battery charging, 17 to 18 icon, 37 life, 17, 37 replacing, 18 to 19 safety instructions, 8 to 10 specifications, 85 Buttons, camera, 16...
Page 87
30 settings, 29, 38 Flash off setting, 29 Formatting memory card, 47 Frames adding, changing, or removing, 59 deleting and copying, 60 printing photos with, 61, 63 to 65 taking photos with, 57 to 58 Help, Epson, 80 to 81...
Page 88
Icons on LCD screen, 36 to 38, 51 Image problems, 74 to 75 Information, on-screen turning off, 38 viewing, 51 ISO speed (sensitivity), 41 Joystick, 15 to 16 Landscape mode, 32 Language setting, 24, 48 LCD screen brightness setting, 47 icons, 36 to 38, 51 problems, 73 to 74 safety instructions, 12 to 13...
Page 89
OK button, 16 Optical zoom, 27 to 28, 37, 83 Outdoor mode, 16, 73 P.I.F. button, 16 see also PRINT Image Framer Papers, 61 Photos copying to computer, 55 to 56 deleting, 53 to 54 printing, 61 to 67 selecting for printing, 52 slide show, 50 taking, 27 to 42 Playback mode, 49 to 50...
Page 90
Quality setting, 34 to 35, 37 Quick View/Sound Memo settings, 45, 47 Recording videos, 43 to 44 Red-eye reduction setting, 29 Reset All setting, 47 Resolution setting, 34 to 35, 37 Safety instructions, 7 to 13 Scene modes, 32 to 33 Self-timer light, 14 to 16 using, 31...
Page 91
Troubleshooting camera problems, 70 to 74 image problems, 74 to 75 LCD screen, 73 to 74 printing problems, 76 to 77 Turning the camera on/off, 23 cable, 62 light, 17 port, 55, 62, 84 Videos recording, 43 to 44 viewing, 50 Viewing photo information, 51 photos, 49 to 50...