Control dial -W1

I have a Z981 myself. I just set my camera as you did (to "A") but did not experience the issue you mention?
Just to be clear, remember that setting the camera to "A" means "Aperture priority", meaning that you can control the lens aperture (with the "jog dial" on the top of the camera) and the camera will automatically set the shutter speed to create a proper exposure. "A" does NOT mean automatic exposure control. You must use "P" (Programmed) mode to make the camera make all the decisions about shutter speed and lens aperture.
I am including a web link to the User Guide for the Z981. You might want to revisit the Guide to make sure you are using the correct settings for your pictures.
BTW, I like my Z981 quite a bit, especially the zoom. I've taken some great pictures with it.

http://resources.kodak.com/support/pdf/en/manuals/urg01118/Z981_xUG_GLB_en.pdf

Press the release mode dial lock and turn the release mode to the one-handed clock symbol. Press the shutter release button to start the self-timer.

If you want to change the length of the self-timer delay, it's the Custom Setting #c3.

The release mode dial is on the top left of the camera (as viewed from the back). The lock is just below and left of the dial.

You can view/download the manual at
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17008

That depends on what you want the command dial to do. If you're in either the Manual (M) or Shutter Priority (S) modes, the command dial will change the shutter speed. If you're in the Program (P) mode, the command dial will shift the program exposure. If you're in any other exposure mode, the command dial does nothing.

If you hold down the metering mode button, the command dial will change the exposure metering mode.
If you hold down the exposure compensation button, the command dial will change the amount of the exposure compensation.

If you hold down the release mode button, the command dial will change the release mode.

If you hold down the AF button, the command dial will change the autofocus mode.

If you hold down the QUAL button, the command dial will change the image storage mode.

If you hold down the ISO button, the command dial will change the ISO.

If you hold down the WB button, the command dial will change the white balance setting.

If you're looking at the menus, the command dial will navigate the menu.

If you're reviewing pictures, the command dial will move to the previous or next picture.

Hope this helps. If you still have problems or other questions about this, please don't hesitate to reply to this post.

Some cameras let to print the date to pictures and some others not. You should say the brand and model name first.

Generally you should enter to settings and turn the position of this feature to on. Then you may control it with the below explanations.

1. Turn on the camera.

2. Enter to settings.

3. Find this feature to turn it to on position.

4. Be sure that you save this setting.

5. Take a picture.

6. Turn the mode dial button to view mode.

7. Look at the latest picture that you have taken.

8. Zoom out the picture and look at the right bottom of the picture.

That is all.

I hope it will help.

Make sure that the power switch is in the correct position.
It actually has three positions:

• Off
• On (with quick control dial disabled!)
• Third position (quick control dial enabled!)

So, when the power switch is in the middle position (ON), the rear control dial is disabled in order to save you from inadvertently changing the setting, when you are wearing the camera on a neck strap.
So be sure to put it in the third position.

Hello,

Set the mode dial on the top of the camera to Tv.
Use the control dial on the back to change the shutter speed.
The aperture value is shown on the screen at the bottom.
If it is shown in red the picture will not expose correctly.
Adjust the dial until the value is white.

I hope this helps.

Hi!
When you rotate the mode dial, does camera change the mode? Maybe it switches only between video and twilight modes and when you set the dial to, for example, Auto mode, it's actually in Video mode? I have seen problems like this before with these cameras, mode dial had to be changed. If so, you should contact your local Sony service center and ask the price. If they ask too much, you can contact me at [email protected] and I can give you a better price.

Hope this helps!

Tom

I found an online manual for your camera. Page 84 talks about the USB Mode Normal with the 4 dots underneath. It also show a troubleshooting area for this and it is on page 96. Hopefully this will get your camera working right again. Here is the link to the pdf manual. http://www.docs.sony.com/release/DSCW1.pdf

This seems to be a commonn problem for Sony and has been addressed several times in this forum: http://www.fixya.com/support/t119207-view_finder Please read all the solutions - basically, looks like the problem is with a loose connection and the fixes range from cleaning the contacts to giving a whack to the camera!

This sounds like what started happening with my camera a few weeks ago. I found that turning the LCD screen off during picture-taking allows me to take pictures. I then have to go into review mode to look at the pictures I took using the LCD screen. Definitely not a great fix. I'm trying to locate a firmware upgrade that may solve it.