JVC GZ-MC500U Instruction Manual

ENGLISH

DIGITAL MEDIA CAMERA

GZ-MC500U

GETTING STARTED

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK

STILL IMAGE RECORDING & PLAYBACK

VOICE RECORDING & PLAYBACK

ADVANCED OPERATIONS

MENU SETTINGS

INSTRUCTIONS

REFERENCES

To deactivate the demonstration, set “DEMO MODE” to “OFF”.

墌 pg. 48)

(

For Customer Use:

Enter below the Model No. and Serial No. which is located on the bottom of the camera. Retain this information for future reference.

Model No. Serial No.

LYT1423-001A

2 EN

Major Features of this Camera

Removable Hard Disk

In contrast to conventional digital video cameras that record to DV tapes, the removable hard disk is a new type of card media that enables extended hours of high-resolution, MPEG2 video recording. (墌 pg. 6)

Various Recording Media and Modes

Video and still images can be recorded to CompactFlash card (CF card) and SD memory card. The removable hard disk (provided) or Microdrive® is a type of CF card compliant with CF+ Type II. You can select the most suitable recording medium and mode for picture quality, image size, recording time, and computer environment. (墌 pg. 62)

Voice Recording Features

The camera can be used as a voice recorder for audio recordings. (墌 pg. 29)

VOICE RECORDING

NOV 20.2005 11:30AM

[5h56m] 12:55:01

Various Recording Features

The camera supports aperture-priority, shutterpriority, portrait, bracket shooting, and a wide range of other functions that you can select according to the scene you are shooting. (墌 pg. 31 – 36)

Enjoying Various Playback Features

Unlike tape operation, playback is simple and easy in this camera since no time is needed for rewinding or fast forward operations. Playlist, playback effects, and other functions are also available for enjoying many different types of playback.

PLAYLIST CONTENTS

ALL SCENES

01 NOV 10.05 11:30AM

02 NOV 15.05 11:00PM 03 NOV 25.05 11:00AM

Editing Files on your PC

USB 2.0 enables the smooth transfer of video and still images to a computer. With the bundled Cyberlink software, you can easily edit video and create your own DVDs. (Refer to the software installation and USB connection guide.)

Direct Printing

If your printer is compatible with PictBridge, still images can be printed easily by connecting the camera with USB cable directly to the printer. (墌 pg. 47)

GETTING STARTED 7

Provided Accessories ...................................... 7

Index .............................................................. 10

Power ............................................................. 14

Operation Mode ............................................. 16

Language Setting .......................................... 16

Date/Time Settings ........................................ 17

Inserting/Removing a CF Card ...................... 17

Inserting/Removing an SD Card .................... 18

Formatting a Recording Medium ................... 19

Selecting Recording Medium ......................... 19

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK 20

Video Recording ............................................ 20

Zooming ..................................................... 21

Angle Adjustment ...................................... 21

Video Playback .............................................. 22

How to Use the Scroll Bar ......................... 22

Various Playback Operations .................... 23

Playback Zoom .......................................... 23

Connecting to a TV or VCR ........................... 24

Playback on a TV ...................................... 24

Dubbing to a VCR ...................................... 24

STILL IMAGE RECORDING & PLAYBACK 25

Still Image Recording ..................................... 25

Zooming ..................................................... 25

Continuous Shooting ................................. 26

Flash .......................................................... 26

Still Image Playback ...................................... 27

Slide Show ................................................. 27

Index Screen of Still Image Files ............... 27

How to Use the Scroll Bar ......................... 28

Image Rotation .......................................... 28

Playback Zoom .......................................... 28

VOICE RECORDING & PLAYBACK 29

Voice Recording ............................................ 29

Voice Playback .............................................. 30

Various Playback Operations .................... 30

EN 3

ADVANCED OPERATIONS 31

RECORDING FEATURES .....................................31

Backlight Compensation ................................ 31

Spot Exposure Control ................................... 31

Program AE ................................................... 31

Bracket Shooting ........................................... 33

Manual Focus ................................................ 33

Manual Settings in MSET Menu .................... 34

How to Select a Menu Item ....................... 34

Manual Exposure ....................................... 35

White Balance ........................................... 35

Effect ......................................................... 36

PLAYBACK FEATURES .......................................37

Wipe or Fader Effects .................................... 37

Playback Effects ............................................ 37

MANAGING FILES ............................................. 38

Viewing File Information ................................ 38

Protecting Files .............................................. 39

Deleting Files ................................................. 40

Cleaning Up a Recording Medium ................. 41

Copying/Moving Still Image Files ................... 41

Resetting the File Number ............................. 42

Creating Play List ........................................... 43

Playing Back Play List ................................... 44

DPOF Print Setting ........................................ 46

Direct Printing with a PictBridge Printer ......... 47

MENU SETTINGS 48

Changing the Menu Settings ......................... 48

Common Menus for All Modes ...................... 48

Video Recording Menus ................................ 50

Video Playback Menus .................................. 50

Still Image Recording Menus ......................... 51

Still Image Playback Menus ........................... 51

Voice Recording Menus ................................. 51

Voice Playback Menus .................................. 51

REFERENCES 52

Troubleshooting ............................................. 52

Warning Indications ....................................... 54

Cleaning the Camera ..................................... 56

Cautions ......................................................... 57

Specifications ................................................. 60

TERMS ............................................... Back cover

4 EN

Dear Customer,

Thank you for purchasing this digital media camera. Before use, please read the safety information and precautions contained in the pages 4 – 5 to ensure safe use of this product.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of import operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

CAUTIONS:

● This camera is designed to be used with NTSC-type color television signals. It cannot be used for playback with a television of a different standard. However, live recording and LCD monitor playback are possible anywhere.

● Use the JVC BN-VM200U battery pack and, to recharge it or to supply power to the camera from an AC outlet, use the provided multivoltage AC adapter. (An appropriate conversion adapter may be necessary to accommodate different designs of AC outlets in different countries.)

NOTES:

● The rating plate (serial number plate) and safety caution are on the bottom and/or the back of the main unit.

● The rating information and safety caution of the AC adapter are on its upper and lower sides.

This product has a fluorescent lamp that contains a small amount of mercury. Disposal of these materials may be regulated in your community due to environmental considerations. For disposal or recycling information please contact your local authorities, or the Electronics Industries Alliance:

<http://www.eiae.org>

When the equipment is installed in a cabinet or on a shelf, make sure that it has sufficient space on all sides to allow for ventilation (10 cm (3-15/ 16") or more on both sides, on top and at the rear).

Do not block the ventilation holes. (If the ventilation holes are blocked by a newspaper, or cloth etc. the heat may not be able to get out.)

No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus.

When discarding batteries, environmental problems must be considered and the local rules or laws governing the disposal of these batteries

ant

must be followed strictly. The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or

splashing. Do not use this equipment in a bathroom or

places with water. Also do not place any containers filled with water or liquids (such as cosmetics or medicines, flower vases, potted plants, cups etc.) on top of this unit. (If water or liquid is allowed to enter this equipment, fire or electric shock may be caused.)

Do not point the lens directly into the sun. This can cause eye injuries, as well as lead to the malfunctioning of internal circuitry. There is also a risk of fire or electric shock.

CAUTION!

The following notes concern possible physical damage to the camera and to the user.

Do not use a tripod on unsteady or unlevel surfaces. It could tip over, causing serious damage to the camera.

CAUTION!

Connecting cables (Audio/Video, S-Video, etc.) to the camera and leaving it on top of the TV is not recommended, as tripping on the cables will cause the camera to fall, resulting in damage.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

9. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

10. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/ apparatus combination to avoid injury from tipover.

11. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

12. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

EN 5

Before Using this Camera

This camera is designed exclusively for CompactFlash Card (CF card) and SD Memory Card.

The removable hard disk (provided) or Microdrive

CF+ Type II. This camera records video in MPEG2 format

compliant with SD-VIDEO format. Remember that this camera is not compatible

with other digital video formats. Remember that this camera is intended for

private consumer use only.

Any commercial use without proper permission is prohibited. (Even if you record an event such as a show, performance or exhibition for personal enjoyment, it is strongly recommended that you obtain permission beforehand.)

Before recording important video, be sure to make a trial recording.

Play back your trial recording to make sure the video and audio have been recorded properly.

Make a backup of important recorded data

Protect your important recorded data by copying the files to PC. It is recommended to copy it from your PC to a DVD or other recording media for storage. Refer to the software installation and USB connection guide.

Bring your camera together with the removable hard disk

When requesting repairs for breakdowns by your dealer or JVC service center, be sure to bring your camera together with the removable hard disk. If one of them is not included, the cause cannot be diagnosed, and the repair cannot be made properly.

Also read “Cautions” on pages 57 to 59.

is a type of CF card compliant with

● Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby” and double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

● Microdrive Global Storage Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

●

● Other product and company names included in this instruction manual are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

is a registered trademark of Hitachi

6 EN

Removable Hard Disk

The removable hard disk is a precision electronic device. Be careful when handling it.

Cautions for external jolt or stress

● After removing the disk from the camera, store it by inserting into the supplied protective case.

● Do not press on the cover.

● Do not subject the disk to vibrations or sudden jolts. Be especially careful to avoid sudden jolts when shooting or during playback.

● Do not affix stickers or write on the label.

● Do not apply strong pressure to the outside of the

disk. Also, do not put it in your pants pocket or other location where it can be pressed on.

Cautions for temperature

● The camera’s protection circuit may work for the proper recording or playback when the camera’s internal temperature rises or during usage in a cold location. (墌 pg. 55)

● The camera and removable hard disk can heat up when used for an extended period. However, this is not a malfunction.

● The disk can heat up when used for an extended period. Therefore, do not remove it immediately from the camera.

Other cautions

● Condensation can cause the drive to break down. If water is splashed on the drive, make sure that it is completely dried before usage.

● Do not use, replace, or store the disk in locations that are exposed to strong static electricity or electrical noise.

● Do not turn off the camera power or remove the battery or AC adapter during shooting, playback, or when otherwise accessing the recording medium.

● Do not bring the recording medium near objects that have a strong magnetic field or that emit strong electromagnetic waves.

● Since data must be read and written by the drive correctly, the camera may be unable to shoot when the camera heats up, such as during continuous shooting, or when the camera is cooled down during usage in a cold location. To fix this problem, follow the messages displayed on the screen. (墌 pg. 55)

● To maintain high performance, perform check disks (error checks) using your computer on a regular basis. Use a USB cable to connect the camera and PC, and then perform the check disk on the removable hard disk using the same procedure as a regular local disk (C drive). Refer to the instruction manual of your PC for check disks.

● Clean up the disk regularly to maintain high performance. (墌 pg. 41, 49)

Also read “Recording Medium” on page 58.

Be careful to completely delete data when discarding or giving away the removable hard disk.

When recording data is formatted or deleted on the camera, this only modifies the file management information, and the data is not completely erased. When discarding or giving away the removable hard disk, to prevent problems caused by the release of sensitive information, it is extremely important that the customer take responsibility to erase all recorded data. Some recommended methods of erasing data include using a commercial data removal program or using a hammer or strong magnet to physically or magnetically destroy the data on the hard disk so that it cannot be read. JVC shall not be responsible for any personal data that is released.

Provided Accessories

GETTING STARTED

EN 7

a AC Adapter AP-V14U b Battery Pack BN-VM200U c S-Video/Audio/Video Cable d USB Cable (Refer to the software installation

and USB connection guide.)

e Removable Hard Disk (4 GB) f Protective Case for Removable Hard Disk g Strap (See page 8 for attachment) h Lens Cap (See page 8 for attachment) i CD-ROM j Audio Extension Cable (for optional

headphones, see page 9 for attachment)

k Core Filter for Cables (See page 9 for

attachment) Large (x 1): S-Video/Audio/Video Cable Medium (x 1): USB Cable Small (x 2): Audio Extension Cable and AC Adapter’s Cord

l Lens Hood (Already attached to the camera,

墌 pg. 8)

NOTES:

● In order to maintain optimum performance of the camera, provided cables may be equipped with one or more core filter. If a cable has only one core filter, the end that is closest to the filter should be connected to the camera.

● Make sure to use the provided cables for connections. Do not use any other cables.

GETTING STARTED

The removable hard disk and its protective case are packaged in a silver bag.

8 EN

GETTING STARTED

Attaching the Strap

1 Press and hold both

sides as shown, then detach the fastener (large).

2 Pass the strap ring

through the eyelet on the lens side.

3 Pass through the strap

ring.

4 Pass the fastener’s ring

through the eyelet on the LCD side.

5 Pass through the

fastener’s ring.

6 Connect the fastener.

When shooting

Hold the camera as shown in the illustration, grip it gently so that it feels secure, then adjust the strap.

To secure the camera so it cannot be dropped during shooting

Detach the fastener from the strap as shown in step

1. Put your hand through the strap, then secure the strap to your wrist so that the camera cannot be dropped.

Pull the strap.

Slide the fastener.

Attaching/Detaching the Lens Hood

The provided lens hood helps block out glare when shooting under bright sunlight, the same way professional photographers do.

To attach

Align the lens hood with the camera’s lens, and then turn the hood clockwise a.

To d e tach

Turn the hood counterclockwise b.

● Detach the hood only when using the optional

conversion lens or lens filter.

Attaching the Lens Cap

To protect the lens, attach the provided lens cap to the camera as shown in the illustration.

NOTE:

To confirm the lens cap is on correctly, make sure the cap is flush to the camera.

Attaching the Core Filter

Attach the core filters to the cables. The core filter reduces interference.

1 Release the stoppers on both ends of the

core filter.

Stopper

2 Run the cable through the core filter, leaving

approx. 3 cm of cable between the cable plug and the core filter. Wind the cable once around the outside of the core filter as shown in the illustration.

3 cm (1-3/16")

Core Filter

GETTING STARTED

EN 9

3 Close the core filter until it clicks shut.

NOTES:

● Take care not to damage the cable.

● When connecting a cable, attach the end with the

core filter to the camera.

How to Use the Audio Extension Cable

When using optional headphones, connect to the provided audio extension cable (with a core filter attached), then connect the audio extension cable to the camera. The core filter reduces interference.

Open the cover.

GETTING STARTED

● Wind the cable so that it is not slack.

Wind once.

Core Filter

Audio Extension Cable (provided)

Headphones

10 EN

Index

GETTING STARTED

TTENTION:

● Be careful not to cover X, d and e

during shooting.

● Be careful not to cover playback.

Y during

Controls

a Mode Button [MODE] (墌 pg. 16) b Recording Mode Dial (墌 pg. 16, 31 – 32) c Lock Button (墌 pg. 16) d Power Switch [OFF, , ] (墌 pg. 16) e Battery/CF Card Cover Open Switch [OPEN]

(墌 pg. 14, 17)

f Delete Button [ ] (墌 pg. 40) g Zoom Lever [T/W] (墌 pg. 21, 25)

Speaker Volume Control (墌 pg. 22, 30)

h Recording Start/Stop Button

(墌 pg. 20, 25, 29)

i Play/Pause Button [49] (墌 pg. 22, 27, 30) j Multi-Controller

w: Reverse Search [w (3)] (墌 pg. 23)/Left

[w]/Flash [ ] (墌 pg. 26)

r: Reverse Skip [r (2)] (墌 pg. 23)/Up [r]/

Backlight Compensation [ ] (墌 pg. 31)/ Spot Exposure Control (墌 pg. 31)

e: Forward Search [e (5)] (墌 pg. 23)/

Right [e]/Continuous Shooting/Bracket Shooting [ / ] (墌 pg. 26, 33)

t: Forward Skip [t (6)] (墌 pg. 23)/Down

[t]/Manual Set [ SET] (墌 pg. 34)

k Focus Button [FOCUS] (墌 pg. 33) l Information Button [INFO] (墌 pg. 38) m Menu Button [MENU] (墌 pg. 48) n Flash Open Switch [FLASH OPEN]

(墌 pg. 26)

o Manual Focus Ring (墌 pg. 33) p Lens Hood (墌 pg. 8)

Connectors

The connectors are located beneath the covers.

Q USB (Universal Serial Bus) Connector (Refer

to the software installation and USB connection guide.)

R Headphone Connector [ ] (墌 pg. 9) S S-Video/Audio/Video Output Connector [AV]

(墌 pg. 24)

T DC Input Connector [DC] (墌 pg. 14)

GETTING STARTED

EN 11

Indicators

U Power/Charge Lamp (墌 pg. 14, 16) V Access Lamp (Lights up or blinks when you

access to any files. Do not turn off the power or remove the battery pack/AC adapter while accessing to files during recording or playback.)

W Mode Lamp [ (video), (still image),

(voice)] (墌 pg. 16)

Other Parts

X Stereo Microphone Y Speaker (墌 pg. 22) a LCD Monitor b Battery/CF Card Cover (墌 pg. 14, 17) c Flash d Camera Sensor e Lens f SD Card Cover (墌 pg. 18) g Tripod Mounting Socket h Strap Fastener Eyelet (墌 pg. 8) i Strap Eyelet (墌 pg. 8) j Reset Hole (墌 pg. 52)

GETTING STARTED

12 EN

GETTING STARTED

Indications on LCD Monitor

During both Video and Still Image Recording

d Picture Quality: [U] (ultra fine), [F] (fine), [N]

(normal), [E] (economy) (墌 pg. 50)

e Remaining Time (墌 pg. 20, 62) f Counter (墌 pg. 49) g 7REC: (Appears during recording.)

(墌 pg. 20) 79: (Appears during record-standby mode.) (墌 pg. 20)

h Digital Image Stabilizer (DIS) Indicator

(墌 pg. 50)

During Still Image Recording only

11:30AM

NOV 10. 2005

a Recording Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 16)

: Auto Mode : Manual Mode

b Tele Macro Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 50) c Approximate Zoom Ratio (墌 pg. 21, 50) d Zoom Indicator (墌 pg. 21, 50) e Iris Lock Indicator (墌 pg. 31, 35) f Shutter Speed (墌 pg. 32) g Brightness Control Indicator (墌 pg. 49) h Battery Indicator (墌 pg. 54) i Date/Time (墌 pg. 49) j Selected Medium Indicator (墌 pg. 19, 49) k Manual Focus Adjustment Indicator

(墌 pg. 33)

l Effect Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 36) m White Balance Indicator (墌 pg. 35) n Program AE Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 31) o ±: Exposure Adjustment Indicator (墌 pg. 35)

: Backlight Compensation Indicator

(墌 pg. 31)

: Spot Exposure Control Indicator

(墌 pg. 31)

During Video Recording only

[0h56m]

FINE

PHOTO

a Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 16) b ISO sensitivity (GAIN) (墌 pg. 51)

(When set to [AUTO], there is no indication.)

c Focus Icon (墌 pg. 25) d Image Size: 2560 (2560 x 1920), 2048 (2048

x1536), 1600 (1600 x 1200), 1280 (1280 x

960), 640 (640 x 480) (墌 pg. 51)

e Picture Quality: FINE (fine) or STANDARD

(standard) (墌 pg. 51)

f Flash Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 26) g Remaining Number of Shots (墌 pg. 63) h : Continuous Shooting Mode Indicator

(墌 pg. 26)

: Bracket Shooting Mode Indicator

(墌 pg. 33)

i Shooting Icon (墌 pg. 25) j Self-Timer Recording Indicator (墌 pg. 51)

NOTE:

For the indications on LCD monitor during voice recording, see page 29.

a Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 16) b Wide Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 50) c Wind Cut Indicator (墌 pg. 50)

During Video Playback

NOV 10. 2005

a Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 16) b Play List Playback Indicator (Appears when

play list is played back. 墌 pg. 44)

c Picture Quality: [U] (ultra fine), [F] (fine), [N]

(normal), [E] (economy) (墌 pg. 50)

d Playback Mode (墌 pg. 22)

U : Playback 9 : Pause

: Forward High-Speed Search

: Reverse High-Speed Search

9U : Forward Slow-Motion Y9 : Reverse Slow-Motion

(The number on the left shows speed.)

e Counter (墌 pg. 49) f Volume Level Indicator g Battery Indicator (墌 pg. 54) h Date (墌 pg. 49) i Selected Medium Indicator (墌 pg. 19, 49) j Effect Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 36) k Wipe/Fader Effect Indicator (墌 pg. 37, 50)

GETTING STARTED

EN 13

During Still Image Playback

11:30AM

NOV 10. 2005

a Mode Indicator (墌 pg. 16) b Folder/File Number c Slide Show Playback Indicator (墌 pg. 27) d Battery Indicator (墌 pg. 54) e Date/Time (墌 pg. 49) f Selected Medium Indicator (墌 pg. 19, 49)

NOTE:

For the indications on LCD monitor during voice playback, see page 30.

GETTING STARTED

14 EN

GETTING STARTED

Power

This camera’s 2-way power supply system lets you choose the most appropriate source of power. Do not use provided power supply units with other equipment.

Charging the Battery Pack

Power Switch

Protrusion

Open the cover.

Lock Button Power/Charge Lamp

Battery/CF Card Cover

Battery Pack

OPEN

1 Set the power switch to OFF while pressing

down the lock button located on the switch.

2 Slide and hold OPEN in the direction of the

arrow a, then open the battery/CF card cover.

3 Insert the battery pack firmly into the battery

pack mount until it locks into space as shown in the illustration.

4 Close the battery/CF card cover firmly until it

locks.

5 Connect the AC adapter to the camera. 6 Plug the AC adapter into an AC outlet. The

power/charge lamp on the camera blinks to indicate charging has started.

7 When the power/charge lamp goes out,

charging is finished. Unplug the AC adapter from the AC outlet. Disconnect the AC adapter from the camera.

To detach the battery pack

Open the battery/CF card cover, and remove the battery pack while sliding BATTERY in the direction of the arrow b.

BATTERY

Required charging time

Battery pack Charging time

BN-VM200U (provided) Approx. 1 hr. 35 min.

To DC connector

To AC outlet

mark

AC Adapter

NOTES:

● Charging times are for a fully discharged battery pack.

● When the battery/CF card cover is opened or the SD card is removed while the power is on, the power is automatically turned off to protect the data in the recording medium. To turn on the power again after opening the battery/CF card cover, close the cover. To turn on the power again after removing the SD card, close the cover and set the power switch to OFF, then to or .

● It is recommended that only genuine JVC batteries are used in this camera. Using generic non-JVC batteries can cause damage to the internal charging circuitry.

● If the protective cap is attached to the battery pack, remove it first.

● When charging the battery pack for the first time or after a long storage period, the power/charge lamp may not light. In this case, remove the battery pack from the camera, then try charging again.

● If the battery operation time remains extremely short even after having been fully charged, the battery is worn out and needs to be replaced. Please purchase a new one.

● Using the optional AA-V200 battery charger, you can charge the BN-VM200U battery pack without the camera.

● Since the AC adapter processes electricity internally, it becomes warm during use. Be sure to use it only in well-ventilated areas.

Using the Battery Pack

Perform steps 2 – 4 in “Charging the Battery Pack”.

Maximum continuous recording time

Battery pack Recording time

BN-VM200U (provided) 1 hr.

NOTES:

● Recording time is reduced significantly under the following conditions:

• Zoom or record-standby mode is engaged

repeatedly.

• Playback mode is engaged repeatedly.

● Before extended use, it is recommended that you prepare enough battery packs to cover 3 times the planned recording time.

GETTING STARTED

EN 15

Using AC Power

Connect the AC adapter to the camera.

Open the cover.

connector

To AC outlet

To D C

AC Adapter

mark

NOTE:

The provided AC adapter features automatic voltage selection in the AC range from 110 V to 240 V.

TTENTION:

● Before detaching the power source, make sure that the camera’s power is turned off. Failure to do so can result in a camera malfunction.

● If the camera is a subject to electrostatic discharge, turn the power off before using it again.

About Batteries

DANGER! Do not attempt to take the batteries apart, or expose them to flame or excessive heat, as it may cause a fire or explosion. WARNING! Do not allow the battery or its terminals to come in contact with metals, as this can result in a short circuit and possibly start a fire.

The Benefits of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion battery packs are small but have a large power capacity. However, when one is exposed to cold temperatures (below 10°C/ 50°F), its usage time becomes shorter and it may cease to function. If this happens, place the battery pack in your pocket or other warm, protected place for a short time, then re-attach it to the camera.

GETTING STARTED

16 EN

GETTING STARTED

Operation Mode

To turn on the camera, set the power switch to

or while pressing down the lock button

located on the switch.

● The power/charge lamp turns on.

To turn off the camera, set the power switch to OFF.

Power Switch

Mode Lamp

3 Auto/Manual Mode

Set the recording mode dial to the desired position to switch the auto/manual recording mode. The indicator or appears on the LCD monitor. (墌 pg. 12)

Auto mode ( ): You can record using no special effects or manual adjustments.

Manual mode (other than ): Manual recording is possible by setting various functions. (墌 pg. 31 – 36)

MODE

Power/Charge Lamp

Lock Button

Set the appropriate operation mode according to your preference using the power switch, MODE button and the recording mode dial.

1 Power Switch Position

Set the power switch for recording ( ) or playback ( ) while pressing down the lock button.

Power Switch

Playback Recording Power Off

2 Recording/Playback Mode

Press MODE to select the recording/playback mode. The selected mode lamp lights up.

: Video mode (墌 pg. 20, 22)

: Still image mode (墌 pg. 25, 27)

: Voice mode (墌 pg. 29, 30)

● To select the voice mode, press and hold

MODE.

Language Setting

The language on the display can be changed. (墌 pg. 48, 49)

1 Set the power switch to or . 2 Press MENU. The menu screen appears. 3 Select [DISPLAY]

with the multi-controller (r/t), then press 49.

4 Select [LANGUAGE]

with the multi-controller (r/t), then press 49.

5 Select the desired

language with the multicontroller (r/t), then press 49.

6 Press MENU to return to the normal screen.

CAMERA SETTING BASIC SETTING MEMORY CARD SETTING

DISPLAY

QUALITY WIDE MODE WIND CUT

DATE/TIME SCENE COUNTER

LANGUAGE

CLOCK ADJUST BRIGHT

GETTING STARTED

EN 17

Date/Time Settings

The recording start date/time is recorded on the video/still image/voice file and it can be checked by pressing INFO during playback. (墌 pg. 22, 27, 30)

1 Set the power switch to or . 2 Press MENU. The menu screen appears. 3 Select [DISPLAY]

with the multi-controller (r/t), then press 49.

4 Select [CLOCK

ADJUST] with the multicontroller (r/t), then press 49. The month is highlighted.

5 Input the month with

the multi-controller (r/ t), then press 49.

Repeat to input the day, year, hour and minute.

6 Press MENU to

return to the normal screen.

Built-in Clock’s Rechargeable Lithium Battery

If the camera is not used for approx. 3 months, the clock’s lithium battery will become discharged and the date/time stored in memory will be lost. When this occurs, first connect the camera to an AC outlet using the AC adapter for over 24 hours to charge the clock’s rechargeable lithium battery. Then perform the date/time setting before using the camera. Note that the camera can be used without setting the date/time.

CAMERA SETTING BASIC SETTING MEMORY CARD SETTING

DISPLAY

QUALITY WIDE MODE WIND CUT

SCENE COUNTER LANGUAGE

CLOCK ADJUST

BRIGHT DATE/TIME

CLOCK ADJUST

DATE TIME

JAN 31AM11 07:

2005

Inserting/Removing a CF Card

You can use a CF card (CompactFlash card) as a recording medium in the CF slot. The removable hard disk (provided) or Microdrive® is a type of CF cards. See page 62 for the guaranteed media to work with this camera.

Front

CF Slot

Battery/CF Card Cover

1 Make sure the camera’s power is off. 2 Slide and hold OPEN in the direction of the

arrow a, then open the battery/CF card cover.

3 When the eject button is pulled out as shown

in the illustration, push it once.

● The button is pushed in.

4 To insert a CF card, firmly insert it as shown

in the illustration. To remove a CF card, push the eject button twice.

● The eject button comes out by pushing it once. By pushing the eject button once again ejects the CF card.

5 Close the battery/CF card cover firmly until it

locks.

Rear

Termi nals

OPEN

Eject Button

GETTING STARTED

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

18 EN

GETTING STARTED

NOTES:

● Read the cautions on CF card. (墌 pg. 58, “Recording Medium”)

● Before using the provided removable hard disk or a new CF card, it is necessary to format it. (墌 pg. 19)

TTENTION:

● Do not insert or remove the CF card while the camera is turned on, as this may cause the CF card to be corrupted or cause the camera to become unable to recognize whether or not the CF card is installed.

● Do not squeeze the external covers of the CF card.

Inserting/Removing an SD Card

You can use an SD card as a recording medium in the SD slot. See page 62 for the guaranteed media to work with this camera.

Clipped edge

SD Slot

1 Make sure the camera’s power is off. 2 Open the SD card cover. 3 To insert an SD card, firmly insert it with its

clipped edge first. To remove an SD card, push it once. After the SD card comes out of the camera, pull it out.

● Do not touch the terminal on the reverse side of the label.

4 Close the SD card cover.

To protect valuable files

Slide the write/erase protection tab on the side of the SD card in the direction of “LOCK”. This prevents the SD card from being recorded over. To record on this SD card, slide the tab back to the position opposite to “LOCK” before inserting it.

NOTE:

Before using a new SD card, it is necessary to format the card. (墌 pg. 19)

TTENTION:

Do not insert or remove the SD card while the camera is turned on, as this may cause the SD card to be corrupted or cause the camera to become unable to recognize whether or not the SD card is installed.

SD card (optional)

Label

Write/Erase

Protection Tab

SD Card Cover

GETTING STARTED

EN 19

Formatting a Recording Medium

You can format (initialize) a recording medium in the CF or SD slot. You have to format the provided removable hard disk or newlypurchased CF cards and SD cards with this camera before using them. This enables stable speeds and operation when accessing the recording medium. Be aware that all files and data including protected files will be erased. (墌 pg. 39)

1 Set the power switch to or . 2 Press MENU. The menu screen appears. 3 Select [MEMORY

CARD SETTING] with the multi-controller (r/ t), then press 49.

4 Select [FORMAT] with

the multi-controller (r/ t), then press 49.

5 Select [CF SLOT] or

[SD SLOT] with the multicontroller (r/t), then press 49.

6 Select [EXECUTE] with the multi-controller

(r/t), then press 49.

● To cancel the formatting, select [CANCEL], then

press 49.

CAUTION:

Do not remove the recording medium or perform any other operation (such as turning off the power) during format. Also, be sure to use the provided AC adapter, as the recording medium may be corrupted if the battery becomes exhausted during format. If the recording medium becomes corrupted, format it again.

NOTE:

Do not format the recording medium on the PC. Make sure to format the recording medium on the camera.

DIS CAMERA SETTING BASIC SETTING

MEMORY CARD SETTING

DISPLAY QUALITY WIDE MODE

VIDEO MODE IMAGE MODE VOICE MODE

FORMAT

CLEAN UP COPY/MOVE NO. RESET

Selecting Recording Medium

Select the recording medium before starting recording or playback. (墌 pg. 48, 49) Example: When recording still images to an SD card

1 Set the power switch to . 2 Press MENU. The menu screen appears. 3 Select [MEMORY

CARD SETTING] with the multi-controller (r/ t), then press 49.

4 Select [IMAGE

MODE] with the multicontroller (r/t), then press 49.

5 Select [SD SLOT] with

the multi-controller (r/ t), then press 49.

6 Press MENU to return to the normal screen.

DIS CAMERA SETTING BASIC SETTING

MEMORY CARD SETTING

DISPLAY QUALITY WIDE MODE

COPY/MOVE NO. RESET VIDEO MODE

IMAGE MODE

VOICE MODE FORMAT CLEAN UP

GETTING STARTED

20 EN

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK

Video Recording

MODE

Lock Button

Power Switch

1 Set the power switch to . 2 Press MODE to select .

● The camera is programmed to record videos on the medium in the CF slot by the factory-preset. To switch the recording medium, see pages 19, 48 and 49.

● To change the picture quality, see pages 48 and

50.

3 Press the recording start/stop button to start

recording.

● Approximate remaining time for recording appears on the display.

4 To stop recording, press

the recording start/stop button again.

Zoom Lever

Recording Start/ Stop Button

[0h56m]

NOTES:

● If the camera is left without any operation during recording or playback (video, still image or voice) for 5 minutes when using the battery pack, the camera is turned off automatically to conserve power. To turn the camera on again, set the power switch to OFF, then to or . When using the AC adapter, the camera enters the sleep mode (the access lamp lights and the LCD monitor turns off). To cancel the sleep mode, perform any operation such as zooming.

● When the camera heats up, the 7REC indicator flashes. If the camera continues to heat up, shooting may be stopped to protect the recording medium. In this case, turn off the camera power, and then wait until the camera cools down. (墌 pg. 55)

● When shooting continuously, shooting is automatically stopped when a file size of 4 GB is reached.

● If data cannot be recorded or saved properly, the video files are not saved to the [SD_VIDEO] folder for regular video. Instead, the files are saved to the [EXTMOV] folder. To play back these files, see “To play back files in the [EXTMOV] folder” (墌 pg. 22).

● There may be differences in the brightness between the recorded video and still image, even if the same subject is shot.

● Video file names are assigned as sequential hexadecimal numbers.

● To turn the operation sounds off, see page 48.

● For approximate recording time, see page 62.

Zooming

Use the zoom function for close-up or wideangle shooting. You can zoom in up to 10x by using the optical zoom.

To zoom in Slide the zoom lever towards T (telephoto).

To zoom out Slide the zoom lever towards W (wide-angle).

W: Wide angle

● The further you slide the zoom lever, the quicker the zoom action.

● Zoom magnification over 10x is done through digital image processing, and is therefore called digital zoom. Digital zooming is possible up to 200x. Set [ZOOM] to [40X] or [200X]. (墌 pg. 50)

NOTES:

● Focusing may become unstable during zooming. In this case, set the zoom before recording and lock the focus by using the manual focus (墌 pg. 33), then zoom in or out during recording.

● During digital zoom, the quality of image may suffer.

● Macro shooting is possible as close as approx. 5 cm (2") to the subject when the zoom lever is set all the way to W.

● When you zoom into a subject close to the lens, the camera may automatically zoom out depending on the distance to the subject. In this case, set [TELE MACRO] to [ON]. (墌 pg. 50)

T: Telephoto

Digital zoom zone

10x (Optical) zoom zone

Approximate zoom ratio

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK

EN 21

Angle Adjustment

Tilt the lens part at the most convenient angle. The lens part can rotate 45° upward and downward.

Deleting Files

If you press during recording mode, the file recorded most recently will be deleted. (墌 pg. 40)

● However, if the recording mode (video, still image or voice) is switched or the power is turned off and on again after recording, you cannot delete the file.

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK

22 EN

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK

Video Playback

Zoom Lever

INFO

MODE

Lock Button

Power Switch

1 Set the power switch to . 2 Press MODE to select .

● The index screen for videos appears. The image on the index screen shows the first part of the shooting. To switch the medium to be played back, see pages

●

19, 48 and 49.

3 Select the video file you want to play back

with the multi-controller (r/t/w/e).

4 Press 49 to start playback. 5 To pause playback, press 49 again.

To return to the index screen

Slide the zoom lever to W when playback is paused.

To adjust the speaker volume

During playback slide the zoom lever towards T to turn up the volume, or towards W to turn down the volume.

To turn on/off the date display

Set [DATE/TIME] to [ON], [AUTO] or [OFF]. (墌 pg. 48, 49)

To turn on/off the on-screen display Press INFO repeatedly.

To check the file information Press INFO when playback is paused.

To play back files in the [EXTMOV] folder

If the data cannot be recorded properly, the video files are saved to the [EXTMOV] folder. (墌 pg. 20) To play back the files in the [EXTMOV] folder, press the recording start/stop button while the index screen is displayed in step 2, and then proceed to step 3 after [MPG] is displayed.

● The fast forward, rewind, slow, frame-by-frame playback, and playlist creation functions are not available for files in the [EXTMOV] folder.

● When you delete the files in the [EXTMOV] folder, perform on the PC.

NOTES:

● The playback picture can be viewed in the LCD monitor or on a connected TV. (墌 pg. 24)

● At the junctions between scenes, the image may stop momentarily or the sound may be interrupted. However, this is not a malfunction.

● To join scenes without distortion, load the video files into the PC and use the provided software to combine the files. When the combined file is used to record a DVD, it will have the same joints without distortion between scenes as a commercial DVD. Refer to “How To Create DVDs simply” of software installation and USB connection guide for more about DVD creation.

● The date and counter can be displayed during playback. (墌 pg. 49)

● When the camera heats up, the U indicator flashes. If the camera continues to heat up, playback may be stopped to protect the recording medium. In this case, turn off the camera power, and then wait until the camera cools down. (墌 pg. 55)

● When a cable is connected to the AV connector, the sound is not heard from the speaker or headphones.

How to Use the Scroll Bar

You can use the vertical scroll bar on the index screen to find the desired files quickly. The scroll bar is useful when deleting files (墌 pg. 40), creating play list (墌 pg. 43), etc.

1 Slide the zoom lever

towards W to select the scroll bar on the index screen.

VIDEO 7/53

Scroll bar

2 Display the next or

previous page with the multi-controller (r/t).

● If you move and hold the multi-controller to r/t, the high speed search starts.

● If you find the desired file, slide the zoom lever towards T, then select the file.

Various Playback Operations

Still playback (Pause)

Press 49 during normal playback.

● To resume normal playback, press 49 again.

Search playback

During normal playback, move the multicontroller to e for forward search, or w for reverse search.

● Moving the multi-controller to w or e

repeatedly increases the search speed for each direction. (–60x to +60x)

● To resume normal playback, press 49.

Locating the start point of the file or skip the file

Move the multi-controller to t to locate the star t point of the next file. Moving the multi-controller to t repeatedly skips files in forward direction. Move the multi-controller to r to locate the start point of the current file. Moving the multicontroller to r repeatedly skips files in reverse direction.

● If the multi-controller is moved to t or r

during normal playback or search, playback resumes after locating the start point of a file.

Frame-by-frame playback

While playback is paused, move the multicontroller to e or w.

● Moving the multi-controller to w or e repeatedly

advances or reverses the still picture frame by frame.

● To resume normal playback, press

Slow motion playback

While playback is paused, move and hold the multi-controller to e or w for over 2 seconds.

● To stop slow motion playback, press 49.

49.

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK

EN 23

Playback Zoom

You can magnify the playback image up to 5x.

1 During normal playback, at the point you want

to zoom in, press 49 to pause playback.

2 Slide the zoom lever towards T to zoom in.

● The full view of the image is displayed in the small screen on the lower right side. The * mark indicates the center point of the magnified area.

3 Move to the magnified area you want to view

with the multi-controller (r/t/w/e).

4 To zoom out, slide the zoom lever towards W.

● When the zoom is set all the way to W (wide- angle) side, sliding the zoom lever to W switches the display to the index screen. (墌 pg. 22)

Deleting Video Files

Press , then select [EXECUTE] with the multicontroller (r/t) and press 49.

●

You can select the desi red file to be deleted with the multi-controller (

● To delete multiple files at once, see page 40.

w/e

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK

24 EN

A Black to S-VIDEO IN (Connect when your TV/

B Yellow to VIDEO IN (Connect when your TV/

C Red to AUDIO R IN* D White to AUDIO L IN*

* Not required for watching still images only.

NOTES:

● It is recommended to use the AC adapter as

● Make sure you adjust the TV sound volume to its

● To connect the camera to a PC, refer to the

VIDEO RECORDING & PLAYBACK

Connecting to a TV or VCR

Open the cover.

To AV connector

S-Video/Audio/Video Cable (provided)

VCR

VCR has S-VIDEO IN and A/V input connectors. In this case, it is not necessary to connect the yellow video cable.)

VCR has only A/V input connectors.)

the power supply instead of the battery pack. (墌 pg. 15)

minimum level to avoid a sudden burst of sound when the camera is turned on.

software installation and USB connection guide.

Playback on a TV

1 Make sure all units are turned off. 2 Connect the camera to a TV or VCR as

shown in the illustration.

If using a VCR, go to step 3. If not, go to step 4.

3 Connect the VCR output to the TV input,

referring to your VCR’s instruction manual.

4 Turn on the camera, the VCR and the TV. 5 Set the VCR to its AUX input mode, and set

the TV to its VIDEO mode.

6 Start playback on the camera. (墌 pg. 22)

To choose whether or not the following displays appear on the connected TV

● Date/Time

Set [DATE/TIME] to [AUTO], [ON] or [OFF]. (墌 pg. 48, 49)

● Counter

Set [SCENE COUNTER] to [ON] or [OFF]. (墌 pg. 48, 49)

(Pressing INFO button also turns on/off the displays.)

Dubbing to a VCR

1 Perform steps 1 to 6 above. 2 At the point you want to start dubbing, star t

recording on the VCR. (Refer to the VCR’s instruction manual.)

3 To stop dubbing, stop recording on the VCR,

then stop playback on the camera.

STILL IMAGE RECORDING & PLAYBACK

Still Image Recording

MODE

Lock Button

Power Switch

1 Set the power switch to . 2 Press MODE to select .

● The camera is programmed to record still images on the medium in the CF slot by the factorypreset. To switch the recording medium, see pages 19, 48 and 49.

● To change the image size and picture quality, see pages 48 and 51.

● To use the flash, see page 26.

3 Press the recording start/stop button. PHOTO

indicator appers during shooting. The still image is recorded.

● To check how the image looks before recording, press the recording start/stop button halfway and hold. The indicator appears and stops blinking when the captured image is focused. To cancel the recording, release the recording start/stop button. To record it on the recording medium, press the recording start/stop button fully.

NOTES:

● There may be differences in the brightness between the recorded video and still image, even if the same subject is shot.

● To turn the shutter sound off, see page 48.

● For approximate number of storable images, see

page 63.

Zoom Lever

Recording Start/Stop Button

EN 25