Radio Shack 16-830 User Manual

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16-830 .fm Page 1 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

Cat. No. 16-830

OWNER’S MANUAL

Please read before using this equipment.

MODEL 130 MOVIECORDER

Camcorder

‰

ying

y by

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FEATURES

Your Optimus Model 130 MovieCorder camcorder combines all the features of a video camera and a portable VCR in one lightweight package. Using standard V HS cas set tes, you can record and play back home movie s anywhere. The low-light (1 lux) CCD imager makes special lighting unnecessary in most situations.

You can also use t he c am corder as a VCR to play back a tape or copy to a VCR.

This camcorder has many special features that make operation simple, convenient, and versatile. Be sure to read this manual carefully and completely so you can understand and enjoy all of your camcorder’s features.

The camcorder has these features.

CCD Ima

tion picture, even in low-light conditions (down to 1 lux ) .

Electronic Viewfinder with Ad

— lets you monitor th e picture during re-

cus

cording and playback.

12-to-1 Power Zoom

from wide-angle to telephoto shots. You con trol the zoom rate by the am ount of pressure you place on the buttons.

ital Zoom Enhancement

magnification of the power zoom up to 2 times (to 24-to-1).

Fuzz

corder to focus and adjust to different lighting conditions, much like the human eye.

Automat ic Focusin

full-range focusing from sharp, clear picture in almost all situations. You can also focus the camcorder on close objects for stunning detail.

Zoom Autom atic Fo cusin

— provides a clear, high-resolu-

— lets you go smoothly

— increases the

Logic Circuitr

— enables the cam-

— provides automatic,

/8 inch to infinity for a

— automatically

ustable Fo -

Power Sources

source in dicated o n its ma rkin home's power t compan

Polarization

plu

(a plug having one blade wider than the other). Thi s plug will fit in the power outlet onl cannot in sert the plu the plu

still doesn't fit, contact your electrician to replace your ob solete outlet. Do not defeat the safet plu

. If you need an extension, use a pol arized cord.

Power-Cord Protection

not likel them, pa ceptacles, and the point where the

Lightning

storm, or when it is left unat t ended and unused for l ong peri-

nin ods of time, unplu na or cable s

htning and power- l i ne surges.

Overloadi ng

ral convenience receptacles, as this can result in a risk of fire

inte or electric shock.

Objects and Liquids

product t hrou points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of an

Servicing

or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage

openin or other hazards. Refer all servicin

Damage Requiring Service

outlet an d refe r serv icin followin

• When the power-suppl

• If liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the product.

• If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

• If the product does not operate nor m al l

atin

instructions. Adjust only those c ontrols tha t are cover ed

the operating instructions, as an improper adjustment of

b other controls ma extensiv e work b to normal operatio n.

• If the prod uct has been dropped or dama

• When the product exh ib i ts a di stinct chan

Replacem ent P art s

sure the servic e technician uses replacement parts specified b the manufacturer or having the same characteristics as the original part. Unaut horized su bstitut ions ma or other hazards.

— Operate this product usin

pe, consult your product dealer or local power

— This product is equipped with a polarized AC line

fully into the outlet, try revers ing the plug. If

to be walked on or pinched by items plac ed on or against

particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience re-

— For add ed prot ectio n for t his p rod uct duri n

it from the wall outlet and disconnect the anten-

stem. This will prevent damage to the product due to

— Do not ov er load wall outle ts, exte nsi on co rds, or

— Never push ob jects of an

h openings, as they may touch dangerous voltage

— Do not attempt to service this product

conditions:

result in damage and will often require

a qua lified tec hnic ian to r esto re the p roduc t

— When replac eme nt par ts ar e re quired, be

label. If you are not s ure of your

one way. This is a safety feature. I f you

purpos e of the polari zed

— Rou te po we r-s up pl

exit from the product.

kind on the product.

to qualified service personnel.

—Unplu

to qualifie d se rvi ce per sonne l under t he

cord or plug is damaged.

this product from th e wall

result in fire, electric shock,

only the power

cords so they are

a light-

kind into this

ourself, as

following the oper-

ed in any way.

e in performance.

CAUTION

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Safety Che ck

product, ask the se rvice t echn icia n t o perf orm safe t determine that the product is in proper operatin

Wall or Ceiling Mount

wall or ceilin

Heat

— The product should be situated awa such as r ad iators , he at r e cludin

Outdoor Antenna Grounding

stem is con nec ted t o the vid eo pro duc t, be s ure the a ntenn a

s or cable s a

ainst voltage surges and built-up st at i c charges. Section 810 of the Nati onal Elect rical Code , mation with respect to pro per portin dischar nas-disc har quirements for the

Power Lines

ed in the vicinit

— Upon com pletion of ser vice or repairs to th is

checks to

condition.

— The produc t should be mounted to a

only as recommended by the manufacturer.

from heat sources

isters, stoves, or other products (in-

amplifiers) that produce heat.

— If an outside antenna or cable

stem is grounded so as to p rovide some pr otectio n

ANSI/NFPA 70

, provides inf or-

rounding of the mast and sup-

structure, grounding of the lea d-in wire to an a ntenna

e unit, size of grounding conductors, location of anten-

e unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and re-

rounding electrode. See the example below.

— An outside antenna system should not be locat-

of overhead power lines or other electric light or power ci rcuits or wh ere it c an fal l into such power lines or cir cuits. When installin should be taken to keep from touchin power line s or circui ts as conta ct wit h them mi stallin

an outdoor antenna can be hazardous and should be left

an outside ant enna system, ext rem e care

or ap proaching such

ht be fa tal. In -

to a professional antenna installer.

Do not operate the A C adapter/charger with a dam-

aged power-supply cord or pl ug.

vice technician replace them immediatel

Do not us e an ext ension c ord unl ess abs olutely ne c-

essary.

Use of an improper exten si on cord could re sult in

a risk of fire a nd elect ric shock. If

Have a qualified ser-

ou use an extensi on

cord, make sure t hat:

A. The pins on the extension cord’s plu

are the same

number, size , and shap e a s th ose o f th e p ower- su p-

plug on the AC adapter/charger.

B. The extension cord is properl

wired and in good

electric al condition.

C. You use an extension cord with the followin

sizes:

MINIMUM SIZE (AWG GAUGE)

18 Equal to or less than 100

16 Equal to or less than 150

Do not operate the AC adapter/charger if it has

LENGTH OF EXTENSION CORD

(FEET)

received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged in any way.

Take it to a qualified service techni-

cian.

Do no t disassemble th e AC adapter/charger.

8. a qualified service technician when service or repair is required. Incorrect reassembl

may result in a risk of elec-

tric shock or fire.

9. To reduce risk of ele ctric shoc k,

unplug the AC adapter/ charger from the wall outlet before attempting any mainten an ce or cleanin g .

wire

Take i t to

AC ADAPTER/CHARGER

Save these instructions

1. and operati ng instructions for the video produc t’s

safet supplied A C adapter/char

Before using the video product’s AC adapter/ charger

— read all instructions and cautionar adapter/char usin

To reduce risk of injury —

to char batter batteries ma

To reduce risk of damage to the power-supply cord or

plug —

er, battery pack, and the video product

the batte ry pack.

e only the suppl i ed batte ry pack or a replacem ent

pack VM-BP64/BP65/BP66/BP67. Other types of

burst caus i ng person al in j ury and damage.

do not p ull the pow er-supp l the AC adapter/char power-suppl

plug.

— This page contain s im portant

er.

markings on the AC

use the A C adapt er/cha r

cord to disconnect

er from the wall outlet. Pull the

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CONTENTS

Before Yo u Begin ........................................................................................................................... 8

Supplied Accessories ................................................................................................................ 8

Optional Accessories ................................................................................................................ 8

Moisture Condensation ............................................................................................................. 9

Quick Start ................................................................................................................................... 10

Viewfinder Playback ............................................................................................................ .... 11

Selectin

Preparin

Special Video Recordin

a Power Source .......................................................................................................... 12

Using the Battery Pack .......................................................................................................... . 12

Charging the Battery Pack ............................................................................................... 12

Attaching the Battery Pack To The Camcorder ................................................................ 13

Removing the Battery Pack From The Camcorder ........................................................... 13

Battery Status Indicators .................................................................................................. 13

Replacing the Battery Pack While Recording ................................................................... 13

Battery Usag e Hint s ....... ......... .......................... ............................................................... 14

Using the AC Adapter/Charger ............................................................................................... 14

Using an Optional DC Adapter ................................................................................................ 15

the Camcorder for Use .............................................................................................. 16

Inserting/Removing a Video Cassette ..................................................................................... 16

Setting the Power Switch ........................................................................................................ 16

Preparing/Adjusting the Viewfinder ......................................................................................... 16

Setup ................................................................................................................................ 17

Adjustment ....................................................................................................................... 17

Setting/Changing the Date and Time ...................................................................................... 18

Attaching the Shoulder Strap .................................................................................................. 19

Features ............................................................................................ 20

Auto Focusing ..................................................................................................................... .... 20

Variable Speed Power Zoom .................................................................................................. 20

Macro Focusing ...................................................................................................................... 20

Digital Zoom ............................................................................................................................ 21

Fade In and Fade Out ............................................................................................................. 21

Review .................................................................................................................................... 22

Camera Search .................. .......... ......... .................................................................................. 22

Auto Exposure ........................................................................................................................ 22

Automatic In d ex .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... ...................................................................... 22

Recording the Date and Time on a Tape ................................................................................ 23

Digital Counter ........................................................................................................................ 23

Counter Memory ............................ .. ..... ..... ..... .... ..... .. ..... ..... .. ..... .. ..... ..... .. ..... .. ..... .. ..... ..... ...... 23

Tape Remaining ...................................................................................................................... 24

Titler .................................................................................................................................. ...... 24

Creating Titles .................................................................................................................. 24

Editing Titles ..................................................................................................................... 25

Adding Titles While Recording ......................................................................................... 25

Hints for Makin

Lighting ............................................................................................................................. ...... 26

Typical Brightness of Common Situations ........................................................................ 26

Camcorder Moveme n t ................... .......... ........................................................... .................... 27

Zoom In and Zoom Out ........................................................................................................... 27

Better Video Tapes ......................................................................................... 26

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Special VCR Features ................................................................................................................. 28

Visual Search .......................................................................................................................... 28

Fast Forward and Rewind ....................................................................................................... 28

Freeze Frame ......................................................................................................................... 28

Auto Tracking .......................................................................................................................... 28

Dubbing (Copying) a Tape ......................................................................... ....... ....... ....... ..... ... 29

Dubbing to the Camcorder ......................................................................... ....... ....... ..... ... 29

Dubbing from the Camcorder ............................................. ..... ....... ....... ....... ..... ....... ....... . 30

Adding Titles onto an Existing Recording ......................................................................... 31

Audio Editing ........................................................................................................................... 31

Audio/V i d e o Editing ...... ............................................................................................ ............... 32

Connecting the Camcorder to a TV ........................................................................................... 34

Using a TV for Playback ........................................................................................................ 34

TV With Audio/Video (A/V) Jacks ............. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .......................... .. . 34

Standard TV ..................................................................................................................... 35

Playback ............................................................................................................................... ........ 36

Additional Information ............................................................................................................. ... 37

Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................... 37

Care and Maintenance ................................................................................................................ 40

Handling .................................................................................................................................. 41

Servicing Your Camcorder ...................................................................................................... 41

Cleaning the Video Heads ...................................................... ....... ....... ....... ....... .......... ....... .. . 42

Erase Protection ..................................................................................................................... 42

Storing Your Video Cassettes ................................................................................................. 42

The FCC Wants You to Know ................ ......... .......... ......... .......... ........................................... 43

Specifications ......................................................................................................................... ..... 44

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BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Please read this owner’s manual carefully. It has been prepared to help you with initial setup procedures and in the e veryday operation of y our camcorder.

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES

Your camcorder includes the following accessories. Be sure to remove these items before you store the packing material.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

DC Adapter (CMC No. T16-CC70A

plies power to the camcorder from your vehicle’s battery. Use it only in vehicles that have a 12volt negative-ground electrical system.

) — sup-

Batter

and playback during portable operation.

AC Adapter/Char

when used with the auxiliary power cord, supplies power to the camcorder from an AC outlet.

Auxiliar

camcorder to the AC adapter/charger to operate the camcorder from AC power.

Shou lder St rap

to carry the camcorder.

— supplies power for recording

Pack

— charges the battery or,

Power Cord

— lets you connect t he

— provides a convenient way

RF Adapter Kit (CMC No. T16-RF71A)

you play back a tape from the camcorder through a TV that does not have separate audio/ video input jacks. The RF adapter kit includes:

• One RF converter

• One 300- to 75-ohm matching transformer

• One 75-ohm antenna cable

Spar e Batter

Telephoto/Wide An

2339)

Filter Kit (CMC No. (please add))

Pack (CMC No. T16-BP67)

le Lens (CMC No. 16-

— lets

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MOISTURE CONDENSATION

Condensation inside the camco rder can cause tape jams or vi deo head damage. If the camcorder senses moisture, viewfinder.

TAPE

If first use your camcorder after moving it from a cold area to a warm one, follow these steps.

1. Eject the cassette if one is installed.

flashes in the viewfinder, or when you

TAPE

flashes in the

2. If necessary, slide

3. Let the camcorder sit for about 1 hour before you begin operation.

Caution:

sively hu mid areas.

Avoid using the camcorder in exces-

POWER

OFF

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QUICK START

To eliminate complicated adjustments in most situations, this camcorder has fully automatic features for focus, white balance, and shutter speed. All you need to do is press

The following steps outline the basic procedures for making a recording. In many of the steps, you are directed to a specific section of this manual that contains more detailed information. When operating the camcorder for the first time, read all the steps and the suggested detailed information before you actually begin.

1. Choose and connect a power source. See “Selecting a Power Source” on Page 10.

REC/PAUSE

6. Remove the lens cap and hang it on the hand strap clip.

2. Press

STOP/EJECT

to open the cassette compartment. Insert a standard VHS cassette, and close the compartment. See “Inserting/Removing a Video Cassette” on Page 16.

3. Slide

POWER

CAMERA

. The POWER indicator lights. See “Setting the Power Switch on Page 17.

If there is no cassette in the cam-

Note:

corder,

NO TAPE

appears in the viewfinder. If the cassette has its eraseprotection tab broken off,

TAPE

appears in the viewfinder. See “Erase Protection” on Page 39.

4. Adjust the viewfinder’s position until you can look into it comf ortably when the back of the camcorder rests on your right shoulder. Then adjust the focus control on the eyepiece for the sharpest picture in the viewfinder. See “Preparing/Adjusting the Viewfinder” on Page 14.

5. Place your right hand between the hand strap and the camcorder. Then adjust the hand strap so it fits tightly over your hand.

If the strap is too loose, the cam-

Note:

corder is difficult to handle.

7. Point the camcorder at the desired subje ct, then press

or T on the power zoom control until you see the de sired picture in the viewfinder. See “Variable Speed Power Zoom” on Page 21.

8. To begin recording, press

REC/PAUSE

with

your right middle finger. During recording,

REC

appears in the viewfinder with arrows

above it to show the direction of tape travel.

When about 5 minutes or less

Note:

remain on the tape,

TAPE END

flashes in

the viewfinder.

9. To pause the tape, press

REC/PAUSE

again. The tape pauses, t he arrows disappear, and appears in the viewfinder. To continue recording, press

REC/PAUSE

again.

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Notes:

• To protect the tape and conserve battery power, the camcorder turns itself off if you pause the tape for mo re th an 5 minutes. To turn the camcorder back on, press

PAUSE

REC/

• For more information about recording with your camcorder, be sure to read all the sections under “Special Video Recording Features” on Page 18.

VIEWFINDER PLAYBACK

After you make a recording, you can play it back through the viewfinder. (Of course, you can also

STOP/EJECT

press in any VHS VCR).

, remove the tape, and play it

1. Slide

POWER

VCR

. The POWER indica-

tor lights.

2. Press

REWIND

to return the tape to the beginning or to the place where you want to begin playback. See “Digital Counter” on Page 21.

3. Press

PLAY

and watch the picture in the viewfinder. See “Special VCR Features” on Page 26.

Note: You cannot hear the tape’s audio recording during viewfinder playback. To hear sound, play the tape through a TV/ monitor or on a VCR. See “Connec ting the Camcorder to a TV” on Page 32.

4. Press

5. To remove the cassette, press

STOP/EJECT

to end playback.

STOP/EJECT

again. Note: Except when you are recording, you

can eject a cassette any time power is connected to the camcorder, whether or not the POWER indicator is lighted.

16-830 .fm Page 10 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

SELECTING A POWER SOURCE

You can power the camcorder from any of three sources — the sup plied battery pack, the supplied AC adapter/charger, or your vehicle’s battery (with an optional DC adapter, not supplied).

Your camcorder has a built-in recharge-

Note:

able battery in addition to the battery pack. This battery protects the camcorder’s date and time and any titles you created (see “Titler” on Page

22.). You should recharge this battery about every 2 months. To recharge the battery, slide

POWER to OFF

nected to the camcorder for about 24 hours.

and leave a powe r source con-

USING THE BATTERY PACK

You can power the camcorder using the supplied battery pack. Howe ver, you must charge the battery pack before you use it.

Charging the Battery Pack

Caution:

charger to charge the battery pack. Use of any other adapter/charger could damage the battery pack. Also, do not use the AC adapter/charger to charge any battery pack other than the type supplied.

Follow these steps to charge the battery pack with the supplied AC adapter/charger.

Use only the supplied AC adapter/

1. Make sure the auxiliary power cord is not connected to the AC adapter/charger.

The battery pack will not charge if the

Note:

auxiliary power cord is connected to the AC adapter/charger.

2. Align the marks on both sides of the battery pack with the marks on both sides of the AC adapter/charger.

3. Gently press the battery pack against the AC adapter/charger, then slide the battery pack toward you until it locks into place.

Caution:

way onto the AC adapter/charger. Do not force it.

4. Plug the AC adapter/charger ’s power cord into a standard AC outlet. The POWER and CHARGE indicators on the AC adapter/ charger light, and charging begins. When the battery pack is fully charged, the CHARGE indicator turns off.

Caution:

it cools before connecting it to the AC adapter/charger. Otherwise, the CHARGE indicator might not light.

Notes:

• If the POWER and CHARGE indicators

on the AC adapter/charger flash, remo ve the battery pack from the AC adapter/ charger, then re-attach it. If both indicators continue to flash, you need a new battery pack.

The battery pack fits only one

If the battery pack is hot, wait until

To AC Outlet

Alignment Marks

• It takes about 2 ho urs to fully charge the

battery pack, but th e exac t c harging time depends on the ambient temperature and the condition of the battery pack.

5. When the battery pack is fully charged, remove it from the AC a dapter/charger by sliding it away from you. Then disconnect the AC adapter/charger from the AC outlet.

▲

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Attaching the Battery Pack to the Camcorder

Alignment Marks

1. Align the marks on both sides of the battery pack with the marks on the sides of the camcorder.

2. Gently press the battery pack against the camcorder, then slide the battery pack down until it clicks and locks in place.

Caution:

way onto the camcorder. Do not force it.

The battery pack fits only one

tery pack. You might damage the tape if you remove the battery pack during rec ording or playback.

Battery Status Indicators

120050345089

When the battery pack is fully charged, appears in the viewfinder when you slide

CAMERA

As the battery’s power is used, appears in the viewfinder. When the battery is low, blinks in the viewfinder. Then, after a few seconds, the camcorder turns itself off. Recharge the battery pack or power the cam corder from the supplied AC ad apter/charger or an opt ional DC adapter.

You can order additional battery packs

Note:

from your local Radio Sha ck store so you can use one battery while you charge another.

▲

▲ ▲

▲

POW-

▲

Removing the Battery Pack from the Camcorder

BATTERY

1. Slide

POWER

corder.

2. While pressing and holding down slide the battery pack up to remove it.

Caution:

Always stop the t ape and turn off

the camcorder before you remove t he bat-

OFF

to turn off the cam-

BAT TERY

Replacing the Battery Pack While Recording

You can replace the battery pack with a fresh one while recording.

1. If flashes in the viewfinder during

2. If the camcorder is still on, slide

3. Remove the old battery pack and attach a

4. Slide

5. Press

▲

recording, press

REC/PAUSE

recording.

OFF

. The POWER indicator turns off.

Caution:

Be sure the POWER indicator is

off before you remove the battery pack.

fresh one.

POWER

CAMERA

. The POWER

indicator turn s o n.

REC/PAUSE

to continue recording

from the same place as before.

to stop

POWER

16-830 .fm Page 12 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

Battery Usage Hints

• Recording with many starts and stops, frequent zooming, and recording in low temperatures might shorten battery life. Be sure to slide

OFF

when not recording.

• Do not use the camcorder with a low or discharged battery pack attached. This might cause the camcorder to automatically stop during recording or playback, possibly damaging the tape, battery pack, and ca mcorder.

• The c amcorder consumes a small am ount of battery power even when

OFF

. If you are not going to use the ca mcorder for a long time, remove the battery pack from the camcorder.

• Recharge the battery pack immediately after you record. Leaving the battery discharged can damage it, preventing further recharging and use.

• If you recharged the battery pack then stored it for a long period of time, recharge it again before you con nect it to the camcorder. Batteries stored for an extended time lose some power, resulting in decreased battery life and recording time.

POWER

on the camcorder to

POWER

is set

USING THE AC ADAPTER/ CHARGER

1. Connect one end of the supplied auxiliary power cord to t he AC adapter/charger’s

OUTPUT

2. Connect the other end of the auxiliary power cord to the the camcorder.

3. Plug the AC adapter/charger ’s power cord into an AC outlet.

Caution:

specially designed for use with your camcorder. Never use it to power any other device

jack.

DC IN

jack on the back of

The supplied AC adapter/charger is

• Recharge the battery pack at least once every 6 months, even when it is not used.

• Store the battery pack in a dry, cool place.

Important:

able lead-acid battery. At the end of the battery’s useful life, it must be recycled or disposed of properly. Contact your local, county, or state hazardous waste management authorities for information on recycling or disposal programs in your area. Some options that might be available are: municipal curb-side collection, drop-off boxes at retailers, recycling collection c enters, and mailback programs.

This product contains a recharge-

16-830 .fm Page 13 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

USING AN OPTIONAL DC ADAPTER

You can use a DC adapter (CMC No. T16CC70A, not supplied) to power your camcorder.

Cautions:

• Your vehicle must have a 12-volt, negat iveground electrical system.

• The recomm ended DC adapter is specially designed for use with your camcorder. Never use it to power any other device.

• Use only the re commended D C adapter to power the camcorder from your vehicle. Using a DC adapter other than the recommended DC adapter could seriously damage your camcorder and the DC adapter.

• Always connect the DC adapter to the camcorder before you plug it into your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket, and unplug the DC adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket before you unplug it from the camcorder.

Follow these steps to power the camcorder from your vehicle’s battery:

1. Connect the DC adapter’s barrel plug to the

DC IN

jack on the back of the camcorder.

2. Plug the DC adapter into your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.

Notes:

• Be sure to p ush the plug c ompletely into

the cigarette-lighter socket.

• Be sure the socket is free from ashes

and other debris.

16-830 .fm Page 14 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

PREPARING THE CAMCORDER FOR USE

INSERTING/REMOVING A VIDEO CASSETTE

You can open the cassette compartm ent to insert/remove a video cassette whenever a power source is connected to the camcorde r, whether or not the camcorder is turned on.

1. Press compartment.

2. Insert a VHS cassette into the cassette compartment with the side label facing you and the spine label facing up, then gently press the cassette c ompartment door until it closes.

STOP/EJECT

to open the cassette

SETTING THE POWER SWITCH

While pressing and holding down the red button in the center of video recording or to POWER indicator lights.

POWER

Slide

POWER

OFF

to turn off the camcorder.

, slid e it to

VCR

for playback. The

CAMERA

OFF VIDEOCAM

POWER

for

PREPARING/ADJUSTING THE VIEWFINDER

Caution:

VHS video cassette into the cassette compartment.

To remove a cassette, press for the cassette compartment door to open, and pull out the cassette.

Caution:

storing the camcorder.

Never insert anything except a

STOP/EJECT

Always remove the cassette before

, wait

The camcorder’s viewfinder is s et to this position at the factory.

Before you carry the camc order by its shoulder strap or store it, return the viewfinder to this position (see “Setup” on Page 17).

16-830 .fm Page 15 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

Setup

Before you can use the camcorder, you must set up the viewfinder.

1. Rotate the viewfinder support until it stops, as shown.

Caution:

only 90°. Do not force it past this point.

2. Rotate the eyepiece about 180° until it stops, as shown.

The viewfinder support rotates

Adjustment

Once you set up the viewfin der, you can adjust the position of the viewfinder support and angle of the eyepiece, so you can see through the eyepiece easily.

1. Slide

POWER

2. To adjust the viewfinder support, slide it to the left or right until the eyepiece i s directly in front of your right eye.

3. To adjust the ey epie ce, rotate it up or down until you can see through it.

4. Turn the focus control on the right side of the eyepiece until the image is clear and sharp.

CAMERA

VCR

Caution:

The eyepiece rotates only about

225°. Do not force it past this point.

Focus C ont rol

16-830 .fm Page 16 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

SETTING/CHANGING THE DATE AND TIME

1. Slide

POWER

indicator lights.

2. If the currently set date does no t appear in the viewfinder, repeatedly press until the date appears and the mon th’s digit flashes.

If the month’s digit does not flash, press and hold down

STOP/EJECT

once.

CAMERA

DATE/TIME

. The POWER

▲

195191

▲

DATE/TIME

002:1

, then press

4. When the viewfinder shows the correct month, press

STOP/EJECT

. The day’s digit

flashes.

002:1

▲

19519

▲

5. Repeat Steps 3-4 to set the correct day, year, hour, minute, and AM (if the hour is an AM hour) or PM (if the hour is a PM hour).

6. When you have set the date and time, repeatedly press

DATE/TIME

to confirm the

information you set.

7. To change the displayed date and time, repeat Steps 2-6.

3. Repeatedly press

FAST-F

REWIND

move forward or backward through the months until the viewfinder shows the correct month. To quickly move forward or backward through the months, press and hold down

FAST-F or REWIND

16-830 .fm Page 17 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

ATTACHING THE SHOULDER STRAP

The shoulder strap provides a convenient way to c a rr y t he c am c o rd e r w hen i t is not in use. You can also use it as a safety strap when you use the camcorder.

To attach the shoulder strap, slide

OFF

, then attach each end of the strap as

shown.

POWER

Cautions:

• Use only the supplied shoulder strap with this camcorder.

• Do not swing the camcorder from the shoulder strap.

• Replace the lens cap while carrying the camcorder with the shoulder strap.

16-830 .fm Page 18 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

SPECIAL VIDEO RECORDING FEATURES

AUTO FOCUSING

The automatic focusing feature lets you concentrate on recording great videos without having to worry about whether or not they are properly focused.

The camcorder detects the distance from the camcorder to the object you see in the center of the viewfinder, then sets the focus for that distance. When you move the camcorder, the camcorder continuously adjusts the focus to maintain the sharpest picture. Try to keep your desired subject in the middle of the viewfinder.

Notes:

• If the lens gets dirty, clean it with a soft tissue and lens-cleaning fluid.

• If the lens gets damp, dry it with a soft cloth or wait until the moisture evaporates.

• Always replace t he lens cap when you finish recording.

• The auto-focus sensor m ight not be abl e to focus on a subject when:

VARIABLE SPEED POWER ZOOM

The power-zoom feature lets you go from wideangle to telephoto shots at the touch of a button. During recording, press of your right hand. Press zoom out and

As you zoom out or in, a bar with an indicator appears on the left side of the viewfinder. The indicator moves up and down the ba r, showing the relative zoom position. The pressure you pla ce

and T controls the speed of the zoom. The harder you press corder zooms.

(telephoto) to zoom in.

or T with the fing ers

(wide-angle) to

and T, the faster the cam-

— You are taping in extremely low light. — You are taping in snow or fog. — Close and distant obj ects are both near

the center of the viewfinder.

— You are taping a long obj ect (such as a

fence rail) from its end.

— The scene includes several objects

equal distances apart. — Light reflects off the subject. — The focus point moves rapidly. — You are taping through a window.

MACRO FOCUSING

The camcorder’s macro focusing feature lets you shoot close up pictures (as little as 1 es away) of objects such as flowers, printed material, or photos in your family album.

To use macro focus, press and hold down (see “Variable Speed Power Zoom” above) until you see the widest p ossible angle in the viewfinder, then aim the camcorder at the object you are shooting. In most cases, the ca mcorder a utomatically focuses on the subject.

Notes

• Since macro focus exaggerates even the slightest movement of the camcorder or subject, we recommend that you set the camcorder on a tripod while using macro focus.

/4 inch-

16-830 .fm Page 19 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

• For the be st possib le resolution while us ing macro focus, be sure to shoot in a welllighted area.

DIGITAL ZOOM

The camcorder’s dig ital zoom feature automatically doubles the magnification of telephoto shots while you use variable speed power zoom.

To use digital zoom, simply continue to press and hold down press and hold down bles and the left side of the viewfinder.

Notes:

• The su bject yo u are m agni fying while us ing digital zoom might appear coarse. This is normal.

• Since digital zoom exaggerates even the slightest movement of the camcorder or subject, we recommend that you set the camcorder on a tripod while using digital zoom.

while you are zooming. As you

, the magnification dou-

ZOOM

appears above the in dicator on

The camcorder has the following fade options:

White fade:

The picture fades in/out from/to a

white screen. When you select this option,

appears in the upper left corner of the

viewfinder.

Fade In

Wipe fade:

The picture op ens/closes gradual ly from/to the center of a black screen. When you select this option, appears in the upper left corner of the viewfinder.

Fade In

Zoom fade:

The picture fades in/out while zooming from/to a white screen. When you select this option, appears in the upper left corner of the viewfinder.

Fade In

FADE IN AND FADE OUT

To give your recordings a professional look, the camcorder has three fade options.

To select a fade option and fade in or out, repeatedly press the camcorder is paused until the icon for the option you want appears. Then press

PAUSE

Note:

During fade, the recorded audio also

fades in/out along with the video.

FADE

during recording or while

REC/

16-830 .fm Page 20 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

REVIEW

This feature lets you quick ly review the last few seconds of a recording.

1. During recording, press the tape.

2. Press

REVIEW

appears in the viewfinder.

. The tape rewinds and pla ys

REC/PAUSE

to stop

the last few seconds of the tape, then stops the tape where the recording ends.

3. Press

REC/PAUSE

to resume recording

from that point.

CAMERA SEARCH

The camera search feature lets yo u review recorded portions of a tape and resume recording at the desired point on the tape. This lets you smoothly connect recorded scenes.

1. During recording, press the tape.

appears in the viewfinder.

2. Press and hold down ward, or

REWIND

3. When you see the approximate place on the tape where you want to start recording, continue to press and hold down

REWIND

release

for a few seconds more, then

FAST-F

REC/PAUSE

FAST-F

to stop

to se ar ch for -

to search backward.

FAST-F

REWIND

AUTO EXPOSURE

Depending on the brightness of the subject, the camcorder automatically sets it s shutter speed to one of the following speeds:

•1/60

•1/100

•1/120

•1/180

•1/250

•1/350

•1/500

•1/750

•1/1000

•1/1500

•1/2000

•1/4000

The iris in the camcorder’s lens also adjusts automatically in response to the shutter speed.

The camcorder displays

and the current shutter speed in the upper left corner of the viewfinder.

AUTOMATIC INDEX

Indexing makes it easy to find each recording on a tape using a VCR with the VHS Index Search System (VISS) feature.

PLAY

4. Press and hold down

to position the tape at the exact place where you want to start recording. When you locate the exact place, release

5. Press

REC/PAUSE

PLAY

to stop the tape.

to start recording at the

desired position on the tape.

Note

: For more information about VISS, refer to

your VCR’s owner’s manual. The camcorder automatically records VISS in-

dex signals when:

• You turn on the camcorder’s power within about 4 hours after you last turned it off, then start recording.

• You turn on the camcorder’s power after the date changed to the next day while the power was off, then start recording.

When the cam corder rec ords a VISS index si g-

INDEX

nal,

appears in the viewfinder until you

start recording.

16-830 .fm Page 21 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

RECORDING THE DA TE AND TIME ON A TAPE

You can select a date /time recording option by repeatedly pressing

DATE/TIME

press

DATE/TIME

. Each time you

, you see one of the following

options:

•

and the date

— the camcorder automatically records the date on the first 10 seconds of the first recording of the day.

Date only

•

— the camcorder continuously

records the date.

No date/time display

•

— the camcorder

does not record the date or time.

Time and date

•

— the cam corder continu-

ously records the date and time.

Notes:

• The camcorder records the same date

when: – You replace the cassette – You select another date/time opt ion, then

select the auto date option – The previous recording was less than 10

seconds long

• If the date changes whi le recording con-

tinues for more than 10 seconds, the

new date is recorded at the beginning of

the next recording.

DIGITAL COUNTER

The camcorder displays a digital tape counter in the upper right corner of the viewfinder during recording or playback. You can use this counter to mark and return to specific locations on a tape. The camcorder does not record the digital counter onto the tape.

3. Begin recording or playback of the tape.

4. Wh ile recording or playing back, if you see a place on the tape you might want to return to, note the counter reading at that point.

COUNTER MEMORY

This feature lets you rewind or fast-forward the tape to a specific point where you reset the tape counter to

1. Load a cassette into the camcorder, then slide counter appears in the viewfinder.

2. P ress counter in the viewfinder.

3. Begin recording or playback of the tape. When you see a scene you might want to return to, press to

4. Wh en you are ready to return to the location on the tape where y ou pressed follow these steps if you are recording:

a. Press b. Slide c. Press

If you are pla ying b ac k a t ape , pres s

EJECT

The tape rewinds or fast-forwards, then stops when the counter reaches

To rewind or fast-forward past the location on the tape where you pressed

WIND

0000

POWER

0000

, then press

FAST-F

DISPLAY

REC/PAUSE

POWER

REWIND

again.

CAMERA

VCR

. The

. M appears next to the

RESET

. The counter resets

RESET

VCR

FAST-F.

STOP/

REWIND

FAST-F

RESET

0000

, press

RE-

1. Load a cassette into the camcorder, then slide

POWER

CAMERA

VCR

. The

counter appears in the viewfinder.

2. Rewind the tape in the camcorder, then press

RESET.

The counter resets to

0000

16-830 .fm Page 22 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

TAPE REMAINING

9089

During recording and playback, the camcorder displays a bar below the tape counter in the viewfinder showing the amount of tape left on the loaded cassette. The camcorder displays remaining tape information in ranges from (the tape is at or near the beginning), (the tape is in or near the middle), to

(the tape is at or near the end).

The titler contains 47 different characters you can use to create titles.

Creating Titles

Follow these steps to create titles and save them in the camcorder’s mem ory (one title per page).

Note:

You cannot load or eject a cassette while

creating a title.

1. S lide

2. P r es s

POWER

TITLE

A flashing cursor appears in the viewfinder.

CAMERA

REVIEW DISPLAY RESET DATE

VCR

TITLE OFF VIDEOCAM DUBBING

/TIME

POWER

AUDIO/VIDEO

REW-PLAY

F.FWD+STO

PAGE

Notes:

• When there is less than 5 minutes of tape

TAPE END

left,

also flashes in the view-

finder.

• When you first record or play back a cassette, the camcorder displays for about 10 seconds. Then the bar changes to show the remaining amount of tape.

• The remaining tape bar disappears when you eject the cassette.

TITLER

You can easily c reate and record personalized titles on your recordings using the camcorder’s title r.

The camcorder stores up to two title “page s” in its memory. Once y ou st ore a title, you can display and record it onto a tape any time. Each title page can contain up to two lines of 16 characters each.

SHIFT

3. Rep eatedly press

to move the flas hing cursor to the place where you want to begin your title.

4. Select the first character of your title by repeatedly pressing

–

or + to move backward or forward through the characters until the viewfinder shows the correct character. To quickly move backward or forward through the characters, press and hold

– or

down

(sp

16-830 .fm Page 23 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

The characters appear in this order as you

press

(or in reverse order as you press –).

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9? ’. / , -; : < >!

)

ace

5. After you have selected the f irst character,

SHIFT

press

to move the flashing cursor to the place where you want the next character.

6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you complete the title.

The last character you select might

Note:

flash in the viewfinder, but it will not flash when you save it.

PAGE

7. If you like, you can press

then repeat

Steps 3-6 to create another title.

REVIEW DISPLAY RESET DATE

TITLE OFF VIDEOCAM DUBBING

/TIME

REW-PLAY

AUDIO/VIDEO

POWER

F.FWD+STO

PAGE

Editing T itl es

Follow these steps to change a title.

TITLE

1. P ress

. Then, if the title page you

want to correct does not appear, press

PAGE

to select the other title page.

SHIFT

2. Repeatedly press

to move forward through the characters until the incorrect character flashes.

–

3. Rep eatedly press

or + to move backward or forward through the characters until the viewfinder shows the correct character. To quickly move backward or forward through the characters, press and hold down

4. I f necessary, repeat Steps 2 and 3 to select and correct other characters.

Adding Titles While Recording

You can use the camcorder to superimpose (add) titles to your recordings while you record.

–

or +.

8. To save and review the titles you created,

TITLE

press

. The last title page you created appears, and the first character of the title flashes. To view the other title page (if you created one), press

PAGE

Notes:

• Your camcorder ’s built-in rechargeable battery protects the titles you created (see “Selecting a Power Source” on Page 12).

• The ca mcorder saves the t itles y ou creat ed when it automatically stops and turns itself off afte r 5 mi nute s.

You cannot use these steps to superim-

Note:

pose titles over material previously recorded. You can do this while you dub a tape. See “Adding Titles onto an Existing Recordi ng” on Page

31.

1. S lide

POWER

VCR

2. Locat e the position on the tape where you want to record a title.

3. S lide

4. P r es s

POWER

TITLE

CAMERA

. Then, if the title page you

want to record does not appear, press

PAGE

to select the other title page.

5. Press

REC/PAUSE

to start the title record-

ing. The camcorder sup erimposes the title you

selected over the scene you are recording.

6. When you want to stop recording the title

TITLE

onto the tape, press

. The title disap-

pears.

16-830 .fm Page 24 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

HINTS FOR MAKING BETTER VIDEO T APES

If you are not familiar with camera techniqu es, there are many books ab out the subject available at your local library. However, because the camcorder is so simple to use and tape can be used again and again, it is inexpensive to experiment and learn as you go.

The following information will get you started.

LIGHTING

Lighting should be u niform. T he camcorder can record in low-light conditions, but more light is usually better. The optimum brightness for topquality pictures is between 500 and 100,000 lux.

Caution:

camcorder. The heat can damage the camcorder.

The chart at right shows you the approximate brightness in different situations or from different light sources.

Do not place a light source near the

Typical Brightness of Common Situations

Brightness

(LUX)

100,000 Clear day at noon

65,000 Clear day at 10:00 AM 35,000 Clear day at 3:00 PM 32,000 Cloudy day at noon 25,000 Cloudy day at 10:00 AM

2,000 Cloudy day, one hour

after sunrise

1,000 Clear day, one hour

before sunset

1,000 Fluorescent light near

window

700-800 Factory floor

Situation

500-700 Sales counter in depart-

ment store

500 Bowling alley 400-500 Library 400-500 Office with fluorescent

lighting 400 Fluorescent desk lamp 250 Flashlight at 3 feet 100 Factory stairway

15-35 During intermission at

mov ie th eater

15-20 Cigarette lighter at 1 foot 10-15 Candles on birthday

cake at 8 inches

16-830 .fm Page 25 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

CAMCORDER MOVEMENT

When you move the camcorder while recording, do so slowly and steadily. Too much movement or fast movement make your recordings look awkward. A video camera tripod (such as Radio Shack Cat. No. 16-2017, not supplied) is a worthwhile investment for top-quality movie making.

ZOOM IN AND ZOOM OUT

As with mov ement, too much use of the camcorder’s zoom features can detract from your recordings. When you use variabl e speed power zoom and/or digital zoom, it is best to zoom in or zoom out in o ne smooth mot ion, not in several jerky motions.

If you use them sparingly, movements from side to side combined with zooms can be very effective in your video tapes.

16-830 .fm Page 26 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

SPECIAL VCR FEATURES

This section describes some of your camcorder’s special VCR features and functions.

Unless otherwise noted, you can use

Note:

these features only when

POWER

is set to

VCR

VISUAL SEARCH

Visual search lets you view a recording either forward or backward at a faster speed so you can find a specific section of the tape.

To search forward during playback, press

. To search backward during playback, press

REWIND

To stop visual search and p lay the tape, press

PLAY

Note:

visual search.

You cannot hear the tape’s sound during

FAST-

You cannot view the tape or hear the

Note:

tape’s so und w hil e y ou fas t- for war d a nd rewi nd it.

FREEZE FRAME

Freeze-frame lets you stop the tape to view a single frame.

To freeze a frame during playback, press

PAUSE

press

Notes:

. To return to the normal playback speed,

REC/P AUSE

• During freeze-frame, the picture quality is lower than during normal playback.

• If you leave the VCR in the freeze-frame mode for 5 minutes, the camcorder automatically stops playback to protect the tape.

again.

REC/

FAST FORWARD AND REWIND

To advance the tape quickly when it is stopped,

FAST-F

press it is stopped, press

. To rewind the tape quickly when

REWIND

FAST-F

REWIND

AUTO TRACKING

The camcorder automatically adjusts tracking when you play a tape. However, you can manually adjust the tracking if the camcorder’s picture is poor. Repeatedly press back to manually adjust the tracking.

The camcorder resets to auto tracking

Note:

when you load another tape.

or T during play-

16-830 .fm Page 27 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

DUBBING (COPYING) A TAPE

AUDIO

R L/MONO VIDEO

OUT

IN FROM

ANT

OUT TO

CH4

CH3

OUT

The process of recording from one audio/video device to another is called dubbing. You can connect the camcorder and the VCR together, then either:

• Use your camcorder to record the signal from the VCR

• Use your VCR to record the signal from the camcorder

Notes:

• Always use video quality shielded cables with phono-type connectors (such as Cat. No. 151540, not supplied) to connect the camcorder’s

AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN

jacks to your VCR.

• Do not use standard audio cables for this connection.

• You can monitor the dubbing on the T V connected to your VCR. See your VCR’s owner’s manual for more information.

If you want to use your camcorder to record from the VCR, see “Dubbing to the Camcorder” on Page

27. If you wa nt to use your VCR to record from the camc order, s ee “Dubbing from the Camcorder” on Page 28.

Dubbing to the Camcorder

Follow these steps to connect the camcorder to the VCR and copy a tape from the VCR to the camcorder.

Note:

You can also use this procedure t o rec ord broa dc asts from your c abl e box, satel lite receiver, or other audio/video source. Simply connect the camcorder’s jacks on the audio/video source (instead of the VCR) in Step 3.

AUDIO

and

VIDEO

jacks to the out put

16-830 .fm Page 28 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

1. Use a fingernail to pull down the cover on the camcorder ’s

AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN

jack

compartment to open it.

Caution:

OUT/IN

The cover on the

jack compartment is attached t o t he

AUDIO/VIDEO

camcorder. Do not try to remove it.

2. Connect the white plug on one end of the

AUDIO

cable to the camcorder’s

jack, then connect the yellow plug on the same end of the cable to the camcorder’s

VIDEO

jack.

3. Connect the whit e plug on the other end of the cable to the VCR’s

AUDIO OUT

jack. Then connect the yel low plug on the sam e end of the cable to the VCR’s

VIDEO OUT

jack.

6. Ins ert a cassette into the camcorder.

7. B egin playback on the VCR or audio/video source.

8. P ress

REC/PAUSE

on the camcorder to

start dubbing.

9. P ress

REC/PAUSE

on the camcorder to stop

dubbing.

Dubbing from the Camcorder

Follow these steps to connect the camcorder to the VCR and copy a tape from the camcorder to the VCR.

1. Use a f ingernail to pull down the cover on the camcorder ’s compartment to open it.

AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN

jack

4. Set

OUT/IN

5. Slide

AV OUT/IN

inside the

jack compartment to

IN OUT

POWER

CAMERA

AUDIO/VIDEO

Caution:

OUT/IN

jack compartment is attached to the

The cover on the

AUDIO/VIDEO

camcorder. Do not try to remove it.

2. Con nect the white plug on on e end of the

AUDIO

cable to the camcorder’s

jack, then connect the yellow plug on the same end of the cable to the camcorder’s

VIDEO

jack.

3. Con nect the white plug on the other end of the cable to the VCR’s AUDIO IN jack. If your VCR is a stereo VCR, use a Y-adapter (such as Cat. No. 42-2435) t o connect the white plug to both audio outputs. Then connect the yellow plug on the same end of the cable to the VCR’s VIDEO IN jack.

16-830 .fm Page 29 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

4. Set

OUT/IN

5. Slide

AV OUT/IN

inside the

jack compartment to

POWER

VCR

AUDIO/VIDEO

OUT

6. Insert a cassette into the camcorder.

7. Set your VCR to its audio/video mode. Some VCRs have a manual input-

Note:

select switch, while others automatically “sense” when you connect another audio/ video source to the VCR’s audio/video input jacks. Check your VCR’s owner’s manual for more information about your VCR.

PLAY

8. Press

on the camcorder to find the

portion of the tape you want to dub. Then

REC/PAUSE

press

to pause it.

9. Set the VCR to record, then press the

VCR’s record button to begin recording.

10. Press

REC/PAUSE

on the camcorder to play

the portion of the tape you want to dub.

11. Press

REC/PAUSE

on the camcorder to stop

dubbing.

Adding Titles onto an Existing Recording

6. When you see the scene where you want to record the title, press

TITLE

. The camcorder plays the title and superimposes it over the recording.

7. When you want to stop recording the title onto the tape, press

TITLE

. The title disap-

pears.

AUDIO EDITING

The camcorder’s audio e diting feature lets you record a new soundtrack onto a previously recorded tape without erasing the original picture.

When you use audio editing, you replace the audio on the tape with new sound. You can use sounds picked up by the camcorder’s built-in microphone or signals from an audio sourc e connected to the camcorder’s

Notes:

• If you connect an audio source, alway s use video quality shielded cables with phonotype connectors (such as Cat. No. 15-1540, not supplied) to connect the camcorder’s

AUDIO

jack to the audio source’s AUDIO

OUT jack.

AUDIO

jack.

You need a separate VHS VCR to super-

Note:

impose titles over an existing recording.

1. Connect the camcorder and VCR (see “Dubbing from the Camcorder” on Page

28.).

TITLE

2. Press

to select the title you want to record. Then, if the title you want to record does not appear, press

PA GE

to select the

other title page.

TITLE

3. Press

to remove the title from the

viewfinder. The title disappears.

4. Load a blank cassette, or o ne you want to record onto, into the VCR. Then set the VCR to its recording mode.

5. Load the cassette you want to record from

PLAY

into the camcorder, then press

to play

it back.

• Do not use a s tandard audio cable for this connection.

1. If you are n ot usin g the camcorder’s built-in microphone as an audio source, connect the audio source’s AUDIO OUT jack to the camcorder’s

AUDIO

jack.

16-830 .fm Page 30 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

2. Set

OUT/IN

AV OUT/IN

inside the

jack compartment for the audio

AUDIO/VIDEO

source you chose:

IN OUT

• If you are using the built-in microphone,

AV OUT/IN

set

OUT

• If you are using an audio source con-

AUDIO

nected to the camcorder’s

AV OUT/IN

set

3. Slide

POWER

to IN.

VCR

jack,

4. Insert a cassette into the camcorder.

PLAY

5. Press

on the camcorder to find the portion of the tape where you want to start audio dubbing. Then press

REC/PAUSE

pause it.

6. Press

PLAY

DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO

and together once. appears in the viewfinder.

Note:

viewfinder, press

PLAY

If does not appear in the

STOP/EJECT

DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO

and

, then press

together

once to continue.

7. If you are not using the camcorder’s built-in microphone as an audio source, start the audio source.

8. To start audio dubbing, press

REC/PAUSE

on the camcorder.

9. Press

STOP/EJECT

on the camcorder to

stop dubbing.

Notes:

• To set the position where you want to end audio dubbing, start playback of the tape,

DISPLAY

press

on the camcorder at the

point where you want to end audio, then start the dubbing process.

• To prevent feedback squeals, turn down the volume control on any TV or TV/monitor connected to the camcorder.

AUDIO/VIDEO EDITING

When you use audio/v ideo editing, you can replace the audio and vi deo on a tape with new sound and pictures.

You can use sounds picked up by the camcorder’s built-in microphone or signals from an audio source connected to the camcorder’s jack. You can use pictures taken by the camera or signals from a video source connected to the camcorder’s

VIDEO

jack.

Notes:

• If you connect an audio/video source, always use video quality shielded cables with phono-type connectors (such as Cat. No. 15-1540, not supplied) to conn ect the camcorder’s

AUDIO

and

VIDEO

source’s AUDIO OUT and VIDEO OUT jacks.

• Do not use standard audio cables for this connection.

1. If you are n ot usin g the camcorder’s built-in microphone as an audio source, connect the audio source’s AUDIO jack to the camcorder’s

2. S et

OUT/IN

AUDIO

jack.

AV OUT/IN

inside the

jack compartment for the video

source you chose.

• If you are using the camcorder’s lens, set

AV OUT/IN

OUT

• If you are using a video source con-

nected to the camcorder’s

AV OUT/IN

set

3. S lide

POWER

to IN.

VCR

AUDIO

jacks to the

AUDIO/VIDEO

VIDEO

jack,

16-830 .fm Page 31 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

4. Insert a cassette into the camcorder.

PLAY

5. Press

on the camcorder to play the tape to the point where you want audio/ video dubbing to end. Then press

PAUSE

to pause it.

6. Press

DISPLAY

appears in the view-

finder next to the tape counter. Then press

RESET

7. Press

to reset the tape counter to

REWIND

to rewind the tape pas t the

0000

point where you want to start audio/video dubbing, then press

PLAY

. When you see the point of the tape where you want to start audio/video dubbing, press

PAUSE

8. Press

PLAY

DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO

and together twice. and the picture you are dubbing appear in the viewfinder.

If you accidentally press

Note:

DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO

together only

PLAY

once, appears in the viewfinder instead. If this happens, s imply press

DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO

and

together again.

REC/

and

PLAY

9. Press

REC/PAUSE

on the camcorder.

Audio/video dubbing begins. When the tape counter shows

0000

camcorder automatically stops the tape, and video and audio dubbing stop.

Notes:

• To prot ect the tape and c onserve ba ttery power, the camcorder automatically stops and turns itself off if left in the record/pause mode for more than 5 minutes.

• To p revent feedback squeals, turn down the volume control on any TV or TV/ monitor connected to the camcorder.

10. Press

STOP/EJECT

on the camcorder to

stop audio/video dubbing at any time.

, the

16-830 .fm Page 32 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

CONNECTING THE CAMCORDER TO A TV

USING A TV FOR PLAYBACK

There are many different types of TVs and ways to connect them to your camcorder. This section describes the most common set ups.

Notes:

• If your TV doesn’t m atch any of the examples provided, contact your local Radio Shack store for assistance.

• Turn off power to the camcorder and TV when making connections. Do not power the camcorder until you complete all other connections.

TV with Audio/Video (A/V) Jacks

Caution:

OUT/IN

The cover on the

jack compartment is attached to the

AUDIO/VIDEO

camcorder. Do not try to remove it.

2. Con nect the white plug on on e end of the

AUDIO

cable to the camcorder’s

jack, then connect the yellow plug on the same end of the cable to the camcorder’s

VIDEO

jack.

3. Con nect the white plug on the other end of the cable to the TV’s AUDIO IN jack. If your TV is a stereo TV, use a Y-adapter (such as Cat. No. 42-2435) to connect the white plug to both audio inpu ts. Then conne ct the yel low plug on the s ame end of the cable to the TV’s VIDEO IN jack.

4. S et

AV OUT/IN

jack compartment to

inside the

AUDIO/VIDEOOUT/

OUT

If your TV has audio/video (A/V) input jacks, you can connect your camcorder directly t o the TV so you can play and watch video tapes.

If your TV does not have audio/video jacks, see “Standard TV” on Page 33.

Use video quality shielded cables with phonotype connectors (such as Cat. No. 15-1540, not supplied) to connect the camcorder’s

VIDEO IN/OUT

Do not use standard audio cables for this

Note:

jacks to your TV’s input jacks.

AUDIO/

connection. Follow these steps to connect the camcorder to

the TV.

1. Use a fingernail to pull down the cover on the camcorder’s

AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN

jack

compartment to open it.

16-830 .fm Page 33 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

Standard TV

UHF IN VHF IN

75-ohm 300-ohm

To connect the camcorder to a standard TV (with only VHF and UHF terminals), you need an RF adapter kit (CMC No. T16-RF71A, not supplied). The RF adapter kit includes:

• RF converter

• 300-to 75-ohm matching transformer

• 75-ohm ante nna cable

1. Use a f ingernail to pull down the cover on the camcorder ’s

AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN

jack

compartment to open it.

Caution:

OUT/IN

The cover on the

jack compartment is attached to the

AUDIO/VIDEO

camcorder. Do not try to remove it.

2. Connect the RF converter’s plug to the camcorder’s

VIDEO, RF DC OUT

, and

AUDIO

jacks.

Cautions:

• Use on ly the recommended RF adapter kit with this camcorder. You ca n order the kit from your local Radio Shack store.

• The RF converter is a sealed uni t. Do not attempt to open or modify it.

• Do not damage or drop the RF converter or subject it to mechanical vibration.

• Unplug the RF converter during lightning storms.

Notes:

• You do not have to disconnect the RF converter when you watch TV broadcasts. Simply set the TV’s tuner as usual.

• Unless your antenna is VHF-only (you receive Channels 2-13 only), you also need a band-splitter (such as Cat. No. 15-1252, not supplied) to connect your cam corder to separate TV VHF/UHF terminals.

3. Set

OUT/IN

AV OUT/IN

inside the

jack compartment to

AUDIO/VIDEO

OUT

4. Disconnect the VHF antenna/cable wire from your TV and connect it to the RF co nverter’s

IN FROM ANT

jack:

• If the antenna/cable wire is the round,

75-ohm type, connect it directly to the jack.

• If the antenna/cable wire is the flat, 300-

ohm type, use another 300- to 75-ohm matching transformer (such as Ca t. No. 15-1253, not supplied) to connect the wire to the jack.

16-830 .fm Page 34 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

5. Using the supplied 7 5-ohm antenna cable , connect the RF converter’s

OUT TO TV

jack

to the TV’s VHF antenna terminal.

• If the TV’s VHF antenna terminal is the

round, 75-ohm type, connect the cable directly to the terminal.

• If the TV’s VHF antenna terminal is the

flat, 300-ohm type, use another matching transformer (such as Cat. No. 15-1253, not supplied) to connect the cable to the termi na l.

PLAYBACK

After you connect the camcorder to your TV, follow these steps to play a tape.

1. Turn on the TV, then:

• If you are using a TV with audio/video (A/V) ja cks, set it to the video mode.

• If you are using a standard TV, set the TV’s tuner to the same channel where you set

CHANNEL

or 4).

2. S lide

POWER

on the camcorder to

3. Ins ert a cassette into the camcorder.

PLAY

4. P ress

on the camcorder. The tape

plays on your TV .

5. Press

STOP/EJECT

again to remove the cassette.

on the RF converter (

VCR

to stop playback. Press

6. Set

CHANNEL

on the RF converter to 3 or 4.

16-830 .fm Page 35 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

TROUBLESHOOTING

If you follow the instructions in this manua l and still have t rouble operating your camcorder, refer to the following troubleshooting chart. If you still cannot solve the problem, take your camcorder to your local Radio Shack store for assistance.

FUNCTION PROBLEM POSSIBLE REASON SUGGESTION

POWER No power. • Safety devices are

functioning.

• The battery pack is not charged.

• The AC adapter/ charger is not correctly connected.

The camcorder turns off soon after you turn

The battery pack might be weak.

it on.

RECORDING Power on, but no

• Lens cap on. • Remove the lens

image in viewfinder.

Cannot record.

POWER

•

A/V OUT/IN

•

POWER

set to

VCR

set to

VCR

. Slide

• Disconnect the AC adapter/charger’s power cord, then plug it into the AC outlet again.

• Charge the battery pack.

• Reconnect the AC adapter/charger.

Recharge the battery pack and try again.

cap.

• Slide

•Set

ERA.

POWER

CAMERA.

A/V OUT /IN

OUT

POWER

CAM-

Poor color when tape

TV not properly adjusted. Adjust the TV. is played on a TV/ monitor.

Recording is fuzzy. • Poor lighting. • Use additional light-

ing.

• Dust or other foreign

• Clean the lens.

matter on lens.

16-830 .fm Page 36 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

FUNCTION PROBLEM POSSIBLE REASON SUGGESTION

PLAYBACK Image in viewfinder is

fuzzy.

No image appears on TV.

• Focu s control on the viewfinder must be adjusted.

• Viewfinder mu s t be reset.

• Camc order improperly connected to TV.

AV OUT/IN

•

set to IN.•Set

• TV’s tuner or TV/video switch not properly set.

• Adjust the focus control.

• Turn off the camcorder and disconnect the power sour c e . T h en, af te r about 1 minute, reconnect the power source. When the characters displayed in the viewfinder are clear, set the date and time.

• Reconnect properly.

AV OUT/IN

OUT

• Set TV’s tuner to channel 3 or channel 4 (if RF converter connected).

• Set TV’s TV/video switch to VIDEO (if A/V input used).

Poor color. TV not properly adjusted. Adjust the TV. Camcorder does not

play back in color on

• Tracking not properly adjusted.

• Adjust the tracking.

your TV.

• Old or worn tape. • Use a new tape.

Broken image. • The battery pack might

be weak.

• Recharge the battery pack.

• Old or worn tape. • Use a new tape.

Cassette cannot be inserted.

• Cassette is not right side up or is backwards.

• Another cassette already loaded in camcorder.

• Check cassette positioning and reinsert.

• Eject the cassette and insert the new cassette.

16-830 .fm Page 37 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

FUNCTION PROBLEM POSSIBLE REASON SUGGESTION

PLAYBACK (continued)

Cassette will n ot eject and power will not turn off.

No tape movement in fast-forward mode.

No tape movement in rewind mode.

Camcorder is recording. Press

stop the tape and try again.

Tape is already completely wound.

Rewind the tape to the desired point.

Fast-forward the tape to the desired point.

REC/PAUSE

16-830 .fm Page 38 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Your Optimus Model 130 MovieCorder camcorder is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for the camcorder so you can enjoy it for years.

Keep the camcorder dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids can contain minerals that corrode electronic circuits.

Use and store the camcorder only in normal temperature environments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic devices, damage b atteries, and distort or melt plastic parts.

Handle the camcorder gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage circuit boards and cases, and cause it to work improperly.

Keep the camcorder away from dust and dirt, which can cause premature wear of parts.

Wipe the camcorder with a damp

CLEANER

cloth occasionally to keep it looking new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to clean it.

HANDLING

• Remove the cas sette tape and turn off the power when the camcorder is not in use.

• Avoid shocks and drops. Do not drop or otherwise subject the camcorder to hard shocks or strong vibrations. Bumping or striking the unit during recording g enerates noise in the recorded image.

• To protect the lens, always replace the le ns cap when the camcorder is not in use. Do not touch the lens surface with your hand.

• Do not point the camcorder lens or the viewfinder eyepiece at the sun, whether recording is in progress or not. Direct sunlight can make recording impossible, burn the CCD imager, and damage the camcorder beyond repair. Be particularly careful when recording outside.

• Do not use the camcorder in excessive temperatures and humidity. You can use the camcorder between 32° F and 104 ° F and between 35% and 80% relative humidity.

• Do not store the unit in an unventilated car in the summer, in direct sunlight, or near strong heat sources. This can result in severe damage to the camcorder’s case and electronic circuits.

• Avoid magnetic sources. Using the camcorder near strong fluorescent lights, motors, televisions, or other magnetic sources can adversely affect recorded images.

• Avoid situations where water, sand, dust or other foreign matter could get on or inside the camcorder. Such substances could cause malfunctions.

Modifying or tampering with the camcorder’s internal components can cause a malfunction and might invalidate its warranty and void your FCC authorization to operate it. If your camcorder is not performing as it should, tak e it to your local Radio Shack store for assistance.

• Do not use or leave the camcorder in areas with excessive smoke, steam, dust, or moisture. Such environments can cause dew to form on the camcorder’s lenses. Be sure to provide ample ventilation.

16-830 .fm Page 39 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

• Do not use the cam corder on its side. The tape might not wind properly and might jam.

• Some small, portable tripods migh t be di fficult to connect and might not be sturdy enough to support your camcorder. Be sure to use only a strong, stable tripod.

SERVICING YOUR CAMCORDER

Except as noted in this owner’s manual, there are no user-serviceable parts inside your camcorder. If you encounter a problem that you cannot correct using this owner’s manual and its troubleshooting guide or the sections below, take the camcorder to your local Radio Shack store for assistance.

• To clean the camcorder’s lens and optical elements, use air blowers and lens papers designed for photographic lenses.

• To clean the picture tube face and lens inside the eyepiece, press a nd hold down the cover’s tab on the back of the eyepiece, then open the cover.

though the audio signal is clear. Head cl eaning must be done by an experienced camcorder technician. If the camcorder’s heads become dirty, contact your local Radio Shack store for assistance.

ERASE PROTECTION

Video cassettes have an erase-protection tab to prevent accidental erasure of a tape. If the erase-protection tab is missing, the camcorder cannot record on the tape.

If you try to record on a tape with the erase-protection tab missing, finder.

If you want to record on a video cass ette that has had its tab removed, put a piece o f heavy plas tic tape over the erase-protection tab hole.

TAPE

appears in the view-

Caution:

able. Do not try to remove it from the eyepiece. Clean the picture tube face and lens using a soft

non-abrasive cloth, swab, or lens cleaning paper. When you finish cleaning, close the cover.

The eyepiece’s cover is not remov-

CLEANING THE VIDEO HEADS

The camcorder’s video heads require cleaning from time to time. Dirty video heads can cause the playback picture to become blurred even

STORING YOUR VIDEO CASSETTES

Eject and store the cassette when you finish using it. This helps protect the cassette and the camcorder’s internal mechanisms from dust.

Place your video cassettes in their protective boxes and store them in a cool, dry, dust-free environment. Store the cassettes on end, not on their sides. This prevents improper settling of the cassette’s spools.

Note:

Tape can become wound too tightly around the cassette’s spools after numerous recordings and playbacks. This can cause the cassette to improperly load when you insert it.

16-830 .fm Page 40 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

On most cassettes there is a brake-release plunger on the bottom center of the cassette. Use the tip of a pen or pencil to press the plunger. This loosens the tape.

Brake-Release Plunger

THE FCC WANTS YOU TO KNOW

This device complies with Part 15 of Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

FCC Rules

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

• Increase the distance between the equipment and the radio or TV

• Use outlets on different electrical circuits for the equipment and the radio or TV

Consult your local Radio Shack store if the problem still e xis ts .

You must use shielded interface cables with this equipment.

Modifying or tampering with the camcorder’s internal components can cause a malfunction and might invalidate the camcorder’s warranty and void your FCC authorization to operate it. If your camcorder is not performing as it should, take it to your local Radio Shack Store for assistance.

This equipment complies with the limits for a Class B digital device as specified in Part 15 of

FCC Rules

protection against radio and TV interference in a residential area. However, your equipment migh t ca us e TV or radi o int erf e renc e ev en whe n it is operating properly. To eliminate interference, you can try one or more of t he following corrective measures:

. These limits provide reasonable

16-830 .fm Page 41 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

SPECIFICATIONS

Signal System ....................................... ....... ....... .......NTSC-Type Standard Color and Monochrome

Recording System........................................................................................................VHS Standard

Tape Width ............................................................................................................ 1/ 2 Inch (12.7 mm)

Tape Speed ....................................................................................SP (1.31 Inch/sec... (33.35 mm/s)

Maximum Recording/Playback Time...................................................160 Minutes (with T-160 Tape)

Pickup Device...........................CCD Image Sensor (approx. 270,000 pixels including optical black)

Lens.................................................. ....... .........F1.6-F3.2 12x Power Zoom, Full-Range Auto-Focus

Lens Filter Diameter.................................................................................................................46 mm

Viewfinder...........................................................................................0.6 Inch B/W CRT with Diopter

Microphone.................................................................................Omnidirectional Electret Condenser

Color Temperature Compensation ..............................Auto White Balance with White Balance Lock

Minimum Ill u mi nation............... ......... .......... .......................................... ........................ .............. 1 Lux

Video Output Level..............................................................................1 .0 Vp-p Comp osite, 75 Ohm s

Audio Output Level.................................................................................316 mV, less than 1 K Ohms

Power Requireme n t............ .......... ........................................................... ....................... .......9.6 Volts

Battery Power Supplied............................................ .. ....... .......... ....... .. .......... ....... .. ....... ........10 Volts

DC Power Consumption..........................................................................................................7 Wat ts

Dimensions (approx.) ............................................. 8

Camcorder Weight (approx.)........................................................ 4 lbs 3 oz (2.0 kg) (without battery)

Battery Weight (approx.)................................................................ .................................1 lb (0.56 kg)

/2 x 4 3/8 x 12 1/4 Inches HWD (without battery)

(205 x 111 x 311 mm)

Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to change and improvement without notice.

16-830 .fm Page 42 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

NOTES

16-830 .fm Page 43 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

16-830 .fm Page 44 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM

RADIO SHACK LIMITED WARRANTY

This product is warranted against defects for 90 days from date of purchase from Radio Shack company-owned stores and authorized Radio Shack fra nchis ees and dealer s. Withi n this pe riod, we will repa ir it without char

slip

not cover transportation costs. Nor does it cover a product subjected to misuse or accidental dama EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RADIO SHACK MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND A NY IMPLI ED WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIES CONTAINED HEREIN. Some states do not permit limitation or exclusion of implied warranties; therefore, the aforesaid limitation(s) or ex clusion(s) may not appl y to the purchaser.

This warranty gives you spe cific legal rights and you m ay also h ave other rights which vary from state to state.

e for parts and labor. Simply

as proof of purchase date to any Radio Shack store. Warranty does

bring your Radio Shack sales

We Service W hat We Sell

9/94

RADIO SHACK

A Division of Tandy Corporation

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

6A5 Printed in Mal aysia

Radio Shack 16-830 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual