Sanyo VPC-GH4, VPC-GH3GX, VPC-GH3, VPC-GH3PX User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

VPC-GH3EX VPC-GH3GX

Dual Camera

VPC-GH3PX VPC-GH3TA VPC-GH4

Important note

This manual explains how to safely operate the VPC-GH3EX, VPC-GH3GX, VPC-GH3PX, VPC-GH3TA and VPC-GH4. Any information regarding only one of these products will be labeled as such.

Please read these instructions carefully before using the camera. Make sure to read and understand the separate booklet “SAFETY MANUAL”. Keep this manual in a safe place for later reference.

HOW TO READ THIS MANUAL

For first-time users

Please read the sections on “SETUP” and “SIMPLE” in this manual to familiarize yourself with your camera’s operation.

↓

To use the various camera features

Please read the sections on “NORMAL” and “OPTION SETTINGS” in this manual. To connect the camera to a computer or view images on a TV, please read the section on “OTHER DEVICES AND CONNECTIONS” in this manual.

↓

To use additional features

Visit the Sanyo website to learn how to adjust the camera settings for various shooting scenes. There you’ll also find information about the software for playing back data recorded with your camera and for burning (recording) DVDs (page 153).

You may find the answers to questions or problems concerning camera operation in the sections “COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS” (page 163) and “TROUBLESHOOTING” (page 171).

Symbols used in this manual

HINT Points giving some extended instructions or special points to pay

CAUTION Points that require special attention. (page xx) Refer to the page indicated for detailed information.

attention to.

i English

SHOOT, PLAY BACK AND SAVE

2 Open

3 Insert the battery pack.

4 Close the battery cover.

Battery cover

1 Push out

Preparing the camera

1 Insert the battery pack.

▲

About saving your recorded data

h If you wish to use an SD Memory Card, refer to page 25 to install the

card in the camera.

h An SD Memory Card is not included with your camera. Please

purchase a commercially sold card.

h This camera has an internal memory, so you can shoot and record

without an SD Memory Card installed.

English ii

Shooting

15 000:00:17

Full-HD

ON/OFF button

[ ] button

[] button

MENU button

1 Press the ON/OFF button

for at least 1 second to turn the camera on.

h If the screen to set the

date and time appears, press the MENU button 2 times to cancel it.

For how to set the date and time, see page 33.

2 Record.

To record a video clip:

h Press the [ ] button to

begin recording a video clip.

h Press the [ ] button

again to end the recording.

To take a photo:

h Press the [ ] button. h A still image is captured.

iii English

Before capturing those important shots, be sure to first take a

Full-HD

100-0006

00:00:05

6.5MB

REC/PLAY button

Remaining battery

power indication

Orange frame

SET button

Arrow keys

test shot to confirm that your camera is set up and ready to go

Sanyo declines any claim for compensation for recorded contents etc. in case of photographing or recording failure due to a chance camera or card flaw.

Playback

Press the REC/PLAY button.

The display changes to the Playback Screen.

Select the image to play back.

h Use the arrow keys to

move the orange frame to the image you wish to play back.

h The image information

for the framed image is shown in the bottom part of the monitor.

English iv

3 Press the SET button.

h Press the REC/PLAY button.

When you are finished using the camera...

Press the ON/OFF button for at least 1 second to turn the camera off.

v English

Copy data from your camera to the computer

SET

USB CONNECTION

COMPUTER PRINTER

CANCEL

CANCEL OK

To USB/AV terminal

Supplied dedicated USB interface cable

To USB connector

Connect your camera to a computer, and copy the desired data to the computer.

1 Turn on the computer, and use the supplied dedicated USB interface

cable to connect your camera to the computer.

h Connect the cable between the camera’s USB/AV terminal and the

computer’s USB connector.

2 Turn on the camera (page 30).

h The USB Connection Screen appears on the camera’s monitor.

English vi

3 Select “COMPUTER”, and press the SET button.

h The screen to select the

computer connection mode appears.

USB CONNECTION

CARD READER MTP SCREEN CAPTURE PC CAMERA CANCEL

4 Select “CARD READER”, and press the SET button.

h The message [Found New Hardware] appears in the task tray,

showing that the camera is recognized as a drive.

h The card is recognized (mounted) as a disk, and the [XACTI (E:)] icon

appears in the [My Computer] window. h The drive name (E:) may be different on your computer.

h Click on [Exit] to cancel the access menu.

5 Select an action.

h If the [XACTI (E:)] window appears automatically, select the desired

procedure from the window.

6 Copy files from the camera to a computer.

vii English

Dismounting the camera

CAUTION

i To disconnect your camera, be sure to follow the procedure below. Failure

to follow this procedure may cause faulty operation of your computer or corrupt the files in your camera.

1 Left-click on the icon for safely removing hardware in the task tray.

h A list appears showing the devices connected to the computer’s USB

connector.

2 Left-click on the camera drive (E:).

h The camera can now be disconnected.

h The drive name (E:) may be different on your computer.

No software is included with this camera. Please visit our website to obtain the available software.

English viii

CONTENTS

HOW TO READ THIS MANUAL ............................................................. i

QUICK SEARCH BY OPERATION ........................................................ 6

CHECKING THE INCLUDED ACCESSORIES .................................... 11

How to use the accessories .......................................................... 13

ABOUT THE CARD ............................................................................. 15

Media cards that can be used with this camera ............................ 15

What “card” means in this manual ................................................15

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CAMERA ............................... 16

High-quality images with “Full High Definition*” ............................ 16

Includes SIMPLE mode for quick-and-easy operation ..................17

Image stabilizer for sharp pictures ................................................ 17

Capture clear images of the targeted subject ............................... 18

Eye-Fi smart ................................................................................. 18

SYSTEM MAP ..................................................................................... 19

 SETUP

PARTS NAMES ................................................................................... 20

CHARGING THE BATTERY PACK ..................................................... 22

Charging the battery pack ............................................................. 23

INSTALLING THE CARD ..................................................................... 25

INSTALLING THE BATTERY PACK .................................................... 27

About the temperature alert icon \ .......................................... 29

TURNING THE CAMERA ON AND OFF ............................................. 30

Turning on the camera .................................................................. 30

Turning off the camera .................................................................. 30

Turning on the camera when the power save (sleep) mode is

active ........................................................................................ 31

DATE AND TIME SETTING ................................................................. 33

SWITCHING BETWEEN THE RECORDING MODE AND PLAYBACK

MODE .............................................................................................. 36

SWITCHING THE OPERATING MODE .............................................. 37

Switching between the SIMPLE and NORMAL modes ................ 37

Accessing/exiting the SIMPLE/NORMAL Mode Menu Screen ..... 38

Overview of the SIMPLE Mode Setting Screen ............................ 43

Overview of the NORMAL Mode Setting Screen .......................... 47

1 English

 SIMPLE

SHOOTING

BEFORE TAKING PICTURES .............................................................55

For best results .............................................................................. 55

Using the autofocus .......................................................................56

Select the recording size ...............................................................59

Select the focus setting ................................................................. 60

Hints for taking pictures .................................................................61

VIDEO CLIP RECORDING ...................................................................62

SHOOTING SINGLE SHOTS ...............................................................63

Using the flash ...............................................................................66

SHOOT A STILL IMAGE WHILE RECORDING A VIDEO CLIP ..........68

MACRO-PHOTOGRAPHY (ZOOM) .....................................................70

PLAYBACK

PLAYING BACK VIDEO CLIPS AND STILL IMAGES ..........................72

How to save one frame from a video clip as a still image .............75

SLIDESHOW PLAYBACK ....................................................................76

PLAYBACK VOLUME ...........................................................................77

DELETING FILES .................................................................................78

Delete single/delete all/delete folder .............................................78

Delete selected ..............................................................................79

PLAYBACK MODES .............................................................................81

21-image display playback ............................................................81

Selecting the playback folder ........................................................82

Magnifying (zooming in) the image ...............................................83

English 2

 NORMAL

SHOOTING

RECORDING MENU 1 ......................................................................... 84

Video setting ................................................................................. 84

Still image setting ..........................................................................88

Scene select setting ...................................................................... 89

Filter setting .................................................................................. 89

Self-timer setting ........................................................................... 90

RECORDING MENU 2 ......................................................................... 91

Motion compensation (image stabilizer) setting ............................91

Focus range setting ...................................................................... 92

Focus mode setting ...................................................................... 93

Light-measuring mode setting ...................................................... 93

ISO sensitivity setting ................................................................... 94

RECORDING MENU 3 ......................................................................... 95

White balance setting ................................................................... 95

Subject chaser settings ................................................................. 96

High sensitivity mode setting ........................................................ 99

Digital zoom setting ...................................................................... 99

Exposure compensation ............................................................. 100

Storage folder setting .................................................................. 101

PLAYBACK

PLAYBACK MENU 1 ......................................................................... 102

Slideshow settings ...................................................................... 102

File protect setting ...................................................................... 103

Resize ......................................................................................... 105

Rotate ......................................................................................... 105

PLAYBACK MENU 2 ......................................................................... 106

Correcting the image .................................................................. 106

Editing video clips ....................................................................... 107

Printing instructions .................................................................... 116

FILE INFO DISPLAY .......................................................................... 120

3 English

 OPTION SETTINGS

DISPLAY THE OPTION SETTING MENU .........................................121

INTRODUCTION TO THE OPTION SETTING MENU .......................122

Shortcut setting ...........................................................................128

TV output setting .........................................................................131

File No. continued setting ............................................................135

Formatting (initializing) ................................................................137

CHECKING THE REMAINING CARD MEMORY ...............................138

Checking the remaining number of images and

video recording time ................................................................138

For audio recordings ...................................................................139

CHECKING THE REMAINING BATTERY PACK CHARGE ..............140

 OTHER DEVICES AND CONNECTIONS

CONNECTING TO A COMPUTER

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT ...........................................................142

When using as a card reader ......................................................142

To access the files in the internal memory ..................................142

SETTING THE CONNECTION MODE ...............................................143

USING AS A CARD READER ............................................................146

For Windows Vista/XP/7 users ....................................................146

For Windows 2000 users (except for the SDXC card) ................147

For Mac OS X users ....................................................................148

ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE CARD .........................................149

Configuration of directories in the card ........................................149

File formats ..................................................................................149

Cautions when using as a card reader ........................................150

USING AS A PC CAMERA .................................................................152

For Windows XP ..........................................................................152

Using as a PC camera ................................................................152

USING THE SOFTWARE ...................................................................153

Obtaining the software ................................................................154

English 4

CONNECTING TO A TV

CONNECTING TO A TV .................................................................... 156

Connecting to a video input terminal .......................................... 157

Connecting to the HDMI terminal ................................................ 157

PLAYING BACK ON A TV ................................................................. 158

CONNECTING TO A PRINTER

PRINTING .......................................................................................... 159

OTHER CONNECTIONS

SCREEN CAPTURE .......................................................................... 162

 APPENDICES

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ................................................... 163

TROUBLESHOOTING ....................................................................... 171

Camera ....................................................................................... 171

Notes regarding the Scene Select feature and filters ................. 179

SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................. 181

Camera ....................................................................................... 181

Camera connectors .................................................................... 185

Battery life ................................................................................... 185

Possible No. of Images/Possible Shooting Time/

Possible Recording Time ....................................................... 186

Concerning the multi-indicator .................................................... 187

Supplied battery pack charger .................................................... 188

Supplied Li-ion battery pack ....................................................... 188

Others ......................................................................................... 189

Before capturing those important shots, be sure to first take

a test shot to confirm that your camera is set up and

ready to go ............................................................................. 190

About the MPEG-4 Standard license ..........................................190

HINTS FOR TAKING PICTURES ...................................................... 191

5 English

QUICK SEARCH BY OPERATION

Your camera has an abundance of convenient features and functions. From creating precisely the photo you want, to viewing images using various techniques, you can locate the exact operation for your purposes in the following table.

Shooting/recording

Basic operation Convenient functions Additional functions

Getting started shooting/recording

• “VIDEO CLIP RECORDING” on page 62

• “SHOOTING SINGLE SHOTS” on page 63

• “Sequential shots” on page 88

• “Audio recording” on page 84

Optimize the photo quality

• “Select the recording size” on pages 44 and

59.

• “Video setting” on pages 48 and 84

• “Still image setting” on pages 48 and 88

Capture fast-moving subjects

• “Scene select” (sports mode) on page 48

Suppress camera shake effect

• “Motion compensation (image stabilizer) setting” on pages 50 and 91

Log the date and time of your photos

• “DATE AND TIME SETTING” on page 33

Zoom in on the subject

•“MACROPHOTOGRAPHY (ZOOM)” on page 70

Close-up photography

• “Focus range” (super macro mode) on pages 44 and 50

• “Select the focus setting” (super macro mode) on page 60

Set the camera’s color/contrast characteristics

• “Image quality setting” on page 125

For more accurate focus

• “How to use the manual focus” (manual focus) on page 92

Set the focus to a narrow range

• “Focus mode setting” on page 93

Reduce noise when recording

• “NOISE REDUCTION setting” on page 125

English 6

Shooting/recording

Basic operation Convenient functions Additional functions

Shoot in dark conditions

• “Exposure compensation” on page 100

• “Using the flash” on pages 44, 48 and 66

• “Scene select setting” (night view portrait mode/fireworks mode/lamp mode) on pages 48 and 89

Increase the camera’s sensitivity

• “ISO sensitivity setting” on pages 50 and 94

• “High sensitivity mode setting” on pages 52 and 99

Photographing people

• “Scene select setting” (portrait mode/night view portrait mode) on pages 48 and 89

• “Filter setting” (cosmetic filter) on pages 48 and 89

Capture sharp images

• “Face chaser setting” on pages 52 and 97

• “Color chaser setting” on pages 52 and 96

Simplified operation for shooting/playback

• “SWITCHING BETWEEN THE RECORDING MODE AND PLAYBACK MODE” on page 36

Photographing landscapes

• “Scene select” (landscape mode) on page 48

Take a self-photo

• “Self-timer setting” on pages 48 and 90

Make images lighter or darker

• “Exposure compensation” on page 100

• “High sensitivity mode setting” pages 52 and 99

Change the color of the images

• “Filter setting” (monochrome filter/sepia filter) on pages 48 and 89

Measure the brightness of a specific area

• “Light-measuring mode setting” on pages 50 and 93

Adjust the camera’s sensitivity

• “ISO sensitivity setting” pages 50 and 94

Make white appear natural

• “White balance setting” on pages 52 and 95

7 English

Playba ck

Basic operation Convenient functions Additional functions

Getting started viewing images

• “PLAYING BACK VIDEO CLIPS AND STILL IMAGES” on page 72

• “Audio playback” on page 86

Continuous playback

• “SLIDESHOW PLAYBACK” on pages 46, 76 and 102

Adjust the monitor brightness

• “Adjusting the monitor brightness” on page 64

• “BRIGHTNESS setting” on page 125

Playba ck on a TV

• “PLAYING BACK ON A TV” on page 158

Set the TV system

• “TV output setting” on pages 127 and 131

Adjust the speaker volume

• “PLAYBACK VOLUME” pages 53 and 77

Search for image/ audio files

• “21-image display playback” on page 81

• “Selecting the playback folder” on pages 54 and 82

Magnify an image

• “Magnifying (zooming in) the image” on page 83

Adjust the speaker volume

• “PLAYBACK VOLUME” on pages 53 and 77

Change the angle of view

• “Rotate” on pages 53 and 105

Reduce the photo size

• “Resize” on pages 53 and 105

English 8

File managing/processing

Basic operation Convenient functions Additional functions

Search for image/audio files

• “21-image display playback” on page 81

• “Selecting the playback folder” on pages 54 and 82

Delete files

• “DELETING FILES” on pages 46, 53 and 78

Delete a part of a video clip and join video clips

• “Editing video clips” on pages 54 and 107

Specify the number of prints, index print, and date imprint

• “Printing instructions” on pages 54 and 116

View the settings that were in effect when the image/audio files were recorded

• “FILE INFO DISPLAY” on page 120

Protect files from accidental erasure

• “File protect setting” on pages 53 and 103

Format a card

• “Formatting (initializing)” on pages 127 and 137

9 English

Using with a computer

Basic operation Convenient functions Additional functions

Use the camera as a card reader

• “SETTING THE CONNECTION MODE” on page 143

• “USING AS A CARD READER” on page 146

Copy files from your camera to a computer

• “Copy data from your camera to the computer” on page vi

Playba ck

• “About video clip files recorded with this camera” on page 150

Using as a webcam

• “USING AS A PC CAMERA” on page 152

Record an image of the computer screen

• “SCREEN CAPTURE” on page 162

English 10

CHECKING THE INCLUDED ACCESSORIES

i Li-ion battery pack: 1 i Lithium-ion battery pack

i Dedicated USB interface

cable (page 143): 1

i Handstrap (page 13): 1

*To prevent from dropping the

camera, be sure to attach the handstrap.

charger and power cord: 1

i Dedicated AV interface cable

(page 157): 1

i Lens cap (page 14): 1

11 English

i GUIDE FOR BASIC

OPERATION (VPC-GH3EX, VPC-GH3GX, VPC-GH3PX, VPC-GH3TA only)

i SAFETY MANUAL

(safety precautions booklet) Please read this booklet carefully before using the camera.

i QUICK GUIDE i Obtaining the PDF instruction

manual and cautions

English 12

How to use the accessories

k Handstrap

13 English

1 Push in

2 Pull

* Attach as shown in the

illustration.

k Lens cap

English 14

ABOUT THE CARD

Media cards that can be used with this camera

The type of card that can be inserted into and used with this camera is:

i SD Memory Card i SDHC Memory Card i SDXC Memory Card

What “card” means in this manual

i In this manual, SD Memory Cards, SDHC Memory Cards and SDXC

Memory Cards that can be used in this dual camera are referred to as “card”.

15 English

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CAMERA

Your dual camera can record video clips in Full High Definition*. It includes an operation mode that lets even novice shutterbugs record and play back without getting flustered, as well as software with which you can easily create your original DVDs.

High-quality images with “Full High Definition*” (pages 48 and 59)

Your camera can capture full high definition (full HD) 1920 × 1080-pixel video clips. Also, the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC standard is used for formatting video files. You get both compact file size and high picture quality in one highperformance camera.

* “Full High Definition” by SANYO Dual Camera signifies recording at a

resolution of 1920 pixels horizontally ×1080 pixels vertically.

English 16

Includes SIMPLE mode for quick-and-easy

<SIMPLE Mode Recording

Menu>

<NORMAL Mode Recording

Menu>

operation (page 37)

Select from two recording/playback modes: the “SIMPLE mode” for users new to the camera, and the “NORMAL mode” for full use of all the camera’s many features and functions.

Example:

Full-HD

Select video and photo size

RECORDING MENU

VIDEO

PHOTO

SCENE SELECT FILTER

1 2

FLASH

SELF-TIMER

Image stabilizer for sharp pictures (pages 50 and 91)

Your camera can compensate for the camera shake that results in blurry images when you try to capture a fast-moving subject or when you zoom in on a subject.

17 English

Capture clear images of the targeted subject (pages 52 and 96)

Both the color chaser feature to target a specific color, and the face chaser feature to capture clear face shots, are provided.

Eye-Fi smart

By inserting a commercially sold Eye-Fi card (SD card with wireless LAN) in your camera, you can easily upload photos to your computer, a sharing site, etc. automatically via a Wi-Fi network. Also, you can transfer video files if your Eye-Fi card has a video upload function. Instructions for the Eye-Fi transfer feature can be found at the following website: http://sanyo.com/xacti/english/

English 18

SYSTEM MAP

Dedicated USB interface cable

Dedicated AV interface cable

Computer

Printer

Commercially available card

Internet

i Card reader i DPOF-compatible

printer

i Photo shop

You can connect the camera to various devices to expand its capabilities.

19 English

PAR TS NA M ES

Flash

Lens

Monitor unit

Sub-REC buttons

[O] button

[R] button

* The tripod mounting hole is on

the bottom.

Video recording button

Zoom switch

Photo shooting button

Stereo microphone

1 Insert your hand in the

handstrap from the top of the camera.

2 Enfold the camera in the

palm of your hand to grip it.

3 Use your thumb to operate

the [O] and [R] buttons above the lens.

Front

SETUP SETUP

SETUP

English 20

Rear

Multi-indicator

[] button

MENU button

Monitor

SET button

ON/OFF button

REC/PLAY button

Card slot cover

Arrow keys

Photo shooting button

Video recording button

DC IN terminal cover

Strap holder

Battery cover

ZOOM RANGE button

Arrow keys

21 English

+ 174 hidden pages