Sharp VLA111 User Manual
References
Useful Information
Hints for Better Shooting
• Position the subject in the centre of the
screen. When you are using auto focus,
whatever is in the centre of the screen is kept
in focus.
Position the subject in
the centre.
• Avoid backlit subjects. For the best picture,
shoot with the light source behind you.
When the background is brighter than the
subject, the subject often becomes too dark.
If you have to record with this lighting, use the
Gamma Brightness Compensation or correct
the exposure level to improve the picture (see
pages 28 and 44).
Light from behind Backlighting
• Before zooming, think about how to best
frame the shot. Frequent zooming produces
unattractive pictures. It also increases the
battery power consumption.
• When image shakes are noticeable during
zoomed-in telephoto shooting, use a tripod,
or push the Power Zoom control to the W side
to zoom out.
• Horizontal panning (lateral movement) and
tilting (vertical movement) should be done
slowly to emphasize the wide expanse of a
scene or the height of a building, and to
make scenes easy to watch during playback.
• Use a wide-angle setting for fast-moving
subjects.
Note:
• It may take longer to focus when zooming and
panning are used frequently.
Focus manually when
you need to position
the subject off centre
(see page 42).
Lighting
For clear, good-quality recording, 500 to
100,000 lux is needed. Recording is possible
with less light, but the picture quality may
suffer. Adequate lighting is also essential for
correct white balance.
Brightness
(Lux)
Blue sky
100,000
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Note: The figures in the chart are approximations.
Clear day at noon (100,000)
Clear day at 10 am (65,000)
Clear day at 3 pm (35,000)
Cloudy day at noon (32,000)
Cloudy day at 10 am (25,000)
10,000
Cloudy day, one hour after sunrise (2,000)
Clear day, one hour before sunset (1,000)
1,000
Fluorescent light near window (1,000)
Factory floor (700–800)
Sales counter in department store (500–700)
Bowling alley (500)
Library (400–500)
Office with fluorescent lighting (400–500)
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Fluorescent desk lamp (400)
Flashlight at 1 m (250)
100
Shop stairway (100)
During intermission at movie theatre (15–35)
Cigarette lighter at 30 cm (15–20)
Candles on birthday cake at 20 cm (10–15)
10
Candlelight
Tips on Good Lighting
In most outdoor, daytime scenes, natural
lighting is adequate for home videos. Indoors,
however, artificial lighting is usually required.
Video lights with halogen lamps provide the
most natural artificial light over a long operating
life.
Situation (Lux)
Optimal lighting range
References
48
References
Dew Formation
• What is “dew formation”?
When cold water is poured into a glass, dew
drops form on the glass. This clinging of
water drops is called dew formation.
• When dew forms in your VIEWCAM.
Dew will gradually form on the head drum of
your VIEWCAM and make the video tape stick
to the head. This causes damage both to the
head and the tape. When dew formation
occurs, recording and playback may not
function properly.
Dew is likely to form in the following circumstances:
• When moving the VIEWCAM from a cold
place to a warm place.
• When placing the VIEWCAM in a cold room
which is then heated rapidly.
• When moving the VIEWCAM outdoors from
an air conditioned room.
• When placing the
VIEWCAM in the direct
path of air blowing from
an air conditioner.
• When placing the
VIEWCAM in a humid
room.
• How to prevent trouble due to dew
formation.
When using the VIEWCAM in a place where
dew formation is likely to occur, allow the
VIEWCAM and the video tape to acclimatise
to the surroundings for about one hour.
For example, when bringing the VIEWCAM
indoors after skiing, place it in a plastic bag.
• “Dew” warning feature
If dew forms, the word “DEW” flashes on the
LCD monitor, and the power will automatically
turn off in approximately 10 seconds.
Q If “DEW” flashes on the LCD monitor,
remove the cassette, leave the cassette
compartment open, and wait for a few hours
to allow the VIEWCAM to acclimatise to the
surrounding temperature.
W To use the VIEWCAM again, turn on the
power after waiting for a few hours. Be sure
that “DEW” has disappeared from the
monitor.
E Do not insert a cassette while “DEW” is
flashing; this may result in damage to the
tape.
R Since dew forms gradually, it may take 10 to
15 minutes before the dew warning feature
engages.
Dirty Video Heads
Using the VIEWCAM when the video tape is
dirty may cause the heads to clog, producing
noise on the recorded image or preventing the
image from being recorded at all.
If the video heads become clogged, the
indicator appears on the screen. Contact
your SHARP dealer for further advice or refer to
page 53 “Before Requesting Service”.
Plastic bag
Q Be sure to tightly seal the plastic bag
containing the VIEWCAM.
W Remove the bag when the air temperature
inside it reaches the temperature of the
room.
References
49
Note:
• Video head cleaning can be done by using a
commercially-available cleaning tape. However,
excessive use of the cleaning tape may also
cause damage to the video heads. Please read
the instructions accompanying the cleaning tape
carefully, before using it.
Replacing the Fluorescent Lamp
CHARGE
This VIEWCAM uses a fluorescent lamp to
backlight the LCD monitor. If the monitor
becomes dark or difficult to view, the
fluorescent lamp may need to be replaced.
Contact the nearest SHARP service centre or
your dealer for further advice.
Battery Pack
Battery pack consumption
• Recording with many starts and stops,
frequent zooming, and recording in low
temperatures will shorten actual recording
times. Accordingly, be sure to turn off the
power when not recording. Use of an auxiliary
battery pack is recommended to prevent
undesirable interruptions in your recording.
• Do not use an insufficiently charged or weak
battery pack. Use of such battery packs may
cause the power to automatically stop during
VIEWCAM operation to protect both the
battery pack and the unit.
Note:
• This VIEWCAM uses a Ni-MH (nickel-metal
hydride) type battery pack. Use only the
SHARP BT-H22 or BT-H32 battery packs.
They are designed specifically for use with
this VIEWCAM.
Battery pack life
The battery pack has a limited service life. If
the period of use becomes noticeably
shorter with a normal charge, the battery
pack is at the end of its service life. Replace
it with a new battery pack.
Extending battery pack life
• It is recommended that you use the battery
pack until its charge is fully drained and the
VIEWCAM is inoperable before recharging
the pack.
• Recharge the battery pack right before
recording. A battery pack stored for an
extended time will naturally wear down,
resulting in decreased recording time.
• Do not try to recharge a fully charged battery
pack before it has been discharged, as this
will cause deterioration of the battery’s
capacity.
• Store the battery pack in a dry, cool place.
How to use the battery pack cover
• When storing a fully charged battery pack,
put the cover on it so that the “CHARGE”
mark printed on the label is seen through the
window, as shown.
Battery
pack
Label
• When storing a battery pack that is not fully
charged, put the cover upside down so that
only the battery pack casing is seen through
the window.
Caution:
• For safety reasons, put the cover on the
battery pack when it is not being used. If the
metal parts of the battery pack come in
contact with other metal items, there is a
danger that a short circuit may occur.
Battery power is consumed even when the
VIEWCAM’s power is turned off. If you are not
going to use your VIEWCAM immediately,
remove the battery pack (see page 8).
Window
Cover
Temperature during charging
• The Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride) type BT-H22
and BT-H32 battery packs can be charged at
a temperature of 15°C to 30°C.
References
50
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