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)

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

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

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

Video Cassette Tapes

Use only tapes with the mark with this VIEWCAM.

To protect recordings against erasure

When a previously recorded cassette is used again for recording, the previously recorded material is erased. To protect a recording against accidental erasure, slide the tab on the cassette to cover the opening. (A red mark will be exposed.) To record, slide the tab to open the opening.

Notes:

• Do not insert anything into the erasure-protection opening in the cassette.

• Do not put anything into the holes on the bottom of the cassette.

• Do not store or place your video tapes in direct sunlight, near heaters, or in places with excessive moisture or dust.

• Do not keep video tapes near magnetic objects as they may erase the recording.

• Do not drop or subject the tapes to excessive shocks.

• Uneven tape winding will damage the tape. If the tape is not properly wound, reinsert it in the VIEWCAM and rewind the tape.

• Store the cassettes in their cases and stand them upright.

Using Your VIEWCAM Abroad

Television signal standards and electrical voltages and frequencies vary substantially from country to country. When you are abroad, check the sections below before using the AC adapter or connecting the VIEWCAM to a TV.

AC Adapter (Supplied Accessory)

The supplied AC adapter is compatible with 50 Hz and 60 Hz electrical systems in the range of 110 V to 240 V AC.

Television Signal Standards

In any country, you can always watch the video picture by using the LCD monitor screen. However, if you want to watch the picture on a TV screen, the TV must be PAL system compatible. PAL is used in the following countries: Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Holland, Finland, Portugal, Norway, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Kuwait, China, etc.

References

Demonstration Mode

Cancelling Demo Mode

You can watch a brief demonstration of the special VIEWCAM features in Demo mode. If the demonstration appears on the screen when you turn on the VIEWCAM for the first time, cancel the Demo mode to use your VIEWCAM.

Power switch

MENU button

Operation buttons

Watching the Demonstration

1 Make sure that there is no video

cassette in the VIEWCAM.

• If a cassette is in the VIEWCAM, Demo mode does not work. Perform the procedure on page 11 to remove it.

2 Hold down the Lock

button and slide the Power switch to CAMERA.

Lock button

1 During the demonstration, perform step

3 above.

2 Press  or  button (Q) to select

“DEMO MODE”, then press the SET button (B) (W) to select “OFF”.

SET

FADE REMOTE DEMO MODE OF F

NORMAL ON

3 Press the DISPLAY button to turn off the

menu screen.

Note:

• The demonstration will stop if you press the MENU button. If you leave it for 60 seconds, or turn the power off temporarily and then set the Power switch to CAMERA, the demonstration will begin again.

3 Press the MENU button until

appears.

• If MENU 2 appears on the screen, press the PAGE button ( ) to display MENU 1.

4 Press  or  (C or D) button (Q) to

select “DEMO MODE”, then press the SET button (B) (W) to select “ON”.

• The demonstration begins.

SET

FADE REMOTE DEMO MODE ON

NORMAL ON

References

Before Requesting Service

The following conditions do not always denote trouble. Therefore, perform the checks described below before calling for service. If the problem cannot be corrected by the use of this guide, remove the mains plugs from the wall socket, and contact the dealer or supplier from whom the unit was purchased in order to obtain service. Where this is not possible, please visit our web-site www.sharp.co.uk/support. Customers without Internet access may telephone 08705 274277 during office hours (or (01)676 0648 if telephoning from Ireland).

Certain replacement parts and accessories may be obtained from our main parts distributor, who can be contacted on the following numbers:

WILLOW VALE ELECTRONICS LTD.: 0121 766 5414

In the unlikely event of this equipment requiring repair during the guarantee period, you will need to provide proof of the date of purchase to the repairing company. Please keep your invoice or receipt, which is supplied at the time of purchase.

Symptom

No power.

Power

REC START/STOP button does not work.

Power suddenly turns off.

Auto focus does not work.

Bright subject produces wide vertical lines.

CAMERA mode

Automatically zooms out without operating Zoom control.

Display automatically changes in Camera mode.

Possible cause

Power source is not properly connected.

Battery pack is not charged.

Dew in VIEWCAM.

Safety function is in effect.

Erasure-protect tab on video cassette is closed.

VIEWCAM left in Recording Standby mode for 5 minutes.

Manual Focus mode is engaged.

Zoom used on close subject.

Subject has little contrast in brightness, or is full of horizontal or vertical stripes.

Occurs when shooting subject with strong contrast to the background. Does not indicate a malfunction.

VIEWCAM is unable to focus when zooming in on subject within 1.5 m, and automatically zooms out until it focuses on subject.

No subject in the field of view.

VIEWCAM is in Demo mode.

Sharp VLA111 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual