Sony CCD-TR23 User Manual

SONY.	3-798-695-21 (1)

Video Camera

Recorder □

CCD-TR23/TR33

Operation Manual

Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly, and retain it for future reference.

Owner's Record

The model and serial numbers are located on the bottom. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to these numbers whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product.

Model No.CCD- .	Model No. AC-V _
Serial No.______	Serial No.

©1995 by Sony Corporation

Welcome to Video 8

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony Handycam' camcorder. With your Handycam, you can capture life's precious moments with superior picture and sound quality. Your Handycam is loaded with advanced features, but at the same time it is very easy to use. You will soon be producing home video that you can enjoy for years to come.

WARNING

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.

CAUTION

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,

00 NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

RECYCLING NICKEL-CADMIUM

BATTERIES

Ni-Cd

NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERY. MUST BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.

Nickel-Cadmium batteries are recyclable. You can help preserve our environment by returning your unwanted batteries to your nearest Sony Service Center or Factory Service Center for collection, recycling or proper disposal.

Note: In some areas the disposal of nickel-cadmium batteries in household or business trash may be prohibited.

For the Sony Service Center nearest you call l-800-222-SO.\Y (United States only)

For the Factory Service Center nearest you call 416-499-SONY (Canada only)

Caution: Do not handle damaged or leaking nickel-cadmium batteries.

For the Customers in the U.5.A.

WARNING

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

-Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

-Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

-Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

-Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

For the Customers in CANADA

This apparatus complies with the Class B limits tor radio noise emissions set out in Radio Interference Regulations.

TO PREVENT ELEC TRIC SHOCK, DO NO T USE THIS POLARIZED AC PLUG WITH AN EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE EULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE.

Table of Contents

Before You Begin

Checking Your Model Number 4

Checking Supplied Accessories 5

Getting Started

Charging and Installing the Battery Pack 6

Inserting a Cassette 9

Adjusting the Viewfinder Lens 10

Basic Operations

Camera Recording U

Using the Zoom Feature 13

Hints for Better Shooting 14

Checking the Recorded Picture 15

Connections for Playback 16

Playing Back a Tape 17

Advanced Operations

Using Alternate Power Sources 19 Using House Current 19

Recording with the Date or Time 20 Shooting with Backlighting 21

Using the PROGRAM AE Function 22 Fade-in and Fade-out 23

Changing the Mode Settings 24 Editing onto Another Tape 26

Additional Information

Changing the Lithium Battery in the Camcorder 27 Resetting the Date and Time 28

Playback Modes 29

Tips for Using the Battery Pack 29 Maintenance Information and Precautions 32 Using Your Camcorder Abroad 35

Trouble Check 36

Specifications 39 Identifying the Parts 40 Warning Indicators 46 Index 47

Checking Your Model Number

The instructions in this manual are for two models listed below. Before you start reading and operating, check your model number by looking at the bottom of your camcorder. The CCD-TK33 is the model used for illustration purposes. Otherwise, the model name is indicated in the illustrations. Any differences in operation are clearly indicated in the text, for example, "CCD-TR33".

As you read through this manual, buttons and settings on the camcorder are shown in capital letters, e.g. Set the POWER switch to CAMERA.

Types of Differences

Model number	Viewfinder
CCD-TR23	B/W
CCD-TR33	Color

Note on TV Color Systems

TV color systems differ from country to country.

To view your recordings on a TV, you need an NTSC system based TV, When you want to use a PAL-M system based TV, you will need a NTSC/PAL-M transcoder (as this is an NTSC system based camcorder). Please check the list on page 35 to see the TV color system of your country.

Precaution on Copyright

Television programs, films, video tapes, and other materials may be copyrighted. Unauthorized recording of such materials may be contrary to the provision of the copyright laws.

Precautions on Camcorder Care

•Do no let sand get into the camcorder. When you use the camcorder on a sandy beach or dusty place, protect it from the sand or dust. Sand or dust may cause the unit to malfunction and sometimes the malfunction cannot be repaired, [a]

•Do not let the camcorder get wet. Keep the camcorder from rain or sea water. It may cause a malfunction and sometimes the malfunction cannot be repaired, [b]

•Never leave the camcorder under temperatures above 140“F (60°C), such as in a car parked in the sun or under direct sunlight, [c]

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Checking Supplied Accessories

Check that the following accessories are supplied with your camcorder.

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13] Wireless remote commander (1) (p. 17, 43)

[2]NP-55 Battery pack (1) (p. 6, 29)

[3]AC-V25A/V25B/V25C AC power adaptor (1) (p. 6, 19)

[4]A/V connecting cable (1) (p. 16)

[U Shoulder strap (1) (p. 41)

[6]Size AA (R16) Battery for Remote Commander (2) (p. 43)

CR2025 Lithium Battery (1) (p. 27)

Already installed in the camcorder.

Getting Started

Charging and installing the Battery Pack

Before using your camcorder, you first need to charge and install the battery pack. To charge the battery pack, use the supplied AC-V25A/V25B/V25C AC power adaptor.

Charging the Battery Pack

Charge the battery pack on a flat place without vibration.

(1) Connect the AC power adaptor to a wall outlet. (2) Align the right side of the battery pack with the line on the AC power adaptor, then slide the battery pack in the direction of the arrow. (3) Set the selector to CHARGE. The POWER lamp (green) and the CHARGE lamp (orange) light up. Charging begins.

When charging is completed, the CHARGE lamp goes out. Set the selector to the center position and unplug the unit from the wall outlet. Then remove the battery pack and install it on the camcorder. To stop charging, set the selector to the center position.

Battery pack	NP-55	NP-80	NP-77H	NP-66H	NP-60D	NP-C65
	(supplied)	NP-80D		NP-6S
Charging time*	70	190	170	125	90	105

Approximate minutes to charge an empty pack using the AC-V25A/V25B/V25C (Lower temperatures require a longer charging time.)

Battery Life

CCD-TR23

Battery pack	NP-55	NP-80	NP-77H	NP-66H	NP-60D	NP-C65
		NP-80D		NP-68
Typical recording time”	30	90	85	60	45	50
Continuous recording time ”*65		170	165	120	85	95

CCD-TR33

Battery pack	NP-'SSl'	■ NP-80	f«P-77H	NP-66H	NP-60D	NP-C65
		NP-80D		NP-68
Typical recording time”	30	85	80	60	40	45
Continuous recording time	”* 60	165	155	115	80	90

**Approximate minutes when recording while you repeat recording start/stop, zooming and turning the power on/off. The actual battery life may be shorter.

***Approximate continuous recording time indoors.

Important!

Use the battery completely before re-charging!

Before you recharge the battery, make sure the battery has been used up (discharged) completely. Repeated charging while some capacity remains causes a lowering of battery capacity. However, the original battery capacity can be recovered if you use the battery completely and charge it fully again.

To use up the battery, remove the cassette and slide the POWER switch to CAMERA with the battery attached, and leave the camcorder until the (Xi indicator and the red lamp flash rapidly in the viewfinder.

Removing the Battery Pack

Slide the battery pack in the direction of the arrow.

•The POWER lamp will remain lit for a while even if the battery pack is removed and the power cord is unplugged after charging the battery pack. This is normal.

•If the POWER lamp does not light, set the selector to the center position and disconnect the power cord. After about one minute, reconnect the power cord and set the selector to CHARGE again.

•You cannot operate the camcorder using the AC power adaptor while charging the battery pack.

Charging and Installing the Battery Pack

Installing the Batteiy Fade

(1) Lift up the viewfinder. (2) Align the right side of the battery pack with the white line on the camcorder, and slide the battery pack to the right.

Removing the Battery Pack

(1) Lift up the viewfinder. (2) While pressing ВАТТ, slide the battery pack to the left.

8

Inserting a Cassette

Make sure that a power source is installed.

(1) While sliding the lid lock, lift up the lid. Then open it. (2) Press EJECT. The cassette compartment automatically lifts up and opens. (3) Insert a cassette (not supplied) with the window facing out.

(4) Press the PUSH mark on the cassette compartment to close it. The cassette compartment automatically goes down. (5) Close the lid until it locks.

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To Eject the Cassette

Press EJECT.

To Prevent Accidental Erasure

Slide the tab on the cassette to expose the red mark.

If you try to record with the red mark exposed, the [a^ and — indicators flash in the viewfinder, and you cannot record on the tape. To re-record on this tape, slide the tab back out to cover the red mark.

9

Adjusting the Viewfinder Lens

Before you use the camcorder for the first time or after someone else has used it, focus the viewfinder lens. Make sure that the power source is connected to the camcorder.

(1) While pressing the small green button on the POWER switch, slide it to CAMERA. (2) Turn STANDBY up. (3) Turn the viewfinder lens adjustment ring so that the indicators in the viewfinder come into sharp focus.

10

Make sure that a power source and a cassette is inserted. The date is automatically recorded for 10 seconds after you start recording (AUTO DATE feature). This feature works only once a day. Before you record one-time events, you may want to make a trial recording to make sure that you are using the camcorder correctly.

(1) While pressing the small green button on the POWER switch, slide it to CAMERA. (2) Turn STANDBY up. (3) Press START/STOP. The camcorder starts recording and the "REC" indicator apperars in the viewfinder.

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To Stop Recording Momentarily [a]

Press START/STOP again. The "STBY" indicator appears in the viewfinder (Standby mode).

To Finish Recording [b]

Press START/STOP. Turn STANDBY down, and set the POWER switch to OFF.

Then, eject the cassette (p. 9) and remove the battery (p. 8).

See the next page for further information. 11

Camera Recording

Note on Standby mode

If you leave the camcorder for 5 minutes or more with a cassette inserted in Standby mode, the camcorder goes off automatically. This prevents wearing down the battery and wearing out the tape. To resume Standby mode, turn STANDBY down once and turn it up again. To start recording, press START/STOP.

Note on recording

When you record from the beginning of the tape, run the tape for about 15 seconds before actual recording. This prevents the camcorder from missing any start-up scenes when you play back the tape. You can record tapes in SP (standard play) mode only.

Note on the tape counter

The tape counter indicates the recording or playback time. Use it as a guide. There will be a time lag of several seconds from the actual time. To set the counter to zero, press COUNTER RESET located below the viewfinder. You can know the approximate remaining tape by the remaining tape indicator (p. 45).

Note on the AUTO DATE feature

The clock is set to the East Coast Standard Time at the factory. You can reset the clock (p. 28). You can change the AUTO DATE setting by selecting ON or OFF in the menu system (p. 25).

•The AUTO DATE feature works once a day. However, the date may automatically appear more than once a day when;

-you reset the date and time.

-you eject and insert the tape again.

-you stop recording within 10 seconds.

-you set AUTO DATE to OFF once and set to ON in the menu system.

•Once the AUTO DATE feature turns off the date display 10 seconds after the start of recording, the date and time are displayed as follows:

-if the date display setting has been made, the date is displayed.

-if the time display setting has been made, the time is displayed.

-if neither display setting has been made, nothing is displayed.

When moving from indoors to outdoors (or vice versa)

Turn STANDBY up and point the camcorder at a white object for about 15 seconds so that the white balance is properly adjusted.

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Using the Zoom Feahire

Zooming is a recording technique that lets you change the size of the subject in the scene. For more professional-looking recordings, use the zoom sparingly.

T side: for telephoto (subject appears closer)

W side: for wide-angle (subject appears farther away)

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Zooming Speed

Press the power zoom button firmly for a high-speed zoom. Press it softly for a relatively slow zoom.

When you shoot a subject using a telephoto zoom

If you cannot get a sharp focus while in extreme telephoto zoom, press the W side of the power zoom button until the focus is sharp.

You can shoot a subject that is at least 3.3 feet (about 1 m) away from the lens surface in the telephoto position, or 1/ 2 inches (about 1cm) in the wide-angle position.

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Hints for Better Shooting

For hand-held shots, you'll get better results holding the camcorder according to the following suggestions:

•Hold the camcorder firmly and secure it with the grip strap so that you can easily manipulate the controls with your thumb, [a]

•Place your right elbow against your side.

•Place your left hand under the camcorder to support it.

•Place your eye firmly against the viewfinder eyecup.

•Use the viewfinder frame as a guide to determine the horizontal plane.

•You can also record in a low position to get an interesting recording angle. Turn the viewfinder up for recording from a low position, [b]

Place the camcorder on a flat surface or use a tripod.

Try placing the camcorder on a table top or any other flat surface of suitable height. If you have a tripod for a still camera, you can also use it with the camcorder (p. 41). Make sure the tripod screw is shorter than 9/32 in (6.5mm).

To Use the Viewfinder as a Sports Finder [c]

With the sports finder, you can monitor the picture while your eye is at a distance from the eyecup. The sports finder is convenient when moving around to shoot scenes.

While sliding the viewfinder release knob to the left, flip open the viewfinder.

Note on the color viewfinder (for CCD-TR33 only)

You may find it difficult to use the color viewfinder as the sports finder for recording in light location.

Cautions on the viewfinder

•Do not pick up the camcorder by the viewfinder, [d]

•Do not place the camcorder so as to point the viewfinder toward the sun. The inside of the viewfinder may be deformed. Be careful in placing the camcorder under sunlight or at the window, [e]

Checking the Recorded Picture

Using EDITSEARCH, you can review the last recorded scene or check the recorded picture in the viewfinder.

(1) While pressing the small green button on the POWER switch, slide it to CAMERA.

(2) Turn STANDBY up. (3) Press EDITSEARCH. Press the - (@) side momentarily, the last few seconds of the recorded portion plays back (Rec Review).

Keep pressing EDITSEARCH to play back the last recorded portion (Edit Search).

+side: to view the forward playback picture

-side: to view the reverse playback picture

1 m	ICAMERAI
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	- OFF
	[PLAYER I
...........

+ EDITSEARCH - S

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To Stop Playback

Release EDITSEARCH.

To Begin Re-recording

Press START/STOP. Re-recording begins from the point you released EDITSEARCH. Provided you do not eject the tape, the transition between the last scene you recorded and the next scene you record will be smooth.

Monitoring the Sound While Viewing the Playback Picture in the Viewfinder

Connect an earphone (not supplied) to the ® jack. Play back the tape in PLAYER mode (p. 17).

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