Sony DCRPC120 Users Manual

3-070-602-11 (1)

Digital Video Camera Recorder

Operating Instructions

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. DCR-PC Model No. AC-

Serial No. Serial No.

DCR-PC120BT

DCR-PC115/PC120BT

SERIES

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony Handycam. With your Handycam, you can

Welcome!

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.

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.

CAUCTION

The use of optical instruments with this product will increase eye hazard. As the laser beam used in this Handycam is harmful to eyes, do not attempt to disassemble the cabinet. Refer to servicing to qualified personnel only.

For customers in the U.S.A. and CANADA

CAUTION

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT.

DISPOSAL OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY.

LITHIUM ION BATTERY. DISPOSE OF PROPERLY.

You can return your unwanted lithium ion batteries to your nearest Sony Service Center or Factory Service Center.

Note: In some areas the disposal of lithium

ion batteries in household or business

trash may be prohibited. For the Sony Service Center nearest you call 1-800-222-SONY (United States only). For the Sony Factory Service Center nearest you call 416-499-SONY (Canada only).

Caution: Do not handle damaged or leaking

lithium ion battery.

“Memory Stick”

THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. 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 OPERAION. THIS CLASS B DIGITAL APPARATUS COMPLIES WITH CANADIAN ICES-003.

For the customers in the U.S.A.

If you have any questions about this product, you may call: Sony Customer Information Center 1-800-222SONY (7669) The number below is for the FCC related matters only.

Regulatory Information

Declaration of Conformity

Trade Name: SONY Model No.: DCR-PC120 Responsible Party: Sony Electronics Inc. Address: 680 Kinderkamack

Road, Oradell,

NJ07649 U.S.A. Telephone No.: 201-930-6972 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. 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.

CAUTION

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

Note:

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. The supplied interface cable must be used with the equipment in order to comply with the limits for a digital device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules.

Main Features

Taking moving or still images, and playing them back

•Recording a moving picture on a tape (p. xx)

•Recording a still image on a tape (p. xx)

•Playing back a tape (p. xx)

•Recording still images on “Memory Stick”s (p. xx)

•Recording moving pictures on “Memory Stick”s (p. xx)

•Viewing a still image recorded on “Memory Stick”s (p. xx)

•Viewing a moving picture on “Memory Stick”s (p. xx)

Capturing images on your computer

•Using with an analog video unit and your computer (p. xx)

•Viewing images recorded on “Memory Stick”s using the USB cable (p. xx)

Accessing to the Internet via a Bluetooth equipped device (DCR-PC120BT only)

Accessing the Internet, sending/receiving your e-mail, and using the album on the Web (Only in North America and Japan). For details, refer to the Network Operating Instructions supplied with your camcorder. (p. xx)

Other uses

Functions to adjust exposure in the recording mode

•Back light (p. xx)

•NightShot/Super NightShot (p. xx)

•Recording images with the flash (p. xx, xx)

•PROGRAM AE (p. xx)

•Adjusting the exposure manually (p. xx)

Functions to give images more impact

•Digital zoom (p. xx) The default setting is set to OFF. (To zoom greater than 10×, select the digital zoom power in D ZOOM in the menu settings.)

•Fader (p. xx)

•Picture effect (p. xx)

•Digital effect (p. xx)

•Title (p. xx, xx)

•MEMORY MIX (p. xx)

Functions to give a natural appearance to your recordings

•Sports lesson (p. xx)

•Landscape (p. xx)

•Manual focus (p. xx )

Functions to use on recorded tapes

•END SEARCH/EDITSEARCH/Rec Review (p. xx)

•DATA CODE (p. xx)

•Tape PB ZOOM (p. xx)

•Zero set memory (p. xx, xx)

•Title search (p. xx)

•Digital program editing (p. xx, xx)

•HiFi SOUND (p. xx)

Checking supplied accessories

Make sure that the following accessories are supplied with your camcorder.

1 AC-L10A/L10B/L10C AC power

adaptor (1), Power cord (1) (p. xx)

2 A/V connecting cable (1) (p. xx, xx) 3 USB cable (1) (p. xx) 4 Battery terminal cover (1) (p. xx) 5 NP-FM50 battery pack (1) (p. xx, xx) 6 Wireless Remote Commander (1)

(p. xx)

7 Size AA (R6) battery for Remote

Commander (2) (p. xx)

8 Lens cap (1) (p. xx)

9 q;

9 Lens hood (1) (p. xx) q; “Memory Stick” (1) (p. xx) qa CD-ROM (SPVD-004 USB Driver) (1)

(p. xx)

qs Bluetooth adaptor (BTA-NW1) * (1)

(p. xx)

qd Bluetooth modem cord (MDM-

5614G)*(1) (p.xx)

qf Bluetooth modem cable*(1) (p.xx) qg AC power adapter (AC-PT1)*(1) (p.xx) qh Alkarine AA dry batteries for

Bluetooth Adaptor*(2) (p.xx)

*DCR-PC120BT only

Getting started

Contents of the recording cannot be compensated if recording or playback is not made due to a malfunction of the camcorder, storage media, etc.

Table of contents

Main Features .......................................... 4

Checking supplied accessories.............. 5

Quick Start Guide........................8

Getting started

Using this manual ................................. 10

Step 1 Preparing the power supply ... 12

Installing the battery pack............. 12

Charging the battery pack............. 13

Step 2 Setting the date and time ........ 16

Step 3 Inserting a cassette ................... 18

Recording – Basics

Recording a picture............................... 19

Shooting backlit subjects

– BACK LIGHT ........................ 26

Shooting in the dark – NightShot/

Super NightShot ...................... 26

Self-timer recording ....................... 28

Checking the recording

– END SEARCH / EDITSEARCH /

Rec Review ...................................... 29

Playback – Basics

Playing back a tape ............................... 30

To display the screen indicators

– Display function ................... 31

Viewing the recording on TV .............. 34

Advanced Recording Operations

Recording a still image on a tape

– Tape Photo recording ................. 35

Adjusting the white balance

manually .......................................... 39

Using the wide mode ........................... 40

Using the fader function ...................... 41

Using special effects – Picture effect .. 44 Using special effects – Digital effect ... 45

Using the PROGRAM AE function .... 48

Adjusting the exposure manually ...... 51

Focusing manually................................ 52

Interval recording ................................. 54

Frame by frame recording

– Cut recording ............................... 56

Advanced Playback Operations

Playing back a tape with picture effects

........................................................... 57

Playing back a tape with digital effects

........................................................... 58

Enlarging images recorded on tapes

– Tape PB ZOOM ........................... 59

Quickly locating a scene using the zero

set memory function ...................... 60

Searching the boundaries of recorded

tape by title – Title search ............. 61

Searching a recording by date

– Date search ................................... 62

Searching for a photo

– Photo search/Photo scan ........... 64

Editing

Dubbing a tape ...................................... 66

Dubbing only desired scenes

– Digital program editing

(to a tape) ......................................... 68

Using with analog video unit and your

computer – Signal convert function

........................................................... 79

Recording video or TV programs ....... 80

Inserting a scene from a VCR

– Insert editing ................................ 83

Audio dubbing ...................................... 85

Superimposing a title ........................... 89

Making your own titles ........................ 92

Labeling a cassette ................................ 93

Customizing Your Camcorder

Changing the menu settings................ 95

“Memory Stick” Operations

Using a “Memory Stick”

– introduction................................ 103

Recording still images on “Memory

Stick”s

– Memory Photo recording ......... 111

Recording an image from a tape as a

still image ...................................... 117

Superimposing a still image in the

“Memory Stick” on an image

– MEMORY MIX .......................... 120

Table of contents

Recording moving pictures on

“Memory Stick”s

– MPEG movie recording ............ 125

Recording a picture from a tape as a

moving picture ............................. 127

Recording edited pictures as a moving

picture – Digital program editing

(to a “Memory Stick”) .................. 131

Copying still images from a tape

– Photo save .................................. 134

Viewing a still image

– Memory photo playback .......... 135

Viewing a moving picture

– MPEG movie playback ............. 138

Viewing images using computer ...... 140

Copying the image recorded on

“Memory Stick”s to tapes ........... 146

Enlarging still images recorded on

“Memory Stick”s

– Memory PB ZOOM ................... 147

Playing back images in a continuous

loop – SLIDE SHOW .................... 148

Preventing accidental erasure

– Image protection........................ 149

Deleting images................................... 150

Writing a print mark

– PRINT MARK ............................ 152

Using the optional printer ................. 153

Getting started

Using the Network function

Accessing to the network................... 154

Troubleshooting

Types of trouble and their solutions

......................................................... 155

Self-diagnosis display......................... 161

Warning indicators and messages.... 162

Additional Information

Usable cassettes ................................... 164

About the “InfoLITHIUM” battery

pack ................................................ 166

About i.LINK ....................................... 168

Using your camcorder abroad .......... 170

Maintenance information and

precautions .................................... 171

Specifications ....................................... 176

Quick Reference

Identifying the parts and controls .... 178

Index ..................................................... 186

Quick Start Guide

Connecting the power cord (p. xx)

Use the battery pack when using your camcorder outdoors (p. xx).

Quick Start Guide

AC power adaptor (supplied)

This chapter introduces you to the basic features of your camcorder. See the page in parentheses “( )” for more information. Pull down the Holding Grip to hold your camcorder as illustrated.

Holding Grip

Open the jack cover.

Connect the plug with its v mark facing up.

Inserting a cassette (p. xx)

1 Slide OPEN/

Z EJECT in the direction of the arrow and open the lid.

2 Push the middle

portion of the back of the cassette to insert. Insert the cassette in a straight line deeply into the cassette compartment with the window facing out.

3 Close the cassette

compartment by pressing the mark on the cassette compartment. After the cassette compartment goes down completely, close the lid until it clicks.

Recording a picture (p. xx)

1Remove the lens cap.

Viewing a picture with the viewfinder

Close the LCD panel, and pull out the viewfinder.

3Press OPEN to open the

LCD panel. The picture appears on the screen.

When you purchase your camcorder, the clock setting is set to off. If you want to record the date and time for a picture, set the clock setting before recording (p. xx).

Monitoring the playback picture on the LCD screen (p. xx)

1Set the POWER

switch to VCR while pressing the small green button.

(CHG)

OFF

POWER

LOCK

2Set the POWER

switch to CAMERA while pressing the small green button.

POWER

(CHG)

OFF

4Press START/STOP. Your

camcorder starts recording. To stop recording, press START/STOP again.

POWER

(CHG)

OFF

2Press m to rewind the tape.

REW

LOCK

Quick Start Guide

NOTE

Do not pick up your camcorder by holding the viewfinder, the flash, the LCD panel or the battery pack.

3Press N to start playback.

PLAY

— Getting started —

Using this manual

The instructions in this manual are for the two models listed in the table below. Before you start reading this manual and operating your camcorder, check the model number by looking at the bottom of your camcorder. (DCR-PC120BT is marked as DCR-PC120 on the bottom of this unit.) The DCR-PC120BT 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, “DCR-PC120BT only”.

As you read through this manual, buttons and settings on your camcorder are shown in capital letters. e.g. Set the POWER switch to CAMERA. When you carry out an operation, you can hear a beep sound to indicate that the operation is being carried out.

Types of differences

DCR- PC115 PC120BT Bluetooth adaptor — z Network — z

z Provided — Not provided

Note on Cassette Memory

Your camcorder is based on the DV format. You can only use mini DV cassettes with your camcorder. We recommend that you use a tape with cassette memory .

The functions which require different operations depending on whether the tape has the cassette memory or not are: – End search (p. xx) – Date search (p. xx) – Photo search (p. xx) The functions you can operate only with the cassette memory are: – Title search (p. xx) – Superimposing a title (p. xx) – Labeling a cassette (p. xx) For details, see page xx.

You see this mark in the introduction of the features that are operated only with cassette memory.

Tapes with cassette memory are marked by (Cassette Memory).

Using this manual

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.

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

Lens and LCD screen/finder (on mounted models only)

•The LCD screen and the finder are manufactured using extremely high-precision technology, so over 99.99% of the pixels are operational for effective use. However, there may be some tiny black points and/or bright points (white, red, blue or green in color) that constantly appear on the LCD screen and the finder. These points are normal in the manufacturing process and do not affect the recording in any way.

•Do not let your camcorder get wet. Keep your camcorder away from rain and sea water. Letting your camcorder get wet may cause your camcorder to malfunction. Sometimes this malfunction cannot be repaired [a].

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

•Be careful when placing the camera near a window or outdoors. Exposing the LCD screen, the finder or the lens to direct sunlight for long periods may cause malfunctions [c].

•Do not directly shoot the sun. Doing so might cause your camcorder to malfunction. Take pictures of the sun in low light conditions such as dusk [d].

Getting started

[a][b]

[c][d]

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

Installing the battery pack

(1) While sliding BATT RELEASE in the direction of the arrow 1, slide the

battery terminal cover in the direction of the arrow 2.

(2) Insert the battery pack in the direction of the arrow until it clicks.

1 2

To remove the battery pack

The battery pack is removed in the same way as the battery terminal cover.

Note on the battery terminal cover

To protect the battery terminals, install the battery terminal cover after the battery pack is removed.

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

Charging the battery pack

Use the battery pack after charging it for your camcorder. Your camcorder operates only with the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack (M series). See page xxx for details of “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack.

(1) Open the jack cover and connect the AC power adaptor supplied with your

camcorder to the DC IN jack with the plug’s v mark facing up.

(2) Connect the power cord to the AC power adaptor. (3) Connect the power cord to the wall outlet. (4) Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHG). The CHG lamp lights up when the

charge begins. After the charge is completed, the CHG lamp goes out. (full charge)

CHG lamp

(CHG)

OFF

POWER

Getting started

LOCK

After charging the battery pack

Disconnect the AC power adaptor from the DC IN jack on your camcorder.

Note

Prevent metallic objects from coming into contact with the metal parts of the DC plug of the AC power adaptor. This may cause a short-circuit, damaging the AC power adaptor.

While charging the battery pack, the CHG lamp flashes in the following cases:

– The battery pack is not installed correctly. – Something is wrong with the battery pack.

When you use the AC power adaptor

Place the AC power adaptor near a wall outlet. If any trouble occurs with this unit, disconnect the plug from a wall outlet as soon as possible to cut off the power.

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

Charging time

Battery pack Full charge

NP-FM50 (supplied) 150 NP-FM70 240 NP-FM90 330 NP-FM91 360

The charging time may increase if the battery’s temperature is extremely high or low because of the ambient temperature. Approximate minutes at 25°C (77°F) to charge an empty battery pack

Recording time

Battery pack the viewfinder the LCD screen

NP-FM50 (supplied) 130 75 110 60 NP-FM70 270 155 230 130 NP-FM90 410 235 355 205 NP-FM91 475 275 410 235

Approximate minutes when you use a fully charged battery

* Approximate continuous recording time at 25°C (77°F). The battery life will be

shorter if you use your camcorder in a cold environment.

**Approximate number of minutes when recording while you repeat recording start/

stop, zooming and turning the power on/off. The actual battery life may be shorter.

Recording with Recording with

Continuous* Typical** Continuous* Typical**

Playing time

Battery pack

NP-FM50 (supplied) 150 185 NP-FM70 310 385 NP-FM90 475 580 NP-FM91 550 670

Approximate minutes when you use a fully charged battery

Approximate continuous playing time at 25°C (77°F). The battery life will be shorter if you use your camcorder in a cold environment.

Playing time Playing time

on LCD screen with LCD closed

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

If the power goes off although the battery remaining indicator indicates that the battery pack has enough power to operate

Charge the battery pack fully again so that the indication on the battery remaining indicator is correct.

Recommended charging temperature

We recommend charging the battery pack in an ambient temperature of between 10°C to 30°C (50°F to 86°F).

What is ”InfoLITHIUM”?

The “InfoLITHIUM” is a lithium ion battery pack which can exchange data such as battery consumption with compatible electronic equipment. This unit is compatible with the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack (M series). Your camcorder operates only with the “InfoLITHIUM” battery. “InfoLITHIUM” M series battery packs have the

“InfoLITHIUM” is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

mark.

SERIES

Connecting to a wall outlet

When you use your camcorder for a long time, we recommend that you power it from a wall outlet using the AC power adaptor.

(1) Open the jack cover. Connect the AC power adaptor supplied with your

camcorder to the DC IN jack on your camcorder with the plug’s v mark facing up.

(2) Connect the power cord to the AC power adaptor. (3) Connect the power cord to a wall outlet.

Getting started

2,3

PRECAUTION

The set is not disconnected from the AC power source (house current) as long as it is connected to the wall outlet, even if the set itself has been turned off.

Notes

•The AC power adaptor can supply power even if the battery pack is attached to your camcorder.

•The DC IN jack has “source priority.” This means that the battery pack cannot supply any power if the power cord is connected to the DC IN jack, even when the power cord is not plugged into a wall outlet.

Using a car battery

Use Sony DC Adaptor/Charger (optional). Refer to the operating instructions of the DC Adaptor/Charger for further information.

Step 2 Setting the date and time

Set the date and time settings when you use your camcorder for the first time. “CLOCK SET” will be displayed each time that you set the POWER switch to CAMERA or MEMORY unless you set the date and time settings. If you do not use your camcorder for about three months, the date and time settings may be released (bars may appear) because the built-in rechargeable battery installed in your camcorder will have been discharged (p. xx). Set the area, the summer time, year, month, day, hour and then the minute, in that order.

(1) Set the POWER switch to CAMERA or MEMORY, then press MENU to display

the menu settings.

(2) Press v/V on the control button to select (3) Press v/V on the control button to select CLOCK SET, then press zor B. (4) Press v/V on the control button to adjust the desired area (where you are),

then press z.

(5) Press v/V on the control button to select whether or not the time is summer

time, then press z. Select NO if the time is not summer time. Select YES if it is.

(6) Press v/V on the control button to adjust the desired year, then press z.

The year changes as follows:

1995 T · · · · t 2001 T · · · · t 2079

(7) Set the month, day and hour by pressing v/V on the control button and

pressing z.

(8) Set the minute by pressing v/V on the control button and pressing z by the

time signal. The clock starts to move.

(9) Press MENU to make the menu settings disappear.

, then press z or B.

Step 2 Setting the date and time

MANUA L SE T

PROGRAM AE PEFFECT DEFFECT W

HT BAL

AUTO SHTR

[

] :

SETUP MENU

CLOCK SET – – LTR S IZE DEMO MOD E

RETURN

[

] :

CLOCK SET

AREA

14 NewYor k, Bo go t a

SUMMERTI ME OF F DATE Y M D

––––––– –– ––

[

] :

EXEC

NEXT I TEM

CLOCK SET

AREA

NewYor k, Bo go t a

SUMMERTI ME OF F

RMRDRRR

DATE Y

2001

JAN

rrrrr

[

] :

EXEC

NEXT I TEM

CLOCK SET

AREA

NewYor k, Bo go t a

SUMMERTI ME OF F

RMRDRRR

DATE Y

2001

JUL

rrrrr

[

] :

EXEC

NEXT I TEM

END

GMT+9.0

112:00

GMT+9.0

45:30

SETUP MENU

CLOCK SET

–– LTR S IZE DEMO MOD E

RETURN

[

:––:––

––

CLOCK SET AREA

SUMMERTI ME OF F DATE Y M D

[

EXEC

CLOCK SET

AREA

NewYor k, Bo go t a SUMMERTI ME OF F DATE Y M D

––––––– –– ––

[

] :

EXEC

NEXT I TEM

CLOCK SET

AREA

NewYor k, Bo go t a SUMMERTI ME OF F DATE Y

2001

[

] :

EXEC

NEXT I TEM

SETUP MENU

CLOCK SET LTR S IZE DEMO MODE

RETURN

[

] :

:––:––

] :

END

GMT+0.0

Li sbon ,London

––––––– –– ––

] :

NEXT I TEM

GMT+9.0

––

GMT+9.0

RMRDRRR

JAN

112:00

JUL

5:30:00

4 2001

rrrrr

END

Getting started

––

If you do not set the date and time

“--:--:--” and “--- -- ----” are recorded on the data code of the tape and the “Memory Stick.”

When using your camcorder abroad

Set the clock to the local time (p. xx).

Note on the time indicator

The internal clock of your camcorder operates on a 12-hour cycle.

•12:00 AM stands for midnight.

•12:00 PM stands for noon.

Step 3 Inserting a cassette

(1) Install the power source. (2) Slide OPEN/Z EJECT in the direction of the arrow and open the lid.

The cassette compartment automatically lifts up and opens.

(3) Push the middle portion of the back of the cassette to insert.

Insert the cassette in a straight line deeply into the cassette compartment with the window facing out.

(4) Close the cassette compartment by pressing the

compartment. The cassette compartment automatically goes down.

(5) After the cassette compartment goes down completely, close the lid until it

clicks.

mark on the cassette

OPEN/Z EJECT

To eject a cassette

Follow the procedure above, and take out the cassette in step 3.

Notes

•Do not press the cassette compartment down forcibly. Doing so may cause a malfunction.

•The cassette compartment may not be closed when you press any part of the lid other than the mark.

When you use cassette with cassette memory

Read the instruction about cassette memory to use this function properly (p. xx).

To prevent accidental erasure

Slide the write-protect tab on the cassette to expose the red mark.

3, 4

— Recording – Basics —

Recording a picture

Your camcorder automatically focuses for you.

(1) Remove the lens cap by pressing both knobs on its sides and pull the lens cap

string to fix it.

(2) Install the power source and insert a cassette. See “Step 1” to “Step 3” for more

information (p. xx to xx).

(3) Pull down the Holding Grip.

Hold your camcorder firmly as illustrated.

(4) Set the POWER switch to CAMERA while pressing the small green button.

Your camcorder is set to the standby mode.

(5) Press OPEN to open the LCD panel. The viewfinder automatically turns off. (6) Press START/STOP. Your camcorder starts recording. The REC indicator

appears. The camera recording lamp located on the front of your camcorder lights up. To stop recording, press START/STOP again.

Recording

– Basics

(CHG)

OFF

POWER

LOCK

Microphone

(CHG)

OFF

POWER

LOCK

Notes

•Fasten the grip strap firmly.

•Do not touch the built-in microphone during recording.

40min

REC

0:00:01

Camera recording lamp

Note on Recording mode

Your camcorder records and plays back in the SP (standard play) mode and in the LP (long play) mode. Select SP or LP in the menu settings. In the LP mode, you can record

1.5 times as long as in the SP mode. When you record a tape in the LP mode on your camcorder, we recommend playing the tape on your camcorder.

Recording a picture

Note on the LOCK switch

When you slide the LOCK switch to the left, the POWER switch can no longer be set to MEMORY accidentally. LOCK switch is set to the right as a default setting.

To enable smooth transition

Transition between the last scene you recorded and the next scene is smooth as long as you do not eject the cassette even if you turn off your camcorder. However, check the following:

– Do not mix recordings in the SP mode and ones in the LP mode on one tape. – When you change the battery pack, set the POWER switch to OFF (CHG). – When you use a tape with cassette memory, however, you can make the transition

smooth even after ejecting the cassette if you use the END SEARCH function (p. xx).

If you leave your camcorder in the standby mode for five minutes while the cassette is inserted

Your camcorder automatically turns off. This is to save battery power and to prevent battery and tape wear. To resume the standby mode, set the POWER switch to OFF (CHG), and to CAMERA again. However, your camcorder does not turn off automatically while the cassette is not inserted.

When you record in the SP and LP modes on one tape or you record in the LP mode

•The transition between scenes may not be smooth.

•The playback picture may be distorted or the time code may not be written properly

between scenes.

Recording data

The recording data (date/time or various settings when recorded) are not displayed while recording. However, they are recorded automatically onto the tape. To display the recording data, press DATA CODE on the Remote Commander during playback.

The battery use time when you record using the LCD screen

The battery time is slightly shorter than the shooting time using the viewfinder.

After recording

(1) Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHG). (2) Close the LCD panel. (3) Set the Holding Grip back to the previous position. (4) Eject the cassette. (5) Remove the battery pack. (6) Attach the battery terminal cover.

+ 45 hidden pages