Sony MDDISCAM DCM-M1 User Manual

3-866-152-12 (2)

MiniDisc AV Recorder

Operating Instructions

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

Owner’s Record

This recorder’s model number is located on the bottom of the unit and serial number is located on the inside the disc lid. The AC power adaptor/charger’s 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. DCM-M1 Model No. AC-VQ800

Serial No. Serial No.

DCM-M1

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony MiniDisc AV Recorder. With your MiniDisc AV Recorder,

Welcome!

you can capture life’s precious moments with superior picture and sound quality. Your MiniDisc AV Recorder 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.

Usable MiniDiscs

Use an MD DATA2 disc having this logo. You cannot use a MD DATA disc. MD VIEW is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation for MD DATA2 discs.

You can use an audio MD having this logo for playing only.

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

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.

WARNING

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

For customers in the U.S.A.

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.

Never expose the battery pack to temperatures above 140°F (60°C) such as in a car parked in the sun or under direct sunlight.

JBlend1995 – 1999 Aplix Corporation. All

rights reserved.

If you have any questions about this product, you may call: Sony Direct Response Center 1-(800)-222-7669 or write to: Sony Direct Response Center 12451 Gateway Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33913

Declaration of Conformity

Trade Name: SONY Model No.: DCM-M1 Responsible Party:Sony Electronics Inc. Address: 1 Sony Drive, Park

Ridge, NJ, 07656 USA 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.

For Service and Technical Assistance on MD Discam Call To Free 1-888-449-SONY (United States only).

CAUTION

The use of optical instruments with this product will increase eye hazard.

This label is located under the video/audio control buttons.

CAUTION

Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure.

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.

For customers in CANADA CAUTION

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

Table of contents

What you can do with your

camcorder.......................................5

Checking supplied accessories .......... 7

Getting Started

Using this manual ...............................8

Step 1 Preparing the power

supply ........................................... 10

Step 2 Inserting an MD DATA2

disc ................................................16

Step 3 Using the touch panel .......... 18

Recording – Basics

Recording a picture ...........................22

Checking the recorded picture ........ 29

Playback – Basics

Playing the disc.................................. 30

Viewing the recording on TV .......... 35

Advanced Recording Operations

Recording audio including photo -

Interview recording .................... 36

Self-timer recording ..........................38

Shooting backlit subjects (BACK

LIGHT) ......................................... 40

Using the PROGRAM AE function 41

Focusing manually ............................43

Adjusting the exposure manually... 44 Releasing the STEADYSHOT

function......................................... 45

Adjusting the white balance

manually....................................... 46

Advanced Playback Operations

Displaying two pictures –

Picture-in-picture ........................47

Displaying nine consecutive scenes

– 9 FRAME SEQUENCE ............ 49

Playing back repeatedly ................... 51

Playing back in random order –

SHUFFLE...................................... 53

Scanning the top of tracks –

INTRO SCAN .............................. 54

Sorting the tracks............................... 55

Jumping to the desired track ........... 56

Setting the playing time of still

picture tracks ............................... 57

Editing

Checking the disc information ........58

Checking the track information ...... 59

Changing the index image ............... 62

Moving tracks ....................................64

Erasing tracks..................................... 65

Copying tracks ...................................68

Dividing tracks .................................. 70

Trimming unnecessary scenes......... 72

Grouping the tracks .......................... 74

Making a photo track from

a movie ......................................... 76

Drawing/Effect

Drawing on the picture .................... 78

Inserting a title track ......................... 82

Switching the tracks with special

effects ............................................83

Applying the picture effect to the

tracks .............................................86

Customizing Your Camcorder

Adjusting the brightness and

color of the LCD screen ..............87

Adjusting the brightness of the

viewfinder .................................... 88

Resetting the date and time ............. 89

Changing the menu settings ............ 91

Using with Other Equipment

Dubbing on a tape ............................. 96

Printing the still picture.................... 97

Listening to an audio MD ................ 98

Viewing on the computer

display ........................................ 100

Additional Information

Precautions and maintenance

information ................................ 105

Usable MiniDiscs ............................. 109

Troubleshooting .............................. 111

Warning indicators and

messages ..................................... 116

Specifications ................................... 118

Using your camcorder abroad....... 120

Quick Reference

Identifying the parts and controls 121

Quick Function Guide .................... 130

Index.................................................. 131

What you can do with your camcorder

Your camcorder can record in the MD DATA2 disc:

•Moving pictures (movies) as long as 10 minutes in SP mode or 20 minutes in LP mode

•Still pictures (photos) of up to 4,500 shots

•Audio of up to 260 minutes.

Getting started

You can select the picture to play back directly by touching the LCD screen.

Play or edit the picture by touching the menu displayed on the LCD screen.

01:23

00:07

0001 7.4.1999 2:58

Insert the disc from the bottom of the camcorder.

Hold the camcorder with both hands when recording.

What you can do with your camcorder

Various functions available with MiniDisc

Digital video edit functions (p. 58) Check the picture just after

Draw on the picture (p. 78). Easy to move or erase the picture

recording (p. 47)

(p. 64, 65)

Long audio recording including three photos - Interview recording (p. 36)

00:01

AUDIO

STBY

PHOTO

0:00:010001

Listen to audio MD (p. 98).

Checking supplied accessories

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

Getting started

1 AC-VQ800 AC adaptor/charger (1)

(p. 10, 15)

2 AC power cord (1) (p. 10, 15) 3 MMD-650A MD DATA2 disc (1) (p. 16) 4 ZK-ET1 connecting cord (1) (p. 15) 5 NP-F550 battery pack (1) (p. 10, 14) 6 RMT-DCM1 Wireless Remote

Commander (1) (p. 32)

7 Size AA (R6) battery for Remote

Commander (2) (p. 125)

8 Input pen (1) (p. 18) 9 Tripod attachment (1) (p. 122) 0 A/V connecting cable (1) (p. 35) qa Lens cap (1) (p. 22) qs Ferrite cores (large × 1, small × 2)

(p. 124)

qd Shoulder belt (p. 121)

— Getting Started —

Using this manual

As you read through this manual, the buttons and settings on your camcorder are shown in capital letters.

For example, “set the POWER switch to CAMERA.”

When you carry out an operation, you will hear a beep to indicate that the operation is being carried out.

What is a “track”?

A picture or audio recorded in the MiniDisc is called “track.” A track can be of any length and varies depending on how long you recorded the picture or audio.

•Movie track The track starts when you press START/STOP to begin recording and ends when you press START/STOP again to stop recording. (If you have selected the “ANTI GROUND” recording mode in the menu (p. 93), a track is made while you are pressing START/STOP.)

•Photo track A photo makes one track.

•Interview recording (Audio track) The track starts when you press AUDIO REC to begin audio recording and ends when you press x to stop recording. If you record photos during audio recording, the track includes those photos.

•Title track and Drawing track The title track or drawing track makes an individual track, except when you draw on a picture.

Each track is automatically assigned a track number. You can label the track yourself.

The tracks are produced on a disc as shown below. On the index display, each track is indicated by one image regardless of the length or type of the track.

1 track

1 track (Movie)

Recording started

Recording stopped

1 track (Movie)

Recording started

Recording stopped

1 track (Interview recording)

Started

Photo recorded

Stopped

When you edit the picture or audio

Editing the picture and audio is done by tracks. When you move, erase or copy the picture or audio, the track of the selected picture or audio is moved, erased or copied.

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

•The LCD screen and/or the color viewfinder are manufactured using highprecision technology. However, there may be some tiny black spots and/or bright spots (red, blue or green in color) that constantly appear on the LCD screen and/or in the color viewfinder. These spots occur normally in the manufacturing process and do not affect the recorded picture in any way. Effective number of pixels is 99.99% or more.

•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 140°F (60°C), such as in a car parked in the sun or under direct sunlight [b].

•Do not place your camcorder so as to point the viewfinder or the LCD screen toward the sun. The inside of the viewfinder or LCD screen may be damaged [c].

[a] [b] [c]

Getting started

Note on heating

•Your camcorder may heat up during operation due to the internal circuit operation. This is not a malfunction. The temperature differs depending on the operating mode.

•If your camcorder and AC adaptor/charger heat up more than usual, turn off your camcorder and remove the battery pack. When using on the AC adaptor/charger, disconnect the AC adaptor/charger from a wall outlet. Then contact your nearest Sony dealer.

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

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 (L series). If you want to use the camcorder right away indoors, use on the AC adaptor/charger (p. 15).

(1) Set the mode change switch to “CHARGE.” (2) Connect the power cord to the AC adaptor/charger. (3) Connect the power cord to a wall outlet.

A beep sounds and the display window lights up.

(4) Place the battery pack on the AC adaptor/charger with the b mark facing the

terminal shutter.

(5) Slide the battery pack in the direction of the arrow.

Press the battery pack until the terminal shutter enters completely into the AC adaptor/charger.

Charging begins. When the remaining battery indicator becomes and the CHARGE lamp lights up, normal charge is completed. For full charge, which allows you to use the battery slightly longer than “normal charge,” leave the battery pack attached until the CHARGE lamp goes out. Remove the battery pack when required. It can be used even if the charging is not completed.

4, 5

VTR/CAMERA CHARGE

To remove the battery pack

Slide the battery pack in the opposite direction of installing, then lift it straight out.

CHARGE lamp1

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

Notes

•When the mode change switch is set to VTR/CAMERA during charging, charging stops.

•If the CHARGE lamp does not light or flash, check that the battery pack is correctly attached to the AC adaptor/charger. If it is not attached it will not be charged.

•When you install the battery pack, be sure to not hit it to the terminal of the AC adaptor/charger.

•Be sure that nothing metallic comes into contact with the metal parts of the unit or connecting plate. If it does, a short may occur and the unit may be damaged.

Charging time

The following table shows the charging time for the battery pack which is discharged completely.

Battery pack Full charge (Normal charge)

NP-F550 (supplied) 115 (55)

•Approximate minute to charge an empty battery pack fully (Full charge).

•Approximate minute in parentheses indicates the time when you charge normally (Normal charge).

•The charging time may differ depending on the condition of the battery pack or the temperature of the environment.

Remaining battery indicator

Normal charge Full charge

Getting started

Recording time

Recording with Recording with

Battery pack the viewfinder the LCD screen

Continuous* Typical** Continuous* Typical**

NP-F550 (supplied) 75 (70) 37 (35) 65 (60) 32 (30)

•Approximate minutes when you use a fully charged battery

•Numbers in parentheses indicate the time using a normally charged battery.

•If you use both of the LCD screen and the viewfinder, the recording time will be slightly shorter than recording with the LCD screen only.

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

shorter if you use your camcorder in a cold environment.

**Approximate minutes when recording while you repeat recording start/stop,

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

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

Playing time

MD DATA2 disc

Battery pack

Playing time Playing time

on LCD screen with LCD closed

NP-F550 (supplied) 80 (75) 100 (95)

Audio MD

Battery pack

Playing time Playing time

on LCD screen with LCD closed

NP-F550 (supplied) 100 (95) 135 (130)

•Approximate minutes when you use a fully charged battery

•Numbers in parentheses indicate the time using a normally charged battery.

•The battery life will be shorter if you use your camcorder in a cold environment.

To check charging

During charging, you can check the charging time on the display. BATTERY LIFE lights up on the display shortly after charging has started.

Press DISPLAY CHANGE during charging. Each time you press DISPLAY CHANGE, the display changes as follows.

The remaining battery time when the battery pack being charged is attached to an “InfoLITHIUM” equipment.

TIME TO CHG NORMAL

TIME TO CHG

FULL

BATTERY LIFE

DISPLAY CHANGE

The time is not displayed when the remaining battery time is less than 5 minutes.

The remaining time until normal charge is completed.

The remaining time until full charge is completed.

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

What is ”InfoLITHIUM?”

The “InfoLITHIUM” is a lithium ion battery pack which can exchange data with compatible electronic equipment about its battery consumption. Sony recommends that you use the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack with electronic equipment having the

mark.

Notes

•The time display shows the approximate time when charging at 50°F to 86°F (10°C to 30°C). The time display may differ from the actual charging time depending on using conditions and circumstances.

•The time display may show “– – – –” in the following cases. However, the AC adaptor/charger is not malfunctioning. – The remaining battery time is less than 5 minutes. – There is a difference between the displayed time and actual charging time. Even if

this happens, continue charging.

•Full charge requires about 1 hour after normal charge is completed. If you remove the battery pack between normal charge and full charge, the charging time may not be displayed properly in the next charging.

•If the charging time is not displayed properly, fully charge the battery pack. The charging time will be displayed properly.

•When you attach a fully charged battery pack to this AC adaptor/charger, “TIME TO CHG FULL 1h” may appear on the display. However, this is not a malfunction.

•You may wait for a while after pressing DISPLAY CHANGE until the display shows the time indication.

• To display the remaining battery time of a new battery, attach it to your camcorder and use it for about 30 seconds. Then, charge the battery with the AC adaptor/ charger.

Getting started

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

Installing the battery pack

Install the battery pack to use your camcorder outdoors.

(1) Slide OPEN (BATT) down to open the battery compartment lid. (2) With the V mark pointing down, insert the battery pack until it clicks. (3) Shut the lid.

21 3

To remove the battery pack

Open the lid and push the catch.

Catch

Note

Put your hand by the battery compartment lid to prevent the battery pack from dropping.

Remaining battery time indicator of the camcorder

•Approximate time remaining for continuous recording will be displayed on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder. The time may not be correct depending on the condition or environment the camcorder is used.

•It will take about 1 minute for the camcorder to display a correct remaining time when you open or close the LCD screen.

•The remaining time displayed on the camcorder may differ from that on the AC adaptor/charger.

Step 1 Preparing the power supply

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 adaptor/charger.

(1) Set the mode change switch to VTR/CAMERA. (2) Connect the power cord to a wall outlet. (3) Connect the power cord to the AC adaptor/charger. (4) Connect the connecting cord to the DC OUT connector of the AC adaptor/

charger.

(5) Install the connecting cord to the camcorder.

Insert the connecting adaptor until it clicks. Pass the cord through the cord shutter so that the cord is not caught by the battery lid.

Getting started

VTR/CAMERA CHARGE

To disconnect the connecting cord

Open the lid and push the catch.

Notes

•If you set the mode change switch to CHARGE while operating the camcorder, the power supply to the camcorder stops.

•Be sure that nothing metallic comes into contact with the metal parts of the AC adaptor/charger. If it does, a short may occur and the AC adaptor/charger may be damaged.

•You cannot charge the battery pack attached to the AC adaptor/charger while supplying the power to the camcorder.

•Keep the AC adaptor/charger away from the camcorder if the picture is disturbed.

•The power cord must only be changed at an authorized service shop.

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

Using a car battery

Use Sony DC adaptor/charger DC-VQ800 (not supplied) or car battery adaptor DCC-L50 (not supplied).

Step 2 Inserting an MD DATA2 disc

Use an MD DATA2 disc. You cannot record on other types of MDs.

(1) Lift the bOPEN protrusion and open the LCD panel until it stops.

(2) Slide DISC EJECT on the bottom in the direction of the arrow and open the lid

manually.

(3) Insert the disc.

Push the disc in the direction of the arrow deeply into the disc compartment with the label facing up.

(4) Close the disc lid.

DISC EJECT

To eject the disc

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

Notes

•If the POWER switch is set to “CAMERA” or “INTERVIEW,” you may not be able to eject the disc. If this happens, turn off the power first and then reconnect the power sources. Then try again.

•Do not face the disc opening down when you insert or eject a disc to avoid dropping the disc.

To prevent misoperation

Turn the POWER switch to “OFF” when you insert or eject a disc.

Step 2 Inserting an MD DATA2 disc

To prevent accidental erasure

Slide open the tab at the side of the disc (so the tab is concealed).

Rear of the disc

Getting started

Step 3 Using the touch panel

You operate your camcorder by selecting the items on the index display or menu on the LCD screen. Select the tracks or menu items by touching with the input pen or a finger, or using the control dial. The operation will be described mainly by touching the LCD screen with the input pen in this manual. How to operate the menu is described here as an example.

Using the input pen

Example: turning off the beep

(1) Pull out the input pen.

Adjust the length of the input pen. The length of the input pen can be extended by about 12/32 inch (about 1 cm).

(2) Lift the bOPEN protrusion and open the LCD panel. Turn the LCD panel over

and move it back into the camcorder body with the LCD screen facing out. You will get more accurate results by touching the LCD screen in this position.

180°

Step 3 Using the touch panel

(3) Set the POWER switch to PLAY/EDIT while pressing the small green button.

The index display appears. If nothing is recorded in the disc, no index image will be displayed.

(4) Touch

SET UP on the left of the screen.

(5) Touch BEEP. (6) Touch OFF. (7) Touch

to close the menu.

The index display appears.

OFF

Getting started

ERVIEW

RETURN LCD BRIGHT LCD COLOR VF BRIGHT CLOCK SET AVLS BEEP COMMANDER

SET UP

REMAIN

ON OFF

01:23

00:070001

SET UP RETURN LCD BRIGHT LCD COLOR VF BRIGHT CLOCK SET AVLS BEEP COMMANDER

ON OFF

OFF

Notes on the LCD screen

•Operative pressure may be influenced by the atmospheric temperature or pressure.

•You can touch the LCD panel directly with a finger. Do not touch the LCD panel with a wet hand.

•Do not push on the LCD screen with a pointed object such as a pen.

Notes on the input pen

•Use only the supplied input pen. You may not be able to operate your camcorder with other commercially available input pens.

•Do not push on or hit the LCD panel hard with the input pen. Doing so may cause your camcorder to malfunction.

•Take care not to damage or dirty the tip of the input pen.

•If you made the input pen longer, shorten it to the original length before you put it back into your camcorder.

Step 3 Using the touch panel

If the LCD screen is dirty

•Do not use the input pen when the LCD screen is dirty or dusty. Doing so may damage the LCD screen.

•If the LCD screen is dirty, turn the POWER switch to “OFF” first and then wipe the LCD screen lightly with a soft dry cloth.

If the LCD screen does not react correctly to touching

Calibrate it (p. 108).

When PLEASE WAIT is displayed on the LCD screen

Do not apply a mechanical shock to the camcorder, or disconnect the power source.

Using the shortcut menu

You can display some of the menu items quickly.

(1) Press MENU during playback or pause.

The shortcut menu appears.

(2) Touch the desired item. The setting or adjusting display of the item appears.

To turn off the shortcut menu

Press MENU again.

DRAWING PICTURE IN PICTURE 9 FRAME SEQUENCE INDEX CHANGE LCD BRIGHT LCD COLOR

Step 3 Using the touch panel

Using the control dial

Turn the control dial up or down to select an item, and press it to confirm. The control dial rotates up or down endlessly. Example: turning on the digital zoom function

(1) Set the POWER switch to CAMERA while pressing the small green button. (2) Press MENU. (3) Turn the control dial to select (4) Turn the control dial to select D ZOOM and press the dial. (5) Turn the control dial to select ON and press the dial. (6) Press MENU to close the menu.

CAMERA and press the dial.

OFF

ERVIEW

Getting started

SEL

CLOSE CAMERA SET UP

CAMERA RETURN SELF TIMER PROGRAM AE D ZOOM STEADYSHOT WHT BAL AUTO SHTR ANTI WIND NOISE

OFF

OFF ON

STBY

PUSH ENTER

CAMERA RETURN SELF TIMER PROGRAM AE D ZOOM STEADYSHOT WHT BAL AUTO SHTR ANTI WIND NOISE

OFF ON

STBY

— Recording – Basics —

Recording a picture

Your camcorder automatically focuses for you.

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

information (p. 10 to p. 17).

(2) Fasten the grip strap firmly. (3) Remove the lens cap and pull the lens cap string to fix it. (4) Set the POWER switch to CAMERA while pressing the small green button.

Your camcorder is set to the standby mode after a few seconds.

(5) To record a movie:

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.

To record a photo:

Press PHOTO once. The scene when you press the button is recorded.

4 3

OFF

ERVIEW

REC

LOCK

OFF

min

ERVIEW

REMAIN

09:59

00:010001

PHOTO

Recording a picture

Note on the date and time

The clock is set to New York or Panama time at the factory. You can reset the clock (p. 89).

If you want to record longer

Select the LP (long play) recording mode in the menu (p. 26). The available recording time becomes twice the SP (standard play) mode; however, the picture quality will not be as good as the SP mode.

If you leave your camcorder in the standby mode for five minutes

Your camcorder automatically turns off. This is to save battery power. To resume the standby mode, set the POWER switch to OFF and to CAMERA again.

While writing in the MD

The “STBY” indicator on the LCD screen flashes.

•While the “STBY” indicator is flashing, make sure that you do not:

- shake or hit the camcorder.

- turn off the camcorder.

- eject the disc and the battery. The above may damage the picture data and disc.

•While the “STBY” indicator is flashing, you cannot start the next recording.

One recording makes one track

•From when you press START/STOP to begin recording until you press START/STOP to stop recording makes one track and is written in the disc as the last recorded track.

•In the ANTI GROUND recording mode, recording while you are pressing START/ STOP makes one track (p. 93).

•You can renew tracks every 10 seconds (p. 93).

•One photo makes one track.

Note on recording a photo

If you record a fast moving object, the playback picture may look blurred. This is not a malfunction of your camcorder.

To record in the dark

Use a video flash (not supplied). You can use a video flash when is displayed on the LCD screen. If you are adjusting the exposure manually, the video flash does not flash ( is not displayed).

Note on the LOCK switch

When you slide the LOCK switch to the left, the POWER switch cannot be set to INTERVIEW accidentally. The LOCK switch is set to the right as the default setting.

Note on the microphone

Do not touch the built-in microphone during recording.

If you are recording in strong wind

Set ANTI WIND NOISE to ON in the menu to reduce the wind noise (p. 92).

If you input audio from the LINE IN jack of the connecting cord during recording

The audio from the LINE IN jack is recorded.

If you are using headphones

The sound from headphones will be muted for a moment when you start and stop recording. The sound recorded in the disc is not affected. (The situation is same for the speaker output when audio equipment is connected to LINE IN.)

Recording – Basics

Recording a picture

After recording

(1) Set the POWER switch to OFF. (2) Eject the disc. (3) Remove the battery pack.

If you remove the battery before ejecting the disc

Since the disc lid is locked in the CAMERA and INTERVIEW mode, you cannot open the disc lid without the battery.

Indicators displayed in the recording mode

The indicators are not recorded in the disc.

Remaining battery time indicator (p. 14)

Recording mode indicator (p. 26)

STBY/REC indicator (p. 22)

REC

REMAIN

min

09:59

Remaining disc indicator (p. 58)

Track number

Recording time

00:010001

Track type icon (p. 31)

Recording a picture

Adjusting the LCD screen

(1) Pull the bOPEN protrusion and open the LCD panel. (2) Adjust the angle.

180°

To close the LCD panel, set it vertically and swing it into the camcorder body.

Note

When using the LCD screen except in the mirror mode, the viewfinder automatically turns off.

When you use the LCD screen outdoors in direct sunlight

The LCD screen may be difficult to see. If this happens, we recommend that you use the viewfinder.

When you adjust angles of the LCD panel

Make sure that the LCD panel is opened up to 90 degrees. Do not open or turn the LCD screen forcibly.

When you adjust the brightness of the LCD panel

Select LCD BRIGHT in the menu and adjust (p. 87). This adjustment does not change the picture brightness recorded in the disc.

Recording – Basics

90°

Recording a picture

Adjusting the viewfinder

When you record pictures with the LCD panel closed, check the picture with the viewfinder. Adjust the viewfinder lens to your eyesight so that the indicators in the viewfinder come into sharp focus.

(1) Move the viewfinder lens adjustment lever.

Recording time

One MD DATA2 disc can record:

Track type Record mode Recording time

Movie SP mode Max. 10 min.

VP mode 13 min. to 20 min.

LP mode Max. 20 min. Photo Max. 4500 shots Audio Max. 260 min.

Recording mode of movie

SP (standard play):

High picture quality (the default setting).

VP (variable picture quality):

The data consumption is automatically adjusted according to the object being recorded. The deterioration of picture quality is kept to a minimum and the recording time is longer than the SP mode.

LP (long play):

The recording time is double the SP mode. The picture quality is lower than the SP mode.

To select the recording mode

(1) Press MENU. (2) Select REC MODE in (3) Select the desired recording mode.

Note on deterioration of picture quality

The playback picture of a subject which moves fast or changes brightness may have block-shaped noise or rough outlines.

SET UP.

Recording a picture

Using the zoom feature

(1) Move the power zoom lever a little for a slower zoom. Move it further for a

faster zoom. Using the zoom function sparingly results in better-looking recordings. “T” side:for telephoto (subject appears closer) “W” side: for wide-angle (subject appears farther away)

Zoom greater than 10× is performed digitally, if you set D ZOOM to ON in the menu settings. The digital zoom function is set to OFF as a default setting (p. 92).

Recording – Basics

ZOOM

The right-ended portion of the

bar shows the digital zooming zone. The digital zooming zone appears when you set D ZOOM to ON.

When you shoot close to a subject

If you cannot get a sharp focus, move the power zoom lever to the “W” side until the focus is sharp. You can shoot a subject that is at least about 2 feet 5/8 inch (about 80 cm) away from the lens surface in the telephoto position, or about half an inch (about 1 cm) away in the wide-angle position.

Notes on digital zoom

•Digital zoom starts to function when zoom exceeds 10x.

•The picture quality deteriorates as you go toward the “T” side. Set D ZOOM to OFF in the menu settings. Otherwise the digital zoom activates without notice (p. 92).

Recording a picture

Recording while showing the picture on the LCD screen

You can record a person while showing himself/herself on the LCD screen. You can also record yourself if you place your camcorder in a stable position. The supplied Remote Commander will make it easy to record yourself.

(1) Pull the bOPEN protrusion and open the LCD panel. (2) Turn the LCD panel over so that it faces the other way.

indicator appears on the LCD screen and in the viewfinder (Mirror

The mode).

(3) Start recording.

Picture in the mirror mode

The picture on the LCD screen is a mirror-image. However, the picture will be normal when recorded.

Indicators in the mirror mode

The STBY indicator appears as Xz and REC as z. Some of the other indicators appear mirror-reversed and others are not displayed.

Recording time using the battery pack in the mirror mode

Recording time is slightly shorter than the recording time using the LCD screen only (p. 11).

Checking the recorded picture

You can view the picture just after you have recorded with the POWER switch kept to CAMERA. You can erase the track or unnecessary portion of the track.

AUDIO REC

Viewing the last recorded track

(1) During recording standby, press u.

The last picture you recorded will be played repeatedly. Press x to stop playing.

Erasing the last recorded track

(1) During recording standby or playing, press ERASE.

The last recorded track is played and the confirmation message appears.

Recording – Basics

ERASE

TRACK WILL BE ERASED

CONFIRM TO ERASE

NOYES

(2) Turn the control dial to select YES, and press the dial to confirm.

After the PLEASE WAIT message which appears while the change is written in the disc, the camcorder returns to the recording standby mode. The track is erased.

Note

You cannot restore the track once it has been erased.

To erase all tracks

While pressing ERASE, press START/STOP.

Erasing the last portion of the last recorded track

(1) During recording standby, press u.

The last picture you recorded will be played repeatedly.

(2) At the scene from where you want to erase, press u to pause. (3) Press ERASE.

The portion to be erased is played and the confirmation message appears.

(4) Turn the control dial to select YES, and press the dial to confirm.

That portion of the track is erased.

— Playback – Basics —

Playing the disc

You can monitor the playback picture on the LCD screen. If you close the LCD panel, you can monitor the playback picture in the viewfinder. When you monitor the picture on the LCD screen, tilt your camcorder to its stable position.

(1) Install the power source and insert the recorded disc. (2) Pull out the input pen.

Adjust the length of the input pen. The length of the input pen can be extended by 12/32 inch (about 1 cm).

(3) Lift the bOPEN protrusion and open the LCD panel. Turn the LCD panel over

and move it back into the camcorder body with the LCD screen facing out.

(4) Set the POWER switch to PLAY/EDIT while pressing the small green button.

The tracks of recorded pictures appear on the index display.

(5) Touch the track you want to play with the input pen.

The selected track is framed in orange.

(6) Touch the track again to start playing.

The frame turns red. The photo tracks are played for three seconds each.

To stop playing

Press x.

5,6

OFF

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