Vivitar DVR 426HDV3 User Manual

DVR 426HDv3

Digital Camcorder

User Manual

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Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 2

What’s Included ............................................................................................................................ 2

Parts of the Camcorder ................................................................................................................ 3

Initial Camcorder Setup ................................................................................................................ 4

Main Camcorder Modes ............................................................................................................... 8

Camcorder Technical Specifications ............................................................................................. 9

Computer System Requirements ............................................................................................... 10

Powering ON/OFF Your Digital Camcorder ................................................................................. 11

Changing Camcorder Mode ....................................................................................................... 12

Navigating the Menus ................................................................................................................. 13

ViviLink Feature .......................................................................................................................... 14

Video Capture Mode .................................................................................................................. 15

Video Playback Mode ................................................................................................................. 29

Photo Capture Mode .................................................................................................................. 34

Photo Playback Mode ................................................................................................................ 49

Installing the Software ................................................................................................................ 56

Connecting the Camcorder to the Computer .............................................................................. 57

Getting Photos and Videos from the Camcorder to the Computer ............................................. 58

Getting Started! .......................................................................................................................... 59

Transferring Images from the Camcorder to the Computer Manually ......................................... 59

Connecting the Digital Camcorder to the TV .............................................................................. 61

Camcorder Maintenance ............................................................................................................ 62

Sakar Warranty Card .................................................................................................................. 63

Technical Support ....................................................................................................................... 64

Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................................... 64

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this digital video recorder. Everything you need to take quality digital photos and videos is included with your digital video recorder. Vivitar makes capturing those special moments as easy as possible.

Note:  Your digital camcorder requires a Micro Memory card (up to 16GB) for normal use. Micro SD

Memory cards are not included and need to be purchased separately.

Important: You must use only a Class 4 Micro SD Memory card or higher.

 This camera is a Plug and Play device. You can download the pictures and videos captured

by your camera without the software by directly accessing the camera’s memory card from

your computer. It is recommended however that you install the Vivitar Experience Image Manager Software to enjoy the full Vivitar experience.

Please read this manual carefully first in order to get the most out of your digital camcorder.

What’s Included

1. Digital Camcorder (with Built-in USB Connector, not shown)

2. AV Cable

3. Vivitar Experience Image Manager software Installation CD

4. Wrist Strap

Note: SD memory card and batteries not included.

Parts of the Camcorder

1. AV Out Port

12. Left / Resolution Button

2. Wrist Strap Connector

13. Shutter / OK Button

3. Tripod Mount

14. LCD Screen

4. USB Connector

15. Up / Zoom In Button

5. USB Lever

16. SD Memory Card Slot

6. LED Indicator Light

17. Power Button

7. Microphone

18. Delete Button

8. Lens

19. Right / ViviLink Button

9. Speaker

20. Down / Zoom Out Button

10. MODE Button

21. Battery Compartment

11. MENU Button

Initial Camcorder Setup

Installing the Batteries

Installing the Memory Card

Turning On the Camcorder

Using the Camcorder

 Make sure the camcorder is

powered OFF.

 Insert SD Memory card

(up to 16GB) before use.

 Insert 3 X AAA (1.5V) batteries.  Alkaline batteries recommended

(not included).

When powering the camcorder ON for the first time the camcorder will take you through the initial setup.

Powering the Digital Video Recorder ON

1) Batteries Make sure the batteries have been inserted properly into your digital video recorder. Slide the battery compartment cover in a downward direction to open the cover. Insert 3 x AAA (1.5V) batteries (not included) with the correct polarity, according to the polarity illustrated inside the cover.

Note:

 Alkaline batteries are recommended.  Remove the batteries from the camera when not in use for an extended period.  Do not mix alkaline and non-alkaline batteries.  Some camera features (such as Flash in some models) will not work if the battery power

level is low.

 When the battery power is low the battery icon turns red and the camcorder will

automatically turn off a few seconds later.

 The energy status of the power is displayed on LCD as shown below:

Full battery power Medium battery power Low battery power

2) SD Memory Card Make sure the camcorder is powered OFF before inserting your SD/MMC/SDHC Memory Card. Make sure an SD card (up to16GB) has been inserted into your digital camcorder. (SD Memory card not included.) To properly insert the SD Card:  Push the SD card into the slot in the direction shown on the camcorder (see SD icon by

the SD card slot).

 Push the SD card until you hear a slight clicking sound. This indicates the SD card has

been inserted correctly.

Note:  After the camera is powered on, an SD icon will appear on the LCD display. If you do

not see the SD icon on the display, please check if the card was inserted properly.

 Make sure the SD card is not locked (check the lock switch on the side of the SD card). If

the SD card is locked this will prevent the camera from saving captured photos to the SD card.

3) Power On Press and hold the POWER button to turn on the camcorder.

Setting the Camcorder Language

You will first be prompted to select a language for the camera. The Language selection menu will appear. Select the language of your choice by pressing the UP and DOWN direction control buttons. Then press the OK button to confirm the selection.

After selecting a language, you will be asked if you would like to continue with the initial camera

setup. A message will appear: “Continue with Camera Setup?” Select “Yes” to continue or “No” to exit the setup.

Note: If you select “No” and decide to leave the camera setup, the camera will be set to its default settings. These settings can be adjusted at any time manually through the menus in the camera.

Setting the Date and Time

The next step in the initial camera setup is to set the date and time on the camera.

Set the Date and Time as desired by pressing the RIGHT and LEFT direction control buttons to choose the specific setting and the UP and DOWN buttons to change each setting. Once you have completed setting the time and date, press the OK button to confirm the selection and move to the next part of the camera setup.

Setting the ViviLink Default Option

Once the Date and Time have been set, you will be asked to set the default ViviLink destination for photos and videos taken with your camera.

The ViviLink technology allows you to quickly and easily upload your camera’s photos and videos

to the social networks of your choice with the accompanying software application.

1) First you will be asked to choose the default ViviLink social network for Photos. Highlight the desired default social network and press the OK button to confirm the selection.

2) Next you will be asked to choose the default ViviLink social network for Videos. Highlight the

desired default social network and press the OK button to confirm the selection.

3) After the ViviLink Video option is confirmed the camera is now ready to use.

Congratulations! Your digital video recorder is now ready to begin capturing videos and photos.

Main Camcorder Modes

Video Capture Mode

Use this mode to capture videos with your digital video recorder. This is the default mode when the camcorder is powered ON. To take a video, aim your camcorder as desired and press the Shutter button to start recording. A red record indicator appears on the LCD screen while the recording is in progress. To stop recording, press the Shutter button again. The video is automatically saved to your camcorder’s memory card. To access the various menus for the Video Capture mode, press the MENU button while in the Video Capture mode.

Photo Capture Mode

Use this mode to capture pictures with your camcorder. After turning on your camcorder, press the MODE button once to open the Photo Capture mode. To take a picture, aim your camcorder as desired and press the Shutter button. The picture is automatically saved to your camcorder’s memory card. To access the various menus for the Photo Capture mode, press the MENU button while in the Photo Capture mode.

Playback Mode (Photos & Videos)

Use this mode to view and manage the photos and videos on your camcorder. After turning on your camcorder, press the MODE button twice to open the Playback mode for photos and videos. You can scroll through the photos and videos that you’ve previously taken to view and delete them as desired. To access the various menus for the Playback mode for photos and videos, press the MENU button while in the Playback mode.

Your digital video recorder has different modes for the various camcorder functions. You can switch modes by pressing the MODE button on your digital video recorder after the camcorder has been powered ON.

Camcorder Technical Specifications

Image Sensor

CMOS Sensor

Image Resolution

2592x1944 (5.1MP), 2048x1536 (3.0MP), 1280x1024 pixels (1.3MP)

Video Resolution

1280 x 720 (HD), 640X480pixels (VGA 30fps)

File Format

JPEG/AVI

External Memory

SDRAM 4×16MB SD Card Memory Card not included

LCD Display

1.77 Inch TFT

Lens

f=3.0mm F2.8

Zoom

4X Digital Zoom

Scene

Auto, Scenery, Portrait, Night Scenery, Night Portrait, Sensitive, Sport, Beach, Party

Anti-Shake

Yes

Self-Timer

2, 5, 10 seconds delay; Off (Normal)

Multi Snapshot (Burst)

Yes

White Balance

Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent

Light Exposure

-3.0EV ~ +3.0EV

ISO

Auto, 100, 200, 400

Frequency

50Hz, 60 Hz

Auto Power Off

1 min., 3 minutes, 5 minutes, Disable

Language

English, French

Microphone

Yes

Speaker

Yes

Interface

USB 2.0 (HS)

System Requirements

Window XP SP3 / Vista SP1/ Windows 7 Mac OS X v10.5.x or higher

Battery

3 x AAA (1.5V) Alkaline batteries Batteries not included

Working Temperature

0~40 C

Computer System Requirements

To be able to download photos and videos to your computer using the Vivitar Experience Image Manager Software, you will need the following minimum configuration:

WINDOWS OS

 MICROSOFT® Windows XP with Service Pack 3, Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 or Windows

 Pentium® 4 processor (or above)

 1 GB RAM, 250 MB available hard disk space

 16-bit Color monitor, 1024 X 768 recommended screen resolution  CD-ROM Drive  QuickTime® 6 or higher  MICROSOFT ® Internet Explorer 7 or higher  Windows Media Player 10 or higher  DirectX 9 or higher

 Internet connection required

MACINTOSH OS

 Intel processor running MACINTOSH OS X v10.5.x or later  1 GB RAM, 250 MB available hard disk space  Display: 1024 x 768 or higher-resolution monitor  QuickTime® 6 or higher  CD-ROM Drive  Internet connection required

Note: Make sure the latest compatible Adobe® Flash® Player is installed on your computer.

Powering ON/OFF Your Digital Camcorder

 Make sure the batteries have been inserted properly into your digital video recorder.  If your camcorder comes with a rechargeable lithium battery, make sure it is fully charged

before the first use.

 Make sure an SD card has been inserted into your camcorder.

(SD card up to 16GB - SD Card not included)

Powering the Camcorder ON

Press the Power button to turn your camcorder ON. The camcorder will be in Video Capture mode to start.

Powering the Camcorder OFF

While the camcorder is on, you can press the Power button again at any point to turn your camcorder OFF. You will see a “Goodbye” splash screen and then the camcorder will power off

completely. Note: When there is insufficient battery power, a “Low Battery” message will appear on the LCD screen. The digital camcorder will automatically power off a few moments later.

Auto Power Off - Power Saving

Your digital camcorder also has an Auto Power Off feature that automatically turns off your camcorder after a specific period of time that your camcorder is left idle. The Auto Power Off time can be set from the ‘Auto Off’ menu settings.

Changing Camcorder Mode

Your digital video recorder has three main modes:

1) Video Capture Mode - Use this mode to capture videos with your camcorder.

2) Photo Capture Mode - Use this mode to capture photos with your camcorder.

3) Playback Mode (for photos and videos) - Use this mode to view the photos and videos

you have already taken with your camcorder.

When the camcorder is first powered ON, the Video Capture Mode will be active. The icons that appear on the LCD screen are the best default settings so that you can begin to capture and enjoy clear quality videos and photos.

To change the active camcorder mode, make sure the camcorder is powered ON and press the MODE button.

When in Video Capture Mode, this icon will display on the top-left corner of the LCD display.

When in Photo Capture Mode, this icon will display on the top-left corner of the LCD

display.

When in Playback Mode, this icon will display on the top-left corner of the LCD display.

Navigating the Menus

Each camcorder mode has a set of menus specific to that mode.

1) Press the MENU button to open the menus for the current mode.

1) Press the LEFT or RIGHT direction control button to scroll between the various menus for

the current mode.

2) Press the UP or DOWN direction control button to highlight the desired menu selection.

3) Press the OK button to confirm and select the highlighted menu option.

4) If the selection can be remembered by the camcorder, a selection icon will appear to the

right of the selected menu option. Changes made to these options will remain as is until you decide to change them again at a later time.

5) Some menu options are single-use functions that are not remembered by the camcorder

and do not display this icon when selected.

6) At any time you can press the MENU button to exit the menus and return to the previous

screen.

ViviLink Feature

The ViviLink technology allows you to quickly and easily upload your camcorder’s photos and

videos to the social networks of your choice with the accompanying Vivitar Experience Image Manager application.

1) Press the RIGHT button while in Video or Photo Capture Mode. This is the Quick Function Button to access the ViviLink Menu.

2) The ViviLink for Videos or Photos Menu appears with the following options: ViviLink for Videos: YouTube, Photobucket, Flickr, None ViviLink for Photos: Facebook, Twitgoo, Twitpic, Photobucket, Flickr, MySpace, Picasa, None

3) Press the UP or DOWN direction control button to scroll through the menu options.

4) Press the OK button to select and confirm the desired option.

A selected option icon will appear on the selected item.

5) Once you have selected a ViviLink, press the MENU button to return to the current Mode.

6) The icon of the selected ViviLink destination appears on the LCD screen and the camcorder is now set to capture your photo or video using the ViviLink feature.

Note:  The ViviLink feature is deactivated by default. A ViviLink destination can only be assigned to a

photo or video if you manually set it from this menu each time before you capture your photo or video. Once activated the selected ViviLink destination appears on the LCD screen.

 The selected ViviLink option remains the default selected option. This can be changed at any

time by choosing another option from the ViviLink menu. Remember that the ViviLink needs to be activated by selecting it from the menu before capturing your image.

 The icon of the selected ViviLink destination appears in the Playback Mode on each captured

image. If you have selected ‘None’ as your ViviLink, no icon appears. The ViviLink destination applied to your captured image can be changed from the ViviLink menu in Playback Mode.

Video Capture Mode

The Video Capture Mode allows you to capture videos with your digital video recorder. When the camcorder is first powered ON, the Video Capture Mode will display by default.

Taking a Video

1) Power on the camcorder. The camcorder will be in Video Capture Mode, with the video

icon appearing on the top, left of the LCD screen.

2) While in Video Capture Mode use the LCD display to direct the camcorder at the scene you

would like to capture.

3) Press the UP- T/Zoom In and DOWN – W/Zoom Out buttons to better set the camcorder

display if desired. You can magnify your subject up to 4 times using the digital zoom while capturing your photos and recording your videos. The magnification indicator appears on the bottom, right of the LCD screen and displays the selected magnification.

4) Press the SHUTTER button to start the video capture.

5) The elapsed recording time and a blinking, red indicator appear on the top of the LCD

screen indicating that the video capture is in progress.

6) To stop recording the video, press the SHUTTER button again.

7) The video is automatically saved to the camcorder’s SD memory card.

Taking a Video with the Flip Screen

You can also capture your videos using the Flip Screen. When you would like to quickly and easily include yourself in the video, follow these simple steps:

1) Flip the LCD display out.

2) Hold the camera facing towards you. Make sure you can see yourself within the scene on the LCD screen

3) Look at the lens, and then press the SHUTTER button to begin recording. It’s as easy as twist and shoot!

Note: The amount of recording time available for the resolution selected appears on the top center of LCD screen. The lower the resolution setting the more recording time is available. However, videos recorded at lower resolution are of less quality than videos recorded at the higher resolution. Remember, the amount of time that you can capture videos also depends on the size of the SD memory card inserted as well as the video resolution and quality selected.

Deleting the Selected Image (Video or Photo)

Button

Function

LEFT

Resolution – Changes between HD and VGA Video Resolution

UP (T)

Zooms in

RIGHT

ViviLink for Videos – Opens the ViviLink Menu options for Videos

DOWN (W)

Zooms out

Other

OK/SHUTTER

- Starts and stops your video capture

- Confirms menu selection

- Opens the Video Capture Menu options

Note: To navigate through the Menus, use the LEFT, RIGHT, UP, and DOWN directions control buttons.

- Exits the Video Capture Menu options

MODE

Toggles between the Video Capture Mode, Photo Capture Mode, and Playback Mode

DELETE

Opens the ‘Delete This File?’ menu and allows you to delete the selected

image (photo or video) as seen on the LCD screen.

1) Press the DELETE button to open the ‘Delete This File?’ menu.

2) Press the UP or DOWN button to select from the following options: Yes, No.  Yes: Automatically Deletes Image

Select ‘Yes’ then press the OK button to delete the image (video/photo) that was just captured. The next captured image (video/photo) then appears with the Delete menu options. You can continue to delete captured images or exit by selecting ‘No’ or by pressing the MENU button.

 No: Exits the Delete Menu Without Deleting Image

Select ‘No’ then press the OK button to exit without deleting the selected image and return to the current capture mode.

Video Capture Mode Quick Function Buttons

Your digital camcorder has a four-directional pad and additional buttons that serve as Quick Function buttons.

Video Capture Mode Menus

The following are the menus that appear in your camera’s Video Capture Mode:

Scene Menu

Using the Scene Menu you can choose scene settings that allow your camera to adapt properly to your current environment.

1) Press the MENU button to open the menus for the current mode.

2) Press the LEFT or RIGHT direction control button to scroll and select the ‘Scene’ menu.

3) Press the UP or DOWN direction control button to highlight the desired menu option.

4) Press the OK button to select and save the desired option.

5) A selected option icon will appear on the selected item.

6) Press the LEFT or RIGHT button to select the next menu item.

7) Press the MENU button to exit the menu and return to your previous mode.

8) An icon reflecting your selection will display on the LCD screen.

9) Remember that this setting will be saved by your camera until you manually change the setting or restore the camera’s default factory settings.

Resolution Menu

The Resolution menu allows you to choose the desired size of the images taken by your camera.

Keep in mind that images with a higher resolution will also take up more of your camera’s

memory.

1) Press the MENU button to open the menus for the current mode.

2) Press the LEFT or RIGHT direction control button to scroll and select the ‘Resolution’ menu.

3) Press the UP or DOWN direction control button to highlight the desired menu option.

4) Press the OK button to select and save the desired option.

5) A selected option icon will appear on the selected item.

6) Press the LEFT or RIGHT button to select the next menu item.

7) Press the MENU button to exit the menu and return to your previous mode.

8) An icon reflecting your selection will display on the LCD screen.

9) Remember that this setting will be saved by your camera until you manually change the setting or restore the camera’s default factory settings.

Quality Menu

The Quality menu allows you to select the desired quality level of the images taken by your camera. Keep in mind that images with a higher image quality level will also take up more memory on your camera.

1) Press the MENU button to open the menus for the current mode.

2) Press the LEFT or RIGHT direction control button to scroll and select the ‘Quality’ menu.

3) Press the UP or DOWN direction control button to highlight the desired menu option.

4) Press the OK button to select and save the desired option.

5) A selected option icon will appear on the selected item.

6) Press the LEFT or RIGHT button to select the next menu item.

7) Press the MENU button to exit the menu and return to your previous mode.

8) An icon reflecting your selection will display on the LCD screen.

9) Remember that this setting will be saved by your camera until you manually change the setting or restore the camera’s default factory settings.

Anti-Shake Menu

The Anti-Shake feature reduces image corruption that can be caused by movement of the camera while capturing the image.

1) Press the MENU button to open the menus for the current mode.

2) Press the LEFT or RIGHT direction control button to scroll and select the ‘Anti-Shake’ menu.

3) Press the UP or DOWN direction control button to highlight the desired menu option.

4) Press the OK button to select and save the desired option.

5) A selected option icon will appear on the selected item.

6) Press the LEFT or RIGHT button to select the next menu item.

7) Press the MENU button to exit the menu and return to your previous mode.

8) An icon reflecting your selection will display on the LCD screen.

9) Remember that this setting will be saved by your camera until you manually change the setting or restore the camera’s default factory settings.

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Vivitar DVR 426HDV3 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual