Vivitar DVR 550 User Manual

Digital Video Camera

User Manual

Content

Section 1 Getting to Know Your Camera..............................2

Section 2 Getting Up and Running.......................................5

Section 3 Record Mode..........................................................7

Section 4 Playback Mode ....................................................34

Section 5 Listening to MP3 Music ......................................47

Section 6 Reading eBook ....................................................49

Section 7 Viewing MPEG4 Movie on PC.............................51

Section 8 Viewing Pictures and Movies on a TV...............52

Section 9 Video File Converter............................................53

Section 10 Burning the Recorded Clip into DVD...............53

Section 11 Transferring Data to a Computer........................9

Section 12 Specifications and System Requirements ...... 11

Section 1

Getting to Know Your Camera

 Overview

The camera with 5 Mega Pixel sensor can take DVD-Quality MPEG-4 movies. By way of using MPEG-4 technology, more videos can be taken within certain amount of memory. High quality images with up to 11 mega-pixels can also be delivered smoothly. With a color LCD monitor, users can compose images and examine them easily.

Exposure and color balance can either be adjusted automatically or allowed to be changed manually. An 8x digital zoom increases user control over the movies and pictures you take. The camera is also ideally suited for using as a PC camera hooked up to your home computer via high speed USB 2.0 port Biuld-in 64 MB memory allows you to take pictures and movies without memory card. The memory card slot allows users to increase the storage capacity up to 2GB.

Note

Partial memory of the built-in 64MB memory is used for Firmware code

 Standard Accessories

Unpack the package and make sure all standard accessories listed are included:

z Camera z USB Cable z Power Adaptor z AV Cable z Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery z Quick Guide z CD-ROM ( Driver, Arcsoft Software and User Manual) z Remote Control (Optional) z Earphone z Strap z Pouch

 Front View

Self-Timer LED

Lens

Flash

Power Button

SD card slot

 KeyPad illustration

LCD Panel

TV Out Port

Direction Buttons

Enter Button

Picture Shutter Button

Movie Shutter Button

Tele-Wide Button

RECORD/PLAY Button

Mini USB 2.0 port

 Side View

Speaker

Strap Hole

Battery Cover

Macro Switch

Microphone

 Loading the Battery

Before using the camera, end users must load NP60 rechargeable Li-ion Battery.

1. Follow the arrow direction and slide to eject the battery cover.

2. Insert the batteries according to the correct polarity marks ( + or -)

3. Close the battery cover firmly.

Section 2

Getting Up and Running

Eject

 Inserting and Removing an SD Card（Optional）

The camera comes with internal memory which allows you to store pictures, movies, voice recordings and music. You can expand the memory capacity by using an optional SD or MMC memory card up to 2GB. To insert a memory card, refer to the figure as below:

1. Insert the memory card into the right position.

2. To remove an installed SD card, press the card inwards to release it.

3. When the card pops out, gently remove it from its slot.

Note

When a memory card is fitted, movies and pictures are saved on card rather than on the built-in memory.

 Protecting Data on an SD Card

SD card is read-only by locking the SD card. No pictures, movies and voice can be recorded when the SD card is locked. Make sure the lock is on writeable position before recording any media.

Write-Protected

Writeable position

Write-Protected

Position

 Turning the Camera On and Getting Started

To turn on the camera: (1) Flip out the LCD panel; the camera will t urn on automatically. (2) Or press Power Button for one second to turn on it.

Ö To take a movie, press the Movie Shutter Button ( Ö To take a picture, press the Picture Shutter Button (

Ö To record the voice, press the Upper Button of Direction Buttons and press the Movie

Shutter Button (

Ö To view stored movies, pictures, listen to stored MP3 and voice recordings, or read eBook,

press RECORD/PLAY Button once to switch to Playback Mode. Press a second time to return to Record Mode.

) to start voice recording.

 Turning the Camera Off

To turn off the Camera, you can either press the Power Button for one second, or you can place the LCD panel back to its original position.

 Button Function

Section 3

Record Mode

Right Button : Flash AUTO/OFF Left Button :Self-Timer ON/OFF Up Button : Voice Recording Mode Down Button: LCD Information ON/OFF Enter Button : Menu ON

Power Button: Press down for one second to turn

on or turn off the camera.

RECORD/PLAY Button functions:

1. Switch between Record /Playback Mode.

2. Return to the previous page.

Tele-Wide Button: Digital Zoom in and out.

Movie Shutter Button:

1. Start to take movie, or record voice.

2. To stop recording, press it again.

Picture Shutter Button: Start to take picture

Macro switch: Switch between Macro Mode, Portrait Mode, and Normal Mode.

 LCD Monitor Information

The indicator shows below may display on LCD when movies and picture s a re recorded：

Record Mode

(1)

Movie Record Mode Picture Record Mode Voice Record Mode Motion Stabilization Two in One Mode Photo Frame Multi-Snap Mode

(2) Resolution

(3)

(4) (5)

(6) (7)

(8)

Backlight Mode

Movie : Picture:

Number of images or recording time of movie that can still be taken at current resolution.

Battery indicator：

High / Standard/ Low

SD card inserted Macro Position Focusing

White Balance

full power / medium power / low power /

power empty

Auto Flash Flash Off

(9) (10) (11)

Self-timer enabled 8X digital zoom Date/Time : YYYY/MM/DD HH: MM

(12)

Motion Detection

 MPEG4 Movie Recording

Press Movie Shutter button ( ) to start recording. When a movie is recording, a time

indicator will display on LCD monitor. To stop recording, press Movie Shutter Button ( again. Press RECORD/PLAY Button to view the recorded movie.

Three resolution settings are available:

)

Quality

High Quality Standard Quality

Low Quality

 Picture Recording

Press the Picture Shutter Button ( ) to take a picture.

Press RECORD/PLAY Button to view the picture. Three resolution settings are available:

Image Quality

High Quality Standard Quality

Low Quality

 Voice Recording

1. Press Upper Button ( ) of Direction Buttons to switch to Voice Record Mode.

2. Press Movie Shutter Button (

3. Press Movie Shutter Button (

4. Press RECORD/PLAY Button to view the recorded voice.

) to record voice.

) again to stop.

 Taking Close up Pictures

The camera has two close-up picture modes to allow you to take pictures at close range. The Macro Mode (

(

) should be used for object located from 70 cm to 140 cm.

To take close-up pictures:

1. Rotate the lens ring to switch to Macro ( the macro icon (

2. Press Picture Shutter Button (

) should be used for object located at about 20 cm, while the Portrait Mode

) or Portrait ( ) positions. In Macro Mode,

) will appear on the LCD monitor.

) to take the picture.

Note

Remember to turn the macro switch back to Normal ( close-up pictures.

) when you are not taking

 Using Digital Zoom

The digital zoom magnifies images, when recording movies or taking pictures.

1. To zoom in/out, press the Tele/Wide Bu tton.

2. The digital zoom can be set from 1x to 8x and the magnification ratio is shown on the LCD monitor.

 Options for Record Mode

Movie Mode Picture Mode Voice Pen Effect Set

z Resolution z Exposure z Sharpness z White Balance z Stabilization z Motion Detect z Exit

z Resolution z Exposure z Two in One z Photo Frame z Flash z Self-timer z Sharpness z White Balance z Multi-snap z Backlight z Date printing z Exit

 Operations for Record Mode

z Enter z Exit

z Normal z B/W z Classic z Negative z Exit

z Sound z Start-up Screen z Time Setting z Format Memory z TV System z Language z Default Setting z Exit

Operation Screen

1. Press Enter Button when in Movie/Picture Record Mode.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to move between main menu options, which are Movie Mode, Camera Mode, Voice Mode, Effect, and Set. Submenu will pop out while move to each main option.

3. Press Enter Button to validate sub option you select.

4. Select Exit option to exit submenu.

Enter Button

 Default Setting and Validation

The following table indicates the camera’s default setting as well as its validation.

1. Always: The setting always keeps valid.

2. One Time: The setting is only valid either once or till camera power off.

Resolution

Exposure Sharpness White Balance Motion Stabilization Motion Detect Two in One Photo Frame Flash Self-Timer Multi-Snap Backlight Mode Date Printing Effect

Validation Default Factory Setting

Always High for Movie

Standard for Picture One Time 0EV One Time Level 5 One Time Auto Always Off One Time Off One Time Off One Time Off Always Off One Time Off One Time Off One Time Off Always Off One Time Normal

Sound Format Card TV System Language Volume

Always On One Time Off Always Depends on shipping area Always Depends on shipping area Always Level 6

 Movie Mode submenu Setting

Record main menu includes camera setting and other advanced setting. You can use Right/Left Buttons to move between options and press Enter Button to validate the setting.

 Movie Resolution

To change Movie Resolution:

1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the screen.

3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Resolution then press Enter Button to switch to Resolution

submenu.

4. Use Up/Down Buttons to move between three settings.

5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.

Display Screen Video Resolution Option

Enter Button

 Exposure

The camera adjusts image exposure automatically. In certain circumstances you may wish to adjust the exposure compensation setting.

To change Exposure setting:

1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the

screen.

3. Use Up/Down Buttons to move to Exposure Option. Press the Enter Button and then

Exposure Submenu will pop out on the screen.

4. Use Up/Down Buttons to choose preferred EV value. The change can be previewed

immediately.

5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.

Display Screen Exposure Option

Enter Button

 Sharpness

You can soften and sharpen images to achieve different effects.

To change Sharpness setting:

1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the

screen.

3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Sharpness then press Enter Butto n to switch to Sharpness

submenu.

4. Use Up/Down Buttons to move between nine levels. The ch ange can be previewed

immediately.

5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.

Display Screen Change Sharpness Setting

Enter Button

 White Balance

The camera adjusts the color balance of images automatically. Three manual white balance settings are available:

1. Auto (Default): The camera automatically adjusts white balance.

2. Daylight: Under outdoors

3. Fluorescent: Under fluorescent light condition.

4. Tungsten: Under tungsten light condition.

To change White Balance Setting:

1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the

screen.

3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select White Balance, then press Enter Button to switch to White

Balance submenu.

4. Use Up/Down Buttons to move between four settings. The change can be previewed

immediately.

5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.

Display Screen W/B Option

Enter Button

 Motion Stabilization

To enable Motion Stabilization:

1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the

screen.

3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Motion Stabilization then press Enter Button to switch to

Motion Stabilization submenu.

4. Use Up/Down Buttons to choose ON or OFF.

5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.

Motion Stabiization Motion Stabilization Option

Enter Button

Note

1. The captured screen will be smaller when motion stabilization is enabled.

2. Digital Zoom is disabled when motion stabilization is activated.

 Motion Detection

To enable Motion Detection:

1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the screen.

3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Motion Detect then press Enter Buttons to switch to Motion Detect submenu.

4. Use Up/Down Buttons to choose ON or OFF.

5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.

6. Camera will start to record video once if there is a movement for 3 consecutive seconds. Stop recording if there is no movement for 3 seconds.

Motion Detect Motion Detect Option

Enter Button

 Camera Mode Setting

 Picture Resolution

To change Picture Resolution:

1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Camera Mode. Submenu of Camera Mode will pop out on

the screen.

3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Resolution then press Enter Button to switch to Resolution

submenu.

4. Use Up/Down Buttons to move between three settings.

5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.

Display Screen Video Resolution Option

Enter Button

 Exposure

The camera adjusts image exposure automatically. In certain circumstances you may wish to adjust the exposure compensation setting.

To change Exposure setting:

1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.

2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Camera Mode. Submenu of Camera Mode will pop out on

the screen

3. Use Up/Down Buttons to move to Exposure Option. Press the Enter Button and then

Exposure Submenu will pop out on the screen.

4. Use Up/Down Buttons to choose preferred EV value. The change can be previewed

immediately.

5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.

Display Screen Exposure Option

Enter Button

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