3-868-320-11 (1) 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. CCD-TR517 Model No. AC-L Serial No. Serial No.
Welcome! Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony Handycam® camcorder. With your Handycam, you can capture life’s precious moments with superior picture and sound quality. Your Handycam is loaded with advanced features, but at the same time it is very easy to use. You will soon be producing home video that you can enjoy for years to come. WARNING To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture. DISPOSAL OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY. LITHIUM ION BATTERY. DISPOSE OF PROPERLY.
Table of contents Quick Start Guide ............................. 4 Getting started Recording – Basics Recording a picture ............................... 15 Shooting backlit subjects (BACK LIGHT) ........................ 18 Shooting in the dark (NightShot) ............................... 19 Superimposing the date and time on pictures ................................ 20 Checking the recording – EDITSEARCH / Rec Review ..... 21 Playback – Basics Connections for playback ....................
Quick Start Guide This chapter introduces you to the basic features of your camcorder. See the page in parentheses “( )” for more information. Connecting the power cord (p. 13) Use the battery pack when using your camcorder outdoors (p. 8). Open the DC IN jack cover. Quick Start Guide Connect the plug with its v mark facing up. AC power adaptor (supplied) Inserting a cassette (p. 14) 1 Slide EJECT in the direction of the arrow while pressing the small blue button.
Recording a picture (p. 15) 1 Set the POWER switch to CAMERA POWER CAMERA 2 Turn STANDBY to STANDBY. The picture appears in the viewfinder. CK LO STA OFF (CHARGE) while pressing the small green button. ND PLAYER BY START/STOP 3 Press the red button. Your camcorder starts recording. To stop recording, press the red button again. CK LO STA ND BY START/STOP Monitoring the playback picture in the viewfinder (p.
— Getting started — Using this manual 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. 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.
Checking supplied accessories Make sure that the following accessories are supplied with your camcorder. 1 2 3 Getting started 4 5 1 AC-L10A/L10B/L10C AC power adaptor (1), Power cord (1) (p. 9) 2 NP-F330 battery pack (1) (p. 8, 9) 4 A/V connecting cable (1) (p. 22) 5 Shoulder strap (1) (p. 61) 3 CR2025 lithium battery (1) (p. 46) The lithium battery is already installed in your camcorder.
Step 1 Preparing the power supply Installing the battery pack Install the battery pack to use your camcorder outdoors. Slide the battery pack down until it clicks. To remove the battery pack Slide the battery pack out in the direction of the arrow while pressing RELEASE down. BATT BATT RELEASE After installing the battery pack Do not carry your camcorder by holding the battery pack. If you do so, the battery pack may slide off your camcorder unintentionally, damaging your camcorder.
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). Getting started (1) Open the DC IN 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 a wall outlet. (4) Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHARGE). Charging begins.
Step 1 Preparing the power supply Notes •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. •Keep the battery pack dry. •When the battery pack is not to be used for a long time, charge the battery pack once fully and then use it until it fully discharges again. Keep the battery pack in a cool place.
Step 1 Preparing the power supply Charging time Full charge (Normal charge) 150 (90) 210 (150) 300 (240) 390 (330) 420 (360) Approximate number of minutes to charge an empty battery pack Getting started Battery pack NP-F330 (supplied) NP-F530/F550 NP-F730/F730H/F750 NP-F930/F950 NP-F960 Recording time Battery pack NP-F330 (supplied) NP-F530 NP-F550 NP-F730 NP-F730H/F750 NP-F930 NP-F950 NP-F960 Continuous* 170 (160) 305 (275) 340 (305) 625 (560) 710 (640) 975 (875) 1080 (970) 1260 (1135) Typical** 95 (
Step 1 Preparing the power supply Note on the remaining battery time indicator during recording The indicator may not be correct, depending on the conditions in which you are recording. 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 (L series). Your camcorder operates only with the “InfoLITHIUM” battery.
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 power adaptor. 1 Getting started (1) Open the DC IN jack cover, and connect the AC power adaptor 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.
Step 2 Inserting a cassette (1) Prepare the power supply (p. 8). (2) Slide EJECT in the direction of the arrow while pressing the small blue button. The cassette compartment automatically lifts up and opens. (3) Insert a cassette with its window facing out and the tab on the cassette up. mark on the cassette (4) Close the cassette compartment by pressing the compartment. The cassette compartment automatically goes down.
— Recording – Basics — Recording a picture Your camcorder automatically focuses for you. 2 POWER 3 CK LO CAMERA 40min SP STBY 40min SP 0:00:00 STA OFF (CHARGE) Recording – Basics (1) Install the power source and insert a cassette. See “Step 1” and “Step 2” for more information (p. 8 to 14). (2) Set the POWER switch to CAMERA while pressing the small green button. The lens cover opens. (3) Turn STANDBY to STANDBY. (4) Press START/STOP. Your camcorder starts recording.
Recording a picture After recording (1) Turn STANDBY down to LOCK. (2) Eject the cassette. (3) Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHARGE). To record pictures with the viewfinder – adjusting the viewfinder Adjust the viewfinder lens to your eyesight so that the indicators in the viewfinder come into sharp focus. Lift up the viewfinder and move the viewfinder lens adjustment lever.
Recording a picture Using the zoom feature 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) T T W T Recording – Basics W W Zoom greater than 20× is performed digitally. To activate digital zoom, select the digital zoom power in D ZOOM in the menu settings. (p.
Recording a picture Indicators displayed in the recording mode The indicators are not recorded on tape. Recording mode indicator STBY/REC indicator 40min SP REC 0:00:01 Tape counter Remaining tape indicator This appears after you insert a cassette and record or play back for a while. Remaining battery time indicator Shooting backlit subjects (BACK LIGHT) When you shoot a subject with the light source behind the subject or a subject with a light background, use the backlight function.
Recording a picture Shooting in the dark (NightShot) The NightShot function enables you to shoot a subject in a dark place. For example, you can satisfactorily record the environment of nocturnal animals for observation when you use this function. NIGHTSHOT OFF Recording – Basics While your camcorder is in the standby mode, slide NIGHTSHOT to ON. and “NIGHTSHOT” indicators flash in the viewfinder. To cancel the NightShot function, slide NIGHTSHOT to OFF.
Recording a picture Superimposing the date and time on pictures You can record the date or time displayed in the viewfinder superimposed on the picture. Carry out the following operations in the standby or recording mode. Press DATE to record the date. Press TIME to record the time. Press DATE (or TIME), then press TIME (or DATE) to record the date and time. Press DATE and/or TIME again. The date and/or time indicator disappears. DATE TIME The default clock setting is set to East Coast Standard Time.
Checking the recording – EDITSEARCH / Rec Review You can use these buttons to check the recorded picture or shoot so that the transition between the last recorded scene and the next scene you record is smooth. Recording – Basics EDITSEARCH EDITSEARCH You can search for the next recording start point. Hold down the +/– (7) side of EDITSEARCH in the standby mode. The recorded section is played back. + : to go forward – : to go backward Release EDITSEARCH to stop playback.
— Playback – Basics — Connections for playback Connect your camcorder to your TV or VCR with the A/V connecting cable supplied with your camcorder to watch the playback picture on the TV screen. When monitoring the playback picture on the TV screen, we recommend that you power your camcorder from a wall outlet using the AC power adaptor (p. 13). Refer to the operating instructions of your TV or VCR. Open the jack cover. Connect your camcorder to the TV using the A/V connecting cable.
Playing back a tape You can monitor the playback picture on a TV screen after connecting your camcorder to a TV or VCR. You can also monitor the picture in the viewfinder. (1) (2) (3) (4) Install the power source and insert the recorded tape. Set the POWER switch to PLAYER while pressing the small green button. Press m to rewind the tape. Press N to start playback. POWER CAMERA OFF (CHARGE) PLAYER 3 REW 4 PLAY Playback – Basics 2 To stop playback Press x.
Playing back a tape Various playback modes To operate video control buttons, set the POWER switch to PLAYER. To view a still picture (playback pause) Press X during playback. To resume playback, press X or N. To advance the tape Press M in the stop mode. To resume normal playback, press N. To rewind the tape Press m in the stop mode. To resume normal playback, press N. To locate a scene monitoring the picture (picture search) Keep pressing m or M during playback.
— Advanced Recording Operations — Using the wide mode You can record a cinema-like picture (CINEMA) or a 16:9 wide picture to watch on the 16:9 wide-screen TV (16:9FULL). Refer to the operating instructions of your TV. CINEMA Black bands appear on the screen during recording in the CINEMA mode [a], playing back on a normal TV [b] or a wide-screen TV [c]. If you set the screen mode of the widescreen TV to the zoom mode, a picture without black bands appears [d].
Using the wide mode In the standby mode, set 16:9WIDE to CINEMA or 16:9FULL in the menu settings (p. 39). MENU To cancel the wide mode Set 16:9WIDE to OFF in the menu settings. In the wide mode You cannot select the bounce function with FADER. Date or time indicator When you record in the 16:9FULL mode, the date or time indicator will be widened on wide-screen TVs. During recording You cannot change or cancel the wide mode.
Using the fader function You can fade in or out to give your recording a professional appearance. [a] STBY REC FADER Advanced Recording Operations M.FADER (mosaic) STRIPE BOUNCE * (Fade in only) [b] STBY REC MONOTONE When fading in, the picture gradually changes from black-and-white to color. When fading out the picture gradually changes from color to black-and-white. * You can use this function only when D ZOOM is set to OFF.
Using the fader function (1) When fading in [a] In the standby mode, press FADER until the desired fader indicator flashes. When fading out [b] In the recording mode, press FADER until the desired fader indicator flashes. The indicator changes as follows: FADER t M.FADER t STRIPE t BOUNCE t MONOTONE t no indicator The last selected fader mode is indicated first of all. (2) Press START/STOP. The fader indicator stops flashing.
Using special effects – Picture effect You can digitally process images to obtain special effects like those in films or on the TV. PASTEL [a] : [a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f] Advanced Recording Operations Thecontrastofthepictureisemphasized,andthepicturelookslikean animatedcartoon. NEG. ART [b] : Thecolorandbrightnessofthepictureisreversed. SEPIA : Thepictureissepia. B&W : Thepictureismonochrome(black-and-white). SOLARIZE [c] : Thelightintensityisclearer,andthepicturelookslikeanillustration.
Using the PROGRAM AE function You can select PROGRAM AE (Auto Exposure) mode to suit your specific shooting requirements. Spotlight mode This mode prevents people’s faces, for example, from appearing excessively white when shooting subjects lit by strong light in the theater. Soft portrait mode This mode brings out the subject while creating a soft background for subjects such as people or flowers. Sports lesson mode This mode minimizes shake on fast-moving subjects such as in tennis or golf.
Using the PROGRAM AE function (1) Press PROGRAM AE in the standby mode. The PROGRAM AE indicator appears. (2) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired PROGRAM AE mode. The indicator changes as follows: 1 PROGRAM A Advanced Recording Operations 2 To turn the PROGRAM AE function off Press PROGRAM AE. Notes •In the spotlight, sports lesson and beach & ski modes, you cannot take close-ups. This is because your camcorder is set to focus only on subjects in the middle to far distance.
Adjusting the exposure manually You can manually adjust and set the exposure. Adjust the exposure manually in the following cases: •The subject is backlit •Bright subject and dark background •To record dark pictures (e.g. night scenes) faithfully (1) Press EXPOSURE in the standby or recording mode. The exposure indicator appears. (2) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to adjust the brightness. 1 EXPOSURE 2 To return to the automatic exposure mode Press EXPOSURE again.
Focusing manually You can gain better results by manually adjusting the focus in the following cases: •The autofocus mode is not effective when shooting – subjects through glass coated with water droplets – horizontal stripes – subjects with little contrast with backgrounds such as walls and sky •When you want to change the focus from a subject in the foreground to a subject in the background •Shooting a stationary subject when using a tripod 9 indicator Advanced Recording Operations (1) Set FOCUS to MA
Superimposing a title You can select one of eight preset titles and two custom titles (p. 36). You can also select the language, color, size and position of titles. VACATION (1) Press TITLE in the standby mode. (2) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select , then press the dial. (3) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired title, then press the dial. The titles are displayed in the language you selected. (4) Change the color, size, or position, if necessary.
