Radio Shack Model 130 Moviecorder User Manual

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Cat. No. 16-830  
OWNER’S MANUAL  
Please read before using this equipment.  
MODEL 130 MOVIECORDER‰  
Camcorder  
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Safety Check  
Do not operate the AC adapter/charger with a dam-  
— Upon completion of service or repairs to this  
5.  
6.  
aged power-supply cord or plug.  
product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to  
determine that the product is in proper operating condition.  
Have a qualified ser-  
vice technician replace them immediately.  
Do not use an extension cord unless absolutely nec-  
Wall or Ceiling Mount  
wall or ceiling only as recommended by the manufacturer.  
— The product should be mounted to a  
essary.  
Use of an improper extension cord could result in  
a risk of fire and electric shock. If you use an extension  
cord, make sure that:  
Heat  
— The product should be situated away from heat sources  
such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products (in-  
cluding amplifiers) that produce heat.  
A. The pins on the extension cord’s plug are the same  
number, size, and shape as those of the power-sup-  
ply plug on the AC adapter/charger.  
Outdoor Antenna Grounding  
— If an outside antenna or cable  
system is connected to the video product, be sure the antenna  
or cable system is grounded so as to provide some protection  
against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Section 810  
B. The extension cord is properly wired and in good  
electrical condition.  
ANSI/NFPA 70  
of the National Electrical Code,  
, provides infor-  
C. You use an extension cord with the following wire  
sizes:  
mation with respect to proper grounding of the mast and sup-  
porting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna  
discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of anten-  
nas-discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and re-  
quirements for the grounding electrode. See the example below.  
MINIMUM SIZE  
(AWG GAUGE)  
LENGTH OF EXTENSION CORD  
(FEET)  
18  
16  
Equal to or less than 100  
Equal to or less than 150  
Do not operate the AC adapter/charger if it has  
received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise  
7.  
damaged in any way.  
Take it to a qualified service techni-  
cian.  
Do not disassemble the AC adapter/charger.  
8.  
Take it to  
a qualified service technician when service or repair is  
required. Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of elec-  
tric shock or fire.  
Power Lines  
— An outside antenna system should not be locat-  
unplug the AC adapter/  
9. To reduce risk of electric shock,  
ed in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light or  
power circuits or where it can fall into such power lines or cir-  
cuits. When installing an outside antenna system, extreme care  
should be taken to keep from touching or approaching such  
power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal. In-  
stalling an outdoor antenna can be hazardous and should be left  
to a professional antenna installer.  
charger from the wall outlet before attempting any  
maintenance or cleaning.  
AC ADAPTER/CHARGER  
Save these instructions  
1.  
— This page contains important  
safety and operating instructions for the video product’s  
supplied AC adapter/charger.  
Before using the video product’s AC adapter/charger  
— read all instructions and cautionary markings on the AC  
adapter/charger, battery pack, and the video product  
using the battery pack.  
2.  
To reduce risk of injury  
3.  
4.  
— use the AC adapter/charger  
to charge only the supplied battery pack or a replacement  
battery pack VM-BP64/BP65/BP66/BP67. Other types of  
batteries may burst causing personal injury and damage.  
To reduce risk of damage to the power-supply cord or  
plug  
— do not pull the power-supply cord to disconnect  
the AC adapter/charger from the wall outlet. Pull the  
power-supply plug.  
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CONTENTS  
Before You Begin ........................................................................................................................... 8  
Supplied Accessories ................................................................................................................ 8  
Optional Accessories ................................................................................................................ 8  
Moisture Condensation ............................................................................................................. 9  
Quick Start ................................................................................................................................... 10  
Viewfinder Playback ................................................................................................................ 11  
Selecting a Power Source .......................................................................................................... 12  
Using the Battery Pack ........................................................................................................... 12  
Charging the Battery Pack ............................................................................................... 12  
Attaching the Battery Pack To The Camcorder ................................................................ 13  
Removing the Battery Pack From The Camcorder ........................................................... 13  
Battery Status Indicators .................................................................................................. 13  
Replacing the Battery Pack While Recording ................................................................... 13  
Battery Usage Hints ......................................................................................................... 14  
Using the AC Adapter/Charger ............................................................................................... 14  
Using an Optional DC Adapter ................................................................................................ 15  
Preparing the Camcorder for Use .............................................................................................. 16  
Inserting/Removing a Video Cassette ..................................................................................... 16  
Setting the Power Switch ........................................................................................................ 16  
Preparing/Adjusting the Viewfinder ......................................................................................... 16  
Setup ................................................................................................................................ 17  
Adjustment ....................................................................................................................... 17  
Setting/Changing the Date and Time ...................................................................................... 18  
Attaching the Shoulder Strap .................................................................................................. 19  
Special Video Recording Features ............................................................................................ 20  
Auto Focusing ......................................................................................................................... 20  
Variable Speed Power Zoom .................................................................................................. 20  
Macro Focusing ...................................................................................................................... 20  
Digital Zoom ............................................................................................................................ 21  
Fade In and Fade Out ............................................................................................................. 21  
Review .................................................................................................................................... 22  
Camera Search ....................................................................................................................... 22  
Auto Exposure ........................................................................................................................ 22  
Automatic Index ...................................................................................................................... 22  
Recording the Date and Time on a Tape ................................................................................ 23  
Digital Counter ........................................................................................................................ 23  
Counter Memory ..................................................................................................................... 23  
Tape Remaining ...................................................................................................................... 24  
Titler ........................................................................................................................................ 24  
Creating Titles .................................................................................................................. 24  
Editing Titles ..................................................................................................................... 25  
Adding Titles While Recording ......................................................................................... 25  
Hints for Making Better Video Tapes ......................................................................................... 26  
Lighting ................................................................................................................................... 26  
Typical Brightness of Common Situations ........................................................................ 26  
Camcorder Movement ............................................................................................................ 27  
Zoom In and Zoom Out ........................................................................................................... 27  
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Special VCR Features ................................................................................................................. 28  
Visual Search .......................................................................................................................... 28  
Fast Forward and Rewind ....................................................................................................... 28  
Freeze Frame ......................................................................................................................... 28  
Auto Tracking .......................................................................................................................... 28  
Dubbing (Copying) a Tape ...................................................................................................... 29  
Dubbing to the Camcorder ............................................................................................... 29  
Dubbing from the Camcorder ........................................................................................... 30  
Adding Titles onto an Existing Recording ......................................................................... 31  
Audio Editing ........................................................................................................................... 31  
Audio/Video Editing ................................................................................................................. 32  
Connecting the Camcorder to a TV ........................................................................................... 34  
Using a TV for Playback ........................................................................................................ 34  
TV With Audio/Video (A/V) Jacks ..................................................................................... 34  
Standard TV ..................................................................................................................... 35  
Playback ....................................................................................................................................... 36  
Additional Information ................................................................................................................ 37  
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................... 37  
Care and Maintenance ................................................................................................................ 40  
Handling .................................................................................................................................. 41  
Servicing Your Camcorder ...................................................................................................... 41  
Cleaning the Video Heads ...................................................................................................... 42  
Erase Protection ..................................................................................................................... 42  
Storing Your Video Cassettes ................................................................................................. 42  
The FCC Wants You to Know ................................................................................................. 43  
Specifications .............................................................................................................................. 44  
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BEFORE YOU BEGIN  
Please read this owner’s manual carefully. It has  
been prepared to help you with initial setup pro-  
cedures and in the everyday operation of your  
camcorder.  
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES  
DC Adapter (CMC No. T16-CC70A) — sup-  
plies power to the camcorder from your vehicle’s  
battery. Use it only in vehicles that have a 12-  
volt negative-ground electrical system.  
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES  
Your camcorder includes the following accesso-  
ries. Be sure to remove these items before you  
store the packing material.  
Battery Pack — supplies power for recording  
and playback during portable operation.  
RF Adapter Kit (CMC No. T16-RF71A) — lets  
you play back a tape from the camcorder  
through a TV that does not have separate audio/  
video input jacks. The RF adapter kit includes:  
• One RF converter  
• One 300- to 75-ohm matching transformer  
• One 75-ohm antenna cable  
AC Adapter/Charger — charges the battery or,  
when used with the auxiliary power cord, sup-  
plies power to the camcorder from an AC outlet.  
Spare Battery Pack (CMC No. T16-BP67)  
Auxiliary Power Cord — lets you connect the  
camcorder to the AC adapter/charger to operate  
the camcorder from AC power.  
Telephoto/Wide Angle Lens (CMC No. 16-  
2339)  
Filter Kit (CMC No. (please add))  
Shoulder Strap — provides a convenient way  
to carry the camcorder.  
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MOISTURE CONDENSATION  
Condensation inside the camcorder can cause  
tape jams or video head damage. If the cam-  
corder senses moisture, TAPE flashes in the  
viewfinder.  
If TAPEflashes in the viewfinder, or when you  
first use your camcorder after moving it from a  
cold area to a warm one, follow these steps.  
1. Eject the cassette if one is installed.  
POWER  
OFF  
2. If necessary, slide  
to  
.
3. Let the camcorder sit for about 1 hour  
before you begin operation.  
Caution: Avoid using the camcorder in exces-  
sively humid areas.  
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QUICK START  
To eliminate complicated adjustments in most  
situations, this camcorder has fully automatic  
features for focus, white balance, and shutter  
speed. All you need to do is press REC/PAUSE.  
The following steps outline the basic procedures  
for making a recording. In many of the steps,  
you are directed to a specific section of this  
manual that contains more detailed information.  
When operating the camcorder for the first time,  
read all the steps and the suggested detailed in-  
formation before you actually begin.  
6. Remove the lens cap and hang it on the  
hand strap clip.  
1. Choose and connect a power source. See  
“Selecting a Power Source” on Page 10.  
2. Press STOP/EJECT to open the cassette  
compartment. Insert a standard VHS cas-  
sette, and close the compartment. See  
“Inserting/Removing a Video Cassette” on  
Page 16.  
3. Slide POWER to CAMERA. The POWER  
indicator lights. See “Setting the Power  
Switch on Page 17.  
7. Point the camcorder at the desired subject,  
then press W or T on the power zoom con-  
trol until you see the desired picture in the  
viewfinder. See “Variable Speed Power  
Zoom” on Page 21.  
Note: If there is no cassette in the cam-  
corder, NO TAPE appears in the view-  
finder. If the cassette has its erase-  
protection tab broken off, TAPEappears in  
the viewfinder. See “Erase Protection” on  
Page 39.  
8. To begin recording, press REC/PAUSE with  
your right middle finger. During recording,  
RECappears in the viewfinder with arrows  
above it to show the direction of tape travel.  
4. Adjust the viewfinder’s position until you  
can look into it comfortably when the back  
of the camcorder rests on your right shoul-  
der. Then adjust the focus control on the  
eyepiece for the sharpest picture in the  
viewfinder. See “Preparing/Adjusting the  
Viewfinder” on Page 14.  
Note: When about 5 minutes or less  
remain on the tape, TAPE ENDflashes in  
the viewfinder.  
9. To pause the tape, press REC/PAUSE  
again. The tape pauses, the arrows disap-  
5. Place your right hand between the hand  
strap and the camcorder. Then adjust the  
hand strap so it fits tightly over your hand.  
pear, and  
appears in the viewfinder.  
To continue recording, press REC/PAUSE  
again.  
Note: If the strap is too loose, the cam-  
corder is difficult to handle.  
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POWER  
tor lights.  
VCR  
Notes:  
1. Slide  
2. Press  
to  
. The POWER indica-  
To protect the tape and conserve battery  
power, the camcorder turns itself off if you  
pause the tape for more than 5 minutes. To  
turn the camcorder back on, press  
PAUSE  
REWIND  
to return the tape to the  
beginning or to the place where you want to  
begin playback. See “Digital Counter” on  
Page 21.  
REC/  
.
PLAY  
3. Press  
and watch the picture in the  
• For more information about recording with  
your camcorder, be sure to read all the sec-  
tions under “Special Video Recording Fea-  
tures” on Page 18.  
viewfinder. See “Special VCR Features” on  
Page 26.  
Note: You cannot hear the tape’s audio  
recording during viewfinder playback. To  
hear sound, play the tape through a TV/  
monitor or on a VCR. See “Connecting the  
Camcorder to a TV” on Page 32.  
VIEWFINDER PLAYBACK  
After you make a recording, you can play it back  
through the viewfinder. (Of course, you can also  
STOP/EJECT  
4. Press  
to end playback.  
STOP/EJECT  
5. To remove the cassette, press  
again.  
STOP/EJECT  
press  
in any VHS VCR).  
, remove the tape, and play it  
Note: Except when you are recording, you  
can eject a cassette any time power is con-  
nected to the camcorder, whether or not the  
POWER indicator is lighted.  
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SELECTING A POWER SOURCE  
You can power the camcorder from any of three  
sources — the supplied battery pack, the sup-  
plied AC adapter/charger, or your vehicle’s bat-  
tery (with an optional DC adapter, not supplied).  
1. Make sure the auxiliary power cord is not  
connected to the AC adapter/charger.  
Note: The battery pack will not charge if the  
auxiliary power cord is connected to the AC  
adapter/charger.  
Note: Your camcorder has a built-in recharge-  
able battery in addition to the battery pack. This  
battery protects the camcorder’s date and time  
and any titles you created (see “Titler” on Page  
22.). You should recharge this battery about ev-  
ery 2 months. To recharge the battery, slide  
POWER to OFF and leave a power source con-  
nected to the camcorder for about 24 hours.  
2. Align the marks on both sides of the battery  
pack with the marks on both sides of the  
AC adapter/charger.  
3. Gently press the battery pack against the  
AC adapter/charger, then slide the battery  
pack toward you until it locks into place.  
Caution: The battery pack fits only one  
way onto the AC adapter/charger. Do not  
force it.  
USING THE BATTERY PACK  
4. Plug the AC adapter/charger’s power cord  
into a standard AC outlet. The POWER and  
CHARGE indicators on the AC adapter/  
charger light, and charging begins. When  
the battery pack is fully charged, the  
CHARGE indicator turns off.  
You can power the camcorder using the sup-  
plied battery pack. However, you must charge  
the battery pack before you use it.  
Charging the Battery Pack  
Caution: If the battery pack is hot, wait until  
it cools before connecting it to the AC  
adapter/charger. Otherwise, the CHARGE  
indicator might not light.  
Caution: Use only the supplied AC adapter/  
charger to charge the battery pack. Use of any  
other adapter/charger could damage the battery  
pack. Also, do not use the AC adapter/charger  
to charge any battery pack other than the type  
supplied.  
Notes:  
• If the POWER and CHARGE indicators  
on the AC adapter/charger flash, remove  
the battery pack from the AC adapter/  
charger, then re-attach it. If both indica-  
tors continue to flash, you need a new  
battery pack.  
Follow these steps to charge the battery pack  
with the supplied AC adapter/charger.  
• It takes about 2 hours to fully charge the  
battery pack, but the exact charging time  
depends on the ambient temperature  
and the condition of the battery pack.  
To AC Outlet  
5. When the battery pack is fully charged,  
remove it from the AC adapter/charger by  
sliding it away from you. Then disconnect  
the AC adapter/charger from the AC outlet.  
Alignment Marks  
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16-830.fm Page 11 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
tery pack. You might damage the tape if  
you remove the battery pack during record-  
ing or playback.  
Attaching the Battery Pack to the  
Camcorder  
Alignment Marks  
Battery Status Indicators  
0012  
4350  
9850  
When the battery pack is fully charged,  
appears in the viewfinder when you slide POW-  
ER to CAMERA.  
As the battery’s power is used,  
appears in  
the viewfinder. When the battery is low,  
blinks in the viewfinder. Then, after a few sec-  
onds, the camcorder turns itself off. Recharge  
the battery pack or power the camcorder from  
the supplied AC adapter/charger or an optional  
DC adapter.  
1. Align the marks on both sides of the battery  
pack with the marks on the sides of the  
camcorder.  
2. Gently press the battery pack against the  
camcorder, then slide the battery pack  
down until it clicks and locks in place.  
Note: You can order additional battery packs  
from your local Radio Shack store so you can  
use one battery while you charge another.  
Caution: The battery pack fits only one  
way onto the camcorder. Do not force it.  
Removing the Battery Pack  
from the Camcorder  
Replacing the Battery Pack  
While Recording  
BATTERY  
You can replace the battery pack with a fresh  
one while recording.  
1. If  
flashes in the viewfinder during  
recording, press REC/PAUSE to stop  
recording.  
2. If the camcorder is still on, slide POWER to  
OFF. The POWER indicator turns off.  
Caution: Be sure the POWER indicator is  
off before you remove the battery pack.  
3. Remove the old battery pack and attach a  
fresh one.  
1. Slide POWER to OFF to turn off the cam-  
corder.  
4. Slide POWER to CAMERA. The POWER  
2. While pressing and holding down BATTERY,  
indicator turns on.  
slide the battery pack up to remove it.  
5. Press REC/PAUSE to continue recording  
Caution: Always stop the tape and turn off  
the camcorder before you remove the bat-  
from the same place as before.  
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Battery Usage Hints  
USING THE AC ADAPTER/  
CHARGER  
• Recording with many starts and stops, fre-  
quent zooming, and recording in low tem-  
peratures might shorten battery life. Be  
sure to slide POWER on the camcorder to  
OFF when not recording.  
• Do not use the camcorder with a low or dis-  
charged battery pack attached. This might  
cause the camcorder to automatically stop  
during recording or playback, possibly  
damaging the tape, battery pack, and cam-  
corder.  
1. Connect one end of the supplied auxiliary  
power cord to the AC adapter/charger’s DC  
OUTPUT jack.  
2. Connect the other end of the auxiliary  
power cord to the DC IN jack on the back of  
the camcorder.  
• The camcorder consumes a small amount  
of battery power even when POWER is set  
to OFF. If you are not going to use the cam-  
corder for a long time, remove the battery  
pack from the camcorder.  
3. Plug the AC adapter/charger’s power cord  
into an AC outlet.  
• Recharge the battery pack immediately  
after you record. Leaving the battery dis-  
charged can damage it, preventing further  
recharging and use.  
Caution: The supplied AC adapter/charger is  
specially designed for use with your camcorder.  
Never use it to power any other device  
• If you recharged the battery pack then  
stored it for a long period of time, recharge  
it again before you connect it to the cam-  
corder. Batteries stored for an extended  
time lose some power, resulting in  
decreased battery life and recording time.  
• Recharge the battery pack at least once  
every 6 months, even when it is not used.  
• Store the battery pack in a dry, cool place.  
Important: This product contains a recharge-  
able lead-acid battery. At the end of the battery’s  
useful life, it must be recycled or disposed of  
properly. Contact your local, county, or state  
hazardous waste management authorities for  
information on recycling or disposal programs in  
your area. Some options that might be available  
are: municipal curb-side collection, drop-off box-  
es at retailers, recycling collection centers, and  
mailback programs.  
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Follow these steps to power the camcorder from  
your vehicle’s battery:  
USING AN OPTIONAL DC  
ADAPTER  
You can use a DC adapter (CMC No. T16-  
CC70A, not supplied) to power your camcorder.  
Cautions:  
• Your vehicle must have a 12-volt, negative-  
ground electrical system.  
1. Connect the DC adapter’s barrel plug to the  
DC IN  
jack on the back of the camcorder.  
• The recommended DC adapter is specially  
designed for use with your camcorder.  
Never use it to power any other device.  
2. Plug the DC adapter into your vehicle’s cig-  
arette-lighter socket.  
Notes:  
• Use only the recommended DC adapter to  
power the camcorder from your vehicle.  
Using a DC adapter other than the recom-  
mended DC adapter could seriously dam-  
age your camcorder and the DC adapter.  
• Be sure to push the plug completely into  
the cigarette-lighter socket.  
• Be sure the socket is free from ashes  
and other debris.  
• Always connect the DC adapter to the cam-  
corder before you plug it into your vehicle’s  
cigarette-lighter socket, and unplug the DC  
adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket  
before you unplug it from the camcorder.  
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PREPARING THE CAMCORDER FOR USE  
INSERTING/REMOVING A  
VIDEO CASSETTE  
SETTING THE POWER SWITCH  
While pressing and holding down the red button  
in the center of POWER, slide it to CAMERA for  
video recording or to VCR for playback. The  
POWER indicator lights.  
You can open the cassette compartment to in-  
sert/remove a video cassette whenever a power  
source is connected to the camcorder, whether  
or not the camcorder is turned on.  
CAM  
OFF  
VIDEO  
POWER  
1. Press STOP/EJECT to open the cassette  
compartment.  
2. Insert a VHS cassette into the cassette  
compartment with the side label facing you  
and the spine label facing up, then gently  
press the cassette compartment door until  
it closes.  
Slide POWER to OFF to turn off the camcorder.  
PREPARING/ADJUSTING THE  
VIEWFINDER  
The camcorder’s viewfinder is set to this posi-  
tion at the factory.  
Caution: Never insert anything except a  
VHS video cassette into the cassette com-  
partment.  
To remove a cassette, press STOP/EJECT, wait  
for the cassette compartment door to open, and  
pull out the cassette.  
Caution: Always remove the cassette before  
storing the camcorder.  
Before you carry the camcorder by its shoulder  
strap or store it, return the viewfinder to this po-  
sition (see “Setup” on Page 17).  
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Setup  
Adjustment  
Before you can use the camcorder, you must set  
up the viewfinder.  
Once you set up the viewfinder, you can adjust  
the position of the viewfinder support and angle  
of the eyepiece, so you can see through the  
eyepiece easily.  
1. Rotate the viewfinder support until it stops,  
as shown.  
1. Slide POWER to CAMERA or VCR.  
2. To adjust the viewfinder support, slide it to  
the left or right until the eyepiece is directly  
in front of your right eye.  
Caution: The viewfinder support rotates  
only 90°. Do not force it past this point.  
2. Rotate the eyepiece about 180° until it  
stops, as shown.  
3. To adjust the eyepiece, rotate it up or down  
until you can see through it.  
4. Turn the focus control on the right side of  
the eyepiece until the image is clear and  
sharp.  
Caution: The eyepiece rotates only about  
225°. Do not force it past this point.  
Focus Control  
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4. When the viewfinder shows the correct  
SETTING/CHANGING  
THE DATE AND TIME  
STOP/EJECT  
. The day’s digit  
month, press  
flashes.  
POWER  
CAMERA  
. The POWER  
1. Slide  
to  
indicator lights.  
2. If the currently set date does not appear in  
DATE/TIME  
the viewfinder, repeatedly press  
until the date appears and the month’s digit  
flashes.  
12:00  
AM  
11 1 1995  
5. Repeat Steps 3-4 to set the correct day,  
year, hour, minute, and AM (if the hour is an  
AM hour) or PM (if the hour is a PM hour).  
12:00  
AM  
1
1 1995  
6. When you have set the date and time,  
DATE/TIME  
repeatedly press  
information you set.  
to confirm the  
7. To change the displayed date and time,  
repeat Steps 2-6.  
If the month’s digit does not flash, press  
DATE/TIME  
and hold down  
STOP/EJECT  
, then press  
once.  
FAST-F  
REWIND  
to  
3. Repeatedly press  
or  
move forward or backward through the  
months until the viewfinder shows the cor-  
rect month. To quickly move forward or  
backward through the months, press and  
FAST-F  
REWIND  
.
hold down  
or  
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Cautions:  
ATTACHING THE SHOULDER  
STRAP  
• Use only the supplied shoulder strap with  
this camcorder.  
The shoulder strap provides a convenient way  
to carry the camcorder when it is not in use. You  
can also use it as a safety strap when you use  
the camcorder.  
• Do not swing the camcorder from the  
shoulder strap.  
• Replace the lens cap while carrying the  
camcorder with the shoulder strap.  
POWER  
To attach the shoulder strap, slide  
OFF  
to  
, then attach each end of the strap as  
shown.  
17  
16-830.fm Page 18 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
SPECIAL VIDEO RECORDING FEATURES  
AUTO FOCUSING  
VARIABLE SPEED  
POWER ZOOM  
The automatic focusing feature lets you concen-  
trate on recording great videos without having to  
worry about whether or not they are properly fo-  
cused.  
W
T
The camcorder detects the distance from the  
camcorder to the object you see in the center of  
the viewfinder, then sets the focus for that dis-  
tance. When you move the camcorder, the cam-  
corder continuously adjusts the focus to  
maintain the sharpest picture. Try to keep your  
desired subject in the middle of the viewfinder.  
The power-zoom feature lets you go from wide-  
angle to telephoto shots at the touch of a button.  
During recording, press W or T with the fingers  
of your right hand. Press W (wide-angle) to  
zoom out and T (telephoto) to zoom in.  
Notes:  
• If the lens gets dirty, clean it with a soft tis-  
sue and lens-cleaning fluid.  
As you zoom out or in, a bar with an indicator ap-  
pears on the left side of the viewfinder. The indi-  
cator moves up and down the bar, showing the  
relative zoom position. The pressure you place  
on W and T controls the speed of the zoom. The  
harder you press W and T, the faster the cam-  
corder zooms.  
• If the lens gets damp, dry it with a soft cloth  
or wait until the moisture evaporates.  
• Always replace the lens cap when you fin-  
ish recording.  
• The auto-focus sensor might not be able to  
focus on a subject when:  
— You are taping in extremely low light.  
— You are taping in snow or fog.  
MACRO FOCUSING  
— Close and distant objects are both near  
the center of the viewfinder.  
The camcorder’s macro focusing feature lets  
you shoot close up pictures (as little as 11/4 inch-  
es away) of objects such as flowers, printed ma-  
terial, or photos in your family album.  
— You are taping a long object (such as a  
fence rail) from its end.  
— The scene includes several objects  
equal distances apart.  
To use macro focus, press and hold down W  
(see “Variable Speed Power Zoom” above) until  
you see the widest possible angle in the view-  
finder, then aim the camcorder at the object you  
are shooting. In most cases, the camcorder au-  
tomatically focuses on the subject.  
— Light reflects off the subject.  
— The focus point moves rapidly.  
— You are taping through a window.  
Notes:  
• Since macro focus exaggerates even the  
slightest movement of the camcorder or  
subject, we recommend that you set the  
camcorder on a tripod while using macro  
focus.  
18  
16-830.fm Page 19 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
• For the best possible resolution while using  
macro focus, be sure to shoot in a well-  
lighted area.  
The camcorder has the following fade options:  
White fade: The picture fades in/out from/to a  
white screen. When you select this option,  
appears in the upper left corner of the  
viewfinder.  
DIGITAL ZOOM  
Fade In  
The camcorder’s digital zoom feature automati-  
cally doubles the magnification of telephoto  
shots while you use variable speed power  
zoom.  
Fade Out  
Wipe fade: The picture opens/closes gradually  
from/to the center of a black screen. When you  
To use digital zoom, simply continue to press  
select this option,  
appears in the upper  
T
and hold down while you are zooming. As you  
left corner of the viewfinder.  
T
press and hold down , the magnification dou-  
Fade In  
bles and ZOOMappears above the indicator on  
the left side of the viewfinder.  
Fade Out  
Notes:  
• The subject you are magnifying while using  
digital zoom might appear coarse. This is  
normal.  
Zoom fade: The picture fades in/out while  
zooming from/to a white screen. When you se-  
lect this option,  
appears in the upper left  
corner of the viewfinder.  
• Since digital zoom exaggerates even the  
slightest movement of the camcorder or  
subject, we recommend that you set the  
camcorder on a tripod while using digital  
zoom.  
Fade In  
Fade Out  
FADE IN AND FADE OUT  
To give your recordings a professional look, the  
camcorder has three fade options.  
To select a fade option and fade in or out, re-  
FADE  
peatedly press  
the camcorder is paused until the icon for the  
REC/  
during recording or while  
option you want appears. Then press  
PAUSE  
.
Note: During fade, the recorded audio also  
fades in/out along with the video.  
19  
16-830.fm Page 20 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
REVIEW  
AUTO EXPOSURE  
This feature lets you quickly review the last few  
seconds of a recording.  
Depending on the brightness of the subject, the  
camcorder automatically sets its shutter speed  
to one of the following speeds:  
REC/PAUSE  
1. During recording, press  
to stop  
1
/60  
the tape.  
appears in the viewfinder.  
1
/100  
/120  
/180  
/250  
/350  
/500  
/750  
/1000  
/1500  
/2000  
/4000  
REVIEW  
2. Press  
. The tape rewinds and plays  
1
1
the last few seconds of the tape, then stops  
the tape where the recording ends.  
1
1
1
1
REC/PAUSE  
3. Press  
to resume recording  
from that point.  
1
1
1
1
CAMERA SEARCH  
The camera search feature lets you review re-  
corded portions of a tape and resume recording  
at the desired point on the tape. This lets you  
smoothly connect recorded scenes.  
The iris in the camcorder’s lens also adjusts au-  
tomatically in response to the shutter speed.  
The camcorder displays AE and the current  
shutter speed in the upper left corner of the  
viewfinder.  
REC/PAUSE  
1. During recording, press  
to stop  
the tape.  
appears in the viewfinder.  
FAST-F  
2. Press and hold down  
to search for-  
REWIND  
ward, or  
to search backward.  
AUTOMATIC INDEX  
3. When you see the approximate place on  
the tape where you want to start recording,  
Indexing makes it easy to find each recording on  
a tape using a VCR with the VHS Index Search  
System (VISS) feature.  
FAST-F  
continue to press and hold down  
REWIND  
or  
for a few seconds more, then  
FAST-F REWIND  
release  
or  
.
PLAY  
4. Press and hold down  
to position the  
Note: For more information about VISS, refer to  
your VCR’s owner’s manual.  
tape at the exact place where you want to  
start recording. When you locate the exact  
PLAY  
place, release  
to stop the tape.  
to start recording at the  
desired position on the tape.  
The camcorder automatically records VISS in-  
dex signals when:  
REC/PAUSE  
5. Press  
• You turn on the camcorder’s power within  
about 4 hours after you last turned it off,  
then start recording.  
• You turn on the camcorder’s power after  
the date changed to the next day while the  
power was off, then start recording.  
When the camcorder records a VISS index sig-  
nal, INDEXappears in the viewfinder until you  
start recording.  
20  
16-830.fm Page 21 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
3. Begin recording or playback of the tape.  
RECORDING THE DATE  
AND TIME ON A TAPE  
4. While recording or playing back, if you see  
a place on the tape you might want to  
return to, note the counter reading at that  
point.  
You can select a date/time recording option by  
DATE/TIME  
repeatedly pressing  
. Each time you  
DATE/TIME  
press  
, you see one of the following  
options:  
COUNTER MEMORY  
and the date — the camcorder  
automatically records the date on the first  
10 seconds of the first recording of the day.  
This feature lets you rewind or fast-forward the  
tape to a specific point where you reset the tape  
counter to 0000.  
Date only — the camcorder continuously  
records the date.  
1. Load a cassette into the camcorder, then  
No date/time display — the camcorder  
does not record the date or time.  
POWER  
CAMERA  
VCR  
or . The  
slide  
to  
counter appears in the viewfinder.  
Time and date — the camcorder continu-  
ously records the date and time.  
DISPLAY  
2. Press  
. M appears next to the  
counter in the viewfinder.  
3. Begin recording or playback of the tape.  
When you see a scene you might want to  
Notes:  
• The camcorder records the same date  
when:  
RESET  
. The counter resets  
return to, press  
to 0000.  
– You replace the cassette  
4. When you are ready to return to the loca-  
RESET  
tion on the tape where you pressed  
,
– You select another date/time option, then  
select the auto date option  
follow these steps if you are recording:  
REC/PAUSE  
a. Press  
b. Slide  
c. Press  
– The previous recording was less than 10  
seconds long  
POWER  
VCR  
to  
• If the date changes while recording con-  
tinues for more than 10 seconds, the  
new date is recorded at the beginning of  
the next recording.  
REWIND  
FAST-F.  
or  
STOP/  
If you are playing back a tape, press  
EJECT REWIND FAST-F  
, then press  
or  
.
The tape rewinds or fast-forwards, then  
stops when the counter reaches 0000.  
DIGITAL COUNTER  
To rewind or fast-forward past the location on  
RESET  
RE-  
, press  
the tape where you pressed  
WIND FAST-F  
The camcorder displays a digital tape counter in  
the upper right corner of the viewfinder during  
recording or playback. You can use this counter  
to mark and return to specific locations on a  
tape. The camcorder does not record the digital  
counter onto the tape.  
or  
again.  
1. Load a cassette into the camcorder, then  
POWER  
CAMERA  
VCR  
or . The  
slide  
to  
counter appears in the viewfinder.  
2. Rewind the tape in the camcorder, then  
RESET.  
press  
The counter resets to 0000.  
21  
16-830.fm Page 22 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
The titler contains 47 different characters you  
can use to create titles.  
TAPE REMAINING  
Creating Titles  
8990  
Follow these steps to create titles and save  
them in the camcorder’s memory (one title per  
page).  
Note: You cannot load or eject a cassette while  
creating a title.  
POWER  
CAMERA  
VCR  
or .  
1. Slide  
to  
TITLE  
2. Press  
.
During recording and playback, the camcorder  
displays a bar below the tape counter in the  
viewfinder showing the amount of tape left on  
the loaded cassette. The camcorder displays re-  
maining tape information in ranges from  
REVIEW DISPLAY RESET  
DATE  
TIME  
TITLE  
CAM  
OFF  
POWER  
VIDEO  
DUBBING  
AUDIO/ VIDEO  
REW  
-
PLAY  
PAGE  
F.FWD  
+
STOP  
/
S
H
(the tape is at or near the beginning),  
(the tape is in or near the middle), to  
(the tape is at or near the end).  
A flashing cursor appears in the viewfinder.  
Notes:  
• When there is less than 5 minutes of tape  
left, TAPE END also flashes in the view-  
finder.  
• When you first record or play back a cas-  
sette, the camcorder displays  
for  
about 10 seconds. Then the bar changes to  
show the remaining amount of tape.  
• The remaining tape bar disappears when  
you eject the cassette.  
SHIFT  
3. Repeatedly press  
to move the flash-  
ing cursor to the place where you want to  
begin your title.  
TITLER  
4. Select the first character of your title by  
+
repeatedly pressing or to move back-  
ward or forward through the characters until  
the viewfinder shows the correct character.  
To quickly move backward or forward  
through the characters, press and hold  
You can easily create and record personalized  
titles on your recordings using the camcorder’s  
titler.  
The camcorder stores up to two title “pages” in  
its memory. Once you store a title, you can dis-  
play and record it onto a tape any time. Each title  
page can contain up to two lines of 16 charac-  
ters each.  
+
down or .  
22  
16-830.fm Page 23 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
The characters appear in this order as you  
press + (or in reverse order as you press ).  
Editing Titles  
Follow these steps to change a title.  
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T  
U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9? ’. /, -;: < >!  
1. Press TITLE. Then, if the title page you  
want to correct does not appear, press  
PAGE to select the other title page.  
)
(space  
5. After you have selected the first character,  
press SHIFT to move the flashing cursor to  
the place where you want the next charac-  
ter.  
2. Repeatedly press SHIFT to move forward  
through the characters until the incorrect  
character flashes.  
6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you complete  
the title.  
3. Repeatedly press or + to move backward  
or forward through the characters until the  
viewfinder shows the correct character. To  
quickly move backward or forward through  
the characters, press and hold down or +.  
The last character you select might  
Note:  
flash in the viewfinder, but it will not flash  
when you save it.  
4. If necessary, repeat Steps 2 and 3 to select  
and correct other characters.  
7. If you like, you can press PAGE then repeat  
Steps 3-6 to create another title.  
Adding Titles While Recording  
You can use the camcorder to superimpose  
(add) titles to your recordings while you record.  
REVIEW DISPLAY RESET  
DATE  
TIME  
TITLE  
CAM  
OFF  
POWER  
VIDEO  
DUBBING  
AUDIO/ VIDEO  
REW  
-
PLAY  
PAGE  
F.FWD  
+
STOP  
/
S
H
You cannot use these steps to superim-  
Note:  
pose titles over material previously recorded.  
You can do this while you dub a tape. See “Add-  
ing Titles onto an Existing Recording” on Page  
31.  
8. To save and review the titles you created,  
press TITLE. The last title page you created  
appears, and the first character of the title  
flashes. To view the other title page (if you  
created one), press PAGE.  
1. Slide POWER to VCR.  
2. Locate the position on the tape where you  
want to record a title.  
Notes:  
• Your camcorder’s built-in rechargeable bat-  
tery protects the titles you created (see  
“Selecting a Power Source” on Page 12).  
3. Slide POWER to CAMERA.  
4. Press TITLE. Then, if the title page you  
want to record does not appear, press  
PAGE to select the other title page.  
• The camcorder saves the titles you created  
when it automatically stops and turns itself  
off after 5 minutes.  
5. Press REC/PAUSE to start the title record-  
ing.  
The camcorder superimposes the title you  
selected over the scene you are recording.  
6. When you want to stop recording the title  
onto the tape, press TITLE. The title disap-  
pears.  
23  
16-830.fm Page 24 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
HINTS FOR MAKING BETTER VIDEO TAPES  
If you are not familiar with camera techniques,  
there are many books about the subject avail-  
able at your local library. However, because the  
camcorder is so simple to use and tape can be  
Typical Brightness  
of Common Situations  
Brightness  
(LUX)  
used again and again, it is inexpensive to exper-  
iment and learn as you go.  
Situation  
100,000  
65,000  
35,000  
32,000  
25,000  
2,000  
Clear day at noon  
The following information will get you started.  
Clear day at 10:00 AM  
Clear day at 3:00 PM  
Cloudy day at noon  
Cloudy day at 10:00 AM  
LIGHTING  
Lighting should be uniform. The camcorder can  
record in low-light conditions, but more light is  
usually better. The optimum brightness for top-  
quality pictures is between 500 and 100,000 lux.  
Cloudy day, one hour  
after sunrise  
Caution: Do not place a light source near the  
camcorder. The heat can damage the camcord-  
er.  
1,000  
1,000  
Clear day, one hour  
before sunset  
Fluorescent light near  
window  
The chart at right shows you the approximate  
brightness in different situations or from differ-  
ent light sources.  
700-800  
500-700  
Factory floor  
Sales counter in depart-  
ment store  
500  
Bowling alley  
Library  
400-500  
400-500  
Office with fluorescent  
lighting  
400  
250  
Fluorescent desk lamp  
Flashlight at 3 feet  
Factory stairway  
100  
15-35  
During intermission at  
movie theater  
15-20  
10-15  
Cigarette lighter at 1 foot  
Candles on birthday  
cake at 8 inches  
24  
16-830.fm Page 25 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
CAMCORDER MOVEMENT  
ZOOM IN AND ZOOM OUT  
When you move the camcorder while recording,  
do so slowly and steadily. Too much movement  
or fast movement make your recordings look  
awkward. A video camera tripod (such as Radio  
Shack Cat. No. 16-2017, not supplied) is a  
worthwhile investment for top-quality movie  
making.  
As with movement, too much use of the cam-  
corder’s zoom features can detract from your re-  
cordings. When you use variable speed power  
zoom and/or digital zoom, it is best to zoom in or  
zoom out in one smooth motion, not in several  
jerky motions.  
If you use them sparingly, movements from side  
to side combined with zooms can be very effec-  
tive in your video tapes.  
25  
16-830.fm Page 26 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
SPECIAL VCR FEATURES  
This section describes some of your camcord-  
er’s special VCR features and functions.  
Note: You cannot view the tape or hear the  
tape’s sound while you fast-forward and rewind  
it.  
Note: Unless otherwise noted, you can use  
these features only when POWER is set to VCR.  
FREEZE FRAME  
Freeze-frame lets you stop the tape to view a  
single frame.  
VISUAL SEARCH  
Visual search lets you view a recording either  
forward or backward at a faster speed so you  
can find a specific section of the tape.  
To freeze a frame during playback, press REC/  
PAUSE. To return to the normal playback speed,  
press REC/PAUSE again.  
To search forward during playback, press FAST-  
F. To search backward during playback, press  
REWIND.  
Notes:  
• During freeze-frame, the picture quality is  
lower than during normal playback.  
To stop visual search and play the tape, press  
PLAY.  
• If you leave the VCR in the freeze-frame  
mode for 5 minutes, the camcorder auto-  
matically stops playback to protect the  
tape.  
Note: You cannot hear the tape’s sound during  
visual search.  
FAST FORWARD AND REWIND  
AUTO TRACKING  
To advance the tape quickly when it is stopped,  
press FAST-F. To rewind the tape quickly when  
it is stopped, press REWIND.  
The camcorder automatically adjusts tracking  
when you play a tape. However, you can manu-  
ally adjust the tracking if the camcorder’s picture  
is poor. Repeatedly press W or T during play-  
back to manually adjust the tracking.  
Note: The camcorder resets to auto tracking  
when you load another tape.  
FAST-F  
REWIND  
26  
16-830.fm Page 27 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
DUBBING (COPYING) A TAPE  
IN FROM  
ANT  
AUDIO  
L/ MONO VIDEO  
R
IN  
IN  
OUT TO  
TV  
CH4  
CH3  
OUT  
OUT  
The process of recording from one audio/video device to another is called dubbing.  
You can connect the camcorder and the VCR together, then either:  
• Use your camcorder to record the signal from the VCR  
• Use your VCR to record the signal from the camcorder  
Notes:  
• Always use video quality shielded cables with phono-type connectors (such as Cat. No. 15-  
AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN  
1540, not supplied) to connect the camcorder’s  
jacks to your VCR.  
• Do not use standard audio cables for this connection.  
• You can monitor the dubbing on the TV connected to your VCR. See your VCR’s owner’s  
manual for more information.  
If you want to use your camcorder to record from the VCR, see “Dubbing to the Camcorder” on Page  
27. If you want to use your VCR to record from the camcorder, see “Dubbing from the Camcorder”  
on Page 28.  
Dubbing to the Camcorder  
Follow these steps to connect the camcorder to the VCR and copy a tape from the VCR to the cam-  
corder.  
Note: You can also use this procedure to record broadcasts from your cable box, satellite receiver,  
AUDIO  
VIDEO  
jacks to the output  
or other audio/video source. Simply connect the camcorder’s  
jacks on the audio/video source (instead of the VCR) in Step 3.  
and  
27  
16-830.fm Page 28 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
1. Use a fingernail to pull down the cover on  
the camcorder’s AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack  
compartment to open it.  
6. Insert a cassette into the camcorder.  
7. Begin playback on the VCR or audio/video  
source.  
8. Press REC/PAUSE on the camcorder to  
start dubbing.  
9. Press REC/PAUSE on the camcorder to stop  
dubbing.  
Dubbing from the Camcorder  
The cover on the AUDIO/VIDEO  
OUT/IN jack compartment is attached to the  
camcorder. Do not try to remove it.  
Caution:  
Follow these steps to connect the camcorder to  
the VCR and copy a tape from the camcorder to  
the VCR.  
2. Connect the white plug on one end of the  
cable to the camcorder’s AUDIO jack, then  
connect the yellow plug on the same end of  
the cable to the camcorder’s VIDEO jack.  
1. Use a fingernail to pull down the cover on  
the camcorder’s AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack  
compartment to open it.  
3. Connect the white plug on the other end of  
the cable to the VCR’s AUDIO OUT jack.  
Then connect the yellow plug on the same  
end of the cable to the VCR’s VIDEO OUT  
jack.  
The cover on the AUDIO/VIDEO  
Caution:  
OUT/IN jack compartment is attached to the  
camcorder. Do not try to remove it.  
2. Connect the white plug on one end of the  
cable to the camcorder’s AUDIO jack, then  
connect the yellow plug on the same end of  
the cable to the camcorder’s VIDEO jack.  
4. Set AV OUT/IN inside the AUDIO/VIDEO  
3. Connect the white plug on the other end of  
the cable to the VCR’s AUDIO IN jack. If  
your VCR is a stereo VCR, use a Y-adapter  
(such as Cat. No. 42-2435) to connect the  
white plug to both audio outputs. Then con-  
nect the yellow plug on the same end of the  
cable to the VCR’s VIDEO IN jack.  
OUT/IN jack compartment to IN.  
IN  
OUT  
5. Slide POWER to CAMERA.  
28  
16-830.fm Page 29 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
4. Set AV OUT/IN inside the AUDIO/VIDEO  
6. When you see the scene where you want to  
record the title, press TITLE. The cam-  
corder plays the title and superimposes it  
over the recording.  
OUT/IN jack compartment to OUT.  
5. Slide POWER to VCR.  
6. Insert a cassette into the camcorder.  
7. Set your VCR to its audio/video mode.  
7. When you want to stop recording the title  
onto the tape, press TITLE. The title disap-  
pears.  
Some VCRs have a manual input-  
Note:  
select switch, while others automatically  
“sense” when you connect another audio/  
video source to the VCR’s audio/video  
input jacks. Check your VCR’s owner’s  
manual for more information about your  
VCR.  
AUDIO EDITING  
The camcorder’s audio editing feature lets you  
record a new soundtrack onto a previously re-  
corded tape without erasing the original picture.  
8. Press PLAY on the camcorder to find the  
portion of the tape you want to dub. Then  
press REC/PAUSE to pause it.  
When you use audio editing, you replace the au-  
dio on the tape with new sound. You can use  
sounds picked up by the camcorder’s built-in mi-  
crophone or signals from an audio source con-  
nected to the camcorder’s AUDIO jack.  
9. Set the VCR to record, then press the  
VCR’s record button to begin recording.  
10. Press REC/PAUSE on the camcorder to play  
the portion of the tape you want to dub.  
Notes:  
11. Press REC/PAUSE on the camcorder to stop  
• If you connect an audio source, always use  
video quality shielded cables with phono-  
type connectors (such as Cat. No. 15-1540,  
not supplied) to connect the camcorder’s  
AUDIO jack to the audio source’s AUDIO  
OUT jack.  
dubbing.  
Adding Titles onto an Existing  
Recording  
• Do not use a standard audio cable for this  
connection.  
You need a separate VHS VCR to super-  
impose titles over an existing recording.  
Note:  
1. Connect the camcorder and VCR (see  
“Dubbing from the Camcorder” on Page  
28.).  
1. If you are not using the camcorder’s built-in  
microphone as an audio source, connect  
the audio source’s AUDIO OUT jack to the  
camcorder’s AUDIO jack.  
2. Press TITLE to select the title you want to  
record. Then, if the title you want to record  
does not appear, press PAGE to select the  
other title page.  
3. Press TITLE to remove the title from the  
viewfinder. The title disappears.  
4. Load a blank cassette, or one you want to  
record onto, into the VCR. Then set the  
VCR to its recording mode.  
5. Load the cassette you want to record from  
into the camcorder, then press PLAY to play  
it back.  
29  
16-830.fm Page 30 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
2. Set AV OUT/IN inside the AUDIO/VIDEO  
OUT/IN jack compartment for the audio  
source you chose:  
point where you want to end audio, then  
start the dubbing process.  
To prevent feedback squeals, turn down the  
volume control on any TV or TV/monitor  
connected to the camcorder.  
IN  
OUT  
AUDIO/VIDEO EDITING  
When you use audio/video editing, you can re-  
place the audio and video on a tape with new  
sound and pictures.  
• If you are using the built-in microphone,  
You can use sounds picked up by the camcord-  
er’s built-in microphone or signals from an audio  
source connected to the camcorder’s AUDIO  
jack. You can use pictures taken by the camera  
or signals from a video source connected to the  
camcorder’s VIDEO jack.  
set AV OUT/IN to OUT.  
• If you are using an audio source con-  
nected to the camcorder’s AUDIO jack,  
set AV OUT/IN to IN.  
3. Slide POWER to VCR.  
Notes:  
4. Insert a cassette into the camcorder.  
• If you connect an audio/video source,  
always use video quality shielded cables  
with phono-type connectors (such as Cat.  
No. 15-1540, not supplied) to connect the  
camcorder’s AUDIO and VIDEO jacks to the  
source’s AUDIO OUT and VIDEO OUT  
jacks.  
5. Press PLAY on the camcorder to find the  
portion of the tape where you want to start  
audio dubbing. Then press REC/PAUSE to  
pause it.  
6. Press PLAY and DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO  
together once.  
viewfinder.  
appears in the  
• Do not use standard audio cables for this  
connection.  
If  
does not appear in the  
Note:  
viewfinder, press STOP/EJECT, then press  
PLAY and DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO together  
once to continue.  
1. If you are not using the camcorder’s built-in  
microphone as an audio source, connect  
the audio source’s AUDIO jack to the cam-  
corder’s AUDIO jack.  
7. If you are not using the camcorder’s built-in  
microphone as an audio source, start the  
audio source.  
2. Set AV OUT/IN inside the AUDIO/VIDEO  
OUT/IN jack compartment for the video  
source you chose.  
8. To start audio dubbing, press REC/PAUSE  
on the camcorder.  
• If you are using the camcorder’s lens, set  
9. Press STOP/EJECT on the camcorder to  
AV OUT/IN to OUT.  
stop dubbing.  
• If you are using a video source con-  
nected to the camcorder’s VIDEO jack,  
set AV OUT/IN to IN.  
Notes:  
To set the position where you want to end  
audio dubbing, start playback of the tape,  
press DISPLAY on the camcorder at the  
3. Slide POWER to VCR.  
30  
16-830.fm Page 31 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
4. Insert a cassette into the camcorder.  
9. Press REC/PAUSE on the camcorder.  
Audio/video dubbing begins.  
5. Press PLAY on the camcorder to play the  
tape to the point where you want audio/  
video dubbing to end. Then press REC/  
PAUSE to pause it.  
When the tape counter shows 0000, the  
camcorder automatically stops the tape,  
and video and audio dubbing stop.  
6. Press DISPLAY. M appears in the view-  
finder next to the tape counter. Then press  
RESET to reset the tape counter to 0000.  
Notes:  
To protect the tape and conserve battery  
power, the camcorder automatically  
stops and turns itself off if left in the  
record/pause mode for more than 5 min-  
utes.  
7. Press REWIND to rewind the tape past the  
point where you want to start audio/video  
dubbing, then press PLAY. When you see  
the point of the tape where you want to  
start audio/video dubbing, press REC/  
PAUSE.  
To prevent feedback squeals, turn down  
the volume control on any TV or TV/  
monitor connected to the camcorder.  
8. Press PLAY and DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO  
10. Press STOP/EJECT on the camcorder to  
together twice.  
and the picture you  
stop audio/video dubbing at any time.  
are dubbing appear in the viewfinder.  
If you accidentally press PLAY and  
Note:  
DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO together only  
once, appears in the viewfinder  
instead. If this happens, simply press PLAY  
and DUBBING AUDIO/VIDEO together again.  
31  
16-830.fm Page 32 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
CONNECTING THE CAMCORDER TO A TV  
AUDIO/VIDEO  
OUT/IN jack compartment is attached to the  
camcorder. Do not try to remove it.  
Caution: The cover on the  
USING A TV FOR PLAYBACK  
There are many different types of TVs and ways  
to connect them to your camcorder. This section  
describes the most common set ups.  
2. Connect the white plug on one end of the  
cable to the camcorder’s AUDIO jack, then  
connect the yellow plug on the same end of  
the cable to the camcorder’s VIDEO jack.  
Notes:  
• If your TV doesn’t match any of the exam-  
ples provided, contact your local Radio  
Shack store for assistance.  
3. Connect the white plug on the other end of  
the cable to the TV’s AUDIO IN jack. If your  
TV is a stereo TV, use a Y-adapter (such as  
Cat. No. 42-2435) to connect the white plug  
to both audio inputs. Then connect the yel-  
low plug on the same end of the cable to  
the TV’s VIDEO IN jack.  
• Turn off power to the camcorder and TV  
when making connections. Do not power  
the camcorder until you complete all other  
connections.  
4. Set AV OUT/IN inside the AUDIO/VIDEOOUT/  
IN jack compartment to OUT.  
TV with Audio/Video (A/V) Jacks  
If your TV has audio/video (A/V) input jacks, you  
can connect your camcorder directly to the TV  
so you can play and watch video tapes.  
If your TV does not have audio/video jacks, see  
“Standard TV” on Page 33.  
Use video quality shielded cables with phono-  
type connectors (such as Cat. No. 15-1540, not  
supplied) to connect the camcorder’s AUDIO/  
VIDEO IN/OUT jacks to your TV’s input jacks.  
Note: Do not use standard audio cables for this  
connection.  
Follow these steps to connect the camcorder to  
the TV.  
1. Use a fingernail to pull down the cover on  
the camcorder’s AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack  
compartment to open it.  
32  
16-830.fm Page 33 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
1. Use a fingernail to pull down the cover on  
the camcorder’s AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack  
compartment to open it.  
Standard TV  
AUDIO/VIDEO  
OUT/IN jack compartment is attached to the  
Caution: The cover on the  
UHF IN  
VHF IN  
75-ohm 300-ohm  
camcorder. Do not try to remove it.  
2. Connect the RF converter’s plug to the  
camcorder’s VIDEO, RF DC OUT, and AUDIO  
jacks.  
To connect the camcorder to a standard TV  
(with only VHF and UHF terminals), you need an  
RF adapter kit (CMC No. T16-RF71A, not sup-  
plied). The RF adapter kit includes:  
• RF converter  
• 300-to 75-ohm matching transformer  
• 75-ohm antenna cable  
Cautions:  
• Use only the recommended RF adapter kit  
with this camcorder. You can order the kit  
from your local Radio Shack store.  
• The RF converter is a sealed unit. Do not  
attempt to open or modify it.  
• Do not damage or drop the RF converter or  
subject it to mechanical vibration.  
3. Set AV OUT/IN inside the AUDIO/VIDEO  
• Unplug the RF converter during lightning  
storms.  
OUT/IN jack compartment to OUT.  
4. Disconnect the VHF antenna/cable wire  
from your TV and connect it to the RF con-  
verter’s IN FROM ANT jack:  
Notes:  
• You do not have to disconnect the RF con-  
verter when you watch TV broadcasts. Sim-  
ply set the TV’s tuner as usual.  
• If the antenna/cable wire is the round,  
75-ohm type, connect it directly to the  
jack.  
• Unless your antenna is VHF-only (you  
receive Channels 2-13 only), you also need  
a band-splitter (such as Cat. No. 15-1252,  
not supplied) to connect your camcorder to  
separate TV VHF/UHF terminals.  
• If the antenna/cable wire is the flat, 300-  
ohm type, use another 300- to 75-ohm  
matching transformer (such as Cat. No.  
15-1253, not supplied) to connect the  
wire to the jack.  
33  
16-830.fm Page 34 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
PLAYBACK  
After you connect the camcorder to your TV, fol-  
low these steps to play a tape.  
1. Turn on the TV, then:  
• If you are using a TV with audio/video  
(A/V) jacks, set it to the video mode.  
• If you are using a standard TV, set the  
TV’s tuner to the same channel where  
you set CHANNEL on the RF converter (3  
or 4).  
5. Using the supplied 75-ohm antenna cable,  
connect the RF converter’s OUT TO TV jack  
to the TV’s VHF antenna terminal.  
2. Slide POWER on the camcorder to VCR.  
• If the TV’s VHF antenna terminal is the  
round, 75-ohm type, connect the cable  
directly to the terminal.  
3. Insert a cassette into the camcorder.  
4. Press PLAY on the camcorder. The tape  
plays on your TV.  
• If the TV’s VHF antenna terminal is the  
flat, 300-ohm type, use another matching  
transformer (such as Cat. No. 15-1253,  
not supplied) to connect the cable to the  
terminal.  
5. Press STOP/EJECT to stop playback. Press  
STOP/EJECT again to remove the cassette.  
6. Set CHANNEL on the RF converter to 3 or 4.  
CHANNEL  
34  
16-830.fm Page 35 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  
TROUBLESHOOTING  
If you follow the instructions in this manual and still have trouble operating your camcorder, refer to  
the following troubleshooting chart. If you still cannot solve the problem, take your camcorder to your  
local Radio Shack store for assistance.  
FUNCTION  
PROBLEM  
No power.  
POSSIBLE REASON  
SUGGESTION  
POWER  
• Safety devices are  
functioning.  
• Disconnect the AC  
adapter/charger’s  
power cord, then  
plug it into the AC  
outlet again.  
• The battery pack is not  
charged.  
• Charge the battery  
pack.  
• The AC adapter/  
charger is not correctly  
connected.  
• Reconnect the AC  
adapter/charger.  
The camcorder turns  
off soon after you turn  
it on.  
The battery pack might be  
weak.  
Recharge the battery  
pack and try again.  
RECORDING  
Power on, but no  
image in viewfinder.  
• Lens cap on.  
• Remove the lens  
cap.  
POWER set to VCR.  
• Slide POWER to  
CAMERA.  
A/V OUT/IN set to IN.  
• Set A/V OUT/IN to  
OUT.  
Cannot record.  
POWER set to VCR.  
Slide POWER to CAM-  
ERA.  
Poor color when tape  
is played on a TV/  
monitor.  
TV not properly adjusted.  
Adjust the TV.  
Recording is fuzzy.  
• Poor lighting.  
• Use additional light-  
ing.  
• Dust or other foreign  
matter on lens.  
• Clean the lens.  
35  
16-830.fm Page 36 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
FUNCTION  
PROBLEM  
POSSIBLE REASON  
SUGGESTION  
PLAYBACK  
Image in viewfinder is  
fuzzy.  
• Focus control on the  
viewfinder must be  
adjusted.  
• Adjust the focus  
control.  
• Viewfinder must be  
reset.  
• Turn off the cam-  
corder and discon-  
nect the power  
source. Then, after  
about 1 minute,  
reconnect the power  
source. When the  
characters dis-  
played in the view-  
finder are clear, set  
the date and time.  
No image appears on  
TV.  
• Camcorder improperly  
connected to TV.  
• Reconnect properly.  
AV OUT/IN set to IN.  
• Set AV OUT/IN to  
OUT.  
• TV’s tuner or TV/video  
switch not properly set.  
• Set TV’s tuner to  
channel 3 or chan-  
nel 4 (if RF con-  
verter connected).  
• Set TV’s TV/video  
switch to VIDEO (if  
A/V input used).  
Poor color.  
TV not properly adjusted.  
Adjust the TV.  
Camcorder does not  
play back in color on  
your TV.  
• Tracking not properly  
adjusted.  
• Adjust the tracking.  
• Old or worn tape.  
• Use a new tape.  
Broken image.  
• The battery pack might  
be weak.  
• Recharge the bat-  
tery pack.  
• Old or worn tape.  
• Use a new tape.  
• Cassette is not right  
side up or is back-  
wards.  
• Check cassette  
positioning and rein-  
sert.  
Cassette cannot be in-  
serted.  
• Another cassette al-  
ready loaded in cam-  
corder.  
• Eject the cassette  
and insert the new  
cassette.  
36  
16-830.fm Page 37 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
FUNCTION  
PROBLEM  
POSSIBLE REASON  
SUGGESTION  
PLAYBACK  
(continued)  
Cassette will not eject  
and power will not turn  
off.  
Camcorder is recording.  
Press REC/PAUSE to  
stop the tape and try  
again.  
No tape movement in  
fast-forward mode.  
Tape is already completely  
wound.  
Rewind the tape to the  
desired point.  
No tape movement in  
rewind mode.  
Tape is already completely  
wound.  
Fast-forward the tape to  
the desired point.  
37  
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE  
Your Optimus Model 130 MovieCorder cam-  
corder is an example of superior design and  
craftsmanship. The following suggestions will  
help you care for the camcorder so you can en-  
joy it for years.  
HANDLING  
• Remove the cassette tape and turn off the  
power when the camcorder is not in use.  
• Avoid shocks and drops. Do not drop or  
otherwise subject the camcorder to hard  
shocks or strong vibrations. Bumping or  
striking the unit during recording generates  
noise in the recorded image.  
Keep the camcorder dry. If it gets  
wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liq-  
uids can contain minerals that  
corrode electronic circuits.  
To protect the lens, always replace the lens  
cap when the camcorder is not in use. Do  
not touch the lens surface with your hand.  
Use and store the camcorder  
only in normal temperature envi-  
• Do not point the camcorder lens or the  
viewfinder eyepiece at the sun, whether  
recording is in progress or not. Direct sun-  
light can make recording impossible, burn  
the CCD imager, and damage the cam-  
corder beyond repair. Be particularly care-  
ful when recording outside.  
ronments.  
Temperature ex-  
tremes can shorten the life of  
electronic devices, damage bat-  
teries, and distort or melt plastic  
parts.  
• Do not use the camcorder in excessive  
temperatures and humidity. You can use  
the camcorder between 32° F and 104° F  
and between 35% and 80% relative humid-  
ity.  
Handle the camcorder gently and  
carefully. Dropping it can dam-  
age circuit boards and cases,  
and cause it to work improperly.  
• Do not store the unit in an unventilated car  
in the summer, in direct sunlight, or near  
strong heat sources. This can result in  
severe damage to the camcorder’s case  
and electronic circuits.  
Keep the camcorder away from  
dust and dirt, which can cause  
premature wear of parts.  
• Avoid magnetic sources. Using the cam-  
corder near strong fluorescent lights,  
motors, televisions, or other magnetic  
sources can adversely affect recorded  
images.  
Wipe the camcorder with a damp  
cloth occasionally to keep it look-  
ing new. Do not use harsh chem-  
icals, cleaning solvents, or strong  
detergents to clean it.  
CLEANER  
• Avoid situations where water, sand, dust or  
other foreign matter could get on or inside  
the camcorder. Such substances could  
cause malfunctions.  
• Do not use or leave the camcorder in areas  
with excessive smoke, steam, dust, or  
moisture. Such environments can cause  
dew to form on the camcorder’s lenses. Be  
sure to provide ample ventilation.  
Modifying or tampering with the camcorder’s in-  
ternal components can cause a malfunction and  
might invalidate its warranty and void your FCC  
authorization to operate it. If your camcorder is  
not performing as it should, take it to your local  
Radio Shack store for assistance.  
38  
16-830.fm Page 39 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
• Do not use the camcorder on its side. The  
tape might not wind properly and might  
jam.  
though the audio signal is clear. Head cleaning  
must be done by an experienced camcorder  
technician. If the camcorder’s heads become  
dirty, contact your local Radio Shack store for  
assistance.  
• Some small, portable tripods might be diffi-  
cult to connect and might not be sturdy  
enough to support your camcorder. Be sure  
to use only a strong, stable tripod.  
ERASE PROTECTION  
Video cassettes have an erase-protection tab to  
prevent accidental erasure of a tape. If the  
erase-protection tab is missing, the camcorder  
cannot record on the tape.  
SERVICING YOUR  
CAMCORDER  
Except as noted in this owner’s manual, there  
are no user-serviceable parts inside your cam-  
corder. If you encounter a problem that you can-  
not correct using this owner’s manual and its  
troubleshooting guide or the sections below,  
take the camcorder to your local Radio Shack  
store for assistance.  
To clean the camcorder’s lens and optical  
elements, use air blowers and lens papers  
designed for photographic lenses.  
If you try to record on a tape with the erase-pro-  
tection tab missing, TAPEappears in the view-  
finder.  
To clean the picture tube face and lens  
inside the eyepiece, press and hold down  
the cover’s tab on the back of the eyepiece,  
then open the cover.  
If you want to record on a video cassette that  
has had its tab removed, put a piece of heavy  
plastic tape over the erase-protection tab hole.  
STORING YOUR VIDEO  
CASSETTES  
Eject and store the cassette when you finish us-  
ing it. This helps protect the cassette and the  
camcorder’s internal mechanisms from dust.  
Caution: The eyepiece’s cover is not remov-  
able. Do not try to remove it from the eyepiece.  
Place your video cassettes in their protective  
boxes and store them in a cool, dry, dust-free  
environment. Store the cassettes on end, not on  
their sides. This prevents improper settling of  
the cassette’s spools.  
Clean the picture tube face and lens using a soft  
non-abrasive cloth, swab, or lens cleaning pa-  
per. When you finish cleaning, close the cover.  
Note: Tape can become wound too tightly  
around the cassette’s spools after numerous re-  
cordings and playbacks. This can cause the  
cassette to improperly load when you insert it.  
CLEANING THE VIDEO HEADS  
The camcorder’s video heads require cleaning  
from time to time. Dirty video heads can cause  
the playback picture to become blurred even  
39  
16-830.fm Page 40 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
On most cassettes there is a brake-release  
plunger on the bottom center of the cassette.  
Use the tip of a pen or pencil to press the plung-  
er. This loosens the tape.  
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna  
• Increase the distance between the equip-  
ment and the radio or TV  
• Use outlets on different electrical circuits for  
the equipment and the radio or TV  
Consult your local Radio Shack store if the prob-  
lem still exists.  
You must use shielded interface cables with this  
equipment.  
Modifying or tampering with the camcorder’s in-  
ternal components can cause a malfunction and  
might invalidate the camcorder’s warranty and  
void your FCC authorization to operate it. If your  
camcorder is not performing as it should, take it  
to your local Radio Shack Store for assistance.  
Brake-Release Plunger  
THE FCC WANTS YOU TO  
KNOW  
This device complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules.  
Operation is subject to the following two condi-  
tions: (1) This device may not cause harmful in-  
terference, and (2) this device must accept any  
interference received, including interference  
that may cause undesired operation.  
This equipment complies with the limits for a  
Class B digital device as specified in Part 15 of  
FCC Rules. These limits provide reasonable  
protection against radio and TV interference in a  
residential area. However, your equipment  
might cause TV or radio interference even when  
it is operating properly. To eliminate interfer-  
ence, you can try one or more of the following  
corrective measures:  
40  
16-830.fm Page 41 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
SPECIFICATIONS  
Signal System ............................................................ NTSC-Type Standard Color and Monochrome  
Recording System ........................................................................................................ VHS Standard  
Tape Width ............................................................................................................1/2 Inch (12.7 mm)  
Tape Speed ....................................................................................SP (1.31 Inch/sec... (33.35 mm/s)  
Maximum Recording/Playback Time...................................................160 Minutes (with T-160 Tape)  
Pickup Device........................... CCD Image Sensor (approx. 270,000 pixels including optical black)  
Lens.................................................................. F1.6-F3.2 12x Power Zoom, Full-Range Auto-Focus  
Lens Filter Diameter................................................................................................................. 46 mm  
Viewfinder........................................................................................... 0.6 Inch B/W CRT with Diopter  
Microphone................................................................................. Omnidirectional Electret Condenser  
Color Temperature Compensation .............................. Auto White Balance with White Balance Lock  
Minimum Illumination.................................................................................................................. 1 Lux  
Video Output Level..............................................................................1.0 Vp-p Composite, 75 Ohms  
Audio Output Level.................................................................................316 mV, less than 1 K Ohms  
Power Requirement............................................................................................................... 9.6 Volts  
Battery Power Supplied.......................................................................................................... 10 Volts  
DC Power Consumption.......................................................................................................... 7 Watts  
Dimensions (approx.) ............................................. 8 1/2 x 4 3/8 x 12 1/4 Inches HWD (without battery)  
(205 x 111 x 311 mm)  
Camcorder Weight (approx.) ........................................................4 lbs 3 oz (2.0 kg) (without battery)  
Battery Weight (approx.)................................................................................................. 1 lb (0.56 kg)  
Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to change and im-  
provement without notice.  
41  
16-830.fm Page 42 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
NOTES  
42  
16-830.fm Page 43 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
43  
16-830.fm Page 44 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM  
RADIO SHACK LIMITED WARRANTY  
This product is warranted against defects for 90 days from date of pur-  
chase from Radio Shack company-owned stores and authorized Radio  
Shack franchisees and dealers. Within this period, we will repair it with-  
bring your Radio Shack sales  
out charge for parts and labor. Simply  
slip  
as proof of purchase date to any Radio Shack store. Warranty does  
not cover transportation costs. Nor does it cover a product subjected to  
misuse or accidental damage.  
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RADIO SHACK MAKES NO  
EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE LIM-  
ITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED  
WARRANTIES CONTAINED HEREIN. Some states do not permit limita-  
tion or exclusion of implied warranties; therefore, the aforesaid limita-  
tion(s) or exclusion(s) may not apply to the purchaser.  
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary  
from state to state.  
We Service What We Sell  
9/94  
RADIO SHACK  
A Division of Tandy Corporation  
Fort Worth, Texas 76102  
6A5  
Printed in Malaysia  

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