3-065-645-11 (3)
Vid e o Ca m e ra
Re co rd e r
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-TR
Model No. AC-L
Serial No.
Serial No.
CCD-TR818
CCD-TR618/TR818
©2001 Sony Corporation
Note:
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined
by turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference
by one or more of the following measures:
— Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
— Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
— Connect the equipment into an outlet on a
circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
— Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/
TV technician for help.
Fo r cu st o m e rs in CANADA
CAUTION
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH
WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT,
FULLY INSERT.
3
Ma in Fe a t u re s
Fu n ct io n s t o a d ju st e xp o su re (in t h e re co rd in g m o d e )
• In a dark place
NIGHTSHOT (p. 24)
• In dark environments such as sunset, fireworks,
or general night views
Sunset & moon mode (p. 34)
• Shooting backlit subjects
BACK LIGHT (p. 24)
Spotlight mode (p. 34)
• In spotlight, such as at the theater or a formal
event
• In strong light or reflected light, such as at a beach Beach & ski mode (p. 34)
in midsummer or on a ski slope
Fu n ct io n s t o g ive im a g e s m o re im p a ct (in t h e re co rd in g m o d e )
• Smooth transition between scenes
• Digital processing of images
• Creating a soft background for subjects
• Superimposing a title
FADER (p. 31)
PICTURE EFFECT (p. 33)
Soft portrait mode (p. 34)
TITLE (p. 38)
Fu n ct io n s t o g ive a n a t u ra l a p p e a ra n ce t o yo u r re co rd in g s
(in t h e re co rd in g m o d e )
• Preventing deterioration of picture quality in
digital zoom
D ZOOM [MENU] (p. 47)
The default setting is set to OFF.
(To zoom greater than 20×, select the digital zoom
power in D ZOOM in the menu settings.)
• Focusing manually
Manual focus (p. 37)
• Shooting distant subjects
• Recording fast-moving subjects
Landscape mode (p. 34)
Sports lesson mode (p. 34)
Fu n ct io n s t o u se in e d it in g (in t h e re co rd in g m o d e )
• Watching the picture on a wide-screen TV
• Recording with the date/ time
• Enhancing old tapes
Wide mode (p. 29)
Date and time (p. 25)
ORC [MENU] (p. 49)
Fu n ct io n s t o u se a ft e r re co rd in g (in t h e p la yb a ck m o d e )
• Correcting jitter
TBC [MENU] (p. 48)
• Correcting color noise
DNR [MENU] (p. 48)
4
Ta b le o f co n t e n t s
Main Features .......................................... 4
Ed it in g
Dubbing a tape ...................................... 45
Qu ick St a rt Gu id e ............................... 6
Cu st o m izin g Yo u r Ca m co rd e r
Ge t t in g st a rt e d
Changing the menu settings ................ 46
Using this manual ................................... 8
Checking supplied accessories ............ 10
Step 1 Preparing the power supply ... 11
Installing the battery pack ............ 11
Charging the battery pack ............ 12
Connecting to a wall outlet ........... 16
Step 2 Setting the date and time ........ 17
Step 3 Inserting a cassette ................... 19
Tro u b le sh o o t in g
Types of trouble and their solutions
........................................................... 52
Self-diagnosis display .......................... 55
Warning indicators and messages ...... 56
Ad d it io n a l In fo rm a t io n
Usable cassettes and playback modes
........................................................... 57
Re co rd in g – Ba sics
Recording a picture .............................. 20
About “InfoLITHIUM” battery ........... 58
Using your camcorder abroad ............ 59
Shooting backlit subjects
– BACK LIGHT ........................ 24
Maintenance information and
Shooting in the dark
precautions ...................................... 60
– NightShot ............................... 24
Specifications ......................................... 65
Superimposing the date and time
on pictures ................................ 25
Qu ick Re fe re n ce
Pla yb a ck – Ba sics
Identifying the parts and controls ...... 66
Index ........................................ Back cover
Connections for playback .................... 26
Playing back a tape ............................... 27
Ad va n ce d Re co rd in g
Op e ra t io n s
Using the wide mode ........................... 29
Using the fader function ...................... 31
Using special effects
– Picture effect ................................. 33
Using the PROGRAM AE function .... 34
Adjusting the exposure manually ...... 36
Focusing manually ................................ 37
Superimposing a title ........................... 38
Making your own titles ........................ 40
Using the built-in light ......................... 42
5
Qu ick St a rt Gu id e
This chapter introduces you to the basic features of your
camcorder. See the page in parentheses “( )” for more
information.
Co n n e ct in g t h e p o w e r co rd (p . 16)
Use the battery pack when using your camcorder outdoors (p. 11).
Open the DC IN
jack cover.
Connect the plug with
its v mark facing up.
AC power adaptor (supplied)
In se rt in g a ca sse t t e (p . 19)
1Open the lid of the
2Insert a cassette
into the cassette
compartment
with its window
facing out and
the write-protect
tab on the
3Close the cassette
cassette
compartment by pressing
compartment, and
press EJECT.
The compartment
opens automatically.
the
mark on the
cassette compartment.
The cassette compartment
automatically goes down.
Close the lid of the
cassette compartment.
EJECT
cassette up.
6
Re co rd in g a p ict u re (p . 20)
1Remove the lens cap.
2Set the POWER switch to
POWER
CAMERA while pressing
the small green button.
The picture appears in
the viewfinder.
3Press the red button.
Your camcorder
POWER
starts recording. To
stop recording, press
the red button again.
View finder
Use the viewfinder placing your eye against its eyecup.
The picture in the viewfinder is black and white. (CCD-TR618 only)
When you purchase your camcorder, the clock setting is set to off. If you want to record
the date and time for a picture, set the clock setting before recording. (p. 17)
Mo n it o rin g t h e p la yb a ck p ict u re in t h e
vie w fin d e r (p . 27)
2Press m to rewind the tape.
REW
3Press N to start playback.
PLAY
1Set the POWER
POWER
switch to PLAYER
while pressing the
small green button.
NOTE
Do not pick up your camcorder by holding
the viewfinder or the battery pack.
7
— Ge t t in g st a rt e d
—
Usin g t h is m a n u a l
The instructions in this manual are for the two models listed in the table below. Before
you start reading this manual and operating your camcorder, check the model number
by looking at the bottom of your camcorder. The CCD-TR818 is the model used for
illustration purposes. Otherwise, the model name is indicated in the illustrations. Any
differences in operation are clearly indicated in the text, for example, “CCD-TR818
only.”
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.
Types of differences
CCD-
TR618
B/ W
z
TR818
Color
—
Viewfinder
Built-in light
Digital zoom
SteadyShot
450 ×
—
460 ×
z
z Provided
— Not provided
No t e o n TV co lo u r syst e m s
TV colour systems differ from country to country. To view your recordings on a TV,
you need an NTSC system-based TV.
8
Usin g t h is m a n u a l
Pre ca u t io n s o n ca m co rd e r ca re
Le n s a n d LCD scre e n /fin d e r (o n m o u n t e d m o d e ls o n ly)
• The LCD screen and the finder are manufactured using extremely high-precision
technology so over 99.99% of the pixels are operational for effective use.
How ever, there may be some tiny black points and/or bright points (w hite, red,
blue or green in color) that constantly appear on the LCD screen and the finder.
These points are normal in the manufacturing process and do not affect the
recording in any w ay.
• Do not let your camcorder get wet. Keep your camcorder away from rain and sea
water. Letting your camcorder get wet may cause your camcorder to malfunction.
Sometimes this malfunction cannot be repaired [a].
• Never leave your camcorder exposed to temperatures above 60°C (140°F), such as in a
car parked in the sun or under direct sunlight [b].
• Be careful when placing the camera near a window or outdoors. Exposing the LCD
screen, the finder or the lens to direct sunlight for long periods may cause
malfunctions [c].
• Do not directly shoot the sun. Doing so might cause your camcorder to malfunction.
Take pictures of the sun in low light coditions such as duck [d ].
[a ]
[b ]
[c]
[d ]
9
Ch e ckin g su p p lie d a cce sso rie s
Make sure that the following accessories are supplied with your camcorder.
2
3
1
4
5
1 AC-L10A/L10B/L10CACpow er
4 Shoulder strap(1) (p. 68)
adaptor (1), Pow er cord (1) (p. 16)
5 Lens cap (1) (p. 20, 69)
2 NP-F330 battery pack(1) (p. 11, 12)
3 A/V connecting cable(1) (p. 26)
Contents of the recording cannot be compensated if recording or playback is not
made due to a malfunction of the camcorder, storage media, etc.
10
St e p 1 Pre p a rin g t h e p o w e r su p p ly
In st a llin g t h e b a t t e ry p a ck
Install the battery pack to use your camcorder outdoors.
Slide the battery pack down until it clicks.
To re m o ve t h e b a t t e ry p a ck
Slide the battery pack out in the direction of the arrow while pressing BATT
RELEASE down.
BATT RELEASE
11
St e p 1 Pre p a rin g t h e p o w e r su p p ly
Ch a rg in g t h e b a t t e ry p a ck
Use the battery pack after charging it for your camcorder.
Your camcorder operates only with the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack (L series).
See page 58 for more information about “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack.
(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. The remaining
battery time is indicated in minutes on the display window.
The charging is completed when the remainnig battery indicator changes to u and the
FULL appears on the display window.
POWER
4
1
2
Aft e r ch a rg in g t h e b a t t e ry p a ck
Disconnect the AC power adaptor from the DC IN jack on your camcorder.
12
St e p 1 Pre p a rin g t h e p o w e r su p p ly
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 fully,
and then use it until it fully discharges again. Do this once a year. Keep the battery
pack in a cool place.
Until your camcorder calculates the actual remaining battery time
“– – – – min” appears in the display window.
While charging the battery pack, no indicator appears or the indicator flashes in
the display w indow in the follow ing cases:
– The battery pack is not installed correctly.
– Something is wrong with the battery pack.
If the pow er may go off although the battery remaining indicator indicates that
the battery pack has enough pow er to operate
Charge the battery pack fully again so that the indication on the battery remaining
indicator is correct.
13
St e p 1 Pre p a rin g t h e p o w e r su p p ly
Ch a rg in g t im e
Battery pack
Full charge
NP-F330 (supplied)
NP-F530/ F550
NP-F730/ F730H/ F750
NP-F930/ F950
NP-F960
150
210
300
390
420
Approximate number of minutes to charge an empty battery pack
Re co rd in g t im e
CCD-TR618
Battery pack
NP-F330 (supplied)
NP-F530
Continuous*
Typical**
75
140
245
280
500
580
780
900
1035
135
NP-F550
155
NP-F730
NP-F730H/ F750
NP-F930
275
320
430
NP-F950
495
NP-F960
570
CCD-TR818
Battery pack
NP-F330 (supplied)
NP-F530
Continuous*
160
Typical**
90
290
160
NP-F550
325
180
NP-F730
590
325
NP-F730H/ F750
NP-F930
670
370
915
505
NP-F950
1025
1200
565
NP-F960
660
Approximate number of minutes when you use a fully charged battery pack
*
Approximate continuous recording time at 25°C (77°F). The battery life will be
shorter if you use your camcorder in a cold environment.
* *Approximate number of minutes when recording while you repeat recording start/
stop, zooming and turning the power on/ off. The actual battery life may be shorter.
14
St e p 1 Pre p a rin g t h e p o w e r su p p ly
Pla yin g t im e
CCD-TR618
Battery pack
NP-F330 (supplied)
NP-F530
145
260
295
525
610
825
930
1090
NP-F550
NP-F730
NP-F730H/ F750
NP-F930
NP-F950
NP-F960
CCD-TR818
Battery pack
NP-F330 (supplied)
NP-F530
170
305
NP-F550
340
NP-F730
625
NP-F730H/ F750
NP-F930
710
975
NP-F950
1080
1260
NP-F960
Approximate number of minutes when you use a fully charged battery pack
The battery life will be shorter if you use your camcorder in a cold environment.
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. “InfoLITHIUM” L series battery packs have the
mark.
“InfoLITHIUM” is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
15
St e p 1 Pre p a rin g t h e p o w e r su p p ly
Co n n e ct in g t o a w a ll o u t le t
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) 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.
1
2, 3
PRECAUTION
The set is not disconnected from the AC power source (wall outlet) as long as it is
connected to the wall outlet, even if the set itself has been turned off.
Notes
• The AC power adaptor can supply power even if the battery pack is attached to your
camcorder.
• The DC IN jack has “source priority”. This means that the battery pack cannot supply
any power if the power cord is connected to the DC IN jack, even when the power
cord is not plugged into a wall outlet.
• Place the AC power adaptor near a wall outlet. While using the AC power adaptor, if
any plug from the wall outlet as soon as possible to cut off the power.
Using a car battery
Use Sony DC Adaptor/ Charger (optional).
16
St e p 2 Se t t in g t h e d a t e a n d t im e
Set the date and time settings when you use your camcorder for the first time.
If you do not use your camcorder for about 4 months, the date and time settings may be
released (bars may appear) because the built-in rechargeable lithium cell in your
camcorder will have been discharged.
First, set the year, then the month, the day, the hour and then the minute.
(1) While your camcorder is in CAMERA mode, press MENU to display the
menu.
(2) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select
, then press the dial.
(3) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select CLOCK SET, then press the dial.
(4) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to adjust the desired year, then press the dial.
(5) Set the month, day and hour by turning the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial and
pressing the dial.
(6) Set the minute by turning the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial and pressing the dial by
the time signal. The clock starts to move.
(7) Press MENU to make the menu disappear. The time indicator appears.
2
3
1,7
MENU
S E T UP MENU
C L OCK S E T
AU TO DA T E
S E T UP MENU
C L OCK S E T
AU TO DA T E
S E T UP MENU
– –
:
– – :– –
C L OCK S E T
AU TO DA T E
L T R
S
I
Z E
L T R
S
I
Z E
L T R
S
I
Z E
2001 J AN
1
L ANGUAGE
L ANGUAGE
DEMO MODE
RE T URN
L ANGUAGE
DEMO MODE
RE T URN
DEMO MODE
12 00 AM
[
]
:
[
]
:
[
]
:
MENU
END
MENU
END
MENU
END
6
4
S E T UP MENU
C L OCK S E T
AU TO DA T E
S E T UP MENU
C L OCK S E T
AU TO DA T E
J U L
4
2001
5:30:00 PM
L T R
S
I
Z E
2001 J U L
4
L T R
S
I
Z E
L ANGUAGE
DEMO MODE
RE T URN
L ANGUAGE
DEMO MODE
RE T URN
2001 J AN
1
2001 J AN
1
5
30 PM
[
]
:
[
]
:
MENU
END
MENU
END
12 00 AM
12 00 AM
17
St e p 2 Se t t in g t h e d a t e a n d t im e
To ch e ck t h e p re se t d a t e a n d t im e
Press DATE to display the date indicator.
Press TIME to display the time indicator.
Press DATE (or TIME) and then press TIME (or DATE) to simultaneously display the
date and time indicator.
Press DATE and/ or TIME again. The date and/ or time indicator disappears.
The year changes as follow s:
1995 T · · · · t 2001 T · · · · t 2079
Auto date function
When you use your camcorder for the first time, turn it on and reset the date and time
to your local time before you start recording (p. 17). The date is automatically recorded
for 10 seconds after you start recording (Auto date function.)This function works only
once a day.
Note on the time indicator
The internal clock of your camcorder operates on a 12-hour cycle.
• 12:00 AM stands for midnight.
• 12:00 PM stands for noon.
Note on the auto date function
You can change the AUTO DATE setting by selecting ON or OFF in the menu settings.
The auto date function automatically displays the date once a day.
However, the date may automatically appear more than once a day if:
– you reset the date and time.
– you eject and insert the tape again.
– you stop recording within 10 seconds.
– you set AUTO DATE to OFF once and set it back to ON in the menu settings.
18
St e p 3 In se rt in g a ca sse t t e
When you want to record in the Hi8 system, use Hi8 video cassettes
.
(1) Prepare the power supply (p. 11).
(2) Open the lid of the cassette compartment, and press EJECT. The cassette
compartment opens automatically.
(3) Insert a cassette with its window facing out and the tab on the cassette up.
(4) Close the cassette compartment by pressing the
mark on the cassette
compartment. The cassette compartment automatically goes down.
(5) Close the lid of the cassette compartment.
2
3
4,5
EJECT
To e je ct a ca sse t t e
Follow the procedure above, and eject the cassette in step 3.
Note
• Do not press the cassette compartment down. Doing so may cause a malfunction.
• The cassette compartment may not be closed when you press any part of the cassette
compartment other than the
mark.
• Do not pick up your camcorder by holding the lid of the cassette compartment.
To prevent accidental erasure
Slide the write-protect tab on the cassette to expose the red mark.
19
— Re co rd in g – Ba sics —
Re co rd in g a p ict u re
Your camcorder automatically focuses for you.
(1) Remove the lens cap by pressing both knobs on its sides and attach the lens
cap to the grip strap.
(2) Install the power source and insert a cassette. See “Step 1” to “Step 3” for more
information (p. 11 to 19).
(3) Set the POWER switch to CAMERA while pressing the small green button.
Your camcorder is set to the standby mode.
(4) Press START/ STOP. Your camcorder starts recording. The REC indicator
appears. The camera recording lamp located on the front of your camcorder
lights up.
To stop recording, press START/ STOP again.
The recording lamp lights up in the viewfinder during recording(CCD-TR618
only).
1
3
4
POWER
POWER
REC 0:00:01
40min
Camera
recording lamp
2
Microphone
Note
Fasten the grip strap firmly. Do not touch the built-in microphone during recording.
To enable smooth transition
You can make the transition between the last scene you recorded and the next scene
smooth as long as you do not eject the cassette even if you turn off your camcorder.
When you change the battery pack, set the POWER switch to OFF (CHARGE).
If you leave your camcorder in the standby mode for 5 minutes w hile the cassette
is inserted
Your camcorder automatically turns off. This is to save battery power and to prevent
battery and tape wear. To resume the standby mode, set the POWER switch to OFF
(CHARGE) once, then turn it to CAMERA again.
To set the counter to 0:00:00
Press COUNTER RESET (p. 69).
20
Re co rd in g a p ict u re
Aft e r re co rd in g
(1) Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHARGE).
(2) Eject the cassette.
(3) Attach the lens cap.
After using your camcorder (CCD-TR618 only)
Remove the battery pack from your camcorder to avoid turning on the built-in light
accidentally.
To re co rd p ict u re s w it h t h e vie w fin d e r – a d ju st in g t h e
vie w fin d e r
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.
21
Re co rd in g a p ict u re
Usin g t h e zo o m fe a t u re
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)
W
T
W
W
T
T
Zoom greater than 20× is performed digitally. To activate digital zoom, select the digital
zoom power in D ZOOM in the menu settings. (p. 46)
The picture quality deteriorates as the picture is processed digitally.
The right side of the bar shows the digital
zooming zone.
W
T
The digital zooming zone appears when
you select the digital zoom power in D
ZOOM in the menu settings.
When you shoot close to a subject
If you cannot get a sharp focus, move the power zoom lever to the “W” side until the
focus is sharp. You can shoot a subject that is at least about 80 cm (about 2 feet 5/ 8 inch)
away from the lens surface in the telephoto position, or about 1 cm (about 1/ 2 inch)
away in the wide-angle position.
Notes on digital zoom
• Digital zoom starts to function when zoom exceeds 20×.
• The picture quality deteriorates as you go toward the “T” side.
22
Re co rd in g a p ict u re
In d ica t o rs d isp la ye d in t h e re co rd in g m o d e
The indicators are not recorded on tape.
Hi8 format indicator
This appears while playing back or recording in Hi8
format.
Recording mode indicator
STBY/REC indicator
Tape counter indicator
REC 0:00:01
40min
Remaining tape indicator
This appears after you insert a cassette and record or play
back for a while.
Remaining battery time indicator
Note on the remaining battery time indicator
The remaining battry time indicator roughly indicates the recording time. The indicator
may not be correct, depending on the conditions in which you are recording.
23
Re co rd in g a p ict u re
Sh o o t in g b a cklit su b je ct s – 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.
Press BACK LIGHT in CAMERA mode.
The . indicator appears in the viewfinder.
To cancel, press BACK LIGHT again.
BACK LIGHT
If you press EXPOSURE w hen shooting backlit subjects
The backlight function will be canceled.
Sh o o t in g in t h e d a rk – Nig h t Sh o t
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.
While your camcorder is in CAMERA mode, slide NIGHTSHOT to ON.
and “NIGHTSHOT” indicators flash in the viewfinder. To cancel the NightShot
function, slide NIGHTSHOT to OFF.
NIGHTSHOT
OFF
ON
NightShot Light emitter
Usin g t h e Nig h t Sh o t Lig h t
The picture will be clearer with the NightShot Light on. To enable the NightShot Light,
set N.S.LIGHT to ON in the menu settings (p. 46).
24
Re co rd in g a p ict u re
Notes
• Do not use the NightShot function in bright places (ex. outdoors in the daytime). This
may cause your camcorder to malfunction.
• When you keep NIGHTSHOT setting to ON in normal recording, the picture may be
recorded in incorrect or unnatural colors.
• If focusing is difficult with the autofocus mode when using the NightShot function,
focus manually.
While using the NightShot function, you can not use the follow ing functions:
– Exposure
– PROGRAM AE
NightShot Light
NightShot Light rays are infrared and so are invisible. The maximum shooting distance
using the NightShot Light is about 3 m (10 feet).
Su p e rim p o sin g t h e d a t e a n d t im e o n p ict u re s
You can record the date and/ or time displayed in the viewfinder superimposed on the
picture.
Carry out the following operations in CAMERA 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
When you purchase your camcorder, the clock setting is set to off. Set the date and time
to your local time before using (p. 17).
Note
The date and time indicators recorded manually cannot be deleted.
If you do not record the date and time in the picture
Record the date and time in the black screen as the background for about 10 seconds,
then erase the date and time indicators before starting actual recording.
25
— Pla yb a ck – Ba sics —
Co n n e ct io n s fo r p la yb a ck
Connect your camcorder to your TVwith the A/ Vconnecting cable supplied with your
camcorder towatch theplayback pictureon theTVscreen.When monitoring the
playback pictureon theTVscreen,werecommend thatyou power your camcorder
from a walloutletusing theACpower adaptor (p.16).Refer totheoperating
instructionsofyour TV.
Open thejack cover.Connect your camcorder to theTVusing theA/ Vconnecting
cable. Then, set the TV/ VCR selector on the TV to VCR.
Yellow
S VIDEO OUT
IN
A/V OUT
S VIDEO
VIDEO
AUDIO
:Signalflow
Black
If yo u r TV is a lre a d y co n n e ct e d t o a VCR
Connect your camcorder to the LINE IN input on the VCR by using the A/ V connecting
cable supplied with your camcorder.Set the input selector on the VCRto LINE.
To co n n e ct t o a TV w it h o u t Vid e o /Au d io in p u t ja cks
Use an NTSC system RFU adaptor (optional).
Refer totheoperating instructionsofyour TVand theRFU adaptor.
If your TV has an S video jack
Connectusing an Svideocable(optional)toobtain high-quality pictures.With this
connection,you donotneed toconnecttheyellow (video)plug oftheA/ Vconnecting
cable.
ConnecttheSvideocable(optional)totheSvideojackson both your camcorder and
the TV.
26
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) Install the power source and insert the recorded tape.
(2) Set the POWER switch to PLAYER while pressing the small green button.
(3) Press m to rewind the tape.
(4) Press N to start playback.
POWER
3
4
2
REW
PLAY
To stop playback
Press x.
27
Pla yin g b a ck a t a p e
Va rio u s p la yb a ck m o d e s
To operate video control buttons, set the POWER switch to PLAYER.
To vie w a st ill p ict u re (p la yb a ck p a u se )
Press X during playback. To resume playback, press X or N.
To a d va n ce t h e t a p e
Press M in the stop mode. To resume normal playback, press N.
To re w in d t h e t a p e
Press m in the stop mode. To resume normal playback, press N.
To lo ca t e a sce n e m o n it o rin g t h e p ict u re (p ict u re se a rch )
Keep pressing m or M during playback. To resume normal playback, release the
button.
To m o n it o r t h e h ig h -sp e e d p ict u re w h ile a d va n cin g o r
re w in d in g t h e t a p e (skip sca n )
Keep pressing m while rewinding or M while advancing the tape. To resume
rewinding or advancing, release the button.
In the various playback modes
Sound is muted.
When the playback pause mode lasts for 5 minutes
Your camcorder automatically enters the stop mode. To resume playback, press N.
When you play back a tape recorded in the LP mode
Noise may appear during playback pause mode or picture search.
28
— Ad va n ce d Re co rd in g Op e ra t io n s —
Usin g t h e w id e m o d e
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 wide-
screen TV to the zoom mode, a picture without black bands appears [d].
16:9FULL
The picture during recording in the 16:9FULL mode [e], or playing back on a normal
TV [f] or a wide-screen TV [g ] is horizontally compressed. If you set the screen mode of
the wide-screen TV to the full mode, you can watch pictures of normal images [h].
[b]
CINEMA
CINEMA
[a]
[d]
[c]
[f]
16:9FULL
16:9FULL
[e]
[h]
[g]
29
Usin g t h e w id e m o d e
In CAMERA mode, set 16:9WIDE to CINEMA or 16:9FULL in
(p. 46).
in the menu settings
MENU
To ca n ce l t h e w id e m o d e
Set 16:9WIDE to OFF in the menu settings.
If the w ide mode is set to 16:9FULL (CCD-TR818 only)
The SteadyShot function does not work. If you select 16:9FULL in the menu settings
when the SteadyShot function is working,
not function.
flashes and the SteadyShot function does
In the w ide 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. When you cancel the wide mode, set your
camcorder to the standby mode and then set 16:9WIDE to OFF in the menu settings.
30
Usin g t h e fa d e r fu n ct io n
You can fadein or outtogiveyour recording a professionalappearance.
[a ]
STBY
REC
FADER
M.FADER
(mosaic)
STRIPE
BOUNCE
(Fade in only)
[b ]
STBY
REC
MONOTONE
When fadingin,thepicturegraduallychangesfrom black-and-whitetocolor.
When fadingout,thepicturegraduallychangesfrom colortoblack-and-white.
31
Usin g t h e fa d e r fu n ct io n
(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
no indicator T MONOTONE T BOUNCE
The last selected fader mode is indicated first of all.
(2) Press START/ STOP. The fader indicator stops flashing.
After the fade in/ out is carried out, your camcorder automatically returns to
the normal mode.
1
FADER
FADER
To ca n ce l t h e fa d e r fu n ct io n
Before pressing START/ STOP, press FADER until the indicator disappears.
The date, time indicator and title do not fade in or fade out
Erasethem beforeoperatingthefaderfunction iftheyarenotneeded.
While using the bounce function, you cannot use the follow ing functions:
– Focus
– Zoom
– Pictureeffect
Note on the bounce function
TheBOUNCEindicator doesnot appear in thefollowing modeor functions:
– D ZOOM is set to the mode other than OFFin the menu settings
– Widemode
– Pictureeffect
– PROGRAM AE
32
Usin g sp e cia l e ffe ct s – Pict u re e ffe ct
You can digitally process images to obtain special effects like those in films or on the
TV.
PASTEL [a ] :
The contrast of the picture is emphasized, and the picture looks like an
animated cartoon.
NEG. ART [b ] : The color and brightness of the picture are reversed.
SEPIA :
The picture gets sepia.
B&W :
The picture appears in monochrome (black-and-white).
SOLARIZE [c] : The light intensity is clearer, and the picture looks like an illustration.
MOSAIC [d ] : The picture gets mosaic-patterned.
SLIM [e] :
The picture expands vertically.
STRETCH [f] : The picture expands horizontally.
[a ]
[b ]
[c]
[d ]
[e ]
[f]
(1) In CAMERA mode, select P EFFECT in
in the menu settings. (p. 46).
(2) Select the desired picture effect mode in the menu settings, then press the SEL/
PUSH EXEC dial.
MANUA L S E T
PROGRAM A E OF F
P
E F F EC T
RE T URN
P A S T E L
NEG
S E P
.
AR T
A
I
B &
W
SO L AR
MOS A
S L I M
I
Z E
I
C
S T RE T CH
[
]
:
MENU
END
MENU
To ca n ce l t h e p ict u re e ffe ct fu n ct io n
Set P EFFECT to OFF in the menu settings.
When you turn the pow er off
Your camcorder automatically returns to the normal mode.
33
Usin g t h e PROGRAM AE fu n ct io n
You can select PROGRAM AE (Auto Exposure) mode to suit your specific shooting
requirements.
Spotlight
This mode prevents people’s faces, for example, from appearing excessively white
when shooting subjects lit by strong light in the theater.
Soft portrait
This mode brings out the subject while creating a soft background for subjects such as
people or flowers.
Sports lesson
This mode minimizes shake on fast-moving subjects such as in tennis or golf.
Beach & ski
This mode prevents people’s faces from appearing dark in strong light or reflected light,
such as at a beach in midsummer or on a ski slope.
Sunset & moon
This mode allows you to maintain atmosphere when you are recording sunsets, general
night views, fireworks displays and neon signs.
Landscape
This mode is for when you are recording distant subjects such as mountains and
prevents your camcorder from focusing on glass or metal mesh in windows when you
are recording a subject behind glass or a screen.
34
Usin g t h e PROGRAM AE fu n ct io n
(1) In CAMERA mode, select PROGRAM AE in
in the menu settings (p. 46).
(2) Select the desired PROGRAM AE mode in the menu settings, then press the
SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial.
MANUA L S E T
PROGRAM A E AU TO
P
E F F EC T
RE T URN
S POT L
I
GH T
POR T RA
S POR T S
I
T
B E ACH& S K
I
SUNS E TMOON
L ANDSCA P E
[
]
:
MENU
END
MENU
To t u rn t h e PROGRAM AE fu n ct io n o ff
Set PROGRAM AE to AUTO in the menu settings.
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.
• In the sunset & moon and landscape modes, your camcorder is set to focus only on
distant subjects.
• The bounce function with FADER does not work in the PROGRAM AE mode.
• While setting NIGHTSHOT to ON, the PROGRAM AE function does not work. (The
indicator flashes.)
If you are recording under a discharge tube such as a fluorescent lamp, sodium
lamp or mercury lamp
Flickering or changes in color may occur in the following modes. If this happens, turn
the PROGRAM AE function off.
– Soft portrait mode
– Sports lesson mode
35
Ad ju st in g t h e e xp o su re m a n u a lly
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) In CAMERA mode, press EXPOSURE.
(2) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to adjust the brightness.
1
EXPOSURE
2
To re t u rn t o t h e a u t o m a t ic e xp o su re m o d e
Press EXPOSURE again.
Note
When you adjust the exposure manually, the backlight function does not work.
Your camcorder automatically returns to the automatic exposure mode:
– if you change the PROGRAM AE mode
– if you slide NIGHTSHOT to ON
36
Fo cu sin g m a n u a lly
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
(1) In CAMERA mode, press FOCUS. The 9 indicator appears.
(2) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to sharpen focus.
FOCUS
To re t u rn t o t h e a u t o fo cu s m o d e
Press FOCUS.
To focus precisely
Adjust the zoom by first focusing at the “T” (telephoto) position and then shooting at
the “W” (wide-angle) position. This makes focusing easier.
When you shoot close to the subject
Focus at the end of the “W” (wide-angle) position.
9 changes to the follow ing indicators:
when recording a distant subject.
when the subject is too close to focus on.
37
Su p e rim p o sin g a t it le
You can select one of eight preset titles and two custom titles (p. 40). You can also select
the language, color, size and position of titles.
VACATION
(1) In CAMERA mode, press TITLE to display the title menu.
(2) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select
, then press the dial.
(3) Select the desired title in the menu settings, then press the SEL/ PUSH EXEC
dial. The titles are displayed in the language you selected.
(4) Change the color, size, or position, if necessary.
1 Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select the color, size, or position, then
press the dial. The item appears.
2 Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired item, then press the
dial.
3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the title is laid out as desired.
(5) Press the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial again to complete the setting.
(6) Press START/ STOP to start recording.
(7) When you want to stop recording the title, press TITLE.
PRE S E T
T
I
T L E
HE L L O
HA P P Y
!
B
I
R T HDA Y
DA Y S
CONGRA T U L A T ONS
E E T B A B Y
NG
ON
T HE END
1
HA P P Y HO L
I
TITLE
I
!
OUR
EDD
S
I
W
W
V ACA T
I
[
]
:
T
I
T L E
END
PRE S E T
T
I
T L E
PRE S E T
HE L L O
HA P P Y
T
I
T L E
HE L L O
HA P P Y
!
!
B
I
R T HDA Y
DA Y S
CONGRA T U L A T ONS
E E T B A B Y
NG
ON
T HE END
B
I
R T HDA Y
DA Y S
CONGRA T U L A T ONS
E E T B A B Y
NG
ON
2
3
4
HA P P Y HO L
I
HA P P Y HO L
I
I
!
I
!
OUR
EDD
S
I
W
OUR
WEDD
S
I
W
W
V ACA T
I
V ACA T
I
T HE END
RE T URN
[
]
:
[
]
:
T
I
T L E
END
T
I
T L E
END
PRE S E T
T
I
T L E
T I T L E
HE L L O
HA P P Y
!
B
I
R T HDA Y
DA Y S
CONGRA T U L A T ONS
E E T B A B Y
NG
ON
HA P P Y HO L
I
I
!
OUR
EDD
S
I
W
VACATION
W
V ACA T
I
T HE END
RE T URN
[
]
:
[
]
:
T
I
T L E
END
T
I
T L E
END
S
I
Z E
SMA L L
T I T L E
S
I
Z E
L ARGE
VACATION
VACATION
[
]
:
T
I
T L E
END
38
Su p e rim p o sin g a t it le
To su p e rim p o se t h e t it le w h ile yo u a re re co rd in g
Press TITLE while you are recording, and carry out steps 2 to 5. When you press the
SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial at step 5, the title is superimposed.
To se le ct t h e la n g u a g e o f a p re se t t it le
If you want to change the language, select
language and return to step 2.
before step 2. Then select the desired
Note
Both the date and time or either of them may not be displayed depending on the size or
position of the title.
If you display the menu or title menu w hile superimposing a title
The title is not recorded while the menu or title menu is displayed.
To use the custom title
If you want to use the custom title, select
in step 2.
Title setting
• The title color changes as follows :
WHITE y YELLOW y VIOLET y RED y CYAN y GREEN y BLUE
• The title size changes as follows :
SMALL y LARGE
You cannot input 13 characters or more in LARGE size.
• The title position changes as follows :
1 y 2 y 3 y 4 y 5 y 6 y 7 y 8 y 9
The larger the position number, the lower the title is positioned.
When you select the title size “LARGE”, you cannot choose position 9.
When you select the title size “LARGE” in the CINEMA mode, you cannot choose
position 8 nor 9.
When you are selecting and setting the title
You cannot superimpose the title displayed on the screen.
When you superimpose a title w hile you are recording
The beep does not sound.
39
Ma kin g yo u r o w n t it le s
You can make up to two titles and store them in your camcorder. Each title can have up
to 20 characters.
(1) In CAMERA or PLAYER mode, press TITLE.
(2) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select
, then press the dial.
(3) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select the first line (CUSTOM1 SET) or
second line (CUSTOM2 SET), then press the dial.
(4) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select the column of the desired character,
then press the dial.
(5) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired character, then press the
dial.
(6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have selected all characters and completed the
title.
(7) To finish making your own titles, turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select
[SET], then press the dial. The title is stored in memory.
(8) Press TITLE to make the title menu disappear.
T
I
T L E S E T
T
I
T L E S E T
CUS TOM1 S E T
CUS TOM2 S E T
CUS TOM1 S E T
CUS TOM2 S E T
RE T URN
1
2
3
TITLE
[
]
:
[
]
:
T
I
I
T L E
END
T
I
T L E
END
PRE S E T
T
I
T L E
T
T L E S E T
T
I
T L E S E T
P 1
HE L L O
HA P P Y
!
CUS TOM1 S E T
CUS TOM2 S E T
RE T URN
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
B
I
R T HDA Y
DA Y S
CONGRA T U L A T ONS
E E T B A B Y
NG
ON
T HE END
HA P P Y HO L
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40
Ma kin g yo u r o w n t it le s
To ch a n g e a t it le yo u h a ve st o re d
In step 3, select CUSTOM1 SET or CUSTOM2 SET, depending on which title you want
to change, then press the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial. Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to
select [C], then press the dial to delete the title. The last character is erased. Enter the
new title as desired.
If you take 5 minutes or longer to enter characters in the standby mode w hile a
cassette is in your camcorder
The power automatically turns off. The characters you have entered remain stored in
memory. Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHARGE) once, and turn it to CAMERA
again, then proceed from step 1.
We recommend setting the POWER switch to PLAYER or removing the cassette so that
your camcorder does not automatically turn off while you are entering title characters.
If you select [
]
The menu for selecting alphabet and Russian characters appears. Select [
to the previous screen.
] to return
To delete the title
Select [C]. The last character is erased.
To enter a space
Select [ Z& ? ! ], then select the blank part.
41
Usin g t h e b u ilt -in lig h t
– CCD-TR618 o n ly
You can use the built-in light to suit your shooting situation. The recommended
distance between the subject and camcorder is about 1.5 m (5 feet).
Press LIGHT until the
indicator appears in the viewfinder while your
camcorder is in CAMERA mode. The built-in light turns on.
If you turn the POWER switch to OFF (CHARGE), the built-in light turns off
simultaneously. You cannot turn the built-in light on by turning the POWER switch to
CAMERA again.
To turn on the built-in light again, press LIGHT again in CAMERA mode.
LIGHT
CCD-TR618
To t u rn o ff t h e b u ilt -in lig h t
Press LIGHT until no indicator appears in the viewfinder.
To t u rn o n t h e b u ilt -in lig h t a u t o m a t ica lly
Press LIGHT until the
indicator appears in the viewfinder.
The built-in light automatically turns on and off according to the ambient brightness.
CAUTION
Be careful not to touch the lighting section, because the plastic w indow and
surrounding surfaces are hot w hile the light is on. It remains hot for a w hile after
the light is turned off.
DANGER
Not to be handled by children.
Emits intense heat and light.
Use w ith caution to reduce the risk of fire or injury to persons.
Do not directly light at persons or materials from less than 4 feet (1.22 m) during
use and until cool.
Turn the built-in light off w hen not in use.
42
Usin g t h e b u ilt -in lig h t
When you press LIGHT
The indicator changes as follows:
no indicator
Notes
• The built-in light turns off automatically in the following cases:
– When it stays on in the AUTO mode for more than 5 minutes
– When you leave it on for more than 5 minutes with no cassette inserted or after the
tape has run out.
To turn the built-in light on again, press LIGHT again.
• The battery pack is quickly discharging while the built-in light is turned on. Turn it off
when not in use.
• When you do not use your camcorder, turn the built-in light off and remove the
battery pack to avoid turning on the built-in light accidentally.
• When flickering occurs while shooting in the AUTO mode, press LIGHT until the
indicator appears.
• The built-in light may turn on/ off when you use the PROGRAM AE or backlight
function while shooting in the AUTO mode.
• The built-in light may be turned off when inserting or ejecting a cassette.
• When you use the conversion lens (optional), light from the built-in light is blocked
and may not illuminate the subject properly.
43
Usin g t h e b u ilt -in lig h t
Re p la cin g t h e b u lb
Use the Sony XB-3D halogen lamp (optional). The supplied halogen lamp is not on the
market. Purchase the Sony XB-3D halogen lamp.
Remove the power source before replacing the bulb.
(1) Remove the built-in light unit while pushing the hole under the built-in light
unit using a wire.
(2) Turn the bulb housing counterclockwise and detach from the built-in light
unit.
(3) Replace the bulb using a dry cloth.
(4) Attach the bulb housing turning it clockwise, then replace the built-in light
unit.
1
2
3
CAUTION
• When replacing the bulb, use only the Sony XB-3D halogen lamp (optional) to reduce
the risk of fire.
• To prevent possible burn hazard, disconnect the power source before replacing and
do not touch the bulb until the bulb becomes cool enough to handle (for about 30
minutes or more).
Note
To prevent the bulb from being smudged with finger prints, handle it with a dry cloth,
etc. If the bulb is smudged, wipe it completely.
44
— Ed it in g —
Du b b in g a t a p e
Usin g t h e A/V co n n e ct in g ca b le
Connect your camcorder to the VCR using the A/ V connecting cable supplied with
your camcorder.
You can record and edit a picture with the connected VCR by using your camcorder as
a player.
( 1 )Insert a blank tape (or a tape you want to record over) into the VCR, and insert
the recorded tape into your camcorder.
( 2 )Set the input selector on the VCR to LINE.
Refer to the operating instructions of your VCR for more information.
( 3 )Set the POWER switch to PLAYER.
( 4 )Play back the recorded tape on your camcorder.
( 5 )Start recording on the VCR.
Refer to the operating instructions of your VCR for more information.
Yellow
S VIDEO OUT
IN
A/V OUT
S VIDEO
VIDEO
AUDIO
Black
: Signal flow
Wh e n yo u h a ve fin ish e d d u b b in g a t a p e
Press xon both your camcorder and the VCR.
To p re ve n t d e t e rio ra t io n o f p ict u re s w h e n d u b b in g
Set EDIT to ON in the menu settings before dubbing.
You can edit on VCRs that support the follow ing systems
8 mm,
Betamax,
Hi8, Digital8,
ED Betamax,
VHS,
S-VHS,
DV
VHSC,
S-VHSC,
mini DV or
Connect using an S video cable (optional) to obtain high-quality pictures
With this connection, you do not need to connect the yellow (video) plug of the A/ V
connecting cable.
Connect an S video cable (optional) to the S video jacks of both your camcorder and the
VCR.
45
— Cu st o m izin g Yo u r Ca m co rd e r —
Ch a n g in g t h e m e n u se t t in g s
To change the mode settings in the menu settings, select the menu items with the SEL/
PUSH EXEC dial. The default settings can be partially changed. First, select the icon,
then the menu item and then the mode.
(1) In CAMERA or PLAYER mode, press MENU.
(2) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired icon, then press the dial to
set.
(3) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired item, then press the dial to
set.
(4) Turn the SEL/ PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired mode, and press the dial
to set.
(5) If you want to change other items, select
RETURN and press the dial, then
repeat steps from 2 to 4.
For details, see “Selecting the mode setting of each item”(p. 47).
MANUA L S E T
PROGRAM AE
CAMERA
PLAYER
1
2
3
4
P
E F F EC T
OT HERS
OR L D
BEEP
REC L AMP
MANUA L S E T
PROGRAM A E
E F F EC T
P L A Y ER S E T
ED
W
T
I ME
I
T
MENU
P
T BC
DNR
[
]
:
[
]
:
MENU
END
MENU
END
OT HERS
OR L D
BEEP
W
T
I ME
0
HR
REC L AMP
RE T URN
OT HERS
OR L D
BEEP
W
T
I ME
0
HR
OT HERS
OR L D
BEEP
W
T
I ME
REC L AMP
RE T URN
ON
OT HERS
W
OR L D
T
I ME
BEEP
REC L AMP
RE T URN
ON
OF F
OT HERS
W
OR L D
T
I ME
BEEP
REC L AMP
RE T URN
ON
OF F
OT HERS
W
OR L D
T
I ME
BEEP
REC L AMP
RE T URN
OF F
To m a ke t h e m e n u d isp la y d isa p p e a r
Press MENU.
46
Ch a n g in g t h e m e n u se t t in g s
Menu items are displayed as the follow ing icons:
MANUAL SET
CAMERA SET
PLAYER SET
VF SET (CCD-TR818 only)
TAPE SET
SETUP MENU
OTHERS
Depending on your camcorder model
The menu display may be different from that in this illustration.
Se le ct in g t h e m o d e se t t in g o f e a ch it e m
z is the default setting.
Menu items differ according to the position of the POWER switch.
The viewfinder screen shows only the items you can operate at the moment.
POWER
sw itch
Icon/item
Mode
Meaning
To suit your specific shooting requirement (p. 34) CAMERA
PROGRAM AE ——
P EFFECT
D ZOOM
——
To add special effects like those in films or on the
TV to images (p. 33).
CAMERA
z OFF
If you set to OFF, digital zoom is deactivated and
up to 20× is carried out.
If you set to 40×/450×, digital zoom is activated
and more than 20× to 40×/ 450× is performed
digitally. (p. 22)
CAMERA
40×
450×
(CCD-TR618 only)
z OFF
If you set to OFF, digital zoom is deactivated and
up to 20× is carried out.
If you set to 40×/460×, digital zoom is activated
and more than 20× to 40×/ 460× is performed
digitally. (p. 22)
40×
460×
(CCD-TR818 only)
16:9WIDE
z OFF
—
CAMERA
CAMERA
CINEMA
16:9FULL
To record in the CINEMA mode (p. 29)
To record in the 16:9FULL mode
To compensate for camera-shake
STEADYSHOT* z ON
OFF
To cancel the SteadyShot function. Natural
pictures are produced when shooting a stationary
object with a tripod.
N.S.LIGHT
z ON
To use the NightShot Light function (p. 24)
To cancel the NightShot Light function
CAMERA
OFF
* CCD-TR818 only
Notes on the SteadyShot function (CCD-TR818 only)
• The SteadyShot function will not correct excessive camera-shake.
• Attachment of a conversion lens (optional) may influence the SteadyShot function.
• SteadyShot does not operate in the 16:9FULL mode. If you set STEADYSHOT to ON
in the menu settings, the
indicator flashes.
If you cancel the SteadyShot function (CCD-TR818 only)
The SteadyShot off indicator
appears. Your camcorder prevents excessive
compensation for camera-shake.
47
Ch a n g in g t h e m e n u se t t in g s
POWER
sw itch
Icon/item
EDIT
Mode
z OFF
ON
Meaning
—
PLAYER
To minimize picture deterioration when editing
To correct jitter
TBC
z ON
OFF
PLAYER
To not correct jitter. Set TBC to OFF when
playing back a tape on which you have dubbed
over and recorded the signal of a TV game or
similar machine.
TBC stands for “Time Base Corrector”.
DNR
z ON
To reduce picture noise
PLAYER
OFF
To reduce a conspicuous afterimage when the
picture has a lot of movement
DNR stands for “Digital Noise Reduction”.
VF B.L.*
z
BRT NORMAL
BRIGHT
To set the brightness in the viewfinder normal
To brighten the viewfinder screen
PLAYER
CAMERA
* CCD-TR818 only
In more than 5 minutes after removing the pow er source
The “EDIT” items are returned to their default settings.
The other menu items are held in memory even when the battery is removed.
Note on VF B.L. (CCD-TR818 only)
When you use power sources other than the battery pack, “BRIGHT” is automatically
selected.
48
Ch a n g in g t h e m e n u se t t in g s
POWER
sw itch
Icon/item
REC MODE
Mode
z SP
LP
Meaning
To record in SP (Standard Play) mode
CAMERA
To increase the recording time to twice the SP
mode
ORC TO SET
——
To automatically adjust the recording condition to CAMERA
get the best possible recording. Press START/
STOP to start adjustment. Your camcorder takes
about 10 seconds to check the tape condition and
then returns to the standby mode.
ORC stands for “Optimizing the Recording Condition”.
qREMAIN
z AUTO
To display the remaining tape bar:
• for about 8 seconds after your camcorder is
turned on and calculates the remaining amount
of tape
PLAYER
CAMERA
• for about 8 seconds after a cassette is inserted
and your camcorder calculates the remaining
amount of tape
• for about 8 seconds after N is pressed in
PLAYER mode
• for the period of tape rewinding, forwarding or
picture search in PLAYER mode
ON
To always display the remaining tape bar
Notes on the LP mode
• When you record a tape in the LP mode on your camcorder, we recommend playing
back the tape on your camcorder. When you play back the tape on other camcorders
or VCRs, noise may occur in pictures or sound.
• Noise may occur also when you play on your camcorder tapes recorded in the LP
mode on other camcorders or VCRs.
• When you record a tape in the LP mode on your camcorder, recording is carried out in
the standard 8 mm system.
Notes on ORC setting
• Each time you eject the cassette, the ORC setting will be canceled. If necessary, reset
the setting.
• You cannot use this setting on a tape with the red mark on the cassette exposed.
(i. e. the tape is write-protected)
• When you set ORC TO SET, a non-recorded section of about 0.1 seconds appears on
the tape. However, note that this non-recorded section disappears from the tape when
you continue recording from this section.
• To check if you have already set the ORC setting, select ORC TO SET in the menu
settings. “ORC ON” is displayed if ORC TO SET is already set.
49
Ch a n g in g t h e m e n u se t t in g s
POWER
sw itch
Icon/item
CLOCK SET
Mode
——
Meaning
To set the date or time (p. 17)
CAMERA
CAMERA
AUTO DATE
z ON
To record the date for 10 seconds after
recording has started
OFF
z NORMAL
2×
To cancel the auto date function
LTR SIZE
To display selected menu items in normal size
PLAYER
CAMERA
To display selected menu items at twice the
normal size
LANGUAGE
z ENGLISH
To display the following information indicators PLAYER
in English: REC, STBY, min and VOL
CAMERA
FRANÇAIS
ESPAÑOL
To display the information indicators in French
To display the information indicators in
Spanish
PORTUGUÊS To display the information indicators in
Portuguese
To display the information indicators in
Chinese
DEMO MODE
z ON
OFF
To make the demonstration appear
To cancel the demonstration mode
CAMERA
Notes on DEMO MODE
• You cannot select DEMO MODE when a cassette is inserted in your camcorder.
• DEMO MODE is set to STBY (Standby) at the factory and the demonstration starts
about 10 minutes after you have set the POWER switch to CAMERA without a
cassette inserted.
To cancel the demonstration, insert a cassette, set the POWER switch to other than
CAMERA, or set DEMO MODE to OFF.
• When NIGHTSHOT is set to ON, the “NIGHTSHOT” indicator appears in the
viewfinder and you cannot select DEMO MODE in the menu settings.
50
Ch a n g in g t h e m e n u se t t in g s
POWER
sw itch
Icon/item
WORLD TIME
Mode
——
Meaning
To set the clock to the local time. Turn the SEL/
PUSH EXEC dial to set a time difference. The
clock changes by the time difference you set
here. If you set the time difference to 0, the
clock returns to the originally set time.
CAMERA
BEEP
z MELODY
To output the melody when you start/ stop
recording or when an unusual condition occurs
on your camcorder
PLAYER
CAMERA
NORMAL
To output the beep sound instead of the
melody
OFF
To cancel the melody and beep sound
REC LAMP
z ON
To light up the camera recording lamp at the
front of your camcorder
CAMERA
OFF
To turn the camera recording lamp off so that
the subject is not aware of the recording
51
— Tro u b le sh o o t in g
—
Typ e s o f t ro u b le a n d t h e ir so lu t io n s
If you run into any problem using your camcorder, use the following table to
troubleshoot the problem. If the problem persists, disconnect the power source and
contact your Sony dealer or local authorized Sony service facility. If “C:ss:ss”
appears in the viewfinder or the display window, the self-diagnosis display function
has worked. See page 55.
In t h e re co rd in g m o d e
Symptom
Cause and/or Corrective Actions
START/ STOP does not operate.
• The POWER switch is set to OFF (CHARGE) or PLAYER.
c Set it to CAMERA. (p. 20)
• The tape has run out.
c Rewind the tape or insert a new one. (p. 19, 27)
• The write-protect tab is set to expose the red mark.
c Use a new tape or slide the tab. (p. 19)
• The tape is stuck to the drum (moisture condensation).
c Remove the cassette and leave your camcorder for at
least 1 hour to acclimatize. (p. 60)
The power goes off.
• While being operated in CAMERA mode, your camcorder
has been in the standby mode for more than 5 minutes.
c Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHARGE) and then to
CAMERA again.
• The battery pack is dead or nearly dead.
c Install a fully charged battery pack. (p. 11, 12)
The image on the viewfinder screen
is not clear.
• The viewfinder lens is not adjusted.
c Adjust the viewfinder lens. (p. 21)
The SteadyShot function does not
work.
(CCD-TR818 only)
• STEADYSHOT is set to OFF in the menu settings.
c Set it to ON. (p. 46)
• The SteadyShot function does not work when the wide
mode is set to 16:9FULL.
The autofocusing function does not
work.
• FOCUS is set to MANUAL.
c Set it to AUTO. (p. 37)
• Shooting conditions are not suitable for autofocus.
c Set FOCUS to MANUAL to focus manually. (p. 37)
The x indicator flashes in the
• The video heads may be dirty.
viewfinder.
c Clean the heads using the Sony V8-25CLD cleaning
cassette (optional). (p. 61)
A vertical band appears when you
shoot a subject such as lights or a
candle flame against a dark
background.
• The contrast between the subject and background is too
high. This is not a malfunction.
A vertical band appears when you
shoot a very bright subject.
• This is not a malfunction.
An unknown picture is displayed in
the viewfinder.
• If 10 minutes elapse after you set the POWER switch to
CAMERA or DEMO MODE is set to ON in the menu
settings without a cassette inserted, your camcorder
automatically starts the demonstration.
c Insert a cassette and the demonstration stops.
You can also cancel DEMO MODE. (p. 50)
52
Typ e s o f t ro u b le a n d t h e ir so lu t io n s
Symptom
Cause and/or Corrective Actions
The picture is recorded in incorrect
or unnatural colors.
• NIGHTSHOT is set to ON.
c Set it to OFF. (p. 24)
The picture appears too bright, and
the subject does not appear in the
viewfinder.
• NIGHTSHOT is set to ON in a bright place.
c Set it to OFF, or use the NightShot function in a dark
place. (p. 24)
• The backlight function is working.
c Cancel it. (p. 24)
In t h e p la yb a ck m o d e
Symptom
Cause and/or Corrective Actions
The tape does not move when a
video control button is pressed.
• The POWER switch is set to CAMERA or OFF (CHARGE).
c Set it to PLAYER. (p. 27)
• The tape has run out.
c Rewind the tape. (p. 27)
The playback picture is not clear or
does not appear.
• The television’s video channel is not adjusted correctly.
c Adjust it. (p. 26)
• EDIT is set to ON in the menu settings.
c Set it to OFF. (p. 46)
• The video head may be dirty.
c Clean the heads using the Sony V8-25CLD cleaning
cassette (optional). (p. 61)
In t h e re co rd in g a n d p la yb a ck m o d e s
Symptom
Cause and/or Corrective Actions
The power does not turn on.
• The battery pack is not installed, or is dead or nearly dead.
c Install a charged battery pack. (p. 11, 12)
• The AC power adaptor is not connected to a wall outlet.
c Connect the AC power adaptor to a wall outlet. (p. 16)
The battery pack is quickly
discharged.
• The operating temperature is too low.
• The battery pack is not fully charged.
c Charge the battery pack fully again. (p. 12)
• The battery pack is completely dead, and cannot be
recharged.
c Replace with a new battery pack. (p. 11)
The remaining battery time indicator • You have used the battery pack in an extremely hot or
does not indicate the correct time.
cold environment for a long time.
• The battery pack is completely dead, and cannot be
recharged.
c Replace with a new battery pack. (p. 11)
• The battery is not fully charged.
c Charge the battery pack fully again. (p. 12)
• A deviation has occured in the remaining battery time.
c Charge the battery pack fully again. (p. 12)
The power goes off although the
remaining battery time indicator
indicates that the battery pack has
enough power to operate.
• A deviation has occured in the remaining battery time.
c Charge the battery pack fully again. (p. 12)
53
(Continued on the following page)
Typ e s o f t ro u b le a n d t h e ir so lu t io n s
Symptom
Cause and/or Corrective Actions
The cassette cannot be removed from • The power source is disconnected.
the holder.
c Connect it firmly. (p. 11, 16)
• The battery is dead.
c Use a charged battery pack. (p. 11, 12)
The % and Z indicators flash and no
functions except for cassette ejection
work.
• Moisture condensation has occurred.
c Remove the cassette and leave your camcorder for at
least 1 hour to acclimatize. (p. 60)
Ot h e rs
Symptom
Cause and/or Corrective Actions
The date or time indicator does not
appear, and the bars “--:--:--” appear.
• Reset the date and time. (p. 17)
The melody or beep sounds for 5
seconds.
• Moisture condensation has occurred.
c Remove the cassette and leave your camcorder for at
least 1 hour to acclimatize. (p. 60)
• Some troubles have occurred in your camcorder.
c Remove the cassette and insert it again, then operate
your camcorder.
No funciton works though the power • Disconnect the connecting plate of the AC adaptor or
is on.
remove the battery, then reconnect it in about 1 minute.
Turn the power on (p. 11, 16). If the functions still do not
work, press the RESET button using a sharp-pointed
object. (If you press the RESET button, all the settings
including the date and time return to the default.) (p. 68)
While charging the battery pack, no
indicator appears or the indicator
flashes in the display window.
• The AC power adaptor is disconnected.
c Connect it firmly. (p. 16)
• Something is wrong with the battery pack.
c Contact your Sony dealer or local authorized Sony
service facility.
You cannot charge the battery pack
installed to your camcorder.
• The POWER switch is not set to OFF (CHARGE).
c Set it to OFF (CHARGE).
54
Se lf-d ia g n o sis d isp la y
Your camcorder has a self-diagnosis display
function.
Vie w f in d e r
This function displays the current condition of
your camcorder as a 5-digit code (a combination of
a letter and figures) in the viewfinder or the
display window. If a 5-digit code is displayed,
check the following code chart. The last two digits
(indicated by ss) will differ depending on the
state of your camcorder.
C:21:00
Self-diagnosis display
• C:ss:ss
You can service your camcorder
yourself.
• E:ss:ss
Contact your Sony dealer or local
authorized Sony service facility.
Five-digit display
Cause and/or Corrective Actions
• You are using a battery pack that is not an
C:04:ss
“InfoLITHIUM” battery pack.
c Use an “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack. (p. 58)
C:21:ss
• Moisture condensation has occurred.
c Remove the cassette and leave your camcorder for at
least 1 hour to acclimatize. (p. 60)
C:22:ss
• The video heads are dirty.
c Clean the heads using the Sony V8-25CLD cleaning
cassette (optional). (p. 61)
C:31:ss
• A malfunction other than the above that you can service
has occurred.
C:32:ss
c Remove the cassette and insert it again, then operate
your camcorder.
c Disconnect the power cord of the AC power adaptor or
remove the battery pack. After reconnecting the power
source, operate your camcorder.
E:61:ss
• A malfunction that you cannot service has occurred.
c Contact your Sony dealer or local authorized Sony
service facility and inform them of the 5-digit code.
(example: E:61:10)
E:62:ss
If you are unable to rectify the problem even if you try corrective actions a few times,
contact your Sony dealer or local authorized Sony service facility.
55
Wa rn in g in d ica t o rs a n d m e ssa g e s
If indicators and messages appear in the viewfinder or on the display window, check the
following:
See the page in parentheses “( )” for more information.
Wa rn in g in d ica t o rs
The video heads are dirty
Slow flashing:
• You need to clean the heads using the Sony V8-25CLD
cleaning cassette (optional) (p. 61).
The battery is dead or
nearly dead
Slow flashing:
Self-diagnosis display (p. 55)
Moisture condensation has
occurred*
Fast flashing:
• Eject the cassette, turn off
your camcorder, and leave it
for about 1 hour with the
cassette compartment open
(p. 60).
• The battery is nearly dead.
Depending on conditions,
the environment or the
battery pack, the warning
indicator may flash, even if
there are 5 to 10 minutes
battery remaining.
C:21:00
Fast flashing:
You need to eject the
cassette
Slow flashing:
• The write-protect tab on the
cassette is out (red) (p. 19).*
• The battery is dead (p. 12).
• The battery is completely
dead, and cannot be
recharged.
Fast flashing:
• Moisture condensation has
occurred (p. 60).
• The tape has run out.*
• The self-diagnosis display
function is activated (p. 55).*
Warning indicator as to tape
Slow flashing:
• The tape is near the end.
• No tape is inserted.*
• The write-protect tab on the
cassette is out (red) (p. 19).*
Fast flashing:
• The tape has run out.*
Warning indicator as to tape
or battery (CCD-TR618 only)
Slow flashing:
• The battery is nearly dead.
• The tape is near the end.
Fast flashing:
• The battery is dead.
• The tape has run out.*
Wa rn in g m e ssa g e s
• CLOCK SET
Set the date and time (p. 17).
• For “InfoLITHIUM”
BATTERY ONLY
Use an “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack (p. 58).
•
CLEANING CASSETTE
The video heads are dirty (p. 61).
• START/ STOP KEY
Press the START/ STOP button to activate the ORC
setting. This message is displayed in white (p. 49).
• ORC
The ORC setting is working. This message is
displayed in white (p. 49).
• Q NO TAPE
Insert a cassette tape.*
• Q TAPE END
The tape has reached the end of the tape.*
* You hear the melody or beep sound.
56
— Ad d it io n a l In f o r m a t io n
—
Usa b le ca sse t t e s a n d p la yb a ck m o d e s
Se le ct in g t h e ca sse t t e t yp e
You can useboth Hi8and standard 8mm video cassetteson your camcorder.When you
usea Hi8video cassette,recording and playback arecarried out in theHi8system.
When you usea standard 8mm videocassette,recording and playback arecarried out
in thestandard 8mm system.
However,ifyou record on a Hi8video cassette in the LP mode,recording is carried out
in thestandard 8mm system.
Ifyou play back a taperecorded on a differentvideorecorder on your camcorder,the
playbackmodeisautomaticallyselected accordingtotheformatin which thetapehas
beenrecorded.
ThisHi8system isan extension ofthestandard 8mm system,and wasdeveloped to
producehigher qualitypictures.
You cannot playback a taperecorded in theHi8system correctly on video recorders/
playersother than a Hi8video recorder/ player.
Wh e n yo u p la y b a ck
Theplayback mode(SP/ LP)isautomatically selected according to therecording system
in which thetapehasbeen recorded.Thequality oftherecorded picturein theLP
mode,however,willnotbeasgood astheSPmode.
Fo re ig n 8 m m vid e o
BecauseTVcolor systemsdiffer from country tocountry,you may not beabletoplay
backforeign pre-recorded tapes.Refer to“Usingyour camcorder abroad”tocheckthe
TVcolor systemsused in foreign countries.
57
Ab o u t “ In fo LITHIUM” b a t t e ry
Wh a t is t h e “ In fo LITHIUM” b a t t e ry?
The “InfoLITHIUM” battery is a lithium-ion battery that has functions for
communicating information related to operating conditions between your camcorder
and an AC power adaptor.
The “InfoLITHIUM” battery calculates the power consumption according to the
operating conditions of your camcorder, and displays the remaining battery time in
minutes.
Ch a rg in g t h e b a t t e ry
• Be sure to charge the battery before you start using your camcorder.
• We recommend charging the battery in an ambient temperature of between 10 to 30°C
until the remaining battery indicator changes to u and the FULL appears on the
display window, indicating that the battery is fully charged. If you charge the battery
outside of this temperature range, you may not be able to effectively charge the
battery.
• After charging is completed, either disconnect the cable from the DC IN jack on your
camcorder or remove the battery.
Effe ct ive u se o f t h e b a t t e ry
• Battery performance drops in low-temperature surroundings. So, the time that the
battery can be used is shorter in cold places. We recommend the following to ensure
care-free, longer use:
– Put the battery in a pocket close to your body to warm it up, and insert it in your
camcorder immediately before you start taking shots.
– Use the high-power battery (NP-F730/ F730H/ F750/ F930/ F950/ F960, optional).
• Frequently operating playback, fast forward or rewind wears out the battery faster.
We recommend using the high-power battery (NP-F730/ F730H/ F750/ F930/ F950/
F960, optional).
• Be certain to turn the POWER switch to OFF (CHARGE) when not taking shots or
playing back on your camcorder. The battery also wears out when your camcorder is
in the standby mode or playback is paused.
• Have spare batteries handy for two or three times the expected shooting time, and
take test shots before taking the actual shots.
Re m a in in g b a t t e ry t im e in d ica t o r
• If the power goes off although the remaining battery time indicator indicates that the
battery pack has enough power to operate, charge the battery pack fully again so that
the indication on the remaining battery time indicator is correct. Note, however, that
the correct battery indication sometimes will not be restored if it is used in high
temperatures for a long time or left in a fully charged state, or the battery pack is
frequently used. Regard the remaining battery time indication as the approximate
shooting time.
• The E mark indicating there is little remaining battery time sometimes blinks
depending on the operating conditions or ambient temperature and environment even
if the remaining battery time is 5 to 10 minutes.
Ho w t o st o re t h e b a t t e ry
• Even if the battery is not used for a long time, store it in a low humidity, cool place
after fully charging it once per year and then using the battery up on your camcorder.
This is to maintain the battery's functions.
• To use the battery up on your camcorder, leave your camcorder in the shooting mode
until there is no more battery power left without a cassette inserted.
Ba t t e ry life
• The battery life is limited. Battery capacity drops little by little as you use it more and
more, and as time passes. When the available battery time is shortened considerably, a
probable cause is that the battery has reached the end of its life. Buy a new battery.
• The battery life varies according to how it is stored and operating conditions and
environment for each battery pack.
58
Usin g yo u r ca m co rd e r a b ro a d
Usin g yo u r ca m co rd e r a b ro a d
You can use your camcorder in any country or area with the AC power adaptor
supplied with your camcorder within 100 V to 240 V AC, 50/ 60 Hz.
When charging the battery pack, use a commercially available AC plug adaptor [a ], if
necessary, depending on the design of the wall outlet [b ].
AC-L10A/L10B/L10C
[b ]
[a ]
Your camcorder is an NTSC system based camcorder. If you want to view the playback
picture on a TV, it must be an NTSC system based TV with VIDEO/ AUDIO input jack.
The following shows TV color systems used overseas.
NTSC system
Bahama Islands, Bolivia, Canada, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica,
Japan, Korea, Mexico, Peru, Surinam, Taiwan, the Philippines, the U.S.A., Venezuela,
etc.
PAL system
Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great
Britain, Holland, Hong Kong, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal,
Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, etc.
PAL-M system
Brazil
PAL-N system
Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay
SECAM system
Bulgaria, France, Guyana, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Monaco, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, etc.
Sim p le se t t in g o f clo ck b y t im e d iffe re n ce
You can easily set the clock to the local time by setting a time difference. Select WORLD
TIME in the menu settings. See page 51 for more information.
59
Ma in t e n a n ce in fo rm a t io n a n d
p re ca u t io n s
Mo ist u re co n d e n sa t io n
If your camcorder is brought directly from a cold place to a warm place, moisture may
condense inside your camcorder, on the surface of the tape, or on the lens. In this
condition, the tape may stick to the head drum and be damaged or your camcorder may
not operate correctly. If there is moisture inside your camcorder, the beep sounds and
the % indicator flashes. When the Z indicator flashes at the same time, the cassette is
inserted in your camcorder. If moisture condenses on the lens, the indicator will not
appear.
If m o ist u re co n d e n sa t io n o ccu rs
None of the functions except cassette ejection will work. Eject the cassette, turn off your
camcorder, and leave it for about 1 hour with the cassette compartment open. Your
camcorder can be used again if the % indicator does not appear when the power is
turned on again.
Note on moisture condensation
Moisture may condense when you bring your camcorder from a cold place into a warm
place (or vice versa) or when you use your camcorder in a hot place as follows:
• You bring your camcorder from a ski slope into a place warmed up by a heating
device
• You bring your camcorder from an air-conditioned car or room into a hot place
outside
• You use your camcorder after a squall or a shower
• You use your camcorder in a high temperature and humid place
How to prevent moisture condensation
When you bring your camcorder from a cold place into a warm place, put your
camcorder in a plastic bag and tightly seal it. Remove the bag when the air temperature
inside the plastic bag has reached the surrounding temperature (after about 1 hour).
60
Ma in t e n a n ce in fo rm a t io n a n d p re ca u t io n s
Ma in t e n a n ce in fo rm a t io n
Cle a n in g t h e vid e o h e a d
Toensurenormalrecording and clear pictures,clean thevideoheads.Thevideohead
may bedirty when:
• The xindicator and “
CLEANING CASSETTE” message appear one after another
or the xindicator flashesin theviewfinder.
• Playbackpicturescontain noise.
• Playback picturesarehardly visible.
• Playbackpicturesdonotappear.
Ifthishappens,clean thevideoheadswith theSony V8-25CLDcleaning cassette
(optional).
[a]
[b]
[a] Slightly dirty
[b] Very dirty
Note on video heads
When theplayback picturesstillcontain noiseeven ifyou havecleaned thevideoheads
with a cleaning cassette,thevideoheadsmay haveworn down duetolong use.Ifthisis
thecase,they mustbereplaced with new heads.Contactyour Sony dealer or local
authorized Sonyservicefacility.
Ab o u t ca re a n d st o ra g e o f t h e Le n s
• Wipethesurfaceofthelensclean with asoftcloth in thefollowinginstances:
– When therearefingerprintson thelenssurface
– In hot or humid locations
– When thelensisused in environmentssusceptibletosaltsuch astheseaside
• Storethelensin a well-ventilated location subjecttolittledirtor dust
Topreventmold from occurring,periodically perform theabove.
Werecommend turningon and operatingyour camcorder aboutonceper month to
keep your camcorder in an optimum statefor a long time.
61
Ma in t e n a n ce in fo rm a t io n a n d p re ca u t io n s
Re m o vin g d u st fro m in sid e t h e vie w fin d e r (CCD-TR618 o n ly)
(1) 1 Remove the screw with a screwdriver (not supplied). 2 Then, while
holding the RELEASE knob up, 3 turn the eyecup in a counterclockwise
direction and pull it out.
(2) Clean the surface with a commercially available blower for a still camera.
(3) Turn the eyecup in a clockwise direction, then replace the screw.
Caution
Donotremoveany other screws.You may removeonly thescrew toremovethe
eyecup.
Ch a rg in g t h e b u ilt -in re ch a rg e a b le lit h iu m ce ll
Your camcorder issupplied with a built-in rechargeablelithium cellsoastoretain the
dateand time,etc.,regardlessofthesettingofthePOWERswitch.Therechargeable
lithium cellisalwayscharged aslong asyou areusing your camcorder.Thecell,
however,willget discharged gradually ifyou do not useyour camcorder.It willbe
completely discharged in about 4monthsifyou do not useyour camcorder at all.Even
iftherechargeablelithium cellisnotcharged,itwillnotaffectthecamcorder operation.
Toretain thedateand time,etc.,chargethecellifthecellisdischarged.
Charging the rechargeable lithium cell:
• Connectyour camcorder tohousecurrentusing theACpower adaptor supplied with
your camcorder,and leaveyour camcorder with thePOWERswitch turned offfor
morethan 24hours.
• Or installthefully charged battery pack in your camcorder,and leaveyour camcorder
with thePOWERswitch turned offfor morethan 24hours.
Pre ca u t io n s
Ca m co rd e r o p e ra t io n
• Operateyour camcorder on 7.2V(battery pack)or 8.4V(AC power adaptor).
• For DCor ACoperation,usetheaccessoriesrecommended in thisoperating
instructions.
• Ifany solid object or liquid get insidethecasing,unplug your camcorder and haveit
checked byaSonydealerbeforeoperatingitanyfurther.
• Avoid rough handling or mechanicalshock.Beparticularly carefulofthelens.
• Keep the POWER switch set to OFF (CHARGE) when you are not using your
camcorder.
• Donotwrap your camcorder with a towel,for example,and operateit.Doing so
mightcauseheattobuild up inside.
• Keep your camcorder awayfrom strongmagneticfieldsor mechanicalvibration.
62
Ma in t e n a n ce in fo rm a t io n a n d p re ca u t io n s
Bu ilt -in lig h t
– CCD-TR618 only
• Do not knock or jolt thebuilt-in light whileit isturned on asit may damagethebulb
orshorten thelifeofthebulb.
• Donotleavethebuilt-in lighton whileitisresting on or againstsomething;itmay
causea fireor damagethebuilt-in light.
On h a n d lin g t a p e s
Donotinsertanythingintothesmallholeson therear ofthecassette.Theseholesare
used tosensethetypeand thicknessofthetapeand iftherecording tab isin or out.
Ca m co rd e r ca re
• When your camcorder isnot to beused for a long time,removethebattery (CCD-
TR818only).
• Removethetape,and periodically turn on thepower,operatetheCAMERA and
PLAYERsectionsand play back a tapefor about 5minuteswhen your camcorder is
nottobeused for a long time.
• Clean thelenswith a softbrush toremovedust.Iftherearefingerprintson thelens,
removethem with asoftcloth.
• Clean thecamcorder body with a dry softcloth,or a softcloth lightly moistened with
a mild detergentsolution.Donotuseany typeofsolventwhich may damagethe
finish.
• Do not let sand get into your camcorder.When you useyour camcorder on a sandy
beach or in a dusty place,protect it from thesand or dust. Sand or dust may cause
yourcamcordertomalfunction,and sometimesthismalfunction cannotberepaired.
AC p o w e r a d a p t o r
• Unplug theunit from a walloutlet when you arenot using theunit for a long time.To
disconnect thepower cord,pullit out by theplug.Never pullthepower cord itself.
• Donotoperatetheunitwith a damaged cord or iftheunithasbeen dropped or
damaged.
• Do not bend thepower cord forcibly,or placea heavy object on it.Thiswilldamage
thecord and may causefireor electricalshock.
• Preventmetallicobjectsfrom comingintocontactwith themetalpartsofthe
connecting section.Ifthishappens,a shortmay occur and theunitmay bedamaged.
• Alwayskeep metalcontactsclean.
• Donotdisassembletheunit.
• Do not apply mechanicalshock or drop theunit.
• Whiletheunit isin use,particularly during charging,keep it away from AM receivers
and videoequipment.AM receiversand videoequipmentdisturb AM reception and
videooperation.
• Theunit becomeswarm during use.Thisisnot a malfunction.
• Donotplacetheunitin locationsthatare:
–Extremely hot or cold
– Dusty or dirty
– Very humid
–Vibrating
63
Ma in t e n a n ce in fo rm a t io n a n d p re ca u t io n s
Ba t t e ry p a ck
• Useonlythespecified charger or videoequipmentwith thechargingfunction.
• Topreventan accidentalshortcircuit,donotallow metalobjectstocomeintocontact
with thebatteryterminals.
• Keep thebatterypackawayfrom fire.
• Never exposethebattery pack totemperaturesabove60°C(140°F),such asin a car
parked in thesun or under direct sunlight.
• Keep thebatterypackdry.
• Donotexposethebatterypacktoanymechanicalshock.
• Donotdisassemblenor modifythebatterypack.
• Attach thebatterypacktothevideoequipmentsecurely.
• Chargingwhilesomecapacityremainsdoesnotaffecttheoriginalbatterycapacity.
If batteries are leaking
• Wipeofftheliquid in thebatterycompartmentcarefullybeforereplacingthe
batteries.
• Ifyou touch theliquid,wash itoffwith water.
• Iftheliquid getintoyour eyes,wash your eyeswith a lotofwater and then consulta
doctor.
Ifany problem occurs,unplug your camcorder and contactyour nearestSony dealer.
64
Sp e cifica t io n s
Ou t p u t co n n e ct o rs
Vid e o ca m e ra
re co rd e r
AC p o w e r a d a p t o r
S video output
4-pin mini DIN
Pow er requirements
100 - 240 V AC, 50/ 60 Hz
Pow er consumption
23 W
Output voltage
DC OUT: 8.4 V, 1.5 A in operating
mode
Operating temperature
0 °C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F)
Storage temperature
–20 °C to +60 °C (–4 °F to +140 °F)
Dimensions (approx.)
125 × 39 × 62 mm
(5 × 1 9/ 16 × 2 1/ 2 in.) (w/ h/ d)
excluding projecting parts
Mass (approx.)
Luminance signal: 1 Vp-p,
75 Ω (ohms), unbalanced
Chrominance signal: 0.286 Vp-p,
75 Ω (ohms), unbalanced
Audio/Video output
AV MINIJACK, 1 Vp-p, 75 Ω
(ohms), unbalanced, sync negative
327 mV, (at output impedance
more than 47 kΩ (kilohms))
Output impedance with less than
2.2 kΩ (kilohms)/ Monaural
minijack (ø 3.5 mm)
Syst e m
Video recording system
2 rotary heads
Helical scanning FM system
Audio recording system
Rotary heads, FM system
Video signal
NTSC color, EIA standards
Usable cassette
8 mm video format cassette
Hi8 or standard 8
Recording/playback time (using
120 min. cassette)
SP mode: 2 hours
RFU DC OUT
Mini-mini jack (ø 2.5 mm), DC 5V
LP mode: 4 hours
280 g (9.8 oz)
excluding power cord
Fastforw ard/rew ind time (using
120 min. cassette)
Ge n e ra l
Pow er requirements
7.2 V (battery pack)
8.4 V (AC power adaptor)
Average pow er consumption
(w hen using the battery pack)
During camera recording
CCD-TR618: 2.3 W
CCD-TR818: 2.0 W
Operating temperature
0 °C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F)
Recommended charging
temperature
10 °C to 30 °C (50 °F to 86 °F)
Storage temperature
–20 °C to +60 °C (–4 °F to +140 °F)
Dimensions (approx.)
CCD-TR618:
Approx. 5 min.
View finder
Electric viewfinder:
• monochrome (CCD-TR618 only)
• color (CCD-TR818 only)
Image device
CCD-TR618:
3 mm (1/ 6 type) CCD (Charged
Coupled Device)
Approx.270 000 pixels (Effective:
Approx. 250 000 pixels)
CCD-TR818:
4.5 mm (1/ 4 type) CCD (Charged
Coupled Device)
Approx. 320 000 pixels (Effective:
Approx. 200 000 pixels)
Lens
Combined power zoom lens
Filter diameter 37 mm (1 7/ 16 in.)
CCD-TR618:
Ba t t e ry p a ck
Maximum output voltage
DC 8.4 V
Output voltage
DC 7.2 V
Capacity
5.0 Wh (700 mAh)
Dimensions (approx.)
38.4 × 20.6 × 70.8 mm
(1 9/ 16 × 13/ 16 × 2 7/ 8 in.)
(w/ h/ d)
Mass (approx.)
70 g (2.5 oz)
Operating temperature
0 °C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F)
Type
104 × 105 × 223 mm
(4 1/ 8 × 4 1/ 4 × 9 1/ 8 in.)
(w/ h/ d)
Lithium ion
20× (Optical), 450×(Digital)
CCD-TR818:
CCD-TR818:
Design and specifications are
subject to change without notice.
20× (Optical), 460×(Digital)
Focal length
3.6 - 72 mm (5/ 32 - 2 7/ 8 in.)
When converted to a 35 mm still
camera
CCD-TR618:
51.8 - 1 036 mm (2 - 40 6/ 8 in.)
CCD-TR818:
41 - 820 mm (1 5/ 8 - 32 3/ 8 in.)
Color temperature
Auto
Minimum illumination
CCD-TR618:
1 lx (lux) (F 1.4)
104 × 105 × 197 mm
(4 1/ 8 × 4 1/ 4 × 7 7/ 8 in.)
(w/ h/ d)
Mass (approx.)
CCD-TR618:
780 g (1 lb 11 oz)
CCD-TR818:
760 g (1 lb 10 oz)
excluding the battery pack,
cassette and shoulder strap
CCD-TR618:
930 g (2 lb)
CCD-TR818:
910 g (2 lb)
CCD-TR818:
including the battery pack
NP-F330, cassette and shoulder
strap
Supplied accessories
See page 8.
0.4 lx (lux) (F 1.4)
0 lx (lux) (in the NightShot mode)*
* Objects unable to be seen due to
the dark can be shot with
infrared lighting.
65
— Qu ick Re fe re n ce —
Id e n t ifyin g t h e p a rt s a n d co n t ro ls
Ca m co rd e r
CCD-TR618
1
3
4
5
6
7
8
2
9
0
1 Eyecup RELEASE knob
6 BATT RELEASE lever (p. 11)
7 POWER sw itch (p. 20)
(CCD-TR618 only) (p. 62)
2 FOCUS button (p. 37)
8 START/STOP button (p. 20)
9 Hooks for shoulder strap (p. 68)
0 DC IN jack (p. 12, 16)
3 Eyecup
4 View finder lens adjustment lever
(p. 21)
5 Pow er zoom lever (p. 22)
This mark indicates that this product is a genuine accessory for Sony
video products.
When purchasing Sony video products, Sony recommends that you
purchase accessories with this “GENUINE VIDEO ACCESSORIES”
mark.
66
Id e n t ifyin g t h e p a rt s a n d co n t ro ls
qa
qf
qg
qs
qd
qh
qj
qa Video control buttons (p. 27, 28)
x STOP (stop)
qg Display w indow (p. 71)
qh Camera recording lamp (p. 20)
m REW (rewind)
N PLAY (playback)
M FF (fastforward)
X PAUSE (pause)
qj Tripod receptacle (base)
Make sure that the length of the tripod
screw is less than 6.5 mm (9/ 32 inch).
Otherwise, you cannot attach the tripod
securely and the screw may damage
your camcorder.
qs Microphone
qd Infrared rays emitter (p. 24)
qf NIGHTSHOT sw itch (p. 24)
67
Id e n t ifyin g t h e p a rt s a n d co n t ro ls
qk
ql
w;
wa
ws
wd
qk BACK LIGHT button (p. 24)
ql FADER button (p. 31)
w; RESET button (p. 54)
wa EXPOSURE button (p. 36)
ws SEL/PUSH EXEC dial (p. 30, 46)
wd MENU button (p. 46)
Attaching the shoulder strap
Attach the shoulder strap supplied with your camcorder to the hooks for the shoulder
strap.
68
Id e n t ifyin g t h e p a rt s a n d co n t ro ls
CCD-TR618
wj
wk
wf
wg
wh
wl
wf DATE button (p. 25)
wg TIME button (p. 25)
wh TITLE button (p. 40)
wj LIGHT button (CCD-TR618 only)
(p. 42)
wk View finder (p. 21)
wl COUNTER RESET button (p. 20)
Attaching the lens cap
Attach the lens cap to the grip strap as illustrated.
69
Id e n t ifyin g t h e p a rt s a n d co n t ro ls
e;
ea
es
ed
ef
eg
e; EJECT button (p. 19)
ea Cassette compartment (p. 19)
es Grip strap
ed S VIDEO OUT jack (p. 26)
ef A/V OUT jack (p. 26)
eg RFU DC OUT (RFU adaptor DC output)
(p. 26)
Fastening the grip strap
Fasten the grip strap firmly.
70
Id e n t ifyin g t h e p a rt s a n d co n t ro ls
Op e ra t io n in d ica t o rs
Vie w fin d e r
Disp la y w in d o w
qd
2
ql
ws
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
qf
qg
40min
STBY 0:00:00
1
wa
W
M
T
. FADER
C I NE
S E P I A
M
A
qh
qj
JUL 4 2001
12:00:00
A
M
8
9
0
qa
qs
qk
ql
w;
1 Recording mode indicator (p. 49)
qd STBY/REC indicator (p. 23)/ Video
control mode indicator (p. 28)
2 Hi8 format indicator
qf Tape counter indicator (p. 23)/Self-
3 Remaining battery time indicator
diagnosis display indicator (p. 55)
(p. 23)
qg Remaining tape indicator (p. 23)
4 Exposure indicator (p. 36)/Zoom
indicator (p. 22)
qh NIGHTSHOT indicator (p. 24)
5 Fader indicator (p. 32)
qj AUTO DATE indicator (p. 18)/Date
indicator (p. 17, 25)
6 Wide mode indicator (p. 29)
7 Picture effect indicator (p. 33)
8 PROGRAM AE indicator (p. 34)
9 Backlight indicator (p. 24)
qk Time indicator (p. 17, 25)
ql Warning indicators (p. 56)
w; Recording lamp
(CCD-TR618 only) (p. 20)
0 SteadyShot off indicator
wa Date or time indicator (p. 17, 25)/Tape
counter indicator (p. 23)/Self-diagnosis
display indicator (p. 55)/Remaining
battery time indicator (p. 12)
(CCD-TR818 only) (p. 47)
qa Manual focusing indicator (p. 37)
qs Built-in light indicator
ws FULL charge indicator (p. 12)
(CCD-TR618 only) (p. 42)
71
In d e x
A, B
I, J, K, L
S
AC power adaptor .................. 12
Adjusting viewfinder ............. 21
A/ V connecting cable ...... 26, 45
BACK LIGHT .......................... 24
Battery pack ............................. 11
Beep .......................................... 51
BOUNCE.................................. 31
“InfoLITHIUM” battery ........ 58
Infrared rays emitter .............. 24
LP mode ................................... 49
Self-diagnosis display ............ 55
Shoulder strap ......................... 68
Skip scan .................................. 28
Standard 8 mm system .......... 57
STEADYSHOT ........................ 47
STRIPE...................................... 31
Superimposing the date and
M, N
Manual focus ........................... 37
Menu settings .......................... 46
Moisture condensation .......... 60
MONOTONE .......................... 31
Mosaic fader ............................ 31
NIGHTSHOT .......................... 24
NTSC system ........................... 59
time ........................................ 25
S VIDEO OUT jack ................. 26
C, D
Charging battery ..................... 12
Charging the built-in
T, U, V
rechargeable lithium cell .... 62
Clock set ................................... 17
DEMO ....................................... 50
DNR .......................................... 48
Dubbing a tape ........................ 45
Tape counter ............................ 23
TBC ........................................... 48
Telephoto ................................. 22
Title ........................................... 38
Transition ................................. 20
TV color systems ..................... 59
O, P, Q
Operation indicators .............. 71
ORC .......................................... 49
Picture effect ............................ 33
Picture search .......................... 28
Playback pause ........................ 28
Power zoom ............................. 22
PROGRAM AE....................... 34
E
W, X, Y, Z
EDIT.......................................... 48
Exposure .................................. 36
Warning indicators ................. 56
Wide-angle .............................. 22
Wide mode .............................. 29
WORLD TIME......................... 51
Write-protect tab ..................... 19
Zoom ........................................ 22
F, G, H
R
Fade in/ out .............................. 31
FADER ..................................... 31
FOCUS...................................... 37
Grip strap ................................. 70
Heads ........................................ 61
Hi8 system ............................... 57
Recording and playback
systems .................................. 57
Recording mode ...................... 49
Recording time ........................ 14
Remaining battery time
indicator ................................ 23
Remaining tape indicator ...... 23
RESET ....................................... 54
RFU adaptor ............................ 26
3
0
6
5
6
4
5
1
1
Sony Corporation Printed in Japan
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