3-286-590-13(1) Enjoying your camcorder 9 Digital HD Video Camera Recorder Getting Started 15 Handycam Handbook HDR-SR11E/SR12E Recording/Playback 25 Editing Utilizing recording media Customizing your camcorder Troubleshooting 48 62 66 89 Additional 102 Information Quick 112 Reference © 2008 Sony Corporation Read this before operating your camcorder Before operating the unit, please read this Handbook thoroughly, and retain it for future reference. · "Memory Stick PRO Duo" and "Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo" are both referred to as "Memory Stick PRO Duo" in this manual. · You cannot use any type of memory card other than those mentioned above. · "Memory Stick PRO Duo" can be used only with "Memory Stick PRO" compatible equipment. · Do not attach a label or the like on a "Memory Stick PRO Duo" or a Memory Stick Duo adaptor. · Insert the "Memory Stick PRO Duo" into the Memory Stick Duo adaptor when using a "Memory Stick PRO Duo" with "Memory Stick" compatible equipment. Notes on use In "Handycam Handbook" (this Handbook) The operations and handling of your camcorder are explained. Refer also to "Operating Guide" (the separate volume). Handling the images recorded on your camcorder on the computer Refer to "PMB Guide" stored on the supplied CD-ROM. Types of "Memory Stick" you can use in your camcorder · For recording movies, it is recommended that you use a "Memory Stick PRO Duo" of 1 GB or larger marked with: ­ PRO Duo")* ­ ("Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo") * Marked with Mark2 or not, either can be used. ("Memory Stick Using the camcorder · Do not hold the camcorder by the following parts, and also do not hold the camcorder by the jack covers. Viewfinder LCD screen · See page 24 for the recordable time of a "Memory Stick PRO Duo." "Memory Stick PRO Duo"/"Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo" (This size can be used with your camcorder.) Battery pack Shoe cover "Memory Stick" (You cannot use it in your camcorder.) · The camcorder is not dustproofed, dripproofed or waterproofed. See "About handling of your camcorder" (p. 108). · Do not do any of the following when the (Movie)/ (Still) mode lamps (p. 20) or the ACCESS lamps (p. 29) are lit or flashing. Otherwise, the media may be damaged, recorded images may be lost or other malfunctions could occur. 2 ­ Eject the "Memory Stick PRO Duo" from the camcorder ­ Remove the battery pack or AC Adaptor from the camcorder ­ Apply mechanical shock or vibration to the camcorder · When connecting your camcorder to another device with a cable, be sure to insert the connector plug in the correct way. Pushing the plug forcibly into the terminal will damage the terminal and may result in a malfunction of your camcorder. · Connect cables to the connectors of the Handycam Station when using your camcorder attached to the Handycam Station. Do not connect the cables to both the Handycam Station and your camcorder. · Disconnect the AC Adaptor from the Handycam Station holding both the Handycam Station and the DC plug. · Be sure to turn the POWER switch to OFF (CHG) when you insert the camcorder into the Handycam Station or remove the camcorder from it. Black point White, red, blue or green point · Exposing the LCD screen, the viewfinder, or the lens to direct sunlight for long periods of time may cause malfunctions. · Do not aim at the sun. Doing so might cause your camcorder to malfunction. Take images of the sun only in low light conditions, such as at dusk. About changing the language setting · The on-screen displays in each local language are used for illustrating the operating procedures. Change the screen language before using your camcorder if necessary (p. 21). On recording · Before starting to record, test the recording function to make sure the image and sound are recorded without any problems. · Compensation for the contents of recordings cannot be provided, even if recording or playback is not possible due to a malfunction of the camcorder, storage media, etc. · TV color systems differ depending on the country/region. To view your recordings on a TV, you need a PAL system-based TV. · Television programs, films, video tapes, and other materials may be copyrighted. Unauthorized recording of such materials may be contrary to the copyright laws. About menu items, LCD panel, viewfinder, and lens · A menu item that is grayed out is not available under the current recording or playback conditions. · The viewfinder and the LCD screen are manufactured using extremely highprecision technology, so over 99.99% of the pixels are operational for effective use. However, there may be some tiny black points and/or bright points (white, red, blue, or green in color) that appear constantly in the viewfinder and on the LCD screen. These points are normal results of the manufacturing process and do not affect the recording in any way. 3 On playing back recorded images on other devices · Your camcorder is compatible with MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 High Profile for HD (high definition) image quality recording. Therefore, you cannot play back images recorded with HD (high definition) image quality on your camcorder with the following devices; ­ Other AVCHD format compatible devices which are not compatible with High Profile ­ Devices which are not compatible with the AVCHD format About this Handbook · The images of the viewfinder and the LCD screen used in this Handbook for illustration purposes are captured using a digital still camera, and therefore may appear different. · In this Handbook, the hard disk of your camcorder and "Memory Stick PRO Duo" are called "media." · Design and specifications of your camcorder and accessories are subject to change without notice. About the Carl Zeiss lens Your camcorder is equipped with a Carl Zeiss lens, which was developed jointly by Carl Zeiss, in Germany, and Sony Corporation, and produces superior images. It adopts the MTF measurement system for video cameras and offers a quality typical of a Carl Zeiss lens. Also, the lens for your camcorder is T -coated to suppress unwanted reflections and faithfully reproduce colors. MTF= Modulation Transfer Function. The number value indicates the amount of light from a subject coming into the lens. 4 Notes on using the Hard Disk Drive Handycam Save all your recorded image data · To prevent your image data from being lost, save all your recorded images on external media periodically. It is recommended that you save the image data on a disc such as a DVD-R using your computer (p. 47). Also, you can save your image data using a VCR, or a DVD/HDD recorder (p. 58). When the camcorder is connected to a computer · Do not try to format the hard disk of the camcorder using a computer. If you do so, your camcorder may not operate correctly. Note on using the camcorder at high altitudes · Do not turn on the camcorder in a low-pressure area, where the altitude is more than 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). Doing so may damage the hard disk drive of your camcorder. Do not apply shock or vibration to your camcorder · The hard disk of the camcorder may not be recognized, or recording or playback may not be possible. · Especially, during recording/playback, do not apply shock. After recording, do not apply vibration or shock to the camcorder, while the ACCESS lamp is lit. · When using a shoulder belt (optional), do not crash the camcorder against an object. · Do not use your camcorder in very loud areas. Note on disposal/transfer · Even if you perform [MEDIA FORMAT] (p. 63) or formatting the hard disk of the camcorder, you may not delete data from the hard disk completely. When you transfer the camcorder, it is recommended that you perform [ EMPTY] (p. 64) to prevent the recovery of your data. Also, when you dispose of the camcorder, it is recommended that you destroy the actual body of the camcorder. On the drop sensor · To protect the internal hard disk from shock by dropping, the camcorder has a drop sensor function (p. 81). When a drop occurs, or under a non-gravity condition, the block noise made when this function is activated by the camcorder may also be recorded. If the drop sensor catches a drop repeatedly, recording/playback may be stopped. If you cannot record/play back images, perform [MEDIA FORMAT] · If you repeat recording/deleting images for a long time, fragmentation of data occurs on the media. Images cannot be saved or recorded. In such a case, save your images on some type of external media first, and then perform [MEDIA FORMAT] (p. 63). Fragmentation 1 Glossary (p. 120) Notes on battery pack/AC Adaptor · Be sure to remove the battery pack or the AC Adaptor after turning off the POWER switch. Note on operating temperatures · When the temperature of the camcorder becomes extremely high or extremely low, you may not be able to record or play back on the camcorder, due to the protection features of the camcorder being activated in such situations. In this case, a message appears in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen (p. 98). 5 Table of Contents Read this before operating your camcorder .................................... 2 Notes on using the Hard Disk Drive Handycam .................................... 5 Subject examples and solutions ..... 8 Adjusting the exposure for backlit subjects .................................... 33 Recording in mirror mode ........... 33 Recording fast action in slow-motion (SMTH SLW REC) ..................... 33 Controlling the image settings manually with the CAM CTRL dial ................................................... 34 Enjoying your camcorder Operation flow ................................ 9 " HOME" and " OPTION" - Taking advantage of two types of menus ......................................... 12 Playback ....................................... 35 Searching for desired scene by pinpoint (Film Roll Index) .......... 37 Searching for desired scene by face (Face Index) .............................. 37 Searching for desired images by date (Date Index) ...................... 38 Using PB zoom ............................ 39 Playing back a series of still images (Slide show) .............................. 39 Getting Started Step 1: Checking supplied items .................................................... 15 Step 2: Charging the battery pack .................................................... 16 Step 3: Turning the power on and setting the date and time ............ 20 Changing the language setting ... 21 Playing the image on a TV ........... 40 Saving images .............................. 47 Editing (OTHERS) category ................. 48 Deleting images ............................ 49 Capturing a still image from a movie ..................................................... 51 Dubbing/copying images to a "Memory Stick PRO Duo" with your camcorder ................................... 52 Dividing a movie ........................... 54 Creating the Playlist ..................... 55 Dubbing to other devices .............. 58 Printing recorded still images (PictBridge compliant printer) ..... 60 Step 4: Making setting adjustments before recording ......................... 21 Step 5: Selecting the media ......... 22 Recording/Playback Recording and playback with ease (Easy Handycam operation) ....... 25 Recording ..................................... 29 Zooming ...................................... 31 Recording sound with more presence (5.1ch surround recording) ................................. 31 Starting shooting quickly (QUICK ON) ........................................... 32 Recording high quality still images during movie recording (Dual Rec) ................................................... 32 Recording in dark places (NightShot) ................................ 32 Utilizing recording media (MANAGE MEDIA) category ..................................................... 62 Checking the media information ..................................................... 62 6 Deleting all images (Formatting) ... 63 Preventing data on the hard disk of the camcorder from being recovered ..................................................... 64 Repairing the image database file ..................................................... 65 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting ............................89 Self-diagnosis display/Warning indicators .................................. 98 Customizing your camcorder What you can do with the (SETTINGS) category of the HOME MENU ........................ 66 Using the HOME MENU .............. 66 List of the (SETTINGS) category items ......................................... 67 Additional Information Using your camcorder abroad ....102 File/folder structure on the camcorder hard disk and "Memory Stick PRO Duo" ..........................................104 Maintenance and precautions .....105 About the AVCHD format .......... 105 About the "Memory Stick" ......... 105 About the "InfoLITHIUM" battery pack ........................................ 10 ...