3-087-414-11 (1) Digital Video Camera Recorder Operating Instructions Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly, and retain it for future reference. Owner's Record The model and serial numbers are located on the bottom. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to these numbers whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product. Model No. DCR-VX2100 Serial No. Model No. ACSerial No. DCR-VX2100 ©2003 Sony Corporation Welcome! Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony Digital Handycam camcorder. With your Digital Handycam, you can capture life's precious moments with superior picture and sound quality. Your Digital Handycam is loaded with advanced features, but at the same time it is very easy to use. You will soon be producing home video that you can enjoy for years to come. WARNING To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture. "Memory Stick" This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. For the customers in the U.S.A. If you have any questions about this product, you may call: Sony Customer Information Center 1-800-222SONY (7669) The number below is for the FCC related matters only. Regulatory Information Declaration of Conformity This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance. SONY DCR-VX2100 Sony Electronics Inc. 680 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell, NJ07649 U.S.A Telephone No.: 201-930-6972 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Trade Name: Model No.: Responsible Party: Address: CAUTION You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment. Notice If static electricity or electromagnetism causes data transfer to discontinue midway (fail), restart the application or disconnect and connect the i.LINK cable again. 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. The supplied interface cable must be used with the equipment in order to comply with the limits for a digital device pursuant to subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules. For customers in the U.S.A. and CANADA CAUTION TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT. RECYCLING LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES Lithium-Ion batteries are recyclable. You can help preserve our environment by returning your used rechargeable batteries to the collection and recycling location nearest you. For more information regarding recycling of rechargeable batteries, call toll free 1-800-8228837, or visit http://www.rbrc.org/ 2 Caution: Do not handle damaged or leaking Lithium-Ion batteries. Table of contents Quick Start Guide ............................................... 4 Getting Started Using this manual ............................................... 6 Checking supplied accessories ......................... 8 Step 1 Preparing the power supply ................ 9 Step 2 Setting the date and time .................... 14 Step 3 Inserting a cassette ............................... 15 Recording ­ Basics Recording a picture .......................................... 16 Shooting backlit subjects (BACK LIGHT) ................................ 23 Using the spot light function ............ 24 Self-timer recording ........................... 25 Checking the recording ­ END SEARCH / EDITSEARCH / Rec Review ....................... 26 Playback ­ Basics Playing back a tape ........................................... 27 Viewing the recording on TV ......................... 31 Advanced Recording Operations Recording a still image on a tape ­ Tape Photo recording ................................ 32 Shooting with all the pixels ­ PROG. SCAN ............................................... 34 Using the guide frame ..................................... 35 Using the wide mode ....................................... 36 Using the fader function .................................. 38 Using special effects ­ Picture effect .............. 40 Using special effects ­ Digital effect .............. 41 Shooting with manual adjustment ................. 44 Adjusting the white balance ........................... 50 Adjusting recording level manually ­ Sound recording level ................................ 52 Presetting the adjustment for picture quality ­ Custom preset ............................................. 54 Using the PROGRAM AE function ................ 56 Focusing manually ........................................... 59 Interval recording ............................................. 60 Frame by frame recording ­ Cut recording .. 62 Marking an Index ............................................. 63 Advanced Playback Operations Quickly locating a scene using the zero set memory function ........................................... 64 Searching for a recording by index ­ Index search ................................................. 65 Searching the boundaries of recorded tape by title ­ Title search ........................................... 67 Searching a recording by date ­ Date search ................................................... 68 Searching for a photo ­ Photo search/Photo scan ........................... 70 Playing back a tape with picture effects ........ 72 Playing back a tape with digital effects ......... 73 Editing Dubbing a tape .................................................. 74 Dubbing only desired scenes ­ Digital program editing ............................. 76 Using with an analog video unit and a PC ­ Signal convert function .............................. 88 Recording video or TV programs .................. 89 Inserting a scene from a VCR ­ Insert editing ............................................... 93 Audio dubbing .................................................. 95 Superimposing a title ....................................... 99 Making your own titles .................................. 103 Labeling a cassette .......................................... 105 Erasing the cassette memory data ................ 107 Customizing Your Camcorder Changing the menu settings ......................... 109 "Memory Stick" Operations Using a "Memory Stick" ­ introduction ...... 116 Recording still images on a "Memory Stick" ­ Memory Photo recording ........................ 121 Superimposing a still image in a "Memory Stick" on a moving picture ­ MEMORY MIX .......................................... 125 Recording an image from a tape as a still image ............................................................. 128 Copying still images from a tape ­ Photo save .................................................. 131 Viewing a still picture ­ Memory Photo playback .......................... 133 Copying an image recorded on a "Memory Stick" to tapes ............................................... 136 Playing back images continuously ­ SLIDE SHOW ............................................ 138 Preventing accidental erasure ­ Image protection ....................................... 139 Deleting images .............................................. 140 Writing a print mark ­ Print mark ............... 143 Additional Information Usable cassettes ............................................... 144 About i.LINK ................................................... 146 Troubleshooting .............................................. 148 Self-diagnosis display .................................... 154 Warning indicators and messages ............... 155 Using your camcorder abroad ...................... 157 Maintenance information and precautions ................................................... 158 Specifications ................................................... 163 Quick Reference Identifying the parts and controls ................ 164 Quick Function Guide .................................... 173 Index ................................................................. 174 3 Quick Start Guide This guide introduces you to the basic way of recording/ playback. See the pages in parentheses "( )" for more information. Connecting the power cord (p. 13) Use the battery pack when using your camcorder outdoors (p. 9). Connect the plug with its v mark facing toward the LCD panel side. AC Adaptor (supplied) Open the DC IN jack cover. 4 Quick Start Guide Inserting a cassette (p. 15) 1 While pressing the small blue button on the EJECT switch, slide it in the direction of the arrow. 2 Push the middle portion of the back of the cassette to insert it. Insert the cassette into the cassette compartment with the window facing out and the write-protect tab facing upward. Window 3 Close the cassette compartment by pressing the PUSH mark on it. Close the cassette lid by pressing the PUSH button on the cassette lid. 4 PUSH Write-protect tab Recording a picture Viewfinder When the LCD panel is closed, use the viewfinder placing your eye against its eyecup. (p. 16) 1 4 OPEN Press START/ STOP. Your camcorder starts recording. To stop recording, press START/ STOP again. POWER Open the shutter of the hood with a lens cap. For more information about attaching the hood with a lens cap, see page 167. 2 Set the POWER switch to CAMERA while pressing the small green button. POWER VCR OFF CAMERA (CHG) 3 Slide OPEN back in the B mark direction to open the LCD panel. VCR OFF CAMERA (CHG) MEMORY If the ND1 or ND2 indicator flashes, see page 47. Monitoring the playback picture on the LCD screen (p. 27) 1 Set the POWER switch to VCR while pressing the small green button. POWER VCR OFF CAMERA (CHG) MEMORY NOTE Do not pick up your camcorder by holding the viewfinder, the LCD panel, the battery pack, or the microphone. MEMORY Quick Start Guide 2 3 Press m to rewind the tape. Press N to start playback. REW PLAY 5 -- Getting Started -- Using this manual As you read through this manual, buttons and settings on your camcorder are shown in capital letters. e.g. Set the POWER switch to CAMERA. When you carry out an operation, you can hear a beep or a melody sound to indicate that the operation is being carried out. Note on cassette memory Your camcorder is based on the DV format. You can only use mini DV cassettes with your camcorder. We recommend that you use a tape with cassette memory . The functions which require different operations depending on whether or not the tape has cassette memory are: ·Searching the end point of the recording ­ end search (p. 26,30) ·Searching a recording by index ­ index search (p. 65) ·Searching a recording by date ­ date search (p. 68) ·Searching for a photo ­ photo search (p. 70). The functions you can operate only with cassette memory are: ·Searching the boundaries of recorded tape by title ­ title search (p. 67) ·Superimposing a title (p. 99) ·Making your own titles (p. 103) ·Labeling a cassette (p. 105). For details, see page 144. You see this mark in the introduction of the features that are operated only with cassette memory. (Cassette Memory). Tapes with cassette memory are marked with 6 Using this manual Note on TV color systems TV color systems differ by country or region. To view your recordings on a TV, you ...