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3-278-984-11(1)
Digital Video Camera Recorder
Getting Started 9
Recording/
17
Playback
Operating Guide
Using the Menu 28
Dubbing/Editing 43
DCR-HC51E/HC52E/
Using a Computer 47
HC53E/HC54E
Troubleshooting 51
Additional Information 58
Quick Reference 68
© 2008 Sony Corporation
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Read this first Before operating the unit, please read this Declaration of Conformity manual thoroughly, and retain it for future Trade Name: SONY reference. Model No.: DCR-HC54E Responsible Party: Sony Electronics Inc. WARNING Address: 16530 Via Esprillo, San Diego, CA 92127 U.S.A. To reduce fire or shock hazard, do Telephone number: 858-942-2230 not expose the unit to rain or This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC moisture. Rules. Do not expose the batteries to Operation is subject
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The supplied interface cable must be used with the Notice equipment in order to comply with the limits for a If static electricity or electromagnetism causes digital device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of data transfer to discontinue midway (fail), restart FCC Rules. the application or disconnect and connect the communication cable (i.LINK, etc.) again. Battery pack This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Notice for the customers in the Rules. Operation is subject to the followi
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Read thid first (Continued) Disposal of waste batteries Notes on use (applicable in the European Union and other European About the manuals supplied with your countries with separate camcorder collection systems) – “Operating Guide” (This manual) This symbol on the battery or on the – For DCR-HC53E/HC54E packaging indicates that the battery “First Step Guide” for connecting the provided with this product shall not be camcorder to a computer and using the treated as household waste. By ensur
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will damage the terminal and may result About the language setting in a malfunction of your camcorder. � The on-screen displays in each local language are used for illustrating the About menu items, LCD panel, operating procedures. Change the screen viewfinder, and lens language before using your camcorder if necessary (p. 14). � A menu item that is grayed out is not available under the current recording or On recording playback conditions. � The LCD screen and the viewfinder are � Befor
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Read thid first (Continued) video cameras and offers a quality typical of a Carl Zeiss lens. * MTF stands for Modulation Transfer Function. The number value indicates the amount of light from a subject coming into the lens. 6
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Table of Contents Using the Menu Using the menu items ..........28 Read this first ..................................2 Operation button items .................29 Notes on use ................................. 4 Menu items ...................................36 MANUAL SET menu .............37 Getting Started – P EFFECT Step 1: Checking supplied items CAMERA SET menu ............38 .......................................................9 – D ZOOM/WIDE SEL/ Step 2: Charging the battery pack STEA
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Table of Contents (Continued) Additional Information Using your camcorder abroad ...... 58 Maintenance and precautions ...... 59 Usable cassette tapes ................ 59 About the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack .......................................... 60 About i.LINK ................................ 61 On using your camcorder ........... 62 Specifications ............................... 65 Quick Reference Identifying parts and controls ....... 68 Indicators displayed during recording/playback .
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Getting Started Getting Started Step 1: Checking supplied items Make sure that you have following items USB cable (1) (DCR-HC53E/HC54E) (p. 69) supplied with your camcorder. The number in the parentheses indicates the number of that item supplied. AC Adaptor (1) (p. 10) Rechargeable battery pack NP-FH30 (1) (p. 10, 60) Power cord (Mains lead) (1) (p. 10) CD-ROM “Handycam Application Software” (1) (DCR-HC53E/54E)(p. 47) Operating Guide (This manual) (1) A/V connecting cable (1) (p. 26, 43) 9
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Step 2: Charging the battery pack 2 1 2 3 1 With the v mark facing down Battery pack POWER switch DC IN jack 4 To the wall outlet (wall socket) AC Adaptor Power cord (Mains lead) You can charge the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack (H series) (p. 60) after 4 Connect the power cord (mains lead) to the AC Adaptor and the attaching it to your camcorder. wall outlet (wall socket). b Notes CHG (charge) lamp � You cannot attach any “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack other than the H series to your camcorder. 1
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Getting Started pressing DISP/BATT INFO again while the To use an outside power source information is displayed. You can operate your camcorder using the Remaining battery (approx.) power from the wall outlet (wall socket) by making the same connections as you do BATTERY INFO when charging the battery pack. The battery BATTERY CHARGE LEVEL pack will not lose its charge in this case. 0% 50% 100% To remove the battery pack REC TIME AVAILABLE LCD SCREEN : 85 min VIEWFINDER : 99 min 1 Turn off
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Step2: Charging the battery pack (Continued) – The battery pack is worn-out (for Battery Info Recording time only). Approximate time (min.) available when � The power will not be supplied from the battery you use a fully charged battery pack. as long as the AC Adaptor is connected to the DC IN jack of your camcorder, even when the Continuous Typical power cord (mains lead) is disconnected from Battery pack recording recording the wall outlet (wall socket). time time* NP-FH30 95 45 On the
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Getting Started Step 3: Turning the power on and setting the date and time Set the date and time when using this camcorder for the first time. If you do not 4 Move to [D] (day) with , then set the date and time, the [CLOCK SET] set with / and repeat screen appears every time you turn on your for the hour and minute. camcorder or change the POWER switch position. 5 Make sure the date and time settings are correct, then touch . The clock starts. To turn off the power Touch the button o
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Step 3: Turning the power on and setting the date and time (Continued) Changing the language setting You can change the on-screen displays to show messages in a specified language. Touch t [MENU] t (SETUP MENU) t [ LANGUAGE], then select the desired language. 14
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Getting Started Step 4: Making setting adjustments before recording Opening the lens cover The viewfinder Slide the LENS COVER switch to OPEN. You can view pictures using the viewfinder to avoid wearing down the battery, or when the picture seen on the LCD screen is poor. Viewfinder After recording, set the LENS COVER switch to CLOSE, to close the lens cover. The LCD panel Open the LCD panel 90 degrees to the camcorder (1), then rotate it to the best Viewfinder lens angle to record or pla
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Step 5: Inserting a Cassette portion marked {DO NOT PUSH} while You can use mini DV cassettes only it is sliding in. It may cause a (p. 59). malfunction. 1 Slide and hold the OPEN/ 3 Close the lid. EJECT lever in the direction of the arrow and open the lid. OPEN/EJECT lever To eject the cassette Open the lid following the same procedure as described in step 1 and remove the cassette. z Tips � The recordable time varies depending on [REC MODE] (p. 41). Lid The cassette compartment autom
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Recording/Playback Recording/Playback Easy Recording/Playback (Easy Handycam) With this Easy Handycam operation, most of the camera settings are automatically optimally adjusted, which frees you from detailed adjustments. The screen font size increases for easy viewing. Open the lens cover (p. 15) A B E DC Recording 1 Slide the POWER switch A in the direction of the arrow repeatedly to turn on the CAMERA lamp. If the POWER switch A is set to OFF(CHG), slide it while pressing the green button
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Easy Recording/Playback (Easy Handycam) (Continued) Playback Slide the POWER switch A in the direction of the arrow repeatedly to turn on the PLAY/EDIT lamp. Touch the buttons on the screen D as follows. If the POWER switch is Touch , then touch to set to OFF(CHG), slide it start playback. while pressing the green A button. D B C A GUIDE (p. 23) B Stop C Play/Pause toggles as you touch it D Rewind/Fast forward x To cancel Easy Handycam operation Press EASY C again. disappears from the scre
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Recording/Playback Recording Open the lens cover (p. 15). POWER switch REC START/ STOP A REC START/STOP B Slide the POWER switch in the direction of the arrow repeatedly to turn on the CAMERA lamp. If the POWER switch is set to OFF(CHG), slide it while pressing the green button. Press REC START/STOP A (or B). [STBY] [REC] To stop recording, press REC START/STOP A (or B) again. Continued , 19
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Recording (Continued) z Tips Zooming � You can set [D ZOOM] (p. 38) if you want to zoom to a level greater than 40 ×. You can magnify images up to 40 times the original size with the power zoom lever or the zoom buttons on the LCD frame. Recording in dark places (NightShot plus) Wider range of view: (Wide angle) Infrared port Set the NIGHTSHOT PLUS switch to ON. ( and [“NIGHTSHOT PLUS”] appear.) b Notes Close view: (Telephoto) � The NightShot plus function uses infrared light. Therefore,
