Sony DVCAM DSR-PD150P User manual

3-060-817-31(1)
Digital
Camcorder
Operating Instructions
Before operating theunit, please read this manual thoroughly,
and retain itfor futurereference
DSR-PD150P
©2000 Sony Corporation

Welcome!
Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony Digital camcorder.
With your Digital camcorder, you can capture life's precious moments with superior picture and
sound quality. Your Digital camcorder isloaded with advanced features, butat the same time it is
very easy to use. You will soon be producing home video that you can enjoy foryears to come.
NOTICE ON THE SUPPLIEDAC
POWER ADAPTOR FOR
CUSTOMERS INTHE UNITED
KINGDOM
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do
notexpose the unitto rain or
moisture.
To avoid electrical shock, do not
open the cabinet. Refer servicing to
qualified personnel only.
FortheCustomers inEurope
This product with the CE marking complies
withboth the EMC Directive (89/336/EEC)
and LowVoltage Directive (73/23/EEC)
issued by the Commission of the European
Community.
Compliance with these directives implies
conformity to the following European
standards:
•EN60065:ProductSafety(suppliedAC
Adaptor only)
•EN55103-l:Electromagnetic Interference
(Emission)
•EN55103-2:Electromagnetic Susceptibility
(Immunity)
This product isintended foruse in the
followingElectromagneticEnvironment(s):
El (residential),E2 (commercial and light
industrial), E3 (urban outdoors) and E4
(controlledEMCenvironmentex.TVstudio)
Theelectromagneticfieldsatthespecific
frequencies may influence the picture and
sound of this digital camcorder.
Amoulded plug complying with BS1363is
fitted to this equipment foryour safety and
convenience.
If the plug supplied with this equipment
has a detachable fuse cover, be sure to
attach the fuse cover afteryou change
the fuse. Never use the plug without the
fuse cover. Ifyou should losethe fuse
cover, please contact your nearest Sony
servicestation.

Tableofcontents
Quick Start Guide
Getting started
Using this manual
Checking supplied accessories
Step1 Installing the microphone
Step 2 Preparing the power supply
Step 3 Inserting a cassette
Recording - Basics
Recording a picture
Shootingbacklitsubjects(BACK
LIGHT)
Spot light
Checking the recording - END SEARCH /
EDITSEARCH / Rec Review
Playback - Basics
Playing back a tape
Viewing the recording onTV
Advanced Recording Operations
Recording a still image ona tape
-Tape Photo recording
Shooting with all the pixels
-PROG SCAN
Using the guide frame
Using the wide mode
Using the faderfunction
Using special effects- Digital effect
Shooting with manual adjustment
Adjusting the white balance
Adjusting the recording level manually
-Sound recording level
Connecting an optional external
microphone
Presetting the adjustment forpicture quality
-Custom preset
Focusing manually
Interval recording
Frame by framerecording - Cut recording
Superimposing the date and time ona
picture
Marking an Index
AdvancedPlaybackOperations
Searching fora recording by index - Index
search
Searching the boundaries ofrecorded tape
by title - Title search
Searching a recording by date
-Date search
Searching fora photo
-Photo search/Photo scan
Playing back a tape with digital effects
Editing
Dubbing a tape
Dubbing only desired scenes
-Digital program editing
Using with an analog video unit and a PC
-Signal convert function
Recording video or TV programs
Audio dubbing
Setting time values
Superimposing a title
Making your own titles
Labeling a cassette
Erasing the cassette memory data
Customizing Your Camcorder
Changing the menu settings
Resetting the date and time
"Memory Stick" Operations
Using a Memory Stick - introduction
Recording still images on a Memory Sticl<
-Memory Photo recording
Superimposing a still image in a Memory
Stickon a moving picture
-MEMORY MIX
Recording an image from a tape as a still
image
Copying still images from a tape
-Photo save
Viewing a still picture
-Memory Photo playback
Copying an image recorded on a Memor
Stick to tapes
Playing back images continuously
-SLIDE SHOW
Preventing accidental erasure
-Image protection
Deleting images
Writing a print mark - Print mark
Additional Information
Compatibility of DVCAM and DV
formats
Usable cassettes
About i LINK
Troubleshooting
Selfdiagnosis display
Warning indicators and messages
Using your camcorder abroad
Maintenance information and precautions
Specifications
Quick Reference
Identifying the parts and controls
Quick Function Guide
Index
4
6
8
9
10
15
16
23
24
25
26
31
32
34
35
36
37
39
42
50
52
55
56
58
59
61
62
63
64
66
67
69
71
72
74
80
81
85
89
94
98
100
102
104
112
113
118
121
124
127
129
132
134
135
136
139
140
142
144
145
151
152
154
155
160
161
170
171
3

QuickStart Guide
This guide introduces you to the basic way of recording/playback. Seethe pages in parentheses
"()"formoreinformation.
Installthe suppliedmicrophone with themodelname (ECM-NV1) facingupward. Besure
toconnectthemicrophoneplugtothe INPUT1 connector.
to INPUT1
Use the battery pack when using your camcorder outdoors (p. 10).
Connecttheplugwithitsmark
facing toward the LCD panel side.
AC power adaptor (supplied) Open theDC INjack
cover.
While pressing r—j
the small blue fOff"
button on the
EJECTswitch,
slide it in the direction
ofthe arrow.
Push the middle
portion ofthe 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
Close the cassette
compartment by
pressing the PUSH
mark on it.
Close the cassette lid
by pressing the
PUSH button on the
cassette lid.
PUSH
Write-protecttab

Ifthe ND1 or ND2 indicator
flashes, seepage 46.
Setthe POWER switch to
CAMERA while pressing the
small green button.
Slide OPEN
back in the ^
mark direction
to open the
LCDpanel.
Press START/
STOP.Your
camcorder
starts
recording. To
stop recording,
press START/
STOPagain.
Viewfinder____
When the LCD panel
isclosed, use the
viewfinder placing
your eye against its
eyecup.
Remove the hood cap.
NOTE
Do not pick up your camcorder by
holding the viewfinder, the LCD panel,
the batterypack, or the microphone.

Getting started
Usingthismanual
As you read through this manual, buttons and settings onyour camcorder are shown in
capital letters.
e.g.Setthe POWER switch to CAMERA.
When you carry out an operation, you can hear a beep or a melody sound to indicate
that the operation isbeing carried out.
Your camcorder isbased on the DVCAM/DV format. We recommend that you use a
tape with cassette memory
The functions which require differentoperations depending onwhether or not the tape
has cassette memory are:
•Searching the end point of the recording - end search (p. 25,29)
•Searching a recording by index - index search (p. 64)
•Searching a recording by date - date search (p. 67)
•Searching fora photo - photo search (p. 69).
The functions you can operate only with cassette memory are:
•Searching the boundaries of recorded tape by title - title search(p.66)
•Superimposing a title (p. 94)
•Making your own titles (p. 98)
•Labelinga cassette (p. 100).
For details, seepage 142.
B
You seethis mark in the introduction ofthe features that are operated only with
cassettememory.
Tapes with cassette memory are marked with O*/ (CassetteMemory).

Usingthis manual
TVcolour systems differfrom country to country.
To view your recordings ona TV,you need a PAL system-basedTV.
Television programs, films, video tapes, and other materials may be copyrighted.
Unauthorized recording of such materials may be contrary to the provision of the
copyright laws.
•TheLCD screen and the viewfinderare manufacturedusinghigh-precision
technology.However, there may be some tinyblackpoints and/orbrightpoints
(red, blue,green orwhite)that constantly appear on the LCD screen and inthe
viewfinder.These points occur normallyinthe manufacturingprocess and do nol
affectthe recorded pictureinany way. Effectiveratio ofpixelsis 99.99% or
more.
•Do not let your camcorder getwet. Keep your camcorder away from rain and sea
water. Letting your camcorder getwet 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
acar parked in the sun or under direct sunlight [b].
•Do not place your camcorder soas to point the viewfinder or the LCD screenor lens
toward the sun. The inside ofthe viewfinder, LCD screen, or lensmay be damaged
[c].
[a] [b] [c]
Contents ofthe recording cannot be compensated ifrecording or playback isnot made due to a
malfunction ofthecamcorder, video tape, etc.

Checkingsuppliedaccessories
Make sure that the following accessories are supplied with your camcorder.
Wireless Remote Commander (1)
(p.167)
AC-L10A/L10B/L10C AC power
adaptor (1),Mains lead (1)(p.11)
NP-F330 battery pack (1) (p.10,11)
R6 (size AA) battery for Remote
Commander (2) (p.168)
Memory Stick Reader/Writer (1),USB
cable(1)
"Memory Stick" (1) (p.113)
A/Vconnecting cable (1) (p.31, 72)
Hood cap (1) (p.16)
Shoulder strap (1) (p.165)
Application software: PictureGear
4.1Lite (CDROM) (1)(p.131)
Lens hood (1) (p.163)
Eyecup (large) (1) (p.20)
Microphone (1) (p.9),Wind screen (1)
(P. 9)
Operating instructions (2)

Step 1 Installingthemicrophone
Installthesuppliedmicrophone.BesuretoconnectthemicrophoneplugtotheINPUT1
connector.
(1) Attach the wind screen to the microphone.
(2) Loosen the microphone holder screw and open the cover.
(3) Place the microphone into the holder with the model name (ECM-NV1) facing
upward, closethe cover, and tighten the screw.
(4)Connect the plug ofthe microphone to the INPUT 1 connector.
(5) Setthe INPUT LEVEL selector to MIC or MIC ATT. When setto MIC ATT, you
can reduce the volume by about 20 dB. And set the +48 V switch to ON.
(6) Selectthe channel to be used, using the REC CH SELECT switch. When
recording only onthe channel 1,set it to CH1,and when recording both onthe
channels 1 and 2,set it to CH1»CH2.
1 2 3
4 5 6
When the wind is blowing hard
SetCH1orCH2ofWINDtoONinthemenusettingsaccordingtotheinput(p. 104).
When you unplug the microphone plug
UnplugitwhileholdingthePUSHbuttondown.
9

Step 2 Preparingthepower supply
Install the battery pack to use your camcorder outdoors.
(1) Liftup the viewfinder.
(2) Insert the battery pack inthe direction ofthe mark onthe battery pack. Slide
the batterypack until it islocked.
To remove thebattery pack
Lift up the viewfinder.Slide the battery pack out in the direction of the arrow while pressing BATT RELEASE
down.
10