Sony Handycam CCD-F501 User manual

SON
Y.
3-753-141-21
(1)
Video
Camera
Recorder
&
CCD-F501
Operating Instructions
Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly
and retain it for future reference.
Video 8 Handycam
© 1991 by Sony Corporation

| WARNING |
To prevent fire or shock hazard,
do not expose the unit to rain or
moisture.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK {
DO NOT OPEN e
CAUTION; TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
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.
Information for the customers in the U.S.A.
This equipment generates and uses radio
frequency energy and if not installed and used
properly, that is, in strict accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions, may cause
interference to radio and television reception. It
has been type tested and found to comply with
the limits for a Class B computing device in
accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of
Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to
provide reasonable protection against such
interference in a residential installation. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause 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 the receiving antenna
Relocate the equipment with respect to the
receiver
Move the equipment away from the receiver
Plug the equipment into a different outlet so
that equipment and receiver are on different
branch circuits.
If necessary, the user should consult the dealer
of an experienced radio/television technician for
additional suggestions. The user may find the
following booklet prepared by the Federal
Communications Commission helpful:
“How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV
Interference Problems”.
This booklet is available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402, Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.
Notice for the customers in Canada
This apparatus complies with the Class B
limits for radio noise emissions set out in
Radio Interference Regulations.
Owner’s Record
The model and serial numbers are located on
the bottom. Record the serial number in the
space provided on the right hand. Refer to
these numbers whenever you call upon your
Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No. CCD-F501
Serial No.

Table of Contents
Before You Begin
Getting Started
Basic Camera
Operation
Advanced Camera
Operation
Additional information
Introduction
About this manual ....
Checking supplied accessories ..
Before you: Start ssc ci.sscaed esses easecceedad bad essed fice Sete nhce caccevbecsee Senavbedee cath see
Charging and installing the battery pack a
Installing the lithium battery ..... .8
Setting the date and time ..
Inserting a tape ...... ee
Adjusting the viewfinder lens a
Setting the BEEP switch oo... an
How to record
How to play back a tape ....
Using the Remote Commander ..
How to get the most out of your battery pack ...........:ccececceeeeeeceesentseneceeees 18
Connecting alternative power sources
Using alkaline batteries ....
Using house current
Using car battery ....
Camera recording
Recording the date or time ....
Recording in a strong wind ....
For low-position recording
Checking the last portion of a scene you just recorded
(EDITSEARCH)
Hints for recording .....
Re-recording on a previously recorded portion (EDITSEARCH
Inserting scene in the middle of a recorded tape
Checking recording in the viewfinder (EDITSEARCH)
Recording with an external microphone
Connecting a wired remote control unit ...
Preventing accidental erasure ....
Making manual adjustments .....
Focusing manually .....
Compensating backlighting .
Adjusting the white balance .....
Keeping the white balance ome slag be
Using the high-speed shutter ..
Using the portrait mode .
Using the sports mode......
Using the special effects...
ZOOMING oo... eeeeeeees
Close-up (macro) ....
Fade-in and fade-out .....
Superimposing text ...
Playing back
Recording ...
Editing
Maintenance information
Tips for better camera recording .
Identifying the parts oo...
Indications inside the viewfinder and the display window..
Troubleshooting .....00.0.. eee . 73
SPENT 0 deca leans uppesah en tsteisniniens veun noah Su ioreanoacccembians des cadcadv rea siutsees 75
Index .. back cover
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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a Sony Handycam® camcorder. With
your
Handycam
you
can
capture
life’s
precious
moments
with
superior picture and sound quality. Your 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.
About This Manual
This
manual
will
show
you
how
to
operate
the
unit.
To
get
the
most
out
of
the
features
of
Handycam,
we
recommend
you
read
this
manual
thoroughly.
But
if
you
want
to
shoot
immediately,
please
read
Getting
Started
and
Basic
Camera
Operation.
Once
you
are
familiar
with
basic
operations,
you
may
want
to
proceed
to
the
chapter,
Advanced
Camera
Operation.
e
When
you
are
reading
through
this
manual,
please
remember
that
buttons
and
settings
on
the
camcorder
are
in
capital
letters:
e.g.
Set
POWER
to
CAMERA.
«
Use
“Identifying
the
Parts”
as an
index
to
looking
for
a
function
and
operation
according
to
the
indication
printed
on
the
camcorder
itself.
4 Before You Begin

Checking Supplied Accessories
Please check that the following accessories are supplied with your camcorder.
Wireless Remote * Size AA (R6) battery for e Battery pack NP-66H (1)
Commander (1) Remote Commander (2)
/fenuew Sly inogy / uoRoNpo.Uy
AC power adaptor Lithium battery © RFU adaptor RFU-90UC (1)
AC-V65/V65A (1) CR2025 (1)
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¢ A/V connecting cable (1) * Shoulder strap (1) e Lens cap (1) (attached to
the camcorder)
Before you can start recording, you need to:
Charge and install the battery pack.
Install the lithium battery.
Set the date and time.
Insert a tape.
Adjust the viewfinder lens to your eyes.
Set the BEEP switch.
Let's go through these procedures step by step!
Onrhwnrw—
Before You Begin 5

Before you can use this camcorder, you need to charge and install the battery
pack.
ging the Battery Pack
1 Plug the AC power adaptor into a wall outlet.
2 Align the flat side of the battery pack with the line on the AC power adaptor.
3 Push down and slide the battery pack in the direction of the arrow.
4 Set CHARGE/VTR to CHARGE.
Required charging time:
Type of battery pack NP-66H NP-77H NP-77 NP-55
(supplied)
Required charging time 100 140 | 120 60
(approx. minutes using AC-V65/65A)
When charging is finished, the charge indicator will go out.
Use the battery completely before charging!
Before you recharge the battery, make sure the battery has been used
(discharged) completely to avoid capacity down of the battery caused by
excessive charging.
To use up the battery, remove the video cassette and simply slide POWER to
CAMERA with the battery attached, and leave the camcorder until the OJ
mark and red lamp appear blinking in the viewfinder and display window.
6 Getting Started

talling the Battery Pack
To remove the battery
pack
When you have finished charging the battery, install the battery pack as
follows.
1 Align the flat side of the battery pack with the white line on the camcorder.
2 Make sure that the arrow on the battery pack is close to the top of the
camcorder.
3 Push down and slide the battery pack in the direction of the arrow.
Note:
Make sure the battery is securely installed so that it does not fall. If the battery
is not installed properly, the camcorder will not record accurately.
A fully charged battery pack lasts for:
Type of battery pack jopie)
Battery
life
[a
(approx. minutes, continuous recording when used indoors)
When the battery becomes weak, the (XJ indication and red lamp blink in the
viewfinder. Wait until they blink rapidly, then replace the battery pack with a
fully charged one.
Getting Started 7
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Installing the Lithium Battery
Lithium battery life
To remove the lithium
battery
Warning
8 Getting Started
Install
the
lithium
battery
to
keep
a
title
and
birth
dates
in
the
camcorder's
memory
as
well
as
to
activate
the
clock.
1 Use your fingernail to open the
cover of the lithium battery
compartment on the bottom of the
camcorder.
2 Install the supplied CR2025 lithium
battery with the + side facing out.
3 Close the cover.
The battery will last for approximately 1 year in normal operation.
When
the
lithium
battery
becomes
weak,
the
ca
indication
will
blink
in
the
viewfinder
screen
for
about
5
seconds
when
you
set
POWER
to
CAMERA.
In
this
case,
replace
the
battery
with
a
Sony
CR2025
or
Duracell
DL-2025.
Use
of
any
other
battery
may
present
a
risk
of
fire
or
explosion.
When
replacing
the
lithium
battery,
keep
the
battery
pack
or
other
power
source
attached.
Otherwise,
readjustments
of
the
date,
time,
title
and
birth
dates
are
necessary.
Press the side of the battery in the direction as indicated for installation.
Battery
may
explode
if
mistreated.
Do
not
recharge,
disassemble
or
dispose
of
in
fire.

Setting the Date and Time
Now, let’s adjust the clock inside the camcorder to be able to
superimpose
date and time onto your video. Make sure that power source and lithium
battery are attached.
1 Press the small green button on POWER and
push POWER to CAMERA.
2 Push the cover of the red button up until it
snaps into STANDBY.
3 Press DATE (+) and TIME (NEXT)
simultaneously for more than
one and a half seconds until the
date indication appears in the Sigh GE
display window.
DATE now functions as + (to
advance numbers) and TIME
functions as NEXT (to set).
e When you keep DATE (+)
pressed, the digits advance faster.
=
4 Adjust the flashing digits of ® <i
the year, month, day, and oare 1s > weiner
hour using DATE (+), and
press TIME (NEXT). @
Notes DATE is}
° The year starts at 1991 and ©)
proceeds as follows: j
1991-»1999-2000-2020 oare 4G 1] D> werner
* bY,
acy
5 Adjust the flashing digits of minute using ae
DATE
(+).
DATE
(4
mw
§=§:530:8C
6 Press TIME (NEXT) to set the second to
“90°.
The clock starts operating
To correct date and time Repeat steps 3 to 6.
setting
TIME ( *y)
Getting Started 9
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Inserting a Tape
1Q Getting Started
Make sure that the battery pack or other power source is attached.
1 Press the small blue button on
EJECT and simultaneously push
EJECT in the direction of the arrow.
The cassette holder will open.
2 Insert a tape with the
window facing outside.
3 Close the cassette holder
by pressing the area
marked “PUSH”.