Vivitar DVR 550 User manual

Digital Video Camera
User Manual

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Content
Section 1 Getting to Know Your Camera..............................2
Section 2 Getting Up and Running.......................................5
Section 3 Record Mode..........................................................7
Section 4 Playback Mode ....................................................34
Section 5 Listening to MP3 Music ......................................47
Section 6 Reading eBook ....................................................49
Section 7 Viewing MPEG4 Movie on PC.............................51
Section 8 Viewing Pictures and Movies on a TV...............52
Section 9 Video File Converter............................................53
Section 10 Burning the Recorded Clip into DVD...............53
Section 11 Transferring Data to a Computer........................9
Section 12 Specifications and System Requirements...... 11

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Section 1
Getting to Know Your Camera
Overview
The camera with 5 Mega Pixel sensor can take DVD-Quality MPEG-4 movies. By way of using
MPEG-4 technology, more videos can be taken within certain amount of memory. High quality
images with up to 11 mega-pixels can also be delivered smoothly. With a color LCD monitor,
users can compose images and examine them easily.
Exposure and color balance can either be adjusted automatically or allowed to be changed
manually. An 8x digital zoom increases user control over the movies and pictures you take.
The camera is also ideally suited for using as a PC camera hooked up to your home computer
via high speed USB 2.0 port
Biuld-in 64 MB memory allows you to take pictures and movies without memory card. The
memory card slot allows users to increase the storage capacity up to 2GB.
Note
Partial memory of the built-in 64MB memory is used
for Firmware code
Standard Accessories
Unpack the package and make sure all standard accessories listed are included:
zCamera
zUSB Cable
zPower Adaptor
zAV Cable
zLithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
zQuick Guide
zCD-ROM ( Driver, Arcsoft Software and User Manual)
zRemote Control (Optional)
zEarphone
zStrap
zPouch

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Front View
KeyPad illustration
Tele-Wide Button
Direction Buttons
RECORD/PLAY Button
Picture Shutter Button
TV Out Port
Movie Shutter Button
Enter Button
Mini USB 2.0 port
LCD Panel
Power Button
Flash
Self-Timer LED
Lens
SD card slot

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Side View
Macro Switch
Microphone
Battery Cover
Speaker
Strap Hole

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Section 2
Getting Up and Running
Loading the Battery
Before using the camera, end users must load
NP60 rechargeable Li-ion Battery.
1. Follow the arrow direction and slide to eject the
battery cover.
2. Insert the batteries according to the correct
polarity marks ( + or -)
3. Close the battery cover firmly.
Inserting and Removing an SD Card（Optional）
The camera comes with internal memory which allows you to store pictures, movies, voice
recordings and music. You can expand the memory capacity by using an optional SD or MMC
memory card up to 2GB. To insert a memory card, refer to the figure as below:
1. Insert the memory card into the right position.
2. To remove an installed SD card, press the card inwards to
release it.
3. When the card pops out, gently remove it from its slot.
Note
When a memory card is fitted, movies and pictures are
saved on card rather than on the built-in memory.
Protecting Data on an SD Card
SD card is read-only by locking the SD card. No pictures, movies and voice can be recorded
when the SD card is locked. Make sure the lock is on writeable position before recording any
media.
Eject
Writeable position Write-Protected
Position
Writeable position Write-Protected
Position

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Turning the Camera On and Getting Started
To turn on the camera:
(1) Flip out the LCD panel; the camera will turn on automatically.
(2) Or press Power Button for one second to turn on it.
ÖTo take a movie, press the Movie Shutter Button ( ).
ÖTo take a picture, press the Picture Shutter Button ( ).
ÖTo record the voice, press the Upper Button of Direction Buttons and press the Movie
Shutter Button ( ) to start voice recording.
ÖTo view stored movies, pictures, listen to stored MP3 and voice recordings, or read eBook,
press RECORD/PLAY Button once to switch to Playback Mode. Press a second time to
return to Record Mode.
Turning the Camera Off
To turn off the Camera, you can either press the Power Button for one second, or you can
place the LCD panel back to its original position.

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Section 3
Record Mode
Button Function
Right Button : Flash AUTO/OFF
Left Button :Self-Timer ON/OFF
Up Button : Voice Recording Mode
Down Button: LCD Information ON/OFF
Enter Button : Menu ON
Power Button: Press down for one second to turn
on or turn off the camera.
RECORD/PLAY Button functions:
1. Switch between Record /Playback Mode.
2. Return to the previous page.
Tele-Wide Button: Digital Zoom in and out.
Movie Shutter Button:
1. Start to take movie, or record voice.
2. To stop recording, press it again.
Picture Shutter Button: Start to take picture
Macro switch: Switch between Macro Mode,
Portrait Mode, and Normal Mode.

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LCD Monitor Information
The indicator shows below may display on LCD when movies and pictures are recorded：
(1) Record Mode
Movie Record Mode
Picture Record Mode
Voice Record Mode
Motion Stabilization
Two in One Mode
Photo Frame
Multi-Snap Mode
Backlight Mode
(2) Resolution
Movie : High / Standard/ Low
Picture: High / Standard/ Low
(3) Number of images or recording time of movie that can still be taken at current
resolution.
(4) SD card inserted
(5) Macro Position Focusing
(6) White Balance
(7) Battery indicator：full power / medium power / low power /
power empty
(8) Auto Flash
Flash Off

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(9) Self-timer enabled
(10) 8X digital zoom
(11) Date/Time : YYYY/MM/DD HH: MM
(12) Motion Detection
MPEG4 Movie Recording
Press Movie Shutter button ( ) to start recording. When a movie is recording, a time
indicator will display on LCD monitor. To stop recording, press Movie Shutter Button ( )
again. Press RECORD/PLAY Button to view the recorded movie.
Three resolution settings are available:
Quality
High Quality
Standard Quality
Low Quality
Picture Recording
Press the Picture Shutter Button ( ) to take a picture.
Press RECORD/PLAY Button to view the picture.
Three resolution settings are available:
Image Quality
High Quality
Standard Quality
Low Quality

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Voice Recording
1. Press Upper Button ( ) of Direction Buttons to switch
to Voice Record Mode.
2. Press Movie Shutter Button ( ) to record voice.
3. Press Movie Shutter Button ( ) again to stop.
4. Press RECORD/PLAY Button to view the recorded
voice.
Taking Close up Pictures
The camera has two close-up picture modes to allow you to take pictures at close range. The
Macro Mode ( ) should be used for object located at about 20 cm, while the Portrait Mode
() should be used for object located from 70 cm to 140 cm.
To take close-up pictures:
1. Rotate the lens ring to switch to Macro ( ) or Portrait ( ) positions. In Macro Mode,
the macro icon ( ) will appear on the LCD monitor.
2. Press Picture Shutter Button ( ) to take the picture.
Note
Remember to turn the macro switch back to
Normal ( ) when you are not taking
close-up pictures.
Using Digital Zoom
The digital zoom magnifies images, when recording movies or taking pictures.
1. To zoom in/out, press the Tele/Wide Button.
2. The digital zoom can be set from 1x to 8x and the magnification ratio is shown on the
LCD monitor.

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Options for Record Mode
Movie Mode Picture Mode Voice Pen Effect Set
zResolution
zExposure
zSharpness
zWhite Balance
zStabilization
zMotion Detect
zExit
zResolution
zExposure
zTwo in One
zPhoto Frame
zFlash
zSelf-timer
zSharpness
zWhite Balance
zMulti-snap
zBacklight
zDate printing
zExit
zEnter
zExit
zNormal
zB/W
zClassic
zNegative
zExit
zSound
zStart-up Screen
zTime Setting
zFormat Memory
zTV System
zLanguage
zDefault Setting
zExit
Operations for Record Mode
Operation Screen
1. Press Enter Button when in Movie/Picture Record
Mode.
2. Use Right/Left Buttons to move between main menu
options, which are Movie Mode, Camera Mode,
Voice Mode, Effect, and Set. Submenu will pop out
while move to each main option.
3. Press Enter Button to validate sub option you select.
4. Select Exit option to exit submenu.
Enter Button

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Default Setting and Validation
The following table indicates the camera’s default setting as well as its validation.
1.Always: The setting always keeps valid.
2.One Time: The setting is only valid either once or till camera power off.
Validation Default Factory Setting
Resolution Always High for Movie
Standard for Picture
Exposure One Time 0EV
Sharpness One Time Level 5
White Balance One Time Auto
Motion Stabilization Always Off
Motion Detect One Time Off
Two in One One Time Off
Photo Frame One Time Off
Flash Always Off
Self-Timer One Time Off
Multi-Snap One Time Off
Backlight Mode One Time Off
Date Printing Always Off
Effect One Time Normal
Sound Always On
Format Card One Time Off
TV System Always Depends on shipping area
Language Always Depends on shipping area
Volume Always Level 6

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Movie Mode submenu Setting
Record main menu includes camera setting and other advanced setting. You can use
Right/Left Buttons to move between options and press Enter Button to validate the setting.
Movie Resolution
To change Movie Resolution:
1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.
2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the
screen.
3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Resolution then press Enter Button to switch to Resolution
submenu.
4. Use Up/Down Buttons to move between three settings.
5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.
Display Screen Video Resolution Option
Enter Button

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Exposure
The camera adjusts image exposure automatically. In certain circumstances you may wish to
adjust the exposure compensation setting.
To change Exposure setting:
1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.
2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the
screen.
3. Use Up/Down Buttons to move to Exposure Option. Press the Enter Button and then
Exposure Submenu will pop out on the screen.
4. Use Up/Down Buttons to choose preferred EV value. The change can be previewed
immediately.
5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.
Display Screen Exposure Option
Enter Button

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Sharpness
You can soften and sharpen images to achieve different effects.
To change Sharpness setting:
1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.
2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the
screen.
3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Sharpness then press Enter Button to switch to Sharpness
submenu.
4. Use Up/Down Buttons to move between nine levels. The change can be previewed
immediately.
5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.
Display Screen Change Sharpness Setting
Enter Button

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White Balance
The camera adjusts the color balance of images automatically. Three manual white balance
settings are available:
1. Auto (Default): The camera automatically adjusts white balance.
2. Daylight: Under outdoors
3. Fluorescent: Under fluorescent light condition.
4. Tungsten: Under tungsten light condition.
To change White Balance Setting:
1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.
2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the
screen.
3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select White Balance, then press Enter Button to switch to White
Balance submenu.
4. Use Up/Down Buttons to move between four settings. The change can be previewed
immediately.
5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.
Display Screen W/B Option
Enter Button

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Motion Stabilization
To enable Motion Stabilization:
1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.
2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on the
screen.
3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Motion Stabilization then press Enter Button to switch to
Motion Stabilization submenu.
4. Use Up/Down Buttons to choose ON or OFF.
5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.
Motion Stabiization Motion Stabilization Option
Note
1. The captured screen will be smaller when
motion stabilization is enabled.
2. Digital Zoom is disabled when motion
stabilization is activated.
Enter Button

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Motion Detection
To enable Motion Detection:
1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.
2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Movie Mode. Submenu of Movie Mode will pop out on
the screen.
3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Motion Detect then press Enter Buttons to switch to
Motion Detect submenu.
4. Use Up/Down Buttons to choose ON or OFF.
5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.
6. Camera will start to record video once if there is a movement for 3 consecutive seconds.
Stop recording if there is no movement for 3 seconds.
Motion Detect Motion Detect Option
Enter Button

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Camera Mode Setting
Picture Resolution
To change Picture Resolution:
1. In Movie/Picture Record Mode, press Enter Button to switch to record menu screen.
2. Use Right/Left Buttons to select Camera Mode. Submenu of Camera Mode will pop out on
the screen.
3. Use Up/Down Buttons to select Resolution then press Enter Button to switch to Resolution
submenu.
4. Use Up/Down Buttons to move between three settings.
5. Press Enter Button to validate the setting and exit.
Display Screen Video Resolution Option
Enter Button