RCA ProV600 manual

camcorder user's guide ProV600[...]

Model No: ___________________________________ Serial No: ___________________________________ Purchase Date: __________________________________ Purchased From: _________________________________ Cautions CAUTION : T o prevent electric shock, match wide blade of plug to wide slot, fully insert. A TTENTION: Pour éviter les chocs électriques, introdui[...]

1 Safety Information .............................. i First Time Operation • Assistance ....................................... 3 • Unpack the Camcorder and Accessories ................................. 3 • Attach Lens Cap Cord and Adjust Handstrap ........................ 4 • Attach the Shoulder Strap ............... 4 • Attach the Adapt[...]

2 Recording • Making a Recording ................. 20-21 • V iewing What Y ou are Recording Using the V iewfinder or LCD Monitor • Using the V iewfinder ................ 22 • Eyepiece Focus Control ............ 22 • Using the LCD Monitor ............ 23 • LCD Monitor and V iewfinder Displays ............................... 24-25 • Fly[...]

First-T ime Operation 3 1. Unpack the camcorder and accessories. • Save the packing materials and box in case you ever need to ship or store your camcorder . • The items shown below are packed with your camcorder . If any are missing or appear damaged, contact your dealer immediately . This section describes only the basic steps necessary to se[...]

4 First-T ime Operation 2. Attach lens cap cord and adjust handstrap. • Press in on the tabs on both sides of the lens cap to remove it. • Attach the lens cap cord to the lens cap. • Pull up the flap of the handstrap and open the strap. • Run the cord from the lens cap through the audio/video terminal cover and over the end of the strap. ?[...]

First-T ime Operation 5 4. Attach the adapter/charger . Since the battery must be charged before it can be used the first time, attach the adapter/charger to the camcorder . • Connect one end of the DC cable to the DC OUT jack on the adapter/charger . • Press the OPEN button and open the monitor . • Connect the other end of the DC cable to th[...]

6 First-T ime Operation VCR CAM 5. T urn on the camcorder . • Slide the POWER switch upward to turn on the camcorder . • The camcorder turns on in the CAM (camera) mode. The red CAM indicator beside the VCR / CAM button lights. If it does not, press the VCR / CAM button. Notes: The CAM (red) or VCR (green) indicator lights to tell you what mode[...]

First-T ime Operation 7 Eyepiece Focus Control (continued on next page) 7. Use the LCD monitor or viewfinder to view what you ar e recording. Y ou can watch what you are recording on the color LCD monitor or in the black- and-white viewfinder . Use the LCD Monitor • Rotate the monitor into a comfortable viewing position. The monitor can be rotate[...]

8 First-T ime Operation VCR CAM PLAY REW F.FWD STOP PAUSE EJECT DISPLAY BLANK 9. Play back what you have r ecorded. • Press the VCR/CAM button to light the green VCR indicator . 8. Start and stop recording. • Press and release the REC ST ART/ STOP button (thumb trigger) to start recording. REC appears on the LCD monitor or in the viewfinder . ?[...]

First-T ime Operation 9 VCR CAM V A LCD Monitor and Battery Compartment Zoom Control W = Wide Angle T = T elephoto Microphone A (Audio) , V (V ideo) , and RF Out Jacks Eyepiece Focus Control Remote Control Sensor 1 1. Review camcorder’ s operating controls. Lens Shoulder Strap Holder CAM (Red) Indicator Beep Indicator VCR/CAM Button VCR (Green) I[...]

10 First-T ime Operation PLAY REW F.FWD STOP PAUSE EJECT DISPLAY BLANK 1 1. Review camcorder ’ s operating controls. REW (Rewind) Button F .FWD (Fast Forward) Button PLA Y Button P AUSE Button STOP Button Battery Compartment LCD Monitor BRIGHT Control VOLUME Control EJECT Button Speaker BLANK Button DA TE Button FOCUS LOCK Button OPEN Button DC I[...]

First-T ime Operation 11 Using the Adapter/Charger to Power Y our Camcorder The adapter/charger attaches to the camcorder and lets you power your camcorder directly from standard household power . The adapter/charger operates on 100-240 volts, 50/60 Hz, so it can be used virtually anywhere in the world to power the camcorder or recharge the battery[...]

12 First-T ime Operation Using the Battery to Power Y our Camcorder The battery must be charged as described on the next page before it can be used the first time. Initial charging will take approximately 60 minutes. When fully charged, the battery should supply about 50 minutes of operating time (depending on how much you use zoom and pause). Cons[...]

First-T ime Operation 13 Caution : When a battery is attached to the adapter/charger , do not turn them upside down. The battery may fall of f and be damaged or cause injury . Charge the Battery If the DC cable is attached to the DC OUT jack on the adapter/char ger, remove its plug. 1. Plug adapter/charger into nearest AC outlet (100-240V , 50/60Hz[...]

14 First-T ime Operation Battery Care and Storage • Store the battery pack in a place that does not reach high temperatures. • Remove the battery from the camcorder when it is not in use to prolong the battery life. • The battery will provide increased operation time if you “refresh” it before every charging. • Recharge the battery just[...]

15 Remote Contr ol Install Remote’ s Lithium Cell The remote’ s lithium cell is packed separately . Install it in the remote as follows : 1. Turn the remote over , insert a pencil or paper clip in the small hole, and slide the cell holder in the direction of the arrow to remove it. 2. Insert the cell in the cell holder so the positive (+) termi[...]

16 Remote Contr ol Remote Contr ol Buttons A brief description of the remote button’ s functions is given here. Many of the buttons perform the same function as the corresponding control on the camcorder . The battery must be installed as shown on the pr evious page. PLAY STOP DISPLAY REC ZOOM COUNTER MEMORY RESET REW F.FWD PAUSE TW COUNTER MEMOR[...]

17 Remote Contr ol Press P AUSE or PLA Y to return to normal playback. PLA Y Button • When the camcorder is in the VCR mode, press PLA Y to begin playback. REW (Rewind) Button Camcorder in CAM (Camera) Mode • When the camcorder is in record- pause, press and release REW to review the last few seconds of your recording. • When the camcorder is[...]

18 V ideo Cassettes Make sure you select good quality tapes for your camcorder . Use of poor quality tapes or tapes that have been damaged or mishandled can contaminate the video heads, resulting in a snowy picture or no picture at all during playback. Because there is no control over the type of tape purchased or rented by consumers, head cleaning[...]

19 V ideo Cassettes Cassette Care and Storage • When you are finished with a cassette, rewind it, remove it from the camcorder , and label it. • Store cassettes vertically in their protective cases at normal room temperatures. Do not leave your camcorder or cassettes in a car or outdoors for an extended period. Excessive heat or cold may damage[...]

20 Recording VCR CAM PLAY REW F.FWD STOP PAUSE EJECT DISPLAY BLANK Making a Recording These steps tell you how to make a recording and suggest using some of the recording features. Each feature is described in detail on the following pages. POWER Switch LCD Monitor REW Button Eyepiece Focus Control Zoom Lever F .FWD Button CAM (Camera) Indicator RE[...]

21 Recording • The camcorder will automatically turn off if it remains in record- pause for three minutes. Slide the POWER switch upward to turn the camcorder back on. • The camcorder has a beeper that beeps for certain functions. The beep indicator flashes with the beeps. T o turn off the beeper , press and hold STOP and PLA Y together until B[...]

22 Recording V iewing What Y ou Are Recording Using the Viewfinder or LCD Monitor Y ou can watch what you are recording in the black-and-white viewfinder or on the color LCD monitor . Opening the monitor turns off the viewfinder unless the monitor is rotated 130º or more. Using the V iewfinder The camcorder ’ s viewfinder is a miniature black-an[...]

23 Recording Using the LCD Monitor The camcorder ’ s LCD monitor is a miniature color monitor that displays the picture seen by the camcorder when recording. 1. Press the OPEN button to open the LCD monitor . 2. Rotate the monitor into a comfortable viewing position. The monitor can be rotated 180º and pushed back against the camcorder . • T i[...]

24 Recording LCD Monitor and V iewfinder Displays Auto Exposure Higher Shutter Speed Indicator ( AE:100, AE150, or AE:250) • A shutter speed (1/60, 1/100, 1/150, or 1/250 second) is automatically selected by the camcorder . • No indicator appears for the 1/60 second shutter speed. • AE:100, AE150, or AE:250 will appear when one of the shutter[...]

25 Recording • 88:88 appears when the clock’ s lithium cell has not been installed or needs to be replaced. • Details ar e on page 31. Focus Indicators ( FOCUSLOCK and ) • FOCUSLOCK appears briefly when you lock the focus with the FOCUS LOCK button. Then remains during focus lock. • Details ar e on page 30. Status Displays Several status [...]

26 Recording VCR CAM PLAY REW F.FWD STOP PAUSE EJECT DISPLAY BLANK Flying Erase Head A separate erase head is mounted on the spinning headwheel (hence the term “flying”). This allows you to make clean edits without the “glitches” or “rainbow noise” that may occur at the beginning or the end of recordings. Quick Review Feature Press and [...]

27 Recording Beep Feature The camcorder has a beep feature that operates as follows. The beep can be turned on or off. • One beep for a standard function (turning power on, starting recording or playback, ejecting a tape, etc.). • T wo beeps for stopping a recording. • T en beeps for a warning such as T APE END , no cassette ( ), or dew ( ). [...]

28 Recording Blank Sear ch The camcorder will advance through the tape and look for a blank section. This helps you locate the end of the last recorded section. 1. Place the camcorder in record-pause in the CAM mode or stop in the VCR mode to blank search. 2. Press the BLANK button. The camcorder will fast-forward or rewind the tape to the end of t[...]

29 Recording Zooming Y ou can zoom in and out for close ups or wide-angle shots just by sliding the zoom lever on the camcorder . The camcorder can automatically focus when you zoom at most distances. Using the Zoom Lever 1. T o zoom in or out, slide the zoom lever on the camcorder or press ZOOM T or W on the remote. • T o move the lens in the te[...]

30 Recording Focusing Under normal conditions, the camcorder can adjust focus automatically on the object located in the center area of the viewfinder . Under certain conditions, you may want to use the focus lock feature. Using Focus Lock The focus lock feature is useful when objects pass between your subject and the camcorder or your main subject[...]

31 Recording Date/T ime Display — Clock Lithium Cell The clock cell indicator 88:88 will flash for a few seconds in the viewfinder when you turn on the camcorder if the clock lithium cell has not been installed or needs to be replaced. Install the Clock Lithium Cell 1. Make sure camcorder is turned of f, and remove any power supply attached to th[...]

32 Recording Date/Time Display — Setting the Time and Date The correct date and time must be set before it can be displayed and recorded on your tapes. The clock cell must be installed as shown on the pr evious page before the date can be set and recorded. Set the T ime and Date 1. Make sure the camcorder is in the record-pause mode. 2. Press and[...]

33 Recording T o Record the Date or Date and T ime on Y our T ape The date or date and time can be recorded on your tape. Whenever one of the displays appears, it will be recorded. The camcorder also has an AUT O DATE feature that will record the date at the beginning of the first recording of the day . The clock cell must be installed and the cloc[...]

34 Recording PLAY REW F.FWD STOP PAUSE EJECT DISPLAY BLANK Time Counter The time-counter display shows the actual time elapsed when recording or playing back a segment of tape. During playback, the memory-stop feature helps locate a certain point on the tape. When memory stop is on, the tape will stop automatically during rewind or fast-forward whe[...]

35 Recording T raveling T ips • W rite down your camcorder ’ s serial number and keep it separate from the camcorder when traveling. If your camcorder is lost or stolen, you will be able to identify it. • Use extra care to avoid damage to your camcorder and accessories when operating them at a beach or pool. Spray , sand, and dust should be a[...]

36 Playback VCR CAM PLAY REW F.FWD STOP PAUSE EJECT DISPLAY BLANK Playback Using the LCD Monitor or V iewfinder Y ou can view tapes in color using the LCD monitor or in black-and-white using the viewfinder . The viewfinder will be turned of f when you open the monitor . Y ou can hear the sound from the tapes on the built-in speaker when you use the[...]

37 Playback T ape Positioning 1. Slide the POWER switch up to turn on the camcorder . 2. Press the VCR/CAM button to light the VCR indicator on the camcorder . 3. Press and quickly release REW or F .FWD to rewind or fast-forward the tape. 4. Press STOP to stop the tape. V isual Searching 1. During playback or play-pause, press and release F .FWD or[...]

38 Playback Playback on TV (or VCR) with AUDIO/VIDEO IN Jacks T o connect your camcorder to a TV monitor (or VCR) with AUDIO/VIDEO IN jacks, you will need the audio/video cable that came packed with your camcorder . If your TV is already connected to a VCR, you can attach the camcorder to the VCR and watch what the camcorder is recording or playing[...]

39 Playback Playback Operation and How to Copy T apes on the VCR 1. A. Camcorder connected directly to TV : T urn on the TV and tune it to the video input channel. B. Camcorder connected to VCR that is already connected to TV : T urn on VCR and place it in the “line” or “camera mode”. (If your VCR does not have a “line” or “camera mod[...]

40 Playback Playback on a TV without Audio/V ideo Inputs T o connect your camcorder to a TV without audio/video inputs, you will need an optional CRF800 output adapter and an optional coaxial RF cable, such as VH82 or VH90 shown on page 43. If your TV has AUDIO and VIDEO IN jacks (or is connected to a VCR), r efer to pages 38-39 . Installation 1. D[...]

41 Playback Playback Operation 1. Set the CHANNEL 4CH/3CH switch on the RF output adapter to CHANNEL 4CH or 3CH . 2. T urn on the TV , and tune it to the same channel you selected with the RF output adapter ’ s CHANNEL switch. 3. Slide the POWER switch up to turn on the camcorder . 4. Press the VCR/CAM button to place the camcorder in the play mo[...]

42 Optional Accessories W e invite you to take a look at some great ideas for sparking creativity and adding to the fun of using your compact 8mm camcorder . The following pages have a selection of accessories to help make your memorable moments look and sound even better . These accessories are designed to make the process of recording and watchin[...]

43 Optional Accessories CRF800 RF Output Adapter This RF output adapter is used with a coaxial RF cable, such as VH82 or VH90, to connect your camcorder to a standard TV (one without audio/video inputs) for playback. If your antenna cable is the flat twin-lead type attached by two screws, you will also need a 300-to-75 ohm transformer . If your TV [...]

44 Optional Accessories Cautions: Before using a tripod, make sure it is stable enough to hold the camcorder without falling over . Do not transport the camcorder attached to the tripod. When attaching your camcorder to a tripod, be careful not to force the tripod screw into the camcorder ’ s tripod mounting hole. The tripod screw should not prot[...]

45 Accessory Order Form Order Form for Camcorder Model ProV600 Description Part No. Price Qty . T otal Super Lightweight Tripod AC088 $ 39.95 Soft Camcorder Case AC201A $ 39.95 Y -Adapter AH25 $ 2.95 Rechargeable Battery (Standard) A V55 $ 49.95 RF Output Adapter CRF800 $ 59.95 DC Cable DCC100 $ 12.95 75-300 Cable T ransformer VH54 $ 2.95 Coaxial R[...]

46 Accessory Order Form ® r r s TM Charge your order on your VISA,MasterCard, or Discover Card by filling in below USE YOUR CREDIT CARD IMPORTANT: Copy complete account number from your VISA card IMPORTANT: Copy complete account number from your MasterCard Expiration date: Expiration date: Copy Number above your name on MasterCard AUTHORIZED SIGNA[...]

47 Accessory Order Form T o order accessories, contact your local Dealer . If a dealer is not nearby , you can also follow the directions below to order by telephone or direct-by-mail. United States and Canada Orders T o place your order by phone, have your V isa, MasterCard, or Discover card ready and call the toll-free number listed below between[...]

48 Car e and Maintenance Cleaning the Camcorder T o clean the camcorder ’ s exterior , remove any power source connected to the camcorder and gently wipe it with a clean soft cloth. Caution: Use of strong cleaning products, such as those containing alcohol or benzine, may damage the camcorder . Caution: Do not touch the lens with your fingers. Th[...]

49 Customer Assistance and Service Proper Care and Storage • Keep dust and grit from entering the camcorder ’ s cassette door . Dust and grit are abrasive and will cause excessive wear to both the camcorder ’ s recording/playback heads and cassettes. • Always replace the lens cap when the camcorder is not in use. • Before handling your ca[...]

50 T r ouble Checks T roubles sometimes are caused by simple “faults” that you can easily correct without the help of a service technician by first checking a few basic remedies. Before you call or take your camcorder to an Authorized RCA Camcorder Service Center , look below for the type of trouble you are experiencing. Then perform the simple[...]

51 T rouble Checks T rouble Checks and Adjustments T ape stops during rewind or fast forward Camcorder remains in pause mode Recorded sound is too low or distorted Dew indicator flashing in viewfinder Poor auto-focus operation V iewfinder displays are out of focus Image in LCD monitor is not bright enough. Sound too low when playing back tape using[...]

52 T r ouble Checks • Displays will be recorded on tape whenever they appear in the viewfinder . Remove them from viewfinder when recording. See page 33. • When AUT O DATE is selected, the date will automatically be recorded when you begin recording or change the cassette. See page 33. • Clock lithium cell battery may need replacing. See page[...]

53 Customer Assistance and Service Y ou can reach Thomson at the following number: 800-283-6503 (T oll free inside U.S.A.) Our toll-free Camcorder number operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., CST Monday – Friday for U.S. customers only Thomson provides a toll-free telephone number to help you with any problems you may encounter with your camcorder . Ma[...]

54 Limited W arranty What your warranty covers: • Any defect in materials or workmanship. For how long after your purchase: • 90 days for labor char ges. • One year for parts. The warranty period for rental units begins with the first rental or 45 days from date of shipment to the rental firm, whichever comes first. What we will do: During th[...]

55 Limited W arranty insure your shipment in case of damage or loss. Include with the shipment: • Evidence of purchase date, such as a bill of sale, to verify your unit’ s warranty eligibility . • A brief note describing your camcorder ’ s problem. • Y our name, address and phone number . Return transportation, storage, handling, and insu[...]

56 Specifications Information to User 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 frequ[...]

57 Index A A (audio) and V (video) jacks 38, 40 Accessories included 3 optional 42 order form 45 Adapter/charger charging battery 13 using 5, 11, 21 AE (automatic exposure) 24, 27 Assistance 1, 3, 53 Attach lens cap cord 4 Audio/video cable 38 B B (bright) control 10 BA TT (battery release) button 10, 12 Battery attaching and removing 12 care and s[...]

58 Index DC cable 5, 1 1, 13 DC in jack 5, 10, 1 1 Dew indicator 25 DISPLA Y button 10, 16, 26, 27, 41 Displays LCD monitor 24 status 25 viewfinder 24 E EJECT button 6, 10, 19, 20, 21, 36 Erase protection 18 Eyepiece, cleaning 48 Eyepiece focus control 7, 9, 20, 21, 22, 36 F F (focus) control 10 FF indicator 25 F .FWD (fast forward) button 10, 16, [...]

59 Index P P AUSE button 10, 16 P AUSE indicator 8, 21, 25 Pause, stop-action 37 PLA Y button 8, 10, 17, 21, 36, 39, 41 Playback features 37 first 8 viewfinder 36 Playback features stop-action pause 37 time counter 34 visual searching 37 Playback on a TV without audio/video inputs 40 Playback on TV (or VCR) with audio/video in jacks 38 Plug adapter[...]

60 Index Things to avoid 49 Thumb trigger 8, 9, 20, 21, 26, 39, 41 T ime counter 34 T ime-remaining indicator 28 T ips recording 35 traveling 35 T raveling tips 35 T ripod, using 44 T rouble checks 50 T urn on the camcorder 6 U Unpack the camcorder and accessories 3 V VCR indicator 6, 8, 9, 36, 37, 39, 41 VCR mode 16, 17, 28 VCR/CAM button 6, 8, 9,[...]

10330 N Meridian Str eet Indianapolis, IN 46290 © 1997 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. T rademark(s) ® Registered Marca(s) Registrada(s) Printed in Japan TOCOM 15242820[...]