Sony SR20E manual

 2010 Sony Corporation 4-209-890- 11 (1) Digital Video Camera Recor der Operating Guide DCR-SR15E/SR20E/SX15E/ SX20E/SX20EK T able of con tents 8 Getting started 10 Recording/Playback 20 Making good use of your camcorder 30 Saving movies and photos with a computer 32 Saving images with an external device 39 Customizing your camcorder 47 Addition[...]

2 GB Read this first Before opera ting the unit, please read this manual tho roughly , and retain i t for fu ture refer ence. WARNING T o reduce fire or shock hazard , do not expose the unit to rain or moistur e. Do not expose the batteries to ex cessive hea t such as sunshine, fire or the like. CAUTION Battery pack If the bat tery pack is mishandl[...]

3 GB A TTENTION The electromagnetic fields a t the specific frequencies ma y influence the picture an d sound of this unit. Notice If sta tic electricity or electromagnetism causes data tran sfer to discon tinue midwa y (fail), restart the a pplicatio n or disconnect and connect the comm unicatio n cable (USB, et c.) again. Disposal of Old Electric[...]

4 GB a detachable fuse cover , be sure to a ttach the fuse cover after yo u chang e the fuse. Never use the pl ug without the fuse co ver . If yo u should lose the fuse cover , please contact yo ur nearest Son y service st a tion. Supplied items The num bers in ( ) are the sup plied quan tity .  AC A da ptor (1)  P ower co rd (Ma ins lead) (1[...]

5 GB About changing the language setting The on-screen displa ys in each local language are used for illu strating the opera ting procedur es. Change the screen languag e before u sing your ca mcorder if necessary (p. 15). Recording When you u se a memory card with your camcorder f or the first time, fo rmatting the m emory card with your ca mcorde[...]

6 GB About images, illustrations , and screen displays of this manual The examp le images used in this manual fo r illustration p urposes are captur ed using a digital still camera, and therefo re may a ppear different fro m images and scr een indicators tha t actually appear on y our camcor der . And, the illustration s of your cam corder and i ts[...]

7 GB Operation flow Getting star ted (p . 10) Prepar e the power sour ce and recor ding media. Recording movies and photos (p . 20) Recording mo vies  p . 21  Changing the reco rding mode  Expected recording time (MEDI A INFO) Shooting pho tos  p . 23 Playing movies and phot os Playback on the camco rder  p . 25 Playing ima ges on a [...]

8 GB T able of contents Read this first ......................................................................................... 2 Operation flow . ...................................................................................... 7 Getting star ted Step 1: Charging the batt ery pack ............................................................[...]

9 T able of contents GB Customizing y our camcorder Using menus ....................................................................................... 47 Getting detailed information from the “Handycam” Handbook . ........................ 53 Additional inf ormation T roubleshooting ..............................................................[...]

10 GB Getting star ted Step 1: Charg ing the battery pack Y ou can char ge the “I nfoLITHIUM ” bat tery p ack (V series) after a ttaching it t o your camcor der . DCR-SX15E/SX20E Battery pack DC IN jack DC plug AC Adaptor Pow er cord (Mains lead) CHG (charge) lamp T o the wall outlet (wall socket) Battery pack DC IN jack CHG (charge) lamp DC pl[...]

11 Getting started GB Notes Y ou cannot at tach any “ InfoLITHIU M” bat tery pack other than the V series to your camcor der . 1 T urn off your camcor der by closing the L CD screen. 2 Attach the battery pack by sliding it in the direction of the arrow until it clicks. 3 Connect the AC Adapt or and the power cor d (mains lead) to your camcorder[...]

12 GB T o remove the battery pack Close the LCD screen. Slide the BA TT (b a ttery) release lever (  ) and remo ve the batt er y pack (  ). T o use a wall outlet (wall socket) as a power source Make the same co nnections as “ Step 1: Char ging the battery pack. ” E ven if the batt er y pack is attach ed, the battery pack is not dischar ge[...]

13 Getting started GB Step 2: T urning the power on, and setting the date and time 1 Open the L CD screen of y our camcorder . Y our camcor der turns on. 2 Select the desired geographical area by selecting / with  /  of the multi-selector , keep pressing the c enter of the multi-selector until the desired geographical ar ea is turned on a lig[...]

14 GB If yo u set [SUMMER TIME] to [O N], the clock advances 1 ho ur . 5 Select [NEXT ] with  of the multi-selector , then press the center of the multi-selector . 6 Set the date and time by repeating the pr ocedure bellow .  Highlight the desired item with  /  o f the multi-selector .  S elect the setting value with  /  of the[...]

15 Getting started GB Using the Multi-selector  S elect a but ton b y placing an ora nge frame o ver it usin g  /  /  /  of the mul ti-selector .  P ress the center o f the multi-selector t o confirm your selection. Changing the language setting Y ou can chan ge the on-screen displa ys to sho w messages in a specified language. Se[...]

16 GB Step 3: P reparing the r ecording media The recor ding media that can be used differs depending on y our camco rder . The following icons ar e displa yed on the screen of y our camcor der . DCR-SX15E/SX20E: Memo ry card DCR-SR15E/SR20E: * In ternal hard disk Memo ry card * In the defaul t setting, both movies and ph otos are r ecorded on this[...]

17 Getting started GB Selecting the recording media for photos (DCR-SR15E/SR20E)  Select (MENU)  [Show others]  [MEDIA SET TINGS] (under [MANAGE MEDIA ] category)  [PHOT O MEDIA SET ]. The [PHOT O MEDI A SET] screen a ppears.  Select the desired recording media.  Select [ YES]  . The recor ding medium is cha nged. T o check the[...]

18 GB Size of memory cards that can be used with your camcorder Only “M emory Stick Duo ” media that is about a half the size of the standa rd “ Memo ry Stick” media, and standard-sized S D memory cards can be used. Do not at tach a label, etc., to a memory card o r memory card adapt or . D oing so ma y cause a malfunction. Open the cover ,[...]

19 Getting started GB Dubbing or copying movies and photos fr om the internal recor ding media to memory card (DCR-SR15E/SR20E) Select (MENU)  [Show others]  [M OVIE DUB]/[PH OTO COPY] (under [EDIT] categ ory), then follow the displa ys on the screen.[...]

20 GB Recording/Playback Recording In the defa ult setting, movies a re recor ded on the follo wing recor ding media. DCR-SX15E/SX20E: M emory card DCR-S R15E/SR20E: In ternal har d disk Tips See page 16 on changing the r ecording media (DCR -SR15E/SR20E). T o open the lens cover Slide the LENS COVER switc h to open. Tips When you finish r ecording[...]

21 Recording/Playback GB 2 Open the L CD screen of y our camcorder . Y our camcor der turns on. Y ou can switch recor ding modes by p ressing MO DE. Press M ODE un til the desired mode icon appears. Recording movies Press ST ART/STOP to start recording. T o stop recordin g, press S T ART/ST OP again.  MODE button (Mo vie): When recordin g a movi[...]

22 GB The icons an d indicator s on the LCD panel will be display ed for abou t 3 seconds, then disappear after turning on yo ur camcor der or switching the r ecording (m ovie/photo)/p layback modes. T o display the icons and in dicators a gain, pres s the multi-selector . Notes If you c lose the LCD screen while recording mo vies, the camcorder s [...]

23 Recording/Playback GB Data code during recor ding The recor ding date , time and condi tion ar e recorded a uto matically on the r ecording media. They are no t display ed during recor ding. H owever , you can check them a s [DA T A CODE] during pla yback. T o display them, select (MENU)  [Sho w others]  [PLA YBACK SET] (under [PLA YBA CK][...]

24 GB  Press PHO TO lightly to adjust the focus , then press it fully . When disappears, the phot o is recorded . Tips See page 58 on the recorda ble number of p hotos. T o change the ima ge size, select (MENU)  [Show o thers]  [ IMAGE SIZE] (under [PHOTO S ETTINGS] category)  a desired setting   . Y ou can check the recor dable n[...]

25 Recording/Playback GB Pla yback on the camcorder In the defa ult setting, movies a nd photos tha t are r ecorded on the f ollowing r ecording m edia are pla yed. DCR-SX15E/SX20E: M emory card DCR-S R15E/SR20E: In ternal har d disk Tips See page 16 on changing the r ecording media (DCR -SR15E/SR20E). 1 Open the L CD screen of y our camcorder . Y [...]

26 GB  appears wi th the movie or pho to that was most r ecently pla yed or recor ded. If yo u select the movie or p hoto with  , yo u can contin ue playback from the p revious time. (  a ppears on the photo r ecorded on a memo ry card.) Playing movies Y our camcor der starts playing the selected mo vie. Tips When pla yback from the select[...]

27 Recording/Playback GB Viewing photos Y our camcor der displa ys the selected photo . Tips When viewing phot os recorded o n a memory card, (playback folder) a ppears on the screen.   Previous T o the VISU AL INDEX screen T o start/stop slide sh ow Next OPTION[...]

28 GB Playing images on a T V Connect your camcor der to the inp ut jack of a TV or V CR using the A/V co nnecting cable (supp lied). Connect your camcor der to the wall outlet (wall socket) using the sup plied AC A da pto r for this opera tion (p . 12). Refer also to the instruction manuals su pplied with the devices to be connected.  Set the i[...]

29 Recording/Playback GB When your T V is monaural ( When your T V has only one audio input jack) Connect the yellow plug o f the A/V connecting cable to the video in put jack a nd connect the white (left channel) o r red (right cha nnel) plug t o the audio in put jack o f your TV or V CR. If your T V/VCR has a 21-pin adaptor (EUROC ONNECTOR) U se [...]

30 GB Making good use of your camcorder Deleting movies and photos Y ou can free media space by deleting movies and p hotos fro m recor ding media. Notes Y ou cannot resto re images o nce they are deleted. Sav e important mo vies and pho tos in advance. Do not remo ve the batt ery p ack or the A C Ada ptor fro m your camco rder while deleting the i[...]

31 Making good use of your camcorder GB  In step 2, select [ DELETE]  [ DELETE by da te]. T o delete all photos o n the same day at o ne time, select [ DELETE]  [ DELETE by dat e].  S elect / to select the recordin g date o f the desired movies/ph otos, then select . Press LI GHT when thumbna il is selected to confirm the image. Select [...]

32 GB Saving movies and photos with a comput er Pr eparing a computer ( Windows) Y ou can perform fo llowing opera tions usin g “PMB (Pictur e Mo tion Br owser). ” Im porting images to a com pu ter V iewing and editing im ported images Creating a di sc U ploading mo vies and phot os to websit es T o s av e movies and p hotos usin g a comp uter [...]

33 Saving movies and photos with a computer GB  Confirm that your camcor der is not connected to the computer .  T urn on the computer . Log on as an A dministrato r for installation. Close all applicatio ns running on the comp uter befor e installing the software.  Place the supplied CD-ROM in the disc drive of your comput er . The instal[...]

34 GB Connect the camcorder to the co mpu ter during the installation. When the installatio n is com pleted, followin g icons will ap pear . Remove the CD-RO M from y our comp uter . : Starts “PMB . ” : Displays “ PMB H elp . ” : Displays “ PMB Launcher . ” “PMB Launcher” en ables you t o start “PMB ” or other softwar e, or to o[...]

35 Saving movies and photos with a computer GB Star ting PMB (P icture Motion Browser) Double-click the “ PMB ” short-cut icon o n the comp uter screen. Notes If the icon is no t display ed on the comp uter screen, click [Start]  [All Progra ms]  [ PMB] to start “PMB . ” Y ou can view , edit, or creat e discs of movies and pho tos usi[...]

36 GB 3 Select [DISC BURN]. 4 F ollow the instructions on the computer screen. Notes Mo vies and phot os are not sa ved on the comp uter when you perfo rm One T ouch Disc Burn.   Impor ting movies and photos to a c omputer Mo vies and pho tos recor ded on your camcor der can be imported to a com pu ter . T ur n on the co mpu ter before hand. [...]

37 Saving movies and photos with a computer GB 3 Click [Impor t]. Refer to “PMB H elp ” (p. 35) f or details. Mo vies and pho tos are im ported to your com pu ter . When the opera tion is com pleted, the “PMB ” screen ap pears.  Creating a disc Y ou can crea te a disc by selecting movies previous ly imported to yo ur com puter (p . 36). [...]

38 GB 5 F ollow the instructions on the screen to crea te a disc. I t may take a lon g time to create a disc. Copying a disc Y ou can cop y a recorded disc to a nother disc using “V ide o Disc Copier . ” Click [Start]  [All Program s]  [PMB]  [PMB Launcher]  [Disc creatio n]  [V ideo Disc Copier] to start the software. See “V i[...]

Saving images with an external device 39 GB Saving images with an external device Saving images in external media (DIREC T C OPY ) Y ou can sav e movies an d photos o n external media (USB stora ge device), such as an external hard disk driv e. Y ou can also pla y back images on the ca mcorder o r another playback device. Notes For this o peration,[...]

40 GB 5 Select [Copy .] on the camcor der screen. DCR-S R15E/SR20E: Mo vies and pho tos in the internal recor ding media of the camco rder that have n ot yet been saved on t o external media can be saved. DCR-SX15E/SX20E: Mo vies and pho tos that ha ve not y et been saved on to external media can be saved. This screen will appear only when ther e a[...]

41 Saving images with an external device GB T o play back images in the external media on the camcorder  S elect [Play wi thout cop ying.] in step 5 above. The VISU AL INDEX screen of the external media is display ed.  P lay back the image (p . 25). Y ou can also view images on a TV connected to your ca mcorder (p . 28). Notes The Date I ndex[...]

42 GB Creating a disc with a DVD writer , recorder Creating a disc with the dedicat ed DVD writer , DVDirect Express Y ou can crea te a disc or pla y back the images on a cr eated disc by u sing the dedicated DVD wri ter , DVDirect Express (sold separately). Refer also to the instruction manual supp lied with the DVD writer . Notes Connect your cam[...]

43 Saving images with an external device GB  Select on the screen, then disconnect the USB cable. T o customize a disc with DISC BURN OPTION P erform this operation in the f ollowing cases: When dub bing a desired imag e When crea ting multi ple copies o f the same disc When dub bing images in the mem ory card (DCR-S R15E/SR20E)  S elect [DIS[...]

44 GB the screen, insert another disc into the D VD writer and perform the DISC B URN operation again. Tips If the total memo ry size of movies to be burnt by the DISC B URN operation exceeds tha t of the disc, disc creation sto ps when the limit is reached. The last mo vie on the disc may be cut off. Disc creation time to d ub movies to the limi t[...]

45 Saving images with an external device GB  Record movies on the connected device. For details, r efer to the instruction manuals su pplied with the device to be connected.  After the operation is completed , select [END]  [ YES] on the camcorder screen.  Disconnect the USB cable. Creating a disc with a r ecorder , etc. Y ou can dub im[...]

46 GB  Start playback on your camcorder , and record it on the recording devic e. Refer to the instruction man uals supplied with your reco rding device for details.  When dubbing is finished, stop the recording devic e, and then your camcorder . Notes Since dubb ing is performed via analog data transfer , the image quality may deterio rate. [...]

Customizing your camc order 47 GB Customizing y our camcorder Using menus U sing the men us, you ca n perform useful functions and chang e various settings. I f you make good use of menu opera tions, yo u can enjo y using your ca mcorder . The camcor der has various men u item s under each of eight m enu cat egories. MANU AL SETTINGS (I tems to adj[...]

48 GB  S elect .  S elect [Show o thers] on the MY MENU screen. See the next page for details on MY MENU .  S elect the menu i tem to be chang ed.  A fter changing the setting, select . T o f inish setting the men u, select . T o return to the previous men u screen, select . may no t be displayed depending on the men u item. Notes Y ou [...]

49 Customizing your camc order GB Repeat the same steps abo ve to register m enu it ems on MY MENU , and en joy using y our “H andyca m. ” Tips When an external sto rage device is connected, the excl usive MY MENU a ppears. Using the OPTION MENU The OPTIO N MENU appears j ust like the pop-up windo w that a ppears when you righ t-click the mouse[...]

50 GB Menu lists (MANU AL SET TINGS) category SCENE SELECTION .................. Selects an ap prop riate reco rding setting accor ding to the type of scene, such as night view or beach. F ADER .................................... Fades scenes in or out. WHITE BAL. ................................ Adju sts the color balance to the brigh tness of th[...]

51 Customizing your camc order GB (EDIT ) category DELETE DELETE ........................ Deletes movies. DELETE ........................ Deletes ph otos. PROTECT PROTECT ..................... Protects movies to a void deletin g. PROTECT ..................... Pro tects photos to a void deleting. DIVIDE ................................... Divides mo[...]

52 GB (GENERAL SET ) categor y SOUND/DISP SET VOL UME ............................ A dj usts the volume o f playback sound (p . 26). BEEP ................................... Sets w hether the camco rder sounds opera tion beeps or not. L CD BRIGHT ..................... Adju sts the brightness of the L CD screen. L CD BL LEVEL .................. Ad j[...]

53 Customizing your camc order GB Getting detailed information fr om the “Handycam ” Handbook The “H andy cam ” Han dbook is a user guide designed to be read on a com put er screen. The “H andy cam ” Han dbook is intended to be read when you wan t to know m ore abou t operating y our camcor der . 1 T o install the “Handycam ” Handbo[...]

54 GB Additional inf ormation T roubleshooting If yo u run into an y pr oblems using y our camcor der , follow the steps below .  Check the list (p. 54 to 56), and inspect your camcorder .  Remove the power sourc e, attach the power sourc e again after about 1 minute, and turn the camcorder on.  Press RESET (p. 64, 65) using a pointed obje[...]

55 Additional information GB The recor ding stops. The tempera ture of y our camcor der is extremely high/low . T urn off your camco rder and leave i t for a while in a cool/warm place. “PMB” cannot be installed. Check the comp uter en vironmen t or installation pr ocedure requir ed to install “PMB ” (p . 32). “PMB” does not work correc[...]

56 GB The Imag e Database File is damag ed. Check the data base file by selecting (MENU)  [Show o thers]  [REP AIR IMG.DB F .] (under [MAN A GE MEDI A] cat egory)  the recordin g medium (DCR-S R15E/SR20E). The memory card is damag ed. Forma t the memory card with your ca mcorder (p . 51). Incom patible mem ory card is inserted (p. 18). [...]

57 Additional information GB Recording time of movies/number of recor dable photos Expected time of recording and playback with each battery pack Recording time A ppr oxima te time ava ilable when you use a fully charged ba ttery pack. DCR-SR15E/SR20E (unit: minu te) Battery pack Con tinuous recor ding time T ypical recording time NP -FV30 (supp li[...]

58 GB technology causes fluctuations in the r ecording time of the media. Mo vies conta ining quickly moving an d complex im ages are r ecorded at a higher bit-ra te, and this red uces the overall recordin g time. Memor y card (unit: minu te) HQ SP LP 512MB 6 (5) 9 (5) 20 (10) 1GB 10 (10) 20 (10) 40 (25) 2GB 25 (25) 40 (25) 85 (55) 4GB 55 (50) 80 ([...]

59 Additional information GB Pr ecautions On use and care Do not use or sto re the camcor der and accessories in the following loca tions: Anywhere extrem ely hot, cold o r humid. Never lea ve them exposed to temperatur es a bove 60  C (140 °F), such a s under direct sunlight, near hea ters or in a car park ed in the sun. They may malfunction o[...]

60 GB Han dling the camcorder wi th above substances on y our hands Leaving the casing in con tact with rubber or vinyl objects for a lo ng period of time About care and storage of the lens W ipe the surface of the lens clean with a soft cloth in the follo wing instances: When there a re fingerprints o n the lens surface In hot o r humid location s[...]

61 Additional information GB Specifications System Signal forma t: P AL color , CCIR standar ds Mo vie recordin g format: V ideo: MPEG-2 PS A udio recordin g system: Dolby Digital 2ch Dolby Digital St ereo Creato r Photo file forma t : DCF V er .2.0 Compatible : Exif V er .2.21 Compa tible : MPF Baseline Compatible Recording media (M ovie/Pho to) I[...]

62 GB Dimensions (a ppr ox.): 48 mm  29 mm  81 mm (1 15/16 in. × 1 3/16 in. × 3 1/4 in.) (w/h/d) excluding the p rojecting parts M ass (a ppr ox.): 170 g (6.0 oz) excl uding the power cor d (mains lead) * See the label on the AC A dapto r for o ther specifications. Rechargeable battery pack NP-FV30 Maxim um outp ut voltag e: DC 8.4 V Outpu [...]

Quick referenc e 63 GB Quick refer ence Screen indicators Upper left Indicator Meaning MENU butt on Self-timer recording MICREF LEVEL lo w WIDE SELECT BL T-IN ZOOM MI C 60 min Remaining bat tery Recording f older of memory card VIDEO LIGHT Return but ton Center Indicator Meaning [STBY]/[REC] Re cor ding statu s Pho to size Slide show set  W arni[...]

64 GB P ar ts and contr ols Figures in ( ) a re ref erence pages. DCR-S R15E/SR20E  Lens  LENS COVER switch  Built-in microphone  LED VIDEO LIGHT DCR-SX15E/SX20E  Lens  LENS COVER switch  Built-in microphone  LED VIDEO LIGHT  LCD scr een If you r otat e the LCD panel 180 degrees, you can close the LCD panel with the LCD s[...]

65 Quick referenc e GB DCR-SX15E/SX20E  Speaker   (USB) jack (33, 36, 39, 42) DCR-SX15E: o utpu t only  A/V OUT jack (28)  MODE button (21)   (Backlight) button  RESET button Press RES ET using a point ed object. Press RES ET to initialize all the settings including the clock settin g. DCR-S R15E/SR20E  Pow er zoom lever [...]

66 GB DCR-SX15E/SX20E  Pow er zoom lever  PHOT O button (24)  POWER lamp  ST AR T/ST OP button (21)  Battery pack (10)  CHG (charge) lamp (10)  Grip belt (20)  DC IN jack (10)  Access lamp (memory card) (17) While the lamp is li t or flashing, the camcorder i s reading or writing da ta.  BA T T (battery) release lever [...]

67 GB Quick referenc e Y ou will find the menu lists on pages 50 to 52. Index L LANGU AGE SET .......................15 M Macint osh .................................... 32 Main tenance ................................ 59 MEDI A SETTINGS .................... 16 Memo ry card ...............................17 “M emory Stick ” media ..............[...]

GB Addi tional informa tion on this p roduct and answers t o frequently a sked question s can be found a t our Cus tomer Su pport W ebsite. http://www.son y .net/ Printed in China[...]