Sony DCR-SR15E - Manuals

GB Advice for successful recording  To get good results in recording Stabilizing your camcorder When you hold the camcorder, keep your upper body upright, and hold your arms close to your body. The SteadyShot function is effective against camera-shake, however, it is essential that you not move the...

7 GB  Useful recording techniques Flowers in close-up PORTRAIT (58) TELE MACRO (60) Recording in a dimly-lit room VIDEO LIGHT (26) Capturing fireworks, or a sunset in all its splendor FIREWORKS (58) SUNRISE&SUNSET (58) Checking your golf swing SPORTS (58)

8 GB Table of contents Read this first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Notes on use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

9 Table of c on ten ts GB Making good use of your camcorder Deleting movies and photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Protecting recorded movies and photos (Protect) . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

G etting star ted 11 GB Getting started Step 1: Charging the battery pack You can charge the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack (V series) after attaching it to your camcorder. Battery pack DC IN jack CHG (charge) lamp DC plug AC Adaptor To the wall outlet (wall socket) Power cord (Mains lead) DCR-SR15E/SR2...

12 GB Notes You cannot attach any “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack other than the V series to your camcorder. 1 Turn off your camcorder by closing the LCD screen. 2 Attach the battery pack by sliding it in the direction of the arrow until it clicks. 3 Connect the AC Adaptor and the power cord (mains lead)...

13 G etting star ted GB To remove the battery pack Close the LCD screen. Slide the BATT (battery) release lever (  ) and remove the battery pack (  ). To use a wall outlet (wall socket) as a power source Make the same connections as “Step 1: Charging the battery pack.” Even if the battery pack is ...

14 GB Step 2: Turning the power on, and setting the date and time 1 Open the LCD screen of your camcorder. Your camcorder turns on. 2 Select the desired geographical area by selecting / with  /  of the multi-selector, keep pressing the center of the multi-selector until the desired geographical ar...

15 G etting star ted GB If you set [SUMMERTIME] to [ON], the clock advances 1 hour. 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 procedure bellow.  Highlight the desired item with  /  of the multi-selector.  S...

1 GB Using the Multi-selector  Turn the desired button on a light with  /  /  /  of the multi-selector.  Press the center of the multi-selector to confirm your selection. Changing the language setting You can change the on-screen displays to show messages in a specified language. Select (MENU)...

17 G etting star ted GB Step 3: Preparing the recording media The recording media that can be used differs depending on your camcorder. The following icons are displayed on the screen of your camcorder. DCR-SX15E/SX20E: Memory card DCR-SR15E/SR20E: * Internal hard disk Memory card * In the default s...

18 GB Selecting the recording media for photos (DCR-SR15E/SR20E)  Select (MENU)  [Show others]  [MEDIA SETTINGS] (under [MANAGE MEDIA] category)  [PHOTO MEDIA SET]. The [PHOTO MEDIA SET] screen appears.  Select the desired recording media.  Select [YES]  . The recording medium is changed. To ...

19 G etting star ted GB Size of memory cards that can be used with your camcorder Only “Memory Stick Duo” media that is about a half the size of the standard “Memory Stick” media, and standard-sized SD memory cards can be used. Do not attach a label, etc., to a memory card or memory card adaptor. Do...

20 GB Recording/Playback Recording In the default setting, movies are recorded on the following recording media. DCR-SX15E/SX20E: Memory card DCR-SR15E/SR20E: Internal hard disk Tips See page 17 on changing the recording media (DCR-SR15E/SR20E). To open the lens cover Slide the LENS COVER switch to ...

21 Rec or ding/P la yback GB 2 Open the LCD screen of your camcorder. Your camcorder turns on. You can switch recording modes by pressing MODE. Press MODE until the desired mode icon appears. Recording movies Press START/STOP to start recording. To stop recording, press START/STOP again.  MODE butt...

23 Rec or ding/P la yback GB Data code during recording The recording date, time and condition are recorded automatically on the recording media. They are not displayed during recording. However, you can check them as [DATA CODE] during playback. To display them, select (MENU)  [Show others]  [PLA...

24 GB  Press PHOTO lightly to adjust the focus, then press it fully. When disappears, the photo is recorded. Tips See page 80 on the recordable number of photos. To change the image size, select (MENU)  [Show others]  [ IMAGE SIZE] (under [PHOTO SETTINGS] category)  a desired setting   .   ...

25 Rec or ding/P la yback GB Useful functions for recording movies and photos Zooming You can magnify images up to 50 times the original size with the power zoom lever. Move the power zoom lever slightly for a slower zoom. Move it further for a faster zoom. Notes SteadyShot may not reduce image blur...

2 GB If you record in the LP mode, the quality of movies may be degraded, or scenes with quick movements may appear with block noise when you play back the image. Tips You can select the [ REC MODE] for each recording media separately (DCR-SR15E/SR20E). Using the VIDEO LIGHT You can use the VIDEO LI...

27 Rec or ding/P la yback GB Playback on the camcorder In the default setting, movies and photos that are recorded on the following recording media are played. DCR-SX15E/SX20E: Memory card DCR-SR15E/SR20E: Internal hard disk Tips See page 17 on changing the recording media (DCR-SR15E/SR20E). 1 Open ...

28 GB  appears with the movie or photo that was most recently played or recorded. If you select the movie or photo with  , you can continue playback from the previous time. (  appears on the photo recorded on a memory card.) Playing movies Your camcorder starts playing the selected movie. Tips Wh...

29 Rec or ding/P la yback GB Viewing photos Your camcorder displays the selected photo. Tips When viewing photos recorded on a memory card, (playback folder) appears on the screen.   Previous To the VISUAL INDEX screen To start/stop slide showNext OPTION

32 GB Make sure that you set [FACE DETECTION] to [ON] (p. 61) (the default setting) prior to recording, to search movies on the Face Index. Tips You can also display the Face Index by selecting (MENU)  [Show others]  [VIEW IMAGES] (under [PLAYBACK] category)  [ FACE]. Playing back a series of pho...

33 Rec or ding/P la yback GB Playing images on a TV Connect your camcorder to the input jack of a TV or VCR using the A/V connecting cable (supplied). Connect your camcorder to the wall outlet (wall socket) using the supplied AC Adaptor for this operation (p. 13). Refer also to the instruction manua...

34 GB When your TV is monaural (When your TV has only one audio input jack) Connect the yellow plug of the A/V connecting cable to the video input jack and connect the white (left channel) or red (right channel) plug to the audio input jack of your TV or VCR. If your TV/VCR has a 21-pin adaptor (EUR...

M ak ing good use of y our camc or der 35 GB Making good use of your camcorder Deleting movies and photos You can free media space by deleting movies and photos from recording media. Notes You cannot restore images once they are deleted. Save important movies and photos in advance. Do not remove the...

37 M ak ing good use of y our camc or der GB Protecting recorded movies and photos (Protect) Protect movies and photos to avoid deleting them by mistake. Tips You can protect movies and photos on the playback screen from OPTION MENU. 1 Select (MENU)  [Show others]  [PROTECT] (under [EDIT] category...

38 GB Dividing a movie 1 Select (MENU)  [Show others]  [ DIVIDE] (under [EDIT] category). 2 Select the movie to be divided. The selected movie starts playback. 3 Select at the point where you want to divide the movie into scenes. The movie pauses. Play and pause toggles as you press . 4 Select  [...

39 M ak ing good use of y our camc or der GB Capturing a photo from a movie (DCR- SR15E/SR20E/SX20E) 1 Select (MENU)  [Show others]  [PHOTO CAPTURE] (under [EDIT] category). The [PHOTO CAPTURE] screen appears. 2 Select the movie to be captured. The selected movie starts playback. 3 Select at the p...

40 GB Dubbing/copying movies and photos from the internal recording media to memory card (DCR-SR15E/SR20E) Dubbing movies You can dub movies recorded on the internal recording media of your camcorder to memory card. Insert memory card into your camcorder before the operation. Notes When you record a...

41 M ak ing good use of y our camc or der GB [DUB by date]: Select the recording date of the movie to be dubbed, then select . You cannot select multiple dates.  Select  [YES]   . Tips To check the dubbed movies after dubbing is finished, select [MEMORY CARD] on [MOVIE MEDIA SET] and play them b...

43 M ak ing good use of y our camc or der GB Using the Playlist of movies The Playlist is a list showing thumbnails of the movies that you have selected. The original movies are not changed even if you edit or erase the movies added to the Playlist. Creating the Playlist  Select (MENU)  [Show othe...

44 GB Movies added to the Playlist appear.  Select the movie you want to play back. The Playlist is played back from the selected movie to the end, then the screen returns to the Playlist screen. To erase unnecessary movies from the Playlist  Select (MENU)  [Show others]  [PLAYLIST EDIT] (under ...

Sa ving images with an e xter nal devic e 45 GB Saving images with an external device Saving images in external media (DIRECT COPY) You can save movies and photos on external media (USB storage device), such as an external hard disk drive. You can also play back images on the camcorder or another pl...

4 GB 5 Select [Copy.] on the camcorder screen. DCR-SR15E/SR20E: Movies and photos in the internal recording media of the camcorder that have not yet been saved on to external media can be saved. DCR-SX15E/SX20E: Movies and photos that have not yet been saved on to external media can be saved. This s...

47 Sa ving images with an e xter nal devic e GB To play back images in the external media on the camcorder  Select [Play without copying.] in step 5 above. The VISUAL INDEX screen of the external media is displayed.  Play back the image (p. 27). You can also view images on a TV connected to your c...

48 GB Creating a disc with a DVD writer, recorder Creating a disc with the dedicated DVD writer, DVDirect Express You can create a disc or play back the images on a created disc by using the dedicated DVD writer, DVDirect Express (sold separately). Refer also to the instruction manual supplied with ...

49 Sa ving images with an e xter nal devic e GB  Select on the screen, then disconnect the USB cable. To customize a disc with DISC BURN OPTION Perform this operation in the following cases: When dubbing a desired image When creating multiple copies of the same disc When dubbing images in the memor...

51 Sa ving images with an e xter nal devic e GB  Record movies on the connected device. For details, refer to the instruction manuals supplied with the device to be connected.  After the operation is completed, select [END]  [YES] on the camcorder screen.  Disconnect the USB cable. Creating a di...

Customizing y our camc or der 53 GB Customizing your camcorder Using menus Using the menus, you can perform useful functions and change various settings. If you make good use of menu operations, you can enjoy using your camcorder. The camcorder has various menu items under each of eight menu categor...

54 GB  Select .  Select [Show others] on the MY MENU screen. See the next page for details on MY MENU.  Select the menu item to be changed.  After changing the setting, select . To finish setting the menu, select . To return to the previous menu screen, select . may not be displayed depending on...

55 Customizing y our camc or der GB Repeat the same steps above to register menu items on MY MENU, and enjoy using your “Handycam.” Tips When an external storage device is connected, the exclusive MY MENU appears. Using the OPTION MENU The OPTION MENU appears just like the pop-up window that appears...

5 GB Menu lists (MANUAL SETTINGS) category SCENE SELECTION 58 FADER 58 WHITE BAL. 59 EXPOSURE 60 FOCUS 60 TELE MACRO 60 (SHOOTING SET) category REC MODE 25 GUIDEFRAME 61 STEADYSHOT 61 AUTO SLW SHUTTR 61 FACE DETECTION 61 AUDIO REC SET BLT-IN ZOOM MIC 62 MICREF LEVEL 62 OTHER REC SET DIGITAL ZOOM 62 ...

58 GB MANUAL SETTINGS (Items to adjust for scene condition) See “Using menus” (p. 53) on the operation. The default settings are marked with  . SCENE SELECTION You can record images effectively in various situations.  AUTO Records images in average image quality without the [SCENE SELECTION] funct...

59 Customizing y our camc or der GB WHITE FADER Fades in/out with the white effect. Out In BLACK FADER Fades in/out with the black effect. Out In To cancel the fader before starting the operation, select [OFF]. Tips When you press START/STOP, the setting is cleared. A movie recorded using [BLACK FAD...

0 GB from inside the house, or vice versa, you need to redo the [ONE PUSH] procedure to readjust the white balance. EXPOSURE You can fix the brightness of a picture manually. Adjust the brightness when the subject is too bright or too dark. Select / to adjust the brightness. To adjust the exposure a...

1 Customizing y our camc or der GB SHOOTING SET (Items for customized shooting) See “Using menus” (p. 53) on the operation. The default settings are marked with  . REC MODE (Recording mode) See page 25. GUIDEFRAME You can display the frame and check that the subject is horizontal or vertical. The f...

2 GB AUDIO REC SET  BLT-IN ZOOM MIC (Built-in zoom microphone) You can record a movie with vivid sound appropriate to the zoom position.  OFF The microphone does not record sound following zooming in or out. ON ( ) The microphone records sound following zooming in or out.  MICREF LEVEL (Microphon...

3 Customizing y our camc or der GB PHOTO SETTINGS (Items for recording photos) See “Using menus” (p. 53) on the operation. The default settings are marked with  . SELF-TIMER Press PHOTO to start the count down. A photo is recorded after about 10 seconds.  OFF Cancels the self-timer. ON ( ) Starts ...

4 GB PLAYBACK (Items for playback) See “Using menus” (p. 53) on the operation. VISUAL INDEX See page 27. VIEW IMAGES  DATE INDEX See page 30.  FILM ROLL See page 30.  FACE See page 31. PLAYLIST See page 43. PLAYBACK SET  DATA CODE During playback, your camcorder displays the information (Date/ti...

5 Customizing y our camc or der GB EDIT (Items for editing) See “Using menus” (p. 53) on the operation. DELETE See page 35. PROTECT See page 37. DIVIDE See page 38. PHOTO CAPTURE (DCR-SR15E/SR20E/SX20E) See page 39. MOVIE DUB (DCR-SR15E/SR20E) See page 40. PHOTO COPY (DCR-SR15E/SR20E) See page 41. P...

GB MANAGE MEDIA (Items for recording media) See “Using menus” (p. 53) on the operation. MEDIA SETTINGS (DCR-SR15E/SR20E) See page 17. MEDIA INFO You can check the remaining recordable time for each recording mode of the recording media for movies and the approximate free and used media space of the ...

7 Customizing y our camc or der GB or [EMPTY] when you use the camcorder next time. REPAIR IMG.DB F. See page 73, 76. GENERAL SET (Other setup items) See “Using menus” (p. 53) on the operation. The default settings are marked with  . SOUND/DISP SET  VOLUME You can adjust the volume of playback sou...

8 GB the screen outside and close the LCD panel to the camcorder body, the setting becomes [NORMAL] automatically. Tips This adjustment does not affect the recorded images in any way.  LCD COLOR You can adjust the color of the LCD screen by selecting / . Tips This adjustment does not affect the rec...

9 Customizing y our camc or der GB NEVER The camcorder does not turn off automatically. Notes When you connect your camcorder to a wall outlet (wall socket), [A.SHUT OFF] is automatically set to [NEVER]. OTHER SETTINGS  DEMO MODE When your camcorder is connected to a wall outlet (wall socket), a de...

70 GB Additional information Troubleshooting If you run into any problems using your camcorder, follow the steps below.  Check the list (p. 70 to 78), and inspect your camcorder.  Disconnect the power source, attach the power source again after about 1 minute, and turn the camcorder on.  Press RE...

71 Additional inf or mation GB [FOCUS] [BLT-IN ZOOM MIC] [MICREF LEVEL] [DROP SENSOR] (DCR-SR15E/SR20E) Backlight The following menu items return to the default settings when you switch between movie recording and photo recording and playback modes. [ FADER] [TELE MACRO] [ SELF-TIMER] Your camcorder...

74 GB Playing back images stored on memory card on other devices Images cannot be played back or the memory card is not recognized. The device may not support memory card. Editing movies/photos on your camcorder Unable to edit. Unable to edit because of the condition of the image. Movies cannot be a...

75 Additional inf or mation GB Examples of functions that cannot be used simultaneously The following list shows examples of unworkable combinations of functions and menu items. Cannot use Because of following settings Backlight [MANUAL] in [EXPOSURE], [FIREWORKS] [FACE DETECTION] [ DIGITAL ZOOM], [...

7 GB (Low temperature warning) Fast flashing The temperature of your camcorder is extremely low. Make the camcorder warm. (Warning indicator pertaining to memory card) Slow flashing Free spaces for recording images are running out. For the type of memory card you can use with your camcorder, see pag...

78 GB This memory card may not be able to record or play images correctly. Use a memory card recommended for your camcorder (p. 19). Do not eject the memory card during writing. Data may be damaged. Reinsert the memory card, and follow the instructions on the LCD screen. Other No further selection i...

79 Additional inf or mation GB Recording time of movies/number of recordable photos Expected time of recording and playback with each battery pack Recording time Approximate time available when you use a fully charged battery pack. DCR-SR15E/SR20E (unit: minute) Battery pack Continuous recording tim...

81 Additional inf or mation GB Using your camcorder abroad Power supply You can use your camcorder in any countries/regions using the AC Adaptor supplied with your camcorder within the AC 100 V to 240 V, 50 Hz/60 Hz range. On TV color systems Your camcorder is a PAL-system-based camcorder. If you wa...

82 GB Setting to the local time You can easily set the clock to the local time by setting a time difference when using your camcorder abroad. Select (MENU)  [Show others]  [CLOCK/ LANG] (under [GENERAL SET] category)  [AREA SET] and [SUMMERTIME] (p. 68). World time difference Time-zone difference...

83 Additional inf or mation GB Maintenance and precautions About the memory card Memory card formatted by a computer (Windows OS/Mac OS) does not have guaranteed compatibility with your camcorder. Data read/write speed may vary depending on the combination of the memory card and memory card complian...

85 Additional inf or mation GB About storage of the battery pack If the battery pack is not used for a long time, fully charge the battery pack and use it up on your camcorder once a year to maintain proper function. To store the battery pack, remove it from your camcorder and put it in a dry, cool ...

Q uick r ef er ence 89 GB Quick reference Screen indicators Upper left Indicator Meaning MENU button (53)Self-timer recording (63)MICREF LEVEL low (62)WIDE SELECT (62)BLT-IN ZOOM MIC (62) 60 min Remaining batteryRecording folder of memory cardVIDEO LIGHT (26)Return button (53) Center Indicator Meani...

90 GB Parts and controls Figures in ( ) are reference pages. DCR-SR15E/SR20E  Lens  LENS COVER switch  Built-in microphone  LED VIDEO LIGHT (26) DCR-SX15E/SX20E  Lens  LENS COVER switch  Built-in microphone  LED VIDEO LIGHT (26)  LCD screen (26, 53) If you rotate the LCD panel 180 degrees, ...

93 GB Q uick r ef er ence Index DIVIDE ........................................38DROP SENSOR ..........................69Dubbing .......................................40DVDirect Express .......................48DVD writer............................48, 50 E EMPTY ......................................