Samsung HMX-U15BN - Manual

Warning To Reduce The Risk Of Fire Or Electric Shock, Do Not Expose This Apparatus To Rain Or Moisture. Caution Apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.To disconnect the apparatus from the mains, the p...

23. OVERLOADING: Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock. 24. OBJECTS AND LIQUIDS: Never push objects of any kind into this CAMCORDER through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out a part that could result in a ...

USER INSTALLER CAUTION: Your authority to operate this FCC certified equipment could be voided if you make changes or modifications not expressly approved by this party responsible for compliance to part 15 FCC rules. NOTE: Hg LAMP(S) INSIDE THIS PRODUCT CONTAIN MERCURY AND MUST BE RECYCLED OR DISPOSE...

The safety precautions illustrated below are to prevent personal injury or material damages. Heed all instructions carefully. WARNING Prohibited action. Do not touch the product. Do not disassemble the product. This precaution must be kept. Unplug from the power supply. WARNING Means that there is a...

CAUTION Do not expose the camcorder to sudden changes in temperature or a humid place. There is also a risk of defect or electric shock when using outdoors during lightning storms. Do not expose the camcorder to soot or steam. Thick soot or steam could damage the camcorder case or cause a malfunctio...

safety information Keep important data separately. Samsung is not responsible for data loss. Use Samsung-approved accessories only. Using products from other manufacturers may cause overheating, fire, explosion, electric shock or personal injuries caused by abnormal operation. Place the camcorder on ...

QUICK START GUIDE 06 GETTING TO KNOW THE CAMCORDER 10 GETTING STARTED 15 BASIC OPERATION OF THE CAMCORDER 20 FIRST TIME SETTINGS 23 contents 10 What’s included with your camcorder 11 Location of controls 13 Identifying the screen displays 15 Using the battery 17 Checking the battery state 20 Turning...

1. Insert a memory card. You can use commercially available SDHC (SD High Capacity) or SD memory cards with this camcorder. page 25 2. Insert the battery into the battery slot. 3. Charge the battery fully. page 16 The battery is fully charged when the CHG (charging) indicator light turns green. • • ...

Your camcorder uses advanced H.264 compression technology to give you the clearest video quality. 1. Press the Power ( ) button. 2. Press the Recording start/stop ( ) button. To stop recording, press the Recording start/stop ( ) button again. • Your camcorder can record high quality photos with a 4:...

STEP3: Play back videos or photos Viewing videos or photos on the LCD screen You can find your desired recordings quickly by using the thumbnail index view. 1. Press the Play ( ) button to select the play mode. 2. In Play Mode, select “ HD Video ,” “ SD Video ,” or “ Photo .” page 46 The recorded vid...

Importing and viewing videos/photos from the camcorder to your PC 1. Start the Intelli-studio program by connecting the built-in USB jack of the camcorder to the PC. A new file saving screen appears with the Intelli-studio main window. Click “ Yes .” The uploading procedure starts. 2. Any new files ar...

The contents may vary depending on the sales region.Parts and accessories can be purchased after consulting with your local Samsung dealer. SAMSUNG is not responsible for reduced built-in battery life time or malfunctions caused by any unauthorized use of accessories such as the AC power adaptor.A m...

Front & Left side LOCATION OF CONTROLS   Jack cover ( )   HDMI jack   DC IN jack   OPEN lever   Play ( ) button   Built-in USB jack   Built-in speaker   LCD screen   Recording start/stop ( ) button   Zoom (W/T) lever   Photo ( ) button   MENU button   / / / /OK button 11

1 Video record mode 2 Remaining recordable time 3 Operating mode ( STBY (Standby) / M (Recording)) 4 Photo counter (total number of recordable photos) 5 Photo record mode 6 Photo resolution 7 Digital zoom 8 Battery information (remaining battery level) 9 Warning indicators 10 Date/Time display 11 Sm...

1 Video play mode 2 Operating status (Play / Pause) 3 Time code (elapsed time/recorded time) 4 File name (file number) 5 Recorded date/time display 6 Battery information (remaining battery level) 7 Button guide 8 Shortcut menu (OK Guide) / / / : Move to previous file / REW (rewind) / Slow motion playb...

Inserting the battery 1. Slide and open the battery cover as shown in the fi gure. 2. Insert the battery into the battery slot until it locks. Make sure that the SAMSUNG logo is facing up and the battery is placed as shown in the fi gure. 3. Close the battery slot cover. • Ejecting the battery 1. Slid...

PRECHECK! Be sure to charge the battery before you start using your camcorder. Use the AC adaptor supplied with the camcorder or the built-in USB jack. 1. Press the Power ( ) button to turn off the camcorder. 2. Charge the battery using the adaptor or USB. The charging (CHG) indicator lights up and ...

The battery level display shows the amount of battery power remaining in the battery. Battery level indicator State Message Fully charged - 25~50% used - 50~75% used - 75~95% used - 95~98% used - Exhausted (flickers): The device will soon turn off. Change the battery as soon as possible. - - After 3 ...

Available running time for the battery Battery type IA-BH130LB Charging time 180min. (AC power adaptor) / 360min. (Built-in USB jack) Video resolution HD SD Mode Continuous recording time 110min. 120min. Playback time 240min. 280min. Charging time: Approximate time in minutes (min.) required to full...

About the battery life Battery capacity decreases over time and through repeated use. If decreased usage time between charges becomes significant, it is probably time to replace the battery it with a new one.Each battery’s life is affected by storage, operating, and environmental conditions. About th...

This camcorder provides one record mode for both video and photo recordings. You can easily record videos or photos in the same mode without having to switch modes. When the camcorder is turned on, the self-diagnosis function operates and a message may appear. In this case, refer to "Warning ind...

USING THE / / / /OK BUTTON Button Record mode Play mode Menu selection Video play mode: Single view Photo play mode: Single view OK Access the shortcut menuConfirm selectionExit the shortcut menu • •• Access the shortcut menuPlayback / Pause • • Access the shortcut menuPlayback / Playback zoom (x2.0 ...

fi rst time settings Built-in rechargeable battery Your camcorder includes a built-in rechargeable battery that retains the date and time settings even after the power is turned off. If the battery is depleted, the current date/time values are reset to the default values. You need to recharge the bu...

Submenu items “English” “ ⦽ǎᨕ ” “Français” “Deutsch” “Italiano” “Español” “Português” “Русский” “ ፩ၭ ” “ ” SELECTING THE OSD LANGUAGE You can select the language in which the camcorder displays the menu screen and the messages. 1. Press the MENU button. The menu screen appears. 2. Press the / button...

To insert a memory card 1. Slide and open the memory card cover as shown in the figure. 2. Insert the memory card into the card slot until it softly clicks. Make sure that the terminal portion is facing up and the camcorder is placed as shown in the figure. 3. Close the memory card cover. • To eject a...

Compatible memory cards This camcorder can be used with SD (Secure Digital) and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards. We recommend you use an SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) card. SD cards up to 2GB are supported with this camcorder. Normal operation is not guaranteed with SD cards bigger t...

RECORDABLE TIME AND CAPACITY The following tables show the camcorder's maximum recording time and number of images according to video or photo resolution and memory card capacity. For recording videos and photos, please note the approximate maximum limits. Media Memory Card (SDHC/SD) Capacity 1GB 2G...

USING THE WRIST STRAP Attach the strap and place your hand through the loop to prevent the camcorder from being dropped. BASIC CAMCORDER POSITIONING Hold your camcorder properly while recording to avoid covering the lens and the internal microphone with your fingers and pressing any buttons accidentl...

RECORDING VIDEOS OR PHOTOS This camcorder supports both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) image resolutions. It also supports various resolutions for photos.Set your desired resolution before recording. pages 41, 43 PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 Check the subject on the LCD s...

Do not operate the Power ( ) button or remove the memory card while accessing the storage media. Doing so may damage the storage media or the data on the storage media. Videos are compressed in the H.264 (MPEG-4.AVC) format.Eject the battery when you have finished recording to prevent unnecessary bat...

RECORDING WITH AUTO SCENE DETECTION (SMART AUTO) User-friendly SMART AUTO optimizes your camcorder to the recording conditions automatically, providing beginners with the best performance. 1. Press the SMART AUTO button. The Smart Auto ( ) icon appears on the LCD screen. 2. Align your subject in the...

Note that the image quality decreases when you use the digital zoom. The image quality may deteriorate depending on how much you zoom in on the subject. Frequent use of the zoom function consumes more power.The minimum focal length between the camcorder and the subject is 20cm.If you use the zoom wh...

basic playback CHANGING THE PLAYBACK MODE You can set the record mode and the play mode in turn with the Play ( ) button. When you shift to the play mode, the most recently created file is highlighted in the thumbnail view.The camcorder selects the thumbnail display options based on the standby mode ...

PLAYING VIDEOS You can find desired videos quickly using the thumbnail index view. PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 1. Press the Play ( ) button to select the play mode. The thumbnail index view appears.You can select a thumbnail display of HD Videos, SD Videos, or Photos using the “ Play Mode...

Various playback operations Still playback (pause) ( / ZZ ) Press the OK button during playback. - To resume normal playback, press the OK button again. Search playback ( / ) During playback, press and hold the / button for reverse search/forward search.Pressing the / button repeatedly increases the...

VIEWING PHOTOS You can find and view desired photos quickly using the thumbnail index view. PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 1. Press the Play ( ) button to select the play mode. The thumbnail index view appears.You can select a thumbnail display of HD Videos, SD Videos, or Photos using “ Play...

ZOOMING DURING PHOTO PLAYBACK You can magnify the played back photo image using the OK button on the camcorder. 1. Select the photo you want to magnify. 2. Adjust the magnification with the OK button. The screen is framed and the image is magnified starting from the center of the image.You can zoom in...

40 advanced recording CHANGING THE MENU SETTINGS You can change the menu settings to customize your camcorder.Access the desired menu screen by following the steps below, then change the various settings. •• 1. Press the MENU button. The menu screen appears. 2. Press the / button to select " Vid...

45 Example of Time Lapse Recording The Time Lapse Recording function records image frames at a predefined interval over the total recording time to produce a time-lapse video. Time Lapse Recording is useful for filming in the following situations: Blooming flowersA bird building a nestClouds rolling by...

46 advanced playback PLAYBACK MENU ITEMS The menu items you can access depend on the operation mode.For operation details, see the corresponding page. Items Video Photo Default value Page Thumbnail view Single view Thumbnail view Single view Play Mode M M HD Video 46 Delete M M M M - 47 Protect M M ...

49 Divide You can divide a video into two, and easily delete a section you no longer need. As this functionedits the original file, make sure to back up important recordings separately. PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 Set the Playback mode to “ HD Video ” or “ SD Video .” page 46 1. Press the...

50 Share Mark You can set the share mark on a video and directly upload the marked file to the YouTube site. PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 Set the Playback mode to “ HD Video ” or “ SD Video .” page 46 1. Press the MENU button / button “ Share Mark ” OK button. 2. Select the desired video w...

51 Slide Show You can playback all the photos stored in the storage media automatically. PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 Set the Playback mode to “ Photo .” page 46 Press the MENU button / button “ Slide Show ” OK button. The indicator ( ) is displayed and the slide show starts from the curr...

52 Storage Info Storage Info displays the storage information. You can view the storage media, used memory space, and available memory space. PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 1. Press the MENU button / button “ Settings .” 2. Press the / button “ Storage Info ” OK button. Used memory space, m...

53 Format The format function deletes all files (including protected files) and options on the storage media. You can also use this function if you want to correct problems with the storage media. PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 1. Press the MENU button / button “ Settings .” 2. Press the / bu...

55 Auto LCD Off To reduce power consumption, the camcorder automatically dims the brightness of the LCD screen if the camcorder is idle for a period of time. 1. Press the MENU button / button “ Settings .” 2. Press the / button “ Auto LCD Off ” OK button. 3. Select the desired submenu item with the ...

57 Auto Power Off To save battery power, you can set the " Auto Power Off " function to 5 Min. This setting turns off the camcorder if there is no operation for five minutes. 1. Press the MENU button / button “ Settings .” 2. Press the / button “ Auto Power Off ” OK button. 3. Select the desi...

58 TV Display When the camcorder is connected to a TV, you can turn the camcorder’s on screen display (OSD) on and off on the TV screen. 1. Press the MENU button / button “ Settings .” 2. Press the / button “ TV Display ” OK button. 3. Select the desired submenu item with the / button. OK button. 4....

60 WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A WINDOWS COMPUTER You can perform the following functions by connecting your camcorder to your Windows computer with the built-in USB plug and using the Intelli-studio software built into your camcorder. Intelli-studio editing software main functions:- Playing back recorded ...

61 Make sure you insert the USB plug into the USB jack with the plug facing in the correct direction.Use the AC power adaptor to power the camcorder when transferring files to your computer.When the built-in USB plug is connected, turning the camcorder on or off may cause the PC to malfunction.If you...

62 Step 2. About the Intelli-studio main window When the Intelli-studio starts up, thumbnails of videos and photos are displayed in the main window. 1. Menu items 2. Switches to Library of the computer and connected camcorder. 3. Switches to Photo Edit mode. 4. Switches to Movie Edit mode. 5. Switch...

63 Step 3. Playing back videos or photos You can play back recordings conveniently using the Intelli-studio application. 1. Run the Intelli-studio program. page 62 2. Click the desired folder to display your recordings. Video or photo thumbnails appear on the screen, depending on the folder you sele...

64 For more information about Intelli-studio use, see the Help Guide by clicking “ Help .” Step 5. Sharing the videos/photos online Share your contents with the world by uploading photos and videos directly to a web site with one click. 1. Select the videos or photos you want to share. 2. Click “ Sh...

65 Step 1 On the camcorder, select a video you want to upload in the video thumbnail index view, and then press the Share ( ) button. Repeat for each video you want to upload. The Share mark ( ) appears on each video. You can also set the Share mark on selected videos using the menu. page 50 Step 2 ...

67 USING AS A REMOVABLE STORAGE DEVICE You can transfer or copy recorded data to a Windows computer by connecting the camcorder’s USB plug to the computer’s USB port. Viewing the contents of storage media 1. Set “ PC Software: Off .” page 57 2. Insert a memory card. 3. Connect the built-in USB plug ...

68 Structure of folders and files on the storage media The folder and file structure for storage media is below.File naming follows DCF (Design rule for Camera File System) rules. •• Video file (H.264) ➀ The HD-quality (1920x1080 30p, 1280x720 60p, or 1280x720 30p) videos have an HDV_####.MP4 format.Th...

69 connecting to other devices CONNECTING TO A TV You can view the recorded videos and photos on a large screen by connecting the camcorder to an HDTV or Standard TV. PRECHECK! Insert a memory card. page 25 Using a mini HDMI cable (not supplied) To play back the HD-quality (1080/30p, 720/60p, or 720...

70 You can use only a C to A type mini HDMI cable with this camcorder.The HDMI jack on the camcorder provides output only.Use only HDMI 1.3 cable when connecting to the HDMI jack of this camcorder. If you connect using HDMI cable that is not version 1.3 compatible, the screen display may not work.Do...

71 Before contacting a Samsung authorized service center, perform the following simple checks.They may save you the time and expense of an unnecessary call. WARNING INDICATORS AND MESSAGES Power source Message Icon Informs that... Action Low Battery - The battery is almost discharged. Charge the bat...

73 SYMPTOMS AND SOLUTIONS If these instructions do not solve your problem, contact your nearest Samsung authorized service center. Power Symptom Explanation/Solution The camcorder does not turn on. Charge the battery.If you use an AC power adaptor, make sure it is properly connected to the wall outl...

74 Storage Media Symptom Explanation/Solution Memory card functions are not operable. Insert a memory card into your camcorder properly. page 26 If you are using a memory card formatted on a computer, format it again directly on your camcorder. page 53 •• Image cannot be deleted. Release the lock on...

76 Adjusting the image during recording Symptom Explanation/Solution It is out of focus. This camcorder has no user-adjustable focus control function.The minimum focal length between the camcorder and the subject is 20cm (about 7.87 inches). •• Playback on your camcorder Symptom Explanation/Solution...

77 Connecting to a computer Symptom Explanation/Solution Your computer does not recognize your camcorder. Disconnect the built-in USB plug of the camcorder from the PC, restart the PC, and then reconnect camcorder correctly. • Cannot play a video file properly on a PC. A video codec is needed to play...

78 General operations Symptom Explanation/Solution The date and time are incorrect. Has the camcorder been left unused for a long period of time? The backup built-in rechargeable battery may be discharged. page 16 • Menu Symptom Explanation/Solution Menu items are grayed out You cannot select grayed...

79 maintenance & additional information MAINTENANCE Cautions when storing For safekeeping of the camcorder, turn off the camcorder.- Remove the battery and AC power adaptor. pages 15, 16 - Remove the memory card. page 25 LCD screen Do not push the LCD screen too hard or strike it with anything.W...

80 USING YOUR CAMCORDER ABROAD Each country or region has its own electric and color systems.Before using your camcorder abroad, check the following items. Power sources The provided AC adaptor lets you power and use your camcorder in any country/region that has AC power in the 100 V to 240 V, 50/60...

81 specifications Model name HMX-U15BN/HMX-U15LN/HMX-U15ON/HMX-U15WN System Video signalPicture compression formatAudio compression formatImage device LensFocal length NTSCH.264 (MPEG-4.AVC)AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)1/2.3”, CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) F2.6, Digital zoom: x26.5mm L...

SAMSUNG LIMITED WARRANTY SAMSUNG Electronics America Inc. (SEA), warrants that this product is free from defective material and workmanship.SEA further warrants that if product fails to operate properly within the specified warranty period and the failure is due to improper workmanship or defective m...