Model 161 Moviecorder (160-0862) Hints and Tips Faxback Doc. # 14429 HINTS FOR MAKING BETTER VIDEOS If you are not familiar with camera techniques, there are many books about the subject available at your local library. However, because the camcorder is so simple to use and because tape can be used again and again. It is inexpensive to experiment and learn as you go. The following information will help you get started. When you are using auto focus, position the subject in the center of the screen. Use manual focus if you need to position the subject off center (see "Manual Focus" on Faxback Doc. # 31679). Avoid subjects that are lit from behind. For the best picture, the light should be shining on the subject. If the background is brighter than the subject, use the background compensation feature to improve the picture (see "Gain-Up" on Faxback Doc. # 31679). Think about how to best frame the shot before you zoom. When image shake is noticeable in zoomed in telephoto shots, either zoom out from the subject or use a tripod. Panning (moving the camera horizontally) and tilting (moving the camera vertically) should be done slowly to emphasize the wide expanse of a scene or the height of a building. Too much movement or fast movement makes your recordings look awkward. HOLDING THE CAMCORDER The camcorder's rotating LCD monitor lets you record videos in more relaxed positions since you can see the subject on-screen, without having to hold the camcorder against your eye. Put the fingers of your right hand through the hand strap, and place your right thumb close to the REC START/STOP and power zoom buttons. Place your left thumb in the indentation on the left side of the LCD monitor. Hold the camcorder steady to prevent image shake. NOTES: Be careful not to touch the monitor screen because perspiration and dust will smudge it. Unless you intend to create a special effect, keep the camcorder horizontally level. Be careful not to touch the microphone during recording: it will cause noise on the audio track. LIGHTING Lighting should be uniform. The camcorder can record in low-light conditions, but more light is usually better. The optimum brightness for top-quality pictures is between 500 and 100,000 lux. When the LIGHT indicator appears on the monitor, it means there is not enough illumination for recording. Either move to a brighter location, or supply more light. You can also use the gain-up mode (see "Gain-Up" on Faxback Doc. # 31679). CAUTION: Do not place a light source near the camcorder mechanism. The heat can damage the camcorder. BRIGHTNESS SITUATIONS The following charts show you the approximate brightness of light in different situations or from different light sources. Brightness Situation 100,000 Lux Clear day at noon 10,000 Lux Clear day at 10:00 AM (85,000) Clear day at 3:00 PM (35,000) Clear day at noon (32,000) Cloudy day at 10:00 PM (25,000) 1,000 Lux Cloudy day. One hour after sunrise (2,000) Clear day. One hour before sunset (1,000) Fluorescent light near window (1,000) Factory floor (700-800) Sales counter in department store (500-700) Bowling Alley (500) Library (400-500) Office with fluorescent lighting (400- 500) Fluorescent desk lamp (400) Flashlight at 3 feet (250) 10 Intermission at a theater (15-35) Cigarette lighter at 1 foot (15-20) Candies on a birthday cake at 8 inches (10-15) Candlelight (4) SOUND PICKUP If the sound sources for your video is only a few feet away, the built-in microphone, or, for distant sound sources, a super-directional shotgun microphone might be better. The camcorder's PLUG IN POWER MIC jack is for use with the microphone supplied with the optional sports jacket accessory (CMC No. 16-2020), or with any 2.5-4.0 volt DC-type microphone with a 1/8-inch plug. CAUTION: Make sure the microphone meets the above specifications. Using a different type of microphone could damage it or the camcorder. VISUAL SEARCH/REWIND/FAST FORWARD During playback in the VCR mode, press << or >> to visually search for a particular section of a recording. The fast forward or reverse picture displays on the monitor. When you find the scene you want, press PLAY (>) to return to normal playback. NOTES: The sound from the speaker is muted during visual search. Some picture noise appears during these searches. This is not a malfunction. When the tape is stopped in the VCR mode, press FF (>>) to rapidly fast forward or REW (<<) to rewind. When you estimate that the tape is near the scene you want, press and hold down >> or << to visually search for the scene. If it is still farther from that point, release >> or << to return to fast forward or rewind. When you find the scene you want, press STOP and then PLAY to begin normal playback. NOTE: The sound from the external speaker is muted during fast forward and rewind. STILL Press STILL (>|<) during playback to freeze the picture. To return to normal playback, press STILL again, or press PLAY (>). NOTES: The sound from the camcorder's speaker is muted during still. To protect the tape, the camcorder automatically returns to normal playback if it is left in the still mode for more than 5 minutes. The monitor has a function for suppressing picture noise during the still mode. However, when the camcorder is connected to a TV, there might be some picture noise on the TV screen during the still mode. See "Playing a Tape on a TV", on Faxback Doc. # 31683. USING THE TAPE COUNTER The tape counter display shows the elapsed recording time in hours, minutes, and seconds. Even if you turn off the counter display, it continues to count. You can use the counter to locate a particular section of tape in either the camera or the VCR mode. Press TAPE INFORMATION to turn on the counter control indicators. Press COUNTER to turn the tape counter display on or off. NOTE: The counter might differ slightly from the actual time. When the tape has been rewound or fast forwarded several times, there might be a difference of several seconds. Using Counter Reset with Memory You can reset the counter to 0:00.00 during playback or recording, and use the memory function to later return to that location. 1. Press TAPE INFORMATION to display the counter control indicators. If the MEMORY indicator does not appear, press COUNTER. 2. Press MEMORY to set the counter to the memory mode. M displays next to the counter. 3. During playback or recording, press RESET to reset the counter to zero at the point you want to return to. 4. Stop playback or recording. 5. Set the power switch to VCR (if necessary). 6. Press FF (>>) or REW (<<). The tape automatically stops when the counter reaches 0:00.00. 7. Press PLAY to begin playback, or set the power switch to CAMERA and begin recording. NOTE: The memory function does not work during visual search. Canceling the Counter Memory Press TAPE INFORMATION to display the counter control indicators. Then press MEMORY so M disappears from the display. The counter memory turns off, and the counter returns to normal. Press COUNTER to turn off the counter display. Press TAPE INFORMATION to clear the counter control indicators from the display. USING THE REMOTE CONTROL You can use the remote control to record yourself in a scene or to play back your recording from a distance on a TV connected to the Model 161. Use the buttons on the remote control to perform identical procedures to the buttons on the camcorder. Point it at the receiver window on the camcorder, and press the desired button. NOTES: Use the remote control within the range shown above, (15 degrees left, right, up or down from a line perpendicular to the Photoreceptor, to a maximum distance of 16 feet [5m]). When you zoom using the remote control, if possible, we recommend that you use a TV to monitor the picture. When you change the remote setting in either the camera or VCR mode, it is also changed in the other mode. Be careful not to let direct sunlight or bright light from interior illumination fall onto the remote control receiver window, as this may prevent the remote control from operating properly. Be sure that there are no obstacles between the remote control and the receiver window on the camcorder. ENABLING/DISABLING THE REMOTE CONTROL The Model 161 has a remote control on/off function to help you avoid activating a function by accidentally pressing the remote control buttons while you are carrying it. To disable or enable the remote control, do the following. 1. Slide the power switch to CAMERA or VCR. 2. Press MENU. The menu display appears on the monitor. NOTE: If you selected CAMERA and MENU 1 displays, press PAGE (symbol) so MENU 2 displays. 3. To disable the remote control, use \/ or /\ so the arrow points to REMOTE and press SET until the display changes to OFF. To enable the remote control, press SET until the display changes to ON. 4. Press MENU to turn off the menu display. SLOW MOTION There is no slow motion capability for this camera. The replacement battery is a National Parts item, orderable under Catalog Number CS-0263. (EB 4/4/96)