Model 163 Moviecorder 8 Camcorder (160-0864) Care and Maintenance Faxback Doc. # 19175 Your Optimus Model 163 MovieCorder 8 Camcorder is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for the camcorder so you can enjoy it for years. Keep the camcorder dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids can contain minerals that corrode electronic circuits. Use and store the camcorder only in normal temperature environments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic devices, damage batteries, and distort or melt plastic parts. Handle the camcorder gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage circuit boards and cases, and cause it to work improperly. Keep the camcorder away from dust and dirt, which can cause premature wear of parts. Wipe the camcorder with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to clean it. Modifying or tampering with the camcorder's internal components can cause a malfunction and might invalidate its warranty and void your FCC authorization to operate it. If your camcorder is not performing as it should, take it to your local Radio Shack store for assistance. Handling Remove the cassette tape and turn off the power when the camcorder is not in use. Avoid shocks and drops. Do not drop or otherwise subject the camcorder to hard shocks or strong vibrations. Bumping or striking the camcorder during recording generates noise in the recorded image. To protect the lens, always replace the lens cap when the camcorder is not in use. Do not touch the lens surface with your hand. Do not point the camcorder lens or the viewfinder eyepiece at the sun, whether recording is in progress or not. Direct sunlight can make recording impossible, burn the CCD imager, and damage the camcorder beyond repair. Be particularly careful when recording outside. Do not use the camcorder in excessive temperatures and humidity. You can use the camcorder between 32 degrees F and 104 degrees F and between 35% and 80% relative humidity. Do not store the camcorder in an unventilated car in the summer, in direct sunlight, or near strong heat sources. This can result in severe damage to the camcorder's case and electronic circuits. Avoid magnetic sources. Using the camcorder near strong fluorescent lights, motors, televisions, or other magnetic sources can adversely affect recorded images. Avoid situations where water, sand, dust or other foreign matter could get on or inside the camcorder. Such substances could cause malfunctions. Do not use or leave the camcorder in areas with excessive smoke, steam, dust, or moisture. Such environments can cause dew to form on the camcorder's lenses. Be sure to provide ample ventilation. Do not use the camcorder on its side. The tape might not wind properly and might jam. Some small, portable tripods might be difficult to connect and might not be sturdy enough to support your camcorder. Be sure to use only a strong, stable tripod. Servicing Your Camcorder Except as noted in this owner's manual, there are no user-serviceable parts inside your camcorder. If you encounter a problem that you cannot correct using this owner's manual and its troubleshooting guide or the sections below, take the camcorder to your local Radio Shack store for assistance. To clean the camcorder's lens and optical elements, use air blowers and lens papers designed for photographic lenses. Follow these steps to clean the picture tube face and lens inside the eyepiece. 1. Rotate the eye cup counterclockwise and pull it out to remove it. 2. Use a cotton swab to clean the picture tube face and lens. 3. Fit the tab on the eye cup into the groove on the viewfinder, push it in, then turn it clockwise to replace it. Cleaning the Video Heads The camcorder's video heads require cleaning from time to time. Dirty video heads can cause the playback picture to become blurred. Use an 8 mm VCR/camcorder head cleaner kit (such as Cat. No. 44-1204, available at your local Radio Shack store) to clean the video heads only when there is a problem. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions included with the kit. If the problem persists, head cleaning requiring highly technical care might be necessary. Contact your local Radio Shack store for assistance. Erase Protection Video cassettes have an erase-protection tab to prevent accidental erasure of a tape. If the erase-protection tab is closed, the camcorder cannot record on the tape. If you try to record on a tape with the erase-protection tab closed, TAPE flashes in the viewfinder for about 5 seconds, then disappears. Attaching an Optional Filter/Lens To attach an optional 46 mm filter or lens to the camcorder, remove the lens hood by turning it counterclockwise, attach the filter or lens by turning it clockwise onto the camcorder, then replace the lens hood. CAUTION: Be careful not to touch the camcorder's lens. NOTE: If you attach an optional filter or lens to the camcorder, the camcorder's auto focus will not work properly. Storing Your Video Cassettes Eject and store the cassette when you finish using it. This helps protect the cassette and the camcorder's internal mechanisms from dust. Place your video cassettes in their protective boxes and store them in a cool, dry, dust-free environment. Store the cassettes on end, not on their sides. This prevents improper setting of the cassette's spools. NOTE: Tape can become wound too tightly around the cassette's spools after numerous recordings and playbacks. This can cause the cassette to improperly load when you insert it. The FCC Wants You to Know This device complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two condition: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment complies with the limits for a Class B digital device as specified in Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits provide reasonable protection against radio and TV interference in a residential area. However, your equipment might cause TV or radio interference even when it is operating properly. To eliminate interference, you can try one or more of the following corrective measures: Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the distance between the equipment and the radio or TV Use outlets on different electrical circuits for the equipment and the radio or TV Consult your local Radio Shack store if the problem still exists. You must use shielded interface cables with this equipment. (JC 11/16/95)