Sony Digital 8 Manual

							Additional Information
Additional Information101
Specification
Video camera recorder
System
Video recording systemFor TRV138/338:
2 rotary heads, Helical scanning FM system
For TRV280:
2 rotary heads, Helical scanning system
Audio recording system
For TRV138/338:
Rotary heads, FM system 
For TRV280:
Rotary heads, PCM system
Quantization: 12 bits (Fs 32 kHz, stereo 1, 
stereo 2), 16 bits (Fs 48 kHz, stereo)
Video signal NTSC color, EIA standards
Usable cassette
8 mm video format cassette
Tape speed For TRV138/338:
SP: Approx. 14.35 mm/s 
LP: Approx. 7.19 mm/s 
For TRV280:
SP: Approx. 28.67 mm/s 
LP: Approx. 19.11 mm/s
Recording/playback time (using 120 min. Hi8/
Digital8 video cassette) For TRV138/338:
SP: 2 h
LP: 4 h
For TRV280:
SP: 1 h
LP: 1 h 30 min
Fast forward/rewind time (using 120 min. Hi8/
Digital8 video cassette)
Approx. 5 min
Viewfinder Electric viewfinder (monochrome)
Image device For TRV138/338:
3.0 mm (1/6 type) CCD (Charge Coupled 
Device)
Gross: Approx. 320 000 pixels
Effective: Approx. 200 000 pixels
For TRV280:
3.0 mm (1/6 type) CCD (Charge Coupled 
Device)
Gross: Approx. 460 000 pixels
Effective: Approx. 290 000 pixels
Lens
Combined power zoom lens
Filter diameter: 37 mm (1 1/2 in.)
20 × (Optical), 990 × (Digital)
F=1.6 - 2.4
Focal length 2.5 - 50 mm (1/8 - 2 in.)
When converted to a 35 mm still camera
42 - 840 mm (1 11/16 - 33 1/8 in.)
Color temperature
Auto
Minimum illumination For TRV138/338:
1 lx (lux) (F 1.6)
For TRV280:
4 lx (lux) (F 1.6)
0 lx (lux) (in the NightShot plus mode)*
1
*1Objects unable to be seen due to the dark can be 
shot with infrared lighting.
Input/Output connectors
Audio/Video output AV MINIJACK
Video signal: 1 Vp-p, 75  Ω (ohms), 
unbalanced, sync negative
Audio signal: 327 mV (at output impedance 
more than 47 k Ω (kilohms)), Output 
impedance with less than 2.2 k Ω (kilohms)
For TRV138/338:
Monaural minijack (ø 3.5 mm)
For TRV280:
Stereo minijack (ø 3.5 mm)
DV input/output For TRV280:
4-pin connector, S100 
USB jack For TRV280:
mini-B
LCD screen
Picture
6.2 cm (2.5 type)
Total dot number 123 200 (560 × 220)
,continued 
						

							Additional Information102
General
Power requirementsDC 7.2 V (battery pack)
DC 8.4 V (AC Adaptor)
Average power consumption (when using the 
battery pack) For TRV138/338:
During camera recording using the viewfinder
1.8 W
During camera recording using the LCD
2.7 W
For TRV280:
During camera recording using viewfinder
2.5 W
During camera recording using LCD
3.4 W
Operating temperature 0° C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F)
Storage temperature
-20°C to + 60 °C (-4 °F to + 140 °F)
Dimensions (approx.) 85 × 98 × 151 mm (3 3/8 × 3 7/8 × 6 in.) (w/h/
d)
Mass (Approx.) 780 g (1 lb 11 oz) main unit only
890 g (1 lb 15 oz) including the NP-FM30 
rechargeable battery pack, Hi8/Digital8 
cassette, lens cap, and shoulder strap
Supplied accessories See page 11.
AC Adaptor   AC-L15A/L15B
Power requirementsAC 100 - 240 V, 50/60 Hz
Current consumption 0.35 - 0.18 A
Power consumption
18 W
Output voltage DC 8.4 V*
2
Operating temperature0° C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F)
Storage temperature
-20°C to + 60 °C (-4 °F to + 140 °F)
Dimensions (approx.) 56 × 31 × 100 mm (2 1/4 × 1 1/4 × 4 in.) (w/h/
d) excluding the projecting parts
Mass (approx.) 190 g (6.7 oz) excluding the power cord
*2See the label on the AC Adaptor for other 
specifications.
Rechargeable battery pack (NP-FM30)
Maximum output voltage DC 8.4 V
Output voltage
DC 7.2 V
Capacity 5.0 Wh (700 mAh)
Dimensions (approx.) 38.2 × 20.5 × 55.6 mm 
(1 9/16 × 13/16 × 2 1/4 in.) (w/h/d)
Mass (approx.) 65 g (2.3 oz)
Operating temperature
0° C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F)
Type Lithium ion
Design and specifications are subject to change 
without notice. 
						

							Additional Information
Additional Information103
Types of differences
z Provided
— Not provided Model CCD- DCR-
TRV138 TRV338 TRV280
Recording system Hi8 Hi8 Digital8
Playback system Hi8/8 Hi8/8 Digital8
Audio recording Monaural Monaural Stereo
AUDIO/VIDEO jack OUT OUT OUT
DV Interface — — IN/OUT
USB jack — — z
SteadyShot — zz 
						

							Quick Reference104
Quick Reference
Identifying parts and 
controls
Camcorder
ALens cap (p. 21, 25)
B LCD screen (p. 3, 16)
C OPEN button (p. 16)
D REC START/STOP button on LCD 
frame (p. 21)
E Zoom buttons on LCD frame (p. 23)
F VOLUME –/+* button (p. 34)
G END SEARCH button (p. 33)
H Speaker
I Viewfinder (p. 3, 16)
If you attach the large capacity battery pack 
NP-QM71D/QM91D (optional) to the 
camcorder, extend and lift up the 
viewfinder and adjust its angle.
J Battery pack
K LIGHT button (p. 23) L
FADER button (p. 30)
M BACK LIGHT button (p. 27)
N FOCUS button (p. 29)
O SEL/PUSH EXEC dial (p. 41)
* This button has a tactile dot.
To attach the lens cap 
						

							Quick Reference
Quick Reference105
ABuilt-in light (p. 23)
B Lens
C Infrared ray emitter (p. 62, 68)
D Camera recording lamp (p. 21, 26) E
Microphone
F NIGHTSHOT PLUS switch (p. 28) 
G EASY button (p. 26, 36)
H DISPLAY/BATT INFO button (p. 13, 
37)
A Jack cover
B For TRV280:
A/V OUT jack (p. 39, 60)
C For TRV280:
DV Interface (p. 60)
D For TRV280:
 (USB) jack E
For TRV138/338: 
A/V OUT jack (p. 39, 59)
,continued 
						

							Quick Reference106
ARESET button (p. 82)
B For TRV280:
BURN DVD/VCD
You can easily take a picture recorded on 
the tape and burn it onto a DVD or CD-R. 
For details on BURN DVD, see “Creating a 
DVD (Direct Access to “Click to DVD”)” 
(p. 79), and on BURN VCD, see “First Step 
Guide” in the supplied CD-ROM.
For TRV138/338:
EASY DUB (Easy Dubbing) button 
(p. 62)
C TITLE button (p. 31)
D EXPOSURE button (p. 28)
E MENU button* (p. 41)
F Video control buttons (p. 34)
 STOP (stop) 
 REW (rewind)
 PLAY (playback) * 
 FF (fast-forward)
 PAUSE (pause)
G CHG (charge) lamp (p. 12)
H CAMERA mode lamp (p. 15) I
PLAY/EDIT mode lamp (p. 15)
J For TRV280:
Rec buttons (p. 66)
 REC (rec)
K For TRV138/338: 
COUNTER RESET button (p. 22)
L For TRV138/338: 
TIME button (p. 18, 25)
M For TRV138/338: 
DATE button (p. 18, 25)
* This button has a tactile dot. 
						

							Quick Reference
Quick Reference107
AViewfinder lens adjustment lever (p. 16)
B Eyecup
C Cassette lid 
D OPEN/EJECT lever (p. 18) E
Tripod receptacle
Make sure that the length of the tripod 
screw is less than 5.5 mm (7/32 inch).
Otherwise, you cannot attach the tripod 
securely, and the screw may damage your 
camcorder.
A Power zoom lever (p. 23)
B BATT (battery) release button (p. 12)
C Hooks for shoulder strap
D For  TRV280:
PHOTO button (p. 25)
E POWER switch (p. 15)
F Grip belt (p. 4)
G REC START/STOP button (p. 21)
H DC IN jack (p. 12)
To attach the shoulder strap 
Attach the shoulder strap supplied with your 
camcorder to the hooks for the shoulder strap.
,continued 
						

							Quick Reference108
Indicators for the LCD screen and viewfinder
Following indicators will appear on the LCD 
screen and viewfinder to indicate the state of 
your camcorder.
Indicators and their on-screen/viewfinder 
positions vary depending on your camcorder 
model.
IndicatorsMeanings
y60min Remaining battery time 
(p. 22)
SP   LP Recording mode (p. 22)
STBY  REC Recording standby/
recording mode
Mirror mode (p. 24)
  Tape photo recording  (p. 25)
Format indicator
Audio mode (p. 52)
Remaining tape (p. 22)
Interval recording (p. 54)
Frame recording (p. 53)
DV input (p. 66)
  Built-in light (p. 23) NightShot plus (p. 28)
Q  E  Z Warning (p. 92)
0:00:00STBY60min
Example: Indicators in the CAMERA mode
Time code (p. 22)/Tape counter (p. 22)/Self-
diagnosis (p. 92)/Tape photo recording (p. 25)
Manual exposure (p. 28)
9   Manual focus (p. 29)
. Back light (p. 27)
     PROGRAM AE (p. 42)
Picture effect (p. 43)
16:9 WIDE/CINEMA/16:9 
FULL (p. 46)
 ( ) SteadyShot off (p. 48)
IndicatorsMeanings 
						

							Quick Reference
Quick Reference
109
Index
Numerics
16:9 WIDE mode .........46, 47
A
A/V connecting cable.........................39, 59, 60
AC Adaptor ........................15
Adjusting the viewfinder ...16
AUDIO MIX ......................50
AUDIO MODE ..................52
AUTO DATE .....................55
AUTO SHTR .....................44
Auto shut off function  (A.SHUT OFF) ...........57
B
BACK LIGHT ...................27
BatteryBattery Info .................13
Battery pack ................12
Remaining battery time
........................22, 96
BEEP ..................................57
BLACK FADER ................30
Built-in light.......................23
BURN DVD/VCD .....79, 106
C
Camera settings data display
.....................................37
Cassette ........................18, 95
CD-ROM ...........................72
Charging the battery
Battery Pack ................12
Pre-installed rechargeable  battery .................100
Cleaning cassette..............100
Clock set  (CLOCK SET) ......17, 55
D
Data code 
(DATA CODE) .....37, 57
Date/time ............................37
DEMO MODE ...................56 Digital program editing 
(VIDEO EDIT) ........... 67
Digital zoom (D ZOOM)... 45
Digital8 system .................. 95
Direct Access to 
“Click to DVD” .......... 79
DirectX 9.0c ...................... 76
Display DISPLAY ................... 58
Display indicator....... 108
DNR................................... 50
Dual sound track tape ........ 49
Dubbing ............................. 59
DV Interface ...................... 79
E
Easy Dubbing .................... 62
Easy Handycam ........... 26, 36
EDIT .................................. 49
END SEARCH .................. 33
Exposure ............................ 27
F
FADER .............................. 30
First Step Guide ........... 73, 74
Focus ................................. 29
Frame recording  (FRAME REC) ........... 53
Full charge ......................... 12
G
Grip belt............................... 4
H
Hi8/standard 8 mm system .................................... 95
HiFi SOUND ..................... 49
I
i.LINK ............................... 97
i.LINK cable .... 60, 67, 72, 79
ID-1/ID-2 system............... 47
ImageMixer VCD2 ............ 74
“InfoLITHIUM” battery pack
.................................... 96
Infrared ray emitter...... 62, 68
Install ................................. 74
Interval recording 
(INT. REC) ................. 54
L
Language(LANGUAGE) ..... 19, 56
LCD back light  (LCD B.L.) ................. 51
LCD brightness  (LCD BRIGHT) ......... 16
LCD COLOR .................... 51
LCD screen ......................... 3
LP (Long Play) See Recording mode 
(REC MODE)
LTR SIZE.......................... 55
M
Macintosh.................... 73, 77
Main sound See HiFi SOUND
Menu ................................. 41 CAMERA SET........... 45
LCD SET .................... 51
MANUAL SET .......... 42
OTHERS .................... 57
PLAYER SET ............ 49
SETUP MENU ........... 55
TAPE SET .................. 52
VCR SET.................... 49
Mirror mode ...................... 24
Moisture condensation ...... 99
Monaural ..................... 21, 40
MONOTONE FADER...... 31
MOSAIC FADER ............. 30
N
NightShot Light  (N.S. LIGHT) ....... 29, 48
NightShot plus .................. 28
NTSC ................................ 94
O
On-line help ................ 77, 78
Operation confirmation beep See BEEP
ORC .................................. 52
, continued 
						

							Quick Reference110
P
PAL ................................... 94
Picture effect (P EFFECT) ................ 43
Picture Package ................. 74
Picture search .................... 35
Playing time ...................... 14
Power mode....................... 15
PROGRAM AE................. 42
R
Recording capacity
Display........................ 22
REMAIN .................... 53
Recording lamp  (REC LAMP).............. 58
Recording mode  (REC MODE) ....... 22, 52
Recording time .................. 14
RESET............................. 106
S
Self-diagnosis display ....... 92
Setting the date and time ... 17
Skip scan ........................... 35
SP (Standard Play) See Recording mode (REC MODE)
STEADYSHOT................. 48
Stereo........................... 21, 40
STRIPE FADER ............... 31
Sub sound See HiFi SOUND
T
Tape counter ...................... 22
Tape photo recording ........ 25
TBC ................................... 50
TelephotoSee Zoom
Time code .......................... 22
Title ................................... 31
TV color systems............... 94
U
USB cable ..........................72
USB jack ..........................105
USB Streaming  (USB STREAM) .........55
Using abroad ......................94
V
Video head .........................99
Viewfinder .........................16
Volume ..............................34
W
Warning indicators.............92
Warning messages .............93
WHITE FADER ................30
Wide angle See Zoom
Windows ......................73, 74
WORLD TIME ..................57
Write-protect tab ................95
Z
Zoom ..................................23