Sony Digital Camcorder DSR PD150 Operating Instructions

							Recording – Basics
21
W
T
T W
T W
Recording a picture
Using the zoom feature
To zoom with the zoom leverPress the power zoom lever a little for a slower zoom. Press it deeper for a faster zoom.
Using the zoom function sparingly results in better-looking recordings.
“T” side: for telephoto (subject appears closer)
“W” side: for wide-angle (subject appears farther away)
When you shoot close to a subject
If you cannot get a sharp focus, press the “W” side of the power zoom lever until the
focus is sharp. You can shoot a subject that is at least about 80 cm (about 2 feet 5/8 inch)
away from the lens surface in the telephoto position, or about 1 cm (about 1/2 inch)
away in the wide-angle position.
To zoom with the zoom ringUsing the zoom ring, you can control the zoom by your desired speed and you can
make fine adjustments.
During recording, turn the zoom ring to the desired speed.
Note
If you turn the zoom ring quickly, the zoom may not respond to the zoom ring
adjustment. Rotate the zoom ring with appropriate speed.
Zoom ring
For telephoto For wide-angle 
						

							22
Recording a picture
Using the digital zoom – Zoom greater than 12×
Zoom greater than 12× is performed digitally, if you set D ZOOM to 24× or 48× in the
menu settings. The digital zoom function is set to OFF as a default setting (p. 104). If
you use the digital zoom function, the picture quality deteriorates.
You cannot use the digital zoom:
–When you set PROG. SCAN to ON in the menu settings (p. 104).
–When the POWER switch is set to MEMORY.
Indicators displayed during recording
The indicators are not recorded on the tapes.
[a] Remaining battery time indicator
This appears after you turn on the power and wait for a while.
[b] Cassette memory indicator
This appears when using a tape with cassette memory.
[c] STBY/REC indicator
[d] Time code/User bits
[e] Remaining tape indicator
This appears after you insert a cassette.
[f] Guide frame
[g] DVCAM format/DV format in SP mode indicator
[h] Audio mode indicator
[i] Time indicator
[j] ND filter indicator
The most suitable mode will flash regardless of the current mode.
When you have selected it, the ND filter mode displayed on the LCD screen or in the
viewfinder will disappear.
[k] Date indicator
00:00:00:01
12:05:56PM32K DVCAM
45min40minREC
ND
1
[a] [b] [c]
[k]
[j] [i][g]
[h] [e]
[f] [d]
JUL  4 2000
T W
The right-ended portion of the bar
shows the digital zooming zone.
The digital zooming zone appears
when you set D ZOOM to 24× or 48×. 
						

							Recording – Basics
23
Recording a picture
Time code
The time code indicates the recording or playback time, “00:00:00:00” (hours : minutes :
seconds : frames). You cannot rewrite only the time code. You can preset the time code.
The time code can be preset or be reset during recording (p. 89). You can select the drop
frame or non-drop frame system using the menu.
On user bits display
You can display the user bits, pressing TC/U-BIT (p. 93).
Remaining tape indicator
The indicator may not be displayed accurately depending on the tape.
Note on the date/time indicator
Recording date/time is not displayed during shooting, however, it is automatically
recorded on the tape. You can check the recording date/time during playback by
pressing DATA CODE. When you want to display the date and time during shooting,
set DATE REC to ON in the menu settings. However, once you record with the date and
time, you cannot erase them.
Shooting backlit subjects (BACK LIGHT)
When you shoot a subject with the light source behind the subject or a subject with a
light background, use the backlight function.
Press BACK LIGHT in standby, recording, or memory mode.
The . indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.
To cancel, press BACK LIGHT again.
If you press SPOT LIGHT when using the backlight function
The backlight function will be canceled and the spot light function will be enabled.
When you manually adjust more than two of the following functions: iris, gain,
and shutter speed
You cannot use the backlight function.
FADERBACK LIGHT SPOT LIGHT
BACK LIGHT 
						

							24
Recording a picture
Spot light
This function prevents people’s faces, for example, from appearing excessively white
when shooting subjects lit by strong light, such as in the theater.
Press SPOT LIGHT in standby, recording, or memory mode.
The 
 indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.
To cancel, press SPOT LIGHT again.
If you press BACK LIGHT when using the spot light function
The spot light function will be canceled and the backlight function will be enabled.
You cannot use the spotlight mode while in the following settings:
–Old movie
–Shutter speed value of 1/30 or smaller
–When you manually adjust more than two of the following functions: iris, gain, and
shutter speed
FADERBACK LIGHT SPOT LIGHT
SPOT LIGHT 
						

							Recording – Basics
25
END SEARCH
EDITSEARCH
Checking the recording
– END SEARCH / EDITSEARCH / Rec Review
You can use these buttons to check recorded pictures or shoot so that the transition
between the last recorded scene and the next scene you record is smooth.
Searching the end point of the recording — END SEARCH
You can easily go to the end of the last recorded portion.
Press END SEARCH in standby mode.
The camcorder rewinds or fast-forwards the tape and the last five-second recorded
picture is played back. After playback the camcorder turns to standby mode. You can
monitor the sound from the speaker or headphones.
Changing the next recording start point — EDITSEARCH
You can change the next recording start point in standby mode.
Hold down the +/– side of EDITSEARCH in standby mode. The recorded picture is
played back.
+ : to go forward
–: to go backward
Release EDITSEARCH to stop playback. If you press START/STOP, re-recording begins
from the point you released EDITSEARCH. You cannot monitor the sound.
Checking the last recorded picture — Rec Review
You can check the last recorded portion.
Press the –7 side of EDITSEARCH momentarily in standby mode.
The last few-seconds of picture is played back and the camcorder returns to standby.
You can monitor the sound from the speaker or headphones.
End search function
When you use a tape without cassette memory, the end search function does not work
once you eject the cassette after you have recorded on the tape. If you use a tape with
cassette memory, the end search function works even once you eject the cassette.
If there is a blank portion at the beginning or between the recorded portions, the end
search function may not work correctly (p. 142). 
						

							26
— Playback – Basics —
Playing back a tape
You can monitor the playback picture on the LCD screen. If you close the LCD panel,
you can monitor the playback picture in the viewfinder. You can also control playback
using the Remote Commander supplied with your camcorder.
(1)Install the power source and insert the recorded tape.
(2)Set the POWER switch to VCR while pressing the small green button. The
video control buttons light up.
(3)Slide OPEN in the direction of the B mark to open the LCD panel.
(4)Press m to rewind the tape.
(5)Press N to start playback.
(6)To adjust the volume, press either of the VOLUME +/– buttons .
To stop playbackPress x.
4
2
6
1
3
VOLUME
5
POWER
OFF
(CHG)CAMERA
MEMORY
VCR
PLAY REW 
						

							27
Playback – Basics
Playing back a tape
When monitoring on the LCD screen
You can turn the LCD panel over and move it back to the camcorder body with the LCD
screen facing out.
When you close the LCD panel
You cannot monitor the sound from the speaker. However, when the LCD panel is
turned over to view on the LCD screen, you can monitor the sound from the speaker.
To control the display of the screen indicators
Press DISPLAY on the camcorder or on the Remote Commander supplied with your
camcorder.
The indicators appear on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.
To make the indicators disappear, press DISPLAY again.
DATA CODE
DISPLAY
DATA CODE
DISPLAY 
						

							28
Playing back a tape
Using the data code functionYour camcorder automatically records not only images on the tape but also the
recording data (date/time or various settings when recorded) (Data code).
Press DATA CODE on the camcorder or on the Remote Commander supplied with
your camcorder in playback mode.
The display changes as follows:
date/time t various settings (SteadyShot, white balance, gain, shutter speed, aperture
value, exposure mode) t no indicator
[a]SteadyShot OFF indicator
[b]Exposure mode indicator
[c]White balance indicator
[d]Gain indicator
[e]Shutter speed indicator
[f]Aperture value
To not display the various settings
Set DATA CODE to DATE in the menu settings (p. 104).
The display changes as follows:
date/time y no indicator
Recording data
Recording data is your camcorder’s information when you have recorded something. In
CAMERA mode, the recording data will not be displayed.
When you use the data code function, “--- -- ----” (date) or “-- : -- : --” (time)
appears if:
–A blank portion of the tape is being played back.
–The tape is unreadable due to tape damage or noise.
–The tape was recorded by the camcorder without the date and time set.
Data code
When you connect your camcorder to the TV, the data code also appears on the TV
screen (p. 31).
Note on the date/time indicator
Recording date/time is not displayed during shooting, however, it is automatically
recorded on the tape. You can check the recording date/time during playback by
pressing DATA CODE. When you want to display the date and time during shooting,
set DATE REC to ON in the menu settings. However, once you record with the date and
time, you cannot erase them.
If the aperture adjustment is set to minimum
“CLOSE” is displayed at the location of the aperture value.
Date/timeVarious settings
JUL   4  2000
12:05:56  AM      60   ATW
F1.6          0dB      AUTO
[a]
[b]
[c]
[d]
[e]
[f] 
						

							29
Playback – Basics
Playing back a tape
Various playback modes
To operate video control buttons, set the POWER switch to VCR.
To view a still picture (playback pause)Press X during playback. To resume normal playback, press N or X.
To advance the tapePress M in stop mode. To resume normal playback, press N.
To rewind the tapePress m in stop mode. To resume normal playback, press N.
To change the playback directionPress  on the Remote Commander during playback to reverse the playback direction.
To resume normal playback, press N.
To locate a scene monitoring the picture (picture search)Keep pressing m or M during playback.  To resume normal playback, release the button.
To monitor the picture at high-speed while advancing or
rewinding the tape (skip scan)
Keep pressing m while rewinding or M while advancing the tape. To resume
rewinding or advancing, release the button.
To view the picture at slow speed (slow playback)Press y during playback. For slow playback in the reverse direction, press  on the
Remote Commander, then press y. To resume normal playback, press N.
To view the picture at double speedPress ×2 on the Remote Commander during playback. For double speed playback in the
reverse direction, press , then press ×2 on the Remote Commander. To resume
normal playback, press N.
To view the picture frame-by-framePress C on the Remote Commander in playback pause mode. For frame-by-frame
playback in the reverse direction, press c. To resume normal playback, press N.
To search the last scene recorded (END SEARCH)Press END SEARCH in stop mode. The last five seconds of the recorded portion plays
back and stops.
In various playback modes
•Sound is muted.
•The previous picture may remain as a mosaic image during playback.
When the playback pause mode lasts for five minutes
Your camcorder automatically enters the stop mode. To resume playback, press N.
Slow playback
Slow playback can be performed smoothly on your camcorder: however, this function
does not work for a signal output through the 
 DV IN/OUT jack.
When you play back a tape in reverse
Horizontal noise may appear at the center, or the top and bottom of the screen. This is
not a malfunction. 
						

							30
Note on DV-formatted tapes
You can play back DV-formatted tapes on this camcorder if the tape is recorded in SP
mode. “DV SP” appears on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder during playback.
You cannot play back DV-formatted tapes recorded in LP mode.
If you insert the cassette recorded in a PAL system
The camcorder automatically identify the system, and playback starts. You can only
view the picture only on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder of your camcorder. (Quasi
PAL playback)
Playing back a tape