Sony Digital Camcorder DSR PD170 Operating Instructions

							3-087-447-14 (1)
Digital
Camcorder
Operating Instructions
Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly,
and retain it for future reference.
Owner’s Record
The model and serial numbers are located on the bottom. Record the
serial number in the space provided below. Refer to these numbers
whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No.  DSR-PD170 Model No. AC-
Serial No. Serial No.
DSR-PD170
©2003 Sony Corporation
DSR-PD170 
						

							3
WARNING
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do
not expose the unit to rain or
moisture.
This symbol is intended to alert the
user to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the
product’s enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a
risk of electric shock to persons.
This symbol is intended to alert the
user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the
appliance.
Notice
If static electricity or electromagnetism causes
data transfer to discontinue midway (fail),
restart the application or disconnect and
connect the i.LINK cable again.
For customers in the U.S.A and
CANADA
RECYCLING LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Lithium-Ion batteries are recyclable.
You can help preserve our
environment by returning your
used rechargeable batteries to the
collection and recycling location
nearest you.
For more information regarding recycling of
rechargeable batteries, call toll free 1-800-822-8837, or
visit http://www.rbrc.org/.
Caution: Do not handle damaged or leaking Lithium-
Ion batteries.
For the customers in the U.S.A.If you have any questions about this product, you
may call:
Sony Customer Information Center 1-800-686-
SONY (7669)
The number below is for the FCC related matters
only.
Regulatory Information
Declaration of ConformityTrade Name: SONY
Model No.: DSR-PD170
Responsible Party: Sony Electronics Inc.
Address: 16450 W. Bernardo Dr,
San Diego, CA 92127
U.S.A
Telephone No.: 858-942-2230
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2)this device must
accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
CAUTIONYou are cautioned that any changes or modifications
not expressly approved in this manual could void your
authority to operate this equipment.
Notes:• This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there
is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following
measures:
— Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
—
Increase the separation between the equipment and
receiver.
—Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit
different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
— Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV
technician for help.
The supplied interface cable must be used with the
equipment in order to comply with the limits for a
digital device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC
Rules.
• This product contains mercury. Disposal of this
procuct may be regulated if sold in the United States.
For disposal or recycling information, please contact
your local authorities or the Electronics Industries
Alliance (http://www.eiae.org).
Welcome!Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony Digital camcorder.
With your Digital camcorder, you can capture life’s precious moments \
with superior picture and
sound quality. Your Digital camcorder is loaded with advanced features, \
but at the same time it is
very easy to use. You will soon be producing home video that you can enj\
oy for years to come. 
						

							4
Table of contents
Quick Start Guide ............................................... 5
Getting Started
Using this manual ............................................... 7
Checking supplied accessories ......................... 9
Step 1  Installing the microphone ................... 10
Step 2  Preparing the power supply .............. 11
Step 3  Setting the date and time .................... 16
Step 4  Inserting a cassette ............................... 17
Recording – Basics
Recording a picture .......................................... 18
Shooting backlit subjects (BACKLIGHT) .......................................... 25
Spot light .............................................. 26
Checking the recording – END SEARCH / EDITSEARCH / Rec Review ....................... 27
Playback – Basics
Playing back a tape ........................................... 28
Viewing the recording on TV ......................... 33
Advanced Recording Operations
Recording a still image on a tape – Tape Photo recording ................................. 34
Shooting with all the pixels – PROG. SCAN ............................................... 35
Using the guide frame ..................................... 36
Using the wide mode ....................................... 37
Using the fader function .................................. 38
Using special effects – Digital effect .............. 40
Shooting with manual adjustment ................. 43
Adjusting the white balance ........................... 51
Adjusting the recording level manually – Sound recording level ................................ 53
Connecting an optional external microphone ..................................................... 55
Presetting the adjustment for picture quality
– Custom preset ............................................. 57
Focusing manually ........................................... 59
Interval recording ............................................. 60
Frame by frame recording – Cut recording .. 62
Superimposing the date and time on a picture ........................................................................\
.. 63
Marking an Index ............................................. 64
Advanced Playback Operations
Searching for a recording by index – Index search ............................................................... 65
Searching the boundaries of recorded tape by title – Title search ........................................... 67
Searching a recording by date – Date search ................................................... 68
Searching for a photo – Photo search/Photo
scan .................................................................. 70
Playing back a tape with digital effects ......... 72 Editing
Dubbing a tape .................................................. 73
Dubbing only desired scenes
– Digital program editing ............................. 75
Using with an analog video unit and a PC
– Signal convert function .............................. 81
Recording video or TV programs .................. 82
Audio dubbing .................................................. 86
Setting time values ........................................... 90
Superimposing a title ....................................... 95
Making your own titles .................................... 99
Labeling a cassette .......................................... 101
Erasing the cassette memory data ................ 103
Customizing Your Camcorder
Changing the menu settings ......................... 105
“Memory Stick” Operations
Using a “Memory Stick” – introduction ...... 113
Recording still images on a “Memory Stick”
– Memory Photo recording ........................ 118
Superimposing a still image in a “Memory Stick” on a moving picture
– MEMORY MIX .......................................... 121
Recording an image from a tape as a still image ............................................................. 124
Copying still images from a tape
– Photo save .................................................. 127
Viewing a still picture – Memory Photo playback .......................... 129
Copying an image recorded on a “Memory Stick” to tapes ............................................... 132
Playing back images continuously
– SLIDE SHOW ............................................ 134
Preventing accidental erasure – Image protection ....................................... 135
Deleting images .............................................. 136
Writing a print mark – Print mark ............... 139
Additional Information
Compatibility of DVCAM and DV formats ........................................................... 140
Usable cassettes ............................................... 142
About i.LINK ................................................... 144
Troubleshooting .............................................. 146
Self-diagnosis display .................................... 152
Warning indicators and messages ............... 153
Using your camcorder abroad ...................... 155
Maintenance information and precautions .. 156
Specifications ................................................... 161
Quick Reference
Identifying the parts and controls ................ 162
Quick Function Guide .................................... 173
Index ................................................................. 174 
						

							5
Quick Start Guide
Quick Start Guide
This guide introduces you to the basic way of recording/playback. See th\
e pages in parentheses
“(  )” for more information.
Connecting the power cord (p. 15)
Use the battery pack when using your camcorder outdoors (p. 11).
AC Adaptor (supplied)
Connect the plug with its 
v mark
facing toward the LCD panel side.
Open the DC IN jack
cover.
Inserting a cassette (p. 17)
1While pressing
the small blue
button on the
EJECT switch,
slide it in the direction
of the arrow.2Push the middle
portion of the back of
the cassette to insert it.
Insert the cassette into
the cassette
compartment with the
window facing out
and the write-protect
tab facing upward.
3Close the cassette
compartment by
pressing the PUSH
mark on it.
PUSH
Window
Installing the microphone (p. 10)
Install the supplied microphone with the model name (ECM-NV1) facing u\
pward. Be sure
to connect the microphone plug to the INPUT1 connector.
4Close the cassette lid
by pressing the
PUSH button on the
cassette lid.
Write-protect tab
to INPUT1 
						

							6
Quick Start Guide
4Press START/
STOP. Your
camcorder starts
recording. To stop
recording, press
START/STOP
again.
Recording a picture (p. 18)
Monitoring the playback picture on the LCD
screen
 (p. 28)
1Set the POWER switch toVCR while pressing the
small green button.
2Press  m to rewind
the tape.
3Press  N to start
playback.
NOTE
Do not pick up your camcorder by
holding the viewfinder, the LCD panel,
the battery pack, or the microphone.
POWER
OFF
(CHG) CAMERA
MEMORY
VCR
POWER
OFF
(CHG) CAMERA
MEMORY
VCR
REW
PLAY
POWER
OFF
(CHG) CAMERA
MEMORY
VCR
1Open the shutter of the
hood with a lens cap.
For more information
about attaching the
hood with a lens cap,
see page 165.
2Set the POWER switch to
CAMERA while pressing
the small green button.
If the ND1 or ND2
indicator flashes, see page
47.
3Slide OPEN
back in the  
B
mark direction
to open the
LCD panel.
OPEN
Viewfinder
When the LCD panel is closed, use the
viewfinder placing your eye against its eyecup. 
						

							7
Getting Started
— Getting Started —
Using this manual
As you read through this manual, buttons and settings on your camcorder \
are shown in
capital letters.
e.g. Set the POWER switch to CAMERA.
When you carry out an operation, you can hear a beep or a melody sound t\
o indicate
that the operation is being carried out.
Note on cassette memory
Your camcorder is based on the DVCAM/DV format. We recommend that you us\
e a
tape with cassette memory .
The functions which require different operations depending on whether or\
 not the tape
has cassette memory are:
• Searching the end point of the recording – end search (p. 27, 31)
• Searching a recording by index – index search (p. 65)
• Searching a recording by date – date search (p. 68)
• Searching for a photo – photo search (p. 70)
The functions you can operate only with cassette memory are:
• Searching the boundaries of recorded tape by title – title search (p\
. 67)
• Superimposing a title (p. 95)
• Making your own titles (p. 99)
• Labeling a cassette (p. 101)
For details, see page 142.
You see this mark in the introduction of the features that are operated \
only with
cassette memory.
Tapes with cassette memory are marked with 
 (Cassette Memory). 
						

							8
Using this manual
Note on TV color systems
TV color systems differ by country or region.
To view your recordings on a TV, you need an NTSC system-based TV.
Copyright precautions
Television programs, films, video tapes, and other materials may be copy\
righted.
Unauthorized recording of such materials may be contrary to the provisio\
n of the
copyright laws.
Precautions on camcorder care
Lens and LCD screen/finder•The LCD screen and the finder are manufactured using extremely high-prec\
ision
technology, so over 99.99% of the pixels are operational for effective u\
se.
However, there may be some tiny black points and/or bright points (whit\
e, red,
blue or green in color) that constantly appear on the LCD screen and th\
e finder.
These points are normal in the manufacturing process and do not affect t\
he
recording in any way.
• Do not directly shoot the sun. Doing so might cause your camcorder to ma\
lfunction.
Take pictures of the sun in low light conditions such as dusk.
• Do not let your camcorder get wet. Keep your camcorder away from rain an\
d sea
water.  Letting your camcorder get wet may cause your camcorder to malfu\
nction.
Sometimes this malfunction cannot be repaired  [a ].
• Never leave your camcorder exposed to temperatures above 60 °C (140 \
°F), such as in
a car parked in the sun or under direct sunlight  [b ].
• Be careful when placing the camera near a window or outdoors. Exposing t\
he LCD
screen, the finder or the lens to direct sunlight for long periods may c\
ause
malfunctions  [c ].
Contents of the recording cannot be compensated if recording or playback\
 is not made due to a
malfunction of the camcorder, video tape, etc.
[
a ]
[b ][ c] 
						

							9
Getting Started
Checking supplied accessories
Make sure that the following accessories are supplied with your camcorde\
r.
12 3
4 57
89 0
qa
1 Wireless Remote Commander  (1)
(p. 170)
2 AC-L15A/L15B AC Adaptor  (1), Power
cord  (1) (p. 12)
3 NP-F570 rechargeable battery pack  (1)
(p. 11, 12)
4 Size AA (R6) battery for Remote
Commander  (2) (p. 171)
5 A/V connecting cable  (1) (p. 33, 73)6
Shoulder strap  (1) (p. 166)
7 Hood with a lens cap  (1) (p. 165)
8 LSF-S58 lens hood  (1) (p. 168)
9 Hood cap  (1) (p. 169)
0 VCL-HG0758 wide conversion lens  (1)
(p.168),  Carrying pouch  (1)
qa Microphone  (1) (p. 10), Wind screen  (1)
(p. 10)
6 
						

							10
Step 1  Installing the microphone
Install the supplied microphone. Be sure to connect the microphone plug \
to the INPUT1
connector.
(1 ) Attach the wind screen to the microphone.
( 2 ) Loosen the microphone holder screw and open the cover.
( 3 ) Place the microphone into the holder with the model name (ECM-NV1) fac\
ing
upward, close the cover, and tighten the screw.
( 4 ) Connect the plug of the microphone to the INPUT 1 connector.
( 5 ) Set the INPUT LEVEL selector to MIC or MIC ATT. When set to MIC ATT, you\
can reduce the volume by about 20 dB. And set the +48 V switch to ON.
( 6 ) Select the channel to be used, using the REC CH SELECT switch. When you
record a sound (signal), which comes from the microphone connected to \
the
INPUT 1 connector, only on the channel 1, set it to CH1. When you record\
 both
on the channels 1 and 2, set it to CH1•CH2.
When the wind is blowing hard
Set CH1 or CH2 of WIND to ON in the menu settings according to the input\
 (p. 105).
When you unplug the microphone plug
Unplug it while holding the PUSH button down.
1
23
4 5
6
CH1CH2
REC CH
SELECT INPUT
LEVEL +48VINPUT
LEVEL +48V
CH1 LINEMIC
ONOFFLINE
MIC
ATT MIC
ATTMIC ONOFF
INPUT1 INPUT2
REC CH
SELECT INPUT
LEVEL +48V
INPUT2
CH1CH2
REC CH
SELECT INPUT
LEVEL +48VINPUT
LEVEL +48V
CH1 LINEMIC
ONOFFLINE
MIC
ATT MIC
ATTMIC ONOFF
INPUT1 INPUT2
REC CH
SELECT INPUT
LEVEL +48V
INPUT2