Sony Digital Camcorder DSR PD170 Operating Instructions

							41
Advanced Recording Operations
Using special effects – Digital effect
(1 ) In standby or recording mode, press DIGITAL EFFECT. The digital effect
indicator appears.
( 2 ) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired digital effect mode.
The digital effect indicator changes as follows:
STILL  y FLASH  y LUMI.  y TRAIL  y  OLD MOVIE
( 3 ) Press the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial. The indicator lights up and the bar appear\
s.
In STILL and LUMI. modes, the still image is stored in memory.
( 4 ) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to adjust the effect.
Items to be adjusted
STILL The rate of the still image you want to superimpose on themoving picture
FLASH The interval of flash motion
LUMI. The color scheme of the area in the still image which is to be
swapped with a moving picture
TRAIL The time until the incidental image vanishes
OLD MOVIE No adjustment necessary
The longer the bar on the screen, the stronger the digital effect. The b\
ar appears in the
following modes: STILL, FLASH, LUMI. and TRAIL.
To cancel the digital effectPress DIGITAL EFFECT. The digital effect indicator disappears.
3
4
LUMI.
1
2
LUMI.
DIGITALEFFECT 
						

							42
Using special effects – Digital effect
Notes
•The following functions do not work in digital effect mode:
– Fader
– Tape Photo recording
– Shutter speed (1/30 or smaller) adjustment
• The following functions do not work in old movie mode:
– Wide mode
– Spot light mode
– Shutter speed adjustment
When you turn the power off
The digital effect will be automatically canceled. 
						

							43
Advanced Recording Operations
Shooting with manual adjustment
Under normal conditions, this unit automatically makes various adjustmen\
ts as it
shoots. However, you can adjust the following functions manually to suit\
 your
preference.
Functions you can adjust by setting the AUTO LOCK selector to the center\
 (auto
lock release) position
Iris, gain, shutter speed, and white balance
Functions you can adjust in menu settings
Deactivating the SteadyShot
Functions you can adjust by using other selectors/rings
ND filter, zebra pattern, focus, AE shift, and zoom
The following describes how to adjust all the functions mentioned above \
except white
balance (p. 51), focus (p. 59), and zoom (p. 23).
AUTO LOCK selector
Set the selector as shown below to maintain or release the settings of t\
he functions.
AUTO LOCK [a]
Select this position to let the unit adjust all the functions automatica\
lly.
HOLD [b]
Select this position after setting the functions manually to maintain th\
e settings.
Manual position (AUTO LOCK release) [c]
Select this position to adjust the functions listed above manually.
If you use the video flash light (optional)
We recommend that you set the AUTO LOCK selector to AUTO LOCK.
Notes
•When you manually adjust more than two of the following functions during\
 backlight
or spot light mode: iris, gain, and shutter speed, the backlight or spot\
 light function
will be automatically canceled.
• The functions (iris, gain, and shutter speed) that are not adjusted ma\
nually will be
automatically adjusted according to shooting conditions.
AUTO
LOCK
HOLD
[a]
[b] [c] 
						

							44
Shooting with manual adjustment
Adjusting the iris
Adjust the iris manually depending on the depth of field.
(1 ) Set the AUTO LOCK selector to the center (auto lock release) position \
while
the camcorder is in standby, recording, or memory mode.
( 2 ) Press IRIS. The iris indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the viewf\
inder.
( 3 ) Turn the IRIS dial to adjust the iris.
As you turn the dial, the F value changes as follows:
F1.6  y ... y  F11  y CLOSE
For a smaller aperture, select a higher value.
To return to automatic iris modeSet the AUTO LOCK selector to AUTO LOCK or press IRIS. The iris indicato\
r
disappears from the LCD or viewfinder screen.
About the depth of fieldThe depth of field is the in-focus range, measured from the distance beh\
ind a subject to
the distance in front. The depth of field can vary with the iris (F val\
ue) and the focal
length. Lowering the F value (large iris) reduces the depth of field. \
Raising the F value
(small iris) provides a larger depth of field. Zooming in telephoto po\
sition offers a
smaller depth of field while the depth of field in the wide-angle positi\
on is greater.
The depth of field Shallow Deep
Iris Near open (Low F value) Near close (High F value)
Zoom Telephoto (T) Wide (W)
22
F2.8
1
3
AUTO
LOCK
HOLD
IRIS 
						

							45
Advanced Recording Operations
Adjusting the gain
(1 ) Set the AUTO LOCK selector to the center (auto lock release) position \
while
the camcorder is in standby, recording, or memory mode.
( 2 ) Press GAIN. The gain indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the
viewfinder.
( 3 ) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to adjust the gain.
As you turn the dial the gain value changes between 0 dB and 18 dB.
To return to automatic gain modeSet the AUTO LOCK selector to AUTO LOCK or press GAIN. The gain indicato\
r
disappears from the LCD or viewfinder screen.
Shooting with manual adjustment
22
0dB
1
3
AUTO
LOCK
HOLD
GAIN 
						

							46
Adjusting the shutter speed
(1 ) Set the AUTO LOCK selector to the center (auto lock release) position \
while
the camcorder is in standby, recording, or memory mode.
( 2 ) Press SHUTTER SPEED. The shutter speed indicator appears on the LCD
screen or in the viewfinder.
( 3 ) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired speed. As you turn the\
dial, the shutter speed changes as follows:
1/4  y 1/8  y 1/15  y 1/30  y ... y  1/4000  y 1/6000  y 1/10000
To increase the shutter speed, select a smaller setting (large value in\
dicator on
the LCD screen or in the viewfinder).
To return to automatic shutter speed modeSet the AUTO LOCK selector to AUTO LOCK or press SHUTTER SPEED. The shut\
ter
speed indicator disappears from the LCD or viewfinder screen.
When shooting at slow shutter speed
At slow shutter speed, automatic focus may be lost. Adjust the focus man\
ually using a
tripod.
When shooting under fluorescent light or light bulbs
When shooting under fluorescent light or light bulbs, a rare phenomenon \
may happen
in which the screen lights up brightly depending on the shutter speed (\
Flicker
phenomenon).
If you set the shutter speed value to 1/30 or smaller
You cannot use the spot light (p. 26) and digital effect (p. 40) fun\
ctions.
Shooting with manual adjustment
221
3
AUTO
LOCK
HOLD
SHUTTER SPEED
60 
						

							47
Advanced Recording Operations
Using the ND filter
Using the ND filter (the ND filter 1 setting corresponds to 1/4 of the \
quantity of light
and the ND filter 2 setting corresponds to 1/32 of the quantity of light\
), you can record
a picture clearly by adjusting light amounts, even if you shoot under to\
o bright
conditions.
When the ND1 or ND2 indicator flashes on the LCD screen or in
the viewfinder
The ND filter is necessary.
When ND 1 flashes, set the ND FILTER selector to 1 so that the ND 1 indi\
cator
disappears from the LCD or viewfinder screen.
When ND 2 flashes, set the ND FILTER selector to 2 so that the ND 2 indi\
cator
disappears from the LCD or viewfinder screen.
When ND OFF flashes on the LCD screen or in the viewfinderThe ND filter is not necessary. Set the ND FILTER selector to OFF so tha\
t the indicator
disappears from the LCD or viewfinder screen.
The ND filter is now deactivated.
Notes
•If you set the ND FILTER selector to another positions during recording,\
 the picture
may be blurred or audio noise may occur. We recommend that you check the\
 position
of the ND FILTER selector before shooting.
• When shooting a too bright object, diffraction off the small aperture ma\
y cause slight
off set in focusing. This phenomenon is quite common with a use of a vid\
eo camera
recorder. Using the ND filter will reduce influence of such phenomenon, \
and you can
attain a better shooting condition.
If you use the video flash light (optional)
Set the ND FILTER selector to OFF when you use the flash.
Shooting with manual adjustment
ND FILTER
1 2
OFF 
						

							48
Shooting with the zebra pattern
You can set the camcorder to display a zebra pattern (diagonal stripes)\
 in the portion of
the picture on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder with a subject whose \
brightness
exceeds a certain level. When the ZEBRA selector is set to 100, the port\
ion of the picture
where zebra pattern appears is an area of high brightness and overexposu\
re. You can
check the picture level of a subject by displaying the zebra pattern. Us\
e the zebra
pattern as a guide for adjusting the exposure and shutter speed so that \
you can get the
desired picture.
Set the ZEBRA selector to 70 or 100 in standby or memory mode.
Setting
70
100
OFF
To erase the zebra patternSet the ZEBRA selector to OFF.
Note on shooting with the zebra pattern
Even though you see the zebra pattern on the LCD screen or in the viewfi\
nder, the
zebra pattern is not recorded.
Shooting with manual adjustment
Meaning
The zebra pattern appears in the portion of the picture on the LCD scree\
n
or in the viewfinder with a subject whose brightness is about 70 IRE.
The zebra pattern appears in the portion of the picture on the LCD scree\
n
or in the viewfinder with a subject whose brightness exceeds more than
100 IRE.
The zebra pattern does not appear on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder\
.
ZEBRAOFF
70
100 
						

							49
Advanced Recording Operations
Releasing the SteadyShot function
When the SteadyShot function is working, the camcorder compensates for c\
amera-
shake.
You can release the SteadyShot function when you do not need to use it. \
The 
indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder. Do not use the\
 SteadyShot
function when shooting a stationary object with a tripod.
(1 ) Press MENU to display the menu in standby or memory mode.
( 2 ) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select 
, then press the dial.
( 3 ) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select STEADYSHOT, then press the dial.
( 4 ) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select OFF, then press the dial.
( 5 ) Press MENU to erase the menu display.
To activate the SteadyShot function againSelect ON in step 4, then press the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial.
Notes on the SteadyShot function
•The SteadyShot function will not correct excessive camera-shake.
• If you use a tele conversion lens (optional) or a wide conversion lens\
 (supplied), these
lens may influence the SteadyShot function.
Shooting with manual adjustment
CAMERA  SET
D  ZOOM
16 : 9W I DE
STEADYSHOT
FRAME  REC
 I NT. REC
W I ND
  [
MENU ]
 :
 END
2-4
1,5
CAMERA  SET
D  ZOOM
16 : 9W I DE
STEADYSHOT
FRAME  REC
 I NT. REC
W I ND
   RETURN ON
OFF
 
[
MENU ]
 :
 END
MENU
CAMERA  SET
D  ZOOM
16 : 9W I DE
STEADYSHOT
FRAME  REC
 I NT. REC
W I ND
   RETURN OFF
 
[
MENU ]
 :
 END 
						

							50
Adjusting the AE shift
You can adjust the AE shift in accordance with shooting conditions and a\
 subject.
(1 ) Press AE SHIFT in standby, recording, or memory mode. The AE shift
indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder.
( 2 ) Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to adjust the brightness.
To deactivate AE shiftSet the AE shift value to 0, or press AE SHIFT.
When you adjust AE shift
The –4 to +4 indicator is displayed on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder. The
number varies corresponding to the AE shift level.
Shooting with manual adjustment
2
1
0
AE SHIFT