Sony Digital HD Video Camera Recorder HVR-Z1U/Z1N Operating Instructions

Recording
Recording21
To record in the DV format
On the   (IN/OUT REC) menu, set [REC 
FORMAT] to [DV], and [ REC MODE] to 
[DV SP] (p. 71).
When the menu screen is turned off,   
appears on the LCD screen, the DVCAM format 
lamp lights up, and your camcorder is set to 
recording standby.
To turn the power off
Set the POWER switch to OFF.
To record from a low-angle
Use the REC START/STOP button on the 
handle after releasing the HOLD lever.
To view the picture during recording, face the 
LCD panel or the...

Recording22
However, the transition from the last recorded scene 
may not be smooth.
 The following functions may not work correctly 
with a tape recorded in the HDV, DVCAM, and DV 
formats mixed:
– Date search
– Index search
zTip
 You can record the color bars on a tape. If you record 
movies including the color bars, you can adjust the 
color while observing the color bars when you are 
viewing the pictures on a TV or monitor. To display 
the color bars, press BARS. Press BARS again to 
hide the...

Recording
Recording23
To record a wider range of view
Press the W side of the power zoom lever.
The subject appears farther away (Wide 
angle).
To record a closer view
Press the T side of the power zoom lever.
The subject appears closer (Telephoto).
zTip
 You can display the zoomed position with a number 
or a bar display. Select [BAR] or [NUMBER] in 
[ZOOM DISPLAY] on the   (OTHERS) menu 
(p. 80). The zoom position is displayed with a bar 
display in the default setting.
Using the handle zoom
You can...

Recording24
Recording in mirror mode
You can turn the LCD panel towards the 
subject so that you and your subject can share 
the image being recorded. You can also 
utilize this function when recording yourself, 
or to keep the attention of small children 
attracted to the camcorder while you record 
them.
Open the LCD panel 180 degrees, then 
rotate it towards the subject until it clicks.
A mirror-image of the subject appears on the 
LCD screen, but the picture will be normal 
when recorded.
Displaying...

Recording
Recording25
To turn off the display of the recording 
setup information
Press STATUS CHECK.
bNote
 Information of the picture profile setup does not 
appear when it is set to [OFF].
Adjusting the 
exposure
The exposure is adjusted automatically in the 
default setting.
If you want to record brighter or darker 
pictures than those of the auto exposure 
adjustment, use the manual adjustment 
function (p. 28), or customize the picture 
quality by using the PICTURE PROFILE 
function (p. 34)....

Recording26
bNote
 The back light function is canceled when you press 
the ASSIGN button assigned to SPOTLIGHT.
 You cannot use the back light function if 2 or more 
items out of iris, gain, and shutter speed are adjusted 
manually.
Recording the subject lit by 
strong light – SPOTLIGHT
When the subject is lit by strong light, such as 
in a theater, use the spotlight function to 
prevent people’s faces from appearing 
excessively white.
Assign the SPOTLIGHT function to one of 
the ASSIGN buttons in...

Recording
Recording27
the same lighting condition as that of 
the subject.
5Press   (one-push) WHT BAL.
A or  B flashes quickly.
When the white balance is adjusted,  A 
or  B lights up and the adjustment data is 
memorized.
To recall adjustment data from the 
memory
1
During recording or in the standby 
mode, set the AUTO LOCK switch to the 
center position to release the auto lock 
mode.
2Set the WHT BAL switch to A or B.
3Press WHT BAL.
The white balance is set to the recalled 
adjustment.
bNote
...

Recording28
Recording using 
manual adjustments
You can manually adjust the iris, gain, etc. 
according to the brightness of the recording 
scene or in order to obtain desired effects.
Adjust the iris, gain, shutter speed, and white 
balance after setting the AUTO LOCK 
switch to the center position to release the 
auto lock mode.
Depending on the position of the AUTO 
LOCK switch, you can hold or release the 
settings of these functions.
See page 26 for details on how to adjust the 
white balance....

Recording
Recording29
To restore automatic adjustment
Press IRIS, or set the AUTO LOCK switch to 
AUTO LOCK.
bNote
 If you set the AUTO LOCK switch to AUTO 
LOCK, other manually adjusted items (gain, shutter 
speed, white balance) also become temporarily 
automatic.
 As you shift the zoom from W (wide) to T 
(telephoto), the aperture value varies from F1.6 to 
F2.8.
zTip
 You can select the rotation direction of the iris dial 
with [IRIS DIAL] on the   (OTHERS) menu 
(p. 79).
 The iris has an...

Recording30
Adjusting the shutter speed
You can manually adjust and fix the shutter 
speed for your convenience. Depending on 
the shutter speed, you can make the subject 
look still, or on the contrary, emphasize the 
fluidity of movement.
1During recording or in the standby 
mode, set the AUTO LOCK switch to 
the center position to release the auto 
lock mode.
2Press SHUTTER SPEED.
3Adjust the shutter speed by turning 
the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial.
When 60i is selected in [50i/60i SEL] on the 
 (OTHERS)...