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

							
Digital HD Video Camera Recorder          HVR-Z1U/Z1N
© 2005 Sony Corporation
2-514-606-11(1)
Digital HD Video 
Camera Recorder
HVR-Z1U/Z1N
Operating Instructions
Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly, 
and retain it for future reference. 
						

							2
Read this first
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.
For customers in the U.S.A. and 
CANADA
HVR-Z1U only
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 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 Conformity
Trade Name: SONY
Model No.: HVR-Z1U
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. 
						

							3
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.HVR-                                   
Serial No.                                                            Model No.AC-                                                     Serial No.                                                            
CAUTION
You are cautioned that any changes or 
modifications not expressly approved in this 
manual could void your authority to operate this 
equipment.
bNote: 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 to an outlet on a circuit 
different from that into which the receiver is 
connected.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV 
technician for help.
The interface cable supplied 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.
Notes on use
Your camcorder is capable of recording in HDV, 
DVCAM, and DV formats. 
When recording in HDV/DV format, it is 
recommended to use mini DV cassettes. 
When recording in DVCAM format, it is 
recommended to use mini DVCAM cassettes.
The HDV standards Digital high-definition (HD) video signals are 
recorded and played back on a DV format cassette.
 HDV signals are compressed in MPEG2 format, 
which is adopted in BS (broadcast satellite) digital 
and terrestrial digital HDTV broadcastings and in 
Blu-ray disc recorders.
z
Tip Your camcorder adopts the HDV1080i 
specification, which utilizes 1080 effective scanning 
lines, within the HDV standards, and records 
pictures at the image bit rate of about 25 Mbps. The 
i.LINK Interface is adopted as the digital interface 
enabling a digital connection with TVs and personal 
computers compatible with the HDV format.
Recording Before starting to record, test the recording function 
to make sure the picture and sound are recorded 
without any problems.
 Compensation for the contents of recordings cannot 
be provided, even if recording or playback is not 
possible due to a malfunction of the camcorder, 
storage media, etc. 
 TV color systems differ depending on the country/
region. To view your recordings on a TV, you need 
an NTSC system-based TV.
 Television programs, films, video tapes, and other 
materials may be copyrighted. Unauthorized 
recording of such materials may be contrary to the 
copyright laws.
The LCD panel, viewfinder, and lens The LCD screen and the viewfinder are 
manufactured using extremely high-precision 
technology, so over 99.99% of the pixels are 
operational for effective use.
However, there may be some tiny black points and/
or bright points (white, red, blue, or green in color) 
that appear constantly on the LCD screen and the 
viewfinder.
These points are normal results of the manufacturing 
process and do not affect the recording in any way.
 Exposing the LCD screen, the viewfinder, or the lens 
to direct sunlight for long periods of time may cause 
,continued 
						

							4
malfunctions. Be careful when placing the camera 
near a window or outdoors.
 Do not aim at the sun. Doing so might cause your 
camcorder to malfunction. Take pictures of the sun 
only in low light conditions, such as at dusk.
Playing back HDV tapes on other 
devices
A tape recorded in the HDV format cannot be 
played back on a device that is not compatible with 
the HDV format.
Check the contents of tapes by playing them back 
on this camcorder prior to playing them back on 
other devices.
Connecting other devices
Before connecting your camcorder to other device 
such as a VCR or a computer with an i.LINK cable, 
be sure to insert the connector plug in the proper 
direction. If you insert the connector plug forcibly 
in the wrong direction, the terminal may be 
damaged, or this may cause a malfunction of your 
camcorder.
Using this manual The images of the LCD screen and the viewfinder 
used on this manual are captured using a digital still 
camera, and thus may appear different from what 
you see.
 The illustrations of the screen are those of when [50i/
60i SEL] on the   (OTHERS) menu is set to 60i.
Using the camcorder To ensure a good grip, fasten the grip belt as shown 
in the following illustration.
 You can change the language to be used for screen 
display on your camcorder (p. 19). Do not hold the camcorder by the following parts.
Viewfinder
LCD panel
Battery pack
Microphone
Jack holder 
						

							5
Read this first .............................................................................................  2
Quick Start Guide
Recording movies ......................................................................................  8
Getting started
Step 1: Checking supplied items ..............................................................  10
Step 2: Charging the battery pack............................................................  11
Using an outside power source  ................................................................................. 13
Step 3: Turning the power on ...................................................................  14
Step 4: Adjusting the LCD panel and viewfinder ......................................  15
Adjusting the LCD panel  ........................................................................................... 15
Adjusting the viewfinder  ............................................................................................ 15
Step 5: Setting the date and time .............................................................  16
Step 6: Inserting a cassette tape..............................................................  18
Step 7: Setting the screen language ........................................................  19
Recording
Recording movies ....................................................................................  20
Usable cassettes  ....................................................................................................... 22
Using zoom  ............................................................................................................... 22
Recording in mirror mode  ......................................................................................... 24
Displaying the recording setup information – Status check  ...................................... 24
Adjusting the exposure.............................................................................  25
Adjusting the exposure for backlit subjects  ............................................................... 25
Recording the subject lit by strong light – SPOTLIGHT  ............................................ 26
Adjusting the white balance  ...................................................................................... 26
Recording using manual adjustments ......................................................  28
Adjusting the iris  ........................................................................................................ 28
Adjusting the gain  ..................................................................................................... 29
Adjusting the shutter speed  ...................................................................................... 30
Adjusting the volume of light – ND FILTER  .............................................................. 30
Displaying the zebra pattern to adjust the brightness  ............................................... 31
Adjusting the focus ...................................................................................  32
Adjusting the focus manually  .................................................................................... 32
Enhancing the outline to focus – PEAKING  .............................................................. 34
Table of Contents
,continued 
						

							6
Customizing the picture quality – PICTURE PROFILE ............................  34
Customizing the sound.............................................................................  37
Adjusting the audio recording level – Microphone volume level  ................................ 37
Connecting external audio sources  ........................................................................... 38
Selecting the recording channel  ................................................................................ 39
Recording a picture using various features ..............................................  40
Developing scenes smoothly – Shot transition  .......................................................... 40
Revising a specific color – Color Correction  .............................................................. 42
Fading in and out of a scene – FADER  ..................................................................... 44
Recording an index signal at the beginning of recording ........................................... 44
Recording on a device connected via an i.LINK cable 
– External REC Control.......................................................................  45
Reviewing the most recently recorded scenes – Rec Review .................  47
Playback
Viewing movies ........................................................................................  48
Playing back in various modes  .................................................................................. 49
Various playback functions ......................................................................  50
Searching for the last scene of the most recent recording – END SEARCH ............. 50
Displaying the screen indicators  ................................................................................ 50
Displaying the date/time and camera settings data – Data code  .............................. 51
Displaying the video information – Status check  ....................................................... 51
Playing the picture on a TV ......................................................................  52
Viewing the picture on a high definition TV  ............................................................... 52
Viewing the picture on a 16:9 TV or a 4:3 TV  ............................................................ 54
Locating a scene on a tape for playback..................................................  55
Searching for a scene by date of recording – Date search  ....................................... 55
Searching for a recording start point – Index search  ................................................. 56 
						

							7
Advanced operations
Using the Menu
Selecting menu items ......................... 57
Using the   (CAMERA SET) menu 
– STDYSHOT TYP/FRAME REC, 
etc. ............................................... 58
Using the   (AUDIO SET) menu
 
– INT MIC SET/XLR SET, etc.  ..... 64
Using the   (LCD/VF SET) menu
 
– LCD COLOR, etc.  ..................... 68
Using the   (IN/OUT REC) menu
 
– REC FORMAT/DOWN CONVERT, 
etc. ............................................... 70
Using the   (TC/UB SET) menu
 
– TC MAKE, etc.  .......................... 76
Using the   (OTHERS) menu
 
– CLOCK SET/WORLD TIME, 
etc. ............................................... 78
Customizing Personal Menu  .............. 83
Assigning the functions  ...................... 86
Dubbing/Editing
Dubbing to another tape  .................... 89
Recording pictures from a VCR 
or TV  ............................................ 93
Connecting to a computer  .................. 96
Dubbing sound to a recorded tape 
 .......................................... 98
Setting time values  .......................... 101
Connecting an analog VCR to the 
computer via your camcorder 
   – Signal conversion 
function ....................................... 104
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting ...............................106
Warning indicators and messages  ...111
Additional Information
Using your camcorder abroad  ..........113
HDV format and recording/playback  114
Compatibility of the DVCAM and DV 
formats .......................................116
About the “InfoLITHIUM” battery 
pack ............................................117
About i.LINK  .....................................119
Maintenance and precautions  ..........120
Specification .....................................123
Quick Reference
Identifying parts and controls  ...........125
Index ................................................133
 
Note on the icons used in this manual
Features available for the HDV 
format only.
Features available for the 
DVCAM format only.
Features available for the DV 
SP format only.
Features available only when 
[50i/60i SEL] of the menu is set 
to [50i].
Features available only when 
[50i/60i SEL] of the menu is set 
to [60i]. 
						

							Quick Start Guide8
Quick Start Guide
Recording movies
1Attach the charged battery pack to the camcorder.
To charge the battery, see page 11.
2Insert a cassette into the camcorder.
Press the battery pack and slide it down.
aSlide the OPEN/
EJECT  lever in 
the direction of the 
arrow to open the lid.
The cassette compartment 
comes out automatically.
bInsert the cassette with 
its window-side facing 
out, then push the center 
of the back of the 
cassette.cPress  on the 
cassette 
compartment.
Close the cassette lid after 
the cassette compartment 
slides back in by itself.
Battery Pack
OPEN/EJECT  leverWindow-side  
						

							Quick Start Guide
Quick Start Guide
9
3Start recording while checking the subject on the LCD screen.
The date and time is not set up in the default setting. To set the date and time, see page 16.
The pictures are recorded in the HDV format in the default setting. To record in the DVCAM or 
DV format, see page 20. 
4View the recorded picture on the LCD screen.
aOpen the hood shutter.
bOpen the LCD panel and 
adjust the angle.
cWhile pressing the green 
button, set the POWER 
switch to CAMERA.
dPress REC START/STOP.
Recording starts. To change to 
standby mode, press REC 
START/STOP again.
aWhile pressing the green 
button, set the POWER 
switch to VCR.
bPress m (rewind).
cPress N (play) to start the 
playback.
To stop, press x (stop).
To turn off the power, set the POWER 
switch to OFF. 
						

							Getting started10
Getting started
Step 1: Checking 
supplied items
Make sure you have following items supplied 
with your camcorder.
The number in parentheses indicates the number 
of that item supplied.
AC Adaptor/charger (1)
Power cord (1)
Connecting cord (DK-415) (1)
Lens hood (1)
This is attached to your camcorder.
bNote
 If you attach an optical filter (optional) or so, remove 
the lens hood.
Large eyecup (1)
To attach it to your camcorder, see page 16.
Wireless Remote Commander (1)
A/V connecting cable (1)
Component video cable (1)
Shoe adaptor (1)
To attach it to your camcorder, see page 130.
Rechargeable battery pack NP-F570 (1)
Size AA (R6) batteries (2)
To insert the batteries in the Remote 
Commander, see page 131.
Cleaning cassette (1)
Shoulder strap (1)
To attach it to your camcorder, see page 126.
Operating Instructions (This manual) (1)