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

							Additional Information
Additional Information121
Note on moisture condensation
Moisture may condense when you bring your 
camcorder from a cold place into a warm place 
(or vice versa) or when you use your camcorder 
in a humid place as shown below.
 When you bring your camcorder from a ski 
slope into a place warmed up by a heating 
device.
 When you bring your camcorder from an air-
conditioned car or room into a hot place 
outside.
 When you use your camcorder after a squall or 
a shower.
 When you use your camcorder in a hot and 
humid place.
How to prevent moisture condensation
When you bring your camcorder from a cold 
place into a warm place, put your camcorder in 
a plastic bag and seal it tightly. Remove the bag 
when the air temperature inside the plastic bag 
has reached the surrounding temperature (after 
about 1 hour).
Video head
 When the video head becomes dirty, you 
cannot record pictures normally, or distorted 
picture or sound is played back. 
 If the following problem occurs, clean the 
video heads for 10 seconds with the cleaning 
cassette.
– Mosaic-pattern noise appears on the 
playback picture or the screen is displayed 
in blue.
– Playback pictures do not move.
– A part of playback pictures does not move.
– Playback pictures do not appear or the 
sound breaks off.
–[
xDirty video head. Use a cleaning 
cassette.] appears on the screen during 
recording.
 The video head suffers from wear after long 
use. If you cannot obtain a clear image even 
after using a cleaning cassette, it might be 
because the video head is worn. Please contact 
your Sony dealer or local authorized Sony service facility to have the video head 
replaced.
LCD screen
 Do not add excessive pressure on the LCD 
screen, as it may cause damage. 
 If your camcorder is used in a cold place, a 
residual image may appear on the LCD screen. 
This is not a malfunction.
 While using your camcorder, the back of the 
LCD screen may heat up. This is not a 
malfunction.
To clean the LCD screen
 If fingerprints or dust make the LCD screen 
dirty, it is recommended to use an LCD 
cleaning cloth (optional) to clean it. When you 
use the LCD Cleaning Kit (optional), do not 
apply the cleaning liquid directly to the LCD 
screen. Use cleaning paper moistened with the 
liquid.
Cleaning the casing
 If the casing is soiled, clean the camcorder 
body with a soft cloth lightly moistened with 
water, and then wipe the casing with a dry soft 
cloth.
 Avoid the following to prevent the finish from 
being damaged.
– Using chemicals such as thinner, benzine, 
alcohol, chemical cloths, repellent and 
insecticide.
– Handling with above substances on your 
hands.
– Leaving the case in contact with rubber or 
vinyl objects for a long period of time.
About care and storage of the lens
 Wipe the surface of the lens clean with a soft 
cloth in the following instances:
– When there are fingerprints on the lens 
surface.
– In hot or humid locations
– When the lens is exposed to salty air such as 
at the seaside.
 Store in a well-ventilated location subject to 
little dirt or dust.
 To prevent molds periodically clean the lens 
as described above. 
,continued 
						

							Additional Information122
It is recommended you operate your camcorder 
about once a month to keep it in an optimum 
state for a long time.
To charge the pre-installed battery
Your camcorder has a pre-installed battery to 
retain the date, time, and other settings even 
when the POWER switch is set to OFF. The pre-
installed battery is always charged while you 
are using your camcorder but it will get 
discharged gradually if you do not use your 
camcorder. The battery will be fully discharged 
in about 3 months if you do not use your 
camcorder at all. However, even if the pre-
installed battery is not charged, the camcorder 
operation will not be affected if you are not 
recording the date. 
Procedures
Connect your camcorder to a wall outlet using 
the supplied AC Adaptor/charger, and leave it 
with the POWER switch set to OFF for more 
than 24 hours.
Removing dust from inside the 
viewfinder
1
Remove the viewfinder.
While sliding the viewfinder release lever 
down 
1, slide and remove the viewfinder 
2.
2Remove dust from inside the viewfinder 
and the part shown below with a blower. 
						

							Additional Information
Additional Information123
Specification
System
Video recording system (HDV)
2 rotary heads, Helical scanning system
Video recording system (DVCAM (DV))
2 rotary heads, Helical scanning system
Audio recording system (HDV)
Rotary heads, MPEG-1 Audio Layer2
Quantization: 16 bits (Fs 48 kHz, stereo)
Transfer rate: 384 kbps
Audio recording system (DVCAM (DV))
Rotary heads, PCM system
Quantization: 12 bits (Fs 32 kHz, stereo 1, 
stereo 2), 16 bits (Fs 48 kHz, stereo)
Video signal
NTSC color, EIA standards, 1080/60i 
specification
PAL color, CCIR standards, 1080/50i 
specification
Usable cassette
Mini DV cassette with the   mark 
printed
Mini DV cassette with the   mark 
printed
Tape speed (HDV)
Approx. 18.812 mm/s
Tape speed (DVCAM)
Approx. 28.218 mm/s
Tape speed (DV)
SP: Approx. 18.812 mm/s
Recording/playback time (HDV)
63 min (using a PHDVM-63DM cassette)
Recording/playback time (DVCAM)
41 min (using a PHDVM-63DM cassette)
Recording/playback time (DV SP)
SP: 63 min (using a PHDVM-63DM cassette)
Fast forward/rewind time
Approx. 2 min 40 s (using a PHDVM-63DM 
cassette)
Viewfinder
Electric viewfinder (color)
Image device
6 mm (1/3 type) 3CCD (Charge Coupled 
Device)
Gross: Approx. 1 120 000 pixels
Effective: Approx. 1 070 000 pixels
Lens
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*
Combined power zoom lens
Filter diameter: 72 mm (2 7/8 in.)12 × (Optical)
F = 1.6 ~ 2.8
Focal length
4.5-54mm (3/16- 21/4in.)
When converted to a 35 mm still camera
32.5 - 390 mm (1 5/16 - 15 3/8 in.)
(40 - 480 mm (1 5/8 - 19 in.) in 4:3 TV mode)
Color temperature
[AUTO], [ONE-PUSH A/B], [INDOOR] 
(3 200 K), [OUTDOOR] (5 800 K±7 steps)
Minimum illumination
3 lx (lux) (F 1.6)
Input/Output connectors
Audio/Video input/output
Video signal: 1 Vp-p, 75Ω (ohms), 
unbalanced, sync negative
Audio signal: 327 mV (at load impedance 
47 kΩ (kilohms)), Input impedance more than 
47 kΩ (kilohms), Output impedance less than 
2.2 kΩ(kilohms)
S VIDEO input/output
Luminance signal: 1 Vp-p, 75Ω (ohms), 
unbalanced
Chrominance signal: 0.286 Vp-p (at Burst/
NTSC), 0.3 Vp-p (at Burst/PAL), 75Ω 
(ohms), unbalanced
COMPONENT OUTPUT jack
Y: 1 Vp-p (0.3 V sync negative)
P
B/PR (CB/CR): 525 mVp-p (75 % color-bar), 
Input impedance 75Ω (ohms)
Headphones jack
Stereo minijack (Ø 3.5 mm)
LANC jack
Stereo mini-minijack (Ø 2.5 mm)
INOUT1/INPUT2 connectors
XLR 3-pin, female, 
-60 dBu: 3 kΩ
+40 dBu: 10.8 kΩ
(0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms)
 HDV/DV jack
i.LINK Interface (IEEE1394, 4-pin connector 
S400)
LCD screen
Picture
8.8 cm (3.5 type)
Total dot number
250 000 (1 120 × 224)
,continued 
						

							Additional Information124
General
Power requirements
DC 7.2 V (battery pack)
Average power consumption (when using the 
battery pack, and external microphones)
During camera recording using the viewfinder 
with normal brightness:
HDV recording 8.0 W at 60 Hz operation*
DVCAM (DV) recording 7.6 W at 60 Hz 
operation*
During camera recording using the LCD with 
normal brightness:
HDV recording 8.5 W at 60 Hz operation*
DVCAM (DV) recording 8.1 W at 60 Hz 
operation*
* Power consumption at 50 Hz operation will be 
slightly lower.
Operating temperature
0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Storage temperature
-20°C to + 60°C (-4°F to + 140°F)
Dimensions (approx.)
163 × 194 × 365  mm (6 1/2 × 7 3/4 × 
14 3/8 in.) (w/h/d)
Mass (Approx.)
2.1 kg (4 lb 10 oz) main unit only
2.2 kg (4 lb 14 oz) including the NP-F570 
rechargeable battery pack, PHDVM-63DM 
cassette and lens hood.
Supplied accessories
See page 10.
AC Adaptor/charger   AC-VQ850
Power requirements
AC 100 - 240 V, 50/60 Hz, 12/24 V DC (only 
for negative grounded cars)
Current consumption
0.35 - 0.18 A
Power consumption
25 W
Charged mode: 
35 VA (100 V AC), 50 VA (240 V AC)
Operating mode:
40 VA (100 V AC), 50 VA (240 V AC)
Output voltage
DC 8.4 V, 2.0 A in operating mode
Battery charge terminal:
8.4 V, 1.4 A in charge mode
Operating temperature
0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Storage temperature
-20°C to + 60°C (-4°F to + 140°F)
Dimensions (approx.)
136 × 48 × 90 mm (5  1/3 × 1 10/16 × 
3 1/2 in.) (w/h/d) excluding the projecting 
parts
Mass (approx.)
280 g (9.9 oz) excluding the power cord
Rechargeable battery pack (NP-F570)
Maximum output voltage
DC 8.4 V
Output voltage
DC 7.2 V
Capacity
15.8 Wh (2 200 mAh)
Dimensions (approx.)
38.4 × 20.6 × 70.8 mm 
(1 9/16 × 13/16 × 2 7/8 in.) (w/h/d)
Mass (approx.)
100 g (3.5 oz)
Operating temperature
0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Type
Lithium ion
Design and specifications are subject to change 
without notice. 
						

							Quick Reference
Quick Reference125
Quick Reference
Identifying parts and 
controls
Camcorder
ASHOT TRANSITION operation buttons 
(p. 40)
BEyecup (p. 16)
CViewfinder release lever (p. 122)
DRear remote sensor
ERear camera recording lamp (p. 20)
FBATT RELEASE (battery release) 
button (p. 11)
GREC START/STOP button (p. 20)
Hi.LINK lamps (p. 92, 95)
Lights up when handling an i.LINK signal.
IBattery pack (p. 11)
JShoe adaptor attaching part (p. 130)
KPower zoom lever (p. 22)
LEXPANDED FOCUS button (p. 33)
MGrip belt (p. 4)NPOWER switch (p. 14)
,continued 
						

							Quick Reference126
AHook for the shoulder strap
BZoom ring (p. 23)
CFocus ring (p. 32)
DFOCUS switch (AUTO/MAN (manual)/
INFINITY) (p. 32)
EZOOM switch (p. 22)
FND FILTER switch (1/2/OFF) (p. 30)
GPUSH AUTO button (p. 33)
H WHT BAL (One-push white balance) 
button (p. 26)
IGAIN switch (H/M/L) (p. 29)
JWHT BAL (white balance) switch (A/B/
PRESET) (p. 26)
KHandle zoom switch (H/L/OFF) (p. 23)
LFormat lamps (p. 20)
MViewfinder (p. 3, 15)
NASSIGN buttons (1 – 6)* (p. 86)
OZEBRA/PEAKING switch (p. 31, 34)
PIRIS button (p. 28)
QGAIN button* (p. 29)
RAUTO LOCK switch (p. 26, 28, 30)
SWHT BAL (white balance) button (p. 26)
TSHUTTER SPEED button (p. 30)* The GAIN, ASSIGN 2/5 buttons have a raised tactile 
dot. Use it to identify the location of the buttons.
To attach the shoulder strap
Attach the shoulder strap supplied with your 
camcorder to the hooks for the shoulder strap. 
						

							Quick Reference
Quick Reference127
ALCD screen (p. 3, 15)
BIRIS dial (p. 28)
CRESET button
If you press RESET, all settings including 
the clock setting (except the Personal Menu 
and Picture Profile settings) return to the 
default. 
DVOLUME –/+ buttons* (p. 48)
EDATA CODE button (p. 51)
FDISPLAY/BATT INFO button (p. 12, 
50)
GEND SEARCH (VCR) button (p. 50)
HHandle zoom lever (p. 23)
IVideo control buttons (Rewind, 
Playback*, Fast-forward, Pause, Stop, 
Slow, Record) (p. 48)
JLCD BRIGHT –/+ buttons (p. 15)
KLCD BACKLIGHT switch (p. 15)
LTC/U-BIT button (p. 103)
MBARS button (p. 22)
NREC START/STOP button and HOLD 
lever (p. 21)
OAUDIO LEVEL CH1 dial (p. 37)
PAUDIO SELECT CH1 switch (p. 37)
QAUDIO SELECT CH2 switch (p. 37)
RAUDIO LEVEL CH2 dial (p. 37)* The VOLUME + and PLAY buttons have a raised 
tactile dot. Use it to identify the location of the 
buttons.
,continued 
						

							Quick Reference128
A LANC jack (blue)
The   LANC control jack is used for 
controlling the tape transport of video 
device and peripherals connected to it.
B
i (headphones) jack
When you use headphones, the speaker on 
your camcorder is silent.
CHook for the shoulder strap (p. 126)
D HDV/DV jack (p. 52, 89, 90, 93, 94, 96)
EMicrophone (p. 98)
FFront camera recording lamp (p. 20)
GFront remote sensor
HSpeaker
ILens (Carl Zeiss Lens)
Your camcorder is equipped with a Carl 
Zeiss lens which can reproduce fine images.
The lens for your camcorder was developed 
jointly by Carl Zeiss, in Germany, and Sony 
Corporation. It adopts the MTF 
measurement system for video cameras and 
offers a quality as fine as a Carl Zeiss lens.
The lens for your camcorder is also T*-
coated to suppress unwanted reflection and 
faithfully reproduce colors.
MTF stands for Modulation Transfer 
Function.The value number indicates the 
amount of light from a subject coming into 
the lens. 
						

							Quick Reference
Quick Reference129
AS VIDEO jack (p. 52, 54, 91, 94)
BCOMPONENT OUTPUT jack (p. 52, 54)
CTripod receptacle
Make sure that the length of the tripod 
screw is less than 5.5 mm (7/32 inch).
Otherwise, you cannot attach the tripod 
securely, and the screw may damage your 
camcorder.
DINPUT1 connector (XLR) (p. 38, 98)
EINPUT2 connector (XLR) (p. 38, 98)
FMicrophone holder (p. 38)
GAUDIO/VIDEO jack (p. 52, 54, 91, 94, 
98)
HINPUT 1 PHANTOM power switch 
(p. 39)
IINPUT 2 PHANTOM power switch 
(p. 39)
,continued 
						

							Quick Reference130
AShoe adaptor
To connect an accessory, press down and 
push it to the end, and then tighten the 
screw. To remove an accessory, loosen the 
screw, and then press down and pull out the 
accessory.
When you attach the shoe adaptor, be 
careful not to damage the LCD panel.
BLens hood (p. 20)
COPEN/EJECT  lever (p. 18)
DCassette compartment lid (p. 18)
EViewfinder lens adjustment lever (p. 15)
FPICTURE PROFILE button (p. 34)
GMENU button (p. 57)
HP-MENU button (p. 83)
ISTATUS CHECK button (p. 24, 51)
JSEL/PUSH EXEC dial (p. 57)
To attach the shoe adaptorTo remove the lens hood
Loosen the lens hood fixing screw, then turn the 
lens hood in the direction of the arrow.
 
To attach the lens hood
Align the marks on the lens hood to those on the 
camcorder, and turn the lens hood in the 
opposite direction of the arrow in the figure 
above. Tighten the lens hood fixing screw.
Hood fixing screw