Model 163 Moviecorder 8 Camcorder
(160-0864)            Video Recording Features        Faxback Doc. # 19180

AUTO FOCUSING

The automatic focusing feature lets you concentrate on recording great
videos without having to worry about whether or not they are properly
focused

The camcorder detects the distance from the camcorder to the object you see
in the center of the viewfinder, then sets the focus for that distance.
When you move the camcorder, it contiguously adjusts the focus to maintain
the sharpest picture.  Try to keep your desired subject in the middle of
the viewfinder.

NOTES:  If the lens gets dirty, clean it with a soft tissue and lenS-
        cleaning fluid.

        If the lens gets damp, dry it with a soft cloth or wait until the
        moisture evaporates.

        The camcorder might not be able to focus on a subject when:

        -  You are taping in extremely low light.

        -  You are taping in snow or fog.

        -  Close and distant objects are both near the center of the
           viewfinder.

        -  You are taping a long object (such as a fence rail) from its
           end.

        -  The scene includes several objects equal distances apart.

        -  Light reflects off the subject.

        -  The focus point moves rapidly.

        -  You are taping through a window.

ZOOM 

Power Zoom

The power-zoom feature lets you change from wide-angle to telephoto shots
at the touch of a button. During recording, press W or T with the fingers
of your right hand. Press W (wide-angle) to zoom out and T (telephoto) to
zoom in.

As you zoom out or in, a bar with an indicator appears on the left side of
the viewfinder.  The indicator moves up and down the bar, showing the
relative zoom position.

Digital Zoom

The digital zoom feature automatically doubles the magnification of
telephoto shots while you use power zoom.

To use digital zoom, simply continue to press and hold down T while you are
zooming.  As you press and hold down T, the magnification doubles and ZOOM
appears above the indicator on the left side of the viewfinder.

NOTES:  The subject you are magnifying while using digital zoom might
        appear coarse.  This is normal.

        Since digital zoom exaggerates even the slightest movement of the
        camcorder or subject, we recommend that you set the camcorder on a
        tripod while using digital zoom.

Instant Zoom

The instant zoom feature automatically increases the magnification of a
shot 1 1/2 times while you use power zoom and/or digital zoom.

To use instant zoom, press INST. ZOOM on the power zoom control.  I. ZOOM 
appears above the indicator on the left side of the viewfinder if the zoom
indicator is displayed.  Press INST. ZOOM again to stop instant zoom and
return to the previous zoom setting.

NOTES:  If the camcorder was in digital zoom, I. ZOOM replaces ZOOM on the
        viewfinder until you press INST.ZOOM again.

        Since instant zoom exaggerates even the slightest movement of the
        camcorder or subject, we recommend that you set the camcorder on a 
        tripod while using instant zoom.

MACRO FOCUSING

The camcorder's macro focusing feature lets you shoot close up pictures
(as little as 3/8 inch away) of objects such as flowers, printed material,
or photos in your family album.

To use macro focus, press and hold down W until you see the widest possible
angle in the viewfinder, then aim the camcorder at the object you are 
shooting. In most cases, the camcorder automatically focuses on the
subject.

NOTES:  If the camcorder does not automatically focus on a subject while
        you use macro focusing, you can set the focus manually (see
        "Setting the Focus Manually" (BELOW).

        Since macro focus exaggerates even the slightest movement of the
        camcorder or subject, we recommend that you set the camcorder on a
        tripod while using macro focus.

        For the best possible resolution while using macro focus, be sure
        to shoot in a well-lighted area.

SETTING THE FOCUS MANUALLY

1.  Press both FOCUS button (F (far) and N (near)) together.  FOCUS appears
    in the viewfinder.

2.  Press and hold down T until the camcorder zooms in on the subject.

    NOTE:  If you do not zoom in on the subject by pressing T, the
           camcorder might lose focus on the subject when you record.

3.  Repeatedly press (or press and hold down) F or N until you get the
    sharpest picture.

To return to automatic focus, press both FOCUS buttons at the same time. 
FOCUS disappears from the viewfinder.

REVIEW

This feature lets you quickly review the last few seconds of a recording.

1.  During recording, press the record/pause button to stop the tape.  II
    appears in the viewfinder.

2.  Press REW <<. The tape rewinds and plays the last few seconds of the 
    tape, then stops the tape where the recording ends.

3.  Press the record/pause button to resume recording from that point.

CAMERA SEARCH

The camera search feature lets you review recorded portions of a tape and
resume recording at the desired point on the tape.  This lets you smoothly
connect recorded scenes.

1.  During recording, press the record/pause button to stop the tape.  II
    appears in the viewfinder.

2.  Press and hold down >> F.F to search forward, or REW << to search 
    backward.

    When you see the exact place on the tape where you want to start
    recording, release >> F.F or REW << to stop the tape. 

3.  Press the record/pause button to start recording from that point.

AUTO EXPOSURE

Depending on the brightness of the subject, the camcorder automatically
sets its shutter speed to one of the following:

                 1/60             1/250             1/1000
                 1/100            1/350             1/1500
                 1/120            1/500             1/2000
                 1/180            1/750             1/4000

The iris in the camcorder's lens also adjusts automatically in response to
the shutter speed.

The camcorder displays AE and the current shutter speed (shown as 60, 100,
etc.) in the upper left corner of the viewfinder.

RECORDING THE DATE AND TIME ON A TAPE

You can select a date/time recording option by repeatedly pressing DISPLAY
DATE/TITLE.  Each time you press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE, you see one of the
following options:

    Clock symbol and the date - the camcorder automatically records the
    date on the first 10 seconds of the first recording of the day.

    Clock symbol/TITLE and the date - the camcorder automatically records
    a title you created (see "Title" (BELOW) and the date on the first 10
    seconds of the first recording of the day.

    Date only - the camcorder continuously records the date.

    No date/time display - the camcorder does not record the date or time.

    Time and date - the camcorder continuously records the date and time.

NOTES:  The camcorder records the same date when:

        - You replace the cassette.

        - You select another date/time option, then select the auto date 
          option.

        - The previous recording was less than 10 seconds long.

        If the date changes while recording continues for more than 10 
        seconds, the new date is recorded at the beginning of the next
        recording.

Date Search

If you made a recording using the auto date function, you can easily
locate the start or end of the latest recording while the tape is playing.

1.  Slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to VCR.

2.  Press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE.  SEARCH appears in the viewfinder.

3.  Press REW << to locate the start of the last recording or >> F.F to 
    locate the end.  When the tape reaches the start or the end, the
    camcorder stops and SEARCH disappears from the viewfinder.

NOTES:  Date search does not work with a tape recorded on another
        camcorder.

        If the length of the recording is less than 30 seconds, date search 
        might not work.

DIGITAL COUNTER

The camcorder displays a digital tape counter in the upper right corner of
the viewfinder during recording or playback.  This counter displays the
elapsed time (the length of time that the tape has been running) in hours,
minutes, and seconds.

NOTES:  The camcorder does not record the digital counter onto the tape.

        The digital counter resets to 0:00:00 when you insert a tape.

Rewinding a Tape to its Insertion Point

You can set the digital counter's memory so you can rewind the tape to the 
point where you inserted it into the camcorder.

1.  Load a cassette into the camcorder, then slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to VCR.
    The counter appears in the viewfinder.

2.  Press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE. M appears next to the counter in the
    viewfinder.

3.  Begin playback of the tape.  When you want to rewind the tape to the
    point where it was when you inserted it into the camcorder, press STOP,
    then press REW <<. The tape rewinds, then stops when the counter
    reaches 0:00:00.

To rewind past the location on the tape where you press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE, 
press REW. << again.

Rewinding a Tape to a Point You Select

You can reset the digital counter to 0:00:00 during playback or recording,
and then have the camcorder return to that location at a later time.

NOTE:  You need a remote control (CMC No. T16-RME55A (Radio Shack Unlimited
       No. 11449246), not supplied) to do this procedure.

1.  Load a cassette into the camcorder, then slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to CAMERA
    or VCR.  The counter appears in the Viewfinder.

2.  Press DISPLAY on the remote control. M appears next to the counter in
    the viewfinder.  

3.  Begin recording or playback of the tape.  When you see a scene you 
    might want to return to, press COUNTER RESET on the remote control. 
    The counter resets to 0:00:00.

4.  When you want to return to the location on the tape where you pressed
    COUNTER RESET, press the record/pause button or STOP, then press REW
    <<. The tape rewinds, then stops when the counter reaches 0:00:00.

TAPE REMAINING 

During recording and playback, the camcorder displays a bar below the tape
counter in the viewfinder showing the amount of tape left on the loaded
cassette. The camcorder displays tape remaining information in ranges from
(empty indicator)(the tape is at or near the beginning), to (half-full
indicator)(the tape is in or near the middle), to (full indicator)(the tape
is at or near the end).

NOTES:  When you first load, record, or play back a cassette, the camcorder 
        displays (a series of dots)for about 10 seconds. Then the bar
        changes to show the remaining amount of tape.

        When there is less than 3 minutes of tape left, TAPE END also
        flashes in the viewfinder.

        The tape remaining bar disappears when you eject the cassette.

TITLER

You can easily create and record a personalized title on your recordings
using the camcorder's titler.

The camcorder stores one title "page" in its memory. Once you store a
title, you can display and record it onto a tape at any time. The title
page can contain up to two lines of 16 characters each.

The titler contains 47 different characters you can use to create titles.

Creating a Title

Follow these steps to create a title and save it in the camcorder's memory.

1.  Slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to CAMERA.

2.  Repeatedly press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE until a flashing cursor and TITLE 
    appear in the viewfinder.

3.  Repeatedly press STOP to move the flashing cursor to the place where
    you want to begin your title.

4.  Select the first character of your title by repeatedly pressing REW
    << or >> F.F to move backward or forward through the characters until
    the viewfinder shows the correct character.

    The characters appear in this order as you press >> F.F (or in reverse 
    order as you press REW <<).

    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
    8 9 ? ' . / , - ; : < > ! (space)

    NOTE:  To quickly move backward or forward through the characters,
           press and hold down REW << or >> F.F.

5.  When the correct character shows in the viewfinder, press STOP to move 
    the flashing cursor to the place where you want the next character.

6.  Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you complete the title.

7.  If you do not want to record a title immediately after you create it,
    but save it for later use, press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE.  TITLE disappears 
    from the viewfinder.

    Or, to record the title you created, see "Adding the Title to a 
    Recording." (BELOW)

NOTES:  Your camcorder's date/title battery protects the title you created
        (see "Loading the Date/Calendar Battery").(see Fackback Doc. #     
        Power Sources).

        The camcorder saves the title you created when it automatically
        stops and turns itself off.

Editing the Title 

1.  Repeatedly press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE until the title appears.

2.  Repeatedly press STOP to move forward through the characters until the 
    character you want to change flashes.

3.  Repeatedly press (or press and hold down) REW << or >> F.F. to move 
    backward or forward through the characters until the viewfinder shows
    the correct character.

4.  If necessary, repeat Steps 2 and 3 to select and correct other 
    characters.

Adding the Title to a Recording 

You can superimpose (add) the title on your recordings.

1.  Slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to CAMERA.

2.  Press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE.  The title you created appears in the
    viewfinder.

3.  Press the record/pause button to start the title recording.

    The camcorder superimposes the title on the scene you are recording
    for 10 seconds.  After 10 seconds, the title disappears.

NOTES:  If you are planning to record an event, you must prepare the title
        in advance, then press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE as you record it to
        superimpose the title, over the scene.  You cannot superimpose a
        title over an existing video.

        When you press DISPLAY DATE/TITLE to record a title, the date also
        appears, and is recorded along with the title.  Be sure to set the
        date correctly.

        If you use an optional remote control, you can add a title while
        dubbing and add or delete a title while recording.


(JC   11/15/95)

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