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HITACHI
Instruction Manual
8mm Video Camcorder
VM-E230A
Mississauga, Ontario L5N 2L8
HITACHI (HSC) CANADA INC.
6740 Campobello Road
HITACHI HOME ELECTRONICS
(AMERICA), INC.
3890 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Norcross, GA 30093
Tel. 770-279-5600
HITACHI SALES CORPORATION OF
HAWAII, INC
3219 Koapaka Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819
Tel. 808-836-3621
Thank you for buying a Hitachi product. Please take time to become familiar with the
manual and how it is set up. Keep it handy for feature reference.
QR16731 © Hitachi, Ltd. 1997
CANADA
Tel. 905-821-4545
Printed in Japan KN-H(N)
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................2
For Your Safety...........................................................................................................................................7
Important Safeguards ..................................................................................................................................9
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR AC ADAPTER/CHARGER ......................................13
Read This First ..........................................................................................................................................14
Before You Begin......................................................................................................................................15
Features...............................................................................................................................................15
Components and Accessories..........................................................................................................15
Optional RF Adapter ..........................................................................................................................16
Lens Cap..............................................................................................................................................16
Using the lens cap string:..................................................................................................................16
Removing the lens cap ......................................................................................................................16
Getting Started...........................................................................................................................................18
Charging the Battery ..........................................................................................................................18
Additional Information ........................................................................................................................19
Adjusting the Electronic Viewfinder .................................................................................................19
Eyepiece Adjustment .........................................................................................................................20
Adjustment the Hand Strap...............................................................................................................20
Loading Batteries................................................................................................................................20
Clock Battery.......................................................................................................................................21
Remote Control Batteries..................................................................................................................21
Camcorder Batteries Using Battery Pack.......................................................................................22
Removing the Battery Pack ..............................................................................................................23
Checking the Battery's Charge.........................................................................................................24
Using Alkaline Dry-Cell Batteries.....................................................................................................24
Using Alternative Power Sources ....................................................................................................26
Using the AC Adapter/Charger.........................................................................................................26
Using a Car Battery............................................................................................................................26
Inserting and Removing Cassettes..................................................................................................27
Inserting a Cassette ...........................................................................................................................27
Removing a Cassette.........................................................................................................................28
Protecting Recorded Material...........................................................................................................28
Using the Linear Time Counter ........................................................................................................28
Remaining Tape .................................................................................................................................28
Setting the Date and Time ................................................................................................................29
Correcting the Date and Time ..........................................................................................................30
Getting Started, Identifying Controls........................................................................................................31
Basic Techniques.......................................................................................................................................34
Making a Basic Recording ................................................................................................................34
Playing Back Your Recording...........................................................................................................35
Connecting to a Television with a VCR Attached..........................................................................35
Connecting to a Television with Audio In and Video In Jacks.....................................................35
Connecting to a Television without Audio In and Video In Jacks ...............................................36
Simple Playback (Using the Electronic Viewfinder) ......................................................................36
Using Still .............................................................................................................................................37
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Using Forward and Reverse Search ...............................................................................................37
To Play Back a Recording at Double the Normal Speed.............................................................37
Advanced Techniques ...............................................................................................................................39
Date Recording...................................................................................................................................39
Using the Power Zoom ......................................................................................................................40
Using the Digital Zoom ......................................................................................................................41
Using the INST. ZOOM (Instant Zoom) Button..............................................................................41
Using Auto Focus ...............................................................................................................................42
Using Manual Focus ..........................................................................................................................43
Using Instant Review .........................................................................................................................43
Using Quick Edit .................................................................................................................................44
Using Macro ........................................................................................................................................44
Date Search.........................................................................................................................................44
Dubbing from the Camcorder to a VCR..........................................................................................45
Remote Control Range......................................................................................................................45
Using Memory .....................................................................................................................................46
Using the Display Button...................................................................................................................47
Creating and Recording A Title ........................................................................................................47
Creating a Title....................................................................................................................................48
Correcting Errors ................................................................................................................................48
Recording Title on a Tape in the Camcorder.................................................................................48
Recording a Created Title while Transferring a Tape...................................................................49
Using Audio/Video Dubbing..............................................................................................................50
Simple Programmable Edit (The edit remote control is optional) ...............................................50
Programming the Remote Control for the VCR.............................................................................50
Operation .............................................................................................................................................52
To End Programmable Simple Edit .................................................................................................53
Attaching the Optional Wide or Tele Converter Lens ...................................................................54
Attaching the Optional DC Camera Light .......................................................................................54
Removing the DC Camera Light ......................................................................................................55
Replacing the DC Camera Light Bulb .............................................................................................55
Viewfinder Bright, Color and Tint Control .......................................................................................56
General Maintenance.................................................................................................................................57
Cleaning the camcorder Heads........................................................................................................57
Cleaning the Lens and Picture Tube of the Electronic Viewfinder .............................................57
Periodic Maintenance ........................................................................................................................57
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................................58
CAMERA RECORDING ....................................................................................................................58
Symptom..............................................................................................................................................58
Check Point & Correction..................................................................................................................58
Picture does not appear in the viewfinder. .....................................................................................58
Remove the lens cap. ........................................................................................................................58
Slide the CAM/OFF/VIDEO switch to CAM....................................................................................58
The camcorder cannot go into the recording mode, even when the start/stop button is
pressed. ...............................................................................................................................................58
Check the record protect tab on the cassette................................................................................58
Push the cassette holder embossed PUSH LOCK to close it.....................................................58
Slide the CAM/OFF/VIDEO switch to CAM....................................................................................58
Picture is out of focus. .......................................................................................................................58
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Make sure that FOCUS does not appear in the viewfinder. If it is displayed, press FOCUS
Control buttons to erase it.................................................................................................................58
Auto-Focus does not operate if a special effects filter is attached. ............................................58
The created title does not appear....................................................................................................58
Insert the clock battery, then create a title......................................................................................58
Do not remove the clock battery after creating a title. ..................................................................58
PLAYBACK OF PRE-RECORDED CASSETTE ...........................................................................58
Symptom..............................................................................................................................................58
Check Point & Correction..................................................................................................................58
“Play” button cannot be engaged.....................................................................................................58
Set the CAM/OFF/VIDEO switch to VIDEO. ..................................................................................58
No picture appears on television screen when “PLAY” is pressed. ...........................................58
(TV is connected to the camcorder by using RF output adapter. ...............................................58
Set the television to the camcorder channel.(3 or 4) depending upon the selected channel in
the RF channel select switch of the RF output adapter. ..............................................................58
Interference on playback picture......................................................................................................58
When you see the playback picture on your TV, adjust fine tuning knob on television set to
obtain best picture..............................................................................................................................58
Picture bends at the top of the TV screen......................................................................................58
TV receiver is of older type. It needs to be modified to work properly with camcorder..........58
Tape is damaged. Try another cassette........................................................................................59
Color of your TV screen is too bright, too faint or change. ..........................................................59
TV set has VIR circuit. Turn if off during playback.......................................................................59
Date search function does not operate...........................................................................................59
Slide the CAM/OFF/VIDEO switch to VIDEO. ...............................................................................59
Insert the clock battery, set the date and time, then start recording. .........................................59
Do not remove the clock battery after recording. ..........................................................................59
Do not eject the recorded cassette. Leave it in the camcorder..................................................59
The playback picture moves rapidly and noise appears. Also sound speeded up from
normal is heard. ..................................................................................................................................59
The camcorder is set to the double speed playback mode. Pressing the playback button to
restore the normal playback mode. The sound also returns to the normal speed. ................59
Noise appears in the picture during double speed playback, but this does not indicate a fault.
...............................................................................................................................................................59
BATTERY CONDITION.....................................................................................................................59
Symptom..............................................................................................................................................59
Check Point & Correction..................................................................................................................59
) indication in the electronic viewfinder flashes to indicate battery is discharged......59
The (
Try another battery or charge the battery.......................................................................................59
NO OPERATION IS ACCEPTED ....................................................................................................59
Symptom..............................................................................................................................................59
Check Point & Correction..................................................................................................................59
Power is turned on, but no button operation are accepted..........................................................59
Remove the power source and the date/title battery. And after about one minute, the display
in the viewfinder will be reset. Then set the information again. .................................................59
The camcorder does not operate when alkaline batteries are inserted.....................................59
Check that the polarities (+,-) of the batteries are correct. ..........................................................59
Insert six batteries. .............................................................................................................................59
Specifications ......................................................................................................................................60
General Specifications.......................................................................................................................60
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Video Recorder Specifications .........................................................................................................60
Camera Specifications.......................................................................................................................60
Accessories Add Excitement.....................................................................................................................62
Available Accessories........................................................................................................................62
To Order in the United States...........................................................................................................62
By Phone .............................................................................................................................................62
By Mail..................................................................................................................................................62
FOR AUTHORIZED HITACHE SERVICE IN CANADA ...............................................................62
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For Your Safety
For Your Safety
The CAM/OFF/VIDEO switch turns the camcorder on and off, leaving the date/time
feature unaffected. If the unit is to be left unattended for a long period of time, turn the
camcorder off and attach the lens cap.
WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO
RAIN OR MOISTURE.
The camcorder and AC adapter/charger have the following caution marks.
Identifications of caution marks
This symbol warms the user that uninsulated voltage within the unit may have
sufficient magnitude to cause electrical shock. Therefore, it is dangerous to make any kind
of contact with any inside part of this unit.
This symbol alerts the user that important literature concerning the operation and
maintenance of this unit has been included. Therefore, it should be read carefully to avoid
any problems.
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT OPEN.
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF
PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, AND FULLY INSERT PLUG.
WARNING: Many television programs and films are copyrighted. In certain circumstances,
copyright law may apply to private in-home videotaping of copyrighted materials.
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-
Causing Equipment Regulations.
The liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is made by highly precise technology. More than
99.99% of its picture elements (pixels) are effective, but some (less than 0.01%) may
appear as colored bright dots. This does not indicate a fault as the LCD panel stretches
the limits of current technology.
Warning: 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.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant of Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
For Your Safety
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 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 into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver
is connected.
-- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Caution to the user: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacture
could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
"Note to CATV system installer: This reminder is provided to call the CATV system
installer's attention to Article 820-40 of the NEC that provides guidelines for proper
grounding and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the
grounding system of the building, as close to the point of cable entry as practical".
Notes:
• This unit uses 8mm video format cassettes.
• It records and plays back in the SP mode (14.3 mm/sec).
• It cannot record and play back in the LP mode (7.2 mm/sec).
MOISTURE
Avoid operating your camcorder immediately after moving it from a cold place to a
warm, humid place. Give the camcorder 2 to 3 hours to stabilize in the ambient
conditions of the surroundings before inserting a cassette. When moved from a cold
place to a warm, humid place, moisture may condense on the head drum inside the
machine. This moisture could cause the tape to stick to the headwheel and damage the
headwheel or tape.
When a small amount of moisture is sensed, "TAPE" flashes in the viewfinder. Remove
the cassette and set the CAM/OFF/VIDEO switch to OFF, then wait for about one hour.