INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Digital Movie Camera
VPC-HD1EX
VPC-HD1E
VPC-HD1
Important note
This manual explains how to safely operate the VPC-HD1EX, VPC-HD1E and 
VPC-HD1.
Any information regarding only one of these products will be labeled as such.
Please read these instructions carefully before using the camera.
Make sure to read and understand the separate booklet “SAFETY MANUAL”. 
Keep this manual in a safe place for later reference.
Warning 
TO PREVENT THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT 
EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
FOR AMERICAN USERS
The following advisory is included in accordance with the laws of the State of 
California (USA):
WARNING:
This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of 
California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash 
hands after handling.
i 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:
h Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
h Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
h Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to 
which the receiver is connected.
h Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
i Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible 
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Declaration of Conformity
Model number: VPC-HD1
Trade Name: SANYO
Responsible party: SANYO FISHER COMPANY
Address: 21605 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, California 91311
Telephone No.: (818) 998-7322
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 interfer-
ence that may cause undesired operation.
i
English
FOR CANADIAN USERS
i This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
FOR EU USERS
Note:
iThis symbol mark and recycle system apply only to EU 
countries and do not apply to countries in other areas of 
the world.
Your SANYO product is designed and manufactured with 
high quality materials and components which can be 
recycled and reused.
This symbol means that electrical and electronic 
equipment, at their end-of-life, should be disposed of 
separately from your household waste.
Please dispose of this equipment at your local community 
waste collection/recycling centre.
In the European Union there are separate collection 
systems for used electrical and electronic products.
Please help us to conserve the environment we live in!
Symbols used in this manual
HINT 
Points giving some extended instructions or special points to pay 
attention to.
CAUTION  Points that require special attention.
(page xx)  Refer to the page indicated for detailed information.
You may find the answers to questions or problems concerning camera 
operation in the sections “COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS” (page 163) 
and “TROUBLESHOOTING” (page 170).
English
ii
GETTING UP AND RUNNING
Preparing the camera
1  Insert the card.
Card slot cover
Card
Card slot
2  Connect the cable adaptor to the camera, and connect the AC 
adaptor.
Supplied cable adaptor
Supplied AC adaptor
Supplied power cord
To power outlet
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English
Shooting
kVideo clip recording
1  Open the monitor unit, and 
press the ON/OFF button 
for at least 1 second to turn 
the camera on.
2  Set the main switch to REC.
3  Press the video clip 
].
recording button [
h Recording begins.
h To stop recording, press 
the video clip recording 
button again.
kStill image 
photography
1  Open the monitor unit, and 
press the ON/OFF button 
for at least 1 second to turn 
the camera on.
2  Set the main switch to REC.
3  Press the still image 
shooting button [
].
h The image is captured.
Video clip recording
]
button [
Still image shooting
]
button [
ON/OFF 
button
Main switch
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Playback
kVideo clip playback
1  Set the main switch to PLAY.
h The display switches to the 
Playback Screen.
h Toggle the SET button to 
the left or right to display the 
video clip you wish to play 
back.
h Video clips are indicated by 
a video clip pattern along 
the top and bottom of the 
screen.
2  Press the SET button.
h Playback of the selected 
video clip begins.
h When the main switch is 
moved to REC, the display 
changes to the Shooting 
Screen.
kStill image playback
1  Set the main switch to PLAY.
h The display switches to the 
Playback Screen.
h To view other images, 
toggle the SET button to the 
left or right.
h When the main switch is 
moved to REC, the display 
changes to the Shooting 
Screen.
Main switch
SET button
Video clip pattern
When you are finished using the camera...
Press the ON/OFF button for at least 1 second to turn the camera off.
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English
QUICK SEARCH BY OPERATION
Your camera has an abundance of convenient features and functions. From 
creating precisely the photo you want, to viewing images using various 
techniques, you can locate the exact operation for your purposes in the 
following table.
Basic operation
Getting started 
shooting/recording
 “Recording video clips” 
on page 42
 “Shooting single shots” 
on page 46
 “SEQUENTIAL 
SHOTS” on page 52
 “Audio recording” on 
page 56
Optimize the photo 
quality
 “VIDEO CLIP MODE 
(IMAGE QUALITY) 
SETTING” on page 71
 “STILL IMAGE MODE 
(RESOLUTION) 
SETTING” on page 72
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Additional functions
For more accurate 
focus
 “FOCUS RANGE” 
(manual focus) on 
page 79
Set the focus to a 
narrow range
 “FOCUS AREA 
SETTING” on page 81
Convenient 
functions
Log the date and 
time of your photos
 “DATE AND TIME 
SETTING” on page 36
Zoom in on the 
subject
 “USING THE ZOOM” 
on page 60
Close-up 
photography
 “FOCUS RANGE” 
(super macro mode) on 
page 79
Reduce video clip flicker
 “FLICKER-REDUCTION” on page 128
Set the camera’s color/contrast 
characteristics
 “ADJUST THE IMAGE QUALITY” on page 127
Wide-screen video recording (HD mode)
 “RECORDING IN THE HD MODE” on page 54
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Basic operation
Convenient 
functions
Additional functions
Capture fast-moving subjects
 “SCENE SELECT” (sports mode) on page 73
Shoot in dark conditions
 “EXPOSURE CORRECTION” on page 63
 “SHOOTING WITH THE FLASH” on page 61
 “SCENE SELECT” (night view mode/fireworks mode/lamp mode) on page 73
Increase the camera’s sensitivity
 “ISO SENSITIVITY” on page 83
Photographing people
 “SCENE SELECT” (portrait mode/night view mode) on page 73
 “FILTERS” (cosmetic filter) on page 76
 “SHOOTING WITH THE FLASH” (red-eye reduction) on page 61
Photographing landscapes
 “SCENE SELECT” (landscape mode) on page 73
Take a self-photo
 “SELF-TIMER” on page 86
Make images lighter 
or darker
 “EXPOSURE 
CORRECTION” on 
page 63
Change the color of 
the images
 “FILTERS” 
(monochrome filter/
sepia filter) on page 76
Measure the 
brightness of a 
specific area
 “LIGHT-MEASURING 
MODE SETTING” on 
page 82
Adjust the camera’s 
sensitivity
 “ISO SENSITIVITY” on 
page 83
For a more precise 
exposure setting
 “EXPOSURE 
SETTING” (manual 
exposure control) on 
page 74
Make white appear 
natural
 “WHITE BALANCE” on 
page 84
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