3-868-323-12 (1)
Video Camera
Recorder
Operating Instructions
Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly,
and retain it for future reference.
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. CCD-TRV
Model No. AC-L
Serial No.
Serial No.
CCD-TRV87
CCD-TRV87
CCD-TRV67
CCD-TRV17/TRV37/TRV57
©1999 Sony Corporation
Welcome!
Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony Handycam VisionTM camcorder. With your
Handycam Vision, you can capture life’s precious moments with superior picture and sound
quality. Your Handycam Vision is loaded with advanced features, but at the same time it is
very easy to use. You will soon be producing home video that you can enjoy for years to
come.
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.
Never expose the battery pack to temperatures
above 140 °F (60°C), such as in a car parked in
the sun or under direct sunlight.
DISPOSAL OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY.
LITHIUM ION BATTERY.
DISPOSE OF PROPERLY.
You can return your unwanted lithium ion batteries
to your nearest Sony Service Center or Factory
Service Center.
Note:
In some areas the disposal of lithium ion
batteries in household or business trash may
be prohibited.
For the Sony Service Center nearest you call
1-800-222-SONY (United States only)
For the Sony Factory Service Center nearest you call
416-499-SONY (Canada only)
Caution: Do not handle damaged or leaking lithium
ion battery.
For customers in the U.S.A.
CAUTION
You are cautioned that any changes or modifications
not expressly approved in this manual could void
your authority to operate this equipment.
Note:
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 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.
For customers in CANADA
CAUTION
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH
WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT,
FULLY INSERT.
2
Table of contents
Quick Start Guide ............................. 4
Advanced Playback
Operations
Getting started
Using this manual ................................... 6
Checking supplied accessories .............. 8
Step 1 Preparing the power supply ..... 9
Installing the battery pack .............. 9
Charging the battery pack ............. 10
Connecting to a wall outlet ........... 14
Step 2 Inserting a cassette ................... 15
Recording – Basics
Recording a picture............................... 16
Shooting backlit subjects
(BACK LIGHT) ........................ 20
Shooting in the dark
(NightShot) ............................... 21
Superimposing the date and time
on pictures ................................ 22
Checking the recording
– END SEARCH / EDITSEARCH /
Rec Review ...................................... 23
Playback – Basics
Playing back a tape ............................... 24
Viewing the recording on TV .............. 27
Advanced Recording
Operations
Recording a still image on a tape
– Tape Photo recording
(CCD-TRV87 only) ......................... 30
Using the wide mode ........................... 32
Using the fader function ...................... 34
Using special effects
– Picture effect ................................. 37
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Playing back a tape with digital effects
(CCD-TRV87 only) ......................... 51
Editing
Dubbing a tape ...................................... 52
Recording video or TV programs
(CCD-TRV87 only) ......................... 54
Customizing Your Camcorder
Changing the menu settings ................ 55
Resetting the date and time ................. 61
Additional Information
Usable cassettes and playback modes
........................................................... 63
Changing the lithium battery in your
camcorder ........................................ 65
Troubleshooting .................................... 67
Self-diagnosis display........................... 70
Warning indicators and messages ...... 71
Using your camcorder abroad ............ 72
Maintenance information and
precautions ...................................... 73
Specifications ......................................... 77
Quick Reference
Identifying the parts and controls ...... 79
Quick Function Guide .......................... 86
Index ....................................................... 87
Using special effects
– Digital effect (CCD-TRV87 only)
........................................................... 38
Using the PROGRAM AE function .... 41
Adjusting the exposure manually ...... 43
Focusing manually................................ 44
Superimposing a title ........................... 45
Making your own titles ........................ 47
Using the built-in light ......................... 49
3
Quick Start Guide
This chapter introduces you to the basic features of your
camcorder. See the page in parentheses “(
)” for more
information.
Connecting the power cord (p. 14)
Use the battery pack when using your camcorder outdoors (p. 9).
Open the DC IN
jack cover.
Connect the plug with
its v mark facing up.
mark
3 Close the cassette
compartment by
pressing the
on the cassette
compartment. The
cassette compartment
automatically goes
down.
AC power adaptor (supplied)
Inserting a cassette (p. 15)
1 Slide EJECT in the
direction of the arrow
while pressing the
small blue button.
2 Insert a cassette
into the cassette
compartment
with its window
facing out.
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Recording a picture (p. 16)
1 Set the POWER switch to CAMERA
while pressing
the small green
button.
POWER
CAMERA
OFF
(CHARGE)
VTR
2 Open the LCD
panel while
pressing OPEN.
3 Turn STANDBY to STANDBY. The
picture appears on the LCD screen.
L O C K
S
T
A
NDBY
START/STOP
4 Press the red button. Your camcorder
starts recording. To stop recording,
press the red button again.
L O C K
S
T
A
NDBY
START/STOP
Viewfinder
When the LCD panel is closed, use the
viewfinder placing your eye against its eyecup.
The picture in the viewfinder is black and white.
Monitoring the playback picture on the LCD
screen (p. 24)
1 Set the POWER
switch to VTR
(CCD-TRV87) or
PLAYER (CCD-
TRV17/TRV37/
TRV57/TRV67)
while pressing the
small green button.
POWER
CAMERA
OFF
(CHARGE)
VTR
2 Press m to rewind the tape.
REW
3 Press N to start playback.
PLAY
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NOTE
Do not pick up your camcorder by holding
the viewfinder, the LCD panel or the
battery pack.
5
— Getting started —
Using this manual
The instructions in this manual are for the four models listed in the table below. Before
you start reading this manual and operating your camcorder, check the model number
by looking at the bottom of your camcorder. The CCD-TRV87 is the model used for
illustration purposes. Otherwise, the model name is indicated in the illustrations. Any
differences in operation are clearly indicated in the text, for example, “CCD-TRV87
only.”
As you read through this manual, buttons and settings on your camcorder are shown in
capital letters.
e.g. Set the POWER switch to CAMERA.
When you carry out an operation, you can hear a beep sound to indicate that the
operation is being carried out.
TRV17
TRV37
TRV57
TRV67
TRV87
Types of differences
CCD-
System
VIDEO/AUDIO IN*
S VIDEO
Digital zoom
Super NightShot
SteadyShot
Remote sensor
SUPER LASER LINK
Photo mode
PROGRAM AE
Low lux mode
Digital effect
Fader function
OVERLAP
WIPE
Audio
z Provided
— Not provided
—
—
80·
—
—
—
—
—
z
—
—
z
—
—
—
—
200·
—
—
—
—
—
z
—
—
z
—
—
—
—
360·
—
z
z
—
—
z
—
—
z
—
—
—
z**
360·
—
z
z
—
—
z
—
—
z
—
—
z
z
360·
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
stereo
monaural monaural monaural monaural
* The models without VIDEO/AUDIO IN have CAMERA, OFF and PLAYER mode on
the POWER switch.
** Output only
6
Using this manual
Note on TV color systems
TV color systems differ from country to country. To view your recordings on a TV, you
need an NTSC system-based TV.
Copyright precautions
Television programs, films, video tapes, and other materials may be copyrighted.
Unauthorized recording of such materials may be contrary to the provision of the
copyright laws.
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Precautions on camcorder care
•The LCD screen and the viewfinder are manufactured using high-precision
technology.
However, there may be some tiny black points and/or bright points (red, blue,
green or white) that constantly appear on the LCD screen and in the viewfinder.
These points occur normally in the manufacturing process and do not affect the
recorded picture in any way.
Effective ratio of pixels and/or screen are 99.99% or more.
•Do not let your camcorder get wet. Keep your camcorder away from rain and sea
water. Letting your camcorder get wet may cause your camcorder to malfunction.
Sometimes this malfunction cannot be repaired [a].
•Never leave your camcorder exposed to temperatures above 140°F (60°C ), such as in a
car parked in the sun or under direct sunlight [b].
•Do not place your camcorder so as to point the viewfinder or the LCD screen toward
the sun. The inside of the viewfinder or the LCD screen may be damaged [c].
[a]
[b]
[c]
7
Checking supplied accessories
Make sure that the following accessories are supplied with your camcorder.
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
*
or
1 Wireless Remote Commander (1)
(p. 84)
CCD-TRV57/TRV67/TRV87 only
5 Size AA (R6) battery for Remote
Commander (2) (p. 84)
CCD-TRV57/TRV67/TRV87 only
2 AC-L10A/L10B/L10C AC power adaptor
(1), Power cord (1) (p. 10)
6 A/V connecting cable (1) (p. 27)
* for stereo model
3 NP-F330 battery pack (1) (p. 9, 10)
7 Shoulder strap (1) (p. 81)
4 CR2025 lithium battery (1) (p. 65)
The lithium battery is already installed
in your camcorder.
Contents of the recording cannot be compensated if recording or playback is not
made due to a malfunction of the camcorder, video tape, etc.
8