Read This First

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4.Caution -- To reduce risk of injury, charge only rechargeable battery, VM-BP82G, VM-BP82 or VM-BP84. Other types of batteries may burst causing personal injury and damage.

5.Do not expose charger to rain or snow.

6.Use of an attachment nor recommended or sold by the battery charger manufacturer may result in a risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons.

7.To reduce risk of damage to electric plug and cord, pull by plug rather than cord when disconnecting charger.

8.Make sure cord is located so that it will not be stepped on, tripped over, or otherwise subjected to damage or stress.

9.Do not operate charger with damaged cord or plug - replace them immediately.

10.An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary.

Use of improper extension cord could result in a risk of fire and electric shock. If extension cord must be used, make sure:

A. The pins on plug of extension cord are the same number, size, and shape as those of plug on charger. B. That extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition; and

C. That wire size should be met below: Minimum

AWG size

Length of extension cord (feet)

18

Equal to or less than 100

16

Equal to or less than 150

11.Do not operate charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged in any way; take it to a qualified serviceman.

12.Do not disassemble charger: take it to a qualified serviceman when service or repair is required. Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of electric shock or fire.

13.To reduce risk of electric shock, unplug charger from outlet before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

Read This First

To guide you, we've included:

•A "Before You Begin" section containing important cautions for your family's safety as well as instruction for getting your video camcorder ready for use. Please read and understand this section thoroughly before moving on.

•A "Getting Started" section to familiarize yourself with the controls and prepare you for recording.

•A "Basic Techniques" section to allow you to use your video camcorder quickly and confidently before advancing to the more sophisticated features of the Hitachi VM-E220A.

•"Advanced Techniques" to help you with some of the exciting, sophisticated features of the Hitachi VM-E220A. We hope you will take the time to learn about these functions since they have been designed for you. You can use the video camcorder without reading this section.

•A "General Maintenance" section to help keep your purchase in good repair.

We want this manual to be as helpful as possible, so it includes two easy ways to find the information you need:

•A quick index for the information you use most often (this page).

•A detailed table of contents directing you to specific information quickly (page 10).

Get to know your video camcorder by using this manual, and get to know Hitachi. We appreciate your business.

Before You Begin

Any problems that occur as a result of any of the following conditions will not be covered by our warranty.

￿Be careful that no water, dust or sand enters the camcorder and all accessories.

￿When you shoot at a scene which contains an extremely bright object such as the sun or a light source, a bright vertical bar may appear in the picture.

Your camcorder is functioning properly, but the solid-state pickup device (C.C.D) usually causes this as an inherent characteristic. Try to avoid shooting an excessive bright object directly.

￿Be sure not to leave the camcorder in a place where the temperature exceeds 140°F (60°C), or the pickup device may be damaged.

Dangerous includes:

• Inside a car with the windows closed and in direct sunshine.

• Near heating appliances.

￿Do not leave the viewfinder lens facing sunlight for a prolonged period, or the phosphorescent surface of the cathode ray tube or the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel may be damaged.