1. INTRODUCTION

1-5 Videocassette to be Used

Use JVC’s videocassette tapes marked with MiniDV for this unit.

Please use DVM60 or DVM30 type videocassettes.

Videocassettes cannot be used upside down.

Avoid storing a videocassette with unevenly wound tape, as this may damage the tape. Rewind it to the beginning before placing a cassette into storage.

Store videocassettes in a place with little humidity and good ventilation where mould does not form.

After a videocassette tape has been used repeatedly, it becomes unable to maintain full performance due to an increase in noise caused by dropouts, etc. Do not

continue to use a dirty or damaged tape, as this will reduce the rotary head life.

Videocassette tapes marked

MiniDV are provided with a

Switch

switch on the back for use in

 

preventing

accidental

 

erasure.

 

REC

 

 

 

Slide the switch to SAVE to

SAVE

 

 

 

protect the required recording

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in the tape from being

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

overwritten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To record on the tape, slide the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

switch to REC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-6 Battery Pack to be Used

The GY-DV550 can use any of the following battery packs.

Flat shape type

Anton-Bauer battery pack: Trimpack 13/14 Series Magnum 13/14 Series Compack 13/14 Series Propack 13/14 Series

To display the remaining battery power accurately, set the VCR Setup Menu item No. 396 BATTERY TYPE according to the type of the battery pack in use. (See page 75)

*An Anton-Bauer battery pack cannot be connected directly to the camera. It is necessary to mount the optional battery holder.

Battery holder: Anton-Bauer QRQ27

For details on how to mount the battery holder, see page 39.

1-7 Condensation

If the unit has been cooled down in a cold place and is then carried to a warm place, the moisture contained in the warm air may adhere to the head drum or tape guides and be cooled into water droplets. This phenomenon is referred to as condensation (dewing). When this occurs, the head drum and tape guides are covered with droplets allowing the tape to be stuck to them, leading to tape damage.

Condensation occurs in the following cases:

When the unit is suddenly moved from a cold place to a warm place.

When a room heater has just started or when the unit is exposed directly to cold air from an air conditioner.

When the unit is placed in a very humid place.

Do not leave the videocassette inserted when moving the camera under conditions where the temperature environment changes.

When condensation occurs in this unit, the DEW indicator on the display lights up, and the WARNING LED blinks red. (See page 96) To remedy, leave the unit with the power ON and wait until the WARNING LED stops blinking red and the DEW indicator disappears from the counter display.

DEW

OPERATE/WARNING

indicator

 

CH 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OVER

AUTO OFF DEW

 

40 30 20 10

 

0 dB

CH 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OVER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32k

 

 

48k

 

PB

HOLD

AUD LOCK

 

SP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MENU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-8 Characteristic CCD Phenomena

Smear and Blooming

Due to the physical structure of a CCD it is possible to induce vertical streaking (called "smear") when shooting an extremely bright light source. Another effect is the expansion of light around a bright light or object (called "blooming").

The CCD employed in this unit is characterized by inducing very little smear or blooming. Nevertheless, please be careful when shooting a bright light source.

Smear

(Vertical pale streaking appearing at high luminous object)

High luminous object (Electric light, sunlight, etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

Blooming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Blurring in highlight)

Monitor screen

 

Moire or Aliasing

Shooting stripes or fine patterns may cause a jagged effect or a banding in fine mesh patterns.

White dots

High temperatures can cause CCD sensor pixels to malfunction with the effect of white dots in the image. This condition is conspicuous especially when gain is applied.

This is a characteristic of the charged-coupled device (CCD). As far as possible, use the unit under conditions where the temperature of the unit does not increase.

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JVC GY-DV550U Videocassette to be Used, Battery Pack to be Used, Condensation, Characteristic CCD Phenomena