Operating Instructions
Owner’s Record
DCR-TRV950
Welcome
WARNING
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture
CAUTION
NOTICE
For customers in the U.S.A
For customers in CANADA
IMPORTANT NOTE
Note:
Recording moving pictures or still images, and playing them back
Capturing images on your computer
Main Features
Accessing the Internet via a Bluetooth compliant device (DCR-TRV950only)
Other uses
Functions for adjusting the exposure in the recording mode
Functions for giving images more impact
Main Features
Table of contents
“Memory Stick” Operations
Using the Network function
(DCR-TRV950only)
Customizing Your Camcorder
Troubleshooting
Connecting the power cord (p. 19)
Inserting a cassette (p. 23)
Recording a picture (p. 26)
Monitoring the playback picture on the LCD screen (p. 39)
Inserting a “Memory Stick” (p. 128)
Recording a still image on a “Memory Stick” (p. 135)
Monitoring the playback still images on the LCD
screen
— Getting Started —
Types of differences
Note on Cassette Memory
Using this manual
Note on TV color systems
Copyright precautions
Precautions on camcorder care
Lens and LCD screen/finder (on mounted models only)
2NP-FM50battery pack (1) (p. 15, 16)
3 A/V connecting cable (1) (p. 45)
4Wireless Remote Commander (1) (p. 250)
5Size AA (R6) battery for Remote Commander (2) (p. 251)
6Shoulder strap (1)
Installing the battery pack
(1)
(2)
To remove the battery pack
If you use the large capacity battery pack
Step 1 Preparing the power supply
Charging the battery pack
“InfoLITHIUM” battery pack (M series)
(3)
(4)
Note
Remaining battery time indicator
Until your camcorder calculates the actual remaining battery time
When you use the AC power adaptor
Charging time
Playing time
Recommended charging temperature
What is ”InfoLITHIUM”
Connecting to a wall outlet
PRECAUTION
Notes
Using a car battery
about four months
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Step 2 Setting the date and time
If you do not set the date and time
When using your camcorder abroad
If you use the camcorder in a region where daylight saving time is used
Note on the time indicator
Simple setting of clock by a time difference
World time differences
To adjust a time difference
To eject a cassette
When you use a cassette with cassette memory
To prevent accidental erasure
To return to FN
To execute settings
To cancel settings
Step 4 Using the touch panel
When executing each item
If the items are not available
Press FN to display the following buttons:
— Recording – Basics —
3 LOCK switch
Microphone
lamp
Recording a picture
Note on recording
1.5 times
Note on the LOCK switch
To enable smooth transition
After recording
Adjusting the LCD screen
LCD screen
Adjusting the brightness of the LCD screen
LCD
BRT
OPEN
LCD screen backlight
Even if you adjust LCD BRT
Adjusting the viewfinder
Viewfinder backlight
Using the zoom feature
To use zoom greater than 12⋅
When you shoot close to a subject
Note on digital zoom
When the POWER switch is set to MEMORY/NETWORK (DCR-TRV950only)
Shooting with the Mirror Mode
Rotate the LCD screen 180 degrees
Picture in the mirror mode
During recording in the mirror mode
When you press FN
Indicators displayed in the recording
Remaining battery time
Cassette memory
Recording mode
STBY/REC
Shooting backlit subjects – BACK LIGHT
BACK LIGHT
When shooting backlit subjects
When you manually adjust the exposure
Shooting subjects lit by strong light – SPOT LIGHT
SPOT LIGHT
when shooting spotlighted subjects
Self-timerrecording
START/STOP
To stop the count down
To cancel the self-timer
END SEARCH
To stop searching
End search
If a tape has a blank portion between recorded portions
EDITSEARCH
Checking recordings – END SEARCH / EDITSEARCH / Rec Review
Rec Review
— Playback – Basics —
To stop playback
Playing back a tape
When monitoring on the LCD screen
If you leave the power on for a long time
When you open or close the LCD panel
To display the screen indicators – Display function
DATA CODE DISPLAY
DISPLAY
TOUCH PANEL
DATA CODE
To not display various settings
Various settings
Data code
Remaining battery time indicator during playback
Various playback modes
To play back pause (viewing a still picture)
To advance the tape
To rewind the tape
To change the playback direction
In the various playback modes
When the playback pause lasts for five minutes
Slow playback
When you play back a tape in reverse
If your TV is already connected to a VCR
If your TV or VCR is a monaural type
If your TV has an S video jack
To display the screen indicators on TV
— Advanced Recording Operations —
Before operation
Recording still images on a “Memory Stick” during tape recording
Image size of still images
When the POWER switch is set to CAMERA
During and after recording still images on a “Memory Stick”
When you press PHOTO on the Remote Commander
Recording images with the flash
(flash)
t t
When the flashlight does not reach to the subject
You cannot shoot images with the flash during the following operations:
PHOTO
Self-timerrecording
Recording images with self-timer
Recording still images on a tape – Tape Photo recording
If you record a moving subject with the tape photo recording
To use the tape photo recording during the tape recording
To record clear still images with little unsteadiness
When you record images with the flash
[a][b]
[c][d]
To cancel the wide mode
Using the wide mode
In the wide mode
During recording
Connection for a TV
ID-1system
[a] STBY
Using the fader
(1) When fading in [a]
When fading out [b]
To cancel the fader
When you select OVERLAP, WIPE, or DOT
While using BOUNCE, you cannot use the following functions:
Note on BOUNCE
NEG. ART [a]
SEPIA
B&W
SOLARIZE [b]
SLIM [c]
FLASH (FLASH MOTION)
LUMI. (LUMINANCEKEY)
TRAIL
OLD MOVIE
LUMI
EFFT
Page
Page
Presetting the adjustment for picture quality – Custom preset
Item
Adjustment value
To cancel using the custom preset
To check the custom preset setting
To clear the guide frame
If you set GUIDEFRAME to ON
Setting Meaning
To erase the zebra pattern
When the ZEBRA selector is set to
When you adjust color on the screen
While the color bar is displayed
While using the fader
AUTO LOCK selector
AUTO LOCK [a]
AUTO LOCK release [b]
HOLD [c]
[a][c]
Shooting with manual adjustment
yyyy
To cancel the PROGRAM AE
The PROGRAM AE does not work
While WHT BAL is set to automatic adjustment
You can adjust the following functions while using the PROGRAM AE
Adjusting the shutter speed
To return to automatic shutter speed mode
If you press PROGRAM AE
When the shutter speed is fast
When shooting at slow shutter speed
Adjusting the white balance
If you have selected in step
To return to automatic adjustment
If the picture is being taken in a studio lit by TV lighting
When you record under fluorescent lamp
Shooting when lighting conditions have changed
Adjusting the exposure
To return to automatic exposure
When you adjust the exposure manually, the following functions do not work:
Using the spot light-metering– Flexible Spot Meter
SPOT
METER
The following functions do not work during Flexible Spot Meter
Focus ring
To return to the autofocus
To record distant subjects
To shoot with auto focusing momentarily
Focusing manually
To focus precisely
When you shoot close to the subject
9changes as follows:
Focal distance information
FN SPOT FOCUS
To clear the recording level adjustment display
To return to automatic recording sound level
Adjusting recording level manually – Sound recording level
Notes on the manual adjustment
The sound input through the AUDIO/VIDEO jack or the DV Interface
When MIC LEVEL is set to AUTO
Example
Interval recording
To cancel the interval recording
To perform normal recording during the interval recording
On recording time
When pressing START/STOP during recording time
To cancel the frame recording
When using the frame recording
— Advanced Playback Operations —
Pictures processed by picture effect
When you set the POWER switch to OFF (CHG) or stop playing back
EFFT
Pictures processed by digital effect
ZOOM
To cancel the PB ZOOM
Enlarging images recorded on tapes – Tape PB ZOOM
The PB ZOOM is automatically canceled when you activate the following:
Pictures in the PB ZOOM
In the PB ZOOM
Edge of the enlarged image
ZERO SET MEMORY
m N
If you use a cassette without cassette memory
To superimpose a title
(date search)
Searching for the date by using cassette memory
Searching a recording by date – DATE SEARCH
Searching for the date without using cassette memory
(PHOTO SEARCH)
(PHOTO SCAN)
Searching for a photo by using cassette memory
Searching for a photo – PHOTO SEARCH/PHOTO SCAN
Searching for a photo without using cassette memory
Scanning photos
To stop scanning
— Editing —
Using the A/V connecting cable
When you have finished dubbing a tape
Dubbing a tape
You can edit on VCRs that support the following systems:
If your VCR is a monaural type
If your VCR has an S video jack
Using the i.LINK cable
You can connect one VCR only using the i.LINK cable
If you record a playback pause picture with the DV Interface
Step
Using the Digital program editing on tapes recorded on other equipment
Operation
Step 1: Connecting the VCR
If you connect using the i.LINK cable
Dubbing only desired scenes – Digital program editing (on tapes)
Step 2: Setting the VCR to operate with the A/V connecting cable
(1) Set the IR SETUP code
About IR SETUP codes
Brand
IR SETUP code
Note on IR SETUP codes
(2) Setting the modes to cancel the recording pause on the VCR
Buttons to cancel recording pause on the VCR
(3) Setting your camcorder and the VCR to face each other
(4) Confirming VCR operation
When the VCR does not operate correctly
Step 2: Setting the VCR to operate with the i.LINK cable
When you connect using an i.LINK cable
Step 3: Adjusting the synchronization of the VCR
(10)
Page
Operation 1: Making a program
Erasing the program you have set
To cancel erasing
Erasing all programs
To cancel erasing all programs
To cancel a program you have set
Operation 2: Performing the program (Dubbing a tape)
To stop dubbing during editing
To end the Digital program editing
You cannot record on the VCR when:
NOT READY appears on the LCD screen when:
Using the Remote Commander
Recording video or TV programs
If your TV or VCR is a monaural type
If your TV or VCR has an S video jack
Note on the Remote Commander
Page
During digital editing
If you record playback pause picture with the DV Interface
Before recording
[A]
[b][c]
[B]
[C]
[A]
[B]
[C]
Inserting a scene from a VCR – Insert Editing
To change the insert end point
When the inserted picture is played back
To insert a scene without setting the insert end point
If you press FN
Connecting the microphone with the MIC jack
Connecting the microphone to the intelligent accessory shoe
Audio dubbing
Connecting the A/V connecting cable to the AUDIO/VIDEO jack
Dubbing with the built-inmicrophone
If you make all the connections
Adding audio on a recorded tape
AUDIO DUB
When you dub the recorded sound
To add audio more precisely
Monitoring the new recorded sound
If an i.LINK cable (optional) is connected to your camcorder
If you set the write-protecttab of the cassette to lock
VACATION
Superimposing a title
If you set the write-protecttab of the tape to lock
To use a custom title
If the tape has a blank portion between recorded portions
Titles superimposed with your camcorder
Erasing a title
To cancel erasing a title
Page
Making your own titles
To change a title you have stored
To delete the title
To enter a space
Page
Labeling a cassette
To erase the label you have made
To change the label you have made
If you have superimposed titles in the cassette
When the “-----”indicator has fewer than 10 spaces
— “Memory Stick” Operations —
On file format
Still image (JPEG)
Moving picture (MPEG)
Typical image data file name
Using a “Memory Stick” – Introduction
“Memory Stick” formatted on computer
Notes on image data compatibility
Inserting a “Memory Stick”
Access lamp
MEMORY OPEN
Ejecting a “Memory Stick”
MEMORY EJECT
Using a touch panel
Page
Selecting the still image quality
Image quality settings
Setting
Differences in image quality
1152 ⋅ 864 image size
Image quality
Selecting the image size
3 STILL SET
4 STILL SET
Image size settings
Approximate number of still images you can record on a “Memory Stick”
Type of the “Memory Stick”
Approximate time of moving pictures you can record on a “Memory Stick”
2 [a][b]
Recording still images on a“Memory Stick”
– Memory Photo recording
While you are recording a still image
When you press PHOTO lightly in step
Recording images continuously
NORMAL [a]
EXP BRKTG (Exposure Bracketing)
MULTI SCRN (Multi Screen) [b]
Recording still images on a “Memory Stick”
If the capacity of the “Memory Stick” becomes full
The number of still images in continuous shooting
During recording still images continuously
The effect of exposure bracketing (EXP BRKTG)
If there is space remaining on the “Memory Stick” for less than three photos
When the flashlight does not reach to the subjects
During recording images continuously
Shooting with an auxiliary light – HOLOGRAM AF
HOLOGRAM AF emitter
About HOLOGRAM AF
The HOLOGRAM AF does not emit when:
When you use the external flash (optional) as well
Self-timermemory photo recording
Page
Recording images from a tape as still images
When the access lamp is lit or flashing
If “FORMAT ERROR” appears on the screen
If you press PHOTO lightly in the playback
Sound recorded on a tape
Recording a still image from external equipment
Page
M. CHROM
C. CHROM
M. OVERLAP
Blue
Superimposing a still image in the “Memory Stick” on an image
– MEMORY MIX
Recording superimposed images on a tape
– I +
To change the still image to be superimposed
To cancel MEMORY MIX
Image data modified on your computer or shot with other equipment
When you record the still image without superimposing
Recording superimposed images on a “Memory Stick” as a still
image
Image size of still pictures
Image data modified with your computers or shot with other equipment
The “Memory Stick” supplied with your camcorder stores 20 images
Sample images
To stop recording
Recording moving pictures on a “Memory Stick”
– MPEG movie recording
When using an external flash (optional)
During recording on a “Memory Stick”
Self-timerMPEG movie recording
START/STOP button
To stop the self-timer
Page
Recording pictures from a tape as a moving picture
If “AUDIO ERROR” is displayed
Recording a moving picture from external equipment
Page
Making the program
Recording edited pictures from a tape as a moving picture
– Digital program editing (on a “Memory Stick”)
During making a program
Performing the program (Dubbing on a “Memory Stick”)
When the “Memory Stick” does not have enough space to record
When the “Memory Stick” has no space to record
When a “Memory Stick” is not set
When the write-protectswitch on the “Memory Stick” is set to LOCK
To stop copying
When the “Memory Stick” becomes full
Copying still images from a tape – PHOTO SAVE
If the write-protectswitch on the “Memory Stick” is set to LOCK
When you change the “Memory Stick” during copying
PLAY PB
To stop memory photo playback
Viewing still images – Memory photo playback
You may not be able to play back images with your camcorder:
Notes on the file name
To play back recorded images on a TV screen
Still images
Playing back six recorded images at a time (index screen)
To return to the normal playback screen (single screen)
VOLUME
To stop MPEG movie playback
Moving pictures
When no image is recorded on the “Memory Stick”
Viewing moving pictures – MPEG movie playback
Playing back a moving picture from the desired part
When recording time is too short
Screen indicators during moving picture playback
To make screen indicator disappear
To stop copying in the middle
Copying images recorded on a “Memory Stick” to a tape
During copying
Note on the index screen
If you press EDITSEARCH during pause
When copying movies
To cancel PB ZOOM
Enlarging still images recorded on a “Memory Stick”
– Memory PB ZOOM
The PB ZOOM is canceled when executing the following operations:
Moving pictures recorded on a “Memory Stick”
To record the still image processed by Memory PB ZOOM on a “Memory Stick”
To stop the slide show
To pause during a slide show
To start the slide show from a particular image
To view recorded images on TV
If you change the “Memory Stick” during operation
-MARK
Deleting selected images
DELE–
To cancel deleting an image
Deleting images – DELETE
Deleting selected images on the index screen
DEL
Deleting all images
To cancel deleting all the images in the “Memory Stick”
While DELETING appears
MARK
F N
Inserting DATE/DAY & TIME
DATE
Using the optional printer
Selecting 9PIC PRINT
SAME PICS
When the “Memory Stick” has no files
When there are no files with a PRINT MARK
— Viewing Images Using your Computer —
Viewing images recorded on a tape
When connecting to a computer using the USB jack
Viewing images on your computer – Introduction
When connecting to a computer using the i.LINK (DV interface)
Viewing images recorded on a “Memory Stick”
When connecting to a computer without a USB jack
Notes on using your computer
Software
Communications with your computer
When connecting to a computer using the USB cable
install a USB driver
Recommended computer usage environment when connecting
via USB cable and viewing tape images on the computer
OS:
Connecting your camcorder to your computer using the USB cable
Installing the USB driver
Windows XP Home Edition/Professional users
Making the computer recognize the camcorder
(11)
(12)
If you cannot install the USB driver
Step 1: Uninstall the incorrect USB driver
Windows XP Home Edition/Professional:
Windows 2000 Professional:
Windows 98 SE/Windows Me:
Windows 98SE
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows XP Home Edition/Professional
Step 2: Install the USB driver on the supplied CD-ROM
Step1: Uninstall the incorrect USB driver
Other OS:
Step2: Install the USB driver on the supplied CD-ROM
Capturing images with “PIXELA ImageMixer Ver.1.0 for Sony”
Viewing images recorded on a tape
Viewing images recorded on a tape on your computer
Viewing pictures live from your camcorder
Capturing still images
–For Windows users
Capturing moving pictures
If image data cannot be transferred by the USB connection
If any trouble occurs
Carry out the following operations after quitting the application:
Seeing the on-linehelp (operating instructions) of “PIXELA
ImageMixer Ver.1.0 for Sony”
Viewing images
Desired file type
Double-clickin this order
Viewing images recorded on a “Memory Stick” on your computer
Image file storage destinations and image files
ssss
For Windows Me users
(When your camcorder is recognized as the drive [E:])
install the USB driver
– For Macintosh users
For Mac OS 8.5.1/8.6/9.0 users
For Mac OS 9.1/9.2/Mac OS X (v10.0/v10.1)
the POWER switch to OFF(CHG)
For Mac OS X (v10.0) users
After capturing images and sound
If your computer has a USB connector
— Using the Network function —
– DCR-TRV950only
NETWORK
(Bluetooth) lamp
Accessing the network
How to hold your camcorder when operating in NETWORK mode
After using the stylus
On trademarks
During using the network function
— Customizing Your Camcorder —
Changing the default settings with the menu
To make the menu display disappear
Menu items are displayed as the following icons:
Selecting the mode setting of each item z is the default setting
Icon/item
CAMERA SET
D ZOOM
PHOTO REC
16:9WIDE
STEADYSHOT zON
VCR SET
HiFi SOUND
AUDIO MIX
A/VtDV OUT zOFF
LCD/VF SET
STILL SET
BURST
QUALITY
MOVIE SET
REMAIN zAUTO
PHOTO SAVE
FILE NO
DELETE ALL
FORMAT
Notes on formatting
DATE/TIME
CM SET
TITLE
TITLEERASE
TITLE DSPL
TAPE SET
REC MODE
AUDIO MODE z12BIT
qREMAIN
MIC LEVEL
SETUP MENU
CLOCK SET
USB STREAM
USBCONNECT zNORMAL
LTR SIZE
DATA CODE
AREA SET
DST SET
BEEP
COMMANDER zON
DISPLAY
REC LAMP
VIDEO EDIT
When recording a close subject
In more than five minutes after removing the power supply
— Troubleshooting —
In the recording
Symptom
Cause and/or Corrective Actions
Types of trouble and how to correct trouble
In the playback
In the recording and playback
When operating using the “Memory Stick”
Others
Page
LCD screen, Viewfinder or Display window
Five-digitdisplay
Warning indicators
100-0001 Warning indicator pertaining to files
C:21:00 Self-diagnosisdisplay (p. 225)
EThe battery is dead or nearly dead
%Moisture condensation has occurred
Warning indicators and messages
Warning messages
— Additional Information —
Selecting cassette types
mark on the cassette
Usable cassettes
Copyright signal
When you play back
When you record
Audio mode
Notes on the cassette
When affixing a label on the cassette
After using the cassette
When the cassette memory does not work
Cleaning the gold-platedconnector
What is the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack
Effective use of the battery pack
Remaining battery time indicator
About the “InfoLITHIUM” battery pack
How to store the battery pack
Battery life
What is i.LINK
About the name “i.LINK”
i.LINK baud rate
*What is Mbps
About i.LINK
i.LINK functions on this unit
Required i.LINK cable
Using your camcorder abroad
AC-L10A/L10B/L10C
NTSC system
PAL system
PAL-Msystem
Moisture condensation
If moisture condensation has occurred
Note on moisture condensation
How to prevent moisture condensation
Maintenance information and precautions
Maintenance information
Cleaning the video heads
Cleaning the LCD screen
Adjusting the LCD screen (CALIBRATION)
Charging the built-inrechargeable battery
Charging the built-inrechargeable battery:
Precautions
Camcorder operation
On handling tapes
Camcorder care
AC power adaptor
About care and storage of the lens
Notes on dry batteries
If batteries are leaking
Video camera
recorder
Specifications
— Quick Reference —
Camcorder
2Focus ring (p. 76)
3Lens
4Lens hood
Identifying parts and controls
qj Intelligent accessory shoe (p. 115, 181)
qk LCD/Touch panel screen (p. 24, 129)
wg VOLUME buttons ** (p. 39)
ql OPEN button
ea Access lamp
r; AUDIO/VIDEO ID-2jack (yellow) (p. 45
MEMORY OPEN button (p. 128)
ra i (headphones) jack (green)
LOCK switch (p. 26)
rj Power zoom lever (p. 31, 86, 173)
td NETWORK button (p. 205)
PHOTO button
tf (Bluetooth) lamp (p. 205)
OPEN/ Z EJECT lever (p. 23)
ys CUSTOM PRESET button (p. 62)
yl Battery Pack (p. 15)
u; Tripod receptacle
ua Lens cap (p. 26)
Remote Commander
2DISPLAY button (p. 41)
3Memory control buttons
4SEARCH MODE button (p. 89, 90, 92)
5Video control buttons (p. 43)
To prepare the Remote Commander
Notes on the Remote Commander
Operation indicators
LCD screen and Viewfinder
Display window
A, B
C, D
F, G, H
I, J, K, L
M, N
LANC
LANC stands for Local Application Control Bus System. The 
LANC control jack is used for controlling the tape transport of video equipment and peripherals connected to it. This jack has the same function as the jack indicated as CONTROL L or