frames (1/2 sec for the DVW-970, 2/3 sec for the DVW- 970P).

EVS (Enhanced Vertical definition System) mode

This mode is used to improved vertical resolution. However, the sensitivity and dynamic range are reduced. The shutter speed is set to the same value as that currently selected in Standard or ECS mode.

Notes

•Whatever the operating mode of the electronic shutter, the sensitivity of the CCD decreases with increasing shutter speed.

•When the automatic iris is used, the iris opens wider as the shutter speed increases, thus reducing the depth of field.

•Under artificial light, particularly fluorescent or mercury lamps, the light intensity may appear to be constant, but the red, green, and blue intensities are actually changing in synchronization with the frequency of the power supply causing flicker. Using an electronic shutter under such lighting could make the flicker even worse. Color flicker is particularly likely to happen when the power supply frequency is 60 Hz (with the DVW-970) or 50 Hz (with the DVW-970P). However, if the power frequency is 50 Hz (with the DVW-970) or 60 Hz (with the DVW- 970P), setting the shutter speed to 1/100 or 1/60 can reduce this flicker.

•When a bright object is shot in EVS mode or ECS mode in such a manner that it fills the screen, the upper edge of the picture may have poor quality because of an inherent characteristic of CCDs. Before using EVS mode or ECS mode, check the shooting conditions.

You can turn on or off the EVS mode on the SW STATUS page of the PAINT menu.

4-2-2 Selecting the Shutter Mode and Shutter Speed

Use the SHUTTER selector to select a shutter mode or a standard-mode shutter speed. To set the shutter speed in ECS or SLS mode, with the SHUTTER selector set to ON and the ECS or SLS mode selected, use the MENU knob for adjustment.

You can use the SHT ENABLE page of the OPERATION menu to narrow the range of choice in advance, or to select in advance whether or not you use ECS/SLS.

Setting the shutter mode and the shutter speed in standard mode

Once the shutter speed is selected, it is retained even when the camcorder power is turned off.

1 Follow the procedure described in “5-2-2 Selecting the Display Items” (page 76) to set the VF DISPLAY MODE item to “2” or “3” on the VF DISP 1 page of the USER menu.

2 Push the SHUTTER selector from ON to SEL.

SHUTTER selector

The current shutter setting indication appears for about 3 seconds in the setting change and adjustment progress message display area of the viewfinder screen.

Examples: “: SS : 1/250,” “: ECS : 60.00 Hz”

3 Before the shutter setting indication disappears, push the SHUTTER selector down to SELECT again and repeat this until the desired mode or speed appears.

Pushing the SHUTTER selector down to SELECT repeatedly allows you to cycle through the settings of mode and speed preselected on the SHT ENABLE page of the OPERATION menu.

Note that all modes and all standard-mode speeds listed in the table on the previous page are preselected using the SHT ENABLE page of the OPERATION menu.

By factory default, all available shutter modes and shutter speeds are displayed in the sequence shown in the following figure. (You can use the SHT ENABLE page of the OPERATION menu to make a setting so that only the desired (or most frequently used) modes and speeds are displayed.)

Standard mode

SLS mode

ECS mode

1/100: for the DVW-970

1/60: for the DVW-970P

Recording for Settings and Adjustments 4 Chapter

Setting the Electronic Shutter

57