Main
Operating Guide
HDR-CX550E/CX550VE/ XR550E/XR550VE
Recording/Playback
Read this first
WARNING
CAUTION
Battery pack
AC Adaptor
FOR CUSTOMERS IN EUROPE
ATTENTION
Notice
For customers in the U.S.A.
Regulatory Information
CAUTION
Note
Battery pack
Supplied items
Using the camcorder
Battery pack
Menu items, LCD panel, viewfinder and lens
White, red, blue or green points
About language setting
On recording
Notes on playing back
Discs recorded with HD image quality (high definition)
Save all your recorded image data
[Show others]
Notes on battery pack/AC Adaptor
Note on the camcorder/battery pack temperature
Notes on use
On the drop sensor (HDR-XR550E/ XR550VE)
Note on using the camcorder at high altitudes (HDR-XR550E/XR550VE)
Operation flow
Table of contents
Getting started
Recording/Playback
Making good use of your camcorder
Saving movies and photos with a computer
Page
Getting started
Step 1: Charging the battery pack
Page
To use a wall outlet (wall socket) as a power source
Notes on the battery pack
Notes on the AC Adaptor
Charging the battery pack abroad
Step 2: Turning the power on, and setting the date and time
To turn off the power
On turning the camcorder on or off using the LCD screen or the viewfinder
Page
Step 3: Preparing the recording media
Selecting the recording media for movies
Selecting the recording media for photos
Getting started
Touch [YES] .
Dubbing or copying movies and photos from the internal recording media to memory card
Touch (MENU) [Show others]
Recording/Playback
Recording
Fasten the grip belt.
Open the LCD screen of your camcorder.
Recording movies
Press START/STOP to start recording.
To stop recording, press START/STOP again.
90 degrees (max.) 180 degrees (max.) 90 degrees to the camcorder
Data code during recording
Shooting photos
Press MODE to turn on the (Photo) lamp.
Press PHOTO lightly to adjust the focus, then press it fully.
Acquiring location information using the GPS (HDR-CX550VE/XR550VE)
Particles (dust, pollen, etc.) in the air
Adjusting for shooting conditions
Recording in dark places (NightShot)
Adjusting focus, etc., manually (MANUAL dial)
How to use the MANUAL dial
To assign a menu item
Playback
Playing movies
Volume adjustment
Previous
To stop
OPTION
To adjust the sound volume of movies
While playing back movies, touch adjust with / .
Viewing photos
Your camcorder displays the selected photo.
Playing images on a TV
Connecting a TV using [TV CONNECT Guide]
Types of connection cables between your camcorder and TV
Connecting to a high definition TV
Connecting to a non-high-definition 16:9 (wide) or 4:3 TV
When connecting to your TV via a VCR
To set the aspect ratio according to the connected TV (16:9/4:3)
When you connect with A/V connecting cable with S VIDEO
If your TV/VCR has a 21-pin adaptor (EUROCONNECTOR)
On PhotoTV HD
Making good use of your camcorder
Making good use of your camcorder
Deleting movies and photos
You can free media space by deleting movies and photos from recording media.
Touch (MENU) [Show others] [DELETE] (under [EDIT] category).
To delete movies, touch [ DELETE] [ DELETE] or [ DELETE].
Touch and display the mark on the movies or photos to be deleted.
Page
Saving movies and photos with a computer
Preparing a computer
(Windows)
Step 1 Checking the computer system
When using a Macintosh
Step 2 Installing the supplied software PMB
Page
To disconnect your camcorder from the computer
Starting PMB
Motion Browser)
Double-click the PMB short-cut icon on the computer screen.
You can view, edit, or create discs of movies and photos using PMB.
Reading PMB Help
Selecting the method for creating a disc (computer)
Characteristics of each type of disc
Discs you can use with PMB
You can use 12 cm discs of following type with PMB. For Blu-ray disc, see page 44.
Saving movies and photos with a computer
Creating a disc with one touch
(One Touch Disc Burn)
Turn on your computer, and place an unused disc on the DVD drive.
Turn on your camcorder, then connect the camcorder to the computer using the supplied USB cable.
Press (DISC BURN).
Importing movies and photos to a computer
Creating an AVCHD disc
Playing an AVCHD disc on a computer
Creating a Blu-ray disc
Turn on your computer, and place an unused disc on the DVD drive.
Start PMB (p. 38).
At the top of the window, click [Create DVD-Video Format Discs (STD)].
The window used to select movies appears.
Copying a disc
Editing movies
Capturing photos from a movie
Saving images with an external device
Saving images in external media
(DIRECT COPY)
After the operation is completed, touch on the camcorder screen.
When connecting an external media
To save desired movies and photos
To play back images in the external media on the camcorder
To finish the external media connection
Creating a disc with a DVD writer, recorder
Selecting the method for creating a disc
Saving images with an external device
Creating a disc with the dedicated DVD writer, DVDirect Express
Ordinary DVD device Player
Creating device
Disc type
Page
To play back a disc on the DVD writer
To play back a disc on the ordinary DVD player
Page
Creating a standard definition image quality (STD) disc with a recorder, etc.
Start playback on your camcorder, and record it on the recording device.
When dubbing is finished, stop the recording device, and then your camcorder.
Customizing your camcorder
Using menus
Setting menus
Using MY MENU
Using the OPTION MENU
Menu lists
(MANUAL SETTINGS) category
(SHOOTING SET) category
Customizing your camcorder
(PHOTO SETTINGS) category
(PLAYBACK) category
(EDIT) category
(OTHERS) category
(MANAGE MEDIA) category
Customizing your camcorder
(GENERAL SET) category
Getting detailed information from the Handycam Handbook
Additional information
Troubleshooting
Self-diagnosis display/Warning indicators
The drop sensor function is activated. You may not be able to record nor play back images.
Precautions
On use and care
About care and storage of the lens
On charging the pre-installed rechargeable battery
Note on disposal/transfer of the camcorder
When not using your camcorder for a long time
LCD screen
Specifications
System
AC Adaptor AC-L200C/AC-L200D
Input/Output connectors
LCD screen
General
Rechargeable battery pack NP-FV50
Expected charging and running time for the supplied battery pack (in minute)
Image quality HD STD
Expected recording time of movies in the internal recording media
Internal memory High definition image quality (HD) in h (hour) and m (minute)
HDR-CX550E HDR-CX550VE
Example of expected recording time of movies in a memory card (in minute)
Recording mode
For 4 GB capacity High definition (HD) Standard definition (STD)
On trademarks
Quick reference
Screen indicators
Upper left
Center
Upper right
Bottom
Parts and controls
Figures in ( ) are reference pages.
Page
Page
You will find the menu lists on pages 58 to 61
Index
I
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M
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