Maintenance and precautions (Continued)

battery pack outside of this temperature range, you may not be able to charge it efficiently.

To use the battery pack effectively

Battery pack performance decreases when the surrounding temperature is 10 °C (50 °F) or below, and the length of time you can use the battery pack becomes shorter. In that case, do one of the following to use the battery pack for a longer time.

Put the battery pack in a pocket to warm it up, and insert it in your camcorder right before you start taking shots.

Use a large capacity battery pack: NP-F770/ F970 (optional).

Frequent use of the LCD screen or a frequent playback, fast forward or rewind operation wears out the battery pack faster.

We recommend using a large capacity battery pack: NP-F770/F970.

Be sure to set the POWER switch to OFF when not recording or playing back on your camcorder. The battery pack is also consumed when your camcorder is in recording standby or playback pause.

Have spare battery packs ready for two or three times the expected recording time, and make trial recordings before making the actual recording.

Do not expose the battery pack to water. The battery pack is not water resistant.

About the remaining battery time indicator

When the power goes off even though the remaining battery time indicator indicates that the battery pack has enough power to operate, charge the battery pack fully again. Remaining battery time will be indicated correctly. Note, however, that the battery indication will not be restored if it is used in high temperatures for a long time, or if left in a fully charged state, or when the battery pack is frequently used. Use the remaining battery time indication as a rough guide only.

The E mark that indicates low battery flashes even if there are still 5 to 10 minutes of battery time remaining, depending on the operating conditions or ambient temperature.

About storage of the battery pack

If the battery pack is not used for a long time, fully charge the battery pack and use it up on your camcorder once a year to maintain proper function. To store the battery pack, remove it from your camcorder and put it in a dry, cool place.

To discharge the battery pack on your camcorder completely, leave your camcorder in tape recording standby until the power goes off (p. 17).

About battery life

Battery capacity decreases over time and through repeated use. If decreased usage time between charges becomes significant, it is probably time to replace it with a new one.

Each battery’s life is governed by storage, operating and environmental conditions.

About i.LINK

The HDV/DV (i.LINK) jack on your camcorder is an i.LINK-compliant 6-pin jack. This section describes the i.LINK standard and its features.

What is i.LINK?

i.LINK is a digital serial interface for transferring digital video, digital audio, and other data to other i.LINK-compatible devices. You can also control other devices using the i.LINK. i.LINK-compatible devices can be connected using an i.LINK cable. Possible applications are operations and data transactions with various digital AV devices.

When two or more i.LINK-compatible devices are daisy-chained with the unit, operation becomes possible from any device in the chain. Note that operation method may vary, or data transactions may not be possible, depending on specifications and characteristics of the connected devices.

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