INSTRUCTIONS ENGLISH LYT1252-001B COMPACT VHS CAMCORDER GR-SXM256 UC Printed in Malaysia 0104YDR-NF-VM COPYRIGHT© 2004 VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LTD Dear Customer, Thank you for purchasing the JVC Compact VHS camcorder. Before use, please read “PRECAUTIONS” ( pg. 3, 4) to ensure safe use of this product. AUTOMATIC DEMONSTRATION Automatic Demonstration takes place when “DEMO MODE” is set to “ON” (factory-preset).
PROVIDED ACCESSORIES • AC Adapter AP-V14U or AP-V15U • Battery Pack BN-V10U • Shoulder Strap • Cassette Adapter C-P7U • Lens Cap • AA (R6) Battery (for Cassette Adapter) NOTE: In order to maintain optimum performance of the camcorder, provided cables may be equipped with one or more core filter. If a cable has only one core filter, the end that is closest to the filter should be connected to the camcorder.
PRECAUTIONS SAFETY PRECAUTIONS CAUTIONS CAUTION • This camcorder is designed to be used with NTSC-type color television signals. It cannot be used for playback with a television of a different standard. However, live recording and LCD monitor/viewfinder playback are possible anywhere. • Use the JVC BN-V10U/V12U/V20U/V400U battery packs and, to recharge them or to supply power to the camcorder from an AC outlet, use the provided multi-voltage AC Adapter.
The EPA certified RBRC® Battery Recycling Seal on the nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery indicates JVC is voluntarily participating in an industry program to collect and recycle these batteries at the end of their useful life, when taken out of service in the United States. The RBRC® program provides a convenient alternative to placing used Ni-Cd batteries into the trash or the municipal waste stream, which may be illegal in your area.
INDEX A P AC Adapter ................................................................. pg. 6 Animation Recording ................................................ pg. 21 Auto Date Record .................................................... pg. 21 Auto Focus ............................................................... pg. 12 Auto Shut Off ........................................................... pg. 11 Picture Stabilizer ...................................................... pg. 18 Playback ..........
GETTING STARTED USING THE BATTERY PACK Perform step 1) of “CHARGING THE BATTERY PACK”. Hook on. Approximate recording time (unit: min.) Battery pack Push in. BATTERY RELEASE Switch Power Switch Battery pack LCD monitor on 95 80 BN-V12U (optional) 100 85 BN-V20U (optional) 160 140 BN-V400U (optional) 380 330 USING AC POWER Connect the AC Adapter to the camcorder (墌 step 2) and 3) of “CHARGING THE BATTERY PACK”).
STORE BATTERY: Date/Time Settings Be sure to fully discharge a battery pack by performing the following steps before storing it for a long period of time, otherwise the battery performance will be reduced. 1) Attach the battery to the camcorder with no cassette inserted. 2) Set the Power Switch @ to “ ” or “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button ! located on the switch. 1) Set the Power Switch @ to “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button ! located on the switch. 2) Press the MENU Wheel 1 in.
Grip Adjustment Tripod Mounting 1) Separate the Velcro strip. 2) Pass your right hand through the loop and grasp the grip. 3) Adjust so that your thumb and fingers can easily operate the Recording Start/Stop Button 0 and Power Zoom Lever 3. Refasten the Velcro strip. Align the screw and camera direction stud on the tripod with the tripod mounting socket p. Then tighten the screw. CAUTION When using a tripod, be sure to open and extend its legs fully to stabilize the camcorder.
CONTROLS, CONNECTORS AND INDICATORS Eyepiece 1 2 3 4 Refer to this diagram while reading the instructions. During shooting # $ %^ & * 5 Keep the lens cap attached to the camcorder. 6 7 8 ( ) q w e Cassette holder 90 ! @ Viewfinder r 90° 180° u Speaker Turn the gear to take up slack.
1 • MENU Wheel [–, +] ................................ 墌 pg. 18 • BRIGHT Wheel [–, +] .............................. 墌 pg. 11 • Speaker Volume Control [VOL.] ............. 墌 pg. 11 • TRACKING Wheel [–, +] ........................ 墌 pg. 14 2 5-Second Recording Button [5 SEC. REC] ........................................... 墌 pg. 12 3 Power Zoom Lever [T/W] ......................... 墌 pg. 13 4 • Manual Focus Button [ FOCUS] ........ 墌 pg. 12 • Time Base Corrector Button [TBC] ........ 墌 pg.
RECORDING PLAYBACK Set REC MODE, S-VHS (S-VHS ET), TAPE LENGTH and DATE/TIME in SYSTEM MENU. (墌 pg. 18 – 22, “MENU SETTINGS”) 1 Load a tape (墌 pg. 8, “Loading/Unloading A Cassette”). 1 Remove the lens cap. Set the Power Switch @ to “ ” or “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button ! located on the switch. Shooting while using the viewfinder: Make sure the LCD monitor is closed and locked. Shooting while using the LCD monitor: Make sure the LCD monitor is fully open.
BASIC FEATURES Backlight Compensation 5Sec. Rec (5-sec. Recording) To record a scene for 5 seconds, providing quick scene transitions like those seen in TV programs. 1) Make sure the recording mode is set to “SP”. 2) During Record–Standby, press 5SEC. REC 2. 5S d appears and 5Sec. Rec is reserved. 3) Press the Recording Start/Stop Button 0. Recording starts, and after 5-second recording is finished, the camcorder re-enters the Record– Standby mode automatically. 4) To cancel the 5Sec. Rec.
Zooming Quick Review To produce the zoom in/out effect. Digital circuitry extends the maximum magnification offered by optical zoom. This system is called Digital Zoom. • Slide the Power Zoom Lever 3 towards “T” to zoom in, or “W” to zoom out. • The further you slide the Power Zoom Lever 3, the quicker the zoom action. • Focusing may become unstable during Zooming. In this case, set the zoom while in Record– Standby, lock the focus by using the manual focus ( pg.
Tracking Counter Memory Eliminates noise bars that appear on-screen during playback. To activate Manual Tracking: 1) Press the TRACKING Wheel 1 for approx. 2 seconds. “MT” K appears. 2) Rotate the TRACKING Wheel 1 so that the noise bars disappear. • To return to Auto Tracking, press the TRACKING Wheel 1 for approx. 2 seconds or set the Power Switch @ to “OFF” and then “PLAY” again. “AT” K blinks. When Auto Tracking finishes, the indication disappears.
Connections To A TV/VCR Tape Dubbing 1) Make sure all units are turned off. 2) Connect the camcorder to a TV or VCR using optional video and audio cables. If using both TV and VCR, connect the VCR output to the TV input. 3) Turn on all units. Set the VCR to its AUX input mode, and set the TV to its VIDEO mode. • Use the AC Adapter as the power supply. • Be sure to adjust the TV sound volume to its minimum level to avoid a sudden burst of sound when the camcorder is turned on.
Using The Cassette Adapter Use this to play back an S-VHS-C/VHS-C video cassette recorded with this camcorder on a S-VHS/ VHS VCR. 1) Slide the battery cover up to remove it, install one “AA (R6)” size battery, then reattach the cover. 2) Slide the latch to open the compartment door, then insert the cassette and close the compartment door. 3) Load the cassette adapter into the VCR and play the tape back. 4) Slide the latch and the compartment door opens automatically. This may take around 10 seconds.
INSTRUCTIONS Eyepiece 1 2 3 4 Refer to this diagram while reading the instructions. During shooting # $ %^ & * 5 Keep the lens cap attached to the camcorder. 6 7 8 ( ) q w e Cassette holder 90 ! @ Viewfinder r 90° 180° u Turn the gear to take up slack.
MENU SETTINGS CAMERA MENU 1 Set the Power Switch @ to “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button ! located on the switch. 2 Press the MENU Wheel 1 in. The Menu Screen appears. Rotate the MENU Wheel 1 to select the desired function. • To go from CAMERA MENU to SYSTEM MENU, rotate the MENU Wheel 1 to select “4TO SYSTEM MENU” and press it. SYSTEM MENU is composed of 2 pages. To go to the next page, rotate the MENU Wheel 1 to select “4NEXT” and press it.
M.W.B. TITLE If the white balance is correct, all other colors will be accurately reproduced. AUTO : White balance is adjusted automatically. FINE : Outdoors on a sunny day. CLOUD : Outdoors on a cloudy day. HALOGEN : A video light or similar type of lighting is used. MWB: White balance is set manually. Hold a sheet of plain white paper in front of the subject. Adjust zoom or position yourself so that the white paper fills the screen.
SYSTEM MENU This Menu Screen cannot be accessed while recording. REC MODE Allows you to set the recording mode. “EP” (Extended Play) is more economical, providing three times the recording time. • If the recording mode is switched during recording, the playback picture will be blurred at the switching point. D. ZOOM Zooming is possible from 16X (the optical zoom limit), to a maximum of 50X or 700X digital magnification. When set to “OFF” only optical zoom (maximum 16x magnification) can function. S.
TAPE LENGTH INT. TIME Allows you to set the tape length depending on the tape used: T20=20 minutes, T30=30 minutes, T35=35 minutes, T40=40 minutes. • Tape remaining time Q is correct only if the correct tape length has been selected. You can record sequentially at preset time spans. Leaving the camcorder aimed at a specific subject, you can record subtle changes over an extended period of time (Time-Lapse). REC MODE should be set to “SP”.
DEMO MODE LCD BRIGHT Demonstrates certain functions automatically. Available when the Power Switch @ is set to “ ” or “ ” and “DEMO MODE” is set to “ON” (factorypreset). Performing any operation during the demonstration stops the demonstration temporarily. Set to OFF to stop completely. • When a tape whose erase protection tab is in the position that allows recording is loaded in the camcorder, demonstration is not available.
ADVANCED FEATURES Fade/Wipe Effects Fade- or wipe-in works at recording start, and fadeor wipe-out works at recording end. 1) Set the Power Switch @ to “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button ! located on the switch. 2) Press FADE/WIPE q repeatedly until the desired mode appears. 3) Press the Recording Start/Stop Button 0 to activate fade-in/out or wipe-in/out. • Pressing and holding the Recording Start/Stop Button 0 allows you to vary the length for the image during fade in/out or wipe in/out.
Digital Effects 1) Set the Power Switch @ to “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button ! located on the switch. 2) Press DIGIFECT $ repeatedly until the desired mode appears. • To cancel the effect, press DIGIFECT $ repeatedly until “OFF” appears. SEPIA: Recorded scenes have a brownish tint like old photos. Combine this with WIDE in SYSTEM MENU for a classic look. MONOTONE: Like black and white films, your footage is shot in B/W. Combine this with WIDE in SYSTEM MENU for a classic look. B.
TROUBLESHOOTING Before consulting your JVC dealer, please check the following to see if you can correct the problem yourself. Vertical white lines appear when shooting a very bright object. • This sometimes occurs when the contrast between the background and the object is great. It is not a defect of the camcorder. Bright, crystal-shaped spots appear in the LCD monitor and the viewfinder. • Sunlight is directly entering the lens. This is not a defect of the camcorder.
CAUTIONS When using the AC Adapter in areas other than the USA • The provided AC Adapter features automatic voltage selection in the AC range from 110 V to 240 V. 2. To prevent damage and prolong service life . . . .... do not subject to unnecessary shock. .... avoid repeated charging without fully discharging. .... charge in an environment where temperatures are within the tolerances shown in the chart below.
2. Avoid using the unit . . . .... in places subject to excessive humidity or dust. .... in places subject to soot or steam such as near a cooking stove. .... in places subject to excessive shock or vibration. .... near a television set. .... near appliances generating strong magnetic or electric fields (speakers, broadcasting antennas, etc.). .... in places subject to extremely high (over 40°C or 104°F) extremely low (under 0°C or 32°F) temperatures. 3. DO NOT leave the unit . . . ....
SPECIFICATIONS Camcorder Connectors General Format Power source Video : S-VHS/VHS NTSC standard : DC 11 V (Using AC Adapter) (Using battery pack) DC 6 V Power consumption Viewfinder on : 3.7 W LCD monitor on : 4.3 W Signal system : NTSC-type Video recording system Luminance : FM recording Color : Converted sub-carrier direct recording Conforms to VHS standard Cassette : / cassette Tape speed SP : 33.35 mm/sec. (1-5/16 ips) EP : 11.12 mm/sec. (7/16 ips) Recording time (max.