6-830.fm Page 1 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM Cat. No. 16-830 OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment.
16-830.fm Page 2 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM FEATURES Power Sources — Operate this product using only the power source indicated on its marking label. If you are not sure of your home's power type, consult your product dealer or local power company. Your Optimus Model 130 MovieCorder camcorder combines all the features of a video camera and a portable VCR in one lightweight package. Using standard VHS cassettes, you can record and play back home movies anywhere.
16-830.fm Page 3 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM Safety Check — Upon completion of service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition. 5. Do not operate the AC adapter/charger with a damaged power-supply cord or plug. Have a qualified service technician replace them immediately. Wall or Ceiling Mount — The product should be mounted to a wall or ceiling only as recommended by the manufacturer. 6.
16-830.fm Page 4 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM CONTENTS Before You Begin ........................................................................................................................... Supplied Accessories ................................................................................................................ Optional Accessories ................................................................................................................ Moisture Condensation .....................
16-830.fm Page 5 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM Special VCR Features ................................................................................................................. Visual Search .......................................................................................................................... Fast Forward and Rewind ....................................................................................................... Freeze Frame ................................................
16-830.fm Page 6 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM BEFORE YOU BEGIN Please read this owner’s manual carefully. It has been prepared to help you with initial setup procedures and in the everyday operation of your camcorder. SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES DC Adapter (CMC No. T16-CC70A) — supplies power to the camcorder from your vehicle’s battery. Use it only in vehicles that have a 12volt negative-ground electrical system. Your camcorder includes the following accessories.
16-830.fm Page 7 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM MOISTURE CONDENSATION Condensation inside the camcorder can cause tape jams or video head damage. If the camcorder senses moisture, TAPE flashes in the viewfinder. If TAPE flashes in the viewfinder, or when you first use your camcorder after moving it from a cold area to a warm one, follow these steps. 1. Eject the cassette if one is installed. 2. If necessary, slide POWER to OFF. 3. Let the camcorder sit for about 1 hour before you begin operation.
16-830.fm Page 8 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM QUICK START To eliminate complicated adjustments in most situations, this camcorder has fully automatic features for focus, white balance, and shutter speed. All you need to do is press REC/PAUSE. The following steps outline the basic procedures for making a recording. In many of the steps, you are directed to a specific section of this manual that contains more detailed information.
16-830.fm Page 9 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM Notes: • To protect the tape and conserve battery power, the camcorder turns itself off if you pause the tape for more than 5 minutes. To turn the camcorder back on, press REC/ PAUSE. • For more information about recording with your camcorder, be sure to read all the sections under “Special Video Recording Features” on Page 18. VIEWFINDER PLAYBACK After you make a recording, you can play it back through the viewfinder.
16-830.fm Page 10 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM SELECTING A POWER SOURCE You can power the camcorder from any of three sources — the supplied battery pack, the supplied AC adapter/charger, or your vehicle’s battery (with an optional DC adapter, not supplied). Note: Your camcorder has a built-in rechargeable battery in addition to the battery pack. This battery protects the camcorder’s date and time and any titles you created (see “Titler” on Page 22.).
16-830.fm Page 11 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM Attaching the Battery Pack to the Camcorder tery pack. You might damage the tape if you remove the battery pack during recording or playback. Alignment Marks Battery Status Indicators 0012 4350 9850 ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ When the battery pack is fully charged, appears in the viewfinder when you slide POWER to CAMERA. 1. Align the marks on both sides of the battery pack with the marks on the sides of the camcorder. 2.
16-830.fm Page 12 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM Battery Usage Hints • Recording with many starts and stops, frequent zooming, and recording in low temperatures might shorten battery life. Be sure to slide POWER on the camcorder to OFF when not recording. • Do not use the camcorder with a low or discharged battery pack attached. This might cause the camcorder to automatically stop during recording or playback, possibly damaging the tape, battery pack, and camcorder.
16-830.fm Page 13 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM USING AN OPTIONAL DC ADAPTER Follow these steps to power the camcorder from your vehicle’s battery: You can use a DC adapter (CMC No. T16CC70A, not supplied) to power your camcorder. Cautions: • Your vehicle must have a 12-volt, negativeground electrical system. • The recommended DC adapter is specially designed for use with your camcorder. Never use it to power any other device.
16-830.fm Page 14 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM PREPARING THE CAMCORDER FOR USE INSERTING/REMOVING A VIDEO CASSETTE You can open the cassette compartment to insert/remove a video cassette whenever a power source is connected to the camcorder, whether or not the camcorder is turned on. 1. Press STOP/EJECT to open the cassette compartment. SETTING THE POWER SWITCH While pressing and holding down the red button in the center of POWER, slide it to CAMERA for video recording or to VCR for playback.
16-830.fm Page 15 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM Setup Adjustment Before you can use the camcorder, you must set up the viewfinder. Once you set up the viewfinder, you can adjust the position of the viewfinder support and angle of the eyepiece, so you can see through the eyepiece easily. 1. Rotate the viewfinder support until it stops, as shown. 1. Slide POWER to CAMERA or VCR. 2.
-830.fm Page 16 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM SETTING/CHANGING THE DATE AND TIME 4. When the viewfinder shows the correct month, press STOP/EJECT. The day’s digit flashes. 1. Slide POWER to CAMERA. The POWER indicator lights. 2. If the currently set date does not appear in the viewfinder, repeatedly press DATE/TIME until the date appears and the month’s digit flashes. 11 ▲▲ ▲▲ 1 12:00AM 1 19 95 If the month’s digit does not flash, press and hold down DATE/TIME, then press STOP/EJECT once. 3.
16-830.fm Page 17 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM ATTACHING THE SHOULDER STRAP The shoulder strap provides a convenient way to carry the camcorder when it is not in use. You can also use it as a safety strap when you use the camcorder. Cautions: • Use only the supplied shoulder strap with this camcorder. • Do not swing the camcorder from the shoulder strap. • Replace the lens cap while carrying the camcorder with the shoulder strap.
16-830.fm Page 18 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM SPECIAL VIDEO RECORDING FEATURES AUTO FOCUSING The automatic focusing feature lets you concentrate on recording great videos without having to worry about whether or not they are properly focused. VARIABLE SPEED POWER ZOOM W The camcorder detects the distance from the camcorder to the object you see in the center of the viewfinder, then sets the focus for that distance.
16-830.fm Page 19 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM • For the best possible resolution while using macro focus, be sure to shoot in a welllighted area. DIGITAL ZOOM The camcorder’s digital zoom feature automatically doubles the magnification of telephoto shots while you use variable speed power zoom. To use digital zoom, simply continue to press and hold down T while you are zooming.
16-830.fm Page 20 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM REVIEW AUTO EXPOSURE This feature lets you quickly review the last few seconds of a recording. Depending on the brightness of the subject, the camcorder automatically sets its shutter speed to one of the following speeds: 1. During recording, press REC/PAUSE to stop the tape. appears in the viewfinder. 2. Press REVIEW. The tape rewinds and plays the last few seconds of the tape, then stops the tape where the recording ends. 3.
16-830.fm Page 21 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM RECORDING THE DATE AND TIME ON A TAPE You can select a date/time recording option by repeatedly pressing DATE/TIME. Each time you press DATE/TIME, you see one of the following options: • and the date — the camcorder automatically records the date on the first 10 seconds of the first recording of the day. • Date only — the camcorder continuously records the date. 3. Begin recording or playback of the tape. 4.
16-830.fm Page 22 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM TAPE REMAINING The titler contains 47 different characters you can use to create titles. 89 90 Creating Titles Follow these steps to create titles and save them in the camcorder’s memory (one title per page). Note: You cannot load or eject a cassette while creating a title. 1. Slide POWER to CAMERA or VCR. 2. Press TITLE.
16-830.fm Page 23 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM The characters appear in this order as you press + (or in reverse order as you press –). ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9? ’. /, -;: < >! (space) 5. After you have selected the first character, press SHIFT to move the flashing cursor to the place where you want the next character. 6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you complete the title.
16-830.fm Page 24 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM HINTS FOR MAKING BETTER VIDEO TAPES If you are not familiar with camera techniques, there are many books about the subject available at your local library. However, because the camcorder is so simple to use and tape can be used again and again, it is inexpensive to experiment and learn as you go. The following information will get you started. LIGHTING Lighting should be uniform.
16-830.fm Page 25 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM CAMCORDER MOVEMENT ZOOM IN AND ZOOM OUT When you move the camcorder while recording, do so slowly and steadily. Too much movement or fast movement make your recordings look awkward. A video camera tripod (such as Radio Shack Cat. No. 16-2017, not supplied) is a worthwhile investment for top-quality movie making. As with movement, too much use of the camcorder’s zoom features can detract from your recordings.
16-830.fm Page 26 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM SPECIAL VCR FEATURES This section describes some of your camcorder’s special VCR features and functions. Note: You cannot view the tape or hear the tape’s sound while you fast-forward and rewind it. Note: Unless otherwise noted, you can use these features only when POWER is set to VCR. FREEZE FRAME VISUAL SEARCH Freeze-frame lets you stop the tape to view a single frame.
16-830.fm Page 27 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM DUBBING (COPYING) A TAPE R IN FROM ANT AUDIO L/MONO VIDEO IN IN OUT OUT CH4 CH3 OUT TO TV The process of recording from one audio/video device to another is called dubbing. You can connect the camcorder and the VCR together, then either: • Use your camcorder to record the signal from the VCR • Use your VCR to record the signal from the camcorder Notes: • Always use video quality shielded cables with phono-type connectors (such as Cat. No.
16-830.fm Page 28 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM 1. Use a fingernail to pull down the cover on the camcorder’s AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack compartment to open it. 6. Insert a cassette into the camcorder. 7. Begin playback on the VCR or audio/video source. 8. Press REC/PAUSE on the camcorder to start dubbing. 9. Press REC/PAUSE on the camcorder to stop dubbing. Dubbing from the Camcorder Caution: The cover on the AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack compartment is attached to the camcorder. Do not try to remove it. 2.
16-830.fm Page 29 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM 4. Set AV OUT/IN inside the AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack compartment to OUT. 5. Slide POWER to VCR. 6. Insert a cassette into the camcorder. 7. Set your VCR to its audio/video mode. Note: Some VCRs have a manual inputselect switch, while others automatically “sense” when you connect another audio/ video source to the VCR’s audio/video input jacks. Check your VCR’s owner’s manual for more information about your VCR. 8.
16-830.fm Page 30 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM 2. Set AV OUT/IN inside the AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack compartment for the audio source you chose: IN OUT point where you want to end audio, then start the dubbing process. • To prevent feedback squeals, turn down the volume control on any TV or TV/monitor connected to the camcorder. AUDIO/VIDEO EDITING When you use audio/video editing, you can replace the audio and video on a tape with new sound and pictures.
16-830.fm Page 31 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM 4. Insert a cassette into the camcorder. 5. Press PLAY on the camcorder to play the tape to the point where you want audio/ video dubbing to end. Then press REC/ PAUSE to pause it. 6. Press DISPLAY. M appears in the viewfinder next to the tape counter. Then press RESET to reset the tape counter to 0000. 7. Press REWIND to rewind the tape past the point where you want to start audio/video dubbing, then press PLAY.
16-830.fm Page 32 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM CONNECTING THE CAMCORDER TO A TV USING A TV FOR PLAYBACK There are many different types of TVs and ways to connect them to your camcorder. This section describes the most common set ups. Notes: • If your TV doesn’t match any of the examples provided, contact your local Radio Shack store for assistance. • Turn off power to the camcorder and TV when making connections. Do not power the camcorder until you complete all other connections.
16-830.fm Page 33 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM Standard TV UHF IN VHF IN 75-ohm 300-ohm 1. Use a fingernail to pull down the cover on the camcorder’s AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack compartment to open it. Caution: The cover on the AUDIO/VIDEO OUT/IN jack compartment is attached to the camcorder. Do not try to remove it. To connect the camcorder to a standard TV (with only VHF and UHF terminals), you need an RF adapter kit (CMC No. T16-RF71A, not supplied). The RF adapter kit includes: 2.
16-830.fm Page 34 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM PLAYBACK After you connect the camcorder to your TV, follow these steps to play a tape. 1. Turn on the TV, then: • If you are using a TV with audio/video (A/V) jacks, set it to the video mode. 5. Using the supplied 75-ohm antenna cable, connect the RF converter’s OUT TO TV jack to the TV’s VHF antenna terminal. • If the TV’s VHF antenna terminal is the round, 75-ohm type, connect the cable directly to the terminal.
16-830.fm Page 35 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TROUBLESHOOTING If you follow the instructions in this manual and still have trouble operating your camcorder, refer to the following troubleshooting chart. If you still cannot solve the problem, take your camcorder to your local Radio Shack store for assistance. FUNCTION POWER PROBLEM No power. The camcorder turns off soon after you turn it on. RECORDING Power on, but no image in viewfinder.
16-830.fm Page 36 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM FUNCTION PLAYBACK PROBLEM Image in viewfinder is fuzzy. No image appears on TV. POSSIBLE REASON SUGGESTION • Focus control on the viewfinder must be adjusted. • Adjust the focus control. • Viewfinder must be reset. • Turn off the camcorder and disconnect the power source. Then, after about 1 minute, reconnect the power source. When the characters displayed in the viewfinder are clear, set the date and time.
16-830.fm Page 37 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM FUNCTION PROBLEM POSSIBLE REASON SUGGESTION PLAYBACK (continued) Cassette will not eject and power will not turn off. Camcorder is recording. Press REC/PAUSE to stop the tape and try again. No tape movement in fast-forward mode. Tape is already completely wound. Rewind the tape to the desired point. No tape movement in rewind mode. Tape is already completely wound. Fast-forward the tape to the desired point.
16-830.fm Page 38 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM CARE AND MAINTENANCE Your Optimus Model 130 MovieCorder camcorder is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for the camcorder so you can enjoy it for years. Keep the camcorder dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids can contain minerals that corrode electronic circuits. HANDLING • Remove the cassette tape and turn off the power when the camcorder is not in use. • Avoid shocks and drops.
16-830.fm Page 39 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM • Do not use the camcorder on its side. The tape might not wind properly and might jam. • Some small, portable tripods might be difficult to connect and might not be sturdy enough to support your camcorder. Be sure to use only a strong, stable tripod. SERVICING YOUR CAMCORDER though the audio signal is clear. Head cleaning must be done by an experienced camcorder technician.
16-830.fm Page 40 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM On most cassettes there is a brake-release plunger on the bottom center of the cassette. Use the tip of a pen or pencil to press the plunger. This loosens the tape. • Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna • Increase the distance between the equipment and the radio or TV • Use outlets on different electrical circuits for the equipment and the radio or TV Consult your local Radio Shack store if the problem still exists.
16-830.fm Page 41 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM SPECIFICATIONS Signal System ............................................................ NTSC-Type Standard Color and Monochrome Recording System ........................................................................................................ VHS Standard Tape Width ............................................................................................................ 1/2 Inch (12.7 mm) Tape Speed .............................................
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16-830.fm Page 44 Wednesday, July 21, 1999 9:32 AM RADIO SHACK LIMITED WARRANTY This product is warranted against defects for 90 days from date of purchase from Radio Shack company-owned stores and authorized Radio Shack franchisees and dealers. Within this period, we will repair it without charge for parts and labor. Simply bring your Radio Shack sales slip as proof of purchase date to any Radio Shack store. Warranty does not cover transportation costs.
