Sony Digital 8 Manual

Recording
Recording21
Recording
Recording movies
Before recording, follow steps 1 to 7 in 
“Getting started” (p. 11 - p. 19).
For TRV138/338:
Movies will be recorded along with monaural 
sound.
For TRV280:
Movies will be recorded along with stereo 
sound.
bNote
 For TRV138/338:  The date is automatically recorded for 10 seconds 
after you start recording (Auto date function). This 
function works only once a day. See page 55 for 
details.
z Tip
 Performing Easy Handycam operation, even first  time...

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Indicators displayed during recording
The indicators will not be recorded on the tape.
For TRV
138/338:
For TRV
280:
Date/time and camera settings data (p. 37) will 
not be displayed during recording.
A Remaining battery time
The indicated time may not be correct 
depending on the environment of use. 
When you opened or closed the LCD panel, 
it takes about 1 minute to display the correct 
remaining battery time.
B Recording mode (SP or LP)
C Recording status ([STBY] (standby) or 
[REC]...

Recording
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Recording for a longer time
To record for a longer time
In the   (TAPE SET) menu, select [REC 
MODE], then [LP] (p. 52). 
In the LP mode, you can record longer than 
when recording in the SP mode (2 times longer 
for TRV138/338
, 1.5 times longer for 
TRV280).
A tape recorded in the LP mode should be 
played back only on this camcorder.
Using zoom
When the CAMERA mode is selected, you 
can choose zoom to magnification levels 
greater than 20 times, and from that point 
activate the...

Recording24
: Automatically turns on and off 
according to the ambient brightness.
m : Always turns on.
To turn off the built-in light
Press LIGHT repeatedly until no indicator 
appears on the screen.
bNotes
 The built-in video light emits very bright light,  which is perfectly safe in normal use. However, 
avoid directly aiming the light at a subject’s eyes 
from very close range. 
 The battery pack discharges quickly while the built- in light is turned on.
 When you do not use your camcorder, turn...

Recording
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Superimposing the date and time 
on pictures (
TRV138/338)
You can record the date and/or time 
displayed on the screen superimposed on the 
picture.
Press DATE to record the date.
Press TIME to record the time.
Press DATE (or TIME), then press TIME 
(or DATE) to record the date and time.
To hide the date and time, press DATE and/or 
TIME again.
When you purchase your camcorder, the clock 
is not set up yet. Set the date and time to your 
local time before using (p. 17).
bNote
 The...

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3Slide the POWER switch to select the 
CAMERA mode.
4Press and hold PHOTO lightly.
You will hear a small beep sound, and the 
picture will become a still image. 
Recording does not start at this point.
5Press PHOTO fully.
A shutter sound is heard, and the image is 
recorded with sound for 7 seconds.
The still image is displayed on the screen 
until recording is completed.
To turn the power off
Slide the POWER switch up to (CHG) OFF.
bNote
  appears when the tape photo recording does  not...

Recording
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5Press REC START/STOP.
Recording starts. [REC] appears on the 
LCD screen and the Camera recording lamp 
lights up. Press REC START/STOP again 
to stop recording.
To turn the power off 
Slide the POWER switch up to (CHG) OFF.
To cancel Easy Handycam operation
Press EASY again.
bNotes
 You cannot switch from/to Easy Handycam  operation during recording.
 For TRV280: During Easy Handycam operation, you cannot 
connect the USB cable to your camcorder.
 For TRV280:  You cannot use...

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Adjusting the exposure manually
You can fix the brightness of a picture at the 
best exposure. When recording indoors on a 
clear day, for instance, you can avoid 
backlight shadows on people next to the 
window by manually fixing the exposure to 
that of the wall side of the room.
1Press EXPOSURE in CAMERA mode.
The exposure indicator appears on the 
screen.
2Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to 
adjust the brightness.
While exposure is set to manual mode,   is 
displayed in the left-hand corner...

Recording
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zTip
 If you record subjects in complete darkness, set  [N.S. LIGHT] to [ON] in the menu settings. The 
maximum shooting distance using the NightShot 
Light is about 3 meters (10 feet). If you record 
subjects in dark places (such as night scene or in 
moonlight), set [N.S. LIGHT] to [OFF] in the menu 
settings. You can make image color deeper (p. 48).
Adjusting the focus 
manually
The focus is adjusted automatically in the 
default setting.
You can adjust the focus manually...

Recording30
Tips for focusing manually
 It is easier to focus on the subject when you use the zoom function. Move the 
power zoom lever towards T (telephoto) 
to adjust the focus, and then, towards W 
(wide angle) to adjust the zoom for 
recording.
 When you want to record a close-up  image of a subject, move the power zoom 
lever towards W (wide angle) to fully 
magnify the image, then adjust the focus.
To adjust the focus automatically
Press FOCUS again.
Recording a picture 
using various effects...