Sony Handycam HDRCX12 User Manual

							Enjoying your camcorder
11
“ HOME” and “ OPTION”  
- Taking advantage of two types of menus
“ HOME MENU” - the starting point for operations with your camcorder
  Categories and items of the HOME MENU
 (CAMERA) category
Item Page
MOVIE*26
PHOTO* 26
SMTH SLW REC 29
 (VIEW IMAGES) category
Item Page
VISUAL INDEX*31
INDEX*33
INDEX* 33
PLAYLIST 50
 (OTHERS) category
Item Page
DELETE*45
PHOTO CAPTURE 47
EDIT 48
PLAYLIST EDIT 49
PRINT 54
USB CONNECT 44
TV CONNECT Guide* 37
 (MANAGE MEDIA) category
Item Page
/SET*56
MEDIA INFO 57
MEDIA FORMAT* 57
REPAIR IMG.DB F. 58
 (SETTINGS) category*
To customize your camcorder (p.  59).
* You can also set these items during Easy 
Handycam operation (p.  22). For the items 
available in the  (SETTINGS) category, see 
page 60.
 (HELP)
Displays a description of the item (p.  12)
Category 
						

							12
Using the HOME MENU
1 While pressing the green button, 
slide the POWER switch in the 
direction of the arrow to turn on the 
power.
2  Press  (HOME)  (or ).
3 Touch the desired category.
Example: 
 (OTHERS) category
4  Touch the desired item.
Example: [EDIT]
5  Follow the guide on the screen for 
further operation.
To hide the HOME MENU screen
Touch .
  When you want to know something about 
the function of each item on the HOME 
MENU - HELP
1  Press  (HOME).
The HOME MENU appears.
2  Touch  (HELP).
The bottom of the 
 (HELP) button 
turns orange.
 (HOME) 
 (HOME)   
						

							Enjoying your camcorder
1
3  Touch the item you want to learn 
more about.
When you touch an item, its 
explanation appears on the screen.
To apply the option, touch [YES], 
otherwise, touch [NO].
To deactivate the HELP
Touch  (HELP) again in step 2.
Using the OPTION MENU
Just a touch on the screen during shooting 
or playback displays the functions available 
at that moment. You will find it easy to 
make various settings. See page 76 for 
further details.
 (OPTION) 
						

							14
Getting Started
Step 1: Checking supplied items
Make sure that you have the following 
items supplied with your camcorder.
The number in the parentheses indicates 
the number of that item supplied.
“Memory Stick PRO Duo” (1)
4 GB
AC Adaptor (1) (p. 15)
Power cord (Mains lead) (1) (p. 15)
Handycam Station (1) (p. 15)
Component A/V cable (1) (p. 38)
A/V connecting cable (1) (p. 40, 51)
USB cable (1) (p. 54)
Wireless Remote Commander (1) (p. 108)
A button-type lithium battery is already installed.
Rechargeable battery pack
NP-FH60 (1) (p. 15, 98)
CD-ROM “Handycam Application Software” 
(1)
 PMB (Software) PMB Guide Handycam Handbook (This Handbook)
“Operating Guide” (1) 
						

							Getting Started
15
Step 2: Charging the battery pack
You can charge the “InfoLITHIUM” 
battery pack (H series) (p. 98) after 
attaching it to your camcorder.
Notes  You cannot attach any “InfoLITHIUM” battery 
pack other than the H series to your camcorder.
1  Connect the AC Adaptor to the DC 
IN jack on the Handycam Station.
Be sure that the  mark on the DC plug 
is facing up.
2  Connect the power cord (mains 
lead) to the AC Adaptor and the wall 
outlet (wall socket).
3  Slide the POWER switch in the 
direction of the arrow to OFF (CHG) 
(the default setting).

4  Attach the battery pack by sliding it 
in the direction of the arrow until it 
clicks. 
5  Insert the camcorder into the 
Handycam Station securely, all the 
way to the bottom.
The 
/CHG (charge) lamp lights up and 
charging starts.  
When the 
/CHG (charge) lamp turns 
off, the battery pack is fully charged.
Notes  When inserting the camcorder into the 
Handycam Station, close the DC IN jack cover.
Battery pack
DC IN jack
DC plug
AC Adaptor Power cord (Mains lead)
To the wall outlet 
(wall socket)
/CHG (charge) 
lamp
POWER switch 
						

							16
To remove your camcorder from the 
Handycam Station
Turn off the power, then remove the 
camcorder from the Handycam Station 
holding both your camcorder and the 
Handycam Station.
To charge the battery pack using only the AC 
Adaptor
Turn off the power, then connect the 
AC Adaptor to the DC IN jack on your 
camcorder.
Notes Disconnect the AC Adaptor from the DC IN 
jack holding both the camcorder and the DC 
plug.
To remove the battery pack
Slide the POWER switch to OFF (CHG).
Slide the BATT (battery) release lever and 
remove the battery pack.
Notes  When you remove the battery pack or 
disconnect the AC Adaptor, make sure that the 
 (Movie) lamp/ (Still) lamp (p. 18), access 
lamp (p.
  25) or the QUICK ON lamp (p.  28) is 
turned off.
  When you store the battery pack, fully discharge 
the battery before storing it for an extended 
period (see page 99 for the details of storage).
To use a wall outlet (wall socket) as a power 
source
Make the same connections as you do when 
charging the battery pack. The battery pack 
will not lose its charge in this case.
To check the remaining battery (Battery 
Info)
Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHG), 
then press DISP/BATT INFO. 

POWER switch
DC IN jack DC plug
Open the 
jack cover
With the  mark 
on the left
BATT (battery) 
release lever 
						

							Getting Started
1
After a while, the approximate recordable 
time and battery information appear for 
about 7 seconds. You can view the battery 
information for up to 20 seconds by 
pressing DISP/BATT INFO again while the 
information is displayed.
 
Charging time
Approximate time (min.) required when 
you fully charge a fully discharged battery 
pack.
Battery	packCharging	time
NP-FH50 135
NP-FH60  
(supplied) 135
NP-FH70 170
NP-FH100 390
Approximate available recording time
Approximate time (min.) available when 
you use a fully charged battery pack.
“HD” stands for high definition image 
quality, and “SD” stands for standard image 
quality.
Battery	packContinuous	
recording	timeTypical	recording	
time*
Image
	quality HD SD HD SD
NP-FH50 75 95 35 45
NP-FH60 
(supplied) 100 130 50 65
NP-FH70 165 205 80 100
NP-FH100 375 470 185 235
*  Typical recording time shows the time when 
you repeat recording start/stop, turning the 
power on/off and zooming.
Notes  All times measured under the following 
conditions:
  [REC MODE]: SP When the LCD backlight turns on
Approximate playback time
Approximate time (min.) available when 
you use a fully charged battery pack.
“HD” stands for high definition image 
quality, and “SD” stands for standard image 
quality.
Battery	pack LCD	panel	opened
Image	quality HDSD
NP-FH50 135 145
NP-FH60  
(supplied) 180 195
NP-FH70 290 315
NP-FH100 650 710
  When the LCD backlight is on.
On the battery pack
  The /CHG (charge) lamp flashes during 
charging, or Battery Info (p.  16) will not 
be correctly displayed under the following 
conditions:
  The battery pack is not attached correctly. The battery pack is damaged. The battery pack is worn-out (for Battery Info 
only).
  The power will not be supplied from the 
battery as long as the AC Adaptor is connected 
to the DC IN jack of your camcorder or the 
Handycam Station, even when the power cord 
(mains lead) is disconnected from the wall 
outlet (wall socket).
  When attaching an optional video light, it is 
recommended that you use an NP-FH70/FH100 
battery pack.
  We do not recommend using an NP-FH30, 
which only allows short recording and playback 
times, with your camcorder.

Remaining battery (approx.)
Recording capacity (approx.) 
						

							18
On the charging/recording/playback time Times measured with the camcorder at 25°C 
(77 ˚F).  
10°C to 30°C (50 ˚F to 86 ˚F) is recommended.
  The recording and playback time will be 
shorter when you use your camcorder in low 
temperatures.
  The recording and playback time will be shorter 
depending on the conditions under which you 
use your camcorder.
On the AC Adaptor 
  Use the nearby wall outlet (wall socket) when 
using the AC Adaptor. Disconnect the AC 
Adaptor from the wall outlet (wall socket) 
immediately if any malfunction occurs while 
using your camcorder.
  Do not use the AC Adaptor placed in a narrow 
space, such as between a wall and furniture.
  Do not short-circuit the DC plug of the AC 
Adaptor or battery terminal with any metallic 
objects. This may cause a malfunction.
  Even if your camcorder is turned off, AC power 
source (mains) is still supplied to it while 
connected to the wall outlet (wall socket) via the 
AC Adaptor.
Step 3: Setting the date 
and time
Set the date and time when using this 
camcorder for the first time. If you do not 
set the date and time, the [CLOCK SET] 
screen appears every time you turn on your 
camcorder or change the POWER switch 
position.
1  While pressing the green button, 
slide the POWER switch repeatedly 
in the direction of the arrow until 
the respective lamp lights up.
 (Movie): To record movies
 (Still): To record still images
Go to step 3 when you turn on your 
camcorder for the first time.
2  Touch  (HOME)   (SETTINGS) 
 [CLOCK/LANG]  [CLOCK 
SET].
The [CLOCK SET] screen appears.
Lens cover
Touch the button 
on the LCD screen
POWER switch 
						

							Getting Started
19
3 Select the desired geographical 
area with  / , then touch [NEXT].
4  Set [DST SET] or [SUMMERTIME], 
then touch [NEXT].
5  Set [Y] (year) with  / .
6 Select [M] with  / , then set 
the month with  / .
7  Set [D] (day), hour and minute in the 
same way, then touch [NEXT].
8  Make sure that the clock is correctly 
set, then touch .
The clock starts.
You can set any year up to the year 
2037.
For midnight, set it to 12:00 AM.
For midday, set it to 12:00 PM.
To turn off the power
Slide the POWER switch to OFF (CHG).
Notes  If you do not use your camcorder for about 
3 months, the built-in rechargeable battery 
gets discharged and the date and time settings 
may be cleared from the memory. In that case, 
charge the built-in rechargeable battery and 
then set the date and time again (p.
  101).

  It takes a few seconds for your camcorder to 
be ready to shoot after the power is turned on. 
You cannot operate your camcorder during this 
time.
  The lens cover opens automatically when the 
power is turned on. It closes when the playback 
screen is selected, or the power is turned off.
  In the setting at the time of purchase, the 
power turns off automatically if you leave your 
camcorder without any operation attempted for 
approximately 5 minutes, to save battery power 
([A.SHUT OFF], p.
  75).
Tips The date and time does not appear during 
recording, but they are automatically recorded 
on the “Memory Stick PRO Duo,” and can be 
displayed during playback ([DATA CODE], 
p.

  70).
  Refer to page 95 for information concerning 
“World time difference.”
  If the buttons on the touch panel do not 
work correctly, adjust the touch panel 
(CALIBRATION) (p.
  101).
Changing the language setting
You can change the on-screen displays to 
show messages in a specified language.
To select the screen language, touch 
 
(HOME)   (SETTINGS)  [CLOCK/LANG]  [LANGUAGE SET] 
(p.
 74).
  
						

							20
Step 4: Making setting adjustments before recording
Adjusting the LCD panel
Open the LCD panel 90 degrees to the 
camcorder (), then rotate it to the best 
angle to record or play ().
To turn off the LCD backlight to make the 
battery last longer
Press and hold DISP/BATT INFO for a few 
seconds until  appears. 
This setting is practical when you use your 
camcorder in bright conditions or you 
want to save battery power. The recorded 
image will not be affected by the setting. To 
turn on the LCD backlight, press and hold 
DISP/BATT INFO for a few seconds until 
 disappears.
Notes  Do not press the buttons on the LCD frame 
accidentally when you open or adjust the LCD 
panel.
Tips  If you rotate the LCD panel 180 degrees, you 
can close the LCD panel with the LCD screen 
facing out. This is convenient during playback 
operations.
  Touch  (HOME)   (SETTINGS)  
[SOUND/DISP SET]  [LCD BRIGHT] 
(p.
  72), and adjust the brightness of the LCD 
screen.
  The information is displayed or hidden (display 
 no display) each time you press DISP/
BATT INFO.


Fastening the grip belt
Hold your camcorder correctly, then fasten 
the grip belt as shown in the illustration.
90 degrees 
(max.) DISP/BATT INFO
180 degrees (max.) 90 degrees to the 
camcorder