Sony DCR-PC330 Mini DV digital camcorder

General Features
Mini DV Camcorder Features
Digital Still Camera Features
Battery Information
Remote Control
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Software and Computer Information

General Features

3.3 Megapixel Advanced HAD CCD: The DCR-PC330 features a 1/3" Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD imager with 3.3-million gross pixels. The 2.05-million effective video pixels provide excellent detail and clarity for exceptional digital video performance with 530 lines of horizontal resolution. The 3.05-million effective still imaging pixels also give you great looking digital still pictures.

Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens: The Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens offers the most advanced multi-layer coating system, resulting in even less glare and lens flare compared to other systems. The result is vivid image brilliance with outstanding contrast and accurate color rendition across the spectrum.

Zoom: The camcorder has a 10x Optical Zoom for bringing your subject up close. It also features a 12x Precision Digital Zoom, to give you a total zoom capability of 120x. The digital zoom can be set to 20x or 120x, or turned off if desired. Because the picture is processed digitally, the picture quality deteriorates the more you zoom in. The power zoom lever can be moved slightly for a slow zoom, or moved further for a faster zoom.

Precision 2.5" Touch Panel LCD: The DCR-PC330 features a flip-out 2.5" LCD monitor with 211,000 pixels for excellent viewing clarity. In addition, the LCD display doubles as an "on-screen" touch panel, allowing you to navigate through the menu system by touching the LCD screen. The flip-out panel opens up to a 90-degree angle from the left side of the camcorder. Once open, it can rotate forward up to 180 degrees, or backward up to 90 degrees. It can also be rotated forward 180 degrees, then closed with the LCD screen facing outward.

Color Viewfinder: When the color LCD monitor is not being used, you can view images using the electronic color viewfinder with 180,000 pixels. The viewfinder can be adjusted for your eyesight by moving the diopter control located under the viewfinder lens.

USB Streaming: Connecting the camcorder to a PC via the USB interface allows you to "broadcast" live video and audio on the Internet. You can even playback video and audio recorded on tape. 

i.LINK Interface: The camcorder features an i.LINK interface (also known as IEEE1394 or Firewire), a high-speed bi-directional digital video/audio communication between two compatible devices including camcorders, digital VCRs, capture cards and PCs.

Recording Media: You can record video onto a Mini DV tape, which delivers three times the color bandwidth of VHS and lower signal to noise ratio compared to analog formats. In addition, you can record JPEG digital still images as well as moving images in MPEG Movie EX to a Memory Stick. This camcorder is compatible with Memory Stick, MagicGate Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo (with adapter) and Memory Stick Pro. 

Exif Print (Exif 2.2): This camcorder conforms to "Exif Print", a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

Auto and Manual Focus: The camcorder features both automatic and manual focusing. The manual focus is adjusted using the manual focus ring around the lens.

Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes: The following modes are available to suit your specific shooting requirements: Spotlight mode (recording subject spotlighted on a stage), Soft Portrait mode, Sports lesson mode (for high speed action), Beach & Ski mode, Sunset & Moon mode (for sunsets, fireworks, etc), or Landscape mode.

White Balance Adjustment: When the white balance is correct, all other colors will be accurately reproduced. This camcorder can adjust the white balance automatically, and it gives you the option to perform manual white balance adjustment. Besides auto white balance, you may select Hold mode, Outdoor mode, or Indoor Mode to suit your shooting needs.

Mini DV Camcorder Features

Recording Speeds: This camcorder can record and play back in SP or LP mode. LP records at 2/3 the speed of SP, so you get longer recording times. You cannot use audio dubbing with a tape recorded using the LP speed.  Picture quality is about the same at the lower speed; it is likely, however, that a tape recorded in LP mode will not play back as well on any other Mini DV camcorder.

Audio Modes: This unit can record and play audio in 12- and 16-bit PCM digital stereo modes. In 12-bit mode, there are two stereo audio tracks (stereo 1 and stereo 2), which enable audio dubbing and audio mixing. Tapes recorded in 16-bit mode are of higher audio quality, however, audio inserts cannot be made on a tape recorded in the 16-bit or LP modes.

End Search Function: After you record and play back a tape, you may press the End Search button to have the camcorder fast forward or rewind the tape and play the last 5 seconds of what has been recorded. This feature makes it easy to find the end of the last scene you recorded, so you can start recording from where you left off.

Super SteadyShot Picture Stabilization: SteadyShot picture stabilization system uses motion sensors to remove unwanted picture shake. The Super SteadyShot system controls an even broader range of shake and vibration frequencies, to achieve an even higher level of smoothness. The Super SteadyShot feature may be turned on/off.

Super NightShot: This unit is equipped with NightShot and Super NightShot modes. The NightShot feature allows you to shoot a subject in complete darkness (0 lux) using infra-red technology. Note that pictures taken in this mode are not in color, they are monochrome. The Super NightShot function makes subjects more than 16 times brighter than those recorded in the NightShot mode. The Super NightShot mode improves the overall picture quality by automatically selecting from 2 shutter speeds. There is a built-in NightShot Light that can be turned on to obtain a clearer picture; maximum range of the NightShot Light is about 10 feet.

Color Slow Shutter: For low light situations when you want to record in color, you can use the Color Slow Shutter mode.

Wide Mode Function: You can record in 16:9 FULL mode, which is a true wide aspect and will play back on a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio TV.

Fader Modes: You can select from "Normal Fader" (black), "Mosaic Fader", "Overlap" (overlaps the image), "Wipe", " Dot" and "Monotone" (gradually changes from black and white to color) fader modes. The "Overlap", "Wipe" and " Dot" fader modes can be used to fade in only.

Digital Effects: The following digital effects can be added to recorded pictures:

• Still Mode: This mode allows you to record a still picture that is superimposed on a moving picture.
• Flash Motion Function: This function allows you to record still pictures successively at constant intervals, while the audio remains normal. Note that you can adjust the interval between the shots.
• Luminance Key Function: This allows you to swap a brighter area in a still picture with a moving picture.
• Trail Effect: This effect allows you to record images that leave an incidental image such as a trail.  The audio is recorded normally.
• Slow Shutter Function: If you want to record a dark picture more brightly, the shutter speed of this unit can be set to 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, or 1/4.
• Old Movie Function: The unit simulates an "old movie" by automatically setting the wide mode to ON, picture effect to sepia, and choosing a slow shutter speed.

Picture Effect Feature: This feature allows you to digitally process images, as they are being recorded, to obtain special effects. You may choose from the following effects: Negative Art (the color of the picture is reversed), Sepia, Black and White, Solarize, Pastel (makes picture look like an animated cartoon) and Mosaic.

Frame Recording: You can make a recording of an inanimate object with a stop-motion animated effect using frame recording. To create this effect, you can alternately move the subject a little between each recorded frame.

Interval Recording: You can make a time-lapse recording by setting the camcorder to automatically record to tape and switch to standby sequentially. The interval of recording can be set to 1-10 seconds in 1-second intervals, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 1 minute, or 2 minutes.

Playback Effects: During playback, you may add the following picture effects to a recorded scene: Negative Art, Sepia, B&W and Solarize. Also, you may process a recorded scene with the following digital effects: Still, Flash, Luminance, and Trail.

Data Code Function: The camcorder automatically records time codes along with the images you shoot, so you can display the date and time during playback or editing. During playback, you can use the remote to turn on/off the data code information.

Zero Set Memory Function: While the unit is in playback mode, you may select a point on the tape to quickly locate later; once a point is selected, you may fast forward or rewind the tape and the unit will automatically stop at the selected point.

Audio Dubbing: Audio dubbing allows you to insert a new stereo sound track; the old sound will still be available and can be mixed as desired with the new sound. Note that audio dubbing requires a tape recorded in 12-bit audio mode.

Playback Zoom: Moving pictures may be enlarged during playback. Enlarged pictures can be dubbed to a tape in a VCR or camcorder connected to the A/V output of this unit. Enlarged pictures may also be copied to Memory Stick.

Signal Convert Function: When analog images and sound from an external source are input to the analog A/V input of this unit, the signal may be passed through this unit to a PC with an i.LINK input. Analog signals sent through the analog A/V input are converted, on the fly, to digital signals that can be sent from the i.LINK digital output to a PC equipped with an i.LINK input. Copy protected images cannot be passed through the camcorder in this manner.

Cassette Memory: Some Mini DV tapes (such as item # 158DVM60ML) have a built-in IC chip with Cassette Memory. This camcorder is compatible with tapes with Cassette Memory chips up to 16K bits. Using a tape with Cassette Memory allows you to perform the following functions:

• Title search: allows you to start playback from the point where a title was superimposed
• Superimposing a title: allows you to add one of 8 preset titles or one of two custom titles at any time
• Making a custom title: allows you to create two custom titles (max 20 characters)
• Label a cassette: allows you to label a cassette with a title of up to 10 characters

• End search: this goes to last recorded point. Without cassette memory, you cannot use this function after a cassette has been ejected.
• Date search: allows you to use recorded date to find a location on the tape

Superimposing a Title: If you use a tape with cassette memory you can superimpose a title while recording or after recording. You can choose from 2 custom titles (20 character maximum for each title) and the following eight preset titles: Hello, Happy Birthday, Happy Holidays, Congratulations, Our sweet baby, Wedding, Vacation, or The End. The title size can be set to "LARGE" (with 8 positions) or "SMALL" (with 9 positions). You can select the following title colors: white, yellow, violet, red, cyan, green or blue. The total number of characters your title can have and the number of titles you can superimpose on one cassette are limited by the amount of memory on the cassette. You can normally superimpose up to 20 titles on one cassette if each title consists of about 5 characters. Titles may be deleted.

Digital Still Camera Features

Memory Photo Recording: Besides the standard Mini DV camcorder features, this unit includes a memory slot that accepts a Memory Stick (a 16MB Memory Stick is supplied) to capture Digital Still photos in JPEG format and short video clips in MPEG Movie EX format. You can also transfer images recorded on the Mini DV tape to the Memory Stick as a still image or a moving image.

Image Resolution: Still images can be recorded in either 2016 x 1512 pixels or 640 x 480 pixels. In addition to image size, you can select from two image quality modes: Standard (compressed to about 1/10) and Fine (compressed to about 1/4). The approximate number of storable images for each available Memory Stick size is:

Moving Images: Moving images are recorded to Memory Stick in MPEG Movie EX format, in either 320 x 240 or 160 x 112 image sizes. Unlike earlier MPEG1 compression which limited the length of the moving image "clip", MPEG Movie EX will allow you to record uninterrupted to the capacity of the Memory Stick. The approximate total recording time for moving pictures for each Memory Stick size is:

Intelligent Pop-up Flash: For use when capturing still images, the camcorder features a flash that automatically pops up to strobe when you enter the Photo mode. The flash automatically adjusts itself to the appropriate brightness, plus you can adjust the flash intensity manually in the menu. (Note: When using an external flash attachment, the pop-up flash does not operate.) You can choose from five flash modes:

• Auto Flash: The flash fires in low light situations.
• Auto Red-eye Reduction: The flash fires before recording to reduce red-eye phenomenon.
• Forced Flash: The flash fires regardless of the surrounding brightness.
• Forced Red-eye Reduction: The flash fires before recording to reduce red-eye, regardless of the surrounding brightness.
• No Flash: The flash does not fire.

Continuous Recording Modes: You can record still images continuously by selecting one of the following modes:

• Normal: The camcorder allows you to shoot up to 3 still images in 2016 x 1512 size, or 21 still images in 640 x 480 size at about 0.5-second intervals.
• High Speed: The camcorder allows you to shoot up to 32 still images in 640 x 480 size at about 0.07-second intervals.
• Exposure Bracketing: The camcorder automatically shoots three images at about 0.5-second intervals at different exposures.

Interval Photo Recording: You can make a time-lapse recording by setting the camcorder to automatically record still images onto the Memory Stick at preset intervals. You can choose in the menu from 1 minute, 5 minute or 10 minute intervals.

Memory Mix: Allows you to superimpose a still image you have recorded on Memory Stick on top of a moving image you are recording. You can select from one of the following effects: Memory Chroma Key, Memory Luminance Key, Camera Chroma key or Memory Overlap.

Still/Moving Image Playback: The pictures on a Memory Stick can be played back one at a time. Also, 6 images can be shown simultaneously by selecting the index screen. The moving picture clips recorded on a Memory Stick can also be played back one at a time.

Slide Show: You can automatically play back images on a Memory Stick in sequence. You can choose to play back all of the files, or files from a selected folder.

Resize: You can change the size of a recorded still image to 640 x 480 or 320 x 240. This allows you to include the image in an e-mail. The original image is retained after resizing, and the resized image appears as a new image, recorded as the most recent file in the currently chosen folder.

Image Protection: You can protect images to prevent accidental erasure. Reformatting the Memory Stick will erase all images, including those with image protection.

Image Delete: Images may be deleted one at a time, in a specified folder or all at once.

Print Mark: You can specify which images will be printed out on an optional digital still printer by putting a "print mark" on the still images you want printed. This unit conforms with the DPOF standard for specifying the images that will be printed.

Battery Information

Battery: This unit comes with an NP-FM30 "M" type InfoLithium battery, and the optional NP-FM50, NP-QM71, NP-QM71D, NP-QM91 and NP-QM91D batteries are compatible with this camcorder. The InfoLithium system exchanges data about its actual power consumption with the camcorder for a more accurate estimate of recording time available. Cold temperatures will increase battery consumption.

Battery Life: The approximate recording times using the supplied and optional batteries are:

Remote Control

Dimensions: The RMT-831 remote has the following dimensions: W=1.635", L=3.708", D=0.518".

Functions:

• Photo: for recording still photos
• Memory: select and play still images
• Search: selects date search or title search
• |<<, >>|: skips to next or previous still photo
• Tape Transport: Rew/Play/FF/Pause/Stop/Slow--for tape playback
• Zero Set Memory
• Display: display screen indicators
• Power Zoom Control: zoom in (tele)/zoom out (wide)
• Start/Stop: starts and stops recording video

Inputs and Outputs Notes

Analog Inputs/Outputs: This camcorder features a proprietary Audio/Video connection for use with the supplied A/V connecting cable. The cable has a proprietary plug on one end and male stereo RCA audio, composite video and S-Video connections on the other end. This jack can be used as both an input and an output. 

Digital Inputs/Outputs: You can connect this camcorder to another digital device (such as a computer, another camcorder, or digital VCR) via i.LINK (IEEE1394 or Firewire) for two-way high speed transfer. This camcorder also has a mini-USB (version 2.0) jack for connecting to a PC via the supplied USB cable.

Headphone: There is a stereo mini-jack headphone jack to allow you to hear audio signals during recording or playback.

Microphone: You can connect an optional external stereo microphone to the camcorder through the mini-jack mic input. You can use the external microphone as the main audio source while recording, or for dubbing in audio over pre-recorded video. This jack will also accept "plug-in power" microphones.

Intelligent Accessory Shoe: There is an accessory shoe on top of the camcorder which can accept various optional accessories such as a video light, microphone or portable printer. It supplies power to the accessory video light or microphone mounted there.

LANC Jack: The LANC jack is used for controlling the tape transport of the camcorder when used with certain compatible editing equipment. This jack is sometimes referred to as a Control L or Remote jack.

Software and Computer Information

Click to DVD: By connecting the camcorder to a Sony VAIO computer, via the i.LINK interface and pressing the "Burn DVD" button in the menu system, you can automatically burn a copy of your personal videos to DVD. This feature is compatible with newer versions of Click to DVD software found exclusively on select Sony VAIO Notebook and Desktop computers.

Windows Computer Compatibility: You can transfer images from a Mini DV tape or Memory Stick to a Windows computer hard drive. To view and transfer images on a Mini DV tape, you can use the supplied Pixela ImageMixer software (please see "Pixela ImageMixer Computer Requirements" below). To view and transfer images on a Memory Stick, your computer must meet the following requirements:

• OS: Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP Home, or Windows XP Professional pre-installed (IBM PC/AT compatible)
• CPU: MMX Pentium 200 MHz or faster
• Application: Windows Media Player (this must installed to play back movies)
• Others: USB port (this must be provided as standard), disc drive

Macintosh Computer Compatibility: When the camcorder is connected to a Macintosh computer, you can only view and transfer images on a Memory Stick. Your Macintosh computer must meet the following requirements:

• OS: Mac OS 8.5.1/8.6/9.0/9.1/9.2 or Mac OS X (v10.0/v10.1/v10.2); standard installation is required. However, note that the computer should be updated to Mac OS 9.0/9.1/9.2 if it is an iBook, a Power Mac G4, or an iMac with a slot loading disc drive, with the Mac OS 8.6 standard installation.
• Application: QuickTime 3.0 or later (this must be installed to play back movies)
• Others: USB port (this must be provided as standard), disc drive
  • Note: The installation of the USB driver is not required for Mac OS 9.1/9.2 or Mac OS X (v10.0/v10.1/v10.2).

Included Software: The supplied CD-ROM includes:

• Pixela ImageMixer Ver. 1.5 for Sony: This is an application that can capture or edit images, or create Video CDs.
• SPVD-010 USB Driver (includes Sony USB driver): This program allows you to connect your camcorder to your computer with the USB port. You can view pictures live from your camcorder and pictures recorded on the tape on a computer (USB Streaming--Windows OS only). The Image Transfer application enables image data recorded on the Memory Stick to be automatically transferred (copied)  to your computer.

Pixela ImageMixer Computer Requirements: To use the supplied Pixela ImageMixer software, your computer must meet the following requirements: