INSTRUCTIONS ENGLISH LYT1081-001A COMPACT VHS CAMCORDER GR-AX780 UC Printed in Malaysia 0103-DY-YL-PJ COPYRIGHT© 2003 VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LTD Dear Customer, Thank you for purchasing the JVC Compact VHS camcorder. Before use, please read “PRECAUTIONS” (Z 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 • Cassette Adapter C-P7U AP-V13U or AP-V10U • AA (R6) Battery (for Cassette Adapter) • Lens Cap • Battery Pack BN-V11U • Shoulder Strap 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 viewfinder playback are possible anywhere. • Use the JVC BN-V11U/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.
When the equipment is installed in a cabinet or on a shelf, make sure that it has sufficient space on all sides to allow for ventilation (10 cm (3-15/16") or more on both sides, on top and at the rear). Do not block the ventilation holes. (If the ventilation holes are blocked by a newspaper, or cloth etc. the heat may not be able to get out.) No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus.
INDEX A P AC Adapter ................................................................. pg. 6 Animation Recording ................................................ pg. 21 Auto Date Record .................................................... pg. 20 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 Viewfinder on BN-V11U 90 BN-V12U (optional) 90 BN-V20U (optional) 145 BN-V400U (optional) 350 USING AC POWER Battery pack Connect the AC Adapter to the camcorder (Z 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 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 0 located on the switch. 1) Set the Power Switch ! to “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button 0 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 9 and Power Zoom Lever 3. Refasten the Velcro strip. Align the screw and camera direction stud on the tripod with the tripod mounting socket o. Then tighten the screw. CAUTION When using a tripod, be sure to open and extend its legs fully to stabilise the camcorder.
CONTROLS, CONNECTORS AND INDICATORS Eyepiece 1 2 3 4 Refer to this diagram while reading the instructions. During shooting @ # $% ^ & Keep the lens cap attached to the camcorder. 5 6 7 * ( ) q w Cassette holder 89 0 ! Viewfinder e y Turn the gear to take up slack.
1 • MENU Wheel [–, +] ................................ Z pg. 18 • TRACKING Wheel [–, +] ........................ Z pg. 14 2 5-Second Recording Button [5 SEC. REC] ........................................... Z pg. 12 3 Power Zoom Lever [T/W] ......................... Z pg. 13 4 • Manual Focus Button [ FOCUS] ........ Z pg. 12 • Time Base Corrector Button [TBC] ........ Z pg. 14 5 Audio Output Connector [A] ..................... Z pg. 15 6 Video Output Connector [V] ..................... Z pg.
RECORDING PLAYBACK Set REC MODE, TAPE LENGTH and DATE/TIME in SYSTEM MENU. (Z pg. 18 – 22, “MENU SETTINGS”) 1 1 Remove the lens cap. Set the Power Switch ! to “ ” or “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button 0 located on the switch. The camcorder enters the Record-Standby mode and “PAUSE” j is displayed. 2 Press the Recording Start/Stop Button 9. Y appears while recording is in progress. • To stop recording, press the Recording Start/Stop Button 9. The camcorder re-enters the RecordStandby mode.
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 programmes. 1) Make sure the recording mode is set to “SP”. 2) During Record–Standby, press 5SEC. REC 2. 5S a appears and 5Sec. Rec is reserved. 3) Press the Recording Start/Stop Button 9. 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 Retake 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 (Z 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” D 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” D 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 the 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 VHS-C video cassette recorded with this camcorder on a 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 @ # $% ^ & Keep the lens cap attached to the camcorder. 5 6 7 * ( ) q w Cassette holder 89 0 ! Viewfinder e y Turn the gear to take up slack.
MENU SETTINGS CAMERA MENU EXPOSURE 1 Set the Power Switch ! to “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button 0 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 colours 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.
TAPE LENGTH SYSTEM MENU This Menu Screen cannot be accessed while recording. 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 p is correct only if the correct tape length has been selected. REC MODE Allows you to set the recording mode. “EP” (Extended Play) is more economical, providing three times the recording time.
OSD OUTPUT INT. TIME ON: On-screen indications are displayed. OFF: On-screen indications are turned off except Date/Time, Instant Title and Warning Indication. REC TIME You can shoot a series of pictures, each slightly different, of the same object for a brief selected period of time (Animation). REC MODE should be set to “SP”. Select the desired recording time and press the Recording Start/Stop Button 9 after focusing on the subject. • Fade- or wipe-in/out cannot be performed.
DEMO MODE 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 FADER: Fades in/out to a black screen. MOSAIC (Fader): Gradually turns/returns the picture into/from a mosaic pattern. 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 0 located on the switch. 2) Press FADE/WIPE ) repeatedly until the desired mode appears. 3) Press the Recording Start/Stop Button 9 to activate fade-in/out or wipe-in/out.
Programme AE With Special Effects 1) Set the Power Switch ! to “ ” while pressing down the Lock Button 0 located on the switch. 2) Press P.AE $ repeatedly until the desired mode appears. • To cancel the effect, press P.AE $ repeatedly until “OFF” appears. • Only one mode can be engaged at a time. • In the “High Speed Shutter” or “Sports” modes, picture colour may be adversely affected if the subject is lit by alternating discharge-type light sources such as flourescent or mercury-vapour lights.
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 back-ground and the object is great. It is not a defect of the camcorder. Bright, crystal-shaped spots appear in the viewfinder. • Sunlight is directly entering the lens. This is not a defect of the camcorder. Coloured bright spots appear all over the viewfinder.
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. .... fully charge and then fully discharge the battery every 6 months when storing the battery pack over a long period time. .... remove from charger or powered unit when not in use, as some machines use current even when switched off. • It is normal for the battery pack to be warm after charging, or after use.
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 Connectors Camcorder General Format Power source Video : VHS NTSC standard : DC 11 V (Using AC Adapter) DC 6 V (Using battery pack) Power consumption Viewfinder on : 4.1 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.
