Sony Handycam Vision Instructions

By Whitney Houston

The Vision recording and playback times range from two to four hours.
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The Sony Handycam Vision handheld camcorder captures video footage and saves it to Hi8 cassette tapes. The Vision features a digital zoom, various shooting modes ("NightShot," "Sports," "Landscape"), special effects and automatic and manual focus options. The flip-out liquid crystal display (LCD) screen measures 2-by-1.5 inches, while the camcorder itself measures is 3.6 inches wide, 4 inches high, and 7.85 inches deep, and weighs 28 ounces. Before using the Vision to capture events or special occasions, you need to know how it works.

Slide the "Eject" switch on the bottom of the Vision in the direction of the arrow to open the tape compartment. The cassette compartment will pop open. Slightly push the top of the internal metal cassette chamber where indicated, allow the chamber to open and slide in a Hi8 cassette with the cassette window facing up and the tape facing in. Press the cassette compartment gently where it's labeled "Push" to close the metal cassette chamber, allow the chamber to automatically recede and close the casing.

Push in the small green button of the "Power" switch underneath your right thumb and twist the switch up to "Camera" mode. Point the lens toward the subject and frame it within the LCD monitor or the viewfinder on the top-back of the Vision. Press the "Start/Stop" button beneath your right thumb to start recording.

Push in the small green button of the Power switch and twist it to "VCR/Player" to view captured footage. Push the "Play" button on the top of the camera to begin playback of the Hi8. Press the "Rewind" button on the top of the camera to scroll backward through the footage or use the "Fast Forward" button to scroll forward.

Slide the "Nightshot" switch on the left side of the Handycam to "On" to shoot a subject in a nighttime setting. "Nightshot" flashes on the screen. Push the "Super NS" button on top of the camera to activate the Super Nightshot function, which enhances regular Nightshot, making the subject brighter by 16 times. Turn on the "Nightshot Light" at the front of the camera to add infrared rays to illuminate the subject. Push the "Menu" button on the left side of the camera to access the main menu, select "Camera Set," scroll down to select "N.S. Light" and select "On."

Push the "Exposure" button on the left side of the camera to manually adjust the exposure when the subject is backlit and dark or very bright against a dark background. Twist the dial on the heel of the camera. A guide appears on the screen. Twist the dial toward the "+" to make the subject brighter. Twist the dial toward the "-" to make the subject darker.

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