Recording Still Images on a Memory Card Optura 400 and Optura 500

You can record still images with the camcorder, from a tape in the camcorder or from devices connected via the DV terminal or AV terminal. You can also record a still image on the memory card while you record a movie on the tape.

Contents:

Using the Camcorder as a Digital Still Camera

Recording a Still Image on a Memory Card While Recording Movies on a Tape

Recording from a Tape in the Camcorder

Recording from Other Video Devices

Screen Displays during Still Image Recording

Using the Camcorder as a Digital Still Camera

1. Set the camcorder to CARD CAMERA mode. - Set the POWER switch to CAMERA and the TAPE/CARD switch to .
2. Press the <PHOTO> button halfway. -    and focusing frame turn green when focus is adjusted. The beep sounds twice. The picture may appear out of focus for a moment while the camcorder is focusing. - Exposure is locked. - When you press the <PHOTO> button on the wireless controller, recording starts immediately.
3. Press the <PHOTO> button fully. -   and focusing frame disappear, and you hear a shutter sound. - The card access indicator flashes and the card access display appears. - The still image shown on the screen will be recorded on the memory card.

Do not turn off the camcorder, change the position of the TAPE/CARD switch, disconnect the power source, open the memory card cover or remove the memory card while the card access indicator is flashing. Doing so could result in data damage. When you are using a SD Memory Card, make sure that the protect switch is set to allow recording. Do not load/unload a cassette during recording.

When the Focus-Priority mode is set to [ON]: When you press the <PHOTO> button fully before and focusing frame turn green, it may take up to 2* seconds until focus is adjusted and the still image can be recorded to the memory card. * Up to 4 seconds in the Low Light and the night modes. If the subject is not suitable for autofocus, the focusing frame turns yellow and locks the focus. Adjust the focus manually with the SET dial. When the Focus-Priority mode is set to [OFF]: No focusing frame appears. In step 2, turns green, and focus and exposure are locked. Depending on the number of images on the memory card (Windows: more than 1800 images; Macintosh: more than 1000 images), you may not be able to download images to a computer. In such case, use a PC card reader. Connection to a PictBridge compliant printer will not work when the memory card contains more than 1800 images. For best performance, we recommend to keep the number of images on the memory card less than 100. When recording a still image (step 2), the image may appear out of focus for a moment while the camcorder is focusing. When the subject is too bright, the ND filter turns on automatically ("ND" appears on the screen). If it is still too bright, "OVEREXP" starts flashing. In such case, use the optional FS-30.5U ND filter. If you wish to turn off the ND filter: Open the menu and select [CAMERA SETUP]. Select [ND], set it to [OFF] and close the menu. The camcorder shuts off when you do not operate it for 5 minutes to save power. "AUTO POWER OFF" appears 20 seconds before shutoff. To continue recording, turn the POWER switch to OFF and then back to CAMERA.

Recording a Still Image on a Memory Card While Recording Movies on a Tape

When you are recording a movie on a tape, you can record the same picture as a still image on the memory card. Select the image quality from normal or fine.

1. Open the menu and select [CAMERA SETUP]. Select [STILL I. REC], set it to [ FINE] or [ NORMAL] and close the menu.
   
   

2. While you are recording a movie, press the <PHOTO> button.
   - The still image is recorded on the memory card while the screen continues to show the video recording.

The size of the still image will be 640 x 480. The quality of the still image is slightly lower than a still image recorded in CARD CAMERA mode. The still image cannot be recorded on a memory card when a fader, effect or the multi-image screen is activated. The still image cannot be recorded on a memory card when the 16:9 format is selected. OFF appears when you press the <PHOTO> button when [STILL I. REC] is set to [OFF].

Recording from a Tape in the Camcorder

You can record still images from a tape in the camcorder. The size of the still image recorded on the memory card will be 640 x 480. The still image quality can be selected.

1. Play back the tape.
   
   
2. Press the <PHOTO> button halfway when the scene you wish to record appears.
   - The camcorder pauses playback. The remaining image capacity and other information appear.
   - When you press the <PHOTO> button on the wireless controller, recording starts immediately.
   
   
3. Press the <PHOTO> button fully.
   - The card access indicator flashes.
   - You can also record a still image by pressing the <PHOTO> button fully when the tape is in playback pause mode.
   

Recording from Other Video Devices

You can record images from devices connected via the S-video terminal or AV terminal (analog line-in function), or via the DV terminal as still images on a memory card.

1. Set the camcorder to PLAY (VCR) mode.
   - If a cassette is loaded, make sure that the tape is stopped.
   - When recording via the AV terminal, make sure that "AVDV" is displayed on the screen. When recording via the DV terminal, make sure that "AVDV" is not displayed. Change the setting as necessary. To turn it on, press the <MENU> button and select [VCR SETUP]. Select [AVDV/], set it to [ON] and press the <MENU> button.
   
   
2. Connected device: Load a recorded cassette and play back the tape.
   
   
3. Press the <PHOTO> button halfway when the scene you wish to record appears.
   - The still image, remaining image capacity and other information appear.
   - When you press the <PHOTO> button on the wireless controller, recording starts immediately.
   
   
4. Press the <PHOTO> button fully.
   - The card access indicator flashes.
   
   

We recommend powering the camcorder from a household power source. A still image recorded from an image in 16:9 widescreen mode will be vertically compressed. The data code of the still image will reflect the date and time it has been recorded on the memory card. The size of the still image will be 640 x 480. The still image quality can be selected. When connecting with a DV cable, make sure that no USB cable is connected to the camcorder.

Screen Displays during Still Image Recording