RCA Pro842 User Manual Download

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USER‘S

GUIDE

Pro842/Pro847/Pro848

C A M C O

R D E R

Summary of Contents for Pro842

Page 1: ...USER S GUIDE Pro842 Pro847 Pro848 C A M C O R D E R 8 ...

Page 2: ... you if needed Keep your sales receipt for proof of purchase to obtain warranty parts and service and attach it here Record the serial and model numbers located on the bottom of the camcorder Model _______________________________________________________ Serial No _____________________________________________________ Purchase Date ________________________________________________ Purchased From ____...

Page 3: ... 42 47 Accessory Order Form 45 47 References Care and Maintenance 48 49 Trouble Checks 50 52 Assistance 53 Limited Warranty 54 55 Specifications 56 Information to User 57 Index Alphabetical 58 61 Safety Information i Product Registration i First Time Operation Assistance 2 Unpack Camcorder and Accessories 2 Attach Lens Cap Cord and Adjust Handstrap 3 Attach Shoulder Strap 3 Supply Power to the Cam...

Page 4: ...CKEL CADMIUM BATTERY MUST BE RECYCLED OR DISPOSED OF PROPERLY Cautions Lithium cells Must be disposed of properly Never handle punctured or leaking cells May cause burns or personal injury Keep out of the hands of children Can cause death or injury if swallowed If swallowed consult a physician immediately for emergency treatment The lithium cells used in these devices may explode resulting in a fi...

Page 5: ...the shoulder strap B Attach the lens cap cord to the lens cap C Pull up the flap of the handstrap and open the strap D Run the cord from the lens cap through the A V terminal cover and over the end of strap E Adjust the strap for comfort and close the flap Note Make sure the end of the strap is positioned securely before closing the flap F Slide the lens cap onto the strap First Time Operation Cau...

Page 6: ...e batteries into the compartment matching To AC 100 240V 50 60 Hz Adapter DC IN Jack C Close the battery compartment Press the PUSH button to lock the battery compartment shut D Plug the AC adapter s power cord into an AC operating outlet Install Six Optional AA Alkaline Batteries If you do not want to use the adapter you may use six AA alkaline batteries the polarities and on the batteries to the...

Page 7: ...clicks into place The top closes automatically Do not press down on the top as it may damage the camcorder CHARGE VCR CAM POWER Switch Eyepiece Focus Control Thumb Trigger EJECT Button REW Button PLAY Button STOP Button VCR PLAY CAM Indicators and Button 7 Adjust viewfinder focus Turn the eyepiece focus control right or left to obtain the clearest possible picture 8 Start and stop recording Press ...

Page 8: ... 9V Jack Located Inside Battery Compartment Remote Holder Located in Battery Compartment EJECT Button PLAY Button FFWD Button BLANK Button STOP Button PAUSE Button Lens Model Pro848 Only MIC External Microphone Jack Microphone Remote Sensor Handstrap Shoulder Strap Holder REC START STOP Button Thumb Trigger Viewfinder Eyepiece Focus Control Shoulder Strap Holder Cassette Compartment Zoom Control W...

Page 9: ...partment and remove the plug from the DC IN jack Using Optional AC Plug Adapter An optional plug adapter may be required in some countries 1 Plug the adapter s plug into the AC plug adapter 2 Plug the AC plug adapter into the AC outlet Optional AC Plug Adapter AC 100 240V Using the AC Adapter to Power Your Camcorder The adapter lets you power your camcorder directly from standard household power I...

Page 10: ...user serviceable parts inside Use the battery only with specified adapter chargers and camcorders Throwing the battery into a fire or exposing it to excessive heat over 149ºF 65ºC could be hazardous ATTENTION The RBRC seal on the battery used in your Thomson Consumer Electronics product indicates that we are participating in a program to collect and recycle Nickel Cadmium batteries throughout the ...

Page 11: ...42 takes approximately 12 hours to charge and the 234330 battery models Pro847 and Pro848 takes approximately 16 hours to charge CHARGE VCR CAM To AC 100 240V 50 60 Hz Adapter Battery Installed CHARGE Indicator DC IN Jack 6 When the CHARGE indicator starts flashing make sure to unplug the adapter from the wall outlet and the camcorder Notes After approximately 16 hours the CHARGE indicator will be...

Page 12: ...epeated chargings and use the operation time decreases gradually When the operation time becomes too short to be useful it is time to replace the battery The operating time of the battery may be shorter than normal even after a full charge If it is used for the first time The operating time is restored to its original level after the battery has been used two or three times completely discharged a...

Page 13: ...the useful life of the batteries Safety Precautions When Using Alkaline Batteries Do not short disassemble heat or throw the batteries into a fire Do not recharge the batteries or short the battery terminals Do not short the battery terminals for the nickel cadmium battery Batteries become warm during and after use Use caution when removing them Use AA alkaline batteries only during their recommen...

Page 14: ...Refreshing takes approximately 3 1 2 hours Using the Optional AC Adapter Charger The optional CPS801C AC adapter charger shown on page 43 will power the camcorder and charge your rechargeable nickel cadmium battery Caution When a battery is attached to the adapter charger do not turn them upside down The battery may fall off and be damaged or cause injury POWER Indicator To AC Wall Outlet 100 240 ...

Page 15: ...r and adapter charger Using Optional AC Plug Adapter An optional plug adapter may be required in some countries 1 Plug the adapter charger s plug into the AC plug adapter 2 Plug the AC plug adapter into the AC outlet Power the Camcorder The optional CPS801C AC adapter charger and optional DCC100 DC cable let you power your camcorder directly from standard household power It operates on 100 240 vol...

Page 16: ... month or more This will prevent possible damage from cell leakage If leakage occurs wipe up liquid inside compartment and replace cell Cautions Lithium cell Replace only with 3 volt lithium cell such as CR2025 Use of other cell presents a risk of fire or explosion Must be disposed of properly Never handle punctured or leaking cell May cause burns or personal injury Keep out of the hands of childr...

Page 17: ...are not using the remote control you may want to store it in the remote control holder located in the camcorder s battery compartment Store the Remote Control 1 Press the PUSH button to open the battery compartment Carefully open the compartment fully 2 Insert the remote control in the remote control holder and click it into place as shown Remove the Remote Control 1 Press the PUSH button to open ...

Page 18: ...9 3 4 ZOOM T and W Buttons During record or record pause Press T to move the lens in the telephoto close up direction Press W to move the lens in the wide angle direction DISPLAY Button Press this button to have the viewfinder displays appear on a TV monitor Details are on pages 23 37 and 39 COUNTER MEMORY and RESET Buttons Used with the time counter and memory stop feature Details are on page 30 ...

Page 19: ...mera mode press REC to start and stop recording PLAY Button Press PLAY when the camcorder is in VCR PLAY mode to begin playback F FWD Fast Forward Button Camcorder is in CAM camera mode When the camcorder is in record pause press and hold F FWD to visually search the tape forward Release F FWD to return to record pause Camcorder is in VCR PLAY mode When the camcorder is stopped press F FWD to fast...

Page 20: ...he safety tab and record over it Caution Insert the cassette so the safety tab is at the top and the tape window is facing out The cassette should slide easily in the compartment Do not force the cassette 4 Gently press the compartment where it is labeled PUSH until it clicks into place The top closes automatically CAUTION Do not press down on the top or you may damage your camcorder Safety Tab To...

Page 21: ... adapter charged battery or install optional AA alkaline batteries 2 Remove the lens cap and attach it to the handstrap 3 Slide the POWER switch upward to turn on the camcorder The CAM indicator will light and the camcorder will enter the record pause mode PAUSE appears in the viewfinder 4 Insert a video tape Press EJECT Insert the cassette with safety tab facing up and the tape window facing out ...

Page 22: ...M 8 30 00 11 18 1996 AE 100 REC T FOCUSLOCK W 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Warnings and Information TAPE appears during recording when there is approximately five minutes of tape left TAPE END appears when the end of the tape is reached during recording or a cassette is inserted with its tape already at the end appears when the safety tab on the cassette has been closed there is no cassette in the camcorder ...

Page 23: ...of these indicators appears when the focus has been locked Details on page 26 6 5 4 Tape Time Remaining Indicator This indicator shows the approximate amount of tape remaining in the cassette Details on page 23 Battery Level Indicator This indicator shows how much power is left in the rechargeable battery Details are on page 10 AUTO DATE Date Date and Time or 88 88 AUTO DATE date or date and time ...

Page 24: ... s viewfinder is a miniature monitor that displays the picture seen by the camcorder when recording Adjust Viewfinder for Convenient Viewing For convenient viewing you can rotate the viewfinder up and down Eyepiece Focus Control The eyepiece focus control lets you set the focus of the viewfinder for your personal vision If you wear eye glasses you probably can operate the camcorder without them It...

Page 25: ...r to have the viewfinder displays appear on the TV screen They will be recorded during tape copying if they appear Press DISPLAY again to remove them Microphone Model Pro848 Only MIC External Microphone Jack Automatic White Balance and Iris The camcorder automatically adjusts the white balance and iris to give you the best recording for each scene Tape Time Remaining Display The camcorder will aut...

Page 26: ...camcorder advances through the tape looking for a blank section This feature saves time and tape by locating the end of the last recorded segment 1 Place the camcorder in record pause 2 Press the BLANK button The camcorder fast forwards or rewinds the tape to the end of the recorded portion stops and enters record pause BLANK appears in the viewfinder during blank search Notes Before starting to r...

Page 27: ...iewfinder Zooming You can zoom in and out for close ups or wide angle shots just by sliding the zoom control on the camcorder or pressing the button on the remote The camcorder can automatically focus when you zoom at most distances T W Zoom Control Using the Zoom Control 1 To zoom in or out slide the zoom control on the camcorder or press the ZOOM T or W button on the remote To move the lens in t...

Page 28: ...s might not function properly because of picture instability Use a tripod for stable focused pictures FOCUSLOCK Conditions Requiring Focus Lock When recording a subject through a dirty window When recording two subjects one nearby and one in the distance When recording a horizontally or vertically striped subject When the subject is not in the center of the viewfinder When recording very bright su...

Page 29: ...s not been installed or needs to be replaced Cautions Lithium cell Replace only with 3 volt lithium cell such as CR2025 Use of other cell presents a risk of fire or explosion Must be disposed of properly Never handle punctured or leaking cell May cause burns or personal injury Keep out of the hands of children Can cause death or injury if swallowed If swallowed consult a physician immediately for ...

Page 30: ...teps 3 and 4 until you have entered the correct month day year hour with AM or PM and minutes Set the Date and Time The date and time must be set before it can be displayed and recorded on your tapes The clock cell must be installed as shown on page 27 before the date can be set and recorded Hours Minutes Seconds Year Day Month AM or PM 6 After you set the minutes press FOCUS LOCK to start the sec...

Page 31: ...and Time Date Only No Display Auto Date Repeatedly Press DATE TIME Select the Display to Record 1 Repeatedly press DATE TIME to select the display you want to record Select AUTO DATE to automatically record the date for 15 seconds at the beginning of the first recording of the day Note AUTO DATE will remain selected even if the POWER switch is turned off Select date only to continuously record the...

Page 32: ...wind the tape might not stop exactly at the M 0 00 00 point A minus will appear in front of the time counter if the tape is rewound farther back than a time counter reading of 0 00 00 M 0 00 00 Time Counter With Memory Stop Turned On Time Counter The time counter display shows the actual time elapsed when recording or playing back a segment of tape During playback the memory stop feature helps loc...

Page 33: ...s of landmarks and scenic attractions Recordings are more interesting if they include people and details Local color will give travel videos lasting appeal Consider recording a familiar or landmark scene from an unfamiliar vantage point Traveling Tips Write down your camcorder s serial number and keep it separate from the camcorder when traveling If your camcorder is lost or stolen you will be abl...

Page 34: ...dio Plugs White and Red Audio Plugs White and Red Audio Plugs Yellow Video Plug OR Yellow Video Plug Yellow Video Plug Audio and Video Jacks Located Behind AV Cover Audio Video IN OUT Switch IN OUT AUDIO L R VIDEO Model Pro848 Only Recording from a TV or VCR To record on your camcorder from a TV or VCR having AUDIO VIDEO OUT jacks use the audio video cable that came packed with your camcorder Reco...

Page 35: ...ther recorded material may infringe the rights of others Operation 1 A Camcorder connected directly to TV monitor Turn on the TV and tune it to the channel you want to record B Camcorder connected to the VCR that is already connected to TV Turn on VCR and tune it to the channel you want to record or place the cassette you want to copy in the VCR 2 Place the camcorder s audio video IN OUT switch to...

Page 36: ...e camcorder in the playback mode The green VCR PLAY indicator will light 3 Press EJECT and insert the cassette you want to play back Close the cassette compartment VCR PLAY CAM Button and Indicators Viewfinder Playback and Features Viewfinder playback is the simplest way to watch tapes using the camcorder 4 Press PLAY to begin playback During playback use the playback features described on the nex...

Page 37: ...he camcorder 2 Press the VCR PLAY CAM button to put the camcorder in the playback mode The green VCR PLAY indicator will light 3 Press and quickly release REW or F FWD to rewind or fast forward the tape 4 Press STOP to stop the tape Visual Searching To visually search forward on the tape during playback or play pause press and hold F FWD Release the button to return to normal playback To visually ...

Page 38: ...o Plugs White and Red Audio Plugs Yellow Video Plug OR Optional Y Adapter Yellow Video Plug Audio Video IN OUT Switch Yellow Video Plug Audio and Video Jacks Located Behind A V Cover Installation 1 Attach the white and red plugs on one end of the audio video cable to the red and white AUDIO IN jack on the TV or VCR Notes If your TV or VCR only has one AUDIO IN you may need an optional Y adapter to...

Page 39: ...Note Make sure the memory stop feature is turned off press COUNTER MEMORY on the remote control or the camcorder will enter play pause when the counter reaches M 0 00 00 6 Press STOP when you are finished 1 A Camcorder connected directly to TV Turn on the TV and tune it to the video input channel B Camcorder connected to VCR that is already connected to TV Turn on VCR and place it in the line or c...

Page 40: ...e supplied audio video cable If your TV is already connected to a VCR you can attach the camcorder to the VCR and watch what the camcorder is recording or playing on the TV 3 Attach the white plug on the other end of the audio video cable to the A audio jack located behind the A V cover on the side of the camcorder 4 Attach the yellow plug to the yellow V video jack on the camcorder AUDIO IN VIDEO...

Page 41: ...tton Note Make sure the memory stop feature is turned off press COUNTER MEMORY on the remote control or the camcorder will enter play pause when the counter reaches M 0 00 00 6 Press STOP when you are finished 1 A Camcorder connected directly to TV Turn on the TV and tune it to the video input channel B Camcorder connected to VCR that is already connected to TV Turn on VCR and place it in the line...

Page 42: ...will also need an optional 300 75 ohm transformer 2 Attach one end of the optional coaxial RF cable to the other connector on the adapter and attach the other end to the VHF input on your TV as shown Note If your TV has 300 ohm screw terminals you will need a 75 300 ohm transformer such as VH54 shown on page 43 3 Attach the RF output adapter s plug to the audio RF out and video jacks located under...

Page 43: ...the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical 1 Turn on the TV and tune it to channel 3 or 4 When the camcorder is used as a camera turn the TV s volume down to prevent a high pitched squeal caused by feedback 2 Set the CHANNEL 4CH 3CH switch on the RF output adapter to the same channel you selected on the TV 3 Press V...

Page 44: ...r These accessories are designed to make the process of recording and watching your videos more enjoyable To order accessories contact your local Dealer If a dealer is not nearby all accessories are available through toll free ordering or by using the order form on page 45 Coaxial RF Cables These RF cables are used with the RF output adapter to connect your camcorder to a standard TV one without a...

Page 45: ...r or the DCC05 DC car cord adapter charger directly to the camcorder CRF800 RF Output Adapter This adapter is used with a coaxial RF cable to connect your camcorder to a standard TV one without audio video Caution Do not use any other adapter chargers with this camcorder VH54 Cable Transformer This 75 to 300 ohm transformer is used to connect a standard 75 ohm antenna cable such as VH82 or VH90 to...

Page 46: ...r 3 section leg design folds down to 26 when not in use Rubber feet allow for sure footing Cautions Before using a tripod make sure it is stable enough to hold the camcorder without falling over Do not transport the camcorder attached to the tripod When attaching your camcorder to a tripod be careful not to force the tripod screw into the camcorder s tripod mounting hole The tripod screw should no...

Page 47: ... 45 AC Adapter 221424 104 85 Stereo Audio Video Cable Pro848 233194 17 60 RemoteControl 233195 36 85 Rechargeable Battery 234329 45 95 Rechargeable Battery 234330 49 95 Prices are subject to change without notice Total Merchandise __________ Sales Tax __________ We are required by law to collect the appropriate sales tax for each individual state county and locality to which the merchandise is bei...

Page 48: ...lete account number from your MasterCard My card expires My card expires Copy Number above your name on MasterCard AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE Prices are subject to change without notice Name Street Apt City State Zip Print or type your name and address clearly This will be your mailing label A complete and correct order will save you days of waiting IMPORTANT Copy complete account number from your Disco...

Page 49: ...ready and call the toll free number listed below between 8AM and 8PM EST Monday through Friday or between 9AM and 5PM EST Saturday Use this number only to place an order for accessory items listed on this order form 1 800 338 0376 To place your order by mail detach and mail the completed order form with credit card information money order or check in U S currency made payable to Thomson Consumer E...

Page 50: ...ducts such as those containing alcohol or benzine may damage the camcorder Caution Do not touch the lens with your fingers The oil from your skin can damage the lens Lens Cleaning the Camcorder s Viewfinder The viewfinder eyepiece can be removed for cleaning 1 Turn the eyepiece counterclockwise and pull it out 2 Remove dust using a blower brush 3 Reattach the eyepiece and turn it clockwise until i...

Page 51: ...s Proper Care and Storage Keep dust and grit from entering the camcorder s cassette door Dust and grit are abrasive and will cause excessive wear to both the camcorder s recording playback heads and cassettes Always replace the lens cap when the camcorder is not in use Before handling your camcorder make sure your hands and face are free from any chemical products such as suntan lotion as it may d...

Page 52: ... in VCR PLAY mode Safety tab has been closed See page 18 VCR PLAY CAM button must be in CAM camera mode Remove lens cap Slide POWER switch upward to turn the camcorder back on If camcorder is left in record pause or play pause for three minutes it will turn itself off to prevent tape wear 50 No power Won t record or playback Won t playback Won t record No picture Camcorder turns itself off Trouble...

Page 53: ... on the remote to turn off the memory stop feature Press PLAY or PAUSE to return to normal playback Subject was too far from camcorder Model Pro848 Only Attach an external microphone See Specifications on page 56 for proper type Subject is not in center of viewfinder or two subjects are at different distances Use the focus lock feature See page 26 Lens is smudged and image appears unfocused Eyepie...

Page 54: ...e 28 This may occur when background extremely contrasts with the subject If battery has not been used for some time completely drain the battery s power and then recharge it Battery run times are measured when the camcorder is recording continuously You can check your battery by first fully charging it and then aiming the camcorder at a clock and recording the picture of the clock When the recordi...

Page 55: ...ven loss of your unit Returning equipment to Thomson for repair or exchange Important information to customers who ship defective equipment to Thomson Consumer Electronics The Thomson representative who authorized the return of your equipment will give you an RA number over the phone They will also provide you with instructions on where and how to return your camcorder Write the number in large cl...

Page 56: ...ontinental USA 2 The exchange location will notify you of its arrival 3 Take your unit including all accessories and your evidence of purchase date such as a bill of sale to the exchange location and you will be provided the new or refurbished unit 4 If the repairs were covered by your warranty you will not be billed If you are not located near an exchange point 1 Provide your Discover MasterCard ...

Page 57: ...use your credit card 5 Upon receipt of your product a new or refurbished unit will be shipped to you next day delivery in the continental USA To have your Camcorder repaired by an Authorized RCA Camcorder Servicenter Check with your dealer or call 1 800 336 1900 for the Authorized RCA Camcorder Servicenter nearest you Take your unit to the Authorized RCA Camcorder Servicenter of your choice Show t...

Page 58: ...ris Fuzzy logic auto iris Power supply 6V Ni Cd battery pack 6 5V Optional AC adapter charger CPS801C 9V Alkaline batteries 6 AA AC adapter 221424 Power consumption Pro842 4 8W Pro847 5 4W Pro848 5 6W during recording Operating temperature range 32 F to 104 F 0 C to 40 C Storage temperature range 4 F to 140 F 20 C to 60 C Dimensions W x H x D Approx 225 x 106 x 108 mm Weight excluding battery and ...

Page 59: ...rence to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is conne...

Page 60: ...tery Level Indicator 10 20 21 BLANK Button 6 24 BLANK Indicator 20 24 Blank Search Feature 24 C CAM VCR PLAY Button and Indicators 5 6 19 24 26 30 34 35 37 39 41 Camcorder Cleaning 48 Camcorder Controls 6 Camcorder Turning On 5 Camcorder Unpacking 2 Camera Edit 24 Care and Maintenance 48 49 Care and Storage Battery 10 Care and Storage Camcorder 49 Cassette Compartment 5 6 18 Cassettes Inserting an...

Page 61: ...ard Button 6 16 17 19 24 34 35 First Recording 5 First Time Operation 2 6 Flying Erase Head 23 FOCUS LOCK Button 6 26 28 Focusing 26 FOCUSLOCK Indicator 20 21 26 Function Buttons Remote 16 17 H Handstrap 3 6 19 Handstrap Adjusting 3 I Important Safety Information Inside Front Cover IN OUT Switch Model Pro848 Only 6 32 33 36 40 Included Accessories 2 45 47 Inserting and Removing Cassettes 5 18 Inst...

Page 62: ...ering Your Camcorder 7 14 Problem Solving 50 52 Product Registration Inside Front Cover PUSH Button 6 7 8 11 13 Q Quick Review Feature 24 R REC Record Button Remote 16 17 REC Button Model Pro848 Only 6 33 REC Indicator 19 20 REC START STOP Button 5 6 19 24 Rechargeable Nickel Cadmium Battery 8 10 Recording Features 22 31 Recording First 5 Recording Making a 19 Recording on the Camcorder Model Pro8...

Page 63: ...E Warning 20 Things to Avoid 49 Thumb Trigger 5 6 Time and Date Display 29 Time and Date Recording 29 Time and Date Setting 28 Time Counter Display 20 21 30 Time Remaining Tape Display 20 21 23 Times Recording 18 Tips Recording 31 Tips Traveling 31 Traveling Tips 31 Tripod Using 44 Trouble Checks 50 52 Turn Off the Camcorder 5 U Unpacking the Camcorder 2 Using AA Batteries 4 11 Using Optional AC A...

Page 64: ...e yellow pages Please do not send any products to the Indianapolis address listed in this manual or on the carton This will only add delays in service for your product 10330 N Meridian Street Indianapolis IN 46290 Need Assistance We want to help U S Consumers Camcorder Exchange Warranty 800 283 6503 Customer Service 800 336 1900 Accessories 800 338 0376 Canadian Consumers English 800 522 0338 Fren...

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