Troubleshooting; Types Of Trouble And Their Solutions - Sony Handycam DCR-PC115 Service Manual

— Troubleshooting —
English

Types of trouble and their solutions

If you run into any problem using your camcorder, use the following table to troubleshoot the
problem. If the problem persists, disconnect the power source and contact your Sony dealer or local
authorised Sony service facility. If "C:ss:ss" appears on the screen, the self-diagnosis display
function has worked. See page 224.
In the recording mode
Symptom Cause and/or Corrective Actions
• The POWER switch is not set to CAMERA.
START/STOP does not operate.
c Set it to CAMERA (p. 29).
• The tape has run out.
c Rewind the tape or insert a new one (p. 27, 47).
• The write-protect tab is set to expose the red mark.
c Use a new tape or slide the tab (p. 28).
• The tape is stuck to the drum (moisture condensation).
c Remove the cassette and leave your camcorder for at least
one hour to acclimatise (p. 244).
The power goes off. • While being operated in CAMERA mode, your camcorder has
been in the standby mode for more than five minutes.
c Set the POWER switch to OFF (CHG) and then to CAMERA.
• The battery pack is dead or nearly dead.
c Install a charged battery pack.
• Viewfinder is not extended to the end.
The image on the viewfinder screen
c Pull out the viewfinder (p. 33).
is not clear.
• The viewfinder lens is not adjusted.
c Adjust the viewfinder lens (p. 33).
The SteadyShot function does not • STEADYSHOT is set to OFF in the menu settings.
c Set it to ON (p. 132).
work.
The autofocusing function does not • The setting is the manual focus mode.
c Set FOCUS to the auto focus mode (p. 72).
work.
• Shooting conditions are not suitable for autofocus.
c Adjust to focus manually (p. 72).
The picture does not appear in the • The LCD panel is open.
c Close the LCD panel (p. 31).
viewfinder.
A vertical band appears when you • The contrast between the subject and background is too high.
shoot a subject such as lights or a Your camcorder is not a malfunction.
candle flame against a dark
background.
A vertical band appears when you • Your camcorder is not a malfunction.
shoot a very bright subject.
Some tiny white spots appear on the • Slow shutter, low lux of PROGRAM AE or Super NightShot
screen. mode is activated. This is not a malfunction.
An unknown picture is displayed on • If 10 minutes elapse after you set the POWER switch to
CAMERA or DEMO MODE is set to ON in the menu settings
the screen.
without a cassette inserted, your camcorder automatically
starts the demonstration.
c Insert a cassette and the demonstration stops.
You can also cancel DEMO MODE (p. 139).
218
Types of trouble and their solutions
In the recording and playback modes
Symptom Cause and/or Corrective Actions
The power does not turn on. • The battery pack is not installed, or is dead or nearly dead.
c Install a charged battery pack (p. 18, 19).
• The AC power adaptor is not connected to a wall socket.
c Connect the AC power adaptor to a wall socket (p. 23).
The end search function does not • The tape was ejected after recording when using a tape without
work. cassette memory (p. 42).
• You have not recorded on the new cassette yet (p. 42).
• The tape has a blank portion in the beginning or middle (p. 43).
The end search function does not
work correctly.
The battery pack is quickly • The operating temperature is too low.
discharged. • The battery pack is not fully charged.
c Charge the battery pack fully again (p. 19).
• The battery pack is completely dead, and cannot be recharged.
c Replace with a new battery pack (p. 18).
The battery remaining indicator does • You have used the battery pack in an extremely hot or cold
not indicate the correct time. environment for a long time.
• The battery pack is completely dead, and cannot be recharged.
c Replace with a new battery pack (p. 18).
• The battery is not fully charged.
c Install a charged battery pack (p. 18, 19).
• A deviation has occurred in the remaining battery time.
c Charge the battery pack fully again so that the indication on
the battery remaining indicator is correct (p. 19).
The power goes off although the • A deviation has occurred in the remaining battery time.
c Charge the battery pack fully again so that the indication on
battery remaining indicator indicates
that the battery pack has enough the battery remaining indicator is correct (p. 19).
power to operate.
The cassette cannot be removed from • The power source is disconnected.
c Connect it firmly (p. 18, 23).
the holder.
• The battery is dead.
c Use a charged battery pack (p. 18, 19).
The % and Z indicators flash and no
• Moisture condensation has occurred.
c Remove the cassette and leave your camcorder for at least
functions except for cassette ejection
work. one hour to acclimatise (p. 244).
indicator does not appear when • The gold-plated connector of the tape is dirty or dusty.
c Clean the gold-plated connector (p. 238).
using a tape with cassette memory.
• The q REMAIN is set to AUTO in the menu settings.
Remaining tape indicator is not
c Set it to ON to always display the remaining tape indicator
displayed.
(p. 132).
220
DCR-PC115/PC115E/PC120BT/PC120E
Types of trouble and their solutions
Symptom Cause and/or Corrective Actions
The picture is recorded in incorrect or • NIGHTSHOT is set to ON.
c Set it to OFF (p. 39).
unnatural colours.
The picture appears too bright, and • NIGHTSHOT is set to ON in a bright place.
c Set it to OFF (p. 39).
the subject does not appear on the
screen. • The backlight function is active.
c Set it off (p. 38).
The click of the shutter does not • BEEP is set to OFF in the menu settings.
c Set it to MELODY or NORMAL (p. 132).
sound.
Black bands appear when you • Set the STEADYSHOT in the menu settings to OFF (p. 132).
record TV or computer screen.
An external flash (optional) does not • The power of the external flash is off or the power source is not
installed.
work.
c Turn on the external flash or install the power source.
• Two or more external flashes (optional) are attached.
c Only one external flash (optional) can be attached.
In the playback mode
Symptom Cause and/or Corrective Actions
The tape does not move when a • The POWER switch is not set to VCR.
c Set it to VCR (p. 44).
video control button is pressed.
The playback button does not work. • The tape has run out.
c Rewind the tape (p. 44).
There are horizontal lines on the • The video head may be dirty.
c Clean the heads using the cleaning cassette (optional)
picture or the playback picture is not
clear or does not appear. (p. 245).
No sound or only a low sound is • The stereo tape is played back with HiFi SOUND set to 2 in the
heard when playing back a tape. menu settings.
c Set it to STEREO (p. 132).
• The volume is turned to minimum.
c Turn up the volume (p. 44).
• AUDIO MIX is set to ST2 in the menu settings.
c Adjust AUDIO MIX (p. 132).
Displaying the recorded date, date • The tape has no cassette memory.
c Use a tape with cassette memory (p. 86).
search function does not work.
• CM SEARCH is set to OFF in the menu settings.
c Set it to ON (p. 132).
• The tape has a blank portion in the recorded portion (p. 87).
The title search function does not • The tape has no cassette memory.
c Use a tape with cassette memory (p. 84).
work.
• CM SEARCH is set to OFF in the menu settings.
c Set it to ON (p. 132).
• There is no title in the tape.
c Superimpose the titles (p. 123).
• The tape has a blank portion in the recorded portion (p. 85).
The new sound added to the • AUDIO MIX is set to ST1 side in the menu settings.
c Adjust AUDIO MIX (p. 132).
recorded tape is not heard.
The title is not displayed. • TITLE DSPL is set to OFF in the menu settings.
c Set it to ON (p. 132).
Types of trouble and their solutions
When operating using the "Memory Stick"
Symptom Cause and/or Corrective Actions
• The POWER switch is not set to MEMORY.
The "Memory Stick" does not
c Set it to MEMORY (p. 158).
function.
• The "Memory Stick" is not inserted.
c Insert a "Memory Stick" (p. 152).
• The "Memory Stick" has already been recorded to its full
Recording does not function.
capacity.
c Delete unnecessary images and record again (p. 211).
• The "Memory Stick" formatted incorrectly is inserted.
c Format the "Memory Stick" or use another "Memory Stick"
(p. 137, 152).
• The write-protect tab on the "Memory Stick" is set to LOCK.
c Release the lock (p. 150).
• The image is protected.
The image cannot be deleted.
c Cancel image protection (p. 210).
• The write-protect tab on the "Memory Stick" is set to LOCK.
c Release the lock (p. 150).
• The write-protect tab on the "Memory Stick" is set to LOCK.
You cannot format the "Memory
c Release the lock (p. 150).
Stick".
• The write-protect tab on the "Memory Stick" is set to LOCK.
Deleting all the images cannot be
c Release the lock (p. 150).
carried out.
• The write-protect tab on the "Memory Stick" is set to LOCK.
You cannot protect the image.
c Release the lock (p. 150).
• The image to protect is not be played back.
c Press MEMORY PLAY to play back the image (p. 190).
• The write-protect tab on the "Memory Stick" is set to LOCK.
You cannot write a print mark on
c Release the lock (p. 150).
the still image.
• The image to write a print mark is not be played back.
c Press MEMORY PLAY to play back the image (p. 190).
• You are trying to write a print mark on a moving picture.
c Print marks cannot be written on a moving picture.
• The write-protect tab on the "Memory Stick" is set to LOCK.
The photo save function does not
c Release the lock (p. 150).
work.
• You may not be able to playback images in actual size when
You cannot playback images in
you try to play back images recorded by other equipment. This
actual size.
is not a malfunction.
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