VCT-M1BP RM-1BP
VCT-H1BP
LANC
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10
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12
FOCUS
13
REC REVIEW
14
REC START/STOP
15
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32
D
-1
1
OFF
BALANCE
ON
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5
-2
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V
4
-3
5 kg
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4
LANC
-1
1
BALANCE
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-2
-2
-3
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D
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-4
5 kg
1
2
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LANC
5
70 VOC
Printed on 70% or more recycled paper using VOC (Volatile
Organic Compound)-free vegetable oil based ink.
1
2
3
4
1
LANC
2
3
REC START/STOP
4
NORMAL
REVERSE
SLOW
MID
4
FAST
8
5
FOCUS
6
REC REVIEW
HDV DV REC REVIEW
VCT-M1BP
5 kg
60 45
1 670 mm
522 mm
1.3 Kg
5
RM-1BP)
REC START/STOP FOCUS REC
REVIEW
62
80
105 mm / /
1 000 mm
100 g
VCT-H1BP
320 mm 500 mm 350 mm
/ /
700 g
(1) (1) (1)
(1)
(1) (1)
(1)
1
VCT-SP1BP
0570-00-2288
PHS 0466-31-2588
<FAX> 0466-31-2595
9:00 18:00
http://www.sony.jp/
English
Before operating the product, please
read this manual thoroughly and
retain it for future reference.
VCT-SP1BP Camcorder Support is
used for reducing the load on your
arms by distributing the weight of
your video camera to your shoulders
and waist.
WARNING
To reduce fire or shock hazard, do not
expose the unit to rain or moisture.
For the Customers in the U. S. A.
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.
CAUTION
You are cautioned that any changes or
modifications not expressly approved
in this manual could void your
authority to operate this equipment.
Note:
This equipment has been tested and
found to comply with the limits for
a Class B digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will
not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful
interference 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
connected.
Consult the dealer or an
experienced radio/TV technician
for help.
For the Customers in Canada
This Class B digital apparatus
complies with Canadian ICES-003.
For the Customers in Europe
Disposal of Waste Electrical
and Electronic Equipment
for business use (Applicable
in the European Union and
other European countries with
separate collection systems)
This symbol on the product or on
its packaging indicates that this
product shall not be treated as
household waste. Instead it shall
be handed over to the applicable
take-back scheme for the recycling of
electrical and electronic equipment.
By ensuring this product is disposed
of correctly, you will help prevent
potential negative consequences for
the environment and human health,
which could otherwise be caused
by inappropriate waste handling
of this product. The recycling of
materials will help to conserve
natural resources. For more detailed
information about recycling of this
product, please contact your local
Sony office or visit Sony Europe’s web
site for business customers:
http://www.sonybiz.net/environment
This product with the CE marking
complies with the EMC Directive
issued by the Commission of the
European Community.
Compliance with this directive
implies conformity to the following
European standards:
• EN55103-1 :Electromagnetic
Interference (Emission)
• EN55103-2 :Electromagnetic
Susceptibility (Immunity)
This product is intended for use
in the following Electromagnetic
Environment(s):
E1 (residential), E2 (commercial and
light industrial), E3 (urban outdoors)
and E4 (controlled EMC environment
ex. TV studio).
Notice for the customers in the
countries applying EU Directives
The manufacturer of this product
is Sony Corporation, 1-7-1 Konan
Minato-ku Tokyo, 108-0075 Japan.
The Authorized Representative for
EMC and product safety is Sony
Deutschland GmbH, Hedelfinger
Strasse 61, 70327 Stuttgart, Germany.
For any service or guarantee matters
please refer to the addresses given
in separate service or guarantee
documents.
Precautions on Use
Precautions on the remote
commander
Do not drop the remote commander
or expose it to any liquid substance.
Handle the remote commander
carefully.
Do not expose the remote
commander to direct sunlight. Do
not also keep it in a place subject
to high temperatures, such as near
a heating appliance or a place with
high humidity.
Hold the remote plug straight when
you disconnect and connect it. If
you use too much force, the plug
could be damaged.
Connecting and disconnecting
the video camera
Fix your video camera by firmly
tightening the tilt lock lever. Do
not attach accessories to the video
camera after mounting it on the
monopod head. Otherwise, the
monopod head could tilt and
damage the video camera.
When you attach the video camera
to the monopod head, make sure
that monopod does not topple over.
Precautions on using the
monopod
When you use this Camcorder
Support, hold the video camera or
monopod with your hand.
Firmly tighten and fix the parts to
be tightened such as the various
lock knobs and levers, monopod
lock lever, and camera mounting
screw.
After attaching the video camera
to the monopod, do not swing the
entire monopod or face it down.
To prevent the video camera from
moving suddenly, do not operate the
counter balance switch lever when
the video camera is attached to the
monopod.
Extend or retract the leg or loosen
the leg length adjustment lock lever
carefully so that you do not get
your finger caught in the gap of the
segments.
–
–
–
–
When you loosen the tilt lock lever
and perform tilting, the monopod
may move jerkily. This is not a
malfunction. Loosen the tilt lock
lever with a firm hand.
When you place monopod on the
floor, make sure to place it in a
safe place so that it will not cause
anyone to trip over. Also, keep it
in such a way that its position will
not put excess load to the remote
commander.
Carrying the Camcorder
Support
Do not lift up or move the Camcorder
Support by the remote cord.
Cleaning
When the Camcorder Support
becomes dirty, clean it with a soft
cloth lightly moistened with a mild
detergent solution. Then, wipe it
clean with a dry cloth.
After using the Camcorder Support
on the beach or in places exposed
to sea breezes, wipe it clean with a
dry cloth.
Features
VCT-SP1BP Camcorder Support
consists of a monopod (VCT-M1BP),
remote commander (RM-1BP), and
harness (VCT-H1BP).
When you use the harness, the weight
of your video camera and accessories
attached to the video camera is
distributed to your shoulders and
waist, and the load on your arms
is reduced. You can shoot a video
without difficulty even when you are
moving.
You can also use Camcorder Support
as a monopod with a remote
commander without wearing the
harness.
About the remote commander
You can use the remote commander
by connecting it to video cameras
equipped with a LANC
connector.
You can use the remote commander
for operation by attaching it to the
monopod using the clamp.
You can use the zoom direction
switch to change the zoom direction
of the zoom lever.
You can use the zoom speed switch
to change the zoom speed in three
levels.
About the monopod
The monopod automatically
maintains stability for the video
camera in accordance with the tilt
angle by means of a counter balance.
About the supplied camera
mounting screw
If your video camera has the facility to
use two camera mounting screws, use
the supplied camera mounting screw.
Identifying the Parts
1 Pin
2
Camera mounting shoe
3
Monopod head
4
Tilt lock lever
5 Camera mounting screw
6
Safety lock lever
7
Camera mounting shoe lock lever
8
Counter balance switch lever
9
Hook holder
10 Remote cord
11 Cord belt
12 FOCUS button
13 REC REVIEW button
14 REC START/STOP button
15 Zoom lever
16 Zoom direction switch
17 Zoom speed switch
18 Remote plug
19 Leg
20 Leg length adjustment lock lever
21 Clamp lever
22 Remote plug holder
23 Remote cord holder
24 Clamp
25 Shoulder belt
26 Support belt
27 Adjuster
28 Waist belt
29 Hook
30 Monopod holder
31 Buckle
32 D-ring
Using the Monopod
by Standing It on the
Ground or Floor
Use the procedure below to attach
your video camera to the monopod
without using the harness.
-1 Preparing the monopod
1 Set the camera mounting shoe in a
horizontal position.
Loosen the tilt lock lever.
Press down the counter balance
switch lever to the left (OFF) and
set the camera mounting shoe in
a horizontal position. Adjust the
position so that the BALANCE
mark is aligned with the lower
side mark.
After pressing down the counter
balance switch lever to the right
(ON), slide the monopod head
slightly until it clicks and is fixed.
Confirm that the tilt spring is
working and then tighten the tilt
lock lever.
2 Loosen the leg length adjustment
lock lever and extend the leg from
the camera mounting shoe side as
required.
3 Tighten the leg length adjustment
lock lever.
4
While holding down the safety
lock lever, pull the camera
mounting shoe lock lever to
the left to detach the camera
mounting shoe.
5
Place the monopod in a safe
location after you have prepared
it.
-2 Attaching the remote
commander
1 Turn the clamp lever of the remote
commander counterclockwise
to loosen the clamp up to the
position at which the leg is
inserted.
2 Select the position on the leg at
which you can operate the remote
commander easily.
3 Align the center of the leg with the
V groove of the clamp and turn
the clamp lever clockwise to fix
the remote commander.
When you attach the remote
commander, do not tighten the
clamp lever too hard.
4
Place the monopod in a safe
location after you have prepared
it.
-3 Mounting the video
camera
The total weight of the video camera
and accessories that can be attached
to Camcorder Support is maximum
5 kg (limit weight). Make sure that
the weight of video camera and
accessories does not exceed this limit.
1
Install a battery pack, cassette, or
appropriate video storage media in
your video camera.
Refer to the operation
instructions of the video camera
for further information.
2 Attach the camera mounting shoe
to the video camera.
Align the camera mounting
screw with the screw hole under
the video camera, and tighten it
firmly.
3 Attach the video camera to the
monopod.
Set the video camera on the
monopod head of the monopod
from the front edge of the camera
mounting shoe and lightly tap
the top of the camera. You will
hear a click as the camera is
attached to the monopod.
Push the camera mounting shoe
lock lever to the right to lock the
camera in place.
4 Connect the remote plug to the
LANC connector of the video
camera.
If the remote commander cord
is too long, fasten the cord to the
shaft with a cord belt.
Using the Monopod
with the Harness
Use the following procedure to use the
monopod with the harness.
When you use the monopod with
the leg extended, you can extend the
leg up to the third step (counting
from the camera mounting shoe).
If you extend the leg farther than
the third step, the video camera will
become unstable and this could
cause the camera to topple over or
an injury.
Use the third hook holders and
above (counting from the camera
mounting shoe) to loop the support
belt. If you use a hook holder lower
than the third one, the video camera
will become unstable and this could
cause the camera to be topple over
or an injury.
a: Use
b: Do not use
Do not use the monopod with an
attached video camera when there
is a person or an object directly
under the video camera. If the video
camera is not properly attached to
the monopod and falls off, it could
cause an injury to you or the other
person or cause damage. Also make
sure that you do not hit a person
or an object when you carry the
monopod with the video camera
attached.
-1 Preparing the monopod
1 Adjust the angle of the camera
mounting shoe.
Loosen the tilt lock lever.
Press down the counter balance
switch lever to the left and set the
camera mounting shoe in a slant.
Adjust the position so that the
BALANCE mark is aligned with
the upper side mark.
After pressing down the counter
balance switch lever to the right,
slide the monopod head slightly
until it clicks and is fixed.
Confirm that the tilt spring is
working and then tighten the tilt
lock lever.
2 Confirm that the monopod is set
at the shortest length and the leg
length adjustment lock lever is
tightened.
3 While holding down the safety
lock lever, pull the camera
mounting shoe lock lever to
the left to detach the camera
mounting shoe.
4 Place the monopod in a safe
location after you have prepared
it.
-2 Preparing the remote
commander
Use the same procedure as -2 to
attach the remote commander to the
monopod.
Attach the remote commander to a
position on the monopod at which
you can operate it easily.
-3 Wearing the harness
1 Check for damages such as a tear,
run, hole, and looseness in the
monopod holder.
2
Make sure the direction to set is
correct, and attach the support
belts to the D-ring of the harness.
3 Before wearing the harness,
loosen the shoulder, waist, and
support belts.
4
Wear the harness, fix the waist
belt low around the hips, and then
fasten the buckle.
5 Pull each belt to make
adjustments so that the harness is
firmly tightened.
6 Insert the base of the monopod
into the monopod holder on the
harness.
7
Attach the hooks of the support
belt on both sides to the hook
holder of the monopod.
Attach the support belts so that
they are horizontal to the ground
as much as possible.
8
Adjust the lengths of the support
belts so that there is no slack in
them.
Do not jump or run when you are
wearing the harness, even before
inserting the monopod. If you do so,
the support belt hook could hit an
object and cause you an injury.
-4 Mounting the video
camera
The total weight of the video camera
and accessories that can be attached
to Camcorder Support is maximum
5 kg (limit weight). Make sure that
the weight of the video camera and
accessories does not exceed this
limit.
1 Install a battery pack, cassette, or
appropriate video storage media
in your video camera.
Refer to the operation
instructions of the video camera
for further information.
2 Attach the camera mounting shoe
to the video camera.
Align the camera mounting
screw with the screw hole under
the video camera, and tighten the
screw firmly.
3
Attach the video camera to the
monopod.
Set the video camera on the
monopod head of the monopod
from the front edge of the camera
mounting shoe and lightly tap
the top of the camera. You will
hear a click as the camera is
attached to the monopod.
Push the camera mounting shoe
lock lever to the right to lock the
camera.
4 Connect the remote plug to the
LANC connector of the video
camera.
5
Adjust the length of the monopod.
Loosen the leg length adjustment
lock lever and extend the leg
from the camera mounting shoe
side as required.
Tighten the leg length adjustment
lock lever.
If the remote commander cord is
too long, fasten the cord to the shaft
with a cord belt.
Tilting
1 Make sure the counter balance
switch lever pressed down to the
right.
2 Loosen the tilt lock lever.
3
Adjust the angle of the camera
mounting shoe as required.
4
Tighten the tilt lock lever.
Cautions
Never use the tilt lock lever to adjust
the torque weight. This could cause
a trouble.
Before tilting, make sure to loosen
the tilt lock lever.
Using the Remote
commander
Read the section below together with
the operation instructions of the video
camera.
1
Confirm that the remote plug
is connected to the LANC
(remote) connector of the video
camera.
2
Set the video camera to standby
mode.
See the operation instructions
of the video camera for further
information.
3
Press the REC START/STOP
button.
Video shooting will start. If you
press the button again, shooting
will stop (standby mode).
4 Zooming on an object.
Use the zoom direction switch to
select the zoom direction.
Tilt the zoom lever of the remote
commander.
NORMAL mode
Clockwise/T side (telephoto):
Subject appears closer.
Counterclockwise/W side (wide
angle):
Subject appears farther away.
REVERSE mode
Clockwise/W side (wide angle):
Subject appears farther away.
Counterclockwise/T side
(telephoto):
Subject appears closer.
On some video cameras, you may be
able to change the zooming speed
by using the zoom speed switch and
according to the tilt angle of the zoom
lever.
SLOW mode
Regardless of the zoom lever tilt
angle, zooming is always performed
at the slowest speed.
MID mode
Zooming is performed at a fast
speed according to the tilt angle of
the zoom lever. (4 speed settings)
FAST mode
Zooming is performed at a faster
speed according to the tilt angle of
zoom lever. (8 speed settings)
5
Adjust the focus manually.
Set the focus switch of the video
camera to “Manual” and press the
FOCUS button.
Press to the side:
Adjust the focus to an object at
the back.
Press to the side:
Adjust the focus to an object in
front.
6 Check the scene when you stop
the tape.
Press the REC REVIEW button in
the standby mode.
The last portion where you
stopped recording will be played
back on the liquid crystal display
of your video camera for several
seconds, and then the camera is
returned to standby mode.
Cautions
You cannot shoot still images using
this remote commander.
When there is a mixed video
recording in both HDV and DV
standards on the same tape, the
image may not be displayed even
when you press the REC REVIEW
button. This is not a malfunction.
When you do not use the
remote commander
Insert the remote plug into the remote
plug holder.
Detaching the Video
Camera
Detach the video camera from the
monopod in the reverse order of the
procedure in “Mounting the video
camera.”
The rotation of the camera mounting
shoe lock lever is designed to stop at
midpoint by a safety lock lever for
safety assurance. When you turn the
camera mounting shoe lock lever
while you slide the safety lock lever
downward, the camera mounting
shoe lock lever turns completely
and camera mounting shoe will be
detached.
Specifications
Monopod (VCT-M1BP)
Total weight of video camera and
accessories to be mounted
Max. 5 kg (11 lb.)
Tilting angle
60 degrees down, 45 degrees up
Dimensions
Maximum height:
Approx. 1 670 mm
(65 7/8 inches)
Minimum height:
Approx. 522 mm (20 5/8 inches)
Mass
Approx. 1.3 kg (2 lb. 14 oz.)
Leg extension
Leg has 5 telescoping shafts.
Remote commander (RM-1BP)
Remote control functions
REC START/STOP button,
FOCUS button, REC REVIEW
button, zoom lever, zoom
direction switch, zoom speed
switch
Dimensions
Approx. 62 × 80 × 105 mm
(2 1/2 × 3 1/4 × 4 1/4 inches)
(width/height/depth)
Remote cord
Approx. 1 000 mm
(39 3/8 inches)
Mass
Approx. 100 g (3.6 oz.)
Harness (VCT-H1BP)
Dimensions
Approx. 320 × 500 × 350 mm
(12 5/8 × 19 3/4 × 13 7/8 inches)
(width/height/depth)
Mass
Approx. 700 g (1 lb. 9 oz.)
Included items
Monopod (1), Remote
commander (1), Harness (1),
Carrying case (for monopod) (1),
Carrying case (for harness) (1),
Cord belt (1), Camera mounting
screw (1), Set of printed
documentation
Design and specifications are subject
to change without notice.