PocketDV AHD Z500 Plus - Camcorder AIPTEK - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Camcorder
Brand	Aiptek
Model	PocketDV AHD Z500 Plus
Dimensions	Approx. 105 x 55 x 20 mm
Weight	Approx. 120 g (without battery)
Power Source	Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (3.7V, 1000mAh)
Recording Media	SD/SDHC memory card (up to 32GB)
Video Resolution	Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) at 30fps
Still Image Resolution	12 megapixels (interpolated)
Display	2.0-inch TFT LCD
Optical Zoom	None (digital zoom up to 8x)
Connectivity	USB 2.0, HDMI mini, AV out
Image Stabilization	Electronic
File Formats	Video: AVI (MJPEG), Photo: JPEG
Battery Life	Approx. 60 minutes of continuous recording
Maintenance & Cleaning	Clean the lens and LCD with a soft, dry cloth. Keep away from dust and moisture.
Safety Warnings	Keep out of reach of children under 3 years. Do not disassemble or expose to water.
Spare Parts & Repairability	Spare batteries and chargers available online. Repair service not recommended for users.
General Information	Pocket-sized camcorder with HD recording. User manual available in PDF format.

Frequently Asked Questions - PocketDV AHD Z500 Plus AIPTEK

How do I transfer videos to my computer?

Connect the camcorder to your computer using the USB cable. It will appear as a removable drive. Copy the video files from the DCIM folder to your computer.

What memory card does this camcorder support?

It supports SD and SDHC memory cards up to 32GB. For best performance, use a Class 4 or higher card.

How long does the battery last?

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts approximately 60 minutes of continuous HD video recording. Charging time is about 2-3 hours.

Can I use this camcorder as a webcam?

No, the PocketDV AHD Z500 Plus does not support webcam mode. It is designed for standalone recording.

How to reset the camcorder to factory settings?

Go to Menu > Settings > Reset and confirm. Alternatively, remove the battery and memory card for 30 seconds.

What video resolution does it record?

It records Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) at 30 frames per second. Lower resolutions are also available in the settings.

How do I change the language on the screen?

Press Menu, navigate to Language using the directional buttons, and select your desired language from the list.

Is there a tripod mount?

Yes, the camcorder has a standard 1/4-inch tripod screw on the bottom to attach to a tripod.

Why is the recorded video shaky?

The camcorder features electronic image stabilization. Ensure it is enabled in the menu. Also, hold the camcorder steady or use a tripod.

How to charge the camcorder?

Use the supplied USB cable and connect it to a computer or a USB power adapter (5V, 1A). The charging indicator will light up.

USER MANUAL PocketDV AHD Z500 Plus AIPTEK

HD-DV Camcorder

Welcome:

Dear user, thanks for purchasing this product.

Much investment in time and effort has gone into its development, and it is our hope that it will give you many years of trouble-free service.

Safety Notice:

1. Do not drop, puncture or disassemble the camera; otherwise the warranty will be voided.
2. Avoid all contact with water, and dry hands before using.
3. Do not expose the camera to high temperature or leave it in direct sunlight. Doing so may damage the camera.
4. Use the camera with care. Avoid pressing hard on the camera body.
5. For your own safety, avoid using the camera when there is a storm or lightning.
6. Do not use batteries of different specifications. Doing so may lead to the potential for serious damage.
7. Remove the battery during long periods between usage, as a deteriorated battery may affect the functionality of the camera.
8. Remove the battery if it shows signs of leaking or distortion.
9. Use only the accessories supplied by the manufacturer.
10. Keep the camera out of the reach of infants.
11. Risk of explosion if battery is replaced by an incorrect type.
12. Dispose of used batteries according to the instructions.

FCC Compliance Statement:

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subjected 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.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with 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 residential installations. 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 interference to radio or television equipment 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.

-Move the equipment away from the receiver.

-Plug the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

-Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions.

You are cautioned that any change or modifications to the equipment not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void Your authority to operate such equipment.

If the time arises to throw away your product, please recycle all the components possible.

Batteries and rechargeable batteries are not to be disposed in your domestic waste! Please recycle them at your local recycling point.

Together we can help to protect the environment.

■ DE: Umweltschutz

Getting Started .... 1

Knowing your camcorder parts .... 1

Installing the battery.... 2

Charging the battery 2

Inserting a memory card (optional) 2

Turning on/off your camcorder 2

Setting language 3

Reading LCD indicators .... 3

Basic Operations 4

Recording a video clip ....4

Recording a voice clip.... 4

Taking a still picture 5

Recording TV program ....6

Playing back your recordings.... 7

Playing back your recordings on PC.... 8

Connecting the camcorder to TV 9

Advanced Operations 11

Menu operation 11

Menu items in Camera mode.... 11

Menu items in Playback mode 12

Menu items in Setting mode 13

Battery Life Indicator 14

Battery Life.... 14

Storage Capacity 15

System Requirements 15

Specifications....16

Getting Started

• Knowing your camcorder parts
  

For select model only. If your camera only indicates “AV OUT”, it does not support “AV IN” function.

Installing the battery

1. Slide the battery cover open.

2. Place the accessory Li-Ion battery into the compartment. Note that the metallic contacts must be aligned with the contacts in the compartment.

3. After the battery is properly installed, replace the battery cover.

Charging the battery

Please charge the battery at least 8 hours for first time use.

1. Connect the cable.

Connect one end of the supplied AC adapter to the USB port of the camcorder and the other end to a wall outlet.

OR

Connect one end of the supplied USB cable to the USB port of the camcorder and the other end to a powered PC. Make sure the camcorder is powered off.

1. The charging LED turns red and the charge starts.

2. When the charging is interrupted or the battery pack is fully charged, the charging LED will turn green.

When using a PC to charge the battery, do not power on the camcorder, or the charge will stop.

- Inserting a memory card (optional)

To insert a memory card, do the followings:

(1) Open the battery cover.
(2) Gently push the card as indicated until the card reaches the bottom of the slot.

To remove the memory card, gently push the card and it will pop up. Then pull the card out of the slot.

Turning on/off your camcorder

Open the LCD monitor or press and hold down the Power button for 1 second to turn on the camcorder.

To turn off the camcorder, press and hold down the Power button for 1 \~ 3 seconds or close the LCD monitor.

If the camcorder stays inactive for a long period of time, it may automatically shut down due to the Auto-Off setting.

Setting language

1. Power on the camcorder.
2. Press the MODE key to enter the MODE menu.
3. Use the Joystick switch to select the Setting mode and press OK to enter the menu screen.
4. Use the Joystick to select the Language item, and then Press OK to confirm.
5. Move the Joystick up/down to select a language.
6. When done, press OK to confirm the setting.

- Reading LCD indicators

1 Mode icon Remaining recordable time 9
2 Video resolution While Balance mode 10
3 Picture resolution Exposure mode 11
4 LED lights mode Flash mode 12
5 Macro mode Histogram mode 13
6 Battery life Selftimer mode 14
7 Zoom ratio indicator NightShot mode 15
8 SD card inserted Recording time 16

The LCD will display 4:3 ratio while setting as CIF video resolution. (Please refer to the page 5 for more detailed instructions.)

Basic Operations

Recording a video clip

1. Adjust the focus:

Normally the camcorder can auto focus without adjusting focus. If you want to take close-up pictures, you can push the Up button to switch to Macro mode ( 📄).

Note: Please make sure your memory card is inserted before recording.

-	30cm ~∞(12" ~ )∞
	5cm ~ 30cm (2" ~ 12")* At 1.5X fixed zoom

2. Zooming:

Move the Zoom button up or down to zoom in or zoom out the screen. The optical magnification is 3X.

1. Press the Record button to start recording.

2. Press the Record button again to stop recording.

The zoom function is also available during recording (except in macro mode).
If the surroundings are dark, you can switch the LED lights mode to On or Auto to help focus and lighting.
It's normal that the camcorder will feel slightly warm with continuous use / recording due to its high performance.

Recording a voice clip

1. Power on the camcorder.
2. Press the MODE key to enter the MODE menu.
3. Use the Joystick switch to select the Voice Recorder mode and press OK to enter the menu screen.
4. Press the Record button to start recording
5. Press the Record button again to stop recording.

Taking a still picture

1. Adjust the focus:

Normally the camcorder can auto focus without adjusting focus. If you want to take close-up pictures, you can push the Up button to switch to Macro mode ( ).

Note: Please make sure your memory card is inserted before recording.

-	30cm ~∞(12"~)∞
	5cm ~ 30cm (2" ~ 12")* At 1.5X fixed zoom

2. Zooming:

Move the Zoom button up or down to zoom in or zoom out the screen. The optical magnification is 3X.

Adjust other advanced settings if necessary.
the surroundings are dark, you can switch the LED lights mode to On or Auto to help focus and lighting.

1. Press the Shutter button half way down and hold for the camcorder to auto focus. When the focus frame turns green, press the button fully down to take a still picture.

Due to the sensor capture feature, the LCD preview and ratio of still picture capture will vary depending upon different video resolution settings. The image capture of the camera is set where as video resolutions are different.

Video resolution Preview	Taking pictures and focusing
HD 1080P(1440x1080)	16:9 ratio	4:3 ratio
HD 60f(1280x720)	16:9 ratio	4:3 ratio
HD 30f(1280x720)
D1 60f(720x480)
CIF30f(352x240)	4:3 ratio 4:3 ratio

Recording TV program

The digital video recording technology allows you to record TV program via AV-IN cable.

1. Turn on your TV or DVD player.
2. Connect the AV cable to the AV-Out terminal on the TV or DVD player. (Normally, it's not necessary to switch the mode, please refer to the User's Manual of the TV or DVD player.)
3. Power on the camcorder.
4. Connect the audio and video ends of the AV cable (yellow/white/red color) to the TV "AV-OUT" jacks.
5. Connect the other end of the AV cable to the "AV In" port on your camcorder. When the pop-up message appears on the screen, please select "AV-IN".
6. Make sure that the images displayed on the TV or DVD player is also displayed on the camera's LCD.
7. Press the Record button to start recording.
8. Press the Record button again to stop recording.

Please dont' switch TV channels or turn off TV during TV program recording, or it would stop recording.

Playing back your recordings

1. Press the MODE button and use the Joystick to switch to "My Works" mode.

Or press the Play/Pause button ( ▶ on the left side of the LCD monitor.

1. There are three folders below My works: Video, Picture, and Voice. Select Video, Picture or Voice, and then press the OK key to enter the index mode.

2. Operations in playback mode:

File type How to... Action
Index modeFull-screen mode	Shift between Index mode and Full-screen mode	In Index mode, press the OK key to switch to Full-screen mode. In Full-screen mode, press the MENU button to switch to Index mode.
	Shift between files	1. In Index mode: Use the Joystick to move the highlight box.2. In Full-screen mode: Use the Joystick to move left or right.
Video & Audio	Start playing	When selected (in full-screen mode), the file automatically starts playing.
	Pause/Resume playing	During playing/While paused, press the OK key.
	Adjust the volume level	During playing, use the Joystick to move up or down.
	Stop playing During playing, press the MENU button.
	Return to the preview screen	Press the Shutter button.
	Fast forward	During playing, press the Next ( ▶) button. To stop, press the Play/Pause ( ▶) button.
	Fast backward	During playing, press the Previous ( ▶) button. To stop, press the Play/Pause ( ▶) button.
	Select the next file While paused/stopped, press the Next ( ) button.
	Select the previous file	While paused/stopped, press the Previous ( ▶) button.
Picture	Zoom in/out Use the Joystick to move up or down.
	Lock/Release zoom ratio	When the zoom ratio is greater than 1.0x, press the OK key.
	Browse the enlarged picture	When the zoom ratio is locked, use the Joystick to browse the picture.

- Playing back your recordings on PC

Installing software

Please notice that the recorded videos are .mov format. So you need some special programs to view the recordings on PC. For first time use, please make sure you have QuickTime 7.0 (or above) player on your PC. If not, please download the QuickTime player from the website.

OR

Please install the software on the bundled CD.

Connecting PC and Save files

After the software is properly installed on your PC, please follow below procedures.

1. Turn on the camcorder.
2. Connect the camcorder (with SD card inserted) to your computer with the USB cable.
3. A dialogue window will appear automatically. Please select the item "Open folder to view files" and click "OK".
4. If the dialogue window does not appear automatically, you may double click on "My computer" and open the "Removable Drive".
5. Double-click on the DCIM file folder.
6. Double-click on the 100MEDIA file folder.
7. Copy the files you wish to keep and save them to the desired location on your computer.

Connecting the camcorder to TV

Please follow the below instructions to connect your camcorder and TV via accessory AV cables for real-time display. You can display your video clips and still pictures on your TV, sharing them with your friends and family.

Connecting the camcorder to HDTV

HD TV hereby means the HDTV built-in component input ports, thus can perform HD high resolution quality while connected.

1. Turn on your HD TV.

2. Turn on the Camcorder.

3. Plug one end of the component video cable into the (Component Video IN) port on the HDTV and the other end into the (HD OUT) port on Camcorder.

4. Plug one end of the other AV cable into the (Component Audio IN) port on the HDTV and the other end into the (AV OUT) port on Camcorder. (Please do not plug in the yellow connector to HDTV's AV-IN.)

5. Press the input switch mode on HD TV and select "Component Input".

If you record an HD resolution clip while connected to your HD TV, the TV display video resolution will down size to D1 (480P) resolution due to data bit rate, but the recorded file will remain HD with no change.

Connecting the camcorder to Standard TV

TV = Traditional CRT TV

1. Power on your TV and switch the TV to AV mode.
2. Connect the audio and video ends of the AV cable (yellow/white/red color) to the TV "AV-IN" jacks.
3. Power on the camcorder.
4. Connect the other end of the AV cable to the "AV out" port on your camcorder. When the pop-up message appears on the screen, please select "AV-Out".

Advanced Operations

- Menu operation

The menu items provide several options for you to fine-tune your camera functions. The following table gives details on menu operations.

How to... Action
Bring up the menu Press the MENU	button.
Move the highlight bar Use the Joystick	to move up or down.
Enter sub-menu/Confirm an item Press the OK key.
Exit menu/Go back to upper menu Press the MENU button (when in sub-menu).

- Menu items in Camera mode

Power-on → Press the Menu button.

Item Option Description
Video resolution	HD 1080P Set the video resolution to HD 1080P (1440x1080 pixels).
	HD 60f Set the video resolution to HD 60f (1280x720 pixels).
	HD 30f Set the video resolution to HD 30f (1280x720 pixels).
	D1 60f Set the video resolution to D1 60f (720x480 pixels).
	CIF30f Set the video resolution to CIF30f (352x240 pixels).
Picture Resolution	3M Set picture resolution to 3 mega pixels.
	5M Set picture resolution to 5 mega pixels.
	8M Set picture resolution to 8 mega pixels.
NightShot	On/Off	Enabling this setting allows you to take a photograph with a dark background. Since the shutter speed will slow down when taking photographs at a dark place, we recommend using a tripod to eliminate blurring from hand shake.Warning: Noise increases when NightShot is enabled.
WB	Auto The camera automatically adjusts white balance.
	Sunny This setting is suitable for outdoor recording in sunny weather.
	Cloudy	This setting is suitable for recording in cloudy weather or shady environments.
	Fluorescent	This setting is suitable for indoor recording with fluorescent lamp lighting, or environments with high color temperature.
	Tungsten	This setting is suitable for indoor recording with incandescent lamp lighting, or environments with low color temperature.

- Menu items in Camera mode (continued)

Item Option Description
Flashlight	On The flash is forced to fire in every shot.
	Auto The flash automatically fires when the lighting is insufficient.
	Off The flash is disabled.
Video Light On/Auto/Off		This setting allows you to add extra light when the lighting is insufficient during recording video clips.
Effect	Normal Make recordings in natural color.
	B&W Make recordings in black and white.
	Classic Make recordings in sepia-toned color.
Exposure -2~+2		Manually adjust the exposure to gain better effect when the preview image appears too bright or too dark. A positive value indicates the image will be brighter than usual; while a negative value makes the image dimmer.
Selftimer On/Off		Enable/Disable the selftimer. After the selftimer is turned on, the camera will have ten seconds delay before recording when the Shutter button is pressed.
Histogram On/Off Enable/Disable image histogram display on the screen.
Icon	On/Off	Enable/Disable OSD (on screen display) icons to display on the screen.

- Menu items in Playback mode

Power-on → Press the MODE button → Use the Joystick to switch to My Works mode → Select Video, Picture or Voice folder → Press the OK button → Press the MENU button.

Item Option	Description
Delete One Yes/No Delete current file.
Delete All	Yes/No	Delete all pictures and video/audio files stored in the memory.
Slide Show/Video Play	-	The camera displays images/video clips in sequence. You can press the OK key to stop the slide show/video play.
Lock	Yes/No	Single, multiple, or all files can be locked. A locked file cannot be erased by a delete function. While the formatting function will erase all locked/unlocked files.

* If there are no files in the camera, no items will be seen.

Menu items in Setting mode

Power-on → Press the MODE button → Select the Setting ( ) mode → Press the OK button.

Item Option Description
Date & Time -		Set date and time.
Beep	On	Enable beep sound.
	Shutter On	Disable beep sound, but keep Shutter sound.
	Off	Disable beep sound.
Flicker	50Hz	Set flicker frequency to 50Hz*.
	60Hz	Set flicker frequency to 60Hz*.
TV-Out	NTSC	Set TV system compatibility to NTSC. This option is suitable for America, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea areas.
	PAL	Set TV system compatibility to PAL. This option is suitable for Germany, England, Italy, Netherlands, China, Japan, and Hong Kong.
Icon	On/Off	Enable/Disable OSD icons to display on the screen.
LCD Bright	-2~+2	Set LCD brightness. A positive value makes the LCD brighter; while a negative value makes the LCD dimmer.
Format	Yes	Format the storage medium. Note that all files stored in the medium will be gone.
	No	Cancel action.
Auto Off	Off	Disable Auto-off function.
	1 min	The camera automatically shuts down when staying inactive for over 1 minute.
	3 min	The camera automatically shuts down when staying inactive for over 3 minutes.
	5 min	The camera automatically shuts down when staying inactive for over 5 minutes.
Language	-	Lets you select the language used for OSD.
Default	On	Restore factory defaults. Note that your current settings will be overridden.
	Off	Cancel action.

- Menu items in Setting mode (continued)

* Flicker settings table:

Region	England	Germany	France	Italy	Spain		Netherlands	Russia
Setting	50Hz	50Hz	50Hz	50Hz	50Hz	50Hz
Region	Portugal	America	Taiwan	China	Japan	Korea	Thailand
Setting	50Hz	60Hz	60Hz	50Hz	60Hz	50Hz

Battery Life Indicator

Icon Description
	Full battery life
	Moderate battery life
	Low battery life* The flash strobe and the LED lights will be disabled.”
	Empty battery life

Note: To avoid sudden outage of power supply, you are recommended to replace the battery when the icon indicates low battery life.

Battery Life

Still picture Video clip
Number of shots	Recording time (minute)
200	70
* shoot every 30 seconds** flash is off*** resolution is set to 5M (2592x1944)	* resolution is set to 720P 60f (1080x720 @60f)

Note: This table is for your reference only. The actual battery life depends on your battery type and recharge level.

Storage Capacity

Memory	Video (min.) Still picture
	HD 1080P 30f HD 60f	HD 30f D1 60f	CIF30f 8M	5M 3M
SD card (256MB)	3 7 40 95	145 230
SD card (512MB)	7 15 80 1	90 290 460
SD card (1GB) 15	30 160 380 580 920
SD card (2GB)	30 60 320	770 1160 1840
SD card (4GB) 60	120 640 1540 2320	3680

Note: The actual value of capacity may vary (up to ± 30% ) depending on the color saturation and complexity of your subject and surroundings.

System Requirements

System requirements are different in different video resolution settings:

Video Resolution PC system requirements
HD 1080P (1440x1080) @30fps	OS = Windows XP SP2, Vista or aboveCPU = Pentium 4 3.2GHz Core 2 Dual or aboveSystem RAM = 1GB (2GB recommended)Display card = 256MB of RAM
HD 60f (1280x720) @60fps
HD 30f (1280x720) @30fps	OS = Windows XP SP2, Vista or aboveCPU = Pentium 4 3.2GHz or aboveSystem RAM = 512MB (1GB recommended)Display card = 256MB of RAM
D1 60f (720x480) @60fps
CIF30f (352x240) @30fps	OS = Windows XP, Vista or aboveCPU = Pentium 4 1.5GHz or aboveSystem RAM = 256MB (512MB or above recommended)Display card = 64MB (128MB or above recommended)
Item Description
Model 5 Mega-pixel camera
Image sensor 5 Mega (2592x1944 pixels)
Resolution	Still image: 3M(2048x1536); 5M(2592x1944); 8M(3200x2400)1440x1080 (HD 1080P)1280x720 (HD 60f)1280x720 (HD 30f)720x480 (D1 60f)352x240 (CIF30f)
Lens 3X optical zoom lens
File format MOV, JPEG, WAV
Video frame rate	1440x1080, up to 30fps (HD 1080P)1280x720, up to 60fps (HD 60f)1280x720, up to 30fps (HD 30f)720x480, up to 60fps (D1 60f)352x240, up to 30fps (CIF30f)
Internal memory 128MB built-in; 90MB for storage
External memory SD/MMC card (up to 32GB SDHC)
LCD display 2.4" LCD
TV out HDTV Component out, NTSC/PAL system supported
Interface USB 2.0
Voice recorder Yes
Microphone Yes
Speaker Yes
Nightshot Yes (both in still image and video modes)
Battery NP60 compatible Li-ion rechargeable battery

Note: Specifications are subject to change without notification.

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Playing back your recordings on PC....8

Specifications....16

Aan de slag

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TV = Traditionele CRT-TV

OU

The digital video recording technology allows you to record TV program via AV-IN cable.

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