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Resolved Question

Sony Handycam - external monitor

Aug 25, 2014 2:54AM PDT

We have a unique problem. I am using a Sony Handycam as part of an end zone camera set up for football. The camera is telescoped 25 feet in the air. When I connect the camera to our external monitor on the ground I get a great picture but none of the on screen display. This is important because the operator has no way of knowing if he is recording or not. The remote works fine and we have no problems with the unit other than not seeing the typical on screen displays ie. record / pause, battery, etc. Anyone have any thoughts. Your help would be appreciated.

Discussion is locked

slmccollum has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
same issue
Aug 14, 2015 12:20PM PDT

We are having the same issue with our display. I am using the Sony Handycam HDR-CX230, and I cannot see the screen displays on my external monitor. I've searched the user manual but have come up short. Any help with this particular model?

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This camcorder appears to only play content.
Aug 14, 2015 12:29PM PDT

Time to return it and start a new search for a model that does what you need.

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Smartphone App
Aug 14, 2015 1:58PM PDT

A number of the newer cameras have a remote control option using an App on a Smartphone.

For example my Panasonic HC-V750 can be controlled from my Samsung phone. The App gives complete control over the recording plus it will operate the zoom lens and it shows a picture of what the camera sees. It will also give some control over the Pan/Tilt head supplied as an extra to fit this Panasonic range.

A camera with a similar App should sort your problem out.

Best Answer

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Depends on the camcorder.
Aug 25, 2014 6:13AM PDT

A model number is needed.

The manual should have information related to the information you want displayed.

For example, I have a Sony HDR-HC1 miniDV tape based "Handycam". The manual
https://docs.sony.com/release/HDRHC1.pdf
Page 60 has the "Disp Output" menu item (page 61) and selecting the "V-Out" can send the data display item you're looking for to the external monitor. Page 61 also has the Auto Shut off setting you may need to change. I use this all the time when the camera is on camera crane and too far away to use the LCD panel - the monitor is a portable DVD player with AV-in capability.

Assuming you have something newer, I picked the HDR-PJ810:
https://docs.sony.com/release/HDR-PJ810_PJ810E_PJ820_PJ820E.pdf
"Display setting" is on page 25 - and in the "Shooting assist" section of the camcorder's options menu.
Page 251 of the "Help Guide"
https://docs.sony.com/release/HDR-PJ810_Handycam_HelpGuide_EN.pdf
tells us what is displayed - or not. If "Always on", then "The rec and zoom settings ore not displayed."
If you need different behavior, then a different camcorder needs to be used. The option to replacing the camcorder is to start recording and don't stop until the game is over. Record time is on page 314 for the available internal memory... FX mode should work just fine - copy the captured video from the memory to a computer during halftime, format the internal memory, capture 2nd half - or if a memory card is used change the memory card at halftime if it fills.