Sony Digital Camera VGP UVC100 User Manual

Visual Communication Camera  
VGP-UVC100  
Operating Instructions  
 
Introduction  
This camera is a USB 2.0 compatible visual communication camera. The  
camera enables you to use the TV telephone function on your computer.  
These are the following features.  
• 1.3 Mega-pixel CMOS sensor and microphone.  
• Shoot moving and still images, and transfer as video mail with the  
supplied “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software.  
• Various camera settings, such as Backlight compensation adjustment and  
brightness, added effects, such as setting a frame, etc., with “VGP-  
UVC100 device driver.”  
• Video chatting when used as a web camera.  
Note  
Your “Messenger Software” may change the microphone volume automatically to  
prevent the speaker from howling; the software lowers the speaker volume when the  
microphone is close to the speaker. If voices are not easily audible, use a headphone or  
headset.  
Refer to the help section of your software instructions for details.  
Compatible Computers  
The camera is designed to work with computers pre-installed with  
Windows XP* and equipped with USB ports.  
* Requires Windows XP Service Pack 2 to be installed. If it is not installed,  
download it from Microsoft’s website.  
Notes  
• There is no guarantee of proper operation on a home-built computer or OS upgrade/  
multi-boot.  
• In the above operation environments, there is no guarantee of proper operation on every  
computer.  
• A computer equipped with a camera is incompatible. Even if the camera is connected to  
the computer, you cannot use it.  
• The following operation environments are necessary for capturing still images and  
movies in the size of VGA or the larger size.  
CPU: Pentium III, or Celeron 1.2 GHz or more  
We recommend 256 MB of memory or more.  
We recommend reducing the screen size or image size, if the image is distorted during  
capturing.  
3
 
• If you display over a million-pixels, this camera is necessarily connected to the  
connector with Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0).  
• It is necessary to install the software from the supplied installation disc, in order to use  
the camera.  
Names of Parts  
Lens  
Focus ring  
Microphone  
CAPTURE button  
Arm plate  
Arm  
Setting up  
Checking the supplied accessories  
Remove the camera from the box and make sure that the box contains the  
accessories listed below.  
If any of the accessories are missing, contact the Sony dealer where you  
purchased this product or a Sony service representative in your area.  
• Visual Communication Camera  
• Installation disc (CD-ROM × 1)  
• Operating instructions (this manual)  
• Warranty card*  
* The accessories included vary according to country and region.  
4
 
Installing the driver and the software  
Install the VGP-UVC100 device driver for using the camera on the  
computer. You can install “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software for  
capturing still images and movies.  
Notes  
• Make sure that your disk drive, such as CD-ROM drive etc., is available for use on your  
computer. In this manual, the CD-ROM drives or multiple disk drives are referred to as  
“the CD-ROM drive.” For details on how to connect a CD-ROM drive, refer to the  
manuals provided with your computer or CD-ROM drive.  
• To use “VAIO Camera Capture Utility,” more than 2 GB free space of the hard disc is  
necessary.  
• Update Windows before installing the driver and software.  
• Exit all software before installing the driver and software.  
• Log on as Administrator before installing the driver and software.  
• If the “Add New Hardware Wizard” dialog box appears, click “Cancel,” then  
disconnect the camera from your computer and reinstall it.  
1 Turn on the computer, start the Windows operating system  
and insert the supplied installation disc into the CD-ROM  
drive.  
The installation program starts automatically and the “Sony Visual  
Communication Camera VGP-UVC100 Application Installer Setup”  
screen appears.  
2 Make sure that the checkbox to install the software has been  
checked, and click “Next.”  
z Hint  
The checkbox will not appear if the software is already installed.  
3 Follow the on-screen instructions until the setup finishes and  
display closes.  
z Hint  
Click “Yes” if a restart pop-up message appears after installation.  
4 Connect the USB cable of the camera to the USB port on  
your computer.  
The necessary driver is installed automatically.  
Click “Yes” if a restart pop-up message appears after installation. After  
restarting Windows, you can begin using the camera.  
Continued on next page  
5
 
Notes  
• Do not disconnect/reconnect the camera’s USB cable while your Windows operating  
system is starting up or shutting down; doing so may cause the camera or your  
computer to malfunction.  
• Carefully disconnect/reconnect the USB cable of the camera; doing it quickly might  
result in unstable operation of your computer.  
• This camera is designed to constantly secure a fixed amount of USB bandwidth for data  
transfer to display high-quality images. Therefore, if you use a USB hub to connect  
USB composite device simultaneously, the amount of bandwidth available for data  
transfer might not be sufficient to support proper operation.  
z Hints  
• When there are the multiple USB ports, after connecting the USB cable to different  
USB ports, the necessary driver is automatically installed. Click “Yes” if a restart pop-  
up message appears after installation. After restarting Windows and connecting to the  
USB port, you can begin using the camera.  
• If the driver is not properly installed, uninstall and then reinstall. Refer to “Confirming  
Installing and Proceeding with Uninstalling.” (page 16)  
Mounting the camera  
When mounting directly  
Mount the camera onto the display panel.  
Pinch the arms together and hang the camera on top of the display panel.  
z Hint  
Depending on the type of computer you use, this camera sometimes cannot be mounted  
directly.  
In this case, see “Placing horizontally” on the next page for details.  
6
 
Placing horizontally  
If the camera is to be put on a flat and stable place, such as on the CRT  
display, the computer, etc., do the following:  
1 Turn the arm and arm plate towards you.  
2 Put the camera on a stable surface.  
Removing the camera  
Note  
When your computer is off, you do not need to perform step 1 below. However, if you  
disconnect the USB cable while your computer is in power-saving mode, and then  
connect it again, the camera may not be detected.  
1 Close the software used by the camera.  
2 Pull out the USB cable from your computer, and then  
remove the camera.  
Note  
If you pull on the cable itself when disconnecting the USB cable, you may damage  
the cable. Make sure that you hold onto the connector when disconnecting the cable.  
7
 
Using the Camera  
This section describes how to use the camera.  
Notes  
• When using the camera for the first time, make sure that you install the driver and the  
software before connecting the camera to your computer. For installation details, see  
“Installing the driver and the software” (page 5).  
• When using software that can be used with this camera, do not disconnect/reconnect the  
cameras USB cable while running the software or when starting up or quitting. Doing  
so can cause the computer to become unstable. Disconnect/reconnect the USB cable  
after all software has been shut down.  
Capturing still images and movies  
The supplied “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software enables you to  
capture still images and movies. Refer to the help section of “VAIO  
Camera Capture Utility” on how to use the software.  
Note  
The “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software cannot work when other camera-related  
software is in use. Exit all camera-related software before using the “VAIO Camera  
Capture Utility” software.  
1 Connect the camera cable to your computer’s USB port and  
mount the camera on the computer.  
Refer to “Mounting the camera” on page 6 for details on how to install  
the camera.  
2 Press the CAPTURE button.  
CAPTURE button  
The “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software activates.  
8
 
“VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software  
* The language which appears on the screen varies depending on the  
region.  
1 Finder view  
2 Mode selection buttons  
3 CAPTURE button  
Changes function depending on the mode.  
Still mode: Capture  
Movie mode: Record (while recording is stopped)  
Stop (while recording is progress)  
4 Data operation buttons  
5 Thumbnail view  
z Hint  
“VAIO Camera Capture Utility” is activated in the following way: click “Start”,  
point to “All programs” and “VAIO Camera Capture Utility”, and click “VAIO  
Camera Capture Utility”.  
3 Click “Still” or  
“Movie” on the “VAIO Camera Capture  
Utility” screen.  
Continued on next page  
9
 
4 Focus the camera on an object and make any necessary  
adjustments, such as brightness.  
z Hints  
• The initial size of a still image is 1,280 × 1,024. Use the “VAIO Camera Capture  
Utility” software to change the size of a still or moving image.  
Note  
When the size of a still image is 1,280 × 1,024, some “Effects” functions and the  
“Zoom” function are not activated. If you want to use these functions, change the size of  
the still image.  
• We recommend using the “Mirror” function. To change the setting of the function,  
see “Changing the camera setting” on page 12.  
• Faces, for example, may appear dark if lights such as fluorescent lamps are in the  
background. In that case, we recommend turning on the Backlight compensation  
function. To change the setting of the function, see “Changing the camera setting”  
on page 12.  
• If the screen blinks, change the White Balance setting on “Settings” on the  
property screen to “50 Hz” or “60 Hz”, according to your area frequency. To  
change the setting of the function, see “Changing the camera setting” on page 12.  
5 Rotate the focus ring, and then adjust the focus.  
6 Press the CAPTURE button.  
When  
is selected:  
After you capture images, they appear in the thumbnail view that is in  
the bottom of the “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” screen.  
z Hint  
It is possible to capture still images by clicking “Capture” in the “VAIO Camera  
Capture Utility” screen.  
When  
is selected:  
Its function begins to activate. Press the CAPTURE button to stop  
recording. The starting image of the moving image appears in the  
thumbnail view of the “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” screen.  
z Hint  
Moving Images can be recorded with a click on “Record,” which is on the “VAIO  
Camera Capture Utility” software.  
10  
 
z Hints  
• The “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software enables you to do the following. For  
details, refer to the help section of “VAIO Camera Capture Utility.”  
– To set up the image quality or mode  
– To send images by e-mail  
• When the “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software is used, the still image format is  
JPEG.  
• It is possible to shoot moving images using the “Windows Movie Maker” software,  
which is packaged with Windows XP. Refer to the help section of the “Windows Movie  
Maker” software on how to use the software.  
Note  
If the object moves fast, its image may not be displayed clearly in the finder view. This is  
not a malfunction.  
Seeing images  
Use the “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software to view still or moving  
images.  
1 Click “Preview” on the “VAIO Camera Capture Utility”  
software.  
2 Double-click the images that you want to view in the  
thumbnail view of the “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” screen.  
The selected image appears.  
When the moving image is selected, the selected movie is played in the  
finder view, when playback reaches the last image, it stops and the  
finder view shows the first image of the movie.  
z Hint  
If playback volume is too low, set the volume setting on your computer. See the  
manual of your computer regarding the measure.  
11  
 
Closing the “VAIO Camera Capture Utility” software  
Click , which is on the top right of the “VAIO Camera Capture Utility”  
screen.  
Changing the camera setting  
To adjust the brightness, Backlight compensation, etc., go to “Property” of  
“VGP-UVC100 device driver.”  
In the “Property” screen, you can adjust the zoom or set up the frame.  
To display the “Property” screen  
Right-click the  
Settings.”  
icon of the notification area, then click “Advanced  
z Hint  
If this camera’s software is not started, “Advanced Settings” is not activated.  
x“Settings” screen  
In the “Settings” screen, change the following setting items:  
– Mirror (flip horizontal), Image Flip, Low Light and Backlight  
compensation.  
z Hint  
“Low Light” is an effective function for capturing in low-light conditions. However,  
image artifacts might occur as a result of lighting correction. Capturing in sufficient  
light is always recommended.  
– Brightness, Contrast, Gamma, Hue, Saturation and Sharpness  
– Exposure and White Balance  
12  
 
x“Effects” setting screen  
In the “Effects” setting screen, change the following setting items:  
– Effect  
– Frame  
Note  
Functions of the “Zoom” setting screen and the “Effects” setting screen cannot be  
used simultaneously. If you cannot use the “Effects” setting screen, deactivate  
“Enable Zoom” box or “Face Tracking” box in the “Zoom” setting screen.  
x“Zoom” setting screen  
In the “Zoom” setting screen, change the following setting items:  
– Zoom adjustment  
To use the zoom function, check the “Enable Zoom” box. While the  
zoom function is on, the “Effects” setting screen cannot be used.  
Use the arrow buttons to move on a zoomed-in image.  
– Face Tracking function  
The face tracking is the function that a face is set in the middle of  
picture. While “Face Tracking” is on, the “Effects” setting screen  
cannot be used.  
* This camera may not zoom depending on the number and position of  
objects in the subject area, or for example when a face is not in the  
middle of the picture.  
13  
 
Facing the camera on the opposite side  
The camera rotates as shown in the illustration below. You do not need to  
re-mount the camera to face the camera from the other direction.  
Adjusting the volume of the camera's built-in microphone  
Note  
Displayed names and screens vary depending on the model.  
1 Double-click , which is on the task bar.  
“Volume control” appears.  
2 Click the “Option” menu and select “Property.”  
“Property” appears.  
3 Select “Sony USB Microphone (VGP-UVC100)” in the mixer  
device and click “OK.”  
The mixer window appears.  
z Hint  
The mixer window may not be displayed if the driver has been installed improperly.  
Refer to “Checking that the driver is installed” on page 16 and check if the driver  
has been properly installed.  
14  
 
4 Check if the microphone input is effectively set up.  
Make sure that checkbox for all mute is not checked. If it is checked,  
click the checkbox to uncheck it.  
5 Adjust the microphone volume.  
Use the slider to adjust the volume.  
The setup is complete, after sound is heard on “VAIO Camera Capture  
Utility” software.  
When the built-in microphone does not work  
With certain types of software, you need to switch the audio input device  
manually to the camera’s built-in microphone.  
1 Click “Start,” then “Control Panel.”  
“Control Panel” appears.  
2 Click “Sound, Audio or Audio Device.”  
3 Click “Sound and Audio Device.”  
“Sound and Audio Device’s Property” appears.  
4 Click the “Sound” setting screen and select “Sony USB  
Microphone (VGP-UVC100)” from “Default Device” in “Audio  
Recording.”  
5 Click “OK” and close “Sound and Audio Device’s Property.”  
If you use a Bluetooth headset with the camera  
If you use a Bluetooth headset with the camera, you may need to set up the  
headset’s microphone device, depending on kind of headset. Refer to the  
help section of your software to change the headset device.  
Select “Sony USB Microphone (VGP-UVC100)” to use the camera’s  
microphone.  
15  
 
Confirming Installing and Proceeding  
with Uninstalling  
Checking that the driver is installed  
1 Mount the camera to your computer.  
For details, see “Mounting the camera” (page 6).  
2 Click “Start”, right-click “My Computer”, and then click  
“Properties”.  
The “System Properties” dialog box appears.  
3 Click the “Hardware” tab, and then click the “Device  
Manager” button.  
The “Device Manager” window appears.  
4 Click the plus symbol (+) to the left of “Imaging Device” in  
the “Device Manager” window.  
If “Sony Visual Communication Camera (VGP-UVC100)” appears,  
the driver is properly installed.  
5 Click the plus symbol (+) to the left of “Sound, Video, and  
Game Controllers” in the “Device Manager” window.  
If “Sony USB Microphone (VGP-UVC100)” appears, the driver is  
properly installed.  
6 Close the “Device Manager” window. Click “OK” in the  
“System Properties” dialog box.  
Note  
If a driver is not displayed or an exclamation mark (!) appears next to it, the driver is not  
installed properly. Follow the steps for “Uninstalling the driver,” and after you have  
deleted the driver, reinstall it.  
16  
 
Uninstalling the driver  
If the driver is not installed correctly, follow the steps below to uninstall,  
and then reinstall the driver.  
Notes  
• Log on as Administrator before uninstalling the driver.  
• Remove the USB device except this camera’s device from your computer before  
uninstalling the driver.  
• Before uninstalling the driver, close the software applications used with the camera,  
such as the “Windows Movie Maker” software, etc.  
1 Mount the camera to your computer.  
For details, see “Mounting the camera” (page 6).  
2 Click “Start”, right-click “My Computer”, and then click  
“Properties”.  
The “System Properties” dialog box appears.  
3 Click the “Hardware” tab, and then click the “Device  
Manager” button.  
The “Device Manager” window appears.  
4 Click the plus symbol (+) to the left of “USB Controllers.”  
5 Click “USB Composite Device”, and then click “Remove”.  
The “Confirm Device Removal” dialog box appears.  
Before uninstalling the driver, close the software applications used  
with the camera, such as “Windows Movie Maker” software, etc.  
6 Click “OK”.  
7 Close the “Device Manager” window. Click “OK” in the  
“System Properties” dialog box.  
17  
 
• Avoid placing the camera in locations  
subject to sudden temperature changes.  
Do not use the camera immediately  
after moving it from a cold location to a  
warm location, or after the ambient  
temperature has risen drastically.  
Otherwise, condensation may occur  
inside the camera. Let the camera stand  
for a moment before using it.  
Precautions  
Usage and storage  
locations  
Do not use or store this product in the  
following locations. Doing so may  
damage the camera.  
• Do not turn around the camera forcedly.  
Doing so, the malfunction might occur.  
• Locations subject to abnormally  
high temperatures  
• Do not use the computer except the  
specification.  
During periods of hot weather or the  
summer season, the temperature inside  
closed vehicles becomes especially  
high, and if the camera is left in such a  
location, it may warp or be damaged.  
• Do not allow water or objects to get  
inside the camera. Do not open the  
camera.  
• Locations subject to direct  
sunlight or next to heating  
appliances  
Lens  
Do not touch the lens.  
The camera may warp or be damaged.  
• Sandy locations, such as the  
beach  
Notes on discs  
Do not place the camera in a location  
where sand may be present, such as the  
beach or other sandy areas. Doing so  
may damage the camera, and in some  
cases, repair may not be possible.  
Note the following in order to protect data  
stored on discs.  
• If the edge of the label on the disc is off  
the disc surface or the label is not sticky  
enough to stay on the disc surface, the  
label may stick to the interior of the disc  
drive and cause a malfunction of your  
computer. Make sure that the label is  
properly fixed on the disc surface before  
using the disc.  
Sony assumes no liability for any  
malfunction of your computer or  
damage to the media caused by  
improper labeling. Please thoroughly  
read instruction notes of your label  
software and label sheets.  
• Do not point the lens at the sun.  
This could cause burn-in or other lens  
damage. Be careful when leaving the  
camera next to a window or outdoors.  
Operation  
• Do not remove the camera’s USB cable  
during operation. Doing so may cause  
the camera to malfunction.  
• Do not place any objects on top of the  
camera.  
18  
 
• Do not touch the data side of the disc  
(opposite the label), and hold the disc as  
shown below.  
Cleaning the lens  
Remove any dust from the front of the  
lens using a blower brush or soft brush.  
Cleaning the disc  
• Fingerprints and other contamination on  
the disc surface can lead to reading  
errors. Always keep the disc clean.  
• Do not scratch the disc.  
• Do not store the disc in locations subject  
to high humidity, high temperatures,  
direct sunlight, or high levels of dust.  
• To clean the disc, lightly wipe it from  
the center outwards.  
• Take care not to spill any liquid on the  
disc.  
• Return the disc to its case when not in  
use in order to prevent data damage.  
• Use an oil-based felt pen when writing  
on a disc.  
Maintenance  
• To remove stubborn stains, lightly  
moisten the cloth before wiping the  
disc, and use a dry cloth afterwards.  
Cleaning the cabinet  
• Do not use benzine, record cleaning  
liquid, antistatic fluids or other  
substances that may damage the surface  
of the disc.  
Wipe the outside of the camera with a  
soft, dry cloth. To remove stubborn stains,  
moisten the cloth with a mild, neutral  
detergent. Do not use solvents, cleaning  
alcohol, benzine or other substances that  
may damage the finish.  
• Never use cleaners on an unused disc.  
Use specific CD cleaners to take off  
dust.  
• You may not be able to write on the  
discs if there are scratches or dust on the  
unrecorded area. Be careful not to  
damage the discs.  
19  
 
For customers in Europe  
Getting Help  
VAIO-Link. For addresses and  
numbers, refer to  
This section provides information on how  
to get help and support from Sony, and on  
troubleshooting tips for your Visual  
Communication Camera.  
For customers in other  
countries and regions  
VAIO Website provides Frequently  
Asked Questions and solutions.  
vaio-online.sony.com/  
About Sony’s support  
options  
Sony provides several support options for  
your Visual Communication Camera.  
When you have questions about your  
camera or the software, refer to the  
following:  
This guide explains how to use your  
camera.  
For customers in the United  
States and Canada  
The Sony Customer Information  
Service Center offers information  
about your notebook and other Sony  
products that work with your computer.  
To contact Sony Customer Information  
Service Center, call 1-888-4SONYPC  
(1-888-476-6972).  
Sony Online Support  
This service provides instant access to  
information on commonly encountered  
problems. Type a description of the  
problem and the Knowledge Database  
searches for the corresponding solutions  
online. You can visit Sony Online  
Support at  
20  
 
Power consumption  
Approx. 1.0 W  
Specifications  
Dimensions  
Normal  
Approx. 2.4 × 2 × 1.8 inches (55 × 50.5 × 40.5 mm)  
(W × H × D)  
Horizontal  
Visual Communication  
Camera  
Approx. 2.4 × 1.2 × 1.2 inches (55 × 39.5 × 39 mm)  
Image pickup  
1/4” 1,330,000-pixel (1,310,000 effective pixels)  
color CMOS progressive scanning image sensor.  
(W  
×
H
×
D)  
Cable length  
Approx. 39.4 inches (100 cm)  
Lens  
2 groups, 2 lenses, F2.3  
Weight  
Approx. 2.0 oz. (55 g)  
Focal length f=3.8 mm (0.1 inch)  
(equivalent to a 35 mm (1.4 inch) camera at  
f=31.3 mm (1.1 inch))  
Focus range 30 mm to (1.2 inch to )  
Angular field of view Horizontal approx. 56.8°  
Vertical approx. 42.6°  
Operating environment  
Operating temperature  
41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C)  
(temperature gradient less than 18°F (10°C)/hour)  
White balance  
Indoors/Outdoors  
Operating humidity  
Shutter speed  
Auto  
20% to 80% (not condensed),  
provided that humidity is less than 65% at 95°F  
(35°C)  
Flicker cancel function  
50 Hz/60 Hz  
(hygrometer reading of less than 84°F (29°C))  
Storage temperature  
–4°F to 140°F (–20°C to 60°C)  
Video capture format  
RGB24 bits  
(temperature gradient less than 18°F (10°C)/hour)  
Picture sizes  
1,280 × 1,024  
640 × 480  
Storage humidity  
10% to 85% (not condensed),  
provided that humidity is less than 20% at 140°F  
(60°C)  
320 × 240  
Movie sizes  
640 × 480, WMV  
(hygrometer reading of less than 95°F (35°C))  
320 × 240, WMV, MPEG1  
160 × 120, WMV  
160 × 112, MPEG1  
Supplied accessories  
• Installation disc (CD-ROM × 1)  
• Operating instructions (1)  
• Warranty card (1)*  
Number of display frames  
Maximum: 30 frames/sec*  
* This rate differs depending on the specifications  
of your computer and the application you are  
using.  
* The accessories included vary according to  
country and region.  
Camera rotational range  
Above 10° below 90°  
Right and left 360° (as cable permits)  
Design and specifications are subject to change  
without notice.  
21  
 
Troubleshooting  
If a problem occurs during operation of the unit, refer to the information  
provided in this section. If the problem persists, consult your nearest Sony  
dealer. For contact information, see “Getting Help” on page 20. Also refer  
to the manuals provided with your computer.  
Symptom  
Cause/Remedy  
The camera is not  
recognized by your  
computer.  
• The USB cable is not connected properly.  
c Close the currently open software, and reconnect the  
cable.  
• The driver is not installed.  
c Check whether the driver is installed, and if the device  
does not display properly, install the driver. For details,  
see “Confirming Installing and Proceeding with  
Uninstalling” (page 16).  
• The driver was not installed properly.  
c Uninstall the driver, then restart your computer and  
install it again. For details, see “Confirming Installing  
and Proceeding with Uninstalling” (page 16).  
• USB cannot be used.  
c Check the system properties for your computer.  
• The camera is connected to your computer via a USB hub,  
and the power supplied by the USB hub is insufficient.  
c Use a USB hub that is capable of supplying 500 mA to  
the port.  
• If your computer is equipped with multiple USB  
connectors, connect the camera to another USB connector  
and check whether it is recognized properly.  
• If the camera is connected to the USB connector on the  
display, the display and your computer are not connected  
properly.  
c Check the connection method.  
On the task bar,  
Disconnect the camera from the USB port and restart your  
computer, then reconnect the camera.  
and the camera  
connection status are  
different.  
Images appear grainy  
in the software.  
When a fast-moving subject is displayed in the finder,  
horizontal banding may occur in the image, or horizontal  
lines may occur through the moving part of the image.  
However, this does not indicate a malfunction.  
22  
 
Symptom  
Cause/Remedy  
Still images and movie  
images downloaded  
from the camera  
appear grainy on the  
display.  
• Light may be reflected in images captured under  
fluorescent light.  
• If the downloaded image contains dark patches, red or  
green noise may appear.  
• The lens is dirty.  
c Clean the lens.  
• The image is out of focus.  
c Focus the image using the focus ring.  
Depending on the computer you are using, you may not be able  
to use the Fn key to adjust the volume when the camera is  
connected to your computer. Open the volume control from the  
taskbar and adjust the volume (page 14).  
You cannot adjust the  
speaker volume using  
the Fn key.  
• If multiple software applications are open concurrently, the  
processing speed of your computer may be exceeded. Close  
any software applications you are not using.  
When downloading  
movies from the  
camera, frame dropout  
occurs and sound is  
interrupted.  
• Your computer’s power management function is enabled.  
c Check the CPU speed setting for your computer. For  
setting details, refer to the manuals provided with your  
computer.  
Images downloaded  
from the camera stop  
for a few seconds.  
Images may stop for a few seconds in the following  
situations. However, this is not a defect.  
• When the CPU load is too heavy.  
When a keyboard shortcut that uses the Fn key is performed.  
Images downloaded  
from the camera are  
not displayed.  
• Multiple software applications are running concurrently.  
c Close any unnecessary software applications.  
• Depending on the screen mode and number of colors your  
computer is using, as well as other conditions of use,  
available video memory may be insufficient.  
c Reduce the resolution, or reduce the number of colors  
used.  
• If you perform the above procedure and the images still do  
not appear, restart your computer.  
• The images from the camera cannot be shown on the two  
displays or more. When it is necessary to display on the  
external monitor, refer to the manuals of your computer.  
Continued on next page  
23  
 
Symptom  
Cause/Remedy  
Sound is not recorded  
even though the  
microphone is  
• Check whether the recording control (or audio recording  
control) is set properly (page 14).  
• If the device driver is not installed, sound may not be  
recorded even though the microphone is connected. Follow  
the procedure described in “Installing the driver and the  
software” (page 5) to install the driver.  
connected.  
• Depending on your software, you may have to set the  
microphone as the audio input method manually. For  
details about this setting, refer to your software’s  
documentation or to “When the built-in microphone does  
not work” (page 15).  
• If you use “Windows Movie Maker” software, setup of the  
audio device you use with the camera will be necessary.  
For details on how to set, refer to the help of “Windows  
Movie Maker” software.  
When you connect the  
USB cable, the “Add  
New Hardware  
Wizard” dialog box  
appears on your  
The device driver is not installed.  
c Click “Cancel” in the “Add New Hardware Wizard” dialog  
box and, after disconnecting the USB cable from the USB  
connector, follow the procedure described in “Installing the  
driver and the software” (page 5) to install the driver.  
computer screen.  
Operation does not  
shift to the power-  
saving mode, and  
Windows operation  
becomes unstable.  
Close all software applications currently in use and restart  
your computer. If you cannot restart your computer, refer to  
the manuals provided with your computer, and turn off the  
power.  
The LCD on your  
c Operating the computer’s touch pad, mouse, or keyboard  
computer appears dark  
or enters power-saving  
mode while you are  
using the camera.  
brings the computer out of the power-saving mode.  
c You can adjust the settings on the “Power Schemes” tab of  
the “Power Options” dialog box so that your computer does  
not go on standby. It is also possible to modify power  
options with independent power management applications.  
For details, refer to the manuals provided with your  
computer.  
The computer does not  
return from the video  
standby mode.  
Operating the computer’s touch pad, mouse, or keyboard  
returns the computer from the power-saving mode. For  
details, refer to the manuals provided with your computer.  
When downloading  
still images, the image  
does not download  
immediately after you  
press the CAPTURE  
button. (An image  
occurring after the  
point when you  
Depending on the CPU speed of your computer, the  
processing load, and image size, the change in camera  
operation mode that occurs during download of still images  
may cause a lag between the time when you press the  
CAPTURE button and the time the image is actually  
downloaded .  
pressed the  
CAPTURE button is  
downloaded.)  
24  
 
Symptom  
Cause/Remedy  
Compared to the  
background, the  
subject is dark.  
If lighting such as floor lamp is in the background, faces, etc.  
might appear dark. In that case, use the Backlight Comp  
function (page 12).  
When using the  
VIDEO chatting  
software, audio is  
choppy and difficult to  
hear.  
• Depending on your network environment, the  
communication bandwidth may not be sufficient. Connect  
to a network with a higher bandwidth.  
• The sound in software is muted.  
c Depending on the VIDEO chatting software, the auto voice  
adjustment might be operated. To return to microphone  
input, open the volume control from the task bar and adjust  
the volume (page 14).  
The image from the  
camera becomes  
mosaic.  
If a computer equipped with features, such as zoom/rotation/  
zoom in, is connected to the camera, if these features are  
operated while using the camera, images might become  
mosaic.  
c Wait until the problem corrects itself or restart the software  
used with the camera, correcting the problem.  
c Before using these buttons, close the software used with  
the camera.  
The “Effects” setting  
screen in the  
The zoom function or the face tracking function in the  
“Zoom” setting screen is turned on.  
“Property” screen is  
not available.  
c The zoom function, the face tracking function and the  
function of the “Effects” setting screen cannot be used  
simultaneously. Turn off the zoom functions and/or the  
face tracking function in the “Zoom” setting screen when  
using function(s) of the “Effects” setting screen (page 12).  
Block noise occurs in  
the image of the  
camera.  
c To display a high quality image, this camera keeps a  
specified USB transfer band open. Noise may occur on the  
screen if there is a shortage of space, depending on your  
computer or if you use other devices together at the same  
time. In this case, use this camera only, and disconnect  
other devices from the USB ports.  
Software for using this  
camera is unstable.  
c If you do not update Windows to the latest version,  
Windows operation may be unstable. In this case, update  
Windows before using the camera. For details on updating,  
refer to Microsoft’s website.  
The screen blinks.  
c Change the White Balance setting to 60 Hz via the  
“Settings” tab of “Property.”  
When you change the  
size for still images to  
1,280 × 1,024, the  
image does not move  
smoothly in the screen.  
c Video frame size of 1,280  
seconds. For this reason, the screen images appear more  
slowly than other sizes, but this is not a malfunction.  
×
1,024 captures up to 7 frames/  
25  
 
2006 Sony Corporation  
A-CGT-100-11(1)  
 

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