Contents » Camera » Using the camera » Using the video camera

Using the video camera

To record a video using the camera key

  1. Activate the camera.
  2. If the video camera is not selected, tap .
  3. Press the camera key.

To record a video by tapping the screen

  1. Activate the camera.
  2. If the video camera is not selected, tap .
  3. Tap the capturing settings key in the viewfinder.
  4. Tap .
  5. Tap the screen to start recording.
  6. Tap the screen to stop the recording. The video is automatically saved on the memory card.

To view recently recorded videos

  • In the bar at the bottom of the viewfinder, tap one of the five miniatures. Videos are identified by a .

To view all recorded videos

  1. If the video camera is not selected, tap .
  2. Tap .

You can also view recorded videos in the "Video roll" category in Sony Ericsson Mediascape.

Using video camera settings

To select video camera settings

  1. Activate the camera.
  2. If the video camera is not selected, tap .
  3. Tap one of the three settings icons for quick access to common settings.
  4. To use additional settings, press and tap "Advanced settings".
  5. Tap an option within the selected setting.
  6. When you have set "Advanced settings", press to return to the viewfinder.

Video camera settings

"Video size"
Adjust the video size for different formats
"Wide VGA"

Wide VGA format with 16:10 aspect ratio. 800x480 pixels

"VGA"

VGA format with 4:3 aspect ratio. 640x480 pixels

"QVGA"

Quarter VGA format with 4:3 aspect ratio. 320x240 pixels

"Multimedia message"

Record videos suitable for sending in multimedia messages. The recording time of this video format is limited to fit in a multimedia message

"YouTube"

Record videos suitable for sharing on the YouTube™ application

"Picasa"

Record videos suitable for sharing on the Picasa™ application

"Scenes"
Use Scenes to quickly set up the camera for common situations using pre-programmed scenes. The camera has determined a number of settings for you to fit the selected scene, ensuring the best possible video
"Normal"

The camera automatically adjusts settings for a video

"Portrait"

Use for portrait videos. Settings are optimized to give slightly softer skin tones

"Landscape"

Use for landscape videos. The camera focuses on distant objects

"Night mode"

When turned on, light sensitivity is increased. Use in poorly lit environments. Videos of fast-moving objects may get blurred. Hold your hand steady, or use a support. Turn off night mode when lighting conditions are good, to improve the video quality

"Beach and snow"

Use in bright environments to avoid underexposed videos

"Sports"

Use for videos of fast-moving objects. Short exposure time minimises motion blurring

"Party"

Use for indoor videos in poorly lit environments. This scene picks up indoor background lighting or candlelight. Videos of fast-moving objects may get blurred. Hold your hand steady, or use a support

"Capturing mode"
Select the way you record a video
"Normal"

The recording starts as soon as you press the camera key

"Touch capture"

The recording starts as soon as you touch the screen

"Advanced settings"
Select additional video camera settings
"Photo light"
Use the light to record videos when lighting conditions are poor or when there is a backlight
"On"
  "Off"

Sometimes the video quality can be better without a light, even if lighting conditions are poor. Recording a good video without using the light requires a steady hand

"Self-timer"
With the self-timer you can record a video without holding the phone. Use it to record group videos where everyone can be in the video. You can also use the self-timer to avoid shaking the camera when recording videos
"On"

Set a 10-second delay from when the camera key is pressed until the video is recorded.

  "Off"

The video is recorded as soon as you press the camera key

"Metering"
This function automatically determines a well-balanced exposure by measuring the light in the viewfinder
  "Centre"

Adjust the exposure to the centre of the viewfinder

  "Average"

Calculate the exposure based on the light of the whole viewfinder

  "Spot"

Adjust the exposure to a very small part of the viewfinder

"White balance"
The white balance setting adjusts the colour balance according to the lighting conditions
  "Auto"

Adjust the colour balance automatically to the lighting conditions

  "Incandescent"

Adjust the colour balance for bright lighting such as under light bulbs, or when lighting conditions change quickly

  "Fluorescent"

Adjust the colour balance for fluorescent lighting

  "Daylight"

Adjust the colour balance for bright outdoor use

  "Cloudy"

Adjust the colour balance for a cloudy sky

"Image stabiliser"
When recording a video, it can be difficult to hold the phone steady. The stabilizer helps you by compensating for small movements of the hand
"On"

It is recommended to have the stabilizer turned on

  "Off"

When the stabilizer is turned off, the video you record might look blurred

"Shutter sound"
Select a sound, which is heard when you press the camera key to record a video
"Microphone"
Select whether to pick up the surrounding sound when recording videos
"Reset settings"
Reset all the camera settings to the original settings