Panasonic Digital Video Camera Recorder AG-DVC30P Operating Instructions

							11
BEFORE USE
Storage precautions
Before storing the camera-recorder, remove
both the cassette and battery. Store all of these
items in a place with a low humidity and
relatively constant temperature.
Recommended temperature range:
59°F to 77°F (15°C to 25°C)
Recommended relative humidity:
40% to 60%
Camera-recorder
Wrap the camera-recorder in a soft cloth to
keep the dust off.
Battery
OThe battery life is shortened in places which
are very hot or cold.
OStoring the battery in a location with oily
vapors or high dust concentrations may
corrode the terminals, cause other damage
and lead to malfunctioning.
OKeep metal objects (such as necklaces
and hairpins) away from the battery.
Short-circuiting may occur across the
terminals, causing the battery to heat up,
and you may seriously burn yourself if
you touch the battery in this state.
OThe battery should be discharged for
storage. When storing it for an extended
time, we recommended that at least once a
year you charge it, use up its charge by
operating the camera-recorder, and then
store it again.Cassette tapes
OAlways rewind your tapes to the start before
storing them. If a cassette that has been
stopped part the way through is left standing
for six months or more (this timeframe differs
depending on the storage conditions), the
tape will become slack.
OAlways put tapes back into their original
cases before storing them as factors such as
dust, direct sunlight (ultraviolet rays) and
humidity may damage the tapes. Dust
contains particles of hard minerals which
may damage the camera-recorder’s heads
and other parts if they get inside the
cassette.
OFast forward and rewind your tapes once
every six months. If tapes are kept wound up
for more than a year, the expansion and
contraction caused by changes in the
temperature and humidity may distort the
tapes. Also, parts of the tape may get stuck
together.
ODo not place cassettes near equipment or
anything else with strong magnetic fields.
OThe top surface of tapes is coated with
microscopically small magnetic particles
where the signals are recorded. Magnetic
necklaces, toys and other products may have
a stronger magnetic field than you might
suspect: they may be strong enough to erase
recordings and generate noise on the screen
and in the sound. 
						

							12
Checking the system operations
Connecting the power cord
Getting ready
1Connect the DC cord to the DC input socket. After purchasing your camera-recorder, follow
the instructions for checking the system
operations to ensure that the unit is working
properly before you attempt to shoot anything.
2Connect the other end of the DC cord and
one end of the AC cord to the AC adapter.
3Plug the other end of the AC cord into the
power outlet.
22
3
1
The AC adapter is designed to switch over
automatically to the supply voltage (110 V,
120 V, 220 V or 240 V) and frequency (50 Hz
or 60 Hz) of every country in the world.
However, in some countries the power outlet
may be a different shape. If this is the case,
you will have to purchase an adapter plug
that fits your power outlet; however, only do
this after consulting with your dealer.
Connect the cords properly as shown in
the figure above.
The battery cannot be charged when power
is being supplied to the camera-recorder
from the AC adapter.
AC adapter
AC cord
DC cord
Mini DV cassette tape 
						

							13
BEFORE USE
Checking the system operations (cont.)
Turning on the power
3Press the part marked “PUSH” and close the
cassette holder.
When the holder is closed properly, the
cassette holder is retracted automatically.
4Close the cassette cover after the cassette
holder has been completely retracted.
ODo not take hold of the cassette cover alone
to insert or remove tapes.
Insert and remove cassette tapes after
putting the camera-recorder down on a
stable, flat surface or hold it with both hands
to keep it stable.
ODo not forcibly push the cassette holder into
place as this may cause malfunctioning.
OWait until the cassette holder is completely
retracted before closing the cassette cover.
3
4
OFFONMODE
POWER
CAMERA
VCR
Hold down the white button and turn the
POWER lever to the ON position.
The CAMERA (red) lamp lights, and the
camera-recorder switches to shooting pause
mode.
POWER lever
Inserting the cassette tape
1Slide the OPEN/EJECT lever in the direction
of the arrow, and open the cassette cover.
When the cover is fully opened, the cassette
holder pops out automatically.
2Insert the cassette tape.
OPEN/EJECT
1
2
Cassette cover Cassette holder 
						

							14
Checking the system operations (cont.)
1Set the AUTO/MANUAL selector switch to
AUTO.
2Squeeze both sides of the lens cap and
remove it.
3Look through the viewfinder and check what
you want to shoot.
4Shooting starts when you press the
START/STOP (red) button on the POWER
lever.
Press this button again to pause shooting
(shooting pause mode).
Shooting
OFFONMODE
3
4
Viewfinder
1
MANUAL AUTO
2
2In the shooting pause mode, press the 
6
button.
The last two or three seconds of the scenes
you have shot are now played back.
After playback, the shooting pause mode is
restored.
SEARCH
RESET
SEARCHDIGITAL ZOOM
REC
COUNTER RESET MODE CHK ZEBRA OIS
PHOTO SHOTBARS
MANUAL AUTO
1Open the LCD monitor while holding down
the panel locking button.
The LCD monitor can be opened to a
maximum angle of 90°.
Forcing it past this point will damage the
camera-recorder.
Checking what you have shot
(rec check)
90°
You can conduct an image search (P36)by
holding down the 6button in the shooting
pause mode.
Do not hold down the 6button when
conducting a rec check.
Tape protection mode
If you leave the camera-recorder in the
shooting pause mode for 5 minutes or so, the
camera-recorder will automatically switch to
the tape protection mode and its power will
turn off.
However, when “STBY” has been selected as
the TAPE PROTECT item setting on the
OTHER FUNCTIONS screen using the
menus (P68-P71), the cylinder head will stop
instead of the power being turned off. (P80) 
						

							15
BEFORE USE
Hold down the white button and turn the
POWER lever to the OFF position.
The power is now turned off, and the CAMERA
lamp goes off.
2Disconnect the DC cord from the DC input
socket.
OFFONMODE
POWER
CAMERA
VCR
Turning off the power
Disconnecting the power cord
3Disconnect the DC cord and AC cord from
the AC adapter.
1Disconnect the AC cord from the power
outlet.
33
1
2
Checking the system operations (cont.)
Removing the tape
1Slide the OPEN/EJECT lever in the direction
of the arrow, and open the cassette cover.
When the cover is fully opened, the cassette
holder pops out automatically.
2Take out the cassette tape.
3Press the part marked “PUSH” and close the
cassette holder.
4Close the cassette cover after the cassette
holder has been completely retracted.
2
OPEN/EJECT
1
3
4
OCheck that the camera-recorder’s power is
on before sliding the OPEN/EJECT lever.
OClose the cassette cover if you are not
going to insert a cassette tape immediately
after removing another.
ODo not attempt to remove a tape while you
are recording. The cassette cover opens
but recording will continue, allowing outside
light and dust to adversely affect the tape. 
						

							16
Adjusting the hand strap
1Open the cover and adjust the strap length. Adjust the hand strap to fit your hand.2
1
2 3
1
2Close the cover firmly.
Attaching the handle
The handle comes in handy for taking low-angle
shots or carrying the camera-recorder around.
To remove the handle, first pull the viewfinder
towards you, then loosen the coin screw.
2Slide the handle into place.
3Tighten the coin screw to secure the handle
firmly.
OIf the coin screw is loose, the camera-
recorder may drop off.
1Pull the viewfinder towards you.
Coin screw
Attaching the large eye-cup
When you look through the viewfinder while
wearing spectacles or when the area around the
camera-recorder is too bright, you will be able to
see the images in the viewfinder more clearly if
you attach the large eye-cup.
2Place the large eye-cup over the viewfinder,
and fit it in the direction of the arrows.
1Turn up the edges of the standard eye-cup
and remove it.
Eye-cup 
						

							17
BEFORE USE
Attaching the shoulder strap
13/16inch (20 mm)
or more
13/16inch (20 mm)
or more
13/16inch (20 mm)
or more
13/16inch (20 mm)
or more
We recommended that you attach the shoulder
strap to help you avoid dropping the camera-
recorder.
When the handle is not attached
When the handle is attached 
						

							18
Cassette tapes
Preventing accidental erasure
To prevent erasing the recordings on a tape by
accident, set the tab on the cassette to SAVE.
REC
SAVE
$We recommend that you use the following
mini DV cassette tapes with this camera-
recorder.
AY-DVM30 (30 minutes in SP mode)
AY-DVM60 (60 minutes in SP mode)
$Although the picture quality of material shot
in the LP mode is not bad, mosaic-like noise
may appear, limitations may apply to some of
the memory functions and/or regular
playback may not be possible when:
Oa tape shot in the LP mode using this
camera-recorder is played back in another
digital video unit;
Oa tape shot in the LP mode using another
digital video unit is played back in this
camera-recorder;
Oa tape shot in the LP mode using this
camera-recorder is played back in another
digital video unit that does not have an LP
mode capability;
Oslow or frame-feed playback is performed; or
Oan image search is conducted
$Audio dubbing cannot be performed in the LP
mode as the tracks on the tape are narrower
than the heads.
Larger flat area
Lens hood
Removing the lens hood
OTurn the lens hood counterclockwise to
remove it.Attaching the lens hood
OMake sure that the larger flat part of the lens
hood is pointing upward, then fit it into place.
OTurn the lens hood clockwise to attach it. 
						

							19
DESCRIPTION
OF PARTS
PHONES
DV
CAM REMOTE
Description of parts
For details, refer to the respective pages.
Camera-recorder
Viewfinder (P10, P14,
P16, P26-P28, P35,
P79)
Eye-cup (P16)
Diopter adjustment lever (P26)
Battery release button
(P24)
START/STOP button
(P14, P35)
Battery connector
DC input (INPUT 7.9 V) socket
(P12, P15)
Shoulder strap eyelet (P17)
PHONES jack (P48,
P50, P55, P66, P80)
DV connector (P42, P55,
P61-P63, P76-P79)
CAM REMOTE jack
(2.5 mm diameter)
Tripod mounting hole
(P10)
Shoe (P16, P57)
Zoom buttons (P36, P76)
POWER lever (P13-P15,
P24, P35, P49, P58, P80)
Hand strap
(P16)
Shoulder strap eyelet
(P17)
Cassette holder
(P13, P15, P84)
Cassette cover
(P13, P15, P35)
USER button (P41, P52,
P58, P63, P64, P75)
POWER lamp (P13,
P15, P24, P49)
Built-in stereo microphone
(P38, P58, P59, P64, P76,
P78, P80)
START/STOP button
(P36, P76)
OPEN/EJECT lever
(P13, P15) 
						

							20
Description of parts (cont.)
Camera-recorder
S-VIDEO
    IN/OUT
MIC
AV
IN/OUT
XLR ADAPTER
White balance sensor (P45)
S-VIDEO IN/OUT connector
(P56)
XLR ADAPTER connector
(P57, P59)
Tally lamp (P79, P84)
Focusing ring (P36,
P42, P44, P76)
Infrared light (P37, P80)
MIC jack (P57, P59, P64, P78)
AV IN/OUT jack (P56,
P58-P61, P74, P78, P80)
Lens hood (P18)
Lens (P10)