Panasonic Digital Video Camera Recorder AG-DVC30P Operating Instructions

							81
TROUBLE-
SHOOTING
Before calling for service
There’s no power.
OHave the battery and AC adapter been
connected properly?
Check the connections again. (P12, P24)
Power shuts off for no apparent reason.
OTo prevent the battery from running down
needlessly and to safeguard the tape from
wear, the camera-recorder’s power is
automatically turned off when the camera-
recorder has been left in the shooting pause
mode for more than 5 minutes.
Check the setting you have selected for the
TAPE PROTECT item on the OTHER
FUNCTIONS screen. (P80)
Power goes off as soon as it is turned on.
OHas the battery run out?
If the remaining battery charge display is
blinking or the  display appears, it
means that the battery has run out.
Either recharge the battery or replace the
discharged battery with a fully charged one.
(P23)
OHas any condensation formed?
At times when, for instance, the camera-
recorder is taken from a cold place to a
heated room, condensation may form inside.
If this happens, the power is automatically
turned off and the only operation that you will
be able to perform is to remove the cassette.
Wait until the condensation has dried out.
(P84)
Power supply
The battery runs down quickly.
OHas the battery been fully charged?
Keep charging it until the AC adapter’s
CHARGE lamp goes off. (P23)
OAre you using the battery in a cold place?
The battery is affected by the ambient
temperature. Its operating time is reduced in
low-temperature locations.
OHas the battery reached the end of its service
life?
The battery has a fixed service life which
differs depending on how the battery is used.
If the battery operates only for a short period
even when it is charged adequately, it means
that it has reached the end of its service life.
The battery cannot be charged.
OIs the DC cord connected to the AC adapter?
You cannot charge the battery if this cord is
connected.
Battery
I can’t record even though I’ve inserted the
cassette tape properly.
OIs the tab on the cassette tape used to
prevent accidental erasure at the open
(SAVE) position?
You cannot record if this tab is open. (P18)
OHas the cassette tape come to the very end?
If so, replace it with another one.
OIs the POWER lever at the ON position?
OIs the VCR lamp lighted?
You cannot shoot in the VCR mode.
OHas condensation formed?
If it has formed, the only operation you can
perform is to remove the cassette tape. Wait
until the condensation has dried out. (P84)
OHas the AUTO OFF or T REEL LOCK
warning display appeared?
Check the tape as it may have snapped.
OIs the external unit disconnected from the DV
connector while you are trying to perform
backup recording with “EXT” selected as the
DV CONTROL item setting on the OTHER
FUNCTIONS screen? (P79)
Normal video recording 
						

							82
Before calling for service (cont.)
The subject is not brought into focus
automatically.
OIs the manual focus mode established?
You can focus automatically only when the
auto focus mode is established. (P35, P42)
OAre you shooting a scene where it’s hard to
bring the subject into focus in the auto focus
mode?
Some subjects are hard to bring into focus in
the auto focus mode. If this is the case, bring
the subject into focus in the manual focus
mode.
It may be hard to bring the subject into focus
when:
1. both close and distant objects are to be
shot
2. shooting through dirty windows or other
glass
3. shooting in dark places
4. there are sparkling or shiny objects around
the subject
5. subjects are moving fast
6. shooting scenes with minimal contrast
7. shooting at a low shutter speed
Other types of video recording
I can’t perform audio dubbing.
OIs the tab on the cassette tape used to
prevent accidental erasure at the open
(SAVE) position?
You cannot edit if this tab is open. (P18)
OAre you trying to edit a part that was shot in
the LP mode?
You cannot perform audio dubbing on tapes
recorded in the LP mode because the tracks
on the tape in this mode are narrower than
the head width.
Editing
There’s something wrong with the time code
display.
OIf a tape is played in the reverse slow mode,
the time code display may not register a
regular count, but this is not a sign of
malfunctioning.
The remaining tape display differs from the
actual amount of tape remaining.
OThe remaining tape is not displayed
accurately if you shoot continuously for
periods of less than 30 seconds.
OThe display may show 2 to 3 minutes less
remaining tape than the time actually
remaining on the tape.
Displays
I can’t play back a tape even when I press
the play button.
OIs the VCR lamp lighted?
No kind of playback operation can be
performed unless this lamp is lighted. (P49)
Mosaic-like noise appears when I cue or
review a tape.
OThis noise is inherent to digital video
technology. It is not a sign of malfunctioning.
Playback images do not appear on the TV
screen even though I have connected the
camera-recorder to the TV set properly.
OIs the TV input selector set to “video input?”
Read the TV set’s instruction manual
carefully, and select the video input
connector you should use to connect your
camera-recorder.
The playback images are not displayed
clearly.
OAre the camera-recorder’s heads dirty?
The playback images will not be displayed
clearly if these heads are dirty.
Playback (images) 
						

							83
TROUBLE-
SHOOTING
Before calling for service (cont.)
I can’t hear any sound from the camera-
recorder’s speaker.
OHave you turned down the camera-recorder’s
volume control too far?
In the VCR mode, adjust the volume level
using the multi dial. (P50)
I can hear two sets of sound.
OHave you selected “MIX” as the 32K (12bit)
AUDIO item setting on the PLAYBACK
FUNCTION screen? (P74)
OIf you perform audio dubbing on a tape that
was recorded with “32K (12bit)” selected as
the AUDIO REC item setting on the
RECORDING SETUP screen, you will hear
the sound heard during recording and that of
the audio dubbing. (P76)
When I performed audio dubbing on an
existing recording, the original sound was
erased.
OIf you perform audio dubbing on a tape that
was recorded with “48K (16bit)” selected as
the AUDIO REC item setting on the
RECORDING SETUP screen, you will erase
the original sound on the tape. To leave the
original sound intact, make sure that “32K
(12bit)” is selected as the item setting when
you shoot the original recording. (P76)
Playback (sound)
I can’t remove the cassette tape.
OIs power still being supplied to the camera-
recorder? (Is the power from the AC adapter
and battery supplied properly?)
So long as the power is supplied, you can
remove the cassette even if the POWER
lever is at the OFF position.
I can remove the cassette but I can’t perform
any other operations.
OHas condensation formed?
If it forms, the only operation you can perform
is to remove the cassette. Wait until the
condensation has dried out. (P84)
OIf the cassette cover is closed immediately
after sliding the EJECT switch to open the
cassette cover, you may no longer be able to
perform any operations other than eject.
If you did this, slide the EJECT switch again
to open the cassette cover, check that the
cassette mechanism has finished ejecting the
cassette, and then close the cassette cover.
The remote control unit does not work.
OHas the button battery in the remote control
unit run out?
If the remote control fails to work even when
it is operated near the camera-recorder’s
remote control sensor, it means that the
button battery has run out. Replace it with a
new one. (P25)
OIs the remote control setting the same for the
remote control unit and the camera-recorder?
If the REMOTE item setting does not
correspond between the two units, the
remote control unit will not work. (P25, P79)
I hear a rattling sound when I tilt the camera-
recorder back and forth.
OThere are some parts in the structure of the
camera unit that make a rattling sound in the
VCR mode or when the POWER lever is at
the OFF position. This is not a sign that
something is broken.
Other 
						

							Tally lamp
The tally lamp can be made to light up during shooting by
selecting “ON” as the REC LAMP item (P79)setting on the
OTHER FUNCTIONS screen.
When the camera-recorder is in any of the following
statuses, the tally lamp blinks.
OWhen the remaining charge of the battery is low
OWhen there is not much tape left
OWhen trouble has occurred in the tape transport system
OWhen an operation initiated by the remote control unit
has been received
OWhen the camera-recorder’s mode is being switched to
shootingTally lamp
84
Condensation
How to find out whether there is
condensation inside and what to do about it
if it has formed
If the  condensation mark blinks after the
camera-recorder’s power has been turned on, it
means that condensation has formed inside the
camera-recorder. If this has happened, the
power is automatically turned off within a matter
of seconds.
Take the following action.
1Remove the cassette
No other functions will be operational. It may
not even be possible to remove the cassette
tape depending on the amount of
condensation. If this is the case, wait two to
three hours before removing the cassette.
2Wait two to three hours with the cassette
holder open.
The time you need to wait will differ
depending on the amount of condensation
and the ambient temperature.3Turn on the power two to three hours later
and check whether or not the
condensation display has gone off.
To make doubly sure, wait another hour or so
after the condensation display has gone off
before using the camera-recorder again.
Also remember that even when the
condensation display has not appeared,
condensation may be forming.
OCondensation builds up gradually so the
condensation display may not appear for 10
to 15 minutes after it has started to form
inside.
OIn very cold areas, the condensation may
freeze. If this happens, it will take another
two to three hours for it to thaw out.
System resetting
Reset the system microcomputer if you can no longer
operate the camera-recorder even though its power is on or
a similar kind of a problem has occurred.
Use a pointed object to press the RESET button on the
camera-recorder. This will reset the system microcomputer.
The menu settings entered and memory contents will not be
cleared even when the system is reset.
Do not press the RESET button when the camera-
recorder is operating normally.
SEARCH
RESET
SEARCHDIGITAL ZOOM
REC
COUNTER RESET MODE CHK ZEBRA OIS
PHOTO SHOTBARS
MANUAL AUTO
RESET button 
						

							85
SPECIFI-
CATIONS,
OTHER
Maintenance cautions
Do not use benzine or paint thinners for maintenance purposes.
OUsing benzine or paint thinners may deform the camera-recorder and/or cause the surface finish
to peel off.
OBefore proceeding with maintenance, remove the battery or disconnect the AC cord from the
power outlet.
OUse a soft, clean cloth to wipe the camera-recorder. To remove stubborn dirt, wipe the camera-
recorder with a cloth moistened with kitchen detergent that has been diluted with water and then
use a dry cloth to take up the remaining moisture.
Cleaning the video heads
When the video heads are dirty, mosaic-like
noise will appear here and there when tapes are
played back and/or a bluish tone will permeate
entire images.
Very dirty heads cause a deterioration in the
recording capability and at worst, they will make
it impossible to record altogether.
Factors that make the heads dirty
OHigh concentrations of dust in the
atmosphere
OHigh-temperature and high-humidity
environments
OTape damage
OProlonged use
Use a cleaning cassette tape!
1Insert a cleaning tape into the camera-
recorder and set the POWER lever to the ON
position.
2Turn the POWER lever to the MODE
position, and check that the VCR lamp has
lighted.
3Press the 1button, then ten seconds later
press the $button.
(Do not rewind the tape at this time.)
4Remove the cleaning tape, proceed with
recording and playback as a trial on another
tape and check the resulting images.
5If the images are not clear, repeat steps 1to
4.
(Do not use the cleaning tape more than 4
times in one go.)ODo not rewind the cleaning tape at any
interim point while it is playing. When it
reaches the end, rewind it and use it again in
the same way from the start.
OIf the heads become dirty again immediately
after they have been cleaned, it may mean
that the condition of cleaning tape itself has
deteriorated. Stop using the tape
immediately.
OExcessive use of cleaning tapes will result in
head wear. When the heads are worn,
images will not be played back clearly even
immediately after the heads have been
cleaned.
OIf the dirty heads do not become any cleaner
even when a cleaning tape is used, you will
need to have your dealer arrange for your
camera-recorder to be cleaned and/or
repaired. Consult your dealer if this happens.
Periodic inspections
To ensure that you will be able to view good-
quality images, it is recommended that you
replace the video heads and any other worn
parts every 2,000 hours or so of use.
(However, this period will differ significantly
depending on the temperature, humidity, dust
and other factors in the operating environment.) 
						

							86
Specifications
indicates safety information. Supply voltage:DC 7.2 V/7.9 V
Power consumption:
5.0 W (when the viewfinder is used)
6.1 W (when the LCD monitor is used)
Power consumption when XLR
microphone adapter (AG-MYA30G) is
connected:
6.2 W (when the viewfinder is used)
7.4 W (when the LCD monitor is used)
8.5 W (maximum)
[GENERAL]
Ambient operating temperature
32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C)
Ambient operating humidity
10% to 85% (no condensation)
Weight
2.31 lb (1.05 kg)
(excluding battery and accessories)
Dimensions (WkHkD)
4 
3/8k4 5/8k10 inches (110k116k253 mm)
The height increases to 6 5/16inches (160
mm) when the handle is attached.
Recording format
Digital video SD format
Tape format
Mini DV system
Video signals recorded
525i (NTSC)
Shooting mode
60i
Audio signals recorded
PCM digital recording
16 bits: 48 kHz/2 channels
12 bits: 32 kHz/4 channels
Recording tracks
Digital video/audio:
Helical tracks
Time code:
Helical track (sub code area)
Tape speeds
SP mode: 18.812 mm/sec.
LP mode: 12.555 mm/sec.
Recording time (when AY-DVM60 is used)
SP mode: 60 minutes
LP mode: 90 minutes
Tapes used
6.35 mm wide metal tapes
FF/REW time
Approx. 140 sec. (when AY-DVM60 is used)Pickup devices
Interline transfer 
1/4-inch CCD image senser
(k3)
Number of pixels
Total number of pixels: 410,000, 
Number of effective pixels: 380,000
(pixel offset system)
Lens
Leica DICOMAR 
optical image stabilizer lens,
motorized 16kzoom, 
F1.6 (f=4.1 to 65.6 mm)
(35 mm equivalent: 39.5 to 632 mm)
Color separation optical system
Prism system
ND filter
Interlocked with iris, auto ON/OFF
Gain settings
0, +3, +6, +9, +12, +15, +18 dB
Shutter speed settings
Slow shutter speeds:
1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30 sec.
Regular shutter speeds:
1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350,
1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000,
1/3000, 1/4000, 1/8000 sec.
Synchro scan shutter speeds:
1/60.3 to 1/250 sec.
Minimum subject illuminance
4 lux: 
F1.6, +18 dB gain, 50 IRE video output
Lens hood
Large-sized lens hood with wide angle of
view
Filter diameter
43 mm
LCD monitor
3.5-inch LCD color monitor, 200,000 pixels
Viewfinder
0.44-inch, LCD color viewfinder, 180,000
pixels
Internal microphone
Stereo microphone
Internal speaker
20 mm diameter 
						

							87
SPECIFI-
CATIONS,
OTHER
Specifications (cont.)
[VIDEO]
Sampling frequency
Y: 13.5 MHz, PB/PR: 3.375 MHz
Quantizing
8 bits
Video compression system
DCT + variable-length code
Error correction
Reed-Solomon product code
[AUDIO]
Sampling frequency
48 kHz/32 kHz
Quantizing
16 bits/12 bits
Frequency response
20 Hz to 20 kHz
Wow & flutter
Below measurable limits
[CONNECTORS]
MIC
Stereo (3.5 mm diameter)
Mic sensitivity: –70 dBV
S-VIDEO IN/OUT
(input/output switched automatically)
S-connector, Y/C separate signal
input/output
Y: 1.0 V [p-p], C: 0.286 V [p-p], 75 Ω
AV IN/OUT
(input/output switched automatically)
Mini jack (3.5 mm diameter)
Video:
Analog composite input/output, 1.0 V [p-p],
75 Ω
Audio (CH1, CH2):
Input: –10 dBV, high impedance
Output: –10 dBV, low impedance
XLR ADAPTER
Dedicated mini XLR connector
DC input (INPUT 7.9 V)
DC 7.9 V
PHONES
Stereo (3.5 mm diameter)
DV
4 pins, digital input/output, compliant with
IEEE 1394 standard
CAM REMOTE
Mini jack (2.5 mm diameter)
[OPTIONAL UNITS]
Wide conversion lens
AG-LW4307P
Stereo microphone
AG-MC15P
XLR microphone
AG-MC100G
XLR microphone adapter
AG-MYA30G
Infrared light
AG-YRL30G
Hard carrying case
AG-HT30G
Soft carrying case
AG-SC100G
Battery
CGR-D16
(1600 mAh: equivalent to accessory
battery)
CGP-D28 (2800 mAh)
CGA-D54 (5400 mAh)
AC adapter kit
AG-B15 (equivalent to accessory AC cord,
DC cord, AC adapter)
Cleaning tape
AY-DVMCLA
indicates safety information. Power Source:
110/120/220/240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption:
18 W
Weight
0.35 Ib (0.16 kg)
Dimensions (WaHaD)
2 
13/16a1 13/16a4 5/8inches
(70a44.5a116 mm)
[AC ADAPTER]
Weight and dimensions shown are approximate.
Specifications are subject to change without
notice. 
						

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