Panasonic Digital Video Camera Recorder AG-DVC60P Operating Instructions

							MENUS
71
The underlining indicates the factory setting.
AV IN/OUT SETUP screen
Item/
(Display
mode)Description of settings
A. DUB
INPUT
(VCR)Use this to select the sound to be recorded
when performing audio dubbing.
MIC:
The sound of the internal microphone or
external microphone is recorded. (P52)
A_IN:
The sound of the audio unit connected to
the AUDIO IN/OUT jack is recorded.

If audio dubbing is performed on a recording
which was made in the 48K (16-bit) audio
mode, the sound heard during shooting will
be overwritten and the dubbed sound
recorded in its place.
DV OUT
(VCR)Select the ON setting when converting analog
input signals into digital signals and output-
ting them from the DV connector.
OFF
, ON
DISPLAY SETUP screen
Item/
(Display
mode)Description of settings
ZEBRA
DETECT
(CAM)Use this to set the brightness level at which
the zebra patterns are to be displayed.
80%
, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 105%
VIDEO OUT
OSD
(CAM) (VCR)Select the ON setting to output the informa-
tion displayed on the screen together with the
signals from the VIDEO IN/OUT jack.
OFF
, ON
DATE/TIME
(CAM) (VCR)Use this to set whether to display the date
and/or time on the screen and on the signals
that are output from the VIDEO IN/OUT jack.
OFF:
The date and time are not displayed.
TIME:
The time is displayed.
DATE:
The date is displayed.
TIME&DATE:
The date and time are displayed.
•If any setting other than OFF is selected,
the time and/or date are displayed for the
signals that are output from the AV IN/
OUT jack, regardless of the setting
selected for the VIDEO OUT OSD item.
LEVEL
METER
(CAM) (VCR)Select ON to display the audio level meter on
the screen.
OFF, ON
DISPLAY
(CAM) (VCR)Use this to set the amount of information to
be displayed on the screen. (P61)
OFF, PARTIAL
, ALL
CAMERA
DATA
(VCR)With the ON setting, the camera settings
(vibration reduction, F-number, gain value
and white balance information) at the time of
shooting are displayed when the tape is
played back.
OFF, ON

When a tape on which the unit’s camera set-
tings has been recorded is played back on
another unit, the camera settings may not be
displayed properly.
LCD
BACKLIGHT
(CAM) (VCR)Use this to adjust the backlight of the LCD
monitor.
When HI is selected, the backlight is made
brighter than usual.
HI, NORMAL 
						

							72
Menu configuration (cont.)
The underlining indicates the factory setting.
DISPLAY SETUP screen
Item/
(Display
mode)Description of settings
LCD/EVF
SET
(CAM) (VCR)Use this to adjust the display level of the
images appearing in the viewfinder or on the
LCD monitor.
LCD BRIGHTNESS:
Select this to adjust the brightness of the
images on the LCD monitor.
LCD COLOR LEVEL:
Select this to adjust the color level of the
images on the LCD monitor.
EVF BRIGHTNESS:
Select this to adjust the brightness of the
images in the viewfinder.
SELF SHOOT
(CAM)When MIRROR is selected, an image with
the left and right sides reversed will appear
on the LCD monitor when shooting a selfpor-
trait.
NORMAL, MIRROR
EVF MODE
(CAM) (VCR)Use this to select to switch the screen
images.
ON:
The images are always displayed in the
viewfinder.
AUTO:
The images in the viewfinder are cleared
when the LCD monitor is opened.
EVF COLOR
(CAM) (VCR)Select ON to display the images on the view-
finder screen in color.
OFF:
The images are displayed in black and
white.
ON:
The images are displayed in color.
EVF DETAIL
(CAM) (VCR)When ON is selected, the contours of the
images in the viewfinder and on the LCD
monitor are emphasized to make focusing
easier.
However, the images recorded will be normal
images without emphasized contours.
OFF
, ON
OTHER FUNCTIONS screen
Item/
(Display
mode)Description of settings
REMOTE
(CAM) (VCR)Use this to set the operations to be performed
using the accessory remote control unit.
(P19)
VCR1:
Operations performed using the remote
control unit which has been set up for use
with VCR1 are accepted.
VCR2:
Operations performed using the remote
control unit which has been set up for use
with VCR2 are accepted.
OFF:
No operations performed using a remote
control unit are accepted.
DV
CONTROL
(CAM)Use this to set the control method to be used
when a backup unit is connected to the DV
connector and backup recording is to be per-
formed.
OFF:
The backup unit is not controlled.
EXT:
The backup unit is controlled using the
camera-recorder’s START/STOP button.
The images shot using the camera-
recorder are recorded using the backup
unit. (The camera-recorder does not per-
form the recording operation.)
BOTH:
The images shot using the camera-
recorder are recorded by both the camera-
recorder and the backup unit.
CHAIN:
When the camera-recorder’s tape
approaches its end during shooting,
recording is automatically started by the
backup unit that has been waiting in the
recording standby mode.
DV
CMD SEL
(CAM)Use this to set the recording operation to be
performed by the backup unit when the cam-
era-recorder’s START/STOP button is
pressed.
REC_P:
The START/STOP button switches
between recording and rec pause.
STOP:
The START/STOP button switches
between recording and stop.

If the backup unit does not have a rec pause
function, select STOP.
REC LAMP
(CAM)Select ON to light the tally lamp during shoot-
ing. (P77)
OFF
, ON 
						

							MENUS
73
The underlining indicates the factory setting.
OTHER FUNCTIONS screen
Item/
(Display
mode)Description of settings
BEEP
SOUND
(CAM)Select ON to be warned by a beep that the
shooting has started or ended or that a prob-
lem has occurred.
OFF
, ON
The beeps are output as audio signals from
the PHONES jack and AV IN/OUT jack. When
a beep is sounded, the audio signals from the
built-in microphone are muted and the beep
is output instead.
One beep sounds:
•when the POWER lever is set to the ON
position
•when shooting has started
Two beeps sound:
•when shooting is paused
10 beeps sound in succession:
•when a cassette tape has not been inserted
•when the cassette tape is set to the record-
ing inhibited status
•when condensation has formed inside the
camera-recorder
•when a problem has occurred in the cam-
era-recorder
CLOCK SET
(CAM) (VCR)Use this to set the camera-recorder’s internal
calendar.
TIME SHIFT
(CAM) (VCR)The time set using this item is added to the
clock time of the internal calendar (time differ-
ence compensation) and displayed on the
viewfinder and LCD monitor. The added time
is also recorded on the tape.
+23h --- +1h, OFF
, –1h --- –23h
(In 1-hour increments)
TA P E
PROTECT
(CAM)When the camera-recorder has been left in
the pause mode for about 5 minutes, it is
automatically set to the tape protection mode.
Use this item to select the kind of tape protec-
tion mode to be established.
POWER OFF:
The camera-recorder’s power is set to
OFF.
STBY:
The cylinder head is set to the stop status.
IR LED
(CAM)Use this to set the control over the infrared
light which is used during high-sensitivity
recording. (P32)
AUTO:
The infrared light comes on as soon as the
high-sensitivity shooting mode is estab-
lished.
OFF:
The infrared light does not come on no
matter whether the high-sensitivity shoot-
ing mode is established or not.
Item/
(Display
mode)Description of settings
USER FILE
(CAM) (VCR)LOAD:
The menu (except scene file) settings
which were saved last are loaded.
SAVE:
The changed menu settings are saved.
INITIAL:
The menu settings are returned to the fac-
tory settings.
•When the power is turned off without
selecting SAVE, the VCR mode menu set-
tings will be saved but the CAMERA mode
menu settings will be returned to the origi-
nal settings.
•When a LOAD or INITIAL operation has
been performed, set the camera-
recorder’s POWER lever first to the OFF
position and then back to ON in order to
ensure that the settings concerned will
take effect.
HOUR
METER
(CAM) (VCR)Use this to display the total running time (a 5-
digit figure in 1-hour increments) of the cylin-
der head. 
						

							74
Before calling for service
Power supply
Battery
Normal video recording
There’s no power.•Have the battery and AC adapter been connected properly?
Check the connections again.P10, 21
Power shuts off for no 
apparent reason.•To prevent the battery from running down needlessly and to safe-
guard the tape from wear, the camera-recorder ’s power is automat-
ically 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.P73
Power goes off as soon as 
it is turned on.•Has 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.
•Has 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.P20
P77
The battery runs down 
quickly.•Has the battery been fully charged? 
Keep charging it until the AC adapter’s CHARGE lamp goes off.
•Are 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.
•Has 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 ser-
vice life.P20
–––
–––
The battery cannot be 
charged.•Is the DC cord connected to the AC adapter? 
You cannot charge the battery if this cord is connected.–––
I can’t record even though 
I’ve inserted the cassette 
tape properly.•Is the tab on the cassette tape used to prevent accidental erasure 
at the open (SAVE) position? 
You cannot record if this tab is open.
•Has the cassette tape come to the very end? 
If so, replace it with another one.
•Is the POWER lever at the ON position?
•Is the VCR lamp lighted? 
You cannot shoot in the VCR mode.
•Has 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.
•Has the AUTO OFF or T REEL LOCK warning display appeared? 
Check the tape as it may have snapped.
•Is 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?P15
–––
–––
–––
P77
–––
P72 
						

							TROUBLE-
SHOOTING
75
Other types of video recording
Editing
Displays
Playback (images)
The subject is not brought 
into focus automatically.•Is the manual focus mode established? 
You can focus automatically only when the auto focus mode is 
established.
•Are 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 speedP30, 37
–––
I can’t perform audio dub-
bing.•Is the tab on the cassette tape used to prevent accidental erasure 
at the open (SAVE) position? 
You cannot edit if this tab is open.
•Are 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.P15
–––
There’s something wrong 
with the time code dis-
play.•If 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 malfunc-
tioning.–––
The remaining tape dis-
play differs from the 
actual amount of tape 
remaining.•The remaining tape is not displayed accurately if you shoot continu-
ously for periods of less than 30 seconds.
•The display may show 2 to 3 minutes less remaining tape than the 
time actually remaining on the tape.–––
–––
I can’t play back a tape 
even when I press the 
play button.•Is the VCR lamp lighted? 
No kind of playback operation can be performed unless this lamp is 
lighted. P43
Mosaic-like noise appears 
when I cue or review a 
tape.•This 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 con-
nected the camera-
recorder to the TV set 
properly.•Is 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.•Are the camera-recorder’s heads dirty? 
The playback images will not be displayed clearly if these heads 
are dirty.––– 
						

							76
Before calling for service (cont.)
Playback (sound)
Other
I can’t hear any sound 
from the camera-
recorder’s speaker.•Have you turned down the camera-recorder’s volume control too 
far? 
In the VCR mode, adjust the volume level using the multi dial.P44
I can hear two sets of 
sound.•Have you selected “MIX” as the 32K (12bit) AUDIO item setting on 
the PLAYBACK FUNCTION screen?
•If you perform audio dubbing on a tape that was recorded with “32K 
(12bit)” selected as the AUDIO REC item setting on the RECORD-
ING SETUP screen, you will hear the sound heard during recording 
and that of the audio dubbing.P67
P69
When I performed audio 
dubbing on an existing 
recording, the original 
sound was erased.•If you perform audio dubbing on a tape that was recorded with “48K 
(16bit)” selected as the AUDIO REC item setting on the RECORD-
ING 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. P69
I can’t remove the cas-
sette tape.•Is 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.•Has condensation formed?
If it forms, the only operation you can perform is to remove the cas-
sette. Wait until the condensation has dried out.
•If 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 cas-
sette mechanism has finished ejecting the cassette, and then close 
the cassette cover.P77
–––
The remote control unit 
does not work.•Has 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.
•Is 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.P19
P19, 72
I hear a rattling sound 
when I tilt the camera-
recorder back and forth.•There 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.––– 
						

							TROUBLE-
SHOOTING
77
SPECIFI-
CATIONS,
OTHER
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.
Remove 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.
Wait 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 tem-
perature.Turn 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.
•Condensation builds up gradually so the condensa-
tion display may not appear for 10 to 15 minutes
after it has started to form inside.
•In very cold areas, the condensation may freeze. If
this happens, it will take another two to three hours
for it to thaw out.
Tally lamp
System resetting
1
2
3
The tally lamp can be made to light up during shooting by selecting
“ON” as the REC LAMP item (P72) setting on the OTHER FUNC-
TIONS screen.
When the camera-recorder is in any of the following statuses, the
tally lamp blinks.
•When the remaining charge of the battery is low
•When there is not much tape left
•When trouble has occurred in the tape transport system
•When an operation initiated by the remote control unit has been
received
•When the camera-recorder’s mode is being switched to shooting
Tally lamp
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.
CH1
CH2AUDIO LEVEL
REC
MODE CHK SNS
OIS ZEBRARESET COUNTER ZOOM SPEED
OFF/MH
L
AUDIO IN
FRONT
REARCH1 CH2MIC
MICLINE
RESET
FOCUS USER 2SEARCH MANUALMENU VOL/JOGSEARCH D.ZOOM
USER 3STILLWHITE BALAUTOPUSHSHUTTER/IRIS
RESET button 
						

							78
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
•High concentrations of dust in the atmosphere
•High-temperature and high-humidity environments
•Tape damage
•Prolonged use
Use a cleaning cassette tape!
Insert a cleaning tape into the camera-recorder
and set the POWER lever to the ON position.
Press the MODE button, and check that the VCR
lamp has lighted.
Press the q button, then ten seconds later press
the g button. 
(Do not rewind the tape at this time.)
Remove the cleaning tape, proceed with record-
ing and playback as a trial on another tape and
check the resulting images.
If the images are not clear, repeat steps   to  . 
(Do not use the cleaning tape more than 4 times
in one go.)•Do 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.
•If the heads become dirty again immediately after
they have been cleaned, it may mean that the condi-
tion of cleaning tape itself has deteriorated. Stop
using the tape immediately.
•Excessive 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.
•If 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.)
Maintenance cautions
Do not use benzine or paint thinners for maintenance purposes.
•Using benzine or paint thinners may deform the camera-recorder and/or cause the surface finish to peel off.
•Before proceeding with maintenance, remove the battery or disconnect the AC cord from the power outlet.
•Use 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.
1
2
3
4
514 
						

							79
SPECIFI-
CATIONS,
OTHER
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 tempera-
ture.
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
•The battery life is shortened in places which are very
hot or cold.
•Storing the battery in a location with oily vapors or
high dust concentrations may corrode the terminals,
cause other damage and lead to malfunctioning.
•Keep metal objects (such as necklaces and hair-
pins) away from the battery.
Short-circuiting may occur across the terminals,
causing the battery to heat up, and you may seri-
ously burn yourself if you touch the battery in
this state.
•The 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
•Always 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 con-
ditions), the tape will become slack.
•Always 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.
•Fast 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.
•Do not place cassettes near equipment or anything
else with strong magnetic fields.
•The top surface of tapes is coated with microscopi-
cally small magnetic particles where the signals are
recorded. Magnetic necklaces, toys and other prod-
ucts 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.
Names, companies, and products referred to in these operating instructions are the trademarks or registered
trademarks of the respective companies. 
						

							80
Specifications
[GENERAL]
Ambient operating temperature
32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C)
Ambient operating humidity
10% to 85% (no condensation)
Weight
5.7 lb (2.60 kg)
(excluding battery and accessories)
Dimensions (W×H×D)
8-9/16 inch × 8-13/16 inch × 17 inch
(217 mm × 224 mm × 431 mm)
Recording format
DV (Digital video SD format)
Ta p e  f o r m a t
Mini DV system
Video signals recorded
525/60i (NTSC)
Shooting mode
525/60i
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-DVM63PQ/MQ is used)
SP mode: 60 minutes
LP mode: 90 minutes
Ta p e s  u s e d
6.35 mm wide metal tapes
FF/REW time
Approx. 140 sec. (when AY-DVM63PQ/MQ is used)Pickup devices
Interline transfer 1/4-inch CCD image senser (×3)
Number of pixels
Total number of pixels: 410,000,
Number of effective pixels: 380,000
(pixel offset system)
Lens
Optical image stabilizer lens,
motorized 16× zoom,
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.
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
2.5-inch LCD color monitor, 110,000 pixels
Viewfinder
0.44-inch, LCD color viewfinder, 180,000 pixels
Internal microphone
Stereo microphone
Internal speaker
20 mm diameter
Supply voltage: DC 7.2 V/7.9 V
Power consumption:
6.2 W (when the viewfinder is used)
7.4 W (when the LCD monitor is used)
8.9 W (Maximum)
indicates safety information.