Panasonic Hc V180 Owners Manual

							Owner’s Manual
High Definition Video Camera
Model No.HC-V180
Please read these instructions carefully before using this product,
and save this manual for future use.
SQW0490
until 
2015/12/8
Register online at http://shop.panasonic.com/support (U.S. customers only) 
						

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∫
About the recording format for 
recording motion pictures
You can select from AVCHD*1, MP4 or iFrame 
recording formats to record motion pictures 
using this unit.
 ( l 61)
*1 It is compatible with the AVCHD  Progressive (1080/60p).
AVCHD:
It is suitable for viewing on a high-definition TV 
or for saving to disc
*2.
*2 The following methods are available for 
saving an image recorded in 1080/60p:
j Copy the image to a disc using the 
HD Writer LE 3.0.
j Copy the image to a Panasonic Blu-ray 
disc recorder that supports AVCHD 
Progressive.
≥ Blu-ray recorders are not sold in US.
MP4:
This is a recording format suitable for playing 
back or editing on a PC.
≥ It is not compatible with motion pictures 
recorded in AVCHD format.
iFrame:
This is a recording format suitable for playing 
back or editing on a Mac (iMovie etc.).
≥ It is not compatible with motion pictures 
recorded in AVCHD format.
∫ Indemnity about recorded 
content
Panasonic does not accept any responsibility 
for damages directly or indirectly due to any 
type of problems that result in loss of recording 
or edited content, and does not guarantee any 
content if recording or editing does not work 
properly. Likewise, the above also applies in a 
case where any type of repair is made to the 
unit.
∫About Condensation (When 
the lens or the LCD monitor is 
fogged up)
Condensation occurs when there is a change in 
temperature or humidity, such as when the unit 
is taken from outside or a cold room to a warm 
room. Please be careful, as it may cause the 
lens or LCD monitor to  become soiled, moldy, 
or damaged.
When taking the unit to a place which has a 
different temperature, if the unit is accustomed 
to the room temperature of the destination for 
about one hour, condensation can be 
prevented. (When the difference in temperature 
is severe, place the unit in a plastic bag or the 
like, remove air from the bag, and seal the bag.)
When condensation has occurred, remove the 
battery and/or the AC adapter and leave the 
unit like that for about one hour. When the unit 
becomes accustomed to the surrounding 
temperature, fogginess  will disappear naturally.
∫Cards that you can use with 
this unit
SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card and 
SDXC Memory Card
≥4 GB or more Memory Cards that do not have 
the SDHC logo or 48 GB or more Memory 
Cards that do not have the SDXC logo are 
not based on SD Memory Card 
Specifications.
≥ Refer to page  12 for more details on SD 
cards.
Read this first 
						

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∫
For the purposes of this 
owner’s manual
≥SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card and 
SDXC Memory Card are referred to as the 
“SD card”.
≥ The smartphone and tablet are indicated as 
“smartphone”.
≥ Function that can be used for Motion Picture 
Recording Mode: 
Function that can be used for Still Picture 
Recording Mode: 
≥ Function that can be used for the Playback 
Mode: 
Function that can be used for the Playback 
Mode (motion pictures only): 
Function that can be used for the Playback 
Mode (still pictures only): 
≥ Scene(s) recorded in the recording format 
[AVCHD]: “AVCHD scene(s)”
≥ Scene(s) recorded in the recording format 
[MP4/iFrame], scene(s) saved in 
MP4 (1280 k720/30p) or MP4 (640k 360/
30p): “MP4/iFrame scene(s)”
≥ Pages for reference are indicated by an 
arrow, for example:  l00 
						

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Read this first .................................................2
Preparation
Names and Functions of Main Parts ............ 6
Power supply.................................................. 9
Inserting/removing the battery .................  9
Charging the battery ..............................  10
Charging and recording time .................  11
Recording to a card ..................................... 12 Cards that you can use with this unit .....  12
Inserting/removing an SD card ..............  13
Turning the unit on/off ................................. 14
Selecting a mode ......................................... 15 Switching this unit between Recording 
Mode and Playback Mode .....................  15
Switching this unit between 
Motion Picture Recording Mode and 
Still Picture Recording Mode .................  15
How to use the touch screen ...................... 16 About the Touch Menu...........................  17
Setting date and time................................... 18
Basic
Before recording .......................................... 19
Recording motion pictures ......................... 20
Recording still pictures ............................... 21 Recording still pictures in Motion Picture 
Recording Mode ....................................  23
Motion picture/Still picture playback ......... 24
Using the menu screen ............................... 27
Using the Setup Menu ................................. 28
Advanced (Recording)
Using the zoom ............................................ 37 Zoom ratio during the Still Picture 
Recording Mode ....................................  37
Level Shot Function..................................... 38
Changing the Recording Mode ................... 39 Intelligent Auto .......................................  40
Intelligent Auto Plus ...............................  42
Creative Control.....................................  42
Scene Mode ..........................................  45
Endless Loop Recording .......................  46 Manual recording ......................................... 47
White Balance ........................................  48
Manual shutter speed/iris adjustment ....  49
Manual Focus adjustment ......................  50
Recording with the Touch Function ........... 51 Touch function icons ..............................  51
Recording functions of operation icons .... 56 Operation icons ......................................  56
Recording functions of menus ...................60
Advanced (Playback)
Playback Operations.................................... 68 Motion picture playback using 
operation icon ........................................  68
Creating still picture from 
motion picture ........................................  69
Highlight & Time Frame Index ...............  70
Repeat Playback ....................................  70
Resuming the previous playback ...........  71
Zooming in on a still picture during 
playback (Playback zoom) .....................  71
Various playback functions......................... 72 Playing back motion pictures/
still pictures by date ...............................  72
Highlight Playback .................................  73
Manual Edit ............................................  79
Baby Calendar .......................................  82
Changing the playback settings and 
playing back the slide show ...................  84
Deleting scenes/still pictures...................... 85 Deleting part of a scene (AVCHD) .........  86
Dividing a scene (AVCHD) .....................  87
Dividing a scene to partially delete 
(MP4/iFrame) .........................................  88
Protecting scenes/still pictures...............  88
Convert to MP4 .............................................89
Watching Video/Pictures on your TV ......... 90 Connecting with an HDMI mini cable .....  92
Playback using VIERA Link......................... 93
Contents 
						

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Copy/Dubbing
Copying/playing back with a USB HDD ..... 95Preparing for copying/playing back .......  95
Simple copy ...........................................  97
Copy selected files ................................  98
Playing back the USB HDD ...................  99
Dubbing with a Blu-ray disc recorder, 
video device, etc. ....................................... 100
Using the Eye-Fi™ card............................. 104
With a PC
What you can do with a PC ....................... 107 Before Installing HD Writer LE 3.0 .......  109
Operating environment ............................. 111
Installation .................................................. 1 13
Connecting to a PC .................................... 114 About the PC display ...........................  116
Starting HD Writer LE 3.0 .......................... 117 Reading the operating instructions 
of the software applications .................  117
If using Mac (mass storage)...................... 118
Others
Indications .................................................. 11 9
Messages .................................................... 122 About recovery ....................................  122
Troubleshooting ......................................... 123
Cautions for use......................................... 128
About copyright ......................................... 132
Recording modes/approximate 
recordable time .......................................... 133
Approximate number of 
recordable pictures.................................... 134
Optional accessories ................................. 135 About the Remote Pan Tilt Cradle .......  135 
						

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1Speaker
2 A/V connector [A/V] ( l90, 103)
3 Recording/playback button [ / ] 
(l 15)
4 Level Shot Function button [ ] 
(l 38)
5 Battery release lever [BATT] ( l9)
6 Power button [ ] (l 14)
7 HDMI mini connector [HDMI] ( l90)
8 USB terminal 
[] (l 95, 101 , 11 4) 9
Lens cover opening/closing switch
When not using the unit, close the lens cover to 
protect the lens.
≥ Slide the opening/closing switch to open/
close the cover.
10 Lens cover
11 Lens
12 Internal stereo microphones
Preparation
Names and Functions of Main Parts
1
2
3
4
5
6
78
10
9
11
12 
						

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13Status indicator ( l14)
14 Recording start/stop button ( l20)
15 Battery holder ( l9)
16 LCD monitor (Touch screen) ( l16)
≥ It can open up to 90 o.
≥ It can rotate up to 180 o A towards the lens or 
90 o B  towards the opposite direction. 17
Tripod receptacle
≥ Attaching a tripod with a screw length of 
5.5 mm (0.22 q) or more may damage the 
unit.
18 SD card cover (l 13)
19 Access lamp [ACCESS] ( l13)
20 Card slot ( l13)
17
18
19
20
13 14
15
16
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21DC input terminal [DC IN] ( l10)
≥ Do not use any other AC adaptors except the 
supplied one.
22 Photoshot button [ ] ( l21)
23 Zoom lever [W/T] (In Motion Picture 
Recording Mode or Still Picture 
Recording Mode) ( l37)/
Thumbnail display switch [ / ] 
( l 25)/
Volume lever [ sVOL r] (In Playback 
Mode) (l 26) 24
Grip belt
Adjust the length of the grip belt so that it fits 
your hand.
1 Flip the belt.
2 Adjust the length.
3 Replace the belt.
25 Shoulder strap fixture
22
23
2425
21
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∫
About batteries that you can use with this unit
The battery that can be used with this unit is VW-VBT190/VW-VBT 380.
≥ The unit has a function for distinguishing batteries which can  be used safely. The 
dedicated battery (VW-VBT190/VW-VBT380) supports this function.  The only batteries 
suitable for use with this unit are genuine Panasonic products  and batteries manufactured 
by other companies and certified by Panasonic. Panasonic cannot  in any way guarantee 
the quality, performance or safety of batteries which have been  manufactured by other 
companies and are not genuine Panasonic products.
Inserting/removing the battery
≥ Press the power button to turn off the unit. ( l14)Install the battery by inserting it in the direction shown in t he figure.
Preparation
Power supply
It has been found that counterfeit battery packs which look ver y similar to the genuine 
product are made available to purchase in some markets. Some of  these battery packs 
are not adequately protected with internal protection to meet t he requirements of 
appropriate safety standards. There is a possibility that these  battery packs may lead to 
fire or explosion. Please be advised that we are not liable for any accident or failure 
occurring as a result of use of a counterfeit battery pack. To  ensure that safe products are 
used we would recommend that a genuine Panasonic battery pack i s used.
Removing the batteryBe sure to hold down the power button until 
the status indicator goes off. Then remove the 
battery while supporting the unit to prevent it 
from dropping.
Move the battery release lever in the 
direction indicated by the arrow and 
remove the battery when unlocked.
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Insert the battery until it clicks and locks. 
						

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Charging the battery
The unit is in the standby condition when the AC adaptor is connected. The primary circuit is always 
“live” as long as the AC adaptor is connected to an electrical  outlet.
Important:
≥ Do not use the AC adaptor/DC cable with any other equipment as  it is designed only for 
this unit. Also, do not use the AC adaptor/DC cable from other  equipment with this unit.
≥ The battery will not be charged if the unit is turned on.
≥ It is recommended to charge the battery in a temperature betwee n 10oC and 30 oC (50  oF 
and 86  oF). (The battery temperature should also be the same.)
A DC input terminal
1Connect the DC cable to the AC adaptor and to the DC input term inal of this unit.≥Insert the plugs as far as they will go.
2Insert the AC adaptor into an AC outlet.≥The status indicator will flash red at an interval of approxima tely 2 seconds (approximately 
1 second on, approximately 1 second off), indicating that chargin g has begun.
It will turn off when the charging is completed.
∫ Connecting to the AC outletIt is possible to use this unit with power supplied from the AC  outlet by turning on the unit with the 
AC adaptor connected.
Even when you use the AC adaptor for recording images, keep the battery connected.
This allows you to continue the recording even if a power failure occurs or the AC adaptor is 
unplugged from the AC outlet by accident.
∫ To charge by connecting to other device
It is possible to charge by connecting to other device with the  USB cable (supplied).
Please refer to page  11 5.
≥If the status indicator flashes at a particularly fast or slow  rate, refer to page 130.
≥ We recommend using Panasonic batteries ( l11).
≥ If you use other batteries, we cannot guarantee the quality of  this product.
≥ Do not heat or expose to flame.
≥ Do not leave the battery(ies) in a car exposed to direct sunlig ht for a long period of time with 
doors and windows closed.
When this unit is purchased, the battery is not charged. Charge
 the battery fully before 
using this unit for the first time.
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