Panasonic Hc V550 Owners Manual

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∫
Basic camera positioning
1 Hold the unit with both hands.
2 Put your hand through the grip belt.
3 It is convenient to use the Recording button icon  A when holding the unit at waist level.
≥ When recording, make sure your footing is stable and there is no danger of colliding with another 
person or object.
≥ When you are outdoors, record pictures with the sunlight behind you. If the subject is backlit, it will 
become dark in the recording.
≥ Keep your arms near your body and separate your legs for better balance.
≥ Do not cover the microphones with your hand etc.
∫ Basic motion picture recording
≥The unit should normally be held steady when recording.
≥ If you move the unit when recording, do so slowly, maintaining a constant speed.
≥ The zoom operation is useful for recording subjects you cannot get close to, but overuse of zoom 
in and zoom out can make the resulting motion picture less enjoyable to watch.
∫ Recording Yourself
Rotate the LCD monitor towards the lens side.
≥The image is horizontally flipped as if you see a mirror image. 
(However the image recorded is the same as a normal 
recording.)
≥ Only some indications will appear on the screen. When 
 appears, return the direction of the LCD monitor to normal 
position and check the warning/alarm indication. ( l184 )
Basic
Before recording

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≥Open the lens cover before turning on the unit. ( l9)
1Open the LCD monitor, and set this 
unit to Motion Picture Recording 
Mode. ( l17)
2Press the recording start/stop 
button to start recording.
3Press the recording start/stop 
button again to pause recording.
≥Recording can also be started/stopped by touching the recording button icon.
∫ Screen indications in the Motion Picture Recording Mode
≥Screen display will disappear when no touch operation is performed for a specific period of time. 
To display it again, touch the screen. ( l30)
≥ It will be constantly displayed when the remaining recordable time becomes less than 30 minutes.
≥If the recording/playback button is pressed during motion picture recording, the recording 
will stop and this unit will be switched to Playback Mode.
≥ To change the recording format, change the 
[REC FORMAT] or [REC MODE]. (l 69, 70 )
≥ Still pictures can be recorded while recording the motion picture. ( l25)
≥ The images recorded between pressing the recording start/stop button to start recording and 
pressing it again to pause recording become one scene.
When you record with the [REC FORMAT] set to [MP4/iFrame], the scenes longer than 
approximately 20 minutes will be automatically divided. (Recording will continue.)
Basic
Recording motion pictures
Recording mode
R1h20m Approximate remaining recordable time
≥
When the remaining time is less than 
1 minute, R 0h00m flashes red.
0h00m00s Recording time elapsed
≥
“h” is an abbreviation for hour, “m” for 
minute and “s” for second.
≥ Each time the unit is put into recording 
pause, the counter display will be reset 
to 0h00m00s.
HC-V250
TW
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A When you begin recording,  ; changes 
to ¥ .
B Recording button icon
0h00m00s0h00m00s0h00m00sR 1h20mR 1h20mR 1h20m 
						

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≥While recording is in progress, the recording will not stop even if the LCD monitor is closed.
≥ Please refer to page 199 for details about approximate recordable time.
≥
(Maximum recordable scenes of a single SD card)
Recording format[AVCHD][MP4/iFrame]
Recordable scenes Approx. 3900 Approx. 89100
 Different dates ( l82) Approx. 900 Approx. 900
≥ Maximum number of recordable scenes and maximum number of different dates will be less than 
above table when there are both MP4/iFrame scenes and still pictures recorded on an SD card. 
						

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≥Open the lens cover before turning on the unit. ( l9)
1Open the LCD monitor, and set this unit 
to Still Picture Recording Mode. ( l17)
2Press the   button halfway. (For Auto 
Focus only)
Focus indication:
3Press the   button fully.
≥ If you set the Optical Image Stabilizer function ( l59) to   ([MODE1]), then the Image 
Stabilizer function will be more effective. (  (MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer) will be 
displayed when the   button is pressed halfway.)
If you set the Optical Image Stabilizer function ( l42) to   ([MODE1]), then the Image 
Stabilizer function will be more effective. (  (MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer) will be 
displayed when the   button is pressed halfway.)
≥ Using a tripod is recommended when recording still pictures in dark places because the shutter 
speed becomes slow.
≥ You can also take a picture just by touching the subject to focus. (Touch Shutter:  l63)
≥ The still picture recording time may be long depending on the picture size.
≥ The focus indication and the focus area may not be displayed depending on the recording 
conditions or the menu settings.
Basic
Recording still pictures
A Focus indication:
± (The white lamp flashes.): Focusing
¥  (The green lamp lights up.): When in focus
No mark: When focusing is unsuccessful.
B Focus area (area inside brackets)
HC-V250
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HC-V550
MEGA
HC-V250
MEGA 
						

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∫
About the screen indications in Still Picture Recording Mode
∫ About the focusing area
When there is a contrasting object ahead or behind the subject in the focus area, the subject may 
not be focused. If so, move the contrasting object out of the focus area.
Recording still pictures in Motion Picture Recording 
Mode
¬Set this unit to Motion Picture Recording Mode ( l17)
Press the   button fully (press to the bottom) to take the picture.
≥ It is possible to record still pictures while recording motion pictures. 
(Simultaneous recording)
≥ While still pictures are being recorded,   turns red and the remaining number 
of recordable pictures is displayed.
≥ No shutter sound is emitted when recording still pictures.
≥Self-timer ( l66) do not work.
≥ While recording motion pictures or during the PRE-REC operation, image quality is different from 
ordinary still pictures so that motion picture recording takes preference over still picture recording.
≥ If simultaneous recording is performed during motion picture recording, the remaining recordable 
time will be shortened. If this unit is turned off or the recording/playback button is pressed, the 
remaining recordable time may be lengthened.
≥ The still picture recording time may be long depending on the picture size.
≥ Maximum number of recordable pictures that can be displayed is 9999. If the number of 
recordable pictures exceeds 9999, R 9999+ is displayed. The number will not change when the 
picture is taken until the number of recordable pictures is 9999 or less.
≥ The recording time may be long depending on the recording condition. Still picture operation indicator (
l181 )
R3000 Remaining number of still pictures
≥
Flashes in red when [0] appears.
Size of still pictures ( l76)
MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer (l 24)
Optical Image Stabilizer ( l59)
Optical Image Stabilizer ( l42)
R3000 R3000
R3000MEGA10M
≥Screen display will disappear when 
no touch operation is performed for a 
specific period of time. To display it 
again, touch the screen.
≥ It will be constantly displayed when 
the remaining number of still pictures 
that can be recorded becomes 200 
or less.
10M
MEGA
HC-V550
HC-V250 
						

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1Set this unit to Playback Mode (l17).
2Touch the play mode select icon  A  (l 19).≥You can also set by touching  , selecting [VIDEO 
SETUP] or [PICT. SETUP]  # [MEDIA, VIDEO/
PICTURE]. ( l29)
3Select the still picture  C or the recording 
format of the motion picture  D you wish to 
play back.
≥ Touch [Enter].
4(When [AVCHD] or [MP4/iFrame] is touched)
Touch the desired recording format for playback.
≥When [AVCHD] is selected
≥ When [MP4/iFrame] is selected
≥ The recording mode icon  B is displayed in the thumbnail display when the item is touched.
 ( , , ,  , , ,  and )
≥ The following icons are displayed on thumbnails when [ALL AVCHD] or [1080/60i] is touched:
jAVCHD [1080/60p] scene: 
j AVCHD [PH] scene: 
j AVCHD [HA] scene: 
j AVCHD [HG] scene: 
j AVCHD [HE] scene: 
≥ The following icons are displayed on thumbnails when [ALL MP4/iFrame] is touched:
jMP4 [1080/60p] scene: 
j MP4 [720/30p] scene: 
j MP4 [360/30p] scene: 
j iFrame scene: 
5Touch the scene or the still picture to be played back.≥To display the next (previous) page:
jSlide the thumbnail display upward (downward) while touching it.
j Switch the Touch Menu, and then touch   (up) /   (down) on the thumbnail scroll 
lever.
Basic
Motion picture/Still picture playback
[ALL AVCHD]/[1080/60p]/[1080/60i]
[ALL MP4/iFrame]/[1080/60p]/[720/30p]/[360/30p]/[iFrame]
ALL

MENU


60p 
						

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6Select the playback operation by touching 
the operation icon.
≥Operation icons and screen display will disappear when 
no touch operation is performed for a specific period of 
time. To display them again, touch the screen.
* When touched two times, the fast rewind/fast forward speed increases. (The screen display  changes to  / .)
∫ Change the thumbnail display
While the thumbnail is displayed, the thumbnail display changes in the 
following order if the zoom lever is operated to   side or   side.
20 scenes  () 9 scenes  () 1 scene  () Highlight & Time Frame Index* 
( l 80)
* Highlight & Time Frame Index can only set in Motion Picture Playback  Mode.
≥ If the recording/playback button is pressed, the thumbnail display will return to the one that 
displays 9 scenes.
≥ By displaying in 1 scene or touching and holding the thumbnail in the 20 scenes or 9 scenes 
display, recording date and time are displayed when playing back motion pictures, and recording 
date and file number when playing back still pictures.
0h01m30s 0h01m30s
0h01m30s
Operation icon
Motion picture playbackStill picture playback
1/ ;: Playback/Pause
6 : Fast rewind playback*
5 : Fast forward playback*
∫ : Stops the playback and shows the 
thumbnails. 1/
;: Slide show (playback of the still 
pictures in numerical order) start/
pa us e.
2; : Plays back the previous picture.
;1 : Plays back the next picture.
∫ : Stops the playback and shows the 
thumbnails. 
						

							- 28 -
∫
Speaker volume adjustment
Operate the volume lever to adjust the speaker 
volume during Motion Picture Playback Mode.
≥Sound will be heard only during normal playback.
≥ If pause play is continued for approx. 5 minutes, the screen returns to the thumbnails.
≥ The elapsed time for playback indication will be reset to 0h00m00s each scene.
≥ When played back with [ALL AVCHD] or [ALL MP4/iFrame] selected, the screen may become 
black momentarily at the time the scene switches.
To w a r d s  “ r”:Increases the volume
To w a r d s  “ s”:Decreases the volume
Motion picture compatibility
≥ This unit is based on AVCHD Progressive/AVCHD format/MPEG-4 AVC file format.
≥ Even if the devices used have compatible standards, when playback of motion pictures 
recorded using another device is performed using this unit, or when motion pictures recorded 
using this unit is played back in another device, playback may not proceed normally, or may 
not be possible. (Please check compatibility in the operating instruction of your device.)
≥ The only MP4 scenes that can be played back on this unit are those recorded with this unit.
Still picture compatibility≥This unit is compliant with the unified standard DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) 
established by JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association).
≥ The file formats of still pictures supported by this unit is JPEG. (Not all JPEG formatted files 
will be played back.)
≥ This unit may degrade or not play back still pictures recorded or created on other products 
and other products may degrade or not play back still pictures recorded on this unit.
≥ Depending on the playback device, still pictures may be played back with picture sizes 
different from the ones with which they were recorded. 
						

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≥Touch   (left side)/   (right side) of   on the Touch Menu to display  . ( l19)
1To u c h  .
2Touch the top menu  A.
3Touch the submenu B.
≥ Next (previous) page is displayed by touching 
/.
4Touch the desired item to enter the 
setting.
5Touch [EXIT] to exit the menu 
setting.
∫About  guide display
After touching  , touching the submenus 
and items will cause function descriptions and 
settings confirmation messages to appear.
≥After the messages have been displayed, the 
guide display is canceled.
Basic
Using the menu screen
MENU
MENU
MENU 
						

							- 30 -
Set the display method for the screen information display.
Please refer to page 20.
It is possible to display and record the time at the travel destination by selecting your home region 
and the travel destination.
1 Select the menu.
≥If the clock is not set, adjust the clock to the current time. ( l20)
≥ When the [HOME] (your home region) is not set, the message appears. Touch [ENTER] and 
proceed to Step 3.
2(Only when setting your home region)To u c h  [ H O M E ] .≥Touch [ENTER].3(Only when setting your home region)
Touch  /  to select your home 
region and touch [ENTER].
≥Touch [DAYLIGHT SAVING] to set daylight 
saving time.   is displayed and the 
summer time setting is turned on, the time 
difference between the current time and GMT 
will be set forward by 1 hour. Touch [DAYLIGHT 
SAVING] again to return to the normal time 
setting.
If you set [Link Clock to Daylight Saving] to 
[ON], the current time will also be set forward 
by 1 hour. ( l31)
4(Only when setting the region of your travel destination)
Touch [DESTINATION].≥Touch [ENTER].
Basic
Using the Setup Menu
[DISPLAY]
: [SETUP]  # [DISPLAY] # desired setting
[5 SECONDS]:Information is displayed on the screen for 5 seconds after starting the 
Motion Picture Recording Mode or Still Picture Recording Mode, starting 
to playback, or touching the screen.
[ON]:Constantly displayed.
[CLOCK SET]
[SET WORLD TIME]
: [SETUP]  # [SET WORLD TIME]
MENU
MENU


A The current time
B The time difference from GMT 
(Greenwich Mean Time)