Panasonic Hc Vx981 Hc Wx991Owners Manual

							Owner’s Manual
4K Video Camera
Model No.HC-WXF991HC-VX981
Please read these instructions carefully before using this prod uct,
and save this manual for future use.
SQW0527
until 
2016/2/29
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, 4K MP4*2, 
MP4*2, iFrame*2 or 24p*2  recording formats to 
record motion pictures using this unit. ( l 91)
*1 It is compatible with the AVCHD  Progressive (1080/60p).
*2 It is not compatible with motion pictures  recorded in AVCHD format.
AVCHD:
It is suitable for viewing on a high-definition TV 
or for saving to disc
*3.
*3 The following methods are available for  saving an image recorded in 1080/60p:
j Copy the image to a disc using the 
HD Writer AE 5.3.
j Copy the image to a Panasonic Blu-ray 
disc recorder that supports AVCHD 
Progressive.
≥ Blu-ray recorders are not sold in US.
4K MP4:
This is a recording format suitable for editing 
images. 
This format can record 4K motion pictures 
(3840 k2160/30p), which deliver a resolution 
four times higher than that of full high-definition 
motion pictures.
MP4:
This is a recording format suitable for playing 
back or editing on a PC.
iFrame:
This is a recording format suitable for playing 
back or editing on a Mac (iMovie etc.).
24p:
This allows you to record images similar to 
those shot on a roll of cinema film.
Images can be recorded as 4K motion pictures 
(3840 k2160/24p) or in high-definition picture 
quality (1920 k1080/24p).
∫ 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, the viewfinder 
or 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, the viewfinder 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  16 for more details on SD 
cards.
∫ 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”.
Read this first 
						

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≥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 
[4K MP4] and scene(s) recorded in 4K Photo 
mode: “4K MP4 scene(s)”
≥ Scene(s) recorded in the recording format 
[MP4/iFrame], scene(s) saved in 
MP4 (1920 k1080/30p), MP4 (1280 k720/
30p) or MP4 (640 k360/30p): “MP4/iFrame 
scene(s)”
≥ Scene(s) recorded in the recording mode 
[iFrame]: “iFrame scene(s)”
≥ Scene(s) recorded in the recording format 
[24p]: “24p scene(s)”
≥ Scene(s) containing only the Main Camera’s 
image that was recorded separately from a 
simultaneously recorded normal scene when 
[Backup for Twin Camera] was set to [ON]: 
“Scene(s) recorded as Backup for Twin 
Camera”
≥ Pages for reference are indicated by an 
arrow, for example:  l00
≥ Model numbers are abbreviated as follows in 
this owner’s manual:
Model numberAbbreviation used in 
this owner’s manual
HC-WXF991  [WXF991]
HC-VX981 [VX981]
WXF991
VX981
This owner’s manual is designed for use with 
models   and  . Pictures may be 
slightly different from the original.
≥The illustrations used in this owner’s manual 
show model  , however, parts of the 
explanation refer to different models.
≥ Depending on the model, some functions 
are not available.
≥  and   correspond to Wi-Fi
® 
functions.
≥ Features may vary, so please read carefully.
≥ Not all models may be available depending 
on the region of purchase.
WXF991VX981
WXF991
WXF991VX981 
						

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Read this first .................................................2
Preparation
Names and Functions of Main Parts ............ 7
Power supply................................................ 11
Inserting/removing the battery ...............  11
Charging the battery ..............................  12
Charging and recording time .................  13
Recording to a card ..................................... 16 Cards that you can use with this unit .....  16
Inserting/removing an SD card ..............  17
Turning the unit on/off ................................. 19
Selecting a mode ......................................... 20 Switching this unit between Recording 
Mode and Playback Mode .....................  20
Switching this unit between Motion 
Picture Recording Mode and Still Picture 
Recording Mode ....................................  21
LCD monitor/viewfinder .............................. 22 How to use the touch screen .................  22
Viewfinder adjustment [WXF991] ..........  23
About the Touch Menu...........................  24
Setting date and time................................... 25
Basic
Before recording .......................................... 26
Recording motion pictures ......................... 28
Recording still pictures ............................... 30 Recording still pictures in Motion Picture 
Recording Mode ....................................  31
Registering your favorite scenes while 
recording 4K motion picture...................  32
Motion picture/Still picture playback ......... 33
Using the menu screen ............................... 37
Using the Setup Menu ................................. 38
Advanced (Recording)
Using the zoom ............................................49 Zoom ratio during the Still Picture 
Recording Mode.....................................  49
HDR Movie Mode .......................................... 50
Recording with the Sub Camera 
(Twin Camera) [WXF991] .............................51 Changing and adjusting the settings of 
the Sub Camera and the Sub Window...  54
Recording with the Backup for Twin 
Camera Function .......................................... 57
Changing the Recording Mode ...................59 Intelligent Auto .......................................  60
Intelligent Auto Plus ...............................  62
Creative Control .....................................  62
HDR Movie Mode...................................  65
Scene Mode ...........................................  66
Cinema Like Effect [WXF991] ................  67
FULL HD Slow Motion Video
[VX981] ..................................................  71
4K Photo Mode ......................................  71
Stop Motion Animation Assist ................  72
Manual recording ......................................... 73
White Balance ........................................  74
Manual shutter speed/iris adjustment ....  75
Manual Focus adjustment ......................  76
Recording with the Touch Function ........... 79 Touch function icons ..............................  79
Recording functions of operation icons .... 83 Operation icons ......................................  83
Recording functions of menus ...................89
Contents 
						

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Advanced (Playback)
Playback Operations ................................. 103Motion picture playback using 
operation icon ......................................  103
Creating still picture from motion 
picture ..................................................  104
Highlight & Time Frame Index .............  104
Repeat Playback .................................  105
Resuming the previous playback.........  105
Setting the playback speed of 
FULL HD Slow Motion Video ...............  106
Zooming in on a still picture during 
playback (Playback zoom)...................  106
Various playback functions ...................... 107 Playing back motion pictures/still 
pictures by date ...................................  107
4K Cropping.........................................  108
Highlight Playback ...............................  112
Manual Edit ..........................................  118
Baby Calendar .....................................  122
Tagging Favorite Scene .......................  124
Changing the playback settings and 
playing back the slide show .................  125
Playing back still pictures recorded in 
Stop Motion Animation Assist Mode as 
a slide show .........................................  127
Deleting scenes/still pictures ................... 128 Deleting part of a scene (AVCHD/
Backup for Twin Camera) ....................  130
Dividing a scene (AVCHD/Backup for 
Twin Camera) ......................................  131
Dividing a scene to partially delete 
(4K MP4, MP4/iFrame) ........................  132
Protecting scenes/still pictures ............  133
Convert to MP4........................................... 134
Slow speed conversion ............................. 136
Watching Video/Pictures on your TV ....... 137
Connecting with an HDMI micro cable...  139
Listening in 5.1 channel sound 
(AVCHD) ..............................................  140
Playback using VIERA Link ...................... 140
Copy/Dubbing
Copying/playing back with a USB HDD ... 142 Preparing for copying/playing back ...... 142
Simple copy ......................................... 145
Copy selected files ............................... 145
Playing back the USB HDD .................  146
Dubbing with a Blu-ray disc recorder, 
video device, etc. ....................................... 148
Using the Eye-Fi™ card ............................. 152
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi® function ...........................................155
[Link to Cell] ...............................................15 7
Preparations before using 
[Link to Cell] ......................................... 158
Using [Link to Cell] with a direct 
connection............................................  159
Using [Link to Cell] with a wireless 
access point connection.......................  160
About [Link to Cell] ............................... 161
[Baby Monitor] ............................................ 163 Preparations before using 
[Baby Monitor] ......................................  163
Using [Baby Monitor]............................  164
[Home Cam] ................................................166 Preparations before using 
[Home Cam] ......................................... 166
Using [Home Cam]............................... 167
[DLNA Play] ................................................171 Preparations before using 
[DLNA Play] ......................................... 171
Playing back on a TV ...........................  172
[Copy] ......................................................... .173
Preparations before using [Copy] ........  173
Copying to a PC ...................................  175
[Live Cast] ................................................... 1 77
Preparations before using 
[Live Cast] ............................................  178
Broadcasting live..................................  179
Install the “Image App”.............................. 183
Setting Up a Wi-Fi Connection.................. 184 Using the [Wi-Fi Setup Wizard] to set 
up a connection.................................... 185
Connecting to a wireless access 
point .....................................................  186
Setting up a direct connection to a 
smartphone .......................................... 189 
						

							- 6 -
Connecting from the history .................  191
If the Wi-Fi connection cannot be 
established ..........................................  192
How to Use the [Wi-Fi Setup] Menu ......... 194
Wireless Twin/Multi-Camera
Wireless Twin/Multi-Camera function ...... 200 Notes on the Wireless Twin/
Multi-Camera function .........................  202
Using a Smartphone as a Wireless Sub 
Camera ........................................................ 2 03
When connecting a smartphone to this 
unit as a Wireless Sub Camera for the 
first time (To use the Wireless Twin 
Camera function) .................................  203
When connecting a smartphone to this 
unit as a Wireless Sub Camera for the 
first time (To use the Wireless 
Multi-Camera function) ........................  207
When connecting for the second 
time or later..........................................  210
Terminating the connection..................  211
Recording with a Wireless Sub Camera 
(Wireless Twin/Multi-Camera) ................... 212 Screen display when using a Wireless 
Sub Camera ........................................  212
Changing the Wireless Twin Camera 
settings ................................................  215
Changing the Wireless Multi-Camera 
settings ................................................  216
If the Wi-Fi connection cannot be 
established (Wireless Twin/
Multi-Camera) ............................................. 220
With a PC
What you can do with a PC ....................... 221 Before Installing HD Writer AE 5.3.......  223
Operating environment.............................. 225
Installation .................................................. 2 28
Connecting to a PC .................................... 229 About the PC display ...........................  231
Starting HD Writer AE 5.3 ..........................232 Reading the operating instructions of 
the software applications ..................... 232
If using Mac (mass storage) ......................233
Others
Indications .................................................. 23 4
Messages ....................................................238 About recovery ..................................... 239
Troubleshooting ......................................... 240
Cautions for use ......................................... 246
About copyright ......................................... 250
Recording modes/approximate 
recordable time ..........................................251
Approximate number of recordable 
pictures ....................................................... 252
Optional accessories ................................. 254 About the Remote Pan Tilt Cradle .......  255 
						

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1Video light ( l86,102 )
2 Lens (LEICA DICOMAR)
≥For information on how to attach the 
supplied lens hood, refer to page  27.
3Infrared light ( l86)
4 Internal microphones 5
Lens cover
≥ The lens cover opens in Motion Picture 
Recording Mode or Still Picture Recording 
Mode. ( l20)
6 Multi Manual Dial [CAMERA FUNCTION] 
(l 73, 100 )
7 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. 8
Wi-Fi Transmitter ( l156)
9 Headphone terminal [ ] (l 88)
≥ Excessive sound pressure from earphones 
and headphones can cause hearing loss.
≥ Listening at full volume  for long periods may 
damage the user’s ears.
10 DC input terminal [DC IN] ( l12)
≥ Do not use any other AC adaptors except the 
supplied one.
Preparation
Names and Functions of Main Parts
5
6
12
3
4
WXF991VX981
78
10
9
7
9
10
8


 
						

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11 only
Recording mode selector button
[ /4K PHOTO/ ] ( l21)
12 Recording/playback button [ / ] 
(l 20)
13HDR button [ ] (l50)
14 Wi-Fi button [Wi-Fi] 
(l 157 , 163 , 166,  171, 173 , 177 , 191 , 194, 
203 , 207 )
15 Battery release lever [BATT] ( l11)
16 Power button [ ] (l 19)
17 USB terminal 
[] (l 142,  149, 229)
18 Micro HDMI connector [HDMI] 
(l 137 )
19 A/V connector [A/V] ( l137 , 151 )
20 Microphone terminal [MIC]
≥ A compatible plug-in powered microphone 
can be used as an external microphone.
≥ If you connect an external microphone when 
a setting other than [AUTO] is selected for 
[MIC LEVEL] ( l99),   (Microphone 
input level meter) will be displayed. ≥
When the unit is connected with the AC 
adaptor, sometimes noise may be heard 
depending on the microphone type. In this 
case, please switch to the battery for the 
power supply and the noise will stop.
21 Speaker
22  only
Shoe adaptor release lever 
[SHOE ADAPTOR RELEASE] ( l254)
WXF991VX981
211122
1312
12
13
14
15
16 14
16
15
1817
0î0ê0ä0â0Ð0÷
20191817
0â0Ð0÷
19
20
21
0î0ê0ä
WXF991
VX981 
						

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23LCD monitor (Touch screen) ( l22)
≥ 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.
24 Battery holder ( l11)
25 Shoulder strap fixture
26 Recording start/stop button ( l28)
27 Status indicator ( l19, 184 ) 28
 only
Viewfinder ( l22)
29  only
Eyecup
≥ Keep the Eyecup out of reach of children to 
prevent swallowing.
30  only
Eyecup mount ( l27)
31  only
Diopter adjustment dial ( l23)
32  only
Shoe adaptor mounting part 
[SHOE ADAPTOR] ( l254 )
33 Sub Camera ( l51) 34Sub Camera dial ( l52)
WXF991VX981
252423
2524
23 283226272627


WXF991
31
30
29
WXF991
WXF991
WXF991
VX981
WXF991
33
34 
						

							- 10 -
35Tripod receptacle
≥ Attaching a tripod with a screw length of 
5.5 mm (0.22 q) or more may damage the 
unit.
36 Access lamp [ACCESS] ( l18)
37 SD card cover ( l17)
38 Card slot ( l17)
39 Photoshot button [ ] ( l30)
40 Zoom lever [W/T] (In Motion Picture 
Recording Mode or Still Picture 
Recording Mode) ( l49)/
Thumbnail display switch [ / ]/
Volume lever [ sVOL r] (In Playback 
Mode) (l 35) 41
 only
Accessory shoe cover
≥ Close this cover when not using the 
accessory shoe.
42  only
Accessory shoe≥You can attach a variety of optional 
accessories to the shoe adaptor. For 
information on how to attach and use those 
accessories, refer to their manuals.
WXF991VX981
35
37
36
38
40
35
36
37
38
4041
3939
WXF991
42
WXF991