Panasonic Hx A500 Owners Manual

							- 21 -
The firmware version of this unit is displayed.
≥This item cannot be displayed in “Image App”.
You can update the firmware version of this unit.
≥ This item cannot be used in “Image App”.
Set the file number of the motion picture and still picture recorded next to 0001.
≥ Folder number is updated and file number will start from 0001. ( l74)
≥ To reset the folder number, format the microSD card, and then perform [NUMBER RESET].
You can select the language on the screen display and the menu screen.
≥ This item cannot be set in “Image App”.
[FIRMWARE VERSION]
[FIRMWARE UPGRADE]
For the latest update information, check the support website below. (As of April 2014)
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/e_cam/index.html
(This Site is English only)
[NUMBER RESET]
[LANGUAGE] 
						

							- 22 -
This unit is designed to record images when attached to the Armband Case and the Head Mount.
Wearing this unit
Wear the main unit and camera unit.
1Insert the main unit so that you can see the 
buttons on it
≥Make sure to insert the main unit all the way in.
2Fasten the main unit with the hook and 
loop fastener.
3Adjust the length of the band.
Recording
Before recording


≥If a feeling of discomfort arises after a long 
period of use, stop the use or adjust the 
size of the Head Mount/Armband Case/
Headband to loosen them a little. Please 
note that the parts may leave marks on 
your face and other body parts after use.
≥ For the direction of the camera, check the 
actual image on the LCD monitor.
A Camera unit
B Main unit
Fastening the main unit using the Armband Case



AHook and loop fastener



B Hard surface of the hook and loop 
fastener
C Hook and loop fastener 
						

							- 23 -
4Pass the band through the band hole.
5Attach the band to the hard surface of 
the hook and loop fastener to fasten 
the band to your arm.
≥When fastening the main unit, try not to drop the 
camera unit to avoid a shock and try not to 
scratch the lens.
∫ About the Armband Case
The Armband Case can be used as a portable holder.
≥The camera unit can be stored in the camera pocket  B, and the camera/main unit connection 
cable can be bundled with the band  A.
≥ When fastening to your arm, remove the camera unit from the Armband Case.
≥When removing the camera/main unit from the Armband Case, avoid pulling the camera/main 
unit connection cable.
≥ Do not forcibly bend or pull the cable. Be extra careful in low temperatures, which cause the cable 
to become fairly inflexible.
≥ Optional accessories will be handy in various scenes. ( l91)

D Hard surface of the hook and loop 
fastener

 
						

							- 24 -
1Push down the lock lever of the 
Head Mount (L) to the UNLOCK side.
2Attach the Head Mount (R) to the Head Mount (L).
3Loosen the adjustment knob, and 
change the direction of the camera 
holder.
≥To loosen the adjustment knob, rotate it 
towards  1. To tighten the adjustment knob, 
rotate it towards  2.
≥ Adjust the direction as shown in the illustration, 
and tighten the adjustment knob again.
1Insert the camera unit until it clicks 
into place.
≥Insert the camera unit so that the microphone 
faces inward.
2Fit the camera/main unit connection 
cable in the cable holder.
≥Loosen the cable to make the shape of the 
Head Mount.
Assembling the Head Mount
Attaching the camera unit to the Head Mount to wear

A Lock lever




B Adjustment knob
C Camera holder

AMicrophone


BCable holder
C Camera/main unit connection 
cable 
						

							- 25 -
3Hook the Head Mount to your ears 
firmly so that the camera unit will be 
positioned on the left side of your 
face.
4Adjust the size of the Head Mount, 
and push down the lock lever to the 
LOCK side.
≥Adjust by slowly pulling the Head Mount (R) 
sideways.
≥ If you adjust in such a way that the camera unit  comes into close contact with the cheek, you can 
record less blurry images.
5Hold the camera holder, and adjust 
the direction of the lens.
≥ To loosen the adjustment knob, rotate it 
towards  1. To tighten the adjustment knob, 
rotate it towards  2.
≥ If the direction of the lens cannot be changed, 
loosen the adjustment knob slightly and tighten 
it after adjusting the direction of the lens.
≥ If the camera unit is shaky, tighten the 
adjustment knob.
∫ Attaching the Headband
When recording images full of motion such as sports, attach the Headband before putting on the 
Head Mount.
1 Pass the Headband through the 
Headband holes.
≥Attach the Headband correctly so that it will not be 
twisted.
≥ You can adjust the size of the Headband by fitting 
the Head Mount into a different notch.
2 Put on the Head Mount.≥To change the size of the Headband, remove the Head Mount 
before making the adjustment.



D
Adjustment knob
E Camera holder


ANotches
B Headband holes 
						

							- 26 -
∫
How to remove the camera
Hold the camera holder as shown in the figure, and remove the 
camera unit in the direction of the arrow.
≥Do not touch the lens or pull the camera/main unit connection cable while attaching or removing.
≥ When adjusting the size of the Head Mount and the tightness of the Headband, do so slowly 
without applying too much force.
≥ If the adjustment knob comes off, attach it as indicated in the 
right figure.
We recommend you make a test recording to check the settings such as the [ANGLE OF VIEW], 
[LEVEL SHOT], [IMAGE STABILIZATION] and [WHITE BALANCE] before recording. 
( l 27, 33 , 34 , 35 )
≥ Put on this unit, face forward, and take the main  unit out of the Armband Case to check the LCD 
monitor.
≥ You can use [Shooting guidelines] ( l36) as a guide for checking the balance of a composition. 
(“Image App” only)
≥ The camera unit stabilizes if you wear it while placing it on your cheek.
Things to check after putting on this unit 
						

							- 27 -
≥Set this unit to the desired Recording Mode before recording. ( l30)
∫ Screen indications in the Recording mode
(When recording a motion picture)
(When recording a still picture)
Recording
Recording
1Press the recording start/stop 
button.
≥If this unit is set to record a motion picture, 
recording starts.
≥ In [PICTURE RECORDING], a still picture will be 
recorded.
≥ Once recording starts, the LCD monitor will turn off 
approximately 30 seconds later. To turn it on again, 
operate the joystick.
A When you begin recording a motion picture,  ; 
changes to ¥ .
2(When recording a motion picture)Press the recording start/stop button again 
to pause recording.
Motion Picture Recording Mode ( l30)
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.
≥ The elapsed recording time starts 
counting time as recording starts.
R1h20m Approximate remaining recordable time
≥
When the remaining time is less than 
1 minute, R 0h00m flashes red.
(White) Still Picture Recording Mode (l 31)
(Red) Recording still picture
≥
While still pictures are being recorded, 
this icon is displayed.
R3000 Remaining number of still pictures
≥
Flashes in red when [0] appears.

R 1h20m R 1h20m
R 1h20m
0h00m00s
R 3000 R 3000 
						

							- 28 -
Displaying the information screenIf you move the joystick right, you can display the information 
screen.
≥If you move the joystick right again, the information screen 
will disappear.
≥ The information screen is not displayed when a Wi-Fi 
mode ([Smartphone Direct Connect]/[Wireless Network 
Mode]) is active.
≥ For information on the icons to be displayed, refer to page 
80 .
≥If you set up a Wi-Fi connection between this unit and a smartphone, you can record images by 
operating this unit remotely from the smartphone. ( l43)
≥ The period between the start and end of recording is recorded as one file. 
However, motion 
pictures exceeding the following lengths are  divided automatically. (Recording will continue.)
Divided motion pictures will be displayed as separate thumbnails and cannot be played back 
automatically as a continuous motion picture.
The amount of data varies depending on the recording image, so use the following as 
approximate indications.
j[3840 k2160/30p]: approx.9 min
j [1920 k1080/60p]: approx.20 min
j [1920 k1080/30p], [1280 k720/60p], [1280 k720/30p] and [848k 480/30p]: approx. 30 min
j [1920 k1080/60fps]: approx. 15 min
j [1280 k720/120fps]: approx. 7 min
j [848 k480/240fps]: approx. 3 min
≥ Each microSD card can save up to approximately 89100 files and approximately 900 folders. 
When other motion pictures and still pictures have already been saved in the microSD card, the 
capacity becomes lower.
≥ Motion pictures are saved in separate folders according to the [RECORDING MODE] ( l30) or 
[PIXELS / FRAME RATE] ( l32) settings.
Still pictures that have been taken one at a time and those taken in [INTERVAL REC MODE] 
( l 34) are saved in separate folders. For details about the folders, refer to page  74.
In the following cases, motion pictures/still pictures are saved in more than one folder:
j When the number of motion picture files exceeds 99
j When the number of still picture files exceeds 999
j When motion pictures are recorded with [LOOP RECORDING]
j When still pictures are recorded with [INTERVAL REC MODE]
≥ Refer to page 89 , 90  for the approximate recordable time and number of recordable pictures.
≥ It may take approximately 3 seconds to stop recording. Confirm if the motion picture recording 
stops or not by the access lamp or LCD monitor.
≥ If you check an image or sound when recording motion pictures while this unit is connected 
wirelessly to a smartphone, etc., a squealing sound*  may occur. In that case, lower the volume of 
the smartphone.
* The microphone may pick up the sound from the speakers, producing an abnormal sound.
AW B
NOV 15 2014      3:30PM
/30 p
STANDARD 
						

							- 29 -
∫
Checking the motion picture/still picture you have recorded (Rec 
Review)
If you move the joystick down during recording pause, you can play back the last recorded motion 
picture or still picture for approximately 5 seconds.
≥During Rec Review,  1 (Green) is displayed on the screen.
≥ Only the first 5 seconds of the motion picture will be played back. (Sound is not output)
≥ Moving the joystick down during the playback will return you to the recording screen.
≥ Except for Rec Review, playback on this unit is not possible.
You can play back the image on the smartphone by setting up a Wi-Fi connection between this 
unit and a smartphone. ( l37)
≥If you have recorded a motion picture with [LOOP RECORDING] ( l31), the last divided part of 
the motion picture will be played back as a Rec Review image.
≥ If you perform any of the following operations after recording a long motion picture, part other 
than the initial part of the motion picture may be played back as a Rec Review image.
jTurning on/off this unit
j Inserting and removing the microSD card
j Deleting the file containing the initial part of the last recorded motion picture that was 
automatically divided into more than one file due to its long length.
≥ You cannot perform Rec Review in the following cases:
jDuring recording
j When Wi-Fi mode is active
j When you have performed [Create highlights] ( l38)
j When you have deleted the last recorded motion picture/still picture ( l37)
j When you have performed [NUMBER RESET] after recording ( l21)
j When you are using a microSD card containing motion pictures/still pictures recorded with 
another device
∫ Using the lock function
You can prevent accidental operation of this unit by enabling the lock function.
Move and hold the joystick up for approximately 2 seconds.≥  will appear. The operation of this unit will be locked.
≥ If you move and hold the joystick up again for approximately 2 seconds, the   icon will 
disappear and the setting will be unlocked.
≥
Even when this unit is locked, you can perform operation from a smartphone. (when connected to 
Wi-Fi) 
						

							- 30 -
You can record images with a variety of recording methods by changing the Recording Mode.
1Press the joystick to select the menu.
* To set this unit to [PICTURE RECORDING] with the “Image App”, tap the Motion Picture/Still Picture toggle button. ( l47)
2Start recording. ( l27)
Recording
Changing the Recording Mode
[RECORD SETUP] # [RECORDING MODE]  # desired recording mode
Recording ModeiconRecording method
[NORMAL SHOOTING] Recording motion pictures.
[SLOW MOTION] This records motion pictures in slow motion by 
setting a high frame rate (increasing the number of 
frames).
[LOOP RECORDING] No matter how long you record, you can only record 
motion pictures for the last 1 hour to microSD card.
[PICTURE RECORDING] Recording still pictures.
*