Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-AC8P Operating Instructions

							Operating Instructions
Memory Card Camera-Recorder
Model No.    AG-AC8P
Vol.2
Please read these instructions carefully before using this product, and save this manual for future 
use.
VQT5D97
ENGLISH
until 
2013/9/30
Register now!!
http://panasonic.biz/sav/pass_e/This product is eligible for the 
AVCCAM 3 Year Warranty 
Repair Program. 
For details, see operating 
instructions Vol. 1.
This document explains in detail how to operate this device. Concerning basic operation, please 
refer to the enclosed “Operating Instructions Vol.1” (printed document).
Vol.2
F0913KE0 
						

							- 2 -
∫
About the recording format for 
recording motion pictures
You can record motion pictures with AVCHD 
recording formats using this unit. ( l27,59 )
≥ AVCHD Progressive (1080/60p) supported.
AVCHD Progressive:
It is possible to record video with highest quality 
(1080/60p) possible with this unit.
∫ 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 security
Be careful about the possibility of theft or loss of 
the unit, and be careful not to leave the unit 
unattended. Please note that Panasonic does 
not accept any responsibility for the 
compromise, manipulation, and loss of 
information caused by these events. 
∫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.
Read this first 
						

							- 3 -
∫
Caution regarding laser beams
The lens may suffer damage if struck by a laser 
beam. Make sure that laser beams do not strike 
the lens when shooting in an environment 
where laser devices are used.
∫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 these 
operating instructions
≥SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card and 
SDXC Memory Card are referred to as the 
“SD card”.
≥ 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 1080/60p or 
1080/60i: “AVCHD scene(s)”
≥ Pages for reference are indicated by an 
arrow, for example:  l00
≥ The correct value for 60p/60i is 
59.94p/59.94i. 
						

							- 4 -
Read this first ................................................. 2
Preparation
Names and Functions of Main Parts ............ 6
Power supply................................................ 12Inserting/removing the battery ...............  12
Charging the battery ..............................  13
Charging and recording time .................  14
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 ................................. 18
Selecting a mode ......................................... 18
Using the LCD monitor/Viewfinder............. 19 How to use the touch screen .................  19
LCD monitor adjustment ........................  20
Viewfinder adjustment ...........................  21
Recording yourself .................................  21
Setting date and time................................... 22
Using the menu screen ............................... 23
Basic
Before recording .......................................... 24 Formatting cards....................................  25
Selecting a media to record ........................ 26
Recording motion pictures ......................... 27
Recording still pictures ............................... 28 Recording still pictures 
in Motion Picture Recording Mode ........  29
Intelligent Auto Mode .................................. 30
Motion picture/Still picture playback ......... 32
Advanced (Recording)
Using the zoom ............................................35 Ring zoom ..............................................  36
Zoom ratio during the Still Picture 
Recording Mode.....................................  36
Image Stabilizer Function ............................37
Manual recording ......................................... 38 White Balance ........................................  40
Manual shutter speed/iris adjustment ....  41
Recording with Manual Focus................  42
Counter display ............................................43 Setting the Time Code ...........................  44
Setting the User Information ..................  46
Setting the Recording Counter...............  47
Recording functions 
of operation icons ........................................48 Operation icons ......................................  48
Recording functions of 
[CAMERA SETUP] menus ........................... 54
Recording functions of 
[RECORD SETUP] menus............................59
Advanced (Playback)
Playback Operations.................................... 67 Motion picture playback 
using operation icon ...............................  67
Creating still picture 
from motion picture ................................  68
Repeat Playback ....................................  68
Resuming the previous playback ...........  69
Playing back motion pictures/
still pictures by date ...............................  69
Deleting scenes/still pictures...................... 70 Protecting scenes/still pictures...............  71
Watching Video/Pictures on your TV ......... 72 Connecting with a HDMI cable...............  74
Connecting with the component cable ...  74
Contents 
						

							- 5 -
Copy/Dubbing
Copying/playing back 
with an external drive .................................. 75Preparing for copying/playing back .......  75
Simple copy ...........................................  77
Copy selected files ................................  78
Playing back the external drive..............  79
Relay scene combining .........................  80
Dubbing ........................................................ 81 Dubbing with a Blu-ray disc recorder.....  81
Using the Eye-Fi card .................................. 82
With a PC
Connecting to a PC
(File transfer/nonlinear editing) .................. 85 Operating environment 
(mass storage).......................................  85
Connecting to a PC ...................................... 87 About the PC display .............................  89
Menu
Using the Menu ............................................ 90Camera Setup .......................................  90
Recording Setup ....................................  92
Switch and display setting .....................  95
Other Functions ...................................  101
Video Setup .........................................  106
Picture Setup .......................................  107
Copy ....................................................  107
Others
Indications .................................................. 108
Messages .................................................... 111About recovery .....................................  111
Troubleshooting ......................................... 112
Updating the firmware incorporated 
into the unit................................................. 116
Cautions for use ......................................... 117
About copyright ......................................... 121
Recording formats/
approximate recordable time .................... 122
Approximate number 
of recordable pictures ............................... 123
Optional accessories ................................. 124 
						

							- 6 -
1Shoulder strap fixture
2 Handle
3 Sub zoom lever [W/T] ( l35,99 )
≥ This lever functions in the same manner as 
the zoom lever.
4 Sub recording start/stop button 
(l 24,99 )
≥ This button functions in the same manner as 
the recording start/stop button.
5 Microphone cable holder
6 Accessory shoe
7 External microphone terminal [EXT MIC] 
(l 11)
≥ A compatible plug-in powered microphone 
can be used as an external microphone.
≥ 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.
8 Photoshot button [ ] ( l28) 9
Zoom lever [W/T] (In Recording Mode) 
(l 35)
Volume lever [ rVOL s]/Thumbnail 
display switch [ / ] (In Playback 
Mode) (l 33,34 )
10 Grip belt ( l10)
11 Status indicator ( l18)
12 Power switch ( l18)
13 Recording start/stop button (l 13)
14 Charging lamp [CHG] ( l13)
15 DC input terminal [DC IN] ( l13)
≥ Do not use any other AC adaptors except the 
supplied one.
16 Headphone terminal [ ] (l 53)
17 U
SB terminal [HOST]/[USB 2.0] ( l75)
18 USB terminal [DEVICE]/[USB 2.0] ( l87)
19 HDMI terminal [HDMI] ( l72)
Preparation
Names and Functions of Main Parts
181917151416
11
13 12
321 456
10 9
7
8 
						

							- 7 -
20Ring LED ( l102)
21 Shoulder strap fixture
22 Internal microphones
23 Recording lamp ( l102 )
24 Lens ( l10)
25 Lens hood
26 Multi manual ring ( l38, 42 )
27 Camera function button 
[CAMERA FUNCTION] ( l38)
28 Mode switch ( l18)
29 Intelligent auto/Manual/Manual focus 
switch [iA/MANUAL/FOCUS] ( l30)
30 Cursor button
31 Optical Image Stabilizer button 
[ O.I.S.] ( l37)
32 Menu button [MENU] ( l23)
33 Eyepiece corrector lever ( l21)
34 Tripod receptacle
≥ Attaching a tripod with a screw length of 
5.5 mm (0.22 q) or more may damage the 
unit.
MENU
MANUALFOCUS
31 29 30
28
32
O.I.S.
33
34
22 20
23
24
25
21
27
26 
						

							- 8 -
35LCD monitor (Touch screen) ( l19)
≥ 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.
36 Eye cup attachment part ( l10)
37 Eye cup ( l10)
38 Accessory shoe 39
Viewfinder ( l21)
≥ Extend the viewfinder before use.
40 Speaker
41 Battery release button [PUSH] (l 12)
42 Battery holder ( l12)
43 Video output terminal [VIDEO OUT] (l72)
44 Audio output terminal [AUDIO OUT] (l72)45 Component terminal 
[Y]/[PB/CB]/[PR/CR] (l72)
35 36
37
39 38
40
42
4143
44
45
 
						

							- 9 -
46SD card cover ( l17)
47 Card slot 2 (left) ( l17)
48 Access lamp (card 2) ( l17)
49 Card slot 1 (right) ( l17)
50 Access lamp (card 1) ( l17)
46
47 4849 50 
						

							- 10 -
∫
Adjust the length of the grip belt so that it fits your hand.
∫ Attaching the eye cup
Attach by aligning the notch of the eye cup attachment part with the protrusion at the inside of the 
eye cup.
∫Attaching the lens cap
Protect the lens surface with the lens cap while the unit is not used.





1, 2 Flip the belt cover and the belt.
3 Adjust the length.
4 , 5 Replace the belt.
ANotch
B Protrusion


Attach or remove it by pinching on it.