Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-AC8P Operating Instructions

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Viewfinder adjustment
≥These settings will not affect the images actually recorded.
It adjusts the field of view to show the image on the viewfinder clearly.
1 Adjust the viewfinder to suit your 
vision so that you can see the 
display images clearly.
≥Be careful not to trap your fingers when moving 
the viewfinder.
≥ The viewfinder can be lifted vertically up to 
approximately 90 o.
≥ Close the LCD monitor and turn on the 
viewfinder.
2 Adjust the focus by operating the 
eyepiece corrector lever.
Brightness of the viewfinder can be switched.
Select the menu. ( l23)
Recording yourself
≥Change the mode to  .
Rotate the LCD monitor towards the lens side.
≥ Displaying during the recording yourself can be 
switched by setting [SELF SHOOT]. ( l99)
≥Only some indications will appear on the screen when the [SELF SHOOT] is set to [MIRROR]. 
When   appears, return the direction of the LCD monitor to normal position and check the 
warning/alarm indication. ( l111 )
Adjusting the field of view
[EVF SET]
: [SW & DISP SETUP]  # [EVF SET] # desired setting
[BRIGHT]/[NORMAL]/[DARK]

AEyepiece corrector lever
MENU 
						

							- 22 -
The clock is not set at the time of purchase. Make sure to set the clock.
1Select the menu. (l23)
2Select the date and time to be set using the 
cursor button right or left, then adjust the 
desired value using the cursor button up or 
down.
≥The year can be set between 2000 and 2039.
3Select [ENTER] using the cursor button right or left, then press the 
button in the center.
≥The screen may switch to the setting screen for the [TIME ZONE]. Using cursor 
button and set the [TIME ZONE].
≥ Select [EXIT], then press the button in the center or press the MENU button to 
complete the setting.
≥When the unit is turned on for the first time, a message asking you to set the date and time will 
appear. Select [YES] and perform Steps 2 to 3 to set the date and time.
≥ The date and time function is driven by a built-in lithium battery.
≥ If the time display becomes [- -], the built-in lithium battery needs to be charged.  To recharge the 
built-in lithium battery, connect the AC adaptor or attach the battery to this unit. Leave the unit as 
it is for approx. 24 hours and the battery will maintain the date and time for approx. 6 months. 
(The battery is still being recharged even if the unit is off.)
≥ The way that time is displayed can be changed in the menu settings. ( l98)
[SW & DISP SETUP]  # [DATE/TIME] or [DATE FORMAT]
Time difference from the Greenwich Mean Time can be set.
1 Select the menu. (l23)
≥If the clock is not set, set the clock to current time first.2 Select the region to record using the cursor button right or left.
3 Select [ENTER] and press the button in the center.
≥Select [EXIT] and press the button in the center to complete the setting.
≥When the time zone setting is changed, the date/time setting of the unit also changes 
automatically.
Preparation
Setting date and time
: [OTHER FUNCTION]  # [CLOCK SET]MENU
Example: For USA
Time zone
: [OTHER FUNCTION]  # [TIME ZONE]MENU 
						

							- 23 -
≥You can also perform operations by touch operation. ( l19)
1Press the MENU button.
2Select the desired top menu A 
using the cursor button, then 
press the cursor button right or 
press the button in the center.
3Select the submenu item B, then 
press the cursor button right or 
press the button in the center.
≥ Next (previous) page can be displayed by 
using / .
4Select the desired item, then 
press the button in the center 
to enter the setting.
5Select [EXIT], then press the 
button in the center or press 
the MENU button to exit the 
menu setting.
Preparation
Using the menu screen
MENU 
						

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∫
Basic camera positioning
Normal recording
≥ Place the unit on your right shoulder and hold 
it firmly with both hands.
Recording from a high position Low-angle recording
≥
For easier low-angle recording, the sub 
recording start/stop button and the sub zoom 
lever can be used.
Basic
Before recording 
						

							- 25 -
≥When recording, make sure your footing is stable and there is no danger of colliding with another 
person or object.
≥ Hold the eye cup of the viewfinder as close as possible to your right eye.
≥ Adjust the angle of the LCD monitor according  to the position in which the unit is held.
≥ 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.
≥ For stable images, it is recommended to use a tripod whenever possible.
Formatting cards
If you use the SD cards for the first time fo r recording with this unit, format the cards.
Please be aware that if a medium is formatted, then all the data recorded on the medium will be 
erased and cannot be restored. Back up important data on a PC, DVD disc etc. ( l87)
1Select the menu.
2Select [SD CARD 1] or [SD CARD 2] and press the button in the 
center.
≥When formatting is complete, select [EXIT] and press the button in the center to exit 
the message screen.
≥ For details on how to format the external drive, please refer to page  77.
≥Do not turn this unit off or remove the SD card, while formatting. Do not expose the 
unit to vibrations or shock. : [OTHER FUNCTION] 
# [FORMAT MEDIA]
Use this unit to format media.
Do not format an SD card using any other equipment such as a PC. The card may not be 
used on this unit.
MENU 
						

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[SD CARD 1] and [SD CARD 2] can be selected separately to record motion pictures or still 
pictures.
1Change the mode to   or  .
2Select the menu. (l23)
3Select the media you want to record 
motion pictures or still pictures on 
by using the cursor button, and 
press the button in the center.
≥The media is selected separately to motion 
pictures or still pictures is highlighted in yellow.
4Select [ENTER] and press the button in the center.
Basic
Selecting a media to record
: [SW & DISP SETUP]  # [MEDIA SELECT]MENU 
						

							- 27 -
1Change the mode to  .
2Open the LCD monitor.
3Press the recording start/stop 
button B to start recording.
≥ Recording will stop when you press the 
recording start/stop button again.
A When you begin recording,  ; changes to ¥.
∫ Screen indications in the Motion Picture Recording Mode
≥To change the recording format, change the [REC FORMAT]. ( l59)
≥ Still pictures can be recorded while recording the motion picture. ( l29)
≥ The images recorded between pressing the recording start/stop button to start recording and 
pressing it again to pause recording become one scene.
≥ Maximum number of recordable scenes: Approx. 3900
Maximum number of different dates: Approx. 900 ( l69)
When either of them reaches to the maximum limit, more scenes cannot be recorded.
(In the case of SD cards it is the maximum number of recordable scenes per card.)
≥ Please refer to page 122 about approximate recordable time.
Basic
Recording motion pictures


TC 00:00:00:00 Counter display (l43)
 (White) Media where the motion picture is 
recorded (
l26)
R 1h20m Approximate remaining recordable time
≥
When the remaining time is less than 
1 minute, R 0h00m flashes red.
Recording formatR 1h20m R 1h20m
R 1h20mTC  00:00:00:00
TC  00:00:00:00
TC  00:00:00:00 
						

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1Change the mode to  .
2Open the LCD monitor.
3Press the   button.
Focus indication:
≥ If you set the Optical Image Stabilizer function ( l37) to   ([MODE1]), then the Image 
Stabilizer function will be more effective. (  (MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer) will be 
displayed when the   button is pressed.)
≥ Using a tripod is recommended when recording still pictures in dark places because the shutter 
speed becomes slow.
≥ 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)


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
¬Change the mode to  .
Press the   button to take the picture.
≥ It is possible to record still pictures while recording motion pictures. 
(Simultaneous recording)
≥ When photos are being recorded, the remaining recordable number of photos 
and the photo operation display   are displayed.
≥ No shutter sound is emitted when recording still pictures.
≥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 used while recording a motion picture, the recordable time remaining 
will shorten. If the unit is turned off or the mode switch operated, the recordable time remaining 
may lengthen.
≥ 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 (
l108 )
 (White) Media where the still picture is recorded 
(
l 26)
R3000 Remaining number of still pictures
≥
Flashes in red when [0] appears.
Optical Image Stabilizer (l 37)
Size of still pictures ( l63)
MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer ( l28)
R3000 R3000
R3000
20.4MMEGA
20.4M
MEGA 
						

							- 30 -
The following modes (appropriate for the condition) are set just by pointing the unit to what you want 
to record.
*1 In Motion Picture Recording Mode only
*2 In Still Picture Recording Mode only
*3 When [AUTO SLOW SHTR] (l64) is [OFF], Low Light Mode will not be entered.
≥Depending on the recording conditions, the unit may not enter the desired mode.
Basic
Intelligent Auto Mode
ModeEffect
Scenery The whole landscape will be recorded vividly without whiting out the 
background sky, which may be very bright.
*1SpotlightVery bright object is recorded clearly.*1,*3Low LightIt can record very clearly even in a dark room or twilight.*2MacroThis allows recording at very close proximity to the object of recording.*1
*2Normal
NormalIn modes other than those described above, the contrast is adjusted to 
give a clear picture.
iA/MANUAL/FOCUS switchSlide the switch to change the Intelligent Auto Mode/Manual Mode/Manual 
Focus Mode.
MANUAL
FOCUS