Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-HMC150P Operating Instructions

							
21
Preparation
Adjusting the hand strap
Adjust the hand strap to suit your hand.
1  Open the cover and adjust the length.
2  Close the cover.Make sure the cover is fully closed.
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Attaching the shoulder strap
Attach the shoulder strap and use it as a precaution against dropping th\
e camera.
20 mm or more
20 mm or more
Detaching and attaching the lens hood
Detaching the lens hoodTurn the lens hood counterclockwise to detach it.
Attaching the lens hoodRotate the lens hood clockwise until it clicks to fit 
into place.
Be sure to attach the lens hood cap to protect the 
lens when not in use.
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Lens hood cap 
						

							
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The remote control
Insert the battery
1 Push the catch in the direction shown by 
arrow ƒ to remove the holder.
2  Insert the battery with the “+” marked side 
facing up.
3  Return the holder to its original position.
When the battery (CR2025) has run out, replace 
it with a new one. (The battery lasts about one 
year, depending on the frequency of use.) 
  If the remote control unit fails to work even when  it is operated near the camera-recorder’s remote 
control sensor, the battery has run out.
Keep the battery out of the reach of children.
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Remote control usable range
The distance between the remote control and the
unit’s remote control sensor: Within approx. 5 m
Angle:  
Approximately 10° upward, 
approximately 15° downward, 
approximately 15° leftward, or 
approximately 15° rightward
(when the accessory battery is used)
Remote control 
sensor (Rear) 
Remote control 
sensor (Front) 
The remote control is intended for indoor operation. 
Outdoors or under strong light, the unit may not 
operate properly even within the usable ranges.•
Turn on/off the camera
While pressing the lock release button, move the 
POWER switch to ON or OFF.
Turn on the camera:
The mode lamp (CAM) lights red (CAMERA mode) 
and the camera is now in the recording pause mode.
Turn off the camera:
The mode lamp (CAM) goes out.
Energy-saving mode
 
According to the settings made in the POWER 
SAVE item of the OTHER FUNCTIONS screen 
in the settings menu, the following will apply if 
no designated operations ∗
 are performed for 
approximately five minutes while recording is paused 
(when an SD Memory Card has been inserted).
 ON:   The camera recorder turns off automatically. OFF:   Does not switch OFF the camera. 
  ∗  See the setup menus, POWER SAVE 
(Page 99) for details.
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Mode lamp
STAND BY
MODE
CAM
PB
PC
Mode buttonLock release button
POWER
ON
OFF 
						

							
23
Preparation
Standby mode
This mode allows the time required between switching 
on the power and beginning recording to be reduced.
Setting
Hold down the STAND BY button for at least two 
seconds while the power is on to activate the 
standby mode setting. STD BY will be displayed on 
the LCD monitor and the viewfinder. When this setting is activated, moving the 
POWER switch to OFF will set the camera to 
standby mode, and the mode lamp (CAM) will 
flash once every two seconds.
The camera will be set to standby mode only 
when the POWER switch is set to OFF during 
CAM mode.
Standby mode cannot be activated if the POWER 
switch is set to OFF during PB mode or PC mode.
STAND BY button
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• Canceling setting
Hold down the STAND BY button for at least 
two seconds while the power is on to cancel the 
standby mode setting. STD BY will be cease to be 
displayed on the LCD monitor or the viewfinder.
Standby mode will be canceled in the following 
circumstances.If more than 30 minutes have elapsed since the 
power was switched off. 
Battery is low.
Battery has been removed.
When the STAND BY button is pressed in the 
standby mode, the mode lamp (CAM) will flash 
more quickly and the standby mode will be 
extended by 30 minutes. It also flashes more 
quickly five minutes before the standby mode 
is canceled.
During standby mode, the camera will still 
consume approximately 60% of the power it 
would during paused recording, meaning that 
available recording time will continue to be 
reduced even through the POWER switch is 
set to OFF.
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Tally lamp
The tally lamp can be illuminated during recording 
by setting the REC LAMP item of the OTHER 
FUNCTIONS screen (Page 98) to any setting other 
than OFF.
The tally lamp will flash in any of the following 
circumstances.Receiving remote control operation 
(flashes 8 times per second)
Recording error has occurred 
(flashes 4 times per second)
Battery is low (flashes 4 times per second)
Available SD Memory Card capacity is low 
(flashes 4 times per second)
Optical Image Stabilizer function is not operating 
correctly (flashes 4 times per second)
Problem with focus function 
(flashes 4 times per second)
Remaining battery capacity is low 
(flashes once per second)
Remaining memory of the SD Memory Card is 
low (flashes once per second)
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Tally lamp 
						

							
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This camera has two viewfinders; one is a 
miniature LCD in the viewfinder and the other is a 
retractable 3.5-inch LCD.
Use the viewfinder that best suits the application 
and shooting conditions.The brightness and hue may differ between the 
images appearing on the viewfinder and LCD 
monitor and those displayed on a TV monitor. To 
see how the final images will appear, check them 
on a TV monitor.
Using the viewfinder
1  Set the POWER switch to ON and check that images appear in the viewfinder.
POWER
ON
OFF
2  Adjust the viewfinder’s angle so that the screen is positioned where it is easiest to 
see. You can move the viewfinder out to about 
90° perpendicular to the camera.
3  Adjust the diopter adjustment dial so that you can see the characters on the 
viewfinder screen clearly.
Diopter adjustment dial
Eye piece
Do not allow the eyepiece of the viewfinder 
to remain in direct contact with sunlight or 
other strong light sources.Internal components may be damaged and fire 
may be caused if light accumulates through 
the lens.
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Viewfinder
Fitting the eye cup
Attach the eye cup by aligning the projections on 
the eye cup holder and eye cup and fitting them 
together.
Turning the eye cup after attaching it may 
cause the eye cup holder to come off. If the 
eyecup holder does come off, see “Cleaning 
the Viewfinder” (Page 106) for details on how 
to refit it.
Eye cup holder
Eye cup
Projections
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25
Preparation
Using the LCD
1  Set the POWER switch to ON.(Page 22)
2  Hold down the OPEN button and open the LCD monitor. It can open out to 120°. Do not try to open it 
further as this will damage the camera.
OPEN button
3 Position the LCD monitor where it is easiest 
to see.
The monitor can be rotated 180° toward the 
lens and 90° toward you.
Do not apply unnecessary force to the 
open LCD. This can damage the camera.
Ensure the LCD is fully closed.
Operation status displays during self-portrait 
recording
No display: Cannot record (no card, etc.)
 
:     Recording in progress, during transition 
to the recording pause mode
 
:   Recording paused (recording standby)
   :    Warning display
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Emphasizing outlines
Emphasizing the outlines of the images you see 
in the viewfinder or on the LCD makes it easier to 
focus.
Emphasizing the outlines does not effect the 
images you shoot.
1  In CAM mode, press EVF DTL button.
“EVF DTL ON” appears on the screen for about 
2 seconds.
BARS
LCD ZEBRA OIS
EVF DTL WFM
CH1 SELECT CH2 SELECTINPUT 1 INPUT 2
SHUTTER
COUNTERRESET/TC SETAUDIO
SPEED SELECT
INT(L)
INPUT1
INPUT2INT(R)
INPUT2ON
MIC POWER +48V
OFFON
OFF
EVF DTL button
Press EVF DTL button again to return to the 
original display. “EVF DTL OFF” appears on the 
screen for about 2 seconds.
  
						

							
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1  Set the POWER switch to ON. (Page 22)
2  Press the MENU button.For menu operation (Page 82)
Operations may also be performed 
using buttons on the remote control that 
correspond to those on the camera. For 
details, see “Description of parts (Remote 
control)”. (Page 18)
3 Viewfinder adjustmentsSet YES under EVF SET on the setting menu 
DISPLAY SETUP screen.
LCD monitor adjustments
Set YES under LCD SET on the setting menu 
DISPLAY SETUP screen.
4  Select the desired item by tilting the Operation lever in the   directions, and 
push the Operation lever.
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5  Adjust the selected item by tilting the  Operation lever in the   directions.
6  Press MENU button to exit the menus.
The viewfinder display can be in color or black 
and white. (See the setup menus, DISPLAY 
SETUP screen, EVF COLOR.) The resolution 
is the same for both of them.
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Adjusting the screen display
Viewfinder (continued) 
						

							
27
Preparation
 
Changing backlight brightness
The brightness of the LCD monitor backlight can 
be adjusted between three different settings.
1  Select LCD BL in the LCD item on the settings menu SW MODE screen.
LCD BL can be assigned with the LCD button.
2  Press the LCD button.The brightness of the backlight can be switched 
in the order of NORMAL →LOW →HIGH →
NORMAL with each press of the button.
LCD
This setting will remain saved even if the 
camera’s power is switched off.
The brightness can also be changed with the 
LCD BACKLIGHT item on the settings menu 
DISPLAY SETUP screen. (Page 94)
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Reversing image display
Viewing angles and video images can be verified 
by reversing the images displayed on the LCD 
monitor horizontally or vertically.
The recorded images will not be affected if the 
images are reversed on the screen.
1  Select LCD REV in the LCD item on the 
settings menu SW MODE screen.
LCD REV can be assigned with the LCD 
button.
2  Press the LCD button.Press the button to switch between normal 
display and reverse display.
LCD
If the camera is switched off, images will be 
displayed as normal again when the camera is 
next switched on.
Screen displays other than images are also 
reversed. If the screen displays are not 
required, some of them can be cleared by 
pressing the DISP/MODE CHK button.
During display reversal, the images during 
REC CHECK and the playback images in the 
PB mode are also reversed.
Images in the viewfinder will not be reversed.
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The CLOCK SET value is recorded in the contents 
(clip), and affects the sequence of playback of the 
thumbnails. Before carrying out recording, be sure 
to check and set CLOCK SET and TIME ZONE.
This shows you how to adjust the calendar to 
17:20 on December 25, 2008.
1  Set the camera’s power switch to ON. (Page 22)
2  Press the MENU button. Menu operation (Page 82)
Operations may also be performed 
using buttons on the remote control that 
correspond to those on the camera. For 
details, see “Description of parts (Remote 
control)”. (Page 18)
3  Select the TIME ZONE item on the settings menu OTHER FUNCTIONS screen, and 
push the Operation lever (or tilt lever in 
 
direction).
4 Pushing the Operation lever twice brings up 
the setting screen. Tilt the Operation lever in 
the 
  directions to set the time difference 
from Greenwich Mean Time, and push the 
Operation lever again.
Factory default setting is +00:00.
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Setting the calendar
5 Tilt the Operation lever in the  direction and 
select YES in the CLOCK SET item on the 
settings menu OTHER FUNCTIONS screen.
6  Tilt the Operation lever in the   directions 
and set to DEC.
7  Tilt the Operation lever to the  direction 
to change to the next item, and set to 25 by 
tilting in the
   directions.
8 Repeat steps 6 and 7 to set the remaining 
items.
The date can be set to any date between 
January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2039.
“--.--.----” is displayed for any date beyond 
December 31, 2039.
Time is displayed in 24-hour format.
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Preparation
9  When settings are complete, push the Operation lever, select YES on the 
confirmation screen, and push the 
Operation lever again.
The clock can vary in accuracy so check that 
the time is correct before shooting.
When using the camera overseas, do not 
set the CLOCK SET option to the local time, 
but instead enter the time difference from 
Greenwich mean time according to TIME 
ZONE.
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Shooting in auto mode
1  Turn the POWER switch to ON. (Page 22)Check that the mode lamp (CAM) is lighted 
red.
2  Switch the AUTO/MANUAL switch to AUTO to select auto mode.
 appears on the viewfinder and LCD 
monitor.
The focus, gain, iris and white balance are 
adjusted automatically in accordance with 
the settings established for the items on the 
setting menu AUTO SW screen.
3  Press the START/STOP button (Red) to start  shooting. Press again to return to the camera to the 
recording pause mode. 
Use the handle START/STOP button to make 
it easier to shoot from low angles.
The handle START/STOP button can be 
enabled (ON) and disabled (OFF) with the 
handle REC selector switch.
Shooting is not possible when a menu 
screen is displayed. First, close the menu 
screen, and then press the START/STOP 
button.
Shooting stops when the SD Memory Card 
slot cover is opened during shooting.
REC CHECK button
Handle 
START/STOP buttonAUTO MANUAL2
OFF
POWER
ON
POWER
ON
OFFLock release button1
3
PB
Mode button
Mode lamp
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Preparing for recording
1  Set the camera’s power switch to OFF. 
(Page 22) Check that the mode lamp is off.
2  Tilt the viewfinder upwards, and open the SD Memory Card slot cover by sliding it to 
the left.
3  Fully insert an SD Memory Card into the card slot.
4  Close the SD Memory Card slot cover. Ensure that the cover firmly clicks into place.
2
Insert the connector 
part in the direction 
shown here, and push 
until the card clicks 
firmly into place.
3Lock release 
button
POWER
ON
OFF
1
Do not perform any of the following operations 
while the SD Memory Card access lamp is 
flashing.
   Performing these operations may damage the 
SD Memory Card or its contents, or cause the 
camera to fail to operate correctly.
Opening the card door and removing the SD 
Memory Card
Switching off the power
Connecting or disconnecting the USB 
connection cable
Shaking or striking the camera
Always format SD Memory Cards that have 
been used in other devices when first using 
them with this camera. (Page 32)
If “CHECK CARD” is displayed on the 
viewfinder or the LCD monitor, please remove 
the SD Memory Card and insert it again.
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Basic shooting operations