Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-HMC150P Operating Instructions

							
41
Shooting
Shooting techniques for different targets
Low angle recording
Recording can be controlled with the handle 
START/STOP button during low angle recording by 
moving the REC selector switch to the ON position.To prevent erroneous operation when not using 
the handle START/STOP button, set the REC 
selector switch to the OFF position.
Handle START/
STOP buttonREC selector switch
Self-portrait shooting 
Images in the LCD monitor when it is turned 180° 
for self-portrait shooting may appear unusual.
You can make them appear better by reversing 
left and right. Go to the setup menus, DISPLAY 
SETUP screen, SELF SHOOT, and select 
MIRROR. Shooting in mirror mode has no effect on 
what you actually shoot and record.
Images played back by pressing the REC 
CHECK button cannot be inverted horizontally.
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
Only part of the screen display appears. 
When [ 
 ] is displayed, turn the LCD monitor 
back in the direction of normal recording, and 
check what the message says.
To confirm screen display information on the 
viewfinder, turn the LCD monitor to the normal 
shooting position.
Images will be inverted horizontally when 
outputting to an external device.
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Zebra pattern 
Press the ZEBRA button in the CAM mode to show 
the zebra pattern or marker on the viewfinder and 
the LCD monitor so you can check the brightness 
of the subject. 
Parts that may be whited out through over 
exposure are shown as a zebra pattern.
Very bright
Reflecting parts
You can remove most overexposed parts by 
adjusting the iris and shutter speed in the manual 
mode to remove the areas with zebra patterns.
The display changes as follows each time you 
press the ZEBRA button.
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
ZEBRA1  → ZEBRA2   ↑     ↓
   OFF     ← MARKER
In the setup menus, DISPLAY SETUP screen, 
ZEBRA DETECT1 and ZEBRA DETECT2, set the 
brightness for the zebra patterns. (Page 94)
If the ZEBRA DETECT2 item is set to OFF, 
ZEBRA2 will not be displayed even if the ZEBRA 
button is pressed.
The zebra pattern you have set appears as a 
percentage on the display for about 2 seconds.
The zebra pattern cannot be displayed while the 
focus assist function is in use. •
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42
Marker
If you press the ZEBRA button while the zebra 
pattern is being displayed, a marker appears in 
the center of the display (if you have set the setup 
menu, DISPLAY SETUP, MARKER to ON). 
The brightness of the areas near the screen center 
can be checked as a percentage (0% to 99%).
“99%↑” appears if the percentage is over 99.
99%
Image level detection 
area
Image level Marker
The normal display reappears if you press the 
ZEBRA button again.
Checking and displaying shooting 
status
 DISP/MODE CHK button
During recording or while recording is paused, 
information such as recording functions setting 
status and a list of functions allocated to the USER 
buttons can be displayed by keeping the DISP/
MODE CHK button held down. Release the button 
to return to the normal display.
Pressing the DISP/MODE CHK button during 
recording or while recording is paused will 
remove all displays from the screen except for the 
operation status, standby mode display, counter, 
marker, and safety zone display. Press the button 
again to return to the normal display. (Page 81)
This setting will be maintained even if the camera’s 
power is turned off by moving the POWER switch 
to the OFF position or if the operating mode is 
changed.
Pressing the DISP/MODE CHK button while the 
thumbnail screen is displayed in PB mode will 
display the properties of the selected clip. 
(Clips can be selected by moving the cursor with 
the Operation lever.)
Shooting techniques for different targets (continued)
PRE REC
Record video and audio from three seconds before 
the time of the operation to begin recording.
Operation to start 
recording
Operation to stop 
recording
Actual recording 
time
PRE REC time (Time)
1  Set the TCG item on the TC/UB SETUP 
screen to FREE RUN. Menu operations (Page 82)
2  Set the PREREC MODE item on the RECORDING SETUP screen to ON.
P-PAUSE will be displayed on the screen. When the TCG item on the TC/UB SETUP 
screen has been set to REC RUN, the 
setting will be automatically changed to 
FREE RUN.
3  Press the START/STOP button.Video and audio from approximately 3 seconds 
previously will be recorded. Recording of the previous 3 seconds of video 
and audio may not be possible if recording is 
started immediately in the following cases.Immediately after switching from PB mode 
to CAM mode
Immediately after turning power on
Immediately after changing to PREREC 
MODE item
The thumbnail for clips recorded using the 
PREREC function will display the image from 
when the START/STOP button was pressed.
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43
Shooting
Optical Image Stabilizer
Use the Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) to reduce 
the effects of camera shake when shooting by 
hand.
Press the OIS button to turn the function on and 
off. 
 appears on the viewfinder and the LCD 
monitor when this function is on. Turn the function 
off when using a tripod for more natural images.
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
This function will not be as effective when the 
vibration is severe or when tracking a moving 
subject.
Adding effects to images
Press the USER button you have allocated to the 
BLACKFADE or WHITEFADE feature to add fading 
effects to your images. The button’s function is 
forcibly canceled during playback or REC CHECK 
and also when thumbnails are displayed.
BLACKFADE:
   Press and hold to fade out to black. Audio also 
fades out. Fade-in starts when the button is 
released.
WHITEFADE:
   Press and hold to fade out to white. Audio also 
fades out. Fade-in starts when the button is 
released.
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Using the USER buttons 
You can allocate one of eleven features to each of 
the three USER buttons. 
Use these buttons to change shooting settings 
quickly or add effects to the images you are 
shooting. 
The following features are allocated to the buttons 
at the time of shipping.
 USER1: WHITEFADE
 USER2: BACKLIGHT
 USER3: INDEX
For details, see the setup menus, SW MODE 
screen, USER1 to 3. (Page 88)
If you press a USER button to which one of the 
functions has been allocated and then turn off the 
power, the added effect to the image will not be 
retained.
Backlight compensation
Press the USER button you have allocated to the 
BACKLIGHT feature when shooting subjects lit 
from the back.
BACK appears on the screen. 
Backlight compensation adjusts the iris so the 
subject doesn’t come out dark.
Press the same USER button to turn the feature 
off. (In the manual iris mode, the backlight 
compensation status is retained even if the 
backlight compensation is released.)
Color bars
Press the BARS button in the CAM mode to output 
a color bar screen to a television or monitor so you 
can adjust them. Press the button again to turn the 
feature off.
While the color bar is displayed, a test tone of 
1 kHz will be output from the headphone terminal 
or the AUDIO OUT terminal. There will be no 
speaker output.
The color bar can be recorded by pressing the 
START/STOP button.
The BARS button does not work in the PB mode 
or PC mode.
The color bar display is canceled when the power 
is turned off.
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Shooting techniques for different targets (continued)
Wave form monitor function
An image wave form can be displayed on the LCD 
monitor by pressing the WFM button while in CAM 
mode.
Press the button again to return to the normal 
display.It is possible to switch between a wave form 
display and a vector display in the WFM item 
(Page 89) in the settings menu SW MODE 
screen.
Wave forms will not be displayed in the 
viewfinder.
This function cannot be used while the focus 
assist function is in operation.
Wave forms cannot be recorded.
While wave forms are displayed, use the 
viewfinder as well since part of the recording 
screen will be hidden by the wave forms.
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Adjusting the volume while shooting

AUDIO MON/ADV
Adjusting the volume
AUDIO MON/ADV
If you are monitoring the sound through 
headphones while shooting, you can adjust the 
volume with the AUDIO MON/ADV buttons.
To adjust the recording level. (Page 49)
Volume adjustments will be memorized if the 
power is turned off by moving the POWER switch 
to the OFF position.
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45
Shooting
Shot mark function
The marks attached to the thumbnails of clips 
are called shot marks. On the thumbnail screen 
monitor you can select only those clips with a 
shot mark and display them or play them back.
During recording, when you press the USER 
button to which the SHOT MARK function has 
been allocated, MARK ON appears in the LCD 
monitor or the viewfinder, and a shot mark is set 
for the thumbnail of the clip being recorded. If you 
press the button again, the shot mark is released.
You can also set or release the shot marks by 
performing the thumbnail operations for clips. 
(Page 62)
However, note that you cannot set or release shot 
marks during playback.INVALID appears when you cannot set or release 
shot marks.
Index recording
This function allows you to add an index at a 
certain point of a clip during the recording or 
playback.
Press the USER button allocated to the INDEX 
function during recording to record an index signal 
at this point of the clip. (Pages 43, 89)
Indexes may also be added during playback, and it 
is also possible to select only clips with indexes for 
display or playback. (Pages 65, 66)
Up to 100 indexes can be recorded for one 
clip.
When the number of indexes exceeds 100, 
INVALID is displayed, and no further indexes 
can be added even when the steps for adding 
indexes are taken.
When repeatedly adding indexes, leave a gap 
of at least one second between adding one 
index and the next. If indexes are added with 
a gap of less than one second between them, 
only the first operation will be valid.
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Time stamp function
The date and time of recording can be recorded to 
video images.
Select ON in the TIME STAMP item on the settings 
menu RECORDING SETUP screen.
When the TIME STAMP function is ON, the letter 
R will be displayed in front of the date and time 
display in the viewfinder and the LCD monitor. The letter 
R display itself will not be recorded to 
the video.
The size and position of the time and date 
characters recorded to the image will vary 
depending on the recording format.
The size and position of the timestamp 
characters in external output displays may 
vary from the displays in the LCD monitor or 
viewfinder.
The recorded time and date display will follow 
the settings made in the DATE/TIME item on 
the DISPLAY SETUP screen. No time and date 
display will be recorded if this item is set to OFF.
To avoid date and time displays overlapping 
when clips with timestamps recorded are played 
with this camera, please set the DATE/TIME item 
on the DISPLAY SETUP screen to OFF.
LAST CLIP function
The most recently recorded clip can be deleted at 
the touch of a button by allocating the LAST CLIP 
function to any of the USER 1 - 3 buttons.
Press the USER button allocated for the LAST 
CLIP function to display YES/NO on the screen.
Select YES to delete the most recently recorded 
clip. Select NO not to delete the clip.
If the camera has been switched to PB mode or 
the recording format has been changed since 
recording was completed, clips cannot be deleted 
even if the button is pressed. Clips also cannot 
be deleted if the power has been switched off 
and back on again.
Clips cannot be deleted even if the button is 
pressed if the memory card has been removed 
and reinserted since recording was completed.
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46
BARSLCD 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
SHUTTER button
SPEED SELECT buttons
1  Press the SHUTTER button.Each time you press the SHUTTER button, the 
shutter speed switches between normal (OFF) 
and the speed you selected with the SPEED 
SELECT buttons.
2  After you have pressed the SHUTTER button, press SPEED SELECT buttons to 
select the shutter speed.
The shutter speed changes as follows each 
time you press SPEED SELECT + button (The 
order is reversed for the SHUTTER SELECT 
- button.) Remember that the faster the shutter speed, 
the lower the sensitivity.
If iris is set to auto, then it will open wider 
with higher shutter speeds and thereby 
reduce focal depth.
It will take longer to focus when the 
shutter speed has been reduced so it is 
recommended that the unit be secured to a 
tripod, etc. for use.
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SHUTTER   1/60
The current shutter speed appears on the 
viewfinder and LCD monitor unless you have 
selected OFF in OTHER DISPLAY in the 
DISPLAY SETUP screen of the setup menus. It is 
not displayed if you have set the shutter speed to 
normal (OFF).
With artificial lighting and especially fluorescent 
lights and mercury-vapor lamps, the luminance 
changes in synchronization with the power line 
frequency. When this frequency is 50 Hz, mutual 
interference will occur between the camera-
recorder’s vertical sync frequency (approx. 
60 Hz) and the lighting frequency (50 Hz). This 
means that the white balance may change 
periodically.
  Before shooting in areas with artificial lighting  or adjusting the white balance, set the shutter 
speed as follows.
Progressive  mode Shutter speed
50 Hz 60 Hz
OFF (60i) 1/100 OFF (1/60) 30P OFF (1/50) 1/60
24P OFF (1/50) 1/60
The gain is fixed at 0 dB with a shutter speed of 
1/15.
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Adjusting the shutter speed
With the 1080/60i or 720/60P formats
Standard (OFF)
1/60
SYNCRO SCAN 1/15 1/30 1/100 1/120
1/2000 1/1000 1/500 1/250
With the 1080/30P or 720/30P formats
Standard (OFF)
1/50
SYNCRO SCAN 1/15 1/30 1/60
1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/120
With the 1080/24P or 720/24P formats
Standard (OFF)
1/50
SYNCRO SCAN 1/24 1/60
1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/120 
						

							
47
Shooting
Synchro scan
Set the shutter speed of the synchro scan (used 
when shooting a television or computer monitor) in 
the setup menus, SCENE FILE screen, SYNCRO 
SCAN. (Page 86)Adjust the shutter speed to match the frequency 
of the television or computer monitor to minimize 
the horizontal noise that appears when shooting 
such subjects.
By switching to progressive mode you can also 
shoot PAL system television screens.
If the SYNCRO SCAN item is displayed in grey, it 
cannot be used with the current recording format. 
This function will only operate for preset values 
for each recording format, as listed below.
 60i/60P mode:  1/60
 30P mode:  1/30
You can change the progressive mode in 
the setup menu with REC FORMAT in the 
RECORDING SETUP screen. (Page 91)
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During shooting, you can record up to two 
channels of sound. You can also switch the input 
sound to be recorded on each of the channels to 
the built-in microphones, external microphones or 
audio equipment connected to camera. 
BARSLCD 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
CH2 SELECT switch
CH1 SELECT switch INPUT 1/2 
(MIC POWER +48V) 
switches
INPUT 2 switch
INPUT 1 switch
INPUT 1 terminal
INPUT 2 terminal
Switching Audio Input
Using the built-in microphone
1  Switch the CH1 SELECT switch to INT (L). Audio from the built-in microphone Lch is 
recorded to audio channel 1.
2  Switch the CH2 SELECT switch to INT (R).Audio from the built-in microphone Rch is 
recorded to audio channel 2.
Using an external microphone and 
audio equipment
1  Connect an external microphone or audio equipment to the INPUT 1/2 (XLR 3-pin) 
terminals. (Page 71)
2  Use the INPUT 1/2 switches to switch the audio input.
LINE: (audio equipment is connected)
  Input level is 0 dBu.
MIC: (an external microphone is connected)
   Input level is -50 dBu.
You can change the input level to -60 dBu 
in the setup menus, RECORDING SETUP 
screen MIC GAIN1 and MIC GAIN2. (Page 91)
Be aware that sensitivity will be higher if 
you choose -60 dBu so you will record more 
noise.
3  When using the phantom microphone 
(which requires + 48V power supply),
set the INPUT 1/2 (MIC POWER +48V) 
switches to ON.
ON: (When using the phantom microphone)
   +48V power supply to INPUT 1/2 terminals.
OFF:   (When a phantom microphone is not 
connected)
  No power supply for INPUT 1/2 terminals. The battery will discharge faster if you use a 
phantom microphone.
Set to OFF if you connect equipment not 
compatible with +48V. You can damage such 
equipment if you leave the setting at ON.
When using the AG-MC200G (optional), set 
the MIC GAIN item to -50 dBu.
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49
Shooting
Adjusting the recording level
AUDIO control knobs
Use the AUDIO control knobs to adjust the 
recording level of the built-in microphone or of 
audio signals input through the INPUT 1/2 (XLR 
3-pin) terminals. 
To adjust the volume of the sound for monitoring. 
(Page 44)
To adjust the recording level of the audio signals, 
turn the AUDIO control knobs while referring to 
the audio level meter at the bottom left of the 
viewfinder and LCD monitor, regardless of the MIC 
ALC option setting (Page 91) on the RECORDING 
SETUP screen of the setting menu.
Check the recording volume level prior to 
shooting.
The recording level of this camera is set 
approximately 8 dB higher than Panasonic 
broadcasting camera recorders (AJ series 
products).
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4 Use the CH1 SELECT switch to select the 
input signal to be recorded to audio channel 1.
INT (L):
  
Audio from the built-in microphone Lch is 
recorded to audio channel 1.
INPUT 1:
   Audio from a device connected to INPUT 1 
terminal is recorded to channel 1.
INPUT 2:
   Audio from a device connected to INPUT 2 
terminal is recorded to channel 1.
5 Use the CH2 SELECT switch to select the 
input signal to be recorded to audio channel 2.
INT (R):
  Audio from the built-in microphone Rch is 
recorded to audio channel 2.
INPUT 2:
   Audio from a device connected to INPUT 2 
terminal is recorded to channel 2.
When inputting the microphone signal to 
channels 1 and 2, connect the microphone to 
INPUT 2 and switch both CH1 SELECT and 
CH2 SELECT to INPUT 2.
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Using scene files
The settings according to the variety of shooting 
circumstances are stored in each position of 
SCENE FILE dial.
When shooting, you can retrieve the necessary file 
instantly using SCENE FILE dial.
SCENE FILE dial
When the camera-recorder is shipped from the 
factory, the following files are stored.
F1: SCENE
  File suitable for normal shooting.
F2: SCENE FLUO.
  File suitable for shooting under fluorescent 
lights, ie. indoors.
F3: SCENE SPARK
   File suitable for shooting with fuller variations 
of resolution, coloring and contrast.
F4: SCENE B-STR
   File for broadening the contrast of dark parts, 
such as when shooting sunsets.
F5: SCENE CINE V
   File suitable for shooting movie-like scenes 
where the contrast is to be emphasized. 
(The recording format remains unchanged 
even when the scene file is changed. It must 
be set using the REC FORMAT item on the 
RECORDING SETUP screen. (Page 91))
F6: SCENE CINE D
   File suitable for shooting movie-like 
scenes where the dynamic range is to be 
emphasized. (The recording format remains 
unchanged even when the scene file is 
changed. It must be set using the REC 
FORMAT item on the RECORDING SETUP 
screen. (Page 91))
Changing scene file settings
The setting value of the scene file can be changed. 
Also you can save the changed scene file to each 
position of the SCENE FILE dial.
Example: Change the name of the scene file.
1  Set the POWER switch to ON.
2  Turn the SCENE FILE dial, then select the 
scene file to be changed.
3  In the setup menus, select the SCENE FILE screen. 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)
4  Tilt the Operation lever in the   directions 
and select the NAME EDIT item.
5  Push the Operation lever (or tilt in the  
direction), tilt in the  direction to select 
YES, and push the Operation lever again.
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