Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-HMC70P Operating Instructions

							11
Mounting the camera-recorder on a tripod
≥The tripod mounting hole is 5.5 mm deep. Do 
not force the tripod screw beyond this 
depth.You can damage the camera-recorder if 
you use any screw other than 1/4-20UNC. 
(l23)
The battery used in this unit is a rechargeable 
lithium-ion battery. It is susceptible to humidity 
and temperature and the effect increases the 
more the temperature rises or falls. In cold areas, 
the full charge indication may not appear or the 
low battery indication may appear about 
5 minutes after starting use. At high 
temperatures, the protection function may be 
triggered, making it impossible to use the unit.
Be sure to detach the battery after use.
≥If the battery is left attached, a minute amount 
of current continues to flow even if the unit’s 
power is off. Keeping the unit in this state may 
result in over discharge of the battery. This may 
result in you not being able to use the battery 
even after it is charged.
≥The battery should be stored in the vinyl bag so 
metal does not come into contact with the 
terminals.
≥The battery should be stored in a cool place 
free from humidity, with as constant 
temperature as possible. (Recommended 
temperature: 15 °C to 25 °C (59 °F to 77 °F), 
Recommended humidity: 40% to 60%) 
≥Extremely high temperatures or low 
temperatures will shorten the life of the battery.
≥If the battery is kept in high-temperature, 
high-humidity, or oily-smoky places, the 
terminals may rust and cause malfunctions.
≥To store the battery for a long period of time, 
we recommend you charge it once every year 
and store it again after you have completely 
used up the charged capacity. 
≥Dust and other matter attached to the battery 
terminals should be removed.
Prepare spare batteries when going out for 
recording.
≥Prepare batteries enough to last for 3 to 4 times 
the period during you want to record pictures in. In cold places such as a ski resort, the period 
during which you can record pictures is 
shortened. 
≥When you travel, do not forget to bring an AC 
adaptor so that you can recharge the batteries 
at your destination.
If you drop the battery accidentally, check to 
see if the terminals are damaged.
≥Attaching a battery with damaged terminals can 
damage the unit or AC adaptor.
Do not throw old battery into fire.
≥Heating a battery or throwing it into a fire may 
result in an explosion.
If the operating time is very short even after 
the battery has been recharged, the battery 
has worn out. Please purchase a new battery. 
≥If the temperature of the battery is extremely 
high or extremely low, charging may take time 
or the battery may not be charged.
≥If the charging lamp keeps flashing, make sure 
that the terminals of the battery or the AC 
adaptor are not exposed to dirt, foreign objects 
or dust, then reconnect them properly.
Disconnect the AC cable from the AC outlet 
when you remove dirt, foreign objects or dust 
on the terminals of the battery or the AC 
adaptor.
If the charging lamp is still flashing, something 
may be wrong with the battery or AC adaptor. 
Contact your dealer.
≥If you use the AC adaptor near a radio, radio 
reception may be disturbed. Keep the AC 
adaptor 1 m (3.3 feet) or more away from the 
radio.
≥When using the AC adaptor, it may generate 
whirring sounds. However, this is normal.
≥After use, be sure to disconnect the AC 
adaptor. (If it is left connected, a minute amount 
of current is consumed.)
≥Always keep the electrodes of the AC adaptor 
and battery clean.
Put this unit near the outlet to make it easy 
for the interrupting device (plug) to reach it.
About the battery
About the AC adaptor
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							12
≥The memory capacity indicated on the label of 
an SD card is the total of the capacity for 
copyright protection and management and the 
capacity which can be used on the unit, a 
computer etc.
≥During prolonged use, the unit’s surfaces and 
the SD card will heat up slightly. This is normal.
Always set the mode dial to OFF when 
inserting or removing an SD card.
While this unit accesses the SD card (while 
 or   is being displayed/the access 
lamp is lit), do not remove the SD card, 
operate the mode dial, turn off the power or 
shake or impact the unit.
≥Be sure to insert miniSD Cards in the dedicated 
card adaptor before use. Inserting a card in this 
unit without the adaptor may damage the unit 
or the card.
≥Do not insert an empty card adaptor in this unit. 
Do not leave the adaptor in this unit while 
inserting or removing miniSD Cards. This may 
cause the unit to malfunction.
≥When the LCD monitor gets dirty, wipe it with a 
dry soft cloth. 
≥In a place with drastic temperature changes, 
condensation may form on the LCD monitor. 
Wipe it with soft dry cloth.
≥When the unit has become very cold, for 
example due to storage in a cold area, its LCD 
monitor will be slightly darker than usual 
immediately after the power is turned on. The 
normal brightness will be restored when the 
unit’s internal temperature rises.When using an LCD monitor, do not apply 
excessive pressure to the hinge connecting the 
monitor to the unit, as shown in the illustrations 
below.
Doing so may damage these parts.
Wrong
About the SD card
About the miniSD Card
LCD monitor
Extremely high precision technology is 
employed to produce the LCD Monitor screen 
featuring a total of approximately 251,000 
pixels. The result is more than 99.99% 
effective pixels with a mere 0.01% of the 
pixels inactive or always lit. However, this is 
not a malfunction and does not affect the 
recorded picture.
Precaution when using an LCD 
monitor
Hinge Area
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							13
When condensation forms on the unit, the lens 
will cloud up and the unit may not work properly. 
Make every effort to ensure that condensation 
does not form. If it does form, take the actions 
described below. 
Causes of condensation
Condensation takes place when the ambient 
temperature or humidity is changed as 
follows.
≥When this unit is brought inside from the cold 
(e.g. a ski slope) to a warm room.
≥When this unit is moved from an 
air-conditioned car to outside.
≥When a cold room has been warmed up 
quickly.
≥When cool wind from an air conditioner is 
directly blown onto this unit.
≥After summer afternoon showers of rain.
≥When this unit is in a very humid place where 
the air is thick with steam. (e.g. a heated 
swimming pool)
When this unit is taken to a location with a 
significant temperature difference such as 
from a cold place to a hot place.
If, for example, you have used this unit for 
recording on a ski slope and are taking it into a 
heated room, place the unit inside a plastic bag, 
remove as much of the air from inside the bag as 
possible, then seal the bag. Leave the unit for 
about an hour in the room so the temperature of 
the unit is close to the ambient temperature of 
the room, then use it.
What to do with the lens is fogged 
up.
Remove the battery or AC adaptor and leave the 
unit for about 1 hour. When the unit becomes 
close to the ambient temperature, the fog 
disappears naturally.
About condensation
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							Before using
14
Before using
Features of Memory Card Camera Recorder
This unit is an AVCHD format video camera for recording highly detailed high definition images on an 
SD card.
You can watch images in high-resolution HD video if you connect this unit and a high definition TV and 
then play back the images. (l79)
AHigh definition images (1440k1080)
Number of available scan lines 1080
BStandard images (720k480)
Number of available scan lines 480
High definition images
≥High definition images have more than approximately 2 times the number of available scan lines and 
more than 4 times the number of pixels compared with standard images.
≥The still pictures above are images for explanation purposes.
ªWhat is the AVCHD?
This is a format for recording and playing back highly detailed high definition images.
Images are recorded based on the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec for compressing images and audio is 
recorded in Dolby Digital.
About the SDHC Memory Card and the compatibility of the recorded motion pictures
About the SDHC Memory Card (Be careful about the following.)
≥It is not compatible with devices other than those that support SDHC.
≥If you use the SDHC Memory Card in another device, use a device that is SDHC compatible. (l27)
About the compatibility of the recorded motion pictures
≥They are not compatible with devices other than those that support the AVCHD. Refer to the 
operating instructions of the device for details.
≥The recorded motion pictures cannot be played back in a device that is not compatible (does not 
support the AVCHD).
≥There are some cases where the recorded motion pictures cannot be played back, even if the device 
supports the AVCHD. In such cases, play the recorded motion picture with this unit instead. 
Existing DVD recorders and DVD players that do not support the 
AVCHD
Very clear high definition pictures
AB
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							Before using
15
If you connect this unit and a high definition TV with a HDMI cable (optional) and then play back the 
pictures, you can enjoy watching them in high definition.
AHigh definition TV
BHDMI cable (optional)
≥If you connect this unit to a TV that does not support high definition, the images will be standard 
quality.
ªWhen connecting to a TV that does not have a HDMI terminal
Connecting with the component video cable and the AV cable
Connecting with the video cable and the audio cable.
≥The pictures cannot be played in high definition when using the AV cable. They will be played back in 
widescreen standard definition.
Watching high definition images
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							Before using
16
When the SD card is full or to prevent the data from being deleted, use the supplied software 
(HD Writer Ver2.5) to copy the data on the SD card to the hard disk of the computer.
AUSB cable (optional)
ªWhat you can do with HD Writer
[Copy to PC]
You can copy motion picture data and still picture data on an SD card to the hard disk of the computer.
[Write data to media]
You can copy motion picture data from the hard disk of the computer to an SD card or a DVD disc.
[Copy between media]
You can copy motion picture data from an SD card to a DVD disc or from a DVD disc to an SD card.
[Easy editing]
You can easily edit (split, merge, delete etc.) motion picture data that was copied to the hard disk of the 
computer.
≥For details on how to use the software application, read the PDF operating instructions.
Saving the data on the SD card
Important note
Do not insert a disc created with the supplied HD Writer Ver2.5 in a device that does not 
support the AVCHD format. It may no longer be possible to eject it. Also, the disc cannot be 
played back on devices that do not support the AVCHD format.
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							Before using
17
Accessories
Check the accessories before using this unit. 
≥Product numbers correct as of January 2008
≥Please refer to Page 80 for the ferrite core fitting method. Remote control
Button-type battery
CR2025Battery pack
VW-VBG260
AC adaptor
VW-AD20AC cable
DC cable CD-ROM k 2
≥Operating instructions
≥HD Writer 2.5E for HDC
Shoulder belt SD memory card (2GB)
Eye cup Lens hood cap
Ferrite core Operating instructions
Attaching the eye cup
To attach the eye cup, align the projections on 
the eye cup holder and eye cup, and fit the 
holder and eye cup together.
≥Turning the eye cup after attaching it to its 
holder may cause the holder to become 
disengaged.Attaching the Lens Hood Cap
The lens can be covered by attaching the lens 
hood cap provided to the lens hood. 
Eye cup
Projection
Eye cup 
holder
Lens hood cap
Lens hood
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							Before using
18
Parts identification and handling
1) Recording lamp (front) (l104)
2) Lens hood (l23)
3) Lens (LEICA DICOMAR)
4) White balance sensor/remote control sensor (l26, 64)
5) HANDLE ZOOM Switch [HANDLE ZOOM] (l52)
6) Lock ring (l24)
7) Grip zoom button [W/T] (l52)
8) External microphone input connector (l58)
9) Photoshot button (l47)
10) Grip belt (l22)
≥The jack cover and cable holder have not been included in illustrations in this manual.
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6
810
9
7
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							19
Before using
11) Lens hood screw (l23)
12) LCD monitor (l24)
13) MONITOR LEVEL Knob 
[MONITOR LEVEL] (l68)
14) Speaker (l68)
15) Reset button [RESET] (l115)
16) AUDIO LEVEL Knob[AUDIO LEVEL] 
(l60)
17) AUDIO SELECT Switch [AUDIO SELECT] 
(l60)
18) AUDIO IN Switch [AUDIO IN] (l58,59)
19) HDMI terminal [HDMI] (l80)
20) Card slot cover (l34)
21) Card slot (l34)
22) Card access lamp [ACCESS] (l34)
23) Mode select switch 
[AUTO/MANUAL/FOCUS] (l38, 61)
24) PUSH AUTO Button [PUSH AUTO] (l62)
25) Power LCD button [POWER LCD] (l42)
26) Menu button [MENU] (l39)
27) Delete button [ ] (l73, 75)28) Cursor button (l35)
1112
14 15 
16 
18 17 
19 23 
25 24  22 
27 26 
20 21 13
14
19
20
21 2215
16
17
18
23
25
27 24
26
28
Due to limitations in LCD production 
technology, there may be some tiny bright 
or dark spots on the LCD monitor screen. 
However, this is not a malfunction and 
does not affect the recorded picture.
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							Before using
20
29) Viewfinder (l42)
30) Eye cup (l17)
31) Component Connectors (Y, P
B, PR/BNC) (l82)
32) Video Output Connector (BNC) (l84)
33) DC input terminal [DC IN 7.3V] (l32)
34) Battery Removal Button (l30)
35) Headphone Connector [PHONE] (Mini jack) (l68)
36) Battery Installation Slot (l30)
37) USB terminal [ ] (l86, 96)
38) Input Level Selection Switches (CH1/CH2) (l59)
39) Recording lamp (rear) (l104)
40) Audio Output Connectors (CH1/CH2) (l82,84,85)
41) Microphone Attenuation Switch (CH1) (l59)
42) Audio XLR Input Connector (l59)
43) Microphone Attenuation Switch (CH2) (l59)
≥The jack cover and cable holder have not been included in illustrations in this manual.
29
33
34
35 36 37 41 42 4338 39 40 3031 32
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