Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-HPX170P Operating Instructions

Shooting
1

Variable frame rates (VFR)
By taking full advantage of the special characteristics of P2 cards, this unit provides frame skipping (undercranking) recording and highspeed (overcranking) recording, which are actually movie techniques, without the use of a frame rate converter. (Either the 30PN or 24PN mode must be set for this.)Since the camera-recorder records only the effective frames (native recording), recording is possible for between 2 times and 2.5 times as long compared with...


Variable frame rates (VFR) (continued)
Native recording
1 Using the REC FORMAT function (Page 10) on the RECORDING SETUP 
screen, select 720P/30PN or 720P/24PN as the recording format.
 Select the appropriate scene file using the SCENE FILE dial.If necessary, before doing this, perform the camera settings from the setting menu, and register the scene file. (Page 53)
 Using the OPERATION TYPE function (Page 98) on the SCENE FILE screen, select FILM CAM, and set the desired...

Shooting


Using variable frame rates (VFR)
Standard speed shooting for movie 
production
When making movies to show on a screen, a frame rate of 24 fps (frames per second), which is the same as for films, is the norm (1x speed). If you use the settings below, the same kind of playback as with screenings can be obtained. By using the 720P progressive mode and cine-like gamma, high-quality film-like images can be achieved.
Recording format(REC FORMAT)Recording frame rate(FRAME RATE)...



Shooting in 1080i/480i progressive mode
Selecting 1080i/30P, 1080i/24P, 1080i/24PA, 480i/30P, 480i/24P or 480i/24PA in the REC FORMAT option (Page 104) of the setting menu RECORDING SETUP screen enables shooting in progressive mode.
0P mode:Shoot 30 frames a second in the progressive mode.For output and recording, the 30-frame-persecond signal is converted to 60-field-per-second interlace.This mode gives you high quality images.
Ao Ae Bo Be Co Ce Do De Eo Ee F o F e Go Ge Ho He Io Ie Jo...

Shooting


Shooting in manual mode
Set the unit to manual mode when manually adjusting the focus, iris, gain and white balance.
Switching to manual mode
Slide the AUTO/MANUAL switch to MANUAL to switch to the manual mode. ( A on the viewfinder and LCD go out).
AUTO/MANUAL switch
Manual focusing
FOCUS switch
PUSH AUTO buttonAUTO/MANUAL switch
Focus ring
FOCUS/IRIS switch
1 Use the AUTO/MANUAL switch to switch to manual mode.
 Use the FOCUS switch to choose how to control focusing.A...


Using focus assist
Pressing the FOCUS ASSIST button magnifies the center portion of the image or brings up a frequency distribution graph at the top right of the image to assist during manual focusing.You can use the FOCUS ASSIST setting on the SW MODE screen to change the viewfinder and LCD monitor displays that appear when the FOCUS ASSIST button is pressed. (Page 103)FOCUS ASSIST button
EXPANDED:Doubles the size of the center of the image.GRAPH:Displays a frequency distribution graph at...

Shooting
7

Adjusting the gain
When the display is dark, increase the gain to brighten the display.
GAIN switch
1 If the camera is in auto mode, use the AUTO/MANUAL switch to switch to manual mode. (Page )
 Switch the gain with the GAIN switch.L:  Set here under normal conditions. (0 dB)M: Increase the gain of the image amplifier. (The default value is 6 dB.)H:  Increase the gain of the image amplifier. (The default value is 12 dB.)
You can change the M and H gain values using the...

8
Adjusting the white balance
In order to reproduce the white accurately, adjust the ratio between the three RGB primary colors. If the white balance is not adjusted properly, not only will the white be reproduced poorly but the color tones of the entire screen will also be downgraded.When you are shooting in manual mode, readjust the white balance whenever lighting conditions change.You can save adjustments and reselect them by setting the WHITE BAL switch to A or B.You can also use the preset...

Shooting
9

Using presets
Use this feature when you have no time to make white balance adjustments.
1 If the camera is in auto mode, use the AUTO/MANUAL switch to switch to manual mode ( A on the viewfinder and LCD goes out).
 Set the WHITE BAL switch to PRST.The current white balance value appears.White balance values 3200 K and 5600 K are preset in the PRST position.Guide to the preset valuesP3.2K (3200 K): halogen lightP5.6K (5600 K): outdoors
 Press the AWB button.White balance...

0
Shooting techniques for different targets
Low-angle shooting
Set the Recording enable/disable switch to ON and use the START/STOP button on the handle to make it easier to shoot from low angles.Set the Recording enable/disable switch to OFF to prevent inadvertent use of the START/STOP button on the handle when this function is not needed.
START/STOP buttonRecording enable/disable switch
Self-portrait shooting
Images in the LCD when it is turned 180 degrees for self-portrait shooting may appear...