Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-HPX170P Operating Instructions

							
Menu
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ItemDisplay modeDescription of settings
ACCESS LED(Camera)(MCR)Sets the access lamp to ON or OFF.ON: The lamp lights up and blinks as per the regular specifications.OFF: The lamp is OFF in all circumstances.REC LAMP(Camera)Sets lighting of the tally lamp.OFF: The tally lamp does not light.FRONT: Front tally lamp (microphone side) lights.REAR: Rear tally lamp (viewfinder side) lights.BOTH: Both tally lamps light.BEEP SOUND(Camera)Turns the beep sound ON or OFF.ON OFFWhen ON is selected, the beep is sounded when the memory of the P2 card has been used up during recording.When the beep is sounded, the audio signals from the output connector are muted before the beep sound is output.CLOCK SET(Camera)(MCR)Sets the camera-recorder’s calendar.
TIME ZONE(Camera)(MCR)Adds to or deducts from GMT the time value of -12:00 to +13:00 in 30-minute steps. (As an exception, you can set +12:45.) Refer to the table below.0:00
Time differenceAreaTime differenceArea
00:00Greenwich- 00:30– 01:00Azores Islands– 01:30– 02:00Mid-Atlantic– 02:30– 03:00Buenos Aires– 03:30Newfoundland Island– 04:00Halifax– 04:30– 05:00New York– 05:30– 06:00Chicago– 06:30– 07:00Denver– 07:30– 08:00Los Angeles– 08:30– 09:00Alaska– 09:30Marquesas Islands– 10:00Hawaii– 10:30– 11:00Midway Island– 11:30– 12:00Kwajalein+ 11:30 Norfolk Island+ 13:00+ 10:30Lord Howe Island+ 12:00New Zealand+ 09:30Darwin+ 11:00Solomon Islands+ 08:30+ 10:00Guam+ 07:30+ 09:00Tokyo+ 06:30Rangoon+ 08:00Beijing+ 05:30Bombay+ 07:00Bangkok+ 04:30Kabul+ 06:00Dacca+ 03:30Tehran+ 05:00Islamabad+ 02:30+ 04:00Abu Dhabi+ 01:30+ 03:00Moscow+ 00:30+ 02:00Eastern Europe+ 12:45Chatham Islands+ 01:00Central Europe
OTHER FUNCTIONS screen (continued)
___indicates the factory setting. 
						

							
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ItemDisplay modeDescription of settings
POWER SAVE(Camera)Selects the power-saving mode when the Operation lever, MENU button, THUMBNAIL button, PAGE/AUDIO MON/VAR button, DISP/MODE CHK button, USER1-3 buttons and EVF DTL button have not been operated for 5 minutes or so.ON: The camera-recorder’s power is set to OFF.OFF: The unit remains stopped without turning off it’s power.When connection is made with an external device using the 1394 cable and the communication mode is established in this way, the power will not be set off even when none of the above buttons has been operated.The power will not be turned off when a P2 card has not been installed, even if ON has been selected.
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MENU INIT(Camera)(MCR)Returns the menu settings to the factory settings.The time zone setting will not be changed.•OPERATION(Camera)(MCR)Displays the power-on time (a 5-digit figure).
OPTION MENU screen
This menu is displayed when the DISP/MODE CHK button is held down, and after the details of the shooting status are displayed, the MENU button is then pressed.Use it to check the connection status during nonlinear editing.
ItemDisplay modeDescription of settings
19 STATUS(Camera)(MCR)1394 status display screen appears.FORMAT: Format of the signals which are input or output.RATE: Transfer rate of the signals which are input or output.60/50: System of the signals which are input or output.CH: Value of the channels in which the signals are input or output.SPEED: Transfer speed of the signals which are input or output.STATUS: Status of the signals which are input or output using the 1394 digital interface.VIDEO: Status of the video signals which are input or output.AUDIO: Status of the audio signals which are input or output.19 CONFIG(Camera)(MCR)1394 extended menus appear.DFLT: Normally, DFLT is used.1-255
Setup menu list (continued)
OTHER FUNCTIONS screen (continued)
___indicates the factory setting. 
						

							
Reference
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Before calling for service
Power supply
There’s no power.Make sure the battery and AC adapter are connected properly.Check the connections again.•P16
Power shuts off for no 
apparent reason.
To prevent the battery from running down needlessly, the camera-
recorder automatically turns off when the camera-recorder has been left in the shooting pause mode for more than 5 minutes.Check the settings in the OTHER FUNCTIONS screen, POWER SAVE.
•P112
Power goes off as soon as it is turned on.The battery may have run out.If the remaining battery charge display is blinking or  appears, the battery has run out. The same is true if, when the power is turned on, the CAM, MCR and PC lamps flash in this sequence and then the power goes off.Either recharge the battery or replace the discharged battery with a fully charged one.
•P15
Battery
The battery runs down quickly.Make sure the battery is fully charged.Keep charging until the AC adapter’s CHARGE lamp goes out.•P15
Are you using the battery in a cold place?The battery is affected by the ambient temperature. Its operating time is reduced in low-temperatures.
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The battery may have reached the end of its service life.The battery will become unchargeable. The battery has a certain service life which varies depending on how the battery is used. If the battery operates only for a short period even when it is charged adequately, it has reached the end of its service life.
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The battery cannot be charged.The battery cannot be charged if the DC cord is connected.Disconnect it.•——
Reference 
						

							
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Before calling for service (continued)
Shooting
Cannot start shooting.Make sure the POWER switch is ON.•P19
Cannot focus automatically.You can focus automatically when the auto focus mode is selected.You may be shooting a scene where it is difficult to bring the subject into focus in the auto focus mode.If this is the case, focus in the manual focus mode.It may be hard to bring the subject into focus when· both close and distant objects are to be shot· shooting through a dirty window· shooting in a dark place· there are sparkling or shiny objects around the subject· the subject is moving fast· shooting a scene with minimal contrast
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P35
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Cannot shoot even though the P2 card is inserted correctly.
Make sure the P2 card’s write-protect switch is not in the PROTECT position.Recording is not possible if it is in this position.
•P26
There may be little free memory left on the P2 card. If so, save the data onto another media, and delete the data you no longer need; alternatively, replace the card with a new one.
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The P2 card may be formatted incorrectly. Alternatively, the card you are using may not be formatted for use with the unit. If so, format the card in the unit.
•P26
2 GB P2 cards cannot be used.•——
The media information display may be indicating “E”. If so, format the card in the unit.•P90
Cannot perform interval recording, one-shot recording or loop recording.
Make sure that the DIR ENTRY NG CARD warning is not displayed after inserting the P2 card. Interval recording, one-shot recording and loop recording cannot be performed with this card. Format the card in the unit.
•P91
Editing
Cannot perform nonlinear editing.Check the specifications of your computer and connecting cable.•P81
Cannot dub onto an external device.Make sure the external device is connected correctly.•P78 - 80
Displays
Something is wrong with the time code display.The time code display may not register a regular count if a tape is played in the reverse slow mode. This is normal.•—— 
						

							
Reference
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Playback
Cannot play even when I press the play button.Make sure the MCR lamp is on (press the mode button).No kind of playback operation can be performed unless this lamp is on.
•P63
Mosaic-like noise appears when I cue or review a tape.
This noise is inherent to digital video technology.This is normal.•——
Images do not appear on the television even though I have connected the camera-recorder properly.
Make sure the input selector on your television is set to video input.Read the television’s instructions carefully and select the correct video input connector for the camera-recorder.
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Cannot hear any sound from the camera-recorder’s speaker.
You may have turned down the camera-recorder’s volume control too far.Adjust the volume level using the PAGE/AUDIO MON/VAR button+.
•P75
Cannot perform hot swap playback.This unit does not support hot swap playback.To replace one card with another during dubbing, stop the dubbing first, and upon completing the replacement, resume it.
•P86
Other
Cannot read the data on the SD memory card.Make sure the SD memory card is formatted correctly.If it is not, format the card in the unit.•P29
The remote control does not work.The battery in the remote control may have run out.If the remote control fails to work even if it is operated close to the remote control sensor of the camera-recorder, it means that the battery has run out. Replace it with new one.
•P18
Make sure the remote control setting is the same for the remote control unit and the camera-recorder.
If the REMOTE setting is different on the remote control and the camera-recorder, the remote control will not work.
•P18
There is a rattling sound when the camera-recorder is tilted back and forth.
There are some parts of the camera that make a rattling sound in the MCR mode or when the POWER switch is OFF. This is normal.
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A clicking sound is heard when the power is turned on or when the MCR mode is switched to the CAM mode..
This initialization operation is performed when the camera starts up.It occurs due to the construction of the camera and is not indicative of any trouble.
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Operating precautions
Do not allow any water to get into the camera-recorder when using it in the rain or snow or at the beach.Failure to heed this precaution will cause the camera-recorder or P2 card to malfunction (and may result in irreparable damage).
Keep the camera-recorder away from equipment (such as TV sets and video game machines) that generate magnetic fields.Using the camera-recorder on top of or near a TV set may cause distortion in the images and/or sound due to the electromagnetic waves that the set emits.The powerful magnetic fields generated by speakers or large motors may damage your recordings or distort the images.The electromagnetic waves emitted from a microcomputer will adversely affect the camerarecorder, causing the images and/or sound to be distorted.If the camera-recorder is so adversely affected by products that generate magnetic fields that it no longer operates properly, turn it off and remove the battery or unplug the AC adapter from the power outlet. Then install the battery again or reconnect the AC adapter. After this, turn the camera-recorder back on.
Do not use the camera-recorder near radio 
transmitters or high-voltage equipment.Using the camera-recorder near a radio transmitter or high-voltage equipment may adversely affect the recorded images and/or sound.
Do not allow any sand or dust to get into the camera-recorder when using it at the beach and other similar places.Sand and dust can damage the camera-recorder and P2 card. (Be especially careful when inserting or removing the P2 card.)
AC adapter and batteryIf the battery is extremely hot or cold, the CHARGE lamp will blink several times before charging starts.If the CHARGE lamp continues to blink even when the battery temperature is normal, there may be something wrong with the battery or AC adapter. Contact your dealer.The battery takes longer to charge when it is 
warm.
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The AC adapter can interfere with radio reception so keep radios at least 1 meter away from it.The AC adapter may make some noise when you are using it, but this is normal.
Take precautions not to drop the camera when moving it.Strong impacts may damage the camera and cause it to stop working.Handle the camera with care, using the hand strap or shoulder strap to carry it.
Do not spray the camera with insect sprays or other volatile substances.These can warp the camera or cause the finish to come off.Do not leave the camera-recorder in contact with rubber or PVC products for extended periods of time.
After use, remove the battery and disconnect the AC power supply cord.
Battery characteristicsThis camera-recorder uses a rechargeable lithiumion battery that uses its internal chemical reaction to generate electrical energy. This reaction is easily influenced by the ambient temperature and humidity, and the battery’s effective operating time is reduced as the temperature rises or falls. In 
very low temperatures, the battery may last only 5 minutes.Protective circuitry functions if you use the battery where it is very hot and you will have to wait before you can use it again.
Remove the battery after use.Completely remove the battery. (The battery continues to be used even if you have turned the camera off.) The battery can over discharge if you leave it in the camera and it may become impossible to recharge it.
Keep dust and other foreign objects away from the battery terminal.If the battery is dropped, make sure that the body and terminal portion of the battery are not deformed.If a deformed battery is inserted into the camera-recorder or placed on the AC adapter, the camera-recorder or AC adapter may be damaged.
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Reference
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What to remember when throwing memory cards away or transferring them to othersFormatting memory cards or deleting data using the functions of the unit or a computer will merely change the file management information: it will not completely erase the data on the cards. When throwing these cards away or transferring them to others, either physically destroy them or use a data deletion program for computers (commercially available) to completely erase the data. Users are responsible for managing the data on their memory cards.
Liquid crystal displaysImages or letters can get burned onto the screen of the LCD or viewfinder if they are displayed for a long time, but you can fix this by leaving the camera off for several hours.The liquid crystal parts are highly precise with 99.99% of the pixels effective.This leaves less than 0.01% of pixels that may not light or may remain on all the time. These phenomena are normal and will have no effect on the images you shoot.Condensation may form if you use the camera where temperatures fluctuate. Wipe dry with a soft, dry cloth.The LCD may appear dim after immediately turning on a cold camera, but will brighten as the camera warms up.
Do not point the lens or viewfinder at the sun.Doing so may damage the parts inside.
Protective caps for the connectorsKeep the protective caps fitted over any connectors that are not being used.
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Updating the driver in the camera
For the latest information on drivers, visit the P2 Support Desk at the following Web sites.
 https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/
To update a driver, select PROPERTY on the thumbnail menu and then SYSTEMINFO to check the camera-recorder’s version, go to the site given above, and download the driver as necessary.The updating procedure is completed when the downloaded file has been loaded into the camera-recorder via the SD memory card. For further details on this procedure, go the site given above.
For installation, you must connect the AC adapter.If you are going to use SD memory cards with this camera-recorder, use only cards which are in compliance with the SD standard.Always format SD memory cards on this camera-recorder.
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Reference
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Cleaning
When cleaning, do not use benzene or thinner.Using benzine or paint thinners may deform the camera-recorder and/or cause the surface finish to peel off.Before proceeding with maintenance, remove the battery or disconnect the AC cord from the power outlet.Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe the camera-recorder. To remove stubborn dirt, wipe the camera-recorder with a cloth moistened with kitchen detergent that has been diluted with water and then use a dry cloth to take up the remaining moisture.Cleaning the ViewfinderIf there is dust inside the view finder, remove the eye cup holder and get rid of the dust.The interior of the eye cup holder is specially finished, so do not ever wipe it. If there is dust on it, blow it off with an air blower.Remove the eye cup holder with the eye cup attached by rotating it counterclockwise. (It will be tightly screwed on.) When you do this, tilt the view finder slightly upward.To amount the eye cup holder, align the ridges and grooves of the eye cup holder and camerarecorder, and turn clockwise until the holder clicks into place.
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Eye cup holder
Eye cup
Projection 
						

							
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Storage Precautions
Before storing the camera-recorder, remove the battery.Store all of these items in a place with low humidity and relatively constant temperature.[Recommended temperature range: 15°C to 25°C][Recommended relative humidity: 40% to 60%]
Video cameraWrap the video camera in a soft cloth to keep the dust off.
BatteryThe battery life is shortened in places with extreme temperatures.Storing the battery in a location with oily vapors or high dust concentrations may corrode the terminals or cause other damage, leading to malfunction.Keep metal objects (such as necklaces and hair pins) away from the terminals. Shortcircuiting may occur across the terminals, causing the battery to heat up, and you may seriously burn yourself if you touch the battery in this state.Discharge the battery before storing it. When storing it for an extended time, charge it at least once a year, use up its charge in the camerarecorder, and then store it again.
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P cardsAfter ejecting a P2 card from the unit, be absolutely sure to attach its special cap to keep sand and dust away from the connector area. Stow the P2 cards in their own cases when storing them or carrying them around.Do not leave P2 cards in areas where corrosive gases, etc. are present.
SD memory cardsAfter ejecting an SD memory card from the unit, be absolutely sure to stow it in its own case.Do not leave SD memory cards in areas where corrosive gases, etc. are present.Do not leave the cards inside vehicles, in places exposed to direct sunlight or in other places where the temperature is high.Do not leave the cards where the humidity level is high or where there are high concentrations of dust.
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