Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-HPX170P Operating Instructions

							
Shooting
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Checking and displaying shooting 
status
DISP/MODE CHK button
When you hold down the DISP/MODE CHK button during recording standby or recording, all the information including the setting status of the shooting functions and a list of functions allocated to the USER buttons, will be displayed. When you release the button, the normal display will be restored.
When you push the DISP/MODE CHK button during recording standby or recording, all the information will be unshown. When you press the button again, the normal display will be restored.The information is retained even if you turn off the unit’s power or switch to another operation mode.
To display property of the selected clip in MCR mode, press the DISP/MODE CH button in the thumbnail screen. Press the button again to return to the thumbnail screen.
Changing the image size
When recording in 480i mode, you can change the size (aspect ratio) of the images that you record.Select the aspect ratio in the setup menus, CAMERA SETUP screen, ASPECT CONV. (Page 100)For menu operation (Page 94)
SIDE CROP:Recorded in the regular 4:3 aspect ratio.The left and right edges of the image are cut.
LETTER BOX:Recorded in the 16:9 aspect ratio.Black bands are recorded at the top and bottom of the image.
SQUEEZE:The recorded images are squeezed horizontally so that they are shown as 16:9 images on a compatible wide-screen television.If you have selected SQUEEZE, “SQU” appears on the screen.
To change the aspect ratio display of the viewfinder and LCDSelect the aspect ratio in the setup menus, DISPLAY SETUP screen, DISPLAY ASPECT. (Page 109)
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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 screen when this function is on.Turn the function off when using a tripod for more natural images.
BARS
CH1 SELECT
RESET/TC SETREC
CH2 SELECT
AUDIOINT(L)INPUT1INPUT2
SHUTTERSPEES SELECT
INT(R)INPUT2INPUT1
MIC POWER+48VONOFFINPUT2ONOFF
LCD
ZEBRA
EVF DTL
OIS
WFM
COUNTER
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 sixteen 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: WHITEFADEUSER2: BACKLIGHTUSER3: TEXT MEMOFor details, see the setup menus, SW MODE screen, USER1 to 3. (Page 102)If you press a USER button to which one of the following functions has been allocated and then turn off the power, that button will revert to the previous setting:
SPOTLIGHT, BACKLIGHT, ATW, ATW LOCK, GAIN:18 dB, D.ZOOM
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.
Color bars
Press the BARS button in 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.
A 1 kHz test tone is output in the color bar screen when ON is selected under TEST TONE on the setting menu AV IN/OUT SETUP screen.The color bar can be recorded together with a 
1 kHz test tone.
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Shooting techniques for different targets (continued) 
						

							
Shooting


Waveform monitor function
Press the WFM button in CAM mode to display a waveform of the image on the LCD monitor.Pressing the WFM button once again closes the waveform display.WFM (Page 103) on the setting menu SW MODE screen allows you to switch between the waveform and vector display.The viewfinder does not show the waveform display.The waveform does not appear when the focus assist function is used.The waveform display cannot be recorded.
Adjusting the volume while shooting
PAGE/AUDIO MON/VAR
Adjusting the volume
If you are monitoring the sound through headphones while shooting, you can adjust the volume with the PAGE/AUDIO MON/VAR button.To adjust the recording level (Page 52)
Backup recording
If you have connected equipment to the 1394 terminal (pages 77 and 78), you can make automatic backup recordings of whatever you are shooting.In the setup menus, OTHER FUNCTIONS screen, 1394 CONTROL and 1394 CMD SEL, select how to control the equipment you have connected. (Page 110)
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Note the following when backup recording.Menu settings are retained even if you turn the power off. So if you use the camera-recorder with the settings for backup recording still in effect, images on media in any unit that connected may be overwritten. After backup recording, check the menu item settings before you operate the camera-recorder.If you use another AG-HPX170P as the external unit for backup recording, select “OFF” for 1394 CONTROL on the external unit and set it to MCR mode.Backup recording may not work properly if you connect two or more external units.Use a 1394 cable of 4.5 m or less for connection.Set the external unit up to receive 1394 signals before backup recording.You can have a media in the external unit start recording automatically when the media in this unit is almost finished. Set 1394 CONTROL on the setting menu OTHER FUNCTIONS screen (Page 110) to “CHAIN”.Note that images are recorded even when you perform a rec check.You cannot perform backup recording when the unit is set up for native recording.Backup recording does not work in three of the special recording modes: Interval recording, One-shot recording and Loop recording (Pages 46 – 48)Backup recording does not work during direct shooting (Page 66) in MCR mode.
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-slot continuous recording
If you insert two P2 cards into the two card slots, this function allows you to record continuously on the two cards.You can also record continuously on three or more cards by replacing one card while data is being recorded on the other. (Hot swap recording) However, depending on when the P2 card is inserted into an empty slot (immediately after pre-recording, or before or after continuous recording spanning two slots), there may be a delay in recognizing the P2 card. We recommend inserting the P2 card while there is at least one minute remaining on the card that is recording.The SLOT SEL button offers a one-touch mechanism to select the slot whose card will be recorded.You cannot change slots while recording so do this during recording standby.Does not support hot swap playback.
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 66)However, note that you cannot set or release shot marks during playback.INVALID appears when you cannot set or release shot marks.When the video data of a single shoot using hot swap recording is made up of multiple clips, you cannot set or release shot marks unless all the P2 cards that make up the video data are inserted into the slots.You cannot set or release shot marks during loop recording.
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Text memo recording
This function adds text memos at the video points on the clip now being recorded or played back.When you press the USER button to which the TEXT MEMO function has been allocated, the text memo will be recorded at that point. (Page 42)On the thumbnail screen you can select only those clips where text memos have been added, and then either display those clips or play them back.You can record up to a hundred text memos per clip.You will need the latest updated version of P2 Viewer to edit the text memos. (Page 121)You cannot record text memos during interval recording or one-shot recording.INVALID appears when you cannot record text memos.
Time stamp function
Use the time stamp function to record date and time of shooting on the video. Select ON under TIME STAMP on the setting menu RECORDING SETUP screen.“ R ” prefixes the date and time display in the viewfinder and the LCD monitor when the time stamp function is on.“ R ” is not recorded on the video.The size and location of the date and time characters will vary with the recording format.The data recorded depends on the DATE/TIME setting on the setting menu DISPLAY SETUP screen. No data is recorded when OFF is selected. Superimposed characters are output only during 1394 output.
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Shooting techniques for different targets (continued) 
						

							
Shooting


LAST CLIP DELETE function
Assign LAST CLIP to any of the USER 1 – 3 buttons to enable a convenient way to delete the last recorded clip.Pressing the USER button to which LAST CLIP was assigned displays a YES/NO confirmation dialog on the screen. Select YES, and the last recorded clip is deleted and “LAST CLIP DELETE OK” is displayed.Select NO to cancel clip deletion.Clips cannot be deleted when a switch has been made to the MCR or PC mode or the recording format has been changed after completing a recording. Then it will not be possible to delete the clip by turning the power off and turning it back on.This button cannot be used to delete clips when a P2 card (one of two inserted cards) has been removed and reinserted after recording, nor can it be used to delete clips on a write-protected P2 card.In hot swap recording, the clip delete function is not available unless all the P2 cards containing data shot in one recording operation are inserted.The YES/NO confirmation dialog does not appear when the clip delete function is not available.
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Using the special recording functions
Making the settings in the RECORDING SETUP screen (Page 104) enables special recording functions such as Pre-recording, Interval Recording, One Shot Recording, and Loop Recording.
These special recording functions can be used only when the settings below are established.OPERATION TYPE item (page 98): VIDEO CAMRecording format:  1080i/60i, 720P/60P, 480i/60i, 1080i/30P, 720P/30P or 480i/30P••
Interval recording (INTERVAL REC)
With this function, the unit continuously records frames (1/30 sec.) one at a time with an interval.The interval can be set with INTERVAL TIME item.One-frame recording
(Time)
One-frame recordingOne-frame recording
Time set as INTERVAL TIMETime set as INTERVAL TIME
1 Check that the settings given above have been established for the OPERATION TYPE item and recording format.
 Select INTERVAL under REC FUNCTION. (Page 10)For menu operations (Page 94)
 Set the time INTERVAL TIME. (Page 10)
 Press the START/STOP button.The unit starts INTERVAL REC operation.To stop operation, push the Operation lever in the g direction.To release the function, either turn off the unit’s power or select NORMAL under REC FUNCTION.The following displays will appear on the left of the operation status display.While recording is underway: I-REC lights up.In temporary standby: I-PAUSE lights up.While recording is stopped: The “I-” of I-PAUSE flashes.
However, if the duration selected in step 3 is less than 2 seconds, I-REC will flash while recording is underway in accordance with the set time.The pre-recording function does not work.No sound is recorded.All data recorded while this mode is active will be contained in one file.No guarantees are made for the 1394 output 
images.
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Pre-recording (PRE REC)
This function is used to record pictures and sound starting at a fixed time (approx. 3 seconds for HD recording or approx. 7 seconds for 480i recording) before the time when the actual recording has been set to start.Recording start operationRecording stop operation
Actual recording timePre-recording time
(Time)
1 Check that the settings given above have been established for the OPERATION TYPE item and recording format.
 Select ON under PREREC MODE. (Page 10)For menu operations (Page 94)
 Press the START/STOP button.
Pre-recording starts.In the following cases, the pre-recording function will be canceled, and recording will be initiated from the respective operation points.·  
When 1394 input recording is initiated·  
When the unit is transferred from the playback mode to the recording mode·  
When interval recording is initiated·  
When one-shot recording is initiated·  
When loop recording is initiatedImmediately after switching from the MCR mode to CAM mode, immediately after turning on the camera-recorder’s power or immediately after changing the PRE-REC option setting, it may not be possible to record the images and sound before the time mentioned on the previous page has elapsed even if the recording has been started straight away.
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Shooting
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Operation is not possible even if only one of the inserted cards is DIR ENTRY NG CARD. (Page 91)After interval recording has started, a recordable P2 card cannot be used even if it is inserted into an empty slot.The slots for recording in this mode are indicated by the orange P2 card access lamps.The slots for recording P2 cards that are inserted after starting recording are indicated by the green P2 card access lamps.Text memos cannot be added.
One-shot recording (ONE-SHOT REC)
This function records a single shot at each unit of time which has been set.
1 Check that the settings given on page  have been established for the OPERATION TYPE item and recording format.
 Select ONE SHOT under REC FUNCTION. (Page 10)For menu operations (Page 94)
 Set the recording time using ONE-SHOT TIME. (Page 10)
 Press the START/STOP button.Recording continues for the duration set in step 2 and then goes on standby.To stop operation, push the Operation lever in the g direction.To release standby, either turn off the unit’s power or select NORMAL under REC FUNCTION.The following displays will appear on the left of the operation status display.While recording is underway: I-REC lights up.In temporary standby: I-PAUSE lights up.While recording is stopped: The “I-” of I-PAUSE flashes.
The pre-recording function does not work.No sound is recorded.All data recorded while this mode is active will be contained in one file.No guarantees are made for the 1394 output images.Operation is not possible even if only one of the inserted cards is DIR ENTRY NG CARD. (Page 91)
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When continuous one-shot recording is performed, there may be delays in acknowledging the recording operation.After one-shot recording has started, a recordable P2 card cannot be used even if it is inserted into an empty slot.The slots for recording in this mode are indicated by the orange P2 card access lamps.The slots for recording P2 cards that are inserted after starting recording are indicated by the green P2 card access lamps.Text memos cannot be added.
Loop recording (LOOP REC)
This function is used to record first on one card and then on the next when you have inserted two P2 cards into the card slots. If there is not enough free memory remaining on the second card, recording returns to the first card whose data will then be overwritten. When data is overwritten, the saved clips are deleted, and then the new clips are recorded in their place. (Clip deletion is performed approximately 30 seconds before the overwrite.)
1 Check that the settings given on page  have been established for the OPERATION TYPE item and recording format.
 Select LOOP under REC FUNCTION. (Page 10)For menu operations (Page 94)
 Press the START/STOP button.Recording starts.To stop operation, press the START/STOP button.To release the function, either turn off the unit’s power or select NORMAL under REC FUNCTION.The following displays will appear on the left of the operation status display.While recording is underway: L-REC lights 
up.While recording is stopped: L-PAUSE lights up.Insufficient memory space: LACK L- flashes.Use two P2 cards each with a recording capacity of more than one minute. Recording stops when either card is ejected.
(Continued on the next page)
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Using the special recording functions (continued)
This function does not work during 1394 input recording.The pre-recording function does not work.Operation is not possible even if only one of 
the inserted cards is DIR ENTRY NG CARD. (Page 91)Stopping may take some time.The following operations are not acknowledged until the P2 card access lamps change from blinking to fully lit up.The slots for recording in this mode are indicated by the orange P2 card access lamps.Text memos cannot be added.
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Shooting
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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.
1/60.0
PUSH  STILL 
The current shutter speed appears on the viewfinder and LCD screens 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).
(Continued on the next page)
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•BARS
CH1 SELECT
RESET/TC SETREC
CH2 SELECT
AUDIOINT(L)INPUT1INPUT2
SHUTTERSPEES SELECT
INT(R)INPUT2INPUT1
MIC POWER+48VONOFFINPUT2ONOFF
LCD
ZEBRA
EVF DTL
OIS
WFM
COUNTER
SHUTTER button
SPEED SELECT button
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 button.
 After you have pressed the SHUTTER button, press SPEED SELECT to select the shutter speed.The shutter speed changes as follows each time you press SPEED SELECT + (The order is reversed for the SHUTTER SELECT - button.)Remember that the faster the shutter speed, the lower the sensitivity.•
Adjusting the shutter speed
With the 1080i/60i, 720P/60P and 480i/60i formats
Standard (Off) 1/60SYNCRO SCAN "1/15 "1/30 "1/100                 1/2000 "1/1000 "1/500 "1/250 "1/120With the 1080i/30P, 720P/30P, 480i/30P and 720P/30PN formats
Standard (Off) 1/50SYNCRO SCAN "1/15 "1/30 "1/60                1/1000 "1/500 "1/250 "1/120With the 1080i/24P, 480i/24P, 1080i/24PA and 480i/24PA formats
Standard (Off) 1/50SYNCRO SCAN "1/24 "1/60             1/1000 "1/500 "1/250 "1/120With the 720P/24P and 720P/24PN formats
Standard (Off) 1/50SYNCRO SCAN "1/12 "1/24 "1/60              1/1000 "1/500 "1/250 "1/120
*  Bold and underlines indicate formats that can be selected only when VIDEO COM is selected under OPERATION TYPE, and OFF is selected under DRS in the SCENE FILE screen of the setu\
p menus. 
						

							
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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 camerarecorder’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 modeShutter speed
50 Hz60 Hz
OFF (60i)1/100OFF (1/60)
30POFF (1/50)1/60
24P/24PA/24PNOFF (1/50)1/60
The gain is fixed at 0 dB with a shutter speed of 1/12 and 1/15.•
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 98)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.When the OPERATION TYPE option in the SCENE FILE screen (page 98) is set to FILM CAM, the shutter opening angle can be adjusted from 10° to 360° in 0.5° steps.Example: When the recording frame rate is set to 24 fps and the exposure time is halved, 1/24÷2 = 1/48 = 180° (1/24 = 360°)In the default setting (180°), this becomes 1/2 of the exposure time. If it were 90°, it would be 1/4, and if it were 45°, it would be 1/8 of the exposure time.(Shutter opening angle: This is equivalent to the shutter speed of a film camera, and a wider angle results in a longer exposure to light.)If the shutter speed is displayed in blue characters followed by (1/60), you cannot change the shutter speed in the blue characters while the current recording format is used. The speed is 
fixed at (1/60).
You can change the progressive mode in the setup menu with REC FORMAT in the RECORDING SETUP screen. (Page 104)
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Adjusting the shutter speed (continued)