Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-HPX255P AG-HPX255EN Operating Instructions

21
Shooting
Recording with Variable Frame Rate (VFR)
In	1080i	and	720P	mode,	this	unit	can	shoot	
using	frame	skipping	(under	cranking)	and	high	
speed	recording	(over	cranking).	 You	can	select	
native	(PN)	recording	mode	and	standard	(OVER)	
recording.
Native VFR recording
1  In 1080i or 720P mode, set REC FORMAT on 
the setting menu SYSTEM SETUP screen to 
AVC-I 100/24PN (or 30PN, 25PN).
2 In the SCENE FILE screen, set the menu 
option VFR to ON and the menu option 
FRAME RATE to suit shooting...

22
Standard VFR recording 
(pulldown recording)
1 In 1080i or 720P mode, set REC FORMAT on 
the setting menu SYSTEM SETUP screen to 
AVC-I 100/60i (60P) (or 50i, 50P).
2 In the SCENE FILE screen, set the menu 
option VFR to ON and the menu option 
FRAME RATE to suit shooting purposes.
You can also change the frame rate using 
the SHTR/F.RATE dial.
•	“Setting	FRAME	RATE	mode”	(Page	51)
3 
Press the START/STOP button.
This	starts	recording	in	the	VFR	mode	
(pulldown	recording).
This	mode	can	be	combined...

23
Shooting
Using progressive mode and VFR recording function
Standard speed for film production
Screen	production	normally	requires	a	24	fps	(24	frames	per	second)	frame	rate	(normal	speed)	for	
screening	a	film.	Making	the	settings	described	below	will	provide	film-quality	playback.	The	720P	
progressive	mode	and	cine-like	gamma	will	make	video	look	like	it	was	shot	with	a	film	camera-recorder.
Standard settings for film production
SYSTEM MODE settings Recording frame rate
SYSTEM MODE Other settings...

24
Recording with Variable Frame Rate (VFR) (continued)
Shooting at standard speed for producing commercials and TV programs
When	producing	videos	for	display	on	a	television	screen	such	as	HDTV/SDTV	broadcast,	a	frame	rate	
of	30	fps	(30	frames	per	second),	25	fps	(25	frames	per	second)	for	50	Hz,	is	standard	(x1).	The	settings	
below	allow	you	to	obtain	the	kind	of	playback	used	for	broadcast	programs.	 This	permits	film-like	video	
recording	of	commercials	and	music	clips	that	also	provide	a	frame...

25
Shooting
Undercranking effects
This	effect	produces	the	quick	motion	often	used	for	showing	clouds	drifting	across	the	sky,	crowds	of	
people	swarming	past	a	solitary	standing	individual,	a	kung	fu	demonstration	and	other	performances.	For	
example,	selecting	a	VFR	recording	frame	rate	of	12	fps	when	shooting	at	a	24P	recording	format	yields	a	
fast-motion	effect	of	approx.	2x	normal	speed.
Standard setup for undercranking effects
SYSTEM MODE settings Recording frame rate
SYSTEM MODE Other settings...

26
Recording with Variable Frame Rate (VFR) (continued)
Overcranking effects
Overcranking	produces	slow-motion	playback,	which	is	frequently	used	in	climax	scenes,	or	for	dramatic	
effects	like	car	chases	and	action	scenes.	For	example,	selecting	a	recording	frame	rate	of	60	fps	when	
shooting	a	24P	recording	format	yields	a	slow-motion	effect	that	is	2.5	times	normal	speed.	Shooting	720P 	
progressive	video	will	produce	smooth	and	highquality	slow-motion.	
Furthermore,	with	1080i,	a	slow	motion	effect...

27
Shooting
Flow effect shooting
This	way	of	shooting	provides	a	flow	effect	and	
may,	for	instance,	be	used	to	shoot	a	subject	on	
a	far	side	of	a	road	with	a	stream	of	fast-moving	
cars	as	the	flow,	in	such	a	way	that	the	stationary	
subject	comes	into	focus	though	the	cars.
1 Set SYSTEM MODE on the setting menu 
SYSTEM SETUP screen to 1080-59.94i (50i), 
REC FORMAT to AVC-I 100 (50)/60i (50i) or 
DVCPRO HD/60i (50i), and VFR to ON.
Set	FRAME	RATE	to	a	low	value	suitable	for	
the	shooting	purpose....

28
Shooting in manual mode
PUSH AUTO button
While	pressing	the	PUSH	AUTO	button,	the	
automatic	focus	can	be	set	quickly.
Switching to manual focus assist mode
To	change	from	the	manual	focus	mode	to	the	
manual	focus	assist	mode,	set	MF	 ASSIST	to	ON	
on	the	setting	menu	SW	MODE	screen.
•	 You	can	make	coarse	adjustments	to	the	focus	
in	manual	focus	assist	mode	by	turning	the	focus	
ring	about	half	the	amount	you	would	turn	it	in	
manual	focus	mode.
•	 Fine	adjustment	is	made	automatically	after	you...

29
Shooting
Using focus assist function
To	easily	focus	an	image,	expanded	display	or	
In	Red	display	can	be	selected	with	the	FOCUS	
ASSIST	button,	and	the	focus	bar	display	can	be	
used.
FOCUS ASSIST button When	you	press	the	FOCUS	 ASSIST	button,	
the	image	contour	has	red	edges	or	the	screen	
center	of	the	LCD	monitor	is	enlarged	to	set	the	
focus	easily.	 The	screen	display	of	the	viewfinder	
or	the	LCD	monitor	that	appears	when	you	press	
the	FOCUS	 ASSIST	button	can	be	set	in	the	
FOCUS	 ASSIST...

30
Shooting in manual mode (continued)
Iris adjustments
IRIS ringIRIS button
1 Use the AUTO/MANUAL switch to switch to 
the manual mode. (Page 28)
2 Press the IRIS button to switch how to 
adjust the aperture of lens.
AUTO IRIS: 
Adjust	the	iris	automatically.
MANUAL IRIS:  Adjust	the	iris	manually.
3  Turn the IRIS ring to adjust the aperture of 
lens when in the manual iris mode.
In	the	auto	iris	mode,	the	lens	iris	can	be	
corrected	using	this	ring.
If	you	have	set	ON	under	 A.IRIS	on	the	setting...