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

							31
Shooting
Using super gain
You	can	increase	the	gain	level	further	when	
shooting	in	dark	space.	
Set	SUPER	GAIN	on	the	setting	menu	SW	MODE	
screen	to	24	dB,	30	dB	or	BOTH.	
Cycles	to	the	next	value	in	the	order	24	dB	→		
30	dB	→	OFF	when	pressing	USER	button	in	
BOTH.
You	can	switch	to	the	selected	gain	by	pressing	a	
USER	button	to	which	S	GAIN	has	been	assigned.
•	 “Using	the	USER	buttons”	(Page	39)
•	 In	variable	frame	rate	(VFR)	mode,	super	gain	
is	not	available	when	the	frame	rate	is	set	to	
4	frames	or	less.
•	 AGC
	is 	not 	available 	when 	super 	gain 	is 	selected,	
even	if	 AUTO/MANUAL 	is	set	to	AUTO.
Light intensity adjustments
Use	the	ND	FILTER	dial	to	change	the	ND	Filter	
used	(filter	to	change	light	intensity).
OFF: ND	filter	is	not	used.
1/4:  Cuts	light	intensity	by	up	to	about	1/4.
1/16:  Cuts	light	intensity	by	up	to	about	1/16.
1/64:  Cuts	light	intensity	by	up	to	about	1/64.
ND FILTER dial  
						

							32
1 Set the GAIN and WHITE BAL switches.
•	For	the	WHITE	BAL
	switch,	select	A	or	B	as	
a	position	to	save	the	adjustment	value.
2  Adjust the ND FILTER dial according to the 
light conditions.
For	examples	of	ND	FILTER	dial,	see	“Light	
intensity	adjustments”	(Page	31).
3 Place a white pattern at a point where the 
light conditions match those for the light 
source of the subject. Then zoom-in on the 
white pattern so that white color appears in 
the screen.
•	A
	white	object	(cloth	or	wall)	may	be	used	
instead	of	a	white	pattern.	 The	illustration	
below	shows	the	required	size	for	the	white	
space.
•	 Do not point the camera-recorder at a high-
brightness area.
•	 The white object must appear at the center 
of the screen.
1/3 or more of the screen in width
1/3 or more 
of the screen 
in height
4 
Adjust the lens iris.
•	Use
	the 	Y 	GET 	function 	(Page 	122) 	and 	adjust	
the	iris	to	a	approximately	70	%	of	incoming	
light.
5  Press the AWB button.
•	The	switch	returns	to	the	central	position	with	
the	white	balance	automatically	adjusted.
6 
During an adjustment, the viewfinder 
or LCD monitor displays the following 
message:
AWB  Ach  ACTIVE
Adjusting the white balance and black balance
To	record	high-quality	video	with	the	 AG-HPX255P/
EN,	the	black	and	white	balances	must	be	adjusted	
according	to	conditions.
If	white	balance	and	black	balance	adjustments	
are	made	while	the	video	image	is	distorted	
due	to	GENLOCK,	the	adjustments	may	not	
be	correct.	Wait	for	the	video	image	to	return	
to	normal	before	performing	white	balance	and	
black	balance	adjustments	again.
Adjusting the white balance
Whenever	light	conditions	change,	the	white	
balance	must	be	readjusted.
To	adjust	the	white	balance,	follow	the	steps	on	the	
right.
AWB button
Use	for	automatic	control	
of	white	balance. WHITE BAL switch
Set	to	
A	or	B.
ND FILTER dial
This	control	adjusts	the	amount	of	light	
entering	the	MOS	sensor.
GAIN switch
Normally	set	to	0	dB.	If	this	is	too	
dark,	adjust	gain	as	necessary. 
						

							33
Shooting
7 The adjustment will take effect in a few 
seconds, and the following message will 
appear:
•	The	adjusted	value	is	automatically	stored	in	
the	selected	memory	(A
	or	B).
AWB  A  OK  3.2K
•	 “C	
TEMP+7”	to	“C	 TEMP-7”	will	appear	when	
COLOR	 TEMP	of	the	scene	file	is	set	to	the	
value	other	than	0.
8  If the subject’s color temperature is lower 
than 2300K or higher than 9900K the 
following message appears:
•	If	the	arrow	points	down	(↓)	the	actual	color	
temperature	is	lower	than	the	temperature	
indicated.	If	the	arrow	points	up	(↑)	the	actual	
temperature	is	higher	than	the	temperature	
indicated.
AWB  A  OK  2.3K  ↓
When you have no time to adjust the white 
balance
Position	the	WHITE	BAL 	switch	at	PRST.
•	 You	can	switch	between	3200	K	and	5600	K	by	
pressing	the	
AWB	button.
When the white balance has not been 
automatically adjusted
When	the	white	balance	has	not	been	successfully	
adjusted,	the	viewfinder	or	LCD	monitor	displays	
an	error	message.	
Error message Description
→ Adjustment details
AWB	 Ach	(or	Bch)	
NG The	color	temperature	is	too	
high	or	too	low.
LOW	LIGHT There	is	insufficient	light.
→	Increases	the	amount	of	
light.	Also	increases	gain.
LEVEL 	OVER There	is	too	much	light.
→	Reduces	the	amount	of	
light.	Also	reduces	gain.
Viewfinder displays related to white balance
•	For	details	on	the	screen	display	of	the	
viewfinder,	see	“Screen	displays”	(Page	121).	 Setting auto tracking white balance (ATW)
This	camera-recorder	is	equipped	with	an	auto	
tracking	white	balance	(ATW)	function	that	
automatically	adjusts	the	white	balance	of	images	
in	accordance	with	lighting	conditions.
The	
ATW	function	can	be	assigned	to	the	WHITE	
BAL 	switch	B	by	setting	the	menu	option	 ATW	in	
the	SW	MODE	screen	to	B	ch.
Also,	you	can	allocate	the	 ATW	function	to	USER	
MAIN	or	USER	buttons	1	to	4.
•	 “Using	the	USER	buttons”	(Page	39)
Cancelling auto tracking white balance
Press	the	USER	button	to	which	 ATW	was	
assigned	a	second	time	or	change	the	WHITE	BAL 	
switch	position.	If	 ATW	was	assigned	to	the	WHITE	
BAL 	switch	B,	the	USER	button	cannot	be	used	to	
cancel	the	function.
•	 This function does not provide a 100 % 
accurate white balance. The tracking 
performance relative to changes in ambient 
lighting and white balance performance 
have been given a degree of latitude.
•	 In variable frame rate (VFR) mode, ATW is 
not available when the frame rate is set to 
4 frames or less.  
						

							34
Adjusting the black balance
The	black	balance	must	be	adjusted	when:
•	You	use	your	
AG-HPX255P/EN	the	first	time.
•	 Your	
AG-HPX255P/EN	has	not	been	used	for	
some	time.
•	 The	ambient	temperature	has	changed	
substantially.
•	 The	gain	switchover	value	has	been	changed.
•	 The	menu	options	SYSTEM	MODE	and	REC	
FORMAT
	in	the	SYSTEM	SETUP 	screen.
Adjust	the	black	balance	before	shooting	to	ensure	
optimum	video	quality.
AWB button
Used	when	 ABB	is	running.
1 Press and hold the AWB button for 
approximately 2 seconds. 
•	Black	balance	is	adjusted	after	the	white	
balance.	
	
As	white	balance	is	adjusted	first,	set	the	
conditions	for	white	balance	adjustment	
beforehand.
2  During adjustment, the viewfinder displays 
the following message:
ABB  ACTIVE
3 The adjustment will take effect in a few 
seconds and the following message will 
appear:
ABB  END
The	adjusted	value	is	automatically	stored	in	
the	memory.
Adjusting the white balance and black balance (continued)
•	 During a black balance adjustment, light is 
automatically cut off.
•	 Black balance adjustment is not available 
during recording.
•	 Pressing the START/STOP button during 
ABB adjustment will not start recording on 
a P2 card. 
						

							35
Shooting
Shooting techniques for different targets
Scan reverse shooting
By	setting	SCAN	REVERSE	on	the	setting	menu	
SYSTEM	SETUP	screen	to	ON,	video	can	be	
vertically/horizontally	inverted	when	displaying	and	
recording.
Zebra pattern
The	 AG-HPX255P/EN	can	display	two	zebra	
patterns.
Turning	the	ZEBRA 	switch	on	displays	the	zebra	
pattern	set	in	the	menu	in	the	viewfinder	and	LCD	
monitor.	 A	menu	setting	makes	it	possible	to	also	
display	the	zebra	pattern	on	video	output	via	the	
VIDEO	OUT 	connector.
ZEBRA button
Use	the	DISPLAY 	SETUP	screen	to	set	the	level	of	
zebra	pattern	display.	(Page	147)
SPOT
OFF
ON
109%
0%
ZEBRA
 2
DETECTZEBRA  2
ZEBRA 1
DETECT
Image	level
SPOT:
A 	video	level	between	ZEBRA1	and	ZEBRA2	
displays	a	zebra	pattern.
To	display	a	zebra	pattern	on	video	output	via	the	
VIDEO	OUT 	connector,	make	the	required	settings	
in	the	OUTPUT 	SEL	screen.	(Page	145)
Low-angle shooting
Low-angle	shooting	can	be	performed	using	the	
handle	side	START/STOP 	button	by	releasing	
()	the	hold	switch	on	this	button	from	the	HOLD	
position.	
•	 To	prevent	accidental	operation	of	the	START/
STOP
	button	on	the	handle	side	when	not	in	use,	
set	the	hold	switch	to	HOLD.

HOLD switch
START/STOP button (handle side)
Self-portrait shooting
When	shooting	with	the	LCD	display	angled	180	
degrees	towards	the	lens,	you	can	set	the	menu	
option	SELF	SHOOT 	to	MIRROR,	to	horizontally	
flip	the	video	image	on	the	LCD	display,	and	allow	
you	to	view	a	mirror	image	while	shooting.
Note	that	only	the	video	image	on	the	LCD	monitor	
is	horizontally	flipped,	not	the	actual	video	being	
recorded. 
						

							36
Center marker display
A	center	marker	is	displayed	when	the	menu	option	
MARKER	in	the	DISPLAY 	SETUP	screen	is	set	to	
ON.	(Page	147)
The center marker display appears only on 
the LCD monitor and in the viewfinder. It 
is not superimposed on signals output via 
the VIDEO OUT, SDI OUT and HDMI OUT 
connectors.
Safety zone markers
A 	safety	zone	marker	is	displayed	when	the	menu	
option	SAFETY 	ZONE	is	selected	in	the	DISPLAY 	
SETUP 	screen.	(Page	148)
Safety zone markers appear only on the 
LCD monitor and in the viewfinder. They 
are not superimposed on signals output 
via the VIDEO OUT, SDI OUT and HDMI OUT 
connectors.
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.
•	“Using	the	USER	buttons”	(Page	39)
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.
Shooting techniques for different targets (continued)  
						

							37
Shooting
Changing the image size
When	recording	in	480i/576i	mode,	you	can	
change	the	size	(aspect	ratio)	of	the	images	that	
you	record.
Select	the	aspect	ratio	in	the	setup	menus,	
SYSTEM	SETUP 	screen, 	ASPECT 	CONV. 	(Page 	137)
•	 Refer	to	the	section	“Basic	operations	of	setup	
menus”	(Page	28	of	Vol.	1)	for	menu	operation.	
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.
When	LETTER	BOX	is	selected,	black	bands	
are	not	displayed	at	the	top	and	bottom	of	the	
viewfinder	or	LCD	monitor	as	the	screen	size	
is	16:9.	 As	such,	“LT.BOX”	is	displayed	on	the	
screen.
SQUEEZE: The	recorded	images	are	squeezed	horizontally	
so	that	they	are	shown	as	16:9	images	on	a	
compatible	wide-screen	television.
Optical Image Stabilizer
Use	the	Optical	Image	Stabilizer	(OIS)	to	reduce	
the	effects	of	camera-recorder	shake	when	
shooting	by	hand.
Press	the	OIS	button	to	turn	the	function	on	and	
off.
	appears	on	the	viewfinder	and	LCD 	monitor	
when	the	Optical	Image	Stabilizer	function	is	ON.	
Turn	the	function	off	when	using	a	tripod	for	more	
natural	images.
OIS button
•	 This	function	will	not	be	as	effective	when	the	
vibration	is	severe	or	when	tracking	a	moving	
subject.	
DRS (Dynamic Range Stretcher) 
function
This	function	compresses	the	video	signal	level	
while	maintaining	contrast	to	extend	the	dynamic	
range	making	it	possible	to	correctly	render	
highlight	areas	without	overexposure	and	loss	of	
detail	that	would	otherwise	occur.
When	using	1080i,	the	DRS	function	is	not	
available	if	shooting	with	24P,	30P,	25P
	or	VFR	
(variable	frame	rate).
This	function	runs	when	DRS	on	the	setting	menu	
SCENE	FILE	screen	is	set	to	ON.	(Page	133)
You	can	change	the	level	of	compression	using	
DRS	EFFECT.	(Page	133)
You	can	allocate	DRS	ON/OFF	to	a	USER	button.	
(Page	39)  
						

							38
Shooting techniques for different targets (continued)
FBC (Flash Band Compensation)
This	camera-recorder	comes	with	a	function	to	
compensate	for	and	minimize	light	band	(flash	
band)	interference	that	occurs	with	the	MOS	
imager	when	shooting	in	an	environment	where	
flash	photography	is	taking	place.
Flash lightFlash band
Image recorded
(FBC off) Time flow
Setting FBC function
Assign	the	FBC	function	to	a	USER	button.
Press	the	USER	button	to	which	the	FBC	function	
has	been	assigned	to	turn	it	on	and	automatically	
detect	and	compensate	for	flash	light	from	still	
cameras.
•	
“Using	the	USER	buttons”	(Page	39)
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The	status	display	indicates	“FBC”	
when	the	FBC	function	is	on.	*1
*1	 	 Not	displayed	when	the	menu	option	OTHER	
DISPLAY 	in	the	DISPLAY 	SETUP	screen	is	set	
to	OFF.
The following phenomena that may occur 
in video that includes flash light is due to 
FBC compensation and not indicative of a 
malfunction.
•	 Moving subjects may appear to be 
stationary for an instant.
•	 Resolution decreases in video exposed to 
flash light.
•	 Horizontal lines appear in video footage 
exposed to flash light.
Using FBC
FBC goes on when the brightness of the 
lower half of the image differs markedly from 
the previous half, which could be caused by 
light from a camera flash or other strong light 
source. Since FBC may be incorrectly activated 
in certain shooting environments, for example, 
in zooming that includes a bright window, 
be sure to use the function only for shooting 
footage exposed to flash light.
In some shooting environments adequate FBC 
effect may not be obtained even when a flash 
goes off.
FBC requirements
•	You can use FBC in the “FBC operation 
enabled mode” below.
•	 Even if the FBC function is switched ON, it 
will be forced to OFF if the mode is switched 
to one not shown in “FBC operation enabled 
mode”. 
When you wish to use this mode again, set 
the camera to a mode shown below then 
press the USER button and switch the FBC 
function ON.
•	 Even if the FBC function is switched ON, it 
will temporarily be switched OFF if shutter is 
switched ON or the digital zoom is operated. 
The FBC function returns to the ON state after 
shutter or digital zoom is switched OFF.
•	 The FBC function is switched OFF if the 
power switch is set to OFF.
FBC operation enabled mode
•	1080/60i*2, 1080/50i*2, 720/60P*2, 720/50P*2, 
480/60i, 576/50i,  *2: VFR is limited to OFF.
•	 Shutter OFF
•	 Digital zoom OFF 
						

							39
Shooting
Using the USER buttons
You	can	allocate	the	selected	function	to	USER	
MAIN	and	USER	buttons	1	to	4.
USER MAIN buttonUSER1 – 3 button
USER4 button
Selectable Functions
SPOTLIGHT:Assigns	auto	iris	control	on/off	for	spotlight.
BACKLIGHT: Assigns	auto	iris	control	on/off	for	backlight	
compensation.	(Page	40)
ATW: Turns	the	 ATW	function	on	or	off.	(Page	33)
ATW LOCK: Pressing	this	lock	during	 ATW	operation	locks	
the	white	balance.	Press	again	to	start	the	 ATW	
function	again.
S.GAIN: Allocates	a	function	that	increases	gain	to	24	dB	
or	greater.
The	gain	value	can	be	set	with	SUPER	GAIN	on	
the	setting	menu	SW	MODE	screen.	(Page	138)
D.ZOOM: Allocates	the	DIGITAL 	ZOOM	function.
Each	time	the	button	is	pressed,	the	setting	
changes 	in 	the 	following 	order: 	x2 	→ 	x5 	→ 	x10 	→	
OFF	(x1).	(Page	19)
Y GET: Assigns	a	function	that	displays	the	brightness	
level	at	the	center	of	the	image.
DRS: Assigns	a	function	that	stretches	the	dynamic	
range.
The	setting	is	linked	to	the	ON/OFF	of	setting	of	
DRS	on	the	setting	menu	SCENE	FILE	screen.	
(Page	37)
TEXT MEMO: Assigns	text	memory	recording.	(Page	42)
SLOT SEL: Assigns	P2	card	slot	selection. SHOT MARK:
Assigns	the	shot	marker	function.	(Page	41)
MAG A. LVL: Assigns	a	function	that	magnifies	the	audio	level	
meter.	(Page	55)
LVL METER: Allocates	a	function	that	switches	between	CH1/2	
and	CH3/4	for	the	audio	level	meter	display	and	
audio	channel	for	headphones,	built-in	speaker,	
AUDIO	OUT 	terminal	output,	and	HDMI	OUT 	
output	while	the	button	is	held	down.	
PRE REC: Assigns	a	function	that	turns	the	PRE	REC	
function	on	and	off.	(Page	44)
WFM: Assigns	a	function	that	switches	WAVE	FORM	
display.	
The	WAVE	FORM	display	is	selected	using	the	
menu	option	WFM	in	the	SW	MODE	screen.	
This	is	the	same	function	as	the	WFM	button.
(Page	40)
LAST CLIP: Allocates	a	function	to	delete	the	clip	shot	
immediately	beforehand.	(Page	42)
FBC: Turns	the	FBC	function	on	or	off.	(Page	38)
LCD B.L: Allocates	a	function	to	switch	the	backlight	
brightness	of	the	LCD	monitor.
The	setting	is	linked	to	the	LCD	BACKLIGHT 	on	
the	setting	menu	DISPLAY 	SETUP	screen.	(Page	
148)
•	 As factory settings, the following functions 
are allocated to the buttons displayed. 
USER	MAIN	 :	
Y	GET
USER1	 :	BACKLIGHT
USER2	 :	 TEXT	MEMO
USER3	 :	DRS
USER4	 :	SLOT 	SEL
•	 If you press a USER button to which one of 
the functions has been allocated, and then 
turn OFF the power during operation of the 
USER button function, the effect added to the 
image will not be retained. 
SPOTLIGHT,	BACKLIGHT,	
ATW,	ATW	LOCK,	 	
S.GAIN,	D.ZOOM,	 Y	GET,	WFM,	MAG	 A.LVL,		
FBC  
						

							40
Shooting techniques for different targets (continued)
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.
If	you	press	the	USER	button	again,	backlight	
compensation	is	cancelled.
•	 “Using	the	USER	buttons”	(Page	39)
Color bars
Press
	the 	BARS 	button 	in 	CAMERA 	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.
BARS button
The	color	bar	screen	turns	off	and	
camera-recorder	image	appears.
A 	1	kHz	test	tone	is	output	in	the	color	bar	screen	
when	LEVEL1	or	LEVEL2	is	selected	under	 TEST	
TONE	on	the	setting	menu	 AUDIO	SETUP	screen.	
(Page	143)
•	 The	color	bar	can	be	recorded	together	with	a	
1	kHz	test	tone.
Waveform monitor function
Press
	the 	WFM 	button 	in 	CAMERA 	mode 	to 	display	
a	waveform	of	the	image	on	the	LCD	monitor.
Pressing	the	WFM	button	once	again	closes	the	
waveform	display.
•	 WFM	(Page	139)	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	(EXPANDED)	is	in	use.
•	 The	waveform	display	cannot	be	recorded.
•	 You	can	allocate	the	same	function	as	the	WFM	
button	to	USER	buttons.	(Page	39)
Adjusting the volume while shooting
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.
•	Adjustment	of	input	audio	level	is	performed	with	
the	
AUDIO	LEVEL 	knob.	(Page	54)
Backup recording
If	you	have	connected	equipment	to	the	1394	
terminal	(Page 	103), 	you 	can 	make 	automatic 	backup	
recordings	of	whatever	you	are	shooting.
•	 “Control	of	external	devices	through	1394	
connection”	(Page	106)