Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-HPX370P AG-HPX371E Operating Instructions

							
1
ChapterRecordingandPlayback

P2 Cards
Inserting P2 Cards
 NOTE
When using the camera recorder for the first time, be sure to 
set the time data beforehand.
For details, refer to [Setting Date and Time of Internal Clock] 
(page 29).
1 TurnonthePOWERswitch.
2Openthecardslotcover.
Slotcover
3InsertaPcardinaPcardslot.
• Press in the card until the eject button pops up.
Insertthecardwiththe
logofacingup.
EJECTbutton
4Pushtheejectbuttonthatpopsuptotheright.
•  Insert a P2 card into the AG-HPX370P/AG-
HPX371E. The P2 CARD ACCESS LED for the 
appropriate slot indicates the status of the P2 
card.
For details, refer to [P2 CARD ACCESS LED and 
status of P2 cards] (page 32).
PCARDACCESSLED
5 Closethecardslotcover.
 NOTE
•  To prevent cards from falling out, dust from entering and 
reduce the risk of exposure to static electricity, close the 
card slot cover before moving the camera.
•  Format P2 cards only on a P2 card device.
Removing P2 Cards
1 Openthecardslotcover.
2Raisetheejectbutton.
3ThendepresstheejectbuttontoreleasetheP
card.
Raisetheejectbutton. Presstheraisedeject
buttontoremoveaP
card. 
						

							

ChapterRecordingandPlayback

 NOTE
•  When a P2 card is being accessed or recognised after 
insertion (P2 CARD ACCESS LED blinks in orange), do not 
remove the P2 card. Removing a P2 card during access could 
damage it.
•  If a P2 card being accessed is removed, the viewfinder 
displays “TURN POWER OFF” and the AG-HPX370P/AG-
HPX371E gives a warning using an alarm and the WARNING 
LED. In addition, all P2 CARD ACCESS LEDs blink rapidly in 
orange. If this is the case, turn the power off.  
For details, refer to [Warning System] (page 161).
•  Removing a P2 card during access may corrupt clip data. 
Check the clips and restore them if required.  
For details, refer to [Restoring Clips] (page 118).
•  If a P2 card being formatted is removed, it may be not be 
formatted properly. In this case, the viewfinder displays 
“TURN POWER OFF”. If this message appears, turn off the 
power, then restart the AG-HPX370P/AG-HPX371E to reformat 
the card.
•  If a P2 card is inserted while another P2 card is being played 
back, the inserted P2 card is not recognised and the P2 
CARD ACCESS LED for that card does not come on. Card 
recognition starts when playback ends.
•  A P2 card inserted in an empty slot during recording may not 
be immediately recognized during the following events.
  • Immediately following PRE REC operation
•  The CARD ACCESS LED can be set to stay off in the menu 
option ACCESS LED in the OTHER FUNCTIONS screen. 
When the camera is used in this way, remove cards when the 
camera has been powered down or a sufficiently long time 
after terminating recording, playback and other operating 
modes.
•  Removing a P2 card during thumbnail display terminates the 
thumbnail display.
To Prevent Accidental Erasure of 
P2 Card Content
To prevent the content of a P2 card being accidentally 
erased, position the write-protect switch on the P2 card at 
[Protect].
Write-protectswitch
  NOTE
Write-protect switchover can be performed while the card is 
being accessed (during recording or playback), but does not 
take effect until access to the card ceases.
P2 CARD ACCESS LED and status 
of P2 cards
P2 
CARD 
ACCESS 
LED
Status of P2 Card
MODE 
CHECK 
indication *1
Stays on 
in green
Recording 
enabled
Writing and 
reading enabled.ACTIVE
Stays on 
in orange
Selected for 
recording
Writing and 
reading enabled 
for current 
recording mode 
(loop, interval 
or one-shot 
recording).
ACTIVE
Blinks in 
orange *2Being 
accessed
Writing or reading 
being performed.ACCESSING
Quickly 
blinks in 
orange
Being 
recognized
The P2 card is 
being recognised.
INFO 
READING
Blinks in 
green
Card full
The P2 card has 
no free space. 
Only reading is 
enabled.
FULL
Write-
protected
The write-protect 
switch on the P2 
card is positioned 
at [PROTECT]. 
Only reading is 
enabled.
PROTECTED
Stays off
Card not 
supported
The card is not 
supported by your 
AG-HPX370P/
AG-HPX371E. 
Replace the card.
NOT 
SUPPORTED
Incorrect 
format
The P2 card 
is not properly 
formatted. 
Reformat the card.
FORMAT 
ERROR
Card not 
inserted
No P2 card is 
inserted.
Card recognition 
standby.
NO CARD
*1    MODE CHECK appears in the viewfinder and on the 
LCD monitor.
For details, see [Viewfinder Screen Status Displays] 
(page 74).
*2    Blinks orange also when a PROXY card (optional 
accessory) is inserted in slot 2. 
						

							

ChapterRecordingandPlayback

P2 card recording times
P2 cards available to the AG-HPX370P/AG-
HPX371E
This camera supports the optional AJ-P2C064AG (64 GB) 
and AJ-P2E032XG (32 GB) P2 cards, and other 4 GB to 64 
GB P2 cards (as of Apr. 2010).
 NOTE
•  This unit cannot use AJ-P2C002SG (2 GB) cards.
•  Depending on the type of P2 card used, you may need to 
update the camera driver.
  For details, refer to [Updating the firmware incorporated into the 
unit] (page 165).
•  For the latest information not available in the Operating 
Instructions, visit the support desk at the following website.
http://pro-av.panasonic.net/
P2 card recording times
(When using one 64 GB card)
System modeRecording format 
(codec)
Recording 
time
HD (1080i, 720P)
AVC-I 100
DVCPRO HDApprox. 64 min.
AVC-I 50Approx. 128 
min.
SD (480i, 576i)
DVCPRO50Approx. 128 
min.
DVCPRO
DV
Approx. 256 
min.
  NOTE
•  The above recording time is for normal recording. Recording 
in native mode will extend recording time depending on 
system mode.
  For details, refer to [List of recording formats and functions] 
(page 49).
•  Use of 32 GB, 16 GB and 8 GB P2 cards will provide 1/2, 1/4 
and 1/8, respectively of above recording times.
•  The indicated capacities include a management area so the 
total area available for recording is somewhat smaller.
Splitting clips recorded on P2 cards
This camera will automatically generate additional clips 
for a continuous recording on an 8 GB or higher capacity 
P2 card when the recording exceeds the durations given 
below. Even so, a P2 device will handle such clips as a 
single clip in thumbnail operations (display, delete, recover, 
copy, etc.). Such recordings may be handled as separate 
clips by nonlinear editing software or a PC.
Recording format
(excluding Native format)Continuous recording time
AVC-I 100
DVCPRO HDApprox. 5 min.
AVC-I 50
DVCPRO50Approx. 10 min.
DVCPRO
DVApprox. 20 min. 
						

							
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ChapterRecordingandPlayback
Handling P2 Card Recording
The P2 card is a semiconductor memory card designed 
for the DVCPRO P2 series, Panasonic’s line of professional 
video and broadcast equipment.
•  Since the DVCPRO P2 format and AVC-Intra record data 
as files, it is ideally suited for computer processing. The 
file structure is in a proprietary format that includes audio 
and video data recorded in the MXF file format as well as 
various other essential data forming an interrelated folder 
structure as shown below.
Drive:\
CONTENTS
AUDIO
CLIP
ICON
PROXY
VIDEO
VOICE
LASTCLIP.TXT.*
Allthesefoldersarerequired.
*Thisfilecontainsthelastclipdatarecorded
onaPdevice.
  NOTE
If any of this data is changed or lost, it will not be recognized 
as P2 data or the P2 card may no longer be possible to use in 
a P2 device.
•   To prevent data loss in transferring P2 card data to a PC 
or write back PC data on a P2 card, use P2 Viewer, which 
can be downloaded from the website listed below. You 
can also visit the support desk at the following website for 
details on the system requirements of P2 Viewer.
http://pro-av.panasonic.net/
•   Follow the steps below to use general software such as 
Microsoft Windows Explorer or Apple Finder to transfer 
the data to a PC. Be sure to use P2 Viewer to write data 
back to a P2 card.
•   Treat the CONTENTS folder and the LASTCLIP.TXT file 
as a unit.
•   Do not modify the data below the CONTENTS folder.
•   In copying, be sure to copy both the CONTENTS folder 
and the LASTCLIP.TXT file together. 
•   When transferring data from multiple P2 cards, 
create separate folders for each P2 card to prevent 
overwriting clips with identical names.
•   Do not delete data on a P2 card.
•   Format P2 cards only on a P2 card device. 
						

							
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ChapterRecordingandPlayback

Basic Procedures
This section describes the basic procedure for shooting 
and recording.
Before you embark on a shoot, pre-inspect your system to 
ensure that it works properly.
For directions on inspecting your memory card camera-
recorder, see [Inspections Before Shooting] (page 157).
Battery Set-up to P2 card Insertion
1Insertachargedbattery.
2TurnthePOWERswitchtoONtocheckthe
batteryremaininglevelintheviewfinder.
•  When battery capacity is low, replace it with a fully 
charged battery.
  NOTE
When low battery capacity is indicated after replacing 
a battery with a fully charged battery, check battery 
installation.
For details, refer to [BATTERY SETUP screen] (page 144).
3 InsertaPcard,checkthatthePCARD
ACCESSLEDlightsorangeorgreenbefore
closingtheslotcover.
•  When more than one P2 card slot contains a P2 
card, the card in the slot with the lowest number 
is used first. However, regardless of slot number, 
a P2 card inserted later will not be accessed until 
the other cards have been used.
Example: 
If the two slots contain P2 cards, the cards are 
used in order of slot numbers 12. However, if 
the P2 card in Slot 1 is removed and then re-
inserted, the cards will be used in the following 
order: 21.
1
2
Note that the recording order is retained even if the power 
is turned off. When the power is next turned on, the last 
card written before powering-down will be the target card. 
						

							
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ChapterRecordingandPlayback

Setting the switches before shooting and 
recording
When a battery and P2 cards are installed, set the switches 
as detailed below, before starting to use your AG-
HPX370P/AG-HPX371E.
e
abcdb
f
a Iris
The iris is automatically adjusted when the lens is set to 
the auto iris mode.
b  USER MAIN/USER1/USER2
Assigning the SLOT SEL function to a USER button 
allows you to select one of the two inserted P2 cards for 
recording.
The P2 card selected for recording switches with each 
press of the USER button, and the P2 CARD ACCESS 
LED of the selected P2 card lights orange. The slot 
number of the card to be recorded appears in green in 
the LCD monitor and the viewfinder.
For more information on viewfinder displays, see 
[Viewfinder Screen Status Displays] (page 74).
 NOTE
•  The slot selected for recording cannot be changed when 
recording has started. Perform this operation during 
recording standby.
•  Use the USER MAIN/USER1/USER2 item in setting menu 
SW MODE screen to assign functions to the USER MAIN/
USER1/USER2 button.
c  GAIN switch
Normally, this should be set to L (0 dB). If conditions are 
too dark, an appropriate gain level should be set.
d  AUTO KNEE selector switch
Set to ON or OFF. Selecting BARS turns off this function 
and outputs a color bar signal.
e  TCG
Set to F-RUN or R-RUN.
f  AUDIO SELECT CH 1/CH 2
Set to AUTO.
Shooting
White/Black Balance Adjustment to 
Recording Completion
For shooting, follow the steps below.
3
1
425, 6
1 UsetheNDFILTERcontroltoselectafilter
accordingtoambientlightconditions.
2 Whenthewhitebalanceissaved:
•   Position the WHITE BAL switch to [A] or [B].

Whenthewhiteorblackbalanceisnotsaved
andyouhavenotimetoadjustthewhite
balance:
• Position the WHITE BAL switch to [PRST].
•   The color temperature can be set to 3200 K or 
5600 K.
 Ifthewhitebalanceisadjustedonthespot:
•   Select a filter according to ambient light 
conditions. Then, position the WHITE BAL 
switch to [A] or [B] and shoot a white test 
subject so that it appears at the center of the 
screen. Then, follow the steps below to adjust 
the white balance.
1.    Turn the AUTO W/B BAL switch toward [AWB] 
to adjust the white balance. 
2.    Turn the AUTO W/B BAL switch toward [ABB] 
to adjust the black balance. 
3.    Turn the AUTO W/B BAL switch toward [AWB] 
to adjust the white balance again.
For directions on making adjustments, see 
[Adjusting the White Balance] (page 55) and 
[Adjusting the Black Balance] (page 56). 
						

							
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ChapterRecordingandPlayback

3Pointthecameraatyoursubjecttoadjustthe
focus,andzoom.
4Tousetheelectronicshutter,settheshutter
speedandshuttermode.
For more information, see [Setting the Electronic 
Shutter] (page 58).
5PresstheRECbuttontostartrecording.
6Tostoprecording,presstheRECbutton.
 NOTE
•   Shooting the sun and other very bright subjects may produce 
a color cast in surrounding areas.
Operation Buttons
During recording, all operation buttons (REW, FF, PLAY/PAUSE, 
STOP) are disabled.
Normal Recording
•   Pressing the REC button starts recording of video and 
sound on the P2 card.
•   The video and audio (including additional information) 
recorded in one session is referred to as a clip.
RECbutton
  NOTE
Pressing the REC button will not immediately stop data write 
operations to a P2 card in the following situations. And the 
REC button operation is not recognized.
•  When terminating a short recording
•  When terminating a recording that has just continued onto a 
second P2 card 
						

							
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ChapterRecordingandPlayback

Standard and Native Recording
This camera is capable both of native recording, when it 
records video data at the frame rate used by the camera, 
and is also capable of standard recording or recording 
59.94 (50) frames with a pulldown.
Standard recording  
(pull-down recording)
Video shot in the 24P mode and in the 30P mode are 
recorded as 59.94i or 59.94P, with 2:3 pulldown and 2:2 
pulldown, respectively.
Also, video shot in the 25P mode will be recorded as 50i or 
50P, with 2:2 pulldown.
The camera can also handle video shot in the 24PA mode 
(2:3:3:2 advanced pulldown).
Note that AVC-Intra does not support pulldown recording.
CameracaptureA
AoAeBoBeBoCeCoDeDoDe
B CD
:pull-downrecording (1080/4Pover60i)
Activeframe
Cameracapture
:pull-downrecording
A
A�A B�B C� C D�D
B CD
(70/0P(5P)over60P(50P))
Native recording
Native recording extracts only the active frames during 
1080i AVC-Intra recording as well as 720P DVCPRO HD 
and AVC-Intra recording.
When SYSTEM MODE is set to 720-59.94P, this lengthens 
the recording time maximum 2.5 times at 24PN, and 
maximum 2 times at 30PN. When SYSTEM MODE is set 
to 720-50P, this lengthens the recording time maximum 2 
times at 25PN. 
Also in native recording, the output of camera video and 
playback video is a 59.94 (50) frame rate.
Cameracapture
:pull-downA
Ao
A B
AeBoBeBoCeCoDeDoDe
B CD
C DRecording
(1080/4PN)

Activeframe
Cameracapture
:pull-down
A
A�A B�B C�C D�
A BC D
D
B CD
Recording
(70/0PN(5PN))

 NOTE
•  In 24P/24PA, 24PN (native recording) and in 30PN/25PN (native recording) at 720P, the camera starts recording in 5-frame, 
4-frame and 2-frame segments, respectively. For this reason, to continue recording clips in a system mode using a different 
recording segmentation may break the continuity of the time code.
•  The camera uses internal memory for recording, when recording starts as soon as a P2 card is inserted or the camera is 
powered up. In this situation, recording cannot be stopped until P2 card recognition ends.
  To check P2 card status, press the DISP/MODE CHK button and check the row for SLOT 1 and 2.
•  An editing system that supports 24PA (2:3:3:2 advanced pulldown) will enable editing with less quality loss than 24P (2:3 
pulldown).
•  Record at standard 24P if a 24PA compatible editing system will not be used. 
						

							
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ChapterRecordingandPlayback

Variable Frame Rate (VFR) Recording
In 720P mode, this camera is capable of frame skipping 
(undercranking) and high-speed (overcranking) recording. 
The camera operator can select between native (PN) 
recording mode and standard (OVER) recording.
Native VFR Recording
1IntheSYSTEMSETUPscreen,setthemenu
optionSYSTEMMODEto70-59.94P(70-
50P)andthemenuoptionRECFORMATto
AVC-I100/4PN,0PN(5PN).
2IntheSCENEFILEscreen,setthemenu
option VFRtoONandthemenuoptionFRAME
RATEtosuitshootingpurposes.
•   The frame rate can be set to a value beteween 
12 frames (12P) to 60 frames (60P) when system 
mode is set to 720-59.94P, and to a value 
beteween 12 frames (12P) to 50 frames (50P) 
when system mode is set to 720-50P.
  NOTE
Pressing the SYNCHRO SCAN switch while the JOG 
dial button is held down and the frame rate indication 
is blinking allows you to change the frame rate as long 
as recording is not in progress.
3 PresstheRECbutton.
This starts recording in the VFR mode (native VFR).
This mode can be combined with the AVC-I 100, AVC-I 50, 
DVCPRO HD, 30PN, and 24PN (25PN) recording formats.
For details, refer to [List of recording, playback and output 
formats] (page 52).
For details, refer to [SYSTEM SETUP screen] (page 135).
 NOTE
Note the following about native VFR recording.
-   The P2 card that is being recorded cannot be changed 
during recording.
-   Pre-recording, loop recording, interval recording, one-shot 
recording, and one-clip recording are not available.
-   1394 output is not available during recording and recording 
standby. 
-   Changing Scene Dial position during recording does not 
change VFR on and off position.
-   Sound cannot be recorded. *1
-  
The time code is locked to Rec Run. *1
-  
Thumbnail screens are created 1 frame later than video 
recorded on a P2 card, but this is not a malfunction.
*1   In 24PN/30PN (25PN) recording modes, when the frame rate is 
24 and 30 (25) frames per second, respectively, audio can also 
be recorded. The time code can be set to Free Run (F-RUN).
Standard VFR recording 
(pulldown recording)
1 IntheSYSTEMSETUPscreen,setthemenu
optionSYSTEMMODEto70-59.94P(70-
50P)andthemenuoptionRECFORMATto
AVC-I100/60P(50P).
2IntheSCENEFILEscreen,setthemenu
option VFRtoONandthemenuoptionFRAME
RATEtosuitshootingpurposes.
•   The frame rate can be set to a value beteween 
12 frames (12P) to 60 frames (60P) when system 
mode is set to 720-59.94P, and to a value 
beteween 12 frames (12P) to 50 frames (50P) 
when system mode is set to 720-50P.
  NOTE
Pressing the SYNCHRO SCAN switch while the JOG 
dial button is held down and the frame rate indication 
is blinking allows you to change the frame rate without 
opening a setting menu as long as recording is not in 
progress.
3 PresstheRECbutton.
This starts recording in the VFR mode (OVER 60P 
(50P)).
This mode can be combined with the AVC-I 100/60P (50P), 
AVC-I 50/60P (50P) and DVCPRO HD/60P (50P) recording 
formats.
For details, refer to [List of recording, playback and output 
formats] (page 52).
For details, refer to [SYSTEM SETUP screen] (page 135).
Setting a low frame rate and recording a fast-moving 
subject at 60P (50P) will produce a smoothly flowing 
sequence at playback.
 NOTE
•   Audio playback is disabled when a frame rate converter is 
used to extract active frames for over and under-cranking.
•   Note the following about standard VFR recording.
-    The P2 card that is being recorded cannot be changed 
during recording.
-   Pre-recording, loop recording, interval recording, one-shot 
recording, and one-clip recording are not available.
-   1394 output is available during recording and recording 
standby, but not in AVC Intra mode.
-   Changing Scene Dial position during recording does not 
change VFR on and off position.
-   Sound is recorded. 
						

							
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ChapterRecordingandPlayback

Using VFR Recording Function
Standard speed for film production (only when SYSTEM MODE is set to 720-59.94P, 
1080-59.94i)
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.
Standard settings for film production
SYSTEM MODE settingsRecording frame rateSYSTEM MODEOther settings
720 - 59.94PREC FORMAT
AVC-I 100/24PN
(AVC-I 50/24PN)
(DVCPRO HD/24PN)
24 framesVFROFF
1080 - 59.94iREC FORMAT
AVC-I 100/24PN
(AVC-I 50/24PN)
(DVCPRO HD/60i)
CAMERA MODE *124P
*1 Only when the menu option REC FORMAT is set to DVCPRO HD/60i in the SYSTEM SETUP screen.
Shooting at standard speed for producing commercials and TV programs
Production aimed at HDTV and SDTV broadcasts for TV audiences must use the frame rate (x1) of 30fps (30 f\
rames/s), 
25fps (25 frames/s). The settings below allow you to obtain the kind o\
f playback used for broadcast programs. This permits 
film-like video recording of commercials and music clips that also provide a frame rate suitable for broadcasting.
Standard settings for producing commercials and dramas
SYETEM MODE settingsRecording frame rateSYSTEM MODEOther settings
720-59.94PREC FORMAT
AVC-I 100/30PN 
(AVC-I 50/30PN) 
(DVCPROHD/30PN)
30 framesVFROFF
1080-59.94iREC FORMAT
AVC-I 100/30PN 
(AVC-I 50/30PN) 
(DVCPROHD/60i)
CAMERA MODE *230P
720-50PREC FORMAT
AVC-I 100/25PN 
(AVC-I 50/25PN) 
(DVCPROHD/25PN)
25 framesVFROFF
1080-50iREC FORMAT
AVC-I 100/25PN 
(AVC-I 50/25PN) 
(DVCPROHD/50i)
CAMERA MODE *225P
*2 Only when the menu option REC FORMAT is set to DVCPRO HD/60i (50i) in the SYSTEM SETUP screen.