Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder Ag-hpx500p, Ag-hpx500e Operating Instructions

							
21
Chapter 2 Parts and their Functions

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Chapter 2 Parts and their Functions

Shooting and Recording / Playback 
Function Section (recording)
10  REC START/ STOP button
Pressing this button starts recording, pressing 
again stops recording.
This button has the same function as the VTR 
button at the lens.
When pressed in the MCR mode, the camera 
automatically switches to the CAMERA mode and 
starts recording. 
11  SAVE switch
This switch selects the power saving mode.
ON : Forcibly turns off the LCD.
OFF: LCD is on.
The operating status display in the viewfinder 
goes off when the SAVE switch is set to ON. 
But it remains on during special recording. 
12  OUTPUT CHARACTER switch
This switch controls the superimposition of 
characters onto the video output (VIDEO OUT, 
COMPONENT OUT and SDI OUT) to indicate 
status or menus.
ON : Superimposes characters.
OFF: Does not superimpose characters.
13  REW (fast-reverse) button
During pause, this button performs fast-reverse 
playback.
During playback, it fast-reverses playback at 
about 4× normal speed.
If this button is pressed when playback is paused, 
the beginning of the clip being played is located in 
pause mode (cue-up mode).
14  FF (fast forward) button
During pause, this button performs fast playback.
During playback, it performs fast playback at 
about 4× normal speed.
If this button is pressed when playback is paused, 
the beginning of the next clip is located in pause 
mode (cue-up mode).
15 ■STOP button
This button stops playback.
The menu cursor moves in the thumbnail display.
16  PLAY button
This button is used to view playback using the 
viewfinder screen or a color video monitor. 
17  STILL (pause) button
Press to pause playback.
18  REC buttons (red and white)
Press the red and white buttons simultaneously 
to start recording the 1394 input signal and press 
the STOP button to stop recording. 
< Note >
To record 1394 input signals, be sure to set the 
MCR format to the input signal format before 
starting recording. Do not change the format or 
terminate signal input during recording. 
19  P2 CARD ACCESS LED
This LED indicates the recording and playback 
status of each card.
For details, refer to [P2 CARD ACCESS LED and 
status of P2 cards] (page 32).
20  Slide lock button
Used to open the slide-out door for inserting P2 
cards. While depressing this button, slide the 
door to the left.
21  USB 2.0 connector
Connect a USB 2.0 cable to this connector.
Select USB DEVICE under the menu option PC 
MODE in the < OTHER FUNCTIONS> screen to 
send data via the USB 2.0 connector. The camera 
cannot be used for recording, playback or clip 
operations when this function is used.
For details, refer to [Connecting to External 
Devices Using USB2.0 Port (PC mode)] (page 
131).
22  GENLOCK IN connector
This connector inputs a reference signal when the 
camera unit is gen-locked, or when the time code 
is externally locked.
< Note >
•  The reference signal must be a Y signal (1080 / 60i, 
720 / 60P, 1080 / 50i or 720 / 50P) (HD) or a composite 
signal (480 / 60i or 576 / 50i) . 
•  GENLOCK cannot be engaged during playback. 
23  REMOTE (remote control) connector
By connecting the extension control unit AJ-
RC10G (optional accessory), some functions of 
the camera can be remote-controlled.
For details, refer to [Connecting the AJ-RC10G 
Extension Controller] (page 102).
24  VIDEO OUT (video signal output)  connector
This connector outputs video signals. 
•  In HD mode, down-converted composite video 
signals are output. 
•  Use the DOWNCON MODE in the setup menu  DISPLAY SETUP screen to change output. (The 
factory setting is LETTER BOX.) 
< Note >
13 to 18 work only in MCR mode. 
25  SD memory card insertion slot
Insert an SD memory card (optional accessory) in 
this slot. It is used for uploading meta data as well 
as for reading and writing USER files and SCENE 
files. 
< Note >■ SD memory card precautions
•  Use only cards that conform to the SD card  standard or the SDHC standard in this camera. 
•  Multimedia cards (MMC) cannot be used. (Use of  such cards may prevent recording.)
•  Be sure to use mini SD card adapter only when  using mini SD cards. (Note that this camera will 
not operate normally when a mini SD adapter is 
installed without also inserting a card. Be sure to 
insert a card when an adapter is installed.)
•  Use of Panasonic SD / SDHC memory cards and  mini SD cards is recommended. Be sure to format 
such cards in this camera. 
•  To format a memory card on a PC, use the  dedicated software that can be downloaded from 
the support site listed below.
 
https: / / eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp /pro-av /
•  This camera supports 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB,  128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB and 2 GB SD 
memory cards and 4 GB SDHC memory cards. 
•  For the latest information not available in the  Operating Instructions, visit the P2 Support site at 
the above Web site.  
						

							
23
Chapter 2 Parts and their Functions

■About SD and SDHC memory cards
•  SD logo is a trademark.
•  The SDHC (SD High Capacity) card is a new  standard, established by the SD Card Association 
in 2006, for large-scale memory cards with 
capacities above 2 GB.
•  Multi Media Card (MMC) is a registered trademark  of Infineon Technologies AG.
26  BUSY (operation mode display) lamp
This lamp indicates the active status of the SD 
memory card.
It stays illuminated when the card is active.
< Note >
While the lamp is on, do not insert or remove the 
card.
27  R-SIDE P2 card access LED
This LED indicates access status for all four P2 
card slots. It blinks when any of the inserted 
P2 cards is accessed and lights when a card is 
inserted.
For details, refer to [P2 CARD ACCESS LED and 
status of P2 cards] (page 32).
28  COMPONENT OUT connector (D4  connector)
•  This connector outputs component video 
signals.
•  Use the menu option CMPNT/SDI SEL in the 
setting menu < OUTPUT SEL> screen to select 
AUTO, 1080i, 480i, or 576i. This connector does 
not support up-conversion. 
29  1394 connector
•  Connect an IEEE1394 cable to this connector.
•  Select 1394 DEVICE or 1394 HOST under the menu option PC MODE in the < OTHER 
FUNCTIONS> screen to send data via the 1394 
connector.
For details, refer to [Connecting to External 
Devices Using the IEEE1394 Connector (PC 
mode)] (page 132).
30  SDI OUT connector
•  This connector outputs SDI signals.
•  Use the menu option CMPNT/SDI SEL in the  setting menu < OUTPUT SEL> screen to select 
AUTO, 1080i, 480i, or 576i. This connector does 
not support up-conversion. 
31  SCENE FILE dial
This dial allows you to load and set the shooting 
conditions for a scene file already recorded with 
the conditions corresponding to the dial position.
< Note >
During recording, selecting a position with a 
different frame rate will not change the frame rate 
until the camera is set to recording standby mode.
For details, refer to [How to Use Scene File Data] 
(page 79).
32  PAGE / VAR button
•  In the thumbnail display, press this button to turn pages.
•  During variable speed playback press this 
button to change playback speed and in still 
mode, press to start frame-by-frame playback.
33  FOCUS ASSIST button
This button turns focus assist on and off.
Turning on the focus assist function displays 
a frequency distribution graph in the top right 
corner of the viewfinder and LCD display. 
Turn the focus ring on the lens to place the graph 
further to the right.
34  Recording enable /disable switch
This switch enables /disables the REC START/
STOP button on the handle.
ON : Enables the REC START/STOP button.
OFF: Disables the REC START/STOP button.
The white area moves 
to the right as the image 
comes into focus. 
When the image is out of 
focus 
						

							
24
Chapter 2 Parts and their Functions

1  MENU button
•  Press and hold this button to display the setting menu and press it again to return to the previous 
image.
•  This button is not available in the thumbnail  display. 
< NOTE >
Use the SET button or the JOG dial button to go 
between menus and select items. For details, see 
section [Viewfinder and LCD menus] (page 116) .
2  Thumbnail button
In MCR mode, press this button to switch 
between the thumbnail screen and 1394 input 
mode. Note that this switchover is not performed 
during recording or playback. 
3  Thumbnail menu button
In thumbnail display mode, use this button to 
access thumbnail menu functions to delete clips, 
for example.  
< Note >
Use the CURSOR and SET buttons to select 
thumbnails and access menu functions. For details, 
see [Manipulating Clips with Thumbnails] (page 
103) .
4  MODE button
This button toggles between the CAMERA mode 
and MCR mode. For details, see [Shooting and 
Recording /Playback Function Section] (page 19). 
5  CURSOR and SET buttons
Use these buttons to manipulate menus, the 
menu bar and thumbnails.
The four triangular buttons are CURSOR buttons 
and the square center button is the SET button.
6  PAGE / VAR button
Pressing this button during thumbnail display 
scrolls thumbnail pages forwards and backwards 
in page units. 
7  JOG dial button
•  Use this button to go between menu pages and to select and set items in open setting menus 
(camera menu or MCR menu). 
•  In a setting menu, turning the JOG dial  downwards moves the menu cursor downwards 
and turning it upwards moves the menu cursor 
upwards. 
 
Press the JOG dial button to confirm made 
settings. 
Menu /Thumbnail Operation Section
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25
Chapter 2 Parts and their Functions

1  GENLOCK IN connector (BNC)
This connector is used to input a reference signal 
before the camera unit is gen-locked, or before 
the time code is externally locked.
For details, refer to [Externally Locking the Time 
Code] (page 64).
2  TC IN connector (BNC)
This connector is used to input a reference time 
code when you externally lock the time code.
For details, refer to [Externally Locking the Time 
Code] (page 64).
3  TC OUT connector (BNC)
When you inter-lock the time code of the AG-
HPX500P/E with that of an external device this 
must be connected with the time code input (TC 
IN) connector of the external device.
For details, refer to [Outputting the time code 
externally] (page 65).
4  HOLD button
Pressing this button freezes the time data 
indication on the counter. Note that time code 
generation continues. Pressing the button again 
reactivates the counter.
This function is used to ascertain the time code or 
CTL count of a particular recorded scene.
5  RESET button
Use this button to reset the counter value on the 
time code display to 0:00:00. 
When the TCG switch is positioned at [SET] and 
the setting menus TC PRESET screen and UB 
PRESET screen are open, press this button to 
reset all set values to 0 and press the SET button 
to preset. 
 
6  COUNTER (counter display selector) button
The LCD monitor and the viewfinder show the 
counter value, time code, user bit and frame rate 
data.
7  TCG (time code selector) switch
This switch is used to specify the stepping mode 
for the built-in time code generator.
F-RUN Select this position to continuously 
advance the time code independently of 
the P2 card recording status. Use this 
mode to synchronise the time code with 
the time of day, or to externally lock the 
time code.
SET Select this position to set the time code 
and /or user bits.
R-RUN Select this position to advance the time 
code only during recording. The time 
code is continuously recorded during 
normal recording. But deleting clips 
and continuing recording of clips at a 
frame rate of 24P or 24PA that have 
been recorded at any other frame rate 
may break the sequence of time code 
recording. 
< Note >
Always use the CURSOR and SET buttons to set 
the time code and user bits. The JOG dial button 
cannot be used for this purpose.
8  CURSOR and SET buttons
Use these buttons to set the time code and user 
bits.
The four triangular buttons are the CURSOR 
buttons, and the center rectangular one is the 
SET button.
For guidance in setting the time code and user 
bits, see [Setting Time Data] (page 58).
Time Code Section
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26
Chapter 2 Parts and their Functions

1  Back tally lamp
When the BACK TALLY switch is set to [ON], the 
lamp behaves in the same way as the front tally 
lamp at the viewfinder.
2  BACK TALLY switch
This switch controls the action of the back and 
rear tally lamps.
ON : Back and rear tally lamps enabled.
OFF: Back and rear tally lamps disabled.
3  WARNING lamp
This lamp starts blinking or lights up if something 
unusual occurs in the memory.
4  Rear tally lamp
When the BACK TALLY switch is set on [ON], the 
rear tally lamp behaves in the same way as the 
back tally lamp.
5  Mode LED
Shows the camera unit mode.
CAM : Lights red in CAMERA mode.
MCR: Lights green in MCR mode.
PC: Lights orange in PC mode.
1  LCD monitor
The LCD monitor displays the video in the 
viewfinder.
Alternatively, it can show clips on the P2 card in a 
thumbnail format.
In thumbnail display mode, you can use the 
thumbnail menu buttons, CURSOR and SET 
buttons to manipulate or delete clips, or format P2 
cards.
For details, refer to [Adjusting and setting the 
LCD monitor] (page 75).
2  OPEN button
Used to open the LCD monitor.
Warning and Status Display 
FunctionsLCD Monitor
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Chapter 2 Parts and their Functions

1  Viewfinder (supplied accessory)
During recording or playback, the viewfinder 
displays the video image in monochrome. It also 
displays warnings, messages, zebra patterns, 
markers (safety zone and center markers), etc.
2  ZEBRA (zebra pattern) switch
This switch is used to display the zebra pattern in 
the viewfinder.
ON : Zebra pattern displayed.
OFF: No zebra pattern displayed.
3  TALLY switch
Used to control the front tally lamp.
ON : Tally lamp goes on.
OFF: Tally lamp goes out. 
4  PEAKING control
Used to adjust the outlines of the video image 
in the viewfinder for easier focusing. Recorded 
video and output camera signals are not affected. 
5  CONTRAST control
Used to adjust the contrast of the video image 
in the viewfinder. Recorded video and output 
camera signals are not affected. 
6  BRIGHT control
Used to adjust the brightness of the video image 
in the viewfinder. Recorded video and output 
camera signals are not affected. 
7  Front tally lamp
This lamp goes on during recording when 
the TALLY switch is set to [ON]. It also blinks 
in synchronisation with the REC lamp in the 
viewfinder, and provides alerts.
8  Viewfinder securing screw
Used to attach or remove the viewfinder.
9  Eyepiece
10  Diopter adjustment ring
Use this to make adjustments in line with your 
diopter, in order to obtain optimum clarity in the 
viewfinder image.
11  Connecting plug
12  Locking button
13  Microphone holder
Viewfinder
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28Setting Date and Time of Internal Clock
Chapter 3 Recording and Playback

Chapter3
Recording and 
Playback
Setting Date and Time of Internal Clock
The CLOCK SET value is recorded in the contents 
(clip), and affects the sequence of playback of the 
thumbnails. Before carrying out recording, be sure to 
check and set CLOCK SET and TIME ZONE.
•  This shows you how to adjust the calendar to 5:20 PM on December 25, 2007.
1Set the POWER switch to ON.
2Press the MENU button.
3Use the JOG dial button to select 
setting menu OTHER FUNCTIONS, then 
press the JOG dial button to open the 
OTHER FUNCTIONS screen. 
For details on menu operation, refer to [Using 
the menus] (page 116).
4Use the JOG dial button to select TIME 
ZONE, then press the JOG dial button.
5Turn the JOG dial button to set the time 
difference from Greenwich Mean Time. 
•  Check what time zone you are in and set 
accordingly. 
PUSH  MENU  TO  RETURN 
LANGUAGE
GL SELECT
GL PHASE
H PHASE
SYSEM FREQ + 9:00
ENGLISH SDI 
OFF
0
59.94Hz
TIME ZONE
O T H E R     F U N C T I O N S
■
Time zone
Time 
differenceAreaTime 
differenceArea
00:00 Greenwich -00:30
-01:00 Azores Islands -01:30
-02:00 Mid-Atlantic -02:30
-03:00 Buenos Aires -03:30Newfoundland 
Island
-04:00 Halifax -04:30
-05:00 New York -05:30
-06:00 Chicago -06:30
-07:00 Denver -07:30
-08:00 Los Angeles -08:30
-09:00 Alaska -09:30Marquesas Islands
-10:00 Hawaii -10:30
-11:00 Midway Island -11:30
-12:00 Kwajalein +11:30Norfolk Island
+13:00 +10:30Lord Howe Island
+12:00 New Zealand + 09:30Darwin
+11:00 Solomon Islands + 08:30
+10:00 Guam+ 07:30
+ 09:00 Tokyo+ 06:30Rangoon
+ 08:00 Beijing+ 05:30Bombay
+ 07:00 Bangkok + 04:30Kabul
+ 06:00 Dacca+ 03:30 Tehran
+ 05:00 Islamabad + 02:30
+ 04:00 Abu Dhabi + 01:30
+ 03:00 Moscow + 00:30
+ 02:00 Eastern Europe +12:45Chatham Islands
+ 01:00 Central Europe
< NOTE >
•  The clock is accurate to within about ± 30 seconds a  month with the power turned off. 
•  Check and set the time when accurate time is required.  After setting the time, change the setting menu TIME 
ZONE item and the display and the recorded local time 
will be reset accordingly. 
6Select YES at the CLOCK SET item in 
OTHER FUNCTIONS, then press the 
JOG dial button.
•  The CLOCK SET screen appears. 
PUSH  MENU  TO  RETURN 
1394 CONTROL
1394 CMD SEL
PC MODE
ACCESS LED
ALARM
SAVE LED
CLOCK SET O T H E R     F U N C T I O N S
OFF
REC_P
1394DEVICE
OFF
OFF
SAVE
YES
USER FILE 
						

							
29Setting Date and Time of Internal Clock
Chapter 3 Recording and Playback

7Turn the JOG dial button to select 
YEAR, then press the JOG dial button.
PUSH  MENU  TO  RETURN 
2007
MONTH MAY
DAY
1
HOUR 13
MIN
7
YEAR
C L O C K   S E T
8Turn the JOG dial button to set YEAR to 
2007, then press the JOG dial button.
•  A year between 2000 to 2030 can be set. 
9Turn the JOG dial button to select 
MONTH, then press the JOG dial 
button.
10Turn the JOG dial button to set MONTH 
to DEC, then press the JOG dial button.
11Set DAY, HOUR and MIN in the same 
way as setting YEAR and MONTH. 
• This is a 24-hour clock.
PUSH  MENU  TO  RETURN 
2007
MONTH  DEC
DAY 25
HOUR 17
MIN 20
YEAR
C L O C K   S E T 
						

							
30P2 Cards
Chapter 3 Recording and Playback

Inserting P2 Cards
< Note >
When using the camera recorder for the first time, be 
sure to set the time data beforehand. On how the time 
data is set, see [Setting Date and Time of Internal Clock] 
(page 28) .
1Turn on the POWER switch.
2While pressing the slide lock button, 
move the slide-out door to the left.
•  The door opens.
3Insert a P2 card in a P2 card slot. 
•  Press in the card until the eject button pops up. 
4Tilt up the popped-up EJECT button.
•  Insert a P2 card into the AG-HPX500P/E. The P2 CARD ACCESS LED for the appropriate 
slot indicates the status of the P2 card.
For how the P2 card status is indicated, see 
[P2 CARD ACCESS LED and status of P2 
cards] (page 32).
P2 Cards
The card must be 
inserted with the logo 
right way up.
Slide-out door
Slide lock button
EJECT button
P2 CARD ACCESS LED