Panasonic Sdr S7 Operating Instructions Manual

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Record motion and still pictures onto the SD card.
Recorded motion and still pictures are referred to as “scenes” with this unit.
Do not perform any of the following operations while the SD card 
is being accessed (card access lamp illuminated). Performing 
these actions may damage the card and its data.
• Switching off power
• Removing battery or AC adaptor
•  Opening card/battery door and removing 
SD card
•  Rotating the mode dial
•  Shaking or impacting the unit
Card access lamp
Card/battery door
Note
Recording can be done in two ways: “Automatic recording” 
or “Manual recording”.
Automatic recording (motion/still pictures)
(This is the default setting at the time of purchase)
●  To have coloring, focus, and brightness settings made 
automatically
See
P.32-35
Manual recording (motion/still pictures)
(Manually adjust settings such as focus, white balance, shutter speed, 
iris/gain, etc.)
●  To record with your own settings
●   When automatic recording is unsatisfactory
●  To use settings for particular scenes (scene mode)
See
P.44-49
●  For SD cards applicable with this unit (P.18) 
						

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Recording2
  Automatic recording 
(motion pictures)
1Set to [].
2Press .
3Start recording.Recording 
mode
Time elapsed
Time remaining (flashes 
red when under 1 minute)
Recording in 
progress (red)
Recording continues even if the 
LCD monitor is closed.
4Stop recording.
Paused (green)
The unit is still recording if [] is 
red. Do not move the unit.
●  When the unit is running on battery power, power is automatically shut OFF 
to conserve battery life if no operations are performed for about 5 minutes. To 
reuse the unit, set the mode dial to [OFF] and then reselect a mode.
To prevent power from shutting OFF automatically: (P.84 [POWER SAVE])
●  The interval between starting and stopping recording is recorded as one single 
scene. The counter is reset to “0h00m00s” after each scene.
●  
At the time when the unit is purchased, the audio recording mode is set to [DOLBY]. For 
playback in a device which does not support Dolby Digital, set [AUDIO REC] to [MPEG]. (P.84)
 To change aspect ratio to 4:3
  →[ADVANCED]→
[ASPECT]→[4:3]
Default aspect ratio at the time of 
purchase is set to 16:9 (widescreen).
  To remove sound when record 
button is pressed
  →[SETUP]→
[BEEP SOUND]→[OFF]
  To remove on-screen display
  →[SETUP]→
[DISPLAY]→[OFF]
  To ensure that you won’t pass 
up any recording opportunities
PRE-REC function (P.42) Before recording, open the lens cover. 
						

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Record motion picture with settings such as focus and coloring made 
automatically.
For maximum recording times with battery, see (P.22)
 Recording mode and recording times
Recording times depend on the recording mode selected.
Recording times for Panasonic SD cards (approximate)
SD card 
capacityRecording mode
(Highest picture 
quality)(Standard)(Longest recording 
time)
256 MB3 min 6 min 12 min
512 MB6 min 12 min 25 min
1GB12 min 25 min 50 min
2GB25 min 50 min 1 h 40 min
4GB50 min 1 h 40 min 3 h 20 min
8GB1 h 40 min 3 h 20 min 6 h 40 min
16 GB3 h 20 min 6 h 40 min 13 h 20 min
●  If a single scene exceeds 4 GB during motion picture recording, recording 
continues as a separate scene.
●  Recording fast-moving objects or repeatedly writing on the same SD card 
numerous times shortens recording time.
●  Mosaic-like interference may be generated on playback screens in the 
following circumstances:
    • Complicated pictures in background
    • The unit is moved greatly or quickly
  •  Recording is of a rapidly moving object (particularly if recording mode is set 
to [
])
 To change recording mode
  →[BASIC]→[REC MODE]→[] / [] / []
If recording stops•  Recording may stop suddenly if an incompatible SD card has been 
inserted. (P.18)
•  Even with usable SD cards, recording may stop if you repeatedly write on 
the same SD card. Copy data onto a PC using MotionSD STUDIO, then 
format the SD card with this unit. (When formatted, all data on the SD card 
is erased.) 
						

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1Set to [].
2Press .
3Take picture.Picture 
resolutionPicture 
quality
Pictures remaining 
(flashes red when zero)
Focus is aligned to object in 
center of shot.
● Sound is not recorded.
● Recorded still pictures are referred to as “scenes” with this unit.
 To remove shutter sound
  →[ADVANCED]→[SHTR 
EFFECT]→[OFF]
  To remove on-screen display
  →[SETUP]→
[DISPLAY]→[OFF]
Recording3
  Automatic recording 
(still pictures)
Before recording, open the lens cover. 
						

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Take still pictures with settings such as focus and coloring made 
automatically.
For maximum recording times with battery see (P.22)
 Picture quality
Picture size is 640×480 (0.3 M). The number of pictures that may be recorded 
depends on the picture quality selected.
Picture quality and number of pictures for Panasonic SD cards 
(approximate)
SD card capacityPicture quality  
High
(highest picture quality)Standard
(largest number of pictures)
8MB37 75
16 MB92 185
32 MB200 410
64 MB430 850
128 MB820 1640
256 MB1710 3410
512 MB3390 6780
1GB6790 13580
2GB13820 27640
4GB27150 54290
8GB55260 99999
Î
16 GB99999Î99999Î
ÎThis unit can record only up to 99,999 still pictures in these SD cards.
●  Pictures taken with the [] setting may suffer a mosaic-like effect for certain 
objects.
●  Depending on the object, the number of pictures that may be recorded may 
vary if a mixture of [
] and [] settings have been used.
 To change picture quality
  →[BASIC]→[PICT.QUALITY]→[] / []
To avoid jitter (The image stabilizer function (P.37) cannot be used during still picture 
recording.)
•  Hold the unit firmly with both hands, and keep elbows close to your body.
•  Jitter becomes particularly difficult to avoid with zoom ratios of 4x and 
above. It is recommended that you reduce the zoom ratio and move closer 
to the object.
• Try using a tripod. 
						

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Recording4Zoom/avoid jitter/maintain 
 indicates functions used with motion pictures and  functions used with 
still pictures.
Enlarging (zoom)  
Optical zoom can be used to enlarge objects by up to 10 times without 
degradation.
Enlarge
Restore
Zoom ratio: 1x
This unit can focus on a subject 
approx. 4 cm (1.6˝) away from 
the lens.
After enlarging the image, the 
subject is brought into focus 
at 1.0 m (3.3 feet) or greater 
distance.
 To enlarge further Digital zoom can be used to enlarge 
objects by a maximum of 700 times. 
(Cannot be used during still picture 
recording.)
  →[ADVANCED]→[D.ZOOM]
[OFF] : No digital zoom
[25x] :   Up to maximum of 25x
[700x] : Up to maximum of 700x
•  Picture quality will be reduced by 
the same factor as the zoom ratio is 
increased by.
•  The digital zoom range is displayed 
in blue in the zoom bar on the LCD 
monitor.
● Release zoom button quietly (any sounds may be recorded).
●  The image stabilizer function is recommended for motion picture recording at 
high zoom rates.
●  Focus may not be aligned if zooming in too quickly.
●  Zooming has two speeds. When the buttons are pressed lightly, zooming is 
done at slow speed. When pressed strongly, zooming is done at high speed. 
						

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picture brightness in dark locations
 Apply zoom effect to sounds (zoom microphone) Synched with zooming operations, distance sounds are recorded when 
enlarging and peripheral sounds are recorded at wide angles.
  →[ADVANCED]→[ZOOM MIC]→[ON]
Avoid jitter (image stabilizer function) 
  →[ADVANCED]→[EIS]→[ON]
●  Default setting at the time of purchase is [ON].
●  The image stabilizer function cannot be used in shooting still pictures or with 
MagicPix.
●  Brightness may change and coloring may appear unnatural when using 
beneath fluorescent lighting.
●  The image stabilizer function may not perform successfully in the following 
circumstances:
  • Using digital zoom         • Location is extremely dark
  • Jitter is significant          • When following moving object
Maintain brightness in dark locations (auto slow shutter)  
Shutter speed is automatically slowed in dark places in order to brighten 
captured images.
  →[ADVANCED]→[AUTO SLW SHTR]→[ON]
●  Default setting at the time of purchase is [ON].
[
]: ( When [ON], shutter speed is automatically adjusted between 1/30 and 1/350. 
When [OFF], shutter speed is automatically adjusted between 1/60 and 1/350.)
[]: ( When [ON], shutter speed is automatically adjusted between 1/30 and 1/500. 
When [OFF], shutter speed is automatically adjusted between 1/60 and 1/500.)
●  Focus may not be aligned perfectly in extremely dark locations or where there 
is little contrast.
●  When shutter speed is 1/30 - 1/59:
  •  Images may appear as if frames were skipped and ghost images may 
appear.
    • The image stabilizer function does not work even when [
] appears.
●  During manual recording, shutter speed can be adjusted manually. The range 
in which shutter speed may be adjusted depends on the auto slow shutter 
setting. (P.48) 
						

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Recording5Other recording options
While recording is paused
1Display operation icons.
1/2NEXT
Operation icons
2Change operation icons.Icons change with each 
press, as displayed 
below.
Icon Function Page Icon Function Page
Backlight compensation function 40PRE-REC function ([] only)42
Fade in/fade out function ([] only)39White balance 46
Self-timer recording ([] only)40Brightness (iris/gain) 49
Help mode 39Shutter speed 48
MagicPix function ([] only)41 Manual focus adjustment 44
Soft skin mode 41
 To hide operation icons   
During 
motion 
picture 
recording
1/2NEXT2/2NEXT3/3NEXT4/4NEXT
During still 
picture 
recording1/2NEXT2/2NEXT3/3NEXT4/4NEXT
In automatic recording
For manual mode (Press [MANUAL AF/MF] one time).
For manual focus mode (Press [MANUAL AF/MF] two times). 
						

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Operation icons can be used to set effects, compensate brightness or 
perform other operations in one easy step.
 indicates functions used with motion pictures and  functions used with 
still pictures.
 Fade-in/Fade-out 
This function gradually fades images and audio in and out at the very beginning 
and very end of recording.
 Display operation icons. Select  [].
1/2NEXT1/2NEXT
    Selecting again cancels setting.
 Start  recording. Stop  recording.
● Cannot be used during still picture recording.
●  Thumbnail can be either black or white.
●  Setting is canceled after recording is stopped or power is switched off.
 To change the fade-in and fade-out image color to black or white
  →[ADVANCED]→[FADE COLOR]→[WHITE] / [BLACK]
View explanations of functions during automatic recording (help mode)
  Select [] in step 1 on the previous 
page.  Select function to be 
explained.
1/2NEXTNext
Explanation is displayed
●  To close, select [EXIT] in step , or press the [MENU] button.
●  Functions cannot be set nor can pictures be taken in the help mode. 
						

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Recording5
Other recording options 
(cont.)
 Backlight compensation function  
Brightens objects that appear dark against backlighting.
 Display operation icons. Select  [].
1/2NEXT1/2NEXT
    Selecting again cancels setting.
●  Shutting off the power or rotating the mode dial cancels the setting.
 Self-timer 
Still pictures may be taken using the self-timer.
 Display operation icons. Select  [].
1/2NEXT1/2NEXT
    Selecting again cancels setting.
 Take  picture.
     Picture is taken approx. 10 
seconds after [] begins to 
flash.
 To quit halfway through   
●  Cannot be used during motion recording.
●  Setting is canceled once picture is taken or power is switched off.