Panasonic Sdr Sw20 Operating Instructions Manual

							31VQT1M21
●  After setting the date and time, summer time can be set as in “Setting home 
city and region” of the world time function (P.50).
●   
If [
] is displayed for the date and time, the built-in lithium battery has run 
down. Charge the battery and set the time as follows. The built-in lithium 
battery is charged when the AC adaptor is connected to the unit or when a 
battery is inserted into the unit. If charged for about 24 hours, the date and 
time can be saved in memory for about 6 months. (The battery is charged 
even if the power is turned OFF.)
 Changing the display language
The display and menu language can be changed. For setting from the menu 
(P.28)
    →[LANGUAGE]
 Adjusting the LCD monitor
LCD monitor color and brightness can be adjusted. (Settings do not affect 
recorded images.) For setting from the menu (P.28)
1Select the desired menu.
  If the LCD monitor is hard to 
see in bright places (POWER 
LCD)
Brighten the entire LCD monitor.
    →[SETUP]→
[POWER LCD]
 :    Normal brightness
 :  The LCD monitor brightens.
 :    The LCD monitor brightens 
more.
• [ 
] is automatically selected 
when the AC adaptor is used.
  →[SETUP]→
[LCD SET]→[YES]
2Select and adjust the 
item.
Select an item.To adjust
The bar moves.
[BRIGHTNESS]:
   Adjusts brightness.
[COLOR]:
  Adjusts color density.
and adjusting the LCD monitor 
						

							32VQT1M21
Recording1Before recording
Hold the unit firmly 
with both hands
Be careful not to block 
microphone or sensorUsing the “sub record” 
button can be helpful 
when recording at 
waist height
Stand with legs slightly 
apart for stabilityStand with back 
to sun to avoid 
subject being in 
shadow
Keep elbows close to 
body
White balance 
sensor
Microphone
Basic stance
Taking pictures underwater
This unit can take pictures underwater to depths 
of 1.5 m (5 feet) (max. 30 minutes duration). 
To take pictures underwater, press and hold 
the UNDERWATER button so as to set the 
underwater mode. Coloring and audio recording 
are adapted for underwater environments. (P.47)
Before taking pictures underwater, read 
“(IMPORTANT) Water resistance” (P.8-9) in 
order to use the unit correctly. Improper use 
can lead to water infiltration and damage. 
						

							33VQT1M2133VQT1M21
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.34-37
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.20) 
						

							34VQT1M21
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] 
						

							35VQT1M2135VQT1M21
Record motion picture with settings such as focus and coloring made 
automatically.
For maximum recording times with battery see (P.24)
 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 minutes 6 minutes 12 minutes
512 MB6 minutes 12 minutes 25 minutes
1GB12 minutes 25 minutes 50 minutes
2GB25 minutes 50 minutes 1 hour 40 minutes
4GB50 minutes 1 hour 40 minutes 3 hours 20 minutes
8GB1 hour 40 minutes 3 hours 20 minutes 6 hours 40 minutes
16 GB3 hours 20 minutes 6 hours 40 minutes 13 hours 20 minutes
●  The maximum continuous recording time for this unit is 8 hours.
●  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.20).
•  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.) 
						

							36VQT1M21
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) 
						

							37VQT1M2137VQT1M21
Take still pictures with settings such as focus and coloring made 
automatically.
For maximum recording times with battery see (P.24)
 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
16 GB99999 99999
●  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.39) 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. 
						

							38VQT1M21
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. 
						

							39VQT1M2139VQT1M21
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 (1/30 - 1/350) 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.)
●  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) 
						

							40VQT1M21
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 42Soft skin mode 43
Fade in/fade out function ([] only)41White balance 46
Self-timer recording ([] only)42Brightness (iris/gain) 49
Help mode 41Shutter speed 48
MagicPix function ([] only)43 Manual focus adjustment 44
 To hide operation icons   
During 
motion 
picture 
recording
1/2NEXT2/2NEXT3/3NEXT4/4NEXT
During still 
picture 
recording
1/2NEXT2/2NEXT3/3NEXT4/4NEXT
In automatic recording
For manual mode (Press [MANUAL AF/MF] one time).
For manual focus mode (Press [MANUAL AF/MF] two times).