Panasonic Vdr M30 Operating Instructions Manual

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Changing Display Format of Date and Time
You can select one of three date display formats: month/day/year, day/month/year or year/month/day. 
Associated with the selected date display, the time display format will also change as follows:
1Press the MENU button.
The menu screen will appear.
2Use the joystick to choose 
“Date Mode” on the 
“Date Setup” menu 
screen, and then press the 

button.
The options will appear 
on the right of “Date Mode”: The 
mark will be 
attached to the currently selected option.
3Use the joystick to select 
the desired date display 
format, and then press the 

button.
The menu screen for 
setting date will be 
restored, and the “Date Mode” has been 
changed as you designated.
4Press the MENU button to switch off the menu 
screen.
Note:If the date display format has been changed, the display 
format during playback as well as during recording will also 
be changed (See page 64).
Display formatExample of display
M/D/Y5:00PM
SEP 30 2003
D/M/Y17:00
30. 9.2003
Y/M/D17:00
2003. 9.30
Da t e  Se t u p
RAM
M/D/ Y
Y/M/D Da t e  Mode
ENTER RETURN
Da t e  Se t
D/M/ Y
Da t e  Se t u p
RAM
Da t e  Mode
ENTER RETURNDa t e  Se tD/M/ Y
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Recording Movie
Insert a recordable DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc into this DVD Palmcorder.
1Turn the DVD Palmcorder on.
Set the power switch to “
 VIDEO” to turn the 
DVD Palmcorder on.
After the ACCESS/PC indicator goes out, 
perform the subsequent operation:
2Check the subject on the screen (viewfinder or 
LCD).
If using the viewfinder, pull it out.
3Press the REC button.
The “
” mark in the viewfinder or on the LCD 
screen will change to the “” mark, and 
recording will start.
During recording, the recording indicator on the 
front of DVD Palmcorder will light.
Pressing REC again during recording will set the 
DVD Palmcorder to the recording pause status.
4When recording is finished,  turn the DVD 
Palmcorder off.
Note:See page 148 when recording movie is not possible.See page 148 if it takes some time before recording is 
possible.
See page 64 for on-screen information display.It is recommended that you use DVD-RAM disc from 
which recorded contents can be deleted.
Sound is recorded from the stereo microphone on the 
front of DVD Palmcorder: Take care that this microphone 
is not blocked.
You can press the REC button immediately after the DVD 
Palmcorder enters the recording pause status, but no 
further recording can be made while “DISC ACCESS” is 
being displayed.
Recording will restart after the message disappears.Take care that power is not interrupted while the 
ACCESS/PC indicator is blinking.
The minimum recordable time of movie is approximately 
3 seconds.
See page 95 for setting of Record LED (recording 
indicator) On/Off.
For various functions available during recording, see 
“Setting Up Camera Functions” on page 82.
Panasonic cannot be responsible for video and audio that 
cannot be recorded or edited because of any defect.
The power switch can be changed over even during 
recording, but the operation will not be changed.
Each time the DVD Palmcorder enters the recording 
pause status, the counter display will be reset to 
“0:00:00”.
When using DVD-R disc, do not perform the following, or 
data on the disc may not be read:
- Using another device, doing additional recording on 
DVD-R disc recorded on this DVD Palmcorder
- Using this DVD Palmcorder, doing additional recording 
on DVD-R disc recorded on another device
Power switch
Pressing REC 
once will start 
recording; 
pressing it 
once again will 
temporarily 
stop recording.ACCESS/PC 
indicator
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●Power save and discharge of battery
If, when “Power Save: On” is specified, the DVD 
Palmcorder is left in the recording pause status for 
approximately 5 minutes, it will automatically turn 
off.
To restart recording, set the power switch to 
“POWER OFF”, and then set it to “
 VIDEO”.
To set or release power save, see “Turning DVD 
Palmcorder Off Automatically (Power Save)” on 
page 94.
It is recommended that you specify “Power Save: 
On”, since even during recording pause battery 
power is consumed at the same level as during 
recording. Especially when power save has been 
released, turn the DVD Palmcorder off when not in 
use.
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Using External Microphone
Connect external microphone (optional-user provided)  to the external  microphone jack  of this  DVD 
Palmcorder. Clearer sound can be recorded. Turn on the switch on microphone and start recording. For 
details on microphone, see “Major Specifications” on page 165.
Note:If the AV/S input/output cable is plugged in, you cannot use external microphone: Unplug the AV/S input/output cable 
to use the external microphone.
This DVD Palmcorder cannot use a plug-in power type microphone (power supplied from camcorder).
● Attaching Ferrite Core
Although no ferrite core is attached in the illustrations of the cables in text, be sure to attach the provided 
core to the external microphone cable using the following procedure:
1Open the cover of ferrite core.
2Attach the core to external microphone cable at 
a position approximately 1-15/16” (5 cm) from 
its end.
3Close the cover of core, taking care that it does 
not catch the external microphone cable.
Note:The Ferrite Core must be installed to minimize RF 
interference and/or electrical noise that may be picked up 
by the external microphone cord. It should be installed as 
close to the plug as possible- as illustrated.
A/V
MC
To external 
microphone jack
1-15/16”
(5cm)
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Recording Stills
Note:Recording of still images is possible on DVD-RAM disc and 
card.
1Turn the DVD Palmcorder on.
When using DVD-RAM disc:
Set the power switch to “
 PHOTO”.
When using card:
Set the power switch to “ PHOTO”.
After the ACCESS indicator goes out, perform 
the subsequent operation:
2Check the subject on the screen (viewfinder or 
LCD).
3Press the REC button.
The DVD Palmcorder automatically focuses on 
the subject at the center of screen (when auto 
focus is selected). 
The screen will be black, and then the recorded 
still will be displayed. When the “” mark 
appears, you can proceed with the next 
recording; while “DISC ACCESS” or “CARD 
ACCESS” is being displayed, you cannot 
proceed with the next recording.
4Set the power switch to “POWER OFF” to turn 
the DVD Palmcorder off.
Note:See “Still recording quality” on page 56 for details of stills 
on card.
Do not operate the power switch or remove the card while 
the ACCESS/PC or CARD ACCESS indicator is lit or 
blinking: Doing so may damage the card or the data on 
card.
ACCESS/PC 
indicatorCARD 
ACCESS 
indicator
Power switch
8 : 00AM
SEP 30 2003999 REM
Still recording mode
Number of recordable stills
(When using DVD-RAM disc)
FINE999 REM8 : 00AM
SEP 30 2003
(When using card)
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●Still recording quality
The DVD Palmcorder can record JPEG stills of 
640×480 pixels.
Although still images are recorded on DVD-RAM 
disc only in the FINE mode, the quality mode can be 
chosen when recording stills on card.
[Still recording quality on card]
* See page 29 for the number of recordable stills.
Note:The DVD Palmcorder automatically sets the shutter 
speed between 1/800 and 1/30 second (between 1/800 
and 1/10 second if Program AE has been set to Low 
Light) depending on the subject brightness.
See “Switching Quality of Still Image (Quality)” on 
page 89 if you want to change the still quality mode.
QualityFile sizeApplication
FINE Approx.  128  KB When image quality 
is prioritized
NORM Approx. 64 KB Standard
ECO Approx. 32 KB When number of 
stills is prioritized 
(quality will be 
slightly inferior)
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Zooming
This DVD Palmcorder allows you to record using optical 10-power zoom and digital zoom.
Move the zoom lever to “T” control side, and the 
subject image will gradually become telescopic: 
Move the zoom lever to “W” control side, and the 
image will widen.
If  Dig.  Zoom  40×  or 240×  is  specified,  moving  the 
zoom lever down to “T” control side will engage 
the digital zoom midway (See page 86).
Note:The setting of digital zoom 240× is effective only during 
movie recording.
 If  you  set zoom  to  240× when  recording still, the digital 
zoom  will be  up  to 40×.
 When a subject is zoomed  (10x  or  more), it may be 
momentarily out of focus.
 When digital  zoom  is  engaged  (10x  or  more),  the image 
quality will  be ro ugher.
If the zoom ratio is frequently changed at short intervals, 
the recorded image will be unclear.
Recording in wide 
area
Recording 
enlarged image
3 0 MIN
0:00:00
REM
FINE 8 : 00AM
SEP 30 2003
Zooming
Zoom In
Digital zoom range
Zoom Out
1 × 10 × 40 × 240 ×
In case of movie recording
In case of still recording
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Macro Recording
Use the macro function when recording a small object from close-up position: You can shoot the subject 
as close as approximately 13/16” (2 cm) from the lens surface, magnifying the image to fill the screen.
1Aim the DVD Palmcorder at the subject, and 
press down the zoom lever to “W” control side.Note:Zoom can be used, but the subject may not be focused, 
depending on the distance to the subject. In this case,  
move the zoom to “W” control side to focus.
The amount of light tends to be insufficient during macro 
recording: If the subject image is too dark, use additional 
lighting.
Using Conversion Lens (Optional-User Provided)
Use  optional-user provided  tele-conversion lens  or wi de-conversion lens  wi th filter  diameter  of 30.5 
mm. Remove  the lens  hood  on  the top surface of lens,  and then attach the conversion lens over the lens.
Note:The four corners of screen may be dim depending on the 
conversion lens used.
(Attach)
Conversion lens
Lens hood
(Remove)
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Manually Focusing Subject
The DVD Palmcorder measures the distance to a subject viewed at the center of screen and automatically 
focuses on it. If it is difficult to automatically focus the subject, adjust the focus manually.
Focusing During Recording
This DVD Palmcorder automatically focuses a subject at the center of screen (auto-focus).
When the DVD Palmcorder is turned on, auto-focus will always be set.
Focusing range
You can switch the display mode of on-screen information:
On T (tele) side: approximately 3.6 feet (1 m) from lens surface to infinity
On W (wide) side: approximately 13/16” (2 cm) from lens surface to infinity
1Press the FOCUS button during recording.
“MF” will appear on the screen.
2Press the zoom lever down to “T” control side to 
zoom in on subject.
3Use the 
  buttons to adjust the focus, while 
viewing the image in the viewfinder or on the 
LCD screen.Note:Pressing FOCUS will alternate between manual focus 
and auto focus. With auto focus, no indication will appear 
on the screen.
Be sure to zoom in on your subject before manually 
focusing on it. If you bring the subject into focus at the “W” 
control side, focus will be faulty when you turn the zoom 
lever to the “T” control side to zoom in on the subject.
Manual focus setting will be stored in memory even when 
the DVD Palmcorder is turned off.
3 0 MIN 0:00:00
REM
FINE8 : 00AM
SEP 30 2003
Manual Focus icon
Adjust with 
 and buttons
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QR34662 Manually focus the following objects, which may not be automatically focused (See page 59):
Objects not in 
the center of 
screen
Objects 
moving rapidly
Object behind 
glass with 
water droplets, 
dir t on itObjects that 
are far and 
near at the 
same time Objects with 
little variation 
in brightness, 
such as white 
wall
Dark objects
Night view Objects lit by 
neon sign, 
spotlight, etc. 
which glares or 
emits strong 
light
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