Panasonic Vdr M53pp Operating Instructions Manual

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29 AUTO button (P. 67)
To switch the DVD Video Camera to full 
automatic.
30 FOCUS button (P. 64)
To switch between manual focus and auto-
focus.
31 EXPOSURE button (P. 66)
Press this button to adjust the exposure.
32 BACK LIGHT (backlight compensation) 
button (P. 53)
Press this button when subject is being 
illuminated from behind.
33 DISPLAY (Screen display) button (P. 63)
Press this button to display the details of image 
being played back or camera setting status, or to 
switch the display off.
34 Volume control buttons (VOL)/ S R buttons 
(P. 59, 64, 66)
To adjust the volume of sound from speaker, etc.
35 Speaker (P. 59)36 SELECT button (P. 99, 111)
37 DISC NAVIGATION button (P. 96)
38 MENU button (P. 40, 79, 102)
Press this button to display the menu for setting 
camera functions and Disc Navigation.
The camera menu will appear even if disc is not 
loaded.
39 Stop/cancel button (P. 11, 59, 79)
To end playback or cancel menu setting.
40 RESET button (P. 163)
To reset all settings to defaults (status when the 
DVD Video Camera was shipped from the 
factory).
41 CARD ACCESS indicator (P. 9, 52)
42 Card insertion block (P. 49)
43 Control buttons 
Used for playback, pausing, fast forwarding, and 
rewinding. Also used as directional buttons (up, 
down, left, right) and to make a selection when 
selecting scenes or menus.
323536
31 30 29
34 333837
39
40 41 4243
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44 Photo shot button (P.52)
45 START/STOP (REC) button (P. 51)
46 MENU button (P. 40, 79, 102)
47 SELECT button (P. 99, 111)
48 Reverse search button (P. 60)
49 DELETE button (P. 102)
50 DISC NAVIGATION button (P. 96)
51 OSD (Display) button (P. 63)52 ZOOM T button (P. 57)
53 DIGITAL ZOOM button (P. 57)
54 ZOOM W button (P. 57)
55 Reverse skip button (P. 61)
56 Forward/Search button (P. 60)
57 Play/pause button (P. 59)
58 Stop button (P. 11, 59, 79)
59 Forward skip button (P. 61)
* The buttons on remote controller will function the same as those on DVD Video Camera.
44
45
46
47
48
50
51
53
55
57
52
54
56
59
49
58 Not included with VDR-M53PP.
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Setting Up the Battery Pack
The CGA-DU07A/CGA-DU14A battery pack provided with this DVD Video Camera has not been 
charged at purchase time: Charge it before using the DVD Video Camera.
Note:Be sure to use the specified battery pack CGA-DU07A/CGA-DU14A (provided) for the DVD Video Camera: using other
batteries could cause the DVD Video Camera to malfunction, or result in fire.
Be sure to use the specified AC adaptor to charge the battery pack: using other chargers could cause electric shock
or fire.
Charge the battery pack at temperatures of 50 - 86°F (10-30°C).
Charging Battery Pack
Use the provided AC adaptor to charge the battery 
pack.
1Connect the power cable to AC adaptor.
2Plug the power cable into AC outlet.
3Attach the battery pack to AC adaptor.
Note:When charging a battery pack, unplug the DC cord from the 
DC output jack on AC adaptor.
lBattery pack charge status
You can find out the charge status of the battery pack by checking the CHARGE indicator on the AC
adaptor:
Note:If the CHARGE indicator does not light when the AC
adaptor is plugged into household AC outlet, unplug it
from household AC outlet, wait a few moments, and then
plug it into household AC outlet again. If the CHARGE
indicator still does not light, the AC adaptor may be faulty.
Unplug it from household AC outlet and consult your
dealer.
See “Troubleshooting” on page 157, when the CHARGE
indicator blinks.
Power cable
AC adaptor Battery pack
Remove the DC cord. CHARGE indicator
(Light on) 
Charging(Light off) 
ChargedPress it in all the 
way to the back.
Charge statusCHARGE indicator
During charge Lit
Charge complete Goes out
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12
Record and Play Back Using Disc (Video and Photo)
You can record both videos and photos on DVD-RAM disc; only videos on DVD-R disc.
Before You BeginIt is recommended that you use a DVD-RAM disc for trial recording, since
you can delete the recorded contents (See page 28).
1Connect power supply (P. 45).
Power cable
AC adaptor DC cord
Connect everything in this sequence a – d.
2Insert a disc (P. 46).
1. Press down the DISC EJECT lever once and
release it.
2. Open the cover by hand and fit the disc onto
the spindle in the center.
Note:Do not use excessive force when opening the
cover.
Do not touch the pickup lens or the recording/
playback side of the disc. 
This may impair recording and playback. 
Insert the disc securely to prevent damage.
3. Close the cover.
Insert with the 
recording/
playback side 
facing inwards Pickup lens
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3Start recording (P. 51).
1.Open the LCD monitor (See page 38).
2.Set the switch to “ ” or “ ” while pressing
down on the power switch toggle button.3. Set the LOCK switch to   (to the upper left)
to prevent accidental switching of recording
mode.*
* Only in   mode.
4. Press the REC button to record movie, or
press the Photo shot button to record stills.
Recording will start.
Pressing the REC button again will stop
recording.
Rotate
While pressing
(Power switch 
toggle button) Align with this position
Photo shot button
REC button
Note
:When using an unformatted disc, format (initialize) it on this DVD Video Camera. 
If unformatted disc is inserted into this DVD Video Camera, a message will appear: Format the disc following the 
instructions on screen (P. 47, 125). Initializing the disc will erase all the recorded contents: make sure the contents 
on disc are not valuable before initializing the disc.
4View the playback of recorded content on LCD monitor.
1.Open the LCD monitor (See page 38).
2.After recording is finished, press the A
button.
The recorded scene will be played back.3. Press the g button to stop playback.
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3
Record and Play Back Using Card (Photo)
Only photos can be recorded on card.
1Connect power supply (P. 45).
Powe r c able
AC adaptor DC cord
Connect everything in this sequence a – d.
2Insert a card (P. 49).
1. Open the LCD monitor.
2. Open the cover of card insertion block with
power turned off.3. Put in a card.
4. Insert the card all the way until it locks.
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3Start recording (P. 52).
1.Open the LCD monitor (See page 38).
2.Set the LOCK switch to   (to the lower right).3. Set the switch to “ ” while pressing down on
the button to the right of the power switch. 
4. Press the Photo shot button.
Pressing it once will record one photo.
Rotate
While pressing Align with this position
Photo Shot button
4View the playback of recorded content on LCD monitor.
1.Open the LCD monitor (P. 38). 2. Press  the A button in recording pause
status: the recorded scene will be played
back.
3. Press the g button to stop playback.
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Discs and Cards
The following table lists the storage media (discs and cards) that can be used on this DVD Video Camera 
and the functions which are available with them:
l: Functions available;  -: Not available
*1:Can be played back on DVD players with the  mark.
*2:Must be finalized (see “Terminology” page 148) on this DVD Video Camera before DVD-R disc can be played back 
on DVD player or DVD-RAM recorder (See page 127). May not be playable on some DVD players.
*3:Compatible with DVD player or DVD video recorders that conform to 8 cm DVD-RAM.
*4:Some DVD video recorders incorporate a device that can play back SD memory card. 
*5:miniSD memory cards must be inserted in a special card adapter in order to be used.
Available Discs
This DVD Video Camera uses 8 cm DVD-RAM 
discs and 8 cm DVD-R discs for camcorder use.
Discs inserted in a holder, cartridge, or caddy case 
cannot be used. Always remove bare discs from 
these containers prior to use.
Note:It is recommended that you use Panasonic discs, since
their compatibility with this DVD Video Camera has been
confirmed. Using a disc other than one made by
Panasonic may not allow the DVD Video Camera to
deliver optimum performance.
It is necessary to initialize an unformatted DVD-RAM
disc. When an unformatted disc is inserted into the DVD
Video Camera, a message will appear: Initialize the disc
following the instructions on screen (P. 125).
Image data edited on PC and certain types of image data
may not be visible on this DVD Video Camera.
Image data recorded on another device may not be
playable on this DVD Video Camera.
Media
FunctionDVD-RAM discDVD-R discSD Memory Card/
miniSD Memory Card*5
Recording moviell-
Recording stilll-l
Deleting recorded imagel
-l
Editing on this DVD Video 
Cameral
--
Playback on DVD player
l*1*3l*2-
Playback on DVD video 
recorderl*3l*2-*4
Usable discs and logos
DVD-RAM Ver. 2.1 (8 cm)
DVD-R 
[for General Ver. 2.0 (8 cm)]DVD-RAM/SIDEA
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Information on DVD-R Disc
You cannot record a still on DVD-R disc, or delete 
any recorded images or data.
For optimum recording on DVD-R disc, this DVD 
Video Camera writes control data to the disc in 
order to automatically make adjustments when it is 
inserted and ejected accompanying recording. If 
the disc has no area for control data to be written, 
recording may not be possible. To prevent this, do 
not insert a DVD-R disc which has been recorded 
on more than 50 times. The DVD Video Camera will 
not perform “write adjustment” unless recording is 
made. In most cases, “write adjustment” will not be 
performed when the DVD Video Camera is turned 
on from off with the disc in it, or when the disc is 
removed and then reinserted.
lUsing a new disc
Recording images to a DVD-R using the DVD Video 
Camera:
The disc must be formatted. (See page 47)
Recording to a DVD-R using DVDfunSTUDIO:
Do not format the disc. (See page 142)
lFinalizing DVD-R disc
Before using the 8 cm DVD-R disc in a DVD player 
or DVD video recorder that is compatible with 8 cm 
DVD-R disc, the disc must be finalized on this DVD 
Video Camera. For the finalizing procedure of 8 cm 
DVD-R disc, refer to “Finalizing DVD-R Disc 
(Finalize Disc)”  (P. 127).
Note:When using an unformatted DVD-R disc, it is necessary
to format it on this DVD Video Camera (See page 47). 
Do not insert a DVD-R disc recorded on this DVD Video
Camera that has not been finalized into a recordable
device, such as a DVD video recorder: the recorded data
may be damaged.
DVD-R discs edited and finalized on PC or those finalized
on another DVD video recorder may not be playable on
this DVD Video Camera, depending on the editing
software used or recording status of DVD-R disc.
Refer to the remaining time indicated on the LCD of DVD
Video Camera to check the capacity of DVD-R disc.
DVD-R VR mode is not supported.
Examples of Discs that Cannot be Used on this DVD Video Camera
Note:Discs recorded on PC or DVD video recorder may not be playable on this DVD Video Camera; if so, the message “This 
disc cannot be used.” will appear. Also, blue thumbnails will appear (Fig. 1* on page 30), or normal playback will not be 
possible.
DVD-RAM (2.6 GB) Ver. 1.0DV D - R O MMO
DVD-R (3.9 GB) Ver. 1.0DVD-VideoMD
DVD-R (4.7 GB) for Authoring Ver. 2.0CD-RiD
DV D - RWCD-RWFloppy disk
DV D + RWCDDiscs other than those with diameter of 8 cm
DV D + RLDCD-ROM
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Handling Discs
lUsing discs
DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs are very delicate 
recording media. Carefully read the following 
cautions and observe them:
Always use a brand new disc when recording 
important material.
Be sure not to touch the disc surface, and be 
careful that no dirt adheres to it.
 If there is dust, a scratch, or dirt on disc or if 
it is warped, the following phenomena may 
occur:
−Block noise in playback image
−Momentary stop of playback 
image
−Sound interrupted during 
playback, or abnormal sound
−Blue thumbnail display* 
(Fig. 1)
−Disc cannot correctly be 
recognized
−Delay between video 
and audio
Even if disc is normal, the
above phenomena may
occasionally occur. While the ACCESS/PC
indicator is lit, do not subject disc to vibrations or
impact, and avoid using DVD Video Camera at
extremely high or low temperatures, or in an
environment where condensation is likely to
occur.
When recording images, 
the DVD Video Camera 
may avoid the portions of 
disc where recording is not 
possible, due to dust, 
scratches, etc. [It will 
pause m at such a 
portion and automatically 
restart recording (n).]
This will cause recording 
to be interrupted for several seconds to several 
minutes, and multiple thumbnails will be created 
by one recording session as shown above. In this 
case, the recordable time on disc will decrease.
Be careful when removing the disc since the 
metal of removal slot of DVD Video Camera, and 
disc itself, may be hot.
lStoring discs
To store a disc, insert it in the plastic case you 
received when you purchased it.
Take care that no condensation occurs on disc.
Do not place disc in the following places:
−Direct sunlight for a long time
−Where humidity is high or in dusty place
−Where there is heat from a heater, etc.
lDisc Cleaning
Use Disc Cleaning Cloth to lightly wipe off any dust, 
dirt, etc. adhering to disc, as shown in the figure. 
Never use solvent.  Do not use thinner, water, anti-
static spray, etc. to clean disc.
Note:Disc Cleaning Cloth is supplied with product.
We also recommend using a DVD Disc cleaner (model no. 
LF-K200DCJ1, sold separately).
Available Cards 
Block noise
001/006 All Programs
PLAY
RAM
(Fig. 1)
*
001 / 002 All Programs
PLAY
RAM
(Recording one scene 
may produce multiple 
thumbnails.)
Use Disc Cleaning Cloth 
to clean from inner to 
outer circumference in 
axial direction, or use 
puffer to blow dust off disc, 
like on camera lens.
mini SD Memory 
Card AdapterSD Memory 
Card
mini SD Memory 
Card
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