Panasonic HDC-DX1 User Manual

Operating Instructions

High Definition Video Camera

Model No. HDC-DX1

Before use, please read these instructions completely.

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Information for Your Safety

WARNING:

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK OR PRODUCT DAMAGE, ≥DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO

RAIN, MOISTURE, DRIPPING OR SPLASHING AND THAT NO OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS, SUCH AS VASES, SHALL BE PLACED ON THE APPARATUS.

≥USE ONLY THE RECOMMENDED

ACCESSORIES.

≥DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER (OR

BACK); THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

The socket outlet shall be installed near the equipment and easily accessible. The mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable. To completely disconnect this apparatus from the AC Mains, disconnect the power supply cord plug from AC receptacle.

IF THE POWER CORD OF THIS EQUIPMENT IS DAMAGED, IT MUST BE REPLACED WITH AN ELECTRICALLY APPROVED POWER CORD.

Use only the recommended accessories.

≥Do not use any other AV cables, Component

cable and USB cables except the supplied one.

≥When you use the cable which are sold

separately, please make sure to use the one whose length is less than 3 metres.

CAUTION!

≥DO NOT INSTALL OR PLACE THIS UNIT

IN A BOOKCASE, BUILT-IN CABINET OR IN ANOTHER CONFINED SPACE. ENSURE THE UNIT IS WELL VENTILATED. TO PREVENT RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK OR FIRE HAZARD DUE TO OVERHEATING, ENSURE THAT CURTAINS AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS DO NOT OBSTRUCT THE VENTILATION VENTS.

≥DO NOT OBSTRUCT THE UNIT’S

VENTILATION OPENINGS WITH NEWSPAPERS, TABLECLOTHS, CURTAINS, AND SIMILAR ITEMS.

≥DO NOT PLACE SOURCES OF NAKED

FLAMES, SUCH AS LIGHTED CANDLES, ON THE UNIT.

≥DISPOSE OF BATTERIES IN AN

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MANNER.

≥Keep the Memory Card out of reach of children

to prevent swallowing.

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CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT

IEC 60825-1:2001 CAUTION This product contains a laser diode of higher class than 1. To ensure continued safety, do not remove any covers or attempt to gain access to the inside of the product. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel.

Product Identification Marking is located on the bottom of units.

-If you see this symbol-

Information on Disposal in other Countries outside the European Union

This symbol is only valid in the European Union. If you wish to discard this product, please contact your local authorities or dealer and ask for the correct method of disposal.

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ª Indemnity concerning recording

content

The manufacturer shall in no event be liable for the loss of recordings due to malfunction or defect of this unit, its accessories or recordable media.

ª Carefully observe copyright laws

Recording of pre-recorded tapes or discs or other published or broadcast material for purposes other than your own private use may infringe copyright laws. Even for the purpose of private use, recording of certain material may be restricted.

≥SDHC Logo is a trademark. ≥miniSD Logo is a trademark. ≥“AVCHD” and the “AVCHD” logo are

trademarks of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. and Sony Corporation.

≥Manufactured under license from Dolby

Laboratories. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

≥“HDMI”, the HDMI Logo and the High-Definition

Multimedia Interface are the registered trademarks or trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

≥HDAVI Control™ is a trademark of Matsushita

Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

≥LEICA is a registered trademark of Leica

microsystems IR GmbH and DICOMAR is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.

≥Microsoft

trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

≥IBM and PC/AT are registered trademarks of

International Business Machines Corporation of the U.S.

≥Intel

registered trademarks or trademarks of the Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

≥Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with

permission from Microsoft Corporation.

≥Other names of systems and products

mentioned in these instructions are usually the registered trademarks or trademarks of the manufacturers who developed the system or product concerned.

and Windows® are either registered

, Pentium® and Celeron® are the

This product is licensed under the AVC patent portfolio license for the personal and non-commercial use of a consumer to (i) encode video in compliance with the AVC Standard (“AVC Video”) and/or (ii) decode AVC Video that was encoded by a consumer engaged in a personal and non-commercial activity and/or was obtained from a video provider licensed to provide AVC Video. No license is granted or shall be implied for any other use. Additional information may be obtained from MPEG LA, LLC. See http://www.mpegla.com

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Contents

Information for Your Safety...................2

Recording

Before using

Features of the High Definition

Video Camera......................................7

Accessories..........................................10

Parts identification and handling .......11

Using the LCD monitor........................18

Using the viewfinder............................18

Using the remote control.....................19

Discs that can be used on this

unit .....................................................21

Cards that you can use with this

unit .....................................................24

Disc and card handling........................25

Setup

Charging the battery............................26

Fitting/Removing the battery ..............26

Charging time and recordable

time ....................................................27

Connecting to the AC outlet................28

Selecting a mode

(Turning the unit on/off)...................29

Inserting/removing a disc....................30

Inserting/removing an SD card........... 33

How to use the cursor button ............. 33

Using the menu screen........................38

Setting date and time...........................39

Switching the language.......................40

Adjusting LCD monitor/

viewfinder..........................................41

Before recording ..................................43

Recording motion pictures .................45

Recording modes/recordable time

available for the motion picture ......47

Recording still pictures (JPEG) .......... 48

Number of pixels and picture

quality for still picture recording.....51

Various recording functions ............... 52

Zoom in/out function ................................ 52

Recording yourself................................... 54

Backlight compensation function ............. 54

Fade in/fade out function ......................... 55

Colour night view function........................ 56

Soft skin mode......................................... 57

Tele macro function ................................. 57

Self-timer recording.................................. 58

Built-in flash ............................................. 59

Image stabilizer function .......................... 60

Guide line function ................................... 61

Wind noise reduction function.................. 61

Microphone level...................................... 62

Zebra display ........................................... 63

Colour bar ................................................ 64

Manual recording functions................ 64

Scene mode............................................. 64

Manual focus adjustment ......................... 65

White balance.......................................... 66

Manual shutter speed/aperture

adjustment............................................ 68

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Contents

Playback

Playback of motion pictures on a

disc.....................................................69

Motion picture playback............................69

Playing back motion pictures by date.......72

Repeat playback.......................................72

Resuming the previous playback .............73

Playback of still pictures on an

SD card ..............................................73

Still pictures (JPEG) playback ..................73

Editing

Editing scenes......................................75

Deleting scenes........................................75

Protecting scenes.....................................76

Editing still pictures.............................77

Deleting still pictures ................................ 77

Protecting still pictures .............................78

DPOF setting............................................79

Disc and card management

Formatting ............................................80

Formatting discs.......................................80

Formatting an SD card .............................80

Finalizing a disc ...................................81

Finalizing a disc........................................81

Un-finalizing a DVD-RW...........................82

Creating a top menu.................................82

Protecting a disc ..................................83

Displaying disc information................ 84

With other products

With a TV...............................................85

Playback using VIERA Link

(HDAVI Control) ................................91

Dubbing images onto a connected

DVD recorder or video device .........93

With a printer (PictBridge)...................94

With a computer

Before using with a computer.............96

What you can do with a computer............ 96

Operating environment ............................ 96

Connection and recognition ...............97

Connection and recognition

procedures ........................................... 97

About the computer display ..................... 98

To disconnect USB cable safely .............. 99

Verifying the unit is correctly

recognised by the computer............... 100

If using a Macintosh...........................101

Others

Menus and Indications ......................102

Menu list................................................. 102

Menus related to [ADVANCED] and

[SETUP] ............................................. 104

Indications.............................................. 105

Messages............................................... 107

Functions that cannot be used

simultaneously................................110

Frequently asked questions.............. 111

Troubleshooting.................................112

Cautions for use.................................118

Explanation of terms..........................121

Specifications.....................................123

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Before using

Features of the High Definition Video Camera

Very clear high definition pictures

This unit is an AVCHD format video camera for recording highly detailed high definition images to an 8 cm DVD disc. You can watch images in high-resolution HD video if you connect this unit and a high definition TV and then play back the images. (l 85)

A B

A High Definition images (1440k1080): Number of available scan lines 1080 B Standard images until now (720k576): Number of available scan lines 576

High definition images

≥The still pictures above are images for explanation purposes.

ª What is the AVCHD?

This is a format for recording and playing back highly detailed high definition images. Images are recorded based on the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec for compressing images and audio is recorded in Dolby Digital. It is compatible with various discs such as DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R and DVD-R DL.

Important Notice

Do not insert discs which have been recorded in AVCHD format into devices which do not support the AVCHD format. In some cases the disc may get stuck in the device. The disc will not play back on devices that do not support the AVCHD format.

About the compatibility of discs recorded on this unit (Be careful about the following)

≥They are not compatible with devices other than those that support the AVCHD. (Refer to the

operating instructions of the device for details.)

≥There are some cases where the recorded motion pictures cannot be played back, even if the device

supports the AVCHD. In such cases, play the recorded motion picture with this unit instead.

≥Do not insert them into devices that are not compatible (DVD players, computers, etc. that do not

support the AVCHD) as they will not be played back.

≥A format message may appear when you insert a disc into a device that is not compatible. (If you

accidentally format the disc, the pictures you recorded will all be deleted.)

≥We recommend setting [AUTO PROTECT] to

[ON] (l 83) to prevent important scenes being deleted by mistake. (This function’s default setting is [ON].)

Existing DVD recorders, DVD players, computers, etc. that do not support the AVCHD.

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Before using

Watching High Definition images

If you connect this unit and a high definition TV A with a HDMI cable (optional) B and then play back the pictures, you can enjoy watching them in high definition.

≥If you connect this unit to a TV that does not support high definition, the images will be standard

picture quality.

ª When connecting to a TV that does not have a HDMI terminal

Connecting with the component cable and the AV cable Connecting with the AV cable

≥The pictures cannot be played in high definition. They will be played back in standard quality.

Using the remote control for the TV for playback

If you connect this unit to a Panasonic TV (VIERA) compatible with VIERA Link (HDAVI Control™) A with a HDMI cable (optional) B, you can use the remote control for the TV for playback. Refer to the operating instructions of the TV for details.

ª Other linked operations

Turning the power on and off:

If you turn the power off with the remote control for the TV, the power on this unit also turns off.

Automatic input switching:

If you connect with a HDMI cable and then turn on the power on this unit, the input channel on the TV automatically switches to this unit’s screen. If the TV’s power is in standby status, it will turn on automatically (if [Set] has been selected for the TV’s [Power on link] setting). ≥Depending on HDMI terminal of the TV, the input channel may not switch automatically. In this case,

use the remote control for the TV to switch input. (For details on how to switch input, please read the operating instructions for the TV.)

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Before using

Listening in 5.1 channel surround sound

This unit has 5 internal microphones and a Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator so you can record sound with presence that is even closer to the actual sound. The low bass area is sent to the 0.1 channel subwoofer and you can playback sound with three-dimensional presence if you connect to a device that is compatible with the 5.1 surround system.

≥The 5 mounted internal microphones give

better directivity.

≥Far-away sounds can be recorded more

clearly with the zoom microphone function. (l 53)

A AV amplifier with HDMI terminal B HDMI cable (optional)

≥Refer to the operating instructions of the TV, AV amplifier, speakers etc. for details on how to connect. ≥If you record with an external microphone, the recording is in stereo 2 channel sound. ≥Optical digital cables cannot be used for the connection. Connect to an AV amplifier with an HDMI

terminal.

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Before using

Accessories

Check the accessories before using this unit.

Battery pack

VW-VBG260

AC adaptor

VW-AD20E

DC cable

K2GJYYC00001

AV cable

K2KZ9CB00002

Component cable

K2KZ9DB00004

AC cable

K2CJ2DA00008

Remote control

N2QAEC000023

Button-type battery

CR2025

Optional accessories

Some optional accessories may not be available in some countries.

AC adaptor (VW-AD20GN-K)

Battery pack (lithium/VW-VBG260/2640 mAh)

Filter kit (VW-LF43NE)

Video DC light (VW-LDC102E)

Light bulb for video DC light (VZ-LL10E)

Tripod (VW-CT45E)

8 cm DVD-RAM disc (single sided/LM-AF30E)

8 cm DVD-RAM disc (double sided/ LM-AF60E)

8 cm DVD-RW disc (single sided/LM-RW30E)

8 cm DVD-RW disc (double sided/ LM-RW60E)

8 cm DVD-R disc (single sided/LM-RF30E)

8 cm DVD-R disc (double sided/LM-RF60E)

8 cm DVD-R DL disc (dual rayers on single side/LM-RF55LE)

USB cable

K2KZ4CB00011

Disc cleaning cloth

VFC3778-2

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Parts identification and handling

Before using

1) Lens (LEICA DICOMAR)

2) Built-in flash (l 59)

3) Recording lamp (l 104)

4) Lens cover

5) White balance sensor/remote control sensor (l 20, 67)

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Before using

3 4

6) Speaker

7) Viewfinder (l 18)

Due to limitations in LCD production technology, there may be some tiny bright or dark spots on the viewfinder screen. However, this is not a malfunction and does not affect the recorded picture.

8) LCD monitor open part (l 18)

9) Battery holder (l 26)

10) DC input terminal [DC IN 7.3V] (l 28)

11) Menu button [MENU] (l 38)

12) Disc/computer access lamp [ACCESS/PC] (l 30)

13) Delete button [ ] (l 75, 77)

14) Status indicator (l 29)

15) Mode dial (l 29)

16) Cursor button (l 33)

17) Recording start/stop button (l 45)

18) Disc eject lever [DISC EJECT] (l 30)

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Before using

19) Internal microphones (5.1 channel support)

20) Zoom lever [W/T] (In recording mode) (l 52)

Volume lever [sVOLr] (In playback mode) (l 71)

21) Photoshot button [ ] (l 48)

22) Eyepiece corrector knob (l 42)

23) Shoe cover (l 17)

24) Accessory shoe (l 17)

≥Accessories, such as a video DC light/VW-LDC102E (optional), are attached here.

25) Battery release lever [BATT] (l 26)

26) Tripod receptacle (l 17)

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Before using

31 32

35 36

A/V MIC

27) Reset button [RESET] (l 116)

28) LCD monitor (l 18)

Due to limitations in LCD production technology, there may be some tiny bright or dark spots on the LCD monitor screen. However, this is not a malfunction and does not affect the recorded picture.

29) Power LCD button [POWER LCD] (l 41)

30) Mode select switch [AUTO/MANUAL/FOCUS] (l 44, 64)

31) Viewfinder extension knob (l 18)

32) Card access lamp (l 33)

33) Card slot (l 33)

34) HDMI terminal [HDMI] (l 85, 86, 88)

35) Audio-video output terminal [A/V] (l 89, 90, 93)

≥Use the supplied AV cable only.

36) USB terminal [ ] (l 94, 97)

37) Component terminal [COMPONENT] (l 89)

38) Microphone terminal [MIC]

≥A compatible plug-in powered microphone can be used as an external microphone. ≥When the unit is connected with the AC adaptor, sometimes noise may be heard depending on

the microphone type. In this case, please switch to the battery for the power supply and the noise will stop.

COMPONENT

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Before using

39) Disc compartment (l 30)

40) Grip belt (l 16)

41) Outlet

42) Cooling fan (inlet)

≥About the cooling fan: The cooling fan rotates to prevent the internal temperature rising.

Take care not to cover the inlet and outlet when using this unit.

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Before using

Using grip belt

Adjust the belt length so it fits your hand.

Adjust the belt length and the pad position.

1 Flip the belt. 2 Adjust the length. 3 Replace the belt.

Lens hood

Rotate the lens hood counter-clockwise A to remove it. In order to attach it, place into slot B, and then rotate it clockwise C.

Attaching the lens cap (Included in the Filter Kit (VW-LF43NE; optional))

Attach the lens cap to protect the surface of the lens. ≥When the MC protector or the ND filter of the

Filter Kit (VW-LF43NE; optional) is attached to the front of the lens hood, use the lens cap included in the Filter Kit.

1 Pass the end of the lens cap cord

through the belt.

2 Pass the lens cap through the

loop.

≥Attach the MC protector or the ND filter of the

Filter Kit (VW-LF43NE; optional) in front of the lens hood. Do not attach the other accessories on the hood. (Except for the lens cap) (Refer to the operating instructions for the Filter Kit.)

(Be careful about the following)

When 2 lens accessories, such as the ND filter, are attached and the W/T lever is pressed toward the W side, the 4 corners of an image will be darkened. (Vignetting)

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3 To attach or remove the lens cap,

hold both sides of the lens cap with the tips of your finger and thumb.

Accessory shoe

The video DC light/VW-LDC102E (optional) should be mounted here.

1 Open the shoe cover.

2 Connect to the accessory shoe.

Before using

Tripod receptacle

This is a hole for attaching the unit to the optional tripod. (Please carefully read the operating instructions for how to attach the unit to the tripod.)

≥When a tripod is used, you can perform

operations easily using the remote control. (l 19)

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Before using

Using the LCD monitor

You can record the image while viewing it on the LCD monitor.

1 Place your finger on LCD monitor

open part and pull the LCD monitor out in the direction of the arrow.

≥It can open up to 90o.

2 Adjust the angle of the LCD

monitor as desired.

Using the viewfinder

Pull out the viewfinder.

≥The brightness of the viewfinder (l 41) and the

field of view (l 42) can be adjusted.

≥It can rotate up to 180o A towards the lens

or 90o B towards the viewfinder.

≥The brightness and colour level of the LCD

monitor can be adjusted. (l 41)

≥The unit may be damaged or fail if the LCD

monitor is forcibly opened or rotated.

≥If the LCD monitor is rotated by 180x towards

the lens and the viewfinder is extended (when recording yourself), the LCD monitor and the viewfinder simultaneously light.

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Before using

Using the remote control

EXT

DISPLAY

DATE/

TIME

STILL ADV STILL ADV

1) Photoshot button [ ]*

2) On-screen display button [EXT DISPLAY]

(l 85)

3) Date/time button [DATE/TIME] (l 40)

4) Playback operation buttons (l 69, 70, 71)

5) Delete button [ ]*

6) Direction buttons [3, 4, 2, 1] (l 39)

7) Recording start/stop button [START/ STOP]*

8) Zoom/volume buttons [ZOOM, VOL]*

9) Menu button [MENU]* (l 39)

10) Enter button [ENTER] (l 39)

* means that these buttons function in the

same manner as the corresponding buttons on the unit.

START/

PHOTO

STOP

SHOT

ZOOM

VOL

PLAY

PAU S E

STOPSKIP SKIP

ENTER

ª Install a button-type battery

Install the supplied button-type battery in the remote control before using it.

1 While pressing the stopper A,

pull out the battery holder.

2 Set the button-type battery with

its (i) mark facing upward and then put the battery holder back in place.

Concerning the button-type battery

≥When the button-type battery runs down,

replace it with a new battery (part number: CR2025). The battery should normally last about 1 year, however this depends on how frequently the unit is used.

≥Keep the button-type battery out of the reach of

children.

CAUTION

Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Warning

Risk of fire, explosion and burns. Do not recharge, disassemble, heat above 60 xC or incinerate.

Warning

Keep the Button-Type battery out of the reach of children. Never put Button-Type battery in mouth. If swallowed call your doctor.

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Before using

ª Remote control usable range

The distance between the remote control and the unit’s remote control sensor A: Within approx. 5m Angle: Approx. 10o up and 15o down, left, and right

≥The remote control is intended for indoor

operation. Outdoors or under strong light, the unit may not operate properly even within the usable ranges.

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Discs that can be used on this unit

Before using

DIsc type DVD-RAM

8 cm Single sided/ double sided

(DVD-RAM

Ver. 2.1)

DVD-RW

8 cm Single sided/ double sided

[DVD-RW

Ver. 1.1/

2X-SPEED (2X/

DVD-R

8 cm Single sided/ double sided

(DVD-R for

General

Ver. 2.0)

DVD-R DL

8 cm

Dual layer on

single side

(DVD-R for DL

Ver. 3.0)

1X)]

Recording format AVCHD format AVCHD format AVCHD format AVCHD format

Characteristic Rewritable disc Rewritable

disc*

One time recording disc

Display on the screen

Indication in these instructions

(RAM) (-RW) (-R) (-R\DL)

Functions

≥Deleting recorded

scenes

≥Playback on other

products*

≥Recording after

finalizing

¥ –*

¥¥*

–*

¥*

––

¥*

––

¥: available –: not available

*1 By formatting the disc, it can be used repeatedly. Please be aware that if a disc is formatted, then all

the data recorded on the disc will be erased and it cannot be restored. (l 80)

*2 Products that support 8 cm discs and the AVCHD. *3 Must be finalized on this unit. (l 81) *4 Does not need to be finalized. *5 Un-finalize the disc. (l 82)

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Before using

≥Still pictures cannot be recorded on a disc

with this unit.

≥You cannot record or play continuously from

one side of the disc to the other when using a double sided disc. You will need to eject the disc and turn it over.

≥Discs inserted in a holder, cartridge, or caddy

case cannot be used. Always remove bare discs from these containers prior to use.

≥It is recommended that you use Panasonic

discs. Usually discs compatible with the DVD standard can be used for recording and playback with no problems. However, some commercially available discs do not meet the DVD standard for quality and performance. If you use one of these discs, you may not be able to record or playback normally. (The message “FOR BEST PERFORMANCE PANASONIC DISC IS RECOMMENDED.” appears.) Refer to the following support site for information about discs that have been confirmed as compatible by Panasonic.

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/e_cam

(This website is in English only.)

≥Discs recorded on this unit may not be

playable on other products even if the other products support the AVCHD. In such cases, play back the disc on this unit instead.

≥When using DVD-RW, DVD-R or DVD-R DL

do not perform the following as it may make the disc unusable.

– Record on a disc with other products after

recording on it with this unit.

– Record on a disc with this unit after recording

on it with other products.

– Insert an un-finalized disc in any other

products.

ª About DVD-R DL (dual layer on

single side)

DVD-R DL (dual layer on single side) discs have two layers of recording and playback surface on one side. If a scene does not fit on the first layer (L0), recording continues on the second layer (L1) so one scene is recorded across two layers. This unit automatically switches layers during disc playback so you can play the whole of the disc continuously like a normal disc. However, the image or the sound may momentarily stop at the point where the layers switch.

ª Examples of discs that cannot be

used on this unit

≥DVD-RAM (2.6 GB) Ver. 1.0 ≥DVD-R (3.9 GB) Ver. 1.0 ≥DVD-R (4.7 GB) for Authoring Ver. 2.0 ≥Discs other than those with diameter of 8 cm ≥Dual layer on single side discs other than

DVD-R DL

≥iRW ≥iR ≥DVD-ROM ≥DVD-Video ≥CD-R ≥CD-RW ≥CD-ROM ≥CD ≥LD ≥MO ≥MD ≥iD ≥Floppy disk

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Before using

When using brand-new DVD-RAM or DVD-RW

When using DVD-RAM or DVD-RW, format the disc. When a brand-new DVD-RAM or DVD-RW is inserted in this unit, the screen shown in the illustration may be displayed.

Move the cursor button up or down to select [YES], then press the cursor button.

≥If the disc is formatted, then all the data

recorded on the disc will be erased.

When inserting a disc recorded on another device

When a DVD-RAM or a DVD-RW recorded on another device is inserted in this unit, the screen shown in the illustration may be displayed.

≥If the disc is formatted (l 80), then it can be

used. However, all the data recorded on the disc will be erased. Check the data before formatting.

≥DVD-R or DVD-R DL recorded on another

device cannot be formatted and used for recording.

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Before using

Cards that you can use with this unit

Card type SD Memory Card SDHC Memory Card

Capacity 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB,

128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB,

1GB, 2GB

Indication in these instructions (SD)

This unit (an SDHC compatible device) is compatible with both SD Memory Cards and SDHC Memory Cards. You can use SDHC Memory Cards on devices that are compatible with them. However, you cannot use SDHC Memory Cards on devices that are only compatible with SD Memory Cards. (When using an SDHC Memory Card on another device, always read the operating instructions of that device.)

≥Motion pictures cannot be recorded on an SD card with this unit. ≥Please confirm the latest information on the following website. (This website is in English only.)

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/e_cam

≥For the purposes of these operating instructions, SD Memory Card and SDHC Memory Card are

referred to as the “SD card”.

≥This unit supports SD Memory Cards formatted in FAT12 system and FAT16 system based on SD

Memory Card Specifications and SDHC Memory Cards formatted in FAT32 system.

≥If you wish to use Memory Cards that are 4 GB, SDHC Memory Cards only can be used. ≥4 GB (or more) Memory Cards that do not have the SDHC logo are not based on SD Memory Card

Specifications.

≥Use this unit to format SD cards. If an SD card is formatted on other products (such as a computer),

the time spent for recording may become longer and you may not be able to use the SD card. (l 80)

(Do not format it on a PC etc.)

≥We recommend that you use a Panasonic brand SD card. ≥When the write-protect switch A on the SD Card is locked, no recording, deletion or editing will be

possible on the card.

4GB

≥Keep the Memory Card out of reach of children to prevent swallowing. ≥A MultiMediaCard cannot be used on this unit.

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Before using

Disc and card handling

ª How to hold a disc or card

Do not touch the recorded surface or the terminal surface.

ª When inserting/removing a disc

Do not allow fingerprints or dirt to get on the recording/playback side of the disc. ≥If there are scratches or dirt (e.g. dust or

fingerprints) on the recording/playback side of the disc, normal recording/playback may not be possible and the following kind of phenomena may occur.

– Recording/playback is not possible. – The image or the sound is interrupted or

stops momentarily. – Noise appears on the image or the sound. – The message “NO DATA.”, “PLEASE

CHECK THE DISC.”, “CHECK THE DISC

AFTER PUSHING THE RESET SWITCH TO

REPAIR IT.”, etc. appears.

ª If there is dirt on the disc

≥Clean it with the supplied disc cleaning cloth.

Wipe the disc from the centre to the outer edge to remove the dirt. Do not use force when wiping the disc as it may scratch it. Also, do not use solvents (thinner, water, antistatic agent, detergent etc.)

ª Handling precautions

≥Be careful about scratches and dirt. ≥Do not attach labels or stickers to discs. (This

may cause disc warping and un-balanced rotation, rendering it unusable.)

≥Write on the label side of the disc only with a

soft, oil-based felt pen. Do not use ballpoint pens or other hard writing implements.

≥Do not use record cleaning sprays, benzine,

thinner, static electricity prevention liquids or any other solvent.

≥Do not use scratch-proof protectors or covers. ≥Do not drop, stack, or impact discs. Do not

place objects on them.

≥Do not use the following discs:

– Discs with exposed adhesive from removed

stickers or labels. – Discs that are badly warped or cracked. – Irregularly shaped discs, such as heart

shapes.

≥Do not expose the terminals of the card to

water, garbage or dust.

≥Do not place in the following areas:

– In direct sunlight. – In very dusty or humid areas. – Near a heater. – Locations susceptible to significant

difference in temperature (condensation can

occur). – Where static electricity or electromagnetic

waves occur.

≥To protect discs and cards, return them to their

cases when you are not using them.

VQT1A15

Setup

Charging the battery

When this unit is purchased, the battery is not charged. Charge the battery before using this unit.

≥If the DC cable is connected to the AC

adaptor, then the battery will not charge. Remove the DC cable from the AC adaptor.

≥The Panasonic battery that can be used

with this unit is VW-VBG260. Other Panasonic batteries will not work. (l 27)

1 Connect the AC cable to the AC

adaptor and the AC outlet.

≥Remove the DC cable beforehand.

2 Put the battery on the battery

mount by aligning the mark, and then securely plug it in.

≥The output plug of the AC cable is not

completely connected to the AC adaptor socket. As shown in A, there is a gap.

≥We recommend using Panasonic batteries

(VW-VBG260).

≥If you use other batteries, we cannot guarantee

the quality of this product.

Fitting/Removing the battery

Fitting the battery

Push the battery against the battery holder and slide it until it clicks.

Removing the battery

While sliding the BATT lever, slide the battery to remove it.

ª Charging lamp

Lights up: Charging Goes off: Charging completed Flashing: Make sure that the terminals of the

≥Battery charging time (l 27)

VQT1A15

battery or the AC adaptor are not exposed to dirt, foreign objects or dust, then reconnect them properly. Disconnect the AC cable from the AC outlet when you remove dirt, foreign objects or dust on the terminals of the battery or the AC adaptor. If the charging lamp is still flashing, something may be wrong with the battery or AC adaptor. Contact your dealer.

≥Hold the battery with your hand so it does not

fall.

≥Before removing the battery, be sure to set the

Mode dial to OFF and check that the status indicator is off.

CAUTION

Setup

Charging time and recordable time

ª About batteries that you can use with this unit

The Panasonic battery that can be used with this unit is VW-VBG260.

VW-VBG260 comes with a function to check whether the battery and unit can be safely used together. ≥Batteries made by other companies which have been certified by Panasonic may be used with this

unit, but we offer no guarantee as to the quality, performance or safety of such batteries.

≥In order to safely use the unit we recommend that you use genuine Panasonic batteries which have

been subject to our quality control process.

≥We cannot accept any liability whatsoever for damages to the unit or accidents caused by

non-genuine Panasonic batteries (including those that have been certified by Panasonic).

≥Exercise care when purchasing batteries. Many fake or imitation batteries have been found among

those sold at unusually low prices and those which customers cannot check for themselves before purchasing.

ª Charging time

The times shown in the tables below are for when the temperature is 25 oC and the humidity is 60%. If the temperature is higher or lower than 25 oC, the charging time will become longer.

Battery model number Voltage/capacity Charging time

Supplied battery/

VW-VBG260 (optional)

≥The charging time shown in the table are approximations. ≥“2 h 50 min” indicates 2 hours 50 minutes.

≥When you charge a battery that has not been used for long time, the charging time will become

longer.

ª Recordable time (When using a DVD-RAM disc)

≥The times shown in the table below are for when the temperature is 25 oC and the humidity is 60%.

These times are approximations. The times indicate the recordable time when the viewfinder is used. The times in parentheses indicate the recordable time when the LCD monitor is used.

≥The actual recordable time refers to the recordable time on a disc when repeatedly starting/stopping

recording, turning the unit on/off, moving the zoom lever, etc.

Battery model

number

Supplied

battery/

VW-VBG260

(optional)

≥The recordable time shown in the table are approximations. ≥“1 h 35 min” indicates 1 hour 35 minutes.

≥The recordable times will vary depending on the status of use. These times are approximations.

The recordable time will become shorter in the following cases:

– When you use both the viewfinder and the LCD monitor simultaneously while rotating the LCD

monitor frontward to record yourself, using the 0 Lux colour night view function, etc.

– When you use this unit with the LCD monitor lit up by pressing the POWER LCD button.

Voltage/

capacity

7.2 V/

2640 mAh

Recording

7.2 V/2640 mAh 2 h 50 min

Maximum

mode

continuously

recordable time

1h35min

(1 h 35 min)

1h45min

(1 h 40 min)

1h50min

(1 h 45 min)

Actual recordable

time

40 min

(40 min)

45 min

(45 min)

45 min

(45 min)

VQT1A15

Setup

≥The batteries heat up after use or charging.

This unit will also heat up while being used. This is not a malfunction.

≥Be aware that the operating time of the battery

will become shorter in low temperatures. We recommend charging a spare battery for use when recording.

ª About the remaining battery

capacity indication

The remaining battery capacity is displayed in minutes when using the Panasonic battery that you can use for this unit. It may take time to display the remaining battery capacity.

90min

≥The display changes as the battery capacity

reduces.

####.

If there are less than 3 minutes, then will become red. If the battery discharges, then

will flash.

≥The remaining battery capacity may not be

displayed correctly where the temperature is low or high or if the battery was not used for a long period of time. To correctly display the remaining battery capacity, recharge the battery, discharge it and then charge it again. (Even if this operation is performed, it may not be possible to display the remaining battery capacity correctly if the battery was used for a long period of time where the temperature is low or high or if the battery was repeatedly charged.)

≥The maximum amount of remaining battery

capacity able to be indicated is 240 minutes. If the actual remaining time exceeds 240 minutes, the indication will stay green and will not change until the remaining time falls below 240 minutes.

≥Depending on the conditions of use, the time

displayed on the remaining battery capacity indication will change so use it as an approximation.

≥When turning the mode dial to switch modes,

the time indication will turn off in order to recalculate the remaining battery capacity time.

≥When using batteries made by other

companies the remaining battery capacity will not be shown.

Connecting to the AC outlet

The unit is in the standby condition when the AC adaptor is connected. The primary circuit is always “live” as long as the AC adaptor is connected to an electrical outlet.

1 Connect the AC cable to the AC

adaptor and the AC outlet.

2 Connect the DC cable to the AC

adaptor.

3 Connect the DC cable to the DC

input terminal DC IN 7.3V.

≥Do not use the AC cable with any other

equipment as it is designed only for this unit. Do not use the AC cable from other equipment with this unit.

≥While the DC cable is connected to the AC

adaptor, the battery will not charge.

VQT1A15

Setup

Selecting a mode (Turning the unit on/off)

Rotate the mode dial to switch to recording, playback, PC connection or power OFF.

≥Rotate the mode dial slowly.

How to turn on the power

While pressing the lock release button, set the mode dial to , or .

≥Rotate the mode dial while at the same time

pressing in the lock release button A if changing from OFF to another mode.

≥Align with the status indicator B.

OFF

The status indicator lights and the power turns on.

≥The lens cover opens in recording mode. ≥When the unit is turned on for the first time, a

message asking you to set the date and time will appear. Select [YES] and set the date and time. (l 39)

How to turn off the power

Set the mode dial to OFF.

Recording mode (l 45, 48)

Use this to record motion pictures on a disc and still pictures on an SD card.

Playback mode (l 69, 73)

Use this to play back motion pictures recorded on a disc and still pictures recorded on an SD card.

PC Connection mode (l 97)

Use this to view and download still

pictures recorded on an SD card on a computer.

OFF The power turns off.

≥Do not forcefully rotate the dial.

When the power is turned on for the first time after changing the disc or battery, the unit carries out a recognition procedure to check that there are no problems with the disc. This takes approximately 25 seconds with DVD-RAM. If you want to start using the unit as soon as you turn on the power, do the following.

1) Turn on the power.

2) After “READING DISC...” disappears from the screen, turn off the power.

You can start recording approximately 13 seconds after you turn on the power again. ≥Depending on the condition of the disc, it

may take longer than this.

≥If the date and time are not set, it will take

longer than usual before you can start recording.

OFF

The status indicator goes off and the power turns off. ≥The lens cover closes when the mode dial is

set to OFF.

VQT1A15

Setup

How to turn the power on and off with the LCD monitor/viewfinder

When the mode dial is set to , the power can be turned on and off with the LCD monitor and the viewfinder.

ª To turn on the power Open the LCD monitor or extend the viewfinder.

The status indicator A lights and the power turns on. ≥It lights up when the viewfinder is extended with

the LCD monitor closed. (When the LCD monitor is opened, the viewfinder turns off.)

ª To turn off the power Close the LCD monitor and retract the viewfinder.

Inserting/removing a disc

When inserting or removing the disc, fit the charged battery pack or connect the AC adaptor to the unit. The cover of the disc compartment will not open unless the unit is powered.

1 Attach the battery or connect the

AC adaptor.

2 Slide the DISC EJECT lever once

and release it.

ACCESS

/PC

DISC EJECT

A few moments after the ACCESS/PC lamp A blinks, the cover of the disc compartment will open slightly.

3 Open the cover of the disc

compartment by hand and insert/ remove the disc.

≥The status indicator A goes off and the power

turns off. The power will not turn off unless the LCD monitor is closed and the viewfinder is retracted.

≥The power will not turn off while recording

motion pictures even if the LCD monitor is closed and the viewfinder is retracted.

Set the mode dial to OFF when this unit is not being used.

VQT1A15

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