Ò NTSC Digital Video Camera-Recorder Model AG- P Before operating this product, please read the instructions carefully and save this manual for future use.
IMPORTANT “Unauthorized recording of copyrighted television programs, video tapes and other materials may infringe the right of copyright owners and be contrary to copyright laws.” CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER TO SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
Important Safeguards 1. Read Instructions — All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the unit is operated. 2. Retain Instructions — The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference. 3. Heed Warnings — All warnings on the unit and in the operating instructions should be adhered to. 4. Follow Instructions — All operating and maintenance instructions should be followed. 5. Cleaning — Unplug this video unit from the wall outlet before cleaning.
Important Safeguards 13. Outdoor Antenna Grounding — If an outside antenna or cable system is connected to the video unit, be sure the antenna or cable system is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and builtup static charges.
Contents Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Precautions for use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Storage tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Parts and their functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Remote control unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Charging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Mounting the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Supplying power from the AC adapter . . . .22 Cassette tapes . . . . . .
Accessories OBattery (2) OEye cup (VMG1458) OMicrophone holder (VYC0870) OAC adapter (2) OScrews 6 mm in length (XSB4+6FZ) a2 12 mm in length (XSB4+12FZ) a2 OAC cable (K2CB2DB00001) OMicrophone holder adapter (VYC0890) OShoulder strap (VFC3891) ODC cable (VEK8722) OCleaning tape (AY-DVMCLA) OWireless remote control unit (VFA0393) OBattery for remote control unit (CR2025) 6 2: Refer to the “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES” item (on page 60) for the model numbers of the battery and AC adapter.
Precautions for use Take care to prevent water from entering inside the camera recorder when using it in the rain or snow or at the seashore or in other similar environments. O Failure to heed this caution may cause the camera recorder and/or cassette to malfunction (possibly leading to irreparable damage). Keep the camera recorder away from equipment (such as TV sets and TV game machines) that generate magnetic fields.
Precautions for use Battery characteristics This camera recorder uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which produces electrical energy by means of an internal chemical reaction. This reaction tends to be easily affected by the ambient temperature and humidity, and the period during which the battery can be effectively used decreases as the temperature becomes very high or low. The battery charge will last for only 5 minutes if the battery is used in an environment where the temperature is extremely low.
Storage tips When storing the camera recorder, eject the cassette from the camera recorder and remove the battery. Store all components in a location where the humidity level is low and the temperature is relatively stable. Recommended temperature range: 59°F to 77°F (15°C to 25°C) Recommended relative humidity: 40% to 60% Camera recorder OWrap the camera recorder in soft cloth to keep out dust.
Parts and their functions 7 3 2 8 (Eye cup) 9 : (Eye-piece) = < 56 1 4 1POWER switch Move this switch while pressing the lock release button. POWE R ON OFF Lock release button 2START/STOP button When this button is pressed in the camera mode, shooting can be started or stopped. 3EJECT switch To open the cassette holder, slide this switch in the direction of the arrow while pressing the lock release button. Do not operate the switch while recording is in progress.
Parts and their functions White balance sensor @? > >CAMERA/VCR button and lamp Each time this button is pressed, the operation mode is switched between the camera mode and VCR mode, and the lamp of the selected mode lights. Select the camera mode for shooting. Select the VCR mode to check the tape contents or input and record video signals from an external source. ?Scene file dial This is used to select the scene files.
Parts and their functions Zoom ring pin H I F G D E C CAWB button When this button is pressed while the WHITE BAL switch B is set to the A or B position, the white balance is automatically adjusted, and the white balance value is stored in the memory. If this button is then held down, the black balance is adjusted. When this button is pressed while the WHITE BAL switch B is set to the PRST position, the current white balance value is displayed.
Parts and their functions O K L P Q R T S N J M JINDEX button When the INDEX button is pressed while shooting or recording is in progress, the index signal is recorded on the tape. When it is pressed while shooting or recording has been temporarily stopped, the recording of the index signal is set to standby. If shooting or recording is commenced in this status, the index signal will then be recorded on the tape.
Parts and their functions U V W Z X [ Y UOPERATION lever This lever is used to operate the VCR and conduct the menu operations. [In the VCR mode] “1” : When the lever is tilted in the “1” direction in the stop mode, the tape is played back. When it is tilted in the same direction during playback, the variable speed search mode (see page 53) is established, and the tape is played back at the 1a speed. (Sound is not played back.
Parts and their functions a `] ^ b c _ d \ ZOOM SERVO \ZOOM switch This is used to select motor-driven zoom operations or manual zoom operations. SERVO: For motor-driven zoom operations (At this position, do not attempt to perform manual zoom operations or malfunctioning may result.) MANU: For manual zoom operations ]START/STOP button (on the handle) When this button is pressed in the camera mode, shooting start or stop is selected.
Parts and their functions g h i j f l n k m e eOPEN button Press the OPEN button in the direction of the arrow to open the LCD monitor f. When the LCD monitor is opened, the image on the viewfinder switches to the LCD monitor. OPEN fLCD monitor gInternal speaker hRESET button If the camera recorder cannot be operated even though its power is on or some other form of trouble has occurred, use a pointed object to press the RESET button. This will reset the system microcomputer.
Parts and their functions q r p o t s oCOUNTER RESET button This button is used to reset the counter value on the counter display and the memory counter value to zero. It cannot reset the time code or user’s bit. pCOUNTER button This button is used to select what data is to be displayed on the counter display which is in the viewfinder and on the LCD monitor. Each time it is pressed, the data to be displayed changes. COUNTER: The counter value is displayed.
Parts and their functions Remote control unit OSD DATE/ TIME COUNTER RESET PHOTO SHOT START/ STOP TITLE MULTI/ P-IN-P REC A.DUB C/REW PLAY FF/ B ZOOM – VOL + 1 2 5 6 7 3 8 4 STILL ADV PAUSE STILL ADV INDEX STOP SELECT INDEX VAR. SEARCH PB. ZOOM STORE MENU SET OFF/ON P.B.DIGITAL The buttons listed below are for functions which are not featured on the camera recorder. OPHOTO SHOT OTITLE OMULTI/P-IN-P OSELECT OSTORE OOFF/ON OPB.
Parts and their functions DATE/ TIME COUNTER RESET 9 PHOTO SHOT START/ STOP TITLE MULTI/ P-IN-P REC A.DUB C/REW PLAY FF/ B ZOOM – VOL + OSD STILL ADV PAUSE STILL ADV INDEX SELECT STOP INDEX : VAR. SEARCH PB. ZOOM STORE ; MENU SET OFF/ON P.B.DIGITAL 9VCR operation buttons C/REW button (6) This button has the same function as the OPERATION lever on the camera recorder body. FF/B button (5) This button has the same function as the OPERATION lever on the camera recorder body.
Remote control unit 1 While pushing the knob in the direction of the arrow, pull out the holder. 2 Insert the battery with the “+” marking face up. 3 Return the holder to its original position. OWhen the battery (CR2025) has completely run down, replace it with a new one. (The battery life is about one year although it depends on how often the remote control unit is used.
Charging the battery Fully charge the battery using the AC adapter before use. It is recommended that a spare battery be kept on hand just in case it is needed. 1 Place the battery flat along the mark on the AC adapter, and slide it into position. OIf the DC cable is connected to the AC adapter, disconnect it before proceeding. The battery cannot be charged if this cable is connected. 2 Connect the AC cable to the power outlet.
Mounting the battery 1 Raise the viewfinder. Removing the battery While pressing the battery eject button, slide the battery upward to remove. O Set the POWER switch to OFF, and check that the CAMERA/VCR lamp has gone off before removing the battery. O Support the battery with your hand to ensure that it will not drop. Battery eject button 2 Push the battery straight in, and slide it downward until it clicks into position. 1 2 3 3 Return the viewfinder to its original position.
Cassette tapes Inserting a cassette tape Do not insert or eject a cassette tape by taking hold of the cassette holder alone. Insert or eject the tape with the camera recorder placed on a flat and stable surface or, alternatively, support the camera recorder with both hands so that it will be kept in a stable condition even if the cassette holder is opened. 1 Check that the power supply (battery or AC adapter) is connected to the camera recorder.
Adjusting the hand strap Adjust the hand strap to match the size of your hand. 1 Open the cover, and adjust the strap length. 2 Return the cover to its original position. OEnsure that the cover is closed securely and tightly. Attaching the shoulder strap It is recommended that the shoulder strap be attached to ensure that you do not drop the camera recorder.
Viewfinders This camera recorder has two viewfinders: a viewfinder that uses a small LCD, and a 3.5inch LCD monitor. Use the one that better suits the application and the shooting conditions concerned. OThe brightness and color tones may differ between the images in the viewfinder and on the LCD monitor and the images on a TV monitor. Use the TV monitor when performing the final check of the images. 4 Select YES as the setting for the LCD/EVF SET item on the setting menu DISPLAY SETUP screen.
Viewfinders Using the LCD monitor 5 Select the LCD BRIGHTNESS item, and tilt 1 Set the camera recorder’s POWER switch to ON. the OPERATION lever in the 3 or 4 direction to adjust the screen’s brightness. (If the remote control unit is used, press the “M” button among the SET buttons.) LCD/EVF SET 2 Press the OPEN button in the direction of the arrow 1 to open the LCD monitor.
Setting the calendar Presented below is a sample setting where the calendar is set to December 25, 2002 and the time is set to 5:20 PM. 1 Set the camera recorder’s POWER switch to 5 Tilt the OPERATION lever in the 3 or 4 direction and set MONTH to DEC. (If the remote control unit is used, press the “M” button among the SET buttons.) CLOCK SET ON. 2 YEAR 2002 MONTH DEC DAY 24 HOUR 13 MIN. 7 Select YES as the setting for the CLOCK SET item on the setting menu OTHER FUNCTIONS screen.
Charging the internal battery The date and time are stored in the memory using the internal battery. When the “ ” display appears in the viewfinder and on the LCD monitor screens, it means that the internal battery has run down. Recharge it by following the steps below. Upon completion of charging, reset the date and time. 1 Connect the AC adapter to the camera recorder. 1 2 4 3 2 Return the viewfinder to its original position. 3 Leave the camera recorder’s POWER switch at the OFF position.
Setting the electronic shutter Shutter speeds which can be set Shutter speeds which can be selected using SPEED SEL button Standard (OFF) shutter speed SYNCHRO SCAN Shutter speed settings 1/60 1/60.3 --- 1/250 1/100, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000 1 Each time the SHUTTER button is pressed, the standard (OFF) shutter speed and the shutter speed selected by the SPEED SEL button are selected alternately. 2 After pressing the SHUTTER button, press the SPEED SEL button to select the shutter speed.
White balance and black balance Adjusting the white balance The white balance must always be re-adjusted when the lighting conditions have changed. The white balance adjustment values can be stored in the memory at the A and B positions of the WHITE BAL switch. Use A or B, whichever better suits the shooting conditions concerned. The 3200K and 5600K white balance values have been stored in the memory at the PRST position of the WHITE BAL switch.
White balance and black balance Adjusting the black balance There is normally no need to re-adjust the black balance. Adjustment is required only in the following cases. OWhen the camera recorder is to be used for the first time OWhen the camera recorder is to be used after it has not been used for an extended period OWhen the camera recorder is to be used in a situation where the ambient temperature will vary significantly The white balance is adjusted automatically by pressing the AWB button.
Setting the time data Setting the user’s bit By setting the user’s bit, memos (dates, times) and other information consisting of up to 8 digits in hexadecimal notation can be recorded on the sub-code track. The user’s bit settings are automatically stored in the memory and retained even after the power has been turned off. 1 Set the camera recorder’s POWER switch to ON. 5 The screen shown below appears. Set the user’s bit using the OPERATION lever.
Setting the time data Setting the time code 4 Press “;” of the OPERATION lever, and move “1” to YES. The various settings related to the time code are performed using the following items on the setting menu RECORDING SETUP screen. OTCG item OFIRST REC TC item OTC PRESET item O1394 TC REGEN item (appears in the VCR mode) For further details, refer to page 42. OWhen ON has been selected as the setting for the 1394 TC REGEN item in the VCR mode, the settings of the items listed above cannot be changed.
Scene files The settings selected to suit various shooting situations can be stored in the positions of the scene file dial. During shooting, the required file can be read out in an instant using this dial. The file containing the settings suited to standard shooting is stored in all the positions from F1 to F6 as a factory setting. Changing the scene file settings Scene file settings can be changed.
Scene files 10 The screen shown below appears. Press “;” of the OPERATION lever, and move “1” to YES. To return the scene file settings to the factory settings, select INITIAL in step 10, and then perform the same steps 11 to 13. FILE F1:222222 H –––– YES H –––– SAVE INITIAL PUSH MENU TO RETURN 11 The screen shown below appears. Tilt the OPERATION lever in the 4 direction, select YES, and press “;” of the OPERATION lever. FILE F1:222222 SAVE ? N O –––.
Setting menus The camera recorder’s settings can be changed to suit the scenes to be shot or what is to be recorded using the setting menus. Operation method 4 Tilt the OPERATION lever in the 3 or 4 direction, and move the highlighted part to the function which is to be set. (If the remote control unit is used, press the “V” or “B” button among the SET buttons.) Example: 1 In any operation mode except the shooting OTHER FUNCTIONS mode or recording mode, press the MENU button.
Setting menus Configuration of setting menus Menus in the camera mode SCENE FILE CAMERA SETUP SYNCRO SCAN ASPECT CONV COLOR BAR SETUP SW MODE MID GAIN HIGH GAIN ATW HANDLE ZOOM USER1 USER2 DETAIL LEVEL CHROMA LEVEL CHROMA PHASE MASTER PED A. IRIS LEVEL SKIN TONE DTL MATRIX NAME EDIT SAVE/INIT AUTO SW A.
Setting menus SCENE FILE screen Item/ (display mode) DETAIL LEVEL (Camera) Description of settings For adjusting the detail amount. –7 --- 0 --- +7 CAMERA SETUP screen Item/ (display mode) SYNCRO SCAN (Camera) For adjusting the shutter speed of synchro scan used when shooting TV screens, etc. If the OPERATION lever is left tilted in the 3 or 4 direction, the speed at which the setting changes is increased, and a beep is heard. 1/60.3 --- 1/250.
Setting menus SW MODE screen Item/ (display mode) Description of settings MID GAIN (Camera) For setting the gain value which is to be allocated to the M position of the GAIN switch. 0 dB, 3 dB, 6 dB HIGH GAIN (Camera) For setting the gain value which is to be allocated to the H position of the GAIN switch. 6 dB, 9 dB, 12 dB ATW (Camera) For setting the ATW (Auto Tracking White) function which is to be allocated to the WHITE BAL switch. OFF: The ATW function is not activated.
Setting menus AUTO SW screen Item/ (display mode) Description of settings A. IRIS (Camera) ON: When the AUTO button is pressed, the auto iris control operation is performed. The IRIS button does not work at this time. OFF: The auto iris control operation is not performed even if the AUTO button is pressed. The iris control operation selected by the IRIS button is performed. AGC (Camera) For setting the auto gain control operation when ON is selected as the A. IRIS item setting.
Setting menus PLAYBACK FUNCTIONS screen Item/ (display mode) END SEARCH (VCR) Description of settings For setting what kind of operation is to be performed when the END SEARCH button is pressed. BLANK: The unrecorded blanks on the video tape are searched. REC END: The part which was shot last is searched. O Even when the REC END setting is selected, the part which was shot last will not be searched when the tape is switched.
Setting menus RECORDING SETUP screen Item/ (display mode) Description of settings Item/ (display mode) Description of settings REC SPEED (Camera) (VCR) For selecting the recording time mode. SP : SP (standard play) mode LP : LP (long play) mode TC PRESET (Camera) (VCR) AUDIO REC (Camera) (VCR) For selecting the system for converting the recording to PCM audio. 12 bit : 12-bit/32kHz 16 bit : 16-bit/48kHz For setting the initial value of the time code to be recorded.
Setting menus AV IN/OUT SETUP screen Item/ (display mode) A DUB INPUT (VCR) DV OUT (VCR) Description of settings For selecting the sound which is to be recorded when audio dubbing is performed. MIC: The sound from the internal microphone or the sound from the external components connected to the INPUT 1 and 2 connectors is recorded. (The sound is selected using the CH1 SELECT switch and CH2 SELECT switch.
Setting menus OTHER FUNCTIONS screen Item/ (display mode) REMOTE (Camera) (VCR) Description of settings For setting the operations which are performed using the accessory wireless remote control unit. (See page 20 for the remote control unit settings.) VCR1: The operation performed by the remote control unit which has been set to be used for VCR1 are accepted. VCR2: The operation performed by the remote control unit which has been set to be used for VCR2 are accepted.
Screen displays Camera mode and VCR mode 1 : ; A TC 4 2 5 6 7 PAUSE USER - 1 12 : 34 : 56 . 00 SP 22222222222222 P 3.2 K 2222222222 22222222222222222 F 5 . 6 22222222222222222 1 8 dB SPOT L OW L I G H T ND 1/ 64 1/ 1 2 3 . 4 ND 1/ 64 I ND E X AUG 3 1 2 0 0 2 2 3 : 5 9 : 5 9 CH1 2 2m i n 4 8 K CH2 9 8 3 1Counter display Each time the COUNTER button is pressed, the data is selected in the sequence given below.
Screen displays A TC PAUSE USER - 1 12 : 34 : 56 . 00 D SP 22222222222222 P 3.2 K 2222222222 22222222222222222 F 5 . 6 22222222222222222 1 8 dB SPOT L OW L I G H T ND 1/ 64 1/ 1 2 3 . 4 ND 1/ 64 I ND E X AUG 3 1 2 0 0 2 2 3 : 5 9 : 5 9 CH1 2 2m i n 4 8 K CH2 @ Gain display The gain value setting of the video amplifier appears here. ?ND filter display The selected ND filter appears here.
Screen displays G A TC E PAUSE USER - 1 12 : 34 : 56 . 00 SP H 22222222222222 P 3.2 K 2222222222 22222222222222222 F 5 . 6 22222222222222222 1 8 dB SPOT L OW L I G H T ND 1/ 64 1/ 1 2 3 . 4 ND 1/ 64 I ND E X AUG 3 1 2 0 0 2 2 3 : 5 9 : 5 9 CH1 2 2m i n 4 8 K CH2 EOperation mode displays REC : Recording O : Recording (during face-to-face shooting) PAUSE : Recording standby O; : Recording standby (during faceto-face shooting) ; : Playback pause STNDBY : Standby (cylinder head rotation stopped) A.
Screen displays VCR mode F05 17 TC 12 : 34 : 56 . 00 S I 1 SP 22222222222222 2222222222 22222222222222222 22222222222222222 AUG 31 CH1 4 8 K CH2 V O L UM E – 2002 23 : 59 : 59 2 2m i n ? ? ? ? ? ? –– ISearch number display The index number used to perform the index search appears here. (S1 to S9) + J JPlayback volume level meter display When one of the AUDIO MON/VAR (+/–) buttons is pressed, the playback volume level meter is displayed.
Connecting external components Inputting to and outputting from analog components $ When an external component is to be connected and its video and audio signals are to be input to the camera recorder, connect the camera recorder to the output connectors on the external component. $ Conversely, when an external component is to be connected and the video and audio signals of the camera recorder are to be input to the component, connect the camera recorder to the input connectors on the external component.
Connecting external components Inputting to and outputting from digital components $ A digital video component equipped with a DV connector can be connected for digitally recording and playing back video and audio signals as well as time codes, etc. $ When signals from an external component are to be recorded, set the unit to the VCR mode and operate the VCR REC button to initiate recording.
Shooting Preparation and inspections Regular shooting Before shooting, check that the camera recorder is operating properly. Also check that the equipment is set up in a way that is suited to the shooting conditions. Set the camera recorder’s POWER switch to ON, and switch between shooting and shooting pause using the START/STOP button. When shooting from a low angle, the START/STOP button on the handle can be used to initiate shooting. $ Batteries Have a fully charged battery ready.
Shooting Face-to-face shooting Index recording When the LCD monitor is opened and rotated 180 degrees toward the lens, and the person operating the camera recorder records images of himself or herself, the impression of the shot images may appear to be different from usual.
Playback Normal playback Variable speed search Set the POWER switch to ON, and press the CAMERA/VCR button to switch to the VCR mode. Normal playback operations can be performed using the OPERATION lever or accessory wireless remote control unit. This function changes the playback speed to locate scenes.
Condensation How to tell when condensation has formed inside and what to do about it If, after the camera recorder’s power has been turned on, the condensation display symbol flashes, it means that condensation has formed inside the camera recorder. If this happens, the power will be automatically turned off after several seconds. Take the following action. 1Remove the cassette. No other functions will work. Depending on the degree of condensation, it may not be possible to eject the cassette, either.
Troubleshooting (Q&A) Power supply-related problems Battery-related problems Q1: A1: No power. Has the battery or AC adapter been connected correctly? Check the connections. (See page 22) Q2: A2: The power goes off on its own. The power will automatically go off if shooting is temporarily stopped for more than 5 minutes in order to prevent the battery from running down and keep the tape from wearing. Check the setting selected for the TAPE PROTECT item on the setting menu OTHER FUNCTIONS screen.
Troubleshooting (Q&A) Problems during various kinds of video recording Q1: No automatic focusing A1-1: Has the manual focus mode been set? The focus is adjusted automatically in the auto focus mode. (See page 12) A1-2: Is a scene which is hard to bring into focus in the auto focus mode being shot? Some scenes are hard to bring into focus using auto focus. In cases like this, use the manual focus mode instead for focusing.
Troubleshooting (Q&A) Playback-related problems (audio) Q1: A1: Q2: A2: Q3: A3: No playback sound is heard from the camera recorder’s speaker. Has the camera recorder’s volume level been set too low? In the VCR mode, press the AUDIO MON/VAR button “+” to increase the volume. (See page 15) More than one recorded stream of sound is heard.
Maintenance Do not use benzine or paint thinners to clean the camera recorder. O Use of benzine or paint thinners may cause the camera recorder body to become deformed or the surface coating to peel off. O When cleaning or otherwise maintaining the camera recorder, either remove its battery or disconnect its AC cable from the power outlet. O Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe the camera recorder.
Specifications [GENERAL] Supply voltage: DC 7.2/7.9 V Power consumption: 6.8 W (when viewfinder is used) 7.8 W (when LCD monitor is used) 9.2 W (max.) indicates safety information. Ambient operating temperature 32°F to +104°F (0°C to +40°C) Ambient operating humidity 10% to 85% (no condensation) Weight 3.652 lb (1.
Specifications [VIDEO] Sampling frequency Y: 13.5 MHz, PB/PR: 3.375 MHz Quantizing 8 bits Video compression system DCT + variable length code Error correction Reed-Solomon product code [AC ADAPTER] Power Source: 110/120/220/240 V AC, 50/60 Hz Power Consumption: 18 W Output: Video camera: DC 7.8 V, 1.4 A Charge: DC 8.4 V, 1.2 A indicates safety information.
Memo
PANASONIC BROADCAST & TELEVISION SYSTEMS COMPANY UNIT COMPANY OF MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA Executive Office: One Panasonic Way 4E-7, Secaucus, NJ 07094 (201) 348-7000 EASTERN ZONE: One Panasonic Way 4E-7, Secaucus, NJ 07094 (201) 348-7621 Southeast Region: 1225 Northbrook Parkway, Ste 1-160, Suwanee, GA 30024 (770) 338-6835 Central Region: 1707 N Randall Road E1-C-1, Elgin, IL 60123 (847) 468-5200 WESTERN ZONE: 3330 Cahuenga Blvd W.
