Panasonic Aj Spx800p Operating Instructions Manual

							Memory Card Camera RecorderOperating  Instructions
Model No. AJ- P
Before operating this product, please read the insructions carefully and save this manual for future use. 
						

							2
PLEASE NOTE:
zWhen preparing to record important images, always shoot some advance test footage, to verify that both pictures and sound are
being recorded normally.  
zShould video or audio recording fail due to a malfunction of this camera-recorder or the P2 cards used, we will not assume liabil-
ity for such failure.
Software information for this product
1. Customer advisory: This product includes software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and GNU Lesser
General Public License (LGPL); customers have the right to download, modify, and redistribute source code for this software.
Descriptions of the GPL and LGPL are stored on the installation CD included with this camera-recorder.  See the folder named
\LDOC. (The description is the original (written in English)).  To download the relevant source code, visit
http://panasonic.biz/sav/. 
Please note that we cannot answer any questions you may have about the content, etc. of any source code you may obtain from
the above Web site. 
2. This product includes software licensed under the ICU License. A description of the ICU is stored on the installation CD included
with this camera-recorder. See the folder named \LDOC. (The description is the original (written in English)).
3. This product includes software developed by the Apache Software Foundation (http://www.apche.org/). A description of the
Apache is stored on the installation CD included with this camera-recorder. See the folder named \LDOC. (The description is the
original (written in English)).
Unislot® is a registered trademark of Ikegami Tsushinki Co., Ltd. 
						

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Precautions for Use
 indicates safety information.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.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol,
within an equilateral triangle, is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the product’s en-
closure that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral tri-
angle is intended to alert the user to the pres-
ence of important operating and maintenance
(service) instructions in the literature accom-
panying the appliance.
WA R N I N G :
zTO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIP-
MENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
zTO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, KEEP THIS EQUIPMENT AWAY
FROM ALL LIQUIDS-USE AND STORE ONLY
IN LOCATIONS WHICH ARE NOT EXPOSED
TO THE RISK OF DRIPPING OR SPLASHING
LIQUIDS, AND DO NOT PLACE ANY LIQUID
CONTAINERS ON TOP OF THE EQUIPMENT.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD AND ANNOYING INTERFERENCE,
USE THE RECOMENNDED ACCESARRIES
ONLY.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, REFER MOUNTING OF THE
OPTIONAL INTERFACE BOARD TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
FCC Note:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a class A digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.  These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interfer-
ence when the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment.  This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instruction manual, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely
to cause harmful interference in which case the user will
be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.
Warning:
To assure continued FCC emission limit compliance,
the user must use only shielded interface cables when
connecting to external units.  Also any unauthorized
changes or modifications to this equipment could void
the user’s authority to operate it.
ATTENTION:
The product you have purchased is powered by a nickel
cadmium battery which is recyclable.  At the end of it’s
useful life, under various state and local laws, it is illegal
to dispose of this battery into your municipal waste
stream.
Please call 1-800-8-BATTERY for information on how to
recycle this battery.
Ni-Cd
RBRC
RBRC
Replace battery with part No. CR2032 only.
Use of another battery may present a risk of fire or
explosion.
Caution—Battery may explode if mistreated.
Do not recharge, disassemble or dispose of in fire. 
						

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Contents
Precautions for Use  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
1-1 Camera Unit Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1-2 Recorder/player Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1-3 System Configuration  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Chapter 2 Parts and their Functions . .  10
2-1 Power Supply and 
Accessory Mounting Section . . . . . . . . . . 10
2-2 Audio (input) Function Section. . . . . . . . . 11
2-3 Audio (output) Function Section  . . . . . . . 12
2-4 Shooting and Recording/Playback 
Functions Section  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2-5 Menu Operation Section  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2-6 Time Code Section  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2-7 Warning and Status Display Functions  . . 18
2-8 Display Window Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2-9 LCD Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2-10 Viewfinder  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Chapter 3 Recording and Playback . . .  21
3-1 P2 Cards  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3-2 Basic Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3-3 Normal Recording  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3-4 PRE-RECORDING function. . . . . . . . . . . 25
3-5 Loop Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3-6 Recording Review Function . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3-7 Normal and Variable Speed Playback . . . 27
3-8 Voice Memo Function  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3-9 Shot Mark Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Chapter 4 Adjustments and 
Settings for Recording  . . . .  29
4-1 Adjusting the White balance 
and Black Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4-1-1 Adjusting the White Balance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4-1-2 Adjusting the Black Balance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4-2 Setting the Electronic Shutter  . . . . . . . . . 32
4-2-1 Shutter Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4-2-2 Setting the Shutter Mode and Speed . . . . . . . . 32
4-2-3 Placing the Camera-recorder 
in SYNCHRO SCAN Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
4-3 Selecting Recording Signals and 
Recording System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4-3-1 Selecting the Recording Signals. . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4-3-2 Selecting the Recording System  . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4-4 Selecting Audio Input Signals 
and Adjusting Recording Levels  . . . . . . . 34
4-4-1 Selecting Audio Input Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4-4-2 Adjusting Recording Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4-4-3 CH3 and CH4 Recording Levels . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4-5 Setting Time Data  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4-5-1 Setting the User Bits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4-5-2 Setting the Internal Clock’s Date and Time . . . 37
4-5-3 Setting the Time Code  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4-5-4 Externally Locking the Time Code  . . . . . . . . . 38
4-5-5 Providing an ID to the Camera  . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4-5-6 Setting UMID Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4-5-7 Mode Check Screen Displays
(MODE CHECK button function) . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4-6 Menu Displays 
in the Viewfinder Screen  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4-6-1 Menu Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4-6-2 Setting Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4-6-3 Selecting Options for USER MENU  . . . . . . . . 43
4-7 Viewfinder Screen Status Displays  . . . . . 44
4-7-1 Lamps in the Viewfinder Screen . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4-7-2 Viewfinder Status Indication Layout  . . . . . . . . 44
4-7-3 Selecting Viewfinder Display Information  . . . . 44
4-7-4 Display Modes and Setting 
Changes/adjustment Result Messages. . . . . . 50
4-7-5 Setting the Marker Displays  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
4-7-6 Marker Check Screen Displays
(MARKER SELECT button function) . . . . . . . . 51
4-7-7 Checking Return Video Signal 
in the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
4-8 Adjusting and setting the LCD monitor  . . 52
4-9 Menu-driven Function Setup  . . . . . . . . . . 53
4-9-1 Setting the Switchover of USER SW GAIN . . . 53
4-9-2 Selecting Video Output Signals. . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4-9-3 Selecting Function for 
the FRONT AUDIO LEVEL Control. . . . . . . . . 53
4-9-4 Assigning Functions to USER MAIN, 
USER1 and USER2 Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
4-9-5 Setting Color Temperature Manually  . . . . . . . 54 
						

							5 4-10 Handling data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
4-10-1 Handling SD Cards  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
4-10-2 Formatting, Writing and 
Reading an SD Card  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
4-10-3 How to Use the User Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
4-10-4 How to Use Scene File Data  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
4-10-5 Resetting Menu Option 
Settings to Defaults  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
4-10-6 Lens File Data  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Chapter 5 Preparation. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
5-1 Power Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
5-1-1 Mounting the battery and setting 
the battery type  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
5-1-2 Using an AC Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
5-2 Mounting the Viewfinder and 
Adjusting its Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
5-3 Mounting the lens and Performing 
the Flange Back and White Shading 
Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
5-4 Preparing for Audio Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
5-4-1 When Using the Front Microphone  . . . . . . . . .71
5-4-2 When Using a Wireless Receiver  . . . . . . . . . . 71
5-4-3 When Using Audio Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
5-5 Mounting the Camera on a Tripod . . . . . . 72
5-6 Attaching the Shoulder Strap . . . . . . . . . . 73
5-7 Attaching the Rain Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
5-8 Connecting the AJ-EC3P 
Extension Controller  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
5-9 Attaching the Front Audio Level 
Control Knob  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Chapter 6 Manipulating Clips 
with Thumbnails  . . . . . . . . .  75
6-1 Thumbnail Manipulations Overview . . . . . 75
6-2 Thumbnail Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
6-3 Selecting Thumbnails  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
6-4 Playing Back Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
6-5 Switching the Thumbnail Display . . . . . . . 78
6-6 Shot Mark  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
6-7 Voice Memo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
6-7-1 Playing Back Voice Memos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
6-7-2 Recording a Voice Memo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
6-7-3 Deleting Voice Memos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
6-8 Deleting Clips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
6-9 Restoring Clips  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
6-10 Formatting a P2 Card  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
6-11 Formatting SD Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
6-12 Setting the Thumbnail Display Mode . . . . 826-13 Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
6-13-1 Clip Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
6-13-2 P2 Card Status Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Chapter 7 Maintenance and 
Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
7-1 Inspections Before Shooting  . . . . . . . . . . 84
7-1-1 Preparing for Inspections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
7-1-2 Inspecting the Camera Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
7-1-3 Inspecting the Memory Recording 
Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
7-2 Maintenance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
7-2-1 Cleaning Inside the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
7-2-2 Phenomenon Inherent to CCD Cameras  . . . . 86
7-2-3 Replacing the Backup Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
7-2-4 Connector Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
7-3 Warning System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
7-3-1 Warning Description Tables  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
7-3-2 Error Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Chapter 8 Menu Description Tables  . . 90
8-1 Menu Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
8-2 SYSTEM SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
8-2-1 SYSTEM MODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
8-2-2 OPTION MODE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
8-2-3 REC FUNCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
8-2-4 OUTPUT SEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
8-2-5 LCD MONITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
8-2-6 GENLOCK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
8-3 PAINT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
8-3-1 ROP  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
8-3-2 MATRIX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
8-3-3 COLOR CORRECTION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
8-3-4 LOW SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
8-3-5 MID SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
8-3-6 HIGH SETTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
8-3-7 ADDITIONAL DTL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
8-3-8 SKIN TONE DTL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
8-3-9 KNEE/LEVEL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
8-3-10 GAMMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
8-3-11 FLARE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
8-3-12„CAMERA SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
8-4 VF  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
8-4-1 VF DISPLAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
8-4-2 VF MARKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
8-4-3 USER BOX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
8-4-4 VF INDICATOR1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
8-4-5 VF INDICATOR2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
8-4-6 MODE CHECK IND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
8-4-7  !LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 
						

							68-5 CAM OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
8-5-1 CAMERA ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
8-5-2 SHUTTER SPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
8-5-3 SHUTTER SELECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
8-5-4 USER SW  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
8-5-5 SW MODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
8-5-6 WHITE BALANCE MODE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
8-5-7 USER SW GAIN  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
8-5-8 IRIS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
8-6 MAIN OPERATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
8-6-1 BATTERY/P2CARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
8-6-2 BATTERY SETTING1  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
8-6-3 BATTERY SETTING2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
8-6-4 MIC/AUDIO1  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
8-6-5 MIC/AUDIO2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
8-6-6 TC/UB  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
8-6-7 UMID SET/INFO  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
8-7 FILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
8-7-1 SD CARD READ/WRITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
8-7-2 SD CARD R/W SELECT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
8-7-3 LENS FILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
8-7-4 SCENE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
8-7-5 INITIALIZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
8-8 MAINTENANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
8-8-1 SYSTEM CHECK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
8-8-2 LENS ADJ  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
8-8-3 BLACK SHADING  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
8-8-4 WHITE SHADING  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
8-8-5 DIAGNOSTIC1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
8-8-6 DIAGNOSTIC2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
8-8-7 HOURS METER  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
8-9 OPTION MENU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
8-9-1 OPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Chapter 9 Specifications  . . . . . . . . . .  114 
						

							7
1
Chapter 1  Introduction
The AJ-SPX800P video camera-recorder integrates a camera unit equipped with three CCDs, incorporating a 2/3-inch on-chip lens
featuring progressive drive technology, and a video recorder/player (VTR) that supports DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV formats. 
The camera offers a choice of interlaced scanning and progressive scanning modes. The AJ-SPX800P provides for a wide range of
uses, with such features as film-like gamma correction capability for authoring, and storage-type gain-up capability for news picture
shooting.
Utilising P2 cards, which require no mechanism, as media, your AJ-SPX800P offers greater responsibility, operability, and portability.
It is highly resistant to shock and vibration during recording, and therefore ensures stable operation for capturing quality video images
under the most adverse conditions.        
1-1 Camera Unit Features
/Three CCDs with a 2/3-inch on-chip lens that
supports progressive scanning
The camera supports aspect ratios of 16:9 and 4:3.
Operators can choose between interlaced scanning and
progressive scanning modes, to handle a wide range of
applications.
In progressive scan mode, signals from and to the recorder/
player are converted to interlaced signals.
/Innovative 14-bit A/D Converted Digital Signal
Processing Circuit
This model utilises new 14-bit linear A/D conversion
technology to digitise video. The signal processor, operating
at 36 MHz, provides finer reproduction of video, together
with enhanced stability and reliability. 
/Storage-type Sensitivity Enhancement 
The camera unit is equipped with a storage-type gain-up
capability featuring progressive drive technology. This
capability adds up to 20 dB to the standard gain increase.
/Digital Zoom
The camera unit features progressive digital zoom. This is
particularly effective when you want to zoom-in closer on the
subject.
/12-axis Independent color Correction
Operating as a paint function, this capability independently
corrects colors for each of the 12 axes. This feature helps to
produce fine images. 
/Film-like Gamma Correction
This capability provides a choice of four gamma types. In
addition to the standard mode, two types of film-like
gammas are available to help enhance video expression in
productions. The newly developed News Gamma accurately
records changes in shadow areas and reduces whiteout in
highlighted areas. This is particularly useful for on-site news
shooting.

While your AJ-SPX800P supports progressive scanning,
constantly increasing the storage-type gain causes a slight
degree of brightening at the upper left corner of the screen
due to CCD characteristics. Note also that the dynamic
range of video signals in progressive scanning mode is
about half that in interlaced driving mode. 
/Auto White Balance with Automatic Tracking
capability
The white balance is automatically adjusted in real time,
according to the subject. This is effective for urgent
recording, where you can’t spare the time to make an
adjustment through the auto white balance feature. 
/Data Management Capability
Your AJ-SPX800P has inbuilt data storage capacity for one
user and four scene files. In addition, an SD card can be
used as a setup card to store data for up to eight setups.

The SD cards used on your video camera-recorder must
conform to SD standards. The cards must be formatted
using the AJ-SPX800P. However, SD cards formatted,
according to SD standards with other devices, including
PCs, are also recognised by the AJ-SPX800P.
SD cards with capacities of 8 MB or more are
recommended.   
/Customisable USER Buttons and USER MENU
The camera unit has three USER buttons, operable by a
single press, to which frequently used function may be
assigned. The on-screen menu is also customisable. You
can create an original user menu screen by selecting
frequently used menu items. The menu thus created can be
displayed with a single touch of the MENU button. 
/MARKER SELECT Button
Your video camera-recorder has a button on the front that
allows you to view marker information on the viewfinder
screen. This is useful for checking the view angle during
shooting. 
/Support for ECU
Your video camera-recorder supports the extension control
unit AJ-EC3P. 
						

							8
1-2 Recorder/player Features
/Multiple Slots 
The AJ-SPX800P is equipped with five slots for P2 cards.
Up to five cards may be inserted in these slots for
continuous recording. They also provide new recording
capabilities specific to memory cards.   
zHot-Swap recording
The Hot-Swap capability allows cards not in use to be
replaced without interrupting recording. This facilitates
continuous recording.
zLoop recording
The AJ-SPX800P can retain a certain amount of
previously recorded material by continuously loop-
recording data into a specified recording area.
zPRE-RECORDING function
In standby status, the AJ-SPX800P always stores video
and sound input to the camera for up to 15 seconds (for
the DVCPRO format). This means that the PRE-
RECORDING function, when turned on, records the video
and sound for a preceding duration preset by the user.
This feature recovers critical moments that you might
have missed.
zData protection
Data on P2 cards will not be lost due to overwriting unless
the files are deleted or the cards are initialised.
Recordings are written only to free space.
/Format User-switchable Between DVCPRO50,
DVCPRO and DV
Recorded video is compressed through a component digital
recording method that uses a state-of-the-art compression
technology, and sound is recorded using the non-
compression PCM recording method, which excels in such
areas as S/N ratio, frequency bands, waveform properties
and reproducibility of fine areas. These methods further
enhance the quality of images and sound. 
The format is user-selectable, according to your purpose:
e.g., DVCPRO50 for higher image quality, or DVCPRO for
cost efficiency. DV format is also supported.
/4-channel Digital Audio Recording (all formats)
All formats - DVCPRO, DV and DVCPRO50 - support 4-
channel digital audio recording with high-quality sound (48
kHz/16 bits). 

When the clip is played back in the format not selected on
the menu, the picture may be disturbed until the format is
detected.
/Clip Thumbnailing
zAutomatic generation of thumbnails
The AJ-SPX800P automatically generates a thumbnail for
each recording cut (clip). It is possible to make use of this
on the camera-recorder as well as for non-linear editing
purposes, and after uploading to a server.
zThumbnail display on the LCD monitor
The 3.5-inch color LCD side of the your video camera-
recorder can provide a multi-screen view of 12 clip
thumbnails. You can choose a desired clip to playback
instantly.
zSeamless playback of selected clips
You can select more than one clip from the thumbnail view
for continuous playback and output of seamless video. 
/Voice Memos & Shot Marks
Each clip can incorporate comments, in the form of voice
memos, associated with the time code, together with shot
marks which, for example, can help you distinguish OK cuts
from reject cuts.
Both voice memos and shot marks can be added to
selected clips during and after a recording. This is helpful for
editing recorded video.   
/Support for SDI Output (when AJ-YA902AG
installed)
The AJ-SPX800P, when equipped with the extension board
AJ-YA902AG, can output SDI signals from the VIDEO OUT
connector.
/Front-mounted Sound Level Control Mechanism
The AJ-SPX800P features a front-mounted control for fine
adjustment of the sound recording level. This control is
particularly effective for adjusting the sound level when you
are shooting without a sound recordist. The control can be
disabled.
/Support for Built-in Unislot® Wireless Receive
The AJ-SPX800P is designed to support an optional slot-in
wireless receiver.
/Recording Review Capability
This capability automatically plays back the last 2 to 10
seconds of recorded video, allowing you to quickly check the
recorded contents.
/Built-in Time Code Generator/reader
A special-purpose secondary code track can be used to
record and reproduce time code information. 
/Support for Metadata
The AJ-SPX800P is capable of recording positional
information (latitudes, longitudes and altitudes), as UMID
information (metadata), from the GPS unit AJ-GPS900G
(optional accessory).
This information is also useful in managing information on
P2 cards.
/Recording Time
(For more information, see the instruction manual for the
appropriate memory card.)
(Number of cards used: 1)
Card #Recording Format
DVCPRO
(Audio 2ch)DV CPRO 50
(Audio 4ch)
AJ-P2COO2SGApprox.
8 minutesApprox.
4 minutes 
						

							9
1
1-3 System Configuration
* To install a stereo microphone, an extra modification is required. For more information, contact your distributor or designated service
provider.
Lens:
(Bayonet type)
Fujinon, Canon
Microphone kit:
AJ-MC700P
Stereo microphone:*
AJ-MC900G
Viewfinder:
AJ-VF15B
AJ-VF20WB
GPS unit:
AJ-GPS900G
Rain cover:
SHAN-RC700
Soft carry-case:
AJ-SC900
Hard carry-case:
AJ-HT901
Unislot® wireless 
microphone receiver
Sennheiser EK3041
SD Memory cards
Extension control unit:
AJ-EC3P
AC adaptor:
AJ-B75
SDI output board:
AJ-YA902AG
Video camera-recorder
AJ-SPX800P
BP-90 type
Battery mount
NP-1 type
Battery mount
V mount type
Battery plate
DIONIC90/160
HYTRON50/100/120
PRO14, TRIM14
BP-H120
HP-90L
NP-L50
ENDURA50/80
BP-L60/90
P2 Cards:
AJ-P2C002SG 
						

							10
Chapter 2  Parts and their Functions
2-1 Power Supply and Accessory Mounting Section 
POWER switch
Used to turn on/off the power.
Battery mount
A battery pack from Anton/Bauer is mounted here. 
DC IN (external power input) socket (XLR, 4P)
To operate your AJ-SPX800P on AC power, the AC adaptor
AJ-B75 (optional accessory) must be connected to this
socket. 
BREAKER switch
When an excessive amount of current is fed through the
video camera-recorder, due to any abnormal event, the
breaker automatically turns off the power in order to protect
the device. 
After the interior of the video camera-recorder has been
checked and/or repaired, this button must be depressed. If
there is no unusual reaction, the unit can be powered-up.
GPS connector
This connects the optional GPS unit AJ-GPS900G.
Shoulder strap fittings
The shoulder strap is attached here.
Light shoe
A video light or similar accessory can be attached here.
Lens mount (bayonet type)
The lens is attached here.
Lens lever
Lower this lever to lock the lens to the lens mount.
Lens mount cap
To remove the cap, raise the   lens lever.
When the lens is not mounted, replace the cap.
Lens cable/microphone cable clamp
This clamp secures the lens and microphone cables. 
Tripod mount
When you want to mount the AJ-SPX800P on a tripod, the
optional tripod attachment (SHAN-TM700) is attached here.
LENS jack (12-pin)
The lens connection cord is connected here. For a detailed
description of your lens, see the relevant manufacturer’s
instruction manual.