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Panasonic Camera Recorder AG-DVX100BP Operating Instructions

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    							31
    Regular shooting
    Ensure that the unit is working properly before you 
    attempt to shoot anything.
    Check the equipment you need for the shooting 
    conditions.
    gBattery (Page 21)
    Use a fully charged battery. 
    Keep a spare battery with you.
    gCassette tape (Pages 10 and 15)
    Check that the cassette tape can be used for 
    recording.
    • Set the erasure prevention tab to SAVE.
    • Make sure the tape doesn’t have images you 
    want to keep recorded on it.
    • Make sure the cassette holder is completely 
    closed.
    gViewfinder (Page 23)
    See if the diopter adjustment is suitable.
    gZoom, focus, and iris 
    • Check that motor-driven zooming is possible. 
    (Page 32)
    • Check that the focusing can be performed both 
    automatically and manually. (Page 38)
    • Check that the lens iris operations can be 
    performed automatically and manually. (Page 
    43)
    gTime data (Page 26)
    • Check that the date and time have been set 
    correctly.
    • Check that the time code and user information 
    have been set correctly.
    gAudio input (Page 44)
    Check that CH1/CH2 SELECT switch is in the 
    correct position.
    gOther equipment(Page 53)
    • Check that any equipment you have connected 
    to the camera is working correctly.
    • Check that connections are complete and 
    correct.1Set the POWER switch to ON.
    2Press AUTO to switch to auto mode.
    •  appears on the viewfinder and LCD 
    screens. 
    • In the setup menus, AUTO SW screen, you 
    can choose which items you want to have 
    automatically adjusted in auto mode. (Page 
    72)
    3Look at your subject through the viewfinder.
    4Press the START/STOP button on the POWER 
    switch to start shooting. 
    Press START/STOP again to return the camera 
    to the shooting standby mode.
    Preparation and inspectionsShooting in auto mode
    The camera makes the following 
    adjustments for you when in auto mode.
    • Focus • Gain
    • Iris • White balance
    AUTO button
    POWER
    ON
    OFF
    Viewfinder
    Shooting
    Preparations 
    						
    							32
    Shooting techniques for different targets
    Press REC CHECK in the shooting standby mode 
    and two seconds of the last thing you shot play, and 
    then the camera returns to the shooting standby 
    mode.
    • REC CHECK does not work if you have shot for less 
    than a second.
    • Note that this REC CHECK portion will also be 
    recorded to any equipment you have set up to make 
    backup recordings.
    While in the shooting standby mode, you can 
    search through any images you have shot.
    This is useful when you want to find a point from 
    which to continue shooting so two scenes come 
    one after the other.
    1Press the OPERATION lever y or t.
    The tape plays forward or backward while you 
    are holding the lever in position.
    2Release the lever when you find the point you 
    are looking for. 
    The camera returns to shooting standby mode.This camera has a 10 x zoom.
    Zoom with the zoom button or the zoom ring.
    Zoom buttonSet the ZOOM switch to SERVO so that you can 
    use the motor-driven zoom.
    T:Zoom in
    W:Zoom out
    Gently press the zoom button on the viewfinder to 
    zoom slowly, firmly press to zoom faster.
    You can change the zoom speed on the handle 
    zoom button by selecting one of three speeds with 
    the HANDLE ZOOM switch.
    Set HANDLE ZOOM switch speeds by going to the 
    setup menus, SW MODE screen HANDLE ZOOM. 
    (Page 71)
    Zoom ringSet the ZOOM switch to MANU so that you can use 
    the zoom ring.
    • You cannot use the zoom ring if the ZOOM switch is 
    set to SERVO. Trying to use it could damage the 
    camera.
    On the remote controlPress ZOOM/VOL to zoom with the motor drive.
    Zoom speed is fixed at medium.
    Check what you have shot (rec check)
    Finding specific scenes (image 
    search)
    REC CHECK button
    STILL ADVPAUSESTILL ADVINDEXSELECTSTOP INDEX
    MULTI/
    P-IN-PREC A.DUB
    PLAY  VOL +-
    Camera or Remote control
    Zoom
    SERVOMANU ZOOM
    Zoom button (handle)
    HANDLE ZOOM switch
    Zoom ring
    Zoom button
    ZOOM switch 
    						
    							33
     
    Use the START/STOP button on the handle to 
    make it easier to shoot from low angles.
    Images in the LCD when it is turned 180 degrees 
    for self-portrait shooting may appear unusual.
    You can make them appear better by reversing left 
    and right. Go to the setup menus, DISPLAY SETUP 
    screen, SELF SHOOT, and select MIRROR. 
    Shooting in mirror mode has no effect on what you 
    actually shoot and record. Items shown on the 
    viewfinder and LCD screens are limited to the 
    following.
    *: Shooting
    *h: Shooting standby mode
    : battery indicator
    : warning
    If this appears, turn the LCD back to its normal 
    position and see what the warning is.Press the ZEBRA button in the camera mode to 
    show the zebra pattern or marker on the screen so 
    you can check the brightness of the subject. 
    Parts that may be whited out through over exposure 
    are shown as a zebra pattern.
    • Very bright
    • Reflecting par ts
    You can remove most overexposed parts by 
    adjusting the iris and shutter speed in the manual 
    mode to remove the areas with zebra patterns.
    The display changes as follows each time you 
    press the ZEBRA button.
    In the setup menus, DISPLAY SETUP screen, 
    ZEBRA DETECT 1 and ZEBRA DETECT 2, set the 
    brightness for the zebra patterns. (Page 76)
    The zebra pattern you have set appears as a 
    percentage on the display for about 2 seconds.
    If you press the ZEBRA button again while the 
    zebra pattern is being displayed, a marker appears 
    in the center of the display (if you have set the 
    setup menu, DISPLAY SETUP, MARKER to ON). 
    The image level at the center of the screen is 
    shown as a percentage between 0 and 99 while the 
    marker is displayed. “99%” appears if the 
    percentage is over 99.
    • The normal display reappears if you press the 
    ZEBRA button again.
    Low-angle shooting
    Self-portrait shooting
    START/STOP button
    Zebra pattern
    Marker
    ZEBRA 1 ZEBRA 2
    OFF
    Marker
    99%
    Image level detection 
    area
    Image levelMarker
    Shooting 
    						
    							34
    Shooting techniques for different targets (continued)
    1In the setup menus, RECORDING SETUP 
    screen, ONE-SHOT REC, select ON. 
    • For menu operation (Page 66)
    OFF: ONE-SHOT is off.
    ON: The camera records for the number of 
    seconds you have set in REC TIME, then 
    returns to shooting standby mode. 
    • While in progressive mode 24P or 24P (ADV) 
    you cannot change ONE-SHOT settings. 
    2Set the recording time in REC TIME. (Page 75)
    3Press the START/STOP button to start ONE-
    SHOT recording. 
    • After you have set ONE-SHOT to ON, “I—” 
    blinks to the left of the VCR mode indicator. 
    “I—” lights when you start recording.
    4If you move the OPERATION lever in the g 
    direction, “I—” blinks again and ONE-SHOT 
    recording stops and the camera goes to 
    shooting standby mode. 
    • During ONE-SHOT recording, no other operations 
    are possible. 
    • During ONE-SHOT recording, the remaining tape 
    time is not shown. 
    The ONE-SHOT recording setting switches to OFF 
    when you turn the camera off. 
    To end ONE-SHOT recording, do one of the following.
    1) Switch the camera off.
    2) Change the ONE-SHOT REC setting back to OFF.
    You can change the aspect ratio of the images you 
    record with this camera.
    Select the aspect ratio in the setup menus, 
    CAMERA SETUP screen, ASPECT CONV.
    • For menu operation (Page 66)
    NORMAL:
    Recorded in the regular 4:3 aspect ratio
    LETTER BOX:
    Recorded in the 16:9 aspect ratio.
    Black bands are recorded at the top and bottom 
    of the image.
    SQUEEZE:
    The recorded images are squeezed horizontally 
    so that they are shown as 16:9 images on a 
    compatible wide-screen television.
    If you have selected SQUEEZE, “SQU” appears 
    on the screen.
    • The viewfinder and LCD screens will be 
    distorted for a moment when you switch to 
    SQUEEZE, but this is normal.
    • Images may be poorer when you playback if 
    you shot them in the SQUEEZE mode. 
    To change the aspect ratio display of the 
    viewfinder and LCD
    Select the aspect ratio in the setup menus, DISPLAY 
    SETUP screen, DISPLAY ASPECT (Page 76). 
    ONE-SHOT recordingChanging the image size 
    						
    							35
    Use the Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) to reduce 
    the effects of camera shake when shooting by 
    hand.
    Press the OIS button to turn the function on and off.
     appears on the screen when this function is 
    on.
    Turn the function off when using a tripod for more 
    natural images.
    • This function will not be as effective when the 
    vibration is severe or when tracking a moving subject.
    You can allocate one of eleven features to each of 
    the three USER buttons.
    Use these buttons to change shooting settings 
    quickly or add effects to the images you are 
    shooting.
    The following features are allocated to the buttons 
    at the time of shipping.
    USER1: COLOR BAR
    USER2: BACKLIGHT
    USER3: INDEX
    For details, see the setup menus, SW MODE 
    screen, USER1 to 3 (Page 72).
    Press the USER button you have allocated to the 
    BACKLIGHT feature when shooting subjects lit 
    from the back.
    BACK appears on the screen. 
    Backlight compensation adjusts the iris so the 
    subject doesn’t come out dark.
    Press the same USER button to turn the feature off.Press the USER button you have allocated to the 
    INDEX feature during shooting and an index signal 
    is recorded to the tape.
    If you press the button while in shooting standby 
    mode, you also activate index standby mode. When 
    you start shooting or recording, an index signal is 
    recorded to the tape.
    Adding indexes means that you can make index 
    searches during play.(Page 50)
    Press the USER button you have allocated to the 
    COLOR BAR feature to output a color bar screen to 
    a television or monitor so you can adjust them. 
    Press the same USER button to turn the feature off.
    Press the USER button you have allocated to the 
    BLACKFADE or WHITEFADE feature to add fading 
    effects to your images.
    BLACKFADE:
    Press and hold to fade out to black. Audio also 
    fades out.
    WHITEFADE:
    Press and hold to fade out to white. Audio also 
    fades out.
    Optical Image Stabilizer
    Using the USER buttons
    Backlight compensation
    Index recording
    Color bars
    Adding effects to imagesShooting 
    						
    							36
    Shooting techniques for different targets (continued)
    If you have connected equipment to the DV terminal 
    (Page 54). You can make automatic backup 
    recordings of whatever you are shooting.
    • In the setup menus, OTHER FUNCTIONS screen, 
    DV CONTROL and DV CMD SEL, select how to 
    control the equipment you have connected. (
    Page 
    77)
    Press the AUTO button to switch between AUTO 
    (  lights) and manual mode ( goes out).
    You can change the following settings in the manual 
    mode.
    • Focus (Page 38)• Gain (Page 43)•Iris (Page 43)• White balance (Page 41)
    If you are monitoring the sound through headphones 
    while shooting, you can adjust the volume with the 
    AUDIO MON/VAR button.
    • To adjust the recording level (Page 44).
    Backup recording
    Note the following when backup recording.• Menu settings are retained even if you turn the 
    power off. So if you use the camera-recorder with 
    the settings for backup recording still in effect, 
    images on tapes in any unit that connected may 
    be overwritten. After backup recording, check the 
    menu item settings before you operate the 
    camera-recorder.
    • If you use another AG-DVX100B as the external 
    unit for backup recording, select “OFF” for DV 
    CONTROL on the external unit and set it to VCR 
    mode.
    • Backup recording may not work properly if you 
    connect two or more external units.
    • Use a DV (IEEE1394) cable of 4.5 m or less for 
    connection.
    • Set the external unit up to receive DV signals 
    before backup recording.
    • You can have a tape in the external unit start 
    recording automatically when the tape in this unit 
    is almost finished. Set DV CONTROL (Page 77) 
    to “CHAIN”.
    • Note that images are recorded even when you 
    perform a rec check.
    Switching to manual mode
    Adjusting the volume while shooting
    AU TO bu t to n 
    						
    							37
    Shooting in progressive mode
    You can change the progressive mode in the setup 
    menu, SCENE FILE screen, PROGRESSIVE 
    (Page 70).
    30P mode:
    Shoot 30 frames a second in the progressive 
    mode.
    For output and recording, the 30-frame-per-
    second signal is converted to 60-field-per-
    second interlace.
    This mode gives you high quality images.
    24P mode:
    Shoot 24 frames a second in the progressive 
    mode.
    For output and recording, the 24-frame-per-
    second signal is converted to 60-field-per-
    second interlace using the widely used “2:3” 
    ratio.
    This gives you images similar to a movie shot 
    with film.
    24P advanced mode:
    Shoot 24 frames a second in the progressive 
    mode.
    For output and recording, the 24-frame-per-
    second signal is converted to 60-field-per-
    second interlace using “advanced” conversion.With the “2:3” method, frames [BoCe], [CoDe], 
    [FoGe], and [GoHe] shown in the illustration would 
    be extended over different frames which can cause 
    a drop in picture quality.
    With the 24P advanced method, however, frames 
    [BoCe] and [FoGe] are cut out, leading to a 
    reduction in image quality loss.
    If you also use a system compatible with the 
    advanced method, editing will also yield better 
    quality images than those shot in the normal 24P 
    mode.
    • If you are not going to do your editing on such a 
    system, use the normal 24P method for shooting.
    Ao Ae Bo Be Co Ce Do De Eo Ee Fo Fe GoGe Ho He Io Ie Jo Je
    ABCDEFGH I J30 P
    60 i
    ABCDEFGH
    Ao Ae Bo Be Bo Ce Co De Do De Eo Ee Fo Fe FoGeGoHeHoHe
    24 P
    60 i
    ABCDEFGH
    Ao Ae Bo Be Bo Ce Co Ce Do De Eo Ee Fo Fe FoGeGoGeHoHe
    24 PA
    60 i
    Note the following when shooting in 
    progressive mode.
    • You cannot have a gain of 18dB.
    • The synchronization signal will be disrupted for a 
    moment when you switch to progressive mode.
    • Set the shutter speed to 1/50 (OFF) or 1/60 for 
    best results.
    • There may be a slight delay to the start of 
    recording when you use the 24P or 24P 
    advanced modes because 5 frames are recorded 
    at a time. The shortest possible recording time is 
    three seconds.
    Shooting 
    						
    							38
    Focus
    This camera allows you to choose between 
    automatic and manual focusing.
    1If the camera is in auto mode, press the AUTO 
    button to switch to manual focusing ( goes 
    out).
    2Use the FOCUS switch to choose how to 
    control focusing.
    A (AUTO):
    Auto focus mode
    M (MANUAL):
    Manual focus mode
    Turn the focus ring by hand.
    ∞:
    The camera first focuses on infinity, then it 
    switches to manual focus.
    The FOCUS switch automatically moves 
    back to M (MANUAL) after you move it to ∞.
    Temporarily switching to auto focusEven if you have switched FOCUS to M (MANUAL) 
    the camera will focus automatically while you press 
    down PUSH AUTO.
    • Auto focus may not work properly if there is flickering. 
    Select a shutter speed suited to the ambient light. 
    (Page 39)
    • When you use auto focus in the progressive or slow 
    shutter modes, the focus assist mode becomes active 
    which gives a more accurate focus than manual 
    focusing.  
    The extra focus control will make focusing take longer 
    than normal. 
    Focus ring
    FOCUS switch
    PUSH AUTO button
    AUTO button 
    						
    							39
    Adjusting the shutter speed
    Shutter speeds you can select 
    1Each time you press the SHUTTER button, the 
    shutter speed switches between normal (OFF) 
    and the speed you selected with the SPEED 
    SEL button.
    2After you have pressed the SHUTTER button, 
    press SPEED SEL to select the shutter speed.
    The shutter speed changes as follows each 
    time you press SPEED SEL.
    When progressive mode is OFF (60i)
    When progressive mode is on (30P/24P/24PA)
    • Remember that the faster the shutter speed, 
    the lower the sensitivity.
    • If iris is set to auto, then it will open wider with 
    higher shutter speeds and thereby reduce 
    focal depth.
    • If you have set slow shutter mode (Page 40), 
    you cannot change shutter speeds 
    (“INVALID” appears on the screen). 
    First press the USER button you have 
    allocated to SLOWSHUT to cancel the slow 
    shutter mode, then change the shutter speed 
    as shown above.With artificial lighting and especially fluorescent 
    lights and mercury-vapor lamps, the luminance 
    changes in synchronization with the power line 
    frequency. When this frequency is 50 Hz, mutual 
    interference will occur between the camera-
    recorder’s vertical sync frequency (approx. 60 Hz) 
    and the lighting frequency (50 Hz). This means that 
    the white balance may change periodically.
    Before shooting in areas with artificial lighting or 
    adjusting the white balance, set the shutter speed 
    as follows. Progressive 
    modeNormal shutter 
    speeds (OFF)Shutter speeds you can select with SPEED SEL
    SYNCHRO SCAN Shutter speed selected
    OFF (60i) 1/60 1/60.3 - 1/250
    1/100, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000
    30P 1/50 1/30.1 - 1/250.01/30, 1/60, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000
    24P/24PA 1/50 1/24.1 - 1/250.01/24, 1/60, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000
    SPEED SEL button
    SHUTTER button
    SYNCHRO
    SCAN1/1001/120 1/250
    1/500 1/1000 1/2000
    SYNCHRO
    SCAN1/30 1/60 1/120
    1/250 1/500 1/1000(1/24)
    Progressive 
    modeShutter speed
    50 Hz 60 Hz
    OFF (60i) 1/100 OFF (1/60)
    30P OFF (1/50) 1/60
    24P/24PA OFF (1/50) 1/60
    1/100PUSH  STILL
    The current shutter speed appears on the 
    viewfinder and LCD screens unless you have 
    selected OFF in OTHER DISPLAY in the DISPLAY 
    SETUP screen of the setup menus. It is not 
    displayed if you have set the shutter speed to 
    normal (OFF). 
    Shooting 
    						
    							40
    Shooting techniques for different targets (continued)
    1In the setup menus, SW MODE screen, 
    allocate one of the USER buttons to 
    SLOWSHUT. (Page 72)
    2Press the USER button you have allocated to 
    SLOWSHUT to enter the slow shutter mode.
    Each time you press SPEED SEL, the shutter 
    speed changes as shown below.
    • “PROCESSING…” appears on the display for 
    a few moments after you enter the slow 
    shutter mode while the camera makes the 
    necessary settings.
    • Press the USER button you have allocated to 
    SLOWSHUT again to exit the slow shutter 
    mode and return to the previous mode.
    • The slow shutter mode is also canceled if you 
    turn the camera off then on again.
    • You cannot control the gain while in slow 
    shutter mode. The gain will be fixed at 0 dB.
    • While shooting you cannot change the slow 
    shutter mode settings or exit the mode.
    • If you are using a shutter speed selected with 
    the SPEED SEL button (Page 39) you cannot 
    switch to slow shutter mode (“INVALID” 
    appears on the screen). 
    First press the SHUTTER button to return to 
    normal (OFF), then switch to slow shutter 
    mode.Set the shutter speed of the synchro scan (used 
    when shooting a television or computer monitor) in 
    the setup menus, CAMERA SETUP screen, 
    SYNCRO SCAN. (Page 71)
    • Adjust the shutter speed to match the frequency of 
    the television or computer monitor to minimize the 
    horizontal noise that appears when shooting such 
    subjects.
    • By switching to progressive mode you can also shoot 
    PAL system television screens.
    Slow shutter mode
    1/4 1/81/151/30
    1/4 1/81/15
    1/6 1/12
    When progressive mode is off (60i)
    When progressive mode is on (30P)
    When progressive mode is on (24P/24PA)
    Synchro scan
    You can change the progressive mode in the 
    setup menu with PROGRESSIVE in the SCENE 
    FILE screen (Page 70).
    SLOW 1/4PUSH  STILL
    The current slow shutter speed appears on the 
    viewfinder and LCD screens unless you have 
    selected OFF in OTHER DISPLAY in the DISPLAY 
    SETUP screen of the setup menus. 
    						
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