Panasonic Memory Card Camera Recorder AG-AC8P Operating Instructions

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Manual shutter speed/iris adjustment
Shutter Speed:
Adjust it when recording fast-moving subjects.
Iris:
Adjust it when the screen is too bright or too dark.
≥Set the iA/MANUAL/FOCUS switch to Manual Mode.
≥ For how to perform the settings when using the manual icons, refer to page  39.
1Select [ SHUTTER] or [ IRIS] pressing the CAMERA FUNCTION button.
2Adjust settings using the multi manual ring.
: Shutter speed:
1/60 to 1/8000
≥ If [AUTO SLOW SHTR] is set to [ON], the shutter speed will be set between 1/30 and 1/8000.
≥ The shutter speed closer to 1/8000 is faster.
≥ The shutter speed will be set between 1/2 and 1/2000 in Still Picture Recording Mode.
: Iris/Gain value:
(Motion Picture Recording Mode)
CLOSE 
!# (F12 to F1.9) !# OPEN !# (0dB to 30dB)
(Still Picture Recording Mode)
CLOSE 
!# (F12 to F1.9) !# OPEN !# (0dB to 12dB)
≥Depending on the brightness of the subject, the screen  may appear too bright or blurry. When this occurs, 
increasing the shutter speed or using an ND filter (optional) will reduce the brightness and the blur.
≥ Value closer to CLOSE darken the image.
≥ Value closer to 30dB brighten the image.
≥ When the iris value is adjusted to brighter than OPEN, it changes to the gain value.
≥ To return to auto setting, set the iA/MA NUAL/FOCUS switch to Intelligent Auto Mode.
≥When setting both the shutter speed and the iris /gain value, set the shutter speed and then set 
the iris/gain value.
≥ When [ SHUTTER] or [ IRIS] is selected, the selected shutter speed or iris/gain value can be 
adjusted automatically by pressing and holding the CAMERA FUNCTION button. 
Manual shutter speed adjustment
≥ When the shutter speed is set lower than 1/15 in the Still Picture Recording Mode, using a tripod 
is recommended. Also, White Balance cannot be set. The shutter speed will be set to 1/30 when 
the unit is turned on again.
≥ You may see a band of light around an object that is shining very bright, or highly reflective.
≥ During normal playback, image movement may not look smooth.
≥ If you record an extremely bright object or record under indoor lighting, color and screen 
brightness may change or a horizontal line may appear on the screen. In this case, record in the 
Intelligent Auto Mode or set the shutter speed to 1/60 in areas where the power supply frequency 
is 60 Hz, or 1/100 in areas of 50 Hz.
≥ Brightness of the image displayed on the LCD monitor may be different from brightness of the 
image actually recorded during the Still Picture Recording Mode. Confirm the image on the 
playback screen after recording.
Manual iris/gain adjustment
≥ If the gain value is increased, the noise on the screen increases.
≥ Depending on the zoom magnification, there are iris values that are not displayed.
SHTR
IRIS 
						

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Recording with Manual Focus
If auto focusing is difficult due to the conditions, then use Manual Focus.
≥Set the iA/MANUAL/FOCUS switch to manual mode.
1Slide the iA/MANUAL/FOCUS switch to FOCUS to set Manual Focus Mode.
2Select [ FOCUS] pressing the CAMERA FUNCTION button.
3Adjust the focus by using the multi manual ring.≥To restore Auto Focus, slide the iA/MANUAL/ FOCUS switch to FOCUS again or set the iA/
MANUAL/FOCUS switch to Intelligent Auto Mode.
∫ When using the manual icon
1Select [FOCUS] and press the button in the center.
2Select [MF] and press the button in the center to change to Manual Focus.≥MF appears on the screen.
3Adjust the focus by selecting  /  and press the button in the center.
≥To restore Auto Focus, select [AF] and press the button in the center in Step 2 or set the iA/
MANUAL/FOCUS switch to Intelligent Auto Mode  or slide the iA/MANUAL/FOCUS switch to 
FOCUS again.
:To focus on a close subject
:To focus on a faraway subject
MFMF
MF
MF 
						

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You can change a counter display that indicates how much time has elapsed during recording or 
playback.
Select the menu. (l23)
Advanced (Recording)
Counter display
[COUNTER DISPLAY]
: [RECORD SETUP] # [COUNTER DISPLAY]  # desired setting
[TC]:Time Code (l44)
TC 00:00:00:00 or TC 00:00:00.00
≥ Display will change depending on the setting of the [TC MODE]. ( l44)
[UB]:User Information ( l46)
UB 00 00 00 00
[COUNTER]:Recording Counter ( l47)
(In Recording Mode)
0:00:00 or SCN 0:00:00
(In Playback Mode)
SCN 0:00:00
≥ In Recording Mode, display will change depending on the setting of the 
[REC COUNTER]. ( l47)
≥ In Playback Mode, display will return to SCN 0:00:00 for each scene.
[OFF]:The counter is not displayed.
MENU 
						

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Setting the Time Code
Time code will display the recording time in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames.
TC 00:00:00:00 (hour : minute : second : frame [NDF])
TC 00:00:00.00 (hour : minute : second . frame [DF])
Select the compensation mode for the time code.
≥It is automatically set to [NDF] when  the Interval Recording is used.
Sets the way the time code will move.
≥ It is automatically set to [FREE RUN] when it is set to PRE-REC.
≥The time code will reset when the built-in lithium battery is exhausted when it is set to 
[FREE RUN].
Recording formatFrame
[PS 1080/60p], [PH 1080/60i], [HA 1080/60i], [HG 1080/60i], 
[HE 1080/60i], [PM 720/60p], [SA 480/60i] 0 to 29
[TC MODE]
: [RECORD SETUP] # [TC MODE] 
# desired setting
[DF]:Time code is compensated in accordance with the actual time. It is 
mainly used for broadcasting such as TV programs.
[NDF]:It will not compensate the time code. (There will be a difference from 
the actual time)
[TCG]
: [RECORD SETUP] # [TCG] # desired setting
[FREE RUN]:It will constantly move.
[REC RUN]:It will move only when recording.
MENU
MENU 
						

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You can set the initial time code.
1Select the menu.
2Select the item to set using the cursor button right or left, then 
adjust the value using the cursor button up or down.
≥“h” is an abbreviation for hour, “m” for minute, “s” for second and “f” for frame.
3Select [ENTER] using the cursor button right or left, then press the 
button in the center.
≥Select [EXIT] and press the button in the center to complete the setting.
≥This unit will adjust the time code in accordance with the frame rate of the recording format. 
(l 59) Therefore, it may not be continuous from the previous final time code when the recording 
format is changed.
[TC PRESET]
: [RECORD SETUP] # [TC PRESET]MENU 
						

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Setting the User Information
Eight digit hexadecimal alphanumeric can be entered and displayed as a memo information such as 
dates, control numbers, etc., into the User Information.
UB 00 00 00 00
You can set the User Information.
1Select the menu.
2Select the item to set using the cursor button right or left, then 
adjust the value using the cursor button up or down.
≥You can use numbers from 0 to 9 and letters from A to F.
3Select [ENTER] using the cursor button right or left, then press the 
button in the center.
≥Select [EXIT] and press the button in the center to complete the setting.
[UB PRESET]
: [RECORD SETUP] # [UB PRESET]MENU 
						

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Setting the Recording Counter
Recording Counter will display the recording time in seconds.
0:00:00 (hour : minute : second (When [REC COUNTER] is set to [TOTAL]))
SCN 0:00:00 (hour : minute : second (When [REC COUNTER] is set to [SCENE]))
Select the counting method during the recording.
The Recording Counter will be set to 0:00:00 while displaying the counter.
≥When [COUNTER DISPLAY] is set to an option other than [COUNTER], this item cannot be set.
[REC COUNTER]
: [SW & DISP SETUP]  # [REC COUNTER] # desired setting
[TOTAL]:The count continues to increase until the Recording Counter is 
resetted.
[SCENE]:Resets the Recording Counter at start of recording. Counts the time 
of each recording session.
[COUNTER RESET]
: [RECORD SETUP] # [COUNTER RESET]  # [YES]
MENU
MENU 
						

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Select the operation icons to add different effects to the images to be recorded.
1Press the cursor button to display the operation icons on the screen.
2Select an operation icon and press the button in 
the center.
(e.g. Level Gauge)
≥ The operation icons that are displayed can be changed. 
([SELECT OPERATION ICONS]:  l96)
≥ To cancel the function, select the operation icon again, and 
press the button in the center.
For canceling or using the following functions for the operation icons, refer to each pages.
jPush AF ( l50)
j Guidelines ( l51)
j Recording Check ( l51)
j Last Scene Delete ( l51)
≥ The icon is displayed when the operation icon is set.
Operation icons
*1 Not displayed in Still Picture Recording Mode.
*2 Not displayed in Motion Picture Recording Mode.
*3 It is displayed only when a headphone is connected to the headphone output terminal. [MIC 
LEVEL] ( l66) is set to anything other than [AUTO],   is displayed as the operation icon, 
and adjustment of input level of the microphone is possible.
≥ If you turn off the unit or change the mode to  , Backlight Compensation function is canceled.
≥ If you turn off the unit, the Fade function is canceled.
≥ It is possible to set from the menu. (Except for t he Push AF, Recording Check, Last Scene Delete, 
Level gauge, Menu, Headphone volume adjustment.)
Advanced (Recording)
Recording functions of operation 
icons
Focus Assist
Fade*1
DRS*1
PRE-REC*1
Intelligent Exposure*2
Backlight Compensation
Push AF
Recording Check
*1
Last Scene Delete*1
Guidelines*2
Zebra
Histogram
Marker
Level Gauge
Menu
Headphone volume adjustment/
Microphone level adjustment
*3 
						

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The in-focus area is displayed in red.
≥The red display does not appear on the images actually recorded.
≥ The red display does not appear on TV.
When you start recording, the image/audio gradually 
appears. (Fade in)
When you pause recording, the image/audio gradually 
disappears. (Fade out)
≥ The Fade setting is canceled when the recording stops.
∫ To select the color for fade in/out
≥The thumbnails of scenes recorded using fade in become black (or white).
This brightens parts that are in shadow and difficult to see and suppresses white saturation 
in bright parts at the same time. Both bright and dark parts can be recorded clearly.
≥ If there are extremely dark or bright parts or the brightness is insufficient, the effect may not be 
clear.
Focus Assist
A Part displayed in red
Fade
: [SW & DISP SETUP]  # [FADE COLOR] # 
[WHITE] or [BLACK]
(Fade in)
(Fade out)
MENU
DRS 
						

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This allows recording of the pictures and sound to start approximately 3 seconds before the 
recording start/stop button is pressed.
≥ appears on the screen.
≥Aim the unit at the subject beforehand.
≥ There is no beep sound.
≥ PRE-REC is canceled in the following case.
jAfter 3 hours have passed
≥
If you start recording within approximately 3 seconds after performing operations such as setting 
PRE-REC, turning on the unit or switching the mode, the 3 second-image w ill not be recorded fully.
≥Images displayed on the thumbnail in Playback Mode will differ from the motion pictures 
displayed at the start of playback.
This brightens dark areas so the image can be recorded clearly.
≥ If there are extremely dark parts or the brightness is insufficient, the effect may not be clear.
This makes the image brighter to prevent darkening of a backlit subject.
It can be temporary changed to Auto Focus when it is set to Manual Focus. ( l42)
1) Press the cursor button to display the operation icons on the screen.
2) Select the Push AF icon and press and hold the button in the center.
≥ It will be canceled when the button in the center is released.
≥The focus position set by the Push AF will be maintained when canceled.
PRE-RECThis prevents you from missing a shot.
Intelligent Exposure
Backlight Compensation
Push AF
PRE-REC