Panasonic AJHDC27H - DVCPRO HD CAMERA User manual

USER GUIDE: PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
BYALLEN YEUNG
JUNE 2008
CONTENTS
Specifications
Gamma Curve, Output Formats and Workflow
Camera Set Up
Operation
Monitor Set Up
Sensitometry
Colour Reproduction
Post-production Workflow
References

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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SPECIFICATIONS1
Camera
Lens Mount: 2/3” B4
Frame Rate: 4 to 60fps
Shutter Angle: 3° to 350°
Weight: 4.7kg
DC IN: 11 – 17V
DC OUT: 11 – 17V, 1.5A
Sensor
Sensor Type: 2/3” Progressive Scan 3-CCD
Effective Pixel: 1280 x 720
A/D Converter: 12-bit
Video S/N 54dB
Default Gamma
Curves:
1. Video Menu (ITU-R 709) – ISO 640
2. V. Rec (ITU-R 709)
3. F. Rec + Gamma Box = ITU-R 709 Preview
VTR
Recording Format
and Codec:
720p, 60Hz / 720p, 59.94Hz in DVCPRO HD
Recording Standard: ITU-R 709
Recording Medium: DVCPRO HD Tape (AJ-HP64ELG)
Recording Time: 32 min.
Built-in Filter3
CC Filter
A B C D
Tungsten Cross 3200K 4300K 5600K
WB Preset Daylight Cross 5600K 7200K 9900K
1 Clear 0EV 0EV -2/3EV -1 1/3EV
2 ND 1/4 -2EV -2EV -2 2/3EV -3 1/3EV
3 ND 1/16 -4EV -4EV -4 2/3EV -5 1/3EV
ND
Filter
4 ND 1/64 -6EV -6EV -6 2/3EV -7 1/3EV

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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Gamma Curve Selection and the Output Formats3,4
Medium Dynamic Range
Human 13 Stops
Film Stock 9 – 15.9 Stops
HDC27H 11 Stops
Cinema Screen (SMPTE) 9 Stops
HD Broadcast Monitor (ITU-R 709) 7.5 Stops
SD Broadcast Monitor (ITU-R 601) 5 Stops
Theatrical Output (with Broadcast Priority)
Workflow Dynamic Range Equipment
GAMMA: F.REC
Camera Sensor (Tape)
Recording ITU-R 709 Preview
HDC27H + GBX27
(Preview middle range of
sensor, but conform to
ITU-R 709 standard)
Capturing
Editing Master (File)
FRC27 + HD1700
Grading for
HD Broadcast
Output ITU-R 709 (Tape)
GBX27 + HD1700 for
direct output or colour
correction if needed
Grading for
Theatrical Output Theatrical (HD-D5 Tape)
Colour correction
required and Panasonic
LUT for film out

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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Broadcast Output
Workflow Dynamic Range Dynamic Range Equipment
GAMMA: VIDEO MENU GAMMA: V.REC
Camera Sensor Camera Sensor
Recording
ITU 709 (Tape)
By blocking
sensor dynamic
range ITU 709 (Tape)
By compressing
sensor dynamic
range
HDC27H
Capturing Editing Master
ITU 709 (File)
Editing Master
ITU 709 (File)
FRC27 + HD1700
Grading for HD
Broadcast Output ITU 709 (Tape)
ITU 709 (Tape)
Direct Output or
HD1700 to tape
Allen’s Guide:
1. Expose for output format, not for input format
2. Light for the picture, not for the waveform monitor

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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CAMERA SET UP1
Menu Control Button
1. MENU Button – Push
2. JOG DIAL – Push or Turn
Menu Hierarchy
FILM USER MENU VTR USER MENU
FILM MAIN MENU 1
FILM MAIN MENU 2
FILM MAIN MENU 3
FILM MAIN MENU 4
VTR MAIN MENU
Recording Settings
Reset Factory Default (P. 111)
MAIN MENU 4 => INITIALIZE => READ FACTORY DATA => YES
* Reboot required
Setting Sampling Frequency (P. 113)
MAIN MENU 4 => OPTION => SYSTEM FREQ => 60.00Hz
* Reboot required
Gamma Selection 1 of 2 (P. 112)
MAIN MENU 4 => OPTION => CAM MENU SEL => FILM MENU
Gamma Selection 2 of 2 (P. 99)
MAIN MENU 1 => GAMMA=> CINE GAMMA SEL
*F. REC requires FILM GAMMAcorrection in monitor
Ref: P.13, B_AJ-HDC27H.pdf

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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Display Settings
Menu Display on SDI Output(9@P.16) (P. 116)
VTR MAIN MENU => FUNCTION => CHARACTER ON SDI => STATUS
* Require Character Switch(12@P.17) is set to ON
Safe Area Setting (P. 101)
MAIN MENU 2 => VF MARKER => SAFETY ZONE
*Safe Area on monitor is set separately inside monitor menu
Aspect Ratio Marker (P. 101)
MAIN MENU 2 => VF MARKER => FRAME SIG
*Aspect Ratio Marker on monitor is set separately inside monitor menu
Display of Shutter Speed / Angle / Percentage (P. 100)
MAIN MENU 2 => VF DISPLAY => SYNCHRO SCAN DISP
Colour Bars Selection (P. 104)
MAIN MENU 2 => CAMERA SW MODE => COLOR BARS => SMPTE
Other Settings
Scan Reverse Function (for 35mm Film Adapter) (P. 106)
MAIN MENU 2 => FRAME MODE => SCAN REVERSE
MENU Lock (P.112)
(Require unlock from Panasonic, consult before using)
MAIN MENU 4 => OPTION => ENG SECURITY

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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OPERATION1
Adjusting Frame Rate (P.61)
1. Locate current frame rate on the screen (Top left corner)
2. Press JOG DIAL (Frame rate blinking)
3. Press “+” or “-“ (2@P.14) to adjust frame rate
Activate Frame Rate under 11FPS (P. 106)
MAIN MENU 2 => FRAME MODE => FRAME RATE RANGE => 60-4
Adjusting Shutter Angle (P.57)
1. Locate current shutter angle on the screen (e.g. SS: 180.0 deg)
2. Tap down SHUTTER switch(7@P.16) until “SS:◆180.0deg” is appeared
3. Press “+” or “-“ (2@P.14) to adjust shutter angle
Manual White Balance (P. 53)
1. Turn CC Filter(1@P.14) to closet existing colour temperature
2. Fill up the screen with a white paper
3. Adjust aperture to prevent over of under exposure
4. Select Aor B switch(3@P.14)
5. Tap up AWB switch(6@P.15)
6. Wait until “AWB OK” is appeared
*If NG is display, re-adjust CC Filter or aperture
Setting White Balance Preset (P. 99)
MAIN MENU 1 => CAMERASETTING => LIGHTING
Manual Black Balance (P. 56, Important!)
1. Close Aperture
2. Tap down ABB switch(6@P.15)
3. Wait until “ABB OK” is appeared
Gain Control (P. 56)
Setting Gain for Gain Switch(5@P. 15) (P. 96)
MAIN MENU 1 => LOW SETTING => MASTER GAIN
* Require Black Balance Reset

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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Time-code Reset (P.66)
1. Make sure DISPLAY switch(6@P.21) is TC
2. Set TCG switch(9@P.21) to SET
3. Press RESET button(5@P.21)
4. If necessary, use SHIFT and “+” ”-“ to assign time-code
5. Set TCG switch(9@P.21) to R-RUN
Monitor Setup (BT-LH900p)2
Pre-adjustment
1. Factory Default (P.19 – Monitor OM)
SYSTEM CONFIG => USER MODE LOAD => FACTORY
2. Film Gamma Select (F.REC) (P.18 Monitor OM)
VIDEO CONFIG => GAMMA SELECT => FILM
*Normal for Video Menu or Film Menu (V.REC)

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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SENSITOMETRY TESTS
Exposure Data (Gamma: Default F.REC)
(At 1/50s shutter speed and T-stop 2.8)
IRE Level (%) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
Foot-candles
EV
Exposure Index: ISO 999
Exposure Range: 99 Stops
Exposure Ratio: 9 Stops Over / 9 Stops Under
Exposure Latitude: 99 Stops
Transfer Characteristic Curve (Gamma: Default F.REC)
(At 1/50s shutter speed and T-stop 2.8)
Exposure Value
-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
IRE
Level
110%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Foot-candle Required

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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SENSITOMETRY TESTING METHOD
Testing Equipment
1. 18% Reflection Grey Card
2. Incident and Reflected Light Meter
3. Waveform Monitor
4. Camera with Lenses
5. Adjustable Light (approx. 2000 foot-candles)
Testing Procedure
Background should be kept at 0 foot-candle throughout testing
Fill grey card to 70% of the screen
Set shutter speed to 1/50s and T-stop to 2.8
Make sure the incident reading at grey card and reflected reading at camera are the same
1. Adjust light level to 0 IRE on waveform monitor
2. Adjust light level to 5 IRE and measure incident reading at grey card
3. Repeat and write down measurement until 110 IRE
Changing Dynamic Range and Transfer Characteristics
Highlight
Dynamic LVL (D)
Or
Knee Point and Knee Slope
Shadow Transition
BALCK STR LVL (BL)
Shadow Detail
BLACK STR (BS)
Contrast
MASTER GAMMA (MG) (0.75 hard, 0.35 soft)
Example Gamma: D500MG0.45BL05% / D200MG0.75BS-3

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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COLOUR REPRODUCTION
POST-PRODUCTION WORKFLOW

UNDERSTANDING PANASONIC AJ-HDC27H
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REFERENCES
[1] Panasonic, Operation Instructions AJ-HDC27Hp, 2005
[2] Panasonic, Operation Instructions BT-LH900p, 2005
[3] Panasonic, Varicam Technology, 2006
[4] Bergeron, M., Increasing Dynamic Range for Digital Cinematography, 2004