Panasonic NV-VX55A User manual

Panasonic
VHS-C Movie Camera
Operating Instructions
NV-VX55A
Model No. NV-VX55A
Before use, please read these instructions completely.
VQT7498-2

Information
for
Your
Safety
WARNING
To reduce the risk of fire or shock hazard and
annoying interference, use only the
recommended accessories and do not expose
this equipment to rain or moisture. 3
Do not remove the cover (or back); there are no}
user serviceable parts inside. Refer
servicing to qualified service personnel.
: Movie Camera
E> The rating plate is on the underside of the
» Movie Camera.
’ AC Adaptor
The rating plate Is on the underside of the AC
Adaptor.
As this equipment gets hot during use,
operate it in a well ventilated place; do not
install this equipment in a confined space
such as a book case or similar unit.
@ Carefully read the Operating instructions
and use the Movie Camera correctly.
Injury or material damage resulting from any kind
of use that is not in accordance with the operating
procedures explained In these Operating
Instructions are the sole responsibility of the user.
@ Try out the Movie Camera.
Be sure to try out the Movie Camera before
recording your first Important event and check that
it records properly and functions correctly.
@ The manufacturer is not liable for loss of
recorded contents.
The manufacturer shall in no event be liable for the
loss of recordings due to malfunction or defect of
this Movie Camera, its accessories or cassettes.
@ Carefully observe copyright laws.
Recording of pre-recorded tapes or discs or other
published or broadcast material for purposes other
than your own private use may infringe copyright
laws. Even for the purpose of private use,
recording of certain material may be restricted.
IF THE SUPPLY CORD OF THIS
EQUIPMENT IS DAMAGED, IT MUST BE
REPLACED BYTHE SPECIAL CORD.

Contents
If you want to start using the Movie Camera
immediately, be sure to read at least the pages marked
with a.
Standard Accessories .......
Controls and Components.
4 The 3 Types of Power Supplies .
@Using the AC Adaptor as Power Supply Unit
Charging the Battery
Attaching the Charged Battery
Using the LCD Monitor
Adjusting the LCD Monitor .
Using the Menu Function.
@Using the Main Menu......
©Using the Title Menu ..
4 Inserting the Cassette ..
®Selecting the Recording Speed
*Selecting the Correct Tape Length.
©Confirming the Remaining Tape Time
Adjusting the Finder ..
Adjusting the Grip Belt .
Handling the Lens Cap ...
Attaching the Shoulder Strap and Remote
Controller Holder
Setting the Date and Time ..
Recording with the Time and/or Date
Superimposed in the Picture
Charging the Built-in Lithium Battery ..
Basic Operations
4 Recording in the Full Auto Mode.............. 28
Checking the End of a Recorded Scene
(Recording Check Function)... 30
®Searching for a Tape Position Before the End of
the Last Recording
(Camera Search Function) ..
Zooming IN/OUE ..resecccenees
Using the Macro Close-up Function ..
# Playback
Watching Playback on the Movie Camera ....... 34
Watching Playback on the LCD Monitor with
the Movie Camera Placed on a Table ..........06 35
eWatching Playback on a TV Set... serene 36
®Playing Back on a VCR
(Using the Supplied Cassette Adaptor) .
© Fast-Forwarding ....
Rewinding
@Eliminating Picture Distortions
(Tracking Adjustment) ..
e@Cue Playback .
Review Playbac
@Still Playback
After Use....
Cleaning the Finder ...
@Cleaning the Movie Camera Body .
®Cleaning the Lens

No NE-]alot-10 Mm @) o\-¥e71 016) at)
Using the Power Save Functions ose 41
Using the Auto Power Save Function .............41
@Using the Anti-Ground Recording Function ..... 42
Fading In/Out oc ccssssssesessessserssssesecnssescessseeereens 43
Recording a Still Picture
(Snapshot RECOrdINg) ....csccesssscesseserseseceeseesees 44
About the Super Image Stabilizer and Digital
ZOOM FUNCTIONS ..0....sesssceseessssecsesecnssneseestenesensnees
Using the Super Image Stabilizer Function .
eUsing the Digital Zoom Function ..........cceee
About the Digital Effect Functions .
Using the Mirror Function..
@Using the Mix Function ..
Using the Wipe Function ...
®Using the Strobe Function.
Using the Other Digital Effect Functions ..
eUsing the Digital Fade Functions
Motion-Sensor-Controlled Recording
Subjects and Recording Conditions for Which
the Manual Mode Is More Suitable ...
Recording with Manual White Balance
ACJUSEMENE ooo. esecseseeseseesesscscesssveveseesncasesenesansncars 59
Colour Temperature and White Balance
Adjustment
Recording with Manual Focus Adjustment .........
Recording Fast-moving Subjects
(Sports MOE) w....ccssscsesssseeseesecsscesssssesesessesveess 62
Making Your Subject Stand out Sharply from the
Background (Portrait Mode) ...
Recording Dark Scenes More
(Low Light Mode) ...
Recording Backlit Scenes (Backlight Mode) .

No ME: Taterste MO) er-ve- Lire) ats)
Using the Remote Controller oo... cscs OD
*inserting the Button-Type Battery... 66
Recording Yourself with the LCD Monitor
Facing Forward ...ssccssecssesereesnatsesecsersesnsees 67
Recording with Programmed Titles inserted in
the Picture
*Selecting the Desired Language
®Selecting the Desired Title ...
©Selecting the Desired Colour of the Title ..
Selecting the Size of the Title Indication...
Creating Your Own Titles and Inserting Them
During Recording
(Digital Superimposer Function)
Storing the Title in Memory
Selecting the Desired Colour for the Title
Inserting a Title at the Beginning of a
RECOFING sc eecceetesteesscerestscscerseesseees
Inserting a Title During Recording ...
Using the Tape Counter Indication
Checking the Elapsed Tape Time..
Using the Memory Stop Function .
Dubbing (Copying) .........
eda scer-U) (relatcwm=toaltlvorc] Mlavielauir:1aie) ame) (on
Precautions
Precautions for the Movie Camera
®Precautions for the AC Adaptor .
Precautions for the Battery ....
Precautions for the Cassette .
Causes of Condensation and Remedy
®Video Head Clogging and Remedy ........sessee 81
How the White Balance (Tint) Adjustment
WOPKS3s 5. sisscccsvsivesstanas cain sasosandeveetsesvavbcetvathacvncehicesaed
How the Focus Adjustment Works .
Indications
Demonstration Mode...
Optional Accessories .
Specifications ...........
Before Requesting Service

This chapter explains the necessary steps before you
can start using the Movie Camera.
Standard Accessories
1. AC Adaptor (-» 11, 12, 13, 27, 79)
To supply power to the Movie Camera and to charge
the Battery,
DC Input Cable and AC Mains Cable (- 11, 12)
To connect the AC Adaptor to the Movie Camera and
to an AC mains socket.
2. Battery (-> 12, 13, 14, 15, 80)
To supply power to the Movie Camera.
. Cassette Adaptor and Battery (=> 37)
. Shoulder Strap (-> 24)
. AV Cable (~» 36, 78)
To connect the Movie Camera to the Video Input and
Audio Input Sockets on a TV or a VCR.
6. Remote Controller, Remote Controller Holder
and Button-Type Battery (- 24, 65, 66)
7. Cleaning Tissue (-> 16, 40)
To clean the Lens and the LCD Monitor.
a > w

78 910 11
Controls and Components
1 Lens Cap (+ 23, 59)
2 White Balance Sensor (-> 82)
3 Remote Control Sensor (-> 65)
4 Microphone
5 Tally Lamp (> 28, 56)
6 Support Leg (-» 35)
7 Focus Button [FOCUS] (+> 61)
8 White Balance Button [W.B] (> 59)
9 Fade Button [FADE] (-> 43, 54, 55)
10 Backlight Button [BACKLIGHT] (-> 64)
11 Auto Exposure Selector [PROGRAMME AE]
{> 28, 59, 61, 62, 63)
12 Eyecup

13 14 15 16 17
D,MODE >
@- seanc+
22 ost catoun ST
23 9
24-~ cevrcrmposs ~33
C je @ol ) 5-2
L_p.errect 26~~ 27
8
13 Digital Mode Selector Button [D.MODE >]
(-» 45, 46, 47)
14 Super Image Stabilizer Indication Lamp [ @]
(7 45, 46)
15 Digital Zoom Indication Lamp [@] (~ 45, 47)
16 Digital Effect Indication Lamp [(0)]
(> 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
17 Digital Effect Selector Button [D.EFFECT]
(> 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
18 Date/Time Shift Button/Tracking Button
[DATE/TIME/SHIFT « <4 TRACKING] (> 25, 38)
19 Memory Button [MEMORY] (- 75, 76, 77)
20 Playback Button/Menu Button [PLAY/MENU]
{+> 19, 21, 26, 34, 36, 47, 56, 67, 69, 70, 71, 77, 78)
21 Pause Button/Item Selector Button
[PAUSE/ITEM]
(+ 19, 21, 26, 39, 47, 56, 67, 69, 70, 71)
22 Rewind/Review Button [<4</-SEARCH]
(% 30, 31, 34, 38, 39, 77)
23 Date/Time/Title Button (DATE/TITLE]
(9 25, 26, 71)
24 Digital Image Store Button [STORE] (> 72)
25 VCR (Playback) Mode Lamp [VCR]
(-> 34, 36, 41, 77, 78)
26 VCR/Camera Mode Selector Button
[VCR/ICAMERA] (~ 34, 36, 77, 78)
27 Camera (Recording) Mode Lamp [CAMERA]
(+ 19, 23, 25, 28, 34)
28 Date/Time Set Button/Tracking Button
[DATE/TIME/SET + TRACKING >] (-> 25, 38)
29 Tape Counter Reset Button [RESET]
(> 75, 77)
30 Stop Button/item Set Button [STOP/SET]
(> 19, 21, 26, 34, 47, 56, 67, 69, 70, 71, 77, 78)
31 Fast Forward/Cue Button [>/SEARCH+]
(> 31, 38, 39, 77)
32 Colour Selector Button for Digital Image
[COLOUR] (+ 73)
33 Digital Image Superimpose Button [OFF/ON]
(7 72, 73, 74)

34 LCD Monitor Open Lever [AOPEN]
(> 16, 20, 35, 67)
35 Volume Control [VOLUME] (> 17)
36 Bright Control [BRIGHT] (> 17)
37 Colour Control [COLOUR] (- 17)
38 LCD Monitor (~> 16, 17)
39 Cassette Compartment (> 20)
40 Cassette Compartment Lock Button [LOCK]
(> 20)
41 Microphone Socket [MIC]
42 Edit Socket [EDIT] (-> 78)
43 Shoulder Strap Holders (-> 24)
44 Tripod Receptacie
45 Power Switch [POWER]
(> 15, 19, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 34, 40)

56 57 58 59
46
Video
Output
Socket
[VIDEO
OUT]
(-»
36,
78)
47 Radio Frequency DC Output Socket
[RF DC OUT] (- 36)
48
Audio
Output
Socket
[AUDIO
OUT]
(+
36,
78)
49
Finder
(+>
23,
40)
50
Eyepiece
Corrector
Ring
(>
23)
51
DC
Input
Socket
[DC
IN]
(>
11)
52
Battery
Eject
Lever
[BATTERY
EJECT}
(+
15)
53
Recording
Start/Stop
Button
(>
23,
26,
28, 29, 30, 31, 49, 50,
51,
52, 54,
55)
54
Grip
Belt
(>
23)
55
Cassette
Eject
Lever
[4
EJECT]
(+
20)
56 Snapshot Recording Button [SNAP SHOT]
(> 44)
57 Zoom Lever [W « T] (> 32, 33, 47, 59, 61)
58 Focus Ring (> 61, 72)
59 Speaker (-> 17)