Panasonic HC-X900 User Manual

Operating Instructions
High Definition Video Camera
Model No. HC-X900
HC-X900M
HC-X800
Before use, please read these instructions completely.
VQT4D05
until
2012/1/31

Panasonic HC-X900 Specifications

General

Sensor type	MOS
Number of CCDs	3
Total megapixels	9.15 MP
Optical sensor size	1/4.1 \
Effective megapixels (image)	7.11 MP
Effective megapixels (movie)	6.57 MP
Filter size	49 mm
Digital zoom	700 x
Optical zoom	12 x
Image stabilizer	Yes
Focal length range	2.84 - 34.1 mm
Interchangeable lens	No
Maximum aperture number	2.8
Minimum aperture number	1.5
Focal length (35mm film equivalent)	29.8 - 369.8 mm
Maximum focal length (35mm film equiv)	372 mm
Minimum focal length (35mm film equiv)	29.8 mm
Camcorder media type	Memory card
Compatible memory cards	SD, SDHC, SDXC
Internal storage capacity	- GB
Focus adjustment	Auto/Manual
Built-in light	-
Shutter speed (photo)	1/2 - 1/2000 s
Shutter speed (video)	1/25 - 1/8000 s
Display diagonal	3.5 \
Display resolution (numeric)	1152000 pixels
Camcorder type	Handheld camcorder
Minimum illumination	1 lx
On Screen Display (OSD) languages	CZE, DAN, DEU, DUT, ENG, ESP, FRE, ITA, POL, SWE, TUR
Product color	Black
Video resolutions	960 x 540, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Supported video modes	1080i, 1080p, 540p
Video formats supported	AVCHD, H.264, MP4, MPEG4
Maximum video resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Bitrate at maximum video resolution	28 Mbit/s
Maximum image resolution	5120 x 2880 pixels
Still image resolution(s)	640 x 480, 1920 x 1080, 3840 x 2160, 5120 x 2880
Audio system	Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio formats supported	AAC, MP4
USB 2.0 ports quantity	USB 2.0 ports have a data transmission speed of 480 Mbps, and are backwards compatible with USB 1.1 ports. You can connect all kinds of peripheral devices to them.
Component video (YPbPr/YCbCr) out	1
Battery voltage	7.2 V
Battery life (max)	- h
Cables included	AC, AV, USB
Bundled software	HD Writer AE 4.1

Weight and Dimensions

Depth	150 mm
Width	67 mm
Height	72 mm
Weight	425 g

Summary

Information for Your Safety

About the recording format for recording motion pictures

Explains AVCHD and iFrame recording formats for motion pictures.

Indemnity about recorded content

Panasonic's disclaimer regarding recorded content and repairs.

Handling of built-in memory [HC-X900M]

Instructions for handling and backing up built-in memory.

About Condensation

Explains condensation causes and actions for camera parts.

Cards that you can use with this unit

Details supported SD card types and specifications for motion picture recording.

For the purposes of these operating instructions

Explains icons and model variations in the manual.

Preparation

Names and Functions of Main Parts

Identifies and describes the main parts of the camera.

Power supply

Information about compatible batteries and power supply.

Inserting/removing the battery

Step-by-step guide for inserting and removing the battery.

Charging the battery

Instructions for charging the battery using the AC adaptor.

Charging and recording time

Table showing charging and recording times for different batteries and modes.

Battery capacity indication

Explains how battery capacity is indicated and its limitations.

Recording to a card

How to record still pictures or motion pictures to an SD card.

Cards that you can use with this unit

Details supported SD card types and specifications for motion picture recording.

Inserting/removing an SD card

Step-by-step guide for inserting and removing an SD card.

Turning the unit on/off

How to turn the unit on and off using the power button or LCD/viewfinder.

Selecting a mode

How to switch between Motion Picture, Still Picture, and Playback modes.

Preparation of the LCD monitor/Viewfinder [HC-X900/HC-X900M]

How to adjust the image in the viewfinder.

How to use the touch screen

Explains how to operate the touch screen using touch and slide gestures.

About the operation icons

Explains the function of various operation icons on the screen.

About the Touch Menu

How to navigate and use the Touch Menu for recording and playback.

Setting date and time

Guide to setting the date and time, including world time.

Basic

Before recording

Basic camera positioning and recording tips.

Basic camera positioning

How to hold the unit and maintain stability.

Basic motion picture recording

Tips for steady motion picture recording.

Recording yourself

How to record yourself using the LCD monitor.

Attaching/Removing the lens hood

Instructions for attaching and removing the lens hood.

Selecting a media to record [HC-X900M]

How to select SD card or built-in memory for recording motion/still pictures.

Recording motion pictures

Detailed guide on how to record motion pictures.

Screen indications in the Motion Picture Recording Mode

Explains the various indicators displayed during motion picture recording.

About the compatibility of the recorded motion pictures

Details compatibility of AVCHD, iFrame, and MP4 formats with other devices.

Recording still pictures

Detailed guide on how to record still pictures.

Focus indication

Explains the focus indication symbols and their meanings.

About the screen indications in Still Picture Recording

Explains screen indicators specific to still picture recording.

About the focus indication

Explains focus indication and cases where it may not appear.

About the focusing area

Discusses the focusing area and conditions where it's not displayed.

Recording still pictures in Motion Picture Recording Mode

How to record still pictures while recording motion pictures.

Intelligent Auto Mode

Explains the different modes and effects available in Intelligent Auto Mode.

Automatic White Balance

Explains the range of Automatic White Balance adjustment.

Auto Focus

Explains how the auto focus works and its limitations.

Motion picture/Still picture playback

How to play back recorded motion pictures and still pictures.

Motion picture playback

Details playback operations like fast forward, rewind, and slow-motion.

Still picture playback

Details playback operations for still pictures like slide show.

Change the thumbnail display

How to change the thumbnail display format.

Speaker/Headphone volume adjustment

How to adjust speaker/headphone volume during playback.

Motion picture compatibility

Details compatibility of AVCHD, iFrame, and MP4 formats.

Still picture compatibility

Details compatibility of still picture formats like MPO and JPEG.

Using the menu screen

How to navigate and use the main menu screen.

Using the quick menu

How to quickly set various options using the quick menu.

Using the Setup Menu

Guide to using the setup menu for various settings.

SET WORLD TIME

How to set world time for recording destination.

QUICK START

How to enable and use Quick Start for faster startup.

SELECT OPERATION ICONS

How to change the operation icons displayed on the Touch Menu.

LCD SET

How to adjust LCD monitor brightness and colour.

VIERA Link

How to use VIERA Link for connected devices.

INITIAL SET

How to reset menu settings to default conditions.

FORMAT CARD

How to format SD cards for use with the unit.

FORMAT MEDIA

How to format built-in memory.

Using with the remote control [HC-X900/HC-X900M]

How to use the remote control for various operations.

Replace a button-type battery

How to replace the button-type battery in the remote control.

Advanced (Recording)

Using the zoom

How to use the zoom lever, zoom icons, and ring zoom.

Ring zoom [HC-X900/HC-X900M]

How to use the ring zoom function.

Image Stabilizer Function

How to use the image stabilizer to reduce shake.

1080/50p recording

How to set the camera to 1080/50p recording mode for highest quality.

Recording with the Touch function

How to use touch screen functions like zoom, AF/AE tracking, and touch shutter.

AF/AE tracking

How to use AF/AE tracking for automatic focus and exposure.

Optical Image Stabilizer Lock

How to lock the optical image stabilizer for continuous stabilization.

Touch Shutter

How to take a still picture by touching the subject.

Recording functions of operation icons

How to use various operation icons for effects like fade, flash, and smile shot.

PRE-REC

How to use PRE-REC to record up to 3 seconds before pressing record.

Smile Shot

How the camera automatically records still pictures when a smiling face is detected.

Built-in flash

How to use the built-in flash for still pictures in dark places.

Red-eye Reduction

How to reduce red-eye phenomenon in pictures.

Self-timer

How to use the self-timer for recording still pictures.

Intelligent Exposure

How to brighten dark areas for clearer images.

Backlight Compensation

How to brighten backlit subjects.

Guidelines

How to display guidelines for composition assistance.

Colour Night View

How to record colour images in very low light situations.

Recording functions of menus

How to use scene modes for different recording situations.

[SCENE MODE]

Explains various scene modes like Sports, Portrait, Scenery etc.

[REC MODE]

How to set picture quality and recording format (HA, HG, HX, HE, iFrame, AVCHD 3D, SbS 3D).

[TIME LAPSE REC]

How to set up time lapse recording.

[RELAY REC]

How to record continuously by switching between built-in memory and SD card.

[FACE RECOG.]

How to register and use face recognition for prioritizing focus and exposure.

[MIC SETUP]

How to adjust built-in microphone settings (Surround, Zoom Mic, Focus Mic, Stereo Mic).

[MIC LEVEL]

How to adjust input level from microphones.

[PICTURE ADJUST]

How to adjust image quality (sharpness, colour, exposure, white balance).

[ZEBRA]

How to display zebra patterns to indicate white saturation.

[LUMINANCE]

How to display luminance level for easier brightness adjustment.

[HISTOGRAM]

How to display a histogram for determining image exposure.

[PICTURE SIZE]

How to select picture size and its relation to zoom ratio.

[ASPECT RATIO]

How to select aspect ratio for printing or playback.

[HI-SPEED BURST]

How to record continuously at 50 still pictures per second for fast movement.

[AF ASSIST LAMP]

How the AF assist lamp helps in low light conditions.

Manual recording

How to switch to and use Manual Mode for recording.

White Balance

How to adjust white balance manually or automatically.

Manual shutter speed/iris adjustment

How to manually adjust shutter speed and iris/gain.

Recording with Manual Focus

How to perform focus adjustments using the multi manual ring.

Recording 3D image

How to attach and use the 3D conversion lens to record 3D images.

Functions that cannot be used during 3D recording

Lists functions unavailable when recording in 3D.

Advanced (Playback)

Motion picture playback using operation icon

How to play back motion pictures using on-screen operation icons.

Creating still picture from motion picture

How to save a single frame from a motion picture as a still picture.

Highlight & Time Frame Index

How to play back scenes from midway points based on search conditions.

Repeat Playback

How to play back scenes repeatedly.

Resuming the previous playback

How to resume playback from where it was stopped.

Zooming in on a still picture during playback (Playback zoom)

How to zoom in on a still picture during playback.

Playing back motion pictures/still pictures by date

How to play back scenes or still pictures recorded on the same day.

Highlight Playback

How to create and play back highlight scenes with added effects and music.

Setting up the custom effect

How to set custom effects and music for Highlight Playback.

Scene setting

How to select dates or scenes for Highlight Playback.

Checking the favourite scenes

How to add, check, and cancel favorite scenes.

Playing back the favourite scenes

How to include favorite scenes in Highlight Playback.

Priority settings

How to set priority for faces or face recognition during playback.

Playback time setting

How to set the playback time for Highlight Playback.

Setting up the title

How to add a title to the Highlight Playback.

Saving the Highlight Playback

How to save the Highlight Playback to SD card or built-in memory.

Changing the playback settings and playing back the slide show

How to change playback settings for slide shows.

Deleting scenes/still pictures

How to delete scenes or still pictures from the unit.

Deleting part of a scene (AVCHD)

How to delete a specific part of an AVCHD scene.

Dividing a scene (AVCHD)

How to divide an AVCHD scene into two parts.

Dividing a scene to partially delete (iFrame/MP4)

How to divide and partially delete iFrame or MP4 scenes.

Deleting personal information

How to delete Face Recognition information from recorded images.

Protecting scenes/still pictures

How to protect scenes/still pictures from accidental deletion.

Relay scene combining [HC-X900M]

How to combine relayed scenes from built-in memory and SD card.

Watching Video/Pictures on your TV

How to connect the unit to a TV to view recorded content.

To watch images on a regular TV (4:3) or when both sides of the images do not appear on the screen

How to adjust TV aspect ratio settings for correct display.

To display the on-screen information on the TV

How to display or hide on-screen information on the TV.

Connecting with a HDMI mini cable

How to connect the unit to a TV using an HDMI mini cable.

Listening in 5.1 channel sound (AVCHD) [HC-X900/HC-X900M]

How to listen to 5.1 channel sound with a compatible AV amplifier or TV.

Connecting with the AV multi cable

How to connect the unit using the AV multi cable.

Playback using VIERA Link

How to use VIERA Link for automatic linked operations with a TV.

3D image playback [HC-X900/HC-X900M]

How to play back 3D images on the LCD monitor or a 3D TV.

3D image playback [HC-X800]

How to play back 3D images on a 3D TV for HC-X800.

Viewing on the LCD monitor

How to view 3D images on the LCD monitor.

Converting and playing back 2D (3D) images as 3D (2D)

How to convert 2D images to 3D and play them back.

Adjusting 3D effect of the 3D image

How to adjust the 3D effect for better viewing.

Copy/Dubbing

Copying between SD card and Built-in Memory [HC-X900M]

How to copy files between SD card and built-in memory.

Copying

Details the process and formats for copying files.

Copying to discs

How to copy recorded content to DVD discs.

Connecting a DVD burner to copy to/play back a disc

How to connect a DVD burner for copying and playback.

Preparing for copying/playing back

Information about compatible discs and their preparation.

Copying to discs

Detailed steps for copying content to discs.

About recording formats when copying motion pictures

Explains recording formats and their conversion during copying.

Approximate time for copying to a disc

Provides estimated times for copying different types of content to discs.

Playing back the copied disc

How to play back discs that have been copied.

Managing the copied disc

How to format discs, auto protect, and display disc information.

Dubbing with a Blu-ray disc recorder, video devices, etc.

How to dub content using other devices like Blu-ray recorders.

Dubbing in high-definition picture quality

How to dub content in high-definition quality.

Dubbing in standard picture quality

How to dub content in standard picture quality using AV multi cable.

3D image storage

How to store 3D images with a DVD burner, video device, or PC.

With a PC

Using HD Writer AE 4.1

How to use HD Writer AE 4.1 software for PC operations.

Using a Mac

Information on using Mac computers with the software.

What you can do with a PC

Overview of PC operations with HD Writer AE 4.1.

End User License Agreement

Legal terms and conditions for using the software.

Operating environment

System requirements for using the PC software.

To use 3D playback function

System requirements specifically for 3D playback.

To use the HD Writer AE 4.1

Usage instructions for HD Writer AE 4.1.

Installation

Step-by-step guide for installing the PC software.

Uninstalling HD Writer AE 4.1

How to uninstall the PC software.

Connecting to a PC

How to connect the unit to a PC using a USB cable.

To disconnect USB cable safely

How to safely disconnect the USB cable from the PC.

About the PC display

How the unit appears on the PC and folder structures.

Starting HD Writer AE 4.1

How to launch the HD Writer AE 4.1 software.

Copying still pictures on PC

How to copy still pictures from the unit to a PC.

Others

Indications

Explains various indicators shown on the screen during recording and playback.

Recording indications

Details the indicators specific to Motion Picture and Still Picture recording modes.

Playback indications

Explains indicators shown during playback.

Indication of connection to other devices

Indicators for connecting to external devices like cards and built-in memory.

Confirmatory indications

Confirmatory indicators for battery status and SD card issues.

Confirmatory indications when a DVD burner is connected

Confirmatory indicators when a DVD burner is connected.

Messages

Explains common confirmation and error messages.

About recovery

What to do if faulty management information is found and repair is needed.

Troubleshooting

Common problems and their solutions (e.g., clicking sound, warped object, power issues).

Cautions for use

Important precautions for using the unit safely and effectively.

About the battery

Information on battery care, storage, and handling.

About the AC adaptor

Precautions and notes regarding the AC adaptor.

About status indicator during charging

Explains the status indicator lights during battery charging.

About 3D recording

Precautions and guidelines for recording 3D images.

About 3D viewing

Precautions and advice for viewing 3D images.

About the SD card

How to handle SD cards, especially when disposing of them.

LCD monitor/viewfinder

Notes on LCD monitor care and potential display imperfections.

About personal information

How personal information is handled and deleted.

About condensation

Explains condensation causes and helpful hints to prevent it.

About copyright

Information on copyright laws and licenses for software and technologies.

Recording modes/approximate recordable time

Table showing recordable times for different recording modes and media.

Approximate number of recordable pictures

Table showing approximate number of pictures that can be recorded.

Optional accessories

How to attach optional accessories like conversion lenses and filter kits.