Panasonic HVX200A - Camcorder - 1080p Getting Started Manual page 3

CAMERA FEATURES AND OPERATION
Focusing
Focus is truly manual and repeatable – you can set marks for focus pulls as you
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would on a professional broadcast or film camera.
Viewfinder shows focus distance. It can be set to show a percentage number (00-
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99) or it can be set to show distance to subject / focal plane in meters or feet (this
can be set up in Display Setup menu). Using feet is recommended because then
you can use a tape measure to precisely measure focus / have an actor hit a mark
if you are shooting in a controlled / fiction environment (note that this will no
longer work accurately if you use an additional lens adapter).
Focus can be switched to automatic or manual. Autofocus is very rarely
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recommended for professional shooting situations. Keep in mind that AF is much
less responsive at slow frame rates (needs to be 60i or 60p to respond quickly)
and doesn't perform well in low light.
EVF detail button – creates slight edge enhancement highlight in viewfinder on
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objects in focus; useful for confirming focus visually.
Focus assist button – works only in HD recording modes; creates pixel-for-pixel
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magnified extraction viewer window in viewfinder; another useful visual
confirmation of focus
General Procedure to focus camera:
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a) Zoom in on subject to 100%
b) Open iris up to narrow DOF
c) Put on ND filter if image is too bright with open iris
d) Press focus assist to dial in on subject
Use push auto focus to confirm focus in a rushed situation.
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Zooming
Zooming is also truly manual – in manual mode, zoom ring can do snap zooms
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like a true broadcast or film camera.
Front manual / servo switch toggles zoom ring mode; servo allows use of rocker
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zoom switch controls. Manual allows faster snap zooms (great for documentary).
Side zoom rocker switch is pressure sensitive
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Top zoom rocker switch speed is fixed, but can be changed using 1/2/3 mode
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switch. (customize in SW MODE menu)
ND Filter
Each level is a 3-stop ND filer (=ND .9)
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ND 1/8 cuts exposure to 1/8 of the unfiltered exposure (8 = 2
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ND 1/64 cuts 6 stops
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Iris Dial
Aperture readout is on LCD
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Max aperture depends on where you are in zoom range: zoomed in at 100%,
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3 = 3 stops)