Basic Operation Procedure

Basic shooting is conducted using the following procedure.

  1. Attach the necessary devices, and check that power is being supplied.

  2. Insert memory cards, as required.

    If memory cards are inserted in both card slots A and B, the unit will automatically switch to the second card when the remaining capacity on the first card reduces to zero.

  3. Set the power switch to the On position.

    The power lamp turns on, and the shooting screen appears on the LCD monitor or viewfinder.

  4. Press the record START/STOP button on the grip or handle.

    The recording/tally lamp lights and recording begins.

  5. To stop recording, press the record START/STOP button again.

    Recording stops and the unit switches to [Stby] (recording standby) mode.

Note

  • If the record START/STOP button is pressed within a few seconds after turning the unit on, the recording/tally lamp lights up to indicate the unit is in the recording state, but recording to the memory card may not occur for the first few seconds, depending on the selected recording format.

Shooting in FULL AUTO mode

When the AUTO/MANUAL switch is set to AUTO, the auto ND filter, auto iris, auto gain control, auto shutter, and ATW mode are enabled, and the brightness and white balance are adjusted automatically.

To adjust these items separately, set the AUTO/MANUAL switch to MANUAL.

Note

  • [Auto ND Filter] is activated when [ND Filter Position] is set to [On] in ND variable mode. When the ND PRESET/VARIABLE switch is set to VARIABLE, switch between [On]/[Clear] manually according to the brightness of the subject.

Shooting continuously while changing memory cards

When memory cards are inserted in both card slots A and B, recording automatically switches to the second memory card just before the remaining capacity on the first card reduces to zero (relay recording).

You can continue recording continuously when switching memory cards by replacing the memory card that is full with a new memory card.

Note

  • Do not eject a memory card while recording to it is in progress. When recording, only change memory cards in card slots for which the access indicator is off.
  • When the remaining capacity on the memory card being recorded becomes less than one minute and a recordable memory card is inserted in the other card slot, a message appears. The message disappears after switching memory cards.
  • Recording may not continue if recording is started when the remaining memory card capacity is less than one minute. For correct operation, check that the remaining memory card capacity is more than one minute before starting recording.
  • Video created using the relay recording function of the unit cannot be played back seamlessly on the unit.
  • To combine video created using the relay recording function of the unit, use “Catalyst Browse” software. Before use, check the “Catalyst Browse” operating environment.
  • When using the relay recording function with SD cards, use SD cards of the same type.

About clips

Clips

When you stop recording, the video, audio, and accompanying data from the start to the end of the recording are saved as a single “clip” on a memory card.

Clip names

Each clip recorded by the unit is automatically assigned a name using the naming format set using [TC/Media] – [Clip Name Format] in the full menu.

Maximum clip recording duration

The maximum recording duration of a clip varies depending on the recording format and can be as high as 13 hours, at which point recording stops automatically.

Monitoring audio

You can monitor the audio that is being recorded using headphones.

Connecting a set of headphones to the headphone jack enables you to monitor the audio being recorded. You can monitor the playback audio using the built-in speaker or headphones.

Select the channel to monitor using [Monitor CH] on the [Audio] status screen or [Audio] – [Audio Output] – [Monitor CH] in the full menu.

Hint

  • The unit supports a screen display/menu screen reader function.

Time data

Setting the timecode

Set the timecode to record using [TC/Media] – [Timecode] in the full menu.

Setting user bits

You can add an 8-digit hexadecimal number to a clip as user bits. You can also set the user bits to the current time. Set using [TC/Media] – [Users Bit].

Displaying time data

Set the timecode to display using [TC/Media] – [TC Display] – [Display Select] in the full menu.

Pressing an assignable button assigned with [DURATION/TC/U-BIT] will switch the display between the timecode, user bits, and elapsed time in sequence.

Switching the timecode input/output (PXW-Z200 only)

You can switch the timecode input/output using the TC IN/OUT switch.

Reviewing the recording

You can check the video of the last recorded clip on the screen using recording review mode.

Note

  • Recording review is not supported if the video format is changed after recording a clip.

Recording review method

Assign [Rec Review] to one of the assignable buttons beforehand.

When recording is stopped, press the assignable button assigned with [Rec Review]. Playback of the last recorded clip begins.

The clip is played to the end, recording review ends, and the unit returns to [Stby] (recording standby) mode.

To stop recording review

Press the assignable button assigned with [Rec Review] or press the CANCEL/BACK button.

Recording review settings

You can set the playback start position to one of the following using the [Technical] – [Rec Review] setting in the full menu.

  • Last 3 seconds of the clip
  • Last 10 seconds of the clip
  • Start of the clip

Hint

  • If you want to review a specific clip after recording multiple clips, press the THUMBNAIL button to display the thumbnail screen, and select the clip to start playback.
TP1001670323