CANON DC410 User Manual

PUB. DIE-314

DVD Camcorder

Instruction Manual

DC410

DC411

DC420

DC420

PAL

Introduction

Important Usage Instructions

WARNING!

WARNING!

CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK AND TO REDUCE ANNOYING
INTERFERENCE, USE THE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES ONLY.

CAUTION:

DISCONNECT THE MAINS PLUG FROM THE SUPPLY SOCKET WHEN NOT IN USE.

The Mains plug is used as the disconnect device. The Mains plug shall remain readily operable to disconnect the
plug in case of an accident.

While using the compact power adapter, do not wrap it or cover it with a piece of cloth, and do not place it in
confined narrow spaces. Heat may build up, the plastic case may deform and it could result in electric shock or fire.

CA-570 identification plate is located on the bottom.

This product has been classified under IEC60825-1:1993 and EN60825-1:1994.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR
BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS
PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

Using any device other than the Compact Power Adapter CA-570 may damage the camcorder.

CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT

European Union (and EEA) only.

recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and batteries and accumulators. Improper handling of
this type of waste could have a possible impact on the environment and human health due to potentially hazardous
substances that are generally associated with EEE. Your cooperation in the correct disposal of this product will
contribute to the effective usage of natural resources.
For more information about the recycling of this product, please contact your local city office, waste authority,
approved scheme or your household waste disposal service or visit www.canon-europe.com/environment.
(EEA: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein)

These symbols indicate that this product is not to be disposed of with your household waste,
according to the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC), the Battery Directive (2006/66/EC) and/or your
national laws implementing those Directives.
This product should be handed over to a designated collection point, e.g., on an authorized
one-for-one basis when you buy a new similar product or to an authorized collection site for

2

How to Select a DVD Disc

There are many types of DVD discs but this camcorder uses only the following three
types of 8 cm mini DVD discs: DVD-R, DVD-R DL and DVD-RW. Read the differences
between them and select the disc that best fits your needs.

DVD-R

DVD-Rs can be recorded only once – you cannot edit or delete the recordings. On the
other hand, these discs are comparatively cheaper and can be played back on most
DVD players.

DVD-R DL

Dual-layered discs allow writing up to 80% more data (approx. 2.6 GB) on a single
recording side. However, you cannot edit or delete the recordings.

Dual-layered discs have two recording layers. The
camcorder will record on layer 1 and then continue to
layer 2. During the playback of a recording spanning
both layers, you may notice a brief stop (about 1
second) at the point where the camcorder switches to
the second layer. The switch to layer 2 will break the
recording into 2 separate scenes.

DVD-RW

Recordings made on a DVD-RW disc can be edited or deleted. Also, the disc can be
initialized. Initializing a DVD-RW disc clears all the recordings and restores the free
space on the disc to its initial value so you can use the same disc again.

Disc specification on DVD-RWs

DVD-RW discs can be recorded using either one of two disc specifications: VIDEO mode
or VR mode. When you first insert a brand new DVD-RW disc, the camcorder will
automatically display the initialization screen where you can select the disc specification
for the disc.
VIDEO mode: Once finalized, discs recorded in VIDEO mode can be played back on most
common DVD players offering the best compatibility. However, recordings cannot be
edited (deleted, rearranged, etc.).
VR mode: You can easily edit the recordings. However, discs recorded in VR mode can be
played back only with DVD players compatible with DVD-RWs in VR mode.

Note: DVD-R and DVD-R DL discs can be recorded only in VIDEO mode.

Best for Compatibility

Best for Recording Time

Layer 2

Scene 2

Layer 1

Scene 1

Recording surface

Best for Reusability

3

Enjoying your DVDs

V

After selecting the type of disc that is best for your needs, complete the rest of
the preparations ( 16) to get your camcorder ready to start recording.

Enjoy Shooting Video ( 27)

Take it easy recording movies in mode or have fun trying out more
advanced functions ( 35).

Finalize the Disc ( 47)

Do not forget to finalize your disc with this
camcorder to play it back on a DVD player or
other external device.

FINALIZE

Play back your finalized disc on your
DVD player ( 48)

You can also connect the camcorder to the
TV and play back the disc with your
camcorder ( 64).

Playback on external devices

Make sure to finalize discs ( 47) before you play them back on external DVD
devices. The disc's type will affect its compatibility with external devices. Refer to the
instruction manual of the external device and make sure it is compatible before
inserting the disc.

For the highest compatibility with external DVD devices we recommend using

IDEO mode.

4

Available features depend on the DVD disc used

Disc type DVD-R

Disc specifications VIDEO VIDEO VR

DVD-R DL

DVD-RW

Editing scenes with this camcorder (deleting
scenes, dividing scenes, etc.) ( 44)

Deleting a scene while reviewing it after recording it
( 32)

Initializing the disc in order to use it again for
recording ( 46)

–––

––

––

1

Giving a title to the disc ( 46)

Finalizing the disc in order to play it with an external
DVD device ( 47)

Adding recordings to a disc already finalized
( 48)

Recording more video on a single recording side
( 29)

1

Only scenes in the playlist can be divided.

2

To finalize a DVD-R DL disc, the camcorder has to process both layers. Therefore, and

depending on the amount of free space on the disc, this process may be lengthy.

3

You will need to unfinalize the disc first.

2

––

–––

3

Approved discs

The camcorder's performance was tested and its correct operation was verified
using the following types of discs (as of November 2008*). Single-layered: Hitachi­Maxell HG-series discs; dual-layered: Canon DVD-R DL54 and Verbatim DVD-R
DL discs. For further details, contact directly the customer support center of the
disc's manufacturer. Note that attempting to record or play back with this
camcorder DVD discs that were recorded, initialized or finalized with a device other
than this camcorder can result in damage to the camcorder or in the permanent
loss of the recordings.

* For the latest information, visit your local Canon Web site or contact your nearest

Canon office. The use of DVD-R DL discs that have not been tested by Canon may
result in incorrect recording/playback or in not being able to remove the disc.

5

Table of contents

Introduction ____________________________________

3 How to Select a DVD Disc
4 Enjoying your DVDs
9 About this Manual

10 Getting to Know the Camcorder

10 Supplied Accessories
11 Components Guide
13 Screen Displays

Preparations ____________________________________

16 Getting Started

16 Charging the Battery Pack
18 Preparing the Accessories

18 Basic Operation of the Camcorder

18 Power Switch
19 Joystick and Joystick Guide
19 Using the Menus

21 First Time Settings

21 Setting the Date and Time
21 Changing the Language
22 Changing the Time Zone

22 Getting Ready to Start Recording

22 Opening the Lens Cover and Adjusting the LCD screen
23 Inserting and Removing a Disc
25 Inserting and Removing a Memory Card

Video _________________________________________

27 Basic Recording

27 Shooting Video
29 Selecting the Video Quality (Recording Mode)
29 Changing the Aspect Ratio of the Recordings (Widescreen / 4:3)
29 Zooming: Optical, Advanced and Digital Zoom
31 Quick Start Function
31 Reviewing and Deleting the Last Scene Recorded

6 • Table of contents

32 Basic Playback

32 Playing Back the Video
34 Deleting Scenes

35 Additional Functions

35 : Special Scene Recording Programs
37 Flexible Recording: Changing the Shutter Speed
38 LCD Video Light
38 Self Timer
39 Manual Exposure Adjustment
39 Manual Focus Adjustment
40 White Balance
41 Image Effects
41 Digital Effects
42 On-Screen Displays and Data Code
43 Using an External Microphone

44 Editing the Playlist and Disc Operations

44 Creating a Playlist
44 Deleting Scenes from the Playlist
45 Dividing Scenes in the Playlist
45 Moving Scenes in the Playlist
46 Initializing the Disc

46 Disc Playback on an External Device

46 Changing the Disc Title
47 Finalizing the Disc
48 Disc Playback on External Devices
48 Unfinalizing the Disc - Additional Recordings on a Finalized Disc

Photos ________________________________________

50 Basic Recording

50 Taking Photos
51 Selecting Photo Size and Quality
52 Erasing a Photo Right After Recording It

52 Basic Playback

52 Viewing Photos
53 Magnifying Photos during Playback
54 Slideshow
54 Erasing Photos

55 Additional Functions

55 Drive Mode: Continuous Shooting and Exposure

Bracketing

55 Histogram Display

Table of contents • 7

56 Protecting Photos
56 Initializing the Memory Card

57 Printing Photos

57 Printing Photos from the Memory Card
57 Direct Print
58 Selecting the Print Settings
60 Print Orders

External Connections _____________________________

62 Terminals on the Camcorder

63 Connection Diagrams
64 Playback on a TV Screen
64 Copying your Recordings to an External Video Recorder

Additional Information ____________________________

65 Appendix: Menu Options Lists

65 FUNC. Menu
67 Setup menus
67 Camera Setup (Advanced Zoom, Image Stabilizer, etc.)
68 Disc Operations (Initialization, Finalization etc.)
69 Still Image Operations (Card Initialization, etc.)
69 Display Setup (LCD Brightness, Language, etc.)
70 System Setup (Volume, Beep, etc.)
71 Date/Time Setup

72 Trouble?

72 Troubleshooting
75 List of Messages

79 Do’s and Don’ts

79 Handling Precautions
83 Using the Camcorder Abroad

85 General Information

85 System Diagram
86 Optional Accessories
90 Specifications
93 Index

8 • Table of contents

About this Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Canon DC420/DC411/DC410. Please read this manual
carefully before you use the camcorder and retain it for future reference. Should your
camcorder fail to operate correctly, refer to Tro ub le sh oo ti ng ( 72).

Conventions Used in this Manual

• IMPORTANT: Precautions related to the camcorder’s operation.

• NOTES: Additional topics that complement the basic operating procedures.

• POINTS TO CHECK: Restrictions that apply if the function described is not
available in all operating modes (the operating mode to which the camcorder
should be set, the type of disc required, etc.).

• : Reference page number.

• : Text that applies only to the model(s) shown in the icon.

• The following terms are used in this manual:

“Screen” refers to the LCD and the viewfinder screen.
“Scene” refers to one movie unit from the point you press to start
recording until you press again to pause the recording.
The terms “photo” and “still image” are used interchangeably with the same
meaning.

• The photos included in this manual are simulated pictures taken with a still camera.

• Note that unless indicated otherwise, screenshots and illustrations in this manual
refer to the model.

Start/Stop

The camcorder's operating mode is determined by the

switch and the position of the / switch. In this
manual, indicates that a function is available and
indicates that the function is not available. When no
operating mode icons are given, the function is available in
all operating modes.

Brackets [ ] and capital letters are used to refer to menu
options as they are displayed on screen. In menu option lists
and option tables the default value is shown in boldface.
For example [ON], [OFF].

Names of buttons and switches other than the joystick are
indicated within a
For example .

In this manual, the arrow is used to abbreviate menu selections.
For a detailed explanation refer to Using the Menus ( 19).

“button” frame.

FUNC.

Additional Functions

: Special Scene Recording Programs

Recording in a very bright ski resort or
capturing the full colors of a sunset or a
fireworks display becomes as easy as
selecting a Special Scene recording
program. For details about the available
options, refer to the sidebar below.

POINTS TO CHECK

Mode switch:

FUNC.

[ PROGRAM AE]
[ PORTRAIT] Press to
display the Special Scene (SCN)
recording progr ams
Desired recordi ng program

FUNC.

( 28)

Introduction • 9

Getting to Know the Cam corder

Supplied Accessories

CA-570 Compact Power

Adapter (incl. power cord)

Instruction Manual

CD-ROM

IFC-300PCU USB Cable

( only)

NB-2LH Battery Pack

STV-250N Stereo Video

Cable

Yellow • Red • White plugs

10 • Introduction

Components Guide

Left side view

Right side view

RESET button ( 74)
Speaker
CARD access indicator ( 50)
Lens cover switch ( 27, 50)

( open,
MIC terminal* ( 43)
AV te rm inal ( 62 )
USB terminal** ( 62)
DISC access indicator ( 27)
Mode switch ( 28)

Disc compartment cover ( 23)

Lock button
Strap mount ( 88)
Grip belt ( 18)
Stereo microphone

* only.
** only.

closed)

Easy recording
Recording programs

switch ( 18)

Front view

Introduction • 11

Back view

Top v iew

Bottom view

Joystick ( 19)
FUNC. button ( 20, 65)
DISP. button ( 42)
Dioptric adjustment lever ( 28)
Viewfinder ( 28)
VIEWFINDER button ( 28)
DISC COVER switch ( 23)
PLAY indicator (green) ( 19)
CAMERA indicator (green) ( 19)/

CHARGE indicator (red) ( 16)
Start/Stop button ( 27)
LCD screen ( 22)
Battery attachment unit (16)/

Serial number
DC IN terminal ( 16)
Zoom lever ( 29)

/ (movies/still images) switch

( 19)
Memory card slot

(open the cover to access) (
Memory card slot cover
BATT. (battery release) switch ( 16)
Tripod socket ( 79)

25

)

12 • Introduction

Screen Displays

Recording movies

Playing movies
(during playback)

Operating mode ( 19) /
Disc specification ( 3)

Recording program ( 35, 37)
White balance ( 40)
Image effects ( 41)
LCD video light ( 38)
Digital effects ( 41)
Recording mode ( 29)
Disc type DVD-R, DVD-R DL,

DVD-RW ( 3)

Manual focus ( 39)
Image stabilizer ( 67)
Disc operation
Time code/Playback time

(hours : minutes : seconds)
Remaining recording time on the disc
Remaining battery charge ( 15)
Wind screen off ( 68)
Recording reminder
Level marker ( 69)
Finalized disc mark ( 47)
Scene number
Joystick guide ( 19)
Data code ( 42)

Speaker volume ( 33)

Introduction • 13

Recording still images

Viewing still images

Zoom ( 29), Exposure ( 39)
Recording program ( 35, 37)
White balance ( 40)
Image effects ( 41)
LCD video light ( 38)
Digital effects ( 41)

Drive mode ( 55)
Still image quality/size ( 51)
Manual focus ( 39)
Number of still images available on the

memory card
Self timer ( 38)
AF frame ( 68)
Joystick guide ( 19)
Focus/exposure automatically set and

locked ( 50)
Camcorder shake warning ( 67)
Image number ( 15, 70)
Current image / Total number of images
Histogram ( 55)
Date and time of recording
Image protection mark ( 56)
Manual exposure ( 39)
Image size ( 51)
File size
Aperture value
Shutter speed ( 37)

14 • Introduction

Disc operation

Record, Record pause,

Playback, Playback pause,

,Fast playback,

, Fast reverse playback,
Slow playback,
Slow reverse playback

Remaining recording time

When there is no more disc space available,
“ END” will be displayed and the recording
will stop.

Remaining battery charge estimate

100% 75% 50% 25% 0%

• When is displayed in red, the battery pack
is exhausted. Replace the battery pack with a
fully charged one.

• Depending on the conditions under which the
camcorder and the battery pack are used, the
actual battery charge may not be indicated
accurately.

Recording reminder

The camcorder counts from 1 to 10 seconds
when you start recording. This is helpful to avoid
scenes that are too short.

Number of still images available on the card

displayed in red: No card

in green: 6 or more images
in yellow: 1 to 5 images
in red: No more images can be recorded

• When viewing the still images, the display will
always be in green.

• Depending on the recording conditions, the
number of available still images displayed may
not decrease even after a recording has been
made, or may decrease by 2 still images at
once.

Card access display

is displayed next to the number of images
available while the camcorder is writing on the
memory card.

Image number

The image number indicates the name and
location of the file on the memory card. For
example, the file name of image 101-0107 is
“IMG_0107.JPG”, stored under the folder
“DCIM\101CANON”.

Introduction • 15

Preparations

This chapter describes basic operations, such as navigating the
menus, and first time settings to help you learn more about your
camcorder.

Getting Started

Getting Started

Charging the Battery Pack

The camcorder can be powered with a
battery pack or directly using the
compact power adapter. Charge the
battery pack before use.
For approximate charging times and
recording/playback times with a full
battery pack, refer to the tables on
pages 86-87.

DC IN terminal

3 Connect the compact power

adapter to the camcorder’s DC IN
terminal.

CHARGE
indicator
(red)

4 Attach the battery pack to the

camcorder.

Press the battery pack lightly and
slide it up until it clicks.

5 Charging will start when the

switch is turned to (CHARGE).

The red CHARGE indicator starts
flashing. The indicator goes out when
charging is completed.

1 Connect the power cord to the

compact power adapter.

2 Plug the power cord into a power

outlet.

16 • Preparations

TO REMOVE THE BATTERY PACK

BATT. switch

1 Slide in the direction of the

2 Slide the battery pack down and

• Turn off the camcorder before

• We recommend charging the battery

• Do not connect to the camcorder’s DC

• To prevent equipment breakdowns and

BATT.

arrow and hold it pressed down.

then pull it out

IMPORTANT

connecting or disconnecting the
compact power adapter. After you turn
the switch to , important file
allocation data is updated on the disc.
Be sure to wait until the CAMERA green
indicator goes out.

pack in temperatures between 10 °C and
30 °C. Outside the temperature range of
0 °C to 40 °C, the charging will not start.

IN terminal or to the compact power
adapter any electrical equipment that is
not expressly recommended for use with
this camcorder.

excessive heating, do not connect the
supplied compact power adapter to
voltage converters for overseas travels or
special power sources such as those on
aircraft and ships, DC-AC inverters, etc.

• If remaining battery time is an issue, you
can power the camcorder using the
compact power adapter so the battery
pack will not be consumed.

• The CHARGE indicator also serves as a
rough estimate of the charge status.
Two quick flashes at 1-second intervals:
Battery pack at least 50% charged. If the
indicator flashes quickly but not exactly
in this pattern, refer to Troubleshooting
(72).
One flash at 1-second intervals: Battery
pack less than 50% charged.

• Charged battery packs continue to
discharge naturally. Therefore, charge
them on the day of use, or the day
before, to ensure a full charge.

• We recommend that you prepare battery
packs to last 2 to 3 times longer than you
think you might need.

NOTES

• The battery pack will be charged only
when the camcorder is off.

Preparations • 17

Preparing the Accessories

Fasten the grip belt.

Adjust the grip belt so that you can
reach the zoom lever with your index
finger, and the button with

Start/Stop

your thumb.

TO ATTACH A SHOULDER STRAP

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

Basic Operation of the
Camcorder

Power Switch

Lock button

In addition to turning the camcorder on
and off, the switch also toggles the
camcorder’s operating mode.
To turn on the camcorder: Hold the lock
button pressed down and turn the
switch to ON.
To change the operating mode: From the ON
position, turn the switch
momentarily toward MODE and release it.
This action will toggle the operating mode
between recording (CAMERA indicator on)
and playback (PLAY indicator on).

Pass the ends of the shoulder strap
through the strap mount on the grip
belt and adjust the length of the
strap.

18 • Preparations

Joystick and Joystick Guide

Using the Menus

Use the joystick to operate the
camcorder's menus.

Push the joystick up, down, left or right
( , ) to select an item or change
settings.

Press the joystick itself ( ) to save the
settings or confirm an action. On menu
screens, this is indicated by the icon

.

Press to display/hide the joystick
guide. The functions that appear on the
joystick guide will change depending
on the operating mode.

Operating mode

Operating mode

indicator

switch

(movies)

(still images)

(movies)

(still images)

Many of the camcorder’s functions can
be adjusted from the menus that open
after pressing the FUNC. button

FUNC.

().
For details about the available menu
options and settings, refer to the

appendix Menu Options Lists (65).

/

Icon display Operation

Recording movies
on a disc

Recording still
images on a
memory card

Playing movies
from a disc

Viewing still images
from a memory card

27

50

32

52

Preparations • 19

Selecting an Option from the FUNC. menu

Following is an example of selecting an
option from the FUNC. menu in a
recording mode.

Selecting an Option from the Setup Menus

1 Press .

FUNC.

2 Select ( ) the icon of the function

you want change from the left side
column.

Menu items not available will appear
grayed out.

3 Select ( ) the desired setting

from the available options at the
bottom bar.

• The selected option will be
highlighted in light blue.

• With some settings, you will need
to make further selections and/or
press . Follow the additional
operation guides that will appear
on the screen (such as the
icon, small arrows, etc.).

4 Press to save the settings

FUNC.

and close the menu.

You can press to close the
menu at any time.

FUNC.

1 Press .

FUNC.

In the index screen (VIDEO mode)
and still image index screen, the
setup menus will open. Continue with
step 3.

2 Select ( ) [ MENU] and press

to open the setup menus.

• You can also hold pressed
down for more than 1 second to
open directly the setup menus
screen.

• In the index screen (DVD-RW discs
in VR mode), push the joystick
( ) to select [ MENU].

FUNC.

3 Select ( ) the desired menu from

the left side column and press .

• The title of the selected menu
appears on top of the screen and
under it the list of settings.

• Push the joystick ( ) to return to
the menu selection screen.

4 Select ( ) the setting you want to

change and press .

The orange selection bar indicates
the menu setting currently selected.
Items not available appear in black.

5 Select ( ) the desired option and

press to save the setting.

6 Press .

FUNC.

You can press to close the
menu at any time.

FUNC.

20 • Preparations

First Time Settings

First Time Settings

Setting the Date and Time

You will need to set the date and time of
the camcorder before you can start
using it. If the camcorder's clock is not
set, the [DATE/TIME] screen will appear
automatically when the camcorder is
turned on.

When the [DATE/TIME] screen appears,
the year will be displayed in orange and
indicated with up/down arrows.

1 Change ( ) the year and move

( ) to the month.

2 Change the rest of the fields

(month, day, hour and minutes) in
the same way.

3 Select ( ) [OK] and press to

start the clock and close the setup
screen.

IMPORTANT

• When you do not use the camcorder for
about 3 months, the built-in
rechargeable battery may discharge
completely and the date and time
setting may be lost. In such case,
recharge the built-in battery ( 82) and
set the time zone, date and time again.

• The date appears in a year-month-day
format only in the first setup screen. In
subsequent screen displays the date
and time will appear as day-month-year

(for example, [1.JAN.2009 12:00 AM]).
You can change the date format ( 71).

• You can also change the date and time
later on (not during the initial setup).
Open the [DATE/TIME] screen from the
setup menus:

FUNC.

[ MENU]
[ DATE/TIME SETUP]
[DATE/TIME]

Changing the Language

Options

[ ] [MELAYU] [ ]
[DEUTSCH] [NEDERLANDS] [ ]
[ ] [POLSKI] [ ]

[ENGLISH][PORTUGUÊS] [ ]

[ESPAÑOL] [ ] [ ]
[FRANÇAIS] [TÜRKÇE] [ ]
[ITALIANO] [ ] [ ]
[MAGYAR] [ ]

FUNC.

[ MENU]
[ DISPLAY SETUP]
[LANGUAGE ]
Desired language

FUNC.

NOTES

• If you changed the language by mistake,
follow the mark next to the menu
item to change the setting.

• The display that appears in some
menu screens refers to the name of the
button on the camcorder and will not
change, regardless of the language
selected.



Default value

Preparations • 21

Changing the Time Zone

In addition to your local date and time,
the camcorder can keep a second clock
(for example, the time at a travel
destination). The default time zone is
Paris.

TO SET THE HOME TIME ZONE

FUNC.

[ MENU]
[ DATE/TIME SETUP]
[T.ZONE/DST]
Your local time zone*

FUNC.

Getting Ready to Start Recording

Getting Ready to Start
Recording

Opening the Lens Cover and Adjusting the LCD screen

Before you start recording, open the
lens cover.

WHEN YOU TRAVEL

FUNC.

[ MENU]
[ DATE/TIME SETUP]
[T.ZONE/DST]
Local date and time in your
destination*

FUNC.

* To adjust for daylight saving time, select the

area name marked with a .

22 • Preparations

Move the lens cover switch down to

to open the lens cover.

Rotating the LCD Panel

Open the LCD panel 90 degrees.

You can rotate the panel 90 degrees
downward.

180°

90°

• You can rotate the panel 180 degrees
toward the lens (allowing the subject
to monitor the LCD screen while you
use the viewfinder

(28)). Rotating

the LCD panel 180 degrees can be
useful in the following cases:

- To allow the subject to monitor the
LCD screen while you use the
viewfinder.

- To include yourself in the picture when
recording with the self timer.

180°

Subject can monitor the LCD screen

NOTES

About the LCD and viewfinder screen: The

screens are produced using extremely
high-precision manufacturing techniques,
with more than 99.99% of the pixels
operating to specification. Less than

0.01% of the pixels may occasionally
misfire or appear as black, red, blue or
green dots. This has no effect on the
recorded image and does not constitute a
malfunction.

LCD Backlight

You can set the brightness of the LCD
screen to normal or bright.

NOTES

• This setting does not affect the
brightness of the recordings.

• Using the bright setting will shorten the
effective usage time of the battery pack.

Inserting and Removing a Disc

Use only 8 cm mini DVD discs marked
with the DVD-R logo (including
DVD-R DL) or the DVD-RW logo.
Refer also to Approved discs (5).
Before inserting the disc, be sure to
check that the recording surface is
clean. If necessary, use a soft lens­cleaning cloth to remove any
fingerprints, dirt buildup or smudges
from the disc surface.

Inserting the Disc

( 19)

DISP.

Hold pressed down for more
than 2 seconds.

Repeat this action to toggle between
the normal and bright settings.

Pick up lens

1 Move the / switch to

(movies).

2 Turn the switch to ON to

set the camcorder in
mode.

Preparations • 23

3 Slide fully toward

DISC COVER

OPEN and gently open the disc
cover completely until it stops.

Retract the grip belt under the
camcorder so it will not get in the way
of the disc cover.

4 Insert the disc and press its center

firmly until it clicks in place.

• Insert the disc with the recording
side facing down (single sided
discs – label side facing out).

• Be careful not to touch the
recording surface of the disc or the
pick up lens.

5 Close the disc cover.

Do not force the cover closed if the
disc is not correctly inserted and
firmly set in place.

NOTES

The process of recognizing a disc may take
a moment. The display will move while
the disc is being read. Wait until the
camcorder finishes recognizing the disc
( stops moving and turns green) before
you start recording.

WHEN USING DVD-RW DISCS

You need to initialize new discs before
you can start recording. The disc
initialization screen will appear when a
new DVD-RW disc is first inserted if the

/ switch is set to (movies). If
the disc is already initialized, you can
start recording movies once the record
pause indicator appears.
Otherwise, perform the following steps
to initialize the disc.

Select ( ) the desired disc
specification and press . For a
comparison between the VIDEO and
VR specifications, see How to Select
a DVD Disc (3).
A confirmation message will appear
on the screen. Select ( ) [YES] and
press to start the disc
initialization, or select [NO] and press

to return and select a different

disc specification.

• The disc initialization will take
approximately one minute. Avoid
moving the camcorder while the
operation is in progress.

• You can start recording movies
once the record pause
indicator appears.

WHEN USING DVD-R/DVD-R DL DISCS

You can start recording movies once the
record pause indicator appears.

24 • Preparations

Removing the Disc

Inserting and Removing a Memory Card

You can use commercially available

SDHC (SD High Capacity)
memory cards, SD memory
cards or MultiMedia Cards (MMC) with
this camcorder.

Make sure to initialize all memory cards
before using them with this camcorder
( 56).

1 Slide fully toward

DISC COVER

OPEN and gently open the disc
cover completely until it stops.

• Do not subject the camcorder to
strong impacts while the DISC
access indicator is on or flashing.

• Retract the grip belt under the
camcorder so it will not get in the
way of the disc cover.

• It may take a moment after sliding

DISC COVER

open.

for the disc cover to

2 Grab the edge of the disc and

gently pull it out.

Be careful not to touch the recording
surface of the disc or the pick up
lens.

3 Close the disc cover.

IMPORTANT

When you slide after making
a recording, important file allocation data
is updated on the disc before the disc
cover opens. While the DISC access
indicator is on or flashing do not subject
the camcorder to shocks such as
forcefully laying it on a table.

DISC COVER

1 Turn off the camcorder.
2 Open the memory card slot cover.
3 Insert the memory card straight,

with the label facing up, all the
way into the memory card slot
until it clicks.

4 Close the memory card slot cover.

Do not force the cover closed if the
memory card is not correctly inserted.

Preparations • 25

TO REMOVE THE MEMORY CARD

Push the memory card once to
release it. When the memory card
springs out, pull it all the way out.

IMPORTANT

Memory cards have front and back sides
that are not interchangeable. Inserting a
memory card facing the wrong direction
can cause a malfunction of the camcorder.
Be sure to insert the memory card as
described in step 3.

NOTES

Compatibility with all SD, SDHC or MMC
memory cards cannot be guaranteed.

26 • Preparations

Video

This chapter covers functions related to shooting movies, including
recording, playback, advanced manual adjustments and playlist and
scene operations.

Basic Recording

Basic Recording

Shooting Video

Before You Begin Recording

Make a test recording first to check if
the camcorder operates correctly.
Since recordings made on a DVD-R or
DVD-R DL disc cannot be deleted, we
recommend you use a DVD-RW disc
to make the test recordings.

( 19)

2 Turn the switch to ON to set

the camcorder in CAMERA mode.

The green CAMERA indicator will turn
on.

3 Move the lens cover switch down

to to open the lens cover.

4 Press to begin recording.

WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED RECORDING

1 Make sure that the DISC access

2 Turn off the camcorder.
3 Close the lens cover and the LCD

4 Remove the disc.

Start/Stop

• Recording starts; press
again to pause the recording.

• The DISC access indicator will flash
while recording and will stay on
briefly after pausing while the
scene is recorded on the disc.

indicator is off.

panel.

Start/Stop

1 Move the / switch to

(movies).

Video • 27

Using the viewfinder

When recording in bright places it
may be difficult to use the LCD
screen. In such case, change the
brightness of the LCD screen ( 23)
or use the viewfinder instead. Press

VIEWFINDER

viewfinder along with the LCD panel.
Close the LCD panel to use only the
viewfinder.

Adjust the viewfinder as necessary
with the dioptric adjustment lever.

to activate the

IMPORTANT

Observe the following precautions while
the DISC access indicator is on or
flashing. Failing to do so may result in
permanent data loss.

- Do not subject the camcorder to
vibrations or strong impacts.

- Do not open the disc cover and do not
remove the disc.

- Do not disconnect the power source or
turn off the camcorder.

- Do not change the operating mode.

NOTES

• About the Power Save mode: If [POWER
SAVE] is set to [ ON] ( 70), the
camcorder will shut off automatically to
save power when it is powered by a
battery pack and is left without any
operation for 5 minutes. To restore the
power, turn the switch toward
MODE and release it, or turn the
camcorder off and then on again.

• When recording in very loud places (such
as fireworks shows or concerts), sound
may become distorted or it may not be
recorded at the actual levels. This is not
a malfunction.

• The following may take longer with a disc
in VR mode than a disc in VIDEO mode.

- The time between turning on the

camcorder and being able to start
recording.

- The time between turning the

switch to and the camcorder
shutting off.

About the mode switch and recording programs

Set the mode switch to to let the
camcorder adjust all the settings for you,
allowing you to just point the camcorder and
start shooting.

Set the mode switch to to select one of the recording programs.
The Special Scene recording programs ( 35) offer a convenient

way to select the optimal settings to match special recording
conditions; and with the flexible recording programs ( 37) you can
set the shutter speed manually, or enjoy the flexibility to change other settings.

28 • Video

Selecting the Video Quality (Recording Mode)

Changing the Aspect Ratio of the Recordings (Widescreen / 4:3)

The camcorder offers 3 recording
modes. Changing the recording mode
will change the recording time available
on the disc. Select XP mode for better
movie quality; select LP mode for longer
recording times.

The following table gives approximate
recording times with a brand new DVD
disc (on a single recording side).



Default value

Disc type

Recording mode



DVD-R,

DVD-RW

20 min. 36 min.

30 min. 54 min.

60 min. 108 min.

DVD-R DL

( 19)

FUNC.

STANDARD PLAY 6 Mbps]

[
Desired recording mode

FUNC.

NOTES

• In LP mode, recordings are more liable to
be affected by imperfections of the disc
used or recording conditions and you
may experience some anomalies (blocky
video artifacts, banding, skipping audio,
etc.) during playback. We recommend
using XP or SP mode for important
recordings.

• The camcorder uses a variable bit rate
(VBR) to encode video so the actual
recording times will vary depending on
the content of the scenes.

The default aspect ratio of movies is
16:9 (widescreen). Follow the procedure
below to change it to 4:3.

( 19)

FUNC.

[ MENU]
[ CAMERA SETUP]
[WIDESCREEN] [ OFF]

FUNC.

NOTES

• Playing back a widescreen recording:
TV sets compatible with the WSS system
will switch automatically to 16:9 mode.
Otherwise, change the aspect ratio of
the TV manually.

• To play back on a TV with normal aspect
ratio (4:3) change the [TV TYPE] setting
accordingly ( 71).

Zooming: Optical, Advanced and Digital Zoom

The camcorder offers three types of
zoom when recording movies: optical,
advanced and digital zoom (In

zoom is available.) You can also change
the zoom speed.

mode, only the optical

Video • 29