Canon GX-10 Instruction Manual

4K Camcorder

PUB. DIE-0517-000A

Instruction Manual

NTSC

Firmware ver. 1.0.1.0

Introduction

Trademark Acknowledgements

• SD, SDHC and SDXC Logos are trademarks of SD-3C, LLC.

• Microsoft and Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries.

• Apple, macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

• HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of
HDMI Licensing LLC in the United States and other countries.

• Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

• Wi-Fi Certified, WPA, WPA2, and the Wi-Fi Certified logo are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

• WPS as used on the camcorder’s settings, onscreen displays and in this manual signifies Wi-Fi Protected
Setup.

• The Wi-Fi Protected Setup Identifier Mark is a mark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

• JavaScript is a trademark or registered trademark of Oracle Corporation, its affiliates or subsidiaries in the
United States and other countries.

• Other names and products not mentioned above may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.

• This device incorporates exFAT technology licensed from Microsoft.

• This product is licensed under AT&T patents for the MPEG-4 standard and may be used for encoding
MPEG-4 compliant video and/or decoding MPEG-4 compliant video that was encoded only (1) for a
personal and non-commercial purpose or (2) by a video provider licensed under the AT&T patents to provide
MPEG-4 compliant video. No license is granted or implied for any other use for MPEG-4 standard.

COPYRIGHT WARNING

Unauthorized recording of copyrighted materials may infringe on the rights of copyright owners and be
contrary to copyright laws.

2

Highlights of the VIXIA GX10

The Canon VIXIA GX10 4K Camcorder is a high-performance camcorder whose compact size makes it ideal in a
variety of situations. The following are just some of the many functions featured in the camcorder.

3

4K Recording

Advanced sensor and image processor

The camcorder is equipped with a

1.0-inch CMOS sensor that captures video at an
effective pixel count of approximately 8.29
megapixels (3840x2160). The video is then
processed by the state-of-the-art dual DIGIC DV 6
image processing platform. This allows the
camcorder to excel in low-light situations and
achieve improved image stabilization.

Wide zoom lens

The camcorder features a 15x optical zoom lens
with a focal length at full wide angle of 25.5 mm
(35 mm equivalent), offering superb wide-angle
shooting capability.

Convenience and Functionality

Emphasis on versatility

This camcorder has features to make it usable as a
main camera but is also small enough to be very
portable. The advanced image stabilization (A 56)
will let you shoot in a variety of situations in the field.

Manual controls at your fingertips

The focus/zoom ring helps you achieve the focus
you are looking for. You can easily change the ring's
functionality so that you can operate the zoom. You
can also assign certain frequently used functions to
a customizable button and adjust those functions
with the accompanying dial (A 85). Additionally,
the camcorder also features 5 assignable buttons
on the camcorder and one onscreen assignable
touch button to which you can assign a variety of
functions to access them with ease (A 86).

SD card recording options

The camcorder can record 4K video in MP4 format
on an SD card. It is equipped with 2 SD card slots,
allowing you to use dual recording (A 43) to record
the same clip on two SD cards, or relay recording to
automatically switch to the other SD card when the
one being used is full. Dual recording is a convenient
way to create a backup of your recordings, while
relay recording effectively extends the available
recording time.

Network functions

You can connect the camcorder to a Wi-Fi network.
This allows you to control the camcorder remotely
from a connected network device using the Browser
Remote application (A 111) and to easily transfer
files to a remote FTP server using the FTP protocol
(A 119).

Time code options

The time code generated by the camcorder can be
output from the HDMI OUT terminal in order to
synchronize it with other external devices. A user bit
code (A 70) can also be output with the output
signal.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF

The camera features Dual Pixel CMOS AF
technology for improved autofocus functions
(A 45). In addition to continuous AF, AF-boosted
MF lets you focus manually most of the way and let
the camcorder finish focusing automatically. With
AF-boosted MF the camcorder does not perform
unreliable focus adjustments, resulting in a smoother
focusing operation than with continuous AF. The
camcorder can also focus automatically on people's
faces and track moving subjects while keeping them
in focus (A 50).
Even while focusing manually, the newly-added Dual
Pixel Focus Guide function (A 46) serves as a
visual, intuitive guide that you can use to check if the
image is in focus and the required adjustment, if it is
not. This can be very helpful to ensure you always
get amazingly sharp 4K video.

(A 103)

(A 68)

Creativity and Artistic Expression

Special recording modes (A 44, 80)

When you make recordings, you can change the
recording frame rate to achieve a fast or slow motion
effect. Alternatively, you can use pre-recording to
record 3 seconds before you decide to start
recording, helping you capture those hard-to-catch

4

opportunities.

A 67)

Looks (

You can adjust various aspects of the picture, such
as the color depth, sharpness and brightness, to
create a desired "look". If you prefer, you can use
one of the preset looks offered. The [Wide DR] look,
for example, applies a gamma curve with a very
wide dynamic range and an appropriate color
matrix.

Other Features

• Battery packs compatible with Intelligent System
give you an estimate (in minutes) of the remaining
recording time.

• Compatibility with the optional GP-E2 GPS
Receiver to geotag your recordings (A 82).

• Multiple image stabilization options (A 56) to
match your recording conditions.

• Compatibility with the optional RC-V100 Remote
Controller (A 81) when you need a professional
level of remote control far surpassing that of the
supplied wireless controller.

• Clear, adjustable LCD panel (A 21) and
adjustable viewfinder (A 21) for ease of use
regardless of the recording angle.

Tab le of Contents

5

1. Introduction 7

About this Manual 7

Conventions Used in this Manual 7

Supplied Accessories 9
Names of Parts 10

Camcorder 10
WL-D89 Wireless Controller 15

2. Preparations 17

Preparing the Power Supply 17

Using a Battery Pack 17

Preparing the Camcorder 20

Using the Lens Hood and Lens Cap 20
Using the Viewfinder 21
Using the LCD Screen 21
Adjusting the Grip Belt and Using Straps 22
Wireless Controller 23
Using a Tripod 24

Basic Operation of the Camcorder 25

Turning the Camcorder On and Off 25
Changing the Camcorder's Operating Mode 26
Using the MENU Button and Joystick 26

Date, Time and Language Settings 27

Setting the Date and Time 27
Changing the Language 28
Changing the Time Zone 28

Using SD Cards 29

Compatible SD Cards 29
Inserting and Removing an SD Card 30
Initializing an SD Card 31
Selecting the SD Card for Recordings 31

Using the Menus 32

FUNC Menu 32
Setup Menus 33

3. Recording 35

Recording Video and Photos 35

Preparing to Record 35
Basic Recording 36
Reviewing the Latest Clip Recorded 37
Using the Fan 38
Onscreen Displays 38

Video Configuration: Resolution, Bit Rate and

Frame Rate 42

Selecting Internal Recording 42
Selecting the Resolution and Bit Rate 42
Selecting the Frame Rate 42

Dual Recording and Relay Recording 43
Slow & Fast Motion Recording 44
Adjusting the Focus 45

Manual Focus 45
AF-Boosted MF 48
Continuous AF 49
Changing the AF Frame Size 49
Face Detection & Tracking 50

Zooming 52

Using the Focus/Zoom Ring 52
Using the Zoom Rocker 53
Using the Supplied Wireless Controller or an

Optional Remote Controller 54
Using the Touch Screen’s Zoom Controls 55
Digital Tele-Converter 55

Image Stabilization 56

Dynamic IS or Standard IS 56
Powered IS 56

Automatic Gain Control (AGC) Limit 57
Shooting Modes 58

Programmed AE (’)58
Shutter Priority AE (‚)58
Aperture Priority AE (“)59
Manual Exposure (n)59
Special Scene Modes 60

Adjusting the Exposure 61

Exposure Lock (AE Lock) 61
Touch Exposure 61
Exposure Compensation 62
Backlight Correction 62
Zebra Pattern 63

ND Filter 64
White Balance 65
Using Looks 67
Setting the Time Code 68

Selecting the Time Code Mode 68
Selecting Drop Frame or Non-Drop Frame 69

Setting the User Bit 70

6

Using the Mini Advanced Shoe 71

Using an External Video Light 71

Recording Audio 72

Using an External Microphone 72
Audio Scenes 72
Adjusting the Audio Recording Level 74
Advanced Microphone Settings 74

Using Headphones 78
Color Bars/Audio Reference Signal 79

Recording Color Bars 79
Recording an Audio Reference Signal 79

Pre-Recording 80
Using the Optional RC-V100 Remote

Controller 81

Using the Optional GP-E2 GPS Receiver 82

4. Customization 85

CUSTOM Dial and Button 85
Assignable Buttons 86

Assignable functions 87

Saving and Loading Camcorder Settings 88

Saving Camcorder Settings 88
Loading Camcorder Settings 88

5. Playback 89

Basic Playback 89

The Playback Index Screen 89

Changing the Index Screen 90
Playing Back Recordings 90
Playback Controls 91
Adjusting the volume 92
Displaying Clip Information 92

Clip and Photo Operations 93

Deleting Clips and Photos 93
Trimming Clips 94
Copying Clips and Photos 95
Recovering Clips 96

6. External Connections 97

Video Output Configuration 97

Video Output Configuration (Internal Recording

Priority) 97

Video Output Configuration (External Recording

Only) 98

Connecting to an External Monitor or

Recorder 99

Connection Diagram 99
Recording Video Using an External Recorder 99
Connecting an External Monitor 100

Working with Clips on a Computer 101

7. Network Functions 103

About the Network Functions 103
Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network 104

Camera Access Point 105
Connecting in Infrastructure Mode 106
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) 107
Searching for Access Points 108
Manual Setup 109

Selecting a Network Connection and Changing

Network Settings 110

Selecting a Network Connection 110
Changing Network Settings 110

Browser Remote: Controlling the Camcorder from

a Network Device 111

Setting Up Browser Remote 111
Starting Browser Remote 112
Using Browser Remote 114

FTP File Transfer 119

Setting Up the FTP Server and Transfer

Settings 119

Transferring Clips (FTP Transfer) 120

8. Additional Information 121

Menu Options 121

FUNC Menu 121
Setup Menus 122

Troubleshooting 129

List of Messages 133

Safety Instructions and Handling Precautions 137
Maintenance/Others 141
Optional Accessories 142
Specifications 144
Reference Tables 147

Charging Times 147
Approximate Recording Time on an SD Card 147
Approximate Recording Times with a Fully

Charged Battery Pack 147

Index 149

Introduction

Operating modes:

Position of the POWER switch: shooting (CAMERA) or playback (MEDIA) mode.
For details, refer to Turning the Camcorder On and Off (A 25).

Position of the mode switch. For details refer to Changing the Camcorder's
Operating Mode (A 26).

1

About this Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Canon VIXIA GX10. 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
Troubleshooting (A 129).

Conventions Used in this Manual

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

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

• A: Reference page number within this manual.

• The following terms are used in this manual:
“Memory card” refers to an SD, SDHC or SDXC card.
“Screen” refers to the LCD screen and the viewfinder screen.
“Clip” refers to a single movie unit recorded with a single recording operation (for example, from the point when
the REC button is pressed to start recording until it is pressed again to stop).
“Network device” refers to a device (like a smartphone or tablet) connected to the camcorder via Wi-Fi.

• The photos included in this manual are simulated pictures taken with a still camera. Some screenshots have
been altered to make them easier to read.

• Operating mode icons: A shaded icon (like ) indicates that the function described can be used in the
operating mode shown; a non-shaded icon (like ) indicates that the function cannot be used.

7

About this Manual

This indicates to press the
MENU button.

Brackets [ ] indicate text as it appears on the
camcorder's screen (menu options, onscreen
buttons, messages, etc.).

This arrow indicates a deeper
level in the menu hierarchy or
the next step in a procedure.

1 Select [Internal/External Rec].

> [3 ! Recording Setup] > [Internal/External Rec]

2 Touch [v Internal Rec Priority] and then touch [X].

The menu page number is given
only for main procedures.

• The following style is used to represent menu selections. For a detailed explanation on how to use the menus,

refer to Using the Menus (A 32). For a summary of all available menu options and settings, refer to Menu
Options (A 121).

8

Supplied Accessories

The following accessories are supplied with the camcorder:

Supplied Accessories

9

CA-946 AC Adapter

(incl. power cord)

Lens hood with lens barrier Lens cap WL-D89 Wireless Controller

BP-828 Battery Pack IFC-300PCU/S USB Cable HTC-100/SS High Speed HDMI

(incl. CR2025 lithium button

battery)

Cable

Quick Guide

Names of Parts

1

78 9 10

23

45 6

Names of Parts

Camcorder

10

1 ND FILTER +/– buttons (A 64)
2 PRE REC (pre-recording) button (A 80)/

Assignable button 3 (A 86)

3 u (review recording) button (A 37)/

Assignable button 4 (A 86)
4 Lens barrier switch (A 35)
5Lens hood (A 20)
6 Focus/Zoom ring (A 45, 52)

7 CUSTOM (customizable) dial (A 85)
8 CUSTOM (customizable) button (A 85)
9 Focus/Zoom ring switch (A 45, 52)
10 DISP (onscreen display) button (A 38)/

BATT. INFO (battery information) button (A 19)

Names of Parts

2

8

9

341

5

6

7

11

1 Exhaust ventilation outlet (A 38)
2 Built-in speaker (A 92)
3 SD CARD (open the SD card compartment

cover) switch (A 30)

4 Air intake vent (A 38)

5 Lens hood release button (A 20)
6 Grip belt (A 22)
7USB terminal (A 82)
8 HDMI OUT terminal (A 99)
9MIC terminal (A 72)

12

Names of Parts

7

1

2

3

8
9

10

4

11

5

6

1 Joystick (A 26)/SET button (A 26)
2 MENU button (A 26, 33)
3 Remote sensor (A 24)
4 AF/MF button (A 45)/

Assignable button 1 (A 86)
5 POWERED IS button (A 56)/

Assignable button 2 (A 86)
6 LCD touch screen (A 21)
7 Viewfinder (A 21)
8 Dioptric adjustment lever (A 21)
9 Strap mount (A 22)

12

14

15

13

16

10 MAGN. (magnification) button (A 48)/

Assignable button 5 (A 86)
11 REC (start/stop recording video) button (A 35)
12 Battery attachment unit (A 17)
13 Serial number
14 REMOTE terminal

For connecting the optional RC-V100 Remote

Controller (A 81) or commercially available

remote controllers.
15 × (headphones) terminal (A 78)
16 DC IN terminal (A 17)

Names of Parts

1

78

10 11

23 4 5

69

13

1 Mini advanced shoe (A 71)
2 POWER/CHG (battery charging) indicator

(A 17)

3 Power switch (A 25)
4 Cold shoe
5 Built-in stereo microphone (A 72)

6ACCESS indicator (A 35)
7 Zoom rocker (A 52)
8 Mode switch (A 26)
9 SD card compartment cover (A 30)
10 SD card slot 2 (A 30)
11 SD card slot 3 (A 30)

14

Names of Parts

2134

1 Socket for tripod's anti-rotation pin
2 Tripod socket (A 24)
3 BATTERY RELEASE switch (A 18)
4Eye cup (A 21)

WL-D89 Wireless Controller

Names of Parts

1
2

3

4
5

6

1 START/STOP button (A 35)

Same as the REC button on the camcorder,
used to start/stop recording video.

2 G (open the index selection screen) button

(A 90)
3 MENU button (A 33)
4 DISP. (onscreen display) button (A 38)
5 SET button

7

8

9

10

Ñ (stop) button (A 90)

6
7 PHOTO button (A 36)
8 Zoom buttons (A 54)
9 Navigation buttons (Í/Î/Ï/Ð)
10 Ò (play/pause) button (A 90)

15

16

Names of Parts

Preparations

햲

햴

햳

햵

햶

2

Preparing the Power Supply

You can power the camcorder using a battery pack or directly using the supplied AC adapter. If you connect the
AC adapter to the camcorder while a battery pack is attached, the camcorder will draw power from the power
outlet.

Using a Battery Pack

You can power the camcorder using the supplied BP-828 Battery Pack or the optional BP-820 Battery Pack.
Both battery packs are compatible with Intelligent System so you can check the approximate remaining battery
usage time (in minutes) on the screen. For more accurate readings, when using a battery pack for the first time,
charge it fully and then use the camcorder until the battery pack is completely exhausted.

Charging the Battery Pack

Charge battery packs using the supplied CA-946 AC Adapter.

17

1 Make sure the power switch is set to OFF.

2 Connect the AC adapter's DC plug to the camcorder's DC IN

terminal.

3 Connect the power cord to the AC adapter.

4 Plug the power cord into a power outlet.

5 Attach the battery pack to the camcorder.

• Press the battery pack softly into the battery attachment unit
and slide it forward until it clicks in place.

Preparing the Power Supply

햷

POWER/CHG (battery charging) indicator

햸

-

1

햸

햸

-

3

햸

-

4

햸

햲

햳

6 Charging will start.

• The POWER/CHG indicator will illuminate in red while the
battery is charging. The indicator will go out when charging is

18

completed. If the POWER/CHG indicator starts flashing, refer to
Troubleshooting (A 129).

7 When charging has completed, disconnect the AC adapter in the

order shown in the illustration.

To remove the battery pack

1 Slide the BATTERY RELEASE switch in the direction of the arrow

and hold it pressed down.

2 Slide the battery pack down and then pull it out.

Preparing the Power Supply

IMPORTANT

NOTES

• Do not connect to the AC adapter any product that is not expressly recommended for use with this
camcorder.

• Turn off the camcorder before connecting or disconnecting the AC adapter. After you turn off the camcorder,
important data is updated on the SD card. Be sure to wait until the green POWER/CHG indicator goes out.

• When using the AC adapter, do not fix it permanently to one place as this may cause a malfunction.

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

• We recommend charging the battery pack in temperatures between 10 °C and 30 °C (50 °F and 86 °F). If
either the ambient temperature or the battery pack’s temperature is outside the range of approx. 0 °C to 40 °C
(32 °F to 104 °F), charging will not start.

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

• If the power supply was disconnected while charging a battery pack, make sure the POWER/CHG indicator
has gone out before restoring the power supply.

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

• For approximate charging times and recording times with a fully charged battery pack, refer to the Reference
Tabl es (A 147, 147).

• 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.

• For handling precautions regarding the battery pack, refer to Battery Pack (A 139).

19

Checking the Remaining Battery Charge

With the camcorder turned off, press the BATT. INFO button to display for about 5 seconds a screen showing
the approximate battery charge level and an estimate of the remaining recording time. Note that if the battery
charge is too low, the battery information screen may not appear.

Preparing the Camcorder

IMPORTANT

햲

햳

Lens hood release
button

Preparing the Camcorder

This section covers the basic preparations for the camcorder such as attaching the lens hood, adjusting the
viewfinder and LCD screen, and adjusting the grip belt.

20

• Be careful not to drop the camcorder when attaching, removing or adjusting the various accessories. Using a
table or other stable surface is recommended.

Using the Lens Hood and Lens Cap

While recording, the supplied lens hood with lens barrier is
effective for reducing stray light that can be the cause of lens
flare and ghost images. Additionally, closing the lens barrier
can help prevent fingerprints and dirt accumulation on the
lens.
To carry/transport the camcorder or store it after use,
remove the lens hood and place the lens cap back on the
camcorder.

1 Remove the lens cap.

• The lens cap and lens hood cannot be used

simultaneously.

2 Place the lens hood on the front of the lens so that

the groove on the lens hood is aligned with the top of
the lens (
until it stops with a click

• Be careful not to deform the lens hood.

• Make sure that the lens hood is aligned with the thread.

To re m o v e t he l en s hood

햲), and then turn the lens hood clockwise

(햳).

1Press and hold the lens hood release button and turn

the lens hood counterclockwise.

2 Place the lens cap back on the lens.

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

햲

햴

Dioptric adjustment
lever

180°

90°

Using the Viewfinder

Adjust the position of the viewfinder to a comfortable angle. You can also adjust the diopter, if necessary.

1 Pull out the viewfinder and adjust the viewing angle.

2 Turn on the camcorder (A 25).

3Adjust the viewfinder using the dioptric adjustment lever.

• Make sure you keep the eye cup attached when using the camcorder.
If you wear glasses, you may find the viewfinder easier to use if you flip back
the outer edge of the eye cup toward the camcorder body.

Using the LCD Screen

21

Open the LCD panel 90 degrees.

• You can rotate the panel 90 degrees downward and 180
degrees toward the lens.

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

• You can adjust the brightness of the LCD screen with the [£ Display Setup] > [LCD Brightness] and

[LCD Backlight] settings in the setup menus. When the camcorder is on, you can also press and hold the DISP

22

button for more than 2 seconds to change the [LCD Backlight] setting between [ Normal] and
[Bright].

• Adjusting the brightness does not affect the brightness of recordings.

• Making the screen brighter with the [LCD Backlight] setting will shorten the effective usage time of the battery
pack.

• When the LCD panel is rotated 180 degrees toward the subject, you can set [£ Display Setup] >
[LCD Mirror Image] in the setup menus to [i On] to flip the image horizontally so it shows a mirror image of
the subject.

• For details about how to take care of the LCD screen and viewfinder, refer to Handling Precautions (A 138),
Cleaning (A 141).

• About the LCD and viewfinder screens: 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.

Adjusting the Grip Belt and Using Straps

Fasten the grip belt.

• Adjust the grip belt so that you can reach the zoom rocker with
your index finger, and the REC button with your thumb.

Preparing the Camcorder

Ta b

To attach an optional WS-20 Wrist Strap To attach an optional SS-600/SS-650 Shoulder Strap

23

Wireless Controller

First, insert the supplied CR2025 lithium button battery into the wireless controller.

1Press the tab in the direction of the arrow and pull out the battery

holder.

2 Place the lithium button battery with the + side facing up.

3Insert the battery holder.

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

To u se the wireless controller

Point the wireless controller at the camcorder’s remote sensor
when you press the buttons.

24

• You can rotate the LCD panel 180 degrees to use the wireless
controller from the front of the camcorder.

• When the camcorder cannot be operated with the wireless
controller, or when it can only be operated at very close range, replace the battery.

• The wireless controller may not work properly when the remote sensor is situated under strong light sources or
direct sunlight.

Using a Tripod

You can mount the camcorder on a tripod but do not use tripods
with mounting screws longer than 6 mm (0.24 in.) as this may cause
damage to the camcorder.

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

NOTES

mode mode

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

Turning the Camcorder On and Off

The camcorder has two basic modes: CAMERA ( ) mode for making recordings or MEDIA ( ) mode for
playing back recordings. Select the operating mode using the power switch.

To turn on the camcorder

Set the power switch to CAMERA for mode (A 35) or
MEDIA for mode (A 89).

To turn off the camcorder

Set the power switch to OFF.

25

• When you turn on the camcorder, the POWER/CHG indicator will illuminate in green. You can set [B System

Setup] > [POWER LED] in the setup menus to [j Off] so the power indicator does not illuminate.

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

Joystick/SET button

When making a menu selection, push the joystick to move the
orange selection frame in the menu. Then, press the joystick
itself (in the manual, "press SET") to select the menu item
indicated by the orange selection frame.

MENU button

Press the button to open the setup menus and then press again
to close the menu after adjusting desired settings.

Changing the Camcorder's Operating Mode

In mode, you can further select the camera mode to match your shooting style.

26

(Auto) mode

Set the mode switch to N. With this mode, the camcorder takes care of all the settings
while you concentrate on recording. This operating mode is suitable if you just prefer not to
bother with detailed camcorder settings.

(Manual) mode

Set the mode switch to n. With this mode, you can enjoy full access to menus, settings and
advanced functions.

Using the MENU Button and Joystick

You can navigate some of the camcorder’s menus and screens using the MENU button and joystick instead of
using the touch screen.

Date, Time and Language Settings

NOTES

Setting the Date and Time

Date, Time and Language Settings

You will need to set the date and time of the camcorder
before you can start using it. The [Date/Time] screen will
appear automatically when the camcorder’s clock is not set.

Operating modes:

1 Turn on the camcorder.

• The [Date/Time] screen will appear.

2 Touch a field you want to change (year, month, day, hours or minutes).

• You can also push the joystick (ÏÐ) to move between the fields.

3 Touch [Í] or [Î] to change the field as necessary.

• You can also push the joystick (Ý) to change the field.

4 Set the correct date and time by changing all the fields in the same way.

5 Touch [Y.M.D], [M.D,Y] or [D.M.Y] to select the date format you prefer.

• You can also push the joystick to select the desired button and press SET to confirm. The same is true for
the rest of the steps in this procedure.

• In some screens, the date will be displayed in short form (numbers instead of month names or only the day
and month), but it will still follow the order you selected.

6 Touch [24H] to use 24-hour clock or leave it unselected to use 12-hour clock (AM/PM).

7 Touch [OK] to start the clock and close the setup screen.

27

• With the following settings, you can change the time zone, date and time also after the initial setup. You can
also change the date format and clock format (12 or 24 hours).

-[ System Setup] > [Time Zone/DST]

-[ System Setup] > [Date/Time]

• When you do not use the camcorder for about 3 months, the built-in rechargeable lithium battery may be
completely exhausted and the date and time setting may be lost. In such case, recharge the built-in lithium
battery (A 140) and set the time zone, date and time again.

• Using the optional GP-E2 GPS Receiver, you can have the camcorder adjust settings automatically according
to the UTC date/time information received from the GPS signal (A 82).

Date, Time and Language Settings

Changing the Language

The default language of the camcorder is English. You can set it to one of 27 languages. Some settings and
onscreen displays will be displayed in English, regardless of the language setting.
The following procedure is explained using only the touch screen and an abbreviated notation explained in the

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following section. For a detailed explanation, refer to Using the Menus (A 32).

Operating modes:

1 Select [Language H].

> [B ! System Setup] > [Language H]

2 Touch the desired language and then touch [OK].

3 Touch [X] to close the menu.

Changing the Time Zone

Change the time zone to match your location. The default setting is New York. In addition, the camcorder is able
to retain the date and time of an additional location. This is convenient when you travel so that you can set the
camcorder to match the time of your home location or that of your travel destination.
The following procedure is explained using only the touch screen and an abbreviated notation explained in the
following section. For a detailed explanation, refer to Using the Menus (A 32).

Operating modes:

1 Select [Time Zone/DST].

> [B ! System Setup] > [Time Zone/DST]

2 Touch ["] to set the home time zone, or [#] to set the time zone of your destination when you are

traveling.

3 Touch [Ï] or [Ð] to set the desired time zone. If necessary, touch [$] to adjust for daylight saving

time.

4 Touch [X] to close the menu.

Using SD Cards

IMPORTANT

NOTES

Using SD Cards

The camcorder records clips and photos on commercially available Secure Digital (SD) cards1. The camcorder
has two SD card slots and you can use two SD cards (in the manual, "SD card A" and "SD card B") to record on
both simultaneously or to automatically switch to the other SD card when the SD card in use is full (A 43).
Initialize SD cards (A 31) when you use them with this camcorder for the first time.

1

The SD card is used also to save menu settings files.

Compatible SD Cards

The following types of SD cards2 can be used with this camcorder. For the latest information about SD cards
tested for use with this camcorder, visit your local Canon Web site.

29

SD card type:

3

UHS Speed Class

SD Speed Class

2

As of February 2018, the clip recording function has been tested using SD cards made by Panasonic, Toshiba and SanDisk.

3

UHS and SD Speed Class are standards that indicate the minimum guaranteed data transfer rate of SD cards.
To record 4K clips with a resolution of 3840x2160 (A 42) or using slow & fast motion recording (A 44), we recommend using
SD cards rated UHS Speed Class U3.

:

3

:

./ 0

SD cards SDHC cards SDXC cards

Speed Class U1 Speed Class U3

• After repeatedly recording, deleting and editing clips (if the SD card is fragmented), you may notice slower
writing speeds to the card and recording may even stop. In such case, save your recordings and initialize the
card with the camcorder. Be sure to initialize SD cards especially before shooting important scenes.

• About SDXC cards: You can use SDXC cards with this camcorder but SDXC cards are initialized by the
camcorder using the exFAT file system.

- When using exFAT-formatted cards with other devices (digital recorders, card readers, etc.), make sure that

the external device is compatible with exFAT. For more information on compatibility, contact the computer,
operating system or card manufacturer.

- If you use exFAT-formatted cards with a computer OS that is not exFAT-compatible, you may be prompted

to format the card. In such case, cancel the operation to prevent data loss.

• Proper operation cannot be guaranteed for all SD cards.

Using SD Cards

IMPORTANT

NOTES

햲

햳

햴

Inserting and Removing an SD Card

1 Turn off the camcorder.

30

• Make sure the POWER/CHG indicator is off.

2 Open the SD card compartment cover.

• Slide the SD CARD switch all the way in the direction of the
arrow to open the cover.

3Insert the SD card straight, with the label facing away

from the right side of the camcorder (the side with the air
intake vent), all the way into one of the SD card slots until
it clicks.

• You can also use two cards, one in each SD card slot.

• To remove an SD card, make sure the ACCESS indicator is
off and then push the card once to release it. When the SD
card springs out, pull it all the way out.

4 Close the SD card compartment cover.

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

ACCESS (SD card access) indicator

SD card access indicator SD card status

Red (on or flashing) Accessing the SD card(s).

Off

If you set [ System Setup] > [ACCESS LED] to [j Off], the ACCESS indicator will not illuminate.

• Observe the following precautions while the ACCESS indicator is illuminated in red. Failure to do so may result
in permanent data loss.

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

- Do not open the SD card compartment cover.

- Do not change the camcorder’s operating mode.

• Turn off the camcorder before inserting or removing an SD card. Inserting or removing a card with the
camcorder on may result in permanent data loss.

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

• SD cards have a physical switch to prevent writing on the card so as to avoid the accidental erasure of the
card’s content. To write-protect the SD card, set the switch to the LOCK position.

Neither SD card is being accessed or no SD cards are
inserted in the camcorder.