Canon HF21 User Manual

PUB. DIM-0931-000

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HD Camcorder

Inststruction Manual

Instruction Manual

HD Camcorder

English

Caméscope HD

Manuel d'instruction

Videocámara HD

Manual de Instrucciones

Français

Español

Introduction

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Important Usage Instructions

WARNING!

WARNING!

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

HD Camcorder, VIXIA HF21 A systems

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and use in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The cable with the ferrite core provided with the digital video camcorder must be used with this
equipment in order to comply with Class B limits in Subpart B of Part 15 of the FCC rules.
Do not make any changes or modifications to the equipment unless otherwise specified in the manual.
If such changes or modifications should be made, you could be required to stop operation of the
equipment.

Canon U.S.A., Inc.
One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042, U.S.A.
Tel No. [phone]

CAUTION:
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT.

WARNING:
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not expose this product to dripping or splashing.

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

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

2

The Mains plug is used as the disconnect device. The Mains plug shall remain readily operable

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to disconnect the plug in case of an accident.

CAUTION:

• Danger of explosion if the wrong type of batteries are attached. Use only the same type of
batteries.

• Do not expose batteries or product to excessive heat such as the inside of a car under
direct sunlight, fire, etc.

mportant Warning

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

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

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the
user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure, that may
be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence
of important operating and maintenance (ser vicing) instructions in the literature accompanying
the product.

3

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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In these safety instructions the word “product” refers to the Canon HD Camcorder
VIXIA HF21 A and all its accessories.

1 Read these instructions.
2 Keep these instructions.
3 Heed all warnings.
4 Follow all instructions.
5 Do not use this apparatus near water.
6 Clean only with dry cloth.
7 Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other

apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

8 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug

has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a
third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the
provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.

9 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience

receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
10 Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
11 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
12 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus

has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has

been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to

rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
13 Read Instructions — All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the

product is operated.
14 Retain Instructions — The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future

reference.
15 Heed Warnings — All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be

adhered to.
16 Follow Instructions — All operating and maintenance instructions should be followed.
17 Cleaning — Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or

aerosol cleaners. The product should be cleaned only as recommended in this manual.
18 Accessories — Do not use accessories not recommended in this manual as they may be

hazardous.
19 Avoid magnetic or electric fields — Do not use the camera close to TV transmitters, portable

communication devices or other sources of electric or magnetic radiation. They may cause

picture interference, or permanently damage the camera.
20 Water and Moisture — Hazard of electric shock — Do not use this product near water or in

rainy/moist situations.

4

21 Placing or Moving — Do not place on an unstable cart, stand, tripod,

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bracket or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a child or
adult, and serious damage to the product.
A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops,
excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart
combination to overturn.

22 Power Sources — The CA-570 Compact Power Adapter should be

operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not
sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power
company. Regarding other power sources such as battery power, refer to instructions in this
manual.

23 Polarization — The CA-570 Compact Power Adapter is equipped with a polarized 2-prong

plug (a plug having one blade wider than the other). The 2-prong polarized plug will fit into
the power outlet only one way. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug
fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug still fails to fit, contact your electrician
to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug.

24 Power Cord Protection — Power cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be

walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them. Pay particular attention to plugs
and the point from which the cords exit the product.

25 Outdoor Antenna Grounding — If an

outside antenna is connected to the
product, be sure the antenna is
grounded so as to provide some
protection against voltage surges
and built-up static charges. Section
810 of the National Electrical Code,
ANSI / NFPA No. 70—1984,
provides information with respect to
proper grounding of the mast and
supporting structure, grounding of
the lead-in wire to an antenna
discharge unit, size of grounding
conductors, location of antenna
discharge unit, connection to
grounding electrodes, and
requirements for the grounding electrode. See figure 1.

26 Lightning — For added protection of this product during a lightning storm, or when it is left

unattended and unused for long periods of time, disconnect it from the wall outlet and
disconnect the antenna. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power­line surges.

27 Overloading — Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk of

fire or electric shock.

28 Objects and Liquid Entry — Never push objects of any kind into this product through

openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a
fire or electric shock. Be careful not to spill liquid of any kind onto the product.

29 Servicing — Do not attempt to service this product yourself as opening or removing covers

may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified
service personnel.

EXAMPLE OF ANTENNA GROUND ING AS PER NATIONAL

Fig. 1

ELECTRICAL CODE

GROUND
CLAMP

ELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT

NEC - NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE

ANTENNA LEAD
IN WIRE

ANTENNA DISCHARGE UNIT
(NEC SECTION 810-20)

GROUNDING CONDUCTORS
(NEC SECTION 810-21)

GROUND CLAMPS
POWER SERVICE GROUNDING
ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(NEC ART 250. PART H)

5

30 Damage Requiring Service — Disconnect this product from the wall outlet and all power

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sources including battery, and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the

following conditions:

a. When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.

b. If any liquid has been spilled onto, or objects have fallen into, the product.

c. If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

d. If the product does not operate normally even if you follow the operating instructions.

Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operation instructions. Improper
adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work

by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation.
e. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.
f. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance. This indicates a need for

service.

31 Replacement Parts — When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician

has used replacement parts that are specified by Canon or that have the same
characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric
shock or other hazards.

32 Safety Check — Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service

technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in safe operating order.

33 Heat — The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat

registers, stoves, or other products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

When replacement of the power supply is required, please return it to the responsible
nearest Canon Service Center and please replace it with the same type number CA-570.

The Adapter can be used with a power supply between 100 and 240 V AC. For areas
where 120 V AC power is not used, you will need a special plug adapter. Contact your
nearest Canon Service Center for further information.

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

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Online product registration for USA Customers only.

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Register your product online at www.registercanon.com

Protect your product

We will keep the model number and date of purchase of your new
Canon product on file to help you refer to this information in the event
of an insurance claim such as loss or theft.

Receive information on new products and promotions

Upon your request, we will send you information on Canon new prod­ucts and promotions.

The serial number of this product can be found at the battery attach­ment unit of the camcorder. Write down the number and other informa­tion here and retain this book as a permanent record of your purchase
to aid identification in case of theft.

Date of Purchase: Model Name: VIXIA HF21 A
Purchased From: Serial No.:
Dealer Address:
Dealer Phone No.:

Trademark Acknowledgements

• The SD logo is a trademark. The SDHC logo is a trademark.

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

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

• x.v.Color and the x.v.Color logo are trademarks.

• HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are
trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

• “AVCHD” and the “AVCHD” logo are trademarks of Panasonic Corporation
and Sony Corporation.

• Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.
“Dolby” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

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

• 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 non­commercial 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.

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Enjoying High-Definition Video with

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your Camcorder

Preserve your most treasured memories, be it unforgettable scenery or
cherished moments spent with family and friends, with high-definition
video recordings of a quality second only to actually being there.

What is High-Definition Video?

1,080

lines

Capture the finest detail, like the
movement or shine of a single
strand of hair

Your camcorder features a full high-definition image sensor (Full HD CMOS)
that captures video at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels1. This results in
video recordings of unparalleled high quality, fine detail and lifelike vivid
colors.

How does full high definition compare with standard-definition TV
broadcasts?

Approximately 6 times the number of pixels.

6

More than twice the number of scanning lines.

2

“Full HD 1080” refers to Canon camcorders compliant with
high-definition video composed of 1,080 vertical pixels
(scanning lines).

1

Video is recorded at this resolution only when the recording mode is set to MXP or
FXP mode. In other recording modes, the picture is recorded at 1,440 x 1,080
pixels.

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What are the advantages of flash memory?

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Your videos and photos are recorded in the built-in memory or on
commercially available SD/SDHC memory cards2 using AVCHD
specifications3. Recording on flash memory means that there are no moving
parts in the recorder unit of the camcorder. To you, it means a camcorder
that is smaller, lighter and faster. In fact, using the Quick Start function
( 48) you can open the LCD panel and start recording within
approximately one second.

Any New Functions?

Pre-recording When pre-recording ( 71) is activated, the camcorder

starts recording video continuously into a temporary 3-second memory.
When you press the button, the scene recorded will have
started 3 seconds before you started shooting. This is especially useful
when it is difficult to predict when to start recording.

Face Detection With face detection ( 75), have the camcorder

automatically detect people's faces and use this information to adjust the
focus and set the best exposure for beautiful videos and photos.

Video Snapshot Discover a fun, new way to play back video. Shoot or

capture ( 67) short scenes about 4 seconds in length and arrange them
into a video clip set to your favorite background music.

Cinema Mode Give your recordings a cinematic look by using the

[ Cine Mode] recording program ( 66) with the 24 fps progressive
frame rate.

2

For details about memory cards that can be used with this camcorder refer to
Using a Memory Card (41).

3

AVCHD is the new standard for recording high-definition video. With AVCHD
specifications, the video signal is recorded using MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compres­sion and the audio signal is recorded in Dolby Digital.

START/STOP

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Can I play back my high-definition video on

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other devices?

Needless to say, you can connect your camcorder to an HDTV to enjoy your
recordings with family and friends ( 124). You also have the following
options:

• You can easily play back video recorded on the memory card by
inserting the memory card directly into AVCHD-compatible TV sets
and HDD or DVD recorders that feature an SD/SDHC memory card

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slot

. For details, refer to the instruction manual of your TV or digital

video recorder.

• You can play back AVCHD discs of your recordings created using the
optional DW-100 DVD Burner
AVCHD-compatible DVD players or Blu-ray Disc players

(126) on the DVD Burner itself or on

5

.

4

Depending on the device used, correct playback may not be possible even if the
device is AVCHD-compatible. In such case, play back the recordings on the
memory card using the camcorder.

5

AVCHD discs containing scenes recorded in MXP mode cannot be created with
the optional DW-100 DVD burner. Use the software on the supplied Video Tools
CD-ROM to back up such scenes.

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11

Table of contents

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 Introduction

8 Enjoying High-Definition Video with your Camcorder
16 About this Manual

18 Getting to Know the Camcorder

18 Supplied Accessories and CD-ROMs
20 Names of Parts
23 Screen Displays

 Preparations

27 Getting Started

27 Charging the Battery Pack
29 Preparing the Wireless Controller and Accessories
31 Adjusting the Position and Brightness of the LCD

34 Basic Operation of the Camcorder

34 Operating Modes
36 Joystick and Joystick Guide
36 Using the Menus

39 First Time Settings

39 Setting the Date and Time
40 Changing the Language
40 Changing the Time Zone

41 Using a Memory Card

41 Memory Cards Compatible for Use with the Camcorder
42 Inserting and Removing a Memory Card
42 Selecting the Memory for the Recordings
43 Initializing the Built-in Memory or Memory Card

Screen

12  Table of contents

 Video

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45 Basic Recording

45 Shooting Video
46 Selecting the Video Quality (Recording Mode)
47 Zooming
48 Quick Start Function

50 Basic Playback

50 Playing Back the Video
52 Selecting what Recordings to Play Back
53 Searching for Scenes
55 Selecting the Playback Starting Point
57 Pre-selecting Recordings from the Index Screen
58 Deleting Scenes

61 Advanced Functions

61 Special Scene Recording Programs
64 Changing the Shutter Speed and Aperture
66 Cinema Mode: Giving a Cinematic Look to your

66 Mini Video Light
67 Video Snapshot
71 Pre-recording Function
71 Self Timer
72 Manual Exposure Adjustment and Automatic Backlight

74 Manual Focus Adjustment
75 Face Detection
76 White Balance
77 Image Effects
79 Digital Effects
80 On-Screen Displays and Data Code
81 Audio Recording Level
82 Using Headphones
84 Using the Mini Advanced Shoe
85 Using an External Microphone
86 Using a Zoom Remote Controller

Recordings

Correction

Table of contents  13

87 Playlist and Scene Operations

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87 Dividing Scenes
88 Editing the Playlist: Adding, Deleting, Moving and

92 Copying Scenes

Playing Back

 Photos

94 Basic Recording

94 Taking Photos
95 Selecting Photo Size and Quality
96 Deleting a Photo Right After Recording It

97 Basic Playback

97 Viewing Photos
98 Deleting Photos
100 Magnifying Photos during Playback

101 Additional Functions

101 Flash
103 Drive Mode: Continuous Shooting and Exposure

104 Taking Photos while Recording Movies (Simultaneous

105 Light Metering Mode
105 Slideshow
106 Rotating Photos
107 Histogram Display
107 Capturing Photos from a Movie
108 Protecting Photos
109 Copying Photos

112 Printing Photos

112 Printing Photos (Direct Print)
114 Selecting the Print Settings
116 Trimming Settings
117 Print Orders

Bracketing

Recording)

14  Table of contents

 External Connections

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120 Terminals on the Camcorder

121 Connection Diagrams
124 Playback on a TV Screen

125 Saving Your Recordings

125 Saving Your Recordings on a Computer
126 Authoring High-Definition (AVCHD) Discs and Photo

130 Copying your Recordings to an External Video

131 Transferring Photos to a Computer (Direct Transfer)
135 Transfer Orders

DVDs

Recorder

 Additional Information

137 Appendix: Menu Options Lists

137 FUNC. Menu
140 Setup Menus

152 Trouble?

152 Troubleshooting
158 List of Messages

168 Do’s and Don’ts

168 Handling Precautions
173 Maintenance/Others
174 Using the Camcorder Abroad

175 General Information

175 Accessories
176 Optional Accessories
181 Product Codes
182 Specifications
186 Index

Table of contents  15

About this Manual

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Thank you for purchasing the Canon VIXIA HF21. 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 ( 152).

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 or requirements regarding the
function described.

• : Reference page number within this manual.

To complete some operations you will need to refer also to other
instruction manuals. This will be indicated with the following icons:

DW-100

• The following terms are used in this manual:

• The photos included in this manual are simulated pictures taken with

Refer to the

DVSD

included as a PDF file in the supplied DIGITAL VIDEO
Solution Disk CD-ROM.

Refer to the instruction manual of the optional DW-100

DVD Burner.

When not specified as “memory card” or “built-in memory”, the term
“memory” by itself refers to both.
“Scene” refers to one movie unit from the point you press the

START/STOP

the recording.

a still camera.

button to start recording until you press again to pause

‘Digital Video Software’ instruction manual,

16  Introduction

Selecting the Video Quality (Recording Mode)

The camcorder offers 5 recording modes. Changing the recording
mode will change the recording time available on the memory. Select
MXP or FXP mode for better movie quality; select LP mode for longer
recording tim es. The following table gives approx imate recording
times.

Standa rd Play 7 Mbps] Desired reco rding mode

NOTES

• AVCHD discs containing scenes recorded in MXP mode cannot be cre-

ated with the optional DW-100 DVD Burner. Use the software on the
supplied Video Tools CD-ROM to back up such scenes.

• 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 camcorder retains the last setting used even if you set the cam-

corder to mode.

Operating modes:

FUNC.

FUNC.

[

Brackets [ ] are used to refer to

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menu options as they are
displayed on screen.

The names of most buttons and
switches are indicated within a
“button” frame.
For example .

The arrow is used to abbreviate menu selections. For a detailed

explanation on how to use the menus, refer to Using the Menus
( 36). For a concise summary of all available menu options and
settings, refer to the appendix Menu Options Lists ( 137).

refer to Operating Modes (34).

FUNC.

indicates that a function is available in the operating mode indicated and
indicates that the function is not available. For a detailed explanation

Introduction  17

Getting to Know the Camcorder

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Supplied Accessories and CD-ROMs

The following accessories are supplied with the camcorder:

XCA-570 Compact Power Adapter

(incl. power cord)

BP-809 Battery PackW

XWL-D88 Wireless Controller

(incl. CR2025 lithium button battery)

STV-250N Stereo Video CableW

Yellow • Red • White plugs

XCTC-100/S Component Cable

Red • Green • Blue plugs

IFC-400PCU USB CableW

XWS-30 Wrist Strap

18  Introduction

The following CD-ROMs and software are supplied with the camcorder:

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• PIXELA Application - Disc 1 CD-ROM* and ‘PIXELA ImageMixer 3 SE’

Installation Guide

- ImageMixer 3 SE Transfer Utility – Software for saving and transferring
movies.

- Music Transfer Utility – Software for transferring to the camcorder
music data for video snapshot playback.

• PIXELA Application - Disc 2 CD-ROM*

- ImageMixer 3 SE Video Tools – Software for managing, editing, and
playing back movies.

• DIGITAL VIDEO Solution Disk CD-ROM* and Installation Guide – Soft-

ware for saving, managing, and printing photos.

• Music Data CD-ROM – Contains music files that can be used as back-

ground music during playback.
The music files on this CD-ROM are for exclusive use with the supplied
PIXELA applications, Music Transfer Utility and ImageMixer 3 SE Video
Tools. For more details, refer to the ‘Music Transfer Utility Software
Guide’ and ‘ImageMixer 3 SE Software Guide’ on the PIXELA Applica-
tion - Disc 1 CD-ROM.

* The CD-ROM includes the instruction manual of the software (on PDF file).

Introduction  19

Names of Parts

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Left side view

Right side view

Front view

RESET button ( 155)
VIDEO SNAP (video snapshot) button

(67)/

(print/share) button

( 113, 133)
DISP. (on-screen display) button

(80)/
BATT. INFO button ( 26)

Speaker ( 50)
Memory card slot cover
Memory card slot ( 42)
AV OUT terminal ( 120, 122)/

(headphones) terminal ( 82)
Camera mode dial ( 34)
Strap mount ( 30)
USB terminal ( 120, 123)
HDMI OUT terminal ( 120, 121)
Grip belt ( 30)
Instant AF sensor ( 142)
Stereo microphone ( 81)
Mini video light ( 66)
Flash ( 101)

20  Introduction

Top vie w

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LCD panel

Back view

Mini advanced shoe ( 84)
PHOTO button ( 94)
Zoom lever ( 47)
ON/OFF (CHG) (charge) indicator:

Green – ON
Orange – Standby ( 48)
Red – Charging ( 27)

POWER button
Remote sensor ( 29)
LCD screen ( 31)
Joystick ( 36)
FUNC. button ( 37, 137)

/ (play/pause) button ( 50)/

START/STOP button ( 45)

(stop) button ( 50)/
Zoom out W (wide-angle) button
( 47)

PLAYLIST button ( 88)/
Zoom in T (telephoto) button ( 47)

(camera/play) button ( 35)
MIC terminal ( 85)
COMPONENT OUT terminal

( 120, 122)
ACCESS indicator ( 45, 94)
Battery attachment unit ( 27)
START/STOP button ( 45)
DC IN terminal ( 27)

Serial number

The serial number label is located in
the battery attachment unit. Remove
the battery pack to find it.

Introduction  21

B

ottom view

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Wireless Controller WL-D88

BATTERY RELEASE switch ( 28)
Tripod socket ( 168)

START/STOP button ( 45)
FUNC. button ( 37, 137)
MENU button ( 37, 140)
PLAYLIST button ( 88)
Navigation buttons ( / / / )

(frame reverse) button ( 51)

(fast reverse) button ( 51)
(play) button ( 50)
(pause) button ( 50)
(stop) button ( 50)

PHOTO button ( 94)
Zoom buttons ( 47)
SET button

(frame advance) button ( 51)

(fast forward) button ( 51)

DISP. (on-screen display) button
(80)

22  Introduction

Screen Displays

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Recording Movies

Operating mode ( 34)
Recording program ( 61, 64, 66)
White balance ( 76)
Image effect ( 77)
Digital effect ( 79)
Recording mode ( 46)
Photo quality/size

(simultaneous recording) ( 104)
Remote sensor off ( 148)
Microphone attenuator ( 143)
Pre-recording ( 71)
Memory operation ( 26)

Instant AF ( 142),

MF Manual focus ( 74)
Remaining battery time ( 26)
While recording/during playback:

Scene counter (hours : minutes :
seconds)
In record pause mode: Total number of
scenes

Remaining recording time

On the memory card

In the built-in memory
Image stabilizer ( 142)
24F progressive frame rate

( 26, 66)
Face detection ( 75)
Wind screen off ( 143)

TM

x.v.Color
Audio level indicator ( 81)
Mini advanced shoe ( 84)

Headphone output ( 82)
Level marker ( 144)

Backlight correction ( 73)
Mini video light ( 66)

( 140)

Introduction  23

Recording Photos

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Zoom ( 47),
Exposure ( 72)

Light metering mode ( 105)
Drive mode ( 103)
Photo quality/size ( 95)
Self timer ( 71)

Playing Movies (During Playback)

Data code ( 80, 145)
Scene number

24  Introduction

Number of available photos

On the memory card

In the built-in memory
Camcorder shake warning ( 143)
AF frame ( 142)
Focus and exposure lock ( 94)
Flash ( 101)

Joystick guide ( 36)

Viewing Photos

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Histogram ( 107)
Current photo / Total number of

photos
Photo number ( 149)
Protected photo mark ( 108)
Date and time of recording

Manual focus ( 74)
File size
Manual exposure ( 72)
Photo size ( 95)
Aperture value ( 64)
Shutter speed ( 64)

Introduction  25

Memory operation

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Record, Record pause, Playback, Playback pause, Fast playback,

Fast reverse playback, Slow playback, Slow reverse playback,

Frame advance, Frame reverse.

Remaining battery time

• The first time you use a battery pack, fully charge it and then use the camcorder until
the battery pack is completely exhausted. Doing so will ensure that the remaining
recording time will be displayed accurately.

• The icon shows a rough estimate
of the remaining charge as a
percentage of the full charge of
the battery pack. The remaining
recording/playback time of the battery pack is displayed, in minutes, next to the icon.

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

• When you attach an empty battery pack, the power may turn off without displaying .

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

• When the camcorder is off, press to display the charge status of a
battery pack. The Intelligent System will display the charge status (as a percentage)
and the remaining recording time (in minutes) for 5 seconds. If the battery pack is
exhausted, the battery information may not be displayed.

Remaining recording time

When there is no more free space on the memory, “ End” (built-in memory) or
“ End” (memory card) will be displayed and the recording will stop.

24F progressive frame rate

Select the 24F progressive frame rate ( 66) to give your recordings a cinematic look.
You can combine this frame rate with the [ Cine Mode] recording program to
enhance the effect.

Number of available photos

in red: There is no memory card in the camcorder.
in green: 6 or more photos in yellow: 1 to 5 photos in red: No more photos

can be recorded.

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

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

100% 75% 50% 25% 0%

BATT.INFO

26  Introduction

Preparations

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

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
fully charged battery pack, refer to the tables on pages 177-178.

1 Connect the power cord to the

compact power adapter.

2 Plug the power cord into a power outlet.

3 Connect the compact power

adapter to the camcorder’s DC IN
terminal.

4 Attach the battery pack to the

camcorder.

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

5 Charging will start when the

camcorder is turned off.

• If the camcorder was on, the green
ON/OFF (CHG) indicator will go out
when you turn off the camcorder.
After a moment, the ON/OFF (CHG)
indicator will start flashing in red
(battery pack charging). The red ON/
OFF (CHG) indicator will go out when
the battery pack is fully charged.

DC IN

terminal

ON/OFF (CHG) (charge) indicator

Preparations  27

• If the indicator flashes quickly, refer to Troubleshooting ( 152).

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To remove the battery pack

1Slide in the

2 Slide the battery pack down and

• Turn off the camcorder before connecting or disconnecting the com-

• We recommend charging the battery pack in temperatures between

• Do not connect to the camcorder’s DC IN terminal or to the compact

• To prevent equipment breakdowns and excessive heating, do not con-

BATTERY RELEASE

direction of the arrow and hold it
pressed down.

then pull it out.

BATTERY RELEASE switch

IMPORTANT

pact power adapter. After pressing to turn off the camcorder,
important data is updated in the memory. Be sure to wait until the green
ON/OFF (CHG) indicator goes out.

10 °C and 30 °C (50 °F and 86 °F). Outside the temperature range of
0 °C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F), charging will not start.

power adapter any electrical equipment that is not expressly recom­mended for use with this camcorder.

nect 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.

POWER

NOTES

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

• 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.

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

28  Preparations

• We recommend that you prepare battery packs to last 2 to 3 times

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longer than you think you might need.

• USA and Canada only: The Lithium ion/polymer battery that
powers the product is recyclable. Please call
1-800-8-BATTERY for information on how to recycle this
battery.

Preparing the Wireless Controller and Accessories

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

1 Press 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.

3 Insert the battery holder.

Tab

To use the wireless controller

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

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

Preparations  29

NOTES

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

• If the wireless controller does not work, check that [Wireless
Remote Control] is not set to [ Off ]. Otherwise, replace the
battery.

Accessories

Fasten the grip belt.

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

START/STOP

the button with your thumb.

To remove the grip belt

1 Lift the padded handgrip's flap and detach the strap from the

Velcro pa d.

2 Pull the strap to remove it first from the front bracket on the

camcorder, then to unthread it from the handgrip and finally to
remove it from the rear bracket on the camcorder.

30  Preparations

To attach the wrist strap

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Pass the attaching end of the wrist
strap through the back bracket on the
camcorder, thread the wrist strap
through the loop and fasten.

You can also attach the wrist strap to the
strap mount on the grip belt to use both
for extra convenience and protection.

To attach a shoulder strap

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

Adjusting the Position and Brightness of the LCD Screen

Rotating the LCD Panel

Open the LCD panel 90 degrees.

• You can rotate the panel 90 degrees downward.

• You can rotate the panel 180 degrees toward the lens. Rotating the
LCD panel 180 degrees can be useful in the following cases:

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

- To allow the camcorder to be operated with the wireless controller

from the front.

Preparations  31

180°

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180°

90°

NOTES

• About the LCD screen: The screen is 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

When recording in bright places it may be difficult to use the LCD
screen. Turn on the LCD backlight to make it brighter.

With the camcorder on, hold pressed down for more than 2
seconds.

• Repeat this action to switch the LCD backlight between off (normal) and
on (bright).

• If [LCD Screen Dimmer] is set to [ On], pressing for
more than 2 seconds will turn off the screen dimmer and return the LCD
screen to its previous brightness setting.

NOTES

• The LCD backlight does not affect the brightness of the recordings.

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

• You can further adjust the brightness of the LCD screen with the
[LCD Brightness] setting, or dim it with the [LCD Screen Dim-

DISP.

Subject can monitor the LCD screen

DISP.

32  Preparations

mer] setting to use in places where the light from the LCD screen can

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be a nuisance.

Preparations  33

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

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Operating Modes

Recording

When recording video or photos, the camcorder’s
operating mode is determined by the position of the
camera mode dial.

Operating

mode

Dual Shot Record video and take photos easily, letting the camcorder take care of all the
settings – Great for beginners or if you just prefer not to bother with detailed camcorder
settings.

Flexible recording Use one of the dedicated recording modes to enjoy full access to the
menus and advanced functions and change the camcorder’s settings to your preference.

NOTES

• Only the following buttons/functions are available in mode.

START/STOP

- for recording movies.

PHOTO

- for recording photos.

- Zoom lever and zoom buttons on the LCD panel.

- Quick Start ( 48).

VIDEO SNAP

- for video snapshot ( 67).

34  Preparations

Camera mode

dial

Onscreen icon Operation

Easy recording of movies and
photos ( 45, 94).

Recording movies ( 45).
Recording photos ( 94).

• In mode, menus cannot be accessed but the following settings

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can be changed in advance, before setting the camera mode dial to

.

- Recording mode of movies

- Size/quality of photos

- Your selection of recording media for movies/photos

- Auto slow shutter

- Backlight correction

- All settings under the setup menu’s , and tabs.

• Even in one of the flexible recording modes ( or ), the cam­corder can help you with the settings. For example, you can use the
Special Scene recording programs ( 61) to set at once all the optimal
settings to match special recording conditions.

Playback

For playback, the camcorder’s operating mode is
determined by the position of the camera mode dial
and the (camera/play) button. Press to
switch between camera (recording) mode and play­back mode.

Operating

• When switching to a playback mode, the memory selected for playback

Onscreen

mode

will be the same currently used for recording.

icon

NOTES

Camera mode

dial

or

Press

Operation

Playing back movies
(index screen) ( 50).

Viewing photos (single
photo view) ( 97).

Preparations  35

Joystick and Joystick Guide

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Use the joystick to operate the camcorder's menus.

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

If the joystick guide does not appear on the screen, press or push
the joystick ( , ) to display it. The functions that appear depend
on the operating mode.

• , or mode: Select ( ) a function and press to
change the setting. With some functions, you will need to make
further adjustments ( ).

• mode: First, select ( ) a “row” of functions; then, press to
operate the function in the middle or push the joystick ( or ) to
operate the function on the left or right, respectively.

The joystick guide will minimize after 2 seconds. When the joystick
guide is minimized, you can still adjust or turn on/off the selected func­tion; you can also maximize ( ) the joystick guide to select another
function or hide ( ) it altogether.

Using the Menus

Many of the camcorder’s functions can
be adjusted from the menus that open
after pressing . In mode,
menus cannot be accessed and, except
in a few cases, most menu settings will
return to their default values.
For details about the available menu
options and settings, refer to the appen­dix Menu Options Lists ( 137).

FUNC.

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

36  Preparations

Selecting an Option from the FUNC. Menu

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The following is an example of selecting a FUNC. menu option in
mode (the operation is similar in mode). In playback modes, the
operation varies depending on the function selected so refer to the rel­evant chapter as necessary.

1Press .

2 Select ( ) the icon of the function

3 Select ( ) the desired setting from the available options at the

4 Press to save the settings and close the menu.

Selecting an Option from the Setup Menus

1Press .

2 Select ( , ) [ Menu] and

3 Select ( ) the tab of the desired menu.

4 Select ( ) the setting you want to change and press .

FUNC.

you want to change from the left
side column.

Menu items not available will appear
grayed out.

bottom bar.

• The selected option will be highlighted in orange.

• 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.).

FUNC.

You can press to close the menu at any time.

press to open the setup
menus.

You can also hold pressed
down for more than 1 second or
press on the wireless
controller to open directly the setup
menus screen.

• The orange selection bar indicates the menu setting currently
selected. Menu items not available appear grayed out.

FUNC.

FUNC.

FUNC.

MENU

Preparations  37

• Move ( ) the orange selection bar to the tabs at the top of the

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screen to select a different menu (step 3).

5 Select ( , ) the desired option and press to save the

setting.

6 Press .

• A small font size is used in menu screens so you can see all options and

FUNC.

You can press to close the menu at any time.

NOTES

current settings in one screen. You can enlarge the font size by setting

[Font Size] to [ Large] but you may have to scroll down to find
some menu options and only the icons of the current settings will be
displayed.

FUNC.

38  Preparations

First Time Settings

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Setting the Date and Time

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.
When the [Date/Time] screen appears,
the year will be selected.

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.

NOTES

• When you do not use the camcorder for about 3 months, the built-in
rechargeable lithium battery may discharge completely and the date
and time setting may be lost. In such case, recharge the built-in lithium
battery ( 171) 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
month-day-year (for example, [Jan. 1, 2009 12:00 AM]). You can
change the date format and the clock format (12/24 hours) with the

[Date Format] setting.

• 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]

Preparations  39

Changing the Language

COPY

The default language of the camcorder
is English. You can set it to one of 22
other languages.

Operating modes:

FUNC.

• The displays and that appear in some menu screens refer to

Changing the Time Zone

Change the time zone to match your location. The default setting is
New York.

Operating modes:

To set the home time zone

FUNC.

* When you travel, select the icon and select the time zone that matches the

**To adjust for daylight saving time, select the area name marked with a .

40  Preparations

[ Menu] [Language ]

Desired language

NOTES

the name of buttons on the camcorder and will not change, regardless
of the language selected.

FUNC.

[ Menu] [Time Zone/DST]

Your local time zone**

local time at your destination.

FUNC.

*

Using a Memory Card

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Memory Cards Compatible for Use with the Camcorder

You can use commercially available SDHC (SD high capacity)
memory cards and SD memory cards with this camcorder. How­ever, depending on its Speed Class, you may not be able to record
movies on the memory card. Refer to the table below.
As of April 2009, the movie recording function has been tested using
SD/SDHC memory cards made by Panasonic, Toshiba and SanDisk.
We recommend using memory cards with a Speed Class 4 or 6.

Memory card Capacity SD Speed Class Recording movies

64 MB or less – –

SD

memory cards

SDHC

memory cards

1

Movies cannot be recorded when the recording mode is set to MXP (24 Mbps) or
FXP (17 Mbps).

2

Depending on the memory card used, it may not be possible to record movies.

About the SD Speed Class:

The SD Speed Class is a standard that indicates the minimum guaran­teed data transfer speed of SD/SDHC memory cards. When you buy a
new memory card, look for the Speed Class logo on the package.

128 MB or more

Over 2 GB

–

or

or

1,2

1

1

Preparations  41

Inserting and Removing a Memory Card

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Make sure to initialize ( 43) all memory cards before using them with
this camcorder.

1 Turn off the camcorder.

Make sure the
is off.

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.

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

• 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.

Selecting the Memory for the Recordings

You can select to record your movies and photos in the built-in mem­ory or on a memory card. The built-in memory is the default memory
for recording both.

ON/OFF (CHG) indicator

42  Preparations

Operating modes:

COPY

FUNC.

[ Menu] or

[Rec Media for Movies] or [Rec Media for Photos]
Select the built-in memory or memory card*

* When selecting the memory, you can check the total, used and approximate avail-

able recording time/number of photos (estimated based on the recording mode
(movies) or photo size/quality (photos) currently in use).

Initializing the Built-in Memory or Memory Card

Initialize memory cards when you use them with this camcorder for the
first time. You can also initialize a memory card or the built-in memory
to permanently delete all the recordings it contains.
At the time of purchase, the built-in memory comes pre-initialized and
contains music files for use as background music during playback.

Operating modes:

Options

[Quick Initialization] Clears the file allocation table but does not

physically erase the stored data.

[Complete Initialization] Erases all data completely.

FUNC.

[ Menu] [Initialize / ]

[Built-in Mem.] or [Mem. Card] Initialization method
[Yes]* [OK]

* Press to cancel the complete initialization while it is in progress. All recordings

will be erased and the memory can be used without any problem.

FUNC.

FUNC.

IMPORTANT

• Initializing the memory will permanently erase all recordings. Lost origi­nal recordings cannot be recovered. Make sure you save important
recordings in advance using an external device ( 125).

Preparations  43

• When the memory is initialized, music files will be erased as well. Use

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the supplied software Music Transfer Utility to transfer music files from
the supplied Music Data CD-ROM to the camcorder. For details, refer
to the ‘Music Transfer Utility Software Guide’ (PDF file).

•The Music Data CD-ROM includes also extra music tracks that were

not pre-installed in the built-in memory.

• Power the camcorder using the compact power adapter before initializ­ing the memory. While the initialization is in progress, do not disconnect
the power source or turn off the camcorder.

44  Preparations

Video

COPY

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

Basic Recording

Shooting Video

Operating modes:

1 Set the camera mode dial to or

.

2 Turn on the camcorder.

By default, movies are recorded in
the built-in memory. Alternatively, you
can set the memory card as the
recording media ( 42).

3Press to begin

When you have finished recording

1 Make sure that the ACCESS indicator is off.

2 Turn off the camcorder.

3 Close the LCD panel.

START/STOP

recording.

• Press again to pause

• You can also press on the LCD panel.

START/STOP

the recording.

START/STOP

IMPORTANT

• Observe the following precautions while the ACCESS indicator is on or
flashing. Failing to do so may result in permanent data loss or damage
to the memory.

Video  45

- Do not open the memory card slot cover.

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

- Do not change the camcorder’s operating mode.

• Be sure to save your recordings regularly ( 125), especially after mak­ing important recordings. Canon shall not be liable for any loss or cor­ruption of data.

NOTES

• About the Power Save mode: If [Power Saving Mode] is set to
[ On], 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. Press to turn on the camcorder.

• When recording in bright places, it may be difficult to use the LCD
screen. In such cases, you can turn on the LCD backlight ( 32) or
adjust the brightness of the LCD screen with the [LCD Bright­ness] setting.

Selecting the Video Quality (Recording Mode)

The camcorder offers 5 recording modes. Changing the recording
mode will change the recording time available on the memory. Select
MXP or FXP mode for better movie quality; select LP mode for longer
recording times. The following table gives approximate recording
times.

Operating modes:

POWER

FUNC.

[ Standard Play 7 Mbps] Desired recording mode

FUNC.

NOTES

• AVCHD discs containing scenes recorded in MXP mode cannot be cre­ated with the optional DW-100 DVD Burner. Use the software on the
supplied Video Tools CD-ROM to back up such scenes.

• 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 camcorder retains the last setting used even if you set the cam­corder to mode.

46  Video



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19 hr.

10 min.

2 hr.

20 min.

4 hr.

45 min.

9 hr.

35 min.



3

Default value

Approximate recording times

1

Recording mode
Memory ↓
64 GB

Built-in memory
4 GB

Memory card
8 GB

Memory card
16 GB

Memory card
32 GB

Memory card

1

Recorded in 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. Movies recorded using other recording
modes are recorded in 1,440 x 1,080 resolution.

2

At the time of purchase, the built-in memory contains about 170 MB of music
files.

3

Movies can be recorded continuously for about 13 hours.

MXP

→

5 hr.

2

55 min.

20 min. 30 min. 40 min. 1 hr.

40 min. 1 hr. 1 hr.

1 hr.

25 min.

2 hr.

55 min.

FXP

8 hr.

20 min.

2 hr.

5 min.

4 hr.

10 min.

1

XP+ SP

11 hr.

30 min.

25 min.

2 hr.

50 min.

5 hr.

45 min.

10 min.

Zooming

Operating modes:

mode: In addition to the optical zoom, you can turn on the digital

zoom with the [Digital Zoom] setting.

LP

24 hr.

30 min.

1 hr.

30 min.

3 hr.

6 hr.

5 min.

12 hr.

15 min.

3

Video  47

15x Optical Zoom

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Move the zoom lever toward W (wide
angle) to zoom out. Move it toward T
(telephoto) to zoom in.

By default, the zoom lever operates at a
variable speed – press gently for a slow
zoom; press harder for faster zooms.

NOTES

• Keep at least 1 m (3.3 ft.) away from
the subject. At full wide angle, you
can focus on a subject as close as
1cm (0.39in.).

• In or mode, you can also
set / [Zoom Speed] to one
of three constant speeds (3 is the
fastest, 1 the slowest).

• When [Zoom Speed] is set to [ Variable]:

- When you use the T and W buttons on the wireless controller or LCD

panel, the zoom speed will be constant at [ Speed 3].

- The zoom speed will be faster in record pause mode than when

actually recording, except when pre-recording ( 71) is activated.

• See Specifications ( 184) for notes about this function when the
recording program is set to [ Underwater] or [ Surface].

W Zoom out

T Zoom in

Quick Start Function

When you close the LCD panel with the camcorder on, the camcorder
enters the standby mode. In standby mode the camcorder consumes
only about 1/3 the power used when recording, saving energy when
you are using a battery pack. Additionally, when you open the LCD
panel, the camcorder is ready to start recording in approximately
1 second*, allowing you to record the subject right away.

* The actual time required varies depending on the shooting conditions.

Operating modes:

48  Video

1 With the camcorder on and in a recording mode, close the LCD

COPY

panel.

A beep will sound and the green ON/OFF (CHG) indicator will change
to orange to indicate the camcorder entered standby mode.

2 When you wish to resume recording, open the LCD panel.

The ON/OFF (CHG) indicator turns back green and the camcorder is
ready to record.

IMPORTANT

• Do not disconnect the power source during standby mode (while the
ON/OFF (CHG) indicator is lit in orange).

NOTES

• The camcorder will not enter standby mode if the LCD panel is closed
while the ACCESS indicator is on or flashing or while a menu is being
displayed. The camcorder may also not enter standby mode if the LCD
panel is closed while the memory card slot cover is open or when the
battery charge is too low. Check that the ON/OFF (CHG) indicator
changes to orange.

• The camcorder will shut off if left in standby mode for 10 minutes,
regardless of the [Power Saving Mode] setting. Press to
turn on the camcorder.

• You can select the length of time until shut-off or turn off the Quick Start
function altogether with the [Quick Start] setting.

• Changing the position of the camera mode dial while the camcorder is
in standby mode will reactivate the camcorder in the operating mode
selected.

POWER

Video  49

Basic Playback

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Playing Back the Video

Operating modes:

1 Set the camera mode dial to or

.

2 Press .

• Even if the camcorder is off,
pressing will turn on the
camcorder in playback mode.

• The index screen appears after a
few seconds.

3 Move ( , ) the selection

frame to the scene you want to
play back.

When you have recorded a large number of scenes, you can display
( ) a slidebar below the scene thumbnails and browse ( ) through
index pages; then, return ( ) to select the desired scene.

4 Press or to begin the playback.

• Playback will start from the scene selected and continue until the end

• Press again to pause the playback.

• Press to stop the playback and return to the index screen.

Adjusting the Volume

1 During playback, open ( ) the joystick

guide.

2 Select ( ) the top row ( ).

3 Adjust ( ) the volume.

/

of the last scene recorded.

/

IMPORTANT

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

50  Video

- Do not open the memory card slot cover.

COPY

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

- Do not change the camcorder’s operating mode.

• You may not be able to play back with this camcorder movies recorded
on a memory card using another device.

NOTES

• Depending on the recording conditions, you may notice brief stops in
video or sound playback between scenes.

Special playback modes

To enter the special playback modes, use the wireless controller or the
joystick guide. There is no sound during the special playback modes.

Fast playback

Perform the following operation during
normal playback. Repeat to increase the
playback speed to approximately 5x

→

60x the normal speed.

Camcorder: Open ( ) the joystick guide Select ( ) the middle row

Push the joystick ( ) toward or .

Wireless controller: Press or .

Slow playback

Perform the following operation during
playback pause. Repeat to increase the
playback speed 1/8
Camcorder: Open ( ) the joystick guide Select ( ) the middle row

Push the joystick ( ) toward * or .

Wireless controller: Press or .

* Slow reverse playback will look the same as continuous frame reverse.

Frame Advance/Reverse

During playback pause, press or on the wireless controller to
reverse a few frames (approx. 0.5 seconds) or to advance one frame.
Hold the button pressed for continuous playback.

→

1/4 the normal speed.

→

15x

Video  51

Skipping scenes

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Camcorder: Open ( ) the joystick guide
Select ( ) the bottom row Push the
joystick ( ) toward * to skip to the
beginning of the current scene or to skip to the next scene.
Wireless controller: Perform the procedure above using the wireless
controller navigation buttons.

* Push the joystick/press the button twice to skip to the beginning of the previous

scene.

Ending special playback modes

During any special playback mode, press on the camcorder or

on the wireless controller. The camcorder will return to its initial

mode (playback or playback pause).

NOTES

• During some special playback modes, you may notice some anomalies
(blocky video artifacts, banding, etc.) in the playback picture.

• The speed indicated on the screen is approximate.

Selecting what Recordings to Play Back

From the index screen, you can use the tabs on the top of the screen to
select whether to play back movies or photos. You can also select the
memory from which you want to play back your recordings.

/

Original movies
Photos

In the built-in memory
On the memory card

Operating modes:

1 In the index screen, move ( ) the orange selection frame to the

tabs on the top of the screen.

2 Select ( ) the tab corresponding to the recordings you want to

play back.

52  Video

3 Return ( ) to the index screen to select a scene or photo.

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By default, the index screen will show up to 6 items (scenes or photos).
Move the zoom lever toward W to show up to 15 items per screen.
Move it toward T to return to the default index screen display.

W 15 scenes/photos

Searching for Scenes

From the original movies index screen, you can search for recordings
you made on a particular date (for example, to find all the movies you
shot during a special event). You can also search for scenes in which
people’s faces were detected.

Operating modes:

Selecting from the Calendar Screen

1 Open the original movies index screen.

• You can select the original movies in the built-in memory or on the
memory card.

• You can press to open the index screen for video
snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Open the calendar screen.

FUNC.

[ Scene Search] [Calendar Screen]

• The calendar screen appears.

• Dates that contain scenes (that is, movies were recorded on that
date) appear in white. Dates without recordings appear in black.

3 Move ( , ) the cursor to the desired date.

• When you move the cursor to a date displayed in white, a thumbnail
showing a still image from the first scene recorded on that date will
be displayed next to the calendar. Below it will appear the number of
scenes recorded ( ) and the total recording time for the same day.

VIDEO SNAP

T 6 scenes/photos

Video  53

• You can select ( ) the year or month field and change ( ) the

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year or month to move faster between calendar months.

4 Press to return to the index screen.

The orange selection frame will appear on the first scene recorded on
the selected date.

NOTES

• You can change on what day to start the week for the calendar display.

• You can press to return to the index screen at any time.

Selecting from the List of Recordings

1 Open the original movies index screen.

• You can select the original movies in the built-in memory or on the
memory card.

• You can press to open the index screen for video
snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Open the list of recordings.

FUNC.

• The list of recordings displays all dates in which recordings were
made. An orange selection frame appears on the day.

• The thumbnail shows a still image from the first scene recorded on
that day. Below it will appear the number of scenes recorded ( )
and the total recording time for the same day.

3 Select ( ) the date, month or year and move ( ) between

recording dates.

4 After selecting the desired date, press .

The index screen will appear with the selection frame on the first scene
recorded on the selected date.

FUNC.

VIDEO SNAP

[ Scene Search] [Date Selection]

NOTES

• You can press to return to the index screen at any time.

54  Video

FUNC.

Selecting Only Scenes in which People’s Faces Were Detected

COPY

If you recorded movies with the Face Detection function ( 75) acti­vated, the camcorder can narrow down the scenes shown in the index
screen, leaving only those scenes where a face was detected. This
function is not available from the index screen for video snapshot
scenes.

1 Open the movie index screen.

You can select the original movies in the built-in memory or on the
memory card.

2 Narrow down the scenes displayed in the index screen.

FUNC.

[ Scene Search] [Scenes with Faces]

• The index screen will display only those scenes that contain people’s
faces.

3 Select ( , ) the scene you want to play back.

NOTES

• You can press to return to the normal index screen at any time.

Selecting the Playback Starting Point

If you have a very long scene, you may
want to start playing back the scene
from a certain point. You can use the
movie timeline to break the scene to
segments at fixed time intervals rang­ing from 6 seconds to 6 minutes. If you recorded movies with the Face
Detection function ( 75) activated, you can display the scene divided
into segments every time the camcorder registered a change in the
main subject of the scene.

Operating modes:

FUNC.

Movie Timeline

1 Open the original movies index screen.

Video  55

You can select the original movies in the built-in memory or on the

COPY

memory card.

2 Select ( , ) the scene you want to view and press .

• The [Timeline] screen appears. The large thumbnail will show the first
frame of the scene. Below it, the timeline ruler shows frames taken
from the scene at fixed intervals.

• Press again to return to the index screen.

3 Select ( ) the playback starting point from the timeline ruler.

4 Press or to begin the playback.

To select another scene

Move ( ) the orange selection frame to the large thumbnail and
select ( ) another scene.

To move between timeline ruler pages

Move ( ) the orange selection frame to the slidebar below the ruler
and display ( ) the previous/next 5 frames in the scene.

To change the interval between frames

FUNC. FUNC.

DISP.

Timeline ruler

Page slidebar

Frame selected for start of playback

/

Desired interval

Current scene / Total number
of scenes

Scene length
Recording date and time
Interval between frames

DISP.

Changes in the Scene’s Main Subject

1 Open the [Scenes with Faces] index screen.

•Refer to Selecting Only Scenes that Contain People’s Faces ( 55).

• You can select the original movies in the built-in memory or on the
memory card.

2 Select ( , ) the scene you want to view and press .

56  Video

DISP.

• The [Timeline by Faces] screen appears. The large thumbnail shows

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the point at which a face was first detected. Below it, frames are
taken from the scene every time the main subject detected by the
camcorder changed.

• Press to return to the [Scenes with Faces] index screen.

3 Select ( ) the playback starting point from the segment ruler.

4 Press to begin the playback.

You can select another scene and move between segment ruler pages
in the same way as in the movie timeline screen ( 55).

• For a single scene, up to 100 segments/changes in main subject will

appear in the [Timeline by Faces] screen.

Pre-selecting Recordings from the Index Screen

You can select in advance a number of original movies or photos from
the index screen in order to perform certain actions on them collec­tively, all at once.

them with print orders or transfer orders.

Operating modes:

1 Open the movie or photo index screen.

• mode: Move the zoom lever toward W to display the index

• You can select the original movies or photos in the built-in memory or

DISP.

Current scene / Total number
of scenes

Scene length
Recording date and time

Segment ruler

Page slidebar

/

NOTES

mode: Delete, copy or add the selected scenes to the playlist.
mode: Delete, copy or protect the selected photos or mark all of

screen.

on the memory card.

Frame selected for start of
playback

Video  57

• You can press to open the index screen for video

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snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Open the selection screen.

FUNC.

[ Select] [Individual Scenes] or [Individual Photos]

• The selection screen appears.

3 Move ( , ) between the scenes or photos in the index

screen and press to select an individual scene/photo.

• A checkmark will appear on the selected scenes/photos. Press

again to remove the checkmark.

• Repeat this step to add all the scenes/photos you want to include in
your selection (up to 100).

Total number of scenes selected

VIDEO SNAP

Selected scenes

4 Press twice to close the menu.

To cancel all the selections

FUNC.

• The pre-selection of scenes/photos will be canceled if you turn off the

• Scenes in the playlist cannot be included in the pre-selection.

Deleting Scenes

You can delete those scenes that you are not interested in keeping.
Deleting scenes allows you also to free up space on the memory.

Operating modes:

58  Video

FUNC.

[ Select] [Remove All Selections] [Yes] [OK]

FUNC.

NOTES

camcorder or change the operating mode.

Options

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[All Scenes] Deletes all the scenes.
[All Scenes (this date)] Deletes all the scenes recorded on the

same day as the selected scene.

[This Scene] Deletes only the scene marked with the orange selec-

tion frame.

[Selected Scenes] Deletes all the scenes selected in advance

(marked with a checkmark). Refer to Pre-selecting Recordings
from the Index Screen ( 57).

1 Open the original movies index screen.

• You can select the original movies in the built-in memory or on the
memory card.

• You can press to open the index screen for video
snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Select ( , ) the scene you want to delete, or a scene

recorded on the date you want to delete.

This step is not necessary to delete all scenes or previously selected
scenes.

3 Delete the scene(s).

FUNC.

[ Delete] Desired option [Yes]* [OK]

FUNC.

* If you selected any option other than [This Scene], you can press to inter-

rupt the operation while it is in progress. Some scenes will be deleted neverthe­less.

VIDEO SNAP

IMPORTANT

• Be careful when deleting original recordings. Once deleted, original
scenes cannot be recovered.

• Save copies of important scenes before deleting them ( 125).

• Observe the following precautions while the ACCESS indicator is on or
flashing (while scenes are being deleted).

- Do not open the memory card slot cover.

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

- Do not change the camcorder’s operating mode.

Video  59

NOTES

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• Deleting a scene from the original index screen also deletes that scene
from the playlist.

• To delete all movies and make all recordable space available again you
may prefer to initialize the memory ( 43).

• You may not be able to delete scenes recorded or edited using another
device.

60  Video

Advanced Functions

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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.

Operating modes:

Options

( Default value)

[ Portrait]

[Sports]To record sports scenes such as

[Snow]To record in bright ski resorts without

[ Beach] To record on a sunny beach without



aperture, to achieve a sharp focus on the sub­ject while blurring the background.

tennis or golf.

the subject being underexposed.

the subject being underexposed.

The camcorder uses a large

[Sunset]To record sunsets in vibrant colors.

[ Night Scene] To record nightscapes with

lower noise.

Video  61

[ Low Light] To record in low-light situations.

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[ Spotlight] To record spotlit scenes.

[ Fireworks] To record fireworks.

[Underwater]To record underwater scenes

in natural colors.

[ Surface] To record after getting out of the

water, such as on a boat after diving.

FUNC.

[ Programmed AE] [ Portrait]

Press to display the Special Scene (SCN) recording
programs Desired recording program

NOTES

• [ Portrait]/[ Sports]/[ Beach]/[ Snow]: The picture may not
appear smooth during playback.

• [ Portrait]: The blur effect of the background increases the more you
zoom in (T).

• [ Snow]/[ Beach]: The subject may become overexposed on
cloudy days or in shaded places. Check the image on the screen.

•[ Low Light]:

- Moving subjects may leave a trailing afterimage.

- Picture quality may not be as good as in other modes.

- White points may appear on the screen.

FUNC.

62  Video

- Autofocus may not work as well as in other modes. In such case,

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adjust the focus manually.

• [ Fireworks]:

- To avoid camcorder blur (blur due to the camcorder moving) we
recommend using a tripod.

- In mode, slower shutter speeds are used so blur is more likely to
occur. Stabilize the camcorder, for example, by mounting it on a
tripod.

• [ Underwater] and [ Surface]:

- Use these recording programs when making recordings while the
camcorder is in the optional WP-V1 Waterproof Case.

- The [ Underwater] recording program is for making recordings
underwater*. When using underwater lighting equipment or making
recordings while on land, we recommend using the [ Surface]
recording program.

- To switch the recording mode between [ Underwater] and
[ Surface] while the camcorder is in the waterproof case, turn on
the camcorder while holding pressed down.

- will appear on the screen when the camcorder's temperature
becomes too high. If this happens, turn off the camcorder, take it out
of the waterproof case and keep it in a cool place until the
temperature goes down. If the camcorder becomes too hot, it will turn
off automatically.

- When making recordings underwater with the [ Underwater]
recording program, the image on the LCD screen will appear redder
than the actual subject. This will not affect the recording.

- When a commercially available wide-converter or other accessory is
attached to the waterproof case, the camcorder may focus on the
accessory. In such case, move the zoom lever toward T to focus on
the subject.

• See Specifications ( 184) for additional notes about the
[ Underwater] and [ Surface] recording programs.

* Underwater is a unique environment that is ever-changing, depending on factors

such as the weather and water conditions. In addition, water absorbs red light,
which causes objects to appear bluer and greener.

PHOTO

Video  63

Changing the Shutter Speed and Aperture

COPY

Select the [ Programmed AE] recording program to use functions like
the white balance or image effects. Select one of the other automatic
exposure recording programs to control the shutter speed or aperture.

Operating modes:

Options

FUNC.

* When you select [ Shutter-Priority AE] or [ Aperture-Priority AE], do not

press and continue instead with the following procedure.

To set the shutter speed or aperture value

1 Press .

2 Adjust ( ) the shutter speed or aperture value to the desired

3 Press , then to save the setting and close the menu.

Shutter speed guidelines

Note that on screen only the denominator is displayed – [ 250] indi­cates a shutter speed of 1/250 second, etc.

( Default value)

[ Programmed AE]

aperture and shutter speed to obtain the optimal exposure for
the subject.

[ Shutter-Priority AE] Set the shutter speed value. The cam-

corder automatically sets the appropriate aperture value. Use
faster shutter speeds to record subjects moving quickly; use
slower shutter speeds to add motion blur, emphasizing the feel of
movement.

[ Aperture-Priority AE] Set the aperture value. The camcorder

automatically sets the appropriate shutter speed. Use low aper­ture values (larger lens opening) to softly blur the background in a
portrait; use high aperture values (smaller lens opening) to get a
wider depth of field, giving a sharp focus all throughout a land­scape.

[ Programmed AE] Desired recording program*

FUNC.

FUNC.

value.



The camcorder automatically adjusts the

FUNC.

64  Video

[1/2]*, [1/4]*, [1/8], [1/15], [1/30] To record in low-light situations.

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[1/60] To record under most ordinary conditions.
[1/100] To record indoor sports scenes.
[1/250], [1/500], [1/1000]** To record from within a moving car or

train or to shoot fast-moving subjects such as roller coasters.

[1/2000]** To record outdoor sports scenes on sunny days.

* mode only. ** mode only.

In mode, when the frame rate is set to [ PF24], the shutter speeds
available will be the following: 1/6, 1/12, 1/24, 1/48, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250,
1/500, 1/1000 and 1/2000.

Available Aperture Values

[F1.8], [F2.0], [F2.4], [F2.8], [F3.4], [F4.0], [F4.8], [F5.6], [F6.7], [F8.0]

NOTES

• [ Shutter-Priority AE]:

- When recording in dark surroundings, you can obtain a brighter

picture by using slow shutter speeds; however, image quality may not
be as good and autofocus may not work well.

- The image may flicker when recording with fast shutter speeds.

- Recording movies under fluorescent lights: If the screen starts to flicker,

select [ Shutter-Priority AE] and set the shutter speed to 1/100.

• [ Aperture-Priority AE]: The actual range of values available for selec­tion will vary depending on the initial zoom position.

• When setting a numeric value (aperture or shutter speed), the number
displayed will flash if the aperture value or shutter speed is not appropri­ate for the recording conditions. In such case, select a different value.

• During exposure lock, the aperture value/shutter speed cannot be
changed. Set the aperture value or shutter speed before manually
adjusting the exposure.

Video  65

Cinema Mode: Giving a Cinematic Look to your Recordings

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Give your recordings a cinematic look by using
the [ Cine Mode] recording program. Combine
this recording program with the 24 fps progressive
frame rate [ PF24] to get the enhanced effect
of the 24p Cinema Mode.

Operating modes:

To set the [ Cine Mode] recording program

FUNC. FUNC.

[ Programmed AE] [ Cine Mode]

To change the frame rate

FUNC.

[ Menu] [Frame Rate] [ PF24]

FUNC.

Mini Video Light

You can turn on the mini video light to shoot video or take photos in
dark places.

Operating modes:

POINTS TO CHECK

• Select a recording program other than [ Underwater] or [ Surface].

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) [ Video Light] and press

.

• appears on the screen.

• Press again to turn the mini video light
off.

Video Light

66  Video

NOTES

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• We recommend not using the mini video light while the optional Wide-

converter or Tele-converter is attached; its shadow can appear on the
screen.

Using an External Video Light

You can use the optional VL-5 Video Light or VFL-2 Video Flash Light
when you need a video light that is stronger than the built-in mini video
light.

Attach the optional video light to the mini advanced shoe.

•Refer to Using the Mini Advanced Shoe ( 84).

• appears when you turn on the optional video light (ON or AUTO).

For details about using the optional video light, refer to the instruction
manual of the accessory used.

Video Snapshot

Record a series of short scenes or capture short scenes from a movie
you have previously recorded. Then, combine these scenes with music
to add a new level of enjoyment to your movies. By changing the back­ground music, you can give your scenes an entirely new feel.

Recording Video Snapshot Scenes

Operating modes:

1Press .

2Press .

VIDEO SNAP

The button’s blue light will turn on
and a blue border appears on the
screen.

START/STOP

• The camcorder records for about 4
seconds (the blue frame serves as
a visual progress bar) and then automatically returns to record pause
mode.

Video  67

• When the camcorder stops recording, the screen will momentarily

COPY

turn black as if a camera shutter had released.

• In the movie index screen, video snapshot scenes are indicated with
the mark.

Capturing Video Snapshot Scenes from a Movie

Operating modes:

1 Play back the movie containing the scene you want to capture.

2 Press at the point you want to capture.

• A video snapshot scene can be captured only during playback; it can-

• The captured video snapshot scene is saved to the same memory that

• Video snapshot scenes cannot be captured from any of the following

• Video snapshot scenes cannot be captured if there is not enough space

• When you start capturing a video snapshot scene less than 1 second

• During the playback of video snapshot scenes captured from a previ-

START/STOP

• The camcorder captures a video snapshot scene (the blue frame
serves as a visual progress bar) and then automatically changes to
playback pause mode.

• When the camcorder finishes capturing, the screen will momentarily
turn black as if a camera shutter had released.

NOTES

not be captured during playback pause mode.

contains the movie.

types of movies.

- Movies shorter than 1 second

- Movies recorded using another device

- Video snapshot scenes

- Scenes that were edited using the software on the supplied Video
Tools CD-ROM and were then written back to the camcorder.

available in the memory.

from the end of the scene, the video snapshot scene will be captured
starting from the beginning of the following scene.

ously recorded movie, you may notice some anomalies in the picture/
sound at the point where the playback switches to a new scene.

68  Video

Combining Video Snapshot Scenes with Music

COPY

Operating modes:

1 Open the original movies index screen and press .

• The button’s blue light will turn on and only the video snapshot
scenes will appear in the index screen.

• You can select their original movies in the built-in memory or on the
memory card.

• To play back the video snapshot scenes in the playlist, press

PLAYLIST

2 Open the list of background music tracks.

FUNC.

3 Select ( ) a music track and press twice.

• You can press to listen to the track selected. Press to stop
the playback.

• Select [Off] to play back the video snapshot scenes with their original
sound.

4 Back in the index screen, select ( , ) the scene from which

to start playback.

5 Press or to begin the video snapshot playback set to

the background music selected.

• Press to stop the playback.

• Press again to return to the normal index screen.

.

[ Select Music]

FUNC.

/

VIDEO SNAP

VIDEO SNAP

To delete a music track

After step 2 in the previous procedure, select the track you want to
delete.
1 Select ( ) the icon and press .

2 Select ( ) [Yes] and press .

3Press twice.

FUNC.

Video  69

IMPORTANT

COPY

• Music files transferred to the camcorder with the supplied software

Music Transfer Utility may not be used without permission from the
copyright holder, except for cases permitted under applicable laws,
such as for personal use. Make sure to follow applicable laws when
using music files.

NOTES

• You can also add to the playlist just the video snapshot scenes you
want to watch and arrange their playback order.

• When the memory is initialized, music files on the recording media that
was initialized will be erased as well.

• Use the supplied software Music Transfer Utility to transfer music files
from the supplied Music Data CD-ROM to the camcorder. For details,
refer to the ‘Music Transfer Utility Software Guide’ (PDF file).

• Video snapshot is deactivated if the camcorder is switched to playback
mode or if the camera mode dial is set to .

•The Music Data CD-ROM includes also extra music tracks that were
not pre-installed in the built-in memory.

• Transfer music files to the same memory that contains the video snap­shot scenes you want to play back.

• When music files are transferred to the built-in memory or to a memory
card after repeatedly recording and deleting recordings (fragmented
memory), the movies and background music track may not be played
back correctly. In such case, we recommend saving your recordings on
a computer ( 125), initializing the memory ( 43), transferring the
music files and only then writing the video files back to the camcorder.

• If the USB cable is disconnected while transferring music files to the
camcorder, it may not be possible to correctly play back those music
tracks. Delete the music tracks from the camcorder, and transfer the
music files again.

70  Video

Pre-recording Function

COPY

The camcorder will start recording 3 seconds before you press

START/STOP

ties. This is especially useful when it is difficult to predict when to start
recording.

Operating modes:

, ensuring you do not miss important shooting opportuni-

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) [ Pre REC] and press .

• appears.

• Press again to turn pre-recording off.

3Press .

• While pre-recording is activated, the camcorder will not emit any notifi-

• The camcorder will not record the full 3 seconds prior to pressing

• Any of the following actions will deactivate the pre-recording function.

Self Timer

Operating modes:

FUNC.

START/STOP

The scene recorded in the memory will start
3 seconds before was pressed.

NOTES

cation sounds.

START/STOP

turned on pre-recording or having finished the previous recording.

- Leaving the camcorder without any operation for 5 minutes.

- Pressing , or .

- Changing the position of the camera mode dial.

- Setting the camcorder to standby mode.

[ Menu] or [Self Timer] [On ]

FUNC.

appears.

START/STOP

if the button was pressed within 3 seconds of having

FUNC.

VIDEO SNAP

Pre REC

Video  71

mode: In record pause mode, press .

COPY

The camcorder starts recording after a 10-second countdown*. The
countdown appears on the screen.

mode: Press , first halfway to activate the autofocus

and then fully.

The camcorder will record the photo after a 10-second countdown*. The
countdown appears on the screen.

* 2 seconds when using the wireless controller.

NOTES

• Once the countdown has begun, any of the following actions will cancel
the self timer.

- Pressing (when recording movies) or fully (when

recording photos).

- Setting the camcorder to standby mode.

- Changing the camcorder’s operating mode.

- Turning off the camcorder.

Manual Exposure Adjustment and Automatic Backlight Correction

At times, backlit subjects may appear too dark (underexposed) or sub­jects under very strong lights may appear too bright or glaring (overex­posed). To correct this, you can manually adjust the exposure or use
the automatic backlight correction.

Operating modes:

POINTS TO CHECK

• Select a recording program other than [ Fireworks].

PHOTO

START/STOP

START/STOP

PHOTO

72  Video

Manual Exposure Adjustment

COPY

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) [ Exposure] and press

.

• The current exposure is locked.

• The exposure adjustment indicator

• The adjustment range and the length of the exposure adjustment

• If you operate the zoom, the brightness of the image may change.

3 Adjust the ( ) the brightness of the image as required, then

hide ( ) the joystick guide.

• The exposure adjustment indicator will change to white and the

• During exposure lock, press twice to return the camcorder to

• If the recording program is changed during exposure lock, the cam­corder will return to automatic exposure.

Automatic Backlight Correction

When shooting subjects with a strong light source behind them, you
can have the camcorder automatically correct for the backlight.

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) [ BLC] and press .

• appears.

• Press again to turn off the backlight

and the neutral value “±0” appear

on the screen.

indicator will vary depending on the initial brightness of the picture.

selected exposure will be locked.

automatic exposure.

NOTES

correction.

Exposure

BLC

Video  73

Manual Focus Adjustment

COPY

Autofocus may not work well on the following subjects. In such case,
focus manually.

• Reflective surfaces

• Subjects with low contrast
or without vertical lines

Operating modes:

POINTS TO CHECK

• Adjust the zoom before you start the procedure.

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) [ Focus] and press .

The current focus is locked and
appears.

3 Push the joystick ( ) or ( ) once to

verify if the image is focused.

• The center of the screen will be magnified to help you focus more
easily. You can also turn off this function with the / [Focus
Assist Functions] setting.

• When face detection is activated, instead of the center of the picture,
the camcorder will magnify the face of the person identified as the
main subject. If there is more than one person in the picture, you can
select the main subject manually.

4 Adjust ( ) the focus as required.

• If you wish to focus on faraway subjects such as mountains or
fireworks, push the joystick ( ) toward and hold it pressed down
until [MF] changes to .

5 Push the joystick ( ) to hide the joystick guide.

• The selected focus will be locked.

• During focus lock, press twice to return the camcorder to
autofocus.

• Fast moving subjects

• Through wet windows

• Night scenes

Focus

[MF]

74  Video

Face Detection

COPY

You can have the camcorder automatically detect people’s faces and
use this information to adjust the focus and set the best exposure for
beautiful videos and photos. When there are a number of people in the
picture, one person (with the white face frame) will be determined to
be the main subject. You can also select the main subject manually, so
the camcorder optimizes the settings for the person selected.

Operating modes:

POINTS TO CHECK

• Select a recording program other than [ Night Scene], [ Low Light],

[ Fireworks], [ Underwater] or [ Surface].

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) [ Face Detection].

By default, face detection is activated ( ).
If the function was turned off, press to turn it on.

3 If there is more than one person in the picture, select ( ) the

main subject.

Move the white detection
frame to the person for
whom you want to optimize
the camcorder’s settings.

NOTES

• The camcorder may mistakenly detect the faces of non-human sub-

jects. In such case, turn face detection off.

• In certain cases, faces may not be detected correctly. Typical examples

include:

- Faces extremely small, large, dark or bright in relation to the overall
picture.

- Faces turned to the side, at a diagonal or partially hidden.

Main subject

Video  75

• Face detection cannot be used when the shutter speed used is slower

COPY

than 1/30 (1/24 if the frame rate is set to [ PF24]) or when the digital
zoom is activated at more than 60x zoom (dark blue area on the zoom
bar).

• When face detection is activated, the slowest shutter speed used by the
camcorder is 1/30 (1/24 if the frame rate is set to [ PF24]).

White Balance

The white balance function helps you to accurately reproduce colors
under different lighting conditions so that white objects will always look
truly white in your recordings.

Operating modes:

POINTS TO CHECK

• Select a recording program other than the Special Scene recording pro­grams.

Options

FUNC. FUNC.

* When you select [ Custom WB], do not press and continue instead with

the following procedure.

( Default value)

[ Automatic]

ance for natural looking colors.

[ Daylight] To record outdoors on a bright day.
[ Shade] To record in shaded places.
[Cloudy]To record on a cloudy day.
[ Tungsten] To record under tungsten and tungsten-type

(3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting.

[ Fluorescent] To record under warm white, cool white or warm-

white-type (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting.

[ Fluorescent H] To record under daylight or daylight-type

(3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting.

[ Custom WB] Use the custom white balance setting to make

white subjects appear white under colored lighting.

[ Automatic] Desired option*



The camcorder automatically sets the white bal-

FUNC.

76  Video

To set the custom white balance

COPY

1 Point the camcorder at a white object, zoom in until it fills the whole

screen and press .

When the adjustment is completed, stops flashing and stays on.
The camcorder retains the custom setting even if you turn off the
camcorder.

2 Press to save the setting and close the menu.

• When you select the custom white balance:

• Custom white balance may provide better results in the following cases:

• Depending on the type of fluorescent light, optimal color balance may

Image Effects

You can use the image effects to change the color saturation and con­trast to record movies and photos with special color effects.

Operating modes:

FUNC.

NOTES

- Set the custom white balance in a sufficiently illuminated place.

- Set [Digital Zoom] to [ Off].

- Reset the white balance when the lighting conditions change.

- Depending on the light source, may keep flashing. The result will
still be better than with [ Automatic].

- Changing lighting conditions

-Close-ups

- Subjects in a single color (sky, sea or forest)

- Under mercury lamps and certain types of fluorescent lights

not be obtained with [ Fluorescent] or [ Fluorescent H]. If the color
looks unnatural, select [ Automatic] or [ Custom WB].

POINTS TO CHECK

• Select a recording program other than the Special Scene recording pro­grams.

Video  77

Options (

COPY

FUNC. FUNC.

* When you select [ Custom Effect], do not press and continue instead

with the following procedure.

To set the custom image effect

1 Press and select ( ) the custom setting options.

2 Adjust ( ) each setting as desired.

3 When you finish all the adjustments, press then to save

the settings and close the menu.



Default value)

[ Image Effect Off]
[ Vivid]Emphasizes the contrast and color saturation.
[ Neutral]Tones down the contrast and color saturation.
[ Low Sharpening] Records subjects with softened outlines.
[ Soft Skin Detail] Softens the details in the skin tone area for a

more complimentary appearance. To obtain the best effect, use
this setting when recording a person in close-up. Note that areas
similar to the skin color may lack in detail.

[ Custom Effect] Allows you to adjust the color depth, bright-

ness, contrast, and sharpness of the image.

[Color Depth]:
[Brightness]:
[Contrast]:
[Sharpness]:

[ Image Effect Off] Desired option*



Records with no image enhancing effects.

(–) Shallower colors, (+) Richer color tonality

(–) Darker picture, (+) Brighter picture

(–) Flatter picture, (+) More defined light and shade

(–) Vaguer outlines, (+) Sharper outlines

FUNC.

FUNC.

78  Video

Digital Effects

COPY

Operating modes:

Options (

* Only these digital effects are available in mode.

FUNC. FUNC.

The icon of the selected digital effect appears.

* You can preview the digital effect on the screen.

Applying the Selected Digital Effect

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) [ Digital Effect] and press

• The icon of the selected digital effect turns

• Press again to deactivate the digital



Default value)

[ Digital Effect Off]

to use the digital effects.

[ Fade Trigger], [ Wipe]Select one of the faders to begin or

end a scene with a fade from or to a black screen.

[ Black & White]* Records movies and photos in black and

white.

[ Sepia]* Records movies and photos in sepia tones for an

“old” look.

[ Art]Select this effect to add “flavor” to your recordings.

[ Digital Effect Off] Desired fader/effect*

.

green.

effect (its icon will turn white again).



Select this setting when you do not intend

Digital Effect

To fade in/out

Activate the selected fader in record pause mode ( ), then press

START/STOP

fader while recording ( ), then press to fade out and
pause the recording.

to start recording with a fade in. Activate the selected

START/STOP

Video  79

To activate an effect

COPY

mode: Activate the selected effect while recording or in record

pause mode.

mode: Activate the selected effect and then press to

record the photo.

NOTES

• When you apply a fader, not only the picture but also the sound will fade
in or out. When you apply an effect, the sound will be recorded normally.

• Faders cannot be used when recording video snapshot scenes or when
pre-recording is activated.

On-Screen Displays and Data Code

You can turn most on-screen displays on or off.

Operating modes:

PHOTO

Repeatedly press to turn the on-screen displays on/off in the
following sequence:

, mode:

• All displays on

• Most displays off*

mode:

• All displays on

• Data code only

• All displays off

mode:

• All displays on

• Regular displays only (removes the histogram and information icons)

• All displays off

* Pressing will turn off most of the icons and displays that appears automati-

cally but will not remove onscreen displays that were turned on manually (for
example, onscreen markers, the audio level meter or the joystick guide).

80  Video

DISP.

DISP.

About the Data Code

COPY

With every scene or photo recorded, the camcorder keeps a data code
(date/time of recording, information about the camera setup, etc.). In

mode, this information is displayed on the bottom bar and as
information icons; in mode, you can select the information to be
displayed with the [Data Code] setting.

Audio Recording Level

You can adjust the audio recording level of the built-in or an external
microphone. You can display the audio level indicator while recording.

Operating modes:

POINTS TO CHECK

• Select a recording program other than [ Underwater] or [ Surface].

Manual Adjustment of the Audio Recording Level

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) [ Mic. Level] and press .

The manual adjustment icon will appear
to the left of the audio level indicator and the
manual adjustment bar (orange) will appear
below it.

3 Adjust ( ) the audio level as

necessary.

As a guideline, adjust the audio
recording level so that the audio level
meter will go to the right of the

-12 dB (yellow area) mark only
occasionally.

4 Hide ( ) the joystick guide.

• The audio level selected will be locked and the audio level
adjustment bar will turn white.

Manual audio level adjustment

Audio level adjustment bar

Mic. Level

Audio level
indicator

Video  81

• Press twice to return the camcorder to automatic adjustment of

COPY

the audio recording level.

To display the audio level indicator

Usually, the audio level indicator will be displayed only after activating
the manual adjustment of the audio recording level. You can choose to
display it also when the audio level is adjusted automatically.

FUNC.

[ Menu] [Audio Level Indicator] [On]

FUNC.

NOTES

• When the audio level meter reaches the red point (0 dB mark), the
sound may be distorted.

• If the audio level is too high and the sound gets distorted, activate the
microphone attenuator ( 143).

• We recommend using headphones ( 82) to check the sound level
while adjusting the audio recording level or when the microphone atten­uator is activated.

Using Headphones

Use headphones for playback or to check the audio level while record­ing. The headphones are connected to the AV OUT/ terminal, which
is used for both the headphones and the audio/video output. Before
connecting the headphones, follow the procedure below to change the
function of the terminal from AV output to (headphones) output.

Operating modes:

* Headphones can be used also in mode but the function of the terminal can-

not be changed. Change the setting in advance in mode or mode.

*

FUNC.

[Headphones]

appears.

82  Video

[ Menu] [AV/Headphones]

FUNC.

To adjust the volume of the headphones

COPY

In mode, adjust ( ) the volume of the headphones with the

[Headphone Volume] setting.
In mode, and in mode during
slideshow playback, adjust the headphones
volume the same way you adjust the
speaker’s volume ( 50).

IMPORTANT

• When using headphones, make sure to lower the volume to an appro-

priate level.

• Do not connect the headphones to the AV OUT/ terminal if the

icon does not appear on the screen. The noise output in such case may
be harmful to your hearing.

NOTES

• Use commercially available headphones with a ∅ 3.5 mm minijack.

• Even if [AV/Headphones] was set to [ Headphones] in a playback

mode, the function of the AV OUT/ terminal will return automatically to
AV output when you set the camcorder to a recording mode.

• If [AV/Headphones] was set to [ Headphones] in mode, the

camcorder retains the terminal’s setting even if you set the camcorder
to mode.

Video  83

Using the Mini Advanced Shoe

COPY

Using the mini advanced shoe, you can attach to the camcorder a
range of optional accessories to expand its functionality. For details
about optional accessories available for use with your camcorder, refer
to Accessories ( 175). For details about how to attach and use the
accessories, refer also to the instruction manual of the accessory used.

1 Retract the mini advanced shoe

cover in the direction of the arrow.

2 Attach the optional accessory to

the mini advanced shoe.

When a compatible accessory is
attached to the mini advanced shoe,

will appear on the screen.

NOTES

• Accessories designed for the Advanced Accessory Shoe
cannot be used with this camcorder. Look for video
accessories bearing this logo to ensure compatibility with
the mini advanced shoe.

Example: Attaching an optional DM-100
Directional Stereo Microphone.

84  Video

Using an External Microphone

COPY

When recording in very quiet surroundings, the built-in microphone
may pick up the sound of the camcorder's internal machinery. In such
case, we recommend using an external microphone.

Using the DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone

Operating modes:

Attach the optional DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone to the
mini advanced shoe.

Refer to Using the Mini Advanced Shoe ( 84).

appears. For details about using the microphone, refer to the

instruction manual of the DM-100.

Using other microphones

You can also use commercially avail­able microphones. Connect the exter­nal microphone to the MIC terminal.
Use commercially available condenser
microphones with their own power
supply. You can connect almost any
stereo microphone with a ∅ 3.5 mm
plug but audio recording levels may
vary.

NOTES

• When an external microphone is connected to the camcorder,
[Wind Screen] will automatically be set to [ Off ].

• If the audio level is too high and the sound gets distorted, turn on the
microphone attenuator ( 143) or adjust the audio recording level
manually ( 81).

Video  85

Using a Zoom Remote Controller

COPY

Operating modes:

By attaching the optional RA-V1 Remote Control Adapter to the mini
advanced shoe, you can use the optional ZR-2000 or ZR-1000 Zoom
Remote Controller. Doing so will allow you to use certain functions
while viewing the picture on an external monitor without touching the
camcorder. This is particularly useful while the camcorder is mounted
on a tripod and you want to ensure maximum stability of a shot.
The functions available with the zoom remote controller are as follows:
turning the power on/off, starting/stopping a recording, zoom, switch­ing between autofocus and manual focus

1, 2

AF

, focus assist1, and displaying on-screen displays on an external

monitor.

1

Available with the ZR-2000 only.

2

The Push AF function allows you to switch to autofocus temporarily during manual
focus.

Attach the optional RA-V1 Remote Control Adapter to the mini
advanced shoe.

Refer to Using the Mini Advanced Shoe ( 84).

1

, focus adjustment, Push

appears. For details about using the adapter, refer to the instruction

manual of the RA-V1. For details about using the zoom remote controller,
refer to the instruction manual of the ZR-2000 or ZR-1000.

NOTES

• In mode, the available functions are turning the power on/off,
starting/stopping a recording, and zoom.

86  Video

Playlist and Scene Operations

COPY

Dividing Scenes

You can divide scenes (original scenes only) in order to leave out the
best parts and later cut out the rest.

Operating modes:

1 Open the original movies index screen.

You can select the original movies in the built-in memory or on the
memory card ( 52).

2 Select ( , ) the scene you want to divide.

3 Press , select [ Divide] and press .

4 Select ( ) the icon and press to divide the scene.

5 Select ( ) [Yes] and press .

• When advancing/reversing frames while dividing the scenes, the interval

• If the scene cannot be divided at the point where you paused the play-

• The following scenes cannot be divided:

FUNC.

• The scene selected will start playing back. Pause the playback at the
point where you want to divide the scene.

• You can use the following icons to bring the scene to a precise point.

/ : Search (fast playback) backward/forward.

/ : Skip to the beginning/end of the current scene.

/ : Frame backward/forward.

FUNC.

• Press or to stop the playback and cancel the division of
the scene.

The video from the division point to the end of the scene will appear as
a new scene in the index screen.

NOTES

will be longer than in regular frame advance/reverse.

back, advance/reverse a frame and then divide the scene.

- Scenes included in the scene pre-selection (marked with a
checkmark). Remove the selection mark in advance.

- Video snapshot scenes and other scenes that are too short (less than
3 seconds).

Video  87

- Scenes that were recorded or edited using another device.

COPY

- Scenes that were edited using the software on the supplied Video
Tools CD-ROM and were then written back to the camcorder.

• Scenes cannot be divided within 1 second from the beginning or the
end of the scene.

• Scenes cannot be divided if there is not enough space available in the
memory.

• During the playback of a scene that was divided, you may notice some
anomalies in the picture/sound at the point where the scene was cut.

Editing the Playlist: Adding, Deleting, Moving and Playing Back

Create a playlist to play back only the scenes you prefer and in the
order of your choice.

Operating modes:

Adding Scenes to the Playlist

Options

[All Scenes (this date)] Adds to the playlist all the scenes that

were recorded on the same day as the selected scene.

[This Scene] Adds to the playlist only the scene marked with the

orange selection frame.

[Selected Scenes] Adds to the playlist all the scenes selected in

advance (marked with a checkmark). Refer to Pre-selecting
Recordings from the Index Screen ( 57).

1 Open the original movies index screen.

• You can select the original movies in the built-in memory or on the
memory card.

• You can press to open the index screen for video
snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Select ( , ) the scene you want to add to the playlist, or a

scene recorded on the date you want to add to the playlist.

3 Add the scene(s) to the playlist.

FUNC.

[ Add to Playlist] Desired option [Yes]

VIDEO SNAP

88  Video

• When the operation is completed [Scene(s) added to the playlist] will

COPY

be displayed.

• Scenes are added to the playlist on the same memory they are
recorded on.

• Press on the camcorder or on the wireless controller to

• Deleting or moving scenes in the playlist will not affect the original
recordings.

• You may not be able to add to the playlist scenes that were recorded or
edited using another device or scenes that were edited using the soft­ware on the supplied Video Tools CD-ROM and were then written back
to the camcorder.

• You may not be able to add scenes to the playlist if there is not enough
space available in the memory.

• You can copy scenes from the built-in memory to the memory card
( 92) to include in the memory card’s playlist also scenes that were
originally recorded in the built-in memory.

Deleting Scenes from the Playlist

Deleting scenes from the playlist will not affect your original recordings.

Options

PLAYLIST

switch between the original movies index screen and the playlist.

Original movies

Playlist

NOTES

[All Scenes] Deletes all the scenes from the playlist.
[This Scene] Deletes from the playlist only the scene marked with

the orange selection frame.

Video  89

1 Open the playlist index screen.

COPY

• Open the original movies index screen and press .

• Before pressing , you can select the original movies in the
built-in memory or on the memory card to open the playlist of the
respective memory.

• You can press to open the playlist index screen for
video snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Select ( , ) the scene you want to delete.

This step is not necessary to delete all scenes.

3 Delete the scene.

FUNC. FUNC.

[ Delete] Desired option [Yes]* [OK]

* If you selected [All Scenes], you can press to interrupt the operation while it

is in progress. Some scenes will be deleted nevertheless.

Moving Scenes in the Playlist

Move the scenes in the playlist to play them back in the order of your
choice.

1 Open the playlist index screen.

• Open the original movies index screen and press .

• Before pressing , you can select the original movies in the
built-in memory or on the memory card to open the playlist of the
respective memory.

• You can press to open the playlist index screen for
video snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Select ( , ) the scene you want to move.

3 Press , select [ Move] and press .

4 Move ( , ) the orange marker to the desired position of the

5 Select ( ) [Yes] and press to move the scene.

FUNC.

scene and press .

The original position of the scene and the current position of the marker
are displayed at the bottom of the screen.

PLAYLIST

VIDEO SNAP

PLAYLIST

VIDEO SNAP

PLAYLIST

PLAYLIST

NOTES

• You may not be able to move scenes in the playlist if there is not enough
space available in the memory.

90  Video

Playing Back Scenes in the Playlist with Music

COPY

You can play back the scenes in the playlist set to background music.

1 Open the playlist index screen.

• Open the original movies index screen and press .

• Before pressing , you can select the original movies in the
built-in memory or on the memory card to open the playlist of the
respective memory.

• You can press to display only video snapshot scenes in
the playlist index screen.

2 Open the list of background music tracks.

FUNC.

[ Select Music]

3 Select ( ) a music track and press twice.

• You can press to listen to the track selected. Press to stop
the playback.

• Select [Off] to play back the scenes with their original sound.

4 Back in the index screen, select ( , ) the scene from which

to start playback.

5 Press or to begin the playback set to the background

music selected.

• Press to stop the playback.

/

PLAYLIST

VIDEO SNAP

FUNC.

PLAYLIST

Video  91

Copying Scenes

COPY

You can copy original movies or the entire playlist only from the built-in
memory to the corresponding location on the memory card. See Copying
Photos ( 109) for details on copying photos to the memory card.

Operating modes:

Copying Original Movies

Options

[All Scenes] Copies all the scenes to the memory card.
[All Scenes (this date)] Copies to the memory card all the scenes

that were recorded on the same day as the selected scene.

[This Scene] Copies to the memory card only the scene marked

with the orange selection frame.

[Selected Scenes] Copies to the memory card all the scenes

selected in advance (marked with a checkmark). Refer to Pre­selecting Recordings from the Index Screen ( 57).

1 Open the index screen of original movies recorded in the built-in

memory.

• Select the tab under the icon.

• You can press to open the index screen for video
snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Select ( , ) the scene you want to copy to the memory card,

or a scene recorded on the date you want to copy.

This step is not necessary to copy all scenes or previously selected
scenes.

3 Copy the scene(s).

FUNC.

[ Copy ( )] Desired option [Yes]* [OK]

FUNC.

* Press to interrupt the operation while it is in progress.

VIDEO SNAP

92  Video

Copying the Entire Playlist

COPY

1 Open the index screen of the built-in memory's playlist.

• In the original movies index screen, select the tab under the
icon, and press .

• You can press to open the playlist index screen for
video snapshot scenes ( 67).

2 Copy the playlist.

FUNC. FUNC.

[ Copy ( )] [Yes]* [OK]

* Press to interrupt the operation while it is in progress.

IMPORTANT

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

- Do not open the memory card slot cover.

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

- Do not change the camcorder’s operating mode.

NOTES

• If the memory card slot cover is open, or the LOCK switch on the mem­ory card is set to prevent writing, you will not be able to copy movies to
the memory card.

• Scenes that were edited using the software on the supplied Video
Tools CD-ROM and were then written back to the camcorder cannot
be copied to the memory card. You may also not be able to copy
scenes that were not recorded with this camcorder.

PLAYLIST

VIDEO SNAP

Video  93

Photos

COPY

Refer to this chapter for details on shooting photos – taking
photos and playing them back, capturing photos from video
and printing photos.

Basic Recording

Taking Photos

Operating modes:

1 Set the camera mode dial to or

.

2 Turn on the camcorder.

By default, photos are recorded in the
built-in memory. You can set the
memory card as the recording media
for photos ( 42).

3 Press halfway.

4 Press fully.

• Observe the following precautions while the ACCESS indicator is on or

PHOTO

Once the focus is automatically
adjusted, will turn green and one
or more AF frames will appear.

PHOTO

The ACCESS indicator will flash as the photo is being recorded.

IMPORTANT

flashing. Failing to do so may result in permanent data loss.

- Do not open the memory card slot cover.

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

- Do not change the camcorder’s operating mode.

94  Photos

NOTES

COPY

• If the subject is not suitable for autofocus, turns yellow. Adjust the
focus manually ( 74).

• When the subject is too bright, [Overexp.] will flash on the screen. In
such case, use the optional FS-H37U ND filter.

Selecting Photo Size and Quality

Photos are recorded as JPG files. As a general rule, select a larger
photo size for higher quality. Select the [ 2304x1296] size for photos
with an aspect ratio of 16:9.

Operating modes:

Options

Photo size options and the approximate number of photos that can be
recorded on memory cards of various sizes are given in the following
table.

Approximate number of photos available on a memory card

Memory card 128 MB 512 MB 1 GB
Photo quality1 →
Photo size ↓

LW 2304x1296 35 50 105 220 330 655 465 700 1,390
L 2100x1575
MW 1920x1080250 75 150 315 470 925 670 1,000 1,970
M 1600x1200 55 80 160 340 505 995 720 1,075 2,115
SW 848x480
S 640x480 340 490 890 2,070 2,995 5,390 4,395 6,350

1

: [Super Fine], : [Fine], : [Normal].

2

This size is only available for capturing photos from a playback scene ( 107).

3

This size is only available for simultaneous recording in mode or
mode.

4

Approximate number of photos that can actually be recorded on the memory card.
(The maximum number of remaining photos displayed on the screen is 9999.)



3

  

30 45 95 195 295 595 420 630 1,265

260 370 740 1,585 2,245 4,490 3,360 4,760 9,525



Default value

11,430

Photos  95

4

FUNC.

COPY

[ 2100x1575] Desired photo size*

Desired photo quality*

* Press to move back and forth between size and quality selection. The number

displayed on the right corner indicates the approximate number of photos that can
be recorded with the current quality/size setting.

NOTES

• The actual number of photos that can be recorded will vary depending
on the subject and shooting conditions.

• The camcorder retains the last setting used even if you set the cam­corder to mode.

• When printing photos, use the following guidelines as a reference for
selecting the print size.

- L 2100x1575: To print photos up to A4 size.

- M 1600x1200: To print photos up to L size (9 x 13 cm, 3.5 x 5 in.) or

postcard size (10 x 14.8 cm, 4 x 6 in.).

- S 640x480: To send photos as e-mail attachments or to post on the

Web.

- LW 2304x1296, MW 1920x1080, SW 848x480: To print photos with a

16:9 aspect ratio. Wide-sized photo paper is required.

Deleting a Photo Right After Recording It

You can delete the photo recorded last while reviewing it within the
time set for the [Photo Review Time] option (or immediately
after recording it, if [Photo Review Time] is set to [ Off]).

Operating modes:

While reviewing the photo immediately after recording:

1 Press .

If the joystick guide wasn’t displayed while
reviewing the photo, it will appear now. Press again.

2 Select ( ) [Yes] and press .

FUNC.

96  Photos

Basic Playback

COPY

Viewing Photos

Operating modes:

To start directly in single photo view

1 Set the camera mode dial to .

2Press .

The last photo recorded will be
displayed in single photo view.

3 Push the joystick ( ) to move

between photos.

Push the joystick ( ) and hold it
down to run quickly through the
photos.

To get to single photo view from the index screen

Pressing when recording with the camera mode dial set to
or will open the movie index screen.
1 Open the photo index screen.

• You can select the photos in the built-in memory or on the memory
card.

• You can change the number of photos displayed per index page.

2 Select ( , ) a photo.

• Move the orange selection frame to the photo you want to view.

• When you have recorded a large number of photos, you can display
( ) a slidebar below the photo thumbnails and browse ( )
through whole index pages.

3Press .

The selected photo is displayed in single photo view.

To get to the index screen from single photo view

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) the icon and press .

Photos  97

You can also move the zoom lever toward W to open the photo index

COPY

screen.

Photo Jump Function

When you have recorded a large number of photos, you can jump 10 or
100 photos at a time.

1 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

2 Select ( ) the icon and press .

3 Select ( ) [ Jump 10 photos] or [ Jump 100 photos].

4 Jump ( ) the number of photos selected and press .

IMPORTANT

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

- Do not open the memory card slot cover.

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

- Do not change the camcorder’s operating mode.

• The following image files may not be displayed correctly.

- Images not recorded with this camcorder.

- Images edited on or uploaded from a computer.

- Images whose file names have been changed.

Deleting Photos

You can delete those photos that you are not interested in keeping.

Operating modes:

Deleting a Single Photo

1 In single photo view, select ( ) the photo you want to delete.

2 Open ( ) the joystick guide.

3 Select ( ) the icon and press .

4 Select ( ) [Yes] and press .

98  Photos

Using the FUNC. Menu

COPY

1 In single photo view, open the photo selection screen.

FUNC.

[ Delete]

[ Delete] appears on the screen.

2 Select ( ) the photo you want to delete and press .

3 Select ( ) [Yes] and press to delete the photo.

4 Repeat steps 2-3 to delete additional photos or press twice

to close the menu.

Deleting Photos from the Index Screen

Options

[All Photos] Deletes all the photos.
[This Photo] Deletes only the photo marked with the orange selec-

tion frame.

[Selected Photos] Deletes all the photos selected in advance

(marked with a checkmark). Refer to Pre-selecting Recordings
from the Index Screen ( 57).

1 Open the photo index screen.

You can select the photos in the built-in memory or on the memory
card.

2 Select ( , ) the photo you want to delete.

This step is not necessary to delete all photos or previously selected
photos.

3 Delete the photo(s).

FUNC. FUNC.

* If you selected an option other than [This Photo], you can press to interrupt

the operation while it is in progress. Some photos will be deleted nevertheless.

[ Delete]

Desired option [Yes]* [OK]

FUNC.

IMPORTANT

• Be careful when deleting photos. Deleted photos cannot be recovered.

• Protected photos cannot be deleted.

Photos  99

Magnifying Photos during Playback

COPY

In single photo view, photos can be magnified up to 5 times. will
appear for photos that cannot be enlarged.

Operating modes:

1 Move the zoom lever toward T.

• The photo is magnified by 2 times and a
frame appears indicating the position of
the magnified area.

• To further enlarge the photo, move the
zoom lever toward T. To reduce the
magnification times, move it toward W.

2 Move ( , ) the frame to the part

of the photo you want to see enlarged.

To cancel the magnification, move the zoom lever toward W until the
frame disappears.

100  Photos