Canon VIXIA HF10, VIXIA HF100 Instruction Manual

HD Camcorder

Instruction Manual

Caméscope HD

Manuel d'instruction

Videocámara HD

Manual de Instrucciones

PUB. DIM-848

English

Français

Español

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Introduction

I

Important Usage Instructions

WARNING!

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

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 HF10 A / VIXIA HF100 A systems
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) Thi s 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.

mportant Warning

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.

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

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The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol,
within an equilateral triangle, is intended to

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

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 (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the product.

2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

In these safety instructions the word “product” refers
to the Canon HD Camcorder VIXIA HF10 A / VIXIA
HF100 A and all its accessories.

1 Read Instructions — All the safety and operating

instructions should be read before the product is
operated.

2 Retain Instructions — The safety and operating

instructions should be retained for future
reference.

3 Heed Warnings — All warnings on the product

and in the operating instructions should be
adhered to.

4 Follow Instructions — All operating and

maintenance instructions should be followed.

5 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.

6 Accessories — Do not use accessories not

recommended in this manual as they may be
hazardous.

7 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.

8 Water and Moisture — Hazard of electric shock

— Do not use this product near water or in rainy/
moist situations.

9 Placing or Moving — Do not place on an unstable

cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table. The product

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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.

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

13 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.

EXAMPLE OF ANTENNA GROUNDIN G AS PER NATIONAL

Fig. 1

ELECTRICAL CODE

ANTENNA LEAD
IN WIRE

ELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT

GROUND
CLAMP

NEC - NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE

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)

3

14 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 power-line surges.

15 Overloading — Do not overload wall outlets and

extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire
or electric shock.

16 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.

17 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.

18 Damage Requiring Service — Disconnect this

product from the wall outlet and all power
sources including battery, and refer servicing to
qualified service personnel under the following
conditions:

a. When the power-supply cord or plug is

damaged.

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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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.

19 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.

20 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.

4

Online product registration for U.S.A. Customers only.
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 HF10 A /

Purchased From: Serial No.:
Dealer Address:
Dealer Phone No.:

VIXIA HF100 A

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5

Enjoying High-Definition Video with Your

1

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 pixels
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

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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).

Video is recorded at this resolution only in FXP mode. In other recording modes, the picture is
resized to 1,440 x 1,080 pixels before being recorded. Even in that case, the picture captured is
detailed enough to render richly detailed recordings.

6

1

. This results in video recordings of

What is so special about recording on flash memory?

Your videos and photos are recorded in the built-in memory ( only) or on a memory
card (SD or SDHC card) using AVCHD specifications
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 ( 37)
you can open the LCD panel and start recording within approximately one second.
If your high-definition TV features an SD memory card slot and supports AVCHD
specifications, you can easily play back your recordings directly from the memory card
(39).

2

. Recording on flash memory means

What is Cinema Mode?

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

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2

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.

7

Table of contents

Introduction ______________________________

6 Enjoying High-Definition Video with Your Camcorder
12 About this Manual

13 Getting to Know the Camcorder

13 Supplied Accessories
14 Components Guide
17 Screen Displays

Preparations _____________________________

20 Getting Started

20 Charging the Battery Pack
22 Preparing the Wireless Controller and Accessories
24 Adjusting the Position and Brightness of the LCD Screen

25 Basic Operation of the Camcorder

25 The Button: Mode or Flexible Recording
26 Operating Modes
27 Joystick and Joystick Guide
27 Using the Menus

29 First Time Settings

29 Setting the Date and Time

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30 Changing the Language
30 Changing the Time Zone

31 Using a Memory Card

31 Recommended Memory Cards
32 Inserting and Removing a Memory Card
33 Selecting the Memory for the Recordings
33 Initializing the Built-In Memory ( only) or Memory Card

8

Table of contents

Video ____________________________________

35 Basic Recording

35 Shooting Video
36 Selecting the Video Quality
37 Zooming
37 Quick Start Function
38 Reviewing and Deleting the Last Scene Recorded

39 Basic Playback

39 Playing Back the Video
40 Special Playback Modes
41 Selecting Scenes by Recording Date
42 Selecting the Playback Starting Point from the Movie Timeline
43 Deleting Scenes

45 Advanced Functions

45 Cinema Mode: Giving a Cinematic Look to your Recordings
45 Special Scene Recording Programs
47 Changing the Shutter Speed and Aperture
48 Mini Video Light
49 Self Timer
49 Automatic Backlight Correction and Manual Exposure

50 Manual Focus Adjustment
51 White Balance
52 Image Effects
53 Digital Effects
54 On-Screen Displays and Data Code
55 Audio Recording Level
56 Using Headphones or an External Microphone

58 Managing Scenes and the Memory

58 Creating a Playlist
59 Deleting Scenes from the Playlist
59 Moving Scenes in the Playlist
60 Copying Scenes

Adjustment

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9

Photos __________________________________

61 Basic Recording

61 Taking Photos
61 Selecting Photo Size and Quality
63 Erasing a Photo Right After Recording It

63 Basic Playback

63 Viewing Photos
65 Magnifying Photos during Playback
65 Erasing Photos

66 Additional Functions

66 Flash
67 Drive Mode: Continuous Shooting and Exposure Bracketing
68 Capturing a Still Image while Recording Movies

68 Light Metering Mode
69 Histogram Display
69 Capturing a Still Image from the Playback Scene
70 Protecting Photos
70 Copying Photos
71 Other Functions You Can Use when Taking Photos

72 Printing Photos

72 Printing Photos (Direct Print)
73 Selecting the Print Settings
75 Trimming Settings
76 Print Orders

(Simultaneous Recording)

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External Connections _______________________

78 Terminals on the Camcorder

79 Connection Diagrams
81 Playback on a TV Screen

82 Saving and Backing Up Your Recordings

82 Backing Up Your Recordings on a Computer

10

Table of contents

82 Authoring High-Definition (AVCHD) Discs and Photo DVDs
85 Copying your Recordings to an External Video Recorder
86 Transferring Photos to a Computer (Direct Transfer)
88 Transfer Orders

Additional Information ______________________

90 Appendix: Menu Options Lists

90 FUNC. Menu
92 Setup Menus
92 Camera Setup (Digital Zoom, Image Stabilizer, etc.)
94 Memory Operations (Initialization, etc.)
95 Display Setup (LCD Brightness, Language, etc.)
96 System Setup (Speaker Volume, Beep, etc.)
98 Date/Time Setup

99 Trouble?

99 Troubleshooting
103 List of Messages

111 Do’s and Don’ts

111 Handling Precautions
114 Maintenance/Others
115 Using the Camcorder Abroad

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116 General Information

116 System Diagram
117 Optional Accessories
120 Product Codes
121 Specifications
124 Index

11

Introduction

About this Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Canon VIXIA HF10/VIXIA HF100. 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 shoo ti ng ( 99).

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 and the name of the relevant
chapter or section.

DW-100

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

• The following terms are used in this manual:

• The photos included in this manual are simulated pictures taken with a still camera.
Unless indicated otherwise, illustrations and menu icons refer to the .

Refer to the

DVSD

When not specified as “memory card” or “built-in memory”, the term “memory” by
itself refers to both ( only).
“Scene” refers to one movie unit from the point you press the START/STOP button
to start recording until you press again to pause the recording.
“Photo” and “still image” are used interchangeably with the same meaning.

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

Refer to the instruction manual of the optional DW-100 DVD Burner.

“Digital Video Software” instruction manual, included as a

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

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

12

FUNC.

“button” frame.

FUNC.

(32)

FUNC.

[ M ]

ENU
[ DISPLAY SETUP]
[LANGUAGE ]
Desired language

FUNC.

Buttons and switches to be operated

Getting to Know the Camcorder

Supplied Accessories

WL-D88 Wireless Controller

IFC-400PCU USB Cable

CA-570 Compact Power

Adapter (incl. power cord)

CTC-100/S

Component Cable

Red • Green • Blue plugs

Lithium Button Battery

CR2025 for Wireless

Controller

Software CD-ROM1

and Installation Guide

PIXELA ImageMixer 3 SE

BP-809 Battery Pack

STV-250N

Stereo Video Cable

Yellow • Red • White plugs

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Software CD-ROM

WS-30 Wrist Strap

1

Software for saving, managing , editing and playing back movies on your computer ( 82).
The CD-ROM includes the instruction manual of the software (electronic version on PDF file).

2

Software for saving, managing , retouching and printing photos ( 86). The CD-ROM includes
the instruction manual of the software (electronic version on PDF file).

and Installation Guide

DIGITAL VIDEO

Solution Disk

2

13

Introduction

Components Guide

Left side view

Right side view

Front view

button ( 25)/

(print/share) button ( 73, 86)

DISP. (on-screen display) button
( 54, 42)/
BATT. INFO button ( 19)

Speaker ( 41)
CARD OPEN switch (open the memory

card slot cover) ( 32)
Memory card slot ( 32)
COMPONENT OUT terminal ( 79)
Mode dial ( 26)
HDMI OUT mini terminal ( 79, 81)
USB terminal ( 80)
Instant AF sensor ( 92)
Flash ( 66)
Stereo microphone
Mini video light ( 48)

Names of buttons and switches other than the
joystick are indicated within a
(for example ).

FUNC.

“button” frame

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14

Back view

LCD panel

Top vie w

MIC terminal ( 58)
AV OUT/ terminal ( 79)
ACCESS (memory access) indicator

( 35, 61)/CHG (charge) indicator
(20)

Serial number
START/STOP button ( 35)
Strap mount ( 23)
DC IN terminal ( 20)
RESET button ( 101)
Remote sensor ( 22)
LCD screen ( 24)
Joystick ( 27)
FUNC. button ( 28, 90)

/ (play/pause) button ( 39)/

START/STOP button ( 35)

(fast reverse) button ( 39)/

Zoom out W (wide-angle) button ( 37)

(fast forward) button ( 39)/

Zoom in T (telephoto) button ( 37)

(stop) button ( 39)/

BLC (backlight correction) button ( 49)
Zoom lever ( 37)
PHOTO button ( 61)
Mini advanced shoe ( 57)

indicator

ON/OFF button

Names of buttons and switches other than the

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joystick are indicated within a
(for example ).

FUNC.

“button” frame

15

Introduction

B

ottom view

Wireless Controller WL-D88

Tripod socket ( 111)
BATTERY RELEASE switch ( 21)
Grip belt

START/STOP button ( 35)
FUNC. button ( 28, 90)
MENU button ( 28, 92)
PLAYLIST button ( 39)
Navigation buttons ( / / / )

(frame reverse) button ( 40)

(fast reverse) button ( 40)

(play) button ( 39)

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(pause) button ( 39)

(stop) button ( 39)
PHOTO button ( 61)
Zoom buttons ( 37)
SET button

(frame advance) button ( 40)

(fast forward) button ( 40)

DISP. (on-screen display) button
( 42, 54)

16

Screen Displays

Recording Movies

Playing Movies

(During Playback)

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Operating mode ( 26)
Recording program ( 45, 47)
White balance ( 51)
Image effect ( 52)
Digital effects ( 53)
Recording mode ( 36)
Still image quality/size

(simultaneous recording) ( 68)
Remote sensor off ( 96)

Instant AF ( 92),

MF Manual focus ( 50)
24F progressive frame rate ( 19)
Memory operation ( 19)
Time code/Playback time

(hours : minutes : seconds)
Remaining recording time

On the memory card

In the built-in memory

Remaining battery time ( 19)
Image stabilizer ( 93)
Wind screen off ( 94)
Headphones output ( 56)
Microphone attenuator ( 55)
Audio level indicator ( 55)
Level marker ( 95)
Mini advanced shoe ( 57)
Backlight correction ( 49)
Scene number
Data code ( 54)

17

Introduction

Recording Still Images

Viewing Still Images

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Zoom ( 37), Exposure ( 49)
Recording program ( 45, 47)
Light metering mode ( 68)
White balance ( 51)
Image effect ( 52)
Digital effects ( 53)
Drive mode ( 67)
Still image quality/size ( 61)

Instant AF ( 92),

MF Manual focus ( 50)
Remaining battery time ( 19)
Number of still images available

On the memory card

In the built-in memory
Self timer ( 49)
Image stabilizer ( 93)
AF frame ( 93)
Mini video light ( 48)
Camcorder shake warning ( 93)
Focus and exposure lock ( 61)
Flash ( 66)
Image number ( 97)
Current image / Total number of images
Histogram ( 69)
Image protection mark ( 70)
Date and time of recording
Manual focus ( 50)
Manual exposure ( 49)
Image size ( 61)
File size
Aperture value ( 47)
Shutter speed ( 47)

18

24F progressive frame rate

Select the 24F progressive frame rate ( 45) to
give your recordings a cinematic look. You can
combine this frame rate with the [ CINE
MODE] recording program to enhance the effect.

Memory operation

Record, Record pause,

Playback, Playback pause,

Fast playback,

Fast reverse playback,
Slow playback,
Slow reverse playback,
Frame advance,
Frame reverse

Remaining recording time

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

, Remaining battery time

100% 75% 50% 25% 0%

• The icon shows a rough estimate of the
remaining charge as a percentage of the full

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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.

Number of still images available

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

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

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

Image number

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

BATT.INFO

19

Preparations

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

Getting Started

Charging the Battery Pack

The camcorder can be powered with a
battery pack or directly using the
compact power adapter. Charge the
battery pack before use.
For approximate charging times and
recording/playback times with a full
battery pack, refer to the tables on
pages 117-118.

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1 Turn off the camcorder.
2 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.

DC IN terminal

3 Connect the power cord to the

compact power adapter.

4 Plug the power cord into a power

outlet.

5 Connect the compact power

adapter to the camcorder’s DC IN
terminal.

• The CHG (charge) indicator starts
flashing. The indicator will stay on
when the charging is completed.

• If the indicator flashes quickly,
refer to Tr ou bl es ho ot in g ( 99).

ONCE THE BATTERY PACK IS FULLY CHARGED

1 Disconnect the compact power

adapter from the camcorder.

2 Unplug the power cord from the

power outlet and the compact
power adapter.

CHG (charge)
indicator

20

TO REMOVE THE BATTERY PACK

BATTERY RELEASE
switch

1 Slide in the

2 Slide the battery pack down and

• Turn off the camcorder before

• We recommend charging the battery

• Do not connect to the camcorder’s DC

BATTERY RELEASE

direction of the arrow and hold it
pressed down.

then pull it out.

IMPORTANT

connecting or disconnecting the
compact power adapter. After pressing

to turn off the camcorder,

ON/OFF

important data is updated in the
memory. Be sure to wait until the

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indicator turns off.

pack in temperatures between 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), the charging will not
start.

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

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

NOTES

• 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.

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

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

21

Preparations

Preparing the Wireless Controller and
Accessories

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

Ta b

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.

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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.

NOTES

• 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 [WL.REMOTE] is not set to
[ OFF ] ( 96). Otherwise,
replace the battery.

22

Accessories

Fasten the grip belt.

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

• You can remove the grip belt and
replace it with the supplied wrist
strap.

TO REMOVE THE GRIP BELT

START/STOP

COPY

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.

TO ATTACH A WRIST STRAP

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.

1 Lift the padded handgrip's flap

and detach the strap from the
Velcro pad.

23

Preparations

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.

You can also remove the grip belt and
attach the shoulder strap directly to the
rear bracket on the camcorder.

TO REATTACH THE GRIP BELT

1 Pass the end of the strap through

the rear bracket on the
camcorder.

2 Thread the strap through the

padded handgrip and then pass it
through the front bracket on the
camcorder.

3 Fasten the grip belt as necessary,

attach the strap to the Velcro pad
on the handgrip and close the flap.

COPY

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:

- When you wish 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.

180°

90°

180°

Subject can monitor the LCD screen

24

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

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

DISP.

Hold pressed down for more
than 2 seconds.

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

NOTES

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

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

COPY

Basic Operation of the
Camcorder

The Button: Mode or
Flexible Recording

The camcorder offers two basic modes
for recording video or still images:
mode for beginners or if you just prefer
not to bother with detailed camcorder
settings, and flexible recording mode
which lets you change the camcorder's
settings to your preference.

Press the button to enter the

mode (the button's blue light will
be on). You do not need to worry about
any settings and can shoot video using
just the zoom lever

START/STOP

using just the zoom lever and

( 61).

(37) and

(35) or take photos

PHOTO

25

Preparations

Press the button again to return
to the flexible recording mode (the
button's light is off). You can access the
menus and change settings to your
preference. Even in flexible recording
mode, the camcorder can help you with
the settings. For example, you can use
the Special Scene recording programs
(

45) to set at once all the optimal

settings to match special recording
conditions.

NOTES

In mode you cannot access the
menus but you can change the following
settings in advance, before setting the
camcorder to mode.

- Recording mode of movies

- Size/quality of still images

- Auto slow shutter

- All settings in the [ SYSTEM
SETUP] menu

Operating Modes

The camcorder's operating mode is
determined by the position of the mode
dial. In this manual, indicates that
a function is available in the operating
mode shown and indicates that
the function is not available. When no
operating mode icons are given, the
function is available in all operating
modes.

COPY

Operating mode Mode dial Icon display Operation

* /

(Green)

* /

(Blue)

* /

(Green)

* /

(Blue)

* only.

Recording movies in the built-in memory* /
on the memory card

Recording still images in the built-in
memory* / on the memory card

Playing movies from the built-in memory* /
memory card

Viewing still images from the built-in
memory* / memory card

35

61

39

63

26

Joystick and Joystick Guide

Use the joystick to operate the
camcorder's menus.

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

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

.

Depending on the operating mode,
these positions may be empty or show a
different icon than the one on the
illustration.

NEXT

When the guide contains multiple
“pages”, [NEXT] and the page number
icon ( ) will appear at the bottom
position. Push the joystick ( ) toward
[NEXT] to display the next “page” of the
guide.

Using the Menus

The joystick can also be used in
combination with the joystick guide to
operate additional functions. Press
to display/hide the joystick guide.
The functions that appear on the
joystick guide will change depending
on the operating mode. In the
illustrations of this manual, positions
other than those relevant to the function
explained are marked with a striped
pattern.

COPY

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

FUNC.

( ). To access the menus set the
camcorder to flexible recording mode.
In mode, except for a few
exceptions, most menu settings will
return to their default values ( 25).
For details about the available menu
options and settings, refer to the
appendix Menu Options Lists (90).

27

Preparations

Selecting a FUNC. Menu Option

1 Press .
2 Select ( ) the icon of the

3 Select ( ) the desired setting

4 Press to save the settings

FUNC.

function you want to change from
the left side column.

Menu items not available will appear
grayed out.

from the available options at the
bottom bar.

• The selected option will be
highlighted in orange.

• With some settings you will need

and close the menu.

You can press to close the
menu at any time.

COPY

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.

FUNC.

Selecting an Option from the Setup Menus

1 Press .
2 Select ( ) the icon and press

3 Select ( ) the desired menu from

4 Select ( ) the setting you want

5 Select ( ) the desired option and

FUNC.

to open the setup menus.

You can also hold pressed
down for more than 1 second or

MENU

press on the wireless
controller to open directly the setup
menus screen.

the left side column and press .

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

to change and press .

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

• Push the joystick ( ) to return to
the menu selection screen (step 3).

press to save the setting.

FUNC.

28

6 Press .

Abbreviation of Menu Selections in this
Manual

In this manual, the arrow is used to
abbreviate menu selections. Below is
an example of changing a setting using
the setup menus.

FUNC.

FUNC.

For selections in the FUNC. menu, the
abbreviated form will always show the
initial default value. In recording mode,
its icon will appear on the left side
column when you first open the menu.
If the setting was changed, the icon of
the currently selected option will appear
instead.

FUNC.

FUNC.

FUNC.

You can press to close the
menu at any time.

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

[ IMAGE EFFECT OFF]
Desired image effect

FUNC.

COPY

First Time Settings

Setting the Date and Time

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

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

1 Change ( ) the year and move

( ) to the month.

2 Change the rest of the fields

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

3 Select ( ) [OK] and press to

start the clock and close the setup
screen.

IMPORTANT

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

29

Preparations

• 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, 2008 12:00 AM]).
You can change the date format ( 98).

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

FUNC.

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

Changing the Language

Options

[][MAGYAR][]
[DEUTSCH][MELAYU][]
[][POLSKI][]

[ENGLISH][] [ ]

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

FUNC.

( 28)

COPY



Default value

FUNC.

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

FUNC.

NOTES

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

• The displays and that
appear in some menu screens refer to
the name of buttons on the camcorder
and will not change, regardless of the
language selected.

Changing the Time Zone

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

FUNC.

( 28)

TO SET THE HOME TIME ZONE

FUNC.

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

FUNC.

30