Canon VIXIZ HFM30, VIXIZ HFM31, VIXIZ HFM300, VIXIA HFM30, VIXIA HFM31 Instruction Manual

PUB. DIE-0339-000

HD Camcorder

Instruction Manual

!

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2

Introduction

Important Usage Instructions

WARNING!

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

WARNING!

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

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

HD Camcorder, VIXIA HF M30 A / VIXIA HF M31 A / VIXIA HF M300 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.

Use of shielded cable is required to comply with class B limits in Subpart B of Part 15 of 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.

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3

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

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.

I

mportant Warning

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

!"#$%&'

(%)*+&,+-.-!$(%!+)/&!*

0&+'&$+&1-'

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 (servicing) instructions in the literature accompan ying
the product.

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4

In these safety instructions the word “product” refers to the Canon HD Camcorder
VIXIA HF M30 A / VIXIA HF M31 A / VIXIA HF M300 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 opera ting 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 ma gnetic 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.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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5

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

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 likel y 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 GROUNDING AS PER 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)

NEC - NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE

ELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT

GROUND
CLAMP

Fig. 1

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30 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.

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 ser vice 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 hea t.

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.

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.

Model Name: VIXIA HF M30 A / VIXIA HF M31 A / VIXIA HF M300 A
Date of Purchase: Serial No.:
Purchased From:
Dealer Address:
Dealer Phone No.:

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7

Trademark Acknowledgements

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

• Microsoft and Windows 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.

• YouTube is a trademark of Google Inc.

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

• This device incorporates exFAT technology licensed from Microsoft.

• ANY USE OF THIS PRODUCT OTHER THAN CONSUMER PERSONAL USE IN ANY MANNER THAT COMPLIES WITH
THE MPEG-2 STANDARD FOR ENCODING VIDEO INFORMATION FOR PACKAGED MEDIA IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED WITHOUT A LICENSE UNDER APPLICABLE PATENTS IN THE MPEG-2 PATENT PORTFOLIO, WHICH
LICENSE IS AVAILABLE FROM MPEG LA, L.L.C., 250 STEELE STREET, SUITE 300, DENVER, COLORADO 80206.

• 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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8

Exciting Features and New Functions

High-Definition Video

Your camcorder’s full high-definition
image sensor (Full HD CMOS) captures
video at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080
pixels

2

. Videos are then recorded in the
memory in high definition, using AVCHD
specifications

3

.

With your new HD camcorder, capturing

the special moments in your life with amazing image quality and in lifelike
vibrant colors is easy and fun!

! Dual Flash

Memory

!

Relay Recording

You can record in the built-in
memory or on commercially
available memory cards (" 37).

The built-in memory almost full?
Use the memory card slot to keep
on recording video without
interruption (" 39).

1

1,080

lines

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1

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

2

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.

3

AVCHD is a 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.

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9

Smart AUTO (" 43)

Smart AUTO automatically selects the best
scene mode for the scene you want to
shoot. You get spectacular recordings
every time without worrying about settings.

Video Snapshot

(" 68)

Shoot or capture short scenes
and arrange them into a video
clip set to your favorite
background music.

Face Detection (" 66) Image Stabilization

The camcorder automatically
detects people’s faces and
adjusts the focus and other
settings accordingly for beautiful
results.

Dynamic IS (" 64)
compensates for camcorder
shake when you shoot video
while walking. Powered IS
(" 65) will produce stable shots
when you zoom in on distant
subjects (full telephoto).

Just point the camcorder
and it will automatically
select the best settings for
your subject

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10

Enjoying your Recordings on Other Devices

Eye-Fi

SD

AVCHD

MPEG-2

SD-Video

Connect the camcorder

to an HDTV (" 124)

Connect the camcorder to
the optional DW-100 DVD

Burner (" 131, 135)

AVCHD discs

4

Photo DVDs

Play video directly

from your recorded

memory card

AVCHD-compatible HDTVs and

digital recorders with an SD

memory card slot

5

.

Use an Eye-Fi card (" 145) to

wirelessly upload recordings to your

computer or a video sharing Web site.

Save or upload to

the Web.

Standard Definition

Convert your HD movies, in the

camcorder itself, to standard definition

files (" 136, 142).

High Definition

Standard DVDs

Use the supplied software

ImageMixer 3 SE (" 128, 141).

4

AVCHD discs containing scenes recorded in MXP mode cannot be created with
the optional DW-100 DVD burner. Use the supplied software ImageMixer 3 SE to
back up such scenes.

5

Refer to the instruction manual of the device. 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.

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11

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12 ! Table of contents

" Introduction

8 Exciting Features and New Functions
16 About this Manual

18 Getting to Know the Camcorder

18 Supplied Accessories and CD-ROMs
20 Names of Parts

" Preparations

23 Getting Started

23 Charging the Battery Pack
26 Preparing the Accessories
28 Adjusting the Position and Brightness of the LCD Screen

30 Basic Operation of the Camcorder

30 Using the Touch Screen
31 Operating Modes
32 Using the Menus

35 First Time Settings

35 Setting the Date and Time
36 Changing the Language
36 Changing the Time Zone

37 Using a Memory Card

37 Memory Cards Compatible for Use with the Camcorder
38 Inserting and Removing a Memory Card
38 ! Selecting the Memory for the Recordings
39 ! Relay Recording of Movies
40 Initializing the Built-in Memory (! only) or

Memory Card

Table of contents

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Table of contents ! 13

" Dual Shot Mode

42 Basic Recording

42 Shooting Video and Taking Photos in Dual Shot Mode
43 About the Smart AUTO mode
46 Zooming
47 Quick Start Function

" Video

49 Basic Playback

49 Playing Back the Video
52 The Index Selection Screen: Selecting the Content to Play

Back
54 3D Flip View
55 Narrowing Down the Scenes Shown in the Index Screen
56 Deleting Scenes

58 Advanced Functions

58 Shooting Video in ! Manual Mode
59 Selecting the Video Quality (Recording Mode)
60 Special Scene Recording Programs
63 Cinema Mode: Giving a Cinematic Look to your

Recordings
64 Advanced Image Stabilization
65 Pre-Recording
66 Face Detection
68 Touch & Track
68 Video Snapshot
69 Digital Effects
70 Manually Setting the Shutter Speed or Aperture
73 Manual Exposure Adjustment
74 Automatic Gain Control (AGC) Limit
74 Manual Focus Adjustment
76 White Balance
77 Image Effects
78 Mini Video Light
79 Self Timer
80 Audio Recording Level
82 Using Headphones

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14 ! Table of contents

83 Using the Mini Advanced Shoe
84 Using an External Microphone
85 Using a Zoom Remote Controller
87 Selecting the Playback Starting Point
89 Playing Back Scenes Set to Background Music
93 Onscreen Displays and Data Code

94 Playlist and Scene Operations

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

Back

96 Capturing Photos and Video Snapshot Scenes from a

Movie

98 Dividing Scenes

" Photos

100 Basic Playback

100 Viewing Photos
102 Deleting Photos

104 Additional Functions

104 Taking Photos in ! Manual Mode
105 Selecting Photo Size and Quality
107 Flash
109 Drive Mode: Continuous Shooting and Exposure

Bracketing

110 Taking Photos while Recording Movies

(Simultaneous Recording)
112 Light Metering Mode
112 Slideshow
113 Magnifying Photos during Playback
114 Rotating Photos
114 Histogram Display
115 Protecting Photos

117 Printing Photos

117 Printing Photos (Direct Print)
119 Print Orders

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Table of contents ! 15

" External Connections

121 Terminals on the Camcorder

122 Connection Diagrams

124 Playback on a TV Screen
126 Saving and Sharing Your Recordings

126 ! Copying Recordings to a Memory Card
128 Saving Recordings on a Computer
131 Saving Movies onto High-Definition Discs

(AVCHD/Blu-ray Discs)

135 ! Saving Movies onto Standard-Definition Discs

(DVD)
139 Saving Photos on Photo DVDs
140 Copying Recordings to an External Video Recorder
141 ! Uploading Movies to Video Sharing Web Sites

" Additional Information

147 Appendix: Menu Options Lists

147 FUNC. Panel
151 Setup Menus

163 Appendix: Onscreen Icons and Displays
168 Trouble?

168 Troubleshooting
175 List of Messages

186 Do’s and Don’ts

186 Handling Precautions
191 Maintenance/Others
192 Using the Camcorder Abroad

193 General Information

193 Accessories
194 Optional Accessories
199 Product Codes
200 Specifications
204 Index

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16 ! Introduction

About this Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Canon VIXIA HF M31 / VIXIA HF M30 /
VIXIA HF M300. Please read this manual carefully before you use the
camcorder and retain it for future reference. Should your camcorder fail
to operate correctly, refer to Troubleshooting (" 168).

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.

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

• The following terms are used in this manual:

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
# button to start recording until you press again to pause
the recording.

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

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

% Refer to the ‘Photo Applications’ Instruction Manual,

included as a PDF file in the supplied Camcorder Supple­mental Disc.

& Refer to the instruction manual of the optional DW-100 DVD

Burner.

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Introduction ! 17

Self Timer

• n appears.

• Repeat, selecting [B Off], to turn off the self timer.

mode: In record pause mode, press g.

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

mode: Press j, 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 g (when recording movies) or j fully (when

recording photos).

- Turning off the camcorder.

Operating modes:

[FUNC.] 8 [MENU] 8 8 8 [Self Timer] 8
[A On n] 8 [a]

Brackets [ ]are used to refer to control
buttons and menu options you will
touch on the screen and to other
onscreen messages and displays.

indicates that a function is available in the
operating mode indicated and indicates
that the function is not available. For a detailed
explanation refer to Operating Modes (" 31).

The names of physical buttons
and switches on the
camcorder 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 (" 32). For a concise
summary of all available menu options and settings,
refer to the appendix Menu Options Lists (" 147).

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18 ! Introduction

Getting to Know the Camcorder

Supplied Accessories and CD-ROMs

The following accessories are supplied with the camcorder:

!CA-570 Compact Power Adapter

(incl. power cord)

BP-808 Battery Pack"

!WL-D89 Wireless Controller

(incl. CR2025 lithium button battery)

STV-250N Stereo Video Cable"

Yellow • Red • White plugs

!CTC-100/S Component Cable

Red • Green • Blue plugs

IFC-300PCU USB Cable"

!Quick Guide

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Introduction ! 19

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

• PIXELA Application - Disc 1 CD-ROM* and ‘PIXELA Applications’

Installation Guide

- ImageMixer 3 SE Transfer Utilities – Software for saving and
transferring movies and music files you can use as background music.

• PIXELA Application - Disc 2 CD-ROM*

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

• ! Instruction Manual/Photo Applications Ver.34.0*/Music Data

Disc CD-ROM (referred in the manual as the Camcorder Supplemental
Disc). Contains the following components.

- Full-version instruction manual of the camcorder (this PDF file).

- Photo Applications - Software for saving, managing, and printing
photos*.

- Music files that can be used as background music during playback**.

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

**These music files are for exclusive use with the supplied software ImageMixer 3

SE. The disc cannot be played back on CD play ers. For more details, refer to
‘ImageMixer 3 SE Software Guide’ on the PIXELA Application Disc 1 CD-ROM.

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20 ! Introduction

Names of Parts

1 DISP. (onscreen display) button

(" 93)/
BATT. INFO button (" 167)

2 ) (camera/play) button (" 31)
3 Speaker (" 51)
4 Memory card slot cover
5 Memory card slot (" 38)
6 MIC terminal (" 85)
7 AV OUT terminal (" 121, 123)/

* (headphones) terminal (" 82)

8 BATTERY RELEASE switch (" 24)
9 ACCESS indicator (" 42, 58, 104)
Aq Strap mount (" 27)
Aa COMPONENT OUT terminal

(" 121, 123)

As USB terminal (" 121, 124)
Ad HDMI OUT terminal (" 121, 122)
Af Grip belt (" 27)
Ag Instant AF sensor (" 152)
Ah Stereo microphone (" 80)
Aj Mini video light (" 78)
Ak Flash (" 107)

Left side view

Front view

Right side view

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Introduction ! 21

Al Mini advanced shoe (" 83)
Sq Mode switch (" 31)
Sa PHOTO button (" 42, 104)
Ss Zoom lever (" 46)
Sd VIDEO SNAP (video snapshot) button

(" 68)

Sf POWER button
Sg ON/OFF (CHG) (charge) indicator:

Green – ON
Orange – Standby (" 47)
Red – Charging (" 23)

Sh Remote sensor (" 26)
Sj LCD touch screen (" 28, 30)
Sk POWERED IS button (" 65)/

WEB button* (" 141)

Sl Battery attachment unit (" 23)
Dq START/STOP button (" 42, 58)
Da DC IN terminal (" 23)

* ! only.

LCD panel

Top view

Back view

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22 ! Introduction

Wireless Controller WL-D89

Ds Serial number

Dd Tripod socket (" 187)

1 START/STOP button (" 42, 58)
2 ! (index selection) button (" 52)

Press and hold for more than 2
seconds to switch between shooting
and playback mode.

3 MENU button (" 33, 151)
4 DISP. (onscreen display) button

(" 93)

5 SET button
6 + (stop) button (" 49)
7 PHOTO button (" 42, 104)
8 Zoom buttons (" 46)
9 Navigation buttons ( ,/-/.// )
Aq //0 (play/pause) button (" 49)

B

ottom view

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Preparations ! 23

Preparations

This chapter describes basic operations, such as using the
touch panel, 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 Charging Times (" 195) and
Recording and Playback Times (" 195).

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.

DC IN

terminal

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24 ! Preparations

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.

• If the indicator flashes quickly, refer to
Troubleshooting (" 168).

To remove the battery pack

1 Slide 1 in the

direction of the arrow and hold it
pressed down.

2 Slide the battery pack down and

then pull it out.

IMPORTANT

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

pact power adapter. After pressing 2 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.

• We recommend charging the battery 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), charging will not start.

• Do not connect to the camcorder’s DC IN terminal or to the compact
power adapter any electrical equipment that is not expressly recom­mended for use with this camcorder.

ON/OFF (CHG) (charge) indicator

BATTERY RELEASE switch

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Preparations ! 25

• 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

• 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.

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

!"#$

26 ! Preparations

Preparing the Accessories

Wireless Controller

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.

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.

Tab

!"#$

Preparations ! 27

Grip Belt and Straps

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.

To remove the grip belt

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

pad.

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.

!"#$

28 ! Preparations

To attach an optional wrist strap

Pass the attaching end of the wrist
strap through the rear 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 an optional 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 ! 29

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 3 pressed down for more than 2
seconds.

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

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 Dimmer] setting to use in places where the light from the LCD
screen can be a nuisance.

180°

90°

Subject can monitor the LCD screen

180°

!"#$

30 ! Preparations

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

Using the Touch Screen

The control buttons and menu items that appear on the touch screen
change dynamically depending on the operating mode and the task
you are performing. With the intuitive touch screen interface you have
all the controls at your fingertips.

Touch

Touch a menu item to select it, or a
control button to perform the corre­sponding action. For some functions,
such as Touch & Track (" 68) and face
detection (" 66), you can touch a sub­ject that appears on the touch screen to
select it and have the camcorder
choose the optimal settings.

Drag

Swipe your finger up and down or left
and right across the screen to scroll
menus, to browse through index screen
pages or to adjust slider controls (for
example, to adjust the volume).

IMPORTANT

• The camcorder uses a pressure-sensitive touch screen. Press firmly
when using touch operations.

• In the following cases, you may not be able to perform touch operations
correctly.

- Operating the touch screen with wet or gloved hands or using your

fingernails or other hard-tipped objects such as ballpoint pens.

- Applying excessive force or forcefully scratching the touch screen.

- Attaching commercially available screen protectors or adhesive film

onto the touch screen's surface.

!"#$

Preparations ! 31

• For details about how to take care of the touch screen, refer to Handling

Precautions (" 186), Cleaning (" 191).

Operating Modes

Recording

When recording video or photos, the camcorder’s operating mode is
determined by the position of the mode switch and the onscreen con­trol buttons.

* The mode icon displayed will change according to the optimal mode selected by the

Smart AUTO function (" 43).

Playback

Press the camera/play button 4 to switch the cam­corder between camera (recording) mode and playback
mode. The playback mode you switch into depends on the
initial recording mode.
You can press 4 when the camcorder is off to turn it
on directly in playback mode.

Operating

mode

Mode switch Onscreen icon Operation

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.

*

Easy recording of movies and
photos (" 42).

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.

Touch [5] to record movies
(" 58).

Touch [6] to record photos
(" 104).

!"#$

32 ! Preparations

NOTES

• ! When switching to a playback mode, the memory selected
for playback will be the same currently used for recording.

• You can also press and hold " on the wireless controller for more
than 2 seconds to switch between recording and playback mode.

Using the Menus

Many of the camcorder’s functions can be adjusted from the FUNC.
panel and the setup menus. In mode, however, 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 (" 147).

The FUNC. Panel and Edit Panel

In and mode, the FUNC. panel shows a convenient over­view of frequently used shooting functions. Touch [FUNC.] to access
the FUNC. panel and then touch the function you want to set or adjust.
You may need to drag your finger up and down along the scroll bar to
find the control button of the desired function.

Initial mode Operating mode Operation

Press 4 in

or mode.

Playing back movies
([Original] index screen) (" 49).

Press 4 in mode.

Viewing photos
([Photos] index screen) (" 100).

Operating modes:

Touch the control
button of the
desired function

Drag your finger up
and down along the
scroll bar to display
the rest of the panel

!"#$

Preparations ! 33

In and mode, touch [Edit] to display a similar panel contain­ing the various operations that are available after selecting one or more
scenes or photos (for example, deleting, adding scenes to the playlist,
protecting photos, etc.). Touch the control button of the desired opera­tion.

The Setup Menus

1 or mode only: Touch

[FUNC.]

2 Touch [MENU] to open the setup

menus.

You can also press 7 on the
wireless controller to open the setup
menus.

3 Touch the tab of the desired

menu.

4 Drag your finger up and down along the scroll bar to bring the

setting you want to change into the orange selection bar.

Menu items not available appear grayed out.

5 When the desired menu item is in the orange bar, touch inside the

frame on the right.

6 Touch the desired option and touch [#].

You can touch [#] to close the menu at any time.

Example of the Edit panel in mode

Touch the control
button of the desired
operation

!"#$

34 ! Preparations

NOTES

• A small font size is used in menu screens so you can see the options
currently selected. You can enlarge the font size by setting ! (
[Font Size] to [" Large] but only the icons of the currently selected
options will appear on the screen.

!"#$

Preparations ! 35

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] screen appears,
the year will be selected.

1 Touch a field you want to change (year, month, day, hours or

minutes).

2 Touch [!] or ["] to change the field as necessary.

3 Set the correct date and time by changing all the fields in the

same way.

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

prefer.

5 Touch [24H] to use 24-hour clock or leave this control unchecked

to use 12-hour clock (AM/PM).

6 Touch [OK] 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 (" 189) and set the time zone, date and time again.

• To change the date and time later on (not during the initial setup), open
the [Date/Time] screen from the setup menus:

* Only when performin g the procedure in a recording mode.

[FUNC.]* ( [MENU] ( ! ( [Date/Time]

!"#$

36 ! Preparations

Changing the Language

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

* Only when perf orming the procedure in a recording mode.

NOTES

• Some control buttons, such as [ZOOM], [FUNC.] or [MENU], will appear
in English regardless of the language selected.

Changing the Time Zone

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

1 Open the [Time Zone/DST] screen.

* Only when performing the procedure in a recording mode.

2 Touch [!] to set the home time zone, or ["] to set the time zone

of your destination when you are traveling.

3 Touch [!] or ["] to set the desired time zone. If necessary, touch

[#] to adjust for daylight saving time.

4 Touch [#] to close the menu.

Operating modes:

[FUNC.]* ( [MENU] ( ! ( [Language !] (
Desired language ( [#]

Operating modes:

[FUNC.]* ( [MENU] ( ! ( [Time Zone/DST]

!"#$

Preparations ! 37

Using a Memory Card

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 the memory card, you may not be able to record
movies. Refer to the table below.
As of October 2009, the movie recording function has been tested
using SD/SDHC memory cards made by Panasonic, Toshiba and
SanDisk.

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

Eye-Fi Cards

This product is not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi card functions
(including wireless transfer). In case of an issue with an Eye-Fi card,
please check with the card manufacturer.
Also note that an approval is required to use Eye-Fi cards in many
countries or regions. Without approval, use of the card is not permit­ted. If it is unclear whether the card has been approved for use in the
area, please check with the card manufacturer.

Memory card Capacity SD Speed Class Recording movies

SD

memory cards

64 MB or less – –

128 MB or more

– 8*

8

SDHC

memory cards

Over 2 GB

8

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.
We recommend using memory cards rated Speed Class 4, 6 or 10.

!"#$

38 ! Preparations

Inserting and Removing a Memory Card

Make sure to initialize (" 40) all memory cards before using them with
this camcorder.

1 Turn off the camcorder.

Make sure the

ON/OFF (CHG) indicator

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.

To remove the memory card

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

IMPORTANT

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

! 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.

Operating modes:

!"#$

Preparations ! 39

POINTS TO CHECK

• Be sure you understand the information provided in Eye-Fi Cards

(" 37) before using an Eye-Fi card.

* When selecting t he memory, you can check the approximate available recording

time/number of photos, based on currently used settings.

NOTES

! Select to record movies in the built-in memory if you later
want to convert the movies to standard definition in order to upload
them to the Web or to create standard DVDs.

! Relay Recording of Movies

You can activate the relay recording so if the built-in memory becomes
full while recording movies, the recording will continue uninterrupted
on the memory card.

1 Insert a memory card that contains no video recordings into the

camcorder.

2 Activate the relay recording.

* The approximate availabl e recording time will now reflect the combined space in

the built-in memory and on the memory card.

[FUNC.] ( [MENU] ( # (
[Rec Media for Movies] or [Rec Media for Photos] (
[#] (built-in memory)or ["] (memory card)* ( [#]

Operating modes:

[FUNC.] ( [MENU] ( # ( [Rec Media for Movies] (
[

#] (

[Relay Recording] ([$]* ( [#]

!"#$

40 ! Preparations

NOTES

• Any of the following actions will deactivate the relay recording function:

- Turning off the camcorder.

- Opening the memory card slot cover.

- Changing the position of the mode switch.

- Changing the camcorder's operating mode.

- Selecting the memory card as the memory for recording movies.

Initializing the Built-in Memory (! only) 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
(! only) 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.

1 Power the camcorder using the compact power adapter.

Do not disconnect the power source or turn off the camcorder until the
initialization is completed.

2 Initialize the memory.

!

9

Operating modes:

[FUNC.]* ( [MENU] ( ! ( [Initialize #/"] (
[# Built-in Mem.] or [

" Mem. Card] ( [Initialize] (

[Complete Initialization]* ( [Yes]** ( [OK] ( [#]

[FUNC.]* ( [MENU] ( ! ( [Initialize "] (
[Initialize] ( [Complete Initialization]* ( [Yes]** (
[OK] ( [#]

!"#$

Preparations ! 41

* Touch this option if you want to physically erase all the data ra ther than just clear

the file allocation table of the memory.

**If you selected the [Complete Initialization] option, you can touch [Cancel] ( [OK]

to cancel the initialization while it is in progress. All recordings will be erased an d
the memory can be used without any problem.

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 (" 126).

• Initializing a memory card will permanently erase any music files you
may have transferred to the card. (! The music files that come
pre-installed in the built-in memory will be restored after it is initialized.)

- Windows users: Use the supplied software ImageMixer 3 SE to

transfer music files from the supplied Camcorder Supplemental Disc
to a memory card after it is initialized. For details, refer to the
‘ImageMixer 3 SE Software Guide’ (PDF file).

- Mac OS users: Use Finder to transfer music files from the [MUSIC]

folder on the supplied Camcorder Supplemental Disc to a memory
card after it is initialized. Refer to About the music files (" 203) for the
folder structure of the memory card.

• At the time of purchase, Eye-Fi cards contain the necessary network
configuration software. Be sure to install the software and complete the
required configuration setup before you initialize the Eye-Fi card prior to
using it with this camcorder.

!"#$

42 ! Dual Shot Mode

Dual Shot Mode

This chapter covers how to easily record video and photos in
the all-automatic Dual Shot mode, and how to use basic shoot­ing functions like zoom and Quick Start. To enjoy full access to
menus and more advanced functions, refer to the relevant
chapters for video (" 58) and photos (" 104).

Basic Recording

Shooting Video and Taking Photos in Dual Shot Mode

1 Set the mode switch to :.

2 Turn on the camcorder.

• ! By default, movies and

photos are recorded in the built-in
memory. You can select the
memory that will be used to record
movies and photos (" 38).

• Please read the IMPORTANT

section (" 44) before using an
Eye-Fi card.

To record video

Press

# to begin recording.

Press

# again to pause the recording.

To take photos

1 Press

# halfway.

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

2 Press

# fully.

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

Operating modes:

!"#$

Dual Shot Mode ! 43

When you have finished recording

1 Make sure that the ACCESS indicator is off.

2 Turn off the camcorder.

3 Close the LCD panel.

About Dual Shot

• Only the following functions are available in mode.

- Zoom (" 46).

- Quick Start (" 47).

- Video snapshot (" 68).

- Advanced image stabilization modes (" 64) to shoot video while

walking or to stabilize the shot while zooming in on faraway
subjects (telephoto).

- Face detection (" 66) to get beautiful shots of people every

time, tracking the subject even if the person moves.

- Touch & Track (" 68) to track other moving subjects, keeping

them in focus and using the best settings to record them.

About the Smart AUTO mode

When shooting in mode, the camcorder will automatically
detect certain characteristics of the subject, background, lighting
conditions, etc. It will then adjust various settings (focus, exposure,
color, image stabilization, image quality, among others), selecting
the best settings for the scene you want to shoot. The Smart AUTO
mode icon will change to one of the following icons.

!"#$

44 ! Dual Shot Mode

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.

- 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.

Smart AUTO icons

The icon in parentheses appears under backlight conditions .

Background !
(color of the icon)

Bright
(grey)

Blue skies
(light blue)

Vivid colors
(green/red)

Sunsets

(orange)

Subject "

People (stationary)

( ) ( ) ( )

—

People (moving)

( ) ( ) ( )

—

Subjects other than people,
such as landscapes

( ) ( ) ( )

Close objects

( ) ( ) ( )

—

Background !
(color of the icon)

Dark

(dark blue)

Subject "

Spotlight Night scene

People (stationary) — —

People (moving) — —

Subjects other than people,
such as landscapes

Close objects — —

!"#$

Dual Shot Mode ! 45

• Be sure to save your recordings regularly (" 126), especially after

making important recordings. Canon shall not be liable for any loss or
corruption of data.

• When recording photos on an Eye-Fi card, photos will be uploaded
automatically if you are within the range of a configured network. Always
verify that Eye-Fi cards have been approved in the country/region of
use. See also Using an Eye-Fi card (" 146).

NOTES

• About the Power Save mode: If ! ( [Power Saving Mode] ( [Auto
Power Off] 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 2 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 (" 29) or
adjust the brightness of the LCD screen with the ! ( [LCD Bright­ness] setting.

• When taking photos:

- If the subject is not suitable for autofocus, % turns yellow. Set the

camcorder to mode and 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.

• Under certain conditions, the Smart AUTO icon that appears on the
screen may not match the actual scene. Especially when shooting
against orange or blue backgrounds, the Sunset or one of the Blue
Skies icons may appear and the colors may not look natural. In such
case, we recommend recording in ! manual mode (" 58, 104).

• In mode, menus cannot be accessed but the following settings
can be changed in advance, before setting the mode switch to :.

- "/# menu: [AF mode], [Auto Slow Shutter], [POWERED IS

Button].

- # menu: [Video Snapshot Length], [Rec Media for Movies]*,

[Recording Mode], [Rec Media for Photos]*, [Photo Size/Quality],
[Simultaneous Recording].

- ! menu: All settings.

* ! only.

!"#$

46 ! Dual Shot Mode

Zooming

There are three ways you can zoom in and out: using the zoom lever on
the camcorder, using the zoom buttons on the wireless controller or
using the zoom controls on the touch screen.
In addition to the 15x optical zoom*, in mode, you can turn on the
300x digital zoom with the " ( [Digital Zoom] setting.

* When [Image Stabilizer] (FUNC. panel) is set to [$ Dynamic], you can use the

advanced zoom to magnify the image up to 18x.

Using the Zoom Lever or Wireless Controller

Move the zoom lever toward ;
(wide angle) to zoom out. Move it
toward < (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.

• You can also use the zoom buttons
on the wireless controller.

Using the Touch Screen’s Zoom Controls

1 Display the zoom controls on the touch screen.

* Not necessary in mode.

• The zoom controls appear on the left side of the screen.

Operating modes:

W Zoom out

T Zoom in

[FUNC.]* ( [ZOOM]

!"#$

Dual Shot Mode ! 47

2 Touch the zoom controls to operate

the zoom.

Touch anywhere within the ; area to
zoom out or anywhere within the < area
to zoom in. Touch closer to the center for
a slow zoom ([Speed 1]); touch closer to
the "/# icons for faster zooms ([Speed 3]).

3 Touch [#] to hide the zoom controls.

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 1 cm (0.39 in.).

• 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 < and ; buttons on the wireless controller, 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 (" 65) is activated.

• See Specifications (" 202) for notes about this function when the
recording program is set to [" Underwater] or [# Surface].

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.

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

panel.

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

Operating modes:

!"#$

48 ! Dual Shot 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.

• About standby mode and auto power off:

- The camcorder will power off automatically if left in standby mode for

10 minutes. Press 2 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 !( [Power Saving Mode] (
[Quick Start (Standby)] setting.

- The usual 5-minute auto power off setting of [Power Saving Mode] is

not applicable while the camcorder is in standby mode.

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

!"#$

Video ! 49

Video

This chapter covers functions related to movies, including play­back, advanced shooting, advanced functions and playlist and
scene operations. For details about basic video shooting, refer
to Dual Shot Mode (" 42).

Basic Playback

Playing Back the Video

1 Press 4.

You can also press and hold "
on the wireless controller for more
than 2 seconds to switch between
shooting and playback mode.

2 Open the [Original] index screen, if

it is not displayed.

3 Look for the scene you want to play back.

Move the zoom lever toward ; to show 15 scenes per page; move it
toward < to show 6 scenes per page.

Operating modes:

[!]( [Original]

!"#$

50 ! Video

4 Touch the desired scene to play it back.

• Playback will start from the scene selected and continue until the end
of the last scene in the index screen.

• Touch the screen during playback to display the playback controls.

" Memory being read
# Index screen currently displayed
$ Drag your finger left for the next index page*
% Drag your finger right for the previous index page*
& Select a different index screen to read different content or

from a different memory (! only) (" 52)

' Scene's timeline (" 87) and recording information
( Narrow down the scenes shown in the index screen

(" 55)

* While browsing through index pages, a scroll bar will appear at the

bottom of the screen for a few seconds. When you h ave a large
number of scenes it may be more convenient to drag your finger
along the scroll bar.

!"#$

Video ! 51

During playback pause:

" Stop the playback.
# Jump to the beginning of the scene. Double-tap to jump

to the previous scene.

$ Pause the playback.
% Drag your finger left and right along the volume bar to

adjust the volume.

& Touch anywhere else to hide the playback controls.
' Fast playback backward*.
( Jump to the next scene.
) Fast playback forward*.

* Touch several times to increase the playback speed to approxi-

mately 5x ! 15x ! 60x the normal speed. During fast playback,
touch anywhere on the screen to return to normal playback.

" Resume playback.
# Slow playback backward*.
$ Slow playback forward*.

* Touch several times to increase the playback speed 1/8 ! 1/4 the

normal speed. During slow playback, touch anywhere on the
screen to return to playback pause.

!"#$

52 ! Video

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.

• 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.

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

• The speed indicated on the screen is approximate.

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

The Index Selection Screen: Selecting the Content to Play Back

From the index selection screen you can select the content you want to
play back (original scenes, playlist, or photos, for example). !
only: You can also select the memory from which you want to play
back your recordings.

In any index screen, touch [!].

During single photo view, touch the screen once to display the controls
then touch [&] to open the [Photos] index screen.

Operating modes:

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Video ! 53

Options

NOTES

• Fast/slow playback modes are not available for scenes converted to
standard definition. Scenes in the [SD Scenes] index screens can only
be played back at normal speed.

[Original] Original movies as you recorded them.
[Playlist] Scenes that were added to the playlist ($ 94) and may

have been rearranged to your liking.

[3D Flip View] See the following section ($ 54).
[Photos] Display the photo index screen.
[SD Scenes] (! Only when the memory card is selected)

Scenes that were converted to standard definition to upload
them to the Web ($ 141) or to create standard DVD discs
($ 135). Touch [SD Scenes] and then [For Web (MPEG-2)] or
[For DVD (SD-VIDEO)] as necessary.

[Video Snapshot] To display only video snapshot scenes. Touch

this control button first and then [Original] or [Playlist] as neces­sary.

" ! Touch the tab of the desired memory: built-in

memory or memory card.

# Touch a control button to select the content you want to

play back.

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54 ! Video

3D Flip View

3D Flip View is a fun way to display your video recordings (original
scenes) in a 3D layout, organized by recording date.

In any index screen, touch [!] ( [3D Flip View].

During single photo view, touch the screen once to display the controls
then touch [&] to open the [Photos] index screen.

" Drag your finger up and down to browse through the

scenes recorded in the displayed date.

# Drag your finger left to go to the next date with record-

ings.

$ Touch the scene in the front to play it back.
% Currently selected recording date.
& Drag your finger right to go to the previous date with

recordings.

' Current scene / Total number of scenes recorded on the

selected date.

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Video ! 55

Narrowing Down the Scenes Shown in the Index Screen

From the [Original] index screen, you can narrow down the scenes
shown, leaving only scenes that were recorded on a specific date or
only those scenes in which people's faces were detected.

Showing Only Scenes that Contain People’s Faces

This will narrow down the scenes shown in the [Original] index screen,
leaving only scenes that were recorded using face detection ($ 66)
and in which people's faces were detected.

1 Open the [Original] index screen, if it is not displayed.

2 Narrow down the scenes shown.

•[' Faces] appears instead of [All Scenes]. To show all scenes again,
touch [$ ' Faces] and then [All Scenes].

Showing Only Scenes Recorded on a Specific Date

This will narrow down the scenes shown in the [Original] or [Video
Snapshot] ! [Original] index screen, leaving only scenes that were
recorded on the date you choose.

1 Open the [Original] or [Video Snapshot] ! [Original] index screen.

Operating modes:

[!] ( [Original]

[$ All Scenes] ( [' Scenes with Faces]

[!] ( [Original] or [!] ( [Video Snapshot] (
[Original]

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56 ! Video

2 Open the calendar screen.

• Dates that contain scenes (that is, movies were recorded on that
date) appear in black against a silver background. Dates without
recordings appear grayed out.

• Touch [%] or [&] to jump to the previous/next calendar month that
contains recordings.

3 Touch the desired date.

The selected date appears instead of [All Scenes]. To show all scenes
again, touch [$ (the date displayed on the screen)] and then [All
Scenes].

NOTES

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

with the ! ( [Calendar Start Day] setting.

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. See
also Deleting Scenes from the Playlist (" 95).

1 Open the index screen that contains the scenes you want to

delete.

• [Original] or [Video Snapshot] ! [Original] index screen: To delete all
the scenes recorded on a specific date, narrow down the scenes
shown to scenes recorded on that date (" 55).

2 Touch [%] to open the scene selection screen.

[$ All Scenes] ( [Scenes by Date]

Operating modes:

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Video ! 57

3 Touch on the individual scenes you want to delete.

• A checkmark & will appear on scenes selected. Touch a selected

scene again to remove the checkmark.

• To select all the scenes at once: Touch [Select All] instead of
touching individual scenes. (Remove in advance any checkmarks
from scenes you may have selected individually.)

4 Delete the scenes.

* Touch [Stop] to interrupt the operation while it is in progress. Some scenes may

be deleted nevertheless.

IMPORTANT

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

• Save copies of important scenes before deleting them (" 128).

• 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.

NOTES

• 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 (" 40).

[Edit] ( [Delete] ( [Yes]* ( [OK]

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58 ! Video

Advanced Functions

Shooting Video in ! Manual Mode

When the mode switch is set to ! (Manual mode), you can enjoy full
access to the menus and manually adjust the exposure, focus, white
balance and many more of the camcorder's settings to your prefer­ence. Even in mode, though, the camcorder can help you with
the settings. For example, by using Special Scene recording programs
(" 60).

1 Set the mode switch to !.

2 Turn on the camcorder.

! By default, movies are
recorded in the built-in memory. You
can select the memory that will be
used to record movies (" 38).

3 Press

# to begin

recording.

Press

# again to pause the

recording.

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.

- 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.

• Be sure to save your recordings regularly (" 126), especially after
making important recordings. Canon shall not be liable for any loss or
corruption of data.

Operating modes:

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Video ! 59

NOTES

• The zoom, Quick Start function, power saving modes, etc. operate the
same way in mode as in mode. For details, refer to Dual
Shot Mode (" 42).

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.

NOTES

• Scenes recorded in MXP mode cannot be saved onto AVCHD discs
using the optional DW-100 DVD Burner. Use the supplied software
ImageMixer 3 SE 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.

Operating modes:

[FUNC.] ( [MENU] ( # ( [Recording Mode] (
Desired recording mode ( [#]

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60 ! Video

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.

Options

(# Default value)

Approximate recording times

#

Default value

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 75 MB
of music files.

Recording mode

!

MXP1FXP

1

XP+ SP

#

LP

Memory "

4 GB
Memory card

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

10 min.

1 hr.

30 min.

8 GB Memory card/
= Built-in
memory

2

40 min. 1 hr. 1 hr.

25 min.

2 hr.

20 min.

3 hr.

16 GB
Memory card

1 hr.

25 min.

2 hr.

5 min.

2 hr.

50 min.

4 hr.

45 min.

6 hr.

5 min.

32 GB Memory card/
$ Built-in
memory

2

2 hr.

55 min.

4 hr.

10 min.

5 hr.

45 min.

9 hr.

35 min.

12 hr.

15 min.

Operating modes:

[$Portrait]

#

The camcorder uses a large aper­ture, to achieve a sharp focus on the subject
while blurring the background.

[FUNC.] ( [Rec. Programs] ( [$ Portrait] (
Desired recording program ( [#]

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Video ! 61

[%Sports] To record sports scenes such as

tennis or golf.

[& Night Scene] To record nightscapes with

lower noise.

['Snow] To record in bright ski resorts without

the subject being underexposed.

[(Beach] To record on a sunny beach without

the subject being underexposed.

[)Sunset] To record sunsets in vibrant colors.

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

[+Spotlight] To record spotlit scenes.

[,Fireworks] To record fireworks.

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62 ! Video

NOTES

•[$ Portrait]/[% Sports]/[' Snow]/[( Beach]: The picture may not

appear smooth during playback.

•[$ Portrait]: The blur effect of the background increases the more you

zoom in (<).

•[' 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.

- Autofocus may not work as well as in other modes. In such case,
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]/[# Surface]:

- Use these recording programs when making recordings while the
camcorder is in the optional WP-V2 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 program between [" Underwater] and
[# Surface] while the camcorder is in the waterproof case, turn on
the camcorder while holding

> pressed down.

["Underwater] To record underwater scenes in

natural colors.

[#Surface] To record after getting out of the

water, such as on a boat after diving.

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Video ! 63

- ' 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 < to focus on
the subject.

- See Specifications (" 202) 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.

Cinema Mode: Giving a Cinematic Look to your Recordings

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.

To set the [- Cine Mode] recording program

Operating modes:

[FUNC.] ( [Rec. Programs] ( [- Cine Mode] ( [#]

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64 ! Video

To change the frame rate

Advanced Image Stabilization

The image stabilizer reduces camcorder blur (blur due to the cam­corder moving) so you can get nice, stable shots. Select the image sta­bilization mode according to the shooting conditions.

In mode:

Options

(# Default value in mode)

Operating modes:

[FUNC.] ( [MENU] ( # ( [Frame Rate] (
[& PF24] ( [#]

Operating modes:

[$ Dynamic]

#

( mode only) Compensates for a higher
degree of camcorder shake, such as when shooting while walk­ing, and is more effective as the zoom approaches full wide
angle.

[% Standard]*, [% On] Compensates for a lower degree of

camcorder shake, such as when shooting while remaining sta­tionary, and is suitable for shooting natural-looking scenes. Use
this setting when recording movies with the optional Wide-con­verter or Tele-converter.

[& Off]* Use this setting when the camcorder is mounted on a

tripod.

* In mode, if you change the IS mode to one of these settings, you may

notice a slight change in the field of view while zooming in close to the tele­photo end.

[FUNC.] ( [Image Stabilizer] ( Desired IS mode ( [#]

!"#$