Canon XA55 Users Guide

4K Camcorder

Instruction Manual

NTSC

PUB. DIE-0532-000B

Introduction

Highlights of the Camcorder

The Canon XA55 / XA50 4K Camcorder is a high-performance camcorder whose compact size makes it ideal in
a variety of situations. The following are just some of the many functions featured in the camcorder.

2

4K Recording

Advanced sensor and image processor

At the heart of the camcorder is the 1.0 in. single
plate CMOS sensor with an 8,290,000 effective pixel
count, and the DIGIC DV 6 imaging platform.
Thanks to its advanced high-sensitivity and noise
reduction technology, the camcorder can shoot
nuanced images with little noise even in low-light
situations.

XF-AVC and MP4 formats

You can choose the video format according to your
workflow needs. You can record in XF-AVC format
or MP4 format. Both formats use the MPEG-4 AVC/
H.264 codec, but XF-AVC clips are recorded as
Material eXchange Format (MXF files), compatible
with all major non-linear (NLE) editing software.

Wide zoom lens

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

* Except when using Dynamic IS.

Convenience and Functionality

Emphasis on versatility

This camcorder has features to make it usable as a
main camera but is also small enough to be very
portable. The advanced image stabilization (A 60)
will let you shoot in a variety of situations in the field.
The handle unit is removable so you can attach it to
enjoy additional audio options and infrared
functionality, or remove it when you need improved
portability.

Manual controls at your fingertips

The focus/zoom ring helps you achieve the focus
you are looking for. You can easily change the ring's
functionality so that you can operate the zoom. You
can also assign certain frequently used functions to
a customizable button and adjust those functions
with the accompanying dial (A 93). Additionally,
the camcorder also features 5 assignable buttons
on the camcorder and one onscreen assignable
touch button to which you can assign a variety of
functions to access them with ease (A 94).

Infrared recording

Record in darkness using infrared recording
(A 88). With the built-in infrared light on the handle
unit, you can record nocturnal animals in their
natural environment or other such scenes.

SD card recording options

The camcorder can record 4K video in MP4 or
XF-AVC format on an SD card. It is equipped with 2
SD card slots, allowing you to use dual recording to
record the same clip on two SD cards, or relay
recording to automatically switch to the other SD
card when the one being used is full (A 34).

Time code options (A 74)

The time code generated by the camcorder can be
output from the SDI OUT terminal (u only) or
HDMI OUT terminal in order to synchronize it with
other external devices. A user bit code (A 76) can
also be output with the output signal.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF

The camcorder features Dual Pixel CMOS AF
technology for improved autofocus functions
(A 47). In addition to continuous AF, AF-boosted
MF lets you focus manually most of the way and let
the camcorder finish focusing automatically. With
AF-boosted MF the camcorder does not perform
unreliable focus adjustments, resulting in a more
stable focusing operation than with continuous AF.
The camcorder can also focus automatically on
people's faces and track moving subjects while
keeping them in focus (A 53). Furthermore, the
camcorder can be in manual focus but switch to
autofocus when a face is detected (face-only AF),
ensuring that important subjects are in focus
(A 54).

Dual Pixel Focus Guide (A 49)

The focus guide serves as a visual, intuitive guide
that you can use to check if the image is in focus
and the required adjustment, if it is not. This can be
very helpful to ensure you always get amazingly
sharp 4K video.

Software for aiding production workflow

Canon XF Utility (A 113) lets you copy the clips you
recorded from an SD card to a computer, play back
the clips and organize them. You can also use the
Canon XF plugins to work with the clips directly from
Avid non-linear editing (NLE) software.
Additionally, MP4 Join Tool (A 113) is a small
application that lets you join MP4 clips that were
split into multiple files.

Creativity and Artistic Expression

Special recording modes

When you make recordings, you can change the
recording frame rate to achieve a fast or slow motion
effect (A 46). Alternatively, you can use pre­recording to record 3 seconds before you press the
button, helping you capture those hard-to-catch
opportunities (A 87).

A 73)

Looks (

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

Other Features

• Battery packs compatible with Intelligent System
for better remaining usage time information.

• Compatibility with the optional GP-E2 GPS
Receiver to geotag your recordings (A 90).

• Compatibility with the optional RC-V100 Remote
Controller when you need a professional level of
remote operation (A 89).

3

4

Tabl e o f C o n t e n t s

5

1. Introduction 7

About this Manual 7

Conventions Used in this Manual 7
Before Using the Camcorder 8

Supplied Accessories 9
Names of Parts 10

Camcorder 10
Handle Unit 15
WL-D89 Wireless Controller 16

2. Preparations 17

Preparing the Power Supply 17

Attaching the Ferrite Core 17
Charging a Battery Pack 17

Preparing the Camcorder 20

Attaching the Handle Unit 20
Attaching the Lens Hood 21
Using the LCD Screen 22
Using the Viewfinder 22
Adjusting the Grip Belt and Using Straps 23
Wireless Controller 24

Basic Operation of the Camcorder 25

Turning the Camcorder On and Off 25
Changing the Camcorder's Operating Mode 26

Date, Time and Language Settings 27

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

Using the Menus 29

Setup Menus 29
FUNC Menu 30

Using SD Cards 32

Compatible SD Cards 32
Inserting and Removing an SD Card 33
Initializing an SD Card 33
Selecting the SD Card for Recordings 34
Dual Recording and Relay Recording 34
Recovering Clips 35

3. Recording 37

Recording Video and Photos 37

Recording 37
Reviewing the Latest Clip Recorded 39
Setting the File Name for XF-AVC Clips 39
Onscreen Displays 41

Video Configuration: Video Format, Resolution, Bit

Rate and Frame Rate 44

Selecting the Video Format 44
Selecting the Resolution and Bit Rate 44
Selecting the Frame Rate 44

Slow & Fast Motion Recording 46
Adjusting the Focus 47

Manual Focus 47
AF-Boosted MF 51
Continuous AF 52
Changing the AF Frame Size 52
Face Detection & Tracking 53

Zooming 55

Using the Focus/Zoom Ring 55
Using the Grip Zoom Rocker 55
Using the Handle Zoom Rocker 57
Using the Supplied Wireless Controller or an

Optional Remote Controller 57
Using the Touch Screen’s Zoom Controls 58
Digital Tele-Converter 58

Image Stabilization 60

Dynamic IS or Standard IS 60
Powered IS 60

Automatic Gain Control (AGC) Limit 62
Shooting Modes 63

Special Scene Modes 63

Adjusting the Exposure 65

Manual Exposure (n)65
Automatic Exposure: Programmed AE (’)66
Automatic Exposure: Shutter Priority (‚)66
Automatic Exposure: Aperture Priority (“)66
Touch Exposure 67
Exposure Lock (AE Lock) 67
Exposure Compensation 68
Backlight Correction 68
Zebra Pattern 69

ND Filter 70
White Balance 71

6

Using Looks 73
Setting the Time Code 74

Selecting the Time Code Mode 74
Selecting Drop Frame or Non-Drop Frame 75

Setting the User Bit 76
Recording Audio 77

Selecting the Audio Format of MP4 Clips 77
Audio Settings and Recorded Audio Channels 78
Connecting an External Microphone or External

Audio Input Source to the Camcorder 79

Recording Audio from the INPUT Terminals to

CH1/CH2 79

Recording Audio from the Built-In Microphone or

MIC Terminal to CH1/CH2 80
Adjusting the Audio Recording Level 81
Advanced Audio Input Settings 83

Using Headphones 85
Color Bars/Audio Reference Signal 86

Color Bars 86
Audio Reference Signal 86

Pre-Recording 87
Infrared Recording 88
Using the Optional RC-V100 Remote

Controller 89

Using the Optional GP-E2 GPS Receiver 90

4. Customization 93

CUSTOM Dial and Button 93
Assignable Buttons 94

Assignable functions 95

Saving and Loading Menu Settings 96

Saving Menu Settings 96
Loading Menu Settings 96

5. Playback 97

Playback 97

The Playback Index Screen 97

Changing the Index Screen 97
Playing Back Recordings 98
Playback Controls 99
Adjusting the Volume 99
Displaying Clip Information 100

Clip and Photo Operations 101

Deleting Clips and Photos 101
Trimming MP4 Clips 102
Copying Clips and Photos 103

6. External Connections 105

Video Output Configuration 105

Video Output Configuration (Recording) 105
Video Output Configuration (Playback) 106

Connecting to an External Monitor 107

Connection Diagram 107
u Using the SDI OUT Terminal 107
Using the HDMI OUT Terminal 108
Selecting the Video Output’s Scan Mode 109

Audio Output 110

Selecting the Audio Channels for Headphone or

Speaker Output 110

Selecting the Audio Channels for HDMI

Output 111

7. Saving Clips 113

Working with Clips on a Computer 113

Saving MP4 Clips 113
Saving XF-AVC Clips 113

8. Additional Information 115

Menu Options 115

FUNC menu in mode 115
FUNC menu in mode 116
Setup Menus 116

Troubleshooting 123

List of Messages 126

Safety Instructions and Handling Precautions 129
Maintenance/Others 133
Optional Accessories 134
Specifications 136
Reference Tables 139

Approximate Recording Time on an SD Card 139
Charging Times 139
Approximate Usage Times with a Fully Charged

Battery Pack 139

Index 142

Introduction

Operating modes:

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

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

Video format (MP4 or XF-AVC). For details,
refer to Selecting the Video Format (A 44).

1

About this Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Canon XA55 / XA50. Please read this manual carefully before you use the
camcorder and retain it for future reference. Should the camcorder fail to operate correctly, refer to
Troubleshooting (A 123).

Conventions Used in this Manual

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

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

• A: Reference page number within this manual.

• u: Text and/or illustrations that apply only to the model indicated in the icon.

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

• Photographs in the manual are simulated pictures taken with a still camera. Unless indicated otherwise,
illustrations refer to the u.

• Some screenshots in this manual have been simplified to make them easier to read.

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

7

About this Manual

IMPORTANT

This indicates to press
the MENU button.

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

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

1 Select [Initialize] for the desired SD card.

> [3 " Recording Setup] > [Initialize 8] > [6 Mem. Card A]

2 Select [Yes].

The menu page number is given
only for main procedures.

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

refer to Using the Menus (A 29). For a summary of all available menu options and settings, refer to Menu
Options (A 115).

8

Before Using the Camcorder

• Before making important recordings for the first time, make test recordings using the video configuration(s) you
plan to use to check that the camcorder operates correctly. Should the camcorder fail to operate correctly,
refer to Troubleshooting (A 123).

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

• About the LCD and viewfinder screens: The screens are produced using extremely high-precision manufacturing
techniques, with more than 99.99% of the pixels operating to specification. Very rarely, pixels may misfire or
light up permanently. This has no effect on the recorded image and does not constitute a malfunction.

• Observe the following precautions while the ACCESS indicator (A 12) is illuminated or flashing in red. Failing
to do so may result in permanent data loss.

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

- Do not open the card compartment cover.

- Do not change the camcorder’s operating mode.

- When a USB cable is connected to the camcorder, do not disconnect the USB cable.

Supplied Accessories

The following accessories are supplied with the camcorder:

Supplied Accessories

9

CA-570 Compact Power Adapter

(incl. power cord)

Microphone holder unit

(incl. screws)

Quick Guide

Ferrite Core BP-820 Battery Pack Handle unit (incl. screws)

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

(incl. CR2025 lithium button

battery)

Names of Parts

1

78 9 10 11

23

45 6

Names of Parts

Camcorder

10

1 ND FILTER +/– buttons (A 70)
2 PRE REC (pre-recording) button (A 87)/

Assignable button 3 (A 94)

3 u (review recording) button (A 39)/

Assignable button 4 (A 94)
4 Lens barrier switch (A 37)
5Lens hood (A 21)

6 Focus/Zoom ring (A 47, 55)
7 CUSTOM (customizable) dial (A 93)
8 CUSTOM (customizable) button (A 93)
9 Focus/Zoom ring switch (A 47, 55)
10 INFRARED switch (A 88)
11 DISP (onscreen display) button (A 41)/

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

Names of Parts

1
2

5

1DC IN terminal (A 17)
2 REMOTE terminal

For connecting the optional RC-V100 Remote
Controller (A 89) or commercially available
remote controllers.

3 Built-in speaker (A 99)
4 Lens hood release button (A 21)

34

6
7

8

9

10

5 Grip belt (A 23)
6USB terminal (A 90)
7 HDMI OUT terminal (A 107, 108)
8 × (headphones) terminal (A 85, 110)
9 u SDI OUT terminal (A 107)
10 MIC terminal (A 79)

11

Names of Parts

12

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Joystick/SET button (A 29)
2 MENU button (A 29)
3 Remote sensor (A 24)
4 AF/MF button (A 47)/

Assignable button 1 (A 94)
5 POWERED IS button (A 60)/

Assignable button 2 (A 94)
6 LCD touch screen (A 22)
7 Serial number

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

8 Viewfinder (A 22)
9 ACCESS (card access) indicator (A 8, 37)
10 Dioptric adjustment lever (A 22)
11 MAGN. (magnification) button (A 50)/

Assignable button 5 (A 94)
12 Strap mount (A 23)
13 REC (start/stop recording video) button (A 37)
14 Battery attachment unit (A 17)

1

23 4 5

Names of Parts

13

68

1 Handle attachment unit (A 20)
2 POWER/CHG (battery charging) indicator

(A 17)
3 Power switch (A 25)
4 Cold shoe/Handle attachment unit (A 20)
5 Built-in stereo microphone (A 77)
6Grip zoom rocker (A 55)

7

91011

7 Mode switch (A 26)
8 Card compartment cover (A 33)
9 SD card slot 2
10 SD card slot 3
11 SD CARD (open the card compartment cover)

switch (A 33)

14

134

2

Names of Parts

1 Socket for tripod's anti-rotation pin
2 Tripod socket

For use with tripods with a mounting screw up to 6 mm (0.24 in.) long

3 BATTERY RELEASE switch (A 18)
4Eye cup (A 22)

Handle Unit

1

7

8

91011121314

234

5

6

Names of Parts

15

1 Cold shoe
2 Handle zoom rocker (A 57)
3 REC button's lock (C) lever (A 38)
4 REC (start/stop recording video) button (A 37)
5 Audio level dials: for CH1 (left) and CH2 (right)

(A 82)
6 Audio level switches: for CH1 (left) and CH2

(right) (A 81)
7 AUDIO IN switches (audio input selection): for

CH1 (left) and CH2 (right) (A 79, 80)

Microphone Holder Unit (A 20, 79)

1

8INPUT 1 (left) / INPUT 2 (right) switches

(audio source selection) (A 79)

9 INPUT terminals: INPUT 1 (right), INPUT 2 (left)

(A 79)
10 Infrared light (A 88)
11 Tally lamp (A 38)
12 Audio controls cover (A 81)
13 Handle unit front screw (A 20)
14 Handle unit rear screws (A 20)

2

3

1 Microphone lock screw
2 Microphone holder
3 Microphone cable clamp

Names of Parts

WL-D89 Wireless Controller

16

1 START/STOP button (A 37)

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

2 G (open the index selection screen) button

(A 97)
3 MENU button (A 29)
4 DISP. (onscreen display) button (A 41)
5 SET button (A 29)

7

1
2

8

3

4

9

5

10

6

Ñ (stop) button (A 98)

6
7 PHOTO button (A 38)
8 Zoom buttons (A 57)
9 Navigation buttons (Í/Î/Ï/Ð)
10 Ò (play/pause) button (A 98)

Preparations

2

Preparing the Power Supply

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

Attaching the Ferrite Core

Attach the enclosed ferrite core before you connect the compact power adapter to the camcorder. Attaching the
ferrite core to the compact power adapter cable is necessary to suppress RF interference.

1 Attach the ferrite core to the cable about 6 cm (2.4 in.) from the DC plug

(the plug to be connected to the DC IN terminal).

2Pass the cable through the center of the core and wrap it around the core

(as shown in the illustration), then close the unit until it clicks shut.

17

Charging a Battery Pack

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

1 Connect the compact power adapter to the camcorder and plug the power cord into a power outlet.

2 Attach the battery pack to the camcorder.

Preparing the Power Supply

IMPORTANT

NOTES

Illuminated in red while
the battery is charging

햲

햳

3 Charging will start when the camcorder is turned off.

• The POWER/CHG (charge) indicator will illuminate in red while the battery is charging. If the POWER/CHG

indicator starts flashing, refer to Troubleshooting (A 124).

18

4 When the POWER/CHG indicator goes out, the battery is fully charged.

• Disconnect the compact power adapter from the camcorder and unplug the power cord.

To remove the battery pack

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

and hold it pressed down.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preparing the Power Supply

• 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.

• For handling precautions regarding the battery pack, refer to Safety Instructions and Handling Precautions
(A 129). For charging times and approximate usage times, refer to Reference Tables (A 139).

Checking the Remaining Battery Charge

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

19

Preparing the Camcorder

IMPORTANT

Preparing the Camcorder

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

20

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

Attaching the Handle Unit

The camcorder is functional even if you remove the handle unit. However, to use the INPUT terminals (A 79),
infrared light (A 88) and tally lamp (A 37), the handle unit must be correctly attached to the camcorder.

1 Attach the microphone holder unit to the handle unit.

• Use a commercially available Phillips head ("crosshead")

screwdriver and the two supplied screws.

2 Align the handle unit with the handle attachment unit and

then slide the handle unit forward all the way.

3 Firmly tighten the front and rear screws.

• To tighten the rear screws you can use a coin or similar object.

Attaching the Lens Hood

NOTES

햲

햳

Lens hood release
button

While recording, the supplied lens hood with lens barrier is
effective for reducing stray light that can be the cause of lens
flare and ghost images. Additionally, closing the lens barrier
can help prevent fingerprints and dirt accumulation on the
lens.

1 Remove the lens cap.

2 Align the groove on the lens hood with the index

mark on the top of the lens (
lens hood clockwise until it stops with a click

• Be careful not to deform the lens hood.

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

To remove the lens hood

햲), and then turn the

(햳).

Preparing the Camcorder

21

1Press and hold the lens hood release button and turn

the lens hood counterclockwise.

2 Place the lens cap back on the lens.

About the lens cap:

• Use the supplied lens cap when carrying the camcorder or storing it after use.

• The lens cap and lens hood cannot be used simultaneously. To attach the lens hood, remove the lens cap in
advance.

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

햲

햳

햳

햳

햲

햴

Dioptric adjustment
lever

Using the LCD Screen

Open the LCD panel 90 degrees and adjust the viewing
angle.

22

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

and [LCD Backlight] settings. When the camcorder is on, you can also press and hold the DISP button for
more than 2 seconds to change the [LCD Backlight] setting between bright and normal or from dim to normal.

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

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

• When the LCD panel is rotated 180 degrees toward the subject, you can use the > [£ Display
Setup] > [LCD Mirror Image] setting to flip the screen's image horizontally so it shows a mirror image of the
subject.

• For details about how to take care of the LCD screen, refer to Safety Instructions and Handling Precautions
(A 129), Cleaning (A 133).

Using the Viewfinder

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

1 Turn on the camcorder (A 25) and close the LCD panel.

2 Pull out the viewfinder and adjust the viewing angle.

3Adjust the viewfinder using the dioptric adjustment lever.

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

• The viewfinder and LCD screen cannot be used simultaneously. To use the viewfinder, make sure to close the
LCD panel and pull out the viewfinder.

• You can adjust the brightness of the viewfinder with the > [£ Display Setup] > [Viewfinder
Backlight] setting.

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

Adjusting the Grip Belt and Using Straps

Fasten the grip belt.

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

23

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

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

햲

햳

햴

햵

Wireless Controller

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

24

1Press the tab in the direction of the arrow (햲) and pull out

the battery holder (

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

(

햴).

3Insert the battery holder (

To u se 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.

햳).

햵).

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

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

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

NOTES

mode mode

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

Turning the Camcorder On and Off

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

To turn on the camcorder

Set the power switch to CAMERA for mode (A 37) or
MEDIA for mode (A 97).

25

To turn off the camcorder

Set the power switch to OFF.

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

[B System Setup] > [POWER LED] to [j Off] so the power indicator does not illuminate.

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

Changing the Camcorder's Operating Mode

When making recordings, you can change the camera mode to match your shooting style (A 37).

26

(Auto) mode

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

(Manual) mode

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

Date, Time and Language Settings

NOTES

Setting the Date and Time

Date, Time and Language Settings

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

Operating modes:

1 Turn on the camcorder.

• The [Date/Time] screen will appear.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- > [System Setup] > [Date/Time]

• When you do not use the camcorder for about 3 months, the built-in backup battery may be depleted
completely and the date and time setting may be lost. In such case, recharge the built-in backup battery
(A 131) and set the time zone, date and time again.

• Using the optional GP-E2 GPS Receiver, you can have the camcorder adjust settings automatically according
to the UTC date/time information received from the GPS signal (A 90).

Date, Time and Language Settings

Changing the Language

The default language of the camcorder is English. You can set it to one of 27 languages.
Refer to Setup Menus (A 29) for details on how to navigate the menu to complete this procedure.

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Operating modes:

1 Select [Language H].

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

2 Select the desired language and then select [OK].

3 Select [X] to close the menu.

Changing the Time Zone

Change the time zone to match your location. The default setting is New York. In addition, the camcorder is able
to retain the date and time of an additional location. This is convenient when you travel so that you can set the
camcorder to match the time of your home location or that of your travel destination.
Refer to Setup Menus (A 29) for details on how to navigate the menu to complete this procedure.

Operating modes:

1 Select [Time Zone/DST].

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

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

traveling.

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

time.

4 Select [X] to close the menu.

Using the Menus

Joystick/SET button

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

MENU button

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

Using the Menus

The camcorder's functions can be adjusted from the setup menus, accessed by pressing the MENU button, or
from the FUNC menu, accessed by touching or selecting the onscreen [FUNC] button. For details about the
available menu options and settings, refer to Menu Options (A 115).

Operating modes:

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Setup Menus

Following is a step-by-step explanation of how to select a
typical option from the setup menus. Some menu items may
require additional steps. Such operations will be explained in
the respective section of the manual.
For brevity's sake, references to menu settings throughout the
manual may be abbreviated as follows:

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

Desired option

To u se the touch panel

1Press the MENU button.

2 Touch the icon of the desired setup menu from the top row.

• In the example, the B icon, corresponding to the [System Setup] menu.

3 Touch the desired menu item ([Language H], in the example).

• If the desired menu item does not appear in the menu page displayed, drag your finger left/right to scroll

through other menu pages.

• For main procedures, the page number may be given in the manual (!, in the example). If you know the

page number, you can touch the number icon at the top left of the screen to open directly the desired menu
page.

• The page number may differ depending on the camcorder’s operating mode. Throughout the manual,

procedures for functions that can be used in both modes give the page number in mode.

4 Touch the desired setting option and then touch [X] to close the menu.

• You can touch [L] to return to the previous menu page.

Using the Menus

NOTES

FUNC menu in mode

To u se the joystick

1Press the MENU button.

2Push the joystick (Þ) to select the icon of the desired setup menu.

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• In the example, the B icon, corresponding to the [System Setup] menu.

• If one of the icons in the top row is not selected when you open the menu, first push the joystick (Ý) to

move the orange selection frame to one of the icons.

3Push the joystick (Ý) to select the desired menu item ([Language H], in the example) and then

press SET.

• If the desired menu item does not appear in the menu page displayed, push the joystick (Þ) to scroll

through other menu pages.

• For main procedures, the page number may be given in the manual (!, in the example), making it easier to

find the desired menu page.

4Push the joystick (Ý) to select the desired setting option and then press SET.

5Press the MENU button to close the menu.

• You can push the joystick to highlight the [L] button and press SET to return to the previous menu page.
You can also highlight the [X] button and press SET to close the menu.

• You can press the MENU button on the supplied wireless controller to display the setup menus.

• Touching [X] or pressing the MENU button at any time closes the menu.

• Unavailable items may appear grayed out.

FUNC Menu

In mode, the FUNC menu offers a quick way to control various shooting related functions such as white
balance, exposure, focus, etc. Available functions are more limited in mode.

To u se the touch panel

1 Touch [FUNC] on the shooting screen.

2 Touch the icon of the desired function on the left

column.

• If necessary, touch [ ]/[ ] to scroll up/down.

3 Touch the icon of the desired setting on the bottom

row.

4 Touch [X] to close the FUNC menu or [L] to return

to the left column.

To u se the joystick

1 On the shooting screen, push the joystick to select [FUNC] and then press SET.

2Push the joystick (Ý) to select the desired icon from the left column and then press SET.

3Push the joystick (Þ) to select the desired icon from the bottom row and then press SET.

• To select a value from an adjustment dial, first push the joystick (Î) to highlight the dial in orange and then
(Þ) to select the desired value.

4 Select [X] to close the FUNC menu or [L] to return to the left column.