Canon XF-400 Instruction Manual

4K Camcorder

PUB. DIE-0518-000A

Instruction Manual

PA L

Firmware ver. 1.0.1.0

Introduction

Trademark Acknowledgements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• This device incorporates exFAT technology licensed from Microsoft.

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

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

Highlights of the XF405 / XF400

The Canon XF405 / XF400 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.

4K Recording

Advanced sensor and image processor

The camcorder is equipped with a

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

XF-AVC and MP4 formats

You can choose the movie 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.

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 64) 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 95). 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 96).

Infrared recording

Record in darkness using infrared recording (A 91). 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 (A 49) to record the same clip on two SD cards, or relay recording to automatically switch to the other SD card when the one being used is full. Dual recording is a convenient way to create a backup of your recordings, while relay recording effectively extends the available recording time.

Network functions

You can connect the camcorder to a Wi-Fi or wired (Ethernet) network. This allows you to control the camcorder remotely from a connected network device using the Browser Remote application (A 125) and to easily transfer files to a remote FTP server using the FTP protocol (A 133).

Time code options

The time code generated by the camcorder can be output from the SDI OUT terminal (m only) or HDMI OUT terminal in order to synchronize it with other external devices. A user bit code (A 79) can also be output with the output signal.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF

The camera features Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology for improved autofocus functions (A 52). In addition to continuous AF, AF-boosted MF lets you focus manually most of the way and let the camcorder finish focusing automatically. With AF-boosted MF the camcorder does not perform unreliable focus adjustments, resulting in a smoother focusing operation than with continuous AF. The camcorder can also focus automatically on people's faces and track moving subjects while keeping them in focus (A 57). Even while focusing manually, the newly-added Dual Pixel Focus Guide function (A 53) serves as a visual, intuitive guide that you can use to check if the image is in focus and the required adjustment, if it is not. This can be very helpful to ensure you always get amazingly sharp 4K video.

(A 115)

(A 77)

Software for aiding the production workflow

The Canon XF Utility software and various XF plugins are available as free downloads from your local Canon Web site. Canon XF Utility allows you to easily save, manage and play back your XF-AVC clips, while the XF plugins let you smoothly link them to major NLE software* to continue your editing workflow. For details, refer to Saving XF-AVC Clips

(A 113). The Data Import Utility software allows you to save MP4 clips to a computer and even join split MP4 files into a single file for editing. For details, refer to Saving MP4 Clips (A 113).

* Refer to Working with Clips on a Computer (A 113) for

details on compatible software.

Creativity and Artistic Expression

Special recording modes (A 50, 90)

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

A 76)

Looks (

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

Other Features

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

• Compatibility with the optional GP-E2 GPS Receiver to geotag your recordings (A 93).

• Multiple image stabilization options (A 64) to match your recording conditions.

• Compatibility with the optional RC-V100 Remote Controller (A 92) when you need a professional level of remote control far surpassing that of the supplied wireless controller.

• Clear, adjustable LCD panel (A 24) and adjustable viewfinder (A 24) for ease of use regardless of the recording angle.

Table o f C o n t e n t s

1. Introduction 9

About this Manual 9

Conventions Used in this Manual 9

Supplied Accessories 11 Names of Parts 12

Camcorder 12 Handle Unit 17 WL-D89 Wireless Controller 18

2. Preparations 19

Preparing the Power Supply 19

Using a Battery Pack 19

Preparing the Camcorder 22

Attaching the Microphone Holder Unit 22 Attaching the Handle Unit 22 Using the Lens Hood and Lens Cap 23 Using the Viewfinder 24 Using the LCD Screen 24 Adjusting the Grip Belt and Using Straps 25 Wireless Controller 26 Using a Tripod 27

Basic Operation of the Camcorder 28

Turning the Camcorder On and Off 28 Changing the Camcorder's Operating Mode 29 Using the MENU Button and Joystick 29

Date, Time and Language Settings 30

Setting the Date and Time 30 Changing the Language 31 Changing the Time Zone 31

Using SD Cards 32

Compatible SD Cards 32 Inserting and Removing an SD Card 33 Initializing an SD Card 34 Selecting the SD Card for Recordings 34

Using the Menus 35

FUNC Menu 35 Setup Menus 36

3. Recording 39

Recording Video and Photos 39

Preparing to Record 39 Basic Recording 40 Reviewing the Latest Clip Recorded 41 Using the Fan 42 Setting the File Name for XF-AVC Clips 42 Onscreen Displays 43

Video Configuration: Resolution, Bit Rate and

Frame Rate 47

Selecting Internal Recording 47 Selecting the Movie Format 47 Selecting the Resolution and Bit Rate 47 Selecting the Frame Rate 48

Dual Recording and Relay Recording 49 Slow & Fast Motion Recording 50 Adjusting the Focus 52

Manual Focus 52 AF-Boosted MF 55 Continuous AF 56 Changing the AF Frame Size 56 Face Detection & Tracking 57

Zooming 59

Using the Focus/Zoom Ring 59 Using the Zoom Rockers 60 Using the Supplied Wireless Controller or an

Optional Remote Controller 62 Using the Touch Screen’s Zoom Controls 62 Digital Tele-Converter 63

Image Stabilization 64

Dynamic IS or Standard IS 64 Powered IS 64

Automatic Gain Control (AGC) Limit 66 Shooting Modes 67

Programmed AE (’)67 Shutter Priority AE (‚)67 Aperture Priority AE (“)68 Manual Exposure (n)68 Special Scene Modes 69

Adjusting the Exposure 70

Exposure Lock (AE Lock) 70 Touch Exposure 70 Exposure Compensation 71 Backlight Correction 71 Zebra Pattern 72

ND Filter 73 White Balance 74 Using Looks 76 Setting the Time Code 77

Selecting the Time Code Mode 77

Setting the User Bit 79 Recording Audio 80

Selecting the Audio Recording Format of MP4

Clips 80 Audio Settings and Recorded Audio Channels 81 Connecting an External Microphone or External

Audio Input Source to the Camcorder 82 Selecting the Audio Input Source for Audio

Channels 83 Adjusting the Audio Recording Level 84 Advanced Microphone Settings 86

Using Headphones 88 Color Bars/Audio Reference Signal 89

Recording Color Bars 89 Recording an Audio Reference Signal 89

Pre-Recording 90 Infrared Recording 91 Using the Optional RC-V100 Remote

Controller 92

Using the Optional GP-E2 GPS Receiver 93

4. Customization 95

CUSTOM Dial and Button 95 Assignable Buttons 96

Assignable functions 97

Saving and Loading Camcorder Settings 98

Saving Camcorder Settings 98 Loading Camcorder Settings 98

5. Playback 99

Basic Playback 99

The Playback Index Screen 99

Changing the Index Screen 100 Playing Back Recordings 100 Playback Controls 101 Adjusting the volume 102 Displaying Clip Information 102

Clip and Photo Operations 103

Deleting Clips and Photos 103 Trimming MP4 Clips 104 Copying Clips and Photos 105 Recovering Clips 106

6. External Connections 107

Video Output Configuration 107

Video Output Configuration by Terminal (Internal

Recording Priority) 107

Video Output Configuration by Terminal (External

Recording Only) 108

Connecting to an External Monitor or

Recorder 109

Connection Diagram 109 Recording Video Using an External Recorder 109 Connecting an External Monitor 110

Audio Output 112

Selecting the Audio Channels 112

Working with Clips on a Computer 113

Saving MP4 Clips 113 Saving XF-AVC Clips 113

7. Network Functions 115

About the Network Functions 115 Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network 117

Camera Access Point 118 Connecting in Infrastructure Mode 119 Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) 120 Searching for Access Points 121 Manual Setup 122

Connecting to a Wired (Ethernet) Network 123 Selecting a Network Connection and Changing

Network Settings 124

Selecting a Network Connection 124 Changing Network Settings 124

Browser Remote: Controlling the Camcorder from

a Network Device 125

Setting Up Browser Remote 125 Starting Browser Remote 126 Using Browser Remote 128

FTP File Transfer 133

Setting Up the FTP Server and Transfer

Settings 133

Transferring Clips (FTP Transfer) 134

8. Additional Information 135

Menu Options 135

FUNC Menu 135 Setup Menus 136

Troubleshooting 143

List of Messages 147

Safety Instructions and Handling Precautions 152 Maintenance/Others 156 Optional Accessories 157 Specifications 159 Reference Tables 162

Charging Times 162 Approximate Recording Time on an SD Card 162 Approximate Recording Times with a Fully

Charged Battery Pack 163

Index 165

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 28).

Position of the mode switch. For details refer to Changing the Camcorder's Operating Mode (A 29).

Movie format (MP4 or XF-AVC). For details, refer to Selecting the Movie Format (A 47).

About this Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Canon XF405 / XF400. Please read this manual carefully before you use the camcorder and retain it for future reference. Should your camcorder fail to operate correctly, refer to Troubleshooting (A 143).

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.

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

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

• The photos included in this manual are simulated pictures taken with a still camera. Unless indicated otherwise, illustrations refer to the m. Some screenshots have been altered to make them easier to read.

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

About this Manual

This indicates to press the MENU button.

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

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

1 Select [Internal/External Rec].

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

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

The menu page number is given only for main procedures.

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

refer to Using the Menus (A 35). For a summary of all available menu options and settings, refer to Menu Options (A 135).

Supplied Accessories

The following accessories are supplied with the camcorder:

Supplied Accessories

CA-946 AC Adapter

(incl. power cord)

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

BP-828 Battery Pack Microphone holder unit

(incl. screws)

(incl. CR2025 lithium button

battery)

Handle unit (incl. screws)

Quick Guide

Names of Parts

78 9 10 11

45 6

Names of Parts

Camcorder

1 ND FILTER +/– buttons (A 73) 2 PRE REC (pre-recording) button (A 90)/

Assignable button 3 (A 96)

3 u (review recording) button (A 41)/

Assignable button 4 (A 96) 4 Lens barrier switch (A 39) 5Lens hood (A 23) 6 Focus/Zoom ring (A 52, 59)

7 CUSTOM (customizable) dial (A 95) 8 CUSTOM (customizable) button (A 95) 9 Focus/Zoom ring switch (A 52, 59) 10 INFRARED switch (A 91) 11 DISP (onscreen display) button (A 43)/

BATT. INFO (battery information) button (A 21)

Names of Parts

2314

11 12

1 Exhaust ventilation outlet (A 42) 2 Built-in speaker (A 102) 3 SD CARD (open the SD card compartment

cover) switch (A 33) 4 Air intake vent (A 42) 5 Lens hood release button (A 23) 6 Grip belt (A 25)

7USB terminal (A 93) 8 HDMI OUT terminal (A 109) 9 (Ethernet) indicator (A 123) 10 (Ethernet) terminal (A 123) 11 MIC terminal (A 82) 12 m SDI OUT terminal (A 109)

Names of Parts

8 9

1 Joystick (A 29)/SET button (A 29) 2 MENU button (A 29, 36) 3 Remote sensor (A 27) 4 AF/MF button (A 52)/

Assignable button 1 (A 96)

5 POWERED IS button (A 64)/

Assignable button 2 (A 96) 6 LCD touch screen (A 24) 7 Viewfinder (A 24) 8 Dioptric adjustment lever (A 24) 9 Strap mount (A 25)

10 MAGN. (magnification) button (A 55)/

Assignable button 5 (A 96) 11 REC (start/stop recording video) button (A 39) 12 Battery attachment unit (A 19) 13 Serial number 14 REMOTE terminal

For connecting the optional RC-V100 Remote

Controller (A 92) or commercially available

remote controllers. 15 × (headphones) terminal (A 88, 112) 16 DC IN terminal (A 19)

23 4 5

Names of Parts

1 Handle attachment unit (A 22) 2 POWER/CHG (battery charging) indicator

(A 19) 3 Power switch (A 28) 4 Cold shoe/Handle attachment unit (A 22) 5 Built-in stereo microphone (A 80)

798

10 11

6ACCESS indicator (A 39) 7 Zoom rocker (A 59) 8 Mode switch (A 29) 9 SD card compartment cover (A 33) 10 SD card slot 2 (A 33) 11 SD card slot 3 (A 33)

Names of Parts

2134

1 Socket for tripod's anti-rotation pin 2 Tripod socket (A 27) 3 BATTERY RELEASE switch (A 20) 4Eye cup (A 24)

Handle Unit

8 9 10 11 12 13

234

Names of Parts

1 Cold shoe 2 Handle zoom rocker (A 60) 3 REC button's lock (C) lever (A 41) 4 REC (start/stop recording video) button (A 39) 5 – (audio level) dials for CH1 (left) and CH2

(right) (A 85) 6 Audio level switches: for CH1 (left) and CH2

(right) (A 84) 7 Audio input selection switches: for CH1 (left)

and CH2 (right) (A 83)

Microphone Holder Unit (A 22, 82)

8 INPUT terminals (XLR): INPUT 1 (right), INPUT 2

(left) (A 82) 9Infrared light (A 91) 10 Tally lamp (A 40) 11 Audio controls cover (A 84) 12 Handle unit front screw (A 22) 13 Handle unit rear screws (A 22) 14 INPUT 1 (left) / INPUT 2 (right) switches

(audio source selection) (A 83)

1 Microphone lock screw 2 Microphone holder 3 Microphone cable clamp

Names of Parts

WL-D89 Wireless Controller

1 START/STOP button (A 39)

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

2 G (open the index selection screen) button

(A 100) 3 MENU button (A 36) 4 DISP. (onscreen display) button (A 43) 5 SET button

1 2

Ñ (stop) button (A 100)

6 7 PHOTO button (A 40) 8 Zoom buttons (A 62) 9 Navigation buttons (Í/Î/Ï/Ð) 10 Ò (play/pause) button (A 100)

Preparations

햲

햴

햳

햵

햶

Preparing the Power Supply

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

Using a Battery Pack

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

Charging the Battery Pack

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

1 Make sure the power switch is set to OFF.

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

terminal.

3 Connect the power cord to the AC adapter.

4 Plug the power cord into a power outlet.

5 Attach the battery pack to the camcorder.

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

Preparing the Power Supply

햷

POWER/CHG (battery charging) indicator

햸

햲

햳

6 Charging will start.

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

completed. If the POWER/CHG indicator starts flashing, refer to Troubleshooting (A 143).

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

order shown in the illustration.

To remove the battery pack

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

and hold it pressed down.

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

Preparing the Power Supply

IMPORTANT

NOTES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• For approximate charging times and recording times with a fully charged battery pack, refer to the Reference Tab le s (A 162, 163).

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

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

• For handling precautions regarding the battery pack, refer to Battery Pack (A 154).

Checking the Remaining Battery Charge

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

Preparing the Camcorder

IMPORTANT

Preparing the Camcorder

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

• 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 Microphone Holder Unit

Use a commercially available Phillips head ("crosshead") screwdriver to attach the microphone holder unit to the handle unit with the two supplied screws.

Attaching the Handle Unit

The camcorder is functional even if you remove the handle unit. However, to use the INPUT terminals (A 82), infrared light (A 91) and tally lamp (A 40), the handle unit must be correctly attached to the camcorder.

1 Align the handle unit with the handle attachment unit and

then slide the handle unit forward until it is in place.

2 Firmly tighten the front and rear screws.

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

Using the Lens Hood and Lens Cap

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. To carry/transport the camcorder or store it after use, remove the lens hood and place the lens cap back on the camcorder.

1 Remove the lens cap.

• The lens cap and lens hood cannot be used simultaneously.

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

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

• Be careful not to deform the lens hood.

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

햲), and then turn the lens hood clockwise

(햳).

Preparing the Camcorder

To remove the lens hood

1Press and hold the lens hood release button and turn

the lens hood counterclockwise.

2 Place the lens cap back on the lens.

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

햲

햴

Dioptric adjustment lever

180°

90°

Using the Viewfinder

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

1 Pull out the viewfinder and adjust the viewing angle.

2 Turn on the camcorder (A 28).

3Adjust the viewfinder using the dioptric adjustment lever.

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

Using the LCD Screen

Open the LCD panel 90 degrees.

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

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

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

[LCD Backlight] settings in the setup menus. When the camcorder is on, you can also press and hold the DISP button for more than 2 seconds to change the [LCD Backlight] setting between [ Normal] and [Bright].

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

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

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

• For details about how to take care of the LCD screen and viewfinder, refer to Handling Precautions (A 153), Cleaning (A 156).

• About the LCD and viewfinder screens: The screens are produced using extremely high-precision manufacturing techniques, with more than 99.99% of the pixels operating to specification. Less than 0.01% of the pixels may occasionally misfire or appear as black, red, blue or green dots. This has no effect on the recorded image and does not constitute a malfunction.

Adjusting the Grip Belt and Using Straps

Fasten the grip belt.

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

Preparing the Camcorder

Ta b

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

Wireless Controller

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

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

holder.

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

3Insert the battery holder.

Preparing the Camcorder

NOTES

To u se the wireless controller

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

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

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

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

Using a Tripod

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

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

NOTES

mode mode

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

Turning the Camcorder On and Off

The camcorder has two basic modes: CAMERA ( ) mode for making recordings or MEDIA ( ) mode for

playing back recordings. Select the operating mode using the power switch.

To turn on the camcorder

Set the power switch to CAMERA for mode (A 39) or MEDIA for mode (A 99).

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

Basic Operation of the Camcorder

Joystick/SET button

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

MENU button

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

Changing the Camcorder's Operating Mode

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

(Auto) mode

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

(Manual) mode

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

Using the MENU Button and Joystick

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

Date, Time and Language Settings

NOTES

Date, Time and Language 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.

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.

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

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

-[ System Setup] > [Date/Time]

• When you do not use the camcorder for about 3 months, the built-in rechargeable lithium battery may be completely exhausted and the date and time setting may be lost. In such case, recharge the built-in lithium battery (A 155) 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 93).

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