User manual CANON DC20

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS In these safety instructions the word "product" refers to the Canon DVD Camcorder DC20/ DC10 A and all its accessories. 1. Read Instructions -- All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated. 2. Retain Instructions -- The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference. 3. Heed Warnings -- All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to. 4. Follow Instructions -- All operating and maintenance instructions should be followed. 5. Cleaning -- Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. The product should be cleaned only as recommended in this manual. 6. Accessories -- Do not use accessories not recommended in this manual as they may be hazardous. 7. Avoid magnetic or electric fields -- Do not use the camera close to TV transmitters, portable communication devices or other sources of electric or magnetic radiation. They may cause picture interference, or permanently damage the camera. 8. Water and Moisture -- Hazard of electric shock -- Do not use this product near water or in rainy/moist situations. 9. Placing or Moving -- Do not place on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product. A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart combination to overturn. 10. Power Sources -- The CA-570 Compact Power Adapter should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company. Regarding other power sources such as battery power, refer to instructions in this manual. 11. Polarization -- The CA-570 Compact Power Adapter is equipped with a polarized 2-prong plug (a plug having one blade wider than the other). The 2-prong polarized plug will fit into the power outlet only one way. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug still fails to fit, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug. 12. Power Cord Protection -- Power cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them. Pay particular attention to plugs and the point from which the cords exit the product. 13. Outdoor Antenna Grounding -- If an outside antenna is connected to the product, be sure the antenna is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Section 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI / NFPA No. 70--1984, provides information with respect to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode. See figure 1. E Introduction 3 Fig. 1 EXAMPLE OF ANTENNA GROUNDING AS PER NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE ANTENNA LEAD IN WIRE GROUND CLAMP ELECTRIC SERVICE EQUIPMENT 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 14.Lightning -- For added protection of this product during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time, disconnect it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line surges. 15.Overloading -- Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock. 16.Objects and Liquid Entry -- Never push objects of any kind into this product through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Be careful not to spill liquid of any kind onto the product. 17.Servicing -- Do not attempt to service this product yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. 18.Damage Requiring Service -- Disconnect this product from the wall outlet and all power sources including battery, and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: a. When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. b. If any liquid has been spilled onto, or objects have fallen into, the product. c. If the product has been exposed to rain or water. d. If the product does not operate normally even if you follow the operating instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operation instructions. Improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation. e. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged. f. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance. This indicates a need for service. 19.Replacement Parts -- When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts that are specified by Canon or that have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards. 20.Safety Check -- Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in safe operating order. Should you need to replace the compact power adapter, 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. Use only CSA/UL Certified power supply cord set, Polarized, Type SPT-2 or heavier, minimum No. 18 AWG copper, rated 125 or 250 V, minimum ,P A, minimum 6 ft (1.8 m), maximum 10 ft (3 m) long. This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. 4 An Introduction to DVDs You have probably heard of DVD discs and they come in various types and in two sizes the more common 12 cm DVDs and 8 cm Mini DVDs. This camcorder uses 8 cm DVD-R discs (like the supplied one) or DVD-RW discs (commercially available). So... what disc to choose? DVD-R Can be recorded only once. You cannot edit or delete the recordings. DVD-RW You can record it many times. You can delete scenes or initialize the disc and start recording again. Now that I have the disc... What disc standard do I choose to initialize it? VIDEO mode Once finalized, a disc recorded in VIDEO mode will play in most common DVD players. However, you cannot edit the recordings. VR* mode You can easily edit the recordings. However, you will be able to play the disc only with DVD-RW compatible DVD players. * Video Recording · Recommended Discs: This camcorder's performance was tested using the supplied discs and Hitachi-Maxell HG-series DVD discs. For use of other DVD media, contact directly the manufacturer's customer support center. · Attempting to record or play in this camcorder DVD discs that were recorded, initialized, edited or finalized with other digital devices can result in lost data. · You need to initialize newly bought DVD-RW discs with this camcorder before using them for the first time. 5 The Advantages of DVDs RECORDING With a DVD yo u just press th e recording start/stop butto n and the cam corder will fin the empty spac d e on the disc ( waste time fast 33). Don't forwarding an d rewinding a tape to find fro m where to sta rt a new recording. Never worry ab out mistakenl y re cording over a precious mem ory! PLAYING scene from Just select a en! the index scre sc into a DVD ur finalized* di Just insert yo the scene mediately find x. No player and im from the inde y back you want to pla g or run the e whole thin scene need to play th ck to find that forward and ba tape 39). you want ( 6 SHARING YO U Windows users : R VIDEOS With the supp lied Roxio MyD VD for Canon of your DVDs software you to share with can easily crea family and frien computer for te copies ds and transfe further editing. r your recordin gs to a For inquiries regarding Roxio MyDVD for Canon, please contact directly the customer support centers of Sonic Solutions ( 105). * Finalization is a process required to make the DVD discs you recorded in VIDEO mode playable on common DVD players ( 98). 7 Table of contents Introduction An Introduction to DVDs ..................................................................................5 The Advantages of DVDs ................................................................................6 About this Manual..........................................................................................11 Checking the Supplied Accessories ..............................................................13 Components Guide........................................................................................14 Screen Displays.............................................................................................18 Preparations Step 1: Preparing the Power Supply..............................................................21 Step 2: Preparing the Camcorder ..................................................................24 Step 3: Using the Wireless Controller............................................................25 Step 4: Adjusting the LCD Screen .................................................................26 Step 5: Changing the Display Language .......................................................27 Step 6: Setting the Time Zone, Date and Time..............................................28 Step 7: Inserting a Memory Card...................................................................30 Step 8: Loading a Disc...................................................................................31 Basic Functions Recording Recording Movies..........................................................................................33 Recording Still Images...................................................................................35 Zooming.........................................................................................................37 Tips for Better Recording...............................................................................38 Playback Playing Back Movies .....................................................................................39 Viewing Still Images.......................................................................................41 Adjusting the Volume.....................................................................................43 Magnifying the Image ....................................................................................44 Displaying Additional Recording Data ...........................................................45 Advanced Features Recording Programs Using the Recording Programs .....................................................................46 Selecting the Recording Program..................................................................47 Using the Program AE Mode .....................................................................48 Using the Shutter-Priority AE Mode .........................................................49 Using the Aperture-Priority AE Mode.......................................................50 More Recording Options Manually Adjusting the Exposure ..................................................................51 Manually Adjusting the Focus and Changing the Focusing Mode.................52 Recording in Widescreen (16:9 Aspect Ratio)...............................................54 Using the Mini Video Light .................................................................55 Using the Flash ..................................................................................56 Using the Self-Timer ......................................................................................58 Changing the FUNC. Settings Changing Settings with the FUNC. Button ....................................................59 Available Settings List (FUNC.) .....................................................................60 Changing the Metering Method .....................................................................62 Setting the White Balance .............................................................................63 Applying Image Enhancing Effects ................................................................65 8 Continuous Shooting and Exposure Bracketing ............................................66 Creating Panoramic Images ..........................................................................68 Using the Digital Effects.................................................................................70 Selecting the Size and Quality of Still Images ...............................................76 Capturing a Still Image while Recording Movies ...........................................78 Changing the MENU Settings Changing Settings with the MENU Button.....................................................79 Available Settings List (MENU) .....................................................................80 Camera Setup (Digital Zoom, Image Stabilizer, etc.) .............................80 Still Image Operations (Card Initialization, Disc-Card Copy, etc.)..........82 Disc Operations (Photomovie, Finalize, etc.).........................................82 Display Setup (LCD Brightness, Language, etc.) ..................................83 System Setup (Volume, Beep, Media select , etc.) ...........................83 Date/Time Setup ....................................................................................84 E Introduction Editing Functions Disc Options (DVD-RW in VR mode only) Creating a Playlist..........................................................................................85 Dividing a Scene............................................................................................86 Deleting Scenes ............................................................................................87 Converting Still Images into Photomovie Scenes ..........................................89 Protecting the Disc ........................................................................................90 Initializing the Disc.........................................................................................91 Still Image Options Copying Still Images Between the Disc and Memory Card ...........................92 Erasing Still Images .......................................................................................94 Protecting Still Images on the Memory Card .................................................96 Initializing the Memory Card ..........................................................................97 Disc Finalization Preparing your Disc for Playing on a DVD Player .........................................98 Playing Back your Disc on a DVD Player or a Computer's DVD Drive .......100 Recording Additional Movies on a Finalized Disc........................................101 External Connections Connecting to a TV and VCR Playing Back on a TV Screen......................................................................102 Recording to a VCR.....................................................................................103 Connecting to a Computer Transferring Recordings to a Computer ......................................................104 Roxio MyDVD for Canon......................................................................104 Transferring Still Images to a Computer (Direct Transfer) ...........................109 Transferring Images with Transfer Order Settings.......................................112 Printing Printing Still Images .....................................................................................114 Selecting Print Settings ...............................................................................117 Selecting Trimming Settings ........................................................................120 Printing with Print Order Settings ................................................................121 Trouble? Troubleshooting ...........................................................................................123 List of Messages..........................................................................................128 9 Do's & Don'ts Handling Precautions ..................................................................................132 Maintenance/Others ....................................................................................137 Additional Information System Diagram ..........................................................................................138 Optional Accessories...................................................................................139 Specifications...............................................................................................141 Product Codes.............................................................................................143 Index............................................................................................................144 10 About this Manual Thank you for purchasing the Canon DC20/DC10. 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 the Troubleshooting table ( 123). E Conventions Used in the Manual : Precautions related to the camcorder operation. : Additional topics that complement the basic operating procedures. : Reference page number. Capital letters are used to refer to buttons on the camcorder or the wireless controller. [ ] are used to refer to menu items displayed on the screen. "Screen" refers to the LCD and the viewfinder screen. Illustrations and screenshots in the manual refer mainly to the DC20. Introduction Menu item showing at its default position Button and switches to be operated About the Omni Selector Use the omni selector to select options in a menu and change settings. Push the omni selector like a joystick up, down, left or right ( / / / ) to select an item. In most places, press the omni selector itself ( ) to make a selection or change a setting. 11 About the Operating Modes The camcorder's operating mode is determined by the positions of the power switch and the / switch. Operating Mode Power Switch CAMERA PLAY CAMERA PLAY (STILLS) (MOVIES) / Switch Icon Display Operation Recording movies on the disc Playing movies from the disc Recording still images on * the memory card or disc Viewing still images from * the memory card or disc 33 39 35 41 or or * Depending on whether you choose to save the still images on the disc or memory card. Trademark Acknowledgements · miniSDTM is a trademark of SD Card Association. · Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/ or other countries. · Macintosh and Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. · is a trademark of DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation. · Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. "Dolby" and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. · Other names and products not mentioned above may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. 12 Checking the Supplied Accessories CA-570 Compact Power Adapter (incl. power cord) BP-208 Battery Pack WL-D86 Wireless Controller Lithium Button Battery CR2025 for Wireless Controller E MTC-100 Multi Cable IFC-300PCU USB Cable Blank DVD-R Disc (8 cm Mini DVD) DIGITAL VIDEO SOLUTION DISK Introduction Roxio MyDVD for Canon Software Disc The serial number of this product can be found at the battery attachment unit of the camcorder. Write down the number and other information here and retain this book as a permanent record of your purchase to aid identification in case of theft. Date of Purchase: Model Name: DC20/DC10 A Purchased From: Serial No.: Dealer Address: Dealer Phone No.: 13 Components Guide Left side view Right side view (record review) button ( 34) / (rewind) button ( 40) / ­ button ( 39) / (flash) button ( 56) DRIVE MODE button ( 66) / (fast forward) button ( 40) / + button ( 39) D.EFFECTS button ( 70) / / (play/pause) button ( 39) LIGHT button ( 55) / (stop) button ( 39) FINALIZE button ( 98) DISPLAY button ( 45) BACKLIGHT button ( 26) WIDE SCR button ( 54) / PLAYLIST button ( 85) Lens cover switch ( 33, 35) ( - open, - closed) Speaker ( 43) FUNC. button ( 59) MENU button ( 79) Omni Selector ( 11) / EXP button ( 51) / FOCUS button ( 52) Memory card slot ( 30) Card access indicator ( 35) / Charge indicator ( 21) (print/share) button ( 106, 109, 115) / (Movies/Stills) switch ( 12) Battery attachment unit ( 21) Serial number Reset button ( 123) Disc compartment cover ( 31) Grip belt ( 24) 14 Front view E Back view Introduction Flash ( 56) Mini video light ( 55) Remote sensor ( 25) Stereo microphone Viewfinder ( 24) Dioptric adjustment lever ( 24) Power switch ( 12) LCD screen ( 26) USB terminal ( 104, 109, 114) DC IN terminal ( 21) AV terminal ( 102) Terminal cover Disc access indicator ( 33) Start/stop button ( 33) Terminal cover 15 Top view Bottom view Mode switch ( 46) Zoom lever ( 37) PHOTO button ( 35) Tripod socket ( 38) BATT. button ( Strap mount ( OPEN switch ( 21) 140) 31) 16 Wireless Controller WL-D86 E Introduction START/STOP button ( 33) FUNC. button ( 59) MENU button ( 79) PLAYLIST button ( 85) Navigation buttons ( / / / ) Scene skip buttons (PREV./NEXT) ( 39) Reverse SEARCH button ( 40) / Reverse SLOW button ( 40) PLAY button ( 39) PAUSE button ( 39) STOP button ( 39) PHOTO button ( 35) Zoom buttons ( 37) SET button Forward SEARCH button ( 40) / Forward SLOW button ( 40) DISP. (on-screen display) button ( 45) 17 Screen Displays Recording Movies Operating mode ( 12), Zoom ( 37), Exposure ( 51) Recording program ( 46) Metering mode ( 62) White balance ( 63) Image effect ( 65) Drive mode ( 66) Digital effects ( 70) Recording mode ( 60) Still image quality/size ( 76) Disc type DVD-R, DVD-RW ( 5) Disc specification (VIDEO mode, VR mode) ( 5) Finalized disc mark ( 98) Self-timer ( 58) Recording reminder Manual focus ( 52) Image stabilizer ( 81) Disc operation Time code Remaining recording time on disc ( 33) Widescreen mode ( 54) Wind screen ( 81) Number of still images available on the card, on the disc Remaining battery charge Remote sensor mode ( 25) Camcorder shake warning ( 80) Mini video light ( 55) Flash ( 56) AF/AE locked during still image recording ( 53) AF frame ( 53) Recording Stills 18 Recording reminder The camcorder counts from 1 to 10 seconds when you start recording. This is helpful to avoid scenes that are too short. Disc operation Record, Record pause, Playback, Playback pause, Fast reverse playback, Fast playback, Slow reverse playback, Slow playback Time Code Indicates the recording time in hours, minutes and seconds. Remaining recording time Indicates the remaining time on the disc in minutes. When there is no more disc space available, " END" will be displayed and the recording will stop. The camcorder uses a variable bit rate (VBR) when encoding the video data so the actual recording times will vary depending on the content of the scenes and may differ from the remaining time displayed. Number of still images available on the card flashing in red: No card in green: 6 or more images in yellow: 1 to 5 images in red: No more images can be recorded · When viewing the still images, the display will always be in green. · Depending on the recording conditions, the number of still images available displayed may not decrease even after a recording has been made, or may decrease by 2 still images at once. Card Access Display " " is displayed next to the number of images available while the camcorder is writing on the memory card or disc. Remaining battery charge E Introduction · When " " starts flashing in red replace the battery pack with a fully charged one. · When you attach an empty battery pack, the power may turn off without displaying " ". · Depending on the conditions under which the camcorder and the battery pack are used, the actual battery charge may not be indicated accurately. 19 Playing Movies (Index Screen) Current scene number/Total number of scenes ( 39) Date and time of recording Disc operation Playback time Scene number Data code ( 45) Playing Movies (During Playback) Viewing Stills Image number ( 84) Current image / Number of images recorded on the card, recorded on the disc Still image size Protect mark ( 96) Data code ( 45) 20 Step 1: Preparing the Power Supply Preparations The camcorder can be powered by a battery pack or be connected to a household power outlet. Charge the battery pack before use. E Attaching and Charging the Battery Pack 1. Turn off the camcorder. 2. Attach the battery pack to the camcorder. · Open the LCD panel. · Slide in the connector end of the battery in the direction of the arrow and press it gently until it clicks. Charge indicator DC IN terminal 3. Connect the power cord to the adapter. 4. Plug the power cord into a power outlet. 5. Open the terminal cover and connect the power adapter to the camcorder's DC IN terminal. The charge indicator starts flashing. The indicator will stay on when charging is complete. Once the battery is fully charged: BATT. button Preparations Remove the battery terminal cover before attaching the battery 1. Disconnect the power adapter from the camcorder. 2. Unplug the power cord from the power outlet and the adapter. To remove the battery pack: Hold the BATT. button pressed down to release it, and pull out the battery from the ridge on its bottom part. 21 Charging, Recording and Playback Times with the BP-208 Battery Pack The charging time of the BP-208 battery pack is 165 min. The following recording and playback times are approximate and vary according to the charging, recording or playback conditions. Max. Recording Time 65 min. 60 min. 60 min. 70 min. 70 min. 65 min. 80 min. 75 min. 75 min. Typical Recording Time* 35 min. 30 min. 30 min. 35 min. 35 min. 30 min. 40 min. 35 min. 35 min. Recording Mode Viewfinder XP LCD (normal) LCD (backlight) Viewfinder SP LCD (normal) LCD (backlight) Viewfinder LP LCD (normal) LCD (backlight) Playback Time 75 min. 80 min. 90 min. Recording Mode Viewfinder XP LCD (normal) LCD (backlight) Viewfinder SP LCD (normal) LCD (backlight) Viewfinder LP LCD (normal) LCD (backlight) Max. Recording Time 75 min. 70 min. 70 min. 80 min. 80 min. 75 min. 95 min. 90 min. 85 min. Typical Recording Time* 35 min. 35 min. 35 min. 40 min. 40 min. 40 min. 45 min. 45 min. 40 min. Playback Time 80 min. 90 min. 100 min. * Approximate times for recording with repeated operations such as start/stop, zooming, power on/off. 22 Using a Household Power Outlet Connect to a household power outlet to use the camcorder without worrying about the battery power. You can keep the battery pack attached; the battery power will not be consumed. E 1. Turn off the camcorder. 2. Connect the power cord to the power adapter. 3. Plug the power cord into a power outlet. 4. Open the terminal cover and connect the power adapter to the camcorder's DC IN terminal. Preparations Turn off the camcorder before connecting or disconnecting the power adapter. Do not connect to the camcorder's DC IN terminal or to the power adapter any electrical equipment that is not expressly recommended for use with this camcorder. You may hear some noise from the power adapter during use. This is not 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. Do not disconnect and reconnect the power cord while charging a battery pack. Charging may stop. The battery pack may not be charged correctly even if the charge indicator is continuously on. The battery pack may also not be charged correctly when a power outage occurs during charging. Remove the battery pack and attach it back to the camcorder. If you connect a faulty power adapter or battery pack, the charge indicator flashes rapidly (approx. twice per second) and charging stops. The charge indicator also serves as a rough estimate of the battery charge status. Continuously on: Battery fully charged. Flashes rapidly (approx. twice per second): Battery over 50% charged. Flashes slowly (approx. once per second): Battery less than 50% charged. 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), the charge indicator flashes rapidly and charging stops. A lithium ion battery pack can be charged at any charge state. Unlike conventional battery packs, you do not need to completely use or discharge it before charging. To conserve battery power, turn off the camcorder instead of leaving it in record pause mode. We recommend that you prepare battery packs 2 to 3 times longer than you think you might need. 23 Step 2: Preparing the Camcorder Adjusting the Viewfinder (Dioptric Adjustment) 1. Turn on the camcorder and keep the LCD panel closed. 2. Adjust the dioptric adjustment lever as necessary. Fastening the Grip Belt Adjust the grip belt so that you can reach the zoom lever with your index finger, and the start/stop button with your thumb. 24 Step 3: Using the Wireless Controller Inserting the Battery (Lithium Button Battery CR2025) 1. Press the tab in the direction of the arrow and pull out the battery holder. 2. Place the lithium button battery with the + side facing up. 3. Insert the battery holder. Tab E Using the Wireless Controller Preparations Point the controller at the camcorder's remote sensor when you press the buttons. The wireless controller may not work properly when the remote sensor is situated under strong light sources or direct sunlight. If the wireless controller does not work, check that the remote sensor is not set to [OFF ]( 83). When the camcorder cannot be operated with the wireless controller, or when it can only be operated at a very close range, replace the battery. 25 Step 4: Adjusting the LCD Screen Rotating the LCD Panel Subject can monitor the LCD screen Open the LCD panel 90 degrees. · You can rotate the panel downward by 90 degrees. · You can rotate the panel by 180 degrees toward the lens (allowing the subject to monitor the LCD screen while you use the viewfinder). Rotating the panel by 180 degrees is also useful if you wish to include yourself when recording with the self-timer. LCD Backlight You can switch the brightness of the LCD screen between normal and bright by pressing the BACKLIGHT button. This is useful when recording outdoors. BACKLIGHT button Press the BACKLIGHT button. Repeatedly pressing the BACKLIGHT button will toggle the LCD brightness on and off. This setting does not affect the brightness of the recording or the viewfinder screen. Using the brighter LCD setting will shorten the effective usage time of the battery. 26 Step 5: Changing the Display Language The language used in the camcorder displays and menu items can be changed to German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean or Japanese. E MENU ( 79) DISPLAY SETUP LANGUAGE 1. Turn on the camcorder (CAMERA or PLAY). 2. Press the MENU button. Preparations 3. Use the omni selector ( ) to select the [DISPLAY SETUP] menu and press ( ). 4. Use the omni selector ( ) to select the [LANGUAGE ] option and press ( ). 5. Use the omni selector ( , ) to select the language desired and press ( ) to select it. 6. Press the MENU button to save the setting and close the menu. If you changed the language by mistake, follow the mark next to the menu item to change the setting. The displays and that appear on screen while changing the print and direct transfer settings will not change regardless of the language selected. 27 Step 6: Setting the Time Zone, Date and Time Setting the Time Zone/Daylight Saving Time MENU ( 79) D/TIME SETUP T.ZONE/DST 1. Turn on the camcorder (CAMERA or PLAY). 2. Press the MENU button to open the menu. 3. Use the omni selector ( ) to select the [D/TIME SETUP] menu and press ( ). 4. Use the omni selector ( ) to select the [T.ZONE/ DST] option and press ( ). The time zone setting appears. The default setting is New York. 5. Use the omni selector ( save the setting. ) to select your time zone and press ( ) to To adjust for daylight saving time, select the time zone with the area. mark next to the Setting the Date and Time MENU ( 79) D/TIME SETUP DATE/TIME 6. Use the omni selector ( TIME] option and press ( The year is displayed in orange. ) to select the [DATE/ ). 7. Use the omni selector ( ) to select the year and push it to ( ) to move to the month setting. · The next part of the date/time is displayed in orange. · Set the month, day, hours and minutes in the same way. · If you do not need to change all settings, you can use the omni selector ( move to a specific setting you want to change. ) to 8. Press the MENU button to close the menu and start the clock. 28 When you do not use the camcorder for about 3 months, the built-in rechargeable lithium battery may become discharged, and the date/time setting may be erased. In such case, recharge the built-in lithium battery ( 134) and set the time zone, date and time again. You can also change the date format ( 84). E Time Zones Once you have set the time zone, date and time, you do not need to reset the clock every time you travel to another time zone. Select the time zone referring to the date and time displayed on the screen. Time Zones and Difference from GMT/UTC London Paris Cairo Moscow Dubai Karachi Dacca Bangkok Hong Kong (H. KONG) Tokyo Sydney Solomon GMT/UTC +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +10 +11 Wellington (WELLGTN) Samoa Honolulu (HONOLU.) Anchorage (ANCHOR.) Los Angeles (L.A.) Denver Chicago New York (N.Y.) Caracas Rio de Janeiro (RIO) Fernando de Noronha (FERNAN.) Azores +12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 Preparations 29 Step 7: Inserting a Memory Card Only miniSD cards can be used with this camcorder. Inserting the Card 1. Turn off the camcorder. Make sure the card access indicator is not flashing before you turn the camcorder off. 2. Open the cover. 3. Insert the memory card straight all the way into the memory card slot. 4. Close the cover. Do not force the cover closed if the memory card is not correctly inserted. To remove the memory card: First push the memory card once to release it, and then pull the card out. Card access indicator Make sure to initialize all memory cards before using them with this camcorder ( 97). Performance cannot be guaranteed for all miniSD cards. 30 Step 8: Loading a Disc Preparations: Use only 8 cm (3 in.) mini DVD discs marked with the DVD-R or DVD-RW logo. Use a soft lens-cleaning cloth to remove any fingerprints, dirt buildup or smudges from the disc surface. E 1. Holding the lock button pressed down, move the power switch to CAMERA. 2. Move the / switch to the (MOVIES) position. 3. Push the OPEN button and gently open the disc cover fully until it stops. · Retract the grip belt under the camcorder so it will not get in the way of the disc cover. · When there is already a disc in the camcorder it may take a moment after you press the OPEN button for the disc cover to open. Do not force the cover open. Preparations 4. Insert the disc with the label side facing out and press its center firmly until it clicks in place. · When loading a double-sided disc, insert the disc with the side you want to record on facing down. · Be careful not to touch the recording surface of the disc or the pick up lens. · To remove the disc, grab its edges with your fingers and gently pull the disc out. 5. Close the disc cover. Do not force the cover closed if the disc is not correctly inserted and firmly set in place. When using DVD-R discs (including the supplied blank disc): You can start recording movies once the record pause indication appears. 31 When using a DVD-RW: You need to initialize the disc before you can start recording. The Disc Initialization screen will appear when a DVD-RW is first inserted. It will not appear when inserting a disc already initialized. In that case, you can start recording once the record pause indication appears. Use the omni selector ( ) to select the disc specification desired and press ( ) to make the selection. For a comparison between the specifications "VIDEO" and "VR" see An Introduction to DVDs ( 5). You will be asked to confirm the disc specification you selected. Use the omni selector ( ) to select [YES] and press ( ) to continue, or select [NO] and press ( ) to return and select a different disc specification. A confirmation message will appear on the screen. Use the omni selector ( ) to select [YES] and press ( ) to start the disc initialization. The disc initialization will take approximately one minute. Avoid moving the camcorder while the operation is in progress. When the disc initialization is completed the camcorder will automatically enter the mode. You can start recording movies once the record pause indication appears. The Disc Initialization screen may not appear automatically if you operated the camcorder's buttons while the disc recognition was in progress. In that case, initialize the disc using the MENU option ( 91). The process of recognizing a disc may take a moment. The display will move while the disc is being read. Wait until the camcorder finishes recognizing the disc before you start recording. 32 Basic Functions Recording Movies Recording Before You Begin Recording Make a test recording first to check if the camcorder operates correctly. Since recordings made on a DVD-R cannot be deleted, we recommend you use a DVD-RW disc (commercially available) to make the test recordings. E 1. Holding the lock button pressed down, move the power switch to CAMERA. 2. Move the / switch to the (MOVIES) position. 3. Open the LCD panel and the lens cover (move the lens cover switch down to ). 4. Press the start/stop button to begin recording. · Press the start/stop button again to pause recording. · During the recording and immediately after pausing it, the disc access indicator may go on while the scene is being written on the disc. Basic Functions Recording When You Have Finished Recording: 1. 2. 3. 4. Remove the disc. Close the LCD panel and the lens cover (move the lens cover switch to Turn off the camcorder. Disconnect the power source. Do not turn off the camcorder, change the position of the / switch, disconnect the power source, open the memory card/disc cover or remove the memory card/disc while the card access or the disc access indicator is flashing. Doing so could result in data damage. ). The process of recognizing a disc may take a moment. The display will move while the disc is being read. Wait until the camcorder finishes recognizing the disc before you start recording. About the recording time: The recording mode is set by default as SP (standard play). By changing the recording mode you can change the recording time available on the disc ( 60). When recording in bright places it may be difficult to use the LCD screen. In such case, use the viewfinder instead. When recording in very loud places (such as fireworks shows or concerts), sound may become distorted or it may not be recorded at the actual levels. This is not a malfunction. 33 In order to save power when the camcorder is powered by a battery pack, the camcorder will automatically shut off if left without any operations for 5 minutes ( 84). Approximately 30 seconds before the camcorder shuts off, " AUTO POWER OFF" appears in the center of the screen. If the camcorder shuts off, move the power switch to OFF and then back to CAMERA or PLAY. About the LCD and viewfinder screen: 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 or green dots. This has no effect on the recorded image and does not constitute a malfunction. Reviewing the Last Scene Recorded In record pause mode: Press and release the (record review) button. · The camcorder plays back the last scene and returns to record pause mode. · While reviewing the scene, use the omni selector ( ) to select the icon and press ( ) to return to the recording mode. You can also delete the scene by selecting ( ) the icon ( 87). The last scene review is only available if you have not changed operating modes or turned off the camcorder after making the recording. 34 Recording Still Images Before using a memory card for the first time, be sure to initialize it with this camcorder ( 97). E 1. Holding the lock button pressed down, move the power switch to CAMERA. 2. Move the / switch to the (STILLS) position. 3. Open the LCD panel and the lens cover (move the lens cover switch down to ). 4. If necessary, change the media for recording the still images using the procedure described in the next page ( 36). · You can record still images on the memory card or the disc. The default media for still images is the memory card. · As long as you do not change the recording destination, still images will be recorded to the last selected media. Basic Functions Recording 5. Press the PHOTO button halfway. · Once the focus is automatically adjusted, the camcorder will beep, the mark will turn green and one or more green AF frames appear. · When you press the PHOTO button on the wireless controller, the still image is recorded immediately. 6. Press the PHOTO button fully. The mark and the AF frame(s) disappear and you hear a shutter sound. Do not turn off the camcorder, change the position of the / switch, disconnect the power source, open the memory card/disc cover or remove the memory card/disc while the card access or the disc access indicator is flashing. Doing so could result in data damage. About the focusing frame: This camcorder uses the 9-point artificial intelligence autofocus (9-point AiAF) that will automatically select the best focusing frames out of nine available, allowing you to focus on subjects even if they are not in the center of the picture ( 53). If the subject is not suitable for autofocus, turns yellow. Keep the PHOTO button pressed halfway and adjust the focus manually with the omni selector ( ). In step 5 above, the image may appear out of focus for a moment while the camcorder is focusing. 35 When the subject is too bright, "OVEREXP." starts flashing. In such case, use the optional FS-H27U ND filter. In order to save power when the camcorder is powered by a battery pack, the camcorder will automatically shut off if left without any operations for 5 minutes ( 84). " AUTO POWER OFF" appears 30 seconds before shutoff. To continue recording, turn the power switch to OFF and then back to CAMERA. Selecting the Media for the Still Images You can record still images on the memory card or the disc. The default media for still images is the memory card. 1. Set the camcorder to record or view still images ( or ). 2. Press the MENU button. Using the omni selector ( ) select the [SYSTEM SETUP] menu and press ( ). 3. Select ( ) the [MEDIA SEL. ] option and press ( ). 4. Change ( ) the setting to [DISC] or [CARD] and press ( ) to save the selection and close the menu. When recording, the operating mode symbol will change to (DISC STILLS) or (CARD STILLS), depending on the media selected. In playback mode, the operating mode symbol will change to (DISC STILLS) or (CARD STILLS), respectively. 36 Zooming The zoom is available when recording movies or stills. When recording movies ( ), in addition to the 10x optical zoom you can also use the 200x digital zoom ( 80). Zoom out E Zoom in 10x Optical Zoom Move the zoom lever toward W to zoom out (wideangle). Move it toward T to zoom in (telephoto). Press the zoom lever slightly for a slow zoom. Press harder for a faster zoom. Basic Functions Recording You can also use the T and W buttons on the wireless controller. However, in that case you cannot control the zoom speed. The zoom speed will be faster in record pause mode. Keep a distance of at least 1 m (3.3 ft.) to the subject. At wide-angle, you can focus on a subject as close as 1 cm (0.39 in.). 37 Tips for Better Recording Holding the Camcorder For maximum stability, hold the camcorder firmly with your right hand and keep your right elbow pressed against your body. If necessary, support the camcorder with your left hand. Be careful that your fingers do not touch the microphone or lens. For More Stability Lean against a wall Place the camcorder on a table Lie on your elbow Kneel on one knee Use a tripod Lighting When recording outdoors, we recommend recording with the sun at your back. When using a tripod, do not leave the viewfinder exposed to direct sunlight as it may melt (due to concentration of the light by the lens). Do not use tripods with fastening screws longer than 5.5 mm (0.2 inch). Doing so may damage the camcorder. The camcorder cannot be mounted on tripods with fixed (non-retractable) camera positioning pins. Camera positioning pin 38 Playing Back Movies Playback 1. Open the LCD panel. 2. Holding the lock button pressed down move the power switch to PLAY and slide the / switch to the (MOVIES) position. The scene index screen appears with the selection frame on the first scene. E 3. Use the omni selector ( , ) to move the selection frame to the scene you want to play back. Press the / button to begin the playback. · Playback of the scenes recorded on the disc will start from the scene selected. · When the end of the last movie recorded is reached, playback will stop and the camcorder will return to the scene index screen. · Press the + or - button on the camcorder or the NEXT/PREV. buttons on the wireless controller to move to the next or previous index page, respectively. During Playback: Basic Functions Playback 4. Press the 5. Press the screen. / button again to pause the playback. button to stop the playback and return to the scene index To use the viewfinder, close the LCD panel. About the screen display: During playback, the recording's time code will be displayed at the upper right corner of the screen in hours : minutes : seconds. You can also choose to display instead the date and time when the scene was recorded and additional recording data ( 45). Depending on the recording, you might occasionally notice a brief stop of the picture or sound at the point where the scene changes. 39 Special Playback Modes / (Playback Pause) on During normal playback, press the / button on the camcorder or the PAUSE the wireless controller during normal playback. Skipping Scenes During normal playback, push the omni selector ( ) to skip to the beginning of the next scene. Push ( ) to return to the beginning of the current scene. Push ( ) again to skip to the beginning of the previous scene. Fast Forward Playback / Fast Reverse Playback During playback, press the or button on the camcorder or the SEARCH or SEARCH button on the wireless controller. Repeatedly press the button to increase the playback speed. Fast forward playback will start at 1.5x the normal playback speed and will increase to 5x, 15x and 25x normal speed with each press of the button. Fast reverse playback will start at 2.5x the normal playback speed and will increase to 5x, 15x and 25x normal playback speed with each press of the button. Press the / button to return to normal playback. SLOW Slow Forward Playback / SLOW Slow Reverse Playback During playback pause, press the or button on the camcorder or the SLOW or SLOW button on the wireless controller. Repeatedly press the button to increase the playback speed. Playback will start at 1/16 the normal playback speed and will increase to 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 the normal speed with each press of the button. Press the / button to return to playback pause. Except for fast playback at 1.5x the normal speed, there is no sound during special playback modes. The picture may become distorted during some special playback modes. Slow playback is not available with discs recorded in VIDEO mode (DVD-R or DVD-RW). During the playback of a Photomovie scene, even though the display may change according to the fast forward/reverse playback, the actual playback speed will not change. 40 Viewing Still Images 1. Open the LCD panel. 2. Holding the lock button pressed down move the power switch to PLAY and slide the / switch to the (STILLS) position. 3. If necessary, change the media for the still images using the procedure described in the Recording Still Images section ( 36). · You can show the still images on the memory card or the disc. The default media for still images is the memory card. · As long as you do not change the media selection, the camcorder will show the still images recorded on the media that was selected last. E Basic Functions Playback 4. Use the omni selector ( ) to move between images. Slide Show ( 59) SLIDE SHOW 1. Press the FUNC. button. 2. Use the omni selector ( to make the selection. 3. Use the omni selector ( the slideshow. ) to select [ SLIDE SHOW] and press ( ) ) to select [START] and press ( ) to start · Images are played back one after another. · Press the button to stop the slide show. Index Screen 1. Move the zoom lever toward W. The stills index screen appears with the first six still images. 2. Use the omni selector ( , ) to select an image. · Move the " " to the image you wish to view. · You can switch between index pages by pressing the + or ­ button. 3. Move the zoom lever toward T. The index screen closes and the selected image is displayed. 41 Image Jump Function You can also quickly locate a specific image without having to browse all of them one by one. The number in the upper right of the screen indicates the number of the current image out of the total number of images. Push the omni selector ( ) and keep it pressed down. Image numbers will quickly run in sequence. When you release the omni selector the image corresponding to the number selected will be displayed. The following may not be displayed correctly: Images not recorded with this camcorder, images edited on or uploaded from a computer (except for the sample images for the Card Mix function), and images whose file names have been changed. Do not turn off the camcorder, change the position of the / switch, disconnect the power source, open the memory card/disc cover or remove the memory card/disc while the card access or the disc access indicator is flashing. Doing so could result in data damage. 42 Adjusting the Volume While playing a movie ( ): If you use the LCD screen for playback the camcorder will play the sound using the built-in speaker. If you close the LCD panel the sound will be muted. E MENU button Speaker Omni Selector From the scene index screen or during playback: 1. Press the MENU button. 2. Use the omni selector ( ) to select the [SYSTEM SETUP] menu and press ( ). 3. Use the omni selector ( ) to select the [VOLUME] option and press ( ). 4. Adjust ( ) the volume as desired and press ( ). The menu symbol will show the volume level selected. When you turn off the volume completely will appear instead. Basic Functions Playback 5. Press the MENU button to save the setting and close the menu. 43 Magnifying the Image While viewing a still image ( times. ), the playback image can be magnified up to 5 Zoom lever Omni Selector 1. Move the zoom lever toward T. · The image is magnified by 2 times and a frame appears indicating the position of the magnified area. · To further enlarge the image, move the zoom lever toward T. To reduce the magnification to less than 2x, move the zoom lever toward W. · will appear for images that cannot be enlarged. 2. Select the part of the image to be magnified with the omni selector. · Use the omni selector ( , ) to move the frame to the part of the image you want to see enlarged. · To cancel the magnification, move the zoom lever toward W until the frame disappears. 44 Displaying Additional Recording Data The camcorder keeps a data code containing the recording date and time and other camera data such as shutter speed and exposure (f-stop). You can select the data to be displayed when playing back a movie ( ) or viewing a still image ( ). MENU button DISPLAY button E Omni Selector Selecting the Date/Time Display Combination MENU ( 79) DISPLAY SETUP DATA CODE Basic Functions Playback 1. Press the MENU button. 2. Use the omni selector ( press ( ). 3. Use the omni selector ( press ( ). 4. Use the omni selector ( press ( ) to select it. In both. ) to select the [DISPLAY SETUP] menu and ) to select the [DATA CODE] option and ) to select the data combination desired and mode you can only choose to display the recording date, the time or 5. Press the MENU button to save the setting and close the menu. 6. While playing back a movie or viewing a still image, press the DISPLAY button to turn on the data code display. Repeatedly pressing the DISPLAY button will turn the on-screen displays on and off in the following sequence: on-screen displays on data code display on on-screen displays off 45 Using the Recording Programs Advanced Features Recording Programs Auto The camcorder adjusts focus, exposure and other settings automatically, allowing you to just point and shoot. Program AE ( 48) Shutter-Priority AE ( 49) Aperture-Priority AE ( 50) Portrait The camcorder uses a large aperture, achieving a focus on the subject while blurring other distracting details. Snow Use this mode to record in bright ski resorts. It prevents the subject from being underexposed. Spotlight Use this mode to record spotlit scenes. Sports Use this mode to record sports scenes such as tennis or golf. Beach