PUB. DIE-295 Digital Video Camcorder Instruction Manual PAL Cleaning the Video Heads Introduction Digital video camcorders record video signals onto the tape in very thin lines (as thin as 1/8 the width of a hair). The following anomalies may appear if the video heads become dirty even a little. · Mosaic or other blocky video artifacts (Fig. 1) or banding (Fig. 2) appear on the picture during playback. · Sound becomes distorted, or there is no sound during playback. · The message "HEADS DIRTY, USE CLEANING CASSETTE" appears. If such symptoms appear, clean the video heads with the Canon DVM-CL Digital Video Head Cleaning Cassette* or a commercially available dry cleaning cassette. If the symptoms reappear shortly after the cleaning, the videocassette may be defective. Stop using it. * Availability differs from area to area. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Video heads may become dirty under the following conditions: · When using the camcorder in humid or hot places. · When using cassettes with damaged or dirty tapes. · When using the camcorder in dusty places. · When using the video heads for a long time without cleaning them. NOTES · Before you make important recordings, clean the video heads and make a test recording first. We also recommend cleaning the video heads after use, before storing the camcorder. · Do not use wet type cleaning cassettes as this may damage the camcorder. · Even after cleaning the video heads you may not be able to play back correctly tapes that were recorded with dirty video heads. 2 Important Usage Instructions WARNING! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. WARNING! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK AND TO REDUCE ANNOYING INTERFERENCE, USE THE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES ONLY. CAUTION: DISCONNECT THE MAINS PLUG FROM THE SUPPLY SOCKET WHEN NOT IN USE. The Mains plug is used as the disconnect device. The Mains plug shall remain readily operable to disconnect the plug in case of an accident. While using the compact power adapter, do not wrap it or cover it with a piece of cloth, and do not place it in confined narrow spaces. Heat may build up, the plastic case may deform and it could result in electric shock or fire. CA-590E identification plate is located on the bottom. Using any device other than the Compact Power Adapter CA-590E may damage the camcorder. European Union (and EEA) only. This symbol indicates that this product is not to be disposed of with your household waste, according to the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC) and your national law. This product should be handed over to a designated collection point, e.g., on an authorized one-for-one basis when you buy a new similar product or to an authorized collection site for recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Improper handling of this type of waste could have a possible negative impact on the environment and human health due to potentially hazardous substances that are generally associated with EEE. At the same time, your cooperation in the correct disposal of this product will contribute to the effective usage of natural resources. For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, waste authority, approved WEEE scheme or your household waste disposal service. For more information regarding return and recycling of WEEE products, please visit www.canon-europe.com/environment. (EEA: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) 3 Table of contents Introduction ______________________________ 8 About this Manual 9 9 10 13 Getting to Know the Camcorder Supplied Accessories Components Guide Screen Displays Preparations _____________________________ 15 15 17 17 Getting Started Charging the Battery Pack Installing the Backup Battery Preparing the Wireless Controller ( and Accessories only) 19 19 19 20 Basic Operation of the Camcorder Operating Modes Joystick and Joystick Guide Using the Menus 22 22 22 23 First Time Settings Changing the Language Changing the Time Zone Setting the Date and Time 23 23 25 Getting Ready to Start Recording Opening the Lens Cover and Adjusting the LCD Screen Inserting and Removing a Tape 4 Table of contents Video ____________________________________ 26 26 28 30 31 Basic Recording Shooting Video Zooming: Optical, Advanced and Digital Zoom Quick Start Function Reviewing the Last Scene Recorded 31 31 33 33 34 34 Basic Playback Playing Back Video Returning to a Pre-marked Position Locating the Beginning of a Recording Date Locating the End of the Last Scene On-Screen Displays (Data Code) 35 35 37 38 38 39 40 41 42 42 43 44 Advanced Function : Special Scene Recording Programs Flexible Recording: Changing the Shutter Speed LCD Video Light Self Timer Audio Recording Mode Audio Playback Modes Manual Focus Adjustment Manual Exposure Adjustment White Balance Image Effects Digital Effects 5 External Connections _______________________ 46 47 48 48 49 Connecting to a TV or VCR Connection Diagrams Playback on a TV Screen Copying your Recordings to an External Video Recorder Audio Dubbing 51 51 52 Connecting to a Computer PC Connection Diagram Transferring Video Recordings 6 Table of contents Additional Information ______________________ 53 53 54 54 55 55 56 57 58 Appendix: Menu Options Lists FUNC. Menu Setup Menus Camera Setup (Advanced Zoom, Image Stabilizer, etc.) VCR Setup (Recording Mode, TV Type, etc.) Audio Setup (Audio Mode, Wind Screen, etc.) Display Setup (LCD Brightness, Language, etc.) System Setup (Beep, Power Save, etc.) Date/Time Setup 59 59 61 Trouble? Troubleshooting List of Messages 63 63 65 67 Do's and Don'ts Handling Precautions Maintenance/Others Using the Camcorder Abroad 68 68 69 72 75 General Information System Diagram Optional Accessories Specifications Index 7 Introduction About this Manual Thank you for purchasing the Canon MD235/MD216/MD215/MD205. 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 ( 59). Conventions Used in this Manual · · · · · · · IMPORTANT: Precautions related to the camcorder's operation. NOTES: Additional topics that complement the basic operating procedures. POINTS TO CHECK: Restrictions or requirements regarding the function described. : Reference page number. : Text that applies only to the model(s) shown in the icon. "Screen" refers to the LCD and the viewfinder screen. The photos included in the manual are simulated pictures taken with a still camera. Note that unless indicated otherwise, illustrations in this manual refer to the model. Setting the Date and Time Buttons and switches to be operated FUNC. ( 30) Brackets [ ] and capital letters are used to refer to menu options as they are displayed on screen. In tables in this manual the default value is shown in boldface. For example [ON], [OFF]. 1 Open the date and time setup screen. FUNC. [ MENU] [ DATE/TIME SETUP] [DATE/TIME] Blinking arrows will be displayed around the first field of the date. 2 Change each field of the date and time with the joystick ( ) and move ( ) to the next field. Names of buttons and switches other than the joystick are indicated within a "button" frame. For example FUNC. . 3 Press ( ) to start the clock. 4 Press FUNC. to close the menu. NOTES You can also change the date format ( 93). 8 Getting to Know the Camcorder Supplied Accessories CA-590E Compact Power Adapter (incl. power cord) BP-2L5 Battery Pack Lithium Button Battery (CR1616) ( STV-250N Stereo Video Cable incl. ferrite core) WL-D85 Wireless Controller Lithium Button Battery (CR2025) for Wireless Controller 9 Introduction Components Guide Lens cover switch ( 26) ( open, closed) DV terminal ( 47, 51) MIC (microphone) terminal ( AV terminal ( 47) CHARGE indicator ( 15) Speaker Mode switch ( 27) Easy recording Recording programs Grip belt ( 18) Strap mount ( 71) Lock button switch ( 19) Stereo microphone 39) Left side view Right side view Names of buttons and switches other than the joystick are indicated within a "button" frame (for example FUNC. ). Front view 10 Back view Top view Joystick ( 19) FUNC. button ( 20, 53) D.EFFECTS button ( 44) Remote sensor ( 18) Viewfinder ( 28) Dioptric adjustment lever ( 28) QUICK START button ( 30) Start/Stop button ( 26) DC IN terminal ( 15) Backup battery compartment ( 17) Serial number/ Battery attachment unit ( 15) LCD screen ( 23) Cassette compartment ( 25) Cassette compartment cover ( 25) Zoom lever ( 28) OPEN/EJECT switch ( 25) Tripod socket ( 18) BATT. (battery release) switch ( 15) Names of buttons and switches other than the joystick are indicated within a "button" frame (for example FUNC. ). Bottom view 11 Introduction Wireless Controller WL-D85 START/ STOP PHOTO ZOOM CARD DATE SEARCH REW PLAY FF STOP PAUSE SLOW ZERO SET AUDIO DUB. MEMORY TV SCREEN WIRELESS CONTROLLER WL-D85 START/STOP button ( 26) CARD ­/+ buttons* DATE SEARCH / buttons ( REW button ( 31) button ( 31) PAUSE button ( 31) SLOW button ( 31) AUDIO DUB. button ( 49) ZERO SET MEMORY button ( 33) PHOTO button* Zoom buttons ( 28) PLAY button ( 31) FF button ( 31) STOP button ( 31) button ( 31) button ( 31) TV SCREEN button ( 57) * 33) Still images cannot be recorded or played back using this model. Please disregard these buttons. 12 Screen Displays Recording Movies Zoom ( 28), Exposure ( Recording program ( 35) White balance ( 42) Image effect ( 43) LCD video light ( 38) Digital effects ( 44) Condensation warning ( 66) Shutter speed ( 37) Self timer ( 38) Exposure adjustment ( 42) Manual focus ( 41) Image stabilizer ( 54) Recording mode ( 55) Tape operation ( 14) Time code (hours : minutes : seconds) Remaining tape ( 14) Remaining battery charge ( 14) Wind screen off ( 56) Audio recording mode ( 39) Remote sensor off ( 57) Backup battery warning ( 17) Level marker ( 57) Recording reminder ( 14) Operating mode ( 19) Audio playback mode ( 40) Speaker volume ( 32) Search function display END SEARCH ( 34)/ DATE SEARCH ( 33) Playback time (hours : minutes : seconds : frames) Joystick guide ( 19) Data code ( 34) 42) Playing Movies 13 Introduction Tape operation Remaining battery charge Note that some playback and search modes are only available when using the wireless controller (not included with all models). Record, Record pause, Stop, Eject, Fast forward, Rewind, Playback, Playback pause, Reverse playback pause, x1 Playback (normal speed), x1 Reverse playback (normal speed), x2 Playback (double speed), x2 Reverse playback (double speed), Fast forward playback, Rewind playback, Slow playback, Slow reverse playback, Frame advance, Frame reverse, / Date search ( 33), / Zero set memory ( 33) Remaining tape · 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 the icon. · Depending on the conditions under which the camcorder and the battery pack are used, the actual battery charge may not be indicated accurately. Recording reminder The camcorder counts from 1 to 10 seconds when you start recording. This is helpful to avoid scenes that are too short. Indicates the remaining time of the tape in minutes. moves during recording. When the tape reaches its end, the display changes to " END". · When the time left is less than 15 seconds, the remaining tape time may not appear. · Depending on the type of tape, the remaining time displayed may not be correct. In any case, you will be able to record on the tape the number of minutes that appears on the cassette's label (for example, 85 minutes). 14 Preparations This chapter describes basic operations, such as navigating the menus, and first time settings to help you learn more about your camcorder. Getting Started Getting Started 1 Turn off the camcorder. 2 Attach the battery pack to the camcorder. Press the battery pack lightly and slide it up until it clicks. CHARGE indicator Charging the Battery Pack The camcorder can be powered with a battery pack or directly using the compact power adapter. Charge the battery pack before use. For approximate charging times and recording/playback times with a full battery pack, refer to the tables on page 70. Remove the battery terminal cover before attaching the battery DC IN terminal 3 Connect the power cord to the compact power adapter. 4 Plug the power cord into a power outlet. 5 Connect the compact power adapter to the camcorder's DC IN terminal. · The CHARGE indicator starts flashing. The indicator will stay on when the charging is completed. BATT. switch 15 Preparations · You can also use the compact power adapter without attaching a battery pack ...