Loading a Cassette

OPEN/EJECT
SH
PU E

Only use videocassettes marked with D

the logo.*
Loading and unloading
1. Make sure that you have attached a power source.
2. Slide the OPEN / EJECT 5 switch (on the bottom of the
camcorder) to release the cassette compartment cover.
• Pull the cover fully open (while holding the button) and wait a couple of

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seconds for the cassette compartment to open automatically.
• The confirmation beep sounds when the cassette cover fully opens.
3. Load or unload the cassette.
• Insert the cassette gently with the window facing the grip belt, and the
REC/SAVE tab up.
• Remove the cassette by pulling it straight out.
4. Press the P mark on the compartment until it clicks, and wait
for it to close.
5. Click the cover back into place.
*D is a trade mark.

Notes:
• Do not interfere with the cassette compartment while it is opening or closing
automatically, and do not attempt to close the cover until the cassette
compartment has fully retracted.
• After loading a cassette, use record search ( 38) to find the point where you
want to start recording.
• Be careful not to get your fingers caught in the cassette compartment cover.
• Do not leave the cassette in the camcorder after use — return it to its case and
store it in a cool, clean, dry place.
• When you turn the camcorder’s power on, v flashes in the display until you
load a cassette.
• With some types of tapes, the remaining tape display may not give an accurate
reading ( 109).
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 Protecting tapes from accidental erasure
E

REC
SAVE

REC
SAVE

To protect your recording from accidental erasure, slide the tab on the cassette so
that it exposes the hole. (This switch position is usually labeled SAVE or ERASE
OFF.)
If you load this cassette and put the camcorder in record pause mode ( 19),
“THE TAPE IS SET FOR ERASURE PREVENTION” is displayed for approx. 4
seconds and then the v mark flashes in the display.
If you want to record on the cassette again, slide the tab back so the hole is closed.

Handling cassettes
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• To protect the tape heads, transfer cassettes directly from the tape case to the
camcorder — do not open the tape protect cover or touch the tape itself.
• Do not use cassettes where the tape has been damaged or spliced — they may
damage the camcorder.
• Do not insert anything into the small holes on the cassette or cover them with
cellophane tape.
• Handle cassettes with care — dropping them or exposing them to external
shocks may cause internal damage.
• Store cassettes in the provided case, first rewinding them to the start of the tape
and then storing them upright.
• A cassette with metal plated terminals may become dirty with use, affecting
information transfer. Therefore, after using a tape about 10 times, be sure to
clean the terminals with a cotton swab.

Cassette memory
You are unable to use the cassette memory function with this camcorder.

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 Basic Recording

3 E
1 POWER

CAMERA
OFF
P PLAY(VCR)

4, 5 POWER

CAMERA
OFF
PLAY(VCR)

Before you start recording

Have you completed the following steps?
• Attached a power source ( 12).
• Removed the lens cap ( 92).
• Fasten the grip belt ( 92).

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• Chosen the display: viewfinder ( 92) or LCD screen ( 26).
Notes:
• When you’re using the viewfinder, fully close the LCD or rotate the LCD so
that it faces the same direction as the lens ( 26).
• When using the viewfinder with the BP-522 or BP-535 Battery Pack (both
optional) attached, extend the viewfinder and rotate it to a comfortable angle.
You may also want to install the backup battery ( 96) in order to set the date
and time display ( 46).

To record
1. Press the small button on the POWER switch and hold, turn the
POWER switch to CAMERA.
• The camcorder automatically sets to record pause mode. PAUSE appears in
the display.
• If you haven’t set the date and time display, SET THE TIME ZONE, DATE
AND TIME appears in the display. For setting the time zone, see p. 46. For
setting the date and time, see p. 48.
• The camcorder power indicator lights up.
• The confirmation beep sounds.
• The camcorder will turn itself off if you leave it in record pause mode for
more than about 5 minutes. To return to record pause mode, turn the
POWER switch to OFF and then back to CAMERA.

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 2. Load a cassette ( 17).
E 3. Slide the program selector to [ .
• This selects the camcorder’s Easy Recording program. It allows you to
simply point and shoot without making any manual adjustments ( 54).
4. Press and release the start/stop button once to begin recording.
• For still image recording to a cassette, see p. 49.
5. Press and release the start/stop button again to pause recording.
• The camcorder returns to record pause mode and PAUSE reappears in the
display.
• You can stop and restart recording as often as you like by pressing the
start/stop button.

Note:
• After loading a cassette, start recording when the tape counter has stopped.

When you have finished recording

• Replace the lens cap.
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• Return the viewfinder to its retracted position.

• Return the LCD screen flush to the camcorder body.
• Unload the cassette.
• Turn the POWER switch to OFF.
• Disconnect the power source.

Notes:
• To check that the camcorder is recording correctly, make a test recording first.
• Before making important recordings, clean the video heads using a Canon
DVM-CL Digital Video Head Cleaning Cassette or a commercially available
digital video head cleaning cassette.
• To close the LCD panel, rotate it vertically until the screen faces you, then press
the upper right corner until it clicks securely closed.
• You cannot monitor the sound from the speaker when recording.
• For tips on how to make better videos, see p. 36.
• For extra recording time, set REC MODE to LP ( 21).

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 Changing the recording mode
E
You can record and play back a tape in SP (standard play) and LP (long play)
modes. LP extends tape usage by 1.5 times.
You can’t add sound (audio dubbing) or images (AV insert) to a tape that has
been recorded in a mode other than SP mode. If you plan to use either of these
functions later, record in SP mode.

CAMERA
, PLAY
(VCR)

VCR SET UP REC MODE••••SP

( 39)

To change to LP mode, open the menu and select VCR SET UP. Then
select REC MODE, set it to LP and close the menu.

Notes:
• When recording and playing back tapes in LP mode, the nature of the tape and

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usage conditions may affect recording, mosaic-like noise may appear in the
image and the sound may be distorted during playback.
For important recordings, therefore, set the camcorder to SP mode.
• We recommend recording in SP mode when you plan to transfer images taken
with the camcorder to your PC.
• If you record in both modes on the same tape, the picture may become distorted
during playback and the time code may not be written correctly.
• A tape recorded in LP mode on other digital equipment may produce the
mosaic-like noise and the sound may become distorted when playing back on
this camcorder.
• A tape recorded in LP mode on this camcorder may produce the mosaic-like
noise and the sound may become distorted when playing back on other digital
equipment.

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 16:9 (Wide screen TV recording)
E
Produces images in the 16:9 format for
playback on wide screen TVs.

CAMERA

CAM.SET UP 16:9••••••••OFF
( 39)

To switch 16:9 to ON, open the menu and select CAM.SET UP. Then
select 16:9, set it to ON and close the menu.

Notes:
• “16:9” is shown in the display when you switch the 16:9 mode on.
• You cannot use the 16:9 mode with the Easy Recording program.
• If you play back a recording made for 16:9 on a normal TV screen, the image
will appear to be vertically “squashed” (compressed).
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• If you connect the camcorder to a TV with an S1 terminal or the Video ID-1

system, recordings made in the 16:9 mode for wide screen TVs will
automatically play back in wide screen mode on the TV screen.

Confirmation/Warning beeps
The camcorder’s short operation confirmation beeps are indicated` inby
the
illustrations. Beeps sound upon certain camcorder operations such as when you
turn the camcorder on, during the self-timer countdown, right before the
camcorder’s automatic shut-off, and also upon any unusual condition of the
camcorder. Beeps are not recorded on the tape.

CAMERA
, PLAY
(VCR)

SYSTEM BEEP••••••••ON
( 39)

To turn the beep off, open the menu and select SYSTEM. Then select
BEEP, set it to OFF and close the menu.

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 Demonstration mode
E
You can see a demonstration of the camcorder’s main features. To see the
demonstration, do either of the following:
• With no cassette inserted, turn the DEMO MODE on in the CAMERA menu
and close the menu.
• Leave the camcorder with no cassette inserted for five minutes after turning it
on.

CAMERA

DISP.SET UP DEMO MODE••••ON

( 39)

To turn the demonstration mode off, open the menu and select DISP.
SET UP. Then select DEMO MODE, set it to OFF and close the menu.
Note:
• To cancel the demo mode once it has begun: push any button, turn off the

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power or load a cassette.

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 Zooming
Zoom in
E
Zoom out

18× optical zoom

The camcorder’s zoom lens allows you to choose the best picture angle for each
scene:
• Move the zoom control towards W to zoom out to wide-angle.
• Move it towards T to zoom in to telephoto.
You can also control the speed of zooming:
• Move the control slightly to zoom slowly.
• Move it farther to zoom more quickly. (The farther you move the zoom control,
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the faster the zoom speed.)

The T and W buttons on the wireless controller adjust the picture angle, but not
the zoom speed.

72×/360× digital zoom

Magnifies the camcorder’s zoom range by up to × in
20CAMERA mode.
The zoom control continues to work as usual. You can freely zoom in and out
between 1
× and 360× magnification — the camcorder automatically switches
between optical zooming (up to ×)
18and digital zooming (18
× to 72× or 18×to
360×).

CAMERA

CAM.SET UP D.ZOOM•••••• 72 ×
( 39)

To change the digital zoom, open the menu and select CAM.SET UP.
Then select D.ZOOM, set it to OFF or 360× and close the menu.

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 Notes:
• When zooming, as a rule, keep at least 33/8ftin3 (1 m) between you and your E
subject. However when the zoom is at the wide-angle position, you can focus
on a subject as close 3as
/8 in (1 cm).
• Image resolution is slightly lower when the magnification is greater than
×. 18
• You cannot use digital zoom in the Night recording program.
• The zoom indicator appears for 4 seconds. When the digital zoom is set ×, to 72
the zoom indicator extends (light blue). When the digital zoom is set to
× 360
zoom, the zoom indicator extends again (a darker blue).

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 Using the LCD Screen
Opening and closing the LCD screen
E
Slide the LCD panel OPEN button and
open the panel by pulling it away from
the camcorder. This automatically
switches the LCD screen on and the
viewfinder off. To close the LCD
panel, press the upper right corner until
it clicks securely closed. When you
close the LCD panel, the LCD screen
automatically switches off and the
viewfinder switches back on.
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Changing the angle of the LCD screen

You can choose the angle of the screen
that suits you best by opening and
rotating the screen, also you can rotate 180°

the LCD screen so that faces in the

direction of the lens ( 28).

90°

90°

You can also push the panel flat

against the camcorder until it is flush
with the side, with the screen facing
outwards.

Notes:
• Avoid touching the LCD screen when moving the LCD panel.
• Do not hold the camcorder by the LCD panel or the viewfinder.
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