Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Digital Field Guide

Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Digital Field Guide ®

™

Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Digital Field Guide ®

Lonzell Watson

™

Canon® VIXIA™ HD Camcorder Digital Field Guide Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46256 www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada ISBN: 978-0-470-39236-2 Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEB SITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEB SITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEB SITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ. For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at (877) 762-2974, outside the U.S. at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Library of Congress Control Number: 2009924154 Trademarks: Wiley and the Wiley Publishing logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries, and may not be used without written permission. Canon and VIXIA are trademarks or registered trademarks of Canon, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

About the Author Lonzell Watson is an Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Professional and Certified Avid Xpress Pro user. He is the author of Final Cut Pro 6 for Digital Video Editors Only (Wiley Publishing, 2008) and Final Cut Express 4 Essential Training (Lynda.com). Lonzell began his career as a videographer and digital video specialist for the Web. He used this experience to become a writer, director, and producer. His work includes national commercials and television programs for PBS, Fox Sports, the Outdoor Channel, and C-SPAN; and video editing for pop superstar Mariah Carey. As well as being an experienced adventure race, wildlife, and news videographer, Lonzell’s talents have also served him well as a syndicated writer with hundreds of published tutorials and tips that relate to film and video production. He now writes for Studio Monthly, and his syndicated content is read by thousands of unique visitors each month.

Credits Acquisitions Editor Courtney Allen

Vice President and Executive Publisher Barry Pruett

Project Editor Jama Carter

Senior Project Coordinator Kristie Rees

Technical Editor Michael Guncheon

Graphics and Production Specialists Ana Carrillo Jennifer Mayberry Christin Swinford

Copy Editor Lauren Kennedy Editorial Director Robyn B. Siesky Editorial Manager Cricket Krengel Business Manager Amy Knies Senior Marketing Manager Sandy Smith Vice President and Executive Group Publisher Richard Swadley

Quality Control Technician John Greenough Proofreading Leeann Harney Indexing Broccoli Information Management

For Robyn…my Northern star, and for Terry Carrier and Robert C. Ready, Sr., who are gone, but will never be forgotten.

Acknowledgments

S

pecial thanks to Courtney Allen, without whom this project would not have been possible, and thanks to editor Jama Carter whose demand for excellence has made this a solid book of which I am very proud. I would also like to thank Wendy PerlmanKlonsky and Mitchell Glick of Canon for the many resources they supplied for this book, Suzanne Harris of Bogen Imaging Inc., Photoflex, and Marta Guisti of Sennheiser for their contributions to this book. Special thanks go to Laura Clor, Shannon Johnson, Lisa Waters, Danya and Sean Platt, and Element, LLC, for their assistance as I wrote this book. Last, but definitely not least, I’d like to thank Michael Guncheon, an outstanding photographer, for his work as technical editor on this book.

Contents at a Glance Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xix Quick Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Part I: Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Chapter 1: Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Chapter 2: Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Chapter 3: Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Part II: Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Chapter 4: The Fundamentals of Videography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Chapter 5: The Impact of Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Chapter 6: Using Light to Create Great Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Chapter 7: Choosing Accessories for Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder . . . . . . . . . . 189 Chapter 8: Making External Connections and Transferring Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

Part III: Appendixes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Appendix A: Online Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

Contents Acknowledgments Introduction

Part I: Using Your Canon xix VIXIA HD Camcorder 13 ix

Chapter 1: Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders 15

Quick Tour 1

Getting Your Camera Ready Setting the date and time Choosing image quality Setting recording programs Using Headphones Recording Video Reviewing Video Scenes Deleting a Scene Taking a Still Photo Reviewing Still Photos Erasing Photos Outputting Images Connecting to a computer Printing still photos Using a card reader

1 3 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12

Recording Quality and Times About the Technology Operating Modes VIXIA AVCHD Camcorders VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100 Left side features Back features Top features Right side features Front features VIXIA HG10, HG20, and HG21 Left side features Right side features Back features Front features Top features VIXIA HR10 Left side features Right side features Front features Back features Top features

16 18 21 22 22 23 26 28 29 30 31 31 36 36 38 39 41 41 44 44 46 47

VIXIA HV20 and HV30 HDV Camcorders Left side features Right side features Front features Back features Top Features

48 48 51 53 54 55

Chapter 2: Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 59

Joystick/Function Guide Function Menu Recording modes Recording programs Light metering mode White balance Image effects Digital effects Drive mode Recording mode Still image simultaneous recording Still image size/quality Playback modes Copy Add To Playlist Move Divide Delete Select Date/Scene Search Slide show Protect Print order Transfer Order

60 62 62 62 63 63 64 64 64 64 65 65 66 66 66 67 67 67 67 68 68 69 69

Setup Menus VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100 Camera Setup Memory Oper. Display Setup System Setup Date/Time Setup VIXIA HG20 and HG21 Camera Setup 1 Camera Setup 2 Playback Setup System Setup 1 System Setup 2 Date/Time Setup Information screens VIXIA HV20 and HV30 Camera Setup Rec/In Setup Card Operations Play/Out Setup1 Play/Out Setup2 Display Setup System Setup Date/Time Setup VIXIA HG10 Camera Setup HDD Operations Still Img Oper. Display Setup System Setup Date/Time Setup VIXIA HR10 Camera Setup Disc Operations Still Img Oper. Display Setup System Setup Date/Time Setup

69 70 70 73 74 76 78 79 79 81 82 84 85 87 87 88 88 90 92 93 94 94 97 97 98 98 100 101 101 102 104 105 105 108 109 109 110 112

Chapter 3: Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 113

Selecting Recording Media Selecting Video Quality VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, and HR10 VIXIA HV20 and HV30 24p Progressive, Cinema Mode, and 30p Progressive Focus Assist Options Special Scene Recording Programs Manual Shutter Speed and Aperture Exposure Settings Manual exposure Automatic backlight correction White Balance White balance presets Custom white balance Image Effects Setting Zoom Speed Audio Recording Level Managing Video Scenes Creating a playlist Rearranging scenes in the playlist Deleting scenes from the playlist Photo Features Flash options Photo size and quality Light metering

113 114

114 114 115 116

Focus priority Continuous shooting Capturing still images and video simultaneously Capturing photos from video The Self Timer Playing Back Still Images Still image jump and Photo jump function Magnifying images during playback Protecting your photos Initializing Internal Drives and Memory

127 128 129 130 131 131 131 132 132 133

Part II: Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 135 Chapter 4: The Fundamentals of Videography 137

117 118 118 119 119 120 120 120 121 122 123 123 123 124 125 125 125 126 126

Prepare for the Shoot Know your surroundings Use talent/property release forms What Is the Story? Composition The rule of thirds Talking heads The importance of shot variety Shot selection Change the perspective Tilts, pans, and zooms The moving subject

138 138 139 140 142 142 144 145 145 146 147 148

Shoot for the Edit Image Look and Feel Depth of field Depth of field factors 35mm lens adapters Watch your exposure and color Pay Attention to the Audio Shooting for the Web

149 151 152 153 154 155 156 156

Chapter 5: The Impact of Sound 159

Performing manual exposure adjustments Using backlight correction Adjusting White Balance for Color Accuracy Shooting in Sunlight Redirecting sunlight Diffusing sunlight Shooting in Low Light Shooting Indoors Using lights Three-point lighting Basics of Shooting Chroma Key

173 174 175 178 179 180 180 183 183 184 186

Chapter 7: Choosing Accessories for Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 189

Monitoring Sound Audio Levels External Microphone Connections Lavaliere and lapel microphones Hand-held microphones Camera-mounted microphones

159 161 162 163 164 165

Chapter 6: Using Light to Create Great Video 167

Light Quality and Quantity Getting the Right Exposure Using special scene recording programs Adjusting shutter speed and aperture

167 169 170 171

Tripods Lens Converters Wide-angle lens converters Telephoto lens converters Lens filters External Microphones Camera-mounted microphones Hand-held microphones Lavaliere and lapel microphones Camera-Mounted Lights Camcorder Stabilizing Systems Batteries and AC Adapters Camcorder Bags

189 191 191 192 194 196 196 197 197 197 198 199 199

Chapter 8: Making External Connections and Transferring Images 201

Viewing Your Footage on a Television Changing the TV type Making external connections Playing it back on a TV Printing Images Using Direct Print Changing print settings Transferring Video Footage Connecting to a computer Transferring and editing video Apple iMovie ’09 for video editing Pixela ImageMixer 3SE for video editing Downloading and Managing Still Images Analog-to-Digital Conversions with the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 Creating DVDs with the DW-100 DVD Burner Preparing the camcorder for burning a DVD Playing back AVCHD discs

202 202 202 205 205 205 206 207 208

Part III: Appendixes 225 Appendix A: Online Resources 227

Glossary 231

208 208 215 219 220 219 222 223

Index 239

Introduction

T

he first video footage that I ever shot was with an expensive, bulky, shoulder-mounted camera that accepted VHS tapes. The picture quality was mediocre at best, there were few accessories available to improve the functionality of the camera, and there was no mistaking the footage for that acquired by its professional — and more expensive — counterparts. Today, digital camcorders are a mere fraction of the size of early camcorders and are capable of producing superior images that blur the lines between consumer-, prosumer-, and professional-level equipment. Many videographers who purchased some of the hottest selling prosumer, standarddefinition video cameras only three years ago are replacing them with less expensive consumer, high-definition camcorders that boast higher resolutions and some of the same cinema features for which they previously paid upward of five thousand dollars. Many of the camcorders featured in the Canon VIXIA line give you the added flexibility of shooting in high definition as well as standard definition, plus the ability to use flash memory, an internal hard drive, and DVDs or miniDV tapes for acquisition. This enables you to purchase the camera that best suits your personal needs. There are also whole lists of accessories to further help you optimize your high-definition camcorder, such as telephoto and wide angle lenses, microphones, camera lights, and a wide array of filters for that specialized look. There is no doubt that advancements in personal computing technology have further aided the digital video camera. Faster hard drives allow for higher resolution video in video editing programs. High-end computer graphics cards have paved the way for more robust motion graphics programs, thereby giving you the ability to seamlessly merge other digital elements, including music, digital still photography, and graphics from third-party software. These advancements have pushed video production quality to a whole new level. You don’t need to be part of a Hollywood production company to produce amazing video nor do you need a distributor to have your work viewed by a large audience. YouTube and MySpace have proved to be powerful vehicles in the digital video revolution, allowing the casual shooter and seasoned pro alike to display his or her videos twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for the entire world to see. Competition between manufacturers has pushed camcorder technology into overdrive as companies race to win your business by producing higher quality images, increased ease of usability, and more features for less money. Not only is your Canon VIXIA high-definition camcorder capable of taking high-quality video images, but it can also take high-quality still images using the same Canon optics found in Canon world-renowned still camera systems. In fact, your Canon high-definition camcorder is not just a regular point-and-shoot camera; it is an advanced computer imaging system that, once mastered, can yield results that further blur the line between the professional studio and the producer who uses his or her living room as a base of operation.

xx Introduction

What Can This Book Do for You? This book is written for Canon VIXIA high-definition camcorder owners who are relatively new to videography and who are ready to make the transition from standard-definition to high-definition video acquisition. Within these pages, you will find information that will not only help you master the actual use of your Canon VIXIA camcorder but will also show you techniques for shooting more compelling video footage. This book covers the entire Canon VIXIA high-definition line of camcorders. Although you can find some of the information discussed in the operations manual for your camcorder, this book also includes expert advice and real-world practical insight into shooting better video, and it’s all presented in an easy-to-understand voice. You will learn many tips and tricks, such as how to frame fast-moving action, capture stunning sunsets, achieve solid audio that is worthy of your beautiful imagery, and use interesting angles to add another dimension to your video. Also, you will not only get to know the advanced technology behind your Canon VIXIA camcorder, but you will also gain valuable insight into viewing the world through the eyes of a visual artist, using light to your advantage, and learning to flex your creative muscles when shooting in less-than-perfect conditions. As I mentioned previously, many lists of accessories are available to help you further customize your camcorder. I discuss these accessories, along with their practical uses, in this book, as well as how to transfer images to a computer, and how to print your still images. The goal of this book is to provide you with the tools and confidence that you will need to maximize the features of your Canon VIXIA high-definition camcorder to shoot high-quality video. The Quick Tour section of the book is a fast and easy way to get you acquainted with your camcorder and the act of shooting video right away. I won’t spend time talking about charging or inserting batteries; instead, I give you what you need to know to start using your camera right now.

Quick Tour

T

he excitement of unpacking your new camcorder is a wonderful thing. You’re eager to fire it up, and start shooting the things you’ve been envisioning and share them with friends and family. The great thing is that no matter which Canon VIXIA camcorder model you have chosen, you will be able to produce amazing, high-definition video footage with relative ease right out of the box. This Quick Tour provides you with brief explanations of controls and settings in order to get you using the camera right away. This section, as well as the entire book, assumes that you have already read the operations manual and are aware of fundamentals such as charging the battery before using the camera. After reading the Quick Tour, you should be able to shoot video with your VIXIA camcorder, take a still photo, review your images, transfer the images to a computer, and have a basic understanding of the workflow of the camcorder. In the chapters that follow, I dive into functionality of the cameras and provide more detailed explanations on using scene modes, manual controls, camera layouts, shot composition, and digital audio.

QT ✦

✦

✦

✦

In This Quick Tour Getting your camera ready Using headphones Recording video Reviewing video scenes Deleting a scene Taking a still photo Reviewing still photos Erasing photos Outputting images

Getting Your Camera Ready Because this book covers the entire line of Canon VIXIA highdefinition camcorders, it is important to first lay out the core features — ones vital to the operation of each camcorder — that they have in common. On some models, access to various functions can be found with the press of a single button, while on other models, access to the same function may be grouped onto a dial. In other parts of the book, when functionality is specific to a given model, the appropriate model is noted. Knowing the following common features and their functions will get you shooting video and taking still photos as quickly as possible.

✦

✦

✦

✦

2 Quick Tour ✦ ✦ Power button. The Power button turns on the camera, enabling you to toggle between operating modes. Some VIXIA models use a Lock button as a power switch or a simple one-push button. The red or green Power LED located on the camera signifies that the camera has been powered up in either Movie or Still image mode, or a playback mode. By default, the camera is in Movie mode.

✦ Navigation controls. On some models, the menu system can be navigated by way of a control dial, while on other models a protruding joystick can be used to select an item or change settings within a menu. The Set button, which is usually located in the middle of the navigation controls, is used for finalizing new settings as well as stepping into and out of menus.

✦ Photo button. When your camcorder is set to Photo mode and the Photo button is pressed halfway, the camcorder automatically sets focus in preparation for taking a still photo. When pressed fully, the Photo button takes a still picture.

Navigation control

✦ Record media compartment. Some of the models in the VIXIA line require that you insert a mini digital video (miniDV) tape, DVD, or a memory card before you begin recording images, while others record to an internal hard disk or flash drive. Make sure that the camcorder is turned off before you insert (or remove) a memory card. Open the memory card slot cover and insert the card with the label facing upward until it clicks, then close the cover. Use only the designated recording media listed in your camcorder instruction manual.

✦ Function button. You can access many of the menus that house the features of the camcorders by pressing the Function button. Navigation control

QT.1 Navigation controls — one is a protruding joystick and the other is a control dial (on a model where the LCD panel can be flipped)

✦ Movie/Still image switch or dial. The camcorder’s operating modes are dictated by the position of the aforementioned Power button and the Movie/Still image switch or dial. Many of the Video and Still Photos features can only be accessed by setting this switch or dial to its respective mode.

✦ Quick Tour

3

✦ Start/Stop button. The Start/Stop button is used to begin and end video recording.

✦ Dioptric adjustment lever. Adjust

QT.2 The Movie/Still image switch on the VIXIA HG10 and VIXIA HR10 models

QT.3 The Movie/Still image switch on the VIXIA HV20 and VIXIA HV30 models

Movie playback mode Movie mode Still image mode

Still image playback mode

the dioptric lever in the viewfinder if you prefer to use the viewfinder instead of the flip-out LCD panel. A clear sign that you may need to adjust the dioptric lever is if your viewfinder picture remains blurred regardless of your focus adjustments. The dioptric lever allows eyeglass wearers to adjust for their specific visual needs. There is no correct setting for this lever; with the LCD panel closed, just adjust it either up or down until the picture is sharp. Some VIXIA models do not have a viewfinder, so they do not possess a dioptric adjustment lever.

✦ LCD panel. You can flip out the LCD panel on the side of the camera if you want to monitor your shot from angles that prove difficult by holding your eye to the viewfinder. The LCD panel works well for shots that may require you to hold the camera well above your eye level or close to the ground. Flip out the LCD panel and rotate it appropriately for your desired angle of view. You can toggle between bright and normal settings for the LCD to enhance visibility. The open LCD panel also reveals other camcorder controls and terminals. When the LCD is open, the viewfinder remains inactive.

Setting the date and time QT.4 The Movie/Still image dial on VIXIA camcorder models HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, and HG21

One of the first things you want to do before you begin shooting is set the date and time so that you have a record of exactly when the footage was shot. Some models require that you set the date and time before you

4 Quick Tour ✦ can begin recording and will automatically display the Date/Time screen when the camcorder’s clock is not set. The Function button is a gateway into the menu system where you can change many of the camera settings that you need to configure, such as the date and time. After pressing the Function button, the menu displays either in the viewfinder when the LCD panel is shut, or in the LCD panel itself when it is pulled out. It is more practical to use the LCD panel when accessing menus as it is difficult to use the navigation controls while holding your eye to the viewfinder. Follow these steps to set the date and time:

menu. The default setting for the time zone is New York. Choose the appropriate time zone. To allow your camcorder to adjust for daylight saving time, choose the time zone selection that has the sun icon next to it.

5. Press the Set button to back out of the T.Zone/DST menu.

6. Navigate down to the Date/Time option and press the Set button to access the menu. The blinking arrow portion of the date indicates the active field that is ready for you to set.

7. Change the value of each date 1. With the LCD panel open, press the Function button to access the menu options.

field, which is designated by the flashing upward and downward arrows in the menu.

2. Navigate down to the Menu option and press the Set button to access the menu options.

I.AF

P

O11

2hO5m 46min

AWB

DATE/TIME

OCT .

3 , 2008

9 : 28 AM

OK

OFF OFF

FXP OFF

MENU

SET

QT.5 The Menu option in the Function menu

3. Navigate down to the Date/Time Setup option and press the Set button to access the menu options.

4. Navigate to the T.Zone/DST (daylight saving time) option and press the Set button to access the

QT.6 The Date/Time Setup menu of the VIXIA HV30. This screen may look different if you have another model, but the concept is the same.

8. When you have reached the last field of the Date, navigate to the right to access the Time field. Use the same procedure mentioned in Step 7 to set the proper time.

9. Press the Set button to start the clock and then press the Function button to close out the entire menu system.

✦ Quick Tour After initially setting the time zone, date, and time, you are not required to set the time whenever you travel to a different time zone. Just choose the appropriate time zone and the camcorder adjusts its settings accordingly.

Choosing image quality Because some of the VIXIA models allow you to shoot in standard definition as well as high definition, one of the first decisions you need to make prior to pressing the Record button is to choose the image quality in which you want to record. By default, the entire Canon VIXIA line of camcorders records in high definition, but you can easily switch from the HD Standard to the DV Record mode with your VIXIA HV20, VIXIA HV30, or VIXIA HR10 model using the Function menu as detailed here.

1. With the LCD panel open, press the Function button to access the menu options.

2. Navigate down to the Menu option and press the Set button to access the menu options.

3. For the VIXIA HV20 and VIXIA HV30, navigate down to the Rec/ In Setup menu and press the Set button to access the menu options. If you have the VIXIA HR10 model, go to Disc Operations and press the Set button.

4. Navigate to the HD Standard menu option and press the Set button. Navigate to the Disc Initialize option for the VIXIA HR10 model and press the Set button.

5

A more detailed description of the recording options is discussed in Chapter 2.

5. Navigate to one of the DV settings from the list to shoot in standard definition and press the Set button to accept the change. Select the standard definition (SD) disk Quality for your HR10 model, then select the disc quality and choose Yes, if you want to shoot in standard definition.

HD STANDARD

3O 24

HDV HDV(PF3O) HDV(PF24) DV(WIDE) DV(NORMAL)

QT.7 The HD Standard menu of the VIXIA HV20 and VIXIA HV30 models

6. Press the Function button to close the menu options. The VIXIA camcorders also record in various high-definition video qualities. Chapter 3 shows you how to select the highest HD quality setting for your camcorder.

Setting recording programs The Auto recording option of the Canon VIXIA line of camcorders automatically adjusts the focus, exposure, and other settings so that you can just point and shoot. The Program (P) mode allows you to adjust these settings using various presets.

6 Quick Tour ✦ Depending on your VIXIA model, you can navigate between these two settings by moving a physical switch or in the menu system. By default, your camera is set to Auto. While you are getting comfortable with your camcorder, keep it set to Auto so that you can get used to using the other settings. Once you are comfortable, incorporate the manual settings.

For a detailed description of individual Scene modes, see Chapter 3.

You will find the Scene modes in the Function menu by their respective icons after you switch from Auto to P mode, as explained in the following steps:

1. Move the switch to P mode. You now have access to menu options that were not readily available in Auto mode.

2. Navigate to the right and select the icon in the shape of a head on the bottom row and press the Set button. The icons for the remaining Scene modes now appear on the bottom menu bar.

3. Navigate to the appropriate QT.8 The Auto and P mode switch

The flexible recording features in the P mode allow you to use the camcorder’s special scene recording modes to achieve the highest quality images possible in a variety of shooting conditions. The scene recording programs of the VIXIA models automatically optimize exposure settings to match special shooting situations, such as shooting in the bright snow, on a sunny beach, or even a fireworks display. Some of the Scene modes are as follows:

✦ Portrait ✦ Sports

Scene mode and press the Set button. Snow

Sunset

SET

BEACH

Portrait Sports Night

Fireworks

Beach

Spotlight

QT.9 The Scene mode icons

4. Press the Function button to close the menu options. The icon for the Scene mode that you have chosen should now appear in the LCD.

✦ Night ✦ Snow ✦ Beach ✦ Sunset ✦ Spotlight ✦ Fireworks

Using Headphones Bad audio can detract from any beautiful scene you may capture, so when shooting video, it is always a good idea to monitor your sound with a good set of headphones.

✦ Quick Tour The audiovisual (AV) terminal of your VIXIA camcorder pulls double duty, serving as an AV output as well as a headphone output. Therefore, before using headphones with your VIXIA camcorder, you must change the function of the terminal from AV output to Headphones output as shown in the following steps:

1. With the LCD panel open, press the Function button to access the menu options.

2. Navigate down to the bottom Menu option and press the Set button to access the setup menus.

3. Navigate down to the Play/Out Setup or the System Setup option, depending on your model, and press the Set button.

4. Navigate to the AV/Phones

7

Recording Video Shooting your video footage is pretty straightforward, especially if you want to record in the camcorder’s default state of high definition and have the camera set to Auto. You can press the Start/Stop button and immediately begin recording. Use the viewfinder or the LCD to compose your shots in conjunction with the Zoom control to vary between long and short focal lengths to frame the shot. For a more detailed discussion of shot composition, see Chapter 4.

The entire Canon VIXIA high-definition line of camcorders uses Canon’s Instant AF (autofocus) technology allowing for sharp, automatic focus when capturing your highresolution images. Press the Start/Stop button again to pause recording.

option and press the Set button. For a more detailed discussion of the Instant AF feature, see Chapter 1.

AV/PHONES AV

AV PHONES

QT.10 The AV/Phones menu options

5. Navigate to the Phones option and press the Set button. The icon of a pair of headphones now appears in the LCD panel.

6. Press the Function button to close the menu options.

Reviewing Video Scenes Before you can begin to play back your video, you must place the camcorder into Movie playback mode. Some VIXIA camcorders require that you turn the Power switch to Play or Mode, then place the camera into Video mode. Others have a single dial that you can turn to the appropriate icon. Some models have an actual cassette icon indicating the Video mode, while others have an icon of a video camera.

8 Quick Tour ✦ When switching between Movie mode and Movie playback mode for the first time or vice versa, you will need to set the AV terminal to PHONES in order to monitor the audio with a pair of headphones.

Deleting a Scene

QT.11 An example of the VIXIA HV20 and VIXIA HV30 Lock button power switch with the Play option Set the camcorder to Movie playback mode and the VIXIA HV20 and VIXIA HV30 models immediately play back your images by using the Start/ Stop button located at the bottom of the LCD panel, and QT.12 An example of the others display scene index the VIXIA HR10 Power a switch with the Mode where you can use option the navigation controls to choose a scene for playback. During playback, you can press the Play/Pause button to pause the video or press the Stop button to end playback.

It is possible to delete video scenes after recording them to your flash memory, hard disk drive, or DVD record media, depending on the camcorder model you have. (Unfortunately, you cannot delete video scenes from your VIXIA HV20 or VIXIA HV30.) Simply use the following detailed steps to review the clip and delete the scene.

1. Set the Power switch to Play or Mode, depending on your camcorder model, to review your recorded video.

2. Put the camcorder into Video mode by moving the switch in the direction of the cassette icon or video camera icon. You are now able to review the video clips that have been recorded.

3. Navigate to the scene you want to delete, then press the Function button.

4. Navigate to the trash can icon, by using the navigation controls located on the camcorder, to move left or right onscreen, then press the Set button to access the delete options.

5. Choose a delete option from the Delete menu, then press the Set button. Your choices are: All Scenes (This Date), One Scene, or Cancel.

✦ Quick Tour 6. Navigate to the Yes option to confirm that you do want to perform the delete and have the scene deleted. To delete scenes with the VIXIA HR10 model, you have to use a rewritable DVD disc (DVD-RW). Cease all other operations on the camcorder while performing a deletion. There is no undo for deleting images, so make your selection carefully.

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when focus has been achieved as well as one or more AF frames, which indicate the objects in the scene that have a fixed focus.

4. Press the Photo button down fully to take the picture. As the image is being recorded to the memory card, the Card access indicator flashes, and you hear a click and see a momentary blackout of the LCD.

Taking a Still Photo Prior to taking a still photo with some VIXIA camcorders, you will need to purchase a memory card, insert it into the camcorder, and then initialize the memory card. Refer to your camcorder’s instruction manual to see how to properly initialize the memory card for your camcorder. After the card has been initialized, you can take still photos by following these steps:

1. Before you take a still photo, you need to put the camcorder in Camera mode by pressing the Lock button and setting the Power switch to Camera.

2. Put the camcorder into Photo mode by moving the switch toward the memory card or still camera icon. You can use either the viewfinder or the LCD panel to frame the subject and use the zoom lever to capture a close-up or wide view of the scene.

3. Press the Photo button halfway, and you hear a tone as the focus of the camcorder is automatically adjusted. A green LED appears

QT.13 The Photo button on VIXIA models HF10, HF11, and HF100

For more information on how to take still photos of different sizes and quality and to learn how to use the Self-Timer, see Chapter 2.

Reviewing Still Photos With the camera in Play and Photo mode, the images on the memory card display in the viewfinder or the LCD panel if it is flipped opened. Use the navigation controls to move through the still images.

10 Quick Tour ✦ Do not open the memory card slot and remove the card while the Card access display appears onscreen, or when the Card access indicator light is on or flashing, or you may permanently lose the data on your memory card.

If you do not want to review your photos one by one, you can use the navigation controls to jump ahead to the photo that you want to review. To run through the still images and view a specific image in the lineup, simply press and hold down the navigation controls in the direction of the forward advancing or back arrows until you reach the image that you want to view. For more information on how to jump 10 or 100 images, review images as a slide show, and magnify the playback image, see Chapter 3.

Erasing Photos With the Power switch set to Play or Mode and the camera set to the Photo mode, you can erase single images as well as erase all images on the memory card. To access the Erase function, the joystick guide must be displayed onscreen. If the joystick guide does not appear onscreen, follow these steps:

1. Press the Set button. 2. Navigate down to the trash can icon in the onscreen joystick guide, then choose Erase and press the Set button to erase the still photo.

QT.14 The onscreen joystick guide To erase all of the images on a memory card, follow these directions:

1. Press the Function button and navigate down to the Menu option onscreen.

2. Depending on your VIXIA model, navigate to one of the options in the menu (Memory Oper, Still Img Oper, Card Oper), then press the Set button.

3. Within the Memory Oper, Still Img Oper, or Card Oper menu, navigate to Erase All Images, then press the Set button.

4. Choose Yes in the Image Erase Menu to erase all images. For more information on how to protect your images from accidental erasure, see Chapter 2.

Outputting Images After you have captured your beautiful imagery, you have several options for transferring images from your camcorder, which include:

✦ Quick Tour ✦ Connecting to a computer to transfer video and still images for storage or manipulation within video-editing or photo-editing software

✦ Printing still photos directly from the camera

✦ Using a card reader to transfer scenes and still images

Connecting to a computer The HDV/DV and USB terminals will allow you to transfer video and still images from your camcorder to a computer for further manipulation or for archiving purposes with a single cable. Canon has provided the software that you need to transfer video and still photos over to your computer for both Macintosh and Windows systems. Before you attempt to transfer your images, make sure that your computer meets the following equipment requirements.

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✦ Most of the camcorders in the Canon VIXIA line allow you to make video and still photo transfers with the USB cable included in the box. The VIXIA HV20 and HV30 transfer still images only with a USB cable. For more information on how to connect to VCRs and TVs to review your recorded images, see Chapter 8.

Printing still photos A quick way to print an image straight from your camcorder is to simply insert the memory card containing the still images into the camcorder, connect the camcorder to the printer with the supplied USB cable, and then press the Print/Share button to print the image. The Print/Share button can also be found under the LCD panel of some VIXIA models. This can only be performed with a PictBridge-compatible printer.

Print/Share button

✦ Your computer has an IEEE1394 (DV) terminal, or what is known as a FireWire cable if you are using a Macintosh computer or DV link if you are using a Sony computer. The VIXIA HV20 and HV30 require that you use a FireWire cable to transfer video scenes, so if your PC did not come with the ports preinstalled, you need to have an IEEE1394 (DV) capture board installed.

✦ The video editing and photo software supplied with your camcorder must be installed on your computer.

QT.15 The Print/Share button on the VIXIA HV20 and VIXIA HV30 models

12 Quick Tour ✦ For more details on making the appropriate connections and printing directly from your camera via PictBridge, see Chapter 8.

Using a card reader Depending on which operating system you are using and how many images are on the memory card, you may not be able to transfer images to a computer. If you are transferring images to a Windows system with 1,800 images or more on a memory card or to a Macintosh system with 1,000 images or more on a card, you may need to use a card reader.

QT.16 A card reader

With a card reader attached to the computer, you can transfer files to your computer by simply ejecting the memory card from the camera and inserting it into the card reader, and then downloading those files onto a computer. Canon supplies the software that will help you download and organize your AVCHD video and images on a PC. The programs are Corel Application Disk and Pixela ImageMixer. For the Mac user, you can use Apple iMovie to edit and organize your HDV and AVCHD video. For more a more detailed discussion on importing and recording movies and still photos using Corel Application Disk, Pixela ImageMixer, and Apple iMovie, as well as other video-editing software application alternatives, see Chapter 8.

Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

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Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

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In This Chapter Recording quality and times About the technology

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t this point, you have probably recorded video and taken some still images with your Canon VIXIA camcorder right out of the box, and have had a chance to see firsthand the high-quality images that it can produce. The Quick Tour section in this book helps you get started using your camcorder right away by introducing some of the basic functionality of the camera. This chapter provides a more indepth look at what your camcorder has to offer. Before I dive into menu systems and configuring your camcorder for your personal needs, I give you an extensive tour of the technology behind your camcorder, and the many features at your disposal that enable you to produce beautiful video and still imagery. In this chapter, I also give you the walking tour of your camcorder’s layout so that you can become more familiar with where buttons and functions are located. Navigating the menu systems is discussed in detail in Chapter 2.

The Canon VIXIA HD camcorder series offers an array of format options, including SD (Standard Definition), HDV (High Definition Video), and the new AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) format, as well as various acquisition methods such as flash memory, hard disk drive, HDV tape, and DVD. First, I discuss the common technology behind the Canon VIXIA camcorder line, then, I get into individual models and their unique features. Knowing the technology and having the ability to effectively navigate your camcorder ensures you are operating your camera as efficiently as possible and getting the best shot possible.

Operating modes VIXIA AVCHD camcorders VIXIA HV20 and HV30 HDV camcorders

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16 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

Recording Quality and Times Given that some of the camcorders in the VIXIA lineup acquire images to flash memory and the internal hard disk drive, it is important to know how storage capacity translates into the recording time available. Each camcorder in the VIXIA lineup possesses the ability to record video at various qualities. The quality you choose affects the amount of video you can place on a memory card, hard disk drive, DVD, or tape.

camcorder has also been adjusted for recording quality. Maximum recording times for the DVD-based VIXIA HR10 model is located in the VIXIA HR10 section of this chapter. While the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 have the ability to record in either HD or DV quality, they are not capable of adjusting HD quality like the other camcorders. If you want information on the differences in recording time between HD and DV quality for these two camcorders, please refer to your instruction manual. To see how to access the recording qualities of each camcorder, check out Chapter 3.

Make sure that you initialize each memory card before using it with your camcorder. Refer to your camcorder’s instruction manual to see how to initialize your memory card.

When shopping for more memory cards, keep in mind that in order to record in MXP or FXP mode, your memory card has to be rated Speed Class 4 or higher. The SD Speed Class indicates the minimum data transfer rate of SD and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) memory cards. Make sure that you look for the Speed Class logo on the back of the package.

Table 1.1 provides a complete list of recording times for the camcorders in the VIXIA lineup that acquire video by means of flash memory and internal hard disk drive. The approximate recording time for each

Table 1.1 Approximate Recording Times VIXIA Model or Memory Card Size

Recording Time

HXP (This recording mode is specific to the VIXIA HG10 only and is its highest recording quality.)

HG10

5 hours 30 minutes

MXP (Video is recorded in 1920 × 1080 resolution at 24 Mbps.)

HG20

5 hours 30 minutes

HG21

11 hours 5 minutes

HF11

2 hours 55 minutes

4GB

20 minutes

8GB

40 minutes

16GB

1 hour 25 minutes

32GB

2 hours 55 minutes

Recording Mode

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

Recording Mode FXP (Video is recorded in 1920 × 1080 resolution at 17 Mbps.)

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VIXIA Model or Memory Card Size

Recording Time

HG20

7 hours 50 minutes

HG21

15 hours 14 minutes

HF10

2 hours 5 minutes

HF100

15 minutes (2GB card) 30 minutes (4GB card) 1 hour (8GB card)

XP+ (Video is recorded in 1440 × 1080 resolution at approximately 12 Mbps. In the VIXIA HG10 model, this record mode is listed as XP.)

SP (This is the default recording mode at approximately 7 Mbps.)

LP (This quality is used for longer record times at 5 Mbps if you are short on storage media. You may find the quality to be less than acceptable when viewing your footage.)

4GB

30 minutes

8GB

1 hour

16GB

2 hours 5 minutes

32GB

4 hours 10 minutes

HG10

9 hours 30 minutes

HG20

10 hours 50 minutes

HG21

21 hours 40 minutes

4GB

40 minutes

8GB

1 hour 25 minutes

16GB

2 hours 50 minutes

32GB

5 hours 45 minutes

HG10

11 hours 30 minutes

HG20

18 hours

HG21

36 hours

4GB

1 hour 10 minutes

8GB

2 hours 20 minutes

16GB

4 hours 45 minutes

32GB

9 hours 35 minutes

HG10

15 hours

HG20

22 hours 55 minutes

HG21

45 hours 55 minutes

4GB

1 hour 30 minutes

8GB

3 hours

16GB

6 hours 5 minutes

32GB

12 hours 15 minutes

18 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

About the Technology No matter which VIXIA camcorder you have, you are capable of capturing vivid, attentiongrabbing images. The features I discuss in this section are nearly consistent throughout the VIXIA series, and any discrepancies between models are duly noted. Consider this an introduction to the many features you will use throughout this book, as you learn to adapt to various shooting conditions. The features include:

✦ Canon HD video lens. The lenses vary from 10X to 12X optical zoom in the VIXIA series. This means that you can zoom in and out on a subject with the actual optical glass magnifying the image 10 or 12 times before it reaches the image sensor. The lenses come with three to four pre-set zoom speeds along with variable zoom speed capability, so that you can zoom into longs shots of the soccer field or recitals smoothly. Spectra coating technology limits the possibility of lens flares and ghosting.

✦ Full HD CMOS (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. This technology has been adapted from the Canon dSLR (digital single lens reflex) family. Each VIXIA camcorder comes with a full HD image sensor, ranging from 2.96 to 3.3 megapixels, capable of capturing images at 1920 × 1080 pixels for true highdefinition footage. This sensor also includes noise-reduction technology for shooting in low-light situations; this helps produce a crisper image even when there is insufficient light.

✦ DIGIC DV II image processor. Canon refers to their image processors as DIGIC (Digital Imaging Core). This processor has the capacity to process video images containing large amounts of information, such as high-definition video. It is responsible for accurate color reproduction in both the video and still images, and also comes equipped with its own noise-reduction capabilities.

✦ Instant Auto Focus (AF). Because the HD image is crystal-clear, a viewer will quickly notice a subject that is even slightly out of focus. Instant AF uses an external AF sensor to determine the distance between the camcorder and the subject, and quickly adjusts the lens so that the image is in sharp detail. This is a great feature for shooting fast-moving objects. The automatic focus can quickly shift to a new subject without your intervention, letting you focus strictly on the composition of the shot. Although very convenient, this technology can sometimes be fooled when you compose shots with a predominant object in the near foreground and your subject is in the distance. For example, if you are shooting your subject through tall brush or tree limbs, the automatic focus can have difficulty determining what is supposed to be in focus. The optional wide-angle and telephoto lens converters can sometimes obstruct the Instant AF filter, in which case you will have to set the AF mode to Normal AF in the camcorder menu system. For more on your camcorder’s automatic focus-assist options, see Chapter 3.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ 9-point AiAF. Your VIXIA camcorder has the ability to take still photos with resolutions up to 3.1 megapixels. To ensure that your subject is always in focus, no matter where they are in the frame, Canon uses 9-point AiAF (Artificial Intelligence Auto Focus) to decipher which objects to lock on in the frame. This feature evaluates objects in your scene by position and movement to ensure that off-center objects are in sharp focus. This is the default setting under Focus Priority, which appears as Focus Pri in the camera menu system.

✦ SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization. As the zoom magnification increases when you zoom in on a distant subject, camera shake also becomes magnified. SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization technology detects movement and shifts the lens accordingly to stabilize the shot. This is helpful for hand-held shots where there is the inevitable shake or sway. It is also good for taking blur-free still photos.

✦ Program AE (Automatic Exposure) mode. In this mode, your camcorder automatically optimizes exposure for a wide variety of shooting conditions. Your options include:

• Program. By default, your camcorder is set to this mode where the camcorder optimizes the aperture and shutter settings for the best exposure for the subject you are shooting. This is a great hands-free option and yields fantastic results.

• Portrait. This mode uses a wide aperture, letting in more light and blurring the background so that the focus is sharp on the subject. The blurring of the

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background intensifies the more you zoom in on the subject.

• Sports. This mode is great for recording tennis, softball, golf, and so on. However, upon playback, the picture may not appear entirely smooth due to the high shutter speed.

• Night. Your recordings in low-lit places can benefit greatly from this mode. If the lighting is too low, the picture can appear grainy. Motion blurring can also be a factor with fast-moving objects given the lower shutter speed used with this mode.

• Snow. This is a great mode for brightly lit scenes such as at ski resorts, where the sun reflects off the white snow. This is a good option for keeping your subjects from being underexposed against the snow banks.

• Beach. Use this mode on sunny days at the beach to keep your subjects from being underexposed. Given this mode uses a very high shutter speed, the image may not play back as smoothly as in other modes.

• Sunset. This mode enables you to capture a wide, dynamic range of vibrant colors that are associated with a sunset.

• Spotlight. This is a good mode for performances that use a spotlight, such plays and dance recitals.

• Fireworks. Record fireworks using this mode. You may want to consider using a tripod for both video and still-image acquisition to avoid shake in this particular mode, which uses a slow shutter speed.

20 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Cinema mode. By using the special scene recording programs, you can give your video a cinematic look, which adjusts color and tonal characteristics so they’re similar to film. You can also use this feature in conjunction with the 24 frames per second (or 24p) progressive frame rate, providing film-like motion characteristics to further enhance the cinematic look of your video. This is a great feature if you’re an independent filmmaker who wants to capture the aesthetic of film for your work. Cinema mode settings are discussed in further detail in Chapter 2, and the Program AE mode is covered further in Chapter 6.

✦ 30p progressive frame rate recording. In addition to recording in 24p and 60 interlaced frames (60i), the VIXIA HV30, HF10, HF11, HF100, HG20, and HG21 camcorders can also use 30p progressive frame rate recording for Web video. You will want to use this setting if you are compressing your video for the Web at 15 frames per second (fps). Because the video you are shooting is already at 30 fps, pulling out only every other frame gives you better-looking Web video.

✦ Quick Start. This function is either the physical button located on the VIXIA HR10 and HG10 camcorders or what you can activate by the opening and closing of the LCD panel on the VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100 models. The VIXIA HV20 and HV30 do not have a Quick Start function. When you press the Quick Start button, or close the LCD panel, the camcorder goes into standby mode, which conserves your battery power by reducing

power consumption. When you press the Quick Start button again, or flip open the LCD, the camcorder immediately goes back into recording mode. This is a great way to always be prepared for a quick shot, without having to wait for the camcorder to power back up.

✦ Built-in video light/LCD video light. Some VIXIA camcorders come equipped with their own built-in video light on the front of the camcorder that can aid you when you shoot in low-light conditions. This light is effective up to about 5 feet. Some models use the new LCD video light function that is built right into the camcorder’s LCD panel; simply activate the video light function and flip the screen toward your subject. For more on the function and use of the built-in video light, see Chapter 2.

✦ Simultaneous still shooting. This feature lets you take a still shot, while you are recording video.

✦ Photo grab. This feature is great for times when you recorded video footage, but also need a still photo of a specific frame of video. When you are playing back the video, you can take a still photo of the frame you want at a 2.0 megapixel resolution. I take a closer look at this feature and how to implement it in Chapter 3.

✦ Histogram display. When viewing the still photos you have taken, you can choose to display the histogram to see the brightness information of the photo. This can help you make adjustments to exposure for later shots.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ Direct printing with PictBridge. The Direct Print functionality of your Canon camcorder makes printing your captured images very simple with a PictBridgecompatible printer. PictBridge is a standardized technology that allows you to print images directly from your camcorder’s memory card with the press of the Print/ Share button.

✦ Mini High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) terminal. Highdefinition connections made with the HDMI terminal on your camcorder give you the highest quality playback, transporting both highdefinition video and the audio signal with a single cable. You can only make this type of connection with an HD TV. An HDMI cable is not shipped with your Canon VIXIA camcorder. If you want to make a high-definition connection to your high-definition TV, you can purchase an HDMI cable at any computer or electronics store.

✦ Canon DW-100 DVD burnercompatible. The optional DW-100 DVD burner gives owners of the AVCHD hard disk drive and flash memory-based camcorders the ability to create HD DVD discs. This burner also allows you to play back your AVCHD DVDs on your television through your camera without the need for an AVCHD-compatible player. This is another good option for storing your video and photos, because you can burn photo DVDs as well as video DVDs. The DW-100 can record in both the AVCHD and DVD-video formats.

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For camcorders that use AVCHD flash memory and hard disk drives, Chapter 8 covers burning a DVD using the DW-100 DVD burner. You will also learn how to preview AVCHD DVDs on a TV using the DVD burner.

Operating Modes Each camcorder in the Canon VIXIA lineup accesses the various operating modes differently. Some VIXIA models have a single dial you can move to the various modes; others have a Camera or Mode option on the Power switch where you can access camera and play modes, and by flipping a second switch, choose to record or play back movies or still mages. Throughout this book, I will be referring to Camera mode as Movie mode for all camcorders. The following is a list of the VIXIA operating modes:

✦ Movie mode. This mode is for recording movies.

• VIXIA HV20 and HV30. Set the Power switch to Camera and move the secondary switch to the cassette tape icon position.

• VIXIA HG10 and HR10. Momentarily move the Power switch to the Mode position, and then move the secondary switch to the video camera icon.

• VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG20, and HG21. Move the Mode dial to the position of the video camera icon.

✦ Still image mode. You can take still images while in this mode.

• VIXIA HV20 and HV30. Set the Power switch to Camera and move the secondary switch to the memory card icon position.

22 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder • VIXIA HG10 and HR10. Momentarily move the Power switch to the Mode position, and then move the secondary switch to the photo camera icon position.

• VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG20, and HG21. Move the Mode dial to the position of the photo camera icon.

✦ Movie playback mode. You can play back your recorded movies in this mode.

• VIXIA HV20 and HV30. Set the Power switch to Camera and move the secondary switch to the tape cassette icon position.

• VIXIA HG10 and HR10. Momentarily move the Power switch to the Mode position, and then move the secondary switch to the video camera icon.

• VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG20, and HG21. Move the Mode dial to the position of the video camera icon with a play symbol in the middle of it.

✦ Still image playback mode. This mode is for viewing still images.

• VIXIA HV20 and HV30. Set the Power switch to Camera and place the secondary switch to the memory card icon position.

• VIXIA HG10 and HR10. Momentarily move the Power switch to the Mode position, and then move the secondary switch to the photo camera icon.

• VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG20, and HG21. Move the Mode dial to the position of the video camera icon that has a play symbol in the middle of it.

Many of your camcorder menu options are contingent upon which operating mode you are in. For example, the Cinema mode options are not available while you are in Movie playback mode. For this reason, it is very important to be mindful of which mode you are in so that if you need to record in a hurry, you can do so. As I discuss individual VIXIA models and explore their layouts, I provide clear instructions as to how to navigate between each mode with each specific camcorder.

VIXIA AVCHD Camcorders AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) is one of the newest flavors of HD to hit the market. One of the biggest selling points of this format is that it has the ability to capture more video using less space. This frees you from tape, so you can record footage directly to a memory card, hard disk drive, or DVD. The Canon VIXIA AVCHD camcorder lineup offers a variety of cameras that cater to each of these acquisition methods. The Canon VIXIA HF11, HG20, and HG21 can even record in the highest bit rate in the AVCHD standard, at 24 Mbps, which results in enhanced detail, richer tones, and improved resolution. The AVCHD camcorders include the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, and HR10. In this section, I cover the models in terms of their acquisition methods: flash memory card, hard disk drive, or DVD.

VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100 The VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100 are remarkably similar in appearance and overall layout. The VIXIA HF10, HG11, and HG100

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders models each possess a 12X HD video lens with a focal length of 4.8-57mm and an aperture range of f/1.8-f/3.0. The main differences lie in the models’ internal storage capacities, and the fact that the HF11 can shoot at the highest bit rate in the AVCHD standard at 24 Mbps. The VIXIA HF10 and HF11 camcorders use what is known as dual flash memory, meaning they record to an internal flash drive as well as an inserted SDHC memory card. The only exception is the VIXIA HF100, which records to SDHC memory cards only. The advantage of these cameras is that you don’t have to bother with tape, which is especially beneficial when you are ready to import your footage into a video-editing program. Your images are acquired as files that you can transfer to a computer instead of images captured from tape. If you are an avid user of dSLR still cameras, the concept is very similar. The VIXIA HF11 has a 32GB internal flash drive, while the VIXIA HF10 comes standard with a 16GB internal flash drive. Some of the advantages of using a flash memory camcorder include:

✦ Faster response time. The read and write times of flash memorybased camcorders are much faster than their tape-based counterparts, meaning that you can start recording faster and have instant access to recording images. This is great in the field as you have the opportunity to review your work and decide if you want to keep it or delete it on the spot.

✦ Reduced risk of data loss. Flash memory is what is referred to as solid-state storage, which in a nutshell, means it doesn’t have moving parts. Inherently these cards are less fragile than tapes and hard

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drives, which means memory cards can more effectively withstand being dropped and are much less likely to experience data loss.

✦ Low power consumption. Because the camcorders do not have moving parts, your camcorder battery doesn’t have to expend as much energy. This translates into longer recording times for you.

✦ Media flexibility. You can change out your memory card for one with a greater capacity, and use a card reader to transfer your files, which frees up your camcorder. You can also use SDHC memory cards in HDTV card slots for immediate viewing. So, how much recording time do you have if you have a 16GB of flash memory as opposed to 32GB? The answer is, it depends. It depends on which recording mode you are using to shoot your footage. The VIXIA HF11 has five recording modes, while the VIXIA HF10 and HF100 have four. The recording modes allow you to dictate the picture quality of your footage. A good question to ask yourself is why you would ever want to shoot in any other mode other than the highest quality. The higher quality the image, the more space the footage takes on the memory card, meaning that you won’t be able to fit as much on your card. The following sections get you acquainted with the actual layout of the camcorders. Not shown are the tripod socket and the battery release which are located on the bottom of the camcorders.

Left side features The flip-out LCD panel and nearby features include the following:

24 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ LCD. Your camcorder is equipped

✦ Joystick. You use the joystick to

with a widescreen multi-angle LCD panel to monitor your images. The versatility of movement you can achieve with this screen makes it possible to shoot and view your subject from many different angles. It’s very easy to get yourself in a shot by placing the camcorder on a tripod and maneuvering the LCD so that you can see what the camera sees. When shooting in bright conditions, the LCD may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust the brightness for easier viewing by using the Display/ Battery Info button.

operate the camcorder’s menus, which you access by pressing the Function button or using the onscreen joystick guide. Pushing the joystick to the left, right, up, or down allows you to navigate through and select menu items. You can also use this navigation control to select video and still photos for review. The Set button is at the middle of the joystick. You press it to confirm and save settings after navigating to them with the joystick. The options in the joystick guide change depending on the operating mode of the camcorder. Easy/Print Share button Display/Battery Info button

Remote sensor Joystick

LCD

Function button Play/Pause Start/Stop button

Memory card slot

Speaker

Stop/Backlight Correction button Fast Forward/ Telephoto button

Card Open switch

Component terminal

Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button

1.1 The left side of the VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100. The VIXIA HF100 body is silver, but the layout is the same.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ Remote sensor. This sensor makes it possible for you to use your camcorder’s wireless remote. Point the remote toward this sensor when you press the buttons. While you are in front of the camcorder, flip the LCD panel so that the sensor is pointed at you in order to use the remote.

✦ Function button. The Function button (appearing as FUNC. on the camcorder) is the gateway into the camcorder menu system. It gives you access to the Function menu, which you use to configure recording modes, playback modes, and the camera setup. To fully master using your camcorder, you must know your way around these menu options.

✦ Play/Pause/Start/Stop button. Use this button to play back your video and to pause and stop playback.

✦ Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button. After you have recorded many images to your camcorder, you can use this button to move in reverse between index screen pages that contain your recorded video for review. While recording, you can press this button gently to slowly zoom the camcorder out to a wide field of view. You can choose from three different zoom settings, which affect the reaction time of this button’s wide-angle feature, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Fast Forward/Telephoto button. After you have recorded many images to your camcorder, you use this button to move forward between index screen pages that contain your recorded video for review. While recording, you can

25

press this button gently to slowly zoom into a shot. You can choose from three different zoom settings, which affect the reaction time of this button’s telephoto feature, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Stop/Backlight Correction button. This button pulls double duty: it enables you to stop playback of your images, and it automatically adjusts for a backlit subject that may be under- or overexposed. Hold down this button when shooting a subject with a strong light source behind it so that the subject doesn’t appear too dark. Chapter 2 shows you how to efficiently navigate your camcorder’s menu system and Chapter 6 discusses in detail the implementation of the Backlight correction feature.

✦ Easy/Print Share button. This button pulls double duty as a flexible recording option and a direct printing option. Each camcorder has two basic modes, Easy and Flexible recording, for recording video and capturing still photos.

• Easy mode. In this mode, all you have to do is point, shoot, and operate the zoom while the camcorder takes care of the details such as aperture, exposure, and shutter speed. This is much like the Program AE (P) mode, which your camcorder is set to in its default state. Just press the Easy button to enter easy mode and the button’s LED light will turn blue and the easy icon will appear in the LCD screen. This is a good one-touch option if you have previously configured your camcorder settings, but need to quickly shoot

26 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder on the go. The Easy button lets you bypass going into the menu system.

• Flexible recording mode. Pressing the Easy button again after it has been activated takes you back to the flexible recording mode, where you can personalize your camcorder settings. In this mode you can also choose special scene recording modes such as Portrait, Beach, and Snow to match your shooting conditions.

• Direct Print. After you have connected your camcorder to a PictBridge-compatible printer with a USB cable, the Direct Print functionality is as simple as navigating to the picture you want and clicking this button.

• Direct transfer. When you have a USB connection from the camcorder to a computer that has the Canon Digital Video Software installed, you can press this button to transfer selected images to the computer hard drive. Chapter 8 discusses using the Direct Print feature in further detail.

✦ Display/Battery Info button. This button serves two functions: it displays the date, time, battery capacity remaining, and information regarding the time of shooting, and it changes the brightness levels of the LCD. Press the button to toggle off and on onscreen information and hold it down for two seconds or more to change the brightness of the LCD.

✦ Card Open switch. Slide this switch to the right to open the memory card slot cover.

✦ Speaker. This is the onboard speaker that emits the beeps that you hear when switching modes and the warning tones you hear when the battery is low. When you review your video in-camera, with no other speaker device attached, it emits the sound of your video.

✦ Memory card slot. This is where you place the SDHC memory card. If you are removing a card, slide the Card Open switch to the right, then press the memory card once to release it.

✦ Component Out terminal. Use the Component Out terminal and a component cable to preview your images to a high-definition or standard TV.

Back features The features on the back of the camcorder include the following:

✦ Access/Charge indicator. This LED flashes when information is being written to or from the internal drive or memory card. Do not open the memory card slot, disconnect power, or change the position of the Mode dial while this light is flashing or you could lose your data. When the camcorder is charging, this light will flash. When charging is complete, the light remains on.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders Access/Charge indicator Mic terminal

AV Out/Headphones terminal Start/Stop button

27

Choosing external devices such as camera mounted microphones and lights is covered in Chapter 7.

✦ AV Out/Headphones terminal. The AV Out/Headphones terminal (located behind a cover) performs double duty as analog video and audio out to a TV and as a terminal for connecting headphones to monitor audio. Before using your headphones, you need to change the terminal’s function to operate as a headphones output in the System Setup menu. By default, this port functions as an analog out, so if you connect your headphones to this port without configuring it appropriately, be prepared for some loud noise in your ears. For more on how to configure the AV Out/Headphones terminal for headphones use, see Chapter 5. DC In terminal

Battery

1.2 The back of the VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100. Although the VIXIA HF100 has a silver body, the back of the camcorder is the same.

✦ Mic terminal. This microphone terminal (located behind a cover) accepts a mini plug from an external microphone. You can use a hand-held microphone or lapel microphone with a mini connector to conduct interviews. When an external microphone is connected to the camcorder, the Windscreen feature that reduces the sound of wind gusts is automatically deactivated. Make sure that the microphone that you use is properly outfitted with a physical windscreen or sock overit to reduce unwanted wind noise.

✦ DC In terminal. This terminal (located behind a cover) lets you plug in to a power outlet.

✦ Reset button. This button resets all camcorder settings. If the camcorder is operating abnormally and unusual characters appear onscreen, try disconnecting the power source, then press the Reset button with a pointed item. The Reset button is located behind the inserted battery on the back of the camcorder.

28 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Mini advanced shoe. Remove the

Top features

shoe’s cover to attach compatible accessories such as shotgun microphones and camera-mounted lights to your camcorder. The device should simply slide into the shoe.

The features located on the top include the following:

✦ Zoom lever. Move the zoom lever to the left toward the W icon to zoom out to a wide angle, and move the lever to the right toward the T icon to zoom into a shot. You can choose from three different zoom settings, which affect the reaction time of this lever’s zoom performance, with one being the slowest and three being the fastest.

There are two types of accessory shoe mounts in the Canon VIXIA lineup, the Advanced accessory shoe and the Mini advanced shoe. When choosing a camera-mounted microphone or light, make sure that you select a compatible accessory for your specific camcorder. Look for the appropriate device, bearing the Mini Advanced Accessory Shoe or Advanced Shoe logo, to ensure that you are getting an accessory that is compatible with your camcorder.

✦ Photo button. Just as the name suggests, the Photo button allows you to take still photos. Press the button halfway and the focus is automatically adjusted and one or more Auto Focus frames appear onscreen. When you press the button fully, the Access indicator flashes after the picture is taken to indicate that data is being written.

✦ Power indicator. This LED light is green when the camcorder is ready to record and turns yellow when it is in standby mode.

✦ On/Off button. This button toggles

For still photo options, check out Chapter 5.

the camcorder between off and on.

Photo button Zoom lever Mini advanced shoe

Power indicator On/Off button

1.3 The top of the VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

29

✦ HDMI Out and USB terminals.

Right side features You can find the following features on the right side of the camcorder:

✦ Mode dial. The various operating modes of the VIXIA series are accessed by the position of this dial.

• Movie mode. This mode is for recording movies.

• Still image mode. You can take still images while in this mode.

• Movie playback mode. You can playback your recorded movies in this mode.

These terminals (located behind a cover) enable you to connect your camcorder to external devices such as television sets and computers. The HDMI terminal allows you to use a single cable to play back your highdefinition video with audio to your HD TV. An HDMI connection gives you the highest quality playback and only works with a HD television set. Use the USB terminal to connect to a computer to transfer your images, or to connect to the Canon DW-100 DVD burner to create (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) AVHCD DVDs and preview them on a TV.

• Still image playback mode. This mode is for viewing still images.

Mode dial

USB terminal HDMI Out terminal

1.4 The right side of the VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100

Connecting to televisions, computers, and the Canon DW-100 DVD burner is covered in Chapter 8.

30 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Front features The features on the front of the camcorder include the following:

✦ Instant AF sensor. This external sensor allows the camcorder to react quickly to a new subject and fast-moving objects. It determines the distance between the camcorder and the subject and quickly adjusts the lens so that the image is in sharp detail. The automatic focus can quickly shift to a new subject without your intervention, letting you focus strictly on the composition of the shot.

✦ Flash. The flash can help your images by adding extra light when shooting still images in very dim locations. It also features a red-eye reduction function. The flash feature has various states:

✦ Mini video light. You can turn on the mini video light to illuminate dark places as you record video or take still photos. One thing to be aware of when using this light is that if you have a wide-angle lens converter or telephoto lens converter attached to your camcorder, you can sometimes see the shadow of the devices onscreen.

✦ Stereo microphone. This microphone captures sound as you record your movies without the help of extra sound-recording equipment. This microphone picks up a lot of ambient noise in all directions.

Instant AF sensor

• Auto. The camcorder is set to Auto by default. In this state, the flash automatically fires when you take a still photo in low light.

• Red-eye reduction, auto. When the flash automatically fires, the assist lamps come on to reduce the red-eye effect.

• Flash on. In this mode, the flash always fires, regardless of how bright the subject is.

• Flash off. The flash remains off, regardless of lighting conditions.

Stereo microphone

Flash

Mini video light

How to implement the flash options is discussed in detail in Chapter 6.

1.5 The front of the VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

VIXIA HG10, HG20, and HG21 While the Canon VIXIA HG10, HG20, and HG21 are very similar, there are a few differences of which to take note. Basically, the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 are newer versions of the VIXIA HG10. Each records video footage directly to an internal hard disk drive or SD/ SDHC Memory Card. The VIXIA HG20 and HG21 models can record at the highest bit rate in the AVCHD standard at 24 Mbps, while the VIXIA HG10 records up to 17 Mbps. For media storage, the VIXIA HG21 has a 120GB internal hard disk drive, the VIXIA HG20 has a 60GB internal hard disk drive, and the VIXIA HG10 has a 40GB internal hard disk drive. Each of these three cameras have a full HD CMOS image sensor, but there is small difference in the megapixel count, as the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 have 3.3 megapixel sensors, and the VIXIA HG10 has a 2.96 megapixel sensor. Both the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 have a 12X optical zoom and the VIXIA HG10 has a 10X optical zoom. The focal length ranges from 4.8-57mm for the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 and ranges from 6.1-61mm for the VIXIA HG10. All three camcorders have an aperture range of f/1.8-f/3.0. Additionally, the VIXIA HG10 and HG21 both have extendable viewfinders where as the VIXIA HG20 does not have one. When buying lens filters for these camcorders, be aware that the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 require a 37mm filter size, while the VIXIA HG10 requires a 43mm filter size.

The layout of the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 has been modified from their predecessor, the VIXIA HG10. Previously, the VIXIA HG10’s operating mode was determined by the position of the Power switch in conjunction with the position of the Movie/Still image

31

switch. Now, the process has been streamlined with a one-step Mode dial, located on the back on the VIXIA HG20 and HG21. The tripod socket and the battery release are located on the bottom of the camcorders and are not shown. The HDMI, AV Out, Component Out, and microphone terminals on the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 are located on the right-hand side of the camcorders and are detailed in the respective section but are not shown. The Reset button for these camcorders is located behind the batteries and is also not shown.

Left side features The flip-out LCD panel and nearby features include the following:

✦ LCD. Your camcorder is equipped with a widescreen multi-angle LCD panel to monitor your images. The versatility of movement you can achieve with this screen makes it possible to shoot and view your subject from many different angles. It’s very easy to get yourself in a shot by placing the camcorder on a tripod and maneuvering the LCD so that you can see what the camera sees. When shooting in bright conditions, the LCD panel may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust the brightness of the LCD for easier viewing by using the Display/ Battery Info button, marked Disp/ Batt. Info or just Disp.

✦ Viewfinder. You can use the viewfinder when bright sunlight makes the LCD display difficult to see. Using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen helps to conserve battery power. The HG20 does not have a viewfinder.

32 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Display/Battery Info button Easy/Print Share button Joystick Remote sensor

LCD

Memory card slot Function button

USB terminal

Play/Pause Start/Stop button Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button

Stop/Backlight Correction button

Speaker

Fast Forward Telephoto button

1.6 The left side of the VIXIA HG21. The left side of the VIXIA HG20 is identical.

✦ Joystick. You use the joystick and navigation controls to operate the camcorder’s menus, which you access by pressing either the Function button or using the onscreen joystick guide (VIXIA HG20 and HG21) or the function guide (VIXIA HG10). Pushing the navigation controls to the left, right, up, or down allows you to navigate and select menu items. You can also use the navigation controls to select video and still photos for review. The Set button appears in the middle of the joystick and navigation controls. After you navigate to settings using the joystick, press the Set button to confirm and save them. You can also press the Set

button to access the onscreen joystick guide, or Function menu as it is referred to in the VIXIA HG10. The options in the guide change depending on the operating mode of the camcorder.

✦ Remote sensor. This sensor makes it possible for you to use your camcorder’s wireless remote. Point the remote toward this sensor when you press the buttons. The VIXIA HG20 and HG21 have their remote sensor on the LCD panel; when you are in front of the camcorder, flip the LCD panel so that the sensor is pointed at you in order to use the remote.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

33

Quick Start button Standby lamp Display button Speaker Control dial

Print/Share button

LCD

Memory card slot

USB terminal

Stop/Playlist/Backlight Correction button Function button Fast Reverse/ Wide Angle button

Play/Pause Start/Stop button

Fast Forward/ Telephoto button

1.7 The left side of the VIXIA HG10

✦ Control dial. The control dial of the VIXIA HG10 serves a very similar function as the navigation buttons. You turn the Control dial to navigate menu options.

✦ Function button. The Function button is the gateway into the camcorder menu system. The Function button gives you access to the Function menu, which you use to configure recording modes, playback modes, and the camera setup.

In order to fully master using your camcorder, you must know your way around these menu options. For more on navigating your camcorder’s menu system, see Chapter 2.

✦ Play/Pause/Start/Stop button. Use this button to play back your video and to pause and stop playback.

34 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button. After you have recorded many images to your camcorder, you can use this button to move in reverse between index screen pages that contain your recorded video for review. While recording, you can press this button gently to slowly zoom the camcorder out to a wide field of view. You can choose from three different zoom settings that affect the reaction time of this button’s wide-angle feature, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Fast Forward/Telephoto button. After you have recorded many images to your camcorder, you use this button to move forward between index screen pages that contain your recorded video for review. While recording, you can press this button gently to slowly zoom into a shot. You can choose from three different zoom settings that affect the reaction time of this button’s telephoto feature, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Stop/Backlight Correction button. On the VIXIA HG10, this is the Stop/Playlist/Backlight Correction button. It has multiple purposes that enable you to stop playback of your images and also automatically adjust for backlit subject that may be under- or overexposed. Hold down this button when shooting a subject with a strong light source behind it, so that the subject doesn’t appear too dark. In the VIXIA HG10, this button also enables you to switch between scenes and playlists during playback.

Learn how to implement the backlight correction feature in Chapter 6.

✦ Display/Battery Info button. This button serves two functions: it displays the date, time, battery capacity remaining, and information regarding the time of shooting; and it changes the brightness levels of the LCD. Press the button to toggle off and on onscreen information and hold it down for two seconds or more to change the brightness of the LCD.

✦ Standby lamp. This LED flashes when information is being written to or from the hard disk drive or memory card. Do not open the memory card slot, disconnect power, or change the position of the Mode dial while this light is flashing or you could lose your data. The Standby lamp is located on the VIXIA HG10 only.

✦ Quick Start button. When you press the Quick Start button, the camcorder is placed into standby mode. This conserves battery power by reducing power consumption without having to completely power down the camcorder. When you press the button again, the camcorder is immediately placed back into recording mode. This is a great way to always be prepared for a quick shot, without having to wait for the camcorder to power back up. The Quick Start button is located on the VIXIA HG10 only, but the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 have a Quick Start function as well. Instead of using a button, the Quick Start function is activated when you close the LCD panel in a recording mode (Movie mode or Still image mode).

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ The Easy/Print Share button. This button pulls double duty as a flexible recording option and a direct printing option for the VIXIA HG20 and HG21. Both the VIXIA HG21 and HG20 camcorders have two basic modes, Easy and Flexible recording, for recording video and capturing still photos. On the VIXIA HG21, this button is used for printing only and is known as just the Print Share button.

• Easy mode. In this mode, all you have to do is point, shoot, and operate the zoom while the camcorder takes care of the details such as aperture, exposure, and shutter speed. This is much like the Program AE (P) mode, which your camcorder is set to in its default state. Just press the Easy button to enter easy mode; the button’s LED light turns blue and the easy icon appears in the LCD panel. This is a good one-touch option if you previously configured camcorder settings, but need to quickly shoot on the go. The Easy button lets you bypass going into the menu system.

• Flexible recording mode. Pressing the Easy button again after it has been activated takes you to the flexible recording mode where you can personalize your camcorder settings. In this mode, you can also choose special scene recording modes such as Portrait, Beach, and Snow to match your shooting conditions.

• Direct Print. After you have connected your camcorder to a PictBridge-compatible printer with a USB cable, the Direct

35

Print functionality is as simple as navigating to the picture you want and clicking this button. To learn about the direct print feature in detail, see Chapter 8.

✦ Speaker. This is the onboard speaker that emits the beeps that you hear when switching modes and the warning tones you hear when the battery is low. When you review your video, in-camera, with no other speaker device attached, it emits the sound of your video.

✦ Memory card slot. Open the memory card slot cover and insert the memory card. If you are removing a card, open the slot cover, then press the memory card once to release it.

✦ USB terminal. Use the USB terminal to connect to a computer and transfer your images, or to connect to the Canon DW-100 DVD burner to create AVHCD DVDs and preview them on a television set.

✦ Power switch. Simply press the Start/Stop button of the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 models to power on the camcorder. The HG10 Power switch servers multiple purposes. One purpose is to activate the camcorder, and the other is to switch operating modes. To turn on the VIXIA HG10 camcorder, hold down the lock button and turn the switch to On. To toggle between operating modes, temporarily move the switch to the Mode position, then release it. This puts the camcorder either into Camera mode, signified with a red indicator, or Play mode, signified with a green indicator.

36 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Right side features

Back features

The following features are located on the right side:

The following features can be found on the back of the camcorder:

✦ HDMI terminal. This terminal enables you to connect your camcorder to external devices such as television sets and computers. It allows you to use a single cable to play back your high-definition video with audio to your HDTV set. An HDMI connection gives you the highest quality playback and only works with a high-definition television set.

✦ DC In terminal. This lets you get plugged in to a power outlet.

✦ Reset button. This button resets all camcorder settings. If the camcorder is operating abnormally and unusual characters appear onscreen, try disconnecting the power source, and then press the Reset button with a pointed item. The Reset button is located behind the battery.

✦ Component Out terminal. Use the component out terminal and a component cable to preview your images on a high-definition or standard TV.

Viewfinder

Mode dial

Access indicator Viewfinder button

Connecting to televisions, computers, and the Canon DW-100 DVD burner is covered in Chapter 8.

✦ AV Out/Headphones terminal. The AV Out/Headphones terminal performs double-duty as analog video and audio out to a TV set and as a terminal for connecting headphones to monitor audio. Before using your headphones, you need to change the terminal’s function to operate as a headphones output in the System Setup menu. By default, this port functions as an analog out, so if you connect your headphones to this port without configuring it appropriately, be prepared for some loud noise in your ears. To learn how to configure the AV Out/Headphones terminal for headphones, see Chapter 5.

Battery

DC In terminal Start/Stop button

1.8 The back of the VIXIA HG21. The VIXIA HG20 does not have a viewfinder button like this camcorder, as the VIXIA HG20 has no viewfinder.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ Power Switch. You access the various operating modes of the VIXIA series by moving this button to the Mode option.

✦ Mode dial. You access the various operating modes of the VIXIA series by positioning this single dial on some VIXIA models.

✦ Movie/Still image switch. The camcorder’s operating mode is determined by both the position of the Power switch and this switch.

• Movie mode. In this mode, you are able to record video or play back video.

• Still image mode. You can take still photos and review still photos in this mode.

✦ HDD Access/Charge indicator. This LED flashes on the VIXIA HG10 when information is being written to or from the internal drive or memory card. Do not open the memory card slot, disconnect power, or change the position of the Mode dial while this light is flashing or you could lose your data. When the camcorder is charging this light will flash. When charging is complete, the light remains in an on state.

✦ Play/Camera mode indicators. When the camcorder is in Play mode, the LED is green and you can play back movies and still images, depending on the position of the Movies/Still images switch. When

Movie/Still image switch Play/Camera mode indicators Power switch

HDD Access/Charge indicator

Battery

DC In terminal Start/Stop button

1.9 The back of the VIXIA HG10

37

38 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder the camcorder is in Movie mode, the red Camera mode indicator is on and you can record movies or still images, depending on the position of the Movie/Still image switch. The green Play mode indicator is on when it is in Movie playback mode and Still image playback mode. These indicators are located on the VIXIA HG10 model only.

Instant AF sensor

Front features You can find the following features on the front of the camcorder:

✦ Instant AF sensor. This external sensor allows the camcorder to react quickly to a new subject and fast-moving objects. It determines the distance between the camcorder and the subject and quickly adjusts the lens so that the image is in sharp detail. The automatic focus can quickly shift to a new subject without your intervention, letting you focus strictly on the composition of the shot.

✦ Flash. The flash can help your images by adding extra light when you are shooting still images in very dim locations. It also features a redeye reduction function. The flash feature has various states.

• Auto. The camcorder is set to Auto by default. In this state, the flash automatically fires when taking a still photo in low light.

• Red-eye reduction, auto. When the flash automatically fires, the assist lamps come on to reduce the red-eye effect.

• Flash on. In this mode, the flash always fires, regardless of the brightness of the subject.

Flash Stereo microphone

1.10 The front of the VIXIA HG20 and HG21

• Flash off. The flash remains off, regardless of lighting conditions. Implementing the flash options is discussed in detail in Chapter 6.

✦ Stereo microphone. This microphone captures sound as you record your movies without the help of extra sound-recording equipment. This microphone picks up a lot of ambient noise in all directions.

✦ Mini video light. You can turn on the mini video light to illuminate dark places as you record video or take still photos. One thing to be aware of when using this light is that if you have a wide-angle lens converter or telephoto lens converter attached to your camcorder, you can sometimes see the shadow of the devices onscreen. The VIXIA HG20 and HG21 do not have a mini video light.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

39

Instant AF sensor Flash

Mini video light

Remote sensor Mic terminal

1.11 The front of the VIXIA HG10

✦ Mic terminal. The microphone terminal accepts a mini plug from an external microphone. You can use a hand-held microphone or lapel microphone with a mini connector to conduct interviews. When an external microphone is connected to the camcorder, the Windscreen feature that reduces the sound of wind gusts is automatically deactivated. Make sure that the microphone that you use is properly outfitted with a physical windscreen or sock over it to reduce unwanted wind noise.

Top features The following features can be found on the top of the camcorder:

✦ Zoom lever. Move the zoom lever to the left toward the W icon to zoom out to a wide angle, and move the lever to the right toward the T icon to zoom into a shot. You can choose from three different zoom settings, which affect the reaction time of this lever’s zoom performance, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Photo button. Just as the name suggests, the Photo button allows you to take still photos. Press the button halfway and the focus is automatically adjusted and one or more Automatic Focus (AF) frames appear onscreen. When you press the button fully, the Access indicator flashes as the picture is taken. Check out Chapter 5 for still photo options.

40 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Mode switch. The mode switch

✦ Advanced Accessory shoe. Remove

lets you toggle between automatic (Auto) and the flexible recording options (P).

the shoe’s cover to attach compatible accessories such as shotgun microphones and camera-mounted lights to your camcorder. The device should simply slide into the shoe. There are two types of accessory shoe mounts in the Canon VIXIA lineup, the Advanced accessory shoe, used by the VIXIA HG10, and the Mini advanced shoe, used by the VIXIA HG20 and HG21. When choosing a camera mounted microphone or light, make sure that you select a compatible accessory for your specific camcorder. Look for the appropriate device bearing the Mini Advanced Accessory Shoe or Advanced Shoe logo to ensure that you are getting an accessory that is compatible with your camcorder.

• Automatic (A). In this mode, the camcorder automatically controls focus, exposure, and other settings.

• Flexible recording programs (P). This mode lets you give priority to specific settings such as shutter speed and aperture, while you manually control others. You can also choose special scene recording programs that optimize your camera for shooting in special shooting conditions such as shooting in the snow, at night, or at the beach.

Mini advanced shoe

Zoom lever Photo button

Power button

1.12 The top of the VIXIA HG21. The top is identical to the HG20.

Zoom lever Mode switch

Advanced accessory shoe

1.13 The top of the VIXIA HG10

Photo button

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

VIXIA HR10 The VIXIA HR10 is equipped with a 2.96 megapixel full HD 1920 × 1080 CMOS image sensor. The focal length ranges from 6.1-61mm and an aperture range of f/1.8f/3.0mm. When shopping for lens filters, make sure you choose filters with a 37mm diameter. The VIXIA HR10 records video footage directly to three types of 8 cm DVD discs: DVD-R, DVD-R DL, and DVD-RW. Before deciding which type of DVD to use, it’s important that you are familiar with the characteristics of each disc option.

✦ DVD-R. You can record only once to these types of discs, and you are not able to edit or delete the recordings you make.

✦ DVD-R DL. This is what is referred to as a dual-layer DVD, and consists of two recording layers, allowing you to write up to 2.6GB of extra data on a single side. The extra storage space is convenient, but you are still not able to edit or delete the movie files you have recorded using these discs.

✦ DVD-RW. This option allows you to edit and delete recorded image files. Another advantage to this option is that you can later initialize the DVD to erase all of its contents, and reuse the disc after you have transferred all of your files over to a computer. The VIXIA HR10 has four recording modes when you shoot in high definition, and three when you shoot in the standard definition format. The XP+ mode, which is high definition, is the highest quality offered by the VIXIA HR10, and XP is the best quality of standard-definition footage. SP is the default

41

recording mode. The maximum recording time in relation to recording quality and type of DVD used is listed in the following:

✦ High definition with a DVD-R, DVD-RW disc

• XP+ at 12 Mbps. 15 minutes • XP at 9 Mbps. 20 minutes • SP at 7 Mbps. 25 minutes • LP at 5 Mbps. 33 minutes ✦ High definition with a DVD-R DL disc

• XP+ at 12 Mbps. 27 minutes • XP at 9 Mbps. 36 minutes • SP at 7 Mbps. 45 minutes • LP at 5 Mbps. 60 minutes ✦ Standard definition with a DVD-R, DVD-RW disc

• XP. 20 minutes • SP. 30 minutes • LP. 60 minutes ✦ Standard definition with a DVD-R DL disc

• XP. 36 minutes • SP. 54 minutes • LP. 108 minutes The form factor of the VIXIA HR10 is slightly different from the other camcorders of the VIXIA series, largely attributed to the recording media it uses: DVDs. Not shown is the Reset button, located in the battery compartment inside of the LCD cavity, which you use to reset all camcorder settings in the event of unstable performance.

Left side features The flip-out LCD panel and nearby features include the following:

42 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Quick Start button. When you press the Quick Start button, the camcorder is placed into standby mode. This conserves battery power by reducing power consumption without having to completely power down the camcorder. When you press the button again, the camcorder is immediately placed back into recording mode. This is a great way to always be prepared for a quick shot, without having to wait for the camcorder to power back up.

✦ Function button. The Function button is the gateway into the camcorder menu system. This button gives you access to the Function menu, which you use to configure recording modes, playback modes, and the camera setup. To fully master using your camcorder, you must know your way around these menu options. Navigating the menu system is discussed in detail in Chapter 2.

✦ Display button. This button serves two functions, one for displaying the date, time, battery capacity remaining, and information regarding the time of shooting, and the other for changing the brightness levels of the LCD screen. Press the button to toggle off and on the onscreen information, and hold it down for 2 seconds or more to change the brightness of the LCD screen or the Viewfinder.

✦ Print/Share button. With a USB connection from the camcorder to a PictBridge-compatible printer, you can choose images and print them directly from the camcorder. With a USB connection from the camcorder to a computer that has

the Canon Digital Video Software installed, you can press this button to transfer selected images to the computer hard drive. For more on direct printing options and transferring images to a computer, see Chapter 8.

✦ LCD. Your camcorder is equipped with a widescreen multi-angle LCD panel to monitor your images. The versatility of movement you can achieve with this screen makes it possible to shoot and view your subject from many different angles. It’s very easy to get yourself in a shot by placing the camcorder on a tripod and maneuvering the LCD so that you can see what the camera sees. When shooting in bright conditions, the LCD panel may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust the brightness of the LCD for easier viewing by using the Display/Battery Info button.

✦ Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button. After you have recorded many images to your camcorder, you use this button to move in reverse between index screen pages that contain your recorded video for review. While recording, you can press this button gently to slowly zoom the camcorder out to a wide field of view. You can choose from three different zoom settings, which affect the zoom speed of this button’s wide-angle feature, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Fast Forward/Telephoto button. After you have recorded many images to your camcorder, you use this button to move forward between index screen pages that contain your recorded video for

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders Function button

LCD

Quick Start button Memory card slot

Display button Print/Share button

Card access indicator Stop Playlist button Play/Pause Start/Stop button Fast Forward/Telephoto button

AV Out terminal HDMI Out terminal

Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button

Battery release switch

Component out

USB terminal

1.14 The left side of the VIXIA HR10

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44 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder review. While recording, you can press this button gently to slowly zoom the camcorder to zoom into a shot. You can choose from three different zoom settings, which affect the zoom speed of this button’s telephoto feature, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Play/Pause/Start/Stop button. Use this button to play back your video and to pause and stop playback.

✦ Stop/Playlist button. This button pulls double duty, enabling you to stop playback of your images, and enabling you to switch between scenes and playlists during playback.

✦ Memory card slot. Simply open the cover to insert your miniSD memory card.

✦ Card access indicator. This LED flashes when information is being written to or from the DVD disk or memory card. When you take a still photo, this indicator flashes as the image is being recorded. Do not open the memory card slot, disconnect power, or change operating modes while this light is flashing or you could lose your data.

✦ AV Out terminal. This terminal serves as an analog out to a television set.

✦ HDMI Out terminal. The HDMI terminal allows you to use a single cable to play back your high definition video with audio to your HDTV set. An HDMI connection gives you the highest quality playback and works with a high definition television set.

✦ Component Out terminal. Use the Component Out terminal and a component cable to preview your images to a high-definition or standard definition TV.

✦ USB terminal. Use the USB terminal to connect to a computer to transfer your images, or to connect to the Canon DW-100 DVD burner to create AVHCD DVDs and preview them on a TV set. Making connections with external devices is discussed in Chapter 8.

✦ Battery release switch. Pull this switch down to release the battery from its compartment.

Right side features You find the following features on the right side:

✦ Disc compartment. Pull the Open switch on top of the camcorder to open this compartment door and place a disc for recording into the camcorder.

✦ DC In terminal. This terminal lets you plug in to a power outlet.

Front features The front features of the VIXIA HR10 include:

✦ Instant AF sensor. This external sensor allows the camcorder to react quickly to a new subject and fast-moving objects. It determines the distance between the camcorder and the subject and quickly adjusts the lens so that the image is in sharp detail. The automatic focus can quickly shift to a new subject without your intervention, letting you focus strictly on composition of the shot.

✦ Flash. The flash can help your still photo images by adding extra light when you are shooting in very dim locations. It also features a red-eye reduction function. The flash feature has various states.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

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Disc compartment

DC In terminal

1.15 The right side of the VIXIA HR10

• Auto. The camcorder is set to Auto by default. In this state, the flash automatically fires when you take a still photo in low light.

Instant AF sensor Flash Stereo microphone

• Red-eye reduction, auto. When the flash automatically fires, the assist lamps come on to reduce the red-eye effect.

• Flash on. In this mode, the flash always fires, regardless of the brightness of the subject.

• Flash off. The flash remains off, regardless of lighting conditions. Implementing the flash options is discussed in detail in Chapter 6.

✦ Mini video light. You can turn on the mini video light to illuminate dark places as you record video or take still photos. One thing to be aware of when using this light is that if you have a wide-angle lens

Mini video light

Remote sensor

1.16 The front of the VIXIA HR10

46 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder converter or telephoto lens converter attached to your camcorder, you can sometimes see the shadow of the devices onscreen.

✦ Stereo microphone. This microphone captures sound as you record your movies without the help of extra sound recording equipment. This microphone picks up a lot of ambient noise in all directions.

✦ Remote sensor. This sensor makes it possible for you to use your camcorder’s wireless remote. Point the remote toward this sensor when you press the buttons.

Back features

✦ Movie/Still image switch. The camcorder’s operating mode is determined by both the position of the power switch and this switch.

• Movie mode. In this mode, you are able to record video or playback video.

• Still image mode. You can take still photos and review still photos in this mode.

✦ Viewfinder. In bright conditions, the viewfinder can sometimes work better for monitoring your shot than the LCD, due to fewer glares. Use the Disp button to toggle between brightness levels of the viewfinder and adjust it for improved viewing.

Features on the back include:

✦ Joystick. You use the joystick to operate the camcorder’s menus, which you access by pressing the Function button or accessing the onscreen joystick guide. Pushing the joystick to the left, right, up, or down allows you to navigate and select menu items. You can also use this navigation control to select video and still photos for review. The Set button appears on the middle of the joystick. You press it to confirm and save settings after navigating to them with the joystick. Also, you can access more menu options by pressing the actual joystick control to access the onscreen joystick guide. The options in the joystick guide change depending on the operating mode of the camcorder.

Movie/Still image switch Dioptric adjustment lever Camera/Play Start/Stop button mode Viewfinder indicators

✦ Camera/Play mode indicators. When the camcorder is in playback mode, this indicator is green. When in camera mode, the camera indicator is red.

Power switch

Joystick

1.17 The back of the VIXIA HR10

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ Dioptric adjustment lever. This lever lets you adjust the viewfinder for your particular eyesight. If the camcorder seems to be having difficulty focusing, adjust this lever while using the viewfinder.

✦ Start/Stop button. Press the Start/ Stop button to begin recording video and press it again to pause recording.

✦ Power switch. This switch serves multiple purposes. One is to power on the camcorder, and the other is to switch operating modes. To turn on the VIXIA HR10 camcorder, hold down the green lock button in the middle of the switch and move it to the On position. To toggle between operating modes, temporarily move the switch to the Mode position, then release it. This toggles the camcorder between Camera mode, which is signified by a red indicator, or Play mode, which is signified with a green indicator.

Top features On the top of the VIXIA HR10 you can find the following features:

✦ Disc access/Charge indicator. When the DVD recording media is being written to, this indicator stays on. Do not turn off the power, switch camera modes, or take out the DVD while this light is on or flashing, because you can lose data. When you charge your camcorder battery, the indicator blinks, and when charge is complete, the light stays on.

✦ Open disc cover switch. Pull this switch to open the disc cover.

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✦ Mode switch. The mode switch lets you toggle between automatic (Auto) and the flexible recording options (P).

• Automatic (A). In this mode, the camcorder automatically controls focus, exposure, and other settings.

• Flexible recording programs (P). This mode lets you give priority to specific settings such as shutter speed and aperture, while you manually control others. You can also choose special scene recording programs that optimize your camera for shooting in special shooting conditions such as shooting in the snow, at night, or at the beach.

✦ Zoom lever. Move the zoom lever to the left or toward the W icon to zoom out to a wide angle, and move the lever to the right toward the T icon to zoom into a shot. Your camcorder also has the option of choosing three different zoom settings, which affect the reaction time of this lever’s zoom performance, with one being the slowest and three being the fastest.

✦ Photo button. Just as the name suggests, the Photo button allows you to take still photos. Press the button halfway and the focus is automatically adjusted and one or more Automatic Focus (AF) frames appear onscreen. When you press the button fully, the Access indicator flashes as the picture is taken. Check out Chapter 5 to learn about the still photo options available.

48 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Zoom lever Mode Switch Photo button

Speaker

VIXIA HV20 and HV30 HDV Camcorders Both the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 are tapebased HDV camcorders with 2.96 megapixel full HD CMOS image sensors. Besides the colors, the cameras are nearly identical with the exception of a small list of upgrades to the VIXIA HV30. These upgrades include 30 frames per second (fps) frame mode, an improved LCD panel, and a bigger zoom lever. The 10X HD video lens has a focal length of 6.1-61mm and an aperture range of f/1.8-f3.0. Each camcorder uses a miniSD card to take still photos at a resolution of 3.1 megapixels. If you are purchasing filters for these cameras, both require 43mm filters. The switch that releases the battery and the tripod socket, located on the bottom of the camcorder, are not shown.

Left side features The flip-out LCD panel and nearby features include the following:

✦ LCD. Your camcorder is equipped Disk access/Charge indicatior Open disc cover switch

1.18 The top of the VIXIA HR10

✦ Speaker. This is the onboard speaker that emits the beeps that you hear when switching modes and the warning tones you hear when the battery is low. When you review your video, in-camera, with no other speaker device attached, it emits the sound of your video.

with a widescreen multi-angle LCD panel to monitor your images. The versatility of movement you can achieve with this screen makes it possible to monitor your subject from many different angles while shooting. It’s very easy to get yourself in a shot by placing the camcorder on a tripod and maneuvering the LCD so that you can see what the camera sees. When shooting in bright conditions, the LCD panel may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust the brightness of the LCD for easier viewing by using the Disp button.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button. After you have recorded many images to your camcorder, you use this button to move in reverse between index screen pages that contain your recorded video for review. When recording, you can press this button gently to slowly zoom the camcorder out to a wide field of view. You can choose from three different zoom settings, which affect the reaction time of this button’s wide-angle feature, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Fast Forward/Telephoto button. After you have recorded many images to your camcorder, you use this button to move forward between index screen pages that contain your recorded video for review. When recording, you can press this button gently to slowly zoom the camcorder to zoom into a shot. You can choose from three different zoom settings, which affect the reaction time of this button’s telephoto feature, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest.

✦ Play/Pause/Start/Stop button. Use this button to play back your video and to pause and stop playback.

✦ Stop/Focus Assist button. This button pulls double duty: it enables you to stop playback of your images, and it helps you while you manually focus by magnifying the center of the picture so that you can use the focus lever to pull a sharp focus. Using manual and focus-assist options are discussed in Chapter 3.

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✦ Display button. This button is for displaying the date, time, battery capacity remaining, and information regarding the time of shooting.

✦ Light/Print Share button. Press this light to activate the mini video light in front of the camera for assistance in low-light shooting. This button also enables you to print and transfer images.

• Direct Print. After you have connected your camcorder to a PictBridge-compatible printer with a USB cable, the Direct Print functionality is as simple as navigating to the picture you want and clicking this button.

• Direct transfer. With a USB connection from the camcorder to a computer that has the Canon Digital Video Software installed, you can press this button to transfer selected images to the computer hard drive. For more on the Direct Print feature, see Chapter 8.

✦ Speaker. This is the onboard speaker that emits the beeps that you hear when switching modes and the warning tones you hear when the battery is low. When you review your video, in-camera, with no other speaker device attached, it emits the sound of your video.

✦ USB terminal. Use the USB terminal to connect to a computer to transfer your images, or to connect to the Canon DW-100 DVD burner to create AVHCD DVDs and preview them on a TV set.

50 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Display button LCD

Speaker

Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button

Memory card slot

Light/Print Share button

USB terminal

Stop/Focus Assist button

Fast Forward/Telephoto button

Card access/Charge indicator

Start/Stop button

1.19 The left side of the VIXIA HV30. Other than the silver body, the left side of the VIXIA HV20 is identical.

✦ Card access/Charge indicator. This LED flashes when information is being written to the memory card. Do not open the memory card slot, disconnect power, or change the position of the Mode dial while this light is flashing or you could lose your data. When the camcorder is charging, this light flashes. When charging is complete, the light remains in an on state.

✦ Memory card slot. Open the memory card slot cover and insert the memory card. If you are removing a

card, open the slot cover, then press the memory card once to release it.

✦ Focus lever and Focus button. In situations where the automatic focus may not work well, such as when shooting night scenes, faraway subjects, and through wet windows, you can adjust the focus manually using the focus lever. With the mode switch in the program (P) position, press the focus button, and MF appears in the viewfinder, or LCD. Adjust the focus lever until the image is sharp.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

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Backlight Correction button

Focus button Focus lever

1.20 The left front side of the VIXIA HV30.

✦ Backlight Correction button. This button is for changing the brightness levels of the LCD panel and for correcting exposure problems when a subject is being shot against strong backlighting. Press the button to toggle off and on onscreen information and hold it down for two seconds or more to change the brightness of the LCD screen. To learn how to implement the backlight correction feature, see Chapter 6.

Right side features You can find these features on the right side of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 camcorders:

✦ Tape/Card switch. The camcorder’s operating modes are controlled by the positions of the Power switch and the Tape/Card switch.

When you move the switch to the tape side, you can either record video or play back video, depending on the position of the Power switch. When you move the switch to the card position, you can either capture still photos or play back still photos, depending on the position of the power switch.

✦ Mode switch. The Mode switch lets you toggle between automatic (Auto) and the flexible recording options (P).

• Automatic (A). In this mode, the camcorder automatically controls focus, exposure, and other settings.

• Flexible recording programs (P). This mode lets you give priority to specific settings such as shutter speed and aperture, while you manually control

52 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder others. You can also choose special scene recording programs that optimize your camera for shooting in special shooting conditions such as shooting in the snow, at night, or at the beach.

✦ Mic terminal. This microphone terminal (behind a cover) accepts a mini plug from an external microphone. You can use a hand-held microphone or lapel microphone with a mini connector to conduct interviews. When an external microphone is connected to the camcorder, the Windscreen feature that reduces the sound of wind gusts is automatically deactivated. Make sure that the microphone that you use is properly outfitted with a physical windscreen or sock over it to reduce unwanted wind noise.

✦ AV Out/Headphones terminal. The AV Out/Headphones terminal (behind a cover) performs double duty as an analog out to a TV set and as a terminal for connecting headphones to monitor audio. Before using your headphones, you need to change the terminal’s function to operate as a headphones output using the System Setup menu. By default, this port functions as an analog out, so if you connect your headphones to the port without configuring it appropriately, be prepared for some loud interference in your ears. To see how to configure the AV Out/Headphones terminal for headphones use, see Chapter 5.

AV/Headphones terminal Mode switch

Tape/Card switch

1.21 The right side of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30

Mic terminal

Component Out terminal

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ Component Out terminal. Use the Component Out terminal (behind a cover) and a component cable to preview your images to a highdefinition or standard TV.

Front features

✦ Flash. The flash can help your images by adding extra light when you are shooting in very dim locations. It also features a red-eye reduction function. The flash feature has various states:

• Auto. The camcorder is set to

You can find the following features on the front of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 camcorders:

✦ Instant AF sensor. This sensor determines the distance between the camcorder and the subject and quickly adjusts the lens so that the image is in sharp detail. This allows the camcorder to react quickly to a new subject and fast-moving objects. The automatic focus can quickly shift to a new subject without your intervention, letting you focus strictly on shot composition.

Instant AF sensor Flash

Mini video light

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Remote sensor

1.22 The front of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30

Auto by default. In this state, the flash automatically fires when taking a still photo in low light.

• Red-eye reduction, auto. When the flash automatically fires, the assist lamps come on to lessen the red-eye effect.

• Flash on. In this mode, the flash always fires, regardless of the brightness of the subject.

• Flash off. The flash remains off, regardless of lighting conditions. How to implement the flash options is discussed in detail in Chapter 6.

54 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Mini video light. You can turn on the mini video light to illuminate dark places as you record video or take still photos. One thing to be aware of when using this light is that if you have a wide-angle lens converter or telephoto lens converter attached to your camcorder, you can sometimes see the shadow of the devices onscreen.

✦ Remote sensor. This is the sensor that makes it possible for you to use your camcorder’s wireless remote. When you press buttons on the remote, point it toward this sensor.

Back features Features on the back of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 include:

✦ Dioptric adjustment lever. This lever lets you adjust the viewfinder for your particular eyesight. If the camcorder seems to be having difficulty focusing, adjust this lever while using the viewfinder.

✦ Viewfinder. In bright conditions, the viewfinder can sometimes work better for monitoring your shot than the LCD panel, due to fewer glares.

✦ HDV/DV and HDMI Out terminals. Connect your camcorder to a computer by using the HDV/DV terminal with a DV cable, and preview out to a high-definition television set using the HDMI Out terminal. To learn how to connect to televisions and computers, see Chapter 8.

✦ DC In terminal. This lets you get plugged in to a power outlet.

✦ Start/Stop button. Press the Start/ Stop button to begin recording video and press it again to pause recording.

✦ Power switch. Use this switch to turn the camera off and on, and move between Camera and Play mode. It works in conjunction with the Tape/Card switch to place the camera into its various modes: Movie and Still image.

✦ Power indicator. The indicator is red when power is on.

✦ Joystick. You use the joystick to operate the camcorder’s menus, which you access by pressing either the Function button or using the onscreen joystick guide. Pushing the joystick to the left, right, up, or down allows you to navigate through and select menu items. You can also use this navigation control to select video and still photos for review. The Set button appears on the middle of the joystick. You press it to confirm and save settings after navigating to them with the joystick. Also, you can access more menu options by pressing the actual joystick control to access the onscreen joystick guide. The options in the joystick guide change depending on the operating mode of the camcorder.

✦ Function button. This is the gateway into the camcorder menu system. The Function button gives you access to the Function menu, which you use to configure recording modes, playback modes, and the camera setup. To fully master using your camcorder, you must know your way around these menu options. Navigating your camcorders menu system is discussed in detail in Chapter 2.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders Viewfinder

Power switch

Dioptric adjustment lever

Battery

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HDV/DV terminal

Power indicator

DC In terminal HDMI terminal

Joystick Function button

Start/Stop button

1.23 The back of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30

✦ Reset button. This button resets all camcorder settings. If the camcorder is operating abnormally and unusual characters appear onscreen, try disconnecting the power source, and then press the Reset button with a pointed item. The Reset button is located behind the inserted battery and is not shown.

Top Features Here are a list of features you can find from the top view of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30:

✦ Open/Eject button. Pull back this switch and pull the cassette compartment to the right to insert and eject a cassette tape.

✦ Cassette compartment. Insert the cassette tape into this compartment.

56 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Cassette compartment Open/Eject button

Stereo microphone

Zoom lever Photo button

Advanced accessory shoe

1.24 The top of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30

✦ Zoom lever. Move the zoom lever to the left toward the W icon to zoom out to a wide angle, and move the lever to the right toward the T icon to zoom into a shot. Your camcorder also has the option of choosing three different zoom settings, which affect the reaction time of this lever’s zoom performance, with one being the slowest and three being the fastest.

✦ Photo button. Just as the name suggests, the Photo button allows you to take still photos. Press the button halfway and the focus is automatically adjusted and one or more Automatic Focus (AF) frames appear onscreen. When you press the button fully, the Access indicator flashes as the picture is taken. To learn about the still photo options available, see Chapter 5.

Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders ✦ Advanced accessory shoe. Remove the shoe cover to attach compatible accessories such as shotgun microphones and cameramounted lights to your camcorder. The device should simply slide into the shoe. There are two types of accessory shoe mounts in the Canon VIXIA lineup, the Advanced accessory shoe, and the Mini advanced shoe. When choosing accessories, make sure they are for the Advanced accessory shoe. Look for the devices bearing the Advanced Accessory Shoe logo.

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✦ Stereo microphone. This microphone captures sound as you record your movies without the help of extra sound recording equipment. This microphone picks up a lot of ambient noise in all directions.

Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

2

C H A P T E R

✦

✦

✦

✦

In This Chapter Joystick/function guide Function menu

N

ow that you have become acquainted with the basic layout of your camcorder and are familiar with the VIXIA technology, it’s time to learn how to harness that power by navigating the menu system. This chapter covers all of the menu options for the entire VIXIA lineup. The majority of the options available in the joystick/function guide and function menus are shared across VIXIA models, so I have combined the information about these menus in this chapter. With that being said, I may cover some menu options that are not available for your particular camcorder. The camera setup information is in individual sections according to camcorder model, so that no matter which camcorder you have, you can go straight to that section to learn about your camcorder’s menu options. There are a few important things you should take special note of before reading this chapter:

✦ The camcorder menu options that are available to you vary depending on which operating mode you are in. A menu option available in Still image mode may not be available in Movie mode, so always be mindful of which mode you are in when attempting to locate a function.

✦ Some camcorder menu options only appear after you choose a specific option from another menu, while others appear after you have connected a specific device, such as a printer, to the camcorder.

Setup menus

✦

✦

✦

✦

60 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Even though this chapter covers all the menu options for your camcorder, it is not a substitute for the instruction manual. Although this book aims to cover the complete functionality of your camcorder, it gives added weight to the functions you will use the most.

✦ Even if a picture shown of a menu looks slightly different than yours, the options and navigability are the same.

Joystick/Function Guide You access the joystick guide, or the function guide if you the have the VIXIA HG10, by pressing the Set button on the camcorder, and it gives you quick access to some of the camcorder’s basic functions. It includes functions for activating the built-in camcorder light, making manual exposure and audio level adjustments, and deleting and printing still images. Just like the main menu, the functions of the joystick/function guide change depending on which operating mode the camcorder is in. You navigate the menu by way of the joystick or the navigation buttons, depending on which model you have. Because the controls used to navigate the menu systems differ between camcorder models, I’m simply going to refer to the joystick and the navigation buttons as navigation controls throughout the book. When there are multiple pages that can be found in the guide, Next appears at the bottom of the menu. Use the navigation controls to choose Next to access the other options in the menu. Select the option that you want in the menu, and a new icon or control appears in the LCD panel. With the built-in camcorder light that is featured in some of the VIXIA

I.AF

12

0

NEXT

2.1 The joystick/function guide models, once you choose it in the menu, it immediately activates; when you choose it again in the menu, it turns off. When a menu option is not available, it is grayed out. To close the guide, press the Set button again. The functions you can perform with the joystick/function guide include:

✦ Adjust the volume of the speaker. A speaker icon in Movie playback mode represents this menu option. While playing back the movie, use the navigation controls to raise or lower the audio level of the movie. You can access this menu option only in Movie mode.

✦ Manually adjust audio recording levels. The microphone icon represents this function. The manual adjustment icon M appears next to the Audio level indicator with an orange manual adjustment bar beneath it. You can access this menu option only in Movie mode. Learn how to adjust audio recording levels manually in Chapter 5.

✦ Set a manual focus. To set a manual focus, navigate to the Focus option in the menu and MF appears onscreen. The image in the LCD is magnified to help you pull a sharp focus. Adjust with the navigation controls to focus the image. Choose Focus again to return the

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder camcorder to automatic focus. You can set a manual focus while in Movie and Still image mode. Learn how to manually set your focus in Chapter 3.

✦ Set exposure manually. Exp appears in the menu while you are in Movie and Still image modes. After you choose Exp, an exposure adjustment indicator appears on the LCD, and you can adjust the exposure by using the navigation controls. Choose Exp in the menu again to return to automatic exposure. Learn how to manually set your exposure in Chapter 6.

✦ Apply digital effects. You can access this menu option only in Movie mode. An important thing to note with this function is that you need to go into the Function menu first and choose a digital effect before you can apply it using the joystick guide. Essentially, you are activating and deactivating the effect you previously chose in the Function menu. An icon in the shape of a person’s head and shoulders represents the digital effects menu option. Choose the icon to apply the effect. When an effect is not selected in the Function menu, this icon is grayed out.

✦ Configure print settings and print photos. This menu option appears as a printer icon in the joystick guide while you are in Still image playback mode. To print a photo, choose the printer icon to access the Print Settings menu, select a setting using the navigation controls, then press Print.

✦ Modify camera flash settings. You can choose which flash to use in

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low-light shooting by navigating to the icon of a jagged arrow in the menu. From there you can toggle through the following choices: Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, and some VIXIA models have a Red-eye Reduction, Auto option. You can only access these functions in Still image mode.

✦ Navigate through many photos with the photo/image jump feature. You can navigate through a very large collection of still photos by jumping 10 or 100 photos at a time. Use the navigation controls to go between jumping 10 or 100 photos. This option is represented by an icon of a photo frame with a curved arrow over it and is only available in Still image playback mode.

✦ Delete photos. In Still image mode, the garbage can icon represents the delete function and you can either choose Cancel to keep a photo, or follow through and press Erase to remove the image.

✦ Activate the built-in camcorder light. If you have the VIXIA HG20 or HG21, you do not have this option. An icon of the sun, or a generic light source, represents the built-in camcorder light. As soon as you choose the icon, the light turns on. Choose the sun icon again to turn it off. This menu option is available in Movie and Still image modes.

✦ Review the last scene recorded. This option is not available with the VIXIA HV20 or HV30. To review the last scene recorded, while in Movie mode, navigate to the icon of a frame with a curved arrow inside of it. Take note that this is Movie mode and not Movie playback mode. The last scene you recorded immediately starts to play after you select the menu icon.

62 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

Function Menu The Function menu is the gateway into your camcorder’s main menu system and you access it by pressing the Function button (Func) on the camcorder. This is where you can access and configure the majority of the camcorder’s functions. The options in the Function menu change, as well as the look of the Function menu, depending on which operating mode the camcorder is in. The joystick or navigation buttons, depending on the VIXIA model, enable you to select settings icons on the left side of the menu, then choose the settings options from that menu in the bottom bar of the menu. After you have selected a setting, press the Function button to save the setting and close the Function menu. Some options in the menu require you to press the Set button and make further selections. Any menu option that is not available is grayed out. There are some important things to remember when using the Function menu, and also as you read the rest of this book: When you choose a setting option in the bottom bar, the icon in the column on the left is replaced with the new setting icon. The instructions in this book use the default settings as a starting point. You cannot access the Function menu while in Easy mode. The VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG20, and HG21 include an Easy button that sets the camcorder to all automatic settings. When you set your camcorder to Easy mode, if you press the Easy button again, you enter the Flexible recording mode, where you can access the Function menu. Likewise, if the Mode switch of the VIXIA HV20, HV30, HG10, or HR10 is set to Auto, many of the menu options will be grayed out. When you set the Mode switch to the P position, you can access most menu options.

P AWB OFF OFF

SP OFF

PROGRAM AE

P

Tv

Av

2.2 You make your selection from the left side of the Function menu. The options for that menu option appear at the bottom of the menu.

Recording modes The recording modes of the Function menu enable you to make broad, overall configurations that control how the camcorder acquires images. Within these menu options, you can set recording options such as movie and still image quality, and Single or Continuous shooting while acquiring still images. You can also find the special scene recording programs such as Night and Sports that control shutter speed and aperture values automatically for specific shooting conditions.

Recording programs The recording programs of your VIXIA camcorder house some of the most basic shooting parameters and provide you with both convenience and flexibility when recording in various shooting conditions. You can find recording programs under the P icon in the Function menu. Basically, whenever you need to adapt to a new shooting environment, such as adjusting from daytime shooting to nighttime shooting, you go to these programs. By default, the VIXIA camcorders are set to Program AE, which is represented by an icon of a P. While using the (P) Program AE setting, the camcorder automatically

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder adjusts crucial values such as exposure, white balance, and shutter speed for the best picture. An important thing to note here is that when you choose any of the other settings under the P option, the P icon is replaced with a new icon in the Function menu. So, if you have already changed this setting, the P icon to which I am referring may not be visible. If this is the case, I am simply referring to the first icon in the Function menu. If you want to manually set shutter or aperture values, you need to access (Tv) ShutterPrio.AE or (Av) Aperture-Prio.AE under the P option. Use the recording program options to give your video a more cinematic look by choosing the Cine Mode option. The special scene recording options are also here, letting you choose programs such as Portrait for a more shallow depth of field and Night for dimly lit scenes. Check out Chapter 6 for a more detailed discussion on shutter and aperture priority. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about shutter and aperture values, special scene recording programs, and Cinema mode.

Light metering mode You can only access the light metering menu option while in Still image mode, and it is represented by an icon of a frame. Use these settings to instruct your camera how to measure the light level in a scene to achieve optimal exposure. The options for light metering are as follows:

P

AWB OFF OFF

EVALUATIVE 2.3 Light metering can only be accessed in Still image mode.

White balance Use the white balance features of your VIXIA camcorder to accurately reproduce colors when shooting in various lighting situations, so that neutral colors such as white and gray are truly neutral. You can access the white balance features in both Movie and Still image modes. By default, the camcorder is set to adjust the white balance automatically and is set to AWB (Automatic White Balance) in the Function menu. Use the white balancing options under AWB to further optimize your white balance settings when shooting in daylight, shade, and cloudy conditions. You can also perform a manual white balance for the camcorder. The white balance options are:

✦ Auto ✦ Daylight ✦ Shade ✦ Cloudy ✦ Tungsten ✦ Fluorescent

✦ Evaluative

✦ Fluorescent H

✦ Center Weighted Average

✦ Set (Custom)

✦ Spot Take a look at Chapter 3 to learn more about the light metering options.

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Learn more about white-balance options and white balance in general in Chapter 6. You also learn how to set a manual white balance.

64 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Image effects By default, the Image Effects are set to Off in the Function menu. Use the image effects to gain more control over your images, such as using the Vivid option to increase color saturation and contrast to bring out the colors in a flowerbed, or the Soft Skin Detail option to hide imperfections and soften the details of a subject’s skin in a portrait. These effects can be accessed in both Movie and Still image modes. The Image Effects options are as follows:

✦ Image Effect Off ✦ Vivid ✦ Neutral ✦ Low Sharpening ✦ Soft Skin Detail ✦ Custom

Learn how to use the digital effects in Chapter 3.

Drive mode The Drive mode menu option can only be accessed in the Function menu while in Still image mode and is represented by an icon of a picture frame. Use the Continuous shooting drive mode option when you need to take a series of photos in rapid succession to capture subjects in motion. When you hold down the photo button in one of the continuous shooting options, you can capture beautiful imagery frame by frame, such as a bird taking flight from a lake. You can also perform Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) in Drive mode, which enables you to take one photo in three different exposures: dark, normal, and light. This gives you the option of later choosing which one you like the most.

Chapter 3 describes the Image Effects options in more detail.

Chapter 3 discusses the Drive mode options in greater detail.

Digital effects Use the Digital Effects options to perform effects that you would normally create during the video-editing process. This menu option is only available in Movie mode. Some of these effects enable you to fade up or down and even apply color effects. Keep in mind that when you use these effects, they become a permanent part of your video. The default state of the Digital Effects is Off, so navigate down to the D. Effect Off option in the Function menu to access the following options:

✦ D. Effect Off ✦ F1 (Fade-T) ✦ F2 (Wipe) ✦ E1 (Blk&Wht) ✦ E2 (Sepia) ✦ E3 (Art)

P

AWB OFF OFF

SINGLE H

2.4 The drive mode options are only accessible in Still image mode.

Recording mode This is the setting that you want to immediately change when using your camcorder for the first time, so that you can record in the highest quality HD your camcorder has to

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder offer. These options are only available in Movie mode for the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, and HR10. By default, the camcorder is set to record in (SP) Standard Play at 7 Mbps. If you have been recording with this setting, then you haven’t seen the true picture quality of your camcorder. Navigate to SP in the Function menu and choose the first setting in the list to record at the highest quality with your VIXIA camcorder. This menu option is available only in Movie mode. Check out Chapter 3 to learn how to set the recording mode for your particular camcorder.

P

AWB OFF OFF

SP STANDARD PLAY 7 OFF SP LP 2.5 The recording mode options are accessible only in Movie mode.

Still image simultaneous recording This recording option is represented in the Function menu by an icon of a still photo camera and the word Off in the middle of it. When in Movie mode, if you want to have the convenience of taking a still photo while recording video, you need to designate an image size from one of these options prior to beginning to film:

✦ (Off) ✦ (LW) 1920 × 1080 ✦ (SW) 848 × 480

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You can also choose the image quality for the photos you take from these choices:

✦ Superfine ✦ Fine ✦ Normal Learn how to perform simultaneous recording in Chapter 3.

Still image size/quality The previous setting was for choosing the resolution of still images when recording video; this option is for when the camera is in Still image mode and can take advantage of higher resolution. Before you take a still photo, you can designate the image size and quality. The default value is 2048 ×1536 and is represented by the L icon located in the Function menu; this is where you need to go to designate a new setting. The s next to the L is representative of the image quality chosen after you choose the image size. Here are the available options for image size:

✦ (LW) 1920 ×1080 ✦ (L) 2048 ×1536 ✦ (M) 1440 × 1080 ✦ (S) 640 × 480 After you select the image size, you can choose the image quality from these options:

✦ Super Fine ✦ Fine ✦ Normal Learn more about setting photo size and quality in Chapter 3.

66 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

Playback modes

✦ All Scenes. All scenes are copied to

After you have recorded your movies and still images, the playback modes help you manage those images by enabling you to create playlists, copy movies and still images to new locations, and protect images from accidental erasure. You can also designate the number of photocopies for print by creating print orders. To access the following menus, you must be in either Movie playback or Still image playback mode.

✦ All Scenes (This date). All scenes

Copy Use Copy, while in Movie playback mode, to copy original movies, or an entire playlist, from the built-in storage to a memory card. These options are represented in the Function menu by an icon of two overlapping picture frames with a video camcorder in the middle. If you don’t have a memory card in the slot, this option is grayed out. Because the VIXIA HF10 does not possess internal storage and operates on memory card only, you can’t perform this function with that particular camcorder. Depending on your VIXIA model, the options for the copy function vary. This function is not offered with the VIXIA HV20 or HV30 models. Here are the options for copying scenes.

the memory card. shot on a specific date are copied to the memory card.

✦ One Scene. Copies only one scene from the internal storage to a memory card. Follow these steps to copy a scene from the internal storage to the memory card:

1. Set the camcorder to Movie playback mode. The scene index appears.

2. Use the navigation controls to pick a scene in the index, and then press the Function button to access the menu.

3. Navigate to the Copy option and press the Set button to access that menu.

4. Choose one of the options, then press the Set button.

5. Choose Yes, then press OK to confirm the setting.

6. Press the Function button to exit the menu. In regard to managing your movies and photos, I suggest that you get in the habit of downloading them to your computer, regularly! If something happens to your camcorder or your memory card, you can replace them, but if you lose your movies and photos, those moments are lost forever.

COPY

Add To Playlist 2.6 The Copy option in Movie playback mode. This option will be grayed out if you don’t have a memory card in the slot.

The Add To Playlist option enables you to make a list of recorded scenes of interest for playback. You can find this menu option in Movie playback mode. This is a great option for when you have many recorded movies

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder on your camcorder and you want to filter them for reviewing while in Movie playback mode. You also have the flexibility of managing your playlist by deleting scenes and rearranging them. Use this option for reviewing convenience before you ultimately download your scenes to your computer. Following are the options for adding scenes to a playlist. Depending on your VIXIA model, your options may vary from this list. The Add To Playlist option is not available for the VIXIA HV20 or HV30.

Divide The VIXIA HG20, HG21, HG10, and HR10 models give you the option of dividing scenes, or editing them, so you can exclude parts of the scene during movie playback. I would suggest that you use a video-editing program to cut out the parts of your video that you do not want and not perform this in-camera. Dividing scenes can sometimes cause the sound and audio to play irregularly where the scene was cut.

✦ All Scenes (this date) ✦ This Scene ✦ Selected Scenes

Move As you add scenes to a playlist, they are played back in the order in which you add them. Use the Move option to rearrange scenes in a playlist while in Movie playback mode. The Move option is only accessible from the Playlist index screen. At first glance the Move icon in the Function menu may appear abstract, but once you actually move a scene in a playlist, you discover that it is quite representative of how it functions. This option is not available for the VIXIA HV20 or HV30. To learn how to add scenes to a playlist, then rearrange them, check out Chapter 3.

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Delete Deleting video scenes while in Movie playback mode is an option available only to the tape-free camcorders in the VIXIA lineup. When you press the trash can icon, you delete scenes that you no longer want in Movie playback mode. Your options for deleting scenes follow. Depending on your VIXIA model, some of the choices in this list vary.

✦ All Scenes ✦ All Scenes (this date) ✦ This Scene ✦ Selected Scenes Chapter 3 provides more detailed information on deleting scenes.

Select Date/Scene Search MOVIES: PLAYLIST

MOVE

2.7 The Move option in the Playlist index screen in Movie playback mode

This function can only be accessed in the Original movies index and is only available with the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, and HG21 models. While in Movie playback mode, you use this function to locate scenes that you recorded on a specific date. In the VIXIA HG20 and HG21, this function is known as Scene Search. If you can remember the month, date, or year of the event you had recorded, you can save

68 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder yourself a lot of time as opposed to navigating from page to page looking for video. Again, this is another way to wade through a ton of scenes left on your camcorder. As I mentioned before, get into the habit of shooting and downloading your scenes to your computer for more efficient file management. Follow these steps to select scenes by recording date:

1. Select the Original movies index screen by selecting either the built-in storage or memory card at the top of the screen while in Movie playback mode.

2. Press the Function button to access the Function menu, and then navigate to the Select Date option in the menu, which is represented by an icon of a calendar, and press the Set button. A list of all dates on which you recorded appears. An orange selection frame also appears over the day of one of the recordings.

3. Use the navigation controls to change the date and move to the proper month or year in the list, then press the Set button. The index screen now appears with the selection frame on the first recording for the date you specified.

Slide show To view your photos in a slide show, put your camcorder into Still image playback mode, then select a photo with the navigation tools and press the Play button at the bottom of the LCD. Each image plays one after the other. Press the Stop button to end playback.

Protect This option is to keep you from accidentally erasing specific photos. If other people use your camcorder, you should definitely first protect your most precious photos from accidental erasure, or better yet, download them to your computer for safe storage. When you set your camcorder to Still photo playback mode, this menu option appears as a key-shaped icon in the Function menu. Protecting your images does not prevent them from being erased when you initialize the storage device. Also, do not initialize memory cards with any other devices other than the camcorder. Chapter 3 shows you how to protect your photos.

STILL IMAGES

PROTECT

2.9 The Protect option in Still image playback mode 2.8 The Select Date icon for the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, and HG21 models and the Select Scene menu icon for the VIXIA HG20 and HG21.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

Print order Use this option in Still image playback mode to designate in advance the photos that you want to print along with the number of copies. After you complete the print order, use a USB cable to connect your camcorder to a PictBridge-compatible printer and print your photos. Follow these steps to set a print order:

1. Set the camcorder to Still image mode, then open the Still images selection screen by moving the zoom lever to the W position.

2. Use the navigation controls to select the image for which you want to set a print order, then press the Set button. The image is now full screen.

3. Press the Function button and navigate to the Print Order selection in the menu, then press the Set button to choose that photo. Onscreen, you can now see that 0 prints have been set for that image.

4. Press the Set button to choose the print value, then use the navigation controls to move up or down to set the number of copies you want. An important thing to note with this step is that if you don’t press the Set button to choose the copy value before you begin using the navigation controls, you are going to access the wrong menu. Only after you press the Set button and the copy value turns orange are you ready to enter the number of copies.

5. Connect the camcorder to the printer using the USB cable.

6. Press the Function button, navigate to the Menu option, and then press the Set button.

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7. Navigate to the Print option in the menu. The print settings menu appears.

8. Select Print in the menu, then press the Set button to begin printing.

Transfer Order This menu option is available only in Still image playback mode. You can create transfer orders to mark specific still images in advance for download to your computer. Instead of setting transfer orders, I find it much easier to pick the photos that I want to download using the CameraWindow software that comes with the camcorder. The CameraWindow software is located on the Canon Digital Video Solutions Disk, and it automatically launches when you connect the camcorder to the computer. The software gives you the option of selecting images for download. This way, you can see all the photos that exist on your camcorder, go through each picture, and perform a group selection of non-contiguous pictures by holding down the Shift button on your keyboard and clicking multiple images for download.

Setup Menus The setup menus enable you to personalize the use of the camcorder and your recording experience by offering a wide array of options for tweaking the bells and whistles of the VIXIA series. These options range from letting you select a frame rate in which to record to changing how your camcorder interacts with connected external devices. Navigate down to the Menu option in the Function menu to access the setup menus. The menus are organized differently from model to model, so this chapter’s exploration of the setup menus has been grouped into camcorders that are the most similar.

70 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder The information in this section has been organized by relevant menu topics across all camcorder modes. For example, the available System Setup options for all camcorder modes are grouped together. If you are following along in your camcorder’s menu system as you read this section, at times you will need to switch modes to continue.

P

AWB OFF OFF

SP MENU OFF

SET

2.10 The Menu option in the Function menu

VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100 This section covers all the camera setup menu options for the VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100 camcorders. At first, it may seem like a lot of information to ingest, but as you navigate through the menu options you will quickly discover the settings that are most important to you in your own day-to-day recordings. This field guide is meant to be a shooting companion that you can take with you. Use it as a reference for setting up your camcorder quickly, and as a source of instruction for those settings that you don’t use everyday but may need on a special occasion. Not only does this section help you to find the menu that you need, but it also supplies tips and shortcuts where possible.

Camera Setup The Camera Setup menu enables you to configure settings regarding optics and also provides a self-timer for setting a ten-second

countdown before recording, so that you can get into the picture.

✦ Self Timer. The self-timer lets you set a ten-second countdown before the camcorder begins to record so that you can get yourself into the picture. The countdown appears onscreen and is accompanied by a tone. A rapid succession of beeps signifies the camcorder is about to begin recording. A tripod helps you get the most out of this option by providing you with flexibility in your recording locations and helping you achieve a nice, level shot. The self-timer function is available in both Movie and Still image modes. Switch this setting to the On position to take advantage of the selftimer feature. Chapter 3 shows you how to implement the self-timer function.

✦ D. Zoom. The digital zoom gives you the illusion of a longer zoom range by enlarging the subject once you have reached the limit of the optical zoom. During this process the image can be greatly degraded. You may want to consider purchasing a telephoto converter lens for your camcorder to increase your focal length and maintain the quality of the image. The choices for the digital zoom setting are Off, 40X, or 200X. By default, the camcorder is set to Off. The digital zoom is only available while the camcorder is in Movie mode.

✦ Zoom Speed. Access this menu option in Movie mode and in Still image mode. Use this menu option to control how fast the zoom lever responds to your touch. Variable is the default value; this setting lets

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder you press the zoom lever gently for a slow zoom or firmly for a fast zoom. There are also three predetermined speeds. The Speed 3 option is the slowest setting and the Speed 1 is the fastest setting. Chapter 3 shows you how to set the zoom speed and discusses the benefits of using a fast or slow zoom speed.

✦ AF Mode. Set the speed at which your camcorder can acquire an automatic focus under the AF mode option. The default setting is Instant AF, where the autofocus adapts quickly to a new subject to acquire a sharp focus. The other option is Normal AF. The Instant AF option works well for almost any given recording situation. These options are available both in Movie and Still image modes.

CAMERA SETUP SELF TIMER D.ZOOM ZOOM SPEED AF MODE FOCUS ASSIST IMG STAB FRAME RATE NEXT PAGE

OFF OFF VAR I.AF ON ON

CAMERA SETUP PREV PAGE A.SL SHUTTER ON WIND SCREEN A MIC ATT ON

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✦ Focus Assist. When performing a manual focus in both Movie and Still image modes, the Focus assist option increases the magnification of the center of the subject you are shooting, enabling you to see its detail and acquire a sharp manual focus. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about performing a manual focus.

✦ AF Ast Lamp. This option is located in the Camera Setup menu in Still image mode. When taking a photo in dark conditions, the Automatic Focus Assist lamp may fire as you press the Photo button halfway down to help bring the subject into focus. You can set the lamp to Off to keep it from firing. This option is only available in Still image mode.

✦ Focus Pri. While in Still image mode, the Focus priority feature gives you control over which part of the image is in sharp focus and gives you three options: On, Center, and Off. By default, all VIXIA models are set to On and use a 9-point AiAF (Artificial Intelligence Autofocus) that scans the subject with a set of nine focusing areas across the scene. The default setting lets you get a sharp focus no matter where the subject is situated onscreen. This option is only available in Still image mode. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about setting focus priority.

✦ Img Stab. Access this menu option 2.11 The Camera Setup menu options in Movie mode

in Movie mode and in Still image mode. The camcorder’s image stabilizer helps to compensate for the average camera shake that occurs when you are doing hand-held recording. This feature helps steady

72 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder the image when you are fully zoomed into a faraway object and every slight shake of the camcorder is magnified. I recommend leaving this set to On. The image stabilizer is less effective when shooting in extremely low-light situations using the Night recording mode, so make sure that you use a tripod. When using a tripod, turn off the image stabilizer when acquiring both video and still images. The image stabilizer compensates for camera shake so you can achieve a more steady shot, but when there is no shake, like when using a tripod, it can have an adverse effect on your video.

✦ Frame Rate. While in Movie mode, use the frame rate options to take advantage of the 24p and 30p recording capabilities of your camcorder. Consider using the 30p option for video that you plan on encoding for the Web at 15 frames per second (fps) for higher quality online video. The 24p setting gives your high-definition video a more cinematic look. The 60i Normal option is the default frame rate of the camcorder and provides a look that is similar to what you see on the local news. Chapter 3 explains the implementation of the 30p and 24p frames rates in much more detail.

✦ A. SL Shutter. The VIXIA camcorders automatically utilize a slow shutter speed in low-light situations for brighter recordings. In Movie mode, the shutter speed can adjust to as low as 1/30 and in 24p mode as low as 1/12. In Still image mode, it can adjust as low as 1/15. You can turn this setting to Off if you notice a trail after images during

shooting in low light, but be prepared for a much darker image. I would suggest that you use a tripod to stabilize the image in low-light situations. In Chapter 6 you learn how to implement the automatic exposure (AE) option as well as the shutter speed guidelines and available aperture values.

✦ Review. After you take a photo in Still image mode, the image is left onscreen for a specified time for review. You can adjust the time the image stays onscreen by choosing one of the options in this menu. Your choices are Off, 2 sec, 4 sec, 6 sec, 8 sec, and 10 sec. By default, this option is set for two seconds. Alternately, after you take a photo, you can press the Display button inside the LCD cavity to display the newly taken photo indefinitely. After you press the Display button, press the Photo button down halfway to return to the normal display. Two seconds is a very short time to adequately review an image, so consider changing this setting to 8 or 10 seconds.

✦ Wind Screen. You can access this menu option only in Movie mode. The windscreen feature helps cut down on the sound of gusting wind when you are recording movies with the built-in stereo microphone, and is set to Auto by default. When set to Auto, this feature does suppress some low-frequency audio, so if you want to pick up those sounds, you may want to turn it off. Any time that you attach an external microphone to your camcorder, the Wind Screen setting automatically adjusts to Off.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder If you do decide to turn off the windscreen feature, be mindful of the recording environment, as the camcorder microphone is prone to picking up wind noise. Consider only turning off this feature during indoor shooting.

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Information screen also provides information on the Speed Class of the memory card, if you have a memory card inserted. The Speed Class Rating is used to specify the write speed of the memory car. This menu screen is available in all camcorder modes.

Chapter 6 shows you how to use external microphones with your camcorder.

✦ Mic Att. When recording loud sounds such as fireworks, sporting events, and concerts in Movie mode, the sound can become distorted. Set the Mic Att (for microphone attenuator) option to the On position to control the audio levels and prevent loud sounds from becoming distorted during recording. Check out Chapter 5 to learn how to manually adjust recorded audio levels and to see how to turn on microphone attenuation.

Memory Oper. The Memory Operations menu has many options for managing recorded movies and still images on the camcorder flash memory.

✦ Memory Info. The memory information screen lets you verify how much of the internal memory and memory card is in use. There is also an estimate of how much memory is available for recording. This menu screen is available in all camcorder modes.

✦ Card Info. The card information screen essentially gives you the same information as the Memory Info screen, and a little more. This screen also lets you verify how much of the internal memory and memory card is in use and provides an estimate of how much memory is available for recording. The Card

MEMORY OPER. MEMORY INFO CARD INFO MEDIA:MOVIES MEDIA:IMAGES INITIALIZE

2.12 The Memory Operations menu in Movie mode. The Card Info option is grayed out if there is no memory card in the memory slot.

✦ Media : Movies. You can choose to record movies to the internal drive or an inserted memory card with this menu option. The VIXIA HF100 only records to an inserted memory card, so only the VIXIA HF10 and HF11 have this option. By default, the VIXIA HF10 and HF11 record movies to the internal flash memory. This menu screen is available in both Movie mode and Still image mode.

✦ Media : Images. You can choose to record still images to the internal drive or internal flash memory, or an inserted memory card with this menu option. The VIXIA HF100 only records to a single storage medium, which is an inserted memory card, so only the VIXIA HF10 and HF11 have this option. By default the VIXIA HF10 and HF11 record still images to the internal flash memory. This option is available in all camcorder modes.

74 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Del. All Movies. You can use this option to delete all movie scenes on the internal drive or inserted flash drive while in Movie playback mode. Your options are No and Yes.

✦ Del. Playlist. You can use this option to delete entire playlists while in Movie playback mode. This option can only be accessed from the Playlist index screen. Your options are No and Yes.

✦ Erase All (print) Ord. You can erase all print orders while in Still image playback mode. Your options are No and Yes.

✦ Erase All (transfer) Ord. You can erase all transfer orders while in Still image mode by choosing Yes from these options.

✦ Erase All Images. You can erase all still images while in Still image playback mode by choosing Yes from these options.

✦ Initialize. You can use these menu options to initialize the inserted memory cards the first time you use them and to permanently delete all recordings stored on the inserted memory or internal memory. Initializing your memory cards and hard drives has benefits that span beyond the simple fact that it removes all recordings from your drive; it can also help maintain the performance of your camcorder by eliminating fragmentation. You can choose to perform a Quick Initialization or a Complete Initialization. This menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes. Protecting your images does not prevent them from being erased when you initialize the storage device. Also, do not initialize memory cards with any other device other than the camcorder.

Chapter 3 explains the benefits of initialization and how to implement the process.

Display Setup The Display Setup enables you to control how certain functions, information, and markers are displayed.

✦ Brightness. When shooting in bright conditions, the camcorder LCD may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust its brightness for easier viewing. This option is available in all the camcorder modes. To avoid going into the menu system to change the brightness of the LCD, you can also hold down the Display button for more than two seconds. This toggles the screen between normal and bright settings. Hold down the button again to return the brightness setting to its default state.

DISPLAY SETUP BRIGHTNESS ON AUDIO LEVEL ON TV SCREEN OFF MARKERS LANGUAGE ON DEMO MODE

2.13 The Display Setup menu options in Movie mode

✦ Audio Level. This option is available only in Movie mode. You can monitor the audio recording levels for built-in or external microphones used with your camcorder while recording movies. When this menu option is set to On, you can view the audio levels onscreen with the

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Audio level indicator while you are recording. It’s very important that you keep your eye on this level as you’re shooting. Anything around 0 dB on the meter is way too loud and begins to distort. The audio should average around –12 dB on the audio meter. Chapter 5 goes into a much more detailed discussion about recording audio and offers solutions on how to acquire solid audio in various shooting situations.

✦ TV Screen. When you connect your camcorder to a television set, the camcorder’s onscreen display information appears on the TV screen until you change this setting to Off. This menu option is available in Movie mode and in Still image mode. A quick way to avoid going into the menu system to turn off the camcorder’s onscreen display information is to press the Display button, located on the inside of the LCD cavity, to toggle the display information on and off.

✦ Data Code. This option lets you choose to display either the date or time, or both, as you play back your movies. Your choices are Date, Time, Date & Time, and Camera Data. The Camera Data option displays camcorder settings such as aperture value and shutter speed during the time of shooting stills.

✦ Markers. You use markers to help you compose the best shot possible. This menu option offers you a variety of grids and horizontal lines that give you a reference point so that you make sure your subject is framed properly, both horizontally and vertically. The grids and horizontal lines are offered in either

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white or gray, so that you do not have a hard time seeing them whether you use this option for a light or dark scene. This menu option is available in both Movie and Still image mode. Your choices are:

• Off • Level (Wht) • Level (Gry) • Grid (Wht) • Grid (Gry) ✦ Language. You change the language used for your camcorder’s menu system by choosing an option from this menu in all camcorder modes.

✦ Start Week. In Movie playback mode, you can choose the day on which the week starts for the calendar display. Your choices are Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. When the Original movies index screen is selected, you can press the zoom lever on the camcorder toward the W again to access the calendar screen. Dates in the calendar where movies where recorded appear in white. By default, the calendar week is set to Monday.

✦ Demo Mode. When you walk into an electronics store, you typically find the camcorder in Demo mode. When Demo mode is set to On, and the camcorder remains inactive for five minutes, the demonstration mode launches and begins displaying the camcorder’s main features. Demo mode only launches when the power adapter is powering the camcorder. By default, Demo mode is set to On. You can access this menu in Movie and Still image mode to turn it off.

76 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder System Setup The System Setup lets you configure camcorder settings to fit your individual needs such as power save options and camcorder sounds, as well as to use external devices with the camera.

✦ Battery Info. This menu option displays a screen that lets you see the remaining charge left for the battery in terms of percentages. It also shows an estimated remaining recording time. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

SYSTEM SETUP BATTERY INFO ON WL. REMOTE BEEP POWER SAVE QUICK START 1Omin AV/PHONES PHONES VOL. NEXT PAGE SYSTEM SETUP PREV PAGE IMG NUMBERS COMP. OUT 1O8Oi HDMI STATUS

2.14 The System Setup menu options. When the power adapter is plugged in, the Power Save option is grayed out.

✦ WL. Remote. To be able to use the remote control that came with your camcorder, leave this option set to On. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ Beep. You can control the volume of beeps that occur during certain camcorder operations, such as beeps when you are using the selftimer, turning the camcorder on, and switching modes, by choosing High Volume, Low Volume, and Off. The camcorder is set to High Volume by default. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ Power Save. When the Power Save menu option is set to On, the camcorder powers down after five minutes of inactivity while running on battery power. You are given about a 30-second warning before shutdown, when the Auto Power Off message appears. By default, Power Save is set to On. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ Quick Start. The Quick Start menu option is available in both Movie and Still image mode. When you close the LCD panel, the camcorder is placed into standby mode and conserves battery power. When you flip open the LCD, the camcorder immediately goes back to recording mode. This is a good way to save power without shutting down the camcorder. It also enables you to begin recording quickly without having to power the camera back up. The Quick Start menu option lets you decide whether the Quick Start function activates when you close the LCD and how long the camcorder stays in standby mode before it powers down completely. Your options are Off, 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min, and you can change this setting while in either Movie or Still image mode. The default time for the camcorder to stay in standby mode is ten minutes.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ AV/Phones. The AV Out/Phones terminal performs double duty as an analog out and as a terminal for connecting headphones. This menu option lets you choose the function of the terminal while in Movie and Movie playback modes. By default this setting is set to AV Out, so make sure you change this setting to Phones before you use your headphones or you will hear loud interference.

✦ Phones Vol. Adjust the volume of your headphones while in Movie mode and Movie playback modes using this setting. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the volume.

✦ Speaker Vol. Adjust the volume of the built in speaker while in Movie playback mode using this setting. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the volume.

✦ Img Numbers. When images are acquired to the camcorder’s memory card, they are numbered consecutively from 0101 to 9900, and are stored in folders that are numbered 101 to 998. This menu option lets you control how images are numbered when you insert a new memory card. Your choices are Reset and Continuous. Reset causes images to restart from 1010101 whenever you put a new card into the camcorder. Continuous is the default value, and images are consecutively numbered on a new card following the last image recorded to the previous card. You can adjust this setting from all camcorder modes.

✦ Img Quality. Your VIXIA camcorder has the ability to capture photos from recorded scenes in Movie

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playback mode. You select the quality of your image here. Your choices are LW Super Fine, LW Fine, and LW Normal. Chapter 3 shows you how to capture photos from recorded video scenes.

✦ TV Type. Access this menu option in Movie playback mode. Use the settings under this menu option to play back your video footage in the correct aspect ratio on a television set. Your choices are 4:3 Normal TV and 16:9 Wide TV. Chapter 8 shows you how to make the necessary connections to play back your images on a television as well as how to choose the correct TV type.

✦ Comp. Out. You can use a component cable to connect to either a standard-definition or high-definition television to play back your video. Choose a setting in this menu to use either the 480i standard-definition specification or the 1080i high-definition specification for playback. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ HDMI Status. This screen lets you verify the specification of the video output signal from the HDMI (HighDefinition Multimedia Interface) mini terminal to a television monitor. This reading is contingent upon whether the monitor you are using is capable of displaying 480i or 1080i video. The screen is blank when there is no HDMI cable connected to the camcorder. You can access these menu options in all camcorder modes.

78 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ USB Setting. This menu option is accessible in Movie playback mode and Still image playback mode. By default, whenever you connect the camcorder to a device using a USB cable, your camcorder prompts you to select the connection protocol — DVD Burner or PC/Printer — in the LCD screen. In this menu option you can preconfigure the camcorder to connect using one of these protocols. I recommend leaving this setting at its default setting, Connect & Set, where as soon as you make the connection you are given the choice to choose DVD Burner or PC/Printer. The DVD burner option is exclusively for the Canon DW-100 DVD burner. Learn more about the Canon DW-100 DVD burner in Chapter 8.

✦ Add to Disc. In Movie playback mode, the Canon DW-100 DVD burner enables you to burn highdefinition (Advanced Video Codec High Definition, or AVCHD) DVDs. This menu lets you choose which images to burn to the disc. Your options for burning a photo DVD while in Still image playback mode are All Images and Trans. Ord, which creates a DVD from images that are only marked with transfer orders. The following options are available:

• All Scenes. Add all scenes to the DVD with this option.

• Rem. Scenes. Use this option to add all remaining scenes that have not been previously added to a DVD.

• Playlist. Add all scenes in a playlist to the DVD.

✦ Firmware. Think of firmware as a software patch or update that addresses functionality issues with your camcorder. Sometimes, a new camcorder accessory may require that you update the firmware before you can use it with your camcorder. While in Still image playback mode, you can check the current version of the camcorder’s firmware under the Firmware menu option. You can find firmware updates at Canon’s Web site under Downloads.

Date/Time Setup The Date/Time Setup enables you to set date and time for your specific time zone as well as configure other date and time information. These menu options can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

✦ T. Zone/DST. Use this menu option to set the time zone for your location. To adjust for daylight saving time, select your location from the list that is marked with an icon of the sun next to it.

✦ Date/Time. This menu lets you set the date and time. If you are turning on your camcorder for the first time, you need to set the date and time before you can begin using it.

DATE/TIME SETUP T.ZONE/DST DATE/TIME DATE FORMAT NEW YORK DEC.18, 2OO8 11:21 AM 2.15 The Date/Time Setup menu options

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Check out the Quick Tour section of this book for more information on setting the date and time.

✦ Date Format. By default, the date format that is used for the camcorder’s onscreen displays (and printed on photos — if that option is turned on) is set to show month, day, and year (M.D.Y.). This information is also printed on photos when it is turned on. Use this menu option to change the format to Y.M.D. or D.M.Y.

VIXIA HG20 and HG21 The section covers all the camera setup menu options for the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 camcorders. At first, it may seem like a lot of information to digest, but as you navigate through the menu options you will quickly discover the settings that are most important to you in your own day-to-day recordings. This field guide is meant to be a shooting companion that you can take with you. Use it as a reference for setting up your camcorder quickly and as a source of instruction for those settings that you don’t use everyday, but may need on a special occasion. Not only does this section help you find the menu that you need but it also supplies tips and shortcuts where possible.

Camera Setup 1 The Camera Setup 1 menu is the first of two menus that enable you to configure system settings to fit your individual recording needs.

✦ Rec Media for Movies. You can choose to record movies to the internal drive or an inserted memory card with this menu option. By default, the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 record movies to the built-in hard disk. This option is available in both Movie and Still image modes.

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Rec Media for Movies Rec Media for Photos Frame Rate Self Timer Focus Assist Functions Onscreen Markers Audio Level Indicator

60i OFF ON OFF OFF

HDD HDD 60i (Standard) Off On Off Off

2.16 The first Camera Setup menu screen

✦ Rec Media for Photos. Choose to record still images to the built-in hard drive or an inserted memory card using this menu option. By default, the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 record still images to the internal hard disk. This option is available in both Movie and Still image modes.

✦ Frame Rate. This menu option is available only in Movie mode. Use the frame rate options to take advantage of the 24p and 30p recording capabilities of your camcorder. Consider using the 30p option for video that you plan on encoding for the Web at 15 fps for higher quality online video. The 24p setting gives your high-definition video a more cinematic look. By default both camcorders are set to record at 60i (Standard). The 60i Standard option provides a look that is similar to what you see on the local news. Chapter 3 explains the implementation of the 30p and 24p frames rates in much more detail.

✦ Self Timer. The self-timer lets you set a ten-second countdown before the camcorder begins to record, so that you can get yourself into the picture. The countdown appears onscreen and is accompanied by a tone. A rapid succession of beeps signifies the camcorder is about to

80 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder begin recording. A tripod helps you get the most out of this option by providing you with flexibility in your recording locations and helping you achieve a nice, level shot. The self-timer function is available in both Movie and Still camera modes. Switch this setting to the On position to take advantage of the Self Timer feature. Chapter 3 shows you how to implement the self timer function.

✦ Focus Assist Functions. When performing a manual focus in both Movie and Still image modes, the Focus assist option increases the magnification of the center of the subject you are shooting, enabling you to see its detail and acquire a sharp manual focus. It also helps you to evaluate focus by enhancing the edges of the subject. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about performing a manual focus.

✦ Onscreen Markers. Markers help you compose the best shot possible. This menu option offers you a variety of grids and horizontal lines that supply you a reference point so that you make sure your subject is framed properly, both horizontally and vertically. The grids and horizontal lines are offered in either white or gray, so that you do not have a hard time seeing them whether you use this option for a light or dark scene. This menu option is available in both Movie and Still image modes. Your choices are:

• Off • Level (Wht) • Level (Gry)

• Grid (Wht) • Grid (Gry) ✦ Audio Level Indicator. You can monitor the audio recording levels for built-in or external microphones used with your camcorder while recording movies. When this menu option is set to On, you can view the audio levels onscreen with the audio level indicator while you are recording. It’s very important that you keep your eye on this level as you’re shooting. Anything around 0 dB on the meter is way too loud and begins to distort. The audio should average around –12 dB on the Audio level indicator. This menu option is available in Movie mode only. Chapter 5 goes into a much more detailed discussion about recording audio and offers solutions on how to acquire solid audio in various shooting situations.

✦ Photo Review Time. After you take a still photo in still image mode, the image is left onscreen for a specified time for review. You can adjust the time the image stays onscreen by choosing one of the options in this menu. Your choices are Off, 2 sec, 4 sec, 6 sec, 8 sec, and 10 sec. By default, this option is set for two seconds. Alternately, after you take a photo, you can press the Display button inside the LCD cavity to display the newly taken photo indefinitely. After you press the Display button, press the Photo button down halfway to return to the normal display. Two seconds is a very short time to adequately review an image, so consider changing this setting to 8 or 10 seconds.

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Camera Setup 2 The second of the two Camera Setup menus enables you to configure settings regarding optics and audio.

✦ Digital Zoom. The digital zoom gives you the illusion of a longer zoom range by enlarging the subject once you have reached the limit of the optical zoom. During this process, the image can be greatly degraded. You may want to consider purchasing a telephoto converter lens for your camcorder to increase your focal length and maintain the quality of the image. The choices for the digital zoom setting are Off, 40X, or 200X. By default, the digital zoom is set to off. When using the digital zoom, keep in mind that the more you zoom in, the more the image deteriorates. The digital zoom is only available while the camcorder is in Movie mode.

✦ Zoom Speed. Use this menu option to control how fast the zoom lever responds to your touch when in Movie mode and Still image mode. Variable is the default value; this setting lets you press the zoom lever gently for a slow zoom or firmly for a fast zoom. There are also three predetermined speeds. The Speed 3 option is the slowest setting and the Speed 1 is the fastest setting. Chapter 3 shows you how to set the zoom speed and discusses the benefits of using a fast or slow zoom speed.

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Digital Zoom Zoom Speed AF Mode Image Stabilizer Auto Slow Shutter Wind Screen Microphone Attenuator

OFF

OFF

Off Speed 2 Instant AF Off

A OFF

Automatic Off

IAF

2.17 The second Camera Setup menu options screen

✦ AF Mode. Set the speed at which your camcorder can acquire an automatic focus under the AF Mode option. The default setting is Instant AF, where the autofocus adapts quickly to a new subject to acquire a sharp focus. The other option is Normal AF. The Instant AF option works well for almost any given recording situation. These options are available both in Movie and Still image modes.

✦ Focus Priority. The Focus priority feature gives you control over which part of the image is in sharp focus and gives you three options: AiAF Frames, Center Frame, and Off. By default, all VIXIA models use a 9-point AiAF that scans the subject with a set of nine focusing areas across the scene. The default setting lets you get a sharp focus no matter where the subject is situated onscreen. This menu option can be accessed in Still image mode only. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about setting focus priority.

82 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Image Stabilizer. This menu option can be accessed in Movie mode and in Still image mode. The camcorders image stabilizer helps to compensate for the average camera shake that occurs when you are doing hand-held recording. This feature helps to steady the image when you are fully zoomed into a faraway object and every slight shake of the camcorder is magnified. I recommend leaving this set to On. The image stabilizer is less effective when shooting in extremely low light situations using the Night recording mode, so make sure that you use a tripod. When using a tripod, turn off the image stabilizer when acquiring both video and still images. The image stabilizer compensates for camera shake so you can achieve a more steady shot, but when there is no shake, like when using a tripod, it can have an adverse effect on your video.

✦ Auto Slow Shutter. The VIXIA camcorders automatically utilize a slow shutter speed in low-light situations for brighter recordings. In Movie mode, the shutter speed can adjust to as low as 1/30 and in 24p mode as low as 1/12. In Still image mode, it can adjust as low as 1/15. You can turn this setting to Off if you notice a trail after images when shooting in low light, but be prepared for a much darker image. I would suggest that you use a tripod to stabilize the image in low-light situations. This option can be accessed in Movie mode and in Still image mode. In Chapter 6 you learn how to implement the automatic exposure (AE) option as well as learn the shutter speed guidelines and available aperture values.

✦ Wind Screen. The windscreen feature helps cut down on the sound of gusting wind while you are recording movies with the built-in stereo microphone, and it is set to Automatic by default. The Automatic setting suppresses some low frequency audio so if you want to pick up those sounds, you may want to turn it off. Any time that you attach an external microphone to your camcorder, the Wind Screen setting automatically adjusts to Off. Access this menu option in Movie mode only. If you do decide to turn off the windscreen feature, be mindful of the recording environment, as the camcorder microphone is prone to picking up wind noise. Consider only turning off this feature during indoor shooting. Chapter 6 shows you how to use external microphones with your camcorder.

✦ Microphone Attenuator. When recording loud sounds such as fireworks, sporting events, and concerts, the sound can become distorted. Set the attenuator option to On to control the audio levels and prevent loud sound from becoming distorted during recording. This option, as well as manually adjusting audio levels, is good for shooting in loud environments. Access this menu option in Movie mode only. Check out Chapter 5 to learn how to manually adjust recorded audio levels.

Playback Setup The Playback Setup menu options enable you to configure settings for still image

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder quality, print options, external connections, and displayed information.

✦ Rec Media for Photos. Choose to record still images to the built-in hard drive or an inserted memory card using this menu option. By default, the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 record still images to the internal hard drive. This option is available in both Movie and Still image modes.

✦ Photo Capture Quality. Your VIXIA camcorder has the ability to capture photos from recoded scenes in Movie playback mode. The quality of image that you can take is chosen here. Your choices are Super Fine, Fine, and Normal. Chapter 3 shows you how to capture photos from recorded video scenes.

✦ Data Code. This option lets you choose to display either the date or time, or both, as you play back your movies. Your choices are Date, Time, Date & Time, and Camera Data. The Camera Data option displays camcorder settings such as aperture value and shutter speed during the time of shooting.

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Rec Media for Photos Photo Capture Quality Data Code USB Connection Type Add Recordings to Disc

2.18 The Movie Playback menu

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✦ USB Connection Type. By default, whenever you connect the camcorder to a device using a USB cable, your camcorder prompts you to select the connection protocol — DVD Burner or PC/Printer — in the LCD screen. In this menu option you can preconfigure the camcorder to connect using one of these protocols. I recommend leaving this setting at its default setting, Connect & Set, where as soon as you make the connection you are given the choice to choose DVD Burner or PC/Printer onscreen. The DVD Burner option is exclusively for the Canon DW-100 DVD burner. This menu option is available in Move mode and Still image mode. Learn more about the Canon DW-100 DVD burner in Chapter 8.

✦ Add Recordings to Disc. The Canon DW-100 DVD burner enables you to burn high-definition (AVCHD) DVDs and photo DVDs. This menu lets you choose which images to burn to the disc. Your options for burning a photo DVD while in Still image playback mode are All Images, the default setting, and Trans. Ord, which creates a DVD from images that are only marked with transfer orders. The following options are available in Movie playback mode:

• All Scenes. Add all scenes to S LW

the DVD with this option. This is the default setting for this menu while in Movie playback mode.

• Rem. Scenes. Use this option to add all remaining scenes that have not been previously added to a DVD.

• Playlist. Add all scenes in a playlist to the DVD.

84 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Print. The Print menu lets you select printing options such as Paper Print, Date Print, Print Effect, and Number of Copies. The available options in the Print menu are dependent upon your printer model. Access this menu option in Still image playback mode only. Check out Chapter 8 for a more detailed discussion on printing options.

System Setup 1 The System Setup 1 menu enables you to configure overall system settings such as font size and language for the menu system and speaker volume, as well as to configure external connections.

✦ Font Size. Change the font size for the camcorder menu screens to Large or Small type. This menu option is accessible in all camcorder modes.

✦ Output Onscreen Displays. When you connect your camcorder to a television set, the camcorder’s onscreen display information shows on the TV set until you change this setting to Off. Access this menu option in both Movie mode and Still image mode. A quick way to avoid going into the menu system to turn off the camcorder’s onscreen display information is to press the Display button, located on the inside of the LCD cavity, to toggle the display information off and on.

✦ LCD Brightness. When shooting in bright conditions, the LCD screen of the camcorder may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust the brightness of the LCD screen for easier viewing. It also

adjusts the brightness of the viewfinder on the VIXIA HG21. This option is available in all the camcorder modes. To avoid going into the menu system to change the brightness of the LCD, you can also hold down the Display button for more than two seconds. This will toggle the screen between normal and bright settings. Hold down the button again to return the brightness setting to its default state.

✦ Language. You change the language used for your camcorder’s menu system by choosing an option from this menu. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ Component Output. You can use a component cable to connect to either a standard- or high-definition television to play back your video. Choose a setting in this menu to use either the 480i standard-definition specification or the 1080i highdefinition specification when connecting to a monitor. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ TV Type. Use the settings under this menu option to play back your video footage in the correct aspect ratio on a television. Your choices are 4:3 Normal TV and 16:9 Wide TV.

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Font Size Small A On Output Onscreen Displays ON LCD Brightness ENGLISH Language 1O8Oi 1080i Component Output Headphones AV/Headphones Headphone Volume Demo Mode

2.19 The first System Setup menu screen

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Chapter 8 shows you how to make the necessary connections to play back your images on a television set as well as how to choose the correct TV type.

✦ AV/Headphones. The AV Out/ Headphones terminal performs double duty as an analog out and as a terminal for connecting headphones while in Movie mode and Movie playback mode. This menu option lets you choose the function of the terminal. By default, this setting is set to AV Out, so make sure you change this setting to Headphones before you use your headphones or you will hear loud interference.

✦ Headphone Volume. Adjust the volume of your headphones while in Movie mode and Movie playback mode using this setting. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the volume.

✦ Speaker Volume. Adjust the volume of the built-in speaker while in Movie playback mode using this setting. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the volume.

✦ Demo Mode. When you walk into an electronics store, you typically find the camcorder in Demo mode. When Demo mode is set to On, and the camcorder remains inactive for five minutes, the demonstration mode launches and begins displaying the camcorder’s main features. Demo mode only launches when the power adapter is powering the camcorder. By default, Demo mode is set to On. This menu option can be accessed in Movie and Still image modes.

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System Setup 2 The System Setup 2 menu options enable you to configure camcorder settings such as power save options and notification sounds, as well as to connect to external devices with the camera.

✦ Wireless Remote Control. To be able to use the remote control that came with your camcorder, leave this option set to On. This menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

✦ Notification Sounds. You can control the volume of beeps that occur during certain camcorder operations, such as beeps when you are using the self-timer, turning the camcorder on, and switching modes, by choosing High Volume, Low Volume, and Off. The camcorder is set to High Volume by default. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ Power Saving Mode. When the Power Saving Mode menu option is set to On, the camcorder powers down after five minutes of inactivity while running on battery power. You are given about a 30-second warning before shutdown, when the Auto Power Off appears. By default, this mode is set to On. This menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

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Wireless Remote Control Notification Sounds Power Saving Mode Quick Start Control for HDMI Initialize / Photo Numbering Drop Sensor

ON

On Low Volume ON On 1Omin 10min OFF Off

ON

Continuous On

2.20 The second System Setup menu screen in Movie mode

86 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Quick Start. When you close the LCD panel, the camcorder is placed into standby mode and conserves battery power. When you flip open the LCD, the camcorder is immediately placed back into recording mode. This is a good way to save power without shutting down the camcorder. It also enables you to begin recording quickly without having to power the camera back up. The Quick Start menu option lets you decide whether the Quick Start function activates when you close the LCD and how long the camcorder stays in standby mode before it powers down completely. Your options are Off, 10 min, 20min, and 30 min. The default time for the camcorder to stay in standby mode is ten minutes. The Quick Start menu option is available in both Movie and Still image modes.

✦ Control for HDMI. When this feature is set to On, the HDMI CEC function is activated. This means you can connect to an HDMI CECcompatible HD TV with an HDMI cable and control camcorder playback by way of the TV remote. When you turn on your camcorder using the feature, the TV turns on as well. When you turn off the TV, the camcorder shuts down. The Control for HDMI setting is set to Off by default. This feature works in all camcorder modes. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ Initialize. Use these menu options to initialize memory cards the first time you use them, and to permanently delete all recordings stored

on the inserted memory or internal memory. Initializing your cards and hard drive has benefits that span beyond the simple fact that it removes all recordings from your drive; it also helps maintain the performance of your camcorder by eliminating fragmentation. Your options are to perform a Quick Initialization or a Complete Initialization on the hard disk drive (HDD) or memory card (Mem. Card); and you can also choose to cancel the operation. This menu option is available in all camcorder modes. Protecting your images does not prevent them from being erased when you initialize the storage device. Also, do not initialize memory cards with any other device other than the camcorder. Chapter 3 explains the benefits of initialization and how to implement the process.

✦ Photo Numbering. When images are acquired to the camcorder’s memory card, they are numbered consecutively from 0101 to 9900, and are stored in folders that are numbered 101 to 998. This menu option lets you control how images are numbered when you insert a new memory card. Your choices are Reset and Continuous. Reset causes images to restart from 1010101 whenever you put a new card into the camcorder. Continuous is the default value, and images are consecutively numbered on a new card following the last image recorded to the previous card. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

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✦ Drop Sensor. To protect against hard disk damage, your camcorder has a defense mechanism that can detect when it’s being dropped. There is no real detriment to leaving this setting activated, so leave the drop sensor set to On to decrease the chance of hard disk failure during an accident. This menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

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Time Zone/DST Date/Time Date Format

New York Jan. 1,2008 7:45 PM

2.21 The Date/Time menu screen in Movie mode

✦ Firmware. Think of firmware as a software patch or update that addresses functionality issues with your camcorder. Sometimes, a new camcorder accessory may require that you update the firmware before you can use it with your camcorder. While in Still image playback mode, you can check the current version of the camcorder’s firmware under the Firmware menu option. You can find firmware updates at Canon’s Web site under Downloads.

Date/Time Setup The Date/Time Setup enables you to set date and time for your specific time zone as well as configure other date and time information.

✦ Time Zone/DST. Use this menu option to set the time zone for your location. To adjust for daylight saving time, select your location from the list that is marked with an icon of the sun next to it. This menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

✦ Date/Time. This menu lets you set the date and time. If you are turning on your camcorder for the first time, you need to set the date and time before you can begin using it.

✦ Date Format. This menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes. By default, the date format that is used for the camcorder’s onscreen displays is set to show month, day, and year (M.D.Y.). This information is also printed on photos when it is turned on. Use this menu option to change the format to Y.M.D. or D.M.Y.

✦ Calendar Start Day. In Movie playback mode, you can choose the day on which the week starts for the calendar display. Your choices are Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. When the Original movies index screen is selected, you can press the zoom lever on the camcorder toward the W again to access the calendar screen. Dates in the calendar where movies were recorded appear in white. By default, the calendar week is set to Monday.

Information screens The Information screens provide you information on hard disk and memory card usage as well as remaining battery time. You can access these menu options from all camcorder modes.

88 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder i HDD Info Memory Card Info Battery Info HDMI Status

2.22 The Information screen in Movie mode

✦ HDD Info. This information screen provides you an estimate on how much of the hard disk is in use by displaying amount used and amount available.

✦ Memory Card Info. This information screen lets you verify how much of the memory card is in use. There is also an estimate of how much memory is available for recording. In this screen you can also verify the Speed Class of the memory card you are using. The Speed Class Rating is used to specify the write speed of the memory card.

✦ Battery Info. This menu option displays a screen that lets you see the remaining charge left for the battery in terms of percentages. You are also given an estimate of remaining recording time for movies and still images and playback time in Movie and Still image playback modes.

✦ HDMI Status. This screen lets you verify the specification of the video output signal from the HDMI mini terminal to a television monitor. This reading is contingent upon whether the monitor you are using is capable of displaying 480i or 1080i video. The screen is blank when there is no HDMI cable connected to the camcorder.

VIXIA HV20 and HV30 The section covers all the camera setup menu options for the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 camcorders. At first, it may seem like a lot of information to digest, but as you navigate through the menu options, you will quickly discover the settings that are most important to you in your own day-to-day recordings. This field guide is meant to be a shooting companion that you can take with you. Use it as a reference for setting up your camcorder quickly and as a source of instruction for those settings that you don’t use everyday, but may need on a special occasion. Not only does this section help you find the menu that you need, but it also supplies tips and shortcuts where possible.

Camera Setup The Camera Setup menu enables you to configure settings regarding optics and also provides a Self Timer for setting a tensecond countdown before recording, so that you can get into the picture.

✦ A. SL Shutter. The VIXIA camcorders automatically utilize a slow shutter speed in low-light situations for brighter recordings. In Movie mode, the shutter speed can adjust to as low as 1/30, and in 24p mode, as low as 1/12. In Still image mode, it can adjust as low as 1/15. You can turn this setting to Off if you notice a trail after images when shooting in low light, but be prepared for a much darker image. I recommend using a tripod to stabilize the image in low-light situations. You can access this menu option in Movie mode and Still image mode. In Chapter 6 you learn how to implement the automatic exposure (AE) option as well as the shutter speed guidelines and available aperture values.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

CAMERA SETUP A.SL SHUTTER D.ZOOM ZOOM SPEED AF MODE IMG STAB SELF TIMER

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✦ AF Mode. Set the speed at which ON OFF VAR I.AF ON OFF

2.23 The Camera Setup menu screen in Movie mode

✦ D. Zoom. The digital zoom gives you the illusion of a longer zoom range by enlarging the subject once you have reached the limit of the optical zoom. During this process, the image can be greatly degraded. You may want to consider purchasing a telephoto converter lens for your camcorder to increase your focal length and maintain the quality of the image. The choices for the digital zoom setting are Off, 40X, or 200X. By default the digital zoom is set to off. The digital zoom is only available while the camcorder is in Movie mode.

✦ Zoom Speed. Use this menu option to control how fast the zoom lever responds to your touch while in Movie mode and Still image mode. The Variable setting lets you press the zoom lever gently for a slow zoom or firmly for a fast zoom and is the default value. There are also three predetermined zoom speeds. The Speed 3 option is the slowest setting and the Speed 1 is the fastest setting. Chapter 3 shows you how to set the zoom speed and discusses the benefits of using a fast or slow zoom speed.

your camcorder can acquire an automatic focus under the AF Mode option. The default setting is Instant AF, where the autofocus adapts quickly to a new subject to acquire a sharp focus. The other option is Normal AF. The Instant AF option works well for almost any given recording situation. These options are available both in Movie and Still image mode.

✦ AF Ast Lamp. When taking a photo in dark conditions, the Automatic Focus Assist lamp may fire as you press the Photo button halfway down to help bring the subject into focus. You can set the lamp to Off to keep it from firing. This menu option can be accessed in Movie mode and Still image mode.

✦ Focus Pri. While taking photos in Still image mode, the Focus priority feature gives you control over which part of the image is in sharp focus and gives you three options: On, Center, and Off. By default, all VIXIA models are set to On and use a 9-point AiAF that scans the subject with a set of nine focusing areas across the scene. The default setting lets you get a sharp focus no matter where the subject is situated onscreen. You can only access the Focus Priority menu option when the Mode switch is in the P position. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about setting focus priority.

✦ Img Stab. The camcorder’s image stabilizer helps to compensate for the average camera shake that occurs when you are doing handheld recording. This feature even

90 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder helps steady the image when you are fully zoomed into a faraway object and every slight shake of the camcorder is magnified. The image stabilizer is less effective when shooting in extreme low light using the Night recording program, so make sure that you use a tripod in very low-light situations. I recommend leaving this set to On. You can only change the image stabilizer setting when the Mode switch is set to P. This menu option can be accessed in Movie mode and Still image mode. When using a tripod, turn off the image stabilizer when acquiring both video and still images. The image stabilizer compensates for camera shake so you can achieve a more steady shot, but when there is no shake, like when using a tripod, it can have an adverse effect on your video.

✦ Self Timer. The self-timer lets you set a ten-second countdown before the camcorder begins to record, so that you can get yourself into the picture. The countdown appears onscreen and is accompanied by a tone. A rapid succession of beeps signifies the camcorder is about to begin recording. A tripod helps you get the most out of this option by providing you with flexibility in your recording locations and helping you achieve a nice, level shot. The self-timer function is available in both Movie and Still camera modes. Switch this setting to the On position to take advantage of the Self Timer feature. Chapter 3 shows you how to implement the self-timer function.

Rec/In Setup The Rec/In Setup menu options enable you to select which video standard you want to record in as well as the frame rate, and you can also configure settings for playback on television sets.

✦ HD Standard. The HD Standard lets you choose which video recording standard in which you want to shoot while in Movie mode. Your choices are the following:

• HDV. Choose this option to record at 1080i with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.

• HDV 30. Choose this option to record at the progressive rate of 30 fps in 1080i with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. This option is only available for the VIXIA HV30.

• HDV 24/HDV (PF24). These options appear as HDV 24 for the VIXIA HV30 model and HDV (PF24) for the VIXIA HV20. Choose this option to give your video a more cinematic look and record at the progressive rate of 24 fps in 1080i with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.

REC/IN SETUP HD STANDARD WIND SCREEN MIC ATT FILE NOS.

HDV A OFF

2.24 The Rec/In Setup menu screen in Movie mode

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder • DV (Wide). Shoot standard-definition video in the widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio with this option.

• DV (Normal). Shoot standarddefinition video with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

✦ DV Rec Mode. This menu option is only accessible after you have chosen either DV (Wide) or DV (Normal) from the HD Standard menu. Use this menu to change the video quality of the DV standard options from standard play (SP) to long play (LP). The LP options enable you to record more footage onto a tape, but at a pretty hefty price in the image-quality department. If you need to record in standard definition, I would recommend against using the LP option and only using SP. Also, you may have problems playing back LP recorded tapes on other tape decks. You can access this menu option in Movie mode and Movie playback mode.

✦ DV Audio. You can access this menu option in Movie mode and Movie playback mode. When you choose one of the DV standard options from the HD Standard menu, the DV Audio menu lets you choose the sound recording quality. Your choices are 16 bit, which is the highest quality, or 12 bit, which is the default value. If you are going to shoot in high definition or standard definition, I recommend changing this setting to 16 bit for the best sound.

✦ Wind Screen. The windscreen feature helps cut down on the sound of gusting wind while you are recording movies with the built-in stereo microphone, and is set to

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Auto by default. When set to Auto, this feature suppresses some lowfrequency audio, so if you want to pick up those sounds, you may want to turn if off. To turn this feature off, you need to set the Mode switch to the P position. Any time that you attach an external microphone to your camcorder the Wind Screen setting automatically adjusts to Off. This menu option can be accessed in Movie mode only. If you do decide to turn off the windscreen feature, be mindful of the recording environment, as the camcorder microphone is prone to picking up wind noise. Consider only turning off this feature during indoor shooting. Chapter 6 shows you how to use external microphones with your camcorder.

✦ Mic Att. When recording loud sounds such as fireworks, sporting events, and concerts, the sound can become distorted. Set the Mic Att (for mic attenuator) option to the On position to control the audio levels and prevent loud sounds from becoming distorted during recording. You can access the Mic Att menu option in Movie mode only. Check out Chapter 5 to learn how to manually adjust recorded audio levels and turn on microphone attenuation.

✦ Review. This option is only available in Still image mode. After you take a photo, the image is left onscreen for a specified time for review. You can adjust the time the image stays onscreen by choosing one of the options in this menu. Your choices are Off, 2 sec, 4 sec, 6 sec, 8 sec, and 10 sec. By default,

92 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder this option is set for two seconds. Alternately, after you take a photo you can press the Display button inside the LCD cavity to display the newly taken photo indefinitely. After you press the Display button, press the Photo button down halfway to return to the normal display. Two seconds is a very short time to adequately review an image, so consider changing this setting to 8 or 10 seconds.

✦ AV DV. After making the necessary hardware connections, set this menu option to On to transfer analog video signals from a VCR to a computer as digital video while in Video playback mode. Use this setting to convert analog video to digital video. Chapter 8 shows you a slightly different method of conducting an analog-to-digital conversion by connecting the camcorder to a VCR and transferring the footage to a computer using video-editing software.

✦ File Nos. When images are acquired to the camcorder’s memory card they are numbered consecutively from 0101 to 9900 and are stored in folders that are numbered 101 to 998. This menu option lets you control how images are numbered when you insert a new memory card. Your choices are Reset and Continuous. Reset causes images to restart from 1010101 whenever you put a new card into the camcorder. Continuous is the default value, and images are consecutively numbered on a new card following the last image recorded to the previous card. You can access the File Nos. menu option in all camcorder modes except Still image playback mode.

Card Operations The Card Operations menu options provide you options for deleting groups of still images and initializing the memory card. These options are only available in Still image playback mode.

✦ Print Ord. All Erase. You can erase all print orders while in Still image playback mode. Your options are No and Yes.

✦ Trans. Ord. All Erase. You can erase all transfer orders while in Still image playback mode by choosing Yes from these options.

✦ Erase All Images. You can erase all still images while in Still image playback mode by choosing Yes from these options.

✦ Initialize. Use these menu options to initialize the inserted memory cards the first time you use them. Initializing your memory cards after prolonged use has benefits that span beyond the simple fact that it removes all recordings from the card; it can also help maintain the performance of your camcorder by eliminating fragmentation. You can choose from Quick Initialization or Complete Initialization. If you should notice that the memory card is taking a much longer time to record on or to read, you should consider performing a complete initialization. Protecting your images does not prevent them from being erased when you initialize the storage device. Also, do not initialize memory cards with any other device other than the camcorder. Chapter 3 explains the benefits of initialization and how to implement the process.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

CARD OPERATIONS PRINT ORD. ALL ERASE TRANS. ORD. ALL ERASE ERASE ALL IMAGES INITIALIZE

2.25 The Card Operations menu screen is in Still image playback mode

Play/Out Setup1 The Play/Out Setup 1 menu option enables you to configure audio and video for playback. These menu options are accessible in Movie playback mode only.

✦ Playback STD. By default, your camcorder is set to automatically play back your footage, whether it was shot with the Auto option in the HDV or DV standard. You can choose to play back only the footage shot in HDV or DV by selecting the HDV or DV option in this menu. For example, if you change this option to DV and you have recorded both HDV and DV footage on a single tape, the HDV footage does not play back. When you attempt to play the HDV footage, you get a message stating Playback STD Locked Playback Is Restricted. I would suggest leaving this setting on Auto, so you don’t have to keep changing it back and forth. This way, even if you shoot in one standard more than the other, you can play it back.

✦ TV Type. Use these menu options to play back your video footage in the correct aspect ratio on a television set. Your choices are 4:3 Normal TV and 16:9 Wide TV.

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PLAY/OUT SETUP1 A PLAYBACK STD 16:9 TV TYPE OUTPUT CH AUDIO OUT ST-1 MIX BALANCE

2.26 The Play/Out Setup1 menu screen in Movie playback mode

Chapter 8 shows you how to make the necessary connections to play back your images on a TV as well as how to choose the correct TV type.

✦ Output CH. You can pick the audio channel to use when playing back your movies on a television with audio recorded on two channels. Your choices are left right (L/R), left (L/L), or right (R/R). By default, the camcorder is set to play the left and right channels.

✦ Audio Out. This menu option lets you select the audio track to use when playing back a tape with audio dubbed over the recording. The choices are as follows.

• ST-1 Stereo1. This is the default setting and is for the original sound only.

• ST-2 Stereo2. Use this setting for dubbed audio only.

• 1:1 Mix/Fixed. Use this option for a mix of original sound and dubbed audio at the same level.

• Mix/Var. Use this option for a mix of original sound and dubbed audio and the ability to adjust the balance between the two.

94 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Mix Balance. This menu is accessible only if you chose the Mix/Var option in the Audio Out menu. In this screen you can adjust the balance between the original sound and dubbed audio by using the joystick to move the slider to the right or left.

Play/Out Setup2 Use the Play/Out Setup2 menu options to configure the AV Out terminal for headphones use or an analog out, as well as configure the Component Out and DV Out terminals for playback on a television.

✦ AV/Phones. The AV/Phones terminal performs double duty as an analog out and as a terminal for connecting headphones. This menu option lets you choose the function of the terminal. By default this setting is set to AV Out, so make sure you change this setting to Phones before you use your headphones or you will hear loud interference.

✦ Comp. Out. You can use a component cable to connect to either a standard- or high-definition television to play back your video. Use this menu to choose the video specification of the TV you are connecting to. Your choices are the 480i standard-definition specification or the default 1080i/480i option. I suggest leaving this option to the default setting so that the camcorder knows to use the full 1080i HD specification when the monitor can support it, and automatically switches to 480i for televisions that do not. The Component Out menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

PLAY/OUT SETUP2 AV AV/PHONES 1O8Oi COMP.OUT DV DV OUTPUT

HDMI OUT 2.27 The Play/Out Setup2 menu screen in Movie playback mode

✦ DV Output. When you are connected to an external device using the HD/DV terminal, this menu option lets you pick the video standard used for playback. Your choices are DV Locked or HDV/DV. Don’t confuse these options with the Playback STD options in the Play/Out Setup menu. The DV Locked and HDV/DV options determine how your video is displayed on a TV; the Playback STD options determine which standard gets played back at all. I would suggest leaving this set to the default HD/ DV setting. This way, the camcorder automatically switches between standards regardless if it’s connected to a high- or standarddefinition television, and the image is displayed right. This option is only available in Movie playback mode. Any changes made in the DV Output menu need to be made prior to connecting the camcorder to a TV with a DV cable. The DV Output menu settings cannot be configured while a DV cable is in the HDV/DV terminal.

Display Setup The Display Setup gives you options for how information regarding recordings is displayed. You can also find options for adjusting the

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder brightness of the LCD display, utilizing markers to help with shot composition, monitoring audio levels, and using assist functions to manually adjust for exposure and focus.

✦ Brightness. When shooting in bright conditions, the camcorder LCD may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust its brightness for easier viewing. This option is available in all of the camcorder modes. To avoid going into the menu system to change the brightness of the LCD, you can also hold down the Display button for more than two seconds. This toggles the screen between normal and bright settings. Hold down the button again to return the brightness setting to its default state.

✦ Markers. You use markers to help you compose the best shot possible. This menu option offers you a variety of grids and horizontal lines that supply you a reference point so that you make sure your subject is framed properly, both horizontally and vertically. The grids and horizontal lines are offered in either white or gray, so that you do not have a hard time seeing them whether you use this option for a light or dark scene. This menu option is available in both Movie and Still image modes. Your choices are:

• Off • Level (Wht) • Level (Gry) • Grid (Wht) • Grid (Gry)

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DISPLAY SETUP/ BRIGHTNESS OFF TV SCREEN OFF 6SEC. DATE ON AUDIO LEVEL DATA CODE LANGUAGE

2.28 The Display Setup menu screen in Movie playback mode

✦ Assist Func. The assist functions offer tools for correctly adjusting manual exposure and focus with the Zebra (70%), Zebra (100%) and Peaking options. By default, this menu is set to Off, but when you are adjusting exposure manually, the zebra stripes can prove to be more accurate than even the viewfinder when judging light levels. With that said, they are a little more difficult to use and using them properly will take a little practice. When the zebra options are activated, a pattern resembling zebra stripes appears in the viewfinder on any area in the scene that is overexposed over a certain level. If you set the Zebra function to 100%, very little highlights in the scene should contain the zebra stripes. When the Zebra function is set to 70%, the zebra lines become more prominent. This lets you adjust the shutter speed and aperture values accordingly for the shot. At 70%, light skin tones should barely contain Zebra lines in the highlights of a person’s face, the highlights being the forehead, nose, and cheekbones. When the Peak option is selected in this menu, the outlines of objects onscreen are

96 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder over-enhanced. This allows you to achieve a sharp manual focus without the image being magnified, like when using the Focus Assist button in the LCD screen. The Assist Function options are available in both Movie and Still image modes. The Zebra lines and the overenhanced outlines of the Peak function are not recorded. They are only there as a reference for you during the recording.

✦ Audio Level. You can monitor the audio recording levels for built-in or external microphones used with your camcorder while recording movies. When this menu option is set to On, you can view the audio levels onscreen with the audio level indicator while you are recording. It’s very important that you keep your eye on this level as you’re shooting. Anything around 0 dB on the meter is way too loud and begins to distort. The audio should average around –12 dB on the Audio level indicator. You can access this option in Movie mode and Movie playback mode. Chapter 5 goes into a much more detailed discussion about recording audio and offers solutions on how to acquire solid audio in various shooting situations.

✦ TV Screen. When you connect your camcorder to a television set, the camcorder’s onscreen display information shows on the TV set until you change this setting to Off. This menu option is available in all camcorder modes.

A quick way to avoid going into the menu system to turn off the camcorder’s onscreen display information is to press the Display button, located on the inside of the LCD cavity, to toggle the display information off and on.

✦ 6Sec. Date. You can access this menu option in Movie playback mode only. Change this setting to On if you want the date and time to be displayed for six seconds each time you play back a tape or when a recording date changes.

✦ Data Code. This option lets you choose to display either the date or time, or both, as you play back your movies. Your choices are Date, Time, Date & Time, and Camera Data. The Camera Data option displays camcorder settings such as aperture value and shutter speed during the time of shooting. The Data Code menu option is available only in Movie playback mode.

✦ Language. You change the language used for your camcorder’s menu system by choosing an option from this menu. This option is available in all camcorder modes.

✦ Demo Mode. When you walk into an electronics store, you typically find the camcorder in Demo mode. When Demo mode is set to On, and the camcorder remains inactive for five minutes, the demonstration mode launches and begins displaying the camcorder’s main features. Demo mode only launches when the power adapter is powering the camcorder. By default, Demo mode is set to On. You can access this mode in Movie mode and Still image mode.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Firmware. You can access this

System Setup The System Setup enables you to configure camcorder settings to fit your individual needs in reference to power save options and camcorder sounds, as well as to use the remote control with the camera. You can also verify the firmware version for your camcorder here.

✦ WL. Remote. To be able to use the remote control that came with your camcorder, leave this option set to On. This menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

✦ Beep. You can control the volume of beeps that occur during certain camcorder operations, such as beeps when you are using the self-timer, turning the camcorder on, and switching modes, by choosing High Volume, Low Volume, and Off. The camcorder is set to High Volume by default. The Beep menu option is available in all camcorder modes.

✦ Power Save. When the Power Save menu option is set to On, the camcorder powers down after five minutes of inactivity while running on battery power. You are given about a 30-second warning before shutdown, when the Auto Power Off appears. By default, Power Save is set to On. You can access this menu option in Movie mode and Still image mode.

SYSTEM SETUP WL.REMOTE BEEP POWER SAVE

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ON ON

2.29 The System Setup menu screen in Movie mode

option in Still image playback mode. Think of firmware as a software patch or update that addresses functionality issues with your camcorder. Sometimes, a new camcorder accessory may require that you update the firmware before you can use it with your camcorder. While in Still image playback mode, you can check the current version of the camcorder’s firmware under the Firmware menu option. You can find firmware updates at Canon’s Web site under Downloads.

Date/Time Setup The Date/Time Setup enables you to set date and time for your specific time zone as well as configure other date and time information. These menu options can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

✦ T. Zone/DST. Use this menu option to set the time zone for your location. To adjust for daylight saving time, select your location from the list that is marked with an icon of the sun next to it.

✦ Date/Time. This menu lets you set the date and time. If you are turning on your camcorder for the first time, you need to set the date and time before you can begin using it.

DATE/TIME SETUP T.ZONE/DST DATE/TIME DATE FORMAT NEW YORK DEC.18,2OO8 2:17 PM 2.30 The Date/Time Setup menu screen in Movie mode

98 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Check out the Quick Tour section of this book for more information about setting the date and time.

✦ Date Format. By default, the date format that is used for the camcorder’s onscreen displays is set to show month, day, and year (M.D.Y.). Use this menu option to change the format to Y.M.D. or D.M.Y. This information is also printed on photos when it is turned on.

VIXIA HG10 The section covers all the camera setup menu options for the HG10 camcorder. At first, it may seem like a lot of information to digest, but as you navigate through the menu options, you will quickly discover the settings that are most important to you in your own day-to-day recordings. This field guide is meant to be a shooting companion that you can take with you. Use it as a reference for setting up your camcorder quickly and as a source of instruction for those settings that you don’t use everyday, but may need on a special occasion. Not only does this section help you find the menu that you need, but it also supplies tips and shortcuts where possible.

CAMERA SETUP A.SL SHUTTER OFF OFF D.ZOOM VAR ZOOM SPEED I.AF AF MODE FOCUS ASSIST ON OFF IMG STAB PF24 FRAME RATE NEXT PAGE 2.31 The Camera Setup menu screen in Movie mode

Camera Setup The Camera Setup menu enables you to configure settings regarding optics, audio, and reviewing still images. You can also access the Self Timer for setting a tensecond countdown before recording, so that you can get into the picture.

✦ A. SL Shutter. The VIXIA camcorders automatically utilize a slow shutter speed in low-light situations for brighter recordings. In Movie mode, the shutter speed can adjust to as low as 1/30, and in 24p mode, as low as 1/12. In Still image mode, it can adjust as low as 1/15. You can turn this setting to Off if you notice a trail after images when shooting in low light, but be prepared for a much darker image. I recommend using a tripod to stabilize the image in low-light situations. You can access this menu option in Movie mode and Still image mode. In Chapter 6 you learn how to implement the automatic exposure (AE) option as well as learn the shutter speed guidelines and available aperture values.

✦ D. Zoom. The digital zoom gives you the illusion of a longer zoom range by enlarging the subject once you have reached the limit of the optical zoom. During this process, the image can be greatly degraded. You may want to consider purchasing a telephoto converter lens for your camcorder to increase your focal length and maintain the quality of the image. The choices for the digital zoom setting are Off, 40X, or 200X. By default, the digital zoom is set to off. The digital zoom is only available while the camcorder is in Movie mode.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Zoom Speed. Use this menu option to control how fast the zoom lever responds to your touch while in Movie mode and Still image mode. The Variable setting lets you press the zoom lever softly for a slow zoom or firmly for a fast zoom and is the default value. There are also three predetermined speeds. The Speed 3 option is the slowest setting and the Speed 1 is the fastest setting. Chapter 3 shows you how to set the zoom speed and discusses the benefits of using a fast or slow zoom speed.

✦ AF Mode. Set the speed at which your camcorder can acquire an automatic focus under the AF Mode option. The default setting is Instant AF, where the autofocus adapts quickly to a new subject to acquire a sharp focus. The other option is Normal AF. The Instant AF option works well for almost any given recording situation. These options are available both in Movie and Still image mode.

✦ Focus Assist. When performing a manual focus in both Movie and Still image modes, the Focus assist option increases the magnification of the center of the subject you are shooting, enabling you to see its detail and acquire a sharp manual focus. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about performing a manual focus.

✦ Img Stab. The camcorder’s image stabilizer helps to compensate for the average camera shake that occurs when you are doing handheld recording. This feature helps steady the image when you are

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fully zoomed into a faraway object and every slight shake of the camcorder is magnified. I recommend leaving this set to On. The image stabilizer is less effective when shooting in extremely low-light situations using the Night recording mode, so make sure that you use a tripod. You can access the Image Stabilizer menu option in Movie mode and Still image mode. When using a tripod, turn off the image stabilizer when acquiring both video and still images. The image stabilizer compensates for camera shake so you can achieve a more steady shot, but when there is no shake, like when using a tripod, it can have an adverse effect on your video.

✦ Frame Rate. Use the frame rate options to take advantage of the 24p recording capabilities of your camcorder. The 24p setting gives your high-definition video a more cinematic look. By default, the VIXIA HG10 is set to record at 60i (Standard). The 60i Standard option provides a look that is similar to what you see on the local news. This menu option is available in Movie mode only. Chapter 3 explains the implementation of the 24p frame rate in much more detail.

✦ AF Ast Lamp. When taking a photo in dark conditions, the Automatic Focus Assist lamp may fire as you press the Photo button halfway down to help bring the subject into focus. You can set the lamp to Off to keep it from firing.

✦ Focus Pri. The Focus priority feature gives you control over which part of the image is in sharp focus

100 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder and gives you three options: On, Center, and Off. By default, all VIXIA models are set to On and use a 9-point AiAF that scans the subject with a set of nine focusing areas across the scene. The default setting lets you get a sharp focus no matter where the subject is situated onscreen. The Mode switch must be in the P position to use the Focus priority features. The Focus Priority menu option is available in Still image mode only. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about setting focus priority.

✦ Review. After you take a still photo, the image is left onscreen for a specified time for review. You can adjust the time the image stays onscreen by choosing one of the options in this menu. Your choices are Off, 2 sec, 4 sec, 6 sec, 8 sec, and 10 sec. By default this option is set for two seconds. Alternately, after you take a photo, you can press the Display button inside the LCD cavity to display the newly taken photo indefinitely. After you press the Display button, press the Photo button down halfway to return to the normal display. You can access this menu option in Still image mode only. Two seconds is a very short time to adequately review an image, so consider changing this setting to 8 or 10 seconds.

✦ Self Timer. The self-timer lets you set a ten-second countdown before the camcorder begins to record so that you can get yourself into the picture. The countdown appears onscreen and is accompanied by a tone. A rapid succession of beeps signifies the camcorder is about to

begin recording. A tripod helps you get the most out of this option by providing you with flexibility in your recording locations and helping you achieve a nice, level shot. The self-timer function is available in both Movie and Still camera modes. Switch this setting to the On position to take advantage of the Self Timer feature. Chapter 3 shows you how to implement the self-timer function.

✦ Wind Screen. The windscreen feature helps cut down on the sound of gusting wind while you are recording movies with the built-in stereo microphone, and is set to Auto by default. The automatic setting does suppress some low frequency audio, so if you want to pick up those sounds, you may want to turn if off. To turn this feature off, the Mode switch must be in the P position. Any time that you attach an external microphone to your camcorder, the Wind Screen setting automatically adjusts to Off. This menu option is available in Movie mode only. If you do decide to turn off the windscreen feature, be mindful of the recording environment, as the camcorder microphone is prone to picking up wind noise. Consider only turning off this feature during indoor shooting. Chapter 6 shows you how to use external microphones with your camcorder.

HDD Operations Use the HDD Operations menu options for information on hard disk space being used, to intitialize the hard disk, to activate and deactivate the drop sensor, and to delete playlists.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ HDD Usage Info. This information screen lets you verify how much of the hard disk is in use. You can access this menu option in Movie mode and Movie playback mode.

✦ Initialize HDD. Use this menu to initialize the hard disk drive and to permanently delete all recordings stored on the drive. Initializing your hard drive has benefits that span beyond the simple fact that it removes all recordings from your drive; it also helps maintain the performance of your camcorder by eliminating fragmentation. Choose Yes in the menu to initialize the hard disk. The Initialize HDD menu option is available in Movie mode and Movie playback mode. Chapter 3 explains the benefits of initialization and how to implement the process.

✦ Drop Sensor. To protect against hard-disk damage, your camcorder has a defense mechanism that can detect when it’s being dropped. There is no real detriment to leaving this setting activated, so leave the drop sensor set to On to decrease the chance of hard disk failure if you should drop the camcorder. You can access the Drop Sensor menu option in Movie mode and Movie Playback mode.

✦ Del. Playlist. Use this option to delete entire playlists while in Movie playback mode. You can only access this option in the Playlist index screen and your options are No and Yes.

Still Img Oper. Use the Still Image Operations menu options to erase single images as well as groups of images and initialize memory cards. These

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menu options are available in Still image playback mode only.

✦ Erase All Ord. Erase all transfer orders while in Still image playback mode by choosing Yes from these options.

✦ Erase All Images. Erase all still images while in Still image playback mode by choosing Yes from these options.

✦ Initialize Card. Use these menu options to initialize memory cards the first time you use them and to permanently delete all recordings stored on the inserted memory. Initializing your memory cards has benefits that span beyond the simple fact that it removes all recordings from the card; it also helps maintain the performance of your camcorder by eliminating fragmentation. Your options are Initialize and Complete Initialization, and you can also choose to cancel the operation. Protecting your images does not prevent them from being erased when you initialize the storage device. Also, do not initialize memory cards with any other device other than the camcorder.

Display Setup The Display Setup enables you to control how certain information and markers are displayed, as well as to adjust the brightness levels of the LCD.

✦ Brightness. When shooting in bright conditions, the camcorder LCD may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust its brightness for easier viewing. This option is available in all the camcorder modes.

102 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder To avoid going into the menu system to change the brightness of the LCD, you can also hold down the button marked as Display for more than two seconds. This toggles the screen between normal and bright settings. Hold down the button again to return the brightness setting to its default state.

✦ TV Screen. When you connect your camcorder to a television set, the camcorder’s onscreen display information shows on the TV set until you change this setting to Off. You can access this menu option in Movie mode and Still image mode. A quick way to avoid going into the menu system to turn off the camcorder’s on-screen display information is to press the Display button, located on the inside of the LCD cavity, to toggle the display information off and on.

✦ Data Code. This option lets you choose to display either the date or time, or both, as you play back your movies. Your choices are Date, Time, Date & Time, and Camera Data. The Camera Data option displays camcorder settings such as aperture value and shutter speed during the time of shooting.

✦ Markers. You use markers to help you compose the best shot possible. This menu option offers you a variety of grids and horizontal lines that supply you a reference point so that you make sure your subject is framed properly, both horizontally and vertically. The grids and horizontal lines are offered in either white or gray, so that you do not have a hard time seeing them whether you use this option for a

light or dark scene. This menu option is available in both Movie and Still image modes. Your choices are:

• Off • Level (Wht) • Level (Gry) • Grid (Wht) • Grid (Gry) ✦ Language. You change the language used for your camcorder’s menu system by choosing an option from this menu. This menu option is available in all camcorder modes.

✦ Demo Mode. When you walk into an electronics store, you typically find the camcorder in Demo mode. When Demo mode is set to On, and the camcorder remains inactive for five minutes, the demonstration mode launches and begins displaying the camcorder’s main features. Demo mode only launches when the power adapter is powering the camcorder. By default, Demo mode is set to On. The Demo Mode menu option can be accessed in Movie mode and Still image mode.

System Setup The System Setup enables you to configure camcorder settings such as power save options and camcorder sounds, as well as to use the remote control with the camera. You can also verify the firmware version for your camcorder here.

✦ WL. Remote. To be able to use the remote control that came with your camcorder, leave this option set to On. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

SYSTEM SETUP ON WL.REMOTE OFF BEEP POWER SAVE STANDBY OFF 30min FILE NOS. AV AV/PHONES PHONES VOL. NEXT PAGE 2.32 The System Setup menu screen in Movie mode

✦ Speaker Vol. Adjust the volume of the built-in speaker while in Movie playback mode. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the volume.

✦ Beep. You can control the volume of beeps that occur during certain camcorder operations, use as beeps when you are using the self timer, turning the camcorder on, and switching modes, by choosing High Volume, Low Volume, and Off. The camcorder is set to High Volume by default. The Beep menu option is available in all camcorder modes.

✦ Power Save. When the Power Save menu option is set to On, the camcorder powers down into standby mode after five minutes of inactivity while running on battery power. You are given about a 30-second warning before shutdown, when the Auto Power Off appears. By default, Power Save is set to On. The Power Save menu option is available in Movie mode and Still image mode.

✦ Standby Off. You can choose how long the camcorder stays in standby mode before it powers down completely. Your options are 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min. The default time for the camcorder to stay in standby mode is set to ten

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minutes. This menu option is available for in both Movie and Still image modes.

✦ Img Quality. Your VIXIA camcorder has the ability to capture photos from recoded scenes in Movie playback mode. You choose the image quality here here. Your choices are LW Super Fine, LW Fine, and LW Normal. LW stands for Large Widescreen. Chapter 3 shows you how to capture photos from recorded video scenes.

✦ File Nos. When images are acquired to the camcorder’s memory card, they are numbered consecutively from 0101 to 9900, and are stored in folders that are numbered 101 to 998. This menu option lets you control how images are numbered when you insert a new memory card. Your choices are Reset and Continuous. Reset causes images to restart from 1010101 whenever you put a new card into the camcorder. Continuous is the default value, and images are consecutively numbered on a new card following the last image recorded to the previous card. The File Nos. menu option is available in all camcorder modes except Still image playback mode.

✦ AV/Phones. The AV/Phones terminal performs double duty as an analog out and as a terminal for connecting headphones. This menu option lets you choose the function of the terminal. By default this setting is set to AV, so make sure you change this setting to Phones before you use your headphones or you will hear loud interference. You can access this menu option in Movie mode and Movie Playback mode.

104 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Phones Vol. Adjust the volume of your headphones while in Movie mode and Movie playback mode using this setting. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the volume.

✦ TV Type. Use these menu options to play back your video footage in the correct aspect ration on a television set. Your choices are 4:3 Normal TV and 16:9 Wide TV. Chapter 8 shows you how to make the necessary connections to play back your images on a television set as well as how to choose the correct TV type.

✦ Comp. Out. You can use a component cable to connect to either a standard- or high-definition television set to play back your video. Choose a setting in this menu to use either the 480i standard-definition specification or the 1080i highdefinition specification. This option is available in all camcorder modes.

✦ HDMI Status. This screen lets you verify the specification of the video output signal from the HDMI mini terminal to a television monitor. This reading is contingent upon whether the monitor you are using is capable of displaying 480i or 1080i video. The screen is blank when there is no HDMI cable connected to the camcorder. You can access the HDMI Status menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ Firmware. Think of firmware as a software patch or update that addresses functionality issues with your camcorder. Sometimes, a new camcorder accessory may require that you update the firmware before you can use it with your camcorder. While in Still image playback mode, you can check the current version of

the camcorder’s firmware under the Firmware menu option. Firmware updates can be found at Canon’s Web site under Downloads.

Date/Time Setup The Date/Time Setup enables you to set the date and time for your specific time zone as well as format other date and time information. These menu options can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

✦ T. Zone/DST. Use this menu option to set the time zone for your location. To adjust for daylight saving time, select your location from the list that is marked with an icon of the sun next to it.

✦ Date/Time. This menu lets you set the date and time. If you are turning on your camcorder for the first time, you need to set the date and time before you can begin using it. Check out the Quick Tour section of this book for more information about setting the date and time.

✦ Date Format. By default, the date format that is used for the camcorder’s onscreen displays is set to show month, day, and year (M.D.Y.). This information is also printed on photos when it is turned on. Use this menu option to change the format to Y.M.D. or D.M.Y.

DATE/TIME 2OO7 AM

12

1

1

OO

OK SET

2.33 The Date/Time menu screen

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

VIXIA HR10

Camera Setup

The section covers all the camera setup menu options for the HR10 camcorder. At first, it may seem like a lot of information to digest, but as you navigate through the menu options, you will quickly discover the settings that are most important to you in your own day-to-day recordings. This field guide is meant to be a shooting companion that you can take with you. Use it as a reference for setting up your camcorder quickly and as a source of instruction for those settings that you don’t use everyday, but may need on a special occasion. Not only does this section help you find the menu that you need, but it also supplies tips and shortcuts where possible. An important thing to note while you are reading is that you have the most flexibility in usability when using DVD-RW DVDs with this camcorder.

CAMERA SETUP A. SL SHUTTER D.ZOOM ZOOM SPEED AF MODE FOCUS ASSIST IMG STAB FRAME RATE NEXT PAGE

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OFF OFF VAR

I.AF

ON OFF 6Oi

CAMERA SETUP PREV PAGE OFF SELF TIMER A WIND SCREEN

2.34 The Camera Setup menu options in Movie mode

The Camera Setup menu enables you to configure settings regarding optics, frame rate, and audio. This is also where you find the Self Timer for setting a ten-second countdown before recording, so that you can get into the picture.

✦ A. SL Shutter. This menu is only available in Movie and Still image modes. The VIXIA camcorders automatically utilize a slow shutter speed in low-light situations for brighter recordings. In Movie mode, the shutter speed can adjust to as low as 1/30, and in 24p mode, as low as 1/12. In Still image mode, it can adjust as low as 1/15. You can turn this setting to Off if you notice a trail after images when shooting in low light, but be prepared for a much darker image. I would suggest that you use a tripod to stabilize the image in low-light situations. In Chapter 6 you learn how to implement the automatic exposure (AE) option as well as the shutter speed guidelines and available aperture values.

✦ D. Zoom. The option is only available while the camcorder is in Movie mode. The digital zoom gives you the illusion of a longer zoom range by enlarging the subject once you have reached the limit of the optical zoom. During this process, the image can be greatly degraded. You may want to consider purchasing a telephoto converter lens for your camcorder to increase your focal length and maintain the quality of the image. The choices for the digital zoom setting are Off, 40X, or 200X. By default the camcorder is set to Off.

106 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Zoom Speed. Use this menu option to control how fast the zoom lever responds to your touch in Movie mode. The Variable setting lets you press the zoom lever softly for a slow zoom or firmly for a fast zoom and is the default value. There are also three predetermined speeds. The Speed 3 option is the slowest setting and the Speed 1 is the fastest setting. Chapter 3 shows you how to set the zoom speed and discusses the benefits of using a fast or slow zoom speed.

✦ AF Mode. These options are available both in Movie and Still image modes. Set the speed at which your camcorder can acquire an automatic focus under the AF Mode option. The default setting is Instant AF, where the autofocus adapts quickly to a new subject to acquire a sharp focus. The other option is Normal AF. The Instant AF option works well for almost any given recording situation.

✦ Focus Assist. When performing a manual focus in both Movie and Still image modes, the Focus assist option increases the magnification of the center of the subject you are shooting, enabling you to see its detail and acquire a sharp manual focus. You can turn this feature off when the Mode switch is in the P position. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about performing a manual focus.

✦ Img Stab. The camcorder’s image stabilizer helps to compensate for the average camera shake that occurs when you are doing handheld recording. This feature helps

to steady the image when you are fully zoomed into a faraway object and every slight shake of the camcorder is magnified. I recommend leaving this set to On. The image stabilizer is less effective when shooting in extremely low-light situations using the Night recording mode, so make sure that you use a tripod. You can access the Image Stabilizer menu option in Movie and Still image modes. When using a tripod, turn off the image stabilizer when acquiring both video and still images. The image stabilizer compensates for camera shake so you can achieve a more steady shot, but when there is no shake, like when using a tripod, it can have an adverse effect on your video.

✦ Frame Rate. Use the frame rate options to take advantage of the 24p recording capabilities of your camcorder. The 24p setting gives your high-definition video a more cinematic look. By default the VIXIA HG10 is set to record at 60i (Standard). The 60i Standard option provides a look that is similar to what you see on the local news. Set the Mode switch to the P position to use the 24p setting. This menu option is available in Movie mode only. Chapter 3 explains the implementation of the 24p frame rate in much more detail.

✦ AF Ast Lamp. When taking a photo in dark conditions, the Automatic Focus Assist lamp may fire as you press the Photo button halfway down to help bring the subject into focus. You can set the lamp to Off to keep it from firing. Use this option in Still image mode.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Focus Pri. While taking photos, the Focus priority feature gives you control over which part of the image is in sharp focus and gives you three options: On:AiAF, On:Center, and Off. By default, all VIXIA models are set to On:AiAF and use a 9-point AiAF that scans the subject with a set of nine focusing areas across the scene. The default setting lets you get a sharp focus no matter where the subject is situated onscreen. You can only access the Focus Priority menu option when the Mode switch is in the P position. Use this menu option in Still image mode. Check out Chapter 3 to learn more about setting focus priority.

✦ Review. After you take a still photo in Still image mode, the image is left on screen for a specified time for review. You can adjust the time the image stays onscreen by choosing one of the options in this menu. Your choices are Off, 2 sec, 4 sec, 6 sec, 8 sec, and 10 sec. By default this option is set for two seconds. Alternately, after you take a photo, you can press the Display button inside of the LCD cavity to display the newly taken photo indefinitely. After you press the Display button, press the Photo button down halfway to return to the normal display. Two seconds is a very short time to adequately review an image, so consider changing this setting to 8 or 10 seconds.

✦ Widescreen. This 16:9 widescreen setting can be used for video shot in standard definition. To shoot standard-definition video, the disc quality must be set to SD. This option is available in Movie mode only.

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Check out Chapter 3 to learn how to choose the SD disc quality.

✦ Self Timer. The self-timer lets you set a ten-second countdown before the camcorder begins to record so that you can get yourself into the movie or picture. The countdown appears onscreen and is accompanied by a tone. A rapid succession of beeps signifies the camcorder is about to begin recording. A tripod helps you get the most out of this option by providing you with flexibility in your recording locations and helping you achieve a nice, level shot. The self-timer function is available in both Movie and Still camera modes. Switch this setting to the On position to take advantage of the Self Timer feature. Chapter 3 shows you how to implement the self-timer function.

✦ Wind Screen. The windscreen feature helps to cut down on the sound of gusting wind while you are recording movies with the built-in stereo microphone, and is set to Auto by default. When set to Auto, this feature does suppress some low frequency audio, so if you want to pick up those sounds, you may want to turn it off. To turn this feature off you need to set the Mode switch to the P position. Any time that you attach an external microphone to your camcorder the Wind Screen setting will automatically adjust to Off. The Wind Screen menu option is available in Movie mode only. If you do decide to turn off the windscreen feature, be mindful of the recording environment, as the camcorder microphone is prone to picking up wind noise. Consider only turning off this feature during indoor shooting.

108 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Chapter 6 shows you how to use external microphones with your camcorder.

Disc Operations Disc Operations enable you to configure many of the settings that you will use for managing your DVD recordings including finalizing a disc, deleting playlists, and protecting disc recordings.

✦ Disc Info. The disc information is available in Movie and Movie playback modes. Instead of navigating multiple menu screens to verify details regarding the disc, use the Disc information screen to verify recording settings such as disc type, disc quality, and specification. You are also able to see if the disc has been finalized and protected with this screen.

✦ Disc Initialize. This menu is accessible in Movie and Movie playback modes. Before recording to any new DVD for the first time with the VIXIA HR10, you first need to refer to the instruction manual to initialize the disc. After you have shot your video and downloaded the contents to a computer, you can reuse any DVD-RW disc by initializing it and erasing all its contents. This also gives you the opportunity to change the disc quality from either HD to SD.

✦ Finalize. Use this menu option in Movie playback mode. Before you can play your DVD recordings in a DVD player, you need to finalize the disc. Think of this in the same way as closing a session when burning a DVD on your computer. When you finalize the DVD, you are

essentially preparing the DVD for use. You don’t need to finalize the DVD to play your footage while the camcorder is connected to a television, but to play it in a computer’s DVD drive or other digital devices, you need to finalize it by choosing Yes in this menu option. Any HD recording that you have made with the VIXIA HR10 can only be played back with an AVCHDcompatible DVD player. If you put a disc recorded in HD quality into a DVD player that is not compatible, you may not be able to eject the disc!

✦ Unfinalize. Use this menu option to unfinalize a finalized DVD-RW disc and record more movies to the disc. This menu option is available only in Movie playback mode.

✦ Del. All Movies. This menu option lets you delete all of the movies from the Original index screen while in Movie playback mode. You can only delete scenes from a DVD-RW disc.

✦ Del. Playlist. You can delete all playlists when using a DVD-RW disc with this option while in Movie playback mode. You can only access this menu option from the Playlist index screen.

DISC OPERATIONS DISC INFO DISC INITIALIZE

2.35 The Disc Operations menu screen in Movie mode

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Disc Protect. You can protect your DVD-RW disc recordings from accidental erasure by protecting them in this menu in Movie playback mode. With this being said, if you initialize a protected disc, the contents will still be erased. Access this menu while in Movie playback mode and choose Yes to protect a disc.

✦ Disc Title. Before you finalize a disc, you have the option of giving it a title while in Movie playback mode. This is the title you see on your desktop when you load it into a computer’s DVD drive and in the index screen of DVD players. You can enter a name with up to 20 characters, then press Set and Yes to confirm the title.

Still Img Oper. Use the Still Image Operations menu options to erase groups of still images and initialize memory cards. These menu options are available in Still image playback mode only.

✦ Erase All (Print) Ord. You can erase all print orders while in Still image playback mode. Your options are No and Yes.

✦ Erase All Ord. You can erase all transfer orders while in Still image playback mode by choosing Yes from these options.

✦ Erase All Images. You can erase all still images that are not protected while in Still image playback mode by choosing Yes from these options. An image that is protected has a key icon associated with it. Chapter 3 shows you how to protect individual photos.

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✦ Card Initialize. Use these menu options to initialize memory cards the first time you use them and to permanently delete all recordings stored on the inserted memory. Initializing your memory cards has benefits that span beyond the simple fact that it removes all recordings from the card; it also helps maintain the performance of your camcorder by eliminating fragmentation. Your options are Initialize and Complete Initialization, and you can also choose to cancel the operation. Protecting your images does not prevent them from being erased when you initialize the storage device. Also, do not initialize memory cards with any other device other than the camcorder.

Display Setup The Display Setup enables you to control how certain information and markers are displayed, as well as to make adjustments to the brightness of the LCD.

✦ Brightness. When shooting in bright conditions, the camcorder LCD may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust its brightness for easier viewing. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes. To avoid going into the menu system to change the brightness of the LCD, you can also hold down the button marked as DISP, or display, for more than two seconds. This toggles the screen between normal and bright settings. Hold down the button again to return the brightness setting to its default state.

110 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder DISPLAY SETUP BRIGHTNESS ON TV SCREEN OFF MARKERS LANGUAGE ON DEMO MODE

and horizontal lines are offered in either white or gray, so that you do not have a hard time seeing them whether you use this option for a light or dark scene. Your choices are:

• Off • Level (Wht) • Level (Gry)

2.36 The Display Setup menu options in Movie mode

✦ TV Screen. When you connect your camcorder to a television set, the camcorder’s onscreen display information shows on the TV until you change this setting to Off. This option is available in Movie and Still image modes. A quick way to avoid going into the menu system to turn off the camcorder’s onscreen display information is to press the Display button, located on the inside of the LCD cavity, to toggle the display information off and on.

✦ Data Code. This option lets you choose to display either the date or time, or both, as you play back your movies. Your choices are Date, Time, Date & Time, and Camera Data. The Camera Data option displays camcorder settings such as aperture value and shutter speed during the time of shooting.

✦ Markers. Use markers to help you compose the best shot possible in both Movie and Still image modes. This menu option offers you a variety of grids and horizontal lines that supply you with a reference point so that you make sure your subject is framed properly, both horizontally and vertically. The grids

• Grid (Wht) • Grid (Gry) ✦ Language. You change the language used for your camcorder’s menu system by choosing an option from this menu. You can access this menu option in all camcorder modes.

✦ Demo Mode. You can access this menu option in both Movie and Still image modes. When you walk into an electronics store, you typically find the camcorder in Demo mode. When Demo mode is set to On, and the camcorder remains inactive for five minutes, the demonstration mode launches and begins displaying the camcorder’s main features. Demo mode only launches when the power adapter is powering the camcorder. By default, Demo mode is set to On.

System Setup The System Setup enables you to configure camcorder settings to fit your individual needs such as power save options and camcorder sounds, as well as to use external devices with the camera.

✦ WL. Remote. To be able to use the remote control that came with your camcorder, leave this option set to On. This menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

Chapter 2 ✦ Navigating Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

SYSTEM SETUP ON WL.REMOTE BEEP POWER SAVE STANDBY OFF 10min ON FILE NOS. 1080i COMP.OUT HDMI STATUS 2.37 The System Setup menu screen in Movie mode

✦ Volume. Adjust the volume of the built-in speaker while in Movie playback mode using this setting. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the volume.

✦ Beep. You can control the volume of beeps that occur during certain camcorder operations, such as beeps when you are using the selftimer, turning the camcorder on, and switching modes, by choosing High Volume, Low Volume, and Off. The camcorder is set to High Volume by default. The Beep menu option can be accessed in all camcorder modes.

✦ Power Save. When the Power Save menu option is set to On, the camcorder powers down after five minutes of inactivity while running on battery power. You are given a warning about 30 seconds before shutdown, when the Auto Power Off appears. By default, Power Save is set to On. The Power Save menu options are available in Movie mode and Still image mode.

✦ Standby Off. You can choose how long the camcorder stays in standby mode before it powers down completely. Your options are 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min. The default time for the camcorder to

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stay in standby mode is set to ten minutes. This menu option is available for in both Movie and Still image modes.

✦ Img Quality. Your VIXIA camcorder has the ability to capture photos from previously recorded scenes in Movie playback mode. The quality of images that you can take is chosen here. Your choices are LW Super Fine, LW Fine, and LW Normal. This menu is only accessible when previously recorded material is in HD. Chapter 3 shows you how to capture photos from recorded video scenes.

✦ File Nos. When images are acquired to the camcorder’s memory card, they are numbered consecutively from 0101 to 9900, and are stored in folders that are numbered 101 to 998. This menu option lets you control how images are numbered when you insert a new memory card. Your choices are Reset and Continuous. Reset causes images to restart from 101-0101 whenever you put a new card into the camcorder. Continuous is the default value, and images are consecutively numbered on a new card following the last image recorded to the previous card. This menu is available for discs recorded in HD quality. You can access the File Nos. menu option in all camcorder modes except Still image playback mode.

✦ TV Type. This option is available in Movie playback mode. Use these menu options to play back your video footage in the correct aspect ration on a television set. Your choices are 4:3 Normal TV and 16:9 Wide TV.

112 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Chapter 8 shows you how to make the necessary connections to play back your images on a television as well as how to choose the correct TV type.

✦ Comp. Out. You can use a component cable to connect to either a standard- or high-definition television set to play back your video. Choose a setting in this menu to use either the 480i standard-definition specification or the 1080i highdefinition specification. This menu option is available in all camcorder modes.

✦ HDMI Status. This screen lets you verify the specification of the video output signal from the HDMI mini terminal to a television monitor while in Movie playback mode. This reading is contingent upon whether the monitor you are using is capable of displaying 480i or 1080i video. The screen is blank when there is no HDMI cable connected to the camcorder.

✦ Firmware. You access this menu option in Still image playback mode. Think of firmware as a software patch or update that addresses functionality issues with your camcorder. Sometimes, a new camcorder accessory may require that you update the firmware before you can use it with your camcorder. While in Still image playback mode, you can check the current version of the camcorder’s firmware under the Firmware menu option. Firmware updates can be found at Canon’s Web site under Downloads.

Date/Time Setup The Date/Time Setup enables you to set date and time for your specific time zone as well as format other date and time information. These menu options are available in all camcorder modes.

✦ T. Zone/DST. Use this menu option to set the time zone for your location. To adjust for daylight saving time, select your location from the list that is marked with an icon of the sun next to it.

✦ Date/Time. This menu lets you set the date and time. If you are turning on your camcorder for the first time, you need to set the date and time before you can begin using it. Check out the Quick Tour section of this book for more information about setting the date and time.

✦ Date Format. By default, the date format that is used for the camcorder’s onscreen displays is set to show month, day, and year (M.D.Y.). This information is also printed on photos when it is turned on. Use this menu option to change the format to Y.M.D. or D.M.Y.

DATE/TIME SETUP T.ZONE/DST DATE/TIME DATE FORMAT NEW YORK FEB. 9,2OO7 5:O6 AM 2.38 The Date/Time Setup menu screen in Movie mode

Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

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o matter which VIXIA camcorder you have, you can capture vivid, attention-grabbing images. You can do it with your camcorder set to automatically adjust the settings for you, but you may not be entirely happy with the outcome. If you don’t know your way around your camcorder, it’s easy to inadvertently dumb down your high-definition image so it looks like standard-definition video. This chapter provides an in-depth look at the essential features you can use to improve your overall recording experience. When a feature or procedure is specific to a particular model, the model’s name and proper implementation is included.

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In This Chapter Selecting recording media Selecting video quality 24p progressive, Cinema mode, and 30p progressive Focus assist options Special scene recording programs Manual shutter speed and aperture Exposure settings White balance Image effects

Selecting Recording Media The VIXIA HF10, HF11, HG20, and HG21 camcorders allow you to record movies and photos to the internal drive or to a removable memory card. By default all four models record both movies and photos to the internal drive, but you can elect to record movies to the internal storage and photos to the memory card. When you choose which recording media you want to use, you also have access to information on its total storage capacity, the amount of memory that is currently being used, and the available space left. You can set the camcorder to either Movie mode or Still image mode to make this selection.

Setting zoom speed Audio recording level Managing video scenes Photo features The Self Timer Playing back still images Initializing internal drives and memory

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114 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder To select the memory card as the recording media, perform the following steps:

1. Press the Function button to access the Function menu and navigate to the Menu option in the list, then press the Set button to access that menu.

2. Navigate to the Memory Oper or the Camera Setup 1 option, depending on the VIXIA model, then press the Set button to access that menu.

3. Choose the Media: Movies option to choose the recording media for your movies or Media: Images option for your photos, then press the Set button. Depending on which model you have, the choices in this menu may be worded differently.

4. Use the navigation controls to choose the Card option in the menu, then press the Function button to close the menu.

Selecting Video Quality Depending on your VIXIA model, you have a range of recording qualities from which to choose. The dual flash memory, hard disk, and DVD-based camcorders offer four to five video record quality modes where you can choose from various recording bit rates. The VIXIA HV20, HV30, and HR10 can record in either high definition or standard definition video quality.

VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, and HR10 By default, the video quality for these VIXIA camcorder models is set to the Standard Play (SP) recording quality at 1440 × 1080 resolution (HD), at approximately 7 Mbps. To shoot at the highest quality available for your camcorder, you need to press the Function button, then navigate to the SP option in the menu. Choose the first option in the list to yield the highest quality. Press the Function button again to close the menu. For a table of approximate recording times at the various recording qualities, see Chapter 1.

VIXIA HV20 and HV30 You can change the recording quality of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 camcorders by choosing either one of two HDV standards: HDV30 and HDV24, or from one of two DV standards, DV (Wide) or DV(Normal). The two HDV option let you choose between recording at 24 frames per second or 30 frames per second, while the DV options let you choose from recording in the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio or 4:3 standard aspect ratio. To choose between the HDV and DV settings, follow these steps:

1. Press the Function button to open the Function menu and navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button to access the menu.

2. Navigate to the Rec/In Setup option, then press the Set button to access that menu.

3. Choose HD Standard from the menu, then press the Set button to access the options.

Chapter 3 ✦ Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 4. Choose either HDV30, HDV24, DV (Wide), DV(Normal), then press the Function button to close the menu. You can also choose to shoot in standard definition with the VIXIA HR10. To access the recording options with the VIXIA HR10, you need to select the Disc Quality as shown in the following steps.

1. Press the Function button to access the Function menu and navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button to access that menu.

2. Navigate to the Disc Operations option, then press the Set button to access that menu.

3. Navigate to Disc Initialize, then press the Set button to access that menu.

4. Choose either the high definition (HD) or standard definition (SD) Disc Quality, then press the Set button.

5. Select a Disc Specification, then press the Set button and choose Yes.

6. Press the Function button to close the menu.

24p Progressive, Cinema Mode, and 30p Progressive By default, your camcorder is set to record at a frame rate of 60 interlaced fields (60i) per second, and provides an aesthetic quality for your video that is similar to what you see on the local news channels. The VIXIA camcorders provide recording flexibility, enabling you

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to shoot in the 24p progressive frame rate and Cinema mode, and in some models, in the 30p progressive frame rate. If you are an independent filmmaker or just want to add a more dramatic feel to your video, Cinema mode combined with the 24p progressive frame rate can provide more filmic images. While you can use these two separate features independently, together they provide the highly sought look of cinematic film. In Cinema mode, the camcorder adjusts the color and tonal characteristics of your video to provide more dynamic range, so your images resemble what you are accustomed to when you go to the movies. The 24p progressive frame rate lets you capture your video in a way that provides a similar motion and feel as feature films. Using these two settings together is a great option for shooting weddings. If you want to shoot video for the Web, the 30p progressive frame rate can give you better looking video after you have compressed your footage. This is because if you are already shooting at 30 frames per second (fps) and are compressing for the Web at 15 fps, you are only pulling out every other frame, which results in a higher quality image for the Web. Only the VIXIA HV30, HF10, HF11, HF100, HG20, and HG21 models have a 30p recording option. To place your camcorder into Cinema mode, perform the following steps:

1. If you are using the VIXIA HV20, HV30, HG10, or HR10, set the Mode switch to the P position.

2. Press the Function button, and then navigate along the bottom of the menu to the icon in the shape of a piece of filmstrip.

3. Press the Function button again to confirm the setting and close the Function menu. The Cinema mode icon now appears onscreen.

116 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder The steps for selecting the 24p and 30p progressive frame rate differ throughout VIXIA camcorder models.

1. Press the Function button and

To use the 24p progressive frame rate mode setting with the VIXIA HV20 and HV30, follow these steps. You can also follow these steps to access the 30p progressive frame rate mode setting of the HV30.

2. Navigate to the Camera Setup

1. With the Mode switch in the P position, press the Function button, then navigate to the Menu option and press the Set button to access the menu.

2. Navigate to the Rec/In Setup option in the menu, then press the Set button to access that menu.

3. Navigate to the HD Standard option in the menu, then press the Set button to access that menu.

4. Navigate to the HDV(PF24) option in the menu, then press the Set button to choose that setting.

5. Choose Yes to confirm the setting, then press the Function button to close the Function menu. Follow these steps to use the 24p setting with the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, and HR10. The Mode switch of the VIXIA HG10 and HR10 needs to be in the P position to use the 24p setting. You can also follow these instructions to record in 30p setting, with the exception of the VIXIA HG10. The VIXIA HR10 can only record using the 24F setting when Disc Quality is set to HD. By default, your camcorder is set to HD. The 24F technology is actually different than the 24p setting featured in the other camcorders of the VIXIA lineup. The difference is in the way both technologies achieve the look and motion of film.

navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button to access that menu. option in the menu, then press the Set button to access that menu.

3. Choose the Frame Rate option in the menu, then press the Set button to access the options.

4. Choose PF24 in the menu, then press the Set button to activate the setting.

5. Press the Function button to close the Function menu.

Focus Assist Options In some instances, the instant AF feature will be less effective than a manual focus. Shooting at night, or shooting fast moving objects or reflective surfaces can sometimes make the Instant AF feature indecisive as to what it should keep in focus in the shot. By setting the focus manually, you can pinpoint the area of interest and make sure that it is in sharp focus. Focusing on faraway objects can also prove to be a challenge. For this scenario, you should use the Infinity focus feature. Among the various VIXIA models, there are two distinct ways to focus manually with your camcorder. If you have the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, or HR10, use the following steps to control focus manually, including Infinity focus. Steps for the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 follow after that. Make sure that you have already adjusted your zoom before you adjust focus manually. The Mode switch for the VIXIA HG10 and HR10 needs to be set to P (for Program) before you make a manual focus adjustment.

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3.1 The center of the image is magnified to assist you with the focus.

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Follow these steps to control focus manually with the VIXIA HV20 and HV30:

1. With the Mode switch in the P position, press the Focus button on the left side of the camcorder near the lens; MF now appears on the screen. To enter Infinity focus, hold this button down for two seconds and the Infinity icon appears.

2. Press the Focus Assist button 1. Set the camcorder to Movie or Still image mode.

2. Press the Set button to launch the onscreen joystick guide (the Function menu for some models) and navigate down until the Focus option appears in the menu.

3. Use the navigation controls to select the Focus option and Manual Focus (MF) appears onscreen. The center of the image onscreen is magnified to help you focus the subject.

4. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the focus.

5. When the focus is sharp, press the Set button again to lock the focus, for all models except the HR10.

6. To return back to automatic focus, press the Set button again and use the navigation controls to select the Focus option again. To use the Infinity focus feature to focus on faraway objects such as a mountain range or fireworks, follow Step 3 of the previous instructions. If you hold down the navigation controls for more than two seconds when you navigate to the Focus option, the Infinity symbol appears. Use the navigation controls to select the Focus option in the menu again to return to automatic focus.

located at the bottom of the LCD panel. This button magnifies the center of the image, making it easier for you to focus on the subject.

3. Use the Focus dial, located next to the focus button, to adjust the focus.

4. Press the Focus button again to return the focus setting to automatic.

Special Scene Recording Programs The special scene recording options in the Program AE menu are quick and easy ways to automatically adapt to a given lighting situation during shooting. For example, if you are shooting at the beach under a bright sun, you can choose the Beach option to automatically adjust your camcorder’s sensitivity to very bright light. This adjusts the exposure as well as automatically sets the white balance and shutter speed. A number of convenient scene options are available:

✦ Portrait ✦ Sports ✦ Night ✦ Snow

118 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Beach ✦ Sunset ✦ Spotlight ✦ Fireworks The special scene recording modes optimize your camcorder for special shooting situations. They offer great, hands-free, pointand-shoot recording options. For more on how to implement the scene recording modes in your recording, see Chapter 6.

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3.2 The special scene recording program icons in the Program AE menu

a small aperture value provides a more shallow depth of field, which gives you a more filmic look. This is a great option for shooting portraits where the background is intentionally blurred, but the subject is in sharp focus. You can use low aperture values to create more dramatic images. Here is a list of the programs available:

✦ (P) Program AE. The camcorder automatically adjusts shutter speed and aperture at this setting.

✦ (Tv) Shutter-Prio.AE. You can manually set the shutter speed value but the camcorder automatically sets the aperture value for you at this setting.

✦ (Av) Aperture-Prio.AE. You can manually set the aperture value and the camcorder automatically adjusts to the appropriate shutter speed at this setting. For more on how to implement the AE options as well as the shutter speed guidelines and available aperture values, see Chapter 6.

Manual Shutter Speed and Aperture Exposure Settings Some of the automatic exposure (AE) options in the Function menu give you the flexibility of setting shutter and aperture values manually. When using these recording options, you have the ability to give priority to the shutter value or the aperture value while the camcorder automatically adjusts the other. This gives you a bit more control over the image than you have using the special scene recording modes. When you choose a high shutter speed, you gather less light, which results in sharper, more detailed images with less blur. In this regard, setting a high shutter value is great for recording fast-moving objects such as bicyclists. Setting

An image that is too light or too dark can greatly affect the look of your footage. In this regard, the amount of light allowed to reach your camcorder’s image sensor plays a large role in the quality of images you are able to produce. Images with a wide dynamic range, meaning a large disparity in intensity between the lightest and darkest parts of the image, present all sorts of problems for a camcorder’s automatic exposure settings. With that being said, it is best to avoid recording situations like these whenever possible. However, the reality is that you will be presented with these shooting conditions on a regular basis when shooting outdoors.

Chapter 3 ✦ Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

Manual exposure A great example of the AE feature failing is when you shoot an image where half of your shot is composed of a dark tree line, and the other half, a bright sky. The camcorder starts to compensate for the bright sky until the tree line is completely black and formless, while the sky is properly exposed. The imaging sensor simply cannot handle such a dynamic range using the AE settings. This is when the ability to manually adjust exposure is very handy. It allows you to find a happy medium between the lightest and darkest parts of the image or give more attention to one area over another. You can adjust the exposure settings in Movie or in Still image mode using the onscreen joystick guide, or the Function menu as it is called in some models. The length of the exposure adjustment indicator varies depending on the brightness of the image that is being recorded.

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Automatic backlight correction All the camcorder models but one, the VIXIA HR10, have a backlight correction feature that helps tame high-contrast backlighting. A good example of this is when you are recording indoors, in a poorly lit room, and your subject is standing in front of a window with bright sunlight pouring in. In the camcorder’s attempt to compensate for the bright background, the subject appears underexposed. The button labeled BLC (backlight correction) on your camcorder is a one-button solution for dealing with these particular lighting situations. This button is not located in the same place on each camcorder. On the Canon VIXIA HV20 and HV30, it is located on the left side of the camcorder next to the lens. On the remaining models, it is located on the Stop button on the LCD panel. For more on getting the right exposure and implementing manual exposure control and automatic backlight correction, see Chapter 6.

3.3 This shot of plant leaves blowing in the wind was made possible by manually setting the exposure to compensate for the sun shining through the plant leaves. The automatic setting underexposed the plant, leaving no detail.

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White Balance Along with the quantity of light, the color of light is also important in acquiring great images. The eye of the camera is not as good at discerning colors as your eyes are, and given this, you need to set white balance so that it can more accurately re-create colors. For example, if a light casts a yellow hue down on a white sheet of paper, our brain can still discern that the paper remains white; your camcorder cannot. The camcorder needs to be told what the color white is so that it can more accurately represent all other colors. With that being true, you should also be aware that the color of light is constantly changing around you. You wake up in the morning and turn on the fluorescent lights in your home, casting a greenish glare down on your kitchen table. Early in the morning, when you leave home for work, the rising sun bathes everything in reddish orange. After a long day at work, you return home under the bluish cast of a full moon. These changes in color are the direct result of changes in the color temperature of light, and light paints and influences every image that you capture with your Canon VIXIA camcorder.

White balance presets The white balance features of your VIXIA camcorder help to accurately reproduce colors when you are shooting in various lighting situations, so that a neutral color such as white or gray is truly neutral, and all colors are rendered without undesired color casts. How you configure your camcorder to handle the quantity of light and temperature of light is very important to recording great-looking video. By default, your camcorder automatically adjusts for changes in light, but you do have more recording options under the

Function menu that can help you further optimize your camcorder for various shooting situations. The options are as follows:

✦ AWB Auto ✦ Daylight ✦ Shade ✦ Cloudy ✦ Tungsten ✦ Fluorescent ✦ Fluorescent H ✦ Set

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Custom white balance The white balance recording options are great for broad scenes and wide shots, but when you zoom tightly into a face of a subject who has a lot of red in his skin, the auto settings can overcompensate and cast an undesirable hue. Certain fluorescent lights can also throw off the automatic settings, so you may want to consider performing a custom white balance. In the Function menu, under the white balance options, the Set option allows you to perform a custom white balance. A custom white balance helps you maintain consistency in colors and provides better color accuracy in changing lighting conditions.

Chapter 3 ✦ Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder For more on how to control light during recording and how to implement the auto and custom white balance features, see Chapter 6.

Image Effects To gain even more control over your images, you can use the Image effects options to manipulate color saturation and contrast. This is a great way to create a unique look and feel to your movies and photos. You can also find solutions for subjects that you may need to shoot close-up, but who have less-than-perfect skin. Simply press the Function button and navigate to the Image Effect Off option and choose the option of your choice at the bottom of the Function menu with the navigation button. Here are the Image effects options:

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✦ Image Effect Off. This is the default state where there are no image enhancing effects.

✦ Vivid. This option lets you emphasize contrast and color saturation. Try this one when you want bold, vibrant colors.

✦ Neutral. This option tones down contrast and color saturation.

✦ Low Sharpening. This option records images without sharply defined outlines. Use this option when razor sharp detail in an image may not be desired. This option simulates using a soft-focus lens.

✦ Soft Skin Detail. This option softens the details in skin, so if your subject has less-than-perfect skin and you need a close-up, use this setting, as it makes skin tones appear to smooth out.

3.5 The Vivid image effect enhances the colors in these flowers.

122 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Custom Effect. This option lets you adjust brightness, color depth, sharpness, and contrast in the image. When you navigate to this setting in the menu, press the Set button to access the controls and navigate up or down to choose the categories, and right to left to adjust the amount on the slider.

• Color Depth. Lower this value to create more shallow colors and raise it to provide richer color tones.

• Brightness. Lower this value to darken the image and raise it to brighten the picture.

• Contrast. Lower this value to flatten an image and raise it to create well-defined light and dark areas in the image.

• Sharpness. Lower this value for a softer image and raise it to create sharp outlines in the image. You can also choose to apply in-camera digital effects while recording your movies. These effects are good options if you don’t have a video-editing program, as some of the in-camera effects allow you to fade the video up or down from black or add color effects. The most important thing to remember when using these effects while you are recording is that they become a permanent part of your video. To give yourself more choices in the future as to how you will use your video, you should consider purchasing a video-editing program that will allow you to perform these effects in post-production. That way, you can keep a copy of the untouched original footage. To access the digital effects, put the camcorder into Movie mode and then press the Function button. Navigate down to the D. Effect Off button in the Function menu, then navigate along the

bottom of the menu to choose an effect. Press the Function button again to close the menu. The following list contains the available digital effects:

✦ D. Effect Off. This is the default state of no digital effects.

✦ F1 (Fade-T). Use this option to fade a scene up from black and down to black. The F1 option itself does not execute the fade, but rather puts the camera in a mode where every time you press start/stop it performs the fade.

✦ F2 (Wipe). Use this option to open or close a scene with a wipe to or from a black screen.

✦ E1 (Blk&Wht). Use this option to record your images in black and white.

✦ E2 (Sepia). Images are recorded in sepia tones.

✦ E3 (Art). Use this option to add a posterize color effect for a custom look.

Setting Zoom Speed Zooming in for a close-up at a ball game may call for a faster zoom speed than is needed for shooting a recital or a play. Each VIXIA model is equipped with three zoom speeds from which you can choose. By default, the zoom speed is set to Variable, which means you can press the zoom lever softly for a slower zoom or harder for a fast zoom. Variable is good choice for a sporting event given you will need to move quickly with the camera to catch those one-shot moments when someone scores or makes a good pass. But, when shooting your child’s play, you may want to place the zoom on one speed — slow — for smooth, graceful

Chapter 3 ✦ Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder camera zooms. The slowest setting is 3 and the fastest is 1. Follow these steps to adjust the zoom speed of your camcorder:

1. Press the Function button and navigate down to the Menu option, then press the Set button to access the menu.

2. Depending on which VIXIA model you have, navigate to the Camera Setup or Camera Setup 2 option in the menu and press the Set button to access the menu.

3. Navigate to the Zoom Speed option and Press the Set button.

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shoot. Make sure that you manually adjust the levels for any external microphones, such as on-camera microphones attached to the accessory shoe or the mic terminal, before shooting an event. You will also want to monitor the audio with a set of headphones so you can really hear what you’re getting and make adjustments as you go. In order to monitor with headphones, be sure to first change the functionality of the AV Out terminal for headphones use. To see how to make a manual audio adjustment and to configure the AV Out terminal for headphones use, check out Chapter 5.

4. Choose a zoom speed from the menu, then press the Set button to exit the Function menu.

Audio Recording Level Most of the VIXIA camcorders give you the flexibility of manually adjusting audio recording levels for optimal levels during a shoot, the exceptions being the VIXIA HR10 and HG10. Remember, sound plays an enourmous role in your video. Your viewers want to be able to hear the beautiful wedding vows the groom has prepared; they want to hear the roaring of the crowd during the sporting event; but they don’t want it to slice through their ear drums like a megaphone that is close to their heads. One of the true marks of an amateur videographer is bad audio, but this is avoidable. You can use the Audio level adjustment bar and Audio level indicator to set your levels before a shoot, then use the Audio level meter to monitor the audio during the

Managing Video Scenes After you have shot many movies, the ability to manage your scenes becomes very important. Being able to organize your content, filter your playback, and delete all scenes from the camcorder to free up storage space play very important roles in getting the most out of your VIXIA camcorder. This section on managing video scenes applies strictly to the AVCHD camcorders of the series, which excludes the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 tapebased models. The flash drive, hard disk drive, and DVD file-based systems of the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, and HG21 provide more flexible options when it comes to scene management, but for managing still images, the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 are covered, as well.

Creating a playlist The ability to create a playlist of only the scenes you want to review, in the order you

124 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder want to view them, makes playback more efficient when you are faced with a ton of recorded video files. You can also delete scenes from the playlist without deleting the original video file on your camcorder. To add scenes to a playlist for the VIXIA HR10, you must have recorded to a DVD-RW DVD disc. Follow these steps to add scenes into a playlist. The order in which you add scenes to the playlist is the order in which they will initially play back when you are viewing the playlist.

1. Set the camcorder to Movie playback mode. The original movies index screen opens displaying the movie files.

2. Choose a scene from the index that shares a common date with other scenes you want to add to the playlist or choose a single movie file to add. If you have more than one storage option for your camcorder, some VIXIA models require that you select either the internal storage or memory card tab along the top of the index screen to choose the scenes from either the internal drive or inserted memory card.

3. To add the scene(s) to the playlist, press the Function button to open the menu options and navigate to the Add to Playlist option and press the Set button to access that menu.

4. Select one of the options in the

To play back the scenes you have placed into the playlist with VIXIA HG10 and HR10, press the Playlist button located at the bottom of the LCD. For all other VIXIA models, navigate along the top of the scene index screen to select the playlist index option. You can create a slideshow of your still images simply by putting the camcorder into Still image mode and selecting the first photo, then pressing the Start/Stop button at the bottom of the LCD panel. To stop playback of the slideshow, press the Stop button in the LCD panel.

Rearranging scenes in the playlist To change the order of the scenes so that they play back in another order when you review the playlist, follow these steps.

1. Set the camcorder to Movie playback mode.

2. Open the playlist index, and navigate to the scene that you want to move, then press the Function button.

3. Choose the Move option in the Function menu. An orange marker appears between the scenes in the playlist index.

4. Use the navigation controls to move the orange marker to the new position of the scene, then press the Set button.

menu, then press the Set button.

5. Select Yes and press the Set but-

5. Select Yes from the menu asking

ton to make the move. The scene has now moved to the position of the orange marker.

you do you want to add, then press the Set button. Added to Playlist appears onscreen when the operation is complete.

6. Press the Function button to close the menu.

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3.6 The orange marker shows the new target location for the scene

Deleting scenes from the playlist To delete scenes from the playlist, simply select a scene, press the Function button, navigate to the trashcan icon, and press the Set button. Choose Yes to delete the scene. This only deletes the scene in the playlist and not the originally recorded file.

Photo Features Not only does your VIXIA camcorder have the ability to record beautiful high-definition movies, but it also has the ability to take high-quality photos. In the Quick Tour at the start of this book, I show you the mechanics on how to take still images with your camcorder. In this section, I show you how to get the most out of your photography by using the many features of your camcorder not only to take better pictures, but also to gain insight into the variety of pictures you can take.

Flash options By default, the flash is set to fire automatically when shooting in low light, but in certain shooting situations, it can be advantageous to disable the flash. Shooting

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objects with shiny surfaces up close is a good example of this. The flash can blow out a reflective surface. Another reason to deactivate the flash is that when you are using the flash feature as the main light source, it will almost always result in an overpowered image with a light burst. So, supplement your shots with as much light as is available from other sources. A great way to think of the flash is as a fill light, meaning not the primary light source, but a less powerful supplement used to illuminate the shadows. Given you can’t actually adjust the intensity of the flash with the VIXIA camcorders, you will have to do this using the distance between you and the subject. The flash’s effectiveness is around ten feet, so consider placing your subject toward the end of that range when possible. Temporarily setting the camcorder to always fire allows you to take photos in well-lit places and fill in shadows that may only fall across your subject’s face, like those from a hat or tree. The flash options also include a Red-eye reduction feature. Here is a list of the flash options:

✦ Auto. The camcorder is set to Auto by default. In this state, the flash automatically fires when taking a still photo in low light.

✦ Red-eye reduction, auto. When the flash automatically fires, the assist lamps illuminate to lessen the red-eye effect. Take note that the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 do not have red-eye reduction capability.

✦ Flash on. In this mode, the flash always fires regardless of the brightness of the subject.

✦ Flash off. The flash remains off. To learn how to configure the flash options, check out Chapter 6.

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Photo size and quality In Still image mode, the Canon VIXIA series is packed full of options that allow you to select the photo size and quality. Each VIXIA camcorder is capable of taking photos at the following sizes:

✦ LW. 1920 × 1080 ✦ L. 2048 × 1536 ✦ M. 1440 × 1080 ✦ SW. 848 × 480 ✦ S. 640 × 480 While in Movie mode, the available photo sizes are limited to LW (1920 × 1080) and SW (848 × 480). I discuss taking photos while recording video later in this chapter. An important thing to keep in mind when considering photo size is that the larger the image size, the higher the quality. By default, your camera is set to 2048 × 1536. The image quality choices are Super Fine, Fine, and Normal. When in Still image mode, you have the option of manually tweaking the exposure, focus, and white balance settings. Use the 1920 × 1080 size for photos with an aspect ratio of 16:9, like your video.

To access the image size and quality options, perform the following steps:

1. Set the camcorder to Still image mode and press the Function button to access the Function menu.

2. Navigate to the icon showing the currently selected image’s quality and size. The default value is 2048 × 1536.

3. Navigate along the bottom of the Function menu to choose an image size.

4. Once you have navigated to an image size, press the Set button to access the image quality options.

5. Navigate to the image quality option you want, then press the Function button to close the Function menu. You can now see the image size icon and the image quality you have chosen onscreen. Only the black and white (Blk&Wht) and Sepia digital effects are available in Still image mode. Be mindful that any photos taken with these effects are permanent. To allow for a broader range of future uses for your photographs, consider taking them without these effects and adding the effects later in a photoediting program.

Light metering Your camcorder’s metering function has the ability to measure the light level in a scene to achieve the optimal exposure for your still images. During light metering, the camcorder determines the shutter speed and aperture based on lighting conditions. These options can help you achieve consistent and more accurate exposures. There are three types from which you can choose:

✦ Evaluative. This is the default value of the camcorder. The scene is split into several zones and the light is measured and averaged between them. This is a good general setting and works well for most scenes.

✦ Cen.Weight.Average. This option averages the light of the entire scene, but gives more weight to the center of the frame. This is a good option if you tend to put the subject in the center of the frame.

Chapter 3 ✦ Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder ✦ Spot. An AE point frame appears in the middle of the screen when you use this option. The exposure is only adjusted for the subject in the center of the screen, so make sure that you place the frame on your person of interest. If you have a subject that is dark against a bright sky, this is a good option to choose. To access the light metering functions, the Mode switch must be in the P position for the VIXIA HV20, HV30, HG10, and HR10. To choose a light metering option, press the Function button, then navigate to the Evaluative option in the menu and choose an option at the bottom of the menu. Press the Function button to close the menu. The histogram appears, temporarily, after taking a picture and you can use it to check the exposure of the image. The left side of the histogram depicts shadows and the right side, highlights. If there are sharp peaks at the very left or right edges, the image could be over- or underexposed. Press the Display button to toggle the histogram on and off for an image. Refer to Chapter 1 for more information on the histogram display.

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the Photo button halfway, one or more of the nine frames is automatically selected in the shot and the focus is fixed on that area. If you have already taken photos with your camera, you have already seen one or more green rectangles appear on screen just before the camera takes the shot. Those are the AF frames that use subject position and motion to focus the shot. This is a true asset for a person who shoots a lot of fast moving action, like sporting events. The Center option does exactly what the name entails: the focus is fixed on a single focusing frame that appears in the center of the scene. This option lets you be more precise on a target that is among many surrounding objects, such as a face in a crowd or a bird with tree branches in the foreground. Use this option to make sure that the focus is exactly where it needs to be. The Off setting is pretty self-explanatory. To access the Focus priority options using the VIXIA HV20, HV30, HG10, and HR10, the Mode switch must be in the P position. Follow these steps to choose one of the Focus priority settings.

1. Set the camcorder to Still image mode.

Focus priority The automatic focus priority feature gives you control over which part of your image is in sharp focus by giving you three options: On, Center, and Off. This feature requires that the camera be in focus before taking the shot. By default, your camcorder is set to On and uses a 9-point AiAF that automatically scans your subject with a set of nine focusing areas across the scene. What this means for you is that you can pull a sharp focus on your subject regardless of where you compose the subject in the shot. When you press

2. Press the Function button to open the Function menu and navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button to access the menu.

3. Navigate to the Camera Setup option, or if you have the VIXIA HG20 or HG21, navigate to Camera Setup 2, then press the Set button to access that menu.

4. Navigate to the Focus Pri. option, then press the Set button to access that menu.

128 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 5. Choose one of the Focus Priority settings from the menu, then press the Function button to close the menu.

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these pictures right after taking them and decide which one you want to keep. The Mode switch needs to be in the P position for the VIXIA HV20, HV30, HG10, and HR10 to access the Drive mode options. In some of the VIXIA models, you may notice a slower response time when taking photos in one of the continuous shooting modes.

ON:CENTER OFF 3.7 The Focus Priority menu

Continuous shooting Each VIXIA camcorder is capable of continuous shooting and exposure bracketing when the Drive mode setting is changed. This continuous shooting option enables you to take a series of photos by just holding down the Photo button. This is particularly useful when you are recording subjects in motion. This feature has the ability to produce a particularly beautiful series of shots, like a heron taking flight from a lake or a particularly good tackle during a football game. Later, you can frame these shots together or you can simply take the most interesting image of the bunch and place it in a photo album. You can determine the number of pictures taken by choosing either Continuous Shooting or High-Speed Continuous Shooting. While using this feature, you definitely want to use automatic focus so you can keep up with the action. The Auto Exposure Bracketing option gives you the convenience of recording a still image in three different, but close, exposure values. This gives you the option of later choosing which one looks the best without losing the shot while adjusting exposures. The beauty of the digital camera is that you can review

3.8 A heron taking flight from a lake in Cape Canaveral, Florida. These shots were taken with the High-Speed Continuous Shooting option.

Chapter 3 ✦ Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder To access the Drive mode options, simply press the Function button and navigate to the Single menu option that is represented by an icon that looks like a picture frame. Use the navigation controls to choose an option along the bottom of the menu, then press the Function button again to exit the menu. Here is a list of the Drive mode options.

✦ Single. This is the default mode of the camcorder where only a single image is recorded when you press the Photo button.

✦ Cont. Shoot. This option lets you capture a series of approximately three shots per second by holding down the Photo button.

✦ Hispeed Cont. Shoot. This option lets your capture a series of approximately five shots per second by holding down the Photo button.

✦ AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing). The camcorder records a still image in three different exposures, so that later you can pick the one you like best. When you press the Photo button, all three images are taken in succession.

recording video. All photos you take at the same time as you are recording video have a16:9 aspect ratio like the video. You can still change the image size to either 1920 × 1080 or 848 × 840 and the image quality before you shoot. The VIXIA HV20, HV30, HG10, and HR10 Mode switch must be in the P position to access this feature. Follow these steps to perform simultaneous recording with the VIXIA camcorder:

1. Set the camcorder to Movie mode and press the Function button to access the Function menu.

2. Navigate down to the Still I. Rec Off option in the menu, then choose either LW to record at 1920 × 1080 or SW for an image size of 848 × 480.

3. Press the Set button to access one of the three image quality settings.

4. Navigate to an image quality setting, then press the Function button again to close the Function menu. Now, when you press the photo button, even while shooting video, a photo is taken. The simultaneous recording feature does not work while the digital zoom or a digital effect is applied.

If the shutter speed is set to 1/30 or slower, the number of shots per second is lower. Also, the Continuous setting will work in all recording modes except for Fireworks. For more information on shutter speed, see Chapter 6.

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Capturing still images and video simultaneously The simultaneous recording feature of the VIXIA camcorders lets you capture still images while in Movie mode as you are

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130 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder While using simultaneous recording, depending on your model, you may not hear a camera click when taking a still photo. The camera may also take longer than usual to acquire the shot.

two ways of doing this, depending on which VIXIA model you have. The HDV camcorders have a slightly shorter path to do this. Follow these steps to change the image quality for the VIXIA HV20 and HV30:

1. Press the Function button to

Capturing photos from video If you didn’t take a still photo while you were recording, it’s still not too late. You can grab a photo while you are playing back your movies. This option only allows you to select the image quality, and not the image size, so the image will be the same size as the video that you recorded: 1920 × 1080. Before you can use this function, you need to follow these steps to set the TV Type to 16:9 Wide TV.

access the Function menu.

2. Navigate to the icon of the currently selected still image capturing option, then choose the image quality that you want at the bottom of the menu.

3. Press the Function button to close the Function menu.

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1. Set the camcorder to Movie playback mode.

2. Press the Function button and navigate to the Menu option.

3. Press the Set button to access the categories inside of Menu option.

4. Navigate to the Play/Out Setup1 or System Setup category, depending on your camera model, and press the Set button to access those options.

5. Navigate to the TV Type option, then press the Set button to view the choices.

6. Choose16:9 Wide TV. 7. Press the Function button again to close the menu. After you have chosen the TV type, you have the option of selecting the image quality that you want. From this point, there are

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3.10 The currently selected still image capturing option, Fine/1920 × 1080, is highlighted in the Function menu of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30. To change the image quality for the AVCHD camcorders, the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, and HR10, follow these steps:

1. Press the Function button and navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button to access that menu.

2. Navigate to the System Setup option and press the Set button to access that menu.

Chapter 3 ✦ Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 3. Select the Image Quality option from the menu, then press the Set button.

4. Select the image quality you want, then press the Function button to close the menu. Capturing the image is very simple for all camcorders. Begin playback of the movie sequence, pause the movie on the frame of video that you want to capture, then press the Photo button. The still image is captured.

The Self Timer Get yourself in the picture or the movie. The Self Timer lets you set a ten-second countdown before recording begins so that you can position yourself in front of the camera. Follow these steps to set the Self Timer to On:

1. Press the Function button to open the Function menu, and navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button to access that menu.

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In Still image mode, press the Photo button down halfway to activate the autofocus, then press it fully to begin the countdown. You can also press Photo button on the wireless controller to activate the autofocus and begin the countdown. Using the wireless controller enables you to already be in position, but you are only given a twosecond countdown. Also, don’t forget to cancel the Self Timer when you are finished.

Playing Back Still Images After you have acquired many still images on your camcorder, the Image jump or Photo jump function, depending on the model, can help you move quickly through your photos by allowing you to jump 10 or 100 still images at a time. This saves you a lot of time when choosing images to review. You also have the ability to take a closer look at photos; you can magnify them as you do your review.

2. Navigate to the Camera Setup option, then press the Set button to access that menu.

3. Choose Self Timer in the menu, then press the Set button to access that menu.

4. Select On from the menu, then press the Function button to close the menu. The Self Timer icon now appears onscreen. In Movie mode, press the Start/Stop button to begin the countdown. The countdown then appears onscreen accompanied by a tone so that you are aware of how much time you have to get situated. A rapid succession of beeps means that the camcorder is just about to begin recording.

Still image jump and Photo jump function Moving through a ton of photos quickly is fairly easy with each of the VIXIA models. Get in the habit of using the photo management software on the Canon Digital Video Solution Disk and move photos from your camcorder over to your computer to free up room on your camcorder. You can configure the CameraWindow software to delete the images on your camcorder after the transfer has been completed by going into the Auto Download settings. Follow these steps to use the Image jump or Photo jump function featured in your camcorder.

132 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 1. Set the camcorder to Still image playback mode.

2. Press the Set button to open the joystick guide onscreen.

3. Navigate to the icon of a box with a curved arrow on top in the menu to access the image jump function. By default, you can jump ten images.

4. Navigate to the left or right to jump ahead or backward ten images at a time.

if you have taken many pictures, you understand that occasionally unwanted things that you were not able to see while shooting can creep into the background of your shot. Magnifying your images during playback is a good way to closely examine them, perhaps while you’re playing them back on a television, before sending them out to friends and family. Follow these steps:

1. Set the camcorder to Still image playback mode, and choose the image you want to review.

5. Navigate up or down in the menu

2. Move the zoom lever on the cam-

to toggle between jumping 10 or 100 images at a time, then navigate left to right to move through the images.

corder toward the T to magnify the image two times. A frame appears in the image letting you know which part of the image is being magnified. To magnify a specific part of the image, use the navigation controls to move the frame in the image.

6. Press the Set button twice to close the menu.

3. To increase the magnification to five times, press the zoom lever toward the T again.

4. Press the zoom lever toward the J U MP 1 0 I MA G E S 10

SET SET

3.11 The camcorder is set to jump ten images ahead when navigating through photos.

Magnifying images during playback If you need to take a closer look at the images you have taken during playback, you can magnify them up to five times. It can be difficult to evaluate the sharpness or even motion blur in an image on a small LCD screen, so magnifying photos can help. Also,

W to drop down the magnification to two times, then press it again to return the image to its original magnification. To learn how to connect your camcorder to a television set and a computer to review, transfer, and print your photos, see Chapter 8.

Protecting your photos You can keep specified photos from being accidentally erased by protecting them. This is a good idea, especially if multiple people use your camcorder. Follow these steps to protect your photos:

Chapter 3 ✦ Getting the Most Out of Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 1. Set the camcorder to Still image playback mode. The image selection screen opens.

2. Press the zoom lever on top of the camcorder to the W side to open the image index/image selection screen.

3. Select the photo that you want to protect by navigating to it, then press the Function button to open the menu.

4. Navigate to the icon in the menu that is shaped like a key, then press the Set button. Protect now appears in the corner of the image along with the icon of a key.

5. Press the Set button again to initiate the actual protection of the image. The icon of the key now appears on the bottom bar of the image and the image cannot be deleted. Navigate to another image that you want to protect and press the Set button again to protect that image. Once you protect an image, you can press the Set button again to cancel image protection. Protecting your images does not prevent them from being erased when you initialize the storage device.

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Initializing Internal Drives and Memory You can initialize the internal drive of the VIXIA HG10, HG20, and HG21 not only to permanently delete all recordings stored on it, but also to help maintain the performance of your camcorder by eliminating fragmentation. Fragmentation is a natural process that occurs in a hard drive as you continually add and delete files from it. In a nutshell, when you first receive your camcorder and begin capturing images, the files are written into contiguous spaces on the hard drive. As time goes on, and you delete some files and add others, the organization of these files begins to break down. Instead of files being written to contiguous spaces that are relatively close together on the disk, various parts of the file are written so they’re scattered across the drive. Now, when you go to play back a file, the system is forced to jump around from piece to piece to fully restore the file. This results in decreased performance. If left unchecked, the problem becomes more and more serious. Fragmentation is inevitable and there is very little you can do to prevent it. What you can do is periodically initialize your hard disk to eliminate the problem. There are two options for initializing the VIXIA HF10, HF11, HG20, and HG21:

PROT ECT

✦ Quick Initialization /Initialize. This option clears the file allocation tables and does not physically erase the data stored on the drives.

✦ Complete Initialization. This

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3.12 A protected image with the key icon on the bottom bar

option erases all data completely.

134 Part I ✦ Using Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Initializing the memory permanently erases all the recordings on your camcorder. Make sure that you have transferred all your images to a computer before you initialize your recording media. Use the power adapter for your camcorder while initializing. The initialization process for larger internal drives will take longer. The estimated time for a complete initialization of the internal drive for the VIXIA HG21 is approximately two hours. The estimated time for the VIXIA HG20 is approximately one hour.

To initialize your camcorder’s record media, perform the following steps:

1. Press the Function button to open the Function menu and navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button to access that menu.

2. Navigate to the Memory Oper. option in the menu, then press the Set button to access that menu.

3. Navigate to the Initialize option in the menu, then press the Set button to access that menu.

4. Choose the recording media that you want to initialize, then press the Set button.

5. Choose the Initialization method, then press the Set button.

6. Select Yes to initialize the record media, then press the Set button.

7. Select OK to confirm the initialization process, then press the Function button to exit out of the menu.

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nowing how to set up your camcorder, and having a firm understanding of the many options the camcorder provides is very important, but knowing how to compose the shot and adapt to shooting environments is what makes great video. Whether your ambition is to shoot the family get-together or sporting events, or to make your own independent film, some shooting basics can benefit your video. While volumes are written on the intricacies of shooting video, this chapter gives you an introduction to the basic concepts so that you can begin shooting solid video right away. With that said, shooting great video takes practice, patience, and perseverance. Practice means you shoot, then shoot some more; learning is achieved through repetition. Patience is waiting for that perfect shot, and perseverance is not quitting until you get it. When trying new things with your camcorder, don’t get discouraged by mistakes that you may make. If you later discover that the scene you shot looked better in the LCD than it did onscreen, use it as a learning experience and get back out there and try it again. If you have an idea for shooting something creative, shoot it. You will never be able to re-create that vision you have in your head if you don’t shoot it and see if it works. Besides, what good are all the camcorder’s bells and whistles if you don’t make something great to show for them?

Composition Shoot for the edit Image look and feel Pay attention to the audio Shooting for the Web

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Prepare for the Shoot Good preparation can set you up for success on your shoot. Before you go, carefully consider what you need. Make sure you have charged all the batteries the day before, and make an actual list of equipment to bring and of the shots that you want to get. Consider if you can you use a tripod, or if you will be shooting in close quarters with no room for setting up. Estimate how long you will be shooting and if you have enough batteries. You can even create a checklist and print it out to use when you are packing. If all your video equipment can fit into one camera bag, visually confirm that everything is in this bag before you go on the shoot; don’t assume that a piece of equipment is where you put it last, especially if multiple people use the camcorder. You don’t want to find out at the shoot that the memory card that you thought was inserted into the camcorder is really in the card reader at home. Depending on your VIXIA model, make sure to bring extra media such as tapes, memory cards, and DVDs. Chapter 7 discusses many accessories that can be used with the VIXIA camcorder.

Know your surroundings When possible, do a walk around the area where you will be shooting before the day of the shoot, so you can see what you’re dealing with. If you are going to shoot indoors for two or more continuous hours

on a tripod, the shoot will go much more smoothly if you find a place to set up near a wall outlet. If there will be some distance between you and the outlet, you may need to bring an extension cable; and if you have to lay the cable in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic, you may need duct tape to tape it down. Be prepared for the lighting setup of the facility. Will there be a mixture of natural and artificial light? Will it be sunny or overcast when you shoot the game outdoors this weekend? If it’s raining, you need to bring protective rain gear for yourself as well as for your camcorder. Are you shooting at night? If so, then you should shoot some night footage before you go, so you can become acquainted with the nuances of recording in very low light and how to work the camera controls in the dark. How far are you going to be from the action? If you shoot a lot of sporting events, wildlife, or large vistas such as landscapes, you may want to consider investing in a telephoto or wideangle lens converter. If you are shooting in close quarters, be aware of anything that can obstruct your view, like the potential for people walking in and out of the shot. How you prepare for a shoot can prove just as important as the shoot itself. Granted, not all shoots require a lot of setup. Shooting a movie script takes a lot more preparation, staging, and equipment than recording your day at the theme parks, but you can never be too prepared. Addressing the various locations and scenarios can help you make good decisions during the shoot. Chapter 7 discusses telephoto and wide-angle lens converters.

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4.1 A wide-angle lens converter helps me to capture more of the ocean from a beach in Nantucket.

Use talent/property release forms Whenever you shoot video for commercial purposes, you need to be aware of the legal regulations that apply. Your onscreen talent and the property owner of the video location need to sign release forms. A release form is a formal agreement between you and the talent or the property owner to use footage of that person or their property in your video or photos. To illustrate the importance of having a signed release form, consider this scenario: Your neighbor gives you verbal permission to shoot an actor in front of his home. The video airs, and you later find out that your neighbor is suing you because your video shows something in his yard that violates city code and he is being fined. If you had a signed release form from him, you could prove that you legally had permission to shoot in his yard, protecting yourself from any false claims.

For general shooting you view at home and among friends, release forms are not necessary. But if you are going to use someone else’s image or property that will be broadcast on television, in a film that you hope to distribute, or for promotional purposes, you need to protect yourself legally and have the talent or owner sign a release form. This also includes video you plan to show on the Web. No matter how briefly someone appears in your video, you should have him or her sign a release form. If children appear in your video, someone of legal age must sign the release, so check with the parents. You have to be very sensitive about photographing any children in public, unless they are your own children, of course. In general, shooting in public places is permitted, but property regulations vary from state to state, so make sure that you are familiar with the local laws. Check with the local authorities before shooting in a public

140 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder place, or if your state has a film commission, contact them for more information. There are many sample release forms online that you can modify for your own purposes, but I urge you to do your homework. Not all the forms you find online are created equal and cover the proper loopholes. If your state has a film commission, they can recommend the proper forms. Stores and shopping malls are not public places. They are privately owned, so you need permission to shoot in these locations.

What Is the Story? “All the world’s a stage,” is a famous phrase from a monologue in William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, and it’s one that I’d like for you to take to heart as a videographer. Every video shot contains a story, and whether intentionally, or accidentally, you are saying something about yourself by how you choose to frame the world through the lens of your camera. No one sees the world quite as you do, and in my opinion, this is the most powerful realization that you can have as an artist, as a human being. The world is a beautiful bombardment of sensory overload and it’s your job as a videographer to make sense of it all. You can’t experience it all at once; you can frame only some of it to provide a brief window into one moment in time, so you must make it count. How you frame the labyrinth of stories that are occurring around you with your video is ultimately up to you, but I implore you to do it deliberately and purposefully. To do that, you need to ask yourself a few questions before you ever start to record.

✦ Why am I shooting this? Are you trying to capture a mood, the rare beauty of something like an orchid, a person, or Tiger Wood’s golf swing? Be purposeful when choosing shots. Many budding videographers point the camera in hope that something interesting happens. This leads to a lot of random, fruitless shots when reviewing your video.

✦ What is the main subject? Is it the sailboat making its way out to sea in the morning light, or is it the sea gulls circling an area of open water? It could be both, so compose well. There may be multiple subjects.

✦ Am I in the best place to shoot? A scene can be viewed from many different angles, so perhaps you need to be at a higher or lower vantage point. What is the most interesting angle from which you can shoot? After all, your video is meant to entertain and possibly inform. Viewers will appreciate the time and effort you put into getting a really great shot.

✦ Am I safe? Don’t take chances with your own personal safety, or anyone else’s for that matter, just to get a shot. Make sure that you are at a safe distance from anything that could cause you bodily harm; it’s just not worth it.

✦ How do I want people to respond this video? Are you going for the wow factor with lots of beauty shots or something exciting, or are you going for suspense or fear? Perhaps what would be most scary is for everyone to remain indifferent after viewing your video.

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4.2 Look who found the shaving cream! The story here is a little playful mischief.

4.3 A beauty shot of these vibrantly colored buildings surrounding the harbor says “Wish you were here.”

142 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder To find the story during the edit you have to be looking for it while shooting. This takes practice so take small steps. A great way to get some practice is to make your own simple movie set to music. There doesn’t even have to be any dialogue. Take your camcorder out on a Sunday afternoon and walk around town and simply record what you see. It can simply be a montage of beauty shots or perhaps you want to show another side of the city. Edit the scenes you recorded and add some music, then sit back and see what you’ve got. You’ll find things that you did very well during this shoot and things you can do better the next time. This is the iterative nature of learning.

Composition The camcorder lens is an extension of the eyes of the videographer. The composition is created based on how you place your subject matter in the picture. It may be very tempting to just point and shoot with your camcorder, but consider trying more. Consider the aesthetic quality of your recordings, because to hold your viewer’s attention, it’s just not good enough for the video subject to be interesting. It has to be visually interesting as well. After all, people are going to judge your video by the way it looks.

The rule of thirds Starting out, your first instinct is to put the subject right in the middle of the screen. This works well for most industrial purposes, but for more well-balanced and interesting shots, try placing the main subject offcenter. The rule of thirds is perhaps the most well known compositional rule of thumb, and artists such as painters and photographers have used it for hundreds of years. The concept is very simple. Imagine the

scene divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, into nine equal parts. The intersection of these dividing lines gives you four important areas that can help you place your subject in the scene. The concept is to place your points of interest somewhere in the frame where the lines intersect or along the lines for a well-balanced shot. For example, situate the camcorder so that the subject rests to the left or right side of the frame on intersecting horizontal and vertical lines. This works for people or tall buildings. When shooting landscapes, consider using the upper and lower horizontal line in the grid as a way to position the horizon. Also try the Level option under Markers in the setup menu, which is a single horizontal line, as a reference while shooting. A common mistake made by a novice shooter is to leave too much space around the subject. If the subject is moving, then compose for the movement, but make the composition tight enough to leave out any excessive background distractions.

The great thing about using the rule of thirds is that you don’t have to mentally create this divide while you’re shooting with your VIXIA camcorder. You can go into the Display Setup menu, or Camera Setup 1 menu if you have the VIXIA HG20 or HG21, and set your Markers option to either Grid (Wht) or Grid (Gry). These markers offer great assistance in leveling a shot. I am by no means implying that you cannot take an interesting shot without using the rule of thirds; I’m simply presenting it to you as a starting point to compose good shots. Sometimes, putting an image smack dab in the middle of the screen can be quite striking or even humorous. If anything, try this method a few times so at least you know the rules you are breaking.

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4.4 Pay attention to the intersections of the lines when placing your subject in the frame.

4.5 The subject is placed directly in the middle for effect.

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Talking heads Although you can use the rule of thirds for shooting just about anything, it’s application may not always be clear. When you’re shooting a person who is talking directly into the camera with only their upper body showing — a talking head — the rule of thirds can help you compose a better shot. In a medium close-up, covering only the person’s head and shoulders, the subject’s eyes are a natural point of interest. Try lining the subject’s eyes with the top horizontal line in the grid. Most of the time you can still position the subject more toward the left or right of the scene for a more interesting shot. Watch your headroom, the distance between the top of the subject’s head and the top of the frame. Too much headroom can make the subject appear to be standing in quicksand.

Never cut off the chin of a talking head when using a close-up, where the head fills the screen; cut off the top part of the head instead. Consider composing the shot so that the neck is visible; this way when the person speaks, his or her jaw remains part of the frame. A nice, natural shot is from the collarbone up. Mind your background when shooting a talking head for an interview. What I mean by this is don’t place your subject in front of something that may distract viewers, unless that’s your intention. If the office plant appears to growing out of your subject’s head while he or she is speaking, it can divert viewers’ attention and appear humorous.

4.6 The lines intersect the subject’s eye in this medium close-up.

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Common Shot Names It might be helpful to understand some terminology that’s commonly used to define shots, which you can use to add variety to your work. Following is a list of some shots that you will want to consider:

✦ Medium Shot. In general, this can be a full shot of the length of the subject’s body.

✦ Wide Shot/Long Shot. This is a shot that includes the entire subject and is usually intended to establish its relation to its surroundings. For example, you can use a wide shot to reveal the distance between the speaker’s podium and the crowd, by including both in the shot.

✦ Medium Close-up. This shot is half-way between a medium shot and a closeup where the subject is shot from the head and shoulders up.

✦ Close-up. Generally a shot that covers a subject’s head and shoulders. ✦ Extreme Close-up. This is a shot with a very tight area of focus, such as a subject’s eyes filling the screen.

The importance of shot variety Have you ever had to sit and listen to a speech in which the moderator used the same monotone voice the entire time, never changing his or her intonation or inflection? A speech like this can seem to drone on and on, and no matter how interesting the content, you begin to zone out. Well, video can be like this too. If you don’t mix up the angles and provide your viewer with new and interesting perspectives, your video can be perceived as dull and boring. You won’t be able to find an interesting perspective for everything that you shoot. After all, a talking head is a talking head. But even in the event that you are shooting someone talking at a podium you can perform a slow zoom into a medium close-up, then out to a wide shot. Even throw in a slow pan to show the crowd for good measure.

Shot selection Before you begin recording, have your shot already framed in the viewfinder. Give the

viewer time to register what she is seeing by holding steady, and then stop recording before you move on to the next shot. Avoid roaming aimlessly looking for shots while still recording. If you know that you will be editing the video later, you know you can cut out the extra camera movement between framing the shot of the bride’s face to the bouquet of flowers. For all video, whether you plan to edit or not, choose your scenes carefully and start and stop between recordings. Make sure that you have actually stopped recording when you are finished with a shot. It’s easy to drop the camcorder to your side and forget that you’re still rolling. When you go to play back your footage for your friends and family, you may have a whole days’ collection of shots of your feet and pavement. Oh, and don’t forget that the audio is still capturing conversations. If they’re private and you forget to stop recording, this can prove to be embarrassing.

146 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder I’m not encouraging you to take only static shots. Video is a dynamic medium and shooting on the move can make for some exciting video, but watch the shake. The image stabilizer of your camcorder does a good job when it comes to minor movement, but it can’t compensate for the up and down movement of running while recording. When shooting on the move, make sure most of your movement with the camcorder is going forward, not up and down. The last thing you want is for people to get motion sickness while viewing your video. Another important thing to remember is that the more you zoom into a shot, the more camera movements are magnified. If possible, zoom all the way out and get close to the subject, or lean against a wall to help stabilize your body. If you are serious about getting a steady shot, use a tripod or another camcorder-stabilizing device. Chapter 7 discusses camcorderstabilizing systems.

As a rule of thumb, try to hold a shot for at least five seconds or longer. Recording very short scenes of only two and three seconds is really not helpful to you when you go to edit the video, or play it back. These really short scenes make your video appear erratic and choppy. This tends to happen because you want to try to capture everything that’s happening. However, often you later realize that you missed so much by not staying with the shot long enough.

Change the perspective A change in perspective gives the audience a chance to be engaged with the video, and not just watch it. The next time you shoot a bed of roses, drop down on a knee and put the viewer right there, so he can almost smell them. Whether it’s a child, pet, or flowers, get down to the level of the subject you are shooting. Let the dog sniff the camera lens, follow the child at her eye level, or give

4.7 You can really see the intensity of this active lava in this low-level shot.

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4.8 Though I became covered in suds, getting into the action made it possible to capture the jubilant expression on this child’s face. the bug’s eye view of the dandelions in the open field. A close-up of a child’s face as she is unwrapping a gift, or of a bride’s face when the ring is placed on her finger can really tap into the emotion of the moment. Get comfortable moving in and out of the action with your camcorder. I’m not talking about zooming in either; I’m talking about stepping into the action when possible. The next time you shoot a birthday party, wedding, or social gathering, place the viewer right in the middle of the action. Be inconspicuous, nonintrusive, a fly on the wall, but with a camcorder. At first, people will notice you as the person with the camcorder, and sometimes they put on a show, but the more they get comfortable with the camcorder, they begin to let their guard down and act naturally. This is when you get the best footage.

Tilts, pans, and zooms Using tilting, panning, and zooming sparingly between compositions is a great way for you to give the viewer a sense of space. A composed shot of the front entrance into a building and a smooth tilt upward to reveal its many stories towering over the city; a slow pan from the balcony to reveal that it overlooks the ocean — these give the viewer a chance to really take in the scene. A tight shot of a face and slow zoom outward to reveal that the subject is standing in the middle of a crowded street corner in a large city establishes a scene’s setting. If you rehearse these types of camera movements before you actually begin recording, they go much more smoothly. Also, a tripod makes your tilting and panning much more steady and smooth.

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4.9 A slow pan of the lake reveals the vastness of the mountain range and ends on this shot composition.

Use the zoom on your camcorder to help compose your shots, but don’t overuse it. When you need to zoom, make each zoom smooth and methodical during recording. Too much zooming while recording can be a distraction and is a true sign of an amateur. When shooting faraway subjects, a digital zoom can give you the appearance of closeness by enlarging the image, but at the huge price of image quality. Consider purchasing a telephoto lens converter to increase the camcorder’s optical zoom capability for a higher quality image. I caution against using the digital zoom for important shoots.

The moving subject Framing a moving object takes some practice. If you frame the subject too tightly, it can get away from you by going in and out of frame, especially if you are shooting something unscripted with unpredictable actions. If you play it too safe, and frame

very loosely, you can lose the detail of the subject and the situation. The best shooters are those who are very familiar with what they are shooting. If you are very familiar with a specific animal, you can better anticipate its movements and habits while shooting. If you have never watched or played a game of soccer, it’s much harder to follow the action through the camera lens. These skills come with practice and experience, and by knowing a few tips.

✦ Always compose to allow for movement in the shot. Figuring out how much space you can get away with without losing the subject in the frame will take some practice. If you follow a heron flying from a lake too tightly, the image bounces around in the frame or the heron gets cut off as it passes in and out of the frame. Zoom out just enough to be able to center the subject and leave room around it to minimize its movements onscreen.

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4.10 I composed this fast-moving jet ski shot with extra room in the frame to compensate for movement.

✦ To capture a group of fast-moving subjects with a single camera setup, such as players during a soccer match or football game, or kids running around in the backyard, you may find it more beneficial to maintain a wider shot to capture all the action and just let the players pass in and out of the frame. Shooting from a high vantage point is also advantageous when shooting sporting events.

✦ Keep in mind that when zoomed in, even minute camera movements are magnified on your TV screen, so a tripod helps tremendously when following movement. If it’s not possible to use a tripod, and you must walk to track the subject, hold the camera out from your chest with both hands and let your arms absorb some of the shock as you walk or invest in a camcorder stabilization device.

When tracking a moving subject, always be mindful of your surroundings so that you do not place yourself or someone else in danger. An aesthetically pleasing way to end a scene is to let the moving subject exit screen left or right as you stop your tracking movement.

Shoot for the Edit Shooting video that you know will be edited later gives you the relief of knowing that you don’t have to be perfect the first time. Perhaps you don’t plan to edit all the video that you shoot, but when you do decide to, there are a few things that you can do during the actual shoot that can make your editing experience more successful.

150 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Always shoot more video than you think you need, and get as much variety in angles that you can to give yourself options during the editing process. You don’t want to find out later that you could have really used another angle of the bride in her dress, or of the team in the huddle. This is especially true if you plan on making a fast-paced video. You would be surprised at how much video you can go through for thirty seconds of edited video. A good rule of thumb is to shoot a wide shot, medium shot, and closeup of scenes of the same subject matter to help adequately cover the event and provide shot continuity during the edit. This doesn’t mean that every scene has to be connected or that events have to be shown in the order in which they happened. Be creative and capture the moment with your own personal style.

Your footage needs to consist of what is referred to as A- and B-roll. A-roll is the main subject during the shoot, such as the bride and groom, and B-roll is the supplemental

footage that you can later use for cutaways such as beauty shots of the church. In more professional setups, A- and B-roll are acquired by two separate camcorders, but you can do this with one camera, as well. The key is to get the important stuff first and record the other footage for cutaways, B-roll, before and after the main event. For example, capturing the bride walking down the aisle and the couple reciting their wedding vows is paramount over anything else during the shoot. You can show up before or stay after and get the beauty shots of flower arrangements and the novelty of the invitations. If you’re shooting your saltwater fishing vacation, your attention should be on the marlin in the water being wrestled into the boat. You can get B-roll shots of the sun reflecting on the water before or after. You can even stage the scene from the fish’s perspective after the fact, and get close-ups of the fisherman’s face while he’s in the fight of his life reeling in the fish. B-roll footage can also be used to hide a zoom, transition to another scene, and fill in gaps during the editing process.

4.11 This footage of Yosemite Falls was played over an interview about the national park system.

Chapter 4 ✦ The Fundamentals of Videography If you are shooting a very important event, such as a wedding, you should consider making a shot list in advance. A shot list is a list of all the things you need and want to record at the event. This way, you have a plan of attack for capturing all the highlights of the occasion. You can never be too prepared. Check out Chapter 8 for both PC and Mac video editing software possibilities, and much more detailed examples on using videoediting programs.

Start recording five or more seconds before the action starts and continue recording five or more seconds after the action ends. This extra breathing room gives you more control of the timing of your edits and allows you room to place a transition over a cut. For owners of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30, do not immediately begin to record your primary action at the beginning of a brand new tape. Start recording and let the tape roll for about ten seconds at the beginning before you begin to capture a scene; if you don’t, the capturing process could be disrupted because the tape can’t back up far enough. Also, when using a tape-based camcorder, avoid reviewing the footage between shots. Most likely, when you try to find where you previously stopped recording to begin recording again, you won’t find the exact spot. It’s possible to accidentally record over footage that you previously recorded, or leave a small gap between scenes. This can result in a timecode break that impedes the capturing process. When you put in a new tape, the camcorder realizes it is blank and starts to add timecode when you begin recording. Timecode is a method of associating frames of video in a clip with a unique, sequential unit of time in the format of hours:minutes:seconds:frames. Because the camcorder uses the timecode to navigate the tape, and the video-editing software

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controls the DV device that the tape is in (the camcorder) when capturing, if the timecode is broken in an area, it can make it very difficult to capture the footage. Most timecode breaks on a tape occur at the beginning and end of a tape. To add a special touch to your video production, consider composing shots strictly to be used for titles. If you are going to make a DVD, set up shots that can be used strictly for menus.

Image Look and Feel The look of your images can create emotion and can invoke a feeling for your subject matter. A very brightly-lit scene with vibrant colors of a young schoolgirl setting at her desk looking into the camcorder with an ever-so-faint smirk on her face could imply something playful. The same scene in black and white can imply something sinister. In this case, you have the perfect mix of subject matter and composition where a simple desaturation of colors can change the mood dramatically. Certainly, I’m not implying that all images taken in black and white are sinister or foreboding. I’m simply saying that if you can create your own unique look and feel in your video, I encourage you to do so. Video combines music, the spoken word, and visuals into one of the most passionate and artistic mediums. What feeling do you want your viewers to walk away with after they see your video? Is your video funny, serious, dramatic, or scary? Even corporate videos attempt to leave you with a feeling of pride or commitment to the job. Start by asking who your audience is for this particular piece of video and how you want them to feel after they see your video. Numerous options within your camcorder can help you achieve a certain look, and you can add postproduction effects using video software.

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4.12 By using a paint effect filter and color correction in a video-editing program, I made this video footage resemble an old painting. A more robust video-editing application than what was shipped with your camcorder can provide more creative options.

Depth of field The term depth of field is used to describe the area of the image that remains in focus. To better illustrate this term, when you have a subject in sharp focus, there is a range in

front of and behind the subject that still remains in acceptable focus. Depending on factors such as focal length, aperture value, and shutter speed, this range can be either deep, with a large area remaining in acceptable focus, or shallow, with less area in

Chapter 4 ✦ The Fundamentals of Videography acceptable focus. Being able to control which areas of your video scene are in focus can help you put dramatic emphasis on specific areas in the image, as is done in photos taken with still cameras and movie film camera images. When shooting a portrait, a shallow depth of field can help you separate the subject from the background. You can also use a shallow depth of field to separate a vibrant flower from a group of many for added emphasis.

Depth of field factors There are two factors that directly affect the depth of field of your camcorder: focal length and aperture. This means that light is also a factor, and consequently shutter speed. When you zoom the camcorder all the way out for a wide-angle view, the focal length is short, making the depth of field deep. When you zoom the camcorder all the way in, the focal length is long, producing a more shallow depth of field. For a more filmic shallow depth of field, stand back from your subject

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and zoom into it. This way you can focus on the subject, and any object that lies before or behind the subject quickly falls out of focus, emphasizing the target. If you are shooting a person against a backdrop, and you want the person and the backdrop to be in focus, set up close to the person and have the person relatively close to the backdrop and shoot. For a more shallow depth of field, to make that person stand out from the backdrop, move the person farther away from the backdrop and shoot. This causes the backdrop to become out of focus when you focus on your subject. The aperture controls the actual amount of light allowed into the lens and affects the depth of field of your camcorder. High aperture values mean that the aperture opening is narrower, which results in deeper depth of field. If you are shooting in very bright conditions at the beach, your aperture is set to a high value to control the amount of light passing through the lens, giving you a

4.13 A sharp focus on the flowers while the camera is zoomed in from a distance blurs the background, making the pink flowers stand out.

154 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder deep depth of field. A low aperture value does just the opposite. Shooting on an overcast day, or in the shade where there is less light, calls for a smaller aperture value, and a wider aperture opening, providing a more filmic, shallow depth of field. The Portrait special scene recording program uses a large aperture and lets you focus on the subject matter while blurring the details of the background.

One thing to keep in mind is that given depth of field relies on what is in exact focus in the frame, when your focus shifts, so does the depth of field. If you are ever in a shooting situation where the automatic focus cannot gauge what is supposed to be in exact focus, deactivate from the automatic focus and manually set it. Refer to Chapter 3 to learn how to set a manual focus.

Even when shooting under an overcast sky with the aperture wide open, and the camcorder zoomed all the way in, the video camcorder still has a relatively short focal length and a small image sensor, resulting in a deep depth of field. Without the assistance of accessories, your best bet for a shallow depth of field is to zoom into the subject from a distance as much as possible. Check out Chapter 6 for a much more detailed discussion on aperture value and shutter speed. It also covers how to manually adjust these settings.

35mm lens adapters With the rise in the image performance of digital video camcorders, more prosumers — professional consumers — are considering

video as a possible cost-saving alternative to film. Due to this movement, entrepreneurs from film, photography, and video have been scrambling to develop technology that brings film qualities to the video camera. A few companies offer lens adapters that allow you to use 35mm single lens reflex (SLR) still camera lenses with your Canon VIXIA camcorder. This opens up the possibility of using prime lenses with your video camera for a more shallow depth of field. The imagery from some of the camcorders using this technology is absolutely beautiful. If you have some 35mm still lenses lying around and are entertaining the idea of buying a lens adapter, there are a couple of things of which you should take note. The first is that not all of these lens adapters are created equal, so do your research. Not long ago, the development of these adapters was in its infancy. Many raced to mature the technology of attaching still camera lenses to video lenses as they attempted to produce a viable product that would empower video. Some companies failed before they started, while other individuals engineered units from their basements and kitchen tables that produced magnificent images. Some of these kitchen-table engineers have really come into their own as leaders in the technology, and are quickly becoming household names. Given the very recent birth of this technology, choose your adapter wisely. Become an activate participant in online communities for people who shoot video, such as http://hv20.com, www.dvxuser.com, and http://vimeo.com, to ask questions and view videos. The second thing you need to be aware of is that there will be a learning curve when using a lens adapter, so know the workflow that you are signing up for.

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4.14 This video depicts a very shallow depth of field achieved with a 35mm lens adapter. The trees in the foreground and background are out of focus, drawing your eye to the tree in the middle that is in sharp focus.

Watch your exposure and color Light paints every image that you capture with your camcorder, so make sure that your exposure and white balance are consistent from shot to shot. If you are using the special scene recording modes or setting a custom white balance, make sure that you adjust them whenever the lighting situation changes. If there are significant changes of light quantity and quality between each shot for no apparent reason, it becomes a distraction to the viewer. Once you break continuity with the audience, your story quickly becomes a mere series of disconnected shots. This doesn’t mean that you can’t create sudden breaks or create contrasts between scenes. This is done for artistic purposes all the time. I’m simply saying if you’re going to do so, make it a conscious decision. If you

are doing a creative piece where the setting constantly switches from one place to another, a little color correcting could help establish location for the viewer. Perhaps all the scenes that take place in one city are vibrant and highly saturated, whereas in another city they are cool and blue. I would suggest making color corrections like these during post-production with a video-editing program. Making changes like this in postproduction gives you more flexibility with the original footage in the future, and for this same reason, I do not recommend using the in-camera digital effects. Any effect that you perform in-camera becomes a permanent part of the video. Chapter 6 shows you how to use light in your video, including using your own light setup. It also explains how to manually set exposure and perform a custom white balance.

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Pay Attention to the Shooting for the Web Some of the things that you can get away Audio with in video shown on a television don’t Audio is an integral part of your video. If the audio in your video is horrible, the audience has a hard time focusing on anything else. Many budding videographers never touch the audio recording levels and just accept whatever sound they get. It’s very easy to focus solely on the video and forget the audio while you’re shooting until you play it back. Don’t assume that the camcorder hears things the way that you do. That softspoken individual that you interviewed for five minutes may be barely audible when you play back the footage. The nearby traffic may be drowning out the voices on your video. A pair of headphones lets you hear what you are actually getting. Start by scouting the area where you shoot. Is there heavy traffic nearby, will there be crowds of people, a band, and a barking dog? This can dictate what will be required for you to obtain good audio. There is no one solution for every audio situation you may encounter. The built-in microphone can supply acceptable audio acquisition for general purposes, but it has it shortcomings. One is that it picks up sound from every direction. When possible, an external microphone such as a camera-mounted microphone for mobile shooting, or a lavaliere or hand-held microphone for interviews could serve you better. The audio accessories you choose to use depend on the circumstance. Chapter 5 is dedicated completely to sound. You can learn how to make audio adjustments and how to use the accessories that are available for your camcorder.

come off as well on the Internet. When shooting video for the Web, keep two important things in the front of your mind: you are shooting for a much smaller aspect ratio, and your video will have to be compressed, meaning, it will lose some of its quality. If you are shooting strictly for the Web, you have to be mindful of your composition, and definitely keep the camera steady and use a tripod. Compression is not kind to lots of movement so minimize or eliminate pans of wide vistas altogether, and avoid composing with fast-moving objects. Stationary shots are golden. Use a lot of close-ups of people and objects so that the audience easily recognizes them. Remember your video is playing in a little frame on someone’s computer. Additionally, compressed video does not play well with high-contrast scenes that contain very bright and dark spots, so use soft, diffused, even lighting in your video. Redirect sunlight to your subject with a low-cost reflector or even a white poster board. If you have to use a camera-mounted light, use some diffusion paper to diffuse it. This produces a less intense light source that will work much better for your video. Chapter 6 has a detailed discussion on diffusing light and using light in general in your video productions.

If you need to place a lower third (text and/ or graphics that overlay the video on the lower part of the screen) beneath a person or place for identification during the editing process, make sure that you shoot the person in a way that leaves room for one. Use a

Chapter 4 ✦ The Fundamentals of Videography lower third with a solid backdrop of a contrasting color to the video you are placing it over. Also, when adding titles, make sure you make them larger so they are legible within the small viewing area. When shooting for the Web, keep the background simple. Backgrounds with complex patterns containing lots of details create lots of compression artifacts, or visual defects in the video. A great example of a complex background is a tree with leaves blowing in the wind. If you can’t avoid a background such as this, try using a shallow depth of field to blur the background if necessary. Consider using the Portrait special scene recording program, which will blur the background.

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When editing your video for the Web, fancy transitions that use a lot of motion can create artifacts. Consider sticking with simple cuts.

Consider investing in audio accessories such as a lavaliere or hand-held microphone to get the best audio for the spoken word in your video. If you use the built-in microphone or a camera-mounted microphone, get up close and personal so that the viewers can hear what is being said. Bad audio can spoil the entire video.

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The Impact of Sound

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raming the shot, getting the right exposure, and creating the shot composition are all very important when shooting your video, but if you have bad audio, it detracts from any piece of video and is a true sign of an amateur. Starting out, it’s very easy to focus solely on the video and let the sound fall where it may, but the truth of the matter is, the video is only part of the equation that makes up the special moments you capture. Hearing the bride and groom recite their wedding vows and capturing every word of that graduation speech is what tugs at the heart strings. Sound helps define the moment, and provides the emotional impact that we want to relive. Make no mistake about it, a surefire way to clear the room when you show your movies is to have them recorded with horrible audio. There is no one solution for every audio situation you may encounter. The built-in microphone supplies acceptable audio for general purposes but it can quickly become inadequate. Think of the accessories that are available for your camcorder as tools in a toolbox, which you can use when the circumstance calls for them. Filming your son’s soccer match will call for a different tool than conducting news-style interviews around town. The key is to know which tool to use at what time. Regardless of the tool that you will be using, it all begins with optimizing your camera to capture the highest quality audio possible. For a more comprehensive discussion of all the accessories available for the Canon VIXIA series, see Chapter 7.

Monitoring Sound Each Canon VIXIA comes equipped with manual audio level controls, which means that you can adjust the audio recording levels for the built-in or external microphone. You are also able to display those levels while recording so that you can closely monitor

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In This Chapter Monitoring sound Audio levels External microphone connections

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160 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder them. While recording or playing back your video, you need to monitor the levels with a set of headphones, which can be connected to the AV Out terminal. An important thing to note here is that the AV Out terminal performs double duty and, before connecting the headphones, you need to change its function to operate as a headphones output as shown in the following steps:

Function button

1. Press the Function button on the camcorder.

2. Navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button.

3. Navigate to the System Setup option, then press the Set button.

5.2 The Function button located on the lower back of the VIXIA HV20 and VIXIA HV30 models

4. Navigate to the AV/Phones option in the menu, then press the Set button.

5. Navigate to the Phones option, then press the Set button. The headphones icon now appears and you are ready to monitor sound through the headphones.

6. Press the Function button to exit out of the menu system. Function button

5.3 The Function button located on the left side of the VIXIA HR10 model

AV/PHONES AV

AV PHONES

5.4 The AV/Phones options in the menu system Function button

5.1 The Function button located on the LCD panel of VIXIA models HF10, HF11, HG10, HG20, and HG21

Chapter 5 ✦ The Impact of Sound

Audio Levels Now that you can monitor sound through headphones, you need to adjust the recording levels to ensure that you are recording sound at the optimal levels. When I say optimal levels, I mean audio levels that are not too low for you to hear during playback, or too high that the sound is distorted. Each Canon VIXIA HD camcorder, with the exception of the VIXIA HR10 and HG10, comes equipped with an Audio level indicator that lets you monitor the level of your recorded audio. Optimal audio levels for your camcorder are at an average of –12 dB on the digital audio scale with levels that occasionally peak above and below. To perform a manual audio level adjustment, follow these instructions.

1. Make sure that your camcorder is in Movie mode. Some VIXIA models have a Camera option on the Power switch that you have to turn the dial to. Then turn another dial or switch to an icon of a camcorder or of a cassette tape. Others have a single dial that can be moved into the position of the camcorder icon.

2. Press the Set button to access the joystick guide, if it is not already onscreen.

3. If the Mic option does not already appear in the joystick guide, push the joystick downward to cycle through the options until the Mic option appears.

4. Once the Mic option appears, push the joystick upward to the Mic option and the manual adjustment icon appears to the left of the Audio level indicator and a green Audio level adjustment bar appears below the indicator. Your voice, including ambient sound, should average around –12 dB on the meter.

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Movie playback mode Movie mode Still image mode

Still image playback mode

5.5 The various modes of the VIXIA series, shown on the HF11 model

5. To adjust the levels, continue to talk into the camera and push the joystick to the right toward the plus sign in the joystick guide to raise the level or to the left toward the minus sign to lower the level. Press the Set button to accept the changes; the adjustment bar disappears and your new audio levels are locked. Now when shooting, you can monitor your audio through headphones as well as the Audio level indicator that appears in the viewfinder or LCD. It’s very important that you keep your eye on this indicator as you’re shooting. Anything around 0 dB on the meter is way too loud and probably begins to distort. With that being said, it’s okay that your audio sometimes hits below the designated –12 dB and sometimes above it. This variance is referred to as dynamic range. Dynamic range is the range between the softest sounds being recorded and the loudest. For

162 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder example, if you are recording your children talking over a board game and someone walks into the room and lets the door slam behind him, the sound of the door may spike your audio levels above –12 dB. In kind, the sound of the air conditioning blowing in the background between the children’s speech will be much softer than –12 dB.

Audio level indicator

Joystick guide

MIC NEXT

Manual adjustment icon

External Microphone Connections All of the Canon VIXIA models have the added advantage of using external sources when the situation calls for higher quality sound acquisition. Compatible microphone accessories connect to your Canon VIXIA HD camcorder by way of the Mini advanced shoe located on the top of the camcorder or the 3.5mm Mic terminal. Some microphones connect to both.

Mic terminal

Manual level adjustment guide

5.6 The onscreen joystick guide with the green Audio level adjustment guide below the Audio level indicator Each Canon VIXIA camcorder has internal microphones that will record Dolby Digital sound right out of the box. With that being said, built-in microphones have inherent limitations. Built-in microphones perform better when the subject is very close to the camcorder and become less adequate the farther the subject is from the camcorder. Built-in microphones are also difficult to shield when shooting in windy conditions and are likely to pick up the noise the wind makes. All VIXIA models have a windscreen feature that will automatically reduce some low-frequency noises and background noises caused by wind when recording outdoors. 5.7 The Mic terminal for connecting external microphones

Chapter 5 ✦ The Impact of Sound External microphone accessories come with their own protection from wind noises and are generally used for specific recording needs where sound needs to be high quality, such as when capturing dialog. It’s important to know which accessory to use in which circumstance. Some external microphones require battery power so be aware of this when purchasing one. If your microphone uses batteries, make sure that they are installed and that the microphone is turned on before you begin recording. To conserve battery power, don’t forget to turn off the microphone in-between recordings and make sure you turn it off when you’re done for the day.

Lavaliere and lapel microphones Lavaliere and lapel microphones are mostly used for seated interviews, such as those on talking head news shows. Often, if you look very closely at the speakers’ ties and collars, you can see tiny microphones clipped to them. A wire runs from the microphone down a suit coat or blouse, leading back to the camera, into the 3.5mm Mic terminal. These microphones clearly record the voice of the person you are interviewing, while minimizing room noise. With that being said, there are a few things that you can do to increase your chance of success when using a lavaliere or lapel microphone:

to run the microphone down his shirt so it isn’t visible to the camera. A dangling wire in front of your subject appears very sloppy on camera. Don’t attempt to hide the actual microphone itself. If you place the microphone inside a suit coat or collar, it not only muffles the voice of the speaker, but also the subtlest of movements will create noise during your recording.

✦ Test the volume before you actually begin recording. Perform a manual audio level adjustment with your VIXIA camcorder and have the person begin talking at the level he plans to speak, so that you can ensure that the levels average around –12 dB.

✦ Monitor the audio during the interview or dialog by wearing headphones and monitoring the levels in the LCD panel. Many times during the recording, nerves make the speaker talk louder or softer than he normally would. If you discover that you should have lowered or raised the in-camera levels much more than you did, perform a manual audio level adjustment in your VIXIA HD camcorder, and then reshoot the video.

✦ Make sure that your subject remains relatively still during the recording. Because the microphone is physically attached to the clothing, it is apt to pick up the sound of rustling clothes.

✦ Make sure that the wire of the microphone is hidden as best as possible. If needed, ask the person

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5.8 The lavaliere/lapel microphone

164 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder When you use external microphones with your Canon VIXIA HD camcorder, the windscreen feature automatically adjusts to the Off setting.

Hand-held microphones Hand-held microphones can be used for onthe-move interviews and are widely used by news reporters out in the field. You may also find this option more advantageous than using lavaliere and lapel microphones for sit-down interviews, or in situations where you have more than one person on camera at a time. You can simply pass the microphone down the row of speakers or hold the microphone close to their mouth as they speak. Connecting to the 3.5mm Mic terminal on the camera connects a hand-held microphone the same way lavaliere and lapels microphones connect. Due to the low output characteristics of these particular microphones, they are equipped with their own power supply, meaning that you will have to place batteries into them and turn them off and on. There are three types of microphones:

✦ Unidirectional. Sound is picked up from one direction. Most hand-held microphones for general use are unidirectional.

✦ Omnidirectional. Sound is picked up evenly from all directions. They’re not as practical as unidirectional microphones, as sound is unfocused.

✦ Bidirectional. Sound is picked up from polar opposite directions. These microphones are good for placing between two speaking subjects but are not as practical as unidirectional microphones.

Of the three, a unidirectional hand-held microphone is the most practical, and most widely used, option because it will mainly pick up the sound in the direction that it is pointed, the subject’s mouth, but will also pick up some of the ambient noises to the sides. Here are a few things that you can do to increase your success when using a handheld mic:

✦ If the microphone has an on and off switch, make sure that it is turned on while recording. This may sound elementary, but in the heat of the moment, it is easy to forget the smallest thing, such as flipping on a switch to record audio, especially when you’re not accustomed to doing so.

✦ Turn off the battery powered hand-held microphone when finished, to conserve battery power. The last thing you want to discover when you need to do an interview is that you left the microphone on and the battery is dead.

✦ Make sure your microphone battery is fresh. As your microphone’s battery reaches a low level, audio quality diminishes.

✦ Do a sound check. Before you begin recording, make sure that the levels are averaging around –12 dB by talking into the microphone at the level at which you or the speaker will be talking during the actual interview. If you need to adjust the levels, perform a manual audio level adjustment in your camera.

✦ Mind your surroundings. Be aware of the background noises that may compete with your interview such as gusting wind, loud music, or even loud insects such as cicadas.

Chapter 5 ✦ The Impact of Sound If possible, minimize these competing sounds by dictating the location of the recording.

✦ Hold the microphone near the mouth of the speaker while she is speaking. Sounds pretty basic, right? Even the professionals sometimes forget to place the microphone close to their mouths before speaking and, therefore, drop the first couple of words before the microphone is in place.

✦ Don’t give up the microphone. It’s very common for the person to reach for the microphone as you are placing it toward his mouth to speak. You know what should and should not be done with the microphone during recording and he probably does not. Control the situation by maintaining control of the microphone, and the interview will go much smoother.

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Commonly referred to as a “shotgun microphone,” this hands-free alternative to the lavaliere and the hand-held microphones is attached firmly to the top of your VIXIA camcorder by retracting the accessory shoe and sliding it into place. This area is marked on the top of your camcorder by the shoe accessory icon, which looks like an italicized letter S in bold print. Remove the cover from the camera by sliding it backward or lifting it from the camera body, and then slide the microphone into place. If you use the proper Canon accessories that are made to take advantage of the advance shoe technology, the microphone is powered without the use of wires or batteries. If the compatible microphone attaches properly, the Advanced shoe icon will appear in the screen.

✦ Be mindful of the cord. If you are conducting an interview in a busy area, try to avoid putting your microphone where people have to walk over the cord. You don’t want someone to trip over your cord and get hurt while the camera and microphone go crashing to the floor. A hand-held microphone is a simple way to conduct on-the-go interviews or simply have someone sing into the camera for a video audition.

Camera-mounted microphones Another popular way to capture sound is to attach a directional stereo microphone to the advanced shoe located on top of the Canon VIXIA HD camcorder to record in documentary style situations, such as birthday parties, family reunions, or sporting events.

5.9 A non-advanced camera-mounted microphone that can be fixed to the accessory shoe

The Canon VIXIA lineup has two types of accessory shoe mounts: the Advanced accessory shoe and the Mini advanced shoe. When choosing a camera-mounted shotgun microphone, make sure that you look for one bearing the Advanced accessory shoe or Mini advanced shoe logo to ensure compatibility. You can also use the shoe mount to attach a nonadvanced accessory microphone to the camcorder and plug a wire into the 3.5mm Mic terminal.

166 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Advanced accessory shoe

Mini advanced shoe

5.10 The varying advanced accessory shoes on top of the HF11 and HV30 camcorders The camcorder-mounted shotgun microphone diminishes the mechanical noises that often get picked up by built-in camcorder microphones, such as the noise when you’re using the camera zoom, or the noise when tape-heads are rolling during recording. It also minimizes sounds that may originate from behind the camera, such as the shuffling of feet, the rustling of clothes, or faint voices. This microphone is usually equipped with a windscreen, or sock, that helps shield it from the rumbling of gusting wind noises. These extraneous noises are greatly minimized as the sound is mainly acquired from the direction in which the microphone is pointed — toward the subject. You are still going to get some traffic noise, birds chirping, and the extremely loud noises, but these sounds are lowered to acceptable levels.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when using a camera-mounted microphone:

✦ Position the microphone close to your subject. It doesn’t exactly have to be in your subject’s face, but if you are running and gunning, make sure that the camera is close to the subject. I recommend doing some tests before your shoot to get to know the limitations and reach of your particular microphone before the event.

✦ Make sure that the windscreen is covering the microphone. When you are ready to re-live that outdoor sporting event you recorded with your family, they will thank you for not subjecting them to an hour of howling wind.

Using Light to Create Great Video

6

C H A P T E R

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ave you ever heard the expression, “Seeing things in a positive (or negative) light?” The first person to use this phrase understood the power of seeing the world through the prism of light. Light influences every image that you capture with your Canon VIXIA camcorder, and those images evoke feeling. A hard, concentrated light shining from below on a face, casting hard shadows, is used time and time again in film to create a feeling of unrest and fear. Alternatively, a brightly lit, nearly blown-out image of an actor can make the actor appear almost angelic. Understanding the impact of light on your perception of the world is the first step in using it to create great video, whether you are capturing images of great vacations and special events or making your own feature film. As a videographer, you need to always be aware of light, and preparation is key. Before your shoot, you need to consider the following: Will I be shooting indoors or outdoors? What is the lighting setup? Will there be a mixture of natural and artificial light? Will it be sunny or overcast? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you make good decisions during the shoot. This chapter is not meant to encourage you to run out and buy two-thousand dollars’ worth of lighting equipment, nor imply you need it to shoot great-looking video. This chapter covers some of the most common lighting situations you will encounter and how to resolve the issues that can arise.

Light Quality and Quantity Understanding the characteristics of light and how your camcorder interacts with it is essential to learning how to wield light in your video projects. In spite of all the optical wonder that goes into making your Canon high-definition camcorder,

Light quality and quantity Getting the right exposure Adjusting white balance for color accuracy Shooting in sunlight Shooting in low light Shooting indoors Basics of shooting chroma key

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168 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder the eye of the camcorder does not work as well as the human eye. So, when you record images with your camcorder, it needs extra help to see images the way that you do. When you are shooting in a dimly lit room, your eyes can make out a lot more detail than the camera. Through the lens of the camera, the same room might appear nearly pitch black. In contrast, when you are shooting your subject at the beach, with the sun in front of the camera, to the eye of the camcorder the person appears very dark as the camcorder attempts to expose for the sun, bright sky, and sand. Your eyes are many times more accurate than your camcorder’s sensor; in conjunction with your brain, they can decipher a white envelope under a yellow light as still being white. However, the camcorder needs your assistance to reach that conclusion. In essence, you are its brain, helping it to respond to various light and lighting conditions. The way you configure your camcorder to handle light and color is largely dependent on the quality and quantity of light in which you are shooting. An evenly lit subject that is void of hard shadows denotes the presence of diffused, or soft, light. Diffused light is light that is not concentrated, but scattered, appearing to

come from many different directions. A great example of diffused light is the sun shining through clouds on an overcast day, softening the rays before they reach the objects on the ground. This results in soft, gentle images. It’s a great environment for shooting video as you do not have to wrestle with hard shadows or blown-out highlights. With that being said, light can be diffused, but also dim; in this case, you might need extra lights to achieve the best image. Sharp shadows, with a high contrast between the lightest and darkest areas of the subject, denote the presence of a concentrated light source aimed in a specific direction. A spotlight aimed directly at a person, casting a hard, well-defined shadow on the wall is a clear example of this. This can also happen when you are shooting in bright sunlight. If the contrast between light and dark areas is extremely high, the image has what is called a wide dynamic range, and this can cause problems for the camcorder sensor as it struggles to balance the light in the scene. This problem is apparent if you shoot someone indoors who is standing in front of a window that lets in sunlight. If you have the camcorder set to automatic, you

6.1 Sunshine diffused by clouds on an overcast day casts soft, even light on this subject.

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6.2 Hard shadows suggest a strong, directional source of light, as depicted by this shot. The shadow of the cameraperson interferes with the shot when the sun is almost directly above on a bright, sunny day. may only be able to see a dark silhouette of the person because the camera compensates for the brightest part of the image: the window. Fortunately, you can use features in your VIXIA camcorder, accessories, and techniques to minimize these types of issues so that you can capture beautiful images in varied lighting conditions. On the other hand, if you are an independent filmmaker who wants to create a mood using unconventional lighting having a lighting style that is entirely your own can be a powerful signature of your personal artistic brand.

Getting the Right Exposure The amount of light reaching your VIXIA camcorder’s image sensor plays a large role in the quality of images you can produce. Simply put, an image that is too light or too

dark degrades the appearance of your highdefinition footage, and it could be mistaken for a standard definition image. To take full advantage of your high-definition camcorder, you need to understand the importance of achieving the right exposure for various lighting conditions. For example, shooting video on your ski vacation requires lower light sensitivity because the sunlight reflects on the white snow, producing very bright shooting conditions. On the other hand, shooting a sunset requires a higher light sensitivity due to the loss of light. Under- and overexposed video is one of the most common video problems and is the true mark of an amateur. Fortunately, out of the box, your camcorder can handle many of these situations by adjusting the shutter speed and the aperture, both of which are responsible for regulating light reaching the image sensor. Shutter speed dictates the quantity of light gathered from your shooting environment, while the aperture controls the size of the opening in the lens that allows in light.

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6.3 This overexposed image comes from too much light being allowed to reach the imaging sensor of the camcorder, which causes improper exposure.

Most video-editing programs give you color correcting capabilities to fix exposure problems in post-production. If an image is too dark or too light, making adjustments with software can help but not completely correct the problem. In fact, if the video needs a lot of adjusting, color correction could add problems, including noise.

Using special scene recording programs Your VIXIA camcorder has preprogrammed auto exposure settings for optimizing both the shutter and aperture to your advantage. The special scene recording programs automatically adjust your camcorder’s sensitivity to incoming light by selecting a program for a given lighting situation. The special scene recording programs under the Function menu’s (P) Program AE (Aperture Exposure) option are as follows:

✦ Portrait. This setting uses a wide aperture, letting in more light and blurring the background so that the

focus is sharp on the subject. The more you zoom in on the subject, the blurrier the background becomes.

✦ Sports. This setting is great for recording action such as tennis, softball, and soccer, because it allows you to see more detail in moving objects, due to the use of a higher shutter speed. Upon playback, the movement in the scene may not appear as smooth as in other modes, due to the high shutter speed.

✦ Night. Your recordings in low-lit places can benefit greatly from this setting. However, if the lighting is too low, the picture can appear grainy. Motion blurring can occur with fast-moving objects given the lower shutter speed. And autofocus can struggle in this mode, so you may have to focus manually.

✦ Snow. This is a great mode for brightly lit scenes such as ski resorts, where the sun reflects off the white snow. This is a good

Chapter 6 ✦ Using Light to Create Great Video option for keeping your subjects from being underexposed against the snow banks. With that being said, on cloudy days or in the shade, subjects can sometimes appear overexposed. Monitor your shot carefully.

✦ Beach. Use this setting on sunny days to keep your subjects from being underexposed when the camera tries to compensate for the bright surroundings. This mode uses a very high shutter speed, so the image may not play back as smoothly as it would in other modes that do not use a high shutter speed.

✦ Sunset. This mode enables you to capture a wide range of vibrant colors that are associated with a sunset.

✦ Spotlight. This is a good option for performances that use a spotlight, such as plays and dance recitals.

✦ Fireworks. Use this mode to record fireworks. You may want to consider using a tripod for both video and still images to avoid shake in this mode, which uses a slow shutter speed. When set to Automatic Exposure, your camcorder constantly calculates in response to changing lighting conditions and can sometimes overcompensate when faced with an abrupt change in light. Be mindful of shots where you are tracking moving objects that travel from well-lit to poorly lit environments, as the picture may jump to a bright white or pitch black as the camera adjusts. The transition is quick, but may not be aesthetically pleasing if the contrast is very high. To avoid this, limit tracking and panning to avoid extremely light or dark areas from coming into view while using the automatic exposure feature.

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Adjusting shutter speed and aperture Some of the Automatic Exposure (AE) options allow you to set either the shutter or aperture value manually, and then the camcorder adjusts the other automatically. The AE options under the Function menu include:

✦ (P) Program AE. By default, your camcorder is set to this mode, where it optimizes the aperture and shutter settings for the best exposure of the subject. This is a great hands-free option and yields fantastic results.

✦ (Tv) Shutter-Prio.AE. This option lets you manually set the shutter speed value, and will automatically set the proper aperture value for you. If you use a slow shutter in a dimly let area, the image will be brighter but you sacrifice image quality. You may also have problems with the autofocus feature. Using a faster shutter speed during recording may result in image flicker.

✦ (Av) Aperture-Prio.AE. This option lets you manually set the aperture value, and the appropriate shutter speed will automatically be adjusted for you. Your zoom position dictates the values available for this option. After you select the Tv or Av option and close the Function menu, a number appears next to the recording program icon. To manually set the shutter or aperture value, use the navigation controls to make the adjustment. If the shutter or aperture value is not appropriate for the current recording conditions, the number next to the recording program icon blinks and you must choose another value.

172 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder If you prefer to manually set your shutter speeds, keep in mind that the higher the shutter speed, the less light you gather; this results in sharper, more detailed images when recording motion, with less blur. High shutter speeds are great for shooting in conditions that have an overabundance of light, such as a sunny day at the beach. If you are shooting a fastpaced sporting event such as bicycling, set the highest shutter speed that is possible for limited motion blur. Alternately, use a lower shutter speed if you have limited lighting. If you want to manually tweak the shutter speed for your specific needs, you can refer to these guidelines:

✦ 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30. These lower shutter speeds are great for recording in dimly lit places. These speeds tend to add motion blur to fast moving objects. The 1/2 and 1/4 shutter speeds are only offered in Still image mode.

✦ 1/60. This is a great shutter speed for ordinary shooting conditions.

✦ 1/100. Use this shutter speed to record indoor sports.

✦ 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000. These shutter speed options are great for recording fast-moving objects such as when you are shooting from within a moving vehicle or shooting theme park rides. The 1/1000 setting is offered only in the Movie mode.

✦ 1/2000. This is a good shutter speed for taping outdoor sports on a sunny day. This setting is offered only in the Movie mode. If you want to manually adjust your aperture, keep in mind that the aperture is the opening and closing diaphragm behind the

lens and controls the amount of light that passes through. Its function is much like the pupil of the eye. In low-light situations, it needs to be opened wider, and in bright situations, it needs to contract. The relative size of the opening/aperture is called the f-stop, and the way f-stops are numbered can be a little confusing. It helps to think of them as denominators of fractions where 1.2 is larger than 1.8. The larger the number, the smaller the aperture opening, meaning less light passes through the lens to the image sensor, and vice versa. So, if you set the aperture value to 2.0 and then adjust it to 4.0, you effectively cut the amount of light let into the lens by half. Adjusting the size of the lens opening has an effect on your images. Using a larger or smaller aperture value affects the depth of field — the depth in a scene from foreground to background that remains in focus — and the Aperture Priority mode (Av) lets you take advantage of this. Use a larger lens opening, which means a lower aperture value, for a more shallow depth of field. This gives the portraits that you take a soft blur on the background. Use a smaller lens opening by setting a higher aperture value for a wider depth of field. This is good for when you want the overall image to have a sharp focus, such as when you are shooting scenery. The available aperture values are as follows: 1.8, 2.0. 2.4, 2.8, 3.4, 4.0, 4.8, 5.6, 6.7, and 8.0. Check out Chapter 4 for a more detailed discussion on depth of field. If your camcorder is set to record at 24 frames per second (PF24), the available shutter speeds are as follows: 1/6, 1/12, 1/24, 1/48, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000.

Chapter 6 ✦ Using Light to Create Great Video

Performing manual exposure adjustments The automatic exposure settings are great for a quick adjustment in many ordinary shooting situations, but they also have their limitations. The kindest light for finding a proper exposure is diffused scattered light that illuminates evenly on a surface. However, there will be many times where you shoot subjects that are illuminated by a hard directional light source, and the subject remains partially in shadow. Images with a wide dynamic range, meaning they have a large disparity in intensity between the lightest and darkest parts, pose all sorts of problems for the camcorder. A perfect example of this would be shooting a dark patch of forest with a very bright sky. If the majority of the image consists of only the trees, you are okay, but the more and more you introduce the very bright sky into the picture, the more the camcorder starts to compensate, until the tree line is black, void of information, and the sky is properly exposed. The same holds true for light subjects closely surround by areas of intense darkness, where the camcorder’s automatic response is to overexpose the entire image. The imaging sensor simply cannot adequately address such a high contrast scene with the automatic exposure settings. In this scenario, you will need to adjust your shot or to manually adjust the exposure. Follow these steps to manually adjust the exposure:

1. Set the camcorder to Movie or Still image mode, and press the Set button to launch the onscreen joystick guide.

2. If the Exp option does not show in the joystick guide, use the navigation controls to navigate down using the Next option until Exp appears in the guide.

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3. Use the navigation controls to select the Exp option. The exposure adjustment indicator is not visible with a neutral value of 0. The length of the adjustment indicator varies, depending on the brightness of the image.

4. Use the navigation controls to move left or right to adjust the brightness of the image.

5. Press the Set button to lock the new exposure. If you want to return the exposure to the automatic setting, press the Set button, and use the navigation controls to select the Exp option again.

Exposure adjustment indicator

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6.4 The Exposure adjustment indicator

The flexibility of automatically or manually setting exposure is a wonderful thing, but there will be times you will have to sacrifice not having the perfect exposure for part of the image so that the actual subject is not neglected. No matter how advanced camcorders become, the ultimate verdict rests with your naked eyes. If you are faced with a situation in which part of the image will be less than perfect, always make sure that your subject looks the best.

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6.5 By manually setting my exposure, I am able to focus on the range of colors and detail present in the bison’s dark coat, even though my subject is against a very light, snowy backdrop. The scene with the buffalo is a great example of how the snow is allowed to be overexposed in order to capture more important detail in the bison. There will be scenes where you cannot capture everything perfectly, due to the dynamic range of the scene reaching beyond the dynamic range capability of the camcorder.

Using backlight correction Another shooting scenario that can confuse the automatic exposure setting is strong backlighting. For example, this can occur when you are recording indoors, in a poorly lit room, and your subject is standing in front of a window with bright sunlight pouring in. The subject can appear either overexposed or underexposed, losing image detail, as the

camera adjusts for the intense sunlight. For these situations, the Canon VIXIA camcorder’s automatic backlight correction is handy. It can help you deal with subjects that have a strong light source behind them, and the best thing about it is that you can use this setting adjustment with the press of a single button. While shooting the subject on the bright background, press the Backlight Correction (BLC) button located at the bottom right of the flip-out LCD panel on all models except for the VIXIA HR10, HV20 and HV30. You can find the BLC button on the left side of the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 models, next to the lens. Simply press the BLC button again to end the Backlight correction mode. The HR10 model does not have an automatic Backlight correction feature.

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6.6 The exposure is adjusted so that the young boy is exposed properly and the image retains detail while in front of a very bright window with the sun pouring through.

Adjusting White Balance for Color Accuracy Color accuracy is a very important component to recording great-looking video. It is largely dependent on how your camcorder handles various colors of light. The white balance feature of your VIXIA camcorder helps to accurately reproduce colors when you are shooting in various lighting situations, so that neutral colors such as white and gray are truly neutral, and all colors are rendered without undesired color casts. As I mentioned earlier in the chapter, the human eye does a great job of deciphering what is white under various lighting conditions, but your camcorder cannot — not on its own, anyway. You have to show your camera what constitutes a neutral color under various lighting conditions before it can accurately depict other colors.

Have you ever seen a news segment where the camera operator walks from room to room and the scene quickly turns to a blue tint? In this scenario, the camcorder may have been color balanced in a room that was mostly dominated by incandescent light bulbs, and as the camera operator moved into a room mostly illuminated by sunlight, the color balance was not adjusted. The bottom line is that you want a white wall to appear white whether it’s bathed in sunlight or under incandescent bulbs. An incorrect white balance can result in unrealistic color casts of blue, green, or even orange, so, if this is not an effect that you desire, make sure that you are properly adjusting white balance whenever the lighting changes. Your Canon VIXIA camcorder comes with both an automatic and a manual white balance option.

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6.7 The image displays colors that are muted with a blue color cast due to improper white balance for the lighting, which is evident as the cake’s white frosting and his shirt appear blue. The camcorder’s white balance is adjusted for artificial indoor lighting, but the subject is bathed in natural sunlight that shines through the window. By default, your camcorder is set to Auto, which means it will automatically adjust for white balance, as well as other settings. There are additional preset options from which to choose that may yield better results than Auto in certain situations. The white balance options under the Function menu are as follows:

✦ AWB Auto. The camcorder automatically adjusts the white balance. This setting works well indoors and outdoors.

✦ Daylight. This setting is great for recording outdoors on a bright day.

✦ Shade. This setting is used for recording in shaded places.

✦ Cloudy. This setting is great for recording on a cloudy day

✦ Tungsten. This setting is used for recording under tungsten and tungsten type florescent lighting. These lights are often associated with typical household lighting.

✦ Fluorescent. This setting is a good for recording under warm white and cool white, fluorescent lighting. This light is also used in homes.

✦ Fluorescent H. This setting is a good option for recording under daylight or daylight type (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting.

✦ Set. This setting is the custom white balance, where you show the camcorder what white is under colored lights by using a gray card or focusing on something that is truly white. The automatic white balance (AWB) feature is very convenient, but in some circumstances, setting a manual white balance can yield better results. There are times when automatic white balance can overcompensate to try to color balance a shot, such as when you zoom in tightly to a face. The AWB setting is great for broad scenes or wide shots, but when you zoom into a face, it can add too much blue to compensate (some skin colors contain a lot

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Color Temperature Color temperature describes the spectrum of light emitted and is measured in degrees Kelvin. The approximate temperature measurements for various types of lighting are as follows: Tungsten bulbs (household)

2500–3500K

Fluorescent lamps

4,000–5000K

Sunset and sunrise (clear day)

3000–4000K

Daylight (sunny day)

5000–6500K

Overcast day

9000–1000K

Providing a measurement for the light that you encounter on a day-to-day basis helps you to better conceptualize color temperature. Understanding color temperature helps you make more informed white balance decisions in the field.

of red and green), creating an unnatural colorcast. Certain types of fluorescent lights can also throw off the AWB. Set a custom white balance, using the Set option, enables you to maintain a constant color balance while zooming in and out.

2. Press the Function button again

To set a custom white balance, you need to focus the camcorder on a target that is white. A Kodak Gray Card, which you can keep in your camcorder bag, provides a white target. (One side of the card is gray while the other is white.) You can also choose a white object that is under the same lighting as that in which you are shooting. If you have previously activated the digital zoom, you should deactivate it before performing a custom white balance.

3. Navigate to the Set option in the

Follow these instructions to deactivate the digital zoom and set a custom white balance with your Canon VIXIA camcorder:

5. Press the Function button to

1. With your camcorder in Movie mode, turn off the digital zoom by pressing the Function button, then going to Menu ➪ Camera Setup and choosing D.Zoom. After you choose Off, close the menu.

to access the menu and navigate to AWB or the icon of the currently selected white balance option, and press Set to access the menu. You must be in P mode to see the white balance options. menu.

4. Point the camcorder at a white object, such as the card, and zoom into the object until it fills the screen and press the Set button. After the adjustment, the Set icon stops flashing, but remains onscreen. Under certain lights the Set button may keep blinking but the new setting is accepted. retain the new settings. Now, your custom settings are retained even if the camcorder is turned off. Always set a custom white balance in a place that is sufficiently well lit. Anytime the lighting conditions change, you need to reset the white balance. Also, make sure that the card is not overexposed when setting a custom

178 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder white balance. An overexposed card can result in a poor white balance. You can create a warmer look for your video by setting your white balance on cards of various shades of light blue, known as WarmCards, as opposed to white cards. Using the light blue color card as a white reference eliminates that card’s particular shade of blue from your image, shifting the entire color range to warmer colors. Visit www. warmcards.com to find out more.

Shooting in Sunlight There are very few indoor environments that can provide the aesthetic benefits shooting video in the great outdoors does. Outdoors you have the magnificence and diversity of natural beauty in wildlife, terrain, or architecture, all illuminated by the brightest light source around: the sun. That said, shooting outdoors does have its challenges. You don’t need thousands of dollars worth of lighting equipment to shoot great video outdoors, just an understanding of the characteristics of sunlight and how to use them to your advantage. The Canon VIXIA camcorders do

a great job in most ordinary situations right out of the box, but there are things you can do to shoot a higher quality image. As the position of the sun changes throughout the day, so do the quality, quantity, and direction of light. Being able to adjust to these changes is a must if you want to produce the highest quality outdoor video. As a rule of thumb, lower the contrast by choosing an evenly lit area to shoot and fill the shadows by using a reflector to redirect light to illuminate dark areas. In any lighting situation, make sure that you have proper white balance and exposure. The automatic settings perform well, but a manual white balance ensures that your whites are truly white every time, therefore rendering all other colors more accurately. When shooting in bright conditions, the LCD panel of the camcorder may become increasingly difficult to see. You can adjust the brightness of the LCD panel for easier viewing by holding down the Display button, marked DISP, for more than two seconds. This toggles the screen’s normal and bright settings. Hold down the button again to return the brightness setting to its default state.

6.8 Matterhorn Canyon at Yosemite National Park from an elevated vantage point on a bright, sunny day

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Redirecting sunlight As I discussed previously, even lighting is a friend to video, but a powerfully bright, directional sun creates hard light and well-defined shadows. It results in high-contrast images that the camera’s image sensor struggles to interpret. Morning and evening are better

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times to record images that are more evenly lit, given the position of the sun. Clouds can create soft, diffused light that lights your subject more evenly than direct sunlight by scattering the rays, but if you’re shooting on a bright sunny day without any clouds, you can take several approaches.

Building

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6.9 The subject stands in the shade of a building, while sunlight is bounced and diffused by the reflector onto the subject. Diffused light is light that is scattered in different directions causing soft shadows rather than hard ones.

180 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder If the situation allows for it, you can shoot the subject in the shade. Trees and buildings are natural diffusers you can use to limit the amount of light in your shot. If you discover that too much light is being blocked from your subject and the shot is too dark, you can always redirect sunlight to your subject with a low-cost reflector or even a white poster board. In this scenario the reflector is the primary source of light. With the sun behind the subject, at about the eleven or twelve o’clock position, stand the reflector between the four and eight o’clock position to bounce in some light. Make sure that the reflector is close to the subject and just below eye level to limit the shadows around the chin, nose, and eyes. You may need to move the position of the reflector in or out to make sure that it is supplying the proper amount of light into the shaded area. Keep your eye in the camcorder viewfinder or LCD to make sure that you see what the camcorder sees.

A Neutral Density (ND) filter is an accessory that also helps to reduce the intensity of light on a bright day. An ND filter is a gray piece of glass that screws onto the front of the existing camcorder lens and reduces the amount of light that can pass through the lens. You should have this filter with you whenever you go on a shoot in bright conditions. You may find that although the subject is evenly lit, there still is too much light getting through; an ND filter can help lower the intensity of the light. If you are in a situation where you do not have a way to diffuse the light, shoot the subject with the sun at your back and your subject facing the camcorder. If the unobstructed sun is at the back of your subject and you point the camera into it, you will likely get a halo effect around the outline of your subject. Now, if you are trying to achieve a look where the person you are shooting appears bathed in light, like a celestial figure, this is one way to do it.

Diffusing sunlight Another solution for shooting in hard, direct sunlight is to diffuse the sunlight with a translucent white material of your own. On a cloudless day, you can place a white bed sheet between your subject and the sun to act as a diffuser. You can use clotheslines or stands with clips (or just two friends) to hold the material above your subject. This way, the light will scatter before it reaches your subject, casting a softer light, and cutting down on those unsightly hot spots and hard shadows. This is a great way to conduct an interview without the sun bearing down on you. Just be sure to compose your shot so that any equipment is not in the shot. You can purchase reflectors at any photography or video store.

Shooting in Low Light Today’s camcorders are a lot more sensitive to light than those made a few years ago, but without extra light accessories, it is very difficult to produce a high-quality image in very low light situations. If you plan on doing some event videography, such as weddings and parties, plan on videotaping in low-light situations. Regardless of how many times you ask the DJ to not bring the lights down below a certain level, he inevitably forgets and you are forced to make do.

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6.10 A grainy image shot in very low light The first thing you need to do is come to terms with the fact that your low-light video is not going to look as good as the video you shot in a well-lit environment. Video shot in low light can be grainy and your automatic focus is not as responsive or accurate as you’re used to. With that being said, the issues that arise from shooting in a dimly lit environment can make for some interesting, sometimes artistic video. Carefully composing shots that contain highlights, playing on the ratio of darkness to brightness, can sometimes make you appear intentionally clever and stylistic. The Night special scene recording program under the Program AE options helps in dimly lit situations. When shooting in conditions where light is a scarce commodity, take it easy with the zoom. When you use your camcorder’s zoom feature, you are increasing the focal length and, in turn, reducing the amount of light entering into the lens. This makes your subjects darker in the eye of the camcorder. Pull the zoom all the way out and physically move yourself closer to the action to get the shots you want.

A camera-mounted light is perhaps the most minimal lighting setup around, but it can be obtrusive. Before you use a light, make sure that it is okay to do so, because shining a light in guests’ faces could prove to be annoying and disrupt the event. Most of the time, acting as the fly on the wall best serves your footage. People tend to act naturally if they do not feel they are being watched or being followed by the camcorder. Most of the VIXIA camcorders, with the exception of the VIXIA HG20 and HG21 come with a built-in mini video light that enables you to shoot video and take photos in low-light situations. To turn on this light using the VIXIA HV20 and HV30, simply press the button located above the LCD panel, next to the Display button, labeled Light. Press the Light button again to turn it off. For the other camcorders, follow these steps to turn on the mini video light: If you use the mini video light while you have a wide-angle or telephoto converter lens attached to your camcorder, a shadow can appear on the screen. Do not use the light with these lens accessories attached to your camcorder.

182 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 1. While in Movie or Still image mode, press the Set button to access the onscreen joystick guide.

2. Use the navigation controls to select the Next option within the joystick guide until the icon of the sun appears.

3. Navigate to the sun icon to turn on the mini video light. The icon now appears in the LCD or viewfinder. To turn off the mini video light, use the navigation controls to select the sun icon again, within the joystick guide.

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6.11 The mini video light option in the onscreen joystick guide If you need more light than what the mini video light provides, you can always use a camera-mounted light, but be warned, in dark shooting conditions, lights such as this are akin to shining a flashlight directly into someone’s face. If your goal is to remain inconspicuous during the party, a cameramounted light does not help you do this and it can be difficult to work with. These lights are small and create a hard, flat light, which is not flattering to the face. Camera-mounted lights are helpful when you must be mobile, and are therefore frequently used by news reporters at night when they’re on the go.

Camera-mounted lights also work very well for run-and-gun shoots like adventure races, where you are forced to shoot in multiple lighting conditions, including low-light conditions such as in caves. News reporters often conduct interviews in the early morning or at night with a single light, stand, and diffuser that goes over the light called a softbox. This setup casts a soft even light on the subject.

One way to soften and diffuse the hard, concentrated light of a camera-mounted light is to use the light-diffusing material Tough Spun. It produces a wider, less intense light source that you will have an easier time working with. Do not mistake the Tough Spun paper for any other material that you may have laying around; it is specially made to withstand the heat of concentrated lights. In fact, it is made for light much bigger and hotter than what you will be using, so you will need to cut the paper to size to fit over your particular light, and attach it with a clamp. If you are shooting a performance in a dimly lit concert or theatre hall, the Spotlight special scene recording program helps you to record scenes that use a spotlight.

When you take a picture in a dimly lit area, by default your camcorder is set to flash. In most dark shooting situations, this is a good option to leave on, but sometimes in situations that are dim but not too dark, this feature can overexpose a subject. In this case, it is better to deactivate the flash. One of the huge benefits of digital photography is that after you take the picture, you can immediately review the picture and decide if you need to retake it or not. To turn off the flash, follow these steps:

Chapter 6 ✦ Using Light to Create Great Video 1. While in Still image mode, press the Set button to access the onscreen joystick guide.

2. If the icon in the shape of a jagged arrow is not visible in the joystick guide, use the navigation controls to select Next to cycle through the options until you see it. The jagged arrow icon represents the flash features.

3. Use the navigation button to select the flash feature icon (jagged arrow). The icon should not appear on the LCD panel. Keep choosing the icon to cycle through the flash features until you see the arrow icon with a line through it, then stop. You have now deactivated the flash feature. The icon disappears shortly after you make the selection.

4. Press the Set button to close the onscreen joystick guide.

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can often be inadequate for recording goodlooking video. If the room is not lit adequately, you’ll notice more grain in your video, especially when you increase the focal length by zooming in. Keep in mind, adequate light for your eyes does not mean it is adequate for the camcorder. The color of light also plays a huge role in the success of your indoor shoot. Incandescent lighting appears warm in color while fluorescent lights appear cooler. These hues paint the subjects that you are to record, so remember to reset your white balance each time the lighting situation changes. To add to the potential woes of indoor shooting, rooms can also have artificial light mixed with natural light let in through windows. This can cause problems if you are tracking shots across a room. As the light changes, your automatic white balance can fail you, leaving white walls bathed in the sunlight blue. In a room with mixed lighting, stationary shots may work best. If possible, avoid lighting situations such as this or eliminate one of the light sources if possible. You could also set a manual white balance for more accuracy.

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6.12 The flash feature icon in the onscreen joystick guide

Shooting Indoors Without purchasing extra lighting equipment, most of your indoor shooting is done under the ambient light in the room, which

Adding an inexpensive lighting setup into the equation changes the game. You can close the blinds and supply your own light. When you purchased the Canon VIXIA camcorder, your intentions might not have been to shoot video for a living, as investing in a lighting kit may suggest. Regardless of your intent, I would be remiss not to discuss how to light someone with a basic lighting setup. Besides, you don’t have to break the bank to have your own lighting.

184 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder heavy eye shadows. Also, make sure that the subject is far enough away from a wall so that there is no shadow in the shot.

Three-point lighting Studio photographers and filmmakers have used the basic three-point lighting setup for many years because it is effective. By no means does this mean that it is the best lighting setup. Videographers use all kinds of light combinations to achieve the look they desire. This book covers only some of them. Also, the suggested angles for the three-point lighting setups mentioned are not meant to be exact instructions, but merely starting points. With your camcorder set up at the six o’clock position, the basic three-point lighting setup consists of the following:

✦ A key light. This light is the primary

6.13 A basic lighting kit with two flood lights, stands, and umbrellas for diffusion As little as one light can serve as your lighting kit, but two or three makes your job a lot easier and aids your pursuit of good-looking video. A multiple light setup gives you more options when dealing with various ambient lighting. It makes it easier to achieve even light when recording interviews, taking headshots, or improving the overall light in a room. If there is no other light available, and the person you are recording clearly needs more light, a single camera mounted light can provide acceptable results. In this scenario, you are lighting the subject from the front, so make sure that the light is placed just below eye level so as to not create any

light source for your subject and is usually the strongest of the three. This can be a single floodlight with a narrow beam. When used alone, this light can create hard shadows on the subject and be unflattering to skin tones. This light is usually placed at the half past seven or half past four o’clock position, to the left or right of the subject, shining on the subject at a 45-degree angle from above, aimed at the face.

✦ The fill light. This light is used to soften and reduce shadows created by the key light and is about half the intensity. The placement of this light is very subjective, depending on the feel you are going for. The less fill light you use, the more contrast you create on the subject, giving a more dramatic feel. More fill light provides more even lighting,

Chapter 6 ✦ Using Light to Create Great Video such as the lighting used in news interviews. This light is placed at the four or eight o’clock position, on the opposite side of the key light, raised to shine from a 45-degree angle above the subject. So if the key light is at the half past four o’clock position on the left of the subject, the fill should be at the eight o’clock position on the right.

✦ The backlight. The third light provides light to the back of the subject from a slightly elevated position to separate the subject from its background. This light is placed at the half past ten or half

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past one o’clock position with the light shining on the subject’s head and shoulders from a raised 45 degree angle. The three-point lighting setup helps shape the subject using light and shadow for a more compelling, and sometimes dramatic, image. With that being said, two lights would serve you quite well, those two lights being the key and fill lights. A basic setup like this can consist of two fluorescent floodlights on lightweight stands, with two umbrellas or softboxes for light diffusion. You can find light kits, reflectors, and diffusers at photography and video stores.

Background

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6.14 A diagram depicting a basic three-point lighting setup

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6.15 Photo taken using the three-point lighting setup

Basics of Shooting Chroma Key Placing your onscreen talent in front of a green or blue screen, so you can later composite that image with a different background, is a very popular effect. Most prosumer video-editing programs support this effect, which is referred to as chroma keying or color keying. Green or blue screen colors are specifically used because they are opposite colors to skin tones, making it easier for a video-editing program to later isolate that color and remove it. Depending on

which fabric you use, make sure that your subject does not wear matching green or blue during the shoot. To successfully key a subject, the green screen and your subject should be evenly lit; this means no shadows must appear on the subject or on the green or blue background. Make sure that the subject is placed far enough in front of the green screen fabric to prevent shadows or any green color spill, and the fabric itself must be wrinkle free. If possible, frame the subject so that the camera cannot see beyond the green screen, this saves you a few steps when creating the actual effect in your video editor.

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6.16 An evenly lit subject and green backdrop with no shadows

6.17 The green background is replaced with a beach scene using a Chroma Key effect in Apple Final Cut Express.

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Choosing Accessories for Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

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our Canon VIXIA HD camcorder will capture amazing images right out of the box, but whether you plan to use it for shooting vacations or graduations, or to start making your own independent films, you want your camcorder to be versatile. Accessories such as lens adapters help you adapt to various shooting conditions, and accessories such as bags help you protect the longevity of your camcorder and equipment. You can find camcorder accessories in most electronics stores, catalogs, or online video equipment stores. Some of these accessories may not be necessary for casual video shooters, but a few are essential to getting the most out of your VIXIA camcorder.

Tripods The tripod is perhaps the most essential accessory that you buy for your camcorder. When the situation calls for a steady shot or smooth panning and tilting, a tall, sturdy, lightweight tripod is what you need. Plus, if you’re shooting a long event, you can simply set up the tripod the way you want it, lock it down so it does not move, and adjust the shot with the handle when needed. It is important to purchase the best tripod

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190 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder that you can, because not all of them give you the same level of performance when panning and tilting. First, make sure that you buy a tripod that was made for a camcorder. Tripods for still photographers are not equipped to provide you with all the features you will need in a video tripod. A tripod made for still photography might not have the proper handles for panning and tilting, or it might have locking methods where the head only moves in certain directions. Smooth motion is also important for panning and tilting. This smooth motion depends largely on the tripod head. You attach the camcorder to the head of the tripod and perform your movements from side to side while panning and up and down while tilting. A fluid head tripod provides you with the smoothest motion because it is filled with a thick fluid that allows for smooth rotation around the vertical and horizontal axes. A video tripod also has friction settings you can adjust for movement around the axes that aid in smoothness of motion in situations where you need to perform fast pans and tilts, such as at a sporting event; or you can simply lock the tripod down for an interview. Less expensive tripods have a pan and tilt head, but movement is not as smooth as with fluid head tripods. Consider other alternatives to the tripod. An even more flexible and portable alternative is the monopod. A monopod has a single leg setup and can work well in tight shooting situations where you do not have a lot of standing room. Also, be creative when crafting shots. Setting your camcorder in a wheelchair or putting it on a tripod inside of a wagon or dolly cart enables you to perform short tracking shots across a smooth surface.

7.1 A fluid head tripod A tripod greatly enhances your shots while you are recording moving subjects as well as static ones by enabling you to make sure your shots are level, indicated by the spirit level on the tripod. The spirit level is usually located near the head of the tripod at the top of the legs. When the bubble is centered inside the spirit level, your shot is level. If the bubble is outside the circles on either side, you need to adjust the tripod legs by either shortening or lengthening them. This level gauge is a huge benefit when you are shooting on an uneven surface.

Chapter 7 ✦ Choosing Accessories for Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder When using a tripod, turn off the image stabilizer. The image stabilizer compensates for camera shake so you can achieve a more steady shot, but when there is no shake, like when using a tripod, it can have an adverse effect on your video.

The majority of the tripods for camcorders are made of metal or carbon fiber and come with carrying bags. If the one that you are looking at does not come with a bag, you can easily find carrying cases in many of the online video equipment stores. If you are an independent filmmaker and you are dying to mount your camcorder to the hood of a car or a bike for some dynamic shots, consider the Cinesaddle. The Cinesaddle is a bag filled with foam balls that you can press tightly against the camcorder to hold it steady, much like a tripod. You can attach it to moving vehicles as well as stationary objects with the help of a kit. It comes in various sizes, so check it out at www.cinekinetic.com.

Lens Converters The 10X and 12X HD video lens on your Canon VIXIA camcorder, depending on the model, will work fine in typical shooting conditions, but there are occasions where you will need to get up close to the action and moving physically closer is not an option. Alternately, there are times you may be shooting in a cramped area and cannot fit your entire subject matter in the shot, even when you are zoomed all the way out. Your VIXIA camcorder has a fixed lens, meaning that you cannot take it off and switch to another lens. Lens converters

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provide versatility, letting you attach another lens to your fixed lens. A telephoto lens increases your camcorder’s zoom range, and a wide-angle lens captures, you guessed it, wider shots that include more of the horizontal and vertical view. You can also add lens filters to alter images coming into the camera for effects as well as reduce UV (ultraviolet) haze.

Wide-angle lens converters The normal view for a camcorder is when the lens is pulled all the way back to its widest position. Any view that is magnified beyond this view is referred to as zoomed, and any view that is wider is considered wide-angle. In order to see shots beyond the widest position of your fixed lens, you will need a wide-angle lens converter; there are a number of manufacturers that produce them. You can screw wide-angle lens converters directly on your camcorder lens to produce a large angle of view. Wide-angle shots are the most sought after focal length for videographers who desire to capture big, cinematic scenes. The wide-angle lens also offers a view that is closer to what you see with your naked eye, though sometimes it can reach even farther than the boundaries of human sight. Take a look at some of the video you’ve shot and notice that in contrast to your eyesight, the normal camera angle of view is narrower. In essence, your eyes capture the Grand Canyon and the Italian Alps very differently than a normal video lens does. With that being said, one could argue that the wide-angle shot provides a more natural view.

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7.2 The Canon WD-H43 wide-angle converter attached to the Canon VIXIA HV30

Another lens accessory that is quickly gaining popularity is the 35mm lens adapter, which enables you to attach your single lens reflex (SLR) still camera lenses to your camcorder to achieve a more filmic, shallow depth-of-field look for your video. Keep in mind that the majority of the adapters offered are made to attach to lenses that are larger than the ones on the VIXIA camcorders; make sure you get an adapter ring that fits a small camcorder. Check out Chapter 4 for a more detailed discussion on depth of field.

If your intentions are to shoot nature footage, you definitely want a wide-angle lens in your toolbox. Think of using lens adapters to accommodate the shot at hand like switching clubs when playing golf: when shooting the eagle in the nest, choose a telephoto lens, and when shooting a mountain range, select a wide-angle lens.

I use wide-angle lenses for close-ups as well, for a more interesting shot. You have the eye room to roam around in the scene, giving the perspective the viewer is standing face to face with my subject. If your aim is more for cinematic purposes, wide angles are great for what are known as establishing shots. A good example of an establishing shot is the wide shot of the prairie and house before you teleport the viewer to a conversation being held around the kitchen table. When choosing accessories, make sure to look at equipment that is compatible with your camcorder. If you have purchased your camcorder online, usually you can find compatible accessories on the camcorder company’s Web site.

Telephoto lens converters A telephoto lens converter enables you to get close shots of faraway objects by increasing the focal length of your camcorder. This

Chapter 7 ✦ Choosing Accessories for Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder is a great accessory if you are going to be shooting a football game from the nosebleed seats, and you desire a close-up. The telephoto converter also comes in handy when shooting video of wildlife. Have you ever seen a close shot of an alligator on Animal Planet, only to have the cameraman zoom out and discover that he is actually 25 feet away? This is the brilliance of the telephoto lens converter. By increasing the focal length of your camcorder lens, you are effectively narrowing your field of view. An effective demonstration of this would be to cut out the bottom of a Styrofoam cup and put your eye up to it. As you slowly extend your arm, increasing the distance between your eye and the cup, the world that you see becomes more and more narrow. And the narrower your field of view, the harder it is to track moving objects. Just try it with your camcorder. The next time you are at the beach or the park and you see a bird flying, zoom in as closely as you can and see if you can follow it. It’s really difficult to do, so take this into account when using your converter. Another inherent issue that you need to be aware of is that your camcorder becomes much more sensitive to movement when you have fully zoomed in on a distant object. Any slight movement of the camcorder is greatly exaggerated. A terrific example of this is when someone first discovered that you could attach a small DV camera to a telescope and record a really cool view of the moon. The problem was that anytime the wind blew or a large truck passed by, you appeared to be in the middle of a large earthquake while recording. The image stabilization features of your camcorder will help with this, but you will still notice an overexaggeration in the smallest shakes and bumps.

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Another characteristic of the telephoto lens is that it flattens perspective. It can give the illusion that subjects that may be a significant distance from each other are closer than they really are. This means that you can create some very interesting shots with a simple play on perspective. For example, if you happen to come across a newsworthy event while out with your camcorder, you can have your reporter safely stand 20 to 25 feet in front of the action while you zoom into the shot to and make him or her appear closer to the action. A terrific demonstration of this effect that you may have seen is from the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In the movie, a large aircraft carrier that had been reported missing shows up in the desert. The scene shows a team of scientists examining the ship. On set, the aircraft carrier was actually a miniature model and the actors stood way in the distance. With the camera zoomed via telephoto lens on both the miniature and the actors, the distance between the two became compressed, and the scientists appeared to be dwarfed at the foot of the large naval vessel in the desert. A long focal length also makes for shallower depth of field, which can give you a more cinematic look. So don’t rule out shooting things that are not far away if a more cinematic aesthetic is what you are going for. For more on depth of field, see Chapter 4. Telephoto lens converters lose light simply because more lens elements are added to the camcorder. So, make sure that you have more light available. Mostly, you will use the converter outdoors, where the sun provides extra light, but be mindful of this factor on cloudy days when there is less light.

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7.3 This is a good example of flattened perspective. The house behind the subject appears a short distance away, but in reality, it is located approximately 600 feet behind her. You may be wondering why you should invest in a telephoto lens converter when your VIXIA camcorder comes equipped with a 200X digital zoom. This is a valid question and the answer is digital zoom is not necessarily zooming at all. When you have activated the digital zoom in your camcorder and zoom past your camera’s optical zoom capability, the digital zoom feature simply enlarges a portion of the image you are looking at, therefore simulating an optical zoom. During this process, the picture quality is greatly degraded. Increasing your focal length by 1.5X with a telephoto converter lens will not give you the dramatic illusion of extreme closeness the digital zoom does, but the picture quality will be better. When you set your camcorder to the widest zoom setting while using a telephoto lens adapter, you may see some vignetting, or dark edges, around the edges of the image; this is the barrel of the converter getting in the way. When you zoom in, which is the reason you are using the telephoto converter in the first place, this should not be an issue.

Lens filters Lens filters use specially crafted glass to manipulate light as it enters the camcorder lens. Some have practical purposes, such as filtering out UV light to reduce haze and blue cast, or for protecting the lens from damage. Other lens filters are used to create effects. The great thing about using lens filters is that the more effort you put forward to achieve a certain aesthetic while acquiring the image, the less you will have to do in post-production. But, this also works both ways. If you use a filter for a specific effect but somewhere down the road want an untouched version of the video you have shot, the effect is married to the footage. So, keep that in mind. Neutral Density (ND) filters are gray pieces of glass that limit the amount of light entering through the lens without affecting the overall color of the image. These filters are great on a bright, sunny day and help prevent blown-out images. One particular type of ND filter is a graduated/gradient filter.

Chapter 7 ✦ Choosing Accessories for Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder The glass of a graduated filter is heavily tinted at the top and fades to transparent at the bottom. This specific filter would be helpful when you are shooting outside under a very bright sky and when you try to compensate for the sky, the subject becomes too dark. The graduated/gradient filter helps tame the brightness of the sky but does not darken the rest of the image. Graduated filters also come in colors for image effects, so you can add a bit of color to a boring, overcast white sky, leaving the bottom half of the image less affected. These filters work best with shorter focal lengths, so remember to have your lens zoomed out.

7.4 A lens filter kit with a circular polarizing filter, a warming filter, and an ultraviolet filter

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Glare is another frequent problem when you are shooting on a sunny day around water or shooting glossy surfaces. Polarizing filters reduce glare in water, glass, and other shiny, nonmetallic surfaces. If you will be shooting through display cases, this is a great filter to own. Polarizing filters also intensify colors beautifully, so they are great to have when you are shooting plants and flowers to showcase their vibrancy. Color-correcting filters can help you set a tone for documentaries or short films. A cool blue or green tint can lend an air of mystery, while highly saturated warm colors can add an upbeat feel. Of course, color choices are subjective to any artist. Keep in mind that whatever effect you achieve with your filter is permanent. Given this, I prefer to use color correction in post-production, where I have the most flexibility and control. Many of the video-editing programs have colorcorrection presets that you can use. Your camcorder can negate the effects of many of the color-correcting filters mentioned here with automatic white balance (AWB). Make sure that the camera is set to Custom White Balance by going into the function menu under AWB and switching to the Set option.

7.5 A before shot of buildings recorded without a warm lens filter.

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7.6 A shot of the same buildings using a warm lens filter. The filter targets the blue/green end of the spectrum, producing a warmer, more tanned look, and really brings out the colors in the buildings.

External Microphones Your camcorder’s built-in microphone suffices for most general shooting situations, but to get higher-quality audio, you will need an external microphone. The Mic terminal, as well as the Advanced accessory shoe or the Mini accessory shoe, depending on your VIXIA model, make it possible to attach compatible microphones for various shooting occasions. Whether you are conducting interviews for a documentary or shooting a sporting event, you can get more solid audio with less ambient noise than you can with the internal microphone. There are three types of microphones: unidirectional (sound is picked up from one direction), omnidirectional (sound is picked up evenly from all directions), and bidirectional (sound is picked up from polar opposite directions). Unidirectional is the most practical type to use with the Canon VIXIA camcorder.

For more on external microphone options, as well as techniques on how to achieve the best audio with each option, see Chapter 5.

Camera-mounted microphones To diminish mechanical noises, such as zooming or spinning tape heads that get picked up by the built-in microphone, a camera-mounted microphone is a great option. Because it is a directional microphone, a camera-mounted mic minimizes sounds that originate from behind the camera, and picks up sounds from the direction in which the mic (and your lens) is pointed. This style of microphone is usually equipped with a windscreen, or sock, that helps to shield it from gusting wind noises. This is a nice wire-free option for achieving higher quality sound in general, or for on-the-go shooting, such as performing street interviews or filming outdoor sports.

Chapter 7 ✦ Choosing Accessories for Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder Before you purchase a camera-mounted microphone, check which connector you have by looking at the top of your camera on the panel concealing the shoe. You can’t mismatch devices, so be sure to check which logo appears on the top of your camcorder. Some microphones may require a shoe adapter bracket to mount to your camcorder. Make sure to check if you have this for your particular model before making a purchase. Some microphones require battery power, so be mindful when choosing a mic.

Hand-held microphones A good mic to use for conducting on-the-go interviews is a hand-held microphone similar to what you see being used by news reporters. The hand-held options for Canon VIXIA camcorders connect with a wire that’s connected to the Mic terminal. When purchasing a mic, make sure that your handheld microphone connects to a 3.5mm mini-plug connector and not a professional XLR connector. You can place your camera on a tripod so that you can hold the microphone close to the interviewee’s lips for clear, directional dialog, while keeping the camcorder at a greater distance. Alternately, you can have an assistant hold the mic for you while you shoot.

Lavaliere and lapel microphones Lavaliere and lapel microphones are tiny microphones with clips that are generally used for conducting seated interviews. These mics are attached to shirts, blouses, and ties by a clip. The wire is usually hidden under clothes, with the other end leading

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back to the camcorder’s Mic terminal. These microphones are another great option for hands-free interviewing with clean dialog and little background noise.

Camera-Mounted Lights Even though some of the Canon VIXIA camcorders come equipped with a built-in mini video light, you can attach a more powerful light source to the Advanced accessory shoe. This is perhaps the most minimal lighting setup that you can use in low-light situations. This type of lighting is typically used in news reporting where the camera operator has to be on the move and does not have the luxury of setting up stationary lighting. This light emits a strong concentrated beam and can feel like you’re shining a flashlight into the face of your subject; so before your shoot, make sure that it won’t be too obtrusive for the circumstance. Consider softening the light emitted by a camera-mounted light by purchasing Tough Spun diffusion material to place over the light. This provides a less intense, less concentrated beam, which tends to work better when lighting subjects. You will have to cut the material for your particular light size, and hold it in place with a clamp. When shopping for a cameramounted light, consider LED lights as well. Many boast that they are many times brighter than the standard bulb, but make sure that you read consumer reviews before making a purchase. Some have built-in diffusers for more even lighting.

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Camcorder Stabilizing Systems The built-in image stabilizer of your Canon VIXIA camcorder does a great job with minor camera shakes, but if you are recording on the move and require a very steady shot, a camera support system may be just what you need. The Modo Steady 585 camera support offers weighted support and balance for lightweight camcorders and reduces shake when you are running or walking with the camcorder. This can prove very helpful in a shoot where a lot of maneuvering is required, like for a wedding or an independent film. Your camcorder attaches to the quick-release plate and the camera is supported by your hand and shoulder.

To save some money, many do-ityourself (DIY) guides online provide blueprints for building a stabilizing system from parts that you can purchase in your local hardware store. You do need to be handy, but it is an option. If you have purchased a lightweight tripod, try walking while carrying the folded tripod by the legs while you record. The legs absorb some of the shock as you walk, reducing some of the shake.

Now, if you Google “stabilizing systems for camcorders,” chances are, your search results are going to return a bunch of professional body harness rigs used for larger camcorders that reach into the thousands of dollars. Do not be dismayed; they exist for smaller lightweight camcorders as well for around $100 U.S. For a camera support, your best bet is to find a respectable online video store, search for your particular VIXIA camcorder, then look under the accessories options. This gives you a list of the most popular and compatible accessories for your camcorder. It’s also good to talk to people and ask questions in forums to see what they use or what their experience has been with the product. If you are an HV20 or HV30 owner, take a look at www.hv20.com, an online community for Canon VIXIA HV20 and HV30 users.

7.7 A camcorder stabilizing device

Chapter 7 ✦ Choosing Accessories for Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

Batteries and AC Adapters Batteries are often marketed by their charge capacities, meaning how long they last in the field. The more expensive batteries are generally also the longer-lasting ones. With that being said, many of these estimates can vary wildly if you are using a cameramounted light or other equipment that is powered by the camera through the accessory shoe. Extensive zooming can also take a toll on your battery. One thing is for sure: having extra batteries in the field is essential to the success of your video production. The last thing you want to do is run out of power in the middle of a shoot where using the AC adapter is not an option. If you have the chance to use the AC adapter to connect to an electrical source during a shoot, do it. The battery can also be charged while attached to the camcorder that is plugged in. It is good to keep a mixture of different battery capacities on hand as well as the AC adapter. An important thing to keep in mind when buying extra batteries is to always use the recommended batteries and the manufacturer’s AC adapters for your camcorder. Many off-name brands boast higher capacities at cheaper prices, but the truth is that the guts may not be the same. It’s not unheard of to buy an off-brand battery that is unable to hold a charge. Speaking of holding charges, there are some important things you can do to enhance your battery’s lifelong performance. Be mindful of the weather in which you use your camcorder. Extreme temperatures, hot or cold, have an effect on the performance of the battery and can even cause damage. Keep the battery in a climate controlled environment as long as possible, before you

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begin shooting. Whether you are shooting outdoors in Alaska in the winter or Phoenix in the summer, consider keeping the batteries in your car with the heater or air conditioner running until it is time to shoot. Do not overcharge your battery. Make sure that you remove the battery from the camcorder after the indicator says it’s full. Overcharging your battery can have adverse effects on its performance. It’s also a good practice to fully recharge a battery even if it has not been fully discharged. A partial charge puts less strain on the battery than a deep one, increasing the longevity of your battery. So, recharge your batteries after a shoot, even if they are not fully discharged. Do not fully charge or discharge your battery if you plan on storing it for a prolonged period. Instead, charge the battery to about 40 percent capacity and store it in a cool and dry environment. Although the battery still ages and loses some of its capacity during prolonged storage, even if it is unused, a 40 percent charge and a cool temperature ensure a stable storage condition for the battery. Don’t be surprised when you bring the battery out of storage that it has dropped below the 40 percent charge. Self-discharge is a common phenomenon for batteries.

Camcorder Bags A good bag is essential for protecting your VIXIA camcorder as well as your other accessories. When traveling with your camera, you will need space to pack a power cord, batteries, extra tapes, DVDs, flash cards, or other needed accessories, so you need to make sure that you pick a bag that is large enough to store your equipment. Most camcorder bags come equipped with interior dividers fastened to the walls of the case by Velcro, providing compartments for your

200 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder accessories. The camcorder needs to go into its own separate compartment and needs to fit snugly. If the camcorder is rolling around in the case, it can get damaged, so adjust the compartments accordingly. It is very likely that you may occasionally get caught in the rain or snow with your camcorder, so having a bag that is waterproof is definitely a plus. A waterproof bag will also protect your camcorder and equipment from dust and debris. Choose a camcorder bag that can take a tumble and that closes firmly. Ease of use is also a very important factor. Last but not least, keep the inside of your bag clean by vacuuming it out on a regular basis. Sand and dust can find its way into even the most well-constructed bags.

For underwater recording, you need rugged, protective housing in which to place your camcorder. Consider video housing by equinox. Visit www.equinoxhousings.com for solutions on underwater housing for your Canon VIXIA camcorder.

Make sure that your bag is stocked with plenty of extra tapes, DVDs, or memory cards before you go on a shoot. Putting this book in a side compartment would be helpful in case you need to access a function that you rarely use, and need to see how to use it. Lens cleaning tissue and solution are also a plus.

7.8 A multicompartment camcorder bag with accessories

I recommend using the same brand of tape, DVD, or memory card for consistent recording results.

Making External Connections and Transferring Images

Y

ou have captured some amazing images, and now it’s time to share your video footage and still photos with your family and friends, in beautiful high-definition and highquality still picture prints. Whether you want to display your footage on a high-definition television or transfer your video to a video-editing program on your computer so that you can create movies, Canon has made it very easy to do. Printing still pictures from your camera is simple with Canon’s PictBridge technology: you connect your camera directly to a PictBridgecompatible printer; there is no need for a computer. You have many options, which span across many software and hardware platforms, when it comes to transferring and editing your images, but for the sake of space, I cover only a few of them in this book. Packaged with your VIXIA camcorder are the means to transfer your images to your computer, edit them, and manage your still image files. First, take a look at how you can preview your camcorder images on a television.

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C H A P T E R

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In This Chapter Viewing your footage on a television Printing images Transferring video footage Downloading and managing still images Analog-to-digital conversions with the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 Creating DVDs with the DW-100 DVD burner

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Viewing Your Footage on a Television Playing your images on a TV is straightforward with your Canon VIXIA high-definition camcorder, but before doing so, you’ll need to make sure your camcorder and TV monitor have the necessary hardware connections, and you’ll need to configure a Setup option. You have multiple options for connecting to a TV, each yielding a different playback quality. So before you make any connections, make sure your camcorder recognizes the type of hardware it will be connecting to.

Changing the TV type To play back your video footage in the correct aspect ratio, you must first go into the camcorder’s menu system and change the TV type to match the type of television that you will be playing it on. Your choices are 4:3 normal or 16:9 widescreen. Most highdefinition monitors are 16:9 and most standard-definition monitors are 4:3, so you can choose accordingly. Follow these steps to configure your camcorder to the appropriate TV type:

1. Set the camcorder to Video playback mode. Some VIXIA models have a Play option on the Power switch that you have to turn the dial to. Then, you turn a single dial or switch to an icon of a camcorder with a play symbol in it, or of a cassette tape. Other VIXIA models have a single dial you can set to the camcorder icon with a play symbol.

2. Press the Function button on the camcorder and navigate to the Menu option.

3. Press the Set button to access the categories inside of the Menu option.

4. Navigate to the Play/Out Setup1 or System Setup category, depending on your camera model, then press the Set button to access those options.

5. Navigate to the TV Type option, then press the Set button to view the choices.

6. Choose either 4:3 or 16:9 to match the television you will be connecting to.

7. Press the Function button again to close the menu.

SYSTEM SETUP PREV PAGE IMG NUMBERS IMG QUALITY 16:9 TV TYPE 1O8Oi COMP. OUT HDMI STATUS USB SETTING ADD TO DISC

TV TYPE 4:3 16:9

NORMAL TV WIDE TV

8.1 Designating the TV type

Making external connections Before you can preview your still images and video scenes on any external device, you need to make the necessary hardware

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images connections, and there are a number of ways that the camcorders in the VIXIA lineup can connect to a television. The connection method that you choose will dictate the quality of playback that you will receive.

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The high-definition HDMI Out terminal on your camcorder is strictly for output. Do not connect the HDMI Out of your camcorder to the HDMI output of another device or it could damage your camcorder.

I recommend that you use the power adapter for your camcorder’s power source so there is less wear and tear on the battery.

High-definition connections made with the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connection will give you the highest quality playback and will only connect to a high-definition TV. An analog connection with the component cable is still high quality and will connect to a standard-definition TV, or you can use the Component terminal to connect to a high-definition TV and play back your images at full resolution. The analog connection using the AV (Audio Visual) Out terminal will connect to all standard-definition TVs. An HDMI cable is not shipped with your Canon VIXIA camcorder. If you want to make a high-definition connection to your high-definition TV, you can purchase an HDMI cable at any computer or electronics store.

Perform one of the following steps to make the necessary connections from your camcorder to a TV depending on the connection type. The connection types are listed in order of picture quality.

✦ For an HDMI high-definition connection to a high-definition TV, connect one end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI Out terminal of the camcorder and connect the other end into the HDMI input terminal of the TV. Both audio and video are carried through this connection.

8.2 A commercially available Mini HDMI-toHDMI cable

✦ By way of a component cable, you can preview your images on a high-definition TV or standard TV by connecting the flat end of the component cable to the Component Out terminal of the camcorder and making the following connections. Connect the red connector into the Pr/Cr input of the TV; place the blue connector into the Pb/Cb input and the green connector into the Y input of the TV. The component video terminal carries video only, so you will need to make the necessary audio connections as well using the AV Out terminal. Some televisions do not have component connectors, so be mindful of this when you are connecting to your television.

204 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 5. Navigate to the AV option, then press the Set button. The AV icon now appears and you are ready to make the connection.

6. Press the Function button to exit out of the menu system.

8.3 The supplied component video cable Because the AV Out terminal performs double duty as a headphones jack and the audio video out, before you use it as the audio out for your component connection, you must ensure that it is set to AV by following these directions:

Now that the terminal is set to AV, plug in the black end of the stereo video cable into the AV Out on the camera and plug the white connector into the Left audio channel of the TV and the red one into the Right audio channel.

1. Set the camera to Video playback mode, then press the Function button.

2. Navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button. 8.5 The supplied stereo video cable

3. Navigate to either the System Setup option or the Play/Out Setup 2 menu option, if you have the VIXIA HV20 or HV30, then press the Set button.

4. Navigate to the AV/Phones option in the menu, then press the Set button.

AV/PHONES AV

AV

PHONES

8.4 The AV/Phones menu options

To view your images on a television using the stereo video cable, plug in the black end of the cable into the AV Out terminal. Again, the AV Out terminal needs to be set to AV if you have previously configured it to accept headphones. If you need to change it to AV, follow Steps 1 through 6 in the previous set of instructions on how to connect to a TV using a component cable, and then do the following: Connect the yellow connector into the Video input on the TV, and then plug the white connector into the Left audio channel and the red connector into the Right audio channel.

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images

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Playing it back on a TV

Using Direct Print

Now that you have changed the TV type to match your TV and made the proper external connections, turn on the connected television and select the video input that you used to connect the camcorder. For the specific input you used to make the connections, refer to your TV’s instruction manual or cycle through the Input Select options on the remote control.

The Direct Print functionality of your Canon camcorder makes printing your captured images simple with a PictBridge-compatible printer. PictBridge is a standardized technology that allows you to print images from a memory card directly from your camcorder. If you want to purchase a PictBridgecompatible printer, make sure to look for the PictBridge logo. Follow these instructions for printing your still photos from your Canon VIXIA high-definition camcorder.

You need to have your camcorder in Video playback mode. Some VIXIA models have a Play option on the Power switch, while others have a dial or switch that can be set to an icon of a videocassette or camcorder with a play symbol in it. To play back your photos, you must set your camcorder to the Photo playback option. Again, some VIXIA models have a switch on their side that you move to the position of the icon shaped like a memory card while the Power switch is set to Play, and others have a dial that you move to an icon of a still camera with the play symbol in the middle. Flip out the LCD and press the Play option to begin viewing still images.

If you want to purchase a Canon printer that is PictBridge compatible, check out their SELPHY printers in the CP, DS, and ES series, and PIXMA printers. Each printer will be marked with the PictBridge logo. I recommend that you use the power adapter for your camcorder as the power source before connecting to a printer.

1. Insert the memory card with your photos into the camcorder.

Printing Images After you have taken your beautiful still photos with your VIXIA camcorder, you can easily share them by making high-quality prints to friends and family. The photos from a wedding, graduation, or day at the park can be printed and framed, capturing a moment in a never-ending freeze frame you can enjoy for a lifetime.

8.6 The memory card slot located in the LCD cavity of all VIXIA models

206 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 2. Set the camcorder to Still image playback mode. How you do this varies on some VIXIA models. With some models, you can switch to an icon of a still photo camera with a play button in the middle of it, while with others, you will have to set the Power switch to Play or Mode and toggle a switch on the side or back of the camera to a memory card or photo play icon.

6. Press the Print/Share button on the camcorder. On some VIXIA models, this button can be found in the LCD cavity. The Print button starts to flash as printing begins. You can print other images by simply navigating to them on your camcorder screen. The printer logo with a diagonal line through it will appear for any image that cannot be printed.

3. Turn on your PictBridgecompatible printer.

Print/Share button

4. Connect the camcorder to the printer with the USB cable. At this point, you may see a device type selection screen appear. If it does, choose PC/Printer, then press the Set button. The USB logo appears and changes to the PictBridge logo. If the flashing USB connection icon in the LCD lasts for more than a minute, or if the PictBridge icon does not appear, you have not successfully connected to the printer. If this should happen, disconnect the USB cable from the printer and camcorder, and power down both devices. Wait for 30 seconds, and then turn them both back on. Make sure the camera is set to Still image playback mode, and then reestablish the connection between both devices with the USB cable. It’s important to note that the printer connection will not be recognized while in the process of erasing all still images, erasing all transfer orders, or erasing all print orders.

5. Navigate to the image on your camcorder that you want to print.

8.7 The Print/Share button of the VIXIA HV30

Changing print settings You can change a number of print settings to accommodate your needs, but some of the print options and default settings vary depending on your printer model type as well as VIXIA camcorder model. So, if you require more details on what options you have, check in your printer’s instruction manual. The settings listed here vary depending on the VIXIA model you have. The print settings are as follows:

✦ Paper Size. Paper sizes vary depending on the printer model you are using.

✦ Paper Type. Choose from Photo, Fast Photo, Plain, or Default.

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images ✦ Page Layout. Choose from Default, Bordered, or Borderless where the image is cropped around the edges and the imaged is enlarged, and also 2-up, 4-up, 9-up, and 16-up for printing multiple images on the same sheet.

✦ Date Printing. Choose from On, Off, or Default.

✦ Trimming. Use the trim settings to change the orientation of the frame to portrait and landscape and to designate specific areas of the image that you want to print.

✦ Print Effect. This option is only available with printers compatible with the Image Optimize function for higher quality prints.

✦ Number of Copies. Choose from 1–99 copies. Trimming settings

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To access the print settings, and then print after you have made changes, follow these steps.

1. With the camcorder connected to the printer and in Photo playback mode, press the Set button to access the onscreen joystick guide.

2. Navigate down to the printer icon to access the print settings. The print settings menu appears.

3. Navigate to the setting that you want to change in the menu and press the Set button to access the parameters.

4. Change the setting to the desired option, then press the Set button.

5. Select the Print option to begin printing. The print settings menu closes after the printing is completed. Navigate to another image to begin printing another photo.

Paper settings Current paper settings (paper size, paper type and page layout) 9x13cm

To cancel printing, you can simply press the Set button on the camcorder during a printing job, and then click OK and press the Set button again.

PHOTO BORDERLESS OFF ON 1 COPIES

Number of copies Print effect Date printing

8.8 Print settings screen

PAPER TRIMMING PRINT CANCEL

Transferring Video Footage Getting your video footage off of the camera and onto your computer opens up a new realm of possibilities. Perhaps you want to edit your video, add music, and then put it on a DVD for viewing. There are many videoediting programs on the market that can help you transfer your video footage to your computer and edit it into a movie. Here, I discuss a few of them.

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Connecting to a computer

Transferring and editing video

To transfer your video footage to a computer, you need the proper hardware connections. You use one of two types of connection methods to connect to your computer depending on your Canon VIXIA model. Both connections require the computer to have one of these inputs: a DV (IEEE1394) terminal or a DV capture card, or a USB port. The DV terminal for a Mac computer is commonly referred to as a FireWire port.

Once you have the proper hardware connections, you are ready to transfer your video to your computer so that you can make a movie and distribute it. The actual transfer process occurs within the video editing software itself. I’ll show you two types of software used for transferring and editing video: Apple’s iMovie ’09 for the Mac platform and Pixela ImageMixer 3SE for the PC platform.

If you have an HDV camcorder, such as the VIXIA HV20 and HV30, you will connect to your computer using the HDV/DV terminal with a DV cable. When using a DV cable, make sure that you insert the 6-pin plug into the DV terminal of the computer and plug the 4-pin plug into the camera. Each AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) camcorder (VIXIA models HF10, HF11, HF100, HR10, HG10, HG20, and HG21) connects via the USB terminal with a USB cable. A DV cable is not shipped with your Canon VIXIA camcorder. You can buy one at any computer or electronics store.

Many capable video editors on the market span both platforms, and offer a wide range of features as well as price points. I recommend shopping around to find what works best for you. But, whatever you choose, make sure that it can work with AVCHD video files. When considering professional editing applications such as Final Cut Pro, Avid Xpress Pro, Avid Media Composer, and Adobe Premiere, you are looking at paying more for the video-editing package than you did for the camcorder. The more professional applications give you room to grow as an editor because they provide more options and resources. That being said, it doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve professional results with more economical choices. Ultimately, the quality of the video that you create is up to you, the artist. And yes, I do consider video editing an art form. Wellconceived and edited scenes can be likened to well-structured prose, poetry, or verse. Now, take a look at a very solid editing option for the Mac user, iMovie ’09.

Apple iMovie ’09 for video editing 8.9 A commercially available 4- to 6-pin DV cable and the supplied USB cable

iMovie is a video-editing application that is part of the iLife suite and ships with each new Mac computer. As of this publication, the current version of iLife is iLife ’09 and the current version of iMovie is iMovie ’09. An

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images important thing to note here is that if you have one of the AVCHD cameras, you will need to have one of the newer Intel-based Mac computers in order to use your camera with the software. You can perform the steps in this section with iMovie ’08, but I would suggest upgrading to iMovie ’09 to take advantage of the new editing features. You will need to be running Mac OS X Leopard version 10.5.6 or later to use iMovie ’09. To check your version, look under the Apple in the menu bar in the top-left corner of the Mac operating system under Software Update. If there is a new update for iMovie or the operating system, install it. Project library

Event library

Transfer the footage You can get the video footage off of your camera and into your computer two ways and the one you choose depends largely on if you are transferring AVCHD footage or HDV footage. Follow these steps to transfer AVCHD footage in iMovie (steps to transfer HDV footage follow after):

1. Connect the power adapter to your VIXIA camcorder to power it. If you power the camcorder with the battery only, the camcorder will not mount on your computer.

Project pane

Events view

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Viewer

Music and sound effects browser Titles browser Maps and Background browser Transitions browser

8.10 The iMovie interface

210 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 2. Set the camcorder to Movie playback mode.

3. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the supplied USB cable. At this point, you may be prompted to select the device type for the USB connection. If so, choose PC/Printer, then press the Set button.

4. Launch iMovie. A window appears that reads Camera Detected Scanning Contents. Immediately, you are taken to the Import window and the Camera Detected Scanning Contents window closes. In the Import window you can play specific clips by selecting them, then clicking the Play button. At the bottom of the window, you can see all the video files that exist on your AVCHD camcorder with a check mark under each video.

5. Select your import options, then click Import. Click Import All to transfer all the video files from your AVCHD camcorder to your machine or click Uncheck All so you can select individual files for import using a check mark. If you check individual files for import, click Import Checked to transfer those specific files to your computer. After you click the Import button, iMovie first lets you choose between importing video at various sizes: 960 × 540 and 1920 × 1080. If you choose 1920 × 1080, be aware that it will take up more disk space than the 960 × 540 option. iMovie then asks you for a location to store the files as an Event. Events are used to organize your movies within iMovie.

6. Create a new event, or choose an existing event to add this footage to it, and click Import to import

8.11 The import window for transferring files from an AVCHD camcorder, which includes VIXIA HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, and HR10

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images the video. When naming a new event, make sure it’s descriptive and pertains to the footage. As the AVCHD file transfers, a progress bar appears underneath the video file that you checked. A window opens that reads Generating Thumbnail, then the Import Complete window appears.

7. Click OK in the Import Complete window after you finish transferring the AVCHD footage. Now you can choose to transfer more AVCHD files.

8. Click Done to close the Import window. To transfer HDV footage in iMovie, follow these steps:

1. Connect the power adapter to your VIXIA camcorder to power it. If you power the camcorder with the battery only, the camcorder will not mount on your computer.

2. Set the camcorder to Movie playback mode.

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3. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the DV cable.

4. Launch iMovie. You can click the Play button to play the video and use the Rewind and Fast Forward arrows to move through the footage. The Rewind and Fast Forward arrows are only available if you are in Manual mode, which is discussed later.

5. Select your import options, then click Import. You can choose to import the entire tape from your HDV camcorder or only parts of it using the switch located on the lower-left side of the pane. When the switch is set to automatic, the tape automatically rewinds to the beginning so the entire contents of the tape are captured. If you set it to Manual, you can manually rewind and fast-forward through the tape and import any part of the tape you want. After you click the Import button, iMovie then asks you for a location to store the files referred to as an Event. Events are used to organize your movies within iMovie.

8.12 The import window for transferring files from the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 HDV camcorders

212 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 6. Create a new event, or choose an existing event to add this footage to it, and click Import to import the video. When naming a new event, make sure it’s descriptive and pertains to the footage. After you have the HDV footage that you want, click Stop to stop capturing. iMovie now generates thumbnails of the video you have captured.

7. Click Done to close the Import window.

Edit a basic video sequence After you have finished transferring your video files and closed out of the Import window, your imported video appears at the bottom in

the Events view. You can either drag your cursor over the video in the Events view to skim over the footage, click the Play button at the bottom, or press the space bar on your keyboard to play the video. From this point, editing your video is very simple. Follow these steps to edit a basic video sequence:

1. With the cursor placed within the video in the Events view, click and drag a selection around the video that you want. A yellow overlay should appear around the video that you select. You can also just click on the video and iPhoto selects 4 seconds of the video.

8.13 Event view showing the selection of part of the video (framed in yellow) to be used in the movie

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images 2. Drag the video that you have selected into the Project View window where it says “Drag media here to create a new project” to make your first edit. If you make another selection in the Events view and drag another piece of video into the Project pane, you have two clips that you can place a transition between. You can now play the edited video in the Project window, either by skimming through it or by pressing the space bar.

3. For this exercise, choose None in the box that opens after you make the first edit, which prompts you to choose from a set of Apple-designed themes. The Apple-designed themes enable you to make backdrops, titles, and transitions look like variations of a photo album, bulletin board, comic book, scrapbook, or filmstrip.

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4. Click the Transition browser located to the extreme right of the interface, just above the Events view, to open the Transition browser. Here, you have a collection of transitions you can use between your video clips in your project.

5. Choose a transition and drag it from the Transition browser to the Project pane and place it between the two clips. A green overlay appears as you hold the transition over the video in the Project pane, letting you know where it will be placed if you release it. Once you have your video and transitions the way you want them, it’s easy to add titles to the movie using the following steps:

8.14 iMovie prompts you to choose a theme for your movie.

214 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 1. Click the button to the left of the Transitions browser button to open the Titles browser. The Titles browser has many title templates you can choose from, ranging from centered text to much more artistic designs.

2. Drag a title style from the Titles browser and drop it over the video where you want it to appear in the Project pane. A blue overlay representing the title appears over the video.

3. Double-click in the text box in the right-hand window to edit the text. You can type anything you want here.

4. If you want to change the duration of the title icon in the project, click in the Project pane to activate the window, then park the curser over the end of the blue title icon until it turns into a double-sided arrow and drag the end. You can make it shorter or longer by doing this, or you can change the location of the titles by dragging the blue title overlay from the middle to a new location. Now that you have your video along with transitions and titles, you need to add some music to spice it up. Follow these steps:

Title icon

Edit title here

8.15 Editing the text by double-clicking on it in the Preview window and typing

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images 1. Click the button that has a musical note on it to open the Music and Sound Effects browser. Here you can access music from your iTunes Library and sound files that are located on your computer hard drive. The music that you have downloaded from iTunes as well as purchased on CDs is copyrighted material and you could get in plenty of trouble if you use them in your video projects. Just because you purchased the music doesn’t mean you own the music. There are many online vendors selling royalty-free music that you can use in your projects. To learn more about copyright laws, visit www. copyright.gov.

2. Drag a music file from the browser to the Project window and release it to add it to your projects.

3. After you are finished with your project, go to the menu bar at the top and choose Share ➪ Export Movie to export your movie in many popular formats, such as ones for an iPod, iPhone, and YouTube. You can also choose Share ➪ Export Using QuickTime and export a QuickTime movie that you can use in iDVD, which is also a part of the iLife suite that ships with a new Mac. If you are looking for a more robust video editor for your Mac without the professional sticker shock, you might want to consider Final Cut Express. In the hierarchy of Apple video editors, Final Cut Express is in between iMovie and Final Cut Pro on the totem pole. Visit www.apple. com to check it out.

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Pixela ImageMixer 3SE for video editing For PC users, Canon enables you to edit your AVCHD video, and add transitions, titles, and music by shipping Pixela ImageMixer 3SE with some of the VIXIA camcorders. This is an extremely basic video-editing program.

Transfer the footage Follow these steps to transfer footage using ImageMixer 3SE:

1. Connect the power adapter to your VIXIA camcorder to power it. If you power the camcorder with the battery only, the camcorder will not mount on your computer.

2. Set the camcorder to Video playback mode.

3. Connect the camcorder to the computer using a USB or DV cable. At this point, you may be prompted to select the device type for the USB connection. If so, choose PC/Printer, then press the Set button.

4. If the program does not launch automatically, launch the videoediting software. The ImageMixer 3SE launch window opens.

5. Choose the Save Files to PC option and the ImageMixer 3 SE Library opens displaying all of the video files on your AVCHD camcorder.

6. Import the files onto your computer by either selecting all the video files in the library window or choosing only the images you want to transfer, then click Save in the bottom right corner.

216 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

8.16 The ImageMixer 3SE launch window

7. Select Execute in the Save Files to PC window that opens and the file begins to download. Click OK in the Finished File Saving box that appears after the download is complete.

8. Click the button in the upper right-hand corner of the interface to go back to the ImageMixer 3 SE Launcher, and choose Browsing and Authoring. The downloaded files are placed in what is referred to as an Album, which you can access on the left side of the interface under the Library column.

Edit a basic video sequence You can now rename the albums that your videos are stored in as well as play them or cut and copy them into other albums. Now that all the video is on the computer, you can edit them by adding transitions, music, and titles, and then make a DVD of your movie. Follow these steps to create a basic video sequence in ImageMixer 3SE:

1. Select the album that contains your video files in the Library column, then click the Movie Edit button at the bottom of the ImageMixer 3SE interface to open the video editor. Click Edit New Movie in the Movie Edit window that appears, then click OK in the Project Settings window. All the videos that you transferred now appear in the middle area of the interface with access to your albums at the top.

2. Drag the video that you want to place into your movie down to the area marked as Storyboard, and then release it. In the storyboard video you can place your clips in the order that you want them to appear in the movie. Now you can click any video clip that you want to edit by using the sliders under the preview area, located to the right of the interface. Move the sliders to reveal only the part of the video that you want your clip to represent in the storyboard.

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images

8.17 Saving selected video files to a computer

8.18 Editing clips into the movie by dragging them to the Storyboard area

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218 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder 3. Click the Transition button at the top to see the transition options. Transitions help move your video sequence from scene to scene with an effect. You don’t need to use them between each video clip, but sometimes they can help you jump to a different location in the video, such as from the beach to the theme parks. Or, you can simply use one to provide a soft fade in and out between beauty shots of the landscape and sunrise.

4. Select a transition from the list, then choose where you want it to go in your movie by clicking a video clip in your storyboard. The transition will be placed preceding the clip that you have chosen.

5. Click Apply to insert the transition into the storyboard.

6. Click the Titler button toward the top of the interface. The Storyboard view where you build your movie has now switched to the Timeline view. This is because titles need their own tracks placed once you add them to the movie.

7. Choose the title style you want from the list and type your text into the white area of the Settings box. You can change the text properties on the right-hand side of the Settings box.

8. When you have the text the way you want it, click the Apply button to add it to your movie. The title now appears in the Titler track and can be moved within the movie by dragging it. To change the duration of the title in the Timeline, place the curser at either end of the title clip, wait for it to change to a double-sided arrow, then drag inward or outward to make it shorter or longer. To view the content of all tracks during playback, you must have all tracks selected in the Timeline.

9. Click the Audio tab toward the top of the interface to record your own narration by clicking the red record button. To do this, you will need to connect a microphone to your PC and configure your system’s Audio properties in the Control Panel.

10. To add a music file to your proj-

Applied transition

8.19 Selecting the transition, then choosing where you want to place the transition in the movie, and applying it to the storyboard

ect, click the File button toward the top of the interface, choose the file, and click the Apply button to add the music file to your project.

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images 11. To save your project, go to the Save tab located at the very top of interface and click the save option in the bottom-right corner. Choose a location and give the file a name. Now you can click the Go Back to ImageMixer 3SE Launcher button in the upper-right corner and create a DVD of your movie.

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them, e-mail them to family and friends, or post them to a Web site. Over the years, you are going to take a whole lot of photos. And when you have this many images, you need to keep them organized. Follow these steps to download photos from your camcorder and manage them with the Digital Video Solution Disk software:

1. With the camcorder powered by the power adapter, set the camcorder to Photo playback mode. On some Canon VIXIA models, you turn a single dial to an icon of a still photo with a play symbol in it; on others, you select Play mode or Mode, then move a switch either on the side or back of the camera to an icon of a cassette tape or camera with a play symbol.

2. Connect your VIXIA camcorder to the computer using the supplied USB cable. You may need to select the device type for the connection. Choose PC/Printer, then press the Set button. The CameraWindow software immediately opens on the computer desktop asking you, How would you like to download your photos? Applied audio file

8.20 Adding music to a movie by browsing to audio files on the computer hard disk drive

Downloading and Managing Still Images It’s very easy to download photos to your computer and manage them using the Digital Video Solution Disk software that shipped with your camcorder. Once the photos are on your computer, you can archive

If you look into the camcorder LCD, the Direct Transfer window appears and the Print button on the camcorder is lit. On some VIXIA models, you have to flip out the LCD panel to see the Print button. If this is your first time connecting your camcorder to a PC, you can choose to configure the auto launch setting by placing a check mark in the Always Use This Program For This Action window that appears. After you place the check mark, the next time you connect your camcorder, CameraWindow will launch.

220 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder DIRECT TRANSFER ALL IMAGES... NEW IMAGES... TRANSFER ORDERS... SELECT & TRANSFER... WALLPAPER...

8.21 You choose your download option in the Direct Transfer window in the camcorder LCD.

3. Navigate to choose a transfer option in the Direct Transfer window in the camcorder LCD, then press the illuminated Print button on the camcorder. Depending on your VIXIA model, the Print/Share button may be located behind the LCD panel. At this point, you have two options. You can choose to perform an automatic transfer and download multiple images at a time or a manual transfer and select individual images.

4. Organize your images in Image Browser. As soon as the download completes, the Image Browser window appears, letting you move, copy, delete, and rename your photo images. Your images are stored under the Favorite Folders on the left side of the browser. You can immediately begin sorting your images in folders by date or star rating by choosing File ➪ Organize Image ➪ Sort Images. There you have it; it’s that easy. This is only one solution for downloading and managing your photos, so take a look at other thirdparty vendors to see what they have to offer. If you’re a Mac user, you may want to try iPhoto, which is part of the Apple iLife suite of software and ships with each new Mac.

For the PC user, take a look at Adobe Photoshop Elements to edit, create, and share your photos.

Analog-to-Digital Conversions with the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 Your tape-based VIXIA camcorder gives you the added ability of creating analog line-in recordings, which enables you to convert analog video signals from a VCR into digital video. This gives you the wonderful opportunity to take your old movies on VHS tape and archive them in a digital format. After you have created the conversion, and your old movies have been recorded to the DV tape inside of the camcorder, you can later transfer that footage to your computer hard drive, providing a longer shelf life. The analog footage cannot be converted to HDV, but in the DV format, you are able to re-edit that footage on your computer and create flashy DVDs to share with your family. To perform the conversion, you first need to make the necessary hardware connections; and in order to make them, you must ensure that the AV terminal on the camcorder has been configured to perform as an AV terminal. If you have been using the AV terminal as a headphones jack, follow these steps to change it back to AV. If you do not need to reconfigure the AV terminal, proceed to the next set of instructions to perform the actual conversion.

1. Set the camcorder to Video playback mode, and press the Function button.

2. Navigate to the Menu option, then press the Set button.

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images

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3. Navigate to the Play/Out Setup2 option, then press the Set button.

0:14:35:04 48min

4. Navigate to the AV/Phones option in the menu, then press the Set button.

5. Navigate to the AV option, then press the Set button. You are now able to make the connection for an analog-to-digital conversion.

OFF

REC PAUSE CANCEL

SET EXECUTE

8.22 The Rec Pause menu option

6. Press the Function button to exit out of the menu system. Follow these steps to perform the actual analog-to-digital conversion:

1. Connect the camcorder to the VCR using the stereo video cable. Plug the single connector into the AV terminal on the camcorder and connect the yellow video cable into the Video output of the VCR and the white audio cable into the Left output and the red into the Right output.

Copyrighted material, such as material on commercial videocassettes, may include ghost signals that distort the image or prevent the image from being viewed. If you are unable to see the image or are getting white flashes and distortion, you are attempting to duplicate copyrighted material. Do not attempt this with copyrighted material. If you want more information about copyright laws, visit www. copyright.gov.

6. To begin recording to the camI recommended that you use the power adapter for your camcorder’s power source, for stability, while performing analog-to-digital conversions.

2. Place a blank tape into the camcorder. This is the tape that you are going to record to. It does not have to be blank, but it should be cued to where you want the recording to begin.

3. Press the Function button on the camcorder and navigate to the Rec Pause option and press the Set button.

4. Select Execute, then press the Set button.

5. Start playback on the VCR by pressing the Play/Pause button. While you are recording, you are able to see the video play in the LCD screen of the camcorder.

corder, press the Start/Stop button located at the bottom of the LCD screen. You can select scenes from the tape that you want to record by simply pressing the Start/ Stop button on the camera when the scene you want to record appears, then pressing Stop to stop recording.

7. After you finish recording, press the Start/Stop button on the camcorder again and stop the VCR. Now you have converted your analog video into digital video that can be captured from your VIXIA HV20 and HV30 camcorders into a computer, where you can place titles, music, and effects in a video-editing program. What a great gift it would be if you edited some of your parents’ or grandparents’ old videos together to create a beautiful DVD they would enjoy over the years.

222 Part II ✦ Shooting Great Footage with Your Canon VIXIA HD Camcorder

Creating DVDs with the DW-100 DVD Burner The optional DW-100 DVD burner gives those of you with the AVCHD hard disk drive and flash memory–based camcorders the ability to create high-definition DVDs. This burner also enables you to play back your AVCHD DVDs on your television through your camera without the need for an AVCHD-compatible player. This is another good option for storing your video and photos, as you can also burn photo DVDs as well as video. The DW-100 can record in both the AVCHD and DVD-video formats and supports these disks:

built-in memory, select the memory card that contains the movies or stills that you want to use. You can do this by using the joystick and navigating along the top of the Movies or Still Images menu in the LCD.

MOVIES: ORIGINAL

76min

BUILT-IN MEM

-/11

8.23 Navigating the top of the Still Images menu to select the appropriate memory card from which to access the images

✦ Recording: DVD-R/-RW/-R DL (5-inch)

✦ Playback: DVD-R/-RW/-R DL (DVDR/-RW/-R DL; 5-inch, 3-inch)

3. Press the Function button, then navigate to the Menu option and press the Set button.

4. Navigate to the System Setup

Preparing the camcorder for burning a DVD Again, you want to power your camcorder using the power adapter before you begin the process of burning a DVD. Follow these steps to prepare your camcorder for burning the DVD:

1. Set the camcorder to Video playback mode to create a video DVD or set the camcorder to Photo playback mode to create a photo DVD with your stills.

2. If you have a flash drive–based camcorder and have recorded to a secondary memory card and the

option, then press the Set button.

5. Choose the Add To Disc option, then press the Set button.

6. Choose to add All Scenes, Rem. Scenes (the remaining scenes not previously added to the disc), or Playlist, then press the Set button.

ADD TO DISC ALL SCENES REM. SCENES PLAYLIST 8.24 The Add To Disc menu

Chapter 8 ✦ Making External Connections and Transferring Images Creating the actual disk is a very straightforward process with the DW-100. Follow these steps to make the necessary hardware connections and burn a disc from your Canon VIXIA AVCHD camcorder:

1. Turn on the DW-100 DVD burner. 2. Connect the camcorder to the burner using the supplied USB cable. If the device type window opens after you make the connection, choose DVD Burner, then press the Set button. At this point if there is no DVD media located in the burner, No Disc will be displayed.

3. Use the Open/Close button on top of the burner to insert a new DVD into the DVD burner. After a few moments, the disc is recognized and you are given information as to the type of DVD you are creating, how long it will take, and the number of discs the burn requires. If you have inserted a DVD-RW disk that already has content on it, you get The Disc Contains Data notification. If you want to overwrite the data that previously exists on the disk, press the Set button, select Yes, then press the Set button again.

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4. Press the Start button on the DVD burner to begin creating the disk. A progress bar then appears onscreen. One thing you need to be aware of is that once you start the burning process, you cannot cancel it.

Playing back AVCHD discs The DW-100 DVD burner provides another very convenient function: It enables you to play back your AVCHD discs on a TV. This is handy if you don’t have an AVCHDcompatible player around. Follow these steps to make the necessary hardware connections and play your disc on a TV:

1. To enjoy your disc in high-definition playback, use either the HDMI or component cables to connect from the camcorder to the TV.

2. Set the DVD burner to Disc playback mode using the Power/ Mode button on the burner.

3. Connect the camcorder to the burner using the USB cable. If the device type selection appears, choose DVD Burner, then press the Set button.

4. Use the Open/Close button located on the burner to place the disc that you want to play back into the DVD burner. The disc’s content is then displayed on an index screen.

5. Navigate to the scene you want to play back and press the Set button to play it.

8.25 The Canon DW-100 DVD burner

Use only an AVCHD-compatible player after you burn an AVCHD DVD. If you place an AVCHD DVD into a non-compatible player, you may not be able to eject the disc, and the player may actually erase all information on the disk.

Appendixes

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In This Part Appendix A Online Resources Glossary

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Online Resources

T

here are plenty of valuable resources online that can help you grow as a videographer. This appendix is a resource to get you pointed in the right direction so you can start connecting with other VIXIA users and get answers to some of the video issues you may encounter.

Informational Web Sites A great way to expand your video production capabilities is to see what others are doing, post your content for critique, and research the aspects of video that are most important to you. People are using videos in ways that you may not have thought of, and they are posting their experiences and footage online. This makes for a virtual treasure trove of video information. If you are about to make your first independent film, someone else has likely posted information that could prove invaluable to the journey on which you are about to embark. If you are considering buying a new piece of equipment, why not talk to someone who already owns it and has past experience with it. Better yet, why not look at videos posted by someone who already uses the equipment so you can see for yourself.

Camcorderinfo www.camcorderinfo.com Get camcorder reviews, industry news, and participate in discussion forums.

Creative Cow http://forums.creativecow.net This is a great online resource for discussion groups, forums, tutorials, and reviews. You can find a wide variety of topics about anything video here.

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In This Appendix Informational Web sites Software and equipment Royalty-free resources

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228 Part III ✦ Appendixes Digital Video Editing

Vimeo

http://videoediting.digitalmedianet.com

http://vimeo.com

This is a great place for video-editing tips and tricks for both PC and Mac video-editing software — mainly Adobe Premiere and Apple Final Cut Pro.

This is a great place to post your video and get feedback and see what others are creating. You also have the opportunity to discuss videos and ask what equipment and settings were used to create it. There are a lot of people using VIXIA camcorders on this site.

Dvcreators www.dvcreators.net You can find many resources pertaining to digital video on this site including workshops, tips and tricks, training materials, video products, and community discussion forums.

The Final Cut Pro http://thefinalcutpro.com You can find plenty of tips and tricks for using Apple’s Final Cut Pro video-editing software on this site as well as news pertaining to Final Cut Pro.

HV20/30 Forum http://hv20.com The HV20/30 forum is an online community for Canon VIXIA users. Users frequently discuss workflow issues, accessories, and equipment, and members also share their own footage.

Lynda Online Training http://lynda.com This is a magnificent source for online video training for the most popular video programs on the market. You can choose to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee to have 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week access to a vast online training library, instructed by industry professionals.

Software and Equipment There are many options for video-editing programs, lights, and accessories, and this section is meant to help you find reliable information about those options. Don’t feel that you are limited to the examples in this book, but do use whichever video-editing software works best for you. There are many debates online as to which programs perform the best. The ultimate decision is a very personal one and can only be made by you. Also listed are Web sites that offer video effects in the form of effects filters, and software options for encoding video for the Web.

Adobe www.adobe.com Adobe is a great resource for video-editing, motion graphics, and visual effects software for PCs and Macs.

Apple www.apple.com Apple is an excellent resource for videoediting, motion graphics, and visual effects software ranging from beginner to advanced levels.

Appendix A ✦ Online Resources

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Avid

ULEAD

www.avid.com

www.ulead.com

Explore the industry standard for videoediting software for PCs and Macs by visiting the Avid Web site.

ULEAD offers intermediate level videoediting applications along with DVD creation software for PCs.

Canon www.canon.com Check out Canon for information and procedures on firmware updates for the VIXIA camcorders, as well as find information on accessories for your camcorder.

Red Giant Software www.redgiantsoftware.com Here you can find many video filter options for PCs and Macs to change the look of your video.

Sony Vegas Product Family www.sonycreativesoftware.com/ products/vegasfamily.asp The Sony Vegas line of video-editing software for PCs offers solid editing solutions. Make sure that the video-editing software that you choose supports HDV or AVCHD video, depending on which VIXIA model you have.

Royalty-Free Resources If you need music, sound effects, and stock images to supplement your video, royalty free is the way to go. Once you pay for the content, and you are licensed under specific guidelines as to the use of the royalty-free material, you can use video, music, and sound effects as much as you want without additional royalty charges. This is a great way to get the footage that you could not get on your own, or high-quality sound effects and artistic materials to complement your video.

Artbeats www.artbeats.com Check out Artbeats for royalty-free video, footage effects, music, and tutorials.

Digital Juice Sorenson Media

www.digitaljuice.com

www.sorensonmedia.com

Digital Juice is a supplier of royalty-free sound effects, footage, transitions, animated overlays, music, and much more.

Sorenson Media supplies video-encoding software for PCs and Macs that can help you get your video production onto the Web.

istockphoto Telestream

www.istockphoto.com

www.telestream.net

istockphoto is a supplier of royalty-free photos, video, and graphics.

Telestream supplies video-encoding software for PCs and Macs that can help you get your video production onto the Web.

Glossary 4 × 3 The standard display aspect ratio of standard-definition video and high standard-definition television sets. 16 × 9 The standard display aspect ratio of high-definition video and high-definition television sets. 24p Video that is shot at 24 frames per second with progressive scanning. This format is very popular due to its aesthetic qualities shared with film. 30p Video that is shot at 30 frames per second with progressive scanning. This format is commonly used for video that is destined for the Web, and will be encoded at 15 frames per second for higher quality Internet video. AiAF Artificial Intelligence Auto Focus. A focus method used to evaluate objects in a frame by position and movement. ambient light Often referred to as available light, ambient light is either the natural light or artificial light that illuminates a scene. analog A signal that is represented by a constant varying voltage level, known as a waveform. These waveforms represent video and audio information. Analog is the opposite of digital. angle of view The amount of area that is seen by the camcorder lens. Wide angle lens converters have a wider angle of view, while telephoto lens converters have a narrower angle of view. aperture The opening in the camcorder lens in which light passes. The aperture controls the actual amount of light allowed into the lens by way of opening and closing the diaphragm. aperture priority (Av) Aperture-Prio.AE. A semiautomatic VIXIA camcorder mode where you can manually set the aperture value and the appropriate shutter speed is automatically adjusted.

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232 Part III ✦ Appendixes A-roll The primary footage acquired in video. A-roll footage captures the highlights, the most essential shots, and audio of the event. An editor usually cuts away from the A-roll footage to the B-roll footage while the audio of the A-roll footage plays under it.

blue-screen A video technique where a subject is first shot against a blue background. Then the background is made transparent with a video-editing program so it can be replaced with a new background scene. See also green-screen and chroma key.

artifact With video, it is digital noise, including flaws from compression; an undesired image element.

brightness The perceived light reflected or emitted by a source, namely the LCD panel in the VIXIA camcorders.

aspect ratio The ratio of the width of an image to its height on a viewing screen. The aspect ratio for a standard definition video is 4:3, for high-definition video, it is 16:9.

broadcast A transmission of video programs from a television station.

auto exposure bracketing (AEB) The process of automatically taking multiple still images at multiple exposure levels, some above and some below the average exposure calculated by the light meter for a particular scene. autofocus (AF) The camcorder controls the focusing elements of the lens in order to achieve a sharp image. automatic exposure (AE) The camcorder meters the light in the scene and automatically adjusts the aperture and shutter speed for a properly exposed image. automatic flash When in low light, the camcorder automatically fires the built-in flash when it determines the light is too low to properly expose the image or achieve a sharp focus. B-roll The secondary footage used to supplement the primary footage in video. An editor usually cuts away from the A-roll footage to the B-roll footage while the audio of the A-roll footage plays under it. backlight Light that is pointed at the subject from behind.

chroma key A technique used in video-editing software or compositing software for mixing two images or frames in which a color, green or blue, is removed or made transparent revealing another image. color balance The ability of the camcorder’s image processor to effectively re-create accurate colors. Color balance can be achieved by setting a white balance to match the primary light source in a scene. Color balance can also be manipulated in a video-editing program. color cast The incorrect color shift caused by the presence of one color in other colors of an image; usually caused by an improper white balance. color temperature The color of light expressed numerically using the Kelvin scale. The color temperature of bright sunlight (5000-6500K) is a higher color temperature than the color temperature for tungsten light bulbs (2500-3500K). The majority of the lighting situations in which you record video is between these two. component video An analog video signal transferred from a source that has been split into multiple components containing the

✦ Glossary elements of video, namely color or chroma and luminance, or the brightness of the image and synchronizing signals. A component terminal and cable lets you connect to television sets. composite An analog video signal that contains both chrominance and luminance information. The VIXIA camcorders can connect to a VCR or television through a composite connection. composition With video and still images, the arrangement or placement of visual elements seen in the camera lens to form a scene. compression The process of reducing, through a computer using algorithms, the total amount of data in a series of digitized frames of video and/or audio and also still images. Compression is usually used on video that will be played on the Internet. Compression is also used when any of the VIXIA camcorders record HDV, AVCHD, and DV video. contrast The range of tones from light to dark in a video scene or still image. cut The most basic video edit. The term cut is used to describe the last frame of a clip being followed immediately by the first frame of a following clip. It is the instantaneous change from one scene to another. depth of field The range of acceptable sharpness that extends in front of and behind the primary focus plane in a scene. diffused light Light that is spread or scattered evenly over an area. Often referred to as soft light.

233

DIGIC DV II A proprietary image processor designed by Canon for processing HD video images. This imaging processor reduces video noise in dark areas and controls various other camera operations. This new processor is based on its predecessor, DIGIC DV. digital video Refers to a video system that uses a digital video signal as opposed to an analog video signal. Digital video also refers to the capturing, manipulation, and storage of video in various digital formats. digital zoom A method of making a subject appear magnified by discarding the outer pixels of the image and filling that space with remaining pixels to create the appearance of zooming. This method is accomplished by software within the camera. download The act of moving video/stills from a camcorder over to a computer hard drive. DVD Digital Versatile Disk; Digital Video Disk. An optical storage medium used to store digital data such as video, music, text, and images. The VIXIA HR10 records images to a DVD. DVD-R DVD Recordable. A DVD disc that allows you to write only once and is readonly, used to store digital media. See also DVD. DVD-RW DVD-Read Write. A rewritable (recordable) DVD used to store digital media. See also DVD. dynamic range The range between the lightest and darkest areas of an image. Also used to describe the range between the loudest and softest audio heard in a scene.

234 Part III ✦ Appendixes editing The process of arranging and deleting video clips and sound clips, as well as adding transitions and effects to create a video program. effects The manipulation of audio or video that is performed with a video-editing program. Examples of effects include transition dissolves, paint filters that make video look like oil paintings, and slow motion. even lighting Lighting that is spread or scattered evenly over a subject, which is generally referred to as diffused or soft light. This type of lighting is low contrast and is kind to video. exposure The amount of light passing through the lens reaching the image processor. Exposure is the by-product of the amount of light multiplied by the length of time the light strikes the image processor. filter Optical filters that can be attached to a lens. FireWire An interface standard used to connect digital video camcorders to computers. Also known as the IEE 1394 standard; FireWire is a trademark name by Apple. flood light An artificial light source that is directed or diffused, providing even illumination over a large area. fluorescent light An artificial light that utilizes a gas-filled tube and electricity to produce a glow. This light is often used in homes and large commercial buildings with a color temperature anywhere from 29505500K. f/number Pertains to the size of the aperture opening of the camcorder lens determined by the f-stop setting. This number is

in reference to a fractional formula that is related to the size of the opening and the focal length. Wide apertures are denoted with smaller values such as 1.8, and narrow apertures by larger values such as 8.0. focal length The distance between the optical center of the lens and the focal plane when the lens is focused on infinity. A longer focal length can be achieved by zooming in on a subject. The longer the focal length, the more magnified the subject. focus The point where light rays converge to form a sharp image. The sharpness of the image can be manipulated by adjusting the distance between the lens and the subject. gigabyte A unit of data storage that is slightly more than 1 billion bytes. The record media used for the VIXIA camcorders are usually marketed by their storage capacity, which is listed in gigabytes. gray card A card used to calibrate a camera for color balance by obtaining a reflective light reading of the light hitting the card. The gray side of the card reflects 18 percent of the light that strikes it, and the white side 90 percent. Not all gray cards have a white side. green-screen A video technique where a subject is shot against a green background. Then the background is made transparent with a video-editing program so it can be replaced with a new background scene. See also blue-screen and chroma key. histogram A graph that displays the distribution of tones in an image. hue A main property of color that allows it to be categorized, such as red, yellow, or blue.

✦ Glossary

235

import The process of bringing files into a software program, such as a video-editing program.

megabits per second (Mbps) A unit measuring the data rate for recording quality settings in the VIXIA camcorders.

infinity The state where the camcorder lens forms an image of a subject from a theoretical infinite distance away.

megapixel A unit of graphic resolution. The VIXIA camcorders capture still images as pixel elements, and a megapixel is equal to about one million pixels.

instant AF Instant Automatic Focus. A camcorder function that uses an external sensor to determine the distance between the camcorder and the subject, and quickly adjusts the lens so that the image is in sharp detail. interlace A video or image scanning system in which every odd row of pixels are scanned to make one interlace field, then every even row of pixels are scanned to create a second field. The fields are then combined to create a full (interlaced) frame of video. joystick A navigation control consisting of a stick that pivots to navigate menu systems and make selections. keying A technique for combining two images or frames together in which a color, usually blue or green, from one image is made transparent and then replaced with another image. This is a common technique for background replacement. Also referred to as chroma keying. See also blue-screen and green-screen. light metering A function where the camcorder measures the light reflected from the subject in order to calculate the exposure setting. media Objects on which you can store data such as video, audio, and photos. In the VIXIA line of camcorders it specifically refers to memory cards, hard disk drives, internal flash memory, DV cassette tapes, and DVDs.

memory card Removable media that can store video with audio and still images. optical zoom Magnification that is achieved by adjusting optical elements in the lens. overexposure Exposing the camcorder image sensor to more light than is necessary for an acceptable exposure, resulting in an image that is too light, or what is commonly referred to as blown out. panning With video, the act of performing a pivoting motion with the camcorder along a horizontal plane in order to record something passing by. post production Editing the video in preparation for an audience viewing. With the VIXIA camcorders, post-production can include video editing with software and the creation of sound effects. preset A predetermined set of actions that can be activated to respond to specific variables. The preset white balance settings of the VIXIA camcorders let you quickly adjust for daylight, shade, and cloudy conditions by choosing a menu option. progressive Used to describe a video signal in which the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence. This is in contrast to interlace. red-eye A picture anomaly that occurs when the camera flash reflects off the back of the eye, causing the eyes to glow red.

236 Part III ✦ Appendixes reflector A surface used to redirect light into areas where there are shadows. Often used to soften hard light. resolution With video and still images, the number of pixels horizontally and vertically on a display screen that express the amount of detail in the image. saturation With color, a strong or weak hue of varying color purity. Higher color purity produces bolder, more vibrant colors, and less color purity produces dull colors. shutter priority (Tv) Shutter-Prio.AE. A semiautomatic VIXIA camcorder exposure mode where you can manually set the shutter speed and the appropriate aperture value is automatically adjusted for correct exposure. shutter speed The shutter speed governs the interval of the off and on state of the image sensor as it is exposed to light, shutter A mechanism that controls the interval for which the image sensor is exposed to light.

fill light, and back light. Although all three lights are required to perform this technique fully, you can still benefit from the threepoint lighting principles when using only one or two lights. tracking Moving the camcorder along a path to follow a route or course of a moving subject while maintaining the same distance between camera and subject. transition With video, the passage from one scene to another. In a video-editing program, you can use a transition effect such as a dissolve or wipe to advance the video program. trim With video, to cut away the excess video from a clip in order to capture a specific action in the video program. This is performed in a video-editing program. tripod A three-legged camcorder stabilizing device to which the camcorder can be attached in order to hold it steady.

silhouette A black, two-dimensional representation of the outline of a subject.

tungsten lighting An artificial light produced by a tungsten filament or halogen lamp with a color temperature ranging from 30003500K. Used for room lamps and ceiling fixtures.

stereo A sound transmission from two sources through two channels. The VIXIA camcorders use a built-in stereo microphone to record stereo.

underexposure Exposing the camcorder image sensor to less light than is necessary for an acceptable exposure, resulting in an image that is too dark.

telephoto converter A secondary lens that is attached to the camera lens to increase the focal length, providing greater magnification of distant subjects.

USB Universal Serial Bus. A serial bus designed to interface with many peripherals using a standardized interface socket. Some of the VIXIA camcorders utilize a USB terminal to connect to a computer and to printer.

three-point lighting A standard lighting technique used in video, film, and still photography to light a scene using a key light,

VCR Video Cassette Recorder. An electronic device used for playing back video images on a videocassette. The VIXIA camcorders can connect to a VCR and convert an analog video signal into DV.

✦ Glossary white balance A camera function that provides a reference for true white from which the camcorder can correctly interpret all other colors and create a correct color balance. widescreen A term given to picture displays that have a wider aspect ratio than the standard 4:3. An HDTV has a widescreen aspect ratio with a 16 × 9 viewing area. windscreen With video, a physical covering for an external microphone or low-frequency noise canceling function for the built-in microphone that helps prevent the recording of wind noises.

237

zebra stripes A method of judging light levels in order to achieve a proper exposure. When the Zebra function is activated, diagonal lines appear across any part of the image that is close to being overexposed. With the VIXIA HV20 and HV30 camcorders, when the Zebra function is activated, a pattern resembling zebra stripes appears in the viewfinder on any area in the scene that is over a certain lighting level.

Index Numerics 1/2 shutter speed, 172 1/4 shutter speed, 172 1/8 shutter speed, 172 1/15 shutter speed, 172 1/30 shutter speed, 172 1/100 shutter speed, 172 1/250 shutter speed, 172 1/500 shutter speed, 172 1:1 Mix/Fixed setting, 93 1/1000 shutter speed, 172 1/2000 shutter speed, 172 4:3 aspect ratio, 202, 231 9-point AiAF. See Artificial Intelligence Auto Focus 16:9 aspect ratio, 202, 231 24p Progressive frame rate, 115–116, 231 30p Progressive frame rate, 20, 115–116

A A mode. See automatic mode A. SL Shutter option Camera Setup menu, 105 HV20 and HV30, 88 Movie and Still image modes, 98 Movie mode, 72 AC adapters, 199 Access indicator, 36 Access/Charge indicator, 26–27 accessories, 189–200 accessory shoe mounts, 28 Activate the built-in camcorder light option, 61 Add Recordings to Disc menu, 83 Add To Disc menu, 78, 222 Add To Playlist option, 66–67 Adjust the volume of the speaker option, 60 Adobe, resource, 228 Advanced accessory shoe HF10, HF100, 28 HF11, 28, 166 HG10, 40 HV20, 56–57 HV30, 166 Advanced Video Codec High Definition (AVCHD) format. See entries that start with AVCHD

AE (automatic exposure), 171, 232 AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing), 64, 128–129, 232 AF (autofocus), 18, 232 AF Ast Lamp option, 71, 89, 99, 106 AF Mode option, 71, 81, 89, 99, 106 AiAF. See Artificial Intelligence Auto Focus All Scenes option, 66, 78, 83 All Scenes (This date) option, 66 Always Use This Program For This Action window, 219 ambient light, 231 analog, 231 analog-to-digital conversion, 220–221 angle of view, 231 aperture, 118, 231 aperture priority (Av), 231 Aperture-Prio.AE option, 63, 118, 171 Apple, resource, 228 Apple Final Cut Express, 186, 215 Apple iMovie, 12, 208–215 Apple iTunes, 215 Application Disk, 12 Apply digital effects option, 61 A-roll, 150, 232 Art (E3) option, 122 Artbeats, 229 artifact, 232 Artificial Intelligence Auto Focus (AiAF), 19, 71, 107, 127, 231 aspect ratio, 232 Assist Function options, 95 audio, 156 Audio level adjustment bar, 123 Audio level indicator option, 80, 123 Audio level meter, 123 Audio Level option, 74–75, 96 Audio Out option, 93 audio recording level, 123 Audio tab, 218 audiovisual (AV) terminal, 7 Auto and P mode switch, 6 Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB), 64, 128–129, 232 Auto mode, 30, 45, 53, 125 Auto recording option, 5–6

240 Index ✦ A—C Auto Slow Shutter option, 82 autofocus (AF), 18, 232 Automatic (A) mode, 40, 47–48, 51 automatic backlight correction, 119 automatic exposure (AE), 171, 232 Automatic Exposure (Program AE) mode, 19, 35 automatic flash, 232 Automatic Focus Assist lamp. See AF Ast Lamp option automatic white balance (AWB), 63, 195 AV (audiovisual) terminal, 7 (Av) aperture priority, 231 (Av) Aperture-Prio.AE option, 63, 118, 171 AV DV option, 92 AV Out/Headphones terminal HF10, HF11, and HF100, 27 HG20, HG21, 36 HR10, 43–44 HV20 and HV30, 52 AVCHD format, 15 AVCHD camcorders HF10, HF11, and HF100, 22–30 HG10, HG20, and HG21, 31–40 HR10, 41–48 Avid, resource, 229 AV/Phones options, 7, 77, 160, 204 AV/Phones terminal, 85, 94, 103 AWB (automatic white balance), 63, 195 AWB Auto setting, 176

B background, 157 backlight, 184–185, 232 backlight correction (BLC) button, 51, 119, 174 battery AC adapters and, 199 VIXIA HF10, HF11, and HF100, 27 VIXIA HG10, 37 VIXIA HG21, 36 Battery Info screen, 76, 88 battery release HG10, HG20, and HG21, 31 HR10, 43–44 Beach mode, 19, 117, 171 Beach mode icon, 6 Beep option, 76, 97, 103, 111 bidirectional microphone, 164, 196 black and white (Blk&Wht) digital effects, 126 BLC (backlight correction) button, 51, 119, 174 Blk&Wht (black and white) digital effects, 126 Blk&Wht (E1) option, 122 blue-screen, 232 brightness, 95, 101–102, 109, 122, 232

broadcast, 232 B-roll, 150, 232 built-in microphone, 162

C Calendar Start Day, 87 camcorder stabilizing systems, 198 Camcorderinfo, 227 Camera Detected Scanning Contents, 210 Camera mode, 9 Camera Setup menu, HF10, HF11, HF100, 70–73 camera-mounted light, 181, 197 camera-mounted microphone, 165–166, 196–197 Camera/Play mode indicators, 46 CameraWindow software, 69, 219 Canon, resource, 229 Canon Digital Video Solution Disk, 131 Card access indicator, 43–44, 50 card information screen, 73 Card Initialize option, 109 Card Open switch, 24, 26 card reader, 12 Center option, 127 Cen.Weight.Average option, 126 Charge indicator, 50 chroma key, 186, 232 Cinema mode, 20, 115–116 Cinesaddle, 191 close-up, 145 Cloudy setting, 176 CMOS (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, 18 color balance, 232 color cast, 232 color correction, 152, 155, 170 Color Depth, 122 color keying, 186 color temperature, 177, 232 color-correcting filter, 195 Comp. Out option, 77, 94, 104, 112 Complete Initialization option, 86, 92, 133 Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, 18 Component out terminal HG20, HG21, 36 HR10, 43–44 HV20 and HV30 HDV, 52–53 overview, 26 Component Output option, 84 Component terminal, 24 component video, 232–233 component video cable, 204 composite, 233

Index ✦ C—E composition defined, 233 rule of thirds, 142–143 shot variety, 145–149 talking heads, 144 compression, 156, 233 Configure print settings and print photos option, 61 continuous shooting, 128–129 Continuous shooting drive mode option, 64, 128 contrast, 122, 168, 233 Control dial, HG10, 33 Control for HDMI feature, 86 Copy option, 66 copyrighted material, 221 Corel Application Disk, 12 Creative Cow, 227 Custom Effect option, 122 Custom White Balance, 177, 195 cut, 233

D D. Effect Off, 122 D. Zoom option, 81, 89, 98, 105 Data Code option, 75, 83, 96, 102, 110 data loss, reducing, 23 Date Format option, 79, 87, 97, 104, 112 Date Printing setting, 207 Date/Time Setup menu HF10, HF11, HF100, 78–79 HV30, 4 Daylight setting, 176 DC In terminal HF10, HF11, and HF100, 27 HG10, 37 HG20, HG21, 36 HG21, 36 HR10, 44 HV20 and HV30, 54–55 Del. All Movies option, 74, 108 Del. Playlist option, 74, 101, 108 Delete option, 67 deleting scenes, 8–9 Demo Mode, 75, 85, 96, 102, 110 depth of field, 152–154, 233 diffused light, 168, 179, 233 diffusing sunlight, 180 DIGIC (Digital Imaging Core), 18 DIGIC DV II, 233 digital effects, 64 Digital Juice, 229 digital single lens reflex (dSLR), 18 digital video, 233 Digital Video Editing, 228

241

digital zoom, 70, 233 Dioptric adjustment lever HR10, 46–47 HV20 and HV30, 54–55 overview, 3 Direct Print functionality, 21, 26, 35, 49, 205–206 Direct transfer button, 49 Direct Transfer window, 219–220 Disc access/Charge indicator, 47–48 Disc compartment, 44 Disc Info screen, 108 Disc Initialize menu, 108 Disc Protect option, 109 Disc Title option, 109 Display button HG10, 33 HR10, 42–43 HV20 and HV30, 49–50 Display Setup menu, 74–75 Display/Battery Info button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24, 26 HG20, HG21, 32 Divide option, 67 download, 233 Drive mode options, 64, 129 Drop Sensor option, 87, 101 dSLR (digital single lens reflex), 18 dual flash memory, 23 DV cable, 208 DV options, 91 DV Output option, 94 DV Rec Mode option, 91 Dvcreators, 228 DVD, 222–223, 233 DVD-R, 41, 233 DVD-R DL, 41 DVD-RW, 41, 233 DW-100 DVD Burner, 21, 222–223 dynamic range, 233

E E1 (Blk&Wht) option, 122 E2 (Sepia) option, 122 E3 (Art) option, 122 Easy mode, 25–26, 35, 62 Easy/Print Share button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24–25 HG10, HG20, and HG21, 32, 35 editing, defined, 234 effects, defined, 234 Erase All Images option, 74, 92, 101, 109 Erase All Ord option, 101, 109 Erase All (Print) Ord option, 74, 109

242 Index ✦ E—H Erase All (transfer) Ord option, 74 erasing photos, 10 Evaluative option, 126 even lighting, 234 Events library, 209 Events view, 209, 212 Exp option, 61 exposure, 155, 169–174, 234 Exposure adjustment indicator, 173 exposure settings, 118–119 external connections, 202–207 external microphone camera-mounted, 165–166, 196–197 hand-held, 164–165, 197 lavaliere and lapel, 163–164, 197 overview, 162–163 extreme close-up, 145

F F1 (Fade-T) option, 122 F2 (Wipe) option, 122 Fast Forward/Telephoto button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24–25 HG10, 33–34 HG20, HG21, 32 HR10, 42–43 HV20 and HV30, 49–50 Fast Reverse/Wide Angle button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 25 HG10, 33–34 HG20, HG21, 32 HR10, 42–43 HV20 and HV30, 49–50 File Nos option, 92, 103, 111 fill light, 184–185 filter, 234 Final Cut Express, 186, 215 Final Cut Pro, 228 Finalize option, 108 FireWire, 234 FireWire cable, 11 Fireworks mode, 19, 171 Fireworks mode icon, 6 firmware, 78, 87, 97, 104, 112 flash HF10, HF11, and HF100, 30 HG20, HG21, 38 HR10, 44 HV20, HV30, 53 onscreen joystick guide, 183 Flash off mode, 30, 45, 53, 125 Flash on mode, 30, 45, 53, 125 flattened perspective, 194 flexible recording programs (P), 40 flood light, 234

fluid head tripod, 190 Fluorescent H setting, 176 fluorescent light, 234 Fluorescent setting, 176 f/number, 234 focal length, 193, 234 focus, 234 Focus Assist option, 71, 80, 99, 106, 116–117 Focus button, 50–51 Focus lever, 50–51 Focus priority feature, 81, 89, 99–100, 107, 127–128 Font Size option, 84 4:3 aspect ratio, 202, 231 fragmentation, 133 Frame Rate options, 72, 79, 99, 106 full HD CMOS image sensor, 18 Function button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24–25 HF10, HF11, HG10, HG20, and HG21, 160 HG10, 33 HG20, HG21, 32 HR10, 42–43 HV20 and HV30, 54–55, 160 overview, 2 Function menu playback modes, 66–69 recording modes, 62–65 FXP recording mode, 17

G gigabyte, 234 glare, 195 graduated/gradient filter, 194–195 gray card, 177, 234 green-screen, 234

H halo effect, 180 hand-held microphone, 164–165, 197 hard disk drive (HDD), 86 HD Standard menu, 5, 90 HD video lens, 18 HDD (hard disk drive), 86 HDD Access/Charge indicator, 37 HDD Info screen, 88, 101 HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), 77, 203. See also entries that start with HDMI HDMI terminal, 21 HDMI cable, 203 HDMI Out terminal HF10, HF11, and HF100, 29 HG20, HG21, 36 HR10, 43–44 HV20 and HV30, 54–55 HDMI Status screen, 77, 88, 104, 112

Index ✦ H HDV 24/HDV (PF24) options, 90 HDV 30 option, 90 HDV camcorders, 48–57 HDV/DV terminal, 11, 54–55, 208 Headphone Volume option, 85 headphones, 6–7 HF10 model back features, 26–27 Camera Setup, 70–73 Date/Time Setup, 78–79 Display Setup, 74–75 front features, 30 left side features, 22–26 Memory Operations, 73–74 Movie mode, 21 Movie playback mode, 22 right side features, 29 Still image mode, 22 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup, 76–78 top features, 28 video quality, 114 HF11 model back features, 26–27 Camera Setup, 70–73 Date/Time Setup, 78–79 Display Setup, 74–75 front features, 30 left side features, 22–26 Memory Operations, 73–74 Movie mode, 21 Movie playback mode, 22 right side features, 29 Still image mode, 22 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup, 76–78 top features, 28 video quality, 114 HF100 model back features, 26–27 Camera Setup, 70–73 Date/Time Setup, 78–79 Display Setup, 74–75 front features, 30 left side features, 22–26 Memory Operations, 73–74 Movie mode, 21 Movie playback mode, 22 right side features, 29 Still image mode, 22 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup, 76–78 top features, 28 video quality, 114

HG10 model back features, 36–38 Camera Setup menu, 98–100 Date/Time Setup menu, 104 Display Setup menu, 101–102 front features, 38–39 HDD Operations menu, 100 left side features, 31–35 Movie mode, 21 Movie playback mode, 22 right side features, 36 Still image mode, 22 Still Image Operations menu, 101 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup menu, 102–104 top features, 39–40 video quality, 114 HG20 model back features, 36–38 Camera Setup 2 menu, 81 Date/Time Setup menu, 87 front features, 38–39 Information screens, 87 left side features, 31–35 Movie mode, 21 Movie playback mode, 22 Playback Setup menu, 82–84 right side features, 36 Still image mode, 22 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup 1 menu, 84–85 System Setup 2 menu, 85–87 top features, 39–40 video quality, 114 HG21 model back features, 36–38 Camera Setup 2 menu, 81 Date/Time Setup menu, 87 front features, 38–39 Information screens menu, 87 left side features, 31–35 Movie mode, 21 Movie playback mode, 22 Playback Setup menu, 82–84 right side features, 36 Still image mode, 22 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup 1 menu, 84–85 System Setup 2 menu, 85–87 top features, 39–40 video quality, 114 High Definition Video (HDV) camcorders. See HDV camcorders High Definition Video (HDV) format, 15

243

244 Index ✦ H—K High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), 77, 203. See also entries that start with HDMI High-Speed Continuous Shooting, 128–129 histogram, 20, 127, 234 HR10 model back features, 46–47 Camera Setup menu, 105–108 Date/Time Setup menu, 112 Display Setup menu, 109 front features, 44–46 HDD Operations menu, 108–109 left side features, 41–44 Movie mode, 21 Movie playback mode, 22 Still image mode, 22 Still Image Operations menu, 109 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup menu, 110–112 top features, 47–48 video quality, 114 hue, 234 HV20 model analog-to-digital conversions with, 220–221 back features, 54–55 Camera Setup menu, 88–90 Card Operations menu, 92–93 Date/Time Setup menu, 97–98 Display Setup menu, 94–95 front features, 53–54 left side features, 48–51 Movie playback mode, 22 Play/Out Setup1 menu, 93–94 Play/Out Setup2 menu, 94 Rec/In Setup menu, 90–92 right side features, 51–53 Still image mode, 21 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup menu, 97 top features, 55–57 video quality, 114–115 HV20/30 Forum, 228 HV30 model analog-to-digital conversions with, 220–221 back features, 54–55 Camera Setup menu, 88–90 Card Operations menu, 92–93 Date/Time Setup menu, 97–98 Display Setup menu, 94–95 front features, 53–54 left side features, 48–51 Movie playback mode, 22 Play/Out Setup1 menu, 93–94 Play/Out Setup2 menu, 94

Rec/In Setup menu, 90–92 right side features, 51–53 Still image mode, 21 Still image playback mode, 22 System Setup menu, 97 top features, 55–57 video quality, 114–115 HXP recording mode, 16

I IEEE1394 (DV) terminal, 11 Image Browser window, 220 Image effects, 64, 121–122 image stabilizer option, 72, 82, 191 ImageMixer, 12 ImageMixer 3SE launch window, 216 Img Numbers option, 77 Img Quality option, 77, 103, 111 Img Stab option, 71–72, 89–90, 99, 106 iMovie, 12, 208–215 Import Complete window, 211 importing, 235 incandescent lighting, 183 indoor shooting, 183–185 infinity, 117, 235 Initialize Card option, 101 Initialize HDD menu, 101 Initialize options, 74, 86, 92 Instant AF sensor defined, 235 HF10, HF11, and HF100, 30 HG20 and HG21, 38 HR10, 44 HV20 and HV30, 53 interlace, 235 internal drives, initializing, 133–134 istockphoto, 229 iTunes, 215

J joystick defined, 235 HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24 HG20, HG21, 32 HR10, 46 HV20 and HV30, 54–55 joystick/function guide, 60–62

K key light, 184 keying, 235 Kodak Gray Card, 177

Index ✦ L—M

L Language option, 75, 84, 96, 102, 110 lapel microphones, 163–164, 197 lavaliere microphones, 163–164, 197 LCD panel adjusting brightness, 84 HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24 HG10, 33 HG20, HG21, 31 HR10, 42–43 HV20 and HV30, 48, 50 overview, 3 LED lights, 197 lens converters, 191–196 Level option, 142 light adjusting white balance for color accuracy, 175–178 chroma key, 186 exposure, 169–174 indoors, 183–185 low, 180–183 quality and quantity, 167–169 sunlight, 179–180 light metering, 63, 126, 235 Light/Print Share button, 49–50 Lock button, 2 low light, 180–183 Low Sharpening option, 121 lower third, 156–157 LP recording mode, 17 Lynda Online Training, 228

M manual exposure, 119 manual shutter speed, 118 Maps and Background browser, 209 Markers option, 75, 95, 102, 110 Matterhorn Canyon, Yosemite National Park, 178 Mbps (megabits per second), 235 media, 73, 235 media flexibility, 23 medium close-up, 145 medium shot, 145 megabits per second (Mbps), 235 megapixel, 235 memory, initializing, 133–134 memory card, 235 Memory Card Info screen, 73, 88 memory card slot HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24, 26 HG10, 33, 35 HG20, HG21, 32, 35

245

HR10, 43–44 HV20 and HV30, 50 Memory Operations menu, 73–74 Menu option, Function menu, 4 Mic Att option, 73, 91 Mic terminal external microphones, 162 HF10, HF11, and HF100, 27 HG10, 38–39 HV20 and HV30 HDV, 52 microphone bidirectional, 164, 196 built-in, 162 camera-mounted, 165–166, 196–197 hand-held, 164–165, 197 lapel, 163–164, 197 lavaliere, 163–164, 197 omnidirectional, 164, 196 stereo, 30, 38, 45–46, 56–57 unidirectional, 164, 196 Microphone Attenuator option, 82 Mini advanced shoe HF10, HF11, and HF100, 28 HG21, 40 mini digital video (miniDV) tape, 2 Mini High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) terminal, 21 mini video light HF10, HF11, and HF100, 30 HG10, 38–39 HR10, 45–46 HV20 and HV30, 53–54 wide-angle or telephoto converter lens, 181–182 miniDV (mini digital video) tape, 2 Mix Balance menu, 94 Mix/Var option, 93 Mode dial, 29, 36, 37 mode switch Focus priority features, 100 HG10, 40 HR10, 47–48 HV20 and HV30 HDV, 51 Modo Steady 585 camera, 198 monopod, 190 motion blurring, 19 Movie mode Movie/Still image dial, 3 overview, 21 Movie playback mode Movie/Still image dial, 3 overview, 22 switching between Movie mode and, 8

246 Index ✦ M—P Movie/Still image switch HG10, 2–3, 37 HR10, 2–3, 46 HV20 and HV30, 2–3 Music and Sound Effects browser, 209, 215 MXP recording mode, 16

N navigation controls, 2, 60 Neutral Density (ND) filter, 180, 194 Neutral option, 121 Night mode, 19, 71–72, 99, 170 Night mode icon, 6 Night special scene, 181 9-point AiAF. See Artificial Intelligence Auto Focus Notification Sounds option, 85 Number of Copies setting, 207

O omnidirectional microphone, 164, 196 One Scene option, 66 1:1 Mix/Fixed setting, 93 1/8 shutter speed, 172 1/15 shutter speed, 172 1/500 shutter speed, 172 1/2 shutter speed, 172 1/100 shutter speed, 172 1/4 shutter speed, 172 1/30 shutter speed, 172 1/1000 shutter speed, 172 1/250 shutter speed, 172 1/2000 shutter speed, 172 online resources, 227–229 On/Off button, 28 onscreen joystick guide, 10, 162 Onscreen Markers option, 80 Open disc cover switch, 47–48 Open/Eject button, 55–56 operating modes, 21–22 optical zoom, 235 Original movies index screen, 68, 87 Output CH option, 93 Output Onscreen Displays option, 84 outputting images, 10–12 overexposure, 235

P (P) Program AE setting, 5, 62–63, 118, 171 Page Layout setting, 207 paint effect filter, 152 panning, 147, 235 Paper Size setting, 206 Paper Type setting, 206 Pause button. See Play/Pause/Start/Stop button

Peaking options, 95 PF24 (HDV 24/HDV) options, 90 Phones Vol option, 77, 104 Photo button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 9 HG10, 40 HG21, 39–40 HR10, 47–48 HV20 and HV30, 56 overview, 2 Photo Capture Quality option, 83 photo features, 125–131 Photo grab feature, 20 photo jump function, 131–132 Photo Numbering option, 86 Photo playback option, 205 Photo Review Time option, 80 photo/image jump feature, 61 PictBridge, 21, 205 Pixela ImageMixer, 12 Pixela ImageMixer 3SE, 215–219 playback modes, Function menu Add To Playlist option, 66–67 Copy option, 66 Delete option, 67 Divide option, 67 Move option, 67 Print order option, 69 Protect option, 68 Select Date/Scene Search option, 67–68 Slide show option, 68 Transfer Order option, 69 Playback STD option, 93 Play/Camera mode indicators, 37 Playlist index screen, 67 Playlist option, 78, 83 playlists, 123–125 Play/Pause/Start/Stop button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24–25 HG10, 33 HG20, HG21, 32 HR10, 43–44 HV20 and HV30 HDV, 49–50 polarizing filter, 195 Portrait mode, 19, 170 Portrait mode icon, 6 Portrait special scene recording program, 154 post production, 235 power adapter, 203 Power button, 2, 40 Power indicator HF10, HF11, and HF100, 28 HV20 and HV30, 54–55 Power Save option, 76, 85, 97, 103, 111

Index ✦ P—S Power switch camera and play modes, 21 HG10, 35, 37 HG20 and HG21, 35 HR10, 46–47 HV20 and HV30, 54–55 preparing camera, 1–6 preset, 235 Print (Erase All) Ord option Memory Operations menu, 74 Still Image Operations menu, 109 Print Effect setting, 207 Print menu, 84 Print Ord. All Erase option, 92 Print order option, 69 printing images, 205–207 Print/Share button HG10, 33 HR10, 42–43 HV20, 11 HV30, 11, 206 Program (P) mode, 5–6, 19 Program AE (Automatic Exposure) mode, 19, 35 Program AE setting, 5, 62–63, 118, 171 progressive, 235 Project library, iMovie interface, 209 Project pane, iMovie interface, 209 Protect option, 68 protecting photos, 132–133

Q Quick Initialization, 86, 92, 133 Quick Start button HG10, 33–34 HR10, 42–43 Quick Start function, 20, 76, 86

R Rec Media for Movies option, 79 Rec Media for Photos option, 79, 83 Rec Pause menu option, 221 record media compartment, 2 recording media, 113–114 quality and times, 16 recording mode, flexible, 26 recording modes, Function menu Digital effects, 64 Drive mode, 64 Image effects, 64 light metering mode, 63 Recording mode, 64–65 recording programs, 62 still image simultaneous recording, 65

still image size/quality, 65 white balance, 63 recording programs (P), 47–48, 51–52, 62 Red Giant Software, resource, 229 red-eye, 235 red-eye reduction, auto, 30, 45, 53, 125 redirecting sunlight, 179–180 reflector, 236 Rem. Scenes option, 78, 83 remote sensor HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24–25 HG10, 38–39 HG20, HG21, 32 HR10, 45–46 HV20 and HV30, 53–54 Reset button, 27, 36, 55 resolution, 236 Review option Camera Setup menu, 107 Markers option, 75 Still image mode, 72, 91–92 Review the last scene recorded option, 61 reviewing video scenes, 7–8 royalty-free resources, 229 rule of thirds, 142–143

S saturation, 236 Scene modes, 6 SD (Standard Definition) disk, 5 SD (Standard Definition) format, 15 Select Date option, 68 Select Date/Scene Search option, 67–68 Self Timer option, 79–80, 90, 100, 107, 131 self-discharge, battery, 199 Sepia (E2) option, 122 Sepia digital effects, 126 Set button joystick, 46 navigation controls, 2 Set setting, 176 Setup menus HF10, HF11, HF100, 70–79 HG10, 98–104 HG20, HG21, 79–87 HR10, 105–112 HV20 and HV30, 88–98 Shade setting, 176 shadows, 168 sharpness, 122 shot list, 151 “shotgun microphone”, 165–166, 196–197 shutter, 236 shutter priority (Tv), 236

247

248 Index ✦ S—T shutter speed, 118, 169, 172, 236 Shutter-Prio.AE option, 63, 118, 171 silhouette, 236 simultaneous recording feature, 129 simultaneous still shooting, 20 single lens reflex (SLR), 192 Single option, 129 6Sec. Date option, 96 16:9 aspect ratio, 202, 231 60i Standard option, 99, 106 Slide show option, 68 slideshow, 124 SLR (single lens reflex), 192 Snow mode, 19, 170–171 Snow mode icon, 6 Soft Skin Detail option, 64, 121 software, 228–229 solid-state storage, 23 Sony Vegas product family, resource, 229 Sorenson Media, resource, 229 sound, 159–166 SP (Standard Play) mode, 17, 41, 65 speaker HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24, 26 HG10, 33 HG20, HG21, 32 HR10, 47–48 HV20 and HV30, 49–50 overview, 35 Speaker Vol option, 77, 103 Special Scene Recording programs, 117 Spectra coating technology, 18 Speed Class Rating, 88 spirit level, 190 Sports mode, 19, 170 Sports mode icon, 6 Spot option, 127 Spotlight mode, 19, 171 Spotlight mode icon, 6 ST-1 Stereo1 setting, 93 ST-2 Stereo2 setting, 93 Standard Definition (SD) disk, 5 Standard Definition (SD) format, 15 Standard Play (SP) mode, 17, 41, 65 Standby lamp, 33–34 standby mode, 20 Standby Off options, 103, 111 Start Week option, 75 Start/Stop button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 27 HG10, 37 HG21, 36 HR10, 46–47

HV20 and HV30, 54–55 overview, 3 stereo, 236 stereo microphone HF10, HF11, and HF100, 30 HG20 and HG21, 38 HR10, 45–46 HV20 and HV30, 56–57 stereo video cable, 204 Still camera mode, 79–80, 90 Still I. Rec Off option, 129 Still image mode icon, 3 overview, 21–22 Still image playback mode icon, 3 overview, 22 still images capturing simultaneously with video, 129–130 downloading and managing, 219–220 magnifying during playback, 132 printing, 11–12 protecting photos, 132–133 reviewing, 9–10 simultaneous recording, 65 still image jump and photo jump function, 131–132 taking, 9 Still Images menu, 222 Stop/Backlight Correction button HF10, HF11, and HF100, 24–25 HG20, HG21, 32 Stop/Focus Assist button, 49–50 Stop/Playlist button, 43–44 Stop/Playlist/Backlight Correction button, 33–34 storyboard video, 216 sunlight, 179–180 Sunset mode, 19, 171 Sunset mode icon, 6 SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization technology, 19 System Setup menu, 76–78

T T. Zone/DST option, 78, 97, 104, 112 talent/property release forms, 139–140 Tape/Card switch, 51 technology overview, 18–21 telephoto lens converter, 18, 192–194, 236 Telestream, resource, 229 television, viewing footage on, 202–207 temperature, battery, 199 30p Progressive frame rate, 20, 115–116

Index ✦ T—W 35mm lens adapter, 154, 192 35mm still lens, 154 This date (All Scenes) option, 66 three-point lighting, 184–185, 236 tilts, 147 Time Zone/DST option, 87 Timeline view, 218 Title browser, 209, 214 Tough Spun diffusion material, 182, 197 tracking, 236 Trans. Ord. All Erase option, 92 transfer (Erase All) Ord option, 74 Transfer Order option, 69 transferring images analog-to-digital conversions with HV20 and HV30, 220–221 creating DVDs with DW-100 DVD Burner, 222–223 downloading and managing still images, 219–220 overview, 10–11 video footage, 208–219 transition, 218, 236 Transition browser, 209, 213–214 trash can icon, 8 trim, 236 Trimming setting, 207 tripod Camera Setup menu, 106 defined, 236 image stabilizer and, 72, 82, 90, 99 overview, 189–191 tripod socket, 31 tungsten lighting, 236 Tungsten setting, 176 TV Screen option, 75, 96, 102, 110 (Tv) Shutter-Prio.AE option, 63, 118, 171 TV Type option, 84, 93, 104, 111 24p Progressive frame rate, 115–116, 231

U ULEAD, resource, 229 ultraviolet filter, 195 underexposure, 236 underwater recording, 200 Unfinalize option, 108 unidirectional microphone, 164, 196 Universal Serial Bus (USB), 236. See also USB terminal USB Connection Type option, 83 USB Setting option, 78 USB terminal HG10, 33 HG20, HG21, 32

249

HR10, 43–44 HV20 and HV30, 49–50

V VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), 236 video capturing photos from, 130–131 capturing simultaneously with still images, 129–130 connecting to computer, 208 editing, 208–219 Video Cassette Recorder (VCR), 236 video light/LCD video light, 20 Video playback mode, 92 video quality HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, HG21, and HR10, 114 HV20 and HV30, 114–115 video scenes, managing, 123–125 videography audio, 156 composition, 142–149 depth of field, 152–154 exposure and color, 155 knowing surroundings, 138 plot, 140–142 shooting for edit, 149–151 talent/property release forms, 139–140 Web, 156–157 Viewer, iMovie interface, 209 Viewfinder HG10, HG20, 31 HG21, 31, 36 HR10, 46 HV20 and HV30, 54–55 Viewfinder button, 36 vignetting, 194 Vimeo, 228 Vivid image effect, 121 Vivid option, 64, 121 Volume option, 111

W WarmCards, 178 warming filter, 195 Web videography, 156–157 white balance adjusting for color accuracy, 175–178 custom, 120–121 defined, 237 overview, 63 presets, 120 wide shot/long shot, 145

250 Index ✦ W—Z wide-angle lens converter, 18, 139, 191–192 widescreen, 107, 237 Windscreen feature, 27, 39, 72–73, 100, 107, 237 Wipe (F2) option, 122 WL. Remote option, 76, 85, 97, 102, 110

X XP mode, 41 XP+ mode, 17, 41

Y Yes option, 9

Z zebra stripes, 95, 237 zoom lever HG10, 40 HG21, 39–40 HR10, 47–48 HV20 and HV30, 56 zoom speed, 122–123 Zoom Speed option Camera Setup menu, 106 Movie and Still image modes, 81, 89 Movie mode, 70–71 zooming, 147–148, 199

Guides to go. Colorful, portable Digital Field Guides are packed with essential tips and techniques about your camera equipment, iPod, or notebook. They go where you go; more than books—they’re gear. Each $19.99.

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Also available Nikon D300 Digital Field Guide • 978-0-470-26092-0 Canon EOS 40D Digital Field Guide • 978-0-470-26044-9 Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide • 978-0-470-11007-2 Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide • 978-0-470-12051-4 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Digital Field Guide • 978-0-470-27031-8.

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Photography/Cinematography & Videography

$19.99 US/$23.99 CAN

Your Canon VIXIA HD camcorder delivers crisp video and still images with eye-catching, brilliant colors, enabling you to create amazing video works of art. To help you get all that your camcorder has to offer, this convenient, portable guide shows you how to use the various modes, settings, and features, but that’s not all. It also provides an overview of videography fundamentals, then takes you into the field with advice on using sound and light to their best advantage, editing your footage, choosing useful accessories, and mor e.

• Master the settings for VIXIA HD camcorder models HF10, HF11, HF100, HG10, HG20, and HG21, as w ell as HV20, HV30, and HR10. • Experiment with exposure settings, white balance, image effects, zoom speed, and audio recording levels • Learn more about developing a story, manipulating depth of field, composing shots, and protecting yourself with releases • Transfer and edit your footage with iMovie® ’09 or Pixela ImageMixer™ Lonzell Watson is an A pple Certified Final Cut Pro Professional and the author of Final Cut Pro 6 For Digital Video Editors Only. His work as a videographer, writer, director, and producer has included national commercials and television programs for PBS, Fox Sports, the Outdoor Channel, and C-SPAN.

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