IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
In these safety instructions the word product refers to the Canon DVD Camcorder DC100 A and all its accessories. 1. Read Instructions All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated. 2. Retain Instructions The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference. 3. Heed Warnings All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to. 4. Follow Instructions All operating and maintenance instructions should be followed. 5. Cleaning Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. The product should be cleaned only as recommended in this manual. 6. Accessories Do not use accessories not recommended in this manual as they may be hazardous. 7. Avoid magnetic or electric fields Do not use the camera close to TV transmitters, portable communication devices or other sources of electric or magnetic radiation. They may cause picture interference, or permanently damage the camera. 8. Water and Moisture Hazard of electric shock Do not use this product near water or in rainy/moist situations. 9. Placing or Moving Do not place on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product. A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cartcombinationtooverturn. 10. Power Sources The CA-570 Compact Power Adapter should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company. Regarding other power sources such as battery power, refer to instructions in this manual. 11. Polarization The CA-570 Compact Power Adapter is equipped with a polarized 2-prong plug (a plug having one blade wider than the other). The 2-prong polarized plug will fit into the power outlet only one way. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug still fails to fit, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug. 12. Power Cord Protection Power cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them. Pay particular attention to plugs and the point from which the cords exit the product. 13. Outdoor Antenna Grounding If an outside antenna is connected to the product, be sure the antenna is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Section 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI / NFPA No. 701984, provides information with respect to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode. See figure 1.

Introduction

Fig. 1
EXAMPLE OF ANTENNA GROUNDING AS PER NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
ANTENNA LEAD IN WIRE GROUND CLAMP ELECTRIC SERVICE EQUIPMENT ANTENNA DISCHARGE UNIT (NEC SECTION 810-20) GROUNDING CONDUCTORS (NEC SECTION 810-21) GROUND CLAMPS POWER SERVICE GROUNDING ELECTRODE SYSTEM (NEC ART 250. PART H)
NEC - NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
14.Lightning For added protection of this product during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time, disconnect it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line surges. 15.Overloading Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock. 16.Objects and Liquid Entry Never push objects of any kind into this product through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Be careful not to spill liquid of any kind onto the product. 17.Servicing Do not attempt to service this product yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
18.Damage Requiring Service Disconnect this product from the wall outlet and all power sources including battery, and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: a. When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. b. If any liquid has been spilled onto, or objects have fallen into, the product. c. If the product has been exposed to rain or water. d. If the product does not operate normally even if you follow the operating instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operation instructions. Improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation. e. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged. f. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance. This indicates a need for service. 19.Replacement Parts When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts that are specified by Canon or that have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards. 20.Safety Check Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in safe operating order.

Trademark Acknowledgements
is a trademark of DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Other names and products not mentioned above may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Components Guide

Left side view Right side view

Front view

FUNC. button ( 37) MENU button ( 33) Lens cover switch ( 24, 26) ( - open, - closed) EXP (Exposure) switch ( 43) / DISPLAY button ( 32) (Multi Selector) button (Multi Selector) ( 10) FOCUS button ( 44) (Multi Selector) WIDE SCR (Widescreen) button ( 25) / PLAYLIST button ( 54) Buttons and switches other than ( example, MENU ).
AV OUT terminal ( 64) Serial number BATTERY RELEASE switch ( 17) RESET button ( 66) Disc compartment cover ( 22) DC IN terminal ( 17) Grip belt ( 19) Stereo microphone
) are indicated throughout the manual as *** (for

Top view

Bottom view

Back view

Mode switch ( 39) Zoom lever ( 27) Speaker ( 29) Tripod socket ( 25) OPEN (disc cover) switch ( Strap mount Viewfinder ( 19) Dioptric adjustment lever ( Operating mode indicator ( / (CAMERA), Red Green (PLAY) Power switch ( 11)

19) 11)

LCD screen ( 19) (record review) button ( 25) / (fast reverse) button ( 28) / Index screen button ( 28) (fast forward) button ( 28) / Index screen + button ( 28) D.EFFECTS button ( 50) / / (play/pause) button ( 28) (stop) button ( 28) DISC access indicator ( 24, 26) / CHG. (charge) indicator ( 17) Start/stop button ( 24, 26) ) are indicated throughout the manual as *** (for
Buttons and switches other than ( example, MENU ).

Screen Displays

Recording Movies
Operating mode ( 11) Recording program ( 39) Self timer ( 46) White balance ( 47) Image effect ( 49) Digital effects ( 50) Recording mode ( 38) Disc type DVD-R, DVD-RW ( 6) Disc specification (VIDEO mode, VR mode) ( 6) Finalized disc mark ( 61) Recording reminder Manual focus ( 44) Image stabilizer ( 33) Disc operation Time code (hours : minutes : seconds) Remaining recording time Widescreen mode ( 25) Wind screen ( 34) Level marker ( 35) Zoom ( 27), Exposure ( 43) Metering mode ( 43) Still image quality/size ( 53) Number of still images available Remaining battery charge AF frame ( 45) Camcorder shake warning ( 33) AF/AE locked during still image recording ( 26)

Recording Still Images

Recording reminder The camcorder counts from 1 to 10 seconds when you start recording. This is helpful to avoid scenes that are too short. Remaining recording time When there is no more available disc space, END will be displayed and the recording will stop.

LCD Backlight

You can switch the brightness of the LCD screen to [NORMAL] or [BRIGHT].

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Press MENU. Select ( ) [DISPLAY SETUP] and press ( Select ( ) [BACKLIGHT] and press ( ). Select ( ) the desired option and press ( Press MENU to close the menu.
This setting does not affect the brightness of the recording or the viewfinder screen. Using the [BRIGHT] setting will shorten the effective usage time of the battery.
Step 4: Changing the Display Language

DISPLAY SETUP

LANGUAGE

ENGLISH

Options
[DEUTSCH] [ENGLISH] [ESPAOL] [FRANAIS] [ITALIANO] [POLSKI] [ [ [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] ] ]
Press MENU. Select ( ) [DISPLAY SETUP] and press ( ). Select ( ) [LANGUAGE ] and press ( ). Select ( , ) the desired option and press ( Press MENU to close the menu.
If you changed the language by mistake, follow the to change the setting.
mark next to the menu item
Step 5: Setting the Time Zone / Daylight Saving Time

DATE/TIME SETUP

T.ZONE/DST NEW YORK
1. Press MENU. 2. Select ( ) [DATE/TIME SETUP] and press ( 3. Select ( ) [T.ZONE/DST] and press ( ). 4. Select ( ) your time zone and press ( ).
The time zone setting appears. The default setting is New York. To adjust for daylight saving time, select the time zone with the area. mark next to the

Time Zones

Once you have set the time zone, date and time, you do not need to reset the clock every time you travel to another time zone. Select the time zone referring to the date and time displayed on the screen.
Time Zones and Difference from GMT/UTC
London Paris Cairo Moscow Dubai Karachi Dacca Bangkok Singapore Tokyo Sydney Solomon GMT/UTC +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +10 +11 Wellington (WELLINGTN) Samoa Honolulu Anchorage Los Angeles (L.A.) Denver Chicago New York Caracas Rio de Janeiro (RIO) Fernando de Noronha (FERNANDO) Azores +12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3
Step 6: Setting the Date and Time
DATE/TIME JAN. 1,2006 12:00 AM
1. Press MENU. 2. Select ( ) [DATE/TIME SETUP] and press ( 3. Select ( ) [DATE/TIME] and press ( ).
The year is displayed in orange.

4. Select (

) the month and move (

) to the day setting.

The next part of the date/time is displayed in orange. Set the day, year, hours and minutes in the same way. If you do not need to change all settings, move ( ) to a specific setting you want to change.
5. Press MENU to close the menu and start the clock.
When you do not use the camcorder for about 3 months, the built-in rechargeable lithium battery may discharge completely and the date and time setting may be lost. In such case, recharge the built-in lithium battery ( 72) and set the time zone, date and time again. You can also change the date format ( 37).
Step 7: Loading and Removing a Disc
Use only 8 cm (3 in.) mini DVD discs marked with the DVD-R or DVD-RW logo. Before inserting the disc be sure to check that the recording surface is clean. If necessary, use a soft lens-cleaning cloth to remove any fingerprints, dirt buildup or smudges from the disc surface.

Reviewing the Last Scene Recorded
Press and release (record review).
The camcorder plays back the last scene and returns to record pause mode. While reviewing the scene, select ( ) the icon and press ( ) to return to the recording mode. While reviewing a scene immediately after recording it, you can also delete the scene by selecting ( ) the icon ( 55).
Basic Functions Recording
Selecting the Aspect Ratio of your Recordings (16:9 Widescreen or 4:3)
You can select the aspect ratio of your recording to match your TV.
To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( 11). Widescreen is not available when the recording mode is set to [LP] on a disc initialized in VIDEO mode.

Press WIDE SCR.

Repeatedly pressing WIDE SCR toggles between the Widescreen (16:9) and normal (4:3) aspect ratios. When recording in Widescreen mode, with [IMG STAB] set to [OFF] ( 33), you can have a wider view angle. Playing back a Widescreen recording: TV sets compatible with the Video ID-1 system will automatically switch to wide (16:9) mode. Otherwise, change the aspect ratio of the TV manually. To play back on a TV with normal aspect ratio (4:3) change the [TV TYPE] setting accordingly.
To use the still images functions, you will need to set [STILL IMAGES] to [ON] beforehand ( 11).
1. Open the LCD panel and the lens cover (move the lens cover switch down to ). 2. Press Start/Stop halfway.
Once the focus is automatically adjusted, will turn green and one or more AF frames appear.
3. Press Start/Stop fully.
The DISC access indicator will flash as the image is being recorded.
Avoid the following actions while the disc access display appears and while the DISC access indicator is on or flashing. Failing to do so may result in permanent data loss. - Do not subject the camcorder to vibrations or strong impacts. - Do not open the disc cover and do not remove the disc. - Do not disconnect the power source or turn off the camcorder. - Do not change the operating mode. If the subject is not suitable for autofocus, turns yellow. Keep Start/Stop pressed halfway and adjust the focus manually with the multi selector ( ).

Zooming

To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( 11). : In addition to the 25x optical zoom, the 1000x digital zoom is also available ( 33).

Zoom out Zoom in

25x Optical Zoom
Move the zoom lever toward W to zoom out (wideangle). Move it toward T to zoom in (telephoto).
You can also change the zoom speed ( 33). You can select one of three fixed zoom speeds or a variable speed that depends on how you operate the zoom lever: Press lightly for a slow zoom; press harder for faster zooms. Keep at least 1 m (3.3 ft.) to the subject. At wide-angle, you can focus on a subject as close as 1 cm (0.39 in.). When set to [VARIABLE], the zoom speed will be faster in the record pause mode.

Adjusting the Volume

The camcorder plays the sound with the built-in speaker. The volume will be muted when you close the LCD panel.

Basic Functions Playback

Speaker

Multi selector

SYSTEM SETUP

VOLUME

Press MENU. Select ( ) [SYSTEM SETUP] and press ( ). Select ( ) [VOLUME] and press ( ). Adjust ( ) the volume as desired and press (
To turn off the volume completely, keep pressing (.
) until the volume icon changes to
5. Press MENU to save the setting and close the menu.
Use the multi selector ( between images.

) to move

The following may not be displayed correctly. - Images not recorded with this camcorder. - Images edited on or uploaded from a computer. - Images whose file names have been changed. Avoid the following actions while the DISC access indicator is on or flashing. Failing to do so may result in permanent data loss. - Do not subject the camcorder to vibrations or strong impacts. - Do not open the disc cover and do not remove the disc. - Do not disconnect the power source or turn off the camcorder. - Do not change the operating mode.

Slideshow

SLIDESHOW
1. Press FUNC. 2. Select ( ) [ SLIDESHOW] and press ( 3. Select ( ) [START] and press ( ).
Images are played back one after another. Press FUNC. to stop the slideshow.

Index Screen

1. Move the zoom lever toward W.
The stills index screen appears with the first six still images.

2. Select (

) an image.
Move the cursor to the image you want to view. Press + or to move to the next or previous index page.
3. Move the zoom lever toward T.
The index screen closes and the selected image is displayed.

Image Jump Function

You can also quickly locate a specific image without having to browse all of them one by one.
Push the multi selector (
) and keep it pressed down.
Image numbers will quickly run in sequence. When you release the multi selector the image corresponding to the number selected will be displayed.

Magnifying the Image

During playback, still images can be magnified up to 5 times.

Zoom lever

1. Move the zoom lever toward T.
The image is magnified by 2 times and a frame appears indicating the position of the magnified area. To further enlarge the image, move the zoom lever toward T. To reduce the magnification to less than 2 times, move the zoom lever toward W. will appear for images that cannot be enlarged.

TIME], [
DATE & TIME], [ DATE & TIME]

CAMERA DATA], [

CAM. & D/T]
LEVEL MARKER [ ON], [ OFF] A horizontal line will appear at the center of the screen. You can frame the picture by referring to the level marker. LANGUAGE [DEUTSCH], [ENGLISH], [ESPAOL], [FRANAIS], [ITALIANO], [POLSKI], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
DEMO MODE [ ON], [ OFF] The demonstration mode displays the camcorders main features. It starts automatically when the camcorder is powered with the power adapter if you leave it turned on without loading a disc for more than 5 minutes. To cancel the demo mode once it started, press any button, turn off the camcorder or load a disc.
System Setup (Volume, Beep, etc.)
STILL IMAGES [ ON], [ VOLUME OFF]

( 29) ( 11)

BEEP [ HIGH VOLUME], [ LOW VOLUME], [ OFF] A beep will accompany some operations like turning on the camcorder, the self-timer countdown, etc. It also serves as a warning beep under unusual conditions. FIRMWARE You can check the current version of the camcorders firmware. POWER SAVE [ ON], [ OFF] In order to save power when the camcorder is powered by a battery pack, it will automatically shut off if left without any operation for five minutes. Approximately 30 seconds before the camcorder shuts off, the message AUTO POWER OFF will appear. FILE NOS. [ RESET], [ CONTINUOUS] Select the image numbering method to be used on a new disc. Images are automatically assigned consecutive image numbers from 0101 to 9900, and stored in folders containing up to 100 images. Folders are numbered from 101 to 998. [RESET]: Image numbering will start anew from 101-0101 every time you insert a new disc. If it already contains image files, a new image will be given the number following that of the last image on the disc. [CONTINUOUS]: Image numbering will start from the number following that of the last image recorded with the camcorder. If the disc already contains an image with a larger image number, a new image will be given the number following that of the last image on the disc. This numbering method is useful for organizing images on a computer. We recommend using this setting.
TV TYPE [ NORMAL TV], [ WIDE TV] In order to display the picture in full and in the correct aspect ratio, select the setting according to the type of television to which you will connect the camcorder. [NORMAL TV]: TV sets with 4:3 aspect ratio. [WIDE TV]: TV sets with 16:9 aspect ratio.

Date/Time Setup

T.ZONE/DST DATE/TIME DATE FORMAT [Y.M.D (2006.1.1 AM 12:00)], [M.D,Y (JAN. 1, 2006 12:00 AM)], [D.M.Y (1.JAN.2006 12:00 AM)]

( ( 20) 21)

FUNC. Menu Options
Recording programs Mode switch: [ [ [ PROGRAM AE], [ SHUTTER-PRIO. AE], [ APERTURE-PRIO. AE] BEACH], [ SUNSET],
Mode switch: PORTRAIT], [ SPORTS], [ NIGHT], [ SPOTLIGHT], [ FIREWORKS]

SNOW], [

Light metering mode Mode switch: [ EVALUATIVE], [

CENT.WEIGHT.AVERAGE], [

White balance Mode switch: [ [
AUTO], [ DAYLIGHT], [ SHADE], [ CLOUDY], [ FLUORESCENT], [ FLUORESCENT H], [ SET]

TUNGSTEN],

Image effect Mode switch: [ [ IMAGE EFFECT OFF], [ VIVID], [ SOFT SKIN DETAIL], [ CUSTOM]

NEUTRAL], [

LOW SHARPENING],
Digital effects Mode switch:

D.EFFECT OFF], [

FADER], [

EFFECT], [

MULTI-S]*
* Not available while using the [
NIGHT] recording program.

50) BLK&WHT]

Recording mode [ HIGH QUALITY], [ STANDARD PLAY], [ LONG PLAY] Approximate recording times with a brand new DVD-R disc are as follows: XP: 20 minutes, SP: 30 minutes, LP: 60 minutes. Recording in LP mode gives you a longer recording time; however, depending on the condition of the disc (long usage, imperfections, etc.) the picture and sound recorded in LP mode may be distorted. We recommend using the XP or SP mode for important recordings. Depending on the recording mode, you might occasionally notice a brief stop of the picture or sound at the point where the scene changes. The camcorder uses a variable bit rate (VBR) when encoding the video data so the actual recording times will vary depending on the content of the scenes. Still image size/quality Size: [L 1024x768], [S 640x480] Quality: [ SUPER FINE], [ FINE], [ NORMAL]

( 54) ( 53)

Add to playlist
[ALL SCENES], [ONE SCENE], [CANCEL] This option is available only from the original index screen. Move a scene
This option is available only from the playlist index screen. Divide a scene Delete a scene Convert to scene Image erase

( ( ( 56) 55) 60) ( 59)

: This option will appear only when you press FUNC. while reviewing the still image immediately after recording it. Slideshow [CANCEL], [START]
Using the Recording Programs

Recording Programs

To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( 11).
The camcorder adjusts focus, exposure and other settings automatically, allowing you to just point and shoot.
Program AE ( 40) Shutter-Priority AE ( 41) Aperture-Priority AE ( 42)

Portrait

The camcorder uses a large aperture, achieving a focus on the subject while blurring other distracting details.
Use this mode to record in bright ski resorts. It prevents the subject from being underexposed.

Spotlight

Use this mode to record spotlit scenes.
Advanced Functions Recording Programs

Sports

Use this mode to record sports scenes such as tennis or golf.
Use this mode to record on a sunny beach. It prevents the subject from being underexposed.

The shutter speed denominator flashes when the selected shutter speed is not appropriate for the recording condition. In such case, readjust the shutter speed. When using a slow shutter speed in dark places, you can obtain a brighter image, but the image quality may be lower, and the autofocus may not work well. Do not point the camcorder directly at the sun when the shutter speed is set to 1/1000 or higher. The image may flicker when recording with high shutter speeds. Recording movies under fluorescent lights: In mode and when the recording program is set to [ PROGRAM AE] or [ NIGHT] (SCN), the camcorder automatically detects the flicker of fluorescent lighting and adjusts the shutter speed accordingly. However, if the screen starts to flicker, select [ SHUTTER-PRIO.AE] and set the shutter speed to 1/100.
Using the Aperture-Priority AE Mode
You can select an aperture value, and the camcorder automatically sets the shutter speed most appropriate for the subject. Use low aperture values (large aperture) to blur the background for a portrait, or high aperture values (small aperture) to achieve a broad depth of field for recording landscapes.

Aperture value guideline

[1.8], [2.0], [2.4], [2.8], [3.4], [4.0], [4.8], [5.6], [6.7], [8.0], [9.5], [11], [14], [16] large aperture size small
1. Select the recording program [ APERTURE-PRIO.AE] as described in Selecting the Recording Program ( 40). 2. Press ( ). 3. Change ( ) the aperture value and press ( ) to save the setting.
Available aperture values vary depending on the zoom position. The aperture value flashes when the selected aperture is not appropriate for the recording condition. In such case, readjust the aperture.
Manually Adjusting the Exposure

More Recording Options

Adjust the exposure when a subject is underexposed (for example, when backlit subjects appear too dark in the image) or overexposed (for example, when recording subjects under very strong light and they appear too bright or glaring in the image).
To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( Mode switch: (except for the [
FIREWORKS] recording program).

1. Press EXP (

The exposure adjustment indicator and the neutral value 0 appear on the screen. If you operate the zoom during exposure lock, the brightness of the image may change.

2. Adjust (

) the brightness of the image as required.
The adjustment range depends on the brightness of the picture at the time you locked the exposure. Pressing EXP ( ) again will cancel the exposure lock and return the camcorder to the previous setting.
Changing the Metering Method
You can select the light metering mode.
Advanced Functions More Recording Options

IMAGE EFFECT OFF

[ [ [ [ [ IMAGE EFFECT OFF] VIVID] NEUTRAL] LOW SHARPENING] SOFT SKIN DETAIL] Records with no image enhancing effects. Emphasizes the contrast and color saturation. Tones down the contrast and color saturation. Records subjects with softened outlines. Softens the details in the skin tone area for a more complimentary appearance. To obtain the best effect, use this setting when recording a person in close-up. Note that areas similar to the skin color may lack in detail. Allows you to adjust the brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color depth of the image. [BRIGHTN.]: () Darker picture, (+) Brighter picture [CONTRAST]: () Flatter picture, (+) More defined light and shade [SHARPNESS]: () Vaguer outlines, (+) Sharper outlines [COL.DEPTH]: () Shallower colors, (+) Richer color tonality

CUSTOM]

Image Effect icon Desired option*

CUSTOM]:

* To set the custom image effect when you select [
1. Press ( ) and select ( ) the custom setting options: [BRIGHTN.], [CONTRAST], [SHARPNESS] or [COL.DEPTH]. 2. Adjust ( ) each setting as desired and then press ( ). 3. Press FUNC. to save the setting and close the menu.
Using the Digital Effects

[ FADER] Faders

Begin or end scenes with a fade to or from black. You can preview the effect on the display. [FADE-T] (fade trigger) [JUMP] [ZIGZAG] [WIPE] [FLIP] [BEAM] [CORNER] (corner wipe) [PUZZLE] [TIDE]

EFFECT] Effects

Add flavor to your recordings. Sound will be recorded normally. You can preview the effect on the display. [BLK&WHT] (black and white) [MOSAIC] [WAVE] [SEPIA] [BALL] [COLOR M.] (color mask) [ART] [CUBE] [MIRROR]
MULTI-S] Multi-Image Screen (
Captures moving subjects as a sequence of 4, 9 or 16 still images and displays them as one split screen. Sound will be recorded normally. 4 split images 9 split images 16 split images
When you are not using the digital effect, select [

D.EFFECT OFF].

Selecting a Fader / Effect
To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( Mode switch: :[ BLK&WHT] only. 11).

D.EFFECT OFF

Setting
Digital Effects icon FADER Press ( ) / EFFECT

Desired fader/effect.

FUNC. **

Press (

* You can preview the effect on the screen before pressing ( ** The selected effect icon appears.

To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( Disc type: DVD-RW initialized in VR mode.
Adding Scenes to the Playlist
[ALL SCENES] [ONE SCENE] [CANCEL] Adds all scenes in the original index screen to the playlist. Adds only the selected scene to the playlist. Returns to the original index screen.
From the original index screen, select ( , ) the scene to add to the playlist. To add all scenes there is no need to select any particular scene.
ADD TO PLAYLIST Desired option YES
When the operation is completed ADDED TO PLAYLIST will be displayed. Press PLAYLIST to check the scenes in the playlist index screen.
Moving Scenes in the Playlist
From the original index screen, press PLAYLIST. From the playlist index screen, select ( , ) the scene to move.
MOVE Move ( , ) the orange marker to the new position of the scene and press ( ). YES

Deleting Scenes

You can delete those scenes that you are not interested in keeping. Remember that when you delete scenes in the playlist, you do not affect your original recordings; However, when you delete an original recording, it will be deleted also from the playlist. Be careful when deleting original recordings. Once deleted, an original scene cannot be recovered. Do not change the operating mode while the scene is being deleted. Scenes cannot be deleted when the disc is protected ( 57). You may not be able to delete scenes shorter than 5 seconds.

Deleting a Single Scene

From the original index screen, select ( , ) the scene to delete. To delete a scene only in the playlist, press PLAYLIST first, and then select the scene.

DELETE YES

Deleting a Scene Just After Recording
As long as you have not turned the camcorder off or changed the operating mode after recording a scene, you can delete it while reviewing it.
Editing Functions Editing the Scenes (DVD-RW in VR mode only)
To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( Disc type: DVD-RW discs (VIDEO or VR mode).
1. Immediately after recording a scene, press (record review). 2. While reviewing the scene, select ( ) and press ( 3. Select ( ) [YES] and press ( ).

DISC OPERATIONS DISC INITIALIZE VIDEO YES / VR
* Close the menu only after the screen display returns to the [DISC OPERATIONS] menu.

Changing the Disc Title

Before you finalize your disc, you can give it a title. The disc title will be displayed on the index screen when playing the finalized disc in most DVD players.
DISC OPERATIONS DISC TITLE Enter the title (up to 20 characters).* SET
) to add it to the title. Select [BACKSPACE] and
* Select one character at a time and press ( press ( ) to delete the last character.

Still Image Options

Erasing Still Images
Be careful when erasing images. Erased images cannot be recovered. Still images on a protected disc cannot be erased.

Erasing a Single Image

To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( Disc type: DVD-RW initialized in VR mode. 11).

IMAGE ERASE ERASE

Erasing a Single Image Just After Recording
You can erase the still image you recorded last, while you are reviewing the image immediately after recording it.
To change the operating mode, refer to About the Operating Modes ( Disc type: DVD-RW discs (VIDEO or VR mode). While reviewing the image immediately after recording:
Editing Functions Still Image Options

Erasing All Images

STILL IMG OPER. ERASE ALL IMAGES
Converting Still Images into Photomovie Scenes
Still images are recorded using JPEG compression, but a DVD player only recognizes the MPEG standard. Thus, to play back your still images with your DVD player, first you need to create a Photomovie scene a slide show of all still images on the disc, where each image will be displayed for approx. 3 seconds.
Converting a Single Image
Select ( ) the still image you want to convert to a scene.

CONVERT TO SCENE EXECUTE

Converting All Images
DISC OPERATIONS PHOTOMOVIE
This function does not affect the original still images. If the disc becomes full while creating a Photomovie scene, the operation will be canceled.
Preparing your Disc for Playing on a DVD Player [FINALIZE]
To play the disc you recorded on a DVD player, a computers DVD drive or other digital device, you need to finalize it first. You do not need to finalize the disc to play back your recordings with the camcorder connected to the TV. To view your still images on a DVD player you will need to convert them to Photomovie scenes beforehand ( 60). Be sure to finalize the disc in normal room temperatures. If the procedure was not completed correctly due to high temperature, let the camcorder cool off before resuming operation. Place the camcorder on a table or other stable surface before starting the procedure. Subjecting the camcorder even to slight impacts (for example to place it on a table or to disconnect the AV cable) after the finalization process started may result in permanent data loss. Always power the camcorder using the compact power adapter. The operation cannot be started if the camcorder is powered only with the battery pack. Avoid the following actions while the operation is in progress. Failing to do so can interrupt the process and result in permanent data loss. - Do not move the camcorder. - Do not disconnect the compact power adapter. Depending on the type of disc and the disc specification, after finalizing the disc you may not be able to initialize the disc, edit your recordings or add new recordings to the disc. Do not finalize with the camcorder discs that were not recorded using this camcorder.

DISC FULL

Handling Precautions

Camcorder

Do not subject the camcorder to vibrations or strong impacts while the DISC access indicator is on or flashing. The data may not be correctly recorded on the disc, and the recording may be permanently lost. Do not touch the pick up lens. Do not carry the camcorder by the LCD panel or the disc cover. Be careful when closing the LCD panel. Do not leave the camcorder in places subject to high temperatures (like the inside of a car under direct sunlight), or high humidity. Do not use the camcorder near strong electric or magnetic fields such as above TVs, near plasma TVs or mobile phones. Do not point the lens or viewfinder at strong light sources. Do not leave the camcorder pointed at a bright subject. Do not use or store the camcorder in dusty or sandy places. The camcorder is not waterproof avoid also water, mud or salt. If any of the above should get into the camcorder it may damage the camcorder and/or the lens. Be sure to close the disc compartment cover after use. Be careful of heat generated by lighting equipment. Do not disassemble the camcorder. If the camcorder does not function properly, consult qualified service personnel. Handle the camcorder with care. Do not subject the camcorder to shocks or vibration as this may cause damage.

Battery Pack

DANGER! Treat the battery pack with care. Keep it away from fire (or it might explode). Do not expose the battery pack to temperature higher than 60 C (140 F). Do not leave it near a heater or inside a car in hot weather. Do not try to disassemble or modify it. Do not drop or knock it. Do not get it wet. Charged battery packs continue to discharge naturally. Therefore, charge them on the day of use, or the day before, to ensure a full charge. Attach the terminal cover whenever a battery pack is not in use. Contact with metallic objects may cause a short circuit and damage the battery pack. Dirty terminals may cause a poor contact between the battery pack and the camcorder. Wipe the terminals with a soft cloth. Since storing a charged battery pack for a long time (about 1 year) can shorten its lifecycle or affect performance, we recommend to discharge the battery pack fully and to store it in a dry place at temperatures no higher than 30 C (86 F). If you do not use the battery pack for long periods, charge and discharge it fully at least once a year. If you have more than one battery pack, perform these precautions at the same time for all battery packs.

Cleaning

Camcorder Body
Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the camcorder body. Never use chemically treated cloth or volatile solvents such as paint thinner.

Pick Up Lens

Remove any dust or dirt particles using a non-aerosol type blower brush. Never touch the pick up lens directly to clean it.

Lens and Viewfinder

If the lens surface is dirty, the autofocus may not work properly. Remove any dust or dirt particles using a non-aerosol type blower brush. Use a clean, soft lens-cleaning cloth to gently wipe the lens or viewfinder. Never use tissue paper.

LCD Screen

Clean the LCD screen using a clean, soft lens-cleaning cloth. Condensation may form on the surface of the screen when the temperature changes suddenly. Wipe it with a soft dry cloth.

Condensation

Moving the camcorder rapidly between hot and cold temperatures may cause condensation (water droplets) to form on its internal surfaces. Stop using the camcorder if condensation is detected. Continued use may damage the camcorder.
Condensation may form in the following cases:
When the camcorder is moved from an air-conditioned room to a warm, humid place When the camcorder is moved from a cold place to a warm room
When the camcorder is left in a humid room
When a cold room is heated rapidly
How to avoid condensation:
Do not expose the camcorder to sudden or extreme changes in temperature. Unload the disc, place the camcorder in an airtight plastic bag and let it adjust to temperature changes slowly before removing it from the bag.
When condensation is detected:
The camcorder automatically shuts off. If a disc is loaded, remove the disc immediately and leave the disc cover open. Leaving the disc in the camcorder may damage it. A disc cannot be loaded when condensation is detected.

Resuming use:

The precise time required for water droplets to evaporate will vary depending on the location and weather conditions. As a general criterion, wait for 2 hours before resuming use of the camcorder.
Using the Camcorder Abroad

Power Sources

You can use the compact power adapter to operate the camcorder and to charge battery packs in any country with power supply between 100 and 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz. Consult the Canon Service Center for information on plug adapters for overseas use.

BESTFORLESS

DVD CAMCORDERS UNDER $500
Capture your memoriesand share them easilywithout blowing your budget.
by Anthony Losanno In case you havent noticed, the camcorder shelf at your local Best Buy is overrun with DVD camcorders. And for good reason. The format now accounts for more than 25 percent of the camcorder market. Thats because people want to be able to record something to disc, pop it out, and put it in the nearest DVD player or PC to share their footage. DVD cams are also a lot more compact than rst-generation models, as all three units we tested weigh around one pound. Yes, the nalizing process is a little annoyingand we havent yet reached the point where you can customize menu screens right on camera. But based on our tests of the latest budget models, video quality has improved to the point where you might think twice about picking up a MiniDV camcorder. Heres how they fared.

Canon DC100

$499 www.canonusa.com
The palm-sized Canon DC100 is the lightest in this roundup at only 14.5 ounces. What it lacks in weight it makes up in features, with a 2.7-inch LCD, a 25X optical zoom (the highest of the three models), and a Night Mode setting. Stills are poor and burned to disc; there isnt a card slot on the DC100. Video quality was mediocre, with excessive noise in low-light shots, dull colors in most settings, and some distortion when the zoom was pushed to the max. We like that the DC100 has a built-in lens cover (unlike the others easy-to-lose caps), and its image stabilization helped to steady our shots. Unfortunately, the record button is located very close to the hand strap; we accidentally pressed it several times during testing. Although the DC100 supports DVD-R and DVD-RW discs, the device is very nicky when it comes to nalizing footage, as the process didnt work on the rst few tries. Dual-layer discs do not work with the DC100.

Hitachi DZ-GX3100A

$499 www.hitachi.com
With specs nearly identical to Hitachis higher-end DZ-GX3300A (the only difference being a lowermegapixel CCD sensor), the DZ-GX3100A packs a lot of features into a 14.8-ounce camcorder. Features include a 2.7-inch LCD, a 15X optical zoom, and several preprogrammed auto-exposure and white balance settings. The DZ-GX3100A captures 1-MP stills (about what you can get from a basic camera phone) and records them to SD Cards. Footage captured with the DZ-GX3100A was sharp with few artifacts. Even low-light videos offered surprisingly decent colors and brightness (thanks to a lowlight mode). Burning discs was painless, thanks to a separate Finalize button found behind the LCD. The DZ-GX3100A records to DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVDRAM discs.
Sony Handycam Camcorder DCR-DVD105

$499 www.sonystyle.com

Sonys DCR-DVD105 offers an impressive mix of performance and features. This camcorder sports a 2.5-inch touch panel display, a 20X optical zoom, Sonys SteadyShot image stabilization system, and the ability to record to DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW discs. The DCR-DVD105 is the heftiest in this group, weighing in at 16.5 ounces. Stills are recorded to discs and unfortunately are fairly poor. Burning discs was effortless, and our test footage was ready in a few minutes. Video shot with the DCR-DVD105 looked good with balanced colors, which were only slightly muted in low-light situations. Some footage looked oversaturated but overall the DCR-DVD105 is the best low-cost DVD cam you can buy.
See for yourself which DVD cam shoots the sharpest video.
Go to www.laptopmag.com/nov.

LAPTOP | November 2006

299 Best for Less.indd 64

9/15/06 1:49:47 PM