Canon camcorder DC40 User Manual

							
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Advanced Features
Changing the FUNC. Settings
E
Available Settings List (FUNC.)
Available menu items vary depending on the operation mode. Default settings are in 
boldface text. For details on each function, see the reference page. 
1 When recording still images with the drive mode set to [SINGLE], this menu item will appear only if you press the FUNC. button while reviewing the still image within the time selected for 
the [REVIEW] setting (or immediately after recording it, if set to [OFF]).
Recording mode : You can choose between XP (high quality), SP (standard play) or LP 
(long play).
 Approximate recording times with the supplied DVD-R blank disc are as follows: 
XP : 20 min., 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.
CAMERA, PLAY, 
,  : Refer to the operating mode ( 12).
: Movies/Still images on the disc. : Still images on the memory card.
Light metering 
mode
EVALUATIVE , CENT.WEIGHT.AVERAGE, 
SPOT63
White balance
AUTO , DAYLIGHT, SHADE, CLOUDY, 
TUNGSTEN, FLUORESCENT, 
FLUORESCENT H, SET64
Image effect
IMAGE EFFECT OFF , VIVID, NEUTRAL, 
LOW SHARPENING,  SOFT SKIN DETAIL,  CUSTOM66
Drive mode
SINGLE , CONT.SHOOT., 
HISPEED CONT.SHOOT.,  AEB,  STITCH 
AST67
69
Digital effects
D.EFFECT OFF , FADER, EFFECT, 
MULTI-S, CARD MIX71D.EFFECT OFF , BLK&WHT
Recording 
modeHIGH QUALITY,  STANDARD PLAY, LONG 
PLAY–
Still image 
recording
STILL I. REC OFF ,SFINE/640x480, SNORMAL/640x48078
Still image size/
quality
L2304x1736 ,M11632x1224, M21280x960, S640x48076SUPER FINE,  FINE, NORMAL
Still image 
erase 1–92
Still image 
protect 
1–96
Menu Items Setting Options
CAMERA  
						

							
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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.
1This option is available only from the original movies index screen.2This option is available only from the playlist index screen.
Add to playlist 1ALL SCENES, ONE SCENE, CANCEL85
Move a scene 2–85
Divide a scene
–88
Delete a scene
–86
Convert to scene
–95
Copy [ ]
–94
Copy [ ]
–94
Still image erase
–92
Slideshow
CANCEL, START41
Still image protect
OFF, ON96
Print order
0 ~ 99 COPIES120
Transfer order
OFF, ON11 3
Menu Items Setting Options
PLAY  
						

							
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Advanced Features
Changing the FUNC. Settings
E
Changing the Metering Method
You can select the light metering mode.
1. Set the camcorder to record still images ( ) and set the mode dial to  ,  Tv or  Av.
2. Press the FUNC. button.
3. First, select ( ) the current light metering symbol from the left side  column and then select ( ) the desired  option from the bottom bar.
4. Press the FUNC. button to save the setting and close the menu.
EVALUATIVEAppropriate for standard shooting conditions, including 
backlit scenes. The camcorder divides the picture into 
several zones for light metering and evaluates complex 
lighting conditions in order to achieve the optimal 
exposure of the subject.
CENT.WEIGHT.AVERAGEAverages the light metered from the entire screen, giving 
more weight to the subject in the center.
SPOTMeters the area within the spot AE point frame. Use this 
setting for adjusting the exposure to match the subject in 
the center of the screen.
(60)E VAL UATI VE  
						

							
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Setting the White Balance
You can choose one of the preset settings to reproduce colors more accurately, or set a 
custom white balance to obtain the setting best suited to your specific recording 
conditions.
1. Set the camcorder to a recording mode (  or  ) 
and set the mode dial to a position other than   or  .
2. Press the FUNC. button.
3. First, select ( ) the current white balance symbol from the left side  column and then select ( ) the desired  option from the bottom bar.
If you select a white balance setting other than [  SET], continue directly to step 5.
To set the custom white balance when you select [  SET]:
4. Point the camcorder at a white object, zoom in until it fills the whole  screen and press ( ).
AUTOSettings are automatically set by the camcorder. Use this 
setting for outdoor scenes.
DAYLIGHTFor recording outdoors on a bright day.
SHADEFor recording in shaded places.
CLOUDYFor recording on a cloudy day.
TUNGSTENFor recording under tungsten and tungsten type (3-wavelength) 
fluorescent lighting.
FLUORESECENTFor recording under warm white, cool white or warm white type 
(3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting.
FLUORESCENT HFor recording under daylight or daylight type (3-wavelength) 
fluorescent lighting.
SETUse the custom white balance setting to make white subjects 
appear white under colored lighting.
(60)AUTO
White sheet or paper 
(if you select   SET)
Multi Selector Zoom lever
FUNC. button Mode dial  
						

							
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Advanced Features
Changing the FUNC. Settings
E
• Keep the camcorder zoomed at the white object until step 5 is completed. 
•  flashes and stops flashing when the adjustment is complete.
5. Press the FUNC. button to save the setting and close the menu.
Depending on the type of fluorescent light, optimal color balance may not be 
obtained with [FLUORESCENT] or [FLUORESCENT H]. If the color looks 
unnatural, adjust it using [AUTO] or [SET].
 When you have set the custom white balance:
- Depending on the light source,   may keep flashing. The result will still be 
better than with the [AUTO] setting.
- Reset the white balance when the lighting condition changes.
- Turn off the digital zoom.
 The camcorder retains the custom white balance setting even if you turn it off.
 Custom white balance may provide better results in the following cases:
- Changing lighting conditions
-Close-ups
- Subjects in a single color (sky, sea or forest)
- Under mercury lamps and certain types of fluorescent lights  
						

							
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Applying Image Enhancing Effects
You can record with different color saturation and contrast effects.
1. Set the camcorder to a recording mode (  or  ) 
and set the mode dial to  .
2. Press the FUNC. button.
3. First, select ( ) the current image effect symbol from the left side  column and then select ( ) the desired  option from the bottom bar.
To set the custom image effect when you select [  CUSTOM]:
4. Press ( ). Select ( ) the custom setting option (brightness, 
contrast, sharpness and color depth) and adjust ( ) each setting as 
desired. Press ( ) again to save the customized adjustments.
5. Press the FUNC. button to save the setting and close the menu.
[SOFT SKIN DETAIL]: To obtain the best effect, use this function when recording a 
person in close-up. Note that areas similar to the skin color may lack in detail.
IMAGE EFFECT OFFRecords with no image enhancing effects.
VIVIDEmphasizes the contrast and color saturation.
NEUTRALTones down the contrast and color saturation.
LOW SHARPENINGRecords subjects with softened outlines.
SOFT SKIN DETAILSoftens the details in the skin tone area for a more 
complimentary appearance.
CUSTOMAllows 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
(60)IMAG E EF FECT  OFF  
						

							
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Advanced Features
Changing the FUNC. Settings
E
Continuous Shooting and Exposure 
Bracketing
1. Set the camcorder to record still images on the card ( / ) and set the mode dial to a position other than  .
If you are recording still images on the disc ( ), change the media for the still 
images ( 36).
2. Press the DRIVE MODE button repeatedly to cycle between the drive modes.
3. Press the PHOTO button halfway to activate the autofocus.
Continuous Shooting/High-Speed Continuous Shooting: 
4. Press the PHOTO button fully and hold it pressed down.
A series of still images will be recorded as long as you hold the PHOTO button 
pressed.
Auto Exposure Bracketing: 
4. Press the PHOTO button fully.
Three still images in different exposures will be recorded on the memory card.
 The drive mode can also be selected from the FUNC. menu ( 60). 
 The DRIVE MODE button cannot be used while the FUNC. menu is being 
displayed.
SINGLERecords a single still image.
CONT.SHOOT. 
(Continuous Shooting)Captures a series of still images as long as you hold the 
PHOTO button pressed down. For the number of frames 
per second, refer to the table on the next page.
HISPEED CONT.SHOOT. 
(High-Speed Continuous 
Shooting)
AEB (Auto Exposure 
Bracketing)
The camcorder records a still image in three different 
exposures (dark, normal, light in 1/2 EV steps), allowing 
you to choose the shot you like the best.
PHOTO button DRIVE MODE button
Mode dial  
						

							
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Maximum number of continuous shots at one time:
These figures are approximate and vary with the recording conditions and subjects.
The actual number of frames per second will be lower when “ ” (camcorder shake 
warning) is displayed on the screen.
Still Image Size Frames per Second Maximum 
Number of 
Continuous  Shots
Normal speed High speed Using the Flash
L2304x1736 2.1 frames 2.1 frames 2.1 frames 10 imagesM11632x1224 2.5 frames 3.8 frames 2.1 frames 10 images
M2 1280x960 3.0 frames 5.0 frames 2.5 frames 60 images
S 640x480 3.0 frames 5.0 frames 2.5 frames 60 images  
						

							
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Advanced Features
Changing the FUNC. Settings
E
Creating Panoramic Images
You can shoot a series of overlapping images and merge them on a computer into one 
large panoramic image using the supplied software (PhotoStitch). For further details 
about the procedure refer to the software’s instruction manual on the supplied software 
CD-ROM.
1. Set the camcorder to record still images on the card ( / ) and set the mode dial to a position other than  .
If you are recording still images on the disc ( ), change the media for the still 
images ( 36).
2. Press the FUNC. button.
3. First, select ( ) the current dri ve mode symbol from the left side 
column and then select ( ) the [ STITC H AST] option from the 
bottom bar and press ( ).
The Stitch Assist screen appears.
4. Select ( ) the direction in which you will take the sequence of still  images.
5. Select the recording program an d zoom on the subject.
• The manual focus and manual exposure adjustment cannot be used with the Stitch 
Assist mode.
• Once the sequence has started, you cannot change the recording program or zoom.
6. Press the PHOTO button to record the first image.
The number of images recorded so far and the direction and number of the next image 
appear below the image.
(60)S ING LE
PHOTO button
FUNC. button
Multi Selector  
						

							
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7. Record the next image so that it overlaps a portion of the previous one. Repeat this step until you complete the panoramic image.
• Try to include a distinctive item (landmark, etc.) in the overlapping portion. Minor 
discrepancies in the overlapping area can be corrected with the software.
• You can retake an image using the multi selector ( ) to cancel the image  recorded last and return to the previous one.
• Up to 26 images can be recorded.
8. Press the FUNC. button after the last image.
 Compose each image so that it overlaps 30 to 50% of the adjoining image. Try 
to keep the vertical misalignment within 10%.
 Do not include a moving subject in the overlapping portion.
 Do not try to stitch images that include both distant and close subjects. They 
may appear warped or doubled up.