Canon camcorder DC420 User Manual

Preparations • 21
Joystick and Joystick Guide
Use the joystick to operate the 
camcorder's menus.
Press   to display/hide the joystick 
guide. The functions that appear on the 
joystick guide will change depending 
on the operating mode.
Using the Menus
Many of the camcorder’s functions can 
be adjusted from the menus that open 
after pressing the FUNC. button 
(). 
For details about the available menu 
options and settings, refer to the 
appendix Menu Options Lists ( 66).
Operating modeOperating...

22 • Preparations
Selecting an Option from the FUNC. menu
Following is an example of selecting an 
option from the FUNC. menu in a 
recording mode.
1Press .
2Select ( ) the icon of the function 
you want change from the left side 
column.
Menu items not available will appear 
grayed out.
3Select ( ) the desired setting 
from the available options at the 
bottom bar.
• The selected option will be highlighted in light blue.
• With some settings, you will need  to make further selections and/or 
press  ....

Preparations • 23
Firs t Time Set tings
Setting the Date and Time
You will need to set the date and time of 
the camcorder before you can start 
using it. If the camcorder's clock is not 
set, the [DATE/TIME] screen will appear 
automatically when the camcorder is 
turned on.
When the [DATE/TIME] screen appears, 
the year will be displayed in orange and 
indicated with up/down arrows.
1Change ( ) the year and move 
( ) to the month. 
2Change the rest of the fields 
(month, day, hour and minutes) in...

24 • Preparations
Changing the Time Zone
In addition to your local date and time, 
the camcorder can keep a second clock 
(for example, the time at a travel 
destination). The default time zone is 
New York. 
[  MENU] 
[  DATE/TIME SETUP] 
[T.ZONE/DST] 
  
Your local time zone* 
 
[  MENU] 
[ DATE/TIME SETUP] 
[T.ZONE/DST]    
Local date and time in your 
destination* 
 
*  To adjust for daylight saving time, select the  area name marked with a  .
Getting Ready to Start Recording
Opening the Lens Cover...

Preparations • 25
- To allow the subject to monitor the LCD screen while you use the 
viewfinder.
- To include yourself in the picture when  recording with the self timer.
NOTES
About the LCD and viewfinder screen:  The 
screens are produced using extremely 
high-precision manufacturing techniques, 
with more than 99.99% of the pixels 
operating to specification. Less than 
0.01% of the pixels may occasionally 
misfire or appear as black, red, blue or 
green dots. This has no effect on the 
recorded...

26 • Preparations
3Slide  fully toward 
OPEN and gently open the disc 
cover completely until it stops.
Retract the grip belt under the 
camcorder so it will not get in the way 
of the disc cover.
4Insert the disc and press its center 
firmly until it clicks in place.
• Insert the disc with the recording  side facing down (single sided 
discs – label side facing out).
• Be careful not to touch the  recording surface of the disc or the 
pick up lens.
5Close the disc cover.
Do not force the cover closed...

Preparations • 27
1Slide  fully toward 
OPEN and gently open the disc 
cover completely until it stops.
• Do not subject the camcorder to  strong impacts while the DISC 
access indicator is on or flashing.
• Retract the grip belt under the  camcorder so it will not get in the 
way of the disc cover.
• It may take a moment after sliding   for the disc cover to 
open.
2Grab the edge of the disc and 
gently pull it out. 
Be careful not to touch the recording 
surface of the disc or the pick up 
lens....

28 • Video
Video
This chapter covers functions related to shooting movies, including 
recording, playback, advanced manual adjustments and playlist and 
scene operations.
Basic Recording
Shooting Video
1Move the  /  switch to   
(movies).
2Turn the   switch to ON to set 
the camcorder in CAMERA mode.
The green CAMERA indicator will turn 
on.
3Move the lens cover switch down 
to   to open the lens cover.
4Press   to begin recording.
• Recording starts; press   again to pause the recording.
• The DISC...

Video • 29
IMPORTANT
Observe the following precautions 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.
NOTES
• About the Power Save mode:  If [POWER 
SAVE] is set to [  ON] ( 71), the 
camcorder will shut off automatically to...

30 • Video
Selecting the Video Quality 
(Recording Mode)
The camcorder offers 3 recording 
modes. Changing the recording mode 
will change the recording time available 
on the disc. Select XP mode for better 
movie quality; select LP mode for longer 
recording times.
The following table gives approximate 
recording times with a brand new DVD 
disc (on a single recording side).
 Default value
 
[
 STANDARD PLAY 6 Mbps] 
Desired recording mode 
NOTES
• In LP mode, recordings are more liable to  be...