Canon camcorder DC420 User Manual

							
Introduction • 11
Thank you for purchasing the Canon DC420/DC410. Please read this manual 
carefully before you use the camcorder and retain it for future reference. Should your 
camcorder fail to operate correctly, refer to Troubleshooting (
73).
Conventions Used in this Manual
• IMPORTANT: Precautions related to the camcorder’s operation.
• NOTES: Additional topics that complement the basic operating procedures.
• POINTS TO CHECK: Restrictions that apply if the function described is not 
available in all operating modes (the operating mode to which the camcorder 
should be set, the type of disc required, etc.).
• : Reference page number.
• : Text that applies only to the model(s) shown in the icon.
• The following terms are used in this manual: “Screen” refers to the LCD and the viewfinder screen.
“Scene” refers to one movie unit from the point you press   to start 
recording until you press again to pause the recording.
The terms “photo” and “still image” are used interchangeably with the same 
meaning.
• The photos included in this manual are simulated pictures taken with a still camera.
• Note that unless indicated otherwise, screenshots and illustrations in this manual 
refer to the   model.
About this Manual
Start/Stop
: Special Scene Recording Programs
Recording in a very bright ski resort or 
capturing the full colors of a sunset or a 
fireworks display becomes as easy as 
selecting a Special Scene recording 
program. For details about the available 
options, refer to the sidebar below.
POINTS TO CHECK
Mode switch:
 
[  PROGRAM AE] 
[ PORTRAIT]   Press   to 
display the Special Scene (SCN) 
recording programs 
Desired recording program 
Additional Functions
( 28)
FUNC.
FUNC.Names of buttons and switches other than the joystick are 
indicated within a “button” frame.
For example  .FUNC.
Brackets [ ] and capital letters are used to refer to menu 
options as they are displayed on screen. In menu option lists 
and option tables the default value is shown in boldface.
For example  [ON], [OFF].
The camcorder's operating mode is determined by the 
switch and the position of the  /  switch. In this 
manual,   indicates that a function is available and   
indicates that the function is not available. When no 
operating mode icons are given, the function is available in 
all operating modes.
In this manual, the   arrow is used to abbreviate menu selections. 
For a detailed explanation refer to Using the Menus  ( 21).
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12 • Introduction
Gett in g  to  Kn ow  t he  Cam corder
Supplied Accessories
CA-570 Compact Power 
Adapter (incl. power cord)NB-2LH Battery Pack
IFC-300PCU USB Cable
( only)STV-250N Stereo Video  Cable
Yellow • Red • White plugs
Online product registration for U.S.A. Customers only.
Register your product online at www.registercanon.com
Protect your product
We will keep the model number and date of purchase of your new Canon product on 
file to help you refer to this information in the event of an insurance claim such as loss 
or theft.
Receive information on new products and promotions
Upon your request, we will send you information on Canon new products and 
promotions.
The serial number of this product can be found at the battery attachment unit of the 
camcorder. Write down the number and other information here and retain this book as a 
permanent record of your purchase to aid identification in case of theft.
Date of Purchase: Model Name: DC420 A/DC410 A
Purchased From: Serial No.:
Dealer Address:
Dealer Phone No.:
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Introduction • 13
* only.
**  only.
Components Guide
Left side viewFront view
Right side view
RESET button ( 75)
Speaker
CARD access indicator ( 51)
Lens cover switch ( 28, 51) 
( open, 
 closed)
MIC terminal* ( 44)
AV  te rm inal ( 6 3)
USB terminal** ( 63)
DISC access indicator ( 28)
Mode switch ( 29)  Easy recording
 Recording programs
Disc compartment cover ( 25)  switch ( 20)
Lock button
Strap mount ( 89)
Grip belt ( 20)
Stereo microphone
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14 • Introduction
Back view
To p  v i e w
Bottom viewJoystick ( 21)
FUNC. button ( 22, 66)
DISP. button ( 43)
Dioptric adjustment lever ( 29)
Viewfinder ( 29)
VIEWFINDER  button ( 29)
DISC COVER  switch ( 25)
PLAY indicator (green) ( 21)
CAMERA indicator (green) ( 21)/
CHARGE indicator (red) ( 18)
Start/Stop button ( 28)
LCD screen ( 24)
Battery attachment unit ( 18)/
Serial number
DC IN terminal (18)
Zoom lever ( 30) /  (movies/still images) switch
 (21)
Memory card slot 
(open the cover to access)  ( 27)
Memory card slot cover
BATT. (battery release) switch ( 18)
Tr i p o d  s o c k e t  ( 8 0 )
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Introduction • 15
Screen Displays
 Recording movies
Playing movies 
(during playback)Operating mode ( 21) /
Disc specification ( 5)
Recording program ( 36, 38)
White balance ( 41)
Image effects ( 42)
LCD video light ( 39)
Digital effects ( 42)
Recording mode ( 30)
Disc type   DVD-R,   DVD-R DL,   DVD-RW ( 5)
Manual focus ( 40)
Image stabilizer ( 68)
Disc operation
Time code/Playback time 
(hours : minutes : seconds)
Remaining recording time on the disc
Remaining battery charge ( 17)
Wind screen off ( 69)
Recording reminder
Level marker ( 70)
Finalized disc mark ( 48)
Scene number
Joystick guide ( 21)
Data code ( 43)
Speaker volume ( 34)
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16 • Introduction
 Recording still images
 Viewing still images
Zoom ( 30), Exposure   ( 40)
Recording program ( 36, 38)
White balance ( 41)
Image effects ( 42)
LCD video light ( 39)
Digital effects ( 42)  Drive mode ( 56)
Still image quality/size ( 52)
Manual focus ( 40)
Number of still images available on the 
memory card
Self timer ( 39)
AF frame ( 69)
Joystick guide ( 21)
Focus/exposure automatically set and 
locked ( 51)
Camcorder shake warning ( 68)
Image number ( 17, 71)
Current image / Total number of images
Histogram ( 56)
Date and time of recording
Image protection mark ( 57)
Manual exposure ( 40)
Image size ( 52)
File size
Aperture value
Shutter speed ( 38)
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Introduction • 17
 Disc operationRecord,   Record pause, 
Playback,   Playback pause,  , Fast playback, 
, Fast reverse playback,
Slow playback, 
Slow reverse playback
 Remaining recording timeWhen there is no more disc space available, 
“ END” will be displayed and the recording 
will stop.
 Remaining battery charge estimate
• When   is displayed in red, the battery pack  is exhausted. Replace the battery pack with a 
fully charged one.
• Depending on the conditions under which the  camcorder and the battery pack are used, the 
actual battery charge may not be indicated 
accurately.
 Recording reminderThe camcorder counts from 1 to 10 seconds 
when you start recording. This is helpful to avoid 
scenes that are too short.
  Number of still images available on the card  displayed in red: No card
in green: 6 or more images
in yellow: 1 to 5 images
in red: No more images can be recorded
• When viewing the still images, the display will 
always be in green.
• Depending on the recording conditions, the  number of available still images displayed may 
not decrease even after a recording has been 
made, or may decrease by 2 still images at 
once.
Card access display is displayed next to the number of images 
available while the camcorder is writing on the 
memory card.
 Image numberThe image number indicates the name and 
location of the file on the memory card. For 
example, the file name of image 101-0107 is 
“IMG_ 0107.JPG”, stored under the folder 
“DCIM\ 101CANON”.
100% 75% 50% 25% 0%
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18 • Preparations
Preparations
This chapter describes basic operations, such as navigating the 
menus, and first time settings to help you learn more about your 
camcorder.
Gett in g Start ed
Charging the Battery Pack
The camcorder can be powered with a 
battery pack or directly using the 
compact power adapter. Charge the 
battery pack before use.
For approximate charging times and 
recording/playback times with a full 
battery pack, refer to the tables on 
pages 87-88.
1Connect the power cord to the 
compact power adapter.
2Plug the power cord into a power 
outlet.
3Connect the compact power 
adapter to the camcorder’s DC IN 
terminal.
4Attach the battery pack to the 
camcorder.
Press the battery pack lightly and 
slide it up until it clicks.
5Charging will start when the   
switch is turned to  (CHARGE).
The red CHARGE indicator starts 
flashing. The indicator goes out when  
charging is completed. 
Getting Started
DC IN terminal
CHARGE 
indicator
(red)
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Preparations • 19
1 Slide   in the direction of the arrow and hold it pressed down.
2 Slide the battery pack down and  then pull it out
IMPORTANT
• Turn off the camcorder before 
connecting or disconnecting the 
compact power adapter. After you turn 
the   switch to  , important file 
allocation data is updated on the disc. 
Be sure to wait until the CAMERA green 
indicator goes out.
• We recommend charging the battery  pack in temperatures between 10 °C and 
30 °C (50 °F and 86 °F). Outside the 
temperature range of 0 °C to 40 °C 
(32 °F to 104 °F), the charging will not 
start.
• Do not connect to the camcorder’s DC  IN terminal or to the compact power 
adapter any electrical equipment that is 
not expressly recommended for use with 
this camcorder.
• To prevent equipment breakdowns and  excessive heating, do not connect the 
supplied compact power adapter to 
voltage converters for overseas travels or 
special power sources such as those on 
aircraft and ships, DC-AC inverters, etc.
NOTES
• The battery pack will be charged only when the camcorder is off.
• If remaining battery time is an issue, you 
can power the camcorder using the 
compact power adapter so the battery 
pack will not be consumed.
• The CHARGE indicator also serves as a  rough estimate of the charge status.
Two quick flashes at 1-second intervals
: 
Battery pack at least 50% charged. If the 
indicator flashes quickly but not exactly 
in this pattern, refer to  Troubleshooting 
(73).
One flash at 1-second intervals
: Battery 
pack less than 50% charged.
• Charged battery packs continue to  discharge naturally. Therefore, charge 
them on the day of use, or the day 
before, to ensure a full charge.
• We recommend that you prepare battery  packs to last 2 to 3 times longer than you 
think you might need.
• USA and Canada only : The 
Lithium ion/polymer 
battery that powers this 
product is recyclable. 
Please call 
1-800-8-BATTERY for 
information on how to recycle this 
battery.
TO REMOVE THE BATTERY PACK 
BATT. switch
BATT.
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20 • Preparations
Preparing the Accessories
Fasten the grip belt.
Adjust the grip belt so that you can 
reach the zoom lever with your index 
finger, and the   button with 
your thumb.
Pass the ends of the shoulder strap 
through the strap mount on the grip 
belt and adjust the length of the 
strap.
Basic  Operation of the Cam corder
Power Switch
In addition to turning the camcorder on 
and off, the   switch also toggles the 
camcorder’s operating mode.
To turn on the camcorder: Hold the lock 
button pressed down and turn the   
switch to ON.
To change the operating mode:  From the ON 
position, turn the   switch 
momentarily toward MODE and release it. 
This action will toggle the operating mode 
between recording (CAMERA indicator on) 
and playback (PLAY indicator on).
TO ATTACH A SHOULDER STRAP
Start/Stop
Basic Operation of the 
Camcorder
Lock button
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