Canon camcorder DC420 User Manual

							
Video • 41
• During focus lock, press   and push the joystick ( ) toward 
[FOCUS] again to return the 
camcorder to autofocus.
Infinity Focus
Use this function when you wish to 
focus on faraway subjects such as 
mountains or fireworks.
Instead of step 2 in the previous 
procedure:
Push the joystick ( ) toward 
[FOCUS] and hold it for more than 2 
seconds.
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• Push the joystick ( ) toward [FOCUS] again to return the 
camcorder to autofocus.
• If you operate the zoom or joystick  ( ),   changes to “MF” and the 
camcorder returns to manual focus.
White Balance
The white balance function helps you to 
accurately reproduce colors under 
different lighting conditions so that white 
objects will always look truly white in 
your recordings.
POINTS TO CHECK
Mode switch: (except for the Special 
Scene recording programs).
Options Default value
 
[  AUTO]  Desired option* 
* When you select [ SET], do not press   and continue instead with the 
following procedure.
1 Point the camcorder at a white 
object, zoom in until it fills the 
whole screen and press  .
When the adjustment is completed,   stops flashing and stays on. 
2 Press   to save the setting  and close the menu.
The camcorder retains the custom 
setting even if you turn off the 
camcorder.
NOTES
• When you select the custom white balance:
- Set the custom white balance in a sufficiently illuminated place.
- Select a zoom type other than  [  DIGITAL] ( 30).
- Reset the white balance when the  lighting conditions change.
- Depending on the light source,   may  keep flashing. The result will still be 
better than with [ AUTO].
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[AUTO]
The camcorder automatically sets the white 
balance for natural looking colors.
[DAYLIGHT]
For recording outdoors on a bright day.
[TUNGSTEN]
For recording under tungsten and tungsten type 
(3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting.
[ SET]
Use the custom white balance setting to make 
white subjects appear white under colored 
lighting.
TO SET THE CUSTOM WHITE BALANCE 
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42 • Video
• In the following cases, if the colors on the screen do not look natural using the 
[ AUTO] setting, try using the custom 
white balance.
- Changing lighting conditions
- Close-ups
- Subjects in a single color (sky, sea or forest)
- Under mercury lamps and certain types  of fluorescent lights
Image Effects
You can use the image effects to change 
the color saturation and contrast to 
record movies and still images with 
special color effects.
POINTS TO CHECK
Mode switch:  (except for the Special 
Scene recording programs).
Options Default value
 
[  IMAGE EFFECT OFF]
Desired option 
Digital Effects
POINTS TO CHECK
Mode switch:
Options Default value
* Only these digital effects are available in   mode.
Setting
 
[  D.EFFECT OFF] 
Desired fader/effect*  **
* You can preview the digital effect on the screen.
** The icon of the selected digital effect  appears.
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[ IMAGE EFFECT OFF]
Records with no image enhancing effects.
[ VIVID]
Emphasizes the contrast and color saturation.
[ NEUTRAL]
Tones down the contrast and color saturation.
[ SOFT SKIN DETAIL]
Softens the details in the skin tone area for a 
more complimentary appearance.
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[  D.EFFECT OFF]
Select this setting when you do not intend to 
use the digital effects.
[  FADE-T] (fade trigger), [  WIPE]
Select one of the faders to begin or end a scene 
with a fade from or to a black screen. 
[  BLK&WHT]*
Records movies and still images in black and 
white.
[  SEPIA]*
Records movies and still images in sepia tones 
for an “old” look.
[  ART], [  MOSAIC]
Select one of these digital effects to add 
“flavor” to your recordings.
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Video • 43
Applying
1Press   to display the joystick 
guide.
If   does not appear on the joystick 
guide, repeatedly push the joystick 
( ) toward [NEXT] to display it.
2Push the joystick ( ) toward  .
• The icon of the selected digital effect turns green.
• Push the joystick ( ) toward    again to deactivate the digital effect 
(its icon will turn white again).
Activate the selected fader in record 
pause mode ( ), then press   to start recording with a fade 
in.
Activate the selected fader while 
recording ( ), then press   to 
fade out and pause the recording.
 mode: Activate the selected 
effect while recording or in record pause 
mode.  mode: Activate the selected 
effect and then press   to 
record the still image.
NOTES
• When you apply a fader, not only the 
picture but also the sound will fade in or 
out. When you apply an effect, the sound 
will be recorded normally.
• The camcorder retains the last setting  used even if you turn off the digital 
effects or change the recording program.
On-Screen Displays and Data Code
You can turn most on-screen displays 
on or off.
Repeatedly press   to turn the 
on-screen displays on/off in the 
following sequence:
,  mode:
• All displays on
• Most displays off*
 mode:
• All displays on
• Data code only
• All displays off
 mode:
• All displays on
• Regular displays only (removes the  histogram and information icons)
• All displays off
TO FADE IN
TO FADE OUT
TO ACTIVATE AN EFFECT
NEXT
Start/Stop
Start/Stop
Start/Stop
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*The following icons will appear even when 
all other on-screen displays are turned off: 
The icons   and   (in   
mode), the   icon and AF frames when the 
autofocus is locked (in   mode), 
screen markers (both recording modes). Using an External Microphone
You can use a commercially available 
microphone, for example to record 
audio more accurately.
Connect the external microphone to 
the MIC terminal.
NOTES
• Use commercially available condenser microphones with their own power 
supply. You can connect almost any 
stereo microphone with a ∅ 3.5 mm plug 
but audio recording levels may vary.
• When an external microphone is  connected to the camcorder, 
[WIND SCREEN] will automatically be set 
to [  OFF  ].
About the Data CodeWith every scene or still image 
recorded, the camcorder keeps a data 
code (date/time of recording, 
information about the camera setup, 
etc.). In   mode, this 
information is displayed on the bottom 
bar and as information icons; in   mode, you can select the 
information to be displayed with the 
[DATA CODE] setting ( 70).( 21)
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Video • 45
Editing the Playlist and Disc 
Operations
Creating a Playlist
Create a playlist to play back only the 
scenes you prefer and in the order of 
your choice. Deleting, dividing or 
moving scenes in the playlist will not 
affect the original recordings.
Adding Scenes to the Playlist
You can choose to add to the playlist all 
the original scenes at once or only the 
selected scene.
1Select ( ,  ) the scene you 
want to add to the playlist.
To add all scenes, there is no need to 
select any particular scene.
2Add the scene(s) to the playlist. 
 [  ADD TO PLAYLIST]  Desired option  [YES]
• To check the playlist, in the original  index screen:     [  TO PLAYLIST].
• To return to the original index  screen, in the playlist index screen: 
   [  TO ORIGINAL].
Deleting Scenes from the Playlist
Deleting scenes from the playlist will not 
affect your original recordings.
POINTS TO CHECK
Disc type:   DVD-RW • VR mode
Deleting a Single Scene
1Select the playlist index screen.    [  TO PLAYLIST]
2Select ( ,  ) the scene you 
want to delete.
3Delete the scene.
 [ DELETE]   
[YES]
Deleting the Entire Playlist
1Select the playlist index screen.
   [  TO PLAYLIST]
2Delete the playlist.   [  MENU]   
[ DISC OPERATIONS]   
[DEL.PLAYLIST]  [YES]  
Editing the Playlist and Disc 
Operations
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Dividing Scenes in the Playlist
You can divide scenes (in the playlist 
only) in order to leave only the best parts 
and later cut out the rest. Remember 
that when you divide scenes in the 
playlist, you do not affect your original 
recordings.
POINTS TO CHECK
Disc type:   DVD-RW • VR mode
1Select the playlist index screen.    [  TO PLAYLIST]
2Select ( ,  ) the scene you 
want to divide.
3Press  , select ( ) 
[ DIVIDE] and press  .
Playback of the scene selected will 
start. Pause the playback at the point 
where you want to divide the scene.*
4Press  , select ( ) [YES] and 
press .
The video from the division point to 
the end of the scene will appear as a 
new scene in the playlist index 
screen.
* You can use the  /  (Frame reverse/advance) icons and fast playback ( 34) to 
bring the scene to a precise point.
NOTES
Very short scenes (shorter than 2 seconds) 
cannot be divided.
Moving Scenes in the Playlist
Move the scenes in the playlist to play 
them back in the order of your choice.
POINTS TO CHECK
Disc type:   DVD-RW • VR mode
1Select the playlist index screen.    [  TO PLAYLIST]
2Select ( ,  ) the scene you 
want to move.
3Press  , select ( ) 
[ MOVE] and press  .
4Move ( ,  ) the orange marker 
to the desired position of the scene 
and press  .
The original position of the scene and 
the current position of the marker are 
displayed at the bottom of the 
screen.
5Select ( ) [YES] and press   to 
move the scene.
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Video • 47
Initializing the Disc
You need to initialize all new DVD-RW 
discs when you first insert them into the 
camcorder and you may have to 
initialize them if you get the message 
[UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE DATA]. 
You can also initialize a DVD-RW disc 
when you want to completely erase the 
disc to reuse it or in order to change the 
disc specification.
POINTS TO CHECK
Disc type:  DVD-RW
 
[ MENU] 
[
 DISC OPERATIONS] 
[INITIALIZE DISC] 
Select a disc specification*   
[YES]
**
* For details about disc specifications, refer to Disc specification on DVD-RWs.  (5)
** Close the menu only after the screen display  returns to the [
 DISC OPERATIONS] 
menu.
IMPORTANT
Initializing the disc will permanently erase 
all recordings. Lost original recordings 
cannot be recovered.
Disc Playback on an External Device
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. You can check the disc’s title 
with the [DISC INFO] menu option 
( 69).
* You can change the title of DVD-RW discs  recorded in VR mode also after having 
finalized them.
 
[  MENU]1 
[
 DISC OPERATIONS] 
[DISC TITLE] 
Enter the title (up to 20 
characters)
2
[SET]  [YES] 
1Only when using a DVD-RW recorded in VR 
mode. Otherwise, pressing   will open 
the menu directly on the setup menus 
screen.
2Select one character at a time and press   to add it to the title. Select 
[BACKSPACE] and press   to delete the 
character to the left of the cursor’s position.
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Disc Playback on an 
External Device
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48 • Video
Finalizing the Disc
To play the disc you recorded on a DVD 
player, a computer’s DVD drive or other 
digital device, you need to finalize it 
first.
1Power the camcorder using the 
compact power adapter or a fully 
charged battery pack.
2Set the camcorder to   
mode.
The green PLAY indicator will turn on.
3Start the disc's finalization.
 
[ MENU] 
[
 DISC OPERATIONS] 
[FINALIZE]  [YES]
• A progress bar and the time  remaining will be displayed on the 
screen.
• Selecting [  MENU] is only  necessary when using a DVD-RW 
recorded in VR mode. Otherwise, 
pressing   will open the menu 
directly on the setup menus screen.
4When the process is completed 
([OK] appears), press   and wait 
until the [  DISC OPERATIONS] 
menu is displayed again.
Depending on the number of scenes, 
this may take a moment.
5Press   to close the menu.
During playback and in   
mode, the   icon will indicate that 
the disc is finalized.
IMPORTANT
• 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 a cable) after the 
finalization process started may result 
in permanent data loss. 
• Do not disconnect the power source  while the operation is in progress. Doing 
so can interrupt the process and result in 
permanent data loss.
• 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. Refer to the table 
on page 49.
• Do not use this camcorder to finalize  discs that were not recorded with it.
NOTES
The time required to finalize the disc 
depends on the scenes recorded and the 
remaining free space on the disc.
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Disc Playback on External Devices
After finalizing the disc, you can play it 
on DVD players compatible with the 
type of disc used (DVD-R, DVD-R DL or 
DVD-RW). You cannot play back discs 
on an external DVD device if the discs 
have not yet been finalized. 
Refer to the instruction manual of the 
DVD player or DVD drive to confirm that 
it is compatible with the type/
specification of the disc you want to 
play back.
1 Turn on the TV and DVD player.
2 Insert the finalized disc in the DVD player.
3 Select the scene you want to play  from the index screen.
1 Insert the finalized disc in the DVD  drive.
2 Run the DVD playback software. Refer also to the instruction manual  
of your DVD playback software.
NOTES
• DVD-RW discs recorded in VR mode can 
be played back only on VR mode-
compatible DVD players.
• Depending on your DVD device you may  not be able to play back the disc.
• In order to play back the disc on a  computer you need to have DVD 
playback software installed and running. 
Also, in order to play back a DVD-R DL 
you must have a DVD drive capable of 
reading dual-layered DVD discs.
Unfinalizing the Disc - Additional 
Recordings on a Finalized Disc
Unfinalize a disc to allow recording 
additional movies on the disc even after 
it was finalized.
POINTS TO CHECK
Disc type:   DVD-RW • 
VIDEO mode • Finalized
1Power the camcorder using the 
compact power adapter or a fully 
charged battery pack.
Restrictions after disc finalization
1You will need to unfinalize the disc first.2Only scenes in the playlist can be divided.
 Additional 
recordingsEditing 
recordingsInitializing  the discUnfinalizing  the disc
DVD-R/DVD-R DL 
in VIDEO mode––––
DVD-RW in VIDEO mode 1–
DVD-RW in VR mode2–
ON A DVD PLAYER
ON A cOMPUTER’S DVD DRIVE
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2Set the camcorder to   
mode.
The green PLAY indicator will turn on.
3Start the disc's unfinalization. 
[
 DISC OPERATIONS] 
[UNFINALIZE]  [YES]
• A progress bar will be displayed on 
the screen.
4When the process is completed 
([OK] appears), press  .
5Press   to close the menu.
IMPORTANT
• Be sure to unfinalize 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 a cable) after the 
unfinalization process started may 
result in permanent data loss. 
• Do not disconnect the power source  while the operation is in progress. Doing 
so can interrupt the process and result in 
permanent data loss.
• Only discs that were finalized using this  camcorder can be unfinalized with it.
Discs that can be unfinalizedOnly DVD-RW discs recorded in VIDEO 
mode and finalized with this camcorder 
can be unfinalized. DVD-R and DVD-R 
DL discs cannot be unfinalized at all, 
whereas DVD-RW discs recorded in VR 
mode do not need to (you can record 
additional scenes without unfinalizing 
the disc).
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