Canon cinema EOS C300 PL User Manual

							81
Adjusting the Focus
# Continuous AF
When a compatible EF lens is attached to the camc order, you can have the camcorder focus automatically.
1 Set the focus mode switch on the EF lens to AF (autofocus) in 
advance.
• [AF] will appear on the left of the screen.
2 Open the [AF Mode] submenu.
[~ Camera Setup] >  [AF Mode]
3 Select [Continu.] and then press SET.
NOTES
• About the autofocus (AF) functions: - One-shot AF is available for any EF lens equipped with autofocus (AF) function; Continuous AF is available only for EF lenses compatible with continuous AF ( A187). Refer to the instruction manual of the lens used.
- Autofocus (one-shot AF or continuous AF) is not available during slow & fast motion recording mode.
- One-shot AF is not available when the shutter mode is set to [Slow] and the shutter speed is set to 1/4  or 1/3.
- The point where the camcorder focuses may change s lightly depending on shooting conditions, such as 
subject, brightness and zoom position. Ch eck the focus before resuming shooting.
• Autofocus may take longer in the following cases. - When the frame rate is set to 29.97P, 25.00P, 24.00P or 23.98P.
- With some EF lenses, the camcorder may take longer to focus automatically or may not be able to focus correctly. Visit your local Canon Web site for the latest information.
• Autofocus may not work well on the following subjects or  in the following cases. In such case, focus manually.
- Reflective surfaces
- Subjects with low contrast  or without vertical lines
- Fast moving subjects
- Through dirty or wet windows
- Night scenes [
~ Camera Setup]
[AF Mode]
[One Shot] 
						

							Onscreen Markers and Zebra Patterns
82
Onscreen Markers and Zebra Patterns
Using onscreen markers allows you to make sure your subject is correctly framed and is within the appropriate 
safe area. The zebra patterns help you identify areas  that are overexposed. The onscreen markers and zebra 
pattern will not affect your recordings.
Displaying Onscreen Markers
The camcorder offers 5 types of on screen markers. You can display 
multiple onscreen markers simultaneously.
1 Open the [Markers] submenu.
[ £ LCD/VF Setup] > [Markers]
2 Select a marker you wish to display, select [White] or [Gray] and 
then press SET.
• Select [Off] to turn off the selected marker.
• You can display multiple markers si multaneously. Repeat this step as 
necessary.
• If you selected [Safety Zone] or [Aspect Marker], continue to step 3.  Otherwise, you can skip to step 4.
3 Select [Safety Zone Area] or [Aspect Ratio], select the desired option and then press SET.
4 Select [Enable], select [On] and then press SET to enable the onscreen markers.
• All of the selected onscreen markers will be displayed.
• Select [Off] to turn off all onscreen markers.
Options
Operating modes:
[Center]: Displays a small marker that indicates the center of the screen.
[Horizontal]: Displays a horizontal line to help you compose level shots.
[Grid]: Displays a grid that allows you to frame your shots correctly (horizontally and vertically).
[Safety Zone]: Displays indicators that show various safe areas, such as the action safe area and text safe area. 
Available options for [Safety Zone Area] are [95%], [92.5%], [90%] and [80%].
[Aspect Marker]: Displays markers that indicate various aspect ratios to help you keep your shot within that area.  Available options for [Aspect Ratio] are [2.35:1], [1.85:1], [1.75:1], [1.66:1], [14:9], [13:9] and [4:3].
[£ LCD/VF Setup]
[
Markers]
[Center]
[
Horizontal]
[Grid]
[Safety Zone]
[Aspect Marker]
[Off]
Aspect guide 4:3 Level marker Safety zone 80% 
						

							83
Onscreen Markers and Zebra Patterns
NOTES
• You can turn off all other onscreen disp lays, leaving only the onscreen markers (A55).
• If you set an assignable button to [Markers] ( A111), you can press the button to turn the onscreen markers 
on and off.
Displaying Zebra Patterns
The camcorder has a zebra pattern fe ature that shows black and white 
diagonal stripes over areas that are  overexposed. This is displayed only 
on the screen and will not affect your recordings. There are two types of 
zebra patterns and you can display both simultaneously. Zebra 1 lets you 
identify areas within a certain range (± 5% of a specified level) while zebra 
2 lets you identify areas that are over  a specified level. When you display 
both simultaneously and they overlap, only zebra 1 will be displayed in 
those areas.
1 Open the zebra pattern [Select] submenu.
[ £ LCD/VF Setup]  > [Select] (under [Zebra])
2 Select [Zebra 1], [Zebra 2] or [Zebra 1&2] and then press SET.
3 Open the zebra level submenu.
[£ LCD/VF Setup]  > [Zebra 1 Level] or [Zebra 2 Level]
4 Select a zebra level and then press SET.
5 Press the ZEBRA button to activate the selected zebra pattern.
• Alternatively, before closing the menu, you can also select [Zebra], 
select [On] and then press SET.
NOTES
• You can use the [ £LCD/VF Setup]  > [Zebra HD Output] setting to display the zebra pattern on an external 
monitor connected to the HD/SD SDI terminal (HD output only), SYNC OUT terminal (HD-Y signal output only) 
or HDMI OUT terminal (HD output only).
Center marker Grid
[ £ LCD/VF Setup]
[
Select]
(under [Zebra])
[Zebra 1] 
						

							Setting the Time Code
84
Setting the Time Code
In   mode, the camcorder can generate a time code signal and embed it in your recordings. You can have 
the camcorder output the time code signal from the HD/SD SDI terminal or TIME CODE terminal ( A90). In 
 mode, you can output the time code of the clip  being played back through the same terminals. 
Additionally, you can superimpose the time code on vi deo output from the HDMI OUT terminal or SYNC OUT 
terminal. For NTSC recordings, you can also select  between a drop frame and non-drop frame time code.
To synchronize the camcorder’s time code to  an external time code generator, refer to 
Synchronizing with an 
External Device
 ( A 88).
Selecting the Running Mode
You can select the running mode of the camcorder’s time code.
1 Open the time code [Mode] submenu.
[¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [Time Code]  > [Mode]
2 Select the desired option and then press SET.
• If you selected [Regen.], you do not need to perform the rest of this 
procedure. If you selected [Preset] and would like to set the time 
code’s initial value, see the following section 
Setting the Time Code’s 
Initial Value
.
3 After you select [Preset], open the time code [Run] submenu.
[ ¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [Time Code]  > [Run]
4 Select the desired option and then press SET.
Options
Operating modes:
[Preset]: The time code starts from an initial value you can select in 
advance. The default initial time code is 00:00:00.00. The time 
code’s running mode depends on the [Run] setting.
[Rec Run]: The time code runs only while recording so clips recorded consecutively on the same CF card will have 
continuous time codes.
[Free Run]:The time code starts running the moment you press  SET to select this option and keeps running regardless 
of the camcorder’s operation.
[Regen.]: The camcorder will read the selected CF card and the time code  will continue from the last recorded time code on the CF card. The 
time code runs only while recording so clips recorded 
consecutively on the same CF card will have continuous time 
codes.
[¤ TC/UB Setup]
[Time Code] [Mode]
[Regen.]
[ ¤ TC/UB Setup]
[Time Code]
[Run]
[Rec Run] 
						

							85
Setting the Time Code
Setting the Time Code’s Initial Value
If you set the time code mode to [Preset], you can set the initial value of 
the time code.
1 Open the time code [Setting] submenu.
[¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [Time Code]  > [Setting]
2 Select [Set] and then press SET. • The time code setting screen appears with an orange selection frame indicating the hours.
• To reset the time code to [00:00:00.00], select [Reset ] instead. If the running mode is set to [Free Run], the 
time code will be reset the moment you press SET and keep running continuously from 00:00:00.00.
3 Use the joystick ( Ý) or SELECT dial to set the hours and press SET to move to the minutes.
4 Change the rest of the fields (minutes, seconds, frame) in the same way. • Press the CANCEL button to close the screen without setting the time code.
5 Select [Set] and press SET to close the screen. • If the running mode is set to [Free Run], the time code will start running from the selected time code the moment you press SET.
Selecting Drop or Non-Drop Frame
When [ wOther Functions]  > [NTSC/PAL] is set to [NTSC], you can 
select between a drop frame (DF) or non-drop frame (NDF) time code, 
depending on how you plan to use your recordings.
In the following cases, the time code is set to non-drop frame (NDF) and 
cannot be changed.
-[ w Other Functions]  > [NTSC/PAL] is set to [PAL]
-[ w Other Functions]  > [24.00P] is set to [On]
-[ w Other Functions]  > [NTSC/PAL] is set to [NTSC] and the frame rate 
is set to 23.98P
1 Open the [DF/NDF] submenu.
[ ¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [Time Code]  > [DF/NDF]
2 Select [DF] or [NDF] and then press SET.
• The time code display will differ depending on the setting. When you select [DF], the time code will appear 
as [00:00:00.00]; when you select [NDF], it will appear as [00:00:00:00]. [
¤ TC/UB Setup]
[Time Code] [Setting]
[¤ TC/UB Setup]
[Time Code] [DF/NDF]
[DF] 
						

							Setting the Time Code
86
Putting the Time Code Display on Hold
If you set an assignable button to [Time Code Hold] (A111), you can press the button to freeze the display of 
the time code*. While the time code display is put on hold, [ H] will appear on the screen next to the time code 
and [HOLD] will appear on the rear panel.
The time code continues to run normally while the time co de display is on hold. When you resume the time code 
display, the current time code will be displayed.
* The time code signal output from the HD/SD SDI terminal or  TIME CODE terminal will not be put on hold. The time code 
superimposed on the video signal output from the other terminals will be put on hold.
About the Time Code Display
An icon may appear next to the time code depend ing on the operation. Refer to the following table.
NOTES
•When [ wOther Functions]  > [24.00P] is set to [On] or [ wOther Functions]  > [Frame Rate] is set to 
[23.98P], the frames value in the time code runs from 0 to  23. When [Frame Rate] is set to [25.00P], [50.00i] or 
[50.00P], it runs from 0 to 24. For other [Frame Rate] settings, it runs from 0 to 29.
• When you are using interval recording, frame recordin g or slow & fast motion recording mode, you cannot 
select the [Free Run] running mode. Conversely, when  you are using pre-recording mode, [Free Run] is set 
automatically and cannot be changed.
• When you mix drop frame and non-drop frame time codes,  there might be a discontinuity in the time code at 
the point where the recording starts.
• As long as the built-in rechargeable lithium battery is  charged and you selected the [Free Run] running mode, 
the time code continues to run even if you disconnect  all other power sources. However, this is less accurate 
than when the camcorder is on.
• If you set an assignable button to [Time Code] ( A111), you can press the button to open the 
[ ¤ TC/UB Setup] >  [Time Code] submenu.
IconDescription
RThe time code is set to [Regen.].
PThe time code is set to [Preset] and  the running mode is set to [Rec Run].
FThe time code is set to [Preset] and the running mode is set to [Free Run].
ETime code signal is coming from an external source.
HTime code display is on hold.
No iconTime code during clip playback. 
						

							87
Setting the User Bit
Setting the User Bit
The user bit display can be selected from the date or the time of 
recording, or an identification code consisting of 8 characters in the 
hexadecimal system. There are sixteen possible characters: the numbers 
0 to 9 and the letters A to F.
If user bit information is being received along with an external time code, 
you can also record the external  user bit on the recording media.
1 Open the user bit [Type] submenu.
[¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [User Bit]  > [Type]
2 Select the desired user bit type and press SET.
• Select [Setting] to set your own identification code, [Time]  to use the time as user bit, or [Date] to use the 
date as the user bit.
• If you selected [Time] or [Date], you do not need to perform the rest of the procedure. If you selected  [Setting], continue the procedur e to set the identification code.
3 Select [Set] and then press SET.
• The user bit setting screen appears with an  orange selection frame on the leftmost digit.
• To reset the user bit to [00 00 00 00], select [Reset] instead.
4 Use the joystick (Ý ) or SELECT dial to select the first character and press SET to move to the next 
digit.
• Change the rest of the digits in the same way.
• Press the CANCEL button to close the screen without setting the user bit.
5 Select [Set] and press SET to close the screen.
Operating modes: [
¤ TC/UB Setup]
[User Bit] [Type]
[Setting] 
						

							Synchronizing with an External Device
88
Synchronizing with an External Device
Using genlock synchronization, you can synchronize this camcorder’s video signal to that of an external video 
device. Similarly, using an external time code signal,  you can synchronize this camcorder’s time code to the 
external signal. Using the external time code signal with multiple cameras allows you to set up a multi-camera 
recording. You can also output the time code signal from this camcorder to achieve the same result. If you 
output the time code from the HD/SD SDI terminal to  an editing device, the editor can create video with the 
same time code.
Connecting an External Device
When synchronizing the camcorder to an external sign al, input a reference video signal* through the GENLOCK 
terminal or output the camcorder’s signal as a refere nce signal for an external device through the SYNC OUT 
terminal.
When synchronizing a time code signal, use the TIME CODE  terminal. Be sure to set the TIME CODE terminal to 
input or output in advance. 
Connect the external device to the camcorder as shown in the following diagram.
* For the reference video signal, you can use an analog blackburst or tri-level signal.
Connection Diagram
Reference Video Signal Input (Genlock Synchronization)
When a reference sync signal (analog blackburst or tri-level signal) is input through the GENLOCK terminal, the 
phases of the camcorder’s V and H sync will automatically  be synchronized to it. The phase difference between 
the external Genlock signal and the camcorder is initially  set to 0. The H phase can be adjusted within the range 
of approximately ±0.4 H (HD equivalent).
1 Open the [Genlock Adjust.] submenu.
[ w Other Functions]  > [Genlock Adjust.]
2 Adjust the phase to the desired level, select [Set] and then press 
SET.
• Use the joystick ( Ý) or SELECT dial to select the value for each field 
and press SET to move to the next field.
Operating modes:
SYNC OUT terminal
TIME CODE terminal
GENLOCK 
synchronization Time code 
synchronization
GENLOCK terminal
[
w Other Functions]
[Genlock Adjust.] 
						

							89
Synchronizing with an External Device
Time Code Signal Input
An external SMPTE-standard LTC timing signal received from the TIME 
CODE terminal will be recorded as the time code. The user bit of the 
external timing signal can also be recorded. Before connecting the device, 
set the TIME CODE terminal to input. Also, you must set the running 
mode of the time code to [Free Run] (A84).
1 Open the [TC In/Out] submenu.
[¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [Time Code]  > [TC In/Out]
2 Select [In] and then press SET.
Recording the User Bit of an External Signal
The user bit of an external time code signal can also be recorded with the 
time code itself.
1 Open the user bit [Rec Mode] submenu.
[¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [User Bit]  > [Rec Mode]
2 Select [External] and then press SET.
NOTES
• The Genlock signal synchronization stabilizes after approximately 10 seconds. When the camcorder locks on  an external Genlock signal,  U will appear on the upper right of the screen.
• If the external Genlock signal is incorrect or there is no  input signal, the external time code that is recorded 
may be incorrect.
• While a time code signal is being received, the external time code’s drop-frame bit will be used (if the external  time code is non-drop frame, [NDF] will appear on the rear panel).
• When an external time code signal is received, the camcorder’s own time code will be synchronized to it and  the synchronization will be maintained even if you  disconnect the cable from the TIME CODE terminal. 
However, performing any of the following actions while the cable is not connected will cause the 
synchronization to be disrupted; the correct time co de will be restored once you reconnect the cable.
- Turning the camcorder off/on
- Changing the operating mode to   mode
- Changing the video configuration
- Changing the frame rate
• If the external time code signal is incorrect or there  is no input signal, the internal time code set in the 
[ ¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [Time Code] submenu will be recorded instead.
• When the camcorder locks on an external time co de signal, [EXT-LOCK] appears on the rear panel.
Operating modes:
[
¤ TC/UB Setup]
[Time Code] [TC In/Out] [In]
[¤ TC/UB Setup]
[User Bit]
[Rec Mode]
[Internal] 
						

							Synchronizing with an External Device
90
Reference Video Signal Output
You can output the camcorder’s video signal as a reference sync signal (analog blackburst or tri-level signal) 
through the SYNC OUT terminal to synchronize an external device to this camcorder.
1 Open the [SYNC Output] submenu.
[ ¢  Video Setup]  > [SYNC Output]
2 Select [HD Sync] (tri-level signal) or [Blk Burst]* (black burst) and 
then press SET.
* Not available for 24.00P recordings.
Time Code Signal Output
The time code will be output from the TIME CODE term inal as an SMPTE-standard LTC timing signal. The user 
bit will also be output. Before connecting the device, set [ ¤TC/UB Setup] >  [Time Code] > [TC In/Out] to 
[Out] to change the TIME CO DE terminal to output (A89). If you set the [¢ Video Setup] > [SDI Output] 
setting to [HD] or [SD], the embedded time code  will be output from the HD/SD SDI terminal.
NOTES
• The user bit of the time code signal is output wh ile the camcorder is recording in   mode or during 
playback of a clip in   mode. When [ w Other Functions] >  [24.00P] is set to [On] or [ wOther 
Functions]  > [Frame Rate] is set to [23.98P] and the [ ¤TC/UB Setup]  > [User Bit]  > [Output Mode] 
setting is set to [Pulldown], the user bit will be 2:3 pulldown data. In other words, when a 23.98P or 24.00P 
recording is output from the HD/SD SDI terminal, the signal is converted to 59.94i / 59.94P or 60.00i / 60.00P 
using the 2:3 pulldown method. An external device can recei ve the data used in this conversion (2:3 pulldown 
data) to convert the signal to the original 1080/23.98P or 1080/24.00P specifications.
Operating modes:
Operating modes:
[
¢  Video Setup]
[
SYNC Output]
[Composite]