Canon GL1 Instruction Manual

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Quick Overview
Tips for Making Better Videos
For maximum stability, grip the camera in your right hand and keep your right
elbow pressed against your body. 
If necessary support the camera with your left hand. With practice, you will be
able to operate the controls by touch, without taking your eye off the action. 
Holding the camera
Using a tripod
Sound recording
MIC
To prevent any unwanted movement, you can mount the camera on a tripod, (or
any flat surface at a suitable height) and operate it with the wireless controller.
¥ When you are using a tripod, be careful not to leave the viewfinder exposed to
bright sunlight or it may melt. (The light is concentrated by the viewfinder
lens.) Change the angle of the viewfinder so that the sun doesnÕt shine into it.
¥ Make sure that the fastening screw of the tripod is no longer than 1/4 inch 
(5.5 mm), or it will damage the camera.
For greater creative control, you can connect an external microphone to the MIC
terminal.
We recommend a microphone with a built-in power supply (condenser
microphone). 
It is possible to connect almost any stereo microphone with a plug diameter of
3.5 mm.
¥ Use the microphone attenuator with the built-in or an external microphone if
you need to lower the volume level of the input audio. Monitor the level of the
input sound with headphones and if necessary, turn the attenuator on through
the menu by selecting MIC ATT and setting it to ON. 
						

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Quick Overview
Picture angle
Camera moves
Close-up
Instead of zooming while recording, try to choose your
picture angle before you begin. A good way to tell a story
with video is to begin with a long shot that establishes the
situation, and then move in with medium shots and close-ups
to show the details. Remember to change your viewpoint for
each shot.
Remember that any camera movement or change in picture
angle should have a definite purpose. Avoid unnecessary or
half-hearted movements.
PanPan
Use pans to record a landscape or follow a moving subject.
Decide the area you want to cover and stand facing the end of
your panning angle. Without moving your feet, turn your
waist to the starting position. Start recording, and after a few
seconds begin to turn slowly from the waist. Hold the final
image for a few seconds before you stop recording.
Tilt
Tilt the camera up to exaggerate the height of the subject. Tilt
down from the top of a building, for example, as an
introduction to subjects at the bottom.
Long shot
Medium shot
Composition
The most important element in the scene does not have to be in the center. For a
more interesting picture, try to position your subject so it is slightly to one side.
Leave some space on the side of the frame that the subject is facing or moving
towards.
DonÕt cut off the top of the subjectÕs head, and donÕt cut people off at the neck,
hips or knees (move a little bit above or below). 
Watch out for distracting objects in the background. 
						

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Using the Full 
Range of Features
Turning the Optical Image Stabilizer Off
With most camcorders, even the slightest hand movements will be noticeable during telephoto recording.
However, the GL1Õs Optical Image Stabilizer allows you to obtain steady recordings even at high
magnification. Unlike electronic image stabilizers, it causes no loss of picture quality. The Optical Image
Stabilizer can compensate for a wide range of camera movement Ñ you can record stable images even if
you are shooting from a moving car.
Before you start recording, push the 
ion/off button to turn the image stabilizer on or off.
¥ The 
imark appears in the display when the stabilizer is on.
¥ The image stabilizer cannot be turned off when the program selector is set to the 
[(Easy Recording)
position.
Notes:
¥ The camcorder remembers your selection if you turn the standby lever to LOCK. However, it resets to
the on setting if you slide the POWER switch to OFF.
¥ The image stabilizer is designed to deal with a normal degree of camera shake.
¥ Keep the image stabilizer turned off when the camera is mounted on a tripod. 
						

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Using the Full 
Range of Features
Camera menu (CAM.MENU)
qZebra pattern ............................................p. 62
wDigital effects ..........................................p. 51
eDigital zoom ............................................p. 24
rHandle-top zoom control .........................p. 24
tAE shift ....................................................p. 59
y16:9 effect ................................................p. 52
uCamera sharpness ....................................p. 60
iCamera color phase .................................p. 61
oWireless remote .......................................p. 37
!0Tally lamp ................................................p. 38
!1Record mode ............................................p. 22
!2Wind screen .............................................p. 53
!3Microphone attenuator.............................p. 23, 80
!4Audio mode .............................................p. 53
!5Confirmation beeps..................................p. 23
!6Mirror mode.............................................p. 26
!7TV screen displays ..................................p. 95
!8Demonstration mode................................p. 23
!9Date/time display .....................................p. 41
@0Time zone/Daylight saving time .............p. 39
@1Date/time set ............................................p. 40
Selecting from the Menus
Many of the cameraÕs advanced functions are selected from menus which appear in the display. You must
first pause recording before the functions in the menus can be changed.
There are two main menus:
1. Camera menu (when the camera is in record pause mode: the POWER switch set to
CAMERA and the standby lever set to STANDBY)
2. VCR menu (when the camera is in VCR mode: the POWER switch is set to VCR)
CAM .M ENU
D.
. EFFE
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VCR menu
qTo dub mode ............................................p. 69
wTo recorder set up ....................................p. 70
eWireless remote .......................................p. 37
rRecord mode ............................................p. 22
tData code .................................................p. 65
yDate/time select .......................................p. 41
uDisplays ...................................................p. 95
i6-second auto date ...................................p. 41
oOutput channel.........................................p. 87
!0Audio dubbing .........................................p. 81
!1Wind screen .............................................p. 53
!2Microphone attenuator.............................p. 23, 80
!3Line audio attenuator ...............................p. 80
!4Audio mode .............................................p. 53
!5Confirmation beeps..................................p. 23
Turn to the appropriate page for a detailed explanation of each function. 
						

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Using the Full 
Range of Features
1,5
2,4
3
TV
SCREEN
SET
MENUMENU
You can also close the LCD panel with its screen facing up when you select items from the menus.
1. Press the MENU button to open the menu.
2. Turn the menu dial up or down to move the arrow up or down the display.
3. Press the menu dial in to select your chosen option from the menu.
¥ Your selected option remains on the screen and all other options are removed.
4. Turn the menu dial up or down to choose its setting.
5. Press the MENU button to close the menu.
Notes:
¥ You can only see eight options on the screen at one time. Pointers at the top/bottom of the screen
indicate that there are more options that you can scroll through.
¥ Unavailable functions appear in purple. (Factors such as recording program determine which functions
are available.)
¥ You may often find it convenient to use the wireless controller to move around the menus. Press its
MENU button to enter/leave the menu and use the arrow keys in place of turning the menu dial. Push
the SET button to select.
¥ Pushing the start/stop button or the PHOTO button will close the menu and start recording.
¥ You can display the menus on a connected TV screen using the wireless controllerÕs TV SCREEN
button. See p. 30 for TV hookup instructions.
¥ The camcorder will remember your chosen menu settings even if you slide the POWER switch to OFF. 
						

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Using the Full 
Range of Features
Using the Wireless Controller/Tally Lamp
Inserting batteries
The supplied wireless controller can operate the
camera from a distance of up to 16 feet (5 m).
Point it at the cameraÕs remote sensor while you
press the buttons. 
The tally lamp lights up to let you know that the
camera is in range and responding to your
commands.
There are six functions which can only be operated
using the wireless controller:
¥ Special playback (p. 29)
¥ Photo/date search (p. 67)
¥ Zero set memory (p. 68)
¥ Audio mix (p. 86)
¥ A/V insert (p. 78)
¥ Audio dubbing (p. 80)
16ft
Insert two AA batteries, following the =and -
markings. Be careful not to reverse the polarity of
the batteries.
Notes:
¥ When using the wireless controller in brightly lit places or outdoors, the effective range will be less.
¥ The camera may have difficulty picking up the remote control signals at extremely close range.
¥ Do not leave the controller exposed to direct sunlight, or in hot or humid places.
¥ When the batteries run out, replace them both together.
¥ Make sure the shoulder strap does not obstruct the remote sensor. 
						

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Using the Full 
Range of Features
To prevent interference from other Canon wireless
controllers being used nearby, there are two remote
sensor modes and an off setting. The wireless
controller and the camera have to be set to the
same mode in order to be compatible.
Setting the remote sensor mode
To turn the remote sensor off:
1. Open either the camera or the VCR menu and select WL.REMOTE.
2. Choose 
OFFBand close the menu.
¥Bappears in the display.
To change the mode...
...on the camera:
1. Open either the camera or the VCR menu and select WL.REMOTE.
2. Choose 
A1(mode 1) orA2(mode 2) and close the menu.
¥ The selected mode will appear on the display for four seconds.
...on the wireless controller:
Press and hold the REMOTE SET button on the wireless controller. 
Simultaneously press the ZOOM W button for mode 1 or the ZOOM T button for
mode 2. Continue to press simultaneously for over two seconds.
¥ Be sure to set the wireless controller to the same mode as the camera.
To confirm the mode settings for the camera and the wireless controller, follow the following steps.
Notes:
¥ If your wireless controller isnÕt working, make sure the camera and the wireless controller are both set
to the same mode. Check the mode the camera is set to by pushing any button other than the REMOTE
SET button on the wireless controller. The cameraÕs mode appears in purple for about four seconds. Set
the wireless controllerÕs mode accordingly by pressing the aforementioned button combinations. If the
wireless controller still doesnÕt work, change the batteries.
¥ The mode the camera is set to also appears for four seconds when you turn the power on.
A1: Mode 1
A2: Mode 2
OFFB: Sensor off
WL.REMOTE¥¥¥   1(see p. 34)
The wireless controller and the camera have been preset to mode 1. If you change the mode on the
camera, be sure to change the mode on the wireless controller to the same mode.
REMOTE SET
ZOOM
WT 
						

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Using the Full 
Range of Features
Turning off the tally lamp
The tally lamp lets you know that the camera is
recording. However, its flashing may be reflected
into the lens during close-up recording, or when
recording through glass.
You may therefore decide to turn it off.
TALLY LAMP¥¥ON(see p. 34)
1. Open the camera menu and point the
arrow at TALLY LAMP.
2. Select the OFF setting and close the menu.
¥ The tally lamp no longer flashes during recording, but it will still light up when the camera receives
a signal from the wireless controller. 
						

							39
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Using the Full 
Range of Features
Setting the Date and Time
The date and/or time display forms part of the data code. You can choose to display or hide it during
playback (see p. 65).
Set the date and time display when you first start using your camera. Charge the backup battery for a full
day (approx. 24 hours) before you begin (see p. 84).
¥ Before you start setting the date and time, select your home time zone from the menu.
¥ If you are on daylight saving time now, you should set the camera to daylight saving time. You can do
this at the same time you select your home time zone.
¥ After you set the date and time, the date/time and home time zone will be displayed for about four
seconds each time you turn the power on.
¥ The camera automatically accounts for the number of days in a month and leap year.
Setting the time zone/daylight saving time
1. Set the camera to record pause mode.
¥ PAUSE appears in the display.
2. Open the menu and select T.ZONE/DST.
3. Press the menu dial in.
¥ The time zone display appears on the screen.
¥ Your camcorderÕs time zone is factory-preset to New York. If you are at another time zone, select
your time zone first and daylight saving time (DST) setting if necessary.
4. Move up or down the list of time zones by turning the menu dial. Press the menu dial in
to select the option that represents your time zone.
¥ If you are now in daylight saving time, select the time zone with the daylight saving time mark C
next to the area.
5. Press the MENU button.
T.ZONE/DST¥¥N.Y.    (see p. 34)
MENU 
						

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Using the Full 
Range of Features
Time zone
LONDON
PARIS
CAIRO
MOSCOW
DUBAI
KARACHI
DACCA
BANGKOK
H. KONG (Hong Kong)
TOKYO
SYDNEY
SOLOMONWELLGTN (Wellington)
SAMOA
HONOLU (Honolulu)
ANCHOR (Anchorage)
L.A. (Los Angeles)
DENVER
CHICAGO
N.Y. (New York)
CARACAS
RIO (Rio de Janeiro)
FERNAN. (Fernando de Noronha)
AZORES
No.
Time zone No.
Note:
¥ After you have selected your time zone and set the date and time, when you travel to another time zone,
there is no need to reset the date and time. Just set the time zone to your destinationÕs representative city
and the cameraÕs clock will automatically change to display the correct time for your destination.
1
24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
23
5
679810
4
1211
13
24192018
17
21
23
22
15
14
16
1. Put the camera in record pause mode.
2. Open the menu and select D/TIME SET.
¥ The year display starts to flash.
3. Turn the menu dial up and down to change the year. Press the dial in to move to
another part of the display.
¥ Once you move from the year, the next part of the display starts flashing.
4. Set the month, day, hours, and minutes in the same way.
5. Press the MENU button when finished, and to start the clock.
¥ The date can be set to any year between 1999 and 2020.
¥ If you press the MENU button in the middle of setting the date and time the seconds are set to zero, you
leave the menu, and the clock starts.
¥ If you press the menu dial in after setting the minutes you can set the date and time again from the start.
Setting the clock
D/TIME SET¥¥DEC. 1,1999
            10:00 AM(see p. 34)