Canon Hf G20 Owners Manual

							Charging the Battery Pack
21
To remove the battery pack
1Slide d  in the direction of the arrow and 
hold it pressed down.
2 Slide the battery pack and then pull it out.
IMPORTANT
• Turn off the camcorder before connecting or disconnecting the compact power adapter. After  pressing  P to turn off the camcorder, important data is updated in the memory. Be sure to 
wait until the green ON/OFF (CHG) indicator goes out.
• 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
• We recommend charging the battery pack in temperatures between 10 °C and 30 °C (50 °F and  86 °F). If either the ambient temperature or the battery pack’s temperature is outside the range of 
approx. 0 °C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F), charging will not start.
• The battery pack will be charged only when the camcorder is off.
• If the power supply was disconnected while charging a battery pack, make sure the ON/OFF (CHG)  indicator has gone out before restoring the power supply.
• 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.
• Charged battery packs continue to discharge naturally. Therefore, charge them on the day of use, or  the day before, to ensure a full charge.
• The first time you use a battery pack, fully charge it and then use the camcorder until the battery  pack is completely exhausted. Doing so will ensure that the remaining recording time will be 
displayed accurately.
• 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 the product is 
recyclable. Please call 1-800-8-BATTERY for information on how to recycle this 
battery.
BATTERY 
RELEASE 
switch
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							Preparing the Camcorder
22
Preparing the Camcorder
This section covers the basic preparations for the camcorder such as attaching the lens hood, 
adjusting the grip belt and adjusting the viewfinder and LCD screen. When attaching the lens hood, 
grip belt and straps, be careful not to drop the camcorder.
Attaching the Lens Hood
Attach the lens hood to protect the lens and reduce the 
amount of stray light that may hit the lens. Remove the lens 
cap before attaching the lens hood.
Place the lens hood on the front of the lens so that the 
groove on the lens hood is aligned with the bottom of 
the lens (

), and then turn the lens hood clockwise until 
it stops with a click
 ( ).
• Be careful not to deform the lens hood.
• Make sure that the lens hood is aligned with the thread.
• To remove the lens hood, turn it counterclockwise.
Using the Viewfinder
If it is difficult to use the LCD screen while the LCD backlight is on ( A24), you can use the viewfinder. 
You can also use the viewfinder when you rotate the LCD panel 180 degrees to let the subject watch 
the recording.
1 Pull out the viewfinder.
2Press  P to turn on the camcorder.
3 Adjust the viewfinder using the dioptric adjustment  lever.
• You can close the LCD panel or rotate it toward the 
subject as you prefer. 
• The LCD backlight setting ( A24) is common to the LCD 
screen and the viewfinder.
Dioptric adjustment lever
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							Preparing the Camcorder
23
• If you wear glasses, you may find the viewfinder easier to use if you flip back the outer edge of the eye cup toward 
the camcorder body.
NOTES
• Make sure you keep the eye cup attached when using the camcorder.
• For details about how to take care of the viewfinder, refer to  Handling Precautions (A 165), 
Cleaning  (A 168).
Adjusting the Position and Brightness of the LCD Screen
Rotating the LCD Panel
Open the LCD panel 90 degrees.
• You can rotate the panel 90 degrees downward.
• You can rotate the panel 180 degrees toward the lens. Rotating the LCD panel 180 degrees can be 
useful in the following cases:- 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.
- To allow the camcorder to be operated with the wireless controller from the front.
NOTES
• About the LCD and viewfinder screens:  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 image and does not constitute a malfunction.
180°
90° Subject can monitor the LCD screen 
(you can use the viewfinder at the same time)180°
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							Preparing the Camcorder
24
LCD Backlight
When recording in bright places it may be difficult to use the LCD screen. Turn on the LCD backlight to 
make it brighter.
With the camcorder on, hold D pressed down for more 
than 2 seconds.
• Repeat this action to switch the LCD backlight between off 
(normal) and on (bright).
NOTES
• Adjusting the brightness does not affect the brightness of the recordings.
• Using the bright setting will shorten the effective usage time of the battery pack.
• You can further adjust the brightness of the LCD screen with the  q> [LCD Brightness] setting, 
or dim it with the  q >  [LCD Screen Dimmer] setting to use in places where the light from the 
LCD screen can be a nuisance.
• For details about how to take care of the touch screen, refer to  Handling Precautions (A 165), 
Cleaning  (A 168).
Grip Belt and Straps
Fasten the grip belt.
• Adjust the grip belt so that you can reach the zoom lever 
with your index finger, and the  Y button with 
your thumb.
• You can attach the supplied stylus pen to the grip belt.
Attaching an optional wrist strap
Attach the wrist strap to the strap mount on the grip belt, 
adjust the length and fasten.
• You can use both for extra convenience and protection.
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							Preparing the Camcorder
25
Attaching an optional shoulder strap
Pass the ends of the shoulder strap through the strap mount on the grip belt and adjust the length of 
the strap.
Wireless Controller
First, insert the supplied CR2025 lithium button battery into the wireless controller.
1 Press the tab in the direction of the arrow and pull out the battery holder.
2 Place the lithium button battery with the + side facing  up.
3 Insert the battery holder.
To use the wireless controller
Point the wireless controller at the camcorder’s remote sensor when you press the buttons.
• You can rotate the LCD panel 180 degrees to use the wireless controller from the front of the  camcorder.
NOTES
• When the camcorder cannot be operated with the wireless controller, or when it can only be  operated at very close range, replace the battery.
• The wireless controller may not work properly when the remote sensor is situated under strong light  sources or direct sunlight.
Ta b
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							Preparing the Camcorder
26
Using a Tripod
You can mount the camcorder on a tripod but do not use tripods 
with mounting screws longer than 6.5 mm (0.26 in.) as this may 
cause damage to the camcorder.
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							Basic Operation of the Camcorder
27
Basic Operation of the Camcorder
Using the Touch Screen
The control buttons and menu items that appear on the touch screen change dynamically depending 
on the operating mode and the task you are performing. With the intuitive touch screen interface you 
have all the controls at your fingertips. You can also use the supplied stylus pen for a more precise 
operation.
To u c h
Press firmly on an element displayed on the touch screen.
Used to start playing back a scene in an index screen, to select 
a setting from the menus, to select the subject whom the 
camcorder will recognize as the main subject of the scene, etc.
Drag
While applying pressure, swipe your finger up and down or left 
and right across the screen.
Used to scroll menus, to browse through index screen pages or 
to adjust slider controls like the volume.
IMPORTANT
• The camcorder uses a pressure-sensitive touch screen. Press firmly when using touch  operations.
• In the following cases, you may not be able to perform touch operations correctly. - Using your fingernails or hard-tipped objects other than the supplied stylus pen, such as ballpoint pens.
- Operating the touch screen with wet or gloved hands.
- Applying excessive force or forcefully scratching the touch screen.
- Attaching commercially available screen protectors or adhesive film onto the touch screen’s  surface.
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							Basic Operation of the Camcorder
28
Operating Modes
Recording
In recording mode, the camcorder’s operating mode is determined by the position of the mode switch.
Playback
Press the camera/play button T to switch the camcorder 
between camera (recording) mode and playback mode. You can 
press  T  when the camcorder is off to turn it on directly in 
playback mode.
NOTES
• When switching to a playback mode, the memory selected for playback will be the same currently  used for recording.
• You can also press and hold   on the wireless controller for more than 2 seconds to switch  between recording and playback mode.
Operating modeMode switchOperation
Let the camcorder take care of all the settings while you concentrate on recording 
( A 39). This operating mode is suitable if you just prefer not to bother with 
detailed camcorder settings.
Enjoy full access to menus, settings and advanced functions ( A42).
Give your recordings a cinematic look and use cinema-look filters to create unique 
movies ( A101).
Operating modeOperation
Playing back movies ( A87).
Viewing photos ( A120).
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							Basic Operation of the Camcorder
29
Using the Menus
Many of the camcorder’s functions can be adjusted from the FUNC. panel and the setup menus. For 
details about the available menu options and settings, refer to the appendix Menu Options Lists 
( A 138).
FUNC. Panel
The FUNC. panel shows a convenient overview of frequently used shooting functions. Touch [FUNC.] 
to access the FUNC. panel and then touch the function you want to set or adjust. 
You may need to drag your finger up and down the screen to find the control button of the desired 
function. In   mode, access to functions is limited.
Edit Panel
Touch [Edit] to display a panel showing available operations (copying, deleting, etc.), and then touch 
the operation you want to perform. Operating modes:
Operating modes:
Touch the control 
button of the 
desired function FUNC. panel in   mode
Edit panel in   mode
Touch the control 
button of the 
desired operation
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							Basic Operation of the Camcorder
30
Setup Menus
* In   mode setup menus cannot be accessed and most menu settings will be reset to default values.
1  or   mode only: Touch [FUNC.]
2 Touch [MENU] to open the setup menus.
• You can also press  M on the wireless controller.
3 Touch the tab of the desired menu.
4 Drag your finger up and down to bring the setting you 
want to change into the orange selection bar.
• Menu items not available appear grayed out.
• You can touch any menu item on the screen to bring it 
directly into the selection bar.
5 When the desired menu item is inside the selection bar, touch the orange frame on the right.
6 Touch the desired option and touch [ X].
• You can touch [ X] to close the menu at any time.
NOTES
• For brevity's sake, references in the text to settings in the setup menus will include only the tab of  the desired menu and the setting name. For example, "You can adjust the date and time later on 
with the  q >  [Date/Time] setting."
Operating modes:
*
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