Canon Hf G30 Owners Manual

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PUB. DIE-0436-000
HD Camcorder
Instruction Manual
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Introduction
Important Usage Instructions
WARNING
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
WARNING
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK AND TO REDUCE ANNOYING INTERFERENCE, USE THE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES 
ONLY.
COPYRIGHT WARNING:
Unauthorized recording of copyrighted materials may infringe on  the rights of copyright owners and be contrary to copyright 
laws.
FCC/IC NOTICE
HD Camcorder, VIXIA HF G30 systems
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may n ot cause harmful 
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operat ion.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of t he FCC Rules. 
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equ ipment generates, 
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmf ul interference 
to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does 
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can b\
e determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is 
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit di fferent from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Use of shielded cable is required to comply with class B limits in Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules.
Do not make any changes or modifications to the equipment unless otherwise specified in the manual. If such changes or modifica tions should 
be made, you could be required to stop operation of the equipment.
Model ID0025 (including WLAN Module Model RF400, FCC ID: AZD400)This device complies with Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device 
may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the 
device.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operated in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associated with using low power wireless devices.  There is no 
proof, however, that these low power wireless devices are absolutely safe. Low power wireless devices emit low levels of radio  frequency 
energy (RF) in the microwave range while being used. Whereas high levels of RF can produce health e\
ffects (by heating tissue),  exposure of 
low-level RF that does not produce heating effects causes no known adverse health effects. Many studies of low-level RF exposures have not 
found any biological effects. Some studies have suggested that some biological effects might occur, but such findings have not  been confirmed 
by additional research. This model has been tested and found to comply with FCC/IC radiation exposure limits set forth for an u ncontrolled 
equipment and meets the FCC radio frequency (RF) Exposure Guidelines in Supplement C to OET65 and RSS-102 of the IC radio frequency (RF) 
Exposure rules.
Compliance with FCC requirement 15.407(c)
Data transmission is always initiated by software, which is the passed down through the MAC, through the digital and analog baseband, and 
finally to the RF chip. Several special packets are initiated by the MAC. These are the only ways the digital baseband portion will turn on the RF 
transmitter, which it then turns off at the end of the packet. Therefore, the transmitter will be on only whil\
e one of the afor ementioned packets 
is being transmitted. In other words, this device automatically discontinue transmission in case of either absence of informati on to transmit or 
operational failure.
Frequecncy Tolerance: 25 ppm
Canon U.S.A., Inc.
One Canon Park, Melville, NY 11747, USA
Tel No. 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666)
The Mains plug is used as the disconnect device. The Mains plug shall remain readily operable to disconnect the plug in case of  an accident.
CAUTION:
• Danger of explosion if the wrong type of batteries are attached. Use only the same type of batteries.
• Do not expose batteries or product to excessive heat such as the inside of a car under direct sunlight, fire, etc.
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In these safety instructions the word “product” refers to the Canon HD Camcorder VIXIA HF G30 and all its accessories.
1 Read these instructions.
2 Keep these instructions.
3 Heed all warnings.
4 Follow all instructions.
5 Do not use this apparatus near water.
6 Clean only with dry cloth.
7 Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat  registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that 
produce heat.
8 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than  the 
other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for you r 
safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, co nsult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
9 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where the y 
exit from the apparatus.
10 Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
11 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
12 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, suc h as 
power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been  
exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
REGIONS OF USE
VIXIA HF G30 is in compliance (as of April 2013) with the radio  signal regulations of the regions listed below. For details on other regions 
where they can be used, make inquiries with the contacts  listed on the back side of this instruction manual.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
CA-570 identification plate is located on the bottom.
CAN ICES-3(B)/NMB-3(B)
 WARNING
DO NOT INGEST BATTERY, CHEMICAL BURN HAZARD
The wireless controller contains a coin/button cell battery. If the coin/button cell battery is swallowed, it can cause severe 
internal burns in just 2 hours and can lead to death. Keep new and used batteries away from children. If the battery 
compartment does not close securely, stop using the product and  keep it away from children. If you think batteries might have 
been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body, seek immediate medical attention.
REGIONS
Canada, Hong Kong S.A.R., USA, South Korea
Model
ID0025: VIXIA HF G30
Important Warning
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT 
REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE 
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED 
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
CAUTIONRISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within 
an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user 
to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous 
voltage” within the product’s enclosure, that may 
be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of 
electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point, within an equilateral 
triangle, is intended to alert the user to the 
presence of important operating and maintenance 
(servicing) instructions in the literature 
accompanying the product.
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Trademark Acknowledgements• SD, SDHC and SDXC Logos are trademarks of SD-3C, LLC.
• Microsoft and Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
• App Store, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iTunes and Mac OS are trademarks  of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
• HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC in  the 
United States and other countries.
• “AVCHD”, “AVCHD Progressive” and the “AVCHD Progressive” logo are trademarks of Panasonic  Corporation and Sony Corporation.
• Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
• Google, Android, Google Play, YouTube are trademarks of Google Inc.
• Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.
• IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license.
• The Twitter name and marks are trademarks of Twitter, Inc.
• Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
• Wi-Fi Certified, WPA, WPA2, and the Wi-Fi Certified logo are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
• WPS as used on the camcorder’s settings, onscreen displays and in this manual signifies Wi-Fi Protected Setup.
• The Wi-Fi Protected Setup Identifier Mark is a mark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
• JavaScript is a trademark or registered trademark of Oracle Corp oration, its affiliates or subsidiaries in the United States and other 
countries.
• Other names and products not mentioned above may be trademar ks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
• This device incorporates exFAT technology licensed from Microsoft.
• “Full HD 1080” refers to Canon camcorders compliant with  high-definition video composed of 1,080 vertical pixels 
(scanning lines).
• This product is licensed under AT&T patents for the MPEG-4 standard and may be used for encoding MPEG-4  compliant video and/or decoding MPEG-4 compliant video that was encoded only (1) for a personal and non-
commercial purpose or (2) by a video provider licensed under the AT&T patents to provide MPEG-4 compliant video. No license is 
granted or implied for any other use for MPEG-4 standard.
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Highlights of the VIXIA HF G30
The Canon VIXIA HF G30 HD Camcorder is a high-performance camcorder whose compact size 
makes it ideal in a variety of situations. The following are just some of the many functions featured in 
the camcorder.
HD Recording
HD CMOS PRO sensor and DIGIC DV 4 
processor
The camcorder is equipped with a 
1/2.84-inch CMOS sensor that captures video 
at an effective pixel count of approximately 
2.91 megapixels (2136x1362). The video is 
then processed by the state-of-the-art DIGIC 
DV 4 image processor. This allows the 
camcorder to excel in low-light situations and 
achieve improved image stabilization.
Wide zoom lens
With a focal length at full wide angle of 
26.8 mm* (35 mm equivalent), the camcorder 
has superb wide-angle shooting capability. The 
newly developed lens is also capable of 20x 
optical zoom.
* 28.8 mm when using Dynamic IS.
Shoot cinematic video
Using CINEMA mode and the cinema-look 
filters (A50), you can make recordings that 
truly look and feel cinematic. 
Operability
Emphasis on versatility
This camcorder has features to make it usable 
as a main camera but is also small enough to 
be very portable. The advanced image 
stabilization ( A61) will let you shoot in a 
variety of situations in the field.
Manual controls at your fingertips
The focus/zoom ring helps you achieve the 
focus you are looking for. You can also easily 
change the ring's functionality so that you can 
operate the zoom. Furthermore, you can 
assign certain frequently used functions to a 
customizable button and adjust those 
functions with the accompanying dial ( A91). 
If those were not enough, the camcorder also 
features 5 assignable buttons to which you 
can assign a variety of functions so that you 
can access them with ease ( A92).
Face detection
When a subject's face is detected, the 
camcorder can track and focus on it ( A55). 
Furthermore, you can have the camcorder in 
manual focus but switch to autofocus only 
when a face is detected, ensuring that 
important subjects are in focus.
AVCHD/MP4 recording and dual 
recording
When you record, you can choose between 
AVCHD and MP4 formats ( A37). You can 
also use dual recording ( A47) to record the 
same scene to both memory cards and even 
record on both memory cards using different 
formats. Dual recording is convenient, for 
example, to create a backup of your recording.
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							6Other Features
Audio scene select
With the audio scene select function (A79), 
you can optimize the audio settings of the 
built-in microphone by selecting the audio 
scene that matches your surroundings. Your 
audience will feel even more immersed in the 
scene during playback.
Smart AUTO
Smart AUTO ( A40) automatically selects the 
best scene mode for the scene you want to 
shoot. You get spectacular recordings every 
time without worrying about settings.
Wi-Fi functions
Because the camcorder is compatible with 
Wi-Fi, you have access to a variety of 
convenient functions such as using a 
smartphone or tablet as a remote control 
( A 120), using the Web browser on a 
smartphone or tablet to view the camcorder's 
recordings ( A126), and using an iOS device 
to share your videos on the Internet ( A128).
OLED screen and LCD viewfinder
The OLED screen and LCD viewfinder both 
have 100% frame coverage, which will ensure 
that you can accurately check that your shots 
are framed how you want them. The OLED 
screen has incredible clarity, which is 
indispensible in checking the details of those 
important shots. The viewfinder can be tilted 
45 degrees upward, which gives you additional 
range and versatility while you shoot.
Touch AE
By simply touching the screen, you can make 
dark areas in the picture appear brighter 
(A 66). This operation is simple yet allows 
you to shoot with the desired exposure.
Added and improved functionality
Other functions include relay recording ( A47) 
and conversion to MP4 ( A114).
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Enjoying your Recordings on Other Devices
Enjoying Your Recordings Using the Camcorder's Wi-Fi Functions
Connect the camcorder to an 
external monitor (A102). Copy your recordings to an external 
video recorder (
A115).
Save your recordings ( A108). 
Use your iOS or Android device to remotely control 
the camcorder and view the image on its screen 
(A 120).
Use the Web browser on your iOS or Android 
device to view the recordings on the 
camcorder (A126).
Connect the camcorder to an access point on a 
Wi-Fi network. After doing so, you can save your 
recordings on a computer (
A131) or play back 
your recordings using the camcorder as a media 
server (
A130). Use an iOS device to upload your recordings 
to the Internet (
A128).
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1 Introduction 11
About this Manual 11Conventions Used in this Manual 11
Supplied Accessories and CD-ROMs 13
Names of Parts 15
2 Preparations 21
Attaching the Ferrite Core 21
Charging the Battery Pack 21
Preparing the Camcorder 24 Using the Lens Hood and Lens Cap 24
Using the Viewfinder 24
Adjusting the OLED Screen 25
Grip Belt and Straps 26
Wireless Controller 26
Using a Tripod 27
Basic Operation of the Camcorder 28 Turning the Camcorder On and Off 28
Setting the Shooting Mode 29
Using the Touch Screen 29
Using the FUNC. Button and 
Joystick 30
Using the Menus 31
First Time Settings 33 Setting the Date and Time 33
Changing the Language 34
Changing the Time Zone 34
Using a Memory Card 35 Memory Cards Compatible for Use with 
the Camcorder  35
Inserting and Removing a Memory  Card 35
Initializing a Memory Card 36
Selecting the Movie Format (AVCHD/ MP4) 37
Selecting the Memory Card for 
Recordings 37
3 Recording 38
Recording Movies and Photos 38Preparing to Record 38
Recording in AUTO Mode 39
Recording in n  (Manual) Mode 43
Reviewing the Latest Scene  Recorded 44
Selecting the Recording Mode (Video  Quality) 45
Dual Recording and Relay Recording 47 Selecting the Frame Rate 48
Slow & Fast Motion Recording 49
CINEMA Mode and Cinema-Look 
Filters 50
Focus Adjustment 52 Manual Focus 52
Autofocus 54
Face Detection & Tracking 55
Zooming 57 Using the Focus/Zoom Ring 57
Using the Zoom Rocker or Wireless 
Controller 57
Using the Touch Screen’s Zoom  Controls 59
Soft Zoom Control 60
Digital Tele-Converter 60
Advanced Image Stabilization 61
Automatic Gain Control (AGC) Limit 62
Automatic Exposure Recording  Programs 63
Exposure Adjustment 65 Using the Manual Exposure Recording 
Program 65
Exposure Compensation 66
White Balance 68
Special Scene Recording Programs 70
Image Effects 72
Setting the Time Code 73 Selecting the Running Mode 73
Selecting Drop Frame or Non-Drop 
Frame 74
Setting the User Bit 75 User Bit Output 75
Using the Mini Advanced Shoe 76
Using an External Video Light 77
Recording Audio 78 Using an External Microphone 78
Audio Scenes and Other Audio 
Settings 79
Audio Recording Level 81
Wind Screen (Built-in Microphone) 81
Microphone Attenuator 82
Audio Equalizer (Built-in Microphone) 82
Microphone Directionality (Built-in  Microphone) 83
Switching the Input (MIC Terminal) 84
Low Cut Filter (MIC Terminal) 84
Audio Mix 84
Using Headphones 85
Table of contents
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Color Bars/Audio Reference Signal 86Recording Color Bars 86
Recording an Audio Reference 
Signal 86
Video Snapshot 87
Pre-Recording 88
Onscreen Displays and Data Code 89
Using the GP-E2 GPS Receiver 90
4 Customization 91
CUSTOM Dial and Button 91
Assignable Buttons 92 Changing the Assigned Function 92
Using an Assignable Button 93
Saving and Loading Menu Settings 94 Saving Menu Settings to a Memory 
Card 94
Loading Menu Settings from a Memory  Card 94
5 Playback 95
Playing Back Video 95Adjusting the volume 96
Displaying scene information 97
Capturing Photos During Movie 
Playback 97
Deleting Scenes 98 Deleting a Single Scene 98
Deleting Scenes from the Index 
Screen 98
Dividing Scenes 100
Trimming Scenes 101
6 External Connections 102
Connecting to an External Monitor 102 Connection Diagram 102
Using the HDMI OUT Terminal 103
Using the AV OUT Terminal 103
Audio Output 104 Synchronizing the Video with the Audio 
being Monitored 104
7 Photos 105
Viewing Photos 105Photo Jump Function 105
Deleting Photos 107 Deleting a Single Photo 107
Deleting Photos from the Index 
Screen 107
8 Saving/Sharing  Recordings 108
Saving Recordings to a Computer 108Connection Diagram 108
Saving Movies Using Data Import 
Utility 108
Saving MP4 Movies and Photos Using  ImageBrowser EX 109
Copying Recordings Between Memory  Cards 112
Copying Scenes from the Movie Index 
Screen 112
Copying a Single Photo 112
Copying Photos from the Index  Screen 113
Converting Movies to MP4 Format 114
Copying Recordings to an External Video  Recorder 115
In High Definition 115
In Standard Definition 115
9 Wi-Fi Functions 117
Introduction to Wi-Fi 117
Remote Operation Via the Wi-Fi Remote Application 120
Setting the Camcorder's Password 120
Operating the Camcorder 
Remotely 121
Wi-Fi Remote Onscreen Controls and  Displays 121
Remote Operation Using Wi-Fi  Remote 123
Remote Browse: Viewing Recordings  Using a Web Browser on Your iOS or 
Android Device 126
Uploading Recordings Using an iOS  Device 128
Playback on a Computer 130
Transferring Files to a Computer or FTP  Server 131
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Sharing Recordings with CANON iMAGE GATEWAY 133
Setting the Desired Web Services in the 
Camcorder 133
Sharing Your Recordings Using Web 
Services 135
Sending Links to Recordings by  E-mail 136
Wi-Fi Connection Using an Access  Point 138
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) 138
Searching for Access Points 139
Manual Setup 140
Viewing and Changing Wi-Fi  Settings 141
10 Additional Information 143
Appendix: Menu Options Lists 143FUNC. Panel 143
Setup Menus 144
Appendix: Onscreen Icons and  Displays 153
Troubleshooting 157 List of Messages 162
List of Messages for Wi-Fi 
Functions 165
List of Messages for Web Services 167
Handling Precautions 169 Camcorder 169
Battery Pack 170
Memory Card 171
Built-in Rechargeable Lithium 
Battery 171
Lithium Button Battery 172
Disposal 172
Maintenance/Others 173 Cleaning 173
Condensation 173
Using the Camcorder Abroad 174
Optional Accessories 175
Specifications 181
Index 185
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