Canon Hf M52 Owners Manual

							Video Š 101
To select the main subject
If there is more than one person in the picture, the camcorder will auto-
matically select one person it determines is the main subject. The main 
subject is indicated by a white face detection frame and the camcorder 
will optimize the settings for that person. Other faces will have gray 
frames.
Touch a different face on the 
touch screen to optimize the 
camcorder’s settings for that 
person using the Touch & 
Track function.
NOTES
• The camcorder may mistakenly detect the faces of non-human sub- jects. In such case, turn face detection off.
• In certain cases, faces may not be detected correctly. Typical examples  include:
- Faces extremely small, large, dark or bright in relation to the overall 
picture.
- Faces turned to the side, at a diagonal or partially hidden.
• Face detection cannot be used when the shutter speed used is slower  than 1/30 (1/24 if the frame rate is set to [ ¹ PF24] or [ » 24P]) or 
when the digital zoom is activated at more than 40x zoom (dark blue 
area on the zoom bar).
• When face detection is activated, the slowest shutter speed used by the  camcorder is 1/30 (1/24 if the frame rate is set to [ ¹ PF24] or 
[ » 24P]).
Main subject
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							102 Š Video
Touch & Track
When recording a group of people using face detection, the camcorder 
will automatically detect one person as the main subject. You can use 
Touch & Track to tell the camcorder to track and optimize settings for a 
different person. You can also use Touch & Track to always keep in 
focus other moving subjects, such as pets or moving vehicles.
Operating modes:
1 Make sure face detection is activated (A100). 
Face detection is always activated in   mode.
2 Point the camcorder at a moving subject and touch the subject on  the touch screen.
• A white double frame will appear around the subject and track it as it moves.
• Touch [Cancel  £] to remove the frame and cancel the tracking.
NOTES
• Touching somewhere with a color or pattern unique to the subject will  make it easier to track. However, if there is another subject in the vicinity 
that shares similar characteristics to the selected subject, the cam-
corder may start tracking the incorrect subject. Touch the screen again 
to select the desired subject.
• In certain cases, Touch & Track may not be able to track the subject.  Typical examples include: 
- Subjects extremely small or large in relation to the overall picture.
- Subjects too similar to the background.
- Subjects lacking sufficient contrast. 
- Fast moving subjects.
- When shooting indoors with insufficient lighting.
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							Video Š 103
Faders
The camcorder offers two professional looking transition effects to 
fade-in or fade-out scenes. You have the option to activate the fader 
only one time or every time you start or stop recording.
Operating modes:
* You can preview the transition effect on the screen.
• The icon of the selected fader appears in green.
To fade in/out
Press  Y  in record pause mode ( Û) to start recording with 
a fade in. Press  Y while recording ( Ü) to fade out and pause 
the recording.
NOTES
• When you apply a fader, not only the picture but also the sound will fade  in or out.
• Faders cannot be used in the following cases: - While using the [Old Movies] cinema-look filter in   mode.
- When recording scenes with decorations.
- When recording video snapshot scenes.
- While pre-recording is activated.
• You can select whether to fade to/from a black screen or a white screen  with the  p >  [Fader Setting] setting.
[FUNC.]  > [R  Faders]  > Desired fader*  > [X ]
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							104 Š Video
Manually Setting the Shutter Speed or Aperture
[’  Programmed AE] is the default automatic exposure (AE) recording 
program; using it, you can change functions like the white balance or 
image effects. Select one of the other AE recording programs to control 
the shutter speed or aperture.
Operating modes:
* You can also drag your finger along the dial. 
Options( Default value)
NOTES
•[ ‚ Shutter-Pri. AE]:
- On screen only the denominator is displayed – [ ‚250] indicates a 
shutter speed of 1/250 second, etc.
- When the frame rate is set to [ ¹ PF24] or [ » 24P], the shutter 
speeds available will be the following: 1/6, 1/12, 1/24, 1/48, 1/60, 
1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 and 1/2000.
- When recording in dark surroundings, you can obtain a brighter  picture by using slow shutter speeds; however, image quality may not 
be as good and autofocus may not work well.
- The image may flicker when recording with fast shutter speeds.
- Recording movies under fluorescent lights:  If the screen starts to flicker, 
select [
‚Shutter-Pri. AE] and set the shutter speed to 1/100.
[’ Programmed AE]The camcorder automatically adjusts the aper-
ture and shutter speed to obtain th e optimal exposure for the subject.
[‚ Shutter-Pri. AE]Set the shutter speed value. The camcorder 
automatically sets the appropriate aperture value.
[“ Aperture-Pri. AE]Set the aperture value. The camcorder auto-
matically sets the appropriate shutter speed.
[FUNC.]  > [Rec. Programs]  > [‚  Shutter-Pri. AE] or 
[ “  Aperture-Pri. AE]  > [Ï ] or [Ð ]* to set the desired 
shutter speed ( ‚) or aperture value ( “) >  [X ]
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							Video Š 105
•[“ Aperture-Pri. AE]: The actual range of values available for selection 
will vary depending on the initial zoom position.
• When setting a numeric value (aperture or shutter speed), the number  displayed will flash if the aperture value or shutter speed is not appropri-
ate for the recording conditions. In such case, select a different value.
• During exposure lock, the aperture value/shutter speed cannot be  changed. Set the aperture value or shutter speed before manually 
adjusting the exposure.
Shutter Speed and Aperture Value Guidelines
XWith slower shutter speed you can add a nice 
motion blur and sense of movement.
With faster shutter speeds you can “freeze the
 action” for powerful images of moving subjects. W
XWith small aperture values only the subject is in 
focus and the background is softly blurred. Great 
for portraits or to isolate a single object.
With large aperture values every part of the image is clearly in focus. Good
for landscapes and architectural shots. W
1/2000
1/1000
1/500
1/250
1/1001/60
1/301/15
1/8
Low-light situations
Most ordinary conditions
Indoor sportsFast moving subjects 
or shooting from a 
moving car or train
Outdoor sports on sunny days
F8.0
F6.7
F5.6
F4.8
F4.0
F3.4
F2.8
F2.4
F2.0
F1.8
More light 
Shallow Ï
 Lens aperture  Ð
Ï  Depth of Field  Ð Less light
Deep
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							106 Š Video
Manual Exposure Adjustment
At times, backlit subjects may appear too dark (underexposed) or sub-
jects under very strong lights may appear too bright or glaring (overex-
posed). To correct this, you can adjust the exposure manually or use 
the Touch AE function to automatically set the optimal exposure for the 
subject you select. This is convenient when the brightness of the sub-
ject you want to shoot is noticeably brighter/darker than the general 
brightness of the image.
Operating modes:
POINTS TO CHECK
• Select a recording program other than [ ŠSCN: Fireworks].
1 Open the exposure adjustment screen.
2 Touch a subject that appears inside the  y frame.
• The Touch AE mark ( I) will flash and the exposure will be adjusted 
automatically so the area you touched will be correctly exposed. You 
have the option to further adjust the exposure manually as 
necessary. 
• You can touch [ n] instead to adjust the exposure manually without 
activating the Touch AE function.
• The manual adjustment dial appears and the adjustment value is set 
at ±0.
•Touch [ n] again to return the camcorder to automatic exposure.
3Touch [ Ï] or [ Ð] or drag your finger along the dial to set the 
exposure adjustment value.
The adjustment range may vary depending on the initial brightness of 
the image, and some values may be grayed out.
4Touch [ X] to lock the exposure at the selected value.
During exposure lock, y  and the selected exposure adjustment value 
will appear on the screen. 
[FUNC.]  > [y Exposure]
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							Video Š 107
NOTES
• If the recording program is changed during exposure lock, the cam- corder will return to automatic exposure.
• When shooting subjects with a strong light source behind them, the  camcorder automatically corrects for the backlight*. You can turn off the 
automatic backlight correction with the  p >  [Auto Backlight Cor-
rection] setting. Note that the automatic backlight correction is not avail-
able in the following cases.
- In   mode, when using a cinema-look filter other than [Cinema 
Standard].
- When using the [ üSCN: Night Scene], [ ýSCN: Snow], [ þSCN: 
Beach], [ ÿSCN: Sunset] or [ œSCN: Spotlight] recording program.
* Except in   mode when using a cinema-look filter other than [Cinema Stan-
dard].
Automatic Gain Control (AGC) Limit
When recording in dark surroundings, the camcorder will automatically 
increase the gain to try to get a brighter picture. However, using higher 
gain values may result in more noticeable video noise. You can select 
the AGC limit to curb the amount of noise by setting the maximum gain 
value to be used. The smaller the AGC limit, the picture will be darker 
but will have less the noise.
Operating modes:
*Touch [ m] (automatic) to remove the limit for the automatic gain control.
** You can also drag your finger along the dial. 
• The selected AGC limit will appear on the screen.
[FUNC.]  > [x  AGC Limit] >  [n ]* (manual)  > 
[ Ï ] or [Ð ]** to set the AGC limit  > [X ]
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							108 Š Video
Manual Focus Adjustment
Autofocus may not work well on the following subjects. In such case, 
focus manually.
Operating modes:
POINTS TO CHECK
• Adjust the zoom before you start the procedure.
• Select a recording program other than [ šSCN: Underwater] or 
[ Ÿ SCN: Surface].
1 Open the manual focus screen.
2 Touch a subject that appears inside the   [< Focus]
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							Video Š 109
3 Touch and hold [F] or [ E] to adjust the focus.
• The center of the screen will be magnified to help you focus more  easily. You can also turn off this function with the  p >  [Focus 
Assistance] setting.
• The focusing distance displayed will change as you adjust the focus.  The focusing distance will be displayed for about 2 seconds. You can 
change the units used for the distance display with the  q >  
[Distance Units] setting.
• If you wish to focus on faraway subjects such as mountains or  fireworks, touch and hold [ F] until the focusing distance changes 
to G .
4Touch [ X] to lock the focus at the selected distance.
During manual focus, [ D] will appear on the screen. 
NOTES
• During manual focus, you can touch inside the frame to activate the  Touch AF function and autofocus on a subject.
• When the recording program is set to [ šSCN: Underwater] or 
[ Ÿ SCN: Surface], the camcorder will return to autofocus.
•See  Specifications  (A 238) for additional notes about the 
[ š SCN: Underwater] and [ ŸSCN: Surface] recording programs.
Te l e  M a c r o
Using tele macro, the camcorder can focus at a shorter distance (up to 
40 cm (1.3 ft.) from the subject at full telephoto), allowing you get 
closer shots of small subjects like flowers and insects. This function 
also adds a soft focus to the background, so the subject not only looks 
larger but it also stands out more.
Operating modes:
* In   mode or when the recording program is set to [ šSCN: Underwater] or 
[Ÿ SCN: Surface], tele macro will be activated automatically when you zoom in to 
full telephoto and bring the camcorder up close to the subject.
*
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							110 Š Video
POINTS TO CHECK
• Select a recording program other than [ ŠSCN: Fireworks].
* Touch again to turn off the tele macro function.
• The camcorder will automatically adjust the zoom to the telephoto 
end. 
NOTES
• Any of the following actions will deactivate the tele macro function. - Turning off the camcorder.
- Pressing  T.
- Setting the camcorder to   mode.
- Zooming out toward  T (wide angle).
- Changing the recording program to [ ŠSCN: Fireworks].
• Tele macro cannot be turned on/off while recording.
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.
Operating modes:
POINTS TO CHECK
• Select a recording program other than the Special Scene recording pro- grams.
* When you select [ Å Custom WB], set the custom white balance with the follow-
ing procedure before touching [ X].
[FUNC.]  > [ZOOM Zoom] >  [W ]* (tele macro)  > [X ]
[FUNC.]  > [Ä White Balance]  > Desired option* >  [X ]
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