Canon XL1 Instruction Manual

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Notes:
¥ You cannot select a different digital effect while the fade trigger is still turned on.
¥ You can turn the fade trigger off before you use it by pressing the D.EFFECT ON/OFF button again.
¥ You are unable to use the fade trigger with the Easy Recording program.
¥ The fade trigger setting is remembered by the camera, until you change the POWER dial setting.
16:9 (Widescreen TV recording)
Produces images in the 16:9 format for playback
on widescreen TVs.
1. Select 16:9 from the camera menu and turn the effect ON/OFF.
2. Press the MENU button once more to close the menu.
Notes:
¥ Ò16:9Ó is shown in the viewfinder when you switch the 16:9 effect on.
¥ You cannot use the 16:9 digital effect with the Easy Recording program.
¥ If you play back a recording made for 16:9 on a normal TV screen, the image will appear to be vertically
ÒsquashedÓ (compressed).
16:9¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥OFF
(see p. 18) 
						

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Setting the Self-Timer
1. Press the wireless controllerÕs SELF TIMER button. 
¥ SELF TIMER appears in the viewfinder.
2 Press the wireless controllerÕs START/STOP button.
¥ The camera starts to record after a 2 second countdown period (or after 10 seconds if you press the
start/stop button on the camera). The time remaining counts down in the viewfinder (e.g. Ò5 secÓ).
¥ SELF TIMER disappears from the viewfinder when recording begins. 
3. Press the START/STOP button to end recording.
¥ In photo mode, set the self-timer in a similar way, but press the PHOTO button in place of the
start/stop button. The focus and exposure are set before the countdown is complete and the green 
mark is displayed.
Notes:
¥ Initially the tally lamps flash once a second, then just before recording starts they flash more quickly for a
few seconds before the camera starts to record.
¥ To cancel the self-timer press the SELF TIMER button once more before recording. Once the countdown
has begun, press the SELF TIMER button to turn it off. 
¥ Cancel the self-timer at any stage by turning the power off or pressing the STANDBY button.
¥ If you press the SELF TIMER button when the recording displays have been turned off (p. 24), the self
timer display does not appear in the viewfinder, until you press the start/stop button to start the
countdown.
PHOTO
SELF TIMERWT
ZOOM START/
STOP 
						

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Using a Canon Speedlite for Flash Photography (optional)
For SLR-style flash photography, attach a Canon
Speedlite 380EX to the camera using the optional
FA-100 Flash Adaptor. Attach its hot shoe cube to
the XL1Õs accessory shoe, and the flash cable to
the flash adapter terminal. 
Use the camera in exactly the same way as you
would normally in photo mode (p. 29). Turn on the
Speedlite using its main switch, and wait for it to
charge. When you press the PHOTO button
halfway down, the camera sets the autofocus and
the zoom is locked. Pressing the PHOTO button
fully down releases a pre-exposure flash that sets
the flash intensity, exposure and white balance.
The main flash is then sent out.
¥ In dark recording situations, a supplementary
light beam is sent out by the flash for approx.
seven seconds to illuminate the subject, while
you hold the cameraÕs PHOTO button halfway
down. This supplementary light only operates
during autofocus.
@
Flash Charging 
While the flash is charging, a white flashes in the viewfinder.
When the flash is fully charged a green lights up constantly in the viewfinder.
¥ Although it is possible to record a still image while the Speedlite is still charging, the flash will not go
off. In addition, the Speedlite cannot charge while you are holding the PHOTO button halfway down.
¥
disappears from the display while the camera records the still picture.
¥ If the 
mark does not appear in the viewfinder when you turn the flash on, make sure that the flash unit
is slid fully home on the hot shoe cube.
Notes:
¥ For full details of how to use the Speedlite, refer to its instruction manual.
¥ If you use the Speedlite in the shutter-priority (Tv), you can choose any shutter speed between 1/60 and
1/1000.
¥ In the aperture-priority (Av), you can choose any F number, but an F number of less than f/8 gives the
best results.
¥ You cannot use the Speedlite with the:
- Manual recording program.
- Exposure Lock. ( goes out if you press the EXP. LOCK button. It reappears when you turn the lock
off, by pressing the EXP. LOCK button.)
¥ Turn the Speedlite unit off when you do not require the flash.
¥ The Speedlite can not be used with an SA-1 Adapter Bracket.
¥ The 380EX SpeedliteÕs internal automatic zoom is set to 24 mm when attached to XL1. The guide
number is set to 21.
¥ You are unable to use the Speedlite 380EXÕs bounce flash with the XL1.
¥ The FA-100 Flash Adaptor contains a special cable. Do not use other cables to attach a flash unit.
¥ You cannot use a flash with an EF lens attached to the XL1. 
						

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Adjusting the Focus 
The camera can focus automatically. All you have to do is point it, and whatever is in the center of the
display will usually be in sharp focus. If it does not seem to be focusing well, it may be because the subject
is not suitable for autofocus (page 70). Also, if you attach a filter other than UV or ND, the autofocus may
not work as effectively.
It also has functions which give you more control over focusing. Operate these from the body of the XL
lens.
Manual focus
1. Slide the focus switch on the body of the
XL lens to M (manual).
2. When using a zoom lens, rotate the
zooming ring to the telephoto end.
3. Rotate the focusing ring to adjust the
focus.
4. When using a zoom lens, use the zooming
ring to reframe the subject.
¥ To resume autofocus, slide the focus switch to
AF (auto).
¥ If you focus manually then leave the
camcorder with the power turned on, you may lose focus on your subject. This possible slight shift in
focus is due to a rise in temperature in the camcorder interior and lens. Check the focus before
resuming shooting. You can adjust the focus temporarily without
turning autofocus off. Turn the lensÕs focusing ring
to set the focus. Autofocus will resume as soon as
you take your hand away from the focusing ring.
Temporary focus override
Press the PUSH AF button during manual focusing,
to quickly adjust the focus automatically.
The camera will continue to focus automatically as
long as you hold down the button. Release the
button to continue to set the focus manually.
Push autofocus
PUSH AF
AF
M 
						

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Adjusting the Exposure
Notes:
¥ You cannot lock the exposure in the M (Manual) recording program.
¥ The standard exposure level depends on which recording program you have selected, but the shutter
normally operates at 1/60 of a second.
¥ Exposure lock is canceled if you change the setting of the POWER dial.
¥ You cannot use exposure lock or adjustment when the POWER dial is set to the 
[ (Easy Recording) or
(Spotlight) position.
IRIS
EXP.LOCK
SHUTTER
POWER
OFF
Tv
Av
MA
1
2
3
You can lock the exposure at the current level in order to control the brightness of the image.
To lock the exposure, press the EXP. LOCK button. Press it again to return to the automatically set exposure
level.
Exposure lock
1. Turn the POWER dial to the Manual recording program.
2. Press the SHUTTER 
rand tbuttons to increase or decrease the shutter speed.
¥ Set the shutter to one of 27 speeds between 1/60 and 1/15,000 of a second.
3. Turn the IRIS wheel to open or close the iris.
¥ Set the aperture value to one of 27 F numbers between f/1.6 and f/16, or select CLOSE to close the
iris completely.
You can also vary the exposure manually in the Auto, Tv and Av modes, but you must first lock the
exposure to activate the SHUTTER buttons and the IRIS wheel.
¥ The maximum and minimum settings for the shutter and aperture are the same, but there are 9 possible
speeds and 8 possible F numbers.
Set the aperture value (of the iris) and the shutter speeds completely independently to give you total
creative freedom in setting the exposure. 
						

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By controlling the level of the automatic exposure (AE) function, you can lighten or darken the image
slightly. This allows you to compensate for backlit subjects or subjects with predominately dark or light
tones.
Using AE Shift
1. Turn the POWER dial to the Auto, Tv or Av recording program.
2. Turn the AE SHIFT dial to adjust the AE to your desired level.
¥ To make the image brighter, turn the controller towards the + settings.
¥ To make the image darker, turn the controller towards the Ð settings.
Note:
¥ AE shift does not function in the Easy, Manual or Spotlight Recording programs.
+1+0.50-0.5-1-2
+2AE SHIFT
POWER
VCR
OFF
Tv
Av
MA 
						

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The zebra pattern is a series of diagonal stripes that appear in the viewfinder to highlight areas of
overexposure. Use as a guide to setting the aperture (iris) and shutter speed.
1. Open the camera menu and select ZEBRA.
2. Select the ON setting and close the menu.
Using the Zebra Pattern
POWER
VCR
OFF
Tv
Av
MA
MENU
ZEBRA¥¥¥¥¥¥¥ON(see p. 18)
Note:
¥ The camera does not record the zebra pattern, it is only shown in the viewfinder. 
						

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When the GAIN knob is set ton(auto) the camera adjusts the gain automatically. You can also rotate the
GAIN dial to one of the five preset levels that range from Ð3 to +12 dB.
1. Turn the POWER dial to any recording program except [ [(Easy Recording) or
(Spotlight).
2. Press the GAIN knob so that it pops out. You can now turn it to adjust the gain to your
desired level.
¥ The gain level you select appears in the viewfinder.
¥ Push the knob back in when you have finished making adjustments.
-3dB: Low noise recording for indoor, low light or low contrast scenes.
0dB: Low noise, life-like color reproduction of illuminated scenes at night.
+6dB/+12dB: Brighten indoor or low-light scenes (when the iris is fully open).
Gain-up to enable you to increase the depth of field from using a smaller iris 
aperture.
Note:
¥ You cannot use the GAIN in the Easy Recording or Spotlight recording programs.
Adjusting the Gain
A
0 -3
+12+6
GAIN dB
POWER
VCR
OFF
Tv
Av
MA 
						

							1. Turn the POWER dial to any recording program (except the [Easy Recording
program).
2. Press the white balance selector knob so that it pops out. You can now turn it to choose
between A for auto white balance,  for indoor lighting,  for outdoor lighting, or turn
it to the right to set the white balance manually.
¥ / appears in the viewfinder when you set the white balance to the indoor/outdoor modes.
After turning the knob to the right, you can go on to set the white balance manually:
a) Point the camera at a white object (such as a sheet of paper) and if you are using a zoom lens, zoom in
until it fills the display.
b) Press the WHITE BALANCE set button.
¥ flashes quickly in the viewfinder and then remains lit, to show that the camera has set the white
balance.
¥ Depending on the light source, the flashing may at times change to a slower speed, rather than remain
lit. The result will remain better than with the auto setting, and you can continue recording.
c) Turn the white balance selector knob back to A to return to the auto setting. Push the knob back in when
you have finished making selections.
Setting the white balance manually will probably work better than auto white balance when shooting:
¥ Subjects with one dominant color, such as sky, sea or forest.
¥ Close-ups.
¥ In rapidly changing lighting conditions.
¥ In places lit by certain types of fluorescent or mercury vapor lights.
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Adjusting the White Balance
The cameraÕs auto white balance system
compensates for a wide range of lighting
conditions. Although slight variations are
unavoidable, colors will appear natural in virtually
every situation.
In some cases, you will get better results by setting
the white balance manually.
The XL1 has two modes other than fully auto (A) and manual ( ):
Indoor mode (3200ûK light)
Outdoor mode (5600ûK sunlight)
Setting the white balance 
						

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Notes:
¥ If the lighting conditions change, reset the white balance by first returning to the auto setting, and then
reselecting the manual balance.
¥ Try to record with light from a single source. Correct white balance cannot be obtained for two types of
lighting at once.
¥ You cannot set the white balance manually or use the indoor/outdoor modes when the POWER dial is set
to the 
[(Easy Recording) program. If you are already using a mode other than auto, the white balance
returns to auto while you are in the 
[(Easy Recording) program.
¥ When you push the STANDBY button without changing the POWER dial, the current white balance
setting remains in the memory.
¥ If you shoot with studio/video lighting, use the  (indoor) mode.
¥ If you shoot under fluorescent lights use the automatic white balance or set the balance manually, since
the camera may not adjust the white balance correctly in the  mode.
¥ When you turn the camera off, the camera remembers your white balance setting.