Canon XM2 User manual

Can I bring dreams to life
with quality & versatility?
They've been dreaming about the wedding day for months.
Every detail has been planned. It goes perfectly. Bride and
groom look radiant and the guests enjoy themselves.
You can bring back those special moments in a top quality
video recording.
SUPERB QUALITY
The Canon XM2 Digital Camcorder
combines the best of all worlds. Its
advanced technology delivers unri
valled image quality in its class, while it
is still easy to operate. That makes it an
ideal choice for both serious camcorder
enthusiasts, professional video
graphers and filmmakers. Whether
you're regularly providing broadcast
or web content, making educational
videos or recording an event like a
wedding, the XM2's high performance
will make your work more enjoyable
and the result more satisfying.
INSPIRATIONAL VERSATILITY
No two video shoots are alike. What's
happening, where it's happening, move
ment, colour – it all demands a certain
amount of fine tuning to capture the
special moments you want. The XM2
features adjustments and enhancements
for sound and picture for your personal
creativity. Plus a LCD screen for easy
viewing.
NEW GENERATION 3CCD
The Canon 3CCD system separates light
entering the camcorder into red, blue
and green, making colour reproduction
cleaner and sharper. The new high
sensitivity 3CCD with 470,000 pixels
provides 540 lines horizontal resolution.
Fluorite lens
For sharp images
and perfect colour
reproduction.
YOU CAN
WITH THE XM2
3CCD unit
Guarantees
outstanding detail
and high performance.
Positioning the green CCD out of line
(pixel shift) sharpens image reproduction
even if your subject moves. A new Super
Pixel Shift (horizontal + vertical) achieves
wider dynamic range for movies, reducing
vertical smear and gives 1.7 mega pixel
high resolution photos.
PROFESSIONAL FLUORITE LENS
Canon has always led the way in optical
development. The first to equip a cam
corder with a fluorite lens – a lens that
provides the quality of 35mm and
broadcast TV. The XM2 has a Professional
L Series fluorite lens. Combined with
20x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom,
plus an optical image stabiliser, you can
be sure of superior images.
CCD R
CCD G
CCD B

OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZER
We know how difficult it can be to keep
a camera still. So the XM2 is fitted with
an Optical Image Stabiliser (rather than
Electronic Stabilisation which can reduce
image quality). Its vari angle prism reacts
to a sensor and bends the light rays, so
the image reaching the CCDs remains
steady.
SOUNDS GOOD
Some camcorder recordings have great
pictures but the sound lets them down.
For a fuller, richer, stereo sound, the
XM2 has a 'direction accurate' micro
phone. This contains two pairs of pick up
elements, each for left and right, giving
accurate stereo ambience and less
mechanical background noise. Also, you
can change the
microphone
frequency charac
teristics to match
the recording
condition (normal,
voice and windscreen). For high quality
PCM digital sound recording, an MA 300
microphone adapter is available.
AUDIO LEVEL CONTROL
Another sound improving feature on the
XM2 is the 2 channel manual audio level
control. A special dial allows you to set
the L/R level to exactly the balance you
want for 2 channels. An easy to find
audio level meter on the camcorder body,
on the LCD and EVF screen shows the left
and right 24 segment peaks.
camcorder. But the downside of a normal
zoom lens can be colour aberrations.
The fluorite technology used in the XM2
L Series lens eliminates almost all colour
deviation. This and the new 3CCD system
give viewers the pleasure of colours that
are much truer to life.
TRUE TO LIFE COLOUR
Fluorite is a synthetic crystalline sub
stance with the ability to collect light at
a single point. It bypasses the limitations
posed by normal glass. The resulting
image is extremely sharp.
A zoom lens is an essential feature on a
Optional MA-300
adapter with 2-channel
LR terminals.
QUALITY
YOU CAN SEE
QUALITY
YOU CAN HEAR
Glass lens
Fluorite lens
Red Red
Blue Blue

Digital Camcorder
Can I bring dreams to life
with quality & versatility?
Canon Digital Camcorder XM2 S ecifications
Canon Europa NV
Bovenkerkerweg 59 61
1185 XB Amstelveen
The Netherlands
Canon Inc.
30 2 Shimomaruko
3 Chome, Ohta ku
Tokyo 146 8501
Japan
www.canon europa.com
English Edition 0032W619
© Canon Europa N.V., 2002 (0602)
7 hour recording
withoptional BP-945 battery
Multi Media
Canon (UK) Ltd
Woodhatch
Reigate
Surrey
RH2 8BF
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.canon.co.uk
IMAGE QUALITY ADJUSTMENT
COLOR GAIN ADJUSTMENT Yes (Custom preset)
HUE ADJUSTMENT Yes (Custom preset)
SHARPNESS ADJUSTMENT Yes (Custom preset)
SETUP ADJUSTMENT Yes (Custom preset)
WHITE BALANCE
AUTO Yes
SET Yes (1)
PRESET Outdoor, indoor
SYSTEMS TTL, 80 segments
FOCUS
MODE AF/MF
MANUAL FOCUS Focus ring operation
16:9
RECORDING SYSTEM Vertical stretching
AREA MARKER DISPLAY Area marker displayed for 16:9
in EVF 4:3 screen
SHOOTING EFFECTS
DIGITAL EFFECTS Black and White, Sepia, Art, Strobe,
Mirror, Mosaic, Tracer (tape)
DIGITAL FADE Black auto fade, wipe, overlap (tape)
ZEBRA PATTERN Variable level: 80% 85% 90%
95% 100%
MOTION VIDEO SHOOTING
TAPE Normal/Frame (simulated
frame process using pixel shift)
CLEAR SCAN Tv mode, Manual mode: 50.3 200 Hz
STILL IMAGE SHOOTING
MODE: TAPE Normal (field image)
MODE: CARD Progressive (iris shutter)
SINGLE PICTURES: TAPE 6.5 seconds
PHOTO BUTTONS: FORM Dedicated still image button
(tape, card)
PHOTO BUTTONS:
PRESSED HALFWAY DOWN Yes (only during recording standby)
STILL IMAGE CONFIRM Yes (Card only)
FLASH COMPATIBILITY Yes 220EX, 420EX, 550EX
RECORDED VIDEO Frame image
(video output is field image)
FRAME PROCESSING Simulated frame (horizontal
and vertical pixel shift)
WIDE SHOOTING
(VERTICAL E TENSION)
TAPE Yes
INTERVAL TIMER Yes, (Interval time: 4 modes,
Recording time: 4 modes)
SELF-TIMER 10 sec./Remote controller: 2 sec.
REC SEARCH Yes
REC REVIEW Yes
STANDBY SWITCH Yes
POWER SAVE (AFTER FIVE
MINUTES IN RECORDING
PAUSE) Power shutoff/VCR (drum) stop
DISPLAYED TE T RECORDING Yes
Camera
SHOOTING FUNCTIONS
MOTION VIDEO Mini DV tape
STILL IMAGE Mini DV tape (Photo), memory card
(Progressive Photo)
IMAGE SENSING DEVICE
IMAGE SIZE 1/4 inch 3CCD
TOTAL NUMBER OF PIXELS
(PER CCD) Total pixels: 470,000
Effective pixels: 440,000
SYSTEM 3 plate Pixel shift (horizontal,
vertical)
FILTER RGB independent primary color filter
(dichroic prism)
LENS
OPTICAL ZOOM 20x (12 elements in 10 groups
MAGNIFICATION with one fluorite lens and
two aspheric lenses)
DIGITAL ZOOM MAGNIFICATION 40x, 100x (Card mode: None)
FOCAL LENGTH (OPTICAL ZOOM) 4.2 84 mm
(35 MM EQUIVALENT) 39.5 790 mm
F-NUMBER With tape: F1.6 2.8
With memory card: F2.0 2.8
APERTURE LEAVES Iris diaphragm (5 leaves) ND FILTER
Yes (Transmittance: Approx.
10% with 3 aperture)
ZOOM SPEED: HandleZoom: 3 level adjustable
(H/M/L)
Grip zoom: Variable H/M/L
FILTER DIAMETER 58mm P0.75
MINIMUM ILLUMINATION 0,37 Lux (Slow shutter 1/6 second)
IMAGE STABILIZATION Optical system (double driving VAP)
DIMENSIONS (WXHXD) 118x136x306mm
WEIGHT 1120g
LCD
MONITOR LCD
SIZE 2.5 inch
PIXELS 200,000
BRIGHTNESS ADJUSTMENT Yes
MOVABLE Yes
EVF
SIZE 0.44 inch (TFT color)
PIXELS 180,000
BRIGHTNESS ADJUSTMENT Yes (Menu adjustment)
MOVABLE Downward 68° up to horizontal
Shooting functions
PROGRAM AE Easy Recording, Auto mode, Spotlight
mode, Surf & Snow mode, Tv mode, Av
mode, Manual mode
PHOTOMETRY
PHOTOMETRIC SYSTEM Center bottom weighted
EVALUATIVE PHOTOMETRY 80 segments
E POSURE ADJUSTMENT
AE LOCK Yes
EXPOSURE CORRECTION Yes (after AE lock)
AE SHIFT Yes (±2 levels)
GAIN SETTING Yes (During manual mode)
SHUTTER SPEED
HIGH-SPEED SHUTTER: TAPE 9 levels (1/50, 1/120, 1/250,
1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000,
1/4000, 1/8000, 1/16000)
During manual mode: 27 steps
HIGH-SPEED SHUTTER: CARD Tv mode: 1/50 to 1/500
Manual mode: 1/50 to 1/700
SLOW SHUTTER 3 levels (1/25, 1/12, 1/6)
APERTURE VALUE F1.6, F2, F2.4, F2.8, F3.4, F4, F4.8,
F5.6, F6.7, F8, CLOSE
Manual mode: 19 steps (Step 13 level
is telephoto end)
Card mode: F1.6, F2, F2.4, F2.8, F3.4,
F4, F4.8, F5.6, F6.7, F8, CLOSE Manual
mode: 17 steps
(Step 13 level is telephoto end)
VCR
SEARCH
PHOTO SEARCH Ye s
DATE SEARCH Yes
INDEX SEARCH Yes
DATA CODE DISPLAY Time and date display,
camera information
AUDIO DUBBING Yes
AV INSERT Yes
ZERO SET MEMORY Yes
System
INTERFACE (TERMINAL)
MICROPHONE INPUT Yes
HEADPHONE OUTPUT Yes
DV TERMINAL Yes (In/Out)
S TERMINAL Yes (In/Out)
AV TERMINAL ∅3.5 mm (In/Out)
EDITING TERMINALS LANC terminal
USB PORT mini B/ Complies with mass storage
class 1.0
MEMORY CARD
CARD SD memory card and
MultiMedia card
STILL IMAGE RECORDING:
IMAGE SIZE & QUALITY 1488 x 1128 pixels;
Fine 860 KB, Standard 580 KB
640 x 480 pixels;
Fine 125 KB, Standard 65 KB
CARD REVIEW Yes (Record review button
operation)
STILL IMAGE PLAYBACK:
SLIDESHOW Yes
CARD JUMP Yes
TITLE IMAGE:
CREATION Camera shooting
TITLE SIZE 640 x 480 pixels
TITLE MIX Yes (Color selection (full color,
+8 color), mixed level variation)
COLOR BAR Yes, EBU color bar
ANALOGUE-DIGITAL
CONVERTER Ye s
WORLD CLOCK Yes
SPEAKER Yes
CONFIRMATION BEEP Yes
TALLY LIGHT Yes
REMOTE CONTROL CODE 1, 2, off
ACCESSORY SHOE Yes (compatible with
advanced shoe and EX flashes)
RECORDING MODES
LP Yes
CUSTOM KEYS Yes (1 key)
DV CONTROL Yes (Allowed only during
Camera mode)
BACKUP POWER Lithium button battery (CR2025)
BATTERY PACK POWER 900 series rechargeable lithium ion battery
Audio
AUDIO 16 bit 2 channel (48 kHz)
12 bit 4 channel (32 kHz)
WIND SCREEN Yes (Microphone F characteristics:
Normal/ Voice/ Wind Screen)
RECORDING LEVEL
ADJUSTMENT Yes: Auto, manual (L/R controls
with level adjustment dials)
LEVEL METER Yes: EVF, inside LCD monitor,
LCD information display

GETTING IT JUST RIGHT
Although the XM2 is fully automatic, you
can also take complete control and do it
your own way. The camcorder has many
of the manual adjustments you will find
on professional models. Some examples:
• Colour Phase, to adjust between
red and green, and Colour Gain,
to choose depth of colour or
shoot in black and white.
• Camera Sharpness, to soften
the subject and clarify the
detail.
• Zebra Pattern, to indicate
overexposure in a portion of
the picture
• Interval Timer, to record at
selected times for filming natu
ral phenomena like sunsets.
If you need to record a CRT
monitor, the Clear Scan feature
allows you to do so without
rolling black bars. But your
favourite button will probably be
the Custom Key. Assign functions
you use frequently to this key, and you
can customise your camcorder to your
shooting preferences.
MAKING LIFE EASIER
The more features a camcorder has, the
better it is. The XM2 has a whole range:
time and data codes, shutter speed,
power save, index recording ... too many
to list here.
DIFFERENT SHOOTING MODES
The XM2 has 3 modes to suit your record
ing needs.
• Normal Movie Mode for video playback
on TV or a video editing computer.
• Digital Photo Mode for high resolution
still images.
• Frame Movie Mode for perfect quality
prints and video for websites.
1. Audio REC level switch (auto or manual)
2. Program selector
3. Audio rec. left level dial
4. Audio rec. right level dial
5. MENU button
6. SELECT dial
7. Focus A/M button
8. Digital effects bars ON/OFF button
9. ND filter ON/OFF button
10. Digital effects/bars select button
11. White balance select button
12. White balance set button
13. Custom key button
14. Custom preset
3
4
5
6
7
11
12 13 14
8
1
2
9
10
The M2 can control
HDD equipment
with IEEE 1394 inter-
face and AV/C proto-
col for simultaneous
recording.
A single cable con-
nection to transfer
images between the
camcorder, PC and
printer.
The SD Memory Card
can capture high
quality digital still
images as JPEG files
to transfer into
a PC for advanced
editing. Also an easy
way to add a title to
your recording with
the Title Mix.
Battery Pack
BP-915, 930, 945
System Case
HC-4100
Video Light
VL-10Li, VL-3
Speedlite
220, 420, 550 E
MiniDV Head Cleaning Cassette
DVM-CL
Mini Digital Video Cassette
60 and 80 minutes
Dual battery charger/holder
CH-910
Wide Converter
WD-58
Car Battery Adapter
CB-920
Microphone Adapter
MA-300
Zoom Remote
ZR-1000
Directional
Stereo Microphone
DM-50
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
CONNECTIVITY
KIT COMPONENTS
DRAMATIC CLOSE UPS
She's way off in the distance, but you've
spotted her. The XM2 20x optical zoom
lens can bring her right up close.
20x optical zoom is the 35mm focal
length equivalent of 39.5mm to 790mm.
The XM2's maximum digital zoom is
100x. Magnification that can make all the
difference.
DM- M2 Body - Large Eye Cup - WL-D77 A Wireless Controller -
STV-250N Stereo Video Cable - S-150 S-VIDEO Cable - IFC-300PCU
Interface Cable - SS-650 Shoulder Strap - CA-920 Compact Power
Adapter - AC Cable - DC-920 DC Coupler - BP-915 Battery Pack -
SDC-8M SD Memory Card - PC-A10 Scart Adapter -
Digital Video Solution Disk Ver.3.0
YOU CAN SCREEN
THE RESULT