Canon XM2 User manual

Digital Video Camera
High performance 3CCD DV camera with
20x zoom for advanced movie making

High performance 3CCD DV
camera with 20x zoom for
advanced movie making
By combining advanced technologies in lens design and
signal processing, along with manual and automatic
features and controls, the XM2 achieves the perfect
balance of outstanding picture quality and high
performance
SUPERB QUALITY
The Canon XM2 Digital Video Camera
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 video
enthusiasts, professional video-
graphers and filmmakers. Whether
you're regularly providing broadcast or
web content, making educational
videos or record events, 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 DV camera into red, blue and
green, making colour reproduction clean-
er and sharper. New high-sensitivity 3CCD
with 470,000 pixels provides 540 lines
horizontal resolution.
Fluorite lens
For sharp images
and perfect colour
reproduction.
3CCD unit
Guarantees
outstanding detail
and high performance.
CCD R
CCD G
CCD B

Positioning the green CCD out of line
(pixel shift) sharpens image reproduction
even if your subject moves. A new Super
Pixel Shift (horizontal + vertical)
technology 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 DV
camera 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 Stabilizer, you can
be sure of superior images.

DV camera. 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
QUALITY
YOU CAN SEE
Glass lens Fluorite lens
Red Red
Blue Blue

OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZER
We know how difficult it can be to keep
a camera still. So the XM2 is fitted with
an Optical Image Stabilizer (rather than
Electronic Stabilization 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 DV camera 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 allowing
the use of external microphones fitted
with XLR terminals.
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 DV camera
body, on the LCD and EVF screen shows
the left and right 24 segment peaks.
Optional MA-300
adapter with 2-channel
XLR terminals.
QUALITY
YOU CAN HEAR

GETTING IT JUST RIGHT
Although the XM2 is fully automatic, you
can also take complete control and do it
your own way. The DV camera has many of
the manual adjustments you will find on
professional models. Some examples
(you can memorise following adjust-
ments as Custom preset):
• Colour Hue, 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 camera to your
shooting preferences.
MAKING LIFE EASIER
The more features a DV camera has, the
more versatile it is. The XM2 has a whole
range: time and data codes, shutter speed,
power save, index recording as examples.
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 XM2 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
DV camera, PC and
printer.
The SD Memory Card
can capture high
quality digital still
images as JPEG files
to transfer into
a PC . Also an easy
way to add a title to
your recording with
the Title Mix Facilty.
CONNECTIVITY
DRAMATIC CLOSE-UPS
She's way off in the distance, but you've
spotted her. The 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.
YOU CAN SCREEN
THE RESULT

Battery Pack
BP-915, 930, 945
System Case
HC-4100
Video Light
VL-10Li, VL-3
Speedlite
220, 420, 550 EX
MiniDV Head Cleaning Cassette
DVM-CL
Mini Digital Video Cassette
60 and 80 minutes
Dual battery charger/holder
CH-910
Wide Converter
WD-58H
Car Battery Adapter
CB-920
Microphone Adapter
MA-300
Zoom Remote
ZR-1000
Directional
Stereo Microphone
DM-50
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
KIT COMPONENTS
DM-XM2 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 - Digital Video Solution Disk Ver.3.0

Canon Digital Video Camera XM2 Specifications
Canon Camera Museum
www.canon.com.camera/museum
Canon Australia Pty. Ltd.
1, Thomas Holt Drive, North Ryde,
N.S.W. 2113, Australia
Free-call: 1800 816 001
Facsimile No: [phone]
www.canon.com.au
Canon New Zealand Ltd.
Akoranga Business Park
Akoranga Drive, Northcote
Auckland, New Zealand
Telephone No: [phone]
Facsimile No: [phone]
www.canon.co.nz
Printed in Australia, July 2002.
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 EXTENSION)
TAPE Yes
INTERVAL TIMER Yes, (Interval time: 4 modes,
Recording time: 4 modes)
SELF-TIMER 10 seconds/
Remote controller: 2 seconds
REC SEARCH Yes
REC REVIEW Yes
STANDBY SWITCH Yes
POWER SAVE (AFTER FIVE
MINUTES IN RECORDING
PAUSE) Power shutoff/VCR (drum) stop
DISPLAYED TEXT RECORDING Yes
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
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 3 Lux (Slow shutter 6 second)
IMAGE STABILIZATION Optical system (double-driving
VAP)
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
EXPOSURE 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, F2.8, F4, F5.6, F8,
CLOSE
Manual mode: 19 steps
(Step 13 level is telephoto end)
Card mode: F2, F2.8, F4, F5.6,
F8, CLOSE
IMAGE QUALITY ADJUSTMENT
COLOR GAIN ADJUSTMENT Yes (Custom preset)
HUE ADJUSTMENT Yes (Custom preset)
SHARPNESS ADJUSTMENT Yes (Custom preset)
SETUP ADJUSTMENT Yes (Custom preset)
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
VCR
SEARCH
PHOTO SEARCH Yes
DATE SEARCH Yes
INDEX SEARCH Yes
DATA CODE DISPLAY Time and date display,
camera information
AUDIO DUBBING Yes
AV INSERT 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 Yes
WORLD CLOCK Yes
SPEAKER Yes
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 lithium secondary
battery
GENERAL
OPERATING TEMPERATURE 0 to 40oC
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D) 118 x 136 x 306mm
CONTINUOUS RECORDING TIME 120 minutes (using LP mode)
WEIGHT Approx 1.12kg (camera only)
/1.27kg (fully equipped)
7 hour recording
with optional BP-945 battery
Multi Media