Canon GL2 Instruction Manual

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Recording
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
Notes:
•Turn the digital zoom off (if necessary) to set a more accurate white balance.
•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 program
selector is set to the [(Easy Recording) program.
•The camcorder returns to auto white balance when the program selector is set to [(Easy
Recording).
•When you turn the camcorder on, the white balance returns to auto white balance. If you then
press the WHITE BALANCE Wbutton, the camcorder will remember your last setting.
• If you shoot with studio/video lighting, use the x(indoor) mode.
•During normal outdoor shooting, setting the camcorder to auto white balance may provide
better results. 
						

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Recording
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, overexposed scenes.
1. Set the recording program to Auto, Tv or Av.
2. Open the menu and select AE SHIFT.
3. Pull the SELECT dial up or down and select the desired level.
•Levels are from –2 to +2, in 0.25 intervals (excluding –1.75 and +1.75).
•The higher the setting, the brighter the image.
4. Close the menu.
Note:
•AE shift cannot be operated in the Easy, Manual, Sand & Snow or Spotlight recording programs.
+
,+CAMERACARDCAMERATAPE
Using AE Shift
AE SHIFT•••• ±0 CAM. SET UP
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Recording
Using the Custom Preset
You can adjust the color gain, color phase, sharpness and setup level for more creative recordings.
Adjust toward + for a deeper color, and toward – for a lighter color.
Adjusting the Color Gain
Adjust toward R for a redder picture, and toward G for a greener picture.
Adjusting the Color Phase
Adjust toward + for a sharper picture, and toward – to soften the contour.
Adjusting the Sharpness
When you adjust the custom preset functions, be sure to check the picture before you start
recording. You can save these settings under the CSTM PRESET button.
1. Open the menu and select CSTM PRESET.
•The custom preset menu appears.
2. Select the function you wish to adjust.
3. Adjust the selected function.
•See below details on each function.
•Repeat steps 2 and 3 to adjust other functions as needed.
4. Close the menu.
•The settings are saved until new changes are made.
+
,+CAMERACARDCAMERATAPE
CSTM PRESET
(20)
COLOR GAIN••CSTM PRESET-+
(20)
COLOR PHASE•CSTM PRESETGR
(20)
SHARPNESS••• CSTM PRESET-+
(20)
Setting the Custom Preset Functions 
						

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Recording
1. Turn the program selector to Q.
2. Press the CSTM PRESET button.
•The picture reflects your preferences. Adjust toward + for a brighter picture, and toward – for a darker picture.
Adjusting the Setup Level
SETUP LEVEL• CSTM PRESET-+
(20)
Activating the Custom Preset Functions 
						

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Recording
The zebra pattern is a series of diagonal stripes that appear in the viewfinder to highlight areas of
overexposure. Use it as a guide to set the aperture (iris) and shutter speed.
You can also select the pattern appearance level from 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100%.
Using the Zebra Pattern
Note:
•The camcorder does not record the zebra pattern, it is only shown in the display.
1. Open the menu and select CAM. SET UP.
2. Select ZEBRA LEVEL and select the level.
3. Close the menu.
1. Open the menu and select CAM. SET UP.
2. Select ZEBRA LEVEL and set it to ON.
3. Close the menu.
ZEBRA LEVEL• 90CAM. SET UP
(20)
ZEBRA••••••• OFFCAM. SET UP
(20)
+
,+CAMERACARDCAMERATAPE
+
,+CAMERACARDCAMERATAPE
Selecting the Zebra Pattern Level
Activating the Zebra Pattern 
						

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Recording
You can use the Clear Scan function to record PC screens or other screens without black bands
caused by differences in the field frequencies of screens.
1. Set the recording program to Tv or MANUAL.
2. Pull the EXP dial down until CS appears in the display.
3. Open the menu and select CAM. SET UP.
4. Select CLEAR SCAN and adjust the frequency so that no black bands appear in
the display.
•You can select between 120 frequencies between 60.5Hz and 201.5Hz.
5. Close the menu.
+CAMERATAPE
CLEAR SCAN•• 60.5HzCAM. SET UP
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Recording PC Screens and Other Screens Using CLEAR SCAN
You can record the information (such as date and time) displayed on the LCD screen/viewfinder
superimposed on the picture.
Unlike the data code, you cannot hide the display information at a later time.
1. Open the menu and select SYSTEM.
2. Select CHAR. REC, set it to ON and close the menu.
Note:
•Once you set it to ON, the information will remain recorded with the picture until you select OFF.
Note that you cannot hide the information at a later time.
CHAR. REC••• OFFSYSTEM
(20)
Recording the Display Information
+PLAY
(VCR)TAPE 
						

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Playback
You can use the LCD screen for instant, on-the-spot playback. The camcorder also plays back the
sound track via the built-in speaker ( 89).
•When you play back a tape, you can also close the LCD panel with its screen side facing outward.
•When you’re using the viewfinder to view playback, close the LCD panel. 
For playing back your recordings on a TV, see p. 95.
For using the wireless controller, see p. 29.
Note:
•To avoid accidental recording, make sure that you slide the tab on the cassette so that it exposes
the hole (the switch position is usually labeled SAVE or ERASE OFF).
1. Slide the POWER switch to PLAY (VCR) and TAPE/CARD switch to TAPE.
•The power indicator lights up green.
•The confirmation beep sounds.
2. Load the cassette.
3. Press the e(play) button to start playback.
•Open the cover to use the buttons on the handle.
•To end playback, press the 3(stop) button.
•To wind the tape forwards, stop playback and press the 1(fast forward) button.
•To wind the tape backwards, stop playback and press the `(rewind) button.
•If the playback picture is rough (mosaic-like noise), clean the video heads using a Canon DVM-
CL Digital Video Head Cleaning Cassette or a commercially available digital video head
cleaning cassette.
CARD TAPE
/
+PLAY
(VCR)TAPE
Playing Back a Tape 
						

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Playback
Frame Advance
To play back frame by frame, press the +/ aebutton
repeatedly during playback pause.
Press and hold to play back continuous frame advance.
Frame Reverse
To play back in reverse frame by frame, press the –/4a
button repeatedly during playback pause.
Press and hold to play back continuous frame reverse.
Slow Forward Playback 
To play back at about 1/3 normal speed, press the SLOW Mbutton during normal playback.
Press the PLAY e button to return to normal playback.
Slow Reverse Playback
To play back in reverse at about 1/3 normal speed, press the –/4abutton and then the SLOW M
button during normal playback. 
Press the PLAY e button to return to normal playback.
REWPLAYFF
STOP
PAUSESLOW×2
+/
–/
Playback pause
Press the a(pause) button. To resume normal playback, press it again, or press the e (play) button.
The camcorder automatically goes into stop mode after about 5 minutes’ playback pause.
Fast forward playback
To play back the recording at about 9.5 times normal speed, press and hold the 1(fast forward)
button during normal playback or press and hold the 1(fast forward) button during normal fast
forward.
Rewind playback
For reverse playback at about 9.5 times normal speed, press and hold the `(rewind) button
during normal playback or press and hold the `(rewind) button during normal rewind.
Other Playback Modes
Special Playback 
						

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Playback
The camcorder has a built-in speaker and a headphone terminal. You can listen to the sound
during playback. Use the speaker or headphones when using the LCD screen for playback, and use
headphones when using the viewfinder. The built-in speaker is monaural; use headphones for
stereo sound.
Adjust the speaker and headphone volume by pulling the SELECT dial up or
down.
• Pull the SELECT dial up to increase the volume, and down to decrease the volume.
• A volume bar appears in the display to indicate the current volume. It disappears in 4 seconds.
• You can turn off the volume completely by pulling the SELECT dial down until OFF appears.
• You can also adjust the headphone volume separately from the built-in speaker.
• The levels you adjust for the built-in speaker and headphones are memorized separately. The
camcorder retains the levels even if you slide the POWER switch to OFF.
Notes:
• The speaker turns off when you use headphones.
• Sometimes audio may sound distorted when the volume is turned up high. If this happens, turn
down the volume.
Built-in Speaker and Headphone Terminal
Built-in Speaker 
						

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Playback
DATA
CODE
During TAPE PLAY (VCR) mode, the data code can be displayed or hidden while the camcorder is in
play, slow or still mode.
Camcorder data may be displayed as “– – –” during fast forward, rewind, reverse playback,
forward and reverse ×2 playback.
Press the DISPLAY/DATA CODE button. When using a cassette, press it while the
camcorder is in play, slow or still mode.
•Press it once to display, once more to hide it. A data code containing the date and time the recording was made and other camcorder data
(shutter speed and exposure settings) is automatically recorded on a special data section of the
tape.
•Only the date and time appear in the data code when using a memory card.
To change the date and time combination, open the menu and select DISP.SET UP.
Then select D/TIME SEL., set it to DATE, TIME or DATE & TIME and close the menu.
Select whether you want the date, the time, or both to show up on your data code display.
D/TIME SEL.• DATE & TIMEDISP.SET UP
(20)
+
,+PLAY
(VCR)CARDPLAY
(VCR)TAPE
Displaying Date, Time and Camcorder Data (Data Code)
Selecting Date/Time