Canon Vixia HF M50

Camera kit includes

• Power cord for charging

• USB to micro-USB for transferring files to a computer

• Carrying case

• Battery

Optional items to consider

• Tripod (also available in the loan pool)

• SD Card (ITS/AV does not loan SD Cards and you must purchase your own)

• Lavalier Mics for use with a camera (also available in the loan pool)

• Backup Battery for extended recording

Preparing the camera

Charging the battery pack

1. Connect the battery pack to the camcorder.

2. Plug the power cord into a power outlet.

3. Connect the other end of the power cable into the camera’s charging port.

4. Charging will start when the camera is turned off.

Removing the battery pack

1. Slide the ‘Battery Release’ in the direction of the arrow and hold it pressed down.

2. Slide the battery pack and then pull it out.

Selecting the Memory

You can select to record your movies and photos in the built-in memory or on an SD card. The default memory for recording both is the built-in memory.

To select Memory:

1. Press HOME button.

2. Go to ‘Other Settings’.

3. Go to ‘Rec Media for Movies’.

4. Select between SD Card or Built-in Memory.

Relay Recording

You can activate the relay recording so if the built-in memory becomes full while recording movies, the recording will continue uninterrupted on the memory card.

1. Insert SD Card.

2. Press the HOME button.

3. Activate the Relay Recording feature.

   1. Go to ‘Other Settings’.

   2. Go to ‘Rec Media for Movies’.

   3. Select ‘Relay Recording’.

• An SD Card is needed to accomplish this.

• There will be a momentary stop in the scene at the point where the camcorder switches from one memory to another.

• Any of the following will deactivate the relay recording function:

  • Turning off the camcorder.

  • Opening the memory card slot cover.

  • Changing the camcorder’s operating mode.

  • Changing the memory used for recording modes.

Initializing the Memory Card

Initialize memory cards when you use them with this camcorder for the first time. You can also initialize a memory card or the built-in memory to permanently delete all the recordings it contains.

To initialize the memory card:

1. Power the camcorder using the power cable.

2. Press HOME button.

3. Go to ‘Other Settings’.

4. Go to ‘Initialize’.

5. Select Memory Card or Built-in Memory.

6. Select ‘Initialize’.

7. Select ‘Yes’.

Basic Recording

Before you begin recording, make a test recording first to check that the camcorder is operating correctly.

Recording Mode

1. Press HOME button.

2. Go to ‘Recording Standard’.

3. Choose the Recording Mode:

   1. AVCHD

      1. No time limit.

      2. Ideal for playback on a TV/Computer.

   2. Story Creator Mode

      1. Similar to AVCHD.

      2. Allows you to create stories on the camera.

   3. MP4

      1. 30 minute time limit

      2. Ideal for web upload.

Auto Mode

In AUTO mode, the camcorder will automatically detect certain characteristics of the subject, background, lighting conditions, etc. It will then adjust various settings (focus, exposure, color, image stabilization, image quality, among others), selecting the best settings for the scene you want to shoot.

1. Press HOME button.

2. Go to ‘Camera Mode’.

3. Choose ‘Auto’.

4. Press ‘OK’.

To Record Video

Press Start/Stop to begin recording.

Press Start/Stop again to pause the recording.

Selecting the Video Quality (Recording Time)

Changing the recording mode will change the recording time available on the memory.

1. Press HOME button.

2. Go to ‘Other Settings’.

3. Go to ‘Recording Mode’.

4. Select desired ‘Recording Mode’:

   1. MXP: High quality 24Mbps - 41 minutes

   2. FXP: High quality 17Mbps - 58 minutes

   3. XP+: High quality 12Mbps - 1 hour 20 minutes

   4. SP: Standard Play 7Mbps - 2 hours 14 minutes

   5. LP: Long Play 5Mbps - 2 hours 51 minutes

Using Headphones

Use headphones to listen to what you are recording as you record.

1. Press HOME button.

2. Go to ‘Other Settings’.

3. Go to ‘AV/Headphones’.

4. Select ‘Headphones’.

5. Connect headphones to the AV OUT terminal.

6. Adjust the volume as necessary.

Using a Microphone

1. Connect the external microphone to the MIC terminal.

2. Press HOME button.

3. Go to ‘Other Settings’.

4. Go to ‘Mic Terminal Input’.

5. Select ‘Microphone’.

Demo Mode

The demonstration mode displays the camcorder’s main features. It starts automatically when the camcorder is powered with power cable and if you leave it turned on without a memory card for more than 5 minutes.

To cancel the demo mode once it has started, press any button or turn off the camcorder.