CANON VIXIA HFM31 (01) PDF Document

The CANON VIXIA HFM31 camcorder includes several key features for high-quality video recording:

High-Definition Video: The Full HD CMOS image sensor captures video at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, recorded in high definition using AVCHD specifications.

Dual Flash Memory: You can record in the built-in memory or on commercially available memory cards.

Relay Recording: If the built-in memory becomes full, you can use the memory card slot to continue recording without interruption.

Smart AUTO: The camcorder automatically selects the best scene mode for your shooting environment, allowing for spectacular recordings without manual adjustments.

Video Snapshot: Allows you to shoot short scenes and arrange them into a video clip with background music.

Face Detection: Automatically detects people’s faces and adjusts focus and other settings for optimal results.

Image Stabilization: Dynamic IS compensates for camera shake while walking, and Powered IS provides stable shots when zooming in on distant subjects.

The following accessories are supplied with the CANON VIXIA HFM31 camcorder:

• CA-570 Compact Power Adapter (including power cord)

• BP-808 Battery Pack

• WL-D89 Wireless Controller (including CR2025 lithium button battery)

• STV-250N Stereo Video Cable

• CTC-100/S Component Cable

• IFC-300PCU USB Cable

• Quick Guide

The following CD-ROMs and software are also supplied:

• PIXELA Application – Disc 1 CD-ROM: Contains ImageMixer 3 SE Transfer Utilities for saving and transferring files.

• PIXELA Application – Disc 2 CD-ROM: Contains ImageMixer 3 SE Video Tools for managing, editing, and playing back movies.

• Instruction Manual/Photo Applications/Music Data Disc: Contains the full instruction manual (PDF), Photo Application software, and music files for background music.

Follow these steps to charge the battery pack for your CANON VIXIA HFM31:

1. Connect the power cord to the compact power adapter.

2. Plug the power cord into a power outlet.

3. Connect the compact power adapter to the camcorder’s DC IN terminal.

4. Attach the battery pack to the camcorder by pressing it softly into the battery attachment unit and sliding it up until it clicks in place.

5. Turn the camcorder off. The ON/OFF (CHG) indicator will start flashing in red to indicate that the battery is charging. When the battery is fully charged, the red indicator will go out.

Important Note: Turn off the camcorder before connecting or disconnecting the compact power adapter. After pressing POWER to turn off the camcorder, wait until the green ON/OFF (CHG) indicator goes out before proceeding.

To remove the battery pack from the camcorder:

1. Slide the BATTERY RELEASE switch in the direction of the arrow and hold it pressed down.

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

To use the supplied WL-D89 Wireless Controller, you must first insert the CR2025 lithium button battery.

1. Press the tab on the controller in the direction of the arrow and pull out the battery holder.

2. Place the lithium button battery into the holder with the + side facing up.

3. Insert the battery holder back into the wireless controller.

Rotating the LCD Panel:

You can open the LCD panel 90 degrees. From this position, you can rotate the panel 90 degrees downward or 180 degrees toward the lens. Rotating the panel 180 degrees is useful for including yourself in a recording or for operating the camcorder with the wireless controller from the front.

Adjusting the LCD Backlight:

When recording in bright places, it may be difficult to see the LCD screen. To make it brighter, with the camcorder on, press and hold the DISP. button for more than 2 seconds. This will switch the LCD backlight to its bright setting. Repeat this action to switch it back to the normal setting. Note that using the bright setting will shorten the battery’s effective usage time.

The CANON VIXIA HFM31 uses a pressure-sensitive touch screen. Press firmly when performing operations.

• Touch: Touch a menu item or control button on the screen to select it or perform the corresponding action. For functions like Touch & Track or face detection, you can touch a subject on the screen to select it.

• Drag: Swipe your finger up, down, left, or right across the screen to scroll through menus, browse index pages, or adjust slider controls like volume.

Note: The touch screen may not operate correctly if used with wet or gloved hands, or if excessive force is applied.

Press the camera/play button to switch the camcorder between camera (recording) mode and playback mode. The playback mode you switch into depends on the initial recording mode you were in.

You can also press the camera/play button when the camcorder is off to turn it on directly in playback mode. Alternatively, on the wireless controller, you can press and hold the index selection button for more than 2 seconds to switch between modes.

Setting the Date and Time:

When you first use the camcorder, the [Date/Time] screen appears automatically.

1. Touch a field you want to change (year, month, day, hours, or minutes).

2. Touch the up or down arrows to change the field.

3. Set all fields correctly.

4. Touch [Y.M.D], [M.D,Y], or [D.M.Y] to select your preferred date format.

5. Touch [24H] to use a 24-hour clock, or leave it unchecked for a 12-hour clock (AM/PM).

6. Touch [OK] to start the clock.

To change it later, go to [FUNC.] -> [MENU] -> [Date/Time].

Changing the Language:

1. Go to [FUNC.] -> [MENU] -> [Language].

2. Select the desired language and touch [X] to close.

Changing the Time Zone:

1. Go to [FUNC.] -> [MENU] -> [Time Zone/DST].

2. Touch the home icon for your home time zone or the airplane icon for a travel destination time zone.

3. Touch the up or down arrows to set the desired time zone. If needed, touch the sun icon to adjust for daylight saving time.

4. Touch [X] to close the menu.

The CANON VIXIA HFM31 camcorder is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards. However, for recording movies, compatibility depends on the card’s Speed Class. It is recommended to use memory cards rated Speed Class 4, 6, or 10 for reliable movie recording.

The following table summarizes compatibility for recording movies:

Inserting and Removing a Memory Card:

1. Turn off the camcorder. Make sure the ON/OFF (CHG) indicator is off.

2. Open the memory card slot cover.

3. Insert the memory card straight, with the label facing up, into the slot until it clicks.

4. Close the memory card slot cover.

To remove the card, push it in once to release it, and then pull it all the way out.

Initializing a Memory Card:

Initializing a memory card will permanently erase all recordings. Save important recordings beforehand.

1. Power the camcorder using the compact power adapter.

2. Open the initialize menu:

• Go to [FUNC.] -> [MENU] -> [Initialize].

3. Select [Mem. Card] and then [Initialize].

4. Choose [Complete Initialization] if you want to physically erase all data (this takes longer), otherwise select the standard initialization.

5. Select [Yes] and then [OK] to begin initialization.

Relay Recording allows the camcorder to automatically continue recording onto a memory card when the built-in memory becomes full.

1. Insert a memory card that contains no video recordings into the camcorder.

2. Activate the function through the menu:

• Touch [FUNC.] -> [MENU] -> [Rec Media for Movies].

• Select the built-in memory icon.

• Touch [Relay Recording] and then select the relay recording icon.

• Touch [X] to close.

The approximate available recording time will now reflect the combined space in the built-in memory and on the memory card.

Dual Shot mode is an all-automatic mode for easily recording video and photos.

1. Set the mode switch to the Dual Shot position (camera and photo icon).

2. Turn on the camcorder.

To record video:

• Press the START/STOP button to begin recording.

• Press the START/STOP button again to pause the recording.

To take photos:

1. Press the PHOTO button halfway down. A green circle will appear when the subject is in focus.

2. Press the PHOTO button fully. The ACCESS indicator will flash as the photo is being recorded.

Using the Zoom:

You can zoom in three ways:

• Zoom Lever: Move the zoom lever on the camcorder toward ‘T’ (telephoto) to zoom in and toward ‘W’ (wide angle) to zoom out.

• Wireless Controller: Use the zoom buttons on the wireless controller.

• Touch Screen: In a recording mode, touch [FUNC.] -> [ZOOM] to display the zoom controls on the screen. Touch the ‘T’ area to zoom in and the ‘W’ area to zoom out.

Using the Quick Start Function:

This function saves power while allowing you to start recording quickly.

1. With the camcorder on and in a recording mode, close the LCD panel. A beep will sound, and the green ON/OFF (CHG) indicator will turn orange, indicating the camcorder is in standby mode.

2. To resume recording, simply open the LCD panel. The indicator will turn green, and the camcorder will be ready to record in about 1 second.

Playing Back Video:

1. Press the camera/play button to enter playback mode.

2. The index screen will display thumbnails of your recorded scenes. If not, touch the index selection button and select [Original].

3. Use the zoom lever to change the number of thumbnails displayed per page (6 or 15).

4. Touch the thumbnail of the scene you want to play back.

5. During playback, touch the screen to display controls for stop, pause, fast forward/rewind, and volume.

Deleting Scenes:

1. In the index screen, touch the checkmark icon to open the scene selection screen.

2. Touch the individual scenes you want to delete. A checkmark will appear on selected scenes. To select all scenes at once, touch [Select All].

3. Touch [Edit] -> [Delete].

4. Touch [Yes] and then [OK] to permanently delete the selected scenes.

The recording time on your CANON VIXIA HFM31 depends on the selected recording mode (video quality) and the capacity of the memory (built-in or memory card). Higher quality modes like MXP use more space, resulting in shorter recording times.

To use a Special Scene program, first ensure you are in Manual (M) recording mode. Then, follow these steps:

1. Touch [FUNC.] to open the function panel.

2. Touch [Rec. Programs].

3. Select the desired recording program from the list, then touch [X] to close the menu.

Available programs include:

• Portrait: Blurs the background to make the subject stand out.

• Sports: For recording fast-moving subjects.

• Night Scene: For recording nightscapes with lower noise.

• Snow: Prevents subjects from being underexposed in bright ski resorts.

• Beach: Prevents subjects from being underexposed on sunny beaches.

• Sunset: For recording sunsets in vibrant colors.

• Low Light: For recording in low-light situations.

• Spotlight: For recording spotlit scenes.

• Fireworks: For recording fireworks.

A playlist lets you play back only the scenes you prefer in the order you choose without affecting the original recordings.

Adding Scenes to the Playlist:

1. In the [Original] index screen, touch the checkmark icon to open scene selection.

2. Touch the individual scenes you want to add. A checkmark will appear. Touch again to deselect.

3. Touch [Edit] -> [Add to Playlist].

4. Touch [Yes] and then [OK].

Deleting Scenes from the Playlist:

1. Open the [Playlist] index screen.

2. To delete the entire playlist, touch the checkmark icon, then [Edit] -> [Delete] -> [Yes] -> [OK].

3. To delete a single scene, touch the scene’s info icon, then [Edit] -> [Delete] -> [Yes] -> [OK].

Moving Scenes in the Playlist:

1. Open the [Playlist] index screen.

2. Touch the info icon of the scene you want to move. The [Timeline] screen appears.

3. Touch [Edit] -> [Move].

4. Touch an empty box on the screen to select the desired new position for the scene.

5. Touch [OK] and then [Yes].

You can capture still photos from any movie you have recorded.

1. First, select the settings for photo capture:

• In playback mode, touch [MENU] -> [Photo Capture from Video].

• Choose [Single Photo] or [Photo Sequence].

• In the same menu, go to [Photo Capture Quality] and select the desired quality.

2. Play back the movie from which you want to capture a photo.

3. Pause the playback at the precise point you want to capture.

4. Press the PHOTO button fully. The photo will be saved.

5. To capture a photo sequence, hold the PHOTO button pressed down during playback. The scene will be played back by frames, with each frame captured as a separate photo.

6. Touch the stop button to return to the index screen.

You can connect your camcorder to any PictBridge-compatible printer to print photos directly.

Connecting to the Printer:

1. In single photo view, select a photo you want to print.

2. Turn on the printer.

3. Connect the camcorder to the printer using the supplied USB cable. The PictBridge icon will appear on the camcorder’s screen.

Printing a Single Photo:

1. With the camcorder connected and the desired photo displayed, touch the print icon.

2. Touch [Yes]. Printing will start.

To change paper settings before printing, touch [MENU] -> [Paper Settings] and select the desired paper size.

You can connect your camcorder to a TV to view your recordings. The connection method depends on the type of TV.

1. Turn off the camcorder and the TV.

2. Connect the camcorder to the TV using one of the following cables:

• For High-Definition (HDTV): Use an HTC-100 HDMI Cable (optional) to connect the camcorder’s HDMI OUT terminal to the TV’s HDMI IN terminal. This provides the best quality audio and video.

• For High-Definition (HDTV without HDMI): Use the supplied CTC-100/S Component Cable to connect the camcorder’s COMPONENT OUT terminal to the TV’s component video inputs (Y, Pb/Cb, Pr/Cr). Use the supplied STV-250N Stereo Video Cable for the audio by connecting it to the camcorder’s AV OUT terminal and the TV’s audio inputs.

• For Standard Definition (SD TV): Use the supplied STV-250N Stereo Video Cable to connect the camcorder’s AV OUT terminal to the TV’s composite video and audio inputs.

3. Turn on the TV and select the correct video input source (e.g., HDMI 1, AV, Component).

4. Turn on the camcorder and set it to playback mode.

5. Play back your movies or photos.

You can copy scenes and photos from the camcorder’s built-in memory to an inserted memory card.

Copying Scenes:

1. In playback mode, open the index screen containing the scenes you want to copy. Ensure the built-in memory tab is selected.

2. Touch the checkmark icon to open the scene selection screen.

3. Touch the individual scenes you want to copy to select them. A checkmark will appear.

4. Touch [Edit] -> [Copy].

5. Touch [Yes] and then [OK]. The scenes will be copied to the memory card.

Copying Photos:

The process is similar for photos. Select the [Photos] index screen for the built-in memory, select the photos you wish to copy, and use the [Edit] -> [Copy] command.

If your CANON VIXIA HFM31 camcorder will not turn on or shuts down unexpectedly, check the following possible causes:

• Exhausted Battery: The battery pack may be exhausted. Replace it with a fully charged one or charge the current battery pack.

• Incorrect Battery Attachment: The battery pack may not be attached correctly. Remove the battery pack and reattach it firmly.

• Overheating: If you are using the [Underwater] or [Surface] recording program, the camcorder may turn off automatically if it becomes too hot. Turn off the camcorder and let it cool down before using it again.

If the battery pack is not charging, please check these points:

• Camcorder is On: The battery pack will only be charged when the camcorder is turned off. Make sure the device is powered down.

• Temperature Range: The temperature of the battery pack may be outside the recommended charging range. Charging will not start if the battery is below 0 °C (32 °F) or above 40 °C (104 °F). Allow the battery to adjust to a temperature within this range before attempting to charge.

• Faulty Battery: The battery pack may be faulty. Try using a different, compatible battery pack.

• Communication Error: The camcorder may not be able to communicate with the attached battery pack, especially if it is not a recommended model.

This is a common phenomenon for cameras with CMOS image sensors, known as rolling shutter. When a subject moves very quickly across the front of the lens, the image may appear slightly warped or bent. This is not a malfunction of the camcorder.

If you see the “Check the memory card” message, it could be due to several reasons:

• Incorrect Insertion: The memory card is not inserted correctly. Turn off the camcorder, remove the card, and reinsert it properly.

• Card Error: A memory card error has occurred. The camcorder cannot record or display images. Try removing and reinserting the memory card. If that does not work, try a different, compatible memory card.

• Incompatible Card Type: You may have inserted a MultiMedia Card (MMC), which is not fully compatible for all operations. Use a recommended SD, SDHC, or SDXC card.

If the error icon (a memory card with a red slash) appears in red after the message, turn the camcorder off and on. If the icon turns green, you can resume operation. If the problem persists, save your recordings and initialize the memory card.

Proper maintenance will ensure your camcorder continues to perform well.

• Camcorder Body: Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the body. Do not use chemically treated cloths or volatile solvents like paint thinner.

• Lens and Instant AF Sensor: If the lens or sensor is dirty, autofocus may not work properly. First, use a non-aerosol blower brush to remove any dust. Then, gently wipe the lens with a clean, soft lens-cleaning cloth. Never use tissue paper.

• LCD Touch Screen: Clean the touch screen using a clean, soft lens-cleaning cloth.

Condensation (water droplets) can form on internal surfaces if the camcorder is moved rapidly between hot and cold temperatures. If you detect condensation, stop using the camcorder immediately to prevent damage.

When condensation is detected:

The camcorder will automatically shut off. The time required for the moisture to evaporate varies, but as a general rule, wait for at least 2 hours before resuming use.

To avoid condensation:

Before moving the camcorder to a location with a drastic temperature change, remove the memory card and battery pack. Place the camcorder in an airtight plastic bag and let it adjust gradually to the new temperature before removing it from the bag.