If you have a problem with your camcorder, refer to this section. Consult your dealer or a Canon Service Center if the problem persists.

Power source

The camcorder will not turn on or it turns off by itself.

- The battery pack is exhausted. Replace or charge the battery pack.

- Remove the battery pack and reattach it correctly.

Shortly after turning it on, the camcorder turns off on its own.

- You are using a DC coupler or a battery pack that is not compatible for use with this camcorder. Use a recommended battery pack

Cannot charge the battery pack.

- The temperature of the battery pack is outside the charging range. If the battery pack’s temperature is below 0 °C (32 °F), warm it before charging it; if it is above 40 °C (104 °F), let the battery pack cool down before charging it.

- Charge the battery pack in temperatures between 0 °C and 40 °C (32 °F and 104 °F).

- The battery pack is faulty. Replace the battery pack.

The battery pack is exhausted extremely quickly even at normal temperatures.

- Check the [Battery/Hour Meter] status screen to see whether the battery pack is at the end of its service life. If so, buy a new battery pack.

Recording

Pressing the START/STOP button will not start recording.

- The CF card is full or it already contains the maximum number of clips (999 clips). Delete some clips or save your clips and initialize the CF card to free some space. Alternatively, replace the CF card.

The point where the START/STOP button was pressed does not match the beginning/end of the recording.

- There is a slight interval between pressing the START/STOP button and the actual start/end of recording. This is not a malfunction.

The camcorder will not focus.

- The viewfinder is not adjusted. Use the dioptric adjustment dial to make the proper adjustment.

- The lens is dirty. Clean the lens with a soft lens-cleaning cloth.

When a subject flits across in front of the lens, the image appears slightly bent.

- This is a phenomenon typical of CMOS image sensors. When a subject crosses very quickly in front of the camcorder, the image may seem slightly warped. This is not a malfunction.

Bright red, green or blue dots appear on the screen.

- The camcorder’s CMOS sensor is a delicate piece of precision engineering. Direct exposure of the sensor to ion rays or other types of cosmic radiation may affect it and this may rarely appear as bright colored dots on the screen. This is the nature of CMOS image sensors and does not represent a malfunction. Adjusting the black balance may help solve the problem.

- The effects of the damage may be more noticeable when the camcorder is used in places subject to high temperatures, when a high ISO speed or gain level is used and when slow shutter speeds are used.

Changing between recording ( REC) and record pause (STBY) takes longer than usual.

- When the CF card contains a large number of clips, some operations may take longer than usual. Save your clips and initialize the CF card. Alternatively, replace the CF card.

The camcorder cannot record to a CF card properly.

- This may occur as recordings are made and deleted over time. Save your clips and initialize the CF card.

After using the camcorder for a long time, it becomes hot.

- The camcorder may become hot after using it continuously for long periods of time; this is not a malfunction. If the camcorder becomes unusually hot or it becomes hot after using it only for a short while, it may indicate a problem with the camcorder. Consult a Canon Service Center.

The built-in ND filter is stuck and does not change.

- The electronic motor that drives the ND filter may not be working correctly. As an emergency measure, you can operate the ND filter manually. Eventually, consult a Canon Service Center.

Playback

Cannot delete a clip.

- You cannot delete clips with an $ mark. Remove the $ mark to delete the clip.

Deleting clips takes longer than usual.

- When the CF card contains a large number of clips, some operations may take longer than usual. Save your clips and initialize the CF card

Cannot delete a photo.

- The photo is protected. Remove the protection.

- The LOCK switch on the SD card is set to prevent accidental erasure. Change the position of the LOCK switch.

Cannot copy clips.

- There is not enough available space on the CF card being copied to or the CF card already contains the maximum number of clips (999 clips). Delete some clips to free some space or replace the CF card.

Indicators and Onscreen Displays

 lights up in red.

- Battery pack is exhausted. Replace or charge the battery pack.

  appears on the screen.

- The camcorder cannot communicate with the battery pack attached so the remaining battery time cannot be displayed.

The tally lamp does not illuminate.

- Set [Other Functions] > [Tally Lamp] to [On].

The tally lamp flashes quickly. (4 flashes per second)

- The battery pack is exhausted. Replace or charge the battery pack.

- There is not enough available space on the CF card. Delete some clips (A122) to free some space or replace the CF card.

- A system error has occurred. Turn off the camcorder and back on again. If this does not solve the problem, consult a Canon Service Center.

The tally lamp flashes slowly.  (1 flash per second)

- The combined available space on CF cards is low. Replace the CF card that is not being recorded onto.

 appears in red on the screen.

- An SD card error occurred. Turn off the camcorder. Remove and reinsert the SD card. Initialize the SD card if thedisplay does not change back to normal.

- The SD card is full. Replace the SD card or delete some photos to free some space on the SD card.

Even after stopping recording, the CF A/CF B access indicator stays illuminated in red.

- The clip is being recorded. This is not a malfunction.

Picture and Sound

Screen displays turn on and off repeatedly.

- The battery pack is exhausted. Replace or charge the battery pack.

- Remove the battery pack and reattach it correctly.

Abnormal characters appear on the screen and the camcorder does not operate properly.

- Disconnect the power source and reconnect it after a short time. If the problem still persists, perform one of the following actions.

• • Disconnect the power source and press the RESET button. This resets all the camcorder’s settings to default values except for custom picture settings and the hour meter.
  • Use the [Other Functions] > [Reset] > [All Settings] function. This resets all the camcorder’s settings to default values except for the hour meter.

Video noise appears on screen.

- Keep a distance between the camcorder and devices that emit strong electromagnetic fields such as near powerful magnets and motors, MRI machines or high-voltage power lines.

Horizontal bands appear on the screen.

- This is a phenomenon typical of CMOS image sensors when recording under some types of fluorescent, mercury or sodium lamps. To reduce the symptoms, set the shutter speed to 1/100. This is not a malfunction.

Audio cannot be recorded.

- An external microphone connected to the XLR terminal requires phantom power. Set the XLR terminal switch to MIC+48V.

- The camcorder’s MIC terminal is given priority over the XLR terminals. To record audio from the XLR terminals, be sure not to connect any microphones to the MIC terminal.

Audio is recorded at an extremely low level.

- When using the XLR terminals: The AUDIO LEVEL switch is set to M, and the recording level is set too low. When using the MIC terminal: [Audio Setup] > [Audio Input] > [MIC Mode] is set to [Manual] and the [MIC Level] setting is too low. Check the audio level meter on the screen or rear panel and adjust the audio level correctly

- The microphone attenuator is on. Turn off the microphone attenuator

Sound is distorted or is recorded at lower levels.

- When recording near loud sounds (such as fireworks, shows or concerts), sound may become distorted or it may not be recorded at the actual levels. Activate the microphone attenuator, or adjust the audio recording level manually.

 

Recording Media and Accessories

Cannot insert the recording media.

- The CF card or SD card you are trying to insert is not facing the correct direction. Turn it over and insert it.

Cannot record on the CF card.

- A compatible CF card must be used

- Initialize the CF card when you use it with the camcorder for the first time.

- The CF card is full or it already contains the maximum number of clips (999 clips). Delete some clips to free some space or replace the CF card.

Cannot record on the SD card.

- Initialize the SD card when you use it with the camcorder for the first time.

- The LOCK switch on the SD card is set to prevent accidental erasure. Change the position of the LOCK switch.

- The SD card is full. Delete some photos to free some space or replace the SD card.

- The folder and file numbers have reached their maximum value. Set the [Other Functions] > [Photo Numbering] setting to [Reset] and insert a new SD card.

Recording to and playing back from a CF card is slow.

- This may occur as video is recorded/deleted over time. Save your clips and initialize the CF card

Recording to and playing back from an SD card is slow.

- This may occur as photos are recorded/deleted over time. Save your photos and initialize the SD card

 

Connections with External Devices

Video noise appears on a nearby TV screen.

- When using the camcorder in a room where a TV is located, keep a distance between the compact power adapter and the power or antenna cables of the TV.

Playback looks fine on the camcorder but there is no image on the external monitor.

- The camcorder is not connected correctly to the external monitor. Make sure you are using the correct connection

- The video input on the external monitor is not set to the video terminal to which you connected the camcorder. Select the correct video input.

The camcorder is connected using a commercially available HDMI cable, but there is no picture or sound from the external monitor.

- Disconnect the HDMI cable and then restore the connection or turn the camcorder off and then on again.