The latest Canon camcorders are technically advanced, high-definition marvels that take shots a full TV crew would've been needed for just a few years ago. Should you run into any problems, check the basics first. Make sure there's a power supply; check to see if the battery is charged. Basic recording problems would involve checking to make sure the camcorder is on and a memory card is inserted. Playback problems could mean the camera isn't in playback mode or there aren't any recordings on the card. If you've checked these items and are still having problems, follow these steps.
Recording
If pressing "Start/Stop" doesn't start the recording, check that the memory isn't full or that the camcorder isn't still writing to the card. If the movies aren't being recorded properly, check that the card hasn't been overused. The card can fill up with redundant data over time, even if you delete movies as you go. Reformatting the card in the camera will solve this.
Playback
If you can't add scenes to the playlist, remember that the playlist holds a maximum of 999 scenes. If you are having other problems with scene--you can't delete a scene, for example--check that the scene hasn't been recorded on another device. Good reliability will only result if you use the Canon for creating and editing scenes. Use editing software if you want to mix and match.
Indicators
A battery icon that is lit red indicates an exhausted battery. The battery icon can also sometimes have a little question mark in it. This means the camera can't communicate with the battery. In both cases, just recharge the battery. If the flash icon--the lightning bolt--flashes on the screen, the camcorder has malfunctioned. Reboot and, if it still flashes, send the camera in for service.
Picture
If the screen appears too dark, the LCD may have become dimmed. Hold the "Disp" button down for two seconds and the screen should restore to its original brightness. Video noise on the screen can indicate electrical noise. Move away from power lines or other electromagnetic fields, like plasma televisions. Horizontal bands can be caused by fluorescent lights. It's not a malfunction--it's inherent in the camera's sensor technology. To alleviate it, move the camera to to a manual setting like "Shutter Priority."
Sound
Distortion can be caused by loud noise. Adjust the recording level manually or activate the microphone attenuator to solve this problem. No sound at all can be caused by the speaker volume being turned off or an audio cable that's been disconnected. Also check to make sure the AV terminal isn't set to headphone output.
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