This is your step by step guide on how to use the brand new Canon XA20 and Canon XA25 infrared video cameras. Learn all the filming tips you need!

1. @campbellcamer-

2. This tutorial has been modified from the
Guide to the Canon HF G30.

3. First Things First
1
1) Charge the Battery
Touch “FUNC”
Canon BP-828
Optional 3-4hr Battery
2) Turn Off Notification Sounds
Touch “MENU” Touch Wrench
Folder
Scroll to “Notification
Sounds” & Touch
Select “OFF”
3) Solo Hunters: Turn off the Auto Power Off
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Touch Wrench
Folder
Scroll to “Auto
Power Off”
Select “Off”
Recommended:
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4. Recording Format
2
Touch “FUNC”
1) Select AVCHD or MP4 - AVCHD for highest recording
quality or MP4 for fast upload to the web
Touch “MENU” Touch Film
Strip
Folder
Scroll to “Movie
Format” & Touch
Select
“AVCHD” or
“MP4”
Make sure your are recording in Manual Mode
To take advantage of highest settings
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5. 3
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Touch “FUNC”
1) Select 28 Mbps LPCM (59.94P) For the highest
quality setting.
Touch “MENU” Touch Film
Strip
Folder
Scroll to “Recording
Mode” & Touch
Select 28 Mbps
LPCM (59.94P)
Make sure your are recording in Manual Mode
To take advantage of highest settings
Recording Mode
NOTE: if the top two choices are
grayed out, this means you are not in
Manual Mode

6. Recording Media
4
• You can add up to 2TB Card in each slot.
• Initialize all new SDHC Cards.
• You can select which slot to record your photos
and videos
• Relay Recording allows you to go from one card
to the other
• Dual Recording - allows you to record an instant
backup *** ONLY AVAILABLE IN MP4 MODE ***
64GB Class 10 SDHC
Card
Recommended:
NOTE: When removing or inserting a SD
Card, ALWAYS have the camera off.
Otherwise it could corrupt the card @campbellcameras

7. Initializing SD Cards
5
When to initialize Your Card:
1) When you have a NEW Card
2) When you want to ERASE EVERYTHING off of the card
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Touch Film
Strip
Folder
Scroll to “Initialize” &
Touch the Card you
want to Initialize
Select Initialize
NOTE: Initializing your cards will delete all
the video clips/photos/information that is on
the cards!!! Initialize with caution Confirm Your
Answer
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8. 6
Select Recording Media
You have to tell your camera where to record your videos
and photos. You select which card slots.
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Touch Film
Strip
Folder
Scroll to “Recording
Media”
Select Your
Options
@campbellcameras

9. 7
Relay Recording
Relay Recording allows you to go from Card A to Card B
without losing any footage! Requires two SD Cards
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Touch Film
Strip
Folder
Scroll to “Dual/Relay
Recording”
Select Relay
Recording
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10. 8
Dual Recording
Dual Recording allows you to simultaneously record to
Card A and Card B, allowing for an instant backup.
Requires two SD cards.
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Touch Film
Strip
Folder
Scroll to “Dual/Relay
Recording”
Select Dual
Recording
NOTE: If the Dual Recording Option is grayed out and you have two SD cards in
the slots, this means that at least one of the SD Cards
is not large enough or the right class to run the Recording Mode Setting. You can go
back and select a lower recording mode until the dual recording is available
@campbellcameras

11. 9
Digital Zoom
Digital zoom allows you to really get out there and zoom
into your subject. However, your image will be grainy and
not worth having in your video! We ALWAYS recommend
turning the Digital Zoom to OFF and stick with the
Optical Zoom
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Touch the
Camera Icon
Scroll to “Digital
Zoom”
Select OFF
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12. 10
Manual Ring
New to the Canon XA20/25 is the option to change the
control of the manual ring from controlling your focus to
controlling your zoom.
The control is a switch on the back of the camera. To
control your zoom with the manual ring, you select zoom.
To control the focus with the manual ring, you select focus.
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13. Recording Mode
To get the best control over
your footage, shoot in
manual mode.
P (Program AE) - The
Camera automatically chooses
the exposure
Tv (Shutter Priority AE) - You
choose the Shutter Speed,
camera chooses Aperture
Av (Aperture Priority AE) -
You choose the Aperture,
camera chooses Shutter
Speed
M (Manual Exposure) - You
choose the Aperture and
Shutter Speed
Common Recording
Scenes - Select from a
common set of
preselected recording
scenes
11
Touch FUNC-> Recording
Mode -> Select
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14. Special Scene Recording Programs
Portrait - The Camera
uses a large aperture to
achieve sharp focus on
the subject while
blurring the background
12
Sports - To record sports
scenes
Night Scene - To record
nigtscapes with lower
noise
Snow - To film by snow
without the subject being
underexposed
Beach - To film on the
beach without the subject
being underexposed
Sunset - To record
sunsets in vibrant color
Lowlight - To record
in low-light situations
Spotlight - To record
spotlight scenes
Fireworks - To record
fireworks
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15. Aperture
Aperture- Basically put, it is the size of the opening of the lens.
Aperture is measured in F-Stops. Smaller the F-Stop # the larger
the lens is open
13
Little bit in focus A lot in focus
Photo Credit: Godigitalslr.com
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16. Shutter Speed
Shutter Speed- Simply put, it is the duration of the opening of the
lens. You can control the blur of object as well as how much light
gets to the lens by controlling the shutter speed.
14
1 Sec Shutter Speed 1/3 Sec Shutter Speed
1/800 Sec Shutter
Speed
1/200 Sec Shutter
Speed
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
@campbellcameras

17. Custom Dial & Button
Custom Dial & Button- You can use the
custom dial and button to control a function
that you will use frequently
15
Options:
TV/AV - Shutter or Aperture Priority AE. You can adjust the shutter speed or
aperture value with the custom dial. This is available in AV or TV Mode
FUNC -> Rec. Programs -> TV (to set shutter) or AV (to set aperture)
M (Manual Exposure) - When you are under “Manual” as your Rec. Pro-
gram, you can use the custom dial to manually set your aperture, shutter &
gain.
AGC Limit - Adjust the AGC (auto gain control) limit.
+/- : Exposure - When using a recording program other than Fireworks or
Manual Exposure, you can compensate the automatic exposure set by the
camcorder.
OFF - Use this setting if you do not intend to use the custom dial.
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Under the Wrench Folder
Touch “Custom Dial & Button”
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18. Custom Dial & Button - Manual Exposure
Custom Dial & Button- You can use the
custom dial and button to control a function
that you will use frequently
16
M (Manual Exposure) - When you are under “Manual” as your Rec. Pro-
gram, you can use the custom dial to manually set your aperture, shutter &
gain.
To manually adjust the Aperture, press the custom button until the F number
on your LCD Screen is highlighted in orange. Then use the custom dial to
change your F-stop #. To manually adjust the Shutter Speed, press the cus-
tom button until the fraction # is highlighted in orange on your LCD screen,
this now allows you to use the custom dial to select your shutter speed. The
same goes for the AGC (shown as a #dB on the LCD screen)
Press the
Custom button
If the F# is in
orange it adjust
aperture
Press the
Custom
button
If the shutter is in
orange it adjust
shutter speed
Press the
Custom
button
If the #dB is
in orange it
adjust AGC
Limit

19. 5 Assignable Buttons
You can assign 5 different functions to the assignable buttons
17
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Touch the
Wrench Icon
Scroll to the various
Assign Button #
Select What
you want it to
control
To Assign the buttons function:
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20. Assignable Button Options
18
You can assign these buttons to control the following options:
Powered IS - Turns Powered Image Stabilization on/off
BLC Always On - turns the backlight correction on/off
Face Only AF- Turns face only autofocus on/off
Video Snapshot- allows you to take a photo while videoing
WB Priority- turns white balance priority on/off
Pre REC- turns pre-recording on/off (Default for assignable button 2)
AF/MF - Switches between autofocus and manual focus (Default for Assignable button 1)
Rec Review - reviews the last scene that was recorded (Default for Assignable button 5)
Rec. Programs- Functions the same as selecting record programs in the FUNC panel
BLC Always On - Functions the same as selecting BLC always on in the FUNC panel
White Balance- Functions the same as selecting white balance in the FUNC panel
AGC Limit- Functions the same as selecting AGC limit in the FUNC Panel
FOCUS - Same as selecting Focus in the FUNC panel
Exposure - Same as selecting Exposure in the FUNC Panel
Audio Scene- Same as selecting Audio Scene in the FUNC Panel
Mic Level - Same as selecting Mic Level in the FUNC Panel
Zoom- Same as selecting Zoom in the FUNC Panel
Image Stabilizer- Same as selecting Image Stabilizer in the FUNC Panel
Image Effects- Same as selecting Image Effects in the FUNC Panel
WI-Fi- same as selecting Wi-Fi in the FUNC Panel
OFF- allows you to turn off the assignable button. Means that this button will not get you
anywhere.

21. Camera Handle & Mounts
19
Shotgun Mic Mount-
Allows you to mount XLR
Shotgun Mics
Universal Shoe- Allows
you to mount any
shoe-mount accessory
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Recommended:
Rubber Spacers:
Rubber spacers are needed to
securly mount your shotgun
microphone into the XA20/25.
How to use: Cut down the mid-
dle of one side of the spacer and
wrap it around the base of the
shotgun mic.

22. Upgraded Audio- Shotgun Microphone
20
We recommend the Rode NTG-1 Shotgun microphone to use with the Canon
XA20/25. With this you would need the K-Tek Rubber Spacer and the 90º XLR
Cable. On your audio controls turn the mic to “On”, input 1 to “Mic +48V” and
CH1 to M
Recommended:
@campbellcameras

23. Upgraded Audio- Wireless Microphone
21
We recommend the Sennheiser EW112-PG3 Wireless Mic.
On your audio controls turn the mic to “On”, input 2 to “Mic”, and CH2 to M.
Recommended:
@campbellcameras

24. Remote Control using Smart Device
Step 1
22
To use your ISO or Android device, you first have to set a password for the wi-fi
connection:
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Touch the
Video Icon
Scroll to the Wi-Fi Select
Smartphone
Connection
Select Not
Configured
Enter a 8 Digit
Password you
will remember
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25. Remote Control using Smart Device
Step 2
23
Now you have to turn on your Wi-Fi Remote on your camera
Touch “FUNC” Scroll to Wi-FI
Remote
Turn On
To connect to your phone,
turn on your Wi-Fi settings
and connect to your
camera’s SSID
Select “Join” and enter the
password you just created
and connect
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26. Remote Control using Smart Device
Step 3
24
Once connected, open up
your browser and enter the
URL shown on your camera
You now can use your
device as a remote control
and to see “live view”
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27. Remote Control using LANC
25
Want more precise and reliable remote control option?
Add a LANC remote
We recommend the
Varizoom VZ Rock-
Rocker LANC Remote
@campbellcameras

28. Setting Your White Balance
26
Why? - Accurately reproduce colors under different lighting
conditions
You can use the presets for easy access or manually
set it yourself!
Presets:
The camera automatically sets the WB
To record outdoors on a bright day
To record in shaded places
To record on a cloudy day
To record under warm white, cool white fluorescent lighting
To record under daylight or daylight-type fluorescent lighting
To record under Tungsten or tungsten-type fluorescent lighting
Allows you to set the color temperature between 2,000 K and 15,000 K.
@campbellcameras

29. 27
Understanding Color Temperature
1000-2000 K
2500-3500 K
Candlelight
Tungsten Bulb
(household)
3000-4000 K
A clear
sunrise/sunset
4000-5000 K
Fluorescent
Lamps
5000-5500 K
Electronic
Flash
5000 - 6500K
Daylight with
Clear Sky (sun
overhead)
Moderately
Overcast
Sky
6500-8000 K
Shade or Heavily
Overcast Sky
9000-10000 K
@campbellcameras

30. Automatically Set Your White Balance
28
When you are in a situation
What You Need: A white card, a white sheet of paper or
something that is completely white
Touch “FUNC” Touch “White
Balance”
Touch Custom
Icon
Fill your screen with
something completely
White and press Set
Notice the change in
color temperature. Your
white balance is now
set.
Before After
TIP: When you change filming/lighting
conditions, reset your white balance.
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31. Peaking
29
Why? - Peaking shows you the edges that are in focus so
you can get precise on what you want to focus on.
Touch “FUNC” Touch “Focus” Touch, Peak
then wrench
Icon
Choose your setting you
want to use
NOTE: The black & white and peaking will not show up on your re-
corded video, it is just for your LCD reference only.
@campbellcameras

32. Infrared Filming
30
Why? - Infrared filming allows you to film in complete darkness.
For example, on the way to your stand or recovery shots.
Choose from “black & white” or “green”
Touch “FUNC” Touch “MENU” Scroll to select
IR Light On &
IR REC Color
Choose your setting you
want to use
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Switch to
Infrared On

33. THE END
Now go out there and film something great
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TAG your photos on INSTAGRAM with @Campbell_cameras or
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