Both the Canon XH and XL series of camcorders offer two Custom Keys that can be configured to perform a variety of functions. These cover both camera and VCR operations. The functions can be assigned via the System Setup menu. Some of these settings have no permanent camcorder-based button to activate them, in particular Index Write and VCR Stop. Index Write inserts a marker on the tape whilst recording - this can be searched for when in VCR mode and is a great help in locating a specific section of footage. The VCR Stop command turns off the motor and parks the heads on the tape mechanism, resting them whilst you configure settings. Other useful options include temporarily setting the viewfinder and LCD panel to black and white, which can make focusing easier.

Canon professional camcorders offer two custom presets for storing manual white balance settings. But there will be occasions where time constraints or the lack of a pure white target will mean it isn’t possible to set white balance manually. For these situations, there are built-in presets available, which can also be customised to suit conditions. Below the A and B positions, the White Balance switch also has a ‘PRE’ option - this activates the White Balance Preset switch situated elsewhere on the camcorder. This offers sunlight and tungsten settings, plus a K option referring directly to colour temperature in Kelvin - all three can be customised by pressing the manual white balance button and adjusting the shutter/K wheel. The sunlight and tungsten options have nine steps above and below their default settings, whilst the K option can range from 2,800 to 12,000K in 100K increments.

The Canon XH and XL series camcorders are sold as region specific models. So the US and Japanese versions offer 60i, 30F and 24F shooting, whilst the European models have 50i and 25f instead. But you can update either one to offer the options of the other via a firmware upgrade. This is available directly from your local Canon office - it requires sending the unit in for the new firmware, and prices depend on region. After the upgrade, the camcorder will be able to shoot in 24F, 25F, 30F, 50i and 60i, for a globally flexible range of options. The power supply is already universally compatible with world AC power standards, so only an appropriate mains cable for each country will be required.

The DISPLAY button on the Canon XH and XL pro camcorders allows you to cycle through three different levels of on-screen information, with the last level leaving just the video preview. But you can also choose whether each piece of information is visible on an individual basis. Head for the Customize section of the Menu, then Custom Display. The DISP TUNE option lets you configure each of the 21 different display elements, ranging from whether aperture and shutter values are visible, to memory card functions. Values are set numerically, so you will need your camcorder's manual handy to know what the numbers mean. As with the custom preset setups, the custom displays you create can be saved and loaded to and from a memory card.

To save time you can use the custom presets function on the XL H1, XH G1 and XH A1. These offer up to nine settings that include gamma curve, knee point adjustment, master pedestal, horizontal frequency adjustment, noise reduction, coring and matrix (R-G/R-B/G-R/G-B/B-R/G-B) settings. These settings can be saved on an SD/SDHC card and transferred to another camcorder. You can also find custom preset libraries on the internet, where you can find many presets to download and use.

You can control your camcorder the way you want - and even transfer your customised settings to other camcorders. For example, you can assign frequently used functions (such as time code, audio level and index write) to the custom keys and also save customised settings on a memory card and transfer them to another camcorder.

All memory cards have a small protective slider that prevents you from erasing any data on the card. This can stop you accidentally erasing any important images, but it also means that you can't write any new ones to the card. A more convenient system is to protect individual images. You can do this by first selecting the image(s) you want to protect and then pressing the camcorder's SELECT/SET dial to open the still image menu. Select the PROTECT option and then ON and a key symbol appears next to the selected image(s). This means that the image(s) cannot be erased. If you want to delete the image(s) at a later stage, simply go back to the menu and select the OFF option. You can also use this system to protect any Custom preset files stored on the card.

The Canon XH and XL series camcorders offer two custom preset positions for white balance. This is particularly handy if your shoot alternates continually between two different locations with distinct lighting conditions. Flick the White Balance switch to the A position, then use a white card and the manual setting switch to define the white balance as normal. You can then do the same for the B position at the other location. This will save a lot of time – simply shift the switch position to recall the appropriate white balance configuration.

The Position Preset switches on the Canon XH and XL series camcorders also allow you to define a focal point. This is extremely useful for cinematic focus pulling effects. Slide the top switch to Focus; then use the lens ring to focus on your second subject. You then slide the On-Set switch back to define the position, and focus on your first subject. Sliding the On-Set switch forwards to 'On' rapidly shifts focus from the first subject to the second – great for leading viewer attention during a dialogue. However, when executing the effect, great care needs to be taken not to jog the camcorder, which would obviously ruin the shot.

Thanks to their large Full HD CCD sensors Canon’s professional camcorders are extremely adept at low-light shooting, but low light performance can be further enhanced using the tri-level gain switch. Turning off Automatic Gain Control and selecting one of the three positions boosts the video signal electronically. This will enhance picture brightness and colour, although high levels of gain can also introduce noise. There are three positions on the manual gain switch - L, M and H - each of which can be configured by the user. The default values are 0dB, 6dB and 12dB respectively, but any value from -3dB to +36dB is possible in camera mode, whilst +18dB is the maximum in card mode. These are configured using the Gain Setting option under Camera Setup. You should note that +36dB can introduce a lot of grain and is only recommended for use when this is preferable to a darker, less noisy image.

Moisture and camcorders don’t mix, but you can shoot safely underwater or in the rain with an appropriate protective housing. Specific housing options are available for the XH or XL models. For example, EWA-Marine offers complete waterproof housings and rain capes. The full housing is waterproof to a depth of 10 metres. The housing is made of flexible PVC with finger-openings for control, whilst an optically neutral glass on one end provides a clear port through which the camcorder shoots. For greater depths, hard enclosures from Gates will endure down to 107m, although only a subset of the camcorder controls remains accessible.

Shooting against very bright or very dark backgrounds can make it hard to achieve the right exposure. For example, if you are recording product demonstrations against a pure white backdrop, the camcorder’s built-in meter will tend to underexpose the subject to compensate for the expanse of white. In this case it pays to overexpose the frame so that the area of focus is balanced correctly. Conversely, a light-coloured object against a black background will have the opposite effect – centralising the light meter will overexpose your subject. In this case choose a higher shutter or narrower aperture setting. If you’re shooting in Auto mode, use AE shift to bias auto-exposure up or down as necessary.

The Canon XL H1, XL H1S and XH G1 camcorders incorporate BNC connections for use with external timecode signals. This greatly facilitates precise synchronisation during a multi-camera shoot. The XH G1 only provides input, so an external generator with multiple outputs will be required when shooting with more than one of these cameras. But the XL H1 and XL H1S models have output as well. So one camcorder can be used as timecode master source for the others, connected serially. Each camera must be set in ‘free run’ mode. Then, every simultaneous shot will be stamped with synchronised timecode, making it a cakewalk to line the different camera-angles up during multi-camera editing. Give each shot plenty of pre-roll as some editing software has trouble capturing from tapes with timecode breaks.

Both the XH and XL series camcorders have LCDs/viewfinders which crop into the image slightly on each edge. This means there will be a small amount of extra video captured around the margin of what you are actually seeing on-screen. This can mean elements that you don't wish to include can stray into the frame, or a finely crafted balance of 'mise-en-scene' may be thrown off. You can compensate for this when composing your shots, but for a completely accurate view, consider attaching an external monitor. All of the analogue AV outputs (and the digital Firewire connection) operate when in camcorder mode, providing a variety of options. Even a standard definition monitor could help, as the XH and XL will down-convert 'on the fly' whilst shooting.

One of the most creative features of Canon's XL camcorders is their ability to accept a variety of lenses. As standard, these models ship with a 20x zoom XL5.4-108mm f/1.6-3.5L IS lens, but this can be swapped for the optional 6x HD Wide Angle XL3.4-20.4 lens. The mount is also physically compatible with earlier XL lenses, although HD-grade lenses are recommended to maintain optimal image quality. You can also extend your options with the 1.6XL Extender and cinema adapters which mount directly on the XL mount, preserving the highest quality. In addition the EF Lens Adapter increases focal length by 7.2x - great for wildlife and extreme telephoto shooting - and opens up an absolutely huge potential shooting repertoire as you can use any of Canon's massive EF mount range of over 60 photographic lenses.

The Canon XH series camcorders have fixed lenses, so they don't enjoy as much optical flexibility as the XL range. But these models do accept 72mm add-ons, including the WD-72H Wide Angle converter. This multiplies the camcorder's zoom range by 0.8x. There are also a number of third-party alternatives including 0.6x and 0.8x wide angle, fisheye, and 1.6x converters. Most of these adapters (the fisheye, 0.6x wide angle and 1.6x teleconverter) don't operate through the entire zoom range but the WD-72H converter does. Bear in mind that some of these adapters (and the WD-72H) block the Instant AF (IAF) sensor so you should, in this case, shut down the IAF system. You can then either rely on manual focusing or switch to Normal AF, which operates exclusively through the lens (TTL).

Shooting HD for the Web may seem like overkill, but the Canon XH and XL series camcorders offer modes that are ideal for Internet streaming. For a start, Web video is usually progressively scanned, so the 25F frame rate options makes footage more natively compatible with Internet delivery formats. Using HD at the acquisition stage has another benefit. Since the footage will be streamed at many times less resolution than HD, software zooming can be used during editing without any loss in perceptible image quality. This provides extra choices you may not have thought of during the original shoot – such as closer framing or focusing on an area of detail.

If you're in full control of the shooting environment, setting everything manually is most likely to give you the best results. But you will often be faced with conditions where you must react quickly, leaving little time to make adjustments. The AE shift function on the Canon XH and XL series camcorders is particularly handy in these situations. It allows you to leave autoexposure on, but bias it a certain amount up or down. The setting is found in the Camera Setup section of the menu, with increments from -2 to +2 available. A positive value prevents areas of darker detail from being too underexposed when shooting in snow or sand (similar to backlight compensation), whilst a negative value prevents a subject against a dark background from being overexposed. This setting only works when the camcorder is in fully automatic, shutter priority (Tv) or aperture priority (Av) modes.

There are times when you may want to override your camcorder's automatic exposure system and make a scene appear more bright or dim. A quick and easy way to do this is to use the Auto Exposure (AE) Shift function. This offers a series of AE levels, ranging from +2.0 to -2.0 that can be selected from a menu. In the XL series of camcorders, you turn the AE Shift dial and adjust the level. If you're using an XH series camcorder, you should set the power dial to auto, aperture priority or shutter priority mode, and then open the menu and select Camera Setup. Now, select AE Shift, choose the level you want, and then close the menu.

You can generate and record colour bar signals along with a 1kHz audio reference signal on the XH and the XL series of camcorders. What's more, there's a choice between an EBU (Type 1) or SMPTE colour bar (Type 2). You can select the standard and the strength of the 1kHz tone using the customised functions. To generate the colour bar on the XH series, set the output switch to Bars, and on the XL series, use the Bars/Fade select button. Now, press the start-stop button to record the signal.

Digital filmmakers can achieve a film-like result by switching to the camcorder's 25F shooting mode. If the XL H1 is adapted for NTSC shooting, it can also shoot in 24F and 30F modes. The 25F (frame recording shooting mode) can be used in conjunction with the camcorders' CINE gamma settings to produce footage that has the look and feel of film.

The time code function is essential for accurate post-production work, such as combining footage from two or more different camcorders. Canon's XL and XH series of camcorders offer a choice of time code settings for maximum flexibility. In the Rec-Run mode, the time code only runs when the camcorder is recording. In the Rec-Run PS mode, the time code will only start recording from a pre-set value, while in the Free-Run mode, the time code runs continuously regardless of the camcorder's mode of operation. The time code generator is powered by the camcorder's built-in rechargeable lithium battery so it will continue to operate in the Free-Run mode even when the battery pack is removed, providing there is enough power remaining in the lithium battery. To change the time code's recording mode, you need to open the menu, select Signal Setup and then the Time Code menu. Now, select the option you want. If you choose the Rec-Run mode, simply close the menu. However, if you opt for the Rec-Run PS or Free-Run modes, there are two additional steps, which involve setting the value in hours, minutes and seconds. You do this by first pressing the Set option and then using the Select/Set dial to set the value. After this, close the menu.

The XH series of camcorders offer a Sky Detail function. When this feature is set, areas of blue sky are detected by the camcorder, and the detail level is reduced to produce a softer effect. To use this feature, open the menu, select Camera Setup, then Sky Detail and set it to Soft. Now, close the menu.

If you want to be more certain that your subject is accurately framed, you can set-up a Safety Zone guide. Both the XL and XH series of Canon camcorders offer this feature. To use it go to the menu, select Display Set-up and then choose Safety Zone. You can set the Safety Zone to cover 80% or 90% of the screen area. Once you've made your selection, close the menu and the Safety Zone is set.

The 16:9 format is the standard aspect ratio for most broadcast and video productions, and Canon's XL and XH camcorders record pictures in this format by default. Their viewfinders are also optimised for 16:9 viewing. But there may be times when your footage is destined to be viewed on a 4:3 monitor or TV screen. In this case, you might want to switch the aspect ratio on your camcorder. If you're using an XH A1 or XH G1, just go into the menu, select SIGNAL SETUP and then SIGNAL STD. Choose the SD 4:3 option and then close the menu. The XL H1S and XL H1 have a mode select switch which needs to be set to set to SD 4:3. Note that if you change the aspect ratio while recording, the aspect ratio won't actually change until you have put the camcorder in the record/pause mode. A 4:3 picture viewed on a 16:9 viewfinder will have black side panels.

A neutral density filter (ND) is useful when shooting in bright light, and you can use the camcorder's built-in ND filter for this purpose. However, sometimes, a higher density or external ND filter is required. If you have an external ND filter, this can be attached to the camcorder lens. If an external filter isn't available, you can compensate for this by using the Tv (Shutter-Priority) mode and setting a high shutter speed, or using the Av (Aperture-Priority) mode to set a small aperture value.

When you're shooting a CRT screen or some other displays, the shot can be ruined by black bands or flicker caused by the camera and display scanning frequencies being out of sync. The Clear Scan Function on all Canon pro camcorders helps to eliminate this problem by allowing you to adjust the camcorder's scanning frequency (from 50.2Hz to 200.3Hz). To activate Clear Scan, you need to switch the camcorder to Tv or M mode and then use the small shutter dial at the front of the camcorder to set the shutter speed to CS (this involves scrolling through a set of speeds in the viewfinder screen). Once this is set, you open the Camera Menu and select Camera Set. Scroll down the menu and then select Clear Scan. Then, adjust the frequency until the black band disappears and close the menu.

Canon's camcorders offer useful features for times when you're shooting in low light. The XL H1 series of camcorders has a Night mode function which works by using a slow shutter speed (between 1/3sec and 1/50sec) to improve exposure. The XH series of camcorders have three preset gain levels (low, medium and high), which the user can set between -3dB and 36dB. If you're using the Night mode feature the autofocus system might not function as well as it does in brighter light, so you might want to switch to manual focus. Increasing the gain can also boost picture noise, so it's best to take some practice shots and gradually adjust the gain level until you find the optimum setting.

If you want to take low angle shots with an XH A1 or XH G1, two features will help to make this process much easier. The first is that recording and zoom controls can also be found in the carrying angle, so you can hold the camcorder towards the ground and still control the shoot. The camcorder's LCD screen has a swivel design, so its angle can be altered to give you a good view of the shot whatever the position. Next to these extra controls is a lock switch which can be used to prevent accidental operation.

The XL H1, XH G1 and XH A1 are great camcorders but don't forget that they can also be used as digital still image cameras. Using the Photo Mode enables you to record images up to 2MB in size onto an SD or SDHC Memory Card. A large SD card will let you store many hundreds of images and you can squeeze even more images onto the card by opting for a lower resolution – the camcorders can record images in sizes ranging from 1920 x 1080 pixels to 640 x 480 pixels. What's more, you can record still images while shooting video footage at the same time. Still image recording can be very useful whilst on a location, where it can be used for checking continuity, storyboarding or simply as a visual record of the shoot.

The XL and XH series of camcorders can also record still photo images onto an SD card and you can either take one shot at a time or shoot several or more images in succession. To do this, make sure the camcorder is not in Easy Recording mode. Now, move the tape/card switch to the card setting and then use the drive mode button to select continuous shooting or continuous high shooting. Press and hold the Photo button and the camcorder will fire off a series of shots at between 3-5 frames per second, depending on the still image file size. You can shoot up to 30 or 60 images (again depending on the image size) before the buffer memory is full and has to be refreshed. However, you can continue using the continuous shooting modes until the memory card is full.

Not everyone you shoot will have perfect skin and sometimes there's a need to conceal or reduce the impact of skin imperfections. A good make-up artist can help but so can your camcorder. The Skin Detail function helps mask skin imperfections by softening areas that have skin-tone characteristics. To use the feature, open the menu, select camera 'set-up', then 'skin detail' and 'effect level'. Here you'll find a series of options for adjusting the hue, chroma, area and Y level. These are adjusted by using on-screen sliders and then set by selecting the SELECT/SET dial. Close the menu and the camera is set up.