43Preparing Recording MediaPreparing Recording MediaThe camcorder records clips to 1 CompactFlash (CF) cards and photos* to . SD and / SDHC memorycards. The camcorder is equipped with two CF card slots. Initialize recording media (A 45) when you use themwith this camcorder for the first time.* The camcorder can record custom picture files and a camera settings file onto the SD card as well. The SD card serves also tostore user memo files created with the supplied software Canon XF Utility that you can then read and embed in the clips’metadata.Compatible CF cardsYou can use UDMA-compatible* Type I CF cards with a capacity of at least 512 MB with the camcorder. Formore details on cards that can be used, visit your local Canon Web site.* The Ultra Direct Memory Access (UDMA) specification allows data to be transferred between the CF card and device at hightransfer speeds (measured in MB/s). Depending on the CF card, you may not be able to record even when using a UDMA-compatible CF card.NOTES• Proper operation cannot be guaranteed for all CF cards.Inserting a CF CardYou can insert a CF card into CF card slot A or slot B. If you have two CFcards, you can use both slots.1 Slide the CF card slot cover switch in the direction of the arrow.• The CF card slot cover will open upward (slot A) or downward(slot B).2 Insert the CF card straight, with the label facing up, all the way intothe slot.3 Close the CF card slot cover.• Do not force the cover closed if the CF card is not correctly inserted.Checking the Status of the CF Card SlotsYou can check the status of the CF card slots immediately by looking at theCF2/CF3 access indicator. Refer to the following table.Access indicator color CF card slot statusRed Accessing CF card.Green Recording/playback is possible and the CF card slot is selectedfor recording/playback.Indicator off A CF card is not inserted, the CF card slot is not currentlyselected, or the CF card is not being accessed.COPY