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Do’s and Don’ts 

54

Condensation

Moving the camcorder rapidly between 
hot and cold temperatures may cause 
condensation (water droplets) to form on 
its internal surfaces. Stop using the 
camcorder if condensation is detected. 
Continued use may damage the 
camcorder.

Condensation may form in the following 

cases:

When the camcorder is moved from an 
air-conditioned room to a warm, humid 
place

When the camcorder is moved from a 
cold place to a warm room

When the camcorder is left in a humid 
room

When a cold room is heated rapidly

T

O

 

AVOID

 

CONDENSATION

 

 

Do not expose the camcorder to 

sudden or extreme changes in 
temperature.

 

Remove the cassette, place the 

camcorder in an airtight plastic bag and 
let it adjust to temperature changes 
slowly before removing it from the bag.

W

HEN

 

CONDENSATION

 

IS

 

DETECTED

 

 

The camcorder automatically shuts off, 

the warning message “CONDENSATION 
HAS BEEN DETECTED” appears for 
approx. 4 seconds and 

 starts flashing.

 

If a cassette is loaded, the warning 

message “REMOVE THE CASSETTE” 
appears and 

 starts flashing. Remove 

the cassette immediately and leave the 
cassette compartment open. Leaving the 
cassette in the camcorder may damage 
the tape.

 

A cassette cannot be loaded when 

condensation is detected.

R

ESUMING

 

USE

 

 

The precise time required for water 

droplets to evaporate will vary depending 
on the location and weather conditions. 
After the condensation warning stops 
flashing, wait for 1 more hour before 
resuming use.

Summary of Contents for MD120

Page 1: ...PUB DIE 274 PAL Digital Video Camcorder Instruction Manual English Introduction Prerparations Basic Functions Advanced Functions External Connections Additional Information Mini Digital Video Cassette ...

Page 2: ...assette If the symptoms reappear shortly after the cleaning the videocassette may be defective Stop using it Availability differs from area to area Video heads may become dirty under the following conditions When using the camcorder in humid or hot places When using cassettes with damaged or dirty tape When using the camcorder in dusty places When using the video heads without cleaning them for a ...

Page 3: ...Power Adapter CA 590E may damage the camcorder European Union and EEA only This symbol indicates that this product is not to be disposed of with your household waste according to the WEEE Directive 2002 96 EC and your national law This product should be handed over to a designated collection point e g on an authorized one for one basis when you buy a new similar product or to an authorized collect...

Page 4: ...20 Basic Functions Recording Recording Movies 21 Zooming 22 Playback Playing Back Movies 23 Locating the End of the Last Scene 24 Magnifying the Playback Image 24 Advanced Functions Menu Options Lists FUNC Menu 25 Setup menus 25 Camera Setup Digital Zoom Image Stabilizer etc 25 VCR Setup Recording Mode TV Type etc 27 Audio Setup Audio Mode Wind Screen etc 27 Display Setup LCD Brightness Language e...

Page 5: ...V Screen 42 Recording to a VCR or Digital Video Recorder 42 Digital Video Dubbing 43 Connecting to a Computer PC Connection Diagrams 45 Transferring Video Recordings 46 Additional Information Trouble Troubleshooting 47 List of Messages 49 Do s and Don ts Handling Precautions 51 Maintenance Others 53 Using the Camcorder Abroad 55 General Information System Diagram Availability differs from area to ...

Page 6: ...is Manual Push the joystick up down left or right to select an item or change settings Press the joystick itself to save the settings or confirm an action On menu screens this is indicated by the joystick icon First Time Settings Changing the Language The language for on screen and menu displays can be changed The list of available languages depends on the region where you purchased the camcorder ...

Page 7: ...available When no operating mode icons are given the function is available in all operating modes Trademark Acknowledgements is a trademark Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Macintosh and Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Computer Inc registered in the United States and other countries Other names and products not mentioned above ma...

Page 8: ...Getting to Know the Camcorder Getting to Know the Camcorder Supplied Accessories CA 590E Compact Power Adapter incl power cord BP 2L5 Battery Pack Lithium Button Battery CR1616 STV 250N Stereo Video Cable ...

Page 9: ...icated within a button frame for example Components Guide Left side view Front view Right Side View Lens cover switch 21 open closed CHARGE indicator 13 Speaker AV terminal 40 MIC microphone terminal 36 DV terminal 40 45 Terminal cover Grip belt 16 Strap mount 58 Lock button switch 7 Stereo microphone FUNC ...

Page 10: ...ric adjustment lever 16 BATT battery release switch 13 LCD screen 16 Backup battery compartment 14 Start stop button 21 Serial number Battery attachment unit 13 DC IN terminal 13 D EFFECTS button 38 FUNC button 17 25 Joystick 6 Zoom lever 22 Mode switch 30 Easy recording Recording programs Cassette compartment 15 OPEN EJECT switch 15 Cassette compartment cover 15 Tripod socket 22 FUNC ...

Page 11: ...stment 32 Manual focus 33 Image stabilizer 26 Playback Recording mode 27 Tape operation Time code hours minutes seconds Remaining tape Remaining battery charge Widescreen 16 9 mode 26 Wind screen off 27 Audio recording mode 35 Backup battery warning Level marker 28 Recording reminder Operating mode 7 Audio playback mode 36 Search function display END SEARCH 24 Playback time hours minutes seconds f...

Page 12: ...able to record on the tape the number of minutes that appears on the videocassette s label for example 85 minutes Remaining battery charge When starts flashing in red replace the battery pack with a fully charged one When you attach an empty battery pack the power may turn off without displaying Depending on the conditions under which the camcorder and the battery pack are used the actual battery ...

Page 13: ...al Charging Recording and Playback Times The times given in the table below are approximate and vary depending on the actual charging recording or playback conditions Approximate times for recording with repeated operations such as start stop zooming power on off Battery Pack BP 2L5 NB 2L NB 2LH BP 2L12 BP 2L14 Charging Time 145 min 150 min 160 min 240 min 285 min Maximum Recording Times Viewfinde...

Page 14: ...ompact power adapter any electrical equipment that is not expressly recommended for use with this camcorder To prevent equipment breakdowns and excessive heating do not connect the supplied compact power adapter to voltage converters for overseas travels or special power sources such as those on aircraft and ships DC AC inverters etc NOTES The CHARGE indicator also serves as a rough estimate of th...

Page 15: ...s automatically 2 Insert the cassette Insert the cassette with the window facing the grip belt To remove a cassette pull it straight out 3 Press the mark on the cassette compartment until it clicks 4 Wait for the cassette compartment to retract automatically and close the cassette compartment cover IMPORTANT Do not interfere with the cassette compartment while it is opening or closing automaticall...

Page 16: ...at you can reach the zoom lever with your index finger and the start stop button with your thumb Adjusting the LCD Screen Rotating the LCD Panel Open the LCD panel 90 degrees You can rotate the panel 90 degrees downward You can rotate the panel 180 degrees toward the lens allowing the subject to monitor the LCD screen while you use the viewfinder Rotating the panel 180 degrees is also useful if yo...

Page 17: ...tting will shorten the effective usage time of the battery pack Using the Menus Many of the camcorder s functions can be adjusted from the menus that open after pressing the FUNC button For details about the available menu options and settings refer to Menu Options Lists 25 Selecting a FUNC Menu Option 1 Press 2 Select the icon of the function you want to change from the left side column 3 Select ...

Page 18: ...lso hold pressed down for more than 2 seconds to open directly the setup menus screen 3 Select the desired menu from the left side column and press The title of the selected menu appears on top of the screen and under it the list of settings 4 Select the setting you want to change and press An orange frame will indicate the menu item currently selected Menu items not available will appear grayed o...

Page 19: ...elect DATE TIME SETUP and press 4 Select T ZONE DST and press The time zone setting appears The default setting is Paris or Singapore depending on the region of purchase 5 Select your time zone and press To adjust for daylight saving time select the time zone with the mark next to the area 6 Press to close the menu Time Zones Once you have set the time zone date and time you do not need to reset t...

Page 20: ... Select DATE TIME and press Blinking arrows will be displayed around the first field of the date 5 Change each field of the date and time with the joystick s and move to the next field 6 Press to start the clock 7 Press to close the menu NOTES You can also change the date format 29 DATE TIME SETUP DATE TIME 1 JAN 2007 12 00 AM FUNC 17 FUNC FUNC ...

Page 21: ...w seconds of the last recording made and return to record pause mode You can also hold the joystick pressed towards or towards to play back the tape reverse or forward respectively to locate the point where you want to start recording WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED RECORDING 1 Close the lens cover and the LCD panel 2 Turn off the camcorder 3 Remove the tape 4 Disconnect the power source and remove the bat...

Page 22: ...ded image and does not constitute a malfunction When using a tripod Do not leave the viewfinder exposed to direct sunlight as it may melt due to concentration of the light by the lens Do not use tripods with fastening screws longer than 5 5 mm Doing so may damage the camcorder When recording movies try to get a calm stable picture Excessive camcorder movement while shooting and extensive use of fa...

Page 23: ...PEAKER VOLUME and adjust the volume The sound from the built in speaker will be muted when you close the LCD panel or while the STV 250N Stereo Video Cable is connected to the AV terminal If you turn off the volume completely the icon will change to 3 Press to close the menu SPECIAL PLAYBACK MODES There is no sound during the special playback modes Fast Playback Push the joystick towards or toward...

Page 24: ...dings the end search may not work correctly Magnifying the Playback Image During playback movies and still images can be magnified up to 5 times You can also select the area to be magnified 1 Move the zoom lever toward T The image is magnified by 2 times and a frame appears indicating the position of the magnified area To further enlarge the image move the zoom lever toward T To reduce the magnifi...

Page 25: ...ECT OFF FADER EFFECT Adjust the volume with the joystick Press to enter the record pause mode Press to search Setup menus Camera Setup Digital Zoom Image Stabilizer etc CAMERA SETUP Mode switch Recording program PROGRAM AE AUTO 1 50 1 120 1 250 1 500 1 1000 1 2000 ON OFF The camcorder automatically uses slow shutter speeds to obtain brighter recordings in places with insufficient lighting The camc...

Page 26: ...D 3 is the fastest and SPEED 1 the slowest Mode switch ON OFF The image stabilizer compensates for camcorder shake even at full telephoto The image stabilizer is designed to compensate for a normal degree of camcorder shake The image stabilizer may not be effective when recording in dark places using the NIGHT recording program The image stabilizer cannot be turned off when the mode switch is set ...

Page 27: ...ou may notice some problems in the playback picture or the sound may stop briefly NORMAL TV WIDE TV In order to display the picture in full and in the correct aspect ratio select the setting according to the type of television to which you will connect the camcorder NORMAL TV TV sets with 4 3 aspect ratio WIDE TV TV sets with 16 9 aspect ratio Audio Setup Audio Mode Wind Screen etc AUDIO SETUP L R...

Page 28: ...29 OFF LEVEL WHT LEVEL GRY GRID WHT GRID GRY You can display a grid or a horizontal line at the center of the screen The markers are available in white or gray Use the markers as a reference to make sure your subject is framed correctly vertically and or horizontally Using the markers will not affect the recordings on the tape ON OFF PLAYBK You can hide the on screen displays to show only the play...

Page 29: ...camcorder or insert a videocassette System Setup Beep etc SYSTEM SETUP HIGH VOLUME LOW VOLUME OFF A beep will accompany some operations like turning on the camcorder the self timer countdown etc It also serves as a warning beep under unusual conditions ON OFF In order to save power when the camcorder is powered by a battery pack it will automatically shut off if left without any operation for five...

Page 30: ...s SUNSET Use this mode to record sunsets in vibrant colors PORTRAIT The camcorder uses a large aperture achieving a focus on the subject while blurring other distracting details SNOW Use this mode to record in bright ski resorts It prevents the subject from being underexposed SPOTLIGHT Use this mode to record spotlit scenes SPORTS Use this mode to record sports scenes such as tennis or golf BEACH ...

Page 31: ...such case select a different value If you use a slow shutter speed in dark places you can obtain a brighter image but the image quality may be lower and the autofocus may not work well The image may flicker when recording with high shutter speeds The shutter speed resets to AUTO when you set the mode switch to or change the recording program PORTRAIT SPORTS BEACH SNOW The picture may not appear sm...

Page 32: ...r glaring overexposed To correct this you can manually adjust the exposure POINTS TO CHECK Mode switch except for the FIREWORKS recording program 1 If the joystick guide does not appear on screen press to display it 2 Push the joystick towards EXP EXP on the joystick guide changes to light blue and the exposure adjustment indicator and the neutral value 0 appear on the screen If you operate the zo...

Page 33: ...ecessary Push the joystick towards for a farther focal distance or push it towards for a closer focal distance Pushing the joystick towards FOCUS again will return the camcorder to autofocus 5 Push the joystick towards BACK to save the focus adjustment NOTES The camcorder will automatically return to autofocus when you set the mode switch to Infinity Focus Use this function when you wish to focus ...

Page 34: ...OM to OFF 26 Readjust the white balance if the lighting conditions change Very rarely and depending on the light source may keep on flashing instead of staying on Even in that case the white balance would be properly adjusted and the results should be better than with AUTO Custom white balance may provide better results in the following cases Changing lighting conditions Close ups Subjects in a si...

Page 35: ... want the microphone to be as sensitive as possible 27 7 IMAGE EFFECT OFF Records with no image enhancing effects VIVID Emphasizes the contrast and color saturation NEUTRAL Tones down the contrast and color saturation SOFT SKIN DETAIL Softens the details in the skin tone area for a more complimentary appearance FUNC 17 Icon of the currently selected Image Effect Desired option FUNC FUNC Audio Reco...

Page 36: ...ions Default value Selecting the Audio Track on a Tape with Dubbed Audio You can select the audio track to play back when playing back a tape that has a dubbed audio track Stereo 2 in addition to the original recorded audio Stereo 1 POINTS TO CHECK Options Default value 7 L R Left and Right channels stereo Main Sub signals bilingual L L Left channel only stereo Main signal only bilingual R R Right...

Page 37: ... select the data to be displayed Options Default value Self Timer POINTS TO CHECK Set the camcorder in record pause mode FUNC 17 MENU AUDIO SETUP 12bit AUDIO Desired option FUNC FUNC Other Functions OFF No data code display DATE TIME Displays the date or time when the scene or still image was recorded DATE TIME Displays both the date and time of the recording FUNC 17 MENU DISPLAY SETUP DATA CODE D...

Page 38: ...on the display EFFECT Effects Add flavor to your recordings Sound will be recorded normally You can preview the effect on the display POINTS TO CHECK Mode switch Default value Setting You can preview the effect on the screen before pressing The icon of the selected effect appears FUNC 17 MENU CAMERA SETUP SELF TIMER ON FADE T fade trigger WIPE CORNER corner wipe JUMP FLIP PUZZLE ZIGZAG BEAM TIDE F...

Page 39: ...to fade out and pause the recording during playback then push the joystick towards to fade out and pause the playback TO ACTIVATE AN EFFECT Press while recording or in record pause mode during playback NOTES When you are not using the digital effect select D EFFECT OFF The camcorder retains the setting last used even if you turn off the digital effects or change the recording program The digital e...

Page 40: ... VCR Open the terminal cover to access AV Terminal DV Terminal Check the type and orientation of the terminal and make sure you connect the DV cable properly Use the optional CV 150F 4 pin 4 pin or CV 250F 4 pin 6 pin DV cable Terminal on the Camcorder Connecting Cable Terminal on the Connected Device 1 VIDEO AUDIO R L Output connection Signal Flow to a TV or VCR with AV Terminals STV 250N Stereo ...

Page 41: ... DV Cable Optional 4 pin 6 pin Be careful to correctly insert the 6 pin plug into the DV terminal Inserting it in the wrong direction can result in damage to the camcorder 3 Output connection Signal Flow to a TV or VCR with a SCART terminal You will need to connect beforehand a commercially available SCART adapter to the SCART terminal on the TV or VCR and then connect the STV 250N Stereo Video Ca...

Page 42: ...ly no generation loss in video and sound quality Connect the camcorder to the external device following one of the connection diagrams shown in the previous section Connection Diagrams 40 Connecting Connect the camcorder to a VCR or other analog device using connection types or or to a DVD recorder or other digital recording device using connection type as shown in the previous section Connection ...

Page 43: ...playback In record pause mode and while recording you can check the picture on the camcorder s screen 6 When the scene you wish to record appears push the joystick towards to begin recording Recording starts 7 While recording push the joystick towards to pause the recording In record pause push the joystick towards again to resume recording 8 Push the joystick towards to stop recording 9 Connected...

Page 44: ...ROTECTED PLAYBACK IS RESTRICTED appears for a few seconds and the camcorder displays a blank blue screen You cannot playback the contents of the tape During recording If you try to record from software that contains copyright control signals for protection of software COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DUBBING RESTRICTED appears You cannot record the contents of the software You cannot record copyright protectio...

Page 45: ...y Use the optional CV 150F 4 pin 4 pin or CV 250F 4 pin 6 pin DV cable Terminal on the Camcorder Connecting Cable Terminal on the Connected Device 1 Output connection Signal Flow to a computer with a DV IEEE1394 terminal or a DV capture board CV 150F CV 250F DV Cable Optional 4 pin 6 pin Be careful to correctly insert the 6 pin plug into the DV terminal Inserting it in the wrong direction can resu...

Page 46: ...us section PC Connection Diagrams 4 Start the video editing software Refer to the instruction manual of the editing software IMPORTANT The video transfer may not work correctly depending on the software and the specifications settings of your computer If the computer freezes while the camcorder is connected to it disconnect the DV cable and turn off the camcorder and the computer After a short whi...

Page 47: ...attery pack temperature is below 40 C The battery pack is damaged Use a different battery pack If you connect a faulty power adapter or battery pack the CHARGE indicator flashes approx twice per second and the charging stops Check that the compact power adapter is correctly connected to the camcorder Problem Solution Buttons will not work Turn on the camcorder Load a cassette 15 Abnormal character...

Page 48: ...rt recording Set the camcorder to 21 Load a cassette 15 Tape reached the end END appears on the screen Rewind the tape or replace the cassette 15 Cassette is protected flashes on the screen Change the position of the protect switch 52 Camcorder will not focus Autofocus does not work on that subject Focus manually 33 If you are using the viewfinder adjust it with the dioptric adjustment lever 16 Le...

Page 49: ...ime This message appears each time you turn the power on until you set the time zone date and time 19 CHANGE THE BATTERY PACK Battery pack is exhausted Replace or charge the battery pack 13 THE TAPE IS SET FOR ERASURE PREVENTION Cassette is protected Replace the cassette or change the position of the protect switch 52 REMOVE THE CASSETTE Camcorder stopped operating to protect the tape Remove the c...

Page 50: ...TE Video heads are dirty Clean the video heads 2 COPYRIGHT PROTECTED PLAYBACK IS RESTRICTED You attempted to play back a copyright protected tape 43 COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DUBBING RESTRICTED You attempted to dub a copyright protected tape May also appear when an anomalous signal is received during analog line in recording 43 Message Explanation Solution ...

Page 51: ...em on the day of use or the day before to ensure a full charge Attach the terminal cover whenever a battery pack is not in use Contact with metallic objects may cause a short circuit and damage the battery pack Dirty terminals may cause a poor contact between the battery pack and the camcorder Wipe the terminals with a soft cloth Since storing a charged battery pack for a long time about 1 year ca...

Page 52: ... not drop or subject them to severe impact as this may damage the cassettes With cassettes equipped with a memory function metal plated terminals may become dirty with use Clean the terminals with a cotton swab after about 10 times of removing and reinserting the cassette The memory function is not supported by the camcorder Protecting Tapes from Accidental Erasure To protect your recordings from ...

Page 53: ...wfinder If the lens surface is dirty the autofocus may not work properly Remove any dust or dirt particles using a non aerosol type blower brush Use a clean soft lens cleaning cloth to gently wipe the lens or viewfinder Never use tissue paper LCD Screen Clean the LCD screen using a clean soft lens cleaning cloth Condensation may form on the surface of the screen when the temperature changes sudden...

Page 54: ...re Remove the cassette place the camcorder in an airtight plastic bag and let it adjust to temperature changes slowly before removing it from the bag WHEN CONDENSATION IS DETECTED The camcorder automatically shuts off the warning message CONDENSATION HAS BEEN DETECTED appears for approx 4 seconds and starts flashing If a cassette is loaded the warning message REMOVE THE CASSETTE appears and starts...

Page 55: ...AL system The PAL system is used in the following countries areas Algeria Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brunei China Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Finland Germany Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Iceland India Indonesia Iraq Iran Ireland Israel Italy Jordan Kenya Kuwait Liberia Malaysia Malta Montenegro Mozambique the Netherlands New Zealand North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Poland P...

Page 56: ...ery Charger STV 250N Stereo Video Cable CA 590E Compact Power Adapter CV 150F CV 250F DV Cable SC 2000 Soft Carrying Case WS 20 Wrist Strap SS600 SS650 Shoulder Strap TV VCR DVD Recorder Digital Device with DV Terminal MiniDV Video Cassette SCART Adapter NB 2L NB 2LH BP 2L5 BP 2L12 BP 2L14 Battery Pack CB 2LWE Battery Charger NB 2L NB 2LH BP 2L5 BP 2L12 BP 2L14 Battery Pack ...

Page 57: ...C negative ground battery Optional Accessories Use of genuine Canon accessories is recommended This product is designed to achieve excellent performance when used with genuine Canon accessories Canon shall not be liable for any damage to this product and or accidents such as fire etc caused by the malfunction of non genuine Canon accessories e g a leakage and or explosion of a battery pack Please ...

Page 58: ...th of the strap WS 20 Wrist Strap Use this for extra additional protection for active shooting SC 2000 Soft Carrying Case A handy camcorder bag with padded compartments and plenty of space for accessories This mark identifies genuine Canon video accessories When you use Canon video equipment we recommend Canon brand accessories or products bearing the same mark ...

Page 59: ... microphone Lens f 2 6 91 mm F 2 0 5 0 35x power zoom 35 mm equivalent 16 9 Movies Image stabilizer ON 45 3 1 586 16 9 Movies Image stabilizer OFF 40 8 1 428 4 3 Movies 49 8 1 743 f 2 6 78 mm F 2 0 4 4 30x power zoom 35 mm equivalent 16 9 Movies Image stabilizer ON 45 3 1 359 16 9 Movies Image stabilizer OFF 40 8 1 224 4 3 Movies 49 8 1 494 Lens Configuration 10 elements in 8 groups AF system TTL ...

Page 60: ...ower consumption AF on 2 1 W Operating temperature 0 40 C Dimensions W x H x D 57 x 92 x 119 mm excluding the grip belt Weight camcorder body only 375 g Power input 100 240 V AC 50 60 Hz 0 14 0 08 A Rated output 8 4 V DC 0 6 A Operating temperature 0 40 C Dimensions 46 x 26 x 70 mm Weight 93 g Battery type Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery Rated voltage 7 4 V DC Operating temperature 0 40 C Battery...

Page 61: ... DV terminal 40 45 E Easy recording recording program 30 Effects 38 End Search 24 Error messages 49 F Faders 38 Fireworks recording program 30 Focus 33 FUNC menu 17 25 G Grip belt 16 I Image effects 35 Image stabilizer 26 J Joystick 6 Joystick guide 6 L Language 19 LCD backlight 17 LCD screen 16 LP mode 27 M Magnifying the playback image 24 Maintenance 53 Manual exposure adjustment 32 Microphone 3...

Page 62: ...am 30 SP mode 27 Sports recording program 30 Spotlight recording program 30 Sunset recording program 30 T Telephoto 22 Time zone 19 Tripod 22 Troubleshooting 47 V Video heads cleaning 2 Videocassettes 15 52 Viewfinder dioptric adjustment 16 Volume 23 W White balance 34 Wide angle 22 Wide TV 16 9 27 Widescreen 26 Wind screen 27 Z Zoom 22 Zoom speed 22 26 only ...

Page 63: ...0470 www canon co nz Canon Singapore Pte Ltd 1 HarbourFront Avenue 04 01 Keppel Bay Tower Singapore 098632 Tel 65 6799 8888 Fax 65 6799 8882 Canon Hongkong Company Ltd 19 F The Metropolis Tower 10 Metropolis Drive Hunghom Kowloon Hong Kong Canon Latin America Inc Sales Enquiries 703 Waterford Way Suite 400 Miami FL 33126 USA The information on this manual is verified as of January 1st 2007 0066W13...

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