I've recently purchased a Canon XF305 and am learning how to drive it. Somehow I've managed to enable a feature which is recording the LCD Display content along with the video i.e. sound levels, focal length, zoom indicator etc. to the CF card.

Reading the manual it appears this function should be enabled / disabled by setting the LCD->Custom Display->Character Rec feature ON or OFF respectively. When ON the LCD should display "CHAR.REC" in inverted red which it does and it's not shown when set to OFF. But regardless of which way I set this option, the recorded output continues to have the LCD screen content.

I've tried using different Custom Picture modes but problem persists.

Any ideas / suggestion welcome! Thanks in advance.

I've found (stumbled upon) the solution. For others that may stumble down this path.
I was trying the LCD/VF menu -> Custom Display -> Character Rec option with no effect to what is recorded to the CF card.
I've now tried the Other Functions menu -> Custom Function -> Character Rec option and this does impact what is recorded to CF card. When set to ON the LCD display content are recorded to CF card. When set to OFF the LCD display content are NOT recorded to the CF card.

The manual (P168) implies this is controlled by the LCD/VF menu setting. There is no corresponding detailed help within the manual for the Other Functions -> Custom Function menu settings.

Regards Ian

This is a strange quirk of the camera that I warned people about 3 years ago in my XF305/300 training video.

MASTERING THE CANON XF305 & XF300 CAMCORDERS (http://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD_XF305.html)

You want to make sure that OTHER FUNCTIONS > CUSTOM FUNCTION > CHARACTER RECORD is always turned off.

Thanks Doug. I will be ordering your training video shortly.

Thank you very much. I hope you find it helpful.