ENGLISH Preparation Shooting Playback/Erasing Photo of PowerShot A540 Menus and Settings Printing Downloading Images to a Computer Basic Camera User Guide Please Read This First This guide explains how to prepare the camera and use its basic features. CDI-E220-010 © 2006 CANON INC. PRINTED IN MALAYSIA Flowchart and Reference Guides The following guides are available. Refer to them as necessary according to the flowchart below. For information on included items and items sold separately System Map Preparations · Installing the batteries and memory card · Setting the date, time and language Shooting Playback/Erasing Menus and Settings Basic Camera User Guide (This Guide) · Read this first. Handling precautions, references to the various shooting and playback functions Advanced Camera User Guide Printing Direct Print User Guide · Installing the software · Downloading images to a computer · Using the software Basic Camera User Guide (This Guide) Software Starter Guide ZoomBrowser EX/ ImageBrowser Software User Guide · PDF manuals available on the Canon website. http://web.canon.jp/ Imaging/informatione.html In this guide, the Basic Camera User Guide is called the Basic Guide, and the Advanced Camera User Guide is called the Advanced Guide. In this guide, explanations are given using illustrations for PowerShot A540. Preparations 1. Installing the batteries. 1. Slide the memory card slot/battery cover lock in the direction of the arrow and open the cover. 2. Insert the 2 supplied AA-size alkaline batteries, or separately sold AA-size NiMH batteries. Negative end (­) Positive end (+) Preparations See the Advanced Guide: Battery Handling (p. 102) 2. Inserting the Memory Card. 1. Insert the memory card until it clicks into place. Front 2. Close the memory card slot/battery cover. Ensure that the memory card is correctly oriented before inserting it in the camera. It may damage the camera if inserted incorrectly. See the Advanced Guide: Handling the Memory Card (p. 104) See the Advanced Guide: Formatting Memory Cards (p. 30) 1 To Remove the Memory Card Push the memory card with your finger until the memory card clicks and then release it. You can use SD* memory cards and MultiMediaCards with this camera. These cards are collectively called memory cards in this guide. * SD stands for Secure Digital, a copyright protection system. 2 First Time Settings Setting the Date/Time a b c 1. Press the power button (a). 2. Use the or button to select an item and the or button to change its value (b). 3. Confirm that the correct time is displayed and press the FUNC./SET button (c). The date and time can also be set in the Set up menu (p. 13). The date/time setting screen will appear when the camera power is turned on for the first time, or when the capacity of the lithium date/time battery is depleted. See the Advanced Guide: Replacing the Date Battery (p. 114) Preparations Setting the Display Language 1. Set the mode switch to (playback). 2. Hold down the FUNC./SET button and press the MENU button. 3. Use the , , or button to select a language and press the FUNC./SET button. The display language can also be set in the Set up menu (p. 13). 3 Shooting 1. Press the power button. Power button The start-up sound will play and the start-up image will display in the LCD monitor. · Pressing the power button again turns the power off. · Pressing the power button while pressing and holding the DISP. button will turn on the mute setting which will mute all sounds except for warning sounds. See the Advanced Guide: Using the LCD Monitor (p. 15) See the Advanced Guide: Power Saving Function (p. 21) See the Advanced Guide: Set up Menu (p. 26) See the Advanced Guide: My Camera Menu (p. 28) 2. Set the mode switch to (Auto)(b). (shooting) (a). b a 3. Set the shooting mode dial to 4. Aim the camera at the subject. 5. Focus and shoot. 1. Press the shutter button halfway to focus. When the camera focuses, the camera beeps twice and the indicator lights green. 2. Press the shutter button fully to shoot. The shutter sound will play and the image will record. The indicator will blink green while the image is recorded to the memory card. Indicators See Basic Shooting Functions (p. 5). See the Advanced Guide: Indicators (p. 20) See the Advanced Guide for the various shooting methods available. 4 Reviewing an Image Right After Shooting After a shot is taken, the image appears in the LCD monitor for approximately 2 seconds. You can continue to display images regardless of the review duration setting with the following procedures. · Keeping the shutter button pressed after a shot. · Pressing the FUNC./SET or DISP. button while the image is displayed in the LCD monitor. To stop displaying the image, press the shutter button halfway. See the Advanced Guide: Review (p. 24) See Erasing (p. 11) Basic Shooting Functions Selecting a Shooting Mode Shooting 1. Set the shooting mode dial to the desired mode (a). In the and modes, use the or button (b) to select a shooting mode. Creative zone a Auto b Image zone ·[Av] and [Tv] modes only apply to PowerShot A540. Shooting Modes AUTO The camera automatically selects settings. When a shooting mode appropriate for the shooting conditions is selected, the camera automatically adjusts settings for optimal shooting. Image zone Portrait Blurs the background and makes a person stand out. Landscape Optimized for shooting landscape scenes which contain both near and far subjects. 5 Night scene Allows you to capture human subjects against the backdrop of an evening sky or night scene. The flash is directed at the person and the shutter speed is slow, so both the person and the background can be beautifully shot. (Special Scene) You can shoot with the most appropriate settings for the scene. Night Snapshot Allows you to take snapshots of people against twilight or night backgrounds by reducing the effects of camera shake even without using a tripod. Kids&Pets Allows you to capture subjects that move around, such as children and pets, without missing photo opportunities. Indoor Prevents camera shake and maintains the subject's true color when shooting under fluorescent or tungsten lighting. Foliage Shoots trees and leaves - such as new growth, autumn leaves or blossoms - in vivid colors. Snow Image zone Shoots without a blue tinge and without making people appear dark against a snowy background. Beach Shoots without making people appear dark near water or sand where reflected sunlight is strong. Fireworks Captures fireworks in the sky sharply and at optimal exposure. Underwater (PowerShot A540 only) Appropriate for shooting images with Waterproof Case WP-DC2 (sold separately). This mode uses an optimal white balance setting to reduce bluish tones and record images with a natural hue. The exposure is regulated to use the flash as little as possible. Color Accent Use this option to have only the color specified in the LCD monitor remain and to transform all others to black and white. Color Swap Use this option to transform a color specified in the LCD monitor into another. See the Advanced Guide (p. 60) See the Advanced Guide (p. 60) 6 Stitch Assist Allows you to shoot overlapping images that can later be merged (stitched) to create one panoramic image on a computer. See the Advanced Guide (p. 43) Shoots a movie when you press the shutter button. Apart from [ Standard] mode, you can also select from [ Fast Frame Rate] (PowerShot A540 only) which is suitable for shooting sports or fast motion, [ Compact] which is convenient for email attachments, [ Color Accent] which has only the color specified in the LCD monitor remain and transforms all others to black and white, and [ Color Swap] which transforms a color specified in the LCD monitor into another color. Image zone See the Advanced Guide (p. 39) You can freely select camera settings such as the exposure and Creative aperture value to suit your shooting purposes. zone See the Advanced Guide (p. 44 ­ 47) · The shutter speed is slow in or mode. Always use a tripod to avoid camera shake. · In , , , *, , , or mode, the ISO speed may increase and cause noise in the image depending on the scene being shot. *PowerShot A540 only · To shoot underwater, install the camera in Waterproof Case WP-DC2 (sold separately). · We recommend you use Waterproof Case WP-DC2 (sold separately) for shooting at ski resorts or beaches. Shooting · In mode, shoot with the subject more than 1 m (3.3 ft.) away from the front of the lens. 7 Using the Zoom 1. Press the zoom lever toward or . The zoom can be adjusted from 35 mm ­ 140 mm (focal length) in 35mm film equivalent terms. Wide Angle: Zooms out from the subject. Telephoto: Zooms in on the subject. Using the Flash 1. Press the button to cycle through flash settings. Each time you press the button, the flash settings will change. With the red-eye reduction function on: With the red-eye reduction function off: Flash settings cannot be used in some shooting modes. Auto with red-eye reduction Auto Flash on with redeye reduction Flash on Flash off The flash fires automatically and fires the redeye reduction lamp each time. The flash fires automatically. The red-eye reduction lamp and flash always fire. The flash always fires. The flash will not fire. Red-eye reduction: This feature reduces the effect of light reflecting back from the eyes and making them appear red. You can set this feature on and off in the Rec. menu. 8 You are recommended to shoot with the camera attached to a tripod or other device if the camera shake warning icon appears. When the LCD monitor is on and flash recharging begins, the lamp blinks orange and the LCD monitor turns off. When recharging ends, the orange lamp turns off and the LCD monitor turns on. The time required for flash recharging will change depending on usage conditions and remaining battery power. See the Advanced Guide: Rec. Menu (p. 24) See the Advanced Guide: Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 136) 9 Shooting Shooting Close-ups (Macro) 1. Press the button. To cancel the macro mode, press the or display. button to turn off the This setting cannot be set in some shooting modes. Use this mode to shoot close-ups of flowers or small items. Image Area at Minimum Shooting Distance from End of Lens to Subject PowerShot A540: · Maximum wide angle setting: 60 x 45 mm (2.4 x 1.8 in.) Minimum shooting distance: 5 cm (2.0 in.) Macro · Maximum telephoto setting: 84 x 63 mm (3.3 x 2.5 in.) Minimum shooting distance: 30 cm (12 in.) PowerShot A530: · Maximum wide angle setting: 60 x 45 mm (2.4 x 1.8 in.) Minimum shooting distance: 5 cm (2.0 in.) · Maximum telephoto setting: 94 x 71 mm (3.7 x 2.8 in.) Minimum shooting distance: 33 cm (1.1 ft.) · Use the LCD monitor to compose close-ups in macro mode since images composed with the viewfinder may be off-center. · Check the range of the flash when using it in macro mode (Advanced Guide p. 118). See the Advanced Guide: Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 136) 10 Playback 1. Set the mode switch to 2. Use the (playback)(a). a The last recorded image will appear in the LCD monitor. or button to display the image you wish to view (b). Use the button to move to the previous image and the button to move the next image. Holding the button down advances the images more rapidly, but shows them less clearly. See the Advanced Guide for the various playback methods available. b Erasing Playback/Erasing 1. In the playback mode, use the or button to select an image to erase (a) and press the button (b). b a c 2. Confirm that [Erase] is selected and press the FUNC./SET button (c). To exit instead of erasing, select [Cancel]. Please note that erased images cannot be recovered. Exercise adequate caution before erasing an image. See the Advanced Guide: Erasing All Images (p. 82) 11 Menus and Settings Settings for the shooting, playback or print modes or such camera settings as the date/time and sounds are set using the FUNC., Rec., Play, Print, Set up or My Camera menu. FUNC. Menu This menu sets many of the common shooting functions. a b e c d a Set the mode switch to (shooting). b Press the FUNC./SET button. c Use the or button to select a menu item. · Some items may not be selectable in some shooting modes. d Use the or button to select an option for the menu item. · You can select further options with the MENU button for some options. · After selecting an option, you can press the shutter button to shoot immediately. After shooting, this menu will appear again, allowing you to adjust the settings easily. e Press the FUNC./SET button. See the Advanced Guide: Menu List (p. 24) 12 Rec., Play, Print, Set up and My Camera Menus Convenient settings for shooting, playback or printing can be set with these menus. (Rec.) Menu (Set up) Menu (My Camera) Menu a e b You can switch between menus with the ...