User manual CANON POWERSHOT A550 - POWERSHOT A550 CAMERA USER GUIDE ADVANCED

ENGLISH DIGITAL CAMERA Advanced Camera User Guide Before Using the Camera Shooting Playback/Erasing Print/Transfer Settings Troubleshooting List of Messages Appendix Advanced Camera User Guide This guide explains camera features and procedures in detail. CDI-E281-010 © 2007 CANON INC. PRINTED IN MALAYSIA Main Features Shooting Avoid the effects of camera shake or blurry subjects when shooting by using a high ISO speed Automatically adjusts shooting settings to match particular conditions Automatically detects camera orientation with an Intelligent Orientation sensor Playback Plays movies with sound Plays back automatically using the Auto Play Editing Records sound memos for still images Printing Makes printing easy with the Print/Share button Also supports nonCanon brand PictBridge compliant printers Uses of Recorded Images Effortlessly transfer them to a computer with the Print/Share button Conventions Used in this Guide Icons appearing next to, or below titles indicate the shooting modes in which the procedure can be used. Shooting/ Playback Mode Postcard Mode Shooting Mode · Unavailable shooting modes are shown grayed out. See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 119). In this guide, the Basic Camera User Guide is referred to as the Basic Guide, and the Advanced Camera User Guide is referred to as the Advanced Guide. : This mark denotes issues that may affect the camera's operation. : This mark denotes additional topics that complement the basic operating procedures. You can use SD memory cards, SDHC memory cards and MultiMediaCards with this camera. These cards are collectively called memory cards in this guide. 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 note that this warranty does not apply to repairs arising out of the malfunction of non-genuine Canon accessories, although you may request such repairs on a chargeable basis. 1 Table of Contents Items marked with a are lists or charts that summarize camera functions or procedures. Conventions Used in this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Handling Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Please Read. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Preventing Malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations . . . . . . . . 12 Using the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Information Displayed on the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Using the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Power Saving Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Menus and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Menu List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Resetting Settings to Their Default Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Formatting Memory Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Changing the Recording Pixels and Compression (Still Images) 26 Using the Digital Zoom/ Digital Tele-Converter . . . . . . . . . . .28 Continuous Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Postcard Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Embedding the Date in the Image Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Setting the Display Overlays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Movie Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Selecting an AF Frame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Shooting Hard-to-Focus Subjects (Focus Lock, AF Lock) . . .40 Locking the Exposure Setting (AE Lock) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Locking the Flash Exposure Setting (FE Lock) . . . . . . . . . . .43 Switching between Metering Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Adjusting the Exposure Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Shooting in Long Shutter Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 2 Adjusting the Tone (White Balance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shooting in a My Colors Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the ISO Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Auto Rotate Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creating an Image Destination (Folder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resetting the File Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magnifying Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viewing Images in Sets of Nine (Index Playback) . . . . . . Jumping to Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viewing Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rotating Images in the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Attaching Sound Memos to Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Automated Playback (Auto Play) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Protecting Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viewing Images on a TV Set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erasing All Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 49 52 53 54 56 58 59 60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 Playback/Erasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Print Settings/Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Setting the DPOF Print Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Setting the DPOF Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . When the power is turned on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LCD monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shooting Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TV monitor output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing with a direct print compatible printer . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 77 77 79 83 84 85 86 86 List of Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 3 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Battery Handling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Handling the Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Using the Power Kits (Sold Separately) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Using an Externally Mounted Flash (Sold Separately). . . . . .99 Replacing the Date Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Camera Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode . . . . . 119 4 Handling Precautions Please Read Test Shots Before you try to photograph important subjects, we highly recommend that you shoot several trial images to confirm that the camera is operating and being operated correctly. Please note that Canon Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates, and its distributors are not liable for any consequential damages arising from any malfunction of a camera or accessory, including memory cards, that results in the failure of an image to be recorded or to be recorded in a way that is machine readable. Warning Against Copyright Infringement Please note that Canon digital cameras are intended for personal use and should never be used in a manner that infringes upon or contravenes international or domestic copyright laws and regulations. Please be advised that in certain cases the copying of images from performances, exhibitions, or commercial properties by means of a camera or other device may contravene copyright or other legal rights even if the image was shot for personal use. Warranty Limitations This camera's warranty is only effective in the country of sale. If a problem arises while the camera is in use abroad, please convey it back to the country of sale before proceeding with a warranty claim to a Canon Customer Support Help Desk. For Canon Customer Support contacts, please see the customer support list supplied with your camera. 5 Camera Body Temperature If your camera is used for prolonged periods, the camera body may become warm. Please be aware of this and take care when operating the camera for an extended period. About the LCD Monitor The LCD monitor is produced with extremely high-precision manufacturing techniques. More than 99.99% of the pixels operate to specification. Less than 0.01% of the pixels may occasionally misfire or appear as red or black dots. This has no effect on the recorded image and does not constitute a malfunction. Video Format Please set the camera's video signal format to the one used in your region before using it with a TV monitor (p. 67). Language Setting Please see the Basic Guide (p. 8) to change the language setting. Safety Precautions Before using the camera, please ensure that you read the safety precautions described below and in the "Safety Precautions" section of the Basic Camera User Guide. Always ensure that the camera is operated correctly. The safety precautions noted on the following pages are intended to instruct you in the safe and correct operation of the camera and its accessories to prevent injuries or damage to yourself, other persons and equipment. Equipment refers to the camera, battery, battery charger (sold separately) and compact power adapter (sold separately). 6 Warnings Equipment Do not point the camera directly at the sun or bright light sources. Doing so could damage the camera's CCD or your eyesight. Store this equipment out of the reach of children and infants. · Wrist strap: Placement of the strap around the child's neck could result in asphyxiation. · Memory card: It may be swallowed accidentally. If this occurs, contact a doctor immediately. Do not attempt to disassemble or alter any part of the equipment that is not expressly described in this guide. To avoid the risk of high-voltage electrical shock, do not touch the flash portion of the camera if it has been damaged. Stop operating the equipment immediately if it emits smoke or noxious fumes. Do not allow the equipment to come into contact with, or become immersed in, water or other liquids. If the exterior comes into contact with liquids or salt air, wipe it dry with a soft, absorbent cloth. Continued use of the equipment may result in fire or electrical shock. Immediately turn the camera power off and remove the camera batteries or unplug the battery charger or compact power adapter from the power outlet. Please consult your camera distributor or the closest Canon Customer Support Help Desk. 7 Do not use substances containing alcohol, benzine, thinners or other flammable substances to clean or maintain the equipment. Do not cut, damage, alter or place heavy items on the power cord. Use only recommended power accessories. Remove the power cord on a regular periodic basis and wipe away the dust and dirt that collects on the plug, the exterior of the power outlet and the surrounding area. Do not handle the power cord if your hands are wet. Continued use of the equipment may result in fire or electrical shock. Battery Do not place the batteries near a heat source or expose them to direct flame or heat. The batteries should not be immersed in water or sea water. Do not attempt to disassemble, alter or apply heat to the batteries. Avoid dropping or subjecting the batteries to severe impacts that could damage the casing. Use only recommended batteries and accessories. Use of batteries not expressly recommended for this equipment may cause explosions or leaks, resulting in fire, injury and damage to the surroundings. In the event that a battery leaks and the eyes, mouth, skin or clothing contact these substances, immediately flush with water and seek medical assistance. Disconnect the battery charger and compact power adapter from both the camera and the power outlet after recharging or when not in use to avoid fire and other hazards. Do not place anything, such as tablecloths, carpets, bedding or cushions, on top of the battery charger while it is charging. Leaving the units plugged in for a long period of time may cause them to overheat and distort, resulting in fire. 8 When recharging the Canon AA-size NiMH batteries, use only a specified battery charger. The compact power adapter is designed for exclusive use with this equipment. Do not use it with other products. There is a risk of overheating and distortion which could result in fire or electrical shock. Before you discard a battery, cover the terminals with tape or other insulators to prevent direct contact with other objects. Contact with the metallic components of other materials in waste containers may lead to fire or explosions. Others Do not trigger the flash in close proximity to human or animal eyes. Exposure to the intense light produced by the flash may damage eyesight. In particular, remain at least one meter (39 inches) away from infants when using the flash. Keep objects that are sensitive to magnetic fields (such as credit cards) away from the speaker of the camera. Such items may lose data or stop working. 9 Cautions Equipment Be careful not to bang the camera or subject it to strong impacts or shocks that could lead to injury or damage the equipment when wearing or holding it by the strap. Do not store the equipment in humid or dusty areas. Do not allow metal objects (such as pins or keys) or dirt to contact the charger terminals or plug. Such conditions could lead to fire, electrical shock or other damage. Avoid using, placing or storing the equipment in places subject to strong sunlight or high temperatures, such as the dashboard or trunk (boot) of a car. Do not use the equipment in a manner that exceeds the rated capacity of the electrical outlet or wiring accessories. Do not use if the power cord or plug is damaged, or if not fully plugged into the outlet. Do not use in locations with poor ventilation. The above-mentioned can cause leakage, overheating or explosion, resulting in fire, burns or other injuries. High temperatures may also cause deformation of the casing. When not using the camera for extended periods of time, remove the batteries from the camera or battery charger and store the equipment in a safe place. If the batteries are left inside the camera, damage caused by leakage may occur. Do not connect compact power adapters or battery chargers to devices such as electrical transformers for foreign travel because it may lead to malfunctions, excessive heat generation, fire, electric shock or injury. 10 Flash Do not operate the flash with dirt, dust or other items stuck to the surface of the flash. Be careful not to cover the flash with your fingers or clothing when shooting. The flash may be damaged and emit smoke or noise. The resulting heat build-up could damage the flash. Do not touch the surface of the flash after taking several pictures in rapid succession. Doing so could result in burns. Preventing Malfunctions Avoid Strong Magnetic Fields Never place the camera in close proximity to electric motors or other equipment generating strong electromagnetic fields. Exposure to strong magnetic fields may cause malfunctions or corrupt image data. Avoid Condensation Related Problems When moving the equipment rapidly from a cold place to a hot place, you can avoid condensation by placing the equipment in an airtight, resealable plastic bag and letting it adjust to temperature changes slowly before removing it from the bag. Moving the equipment rapidly from a cold place to a hot place may cause condensation (water droplets) to form on its external and internal surfaces. If Condensation Forms Inside the Camera Stop using the camera immediately. Continued use may damage the equipment. Remove the memory card and batteries or compact power adapter from the camera and wait until the moisture evaporates completely before resuming use. 11 Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations Using the LCD Monitor 1 Press . The display mode changes as follows with each press. Shooting Mode ( ) Playback Mode ( ) Standard (No Information) Detailed (Information View) Off No Information Standard Detailed The shooting information displays for approximately 6 sec. when a setting is changed, regardless of the selected display mode. The LCD monitor on or off setting is retained even after the camera power is turned off. The LCD monitor does not shut off in the mode. The LCD monitor will not switch to the detailed display while in index playback (p. 59). Night Display When shooting in dark conditions, the camera automatically brightens the LCD monitor to suit the brightness of the subject*, making it easier to frame the subject. * Although noise may appear and the movement of the subject shown on the LCD monitor may appear somewhat jagged, there is no effect on the recorded image. The brightness of the image displayed in the monitor, and the brightness of the actual image recorded will be different. 12 Information Displayed on the LCD Monitor Shooting Information (Shooting Mode) Digital Tele-Converter (p. 28) Zoom Magnification (p. 28) Safety Zoom (p. 28) Spot AE Point Frame (p. 44) AF Frame (p. 39) Macro (Basic Guide p. 16) ··· *1 ISO Speed (p. 52) Low Battery (p. 91) Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations Flash (Basic Guide p. 14) Drive Mode (p. 31, Basic Guide p. 17) 3:2 Guide (p. 34) Grid Lines (p. 34) Shooting Mode Create Folder (p. 54) (Basic Guide pp. 11 ­ 13) (p. 35) ··· Exposure Compensation (p. 44) ··· Long Shutter Mode (p. 45) AF Lock (p. 41) AE Lock (p. 42) FE Lock (p. 43) · Stills: Recordable Shots · Movies:Remaining Time/ Elapsed Time Exposure Shift Bar (Movie) (p. 37) Flash*2/ Shutter Speed*1 (p. 104)/ Aperture Value*1 Auto Rotate (p. 53) Rec Movie Recording (p. 35) White Balance (p. 47) My Colors (p. 49) Metering Mode (p. 43) Compression (Still image) (p. 27) *1 Displays when then shutter button is pressed halfway. Since the camera Frame Rate (Movies) (p. 38) automatically readjusts for the optimal settings when using the flash, settings displayed in shooting information may Recording Pixels (pp. 26, 38) differ from the actual settings. (Red)*2 Camera Shake (p. 14) *2 Displays when then shutter button is pressed halfway. 13 If the indicator blinks orange and the camera shake icon displays, it indicates there is insufficient illumination and a slow shutter speed will be selected. Shoot using the following methods. - Raise the ISO speed (p. 52). - Select a setting other than (flash off). - Attach the camera to a tripod or other device. Playback Information (Playback Mode) Standard WAVE Format Sound (p. 64) Folder Number-File Number Shooting Date/Time Protection Status (p. 66) Compression (Still Images) (p. 27) Total number of images Displayed image number Movie (p. 61) Recording Pixels (Still Images) (p. 26) 14 Detailed Histogram (p. 16) Shutter Speed (p. 104) Aperture Value Shooting Mode (Basic Guide pp. 11 ­ 13) ··· Exposure Compensation (p. 44) White Balance (p. 47) My Colors (p. 49) ISO Speed (p. 52) Recording Pixels/Frame Rate (Movies) (p. 38) Movie Length (Movies) (p. 38) Macro (Basic Guide p. 16) Metering Mode (p. 43) Recording Pixels (Still Image) (p. 26) Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations The following information may also be displayed with some images. A sound file in a format other than the WAVE format is attached or the file format is not recognized. JPEG image not conforming to Design rule for Camera File System Standards (p. 105) RAW image Unrecognized data type Information for images shot on other cameras may not display correctly. 15 Histogram Function The histogram is a graph that allows you to judge the brightness of the image. The greater the bias toward the left in the graph, the darker the image. The greater the bias toward the right, the brighter the image. If the image is too dark, adjust the exposure compensation to a positive value. Similarly, adjust the exposure compensation to a negative value if the image is too bright (p. 44). Sample Histograms Dark Image Balanced Image Bright Image Using the Viewfinder The viewfinder (Basic Guide p. 2) can be used to conserve power by turning the LCD monitor off (p. 12) while shooting. Shows the center of the image Viewfinder 16 Power Saving Function This camera is equipped with a power saving function. The power will shut off in the following circumstances. Press the power button again to restore power. Shooting Mode Powers down approximately 3 minutes after the last control is accessed on the camera. The LCD monitor automatically turns off 1 minute* after the last control is accessed even if [Auto Power Down] is set to [Off]. Press any button other than the power button or change the camera orientation to turn the LCD monitor back on. Powers down approximately 5 minutes after the last control is accessed on the camera. Playback Mode Connected to a Printer Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations * This time can be changed. The power saving function will not activate during a slide show (Auto Play) or while the camera is connected to a computer. The power saving function settings can be changed (p. 23). 17 Menus and Settings Menus are used to set the shooting, playback and print settings as well as such camera settings as the date/time and electronic beep. FUNC. Menu Rec., Play, Print and Set up Menus FUNC. Menu Sets many of the functions commonly used during shooting. a b e c d · This example shows the FUNC. menu in . aSet the shooting mode dial to the shooting mode you want to use. bPress the FUNC./SET button. cUse the or button to select a menu item. · Some items may not be selectable in some shooting modes. dUse 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. ePress the FUNC./SET button. 18 Rec., Play, Print and Set up Menus Convenient settings for shooting, playback or printing can be set with these menus. Rec. Menu Set up Menu a e b You can switch between menus c with the or button when this part is selected. Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations d · This example shows the Rec. menu in mode. · In playback mode, the Play, Print and Set up menus display. a Press the MENU button. b Use the or button to switch between menus. · You can also use the zoom lever to switch between menus. 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. · Menu items followed by an ellipsis (...) can only be set after pressing the FUNC./SET button to display the next menu. Press the FUNC./SET button again to confirm the setting. e Press the MENU button. 19 Menu List See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 119). FUNC. Menu The icons shown below are the default settings. Menu Item Special Scene Mode Movie Mode Exposure Compensation Long Shutter Mode White Balance My Colors Metering Mode Compression (Still Image) Frame Rate (Movie) Recording Pixels (Still Image) Recording Pixels (Movie) Reference Page Basic Guide p. 12 p. 35 p. 44 p. 45 p. 47 p. 49 p. 43 p. 26 p. 38 p. 26 p. 38 20 Rec. Menu ( Menu Item AiAF Digital Zoom (Still Image) (Movies) Slow Synchro Red-Eye Self-timer (Custom) ) *Default setting Options On*/Off Standard*/Off/1.5x/1.9x Standard*/Off (in standard movie mode) On/Off* On*/Off */ / Delay: 0 ­ 10*, 15, 20, 30 sec. Shots: 1 ­ 10*1 Summary/ Reference Page p. 39 p. 28 Basic Guide p. 15 Basic Guide p. 15 Basic Guide p. 17 Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations AF-assist Beam On*/Off Review Disp. Overlay (Still Image) (Movies) Date Stamp Off*/Grid Lines/3:2 Guide/Both Off*/Grid Lines Off*/Date/Date & Time Off/2*­ 10/seconds/Hold ­ Basic Guide p. 10 p. 34 p. 33 *1 Default setting is 3 shots. Play Menu ( Menu Item Auto Play Sound Memo Protect Rotate Erase all ) Reference Page p. 65 p. 64 p. 66 p. 63 p. 68 Print Menu ( Menu Item Print Select Image & Qty. Select All Images Clear All Selections Print Settings ) Reference Page p. 69 Transfer Order p. 74 21 Set up Menu ( Menu Item Mute ) *Default setting Options On/Off* Summary/Reference Page Set to [On] to silence all operation sounds except for the warning sounds (Basic Guide p. 9). Volume Off / 1 /2*/ 3 / 4 / 5 Adjusts the volume of the start-up sound, operation sound, selftimer sound, shutter sound and playback sound. The volume cannot be adjusted if [Mute] is set to [On]. Adjusts the volume of the start-up sound when the camera is turned on. Adjusts the volume of the operation sound that beeps when any button other than the shutter button is pressed. Adjusts the volume of the selftimer sound played 2 sec. before the shutter is released. Adjusts the volume of the sound played when the shutter releases. The shutter sound does not play when a movie is recording. Adjusts the volume of movie sounds and sound memos. Start-up Vol. Operation Vol. Selftimer Vol. Shutter Volume Playback Vol. 22 Menu Item Start-up Image Options On*/Off Summary/Reference Page Selects whether to display the startup screen when the camera is turned on. p. 17 Sets whether or not the camera automatically powers down after a set period of time elapses without the camera being operated. Power Saving Auto Power Down On*/Off Display Off 10 sec./20 sec./ 30 Sets the length of time before the LCD monitor sec./1 min.* / 2 min./3 min. turns off when no camera operation is performed. Basic Guide p. 8 You can also set a low level format (p. 25). Continuous*/Auto Reset Check mark (On)/ No check mark (Off) p. 56 p. 54 Creates a folder during the next shooting session. Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations Date/Time Format File Numbering Create Folder Create New Folder Auto Create Auto Rotate Lens Retract Off*/Daily/Monday- You can also set an auto Sunday/Monthly creation time. On*/Off 1 minute*/ 0 seconds p. 53 Sets the lens retraction timing when switching from shooting mode to playback mode. Basic Guide p. 8 NTSC/ PAL Auto*/ p. 68 p. 24*1 Language Video System Print Method 23 Menu Item Reset All Options Summary/Reference Page p. 24 *1 The connection method with the printer can be changed. Although it is normally not necessary to change the setting, select when borderless printing an image shot in (Widescreen) mode on wide size paper using Canon compact photo printer SELPHY CP730/CP720/CP710/ CP510. As this setting will be stored to memory even when the power is turned off, to print using an image size other than , return the mode to [Auto] (however, the connection method cannot be changed while connected to a printer). Resetting Settings to Their Default Values 1 (Set up) Menu (Reset All). See Menus and Settings (p. 19). 2 Select [OK] and press . Settings cannot be reset when the camera is connected to a computer or to a printer. The following cannot be reset. - Shooting mode - The (Date/Time), (Language) and (Video System) options in the (Set up) menu (p. 23) - White balance data recorded with the custom white balance function (p. 48) 24 Formatting Memory Cards You should always format a new memory card or one from which you wish to erase all images and other data. Please note that formatting (initializing) a memory card erases all data, including protected images and other file types. 1 (Set up) Menu (Format). See Menus and Settings (p. 19). Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations 2 Select [OK] and press . To perform a low level format, use the button to select [Low Level Format] and the or button to add a check mark. You can stop formatting a card when [Low Level Format] is selected by pressing the FUNC./SET button. You can still use a card without problem when formatting is halted, but its data will be erased. Low Level Format We recommend you select [Low Level Format] when you think that the recording/reading speed of a memory card has dropped. A low level format may require 2 to 3 minutes with some memory cards. 25 Shooting Changing the Recording Pixels and Compression (Still Images) Shooting Mode 1 FUNC. Menu *(Compression)/ *(Recording Pixels). See Menus and Settings (p. 18). * Default setting. Use the or button to select recording pixel/compression settings and press the FUNC./SET button. Approximate Values for Recording Pixels Recording Pixels Large Purpose* 3072 × 2304 High Printing to about A3 size (Approx. pixels 297 × 420 mm (11.7 × 16.5 in.)) 2592 × 1944 pixels 2048 × 1536 pixels 1600 × 1200 pixels 640 × 480 pixels Printing to about A4 size (Approx. 210 × 297 mm (8.3 × 11.7 in.)) Printing to about Letter size prints 216 × 279 mm (8.5 × 11 in.) Printing to about A5 size (Approx. 149 × 210 mm (5.9 × 8.3 in.)) Printing postcard-size prints 148 × 100 mm (6 × 4 in.) Printing L-size prints 119 × 89 mm (4.7 × 3.5 in.) Sending images as e-mail attachments or shooting more Low images Medium 1 Medium 2 Medium 3 Small 26 or Postcard 1600 × 1200 When printing to postcards (p. 32) pixels Printing wide size prints (Images are 3072 × 1728 recorded with 16:9 aspect ratios. Areas pixels not recorded will display as black bars on the LCD monitor.) Widescreen * Paper sizes vary according to region. Approximate Values for Compression Settings Compression Superfine Fine Normal Normal Purpose High Shoot higher quality images Quality Shoot normal quality images Shoot more images Shooting See Image Data Sizes (Estimated) (p. 110). See Memory Cards and Estimated Capacities (pp. 109, 110). 27 Using the Digital Zoom/ Digital Tele-Converter Shooting Mode * Can only be set in set. * mode. However, [Digital Tele-converter] cannot be You can combine digital zoom with optical zoom when shooting. The available shooting characteristics and focal lengths (35mm film equivalent) are as follows. Selection Standard Focal Length 35 ­ 560 mm Shooting Characteristics Enables shooting at zoom factors of up to 16x with digital and optical zoom combined. Enables shooting without digital zoom. Off 1.5x 1.9x 35 ­ 140 mm 52.5 ­ 210 mm Digital zoom is fixed at the selected zoom factor, and the focal length shifts to the telephoto end. This 66.5 ­ 266 mm enables a faster shutter speed and less chance of camera shake than a shot taken at the same angle of view with [Standard] or [Off]. The digital zoom cannot be used when the LCD monitor is turned off. The digital zoom cannot be used in or (Postcard), or (Widescreen) modes. 28 1 (Rec.) Menu (Digital Zoom) [Standard]*/[Off]/[1.5x]/[1.9x]. See Menus and Settings (p. 19). * Default setting. When using [Standard] See Shooting With the Digital Zoom (see below). When using [1.5x] or [1.9x] See Shooting With the Digital Tele-Converter (p. 30). Shooting With the Digital Zoom 2 Press the zoom lever toward and shoot. Shooting The combined digital and optical zoom setting will display in the LCD monitor. Based on the number of recording pixels set, the Safety Zoom feature calculates the maximum zoom factor beyond which image quality will begin to deteriorate. The digital zoom pauses at this zoom factor for a moment, and appears on the LCD monitor. If you press the zoom lever toward again, you can zoom in even closer. The color of the zoom factor display represents the following. - White: The image quality will not deteriorate. - Blue: The image quality will deteriorate. Press the zoom lever toward to zoom out. 29 Shooting With the Digital Tele-Converter 2 Adjust the angle of view with the zoom lever and shoot. appears on the LCD monitor. Depending on the number of recording pixels set, image quality may deteriorate ( and the zoom factor appear in blue). About the Digital Tele-Converter The digital tele-converter feature uses digital zoom to achieve the effects of a tele-converter (a lens used for telephoto shooting). 30 Continuous Shooting Shooting Mode In this mode, the camera shoots continuously while the shutter button is held down. If you use the recommended memory card*, you can shoot continuously (smooth continuous shooting) at a set shooting interval until the memory card is full (pp. 109, 110). * Recommended Memory Card: Super high-speed SDC-512MSH memory card (sold separately) to which low-level formatting (p. 25) is conducted immediately before shooting. · This reflects standard shooting criteria established by Canon. Actual results may vary according to the subject and shooting conditions. · Even if continuous shooting suddenly stops, the memory card may not be full. Shooting 1 Press the button to cycle through continuous shooting settings. Each time you press the button, the continuous shooting settings will change. * * Default setting. 2 Shoot. The camera will continue to record successive images while the shutter button is held down. Recording will cease when the shutter button is released. To Cancel Continuous Shooting Follow Step 1 to select . 31 The interval between shots lengthens when the built-in memory of the camera fills. If the flash is used, the interval between shots lengthens because the flash must charge. Postcard Mode Shooting Mode You can shoot images with the optimal settings for postcards by composing them inside the print area (width-to-height ratio of approximately 3:2) shown in the LCD monitor. 1 FUNC. Menu (Postcard). * Default setting. *(Recording Pixels) See Menus and Settings (p. 18). The recording pixels are set to × 1200) and the compression to (Fine). (1600 The area that will not get printed in postcard size grays out. The digital zoom or digital tele-converter cannot be used in this mode. For printing instructions, refer to the Direct Print User Guide. 32 Embedding the Date in the Image Data You can embed the date in image data when (Postcard mode) is selected. 1 (Rec.) Menu (Date Stamp) [Off]*/[Date]/[Date & Time]. See Menus and Settings (p. 19). * Default setting. LCD monitor display : [Off] : [Date]/[Date & Time] Ensure that the camera's date/time is set beforehand (p. 23). The date stamp cannot be deleted from the image data once it has been set. 33 Shooting Setting the Display Overlays Shooting Mode *1 *1 Only [Grid Lines] can be set. You can display vertical and horizontal grid lines, a 3:2 print area guide, or both on the LCD monitor while shooting to help check the position of your subject. Grid Lines Displays grid lines to divide the screen into 9 parts. Helps confirm the vertical and horizontal positioning of the subject. Helps confirm the print area for a 3:2 print.*2 Areas outside the printable area are grayed out. Displays both the grid lines and the 3:2 guide simultaneously. 3:2 Guide Both *2 Images are still recorded at the standard aspect ratio of 4:3. 1 (Rec.) Menu (DISP. Overlay) [Grid Lines]/[3:2 Guide]/[Both]. See Menus and Settings (p. 19). * Default setting. [Off]*/ The grid lines and 3:2 guide will not be recorded in the image. 34 Movie Shooting Shooting Mode The following movie modes are available. For information on the recording pixels and frame rate in each mode, refer to Recording Pixels and Frame Rates (p. 38). Standard You can select the recording pixels and frame rate and record until the memory card is full (when a super high-speed memory card is used, such as the recommended SDC-512MSH). The digital zoom can be used while shooting in this mode (p. 28). · Maximum Size: 1 GB/movie* Fast Frame Rate Use this mode to record fast moving subjects, such as in sports photography. · Maximum Clip Length: 1 minute Compact Since the recording pixels are few and the data size is small, this mode is convenient for sending movies as e-mail attachments or when the memory card capacity is low. · Maximum Clip Length: 3 minutes Shooting The recording time will differ according to the memory card used (p. 110). * Even if the size of the movie data has not reached 1 GB, recording will stop when a shooting time of 1 hour has elapsed. Depending on the volume and data writing speed of the memory card, recording will stop after 1 hour of continuous recording even if the recorded data volume has not reached 1GB. 35 1 FUNC. Menu * Default setting. * (Standard). See Menus and Settings (p. 18). Use the or button to select a movie mode and press the FUNC./ SET button. In mode, you can change the recording pixels and frame rate (p. 38). 2 Shoot. Pressing the shutter button halfway automatically sets the exposure, focus and white balance settings. Pressing the shutter button fully starts recording video and sound simultaneously. During shooting the recording time and [ Rec] appear on the LCD monitor. Pressing the shutter button fully again stops recording. Recording will stop automatically under the following circumstances. - When the maximum recording time elapses - When the built-in memory or memory card become full 36 You are recommended to use a memory card that has been formatted in your camera to shoot movies (p. 25). The memory card supplied with the camera may be used without further formatting. Be careful of the following while recording. - Do not touch the microphone (Basic Guide p. 1). - Do not press any buttons other than the shutter button. The sound that buttons make will be recorded in the movie. - The camera will automatically adjust the exposure and white balance to suit the shooting conditions during recording. Please note, however, that the sounds made by the camera automatically adjusting the exposure may also be recorded. The focus and optical zoom settings remain fixed for subsequent frames at the values selected for the first frame. Do not point the camera at the sun when shooting. Before recording, you can set the AE lock (p. 42) and exposure shift. 1. Press the ISO button. The exposure will lock (AE lock) and the exposure shift bar will appear in the LCD monitor. 2. Use the or button to adjust the exposure. Press the ISO button again to release the setting. Also, the setting will be canceled if you press the MENU button or change the white balance, My Colors or shooting mode settings. QuickTime is required to play back movies (Data type: AVI/ Compression method: Motion JPEG) on a computer (Windows 2000 only). 37 Shooting Changing Recording Pixels and Frame Rates (Movies) You can change the recording pixels and frame rate when the movie mode is set to (Standard). 1 FUNC. Menu * (Frame Rate)/ *(Recording Pixels). See Menus and Settings (p. 18). * Default setting. Use the or button to select a frame rate/recording pixels and press the FUNC./SET button. Recording Pixels and Frame Rates Frame rates indicate the number of frames recorded or played back each second. The higher the frame rate, the smoother the appearance of motion. Recording Pixels 640 × 480 pixels 320 × 240 pixels Fast Frame Rate*2 Compact*2 320 × 240 pixels 160 × 120 pixels -- Frame Rate 60 frames/sec. 30 frames/sec. 15 frames/sec. -- -- -- -- -- *1 Standard *1 Default setting. *2 The recording pixels and frame rate are fixed. 38 See Image Data Sizes (Estimated) (p. 110). See Memory Cards and Estimated Capacities (p. 109). Selecting an AF Frame Shooting Mode * *Cannot be set in mode. The AF frame indicates the area of the composition on which the camera focuses. You can set the AF frame in the following ways. On The camera automatically selects between 9 AF frames to focus on according to the shooting conditions. The camera focuses using the center AF frame. This is convenient for ensuring that your intended subject is in focus and for composing images. Shooting Off 1 (Rec.) Menu * Default setting. (AiAF) [On]*/[Off]. See Menus and Settings (p. 19). If the shutter button is pressed halfway while the LCD monitor is on, the AF frame appears as follows: - Green: Shooting preparations complete - Yellow: Focusing difficulty (AiAF is set to [Off].) - Off: Focusing difficulty (AiAF is set to [On].) 39 Shooting Hard-to-Focus Subjects (Focus Lock, AF Lock) Shooting Mode * *Cannot be used in mode. It may be difficult to focus on the following types of subjects. Subjects with extremely low contrast to the surroundings Scenes with a mixture of near and far subjects Subjects with extremely bright objects at the center of the composition Subjects that are moving quickly Subjects through glass: Try to shoot as close to the glass as possible to reduce the chances of light reflecting back off the glass. Shooting with the Focus Lock 1 2 3 Aim the camera so that an object at the same focal distance as the main subject is centered in the viewfinder or in the AF frame displayed on the LCD monitor. Press the shutter button halfway to lock the focus. Keep the shutter button pressed while you recompose the image and press the shutter button all the way to shoot the image. 40 Shooting with the AF Lock *Can be operated in and modes. 1 2 3 4 Turn on the LCD monitor. Aim the camera so that an object at the same focal distance as the main subject is centered in the AF frame. Press and hold the shutter button halfway and press the button. The icon will appear on the LCD monitor. Re-aim the camera to compose the shot as desired and shoot. Shooting To Release the AF Lock Press the button. When shooting with the focus lock or AF lock using the LCD monitor, setting (AiAF) to [Off] in the (Rec.) menu (p. 39) makes shooting easier since the camera focuses using the center AF frame only. The AF frame will not appear in mode. The AF lock is convenient because you can let go of the shutter button to compose the image. Moreover, the AF lock is still effective after the picture is taken, allowing you to capture a second image with the same focus. 41 Locking the Exposure Setting (AE Lock) Shooting Mode You can set the exposure and focus separately. This is effective when the contrast is too strong between the subject and background or when a subject is backlit. You must set the flash to the flash fires. . The AE lock cannot be set if 1 2 3 4 Turn on the LCD monitor. Focus on the part of the subject on which you wish to lock the exposure setting. Press and hold the shutter button halfway and press the button. The icon will display. Re-aim the camera to compose the shot as desired and press the shutter button fully. To Release the AE Lock Press the ISO button. In mode, AE lock can also be set/canceled (p. 37). You can use the FE lock when using the flash (p. 43). 42 Locking the Flash Exposure Setting (FE Lock) Shooting Mode You can lock the flash exposure so that the exposure settings are correctly set regardless of the composition of your subject. 1 2 3 4 5 Turn on the LCD monitor. Press the button and select (flash on). Focus on the part of the subject on which you wish to lock the flash exposure setting. Press and hold the shutter button halfway and press the button. The flash will pre-fire and icon will display. Shooting Re-aim the camera to compose the shot as desired and press the shutter button fully. To Release the FE Lock Press the ISO button. Switching between Metering Modes Shooting Mode 1 FUNC. Menu * Default setting. *(Evaluative). See Menus and Settings (p. 18). Use the or button to select the metering mode and press the FUNC./ SET button. 43 Metering Methods Appropriate for standard shooting conditions, including backlit scenes. The camera divides images into several zones for metering. It evaluates complex lighting conditions, such as the position of the subject, the brightness, the direct light, and the backlighting, and adjusts the settings to the correct exposure for the main subject. Averages the light metered from the entire frame, but gives greater weight to the subject matter at the center. Meters the area within the spot AE point at the center of the LCD monitor. Use this setting when you want to set the exposure on the subject in the center of the monitor. Evaluative Center Weighted Average Spot Adjusting the Exposure Compensation Shooting Mode Adjust exposure to the + side to avoid making the subject too dark when shooting in a backlit situation or against a bright background, and adjust exposure to the ­ side to avoid making the subject too light when shooting at night or with a dark background. 1 2 Turn on the LCD monitor. FUNC. Menu * Default setting. * (Exposure Compensation). See Menus and Settings (p. 18). Use the or button to adjust the exposure compensation and press the FUNC./SET button. 44 To Cancel the Exposure Compensation Follow Step 2 to restore the compensation value to [0]. In mode, the exposure shift can be set/canceled (p. 37). Shooting in Long Shutter Mode Shooting Mode You can set the shutter speed to a slow setting to make dark subjects appear brighter. 1 FUNC. Menu . * Default setting. * (Exposure Compensation) Shooting See Menus and Settings (p. 18). 2 Use the speed or . button to select the shutter The higher the value, the brighter the image and the lower the value, the darker the image. If you press the MENU button at this point, you will return to the Exposure Compensation setting screen.