ENGLISH DIGITAL CAMERA Photo of PowerShot A540 Advanced Camera User Guide Before Using the Camera Shooting Playback/Erasing Print/Transfer Settings Viewing Images on a TV set Troubleshooting List of Messages Appendix Advanced Camera User Guide This guide explains camera features and procedures in detail. CDI-E221-010 © 2006 CANON INC. PRINTED IN MALAYSIA Main Features Shooting Automatically adjusts shooting settings to match particular conditions Avoid the effects of camera shake or blurry subjects when shooting by using a high ISO speed Automatically detects camera orientation with an Intelligent Orientation sensor Changes specific image colors to shoot (Color Accent, Color Swap) Attaches the separately sold wide converter, tele-converter or close-up lens to shoot (PowerShot A540 only) Playback Plays movies with sound Plays back automatically using the Auto Play function Editing Records sound memos for still images Edits movies Printing Makes printing easy with the Print/Share button Also supports non-Canon brand PictBridge compliant printers Uses of Recorded Images Effortlessly transfer them to a computer with the Print/Share button In this guide, explanations are given using illustrations for PowerShot A540. 0 Conventions Used in this Guide Icons appearing below titles indicate the shooting modes in which the procedure can be used. Mode switch Continuous Shooting PowerShot A540 PowerShot A530 * Unavailable shooting modes are shown grayed out. See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 136). 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 and MultiMediaCards with this camera. These cards are collectively called memory cards in this guide. * SD stands for Secure Digital, a copyright protection system. 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. Handling Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Please Read. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Preventing Malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Before Using the Camera ­ The Components Guide . . . 12 Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations. . . . . . . . . 15 Using the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Information Displayed on the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Using the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Power Saving Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Menus and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Menu List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Resetting Settings to Their Default Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Formatting Memory Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Changing the Recording Pixels and Compression (Still Images) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Using the Digital Zoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Continuous Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Postcard Date Imprint Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Using the Self-Timer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Movie Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Shooting Panoramic Images (Stitch Assist) . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Program AE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Setting the Shutter Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Setting the Aperture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Manually Setting the Shutter Speed and Aperture . . . . . . 47 Selecting an AF Frame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Shooting Hard-to-Focus Subjects (Focus Lock, AF Lock, Manual Focus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Switching between Metering Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 2 Adjusting the Exposure Compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Adjusting the Tone (White Balance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Shooting in a My Colors Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Changing the Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Adjusting the ISO Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Switching between Flash Adjustment Settings . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Compensating the Flash Adjustment / Flash Output. . . . . . . .66 Setting the Auto Rotate Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Creating an Image Destination (Folder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Resetting the File Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Playback/Erasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Magnifying Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Viewing Images in Sets of Nine (Index Playback) . . . . . .73 Jumping to Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Viewing Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Editing Movies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Rotating Images in the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Attaching Sound Memos to Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Automated Playback (Auto Play) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Protecting Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Erasing All Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Print Settings/Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Setting the DPOF Print Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Setting the DPOF Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Viewing Images on a TV set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 When the power is turned on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 LCD monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Shooting Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 TV monitor output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Printing with a direct print compatible printer . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 3 List of Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Battery Handling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Handling the Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Using the Power Kits (Sold Separately) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Using the Lenses (Sold Separately) (PowerShot A540 only)109 Using an Externally Mounted Flash (Sold Separately). . . . . 112 Replacing the Date Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Camera Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode. . . . . . . . 136 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. 88). Language Setting Please see the Basic Guide (p. 3) 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 look directly into the sun or at bright light sources through the camera's viewfinder. Doing so can damage your eyesight. Store this equipment out of the reach of children and infants. Accidental damage by a child could result in serious injury. · 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 power code from the power outlet. Please consult your camera distributor or the closest Canon Customer Support Help Desk. 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. 7 Battery Do not place the batteries near a heat source or expose it 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. Continued use over a long period may cause the units to overheat and distort, resulting in fire. 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. 8 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. Exercise due caution when screwing on the separately sold wide converter, tele-converter, close-up lens and conversion lens adapter. (PowerShot A540 only) If they loosen, fall off and shatter, the glass shards may cause injury. 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. 9 Equipment 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. 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. 10 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 between hot and cold temperatures, 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 between hot and cold temperatures 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 ­ The Components Guide Front View a Microphone (p. 79) b AF-assist Beam (p. 24) c Red-Eye Reduction Lamp (Basic Guide p. 8) d Self-Timer Lamp (p. 37) e Viewfinder Window (p. 19) f Flash (Basic Guide p. 8) g Terminal Cover h A/V OUT (Audio/Video output) Terminal (p. 88) i DIGITAL Terminal (Basic Guide p. 19) j DC IN Terminal (Power input) (p. 108) k Ring* l Lens m Ring Release Button* * PowerShot A540 only 12 Back View Attaching the Wrist Strap Before Using the Camera ­ The Components Guide a LCD Monitor (p. 15) b Viewfinder (p. 19) c Speaker d Wrist Strap Mount e Memory Card Slot / Battery Cover Lock (Basic Guide p. 1) f Memory Card Slot / Battery Cover (Basic Guide p. 1) g Tripod Socket The LCD monitor is covered with a thin plastic film for protection against scratches during shipment. Remove it before using the camera. 13 Operation Panel a Indicators (p. 20) b Power Lamp c Power Button (Basic Guide p. 4) d Zoom Lever (p. 72, Basic Guide p. 8) Shooting: (Wide Angle)/ (Telephoto) Playback: (Index)/ (Magnify) e Shutter Button (Basic Guide p. 4) f Shooting Mode Dial (Basic Guide p. 5) g Mode Switch (Basic Guide p. 4, 11) h (Print/Share) Button (Basic Guide p. 14) i FUNC./SET (Function/Set) Button (p. 22) j MENU Button (p. 23) k DISP. (Display) Button (p. 15) l (Exposure)/ (Single Image Erase) Button (p. 54, Basic Guide p. 11) m Button n (Flash)/ (Jump)/ Button (p. 74, Basic Guide p. 8) o Button p (Macro)/ (Manual Focus)/ Button (p. 51, Basic Guide p. 10) 14 Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations Using the LCD Monitor 1 Press . Playback Mode ( Standard ) The display mode changes as follows with each press. Shooting Mode ( ) Standard (No Information) Detailed (Information View) Off Detailed Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations No Information In the shooting mode, 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 , ( , ) or mode. The LCD monitor will not switch to the detailed display in the index playback mode (p. 73). 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. * The movements of the subject will appear irregular in the LCD monitor. The recorded image will not be affected. The brightness of the image displayed in the monitor, and the brightness of the actual image recorded will be different. 15 Information Displayed on the LCD Monitor Shooting Information (Shooting Mode) *1 Spot AE Point Frame (p. 53) *1 AF Frame (p. 49) *1 Low Battery (p. 102) Zoom Magnification*1 (p. 33) Flash (Basic Guide p. 8) Red-Eye Reduction (Basic Guide p. 8) Auto Rotate (p. 67) Rec*1 Movie Recording (p. 39) Shooting Mode Grid Lines*1 (p. 25) *2 (Basic Guide p. 5 ­ 7) (p. 43) *1 *1 *2 *1 (p. 39) *2 *2 (p. 44 ­ 47) *1 Create Folder (p. 68) · Stills: Recordable Shots · Movies: Remaining Time/ Elapsed Time Shutter Speed*1 (p. 45, 47) Aperture Value*1 (p. 46, 47) ··· *1 Exposure Compensation (p. 54) *1 Macro (Basic Guide p. 10) *1 Manual Focus (p. 51) *1 AF Lock (p. 50) (Red)*1 Camera Shake Warning (p. 17) For PowerShot A530, when is displayed, the shutter speed will also display. ISO Speed (p. 65) *2 White Balance (p. 55) Drive Mode (p. 34, 37) My Colors (p. 58) Flash Exposure Compensation/ Flash Output (p. 66) Metering Mode (p. 53) Recording Pixels (p. 32, 42) Compression (Still image) (p. 32) Frame Rate (Movies)*2 (p. 42) *1 *2 16 Appears even if the LCD monitor is set to Standard display. PowerShot A540 only If the indicator blinks orange and the camera shake warning icon displays, this indicates that a slow shutter speed may have been selected due to insufficient illumination. Raise the ISO speed (p. 65) or select a setting other than (flash off), or attach the camera to a tripod or other device. Playback Information (Playback Mode) Standard Folder Number-File Number Before Using the Camera ­ Basic Operations Shooting Date/Time WAVE Format Sound (p. 79) Protection Status (p. 81) Compression (Still Images) (p. 32) Total number of images Recording Pixels (Still Images) (p. 32) Displayed image number Movie (p. 75) 17 Detailed Histogram *1 *1 *2 *2 Recording Pixels/Frame Rate (Movies) (p. 42) Movie Length (Movies) (p. 39) Shutter Speed (p. 45, 47) Aperture Value (p. 46, 47) Flash Output (p. 66) ··· Flash Exposure Compensation (p. 66) Shooting Mode *1 (Basic Guide p. 5 ­ 7) (p. 43) (p. 39) *1 *1 (p. 44 ­ 47) *1 *2 *3 ··· Exposure Compensation (p. 54) *1 White Balance (p. 55) *3 My Colors (p. 58) ISO Speed (p. 65) Manual Focus (p. 51) Macro (Basic Guide p. 10) Metering Mode (p. 53) Recording Pixels (Still Image) (p. 32) *3 PowerShot A540 only PowerShot A530 only Appears with images taken in the Color Accent or Color Swap shooting modes. 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. 119) RAW image Unrecognized data type 18 Information for images shot on other cameras may not display correctly.