Contents at a Glance

Shooting

Shoot automatically		Î p.45 - 57 (Basic Zone modes)

Shoot continuously	Î p.50, 53, 70 (iContinuous shooting)

Take a picture of yourself in a group Î p.71			(jSelf-timer)

Freeze the action
Blur the action		Î p.78	(sShutter-priority AE)

Blur the background
Keep the background in sharp focus		Î p.80	(fAperture-priority AE)

Adjust the image brightness (exposure) Î p.87			(Exposure compensation)

Shoot in low light		Î p.46, 62, 64 (DFlash photography)

Shoot without flash		Î p.49	(7Flash Off)

Photograph fireworks at night		Î p.84	(Bulb exposure)

Shoot while viewing the LCD monitor Î p.108 (ALive View shooting)

Shoot movies		Î p.124 (kMovie shooting)

Image Quality

Shoot with image effects

matching the subject

Î p.75 (Selecting a Picture Style)

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Image 10

Contents

English Take Test Shots to Familiarize Yourself with the Camera Testing the Camera Before Use and LiabilityIntroduction Copyrights With eyecup and body cap Item Check ListCamera Interface cable Icons in this Manual Conventions Used in this ManualBasic Assumptions Chapters Contents Creative Shooting Advanced Shooting Shooting Movies Handy FeaturesImage Playback Reference 201 Printing Images 175Customizing the Camera 189 243 Contents at a Glance Playback FocusingPrinting Handling Precautions Camera Care Lens LCD MonitorCards About smear adhering to the front of the sensor Quick Start Guide Insert the battery. p.26Set the power switch to Red index Attach the lens. p.33 Focus the subject. p.37 Set the Mode Dial to 1 FullAuto. p.46 Take the picture. p.37 Nomenclature Contacts p.13 Nomenclature Shooting Settings Display Large/Fine Viewfinder Information Focus confirmation light Max. burst Basic Zone Mode DialCreative Zone Full Auto p.46 Creative Auto p.55 Image Zone Lens without a distance scale Lens with a distance scale Charger for Battery Pack LP-E8 p.24 Battery Charger LC-E8Battery Charger LC-E8E Getting Started Attaching the Strap Recharge the battery. For LC-E8 Charging the BatteryRemove the protective cover Attach the battery As shown in the illustration, attach the battery securely Tips for Using the Battery and Charger Installing and Removing the Battery About the Automatic Self-Cleaning Sensor Turning on the PowerAbout Auto Power Off Battery Life Checking the Battery LevelTemperature At 23C / 73F At 0C / 32F Display the menu 3Setting the Date and TimeExit the setting Under the 6 tab, select Date/ Time Under the 6 tab, select LanguageK 3Selecting the Interface LanguageSet the desired language Insert the card Installing and Removing the SD CardInstalling the Card Open the cover Captured images are recorded onto the card sold separately Removing the Card Make sure the access lamp is off, then open the coverRemove the card Attaching and Detaching a Lens To zoom, turn the zoom ring on the lens with your fingers About ZoomingImage Conversion Factor Press the shutter button halfway Set the is switch toAbout the Lens Image Stabilizer Take the picture Basic Operation Holding the Camera Pressing completely Shutter ButtonPressing halfway This releases the shutter and takes the picture Set the desired setting QUsing the Quick Control ScreenDisplay the Quick Control screen Function Setting Display Quick Control Screen Nomenclature Menu Screen Movie shooting mode3Menu Operations Basic Zone modes Select a tab Menu Setting Procedure Display the menuSelect the setting Select the desired item Format the card 3Formatting the CardSelect Format Under the 5 tab, select Format, then press Execute Format in the following cases Shooting Settings Switching the LCD Monitor DisplayMenu Functions Captured Image Basic Shooting Image Playback About the Auto Lighting Optimizer Aim any AF point over Set the Mode Dial to1Fully Automatic Shooting Subject FAQ Although it is daylight, the flash popped up Recomposing the Shot 1Full Auto TechniquesShooting a Moving Subject Shooting Tips 7Disabling FlashTaking portraits without flash Focus the face 2Shooting PortraitsUse a telephoto lens Check that the AF point covering the face flashes in red With a zoom lens, use the wide-angle end 3Shooting LandscapesShooting night scenes Simple background makes the flower, etc., stand out better 4Shooting Close-upsUse a simple background Move to the subject as close as possible 5Shooting Moving Subjects Use the center AF point to focus 6Shooting Portraits at Night Use a wide-angle lens and a tripod Press the Q button Set the Mode Dial to CCCreative Auto Shooting Creative Auto screen appears on the LCD monitor Flash firing Adjusting the picture brightnessBlurring/sharpening the background Image effects Single, continuous, and self-timer shootingImage-recording quality Playback the image XImage PlaybackSelect the image Creative Shooting Check the shutter speed and aperture display Set the Mode Dial to d Focus the subjectProgram AE Compose the shot and press the shutter button completely Program can be shifted. Program shift Change the ISO speed or use the built-in flashDifferences Between d and 1 Full Auto Set the ISO speed Changing the ISO SpeedNPress the Z button ISO Speed Guide Shooting Mode ISO Speed Setting 3 /4 /5 /6 /C 3Setting the Maximum ISO Speed for Auto IsonAbout Auto for Automatic ISO Speed Effective Flash Range DUsing the Built-in FlashPress the D button ISO Speed By increasing the ISO speed, you can extend the flash range 3Using Red-eye ReductionIf the subject is far away, increase the ISO speed Bright light, decrease the ISO speed Changing the AF ModeN On the lens, set the focus mode switch to AFSelect the AF mode One-Shot AF for Still Subjects AI Focus AF for Automatic Switching of AF Mode AI Servo AF for Moving Subjects Press the S button SSelecting the AF PointNSelect the AF point Focus by turning the lens focusing MF Manual FocusingSet the lens focus mode switch to Ring until the subject looks sharp Press the U key to select i, then press IContinuous ShootingNPress the YiQ button Select For still subjects 10-sec. self-timer Using the Self-timerPress the YiQ button Select the self-timer Remote control can also be used. p.204 Select Quality 3Setting the Image-recording QualityGuide to Image-recording Quality Settings Approx Select the image-recording quality Does the camera display the maximum burst? When should I use 1?What’s the difference between 7 and 8? Paper size About About 1+73 Select a Picture Style ASelecting a Picture StyleNPress the XA button Picture Style Effects Faithful NeutralUser Def Advanced Shooting CAbout the Main Dial Pointer Action Shots Set the Mode Dial to s Set the desired shutter speedShutter Speed Display To freeze the action or moving subject Using the Built-in FlashHow to blur a flowing river or water fountain Use a fast shutter speed such as 1/4000 sec. to 1/500 sec Changing the Depth of Field Set the Mode Dial to f Set the desired apertureAperture Display Changing the Depth of Field Depth of Field PreviewN Manual Exposure Set the Mode Dial to a Set the shutter speed and apertureSet the exposure and take the picture Bulb Exposures Set the Mode Dial to Focus the subject Automatic Depth-of-Field AE Set the metering mode Select Metering modeQChanging the Metering ModeN Making it brighter Setting Exposure CompensationNOSetting Exposure Compensation Making it darker Select y YFlash Exposure CompensationNSet the flash exposure compensation amount Select Expo. comp./AEB 3Auto Exposure BracketingNSet the AEB amount Using AEB with u single shooting Canceling AEBUsing AEB with continuous shooting Using AEB with exposure compensation Select a parameter ACustomizing a Picture StyleNSelect Picture Style Set the parameter Saturation Image’s color saturation can be adjusted Parameter Settings and EffectsSharpness Adjusts the sharpness of the image Color tone Skin tones can be adjusted KFilter Effect Monochrome AdjustmentLToning Effect Press ARegistering a Picture StyleNSelect User Def Select the base Picture Style Registering a Picture StyleN Select Color space 3Setting the Color SpaceNAbout Adobe RGB Recompose and take the picture AAE LockNPress the a button AE Lock Effects Press the D button to pop-up the built-in flash AFE LockNFocus the subject Press the a button Select the white balance Setting the White BalanceNPress the WB button OCustom White Balance 100 Set the white balance correction 2White Balance CorrectionNWhite Balance Correction Select WB Shift/BKT 101 102 White Balance Auto BracketingSet the white balance bracketing amount Bracketing Sequence Select Auto Lighting Optimizer Set the correction setting3Auto Lighting OptimizerN 103 104 3Lens Peripheral Illumination CorrectionSelect Peripheral illumin. correct Under the 1 tab, select About the Lens Correction Data 105 Press the shutter button completely again Preventing Camera ShakeNFocus the subject, press the shutter button completely 106 Shooting with the LCD Monitor Live View Shooting 107 Display the Live View image AShooting with the LCD Monitor108 Temperature Shooting Conditions To Enable Live View Shooting109 About the Information Display 110 QQuick Control Shooting Function Settings111 3Menu Function Settings 112 Live Mode d Using AF to FocusSelecting the AF Mode Move the AF point UFace detection Live Mode c 114 115 116 Live Mode and uFace Detection Live Mode NotesAF operation 117 Select the AF point. N Quick Mode f118 119 Focus manually Focusing ManuallySet the lens focus mode switch to MF 120 121 About the E icon 122 Custom Function Notes Cards which can record movies 123About Full HD Shooting the movie Autoexposure Shooting Set the Mode Dial to kKShooting Movies 124 125 126 Manual Exposure Shooting 127 Focus and shoot the movie 128 129 Shooting Still PhotosTaking still photos during movie shooting 130 3Menu Function Settings Display the movie menuMenu options under the n and o tabs are explained below Menu Movie-recording size 131Mainly for motion pictures 132 AF during k 133 Sound recording 134Menu Movie exposure KHighlight tone priority 2Shooting 2 Menu 135Recording and Image Quality 136 Playback and TV connection Handy Features 137 3Silencing the Beeper Handy Features3Setting the Image Review Time 3Card Reminder 3Adjusting the LCD Monitor Brightness Setting the Auto Power-off Time139 IMG0001.JPG 3File Numbering Methods140 File numbering after replacing the card Card-1Card-2 141 142 3Auto Rotation of Vertical ImagesSet OnPD, then playback the image. It will be rotated Settings Display BChecking Camera Settings143 Select the desired setting 3Reverting the Camera to the Default SettingsNSelect Clear settings Select OK Camera Settings Shooting SettingsImage-recording Settings Live View Shooting Settings Select LCD auto off 3Changing the Shooting Settings Screen Color3Preventing the LCD Monitor from Turning off Automatically Select Screen color Select Flash control 3Setting the FlashNNormally, set this to Enable Flash firing 148 Flash modeShutter sync Set the Custom Function Clear flash settingsSelect External flash C.Fn setting, then press 149 Select Clean nowf FAutomatic Sensor CleaningCleaning the Sensor Now Disabling Automatic Sensor Cleaning Obtain the Dust Delete Data Select Dust Delete Data 3Appending Dust Delete DataNPreparation 151 152 About the Dust Delete DataSelect OK, and the menu will reappear Select Clean manually 3Manual Sensor CleaningNSelect Sensor cleaning End the cleaning 154 155 About images taken with another camera HDisplay Multiple Images on One Screen Index display Switch to the index displayXSearching for Images Quickly 156 Browse by jumping IJump through Images Jump displaySelect the jump method 157 Scroll around the image YMagnified ViewMagnify the image 158 Rotate the image BRotating the ImageSelect Rotate 159 Playback on the Camera’s LCD Monitorp.162-166 KEnjoying MoviesPlayback on a TV set p.167 160 Playback and Editing with a Personal Computer 161 Playback the movie KPlaying MoviesSelect a movie 162 163 Save the movie XEditing the Movie’s First and Last ScenesOn the movie playback screen, select 164 165 3Slide Show Auto PlaybackSelect Slide show Under the 3 tab, select Slide show, then press 166 Start the slide showQuit the slide show Display time Viewing on HD High-Definition TV Sets Set the camera’s power switch toViewing the Images on TV Press the x button Select Ctrl over Hdmi For Hdmi CEC TV sets168 Set the camera’s power switch to 169 Select the image and protect it KProtecting ImagesSelect Protect images 170 3Checkmarking X Images to be Erased in a Batch LErasing ImagesErase the image Select Erase images 3Erasing All Images in the Card 172 173 BShooting Information DisplayAbout the Highlight Alert Brightness Display 174About the Histogram RGB Display Printing p.176 175Digital Print Order Format Dpof p.185 176 Direct printing procedure is done entirely with the cameraPreparing to Print While you look at the LCD monitor Icon will appear on the upper left to 177Press the x button To a printer Print setting screen Select Paper settingsPrint setting screen will appear WPrinting USetting the Page Layout QSetting the Paper SizeYSetting the Paper Type 179 Set the printing effects What is displayed on the screen180 181 Set the date and file number imprintingStart printing Select Print, then press EAdjustment of Printing Effects 182 Press 0 to exit the trimming Trimming the ImageSet the trimming frame size, position, and aspect ratio 183 Handling Printer Errors Error Messages 184 Digital Print Order Format Dpof Setting the Printing Options Select Print orderSelect Set up Set the option as desired 186 Press the 7 button Print Ordering 187 Prepare to print Set the Paper settings. p.178Direct Printing with Dpof Under the 3 tab, select Print order Select Print Customizing Camera Select Custom Functions C.Fn 3Setting Custom FunctionsNChange the setting as desired Select the Custom Function No Custom Functions 191 Fn I Exposure 3Custom Function SettingsN192 193 Standard Low Strong DisableFn II Image Off Auto Fn III Autofocus/Drive 194 AF/AE lock AE lock/AF Fn IV Operation/Others195 AF/AF lock, no AE lock 196 197 Fn-12 Add image verification data 3Registering My MenuN Select My Menu settingsAbout My Menu settings Select Register to My Menu Select the desired option 3Setting Copyright InformationNSelect Copyright information Enter text Text Entry Procedure 200 Reference Subjects difficult to focus When Autofocus Fails202 Connect the DC Coupler Using a Household Power OutletConnect the power cord Insert the DC Coupler Remote Controller RC-6 Sold separately Remote Control Shooting204 Remove the eyecup Remote Switch RS-60E3 Sold separatelyUsing the Eyepiece Cover Attach the eyepiece cover EOS-dedicated, EX-series Speedlites External Speedlites206 207 Using Non-Canon Flash UnitsCanon Speedlites other than the EX-series Sync Speed Display the connection information Using Eye-Fi CardsInsert an Eye-Fi card. p.31 Select Eye-Fi settings 208 Picture is transferred Icon switches from gray Not209 Connected to the icons below Function Availability Table according to Shooting Modes 210 211 Function Availability Table according to Shooting Modes 1Shooting 1 Red Menu Settings212 2Shooting 2 Red 3Playback 1 Blue 213YShooting 3 Red 4Playback 2 Blue 7Set-up 3 Yellow 2146Set-up 2 Yellow 9My Menu Green 215 Movie Shooting Mode MenuAbout the menu screen in movie shooting mode NMovie 1 Red Bundled AccessoriesSystem Map 216 217 System Map Battery charger’s lamp blinks Troubleshooting Guide218 Camera turns off by itself Battery becomes exhausted quickly219 No images can be shot nor recorded Maximum burst during continuous shooting is lower 220Card cannot be used ISO 100 cannot be set 221 222 Shooting date and time displayed is incorrect Eye-Fi Settings menu item does not appear223 No image appears on the TV screen Error Codes 224 Specifications 225 Autofocus 226Viewfinder Exposure Control Flash 227Shutter Drive System Movie Shooting 228LCD Monitor Image Playback Power Source229 Interface 230 EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is 231EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is Trademarks Use of genuine Canon accessories is recommended232 About MPEG-4 Licensing Safety Warnings 233 234 Preventing Injury or Equipment Damage 235 European Union and EEA only 236 Index 237 238 239 Hdmi CEC 240 241 242 Quick Reference Guide 243 Quick Reference Guide Movie Shooting ModeMenu items Menu settings 244 Quick Control Screen 245 QPortrait 246PStandard RLandscape Nomenclature 247 248 Aperture Shutter speed ISO speed Shooting modeIndicator Spot metering 249 Press the D button to pop up the built-in flash, then shoot Set the Mode Dial to s 250 AF ModeN 251 252 Q and q drive modes can be selected in all shooting modes Battery Life with Live View Shooting 253 Shooting Movies 254 Index Magnify Select image LErase 255BShooting information Software Start Guide Check that the camera is not connected to your computer Installing the Software257 Click Restart Click Finish 258Compatible OS MAC OS X 10.4 259 Open the CD Double-click on the CD icon CEL-SP4EA210

Canon 550D instruction manual Contents at a Glance

Models: 550D

Contents at a Glance