Creative Shooting

In the Basic Zone modes, to prevent spoiled shots, most functions are set automatically and cannot be changed. In the <d> (Program AE) mode, you can set various functions and be more creative.

In the <d> (Program AE) mode, the camera sets the shutter speed and aperture automatically to obtain a standard exposure.

The difference between the Basic Zone modes and <d> is explained on page 210.

*<d> stands for Program.

*AE stands for Auto Exposure.

Page 59

Image 59

Canon 550D instruction manual Creative Shooting

Contents

English Copyrights Testing the Camera Before Use and LiabilityIntroduction Take Test Shots to Familiarize Yourself with the Camera Interface cable Item Check ListCamera With eyecup and body cap Basic Assumptions Conventions Used in this ManualIcons in this Manual Chapters Contents Advanced Shooting Creative Shooting Image Playback Handy FeaturesShooting Movies 243 Printing Images 175Customizing the Camera 189 Reference 201 Contents at a Glance Printing FocusingPlayback Camera Care Handling Precautions About smear adhering to the front of the sensor LCD MonitorCards Lens Red index Attach the lens. p.33 Insert the battery. p.26Set the power switch to Quick Start Guide Take the picture. p.37 Set the Mode Dial to 1 FullAuto. p.46 Focus the subject. p.37 Contacts p.13 Nomenclature Nomenclature Large/Fine Shooting Settings Display Focus confirmation light Max. burst Viewfinder Information Full Auto p.46 Creative Auto p.55 Image Zone Mode DialCreative Zone Basic Zone Lens with a distance scale Lens without a distance scale Battery Charger LC-E8E Battery Charger LC-E8Charger for Battery Pack LP-E8 p.24 Attaching the Strap Getting Started As shown in the illustration, attach the battery securely Charging the BatteryRemove the protective cover Attach the battery Recharge the battery. For LC-E8 Tips for Using the Battery and Charger Installing and Removing the Battery About Auto Power Off Turning on the PowerAbout the Automatic Self-Cleaning Sensor Temperature At 23C / 73F At 0C / 32F Checking the Battery LevelBattery Life Under the 6 tab, select Date/ Time 3Setting the Date and TimeExit the setting Display the menu Set the desired language 3Selecting the Interface LanguageUnder the 6 tab, select LanguageK Captured images are recorded onto the card sold separately Installing and Removing the SD CardInstalling the Card Open the cover Insert the card Remove the card Make sure the access lamp is off, then open the coverRemoving the Card Attaching and Detaching a Lens Image Conversion Factor About ZoomingTo zoom, turn the zoom ring on the lens with your fingers Take the picture Set the is switch toAbout the Lens Image Stabilizer Press the shutter button halfway Holding the Camera Basic Operation This releases the shutter and takes the picture Shutter ButtonPressing halfway Pressing completely Display the Quick Control screen QUsing the Quick Control ScreenSet the desired setting Quick Control Screen Nomenclature Function Setting Display Basic Zone modes Movie shooting mode3Menu Operations Menu Screen Select the desired item Menu Setting Procedure Display the menuSelect the setting Select a tab Under the 5 tab, select Format, then press 3Formatting the CardSelect Format Format the card Execute Format in the following cases Menu Functions Captured Image Switching the LCD Monitor DisplayShooting Settings About the Auto Lighting Optimizer Basic Shooting Image Playback Subject Set the Mode Dial to1Fully Automatic Shooting Aim any AF point over Although it is daylight, the flash popped up FAQ Shooting a Moving Subject 1Full Auto TechniquesRecomposing the Shot Taking portraits without flash 7Disabling FlashShooting Tips Check that the AF point covering the face flashes in red 2Shooting PortraitsUse a telephoto lens Focus the face Shooting night scenes 3Shooting LandscapesWith a zoom lens, use the wide-angle end Move to the subject as close as possible 4Shooting Close-upsUse a simple background Simple background makes the flower, etc., stand out better Use the center AF point to focus 5Shooting Moving Subjects Use a wide-angle lens and a tripod 6Shooting Portraits at Night Creative Auto screen appears on the LCD monitor Set the Mode Dial to CCCreative Auto Shooting Press the Q button Blurring/sharpening the background Adjusting the picture brightnessFlash firing Image-recording quality Single, continuous, and self-timer shootingImage effects Select the image XImage PlaybackPlayback the image Creative Shooting Compose the shot and press the shutter button completely Set the Mode Dial to d Focus the subjectProgram AE Check the shutter speed and aperture display Differences Between d and 1 Full Auto Change the ISO speed or use the built-in flashProgram can be shifted. Program shift ISO Speed Guide Changing the ISO SpeedNPress the Z button Set the ISO speed About Auto for Automatic ISO Speed 3Setting the Maximum ISO Speed for Auto IsonShooting Mode ISO Speed Setting 3 /4 /5 /6 /C ISO Speed DUsing the Built-in FlashPress the D button Effective Flash Range Bright light, decrease the ISO speed 3Using Red-eye ReductionIf the subject is far away, increase the ISO speed By increasing the ISO speed, you can extend the flash range One-Shot AF for Still Subjects On the lens, set the focus mode switch to AFSelect the AF mode Changing the AF ModeN AI Servo AF for Moving Subjects AI Focus AF for Automatic Switching of AF Mode Select the AF point SSelecting the AF PointNPress the S button Ring until the subject looks sharp MF Manual FocusingSet the lens focus mode switch to Focus by turning the lens focusing For still subjects IContinuous ShootingNPress the YiQ button Select Press the U key to select i, then press Remote control can also be used. p.204 Using the Self-timerPress the YiQ button Select the self-timer 10-sec. self-timer Select the image-recording quality 3Setting the Image-recording QualityGuide to Image-recording Quality Settings Approx Select Quality Paper size When should I use 1?What’s the difference between 7 and 8? Does the camera display the maximum burst? About 1+73 About Picture Style Effects ASelecting a Picture StyleNPress the XA button Select a Picture Style User Def NeutralFaithful CAbout the Main Dial Pointer Advanced Shooting Shutter Speed Display Set the Mode Dial to s Set the desired shutter speedAction Shots Use a fast shutter speed such as 1/4000 sec. to 1/500 sec Using the Built-in FlashHow to blur a flowing river or water fountain To freeze the action or moving subject Aperture Display Set the Mode Dial to f Set the desired apertureChanging the Depth of Field Changing the Depth of Field Depth of Field PreviewN Set the exposure and take the picture Set the Mode Dial to a Set the shutter speed and apertureManual Exposure Bulb Exposures Automatic Depth-of-Field AE Set the Mode Dial to Focus the subject QChanging the Metering ModeN Select Metering modeSet the metering mode Making it darker Setting Exposure CompensationNOSetting Exposure Compensation Making it brighter Set the flash exposure compensation amount YFlash Exposure CompensationNSelect y Set the AEB amount 3Auto Exposure BracketingNSelect Expo. comp./AEB Using AEB with exposure compensation Canceling AEBUsing AEB with continuous shooting Using AEB with u single shooting Set the parameter ACustomizing a Picture StyleNSelect Picture Style Select a parameter Color tone Skin tones can be adjusted Parameter Settings and EffectsSharpness Adjusts the sharpness of the image Saturation Image’s color saturation can be adjusted LToning Effect Monochrome AdjustmentKFilter Effect Select the base Picture Style ARegistering a Picture StyleNSelect User Def Press Registering a Picture StyleN About Adobe RGB 3Setting the Color SpaceNSelect Color space AE Lock Effects AAE LockNPress the a button Recompose and take the picture Focus the subject Press the a button AFE LockNPress the D button to pop-up the built-in flash OCustom White Balance Setting the White BalanceNPress the WB button Select the white balance 100 101 2White Balance CorrectionNWhite Balance Correction Select WB Shift/BKT Set the white balance correction Bracketing Sequence White Balance Auto BracketingSet the white balance bracketing amount 102 103 Set the correction setting3Auto Lighting OptimizerN Select Auto Lighting Optimizer Under the 1 tab, select 3Lens Peripheral Illumination CorrectionSelect Peripheral illumin. correct 104 105 About the Lens Correction Data 106 Preventing Camera ShakeNFocus the subject, press the shutter button completely Press the shutter button completely again 107 Shooting with the LCD Monitor Live View Shooting 108 AShooting with the LCD MonitorDisplay the Live View image 109 To Enable Live View ShootingTemperature Shooting Conditions 110 About the Information Display 111 Shooting Function SettingsQQuick Control 112 3Menu Function Settings Move the AF point Using AF to FocusSelecting the AF Mode Live Mode d 114 UFace detection Live Mode c 115 AF operation Live Mode and uFace Detection Live Mode Notes116 117 118 Quick Mode fSelect the AF point. N 119 120 Focusing ManuallySet the lens focus mode switch to MF Focus manually About the E icon 121 Custom Function Notes 122 About Full HD 123Cards which can record movies 124 Autoexposure Shooting Set the Mode Dial to kKShooting Movies Shooting the movie 125 126 127 Manual Exposure Shooting 128 Focus and shoot the movie Taking still photos during movie shooting Shooting Still Photos129 Menu options under the n and o tabs are explained below 3Menu Function Settings Display the movie menu130 Mainly for motion pictures 131Menu Movie-recording size AF during k 132 133 KHighlight tone priority 134Menu Movie exposure Sound recording Recording and Image Quality 1352Shooting 2 Menu Playback and TV connection 136 137 Handy Features 3Card Reminder Handy Features3Setting the Image Review Time 3Silencing the Beeper 139 Setting the Auto Power-off Time3Adjusting the LCD Monitor Brightness File numbering after replacing the card Card-1Card-2 3File Numbering Methods140 IMG0001.JPG 141 Set OnPD, then playback the image. It will be rotated 3Auto Rotation of Vertical Images142 143 BChecking Camera SettingsSettings Display Select OK 3Reverting the Camera to the Default SettingsNSelect Clear settings Select the desired setting Live View Shooting Settings Shooting SettingsImage-recording Settings Camera Settings Select Screen color 3Changing the Shooting Settings Screen Color3Preventing the LCD Monitor from Turning off Automatically Select LCD auto off Flash firing 3Setting the FlashNNormally, set this to Enable Select Flash control Shutter sync Flash mode148 149 Clear flash settingsSelect External flash C.Fn setting, then press Set the Custom Function Disabling Automatic Sensor Cleaning FAutomatic Sensor CleaningCleaning the Sensor Now Select Clean nowf 151 3Appending Dust Delete DataNPreparation Obtain the Dust Delete Data Select Dust Delete Data Select OK, and the menu will reappear About the Dust Delete Data152 End the cleaning 3Manual Sensor CleaningNSelect Sensor cleaning Select Clean manually 154 About images taken with another camera 155 156 Switch to the index displayXSearching for Images Quickly HDisplay Multiple Images on One Screen Index display 157 IJump through Images Jump displaySelect the jump method Browse by jumping 158 YMagnified ViewMagnify the image Scroll around the image 159 BRotating the ImageSelect Rotate Rotate the image 160 KEnjoying MoviesPlayback on a TV set p.167 Playback on the Camera’s LCD Monitorp.162-166 161 Playback and Editing with a Personal Computer 162 KPlaying MoviesSelect a movie Playback the movie 163 164 XEditing the Movie’s First and Last ScenesOn the movie playback screen, select Save the movie Under the 3 tab, select Slide show, then press 3Slide Show Auto PlaybackSelect Slide show 165 Display time Start the slide showQuit the slide show 166 Press the x button Set the camera’s power switch toViewing the Images on TV Viewing on HD High-Definition TV Sets 168 For Hdmi CEC TV setsSelect Ctrl over Hdmi 169 Set the camera’s power switch to 170 KProtecting ImagesSelect Protect images Select the image and protect it Select Erase images LErasing ImagesErase the image 3Checkmarking X Images to be Erased in a Batch 172 3Erasing All Images in the Card About the Highlight Alert BShooting Information Display173 RGB Display 174About the Histogram Brightness Display Digital Print Order Format Dpof p.185 175Printing p.176 While you look at the LCD monitor Direct printing procedure is done entirely with the cameraPreparing to Print 176 To a printer 177Press the x button Icon will appear on the upper left to WPrinting Select Paper settingsPrint setting screen will appear Print setting screen 179 QSetting the Paper SizeYSetting the Paper Type USetting the Page Layout 180 What is displayed on the screenSet the printing effects Select Print, then press Set the date and file number imprintingStart printing 181 182 EAdjustment of Printing Effects 183 Trimming the ImageSet the trimming frame size, position, and aspect ratio Press 0 to exit the trimming 184 Handling Printer Errors Error Messages Set the option as desired Setting the Printing Options Select Print orderSelect Set up Digital Print Order Format Dpof Press the 7 button 186 187 Print Ordering Under the 3 tab, select Print order Select Print Set the Paper settings. p.178Direct Printing with Dpof Prepare to print Customizing Camera Select the Custom Function No 3Setting Custom FunctionsNChange the setting as desired Select Custom Functions C.Fn 191 Custom Functions 192 3Custom Function SettingsNFn I Exposure Off Auto Standard Low Strong DisableFn II Image 193 194 Fn III Autofocus/Drive AF/AF lock, no AE lock Fn IV Operation/Others195 AF/AE lock AE lock/AF 196 Fn-12 Add image verification data 197 Select Register to My Menu Select My Menu settingsAbout My Menu settings 3Registering My MenuN Enter text 3Setting Copyright InformationNSelect Copyright information Select the desired option 200 Text Entry Procedure Reference 202 When Autofocus FailsSubjects difficult to focus Insert the DC Coupler Using a Household Power OutletConnect the power cord Connect the DC Coupler 204 Remote Control ShootingRemote Controller RC-6 Sold separately Attach the eyepiece cover Remote Switch RS-60E3 Sold separatelyUsing the Eyepiece Cover Remove the eyecup 206 External SpeedlitesEOS-dedicated, EX-series Speedlites Sync Speed Using Non-Canon Flash UnitsCanon Speedlites other than the EX-series 207 208 Using Eye-Fi CardsInsert an Eye-Fi card. p.31 Select Eye-Fi settings Display the connection information Connected to the icons below Icon switches from gray Not209 Picture is transferred 210 Function Availability Table according to Shooting Modes Function Availability Table according to Shooting Modes 211 2Shooting 2 Red Menu Settings212 1Shooting 1 Red 4Playback 2 Blue 213YShooting 3 Red 3Playback 1 Blue 9My Menu Green 2146Set-up 2 Yellow 7Set-up 3 Yellow NMovie 1 Red Movie Shooting Mode MenuAbout the menu screen in movie shooting mode 215 216 AccessoriesSystem Map Bundled System Map 217 218 Troubleshooting GuideBattery charger’s lamp blinks No images can be shot nor recorded Battery becomes exhausted quickly219 Camera turns off by itself ISO 100 cannot be set 220Card cannot be used Maximum burst during continuous shooting is lower 221 222 No image appears on the TV screen Eye-Fi Settings menu item does not appear223 Shooting date and time displayed is incorrect 224 Error Codes 225 Specifications Exposure Control 226Viewfinder Autofocus Drive System 227Shutter Flash LCD Monitor 228Movie Shooting Interface Power Source229 Image Playback 230 EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is 231EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is About MPEG-4 Licensing Use of genuine Canon accessories is recommended232 Trademarks 233 Safety Warnings Preventing Injury or Equipment Damage 234 European Union and EEA only 235 236 237 Index 238 Hdmi CEC 239 240 241 242 243 Quick Reference Guide 244 Movie Shooting ModeMenu items Menu settings Quick Reference Guide 245 Quick Control Screen RLandscape 246PStandard QPortrait 247 Nomenclature Spot metering Aperture Shutter speed ISO speed Shooting modeIndicator 248 Press the D button to pop up the built-in flash, then shoot 249 250 Set the Mode Dial to s 251 AF ModeN Q and q drive modes can be selected in all shooting modes 252 253 Battery Life with Live View Shooting 254 Shooting Movies BShooting information 255Index Magnify Select image LErase Software Start Guide Click Restart Installing the Software257 Check that the camera is not connected to your computer Compatible OS MAC OS X 10.4 258Click Finish Open the CD Double-click on the CD icon 259 CEL-SP4EA210