Canon 4463B019, EOS 550D 254

Quick Reference Guide

kShooting Movies

Set the Mode Dial to <k>.

Press the shutter button halfway

to focus.

Press the <A> button to start

shooting a movie. To stop movie

shooting, press <A> again. To shoot still photos, press the

shutter button.

Custom FunctionsN

1Exposure level increments

2ISO expansion

3Flash sync. speed in Av mode

4Long exposure noise reduction

5High ISO speed noise reduction

6Highlight tone priority

7AF-assist beam firing

8Mirror lockup

9Shutter/AE lock button

10 Assign SET button

11LCD display when power ON

12Add image verification data

254

Contents

MANUAL INSTRUCTION Take Test Shots to Familiarize Yourself with the Camera Testing the Camera Before Use and Liability Copyrights Page Icons in this Manual Basic Assumptions Introduction 1Getting Started Basic Shooting and Image Playback Creative Shooting Advanced Shooting Introduction Getting Started Basic Shooting and Image Playback Creative Shooting Advanced Shooting Shooting Movies Handy Features Image Playback Printing Images Customizing the Camera Reference Shooting Shoot automatically p.45 Shoot continuously p.50, 53 Focusing Playback Printing Camera Care LCD Monitor Cards Lens Cautions During Prolonged Use About smear adhering to the front of the sensor Insert the battery. (p.26) Redindex Attach the lens. (p.33) Set the lens focus mode switch to <AF>. (p.33) Open the slot cover and insert a card. (p.31) Set the power switch to <1 Set the Mode Dial to <1> (Full Auto). (p.46) Focus the subject. (p.37) Take the picture. (p.37) Review the picture. (p.138) Page Page Shooting Settings Display Viewfinder Information Mode Dial Creative Zone Basic Zone 1: Full Auto (p.46) C: Creative Auto (p.55) Page Battery Charger LC-E8 Battery Charger LC-E8E Attaching the Strap LC-E8 LC-E8E 1Remove the protective cover 2 Attach the battery 3Recharge the battery. For LC-E8 Tips for Using the Battery and Charger Recharge the battery on the day before or on the day it is to be used When not using the camera, remove the battery Installing the Battery 1Open the battery compartment cover 2 Insert the battery Removing the Battery Close the cover About the Automatic Self-CleaningSensor About Auto Power Off 5Auto power off Checking the Battery Level Battery Life Display the menu Under the [6] tab, select [Date/ Time] Date/ Time 3Set the date and time 4Exit the setting Under the [6] tab, select [LanguageK] LanguageK Set the desired language Installing the Card 1 Open the cover Insert the card Removing the Card Attaching a Lens 1 Remove the caps 2 Attach the lens 3 On the lens, set the focus mode switch to <AF> (autofocus) 4 Remove the front lens cap About Zooming Detaching the Lens While pressing the lens release button, turn the lens as shown by the arrows Set the IS switch to <1 Press the shutter button halfway Take the picture Adjusting the Viewfinder Clarity Turn the dioptric adjustment knob Holding the Camera Shutter Button Pressing halfway Pressing completely Preventing Camera Shake Display the Quick Control screen 2 Set the desired setting 3 Take the picture Quick Control Screen Nomenclature Function Setting Display Menu Screen Basic Zone modes Creative Zone modes Menu Setting Procedure 1 Display the menu 2 Select a tab Select the desired item Select the setting Select [Format] Format Format the card Low level format Execute [Format] in the following cases: The card is new A card-relatederror is displayed (p.224) About Low-levelFormatting Shooting Settings Menu Functions Captured Image a si cZone 1 Set the Mode Dial to <1 2 Aim any AF point over the subject 3 Focus the subject 4 Take the picture FAQ Sometimes multiple AF points flash simultaneously Although it is daylight, the flash popped up When flash was used, the bottom part of the picture came out unnaturally dark Recomposing the Shot Shooting a Moving Subject Shooting Tips The farther the distance between the subject and background, the better Use a telephoto lens Focus the face With a zoom lens, use the wide-angleend Shooting night scenes Use a simple background Move to the subject as close as possible 40.25m/0.8ft With a zoom lens, use the telephoto end Use the center AF point to focus Use a wide-anglelens and a tripod Shoot also with <1> (Full Auto) Set the Mode Dial to <C Press the <Q> button 3 Set the desired setting (1)Flash firing (2)Blurring/sharpening the background (3)Adjusting the picture brightness (4)Image effects (5)Single, continuous, and self-timershooting (6)Image-recordingquality Playback the image Select the image Exit the image playback Page Set the Mode Dial to <d Focus the subject 3Check the shutter speed and aperture display Change the ISO speed or use the built-inflash The program can be shifted. (Program shift) Differences Between <d> and <1> (Full Auto) ISO Speed Guide Press the <Z> button. (9) ISO speed Set the ISO speed AUTO About “AUTO” for Automatic ISO Speed 3Setting the Maximum ISO Speed for Auto ISON ISO Auto Press the <D> button buSY BUSY Effective Flash Range If the subject is far away, increase the ISO speed In bright light, decrease the ISO speed Detach the lens hood and keep at least 1 meter/3.3 feet away from the subject 3Using Red-eyeReduction Red-eye 1 On the lens, set the focus mode switch to <AF Press the <Z > button 3 Select the AF mode 4 Focus the subject AI Servo AF for Moving Subjects AI Focus AF for Automatic Switching of AF Mode 1 Press the <S> button. (9) 2Select the AF point When shooting a portrait up close, use One-ShotAF and focus the eyes MF: Manual Focusing Set the lens focus mode switch to <MF 2 Focus the subject Press the <YiQ> button Select <i Also set the AF mode matching the subject •For moving subject •For still subjects 1 Press the <YiQ> button. 2 Select the self-timer Q: 10-sec. self-timer l: 2-sec. self-timerN(p.106) q: 10-sec. self-timerplus continuous shots Select [Quality] Select the image-recordingquality What’s the difference between 7and 8 Does the camera display the maximum burst When should I use 1 About About 1+73 1, 1+73and [7Custom Functions (C.Fn)] menu’s [High ISO speed noise reduction] Press the <XA> button Select a Picture Style Picture Style Effects Color tone Landscape SNeutral UFaithful WUser Def ortrait cAbout the Main Dial Pointer Set the Mode Dial to <s Set the desired shutter speed To freeze the action or moving subject To blur a running child or animal giving the impression of fast movement How to blur a flowing river or water fountain Using the Built-inFlash Set the Mode Dial to <f Set the desired aperture 30 Depth of Field PreviewN 1Set the Mode Dial to <a 2Set the shutter speed and aperture 3Set the exposure and take the picture Bulb Exposures BULB Set the Mode Dial to <8 The aperture display in the viewfinder blinks The shutter speed display in the viewfinder blinks A slow shutter speed has been set I want to use flash 1 Select [Metering mode] Metering mode 2Set the metering mode qEvaluative metering wPartial metering OSetting Exposure Compensation Making it brighter: Making it darker: yFlash Exposure CompensationN 1 Display the Quick Control screen 2Select [y] X[Flash exposure comp.] will be displayed at the bottom 3 Set the flash exposure compensation amount Select [Expo. comp./AEB] Expo. comp./AEB 2 Set the AEB amount Canceling AEB Using AEB with continuous shooting Using AEB with <u> single shooting Using AEB with exposure compensation Using AEB with the self-timeror wireless remote control Sharpness Contrast 1 Select [Picture Style] Picture Style Parameter Settings and Effects Adjusts the sharpness of the image Adjusts the image contrast and the vividness of colors Saturation The image’s color saturation can be adjusted Monochrome Adjustment Filter effect Toning effect kFilter Effect lToning Effect Select [User Def.] Press <0 Select the base Picture Style Page 1 Select [Color space] Color space 2Set the desired color space sRGB Adobe RGB Press the <A> button. (0) 3Recompose and take the picture AE Lock Effects 1 Press the <D> button to pop-upthe built-inflash Press the <A> button. (8) FEL Press the <WB> button White balance Select the white balance OCustom White Balance 1 Photograph a white object 2Select [Custom White Balance] Custom White Balance Import the white balance data Select the custom white balance White Balance Correction 1 Select [WB Shift/BKT] WB Shift BKT Set the white balance correction White Balance Auto Bracketing Bracketing Sequence Set the white balance bracketing amount Bracket Select [Auto Lighting Optimizer] Auto Lighting Optimizer Set the correction setting 1Select [Peripheral illumin. correct.] 2Set the correction setting About the Lens Correction Data 1Focus the subject, press the shutter button completely 2Press the shutter button completely again Using the self-timer<l> with mirror lockup Remote control shooting Live View shooting is effective for still subjects which do not move About Remote Live View Shooting 1 Display the Live View image To Enable Live View Shooting Battery Life with Live View Shooting [Approx. number of shots] About the Information Display QQuick Control 1 Press the <Q> button Select a function and set it 3Menu Function Settings [Live View function settings] menu are explained below Grid 1l Grid 2m uLive mode Selecting the AF Mode Select the AF mode Live Mode: d Display the Live View image Move the AF point u(Face detection) Live Mode: c 1Display the Live View image Page Live Mode and u(Face Detection) Live Mode Notes AF operation Page Quick Mode: f 2 Select the AF point. N Page 1 Set the lens focus mode switch to <MF Move the magnifying frame Magnify the image Focus manually Notes About the Live View Image About the <E> icon Notes About the Shooting Results Custom Function Notes Notes About Lenses and Flash Cards which can record movies About Full HD Autoexposure Shooting Set the Mode Dial to <k 3 Shooting the movie Page Page Manual Exposure Shooting 2Select [Movie exposure] 3 Select [Manual] 4Set the shutter speed and aperture 5 Set the ISO speed 6 Focus and shoot the movie Shooting Still Photos 2Select a function and set it Display the movie menu • Image size [n] Menu Movie-recordingsize Movie rec. size 6Video system AF during k kShutter/AE lock button •AF/AE lock: •AE lock/AF: •AF/AF lock, no AE lock: •AE/AF, no AE lock: [o] Menu Auto Sound recording kHighlight tone priority [2Shooting 2] Menu Notes on Movie Shooting Page Page 3Silencing the Beeper Beep 3Card Reminder Release shutter without card Card 3Setting the Auto Power-offTime 3Adjusting the L D Monitor Brightness 3File Numbering Methods IMG_0001.JPG File numbering [Auto reset]: Resets the file numbering to 0001 whenever the card is replaced 3Auto Rotation of Vertical Images Auto rotate [OnD] [Off] rotate BChecking Camera Settings Settings Display 3Reverting the Camera to the Default SettingsN Select [Clear settings] Clear settings Select the desired setting Clear all camera settings Shooting Settings Camera Settings Image-recordingSettings Live View Shooting Settings 3Preventing the LCD Monitor from Turning off Automatically Select [LCD auto off] LCD auto off 3Changing the Shooting Settings Screen Color Select [Screen color] Select [Flash control] [Flash firing] [Built-inflash func. setting] and [External flash func. setting] Flash mode Shutter sync 1st curtain 2nd curtain Hi-speed Flash exposure compensation E-TTLII Evaluative Average Clear flash settings Cleaning the Sensor Now 1Select [Sensor cleaning] Sensor cleaning 2 Select [Clean nowf] Clean nowf Preparation Obtain the Dust Delete Data Select [Dust Delete Data] Dust Delete Data Select [OK] 3Photograph a solid-whiteobject About the Dust Delete Data Select [Clean manually] Clean manually End the cleaning Page About images taken with another camera: HDisplay Multiple Images on One Screen (Index display) Switch to the index display 3 Select the image IJump through Images (Jump display) Select the jump method 4Image jump w 1 image/10 images/100 images/ Date/Movies/Stills Browse by jumping 2 Scroll around the image Select [Rotate] Rotate 3 Rotate the image Playback on a TV set(p.167, 169) Playback on the Camera’s LCD Monitor (p.162-166) Playback and Editing with a Personal Computer Select a movie 3 Press <0 4 Playback the movie Page 1 On the movie playback screen, select [X] Specify the part to be edited out Check the edited movie 4 Save the movie 1 Select [Slide show] Slide show Select back the images to be played 3Set the play time and repeat option Set Display time Repeat 4 Start the slide show Viewing on HD (High-Definition)TV Sets Connect the HDMI cable to the camera dHDMI MINI Connect the HDMI cable to the TV set 3 Turn on the TV and switch the TV’s video input to select the connected port For HDMI CEC TV sets 1 Select [Ctrl over HDMI] 2 Select the image Viewing on Non-HD (High-Definition)TV Sets 1 Connect the provided AV cable to the camera Canon 2Connect the AV cable to the TV set 4Set the camera’s power switch to <1 Select [Protect images] Protect images Select the image and protect it Erasing a Single Image Playback the image to be erased Press the <L> button Erase the image Erase 2Select [Select and erase images] Select [Select and erase images] 3Select the images to be erased 4Erase the images 3Erasing All Images in the Card About the Highlight Alert About the Histogram 4Histogram [Brightness] Display [RGB] Display Printing (p.176) Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) (p.185) The direct printing procedure is done entirely with the camera Connecting the Camera to a Printer 1 Set the camera’s power switch to <2 2 Set up the printer 3 Connectingprinter. the camera to a 6 Playback the image 1Select the image to be printed 2 Press <0 3 Select [Paper settings] Paper settings QSetting the Paper Size YSetting the Paper Type USetting the Page Layout 4 Set the printing effects What is displayed on the screen 5Set the date and file number imprinting 6Set the number of copies 7Start printing eAdjustment of Printing Effects Brightness Adjust levels kBrightener Red-eyecorr Trimming the Image 1On the print setting screen, select [Trimming] 2Set the trimming frame size, position, and aspect ratio Changing the trimming frame size Moving the trimming frame Page Setting the Printing Options Select [Print order] Print order Select [Set up] Set up 4 Exit the setting Sel.Image All image Print Ordering [Standard] [Both] [Index] Mark all on card Clear all on card 1Prepare to print Under the [3] tab, select [Print order]. Select [Print] 4Set the [Paper settings]. (p.178) 5Select [OK] Page Select [Custom Functions (C.Fn)] Select the Custom Function No Change the setting as desired Clearing All Custom Functions Custom Functions C.Fn I: Exposure C.Fn II: Image C.Fn III: Autofocus/Drive C.Fn IV: Operation/Others C.Fn I: Exposure C.Fn-1Exposure level increments C.Fn-2ISO expansion C.Fn-3Flash sync. speed in Av (Aperture-priorityAE) mode C.Fn II: Image C.Fn-4Long exposure noise reduction C.Fn-5High ISO speed noise reduction C.Fn-6Highlight tone priority C.Fn III: Autofocus/Drive C.Fn-7 AF-assistbeam firing C.Fn-8Mirror lockup C.Fn IV: Operation/Others C.Fn-9Shutter/AE lock button C.Fn-10Assign SET button C.Fn-11LCD display when power ON C.Fn-12Add image verification data Select [My Menu settings] My Menu settings Select [Register to My Menu] Select [Register to My Menu], then press <0 Register the desired items Select [Copyright information] Select the desired option 3 Enter text Text Entry Procedure Moving the cursor Entering text Deleting a character Exiting Page Subjects difficult to focus Connect the power cord Connect the DC Coupler Insert the DC Coupler Push in the DC cord Remote Controller RC-6(Sold separately) Remote Switch RS-60E3(Sold separately) Using the Eyepiece Cover Remove the eyecup Attach the eyepiece cover EOS-dedicated, EX-seriesSpeedlites Canon Speedlites other than the EX-series Using Non-CanonFlash Units Sync Speed Cautions for Live View shooting Insert an Eye-Ficard. (p.31) Select [Eye-Fisettings] Enable the Eye-Fi transmission 5Check the [Access point SSID:] Access point SSID: 6 Take the picture Not connected Connecting Page Page 1Shooting 1 (Red) 2Shooting 2 (Red) yShooting 3 (Red) 3Playback 1 (Blue) 4Playback 2 (Blue) 5Set-up1 (Yellow) 6Set-up2 (Yellow) 7Set-up3 (Yellow) 9My Menu (Green) Movie Shooting Mode Menu nMovie 1 (Red) oMovie 2 (Red) About the menu screen in movie shooting mode Page Page The camera does not operate even when the power switch is set to <1 The battery charger’s lamp blinks The access lamp still blinks even when the power switch is set to <2 The battery becomes exhausted quickly The camera turns off by itself No images can be shot nor recorded The image is out of focus The card cannot be used The maximum burst during continuous shooting is lower ISO 100 cannot be set The Auto Lighting Optimizer cannot be set When I use the <f> mode with flash, the shutter speed becomes slow The built-inflash does not fire The camera makes a noise when it is shaken The shutter makes two shooting sounds during Live View shooting The movie shooting terminates by itself When a movie is played, camera operation noise can be heard The LCD monitor does not display a clear image The menu screen shows few tabs and options The image cannot be erased The file name’s first character is an underscore (“_MG_”) The file numbering does not start from The shooting date and time displayed is incorrect No image appears on the TV screen The card reader does not detect the card The [Eye-FiSettings] menu item does not appear There are fewer printing effects than listed in the instruction manual Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Trademarks About MPEG-4Licensing Use of genuine Canon accessories is recommended Preventing Serious Injury or Death Preventing Injury or Equipment Damage Digital Camera Model DS126271 Systems CAUTION Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Basic Zone Modes Modes Page Page Page Shooting Settings Display Page You can change the camera settings as desired to shoot in various ways Page Page Live View function settings Page Page EOS DIGITAL Solution Disk EOS Utility Digital Photo Professional ZoomBrowser EX (Win) / ImageBrowser (Mac) Picture Style Editor Installing the Software 1Insert EOS DIGITAL Solution Disk (CD) Canon EOS Digital Installer Click [Easy Installation] and follow the instructions on the screen to install Install Software Instruction Manual Copying and Viewing the Instruction Manual PDFs Insert the [Software INSTRUCTION MANUAL] CD into your computer Double-clickthe CD-ROMicon 3Copy the [English] folder to your computer