Table of Contents | Canon SX20 IS instruction

Table of Contents

Chapters 1 – 3 explain the basic operations and frequently used functions of this camera. Chapters 4 onward explain the advanced functions, letting you learn more as you read each chapter.

Checking the Package Contents	2
Read This First	3
What Do You Want to Do?	4
Conventions Used in this Guide	9
Safety Precautions	10
1 Getting Started	13
Inserting the Batteries	14
Inserting the Memory
Card	16
Opening the LCD Monitor	18
Setting the Date and Time	19
Setting the Display Language	21
Formatting Memory Cards	22
Pressing the Shutter Button	23
Taking Pictures	24
Viewing Images	27
Erasing Images	28
Printing Images	29
Shooting Movies	31
Viewing Movies	33
Transferring Images
to a Computer	34
Accessories	38
Separately Sold Accessories	40
2 Learning More	41
Components Guide	42
Information Displayed
on the Screen	44
Indicators	47
FUNC. Menu – Basic Operations ....	48
Menu – Basic Operations	49

Changing the Sound Settings	50
Changing the Screen Brightness ....	51
Returning the Camera to Default
Settings	52
Low Level Memory Card
Formatting	53
Power Saving Function
(Auto Power Down)	54
Clock Functions	54
Adjusting the Viewfinder	55
Attaching the Lens Hood	55

3Shooting in Special Conditions and Commonly

Used Functions	57
Shooting in Various Conditions	58
Shooting in Special Scenes	59
Zooming in More Closely on
Subjects (Digital Zoom)	62
Inserting the Date and Time	64
Using the Self-Timer	65
Using the Face Self-Timer	66
4 Choosing Settings
Yourself	67
Shooting in Program AE	68
Adjusting the Brightness
(Exposure Compensation)	69
Turning the Flash On	69
Changing the Recording Pixels
(Image Size)	70
Changing the Compression Ratio
(Image Quality)	70

6

Image 6

Canon SX20 IS manual Table of Contents

Contents

Camera User Guide Checking the Package Contents Read This First What Do You Want to Do? ShootTake good landscapes Print ViewShoot/View Movies Save Table of Contents Functions Useful Information 155 Conventions Used in this Guide Camera Safety PrecautionsUse only recommended power sources Do not trigger the flash in close proximity to human eyes Battery Safety PrecautionsOther Warnings This may cause the camera to malfunction Getting Started Attaching the Strap/Removing the Lens Cap Insert the batteries Inserting the BatteriesOpen the cover Close the cover Approximate Number of Shots That Can Be Taken Why use NiMH batteries?Battery Charge Indicator Compatible Batteries Check the card’s write-protect tab Inserting the Memory CardRemoving the Memory Card Insert the memory card Can you check the number of shots that can be taken? What is the write-protect tab?Approximate Number of Shots per Memory Card Compatible Memory Cards Rotate the LCD monitor Opening the LCD MonitorOpen the LCD Monitor Close the LCD Monitor Turn on the camera Setting the Date and TimeMake the setting Set the date and time Display the menus Date/Time batteryChanging the Date and Time Choose Date/Time in the 3 tab Display the settings screen Setting the Display LanguageEnter Playback mode What if the clock appears when the m button is pressed? Choose Format Formatting Memory CardsDisplay the menu Format the memory card Press fully to the second stop Pressing the Shutter ButtonPress halfway lightly to the first stop Holding the Camera Taking Pictures Choose a modeSet the mode dial to a Compose the shot Shoot Twice Green AF frames appear where the subject is in focusFocus What if Scene Icons Choose an image What is the rectangular gray frame?Viewing Images You can view your images on the screen Erasing Images Choose an image to erase Turn on the printer Turn on the camera Printing ImagesItems to Prepare Choose an image to print Print images Printing Images Set the mode dial to E Shooting Movies Stop shooting Estimated Shooting TimesShooting Movies Play the movie Viewing MoviesChoose a movie You can view your movies on the screen Windows Transferring Images to a ComputerSystem Requirements Macintosh Preparations Install the softwareRemove the CD-ROM when your desktop screen appears Transferring Images to a Computer Connect the camera to the computer Open CameraWindow Transfer Images Accessories Supplied with Camera Accessories Use of genuine Canon accessories is recommended Other Accessories Separately Sold AccessoriesPower Supplies Flash Learning More Mode Dial Use the mode dial to change the Shooting modeComponents Guide Control Dial ButtonComponents Guide Information Displayed on the Screen Shooting Information DisplaySame information will display on the viewfinder Playback Detailed Information Display Information Displayed on the Screen Playback Switching the DisplayShooting Display in Dark Conditions during Shooting Indicators Overexposure Warning during PlaybackHistogram Display the FUNC. menu Choose a shooting modeFUNC. Menu Basic Operations Choose a menu item Press the qr buttons to choose an option Menu Basic OperationsChoose a tab Press the n button Normal screen will reappear Changing the Sound Settings Adjusting the VolumeMuting Sounds With the l Button Changing the Screen BrightnessWith the Menu Choose LCD Brightness Reset the settings Returning the Camera to Default SettingsChoose Reset All Are there functions that cannot be reset? Low Level Memory Card Formatting Perform the low level formatAbout low level formatting Power Saving during Shooting Power Saving during PlaybackClock Functions Attaching the Lens Hood Adjusting the ViewfinderAdjust the diopter Set the viewfinder displayPage Shooting in Special Conditions and Commonly Used Functions Shooting in Various Conditions Shoot sunsets Sunset Shooting in Special ScenesShoot ’ Take indoor shots Indoor Lets you shoot indoors with natural colors WTake shots of people at the beach Beach Take nightscapes Night SceneTTake shots of fireworks Fireworks YTake shots of aquatic life in an aquarium Aquarium ZShoot using high ISO speed ISO PTake shots of people in snow Snow Move it toward i again Zooming in More Closely on Subjects Digital ZoomMove the zoom lever toward Zoom Factors at which Images Deteriorate Choose Digital Zoom Accept the settingDigital Tele-Converter Turning off the digital zoom To restore to the original setting, choose Off in Step Inserting the Date and TimeChoose Date Stamp Using the Self-Timer Press the p button Choose Ò Compose the shot and press the shutter button halfway Using the Face Self-TimerChoose Press the shutter button fully Choosing Settings Yourself Shooting in Program AE Turning the Flash On Adjusting the Brightness Exposure CompensationAdjust the brightness Choose the exposure compensation Choose the recording pixels Changing the Recording Pixels Image SizeChanging the Compression Ratio Image Quality Change the image quality Recording Pixels Approximate Values for Paper SizeChanging the Compression Ratio Image Quality Ratio Shooting Range Shooting Close-ups Macro/Super MacroPress the q button Choose e or œ About the zoom bar in e Changing the ISO Speed Choose the ISO speedChanging the ISO speed Adjusting the White Balance Custom White BalanceChoose the white balance Continuous Shooting Choose a Drive modeDrive Mode Shooting Interval Description You can shoot continuously at a fixed interval Changing the Tone of an Image My Colors Choose My Colors Custom Color Press the l button to accept the settingShooting Using the Two Second Self-Timer Choose Î Choose $ Customizing the Self-TimerChoose the settings What if the number of shots is set to two or more shots? Recompose Shooting Using a TV MonitorChanging the Composition with the Focus Lock Press the shutter button fullyPage Getting More Out of Your Camera FlexiZone/Center Changing the AF Frame ModeFace Detect Choose AF Frame Press the button Complete settingsChanging the AF Frame Position and Size Move the AF frame Check the focus Magnifying the Focal PointChoose AF-Point Zoom What if the display does not magnify? Lock the focus Shooting with the AF LockShooting with Servo AF Compose the scene and shoot Set the camera to Face Detect p Set Face Select modeChoosing the Person to Focus On Face Select Choose the face on which to focus Changing the Metering Mode Choose the Metering mode Shooting in Manual Focus Mode Focusing roughlyFine tuning the focus Focus Bracketing Focus-BKT Mode Set the focus adjustment level Shooting with the AE Lock Lock the exposureProgram Shift Raise the flash and choose h p Lock the exposure Auto Exposure Bracketing AEB ModeShooting with the FE Lock Disappear and the FE will unlock Raise the flash p Choose … Shooting with Slow SynchroSet the exposure compensation amount Shooting with Slow Synchro Available Shutter Speeds Setting the Shutter SpeedSet the mode dial to M Make the setting What if aperture value is displayed in orange? Safety Shift Setting the Aperture ValueSet the mode dial to B Make the setting Available Aperture Values Setting the Shutter Speed and Aperture Value Set the mode dial to D Make the setting Correcting the Brightness and Shooting i-Contrast Choose i-Contrast Adjust the setting Red-Eye CorrectionChoose Flash Control Choose ~ Adjusting the Flash Exposure CompensationSafety FE ~ will appear on the screen Adjusting the Flash Output Set the camera to D mode Choose the flash outputD mode, you can choose 3 levels of flash output 100 Choose Flash Control p Make the settingChanging the Flash Timing What are the 1st-curtain and 2nd-curtain? Checking for Shut Eyes Choose Blink Detection101 Settings that Can be Registered Registering Shooting SettingsRegister the settings 102 Changing the Color and Shooting Color Accent Specify the color to be swapped Color SwapChoose Y Specify the target color Specify the range of colors to be swapped Set the mode dial to L Choose a shooting directionShooting Stitch Assist Images Take the first shot Merge the images on a computer Take subsequent shotsFinish shooting 106 107 Shooting Movies in Modes Other than E 108 Changing the Image QualityChoose the image quality Image Quality Table 109 Taking Still Images while Shooting a MovieFocus while shooting a movie What if 4 changes and you can’t take a still image? Using the Wind Filter Sound SettingsAdjusting the recording volume 110 Change the exposure AE Lock/Exposure ShiftOther Shooting Functions 111 Playback Functions 112Summary for Viewing Movies p Editing Set the editing range113 114 Check the edited movieSave the edited movie Editing Using Playback and Other Functions 115 Quickly Searching Images Searching Images Using Index DisplaySearching Images Using the Control Dial Move the zoom lever toward g Choose a target filter Viewing Images in Filtered PlaybackSearch by 117 118 Viewing images using filter playbackJump by and Images What if you can’t choose a filter? Choose Start Viewing SlideshowsChoose Slideshow 119 Checking the Focus Press the l button, and switch to the focus check display pSwitch frames Change the magnification level or location Move the zoom lever toward k Magnifying ImagesChanging Image Transitions Choose Transition 122 Viewing Images on a TVTurn off the camera and TV Connect the camera to the TV What if the images don’t properly display on the TV? Viewing Images on a High-Definition TV 123Open the cover and fully insert the cable Protecting Images Choosing Images Individually Choose the starting image Select RangeChoose Select Range Choose the ending image Choose All Images Choose All ImagesProtect images 126 Erasing All Images Choose Erase127 Press the p button to choose Erase, then press the m button Press the n button Erase128 Erasing All Images Organizing Images by Category My Category Choose My Category129 Press the pbutton to choose Select and press the m button Choose the setting130 Organizing Images by Category My Category Rotate the image Rotating ImagesChoose Rotate 131 Choose an image size Resizing ImagesChoose Resize Save the new image Choose Trimming Adjust the trimming areaTrimming Save as a new image and display 134 Adding Effects with the My Colors FunctionChoose a menu option Press the qr buttons or turn the Â dial to choose an option Correcting the Brightness i-Contrast 135Correcting the Brightness i-Contrast Correct the image Correcting the Red-Eye EffectChoose Red-Eye Correction 136 Printing will start Print137 Print list Adjust the settings Print SettingsChoose Print Settings Choosing Images for Printing Dpof Set the number of prints Choosing the Number of CopiesChoose Select Images & Qty 139 Choose Range Set All Images to Print OnceClearing All Selections Customizing the Camera 141 Changing Functions Turning off the Power Saving FunctionSetting the Screen Shut-Off Time 142 Set the world time zone Using the World ClockSet the home time zone Choose the world time zone Turning off Hints & Tips Changing the File Number Assignment144 Changing the Lens Retract Time Creating Folders by Shooting DateChanging Distance Units 145 Turning off the AF Assist Beam Switching the Focus SettingChanging Shooting Functions 146 Changing the Way the Image Displays Right After Shooting Turning off the Red-Eye Reduction FunctionChanging the Image Display Time 147 Customizing Display Information 148 Changing the IS-Mode Settings Registering Functions to the Button149 Choose the menu items to register Choose My Menu settingsRegistering Commonly Used Shooting Menus 150 Change the order in which menu items are displayed Changing Playback FunctionsChoosing the Image that First Displays in Playback 151 Changing the Start-up Screen Changing the Start-up Image or SoundChange Sounds Registering the Start-up Screen 153 Register images or sounds saved on a computerChanging the Start-up Image or Sound 154 Useful Information 155 Replacing the Date/Time Battery Insert the battery with + and sides oriented correctly156 Turn off the camera Plug the cord into the camera Using Household PowerConnect the power cord 157 Using an Externally Mounted Flash Sold Separately Display the flash settings screen158 159 Using an Externally Mounted Flash Sold SeparatelyOptions Shooting mode Speedlite 220EX, 270EX, 430EX II, and 580EX 160 Canon Flashes Other than Speedlite EX Series TV output TroubleshootingPower Shooting 162 Computer Shooting moviesPlayback 163 List of Messages that Appear on the Screen 164 165 166 Shooting modes M GFunc. Menu 167 168 MenusShooting Menu Function Shooting modes 169 Menus Set up Menu 170Options/Summary Ref. Playback Menu Print Menu171 Memory Cards Handling PrecautionsEquipment 172 Specifications 173 Specifications 174 Specifications Lens Hood LH-DC50 175 Index 176 177 Index 178 Index Trademark Acknowledgments Disclaimer