Canon 450D, Xsi Advanced Shooting Techniques

Advanced Shooting Techniques

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 the standard exposure.

The difference between the Basic Zone modes and <d> is explained on page 170.

*<d> stands for Program.

*AE stands for Auto Exposure.

Contents

MANUAL INSTRUCTION Thank you for purchasing a Canon product Take a Few Test Shots to Familiarize Yourself with the Camera Test the Camera Before Using and Liability Copyrights Item Check List Conventions Used in this Manual Chapters Contents Advanced Shooting Techniques More Advanced Techniques Live View Shooting Handy Features Image Playback 8Printing Images and Transferring Images to a Computer Customizing the Camera Reference Contents at a Glance Focusing Change the point of focus p.61 Shoot a moving subject p.50 Handling Precautions LCD Monitor Cards Lens Electrical Contacts Cautions During Prolonged Use Quick Start Guide Set the Mode Dial to <1> (Full Auto). (p.44) Focus the subject. (p.37) Take the picture. (p.37) Review the picture. (p.108) Nomenclature Page Shooting Settings Display Viewfinder Information Mode Dial Creative Zone Basic Zone 1: Full Auto (p.44) Image Zone Battery Charger LC-E5 Battery Charger LC-E5E Attaching the Strap Getting Started Recharging the Battery 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 and Removing the Battery Turning on the Power Checking the Battery Level Battery Life 3Setting the Date and Time 3Selecting the Interface Language Installing and Removing the Card Removing the Card Make sure the access lamp is off, then open the cover 2 Remove the card Mounting and Detaching a Lens About Zooming Detaching the Lens While pressing the lens release button, turn the lens as shown by the arrow About the Lens Image Stabilizer Basic Operation Shutter Button Pressing halfway Pressing completely Preventing Camera Shake Menu Operations and Settings Menu Setting Procedure 1 Display the menu 2 Select a tab Select a menu item Select the setting 3Formatting the Card About Low-levelFormatting Switching the LCD Monitor Screen B a sic 1Fully Automatic Shooting FAQ Sometimes multiple AF points flash simultaneously Although it is daylight, the flash popped up In low light, the built-inflash fired a series of flashes When flash was used, the bottom part of the picture came out unnaturally dark 1Full Auto Techniques 2Shooting Portraits 3Shooting Landscapes 4Shooting Close-ups 5Shooting Moving Subjects 6Shooting Portraits at Night 7Disabling Flash jUsing the Self-timer xImage Playback Advanced Shooting Techniques d: Program AE Z: Changing the ISO SpeedN Using the Built-inFlash 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 E: Changing the AF ModeN SSelecting the AF PointN When shooting a portrait up close, use One-ShotAF and focus the eyes Manual Focusing Set the lens focus mode switch to <MF 2 Focus the subject iContinuous ShootingN 3Setting the Image-recordingQuality What’s the difference between 7 and 8 Does the camera display the maximum burst When do I use the 1 mode About About 1+73 ASelecting a Picture StyleN SNeutral UFaithful VMonochrome WUser Def More Advanced Techniques s: Action Shots 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 f: Changing the Depth of Field Page Using the Built-inFlash Custom Functions (C.Fn) Flash sync. speed in Av mode 1: 1/ 200sec. (fixed) Depth-of-FieldPreviewN a: Manual Exposure 8: Automatic Depth-of-FieldAE qChanging the Metering ModeN Setting Exposure CompensationN yFlash Exposure CompensationN 1 Select [Flash exp comp] Flash exp comp 2Set the exposure compensation amount 3Auto Exposure BracketingN Canceling AEB Using AEB with continuous shooting Using AEB with <u> single shooting Using AEB with exposure compensation ACustomizing the Picture StyleN 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 N:None S:Sepia ARegistering the Picture StyleN Page 3Setting the Color SpaceN AAE LockN AFE LockN B: Setting the White BalanceN Select [Custom WB] Custom WB Import the white balance data 4 Select the custom white balance 3White Balance CorrectionN White Balance Auto Bracketing Bracketing Sequence Set the white balance bracketing amount Preventing Camera ShakeN Live View Shooting Preparing for Live View ShootingN Page Focusing ManuallyN ShootingN Battery Life with Live View Shooting [Approx. number of shots] About the Information Display Using AF to FocusN 4Return to the Live View image display and shoot C.Fn-8-2:Live mode Set to Live mode and the lens focus mode switch to <f 1Display the Live View image About the AF point with Live mode With Live mode, AF can fail to achieve focus in the following cases: Handy Features Handy Features 3Setting the Auto Power-offTime 3Setting the LCD Monitor Brightness LCD brightness 3File Numbering Methods IMG_0001.JPG File numbering [Auto reset]: Resets the file numbering to 0001 whenever the card is replaced 3Auto Image Rotation Auto rotate [On [Off] rotate BChecking Camera Function Settings Settings Display 3Reverting the Camera to the Default SettingsN 1 Select [Clear settings] Clear settings 2 Select the desired setting Clear all camera 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] 3Flash ControlN E-TTLII Evaluative Average Setting the External Speedlites Speedlite’s instruction manual 3Automatic Sensor Cleaning 3Appending Dust Delete DataN 3Photograph a solid-whiteobject About the Dust Delete Data 3Manual Sensor CleaningN Page Image Playback xSearching for Images Quickly Jump through Images (Jump display) 1 Select the jump method In the single image display mode 1 image/10 images/100 images/Date 2 Browse by jumping u/yMagnified View bRotating the Image 3Auto Playback Viewing the Images on TV 3Protecting Images LErasing Images Shooting Information Display About the Histogram [Brightness] Display [RGB] Display Printing Images and Transferring Images to a Computer Printing (p.134) http://canon.com/pictbridge Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) (p.143) Preparing to Print 6 Playback the image wPrinting QSetting the Paper Size YSetting the Paper Type USetting the Page Layout 4 Set the printing effects 5Set the date and file number imprinting 6Set the number of copies 7Start printing eAdjustment of Printing Effects Brightness Adjust levels Manual kBrightener Trimming the Image Do the trimming right before printing 1On the print setting screen, select [Trimming] 2Set the trimming frame size, position, and proportion Changing the trimming frame size Page WDigital Print Order Format (DPOF) 4 Exit the setting Sel.Image All image Print Ordering [Standard] [Both] [Index] WDirect Printing with DPOF dTransferring Images to a Personal Computer Transferring Images to a Personal Computer My Pictures Pictures Transfer all the images in the card to the personal computer All images Select & transfer Wallpaper 3Selecting the Images to be Transferred Select [Transfer order] Transfer order 3Select the image to be transferred About [All image] Mark all on card Clear all on card Customizing the Camera 3Setting Custom FunctionsN Custom Functions C.Fn I: Exposure C.Fn II: Image C.Fn III: Auto focus/Drive C.Fn IV: Operation/Others 3Custom Function SettingsN C.Fn II: Image C.Fn-3Long exposure noise reduction C.Fn-4High ISO speed noise reduction C.Fn-5Highlight tone priority C.Fn-6Auto Lighting Optimizer C.Fn III: Auto focus/Drive C.Fn-7 AF-assistbeam firing C.Fn-8AF during Live View shooting C.Fn-9Mirror lockup C.Fn IV: Operation/Others C.Fn-10Shutter/AE lock button C.Fn-11SET button when shooting C.Fn-12LCD display when power ON C.Fn-13Add original decision data 3Registering My MenuN Reference When Autofocus Fails Using a Household Power Outlet Remote Control Shooting Using the Eyepiece Cover Remove the eyecup Attaching the eyepiece cover External Speedlites Canon Speedlites other than the EX-series Using Non-CanonFlash Units Sync Speed Cautions for Live View shooting Menu Settings Set-up My Menu Function Availability Table Page Troubleshooting Guide Power Shooting Image Review & Operation Error Codes System Map Page Specifications Page Page Page Page Page Page Trademarks Safety Warnings Preventing Serious Injury or Death Preventing Injury or Equipment Damage Digital Camera Model DS126181 Systems Page MEMO Index