ENGLISH
Before Using the Camera
Shooting
Playback/Erasing
Print/Transfer Settings
Photo of PowerShot A540
Viewing Images on a TV set
Troubleshooting
List of Messages
Appendix
Advanced
Camera User Guide
This guide explains camera features and procedures in detail.
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CDI-E221-010
© 2006 CANON INC.
PRINTED IN MALAYSIA
Main Features
Shooting
Automatically adjusts shooting settings to match particular
conditions
Avoid the effects of camera shake or blurry subjects when
shooting by using a high ISO speed
Automatically detects camera orientation with an Intelligent
Orientation sensor
Changes specific image colors to shoot (Color Accent, Color
Swap)
Attaches the separately sold wide converter, tele-converter or
close-up lens to shoot (PowerShot A540 only)
Playback
Plays movies with sound
Plays back automatically
using the Auto Play function
Editing
Records sound memos for
still images
Edits movies
Printing
Makes printing easy with
the Print/Share button
Also supports non-Canon
brand PictBridge compliant
printers
Uses of Recorded Images
Effortlessly transfer them to a computer with the Print/Share
button
In this guide, explanations are given using illustrations for PowerShot A540.
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Conventions Used in this Guide
Icons appearing below titles indicate the shooting modes in which
the procedure can be used.
Mode switch
Continuous Shooting
PowerShot A540
PowerShot A530
* Unavailable shooting modes are shown grayed out.
See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 136).
In this guide, the Basic Camera User Guide is referred to as the
Basic Guide, and the Advanced Camera User Guide is referred
to as the Advanced Guide.
This mark denotes issues that may affect the camera’s
operation.
This mark denotes additional topics that complement the
basic operating procedures.
You can use SD* memory cards and MultiMediaCards with this
camera. These cards are collectively called memory cards in this
guide.
* SD stands for Secure Digital, a copyright protection system.
Use of genuine Canon accessories is recommended.
This product is designed to achieve excellent performance when
used with genuine Canon accessories. Canon shall not be liable
for any damage to this product and/or accidents such as fire, etc.,
caused by the malfunction of non-genuine Canon accessories
(e.g., a leakage and/or explosion of a battery pack). Please note
that this warranty does not apply to repairs arising out of the
malfunction of non-genuine Canon accessories, although you
may request such repairs on a chargeable basis.
1
Table of Contents
Items marked with a are lists or charts that summarize camera
functions or procedures.
Handling Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Please Read. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Preventing Malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Before Using the Camera – The Components Guide . . . 12
Before Using the Camera – Basic Operations. . . . . . . . . 15
Using the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Information Displayed on the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Using the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Power Saving Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Menus and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Menu List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Resetting Settings to Their Default Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Formatting Memory Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Changing the Recording Pixels and Compression (Still Images)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Using the Digital Zoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Continuous Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Postcard Date Imprint Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Using the Self-Timer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Movie Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Shooting Panoramic Images (Stitch Assist) . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Program AE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Setting the Shutter Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Setting the Aperture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Manually Setting the Shutter Speed and Aperture. . . . . . 47
Selecting an AF Frame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Shooting Hard-to-Focus Subjects (Focus Lock, AF Lock,
Manual Focus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Switching between Metering Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
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Adjusting the Exposure Compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Adjusting the Tone (White Balance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Shooting in a My Colors Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Changing the Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Adjusting the ISO Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Switching between Flash Adjustment Settings . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Compensating the Flash Adjustment / Flash Output. . . . . . . .66
Setting the Auto Rotate Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Creating an Image Destination (Folder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Resetting the File Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Playback/Erasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Magnifying Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Viewing Images in Sets of Nine (Index Playback) . . . . . .73
Jumping to Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Viewing Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Editing Movies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Rotating Images in the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Attaching Sound Memos to Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Automated Playback (Auto Play) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Protecting Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Erasing All Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Print Settings/Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Setting the DPOF Print Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Setting the DPOF Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Viewing Images on a TV set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
When the power is turned on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
LCD monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Shooting Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
TV monitor output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Printing with a direct print compatible printer . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
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List of Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Battery Handling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Handling the Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Using the Power Kits (Sold Separately) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Using the Lenses (Sold Separately) (PowerShot A540 only)109
Using an Externally Mounted Flash (Sold Separately). . . . . 112
Replacing the Date Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Camera Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode. . . . . . . . 136
4
Handling Precautions
Please Read
Test Shots
Before you try to photograph important subjects, we highly
recommend that you shoot several trial images to confirm that the
camera is operating and being operated correctly.
Please note that Canon Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates, and its
distributors are not liable for any consequential damages arising
from any malfunction of a camera or accessory, including memory
cards, that results in the failure of an image to be recorded or to be
recorded in a way that is machine readable.
Warning Against Copyright Infringement
Please note that Canon digital cameras are intended for personal
use and should never be used in a manner that infringes upon or
contravenes international or domestic copyright laws and
regulations. Please be advised that in certain cases the copying of
images from performances, exhibitions, or commercial properties
by means of a camera or other device may contravene copyright or
other legal rights even if the image was shot for personal use.
Warranty Limitations
This camera’s warranty is only effective in the country of sale. If a
problem arises while the camera is in use abroad, please convey it
back to the country of sale before proceeding with a warranty claim
to a Canon Customer Support Help Desk.
For Canon Customer Support contacts, please see the
customer support list supplied with your camera.
5
Camera Body Temperature
If your camera is used for prolonged periods, the camera body
may become warm. Please be aware of this and take care when
operating the camera for an extended period.
About the LCD Monitor
The LCD monitor is produced with extremely high-precision
manufacturing techniques. More than 99.99% of the pixels
operate to specification. Less than 0.01% of the pixels may
occasionally misfire or appear as red or black dots. This has no
effect on the recorded image and does not constitute a
malfunction.
Video Format
Please set the camera’s video signal format to the one used in your
region before using it with a TV monitor (p. 88).
Language Setting
Please see the Basic Guide (p. 3) to change the language setting.
Safety Precautions
Before using the camera, please ensure that you read the safety
precautions described below and in the “Safety Precautions”
section of the Basic Camera User Guide. Always ensure that the
camera is operated correctly.
The safety precautions noted on the following pages are intended
to instruct you in the safe and correct operation of the camera and
its accessories to prevent injuries or damage to yourself, other
persons and equipment.
Equipment refers to the camera, battery, battery charger (sold
separately) and compact power adapter (sold separately).
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