Canon EOS 3 User Manual

Canon

Thank you for purchasing a Canon product.

The EOS-3 is the world’s first high-performance AF single-lens reflex camera with Eye-Control area AF. The camera’s many features can suit diverse picture-taking requirements from fully automatic operations to highly specialized applications. It also retains the simple electronic dial operation found on other top-tier EOS cameras. Before using the camera, read this Instructions booklet and familiarize

yourself with the camera.

Precautions

Before using the camera for important events such as a weddings, be sure to take test shots to make sure the camera operates

properly. EOS cameras have a lens mount fitted with electrical contacts for

dedicated operation (autofocusing, exposure control, etc.) with Canon EF lenses. Using a non-EF lens with an EOS camera may not result in proper camera or lens operation.

Also, the warranty does not cover any malfunction or damage occurring with the use of non-Canon lenses.

Symbols used in this Instructions booklet:

41 : Warning for preventing camera malfunction.

H : Supplementary notes for basic camera operation.

# : Flelpful tip for operating your camera and taking pictures.

Page numbers in parentheses indicate where you can find more

information.

Also read “Handling Precautions” on page 6 to prevent faulty pictures and camera mishaps.

Retain this Instructions manual for future reference.

Contents

Before You Start

Quick Start With Program AE

Autofocus (AF)

Handling Precautions Nomenclature

1. Basic Operation

2. Installing the Battery and Checking the Battery Level

3. Mounting and Detaching a Lens..23

Program AE..........................................30

Shifting the Program

1. AF Mode Selection

AF Modes

2. Area AF Ellipse and Focusing Points

3. Focusing Point Selection...............38

• Automatic Selection

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6 9

1. Selecting a Metering Mode............54

Metering Modes

Shooting Modes

Flash Photography

2. Metering Modes.............................55

Evaluative Metering (C®])

1. Shutter Speed-Priority AE (Tv):

You Set the Shutter Speed............62

2. Aperture-Priority AE (Av): You Set the Aperture

3. Depth-of-field AE (DEP): You Set the Depth of Field Depth-of-field AE with a Manually-

Selected Focusing Point................68

Depth-of-field AE with Eye-Selected Focusing Points

1. Flash Photography with Speedlite

550EX............................................92

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1. Setting and Canceling Custom

Custom Functions

1. Troubleshooting Guide

2. Exposure Warning List

Reference Section

3. Program Line...............................131

Functions.....................................104

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128 130

Conventions Used in this Instructions

Booklet...........................................13

Attaching the Strap

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4. Loading Film..................................24

Setting the Film Speed.................26

Dioptric Adjustment Lenses................32

• Manual Selection

• Eye-Control Selection About Eye-Control AF

Eye-Control Calibration................42

4. Eye-Control One-Shot AF Mode..47

5. Eye-Control Al-Servo AF Mode ...48 Partial Metering (Cq])

Spot Metering (H).........................55

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38 38

5. Unloading Film Midroli Rewind (Qn)

6. Focusing an Off-Center Subject ..49

• AF Sensitivity and the Lens’ Maximum Aperture

7. When Autofocus Fails

8. Manual Focusing

Focusing Point-Linked

Spot Metering

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28 28

Centerweighted Metering (O)

4. Manual Exposure (M): You Set the Shutter Speed and Aperture

5. Setting Exposure Compensation...75

6. Autoexposure Bracketing

(AEB)............................................77

Canceling AEB

7. AE Lock........................................79

8. Setting the Film Speed Manually...81

9. Multiple Exposures (B).................82

2. Using Other EOS-Dedicated

Speedlites

2. Custom Function Settings

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100

106

Multi-Spot Metering......................57

10. buLb Exposures

11. Switching the Film Advance Mode

12. Self-timer Operation.....................87

Attaching the Eyepiece Cover

13. Mirror Lockup...............................89

14. Depth-of-field Preview

15. LCD Panel Illumination

3. Using Non-Canon Flash Units ...101

3. Index of Custom Functions

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124

4. Shutter Speed and Aperture

Readouts....................................132

5. Interchanging the

Focusing Screen

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133

6. Major Accessories

Major Specifications

Custom Function Symbols

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135 140 145

Handling Precautions

Camera Care

{ 1 ) The camera is a precision instrument. Do not drop it or subject it to

{ 2 ) This camera is not waterproof and cannot be used underwater. If the

( 3 ) Do not leave the camera in places prone to excessive heat such as

{ 4 ) The camera contains precision electronic circuitry. Never attempt to

(5 ) Use only a blower brush to blow away dust on the lens, viewfinder

and Storage

physical shock.

camera gets really wet, promptly consult your nearest Canon Service Center. Wipe off any water droplets with a dry cloth. If the camera has been exposed to salty air, wipe with a well-wrung damp cloth.

in a car on a sunny day. Excessive heat can cause the camera to malfunction.

disassemble the camera.

eyepiece, focusing screen, film compartment, and mirror. Do not use an organic solvent-containing cleaner to clean the camera body or lens. For stubborn dirt, consult your nearest Canon Service Center.

( 6 ) The shutter curtains are extremely thin. Use only a blower to clean.

Be careful not to blow air too forcefully on the shutter curtains. The shutter curtains can be easily deformed or damaged. Also, when loading and unloading film, be careful not to touch the shutter curtains.

(7) Do not touch the electrical contacts with your fingers. Otherwise

corrosion may develop on the contacts, resulting in improper camera operation.

(8 ) If the camera is not to be used for an extended period, remove the

battery. Store the camera in a well-ventilated, cool, dry place. During

the storage period, release the shutter a few times once in a while.

(9) Avoid storing the camera in a laboratory, cabinet, etc., where

corrosive chemicals are present.

(10) If the camera has not been used for an extended period or if the

camera is to be used for an important event, check the operation of all the camera controls or take it to your nearest Canon Service Center.

Handling Precautions

(11) After detaching the lens from the camera, put on the lens caps or put

down the lens with the rear end up to avoid scratching the lens surface and electrical contacts.

(12) Even when the Main switch is set to <H>, a small amount of power

is still supplied to the camera’s LCD panel. However, this does not affect the number of film roils which can be taken with the battery.

In time, the camera’s LCD (liquid-crystal display) panel indications may

become light and difficult to read. If this happens, have it replaced (at cost) by a Canon Service Center. At low temperatures, the display response of the LCD panel may become slower. And at 60°C or higher temperatures, the display may blacken. In either case, the display will return to normal at room temperature.

Si L

If the battery power falls to a very low level or a camera misoperation or

malfunction occurs, “b e” will blink on the LCD panel. In such a case,

follow the procedure below:

(1 ) Press the battery check button to check the battery power. If the

battery power is low, replace the battery. ( 2 ) If the battery power is normal, remove the battery and reload it. ( 3 ) Release the shutter once.

If the “b e” then turns off, the camera is back to normal. However, if this

procedure is repeated and “be ” still continues to blink, the camera has a

malfunction. Take it to your nearest Canon Service Center.

Handling Precautions

The camera operates only after the battery is properly installed (see page

21). Check the battery power in the following cases; (1) After replacing the battery. (2) After not using the camera for an extended period.

(3) The shutter does not work. (4) The camera is being used in a low-temperature environment. (5) Before using the camera for an important event.

• Before installing the battery, wipe the battery contacts to remove any fingerprints and smudges. This is to prevent faulty connections and corrosion.

• Never disassemble or recharge the battery. Also, never store a battery in high-temperature places or short circuit the battery contacts or toss a battery into a fire.

• Although lithium batteries work well even in low temperatures, battery performance may suffer slightly in freezing temperatures. In such a

case, keep a spare battery warm in a pocket, etc., and use and warm the batteries alternately.

Even when be is not displayed or when it blinks on the LCD panel, a

correctly-exposed picture can still be taken as long as the shutter can be released. However, when the battery power runs out, there may not be enough power to advance and rewind the film automatically, “fee” will then blink on the LCD panel. After the battery is replaced with a new one, film advance will resume automatically or film rewind will continue when the midroll film <Q±i> is pressed.

Nomenclature

• Reference page numbers are indicated in parentheses.

• In the text, camera controls are indicated by their respective icons.

Lens mount Lens mount index (page 23) Focusing screen Lens lock pin Lens release button

(page 23)

Strap eyelet (page 14)

Camera back lock release button (page 24)

Camera back lever (page 24)

Remote control socket cover

Quick-lock remote control socket

PC terminal (page 101) Motor drive coupling pin

Positioning pin hole

Nomenclature

<[U> Metering mode button / < ® >Exposure compensation button (page 54, 97)

< MODE > Shooting mode selector (page 30)

< AF > AF mode button (page 34)

< DRIVE > Film advance mode buttons (page 85)

< ISO > Film speed button (page 81)

< ^ > AFB buttons (page 77)

Eyepiece Eyecup

Film window

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Flot shoe X-sync contact

< D > Eye-Control switch (page 40) < -5;- > LCD panel illumination button

(page 90)

LCD panel (page 11)

i )

< FEL > FE lock button / Multi spot metering button (pages 57, 95)

<j^> Exposure compensation button / Aperture button (pages 73, 76)

Main Dial

(page 17)

<E11> Focusing point selector (page 38)

<® > Quick Control Dial ON/OFF switch (page 19)

Side Door Buttons

<CF> Custom Function set button (page 104)

< €Z* > Battery check button (page 22)

Side door

< * > AE lock button (page 79)

< O > Quick Control Dial (page 19)

< ® > Multiple exposure button (page 82)

< CLEAR > Clear button (page 20)

Nomenclature

On the LCD panel, the display boxes are colored to match the color of

the camera controls.

Shooting mode

: Program AE : Manual exposure

; Shutter speed-priority

; Depth-of-field AE

DEP

; Aperture-priority AE

Aperture (UU

idEP) I. г

AEB amount

/ n n ^

J n \

\ U.U

-J.U /

Focusing point selection mode

{RF

Custom Function setting

{D/l/P/B

Calibration channel No.

Metering mode

® Evaluative [13 Partial C’ll Spot nil Centerweighted

averaging

Film-loaded indicator Film rewind completed

indicator -------------------

Shutter speed (Buuu ~ 3D“) bulb display (buLb) Depth-of-field AE point (ВЕР) Focusing point selection mode

{E::J, 5EL, ЕЧЕ, -a-)

ISO film speed (S ~ EHDD) Custom Function No. {F-u'~tl)

Calibration display (/7Я1. End) Battery check (be )

FE lock display {FED

ISO icon AF mode

One-Shot AF Al Servo AF

AEB icon Film advance mode

Single-frame shooting (□) Continuous shooting ("i!!) Low-speed continuous shooting (Sl ) Fligh-speed continuous

shooting ()

Self-timer setting (10 sec. , 2 sec. <i)2)

Exposure compensation scale

Flash exposure compensation icon

Remaining frame counter icon -------Frame counter {I ~ 3B)

Bulb exposure time {I ~ 3D)

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----

Multiple exposure setting (I ~ 3 ) . Remaining multiple exposures ( 3

Self-timer indicator (ID~ 1)

-------

Film advance and rewind indicator Film advance failure warning Film advance completed indicator Battery check icon Exposure compensation indicator

Bulb elapsed time (30-sec. units) AEB amount indicator Flash exposure compensation amount Custom Function setting

Multiple exposure icon

Nomenclature

Viewfinder Information

Area AF ellipse

Center spot metering circle

New Lasermatte screen

Eye-Control AF icon AE lock indicator Flash-ready indicator FE lock warning indicator High-speed sync (FP flash) indicator

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□ □ □ □ □ □

o~oma □□□□□□

□ 0 D CKLIM ODD

DDDDDDD

Spot metering focusing points (Lights at the required point)

Exposure compensation scale

• Film Counter

In-focus indicator

Lights when focus is achieved, blinks (8 Hz) when not achieved. During manual focus, lights when focus is achieved and stays off when not achieved.

Exposure compensation icon

Exposure compensation

scale

Standard exposure index

Flash exposure compensation icon

Aperture display (Du I)

RF , - I, -E, -3 display

Exposure level scale

I I : 1 stop □ ; 1 /3 stop

Overexposure indicator Flash overexposure

indicator

Shutter speed display (BDUD ~ 30'') FE lock display) FEL)

buLb display dEP display

Exposure level indicator

ERL, End display

E::J. 5EL, E3E. -Q-, display

Flash exposure level indicator

Flash underexposure indicator Underexposure indicator

Frame counter (count up or down)

{I ~3S)

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