Canon PowerShot A700 Basic User Guide

ENGLISH

Basic

Camera User Guide

Preparation

Shooting

Playback/Erasing

Menus and Settings

Printing

Downloading Images
to a Computer

CDI-E223-010 XXXXXXX © 2006 CANON INC. PRINTED IN JAPAN

Please Read This First

This guide explains how to prepare the camera and use its basic features.

Flowchart and Reference Guides

The following guides are available. Refer to them as necessary
according to the flowchart below.

For information on included items

and items sold separately

System Map

• In stalling the batteries and memory card

• Setting the date, time and language

Handling precautions, references to

the various shooting and playback

• Installing the software

• Downloading images to a
computer

• Using the software

Preparations

Shooting

Playback/Erasing

Menus and Settings

functions

Printing

Basic Camera User
Guide (This Guide)

• Read this first.

Advanced Camera
User Guide

Direct Print User Guide

Basic Camera User
Guide (This Guide)

Software Starter Guide

ZoomBrowser EX/
ImageBrowser
Software User Guide

• PDF manuals available
on the Canon website.
http://web.canon.jp/
Imaging/information-
e.html

In this guide, the Basic Camera User Guide is called the Basic Guide,
and the Advanced Camera User Guide is called the Advanced Guide.

Preparations

1.

Installing the batteries.

1. Slide the memory card slot/battery cover lock in the
direction of the arrow and open the cover.

2. Insert the 2 supplied AA-size alkaline batteries, or
separately sold AA-size NiMH batteries.

2.

Inserting the Memory Card.

1. Insert the memory card until it clicks into place.

2. Close the memory card slot/battery cover.

Ensure that the memory card is correctly oriented before
inserting it in the camera. It may damage the camera if
inserted incorrectly.

Positive end (+)

Î See the Advanced Guide: Battery Handling (p. 104)

Front

Î See the Advanced Guide: Handling the Memory Card (p. 106)

Î See the Advanced Guide: Formatting Memory Cards (p. 30)

Negative end (–)

Preparations

1

 To Remove the Memory Card

Push the memory card with your finger until the memory card clicks
and then release it.

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.

2

First Time Settings

b

c

a

b

c

 Setting the Date/Time

1. Press the power button (a).

2. Use the or button to select an item and the or
button to change its value (

3. Confirm that the correct time is displayed and press the
FUNC./SET button (

The date and time can also be set in the Set up menu (p. 13).

The date/time setting screen will appear when the
camera power is turned on for the first time, or when the
capacity of the lithium date/time battery is depleted.

Î See the Advanced Guide: Replacing the Date Battery (p. 117)

).

).

 Setting the Display Language

1. Set the mode switch to (playback).

2. Hold down the FUNC./SET button and press the MENU
button.

3. Use the , , or button to select a language and
press the FUNC./SET button.

The display language can also be set in the Set up menu (p. 13).

Preparations

3

Shooting

a

b

1.

Press the power button.

The start-up sound will play and the start-up
image will display in the LCD monitor.

• Pressing the power button again turns the
power off.

• Pressing the power button while pressing
and holding the DISP. button will turn on the mute setting which
will mute all sounds except for warning sounds.

Î See the Advanced Guide: Using the LCD Monitor (p. 15)

Î See the Advanced Guide: Power Saving Function (p. 21)

Î See the Advanced Guide: Set up Menu (p. 26)

Î See the Advanced Guide: My Camera Menu (p. 28)

2.

Set the mode switch to (shooting) (a).

3.

Set the shooting mode dial to
(Auto)

(b)

.

4.

Aim the camera at the subject.

Power button

5.

Focus and shoot.

1. Press the shutter button halfway to

focus.

When the camera focuses, the camera
beeps twice and the indicator lights green.

2. Press the shutter button fully to shoot.

The shutter sound will play and the image will
record. The indicator will blink green while the
image is recorded to the memory card.

Î See Basic Shooting Functions (p. 5).

Î See the Advanced Guide: Indicators (p. 20)

See the Advanced Guide for the various shooting methods

Î

available.

4

Indicators

Reviewing an Image Right After Shooting

b

a

b

After a shot is taken, the image appears in the LCD monitor for
approximately 2 seconds.
You can continue to display images regardless of the review duration
setting with the following procedures.

• Keeping the shutter button pressed after a shot.

• Pressing the FUNC./SET or DISP. button while the image is

displayed in the LCD monitor.

To stop displaying the image, press the shutter button halfway.

Î See the Advanced Guide: Review (p. 24)

Î See Erasing (p. 11)

Basic Shooting Functions

 Selecting a Shooting Mode

1. Set the shooting mode dial to the desired mode (a).

In the and modes, use the or button (
a shooting mode.

Creative zone

Auto

Image zone

 Shooting Modes

Auto

Image
zone

The camera automatically selects settings.

When a shooting mode appropriate for the shooting conditions is selected, the
camera automatically adjusts settings for optimal shooting.

Portrait

Blurs the background
and makes a person
stand out.

Landscape

Optimized for
shooting landscape
scenes which contain
both near and far
subjects .

) to select

Shooting

5

Image
zone

Night Scene

Allows you to capture human subjects against the backdrop of
an evening sky or night scene. The flash is directed at the
person and the shutter speed is slow, so both the person and
the background can be beautifully shot.

(Special Scene)

You can shoot with the most appropriate settings for the scene.

Night

Snapshot

Allows you to take
snapshots of
people against
twilight or night backgrounds by
reducing the effects of camera shake
even without using a tripod.

Indoor

Prevents camera
shake and
maintains the
subject’s true color
when shooting under fluorescent or
tungsten lighting.

Snow

Shoots without a
blue tinge and
without making
people appear dark
against a snowy background.

Fireworks

Captures fireworks in the sky sharply and at optimal
exposure.

Kids&Pets

Allows you to
capture subjects
that move around,
such as children
and pets, without missing photo
opportunities.

Foliage

Shoots trees and
leaves - such as
new growth,
autumn leaves or
blossoms - in vivid colors.

Beach

Shoots without
making people
appear dark near
water or sand
where reflected sunlight is strong.

Color

Accent

Use this option to
have only the color
specified in the
LCD monitor remain and to transform
all others to black and white.

Î See the Advanced Guide (p. 62)

Color Swap

Use this option to
transform a col or
specified in the L CD
monitor into another.

Î See the Advanced Guide (p. 62)

6

Image
zone

Creative
zone

Stitch Assist

Allows you to shoot overlapping images that can later be
merged (stitched) to create one panoramic image on a
computer.

Î See the Advanced Guide (p. 43)

Movie

Shoots a movie when you press the shutter button.
Apart from [ Standard] mode, you can also select from [ Fast Frame Rate]
which is suitable for shooting sports or fast motion, [ Compact] which is
convenient for email attachments, [ Color Accent] which has only the color
specified in the LCD monitor remain and transforms all others to black and
white, and [ Color Swap] which transforms a color specified in the LCD
monitor into another color.

Î See the Advanced Guide (p. 39)

You can freely select camera settings such as the exposure and
aperture value to suit your shooting purposes.

Î See the Advanced Guide (p. 44 – 47)

• The shutter speed is slow in or mode. Always
use a tripod to avoid camera shake.

• In , , , , , or mode, the ISO
speed may increase and cause noise in the image
depending on the scene being shot.

• In mode, shoot with the subject more than 1 m (3.3
ft.) away from the front of the lens.

Shooting

7

 Using the Zoom

1. Press the zoom lever toward or .

The zoom can be adjusted from 35 mm – 210 mm (focal length)
in 35mm film equivalent terms. The zoom bar appears when you
press the zoom lever.

Wide Angle: Zooms

out from the subject.

Telephoto: Zooms in

on the subject.

 Using the Flash

1. Press the button to cycle through flash settings.

Each time you press the button, the
flash settings will change.

With the red-eye reduction function on:

With the red-eye reduction function off:

Flash settings cannot be used in some shooting modes.

Auto with red-eye
reduction

Auto The flash fires automatically.

Flash on with red-
eye reduction

Flash on The flash always fires.

Flash off The flash will not fire.

Red-eye reduction: This feature reduces the effect of light reflecting back from the eyes
and making them appear red. You can set this feature on and off in the Rec. menu.

The flash fires automatically and fires the red-
eye reduction lamp each time.

The red-eye reduction lamp and flash always
fire.

8

You are recommended to shoot with the camera
attached to a tripod or other device if the camera shake
warning icon appears.

When the LCD monitor is on and flash recharging
begins, the lamp blinks orange and the LCD monitor
turns off. When recharging ends, the orange lamp turns
off and the LCD monitor turns on. The time required for
flash recharging will change depending on usage
conditions and remaining battery power.

Î See the Advanced Guide: Rec. Menu (p. 24)

See the Advanced Guide: Functions Available in Each Shooting

Î

Mode (p. 136)

Shooting

9

 Shooting Close-ups (Macro)

1. Press the button.

This setting cannot be set in some
shooting modes.

When using the zoom in macro mode, a yellow bar appears
below the zoom bar to indicate the range in which you cannot
use macro mode to shoot the subject.
If the zoom bar enters the yellow bar range, the macro mode
icon will turn gray. You can still shoot the image, however,
the shot will be taken as if in standard shooting mode.

Zoom bar Yellow bar

The zoom bar disappears after approx. 2 sec.

To cancel the macro mode, press the button to turn off the

or display.

Use this mode to shoot close-ups of flowers or small items.

Macro

Image Area at Minimum Shooting Distance from End of Lens to Subject

• Maximum wide angle setting: 24 x 18 mm (0.9 x 0.7 in.)
Minimum shooting distance: 1 cm (0.4 in.)

10

• Use the LCD monitor to compose close-ups in macro
mode since images composed with the viewfinder may
be off-center.

• Check the range of the flash when using it in macro
mode (Advanced Guide p. 121).

See the Advanced Guide: Functions Available in Each Shooting

Î

Mode (p. 136)

b

b

c

Playback

b

a

a

b

c

1.

Set the mode switch to (playback)(a)

The last recorded image will appear in the
LCD monitor.

2.

Use the or button to display the
image you wish to view (

Use the button to move to the previous
image and the button to move the next
image.
Holding the button down advances the images more rapidly, but
shows them less clearly.

See the Advanced Guide for the various playback methods

Î

available.

).

.

Erasing

1.

In the playback mode, use the

or button to select an
image to erase (a) and press
the button (

2.

Confirm that [Erase] is selected and
press the FUNC./SET button (

To exit instead of erasing, select [Cancel].

Please note that erased images cannot be recovered.
Exercise adequate caution before erasing an image.

).

).

Î See the Advanced Guide: Erasing All Images (p. 84)

Playback/Erasing

11

a
b
c

d

e

Menus and Settings

a

b

e

d

c

Settings for the shooting, playback or print modes or such camera
settings as the date/time and sounds are set using the FUNC., Rec.,
Play, Print, Set up or My Camera menu.

FUNC. Menu

This menu sets many of the common shooting functions.

12

Set the mode switch to (shooting).
Press the FUNC./SET button.
Use the or button to select a menu item.

• Some items may not be selectable in some shooting modes.

Use the or button to select an option for the menu item.

• You can select further options with the
options.

• After selecting an option, you can press the shutter button to
shoot immediately. After shooting, this menu will appear again,
allowing you to adjust the settings easily.

Press the FUNC./SET button.

Î See the Advanced Guide: Menu List (p. 24)

MENU

button for some

Rec., Play, Print, Set up and My Camera

a
b

c

d

e

a

b

e

dc

Menus

Convenient settings for shooting, playback or printing can be set with
these menus.

(Rec.) Menu

(Set up) Menu

(My Camera) Menu

You can switch
between menus with
the or button
when this part is
selected.

• This example shows the Rec. menu.

• In playback mode, the Play, Print, Set up and My Camera menus display.

Press the MENU button.
Use the or button to switch between menus.

• You can also use the zoom lever to switch between menus.

Use the or button to select a menu item.

• Some items may not be selectable in some shooting modes.

Use the or button to select an option.

• Menu items followed by an ellipsis (...) can only be set after

pressing the FUNC./SET button to display the next menu.
Press the FUNC./SET button again to confirm the setting.

Press the MENU button.

Î See the Advanced Guide: Menu List (p. 24)

Menus and Settings

13

Printing

Connect the camera to a direct print compatible printer*1 with a cable
and simply press the button on the camera.

1.

Connect the camera to a direct print compatible printer
and turn on the printer’s power.

Canon Brand Printers

14

Interface CableCamera

*1Since this camera uses a standard protocol (PictBridge), you can use it

with other PictBridge-compliant printers in addition to Canon-brand
printers.

2

*

You can also use card photo printers such as the CP-10/CP-100/CP-200/
CP-300.

SELPHY CP Series
Compact Photo

2

Printers*

PIXMA Series/
SELPHY DS
Series Bubble Jet
Printers

2.

a

c

a

b

c

Turn on the power in playback mode and confirm that

, or is displayed in the upper left of the LCD

monitor (

• The button will light blue.

• The displayed icon will vary according to the printer model.

3.

Select an image to print using the or button (b)
and press the button (

The button will blink blue and printing will start.

).

).

See the Advanced Guide: Setting the DPOF Print Settings

Î

(p. 85)

Î See the Direct Print User Guide

Î See the user guide for your printer

Printing

15

Downloading Images to a Computer

The following methods can be used to download images recorded by
the camera to a computer. Some methods, depending on the OS
used, may not be available. Please read System Requirements (p. 17)
in advance.

 Camera to Computer Connection

Supplied Software Install It Do Not Install It

Downloading Method

OS Windows 98

Second Edition (SE)

Windows 2000

Windows Me

Windows XP

Mac OS X

Computer

Procedure

zz

zz

zz
zz z
zz z

Camera

Procedure

Computer

Procedure

–

–

–

Computer System
Requirements

Connecting the Camera
to a Computer

Downloading Images to
a Computer

• Basic Guide (p. 17)

• Software Starter Guide

• Basic Guide (p. 19)

• Basic Guide (p. 20, 21)

• Software Starter Guide

 Using a Memory Card Reader

A memory card reader can be used with all the operating systems
listed above. See the Software Starter Guide for details.

16

• Windows

®

and Mac OS X
Users leaflet

XP

System Requirements

Please install the software on a computer meeting the following
minimum requirements.

 Windows

OS Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)

Computer Model The above OS should be pre-installed on computers with

CPU Pentium 500 MHz or higher processor

RAM Windows 98 SE/Windows Me 128 MB or more

Interface USB

Free Hard Disk
Space

Display 1,024 x 768 pixels/High Color (16 bit) or better

 Macintosh

OS Mac OS X (v10.2 – v10.4)

Computer Model The above OS should be pre-installed on computers with

CPU PowerPC G3/G4/G5

RAM 256 MB or more

Interface USB

Free Hard Disk
Space

Display 1,024 x 768 pixels/32,000 Colors or better

Windows Me
Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Windows XP (including Service Pack 1 and Service
Pack 2)

built-in USB ports.

Windows 2000/Windows XP 256 MB or more

• Canon Utilities

- ZoomBrowser EX 200 MB or more

- PhotoStitch 40 MB or more

• Canon Camera TWAIN Driver 25 MB or more

• Canon Camera WIA Driver 25 MB or more

• ArcSoft PhotoStudio 50 MB or more

built-in USB ports.

• Canon Utilities

- ImageBrowser 200 MB or more

- PhotoStitch 40 MB or more

• ArcSoft PhotoStudio 50 MB or more

Downloading Images to a Computer

17

Preparing to Download Images

Ensure that you install the software first before connecting the
camera to the computer.

 Items to Prepare

• Camera and computer

• Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk supplied with the camera

• Interface cable supplied with the camera

1.

Install the software.

1. Place the Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk in the
computer’s CD-ROM drive.

18

Digital Camera Installer] icon in

Double-click the [Canon

the CD-ROM window. When the
installer panel appears, click [Install].

2. Click [Easy Installation].

Select [Easy Installation] and

click [Next].

Proceed with the installation while
reviewing installation settings.

3. When the installation is complete,
Click either the [Finish] or [Restart]
button that appears.

When the installation is

finished, click [Exit].

4. Remove the Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk from the
CD-ROM drive when your normal desktop screen appears.

2.

Connecting the camera to a computer.

1. Use the supplied interface cable to connect the computer’s
USB port to the camera’s DIGITAL terminal.

Slip your fingernail under the right edge of the camera’s terminal
cover, lift it open and plug the interface cable in all the way.

USB Port

DIGITAL
Terminal

Interface Cable

Interface Cable

2. Set the camera’s mode switch to
(playback) and turn on the power.

The camera and computer will be able to
communicate.

Always grasp the sides of the connector when
disconnecting the interface cable from the camera’s
DIGITAL terminal.

If the Digital Signature Not Found window appears, click [Yes].
The USB driver will automatically finish installing onto the
computer when you attach the camera and open a connection.

Downloading Images to a Computer

19

Downloading Images to a Computer

A window allowing you to set the preferences will appear when a
connection is established between the camera and computer.

1.

Select [Canon CameraWindow]
and click [OK] (first time only).

If the window to the right does not
appear, click the [Start] menu and
select [All Programs] or
[Programs], followed by [Canon
Utilities], [CameraWindow],
[PowerShot - IXY - IXUS - DV 6]
and [CameraWindow].

2.

Download the images.

• Download the images using the camera or the computer.

• By default, the downloaded images are saved into the [My
Pictures] folder.

Downloading Images Using the Camera (p. 22).

Downloading Images Using a Computer.
By default, all images that have yet to be
downloaded will download.

You can set the type of image to download
and the destination folder.

Thumbnails (small versions) of the
downloaded images will display in the
ZoomBrowser EX Main Window. By
default, the downloaded images are
saved into subfolders according to their
shooting dates.

20

Downloading Images to a Computer

The following window will appear when you establish a connection
between the camera and computer. If it fails to appear, click the
[Canon CameraWindow] icon on the Dock (the bar which appears at
the bottom of the desktop).

1.

Download the images.

• Download the images using the camera or the computer.

• By default, the downloaded images are saved into the [Pictures]
folder.

Downloading Images Using the Camera
(p. 22).

Downloading Images Using a Computer.
By default, all images that have yet to be
downloaded will download.

You can set the type of image to download
and the destination folder.

Thumbnails (small versions) of the
downloaded images will display in the
ImageBrowser Browser Window. By
default, the downloaded images are
saved into folders according to their
shooting dates.

Downloading Images to a Computer

21

Downloading Images Using the Camera
(Direct Transfer)

Use this method to download images using camera operations.

Install the supplied software and adjust the computer settings before
using this method for the first time (p. 18).

All Images Transfers and saves all images to the computer.

New Images

DPOF Trans. Images

Select & Transfer

Wallpaper

1.

Confirm that the Direct Transfer
menu is displayed on the camera’s
LCD monitor.

• The button will light blue.

• Press the MENU button if the Direct

Transfer menu fails to appear.

 All Images/New Images/DPOF Trans. Images

Transfers and saves to the computer only the
images that have not been previously
transferred.

Transfers and saves to the computer only the
images with DPOF Transfer settings. (Advanced
Guide p. 88)

Transfers and saves single images to the
computer as you view and select them.

Transfers and saves single images to the
computer as you view and select them. The
transferred images display on the computer
desktop.

Direct Transfer Menu

22

2.

Select , or and press the

button.

• The images will download. The

button will blink blue while downloading is
in progress. The display will return to the
Direct Transfer menu when the download
is complete.

• To cancel the download, press the FUNC./SET button.

 Select & Transfer/Wallpaper

2.

Select or , and press the button (or the
FUNC./SET button).

3.

Select images to download and press the button
(or the FUNC./SET button).

• The images will download. The
button will blink blue while downloading is
in progress.

• Images can also be selected during index
playback (Advanced Guide p. 75).

• Press the MENU button to return to the
Direct Transfer menu.

Only JPEG images can be downloaded as wallpaper for
a computer. On the Windows platform, the files are
automatically created as BMP images.

The option selected with the button is retained
even when the camera’s power is turned off.
The previous setting will be in effect the next time the
Direct Transfer menu is displayed. The image selection
screen will appear directly when the [Select & Transfer]
or the [Wallpaper] option was last selected.

Downloading Images to a Computer

23

Safety Precautions

Be sure to read, understand and follow the safety precautions below
when using the camera, in order to prevent injury, burns or electrical
shock to yourself and others.

Be sure to also read the safety precautions listed in the
Advanced Camera User Guide.

Warnings

• Do not trigger the flash in close proximity to human or animal eyes.

• Store this equipment out of the reach of children and infants.

• Avoid dropping or subjecting the camera to severe impacts. Do not
touch the flash portion of the camera if it has been damaged.

• Stop operating the equipment immediately if it emits smoke or
noxious fumes.

• Do not handle the power cord if your hands are wet.

• Do not use batteries which are not specified for this camera.

• The compact power adapter output terminals have been designed
exclusively for this equipment. Do not use them for other products.

24