Canon PowerShot A720 IS User Guide

DIGITAL CAMERA

Camera User Guide

ENGLISH

Camera User Guide

Getting Started

Learning More

Components Guide

Basic Operations

Commonly Used Shooting Functions

Shooting Using the Mode Dial

Various Shooting Methods

Playback/Erasing

Print Settings/Transfer Settings

Connecting to a TV

Troubleshooting

List of Messages

Appendix

Ensure that you read the Safety Precautions (pp. 162–167).

Workflow and Reference Guides

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

: Contents of This Guide

Check the package contents

Prepare the camera for use

Using the camera

Learn more about the camera

Connect the camera

to other devices

• Connecting to a printer

• Connecting to a TV set

• Connecting to a computer

Camera User Guide

Getting Started (p. 7)

Camera User Guide

Learning More (p. 37)

Camera User Guide

Direct Print User Guide

Software Starter Guide

ZoomBrowser EX/ ImageBrowser Software User Guide

• PDF manuals available

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/information-e.html

on the Canon website.

Checking the Package Contents

The following items are included in the package. If something is missing, please contact the retail outlet at which you purchased the product.

Camera AA Alkaline Batteries (x2) Memory Card

Interface Cable

IFC-400PCU

(16MB)

AV C abl e

AVC-DC300

Wrist Strap

WS-200

Canon Digital Camera

Solution Disk

User Guides

• Camera User Guide

• Direct Print User Guide

• Software Starter Guide

• “Canon Customer Support” Leaflet

You may not be able to achieve the full performance of this camera with the included memory card.

You can use SD memory cards, SDHC (SD High Capacity) memory cards, MultiMediaCards, MMCplus cards and HC MMCplus cards in this camera. These cards are collectively referred to as memory cards in this guide.

Warranty Card

Table of Contents

Items marked with a are lists or charts that summarize camera functions or procedures.

Please Read 6

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Shooting Still Images ( Auto Mode) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Viewing Still Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Shooting Movies ( Standard Mode) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Viewing Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Erasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Downloading Images to a Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

System Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Learning More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Components Guide 38

Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Power Saving Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Basic Operations 42

Menus and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Menus and Default Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Using the LCD Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Information Displayed on the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Resetting Settings to Their Default Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Formatting Memory Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Commonly Used Shooting Functions 57

Changing the Recording Pixels/ Compression (Still Images) 57

Shooting with the Optical Zoom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Using the Digital Zoom/Digital Tele-Converter. . . . . . . . . . . 60

Using the Flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Shooting Close-ups (Macro) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Using the Self-Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Setting the Image Stabilizer Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Configuring the Postcard Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Embedding the Date in the Image Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Shooting Using the Mode Dial 73

Mode Dial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Shooting Modes for Specific Scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Shooting Panoramic Images (Stitch Assist) . . . . . . . . 77

Movie Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Program AE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Setting the Shutter Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Setting the Aperture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Manually Setting the Shutter Speed and Aperture . . . . . 86

Various Shooting Methods 87

Continuous Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Setting the Red-Eye Reduction Function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Setting the Slow Synchro Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Selecting an AF Frame Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Shooting Hard-to-Focus Subjects (Focus Lock, AF Lock, Manual

Focus, Safety MF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Locking the Exposure Setting (AE Lock) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Locking the Flash Exposure Setting (FE Lock) . . . . . . . . . . 99

Adjusting the ISO Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Adjusting the Exposure Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Switching between Metering Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Adjusting the Tone (White Balance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Shooting in a My Colors Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Switching between Flash Adjustment Settings . . . . . . . . . 109

Adjusting Flash Compensation Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Setting the Flash Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Switching the Timing at which the Flash Fires. . . . . . . . . . 112

Adjusting Exposure for Built-in Flash Shooting (Safety FE) 113

Registering Settings to the Print/Share Button . . . . 114

Setting the Auto Rotate Function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Setting the Display Overlays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Creating an Image Destination (Folder). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Resetting the File Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Playback/Erasing 122

Magnifying Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Viewing Images in Sets of Nine (Index Playback). . . . 123

Jumping to Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Viewing Movies (Operating the Movie Control Panel) . . . 125

Rotating Images in the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Playback with Transition Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Automated Playback (Auto Play) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Red-Eye Correction Function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Resizing Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Attaching Sound Memos to Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Protecting Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Erasing All Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Print Settings/Transfer Settings 139

Setting the DPOF Print Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Setting the DPOF Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Connecting to a TV 146

Shooting/Playback Using a TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Troubleshooting 147

List of Messages 158

Appendix 162

Safety Precautions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Preventing Malfunctions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

Battery Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Handling the Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Using the Power Kits (Sold Separately). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Using the Lenses (Sold Separately) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Using an Externally Mounted Flash (Sold Separately) . . . 180

Replacing the Date Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Camera Care and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

Index 196

Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode 206

Symbol Conventions in this Guide

Mode switch position: Rec. ( )/Play ( )

Available shooting modes

These modes are not available

These modes are available

This mark denotes issues that may affect the camera’s operation.

This mark denotes additional topics that complement the basic operating procedures.

Explanations in this guide are based on the camera's default settings at time of purchase.

Please Read

Tes t 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.

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.

Language Setting

Please see Setting the Display Language (p. 13) to change the language setting.

Getting Started

z Preparations z Shooting Still Images z Viewing Still Images z Shooting Movies z Viewing Movies z Erasing z Printing z Downloading Images to a Computer z System Map

Preparations

 Attaching the Wrist Strap

Getting Started

It is recommended to use the Wrist Strap to avoid dropping during camera use.

Installing the batteries

1. Slide the battery cover lock in the direction of the arrow

(a) and hold it there while moving the entire cover in the direction of the arrow (b) and opening it up in the direction of the arrow (c).

Battery Cover Lock

Preparations

2. Install two batteries.

Positive end (+) Negative end (–)

3. Close the cover (a), and press downward as you slide

it until it clicks into place (b).

Getting Started

Preparations

Inserting the Memory Card

1. Slide the battery cover lock in the direction of the arrow

(a) and hold it there while moving the entire cover in the direction of the arrow (b) and opening it up in the direction of the arrow (c).

Getting Started

Battery Cover Lock

2. Insert the memory card until its clicks into place.

Front

Write Protect Tab (Only SD memory cards)

• Confirm that the Write Protect Tab is unlocked (only SD memory cards).

• Check the card for the correct orientation.

Preparations

3. Close the cover (a), and press downward as you slide

it until it clicks into place (b).

Ensure that the memory card is correctly oriented before inserting it in the camera. Inserting it backward may cause the camera to fail to recognize the memory card or to malfunction.

 To Remove the Memory Card

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

Getting Started

Preparations

Setting the Date and Time

The Date/Time settings menu will appear the first time the power is turned on. Set the date and time as shown in steps 3 and 4 in the explanation below.

Power Button

Getting Started

/ / / Buttons

Button

1. Press the power button.

2. Select [Date/Time].

1. Press the button.

2. Use the or button to select the [ (Set up)] menu.

3. Use the or button to select [Date/Time].

4. Press the button.

3. Select the year, month, day and time, and the display

order.

1. Use the or button to select a category.

2. Use the or button to set the value.

4. Press the button.

5. Press the button.

Preparations

You can imprint the date and time you have set onto images (p. 71).

Setting the Display Language

You can change the language displayed in the LCD monitor menus and messages.

Mode Switch

Button

/ / / Buttons

1. Set the mode switch to (Playback).

2. Hold down the button and press the button.

3. Use the , , or button to select a language.

4. Press the button.

Getting Started

Shooting Still Images

Power Button

( Auto Mode)

Getting Started

Mode Dial

Mode Switch

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.

2. Select a shooting mode.

1. Set the mode switch to (Shooting).

2. Set the mode dial to (Auto).

Shutter Button

Indicators

Button

3. Aim the camera at the subject.

Shooting Still Images

4. Press the shutter button lightly (press halfway) to set

the focus.

• When the camera focuses, it beeps twice and the indicator lights green (orange when the flash fires).

Shooting Preparations Complete: lights green

• AF frames will display in green on the LCD monitor at the points of focus.

AF frame

5. Without changing anything else, press the shutter

button all the way (press fully) to shoot.

• The shutter sound will play once and the image will record.

• The indicator will blink green and the file will record to the memory card.

Recording: blinks green

Getting Started

Mute Setting

Pressing the DISP. button while switching on the camera power will set the mute setting to [On] to silence all camera sounds except for warning sounds. The setting can be changed with the [Mute] option in the [ (Set up)] Menu (p. 46).

Shooting Still Images

Reviewing an Image Right After Shooting (Rec. Review)

Recorded images are displayed on the LCD monitor for approximately 2 seconds immediately after shooting.

Getting Started

You can also use the following methods to continue displaying the image immediately after shooting so that you can check it.

z Keep the shutter button pressed fully.

z Press the button while the recorded image is

displayed.

Confirm that the operation sound beeps. You can shoot by pressing the shutter button even when an image is being displayed.

Shutter Button

Button

Viewing Still Images

Mode Switch

/ Buttons

1. Set the mode switch to (Playback).

• The last recorded image will display.

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 to the next image.

• The images advance more quickly if you keep the button pressed continuously, but they will appear coarse.

Getting Started

If you have replayed images, the last image viewed will display (Resume Playback). If the memory card has been switched, or the images on the memory card have been edited with a computer, the newest image on the memory card appears.

Shooting Movies

Power Button

Getting Started

1. Press the power button.

2. Select a shooting mode.

3. Aim the camera at the subject.

Mode DIal

Mode Switch

1. Set the mode switch to (Shooting).

2. Set the mode dial to (

• Confirm that the camera is set to

(Standard).

z Do not touch the microphone while

recording.

z Do not press any buttons other than the

shutter button. The sound that buttons make will be recorded in the movie.

( Standard Mode)

Shutter Button

Movie

Microphone

Shooting Movies

4. Press the shutter button lightly (press halfway) to set

the focus.

• An electronic beep will sound twice and the indicator will light green when the camera focuses.

• The exposure, focus and white balance are automatically set when you press the button halfway.

Shooting Preparations Complete: lights green

5. Without changing anything else, press the shutter

button all the way (press fully) to shoot.

• Recording starts.

• During the recording, the elapsed recording time and [zRec.] will display in the LCD monitor.

Getting Started

6. Press the shutter button fully

again to stop recording.

• The indicator will blink green and the data will be recorded onto the memory card.

• Recording will stop automatically when the maximum recording time elapses, or the built-in memory or memory card become full.

Elapsed time

Recording: blinks green

Viewing Movies

Getting Started

Mode Switch

/ / / Buttons

1. Set the mode switch to (Playback).

2. Use the or button to display a movie and press the

button.

• Images with a icon are movies.

3. Use the or button to select

(Play) and press the button.

• The movie will start playing.

• If you press the FUNC./SET button during playback, you can pause and restart the movie.

• You can adjust the playback volume with the or button.

Button

Erasing

Button

Mode Switch

Button

/Buttons

1. Set the mode switch to (Playback).

2. Use the or button to select an image to erase and

press the button.

3. Confirm that [Erase] is selected and press the

button.

• To exit instead of erasing, select [Cancel].

Getting Started

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

Printing

Power Button

Getting Started

Mode Switch

/ Buttons

Connect the camera to a direct print compatible printer*1.

• Open the Camera’s terminal cover and insert the interface cable all the way into the connector.

• See the printer’s user guide for connection instructions.

Canon Brand Printers

SELPHY Series Compact

Photo Printers*

Camera

*1 Since 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 the CP-10/CP-100/CP-200/CP-300.

Interface Cable

PIXMA Series

Bubble Jet Printers

Button

Printing

2. Turn on the printer.

3. Set the camera’s mode switch to (Playback) and

press the power button.

• The button will light blue.

• A , or icon will appear in the LCD monitor if the connection is correct (the displayed icons differ according to the connected printer).

• will display for movies.

4. Use the or button to select an image to print and

press the button.

• The button will blink blue and printing will start.

After you finish printing, turn off the camera and the printer and disconnect the interface cable.

Getting Started

Downloading Images to a Computer

Items to Prepare

• Camera and computer

• Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk supplied with the camera

• Interface cable supplied with the camera

Getting Started

System Requirements

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

 Windows

OS Windows Vista

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

CPU Windows Vista Pentium 1.3 GHz or higher

RAM Windows Vista 512 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 (v10.3–v10.4)

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

CPU PowerPC G3/G4/G5 or Intel Processor

RAM 256 MB or more

Interface USB

Free Hard Disk Space

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

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

in USB ports.

Windows XP/Windows 2000 Pentium 500 MHz or higher

Windows XP/Windows 2000 256 MB or more

• Canon Utilities

- ZoomBrowser EX 200 MB or more

- PhotoStitch 40 MB or more

• Canon Camera TWAIN Driver25 MB or more

in USB ports.

• Canon Utilities

- ImageBrowser 300 MB or more

- PhotoStitch 50 MB or more

Downloading Images to a Computer

Preparing to Download Images

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

1. Installing the software.

 Windows

1. Place the Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk in the

computer's CD-ROM drive.

2. Click [Easy Installation].

Follow the onscreen messages to proceed with the installation.

3. Click [Restart] or [Finish] once the

installation is complete.

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

4. Remove the CD-ROM from the

drive when your normal desktop screen appears.

Getting Started

 Macintosh

Double-click the icon in the CD- ROM window. When the installer panel appears, click [Install]. Follow the onscreen instructions to proceed.

Downloading Images to a Computer

2. Connecting the camera to a computer.

1. Connect the supplied interface cable to the computer's USB port and to the camera's DIGITAL terminal.

• Open the Camera's terminal cover and insert the interface

cable all the way into the connector.

DIGITAL Terminal

Interface Cable

Getting Started

USB Port

Interface Cable

3. Preparing to download images to the computer.

1. Set the camera's mode switch to (Playback) and press the power button.

Power Button

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

 Windows

Select [Canon CameraWindow] and click [OK].

If this Events dialog does not appear, click the [Start] menu and select [All Programs] or [Programs], followed by [Canon Utilities], [CameraWindow], [CameraWindow] and [CameraWindow].

CameraWindow will display.

Preparations for downloading images are now finished. Please proceed to the Downloading Images Using the Camera (Direct Transfer) section (p. 29) (except Windows 2000).

Getting Started

With Windows 2000, you can download images using the computer. Please refer to the Software Starter Guide for details.

Downloading Images to a Computer

 Macintosh

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

Getting Started

Preparations for downloading images are now finished. Please proceed to the Downloading Images Using the Camera (Direct Transfer) section (p. 29).

Please refer to the Software Starter Guide regarding how to download images using the computer.

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