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Canon® EOS Rebel SL1/100D For Dummies®

Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/canoneosrebelsl1100d to view this book's cheat sheet.

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons and Other Delights

Beyond the Book

Shoot Lots of Pictures and Enjoy!

Part I: Getting Started

Chapter 1: Exploring Your Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D

Getting in Touch with the Camera Controls

Exploring the top of the camera

Exploring the back of the camera

About the cross keys

Exploring the front of the camera

Exploring the bottom of the camera

Peering into the viewfinder

Introducing the touchscreen

Exploring Camera Connections

Modifying Basic Camera Settings

Adjusting the date and time

Modifying the auto–power off time

Adjusting the Viewfinder for Maximum Clarity

Working with Lenses

Attaching a lens

Removing a lens

Using image stabilization lenses

Using a zoom lens

About STM lenses

Using Digital Film

Working with SD cards

Formatting an SD Card

About Eye-Fi cards

Powering Your Camera

About your camera battery

Charging your camera battery

About Sensor Cleaning

Cleaning your sensor on command

Keeping your sensor clean

Accessorizing Your SL1/100D

The Care and Feeding of Your SL1/100D

Chapter 2: Creating Great Images on Auto-Pilot

Ordering from Your Camera Menu

Taking Your First Picture

Understanding Exposure and Focal Length

Focusing on an Off-Center Subject

Focusing Manually

Creating Images with Camera Scene Modes

Setting Ambience in preset scene modes and SCN modes

Choosing settings for Light/Scene-Based Shots

Creating portraits using the Portrait mode

Shooting landscapes using the Landscape mode

Shooting images in Close-up mode

Shooting images using Sports mode

Creating images using a SCN mode

Shooting Pictures in Creative Auto Mode

Chapter 3: Specifying Image Size and Quality

Understanding Image Size and Quality

Specifying Image Format, Size, and Quality

Comparing Image Formats and File Sizes

Managing Image Files

Creating folders

Selecting a folder

Choosing a file-numbering method

Chapter 4: Using the LCD Monitor

Displaying Image Information

Using the Histogram

Reviewing Your Images

Changing the Jump display

Reviewing images with the touchscreen

Modifying Image Review Time

Changing Monitor Brightness

Deleting Images

Rotating Images

Protecting Images

Using the Quick Control Menu

Using Touch Control with the Quick Control Menu

Viewing Images as a Slide Show

Viewing Images on a TV Set

Part II: Going beyond Point-and-Shoot Photography

Chapter 5: Shooting Pictures and Movies in Live View

Taking Pictures in Live View

Displaying shooting information

Focusing with Live View

Using the Quick Control menu to shoot pictures in Live View mode

Displaying a grid in Live View mode

Exploring Other Useful Live View Options

Making Movies with Your Camera

Recording movies

Displaying video shooting information

Changing video dimensions and frame rate

Changing audio recording options

Using the Quick Control menu to shoot video in Live View mode

Taking a still picture while recording a movie

Previewing Movies on the Camera LCD Monitor

Chapter 6: Leaving Auto Mode Behind

Using Your Camera’s Creative Exposure Modes

Understanding how exposure works in the camera

Using Programmed Auto Exposure mode

Using Aperture Priority mode

Using Shutter Priority mode

Manually exposing images

Shooting time exposures

Modifying Camera Exposure

Using exposure compensation

Bracketing exposure

Locking exposure

Locking Focus

Choosing a Drive Mode

Exploring Useful Image Menu Commands

Enabling Long Exposure Noise Reduction

Enabling High ISO Speed Noise Reduction

Changing screen color

Using Custom Functions

Enabling a custom function

Enable Highlight Tone Priority

Clearing Custom Functions

Chapter 7: Features That Make Pictures Pop

Using the Auto Lighting Optimizer

Correcting Lens Peripheral Illumination

Choosing a Metering Mode

Choosing the Autofocus Mode

Changing the Autofocus Point

Choosing a Picture Style

Specifying the Color Space

Setting White Balance

Creating a Custom White Balance

Setting the ISO Speed

Expanding the ISO Range

Using White Balance Compensation

Flash Photography and Your SL1/100D

Using the pop-up flash

Controlling the pop-up flash

Disabling camera flash

Changing the flash-sync speed in Av mode

Using fill flash

Using an auxiliary flash unit

Controlling an external Speedlite

Clearing Flash Settings

Chapter 8: Shooting Frameworthy Photos

Thinking Like a Pro Photographer

Enhancing your creativity

Composing your images

Visualizing your images

Seeing, thinking, and acting

Defining your goals

What else is in the picture?

The genius of digital photography

Choosing the Optimal Settings for Great Photographs

Photographing action

Photographing landscapes

Photographing the sunset

Photographing people and things

Photographing wildlife

Part III: Editing and Sharing Images

Chapter 9: Editing Your Images

Introducing the Canon ImageBrowser EX

Downloading Your Images

Rating and Keywording Images

Adding Comments to Images

Adding Information to Images

Changing Your View

Backing Up Your Work

Organizing Your Images

Editing JPEG Images in ImageBrowser EX

Adjusting brightness and saturation

Toning your curves

Sharpening an image

Working with RAW Files in Digital Photo Professional

Chapter 10: Creating Prints from Your Images

Deciding to Print at Home or Go to a Printer

Finding Images

Leaving Some Breathing Room

Cropping an Image in ImageBrowser EX

Printing an Image

Printing an image from ImageBrowser EX

Printing an image in Digital Photo Professional

Printing a Contact Sheet in ImageBrowser EX

Printing a Contact Sheet in Digital Photo Professional

Part IV: The Part of Tens

Chapter 11: Ten Tips and Tricks

Creating a Custom Menu

Adding Copyright Information to the Camera

Adding Author Name to the Camera

Creating and Registering a Picture Style

Updating Your Camera’s Firmware

Restoring Your Camera Settings

Disabling Shooting without a Card

Enabling Red-Eye Reduction

Creating a Makeshift Tripod

Disabling the Camera Beeper

Chapter 12: Ten Cool Projects

Cropping JPEG Images In-Camera

Resizing Images In-Camera

Editing Movies In-Camera

Using Creative Filters

Strutting Your Stuff Online

Uploading Images to Your Facebook Page

Creating Abstract Images In-Camera

Editing Your Images in Photoshop Elements

Creating Video Albums and Snapshots

Rating Images with the Playback Quick Control Menu

Cheat Sheet

Introduction

Your Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D is the latest and greatest digital camera on the market, sporting a stunning 18-megapixel capture, Live View, high-definition video, and much more. All this technology might be a bit daunting, though, especially if this is your first digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera. If you’ve used a digital camera before, you’re probably accustomed to basic shooting modes like Portrait, Sports, Landscape, and so on. Those are still there for your convenience. But with the SL1/100D, you’ve also graduated to the big leagues with all the manual settings and shooting tweaks you could ever want. If you’re moving to Digital Land from a 35mm film camera background, most of this will be second nature to you.

All you have to do is practice — and have fun in the process — to master the power you hold in your hands. And that’s where I come into the picture. I’ve been using Canon dSLRs since the EOS 10D model debuted, and I’ve learned a lot about Canon digital cameras since then. In addition to the SL1/100D I’m using to write this book, I also own an EOS 5D MKII and EOS 7D, which have a lot of the features found on your SL1/100D.

My simple goal in this book is to show you how to become one with your camera. I don’t get overly technical in this book, even though your camera is very technical. I also do my best to keep it lively. So if you want to master your SL1/100D, you have the right book in your hands.

Note: If you’re curious why your camera name isn’t “SL1/100D,” like shown here, it’s because Canon has an international presence. The U.S. name for the camera is the EOS Rebel SL1, and in other parts of the world, it’s the EOS 100D. To keep life simple, I just refer to the model as SL1/100D.

About This Book

If you find the buttons and menus on your shiny new SL1/100D a tad intimidating, this book is for you. In the chapters of this book, I take you from novice point-and-shoot photographer, or experienced 35mm camera user, to one who can use all the bells and whistles this dSLR camera offers. You’ll find information about virtually every menu and button on your camera, as well as when to use them, and what settings to use for specific picture-taking situations. I also show you how to use the software that ships with your camera.

To make life easier, this book uses several conventions to help you identify pertinent information — in other words, stuff you should know.

check.png Terms or words that you might be unfamiliar with in the context of photography, I have italicized and I also define these.

check.png Numbered steps that you need to follow and characters you need to type are set in bold.

check.png Margin art is used to identify camera buttons. When you see one of these icons, it shows you which button to press or tap, or dial to rotate.

check.png The SL1/100D menu has pretty little icons for each tab but no text to describe what each tab does. I name the tabs to make things easier for you, dear reader, and for my editor and me. You’ll find a table with tab names in Chapter 2.

9781118753675-ma007.tif  The main controller on the back of the camera has four integral navigational keys, like what you’re probably familiar with from using a TV or DVD player remote control. Envision a circular button with N, S, E, and W compass points; N is up, S is down, E is right, W is left. These are cross keys (Canon’s name), and they surround the Set button. Sometimes you press them up or down to access a menu command, sometimes left or right, sometimes up only, and so on. They can be solo or combined and will be different for different cases. For example, picture a scenario where Cancel is highlighted as the default option for erasing an image, and OK is the other option. You can press only the right cross key to highlight OK, or press Set to cancel the erase.

And if you’re more inclined to tap your way through life — say, you’re a smartphone devotee — many menu options are available by tapping choices on the camera’s LCD monitor. I can’t cover every possible way to make menu choices, but you’ll get the hang of it and discover which feels right for you.

Foolish Assumptions

Ah, yes. Assume. When broken down to its lowest common denominator. . . . Okay, I won’t go there. But as an author, I have to make some assumptions. First and foremost, you should now own, or have on order, an SL1/100D. You should also have a computer to download your images to. A basic knowledge of photography is also helpful but not mandatory. I know, you probably meet all assumptions, but my editor assumes I’ll put this section in this part of the book.

Icons and Other Delights

For Dummies books have icons that indicate important bits of information. You can hopscotch from icon to icon and discover a lot. But when in doubt, read the text associated with the icon. In this book, you find the following icons:

check.png tip_4c.eps A Tip icon contains information designed to save you time and, in some instances, your very sanity.

check.png warning_4c.eps This icon warns you about something you should not do, typically for the safety of your shots or your camera. Perhaps I’m recalling something I did and decided it’s not a good thing to do again.

check.png remember_4c.eps Consider this icon the equivalent of a virtual piece of string tied around your finger. This is information you want to commit to memory.

check.png technicalstuff_4c.eps This icon denotes stuff for the geeks in the group who like to know all manner of technical stuff.

You’ll also find icons in the margin that show you controls on your camera and menu tabs.

Beyond the Book

You can find book content that exists outside the book itself, including these items:

check.png Cheat Sheet: The Cheat Sheet for this book is located at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/canoneosrebelSL1100D. There you'll find information about some great accessories for use with video and still photography.

check.png Dummies.com online articles: On the Parts pages and elsewhere in the book are references to short online articles that you can find at www.dummies.com/extras/canon. There you'll find tips for shooting video and customizing the camera button layout to make it easier to use auto-focus lock.

check.png Online Part of Tens chapter: Also at www.dummies.com/extras/canon, you'll find an additional Part of Tens chapter that highlights the top ten cool features of your camera.

Shoot Lots of Pictures and Enjoy!

Your SL1/100D is a great digital camera; use it and use it often. The old adage “practice makes perfect” does apply, though. The only way to become a better photographer and master your equipment is to apply what you know and shoot as many pictures as you can. While you’re working your way through this book, keep your camera close at hand. When your significant other pokes his or her head into the room, grab your camera and start practicing your craft. Take one picture, then another, and another, and so on. With practice, you’ll know your camera like the back of your hand. You’ll also know which rules of photography and composition work for you — and you’ll start to develop your own style. For that matter, you’ll probably amaze yourself, too.

Part I

Getting Started

9781118753675-pp0101.eps

pt_webextra_4C.tif Visit www.dummies.com for great Dummies content online.

In this part . . .

check  Get to know the lay of the land and familiarize you with the controls of your Canon EOS Rebel SL1/D100.

check  Find out how to take great pictures automatically as well as how to specify image size and format.

check  Understand how to get around in the menu.

check  Master your LCD monitor.