Canon Camera Powershot Sx170 Is User Manual

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
•	 Before using a function introduced in this chapter in modes other than [\
 G], 
make sure the function is available in that mode ( =  120 – 126).
P Mode
More discerning shots, in your preferred shooting style
4
Shooting in Program AE ([P] Mode) ...............52
Image Brightness (Exposure)
 ......................... 52Adjusting Image Brightness  
(Exposure Compensation) .................................... 52
Locking Image Brightness /  
Exposure (AE Lock)
 .............................................. 52
Changing the Metering Method ............................. 53
Changing the ISO Speed ...................................... 53
Correcting Image Brightness (i-Contrast) .............. 54
Color and Continuous Shooting ..................... 54Adjusting White Balance ....................................... 54
Changing Image Color Tones (My Colors) ............ 55
Continuous Shooting ............................................. 56Shooting Range and Focusing .......................57Shooting Close-Ups (Macro) ................................. 57
Shooting in Manual Focus Mode ........................... 58
Digital Tele-Converter ............................................ 59
Changing the AF Frame Mode .............................. 59
Changing the Focus Setting .................................. 62
Shooting with the AF Lock ..................................... 62
Flash .................................................................. 62Changing the Flash Mode .....................................62
Adjusting the Flash Exposure Compensation ....... 63
Shooting with the FE Lock .................................... 63Other Settings .................................................. 64Changing the Compression Ratio  
(Image Quality) ...................................................... 64
Changing the IS Mode Settings ............................ 64
•	Instructions in this chapter apply to the camera with the mode dial set \
to 
[
G ] mode.
•	 [
G ]:  Program AE; AE: Auto  Exposure  
						

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
Still ImagesMovies
Shooting in Program AE ([P] Mode)
You can customize many function settings to suit your preferred shooting \
style.
1 Enter [ G] mode.
zzSet the mode dial to [
G].
2 Customize the settings as 
desired (=  52 – 64), and 
then shoot.
•	 If adequate exposure cannot be obtained when you press the shutter butto\
n 
halfway, shutter speeds and aperture values are displayed in orange. In this 
case, try adjusting the ISO speed (=
  53)	or	activating	the	flash	(if	subjects	are dark, =  62), which may enable adequate exposure.
•	 Movies can be recorded in [
G] mode as well, by pressing the movie button. 
However, some FUNC. (=
  23) and MENU (=  24) settings may be 
automatically adjusted for movie recording.
•	 For details on the shooting range in [
G] mode, see “Shooting Range” 
(=
  130).
Image Brightness (Exposure)
Still Images
Adjusting Image Brightness  
(Exposure Compensation)
The standard exposure set by the camera can be adjusted in 1/3-stop 
increments, in a range of –2 to +2.
zzPress the  button. As you watch 
the screen, turn the  dial to adjust 
brightness, and then press the < b> 
button
	again	when	finished.
zzThe	correction	level	you	specified	is	now	displayed.
Still Images
Locking Image Brightness / Exposure (AE Lock)
Before shooting, you can lock the exposure, or you can specify focus and\
 
exposure separately.
1 Lock the exposure.
zzAim the camera at the subject to shoot 
with the exposure locked. With the 
shutter button pressed halfway, press the 
 button.
zz[] is displayed, and the exposure is 
locked.
zzTo unlock AE, release the shutter button 
and press the  button again. In this 
case, [
] is no longer displayed.  
						

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
2 Compose the shot and shoot.
zzAfter one shot, AE is unlocked and [] is 
no longer displayed.
•	 AE: Auto  Exposure
•	 After the exposure is locked, you can adjust the combination of shutter \
speed 
and aperture value by turning the < 5> dial (Program Shift).
Still Images
Changing the Metering Method
Adjust the metering method (how brightness is measured) to suit shooti\
ng 
conditions as follows.
zzPress the  button, choose [] in 
the menu, and choose the desired option 
(=
  23).
zzThe	option	you	configured	is	now	displayed.
Evaluative For typical shooting conditions, including backlit shots. 
Automatically adjusts exposure to match the shooting conditions.
Center 
Weighted Avg.Determines the average brightness of light across the entire 
image area, calculated by treating brightness in the central area 
as more important.
Spot
Metering restricted to within the [] (Spot AE Point frame), 
displayed in the center of the screen.
Still Images
Changing the ISO Speed
zzPress the  button, choose an option 
(either press the  buttons or 
turn the  dial), and then press the 
 button.
zzThe	option	you	configured	is	now	displayed.
Automatically adjusts the ISO speed to suit the shooting mode and 
conditions.
 Low
High For shooting outdoors in fair weather. For shooting in cloudy conditions, or at twilight.
For shooting night scenes, or in dark rooms.
•	 To view the automatically set ISO speed when the camera is set to [
], press 
the shutter button halfway.
•	 Although choosing a lower ISO speed may reduce image graininess, there 
may be a greater risk of subject blurriness in some shooting conditions.\
•	 Choosing a higher ISO speed will increase shutter speed, which may reduc\
e 
subject
	blurriness	and	increase	the	flash	range.	However,	shots	may	look	grainy.  
						

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
Still Images
Correcting Image Brightness (i-Contrast)
Before shooting, excessively bright or dark image areas (such as faces \
or 
backgrounds) can be detected and automatically adjusted to the optimal \
brightness.
	Insufficient	overall	image	contrast	can	also	be	automatically	corrected before shooting to make subjects stand out better.
zzPress the  button, choose 
[i-Contrast] on the [4] tab, and then 
choose [Auto] (=
  24).
zzOnce the setting is complete, [@] is 
displayed.
•	 Under some shooting conditions, correction may be inaccurate or 
may cause images to appear grainy.
•	 You can also correct existing images ( =  84).
Color and Continuous Shooting
Still ImagesMovies
Adjusting White Balance
By adjusting white balance (WB), you can make image colors look more 
natural for the scene you are shooting.
zzPress the  button, choose [] in 
the menu, and choose the desired option 
(=
  23).
zzThe	option	you	configured	is	now	displayed.
Auto Automatically sets the optimal white balance for the shooting 
conditions.
Day Light For shooting outdoors in fair weather.
Cloudy For shooting in cloudy conditions, in the shade, or at twilight.
TungstenFor shooting under ordinary incandescent (tungsten) lighting and 
similarly	colored	fluorescent	lighting.
FluorescentFor shooting under warm-white (or similarly colored) or cool-white 
fluorescent	lighting.
Fluorescent HFor	shooting	under	daylight	fluorescent	and	similarly	colored	fluorescent	lighting.
Custom
For manually setting a custom white balance ( =  55).  
						

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
Still ImagesMovies
Custom White BalanceFor image colors that look natural under the light in your shot, adjust \
white 
balance to suit the light source where you are shooting. Set the white 
balance under the same light source that will illuminate your shot.
zzFollow the steps in “Adjusting White 
Balance” ( =  54) to choose [].
zzAim the camera at a plain white subject, 
so that the entire screen is white. Press 
the  button.
zzThe tint of the screen changes once the 
white balance data has been recorded.
•	 Colors may look unnatural if you change camera settings after 
recording white balance data.
Still ImagesMovies
Changing Image Color Tones (My Colors)
Change image color tones as desired, such as converting images to sepia \
or black and white.
zzPress the  button, choose [] in 
the menu, and choose the desired option 
(=
  23).
zzThe	option	you	configured	is	now	displayed.
My Colors Off –
VividEmphasizes contrast and color saturation, making images sharper.
NeutralTones down contrast and color saturation for subdued images.
Sepia
Creates sepia tone images.
B/WCreates black and white images.
Positive FilmCombines	the	effects	of	Vivid	Blue,	Vivid	Green,	and	Vivid	Red	to	produce	intense	yet	natural-looking	colors	resembling	images	on	positive	film.
Lighter Skin Tone
Lightens skin tones.
Darker Skin ToneDarkens skin tones.
Vivid	BlueEmphasizes blues in images. Makes the sky, ocean, and 
other blue subjects more vivid.
Vivid	GreenEmphasizes greens in images. Makes mountains, foliage, 
and other green subjects more vivid.
Vivid	RedEmphasizes reds in images. Makes red subjects more vivid.
Custom Color Adjust contrast, sharpness, color saturation, and other 
qualities as desired (
=  56).  
						

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
•	 White balance ( =  54) cannot be set in [] or [] modes.
•	 With [] and [] modes, colors other than people’s skin tone may 
change. These settings may not produce the expected results with 
some skin tones.
Still ImagesMovies
Custom ColorChoose the desired level of image contrast, sharpness, color saturation,\
 
red, green, blue, and skin tones in a range of 1 – 5.
1 Access the setting screen.
zzFollow the steps in “Changing Image 
Color Tones (My Colors)” ( =  55) to 
choose [], and then press the  
button.
2	 Configure	the	setting.
zzPress the  buttons to choose 
an option, and then specify the value by 
pressing the < q> buttons or turning 
the  dial.
zzFor stronger/more intense effects (or 
darker skin tones), adjust the value to 
the right, and for weaker/lighter effects 
(or lighter skin tones), adjust the value to 
the left.
zzPress the  button to complete the 
setting.
Still Images
Continuous Shooting
Hold the shutter button all the way down to shoot continuously.
For details on the continuous shooting speed, see “Continuous Shootin\
g 
Speed” (=
  130).
1	 Configure	the	setting.
zzPress the  button, choose [] in 
the menu, and choose the desired option 
(=
  23).
zzThe	option	you	configured	is	now	displayed.
2 Shoot.
zzHold the shutter button all the way down 
to shoot continuously.
Mode Description
W Continuous Continuous shooting, with the focus and exposure determined 
when you press the shutter button halfway.
Continuous 
Shooting AF*Continuous shooting and focusing.
[AF Frame] is set to [Center] and cannot be changed.
*
 In [t] mode (=  44), manual focus mode ( =  58), or when AF is locked 
(=  62), [] is changed to [].  
						

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Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
•	 Cannot be used with the self-timer ( =  33) or [Blink Detection] 
(=  39).
•	 Shooting may stop momentarily or continuous shooting may slow 
down depending on shooting conditions, camera settings, and the 
zoom position.
•	 As more shots are taken, shooting may slow down.
•	 Shooting
	may	slow	down	if	the	flash	fires.
•	 Continuous shooting is faster in [] mode (=  43).
Shooting Range and Focusing
Still Images
Shooting Close-Ups (Macro)
To restrict the focus to subjects at close range, set the camera to [e]. For 
details on the focusing range, see “Shooting Range” ( =  130).
zzPress the  button, choose [e] (either 
press the  buttons or turn the 
 dial), and then press the  
button.
zzOnce the setting is complete, [e] is 
displayed.
•	 If
	the	flash	fires,	vignetting	may	occur.
•	 In the yellow bar display area below the zoom bar, [e

] will turn gray 
and the camera will not focus.
•	 To prevent camera shake, try mounting the camera on a tripod and shooting\
 
with the camera set to [[] (=  34).  
						

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
Still ImagesMovies
Shooting in Manual Focus Mode
When focusing is not possible in AF mode, use manual focus. You can 
specify the general focal position and then press the shutter button hal\
fway 
to have the camera determine the optimal focal position near the positio\
n 
you
	specified.	For	details	on	the	focusing	range,	see	“Shooting	Range”	(=  130).
1 Choose [f].
zzPress the  button, choose [f] 
(either press the  buttons or turn 
the  dial), and then press the < m> 
button.
zz[f] and the MF indicator are displayed.
2 Specify the general focal 
position.
zzReferring to the on-screen MF indicator 
bar (which shows the distance and focal 
position)
	and	the	magnified	display	area,	press the  buttons or turn the 
<

5> dial to specify the general focal 
position, and then press the < m> button.
3 Fine-tune the focus.
zzPress the shutter button halfway to have 
the	camera	fine-tune	the	focal	position	(Safety MF).
MF Indicator
•	When you focus manually, the AF frame mode (=  59) is [Center] 
and AF frame size (=  59) is [Normal], and these settings cannot 
be changed.
•	 Focusing is possible when using the digital zoom ( =
  32) or digital 
tele-converter ( =  59),	or	when	using	a	TV	as	a	display	(=  98), 
but	the	magnified	display	will	not	appear.
•	 To focus more accurately, try attaching the camera to a tripod to stabilize it.
•	 To	hide	the	magnified	display	area,	press	the	 button and set [MF-
Point Zoom] on the [4] tab to [Of
f] (=
  24).
•	 To	deactivate	automatic	focus	fine-tuning	when	the	shutter	button	is	pressed	halfway, press the  button and set [Safety MF] on the [ 4] tab to [Of

f] 
(=
  24).  
						

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
Still ImagesMovies
Digital Tele-Converter
The focal length of the lens can be increased by approximately 1.6x or 2\
.0x. 
This can reduce camera shake because the shutter speed is faster than it\
 
would be if you zoomed (including using digital zoom) in to the same z\
oom 
factor.
zzPress the  button, choose 
[Digital Zoom] on the [4] tab, and then 
choose the desired option ( =
  24).
zzThe view is enlarged and the zoom factor 
is displayed on the screen.
•	 The digital tele-converter cannot be used with digital zoom 
(=
  32) or AF-point zoom (=  39).
•	 The respective focal lengths when using [1.6x] and [2.0x] are 44.8 – \
716.8 mm 
and	56.0	–	896.0	mm	(35mm	film	equivalent).
•	 The shutter speed may be equivalent when you move the zoom lever all the\
 
way toward  for maximum telephoto, and when you zoom in to enlarge 
the subject to the same size following 
step 2 in “Zooming In Closer on Subjects 
(Digital Zoom)” ( =
  32).
Still ImagesMovies
Changing the AF Frame Mode
Change the AF (auto focus) frame mode to suit the shooting conditions as 
follows.
zzPress the  button, choose  
[AF Frame] on the [ 4] tab, and then 
choose the desired option ( =
  24).
Still ImagesMovies
CenterOne AF frame is displayed in the center. Effective for reliable focusing.
•	A yellow AF frame is displayed with [
] if the camera cannot focus 
when you press the shutter button halfway.
•	 To reduce the AF frame size, press the  button and set [AF Frame 
Size] on the [4] tab to [Small] ( =  24).
•	 The AF frame size is set to [Normal] when you use the digital zoom ( =  32) 
or digital tele-converter ( =  59), and in manual focus mode ( =  58).
•	 To compose shots so that subjects are positioned at the edge or in a corn\
er, 
first
	aim	the	camera	to	capture	the	subject	in	an	AF	frame,	and	then	hold	the shutter button halfway down. As you continue to hold the shutter button 
halfway, recompose the shot as desired, and then press the shutter button all 
the way down (Focus Lock).  
						

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Cover 
Before Use
Common Camera 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Auto Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
P Mode
Playback Mode
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
Tv, Av, and M 
Mode
Still ImagesMovies
Face AiAF
•	 Detects people’s faces, and then sets the focus, exposure (evaluative 
metering only), and white balance ([] only).
•	 After you aim the camera at the subject, a white frame is displayed 
around the person’s face determined by the camera to be the main 
subject, and up to two gray frames are displayed around other detected 
faces.
•	 When the camera detects movement, frames will follow moving subjects, 
within a certain range.
•	 After you press the shutter button halfway, up to nine green frames are 
displayed around faces in focus.
•	If faces are not detected, or when only gray frames are displayed 
(without a white frame), up to nine green frames are displayed in the \
areas in focus when you press the shutter button halfway.
•	 If faces are not detected when Servo AF (=
  61) is set to [On], the 
AF frame is displayed in the center of the screen when you press 
the shutter button halfway.
•	 Examples of faces that cannot be detected:
-
 Subjects that are distant or extremely close
- Subjects that are dark or light
- Faces	in	profile,	at	an	angle,	or	partly	hidden
•	 The camera may misinterpret non-human subjects as faces.
•	 No AF frames are displayed if the camera cannot focus when you 
press the shutter button halfway.
Still Images
Choosing Subjects to Focus On (Tracking AF)Shoot after choosing a subject to focus on as follows.
1 Choose [Tracking AF].
zzFollow the steps in “Changing the AF 
Frame Mode” (=  59) to choose 
[Tracking AF].
zz[] is displayed in the center of the 
screen.
2 Choose a subject to focus on.
zzAim the camera so that [] is on the 
desired subject, and then press the < q> 
button.
zzWhen the subject is detected, the camera 
beeps and [] is displayed. Even if the 
subject moves, the camera will continue 
to track the subject within a certain range.
zzIf no subject is detected, [] is 
displayed.
zzTo cancel tracking, press the < q> button 
again.