Canon EOS 450D Instruction Manual

							31
The captured image is recorded onto the card (sold separately).
Make sure the card’s write protect switch is set upward to 
enable writing/erasing.
1Open the cover.
 Slide the cover as shown by the 
arrow to open it.
2Insert the Card.
 As shown by the illustration, face 
the card’s label side toward you 
and insert it until it clicks in place.
3Close the cover.
 Close the cover and slide it in the 
direction shown by the arrow until it 
snaps shut.
 When you set the power switch to 
, the number of remaining 
shots will be displayed on the LCD 
monitor.
Installing and Removing the Card
Installing the Card
Shots remaining
 The shots remaining depends on the remaining capacity of the card, 
image-recording quality, ISO speed, etc.
 The [1 Shoot w/o card] menu option set to [Off] will prevent you from 
forgetting to install a card. (p.108) 
						

							Installing and Removing the Card
32
1Open the cover.
 Set the power switch to .
 Check that “Recording...” is not 
displayed on the LCD monitor.
 Make sure the access lamp is off, 
then open the cover.
2Remove the card.
 Gently push in the card, then let go. 
The card will stick out.
 Pull the card straight out, then close 
the cover.
Removing the Card
Access lamp
 When the access lamp is lit or blinking, it indicates that the images 
are being written to or read by the card, being erased, or data is 
being transferred. While the access lamp is lit or blinking, never do 
any of the following. Doing so may damage the image data. It may 
also damage the card or camera. 
•
 Opening the card slot cover.• Opening the battery compartment cover.• Shaking or banging the camera around.
 If the card already contains recorded images, the image number might 
not start from 0001. (p.110)
 Do not touch the card’s contacts with your fingers or metal objects.
 If a card-related error message is displayed on the LCD monitor, remove 
and reinstall the card. If the error persists, use a different card.
If you can transfer all the images in the card to a personal computer, 
transfer all the images and then format the card (p.40). The card may 
then return to normal. 
						

							33
1Remove the caps.
 Remove the rear lens cap and the 
body cap by turning them as shown 
by the arrow.
2Attach the lens.
 Align the EF-S lens with the camera’s 
white EF-S lens mount index and turn 
the lens as shown by the arrow until it 
clicks in place.
 
When attaching a lens other than an 
EF-S lens, align the lens with the red 
EF lens mount index.
3On the lens, set the focus mode 
switch to  (autofocus).
 If it is set to  (manual focus), 
autofocus will not operate.
4Remove the front lens cap.
Mounting and Detaching a Lens
Mounting a Lens
EF-S lens mount index
EF lens mount index
 Do not look at the sun directly through any lens. Doing so may cause 
loss of vision.
 If the front part (focusing ring) of the lens rotates during autofocusing, do 
not touch the rotating part. 
						

							Mounting and Detaching a Lens
34
To zoom, turn the zoom ring on the lens 
with your fingers.
If you want to zoom, do it before 
focusing. Turning the zoom ring after 
achieving focus may throw off the 
focus slightly.
While pressing the lens release 
button, turn the lens as shown by 
the arrow.
 Turn the lens until it stops, then 
detach it.
About Zooming
Detaching the Lens
Minimizing Dust
 When changing lenses, do it in a place with minimal dust.
 When storing the camera without a lens attached, be sure to attach the 
body cap to the camera.
 Remove dust on the body cap before attaching it.
Image Conversion FactorSince the image size is smaller 
than the 35mm film format, it will 
look like the lens focal length is 
increased by 1.6x.Image size(22.2 x 14.8mm  / 0.87 x 0.58 in.)
35mm image size 
(36 x 24mm / 1.42 x 0.94 in.) 
						

							35
The procedure explained here is based on the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 
IS lens as an example.
* IS stands for Image Stabilizer.
1Set the IS switch to .
 Set the camera’s power switch to 
.
2Press the shutter button halfway.
XThe Image Stabilizer will operate.
3Take the picture.
 When the picture looks steady in the 
viewfinder, press the shutter button 
completely to take the picture.
About the Lens Image Stabilizer
 The Image Stabilizer is not effective for moving subjects.
 The Image Stabilizer may not be effective for excessive shaking such as 
on a rocking boat.
 The Image Stabilizer can operate with the focus mode switch set to 
either  or .
 If the camera is mounted on a tripod, you can save battery power by 
switching the IS switch to .
 The Image Stabilizer can operate even when the camera is mounted on 
a monopod.
 Some IS lenses enable you to switch the IS mode manually to suit the 
shooting conditions. However, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens 
switches the IS mode automatically. 
						

							36Turn the dioptric adjustment 
knob.
 Turn the knob left or right so that the 
nine AF points in the viewfinder look 
sharp.
To obtain sharp images, hold the camera still to minimize camera 
shake.
1. Wrap your right hand around the camera grip firmly.
2. Hold the lens bottom with your left hand.
3. Press the shutter button lightly with your right hand’s index finger.
4. Press your arms and elbows lightly against the front of your body.
5. Press the camera against your face and look through the viewfinder.
6. To maintain a stable stance, place one foot in front of the other.
Basic Operation
Adjusting the Viewfinder Clarity
Holding the Camera
If the camera’s dioptric adjustment still cannot provide a sharp viewfinder 
image, using Dioptric Adjustment Lens E (10 types, sold separately) is 
recommended.
Vertical shooting Horizontal shooting
For shooting while looking at the LCD monitor, see page 95. 
						

							37
Basic Operation
The shutter button has two steps. You can press the shutter button 
halfway. Then you can further press the shutter button completely.
Pressing halfway
This activates autofocusing and 
automatic exposure metering that sets 
the shutter speed and aperture.
The exposure setting (shutter speed and 
aperture) is displayed in the viewfinder. 
(0)
Pressing completely
This releases the shutter and takes the 
picture.
Preventing Camera Shake
Camera movement during the moment of exposure is called camera 
shake. Camera shake can cause blurred pictures. To prevent camera 
shake, note the following:
   • Hold and steady the camera as shown on the previous page.
   • Press the shutter button halfway to autofocus, then press the 
shutter button completely.
Shutter Button
 If you press the shutter button completely without pressing it halfway first 
or if you press the shutter button halfway and then press it completely 
immediately, the camera will take a moment before it takes the picture.
 Even during the menu display, image playback, and image recording, 
you can instantly go back to shooting-ready by pressing the shutter 
button halfway. 
						

							38
By setting various optional settings with the menus, you can set the image-
recording quality, date/time, etc. While looking at the LCD monitor, you use the 
 button,  cross keys, and  button on the camera back.
Menu Operations and Settings
 Cross keys
Ta b
Menu items
Menu settings
1 Shooting
 button
LCD monitor
5 Set-up
9 My Menu  button
3 Playback
* The [2/7/9] tabs are not displayed in the Full Auto and Basic Zone modes. When a Basic Zone mode is set, there are menu items which are not displayed.
Creative Zone Mode Menu Screen
Basic Zone Mode Menu Screen 
						

							39
Menu Operations and Settings
1Display the menu.
 Press the  button to display 
the menu.
2Select a tab.
 Press the  key to select a 
menu tab.
 You can also turn the  dial to 
select a tab.
3Select a menu item.
 Press the  key to select the 
menu item, then press .
4Select the setting.
 Press the  or  key to 
select the setting. (Some settings 
require you to press either the  
or  key to select it.)
 Some menus will indicate the current 
setting in blue.
5Set the desired setting.
 Press  to set it.
6Exit the menu.
 Press the  button to return 
to the shooting settings display.
Menu Setting Procedure
 The explanation of menu functions hereinafter assumes that you have 
pressed the  button to display the menu screen.
 A list of menu functions is on page 168. 
						

							40
If the card is new or was previously formatted by another camera or 
personal computer, format the card with the camera.
Formatting the card will erase everything in the card. Even 
protected images will be erased, so make sure there is 
nothing you need to keep. If necessary, transfer the images to 
a personal computer before formatting the card.
1Select [Format].
 Under the [5] tab, select [Format], 
then press .
2Format the card.
 Select [OK], then press .
XThe card will be formatted.
XWhen the formatting is completed, 
the menu will reappear.
 For low-level formatting, press the 
 button, checkmark [Low level 
format] with , then select [OK].
3 Formatting the Card