Canon EOS 450D Instruction Manual

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3 Formatting the Card
About Low-level Formatting Do low-level formatting if the card’s recording or reading speed seems 
slow.
 Since low-level formatting will erase all recordable sectors in the card, the 
formatting will take slightly longer than normal formatting.
 You can stop the low-level formatting by selecting [Cancel]. Even in this 
case, normal formatting will have been completed and you can use the 
card as usual.
When the card is formatted, only the file management information is 
changed. The actual data is not completely erased. Be aware of this when 
selling or discarding the card. When discarding the card, destroy the card 
physically to prevent personal data from being leaked.
The card’s capacity displayed on the format screen may be lower than the 
capacity indicated on the card. 
						

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The LCD monitor can display the shooting settings screen, menu screen, image, etc.
 
Displayed when the camera is turned on.
 When your eye nears the viewfinder 
eyepiece, the display-off sensor turns 
off the LCD monitor automatically. This 
prevents the bright LCD monitor from 
interfering with your view. The LCD 
monitor turns on again when your eye 
leaves the viewfinder eyepiece.
 While the menu screen or image is displayed as shown below, you 
can instantly return to the shooting settings screen (shown on the 
left) by pressing the shutter button halfway.
 Pressing the  button turns the display on or off.
Switching the LCD Monitor Screen
Shooting Settings
 If you look at the viewfinder while wearing sunglasses, the LCD monitor 
might not turn off automatically. In such a case, press the  button 
to turn off the monitor. 
 If a fluorescent light is nearby, the LCD monitor might turn off. If this 
happens, take the camera away from the fluorescent light.
 Appears when you press the 
 button. Press the 
button again to display the 
shooting settings. Appears when you press the 
 button. Press the button 
again to display the shooting 
settings.
MenusCaptured Image 
						

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2
Basic Shooting and
Image Playback
This chapter explains how to use the Basic Zone modes 
on the Mode Dial for best results and how to playback 
images.
With the Basic Zone modes, all you do is point and shoot and 
the camera sets everything automatically. Also, to prevent 
botched pictures due to mistaken operations, shooting settings 
cannot be changed in the Basic Zone modes. The settings 
(functions set automatically) which cannot be set by the user 
are grayed out.
Full Auto
Basic Zone
About the Auto Lighting OptimizerIn Basic Zone modes, the Auto Lighting Optimizer will operate to 
adjust the image automatically to obtain the optimum brightness and 
contrast. It is also set by default in Creative Zone modes (p.156). 
						

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1Set the Mode Dial to .
2Aim any AF point over the 
subject.
 All the AF points will operate, and 
focus will generally be achieved at 
the AF point covering the closest 
object.
 Aiming the center AF point over the 
subject will make focusing easier.
3Focus the subject.
 Press the shutter button halfway, and 
the lens will move to focus.
XThe dot inside the AF point achieving 
focus flashes briefly in red. At the 
same time, the beeper will sound and 
the focus confirmation light  in 
the viewfinder will light.
XIf necessary, the built-in flash will pop-
up automatically.
4Take the picture.
 Press the shutter button completely to 
take the picture.
XThe captured image will be displayed 
for about 2 sec. on the LCD monitor.
 If the built-in flash has popped up, 
you can push it back down with your 
fingers.
1 Fully Automatic Shooting
AF point
Focus confirmation light 
						

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1 Fully Automatic Shooting
 The focus confirmation light  blinks and focus is not achieved.
Aim the AF point over an area having good contrast between light 
and dark, then press the shutter button halfway. (p.162) If you are 
too close to the subject, move away and try again.
 Sometimes multiple AF points flash simultaneously.
This indicates that focus has been achieved at all those AF points. As long as 
the AF point covering the desired subject flashes, you can take the picture.
 The beeper continues to beep softly. (The focus confirmation 
light  also does not light.)
It indicates that the camera is focusing continuously on a moving 
subject. (The focus confirmation light  does not light.) While the 
beeper is beeping, you can press the shutter button completely to 
shoot a moving subject in focus.
 Pressing the shutter button halfway will not focus the subject.
When the focus mode switch on the lens is set to  (Manual Focus), 
the camera does not focus. Set the focus mode switch to <
AF>.
 Although it is daylight, the flash popped up.
For a backlit subject, the flash may pop up to help reduce harsh 
shadows on the subject.
 In low light, the built-in flash fired a series of flashes.
To assist the autofocusing, pressing the shutter button halfway may 
trigger the built-in flash to fire a series of flashes. This is called AF-
assist beam. It is effective up to approx. 4 meters/13.1 feet away.
 Although flash was used, the picture came out dark.
The subject was too far away. The subject should be within 5 
meters/16.4 feet from the camera.
 When flash was used, the bottom part of the picture came out 
unnaturally dark.
The subject was too close to the camera, and a shadow was created 
by the lens. The subject should be at least 1 meter/3.3 feet away 
from the camera. If a hood has been attached to the lens, remove it 
before taking the flash picture.
FAQ 
						

							46
Depending on the scene, position the subject toward the left or right to 
create a balanced background and good perspective.
In the  (Full Auto) mode, while you press the shutter button 
halfway to focus a still subject, the focus will be locked. You can then 
recompose the shot and press the shutter button completely to take the 
picture. This is called “focus lock”. Focus lock is also possible in other 
Basic Zone modes (except  Sports).
In the  (Full Auto) mode, if the subject moves (distance to camera 
changes) during or after you focus, AI Servo AF will take effect to focus 
the subject continuously. As long as you keep aiming the AF point on 
the subject while pressing the shutter button halfway, the focusing will 
be continuous. When you want to take the picture, press the shutter 
button completely.
1 Full Auto Techniques
Recomposing the Shot
Shooting a Moving Subject 
						

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The  (Portrait) mode blurs the background to make the human 
subject stand out. It also makes flesh tones and the hair look softer than 
with the  (Full Auto) mode.
 The farther the distance between the subject and background, 
the better.
The farther the distance between the subject and background, the 
more blurred the background will look. The subject will also stand 
out better in front of a plain, dark background.
 Use a telephoto lens.
If you have a zoom lens, use the telephoto end to fill the frame with 
the subject from the waist up. Move in closer if necessary.
 Focus the face.
Check that the AF point covering the face flashes in red.
2 Shooting Portraits
Shooting Tips
 If you hold down the shutter button, you can shoot continuously to obtain 
different poses and facial expressions. (max. approx. 3.5 shots/sec.)
 If necessary, the built-in flash will pop-up automatically. 
						

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Use the  (Landscape) mode for wide scenery, night scenes, or to 
have everything in focus from near to far. The greens and blues also 
become more vivid and sharp than with  (Full Auto).
 With a zoom lens, use the wide-angle end.
When using a zoom lens, use the wide-angle end. This will have 
objects near and far in focus, better than at the telephoto end. It also 
adds breadth to landscapes.
 Shooting night scenes.
Since the built-in flash will be disabled, this 
mode is also good for night scenes. Use a 
tripod to prevent camera shake. If you want 
to photograph a person against a night 
scene, set the Mode Dial to  (Night 
Portrait) and use a tripod. (p.51)
3 Shooting Landscapes
Shooting Tips 
						

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When you want to photograph flowers or small things up close, use the 
 (Close-up) mode. To make small things appear much larger, use a 
macro lens (sold separately).
 Use a simple background.
A simple background makes the flower, etc., stand out better.
 Move to the subject as close as possible.
Check the lens for its minimum focusing distance. Some lenses 
have indications such as . The lens minimum 
focusing distance is measured from the  (focal plane) mark on 
the camera to the subject. If you are too close to the subject, the 
focus confirmation light  will blink.
Under low light, the built-in flash will fire. If you are too close to the 
subject and the bottom of the picture looks dark, move away from 
the subject.
 With a zoom lens, use the telephoto end.
If you have a zoom lens, using the telephoto end will make the 
subject look larger.
4 Shooting Close-ups
Shooting Tips 
						

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To photograph a moving subject, whether it is a child running or a moving vehicle, use the  (Sports) mode.
 Use a telephoto lens.
Using a telephoto lens is recommended so you can shoot from afar.
 Use the center AF point to focus.
Aim the center AF point over the subject, then press the shutter 
button halfway to auto focus. During autofocusing, the beeper will 
continue beeping softly. If focus cannot be achieved, the focus 
confirmation light  will blink.
When you want to take the picture, press the shutter button 
completely. If you hold down the shutter button, continuous shooting 
(max. approx. 3.5 shots per sec.) and autofocusing will take effect.
5 Shooting Moving Subjects
Shooting Tips
Under low light if camera shake is prone to occur, the viewfinder’s shutter 
speed display on the bottom left will blink. Hold the camera steady and 
shoot.