Canon EOS 7D Instruction Manual

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2
Basic Shooting
This chapter explains how to use the fully-automatic 
modes (1/C) on the Mode Dial for best results.
With the fully-automatic modes (1/C), all you do is point 
and shoot and the camera sets everything automatically 
(p.254). Also, to prevent botc hed pictures due to mistaken 
operations, major shooting settings cannot be changed in the 
fully-automatic modes.
Fully-
automatic 
modes
About the Auto Lighting OptimizerIn fully-automatic modes ( 1/C ), the Auto Lighting Optimizer will 
adjust the image automatically to obtain the optimum brightness 
and contrast. The Auto Lighting Optimizer is also enabled by 
default in all shooting modes (p.77). 
						

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1Set the Mode Dial to .
2Aim the Area AF frame over the 
target subject.
All the AF points will be used to focus, 
and generally the closest object will 
be focused.
 Aiming the center of the Area AF 
frame over the subject will make 
focusing easier.
3Focus the subject.
Press the shutter button halfway, and 
the lens focusing ring will rotate to 
focus.
 The AF point(s) which achieve(s) 
focus will be displayed. At the same 
time, the beeper will sound and the 
focus confirmation light < o> in the 
viewfinder will light.
 Under low-light conditions, the 
viewfinder will flash in red to 
illuminate the AF point.
 If necessary, the built-in flash will pop-
up automatically.
4Take the picture.
 Press the shutter button completely to 
take the picture.
 The 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
Area AF frame
Focus confirmation light 
						

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1 Fully Automatic Shooting
The focus confirmation light < o> blinks and focus is not 
achieved.
Aim the center of the Area AF frame over an area having good contrast, 
then press the shutter button halfway (p.96). If you are too close to the 
subject, move away and try again.
 Sometimes multiple AF points light up simultaneously.All those AF points have achieved focus. As long as the AF point 
covering the desired subject lights up, you can take the picture.
The beeper continues to beep softly. (The focus confirmation 
light < o> does not light.)
It indicates that the camera is focusing continuously on a moving subject. 
(The focus confirmation light < o> does not light.) You can shoot a 
moving subject in focus.
 Pressing the shutter button halfway does not focus the subject.If the focus mode switch on the lens is set to  (Manual Focus), set it 
to < AF> (Auto Focus).
 Although it is daylight, the flash popped up.For a backlit subject, the flash may pop up to help reduce the subject’s 
dark shadow.
In low light, the built-in flash fired a series of flashes.Pressing the shutter button halfway may trigger the built-in flash to fire a 
series of flashes to assist autofocusing. This is called the 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 came ra, and a shadow was created by the lens 
barrel. 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 
						

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Depending on the scene, position the subject toward the left or right to 
create a balanced background and good perspective.
In the < 1> (Full Auto) mode, while you press the shutter button 
halfway to focus a still subject, t he 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”.
In the < 1> (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 shutte r 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  Full Auto mode takes care of everything, whereas the < C> 
Creative Auto mode enables you to easily change the picture’s 
brightness, depth of field, color tone  (Picture Style), etc. The default 
settings are the same as the < 1> (Full Auto) mode.
* CA stands for Creative Auto.
1Set the Mode Dial to < C>.
The Creative Auto screen appears on 
the LCD monitor.
2Press the  button.
 You can use < 9> to select a 
function. ( 7)
 For details about each function, see 
page 56-57.
3Set the desired setting.
Use < 9> to select a function.
 A brief description of the selected 
function is displa yed on the screen’s 
bottom.
 Turn the <
5> or < 6> dial to 
change the setting.
4Take the picture.
 Press the shutter button completely to 
take the picture.
C  Creative Auto Shooting
If you change the shooting mode or if the power turns off via auto power off 
(p.46) or by the power switch being set to < 2>, the Creative Auto settings 
will revert to the default. However, the  image-recording quality, self-timer 
and remote control settings will be retained. 
						

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56
(1) Flash firing
 (Auto firing), < D> (Flash on), or  (Flash off) can be 
selected.
(2) Blurring/sharpening the background
If you move the index mark toward  the left, the background will look 
more blurred. If you move it toward the right, the background will 
look more in focus.
Depending on the lens and shooting conditions, the background 
might not look so blurred. This setting cannot be set (grayed out) 
while the built-in flash is popped up.  When flash is used, it will not be 
applied.
(3) Adjusting the picture brightness
If you move the index mark toward the left, the picture will look 
darker. If you move it toward the ri ght, the picture will look brighter.
Shutter speed and aperture(1)
(2)
(3)
(5)
(6)
Battery check Possible shots
(4)
Maximum burst 
						

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C Creative Auto Shooting
(4) Image effects
Besides the standard image effect, you can set it for portraits, 
landscapes, or black-and-white photos. (p.66: Picture Style)
 (Standard): Standard image effect applicable to most 
scenes.
< Q > (Smooth skin tones): Effective for close-ups of women or 
children.
< R > (Vivid blues and greens):  For impressive landscapes.
< V > (Monochrome image): Creates black-and-white photos.
(5) Single, continuous, and self-timer shooting
 (Low-speed continuous shooting): Shoot continuously at a 
maximum of about 3 frames per second (fps).
< Q > (10-sec. self-timer/Remote control): See the “Using the Self-
timer” note ( ) on p.98. Remote control shooting is also 
possible. (p.114)
* By pressing the < o> button, you can display the [ Drive mode] 
selection screen and set the same settings.
(6) Image-recording quality
To set the image-recording quality, see “Setting the Image-recording 
Quality” on page 60-62. By pressing < 0>, you can display the 
[Quality ] selection screen and set the same settings. 
						

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58
You can set how long the image is displayed on the LCD monitor 
immediately after capture. To keep the image displayed, set [ Hold]. To 
not have the image displayed, set [ Off].
1Select [Review time].
Under the [1 ] tab, select [Review 
time ], then press < 0>.
2Set the desired time.
 Turn the < 5> dial to select the 
setting, then press < 0>.
3  Setting the Image Review Time
If [Hold ] is set, the image will be displayed until the auto power off time 
elapses. 
						

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3
Image Settings
This chapter explains image-related function settings: 
Image-recording quality, ISO speed, Picture Style, white 
balance, Auto Lighting Optimizer, lens peripheral 
illumination correction, etc.
In fully-automatic modes ( 1/C ), only the image-
recording quality, lens peripher al illumination correction, 
and file numbering method can be set as explained in this 
chapter. Folders can also be created and selected.

The M icon on the upper right of the page title indicates that 
the function can be used when the Mode Dial is set to . 
						

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You can select the pixel count and the image quality. Six JPEG recording 
quality settings are provided:
 73/83 /74/84 /76/86. Three 
RAW recording quality settings are provided: 1, 41, and 61 
(p.62).
1Select [Quality].
 Under the [1 ] tab, select [Quality], 
then press < 0>.
2Select the image-recording quality.
 To select a RAW setting, turn the 
 dial. To select a JPEG setting, 
turn the < 5> dial.

On the upper right, the “***M (megapixels) 
**** x ****” number indicates the recorded 
pixel count, and [***] is the number of 
possible shots (displayed up to 999).
 Press < 0> to set it.
Image-recording Quality Setting Examples
* If [–] is set for both RAW and JPEG, 73  will be set.
3 Setting the Image-recording Quality
73 only
61
+74
1
+73 1
 only