Canon Powershot A3500 Is User Guide

							51
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P Mode
Still ImagesMovies
Locking Image Brightness/Exposure  
(AE Lock)
Before shooting, you can lock the exposure, or you can specify focus and\
 
exposure separately.
1	 Deactivate	the	flash	(=  38).
2 Lock the exposure.
zzAim the camera at the subject to shoot 
with the exposure locked. With the 
shutter button pressed halfway, press the 
 button.
XX[&] 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.
3 Compose the shot and shoot.
•	 AE: Auto  Exposure
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 
(=
  27).
XXThe	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.
  
COPY  
						

							52
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P 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] (=
  28).
XXOnce 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 ( =  75).
Still Images
Changing the ISO Speed
zzPress the  button, choose [] in 
the menu, and choose the desired option 
(=
   27).
XXThe	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.
 
COPY  
						

							53
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P 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” ( =  53) to choose [].
zzAim the camera at a plain white subject, 
so that the entire screen is white. Press 
the  button.
XXThe 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.
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 
(=
  27).
XXThe	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 ( =  53).
 
COPY  
						

							54
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P Mode
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” (=
  137).
1	 Configure	the	setting.
zzPress the  button, choose 
[] in the menu, and then choose [ W] 
(=  27).
XXOnce the setting is complete, [W] is 
displayed.
2 Shoot.
XXHold the shutter button all the way down 
to shoot continuously.
•	 Cannot be used with the self-timer ( =  36) or [Blink Detection] 
(=  41).
•	 During continuous shooting, focus and exposure are locked at the 
position/level determined when you pressed the shutter button 
halfway.
•	 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 ImagesMovies
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” ( =  137).
zzPress the  button, choose [] 
in the menu, and then choose the [ e] 
option (=
  27).
XXOnce 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 [[] (=  37).
 
COPY  
						

							55
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P Mode
Still Images
Shooting Distant Subjects (Infinity)
To restrict the focus to distant subjects, set the camera to [u]. For details 
on the focusing range, see “Shooting Range” ( =  137).
zzPress the  button, choose [] 
in the menu, and then choose the [ u] 
option (=
  27).
XXOnce the setting is complete, [u] is 
displayed.
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 ( =
  28).
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.
 
COPY  
						

							56
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P Mode
•	 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 (=
  57) 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” (=  55) to choose 
[Tracking AF].
XX[] 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.
zzPress the shutter button halfway. [] 
changes to a blue [], which follows 
the subject as the camera continues to 
adjust the focus and exposure (Servo AF) 
(=
  57).
XXIf no subject is detected, [] is 
displayed.
3 Shoot.
zzPress the shutter button all the way down 
to shoot.
•	 [Servo AF]  (=  57) is set to [On] and cannot be changed.
•	 Tracking may not be possible when subjects are too small or move 
too rapidly, or when subject color or brightness matches that of the 
background too closely.
•	 [AF-Point Zoom] on the [4] tab is not available.
•	 [e] and [u] are not available.
 
COPY  
						

							57
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P Mode
Still Images
Shooting with Servo AFThis mode helps avoid missing shots of subjects in motion, because the 
camera continues to focus on the subject and adjust the exposure as long\
 
as you press the shutter button halfway.
1	 Configure	the	setting.
zzPress the  button, choose 
[Servo AF] on the [ 4] tab, and then 
choose [On] (=
  28).
2 Focus.
zzThe focus and exposure are maintained 
where the blue AF frame is displayed 
while you are pressing the shutter button 
halfway.
•	 Focusing may not be possible in some shooting conditions.
•	 In low-light conditions, Servo AF may not be activated (AF frames 
may not turn blue) when you press the shutter button halfway. In this 
case,
	the	focus	and	exposure	are	set	according	to	the	specified	AF	frame mode.
•	 If	adequate	exposure	cannot	be	obtained,	shutter	speeds	and	aperture values are displayed in orange. Release the shutter button, 
and then press it halfway again.
•	 AF lock shooting is not available.
•	 [AF-Point Zoom] on the [4] tab is not available.
•	 Not available when using the self-timer ( =
  36).
 
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. Note that AF-point 
zooming ( =
  62) is not possible.
•	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).
 
COPY  
						

							58
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P Mode
Still ImagesMovies
Changing the Focus Setting
You can change default camera operation of constantly focusing on 
subjects it is aimed at, even when the shutter button is not pressed. In\
stead, 
you can limit camera focusing to the moment you press the shutter button\
 
halfway.
zzPress the  button, choose 
[Continuous AF] on the [ 4] tab, and then 
choose [Off] ( =
  28).
OnHelps avoid missing sudden photo 
opportunities, because the camera 
constantly focuses on subjects until you 
press the shutter button halfway.
Off Conserves battery power, because the 
camera does not focus constantly.
Still ImagesMovies
Shooting with the AF Lock
The focus can be locked. After you lock the focus, the focal position will not 
change	even	when	you	release	your	finger	from	the	shutter	button.
1 Lock the focus.
zzWith the shutter button pressed halfway, 
press the  button.
XXThe focus is now locked, and [
%] is 
displayed.
zzTo unlock the focus, release the shutter 
button and press the  button again. In 
this case, [%] is no longer displayed.
2 Compose the shot and shoot.
  
COPY  
						

							59
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P Mode
•	 Even	after	the	flash	fires,	ensure	that	the	main	subject	does	not	move	until	the	shutter	sound	is	finished	playing.
•	 Mount the camera on a tripod or take other measures to keep it still 
and prevent camera shake.
•	 Set [IS Mode] to [Off] when using a tripod or other means to hold the 
camera still (=
  60).
[!] OffPrepare	the	camera	for	shooting	without	the	flash	as	follows.
•	If	a	flashing	[] icon is displayed when you press the shutter button 
halfway in low-light conditions, mount the camera on a tripod or take 
other measures to keep it still.
Still Images
Flash
Changing the Flash Mode
You	can	change	the	flash	mode	to	match	the	shooting	scene.
zzPress the  button, press the  
buttons	to	choose	a	flash	mode,	and	then	press the  button.
XXThe	option	you	configured	is	now	displayed.
[] AutoThe	flash	fires	automatically	in	low-light	conditions.
[ h ] OnYou	can	have	the	flash	fire	for	each	shot.	For	details	on	the	flash	range,	see	“Flash Range” (
=  137).
[Z] Slow SynchroWith	this	option,	the	flash	fires	to	increase	the	brightness	of	the	main	subject (such as people) while the camera shoots at a slow shutter spe\
ed to 
increase	the	brightness	of	the	background	that	is	out	of	the	flash	range.
 
COPY  
						

							60
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Cover 
Preliminary Notes and 
Legal Information
Contents: Basic 
Operations
Advanced Guide
Camera Basics
Smart Auto 
Mode
Other Shooting 
Modes
Playback Mode
Wi-Fi Functions
Setting Menu
Accessories
Appendix
Index
Basic Guide
P Mode
Still Images
Shooting with the FE Lock
Just as with the AE lock (=  51),	you	can	lock	the	exposure	for	the	flash	shots.
1	 Set	the	flash	to	[h] (=  59).
2	 Lock	the	flash	exposure.
zzAim the camera at the subject to shoot 
with the exposure locked. With the 
shutter button pressed halfway, press the 
 button.
XXThe	flash	fires,	and	when	[(] is 
displayed,	the	flash	output	level	is	retained.
zzTo unlock FE, release the shutter button 
and press the  button again. In this 
case, [(] is no longer displayed.
3 Compose the shot and shoot.
•	 FE: Flash Exposure
Still ImagesMovies
Changing the IS Mode Settings
zzPress the  button, choose [IS 
Mode] on the [4] tab, and then press the 
 buttons to choose the desired 
option (=
  28).
Continuous Optimal image stabilization 
for the shooting conditions is 
automatically applied (Intelligent 
IS) (=
  34).
Shoot Only* Image stabilization is active only 
at the moment of shooting.
Off Deactivates image stabilization.
*
 The setting is changed to [Continuous] for 
movie recording.
•	 If image stabilization cannot prevent camera shake, mount the 
camera on a tripod or take other measures to hold it still. In this 
case, set [IS Mode] to [Off].
  
COPY